Merry Christmas

Greeting in the name of the Savior,

         Merry Christmas everyone! I pray that this season will be a blessing to you and your family and friends. It is a time that comes upon us each year as we remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus. He was born in an obscure village, alone with just Mary and Joseph to welcome him into the world that he would eventually die for. However, he was never truly alone, because his heavenly Father was with him every moment of the day and night that he lived and breathed on earth as a human.

         Jesus was greeted by a host of angels, shepherds, animals and eventually the wise men from far off nations. Jesus came to us to be born amongst us, born to a little unknown teenage girl who was very afraid when she was told she would be the mother of God. I don’t know about you, but I would be terrified if an angel showed up and told me I was going to be a very important person in the world today. Someone that would change the course of history.

         As the Christmas season goes  again this year into another memory, let us carry the Christmas story in our hearts and daily lives, so that others can see the Glory in the Highest!

Revive Us Again

When we think about the Holy Spirit, what comes to your mind? For me, I think about gentleness, quiet breezes, then I also think about fire and red glows of light shining forth.

The better question might be what do you know about the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit works in the world today?

Many years ago I learned that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. If this is true then why do we not see the miracles and edification of the third person of theatre its awe did in New Testament times?

All of these questions are vital to our understanding and belief in the presence of God in our lives today! You see, for me the Holy Spirit is real and on the move. The Holy Spirit is active even when we do not realize that things are happening. Take for example revival; revival has been a huge part of the history of our church. We had the First Great Awakening, then came the Second Great Awakening. Now we have a time in the church where the Holy Spirit needs to come alive to us again. We need to all experience a revival in our own hearts and souls, so that God can do what God does best; which is bring the hearts of the people back to  a place of repentance for our sin.

In the church today we don’t like to talk to much about sin, but sin is with us, it has not gone away; for our hearts were made sinful as a result of the first sin. Now we have all sinned and come short of God ‘s glory.

So my prayer for this time of reflection is: Holy Spirit come to us again, bring us into a new and deeper relationship with you, so that we can grow stronger in our understanding of your Word, your forgiveness and grace. Revive our hearts so that well can be cleansed from our sin and become a new person in our walk as a follower of Jesus. Just like you did for all the saints that have gone on before us. Make us new this day! Amen

Thougths for a Summer Day

As I sit again on my porch and reflect on what greatness God has provided for me I am amazed at His love and grace. There are times when sitting quietly before our God can be so refresshing, like a tall cold glass of lemonade on a hot lazy day of summer.

That refreshing feeling comes over us when we allow the HOLY SPIRIT to reside within us and work through us to bring forth the gifts given to us.  You might say, but pastor I don't know what these gifts are? This is a perfect time to sit quietly and reflect on skills and talents that come so naturally to you.

You see, God knows you better than you know yourself; for God created you to be just the way you are. Frustrations and All!

The HOLY SPIRIT is partner with our Creator that brings forth power and authority in our spritual lives to accomplish things we never thought we could. 

Remember the Scripture written in Matthew 28: 18-20 
               "And Jesus came and said to them, 
                'All authority in heaven and on earth 
                has been given to me. Go therefore and 
                make disciples of all nations, baptizing 
                them in the name of the Father, and of 
                the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching 
                them to obey everything that I have 
                commanded you. And remember, I Am 
                with you always, to the end of the age." (NRSV)

There are no better or stronger words than these when we accept the fact that God will work through us, flaws and all!

Until next time,
Be Blessed!

Reflections From The Lake

As I sit on the porch near the lake, in which we have enjoyed these past few weeks, I am thinking of the reflections on the water. Each day we had the blessed opportunity to see such beautiful reflections of the sun, moon and shade from the trees upon the lake and the mountains that surround.

Reflections are something that can shine forth beauty and peace. At other times reflections can be harsh and cold. No matter what, reflections show truth of the moment when the reflecting takes place.

As followers of Christ we need to look at our reflection; the reflection we show off to others in the world in which we live, work and love.

I am not sure what kind of mirror Jesus had in his time to see the reflection he gave off; but I assume he did not need one, for he was the true reflection of our heavenly God and Father. This very reflection that Jesus showed the world was one of love, truth, and a willingness to serve others. For Jesus was a person who never thought of himself first. He always put God's children, God's creation and God's love for those searching for the truth out in front.

My question for you is; what does your reflection look like? Is it something that brings glory to God's name, so that others that are around you can learn of the eternal love that was given through Jesus?  Or is it dark and cold, like the bitterness of greed, selfishness, or sin that has brought a dark cloud over your life?

Today is the day that you can have the Son of God bring forth the beauty of his reflection into your life; if only you ask! The Scripture says, ask and you shall receive, seek and the door will be opened to you. (Matt. 7:7)

Let us bring forth the reflection of God's love into our lives so that others may see God's grace and mercy!

With Sadness and Love

This week we have felt great sadness with the news of violence

that has touched the house of God! Let us be in prayer for all the family members, church members, friends, colleagues, neighbors, fellow believers in Christ who died at the hands of a young man who showed us the face of true evil.

Holy One, help us to forgive the young man who caused such pain this week in Charleston, SC. Teach us to love like you taught by example as you walked this earth and gave us redemption  through your own death and resurrection.

Comfort those who mourn, heal those who hurt, love those who do not know your redeeming grace. Help us to learn from our past so that we can bring peace to our future. Amen

A New Normal

Change is something that comes to everyone, at some point and time in our lives we will all be known to change. It is how we gracefully embrace the change that faces us.

     As we move through life stages, we see rapid change. From the day of our birth to age 5 our bodies and minds are growing and changing so rapidly we can hardly keep up.

     It is no different in the time of the church. From the moment that Jesus was crucified, died and rose again the birth of the church took on such rapid change that the disciples even had a hard time keeping up. From the time of Pentecost and the disciples finding themselves in the upper room praying for what would be next; the Holy Spirit arrives on the scene and they all received power to do mighty things in the name of Jesus, the Christ.

     Peter speaks boldly for the first time in public since Jesus was no longer with them on a daily basis. The followers of Jesus needed to find a "new normal" for themselves. They had to learn to trust God more than ever.

     Church, are we ready to address a "new normal"? Or are we going to get angry and fight amongst ourselves, or are we going take the focus off of ourselves and trust God for what God has had planned for God's church from the beginning of time?

      I would prefer to take my eyes off of the "new normal" and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and the grace and love that comes with knowing Jesus as my savior and redeemer of all people!

    Let us not find ourselves like those that heard the disciples speaking in many languages wondering what was happening; but keeping our focus on the mission of what we are to do: 1st - pray; 2nd - share God's love and forgiveness with all those we meet; 3rd - pray more!

Acts 2: 17 

"And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all humanity;..." (HCSB)

So what is Pentecost really? 

We celebrate it each year in the church. the color is red on the altar, so what's all the fuss about?

HERE YOU GO!!!!

God tells us that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us! This power is what the disciples were waiting for that day in the upper rooom. Men AND women alike were gathered together to pray until they knew that God had done what Jesus promised! God sent them the Comforter and told them to "...go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation." Mark 16: 15 (HCSB)

Let us take the day we celebrate as Pentecost  and make it every day  inorder to become people of the Spirit of the Living God and preach the Gospel of Jesus everywhere we go, through all the things we do, for all the people that cross our path!

Ash Wednesday

                                             

Psalm 51: 1-3 “¹ Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. ² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”(NRSV)

 Ashes, suffering and pending death, never seems like a great topic to start a conversation with someone.  We participate in the service of Ash Wednesday as we begin the season of Lent. During the 40 days prior to Easter we are to be in a state of repentance. You see we place ashes on our foreheads to remind us of the suffering that Jesus encountered during his trial, crucifixion and death.

The ashes that are placed on our foreheads as an outward symbol of suffering actually are made from the burning of the palms that we use as a reminder of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

What a contrast; we see the palms as joyous in the celebration and then the ashes as a sign of death and suffering.

These ashes we wear as a symbol of all the suffering we experience through the separation of our relationship with God through our sin.

Once we complete the journey of Lent, we once again see the glorified and risen Christ. The one who came to reclaim us from our eternal suffering to a place of relationship and love that God has for all God's children.

So wear your ashes, as a sign of repentance for the sin we have committed and how Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for each one of us!