Dear Stony Plain Alliance Church family,
I don’t think that there’s a day that goes by where we don’t hear something concerning about the state of our economy. The enormity of the issues related to inflation, increased cost of living, lack of affordable housing, and a ‘What in the world is going on?!’ kind of feeling can leave us disillusioned, discouraged and afraid. For me, the thing I most often feel tempted toward in relation to finances and all that is happening around us is a scarcity mindset. The fear that there won’t be enough is a feeling that I battle often against.
It’s one of the reasons I love coming back to our giving liturgy every week where we choose to resist greed and scarcity in our lives and instead live into the way of peace that Jesus offers us. And the good news? We’re seeing this happen at Stony Plain Alliance Church these days. Every time we open our hands and choose to be generous in the ways Jesus is asking us to be, we’re actively participating in God’s kingdom way of peace and provision instead of letting fear make the decision over our finances. A passage of scripture I’ve come back to often as I’ve thought about all of this is Matthew 6:31-34. Jesus says,
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
I see these words of Jesus taking root in our community and I am so grateful to be on this adventure with you. Thank-you for your contributions to this ministry over the past year and how you’ve resisted the temptation toward greed or scarcity through your generosity. Fear and discouragement are not getting the final word over our lives or this ministry. Thank-you again for your partnership in the work of this church as we pursue fullness of life for everyone by practicing the way of Jesus together.
Peace,
Wade
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