REJOICE! HE HAS COME!

REJOICE! HE HAS COME!

It is dark and cold outside today, and only a few days left until Christmas Day.  But there is a song in the air and we rejoice because our King has come!  Our King has brought salvation and His joy to this dark and cold world.

 We look at the lovely decorations and the colors and remember it is all about Him: the red for His shed blood on the cross for our sins, the green for eternal life He brings.  We see purple as we remember His royalty and we see blue remembering our home in heaven.  And oh, those lovely gold ornaments on our trees, His Divine Kingship, our King of kings and Lord of lords!

The third Advent candle that has been lit is the “Candle of Joy.”  And oh the joy that this candle represents!  We can shout and praise our Wonderful Lord that He has called out of darkness and into His marvelous light, bringing hope into this dark world.

JOY TO THE WORLD!

“Joy to the world!  The Lord is come; let earth receive her King, let ev’ry  heart prepare Him room, and Heav’n and nature sing, and Heav’n and nature sing, and Heav’n and Heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns; let men their songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders and wonders of His love.  (Isaac Watts)

At this Christmas time, let us look up and rejoice in the coming of the King to that stable in Bethlehem.  We remember the Biblical account of the Inn Keeper refusing Mary and Joseph a room, but He calls us to prepare Him room in our hearts.  We hear of the angelic hosts as they proclaimed to the earth the joy of the Saviour’s coming.  Now we can rejoice and shout for joy as He comes into our hearts with His love and peace and His eternal salvation.  Have you made room for the King to come live in your heart?  What a wonderful time of the year to be born again into His kingdom of joy!

“Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth, with righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with uprightness”  Psalm 98:7-9.

The psalmist calls on all creation to sing and shout for joy at the Lord’s coming!  I love this hymn because it celebrates God’s involvement with His people, and this work of God began at the stable in Bethlehem.

When we receive this King into our hearts, our sins and our sorrows and those thorny places in our hearts are covered by the blood of Jesus.  He takes away the sins and thorns to remember them no more.  Yes, we may have sorrow come into our lives, but now this King will be there to be our comfort and our peace.

For now we look forward to the day when He will judge the world in righteousness.  Yes, in this season of Advent we are looking forward to His Second Advent, when Christ Himself will split the sky and will come again, and the nations will know the wonders of His great love!  Oh, what a day that will be!  On that day God will being a righteous conclusion to all things.

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, let you sorrow as others who have no hope.  For is we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Therefore comfort one another with these words” I Thessalonians 13-18.

Yes, “Joy to the World” He has come and He is coming again, oh Praise the Lord!  He will judge the nations and bring peace to this weary world.  Our King will reign in righteousness!  There will be no more thorns in the ground, no more curse on this earth.  So as you sing this song this Christmas, sing it with great joy!  Our King has come, and He will come again!

Blessings in this Joyful Season!

Pastor Sharon

WE WELCOME YOU, PRINCE OF PEACE!

WE WELCOME YOU,

PRINCE OF PEACE!

As we continue to share the season of Advent, we lit our second candle, the Candle of Peace.  In this world we sometimes wonder “where is our peace?”  Problems come into our lives that will shake us to the very core of our being.  And sometimes it is just a phone away.  We think everything is going well.  We are looking forward to Christmas and the New Year, and then we hear news that a Radiologist has found something suspicious and we are scheduled for more tests. 

But no matter what the test results may be, we as followers of our Lord Jesus know where our peace lies.  We can run right into His arms with our problem and isn’t it wonderful to know that He is right there and is aware of the whole situation and whatever the future may hold.

As I was thinking about this blog and what song the Lord would have me share, I was looking at our wonderful Christmas carols, and thinking of a song that would speak of the peace that He brings to us in these difficult times.  Let me share with you the story of “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”.

“Although he was a Unitarian minister, Edmund Sears believed in the deity of Christ.  He also believed in the angels’ message of “peace on earth.”

This hymn, written in Massachusetts in 1849, focuses on the angels’ song of “peace on earth.” Like many other hymns written in America during the mid-1800’s, it might be called a “horizontal hymn.” Such hymns called people to live well, to be at peace, and to honor God.  It seeks to encourage people who are bent “beneath life’s crushing load,” as the third stanza says, to stop and hear the message of Christmas sung by the angels.

Peace was a timely topic when Sears penned these words.  Tensions were rising in America, leading toward the Civil War.  But the peace promised by the angels is not only national; it is personal as well.” (Hymns by Petersen).

IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR

“It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, from heav’ns all-gracious King!” The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled, and still their heav’nly music floats o’er all the weary world: above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hov’ring wing, and ever o’er its babel sounds the blessed angels sing.

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way  with painful steps and slow, look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing: o rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hast’ning on, by prophets seen of old, when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold, when the new heav’n and earth shall own the Prince of Peace their King, and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.  (Edmund Hamilton Sears)

The world during the time of Christ’s birth was a sad and weary world.  The people were bowed down with the weight of Roman rule.  There had been no prophetic word for 400 years, and they waited anxiously for their Messiah to come.  And He came that night, The Prince of Peace, born in a lowly stable.  The shepherds out in the fields of Bethlehem saw a wondrous event in the skies that night.  The angels bending low announcing that He was here at last, our Gracious King.  And the world of the shepherds stopped for a moment in time in the stillness of that night to hear the glorious song of the angels.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” Luke 2:14.

And today we live in a weary world with its turmoil and pain.  And our Precious Lord calls us to stop in the rushing world of Christmas, the noise of traffic, the crowded stores, the business of the season and listen with our hearts to the song of the angels as they proclaim peace to our hearts. But it takes our willingness to just put aside all the noise of the season and hear the music of the skies.  He calls us to come away with Him, just sit in His presence and let the world go by.  Can we do that?  The babe of Bethlehem speaks of peace and joy to come.

Are you bending under a heavy load right now?  Are your steps slow and painful?  Listen to the music of the angels, listen to the lovely carols, each and every verse  We walk a weary road sometimes and He calls us to rest and listen with our hearts and minds tuned on Him, the Savior of the world.  The One who came as that precious baby and remember that before Him was the shadow of a cross!

And yes, the days are hastening on quickly.  The prophecies are being fulfilled, and the signs of that wonderful day coming are upon us.  We look up, keeping our eyes on the heavens and someday those heavens will open and Jesus will come!  This time He will not come lowly and meek, as He came the first time, but this time He comes as the Conquering King of kings!  And we all look forward to that day when at last there will be continuing and forever “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” And we will join in joyful chorus around the Throne that joyful song of the angels!

Be Blest in Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

COME, COME EMMANUEL!

COME, COME EMMANUEL!

It is the first week of December, and the weather is very cold.  But the season is upon us, warming our hearts with song “Joy to the World, the Lord has come.”  Everywhere the lights are bright and shoppers are crowding the stores looking for their special treasures.  And we see the beautiful colors of Christmas in our lovely decorations and trees.  And we sing those lovely Christmas carols which speak of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We look at our nativity sets and see Mary and Joseph and sweet baby Jesus surrounded by shepherds and wisemen and angels looking on.  And in our church we are celebrating the Advent season.  We light our candles each Sunday and ponder the meaning of each of five candles.  The last candle we will light will be the large white candle on Christmas Eve.

The first candle we lit was the “Candle of Hope and Prophecy.”  As we celebrate Advent we are remembering His first Advent, His first coming and the amazing prophecies that foretold of the Messiah and His coming.  The people in those days were looking for the deliverer, the One who would free them from the Romans and sit upon the Throne of David once again.  But Jesus came not to be an earthly king, but to bring the Kingdom of God to reign our hearts, a spiritual kingdom.  But the people did not see that and rejected Him and He went to the cross to die, to shed His precious blood for you, for me. 

And He came to bring hope to a lost world and to each of us.  In this world many have lost their hope, but there is hope in Jesus, my friends.  The cry of ours hearts and the cry of the hearts of those in His day was “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL!

“O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.  Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny; from depths of hell Thy people save and give them victory o’er the grave.  Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here; and drive away the shades of night, and pierce the clouds and bring us light! Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path of misery.  Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. (Latin hymn from 12^th century)

In this wonderful old hymn we see the promise of His coming, and we see Emmanuel, God with us.  He would come and when He came He would bring salvation.  In the first verse we see captives in exile longing for Emmanuel to come.  And there are times when we feel that we are captives to our sin, and to pain and sorrow.  But Emmanuel will come and bring deliverance from our sin and that which enslaves us.

“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.  The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of Knowledge and the fear of the Lord” Isaiah 11:1-2.

We see this wonderful prophecy of our Wonderful Lord as He would come.  He would be a “Righteous Branch” which would grow out of Jesse, David’s father.  He would come with wisdom, understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  This was the Messiah they were waiting and watching for, our Precious Jesus, the Messiah!

“Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” Luke 1:78-79.

In God’s tender mercy, He was sending the Dayspring, the Messiah to visit us.  Those who sit in darkness, He came to bring light and life and to conquer death forever.  And He promises to guide us into a life of peace.  Oh, what a promise!  If you are feeling darkness closing in on your today, the Dayspring has come to light your path, to bring peace and joy and eternal life with Him forever.  Oh, what a precious promise!

As we celebrate Advent, we also are looking forward to His second advent.  And we look for our heavenly home.  And because of His death and resurrection, He has opened the way to eternal life.  And when He comes there will be no more sorrow, pain or tears.  And our hearts look toward the heavens and long for His coming at last!  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

In the Name of Jesus’

Pastor Sharon

THE BLACK FRIDAY OF ALL BLACK FRIDAYS

THE BLACK FRIDAY

OF ALL BLACK FRIDAYS

Oh, the day after a lovely Thanksgiving Day comes “Black Friday.”  I don’t know who or where we started calling this day “Black Friday.”  There were people in line very early this morning, some even “camped” out in the various parking lots hoping to get a bargain at their favorite store.

But I am thinking of another “Black Friday” so long ago.  And there were no long lines at shopping malls or waiting in parking lots.  In fact, on this day, 2000 years or so ago, there were crowds of people, but not out for a sales bargain.  This indeed was a dark day, a day of earthquakes and darkness when the sun refused to shine.

It was a day of suffering, intense suffering.  And as the earth trembled and the sky grew dark, there upon the hill were three crosses.  And on the middle cross was the Savior, Jesus Christ.  And there He was suffering for my sin, for your sin.  And of all Fridays to come down through the years, this was the blackest Friday in history. 

And there were crowds at the foot of the cross, crowds of men and women calling out curses at the One who was taking their sin on Himself.  And also at the foot of that cross were those who loved Him, and now felt helpless as they watched Him suffer and die there.  They thought He had come to overthrow the Romans and would set on the throne of David and bring peace to the world, and they just could not understand why He would die and suffer such a cruel death.  And they felt they had lost all their hope in Jesus, the Messiah.

But it was “At the Cross” on that first “Black Friday” that we can kneel today as the price has been paid in full by the shedding of His precious blood. 

AT THE CROSS

“Alas, and did my Saviour bleed and did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away.  It was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day!

Was it for crimes that I have done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut His glories in, when Christ the mighty Maker died for man the creature’s sin.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay the debt of love I owe; here, Lord, I give myself away, ‘tis all that I can do.” (Isaac Watts)

People are running everywhere looking for that special price on a bargain they are looking for.  But I want you to know that another price has already been paid.  And it was paid, not for physical “things” that would soon decay and fade away.  But a price was paid for your eternal soul and for mine. And that price was by the shedding of His precious blood to wash away our sin.  He was God's perfect lamb that day!

“knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” II Peter 2:19.

We owed a debt of sin and it was paid in full on the cross on that “Black Friday.”  How can we comprehend the debt of love that our Saviour took to that cross?  As the song says so plainly, we give ourselves totally to Him as Lord of our lives and look forward to spending eternity with Him.

Yes, that day was dark, but three days later, the “Son” shone again!  The earth again shook, but on this day, our Saviour came out of the tomb shining brightly.  He conquered death and is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven for you, my friend.  He has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts by faith.  His precious Holy Spirit brings comfort and peace into our hearts as we walk with Jesus.  We may have dark days, but I am so glad that the “Son” still shines in our lives!

So on this “Black Friday” we remember the “Black Friday” so many years ago on Calvary, and we meet Him at the cross where our sins are forgiven, and we can praise Him for His great salvation.  Just stop in all your running around today and give Him praise with a grateful heart for all He has done and we can look forward to seeing Him face to face at last!

MEET THE STRANGER OF GALILEE

MEET THE STRANGER OF GALILEE

As our daughter is on tour with her church group in Israel, along with our granddaughter, we have been sharing many memories of our trip to Israel when she was a child.  I will never forget the peace of walking where He walked and sharing communion in the garden where He was buried and then in three days walked out of that tomb.  And then visiting the place on Mount of Olives where He ascended back into heaven, and oh how we long for His return, when He steps out of heaven onto the Mount of Olives once again!

My husband asked me “what was the highlight of our trip to Israel for you?”  I shared that I actually had two highlights and that one of them was communion at the Garden Tomb and the other was what I am going to share with you now.

One beautiful morning our tour group met on the shore of Galilee.  Our tour was with our fellow church members from our church and it was a large tour so we usually met together in smaller groups with a Pastor for each group.  On this particular day we all gathered together there at the Sea of Galilee.  We would listen to a Pastor teach from a boat pushed out from the shore just as Jesus taught.  (Matthew 13:1-2).  And later we would take the trip across the lake in a boat.

As we were standing there listening to the Word taught and pondering on the scene before us and remembering what it was like when Jesus was there, there was a sudden quiet and suddenly a tenor voice from the crowd began to sing and the words of this song echoed out over the lake.  I still am moved from that memory and the tears still come.

THE STRANGER OF GALILEE

“In fancy I stood by the shore one day, of the beautiful murm’ring sea.  I saw the great crowds as they thronged the way of the Stranger of Galilee; I saw how the man who was blind from birth, in a moment was made to see; the lame was made whole by the matchless skill of the Stranger of Galilee.

Refrain:  And I felt I could love Him forever, so gracious and tender was He! I claimed Him that day as my Savior, this Stranger of Galilee.

His look of compassion, His words of love, they shall never forgotten be; when sin sick and helpless He saw me there, this Stranger of Galilee; He showed me His hand and His riven side, and He whispered, “It was for thee!” My burden fell off at the pierced feet of the Stranger from Galilee.

I heard Him speak peace to the angry waves, of that turbulent, raging sea; and lo! At His word are the waters stilled, this Stranger of Galilee; a peaceful, a quiet, and holy calm, now and ever abides with me; He holdeth my life in His mighty hands, this Stranger of Galilee.

Come ye who are driven, and tempest tossed, and His gracious salvation see; He’ll quiet life’s storms with His “Peace, be still!” This Stranger of Galilee.  He bids me to go and the story tell-what He ever to you will be, if only you let with you abide, this Stranger of Galilee.”

4^th verse Chorus: Oh, my friend, won’t you love Him forever? So gracious and tender is He!  Accept Him today as your Savior, this Stranger of Galilee.  (Leila N. Morris-1893)

And today, this Stranger of Galilee is no longer a “Stranger.”  He comes into our lives full of compassion and love.  And because of His sacrifice at the cross, we behold His nail pierced hands and feet and the wound in His side by faith. And He whispers to all who come to Him that He did it for us, for the whole world. 

We remember in His Word how in His great compassion healed the sick, the blind and the lame, and this same Jesus is still healing and working miracles today.  And we can come to Him anytime and our burdens will fall off as He brings peace to our hearts.

“And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves.  But He was asleep.  Then His disciples to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea.  And there was a great calm” Matthew 8:23-27.

As the disciples feared for their lives, the Lord was asleep in perfect peace.  He held their lives in His Mighty hands.  After all, He controlled the sea and all the waves roaring, He was the Creator, the wind and the waves obeyed His voice as He spoke “Peace, be still.”

And you, my friend, are waves of trouble rocking your ship?  He comes speaking to the trials of life, calming the storms, bringing a great calm.  Do you know this “Stranger of Galilee?”  He is calling out to you to just “Come.”  And when you “Come” and kneel at His feet, He will always be there, walking the path of life with you, and He will no longer be a “Stranger” to you.  He will become your best friend, your Savior, your King and your Lord and never leave your side.  Won’t you ask Him today?  See His outstretched arms waiting for you, just come! Come meet the Stranger of Galilee.”

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

THERE'S NOT A FRIEND LIKE JESUS!

THERE’S NOT A FRIEND

LIKE JESUS!

It is a dark and gray day here.  I haven’t seen the sun all day.  I know the sun is shining somewhere, and I know it is shining behind those dark clouds. We all have days in our lives where everything is dark and gray, no sun seems to be shining in our lives.  I know many people feel like the world has forgotten them, and they live in a dark place.  I meet people in the nursing home ministry who are so alone.  Family seems to have forgotten them.  And I know people who have people all around them and they still feel alone.  They feel the emptiness in their lives and problems seem to surround them.

But I know a Friend who will never forsake me, will never leave me lonely, and is always there for me, always on call when I need Him.  And I can share everything with Him, all my hearts desires and He will always keep a confidence.  My Friend showers me with love and blessings and promises to be my Friend throughout eternity.  Would you like to know a friend like that?  Are you lonely today?  Are you facing great trials in your life right now?  Let me introduce you to my best Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ!

NO NOT ONE!

“There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no, not one! No, not one! None else could heal all our soul’s diseases, no, not one! No, not one!

Jesus knows all about our struggles, He will guide till the day is done; there’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no, not one! No not one!

No friend like Him is so high and holy, no not one! No, not one! And yet no friend is so meek and lowly, no, not one! No not one!

There’s not an hour that He is not near us, no not one! No, not one! No night so dark but His love can cheer us, no, not one! No, not one!

Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?  No, not one! No, not one! Or sinner find that He would not take him?  No, not one! No, not one!

Was e’er a gift like the Saviour given! No, not one! No, not one! Will He refuse us a home in heaven? No, not one! No, not one!  (Johnson Oatman, Jr.)

No, there is no one like Jesus.  We will be celebrating Christmas soon, and the baby Jesus will be in our minds as we see Him there in the manger, shepherds and wise men worshiping this gentle baby.  But that baby, the Lord of Glory came down, God in flesh, to walk among us, to feel our pain, and then be crucified on that cruel cross for you, for me.  He came to take our sins on the cross, to shed His blood for our sin and to heal all our soul’s diseases, those sins that plague our lives, He brings forgiveness.  Oh, what a Friend is Jesus!

But Jesus came out of the tomb triumphant on the third day, conquering death and bringing eternal life to all who will believe in Him.  Oh, I pray that during this coming Christmas season that you will come to know Him as your best friend.  He comes into our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit, and has promised to never “leave us or forsake us.” (Hebrews 13:5).

Earthly friends can sometime forsake us, but this Friend is always there.  “But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” Proverbs 18:24b.  Even earthly family may forsake us, but never our Wonderful Jesus!

How can our minds comprehend how high and holy is our God! 

“Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.  He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, who makes the clouds His chariot, who walks on the wings of the wind, who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire” Psalm 104 1-4.

And yet, He is lowly and bears all our griefs and sorrows.  He has been there ahead of us, He feels our pain, and He is there is our darkest of nights.  He is there with His great compassion and love when we feel like we cannot go on, the way is so dark.  He lights the path ahead of us, bringing His peace in the midst of the storm.  There is no Friend like Jesus.

And if you do not know this Wonderful Friend, you can call on Him right now.  He never turns away those who call on Him, asking Him to forgive their sins.  And when we are finished walking the path He has chosen for us, this Wonderful Friend will guide us to our eternal home in heaven. 

Oh, what a day that will be!  It will be a day of great joy to finally meet this Friend face to face, and to live with Him forever.  We will meet the Friend who died for us, forgave our sins, this Wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I can hardly wait, can you? There is no Friend like Jesus, no not one!

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

PRAISE THE LORD! HE ABIDES!

PRAISE THE LORD! HE ABIDES!

The world outside my window is arrayed in glorious fall colors.  The weather is now chilly and frost in the air.  And people are celebrating Halloween.  To me, Halloween is a dark day, colors of black and orange and there is talk of spooky and haunting things.  The world seems to be so “dark” on this day.  When I was a child Halloween was so different.  It was a fun day and we were not aware of the “darkness” of Halloween.

But I want to turn my attention to my Wonderful Lord Jesus today.  I desire to praise Him, who made heaven and earth.  I want to bow down to my Savior, the One who died on Calvary for me, the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is Him I want to honor today.  He is the One who brings light to our darkness.  He is the One who brings peace and joy to our lives.  He is the one who constantly abides with me, and who will never leave me.  He is the One who is to be exalted on this day and every day!  So if you are out and about with your children tonight, just remember Jesus and that He is King of kings and Lord of lords, and His kingdom is forever, O Praise the Lord!

CONSTANTLY ABIDING

“There’s a peace in my heart that the world never gave, a peace it can not take away; tho’ the trials of life may surround like a cloud, I’ve a peace that has come there to stay!

Constantly abiding, Jesus is mine; constantly abiding, rapture divine; He never leaves me lonely, whispers O so kind: “I will never leave thee,” Jesus is mine.

All the world seemed to sing of a Savior and King, when peace sweetly came to my heart; troubles all fled away and my night turned to day, blessed Jesus, how glorious Thou art!

This treasure I have in a temple of clay, while here on His footstool I roam; but He’s coming to take me some glorious day, over there to my heavenly home!  (Anne S. Murphy).

In the midst of our days, sometimes we have trials that do surround like a cloud.  Even today I heard of several people who have great trials, and it seems that their lives are so complicated.  But it is Jesus who brings peace to even the darkest of trials.  My heart just breaks when I hear of the burdens that other people are carrying.  My trials seem so small sometimes.  Only Jesus is the answer to this world’s struggles.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” John 16:33.

As Jesus spoke to His disciples on this night, the night that he would be arrested, tried and crucified, He proclaims peace.  He tells His disciples to be cheerful, as He overcomes the world.  And He could only do that by going to the cross, the place of suffering and death.  But He would be victorious and rise from that tomb on the third day!  And when Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace, brings us peace, it is there to stay, no matter what trial may come into our lives.  Oh, I know that is hard sometimes, we take our eyes off of Jesus, but when we turn back to Him, He reminds us of His peace and we can walk in that peace.

I remember so well the night I asked Jesus into my heart as a child.  My night did turn to day, and everything looked different and brighter.  I was raised in a Christian home and my whole world was church, but I still was a sinner needing Jesus. And my trials were easier to bear all because of Jesus in my life.  I learned to pray and read my Bible.  I witnessed to my friends at school.  And in those days, I could carry my little New Testament to school.

And someday Jesus is coming back to take me home.  And I believe He is coming very soon. And He is waiting for men and women, boys and girls to come to Him.  His nail pierced hands are reaching out for men and women, boys and girls to come to Him and receive salvation and eternal life.  And then comes that wonderful peace that only He can bring.  We don’t know what tomorrow may hold, “now is the day of salvation, (II Corinthians 6:2).  There are only two choices, heaven or hell.  Which will you choose?

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words” I Thessalonians 4:16-18.

So I bring comfort to you who love Jesus, the promise of His coming.  And I look forward to that day when He comes to take us home, what a day of rejoicing that will be.  And if you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, I pray that you will make that decision, and be there with the believers as they meet their Lord in the air.  I pray that if you should meet the Lord in death, you will be ready to be welcomed home by our Blessed Lord.  And Praise the Lord that He constantly abides and that His love is everlasting.

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

NO MORE TEARS!

NO MORE TEARS!

This is a most wonderful time of the year.  The autumn leaves are turning gold, red, and yellow on the trees as I look out my window.  The air is crisp now, but when the sun comes out it becomes a warm fall day.  I marvel at God’s creation and how He could create such marvelous colors all around as the seasons change.  We can enjoy the colors for a while and then winter will be here and all those lovely trees will be barren and then we will begin to look for spring time and new life again.

As I have entered the “autumn” years of my life, I remember the youthful days when I thought life would go on forever, and it never entered my mind that someday my senior years would come.  And I wonder where the years have gone!  It seems like only yesterday that our children were little and we were so young,  and even further back when I remember being a little girl and running and playing with the other children around.

My daughter and I were talking this past week about heaven.  It seems that when we were young we never thought much about it.  After all, we were young and heaven for us was many years down the road.  Now, in my senior years, heaven seems to be a part of my thinking.  As so many dear ones in my family, including our dear mother just a short time ago, have gone on to their eternal reward, heaven is very real.  As a Pastor, I have sat by bedsides of the dying and performed their memorial services, and again, sensing heaven.

Just this past week I visited with a precious lady in the nursing home and we shared the Word and heaven and I reminded her of her mansion which Jesus has gone to prepare for her.  I remember another dear lady who was nearing 103 and she would ask about heaven and how close it was for her.  We shared the Word together and since she had no legs due to amputation, she had the promise that someday she would walk on golden streets with brand new legs!  She had had a beautiful dream in which she saw a lovely golden fountain, and she wondered what that meant for her.  I took her to the 22^nd book of Revelation, which describes the beautiful  river flowing down from the throne of God. Oh, such precious hope we have from our Lord.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” Revelation 21:4.

NO TEARS IN HEAVEN

No tears in heaven, no sorrows given,

All will be glory in that land;

There’ll be no sadness, all will be gladness,

When we shall join that happy band.

No tears in heaven, no tears up there,

Sorrow and pain will all have flown;

No tears no tears, no tears up there,

No tears in heaven will be known.

Glory is waiting, waiting up yonder,

Where we shall spend an endless day;

There with our Saviour, we’ll be forever,

Where no more sorrow can dismay.

Some morning yonder, we’ll cease to ponder

O’er things this life has bro’t to view;

All will be clearer, loved ones be dearer,

In Heav’n where all will be made new.

Robert S. Arnold

Yes, we can look forward to that land of endless joy as we keep our eyes on Jesus as we walk this journey home.  As we continue to walk, we will have storms and rocks in our path, but we continue to look upward and remember that we are just pilgrims passing through. 

My husband and I just celebrated 52 years of marriage.  When we were married we never considered the years ahead and never wondered what it would be like for us 50 years in the future.  We lived our lives as if we would live forever, it seems.  In looking at family pictures now, I realize that in some of those pictures my grandparents were younger than I am now and I thought they were so old! 

And on that wonderful day when we see our Savior face to face,  all the trials of life will seem so dim, when we stand in the light of His presence at last.  We will fall at His feet in grateful praise to finally have arrived in our heavenly home.  And there we will be forever and ever in His presence.

This past weekend we traveled to family which we had not seen for a year, and it is so hard to part and wonder when we shall meet again or what the year will hold for each one of us.  But we love the Lord, and know that someday there won’t be any more “goodbyes.”  We will be all together forever.  Can you imagine with me what that will be like?  We will be with mom again and dad and grandparents and on and on with loved ones and friends forever.

I do pray that you know Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior and you are looking upward towards that grand day when you reach your heavenly home.  If you have not accepted Him or have strayed away, please call on Him today.  He is waiting for you and you too will live eternally in our wonderful home and there will be no more tears!  Praise the Lord!

In Jesus’ Wonderful Name,

Pastor Sharon

JESUS IS ALL WE NEED

JESUS IS ALL WE NEED

On this lovely fall day, I am reminded of all the blessings that I have, and how the Lord has provided all my needs.  I think of the world outside my window, the cars passing by.  I wonder about the people in those cars.  How many of the people in those cars know the Lord Jesus as their Savior, and are walking with Him daily?  All the pleasures and things of this world will not satisfy empty hearts. 

In my own life I ponder how much Jesus means to me.  Am I willing to give up everything for Jesus?  Can you and I honestly say, “Jesus is all we need?”  Can I honestly come to that place in my life where I am totally sold out to Jesus?  Are you able to come to a place in your walk with the Lord that Jesus absolutely means everything to you?  Are we willing to count the cost of totally letting Him be the Lord of our lives?

In the following testimony we learn of a man, Will Thompson, who loved His Lord so much that He gave up a prosperous, successful songwriting career, to preach the gospel to the lost.  This is the place that I long to be.  To be able to know in my heart that Jesus Is All the World to Me.”

“Newspapers called Will Thompson the “millionaire songwriter.”  In his home state he was called the “Bard of Ohio.”  He had gone to New York and had made it big; his secular songs were selling like hotcakes.

But Will really didn’t care about his secular success.  He cared about Jesus Christ, so he began writing gospel songs.  He realized that a major evangelist such as Dwight L. Moody would never get to smaller towns, so he loaded an upright piano onto a two-horse wagon and took the gospel into the Ohio countryside.

He was in his fifties when he wrote “Jesus Is All the World to Me,” his lifetime testimony.  He would rather introduce Jesus Christ to a small hamlet in Ohio than to be known as a major songwriter in New York City.” (“HYMNS” by Petersen)

JESUS IS ALL THE WORLD TO ME

“Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, without Him I would fall; when I am sad, to Him I go, no other one can cheer me so; when I am sad He makes me glad, He’s my friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, my friend in trials sore; I go to Him for blessings, and He gives them o’er and o’er; He sends the sunshine and the rain, He sends the harvest’s golden grain’ sunshine and rain, harvest of grain, He’s my friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, and true to Him I’ll be; oh, how could I this friend deny, when He’s go true to me?  Following Him I know I’m right, He watches o’er me day and night; following Him by day and night, He’s my friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, I want no better friend, I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him with life’s fleeting days shall end; beautiful life with such a friend, beautiful life that has no end; eternal life, eternal joy, He’s my friend.” (Will L. Thompson, 1847-1909)

When I think of my walk with the Lord and look back over the years, I see how much He has been my very life.  I accepted Jesus as a child, raised in a Christian home and married into a Christian family.  So Jesus was been my joy almost all my life.  In trials, such as walking through cancer twice, how much He has been my very strength for each day.  And as I grow older, I depend on Him more and more.   And I have many dear brothers and sisters in the Lord and loving family, but no one can cheer me when I am sad but Jesus.

How about you, my friends?  Are you walking through a great trial right now?  Are you grieving the loss of a dear loved one?  Is your body failing because of sickness, and the road seems so long ahead.  Jesus wants to be your very dearest friend, with His strength and His joy and peace.  Sometimes, it seems, that we become so weary as we travel along. 

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” Isaiah 40:28-31.

Here is a wonderful promise:  Our Precious Lord never faints or gets weary.  If you are weak today, He will give you the power to move on, and He will increase or renew your strength.  And He calls us to wait for Him, and we can soar over our problems like an eagle soars in the sky.  Oh, what a beautiful picture of our walk with the Lord!

And oh, how He has blessed us!  In this time of the year we remember the harvest, and the abundance of sunshine and rain that He sends upon us.  I think of our own garden and the abundance that He provides.  And even in our grocery stores we see the abundance that He provides for us.  It is a time of Thanksgiving for all that He provides.

What a beautiful life with Jesus.  And someday this “fleeting” life shall end, and we can trust Him to guide us into our eternal dwelling with Him.  We shall enter “the joy of our Lord.”  There will be no more tears or sorrow, joy everlasting with the Friend who has walked with us down through the years through all kinds of trials, but has never left our side.  He is our Friend who has saved us, kept us and answered many prayers down through the years.

 And what a joy it will be to finally see this “Friend” face to face at last!  Yes, Jesus is truly all the world to me, and I pray that He is the same in your life.  In joy or sorrow, He is my Friend and I pray that He is yours also.  He is waiting just for you if you do not know this Wonderful Friend as your own personal Savior.  Ask Him into your heart today, and know that you are His for eternity.

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

 

FOR HE IS SO PRECIOUS!

FOR HE IS SO PRECIOUS!

Today, in our area, is another day of rain and wind, and dark clouds in the sky.  That is how this past week has been in my life as I walk this path with my Lord.  There have been times of tears, of fear, and times of weariness.  I know many of you have times such as these.  There are nights of darkness as we walk in the valley of despair. 

I know of so many right now that are walking a dark valley of sickness and pain.  And it is like there is “no light at the end of the tunnel.” And sometimes we feel so very alone and discouraged.  But we are not alone, even though it seems that Jesus is so far away.  But in this walk of faith, I have come to know that He has never left me.  I don’t understand entirely why we have to go through a lot of things, but God knows. 

But today I realize afresh how very precious is Jesus! He comes to us in the midst of our doubts and fears with His precious love and abiding presence.  It is time to look on the other side of my struggle and know afresh this Wonderful Savior, who died for me and His promise of eternal life with Him.  I look out my window and see those clouds and realize that my God created those clouds, My God brings the rain and My God controls the wind.  And in my life, He is control of those winds, that rain, and those storms that pound on me along this path to heaven. 

And it is in these times, as I go into His Word, especially the Psalms and feel His comforting arms around me.  He is my strength and my song!  And as I ponder on His marvelous grace, He becomes so precious and I wonder how I could have every doubted Him.  I know it is hard in the midst of night seasons when the tears flow.  But He is in indeed so precious! 

So my friends, if you are in the midst of a dark valley of pain and trial right now, be reminded that this precious Savior loves you so much.  And there will be a time when you will again be on the mountain top of blessings and you will look back on that valley that you walked through and see His footprints all the way as He carried you through that valley onto the mountain top again, for He is so precious!

 HE IS SO PRECIOUS TO ME

“So precious is Jesus, My Saviour, my King, His praise all the day long with rapture I sing; to Him in my weakness for strength I can cling, for He is so precious to me.

CHORUS:  For He is so precious to me, for He is so precious to me; ‘tis heaven below my Redeemer to know, for He is so precious to me.

He stood at my heart’s door ‘mid sunshine and rain, and patiently waited an entrance to gain; what shame that so long He entreated in vain, for He is so precious to me.

I stand on the mountain of blessing at last, no clouds in the heavens a shadow to cast; His smile is upon me, the valley is past, for He is so precious to me.

I praise Him because He appointed a place, where someday, thro’ faith in His wonderful grace, I know I shall see Him, shall look on His face, for He is so precious to me.” (Charles H. Gabriel)

And He calls us to praise Him because He is indeed our strength.  We are weak but our Precious Jesus is strong.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling” Psalm 46:1-3.

And there He is, our Precious Lord, calling us not to fear even though we feel like our “whole world” is crashing down around us.  And we can hide in Him, our “refuge and our strength.”

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him and He with me” Revelation 3:20.

And sometimes in the storm, our hearts are so fearful and our eyes dimmed by tears, that we don’t hear Him calling us to let Him come in and calm our hearts and bring us peace.  He is patient and He waits for us to cry out to Him.  We have to open the door to Him.  And then He comes bringing us His Wonderful peace and calls us to take Him as our “Bread of Life.”

He also is calling if you do not know this Precious Jesus as your Savior and Lord.  He stands at your heart’s door waiting for you, my friend.  And He invites you to open your heart and let Him come in and be your Lord and your King.

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in purifies himself, just as He is pure” I John 3:2-3.

Yes, He has appointed us a place, because we are His children, who have made Him their Lord and Savior.  He promises us that He is building us a mansion in John 14:1-3.  What a precious promise and hope we have in Him!  And we try to imagine what it will be like to see Him face to face.  We just know according to His Word in I Corinthians 15:50-53, that when Jesus comes, we will be changed from this old body of flesh into a body like His glorious body.  We shall see Him face to face just as He is.

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” I Corinthians 13:12.

For right now, until Jesus comes, glimpses of eternity and His Wonderful face are veiled, but someday, oh, Praise the Lord, we shall finally see Him face to face!

Let His Word dwell in you and bring encouragement to your heart today.  And when we have these precious promises, we are filled with hope.  We have that “Blessed hope” ((Titus 2:13), and we can look forward to eternity with our Precious Lord!  And as we think on these things, He becomes more precious everyday as we walk along this pathway with Him.

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

SINGING THE WONDERFUL STORY

SINGING THE WONDERFUL STORY

It is wonderful to know that in the midst of trials and the struggles we all go through, God gives a song.  It seems like music just comes out of the depths of my heart at times.  I grew up with hymns, and they are always with me.  They encourage me in times of discouragement and in times of joy. 

Hymns tell the story of the love of Jesus, His Mighty Power and His salvation at the cross. We sing hymns of His birth at Christmas and hymns of His mighty resurrection at Easter.  Songs of Heaven make us want to shout for joy and long for His soon return and our eternal home. Some magnify our Mighty King and call us to worship.   I could go on and on, as hymns have blessed the church for hundreds of years.  And hymns become personal to each one in given situations.

 A hymn may bring back a memory of an event that happened long ago, or it may bring comfort in time of sorrow.  I remember in times of pain or distress when the Lord has brought a hymn to my mind.  Sometimes I have not heard that song for many years nor have heard it sung in recent years. Here is one we sang in our church when I was a child, and I found it in an old hymnbook.  Many of you will remember the tune to this precious hymn that I have included here.  And truly our Salvation causes us to sing of Jesus, our Wonderful Lord and His great love for us!

I WILL SING THE WONDROUS STORY

“I will sing the wondrous story of the Christ who died for me – how He left His home in glory for the cross of Calvary.

Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story of the Christ who died for me, sing it with the saints in glory, gathered by the crystal sea.

I was lost but Jesus found me – found the sheep that went astray, threw His loving arms around me, drew me back into His way.

Days of darkness still come o’er me, sorrow’s paths I often tread; but the Savior still is with me – by His hand I’m safely led.

He will keep me till the river rolls its waters at my feet’ then He’ll bear me safely over where the loved ones I shall meet.”

Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story of the Christ who died for me, sing it with the saints in glory, gathered by the crystal sea. (Francis Harold Rowley (1854-1943)

Yes, how wonderful it is to sing about our Jesus, who came to this earth, God in the flesh, as a little baby, with one goal in mind, to die on that cross for you and for me, to bring us forgiveness of sins by His shed blood.  And we sing of His glorious resurrection from the tomb and the wonderful promise of eternal life with Him!

“What man of you having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” Luke 15:4-7.

Think of that, my friends.  Are you one of His lost sheep?  I too was a lost sheep, but my Jesus found me when I was but a child and drew me into His loving arms.  And He wants to draw you back into His arms if you have wondered away from Him.  He is the Good Shepherd who goes after His precious sheep.  And think of the rejoicing in Heaven when one of His lost sheep is found!  I try to imagine what the angel chorus must be like when another sinner enters the fold!  The angels must have a “party” continuously!

We all have our dark days and we all experience sorrow.  We stumble and fall as we walk this path with Jesus.  Some days we don’t see the “Son.”  But He is there behind those dark clouds of fear and tears.  The day may be foggy and the storm howling around us, but Jesus is there and leading us by the hand through that storm.  Oh, Praise the Lord!  I have been through some stormy times lately and know of others who are going through some storms right now.  But we know that He promises to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  Here is a simple chorus we used to sing and it speaks of those clouds that come into our lives and Jesus is the only one we can look to in those times.

“Jesus is the one, yes, He’s the only one.  Let Him have His way until the day is done.  When He speaks you know the clouds will have to go, just because He loves you so.”

And He promises to keep us until that day, when we cross the last mile of the way, when all those storms come no more, we can enter Heaven’s glory with a song in our heart forever singing with the angel chorus of the love that that He has shown us along the way as we walked with Him.  Forever we will sing the wonderful story of His love. 

Think of that, my friends, being with wonderful Savior forever and ever.  And I trust you can claim Him as your Savior and look forward to an eternity of joy everlasting, singing around the throne with all the saints gathered there.  What a reunion we look forward to, loved ones, friends and those gone on ahead of us!  Let us keep a song in our heart, as we remember our Precious Lord this day and the victories that have been won.  Praise His Holy Name!

Pastor Sharon

IF YOU THIRST, JUST COME!

IF YOU THIRST, JUST COME!

As summer is winding down, and we look forward to cooler, fall weather, we still have hot weather here, and a person can get very thirsty and dry.  The garden withers in the heat of the day longing for a cool watering.  We can’t seem to get enough water in the heat, as we carry our bottles or containers of water.

And as I look at people out there in the stores, in the shops, I sense a spiritual dryness in the people around me.  Even believers have times of dryness, when the sky seems like brass, and we don’t feel those “showers of blessings” that we have had in the past.  And oh, how we long for the skies to open and pour out His presence upon us!

Are you thirsty today?  Has the things of the world not satisfied the longings in your heart.  You buy, you store up treasures for yourself and your family and you still have a deep longing for something and you can’t quite define that emptiness inside.  Jesus is calling you to just “come.”  Come just as you are, or whatever circumstance you find yourself in this day.

FOR THOSE TEARS I DIED

“You said you’d come and share all my sorrows.  You said you’d be there for all my tomorrows.  I came so close to sending you away.  But just like you promised, You came here to stay.  I just had to pray.

And Jesus said, “Come to the water, stand by my side.  I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied.  I felt every tear drop, when in darkness you cried.  And I strove to remind you it’s for those dears I died.”

Your goodness so great, I can’t understand it.  And Dear Lord, I know now that all this was planned.  I know You’re here now and always will be.  Your love loosened my chains, and in You I’m free.  But Jesus, why me?

Jesus, I give You my heart and my soul.  I know now without God, I’ll never be whole.  Savior, You opened all the right doors.  And I thank You and praise You from earth’s humble shores.  Take me, I’m Yours!  (As sung by Marsha J and Russ Stevens)

This song is such a testimony of God’s mercy and grace.  He came, He walked this earth as a man, and gave His life and promises to share all our grief and pain.  And He promises in His Word to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:8). And sometimes in the midst of all our struggles, we stumble and fall, but there He is to pick us up and put us back on our feet.

When we depend on Him, He indeed opens doors, answers prayer, and makes us whole, Oh Praise the Lord!  And He sees those tears you cry.  I ran across a beautiful promise in Psalms yesterday: “You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book” Psalm 56:8. (NLT)

All those tears you have shed in your dark times, He sees them and puts them in His bottle, and has recorded each one in His book.  He took all your sorrows on the cross, and He deeply feels your pain and your tears. How can we comprehend such love that He has for His children?

“Ho, every one that thirsteth , come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?  And your labour for that which satisfieth not?  Hearken diligently unto Me, and yet ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness” Isaiah 55:1-2.

So He is calling us to just come and drink freely of the water of life, life which satisfies.  All the worldly goods we may purchase will not satisfy.  The price has been paid on Calvary.  He is the Bread of Life, and He is the Life that satisfies that deepest longing.  And it all because of the cross and His sacrifice there!

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” John 4:14.

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” John 7:37:38.

The water that He gives is like a well and it springs forth in our lives bringing peace and joy, and satisfies that inner longing.  It springs up giving abundant life in Christ Jesus as we walk with Him.  And it springs up bring us eternal or everlasting life with Him forever.

So if you are thirsty today, come to Jesus.  He promises by the Power of the Holy Spirit to overflow your life.  And that living water will so overflow your life that others will also see the life of Jesus in you, and come into new life with Him.  You will be able to witness of the power of the Mighty God that you serve!

This world can be a dry place, but with Jesus flowing in our lives, we can walk an abundant life with Him, and it is all because of the cross.  So we can thank Him and praise Him from “earth’s humble shores, and say, “Jesus, take me I’m yours!”

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

JESUS, SOVEREIGN OF THE SEA

JESUS, SOVEREIGN OF THE SEA

We are home from our travels on the east coast.  We had wonderful visits with children and grandchildren and took note of the life that they live in busy and crowded cities.  It is fun to get away on vacation but always wonderful to walk in the front door of your own home.  We had a long day of air travel, so getting back into town was special.

I watched people, sat in vehicle in stalled traffic, and hit the shops and tourists areas.  I always wonder about the crowds around me.  How many know Jesus as their personal Savior?  How many spent time in prayer that day and read their Bible?  I saw sad faces, happy faces, and people in a hurry to get places.  And I again realized that people need the Lord.  We live in troubled times, and I wonder how people can walk through great struggles without Him.  Do they know that He calms the raging storms?  Do they know He quiets the waves of sorrow?  Oh, to be able to tell the world about my Jesus!

And then there was the sea, the great Atlantic Ocean, just within walking distance of the house we were staying in.  Some days it was sunny, other days the waves were choppy, and the wind was blowing.  But the waves rolled in upon the shore.  And there were the people under their umbrellas in their chairs enjoying the sea breezes.  One day, just out past the waves the dolphins were running and we could just view their tails as they swam.

But as I recall our ocean visit, I compare it to our walk, as we journey through life and especially as we journey with Jesus, as we travel onward towards “Home.”  Life gets rough.  Sometimes the waves will threaten to drown us in our pain.  But read the words of this old hymn and realize that Jesus is the “Mighty Sovereign of the Sea.”

JESUS, SAVIOUR, PILOT ME

Jesus, Saviour, pilot me over life’s tempestuous sea; unknown waves before me roll, hiding rock and treach’rous shoal; chart and compass come from Thee:  Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; boist’rous waves obey Thy will when Thou say’st to them, “be still”; Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea, Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.

When at last I near the shore, and the fearful breakers roar ‘twist me and peaceful rest, then, while leaning on Thy breast, may I hear Thee say to me, “Fear not, I will pilot thee.”  (Edward Hopper /John E. Gould)

There are many of you in great trials right now.  The waves roll, and there are treacherous days before you.  But direction comes from Jesus, as He pilots our ship.  When the waves roll in, and I feel like I am drowning, I want Him at the helm of my ship.  I know some who are experiencing “troubled seas” right now.  We have a very dear loved one who continues to battle brain struggles after brain cancer and surgery.  Oh, she loves Jesus, but she knows who pilots her ship!  Oh, Praise the Lord!

I know of another person with cancer, who the doctors say that she will be gone by Christmas.  I don’t know the spiritual condition of this lady, and only God knows her heart.  All I can do is pray that Jesus is her pilot on the troubled sea she is traveling right now.

I am reminded of when Jesus walked on this earth, and His disciples experienced the boisterous waves and the “Mighty Sovereign of the Sea.”

“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves.  But He was asleep.  Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”  Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  So the men marveled saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Matthew 8:23.

We see the disciples frantic with fear as their boat was covered with waves, and Great Creator Himself, the One who created the sea and those waves is asleep.  He was in total control of the situation, but He questioned their faith.  But all He had to do was rebuke the winds and the sea and everything was calm, and the disciples were amazed and filled with awe.

This is our Wonderful Lord who calms the wind blowing out on the sea of life, and the great waves become calm.  We don’t understand the “whys?” of situations that blow across our path, but Jesus is there to bring peace and calmness in the midst of the storms.

I was reminded of our Mighty Sovereign of the Sea as we were walking on the boardwalk along the ocean.  There we came to a huge grey statue called “Neptune, god of the sea.”  There is only one God of the sea, as I shared with my husband.  Our God not only calms the wind and the waves, but our God walked on the water in Matthew 14:24-33.  Our God is alive and well, not a mythical god and not a god carved into a stone statue!

And someday, as we near the shore, He will be there to meet us, and take us into eternal glory with Him.  I am so glad the “Mighty Sovereign of the Sea” is the pilot of my ship, and I can depend on Him when my ship is rocking and the wind is boisterous.  And we, as His children, don’t have to fear when death comes, because He will be there to bring peace forever.  Oh, Praise His Holy Name!

I do pray that He will pilot your ship through life.  He died on the cross for you, and is waiting to take you into His arms and hold you through the storms that come.  Oh, let Him be your pilot today!

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon