All the Days of My Life | Apr. 7, 2024

Pastor Dale started our new series, "All the Days of My Life."
The 7 weeks following Resurrection Sunday mark an important time
in the Christian calendar known as Easter Tide. This is a season
spanning 50 days, reflecting the time between Jesus' resurrection
and the day of Pentecost when Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit
descended upon His followers. This is a season of new hope and
growth, a season that celebrates: what Jesus said would happen,
happened. As we navigate this season together, Pastor Dale will
walk us through the 23rd Psalm.


In the beginning of the Psalm, we are met with a striking phrase:
I lack nothing. Often we use "lack" to give us an edge, to drive
us forward, to motivate us. The motivating piece we get from
lacking is to somehow have it fulfilled. What we "want" is to
"not want" anymore, and we end up connecting that to "I have no
need because I have it all."


As Pastor Dale pointed out in Matthew 19:16-22, Jesus is calling
us to so much more. Instead of pursuing stuff, status, or even
religion to fill that lack, Jesus asks us to give up everything.
He says, "I am enough, simply rely on me. With me, you never run
out." A life without lack is rooted in our knowledge of God. What
we place our minds on becomes the reality of our lives, so if we
place our minds on God, the reality of God fills our lives. We
cannot experience the riches of His glory however unless we leave
Him the necessary space in which He can express Himself within
us. "Give up everything, then come follow me."


Pastor Dale invited us to make a commitment over the next 50
days: to set our minds on God and see what happens. He invited us
to read the creed of Psalm 23 out loud every day, paying
attention to what the Holy Spirit brings up in you, listening to
what God is saying to you, and taking a posture of submission to
Him as He shepherds you.