Sunday October 30, 2016

Operation Christmas Child

So happy to say its that time of year again when you see the red and green boxes. Each shoebox filled is given to children regardless of gender, race, or religion.  When culturally appropriate, copies of a book entitled The Greatest Gift, which has been translated into 130 different languages, are offered to children after the shoeboxes have already been distributed.

Why should I pack a shoebox?  To show to true meaning of Christmas – Jesus Christ – God’s greatest gift; through showing love, impacting a child’s life.

If you didn't get one to fill yet, give Peter a call and please note, they have to be returned Sunday, November 13. Happy love-packing!

Here's some notes from Sunday's service: (Thanks, again Jean)

Dr. Barclay-Theme: We need to let the Lord deal with it!

Ruth 3:18

Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”

Sit still-leave your cares in God’s hands.

The bible is full of examples where people faced near impossible situations and had done all they physically could do, when they had simply nothing left, but to wait on God and let him move the pieces and turn things around. Many times in our lives we seem to have run out of options, and waiting on the Lord is all we have left, and when it seems we have reached the bottom that is usually when the best answer comes.

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

After leaving Egypt, Moses told the children of Israel in Exodus 14:13

13 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 shall see again no more forever.14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

God is in control of everything, we need not fear or fret and worry. Many of the problems of this world are beyond ourselves. We need to give our cares to the Lord and let him work things out in his time, he knows what is best and what we need more than we know ourselves.

Psalm 55:22

Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

 Father Gary MacPherson-Theme: The Mercy of God

We are all called to be agents of the mercy of God- to set people free.

Luke 19:1-10

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him,and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Would you go out on a limb for Christ? Zacchaeus truly did!, Christ recognized that, and took an interest in him and extended friendship to him. We are all sinners and yet Jesus is here for us just like he was for Zacchaeus. Christ did not wait, he quickly wanted to go to Zacchaeus home, meet and fellowship with him. Zaccheaus experienced the mercy of God, freely extended to him.

Luke 15:11-32-The Parable of the Lost Son

This passage speaks volumes to us about mercy and setting people free, we learn this when the father receives the son and welcomes him home.Christ welcomes all sinners home. The son went to the far off country, a land of sin, he had reached the bottom, from verse 15-16, feeding pigs and eating the husks the animals would not eat. Today Father God welcomes home all those who have gone astray, just like the father in this story. From Genesis to Revelation the bible is full of stories and messages of calling the lost sinner home to the safety of the Father.

Luke 15:6-7

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.