All the tinsel,
all the toys
are empty to compare
with the treasure of life that's born,
and the grief that we now bear.
How could it be that just this day
they hugged and kissed goodbye,
not knowing it would be the final time
to hold them oh so tight?
O Lord, please send your Spirit down
to comfort those who mourn,
the ones in shock and disbelief
from whom these precious lives were torn.
You who give your only Son
who wept, suffered and died.
You know the darkness and the pain
and collect each tear that's cried.
Baby Jesus, help us see
the precious gift you are;
the hope wrapped up you offer us
of life beyond the stars.
A life that's free from suffering.
The life You bought at Calvary.
That spans into eternity;
away from all this pain and misery.
Come, Savior, Come and make it real
to hearts in darkness and alone.
Show them your love and set them free
to hope in the eternal Home.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
The Light of the World
It's wonderful to be together, to celebrate the Light of the World! What a gift light is!!
The mystery of Christmas is revealed in the gospel of John: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
We must become like children to grasp the wonder of Christmas. The amazing truth that God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us, and will graciously take care of us..
He is more thoughtful than we ever imagined Santa to be!! And thankfully, He doesn't count our sins against us! Childlike trust in His love and care empowers our faith. We love Him because he first loved us.
Jesus said about us: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Finally, let me close in prayer with this familiar blessing from the Bible: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Could you imagine what it would be like to wake up tomorrow morning to find that the sun had burned out and our days would be dark as night? Awful thought, huh? The days are short enough in the winter. How we treasure the sunshine we get to enjoy!
Sunlight is the fuel of life, providing energy for every life form.. It warms and brightens our days and our moods. It helps us to see clearly. My house looks pretty clean when it’s dimly lit. But bright lights expose the mess. I’ve learned that I now need my glasses to clean thoroughly these days!!
Recently Paul and I flew over SuperStorm Sandy on our way to a conference. It was amazing to look below us and see the ominous, dark clouds, and see the brilliant sunshine above. The people on the ground below were completely separated from the beams of sunshine and many were suffering the terrible effects that storm brought. In the same way, our sin separates us from a holy God and hides his face from us. Without Christ, we are all in spiritual darkness.
But the promise we celebrate at Christmas is that God who said, 'let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
The Christmas lights we enjoy can be a reminder of that first Christmas, when the Light dawned.. Isaiah prophesied 600 years before Christ’s birth:
"Behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.” (Is. 60:2)
It was a long, dark wait for that promise to be fulfilled. but finally the birth of Christ was announced: “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” (Mtt 4:16)
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
.
This world is filled with light and darkness, physically and spiritually. The blessings can be unspeakable and so can the misery. This was not God’s original plan! He made us to enjoy a relationship with Him and one another that would be complete joy. But sin entered the scene when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, and the rest is history. Poisoned by sin and alienated from God,with broken relationships and broken hearts, the human race has wandered ever since, seeking fulfillment in everything but God.
In this dark world, God offers us light. Ps. 119 says: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
The mystery of Christmas is revealed in the gospel of John: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
I don’t know where you are in your journey. Maybe you are suffering depression or some other sickness. Our church is filled with many health challenges, so we can relate. Perhaps you are lonely or grieving the loss of a loved one. Or maybe you’re just uncertain or fearful about your future.. Whatever darkness you may be experiencing, I pray God's light would shine into your life and give you hope, healing, and guidance. Most importantly, I pray you would receive the gift of forgiveness He offers to all who acknowledge their need. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. He made us, loves us, and is calling us to trust Him even now. He can dispel the darkness with His pure light. Our sin which is like a huge storm cloud, separating us from the light of His face, can be completely swept away by the power of His forgiveness. He guarantees a lasting hope that is not based on our circumstances or our performance, but on Christ’s life, death and resurrection.
His desire is for us to let Him into our lives. To open our hearts to the Light of His love. That may sound intimidating to you, and so it should! It’s one thing to dim the lights and hide, but to let the Lord shine His light into the closets of our lives means being willing to confess our sins and let Him in. This reminds me of an old booklet I have called, “My Heart, Christ’s Home.” Here’s a passage:
“One evening I invited Jesus Christ into my heart. What an entrance He made! It was not a spectacular,emotional thing, but very real. It was at the very center of my life. He came into the darkness of my heart and turned on the light. He built a fire in the cold hearth and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness, and He filled the emptiness with His own loving, wonderful fellowship. I have never regretted opening the door to Christ and I never will - not into eternity!
He has said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20). If you are interested in making your life an abode of the living God, let me encourage you to invite Christ into your heart and He will surely come.”
Ladies, the Savior is interested in a relationship with us more than anything else. Just like we aren’t ultimately satisfied with stuff at Christmas or any time. It’s relationships that matter. God created us for a relationship with Himself. He sent His Son on a mission to reconcile us to God! When we receive Him as our Savior, He forgives us and adopts us into His family forever. He promises to never leave or forsake us! There’s simply no greater need we have and no greater joy we can experience than this!
I was blessed to grow up knowing about Jesus from my wonderful parents and church, but it wasn’t until I became a young adult that I began to grasp the significance of God’s love for me and my need for Him. Away at college, with the innocence and security of childhood long gone, I realized just how much I needed forgiveness and guidance. One of my favorite verses meant the world to me at that time: Proverbs 3:5&6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” The light began to dawn while reading passages like this one. I had known about Jesus but hadn’t trusted him with all my heart. I began to take His promises personally.
Like this one:
“Yet to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God!”
Like a Christmas present given to us by God, He offers the perfect gift of His Son to us. To receive and believe Him is what we’re called to do.
We must become like children to grasp the wonder of Christmas. The amazing truth that God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us, and will graciously take care of us..
He is more thoughtful than we ever imagined Santa to be!! And thankfully, He doesn't count our sins against us! Childlike trust in His love and care empowers our faith. We love Him because he first loved us.
Jesus said about us: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Hiding a lamp under a basket would be like hiding our Christmas lights! Jesus has shone his light into our hearts and calls us to let His light shine through our lives. Like the moon, which has no light in and of itself, but reflects the light of the sun, we reflect God’s light as we allow Him to shine through us as we seek to be a blessing to others.
Now I must admit that one of the reasons we have this Tea is to shine the light of Christ. He is the greatest gift! Our precious Savior, the Light of the world, who came and pierced the darkness of this lost and broken world to rescue us from sin and separation from Himself. He lived the perfect life we’re incapable of and died the death we deserved in order to offer us forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. A life that starts here and continues in the new heaven and earth, where there will be no more darkness at all. No more sin and suffering!
May we remember that this life; this valley of the shadow of death, is just a part of the journey, not our final home. One day soon the heavenly city will appear. The end of this age is described in the gospel of Mark, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven..then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory..”(Mark 13:24-26)
This world as we know it will pass away and usher in the new. The future home for all who believe is described in the last book of the Bible, Rev. 21:23-24 “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day-and there will be no night there.” May we set our hearts on the lasting hope we anticipate there!
Finally, let me close in prayer with this familiar blessing from the Bible: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Of Mac and Marriage
I was thinking about an analogy for the debate regarding the definition of marriage. It goes like this:
Imagine Steve Job's invention of the Macintosh computer. It's a different baby than Windows in more ways than I understand. Suffice it to say that the Mac is not a Windows, although it can function in much the same way.
Now imagine with me the reality that God invented marriage and declared it to be a union between a man and a woman. This is clearly defined in his holy Word. Now fast forward to this generation and the desire to change the definition of God's creation. It's like calling a Mac a Windows. Call it what you will, it is not the same thing! Steve Jobs might just turn over in his grave! Out of respect for him and due to the legal rights of his company, this redefinition would not be possible. In like manner, try as we might, it is not possible to redefine marriage since we didn't make it up to begin with. This will only lead to more confusion in this already mixed-up world of ours. Apples are apples, after all.
Imagine Steve Job's invention of the Macintosh computer. It's a different baby than Windows in more ways than I understand. Suffice it to say that the Mac is not a Windows, although it can function in much the same way.
Now imagine with me the reality that God invented marriage and declared it to be a union between a man and a woman. This is clearly defined in his holy Word. Now fast forward to this generation and the desire to change the definition of God's creation. It's like calling a Mac a Windows. Call it what you will, it is not the same thing! Steve Jobs might just turn over in his grave! Out of respect for him and due to the legal rights of his company, this redefinition would not be possible. In like manner, try as we might, it is not possible to redefine marriage since we didn't make it up to begin with. This will only lead to more confusion in this already mixed-up world of ours. Apples are apples, after all.
Monday, October 01, 2012
Encourage!
Hebrews
3:12 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you and evil,
unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But
exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today”, that none
of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Hebrews 10:24 & 25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
I love these verses. They are certainly sober warnings, but they also contain great promises for productivity. The first is more negative: be careful to look after one another because you will be tempted and tried and need to stay strong by being reminded of the great and precious promises of the gospel. The second points the way to fruitfulness: through regular fellowship we are strengthened and encouraged to keep our love and our pursuit of good works strong.
We need each other. That’s why God gave us the church. We are the body of Christ and relationships are not optional. The fellowship is not about the coffee and donuts! It’s about putting courage into each other-that’s what encouragement means. And how we need it since we are swimming against a very strong current of sin within and without.
Are you your brother’s keeper? Sounds like we’re supposed to be!
Hebrews 10:24 & 25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
I love these verses. They are certainly sober warnings, but they also contain great promises for productivity. The first is more negative: be careful to look after one another because you will be tempted and tried and need to stay strong by being reminded of the great and precious promises of the gospel. The second points the way to fruitfulness: through regular fellowship we are strengthened and encouraged to keep our love and our pursuit of good works strong.
We need each other. That’s why God gave us the church. We are the body of Christ and relationships are not optional. The fellowship is not about the coffee and donuts! It’s about putting courage into each other-that’s what encouragement means. And how we need it since we are swimming against a very strong current of sin within and without.
Are you your brother’s keeper? Sounds like we’re supposed to be!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Loneliness
Loneliness reminds me
that the party in this life will not last,
that when I go, it will likely be alone,
that changes are constant and one thing remains:
My Lord is always by my side.
Loneliness reminds me
that laughter and tears are all a part of life,
that solace is found in a constant Friend,
that busyness is not always best.
Loneliness is a friend because
it teaches me to go to the One
who knows me best,
loves me most,
counts the number of hairs on my head.
Loneliness is not chosen,
but sometimes given
to tutor and train me
and prepare me for the Day
when all this world will be swept away.
Being alone is not lonely,
Feeling alone is.
Because of our Savior’s pledge to
never leave or forsake us,
we are never truly alone.
So remember the gift
of constant companionship He offers
to all who would have Him.
And embrace your loneliness
in His arms.
Let Him hold you and love you
as only He can do.
Let Him whisper sweet somethings
into the very heart of you.
His words are a treasure and
His promises a firm foundation
to build your life upon.
So when the winds and the rains come
when the storms are in full force
you will be fortified and ready
to face them.
With the Lord at your side,
with His words in your heart,
you can be strong and
face the giants in the land.
So loneliness is a friend
calling you and calling me
to come and meet the One
who can fill our soul’s emptiness
with His fullness.
Come now, forlorn soul,
and enjoy fellowship
with your faithful Friend.
that the party in this life will not last,
that when I go, it will likely be alone,
that changes are constant and one thing remains:
My Lord is always by my side.
Loneliness reminds me
that laughter and tears are all a part of life,
that solace is found in a constant Friend,
that busyness is not always best.
Loneliness is a friend because
it teaches me to go to the One
who knows me best,
loves me most,
counts the number of hairs on my head.
Loneliness is not chosen,
but sometimes given
to tutor and train me
and prepare me for the Day
when all this world will be swept away.
Being alone is not lonely,
Feeling alone is.
Because of our Savior’s pledge to
never leave or forsake us,
we are never truly alone.
So remember the gift
of constant companionship He offers
to all who would have Him.
And embrace your loneliness
in His arms.
Let Him hold you and love you
as only He can do.
Let Him whisper sweet somethings
into the very heart of you.
His words are a treasure and
His promises a firm foundation
to build your life upon.
So when the winds and the rains come
when the storms are in full force
you will be fortified and ready
to face them.
With the Lord at your side,
with His words in your heart,
you can be strong and
face the giants in the land.
So loneliness is a friend
calling you and calling me
to come and meet the One
who can fill our soul’s emptiness
with His fullness.
Come now, forlorn soul,
and enjoy fellowship
with your faithful Friend.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
He Holds It All Together
Col.1:17 “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
Do you ever feel like you can’t hold it together? Like the wheels are spinning out of control? If not you personally, maybe those you love or the church you belong to? I’ve been there and am often aware of frailty and weakness inside and out. How on earth are we going to do this thing? How can we make it happen?
The good news is we don’t and we can’t! This verse came to mind as I reflected on the last ten years which contain the sum total of our church’s history so far. God has not only held it together, He has built it. We certainly played our part, with His empowering grace. But, just like our faith, it’s a gift from God. Not from ourselves, so that there’s no room for boasting.
It is good news, very comforting and encouraging to really think this one over: IN HIM all things hold together. Coming apart at the seams seemingly? Run and hide in the One who keeps it all together for us!
Do you ever feel like you can’t hold it together? Like the wheels are spinning out of control? If not you personally, maybe those you love or the church you belong to? I’ve been there and am often aware of frailty and weakness inside and out. How on earth are we going to do this thing? How can we make it happen?
The good news is we don’t and we can’t! This verse came to mind as I reflected on the last ten years which contain the sum total of our church’s history so far. God has not only held it together, He has built it. We certainly played our part, with His empowering grace. But, just like our faith, it’s a gift from God. Not from ourselves, so that there’s no room for boasting.
It is good news, very comforting and encouraging to really think this one over: IN HIM all things hold together. Coming apart at the seams seemingly? Run and hide in the One who keeps it all together for us!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Ten Years In
It was ten years ago we took the plunge and planted King of Grace Church. What an amazing ride it has been! God has faithfully kept us and grown us into a wonderful community of believers intent on knowing the Savior and making him known. I want to reflect on some of the lessons learned and glorify the Lord.
When I say ‘a ride’ I mean it! The early years were a roller coaster ride! The ups and downs of church planting were enough to do me in. I had to learn to fix my eyes upon the Savior in order to stay relatively sane. If I focused on such things as numbers I was sure to be as unstable as they were.
I have seen God’s faithfulness proven again and again. He has always been there, each and every time we have gathered together. Whether the small and precious gatherings for care group (which are still, by the way, the heartbeat of our church), or the Sunday worship times. His Presence has met and nourished and encouraged and propelled us forward to this day. He is the most faithful one and the Head of our church.
He promised to provide all our needs and has done so without fail. Whether it’s just enough to pay the bills or the need for a worship leader, He has answered every time. Of course we prefer the cushioned life, but have learned that He often does not! He is jealous to show us that indeed He is the only Portion we need. We can trust in Him to provide in unexpected and unforeseen ways.
Church planting is not for the faint-hearted. But if God calls, He will enable you to step up to the plate if you’re the pastor, or cheer your man on if you’re the wife. He will help your kids enjoy the ride as well. Our four kids have grown deeply in the Lord through trusting Him, serving Him and watching Him come through. They have never suffered want and have enjoyed serving the Lord in so many ways that simply would not have been possible without the church plant.
As we celebrate this tenth anniversary, I must give honor where honor is due. It just so happens to be to my husband, so please excuse me. Paul has poured out his sweat and tears (thankfully no blood!) to love this church with all his might. I have seen God meet him and enable him in astounding ways to serve faithfully the precious people entrusted to his care. I get to see him at home and am so thankful that he is the same man who walks into church. His passion is Jesus and all he wants to do is be faithful. His comfort zone was engineering, but he enjoys the grace and pleasure of God in preaching and pastoring. He is also an amazing husband and father, always keeping his day off for the good of his own soul and ours.
After parenting, church planting has been the most challenging thing we’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding. What a privilege to serve the Lord and watch Him build His church.
Thank you Sovereign Grace Ministries for sending us and serving us to this day!!!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Motherhood
Motherhood
No higher honor than to nurture and bring forth life,
then to nurture that life to maturity.
No greater joy than to see that life flourish
in a relationship with its Creator God.
No deeper love than that of a Mother
the one who bore you, who bears your burdens,
and holds you always in her heart.
No words can speak her love,
No one but a mom can quite understand its contours.
This love is a life of concern that does not wane with time.
Day after day, her whispers of prayer do not cease.
The gift of a mom is of incalculable worth.
She is the beauty and grace, sweetness and wisdom
that God bestows upon His creation.
Thank You Lord for my wonderful mom and for making me a mom as well.
No greater joy, no deeper pain can be felt than that of a mom's heart.
No higher honor than to nurture and bring forth life,
then to nurture that life to maturity.
No greater joy than to see that life flourish
in a relationship with its Creator God.
No deeper love than that of a Mother
the one who bore you, who bears your burdens,
and holds you always in her heart.
No words can speak her love,
No one but a mom can quite understand its contours.
This love is a life of concern that does not wane with time.
Day after day, her whispers of prayer do not cease.
The gift of a mom is of incalculable worth.
She is the beauty and grace, sweetness and wisdom
that God bestows upon His creation.
Thank You Lord for my wonderful mom and for making me a mom as well.
No greater joy, no deeper pain can be felt than that of a mom's heart.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
'There's no such thing as "now" '
That's what my son Daniel stated to me last week. He went on to prove it in our conversation since as soon as I tried to say now was now it was no longer so!! It's true in a way, isn't it? Now is so very fleeting. Yesterdays, on the other hand, keep piling up before our eyes. Regrets, memories, good and bad, stay with us. But the present flies by into the past in the blink on an eye.
James 4:14b captures the essence: "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
Yet it is not meaningless, no, not at all! We have the challenge from scripture to make the most of every opportunity given to us to do good. To live in the center of God's will is the best place to be. There we can have peace and the satisfaction of knowing that, although our lives are like sand through an hourglass, each moment is redeemed as we commit our way to Him with the heart of Mary: "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as You have spoken."
James 4:14b captures the essence: "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
Yet it is not meaningless, no, not at all! We have the challenge from scripture to make the most of every opportunity given to us to do good. To live in the center of God's will is the best place to be. There we can have peace and the satisfaction of knowing that, although our lives are like sand through an hourglass, each moment is redeemed as we commit our way to Him with the heart of Mary: "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as You have spoken."
Monday, February 27, 2012
Greatest Gift
From Ladies' Christmas Tea 2011:
What is the greatest Christmas present you’ve ever received? I don’t have anything that amazing, but I do remember a gift Paul gave me our first Christmas together after we were married. I’d always wanted to learn to play the piano and a friend had given me some lessons my senior year of college. But then Paul and I got together and I got a bit distracted and the lessons fell by the wayside! Paul surprised me with a beautiful keyboard with all the bells and whistles. It had the different settings like grand piano, clarinet. and even disco! It was a great blessing.
As I’ve reflected on what makes for a great gift, I think it’s the ones that express love, that meet a need or desire, as well as those homemade gifts that have something of the giver in them, that mean the most. I’d like to propose to you that God gave us the greatest gift that first Christmas, one that truly has something of the giver in it, perfectly expresses His love, and fulfills our deepest needs and desires.
Let me try to explain: First some Scriptural background: Gen. 1:1-2 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” And on the passage goes, with God creating everything by His Word. Each day heralded another command that His creation be designed. The mountains, and seas, the animals, and flowers - all the beauty we see around us God spoke into being! And, fortunately for us, on the sixth day, He made mankind. He said, “let us make man in our own image, after our likeness. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.”(Gen.1:26-27) (Now this was long before the first Christmas, but it sounds very similar to passages in the gospel of John and the book of Colossians: (John 1:1-4) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ..All things were made through him, .. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (v.14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Col 1:15-19) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were made, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, --all things were created through him and for him. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”
The Word that existed in eternity past, God Himself who created all things, came wrapped up in a baby that first Christmas! The term ‘the Word’ conveys the notion of divine self-expression or speech. I would say this gift of Jesus truly had something of the Giver in it!!! God’s very essence indeed! God also expresses His perfect love and meets our greatest need in this gift. Why did He God give us Jesus? John 3:16 explains: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Our greatest need is not material (as pressing as these can be), but spiritual. You see, soon after God had finished his amazing creation, the perfect harmony Adam and Eve enjoyed with Him and each other was destroyed by sin. Ever since the fall in the garden, mankind has been exiled from God, because the holy God cannot dwell in the presence of sin. This disease of the soul has infected all humanity. Our sins, whether many or few, whether acknowledged or denied, have separated us from God and effect all our relationships. I must admit I can easily go from being good to being more like the grinch in the course of a day. Selfishness and pride rear their ugly heads.
Paul sent me these true , humorous accounts of the Christmas spirit gone bad: ‘ Although most people don't know what to do with their tree once the celebration is over, a woman in Victoria, British Columbia, had an idea. She was arrested for beating a man with her Christmas tree. The incident was sparked when the man grumbled that the load of gifts in his arms was heavier than the tree she was carrying.’ and another one: ‘When her Jensen Beach, Florida, apartment complex held a Christmas-lights competition, Donna Simmons-Groover was a winner…briefly. One of her neighbors, incensed at losing the contest, ripped down part of Donna's winning display.’ Unfortunately we witness the plague of sin in our own lives and hear it broadcast on the news every day, and usually it’s not very funny, is it?
But there is good news! Good news of great joy, as the angels announced that first Christmas! God wasn’t satisfied to condemn us to everlasting separation from Himself. Like a mother or father for their children, he longed to be with us. His love compelled Him to send His Son on a rescue mission for us. He sent Jesus, born of virgin Mary, miraculously transported from heaven to earth that first Christmas. Christ came and lived a perfect life of obedience to His Father and took upon Himself the punishment our sins deserved in order to provide forgiveness and reconciliation to our Father in heaven. His death and resurrection have purchased this gift for us! We now have this invitation to be reconciled to God through the Savior of the world. John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” This is truly the best gift you will ever be offered! But a gift offered does not guarantee a gift received, does it? One could choose to reject the gift, thinking they have no need or desire for it. I pray that you would receive the gift of Jesus for yourself if you haven’t already. If you’re not sure whether you have, let me ask you a question: Can you put our name in the blank of this promise? “For God so loved (your name) that He sent His Only Son for (your name) that you would believe in Him and not perish but have eternal life. “
This gift not only has something of the Giver in it, perfectly expressing His love, and meeting our greatest need, but it also fulfills our deepest desires. We are all made with desires for true, unfailing love and for purpose and security. God made us, He knows us more than even our spouse or best friend could. He understands us better than we do!! And the amazing thing is that He loves us, warts and all!! We don’t surprise Him with our weaknesses and failures. In fact, He sees every day before it comes to be and knows every word we’re going to speak before we speak it! That’s a lot of words, huh, ladies?!! (Psalm 139:4,16)“even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether, in your book were written all my days before they come to be.”
He loves us perfectly based on Christ’s performance, not our own. He has made us uniquely with a specific purpose in mind and He promises to provide all we need to fulfill His plans. He satisfies our desires with good things. I’m not saying life will be easy, no, this is not heaven yet, and there is suffering. In fact, I was thinking about how Mary and Joseph’s lives became more complicated and challenging when Jesus came into the picture!! But He comforts us in our trials , and uses them to teach us to trust Him, to set our hearts on heaven, and to make us more like Him. To top it all off, He grants us unending companionship with Himself! We can talk to Him anytime and He is always listening! He showers us with grace and mercy every single day. He promises never to leave or forsake us! At death we will NOT part from Him! He will carry us from this world to heaven.
Do you see why I think this gift of Christ has all the earmarks of the best gift ever? He was God’s perfect way of expressing Himself and His love to us. He meets our greatest need, and fulfills our deepest desires. We were not meant to travel this life alone, ladies. The greatest blessing and the ultimate purpose in life is to know and enjoy a relationship with our Creator. And when we know Him, we will bring that blessing to others. The material gifts we give and receive are nice, but honestly they don't last and I don’t remember them for long. In fact, that piano keyboard I told you about became a toy for my kids and eventually got broken. I still haven’t learned to play!! But this gift of Jesus will never be forgotten and will not pass away. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!
What is the greatest Christmas present you’ve ever received? I don’t have anything that amazing, but I do remember a gift Paul gave me our first Christmas together after we were married. I’d always wanted to learn to play the piano and a friend had given me some lessons my senior year of college. But then Paul and I got together and I got a bit distracted and the lessons fell by the wayside! Paul surprised me with a beautiful keyboard with all the bells and whistles. It had the different settings like grand piano, clarinet. and even disco! It was a great blessing.
As I’ve reflected on what makes for a great gift, I think it’s the ones that express love, that meet a need or desire, as well as those homemade gifts that have something of the giver in them, that mean the most. I’d like to propose to you that God gave us the greatest gift that first Christmas, one that truly has something of the giver in it, perfectly expresses His love, and fulfills our deepest needs and desires.
Let me try to explain: First some Scriptural background: Gen. 1:1-2 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” And on the passage goes, with God creating everything by His Word. Each day heralded another command that His creation be designed. The mountains, and seas, the animals, and flowers - all the beauty we see around us God spoke into being! And, fortunately for us, on the sixth day, He made mankind. He said, “let us make man in our own image, after our likeness. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.”(Gen.1:26-27) (Now this was long before the first Christmas, but it sounds very similar to passages in the gospel of John and the book of Colossians: (John 1:1-4) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ..All things were made through him, .. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (v.14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Col 1:15-19) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were made, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, --all things were created through him and for him. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”
The Word that existed in eternity past, God Himself who created all things, came wrapped up in a baby that first Christmas! The term ‘the Word’ conveys the notion of divine self-expression or speech. I would say this gift of Jesus truly had something of the Giver in it!!! God’s very essence indeed! God also expresses His perfect love and meets our greatest need in this gift. Why did He God give us Jesus? John 3:16 explains: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Our greatest need is not material (as pressing as these can be), but spiritual. You see, soon after God had finished his amazing creation, the perfect harmony Adam and Eve enjoyed with Him and each other was destroyed by sin. Ever since the fall in the garden, mankind has been exiled from God, because the holy God cannot dwell in the presence of sin. This disease of the soul has infected all humanity. Our sins, whether many or few, whether acknowledged or denied, have separated us from God and effect all our relationships. I must admit I can easily go from being good to being more like the grinch in the course of a day. Selfishness and pride rear their ugly heads.
Paul sent me these true , humorous accounts of the Christmas spirit gone bad: ‘ Although most people don't know what to do with their tree once the celebration is over, a woman in Victoria, British Columbia, had an idea. She was arrested for beating a man with her Christmas tree. The incident was sparked when the man grumbled that the load of gifts in his arms was heavier than the tree she was carrying.’ and another one: ‘When her Jensen Beach, Florida, apartment complex held a Christmas-lights competition, Donna Simmons-Groover was a winner…briefly. One of her neighbors, incensed at losing the contest, ripped down part of Donna's winning display.’ Unfortunately we witness the plague of sin in our own lives and hear it broadcast on the news every day, and usually it’s not very funny, is it?
But there is good news! Good news of great joy, as the angels announced that first Christmas! God wasn’t satisfied to condemn us to everlasting separation from Himself. Like a mother or father for their children, he longed to be with us. His love compelled Him to send His Son on a rescue mission for us. He sent Jesus, born of virgin Mary, miraculously transported from heaven to earth that first Christmas. Christ came and lived a perfect life of obedience to His Father and took upon Himself the punishment our sins deserved in order to provide forgiveness and reconciliation to our Father in heaven. His death and resurrection have purchased this gift for us! We now have this invitation to be reconciled to God through the Savior of the world. John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” This is truly the best gift you will ever be offered! But a gift offered does not guarantee a gift received, does it? One could choose to reject the gift, thinking they have no need or desire for it. I pray that you would receive the gift of Jesus for yourself if you haven’t already. If you’re not sure whether you have, let me ask you a question: Can you put our name in the blank of this promise? “For God so loved (your name) that He sent His Only Son for (your name) that you would believe in Him and not perish but have eternal life. “
This gift not only has something of the Giver in it, perfectly expressing His love, and meeting our greatest need, but it also fulfills our deepest desires. We are all made with desires for true, unfailing love and for purpose and security. God made us, He knows us more than even our spouse or best friend could. He understands us better than we do!! And the amazing thing is that He loves us, warts and all!! We don’t surprise Him with our weaknesses and failures. In fact, He sees every day before it comes to be and knows every word we’re going to speak before we speak it! That’s a lot of words, huh, ladies?!! (Psalm 139:4,16)“even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether, in your book were written all my days before they come to be.”
He loves us perfectly based on Christ’s performance, not our own. He has made us uniquely with a specific purpose in mind and He promises to provide all we need to fulfill His plans. He satisfies our desires with good things. I’m not saying life will be easy, no, this is not heaven yet, and there is suffering. In fact, I was thinking about how Mary and Joseph’s lives became more complicated and challenging when Jesus came into the picture!! But He comforts us in our trials , and uses them to teach us to trust Him, to set our hearts on heaven, and to make us more like Him. To top it all off, He grants us unending companionship with Himself! We can talk to Him anytime and He is always listening! He showers us with grace and mercy every single day. He promises never to leave or forsake us! At death we will NOT part from Him! He will carry us from this world to heaven.
Do you see why I think this gift of Christ has all the earmarks of the best gift ever? He was God’s perfect way of expressing Himself and His love to us. He meets our greatest need, and fulfills our deepest desires. We were not meant to travel this life alone, ladies. The greatest blessing and the ultimate purpose in life is to know and enjoy a relationship with our Creator. And when we know Him, we will bring that blessing to others. The material gifts we give and receive are nice, but honestly they don't last and I don’t remember them for long. In fact, that piano keyboard I told you about became a toy for my kids and eventually got broken. I still haven’t learned to play!! But this gift of Jesus will never be forgotten and will not pass away. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!
Hospitality
From a Ladies' Breakfast last spring:
I wanted to take a little time to talk about the gift of hospitality since I believe we as women play a key role in the administration of this gift. To practice hospitality is a command in Scripture, given in both Romans and 1Peter. That’s how important it is.
I think you’ll agree that hospitality is a strength in our church. My purpose is to only encourage that we continue to excel more and more in this gift.
So what exactly is does it mean to practice hospitality?
The command in the original language contains expressions like ‘Strive for, pursue with eagerness or enthusiasm, seek out opportunities to offer generous, cordial reception of guests, offering a pleasant sustaining environment.’
My earliest memory of Christian hospitality occurred during my freshman year at college. I was in the process being drawn to Christ through the love of new friends and was invited to a family’s home for dinner. It was nothing fancy- assembly line style. I don’t recall what we ate but I do remember this joyful, welcoming family, relaxing, and watching a ball game on TV with us. The love displayed in this family captured my heart and inspired me to trust Christ for my future family.
1Peter4:8-10 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Hospitality opens the door for us to use our gifts to bless others. For example, prayer, encouragement, evangelism, and discipleship are all effectively done when we invite one another into our lives and homes.
Interesting that the command says to offer hospitality without complaining. Why might complaining be a temptation in this context? Could it be because we're called to share our most precious possessions: our family, home, finances, food, privacy and time? Hospitality can be sacrificial and hard work! It is an opportunity to lay down our lives for others. But the rewards are great. Through hospitality we provide friendship, acceptance, fellowship, refreshment, comfort and love in one of the richest and deepest ways possible.
The ministry of hospitality was a prominent feature in the picture of the early church. One of the key factors that helps explain the rapid expansion of Christianity was the love displayed among the first Christians. In an ancient Latin Christian dialogue entitled ‘Octavius’, the pagan Caecilius criticizes the Christians because “hardly have they met when they love each other, indiscriminately they call each other brother and sister."
The first Christians referred to one another as brother or sister-this reference is used 250x in NT! Of all the images used to describe the nature of the church like the body, bride, temple and flock, by far the family is the most frequent. Sadly, by the end of the 3rd century, such endearing terminology began to disappear.
We’re brothers and sisters not because we share similar ideas, interests or circumstances, but because we share the life of Jesus through our spiritual birth. We have the same Father in heaven, the One who loved us so much he sent his Son to save us from our sins! Remember what we were before we knew the Lord: Eph. 2 describes the before and after scenario: we were "separated from Christ, strangers to the covenant promises, having no hope and without God in the world.' (Eph.2:12).
"But now in Christ you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. He himself is our peace who has made us one. Through him we have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined and held together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
Jesus' death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins and his resurrection has opened for us eternal fellowship with God and with fellow believers! In Christ, we have an unbreakable family bond. No wonder God calls us to practice this gift of hospitality, to build us up in our faith and unity. Our fellowship is a foretaste of what heaven will be like.
The Puritans who settled America brought this understanding of community with them. John Winthrop, first governor of MA Bay Colony wrote, "This love among Christians is absolutely necessary to the well being of the body of Christ, as the sinews and other ligaments of the natural body are to its health...Thus stands the cause between God and us; we are entered into covenant with Him for this work..for this end we must be knit together as one man..we must delight in each other, make one another's condition our own, rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having our eyes on our Commission and Community, as members of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace...We shall find that the God of Israel is among us, when He shall make us a praise and glory, that men of succeeding plantations shall say, 'The Lord make it like that of New England.' For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill..." (The Light and Glory).
What a legacy! Sadly New England is far from this picture and influence on the rest of the country. If anything we're known more for our rugged individualism (remember where the revolutionary war began!) . But I believe the vision and prayers have not perished before God and that today there is a quiet revival as more and more churches are being planted and the gospel is spreading.
I love how John Winthrop put it: 'having our eyes on our community and our commission.' We don't want to fall into laziness as we enjoy our community, but must remember there are more people to invite in to the fellowship we share, and ultimately to the ultimate party we will enjoy in heaven!
“Christian perseverance is a community endeavor”, so let’s consider how we can use this gift of hospitality to spur one another on in love and good works. We have many great examples around us to follow.
Rom.16:1-2 “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchrae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.”
Phoebe was evidently a new comer who served the church. We have our own Phoebe in Lauren Cranmer. Lauren has left family and friends to serve our church and has been welcomed especially by the Haavisto's where she is living and enfolded into their family. May we embrace her and care for her as well.
I have many experiences on the receiving end of hospitality. Dinner with many of you, either in your homes or out to eat; we've enjoyed deepening friendships. And care group at the Kings' and the other host families. The labor and rewards of hospitality are clearly seen in these contexts!
There's just something about being in someones home that helps deepen our relationships. You see the taste and personality of a family in their home. "Women really do have an instinctive capacity to form relationships and to cultivate a sense of family." (Susan Hunt) And what better place to cultivate friendships than in our homes. Another great quote: "What a queer way we womenkind have of confiding in each other with perfectly reckless disregard of the consequences! It is a mercy that men are, for the most part, more prudent, though not half so delightful!" (Elizabeth Prentiss)
One family that has blown me away with their pursuit of hospitality is the Gennells. They invited our family for dinner soon after they started visiting KGC. We are one of many families who have been blessed by their generous gift of hospitality.
I want to encourage you that this gift can be given on Sunday mornings right here as we greet one another and welcome our guests, which, by the way, you do so well already. We are blessed with this beautiful family home to use for hospitality, with teas, showers, prayer meetings, play groups, and the list of ideas is virtually endless!!
To help spur us on, may I remind you that whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Jesus. This is a helpful reminder for me when I am battling my natural desire to stay in my comfort zone and only engage people who are like me.
The command doesn’t require gourmet meals, meticulous homes, or perfectly godly families. It's not about that. It's about being like our Lord, who invites us to open the door and enjoy fellowship with Him. (Rev. 3:20)
I'm so thankful for that first experience of hospitality I had when I was so young and struggling to understand the Lord. If it hadn't been for this family and the other Christians reaching out and expressing God's heart to me, I do not know where I'd be today.
Some ideas:
Pray for the Lord's direction in our pursuit of this gift and command.
Set goals: specific people to invite over or out, schedule dates.
Don’t forget the widows, students, guests and new members among us.
Be open to inviting new guests to join you for a meal once in a while after church. (this gives us the opportunity to "entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it" Hebrews 13:2) We may not ever get to host angels, but we will do have the privilege of honoring the Lord by loving and serving His precious children.
I wanted to take a little time to talk about the gift of hospitality since I believe we as women play a key role in the administration of this gift. To practice hospitality is a command in Scripture, given in both Romans and 1Peter. That’s how important it is.
I think you’ll agree that hospitality is a strength in our church. My purpose is to only encourage that we continue to excel more and more in this gift.
So what exactly is does it mean to practice hospitality?
The command in the original language contains expressions like ‘Strive for, pursue with eagerness or enthusiasm, seek out opportunities to offer generous, cordial reception of guests, offering a pleasant sustaining environment.’
My earliest memory of Christian hospitality occurred during my freshman year at college. I was in the process being drawn to Christ through the love of new friends and was invited to a family’s home for dinner. It was nothing fancy- assembly line style. I don’t recall what we ate but I do remember this joyful, welcoming family, relaxing, and watching a ball game on TV with us. The love displayed in this family captured my heart and inspired me to trust Christ for my future family.
1Peter4:8-10 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Hospitality opens the door for us to use our gifts to bless others. For example, prayer, encouragement, evangelism, and discipleship are all effectively done when we invite one another into our lives and homes.
Interesting that the command says to offer hospitality without complaining. Why might complaining be a temptation in this context? Could it be because we're called to share our most precious possessions: our family, home, finances, food, privacy and time? Hospitality can be sacrificial and hard work! It is an opportunity to lay down our lives for others. But the rewards are great. Through hospitality we provide friendship, acceptance, fellowship, refreshment, comfort and love in one of the richest and deepest ways possible.
The ministry of hospitality was a prominent feature in the picture of the early church. One of the key factors that helps explain the rapid expansion of Christianity was the love displayed among the first Christians. In an ancient Latin Christian dialogue entitled ‘Octavius’, the pagan Caecilius criticizes the Christians because “hardly have they met when they love each other, indiscriminately they call each other brother and sister."
The first Christians referred to one another as brother or sister-this reference is used 250x in NT! Of all the images used to describe the nature of the church like the body, bride, temple and flock, by far the family is the most frequent. Sadly, by the end of the 3rd century, such endearing terminology began to disappear.
We’re brothers and sisters not because we share similar ideas, interests or circumstances, but because we share the life of Jesus through our spiritual birth. We have the same Father in heaven, the One who loved us so much he sent his Son to save us from our sins! Remember what we were before we knew the Lord: Eph. 2 describes the before and after scenario: we were "separated from Christ, strangers to the covenant promises, having no hope and without God in the world.' (Eph.2:12).
"But now in Christ you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. He himself is our peace who has made us one. Through him we have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined and held together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
Jesus' death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins and his resurrection has opened for us eternal fellowship with God and with fellow believers! In Christ, we have an unbreakable family bond. No wonder God calls us to practice this gift of hospitality, to build us up in our faith and unity. Our fellowship is a foretaste of what heaven will be like.
The Puritans who settled America brought this understanding of community with them. John Winthrop, first governor of MA Bay Colony wrote, "This love among Christians is absolutely necessary to the well being of the body of Christ, as the sinews and other ligaments of the natural body are to its health...Thus stands the cause between God and us; we are entered into covenant with Him for this work..for this end we must be knit together as one man..we must delight in each other, make one another's condition our own, rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having our eyes on our Commission and Community, as members of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace...We shall find that the God of Israel is among us, when He shall make us a praise and glory, that men of succeeding plantations shall say, 'The Lord make it like that of New England.' For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill..." (The Light and Glory).
What a legacy! Sadly New England is far from this picture and influence on the rest of the country. If anything we're known more for our rugged individualism (remember where the revolutionary war began!) . But I believe the vision and prayers have not perished before God and that today there is a quiet revival as more and more churches are being planted and the gospel is spreading.
I love how John Winthrop put it: 'having our eyes on our community and our commission.' We don't want to fall into laziness as we enjoy our community, but must remember there are more people to invite in to the fellowship we share, and ultimately to the ultimate party we will enjoy in heaven!
“Christian perseverance is a community endeavor”, so let’s consider how we can use this gift of hospitality to spur one another on in love and good works. We have many great examples around us to follow.
Rom.16:1-2 “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchrae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.”
Phoebe was evidently a new comer who served the church. We have our own Phoebe in Lauren Cranmer. Lauren has left family and friends to serve our church and has been welcomed especially by the Haavisto's where she is living and enfolded into their family. May we embrace her and care for her as well.
I have many experiences on the receiving end of hospitality. Dinner with many of you, either in your homes or out to eat; we've enjoyed deepening friendships. And care group at the Kings' and the other host families. The labor and rewards of hospitality are clearly seen in these contexts!
There's just something about being in someones home that helps deepen our relationships. You see the taste and personality of a family in their home. "Women really do have an instinctive capacity to form relationships and to cultivate a sense of family." (Susan Hunt) And what better place to cultivate friendships than in our homes. Another great quote: "What a queer way we womenkind have of confiding in each other with perfectly reckless disregard of the consequences! It is a mercy that men are, for the most part, more prudent, though not half so delightful!" (Elizabeth Prentiss)
One family that has blown me away with their pursuit of hospitality is the Gennells. They invited our family for dinner soon after they started visiting KGC. We are one of many families who have been blessed by their generous gift of hospitality.
I want to encourage you that this gift can be given on Sunday mornings right here as we greet one another and welcome our guests, which, by the way, you do so well already. We are blessed with this beautiful family home to use for hospitality, with teas, showers, prayer meetings, play groups, and the list of ideas is virtually endless!!
To help spur us on, may I remind you that whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Jesus. This is a helpful reminder for me when I am battling my natural desire to stay in my comfort zone and only engage people who are like me.
The command doesn’t require gourmet meals, meticulous homes, or perfectly godly families. It's not about that. It's about being like our Lord, who invites us to open the door and enjoy fellowship with Him. (Rev. 3:20)
I'm so thankful for that first experience of hospitality I had when I was so young and struggling to understand the Lord. If it hadn't been for this family and the other Christians reaching out and expressing God's heart to me, I do not know where I'd be today.
Some ideas:
Pray for the Lord's direction in our pursuit of this gift and command.
Set goals: specific people to invite over or out, schedule dates.
Don’t forget the widows, students, guests and new members among us.
Be open to inviting new guests to join you for a meal once in a while after church. (this gives us the opportunity to "entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it" Hebrews 13:2) We may not ever get to host angels, but we will do have the privilege of honoring the Lord by loving and serving His precious children.
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