Sanctity of Life Sunday

Jesus and John the Baptist were distinct persons while still in their mothers' wombs - John jumped for joy when he heard Mary's voice (Luke 1)

Science has confirmed that life begins at conception. Modern medical practice can do surgeries and treat the unborn. Criminal justice precedents favor the unborn that if you murder a pregnant woman you are guilty of two homicides. Sociologically people are aware abortions are terribly disproportionate against non-whites. All this confirms our theology and informs our conscience of the sanctity of human life beginning at conception.

Nevertheless we still see our tax dollars funding a culture of death. Planned Parenthood - the largest abortion business in America - aborted nearly 330,000 babies last year - more than the year before - an average of one abortion every 90 seconds. It took over half a billion tax dollars from you, the taxpayer, and it wants even more. It wants more abortions and more tax dollars. The abortion industry had a banner year at your expense - the abortion giant received more than $528 million of your tax dollars. Planned Parenthood is profiting from death, bragging about ObamaCare, and touting how many pro-life laws it has defeated. Not only did its abortions increase last year, so did its bottom line. It has more than $1.372 billion in assets.

We pray for the unborn and their mothers and that fathers will protect their unborn and take responsibility.

We pray against the culture of sexual promiscuity that prostitutes God's gift of sexuality without regard for the consequence. We pray the fear of God come on us as a nation. We pray mercy and healing for those who have had abortions. We pray against the demonic evils of murder and selfishness that motivates the abortion industry and planned parenthood. We pray deliverance for the abused and victims of trafficking. We pray blessing on families and on all children, in the name of the Father fr whom all family derives it's name, and the Son and Holy Spirit.

Next Sunday we will offer blessing prayers on all children and families who are brought forward.

 Invite guests.

-PD

Five R’s toward Joyful Change (Repent & Redirect)

Our theme Scripture Luke 15:10: there is joy in God’s presence over one who repents (changes their mind and amends their ways). This is not a new year’s resolution but is being intentional and resolute to share the joy God in us by humbling ourselves, detaching from the world and being transformed in His love. Here are some things to examine as we participate in and are united with the body and blood of Jesus our Lord.

1. Red Flags: recognize “Triggers” and take a step that HALTS a pattern of sin. Example: if tired get better rest; if stressed exercise; take steps to get support.

H=hungry for love/satisfaction;

A=angry/frustration;

L=lonely/insecure;

T=tired;

S=stressed or depressed.

2. Reflex: interrupt the unhealthy habitual reflex. Stop/slow down/breathe/be still/meditate.

3. Ritual: instead of moving toward the unhealthy thing or sin pattern, substitute it with a phone call or visit for accountability or to do good for someone else. Practice God’s presence and receive and give God’s love.

4. Result: remind yourself of the negative result of the habitual sin (shame, guilt, humiliation, bondage or fearful consequence). Realize you can make different choices than the reoccurring bondage.

5. Repentance into mind renewal: Above are four steps of repentance but they are incomplete without change in both conscious and unconscious thought patterns. Biblical transformational change is progressive, one moment at a time. We gradually know Him better, love Him more and use our bodies and all created things for his glory. We participate in His likeness and image. True repentance moves forward from asking for merciful forgiveness into profiting from receiving the “power of his grace that teaches us to say, ‘No,’ to sin.” 
   
   
   
   
   -PD
   
   
   
   
    

Epiphany: Christ is Light and Life to all People (s)

 

Matthew 2:10-11 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

"As with Gladness Men of Old"

by William C. Dix, 1837-1898

1. As with gladness men of old

Did the guiding star behold;

As with joy they hailed its light,

Leading onward, beaming bright,

So, most gracious Lord, may we

Evermore be led by Thee!

2. As with joyful steps they sped,

Savior, to Thy lowly bed,

There to bend the knee before

Thee whom heaven and earth adore,

So may we with willing feet

Ever seek Thy mercy-seat!

3. As they offered gifts most rare

At Thy cradle, rude and bare,

So may we with holy joy,

Pure and free from sin's alloy,

All our costliest treasures bring,

Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King!

Is 61:10-12 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its bud,

As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

This One Shall Be Their Peace

 Micah 5:5

The Lord Our Peace (Jehovah Shalom—Judges 6:4) is come

and will come again.  The God of Peace be with you

(Rom 15:33, 16:20; Phil 4:9; 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 13:20

              Hurried and harried, Christmas can leave us blurried, flurried, and be-frazzled.  Be still and meditate on this: on “Cease striving and know that I Am God.”

Christmas can stir up things from the past and present.  Let the peace of God rule in your hearts as the guardian of your minds.

When rest and peace will not come, we come to Christ.

I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him.  But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.  Isa 57:19-21 ASV

Christ bore the “dis-ease” of all our sins.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  Isa 53:5-6 ASV

Speak the truth in love with one another: Eph 4:   Col: 3

Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.  Ps 85:10 NKJV

Be thankful:  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Col 3:15

Meditate in Christ:  You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Isa 26:3 NKJV

Meditate to keep His commands:  Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.  Psalms 119:165 NIV

Joy, Glad Tidings, Good News for all People

                

We think of joy in terms of things and relationships: home, presents, food baskets, meals, time together, visiting people, even going Christmas caroling to those who may be alone or ill.  But to a people oppressed, joy means the arrival of deliverance and justice.  The Jews had both a memory of a “golden age” of peace and prosperity (King Solomon), plus thousands of years of prophecy concerning the glory and dominion and abundant blessing that their Messiah would bring to them.  This week, step with them, out of their need into the joy of His coming.

Joy comes to those in trouble, who wait, devoted to the Lord

...your love, O LORD, supported me.  When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul (Ps 94:18-19 NIV).  Simeon was devout and just, lead by the Holy Spirit, waiting for the “Consolation of Israel” (Lk 2:25).  Now, he could die in peace—for what do you wait?

Joy is a gift from God:  This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?  26To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Eccl 2:24-26).  To Zacharias, God promised joy, gladness and rejoicing for many, through the son he was giving to them (Lk 1:14).  Lord, forgive my lack of joy.

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).  Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and the babe in her womb leaped for joy, at just hearing the sound of Mary’s greeting (Luke 1: 41-44).  Fill us anew with Holy Spirit joy.

Joy is a choice, along with faith, hope and love—a choice enabled by the grace of God (diving enabling power).  I choose joy!

...through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… by faith into this grace… And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God… we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance character; and character, hope.  5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Rom 5:1-5).  Lord, help us rejoice even in suffering—growing by faith in His grace.

Those who know pain, and embrace it, can understand true joy.  It is hard for us to comprehend the persevering desire of those who looked for Messiah to come.  Consider that in the face of her own suffering to come, Mary could rejoice, for all Israel waited in hope:  “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.  48For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant… 52He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the low (Lk 1:46-52).  Lord, fill my soul and spirit with joy in You, regardless of the circumstances?

Joy is brought to men through God’s News: I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good tidings (Is 41:27).  God delights in using the poor, and outcasts as his witnesses (Lk 2:10).  How beautiful are feet bringing peace.

Share his joy by sharing with someone this week, the Good News of God’s Kingdom, and heaven’s joy of new birth.  (Lk 15:7)   

 -PD