Sometimes

-
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3)

Sometimes when you are working on something you think, "Is this ever going to work?"  As a pastor, it happens at least once a week.  It's about halfway through your sermon preparation.  Then all of a sudden, WOW!  Well, that happened to me today.  Expect it wasn't this weeks sermon (I'm going to have to revisit it tomorrow).  But the Christmas Sunday sermon just happened this morning.  

Christmas Sunday for us is Dec. 16th.  The kids and youth are going to be helping me out during the service.  But this sermon!!

Now some of you are thinking, "Well, you think every sermon is a home run."  No - there isn't a pastor anywhere who will say that.  I've gone to the pulpit with some sermons and thought to myself, "This isn't going to go well."  Then I'm surprised and see people really respond to it.  

When I see God really move on a message like He did today, I know that there is something special about it.  God is going to show up in a big way.  But the plan has to come together.  

People have to pray for that day.  
People have to bring their friends, family, and acquaintances to hear this message from God, especially ones that haven't placed their faith in Christ.  
People have to be ready to receive.  Never assume anything, always come prepared.  

How are you helping prepare your church this Christmas?

First of all pray for your pastor, pray for people and pray for the people who need to hear your churches message this holiday season. 

Secondly, set the example.  Invite people to attend church with you.  Tell them that you will be there and here is a great idea.  Get to church early and meet them at the front door.  That way they will see a friendly face. 

Thirdly, purpose to celebrating the birth of Jesus through your worship.  The holidays are great.  Traditions are wonderful, but worship is the best. 

PRAY:  Dear Jesus, walk with me this holiday season and let my life and my church honor You.  AMEN  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Went For A Walk

-
Image
Last Thursday, after realizing I forgot my wedding anniversary, I took my wife out for a walk that night.   It wasn’t just any walk, it is her favorite one.   Downtown, along the river, plus a couple of slices of our favorite pizza.   We talked about life after Covid, our daughter, marriage, and people we know and love.   It has been moments like these when I realize her resolve to be who God created her to be.   Moms need to know that.  I am saddened by our culture's ranting against mothers.  Today we hear how motherhood is a burden that you can take or leave.  Motherhood has never been a burden to Betty.  N-E-V-E-R  While it hasn’t been easy, the truth is, it has never nor will ever be easy for anyone.   Surveys in 2022 noted that moms feel overwhelmed. shorturl.at/auzH3   Covid, coupled with inflation and job instability is pouring gasoline on the fire.   What can you do? (Moms or Dads)  Prioritize and use the word “NO”.  Once you have determined that motherhoo
Read more

What A Day!

-
Image
Today is Mothers Day.  On this day:  More people purchase fresh flowers and plants for Mother's Day than for any other holiday except Christmas/Hanukkah. In 2019, the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that US consumers will spend $25 billion celebrating Mother's Day. Shoppers will spend an average of $196.00 on Mom. According to the Insure.com 2018 Mother's Day Index, the various tasks moms perform at home would be worth $68,875 (up from $67,619 in 2017) a year in the professional world. https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/06/us/mothers-day-fast-facts/index.html Motherhood is God's idea, and He had a great idea!  He created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and said in Genesis 1:28, "... And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply... "   They had kids, their kids had kids, and the rest is history.  But where did Eve learn how to be a mom?  She didn't have one, remember?   I can only surmise, but I think these are good
Read more

Parenting Simplified (Well I tried to.)

-
Image
Betty doesn’t like me blogging about her too much. So let me go with one more for now and let you see a bit of her heart.  She doesn’t like the world any better now than when she gave birth to Anneka. (Neither do I.)   If you think that’s a strange thing to say, you’re right. But let me explain myself.  The idea that a child will make your world a better place isn’t accurate. Stop shouting at the screen. Just keep reading.   Before we got pregnant, both of us had enough wisdom to understand what we were doing, in as much as we knew that this would change our lives.  Would it be for the better? That was the plan.  Would it enrich our lives? We hoped so.   But to think that a child would turn our world into a magical place of perfection and joy was never a thought.   If anything, the world worked against us from day one. (Still is.) There were challenges of all kinds and new hurdles to jump. Just about the time you thought you were out of the woods, BAM, here we go again.   Betty was and
Read more