Experiencing Worship

In the NT worship is joy and thanksgiving to Christ for providing life for us thru His death on the cross. We are instructed to worship, but not told where to worship. We are not required to worship in certain places, saying certain things, however, worshipping with people who think about what God wants and thinks is better for us and keeps us worshipping only Him and not anyone or anything else. Worship includes prayer, praise, and study of God's Word and it must be done with a spirit and attitude of truth.

When our minds and bodies are yielded to God, everyday can be a special experience. Worshipping God requires us to not be about selfish thinking and not making our reputations be about having things or getting more that are contrary to God's instructions. We are to get rid of the shouldhaves, couldhaves, and oughttos, and view God's mercy as the motivating factor that leads us to true worship. Its been said that grace is getting what we don't deserve and mercy is not getting what we do deserve. Daily thank God for His mercy and grace as you are prompted to worship Him with the beauty of your life in 2011. Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve, Friday Dec 24th

Christmas Eve Service

@ West High 1775 W. Lowell Ave

4pm and 5:30pm

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Long ago, the first Roman emperor had decreed that everyone must go to their ancestral home to be a part of a census. For Joseph and Mary that meant traveling 80 miles to Bethlehem. Mary was very ready to have her baby, God's Son, born. Now, I thought that helping to push a little pinto stuck in 12 inches of snow was hard the day that my daughter was born or walking with my daughter before her first child was born just 5 miles up and down hills off the beaten path at a state park was difficult. I can't imagine what it would have been like to travel by donkey, bouncing up and down over rutted, rough dirt terrain as Mary did. Or walking it like Joseph did. Yet God thru all of this has His Plan.

Micah, an O.T. prophet had predicted that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, meaning the "House of Bread." How appropriate that the Bread of Life should be born there! Joseph and Mary may have thought that Caesar Augustus was in charge, but, it was really God. He always has His people in place to accomplish His purposes of bringing good news.

One lesson for me and for you in this is that, huge inconveniences or even awful tragedies can have good come from them. Placing our faith in God doesn't mean to pretend about our circumstances, issues, or trials, but trust in God and His plan. Ask God to give you peace thru the chaos, thru difficult family get-togethers this holiday season, thru these tough financial times and thru all the other Godcidental interruptions. Ask that He direct your steps to making the right choices thru hard decisions so that His Plan will be accomplished, and He will be glorified.

Christmas Meeting

Dec 7th Meeting ReCap

If you missed our December meeting Brian Clark was our guest speaker. He challenged us to think about our long term goals for our children. Lots of things happen on accident, but Godliness never does. He shared with us a list and goals and he challenged us to think about our own goals.  

 1. To love Jesus (authentic faith)

2. Healthy friendships

3. Moral boundaries

4. To share her/his faith

5. Integrity

6. Others first

7. Spiritual HABITS

Due 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

And Santa whispered, "Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas...."

The Star: Was a heavenly sign of what was to come being fulfilled long, long ago as the shining hope for mankind

The Color Red: Is the color of Christmas symbolizing The Savior's sacrifice of His life for all

The Fir Tree: Has an evergreen color and is the second color of Christmas showing everlasing light and life as the needles of its tree point to heaven

The Bell: Rings out to guide lost sheep back to the fold and signifies that all are precious in His sight

The Candle: Is a mirror of starlight that reflects our thanks for the Star of Bethlehem guiding our journey

The Gift Bow: Is tied as we should all be tied together in bonds of goodwill forever

The Candy Cane: Represents the shape of the shepherd's crook that was used to bring lost lambs back into the fold

The Wreath: Is a symbol of the never ending eternal value of love as having no ending

JESUS is the Reason for the Season!

Hometown Parade this Saturday

Saturday, Dec. 4 @ 6pm Hometown Holiday Light Parade Downtown