Live In The Light!

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”
                                         Genesis 1:1-4   

                                                      

God saw that the light that he had created was good. It's probably a good idea; therefore, to live life in the light.

 

God's Peace and have a blessed day!

Pr. J

Proclamation: The Mission



Yes, indeed, it is all "for the Lord!"

For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying,

“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”

And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”

Heb 2:11-13

 

Today we will gather together at our annual meeting. We will review the past year. Even as we do, may God help us to glean, from that information, insight into how best we can serve our God and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

As we meet this morning let us not just look back; but, forward, considering the mission which God has called us to. We are not a social club. We are a community of saints called by God to proclaim God's name and what He has done and does do for us.

 

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

 

As we plan for the future serving God and our brothers and sisters in Christ, may God help us to remember our mission. According to the mission statement we unanimously approved at an annual meeting a few years ago: Our mission is to proclaim and teach the true word of God; to nurture members in the Faith; to reach out in witness and service, ministering to the community, and to participate in God’s mission throughout the world.

 

May God help us to be fruitful in the mission He has called us to.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Only One Sign For Eternal Life

"And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red
and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky,
but you cannot interpret the signs of the times." Matt 16:3 NIV

I was very young when my mother began teaching me some pretty cool things; especially if you live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She taught me how not to get lost in the woods when picking wildflowers by observing the position of the sun or the moon and what side the moss grows on a tree. She taught me how to track, at least well enough to follow my own trail back out of the woods. She also taught me how to forecast the weather by watching the leaves on the trees or the color of the skies. She taught me "red skies at night, sailors' delight; red skies in the morning, sailors take warning."

When the Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus to show them a sign from heaven he told them there would be only one sign for them. That sign would be the sign of Jonah. The prophet Jonah, you might recall, had spent three days floating around in a watery abyss in the belly of a big fish. He had thought at the time that this would be his grave; his final resting place.

The sign that Jesus was referring to was that he, himself, would repeat the sign of Jonah. But, this time it would be for the salvation of all people; for all who would believe him. Three days he spent in the grave. He descended into hell. (1 Pet 3:18-20) And... just as Jonah was spit from the mouth of the fish to go and proclaim God's message to those nasty Ninevites that they might be saved and live; on the third day Jesus rose from the grave so that all who believe him would be saved and inherit eternal life.

God gave us many signs in creation to assist us in our daily lives. But, Jesus, is the only sign that we need for eternal life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 15:1-13 Ramblings

Romans 15:1-13
Soon and very soon (like tomorrow night, Christmas Eve) our sanctuaries will be filled with people who have come to praise God. It is a pleasure to see so many "Gentiles" gathered together to glorify His Holy Name.

St. Paul encouraged the followers to lift one another up with endurance; that all would hear what the scriptures would teach us. His hope was that God would give us all "the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice we might glorify God." May it be so, not just on Christmas Eve or Easter morning; but in all times and in all places.

We are given the scriptures so that we might learn who this Jesus is. Hear them. Read them. Study them. We are given the Holy Spirit that we might understand and be empowered to follow this one who came down to earth to save us from ourselves (and each other). Have mercy on one another, as Christ has mercy. Love one another, as Christ loves. Enter this Christmas season with a desire to do go to our neighbors; to live in unity and peace that God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ might be glorified in all that we say and think and do.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Not sure what to title this.... It has been a long night and sadly, I have rambled... Have a peaceful Christmas!

Jeremiah 37 - Light After Darkness

Jeremiah is thrown into prison for preaching the word of God. Of course, he is arrested under the pretext that he is a traitor. He was not.

This seems to be a not so uncommon an occurrence when the truth is told. The enemy will do what it can to make it look like you have done something wrong other than speak the truth. It might be your neighbor or even a family member who will falsely accuse you. It might even be your own government. The fact that you are speaking the truth so that the people might be saved will be overlooked and you may end up being branded a criminal, even a traitor. You may be imprisoned.

But, that is the chance truth-tellers must take in order to help their neighbors; in order to save them. Jeremiah was put into prison for speaking the truth. Jesus was put to death for proclaiming it. Not everyone wants to hear the truth and come out into the light. Not everyone wants to be released from the bondage of darkness. They would prefer to drag the rest of the world into their own dark little world. But, remember this when someone drags you into deep, dark dungeons: "...weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5b NIV). There is light after darkness....

"Light after Darkness," a hymn for this morning written by Frances R. Havergal, in 1879:

Light after darkness, gain after loss,
Strength after weakness, crown after cross;
Sweet after bitter, hope after fears,
Home after wandering, praise after tears.
Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain,
Sight after mystery, peace after pain;
Joy after sorrow, calm after blast,
Rest after weariness, sweet rest at last.
Near after distant, gleam after gloom,
Love after loneliness, life after tomb;
After long agony, rapture of bliss,
Right was the pathway, leading to this.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 59 - Dance and Sing Praises!

Whoa... Yet, another lamentation!  How blessed I feel this morning not to be able to understand where such a desire for vengeance could come from. 

I fell asleep with music in my head, last night.  I don't listen to a lot of music.  There's a conflict in my house over which genre is best so music isn't played much in the home, any more, especially when we're at home at the same time.  That doesn't mean I don't enjoy it, though.

Last night, as I feel asleep, the "Lord of the Dance" (lyrics by Sydney Carter) kept playing in my head. 

   "Dance, dance, wherever you may be
   I am the lord of the dance, said he
   And I lead you all, wherever you may be
   And I lead you all in the dance, said he"

And this morning, the song swirling around in my head was a Garth Brooks song, "Standing outside the Fire."

   "Standing outside the fire 
   Standing outside the fire
   Life is not tried, it is merely survived
   If you're standing outside the fire"

Waking up to music in my head, for a change, gave me a bit of food for thought.  Why?  Doesn't happen much.  And... these two songs?  Why?  Was I, am I, in danger of stepping outside His refining fires or dancing outside the fire of His Love.  Or... maybe the Lord of the dance is trying to lead me farther inside the fire?    And... wondering what kind of journey that might be. 

We ponder our journey in this world (at least I do).  What does it mean?  No matter where we are led, as we follow in the footsteps of our LORD, may God help us to complain less and sing more, for He is our strength and our fortress, our God in whom we trust.

"You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely." (Psalm 59:17 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr J.

Cross references:

1. Psalm 59:1 : 1Sa 19:11
2. Psalm 59:1 : Ps 143:9
3. Psalm 59:1 : S Ps 20:1
4. Psalm 59:2 : Ps 14:4; 36:12; 53:4; 92:7; 94:16
5. Psalm 59:2 : S Ps 26:9; 139:19; Pr 29:10
6. Psalm 59:3 : S Ps 56:6
7. Psalm 59:4 : Ps 119:3
8. Psalm 59:4 : Mt 5:11
9. Psalm 59:4 : S Ps 13:3
10. Psalm 59:5 : Ps 69:6; 80:4; 84:8
11. Psalm 59:5 : S Ps 44:23
12. Psalm 59:5 : S Ps 9:5; S Isa 10:3
13. Psalm 59:5 : Jer 18:23
14. Psalm 59:6 : ver 14; Ps 22:16
15. Psalm 59:7 : Ps 94:4; Pr 10:32; 12:23; 15:2, 28
16. Psalm 59:7 : S Ps 55:21
17. Psalm 59:7 : S Job 22:13
18. Psalm 59:8 : Ps 37:13; Pr 1:26
19. Psalm 59:8 : Ps 2:4
20. Psalm 59:9 : S Ps 18:1
21. Psalm 59:9 : Ps 9:9; 18:2; 62:2; 71:3
22. Psalm 59:11 : Ps 3:3; 84:9
23. Psalm 59:11 : Dt 4:9; 6:12
24. Psalm 59:11 : Ps 89:10; 106:27; 144:6; Isa 33:3
25. Psalm 59:12 : Ps 10:7
26. Psalm 59:12 : Ps 64:8; Pr 10:14; 12:13
27. Psalm 59:12 : Isa 2:12; 5:15; Zep 3:11
28. Psalm 59:13 : Ps 104:35
29. Psalm 59:13 : Ps 83:18
30. Psalm 59:15 : Job 15:23
31. Psalm 59:16 : Ps 108:1
32. Psalm 59:16 : S 1Sa 2:10
33. Psalm 59:16 : Ps 5:3; 88:13
34. Psalm 59:16 : Ps 101:1
35. Psalm 59:16 : S 2Sa 22:3
36. Psalm 59:16 : S Dt 4:30
37. Psalm 59:17 : ver 10