Dear Members of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain,
If Only He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new."--Revelation 21:5
I’ve never known anyone that claimed New Year’s was their favorite holiday. The media shows flashy images of jubilant crowds forgetting their cares as they count down until midnight. After the ball drops, lovers kiss, friends embrace, and the partying continues into the wee hours.
In various real-life conversations, the consensus seems to be: New Year’s isn’t quite as fun as the TV makes it look. Many note the anti-climactic nature of this holiday, and have foregone the party scene for quieter evenings that may or may not last until midnight.
I think New Year’s brings so many mixed emotions because New Year’s (and birthdays) remind us that we are creatures limited to time. With the passage of time we not only sense our mortality, but most of us have accumulated personal losses or regrets alongside our precious memories. And time's indifferent, methodical nature does not allow us to go back and have a redo.
In a conversation last winter, a friend shared a perspective on time and eternity that really changed my approach to New Year’s. A wise pastor once shared with him, “We struggle with time because ultimately our souls weren’t meant for time. Our souls were meant for eternity, in relationship with an Eternal God.”
Although I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around the logistics of eternity (what is it like to have no beginning and no end?), my friend’s comment gives me hope. Our linear existence is not “it.” This, of course, doesn’t mean we can approach time in a careless manner. Certainly God, the Creator of time, cares how we spend it. But our discomfort with the passage of another year points to a God who is bigger than the limitations of time and who loves us enough to prepare us for a day when we will no longer be bound to its limitations either.
But what of the regrets, the wrongs done, and the losses? These things seem set in stone, and like real stones they often weigh on us in our attempts to make fresh starts.
In the book of Revelation, we see that God, from His throne, continually makes all things new (21: 5). Once again, it’s kind of hard to wrap your mind around a God who is bigger than time, Who can bring good out of a past we no longer have access to. But our pasts and all the failings and imperfections contained in them don’t faze a God whose goodness knows no bounds. Although we are limited, God’s grace is not.
When I look at it this way, I have to ask myself: “Why would I, a creature powerless to change the past, want to hold on so tightly to it? Why not give it to the One who can actually do something about it?!”
Can you hand your past over to the Eternal One in the coming year? Are you willing to surrender your present and your future as well? I know this without a doubt – surrendering your life to God is something you’ll never regret.
REFLECTION Enjoy a peaceful New Year knowing the future is in God’s Hands.
PRAYER REQUESTS -- Week of January 4, 2010
FOR THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HEALING *Frank Walker Recovering from another surgery attempting to save his leg
*Lara Webster [Daughter of a friend of Pastor Fausel] brain tumor, taken a turn for the worst
Maddie Garvue Recovering from pnueomnia
Debbie Garvue Recovering from injuries sustained in a fall at her home
Jadon Duff [3 year son of a co-worker of John Kuecker’s] hospitalized with an undiagnosed serious condition.
Brock Douglas [Brother-in-law of Melanie Douglas] Advanced cancer, in hospice care
Dominique Lupo [Step-father of Lisa Smith] undergoing testing for undiagnosed health concerns
Solissa Arms [Friend of Pat Kuecker] Recovering from injuries from auto accident
Rosina Walker Strength
Barbara Roberston [Mother of Debbie Novak] hospitalized due to advancing lung cancer
Pauline Rye [Mother of Noble Rye] recovering from a stroke
Mrs. Omohundro [Mother of Tina Davidson (friend of Kim Rye)] recovering from a stroke
Lt. Daniel Berschinski [25 year old fellow soldier and friend of Matt Kuecker] at Walter Reed fighting infection in his amputated legs, which were the result of injuries sustained in and IED explosion.
Sarah Austin [Family friend of The Mueller Family] undergoing testing
Christian Mehl [Son of Dave and Diane Mehl] Recovering from a stem cell transplant for cancer
Brooke McGrew [Sister of Scott Smith] Diagnosed with Cervical cancer, awaiting treatment
Jason Smith [Friend of Sheila Hildebrandt] 37 y.o. with metastatic cancer and recovering from surgery
Joel Miller [Friend of Sheila Hildebrandt] 15 y.o. in rehab for substance abuse, friction with faith
Linda White [Sister of Sharon Coleman] Cancer, praying for comfort and peace, and for God’s will to occur.
Phil Ritz [Friend of Joe and Doris Deuth] recovering from a heart attack
Joanne Leeming [Cousin of Karen Shorter] Healing from a stroke and Lymphoma
Hannah Dirkse [Friend of the Detroy’s] 18 yrs. old diagnosed with Leukemia
Phyllis Kenrieck [Aunt of Mark Whitsett] hospitalized in critical condition with health concerns
Bob Wolke [Brother of Pat Otten] suffering from severe pain
Ty Hassler, Jr. [Friend of the Lindgren’s] health and life concerns
Orval Bestian [Brother of Shirley Atkins] heart problems
Kay Mitchell [Friend of Barbe Lamkin] major health concerns
Kim Hunter [Friend of Pat Kuecker] 37 yr. old suffering from multiple health concerns
Karen Jackson [Friend of Melissa Nelson] waiting for a transplant
Mary McKenzie [Friend of the Kaulitz Family] small child with a heart defect
FOR THOSE WHO MOURN
*The family of John Ryan, Jr., father of Johnathan Ryan, who was called home on Dec. 27 and received a Christian burial on Wednesday
FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM CANCER Thomas Davidson, Christian Mehl, Phil Sanders, Barbara Robertson, Lorna Benkendorf, Ruth Smith, Laura Webster, Lu Aiella, Jim Bush, Kay Mitchell, Leona Walker, Pam Russo, Brock Douglas, Joan Beck, Kim Phillips, Karen Gardner, Roger, Sue Sexton, Jana Maher, Warren Mounts, Joe Howley, Judi Rice, Jack Quinlan, Mark Hayden, Joanne Leeming, Venessa Brady, Joey Eckler, Jim Siegfried
FOR THOSE SUFFERING CHRONIC ILLNESS Bill Berger, Daniel Shorter, Bob Farley, Christopher, Lance Muessle, Erin Brady Worsham, Nick Zimmer
FOR THOSE CONFINED AT HOME, A NURSING HOME OR REHABILITATION CENTER Ray Wahlbrink, Eldon and Isabella Tappendorf, Dorothy Ordel, Mary Rose Crask, Jim Ashley, Ricky Hayes, Inge Kaulitz, Lydia Eggers, Mim Hawkinson, Nancy Heiden, Erna Kelley, Myrtle Wiggins, Glenna Goepfert, Elvera Weltzin, Jerry and Marge Tauscher, Virginia Alexander, Helen, Dennis Krause
FOR THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY Matthew Kuecker, Jason, Chris and Kim Wolter, Matt Fitzgibbon, Joshua Burkett, Roy Oberhaus, Don Wheeler, Lori Alix, James Marshburn, Tony Crespo, Donnie Tyler, Zachary Holland, Michael Alexander, Jeffrey Davis
FROM CANCER OR CHRONIC ILLNESS Barbara Robertson [Mother of Debbie Novak] recovering from heart attack and cancer treatment
Thomas Davidson [14 y.o. neighbor of the Coleman’s] Responding well to treatment
Christian Mehl [Son of Dave and Diane Mehl] undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma
Lorna Benkendorf [Friend of Tony Arnold] Undergoing treatment for cancer
Leona Walker [Friend of the Belza’s] Recurrent lung cancer that has spread to her brain
Jim Ashley [Brother of Larry Ashley] suffering from health concerns
Ruth Smith [Mother of Scott Smith] In remission
Phil Sanders Suffering from throat cancer, in discomfort
Lara Webster [Daughter of a friend of Pastor Fausel] brain tumor
Dennis Krause [Friend of Diane Rowan] suffered stroke and is in ICU in Iowa
Lu Aiella Undergoing chemo treatment for breast and brain cancer
Kay Mitchell [Friend of Barbe Lankin] suffering from cancer
Jim Bush [Father of Julie Yeager] diagnosed with cancer, undergoing testing for treatment options
Brock Douglas [Brother of Tom Douglas] infection and pain associated with cancer
Bill Berger [Father of Billie Detroy] Alzheimers
Joan Beck [Mother of Karen Young, a friend of Caron Fausel] diagnosed with a serious brain tumor
Kim Phillips [Cousin of Steve Lindgren] breast cancer
Karen Gardner [Daughter of Jean Pillischafske] breast cancer
Roger [Uncle of a friend of the Lindgren’s] cancer
Christopher [Nephew of Peggy Cullnan] Being evaluated for the debilitating disease of neurofibromatosis.
Sue Sexton [Friend of Jean Pillischafske] suffering inoperable cancer, will be undergoing chemotherapy
Jana Maher [Friend of the Belza’s] Recurrent breast cancer, has young children at home
Warren Mounts [Friend of Laurie] metastatic colon cancer
Judi Rice [Friend of Barbe Lamkin] cancer of spine
Jack Quinlan [Friend of the Haller’s] Leukemia
Mark Hayden Neighbor of Our Savior with cancer
Joanne Leeming [Cousin of Karen Shorter] Lymphoma
Venessa Brady Hodgkin’s Disease
Joey Eckler [Grandson of the Kendt’s] cancer
Jim Siegfried [Friend of Larry Ashley] Lung cancer
Lance Muessle [Friend of Nelson’s] paralyzed from an accident
Erin Brady Worsham [Friend of Marty Belza] Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)
Nick Zimmer [Nephew of the Coleman’s] MS
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
In Christ,
Paul Nickel
Director of Christian Education
Our Savior Lutheran Church
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