A+B doesn't always equal C



Hmm...I hate cats...cats walked on this ground...therefore I must hate this ground.

Snoopy's philosophy seems to make logical sense. It is kind of like an algebraic equation:

A=Cats

B=Ground

C=My feelings

A+B=C

But does it really? Or better yet, is this what God asks us to do?

When someone or something has hurt us are we supposed to automatically despise every one and everything associated with that person? If someone "does us wrong" do we cut that person off and assume that they are unworthy of our love or the grace of God?

A+B doesn't always equal C.

Just because someone has hurt you or because you do not see eye to eye with someone doesn't give you the authority to hate that person or the people that person is connected to. We can despise the actions - bullying, lying, terrorizing, mean-girl-ing, but we cannot despise the person - regardless of how that person has harmed you.

You do not have to associate with that person or even like him or her, but God requires you to show that person love and kindness. And not just the person who hurt you but everyone in that person's circle.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven... If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? ...Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

Loving your enemy is a tall order. It requires perfection - and we certainly are not perfect - but we can move toward perfection by putting God's love first regardless of the situation. We can begin to see people as individuals, separate from their actions and from their associates. We can choose to not allow the A's of the world to overshadow the B's. When we start to love those who our hearts want to hate, then we will find that our C is equalling God's love.

Scripture

Ephesians 4:1-3

Quote of the Day

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Question of the Day

Who can you show God's love to who has been unkind to you?

What's Your "Thing"?

What's your thing?

What's the thing, person, or situation which is like nails on a chalkboard to you?

Ahhh...I can almost feel you cringe.

We all have one or two things in our lives - our hot buttons - things which cause us to be quick to anger, to be easily hurt or to be an ugly version of ourselves.

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

2 Corinthians 12:7

Paul doesn't mess around. He calls out his "thorn in my flesh" as a "messenger of Satan". What Paul recognizes is that "the things" which trip us up, which torment and frustrate us are often obstacles put in our path by the evil one of this world. Satan uses "the things" as ways to derail us from our path and to pull our focus from God. But don't for one second think that God can't use our "things" to draw us closer to Him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Whatever your "thing" is, God can and will use it for His Glory.

Your "thing" will cause you to stumble - but it will also cause you to recognize that you need God to carry you.

Your "thing" will cause you to be quick to anger - but it will also cause you to recognize you need to seek God to help you forgive.

Your "thing" will cause you to be hurtful and mean - but it will also give you the opportunity to see all "things" through the eyes of a loving God.

Our "things", our proverbial thorns in the sides, will likely follow us throughout our lives. Your thing will likely change as God teaches you to press through the obstacle and truly set Satan behind you. But that Satan is a tricky one and he is constantly on the search for the next new"thing" to try and bring you down and pull you away from God.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

Be on guard - and stand firm - listen and watch for God to guide you over, out and through your "thing" so that He can give you the best "thing" ever - His Grace.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Quote of the Day

“Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.”

E. Joseph Cossman

Question of the Day

What is your greatest obstacle?

Thoughts for God

I had a good friend Kevin who was diagnosed with cancer at a fairly young age. Kevin had lived his life in a nice "good" manner, but once he was given his diagnosis he made a choice to eliminate negative thoughts from his mind. Kevin's initial diagnosis was not very hopeful, but Kevin lived eight years after cancer first struck him. And each day his life was a shining example of how to put God and His blessings first in your life. Kevin's life, though shortened, was rich with the beauty of all God has to offer when we keep our thoughts focused on Him.

It is estimated that the average person has between 50,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day.

What consumes your thoughts?

School? Work? Family? Love? The Middle East crisis? What you are going eat for dinner?

Our thoughts range from the deep and meaningful to the basic necessities, but we have a choice as to the pattern our thoughts will form.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

We can choose to focus on the pain and the suffering of the world - worrying how we, individually, will be impacted - or we can focus on a solution to the sufferings of the world - choosing to be active rather than passive.

We can focus our minds on Christ and the love he has generously showered upon each of us and in turn share that love with others. Or we can focus on the difficulties which surround us - the hate and the evil - and succumb to the will of the world.

Choosing your thoughts isn't easy. In 2 Corinthians Paul writes, "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ". By focusing our minds on the blessings Christ has given to us, by trusting in God's promises, and by being wholly obedient to God, we will find our thought lives are focused more on the positive and less on the negative.

Focusing our thoughts in a positive and up lifting manner takes practice, diligence and self control. It will not happen over night, but as you begin to transform your thoughts from the negative to the positive you will experience a true renaissance your life. You will begin to see fully the blessings in your life - even in the midst of trial.

You will begin to see God.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 10:1-8

Quote of the Day

I want to know all Gods thoughts; all the rest are just details.
Albert Einstein

Question of the Day

What is the thing you think about most during the day?

Doubt vs. Questions

Doubt is a nasty little word.

We can suffer from self-doubt; doubt about our relationships; doubt about God's will; doubt about our country...and on it will go.

Doubt can creep into the edges of your being in ways which can cripple you. You can begin to question everyone and everything around you. Doubt can make you want to curl up in a ball and hide under your covers.

But - doubt doesn't have to win.

Our ability to have faith, which transcends what we can hear, see, smell, taste and touch is a gift from God. Faith acts like water to the fire destroying power of doubt. Faith will put out the flames and help to keep the embers of doubt from resurfacing.

Sometimes, we can confuse challenging the status quo with doubt. When we challenge the status quo, or ask questions, we aren't saying that we do not believe or do not have faith, but we are simply following in the path of Jacob who "wrestled with God". All of the great theologians throughout history have challenged their thoughts and their beliefs in order to strengthen their faith - not destroy it.

The distinct difference between doubt and challenging is that at the core of a challenge is the knowledge and the faith that God is Who He says He is. We may face difficult circumstances, but if we view them as a challenge - if we seek out God in the midst of our questions - we will find wisdom. When we allow our doubts to overshadow our faith, we will find weakness.

Questions are good. Questioning why you believe what you believe is a good thing - but be cautious to keep your eyes and your heart focused on God so that He can continue to answer your questions with His wisdom. Otherwise if we allow our focus to be centered on the world we will be pummeled with doubts rather than answers.

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6

Scripture

James 1:4-6

Quote of the Day

Faith isn't believing without proof – it's trusting without reservation.

William Sloan Coffin

Question of the Day

When have you questioned what you believed in the past week?

The Truth Never Lies

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Matthew 5:37

"It is the truth - no seriously it is the truth."

"I promise - there is 100% satisfaction guaranteed"

"9 out of 10 customers agree, this is the very best..."

Why do we always feel the need to overemphasize a statement?

We like to embellish the truth - going above and beyond a simple, "yes, it is snowing outside" or "no, I didn't take out the trash."

Instead we like to say:

"YES! I've never seen so much snow before in my life. This is the worst I have ever seen road conditions. Never before has anything ever been this bad!"

or

"I just forgot to take the trash out. I was really going to do it, but this thing came up and then I had to go and save a kitten in a tree and then I lost an arm..."

As people of faith, one of our goals in life should be to allow what we say to be the truth; the simple, uncomplicated truth.

Honesty is at the core of who we are as Christians:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know^[a] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

John 15:6-7

Our pathway to God is through Jesus. He is truth and the truth never lies.

We cannot live in lies or half-truths and expect to have a relationship with God. We must be honest with ourselves, those around us and most importantly with God.

Let your yes, be yes and your no, be no...seems like a pretty simple concept, but in a world built on twisting and turning the smallest of things into a distorted vision of their former state, being a truly honest and straight forward person can be a challenge. But knowing that a relationship with God is the reward for living honestly is worth the challenge.

Scripture

Matthew 5:33-37

Quote of the Day

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.
~Mark Twain

Question of the Day

When have you had the opportunity to be honest - - but made the choice to follow a dishonest path?

GUMY this SUNDAY NIGHT!!!!!

Carrying Each Other

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

As Christians, we are called to carry each other's burdens. This doesn't necessarily mean that we are supposed to carry each others heavy luggage or help each other move (although those are very nice things to do). What Paul was telling the Galatians, and all of us two thousand years later, was that we are to be a support to each other. We are called to listen, to empathize and to help each other press on and through difficult circumstances.

We aren't necessarily trying to fix each other's lives or conversely wallowing in pity with someone; carrying each other's burdens means to be Christ to another person.

When Jesus met the woman at the well (John 4) he told her of all the wrong things she had done in her life, and yet he still showed her love, compassion and mercy. He forgave her sins - and then told her to go and sin no more. He did not accept the pit where the woman was living. Rather, he met her where she was and then showed her a way to get out of her pit.

As we are conduits of Jesus's love and grace to the world, we shoulder each other's burdens by empathizing with each other but also displaying the love of Christ by offering his grace as a solution.

We carry each other's burdens by sharing Christs love in all that we do.

The load isn't heavy, because Jesus is doing all of the heavy lifting.

Scripture

Galatians 6:1-10

Quote of the Day

Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.
Samuel Smiles

Question of the Day

When have you been the hands and feet of Christ this week?

Letting Go of the Boulder - Selah

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
   What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 118:6

Some days I feel like I am pushing a one thousand pound boulder up a steep incline without any support. I get frustrated and fearful that I am in this world alone. In these times I allow the world to dictate my thoughts, but often I hear God in my heart saying:

'Selah'

Selah is a word we often see in the psalms. It is placed in the melodic phrases so that the reader or the singer will pause, stop and listen with his or her heart to what the Lord is saying; to take pause and simply be in the moment - to allow the Lord to wash over him or her.

In our world we will face many days when we are pushing a proverbial boulder up a hill. We will get frustrated and fatigued. We will become fearful over what the future holds. We will feel alone, left out and on an island no one else wants to reach.

But in the midst of these, and many more, woes we have the encouragement that God is always with us - what should we fear?

When those days of boulders bear down upon you take a moment - Selah - and listen to the love song the Lord is singing to you:

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. I will build you up again, and you...will be rebuilt....go out to dance with the joyful

Jeremiah 31:3-4

Regardless of the situation, regardless of how huge your boulder is, the Lord is always with you and always cheering you on.

Today, take a moment and Selah.

Be patient, wait upon the Lord, delight in all that He has done for you and know that He is bigger than every boulder.

Scripture

Psalm 118 (a psalm of praise & thanksgiving)

Quote of the Day

Everything is okay in the end, if it's not ok, then it's not the end.

Anonymous

Question of the Day

How can you find time today to focus on God's grace?

GUMY is back this Sunday, January 15th

GUMY prep - 5PM

GUMY Dinner - 5:45 PM

GUMY JR - 6:15PM

If you are an adult who reads this blog, please join us for a special activity Sunday evening at 6:30PM.

Questions? email me: courtneyhilbert@aol.com

Kicking the Summer Heat...

Did you ever avoid admitting you shattered a vase or busted a window?
Did you ever hide a messy room?
Did you ever lie to try and fix a broken situation?

As much as we want to hide our mistakes, the lies and the deception can eat at us like a disease, crippling us until we can no longer walk and to quote a co-worker "kill us with pin pricks".

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Psalm 32: 3-4

The psalmist has the description of how a lie or a sin affects our whole person. "My strength was sapped as in the heat of summer." Although it is hard to imagine the middle of winter, the feeling of July heat with 100% humidity and not a cloud in the sky is quite distressing. Your body is weak and you do not have a desire to do anything, but lie around in an air conditioned room and pray for rain. When we live in a lie, when we allow its suffocating nature to consume our beings, we are drained of the life and the joy which typically fills our soul. The lie or the sin pushes out the joy and takes up residence in your house.

But just like rain on the parched gound in the summer breaks a devesating drought, confession of our sin to the Lord returns the joy to our souls and salvation to our spirits.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.”
And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 32: 5

We cannot hide our sin from God. He knows everything. Hiding our sin, our lies, our deviousness, only hurts ourselves. Releasing our sin to God, seeking His forgiveness, gives us new life and a boldness which can only be found in a relationship with our Savior.

We all sin.

But we have choice to wallow in the heat and the muck, allowing that sin to drag us down or we can turn to God and seek His grace-filled rain on our parched souls. His renewing water will refresh our spirits and allow us to rejoice in the Lord and all of His goodness.

Even in the midst of winter, I still do not want the devestating heat of summer.

How about you?

Scripture

Psalm 32

Quote of the Day

“Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden, but it is forbidden because it is hurtful”

Benjamin Franklin

Question of the Day

What have you tried to hide in your life?

GUMY is back - this SUNDAY, January 15th.

GUMY Prep - 5PM

Dinner - 5:45PM

GUMY JR - 6:15 PM

If you are an adult who reads this blog, please join us at 6:30 at the church to participate in a unique activity...

Questions? please drop me a line - courtneyhilbert@aol.com



Finding the Treasure in a Social Media World

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:19

I tend to be an over-sharer. I tell people things they don't really want to know - or need to know for that matter. In a world filled with facebook and twitter, we find that our lives are now public all of the time. A simple thought can become a viral social message. A drive in the car can become a YouTube phenomena. Accomplishing a truly private moment is nearly impossible in our modern age, but it is something we are called by God to do.

Quiet times, times where it is just you and God, are vitally important to your life and your growth as a person in Christ. In these precious moments we are able to discern God's mission and message for us. Without the distraction of the outside world and the constant barrage of updates and live feeds, we are able to hear God and to ponder what He is telling us. These moments will become treasures unlike any amount of gold, francencense or myrrh.

When the shepherds came to visit Jesus, they told she and Joseph the amazing story of the angels visiting them - proclaiming the birth of her son. I imagine she smiled and nodded at their dramatic retelling of the story, commenting little on the details. Even though she had experienced countless supernatural miracles in her short life, she likely remained quiet in the midst of the strangers coming to worship her little baby, rather she listened and mentally recorded each of the precious stories surrounding her son's birth so that one day she would be able to share the gems with others. In the midst of all of the struggles she was facing, Mary did not share all of her worries or feel the need to "talk out her plans", rather, she went heart-ward and pondered all that had happened in the past nine months in her heart. She went to her faithful Holy Father and allowed Him to show her the way.

Sometimes we need to "talk it out". We need to vent our frustrations or share exciting news, but we can learn from Mary's quiet discoveries during the time of Jesus' birth and early childhood. We can learn how to simply be with God and how to allow His plan to unfold like a treasure map leading us to the precious gifts He has for each of us in this life.

Scripture

Luke 2:16-20

Quote of the Day

Watches, cars and Christians can all look chromed and shiny. But watches don't tick, cars don't go and Christians don't make a difference without insides. For a Christian, that's the Holy Spirit.

Tim Downs

Question of the Day

When can you find quiet time today with Jesus?

Christmas Eve Service - TONIGHT- ONE NIGHT ONLY- 7:30PM - Candlelight service

Groveport UMC - 512 Main Street

Invite a friend...we would love to celebrate with you!

A Deceiving Heart Plays an Out of Key Tune

The heart is deceitful above all things
   and beyond cure.
   Who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17:9

Often you will hear people say, "Follow your heart..." or "Your heart will never lead you astray." In reality our hearts, the figurative ones, are pure emotion. They roll and dip like a roller coaster. Our hearts do not use logic or reason. They are not refined or reasonable. Our hearts, in fact, are romantic, illogical, emotional puddles of feelings.

Emotions are wonderful. They provide context and humanity to our everyday lives, but our minds should be making the decisions based on reason, logic and fact.

Think for a moment about the symbolism of the body. Your heart keeps the blood flowing, which provides oxygen and keeps your body in its basic functional rhythm. But your heart would never know when to beat and when to pump, if your brain didn't tell it. Your heart will continue to pump blood the same way with each beat, but the brain determines where the blood supply goes. The brain decides when your stomach needs more blood to digest food, so maybe your hands and feet get cold. Your brain knows how quickly or slowly the blood needs to pump through the heart based on the activity of your body. Your brain truly is in control.

So, if our brains are in control of our physical bodies, why wouldn't we want our minds to be in control of our spiritual selves?

In order to have a mind aligned with God, you need to make studying His Word a priority, and filling your mind with the good things of life, so that when your heart has a desire it can first be filtered through your God-Centered brain to be certain that you are doing His will. By exercising your mind through giving yourself over to God's will, you will find that your wants will play in tune with the melody of your heart.

Your heart isn't bad. It is filled with glorious emotions: joy, love, hope... it just needs a mind to tell it how to best express itself. When your heart submits to the will of your mind - filled with the goodness of God - you will be dancing for Jesus and be fully aligned with God - the Master Conductor.

“I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:10

Scripture

Jeremiah 17:5-12

Quote of the Day

“A deceitful peace is more hurtful than open war”

Author Unknown

 

Question of the Day

 

When have your emotions led you astray and how could your mind help you to make better decisions tomorrow?

 

Don't forget ... Stepping Back In Time....Tomorrow - Sunday, December 18th @ 7PM @ Groveport UMC - - refreshments will begin at 6:30 PM

The Christmas Tradition - Jesus' Way

Every year in December the focus of the world around us moves to increased shopping, wrapping paper, Christmas Carols on the radio, lights on the house, baking cookies and visiting family. At this time of year our focus tends to move away from our self interest and to the needs of our family and following all of the traditions, new and old, our loved ones hold dear.

In the midst of all of our traditions and celebrations, we would be wise to keep at the center the true reason for the season...Jesus.

Without Jesus, the Christmas season wouldn't be anything more than December - a cold, dreary month looming until the New Year. But with Jesus, December IS the Christmas Season. December is a time of great hope, love, joy and generosity. People tend to be a little kinder, more giving, and more spirit filled. We will see people speak out on behalf of those whose voices have been diminished by hardships and the cruelty of life and we will see people respond to those needs in ways of generosity we did not know was possible. That is Jesus.

This spirit of charity which lingers throughout the Christmas season is a glimpse of how we should be reflecting Jesus' love through out the year. We should be following His example - His Way - through out the year and not just twenty-four days in December.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life - the only way to come to the Father is through Him and we can reflect that invitation to the world by starting a new tradition and sharing the Christmas Spirit - the Jesus Spirit - 365 days a year.

Scripture

John 14: 5-13

Quote of the Day

The way you see people is the way you treat them

Zig Ziglar

Question of the Day

What is your favorite Christmas Tradition?

The Perfect Fit

On 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, frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11


What do you want for Christmas? Have you made a list for your parents and your friends? Do you want a laundry list of things or is there one special thing you want more than anything else? Have you thought about what you are going to buy for the people you love this year?

Gifts are a wonderful thing. Nearly everyone loves to receive gifts. What someone gives you can often have sentimental value or show the depth of their feelings for you. I love to think of unique gifts for my friends and family and I am often disappointed with myself when I settle for the “easy” gift, but sometimes finding a gift which is a perfect fit for a friend can be a challenge.

When the Wise Men, or three Kings or the Magi, came to visit Jesus, they brought Him three distinct gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These three gifts were well thought out and planned for the King they were coming to visit. Gold was a precious metal recognized for value across every culture and represented Jesus’ royal position. Frankincense was burned in ancient times and it was thought to carry prayers to heaven. This was a gift to represent Jesus as the High Priest. Myrrh was a spice used to anoint bodies for healing, but ultimately for burial preparation. Some believe this gift was given because Jesus was born to die for our sins – the ultimate healing. These gifts were planned and invaluable to both the giver and the receiver.

When God sent Jesus to earth, He thought about each and every one of us. He planned out His gift of salvation and love so that each of us would receive exactly what we needed.

You were in God’s mind and heart when He planned and prepared the gift of Jesus. God created the gift of salvation through Jesus which is a perfect fit for each of us.

Scripture

Matthew 2:1-12

Quote of the Day

“For it is in giving that we receive.”

St. Francis of Assisi

Question of the Day

What is the best present you ever gave to someone else?

Don't forget the JR.Choir Christmas Program - This Sunday 12/11

The Great Shepherd

““I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

John 10:14-15 NIV


Jesus is often called “The Great Shepherd”, but in our modern culture it is at times difficult to understand truly what a shepherd does.

A shepherd cares for his flock by making sure they have enough food and water. He ensures that they are kept safe from harm and he rescues them should the sheep fall into danger. A shepherd will even risk his own safety in rescuing one of his sheep.

A shepherd is looked to as the leader of the sheep as he gently guides them along the correct path through out all the days of that the sheep live.

The imagery of Jesus as our shepherd is fitting. He provides our every need. He guides us on our path through out life. He even gave His life to rescue each of us from death

So, there is little wonder why God had His Angels announce the birth of Jesus first to shepherds who were protecting their sheep that starry night over two thousand years ago. God knew that He could trust the shepherds, who so lovingly cared and protected their sheep, to spread the great news of the birth of His Son. God wanted the world to know that Jesus was coming to care, to love and to save all people – regardless of their station in life. From a pauper to a prince and from a shepherd to a scholar, Jesus was born for the salvation of everyone.

Jesus was a king born to a peasant and He would become the Shepherd for all the nations – guiding, protecting and loving His flock.

Scripture

Luke 2:8-18

Quote of the Day

“The shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep's throat, for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as his liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act as the destroyer of liberty.”
Abraham Lincoln

Question of the Day

What is your favorite image of Jesus?



Immanuel...God with us.

At Christmas time we often hear the old prophesies in the Bible which predict Jesus' birth and the promises God made regarding his birth and his life. Isaiah refers to the Messiah's coming through out his prophetic book and because of the woven tapestry of his message about the Messiah, we in the Christian church are most familiar with Isaiah's message.

When Isaiah rights about the coming of Jesus he refers to him under several different titles -  Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6)  - names to describe the triune - 3 in 1 God - as we know Him. But the name which God, Himself, gives Jesus through the prophet Isaiah is Immanuel - God with us.

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”...Therefore the Lord himself will give you^[c] a sign: The virgin^[d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and^[e] will call him Immanuel.

(Isaiah 7:10-11, 14)

God promised the people of Israel, the house of David, a sign of His presence and His enduring love - and that sign was Jesus. God told Israel that when the Messiah was born it would be God with them. And Jesus was God in human form.

When Jesus was born, He became the incarnate Son of God. He was God encased in a tiny human body. He was God with us. God fulfilled His promise to a doubting nation of Israel through the quiet and humble birth of His Son.

Immanuel, God with us, is a fitting name for Jesus, the One who understands our weakness and human frailty, because he too faced temptation, but who overcame the world so that we might always be with God.

Jesus' birth was the fulfillment of a prophecy, but more importantly it was the beginning of the reconciliation process between God and man. Jesus truly made it possible for God to be with us once again.

Scripture

Matthew 1:18-24

Quote of the Day

"What do you think of God," the teacher asked. After a pause, the young pupil replied, "He's not a think, he's a feel."

Paul Frost

Question of the Day

How do you feel God's presence with you?

The Birth Announcement

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

Luke 2:10-11

Good News...

Often, that is how we hear the story of Jesus' birth, life, death and Resurrection referred; The Good News of Jesus Christ - or the Gospel. Jesus coming into the world was indeed a time of great news and God, His Father, wanted everyone to know about his arrival.

When you were born, your parents probably sent out cute announcements to their friends and family telling everyone how much you weighed, how long you were and at what time and on what date you were welcomed into their family. They were excited and overjoyed to share the news of your birth and the hope for your future.  But even though your parents have countless dreams as to how your life will develop and what you will one day accomplish, they could not write on their birth announcements that you will one day be a doctor or an NFL linebacker or a 4th grade teacher, because they did not and will not know for sure who you will become.

When God sent His angels to announce the birth of His Son there was no doubt as to Who He would one day be. He already was the Savior of the world. God wanted to make sure every person would know Who His Son was. And just as your parents were excited to share the news of your arrival, God wanted the world to know just how proud and excited He was to announce Jesus' arrival.

He is, after all, a very proud Papa.

Scripture

Luke 2:1-21

Quote of the Day

This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ

Frank McKibbeon

Question of the Day

Fun Question....How much did you weigh when you were born?



Fear Not...And Let God Lead

I hate spiders.

When I was eleven or twelve, I was in the basement of my parents' house watching TV on the couch and I felt something on my head. I lifted my hand and pulled a couple spiders off of my head. They had dropped from the ceiling and were crawling on me! Screaming, I ran up the stairs trying to shake the spiders off of me. To this day, if a spider is above my eye level, I cannot reach up to kill it for fear of it dropping on me.

Fear is often a learned behavior. Prior to the spider dropping incident, I wasn't fond of spiders, but I wasn't afraid of them. When the spiders invaded my sense of peace, they created a sense of panic and fear, one which I still haven't been able to outgrow.

Fear is created when our sense of calm is disrupted. A fear of heights might develop the first time you swing high on a swing or a fear of fire might develop because you touched a hot stove. Fears come frome a variety of places, but they all have a root cause and they have a common cure.

For I am the LORD your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13

We are to "fear not", because the LORD is always with us. We are called to trust in the LORD. We are to trust Him that He will be there for us in all situations. He will help. He will lead us through our fear and back to our peace.

He will take you by the "right hand" and help you. About 90% of the world's population is right handed, which means that when the majority of the world sets out to fix a problem or run away in fear, they start with their right hand. By God taking the right hand, He is taking the lead. We no longer have to be afraid because God will be the shield to protect us and the guide through the troublesome waters.

What is your fear?

You are not alone - - what ever you fear God is with you and He will guide you back to your peace.

Scripture
Isaiah 41:12-14

Quote of the Day
“So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!”

Martin Luter King, Jr.

Question of the Day

What fear can you ask God to walk you through?

GUMY Christmas is THIS SUNDAY December 4th @ 4PM - - Please bring friends and a giving attitude!!! (OH! And your prettiest singing voices too!!!!)



Being Born of the Spirit

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

John 3:5-8

When I was younger, the idea of being "born again" was a foreign concept that people in "other churches" did. We didn't talk much about what it meant to commit your life to Christ or what the symbolism of being born in Christ implied. And in all honesty, the phrase kind of frightened me.

Being born again isn't a taboo topic or even something "people in other churches do", it is a part of one's faith journey which is the catalyst for conversion from the worldly into the faithful. Being born again is a decision to turn toward Jesus and give one's whole life over to Him. The decision is not one to take lightly, but it is also not one which you need to prepare your whole life to make. You were born into this world with an innate desire to reconnect with God. Being born of the spirit - being born again - allows you the gift of reconciliation with Christ.

Born again isn't a cool club or an activity which excludes people, but rather, choosing to be born of the spirit is an experience which is open to anyone who chooses to follow Jesus. There is no age limit or restriction; there are no steps or lists to complete; All that is needed is a willing and open heart to ask Jesus to come into your life and transform you.

Choosing to be born again is a decision only you can make for yourself. Your mom or dad can't decide for you; Your friends or siblings can't decide for you; Your teachers or leaders can't decide for you. Only you can decide you want to follow Jesus - to be born again and to receive His Spirit as your own.

The decision lies within you.

If you have already chosen to follow Jesus than take this opportunity to recommit your life to Him and allowing Him to transform you into His likeness each day.

If you haven't yet decided to follow Jesus, take some time, right now and pray to God to reveal your heart. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and begin to transform you from the inside out.

Being Born of the Spirit is an experience you do not want to miss and one you can not truly live with out.

Scripture

John 3:1-21

Quote of the Day

“There is only one belief that can rob death of its sting and the grave of its victory.. For without that you cannot be born again.”

George Bernard Shaw

Question of the Day

What are you most looking forward to this week?

GUMY Christmas this Sunday, December 4th - ALL GUMY's Meet at the Church @ 4PM. Drivers are needed...More details to follow

Calling all Little Miss (or Mr.) Sunshines

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me down
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day

"I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash

One of my favorite days of the year, is the first day of sunshine after a long series of snowy, cold, icy Ohio winter days. The sun will break through and bounce off of the snow covered lawns and ice draped trees. The brilliance of the light is magnified as it shines against the white and crystal world.

Unfortunately, these days of sun-filled splendor are few and far between from October through April in Ohio. We struggle through endless days of cold, grey, dark winter blues and we long for the brief moments of warmth and light when the sun breaks through the clouds and we are once again blessed with a sun shiny day.

The darkness of the world can close in on us and try to envelope each of us through lies about who we are and who God is, but if we embrace the lightness of God we will not fear the darkness.

the LORD turns my darkness into light. 

2 Samuel 22: 29

God shines light into all of the dark places of the world revealing the destruction the darkness is trying to cause. By embracing the light God offers each of us, we have built in bright, sun shiny days. Through our relationship with Jesus, our light comes from within to shine brightly even in the darkest of situations.

God's light helps us to see clearly the next step on our journey and how He wants us to reveal His light to others.

God gave you the light to not only shine in the places of darkness in your life, but to also be a ray of hope to others who do not have the light of Christ in their lives.

He is calling you to be a little Miss or Mr. Sunshine to your corner of the world.

How will you make it a bright, sun shiny day today?

Scripture

2 Samuel 22 (a song of David)

Quote of the Day

Oh yes I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day

Look all around there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead there's nothing but blue skies "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash

Question of the Day

What is your favorite thing to do on a sun shiny winter day?

All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day

Look all around there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead there's nothing but blue skies

Focusing on the Grace

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.

1 Corinthians 1:4-5

Through the acceptance of Jesus as our Savior, we are transformed by the Holy Spirit which now dwells inside of each of us. What a gift to be truly thankful for!

When Paul wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians), he began by telling each of the parishioners that he personally thanked God for each of them and their willingness to follow God. The letter goes on for 16 chapters and through most of the letter Paul is giving instruction and correction for misdirection on the part of the church. But the key is that he first focuses on the blessing that this church has been to him and how thankful he is that God has given the parishioners His grace.

How different would your attitude be to those who were not doing things just right, if you first focused on the blessing of grace in the individual? Would your tone soften? Would your correction be direct, but loving? Would you be able to see this person as God sees him or her - as a sinner dearly loved but far from perfect?

Imagine, if everyone began to think of the blessing from God you are before they spoke to you or corrected you? Would you be more receptive to hearing the feedback if you first knew that the words were being given in love?

Think about how you frame your words - wouldn't it be better received if your words of critique or discipline were framed with words of love and appreciation - of thanksgiving?

Each day we have the opportunity to share God's love with those we encounter. We can make great strides in sharing His love by first recognizing every individual as a child of God who merely a sinner - and yet still dearly loved by God.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 16:12-24

Quote of the Day

“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.”

Anonymous

Question of the Day

What is the best quality of one of your siblings? And if you an only child - what is the best quality in one of your parents?

Cornucopia of Blessings

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song

Psalm 95:1-2

In the United States, we have deemed the fourth Thursday of November as our day of communal thanksgiving. This is the day when we take time out of our hectic lives to remember the sacrifices of the first European settlers and how they came together with the Native Americans to find commonality in a meal. We remember their peace that long ago launched a new nation and although this nation is far from perfect we are thankful that we have an origin in peaceful community.

So often we pause before a meal to offer thanks to God for the gift of nourishment, but this time of thanksgiving grace before a meal is symbolic of the thanks we offer to God for each blessing He gives us. When we bow our heads to pray we have the opportunity to remember with a grateful heart all that God has done for us in our lives. Too often we focus on the things we want or we think we need when we go to God in prayer, but in reality we should first be focused on thanking God for the bounty He has already provided.

When we focus on what we already have received, on the blessings which overflow like a cornucopia of delightful blessings, our needs and wants seem less important in the realization that God is overwhelming with His blessings.

Each of us has experienced tremendous blessings in our lives from life, to family, to education, to home and to friendships; the blessings are too numerous to count or relay, but it is important to take time to remember them.

As you approach these days prior to our communal thanksgiving as a nation, remember to take time to thank God for the blessings in your life and to pray for this nation to do likewise.

Scripture

Psalm 95

Quote of the Day

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

 Francis Keonig

Question of the Day

What is one of the greatest belssings from God?