We live in an age of despair. The personal and worldly dream is gasping for breath. We find ourselves amid a world in crisis a world that prefers darkness rather than light. A world that is becoming more atheist. A world that is becoming more isolated from reality and meaningful relationships. Shouldn’t the church have something to say? To do? To show? To share? To be? How can we be a church that says to promote and be something when we are really not there yet? The Bible says in John 13:35, “By this shall everyone (the world) know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another.” How will they know if we do not live it and practice it? How do we become that kind of people and church? How do we measure that love? Only God’s love can compel and change us (2 Cor 5:14). May God help us to become the church of the first century so the world may know that there is God of love who desires to know and save them (Acts 2:47). Will the world see Him through us? Are we there yet?

Let us focus on Psalm 100, a Psalm for giving thanks, which starts off with telling us to “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” (v1-2) Do you feel like making a joyful noise now when you come to Bronte? Do you feel like singing? When you wake in the morning and you make the decision to join us at church, what are your thoughts? Do you decide to go to church because it is part of your weekly routine? Or is it perhaps because of a burden in your heart that you need to have lifted? Is it possibly because you “Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” (v3) … and it is our part of the commandments that we are here today? Or maybe you are coming to church because something amazing happened to you and you truly do want to thank the Lord. Whatever the reason, we are to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (v4) How very true! One famous quote tells us that “in happy moments, we are to praise God; in difficult moments, seek God; in quiet moments, worship God; in painful moments, trust God and in every moment, thank God.” No matter what we are going through, no matter what our mindset may have started out like, let us be thankful to God for another day, another breath of life, another opportunity! “For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” (v5) Amen!

We have been blessed with beautiful weather, warm sunshine, and greenery all around us. Now that school is officially done for the summer, many of our Bronte families are taking some time off and heading to various destinations for summer adventures – be it flying around the world to experience new cultures, going on road trips to explore the path less travelled, or spending some time camping locally in God’s nature. As we travel, let us remember who is guarding our paths. Psalm 121:7-8 says, “The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” May our Father continue to grant us travelling mercies as we come and go during this exciting time of the year. Blessings to all for a safe summer vacation.

Do you ever wonder why we come to church? We may come for many reasons, like the social network, the fellowship, the music, even the food! However, hopefully, we are coming because of the teaching of the Word and, above all, to worship! It’s a call to worship! What’s your calling in life? What are we called to do for God? We are called to serve Him. In whatever way, capacity, or corner, we can represent Him. Oswald Chambers writes, “God did not direct His call to Isaiah — Isaiah overheard God saying, ‘… who will go for us?’ The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude.” Our attitude towards God is in direct proportion to the condition of our heart. God calls us to be the best in what we find ourselves to do (Eccl. 9:10). Martin Luther King says it quite aptly, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job.’” So, what will you do? What’s your calling today? Where will you serve God?

Summer is just around the corner and we certainly appreciate the good weather. This season makes us feel happy, warm, and perhaps energized to get up and get going. However, for some the season may indicate a desire to get things done but may feel inert, incapable, and incapacitated. Have you ever felt that way? Have you felt that you want to do something but can’t seem to find the power to accomplish it? Have you felt setback by circumstances, hindered by the past and hampered by life? Have you ever met someone who is a chronic complainer, a non-stop whiner, and perennial pessimist? I heard someone once remark, “If I had a penny for every time someone said to me ‘You don’t know my circumstances’ I would be able to pay for my dream trip to Bora Bora.” You’re not alone! Many people feel that life has dealt them a bad hand and may blame themselves or others for their present situation. However, God reminds us that “with men this is impossible, but with Him, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). God can take your worst and make it better or turn circumstances around so that obstacles become opportunities. I heard a quote that read, “God never gives you a dream that matches your budget; He’s not checking your bank account, He’s checking your faith!” So what do you have to give? What’s holding you back? Stop sitting around – rise up and walk by faith!