Today is GOOD FRIDAY. It is a day of darkness and sadness.
Our Greenwood Memorial Youth Artist in Residence, Sabrina Steward presents that sadness and darkness in her commissioned art offering for Good Friday.
Yet in the midst of the clouds positioned in a bloody sky symbolizing the death on the cross of our Lord, she paints the light of the moon and the stars. The moon and sun symbolize hope.
The moon symbolizes God who called for the light of the moon as he created the world. That moonlight shines steadily on God’s people in the darkness of night. It hovers over us just as God hovers over us.
The largest star symbolizes the star that shown the night of the dear savior’s birth. That star led the Magi to the baby Jesus. The star also reminds us that the word says I, Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the churches : I am the root and offspring of David and the bright and morning star. (Revelations 22:16.)
When we were hopeless, God the creator and our Father, sent his Son, Jesus, so that we might face the darkness of the night and the tragedy of life with hope in the one who is our Morning Star reflecting Eternal Life
Reverend Imani
THE GREAT PEOPLE OF THE EARTH …ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PRAY!
“The great people of the earth today are the people who pray! I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor those who explain prayer; but I mean those who actually take the time to pray. … These are the people today who are doing the most for God in winning souls, in solving problems, in awakening churches, in supplying both men and money for mission posts, in keeping fresh and strong their lives far off in sacrificial service on the foreign field, where the thickest fighting is going on, and in keeping the old earth sweet a little while longer.” S.D. Gordon [1]
In September, I preached a sermon series called the Work of the Witness. In the series, I offered the lessons of Jesus on conflict (Matthew 18:15-20), forgiveness (Matthew 18:21–35), and faithfulness in work (Matthew 20:1–10). I also offered this series to inspire us to conduct critical work in the world, that of prayer. We cannot help to resolve conflict in our world, teach forgiveness, or labor for our Lord if we do not have the power of prayeras our source of strength. Through prayer we will become stronger witnesses who model conflict resolution, we will speak words of forgiveness in situations where such words are needed and we will not be weary in taking up the work God calls us to each day. I am asking members of the Immanuel community to begin to pray for each other calling each person by name, so that God will empower us to be the church where prayer is our foundational work. I trust we will be rewarded with the strength and blessings of God
[1]S.D. Gordon, Quiet Talks on Prayer {written in the early 1900s,} Destiny Image Publishers (2005)
THE GIFT IN THE PRESENT MOMENT
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13 NIV)
There is a lot of anxiety going around these days. It is prompted by the morning news. Anxiety is prompted by our focus on making it to the top, the middle or wherever we want to arrive. We rush to work, to the market, to our meetings, to our doctor’s appointments. Our entertainment on cable is crowded with shows that seek to distract us from our busy days. They often make us numb but not happy. The comedies we watch have plots built on the anxieties of men, women, and children. Commercials tell that we need the newest phone and the latest color of the season dictated by fashion mavens. We must have the new improved tastes of soda, coffee, cookie, and snacks.
Sometimes, we just want to stay in the present moment without all the noise. We must seek the Holy in those moments of stillness and be content. God’s strength is the key to our strength that enables us to be present in the world and not battered by it. Seek the strength and resulting contentment of God to enjoy the present moment in the midst of the whirlwind called our world.
Rev. Dr. Imani Sheila Newsome Camara
