A Compassionate God 8-29-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As the old song says, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness, O Lord. Great is Your faithfulness." … "For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but My steadfast love shall not depart from you, and My covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you" (Isaiah 54:10). The eyes of the world seem to be on Kentucky these past few days -- not because of the Kentucky Derby or the World Equestrian Games or another National Championship of the UK Basketball Team, but because the world feels our pain and carries a measure of our shock and sadness. The tragedy of this plane crash and loss of forty-nine lives has touched almost everyone in our community in a personal way. As the Mayor of Lexington said, "We not only grieve with the family and friends of those who died; we are the friends and family of those who died." Yet as the world watches, let them also see our faith, our hope, and our love. Let them see us comforting one another with the comfort that only You can give us. Let them see the compassion of our God whose heart breaks over the brokenness and suffering of this tragic loss of life. And let them see the mercy of our God who will not waste a moment of our suffering to draw others to Him. Everyone who lost a loved one or friend or saw someone else lose a loved one or friend Sunday morning was reminded that any moment could be our last moment. Life is short and time is precious. There is no time to waste in receiving and sharing the grace of Your love revealed in Your Gospel with one another. Lord, while the prayers of the world are opening the heavens above our community, let us not squander these sacred moments to share Your hope and demonstrate Your love to those who need Your compassion. As they receive Your grace and enter in to Your covenant of peace, Your steadfast love shall not depart and Your mercies shall not fail. No matter what the morning brings, Your mercies will be new every morning. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, my home church will be hosting a Community Prayer Gathering this Wednesday night 8/30 at 7:30 pm in the Chapel of Centenary United Methodist Church, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Please come join us in prayer for our community if you can, and join us in prayer from where you are if you can't. God bless you!