all things in tender embrace

7 years ago I had never even heard of the Christian Reformed Church. My early faith was     nurtured at a very large Pentecostal Church in southeast Edmonton. After graduating college, I was eager to begin a life of church ministry, preferably somewhere in the city. I found Bethel on an ad online. I remember sneaking into the back of a service, sitting in the back pew, thinking that I should apply and see what happens. For Jessica and I, we are thankful that I did!

One of the early formative moments for us at Bethel was discovering Our World Belongs to God, a contemporary testimony of the Christian faith put out by the CRC. It poetically and powerfully speaks of our Mighty God who is King of Creation and holds the World in His hands.

This is one of my favourite passages: 
Even now,
 as history unfolds
 in ways we know only in part,
 we are assured
 that God is with us in our world,
 holding all things in tender embrace
 and bending them to his purpose.
 The confidence that the Lord is faithful
 gives meaning to our days
 and hope to our years.
 The future is secure,
 for our world belongs to God.
#12 from Our World Belongs to God

Are you uncertain about the future or burdened by your past? Remember that all things are in God’s hands. We can find real comfort in the sovereignty of God.

During this season we remember our God who holds “all things in tender embrace and [bends] them to his purpose.”

Blessings this Lent, 
Pastor Ryan

 

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