 A New Year – A New Beginning
Now that Christmas is behind us and all the presents given and received, now what? How does one go about looking ahead to a new year following such a heart breaking past year? So many families, including my own, have been hit hard with Covid-19 or at least complications that may or may not stem from Covid-19. There have been those who have lost loved ones to sudden heart attacks, cancer, complications from diabetes, car accidents, violence, and the list goes on. Heartache so great you wonder how you can take the next step necessary to continue on with life. I have come to realize that it all part of this living experience we call life. Nothing is promised to us, none of us are exempt from the pain of losing a loved one. But there is one sure promise and that is God’s promise of eternal life because of His Son’s cruel death on the cross! The promise of heaven and the promise that we will be able to spend eternity with those loved ones that belonged to Him and have gone on before us! I’ve been reminded of Mary this Christmas season with the loss of my precious daughter. I think I know now the anguish and heartache that Mary felt as she had to watch her beloved precious son die a horrible death on the cross for all mankind. I think Mary knew from the beginning in that little stable so long ago, that Jesus wasn’t given to her just for her own enjoyment but that he was sent as the coming Messiah to save mankind from their sins! That he would eventually be the sacrificial lamb. But knowing that in your head and knowing that in your heart of hearts are two totally different things. And when the time comes for death to knock on life’s door I don’t think your heart is ever totally ready for what is to come. God had a purpose for Mary and for Jesus and God had a purpose for Tamorah. I can’t see the purpose clearly right now any more than I am sure Mary didn’t see the purpose clearly the day Jesus was born and even more so the day Jesus died. But one thing I am certain of is that God is still in control even when I can’t see the purpose. So I can’t do anything but trust Him and hold tightly to His hand as we journey through this tough time together. As for the New Year? I really don’t know what this New Year will look like but I do know this. I want to love a whole lot more and a whole lot deeper. I want to say the things that need to be said. I want to spend a whole lot more time making memories and leaving a strong legacy. I want to spend this year giving hugs and kisses to my precious children and grandchildren and making every moment count! I want to serve Him with more fervor and conviction than ever before by sharing my story of Jesus with those who don’t have any hope for the future. I can’t do anything to change the past (oh, how I wish I could) but I can do something about the here and now and this coming year! Will this year be easy? I don’t think so but I can do all things through Him who gives me the strength to do what He would have me to do. So when I don’t know what else to do, I will reach up and take His hand we will silently journey together. Pastor Fran
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 EYES OPENED
“I am sending you to them to open their eyes……that they may receive forgiveness of sins……” (Acts 26:17-18) This verse is the greatest example of the true essence of the message of a disciple of Jesus Christ in all of the New Testament. God’s first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words, “…that they may receive forgiveness of sins….” When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because
Their eyes are open,
“…a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me….” In sanctification, the one who has been born again, deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ,
Pastor Dick  Looking Ahead and Looking Behind
Have you ever driven away from something and looked in the rear view mirror and saw what was behind while simultaneously seeing what was ahead, knowing this was a pivotal moment in your life, after this nothing would be the same but assured God has used what was behind to prepare you for what’s next? I’m reminded of that every time I think about the story of Moses and the Israelites. We think 2020 was bad… imagine looking in a rear view mirror and seeing Pharaoh and his army coming after you and looking before you at the sea, Moses getting ready to lift his rod, trusting that the Lord will get them to the other side safely. “And Moses said to the people. ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today you will see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you will hold your peace.’ And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel will go on dry ground through the midst of the sea…” Exodus 14:13-16 I’m looking back on 2020 and looking forward to 2021 with the same feeling in my heart as I have when I read about Moses and the Israelites. I hope 2020 has taught you something. I hope looking ahead at the year to come you are looking forward to a fresh start, ways to be more intentional with your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and the lost. I hope that you are looking forward and able to rest on the fact that God has prepared you for whatever is coming next. I can’t tell you what 2021 will hold, just as Moses and the Israelites had no idea what was next…but I can assure you God is looking out for His people. It may not be easy, and it may, who knows, but no matter what, He will be right there with us, always at the ready. Pastor Delinda  Think back for a moment to a high school science or biology class. Can you recall learning about the differences between voluntary and involuntary muscles? A voluntary muscle is one you choose to exercise, like an arm or a leg. An involuntary muscle is one that moves without your consent, like an eyelid or a heart.
As you’ve grown in Christ you have probably discovered some behavioral tendencies that tend to flare up repeatedly. You always respond angrily to certain events. You talk harshly about certain people. Like the apostle Paul you want to do the right thing but you seem to invariably do the wrong thing. What should be voluntary, controlled responses turn into involuntary unmanageable reactions. Make the choice today to defeat the power of sin through the power of the Spirit. Ask Him to govern your words, thoughts, and deeds. In time, you will notice that the Holy Spirit will supplant your established negative habits of the flesh with fresh, triumphant habits of the spirit. It’s your choice and His pleasure! Pastor Holmes  He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor. Proverbs 21:21
Things! We all have them. We all want them and we all tend to chase unerringly after them. Coincidentally we never seem to find lasting satisfaction with our things. All the big houses, newer cars, finer clothes, the latest gadgets and gismos always seem to eventually lose their allure. Think for a moment of the person or persons who have the things you are pursuing. Are they actually happier? Has the latest or greatest finally fulfilled their relentless pursuit of happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction or just worked as a spring board for more accumulation? For the record, God is not opposed to you pursuing and having things. In fact, many times the things we are accumulating are an extension of God’s blessing upon our lives. But, here is the rub for all of us. The real motivator of our core being is our spirit and the spirit is never satisfied with things! Most of us realize the things that bring real pleasure and lasting satisfaction are internal and not external. Things like faith, love of family and hope are all internally based and form the greatest foundation for a life of satisfaction and fulfillment. As a new year beginning to dawn, lets pursue the things that matter eternally. Pastor Holmes  Merry Christmas everyone! I pray that there is as much joy in your home this festive morning as there is in the Ritchey household. May all your preparations for this special day bear the best fruit possible.
I want to go back to when Mary was informed by the angel Gabriel that she would become pregnant with a son whose name was to be Jesus. This child would be a great King who would be given the throne of David and to whose kingdom there would be no end (Luke 1:26-33). According to that passage this happened in the 6th month. According to the Torah, the 6thmonth on the Jewish calendar is Elul. I think our perspective of GOD is one of the Father sitting on His throne. The significance of Elul for the Jews is that in this month only the King leaves His throne to be in the field. Just ponder that image for a moment, please. We celebrate the birth of the King of kings, the Lord of lords for good reason. He is Emmanuel, GOD with us. The message came to Mary during the month of Elul; the King was coming to His field. We are that field. Rejoice and be thankful, the King is with us now as He was when He left His throne and entered His field through Mary’s womb. Luke 2:10-11 still applies to us today. As an angel of the Lord said to the shepherds in the fields, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. …” “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, …” (John 1:14a). Our GOD and King is in the field with us. Celebrate His entry into our field; be grateful, rejoice and be glad! Shalom, Pastor Bill  It is Christmas Eve 2020, this is a time for us to come together as a family and celebrate the birth of a king. It is a time for rest and celebration. For some it will be difficult as this year has taken quite a bit from us and left us with memories. For some it has been a time of trials and tribulation. Through it all we have the one who carries us through all this, who brings us peace in the middle of the storm
Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33 As we celebrate this season of Christmas may we be continually seeking a deeper relationship with the Father, may we allow him to work in and through us so that we may be a comfort to those who have suffered. May our focus be on Christ and not the world. "To have a single eye is to be free from the greed that stores up treasure on earth; its treasures are in heaven. To have a single eye is the opposite of attempting to serve two masters." -William Greathouse, Wholeness in Christ For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Let us seek this child and may the seed of Christ grow in us. Have a Merry and blessed Christmas Pastor Marty  We Three Kings is one of my favorite Christmas songs, largely because it helps to explain the meaning of one of my favorite parts of the nativity story, from Matthew 2:1-12. The gifts of the Wise Men are fascinating to me. The wise men brought three gifts with them: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. As the verses of this song so beautifully explain, each gift has a symbolic meaning: Gold to pay tribute to a King, Frankincense to worship God, and Myrrh (a strong-smelling perfume) to anoint a body before burial.
How did these non-Jewish wise men know that this baby was not just a King, but also God and Sacrifice? Well, some scholars believe that these Wise Men may have been students from a school that was founded by the Old Testament Prophet Daniel during his exile in Babylon. However they got their information, they were honoring Jesus for who He truly was and would always be: the promised Savior and perfect Light of the world! Merry Christmas, Pastor Jared  Teaching Moments from Unlikely Sources –
A pondering by Holly Woodbridge There is a t-shirt around that I have been wanting to buy for the Christmas season. It says: Dance like Frosty, Shine like Rudolph, Give Like Santa, and Love like Jesus. It’s really cute. And believe it or not, there is truth in it. Dance Like Frosty - In Psalm 30:11, the psalmist says, “You turned my wailing into dancing.” Psalm 149:3 encourages, “Let them praise his name with dancing!” Psalm 150:4 then urges, “Praise him with tambourine and dancing!” This Christmas, let loose with praise, folks. We have great reason to celebrate, Immanuel- GOD with US! This is Dance-worthy NEWS! And if you get stuck, just picture Frosty. Shine like Rudolph - You know, like “This little light of mine.” Matthew 5:14-16 “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.” This Christmas, let’s be like Rudolph and be people who shine the way to Jesus for our fellow travelers on this rock, called earth. It’s pretty dark out there - so go ahead and SHINE!!!! Give Like Santa- 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Acts 20:35 “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” This Christmas, let’s be cheerful givers, that is what we are called to be, givers of time, givers of encouragement, givers of resources, givers of talents. Go ahead let go - give freely, give joyfully, you know, like Santa. Love like Jesus - John 15:9-17 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” This Christmas, in the dazzle and the frenzy all around us, let’s make a deliberate choice to love like Jesus, with everything, you know like the Birthday Boy, our Savior, our Lord. Because as The Grinch Story concluded “Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.” P.S. Keep unwrapping this Great Gift that has been given. And guess what? You don’t have to quit at Christmas. The gift of life with Jesus can be unwrapped ALL YEAR LONG.  Come let us celebrate the Christ of Christmas
Let us kneel and bow and venture somehow To credit the wonders, he has wrought Let our babbling language find it’s tongue Amidst hoarded hopes fed through prophecies rung Billowing gospel news by angels sung And so Wanamaker Woods will say the big nouns: Joy, Glory, Peace And live the best verbs: Love, Forgive, Save because of the gift He gave For the vast maker of earth, cosmic in His grace Locked Himself within a little space Whimpering weakly in a world He made in strength He could not walk who strode the galaxies His hands light years’ wide Now tiny and chubby-fingered, then at His side For the dying world weeping in the night He let not languish without the light You sluggish quasars cease cosmic flight Awake, oh you galaxies Polaris and Betelgeuse bow your heads For the Child has come and the plague has fled Hope has dawned and death is dead Merry Christmas, Pastor Donny  RE-TUNING ATTITUDE INTO GRATITUDE
Remember when there was such a thing as a TV antenna on your roof or antenna rabbit ears on your TV? To get better reception it was often necessary to re-point the antenna in just the right direction to improve the picture. Even in college we would tape aluminum foil across the windows and touch the rabbit ear antenna on it to improve the picture reception. Well, life is not much different when it comes to our own attitude. Frequently it needs to be re-tuned and re-adjusted to bring us back into an attitude of gratitude to God. Gratitude is not just something we are born with or can acquire by use of a sophisticated phone app. Gratitude is like a tiny seed that must be planted, watered and cultivated within the Christian heart and by faith is sustained and nurtured by God’s grace. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. WOW, Ok, that strikes as a big attitudinal adjustment. Maybe not as big as it seems when you understand that God is not requiring you to give thanks for everything; like hitting my finger with the hammer (wrong nail), or the miserable day at the office, or the devastation of loosing a loved one. We are not asked to give thanks for the difficulties, but rather re-adjust our attitude that even in these things we focus on gratitude to God with a heart of faith that He is BIGGER than any difficulty, and through it the Holy Spirit is at work for our good and His Glory. Even David in verse 4 of the 23rd Psalm wrote: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me”. We can offer our gratitude that God is with us no matter what the circumstance, no matter what the trial, whether the lowest valley or highest mountain top experience, He has never and will never leave your side. Not knowing why things happen or how we can ever get through hard times challenges our faith. We have little control over what happens to us, but we control the attitude of our response to either trust in God or just be in need of another attitudinal adjustment. But praise God He gives us the hope we need: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) I leave you with these precious words of this poem to ponder and reflect on; written by the daughter of a very dear friend, Minister and Missionary. May God Bless you as you live out a new attitude of Gratitude. Gratitude - a reflection on God's love and grace. By Thandi Nelson The human heart - how it longs to be known To be loved and accepted - not all alone The human mind - how it longs to share To create and think - not left empty and bare But worldly expectations - how heavily they weigh Cramming us all into a box - things we ought to do every day And worldly standards - how harshly they tear Shutting us down and shaming us - saying we don’t fit here or there But acceptance - how gently it opens closed off walls Allowing for freedom - permitting both victories and falls And love - how kind and needed it is for our crushed hearts Binding up wounds - putting back together all the fragmented parts Gratitude - how can one put it into words or possibly repay The feeling of indebtedness - acceptance and love in one’s memory will always stay Loyal love - the one that says “you kept me in this world and now I make a choice To love like you have loved - speak up for the wounded and those with no voice” Pastor Jerry  Blessed Among Women
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:39-45 I have always admired Mary, the mother of Jesus. Partly because I can relate to her so well and partly because she had such an awesome job given to her to be the mother of the Messiah. Can you even imagine what it was like for her? A peasant girl, barely a teen herself, and yet called of God to raise His Son: I doubt she knew anything at all about being a mother, let alone the Mother of the King of Kings, the long awaited Messiah. What made God favor her? Was she so different than anyone else? Did she exhibit some dynamic ability to be a mother through the play with her dolls? Was she the obedient child for her parents? Or was it perhaps that God saw her heart of hearts and knew she would be obedient and committed, consistent yet moldable, loveable and tender, firm yet gentle, not afraid to be a parent first and a friend later. I guess I can relate so well to Mary because, for some reason, God saw fit to call me to be a mother to many of His children. When I was a child growing up, I always dreamed of what it would be like to be a mother and have children that I could adore and that would love me in return. Not having a mother's love myself, I had determined early in life that if I ever had the privilege of being a parent, I would adore my children and let them know with everything in me how much I loved and cared for them; that my love would be unconditional no matter what they might say or do. Before my husband and I were married, we would talk for hours about the children we would have... many children... a big family. Little did I know what was in store for us or what God's big picture was for us. After we were married, we lost our first child due to a miscarriage, and then we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. We proceeded to try for a second child and immediately began to have difficulties with my pregnancy. Our son was born early and due to complications-almost lost him and me. A year later, I became ill, and the final outcome was surgery that would never allow me to accomplish my dream of a big family. Notice, I said my dream, not God's dream. I became depressed and felt I had been cheated. Oh, I loved my two children dearly but I felt this emptiness, a longing that I couldn't quite fulfill. I had always struggled with low self-esteem, partly due to abuse I had suffered in the foster homes I had lived in, but also because I am such a perfectionist. I became my own worst critic. God began to lay it on our hearts to adopt. and we began the process through the State of California. for this perfect Caucasian child that came from a college background and had all the pedigree needed for a great child. After all, I didn't want a child like myself that had so many ugly flaws. The State of California turned down our application and said they didn't have any perfect children, but that if we were willing to take in a flawed one, perhaps they could work with us. God directed us to a Christian agency in Whittier, California. We applied with them. Only this time with a totally different attitude; an obedient attitude of what God may have in store for us. The agency had always talked about us taking an older child but my heart's desire was for a baby. But, God knew that I would be obedient no matter what He brought. We had completed our paperwork and had begun the long process of waiting and waiting for that call to come. My friend had just had a baby boy and we had gone to the hospital to visit her and her baby. As we walked by the nursery window, there was a little baby girl in the window with lots of black hair and I just had to stop and stare. She was so beautiful! I silently prayed, "God you know my heart’s desire is for a baby just like this one, but you know I will be obedient and will love whoever you bring our way." Two weeks later that long awaited phone call came. The voice on the other end said, " Are you sitting down?" I asked, "Should I bel" The voice said, “Perhaps you need to. We have a three week old baby girl we would like to place in your home." I couldn't believe my ears. I will never forget the scene the day we went to pick up Katie, our first gift from God. We walked into this little nursery and lying in the crib was a baby just like the one I had seen in the window a couple of weeks earlier. A beautiful baby girl with lots of black hair. When she was placed in my arms for the first time, I realized just how much God really did love me... how very special I was in His eyes... and what an awesome responsibility God had given to me; to raise a child I had not brought into this world, yet He was saying to me, "Here, take her, raise her for Me. I trust you to raise My child that I am placing in your care." I think at that moment I knew just how Mary must have felt when she was called of God to be the mother of Jesus. That was just the beginning for us. God continued to bring eleven other children to adopt and twenty-seven to foster over the years. What an awesome privilege I have had to be entrusted with His children to raise for Him. It is a privilege that I have never taken lightly. For you moms that are reading this ... you too are blessed among women ... you too have an awesome responsibility to raise those precious gifts that He has entrusted into your care to raise for Him. Don't be afraid to parent your child... to raise them in the admonition of the Lord. Some day we all will stand before God and we will all have to give an account as to how we raised that child or children that He entrusted into our care. I want to hear the words, 'Well done my good and faithful servant!" How about you? Blessings, Pastor Fran  Blessed Among Women
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:39-45 I have always admired Mary, the mother of Jesus. Partly because I can relate to her so well and partly because she had such an awesome job given to her to be the mother of the Messiah. Can you even imagine what it was like for her? A peasant girl, barely a teen herself, and yet called by God to raise His Son: I doubt she knew anything at all about being a mother, let alone the Mother of the King of Kings, the long awaited Messiah. What made God favor her? Was she so different than anyone else? Did she exhibit some dynamic ability to be a mother through the play with her dolls? Was she the obedient child for her parents? Or was it perhaps that God saw her heart of hearts and knew she would be obedient and committed, consistent yet moldable, lovable and tender, firm yet gentle, not afraid to be a parent first and a friend later. I guess I can relate so well to Mary because, for some reason, God saw fit to call me to be a mother to many of His children. When I was a child growing up, I always dreamed of what it would be like to be a mother and have children that I could adore and that would love me in return. Not having a mother's love myself, I had determined early in life that if I ever had the privilege of being a parent, I would adore my children and let them know with everything in me how much I loved and cared for them; that my love would be unconditional no matter what they might say or do. Before my husband and I were married, we would talk for hours about the children we would have... many children... a big family. Little did I know what was in store for us or what God's big picture was for us. After we were married, we lost our first child due to a miscarriage, and then we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. We proceeded to try for a second child and immediately began to have difficulties with my pregnancy. Our son was born early and due to complications-almost lost him and me. A year later, I became ill, and the final outcome was surgery that would never allow me to accomplish my dream of a big family. Notice, I said my dream, not God's dream. I became depressed and felt I had been cheated. Oh, I loved my two children dearly but I felt this emptiness, a longing that I couldn't quite fulfill. I had always struggled with low self-esteem, partly due to abuse I had suffered in the foster homes I had lived in, but also because I am such a perfectionist. I became my own worst critic. God began to lay it on our hearts to adopt. and we began the process through the State of California for this perfect Caucasian child that came from a college background and had all the pedigree needed for a great child. After all, I didn't want a child like myself that had so many ugly flaws. The State of California turned down our application and said they didn't have any perfect children, but that if we were willing to take in a flawed one, perhaps they could work with us. God directed us to a Christian agency in Whittier, California. We applied with them. Only this time with a totally different attitude; an obedient attitude of what God may have in store for us. The agency had always talked about us taking an older child but my heart's desire was for a baby. But, God knew that I would be obedient no matter what He brought. We had completed our paperwork and had begun the long process of waiting and waiting for that call to come. My friend had just had a baby boy and we had gone to the hospital to visit her and her baby. As we walked by the nursery window, there was a little baby girl in the window with lots of black hair and I just had to stop and stare. She was so beautiful! I silently prayed, "God you know my heart’s desire is for a baby just like this one, but you know I will be obedient and will love whoever you bring our way." Two weeks later that long awaited phone call came. The voice on the other end said, " Are you sitting down?" I asked, "Should I be?" The voice said, “Perhaps you need to. We have a three week old baby girl we would like to place in your home." I couldn't believe my ears. I will never forget the scene the day we went to pick up Katie, our first gift from God. We walked into this little nursery and lying in the crib was a baby just like the one I had seen in the window a couple of weeks earlier. A beautiful baby girl with lots of black hair. When she was placed in my arms for the first time, I realized just how much God really did love me... how very special I was in His eyes... and what an awesome responsibility God had given to me; to raise a child I had not brought into this world, yet He was saying to me, "Here, take her, raise her for Me. I trust you to raise My child that I am placing in your care." I think at that moment I knew just how Mary must have felt when she was called of God to be the mother of Jesus. That was just the beginning for us. God continued to bring eleven other children to adopt and twenty-seven to foster over the years. What an awesome privilege I have had to be entrusted with His children to raise for Him. It is a privilege that I have never taken lightly. For you moms that are reading this ... you too are blessed among women ... you, too, have an awesome responsibility to raise those precious gifts that He has entrusted into your care to raise for Him. Don't be afraid to parent your child... to raise them in the admonition of the Lord. Some day we all will stand before God and we will all have to give an account as to how we raised that child or children that He entrusted into our care. I want to hear the words, 'Well done my good and faithful servant!" How about you? Blessings, Pastor Fran  DOES HE KNOW ME –
"He calls his own sheep by name……" John 10:3 When I have sadly misunderstood Him? John 20:17 It is possible to know all about doctrine and yet not know Jesus. The soul is in danger when knowledge of doctrine outsteps intimate touch with Jesus. Why was Mary weeping?
Have I been doubting something about Jesus - an experience to which others testify but which I have not had? The other disciples told Thomas that they had seen Jesus, but Thomas doubted ---- "Unless I see ..… , I will not believe." Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus.
Peter had denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses,
intimate connection with Him, a knowledge of Jesus Christ which nothing can shake. Pastor Dick  “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will fly up on wings like eagles; they will run and not be tired; they will walk and not be weary.” Isaiah 40:31 (CEB)
This year our family is participating in the advent devotional given out by our family ministry team. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it involves reading a passage of Scripture, sharing a little devotional, and placing a sticker of a character or item of the Christmas story onto a cardboard scene that will eventually depict the nativity scene. The sticker might be shepherd, an angel, or the manger. Each piece of the advent devotional is intended to point us to the birth the Christ. Each day my kids anticipate placing one of the stickers onto the scene. Each day we feel a small sense of delight and satisfaction as we see and hear the story unfold. Once we experience the small blessing of the day, we can’t wait to see what will be in store for the next day. Each time, it’s a small glimpse of what is to come. Summed up into one word, it’s anticipation. As Christmas approaches, what if you looked for small glimpses of Christ every day? If you look for him, I promise you will find him. You might see an act of kindness, reminding you of God’s grace. You might see an individual serving another, reminding you that Jesus came to serve and not be served. You might see him in some of the most unexpected places. I challenge you to anticipate seeing Christ today. Start by asking God for eyes to see and ears to hear him. Since every day is gift from God and an opportunity to know God more, let today be one in which you hope in the Lord. -Pastor Michael  A friend of mine posted this to his Facebook page the other day. His cousin wrote it in a blog, I loved it and would like to share with you:
“Despite its general dumpster-fire quality, 2020 has given us a few cool moments. Believe it or not, we’re about to see the first Christmas Star in nearly 800 years. A Christmas star is when Jupiter and Saturn align so closely in the last week of December that they create a radiant point of light for those of us looking up from Earth. Mercy gracious, don’t we all need a radiant point of light right now? I know I do. An alignment between these two planets only occurs about every 20 years, so they are rare, but alignment this close, providing astronomical eye candy of these proportions, hasn’t happened since the middle ages, last occurring March 4, 1226. A Christmas star that hasn’t happened since the literal middle ages? I think that’s exactly the symbol we need in 2020. Many of us will be separated physically from loved ones this year, and many more are grieving a heart-rending separation caused by death. Over 270,000 of our fellow citizens have perished in the global pandemic this year. They were sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, and siblings. So many of us grieve this Christmas. Despite all this pain, despite many big celebrations being canceled, despite family members lost, Christmas is not canceled. The aligning of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21st will serve as a bright, physical reminder of that. Joy may be harder to come by, but it is not canceled. The miracle baby was still born 2000 years ago. God still took on flesh to show us what unconditional love is. That miracle is still true every single day of every single year, whether that year is good or bad. Family is still precious. Life, even when it is so, so hard, even when it is anything but “normal,” is still a gift. The Christmas Star will be most visible on December 21st, about 45 minutes after sunset in the southwest sky. But it will be with us the entire fourth week of December. I can’t help but wonder if God arranged this celestial celebration just to remind us of His hand on our lives just when we needed it the most.” -Jenny Rapson- Mark your calendar, see the star and worship Him, don’t lose hope although this year may be hard, His love is not canceled, it might look different but Christmas is not canceled. Matthew 2:2 “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Pastor Delinda  Have you ever lost your zip and zest for spiritual things? I am not asking about backsliding or turning your back on God, the church or spiritual things, but rather about just cooling off.
Spending time in God’s Word loses its appeal. Church attendance and worship tends to become more habitual and less an adventure. Prayer is viewed as a 911 default tucked into the corner of your spirit. Spiritual dryness becomes a spiritual desert and your thirst for God and the things of holiness takes a back seat. Oh, you still walk and talk and live as a Christ follower, you are just not as excited, challenged or involved as you once were. Add to all of this, maybe you are even finding yourself becoming comfortable in this desert of complacency. Yes you feel a bit empty, like you have lost something valuable, but not really sure you want or are willing to pay the price of finding it again. If you find yourself there, or on the border of a spiritual desert, be assured of these things. First, God is not mad at you nor has He deserted you! Second, know His grace is sufficient for your spiritual dryness. Third, God loves you just as much as He did yesterday! Finally, realize the way back is not as difficult or psychologically draining as you might fear! The starting place: Go back and do the things you did at first. Don’t make it difficult. Just take that first step and as you take that step back, remember God is the same yesterday, today and forever! He wants to hear from you and have a genuine relationship with you. Everything else will naturally follow, after you take that first step! Pastor Holmes  Recently while returning home from a short trip, in conversation with my travel companions we missed our exit to take the next stretch of our journey. What is the wise thing to do but take the next exit and turn around? At the stop light we encountered a chance to speak life into a man holding a sign. We asked what his needs were. He said that he needed shelter and food.
He shall cover you with his feathers, and under HIS wings you shall take refuge; HIS truth shall be your shield and your buckler. Psalm 91:4 We covered this man in prayer and help supply his needs. We then went on returning to our journey home. Maybe missing the exit was no mistake. Stopping for lunch and to fill the vehicle with gas in a busy college town, I noticed a young very distraught woman, asking her what I may do to help her words were I am “hopeless and homeless “. One thing I noticed about her was that she would not make eye contact with me. She does not know the King were my thoughts, so with the help of my brothers we introduced this young woman to the King. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, in me you will have peace. John 16:33 Let us in this advent season live in the love of God. We as a church family have been through so much pain and suffering. May we continue to seek Him and share the gospel and be in prayer for this nation. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 May all of you have a blessed Christmas. Pastor Marty  Isaiah 9:6 tells us, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Christmas offers so many things that bring joy to our hearts. But it is important to remember that pretty lights on houses and a lot of presents do not communicate the true reason for the season. Before I became Christian, the trappings of Christmas seemed very important to me, especially the gifts, and the dysfunction in my family emphasized that. I think this is very common in our culture today. Isaiah 9:2 tells us: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. I remember the first Christmas I shared with my new Church family; it was filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit in a way that was new and marvelous. Although I still had little understanding of this at that time, it began a very positive change in me. However, when my wife and I shared our first Christmas together several years later, she was shocked at the unhealthy baggage I was still carrying from my dysfunctional family experiences. But GOD is so good. Healing and growth have occurred in my life that has allowed me to enjoy this season more each year. My wife’s love for this season and the presence of the Holy Spirit has been the key factors in the spiritual and emotional healing I have experienced. These have helped me learn to focus on the reason for the season. May the light that shines from Bethlehem shine more fully in your life as it does in mine each year. Merry Christmas and Shalom, Pastor Bill  What is it about Christmas that so many people love? It could be any combination of the lights, colors, gifts, or music. For Christians, it should be first and foremost about our celebration of Christ’s birth. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the other stuff too! For me, I absolutely love the lights. Going to Lake Shawnee to see Winter Wonderland with my family has always been one of my favorite events of the Christmas Season each year. I love seeing all the colors, and how creative people are able to get with them. It’s also nice to know that, as the days get darker, there will be houses that put out extra light.
Thinking about this brought to mind the first chapter of the Gospel according to John. Whereas the other Gospels begin with Jesus’ humanity (a birth record, or the start of His ministry), John chooses to begin by addressing the eternality of Jesus as God, being one with the Father. But after describing this in verses 1-3, John adds this: “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.” (John 1:4-5, ESV) It’s no secret that things are very dark in our world right now. Not just physically (I’m lucky to have 15 minutes of light left when I get home from work), but spiritually. People are scared, people are angry, and people are letting the things that divide overwhelm the things that unite. It’s really too easy for me to want to throw my hands up some days and ask “why do I even bother?” But then, I see the Christmas lights, and every time I do, I’m reminded that the Light that John knew so well is still shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not, will not, and cannot overcome it! Blessings, Pastor Jared  What time is it? Time to start unwrapping!
A pondering by Holly Woodbridge It is Advent time, the Advent Season. It is the very special time of year that sometimes gets lost in the bright lights of the Christmas season that follows. The Advent Season is all about waiting, but not like thumb twiddling waiting; it’s the kind of waiting that puts you on the edge of your seat with anticipation. We are really, slowly unwrapping one spectacular gift that overflows with other gifts during advent. To slow down in the craziness all around us, takes effort. And that is why advent is important. ADVENT is slowly UNWRAPPING the gift of CHRISTMAS and finding meaning in the truest gifts. Some of you have probably done a good bit of your Christmas shopping. You may even have wrapped up your gifts and placed them under the tree. There is something special about a wrapped gift. The greatest gift ever given was wrapped, just not with fancy paper and a bow. “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12, emphasis added). There is nothing shiny about that wrapping. Our glorious God lying in a feed trough wrapped in dingy swaddling clothes. The God before whom Moses and Isaiah fell down on their faces, the God worshipped by throngs of angels is in a filthy stable. And this message from this feed trough is an invitation for anyone, everyone. Every Christmas the first decoration that I put up is our nativity scene—a small, rustic-looking set, crude but charming, busy with sheep, shepherds, camels, wise men, and a baby in the manger. When I take time to think about this scene, I realize that it isn’t normal. As much as I like our sweet scene, God doesn’t want me to view it as pretty and quaint. What happened at the manger wasn’t designed to put me in “the holiday mood.” It was a gift that was to be unwrapped, a gift intended to shake me to the roots of my soul. Christmas is the day we celebrate the entrance of the eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, all-righteous, all-holy, and glorious God into our world and Advent is the time for us to carefully unwrap that gift. God humbled himself in a way that a shepherd, or a child, or even I would understand. While lying in a manger, God humbled Himself before us so that we would realize that there was nothing He wouldn’t do to bring us into relationship with Him. Our glorious God, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger is waiting for you to unwrap Him this season.  Isaiah 9:2-4
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. One of the games that has been fun to play along with youth groups in ministry over the years is a game called sardines. It is a bit of different take on the game of hide and seek. One person hides, and everyone else searches for the hidden person. Whenever a person finds the hidden person, they quietly join them in their hiding spot. Soon, the hidden group starts to look like a bunch of sardines! It has been most enjoyed when it’s dark, keeping all the lights off in the church. Maybe I’m just strange, but it can be somewhat creepy walking around the church in the dark. You know nothing is there, but you still want to get into the light as soon as possible. It doesn’t make sense, really, to feel this way about the dark. Nothing about the territory changes, whether the light is on or off. But in the light our perspective makes a shift; we can see, and we are reassured. Following Christ is pretty similar. There will be struggles and dark moments in our lives, even for the most faithful of us. But with Christ our perspective changes; we can see, and we are reassured. We will all stumble around in the darkness from time to time, but know that the Light is there and rejoice. Great and wondrous God, your light is an ever-shining lighthouse in my life and in the world. Help me to see your light in all things. Help me to reflect your light into all the corners of my life, of my relationships, and my community. Amen. Pastor Donny  Held Hostage by Death
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin”. (John 8:34) “For the wages of sin is death”. (Romans 6:23) Because of sin, we are held captive by death, taken prisoner; bringing us into subjection. Sin is a trap set by Satan which lures us by our own selfish desires to become trapped in his evil snare, holding us hostage. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15) Likewise, just as Eve was deceived by Satan we to are subjective to his deception. Genesis 3:4-5 says “But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die, For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Observe the world around you today and reflect on Paul’s warning to the Corinthians regarding false prophets; “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light”. (2 Corinthians 11:14) Just as one man; Adam, did it wrong, placing us in captivity to sin and death, Christ came to do it right, freeing us from Satan’s bondage. One man said no to God, putting all mankind in captivity; but one man; Christ, said yes to God giving each of us the opportunity for redemption by God’s free gift of Grace; "All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus". (Romans 3:23-24). Even Paul knew it was a struggle to live in a sinful world even after becoming a Christ follower. Just as you and I live in that same world we must live every day through the power to the Holy Spirit who seals us in Christ Jesus; as a pledge of our inheritance as God’s precious children. Each day as we live and grow through the working of the Holy Spirit in our life, we are empowered to resist sin and temptation by living in accordance to God’s Holy Word and His direction for our life and our family. Christ is the only one who can free us from the chains of sin which hold us hostage to the fear of death. Let Him unlock those chains for you by placing those worries and fears in His hands, which holds the key to your freedom. How are you doing life? Are you held hostage by the fear of death, sin or anything in your life? Let the following scriptures be on your lips and in your prayers daily. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes”. (Romans 1:16) “The free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord”. (Romans 6:23) “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. (Philippians 1:21) Pastor Jerry Schmid  I thought you might enjoy a couple of letters that I recently read of little children writing to Santa. The first one stated, “Dear Santa, you didn’t bring me anything good last year. In fact, you didn’t bring anything good the year before either. This year is your last chance!” - Albert “Dear Santa, there are three little boys that live in our house. There’s Jeffery, he is two, there’s David, he is four, and there’s Norman, he is six and half. Jeffery is good some of the time, David is good some of the time, Norman is good all the time. I am Norman.” Then there is a story of a little boy who was wanting a watch for Christmas. He kept pestering his dad about it and finally his dad said, “Time out, if you mention a watch one more time, you for sure won’t get one.” Well the night before Christmas, at the dinner table the little boy asked if he could pray for the meal. The dad was surprised, but said “Sure!” The boy asked for permission to quote some scripture and his dad said, “I think that would be just great.” So the little boy quoted Mark 13:37,
“I tell you now what I told you before, ‘watch’.” Well it is the Christmas season and it is possible to miss Christmas with all the decorations in the malls and shopping centers, the music that comes out of speakers on the sidewalks, advertisements on television and newspapers, in spite of all this it’s possible to miss Christmas. Note those who missed it in the Christmas story; the innkeeper, full house, good business, secure, things going well, he was just too busy for Christmas. And then there were the religious leaders, they could quote Micah 5:2, “but as for you Bethlehem, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” They had their rituals, their traditions, their religion, they just didn’t need Jesus. They missed Christmas because they were indifferent. Then there was Herod the King, nobody liked him, he was paranoid, always thought someone was going to steal his throne. He had his mother and his brother-in-law, and his wife, ruthlessly murdered and at one time had all the Sanhedrin killed. He had heard about Jesus’ birth and yet in hearing that, he had all the babies under two killed. Herod missed Christmas because he had a fear problem. These are still the same reasons people miss Christmas today. Don’t let them be ours. Pastor L.D. Holmes  Thinking of Prayer as Jesus Taught
“Pray without ceasing…” 1 Thess. 5:17 Our thinking about prayer, whether right or wrong, is based on our own mental conception of it. The correct concept is to think of prayer as:
“Pray without ceasing…”— maintain the childlike habit of offering up prayer in your heart to God all the time. Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer.
However, the evidence of the answer in the area we want it may not always immediately follow.
The danger we have is that we want to water down what Jesus said:
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AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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