'Tis the season to spread good tidings of great joy! Does that make you outwardly sigh?! Hmmmm... doesn't that sound like a great sermon intro!! :D
Please let me note here that I invested in an iPad Air with one of it's purposes of taking notes in church right on this wonderful electronic; no more chicken scratches THEN rewriting my notes. Soooo, if you see me typing away in church, I'm not playing games... Truly, I'm taking notes ;) haha Here is the fruit that was sown Sunday past...
Something to think about
⁃ Matthew 2... Story of the wise men
⁃ Familiar story, 3 wise man, baby Jesus, manger, shepherds...
⁃ Is that how it really happened?
⁃ Doesn't say 3 wise men, or that they were kings
⁃ They DID come from Persia, and there was a star; which they had agreed to meet there every year.
⁃ Proof is the bones of the Magi are actually in a cathedral today.
⁃ Jesus DID come to the Jews first, He did come to the lowly... shepherds were one of the first to meet Christ.
⁃ The Wise men illustrate many things to us: they weren't satisfied to just SEE... they following, persevered. They rejoiced. They went into the house to see the Baby, not just sit outside
⁃ The came, they persevered, they worshiped,
⁃ We have to persevere to find the treasure after our search
The Message - Pastor Todd
⁃ Peace
⁃ Strife has been going on for YEARS... BUT God says he is our Peace
⁃ Isaiah 9:67
⁃ Christ came to us. Walked with men.
⁃ Why didn't he come as a king? Why did he instead come as a child?
⁃ A child is not threatening! If he came as a warrior, he would be felt as a threat.
⁃ Was there any time God raised his hand to a human? NO. Yes he turned the tables in the temple.
⁃ He's shown on his knees more then anything!
⁃ Woman caught in adultery, instead of a puff-chested and 'I'm going to fix this' attitude, he knelt and started to write something in the ground.
⁃ He knelt down to wash the disciples feet. The fight was not with those 'up-there' but with self/God.
⁃ Just before His death he was on his knees. He didn't get into an argument with God, He just prayed.
⁃ We need to get back on our knees in prayer... offering peace to others.
⁃ Christ does not want to fight... (ex: putting back on disciples ear... or telling Judas to do what he has to do (before betraying Christ).
⁃ Funny how in just ONE swipe from Christ, we could be a 'whipped' slate
⁃ Christ even says Love your enemy as yourself
⁃ Prayer brings a sense of peace
⁃ Mankind has forgotten what makes them happy; giving Christ the opportunity to reign over Satan's schemes.
⁃ He came as a child, nonthreatening, and with no strength... He came in peace
⁃ The 'Christmas Day Truce of 1914', the German and British ceased fire due to Christmas singing and gift-exchanging. In the name of CHRIST.
⁃ Luke 2
⁃ Matt 5:4-11... blessed are those...
⁃ Work toward peace for those around you... but also the peace within you
⁃ John 14:27 (Jesus talking about leaving, before he was crucified)
⁃ Let there be nothing between you and your neighbor
⁃ Before coming before Christ for Communion, lets arrive with peace, releasing issues with Christ.
Smile... it's contagious!
Heather
* Please note: We WILL be having a Christmas Eve service, Thursday, December 24th from 7-8.
Please bring your family.
______________________________________________________
A note from Todd & Natalie:
Merry Christmas
As you know, we will be pastoring in Sundre
AB at the Main Avenue Fellowship Church of the Nazarene starting in January
2016: over two thousand years ago, another couple set out on a journey for a
place probably unknown to them. Joseph, being from the line of David, was
directed to attend the census in the home his forefathers and, with a very
pregnant Mary, they set off on a journey into the unknown. There was no house
waiting for them, no guarantee of a place to stay or of provisions and no way
to know if Mary would be able to make the trip but He who is all knowing had a
plan even though they did not understand it at the time. (Micah 5:2-4 NIV)
The Word, that is Jesus Christ (See John
1:1-2), was about to come from Heaven to abide with all mankind yet those who
were bearing the Word did not know why they were being sent. The scriptures
from the Old Testament prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem and He
would bring with Him the strength of the Lord. God knew exactly what He was
doing when He put the events into play. The powers that be declared a census
and had all return to the village of their ancestors yet it was God who orchestrated
that event. Mary did not give birth until she arrived in Bethlehem and the
birth of the Saviour was in the town of David, witnessed by only the animals of
the stable and Joseph. The servants of the land greeted the King of kings and
God protected the Prince of Peace from all who would do Him harm. My God works
in mysterious ways but in all things He knows what He is doing.
Just after the celebration of Christmas,
Natalie and I will begin our journey west and with us we carry the Word of God.
We celebrate the opportunity presented by God but wonder why He would call us
yet we are obedient. None of us know why God opens or closes doors but I do
know we need to trust in Him for our journey. Who could have figured that God
would get Mary to Bethlehem by means of the governing body of the day? With
that thought in mind, who knows what He has planned for us as we travel west.
Lord knows.
Trust in Him and follow His calling on your
life, you will never know where He leads you or the purpose of your journey. (Matt
28:19-20)
Rev Todd and Natalie MacDonald
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