Archives for March 2020

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 

                                                                           1 Corinthians 15:51-52

This scripture and ones similar to it have always had a fascination for me.  “How fast is that?”  “Are you aware it is coming?” “Is there any time to prepare?” 

Since Saturday, March 21, I have a new understanding.  The answer to all of the above questions is a firm, strong “ it is so fast it can’t be measured”, “No” and “no”.

You see, that Saturday evening I was going about my typical Saturday and working on laundry. 
I was sitting on the couch, folding clothes and my sweet dog let me know she needed to go outside.  I stood up and “in the twinkling of an eye”, I had face-planted on the floor.  My left arm was bending in a manner that it was not intended to bend. There were strange sounds emanating from my mouth.  I could not move.  A laundry basket had been my downfall.

The setting of this particular scripture is Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. In this chapter, Paul is preparing the Corinthians for what to expect with Christ’s second coming.  There were contentious arguments occurring over what our Resurrection bodies would be like.  His main point was it doesn’t matter.  Those of us who are in Christ will be transformed in the ‘twinkling of an eye”  and we need to be “ always strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

During this time of Covid 19 and being safe in place, what are some things you can do for the Lord ?  Send in your ideas to me at 423-292-4918.  Let’s BE READY! The day of the Lord is coming soon.

Burl Lawson (as a Holston delegate) has a distribution list for information sharing about the Church General Conference, Annual Conference and Jurisdictional Conference.  This is the Laitynetwork (@cassidyumc.org).  It was started after a presentation late last year gave several concern areas.  If anyone is not on the distribution list and you would like to be – or if others you know outside Cassidy might like to be included, please send me (lblawson@charter.net) a note with the email address.  Be sure to check with anyone outside Cassidy first before sharing their address. 

All is voluntary and if anyone does not want to continue at anytime, I will delete the address.

Even with postponement of the GC until 2021, the AC probably will happen first and there are like concerns there as well.  The extra time will help with sharing information and getting prepared for major events to come!

Matthew 1:21-23

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When my boys were still at the house, I can remember being frustrated by unexpected dinner guests at least twice a week, I would get a phone call asking if one or more of their friends could come over for dinner. Now I didn’t mind their friends coming over, but the problem was, I had usually already had dinner started. My mind would immediately go into over drive, thinking, “will there be enough?” You see, I have food issues. Even when guests are planned for dinner, I worry there won’t be enough food. So I cook way more than is needed. I don’t know what makes you anxious when things are scarce. Maybe it’s finances, maybe it’s the amount of love you are receiving, maybe it’s some other scarcity that causes anxiety. But God promises that He is with us. He says, “I am enough.” 

When life is going well, it’s easy for us to believe in this promise. But as soon as we become anxious about our circumstances, the promise God gives us begins to lose its power in our lives. We start to run through our minds plan after plan to solve the problem and before you know it, we are frustrated and emotionally drained . 

This is exactly the time when we need to hold on to the power in the promise and the promises of God. We need to remember that His grace is sufficient, that God is with us, and Jesus promises to be with us always. By proclaiming God’s sufficiency the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit begins to give us strength, comfort, peace.I know it’s hard in the midst of the tough times, so we have to make a conscious decision that we will trust in Him. For God is enough. 

Grace and Peace, 

Tom

The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?

I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord;

Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:1, 13-14

Fear. It can render us ineffective and lifeless. But God gives us the solution-Himself. He is our light and our salvation. The only way to gain a true perspective is to wait on the Lord. In times like these, we are still free to praise and be patient. Praise brings light into our lives and light drives out darkness. More light means we can see which direction to go building our confidence. And confidence in the Lord builds patience and faith. Faith is the complete opposite of fear. When we wait on the Lord, he delivers us from all our fears (Psalm 34:4).

Let’s use this time to reinforce our daily Bible readings, personal worship and prayer. ” Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” (Dorothy Bernard, The quotationspage.com)

Paul exhorts believers to “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Hello Cassidy Family,

Just a reminder our Lifetouch photography event is just around the corner. If you haven’t done so, please call the church office or see Burl Lawson at church and make your appointment. We want to have as many of our members in the directory as possible. Thank you!

Suzan Alley, Parish Nurse, has shared this bit of information for all concerned about the Coronavirus. Please click the link and you should be re-directed. If have any further questions, you may contact Suzan directly.

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