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