December 20, 2009

 Proverbs 13: 12

   Gifts Of God For The People Of God 

Proverbs

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.  NIV

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Thoughts...

I've often heard this phrase stated this way:  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but longing fulfilled is a joy forever.  And the NLT states it this way:  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy.

It may seem strange to you that this would be the focus of scripture and thoughts this Sunday before we celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas.  But isn't Jesus indeed 'the tree of life'...'a joy forever'...and doesn't he give us 'life and joy'?

As I read the Old Testament, I find it wrought with a lot of pain and suffering, yet there is hope.  The New Testament is not just about hope, it is about promise fulfilled...because Jesus was born, because he obeyed his Heavenly Father, because he died for us.

Babbi Mason sings, 'Hope has a name...and his name is Jesus.  Indeed...a longing fulfilled. 

What are the gifts of God for the people of God?  First is God's love for us.  Second, is his gift of Jesus.  As we watch the story of Jesus' birth unfold, we will see many gifts....God's love, Mary's love, Joseph's love...the gift of salvation available to all....read along with me as I share excerpts of the story of Jesus' birth taken from Luke chapters 1 and 2.  I wish we were 'live' so you could close your eyes and listen to the heart of God's love for us.

"...God sent the angel Gabriel to 'Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary.  She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.  Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman!  The Lord is with you!"

Confused and disturbed, [no more than I would be] Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.  "Don't be frightened, Mary," the angel told her, "for God has decided to bless you!  You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.  And he will reign over Israel forever, his Kingdom will never end!"  

Mary asked the angel, "But how can I have a baby?  I am a virgin."

The angel repied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the son of God.  What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age!   People used to say she was barren, but she's already in her sixth month.  For nothing is impossible with God."  

Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants  [Have you said this to the Lord in regards to your own life?].  May everything you have said come true."  And then the angel left. 

A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived.  She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth.  At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  [Note:  Elizabeth's child was alive in the womb.]  

Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, "You are blessed by God above all other women, and your child is blessed.  What an honor this is, that the mother of my Lord should visit me!  [Holy Spirit informed her that Mary was carrying the about to be born King...Savior.]  When you came in and greeted me, my baby jumped for joy [he was alive...had life] the instant I heard your voice!  You are blessed, because you believed that the Lord would do what he said."  [Do you believe what God's tells you for your life?]

"...For he promised our ancestors-Abraham and his children-to be merciful to them forever."  [This mercy is for all who believe in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit.]

Then Zechariah, [Elizabeth's husband, and the father of Elizabeth's baby who became John the Baptist]  was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:  

"Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited his people and redeemed them.  He has sent us a mightly Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.  Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.  He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant with them, the covenant he gave to our ancestor Abraham.  We have been rescued form our enemies, so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and rightousness forever.  [Alleluia.]

And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.  You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.  Because of Gods' tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."  [This salvation is for all of us in the world, if we only believe...and receive.]

At that time the roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.  (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  All returned to their own towns to register for this census.  And because Joseph was a descendant of King  David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home.  He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.  He took with him Mary, his fiancee, who was obviously pregnant by this time.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  She gave birth to her first child, a son.  She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.  [Interesting note:  This seems to parallel his death as he was wrapped in cloth laid in a tomb.]

That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them.  They were terribly firghtened, but the angel reassured them.  "Don't be afraid!" he said.  "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!  [Everyone.]  The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And this is how you will recognize him:  You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"

Sudddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven-praising God:

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors."

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem!  Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph.  And there was the baby, lying in the manger.  Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.  All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and though about them often.  The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, gloryifying and paising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said."

Gifts of God for the people of God.  How many can you count?  We know that God's gift to mankind is Jesus.  As we prepare to celebrate his birth, let us think about why God gave us Jesus as a precious gift of life.  Indeed...to receive a precious gift for our lives...salvation:  forgiveness of sins.  And the gift we give back as thanks is our lives...how we live them, how we share Him with others. in an attempt to receive eternal life, as we show God how grateful we are for the gift he gave us...Jesus.  

And isn't that how all life should be when a child is conceived?  Respect for life...understanding it is a precious gift from the time of conception?  Making our lives right so to give a sound foundation from which the child can learn and grow?  And showing God our gratitude by living right, loving, allowing life to be born, giving and receiving love?  Oh, there is so much more I could share with you.  But I want you to focus on God's gifts to you in all he says and does that is written above.  And then I want you to look at your  lives and see, "Where is love, does it fall from skies above?  Is it underneath the willow tree, that I've been dreaming of?"  Or is it in the heart of God, the fullness of the life of Jesus, being enveloped in the embrace of Holy Spirit?  

Gifts of God for the people of God.  What has he given you today?  Will you accept it and unwrap it, and embrace it with the fullness of your life and love?  What have you given him...what will you give him?  Will you wrap it with care?  Will you give it with love?  

Are you pregnant and considering an abortion?  Please don't.  It's God's gift to you and many.  

Do you see someone suffering, financially troubled, emotionally distraught?  Please consider reaching out to them today....everyday.  It might make all the difference between life and death for them.  It may be someone living on the streets, a neighbor, a friend, someone from your church...or that of another.  God said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  Taken in the positive sense as it was intended, it means that you should reach out first, in love, filling their needs, then pray, that they will be there for you when you might need them.  Think you won't need them?  Expect your test to begin.  Perhaps someone needs help to start or restart their business?  Can you...will you help them?  A handout is a hand up to many.  Don't use cliches.  Use your heart?  Haven't got one?  Find God's.  

Gifts of God for the people of God.    Is an animal hungry, or cold, or thirsty?  Do the birds need something?  Do the trees near you need watering?  Romans 8 says, "All creatures wait for the second coming of man."  No one and nothing is beneath you.  We are all equal in God's eyes.  Read scripture to find how often everyone speaks of how God speaks to and loves also those we call the 'things' of the earth. 

Gifts of God for the people of God.  Make this Christmas one of glad tidings and great joy as you usher Jesus into your hearts....into your lives.  And then, share all that he is with others as you go forth praising him with all the angels singing, "Glory to God in the highest."

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Let Us Pray

Dear God, thank you for sending us the newborn King, Jesus.  Thank you, Mary, for listening to God and being willing to give birth to our Savior.  And thank you, Holy Spirit for bringing them together.  We owe you our thanks and our gratitude for the gift of God's love for us...Jesus.  Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love you and serve you with gladness and newness of heart for Jesus Christ our Lord, as we worship you and worthily magnify your holy name.  Glory to God in the highest, peace and goodwill to all on earth.  Amen.  

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Silent Night

Silent night, holy night.  All is calm, all is bright.

Round yon virgin, Mother and child,

Holy infant, so tender and mild.

Sleep in heavenly peace....sleep in heavenly peace.

May we all sleep in heavenly peace...tonight and every night knowing that Jesus Christ has been born the newborn King, and that he is Lord over our lives.  Is he Lord over your life?  If not...make him your Lord today.  Long for him....he is the tree of life, he will give you life and joy...forever.  The gift of God for the people of God.  Rejoice and be glad in him forever.  Jesus....... 

Merry Christmas everyone. 

Mistletoe, blessings & hugs,

Melinda 

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 Benediction...Blessing

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resouces he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation.  

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regulary to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:16 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our Current Cause

My family and I, and the church, are in crisis and could desperately use your prayers and financial support.  Due to medical concerns, employment crisis, and economic devastation,  I do not have funding to meet everyday expenses right now for the church, or family, and home, nor those necessary to keep this website afloat, for those shut-in or needing spiritual support, nor the ability to help others along the way.  But I am confident that, with your help, balance can be achieved.  As God touches your heart, I hope you will pray earnestly for this church, my family and me, and send any amount of money you can to help.  Please note 'Church and Family' on your check, and, I will see that all funds get divided appropriately.  The church, I and my family, as well as to those to whom we reach out, will be sincerely grateful for anything you can do to help.  

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and may God bless you!

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 Checks or money orders can be made out to

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Church of the Holy Spirit

P.O. Box 86076

Tucson, Arizona

85754-6076

If you have any questions, we can be reached at:

1-866-402-GIFT

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Mountain Time

or

TrinityMissions@msn.com

As we grow, you will have options for allocating your gifts.

In the meantime, we hope you will trust us to direct them to where the need is the greatest.

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'

 "Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

  Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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