Fields United Methodist Church

Jesus Along the Way: Words of Hope and Grace.                             Pastor Tom Joyce

October 6,2020

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23

Over the course of my life, many a dog has been my companion along the way. They each have represented new beginnings for me and has continued through married life. These beloved members of our family have given us much joy and in many ways witnessed what it is to love unconditionally. But there is something else about dogs and every animal that lives upon the earth; they receive the new day with joy and celebration. So what if we began every morning with celebration of God’s love? What if we welcomed each morning as the beginning of a new life together with God? The answer to these questions is simple yet profound and life-transforming; when we begin each day with celebrating the love of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, we draw closer to Jesus as we draw closer to those around us as our attitude changes along with our heart. We may turn away from God through sin and not treating others with the “steadfast love and mercy” we are offered by God.  God never turns away from us, never, no not ever. That is a promise from God, affirmed by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our benefit, and the benefit of the world. Tomorrow is just “not another day,” tomorrow is a new adventure filled with wonder and new opportunities to witness the goodness of God to a world that desperately needs such a witness. You were created by God to celebrate today with a freshness of faith and the joy of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  God gives us a choice; begin the day lamenting the past and dreading the day, or begin the morning knowing that it is a new day, filled with the blessings of God. God is faithful to us, even to the point of dying on a cross so we may live a new life full of hope, peace, joy, and love.  May each of us respond to the joy of the Lord with the first breath we take to begin a new day.  God is good, and God’s love for you will never come to an end.

Rev. Tom Joyce