There’s no way beating around the bush. This year has been challenging to say the least. Last week capped what has been a very rocky first half of the year. All the uncertainty has led to many living in anxiety and fear. Not knowing the future or having control can do that to any of us at times.

Almost 20 years ago my wife and I were business owners. It was a small sporting goods business with a screen printing business. We had a good life and were comfortable. We grew up in the town and both of our families lived just down the street from us. It was a good time for us and our four young daughters. Then, Walmart moved to town and set up shop right next door to our business. Within a year we had to close because we couldn’t compete. We were devasted. Because of the loss of our livelihood we looked to God for direction. It was a small town and there wasn’t much to offer us concerning work. Because of our hardship, God led us to move away. We landed in Virginia Beach … some 8 hours away from our families and all we knew.

Through all the change we lost our comforts that came with our families and being business owners. We lost material comforts as well. We sold our house which we built. We lost our vehicles. We lost just about everything except each other and our daughters. I look back now and understand we were able to keep what was most important … each other.

Here we are some 20 years later yet things still are not the same. We get by financially but are never comfortable anymore. Our girls are grown up and moved on with their adult lives. I’ve been working two and three jobs the entire time. But through it all we’ve come to understand how to have peace and joy in the midst of all the change and uncertainty. We have learned to give up trying to control our lives and simply trust God to provide for us as we live for Him. It’s a process but in a world where uncertainty and change are guaranteed it’s the only way to live because God can always be trusted. I hope Philippians 4:6-8 will encourage you.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

In His Name,

Matt

When we read out of the book of Matthew we can read how Jesus used the analogy of a woman experiencing labor pains right before the baby is born to describe how the world will be right before He returns to set up his reign on this earth. Below are verses 6-8 of chapter 24.

And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

 We are seeing all these things happening. Volcanoes, earthquakes, super storms, natural disasters, wars, rumors of wars, division, racism, etc. are all exploding all around the world. Some people will say we have always had such things. It is true all these things have existed forever. However, the difference is these things are happening at an incredible pace. Not only that, but also the frequency in which all these things are happening is increasing.

Jesus warned us that in the years, months, and days right before He returns these things will increase in frequency and severity just like labor pains on a woman as the baby gets closer to being born. When you add all the above things to all the other prophecies being fulfilled concerning the Middle East and Israel, we can see how close we truly are.

Now is the time for us to get right with God. Time is running out. God implores us to turn from our sin by confessing we are a sinner needing His forgiveness. God implores us to believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ paid the debt for our sin on the cross so that we can be forgiven. Because we turn from our sin and believe in Jesus Christ we are saved from God’s coming judgment.If you have questions about how to get right with God, Brentwood is here for you. Please join us Sunday mornings at 11 in our worship service. We would be glad to speak with you. You can also contact us via our Facebook page and we can talk that way as well.