March 16

The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty! Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore." (Psalm 93)

Not sure how you occupied your time yesterday. With no sports on TV, I found myself fidgety. Really fidgety. I washed all of our exterior windows. Deb and I went for a walk to the Glacier. But because it was Sunday this all felt so incredibly weird. (And for a pastor, it almost felt like I was doing something wrong.)

So today, now Monday, and like you I will attempt to regain something that feels like normal. But it's not. Deb is home for one mandated day of quarantine. Others go to classrooms with no kids. Meanwhile, many of you will now be homeschooling children. Telecommuting is something you may have dreamed of, and now it's required. And for a few of us, travel plans are now provisional at best.

In the midst of the mandates, the hysteria, and the lack of paper goods in stores, I am asking our King to help me to proclaim (especially to myself) and rest in His gracious sovereignty. I may write a sermon that you may never hear. I will likely make more phone calls than I usually do.

But our King is the Sovereign. Nothing of what is happening is outside of His view, or His control. Even in the midst of not knowing the "why's" I'm going to try to rest in His might, His trustworthiness, His holiness, and celebrate His majesty.

And maybe not sit at my desk all day.

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau