Streams in the Desert.....

 Streams in the Desert

The last drops of my sacrifice are falling; my time to go has come. I have fought in the good fight; I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:6-22).

As soldiers show their scars and talk of battles when they come at last to spend their old age in the country at home, so shall we in the dear land to which we are hastening, speak of the goodness and faithfulness of God who brought us through all the trials of the way. I would not like to stand in the white-robed host and hear it said, "These are they that came out of great tribulation, all except one."

Would you like to be there and see yourself pointed at as the one saint who never knew a sorrow? Oh, no! for you would be an alien in the midst of the sacred brotherhood. We will be content to share the battle, for we shall soon wear the crown and wave the palm.
--C. H. Spurgeon

"Where were you wounded?" asked the surgeon of a soldier at Lookout Mountain. "Almost at the top," he answered. He forgot even his gaping wound--he only remembered that he had won the heights.

So let us go forth to higher endeavors for Christ and never rest till we can shout from the very top, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

Finish thy work, then rest,
Till then rest never;
The rest for thee by God
Is rest forever.

God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.

Of an old hero the minstrel sang--

With his Yemen sword for aid;
Ornament it carried none,
But the notches on the blade.

What nobler decoration of honor can any godly man seek after than his scars of service, his losses for the crown, his reproaches for Christ's sake, his being worn out in his Master's service.

Contagious Joy..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Contagious Joy

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 John 1:1-4

Jesus calls us to be His “witnesses.” When some Christians hear this word, they worry that they need exceptional skill or charisma in order to share the good news with others. Yet to witness is not to merely speak of the “plan of salvation” to someone. The word literally means to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception; to testify; bear witness to; give or afford evidence of. When John wrote that he was sharing what he had experienced first-hand, he was saying, “I am full of joy because of the experience of knowing Jesus, and I want to invite you to share in that joy!”

When you’re in love with someone, you are excited about the relationship and time spent together. Likewise, when you’re in love with Jesus, you can’t keep to yourself the joy that comes from knowing Him—it just spills over, bearing witness and strengthening other believers. In fact, as you give testimony of who God is and how He’s working in your life, it makes no difference whether you speak quietly or with great exuberance: in their spirit, Christians will pick up on the deep, genuine gladness in your heart that goes beyond natural happiness. And people who don’t yet know the Lord will find themselves hungering for the relationship you have. In that way, they will be drawn to His Spirit in you.

Witnessing is not a matter of eloquence or talent. It’s an overflow of the personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is conforming you to His image. As you allow the Holy Spirit to increasingly express His life and power through you, contagious joy will be “fruit” of His indwelling presence.

God's Dream for You before You Were Born..... by Lynette Kittle

 God's Dream for You before You Were Born

by Lynette Kittle

Expectant parents often have high hopes and dreams for their babies. Some dream of their daughter or son becoming the President of the U.S.A., a New York Times best selling author, or an Olympic athlete.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, didn’t have to guess God’s plan for her son. Before Jesus was conceived, she was told His heavenly Father’s purpose in Him being born. Jesus was coming to save people from their sins.

Although the angel Gabriel told Mary God’s plan for Jesus’ life, she could only imagine how it would be accomplished in His life. Hearing the plans, she must have had hopes and dreams in how it would be fulfilled. Most likely her thoughts did not envision Him being crucified on a cross.

Like Jesus, God was overseeing your life before you were born. “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

As Jeremiah 29:11 explains, God has hopes and dreams for you, too. “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

If you believe you alone are in control of your life, Proverbs 16:9 gives another perspective. “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

As well, Scriptures explains:

• “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).
• “Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

Or, maybe you feel like you’ve been stumbling through life and are missing out on what God has planned for you? If so, Psalm 37:24 assures that although you may stumble, you will not fall, for the Lord upholds you with His Hand.

If you’ve made choices or had things happen to you that have caused you to feel hopeless, Romans 8:28 assures you that it’s not too late for His purposes for your life to be fulfilled, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

As Psalm 37:4 encourages, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Choose to delight in God because, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him” (Psalm 37:23).

Blessed Are You Among Women!..... By Sarah Phillips

 Blessed Are You Among Women!

By Sarah Phillips

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to the city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." - Luke 1: 39 - 45

You don't need me to tell you Christmas is here. Chances are, this past week, you've been rushing around trying to get last-minute errands completed. I had a mental list of "must do's" running through my own head.

So as I read the gospel for the final Sunday of Advent, I was struck by how Mary prepared for Christ's coming. Mary received the biggest news of human history, the coming of the Messiah (through her?!), and what did she do? Mary set aside her own agenda and "went with haste" to visit her cousin Elizabeth. At this point, Elizabeth's pregnancy is entering the final trimester and no doubt this older mother is tired and in need of assistance.

I imagine Mary must have had a lot of thoughts running through her head on the way to Judah. "Is Elizabeth really pregnant in her old age? She must be… but really? And how am I going to explain my situation to Elizabeth? Will she believe me?"

Mary's arrival is one of those great moments in history - a moment that reverberates throughout the ages that follow. This simple story of two pregnant women meeting carries so many implications. Some of the themes that stick out to me include:

1. Mary's faith. Mary was obedient to God and put faith in him. She set aside her own comfort and questions to help Elizabeth. Mary's virtue shines through here, and God throws in a little reward - a miraculous and joyful greeting from Elizabeth.

2. Elizabeth's selflessness. Elizabeth's news is a pretty big deal. Her husband receives a vision from an angel and she conceives in her old age after years of waiting. Yet, her first response focuses not on her big news, but on Mary's. This reveals Elizabeth's virtue and also adds emphasis to the reality that Mary's news holds even more profound implications for humanity than Elizabeth's miracle.

3. The humanity of the unborn. In those days, pregnant women didn't enjoy the luxury of ultrasound technology. Yet, God makes the humanity of these little ones very clear here. Elizabeth exclaims, "And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Elizabeth refers to Mary as "mother" in the present tense and she refers to the growing baby inside of Mary (who probably wasn't even showing yet) with his proper title: Lord. God was "with us" the moment Mary conceived, and even the unborn John the Baptist recognized this!

4. God works through fellow human beings. God could have found any number of ways to communicate his message that day. He chose to speak through Elizabeth and John and the communion between Mary and Elizabeth. He also brought help to Elizabeth during her last trimester through Mary and comfort to the newly pregnant Mary through Elizabeth.

5. God's love for women. How can there be any doubt that God has a special place in his heart for the fairer sex after reading of Mary and Elizabeth's stories? God could have arrived on earth in any form he chose… and while the rest of the world remained ignorant, two women basked in the presence and knowledge of the Lord.

I am sure great theologians can extract even more from this story, but I'll leave it here for today. As you celebrate Christmas, imitate Mary who "treasured up" the mysteries revealed to her and "pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19).

Intersecting Faith & Life: How has God been present in your life this holiday season? Think of the little ways God makes his presence known and brings you comfort and joy even in the midst of trials.

Further Reading

Psalms 80:2-3,15-16,18-19
Hebrews 10:5-10

A Prayer for the Fire Seasons of Your Life..... By: Lindsay Tedder

 A Prayer for the Fire Seasons of Your Life

By: Lindsay Tedder

“Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called: ‘Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God - come out!’ So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.” - Daniel 3:26

Have you ever eaten raw chicken?

I hope not! I assume that you would never intentionally consume raw chicken. If you’ve ever had food poisoning, you know why you would never do such a thing.

We must cook our food to a certain temperature in order for it to provide nutritious value to our bodies and not cause us harm. Are we any different?

God is the chef, we are the raw chicken. He delicately prepares us for the journey to which He has called us. All raw chicken has to go through a “fire season” in order to provide us healthy nutrition.

We too, must endure a fire season of our own, in order to be prepared for our calling in Christ. The Lord must prepare us, stand with us in the fire, and get us ready for the life He has in store for us.

When King Nebuchadnezzar ordered all in his kingdom to bow down to the idol that he had fashioned, he expected all to follow his orders. To ensure they all would bow as he commanded, he threatened their lives. I believe the assumption was that if someone’s life would be in jeopardy, they would do what he said.

When Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego refused to bow down to the idol, they created quite an uproar in the kingdom. When word got back to the king, he had his men fire up the furnace seven times hotter than normal. He was determined to show these traitors his power. They willingly admitted their refusal to bow down to anyone other than the one true God. They were bound and carried to the fire. The fire was so hot that the men who were leading these three to the entrance lost their own lives as they threw them in the flames.

When King Nebuchadnezzar saw what appeared to be four men walking around in the furnace, he knew that their God was real. He saw it and he believed it. When he had them drawn out of the fire, they showed no signs of damage. They didn’t smell, they weren’t burned, they had not suffered at all; but they would never be the same.

Let’s pray today for God to show up in our “fire seasons” – that though life may try to scorch us, God will see us through and use these times of trials and sufferings to make us into children who are more like him.

Lord,

Thank you for sending Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego to be the forefathers of the fire season. Thank you for the visual, biblical, and historical example that the fire season is real. Thank you for the reminder in Psalm 66:12, “we went through fire and water but you brought us out to abundance.”

I pray that my fire season isn’t quite as intense as a literal fire, however, I know that if it is, there will always be another there with me. Lord, I know that everyone’s fire season will look different and I pray that you use mine to prepare me for the journey you have ordained.

I know that no matter the fire, I will never be alone and I will never be the same. I pray to be brought from the fire into abundance. Lord, thank you for taking the time to prepare me for who you have called me to be. Thank you for the fire season, and I pray that I never underestimate its value.

In Jesus’ Name, 

Amen

HAS THE GRINCH STOLEN YOUR CHRISTMAS?..... Pastor Jeff Schreve

 HAS THE GRINCH STOLEN YOUR CHRISTMAS?

Pastor Jeff Schreve

And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” 
Luke 2:10-11

Without a doubt, Christmas is to be a time of GREAT JOY.  On that first Christmas night, the angel announced to the shepherds “good news of a great joy.”  The Savior has come!!  WOW!!  Those shepherds were so excited.  That announcement changed their lives forever.  They were filled with joy and wonder and praise.

At Christmas time, are you filled with joy and wonder and praise?  Or has the devil, the original Grinch, the thief who comes only to steal and kill and destroy, stolen those things from you?  If so, there is still time to get it back!

Think about the angel’s announcement, “There has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  What does that really mean for you and me? 

1.  The Savior has come to save you from a dark past.  So many people are suffering with intense guilt over bad things they have done in the past.  The devil beats them to death with shame and guilt.  But be beaten no longer!  All the terrible, horrible things you have done are no match for the Savior’s blood that He shed for you on the cross.  The moment you confess those sins to God and repent of them, you are forgiven!!  Remember what the Savior said to Peter, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy” (Acts 10:15).

2.  The Savior has come to save you from an empty present.  Many people are surviving and not really living.  Jesus came at Christmas not to fill your empty stocking, but to fill your empty life!  He has a purpose and a plan for you.  Come to Him.  Surrender to Him.  Let Him lead you.  He wants to bring you joy and peace, regardless of your circumstances.  He wants to use your life to make a difference in others, a difference that will last for all eternity.  It makes life worth living to know that everyday is an exciting adventure with the Lord, an opportunity to touch another person with the love and joy of Jesus.

3.  The Savior has come to save you from a hopeless future.  Everyone without God is without hope.  No one comes to the Father without the Savior, Jesus Christ.  But now He has come, and we can really know Him personally, and we can be assured of His presence and provision while we live … and His heaven when we die.  Paul said, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9).  WOW!  What a future is in store for the child of God!

My friend, do not let the devil steal from you and your Christmas time any longer!  The Savior has come, and He has come for you!  Receive the good news and rejoice in the truth!

Love,

Pastor Jeff Schreve