New Every Morning
August 21, 2005
Lamentations 3:22-23
14th Sunday after Pentecost
Galena-Warwick United Methodist Charge
Warwick & Galena, Maryland
Rev. Dr. Lawrence D. Jameson
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Lamentations 3:22-23
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Here is something truly excellent
that will bless you.
Here is something that is going to make a difference in your life.
It is two little verses from the Bible,
found in Lamentations 3:22-23.
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Let’s look at these two verses line by line.
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed
Do you have problems and troubles?
Raise your hand
if you have no significant problems.
Really! I mean it.
Is there anyone here in church today
that does not have
a problem?
There isn’t anyone like that.
Everybody has problems and troubles.
We all live in a fallen world.
Some of us have serious health issues.
Some of us have had our heart broken.
Some of us are grieving.
Some of us are struggling with money and work.
Some of us are involved with people who are
addicted to drugs, alcohol, or gambling.
Some of us have problems with the law.
What keeps us from going under?
What prevents us from falling apart?
Lamentations 3:22
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed
I like that about God!
It’s his love
that holds us together
in spite of our problems.
In Matthew 11:28
Jesus said
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.”
I like that about God.
He doesn’t say,
“Come to me, and I’ll take all your problems away.”
God uses problems
to bless us.
I wish this were not true,
because I really don’t like problems,
and if I were God
I would do this differently.
Hear the good news.
God loves you
God holds you in his hand
God is not going to let problems destroy you.
Everyone please repeat this Bible verse after me:
Lamentations 3:22
Because of the LORD's great love
we are not consumed
for his compassions never fail
Have you ever heard of compassion fatigue?
Compassion Fatigue is another name
for burnout experienced by
people who care for people.
Examples are:
Doctors, nurses, EMS personnel, police, firemen,
social workers, psychologists, pastors,
youth workers, drug counselors, teachers.
You don’t have to be a professional
to experience compassion fatigue.
Lots of people are caring for a family member
with medical or other problems.
Lots of people have children with special needs.
It doesn’t matter how strong you are
or how dedicated you are.
We all have our limits.
We can only do so much,
and then we start hurting ourselves.
When I was a little boy,
I was so full of energy
that it was difficult for my teachers to cope with me.
I remember one day
I said something to my 5th grade teacher
and she cried.
She just burst into tears
and walked out into the hall to compose herself.
I don’t remember what I said.
I just remember how she reacted.
Looking back, I can guess that I just wore my teacher down.
She had compassion fatigue.
I was more than a handful.
Hear the good news.
God doesn’t have that problem.
God never ever had compassion fatigue.
According to
Lamentations 3:22
his compassions never fail
I like that about God.
That is excellent.
God never gives up on me.
God never ever gets tired of my jokes.
God never says,
“You wear me out.”
God always cares for you. God always listens to you.
God is amazing.
Moses knew this.
Moses had been talking with God
for a long time,
but Moses had never seen God’s face.
Moses was curious,
so in Exodus 33:18 he said
"Now show me your glory."
That was pretty bold.
Moses was saying, I want to see all of you, Lord.
I want to look you in the eye,
and I want to see who you are really.
Listen to what God said in reply.
Exodus 33:19
And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I
will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence.
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
But," he said, "you cannot see my face,
for no one may see me and live."
OK, so seeing God’s face was out.
It would have been too much for Moses.
But take notice about what God did allow Moses to see.
“I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my
name, the LORD, in your presence.
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
We are not able to understand who God is
in his completeness.
But we are able to understand this,
that it is God’s nature to be merciful and compassionate.
Everyone please repeat this Bible verse after me:
Lamentations 3:22
Because of the LORD's great love
we are not consumed
for his compassions never fail
They are new every morning
Last month I flew out to California.
I saw my mom
and we went to the funeral for my uncle Bill.
I had a good visit.
Mom lives by herself
in the house where I grew up.
She doesn’t drive any more,
and she doesn’t have to cook any more.
Mom has Atkins at home.
It costs $1,000 a month,
but guess what?
That is exactly what my mom needs.
Because of her diabetes
mom gets sick if her diet has too many carbs.
Mom can’t drive.
Mom is nearly blind.
Atkins at home
helps my mom stay at home.
Let me tell you,
the food is really good!
Every night,
the little cooler
goes on the front porch.
At 10 pm
a car pulls up,
and a delivery man takes the old cooler
and leaves a new one.
When mom wakes up
she goes to the front door
and there is three meals and a snack
for that day.
On Fridays,
they leave two coolers.
New every morning.
The cost is high.
The variety is excellent.
The quality is excellent.
Mom is getting superb nutrition.
I’m thrilled.
Of course, while I was in California
I got away from mom
and found my way to my favorite restaurant:
IN-N-OUT BURGER.
Here is something
I like about God.
He does something new for me every day.
He does something new for you every day.
If you will just think about that
you will be blessed.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Everyone please repeat this Bible verse after me:
Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the LORD's great love
we are not consumed
for his compassions never fail
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Prayer
Thank you Lord, for new grace every day.
You are so creative, and so good.
You have hidden something excellent,
something worthy of praise, into each day of our lives.
On our good days we overlook your gifts.
We are too busy thinking of ourselves.
On our bad days, when nothing seems to go our way,
we are too busy feeling sorry for ourselves.
Forgive us Lord. Help us to wake up!
Show us your amazing blessings, both great and small.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.