Dear Church,

It was great to be affirmed last week; it meant a lot to me. I was overwhelmed with God’s grace to me in preserving me and calling me to serve as a shepherd of His flock. I look forward to continuing to journey with you all through these days. There are many challenges ahead, especially as we deal with Covid 19, the economic impacts and a culture increasingly turning away from Christ. But we have this confidence that our God is unchanging: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8). I find these words from the opening of Psalm 46 very encouraging:
 

 
The truth is that you are only as safe as the place where you take refuge. A child who is afraid of the dark and takes refuge under the blankets is not safe. To the child, this feels safer, but the reality is that if there was real danger, the thin cover of blankets would do little to protect the child. This year, I think many have realized that they have been taking refuge in ‘blankets’ and looking to things which cannot save. The result is that we have seen fear and anxiety become palpable in our society. I believe God in his grace has shown us how fragile and lost we are without Him in this passing world. He does not want us to hide under ‘blankets’ (the things of this world) which can provide no real protection. Instead, God calls us to take refuge in him. He alone can provide true strength and refuge in the time of trouble. In the verses above the Psalmist gives two examples of things being destroyed: the earth and the mountains. These are some of the strongest and most immovable things in this world. All life in this world would end, as we know it, if the earth gave way. But the Psalmist says he will not fear. His refuge is in God, which means nothing in this world can touch him. Do we live like this? We are invited and challenged by the Psalmist to take refuge in God this week. If we are in Christ nothing can separate us from the love of the Lord (Rom 8:35a). I love these words from the hymn, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”.
 

 
May God make us a People who take refuge in God and do not look to the things of this world for our security.

In Christ, 
Taylor Ewert