Big Jungle Adventure – VBS 2011

June 13,14,15

9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Come join us for an awesome jungle adventure where kids learn about Jesus and how he cares for all of His people.  Kids will hear story from Scripture and learn to relate these Bible truths to their own FAITH JOURNEY.  We will have water games, crafts, music and the big water slide on closing day.  Lunch will be provided as well each day and also for parents at closing.  Each day we will be taking up an offering for our chosen mission.  This year we will be collecting monies for malaria nets in Africa, This will be a wonderful opportunity for everyone to hear the Good News of our Savior.  Please join us and remember to bring a friend.

To REGISTER YOUR KIDS click here!

Click here to VOLUNTEER.

 

Bible Theme Verse:
The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen   2 Timothy 4:18

Snow Day at Grace Feb 9

Due to the predicted ice and snow storm, all activities at Grace on Feb 9 are cancelled: NO Ladies Bible Study, NO quilting, NO LWML meeting, NO Midweek. Stay home and stay safe.

Life Sunday 2011

Our display of crosses is up. We will observe Life Sunday on January 23, focusing on the high value that our God places on all human life and the forgiveness that He freely offers to everyone through Jesus Christ. Check out the photos of our display here.

Peace on Earth

December 26, 2010

[Play the video – online readers can find it here:

http://www.ignitermedia.com/mini-movies/1063/Retooning-The-Nativity  ]

We all have images in our minds of what the first Christmas looked like. Many of these images are imprinted on our memories from what we see in nativity sets, or on the cover of Christmas cards, or from television depictions, in children’s pageants, or the lyrics from Christmas Carols.

But as this little video explained, not all of those images are historically accurate. We envision that the newborn baby in a manger has a halo, as do his parents. We visualize a little drummer boy playing his drum while the animals in the stable sway and keep the beat. We imagine that the Wise Men arrive on the night of Jesus’ birth, and these Wise Men are royal kings. But all of these images are fiction, pious embellishments of the biblical story.

I’d like to direct your attention to one other fiction associated with the Christmas story today, and it has to do with the angels. When you picture the angels appearing to the shepherds, what image comes to mind? I think our artwork and mental image would have us believe that they were gentle, frail, and smooth-skinned beings dressed in flowing robes who wouldn’t hurt a flea, and that they spoke with a soothing voice, “Excuse me, could I have your attention.” Do you realize that every time an angel appeared in the Bible, it was a fearsome and awesome sight. That’s why Luke’s gospel states that the shepherds who saw the angels on Christmas night were filled with fear. Or, as the King James Version puts it, they were “sore afraid.” The appearance of these supernatural beings brought terror to the shepherds.

Accordingly, the first words out of the angel’s mouth were “Fear not.” The angels had come not to instill fear in the hearts of their viewers, but peace. That’s why their song announced “peace to God’s people on earth” (Luke 2:14).

The greeting which God delivered at Christmas could be distilled to these two words, “Fear not.” Of all the ways in which God could have come to earth, the way in which he chose to come to us says to us, “Fear not.” He could have come as he did at Mt. Sinai, with awesome displays of smoke and lightning, earthquake and thunder. God could have blazed the sky with his brilliant presence and blinding light. But instead he chose to come to us by becoming a tiny baby. He came to us in a peaceful way in order that he might impart to us his peace. All so that we need “fear not.”

Christ brought that message of peace because his mission was not to destroy sinful humans, but to reconcile himself to them. Jesus would later declare: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). Even before Jesus was born, the angel appeared to Joseph and instructed him: “You are to call his name Jesus [which means ‘the Lord saves’], for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). On the night of Jesus’ birth the angel announced to the shepherds, “Fear not! For I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all people. For unto you is born today in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

That is why Jesus came—to be our Savior, to save his people from their sins. He didn’t stay “away in a manger.” He grew up to be a man. And as a man he lived a perfect life. You would think that this would get him far with others. But where it got him was onto a cross. Because a dark and fallen world couldn’t stand such light. Today’s scripture reading describes it this way: “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (vv. 9-11).

Think of it—God coming in peace to make peace with his people. But they turn on him to kill him. You might expect that this would mean the end of peace between God and humanity. Yet it is precisely by Christ’s death that God makes peace with us. From a wooden manger to a wooden cross—that was his mission. As the Christmas carol reminds us: “Nails, spear shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you.”

Indeed, for you the cross was borne to reconcile you to the Father. In the birth of the Prince of Peace foretold by the prophet, we have peace with God. More than that, we are adopted into God’s eternal family. “But to all who received him,” the Apostle John writes in today’s scripture reading, “he gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (vv. 12-13). Far from being alienated from God because of your sin, through Christ you are reconciled with him, made his children, and joined to his family. The Apostle Paul writes: “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

The Christmas message of the angel to the shepherds was “Fear not.” The message to you this Christmas as well is “Fear not.” Fear not your sin. Fear not God’s judgment. Fear not even death. Fear not! For unto you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. In him there is peace, peace to God’s people on earth. Amen.

Glory to God!

Christmas Eve 2010

The date was November 14. The Dallas Cowboys were playing the New York Giants in their brand new stadium for the Sunday night game. Everything was going well when all of a sudden the lights went out – literally. The stadium was plunged into darkness. It only lasted about six seconds, but I’m sure to those who were in attendance, it seemed much longer than that. And then there was the uncertainty about whether or not they would stay on or go out again!

A few years back on this night here at Grace, the transformer on the pole right outside our building blew up about two hours before our Candlelight Service. That service was quite literally a candlelight service, because power was not restored until after the worship service was over.

Given the choice between being in darkness and being in the light, we prefer the light. It is the better option. We all struggle with darkness in various ways. Some struggles are more significant than others, but they all can frustrate us. Putting up the Christmas tree at our house was one of those times. Our “Pre-Lit” tree is only a few years old, but when I put it up this year, it was only about 2/3 “pre-lit.” Hundreds of lights were not working. I decided it would be easier to just pull off the old lights and put on all new. I may have been wrong. Whoever put the lights on that tree did not intend for them to ever come off. Not only were they tightly wrapped around every single branch of that tree, but they were reinforced with clips and cable ties. I was cutting and pulling and unwrapping and wondering if I would ever get all of those lights off the tree. And these were not typical strings of lights, either. They were loops — 4 wires came out of each module that comprised two loops. It was some kind of torture device. I finally got them off and spent the next several hours wrapping new lights on the tree. After a day and a half, it was finished. The darkness of the tree had been overcome with 14 strands of LED cool white lights. The light overcame the darkness. There is once again the illusion of stars twinkling through the branches of our artificial evergreen.

When there is a clear night, you can see the real thing. It is nice to see the stars shining brightly against the dark backdrop. And I imagine that was the way the sky looked to those shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night over 2000 years ago. They would have looked up at the same stars we see. So would the wise men who studied the stars. Those magi knew a lot about the stars, but in this scientifically advanced age we know even more. We know that the universe is far more immense than shepherds or those ancient astronomers could ever have comprehended.

Traveling at the speed of light—186,000 miles per second—it would take 100,000 years to cross the galaxy we call our own, the Milky Way. Our galaxy contains more than 100 trillion stars (that’s a 1 with 14 zeroes behind it). And the Milky Way is just one among innumerable galaxies. That is one big, vast, immense and glorious universe!

When I consider the size of the universe, my response is twofold. First, I feel awe at the enormity and glory of it all. The universe with its complexity and immensity attest to a Designer who is even greater than His creation.

And secondly, I feel very tiny and insignificant. Compared to this vast universe, our Earth is just a speck of galactic dust blowing through a desert of space. And what does that say about you and me? I don’t know if you have ever played with Google earth, but I have. With that amazing software, you are able to zoom in from space and see your state, your city, your neighborhood, even your house. You can see details that are indistinguishable from space. What you can’t see with any clarity at all is people. From space, we are only tiny microbes clinging to that minuscule speck of dust we know as “earth.” It can make you feel very small.

Yet the message of Christmas is absolutely contrary to the impression that you and I are insignificant. The message of Christmas claims that the God who made it all loves you and me so much that he counted our lives more precious than his own. He wanted to make sure that His light would shine into each and every life here on earth.

That is why this Creator, who is himself beyond the confines of created time, entered into time for us. He who is outside of created space and matter entered into the dimension of space and assumed material form. He did it all in order to save you, the object of his love. As glorious as his act of creating and sustaining this vast universe is, even more glorious is his work of redeeming us—the rebellious inhabitants of this planet—purchasing us back from sin and death.

The shepherds caught a glimpse of that glory, this light shining into the darkness. They were under the stars keeping watch over their flocks by night. “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.” They were overwhelmed when confronted with God’s glory. Yet more glorious than what the shepherds saw was what they heard: “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a 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’” (vv. 10-11). A Savior … Christ the Lord! Here! Now! For you! The almighty God who made everything had come to save his fallen and oppressed creatures. Good News for all people!

This most glorious event would not appear glorious to most eyes. The angel announced to the shepherds, “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Really? The Messiah king is a helpless infant? Wrapped in rags with a feed trough for His throne? That doesn’t appear very glorious!

God’s coming to earth—the most glorious event in history—was largely ignored by the world. Caesar Augustus was too busy counting heads in his census to notice. There was no room for God’s arrival in town, so he was born in a livestock barn. As soon as King Herod heard that another king was born, he set out to exterminate him.

That was the story of the incarnate God’s visit to Earth: ignored, neglected, rejected, despised. Then the greatest irony of all history occurred: The Creator who took on our flesh was stripped, beaten, and executed at the hands of his own people. Yet even crucifixion could not destroy God or his love for us. He rose from the dead. He lives and he reigns! He reigns in glory! And it is in God’s self-sacrifice at the cross and empty tomb that we behold his glory most fully.

The question is whether or not we see it – do you behold what is there for you to see and know and experience? It is a question of focus. If your focus is so narrow that you only look at that manger on Christmas and don’t let the light shine into your heart and your everyday life, you won’t let the light overcome the  darkness you have in your life.

As I said earlier, there is plenty of darkness to go around, and I’m not talking about power outages or lights on a Christmas tree not burning. I mean that kind of darkness that enters our lives everyday.

• A hurtful word, a wrong assumption, a misunderstanding and we turn away from the light, we let the darkness overcome us — we react and lash out.
• A loved one dies, a relationship ends, a marriage fails, and you don’t see any light. You feel as though there is no escape from the darkness and no hope and no joy.
• A coworker takes advantage of you, a client cheats you out of a commission, you are asked by your superiors to do something unethical — and you wonder if there is any good in anyone out there. Is there nothing but darkness?

 

It is into each and every one of these situations — and any others that you can imagine — that God has shined His light and His love. Our service tonight is celebrating that God’s light has come to us, God’s light is shining, and the darkness cannot overcome it. And we remember how that happened. The light shining in that Bethlehem manger would be the same light shining from an empty tomb after the payment for all sin was accomplished. This is God’s love for you and for all people. The love that all the universe could not contain was delivered to you in a small package, wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. God wants that light to shine into your hearts and lives everyday to remind you of His love and concern and His presence with you.

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV) For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

We have seen the glory of that light shining. Through faith, we have that light shining for us everyday. How can we help but join with the angels to sing: “Glory to God in the highest!”

Behold the Lamb!

We just celebrated His birth at Christmas. Now let’s think about who He is and what that means for us as His disciples. A sermon series for the first three Sundays of 2011 invites you to “Behold the Lamb of God.” This series will be based on John 1:29-42.

January 2: Look!
January 9: Being with Jesus
January 16: Be an Andrew

Special Voter’s Meeting

A special meeting of the Voter’s Assembly has been called for Sunday, May 23, 2010 after the late service. The Building Committee will present a recommendation as to how they think we should proceed with the proposed building. Please plan to be there for this important meeting so that your voice can be heard.

Love

February 14, 2010

We all know today is Valentine’s Day. But if you look on the church year calendar, you find that today is also the day of Transfiguration, when Jesus revealed His glory as God to three of His disciples. In Mark’s Gospel it is described this way:

Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (NIV)

That love the Father expresses toward His Son is the same love that He has for us, His church, the body of Christ. We are totally dependent on that Love of God. It was out of love that He sent Jesus to pay the price for the sins of all men, something we could not live without. On this day the world sets aside to think about love, it is good for us to be together in worship. We witnessed God’s love being poured out again today was we watch Katy being baptized. We have experienced it in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. And now I want you to consider with me how that love is expressed in the Word. Look at what the Father said about Jesus after He said he loved Him: Listen to Him. Jesus, of course, told us to do many different things, but one word keeps coming up over and over again in what He said.

“You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matt 5:43-44

[When questioned about the commandments] Jesus replied: “`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  … And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Matt. 22:37,39

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

Before we go any further, I want to be sure that you understand what is meant by LOVE. There were three main terms in the language of the New Testament that meant love. One word was used to speak of sexual love, another for brotherly love, and the third to describes an unselfish love, a giving love, one that is more concerned with the well-being of others. That word, AGAPE, is the one used to speak of the love that God has for us and the kind of love we should show each other. At the beginning of our service today, we spoke responsively the words of the so called “love chapter” of the Bible, I Corinthians 13. I want to go over those words again, offering a little commentary.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 

Flowery words about love are fine, but they mean nothing on their own. Sweet talk that isn’t backed up by sweet actions isn’t going to get you very far at all. Those who speak of love but don’t actually show it will prove themselves to be insincere. But those who love in word and deed, what they say and what they do, will show their love to be genuine.

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

Even if a person has an unlimited amount of understanding and the capacity to trust God for all his/her needs, God tells us such a person is nothing without love. You can be the smartest person in the world, you can have all the right answers, but you will be impossible to live with if you are not loving.

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Supreme sacrifices are nothing if Christian love does not inspire them. Paul tells us that even martyrdom, surrendering your body to the flames for a noble cause, is worthless if it is not motivated by love for God and love for others. What does this say about you? What does this say about your grudging acts of charity? What does it say about your day to day living?

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

How often do we all fall short of these ideals? Yet we can see how true they are. When you deal lovingly with your children, you will be patient and kind with them. If love motivates your actions, you will resist blowing your top and losing your cool. You won’t dredge up old sins by saying, “ I still remember the time that you….”

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Our human nature would have us put the worst construction on everything. When we hear something bad about someone, rather than showing kindness and attempting offer a loving explanation, we tend to pounce on gossip like buzzards on road kill. But that is not the way it should be for one who is controlled by the love of God. Rather, we should faithfully speak up for others. As I said before, we may not always live up to these ideals, but few would disagree that this is the way we should live, what we should all strive to do. This love is for the ordinary circumstances of day to day living. It is not something to be reserved for special occasions.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

Paul mentions prophecies, tongues, and knowledge, saying each of these is only temporary, that they will pass away. But he wrote Love never fails. It endures, it is lasting. Prophecies, whether miraculous foretelling of future events or everyday preaching and teaching, will cease. Speaking in tongues will no longer exist. The use of Spiritual knowledge will come to an end. But love will go on.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 

Christians are to grow in their maturity. We find that in becoming more like Christ. The prophecy and knowledge we have today is not complete. We know in part and prophecy in part. But that will change when Christ returns. Then we shall see face to face. Paul admits that our love will not be perfect this side of heaven. We will be a poor reflections of Jesus and His love, but we should continue our efforts to show love.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Love will endure. So will faith and hope. Yet Paul tells us love is the greatest. Why is that? Some would argue that the most important thing is faith that accepts Jesus. After all, that is the only way to be saved. Why then does Paul here say that love is greatest?

The answer is uncertain. Paul does not explain to us why he writes that love is the greatest. Perhaps he is saying that to have love is to be like God. It may also be that love brings us into the closest communion with God. But perhaps the best answer is the simplest. God is not described as “faith” or “hope” in the Scriptures, but I John 4:16 tells us GOD IS LOVE.

The love of God was shown on the cross. He does not love us because there is anything lovable about us, but simply because He is Love. And we are also told that Love covers a multitude of sins. That is what Jesus did by dying in our place and rising again to assure us of forgiveness.  

God has shown us Himself. He has shown us His love. We need to show that to others.

Building Plans

On Sunday, February 14, after the Voter’s assembly finishes its business, there is going to be an opportunity for everyone to see the plans and renderings for our new building. The architect has been busy working with the city of Denison making the necessary tweaks and adjustments, and we should soon be able to proceed with the bidding process. If you want to know where we are and what’s happening, this will be your chance to find out.

I’d Rather Be Fishing

November 22, 2009    

JOHN 12:27-28   “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say?  ‘Father, save me from this hour’?  No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.  Father, glorify your name!”

You’ve have seen bumper stickers that say “I’d rather be flying, sailing, jogging, swimming, fishing, playing golf or tennis,” and the like. For a while there were so many of those bumper stickers it made you wonder if anyone was actually doing what they want to do!  Everyone seems to wish they were somewhere else. And we all understand this attitude. Life has duties and responsibilities. Some things are more fun than others. Some things are more satisfying than others. There are times I am sitting in my office and I get a phone call from someone who just came in off the lake and had a fantastic catch, and I find myself thinking, “I’d rather be fishing.”

The message of those bumper stickers seems to be ‘I want to have fun all the time!’ We all do. But life is not like that. We are called upon to be responsible individuals in our families and in our communities. There may be some things that we do not like, but we still have to do them. And as the followers of Christ, we need to recognize that God has called us to duties and responsibilities, not just privileges.

The Christian faith is a marvelous thing. We know beyond all doubt that our God has given us the richest treasure imaginable: complete forgiveness for all sin. Our sin had separated us from God and doomed us to punishment in hell. But our loving God intervened to provide the forgiveness we need. He did that by offering His Son to die in our place, making payment for sin, and raising Him again as the victor over death. Faith in Him gives forgiveness. This forgiveness entitles us to live in the certainty that we will live and reign with Christ for all eternity. It is a message that should make you feel warm inside, secure and happy.

However, the Christian faith is not a feel-good do-nothing faith. It is not centered in self. Rather, it continually leads its followers to ask, “Where can I serve?  How can I help you?  What can I do to make things easier for you?  What are your needs today?” That is what your faith in Jesus Christ should lead you to ask. But what I so often find is people doing everything they can to make life easier and more enjoyable only for themselves.  They stop at nothing in their efforts to feather their own nests. Some act as though they think God has called them to serve themselves, not others. Who is my neighbor? I am my neighbor! I will meet my own needs!

This philosophy is espoused by many in our society. And this attitude was most evident when a lady offered to take care of a six-year-old daughter of a friend, who was leaving town for a few days. On the first morning, the lady prepared breakfast, and brought a big plate of ham and eggs to the table. The little girl said, “My mother always fixes biscuits.” Wanting to be cooperative, the lady returned to the kitchen and made some biscuits. When she brought them to the table, the little girl said, “No, thank you.” “Didn’t you say your mother always had biscuits for breakfast,” the lady exclaimed. “Yes, she does,” replied the six-year-old, “but I don’t eat them.” Do you get it? I do what I want to do, and I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. If you don’t like it, too bad. 

Some adults are behaving like six-year-olds. It is easy to let this attitude creep into your lives. 

• I don’t want to go to Bible Class; I don’t want to take my kids to Sunday School–I’d rather sleep in on Sunday morning.
• I don’t want to be an officer–I’d rather not have any responsibilities in the church. I’ve served my time already. Let someone else do it.
• I don’t want to tithe–I’d rather spend my time and my money on myself and my family.

Actually, I’d rather go through my whole life and do only that which I want to do, and what I want to do is be happy, secure and comfortable. This attitude of society has spilled over into the church, and it can be summed up easily: ME, ME, ME, ME.

The attitude of the Christian should be just the opposite of this attitude of selfishness. Our faith in Jesus tells us that God is first, other are second, and we are third. Instead of ME, ME, ME, it should be GOD, GOD, GOD and OTHERS, OTHERS, OTHERS.  It is only after we have seen to the needs of others that we should attend to our own needs. This is quite a contrast to the way most people live. Our sinful flesh would have us consider only our own needs.

It is a good thing that Jesus didn’t take that attitude. In the text for today, we do not find Jesus taking the ME, ME, AND ONLY ME attitude. He is struggling with it, but it does not prevail. He had just come into Jerusalem, with all the people hailing Him as their Messiah on Palm Sunday. It was only a matter of days before His cruel execution for the sake of others. He knew what was coming. Just a few verses before this, He had said “unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds (12:24). He knew of the impending death, not for His own wrongdoing, but for yours. So He was struggling with the issue of what to do: Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say?  ‘Father, save me from this hour’?  No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour…  Jesus was a man. He had human emotions like you and me. He experienced the feelings we undergo. And when it came time for Him to serve others, what did Jesus say? “I’d rather be fishing? I’d rather be golfing? I’d rather be sailing?”

Even though Jesus was wrestling with what to do, Jesus knew the will of His Father and He wanted to do that. He knew there were difficult days ahead. But did He ask to be excused, saying He would rather be somewhere else? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name! He could have looked ahead at the arrest, the trial, the mockings, the whipping, the humiliation, the pain and crucifixion and said, “No thanks! I’d rather be fishing.” But He did not. He did not because His purpose was bigger than fishing. There is nothing wrong with fishing, but there is a time and a place for everything. His bigger calling was to glorify His Father, and at the same time bring salvation to all who would believe in Him.

You have come to this hour for a purpose as well: to glorify our God and bring honor to his name. Do you find yourself going through life always wishing you were somewhere else or doing something different? How much time do we waste wanting to be somewhere other than where we are? There is so much that you can and should be doing in response to the love of our gracious God. For one thing, the church is always in need of full-time workers: Pastors, teachers, missionaries, DCEs, deaconesses, even administrators and bookkeepers. I believe that God is calling some of you sitting here today to be full-time workers in His Kingdom. Will you listen?

Of course, you don’t have to be a full-time church worker to see all the things that need to be done. There are plenty of things that need doing right here at Grace: prospective members to visit, people to invite to church, sick and shut-ins, jobs at the church ranging from helping in the office to serving as an usher or greeter to teaching Sunday School and Midweek. In fact, there may seem to be too much to do at times. If you take seriously your calling to serve God and others, you might find yourself overwhelmed.

There was a doctor who lived through the terrible bombing of Hiroshima. He was waiting for a streetcar only a mile away from the blast, but was sheltered by the corner of a concrete building.  Within seconds after the explosion, his ears were filled with the screams of victims all around him. Not knowing what had happened, he stood there for a moment bewildered. One doctor, wondering how he could help this mountain of patients. Then, still somewhat stunned, he knelt down, opened his black bag, and began treating the person lying at his feet. He may not be able to help them all, but he did something, which was better than doing nothing at all. You, too, must do something. Don’t despair that there is so much to be done. Bloom where you are planted, and do something. Do good to those around you. Share your faith. Pray, and give sacrificially to the work of the church. All God asks is that you do what you can with what He has given to you.

Ask yourself what you are giving to your church. And I don’t mean just money. You’ve already made your financial pledge. I want you to think about all that God has given to you: Time, possessions, abilities, income. What are you giving back to him of yourself? If you were gone, would your contributions of yourself be missed? Or would anyone even notice? Wouldn’t it be great if more were giving so much of themselves, their talents, their time, that their absence would be immediately noticed?

God has called each of you to be His own. Not only did He bring you to faith, but He called you to live for Him. The victory that Christ has won for you through His death and resurrection gives you the assurance of forgiveness. But it also gives you the power to overcome your sinful desires of the flesh, the power to live as God’s child. For this purpose you have come to this hour, that you might glorify your Father in heaven. Will you live for Him as you move forward from this point?

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