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May this week be full of reminders of God's goodness and grace to us, and filled with many opportunities to extend God's love and compassion. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting on the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.’
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” Luke 2:25-35
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Did you have any snow showers over the weekend at your house? Nature is declaring the glory of God everywhere we look!
I understand that we had a sad error on our Christmas postcard greetings to our members. Please accept our sincere apology and know that our prayers for you and your family are for a blessed and joyful Christmas and year full of God's grace to glorify Him in all you do.
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And Heaven and Nature Sing
from Psalm 19
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
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Meditation week of 12/6/2010 |
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Living With/In/On Purpose
“The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” – Handel’s Messiah
Perhaps someone has forwarded to you one of the Random Acts of Culture videos of Handel’s Messiah being sung in Macy’s or as in the attached Christmas food court flash mob. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE
I love to watch the faces of people as they hear God’s eternal truth.
The supremacy of the call of Christ’s kingdom lovingly challenges hearers’ hearts, souls and minds. God’s invitation to a new kingdom has been graciously given to you and to me – isn’t that amazing! God has extended to you and me a call, “Come in!” to an eternal kingdom where Christ is reigning, and will reign, as our King and our Lord forever. Halleluah!
What a blessing to know “Our lives are not our own, but we belong, body and soul, in life and in death to our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.”
We have received a call is to a greater kingdom, a greater future, and a glorious life, a life lived wholeheartedly, seeking those things that are above where Christ is.
Christ, our faithful Savior, is coming again and will receive us unto himself. How are you seeing your life and kingdom challenged and changed by this kingdom call? How do you see your kingdom becoming the kingdom of our Lord and Christ?
“Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life is revealed, then you shall be revealed with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
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Marketplace Meditation 11-29-10 |
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There is joy in the Lord,
There is love in his Spirit,
There is hope in the knowledge of Him…
As I was praying for Rita and for our time together with her at our December 9 luncheon, the words of this song came into my mind and heart. The hope that we share, the only hope that we have, is based in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Rita began a ministry to single mothers and their families, and she called it Hope Unlimited Ministries. Please make your reservation for the luncheon, and please – share the hope that you have been given – invite someone who needs to hear a message of hope. And, bring a $5 wrapped Christmas ornament if you would like to participate in our gift exchange.
Prevailing Hope
I Peter 3:13b-15 Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.
Q & A 1 – Heidelberg Catechism
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong - body and soul, in life and death - to my faithful savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from no on to live for him.
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Thanksgiving Thoughts
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff –
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of
LORD, my whole life long.
PSALM 23
This morning, I stayed home from church, resting from weariness and recuperating from illness. I was in need of rest and quiet and spending time asking God for help in resetting my priorities, bringing order out of daily chaos.
Psalm 23 is such a comfort and gives such profound wisdom for our daily life. Some particular, practical and helpful things stood out to me this morning as I meditated on this psalm.
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