Preparing for Christmas

For many thousands of Americans their Christmas preparations began the day after Thanksgiving with the traditional Black Friday shopping.  I myself prefer to do as much as my shopping as possible from the comfort of my living room via the internet and my laptop in my PJ’s if possible.  However, I did begin my Christmas preparations the day after Thanksgiving.   I would like to say I was preparing my heart and home for the up-coming celebration of Christ birth with prayer and meditation, but that would not be completely honest.  Like many others who chose not to go shopping, I took great care with preparing my home with Christmas decorations, the lights, the tree, all the pretty knick-knacks and lighted village.  I did pause and reflect a few extra moments when I set up the Nativity scene, specifically when I placed the baby Jesus in his manger in the barn, turned just right between the Virgin Mary and Joseph.  Then I moved on to the next item of decoration that needed to be placed just so. 

Later that weekend I shopped online for all the gifts my kids had requested deciding between the Nerf guns and video games, what would I choose to make their Christmas morning a surprise.  I placed my orders and packages have begun arriving, the boys anxiously wait for the first of the wrapped presents to appear under the tree.  Such care is taken with timing the placing of the gifts and their excitement grows as the days approach.  Christmas cards are signed and ready to send and soon I will begin making Christmas candy to give to friends & relatives.  Preparing for Christmas, right?   This morning as Pastor Bone delivered our message of Preparing for Christmas, my heart grew heavy as my own shame gathered on my face, what was I doing spiritually to prepare for Christmas?  Specifically how was I preparing for the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ???   

In Isaiah 9:6 we read of the foretold birth of the Messiah,

“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.”

When Christ was born over 2,000 years ago, his birth should not have come as a surprise.  God’s word had already promised of such a delivery, but when the time came for Mary to deliver the Christ child, the nations were sleeping.  Caught up in the busy task of their day, Jesus came as a whisper in the night.  They knew HE was coming and did nothing.  The prophets had already told them in several places in the Old Testament, but yet nobody was preparing for this triumphant entrance of God’s only son.  There was no baby shower or celebration of life, no crib prepared, not even a decent place for a mother to deliver a child.  Jesus came to us in the most humble of ways, in a smelly barn surrounded by livestock, wrapped in rags and laid in a manager meant for animals. 

Are we doing the same thing today?  Caught up in the commercialized Christmas with gift giving, work parties, candy & food preparing to even realize, the Christ child is coming.  Are you so busy “wigging-out” on the last minute gifts you need to get at Wal-Mart that you have forgotten the “reason for the season.”   How are you preparing for the celebration of Christ birth?  Sure as Christians we go to church and sing the Christmas hymns, read the Advent readings and light the candles, attend the kids’ Christmas productions and the candlelight services, but what about your attitude outside of the church?  Are you being a CHRISTmas Christian as you prepare for the Christmas season?  Are you taking the time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, the Christ-child?  And more importantly is your heart prepared for the second coming of Christ?  Does your attitude reflect the condition of your heart?   Or is the condition of your heart reflected in your attitude???  (OUCH!!)

Many of the signs prophesized about the second coming of Christ are coming to fruition, are we paying attention church or are we like the people of the Old Testament days?  Are we too busy with our daily task to take time to tell others about Christ returning?  Are we a nation sleeping?? 

 

This Christmas season I challenge you to take the time each day to reflect on the Christ-child, the promise of hope carried in the infant Jesus and share that hope with others through your CHRISTmas attitude!!

Called by Christ

Amanda

Prepare!

“A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. – Isaiah 40:3

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.  This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: 'A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ – Matthew 3:1-3

“It is written in Isaiah the prophet: I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way – a voice of one falling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” – Mark 1:2-3

“As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” – Luke 3:4-5

“John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” – John 1:23

Isaiah foretold it and every Gospel in the New Testament repeated it – PREPARE!  Prepare for what?  The way for the Lord!!  Without doubt, no matter the task, with no concern of where you are sent, what you are asked to say or do or not say and do.  Easier said than done, huh?  How many of us can honestly say we are completely, 100% prepared?

Noah was prepared for the rain even though the place he lived was plagued with drought, why?  Because God told him to be prepared!  He was ridiculed and made a laughing stalk, but he did not let the opinion of others deter him from fulfilling what God had called him to complete.  In the movie Facing the Giants the main character is told the following parable from an elderly Christian man:

Two farmers in the face of a drought began praying for rain.  One farmer continued tilling, planting, fertilizing the land, preparing his fields for a harvest while the other farmer continued to pray, but did nothing to his fields.  Which farmer trusted the Lord to answer his prayer?  Which farmer received God’s blessing?

Moral to the parable?  You have to prepare your fields if you want to receive the blessing God has for you AND you have to trust the Lord to answer your prayers even in the face of a drought.  Christians face spiritual drought from time to time just like farmers face physical drought.  There are seasons in our lives when we feel like God is not with us, that He is not answering our prayers, times of loneliness from the Holy Spirit.  During these times, God has not left us, He is preparing us for a future blessing.  Maybe our season of drought is the ridicule we face from non-believers for “building our ark.”  God has not left us, He is preparing us for the flood we cannot see.

Just like Amanda Dalton said in her message on Sunday, an Olympic runner preparing for a race does not just wake up the morning of the race and decide to run.  There are months and years of preparation involved.  Training schedules of running & cross-training, weight control and nutrition programs and most of all determination.   But as a spectator on race day, all we see are the runners performing, the preparation each runner does is done alone. 

What God does as He prepares us might not be seen by the world, but we know the blessing is at the finish line.  The race is ahead, be prepared to run.

 Called by Christ,

Amanda

Where is your Bethel?

¹⁶ When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” ¹⁷ He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” ¹⁸ Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. ¹⁹ He called that place Bethel,^[a] though the city used to be called Luz. ²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear ²¹ so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD^[b] will be my God ²² and^[c] this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”  - Genesis 28:16-22

How many of us have been to that place?  You know that moment in your life where you are so close to God you feel His very presence all around you!!  The Holy Spirit falls on you so heavy you can barely move from the place you stand.  God himself speaks to your heart and because your spirit is so in tune with His you hear his voice resonate throughout your entire body.  He speaks so loudly and clearly to your heart that you really do hear it in your ears.  Nothing else on earth matters and for that moment in time you feel the power of The Almighty; you are scared and silent, yet joyful and alive.

If you close your eyes even right now you can picture it so clear it is like you are there again in your mind and perhaps for just a brief moment we start to feel Him again.  The physical setting of the room, the memory is crystal clear, but the feeling, well not so easy to relive.  How we all long to get back to that place when our heart met with God’s and he spoke to us, individually.  What happened? We might ask ourselves.  Why can’t I get the feeling again?  Why doesn’t God speak to me anymore?  We might even re-visit the place physically, thinking we can re-experience the wonderful awesomeness we felt once before.  Problem is God was not in that place physically, He was in YOU, spiritually.

Why did it have to end?  Just like Jacob, we may experience a God-moment too amazing to be true.  We leave promising ourselves we will do whatever it takes to stay in-tune with God so we can experience HIS presence again and again.  But just like for Jacob, life happens. Jacob, travelled on to Paddan Aram, got a job, married and had children.  Hmmm, sounds familiar, (well except travelling to Paddan Aram, I don’t even have a clue where that is!!)   Not to say that you aren’t suppose to work or have a spouse and children, but when we “leave” our Bethel, life takes God away from us.  The 10 minute prayer time every morning slowly disappears because we keep staying up too late the night before.  Reading scripture on lunch break is too hard because all the conversations in the break room are too loud or too interesting.  We just cannot make it to church every Sunday, after all we have to have a life too!!

The excuses pile up all the while your life continues out of control with the stress of trying to manage everything on your own.  Where did it all go wrong?  Why can’t I get back to that peaceful feeling I had?  Where is God now?  Truth is God is still with you, He never left and never will.
 

                “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Joshua 1:5

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” – Hebrews 13:5

So the question you should ask is not how do I get back to where I was, but how do I get back to who I was?  What things were you surrounding yourself with spiritually at the time of your Bethel experience?  Were you in a season of prayer and meditation?  Fasting for a spiritual break-through?  Maybe you were involved in a Bible study that drew you close through scripture.  Or perhaps you were on the road to Emmaus and your eyes were opened to Christ with the reading of the scripture and breaking of the bread?  Think back, remember it clearly in your mind and heart.  What were some of the things you were experiencing and doing that lead you to the moment when God spoke directly your heart?  God didn’t just show up because you willed Him to, you heard His voice because you were “in-tune” with Him and recognized it by not the sound, but the feeling!!

If you want to get back to your Bethel perhaps you need to begin practicing those same things again.  Or maybe you need to try something different.  Are you in the Word daily, weekly?  Do you spend any time with just you and God?  It isn’t easy to make time for God, but then He never promised it would be easy, He only promised he would always be there.  God is waiting to meet you at your Bethel again.  He lingers at that place everyday hoping you will come back to see Him, feel Him, experience HIS presence.  How long will you keep Adonai waiting? 

 

Jacob took nearly 27 years to return. Genesis 35:1,9-11, 14-15

“Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an alter there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”

“After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.  God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.”

“Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.  Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.”

Notice the last sentence quoted, “Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.”  God did not speak to Jacob, He spoke WITH him!!  The Creator of the Universe is waiting to have a conversation WITH YOU!!  Things and people weaken your faith, listen for God’s calling and go back.  Once you are there you will find you have the strength & faith to withstand the trials of everyday life.

Called by Christ,

Amanda

The Disciple Jesus Loves

When we hear the word love, many different things come to mind. Some might think of their spouse, perhaps their children, others might think of parents or close siblings and friends. All of these pictures of love connect to an actual physical being, someBODY comes to mind, not something. God's love is different from any love we have or give. What do you think of when you hear about God's love for you? What do you picture? Ever see the clouds right after a storm when the sun is shining down with rays of light? It almost looks like the heavens have opened up and God's love is shining down. Is that how you picture God's love? Maybe you think of the immeasurable blessings God pours out on us like rain. Can you see it? Pictures & words spelling out your blessings falling from the sky by the thousands!!
God's love is unconditional, never-ending, all-powerful, soft and loving, but yet protective and firm. HIS love is the teaching of how OUR love should be. ​

Jesus gives us this example of God's love:

​^"This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." - John 15:12-13 (NLT)

I would bet that most people can likely count on one hand the number of people they would actually DIE for; children, of course, parents, siblings, maybe a very close friend. But Jesus does not specify who based on their relationship to us, no HE says "for one's friends." Well now that seems a bit much!​  But then that is exactly what Christ did for us, not just as a friend, but as a brother.  Jesus himself is our brother and we are all children of God. 

Jesus on the cross is the symbol of grace, God’s grace.  It is through God’s unconditional love we receive the mercy and grace we do not deserve.  As defined by Brad Bledsoe on Sunday, “Mercy is when God doesn’t give you what you do deserve; Grace is when God gives you what you don’t deserve.” 

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:4-5

“. . . because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.” – James 2:13

Mercy triumphs over JUDGEMENT!!  We are not subject to the judgment of God for our committed sins because of His great mercy for us.  Through grace given on the cross by Jesus, our brother we are not condemned to the sufferings we deserve.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:1

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” – Ephesians 1:7-8

 Lavished grace, how beautiful the image of God’s grace lavished upon us.  The grace we don’t deserve, that has existed for us even before we were in need of it, poured upon us.  Preveinient grace is grace that has “followed us” from the time we were born.  Then at some point in our lives we reached out to the God of love we now know so well and received from Him that grace he has freely given.   And a love like no other is born.  God’s love for us is given, not earned because we can do nothing on our own to earn God’s love.  Unconditional love that sustains us and lifts us, keeps us going and never leaves us.  When it comes down to it, love is what it is all about.  And nobody in the Bible, except Jesus himself, had that figured out better than the disciple, John. 

 Many times people, especially young kids will ask me where should I start when I begin reading the Bible.  I always tell them John and never really understood why until the message given this past week.  The book of John, like all the Gospels of the Bible, tells the life events of Jesus here on earth; with some variations of course, but the most distinct difference is John tells about whom Jesus was, not just what he did.  John shows us through his eyes the love Jesus has for us.  John called himself, “The disciple Jesus loved.”  What an amazing testament of John’s faith.  He knew Jesus’ heart so deeply that he referred to himself with such a bold and beautiful title.  How many of us have that confidence in the Savior’s love for us?  If people cannot even have the boldness to pick up the grace God leaves at the Alter for us and trade in the garbage we carry around, how can we be a people bold enough to claim the title of the disciple Jesus loves??!!

 We are all guilty at some point in our Christian lives of carrying around our sins and short-comings with shame until the burden has pulled us so far down from the love of God we no longer feel “Christ-worthy.”  That is where mercy and grace are vital to receive the love God has for us.  You must first receive the grace God has for you, letting go of that which he wants to take from you, to truly feel His unconditional LOVE.  Just pray this simple prayer and your burdens will be lifted, giving you the freedom to accept and feel God’s love.

            "Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always."

Be bold; claim the title you are deserving of, The Disciple Jesus LOVES!!

Called by Christ,

Amanda

Where are the Warriors?

Several months ago I made the personal decision to enter a mini-marathon, not really sure why, just something I always wanted to see if I could do, like a “bucket list” item.  I talked about it with a friend and she was interested in running with me so we signed up, found a training schedule and started training a few weeks ago.  As I looked over the training schedule, one of the first things I noticed was the days of rest.  You would think training to run 13.1 miles would mean I have to run every day, but no, days of rest were built into the schedule, why?  Because rest is vital to prevent injury to your muscles and to rejuvenate the body so you can run more the next time.

Athletic team schedules at all levels of every type of sport have days built into their schedule to allow time to rest.  In ancient times warriors would rest the night before a big battle, enjoying a feast of food and wine, even the women would travel with them to the camp to “see them off.”  On Sunday afternoons I take a nap to rest and prepare my body for the up-coming work week!  Wait, okay so maybe that isn’t rest, just lazy!!  There is a fine line between resting and being lazy. 

The same holds true for Christians, that fine line between rest and lazy is easy to cross.  It is the moment when you feel inspired by God to do something for your church, start a new program or out-reach, etc., but then decide it isn’t really something you’re comfortable doing or you don’t know enough about getting started, or that you are just too busy.  So you decide, maybe I will just tell somebody my idea and they will run with it; I am content with just “resting” here on the sidelines. 

Rest is necessary, even Jesus rested, but after resting we need to be prepared to fight the battle.  To be the Warrior God has called us to be, to take the idea and run with it on your own.  If God has spoken to you, HE will provide the means to accomplish HIS inspiration.  Remember, God did not call the equipped, He equipped the called!!  If everybody just rested, who would be the voice, hands & feet of Christ to our Christ-starved world?  So where are the warriors?  Take a look in the mirror!!  WE are the warriors!  WE are the soldiers of salvation!  It is us, the church who is called into service to share the Gospel of Jesus to the unbelieving. There are dark forces in this world fighting for the souls of the unbelieving.  Satan already knows his outcome, there is no winning for him against God, BUT Satan will do all he can to drag as many souls possible to the eternity of hell with him!!  As WARRIORS for God we are called to fight the dark forces of evil in this world.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:12

As a warrior called by God, you are also equipped by God, as a warrior!!!

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” – Ephesians 6:13-17

Answer the call of the Great Commander, God and clothe yourself daily as a Warrior in HIS Army’s.  The time is now to fight the evil forces in the world and win the lost souls of this world for eternity in Heaven!!

Called by Christ,
Amanda

Live Your Faith

When I attended college at Indiana State University several years ago, there was a man who stood in the student commons nearly every day preaching to the students as they passed.  He was there, rain or shine, cold or hot.  He often quoted the Bible and spoke about the sins of man, especially about the types of sins committed by the younger generation.  His name?  Mad Max.  Well at least that is what the students called him.  I can remember avoiding the commons area when Mad Max was there, probably because the “sins of man” he preached about hit too close to the proverbial “home”.  And even though I avoided Mad Max on my part, he always seemed to have a way of showing up in my path at least once a week.  Looking back now I admire Mad Max for the having the courage to Live His Faith!!

How about you, do you live your faith?  Wait, how about me???  Yikes!  Do I live my faith the way that Jesus instructs me to?  I mean I attend church regularly, am involved in several different church activities, work on Emmaus Walks’ when blessed to be asked and try to treat everybody with love and respect.  But do I really live my faith?  What exactly does that mean?  What is Jesus asking of us?  Am I to stand in the town commons like Mad Max and profess to those passing by the truth of Jesus and his undying love?  Well if God ask, then . . . YES!!  Thankfully, I don’t think that is what God is asking of me, but that does not mean I shouldn’t be spreading the Gospel of Jesus, with faith to everybody I encounter.  Not necessarily by word, but by action.

Faith is seen, not spoken.  It is in your everyday actions while at work, the grocery store, picking up kids from practice, etc.  Faith knows beyond doubt that God is greater than any single thing we may encounter in life.  Whether great or small, it is trusting that God has the wheel.  Faith believes that even though you have no money in your bank account, God will provide food for your family.  Faith is staying by the bedside of a dying person, believing with all your heart that God DOES have the power to heal that person!! Faith is trusting that despite my son’s current grade in Algebra, he will graduate from High School!!  Faith is stepping out of your comfort zone and worshipping God with your arms spread out to heaven even if not a single other person is doing the same.  Faith is saying to that mountain, move and it will be moved!!!

            ¹⁷ “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” ¹⁸ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.  ¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”  ²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.^[a]”

 

Pay close attention to what Jesus is saying here.  He did not say, have faith and nothing is impossible for HIM, Jesus says, “Have faith and nothing will be impossible for YOU!!!!”  We have the same power Jesus had when he was on earth through the Holy Spirit that lives within us.  Too often Christians stand by the wayside talking about the many great miracles Jesus performed, shaking their heads saying if only Jesus performed miracles like when he was on earth.  HELLOOOOO?? The reason Jesus is not performing miracles is because HE gave us, His disciples that power on the day of the Great Commission.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been give to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  - Matthew 28:18

And we are told again in Acts about the receiving of the Holy Spirit and its power within us. 

            “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”   - Acts 2:1-4

            “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.  The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.  For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.”  - Acts 10:44-46

The same Spirit that dwelt within the first disciples dwells within each of us. Perhaps the reason we don’t see the presence of God among our community, nation and world is because we are not using the power we have been given, we are not living our faith.  As Amanda Dalton stated in her message on Sunday, “God has not changed, God’s people have changed.”  We were not called as Christians to set passively by and watch from the sidelines as our fellow man deteriorates to meaningless existence.  It is our duty as Christians to claim the faith and live it boldly so all will see and desire to come to Christ in the same manner.

            “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

What hinders you from living your faith?  Are you holding back because you fear what the world will think of you?  I am sure Noah was feeling pretty silly when he started building an Ark when it had not rained for many months.  And how about David?  He was ridiculed and mock for his little sling-shot and stones, but who took down that giant?  Abraham did not doubt God’s faithfulness when he and Sarah, who was barren, had their FIRST son long past the age of child-bearing.  It was by faith that the same Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac because he trusted God’s command.  By faith the walls of Jericho fell, by faith the woman with years of hemorrhaging was healed with a touch of Jesus’ garment!  

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1

By faith you can call forth the Angels of heaven to heal the sick, mend the broken and yes even cause the blind to see!!!  God WANTS us to claim that power!  He is waiting for us to step out on faith, He will meet us there. 

Do you still believe in miracles?  God does!!

 

Called by Christ!

Amanda

Don't be a Goat

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” – Matthew 25:31-33

Okay, right away when I read this passage I must confess, I am hoping and praying I get in with the group on the right – the sheep!  I mean really sheep have a much more pleasant appeal than goats, right?  Images of sheep are pure, white, soft and fluffy; while goats are dirty, grey, rough and ugly, plus they eat cans and rags, yucky stuff like that.  Who in their right mind actually WANTS to be a goat? Nobody.  So here is the big question, how do I make sure I get in with the sheep on that day in the not so distant future???  Sunday’s message delivered by Brad Bledsoe was the answer to that very question, “HE must become GREATER and GREATER and I must become less and less.”  But what exactly does that mean?

Reading from the gospel of John, chapter 23, verse 30 – “He must become greater; I must become less.”  These words from John the Baptist refer to his own personal ministry to prepare the way for the Messiah, Christ Jesus.  John knew his place as being a mere human with only an earthly, limited understanding of the Heavenly, but Jesus being God made in human form had complete and total understanding of the Heavenly.  John was sent to prepare the way, to get the attention of the crowds so when Jesus appeared the people would listen to the Word of GOD.   Verse 28 of the same chapter of John says “I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of him.”  
Reading further into Chapter 23 we find a more detailed description of what John the Baptist is saying.

“The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from earth.  The one who comes from heaven is above all.  He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.  For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the spirit without limit.” - vs. 31-34.

So then how can this help us learn the way to become sheep?  We must first accept that Jesus is God, in human form, sent to teach GOD’s WORD!  Believing in Jesus is not enough, even Satan believes in Jesus.  We must be compelled and confess, beyond doubt that Jesus is the one living Son of God, who was sent to earth to take on our sin to the very point of death, even death on a cross; so that we may live eternally with God.  Without that basic foundation as a Christian, we are certain to be cast in the lot with the goats.  Good works alone does not get you into the Kingdom of Heaven, you must surrender your life to Christ, acknowledging his authority over you and everything created. 

Yet the question still remains, how do I make HIM greater and myself less?  How do I get in the sheep group?   The answer lies within Jesus’ ministry.  Throughout his teachings, miracles, healing, praying, what is the one common “theme” surrounding Jesus?  SERVING!  Jesus served the least, the lowest, the poor, the sick & lame, he ate with sinners and was often seen with what our modern-day society would call “poverty,” desperate people who were without hope.  Jesus did not look at a person’s class, their brand of clothes, where they came from or their occupation.  When he looked at people he saw right to their heart.  To make HIM greater, we must serve in the same manner.

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28

“ . . .but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” – Philippians 2:7

Jesus came to this earth to be our human example of how to serve others and in so by doing serve God.  SERVE GOD!!  Those words echo in my head like a ringing in the ears after a rock concert!  Serving God is no passing hobby to be taken lightly.  God does not want us to be luke-warm Christians who passively “serve” him by mere church attendance, a weekly Bible study on occasion or showing up with some can goods for the local food pantry.  All of those things are great and I encourage everybody to attend worship weekly, stay active in the Word of God and by all means give to the needy.  BUT (there’s always a ‘but’ in there), that is not the service God has called us into.  Jesus did not walk this earth doing “just enough” of God’s work to “get-by.”  No, he went out into the villages of people and met them where they were at!!  And that is what we are called to do as well, that is IF you want to become less so HE can become MORE!!  To see Christ in you, you must become Christ to others.  Do people see the true action of Christ in you? 

“And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” – Deuteronomy 10:12

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11

From the Old Testament to the New Testament we are instructed to serve God.  In serving Him we bring the love of Jesus to others, but also the glory to God!!  The more we serve the Greater and Greater HE becomes.  We come smaller and smaller as Jesus shines from us to others.  And I am not just talking about doing things for our own circle of friends, that’s easy.  Taking a meal to a fellow church member and taking a meal to a complete stranger who you have just learned has been laid off their job and has 2 small children – THAT’S being Christ.  By all means, continue to help those in your church, but go above and beyond or in this case below and beyond.  Spend time among those who REALLY need Christ.  The nursing homes and hospitals where so many long for just a few minutes of love; take some flowers to a patient who has no family around or even just stop and say “Hello.”  As Brad mentioned in his message, ask the attendants at a hospital which patients have NOT had any visitors, then go visit those people.  Paint at the youth-center, volunteer to serve at the community dinner, reach out to the people you work with by helping them on a task with an approaching deadline.  It doesn’t have to be time-consuming, even just helping an elderly person load their groceries; surely you have at least 5 minutes to be Christ to somebody!!

The more you serve others, the easier it will become as well.  Pretty soon you will find you are looking forward to helping those who need it most.  Your kindness and GENUINE care for others will make Jesus shine and God will be served through your acts of service.  Your actions will speak clearly the same thing your heart believes!!  How you live your life reflects WHO you serve!! 

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.  Then the righteous (the sheep) will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers of mine, you did for me.’” – Matthew 25:35-40

Choose to serve Christ each day and at the end when you stand before the maker, you will pass the test and be gathered with the sheep on the right!!

Called by Christ!

Amanda

Walls

Have you ever seen a wall being constructed?  It is a long-term and sometimes tedious process.  When the new band room was being constructed at our school, I was absolutely fascinated at the process of building the limestone exterior wall.  The amount of work that went into measuring, cutting and placing the stones in just the exact way to create that staggered look you see on the outside of so many buildings.  Even building a concrete block or brick wall, though not as tedious with measurements can be very time consuming; laying each layer, first brick, then mortar, brick, mortar, etc. etc. etc.  Today I saw a concrete poured wall being constructed and it reminded me that even these seemingly “quick” types of walls require quite a bit of time with constructing the rebar, filling with gravel, then pouring the concrete.

From the beginning of time, man has constructed many walls, now famous, walls.  There is of course the Great Wall of China, the Berlin Wall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, all of which remain standing to this day.  The Old Testament recounts the history of another great wall that fell by uncommon acts.  In the sixth chapter of the book of Joshua we read the account of the falling of the Wall of Jericho.  As instructed by the Lord, Joshua led the armies and people of Israel around the walls of Jericho, in silence, each day at sunrise for 6 straight days.  On the seventh day, God commanded them to march around the city seven times with the Priest leading followed by the Ark of the Covenant and the Israelites, unarmed.  On the seventh time around the city they were commanded to blow their trumpets and give a “Shout!”  At the sound of their voices crying, “Teruah” which is Hebrew for shout, the walls of Jericho came crashing down.  I can imagine their stunned faces at the crashing down of this large stone wall with an act of such small magnitude.  Simply marching and then shouting.  WOW!  What amazing faith in God was exhibited in this simple act.

Human beings often build walls in their lives in the same long-term fashion as those constructed of stone and mortar.  Walls of different types are built in the human heart to “protect” us from the outside world and those who have hurt or lied to us, mistreated us or caused us or people we love harm.  Humans also build walls because of our own shameful acts; mistrust of others, anger, revenge, hate, the list is endless.  There are probably even people who have walls built to block others because of some act committed against their family from many years ago.  How many times have you heard somebody say, “Well I just like that person because my Grandfather told   me what their family did to your great-great-great Granddad.”  No kidding there, I have heard these words myself from people.  How absurd is that?  Brick by brick, layer after layer, the walls grow higher and higher until the love of Jesus you are so desperately seeking cannot penetrate your hardened exterior. 

Are you fighting some walls in your life right now?  Who or what helped build your walls?  For years I had walls built up about the choices I made as a young adult.  I blamed others, my circumstances, even my own parents for the bad choices I made.  A wall of resentment and shame was built in my heart, keeping me from the Jesus who wanted so bad to love me.  I was hardened and coarse to others and blind to the addictions I had sunk myself into.  Unable to help myself and lacking in any self-confidence, I finally saw the good that God had for me if I would just let go and LET GOD!!!  I quit trying to bust the wall down on my own using man-made weapons.  What happened next was indescribable.  The freedom in the crashing down of my walls was divinely liberating.  And now I am a new person, IN CHRIST!!!

Perhaps you need to lay down your “weapons” and start “marching.” Stop hitting the wall and try waiting, walking with no talking.  Trust God to deliver you out of your situation without YOU doing anything.  God wants you to use your faith in HIM to crash down your walls.  While our humanness makes us want to run and attack, God says walk and be quite.  As stated by our speaker on Sunday, Greg Gordon, “It’s not easy playing second fiddle to the Holy Spirit.”  It is our natural born tendency to solve our own problems, build and destroy our own walls.  But too often the walls we are building go unnoticed, unchecked, until they are so high and strong we have become hard and unyielding for God to use us.  I mean have you ever tried to make something out of dried Play-doh?  It is impossible.  It gets hard and then when you try to mold and shape it sometimes falls apart.  That is what a heart surrounded by walls is like to God.  He cannot make you into the person He planned for you to be when you’re no pliable!!  God cannot even get to the soft part of your heart if the Great Wall of China has been re-built there!!

Whatever your walls are constructed of does not matter.  The wrecking ball is Jesus Christ and he can destroy your walls with just a simple, easy act.  We just have to be silent and listen to HIS instructions, then just like the Israelites give a loud “TERUAH” and the walls will come tumbling down!!!

In Christ, Amanda

PS – I hope you are able to play the embedded song, but if not, here are the words for you to at least read.  Sing along if it plays!!  J

Healing Begins

Tenth Avenue North

So you thought you had to keep this up
All the work that you do
So we think that you're good
And you can't believe it's not enough
All the walls you built up
Are just glass on the outside

So let 'em fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide
Can come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find
That the shame won't disappear

So let it fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now
We're here now, oh

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Sparks will fly as grace collides
With the dark inside of us
So please don't fight
This coming light
Let this blood come cover us
His blood can cover us

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Basically . . .

So if your pastor speaks on the same topic two weeks in a row, chances are you really need to hear it!!  Getting Back to the Basics.  Last week I talked about how as Christians we need to get back to the basics through repentance; to give away to God that which he wants anyway, in order for us to grow closer to Him.  The closer we grow to Christ, the more we resemble him and the more we resemble Christ, the less of “us” gets in the way to share Christ. To spread the good news of the Gospel everywhere, that is what we as Christians are called to do.  Just as the first disciples were called by Jesus according to Mark 1:14-20.  Jesus said, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” v 17.  They left “at once”, with no doubts, concerns or worries.  How many of us can honestly say that if Jesus walked into our workplace, said, “Hey, come with me,” would drop everything on command and set out for a foreign nation?  Hard to imagine, but that is exactly how the early disciples were called, they left it all for Jesus. 

Pastor Steve asked on Sunday, “Have you ever been a believer but not attending church?” I admit I had to raise my hand, how about you?  Are there times in your life where you can easily recognize the absence of God?  The times when you decided to “go your own way?”  How did that work for you?  I know it was NOT a good outcome for me!  Attending church regularly is one of the basic ways of staying connected to God.  It is through the church we find spiritual strength.  The early Christians gathered together in this same way, to be strengthened and renewed, built up in Christ.  “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.”  Acts 9:30-32.  Just as we meet today to fellowship and renew each other in the faith; meeting with fellow Christians helps “build each other up so we can spread the Gospel with others, with strength.” (Pastor Steve)  We as a body of believers will increase in numbers as we renew our strength.  How?  Because meeting together gives us the strength and boldness to witness to others the power of Jesus’ saving grace.  The reason why there are so many un-churched people is because they don’t know about Jesus.  Our job as disciples is to share the hope of salvation to those outside the church, just as the early disciples did.  As a Christian, are you more concerned about what goes on INSIDE the church than what goes on OUTSIDE the church?  As Steve pointed out on Sunday, the early Christians were not worried about who was leaving the church; they were worried about who was not coming because they did not know Jesus. 

^“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Acts 2:41

“Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.”  Acts 5:14

“The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.”  Acts 13:49

“They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples.” Acts 14:21

All throughout Acts we hear of the church growing by thousands, nowhere is there an account of how many left, why?  Because spreading the Gospel is not about people leaving the church, it is about people coming to Christ!  It is about being a witness for Christ.  Make no mistake, you are a witness either way, but what is it that you are witnessing to others?  Are you repenting daily, drawing closer to the image of Christ so that others see Christ in you?    It is rather difficult some days to be Christ-like to everybody, but because I am a constant witness, what people see in me still leaves an impression.  I want to leave a Christ-like impression, so how do you stay Christ-like?  By sticking with the BASICS through prayer, meditation, reading scripture and most of all being refreshed and renewed with fellow Christians each week at church. 

We are not called to just sit around and wait by the door for people to show up; we have to go out into the world and claim the lost for Christ.  If people do not know what Christ is about, how will they know to come to Him?  We are the priesthood called by Christ to deliver the Good News of the Gospel – everywhere to everybody! 

Called by Christ!

Amanda

Basics.

What do you think of when you hear the word, "basics?"  Many different things come to my mind, basic training, basic food groups, and basic skills.  All of which implies what?  Basic training we know is a grueling, intense, physical regimen conducted by every branch of military on new recruits.  They must "survive" the several weeks of "basic training" in order to advance to the next level of their military training.  Having been a Navy wife for many years, I have heard some of the "horror stories" of this intense training and how the officers in charge can be, let's say, less than nice.  So from this angle, a basic implies something very less than desirable. 

Basic food groups conjure up the image of that triangle we all remember from years ago in health class (okay more years for some than others).  Now I don't know about you, but when I think of basic from this stand point, I think needs.  Basic needs in order to survive.  The things my body must have for survival. 

Webster's dictionary gives the following definition:  Basic - (noun) - something that is basic, fundamental.

Fundamental, hmmm, how does that play in the mind in the spiritual realm.  Fundamental means, according to Webster again, "something fundamental; especially: one of the minimum constituents without which a thing or a system would not be what it is."  Let me repeat that, ONE OF THE MINIMUM CONSTITUENTS WITHOUT WHICH A THING OR A SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE WHAT IT IS!!  So what do you think of when you hear the phrase, "Getting Back to Basics" in the spiritual sense?  What are the basics of Christianity?  If you are lacking those basics and refer back to the previous definition of fundamental, then you are a missing one of the minimum constituents that makes you what you claim to be- a Christian.  Ouch!!  So does that means if I am not doing the "basics" am I missing out on what God has for me as a Christian, a follower of Christ, a child of God?  Umm, well I guess, "Yes" would be the answer.

Pastor Steve quoted his mentor, Bill Sweigert on Sunday saying, "If you are not growing, you are dying." So if you are not practicing the basics then you cannot grow closer to God.  Much like my previous example of basics with the food pyramid, if you continually leave out one of those food groups your body becomes deficient in that area.  That's why our parents always made us eat our veggies, our body needs them!!  In the same sense, our "spiritual" body needs the basics too.

So what are some Christian "basics?"  I immediately think of prayer.  When we have an active, vital prayer-life with God, we sense His presence and draw closer to Him.  Personally speaking I can look back over my life and see the moments when I was actively praying and the moments when I was not.  Any guesses on how each looked?  As Christians we KNOW we are suppose to pray, but as humans we try to accomplish too many of our lives challenges without it, which usually does not turn out for the best.

Another Christian basic for me is reading the Bible, you know, the Word of GOD!! (Double-ouch!)  Too many Christians, including myself are trying to make it in this world without consulting the Good Book!!  God gave us HIS word for a reason, to read!!  We need to be actively reading the scriptures to draw closer to God, yes, but the Bible is so much more than just a channel to connect with God.  It is an instruction book for life.  The "basic" needs for Christianity are found in there.  Here is where we are taught to pray, worship, praise, minister to others.  Moreover, if you claim to be a Christian and cannot back your belief by knowing the scriptures, your effectiveness among the non-believing is diminished.  You lose credibility as a witness, if you are asked pointed questions you know nothing about.  Remember you are a continual witness for God, good or bad.  I am just as guilty as any other, but plan to make a change in that area, immediately.

As noted by Pastor Steve on Sunday, another individual basic as Christians, is baptism.  Jesus himself was baptized before he began his ministry, which suggests that requirement of each of us as well.

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:13-17

Now personally speaking I cannot say I remember such an occurrence when I myself was baptized, but I am assured through scripture that the Holy Spirit did in fact descend upon me and fill me when I was baptized almost 30 years ago.  "Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38. What I have chosen to do with the power of the Holy Spirit within me since that time is my own personal choosing.  What have you chosen to do with the power of the Holy Spirit within you? As I have matured into adulthood, I have recognized the need to "renew" this feeling or I guess "filling" often, perhaps even daily.  Though we do not need to be physically baptized each day, we do in fact need to repent each day which is part of what we do when being baptized.

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him." . . . . . . 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Repent and be baptized!!  - Matthew 3:1-3, 11

Repent, such a bold and sometimes frightening word. But simple put it means to remove from yourself anything that is separating you from God.  "Letting go of the things that God wants to take from you anyway." - Pastor Steve Singelstad.  When you hang on to even the smallest sin you are keeping yourself from receiving all God has for you.  He has blessings for you and you have blessings to give back to His kingdom, but only if you are pure and filled!!  Filled with what?? - The Holy Spirit!!!!

What ministry, service or action have you always wanted to do, but never have?  Perhaps you have a great purpose that God wants to fulfill, but you are keeping yourself from it by not giving up those things that are keeping you from HIM!!

New Year's resolutions.  How often do we make them, but never keep them?  Maybe this year you have resolved to get in better shape or eat healthier, both of these would imply use of some of my previously mentioned "basics."  Basic training and basic food groups.  What have you committed to accomplish for the Kingdom of God in 2012?  As Steve pointed out on Sunday:

• "Are you about to do something really important for Jesus Christ?"  This one really hit home for me with starting this blog.  I have wanted to do it for many months, but never took the plunge until last week when I recognized some sin in my life that I had to remove.  God called me to do this and so I answered the call.
• "Is your 2012 filled with hope and promise?"  Do you have the faith to step out into a ministry for God's cause?
• "Is it possible this year there will be a profound change in your gift of service to God?" God will actively pursue you until you give in to HIS calling.
• "Do you sense this is the beginning of a greater pursuit of personal sanctification?" If you are not getting closer to God, get back to "the basics."

God wants to do amazing things through you for His Kingdom in 2012.  Are you willing to say "YES" to God?  Are you ready to be "a voice of one calling in the wilderness"?  Do you want more of God in 2012?  Give more of yourself to him!!

Called by Christ!

Amanda