Sweet Spots

Ascension Sunday

With His ascension, Jesus called us to be His incarnation to the world. That’s a large responsibility. If it were not for Jesus promise of Pentecost, the disciples would have been left with the authority to “Go into all of the worlds” without the power to go.  Yet Jesus, in His Ascension, promised the power was on its way.  Without the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling them, the disciples must have felt scared and alone. The disciples felt like a kite with no wind. Looking at Peter specifically, even Jesus had restored Peter, Peter, just like all of us, must have looked back at all his failures and wondered, “how will I be able to?”  The answer from Jesus seems to be “der child, stop relying on your own power.”  God is the one who covers.

In preparation for Ascension Sunday, God’s promise of covering us rings ever true. In his song “He Covers Me,” Steve Camp sings from a heart of knowing that though we man not now see Him in person, God’s covering is all we need.

Everyone goes through hard times. It seems that when we are in the deepest valleys, that we are alone. We are not. Psalm 23 is very familiar to so many, yet sometimes we read it so robotically that we miss what is being said. The verse is read at so many funerals, yet sadly is read as if it were obligatory. Being in a valley of despair and yet knowing that God is there is where faith meets circumstances. When we are at rock bottom, when we cannot raise ourselves up, He is still with us. When we can not hold on, He holds on to us. Many have heard the phrase “God will never give you more than you can handle.” Well yes, yes, He can, and does. Not to overload us, but for us to load onto Him all our cares and concerns. In the song “Always Here with Me,” Tony Melendez brings the truth of the Psalm to life. It reminds us that it is God who leads us and lifts us up. It is God who protects us and leads us through the Valley of death. https://youtu.be/XM9frSPkZoU