It turned out to be one of those weeks. Not atypical as far as ministry goes. Ministry is a lot of highs and lows as you enter the lives of other people and have the opportunity to walk beside them. The week started out on a high. Sunday I was able to officiate the wedding of a good friend who was a part of my previous church and I happened to be his youth pastor once upon a time. I know the family well and there were others from that ‘once upon a time’ era that were there as well. Weddings are times of celebrating the present and looking into the future with hopes and dreams. There was a lot of catching up, telling stories, laughing. We filled in a lot of life’s gaps sitting around that table at the reception. As the sun began to set, there were still stories to relive, but we said our “good-byes” and our “see you laters” and made our way home. The bride and groom, literally, heading off into the sunset looking forward to their future together. Dreaming!

Turn the page.

On Saturday, I assisted with the memorial service of another friend who leaves behind a husband and two teenage daughters. Cancer. An almost 10 year battle. Fought hard. Fought well. But cancer doesn’t fight fair. I know, I lost my mom to colon cancer a little over 17 years ago. This is a family that is from the same previous church and the friends are about the same age. But the atmosphere was very different. Yes, there were stories told and folks who had seen each other in a while did some catching up and I even saw a few smiles and laughs as we all remembered better days. An overall sense of hope undergirded each conversation, knowing that our friend placed faith in Jesus and God welcomed her into his presence and we will see her again someday. But overall, there was sadness, loss, tears were shed. And at the end of the day we said our “good-byes” and “our see you laters.”  Most headed home with a heavy heart, and into a future with a piece missing and for a husband (did I mention she passed away the morning of their 23rd wedding anniversary) and his two daughters a huge piece will just be gone. Hurting!

Stop and consider.

Where was God this week? I can tell you with confidence that on Sunday he was right there in the middle of that wedding party uniting two hearts that were experiencing a grace-filled second chance at love! And on Saturday he was right there in the middle of that memorial service healing hearts that are hurting! I am confident that was in both places because that is who God is and that is what he does. The psalmist writes in Psalm 139, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” While the psalmist is alluding to a person trying to hide from God, this Psalm is encouraging to those wanting to find God in the everyday circumstances. The Mountains and the Valleys of life. For that person, it’s a description of God’s deep longing to have a relationship with every one of us. We can’t hide from God and God won’t hide from us. The idea that no matter where we are, what we are facing, high or low, God can be and wants to be found in that place. Read all of Psalm 139 and see how much God loves you! 
He knows you! (verse 1)
He sees you! (verse 2)
He understands you! (verse 2)

“I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too – your reassuring presence, coming and going”
Psalm 139:5, The Message