by Pastor Randy

Recently I was reading Psalm 30.
It is an excellent Psalm that talks about David’s praise to God for restoration. It is believed it was written after he had sinned against God by numbering
the people. As a means of discipline and punishment, God gave David 3 choices – all bad ones:
1) Three years of famine,
2) Three months to be ravaged by his enemies, or
3) Three days of plague.

He chose 3 days of plague and in oneday
70,000 people died. You want to talk about the consequences
of your actions! Leaders do carry a heavy mantle and responsibility where lives
swing in the balances. One needs wisdom that comes from the Lord.

The angel of the Lord was about to strike Jerusalem and was standing over the field of
Araunah as he was working in the field when David interceded and took responsibility
for his poor decision and the plague that smote Israel. He purchased the land from
Araunah, though Araunah was willing to giving it to David when he saw the Angel
standing between Heaven and the Earth, but David would not sacrifice anything that
didn’t cost him anything. David then built and altar to the Lord there and God removed
the angel’s hand from causing more calamities. But here is the interesting thing, that
field later became the place where the temple would be built (see 1 Chron. 2122).
Before theTemple was ever built, the first sacrifice had been made to God on the land where the Temple would be built.

Psalm 30 speaks of David’s praise to God. David realized he had sinned. He realized he would
not be able to build the temple, but he made extensive preparations for the temple. What he
was able to do as well was to write a Psalm of Dedication that gave praise to God that gives us
insight into the character of David. They are important lessons that David had learned and experienced
during his journey from backside shepherd to warrior king of Israel.

When David speaks of crying out to God and experiencing healing – he meant it. Healing of the soul is what he needed, while the people needed physical healing from the plagues of God. God brought his soul up from the grave, but for many they were busy burying their dead when David initially wrote this Psalm. David had experienced God’s anger and most likely that of his people for his leadership error and act of disobedience for failing to trust God.

I suppose David felt like most of when we have royally messed up, “If I could only relive that moment and make that decision again, because knowing what I know now I wouldn’t just be thinking about myself.” When we mess up, others also get hurt in the process.

Yet, he would write, ” PS 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing?
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,”

Despite the financial challenges we face today. The tough
news of another person diagnosed with cancer or some other
daunting challenge or tragedy, we can stop and be reminded that God is in control
of our world and He will guide us. We often feel God needs a little extra
advice and help and we jump in to number our troops, only to discover we failed to trust God and seek His face for the future outcome.
It also speaks of our need to trust Him even when we don’t understand what is going on around us. It personally reminds me not be overconfident when things are going well, because in my pride and sin the Lord may hide His face and let us drown in our trouble because I was didn’t lesson to what He has been trying to teach me now.

Yet, when we turn from our selfpity and loathing and cry out to God, We will find mercy as our merciful God turns our wailing into dancing. After a night of weeping, we can trust Him for joy in the morning as we commit each new day to Him.

The church here is facing some tough financial times. We have made a lot of changes to adjust to the challenges. Until things turn around, it looks like we are going to have to make a few more changes. We need the wisdom of the Lord as we move forward. Like David, we are going to have to trust God as we encourage each other as we seek to impact our world for Christ. It will happen, but every person is needed to pull his or her weight.

We are moving in the right direction and as we will see the fruit of our labor as we stay focused on Christ. Like David learned, there is always a sacrifice needed before we things turn around. So, encourage one another with these words from Psalm 30:

Psalm 30
A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David.

PS 30:1 I will exalt you, O LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

PS 30:2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.

PS 30:3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave?
you spared me from going down into the pit.

PS 30:4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his?
praise his holy name.

PS 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime?PS 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime?
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

PS 30:6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”

PS 30:7 O LORD, when you favored me,
you made my mountain stand firm?
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

PS 30:8 To you, O LORD, I called?
to the Lord I cried for mercy:

PS 30:9 “What gain is there in my destruction,
in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

PS 30:10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me?
O LORD, be my help.

PS 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing?
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me
with joy,

PS 30:12 that my heart may sing to you and
not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Remembering the last few months, some of the ministries that have taken place
have included over 7 fundraisers in preparation for our mission trip to Jamaica, several
Jamaica team meetings, youth volunteering at VBS/Alpha, attending the Rock the
River festival, attending Night to Unite (encouraging unity among youth groups in Hastings),
several Youth Workers Closet outreach ministries and a even a Christian Concert
at Club 3 Degrees, all alongside our fast paced TLC weekly programs!
We have also recently been walking through a book on apologetics in our Sunday
night Sr. High Bible study called 5 Minute Apologist. It is a great comprehensive
guide that serves as a reference for apologetic defense. This takes place at the Miller
residence on Sunday nights at 6. All Sr. High students are welcome to join us in this
study of apologetics. Our weekly Sunday school class has also just started up again.
We will be doing a survey of the Old Testament through a weekly chapter reading-
also encouraging our teens to be in the Word everyday!

An upcoming event to look forward to? our missions trip to Jamaica continues to
grow nearer each day as we trust God to provide for us. We appreciate your prayer
and ask for continued support in prayer. Some prayer requests for the Jamaica trip include:
unity in the group, both for our team and with the team from Waconia that we a
going with, financial provision, and preparation for ministries with both external projects
and the internal spiritual preparation. We have seen incredible provision and support
from the Lord and we are excited to do this ministry!

I will end with another major highlight of my summer that begs a story to tell of a particular
challenge that the Lord has been continuing to walk me though while leaning
fully on him. About three month ago (early summer), the glamour of the ministry began
to fade along with my naivety. As we all know, the teen years render some of the greatest
challenges in life? one of which being the lack of consistency in character. It is inevitable
that we will have teens that live a much different life among their peer groups
than at church. Well, through some things I had been seeing and hearing, this world
began to unfold, revealing an entirely different lifestyle some of my teens have when
away from church.

Downcast, immediately my mind drifted to my teenage years…discouragement
began to weigh down as I remembered my own challenges assuming that it is probably
that bad with my teens. Well, as is common, I wrestled with this for some time, asking
the Lord how to address it, how to fix it, how to feel about it,
and all the while, feeling as though I wasn’t hearing much
from God about this issue. Then one Tuesday, along with the
normal weight of ministry and few other select burdens people
had shared, I began to feel as though I was just about completely
crushed under all this weight. So I retreated to a park
by myself with a guitar, the sun shining, and an incredible outlook
over the Mississippi. As I prayed and sang some worship
songs, I sensed the Lord saying, “Ben, I want to take all this
weight off your shoulders…can I have it?”

Well, to make a long story short, my issues weren’t’ resolved by the end of that
time with the Lord, or even at the end of that day, but what did happen was a transfer
of weight like I had never felt before. I had decided that even though I didn’t know
what to do, I would wait. I would wait in fear of time and confrontation, and I would wait
patiently.

Though this story has several parts, the ending goes a little something like this.
During a car ride home from TLC with one of my teens who I have had the privilege of
experiencing lasting evident change and maturity, I began to hear God speak once
again? “Ben, do you see this sheep, I don’t want you to miss the blessing of these
sheep who follow me so closely while you are worrying about the ones who are wondering
all over.”
“Wow, thanks God!” All this to say that my challenge has now shifted? instead of
correcting wrongs, my focus is addressing character issues and loving them endlessly
as I example a life changed each day with how I live. As we approach this school
year, we approach it with a new excitement, commitment, and energy that I am excited
to share with you all. Thank you for your prayers and I ask for continued prayer support
for our TLC ministry, which is the very best thing we can do for them.

One family in Christ // Ben