BLESSED QUIETNESS

 BLESSED QUIETNESS

As I again sit here and asking the Lord what I can bring to you today.  The news headlines have been very troublesome lately and the world seems to be getting darker with terrorist threats and the horrible murders of our fellow believers in Jesus.  My heart has been heavy and sought the Lord as to what He would have me share with you today.  I read an article from a noted evangelist stating to be prepared as “A Storm is Coming.”

 Are you ready for those storms as this earth seems to be winding down, getting ready for the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Many, many people, especially in Mideast countries and other places are coming to Jesus.  The enemy knows he has but a short time and as my pastor stated to me: “The enemy has his back up against the wall.”  He is angry and on the rampage it seems.  So where do we run in these times?  We run to those quiet places with Jesus, where the Holy Spirit brings His comfort and peace, for the Comforter has come.

On the stormy Sea of Galilee, Jesus commanded the winds and waves, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39, KJV), and immediately there was calm.  Later in the upper room, as Jesus told His disciples that He would leave them, He promised them the Holy Spirit and peace.

Manie Payne, born in Carlow, Ireland, was a Christian, but she did not know peace.  She struggled with her sinful nature until she began to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit. This is the “blessed quietness” that she wrote about.  Now, she was so happy she could hardly contain herself.  Indeed, joy was flowing like a river in her life.  Later she married T.P. Ferguson and founded Peniel Missions, with branches in Egypt, China, and the United States.  (“Hymns” by Petersen).

BLESSED QUIETNESS

Joys are flowing like a river since the Comforter has come.  He abides with us forever, makes the trusting heart His home.

Blessed quietness, holy quietness, what assurance in my soul! On the stormy sea He speaks peace to me, how the billows cease to roll.

Bringing life and health and gladness all around this heav’nly Guest, banished unbelief and sadness, changed our weariness to rest.

Like the rain that falls from heaven, like the sunlight from the sky, so Holy Ghost is given, coming on us from on high.

See a fruitful field is growing, blessed fruit of righteousness; and the streams of life are flowing in the lonely wilderness.

What a wonderful salvation, where we always see His face! What a perfect habitation, what a quiet resting place.  Manie Payne Ferguson (1850-1932).

Yes, the Comforter has come speaking peace to His people.  As we walk this path with Jesus, these storms will come upon us and as I stated earlier, the storms coming in this world can bring terror to our hearts, but He comes and abides with us forever.  And when we simply put our trust in Him, He makes our heart His home.  The Comforter has come, and He is the one who brings that blessed quietness.

This world is a noisy place.  I find it so being hearing impaired and my hearing is distorted sometimes, and I can’t understand what people say, all I hear is a roar of noise, so I have found I need some “blessed quietness.”  I need a place where the distractions of the world are stilled and I can listen for the sweet Holy Spirit to come.

And as we hear the news reports or read the papers, we need to run to that blessed place of quietness with our Lord.  There He banishes unbelief and sadness, bringing joy to our hearts.  And sometimes He comes down like rain, or the warm sunshine.  As I minister in the nursing home I have seen the joy that comes into a face when He comes to bring them comfort.  I have seen the light come on in weary faces when I touch them in the Name of Jesus.  Oh, such joy!

Oh, but we have assurance in these days of terror and strife and struggles in our own lives.  Because of Jesus and His love for us and His sacrifice on the cross we have assurance of His wonderful salvation, the assurance of His presence within our hearts by the indwelling Holy Spirit. And we have assurance that someday He is coming again in clouds of glory.  Oh, what a wonderful day!  We have assurance in the fact that when we die and go home to be with Him that “to absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (II Corinthians 5:8).  There is so much to say here, I couldn’t begin to share the wonderful assurances we have, by faith, in our Lord Jesus.

So when those billows roll around us, we look to Jesus to calm the storm and bring peace to the waves of conflict around us.  We see fear and dread coming upon this world, we look to Jesus and to a place of Holy Quietness deep within our souls.  Do you have that peace, my friends?  Come to Him and simply ask Him to come into your heart and life, repenting of your sins.  And then thank Him for the cross and for giving us new life in Him, in the name of Jesus.

Pastor Sharon

ARE YOU ALMOST PERSUADED?

ARE YOU ALMOST PURSUADED?

I awoke this morning praising Jesus and thinking how absolutely sweet our Lord is and how grateful I am to be born again, walking with Jesus day by day and looking forward to eternity with Him.  Oh, what a thought!  There will be no more pain, sickness or sorrow or tears.  An eternity of everlasting joy!

We live in a world that seems to be getting darker spiritually every day.  Violence fills our land and the nations.  We hear of wars and rumors of wars.  We hear of our Christian brothers and sisters in other lands suffering horrible persecution because of their faith in Jesus, and many are dying for that faith. Could we be that strong in intense persecution for our faith?

So my heart is heavy for the lost and dying people of this nation, my city, and this world.  We need Jesus, He is our only hope.  He is your only hope, my friend.  This world cannot bring you peace.  Possessions will not bring you peace.  There are only two roads to eternity, one the straight road to eternal hell and the narrow road which leads to eternal salvation in Jesus Christ.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” Matthew 7:13-14.

 Which road are you walking on, my friend?  Do you feel an emptiness inside which nothing seems to fill?  Jesus went to the cross for you and shed His precious blood for the forgiveness of your sins.  Are you almost persuaded?  Have you walked with Jesus in the past and wandered away from the things of God?  Please read the words of this great old hymn and let the Holy Spirit stir your heart.  First let me share the story of this hymn:

When the apostle Paul was on trial before King Agrippa, he gave a strong witness to his faith, and Agrippa responded, “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”  He was almost persuaded.

Philip Bless, the author of this hymn, heard a preacher end a sermon with the words, “He who is almost persuaded is almost saved, and to be almost saved is to be entirely lost.”  Bliss couldn’t forget those words, and he soon wrote the hymn “Almost Persuaded.”

It has been used an invitation hymn in bringing many to Jesus Christ.  One young man in London said, “God used that song in drawing me to Jesus.  I had been afraid . . . For six weeks that hymn was ringing in my ears, till I accepted the invitation.  I came, and am now rejoicing in the Lord, my Savior.” (HYMNS by Petersen).

ALMOST PERSUADED

“Almost persuaded,” now to believe; “Almost persuaded,” Christ to receive; seems now some soul to say, “Go Spirit, go Thy way, some more convenient day on Thee I’ll call.

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today; “Almost persuaded,” turn not away; Jesus invites you here; angels are ling’ring near, prayers arise from hearts so dear, O wand’rer come.

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past! “Almost persuaded, “doom comes at last! “Almost” cannot avail; “Almost” is but to fail!  Sad, sad, that bitter wail, “Almost,” but lost.  (Philip Paul Bliss-1838-1876)

What a powerful message to those who are lost without Jesus.  Have you turned Him away, thinking I will think about this and when it is convenient I will come to Jesus.  You don’t know what tomorrow holds or even the rest of this day.  He is inviting you to come, angels are waiting, and people are praying for your eternal soul.

Someday time will end, Jesus will return, as the song says “harvest is past.”  The day of salvation will be over, no more opportunity to accept Christ, and those who reject Him will be lost forever.  What a sad day!

But there is hope.  I want you to walk with me down the “Romans Road” to Salvation . . .This comes from the book of Romans in the New Testament.

*  Because of our sin, we are separated from God.  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

*  The penalty for our sin is death.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).

*  The penalty for our sin was paid by Jesus Christ!   But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

*  If we repent of our sin, then confess and trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will be saved from our sins!  For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).

. . .lf you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10).

Are you almost persuaded or are you persuaded now to make the most important decision of your life for eternity?  What a wonderful life it is to walk with Jesus!  He brings such peace and joy even in the midst of great trials.  I can’t explain it, but it is a life with Him at my side, walking with me on the path to eternal glory.  Won’t you come today down the “Roman Road” to salvation?  Just pray a simple prayer asking Him to come into your heart.  Pray with me:

“I confess to God right now that I am a sinner, and ask you to forgive my sins, and believe in my heart that Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross and was raised from the dead to bring me eternal life with Him forever.  I now ask you, Jesus, to come into my heart and receive you as my personal Savior, and now believe that I am now born again into the kingdom of God.”

If you have prayed that prayer with me, I will pray that you find a Bible believing church and Christian friends to help you grow in the Lord.  And your heart will be filled with praise for your God, and you, too, will want to sing praises to His Wonderful name.

Pastor Sharon

WHISPERING HOPE

WHISPERING HOPE

As I sit here today I am remembering that exactly one year ago I fell and damaged my shoulder, and it has been a year of pain and surgery, and am now finally coming to the end of this time in my life, this storm cloud that I have walked through with Jesus.  I don’t know what this coming year will hold for me or for any of us, but we have our hope in Jesus, Praise the Lord!

So many of our fellow believers in Jesus, brothers and sisters in the Lord, have gone home to be with their Savior recently and in the last months, and I think of the families who have lost their loved ones and the wives.  But, oh, they have that blessed hope and know that someday, because of the resurrection of our precious Lord, their loved ones are home with the Lord and someday they will be reunited again and what a wonderful day that will be!

The following song, Whispering Hope, came to my memory recently.  I recall attending a Memorial Service for the husband of a dear friend.  He had been lost on the river and his body was never recovered.  This song was her testimony of hope.  Hope whispered comforting words to her and that the sunshine would shine again after the storm had passed.

There is very little information regarding the circumstances of the writing of “Whispering Hope” other than the fact that the song was written in 1868.  But one thing is certain, the song was written by prolific songwriter Septimus Winner who released much of work under the pseudonym, Alice Hawthorne.  The text of this song appears to be based on the scripture from Hebrews 6:19 which refers to the anchor that keeps the soul steadfast.  That anchor is also the “Whispering Hope” of the Christian.

“That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil: whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” Hebrews 6:18-20.

WHISPERING HOPE

Soft as the voice of an angel, breathing a lesson unheard, hope with a gently persuasion whispers her comforting word; wait till the darkness is over, wait till the tempest is done, hope for the sunshine tomorrow, after the shower is gone.

Refrain:  Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice, making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

If in the dusk of the twilight, dim be the region afar, will not the deepening darkness brighten the glimmering star?  Then when the night is upon us, why should the heart sink away?  When the dark midnight is over, watch for the breaking of day.

Hope, as an anchor so steadfast, rends the dark veil for the soul, whither the Master has entered, robbing the grave of its goal; come then, oh, come, glad fruition, come to my sad weary heart; come, O Thou blest hope of glory, never, or, never depart.  (Septimus Winner, 1868)

I am so thankful for Jesus and that I belong to Him.  I can’t imagine what life would be like without Him.  It would be an empty life, a life with an eternity without Him and a life without any hope, no glimmer of light in our darkness.  Are you walking that path?  Remember there are many choices here on earth, but only two choices in eternity, eternal life, or eternal darkness, lost forever.  What will you choose?

 And in our difficult days, when the clouds cover our sky, we know that behind those clouds the sun will shine again.  And hope is indeed an anchor of the soul.  Hope keeps our focus on Jesus and on what is in store for each of us who love Jesus.  We know our hope is in an eternity forever with Him.  And our hope is in Him watching us and caring for all our needs as we tread down this road toward heaven.  When the dark midnight of our trials are over, we look ahead to the breaking of that eternal day, where there will be no more tears, sorrow, pain, or separation from those we love.

Since Jesus has conquered death, and we look forward to His soon return, our hopeful hearts look upward.  We see the signs around us.  It seems our world is falling apart and darkness abounds.  But someday the clouds will part and our Lord will light up the sky.  And we can cry with the song writer, “come to my sad weary heart; come, O Thou blest hope of glory.”

“Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” I Corinthians 15:51-52.

So, my friends, let His Word whisper hope in your heart.  We have a glad day coming, when the struggles we go through will all be just a dim memory.  And we shall look on His face, and bow in grateful praise for how far He has brought us, and that we have finally reached the end of the road.  And we may look back and see how far we have traveled, and that every step brought us closer and closer to home, all because of our hope in Jesus and what He accomplished on the cross and His glorious resurrection. 

Let Him whisper hope in your heart just now.  And you can then look ahead and see the sunrise just over the hilltop, and heaven awaiting you.  It could be today or tomorrow.  We don’t know just when He will come back or when each one of us will go home to be with Him.  As I get older, I realize that heaven is just getting closer.  So let that hope reign in your heart, in the name of Jesus.

In His Name,

Pastor Sharon

ALL IN THE NAME OF JESUS

ALL IN THE NAME OF JESUS

It’s a cold foggy day in our area, and we hope the sun comes out soon to shine upon our world here.  My heart is heavy today due to a situation I faced, and had to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit and my faith and love for my Lord Jesus to get me through this phone call which I received.

There are those in our world today and in our city here who don’t want the name of Jesus mentioned or hear a call of salvation.  This was in regards to funeral services for a precious lady who I have been seeing in a nursing home.  She is finally home, free of her tired body, and singing again with her lovely voice, giving praise to her Lord.

I was asked, as Pastor, to open in prayer, give a welcome and blessing to those gathered there.  But I was given a couple of stipulations, not to pray or mention the name of Jesus or give a call to salvation, as I might offend someone.  So I had to decline.  In past funerals, I give a message of hope to those attending, hope in eternal life with Jesus, to make sure their hearts are right with the Lord.  And give them the promise that if they know Jesus, they will see their loved one again.  It is a promise of the resurrection and new life with Jesus forever.  How can one pray or bless a gathering unless it is done in the name of Jesus? 

Do you love Jesus today?  I hope your life and all that you do is centered on Him alone.  This is a precious chorus centered on the name of Jesus.  No matter where we go or what we should do, His name is to be exalted.  His name should be first on our lips before our day begins and when it ends.  And, Oh, what blessing comes just whispering the name of Jesus. 

ALL IN THE NAME OF JESUS

Truth and beauty and happiness

It’s all in the name of Jesus.

Health and heaven, peace and rest

It’s all in the name of Jesus.

Joy and gladness, forgiveness too,

Life everlasting and free,

All that I’ve longed for and

All that I need,

It’s all in the name of Jesus.

Chorus

Jesus, Jesus, He’s here

And He’ll show us the way.

Jesus, Jesus He’s all

That we need today.

Care and comfort, healing and grace,

It’s all in the name of Jesus.

Warmth and sunshine, friendship too,

Fulfillment and blessing untold,

Hope for tomorrow and help for today,

It’s all in the name of Jesus.

Words and Music: Stephen Adams

What do you need today?  Everything is in His name.  It was mentioned to me that there are many roads to Christ, which many believe today.  Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me” John 14:6.  There is only one way to heaven and that has to come through Jesus Christ.  And He made that way possible by going to the cross, shedding His blood for our sins.  And we come into the Truth, He is the Truth, by repentance of our sins, and then we begin to see the beauty and happiness that He brings, with hope of eternity with Him.  It’s all in the name of Jesus.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” John 14:17.

The world and its pleasures cannot give you peace and rest.  All our “treasures” will someday melt away.  We take nothing with us when we die.  Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Jesus is all that I long for and all that I need, and it’s all in the name of Jesus.  His loving care and His comfort in the time of grief, it’s all in the name of Jesus.  Even the warmth of the sunshine, our wonderful Christian brothers and sisters in the Lord, and our hope for the days ahead and the needs that we have this day, it’s all in the name of Jesus.

“Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:9-11.

There is a day coming, my friends, when every knee is going to bow to at the name of Jesus.  Those who have rejected Him down through history and today and those who have denied His name, will bow at the name of Jesus and proclaim Him Lord.  Are you ready for that day, my friend?  Oh, He has so much love for you and is not willing that any should perish without Him.  Be ready, my friends, because that day will soon be upon us and please don’t be one who is lost for eternity because you didn’t acknowledge that it’s all in the name of Jesus.

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

JESUS WILL NEVER FAIL

JESUS WILL NEVER FAIL

The holiday season is over.  We have put all the holiday decorations in the attic for another year, and I am ready to begin this New Year.  I don’t make a list of New Year’s resolutions, as I believe they just are promises to myself that I never can keep.  

I am asking myself today what is on my heart for this next year.  There is a path ahead, I know, but it winds ahead, its curves and byways are unknown to me.  It is like having a clean slate for another year.  I pray for a safe year, a year without sickness or accidents, as I have seen for the last two years.  I long to reach more souls for Christ, especially among the elderly who have never accepted Jesus as their Savior, and I have many stories of those who have come to Jesus in their last days.  Some had been in church all their lives, even seminary and had never accepted Jesus.  One lady I remember had been in church all her life and no one had ever told her that Jesus Saves.

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?  I will even make a new way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” Isaiah 43:18-19.

So He is calling me and you to put the trials and struggles of this last year behind us, although we may still feel the results of those things.  This year He promises to do a new thing in each of our lives.  He will make a new way when those wilderness places come in our lives, and promises living water, which comes from the Holy Spirit to overflow our lives and to reach others for Christ.  Oh, to reach more people for Jesus this year!  Oh, how I long to see “that light” come into a new Christian’s face, as Jesus comes in and begins their new life with Him.

But in all of this, there is one thing that I know.  Jesus will never fail me or fail you, as we face that unknown pathway ahead.   We used to sing this song as a chorus, but here is the history of this song and the full hymn, “Jesus Never Fails.”

“When he was a boy in elementary school, Arthur Luther wanted to be a foreign missionary.  As he got older and realized that he had musical talent, he wanted to write a song that the whole world would sing.  He wrote a song that he thought would be popular.  In fact, he thought it was pretty good, but apparently no one else did.  In his words, “It was a dismal failure.”

However, God made both of his dreams come true when Luther wrote the song “Jesus Never Fails.”  At the time he was working with an evangelistic team in Kentucky.  The he says, “I received some very disturbing news from my family some six hundred miles away.  Worried and homesick, I sat down at the old square piano in the home where we were staying and as my fingers wandered idly, a simple melody developed beneath them which seemed to sing, ‘Jesus Never Fails.’ Then and there the words and music of the chorus were born.”

This simple little song has been translated into more than a dozen languages, taking it to places that Arthur Luther could never have gone as a missionary.  No, Jesus never fails.  (“Hymns” by W. Petersen).

Earthly friends may prove untrue, doubts and fears assail; One still loves and cares for you: Jesus Never Fails.

Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails; Heav’n and earth may pass away but Jesus never fails.

Tho’ the sky be dark and drear, fierce and strong the gale, just remember He is near, and He will not fail.

In life’s dark and bitter hour love will still prevail; trust His everlasting pow’r, Jesus will not fail.” (Arthur A. Luther (1891-1960)

As we face the year ahead, there will be times of doubts and fears, and even friends or family may fail us, but we have a Precious Savior, Jesus, who will never fail us.  Oh, to just fall into His arms when storms of grief come!

And we may have dark and dreary days, and the storms of life may be upon us, but just remember that Jesus never fails, He is near.  Oh, to just look through the gloom and see and feel His presence.

And I know that some of you may face that dark hour, when eternity is so near, and the end of the road has come and one can see the light of the city just ahead.  But by faith you are held in His everlasting arms, and He will guide you into your heavenly home,because Jesus never fails.

If you do not know this Wonderful Savior, accept Him now.  You don’t know what is on the path ahead in this next year and He calls each one of us to be ready to meet Him.  Just ask Him into your heart, and to forgive your sins, and then praise Him for your salvation and your eternity with Him.  And then you, too, will know that Jesus never fails.

In the Precious Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

THE HOLIEST OF NIGHTS

THE HOLIEST OF NIGHTS

As I sit here at my computer, it is Christmas Eve.  It is raining and cold and some say we will get a bit of snow, and just maybe we will get a rare “White Christmas.”

The tree is lovely with its packages underneath waiting for Christmas morning.  I love to just look at the tree all lit up in the dark and think how awesome this season really is.  I want to just put aside all the outside trappings of this holiday and sit in peace and remember my Lord and Savior and His Divine love to come to earth as that precious baby.  Even at His birth even as the song says, “Jesus Lord at Thy birth, Jesus Lord at Thy birth.”

Tonight, on Christmas Eve at our church will have a Candlelight Service.  We come together to sing the wonderful carols and recall the events of that night so long ago.  The lights are turned out and each person lights a candle of the person sitting next to them, and soon the sanctuary is aglow with the soft light of our candles and it is always an awesome moment, a quiet moment.  Our lit candles symbolize to me that the “Light of the World” has come and we all share in unity that Light. 

I have always considered Christmas Eve as a holy time, a time of a quiet peace.  There is a sense of awe and holiness in the air.  It is hard to explain, but maybe many of you also sense those feelings as you gather with your families or attend a church service, or even some of you may sense that in a Midnight Mass.  It is indeed a Holy Night!  Think of that night so long ago, as we recall the words to this precious carol.

O HOLY NIGHT

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

CHORUS:

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born.

O Night, O holy night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

CHORUS

Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim

(French Carol, 1847)

Most of our Christmas carols are timeless, written hundreds of years ago.  And as we sing them each year, do we think of what the words mean, or what the writer was trying to say?  They all have a timeless message of the coming of our Lord and Savior and the promise of a new life with Him, a new world coming of peace.  Down through the ages each generation had its problems, its wars and its struggles.  And each generation hoped that they would be the ones who would witness His coming and His world of peace.

As I looked up the history of “O Holy Night” it spoke of Jesus coming into a weary world.  In the day Jesus came they were looking for their Messiah and ruled by the Romans and they indeed were weary of the oppression of their day.  And Jesus came on that night with a promise of salvation to all who would receive Him and someday a new day would dawn when Jesus would rule forever as King of kings and Lord of lords.  He would bring hope to mankind, eternal life with Him.  But He would have to face the cross, shed His blood for our sins, and then rise from the dead on that third day, His glorious resurrection would come.  O what a holy night!  Our holy God wrapped in flesh, and He calls us to fall our knees in worship!  Let our hearts hear the angel voices proclaiming His birth.

And He is a God of love and He taught to love each other.  And this song was sung during the Civil War to remind that generation that the slaves were brothers and Jesus had called for the chains of bondage to be broken.  And we today, are called to come together in unity and to love those who are in bondage to sin and oppression.  There are many, many out there today who are bound up in chains of sin and don’t know the Savior who can set them free.  And deliverance comes in the Wonderful Name of Jesus!   He breaks every fetter, as the old chorus says.

So on this holy night, remember that Christ is the Lord!  It is not about Santa Claus and Reindeer, but it is all about Him!  And He calls us to praise His holy name forever, and to proclaim His mighty power to set men free and the promise of a new day coming.  We look around our world and we long for that day, when we see Him face to face at last.

So I call you out there to fall on your knees in solemn worship this night, this Christmas Eve, wherever you are.  Sense the awe, the presence of the Holy Spirit, sense the peace and the joy.  If you attend a service of candlelight, close your eyes and let Him bath you in His presence.  And if you don’t know this Wonderful Savior, that a wonderful time to ask Him to come into your heart and be your Lord forever.  Ask Him in the light of the candles or even the light of your Christmas tree, what a glorious moment that would be.  I have witnessed the joy of Christ coming into a heart, and it is truly a holy moment.

So stop, worship Him and sense the awe of this holy night, in Jesus’ Name, and have a Blessed Christmas!

Pastor Sharon

DO YOU HEAR THE BELLS?

DO YOU HEAR THE BELLS?

 

We are in the midst of this beautiful Christmas season.  The tree is bright with lights, packages are mailed and hopefully soon Christmas cards speaking of this season will be mailed, along with our greetings of blessings to loved ones and friends.  The second Advent candle has been lit, and it was the Candle of Peace.

 

We so long for peace in our lives, our homes and especially in our world, as we look around and see wars and tragedy and lives of people in hopeless situations, as the world seems so dark with despair.  And we long for that day when Christ, the Prince of Peace, will appear again and bring hope and peace to this world.

 

As we celebrated Advent in our church this past Sunday, we sang an old hymn, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”  I looked up the history of this hymn and it so spoke of our day also and our longing for peace on earth, and yes, the bells can ring again in our hearts as we turn our focus on our Savior and the Cross in this Christmas season.  He will bring joy and gladness to our aching hearts, all because He came.  He came to cause those bells of joy to ring again.

 

Christmas Day 1863 was not a day of “peace on earth, good will to men” in the United States.  The bloody Civil War was being waged.  At Gettysburg, only six months earlier, forty thousand men were killed, wounded, or missing.  The long siege of Vicksburg resulted in thirty thousand Confederate soldiers being taken as prisoners.  And there was no end in sight.

 

No wonder Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow “bowed his head” in despair and said, “There is no peace on earth.”  The entire country, both North and South was bowed in despair.  But there was something about Christmas that helped Longfellow see beyond the carnage of the present and realize that God is not dead and that right would prevail.

 

The birth of Jesus Christ brings hope.  Christmas doesn’t mean that all problems disappear, but it does assure you that God is not dead, nor does He sleep.  Even the darkness of Good Friday is followed by the dawn of Easter.  Yes, the bells of Christmas are still ringing, singing on their way.  (Hymns by Petersen)

 

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

 

I heard the bells on Christmas day their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men.

 

I thought how as the day had come, the belfries of all Christendom had rolled along th’ unbroken song of peace on earth, good will to men.

 

 And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth,” I said, “for hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.”

 

Yet pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor does he sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.”

 

The ringing, singing on its way, the world revolved from night to day – a voice, a chime, a chant sublime of peace on earth, good will to men.  (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow-1807-1882)

When this song was written, when Christmas Day came the bells on the churches would ring out the news with carols.  Many of the churches had steeples and the bells chimed.  I can only imagine what that would sound like.  The air is cold, maybe snow is coming down, and that special feeling of Christmas is in the air.  I feel that awed feeling even now on Christmas Eve.  There is a holy hush in the air. 

 

So on that Christmas the bells must have continued to chime even though the nation was in deep despair, as the war continued and many families were in grief and many more lives were to be lost before the war ended.  Henry Wadsworth heard those bells and his heart was broken as he didn’t see any peace on earth, only death and dying men, a nation at war with one another.  The bells continued to chime that there was hope on earth of “peace, good will to men.”

 

We look around our world as in Henry Wadsworth’s day and wonder where is that peace that the angels promised on that first Christmas morning?  And then we have the promise and know that God is not dead nor does He sleep.  He is aware of our broken hearts, our troubled souls, and the storms that come into our lives.  As we look at troubled headlines in the news, hear the reports of violence in our land and around the world, our God is watching and waiting for the day when He Himself will finally bring “peace on earth, good will to men.”

 

Henry Wadsworth suddenly realized that his God was not dead and not sleeping and that someday, evil will be gone and righteousness will come to this earth through our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are waiting for that day, that 2^nd Advent of our Lord when He breaks the sky and does right the wrong and the bells will once again ring out “peace on earth, good will to men.”

 

And can you imagine what that day will be like, the ringing of bells, the singing of the saints, night of darkness is gone and eternal day has come? The angels once again can sing of “peace on earth, good will to men.”

 

So in this Christmas season, let the joy ring in your heart, hear the bells ringing peace on earth, and have a glorious Christmas Day in God’s peace.

 

Pastor Sharon