Advent: Leap for Joy

Dear Friends
We never know how or when God will speak to us. He spoke to Moses from a dark cloud. He spoke to Elijah in gentle whisper; and He spoke as a voice from Heaven when He proclaimed, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

Have you ever asked God to let you know that it was His voice you were hearing? The other night, Bonnie prayed that God would speak to her in a way that was unmistakably from Him. She awakened the next morning humming a song that seemed familiar, but whose lyrics escaped us. After humming the tune several times, the words “near you” came to mind.

We Googled the words “near you” and found the lyrics to the 1947 Andrews Sister’s pop hit “Near You”. When we substituted the words “a prayer” for the words “two lips” in the original song, we discovered a wonderful, personal praise song that voices our desire to stay near Jesus.
“Near You”
By Andrews Sisters (with minor adaptation)
There’s just one place for me! Near you! (Jesus) It’s like heaven to be Near you! Times when we’re apart, I can’t face my heart! Say you’ll never stray, More than just [ a prayer] away! If my hours could be spent, Near you, (Jesus) I’d be more than content Near you! Make my life worthwhile, By telling me that I’ll Spend the rest of my days, Near you!	There is just one place for me! I’m happy when I’m near you! It’s wonderful as heaven! A special kind of heaven, But only when I’m near you! At Times when we’re apart, I wonder how I can face my heart! Say you’ll never stray, More than just [a prayer] away! If my waking hours Could be spent more Near you! I would be content! More than be content just to be Near you! Make my life worthwhile, By telling me that I’ll Spend the rest of my days, All of those happy, happy days Soooo Near you!
Songwriters: GOELL, KERMIT / CRAIG, FRANCIS Near You lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Perhaps, God used a song to let us know that we need to stay near Him.

A recording of the original song can be heard at: https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AuuERS3l6DVgMyfHhWnWlSObvZx4?fr=yfp-t-901-s&toggle=1&fp=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=near%20you%20andrews%20sisters%20lyrics

Verse for the week: “God has said, ‘…Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5)

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

For many, Memorial Day weekend signals the start of the summer season. Retailers advertise huge sales, back-yard cooks clean off their grills, and many of us pull out our bathing suit to make sure it still fits. But, before we head off to the sales, throw hot dogs on the grill, or try to wiggle into that swim suit, we should first pause to consider the true meaning of this holiday.

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for United States military of all generations who, as Abraham Lincoln intoned at Gettysburg, “gave the last full measure of devotion…”  Formerly known as Decoration Day, the commemoration originated after the United States Civil War to honor soldiers from both sides who died in that war.  In the 20th century, Memorial Day was extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military services.

As we reflect on the many who have died in defense of our freedoms, we are reminded of Jesus words: in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

This weekend, we also celebrate Pentecost (the fiftieth day). Pentecost is the Greek name given for the Feast of Weeks, a major Jewish feast celebrating God’s giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. In the Christian calendar, Pentecost is a feast celebrating the Holy Spirit’s descent upon the twelve Apostles.

“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: 2-4)

Wouldn’t it have been marvelous to be with the Apostles on that day? Jerusalem was filled with visitors from all over the Roman Empire. Jews and proselytes had come to the city in celebration of the Festival of Weeks. Imagine their astonishment when the Apostles came stumbling out of the upper room praising God with words that each listener heard in his native tongue. As the Apostles spoke their native Galilean, through the power of the Holy Spirit, their words were translated into twenty or thirty different languages or dialects.

Joy filled the air and the celebration became so exuberant that some in the crowd accused the Apostles of being drunk. Peter addressed the crowd, “…These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people...” (Acts 2:15-16)

At Pentecost, we celebrate the birth of the Church and remember Jesus’s words to his Apostles, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).” Lord, give us power to be your witnesses. Amen.

Verse for the week: Romans 15:13 (NIV) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Blessings, Your friends in Christ

This website offers an excellent overview of United States military history:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_casualties_of_war

Total American Deaths by War
Conflict			Deaths
American Civil War			750,000
World War II			405,399
World War I			116,516
Vietnam			58,151
Korean War			36,516
American Revolutionary War			25,000
War of 1812			15,000
Mexican American War			13,283
War on terror* present			6,717
Philippine–American War			4,196

We thank them all for their sacrifice.

In-N-Out with God?

Since the 1980’s the In-N-Out burger chain has included discreet references to Bible verses on their food wrappers and cups. The book, chapter and verse are printed inconspicuously on the containers – they leave it to the patron to look up the verse.

Next time you have a craving for a “Double-Double”, a burger, or a milkshake, use the reference sheet below to help you feed your soul by reflecting on God’s word.

Available to Patrons
Items	Worst Case Calories	Reference	Verse
Double-Double	670	Nahum 1:7	“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”
Milkshakes	590	Proverbs 3:5	“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Hamburger Cheeseburger	390 480	Revelation 3:20	“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.”
Beverages	200	John 3:16	“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
French Fries	395	Proverbs 24:16	“For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.”
Key Chains		1 Corinthians 13:13	“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Items for Employees Only
Water Cups	John 14:6	“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”
Employee Pay Checks	Matthew 6:19	“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”

We all face times when we aren’t quite sure if we are IN or OUT with God. If we would just stop to think about the scripture referenced on our coke cup, we would remember that God gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

As we look at the white cup with red decorations, we might be reminded of Isaiah 1:18. “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

As we munch on a cheeseburger, we can be comforted knowing that the Lord says, “if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.” Something tells us that burgers won’t be the only thing on that menu.

And as for that milkshake… It’s worth the 590 calories if we are reminded to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. Maybe the restaurant chain’s theme song needs to be modified: In-N-Out, In-N-Out; that’s what [God’s Word} is all about.

Verse for the Week: Deuteronomy 8:3 “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

Blessings,

Your friends in Christ

 

 

Footprints in the Sands of Time

One of our favorite poems is “A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882). We particularly like the following verses:

Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o’er life’s solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.

When the poet writes, “we can make our lives sublime,” he is telling us that we can raise our lives to a level with which nothing can be compared and which is beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement or imitation.

In the 6^th Chapter of Galatians, Saint Paul wrote, “. ⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Both the Poem by Longfellow and the writing of Saint Paul remind us that the impact we have in life will depend to a large part on our willingness to persevere in doing good. Now, perseverance can be defined as steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement; and perseverance can be either good or bad depending on the motivation of the one who persists.

We can see examples of perseverance in the lives of Billy and Franklin Graham, Peter Marshall, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others. These heroes of the faith have exemplified the words of Hebrews 10:36: “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.“

We may not be blessed to leave footprints as deep as those left by the likes of Billy Graham or Mother Theresa; but we can take comfort in the fact that Hebrews 10:16 doesn’t say, “…only heroes of the faith that do great things will receive what God has promised.” It says persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what he has promised. So, if we – that’s you and I – will do the will of God, we will receive what he has promised.

And what is the will of God? Jesus tells us in John 6:40 (NIV)
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” Jesus is speaking about a belief that changes the heart. The prophet Jeremiah explained what God is looking for in his people: I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:10 (New King James Version)

Which brings us once again to those footprints we are leaving in the sands of time. What are the fruits we are offering to God? The book Random Acts of Kindness contains stories and quotations that encourage the reader to look for opportunities to serve others; because, often, it’s the little things we do for others that end up being our most lasting footprints.

As you go through this week, we encourage you to look for opportunities to serve God by serving others, keeping in mind…

“We’ve only one life; ‘twill soon be past.
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
(Missionary C.T. Strudd)

Verses for the Week: Matthew 25:37-40: “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

In Memory: This week’s devotional is dedicated to Vanna Wells, who went to be with the Lord. Special prayers are requested for Joyce Ireland, who is recovering from surgery.

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ