Blog 12-29-2009

Tuesday PRaP 12-29-2009 Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called sons of God.                ( Matthew 5:9 *NIV )   Now every time I read that verse I think of a magnificent prayer that hangs on the wall over my computer.  It also reminds me of the words of our Savior Jesus Christ, for He said; Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.                    ( John 14:27 )     Therefore I pray that; The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, and make you an instrument of God’s Peace as well! I will share with you the magnificent prayer that I mentioned.  It is called the:                  Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi          Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace!          Where there is hatred -let me sow love,          Where there is injury-pardon,          Where there is doubt-faith,          Where there is despair-hope,          Where there is darkness-light,          Where there is sadness-joy.          O Divine Master, grant that I may not so          much seek to be consoled-as to console,          To be understood-as to understand,          To be loved-as to love,          For it is in giving-that we receive,          It is in pardoning-that we are pardoned,          It is in dying-that we are born to Eternal Life. All My Love & Prayers, Pastor Pete

Blog 12-22-2009

Tuesday

PRaP 12-22-2009

 

“Expectations”

 

As an adult we are expected to do certain things in life and sometimes we can allow those expectations to get the better of us.  We are expected to work, pay bills, buy this and pay for that.  We are expected to be here there or everywhere when someone else wants us to be.  We are expected to act a certain way or be in a certain mood at a certain time or not at all.  It’s enough to drive me crazy!  Well when that starts to happen all I want to do is flush this toilet we call life and get myself a fresh bowl if you will.  I clean and sanitize it and make it smell all fresh and clean and then I can do my business if you will.  THAT IS SOOOOOO GROSSSSS!!!!  LOL! No really that was just awful.   You can stop laughing now.  Oh so you can relate?  But seriously when life becomes so overwhelming that you just think you can’t take it anymore step back and ask Jesus what it is He wants from you and where He wants you to be and what time He wants you to be there and what are His expectations of you and you will find that His burden is light.  Remember laugh hard, love long, and stay focused on the prize, the prize of Salvation and living eternally with Christ.

 

Galatians 6

 

Key Verse:

Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1-3 (in Context) Galatians 6 (Whole Chapter)

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-21-2009

Monday

PRaP 12-21-2009

 

“Twas the 4^th Day Before Christmas”

 

Twas the fourth day before Christmas and all through the house every person was scurrying, “WAS THAT A MOUSE!”  The stockings not hung yet by the chimney at all, “CAN SOMEONE HELP ME GET THIS BOX DOWN THE HALL!”  We must hurry up, hurry up all.  Saint Nicholas is coming and we haven’t a clue but we all know that daddy knows just what to do.  So he gathers the boxes and ribbons and bows to begin wrapping gifts to and fro.  But with dismay he exclaimed, “WHERE ARE THE GIFTS!”, he did exclaim.  Mother all fraught with despair was concerned that she had misplaced them all once again.  As she frantically dashed here and there she had come to the conclusion that the gifts were not there.  As should stood and pondered how this could be she looked and perked up with glee, she remembered that she had not misplaced them at all but had not bought them not a single one at all.  So with a shout of glee she grabbed her purse and her keys and off to the mall off to the mall she cried as we all laughed with a tee hee.

 

The moral of this story is, my mind is a terrible thing to waste LOL, no, the moral of the story is to take time to laugh this Christmas and stop all the hustle and bustle of this season and enjoy.  It’s not about the stuff it’s about the Jesus we all love and serve.  Spend less and love more.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

 

Luke 2:49
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
Luke 2:48-50 (in Context) Luke 2 (Whole Chapter)

Blog 12-17-2009

Thursday

PRaP 12-17-2009

 

“Suffering for Being A Christian”

 

¹²Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ¹⁷For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”^[a]

 ¹⁹So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

 

I am asking publicly for prayer this day for the trial we are going through, God knows the details and has already determined the outcome but please be praying for us today.  The Truth will be revealed and honor returned to God the Father in heaven for His little one.

 

1 Peter 4

 

1 Peter 4:15
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
1 Peter 4:14-16 (in Context) 1 Peter 4 (Whole Chapter)

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-16-2009

Wednesday

PRaP 12-16-2009

 

“Tis The Season”

 

Tis the season for miracles.

Tis the season for joy.

Tis the season for smiles.

Tis the season for laughter.

Tis the season for vacation.

Tis the season for giving.

Tis the season for loving.

Tis the season for forgiving.

Tis the season for food.

Tis the season for fun.

Tis the season for remembrance.

Tis the season for tears.

Tis the season for fears.

Tis the season for cheers.

Mostly tis the season for Salvation.  Oh wait every season is the season for Salvation. 

Tis the season to celebrate the birth of Salvation.

 

Luke 15

 

Key Verse:

Luke 15:24
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:23-25 (in Context) Luke 15 (Whole Chapter)

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-15-2009

Tuesday

PRaP 12-15-2009

 

“The Child”

 

We looked at “What Child Is This” yesterday and we saw the Child being the Christ the one born on Christmas Day, the child that is celebrated each and every December 25^th for as long as I can remember.  There are no parents alive today who have never experienced Christmas Day in one form or another either positive or negative.  Christmas has become a shopping bonanza for retailers who begin celebrating Christmas as early as June and spend the entire year preparing for it and looking forward to it.  How could one child make such an impact on the world as this One Child has?  This Child is no ordinary child that is for sure.  This Child was brought to be the Salvation of the World.  Not just one social group or one DNA group but every single living breathing person who has walked the Earth for more than 2,000 years.  Some accept this gift and most don’t and it is for everyone to receive.  The thing is that you have to be alive here to accept the gift because once you take your last breath and your conscience is faded away it will be too late for acceptance.  The Child that came to this place was not brought in with pomp and circumstance He was brought here humbly and in poverty.  He stayed poor as not to bring attention to Him because of worldly riches but of the richness of the eternal life only allowed through the acceptance of this Child, God’s own Son.  This Child brings eternity to those who believe and accept His free gift that only He gives and this Child gives freely to all who seek.  This Christmas bring this Child back into your home and allow Him to serve you as only He knows how and then become the servants servant and worship Him who gives eternal life.

 

Matthew 20

 

Key verse:

Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:27-29 (in Context) Matthew 20 (Whole Chapter)

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-14-2009

Monday

PRaP 12-14-2009

 

“What Child?”

 

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

 

And that’s all I have to say about that!  Well maybe not!  Stay tuned God has a message for YOU!

 

Luke 2

Key verse:

Luke 2:34
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
Luke 2:33-35 (in Context) Luke 2 (Whole Chapter)

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-11-2009

Friday

PRaP 12-11-2009

 

“Welcome!  Welcome!”

 

When a new baby is born into a family it is a blessed event and everyone in the family comes to visit and see the new baby and bring gifts for mom and baby.  What if someone showed up that you didn’t know and not only that they brought these hugely expensive gifts and money so that this child that was born would not have to ever worry about money and would have everything he or she needs to be raised to adulthood?  Now obviously you would question them and maybe they would begin to tell you a story similar to this:

 

Matthew 2:

 ¹After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ²and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east^[b] and have come to worship him.”

 ³When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^[c] was to be born. ⁵“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
 ⁶” ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
      are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
   for out of you will come a ruler
      who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’^[d]”

 ⁷Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

 ⁹After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east^[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

 

Now I know that in today’s society that a family showing up is a rarity any more because the sin of the world has broken the true family into pieces and many children today are born outside of the family of God and into a worldly existence but they are a blessing none the less.  Let us use this to try and bring back Holy matrimony and the ways of God and marriage and family.  Jesus loves you all so let’s go look for Him on His Birthday.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-10-2009

Thursday

PRaP 12-10-2009

 

“Bright Light! Bright Light!”

 

I love to go camping and stare out at the stars and just talk to the Lord about, well, everything.  I watch the meteor showers and the shooting stars and I see the twinkling of the far off planets in the distance dancing around like the sparkles of light on the water at night.  Now imagine if you were sitting there and all of the sudden in the silence of the night a bright light appears before you.  There could be some fear in that I think.  But then a voice comes from the light telling you not to be afraid.  Now I think maybe that would bring little peace in knowing that this bright light was speaking to me.  Not only that now it has the appearance of what I think an angel would look like.  Well at that point knowing what I know I would be at peace.  But now this angel tells me about my Savior coming to the earth now I’m excited and ready to go.  Here let me share with you something that happened over 2000 years ago to some guys that were sort of camping out one night,

 

Luke 2:8-20

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 ¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest,
      and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

 ¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 ¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-09-2009

Wednesday

PRaP 12-09-2009

 

“Get Up And Take Your Family”

 

Your sitting around watching the game and you fall asleep and you hear a voice in your mind telling you to pack up the fam and travel to another country because there is someone out to hurt your kid.  You’re tired from staying up all night with the new baby and your just chillin on the couch and now this.  What do you do?  In your heart you know it was God trying to protect your child so you pack up and hit the road, right?  Joseph was in a similar situation right after Jesus was born, here let’s take a look:

 

Matthew 2:13-15

 13When they had gone (Speaking of the Magi from verse 1-12), an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”[f]

 

For me this is a no brainer!  If the Lord contacts me directly and tells me some high up power junkie wants to kill my kid we’re leaving on the next plane outta here and no we wont be back until I get another direct connect call from God telling me it is safe to return.  But knowing God like I HOPE I know Him it won’t be long because if God is contacting me directly then this kid has a job to do when he grows up and I am in no way going to jeopardize that mission from God.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve