Why Worry?

 

Dear friends,

Merry Christmas! New Year’s Eve is just around the corner and no matter what the New Year brings, God is still on His throne. With that assurance we can have peace in our hearts, knowing His plan for the ages is still on track.

 

What will happen in the new year is unknown. We look at the events of the previous year and wonder what next? I do not doubt that question has been asked down through the ages. There are those who would claim to know the future, but over time they are shown to be only guessing what will happen.

 

We can worry about what we see happening in the world, but the remedy for worry is to trust in the God who created everything, and who holds the world in His hands.

 

Jesus told His disciples that they were not to worry about the future, but to live for today. Let’s look at some of his instructions regarding this thing called worry. We try to call worry other names so that it doesn’t seem we are worrying. Christians like to use words like concern, anxious, or bothered. Those are all synonyms for worry.

 

Now, back to the scriptures. Read with me the words of Jesus; “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matthew 6:25-34).

 

Have a happy, blessed, and worry-free New Year,

Pastor Jerry

Listening

 

Dear readers,

Merry Christmas to all. It was a quiet week at our house. We had a few appointments to keep but stayed home otherwise. We enjoy this thing called retirement, but in that we try to find things to do around home that keep us from growing stale, so to speak.

 

In this busy time of year, we can be overcome by the sounds that come at us from every direction. There is a lot of ‘noise’ in the world that distracts us from the important things. As I get older my memory sometimes brings up long-forgotten memories of situations and conversations. I’m not one to dwell on the past, but still there are those memories.

 

In a recent conversation, I was reminded of a time in the far distant past. Some folks, including myself, were engaged in small talk around the dinner table. One of the group, a professional truck driver was asked if he had a radio in his semi. His answer was, “No, I listen to the truck engine, that’s what is making the money!

 

In the Bible, we are told to listen for the voice of the Lord. For this to happen, we need to have a quiet time when we turn off the loud sounds of life to hear what is important. Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.”

 

Basically, it says turn off the distracting sounds and listen for God to speak. Psalm 46:10 reads, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations.”

 

The prophet Elijah was needing a word from God. As he stood on the mountain this happened:

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. (1 Kings 19:11-13).

 

Finally, some advice from the Lord Jesus: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen.” (Matthew 6:6).

 

Just listening,

Pastor Jerry

Giving and Receiving

 

Dear friends,

            Fair weather was the word of the week. It is always a good feeling to have moderate temperatures in December. Many times there is deep snow and cold this time of year. My point is this; let’s enjoy mild weather while we can, and count every nice day as being one day closer to spring!

            Christmas is a time of giving. People everywhere are shopping for that perfect gift for family and friends. Well, except for the ones who are organized and have had their shopping done for months already. Christmas is also a time for receiving. Every gift given needs a recipient, and the transaction is not complete until the one receiving has accepted or taken the gift.

            Many years ago, our family had fallen on hard times. There were no funds to purchase Christmas gifts for our kids. I had shared this information with a friend in a conversation and a few days before Christmas, I got a phone call from him asking us to their house as they had something to tell us.

            We went to their place and after some small talk, he told us he and his wife had decided to give us a cash gift so that we could get some Christmas gifts for our boys. He handed me a check saying he and his wife had a little savings account and they were giving to us out of their savings. I have never forgotten that evening. We were in tears over their kindness and generosity.

            The gift was given, but only by receiving the gift would the blessing be complete. I could have said that’s nice, but only by reaching out and taking that check would we benefit from their generosity.

            John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” In John 1:12 we read, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

            Did you get that? The gift was given, but only by receiving, or taking it will it be of any use to us. The gift from our friends was a picture of the message of Christmas. Salvation comes as a gift from God, but we must accept that gift.

 

In His love,

Pastor Jerry

Herald Angels

 

Dear readers,

The snow of last week has disappeared and moderate temperatures are forecast for the immediate future. I doubt there are any complaints over this news. The Lake Ericson Trail of Lights for this season was a success. Our family appreciates all the volunteers and their donated time and talent to bring this about. The weather conditions were near perfect both nights.

As the media coverage and fan support for Nebraska volleyball grows, one wonders what would happen if people got excited about Jesus in the same way? Think about it. Churches would be full; Christians would spill out into the streets proclaiming the name of Jesus. There would be an increase in sales of tee shirts and other advertising merchandise. The Good News would be the top story of the day every day.

Church service times would look like sports schedules complete with times and places those events would take place. All the focus would be on Jesus as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). Every word from every mouth would be praise for the Lord. Think about that! In fact, this sounds a lot like heaven as described in the book of Revelation.

Here is a part of that description from chapter 19: The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”

            Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

            Praise our God, all you his servants,

            you who fear him, both small and great!’

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

            Hallelujah!

            For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

            Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!

            For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:4-7).

In this Advent season, let us proclaim the Good News of Jesus every day and in every way. Christmas is His season; the beginning of God’s plan to redeem the world from the debt of sin. Praise Him, Praise Him!

In the words of the old Christmas carol,

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!”

He is the Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah, and the Greatest of all time! Praise Him, praise Him indeed!

 

For His glory,

Pastor Jerry