It's Shoe Box Time

This past Saturday, our church had our first ever Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing Party.  What is Operation Christmas Child, you ask?  Well, let me try to explain.  Operation Christmas Child is a mission of Samaritan’s Purse International Relief.  Samaritan’s Purse provides spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.  Their mission is to follow the example of Christ by helping those in need and proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel. 

Operation Christmas Child provides shoeboxes full of goodies to children around the world.  “A small shoebox can teach a child about the love of God, lead him or her to faith in Christ, inspire pastors, and plant new churches.  What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out is eternal.” - http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

We’ve been collecting items to go into these shoeboxes for the last few months.  The idea is to get items that are fun, like toys, bracelets, and stuffed animals.  But, we also wanted to include in our boxes hygiene items such as soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and deodorant.  We included socks, mittens, hair bows, and hair brushes.  And, let’s not forget, candy!  We had a great turnout for our Packing Party. 

This year we had a record of 159 shoe boxes filled.  That’s amazing, especially if you consider the size of our church.  We’re pretty small.  We normally have around 80 people, which include children, in our Sunday School classes.  We may have around 100 during worship service. 

On a personal note, there were several times during the packing party that I felt the tears well up.  I kept thinking of the children that might get one of our boxes.  What kind of living conditions they face?  Are they loved at home?  Do they have parents?  There are so many questions that I thought of while witnessing the packing of the shoe boxes.  I packed a few boxes, but I mainly focused on taking photographs to share with our congregation, as well as trying to keep the boxes sorted (boys/girls by age group). 

A few years ago, I went with our church to the distribution center in Boone, NC to help pack the boxes into larger shipping boxes so that they could be taken to their destination.  It’s a humbling experience.  There were so many boxes, and in some cases you can tell that people spent a lot of time preparing for these gifts.  There were homemade toboggans and mittens.  This makes me think, what can I do next year to let the child that receives my box know that they are loved.  Not just by me, but by God Himself. 

I hope that you and your church participate in Operation Christmas Child.  It doesn’t just bring a child joy, but it also brings joy to the giver. 

Here are a few photos from our Packing Party...

Activity books, crayons, school supplies

We ordered the boxes from Samaritan's Purse

Bagged candy

Yo-yo's

Packing the boxes

Making sure lots of love is added

Homemade bracelets

More love with stuffed animals

Thank you to all that came out

HA!

Times of Trouble

Have you ever wondered why Jesus had to die?  Especially, such a brutal, horrifying death.  Hebrews 2:18 tells us why.  It says “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”  Have you ever thought about that?  Jesus was tempted, suffered, and died so that he would be able to help us.  He is our help in trouble.

 

We are in the middle of revival at our church.  You’ve heard it a thousand times before.  You know the saying, “God will never put on me more than I can handle.”  Well, I had a revelation last night.  This is simply not true, nor is it biblical.  Roger Cook, a pastor and church planting catalyst for the West Virginia Baptist Association, said these words that brought that saying into very clear perspective:  If God never gave you more than you could handle, you’d never have a reason to call upon him.  So, God will give us more than we can handle, so that we can fully rely on him.

And, so, my reading in Hebrews 2 simply tells me the same in a different way.  Jesus is able to help me when I’m in trouble because he’s been there.  He’s been through temptation, trials, trouble.  He really does know what I’m (and you are) going through.  God in Heaven can aid me because he’s experienced what I’m experiencing.  Isn’t that comforting?  Psalm 91:1-2 tells us that “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’” 

If you are experiencing pain, struggles with life, troubles, take them to Jesus.  Jesus is there to love and heal you.  Just like the old hymn says,

“Have we trials and temptations?
  Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
  Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.”

Take your problems to the Lord.  He’s there to help you!

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Superior

Hebrews is one of my most favorite books of the Bible.  I don't know who wrote it, but it has great insight as to who Jesus is.  Hebrews declares His superiority.  It just cannot be denied.  The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were being persecuted.  It was against the law to be a Christian, unlike being a Jew.  They thought about going back to being Jewish.  But, the author told them to hold fast and keep the faith.  This is a message that Christians must hear today.  There seems to be so many things that Christians are facing today that they have not in the not so far past.  Hold fast, my friends, and keep the faith.

God has always revealed Himself when humanity needed it.  It tells us this in the very first verse of Hebrews, "...in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets...".  See, He knows when we need to hear from Him.  He goes on to say that, "...but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, who he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."  Last days is not referencing "end times", but rather the time between Jesus' first coming and Jesus' second coming.  John 1:1 tells us that Jesus is the word who explains the Father.  Jesus is the last and final prophet, the One who declares the Word of God like none other.  The writer wants us to realize that God is a personal God.  Not only does He reveal Himself, He knows us better than we know ourselves and He always chooses the best way to communicate to us.  

The writer wants to point out to us Jesus' superiority.  In verse 4, the writer says, "having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."  In the prior verses there are seven significant proofs that declare Jesus to be superior to the angels:

1.  Heir to all things (v.2)
2.  Creator of all things (v.2)
3.  Reflector of God's glory (v.3 - radiance)
4.  Revealer of God's character (v.3)
5.  Sustainer of the universe (v.3)
6.  Redeemer (v.3)
7.  Ruler of the universe (v.4)

Psalm 2:7 is quoted here in Hebrews 1:5.  It says, "You are my son, today I have begotten you".  2 Samuel 7:14 is also quoted saying, "I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son."  Jesus alone is the heir to all things.  He is not only "the firstborn", but also "the only begotten".  This right here proves that the angels are inferior to the Son.  

Psalm 104:4 is quoted in verse 7, "He makes his angel winds, and his ministers a flame of fire."  The role of the angels is to worship Him and it is their mission to minister to those who will inherit salvation.  

Hebrews 1:8-9 says this, "...Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions."  Jesus is Eternal!

Hebrews 1:13 says, "And to which of the angels has he ever said, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'?"  Only the Son has been summoned to the right hand of the Father.  Being at the right hand indicates power, prominence, influence and prestige.  With this close proximity to the Father, the Son can intercede on behalf of the saints.  

As a result of Jesus' sacrificial death, we have a responsibility to share this good news with the entire world.  Even to a world that sometimes refuses to listen.    

Worship

What does it mean to worship?  Well worship is defined as "the reverent LOVE and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object."  God wants us to worship Him.  We worship God out of fear (not being afraid, but of awe), devotion, reverence.  How do we do that?  We can sing, shout, cry out.

Why do we worship?
For starters, we worship because of the blessings that He gives.  Second, we worship in spite of difficult circumstances.  And also, because of His grace and mercy.

Psalm 66:18 says, "If I had cherished iniquity (sin) in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."

What kind of worshiper does God want me (and you) to be?  He tells us in Psalm 1:12:  "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." 

Stuart Townsend and Keith Getty penned the song "In Christ Alone".  You may have heard portions of it from the Newsboys in a song by the same name.  It says these profound words:

"In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm."

Psalm 34 tells us how to praise and worship and the promise that comes from that action. 

Let's look at those verses:

Action                                                       Promise
(v.1)    extol (praise)                                always speak His name
(v.2)    boast                                              rejoice who God is
(v.3)    magnify                                         exalt His name forever
(v.4)    seek                                                deliver from fears
(v.5)    look to Him                                  never be ashamed
(v.6)    cry                                                  save from troubles
(v.9-10) fear                                              not lack good things

My final thoughts I will close with Psalm 103:1, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"

prayer

I started a journal some time ago.  I haven't kept up with it.  But here was my first entry.  I used it during a Sunday School lesson on a Sunday that we didn't have a planned lesson.  I hope that you can take something out of it.  Journaling isn't one of my strong suits.  I'm not very artistic, so I don't do it very often.

prayer

1.  Prayer begins in solitude.

• "Solitude" means "the state or quality of being alone or remote from others".

2.  Prayer includes speaking honestly to God.

• When you are being honest verbally to God you deepen your relationship with Him.
• He already knows.

3.  Prayer involves asking God for help and thanking Him when he provides it.

4.  When tempted to complain, pray.

Solitude:

Psalm 46 and 62

verse 1 of Psalm 46:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble"

verse 10 of Psalm 46:

"Be still, and know that I am God."

"Be still" is a Hebrew verb that can be translated "to relax".

verse 5 of Psalm 62:

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him."

Matthew 9 is the Model Prayer

"The first thing we need to do when we get in God's presence is be still.  The second thing we need to do is be still some more.  Then we can begin to listen, and then we can begin to hear from Him and experience His power in our lives."  - Steve May, "Silence in Solitude"

Speak Honestly

Psalm 73:1, "Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart."

Tell God your deep, dark, secret thoughts.

Asking & Thanksgiving

Psalm 13

David had four burdens:

1.  feeling forgotten by God

2.  feeling cut off from God's favor

3.  experiencing deep depression

4.  suffering the humiliation of losing

Be patient and wait for the Lord.

Temptation to Complain

When you're tempted to complain, use your temptation as an opportunity to ask for God's help and thank Him for His blessings and love.


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Creation

It's been a few days since I've blogged.  We've been on vacation.  I'll blog about that in the days to come.  But, since returning I want to start on Genesis.  I'm going to talk about Genesis 1 & 2 today.  This is the story of creation.  We've heard the story of creation so many times before.  But, maybe we can gain something out of if anyway.  

The word "Genesis" actually means "beginning" or "the origin or mode of formation of something."  It tells us in Genesis 1:1 that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  That means there was nothing to begin with.  It was void.  Picture an artist with a blank canvas, starting with just a blank white surface.  

When I read the creation story, I picture God as the master artist.  He started with a blank canvas.  His first creation was the heavens and the earth.  This would mean the creation of the galaxies.  All the stars and planets that we see today.  There are millions of them.  Then he created the earth. He designed the world in which we live.  It's immaculate and complex.  It was dark.  So, he created light, the sun, moon & stars.    Isn't it marvelous?  And, what is more amazing it is that He just spoke the words and it came to be.  Days, nights, weeks, months, seasons, years.  We are soon approaching fall.  Things will pass away and go into hibernation for the coming winter months.  Then, spring will come and bring everything new again.  He then created the "firmament."  Well, that's just another word for our atmosphere that creates the perfect conditions for vegetation to grow.   He separated the land from the sea and created vegetation.  He created the creatures of the land and sea.  He created us. 

Genesis 2:7 says this:  "then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature."  Have you ever wondered why he created us?  Well, I believe that He created us specifically to have a relationship with Him.  He created us to LOVE us.  He created us in His image.  You want relationship with others.  If we are in His image, it begs to reason that He wants us to have a relationship with Him.   Have you ever wondered what it was like there in the Garden of Eden?  I can only imagine that God, Adam & Eve spent a lot of time together.  Relationship.  That's the reason, I believe, that God created this world.  Yet, we deny Him this relationship with us.  We have other things that seem to take priority over our lives:  a child's ballgame, the shopping mall, a television show, the list could go on and on.  How about, today, make God your priority.  He created us for this purpose.  

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for this beautiful creation we call earth.  Thank you for creating me to have a relationship with you.  Forgive me, Father, for those times when I have placed greater importance on things other than you.  Help create a desire in my heart to spend more time with you.  In Jesus name, Amen.

God's Children

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On to today's post:

What does it mean to be a child of God?  What makes a child of God different from the rest of the world?  I didn’t talk about it last time, but 1 John 2:29 tells us that Christians are those who are “born” of God.  This is just an emphasis that the Christian’s spiritual life is a result of God’s redemptive work in us.  Once we are “born again”, we are called God’s Children.  So, what is the significance of being called the “children of God” and what does it mean for our lives?

1 John 3:1 says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.  The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 

The KJV says “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us”.  Don’t you just love that verse!  It’s through God’s love that we can become His children.  It’s an honor.  Can you imagine the love that God must have for us to “allow” us to be His?  I imagine this as how adoptive parents feel toward their children.  Do you know any children who have been adopted?  We know several folks who have adopted.  Let me tell you, they love their children just as much as if they were born to them.  It’s unconditional.  That’s just like the love of God for us.  Do you know the song “How He Loves” by the David Crowder Band?  It goes like this:

"He is jealous for me, loves like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions
Eclipsed by glory and I realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me

And oh, how He loves us, oh
Oh, how He loves us, how He loves us all"

That's the love that He has for you and I.  It's strong, like a hurricane.

Well, take a look at that second verse.  It tells us that the world doesn’t know us.  People who are lost know us, so what does that mean?  It means that they don’t recognize what we have become in Christ.  They may even look at us as religious freaks.  Why?  Because they just don’t know Jesus.  We should expect the world to treat us the same as the world treated Jesus.  Despised.  Rejected.  Think of it this way:  while Jesus was here on earth, he has a great following, they saw his miracles, they believed in who he said he was.  Yet, they were the ones that wanted to crucify him.  See how the world does? The world will turn it’s back on you.

But, look at verse 16!  It says “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”  Jesus laid down his life for you (and me).  Shouldn’t we be willing to do the same thing?  Shouldn’t we be willing to take the criticism of the world? 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing me to be one of your children.  Help me, each day, I pray, to realize the love that you have for me.  I know you loved me so much that you sent Jesus to die on the cross for my sins.  Help me, Lord, to remember that love and to share it with others.  Forgive me for ever not believing in that love. In Jesus name, Amen.

**Note:  I cannot take credit for the graphics.  I found these.  I apologize to whomever and will remove them if the owner doesn't approve.