{"id":10205,"date":"2022-01-05T11:58:10","date_gmt":"2022-01-05T16:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/?p=10205"},"modified":"2022-01-05T11:58:10","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T16:58:10","slug":"midweek-message-7-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/2022\/01\/midweek-message-7-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Midweek Message 01\/05\/2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #90<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Hello and welcome to MM #90.\u00a0 This is the first MM of 2020 and I am wondering where do I start?<\/p>\n

I guess first is an explanation and a possible apology. In MM #87 I began by saying I would be \u201cout of your hair\u201d for the next couple of weeks. Alas, I fibbed. I can say it was because I don\u2019t have any hair but that won\u2019t cut it. J The truth is I ran across several ideas and wanted to share them. One of them was the story of \u201cYes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus.\u201d What is funny is that Madi Arnett left a copy of one of the local papers on my desk for me which had the complete article of that exchange the same day mine appeared in #88.<\/p>\n

The second week (#89) I felt compelled to give some guidance good for all of us about what we can do to make 2022 a year where our lives are changed.\u00a0 I think we are all tired of the garbage floating around these days on the airwaves and social media and I wanted to give us all a break from that. If you missed out on #89 contact Diana at the office and she can send it to you or one of us can make you a copy. Not to worry, she has already given me plenty of grief about going back on my word and writing a MM both weeks. J<\/p>\n

Good old 2022 is here and with that comes a whole new set of \u201cworries.\u201d (Let\u2019s call them \u201cconcerns\u201d in order to be more spiritual). \u00a0If I was a betting man (which I am not), I would be willing to wager that most, if not all of us, will at one time or another in 2022 ask or want to ask \u201cWhy?\u201d No, I\u2019m not talking about the little one who has a thousand questions and they all seem to start with the word Why?<\/p>\n

This is much more serious. When a health event hits us our first question might by why? When a catastrophic event hits-a death, fire, destruction, or car accident-we might be inclined to ask why? When financial hardship hits we may be tempted to ask why?<\/p>\n

We may never know the answer to that question while here on earth, but we can take comfort in the truth of One who does. Just this past Monday I finished working on a sermon from Daniel 2. In that chapter is a verse we might be tempted to pass by: Daniel 2:22- \u201cIt is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.\u201d<\/p>\n

We can take comfort in the fact that God is never surprised or afraid. He is never caught off guard. And while the event which happens has me rocking backwards on my heels or a tad bit flustered, God is not wringing His hands wondering, \u201cWhat am I going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Take heart. Those moments of darkness are not dark to Him. He is the light on the head of the coal miner. He is the compass in the hand of the explorer. As the old hymn says, \u201cThere is no shadow or turning with Thee.\u201d (Great is Thy Faithfulness<\/em>)<\/p>\n

I wrote that Tuesday morning for my blog, Living in the Shadow<\/em>. There is no doubt 2022 is \u201cup in the air\u201d as to what we think might happen and what will happen. None of us knows. I know I certainly don\u2019t have a crystal ball I consult. I can only go to the ONE who does know and trust Him to handle things better than I ever could.<\/p>\n

Now for something else\u2026As we were sitting in staff meeting Monday morning, I think we were all surprised by the volume of prayer requests which came across our plates over the past week or so. We like to pray over all the requests, and particularly the newest ones given to us. But Monday it was like \u201cWhoosh! Look out below!\u201d\u00a0 After my short devotion, Ryan led us in prayer. Also, every Sunday I try to bring you up to date on the status of folks on our list, as well as listing new ones. So\u2026here is a list of the newest ones I\u2019d like to ask you to pray for:<\/p>\n