Thanks Be To God For All The Saints

Today is all Saints Sunday. At worship this morning we will be placing in the offering plates. as an offering of thanksgiving, the names of many who have gone before us and many who are still with us who have helped us on our journeys through this world. Some have fed us with food for our bodies while others have fed us spiritually.

Christ has worked through many to help us on our journey; to bring us closer to God; to help build up our faith by sharing the Word with us. They have and continue to give much for the sake of the Body of Christ. Some have given food and shelter. Some have fed us with the Word of God. Some have given even their whole lives for us. So, today we give thanks to God for those saints who so generously have given of their love.

St. Paul wrote: "You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God." 2 Cor 9:11-12

Indeed, let us give thanks, today and every day, for the generosity and the willingness of others to make Christ known to us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Col 3 Be Kind

Colossians 3 NIV

Compassion, kindness, gentleness,
patience....

A friend recently tried to do a favor for someone; even though he had no clue as to who it was that he was trying to help. He was just trying to do the right thing. He was trying to help someone in need. For trying to do the right thing he was majorly disrespected. We live in a world where people can really be ugly to others even when they are being served with the best of intentions by others. Compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience are often greeted with anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language. I am confident that this will not stop this friend from doing the right thing in the future nor should it ever stop us from living life according to the love and peace that we have received in Christ.

St. Paul reminds us that whatever we do we should do at it with all our hearts, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. He reminds us to say and do all that we can to promote peace among us; to respect and to love one another. Do not let the haters in this world stop you from living life in Christ, pray for them. And, whatever you do, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Corinthians 9 Sow Many Seed

2 Corinthians 9 NIV
For the last few years, I've attempted to plant a garden. I sow very few seeds as my garden is very small. Someone in my household does not want a garden infringing on the space that belongs to the driveway. In the fall, I reap almost nothing. In order to reap a harvest we must sow generously.

Likewise the church on earth is like a garden. In order to reap a good harvest. In order for the church to grow, we must plant many seeds. We must scatter the seeds everywhere we go. We are to scatter our gifts to the poor and he who supplies the seed will increase our store of seed and enlarge the harvest so that we can be even more generous.

So that we can be even more generous.... Get that? The harvest is not for ourselves, no matter what the prosperity preachers preach. It's not about new cars and fancy homes. The harvest is so that we can be generous in assisting those in need. The harvest is so to help us plant even more seeds so that the church might continue to grow.

St. Paul encourages the people to give generously to the offering with cheerful hearts. In this way we supply the needs of the Lord's people as well as bring about many expressions of thanks to God.

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." (vs 12-13)

Sow many seeds, that the harvest might be abundant and glory given to God. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 7 I Do Not Do What I Desire

Baptized into the Body of Christ
Huron River, MI

Romans 7 NIV
Saints, yet sinners; justified by the blood of Christ, daily we continue to struggle with sin. You and I are not alone in this. Even Paul, who was marvelously converted when he met the ascended Jesus on his way to persecute more Christians, continued to struggle with his sinful self. He wrote:

     "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
     So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (vs 15-25)

The fight with sin is an ongoing battle within us. We confess and ask forgiveness for those things that we have done as well as for those things that we have left undone. We confess and ask forgiveness daily even as we remember our baptisms into the Body of Christ; giving thanks to God who has delivered us from even ourselves.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 24:50-53 Ascend

Luke 24:50-53 NIV
We come to the end of the Gospel of St. Luke. The Good News culminates with Jesus blessing his followers and ascending into heaven in full view of the disciples. What did they do after Jesus disappears from their sight? They rejoiced. They worshipped him. They went to the temple praising God. What a fit way to respond to the end of yet another chapter in the story. What a marvelous way to respond to the end of yet another leg of their journey. But, even as one leg of the journey may be over, another begins. Every journey has it's ups and downs. The disciples will encounter much persecution as they continue their journey following in the footsteps of Jesus; proclaiming the Good News. But, they will be prepared. They know that God has a good plan and a good purpose. After all, they have seen the resurrected Jesus rise into the Kingdom of God. He has taken his place as King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, and we can all know that this Prince of Peace is with us, no matter what happens, even to the end of the age. In this we rejoice and give thanks to God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 9:10-17 Feed 5000

Luke 9:10-17 NIV
The apostles had been busy healing the sick and kicking out demons. Yet, when the crowd of 5000 men (plus) were hungry after following Jesus and listening to him, the apostles didn't have a clue. Jesus tells them to feed them. But, how? How are we going to feed them? We have nothing to feed them with!

Power to drive out demons, but not the ability to feed the hungry? That doesn't compute! Jesus takes the little that they have: five loaves of bread and two fish, gives thanks to God, gives it to the disciples to distribute, and they feed everyone, with leftovers, to boot.
The power of God to care for His people should never be underestimated. The apostles were a bit slow in understanding this; but, I think that we might even be slower.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 12:1-17 God's Property

Mark 12:1-17 NIV
Every Sunday I give thanks, publicly at worship, to God for all that He has given us. Every Sunday, I wonder if everyone really gets its. All that we have are gifts from God, given to us for use for the good of not just us, but for all people, for the glory of God. He is the landowner and we would put his Son to death over and over again in order to keep those things that God has given for our own glory rather than His.

When we are gone from this earth we will leave many possessions behind. Others will get to choose what is done with them; whether they are used for God's glory; whether they are used to grow the Kingdom.

Give to God what is God's. Does not everything ultimately belong to Him?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 24 - Grandfatherly Figure; Not!

If everyone actually read the old testament, maybe, we would appreciate and not take for granted the new covenant that has come to us through Jesus the Christ, just a little bit more.

I don't know how many times I've had people tell me that they just can't believe in a grandfatherly figure sitting up some where up on the clouds. Read the old testament and you will find a picture of God that they probably did not teach you in Sunday School.

The picture that Isaiah 24 paints is one of devastation for the people of the earth. The earth has been defiled by the people according to this prophecy and their will be consequences.  But, there is good news in this chapter as well. There is good news for those who love their creator and redeemer. "The moon will be dismayed, the sun ashamed; for the Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders—with great glory." (Isa 24:23)

You see, it doesn't really matter whether you believe or not. It doesn't change God one iota. God is still God and He will reign! Worship the LORD, your God and give Him thanks for He has sent One and only One to redeem the world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 136 - Great Hallel

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1 NIV)

This song is familiar to all who have celebrated the Passover meal as it is one of the psalms sung during the meal. It is known as the Great Hallel. Sound familiar? Sound a bit like Hallulajh! The Great Hallel gives thanks and glorifies God for all that He has done: creating all things, saving the people from bondage, and all the miracles that went with both of those activities. The Great Hallel is a reminder what God had done, is doing, and will do for His children. 

Be assured, His love for you endures forever. Give thanks for He is good and is with you, now and forever, protecting, providing, caring for every aspect of you and your life. Give Him thanks and praise for all that He has done! Hallelujah... we can depend on Him for our lives!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 100 - Thanks Giving!

A reason to shout for joy.... God is good. We were provided with an abundance of snow - enough to finally bank the house over the last few days.  Snow is good.  It waters the earth and in the frigid temperatures that sometimes happen up here in the U.P., it is an insulator.  So after Worship, yesterday morning, we got out and piled the snow up against the house.  This morning, I am walking on warm floors.  The cold winds off Lake Superior are no longer blowing beneath my home.

So this morning, as I reflect on yesterday, I am thankful for:
     the snow to keep us warm and the utility bill down.
     the exercise I received moving the snow (I don't get too much exercise in the winter - could - but -
         dont')
     for the opportunity to worship.
     for the fact that the annual report was finished and distributed to many for review.
     for all the children who helped serve at worship yesterday.
     for the fellowship at Zion afterward.
     for being able to cook supper for our son and granddaughter and visit with them for awhile
        yesterday.
     for waking up this morning.
     for being able to work serving the LORD this morning.

The list is actually pretty endless, but I think you probably get the idea.

The LORD is God.  Give thanks to Him for all of His gifts.  "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."  (Psalm 100:5 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 67 - God, our God, Blesses Us

Psalm 67 reminds us of the blessings that God has so graciously given to us. We have much to be grateful for. 

Christmas Eve is less than a week away. Advent is about anticipation.  One of the things, I wait in anticipation for, throughout Advent, is the huge number of visitors and guests, as well as members, who we don't see that often, gather together to Worship on Christmas Eve.  I cannot wait for all of them to hear the Good News.  I wait longingly to hear the assembly sing for joy as they hear the Good News of what God has done for them, to proclaim the LORD's salvation to them.  I cannot wait, to hear all those voices sing with joy the praises of God, our God.

May the LORD bless us and keep us.  May He make His face to shine upon on us.  Let us give thanks and praise for all that God, our God, has done for us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

 

Psalm 65 - Atonement

The Lord, our God, indeed has provided atonement for our transgressions (Psalm 65:3). 

None are without sin.  Yet, those who turn to the Lord, their sin against Him is forgiven.  The one who created and established all things; the one in charge of all things; He has reconciled us to himself through the gift of His only begotten Jesus the Christ. The lamb of God was slain.  He is our atonement.

We sing and give thanks to the Lord, our God, for He is our salvation.  Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit! 

God's Peace - Pr. J