On his way to work one morning a businessman came upon a professional mover struggling with a large and heavy box. The mover was trying to get the box through a doorway that appeared to be just barely wider than the box.

“Can I help you?” the businessman asked.

“That would be great,” smiled the mover. “Grab hold of the other side of this box.”

For the next few minutes the two men lifted, pushed, pulled and perspired. But no matter how hard they worked the box didn’t budge an inch. Finally, the business man straightened up and shook his head, “I don’t think we’re ever going to get it out!”

“Well no wonder!” roared the mover. “I’m trying to get it in.”

How often does that happen when we are working with other people, or even with God? We think we know what we’re doing, only to discover that we are working at cross purposes. No matter who we are working with, the one thing we can do to keep this from happening is to take time to listen to each other and to know what we’re trying to accomplish, and when we’re working with God it is especially important for us to listen to know what He wants to do.

In that regard, Paul’s prayer for the believers in Rome is very applicable. In Romans 15:5 and 6 he wrote:

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We are all different, with different needs, interests, perspectives and preferences, however, as we listen to each other and seek, discern and follow the will of Jesus, we can live and serve in a unity that not only gets the work done that He has called us to do but do it in a way that brings glory to God.

As we go into the new year in this time of transition as a church family, may we take the time to listen closely, to pray frequently and together discern and follow God’s will for us.

                                       With Hope,

                                                   Mark

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”   Galatians 4:4-5

I am so thankful that my recent eye surgery corrected the double vision that I had been experiencing for over a year. And I am thankful for all of the phone calls, cards, cookies and prayers during that time. I know that your prayers allowed my surgery to be more successful than my doctor expected.  One of the surprising aspects of having my vision corrected was realizing how much the double vision had been affecting my life. The prisms put in my glasses helped me to cope and manage most of the time, but it was so freeing to have my vision healed at the source.

In many ways that is what Christmas is all about, Jesus coming to us so that we may be healed at the source, that our hearts might be changed by Him. Through the centuries God’s people had tried to live in relationship with Him through the Old Testament law and all of the other laws, interpretations and rules their religious leaders had developed, but the reality was that even if a person lived up to all of it, Hebrews 9:13 says they were only outwardly clean.

But Hebrews 9:14 goes on to say, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from act that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

As we celebrate all that Christmas means to us, may we always remember that Jesus came to save, cleanse and heal us. And may we live in the victory He came to give us as He sets us free and gives us the gift of life.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                               May Your Christmas be Filled with Jesus,

                                                                                                                 Mark

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.                                           I Thessalonians 4:16-18

Joy, prayer and giving thanks are three key hallmarks of a life that has been changed by the life transforming work of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This month we will set aside a day to remember and give thanks for all that God has done for us, and every year we set aside the first Thursday of the month as the National Day of Prayer, but what about joy; have you ever wondered why we don’t have Joygiving Day to go along with Thanksgiving and the National Day of Prayer?

It’s good to set aside a day for joy, prayer and giving thanks, but how much better is it to make every day a day of joy, as we live in the joy of God’s salvation; a day of prayer, as we live in communion with Jesus, speaking to Him and listening to Him; and a day of giving thanks to God for all that he has done in and through our lives.

Joy, prayer and giving thanks go together like chocolate, caramel and peanuts; each adds something that makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts. So this Thanksgiving, while we take time to remember what God has done and to give thanks, may we also spend time in prayer and live in the joy that is ours as forgiven and cleansed children of God.

                                                                                With Gratitude and Thanks,

                                                                                                      Mark

The other day I was thumbing through an old fitness magazine when stumbled upon an article on a new workout routine. I had read the article before but for whatever reason I hadn’t given it too much thought. Perhaps I was content with the routines I was doing and didn’t see any need to change, but this time it jumped off the page at me and I thought, “This is exactly what I need.”

When it comes to God’s word, it often works in a similar way. We can read the same passage over and over again, but just when we need it, it jumps off the page like we’ve never seen it before. Or we can read a very familiar passage, say John 3:16, and all of a sudden it speaks to our heart in ways we’ve never considered before.

This shouldn’t surprise us since Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

In the days to come, spend some time with some familiar passages and as you read them, invite the Holy Spirit to apply them in your life in a fresh new way. If you do, I can promise you that God will meet you and speak to you in a powerful way.

                                                                    God’s Grace and Peace,

                                                                                         Mark