"Brown Twigs to Green Leaves"
August 15, 2004

The Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 80: 1 - 2 & 14 - 19

To remind people to the restorative power of God and to open their lives for it.

I.  God is in the business of new life!
   A. Last year, we started the process of renovating the CE building.
        1. One of the saddest losses was the removal of the rose garden.
            a. Claude Morin’s roses were a delight to the church for years
            b. we have plans to replant that garden once construction’s done.
            c. but we still had a dilemma: What to do with the old bushes?
        2. While I was on sabbatical, the bushes were dug up and distributed
            a. Many members have them flourishing.
            b. I was brought some that were left behind.
            c. unfortunately, they have been out of the ground for a long time.
            d. I did my best, but the beautiful flowers turned into brown sticks.
        3. I left them in the ground over the winter, but this spring they failed.
            a. they remained dead while other plants grew.
            b. Sadly, I told Jill that they would need to be removed.
            c. last month, I still hadn’t gotten to it when Jill said, “Have you looked at the roses?  Better rethink digging them up!”
            d. Amid brown sticks, green branches and red flowers appeared!
            e. The bush is requiring pruning, but the roots are showing life!
   B. What happens to bushes can also happen to people.
        1. I have talked with many who get to the place where they feel dead
            a. Their lives have become tasteless.
            b. They have no motivation for doing anything.
            c. There is nothing that excites them, nothing gives them joy.
            d. Each day is like a burden to them.
        2. But, while life feels lifeless, it really isn’t.
            a. As long as their eyes are open, there is life in the roots!
            b. Life does not have to stay joyless and hopeless.
        3. Evan Day, one of our CLPs likes to answer the question, “How are you” with this quip, “I’m still on my feet looking at the green side of the grass!”
        4. The reality is that, as long as we are alive, there is reason to hope.
   C. Our Hope is always rooted in the restoring power of God!
        1. No matter how trapped we feel, God has a way to escape.
        2. No matter how soul sick we feel, God has found the cure.
        3. No matter how burdened we have become, God has the strength to lift the burden!

II.  What browns our Twigs?
   A. Some of the causes are internal.  We do it to ourselves!
        1. For some, they have chosen the wrong soil in which to root.
            a. They have grown up with goals that are all about the material.
            b. they have worked for a specific place in a career.
            c. They have hoped for a certain level of economic success.
            d. They have looked for pleasure in their past time activities.
            e. Since those things are material, they will always fail us.
        2. Others have failed to take in the right nourishment.
            a. God has provided for our spiritual sustenance.
            b. The words of scripture and times of prayer are our food.
            c. But some have neglected to make use of these things.
            d. they have settled for the junk food substitutes of movies and T.V.
            e. Without our Spiritual vitamins and minerals, we’re too weak.
   B. Some of the causes come from the out side.  People do it to us!
        1. Many times, we put a great deal of hope in our relationships.
            a. But people can fail us!
            b. Even our most intimate and committed relationships can sour.
            c. If all your expectations are on people, you are in trouble.
        2. The world is full of dangers.
            a. As people make wrong choices, they impact our lives negatively.
            b. We can find the security we thought we had evaporate with a nose diving market.
            c. An accident with a drunk driver can leave someone we love or even ourselves with a damaged body.
        3. We might find ourselves struggling with a viscous disease.
        4. We might find ourselves suddenly out of work and without support.
        5. The list of the ways the world attacks us in endless.
        6. And God has not promised to keep all these bad things from happening to us.
   C. Are you ready to weather the storm?
        1. Friday, I watched video of people getting ready for Charlie
            a. They boarded up their windows with plywood.
            b. They went shopping for extra supplies, batteries, drinking water.
            c. They the headed for higher ground!
        2. Like they knew the hurricane was coming, we know spiritual storms are on the way.
            a. We don’t know when they will arrive.
            b. But there’s no doubt we’ll be facing them soon.
            c. Are we smart enough to get ready ahead of time?
            d. It’s too late to start when you hear the wind howling outside!

III.  How can God restore you?
   A. God is in the business of doing restoration.
        1. The reality is that we will all be battered by the storms.
            a. even the best preparations will only limit the damage
            b. After every storm there is clean up.
        2. Last year, I was in New Jersey just after the hurricane.
            a. As we drove through the streets, we swerved around downed trees
            b. Power was off in many areas.
            c. Houses were missing shingles and siding.
            d. But people weren’t in despair.  They were in repair!
        3. For our, God is our spiritual disaster relief organization.
            a. When we are in the throes of clean-up, God is present to help.
            b. God brings us both the resources and the materials.
            c. It is up to us to accept the aid.
   B. The process for getting that help.
        1. The first step is to apply for the help.
            a. We do that through prayer.
            b. That should always be the first place we turn for strength.
            c. Often it is last.  We try everything else first.
            d. But, we make the recovery much faster if we make early contact.
        2. The second step is to welcome the clean-up team.
            a. God has given us brothers and sisters in faith for support.
            b. often, we ignore their help by pretending every thing’s alright.
            c. But the process works best if we get them involved when we first notice there’s a problem.
            d. Let them in on the project when you first sense a need.
        3. Lastly, we are called to give thanks.
            a. I fully believe that God likes to hear us say “Thank you!”
            b. But I also think there is great value in giving public thanks.
            c. In that process, others are encouraged to turn to God for restoration.

Friends, God has more than enough power to restore us when we are in need.  Whether the root of the problem is inside us or outside us, whether physical or spiritual, God is ready to put our lives back on track.  The questions is not “Can God?”  but “Will we turn to God for help?”

And as you go from this place, may you walk in the way of Christ Jesus and May God always find you faithful!