Reaching out to make Christlike Connections

I want to extend to all of you here in the United States special Thanksgiving blessings. For those of you not in the states, who from time to time follow my blog but really don't understand what Thanksgiving is, well, I don't have enough space to explain.  But I can tell you Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks, (I know that does little to help you understand the history and destiny of the Pilgrims and their great effort, huh).
This week at 'the SUB' is our last week before our church celebrates the 2012 Advent season.
Advent is a period of preparation, extending over four Sundays, before Christmas.
The word Advent comes from the Latin advenio, "to come to," and refers to what I call the three comings of Christ. The first coming is when we celebrate His birth at Bethlehem on Christmas Day. The second coming that is important to me is when Christ comes into your life through grace. And finally, there is His Second Coming at the end of time.
Our theme this Advent season is "Making Christlike Connections." All the sermons will be meaningful & relevant to our times and focused on the dynamics of our faith and the season of history that we live in. Some of the topics we will talk about are:

• At Christmas, God touched us by sending Jesus. We can continue that by making an intentional effort to reach out to touch others this season.
• At the Bethlehem Inn there was no room for our birthing couple but still the people found time in their extreme business to take notice and finally get them to a manger. This holiday season go out of your way for someone in your neighborhood or vicinity.
• Seeing how God honored the shepherds and included them in His glorious arrival, connect with someone you who is overlooked. 
• Joseph had to personally respond to God's leading and reach out to Mary....for some of you it may be time to intentionally extend Christ's love to some of your family members 
• Lastly, Zechariah experienced a fresh touch from God. Isn't it time you got some new oil too? Couldn't a fresh touch be yours as well?
• I have one more for you.  Simeon had a vision for the salvation of the whole world.  He didn't just see Judea or Nazareth, he saw the Savior of all mankind.  Ask God to give you a Simeon-like vision of salvation for all the world. 

If your heart is drawn by any of these thoughts, join us for the conclusion of 2012 and beginning of 2013 with a purpose and a theme.  It is an amazing difference what a year of generalities and unclear vision can be from  a year of purpose and Godly direction.  Here at 'the SUB' we can help you with the latter.





.

Against all odds

There's a character in the Bible that I've been studying heavily the last couple months. A man who stood up against all odds.  Now I am not talking about standing up against the odds; I am talking about standing up against ALL odds! No wiggle room, no space to breathe, no turn around area, no secret passage to get away, and no bail out!  This character is Noah! Noah was a man against all odds. There was woven into Noah some characteristics that helped him to succeed in spite of a stacked deck against him. I want to go over just one of these characteristics because it can help us when we are engaged in a situation where the odds are or seem to be very much against us.
  One of the most important lessons you will have to learn in life is to see something through that is tough. To stay where God has called you.  Noah had a vision and it was against everything he knew, everything he could imagine or think about.  Noah had a huge amout of persecution and mocking because he was given a vision that was way outside of the box. How many times do you think Noah wanted to quit?
   And that's what I want to get across to you today.   I know that many of you are up against it or you want to throw in the towel, but I want to encourage you....if you are where God wants you to be - - !STAY PUT! 
One of the most important lessons to learn in that type of situation is to stay where God has called you, especially when everything inside you wants to quit. God will help you when you're where He wants you to be and when you're doing what He's called you to do.
In the good book when a person was where God told them to be, they were blessed.

• God called Moses to go get his people and take them out of the land....He anointed him to do that job.
• God told Elijah to go to the brook Cherith. And at that particular brook God provided for him during a time of famine.
• Jehoshaphat had a warring army coming to attack his land yet when God told him what to do and where to go, he succeeded.  If he had done his own thing he would have failed.
• God told the apostle Paul to go here or go there and he was a mighty witness for the Lord through his obedience.
• Naaman was told to wash in the river Jordan....any other river and he would not have been healed.  Wash seven times, the prophet directed him, do three and there will be no clean skin.

When we are in the place God has for us, we position ourselves for a blessing.  So you might ask, what do we do, when we believe we are where God wants us, but it seems as if all hell has broken loose all around us? 1st Corinthinans gives us the Godly wisdom we need for that situation. It says, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm, let nothing move you."  ?What does it say...Stand firm.  How do we stand?  We, 'Stand firm'.....and it says.......'let nothing move you,' .....Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

  It can seem easy to quit when your mind is doubting you, your friends are suspecting you, when everything seems to be pointing to your demise and every thing is against you...but if you are where God wants you to be then 'stand firm,' refuse to budge, don't move and you will see the victory.

When the enemy comes in like a flood, it might feel like you are drowning. Don't stand on your own strength, stand on God's.  He says He will raise up a standard against our enemy!

Somebody shout, 'Praise the Lord!'