Hamlin New Testament Church

What a gorgeous morning for a hot tub soak! The birds are chirping, it's 62 degrees, the winds are gentle, and it looks like it's going to be another beautiful day.

It also looks like we're going to have several days of good weather, with the next chance of rain not coming for six days! I guess it's time to set the timer on our watering system to take care of the gardens. We can't wait that long without giving our plants the nourishment they need.

I mean, think about it for a minute. Plants don't stop growing just because we don't see it happening - and neither do we when God has us in a season of waiting.

That got me pondering the fact that sometimes we have no choice but to wait.

Like when we need to see a doctor and, after making the call, we're told they're scheduling appointments into October! What if we need that test sooner? What if we can't wait?

Waiting can be tough - especially when we're waiting for an answer to prayer.

This morning, the song running through my mind was Everlasting God by Lincoln Brewster. One of the lines says: "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord."

Those words come from Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

Then I read another passage this morning, and I couldn't help but think the Lord was trying to reinforce the message:

"I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!" (Psalm 27:13-14)

Here's the thing - our human nature craves instant gratification. But in some seasons of life, God teaches us to trust Him by waiting. We demonstrate surrender and humility when we submit to His timetable instead of demanding our own.

Of course, there is another option. God has given us the free will to either follow His plan or step away from it. When life doesn't unfold the way we had hoped, it's tempting to make things happen in our own strength. But that path often leads to disappointment, unnecessary difficulty, and sometimes causes us to miss God's very best.

Friends, let's embrace whatever season God has us in right now. If it's a season of waiting, let's choose patience, trusting that His plan is always worth waiting for. Walking in His will requires us to remain sensitive to His voice. As we faithfully listen to our loving Father, He guides our steps, strengthens our hearts, and protects us from unnecessary detours. Amen?

One of our friends we met on our Italy trip has been putting together some excellent videos that help keep the memories of that incredible journey alive. Great job, Jarret! One thing I've noticed in a lot of the video's is this. . .there's a lot of food!

People have asked us how we liked the food over there. My answer is always, "It was great - and even 'cleaner' than our food here in the good old USA."

From what we experienced, they seem to use fewer preservatives, and everything tasted fresher. And that got me to pondering about food a bit this morning.

It seems that food has become a serious preoccupation in our culture. If we're not convinced that's true, just look at all the food pictures people post on Facebook or the popularity of cooking shows!

So, while we often pay way too close attention to what we feed our bodies, how much attention do we give to what feeds our souls?

As sheep in God's flock, we should probably ask ourselves: What are we feeding on each day - spiritual junk food or spiritual health food?

Here's something to think about. If we were to post pictures of our spiritual meals on social media, what would they look like? What are we listening to, watching, reading, and studying?

Please understand, this isn't meant to bring condemnation. It's simply an encouragement to step back and take an honest look at our spiritual diet.

Friends, my hope and prayer today is that our spiritual appetite wouldn't be dulled by all the toxicity that's around us, but that we'd put aside the junk food and feast on the things that truly nourish our souls. And pray that our spiritual appetite would continue to grow as we spend time with Him, enjoy fellowship with other believers, and feast on His Word. May we continually "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Amen?

As many of you know, Lee Lee and I have loved camping for nearly 50 years. In fact, we're getting ready to head out in a few days to Keuka Lake State Park - one of our favorite places by far.

Some of you know our early camping history, but for those who may not, here's a quick recap.

Yes, we actually started out with a tent. Our kids remember those days. They also remember the 1968 Serro Scotty 15-foot camper we bought in the mid-'80s. Back then, it was like the Taj Mahal! It even had a toilet. . .well, sort of. It was an empty 5-gallon bucket with a plastic toilet seat on top! 😁

One thing our kids learned early on was how much our family loved to camp. Another thing they learned was this: if you get too close to the campfire, you're going to get burned. That's a lesson they'll never forget.

I think we've all learned that in a physical sense, but what about in a spiritual sense?

Back in the mid-'80s, we also tried to stay away from what you might call "spiritual fires." We knew there was an enemy who wanted to trip us up and even destroy us. And guess what? He still does.

Psalm 97:10 says, "You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked." And when the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:9, "Hate what is wrong," the word he used for "hate" carries the idea of being horrified by evil.

You know, it should be very concerning that evil doesn't horrify us anymore. We see certain things and say, "Oh well. . .what can you do?" Little by little, we become tolerant of what God calls sin.

I remember years ago watching Despicable Me with two of our younger granddaughters. Little four-year-old Abby was genuinely frightened by much of the evil in that movie.

Maybe we should be a little more sensitive like that little one.

The truth is, not only should we hate evil, but we should also avoid even the appearance of it. The closer we get to the fire, the greater the chance we'll get burned.

If we truly love God and love others, we'll hate what is evil and cling to what is good. That word "cling" means to hold on tightly and intentionally. It's not just a reaction - it's a choice we make every day.

Friends, I know this is a little heavier than usual, but it's an important reminder. Let's stay away from the things that pull us away from God and embrace the things that strengthen our walk with Him. That's God's desire for each of us. Amen?