12/20/12 The New Me

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."

Hi, there. We haven't met yet. At least not as who I am now. You might have known me in the past, when I lied, gossiped, became jealous, selfish, and hid under false pretenses. But you haven't met me now.

What's that you say? That you do know me - that we just talked on Sunday? Sure, I know you read my facebook page and we trade stories about our families, but you don't know me yet.

I know - I look the same. I'm growing my hair out, but it hasn't grown much in the past few days. And I'm working on getting healthier, but it's been a roller coaster ride so it's pretty unnoticeable. No, I've had this outfit for years, but thanks for asking.

What's that? Then why am I saying you don't know me now? Let me explain.

I'm forgiven.

All those pieces that made me the last time you saw me, whether you knew it or not? They aren't here anymore. No, really. They aren't covered up or hiding - they are GONE. You haven't ever seen me without those old parts of me, so it's true. You don't know me. Whatever you expect from me, or assume I will say and do based on previous actions or mistakes or successes. That isn't me now. I don't really know about all of it. I do know though, that being forgiven means that I'm totally new. All of me is from God, "who reconciled the world [me] to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins [mine] against them." I'm banking on this reconciliation - that I am not who I was, but am completely, totally His.

Sure - it takes 21 days and lots of willpower to create a habit. But this new me is a gift - not earned through what I can do or can't do. The new me has some responsibilities though, and I can't help but do all I can to follow through. "And he has committed us to the message of reconciliation." I plan to tell everyone I can about the new me. And I desperately hope you recognize that I am not who I was - that I'm a new person, and can't help but ask me about it.

I do know that I'm listening really hard to what the Spirit is telling me. I have a feeling that so much of the old me felt so natural that I may reach for the things the old me held dear without realizing it, so I'm sure reconciliation is an ongoing process. But I'm banking on God walking along with me the whole way.

What's that? How will it really affect me? I'm still the same person? Well, I don't really know the full picture. I do know, though, that I am committed to to the new me. Completely. I hope you will see the difference and trust it - if not today, then one day. I am not going anywhere - the new me can't wait to get to know you!

(Friends - this is the conversation I imagined I would have with myself (names and sins changed to protect the guilty) - I would love to hear your thoughts on today's reading, or how it made you feel to think of yourself as new.)

Lisa

12.19.12 - And the father is...

Please begin with prayer for an open heart, before you read the passage below. 1 John 3:16-18 – ¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

My wife and I are at the phase in life where there are many people around us having babies.  Whenever one of our friends/relatives has a new baby, I frequently hear---which parent does the child look like?  Then there is the conversation about the eyes resemble dad and the mouth resembles mom or however that goes.  We experienced this with both of our kids and still do to this day---it’s humorous to hear how people say with such certainty, direct, contradictory remarks.  The joys of parenting!  There is almost always a resemblance of the parents passed down to the children---the same is true spiritually.  We should look like our Father---if we don’t, maybe we should maybe get some type of spiritual DNA test to identify the father??? (Jerry Springer just came to mind)

I love the book of 1 John and the author continually uses a dichotomy throughout the letter.  If we love God we do this, if we don’t have fellowship we do this, if we love the world we look like this, if we do the will of God we look like this, if we are a child of the devil we look like this, etc., etc.  It’s the same dichotomy used repeatedly with varying semantic terms that basically point out if we are a believer or not.  The point is that we should live a certain way if our belief is genuine---not in a legalistic way that attempts to earn God’s favor, but in a transformed life way in which we respond out of love.

In this text, John begins by defining love through Jesus’ example of giving His life for us and the length of love that He went to so that He could defeat the power of sin and death and restore our relationship with the Father.  Romans 5:8 says, ‘But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’  Those are amazing words that will radically alter our identity and life if we take them to heart.  He reached out to us, when we were running away from Him and chasing other gods.  Now that’s someone I want to follow and be like!

At times, we confuse Christianity with a list of do’s and don’ts and loving others can fall into that category.  He always goes a step further and desires the transformation of the heart, which then naturally manifests in action.  We can attempt to live out this verse in 1 John through obligation and will, but the way John seems to word it is that it is a natural response for Christ followers to do these things, because of what He has done for us.  The logical train of thinking is we love God, follow His example, and are constantly and consistently available with all we are (time, treasures, and talents) to meet a need, especially within the body of Christ (‘brothers’ in Scripture points to believers!).  Notice how practical John gets---if you have material possessions and see someone in need, then act on it and help them!

He closes this thought in verse 18, by basically saying that talk is cheap.  It’s easy to say we love people and are available and it’s much harder to act.  When we know Who’s we are and who we are, we will naturally respond with a grateful heart and answer the call to love those around us.  We can live freely in that identity we receive through Christ’s actions and know that we are taken care of as His beloved children.

Have you seen your heart towards people change as a result of your faith?  Are there things God is calling you to act on right now?  What prevents you?  We pray for receptive and responsive hearts that the Spirit guides and directs!  I would love to hear your journey and how this passage impacted you.

mike

12.18.12 – On Being a Child and Heir.

Lord, speak to me today.  Amen

Galatians 4:4-7 (NIV)

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

I can’t recall how old I was when I first realized that I could call my father ‘Dad’ and the rest of the kids in my neighborhood couldn’t. I think it was about the same time I realized that my Dad was a loving provider to whom I had very special access.  He worked very hard to meet my needs and guide me around and sometimes through the potholes of life.

It would be many years later before I came to understand that I was his heir and that I would receive an inheritance when he died and went to be with the Jesus. As I have grown older, I also have come to realize that much of what I inherited from my Dad occurred prior to his death.

I was blessed to have a loving Christian father who was attentive to my needs, provided liberally during my lifetime, and left me a small inheritance when he died.

All this came to mind as I read the passage in Galatians chosen for today.  I am grateful that I was raised in a Christian home and introduced to Jesus at a very young age.  I am grateful that God is still teaching me things today.

Some time ago, Nicky Gumbel, reflecting on this passage wrote, ”How amazing it is to have the full rights of a child of God and that God sent the Spirit of his Son – the Spirit of Jesus – to live in each one of us and that we can address God in the same intimate way as Jesus addressed him.”

I am so thankful during this season of Advent that God loved us so much that He took on human flesh and came into our world.  I am thankful that the baby in Bethlehem, whose birth we are about to celebrate, grew to manhood and gave His life and rose from the grave so that we might be called children of God.

Today I rejoice anew that as a child of God I have unlimited access to our Father in heaven, who daily provides for my needs, guides me through the potholes of life and promises an inheritance, beginning right now, that is far beyond anything I can comprehend. How about you?

John

12.17.12 Rejoice Even Now? Yes! REJOICE!

Philippians 4: 4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I find it amazing when I read a passage that I’ve read many times before and God faithfully reveals something new and powerfully relevant.   This passage is probably quite familiar to many.  I believe there was even a song made up almost entirely of the first sentence in verse 4.  Yet today, it feels unbelievably comforting to read.

This has been a difficult weekend.  I’ve found it so painful to try to process the elementary school shooting.  My heart breaks for the families involved and for the children who were killed.  It’s hard to find the strength to “rejoice.”  I certainly don’t feel like it.

But verse 5 gripped me.  “Let your gentleness be evident to all.”  Gentleness.

As Paul sat in prison and wrote this brief 4 page letter to the church in Philippi, his advice to these young Christians was to be gentle with each other.  That was to be their witness….and their reward was peace.

As a father, it’s easy for me to identify with (in some small way) the terror and pain that the families of the slain children must feel today.  If I sat across from them I would have no answers, no explanations.  There are no magic words that would make the situation more bearable.   I imagine that if it were me, the only thing I would want would be to bury my face in the chest of my Heavenly Father, wrap my arms around him….desperately hanging on….and be met with gentleness as I cried.  I would cry for understanding, repeatedly asking “why, why…?” but my soul would long for peace.

At times like this it can feel like God is so far away.  Does He see what is happening? Does He care?  Can He relate?

And then I pick my head up and everywhere I turn I see a manger.  I remember how God sent His own child to be born in a prickly, dirty food trough…to hide as the government executed babies in an attempt to squelch out His message before it was ever given.  To live a perfect life, only to be tortured and crucified in the most unjust manner.

Yes, He understands.  And despite our sin, He loves us gently…patiently.

For that we can rejoice.

Jon

12.15.12 "Saturday's Blog"

Welcome to the POG Blog! Instead of a staff person or lay leader beginning the discussion, we are asking that YOU begin the discussion on what today’s Scripture is saying to you and how it relates to Sunday’s message. Enjoy praying, digging in, sharing thoughts and responding!

Have a great Saturday!   Denise

Today’s Scripture Reading is: 

Psalm 118:15-21

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Shouts of joy^(A) and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand^(B) has done mighty things!^{(C) 16}     The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” ¹⁷ I will not die^(D) but live, and will proclaim^(E) what the Lord has done. ¹⁸ The Lord has chastened^(F) me severely, but he has not given me over to death.^{(G) 19} Open for me the gates^(H) of the righteous; I will enter^(I) and give thanks to the Lord. ²⁰ This is the gate of the Lord^(J) through which the righteous may enter.^{(K) 21} I will give you thanks, for you answered me;^(L) you have become my salvation.^(M)

Share your thoughts!  What is God saying to you through this Scripture today?

12.13.12 "God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me!"

It’s 6:15 a.m.   I forgot it was my turn to Blog until very late last night.   So I am up, searching for my Bible, hooking up the internet card, etc.  And now, as I finish writing, I am so glad I didn’t “remember” and write this yesterday – because I never would have reached on my shelf for an old Bible to look up today’s Scripture.  Please bear with me – this is a bit long…  The Scripture will come later. I read today’s Scripture in my “current” Bible (which is The Message version) and I wanted to see what the NIV said.   So I pulled out another Bible which I had been using about 12 years ago.  I opened up to today’s reading of Isaiah 40:27-31 and noticed lots of notes in the margins I had written at the time.  I regularly write down the dates and circumstances in the margins of my Bible, and then years later, it’s like re-reading a journal – remembering what I was doing the last time I had read that portion of the Word and how God was using it to talk to me at that time in my life.

I would like to share with you this story about Isaiah 40 as it unfolded for me that day almost 12 years ago.  In the margins surrounding Isaiah 40, I see that I had been in Rio Bravo, Mexico on a Mission Trip with Point of Grace.  My biggest fears about this trip were:  #1 Going to the bathroom, and #2  The heat.  Sadly, I wasn’t concerned about “winning souls for Jesus”  or “being a Light.”  No.  My fears were all about me and my comfort.

I need to explain more about the bathroom rules on this mission trip to Mexico in case you haven’t been.  No flushing of paper.  Put all paper in a trash can.  Add 110 degree heat.  Hold your nose – do your business – and get out of there as fast as possible.

We arrived past dark, were led to our accommodations.  The women were to sleep in a large room above a restaurant.  We were led up some outside stairs which is over the top of the bathroom which has an outside door under the stairs.  The stench was horrible.  ”Oh, no, God,”  I whined to myself.  “Oh, no.”  My heartbeat started accelerating.  I was worried. (See fear #1)

We put our sleeping bags on the floor.  There was quite a bit of whining and complaining about how hot it was. (See fear #2)  We looked up at the ceiling – there was a ceiling fan – but it didn’t work.  The blades had “melted” from the heat of the room and were hanging down, bent over like a wilted plant.  Much whining followed.   Someone shouted, “Hey look at all the windows!”  We opened them – not that there was any breeze.  The Landlady yelled up at us, “Close those windows!  This is not a safe neighborhood – you can’t open them like that!”    Much more groaning and complaining.

Lights out.  Sweaty bodies.  And I have got to go to the bathroom. (See fear #1)  So does my very sweet Mother who was on the trip – her first mission trip ever!  She decides to brave the smell and go down to the bathroom.   She whispers, “I can’t stand it any more.  I have to go to the bathroom.  Do you need to go, Dawn?”     “Me?  Um no…. you go ahead though.”    “Are you sure?”     “Yeah, I am sure.”    “Do you want to come with me?”     “Um, not really.”   So, my mother goes by herself!  And compassionate me doesn’t even go with her!  I decided to wait until morning!  (What a servant heart, huh?)

Somewhere in the middle of the night, we awaken, realizing that people had crawled into their sleeping bags – because it was so COLD!  There was air conditioning in that building!!!  What?

And you won’t believe it – while there was thankfulness – there was also some whining about how cold we were!  (And we can’t believe how the children of Israel whined about manna and quail and water???)

The next morning I awaken to a beautiful day.  Now I can see what this place looks like.  I can face my fears (and a bursting bladder) and go to the bathroom in the daylight.  No smell!  Clean as a whistle!  No bugs!  No rats!  No smelly trash can!  (After all, that is what I was imagining the night before.) We soon learn that the smell from the night before was buckets of garbage scraps in the alley from the restaurant – waiting for the trash service to come and haul it away.

And then that morning devotion was from Isaiah 40:27-31  which is the same Scripture we are to read today.

Isaiah 40:27-31 (The Message)

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, (O Dawn) or, whine, Israel, saying,

“God has lost track of me. 

He doesn’t care what happens to me”?

Don’t you know anything?  Haven’t you been listening?

God doesn’t come and go.  God lasts!

He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch His breath.

And He knows everything, inside and out. 

(including heat and bathrooms)

He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.

For even young people tire and drop out,

young folk in their prime stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles,

they run and don’t’ get tired,

They walk and don’t lag behind.

 I sat in that beautiful wooden pew and just bawled.  And here are the notes in my margin surrounding this passage of Scripture that God was giving me – delivering me – taking care of me in a strange, different land…

“Rio Bravo.  So ashamed of myself.  Like the Israelites whining and doubting.  So hot and weak.  I am not used to this heat.  I need relief.  God had a plan for me – A/C!  But when I got here it was so hot – I doubted and was worried.  The Bano I thought was disgusting was just slop buckets.  Stubborn.  Refused to go to the bathroom.  After an hour the AC cooled the room- people were under blankets!  I doubted God.  I was afraid to go to the bathroom.  And all along it wasn’t even bad.  It was the buckets.  I did not trust.  God always cares.  He was taking care of me all along – with a clean bathroom and A/C.  (See Fear #1.  See Fear #2)

And in my Bible I use currently, is a note next to Isaiah 40:27-31 that says, Psalm 98:3

“He remembered to love us, a bonus to His dear family, Israel – INDEFATIGABLE love!"

Now that’s a cool word -   indefatigable.  His love never quits.  Even in Rio Bravo 12 years ago.  Even today, Dec 13, 2012.

How about you?  Can you remember times in your life you had fears – and God already had those figured out – like bathrooms and A/C?  We would love to hear your testimony to His goodness!

-dawn

12.12.12 "Don't question, just surrender"

Today’s Reading is Exodus 5:22-6:1 (NIV) God Promises Deliverance

²² Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people?^(A) Is this why you sent me? ²³ Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued^(B) your people at all.”

6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand^(C) he will let them go;^(D) because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.”^(E)

As I read this, my first thought is... OUCH... Moses is being awfully bold with God, telling Him He’s brought even more trouble on His people and hasn’t rescued them!   But then  I think of how I would be feeling if I was in Moses’ place.  He’s scared to death that he’s not equipped to do what God is telling him to do...he just had Pharaoh throw his request for freedom back in his face and take straw away from the Israelites for their bricks...the Israelite foremen were beaten for not making the same number of bricks (without straw)....and now the people were mad at Moses because they were in worse shape than before!  Moses was at a place of desperation, fear, and anger... and I think he was also telling God, “see, I told you so!... I told you I’m not the right guy for the job...  I told you I can’t do this!”   But in this place of desperation - for Moses and for the Israelites - God says NOW you’ll see what I can do!

Pastor’s message on Sunday talked about God taking us on journey’s that take time, in order to transform and change us.   Moses and the Israelite slaves wanted freedom - but would have loved to have had it immediately.  God could have easily done that... he could have zapped Pharaoh into obedience or zapped him dead - but instead he hardened Pharaoh’s heart so he wouldn’t let the people go immediately.  Isn’t that a crazy concept?   Why would God do that?  I believe it’s about the journey God wanted Moses and the Israelites to go on.  It wasn’t about Pharaoh at all... it was about the people.  What better way to grow the people’s faith and trust than to allow them to experience and see the powerful hand of God over a period of time... through a series of plagues on the Egyptians.  Ultimately, the Egyptians would know that He was LORD too, but it was important for the Israelites to know that even more.  If Moses was going to be confident enough in God to lead the people out of Egypt, and if the people were going to have faith enough to follow the LORD and Moses into the desert with no plan... their faith was going to have to be strong - otherwise they would have opted to stay enslaved where they had a routine and food and no surprises.

Even for us now, we can be content with bondage because getting out of bondage takes work.  It can be uncomfortable and scary leaving a place of bondage.  That’s why quick fixes rarely work... we have to be changed from the inside out for the freedom and change to take root.   So God takes His time with us.  He delivers us slowly, patiently, transformationally,  so it lasts.  He tests our faith, gives us hard things to do, doesn’t always answer all our questions,  and gives us many opportunities to see His power so our faith will increase.  If He can deliver us from our doubts in the small things - He can accomplish a lot through us in the big things!

I think this is what He was doing for the Israelites.  Preparing them for the big things ahead that would ultimately test their faith in ways they could never imagine.   Did they fail some, yes.  Do we fail some, yes!  But God is faithful and patient to bring us... His work...to completion.

God promises to deliver!  I don’t want to question how He does it - I just want to surrender to it!

What are your thoughts on this passage for today?  Does it resonate?  Is God speaking to you through this?   Share what’s on your heart.

Denise

12/11/12 Not the Right Man For The Job

Exodus 3:11-1511 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[a] will worship God on this mountain.” 13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[b] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,[c] the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever,
the name you shall call me
from generation to generation.

Pastor was giving his sermon this Sunday and I remember him going over this passage. Moses was an ordinary man who did not see himself as special, or posessing special gifts. When God spoke to Moses on Mount Horeb and informed Moses he was to lead God’s people out of Egypt, Moses response suggests he wasn’t convinced he was the man for the job. God assured Moses He will be with him on his journey.

Does God not do the same with us? Does He not tap us on the shoulder and put us in positions where He wants us to do His will? How often have we said “no thanks” because we’ve doubted our ability to go where God wants to lead us. Moses had the same doubts. Moses could have said “no thanks”. But God assured Moses He would be there with him. Would he not do the same for us whereever He leads us? Should we expect no less from the God who refers to himself as I Am? In those moments of doubt, when God wants to use us for His kingdom’s purpose, the thing that separates those who say “yes Lord” from those who say “no thanks” is faith.

God recognizes our weaknesses and frailties. He understands what we are capable of and what we are not. He loves to use us in ways we never dreamed of. By using ordinary people to do extraordinary things, we can only believe that we are capable of them through the intervention of our Heavenly Father. He wants us to lean on him, recognizing without Him, we are incapable of achieving most things let alone those where He has planned to use us. Until I was in my 40’s, my spiritual life consisted mostly of going to church every Sunday, considering that fulfilling my spiritual “requirement”. I had no idea what God lay in store for me. In 2003 Lisa and I joined Point of Grace, first by attending the Alpha course, then actually attending worship service. We became small group leaders of the next Alpha course, and since, have led five or six other small groups during Alpha. From that experience, God led Lisa and I to lead a small group outside of Alpha for 7 years. For some reason, God thought it would be a good idea to lend my voice to the Praise Team. Though I enjoy singing, I never considered my voice worthy of singing on the Praise Team. Word got to Dawn I could sing (not by my own admission, mind you). She asked me to audition. That was about six years ago. To this day, I pray before every service to use my voice as He sees fit. I have to give it all up to him as I still doubt my vocal abilities. Two years ago, he had another plan to use and stretch me on the Spiritual Leadership Team. I had my doubts about my “worthiness” and yes, my abilities to lend to the team at the time. He has shown me that He values us and our abilities far more than we do. What we lack He will provide when we do His will. What a blessing these experiences have been for me along my spiritual journey. I could have never had the courage or confidence to step up and be involved in areas that I have been in the past 9 years. Yet God has placed before me each new challenge and opportunity. Why me? I cannot say for certain. I do know that He has provided what I have lacked when called to follow Him. Perhaps you will be tapped on the shoulder and be used by God in areas you never thought you would. Fear and doubt are normal. Do not be afraid. Trust in Him to provide what you need in every circumstance. Remember how He used Moses. Remember that with the God of Abraham and Isaac, you can do anything He calls you to do. He calls us into a relationship with Him. Lean on Him. Trust Him. Deepen your faith through Him. The reward is beyond anything you would think or imagine. His servant kevin

12/10/12 Exodus 3:1-8a – Deliverance!

Today’s scripture text is a portion of the same text Pastor Delton shared with us yesterday in worship. Even if you’ve already read it, please read it again, and notice what words or phrases grab you, particularly in the context of this wonderful Advent season. An Old Testament story at Christmastime? The Message (MSG)

3 1-2 Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the west end of the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked. The bush was blazing away but it didn’t burn up. Moses said, “What’s going on here? I can’t believe this! Amazing! Why doesn’t the bush burn up?” God saw that he had stopped to look. God called to him from out of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Yes? I’m right here!” God said, “Don’t come any closer. Remove your sandals from your feet. You’re standing on holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God. God said, “I’ve taken a good, long look at the affliction of my people in Egypt. I’ve heard their cries for deliverance from their slave masters; I know all about their pain. And now I have come down to help them, pry them loose from the grip of Egypt, get them out of that country and bring them to a good land with wide-open spaces, a land lush with milk and honey, the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

As soon as I saw the word deliverance mentioned in terms of this story, I thought of my own deliverance story. It’s a story of facing one of the hardest things a person can do – experience the death of a child. Jim and I were expecting a baby, and at 20 weeks, found out that this baby would not survive. We cried, not knowing how we would survive the delivery, and saying goodbye to a baby we would only get to know in heaven. I remember crying out to God in my mind – “Please, I don’t know how to do this – I need you!”. The pregnancy was far enough along that I would have to deliver this child, and so we entered the hospital. Immediately, family and our Pastor surrounded us, praying with us, comforting us, and standing beside us during that awful day. In hindsight, Jim and I can see now the angels God sent to us to intervene and support us. He send us nurses, and one nurse in particular who I will never forget, who recognized our pain and fright, and gave us advice that others didn’t or couldn’t give us – practical advice about naming Timothy, making arrangements for saying goodbye, and fussing at the doctor to assist me in the task of delivering. I honestly don’t remember her name now, but she will always be one of my angels. We grieved and cried out to God, and were ultimately comforted by these angels, and the faith that our parents had instilled in us through their faith in God – “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.”

What does this have to do with the text? For me, it’s all about the times in my life when I’m faced with challenges, and I want to throw up my hands and say – make it change God, make it better – I can’t do this! This text reminds me that God knows my pain, and my all powerful God can and does intervene, probably sometimes when I don’t even realize it! He wants to walk through the pain or challenge with me, if I will just ask.

This text also convicted me to re-examine the “deliverance” Jim and I experienced in a new light – what were the blessings that unfolded? Closer relationships with our family and Pastor, a new appreciation for the blessing of the 3 year old God had already given us, and then, a little over a year later, a sweet little baby named Justin, who arrived in the Christmas season – I still call him my little Christmas elf! God wants to share in our lives, through the good and the bad, and loves us so much that “He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life” – we’re about to celebrate the very beginning of that promise as God became man – Christmas! That’s a promise I can hold onto, through the good and bad.

And now, I’m wondering how I can be one of those angels that God sent to me. How can I be the hands and feet of Jesus to love and support the people around me?

Heavenly Father – I’m so thankful for your promise, and I receive the intervention and deliverance you extend to me, a sinner. Please make me a light in this world that can sometimes be so dark. Help me to daily act like I have a God that loves me so much that he sent His Son to redeem my sinful life! I thank you and I praise you! Amen.

Do you have a story of deliverance, a story of God’s faithfulness in your life? Feel free to share, as we walk through this life together!

His Servant, kristi

12.8.12 "Saturday's Blog"

Welcome to the POG Blog! Instead of a staff person or lay leader beginning the discussion, we are asking that YOU begin the discussion on what today’s Scripture is saying to you and how it relates to Sunday’s message. Enjoy praying, digging in, sharing thoughts and responding!

Have a great Saturday!   Denise

Today’s Scripture Reading is:  Psalm 121   (NIV)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven^(A) and earth.^(B)

³ He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; ⁴ indeed, he who watches^(C) over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over^(D) you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; ⁶ the sun^(E) will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm^(F)— he will watch over your life; ⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.^(G)

Share your thoughts!  What is God saying to you through this Scripture today?

12-7-12 His Grace is Sufficient!

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.  He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’  Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.” Hebrews 11:17-19 NIV

There is quite a lot of meaning packed into these few short lines of scripture.  Abraham puts ultimate faith in God, and He shows up in a mighty way…..a story that repeats itself over and over all throughout scripture.    As I meditate on this text, I first feel convicted about my own small faith and at the same time reassured by God’s faithfulness to his promises.

My initial reaction is to compare myself to Abraham.  Even though I know Abraham must have been in agony, his actions show ultimate trust in God and what He had promised.  He knew that if he obeyed, God would somehow make it right. And he didn’t need to know how in order to obey Him.  In contrast, I find myself worry and fretting on a daily basis about almost everything.  Does “so and so”  like me?  Is my boss happy with me? What if I lose my job?  What if I get sick? What if I AM sick?!  Am I meeting the standard as a daughter? As a wife? As a mother? 

When I’m in the midst of a tough situation where it seems like there is no solution, it is so hard for me to trust that God can work it out and that I can trust in His promises.  And what beautiful promises He has made!

That His grace is sufficient for me…that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…that those who suffer, He delivers in their suffering…that if I seek I will find Him, and if I ask it will be given…that He has engraved me on the palms of His hands…that as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him…that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.

I believe that this story is confirmation that God will keep his promises, even when life looks grim, and it seems like he isn’t there or that he doesn’t care. I can point to so many instances in my life where He has revealed Himself and shown me that His plans are so much better than mine.  It is so easy to get lost in the details of life, and forget what the main thing is.

I find it interesting that the Bible tells us so little about the characters’ thoughts or feelings (perhaps with the exception of Job, David, and Solomon).  In this story we can only guess what is going through Abraham’s mind.  All we know is what he does.  He obeys.  Maybe these verses are teaching me that even though I may be afraid to trust, it pleases God when I obey.  I can show Him I love Him by what I do and not what I feel….and that I can count on Him to take care of the rest!

Erin Jay

12/6/12 By Faith

I'm so thankful that God brings us together each day to explore His word! Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God has said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from the dead."

By Faith.

Although this seems to be a transition to tie this story into the fabric of the rest of Hebrews 11, I believe it is foundational to this summary of Abraham and Isaac's experience, along with the other elements in this chapter.

He who had embraced the promises.

Abraham so fully absorbed God's promises to him, that they shaped his life completely. By embracing the promises, he developed the foundation of faith he stood upon in this moment.

Even though Abraham was being asked to do something that seemed contrary to God's promises to him, his faith told him that this was bigger than he and bigger than he could even fathom. His faith told him that God WILL fulfill His promises, even in the midst of when it seems impossible -- even if it meant something as outlandish as raising Isaac from the dead. Abraham's faith told him that his God can do it even if his human smallness couldn't comprehend how.

I was processing this this morning as I got the kids ready for school and out the door. In fact, the morning was rather eventful, culminating in a challenging argument with my daughter that included great amounts of frustration on both ends, a feeling of hopelessness for both of us over an "unfixable" situation, and insecurity on what the next steps should be.

She even made a point to of sitting in the back seat instead of the front on the way to school in order to put as much physical distance between us as possible to match the emotional distance we both felt. I'm sure you can relate either through your own childhood or experiences with your own children, especially new teens.

What now, God?

When we got to school, I stopped just short of the drop off point and pulled into a parking spot. The physical and emotional separation was killing both of us. I invited her to come sit up; she gladly came and began to pour out her heart on the situation at hand, and others that she had been carrying in her heart. As I listened, I prayed for the words to say to her, the necessary words, the grace-filled words, the truth words, the words we needed to remember as we went through our day today.

And it clicked for me -- "By Faith" means that the hopelessness of situations in this world do not stand in the face of the promises God has given us. We can count on His grace. His mercy. His love. His redemption. Those are BIG promises.

But how are they applied to specific, seemingly "hopeless" situations?

Because we rely on those BIG promises - we embrace them and absorb them - we end up viewing situations differently. For Madison and I, it meant looking at the "worst case scenarios" of what my daughter is facing and seeing that, in reality, they are not insurmountable. And I'm just saying that because I can view it from the "parent vantage point". I truly hurt for her today and felt just as helpless that I can't fix things like I could when she was two. We were both very hopeless together. The "worst case scenarios" can certainly alter some upcoming decisions or possible pathways, but because we embrace God's Promises and by faith trust in them, we know that these scenarios will absolutely not put into danger her standing as God's Chosen and Loved.

The verses talked about how Abraham did receive Isaac back from the dead "in a matter of speaking", and I experienced the same thing with my duaghter this morning "in a matter of speaking". Her outlook initially was from a poin of hopelessness (a death), but through prayer we embraced the Promises we can count on, and she came back to a place of peace where life exists. The situation isn't resolved, but we are both being stretched to believe that God can do more than we can fathom in this situation.

Living by faith is intentional, and I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit's reminder of that this morning through today's reading!

I would love to hear your thoughts. Lisa

12.05.12 - Do I really believe He is faithful???

Please begin with prayer for an open heart, before you read the passage below. Hebrews 11:11-12 – ¹¹ By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. ¹² And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Honestly, the book of Hebrews is one of my favorite books in all of Scripture.  As I spent more and more time in the word, I began struggling with the seeming disconnect between Old and New Testament.  Hebrews was that link that helped bridge the two and unify Scripture in my own mind.  Hebrews 11 is the ‘Faith---Hall of Fame’ and gives an amazing summary of the Old Testament and how the people of God were just that, because they lived by faith!

The phrase that really grabbed my attention as I meditated on this passage was, ‘he considered him faithful who had made the promise.’  We must clarify the pronouns---he = Abraham, Him = God.  Abraham had journeyed with God for 25 years after he had initially received the promise.  He had communed with God, been provided for, and seen God work in incredible ways through this time (even though Abe followed Sarah’s leading in the whole Hagar thing, but that’s another story for another time).  This journey enabled Him to trust God and Abraham deemed Him as faithful.

I believe that seeing God as faithful to His promises is the root of faith and the story of Abraham (and throughout the whole of Scripture) shows that it’s faith, not knowledge that makes us right with God.  Faith always catalyzes action!  Abraham consistently acted on the promises of God and believed that He was faithful and worthy of his trust being placed on Him.  For us, I think that we fail to act in faith, because we don’t believe that God is truly faithful.  Think of something that causes anxiety/worry/stress/etc.---the root of this sin behavior is that we don’t think that God is faithful carrying out His promises to us in that moment.  If we believed He was faithful, we would take steps of trust in that relationship and the Gospel message would squelch the consuming nature of those negative feelings.

It can be difficult in the middle of a situation to see that God is faithful---God can work through the good and the perceived bad, so it’s challenging to pinpoint the faithfulness in the situation.  We also cannot be the definers of what faithfulness equals---He defines that and we trust that He works for the good of those that love Him.

The calling to the Christian is to not force God to start at zero on the faithfulness-meter every day.  2 things come to mind with this---1) His word is the story of His faithfulness.  Spending time seeing His character and actions shows His faithfulness.  We then take His promises to heart and live in those.  2) We look backwards and set stakes that are testimonies of how we have seen Him work in our lives.  When we add His word and our testimonies together, we begin each day and face each trial knowing that we follow a faithful God!  Then, we get to live beyond ourselves and receive identity as the child of a faithful God.  The story of Abraham shows the result of having faith in a faithful God and we have the privilege of stepping out in faith on a daily basis!

Do you struggle with living like God is faithful?  How would you know?  How would you live differently if you consistently believed God was faithful?  Do you carry testimonies of God’s faithfulness from your life forward, or do you make Him prove Himself daily?  I would love to hear your journey and how this passage impacted you.

mike

Tuesday 12.4.12

Welcome to the PoG Blog!  Before reading the scripture, please pray the Holy Spirit will guide and direct your meditation on God’s word.  

Hebrews 11:8 – 10

8 “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.  10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder was God.”

Hebrews 11 is a chapter dedicated to reminding the reader of the faithfulness of various Old Testament characters (Enoch, Noah, Abraham, etc.).  However, Pastor’s message on “Intervention with Provision” makes me think more about God’s faithfulness as opposed to Abraham’s faithfulness.  One of the main themes running throughout all of the Old Testament is God’s faithfulness to his people.

God’s faithfulness to and provision for his people continues right into the New Testament.  In fulfillment of prophesies spoken 700 years earlier, Jesus the long-expected Messiah is born in Bethlehem.  This is the intervention of all interventions!  God-made-flesh comes to be born of the virgin Mary.

Even after all the examples of God’s intervention found in the Bible, I wonder if I live a life where I am waiting and wondering where God will intervene next in my life.  Am I really expecting God to answer my prayers for healing for people with chronic medical problems?  Am I really trusting for God’s provision for each and every need I have?  This Advent season, as we wait with anticipation to celebrate our Lord’s birth, may we live lives of faith, trusting that God will intervene with provision.

Please feel free to share your thoughts as you are moved by the Holy Spirit.

mark

12/3/12 Here I Am

Good morning all. I’m writing this just after church and I’m still reeling from the amazing message that Pastor shared with us. Oh, by the way Pastor…Thanks for being led by the Spirit and daring enough to respond…to go where things can get hard & ugly…even if we don’t understand how those “places” He put there…are for our own good. So, before we get started, if you would, please take a few minutes to just clear your heart and mind…just be still…in Him….I know I needed to. Genesis 22:9-14 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

As I re-read this, I found my own fatherhood coming to the forefront. I don’t know that I can realistically imagine what Abraham was feeling. Just the thought of knowing what God had instructed him to do…to sacrifice his only son..and the fact that Abraham was dutifully, obediently pressing forward…is unimaginable to me. How did he lead his son on this journey?...build an alter?...arrange the wood?...without just totally breaking down into tears…’cause I already am, and I’m just trying to put a few words to paper! And what about Isaac?...did he resist with tears and anguish?...How do you explain all this to a son as you…

…And then God intervenes!....and amongst all that has led up to this point in the story, Abraham responds the same way it began….”Here I am”…the response of servant. Given all that has been going on with him and his son…how does one do that?..and then God embraces Abraham...

” Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” …and Abraham’s “faith was made complete by what he did” (James 2:21-22) Dear Father, I hope and pray, that from now on…when You call on me…I will be able respond with obedience, courage & hope in You…the faith that Abraham had…fully knowing that Your Intervention has taken place by the provision…the sacrifice…of Your only Son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ…and then and only then, by His loving grace, will I truly be able to reply…”Here I am”.

Your Brother in Christ, jim

12.1.12 "Saturday's Blog"

Welcome to the POG Blog! Instead of a staff person or lay leader beginning the discussion, we are asking that YOU begin the discussion on what today’s Scripture is saying to you and how it relates to Sunday’s message. Enjoy praying, digging in, sharing thoughts and responding!

Have a great Saturday!   Denise

Today’s Scripture Reading is:  Matthew 28: 18-20   (NIV)

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.^{(A) 19} Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,^(B) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,^{(C) 20} and teaching^(D) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you^(E) always, to the very end of the age.”^(F)

Share your thoughts!  What is God saying to you through this Scripture today?

11.30.12 "A Humble God"

Our theme this week is "Intervention"! Our scripture verses for today are Philippians 2:6-11

"⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very natureGod,     did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,    he humbled himself     by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place     and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,     in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,     to the glory of God the Father.

This whole theme of God intervening on our behalf is growing everyday for me!  Christmas is a vast intervention by God into the world.  I find Christmas in these verses, "... He made Himself nothing by taking on the very nature of a servant,  being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man(Christmas) He humbled Himself..."  WOW!!!

The humility of God at Christmas is astounding!  God humbled himself!  WOW!!!  I hope I can always grow in my appreciation of that - there is life there!  I never ever want to be bored by that reality - the fact that God humbled Himself to the point of "being found in appearance as a human" must never ever be mundane theological jargon.

Every Christmas carol is thanks, praise, worship, repeating and rehearsing that reality into our lives. 

In that humility God intervened and brought into the situation on my behalf what I could not bring into the situation - that's grace - unmerited favor!  He brought Himself as a sacrifice for me so I wouldn't be the sacrifice - He paid so I wouldn't have to - He gave His life so I could live and not have to give mine!

Today I get to be very aware of my humble God who intervenes for me - who brings into my "today" what I can not bring!

Lord Jesus, as I walk through the hours of my day I pray a big "thank you and praise you" for humbly intervening on my behalf.  I thank you for Christmas.  I determine by faith to live this day in that place of life you made possible for me to live in this day!  A place of hope and "not aloneness"!  I also will live this day with the confidence that you are still an intervening God - humbly bringing into my life and circumstance what I cannot provide for myself! Amen

delton

Thursday 11.29.12

This Week’s Theme is “An Intervening God” Today’s Scripture is from Ephesians 2:1-10

This is a prayer that I use in the mornings before spending time with God in His Word:

“For You alone, my soul waits hushed.”  (and then I sit still, breathe a few deep breaths, and repeat that line until I am truly hushed and my soul is hungering for God alone.) “Please open my eyes, and ears, and heart, and mind, to really see and hear what You want to talk to me about today.  I love You.  I am excited to see what You have for me today.  Amen.”

As I read  this section, I am going to try to read it with eyes to see how God is INTERVENING!

Ephesians 2:1-10  (the Message)

“It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live.

You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.

We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, whenever we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat.  (Desperately needing Intervention!)

It’s a wonder God didn’t lose His temper and do away with the whole lot of us.

Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, He embraced us.  (He Intervened!)

He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ.  (He Intervened!)

He did all this on His own, with no help from us!  (He Intervened!) Then He picked us up and set us down in the highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.  (He Intervened!) Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.  (He continues to Intervene!)

Saving is all His idea, and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it.

It’s God’s gift from start to finish!  (He continues to Intervene!)

We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing!

No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving.  (He continues to Intervene!)

He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work He does, the good work He has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

This Christmas Season, I am excited about the journey God has in store for us as we re-read the “big” stories in the Bible that show us how God has been Intervening in the lives of His people since time began!  It will be fascinating to read passages of Scripture, like this week, with new eyes – eyes that are searching for more “intervention” kind of language.  And I am so thankful, that in this world at war, you and I have a Victorious Savior Who daily intervenes for us.  We no longer have to live in that “stagnant life of sin!”  Hallelujah!  What a Savior!

-dawn

11.28.12 "The Battle"

Today’s Scripture is Revelation 12: 10-12 (NIV) ¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven^(A) say: “Now have come the salvation^(B) and the power and the kingdom of our God,  and the authority of his Messiah.   For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,^(C)  who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.  ¹¹ They triumphed over^(D) him by the blood of the Lamb^(E) and by the word of their testimony;^(F) they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.^{(G) 12} Therefore rejoice, you heavens^(H) and you who dwell in them! But woe^(I) to the earth and the sea,^(J) because the devil has gone down to you!  He is filled with fury,  because he knows that his time is short.”

I love this passage in Revelation, and I loved Pastor’s message on Sunday.  He gave me a perspective change and reminded me that the sweet story of Jesus being born shouldn’t just bring me joy and peace and fuzzy feelings of anticipation and gifts... but should also be a reminder that Jesus was born to declare WAR on evil and we are still in a battle!  Jesus coming to earth was God’s intervention plan for our long term survival in the battle.  Victory over the devil and salvation for all of us!  So to think of Jesus just as a sweet baby in a manger misses the mark, if I don’t see Him as a Warrior as well.

I feel so humbled and grateful that my accuser has been hurled down and triumphed over by Jesus.  I see the desperate attempt of an already beaten devil, grasping for every ounce of control he can get until his time is over.   Why should I think that life here on earth should be easy or peaceful or good?  God has given me life for a short period of time, not to revel in the earthly enjoyments (although He allows me many moments of that), but to be uncomfortable enough that I long for heaven.   Every once in a while heaven breaks through and I get glimpses of His glory, His peace, His goodness which wets my appetite for life in heaven with Him.  So why should I think that my life and earthly journey should be easy.  Why not change my lenses to “expect” the evil, the challenges and the pain - and to accept my Warrior’s call to be a piece of heaven through HIM, into those situations and battles.  That should be my goal and purpose... not to escape the evil or pain (or shrink back from it) - because there is no escaping it as long as I am living here on earth - but in the midst of it,  to give testimony of salvation, healing, and the life to come to those who don’t yet believe.    That’s what the blood of the Lamb and word of my testimony does...  it says that even in a fallen world, I believe that Jesus has saved me and I can give witness to that fact  even when... or especially when...evil surrounds me.

The devil is furious because he knows he has a short amount of time to wreak havoc.  I see evidence every day that he is desperately trying to pull people away from the salvation and freedom that awaits them -  but for me, some key, hopeful words are “short time” and “overcome”.   He has a short time of rule on earth... and we have already overcome through Jesus - so even though I’m fighting the battle every day, and I see and experience the bruises, the cuts, the carnage that the devil leaves behind, there is hope....light at the end of the tunnel... FREEDOM and VICTORY for all of us who believe.  Now that’s a gift... that's Christmas!   I will rejoice that Jesus is my Warrior Savior and focus on the end result of Jesus’ victory for me and for the world.  This will sustain me in the battle!

Lord, give me fresh perspective about Jesus’ birth - new lenses to see through.  Renew me, refresh me, empower me, and strengthen me for battle and help me to be a full receiver of your love that came down for me -  Amen.

What are your thoughts on this passage?  What do you think God wants to reveal to you through this picture of Christmas from a battle perspective?   I would love some discussion!

denise

11.27.12 "Sticking Up For Me?"

Father, I thank You for who You are in my life and how you intervene on my behalf even when I don’t ask.  It amazes me how You care for even the most trivial things.  I honor and worship You as my Sovereign King. I ask You, Lord to fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so I may hear You speaking through these words today.  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.  From the Message:

Romans 31-34 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.

 So, this passage starts out really positive.  I like positive!  Just like what I like to think of Christmas time with the cute little baby Jesus, and fun Christmas carols, all the “feel-good” Christmas specials and movies, and awesome lights.  Everyone seems to be a little nicer at this time of year.  At least this is what I have thought until fairly recently.

When I look deeper, pray deeper, listen deeper God reveals so much more to the meaning of Christmas and the wonderful thing is, it still ends up positive because of God’s unconditional, great love for us.  A love I cannot comprehend.  God spoke very powerfully through Pastor Delton Sunday showing me from the beginning to the end of the Bible how God intervened for us all at Christmas by giving us Jesus Christ!  Someone who would declare war on Satan, beat him with His death and now, as it states above, is sticking up for us RIGHT NOW in the very presence of God. I just see a HUGE God saying to that serpent, that dragon - don’t you even think of messing with any of my babies!!!

This Christmas season, I will stand in pure awe of my God, my Father and pure gratitude of my Savior Jesus Christ.  I thank Him for His Love and that in ALL times I will have Hope and Joy in Him for what He continues to do for and in me.

 What do you think of our intervening God?  Would love to hear what you think.

So incredibly humbled by His grace,

cindy