Psalm 38:15

Yes, although some things appear to have been taken away, or at least been reduced, due to our national (and international) novel COVID-19 pneumonia pandemic, a great deal still remains with us, revealing the goodness of Almighty God even in the midst of a pervasive sense of personal loss.

Yes, an encompassing sadness, not the least of which is a longing for when it all shall be over, that normality might resume. This minister is reminded of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s historic address in 1939 to Parliament following the Battle of Britain, “This isn’t the end. This isn’t the beginning, but it is the end of the beginning.”

Sadly, many precious souls have been lost to the coronavirus. Yet we who remain, “fighting the good fight,” as The Apostle Paul, who was no stranger to personal adversity would declare in II Timothy 4:7, have plenty of time to practice our religious strongholds…..fortified with grace, mercy, pardon, faith, hope and love, to confidently hold on to, and to even share with others, into our uncertain future!

PLENTY OF GRACE: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency for all things, may abound unto every good work:” (II Corinthians 9:8)

PLENTY OF MERCY: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” (Psalm 103:8)

PLENTY OF PARDON: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteousness man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)

PLENTY OF FAITH: “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and then when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32)

PLENTY OF HOPE: “For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear; O Lord my God.” (Psalm 38:15)

PLENTY OF LOVE: “And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (I Corinthians 13:13)

Pastor Nate Ware, Depews Chapel United Methodist Church

Plenty! – Fill My Cup, Lord

Like the woman at the well
I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
“Draw from My well
that never shall run dry.”

Fill my cup, Lord,
I lift it up Lord!
Come and quench
this thirsting of my soul;

Bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more —
Fill my cup, fill it up
and make me whole!

So, my brother, if the things
this world gave you
Leave hunger that won’t pass away, My blessed Lord
will come and save you,
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray:

Fill my cup, Lord,
I lift it up Lord!
Come and quench
this thirsting of my soul;

Bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more —
Fill my cup, fill it up
and make me whole!