Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church

Prayers for the Texas Hill Country

You have probably heard or read about the terrible flooding that took place last weekend in the Texas Hill Country. The devastation that took place was heart-breaking, but it was even more devasting hearing about the lost lives of children that were at summer camp when the flash floods raced through their campground.

There were several camps that were impacted by the flash flood, one of them being Mo Ranch, a Presbyterian camp along The Guadalupe River, where I have attended a conference in the past. So many lives have been impacted.

One of the greatest things that we can do is pray, so continue to pray for the recovery efforts and for those that have lost loved ones and have lost property.

You can also help by giving to World Vision:

(https://donate.worldvision.org/give/disaster-relief-in-the-usa?campaign=400068077) or the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (https://pcusa.org/disaster-assistance/active-responses/national-disaster/texas-hill-country-flooding). These are two organizations that do a great job in coming along side those that are hurting in Christ’s Name.

“God, you are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

(Psalm 46:1)

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, 

so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”

1 Peter 2:2

I have a couple of newborn babies in my life right now. With two grandkids that are 12-months and younger, I am remembering the demands that newborn babies make! They want their sleep, and they want their milk and when you can’t provide it right away, it can make life miserable, a least for the few moments until their mom can come around to feed or a bottle can be warmed up to be given, or they can be rocked to sleep.

The above verse from 1 Peter gives us the reminder that we, “like newborn babies,” are to crave spiritual milk. That means that we are “demanding it” wanting it desperately, desiring it, until we are satisfied.

We were studying this passage at a LCPC Session meeting a few months ago and I wondered to myself, “Do I crave ‘pure spiritual milk?’ Do I desire God’s Word like a baby desires her mother’s milk?” My first response was “no, not really!” Then I remembered that I have been reading and listening to a Bible plan (“the Bible Recap”) that is taking me through the entire Bible in a year. Every day, I can’t wait to hear God’s Word on my phone and follow the “recap” of what I just read. It has been a great way to go through the Bible, book by book and chapter by chapter. The exciting thing for me is that I am half-way through the year and I haven’t missed a day!

So let me encourage you to find a plan to read God’s Word. It might be a Bible app that you find on your phone, or it might be a booklet like “Our Daily Bread” that is available for free here at church. The most important thing is to be in God’s Word and to “crave it” like a newborn baby craves his mother’s milk.

We “reinstated” something in our worship service the last couple of weeks. It is the “Passing the Peace of Christ” where we say “May the Peace of Christ be with you” and the reply is “And also with you.”

The passing of the peace is an ancient Christian tradition that goes back to Jesus’ words when we greeted the disciples after His resurrection and said to them “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). In a way, we are recognizing Jesus’ presence with us.

Now let me say a couple of things as we pass the peace of Christ in worship on Sundays at LCPC. First, you are going to have to work at passing the peace. By this I mean that you will have to physically move from your seat to pass the peace. If you are an introvert, this is going to be terrible but think of it as an act of worship, where you are demonstrating in a small way, the love, grace, and peace that Christ gives to those who follow Him. You are imparting those characteristics of Christ to those that you greet.

One other thing, we have a number of people (many of whom you know) that are unable to attend a worship service, and they are watching our service on-line. Let me encourage you to reach out to someone that you know who is unable to attend an in-person worship service and pass the “peace of Christ” to them over the phone or by a text or email.

As we “Pass the Peace of Christ” treat it as a somewhat sacred act. You are asking that Christ be present in your interaction with that person and in a small way, you are demonstrating Christ’s love to another.

Have a great rest of the week, I hope to see you on Sunday and “May the Peace of Christ be with you.”