Don’t Quit! 2nd Sunday during Lent

Read: Jeremiah 29:11-14a “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Ignace Jan Paderewski, the famous composer-pianist, was scheduled to perform at a great concert hall in America. In the audience that evening was a mother with her fidgety nine-year-old son. The mother was hopeful that her son would be encouraged to practice the piano if he could just hear the immortal Paderewski at the piano. As she turned to talk with friends, her son slipped away from her side, drawn to the ebony concert grand Steinway piano. He placed his small, trembling f ingers in the right location and began to play “Chopsticks.”

Hundreds of frowning faces pointed in his direction. Irritated and embarrassed, they began to shout: “Where’s his mother?” “Somebody stop him!” Backstage, the master overheard the sounds out front and quickly put together in his mind what was happening. Without one word of announcement, he stooped over behind the boy, reached around both sides, and began to improvise a countermelody to harmonize with and enhance “Chopsticks.” As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy’s ear: “Keep going. Don’t quit.

Keep on playing… don’t stop… don’t quit.” God knows the future, and his plans for us are good and full of hope. This does not mean that we will be spared pain, suffering, or hardship… God never promised us that; in fact, there will be many trials and temptations in our lives. But He wants us to prosper and have a peace that Jesus gives us through His death on the cross. Sometimes we do things we shouldn’t, like the little boy, but God makes good out of any circumstance we may find ourselves in. God is the kind of leader that will never leave us. He will always be with us.

He will carry us when we cannot walk. When we are down, it will be Him, that will reach down with his loving hand and pick us up, dust off our clothes, put a Band Aid on our scrape, kiss it better then send us back to try again. This Lenten season remember that there is a God who loves and cares for you and your future. Start playing. Keep playing. Don’t stop, don’t quit.

Prayer: My Father God, you reach out to me, encouraging me to keep going, even when things are hard. Thank you for your plans and promises for my life. I live in hope of my future. Amen.

Read: Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)

In 1989, Tania (a friend from school) and myself decided to go and visit another one of our friends, Julie. Julie had taken up a job as a nursing sister in the far north of Queensland amongst the community of Wujal Wujal. The thing is, both Tania and I worked in Adelaide. So, we packed up my car, a Toyota Corona MK ll, and began our trek. It was during the January school holidays, and it was hot.

Back then, no mobile phones so we just trusted that this car would get us there and hoped to be able to spend a couple weeks with our friend. We did have a few mishaps needing to stay in one town for a couple nights to have the engine repaired, but we finally arrived in Cairns. Julie met us at the Lutheran church where we left my car and packed into her 4WD. Wujal Wujal is a remote Aboriginal community, and we needed to go through rivers and across extremely rugged roads. What an experience! Living amongst this community was incredible, and they had to rely and trust on getting supplies across the Bloomfield River. This river was tidal, so during the wet season it became very dangerous. To get us across, Julie knew the tide times and got us safely across at low tide.

What is the difference between hope and trust? Hope is the feeling of desiring and expecting a particular thing to happen. Trust, on the other hand, is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something. In the Bible, sometimes we may think that hope and trust are interchangeable, and in some cases it does work. But, in our lives, we put our trust (firm belief, reliability) in a loving God who sent His only Son to earth for our salvation.

Our hope (expectation) lies in the promises that we are given by Jesus – He has many rooms in His Father’s house, and He has prepared a place for us. (John 14:2) We put our trust in God for the hope of a future with Him!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confidently place my trust in the fact that you died for me. My hope lies in your resurrection and that you also will take me to be with you where you are. Amen.

Eagles’ Wings 9th Day in Lent (Friday)

Read: Isaiah 40:1-8, 28-31

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 440:31 (NIV)

In January of 1991, I left Australia to join a Lutheran Youth Encounter team out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. I had no idea what that would entail. It was a journey of faith. Looking back, I realise how incredibly unprepared I was for this ministry. Training was to be held in the Black Hills of South Dakota (camping) for two weeks, but as I left Australia early, I missed all the correspondence of what to have and bring.

I didn’t have a sleeping bag, or pillow, or towel – just me, clothes, guitar and flute. As part of the training in South Dakota, we were to spend 24 hours in solitude in the bush, away from people and tents, just a sleeping bag, food and a Bible. I was rather concerned, not knowing if there were bears or mountain lions. Anyway, off I went – just me! I hiked to a hill above the camp – could just see it through the trees, it was at a point called ‘Eagles’ Nest’. There I lay my sleeping bag on the ground and sat on it. Silence can be very loud.

Well, I thought, let’s see what God has to say to me, so I just closed my eyes and opened my Bible, and it came to Isaiah 40. That day these verses spoke to me and gave me comfort. The Word of God is living, and the Bible says different things to me each time I open it. As I was reading the above verse, Isaiah 40:31, I looked up and there was an eagle soaring above me. I truly felt God’s presence and left all my fears of bears and mountain lions with God. To show me His presence, when I awoke the next morning, there was a small deer one metre from where I lay.

That time of solitude showed me so much about placing my hope and trust in a loving God. I pray that you also can experience this strength and comfort. Open your Bible and have it speak to you. Put your hope in God and feel yourself soar like on eagles’ wings!

Prayer: In you Lord, I put my trust. In you I hope and this gives me strength for each day. Help me to read your Word regularly and allow myself space and time to fully comprehend what you are saying. Amen.