July 22 was my birthday.  It rained a little bit on that day.  In fact, it rained quite a bit.  God once again demonstrated his power and greatness.  How helpless and hopeless we would be, if God didn't act to deliver us.  It is so easy for us to become so attached to life in this world that we are tempted to push God onto a back burner.  Maybe we don't actively do so.  It just happens as we find ourselves living so intently for ourselves and for the pleasures in life that our hearts desire.  We haven't forgotten about our God.  We just become a little too busy to give him the time and attention that he deserves.  And then God sends the storm.  How quickly our thoughts turn back to our God. God deliver us, we pray.  The Grunewald/Steinberg family was delivered.  God let our sewer to the street back up a few weeks ago.  We fixed it then and now we thank our God for that set back. 

And how did the July 22 rain storm affect youω  For those whose basements backed up with water or worse, our hearts go out to you.  May God use that hardship to draw you ever closer to him and turn your setback into blessing.  And why should we believe that God desires to do just thatω  Because our God dearly loves us. He already has delivered us from the greatest setback of all - from the heavy burden of our sins, from the eternal condemnation which would have separated us from his love eternally.  May God use whatever he chooses to send into our lives - good and bad - in such a way that we remain close to him, gladly hearing his word, gladly singing his praises, gladly sharing his love with others.

Your Brother in Christ,

Pastor Kurt Grunewald