Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday 27 December
He was called Jesus.
“And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:21) Luke seems to be stressing to us the importance of the name Jesus since before Mary was even pregnant God told her what the child’s name would be. Why is this name important? Because Jesus’ name explains why he came to this world - he came to “save his people from their sins.”(Matt. 1:21). His name is inextricably tied to his role as savior. So, when we understand the meaning of Jesus’ name we understand his role as savior and understand the message of the gospel. The apostle Peter declares to the Jewish leaders of his day that there is “no other name under heaven...by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) The apostle Paul tells us that “God has highly exalted him [Jesus] and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Everything about Jesus, right down to his name is about him saving men from their sins. That’s why he came, that’s why he died and that’s why he’s coming back again, so that those who have put their faith in him will live forever with him in heaven. To many “Jesus” is just another name but to us who have received the forgiveness of our sins it is the precious name of our Lord and Savior.
Pastor Don.
He was called Jesus.
“And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:21) Luke seems to be stressing to us the importance of the name Jesus since before Mary was even pregnant God told her what the child’s name would be. Why is this name important? Because Jesus’ name explains why he came to this world - he came to “save his people from their sins.”(Matt. 1:21). His name is inextricably tied to his role as savior. So, when we understand the meaning of Jesus’ name we understand his role as savior and understand the message of the gospel. The apostle Peter declares to the Jewish leaders of his day that there is “no other name under heaven...by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) The apostle Paul tells us that “God has highly exalted him [Jesus] and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Everything about Jesus, right down to his name is about him saving men from their sins. That’s why he came, that’s why he died and that’s why he’s coming back again, so that those who have put their faith in him will live forever with him in heaven. To many “Jesus” is just another name but to us who have received the forgiveness of our sins it is the precious name of our Lord and Savior.
Pastor Don.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Something to think about.
"We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems."
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday December 20th
“A sword shall pierce your heart also” (Luke 2:35) these words were spoken to Mary by Simeon when Mary presented Jesus at the temple. How Mary must have pondered those words with no small amount of apprehension, wondering how Jesus would pierce her heart. Jesus’ childhood years growing up in Nazareth were probably as sweet to Mary as they are to any mother; as she saw Jesus become a man she was proud of him as any mother would be when they see their children grow up to be well grounded mature adults. Those years were her happiest years, yet interwoven through them all I’m sure were moments of curiosity, expectation, fear and dread that plucked at her heart-strings. Then as Jesus entered His ministry and she sees His miracles, I’m sure her heart thrilled with excitement knowing as she did who Jesus was. She sees the multitudes following Him, cringes a little perhaps when He confronts the leaders and teachers of the law about their hypocrisy, yet over all a proud mother rejoicing in her son’s impact on the world around Him. But then the tide of His popularity begins to turn and she watches the growing jealousy, the hatred, and the unbelief on the part of the leading men of her people culminating in the darkest of days for Mary, the day they nailed her beloved son to the cross. How that must have torn her heart to pieces yet she couldn’t leave His side and so stayed at the cross to the end. Then they laid Him in a borrowed grave with Mary weeping as any mother would who must bury her son. Three days later the Resurrection! How this must have healed Mary’s heart, her son is alive again, her doubts erased! But then her son ascends into heaven and her heart is pierced again because many continue to disbelieve, scorn and hate her son! Oh how these words of Simeon were fulfilled at so many levels. Mary, you are indeed “blessed among women”, may you inspire us all to be faithful even when God’s blessing brings pain.
Pastor Don.
“A sword shall pierce your heart also” (Luke 2:35) these words were spoken to Mary by Simeon when Mary presented Jesus at the temple. How Mary must have pondered those words with no small amount of apprehension, wondering how Jesus would pierce her heart. Jesus’ childhood years growing up in Nazareth were probably as sweet to Mary as they are to any mother; as she saw Jesus become a man she was proud of him as any mother would be when they see their children grow up to be well grounded mature adults. Those years were her happiest years, yet interwoven through them all I’m sure were moments of curiosity, expectation, fear and dread that plucked at her heart-strings. Then as Jesus entered His ministry and she sees His miracles, I’m sure her heart thrilled with excitement knowing as she did who Jesus was. She sees the multitudes following Him, cringes a little perhaps when He confronts the leaders and teachers of the law about their hypocrisy, yet over all a proud mother rejoicing in her son’s impact on the world around Him. But then the tide of His popularity begins to turn and she watches the growing jealousy, the hatred, and the unbelief on the part of the leading men of her people culminating in the darkest of days for Mary, the day they nailed her beloved son to the cross. How that must have torn her heart to pieces yet she couldn’t leave His side and so stayed at the cross to the end. Then they laid Him in a borrowed grave with Mary weeping as any mother would who must bury her son. Three days later the Resurrection! How this must have healed Mary’s heart, her son is alive again, her doubts erased! But then her son ascends into heaven and her heart is pierced again because many continue to disbelieve, scorn and hate her son! Oh how these words of Simeon were fulfilled at so many levels. Mary, you are indeed “blessed among women”, may you inspire us all to be faithful even when God’s blessing brings pain.
Pastor Don.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Something to think about.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.”(2 Cor. 1:18) –Now there’s something to think about.
Pastor's Corner
Remember who you are.
In the movie “Cinderella Man” boxing legend James J. Braddock is about to enter the ring for a particularly difficult and dangerous fight and his wife gives him these words of encouragement, "So you just remember who you are," she says. "You're the Bulldog of Bergen, and the Pride of New Jersey. You're everybody's hope, and the kids' hero. And you are the champion of my heart, James J. Braddock." So too with us, when we’re facing some particularly difficult times we need to remember who we are. If you have been washed in the blood of Jesus you are a child of the King. You are the treasure of God’s heart. So many times Satan gets us thinking, “I can’t do this; it’s too hard!” That’s when we need to remember, “That’s the old me. The old me would give up but I am new in Jesus Christ and ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.’” The apostle Paul tells us that God works in us to create both the desire to do His will and the power to do His will. When Satan tempted Jesus he would start with these words, “If you are the Son of God…” How arrogant, he knew there was no if about it! He knew exactly who Jesus was. He challenges us with the same words, “If you are a Christian…” Don’t listen to him. There is no “if” about it, you ARE a child of God and Satan knows it, he just wants you to doubt it. You see, when you doubt who you are the battle is already won, so remember who you are – you are a child of the almighty God! And remember who Satan is – he is a defeated foe. Jesus has already won the battle so don’t lose heart, remember, we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. So remember who you are and where you are going.
Pastor Don.
In the movie “Cinderella Man” boxing legend James J. Braddock is about to enter the ring for a particularly difficult and dangerous fight and his wife gives him these words of encouragement, "So you just remember who you are," she says. "You're the Bulldog of Bergen, and the Pride of New Jersey. You're everybody's hope, and the kids' hero. And you are the champion of my heart, James J. Braddock." So too with us, when we’re facing some particularly difficult times we need to remember who we are. If you have been washed in the blood of Jesus you are a child of the King. You are the treasure of God’s heart. So many times Satan gets us thinking, “I can’t do this; it’s too hard!” That’s when we need to remember, “That’s the old me. The old me would give up but I am new in Jesus Christ and ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.’” The apostle Paul tells us that God works in us to create both the desire to do His will and the power to do His will. When Satan tempted Jesus he would start with these words, “If you are the Son of God…” How arrogant, he knew there was no if about it! He knew exactly who Jesus was. He challenges us with the same words, “If you are a Christian…” Don’t listen to him. There is no “if” about it, you ARE a child of God and Satan knows it, he just wants you to doubt it. You see, when you doubt who you are the battle is already won, so remember who you are – you are a child of the almighty God! And remember who Satan is – he is a defeated foe. Jesus has already won the battle so don’t lose heart, remember, we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. So remember who you are and where you are going.
Pastor Don.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Something to think about.
“Fix your eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross, so you won’t grow weary and lose heart.”.” (Heb 12:2-3)
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday December 6
“God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”(1 Cor 10:13) God says He will not allow Satan to attack us beyond what we have the ability to withstand. Sometimes we think, “I just can’t take this anymore!” God says, “Yes you can, you’re a lot stronger than you think!” Or maybe, if God would speak directly to us He would say, “Just fight a little longer, the devil is about to give up, he’s starting to get tired, so don’t give up!” We must remember that God is faithful and if this is in my life it is because God allowed it. And if He allowed it that means that I am strong enough to deal with this; by God’s power I can win this battle. Part of the answer to our struggle is in the second part of the promise – He will provide a way out. We must look for God’s way out. I believe that in most cases we know what that way out is but we don’t take it because it’s a difficult thing to do. The way out may be that I must let go of some past hurt and forgive. That’s tough. The way out may be coming to terms that this physical handicap is not going away and every day I will need to lean on God’s power just to make it through the day. God didn’t promise easy solutions, but He did promise that nothing in life would be too heavy to carry and that He will show you a way out. So take courage for you will survive this! This too shall pass.
Pastor Don.
“God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”(1 Cor 10:13) God says He will not allow Satan to attack us beyond what we have the ability to withstand. Sometimes we think, “I just can’t take this anymore!” God says, “Yes you can, you’re a lot stronger than you think!” Or maybe, if God would speak directly to us He would say, “Just fight a little longer, the devil is about to give up, he’s starting to get tired, so don’t give up!” We must remember that God is faithful and if this is in my life it is because God allowed it. And if He allowed it that means that I am strong enough to deal with this; by God’s power I can win this battle. Part of the answer to our struggle is in the second part of the promise – He will provide a way out. We must look for God’s way out. I believe that in most cases we know what that way out is but we don’t take it because it’s a difficult thing to do. The way out may be that I must let go of some past hurt and forgive. That’s tough. The way out may be coming to terms that this physical handicap is not going away and every day I will need to lean on God’s power just to make it through the day. God didn’t promise easy solutions, but He did promise that nothing in life would be too heavy to carry and that He will show you a way out. So take courage for you will survive this! This too shall pass.
Pastor Don.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)