10-31-2014

 Good Morning All,

         1 John 4:8; “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

      It is generally assumed that, when it comes to men and women, there is a vast difference in the traits that each look for in a spouse.  So it came somewhat as a surprise that of the top twenty traits that we look for in a spouse, seventeen of them were the same.  Some were at different levels by a line or two but otherwise, they were pretty much identical.  Women listed their top three traits as warm, reliable and fair while men listed reliable, warm and fair.  The only differences were that women wanted their men to be lenient, flexible, and generous while men wanted their women to be even-tempered, creative, and practical.  Beyond this we tend to look for similar traits.

    This really shouldn’t surprise us as most studies show that, deep down, we want a spouse similar to us in our values, dreams, beliefs and expectations.  This almost always is the way it goes.  Sometimes we think a couple is very different but when the core traits are studied; they tend to be as similar as any other happy couple.  We look for the right traits.

    Yet what is the greatest trait that we see in God.  Some would say it is his power and majesty; that the most important trait of God is his sovereignty.  God is God and there is none other and that is what matters.  Some say that it is the fact that God is eternal.  He always was and always will be.  Some will claim that this fact can give us comfort that God will always be so; nothing will ever change.  Some claim that it is God’s holy righteousness that is the most important trait.  Everything will be “right” at some point in time.     

    Scriptures tells us a different story.  Scriptures so us that the most important trait of God is love.  God is by nature a loving God.  It is this nature that moved God to send Jesus to be our Savior.  It is his loving nature that causes God to redeem us and not wipe us out and start over.  It is this loving nature that moves God to have compassion on us.  It is the loving God who holds us close to his heart and who leans his ear towards us.  It is God’s love that causes him to continually reach out to us as a loving father calling us back into his holy family. 

   It is God’s loving nature that moves him to send us his spirit of comfort when we are in need of his comfort.  It is God’s loving nature that moves him to never abandon you.  Abandoning you may be the right thing to do, it may be the just thing to do; but God does the loving thing and he redeems and saves you to be his child.  It is God’s loving nature that moves him to let nothing separate you from his love. 

Father of all love, you sent Jesus to die for me.  There is no greater love.  Guard me by your Spirit that I may always remember your grace and mercy.  Move me to show this same type of love to those around me, especially those who need it the most.  Help me to see that those who need it may not always return it.  Bring all to the knowledge of your saving Gospel.  Give those who are hurting and lost in their journey of life the comfort of your mercy.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret     

10-30-2014

Good Morning All,

         John 10:29; “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand”.

    A young child was walking with his father down a slippery path.    His father looked down to him and told him to hold onto the father’s hand.  The young child looked up and said, “No Dad, you hold my hand in case I fall; I might lose my grip.  You should take hold of my hand because you won’t let go.” 

    This is why it is so wonderful that we are held in the Father’s hand; he won’t let go and no one can steal us out of his hand.  God holds onto me and not the other way around.  How many times have you tried to get a child to take your hand and then, when something more interesting comes along, they let go and walk away?  Or how many times have you tried to hold their hand only to have them pull away because they thought they didn’t need your hand?  Have you ever had a child let go of your hand and run away in fear?  A child holding on isn’t a very strong hold but when the parent holds on it is much stronger.

    So even during those times of our lives when we thought we knew all the answers and didn’t really need God; he continued to hold us in his hand and protects us.  Even if we rebel, he holds onto us calling us back to his gracious truth.  He holds us as a parent holds onto the wandering child.

     Yet, perhaps even more comforting, God continues to hold us when we let go because we are afraid.  Many of us have been, or are, at a place where we know only fear.  We feel like we are standing on the edge of a deep gorge and it is slippery and maybe even windy.  It seems like it is going to be difficult, if not impossible, to keep standing.  We can feel like we are ready to fall at any second and we stand in fear.  We may be struggling with the issues of our parents as they get older.  We may be struggling with issues of our children who fail to see a need for the church or faith.  Maybe we are struggling trying to hold onto our faith as it is daily attacked.  There are many issues and events in this world that cause us to fear slipping and falling down and if we were on our own, we would.  But we are not alone.

   God is holding you in his hand and he has promised to not let go.  It is not our strength or courage that keeps us safe but it is entirely God’s love for us.  So if you feel like you just can’t make it one more step; let God carry you, he has been all along.  Trust in his grace and mercy to care for you to protect you and to keep you safe. 

Father of all love, too often I let go.  I fail to trust in your mercy and I let go.  Thank you for not letting go of me.  Thank you for keeping me safe from the devil’s attacks.  Help me to find comfort in your loving arms.  Give to me the peace that the world cannot give or understand.  Help my brothers and sisters who are struggling at this time.  Let your mercy pour over them.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret            

10-29-2014

Good Morning All,

          Matthew 17:5; “He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

      One of the professors that I had in college had an interesting method of teaching.  While he lectured, he would stop and say a name or place or event twice.  If he said it twice, you made a note of it as something to make sure you knew what it meant or why it was important.  If he would stop, say the name twice and then spell it; you knew it must be important.  Yet if he would stop, say it twice, and then spell it out while writing it on the board; well you knew that was going to be on the test and you better know exactly what it was that he wanted you to write about it.  When he would write it on the board, it was the equivalent of him saying, “Pay attention and don’t forget this; this is important!”

    Our verse is the equivalent of God telling you, “Pay attention and don’t forget this; this is important!”   Just in case there was any confusion as to who was speaking and if what he as saying was important; God the Father makes it totally clear.  “This is my beloved Son…listen to him!”  It doesn’t get much clearer than this.  It was clear to the disciples who heard it; they fell on their faces terrified of what they had just heard.  Yet when they looked up, they only saw Jesus.

    That is what we need to do; look up and only see Jesus.  We can look to what he says, what he does and what he wants of us and for us as God’s truth.  We can rest assured of his promises of grace and hope.  We can know with full confidence that he is doing what he said he would do.  He is at the throne of God interceding for us, praying to the Father on our behalf.  He is ruling from his throne at the right hand of God, putting all powers under his feet so that every knee will bow before him.  He is expanding his kingdom so that all those who call upon his name will be saved.  With all this power at work for us; we cannot lose.

    Yet even greater than this power is the love which Christ has for us.  His steadfast love and mercy never fails us.  He continues to walk with us and to guide us by the Spirit.  We are never left to face the assaults and attacks of the devil on our own.  We can always find our comfort in his words of grace.  We can always go to him with our cries and our fears and he will hear us.  He is our rock and our fortress.

   After all this there waits for us the reward of life eternal with him in the restores creation.  It waits for us with its promise of a perfect and restored creation for us and for all who believe.  It is fast approaching, and with it, the end of pain and sorrow, of suffering and death; these will be gone.  Our hope is secure.  “Listen to Him.”

Father in heaven, open our ears that we may listen to your Son ad to know him as the true Savior.  Strengthen our faith and empower our hearts that we might cling to you.  Be with those who do not hear that they may come to know your grace, mercy and truth.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret    

10-28-2014

 Good Morning All,

       Galatians 3:28; “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

     So God has blessed our family with a new member.  We have a granddaughter who joined the world on Sunday.  She joins her brother and along with mom and dad makes a nice family.  Even though she joins this family she is different from her brother.  When her brother was born he was blond and with very little hair.  She has a head of very dark hair.  When her brother was brand new, he barely made a peep; she lets you know when she is not happy in the least.  Her brother is already worried she will take all his toys; (she probably will).  Yet when the nurse was weighing her and changed her diaper, she let out a howl of disapproval.  Her brother didn’t like the way the nurse was treating her.  She wasn’t even 12 hours old and he is only 21/2 but he was going to defend her because she is his sister.

    Even though they are a little different from each other and she is bringing a new personality into this family; nobody wants to trade her.  She is a part of the family and just as loved as any other member.  She is just as important and as valued at a day old as the rest of the members of her family.  No one would leave the others behind or disown them. It doesn’t matter what the hair color or gender, the personality or the talent; they are all part of the same family.

    Our life in God’s faith family is the same.  It doesn’t matter how we are different because we are all the same in the family of Christ.  We are of one faith, one Christ, joined together with Him in one baptism.  There is only one redemption to which we are brought into the one family of God. 

    It does not matter where we came from or how we got here.   We may have different skills, traits or talents but we are all God’s children through His baptism.  We are in his holy family called to be his agents of reconciliation in this world.  Yet we are one family; cleansed by the blood of the one true Lamb.  We are all in God’s loving and benevolent care. 

    It doesn’t matter if you have been a lifelong member or a recent convert; our grace is the same, our sins are forgiven.  We have the same destiny; eternal life with Christ in the restored creation.  None is higher or lower; we are all his children.  So we rejoice, just like when a new child joins a family, when person repents and comes to know the saving grace of Christ.  We should rejoice that the family of God is getting larger and one more soul is brought home.

Father, we give you thanks for the gift of new life.  We especially give you thanks for the gift of life which brings new ones into your kingdom.  Help us to see that all are one in you and that we should rejoice in the coming to faith that brings new life in your loving arms.  Guide us by your Holy Spirit to love each of your children as you love them.  Move us to be in unity with our entire fellow redeemed.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret