LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS

 

 

LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS

As I sit here this afternoon, looking out at the grey skies and thinking about the struggles we all go through.  We spend time on the mountain top for some time, and then the storm comes and we begin to fear what is ahead, up the road or around the next corner.  We had snow this morning and the roads were icy and everyone was traveling very slow.  But the sun came out a bit and melted the previous snow, but the news is out that more snow and treacherous conditions are coming for the rest of the week.

I have been on a mountain top for some time.  It was lovely up there.  I have been praying for many sick people lately and have seen God do amazing things for His people.  He comes with the power of the Holy Spirit and we pray the prayer of faith, anointing with oil in the Name of Jesus according to James 5, and the sick are healed.  And sometimes it is a recovery process as the scripture in James states.  But, Oh, we serve a wonderful God!

But now it is time to walk through the valley with Jesus.  But, it is so wonderful to know that there are brothers and sisters in the Lord who are holding up my arms in prayer, coming along side of me with their love and prayers.  I was talking with a sister in the Lord regarding prayer and support and was reminded of Moses when the battle was raging with the Amalekites in Joshua 17.  We see Joshua and the army of Israel in the battle.  Moses, Aaron and Hur are standing on top of the hill overlooking the battle. And Moses is standing there with his hands raised with the rod uplifted.

“And so it was when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.  But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it.  And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” Exodus 17:11-12.

I see a beautiful picture here of our walk with the Lord.  Sometimes the burdens become so heavy, the battle fierce, and we can’t seem to see through the storm raging around us, and we tire in the battle, and feel like we can’t go on.  But then brothers and sisters in the Lord come along side of us holding up our arms in prayer.  And you notice that Moses sat down, but he sat down on a rock.  And we cling firmly in these times to the foundation of our Faith, Christ Jesus.  And a great victory was won that day, as Moses was fully supported by those beside him. 

I think of the many, many people who are in prayer right now as I am walking through this valley, and such peace and joy that brings to my heart.  It is so wonderful to walk with the Lord and have the love of fellow saints along side of me, holding up my hands in prayer with their love and support.  And there is that place that “Is Near to the Heart of God.”

“There is a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God, a place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, hold us who wait before Thee near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet near to the heart of God, a place where we are Savior meet, near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release, near to the heart of God, a place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God.”  (Cleland Boyd Mcafee)

And when our brothers and sisters are holding us up in those times of trial, we enter into a quiet place of rest with Jesus.  And oh, the comfort to meet our Savior there, and there we find sweet relief from the fear and anxiety of what may lie ahead.

Oh, my friends out there, cling to Jesus in your hour of trial.  Depend on your brothers and sisters to hold you up in prayer, to encourage you in your faith.  Oh, that is so precious.  There may be more storms ahead, more windy and cold times, but with my God there is peace and joy, and He is there for you too, just lean into Him and let Him wrap His arms around you.

 In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

 

 

WELCOME, OUR PRINCE OF PEACE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELCOME,

OUR PRINCE OF PEACE!

 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be

Upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

I am sitting here looking out at grey, cold and foggy skies, and in looking at my calendar, Christmas is just two weeks from today.  And the stores are crowded, traffic is heavy, as the world rushes madly buying and selling, having their parties.  But how many of those faces in the crowds have peace in their lives?  Oh, they may think they do, but many are carrying heavy burdens of sorrow, grief and pain.  And many are just trying to get through the holiday season, trying to please their family and friends with their gifts.

Sunday was the second Sunday of the Advent season, and we lit a Candle of Peace.  But many out there in our world don’t know the Prince of Peace.  Oh, they many hear some carols, but to them they are just part of the tradition of the season.  Some may even join family and friends in church on Christmas Sunday, or attend a Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve, but they don’t know the joy and peace that our Prince of Peace brings.

And the lovely carols we hear, do we listen to all the verses?  The Christmas Carols we hear speak of our coming King, they speak of Him bringing salvation and His joy to the world.  They tell of the love of God in sending Jesus to a lost and dying world.  This familiar carol is an invitation to come to the “Prince of Peace.”

 O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!  Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love.  O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n!  So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heavn’n.  No ear may hear His coming; but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.  We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell, o come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel. (Phillips Brooks).

As we gaze upon the Christ child there in the manger, so humble and meek, all our hopes, our fears, or dreams, our sorrows and pain are met in Him.  He came to us as a baby, God in the flesh, but in Him we find all our needs will be met, all the fulfillment of our lives will be met in that precious baby.  He will walk this earth, healing the sick, bringing love and compassion, and feeling their pain, and then He went willingly to the cross to die for mankind’s sins and forgiveness of our sins, and resurrected the third day, to bring to us eternal life.  Oh, what a Savior we have!

And I think of this season this year and the sorrows of the past year.  Many of us have lost a precious loved one in the months past and this is the first Christmas without them.  There is an empty space around our tables, and an empty place in our hearts, as we remember Christmas past, and all those precious memories we shared.  But we have hope, someday we will see the shining, happy face of that loved one again in God’s heaven, all because the Prince of Peace came, humble and meek on that first Christmas morning.

And some of us may be facing medical issues in the coming weeks, as we await test results.  Some are facing surgery around Christmas and New Year’s Day.  In the next couple of weeks, will we be recovering from surgery, having pain and away from loved ones and in the hospital?  We don’t know what lies ahead.  But everything we need is in our Prince of Peace.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” John 14:27.

And this wonderful old Christmas carol calls us to praise Him!  The angels proclaimed His birth and proclaimed peace to all men.  We praise Him because, He as God, came to dwell among men, to bring peace in the midst of our cold, stormy, foggy days.  And we praise Our God for sending Jesus, and we praise Him for His great love, and we praise Him for our salvation and for the hope of eternal life. 

There in the manger was God in the flesh reaching out to all mankind.  So sing your praises, sing the wonderful carols and rejoice in God your King!  Let Him bring great joy into your heart this season no matter what the days ahead may hold!  And we can rejoice in the promise of His Second Advent, His soon return as “Prince of Peace.”

And we think of the wonderful “Gift” that was given.  And into our hearts He places the hope of Heaven and all its joys.  And when we seek Him with humble and repentant hearts, He enters in.  My dear friends, the door of salvation is still open, let Him enter and be your “ Prince of Peace.”  (II Corinthians 6:2).

So we make a call, “Come, Lord Jesus, forgive us our sins, abide with us!”  He is Emmanuel, God with us!  And He comes, bringing the wonderful peace that only He can bring.  In the midst of our trials, we can sing:

Peace, Peace, wonderful peace, coming down from the Father above.  Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, in fathomless billows of love.  (Warren D. Cornell).

Peace, in Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

WATCHING AND WAITING

 

 

WATCHING AND WAITING

The Christmas season is in full swing now.  We have seen Christmas items on the store shelves since summer and before Halloween.  People are rushing here and there, buying and selling, planning all the parties and gifts for the coming holiday.  There seems to be excitement in the air for some.  Others may want to forget the coming holiday season and all the commercial aspects involved.  Everyone is watching and waiting.  But in many hearts, do they really know the One who we are watching and waiting for?  For as we look back, we remember that first Christmas, but I want to share that most important to all mankind is His Second Advent, the soon return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

And on the church calendar this is the Advent season.  This is the first Sunday of Advent and candles were lit, greenery was hung in the church as we paused to remember that first advent of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He came humble and meek as a baby, born in a stable, worshipped by lowly shepherds and wisemen from the east, and angels lit up the skies over Bethlehem as the Lord of Glory was born.

And in the time that Christ was born, the people were also watching and waiting for their Messiah.  They lived under the harsh rule of the Romans, and many of the scholars of that day had read the prophecies and knew that the time was near for Messiah to come.  They were waiting for the Messiah to come and boldly take the Throne of David and throw out the Romans and physically take over the world and bring peace.  But when He did come and walked in their midst, healing the sick, bringing the message of the Kingdom of God, they rejected their Messiah and sent Him to the cross to die a cruel death, but Christ was victorious over death and resurrected the third day, as our Lord and Savior.  Their eyes were blind, and hearts were hard and they didn’t recognize that their long awaiting Messiah was walking among them.

We, who love Jesus, are looking and waiting for His soon return.  Our hearts yearn to see His face, and to see Him bring peace at last.  So as we look at our lovely trees and all the beautiful decorations, we see Jesus and are reminded of His absolute glory.  When we hang our red ornaments we are reminded of the blood that He shed for us on the cross to take away our sins.  We hang our evergreen boughs and put up our green trees and are reminded of eternal life that He brings, life forever with Him.  When we see the lovely white balls, we are reminded of His purity, His absolute holiness.  And those lovely gold ornaments that we may hang on our trees remind us that He is King of kings and Lord of lords, and when He comes this time, He will come not as a humble baby laid in the manger of straw, but the KING, ruling in all glory and majesty!  Can you imagine what that day will be like?  And then are the lovely purple ornaments, and they remind us of His royalty.  So when you are shopping or putting out your decorations, be reminded of the real meaning of those lovely Christmas colors and give Praise to His Wonderful Name!  As we are watching and waiting we can say “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 20:20b.

 COME, THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS!

Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.  Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art; dear Desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.  By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.  (Charles Wesley)

So as we look at the world around us, people rushing to and fro, lost and empty hearts, hearts that long for something to fill that empty place, and things don’t satisfy.  So we long for Jesus to come into the longing hearts of men to set them free from the fear and sin, and find their rest in Him.  Yes, Jesus was born to bring deliverance, a baby in the manger, but He was a King who left His royal throne in glory to reign in the hearts of men.

And He is coming again very soon, my friends out there.  Are you ready?  And as you celebrate this Christmas season be very mindful of the words of Jesus Himself:

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” Luke 21:34-35.

Oh, we who love Jesus, long for His glorious appearing!  But we also long for men and women, boys and girls to be ready for that day, for we do not know the day or hour of His coming, but He commands us to watch and pray.  If you do not know Jesus as your own personal Savior, please call out to Him now before it is too late.

 

What if this would be your last day on earth and you die in an accident or in your sleep?  We never know how long our lives will be on this earth.  Are you ready? Would you face Him as your Lord and Savior, or be lost for eternity forever?   

 

Judgment is coming and He is not willing that men perish, but that men will find eternal life with Him.  Won’t you make that decision today?  What a beautiful time of the year to find Jesus as your own Lord and Savior and be ready and watching when that Day comes.

So, my friends,  celebrate Jesus this Christmas season.  Put up your decorations and remember what each color means in the life of our Lord Jesus.  And you can say “I am watching and waiting” this advent season for His soon return, His glorious second advent!  COME, LORD JESUS COME!

Pastor Sharon