Innocent Children of Sandy Hook Elementary

As I was looking through Facebook I came across this picture and poem. My heart is still heavy over the loss of these innocent children and adults.

'Twas 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven," declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
But Jesus, their Savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
Those children all flew into the arms of their King
And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
One small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

In Matthew 2:16-18, it speaks of Herod realizing he was outwitted by the Magi when they did not disclose where Jesus was. Herod was threatened by the presence of an Almighty King he heard so much about. He ordered the death of all the boys under 2 years old in Bethlehem and its vicinity. In verse 18 it says, “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” This did not make it in any other historical accounts in the Bible, yet it doesn’t make it any less tragic. Our world today is still filled with brokenness and pain. It doesn’t ever get any easier to deal with innocent deaths.

Let me encourage you to pray for the families and ask the Lord to help you comfort those who mourn. God did not cause this massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary just like He didn’t in Bethlehem many years ago. There are people still today who make wrong, ungodly choices that kill innocent life. But I know that my God promises to never leave us nor forsake us in these times. Pray for God to use you as a vessel of healing for those who are questioning and hurting.

It has been good to participate in the Jesse Tree this year. It has brought so much meaning and depth in our family's Christmas on recalling God’s hand throughout history. On Sunday I hear the special quartet is going to return and sing a song to help us bring in Christmas. Some of you may remember them from last year. You won’t want to miss it.

Tonight is going to be a wonderful time of bringing in the Hope of Christ in this broken world we live in. Come and join us as we bring our families and hold them just a little tighter because we can…

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Christmas Season is Here, Spread the Word

The children did a fantastic job with the Christmas Musical on Sunday. We have some real talent in our church. God has blessed us so. I thank the Lord for the adults we have who work with our children from the nursery through the teen years. Look one up this week and thank them for the love and time they give to our families in nurturing the talents and gifts of our children.

There are so many events to attend to make your Christmas like none other. Tonight there are going to be several go around to shut-ins and nursing homes to give a little encouragement to our senior adults. I want to encourage you to come and join in with our church to spread the love of Christ. We are meeting at 6:45 in the Family Life Center.

We have two more Advent Sundays left. I hear a special quartet will be coming again on Christmas Sunday. Many exciting things have been happening in our services. Don’t miss a beat. God is doing a mighty work in our church. Also, a week from tonight, there will be a Christmas concert and artists drawing a mural throughout the service. Let’s not forget our Christmas Eve Service. We will again have two choices (4:30 or 6:00pm) to make it more convenient for friends and family.

Augustine was once accosted by a heathen who showed him his idol and said, “Here is my god; where is thine?” Augustine replied, “I cannot show you my God; not because there is no God to show but because you have no eyes to see Him.”^[1]

Pray for those around you to have eyes to see the meaning of Christmas. God still helps wise men find Him when they seek with their whole heart. There are many opportunities to invite others to an event this Christmas season. Pray for them to have eyes that seek a Savior and then go out and invite. God has been preparing the soil for a long time, what are you waiting for?

Have a blessed day today as you proclaim the Name of Jesus and live out the life He has given you.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

PS. Today is 12/12/12. Spend some time praying at 12pm today for an invite opportunity. I know, invite 12 friends to church this Sunday, we’ll make room for all your friends…. I will try to be done by 12. You get the picture…

Covenant and Blessings: Love and Choose

What an exciting service on Sunday! From the Worship of God to the Word of God and everything in between. Unfortunately we ran out of the grape juice for communion and there were about 30 people who were not able to take part. I did not hear anyone complaining. That is not the kind of people we have at our church. This is the first time I can recall this happening. It is a good problem to have but one we don’t want to repeat. We had 307 in attendance on Sunday and I believe there are many more big days to come. God is pouring out His Spirit on our church and people are responding.

I was drawn to a passage in Deuteronomy 4:37-40, where Moses is repeating an observation that he previously made. That God had delivered His people from bondage In Egypt by whatever means was available. God had everything at His fingertips so it was going to happen no matter what. It goes along with my message on Sunday concerning the Lord doing whatever it takes to fulfill His promises.

“Because He loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, He brought you out of Egypt by His Presence and His great strength, to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.” Deut. 3:37-38

Moses uses two covenantial words in these two verses: the words, “Love” and “Choose.” To love is to choose, and to choose is to love. God chose to redeem because of His Love. The Exodus deliverance was based on God’s covenant with His people. It is not based on what we have done, simply on the basis of God’s Word to us. During this Advent season we are reminded of God’s great love for us to come and redeem us. What a God we serve. Now we are asked to have covenant obedience by recognizing that God is God of all and we are to live our lives according to that knowledge.

“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.”  Deuteronomy 3:39

Now we move to the last verse which summarizes what God expects. Simply put, He demands obedience to His decrees and commands. It is our privilege to follow God’s ways as He proves over and over His love for us in allowing His Son to become sin so we can fulfill the covenant stipulations. If we do, then we can expect blessing and longevity for us and our future family.

“Keep His decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.”  Deuteronomy 3:40

I am looking forward to the Children’s Musical this Sunday. It’s always good when the church family comes together and experiences Advent as our children share the message.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

From Revival to Anticipating the Birth of Christ

This week we have been in revival. Again, revival is a time where we change our schedules and come together as a church to have exponential growth occur in our church, our families, and our individual lives. Rev. Jeremiah Bolich has done a wonderful job in bringing God’s Word to the church. I want to encourage everyone to attend the last service tonight at 7 p.m. You will be glad you made the effort.

On Sunday, we will begin our series entitled, “anticipate.” It is going to be a great Advent Experience for the whole family. If you haven’t done so, come tonight and pick up your devotional guide in the foyer and be ready to begin on Saturday night. I am really looking forward to spending some time with my family focusing on this Advent season. I want to create a schedule that will bring our family’s spiritual life to a higher level. My desire as a father is to teach my children the priority we are to place God in our lives. What better way than to model it during this Advent season of preparation. Join us in this great adventure.

Today I want to bring our attention to 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12…

            ¹Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; ⁶ and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ⁸Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you His Holy Spirit.

⁹ Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. ¹⁰ And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

¹¹ Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Live out the Inspired Word’s of God today! See you tonight!

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Attributes of God #8 - Wrathful and Truthful

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

We continue on our journey as we look at the attributes of God. The ultimate goal of the Christian life is to be conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. We may not be able to emulate Jesus by being omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent, but we can allow God to pour His moral attributes into our lives in order to spill out throughout the day. Last week, the focus was on how God is wise and good. Let’s look at a few more of God’s moral attributes.

God is Wrathful

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,”    Romans 1:18

God judges sin in our lives and cannot do otherwise because He is a holy, wrathful God. This seems to have a negative connotation but He is bound by his nature to punish unrighteousness. I would not want it any other way. I choose to focus on the full wrath for my sin was poured out on His one and only Son at Calvary. His wrath is a justified anger against that which would harm me. Praise the Lord for His all encompassing grace and mercy He gives us.

God is Truthful

“… in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.”   Titus 1:2

We know that God will never tell us a lie. We can be assured of that throughout His word. Another fact we can know is that Satan is the total opposite. Satan is the father of lies and can twist the truth to make it look good but in the end leads to death. God is truthful through and through. That is so comforting to know we can totally trust God in what His word tells us.

Spend some time today thanking the Lord for His ways. Let them be real this week as He reminds us of His love and forgiveness. Walk in them day and night. Be generous with these attributes and let God lead you as you live them out.

I have been spending a lot of time with the Aukerman family as they have been caring for Ashley. There is a deep settled peace among them. There is a big difference when we have put God in the middle of our lives. Only He can come and bring a peace for He is the creator of all things. Please continue to pray for the Aukerman family and we will update you as we hear more.

Have a blessed day!

Pastor Mike

Why Did Our Presidential Election...?

In the aftermath of the election, there are many who just feel numb. I am one of those people. I will have to admit that it was hard to get up and around today. There just seems to be a cloud floating over me today. But let me remind you that God is still God. We prayed for His will to be done and now we have to trust God even more. Read these verses below and be encouraged that the everlasting God will supply all of our needs.

“Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”   -- David’s Prayer in 1 Chronicles 29:24

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”    -- Job 42:2

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”   -- Psalm 20:7

“The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”     --  Psalm 103:19

If Job’s faith can increase and he can find strength when there is nothing to hold on to after all he lost; if David can pray the prayers that he prayed after all that he went through; then I know that I can walk in faith and be more encouraged today than I was yesterday. After all, I gave the Lord this election and told Him that I would trust Him no matter what the results. Let’s keep praying and stop complaining. We can deal with things as they come and let God be Lord of all.

God has never been too late. His timing is always perfect. I just have to relearn that for the umpteenth time. Look up today and hear what God is doing all around the world.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Attributes of God #7 - Wise and Good

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

We continue on our journey as we look at the attributes of God. The ultimate goal of the Christian life is to be conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. We may not be able to emulate Jesus by being omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent, but we can allow God to pour His moral attributes into our lives in order to spill out throughout the day. Last week, the focus was on how God is just, compassionate, and patient. Let’s look at a few more of God’s moral attributes.

God is Wise – Perfect in choices

“How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.”     Psalm 104:24

I can trust the Lord with the decisions of my life, knowing that He shares His wisdom with me when I ask. The challenge is to quiet our hearts in this fast-paced world enough to ask and listen intently. There have been way too many times that I have packed my schedule so fast that I did not spend the time I needed in order to get wisdom from God.

God is Good – Pure in motive

Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?    Romans 2:4

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.    Romans 8:28

When we are little we learn our first prayer, “God is great, God is good…” I don’t think I have to finish it for you. Since He is good, I know His working in my life is always for my good. That is what the Scripture reminds me of when I sit down, read, and begin my day.

Trust God today to be these attributes in your life. Live them out and allow the Lord to show someone else His mighty name. You never know who will need it most.

It was good to bring 16 members into the church this past Sunday. Every time I bring in new members I can’t help but see Dan Sertell beaming from ear to ear. He gets so moved during this part of the service. We are a part of the body of Christ. It is a symbol of being united with other Christians “Making Christlike Disciples in the Nations.” I think sometimes we don’t realize how great it is to be a part of a church that believes in the holiness of God. Great things are happening in and around our church. God is to be praised.

The next devotional you receive from me will be the day after the election. The results will be in and we will know what individuals will lead our Country. Continue to pray for God to be glorified and don’t forget to vote. It is our God given privilege to vote in people who will Restore America.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Attributes of God #6 - Fair, Compassionate and Patient

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

The past few weeks we have been looking at God’s character. When a person comes to know Jesus Christ as their Savior they begin to become more Christlike. But that doesn’t mean that all of God’s character qualities begin to fill the believer. For example, we cannot become infinite, self-sufficient, self-existent, omnipotent or omnipresent, to name a few. However, you can take on His moral attributes. As a believer, we have been promised that we will be conformed to the likeness of His Son. Last week we touched on God being holy and righteous. Let’s look at a few more of God’s moral attributes.

God is Just – Fair

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulnesss go before you.” Psalm 89:14

In 2 Thessalonians 1:6 it also mentions that God is just. Since He is just, I know that all His rules and judgments toward everyone, including me, are fair. Although, we seem to define fair in the respect that it should be painless and easy. Rules by themselves can border legalism. But God offers a relationship with rules to live by that ends in freedom when rightly adhered to.

God is Merciful – Compassionate

“The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” Psalm 116:5

I am so glad that God does not expect us to be infallible. I make mistakes. Since God is merciful, I know that He has compassion for me even when I fail. That is comforting to know.

God is Long-suffering – Patient

“The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion…” Numbers 14:18

God’s patience is very long when it comes to our spiritual progress. But I must not take for granted His patience by deliberately testing it with willful disobedience. I always refer back to my kids when they were toddlers. They would fall many times and I would try to be there to pick them up. I did not lecture them in how to walk when they were learning. I just would patiently pick them back up and help them to master the skill that would become natural in time. Then my precious little ones learned the word “No.” It was cute at first but then they grew older. The “No” came at the wrong time and they tested my patience. Deliberate disobedience has never scored points even to this day. It’s the same with the Lord.

Let me encourage you to allow the Lord to live these attributes out through you the rest of this week. Take the time to thank the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness in the here and now.

This Sunday will conclude my messages on Restoring America. The election is less than two weeks away. Keep praying and asking the Lord to be right in the middle of each voting booth as we vote our Biblical values for the sake of Christ.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Attributes of God #5 - Holy and Righteous

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

The past few weeks we have been looking at God’s character. When a person comes to know Jesus Christ as their Savior they begin to become more Christlike. But that doesn’t mean that all of God’s character qualities begin to fill the believer. For example, we cannot become infinite, self-sufficient, self-existent, omnipotent or omnipresent, to name a few. However, you can take on His moral attributes. As a believer, we have been promised that we will be conformed to the likeness of His Son. Let’s look at a few of God’s moral attributes.

God is Holy – Pure, set apart from sin

¹⁵ But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

Since He is holy, He is set apart from sin, and He sets me apart from having to sin. He sets me apart for His purposes. So many times in life people rationalize the fact that they can’t help but sin. But why? We don’t have to. Maybe we want to. We have to come to the point of allowing God to fill us with His Spirit and making our desires fall in line with His desires. If we were to wait for an escalator to come and pick us up and easily conform us to the likeness of Christ, then we will be waiting for a long time. God has provided the means by which we allow the Holy Spirit to make us Holy and conform us into the likeness of Christ. We need to find our identity in Christ and resist the temptation to walk life on our own. The fact that God left His Word for us to read and memorize should show us that we are to hide His Word in our hearts.

God is righteous – Absolute good

Righteous are you, O Lord, and your laws are right.  Psalm 119:137

Since He is righteous, everything He does is right – even on my behalf, and He grants His righteousness to me. What a thought. His righteousness lives in me. That means I am capable of drawing from His righteousness and do the right thing. Maybe I am simple, but it is overwhelming to think that God wants to live this out through me. I don’t feel a pressure from this because what God calls me to be, He empowers me to live that out.

Walk in the goodness of God today and be reminded that He wants to be Holy and righteous through you.

You will not want to miss this Sunday. There will be a baptism and it is going to be a powerful service. Looking forward to seeing what God is going to do…

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Attributes of God #4 - Transcendent and Sovereign

In a world that seems to be trying to move away from God, you will find many people asking questions concerning the character of God. They want to know who He is, what He does, and why He does things the way He does. Questions like: “How can God be just and loving at the same time?” “How can He send people to hell just because they sin a little bit, aren’t people basically good?” Why do good things happen to bad people while bad things happen to good people?” To answer these questions, we must understand God’s attributes.

We have looked at how God is Omniscient (all knowing), Omnipotent (all powerful), Omnipresent (everywhere), eternal, immutable, incomprehensible, self-existent, self-sufficient, and infinite. It is reassuring to know that God is all of these things. Let’s continue to look at the internal attributes of God.

God is Transcendent.

Isaiah 55:9 says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” This verse is saying that God’s perspective is above and beyond mine. He can be trusted with my future simply from the fact that His ways and thoughts are so much more than ours.

God is Sovereign.

In Daniel 4:34-35, King Nebachadnezzar proclaims, “His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the people of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: ‘What have you done?'” At times in our lives we think that we are in control. But when we look at God’s Sovereignty we quickly realize that God rules over me in all things, and His will cannot be thwarted. We serve a mighty God.

Praise the Lord for His character today and be reassured that He goes before us. Follow His every lead today.

Great News!!! The sign is being installed as I write this devotional. I think that my words were becoming as a wind in the night when I would announce that the sign is going up. It is finally here. Drive by and see it completed. What a great day last Sunday was as we honored our grandparents' generation. The meal following the service was delicious and the fellowship was next to none.

Looking forward to seeing what God is going to do this Sunday.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Attributes of God #3 - Self-Existent, Self-Sufficient and Infinite

Three weeks ago I started a series of email devotionals called, “Faith Builders.” It is important to be ready in and out of season when it comes to our faith.

In a world that seems to be trying to move away from God, you will find many people asking questions concerning the character of God. They want to know who He is, what He does, and why He does things the way He does. Questions like: “How can God be just and loving at the same time?” “How can He send people to hell just because they sin a little bit, aren’t people basically good?” Why do good things happen to bad people while bad things happen to good people?” In order to answer these questions, we must understand God’s attributes.

We have looked at how God is Omniscient (all knowing), Omnipotent (all powerful), Omnipresent (everywhere), eternal, immutable, and incomprehensible. These are reassuring to know that God is all of these things. Let’s continue to look at the internal attributes of God.

God is Self-existent

John 5:26 says, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in Himself.” This points to the fact that since God is self-existent, then He can never be destroyed, die, or cease to exist. He will always be there. No one who serves an idol can make that claim. All other gods will cease to exist one day.

God is Self-sufficient

Romans 6:36 says, “For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” God does not need anything or anyone to accomplish His will for me. When I look at it that way I can’t help but think of the times that I have tirelessly worked to try to fix things. When I look at how God is Self-sufficient, it reminds me to first go to prayer and consult the one who is able to more than I can even imagine.

God is Infinite

Psalm 139:7-12 says that I cannot go anywhere the Spirit is not. Even the dark places I think I can hide are like light to Him. It says that God’s right hand will guide me and hold me fast. That is comforting and alarming. The times when we go our own way and let things happen are still in the presence of the Almighty. In my finite being, I can totally depend on the infinite to guide me. Why would I not give Him my all?

The more I look at these character qualities of God, the more I realize that I cannot miss the chance to talk to Him each and every day. My daily walk and fulfillment directly coincide with my time in prayer and Bible reading. I want to encourage you today to get caught up in these three qualities of God. Oh what a Savior…

This Sunday is Grandparents day with a meal following the service. If you are a grandparent, then invite your family to enjoy worship and a meal with you this Sunday. If you are a grandchild, then invite your grandparents to do the same. It will be a great day!

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Attributes of God #2 - Eternal, Immutable and Incomprehensible

Last week I started a series of email devotionals called, “Faith Builders.” It is important to be ready in and out of season when it comes to our faith.

In a world that seems to be trying to move away from God, you will find many people asking questions concerning the character of God. They want to know who He is, what He does, and why He does the things the way He does. Questions like: “How can God be just and loving at the same time?” “How can He send people to hell just because they sin a little bit, aren’t people basically good?” Why do good things happen to bad people while bad things happen to good people?” In order to answer these questions, we must understand God’s attributes.

Last week we looked at how God is Omniscient (all knowing), Omnipotent (all powerful), and Omnipresent (everywhere). These are reassuring to know that God is all of these things. But that is just scratching the surface. There are lots more to look at.

God is Eternal (not bound by time)

In Psalm 90:4 it says, “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” Peter reminds us in 2 Peter 3:8 that the Lord is not slow in keeping his promises. “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day.”

It is comforting to know that the Lord is not bound by time. He has the ability to reach into the past and the future and impact our world with His righteous right hand.

God is Immutable (unchanging)

Malachi 3:6 says, “I the Lord do not change…” Throughout Scripture we see where the Lord says that He does not change. He is referring to His character and His Word. So therefore, I can depend and trust on God completely. Things may change around me but God does not. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He is always constant and we can put our whole weight on Him.

God is Incomprehensible (mysterious)

There is a mystery about God. Why would I want to serve a God who can be totally figured out? To study and long to know God more is what our passion ought to be. But to get to a point where we know His every move would steal away the mystery of God.

Romans 11:33 reminds us, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!”

From time to time God reveals a part of His mystery to me as I search to know Him more and more. We are blessed that God does not hide himself and yet there is so much to fathom that our minds cannot contain it. What a God we serve!

Why not ponder these things the rest of the week, live out these attributes, and share them with someone to encourage them in the Lord?

Next week we will continue to unfold the many attributes of God.

I am looking forward to continue the series, “Restoring America” on Sunday. We will also be meeting in the Family Life Center during Sunday School at 9:30am. This would be a great day to attend. We will be sitting around tables as I share some basic truths found in God’s Word. We will look at Beliefs, Practices, and Virtues that can help us to be growing disciples in Christ.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

Attributes of God #1 - Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent

Attributes of God #1 

When people ask questions about God what are they really asking? Do people know the underlying question they pose when they are asking many questions about a Holy God, the creator of everything? In a world that seems to be trying to move away from God, you will find many people asking questions concerning the character of God. They want to know who He is, what He does, and why He does the things the way He does. Questions like: “How can God be just and loving at the same time?” “How can He send people to hell just because they sin a little bit, aren’t people basically good?” Why do good things happen to bad people while bad things happen to good people?” In order to answer these questions, we must understand God’s attributes. For the next several weeks we are going to look at the attributes of God and strengthen our faith in a loving and just God. I don’t know of a better time than now as we pray for God to help us vote our values in this critical election.

Let’s begin by looking at some of God’s inward attributes.

Omniscient – All Knowing

In Psalm 139:1-4, it says, “¹ You have searched me, Lord,and you know me. ² You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. ³ You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”

What a great reminder that God knows all things. And since God knows all things, He knows me better than I know myself, and He knows what is best for me and how to best bring about His purposes for my life. So why not allow God to live out this attribute in our life? It will not only draw us closer on a daily basis, but it will relieve us from undue stress throughout the day.

Omnipotent – All Powerful

In Jeremiah 32:27, it says, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

I have never seen, read, or heard of anything that God has not been able to conquer. Since He is an eternal God, there never will be anything bigger than my God because He was before and will be after all things. How about giving over all authority to an All Powerful God and trust Him with all your power needs?

Omnipresent – All Present

In Jeremiah 23:23-24, it says, “^{23 ‘}Am I only a God nearby,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away? ²⁴ Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord.”

There is no place we can go where God is not. Many try to hide or steal away and participate in things that are not pleasing to a Righteous God. Why waste our time? Begin each day presenting yourself as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2) and trust God completely.

It all comes down to believing and having a great faith in a great God. Memorize Hebrews 11:6 today, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Relax in the presence of an all knowing, all powerful, and all present God today. He wants you to experience joy beyond measure – all the time. Looking forward to being with you this Sunday as we continue our series, “Restoring America.”

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike