The Gifts of Salvation

On Sunday during worship service I had a vision I didn’t share with everyone.  It is Christmas in July and there are beautiful presents stacked high and wide under the Christmas tree.  Jesus has them all wrapped and waiting.  He wants you to reach out and take them, open and receive each lovely answer to your need!

 

One of the ways to honor him, (and all the worship songs we were singing were about giving him honor) is by receiving his gifts.  Things in the kingdom of God are upside down that way – we bless him by receiving from him.

 

“What shall I give unto the Lord

For all he’s done for me?

I’ll take the cup of salvation

And call upon the name of the Lord.”  Psalm 116:12-13

 

The cup of salvation is free, the gifts are free – prepared out of the good and loving heart of your Father; paid for by the sacrifice of the Son.  Salvation will not only happen in eternity, but is the answer to your every need now – to make you whole and holy.

 

Reach out and receive today!

 

Song reference:              https://youtu.be/-Qfzfeswi_g?si=-sQdzxkZymBVnZfM

Scripture reference:        For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.  Ephesians 2:8, 9

RICH WITH PRACTICALLY NOTHING

A mechanic pulled up next to me just when my car broke down.

A friend walked into the garage just when I needed a ride.

A visitor picked up some medications for me just when I ran out.

Are these all coincidences?

I don’t think so.

But you may think otherwise.

We can see such opportunities as serendipity, or as karma, or as God’s favor.

 The Psalmist tells us that our own efforts only go so far, and that we do need God’s favor and help:

“Unless the Lord builds the city, the workmen labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”

It’s humbling.

We Americans love our independence.  We love action.

We have to be intentional about trust in God.  But if we do.  Even if we only give him a little bit of faith.

He multiplies it.

2 becomes 4.

4 becomes 8, or 16, or 48.

And 2 fish become 5,000.

Prayer:

“Jesus, when my faith is small, don’t let me forget what you can do with practically nothing.”

(Prayer quoted from Cynthia Ruchti in Mornings with Jesus.)

Mother

Do you miss your mother?  Did she bandage your cuts, wipe your tears, tell you stories, and kiss you goodnight?  Did she bring you cups of tea, teach you how to cook, or--most important of all--teach you how to find saving faith in Jesus Christ?  If she has gone on ahead to her eternal home, and you can't kiss her and thank her this Mother's Day, here is a poem of tribute -- and of Hope.

Write and tell me if it touches you.  It was written by my great grandmother Mary Cox (1843-1931), in memory of her mother, Sarah Jane Earhart (1817-1870).

Mother

Friends may depart and foes arise,

Christ’s love is just the same;

He never, never will forsake,

Those who are trusting in His name.

Oh! What a blessed hope is ours,

What meditation sweet,

To know that we will meet again, Mother

When life’s journey is complete.

Our thoughts are turning backward,

To childhood’s winsome years,

When we always ran to Mother,

With all our joys and fears.

We would go to her when tired,

To get the needed rest;

We would go to her when wounded,

To get a fond caress.

And when we were sick or troubled,

We would go to her for aid;

And though it would be dark around,

We never felt afraid.

As backward on the wings of time,

We fly to her embrace;

We see her face all bright to shine,

Of tears there is no trace.

Written in love by

Mary W. Cox

1843-1931

A Sermon for Joel

from Grandma Stories: God’s Little Miracles by LDMahan

Have you ever done something that really surprised your parents?  Maybe you have even surprised yourself!  This is the story of a boy named Joel who surprised people by preaching at a young age.

Joel was four-years-old and he had just attended Vacation Bible School at a nearby church.  One day he announced to his surprised mother and his little sister that they must “Sit down, the service is about to start!”  Her son pulled a large stereo speaker to one side of the room as a pulpit and arranged his small Bible on top of it.  The mom, with half a grin on the outside (but a HUGE grin on the inside) pulled up chairs for herself and her 2-year-old daughter, creating a “congregation.”

He opened with prayer.  He taught a Bible story about Peter, using his Bible story book as prop.  Then he lead them in a song called “I will make you fishers of men,” complete with hand motions.  His congregation of two interrupted his sermon and songs with hearty “Amens!” and when he was finished they clapped loudly.

His mother was convinced that she was seeing a future preacher in action!

Many years passed and the boy continued to love the Lord.  He worshiped openly in church, and sometimes adults watched him. He was a witness to his classmates and a good example to his little sisters. 

Later, the family became part of a church group that met in homes.  In this group the children were taught along with the parents, and were encouraged to worship and learn with the adults as much as possible.  One day the pastor of this small group asked who would like to bring the scriptural message the next week, and twelve-year-old Joel answered, “I will.”

Now, his parents were really surprised, but they tried not to show it.  After all, hadn’t they just been teaching the children that the same Holy Spirit ministers to and through them as with the adults?  As the week went by, Joel’s mother prayed for him and for his message, and kept a watchful eye to see if he was working on it!  Saturday came, and she reminded him of his promise to preach the next day.  Without any seeming anxiety, he went into his bedroom and closed the door.  When he came out a couple of hours later, he announced that his message was going to be on faith. 

At this point his mother needed faith--not to get worried on his behalf!  It was no small thing for a twelve-year-old boy to speak to adults, even if it was a small group in someone’s home.  How would he do?

But she needn’t have worried.  He talked about faith from the scriptures.  He told stories of faith and of answered prayer from his parents’ years of preparing for ministry.  His parents were stunned (that means they were so surprised they could hardly speak) at how easily he spoke, and the whole group embraced the message.  His mother inwardly glowed.

Later that same year this boy announced that he wanted to become a ...  doctor.  So, his early preaching was not a signal of his future career, but it was a sign of the touch of God on his life.