Weekly Uplook September 10
Dear Seattle Saints,
I have watched the smoke from fires in the Cascades blow in from the east today obscuring the sun and harming the breathability of the air. I was thinking about how the enemy of our souls, Satan, often tries to obscure Gods love and warmth from us by the howling winds of adversity and trial which sometimes come our way. We are reminded this weekend also of the great loss in our country over 20 years ago on 9/11. Sobering dark times indeed for many around the world. In the United Kingdom they mourn for the loss of a Queen who served more than 70 years. Adversity and dark times come to us all but God remains faithful and above and yet caring about the temporal affairs of the world and our individual lives.
I mentioned some months ago a song which I wrote following the passing of Sis. Lori’s mother, Pat Walden. It was entitled “The Sun will Shine Again” and it is certain, at least for believers that the sunshine of God’s redemptive love will certainly shine through and beyond any passing trial, pain, and adversity currently blowing to obscure them from our view. During the early years of my pastoring, we lived in the Central Valley of California which is prone to thick deep fog during a couple of months during the winter. It just hung over the valley about 50 -100 feet deep for week at a time. It was cold, wet, and not very pleasant. I remember one time when I drove east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains and as the road raised in elevation I remember stopping at one turnout along the way. It was an amazing view of the fog from above…it enclosed the entire valley and yet the mountains around into which I had ascended were awash in bright sunshine and the temperature was warmer even though the elevation was higher. The Lord seemed to speak to me through it at the time, reminding me “I am still here, even in the fog.” I have looked back to that illustration many times through the years when times were hazy, foggy, or dark knowing that the Lord of all Creation is above it all. Maybe this is why the Psalmist declared…
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1–2
May we all life up our eyes to the Lord today as we know His strength and help are available to carry us through dark times as well as sunny good times. May God’s goodness and faithfulness be ever real in our lives until He returns for us.
In Christ,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
I have watched the smoke from fires in the Cascades blow in from the east today obscuring the sun and harming the breathability of the air. I was thinking about how the enemy of our souls, Satan, often tries to obscure Gods love and warmth from us by the howling winds of adversity and trial which sometimes come our way. We are reminded this weekend also of the great loss in our country over 20 years ago on 9/11. Sobering dark times indeed for many around the world. In the United Kingdom they mourn for the loss of a Queen who served more than 70 years. Adversity and dark times come to us all but God remains faithful and above and yet caring about the temporal affairs of the world and our individual lives.
I mentioned some months ago a song which I wrote following the passing of Sis. Lori’s mother, Pat Walden. It was entitled “The Sun will Shine Again” and it is certain, at least for believers that the sunshine of God’s redemptive love will certainly shine through and beyond any passing trial, pain, and adversity currently blowing to obscure them from our view. During the early years of my pastoring, we lived in the Central Valley of California which is prone to thick deep fog during a couple of months during the winter. It just hung over the valley about 50 -100 feet deep for week at a time. It was cold, wet, and not very pleasant. I remember one time when I drove east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains and as the road raised in elevation I remember stopping at one turnout along the way. It was an amazing view of the fog from above…it enclosed the entire valley and yet the mountains around into which I had ascended were awash in bright sunshine and the temperature was warmer even though the elevation was higher. The Lord seemed to speak to me through it at the time, reminding me “I am still here, even in the fog.” I have looked back to that illustration many times through the years when times were hazy, foggy, or dark knowing that the Lord of all Creation is above it all. Maybe this is why the Psalmist declared…
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1–2
May we all life up our eyes to the Lord today as we know His strength and help are available to carry us through dark times as well as sunny good times. May God’s goodness and faithfulness be ever real in our lives until He returns for us.
In Christ,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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