Today’s message was written by Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

You know, when trouble comes into our lives or when tragedy strikes, we ask, “Where is God?” And the answer is – God is in the same place he was when his son was on the cross. God does not abandon us; God is with us every step of the way. He is with us even closer than our hands and feet. And as we keep moving forward, living one day at a time, trusting in God, and doing the best we can, he moves with us; he brings us through the valley.

In the fiftieth chapter of Genesis, this is what Joseph referred to when he said to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20) What had happened was bad, but God brought good out of those terrible events. That is the good news of our faith. God is with us, and nothing, not even death, can separate us from Him. “Lo, I am with you always,” – this is God’s most significant promise, and when we claim that promise, it changes our lives. Now make this day a masterpiece for you are blessed to be a blessing to others.

Let us pray: God of all time, come into our lives and make us whole. As you entered time in Jesus the Christ, be born in us today and lead us to the light of your love. Be with all those in need of warmth and life and hope. Be with those who grieve. Be with those who are sick. Be with those who are afraid, that they may find themselves held in your strong arms. Lead us to your light, for we pray in the name of the light of the world, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I recently read an interesting story about the end of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. In those days, the report from the battlefield was first carried by ship to the southern coast of England and then by signal flags to London. Apparently, when the report was received at Winchester, the flags on the cathedral began to spell out the message, “Wellington defeated.” Before the message could be completed, a heavy fog rolled in and people’s hearts sank – Wellington defeated. However, when the mist began to lift, it became evident that the signals of the Winchester Cathedral had really spelled out this triumphant message: “Wellington defeated the enemy!”

Rev. George Antonakos picks up on this story and writes, “Too often we allow the future to be colored by what we understand at the moment… Trust God in the midst of transition and conflict… Let go of panic, release yourself again into his hands. God is for you and God will see you through. Trust in him.”

Let us pray: Loving God, it is hard to trust in the midst of great difficulty. Our understanding is so limited. Too often we jump to conclusions and we make assumptions about the future based on the way things are today. And so we ask you to help us see beyond the moment; beyond the hurt and the pain; beyond the heartache. Help us to trust that your hand is at work, even now, to heal, to redeem, to make whole again. Break into our lives anew, and grant us your peace. Amen.

Today’s message was written by Rev. Dr. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

Psalm 121 is one of my favorites, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from when cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” In The Message, Eugene Peterson translates Psalm 121 this way: “I look up to the mountains. Does my strength come from mountains?” No, my strength comes from God who made heaven and earth and mountains.”

The story is told of a young boy in the waiting room of the airport. When the flight was called the boy was ushered on first. He ended up sitting next to a pastor. The boy was polite in his greeting and then went on coloring one of those coloring books airlines provided for young passengers. Humming happily, he didn’t seem to have a care in the world. During the flight, they ran into some turbulence that bounced the plane around like a kite in the wind. A woman seated across the aisle from the young man became very frightened. When she spoke to the boy her voice was agitated,”Little boy, aren’t you scared?” “No ma’am,” he replied, briefly looking up from his coloring book.”My dad’s the pilot.” The pastor reflected, “I lean back in my seat and thought about this little boy. He trusted his dad. Did I trust God that way to get me through the storms of life? Yes, and I silently thanked him.”

God will get you through today and onto his plan for you. Trust him. Trust his plans for your life. E Stanley Jones reminds us, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.” Friend of Dial Hope, that is the good news for today. Ta Da!

Let us pray: God of love, help us to say with the Psalmist, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” In times of need, you are always there. Thank you! We love you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I recently heard the Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry talk about how the old-time preachers in his community used to say – You look on a gravestone there are two dates – the date you were born and then a dash – and then the date that you die. And the old preachers used to say, the question is not, when were you born? You didn’t have anything to do with that. It’s not, when did you die? — you probably didn’t have much to do with that, either. The question is, what did you do with your “dash”? That’s the question.”

What did I do with my dash? What is the living legacy I want to leave? What do I want to do with the time I’ve been given?

He went on to say, “I want my dash on my headstone to say, “He may have made a lot of mistakes, but doggone it, he tried to live a life of love.” That’s what. Now, if you want to do that, then that’s gonna be a struggle. That’s not gonna be easy. You don’t believe me, ask St. Paul… Ask Mary Magdalene.”

It’s not easy – but it’s rich. And it’s meaningful.

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul writes: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

This is the kind of love God has for us. In the time we’ve been given here on earth, let us try to love others in this same way.

Let us pray: You are gracious and merciful, O God. And we thank you for your unconditional love for us. I pray today especially for those who are hurting or weary or carrying heavy burdens. I ask for your healing grace. In some way, may each of us serve as an instrument of love and a vessel of hope to others. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of the pressures of being king. He applied to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and to spend the rest of his life in the monastery. Prior Richard responded, “Your Majesty, do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.”  “I understand,” said Henry. “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.” “Then I will tell you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.”

I wonder where God has put you. How might you serve God faithfully right where you are, today?

Let us pray: God of all Life, we want to make the most of this life that you have given us. We want to be your light and salt and hope. We recognize that the world needs good and faithful teachers, beauticians, lawyers, realtors, business owners, plumbers, jewelers, etc. Show us how to serve you faithfully, right where we are, even now. Pour out your Spirit upon each one of us that we would faithfully serve you more fully. Amen.