Mid-Week Musings

July 10, 2024

Suggested Reading: Amos 4:13

Dear NBRC Family & Friends,

As you probably know, many parts of the United States have recently been impacted by severe weather and significant flooding. Included are many in areas of northwest Iowa, southeast South Dakota and southwest Minnesota. The Alliance of Reformed Churches has over 40 churches in those areas. Many of those churches and their members have experienced significant damage. Particularly hard-hit places include the Hawarden, Iowa campus of Centerpoint Church, Hope Reformed Church in George, Iowa, First Reformed Church in Sheldon, Iowa, and Hope Reformed Church in Spencer, Iowa.

We take so much for granted and often fail to realize how quickly physical things can be taken from us. But even in the midst of devastation and loss, God is in control. The weather might at times surprise us, but it never surprises God! He has the power and right to do whatever He does and He coordinates everything that needs to happen to carry out His plans and purposes. Consider the following questions and answers from the Heidelberg Catechism:

Question 27. What do you understand by the providence of God?

The almighty and ever-present power of God whereby he still upholds, as it were by His own hand, heaven and earth together with all creatures, and rules in such a way that leaves and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and unfruitful years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, and everything else, come to us not by chance but by his fatherly hand.

Question 28. What advantage comes from acknowledging God’s creation and providence?

We learn that we are to be patient in adversity, grateful in the midst of blessing, and to trust our faithful God and Father for the future, assured that no creature shall separate us from his love, since all creatures are so completely in his hand that without his will they cannot even move.

Even if life seems out of control, God is still in control!

Pastor Ron

Prayer suggestion: As you pray, remember those living with effects of recent severe storms and flooding.

(Next Sunday morning, July 14, 2024, Doug Hoeve will be the guest worship leader and preacher. Doug serves as a chaplain at Royal Park Place in Zeeland. Pastor Ron will be leading the worship service in the evening.)