By John Warren

 

This has been a roller coaster week of highs and lows, in so many ways.  

Many in our community where shaken by the death of a young talented man, Josh Scales and many in our country are wrestling with the allegations and testimony of our President, our church has been in the news over our policies and church law.  

All I will say about that is this, God is still God and we will seek to love as Jesus loves. That was what I was called to do and I will never ever stop doing that.  

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten Season leading up to Easter. 

In the church we come to worship at 6 p.m. in the chapel and during the service ashes are placed on the foreheads of believers in the shape of a cross as a symbol of our repentance and Jesus sacrifice for our sins.  I am looking forward to the service because I too, just like you, need to feel the love of Christ and repent of sins for I am just as human as you are.  

This year I have been introduced to a very talented young Christian singer by the name of Lauren Daigle.  I have found the lyrics of her songs to be very uplifting during these past days and I would like to share one with you.  If you have a chance to listen to it I would encourage you to do so.  

You Say

 

I keep fighting voices in my mind that says I’m not enough.

Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and low?

Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know

 

YOU say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing

YOU say I am strong when I think I am weak

YOU say I am held when I am falling short

And when I don’t belong, Oh, YOU say I am YOURS

 

And I believe I believe Oh I believe what you say of me, I believe

 

The only thing that matters now is everything YOU think of me

In YOU I find my worth, in YOU I find my identity, 

 

YOU say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing

YOU say I am strong when I think I am weak

And YOU say I am held when I am falling short

When I don’t belong oh, you say that I am Yours

And I believe, I believe, what you say of me 

Oh I believe

Taking all I have and now I’m laying it at Your feet

YOU have every failure God, and You’ll have every victory.

YOU say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing,

YOU say I am strong when I think I am weak

You say I am held when I am falling short

When I don’t belong oh, YOU say I am YOURS

And I believe oh, I believe

What you say to me

I believe

You invited to lay your burdens at Jesus’ feet Wednesday night and you too will sing this song with me. I can’t wait!

 

John Warren is Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church, 502 North 6th Street in Orange.