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preacher31
DON'T WORRY - Subscribe
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Scripture: So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today!" Matthew 6:25-34 NLT Reflection: "Jesus encourages us not to worry about that which we cannot control or about that which is not important. Worry instead, he says, about your priorities and the condition of your soul. When you find yourself overcome with worry, take a careful look at the priorities of your heart. When God is firmly established at the center of our focus and desires, worry loses its grip on our lives. (from the Touch Point Bible with commentaries by Ron Beers and Gilbert Beers (Tyndale), p. 829) |
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WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE? 2/08/2012 02:46 - Subscribe
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Scripture: "He taught them with authority" (Mark 1:22). LIFE A number of years ago The editors of "Life Magazine" compiled an inspiring collection of essays in answer to their question, "What is the meaning of life?" From more than 25 countries, 200 poets, scientists, philosophers and just "everyday people" shared their vision of the meaning of life. The following essays are just a small sampling from this life-enriching collection. The first is from Capetown South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu who wrote, in part: The evolution of the world is a great manifestation of God. As scientists understand more and more about the interdependence not only of living things but of rocks, rivers - the whole of the universe - I am left in awe that I, too, am a part of this tremendous miracle. Not only am I a part of this pulsating network, but I am an indispensable part. It is not only theology that teaches me this, but it is the truth that environmentalists shout from the rooftops. Every living creature is an essential part of the whole. Our surroundings are awesome. We see about us majestic mountains, the perfection of a tiny mouse, a newborn baby, a flower, the colors of a seashell. Each creature is most fully that which it is created to be, an almost incredible reflection of the Infinite, the invisible, the indefinable. All women and men participate in that reflected glory. We believe that we are in fact the image of our Creator. Our response must be to live up to that amazing potential - to give God glory by reflecting His beauty and His love. That is why we are here and that is the purpose of our lives. The next essay was written by renowned Grammy-winning composer and recording artist Quincy Jones, a portion of which I will read: In 1974 I was blessed to have survived a brain aneurysm and two brain operations. It is unfortunate, but sometimes it takes a life-threatening crisis such as this to get your undivided attention, and this certainly did. I was given the opportunity to renew my basic belief in the importance of spirituality, reopening communications on a one-to-one basis with the Creator. God has given each one of us approximately 25,000 to 26,000 days on this earth. I truly believe He has something very specific in mind: 8300 days to sleep, 8,300 to work and 8,300 to give, live, play, pray and love one another. We were born to struggle, to face the challenges of our lifetime and, ultimately, to evolve to a higher consciousness. When we find we can unyieldingly bestow our trust to that inner voice, it is evidence of our divine guidance. The universal karmic law dictates: "You get what you give" and "You've got to bring some to get some. " I would like to believe that the highest state of evolution in our lifetime is to reach a state where grace and giving reign and we experience the oneness of ourselves with the creations of this universe. We must search for the good in each of God's creations; it is important to invest our faith in the best part of humanity. |
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BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME 2/04/2012 09:10 - Subscribe
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For all those times you stood by me For all the truth that you made me see For all the joy you brought to my life For all the wrong that you made right For every dream you made come true For all the love I found in you I'll be forever thankful You're the one who held me up And never let me fall You're the one who saw me through, through it all You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith 'cause you believed I'm everything I am Because you loved me You gave me wings and made me fly You touched my hand I could touch the sky I lost my faith, you gave it back to me You said no star was out of reach You stood by me and I stood tall I had your love I had it all I'm grateful for each day you gave me Maybe I don't know that much But I know this much is true I was blessed because I was loved by you You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith 'cause you believed I'm everything I am Because you loved me You were always there for me The tender wind that carried me The light in the dark shining your love into my life You've been my inspiration Through the lies you were the truth My world is a better place because of you You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith 'cause you believed I'm everything I am Because you loved me You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn't speak You were my eyes when I couldn't see You saw the best there was in me Lifted me up when I couldn't reach You gave me faith 'cause you believed I'm everything I am Because you loved me I'm everything I am Because you loved me It is amazing to me how this very popular Celine Dion song best describes my feelings towards my God. |
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THE NEAREST CHURCH 1/30/2012 07:17 - Subscribe
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Scripture: "Everybody is looking for you" Mark 1:37 There's the amusing story about a convicted criminal -- a rough-looking character nicknamed "Brutus," who was about to be paroled after serving a lengthy sentence. Before walking through the prison gates to his long-awaited freedom, he was paid a visit by the prison chaplain. "You have paid your debt to society," the chaplain said, "so I encourage you to hold your head up high when you walk out of here. Live a good life and, by all means, join the nearest Church as soon as possible." It so happened that Brutus found an apartment on the edge of the poorest section of town, yet close to the richest section. It so happened also that the nearest Church was located on the edge of the rich area. Old Brutus lost no time going to see the pastor of that Church and telling him of his desire to become a member. "My good man," said the pastor, "I don't think you would be happy here, although I appreciate your good intentions. Really, I think you would be most uncomfortable among my people and I'm afraid it would be quite embarrassing to you. I suggest you think it over, and pray that God will give you some direction." Several days later, when Brutus happened to see the pastor on the street, he stopped and said to him, "Reverend, I took your advice and prayed to God for direction. And God told me to stop trying to join your Church. He said that He Himself had been trying to get in there for years without success!" (Sunday Sermons on Line) |
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ON LEVEL GROUND 1/28/2012 12:55 - Subscribe
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Scripture: 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[a] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. (Romans 11: 29-32) NIV Reflections: I had a friend who grew up in the church with me. His life was very destructive, and was often in serious trouble. Even from a young age he was in and out of juvenile detention. As he grew older, he was in and out of jail. His parents were disappointed, sad, and ashamed. I grew up in the church and had a great record in high school, college, and graduate school. I ended up becoming a peace organizer, a police officer, an ordained minister, and I was filled with pride and presumption. My folks were so proud. His parents were sad with a heavy, heavy heart. The folks in heaven, well they don't see any difference between us. WHY? My destructive friend cried for mercy and forgiveness from our God and found his slate clean. My own destruction was that of pride and presumption and I turned to God for mercy and forgiveness and my slate was made clean. Now there is not one iota of difference in our standing before God. I find, in my life, that I need to remember this truth more and more. You know it is really contrary to my ever instinct, yet it is God's truth. "For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all." Prayer: Dear Lord, please keep reminding me, that before your we are all on level ground. AMEN |
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PRACTICAL IDEALIST 1/26/2012 06:47 - Subscribe
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I am not a visionary. I claim to be a practical idealist. The religion of nonviolence is not meant merely for the rishis and saints. It is meant for the common people as well. Nonviolence is the law of our species as violence is the law of the brute. The spirit lies dormant in the brute and he knows no law but that of physical might. The dignity of man requires obedience to a higher law-to the strength of the spirit... The rishis who discovered the law of nonviolence in the midst of violence were greater geniuses than Newton. They were themselves known the use of arms, they realized their uselessness, and taught a weary world that its salvation lay not through violence but through nonviolence. By M. K. Gandhi. |
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preacher31
RADICAL STUFF 1/23/2012 05:06 - Subscribe
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Scripture: “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Me.” (Matthew 25:40) (The following is a portion taken from a sermon given by Tony Campolo titled "The Gospel of King Jesus". What do think about what he said?) How many of us take the words of Jesus seriously? Sell what you have. Give to the poor. Show mercy. Do you really think we should love our enemies? Jesus said, “Love your enemies,” didn’t He? You think that this is radical stuff, that it’s dangerous stuff. It’s about time we face the fact that Jesus never played it safe. It’s about time that we realize that they didn’t put Him on the cross because He said nice things, but because He said dangerous things. Dangerous things include loving your enemies, forgiving those who have hurt you, forgiving those who made life hard for you. Are you ready to take the words of Jesus, the teachings of Jesus seriously? A people that would do that are kingdom people. The second thing is that they are people who will be able to find Jesus in those who are called the least of these. In the twenty fifth chapter of Matthew, He says, “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Me. ” Are you able to find Jesus in the least of these? A friend of mine is a pastor of a church in the Midwest. It’s an inner city church, and they run a soup kitchen every day of the week. The people in the soup kitchen started coming to worship on Sunday. It’s a very a wealthy and prestigious church, and one of the deacons of the church said, “Pastor, I think we need to have a separate service for those people. You know, they are dirty and smelly and I think we need a separate service for them.” And my friend said, “I don’t think so, because I believe everybody should have a chance to meet Jesus face to face.” The deacon said, “I believe that, too, but can’t we have a separate service?” He said, “I’m not talking about them, I’m talking about you.” When you look into the face of those who are in need, if you are filled with the presence of Christ, if you have surrendered to Christ, if Christ is a living presence in you, when you look into their faces, you will see Jesus staring back at you, and you won’t be saying in the depths of your being, whatever I do to this person, I do to Him. Andrew Young, the onetime mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, decided to dress up in raggedy clothes, go out on the streets, and be homeless for three days to see and experience what the homeless experience. The people on his staff said, “It’ll never work. They’ll recognize you. You’re so well known they’ll recognize you. It won’t work. ” Three days later, he came back and they asked him, “Well, how did it go? Did people recognize you?” And with great sadness, Andrew Young said, “Nobody recognized me because nobody looks into the faces of the homeless.” I look at my own life and I think of how I also turned the other way. I don’t want to see them, I don’t want to confront them, I don’t want to meet them, and Jesus encourages us that, if you don’t want to meet them and love them and minister to them, don’t think you can have a relationship with Me. “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Me.” |
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preacher31
REAL LOVE 1/18/2012 03:27 - Subscribe
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The famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, designed some unusual buildings. On a university campus in Florida stands a library designed by Wright with an extremely low ceiling, so low that if you are six feet tall and not careful, you keep bumping your head. A man who was having this trouble asked why Frank Lloyd Wright had designed such a building. "This was a characteristic of his architecture because he hated tall people," A teacher explained. Reflection: How typical this is. You try to cut the other fellow down to your size. You make him fit into your mold. Husbands and wives, parents and children and friends, remaking each other. This is the kind of love we express by taking the other and using him and carving him and shaping him into what we think he ought to be. But this is not the kind of love which the New Testament calls agape love: The unconditional love that is for the other, the love that affirms the life of the other, the love that rejoices in the difference in the other. |
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GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE! 1/15/2012 04:01 - Subscribe
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Do you sense that God is on your side? On the very day I call to you for help, my enemies will retreat. This I know: God is on my side.O God, I praise your word. Yes, Lord, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light. (Psalm 56:9-13 NLT) |
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preacher31
PLAYING GOD 1/11/2012 01:45 - Subscribe
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Scripture: 1 Samuel 31-2 Samuel 2:7 Reflection: Do you try to play God? "Of course not" , you reply, "I know my place, And besides, what little I know of God shows me I'm not up to His job." But take a minute and think again. Do you look at another person, perhaps a person in your family, and try to manipulate that person into the shape he or she should become? Do you set a goal for yourself even one that you believe is God's will and go towards that goal with full force and purpose closing your eyes to people who might brush you aside in your wake? Do you view someone else actions through your very narrow eyes and say, " I know that;s sin", and then purposely avoid that person? You see I have come to believe that there is a very fine line between using the abilities that God has given us to bring structure in our lives and rushing ahead trying to do what only God should do. I have come to learn in my life that it is hard enough to learn to be myself let alone trying to play God. |
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HOW MUCH OF OUR MONEY 1/07/2012 09:39 - Subscribe
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Just how much of our money will go to the military next year? Military (Dept of Defense, War, Veterans Affairs, and Nuclear Weapons Programs=60% Health and Human Services=7% Education=6% State=5% Other Programs=4% Dept. of Homeland Security=3.5% Housing and Urban Development=3% Justice=2% Agriculture=2% NASA=1.5% Energy (excludes nuclear weapons programs)=1% Labor=1% Treasury=1% Interior=1% Environmental Protection Agency=1% Transportation=1% (this budget will be sent to Congress February 2012) QUOTE: EVERY GUN that is made, EVERY WARSHIP launched, EVERY ROCKET fired, signifies in the final sense a THEFT from those who HUNGER AND ARE NOT FED, those who are COLD AND ARE NOT CLOTHED. (Dwight D. Eisenhower) THINK ABOUT THIS: "Reducing the military budget is the best legacy we can leave for coming generations" PEACE TO ALL OF YOU IN 2012 |
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OVERFLOWING JOY 1/04/2012 05:40 - Subscribe
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By Rev. Wayne Palmer Scripture Read Matthew 2:9-11. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him... (Matthew 2:11a) Reflection Few people enjoy Christmas more than children. Simply recall their unbridled enthusiasm and the wonder and jubilation beaming from their faces as they rush down the stairs on Christmas morning. The joy of the wise men might have actually topped theirs. Matthew says, "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." The Magi travelled a long way to see Jesus. They heard God's Word telling them where His Son would be born. They saw the star go ahead of them until it stood over the house, and they saw the King of Israel-probably only a toddler at the time. They fell before Him and presented Him their precious gifts. What an amazing picture! These weren't children running down the hall to see the presents waiting for them under the tree. These were grown men- important, dignified, well-educated men. Yet they were gripped by an incredible joy impossible for them to contain. We know so many things they didn't know. We know this was God's eternal Son. We know He came to live the perfect life we can't. We know He grew up to heal the blind, deaf and lame, to drive out demons and raise the dead. We know He died on the cross and rose again to give us eternal life. But with all of that, do we share their overwhelming joy at our Savior's birth, life, death and resurrection for us? PRAYER: Lord Jesus, fill me with joy at Your first coming to save us from our sins. Then on the Day You return to judge the living and the dead fill me with overwhelming joy to worship and praise You forever. Amen. (Lutheran Hour Ministries) |
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IMPORTANT VISITORS 1/02/2012 02:19 - Subscribe
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By Rev. Wayne Palmer Scripture: Read Matthew 2:1-2. ... behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. (Matthew 2:1b) Reflection: During these last days of the Christmas season we turn to the wise men. We mentioned briefly last week that these men were counselors and advisors to their king. They were considered experts in nature, astrology and medicine. While studying the heavens, they spotted a special light that announced the birth of a great king. God had placed it in the sky to guide them to His Son. There are many mysterious things about the wise men. We aren't sure what country they came from; though they certainly didn't come from the Far East- the Orient. We don't know how many there were; we only know they presented three gifts to Jesus. We don't even have enough information to know the nature of this "star." The Greek word can refer to a comet, a conjunction of planets or a special miraculous light God placed in the heavens. But one thing is clear: the star convinced them the great King had been born. As they arrive in Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel, one great mystery remains for them. They ask King Herod "Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him." Throughout this Christmas season God has shown you the certain fact that He sent His Son Jesus into our world to save you from your sins. Will you be like the wise men, leaving everything behind to worship your Savior and learn more about Him? PRAYER: Heavenly Father, give me the certainty You gave the wise men, that Your Son was born King of the Jews and my King. Move me to worship Him and want to know more about Him. In Jesus' Name. Amen. (Lutheran Hour Ministries) |
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A NEW YEAR, A NEW CREATION 1/01/2012 10:20 - Subscribe
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Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! Reflection: Today is the first day of 2012. You have an opportunity to make this the first day of the rest of your life. I would like to make a suggestion, BELIEVE IN CHRIST! not simply of Christ, or about Christ, but IN CHRIST!. Bring Him into your life, make Him a psrt of your life. I guarantee your life will change. When you give your life to Christ, the old passes away and the new begins. Remember God Loves You, believe in that love, give that love to others. believe in Jesus Christ. BE HAPPY IN JESUS! HAPPY NEW YEAR! New Year's Prayer Lord, this year I want to change, and I've said that in the past. but now my prayer is different 'cause I understand at last. I wanted my own way before, I ignored your loving plans. But now I'm putting everything into your nail-scarred hands. I promise to obey you out of gratitude and love. I won't be giving orders to my Father up above. I finally realize the truth and so I've changed my prayer. The safest place for me to be is in your gentle care. (by Jack Zavada) |
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INCREDIBLE POWER 12/30/2011 12:40 - Subscribe
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By Rev. Wayne Palmer Scripture: Read Matthew 8:23-27. ...and His Name shall be called ... Mighty God .... (Isaiah 9:6b) Reflection: Last June tow truck driver Pedro Arzola was working under a 1990 Cadillac Seville when the car lurched forward. The front right tire ran over his torso and dragged him about 10 feet before he was finally pinned under the rear tire. He yelled to his wife to help him. Even when she was joined by two strangers they were unable to lift the car. That's when Danous Estenor, an offensive lineman for the USF football team walked by. Hearing the screams he joined them but was also unable to budge the car at first. Then he backed up, felt energy come into him and tried again. This time he was able to lift the 3,500 pound car and save Arzola's life. At one point or another in our life we will all face troubles larger than we are, situations from which we can't save ourselves. We will experience that helplessness when our last hour on earth comes. No one on earth will be able to save us-no doctor, lawyer, celebrity-not even a football player. Isaiah wrote, "To us a Son is given ... and His Name shall be called Mighty God." No situation we face is too difficult for the Baby of Bethlehem. The devil and all his fellow, fallen angels tried every trick in the book but were unable to overpower Him. Even as He was dying on the cross the mighty Son of God was able to crush the devil's head while paying for our sins. By His resurrection He has defeated death and opened for us the doors of heaven. PRAYER: Savior of the world, thank You for Your great might. You have crushed all my enemies and promise to be at my side always. Protect me through this life and bring me to heaven when You return. Amen. (Lutheran Hour Ministries) |
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THE MORNING AFTER 12/28/2011 03:48 - Subscribe
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This is our "morning after," so to speak: a time to treasure all the Christmas events. A time to ponder them in our heart. A time to begin pondering what we want in the New Year. How do we deal with the Christmas story? What's it all about? How do we make sense of it? What does it mean for our life? A man who was feeling this kind of pain decided to go to his doctor for a physical checkup. After hearing the man's complaints and conducting the examination, the doctor said, "You have to remember that after fifty, it's just patch, patch, patch." A woman who heard this story said that there is a much better way to tell that you've reached the "patch, patch, patch" stage in life. She said, "It's when you wake up every morning with a terrible hangover -- and you haven't been anywhere the night before." Jesus is not offering us a "patch, patch, patch" existence. He wants to lead us into a style of life that will make us whole. And we don't have to wait until we're having those terrible hangovers. He wants us to experience genuine living now if only we will say "Yes!" to God by embracing a style of life in which we place our trust in the power of love in every situation. Accept your assigned role as God's dependent child and, in new and beautiful ways, the power of love will be released in your life, and you will begin to experience the joy and wonder of becoming the kind of person you were created to be. If, on this morning after, you're going around feeling as though everything is patch, path, patch then you have missed the overwhelming statement of the Christmas Event: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call Him Emmanuel, a Name that means 'God is with us'" (Mt. 1:23). GOD IS WITH US (from Sunday Sermons Online) |
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FACE TO FACE 12/24/2011 10:38 - Subscribe
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By Rev. Wayne Palmer Scripture: Read John 1:1-14. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory .... (John 1:14a) Reflection: One of the greatest things about Christmas is getting together with family and friends. How wonderful to actually see them face to face, instead of only hearing their voice on the phone, seeing them on Skype or reading their words in an e-mail. That's what made the first Christmas so special. For the first time, people could look into God's eyes and see Him face to face. And it wasn't the terrifying face of a powerful and angry God they saw. Rather, it was the face of a tiny, newborn Baby. This chubby face will one day be the face of a man, and it will show His great compassion for the sick and needy, comfort for the grieving and concern for the lost. These tiny fingers that curl around the fingers of Mary and Joseph will later touch the blind and the deaf and heal them. They will stretch out to take a dead girl by the hand and raise her to life again. These little hands will be stretched out and pierced with nails to pay the full price for all our sins. And finally they will be pried off of a cross and laid in a tomb. Three days later those lifeless hands will move once more, as the Lord rises from the dead. That night and in the coming days He will hold them out to show His followers the nail marks that prove it is Him-risen and alive forever! One day we will stand before Him face to face, looking into His eyes, and touching His glorious, nail- scarred hands. PRAYER: Son of God, thank You for taking Your place as a man among us, and laying down Your life to save us. Fill us with joy as we wait for the day when we too will see you face to face. Amen. (Lutheran Hour Ministries) |
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THE REASON FOR COMING TOGETHER 12/24/2011 03:33 - Subscribe
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Christmas Day Scripture: "All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men" (John. 1:4). Have we forgotten the reason for coming together to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child? Has our devotion to the cause of the Prince of Peace come down to the level of our "just going through the motions?" We look into the manger and we see a Baby. We see a Cross. We see danger. We see risk. We see the clash between what we are and who we are to become. We see the struggle for redemption. We see mercy. We see love. We see hope for enduring peace... ..CHRISTMAS......" HE IS BORN!" Please remember this: The birth of Christ brought God to man; the cross of Christ brings man to God. MERRY CHRISTMAS HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS! |
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CHRISTMAS MYSTERIES 12/23/2011 03:16 - Subscribe
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By Rev. Wayne Palmer Scriptures: Read Romans 16:25-27. ...the mystery that was kept secret for long ages has now been disclosed (Romans 16:25b-26a) Reflection: Over our lifetime Christmas is a series of ever-changing mysteries. Our childhood mystery "What's inside the wrapping paper?" becomes "Where did they hide the presents?" becomes "Is this Christmas the right time to give her an engagement ring?" becomes "How will we be able to afford presents for the kids?" becomes "What can I buy someone who already has everything?" Is there any Christmas mystery left for you? Is there anything about the season that makes you smile in wonder? Does anything still thrill you and a send a shiver down your spine? There is a mystery-a mystery greater and more wonderful than all the others combined. And that mystery isn't wrapped in colorful paper; it's wrapped in swaddling clothes. It isn't laid under the tree; it's laid to sleep in a manger. It's the Baby born in Bethlehem. What's so mysterious about that? It's the fact that this Baby is the almighty Son of God, stooping down to become one of His creatures: a mere human. Why would He want to expose Himself to all the hurt and suffering in our crazy world? Why would God be willing to become our substitute and earn our way to heaven by His perfect life, and to suffer and die in our place on the cross? That is the greatest mystery, a mystery God has revealed to the world. It sends a shiver down your spine to ponder what kind of love moved Him to do all of this for you. PRAYER: Son of God, Your willingness to be born of a virgin, to share our life and to be our Substitute is an incredible mystery to me. Fill me with wonder, joy and gratitude for Your amazing grace and love. Amen. (Lutheran Hour Ministries) |
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THE INNKEEPER 12/20/2011 05:37 - Subscribe
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Nine-year-old Wally was a hopeful boy, a natural defender of the underdog, and well-liked by his fellow classmates. His parents encouraged him to audition for the annual Church Christmas play and Wally wanted to be a shepherd. Instead, he was given the role of the innkeeper. The director reasoned that Wally's size would lend extra force to the innkeeper's refusal of lodging to Joseph. During rehearsals, Wally was instructed to be firm with Joseph. When the play opened, no one was more caught up in the action than Wally. And when Joseph knocked on the door of the inn, Wally was ready. He flung the door open and asked menacingly, "What do you want?" "We seek lodging," Joseph replied. "Seek it elsewhere," Wally said in a firm voice. "There's no room in the inn." "Please, good innkeeper," Joseph pleaded, "this is my wife, Mary. She is with child and is very tired. She needs a place to rest." There was a long pause as Wally looked down at Mary. The prompter whispered Wally's next line: "No! Be gone!" Wally remained silent. Then the forlorn couple turned and began to slowly move away. Seeing this, Wally's brow creased with concern. Tears welled up in his eyes. Suddenly, he called out, "Don't go! You can have my room." |