Verse & Message for the New Year-2009 December 29, 2008

 

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.  “Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old times since?”    “Auld Lang Syne” is a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song often sung to celebrate the start of the new year at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day.   The song’s (Scots) title may be translated into English literally as “old long since”, or more idiomatically, “long long ago” or “days gone by.” (Online Wikipedia)   I am a very sentimental and nostalgic type of person. Too often I look back at “days gone by” and am astonished at the rapid speed of life and how everything around me is consistently changing. I am a creature of habit, so it’s difficult for me to let go of anyone or anything. The good news is that I have grown to appreciate the “now” due to this gift of treasuring things of old.   I recall a few years ago when my son was in the third or fourth grade. We drove by Huffman United Methodist Church while on an errand, and he spoke of “the good ole days” reflecting on his daycare experience. I just had to laugh considering how Connor had taken after me in that realm of his emotions.    The holiday season all too often is a time that brings to mind the past for most, if not all people.  Unfortunately, for so many people, it can be a time of elevated sadness, because of the pain that they may remember regarding their past.  It can be a time of anxiety or depression – but it doesn’t have to be.    We can choose to dwell on the joyful times of our past even if some of those joyful times intertwine with memories that can hurt. Pastor Chris shared in his message yesterday how the best way to deal with our past is to build on it.  How many times have we caught ourselves saying…”If only…”? We often attempt to cope with our past in many unbiblical ways, by burying it, beating ourselves up over it, or simply by blaming others. However, the Lord wants us to leave the bad under the blood of Jesus.  He wants us to forget unpleasant past memories and press toward the prize in an attitude of seeking Him and choosing JOY.  In order to claim JOY it’s important that we grasp HOPE. The two go hand in hand. JOY is a confidence that God is in control no matter what our circumstances in life may be. Pastor Chris defines HOPE as a “confident expectation based on something solid.”   JUMP FOR JOY! and BE HOPEFUL! That something SOLID is none other than Jesus Christ. He is the only SOLID ROCK we can stand on with a lifetime guarantee (and an after-this-life guarantee). He never changes, even when everything else around us shifts radically.   Being a creature of habit, that’s the habit I want to keep……forgetting the junk I sometimes stare at in my rear-view mirror, and pressing toward the mark in step with my Savior. By choosing HOPE and JOY we gain the beautiful perspective of God…I call that “Godfidence.”   In closing, I want to share three ways we can focus on the New Year in 2009 with HOPE and JOY.  Pastor Chris suggests that we focus on prayer, focus on people, and focus on our purpose.     PRAYER  PEOPLE   PURPOSE (Noah found out his purpose)   With PRAYER, we can stay connected with the Lord the best way possible.  When we focus on PEOPLE, we can build relationships and grow and encourage each other in His PURPOSE and plans for our lives. And, it all goes back to JOY, because we can never really be content and full of joy until we choose to live out our purpose for Him with others.   God bless you all in this New Year ahead.  Allow Jesus to be Lord of ALL the areas of your life, not just parts of it!   REJOICE and be FULL of HOPE and JOY…. then you will be FILLED! 2009 – Auld Lang Syne! Take the lessons of yesterday, apply them to the present, and make the present so beautiful that it will be well worth remembering! SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Christmas 2008) December 19, 2008

 

I am using an archived verse and message I wrote during the Christmas Season of 2005!

Of course, I believe the message was relevant then, is relevant now, and will be relevant tomorrow, just as our Savior was the same yesterday, is the same today, and will be the same tomorrow…..

Luke 2:10-14 (KJV) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.     In the mid-eighties, there were a series of movies that hit the theaters that included a group of kids known as the “Brat Pack.”  One of those “eighties classics” was the flick known as Sixteen Candles.  Molly Ringwald represented a “nerd chick” who was about to embark on her sixteenth birthday (hence the name of the motion picture). The key “drama moment” of the movie occurred when the day of her sixteenth birthday arrived……and no one remembered her birthday.  Even her own parents forgot her special day, because they were so pre-occupied with the preparations of her sister’s wedding.   For those of you who know me well, you might agree with me…..that scenario would never happen to me. I don’t give my family members or close friends a chance to forget my birthday.    In my family, birthdays are considered national holidays.  I take pride in them, and I am not worried about the number of candles on my cake (Well, I didn’t worry until the most previous birthday at 4-0,Ha!) My birthday falls on Mother’s Day every five years.  I think that is kind of cool, but at the same time, someone else might perceive that I am robbed of my special day!  I relish the opportunity to share my birthday celebration with the recognition of mothers everywhere!    As I reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ, I ponder on what He might think about all the preoccupation of the “commercial catastrophe” that this holy day has become in our generation.  The obsession of buying empty treasures and being consumed with Santa or a mischievous elf has gotten way out of control. Even though our Jesus is the REASON for the SEASON and why there is even such a day recognized as CHRISTmas, so many do not acknowledge the significance of His birthday. The manger is ignored.  More often than not, He doesn’t receive the honor and glory that He deserves not only on His birthday, but on all the other days we are blessed to live.    It’s a wonderful thing that His perfect GRACE doesn’t dismiss the “Brat Pack” that we have become.  The BIRTHDAY BOY should be given a special place with the first piece of cake!  Often, we barely offer Him our crumbs.  I bet if He blew out His candles, His wish would be for everyone to come to His party and celebrate. His desire is for everyone to share in the gifts of His Perfect Love,Forgiveness,Peace,and Grace.  His party favors are worth dying for……..but, He died for us instead!    Sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jesus!  If you listen, you just might hear the angels who sang the first true birthday song….GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING!    BE WITH JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS…NO NEED TO RSVP IMMANUEL WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JESUS!    THANK YOU FOR THE BEST PRESENT EVER– YOUR PRESENCE AND HOLY SACRIFICE!!  HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS! SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Dec 7-13, 2008) December 9, 2008

 

  

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

  

 

According to Merriam-Webster a GIFT is something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation.

 

I am a GIVER.  That’s a nice quality, however, I have always had a difficult time receiving!  It began as a child.  I remember one time during the Christmas holidays when I was about seven or eight years old, a neighbor friend of mine delivered me a Christmas present.  I told her to wait at the door, and I would be right back. (Can you believe I was in such a panic that I didn’t even invite her in?) I ran to my bedroom, and grabbed a gift I had bought for someone else, and frantically wrapped it so I would have something to give my thoughtful neighbor. 

 

I sometimes feel guilty when I cannot return the generous offering of a friend.  Imagine if when receiving a gift from someone we grabbed our wallet or checkbook to pay the giver back. That would be an insult to the giver.  

 

Only recently have I tried to graciously accept gifts from others when I don’t have something for them. Most of the time, when someone offers something….they don’t want you to feel that you “owe them.” I have learned to consider the process of ”paying it forward” when I have been blessed.  My task is to take the opportunity to give to another person. 

 

I think of the joy that the three wise men must have had in their hearts as they made their journey to see the precious baby Jesus. They each had a special gift to offer the prophesied King.

 

Gold stood for the riches of a king.  Jesus was the King of Kings. (Revelations 19:16)

 

Frankincense was incense used by the priests in the temple worship.  Jesus would be our high priest who would go before the Heavenly Father and intercede for us. (Hebrews 4:14)

 

Myrrh was a perfume used in burial services, pointing to Jesus’ death on the cross – a holy sacrifice for our sins. (Romans 5:8)

 

THE TRUE GIFT to the Magi was the final destination of that journey. Our Lord gave us the FREE GIFT OF HIS SON.  This was an offering of complete GRACE. We could NEVER pay Him back.  

 

Gifts are ”blessings” arranged by God. Don’t feel guilty when receiving this Christmas……..the blessing is in the offering for the giver — a joyous receiver will bless the giver.  

 

Our gift to God is for us to be in relationship with Him and to be obedient to share with others the most remarkable GIFT anyone will ever comprehend — CHRIST THE KING….WHO rescued us from DEATH to give us TRUE LIFE!

 

GUILT GIVING IS NOT GIVING…..

PAY IT FORWARD…..

SHARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD….

JESUS CHRIST THE “FREE” GIFT OF TRUE LIFE!!

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of Nov 30-Dec 6, 2008) December 3, 2008

Matthew

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

                                  

Mary was chosen. She was highly favored by the God of the Universe. We honor Mary.  Guess what?  God chose Joseph too. We know that God placed Jesus in Mary’s womb. Joseph was not the so-called biological father. 

 

What do you think Joseph experienced?  It’s remarkable how this man responded to this predicament. In the midst of his personal crisis, He turned humbly to God.

 

In this day and age, some men would have welcomed the opportunity to appear on a talk show and have DNA tests to prove circumstances like this.  What a cynical world we live in! 

 

Joseph had the exact qualities necessary to be an ideal father for the Son of God.  He knew his legal rights, but he refused to disgrace or humiliate Mary in any way.  He was a gentleman and had great compassion.  Joseph was committed and obedient.  He had tremendous character to display this behavior in light of how this situation appeared to the world. 

 

He managed his position with class, even before the angel spoke to him. Today, don’t forget Joseph, and try to follow his example of compassion, commitment, and honor. Our Lord will surely bless those that demonstrate this type of attitude and heart.

  

Remember Joseph and Mary….

God was with them….for He is Immanuel!

SUSIE MC