A Message From Pastor Stephanie

Dear Saints of Cross and Crown,

The weather has once again shifted and the winds are high. While many of us would prefer sunny, typical Southern California weather, isn't it nice that the weather is a reminder of change? When my sister was going through a particularly difficult time in her life, she wore a ring which depicted four trees in four different seasons: one tree in the full bloom of spring, one with pretty summer leaves, one with leaves falling around its base, and one with bare branches covered by winter snow. When she felt sad or stressed, she would move the ring around her finger in circles, a reminder that, just as seasons come and go, "this too shall pass."

These days will also pass away. All we don't like and all we do like is only a stopping point to the next thing. Remembering the impermanent nature of life helps us to not take what is difficult as seriously as if it were going to be that way forever. It also helps us appreciate all of our earthly blessings, as they too change, develop, and will fade with time. All things change, like the earth's seasons.

And yet, we are promised that there is one thing that will last forever. Long past the time when these days will be no more, God's love will remain. In fact, love itself remains. The Bible tells us that God is love, and that love never fails. Even when we lose someone to death, the love that exists between us doesn't pass away. Something about love, being straight from God, makes it substantial, powerful, and everlasting. Love is, in all truth, the most real thing there is -- because love lasts.

Today, let's put our attention on remembering that the details of our lives, what is in the news, and what is going on in and around us is shifting. Let us then stand on that solid rock that never shifts, our God who is inseparable from love. That is our real Home.

God's peace be yours,

Pastor Stephanie

Fun Fact

The phrase "This too shall pass" is not from the Bible, but there are many scriptures that do convey a similar meaning of time passing, and yet God's promise remains. Here are some examples:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.