Someplace Special
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Someplace Special
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Read Romans 3:19-26 “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe…” Romans 3:22 Having grown up in the Baptist church and being constantly reminded of my sinfulness and the need for works righteousness. I was convinced that I was going to hell and there was not much I could do about it. It was so freeing to learn about "justification by faith through Grace." In a society where everything has a price, its refreshing that there is at least one thing money can=t buy. This one thing is God=s grace. How do we know this to be true? We know this because Jesus tells us so. Jesus came to tell us that God loves us, sinful as we are. He came to tell us that, although we are sinners, we still very dear to God. When we discover and believe this, it changes our lives and our relationship to God. We are conscious of our sin, but we are no longer fearful of God and no longer separated from God. Seeking forgiveness and brokenhearted we come to God and we know that the God we come to is love. Justification by faith through grace means that we are in a right relationship with God because we believe with all of our hearts that what Jesus told us about God is the absolute truth. We are no longer fearful of a angry God, rather we are children trusting in a loving God. Prayer O Lord, our God, help us to be more trusting of you and say yes to your saving grace. Amen Pastor Billy
Read Isaiah 35:1-10 “A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.” Isaiah 35:1-10 I chose this bible verse because it really hit home to me. I am forever getting lost whenever I start out on a new adventure. Even with directions in hand, I somehow still manage to get lost. When I was in my early 20’s and living in California, my car broke down. The water hose was smoking and spurting water everywhere. A “gentleman” followed me off the highway and stopped by my car to help me. This person had other things on his mind but somehow with God’s help and some guardian angels, he took me to a money machine, spoke Spanish to the people fixing my car (I was in a Spanish area), and basically waited around with me until the car was fixed. Another episode in my life involved a spin-out on a highway in East Aurora. I had been babysitting for my nieces and left my brother’s house about midnight. When I was driving, there was a whiteout and instead of exiting on the ramp, I ended up in a ditch on the side of the highway. Somehow even though there was a lot of snow, I managed to get my car door open and was able to climb out of the ditch. I had no cell phone, but again God was right there watching out for me. A driver on the other side of the highway stopped and I yelled out a phone number for him to call. Help was soon on the way! So, when God prepares the highway, remember, no traveler, even fools, shall go astray! PrayerGod, we thank you for preparing the highway for your people. We all may be comforted by your promise that no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. Debbie Rock
Read Matthew 18:12-14 “—and one sheep has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine and go in search after the one who went astray? Matthew 18:12b This beautiful verse has been so meaningful for people long ago, through the years, and even more helpful today. How easy it is to follow the crowd – do wrong because you want to “fit in”. Your friends are showing their bellies, so you show yours. Your friends have weird hairstyles, so you have yours cut that way. Your friends don’t do their homework, so why do yours? To smoke and “party are in” so you can’t wait to start. As parents and grandparents we have been tested with this verse. We probably had more control over the situation as parents, but worrying just as much and praying a lot harder as grandparents. Sometimes the lost sheep returns to the fold quickly, sometimes it takes longer, and sometimes the lost never return. But as parents and grandparents we must live our roles as Good Shepherds. Prayer Dear Lord: Please grant patience and wisdom to all parents guiding their flocks. Amen Doris Weyand
Read Isaiah 40:25-31 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” Isaiah 40:29 Alcoholics Anonymous has several slogans such as "Easy Does it", "Live and Let Live", and "Let Go and Let God." Let go and let God is a reminder of our humanity and our inability to carry many of life's burdens upon our small shoulders. Many alcoholics have returned to active alcoholism because they have tried to carry life's many burdens single handedly. Isaiah 40:25-31 is an appeal to Israel to trust in the Lord. Faced with such spectacular evidence of God=s wisdom and power (v. 28-29), how can you doubt? Verse 27 poignantly expresses Israel's doubt. And the last four versus address the problem of faintness and weariness and answer it with statements about God's power and the strength of those who trust in him. How often have we tried to carry life's burdens upon ourselves. The result is usually one of being over whelmed, tired and weary. Eventually we feel hopeless and lost surrendering to our despair. But those who look for and hope in God shall change and renew their strength and power; They shall lift their wings (v. 31) and come close to God as eagles to the sun; They shall run and not be weary; They shall walk and not become tired. Letting go and letting God should not be a slogan limited to Alcoholics Anonymous, but one for all who confess Christ as their savior. PrayerO Lord, our God, help us to let go and let You carry our burdens knowing that You are stronger and desire to help us. Amen Pastor Billy
Read Matthew 11:11-15 “Assuredly, I say to you, Among those born of woman there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater then he.” Matthew 11:11 John, as Jesus, was born of a human mother. But John did not live to see the finished work of Christ on the cross. Through Jesus’ Resurrection we have that knowledge as well as the knowledge of Christ’s kingdom advancing as will the attacks against it. But it will stand tall, for we also have the knowledge of Jesus gathering of his people at the second coming and his present peace we freely give to one another. It is because of God’s grace that he holds a place in his house for us for the eternal party in paradise. Prayer God, grant us the wisdom to share the invitation to the eternal party. Amen Brother Bernie Bruenn of Buffalo
Read Isaiah 48:17-19 “....I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go” Isaiah 48:17b Isaiah 48:17-19 is a very short prophecy which focuses on what God has done for his own people. He is their teacher and guide. His teaching at Sinai and through his servants the prophets was for their own good, for their profit and benefit and his guidance out of exile and through the wilderness will bring them to the Promise Land. This passage also envisages God full of longing for his people . The passage is also reminiscent of the words of Job (4:150. Job imagines the peace ad tranquility of Sheol, the abode of death, and God=s voice reaching him there; "Then You would call and I would answer You. You would yearn for me the work of Your hands." Our God is no distant, impersonal power, unmoved by our condition. He is the God made flesh in Christ who came down from heaven to experience humanity first hand. No matter how far we think we have strayed from God, God is only a heartbeat away clinging to us. We are never distant from God. PrayerDear Lord, help us to love you as you love us. Amen Pastor Billy
Read Psalm 80 Hear me, O Shepherd of Israel! You who guide Joseph like a flock. Enthroned on the cherubs, shine out On Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Rouse your power and come to save us! Restore us, Yahweh. We will be secure when you smile upon us. How long will you be angry, Yahweh, while your people pray? We have fed on bread of tears, Drunk them in ample measure. Our neighbors now argue over us and our foes mock us. Yahweh, bring us back. Smile on us and we will be secure. From Egypt you uprooted a vine; to plant it you scattered other nations. You cleared a space so it could flourish, and it took root and filled the land. Soon it shaded the mountains, the cedars of God by its branches. It's leaves stretched to the sea, its shoots to the river. Why have you leveled its fences? Now all can pluck its fruit The wild boar can trample it, and wild beasts devour it. O Yahweh, please return! Look down from heaven and see this vine. Nurture and guard what your hand has planted. They tossed it on the flames like rubbish, but your glance would destroy them. Safeguard those you have chosen those you have made strong. Never again will we turn away from you; we shall call on your holy name with renewed spirit. Restore us, Yahweh Sabaoth; let your face smile on us- then we will be safe.” From Psalms Anew by Nancy Schreck, OSF and Maureen Leaach, OSF There is a neighbor who has a very bright daughter. She is in medical school and is only 16 years old. Dad is a single parent who knew early on that this child could be a handful; much smarter than her daddy. He decided to take the path of teaching her that her only purpose on this earth was to please him. So, when she stepped out of line he would give her "that look" and say, "Does my face look happy?" She'd think about that for a few seconds and change her ways. Well, that's the way he tells the story. 'Makes me wonder when I pray this Psalm and say: "Restore us, Yahweh, Sabaoth; let your face smile on us - then we will be safe." 'Sounds like we'd better change our ways as persons, as families, as citizens, as nations. Or, at least begin to ask the questions about what about children makes parents smile. What about that argument Abraham had with God about finding 50 just men so God wouldn't destroy the city? What were those 50 up to that God's mind changed? In this Advent time I’ll think about what about my day today would make God smile. What could I plan to do...or not do...We who want to be conscious of those who eat 'the bread of tears' today...We who want to walk in solidarity with the oppressed and not act like the oppressor? What in my role as daughter, sister, aunt, mother, cousin, friend, citizen, world neighbor, challenges me to dig deeper into God given graces of generosity, self control, patience, understanding, compassion, and love? Prayer Yahweh, bring us back. Smile on us. Nurture and guide what your hand has planted. O Yahweh, please return. Amen Beth Heidber |
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