13 Dec Enjoying Advent!
Happy Tuesday y’all!
Well…our journey toward Christmas is being filled with many things…some are awesome & some quite challenging…
Let’ see what’s up so far…
- Our regularly scheduled Zoom Bible Study Catch-up is ON! This one’s in the “awesome” basket…it’d be even awesome-r if you joined us!
Friday – December 16, 2022 @ 1:00 PM — Join Zoom Meeting — https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83502801646 — Meeting ID: 835 0280 1646
- This coming Sunday is a Morning Tea Sunday! Let’s spend some time after worship enjoying the fellowship of God’s people. As always…if you know someone who hasn’t been around in a while, invite them to join you. You know this is in the “awesome” stack!
- Christmas Worship:
- Christmas Eve – Saturday – 24th December @ 7:00 p.m.
- Christmas Day – Sunday – 25th December @ 9:00 a.m. (note the difference from our usual Sunday timeslot)
- 1st Sunday after Christmas (New Year’s Day) – Sunday 1st January @ 10:100 a.m.
Again…these present wonderful opportunities to gather a few friends or nearby family & invite them to join you in celebrating God coming to us in Jesus for our life, hope & salvation. More “awesome.”
- How are you going reading the Daily Blessings? I’m serious about us finishing 2022 bathed in God’s promises. Today was Psalm 121…or at least that’s the one I read. I really hold on to verse 7-8, but the whole psalm could be memorized and repeated over every day!
- We’re seeing a few of our folks in the hospital or facing significant struggle at the moment…This is where the challenge comes in. It’s on each of us to care for one another & be ready to pray & then act to make good come from the struggle. The Spirit will give you the words or time or whatever is essential in the moment…just respond as you are able.
My Bible reading this morning, besides Ps 121, also included 1 Timothy 4-6…
It struck me that 4:1 begins: Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits & teachings that come from demons.
Because of that…4:16 reads: Keep a close watch on how you live & on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation & the salvation of those who hear you.
Then 6:12 concludes: Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you…
I think Paul’s advice is spot on here…in our generation especially.
Because the world will willingly choose deception that is purely self-indulgent…will create a worldview that says we emerge from random chaos & descend into random chaos at the end & for that reason can cast off all boundaries & guidance & restraint & historical wisdom and simply “eat drink & be merry” as a way to stave off the realization of impending death.
Because of that…we need to be mindful of how we live & what we say about what we believe. We need to keep our words aligned with the word delivered to us in Jesus. We need to keep our lives aligned to the heartbeat of the Father…his desires becoming ours, his way leading ours.
At the same time we also recognize we’re going to be challenged & assaulted by the deceptions & confrontations of evil (“teachings that come from demons” & people who have sold themselves to those things). But what’s the promise?
The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.
See…that’s why I want you reading those promises!
See you Sunday…and Friday too.
God bless you with all sorts of awesome!
John
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.