There are times in our lives when life is difficult. Sometimes it is a series of painful events that leaves us drained of energy. We search for answers thinking "Is God punishing me?" even when we know better. It could be a death in our family; or a relative in a serious car accident; or a relationship that dissolves; or someone angry with us at work, or at home. Whatever it is, it puts our life on hold temporarily.

Not only our physical self, but our emotional state and spiritual state is disrupted as we try to manage this new event along with our regular routine. We are tired and irritable; we are also worried and scared. Often these events cluster and we find ourselves balancing a good deal more than we ever have before. These are times when not only our stamina is challenged; so too is our faith.

There are other times where we experience great peace and joy, filled with good times and relationships that leave us feeling all is right with the world. Maybe we have found a better balance between work and play. Or perhaps we have decided to initiate some new spiritual care for ourselves; some time away that refreshes; things that contribute to our over all health that leave us rested, content, and connected to God and each other.

Finally, there are those times in our lives when it feels like everything is crashing in at once. It seems like one catastrophe signals another, in a contagious snowball of events. No sooner is one fire put out than another one erupts. These are the events that are not life-threatening, but need our immediate attention; like our car breaking down, or an unexpected water leak, or unanticipated dental work; those events that are usually out of our control.

This past July there was a storm of such force that ripped over our heads, causing considerable damage to our homes and yards. It was reported as the worst local storm in 45 years. Windows were blown out, screens shredded, carpeting and furniture destroyed, house paint stripped from our homes. But for those of us who were affected, it was the roof damage created by the force of the wind that held the most concern.

In our neighborhood, we still hear the cacophony of hammers pounding everywhere. Roofs with tiles waiting to be done are now covered with yesterday’s snow. All the arrangements demand extra chunks of time we had not anticipated.

This is not just at home. The same cycle occurred in our church too, where damage was found in both the building and grounds. Members have had surgery, fallen, been sick, all in the last couple of weeks. An even greater loss has been the death of both Karl Koch and George Swallow, this week alone. I have heard the stories of so many of you these past two weeks, struggling with the trauma of juggling multiple demands at the same time.

None of us are exempt from this part of life; not you; not Ron, nor me. After a wonderful summer that left me feeling whole, physically, mentally and spiritually, the pace shifted dramatically just around the time Ron left for vacation. It was mid September and life at the church had geared up. There were three new classes to prepare; additional preaching and worship planning, moderating the Session, members in the hospital, a member’s relative in jail, and two memorial services, for starters. I think it is safe to say that during those two weeks I was working at full capacity. But it wasn’t just me. All of our staff had their own ministry challenges and time constraints with deadlines and events occurring in their lives too. This is ministry, and for me, it was an energizing time of variety and learning, with things going pretty well.

Now it is one thing if you are working full speed ahead at work and enjoying it. It is quite another when life at home has a series of calamities going off at the same time. One morning, during this same two week period at church, we noticed the wood floor in front of our dishwasher had buckled which led to the discovery of a leak that had gone on for several months until it was noticeable. Then ensued the insurance company, the bids and the sticker shock of buying a new dishwasher, and the three week delay in receiving it.

What I thought was a simple matter of replacing a few boards turned out to be a major project involving most of the first floor. China Cabinet, furniture, rugs, refrigerator, stove, everything had to be moved and stacked wherever we could find space. There were no chairs to sit on, or meals to be made. Eating out was added to the schedule and a fine dust began to settle over everything.

Also during these two weeks, the earlier report that we had escaped roof damage, was reversed; more bids and insurance assessment amidst the ongoing stages of completing the floor. The roof needed replacing, they said, and on cue, the next day the vacuum expired. At some point you laugh at the absurdity of it all and think " OK, bring it on"!

Just when we thought we could not handle one more thing, a beloved relative of Allen’s died and off we flew to Minnesota to plan and officiate at her service. Now keep in mind this all occurred during this same two weeks.

There simply are times in our lives when we are stretched to the maximum. Yet, often right in the middle of a dilemma we find renewed energy, the discernment for decisions to be made, the hope that whatever the situation, we will get through it. Neighbors offer acts of kindness, information is shared, we get some rest and begin to notice some improvement.

If we have put down roots, if we have planted carefully, then in the midst of disaster, we can find our way to God’s provision; right there in the middle of it all. That is, if we have learned to look for it. Today’s passage reminds us that, quote, "God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that we are ready for anything and everything, more than just ready, to do what needs to be done." This is God’s abundant love.

It’s not about telling God what we need, as much as it is looking and listening for those astonishing blessings in the midst of our turmoil that God is already giving us. Like our neighbor who shipped an item overnight that we needed for the funeral. Or like the two men who came to install our dishwasher. I asked what they charged for removing the old dishwasher. "Lady," he said, "It looks like you’ve had quite enough already going on here; were going to take it without charge."

God’s blessings aren’t a matter of jumping to our demanding prayers. God’s blessings are things of the heart, things that help us survive and that we can offer others. God’s gifts are greater than things, like peace and patience, gentleness or self control; those fruits of the Spirit that we don’t have on our own. God’s blessings are often surprises; the arrival of the unexpected. They are pebbles of hope along the way and they remind us that what we are experiencing is not the last word.

Our God is so generous but we can miss it if we aren’t careful. We can believe God is not answering our prayers when the response is not what we requested. When our child gets sick, maybe the extra time with them is something special. When we are grieving at a funeral, perhaps a relationship is moving toward reconciliation. Or an installer is moved to offer an unexpected kindness.

It is easy for us to blame God for the struggles in our lives and neglect to give thanks for all the good we receive. But God continues to be extravagant with us and it is through our giving that we are being transformed.

Does God expect us to give everything away? No, of course not. We are expected to manage our resources carefully. We are invited to give of our time, our abilities, and our money; not select from one of the three. God asks us to give proportionately of what we have; not from what’s left over. At some level we know this, but sometimes we yield to the world’s way of desiring things, over the kind of people we can be.

At times, we are all find ourselves worshipping the golden calves in our lives, blocking out the provisions of God. In case you think you are exempt from such temptation, Barbara Brown Taylor suggests what she calls a few "golden calf detectors" to consider; our checkbooks for one. A quick review of our checks reveals what we worship the most.

Or, how about our calendars? Who or what gets most of our time which is even more valuable than money? How do we honor the Sabbath? Is it Sunday? Another day? Or not at all? Do we spend time resting in God? Listening for direction? If not, what is preventing it? Do we set aside a time to be with God, or squeeze in what’s left over? And what about the golden calf of our jobs that offer security, or our homes that offer comfort? Or how about a relationship that promises protection? Or a car that offers prestige? Or what about how we love our families? All good things until we allow them to carry more importance in our lives than God. There are simply all sorts of little golden calves lurking around and we need be on guard.

None of these things are evil things; for evil things are the easiest to detect. Rather, it is the good things that sneak up on us, that have the potential of stealing time away from God. Our possessions take time. It is in following the ways of the world that we can strip us from our relationship with God.

When I talk to people who have lost their job, or whose marriage has dissolved, or whose health has failed, those golden calves have lost their allure. Suddenly, their relationship with God is foremost.

God is not into things like we are. God is more focused on producing life, abundant life, extravagant life, my-cup–runneth-over kind of life, which is not about comfort, security, power or prestige.

We can choose to worship other gods. We can ignore the wisdom of the Bible. We can avoid learning the importance of giving in our lives. We can give what’s left over. But we know there is a better way.

Last year, in an extraordinary move, this church pledged a 7% increase, before we knew the extent of our stock market loss. We not only made a pledge; but we increased it! I found that to be a remarkable statement of faith.

God gives us so much that we want to give back. It is a way to worship and give thanks. Eugene Peterson puts it this way: "God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist put it,

God’s provision and protection comes from this truth. As Habakkuk reminds us, we know of the marvelous deeds of God; in our world, with those we know, and within ourselves; and we stand in awe of it.

Amen