Pastor’s Blog @ Covenant UMC

It is impossible to think that we can protect our children “from” the storms of life. But, we can protect them “in” the storms!

Those of you who are first time parents or you have young children may still be under the illusion that your love is enough to protect your children from all kinds of evil that comes into life. You need to rearrange your thinking to know that while you can’t do that, you can make your home a place of protection in the storms.

Life is full of storms. It’s like being in a hurricane sometimes. The things that come in to it just batter us, bruise us and beat us up, and things don’t go the way you planned. Life is very tough and we all need a place of safety, security, peace and protection. God has designed that our homes be that place!

Proverbs 14:26: “Reverence for the Lord gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security.” The home is supposed to be a place of refuge and security.

How do we become a shelter in difficult times?
1. Hear. Listen to the people in your family. Don’t be so quick to come up with a solution before you have heard the words and feelings.
2. Hug. Express affection. It says, “I love you.”
3. Hope. Build up people in your family with affirmation. So much negative stuff in the world that it is easy to become just like the world.
4. Help. Focus on the things that really matter.

Proverbs 3 says, “Trust in the Lord with all our hearts…do not lean on our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledge God and He will direct our path.” That’s the goal for your children and mine. Ultimately, we trust God with all our hearts.

See you Sunday!
Hays McKay

Philip Yancey points out that to this day we want our messiahs to be more like Elijah than Jesus and he tells why. First, Elijah was a problem solver! Second, Elijah was an enforcer! He was “Tishbite the Terminator,” rated R for gore! Evildoers beware! The people loved Elijah because of what he did to evil people and not only that, Elijah pointed out sinners in no uncertain terms and gave permission and said, “Go get ‘em.” Third, Elijah gave proof and left no doubt. On Mount Carmel he said, “Watch this!” Lightning came from heaven followed by a cloud burst that ended three years of drought. Then he out sprinted a chariot in a 28-K, 17 mile dash through the desert.

Philip Yancey says that is what most of us are looking for from God: someone who will solve our problems, who will punish bad people, give us answers and help us escape from life’s troubles. And yet, what we have learned in life…God doesn’t always give us exactly what we want.

Jesus, the Messiah, will not appear to you like Elijah did in the O.T. On occasion He might, but not likely. Rather, He will come to you in the gentle whisper of your soul, with a gentle voice and self-sacrificing love! In the coming days you and I are going to find ourselves with the opportunity to play the usual power games. Will we follow the script? Or, will we follow the promptings of the Spirit? Will we hear the quiet whisper of Jesus that gives us a new perspective? Or, will we live such loud lives that we can’t hear anything but ourselves?

In this Elijah world, will you follow Jesus?

See you soon,

Hays McKay

Eight or nine weeks ago, Lindsey had foot surgery. Many of you has asked about her over the last few months and I appreciate your kindness more than you know. Three weeks ago, they removed the pin that was in her toe! Big moment!

She handled it well and the healing has gone according to plan. We are thankful to God and a great surgeon in Birmingham who deals with dancers. When the pin was removed, Lindsey’s first thought was she would be back in the game in no time! Not true! She has done remarkably well, but regaining the use of something that hasn’t been used in weeks takes time! The Physical Therapy is coming along but diligently and carefully. Even though the pin is out, the work has only begun!

I thought about that with our spiritual lives. Sometimes, we carry things in our lives that burdened us and hurt us. It is a reminder that God isn’t through with us yet. The “pin” is there to make us stronger even when we can’t see it. Then the day comes and we are able to move on because we have been set free from the “pin”, the burden of our lives. But the journey of healing has just begun. Regaining trust and hope doesn’t always happen overnight. Sometimes, it is a process of recovery and trusting in a God who never leaves us and never forsakes us.

The Physical Therapy is the study of God’s Word and active service in helping others. That is when the healing begins and you can move forward diligently and faithfully. Sometimes, after the “pin” has been removed a scar remains. The scar is not there to hurt us….but to remind us how far we have come! Thank God for the journey of healing!

See you soon,
Hays McKay

Everybody makes mistakes! Everybody blows it! The problem is…we just don’t like to admit it! We become very defensive!

There are two common reactions when we’re defensive:
1. We Accuse. We blame other people. We say it’s your fault, your problem. Remember Adam and Eve? Adam took it like a man and blamed his wife for all his problems. Ever since then, men have been blaming their women and women have been calling men “snakes.” Imagine that!

2. We Excuse. We pretend nothing is wrong. Everything is fine…nothing is wrong. If I ignore it maybe it will go away. But pretending doesn’t work. The tragedy is that a lot of us have problems that can be solved relatively quickly but pretending perpetuates problems. When we won’t ask for help…the pain gets worse and worse.

When you let God meet your needs, it lowers your anxiety and anger level in your life. When I commit my life to Christ and trust Him then I no longer feel unaccepted because He has accepted me, unappreciated because He values me! Because, He says, “I am with you always.”

Remember: it is more rewarding to resolve a conflict than it is to dissolve a relationship!

See you Sunday!
Hays McKay

Did you know that you can allow God to get involved in your finances? Or, you can keep Him from getting involved in your finances! If you need God to walk with you every step of the way…that includes your finances!

The truth of the matter is…God can be sitting on the sidelines watching us struggle financially, or He can be actively involved as our financial partner! It all depends on what kind of steward you are. God is not a genie who is going to give you everything your little heart desires….nor will He never allow you to face financial challenges even if you do all the right things!

What we need to do is recognize a new deal in this difficult economic climate. Too often, in this economic climate, we want God involved in our finances because we are desperate! And we try to persuade God to come and rescue us.

God desires a new deal! When we get to the point that God is sovereign over our lives, and that He can intervene directly in our lives…then, what are we waiting for? Doesn’t it make sense to position ourselves to receive His power and influence as soon as possible?

The problem is money is an emotional subject. We are so vulnerable to money and we think irrationally when it comes to our finances. So, you have to base your financial decisions on truth rather than instinct! So, please hear me in this tough, economic climate….when we withhold from God financially, we distance ourselves from the one person in the universe who can forever dispel our fears about money! Protecting yourself financially from God is the biggest mistake of your life and mine.

Try something new. Wake up tomorrow and instead of thinking about how to make a living…think about giving! Because, if you want God involved in your finances, you need to put your finances to work for God’s interests and not your own! And that means….giving! Your financial fears don’t go away until you get this giving thing right! Perhaps your “old deal” hasn’t been working for you! Maybe…just maybe, God is opening the door for a new deal when it comes to your money!

See you soon!
Hays McKay

There is a book out with the title, ” Less Clutter. Less Noise.” I love that title and it seems in the world in which we live…that is helpful information.

We clutter our lives with so many things, don’t we? We hear the words again and again, “hurry up!” Sometimes, we are overwhelmed! As you move through these summer days maybe you need to pray (as I need to pray) “Lord Jesus, don’t let the fire in my purpose die!”

We are going to encourage less clutter this fall. I think you will find it very helpful so that you can focus on what impacts your life spiritually. How is your worldview? Is it cluttered with endless activities and voices crying out for more and more? If so, remember the words of Kem Meyer: “You can’t get what you could have until you let go of what you do have.”

So, let’s stay the course and work on some personal, spiritual habits. Get what you could have by letting go of what you do have! See you soon.

Hays McKay