DELIVERED

Our Monday morning Bible study has been experiencing the First5 app for several weeks now.  We are excited to begin the new study of Exodus.  I downloaded the digital version so that I will be prepared for our first meeting.  As I began to read the “Why experience Exodus?”  It made me think of the New Year.

Exodus means the going out or mass departure.  Just as Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt we are being led out of 2015 and into the New Year.  For some it may be easy for others it may be difficult.  2015 may have been filled with joys or it may have been filled with sorrow. 

In the book of Exodus there are three important words that the First5 mentions.  These words are deliverance, discontentment and declarations. 

As we are being delivered out of 2015 and into 2016 rely on God’s promises.  He delivers to us what we need at the perfect time.  Just as He put into motion the events that happened in 2015 He will set into motion the New Year and the happenings that we will encounter. 

2 Peter 1:4 and because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises.

Unlike the children of Israel I pray that we are all led out of 2015 being content.  I pray that we are all content with what we have and are satisfied with what the Lord gives us.  I pray that we don’t fall prey to the earthly ways of the world and stay in tune with God’s ways.  When we walk with Jesus we can’t help but find contentment. 

To be content we must stay intertwined with Gods words.  We can find the how’s, what’s and why’s in God’s declarations.  It is in the book of Exodus that God gives us the Ten Commandments.  These are laws in which we promise to obey.  Throughout His words we find His detailed instructions on how we should walk through this journey of life. 

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Depart from the wilderness of 2015 and walk through the Red Sea with peace and joy in your heart.  2016 is the year for you to make the choice to say YES to Gods invitation and follow Him.

John 8:12 I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Out with the old and in with the new. Ring in the New Year with Christ putting 2015 behind you and celebrating the New Year and a new you! It will be miraculous!

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold the new has come.

HE FOUND HIS CURE

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.

As I drive the look of winter is around me.  Gloomy weather is here.  The trees are leave less and the grass isn’t the lush green it once was.  The temperature has dropped and the geese are flying high in the air.  Puddles form in my eyes, as I think of the day not because of the dark of winter, but of the circumstances that are upon our town.  I pass many vehicles that are carrying people to the church.  The service is getting ready to begin and my heart hurts.  

Psalms 147:3 He heals the broken heartened, binding up their wounds.

The ache in my body is due to the loss of a child.  No one understands and many questions are being asked.  How and why does a young child bear such a terrible disease?  Why are our young taken? 

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

As we ask these questions we know that Jesus has a plan for each of us.  This plan may not have been the timeline we would have preferred, but His plans are much better than our earthly plans ever could be. 

Jeremiah 29:11 for I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord,  “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

In the midst of the tears I find peace.  How is peace found?  I think to myself, as we are saying goodbye many in heaven are excited for his homecoming.  The angels are saying, “Here he comes!” and Jesus is greeting him at the gates.  Jesus knew he was entering his eternal home.  It was of no surprise to him.  The servant had done his job on earth. He was a good and faithful servant. 

Matthew 25:21King James Version (KJV)

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

What was this servant’s job?  His job was that of bringing people to Christ and he did his job well.  His earthly presence covers our small community.  From church signs, newspaper to TV stations he touched many, some that we will never know he blessed.

Some believe he was always an angel since birth and we are certain he is an angel now.  He is our forever guardian angel.  He crossed the finish line and won his race. 

Price is no longer “Hunting for a Cure.”  He found his cure through his personal doctor Jesus.  The Rock lives on in his forever home and he is ok.

Isaiah 41:10New International Version (NIV)

10

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

OVERFLOW

When your daughter asks you to make homemade cinnamon rolls for her husbands basketball team for Christmas of course you say yes! 

What was I thinking?!!!!!!!!!

  Go Momma and I made all the dough a double batch at a time.  We had figured we needed 3 to 4 double batches to have enough for 20 pans.  We had an assembly line going.  One by one the ingredients went into the pan: butter, sugar, eggs, secret ingredient, yeast, flour salt. 

Before we could get one batch finished the previous batch had already begun to rise.  I mean really rise, over the side of the bowl.  Usually you put the dough in the fridge and roll and bake the next morning, but not this dough.  This dough had a mind of its own.  It was overflowing over all four bowls.  Some of the dough was on the floorboard of my car; I threw it away. 

As Jay and I unloaded the dough it kept falling over the side of the bowls.  Jay and I had dough all over us.  “What in the world is going on with this dough?” he asked.   “Overflowing dough I guess.” I replied.

  I began to roll, put on the butter and cinnamon sugar.  Two hours later I had made 196 cinnamon rolls!  Exhausted!

As I sit this morning and write, my mind keeps going back to the dough.  The dough is an example of how I want to be.  I want to be overflowing with Gods love passing on joy to others.  I want others to see Him through me.  I want to show His amazement by accomplishing the goals and plans He has for my life. 

So lets do it!  Lets make a goal for 2016 to be overflowing for the Lord.  Let our cup runneth over so that we fill others cups with the same joy that we have found through Him.  Pray that He leads you on your journey and directs you to the goals He wants you to achieve. 

Overflow with peace, love and joy sharing Gods goodness and grace with others.

WISE

Brother David mentioned in his sermon Sunday the word wise and how it is written in and out of the book of Proverbs.  This sent me with my shovel to dig into the word wise. 

There are thirty sayings of the wise from Proverbs 22:17-24:34.  What to pay attention to, what to listen to, what not to do, who not to make friends with, who not to associate with, what to eat, what instructions to follow and more.  So much wise information in the book of Proverbs that it is known as the “Way of the Wise.”

In Hebrew wise means expert, skill, and skillful.  In the Internet dictionary it means having or showing experience, knowledge and good judgment.  Synonyms for wise are intelligent, clever, learned, knowledgeable and enlightened.

The wise men were scholars of the Bible.  They were knowledgeable in many different areas.  They researched and looked for prophecies.  Because of their studying they were waiting and anticipating the birth of the Messiah. 

These wise men, the Magi, searched for baby Jesus for years.  They knew He had been born because of the new star that was located in the sky.  They followed the star and traveled for miles and miles until they finally reached the home in Bethlehem where the baby was living. 

Are you wise?  Are you following a star?  Are you being intelligent and using good judgment? 

If we are wise we are seeking Jesus.  Just as the wise men we should be guided by the star and come spiritually to Him.  Everyday we are following and searching for the star, in which is our faith.  This faith leads us in the right direction. It may take us years and many miles to reach our destination, but by having faith we will arrive. 

Wise men still seek Him!

PRAYER AND PEACE

Back in the corner of the sanctuary I sat and watched.  They came in one by one or some in a group.  They would light a candle and place it in the sand.  Then sitting in the pew they would pray.  Some sat for an hour some sat for minutes, but all had the same intention.  Chill bumps covered my body as I listened to the soft music and stared at the candles burning ever so brightly. 

God was present in this place.  The Holy Spirit was lingering within the walls of the church.  I could feel it and so could everyone else.  “Why don’t we do this all the time?” someone asked.  That is a good question.

Why do we wait?  Why do we wait and come together in prayer when someone is critically ill?  Why don’t we come together all the time, sit in a candle lit sanctuary and pray? 

We need prayer, the world needs prayer, every one needs prayer.  Yes we can pray anywhere, but there is something about the peace of the church. 

The atmosphere made me think of what the stable must have been like during Jesus’s birth.  Quiet, peaceful and still.  The starlight illuminated the stable and it was brilliant.  Everyone knelt around the newborn king and prayed. 

I am sure that they all had chill bumps.  I know they felt the presence of the Lord in the stable. 

We all need a stable.  A place to find peace.  A place where the candlelight and the starlight are the only source of seeing.  An environment that you know is full of the Holy Spirit. 

Find your stable.  Find your stable and find peace.  Go into that quiet place and pray.  Feel the Holy Spirit working within you filling you with the source of light. 

This Christmas let it be the reminder that Jesus came into the world to bring us peace.  He came to redeem us and bring us peace in a world full of despair and full of circumstances that we can’t find the answer for.  Pray for peace, pray for hope and pray for healing. 

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me!

Prayers for Price!

Luke 2:8-14