YOUR GAME IS UP!

Posted on December 26, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

Holidays can bring it on when you least expect it. An object stirs up a memory from the past. Even a touching commercial can remind us of days gone by, missing what once was. Certain songs bring tears to our eyes when we hear it at church or at a store while shopping. What is it? It’s the dark side. It is called depression. It falls over us like an ominous cloud. We think the worst of ourselves first then plummet into a pity party that no one, even you, wants to attend. Our minds begin to list all our sins and missteps of the past. We wallow in the why, replaying all the hurtful conversations in our heads. We fall into wondering
with investigating why did we do that and what were we thinking mode of reminiscing.

STOP!…Let’s think about WHO is getting the most joy from seeing us walk down this avenue of darkness? Yep, it is Satan, himself. He stirs our minds with negative thoughts, manipulating our emotions with self doubt, insignificance, sarcastic words while throwing a blanket of darkness over our souls. His only weapon in the warfare with God and His children is to separate us from the crowd of witnesses, lie to us and pull us down to where he sits…in the dark.

We don’t have to listen! We have help! We can shout if we have to (and I have!) “In the Name of Jesus Christ, get behind me satan! Dear Jesus defeat the foe that lies in wait to destroy my thinking and being…In Your Name, I pray. Pray believing Jesus will. There is power in the name of Jesus! Let Jesus and the power of His Holy Spirit fight for you. He will. NO ONE loves us more than Jesus who died for us. No one wants to restore our the joy of HIS salvation more than He does. He went to hell and back for us. He’s got this! When we realize all the love He has for us we leave the darkness and turn toward the Light once again. The flood of light that cleanses and restores our souls will be exhilarating and life-giving.

WARNING: It seems the attacks from the foe happen greatly, with more intensity, just before doing something great with God. I see it in our next passage. Paul and Barnabas begin their preaching assignment after being sent out. They are quickly met with a wizard who thinks he has control of the community. We learn how Paul dealt with satan working through a man called “Dr. Know-It-All”. Don’t you love the name? How many know-it-alls have we experienced in our lives who made us feel less than valuable in the eyes of God and in others? Let’s see how Saul (Paul) handled it.

Acts 5 in Jesus Name

Acts 13, The Message
4-5 Sent off on their new assignment by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and caught a ship for Cyprus. The first thing they did when they put in at Salamis was preach God’s Word in the Jewish meeting places. They had John along to help out as needed.

6-7 They traveled the length of the island, and at Paphos came upon a Jewish wizard who had worked himself into the confidence of the governor, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man not easily taken in by charlatans. The wizard’s name was Bar-Jesus. He was as crooked as a corkscrew.

7-11 The governor invited Barnabas and Saul in, wanting to hear God’s Word firsthand from them. But Dr. Know-It-All (that’s the wizard’s name in plain English) stirred up a ruckus, trying to divert the governor from becoming a believer. But Saul (or Paul), full of the Holy Spirit and looking him straight in the eye, said, “You bag of wind, you parody of a devil—why, you stay up nights inventing schemes to cheat people out of God. But now you’ve come up against God himself, and your game is up. You’re about to go blind—no sunlight for you for a good long stretch.” He was plunged immediately into a shadowy mist and stumbled around, begging people to take his hand and show him the way.

12 When the governor saw what happened, he became a believer, full of enthusiasm over what they were saying about the Master.

What do we learn?
–A simple, honest, right to the point prayer, in Jesus Name, changes our thoughts in any circumstance or challenge.
–“Your game is up!” shouts Paul. We can use these very words to shout out a prayer…in Jesus Name…the next time satan tries to lure us into his dark places.
–Stay focused on the Light. When we turn our backs on the light, all we see is darkness. Turn to the Light. Follow the Light. He leads us to Life eternal.

Dear Heavenly Father,
As soon as something good and right happens, it is followed by the schemes of the enemy to bring us down. But we know that you have already won that battle and you will fight for us because of your love for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are God and we are not. You gave us life. You are the Light that we follow. Continue to teach and transform us to be and do all you intended for us. Don’t allow us to fall for the traps of the foe. In Jesus Name, Amen

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SENT

Posted on December 25, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

It happens still today. God has a way of not letting many teachers and preachers “pool” in one area. When a church is blessed with many leaders and there is a wondering “lull” in the ministry, that usually means that God is preparing someone to be sent out. It happens when there are too many leaders for the work at hand. God is the ultimate manger of His resources. We must always be alert, listen for His Voice and be expectantly ready. When we obey His call to be sent, more productive Kingdom work is accomplished. It’s not about us, it’s about God.

It happened to the young church at Antioch. Too many powerful, talented leaders in one location. So the next act of God was to send Barnabas and Saul to another location to spread the Good News of salvation for all.

Acts 13 sent.jpg

Acts 13, The Message
1-2 The congregation in Antioch was blessed with a number of prophet-preachers and teachers:

Barnabas,
Simon, nicknamed Niger,
Lucius the Cyrenian,
Manaen, an advisor to the ruler Herod,
Saul.

One day as they were worshiping God—they were also fasting as they waited for guidance—the Holy Spirit spoke: “Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I have called them to do.”

3 So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of fasting and praying, they laid hands on their heads and sent them off.

4-5 Sent off on their new assignment by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and caught a ship for Cyprus. The first thing they did when they put in at Salamis was preach God’s Word in the Jewish meeting places. They had John along to help out as needed.

 

Acts 13 the sent lifeWhat do we learn?
–Blessed with a number of leaders, be ready for some in God’s church to be sent out.
–“They waited for guidance”. They went without eating, fasting from worldly routine, fine tuning their ears to specifically hear God’s Voice above all others. The wait prepares our hearts to listen.
–God speaks to hearts who are sincere, whose hearts are seeking him, and those hearts who are completely focused on Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9, “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”
–When God’s Holy Spirit spoke to prepared hearts, they obeyed…”in that circle of obedience”. Imagine being in the center of that circle of obedience being lifted up in prayers of thanksgiving along with other expectant hearts knowing that God is in control and is going to ACT in the lives of these willing participants? Wow! No wonder God’s work prospered!
–When there are too many leaders for the work at hand there are times when quarrels break out. I’ve seen it. Instead of being perplexed, maybe it’s time to pray, fast and listen to what God might be doing in our midst? Maybe there are too many leaders in the pool. God might be shaking things up so that talented people can be SENT out to prosper in a location that has little leadership and needs it.
–God is God and we are not. We pray. He works.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You have led our thoughts to an unexpected place this morning. Thank you for another look at being sent. Thank you for sending us out into challenging locations and teaching us many things about You along the journey. Thank you for Your love, care, conviction and challenge, provision and protection. Most of all, thank you for your salvation. Transform us, Lord. Don’t allow us to be complacent. We are your servants. And we are listening.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE CHURCH PRAYED

Posted on December 24, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

Many years ago, our little church at the crossroads of Oklahoma City, Spencer and Midwest City had a dilemma. A large discount grocery store that was across the street went out of business. A large corporation decided to lease the property and turn it into a country music night club. The quiet community was not thrilled with the prospects of this new business. We sent representatives to the town council opposing this big business but that got their liquor license and a pass to bring in the business. There was a big grand opening over their first weekend. That meant our church parking lot was used by people dying to get into this place. We put up signs but drunk people cannot seem to read.

Now, you are probably thinking what a great opportunity to witness. But drunk people are not in the right frame of mind to hear what you have to say. In fact, when Randy reminded the sauced up patrons that we can not honor their parking on grounds dedicated to God, he almost got punch in the nose. One man had his fist pulled back, but suddenly stopped the punch and said, “You know, you’re right.”

Fortunately, Randy had back up. Uniformed police officers were there having fun watching people get into their cars after the business closed but knew they shouldn’t drive. As soon as they pulled out, the police were there to arrest them. The tow trucks were making good money, too. They were there just waiting to hook up a vehicle and take it to be impounded.

During this time period, our church went to prayer, serious corporate prayer. We prayed for God’s guidance in the matter. We prayed for how we should be proactive and reactive. This glorified bar was hurting the community and the families of all who partook of the business. All churches in the area joined us in prayer. In a few weeks the night club closed. It went out of business and closed it’s doors almost as quickly as it opened.

We are reminded of 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

In our next passage God acts in a powerful way when the people “strenuously” prayed for Peter when he was jailed for preaching.
This is a great story of God’s Actions in God’s people, His church!

Acts 12, The Message
Peter Under Heavy Guard
12 1-4 That’s when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church members. He murdered James, John’s brother. When he saw how much it raised his popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peter—all this during Passover Week, mind you—and had him thrown in jail, putting four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was planning a public lynching after Passover.

5 All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously.

6 Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances!

7-9 Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: “Hurry!” The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, “Get dressed. Put on your shoes.” Peter did it. Then, “Grab your coat and let’s get out of here.” Peter followed him, but didn’t believe it was really an angel—he thought he was dreaming.

10-11 Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own way. That’s when Peter realized it was no dream. “I can’t believe it—this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to.”

12-14 Still shaking his head, amazed, he went to Mary’s house, the Mary who was John Mark’s mother. The house was packed with praying friends. When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was. But when she recognized his voice—Peter’s voice!—she was so excited and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him standing in the street.

15-16 But they wouldn’t believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. “You’re crazy,” they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn’t believe her and said, “It must be his angel.” All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away.

16-17 Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild! Peter put his hands up and calmed them down. He described how the Master had gotten him out of jail, then said, “Tell James and the brothers what’s happened.” He left them and went off to another place.

18-19 At daybreak the jail was in an uproar. “Where is Peter? What’s happened to Peter?” When Herod sent for him and they could neither produce him nor explain why not, he ordered their execution: “Off with their heads!” Fed up with Judea and Jews, he went for a vacation to Caesarea.

The Death of Herod
20-22 But things went from bad to worse for Herod. Now people from Tyre and Sidon put him on the warpath. But they got Blastus, King Herod’s right-hand man, to put in a good word for them and got a delegation together to iron things out. Because they were dependent on Judea for food supplies, they couldn’t afford to let this go on too long. On the day set for their meeting, Herod, robed in pomposity, took his place on the throne and regaled them with a lot of hot air. The people played their part to the hilt and shouted flatteries: “The voice of God! The voice of God!”

23 That was the last straw. God had had enough of Herod’s arrogance and sent an angel to strike him down. Herod had given God no credit for anything. Down he went. Rotten to the core, a maggoty old man if there ever was one, he died.

24 Meanwhile, the ministry of God’s Word grew by leaps and bounds.

25 Barnabas and Saul, once they had delivered the relief offering to the church in Jerusalem, went back to Antioch. This time they took John with them, the one they called Mark.

Acts 12 break free

What do we learn?
–God hears and honors the strenuous, honest, humble prayers of his people!
–God acts on those prayers in ways we cannot imagine. Let Him answer in the way HE knows is best.
–Don’t mess with God!
–He will rescue us before we know we need rescuing.
–God is always at work. Our prayers center our minds on Him who does the work.
–Trust and obey.
–When God answers our prayers, give Him ALL the glory! And believe it when the answer comes.

How long has it been since we prayed strenuously as a group of people (church)? What would we ask God to do? Do we believe He will act on our behalf?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the lessons of Your Word that remind us of Your promise to always be with us, to hear our heart cries for help in prayer, and to never sleep but to always be at work in and through us and all around us. You are God and we are not. We praise you, give you honor and all glory for all you have done, are doing and will do. Thank you for being with us. Every day.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

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WHEN GOD IS IN IT…

Posted on December 23, 2017 by randscallawayffm
ACTS – The Acts of God
 
Has there ever been a time in your life when you made a decision that you knew might get you in trouble later? You are probably thinking of those times right now and shuddering. But what if you knew God was in it? God’s Holy Spirit, if we allow Him, must trump what we are doing alone or what is “safe”. We might be questioned, but if God is in it, He will defend and protect us. If the defense isn’t good enough for man, than that’s okay, too. Our journey isn’t over yet.
 
I remember, with a light shudder, one of the instances when I allowed the Holy Spirit to lead in a youth service when I knew that might mean staying a few minutes later. I was new as one of the leaders at this growing church plant. I was the speaker for the evening for middle school and high school youth. Because they had been without a youth director for awhile, I was led to speak encouragement over them, explaining how God could use this time in their lives to start fresh. I felt led to close with intentional prayer, asking God to renew and refresh us and lead us to a greater ministry. I explained to the youth in the room around tables that each person would have a part and to let God lead them in what He might invite them to do. THEN, it happened. The Holy Spirit led these young followers of Christ to get out of their chairs and fall on their knees in prayer for their youth ministry! How beautiful it was to see young lives call out to God! Wow. I rejoice to think of it even now.
 
However, this burst of praying together to God for His leading caused our worship service to go 10 minutes later than it should. Like Peter, I was “called on the carpet” by the senior pastor, right there in view of parents and other volunteer youth leaders. I would like to say that all was well when I told the pastor and other leaders why we went overtime, but it wasn’t. I was reprimanded and told, “Never let parents wait in the halls for their kids again.” End of discussion. I didn’t. I also didn’t spend more than a year at that job! God led me out quickly.
 
I praise God for that learning and growing experience today. It has made me even more aware and sensitive to how the Holy Spirit must be in the lead no matter what. I know there are time constraints in multiple services in large churches. I get that. But I also know that if “business” is to be done in the lives of those the Holy Spirit is working with, then we must allow an environment where lives can be saved and where God’s work of transformation can begin. Perhaps we need to bring back “prayer rooms” staffed by caring, mature in faith adults who will just listen and pray with those whom the Holy Spirit is challenging. We should not call for repentance and life change and then not provide a way and means for it to happen. That seems kind of cruel to me…like saying here’s cake but we don’t have forks.
 
Okay, I must depart from this discussion, for I am not a “player” in today’s methods…only a pray-er. If God is in it….do it. That is the bottom line.
Acts 11 barriers
Acts 11, The Message
God Has Broken Through
11 1-3 The news traveled fast and in no time the leaders and friends back in Jerusalem heard about it—heard that the non-Jewish “outsiders” were now “in.” When Peter got back to Jerusalem, some of his old associates, concerned about circumcision, called him on the carpet: “What do you think you’re doing rubbing shoulders with that crowd, eating what is prohibited and ruining our good name?”
 
4-6 So Peter, starting from the beginning, laid it out for them step-by-step: “Recently I was in the town of Joppa praying. I fell into a trance and saw a vision: Something like a huge blanket, lowered by ropes at its four corners, came down out of heaven and settled on the ground in front of me. Milling around on the blanket were farm animals, wild animals, reptiles, birds—you name it, it was there. Fascinated, I took it all in.
 
7-10 “Then I heard a voice: ‘Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.’ I said, ‘Oh, no, Master. I’ve never so much as tasted food that wasn’t kosher.’ The voice spoke again: ‘If God says it’s okay, it’s okay.’ This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the sky.
 
11-14 “Just then three men showed up at the house where I was staying, sent from Caesarea to get me. The Spirit told me to go with them, no questions asked. So I went with them, I and six friends, to the man who had sent for me. He told us how he had seen an angel right in his own house, real as his next-door neighbor, saying, ‘Send to Joppa and get Simon, the one they call Peter. He’ll tell you something that will save your life—in fact, you and everyone you care for.’
 
15-17 “So I started in, talking. Before I’d spoken half a dozen sentences, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us the first time. I remembered Jesus’ words: ‘John baptized with water; you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So I ask you: If God gave the same exact gift to them as to us when we believed in the Master Jesus Christ, how could I object to God?”
 
18 Hearing it all laid out like that, they quieted down. And then, as it sank in, they started praising God. “It’s really happened! God has broken through to the other nations, opened them up to Life!”
 
19-21 Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it—quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master.
 
22-24 When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit’s ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master.
 
25-26 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found him and brought him back to Antioch. They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.
 
27-30 It was about this same time that some prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem. One of them named Agabus stood up one day and, prompted by the Spirit, warned that a severe famine was about to devastate the country. (The famine eventually came during the rule of Claudius.) So the disciples decided that each of them would send whatever they could to their fellow Christians in Judea to help out. They sent Barnabas and Saul to deliver the collection to the leaders in Jerusalem.
 
Acts 11 God
What do we learn?
–There are many thoughts that come to mind with this passage of problem solving in the church.
–Who is out and who is in perturbed the Jewish leaders UNTIL they heard Peter explain the Truth of what really happened. How many times do we get angry, miffed and sarcastic in the church when we don’t have all the facts? Assuming, rumors, opinions and gossip hinders and grieves the Holy Spirit. Will the work stop? No. But it is harder for people to see Truth when rumors run wild.
–Look what happens when two people, Cornelius and Peter, obey the Holy Spirit without hesitation? Wow. “The Spirit told me to go with them, no questions asked. So I went…” (Peter)
“He’ll tell you something that will save your life–in fact, you and everyone you care for.” (Angel to Cornelius)
–Has TRUTH sank in, the leaders praised God! God has broken through to other nations!
–Barnabas, the Encourager, “confident in the Holy Spirit’s ways”, was sent to check on the international churches. “As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all.”
–Barnabas brings Saul to Antioch to teach. Now disciples are called “Christians”. They begin to help each other in all kinds of ways.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
What have we made of Your church? How do we grieve Your Holy Spirit? How are we known as Christians? By our love? By our reverence for you? We must repent and take stock, evaluating our lives by the leading of Your Holy Spirit individually and corporately. Transform us as Your church. Transform me. Help us to love like you love. When YOU are in it, it is Truth. It is good. Lives changed forever. Help us, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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GOODNESS GETS GOD’S ATTENTION,  BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Posted on December 22, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

Today we read about a Gentile who got God’s attention because of his kind heart. This man always helped others when needed. He even led his household to worship God. He had a habit of prayer. “He was a thoroughly good man.”

Have you ever known really good men and women who were good from the inside out, always helping people with a smile on their face, people of integrity that you could trust consistently to be honest and true to you. God put many people in my life over the years that were “thoroughly good” men and women. But some of those good people didn’t know Christ.

It is dangerous is to assume good people know Christ. I remember an elderly lady who began coming to our church after being helped from the church’s food bank. After a few months, she came to Randy after the service and said, “You know that part where you said we can invite Jesus into our heart? I’ve never done that, but I have now.” She was soon baptized. What a smile she had as the peace of Christ washed over her. We assumed she already knew Christ!

Another time in a Sunday School class of little ones, I was approached by a six year old battling cancer. She seriously asked, “Miss Susan, do you just have to be really good to get to heaven?” This question trumped our lesson for the day with discussing the way to salvation! She became a Christian along with another classmate who said, “I’ve been waiting a long time to do this!”

Never assume. Always be ready, like Peter, to present the gospel to all.

Acts 10 all

Acts 10, The Message
Peter’s Vision
10 1-3 There was a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea, captain of the Italian Guard stationed there. He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer. One day about three o’clock in the afternoon he had a vision. An angel of God, as real as his next-door neighbor, came in and said, “Cornelius.”

4-6 Cornelius stared hard, wondering if he was seeing things. Then he said, “What do you want, sir?”

The angel said, “Your prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God’s attention. Here’s what you are to do. Send men to Joppa to get Simon, the one everyone calls Peter. He is staying with Simon the Tanner, whose house is down by the sea.”

7-8 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two servants and one particularly devout soldier from the guard. He went over with them in great detail everything that had just happened, and then sent them off to Joppa.

9-13 The next day as the three travelers were approaching the town, Peter went out on the balcony to pray. It was about noon. Peter got hungry and started thinking about lunch. While lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the skies open up. Something that looked like a huge blanket lowered by ropes at its four corners settled on the ground. Every kind of animal and reptile and bird you could think of was on it. Then a voice came: “Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.”

14 Peter said, “Oh, no, Lord. I’ve never so much as tasted food that was not kosher.”

15 The voice came a second time: “If God says it’s okay, it’s okay.”

16 This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the skies.

17-20 As Peter, puzzled, sat there trying to figure out what it all meant, the men sent by Cornelius showed up at Simon’s front door. They called in, asking if there was a Simon, also called Peter, staying there. Peter, lost in thought, didn’t hear them, so the Spirit whispered to him, “Three men are knocking at the door looking for you. Get down there and go with them. Don’t ask any questions. I sent them to get you.”

21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I think I’m the man you’re looking for. What’s up?”

22-23 They said, “Captain Cornelius, a God-fearing man well-known for his fair play—ask any Jew in this part of the country—was commanded by a holy angel to get you and bring you to his house so he could hear what you had to say.” Peter invited them in and made them feel at home.

God Plays No Favorites
23-26 The next morning he got up and went with them. Some of his friends from Joppa went along. A day later they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had his relatives and close friends waiting with him. The minute Peter came through the door, Cornelius was up on his feet greeting him—and then down on his face worshiping him! Peter pulled him up and said, “None of that—I’m a man and only a man, no different from you.”

27-29 Talking things over, they went on into the house, where Cornelius introduced Peter to everyone who had come. Peter addressed them, “You know, I’m sure that this is highly irregular. Jews just don’t do this—visit and relax with people of another race. But God has just shown me that no race is better than any other. So the minute I was sent for, I came, no questions asked. But now I’d like to know why you sent for me.”

30-32 Cornelius said, “Four days ago at about this time, midafternoon, I was home praying. Suddenly there was a man right in front of me, flooding the room with light. He said, ‘Cornelius, your daily prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God’s attention. I want you to send to Joppa to get Simon, the one they call Peter. He’s staying with Simon the Tanner down by the sea.’

33 “So I did it—I sent for you. And you’ve been good enough to come. And now we’re all here in God’s presence, ready to listen to whatever the Master put in your heart to tell us.”

34-36 Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.

37-38 “You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him.

39-43 “And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. Not everyone saw him—he wasn’t put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand—us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. But we’re not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets.”

44-46 No sooner were these words out of Peter’s mouth than the Holy Spirit came on the listeners. The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on “outsider” non-Jews, but there it was—they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God.

Acts 10 saved

46-48 Then Peter said, “Do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water? They’ve received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did.” Hearing no objections, he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Then they asked Peter to stay on for a few days.

Think about it…

It is good to know that goodness gets God’s attention. However, God knew that goodness is not enough to live with Him forever. Even good people have sin in their lives. No one is perfect. “ALL have sinned and fall short…” (Romans 3:23) All people, good and bad, need to know and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

This story begins with the goodness of Cornelieus getting God’s attention and ends with the entire household knowing the Truth and being saved and baptized. The gift of the Holy Spirit falls on these new Gentile believers proving to Peter that God plays no favorites in His Kingdom. God opens the door of salvation for all.

We should all be praising and thanking God at this point in the story. This is a pivotal point in the history of God’s church (people). Salvation is for all who believe!

“For God so loved THE WORLD that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

The salvation door has been opened wide for all! Hallelujah! Go tell it…live it…and praise God for the open door to His salvation!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE PEOPLE GREW

Posted on December 21, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

This phenomenon of the growing numbers of believers described in the book of Acts is called “church planting” in today’s church terminology. But there is a danger in only looking at the process and not God. It is good to go back to the beginning (Genesis) and retrace our steps so we can go deeper into our understanding of how and why the people (church) grew. In the beginning was…God. His Son, Jesus Christ was also there along with His Holy Spirit. Three-in-One. The Trinity.

From the beginning God loved His created. His desire, like all parents, was for His created to love Him back…freely, not because He forced them, not for what He gave them or did for them. The best love, pure and honest love, is love that is given and received with no strings attached.

Ah, but alas, Love was marred by the evil one who wanted to be God and was kicked out of heaven for daring to take God’s place. The evil one, who did not know Love, has been in battle with God and His created since the beginning, too. But God knew that. From the beginning God had a plan to reconcile willful humans that would fall for evil’s traps of sin.

So, what is sin? Sin is anything that keeps us from communion and relationship with our God. God is perfect and holy. Sin is imperfection and unholiness. Sin is a blemish that must be removed. God turns his face from sin. Sin cannot be in the same place where God is. So if we have sin we are not where God is and cannot be in relationship with Him.

From the beginning God created a solution to our sin problem. God’s desire is to be in perfect relationship with His creation. Perfection, however, means without sin. Sin muddies the pure waters of our view of God. Sin has to be eradicated, gotten rid of, atoned for…paid for so we can be back in relationship with God.

At first the plan was to use animals to pay for mankind’s sin.
Lambs were specifically bred for the purpose of this sacrifice. The lamb must be perfect, without blemishes of any kind. The ritual included ceremoniously placing all sin on the animal and then killing it. The lamb died with man’s sin. Relationship restored.

Man abused this plan over time. God knew that. God, the One who loves us first and best sent a part of Himself, Jesus, His Son, down to earth to teach and remind His created Who He is and how He loves. Jesus also held many “workshops” on the intent of the original Law and commandments that were formed from a foundation of Love.

Then Jesus became the Perfect Lamb of God who would willingly lay down his life for us and die for all our sin. All of mankind’s sin was placed on Him that day. He went to hell and back, battling Satan for our souls and won! This would be the final and complete sacrifice for all…forever. Jesus, Son of God, became the Lamb who took away our sin forever.

STOP...let that sink in. Take all the time you need.

The disciples of Jesus were eye witnesses to the fulfillment of this plan. Next sent, was God’s Holy Spirit to fill them with the power and authority to boldly tell God’s Story of reconciliation.

Now, back to this phenomenon called church. The word “church” is synonymous for the word “God’s people”. If we lift out the word church in the book of Acts and replace it with God’s people we get a more personal view of what is happening here. For us church is a place we go. Back then church was a group of new believers in a growing relationship with God with a deep sense of awe and reverence for Him. Let this key verse sink in by reading it over and over. Let God’s Holy Spirit speak and teach…

“All over the country—Judea, Samaria, Galilee—the church grew. They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God. The Holy Spirit was with them, strengthening them. They prospered wonderfully.” (Acts 9:31)

Now replace church with God’s people…
“All over the country—Judea, Samaria, Galilee—God’s people grew. They (God’s people) were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God. The Holy Spirit was with them (God’s people), strengthening them. They (God’s people) prospered wonderfully.

See what a difference this perspective brings to our thinking? It was GOD’S PEOPLE, individuals like you and I, who GREW in their deep sense of reverence for God! God’s Holy Spirit was with them, in them, working through them, giving them strength and power beyond themselves, BECAUSE of their “deep sense of reverence FOR GOD! Of course they prospered wonderfully…God’s people were growing in their relationship with our Creator! They recognized HIS power. They were in a holy, intimate, honest relationship with God at last. God’s people had a holy reverence for God and gave HIM honor and praise for His Acts! It was ALL about God!

Another example as we read on…Keep substituting the word church for God’s people…
Acts 9:32-35,
Peter went off on a mission to visit all the churches. In the course of his travels he arrived in Lydda and met with the believers there. He came across a man—his name was Aeneas—who had been in bed eight years paralyzed. Peter said, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” And he did it—jumped right out of bed. Everybody who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him walking around and woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among them.

God’s people woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among them! Still, all about God!

“Many put their trust in the Master”…not Peter or the other disciples…but the Master, Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord. God’s people, these new believers in Jesus, grew from the inside out because the grew in their reverent relationship WITH God.

In the beginning God…still is God!

Acts 9 kneel

I have taken two days to mull this over and write it down in a way I can wrap my head around the depth of this story of how God’s people (church) grew. We get messed up in our thinking when we look only at the numbers of people who responded at one time. We immediately fall prey to turning the Acts of God into a formula for church planting. We cannot and should not reduce this miracle of the Holy Spirit to a mere formula or program that can be replicated. Certainly we can learn about how God works but the plan is all His.

What we can do is repent. We can humble ourselves before God. We can honor Him in deep reverence as we think deeply about Who our Creator is and how much He loves us. We can learn about who God is and how He works in each of us. There is more to learn each day if our hearts are willing and open for daily cleansing and renewal. We can allow the Holy Spirit to lead and strengthen us with power to tell God’s story of salvation. We can point the way to God and help others find and follow Him with unrelenting love and devotion to Him.

Church. God’s People. Growing in intimate relationship with God. The more intimate our relationship grows, the more we realize the depth of His love for us. This growing realization of His love causes us to love others more deeply. Ah, the fulfillment of the Great Commandment as Jesus taught…Love God. Love Others. The revolutionary love of God’s People…Church.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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CONVERTING, TRANSFORMING AND MEASURING

Posted on December 19, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

I never seem to have the right tool to measure when I attempt any project that comes along. I spend a lot of time converting to another form of measurement to make it work. We do this in cooking, sewing, and building. For example, when we convert from inches to centimeters, we are essentially looking at the same raw material, we are just giving it value in a different way.

When people convert we now use a different form of measurement in light of the transformation of the Holy Spirit. What a difference the Holy Spirit makes in a person who has repented and has turned in the opposite direction he/she was traveling before accepting Christ!

Saul converted to the Way of Jesus Christ. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. The other Christians now need to look at him in a new way using a different form to measure his value in the community of believers. Saul turns from a raging bull to a passionate preacher in a matter of a few days. What a difference the Holy Spirit makes in all who turn around in a “180” to face Christ and follow Him! But it is too fast for some believers.

The Holy Spirit led believers to help Saul in is new life as a Christian even though they were still apprehensive and anxious about trusting Paul. They trusted the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit also provided a mentor to Saul/Paul in the wise man, Barnabas, who “took him under his wing”.

Acts 9 transformed

Acts 9, The Message
19-21 Saul spent a few days getting acquainted with the Damascus disciples, but then went right to work, wasting no time, preaching in the meeting places that this Jesus was the Son of God. They were caught off guard by this and, not at all sure they could trust him, they kept saying, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem among the believers? And didn’t he come here to do the same thing—arrest us and drag us off to jail in Jerusalem for sentencing by the high priests?”

22 But their suspicions didn’t slow Saul down for even a minute. His momentum was up now and he plowed straight into the opposition, disarming the Damascus Jews and trying to show them that this Jesus was the Messiah.

23-25 After this had gone on quite a long time, some Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul got wind of it. They were watching the city gates around the clock so they could kill him. Then one night the disciples engineered his escape by lowering him over the wall in a basket.

26-27 Back in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t trust him one bit. Then Barnabas took him under his wing. He introduced him to the apostles and stood up for him, told them how Saul had seen and spoken to the Master on the Damascus Road and how in Damascus itself he had laid his life on the line with his bold preaching in Jesus’ name.

28-30 After that he was accepted as one of them, going in and out of Jerusalem with no questions asked, uninhibited as he preached in the Master’s name. But then he ran afoul of a group called Hellenists—he had been engaged in a running argument with them—who plotted his murder. When his friends learned of the plot, they got him out of town, took him to Caesarea, and then shipped him off to Tarsus.

31 Things calmed down after that and the church had smooth sailing for a while. All over the country—Judea, Samaria, Galilee—the church grew. They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God. The Holy Spirit was with them, strengthening them. They prospered wonderfully.

How do we measure a man or woman who has converted their lives to live for Christ?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Teach us to love, accept, nurture and encourage new believers by they way You measure their value as Your child. New life. New perspective. Allowing room for the transformation of the Holy Spirit. 
In Jesus Name, Amen

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BEING LED INSTEAD OF LEADING

Posted on December 18, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

Extreme “Type A” people like to be in control of the situation. It is the greatest tool in their belt. The first thought of this personality type isn’t to look for who is in charge but to be in charge in any given situation. They can be competitive, outgoing, ambitious, impatient and/or aggressive. It seems they are created, in born if you will, to be one who leads. Others are delighted to defer to their leadership who do not want to be responsible for leading themselves. Some readily prefer to follow one who seems to know what they are doing and are confident that what they are doing is right. Type A’s are leaders of passion with a little bit of arrogance thrown into the mix. A little bit of this and a lot of that…Shake it all up and you get Saul of Tarsus.

Saul, a devote Jew and scholar of God’s Law, thinks he is doing the right thing as he and his thugs roughly grab and drag new Christians out of their home meeting places and throw them in jail for preaching Jesus. Saul is in total control, probably even enjoying his new leadership role. He is gaining approval from the Council to extend his control beyond the borders of Jerusalem. So while the gospel is spreading…so is Saul’s leadership persecution of the Way. Who will win? WHO is in charge here?

Acts 9 road to

Acts 9, The Message
The Blinding of Saul
9 1-2 All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the Master’s disciples, out for the kill. He went to the Chief Priest and got arrest warrants to take to the meeting places in Damascus so that if he found anyone there belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he could arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.

3-4 He set off. When he got to the outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?”

5-6 He said, “Who are you, Master?”

“I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down. I want you to get up and enter the city. In the city you’ll be told what to do next.”

7-9 His companions stood there dumbstruck—they could hear the sound, but couldn’t see anyone—while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, found himself stone-blind. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. He continued blind for three days. He ate nothing, drank nothing.

10 There was a disciple in Damascus by the name of Ananias. The Master spoke to him in a vision: “Ananias.”

“Yes, Master?” he answered.

11-12 “Get up and go over to Straight Avenue. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul. He’s there praying. He has just had a dream in which he saw a man named Ananias enter the house and lay hands on him so he could see again.”

13-14 Ananias protested, “Master, you can’t be serious. Everybody’s talking about this man and the terrible things he’s been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he’s shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us.”

15-16 But the Master said, “Don’t argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to non-Jews and kings and Jews. And now I’m about to show him what he’s in for—the hard suffering that goes with this job.”

17-19 So Ananias went and found the house, placed his hands on blind Saul, and said, “Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes—he could see again! He got to his feet, was baptized, and sat down with them to a hearty meal.

Acts 9 saul paul

What is happening here?
–Overnight, Saul transforms from mighty leader to one who must be led. He cannot lead himself much less anyone else.
–His personality by nature is being altered, transformed and fine tuned as he surrenders to being led by God’s Holy Spirit.
–Jesus, the real One in Charge, blinds Saul to self motives and desires.
–Saul is blind for three days. He eats and drinks nothing. Could this be the process for Saul to die to self? (In three days, after dying for our sin, Jesus rose from the grave! Alive!) Mm.
–When we hurt others, it’s the same as hurting Jesus. “Why do you persecute Me?” –Jesus
–Ananias, led by the Spirit, must teach Saul how to be led, a scary assignment for this man of God! But he does it anyway, trusting God for the results.
–Saul, once the guy in charge, the leader with a capital L, is now one who is being led by the Holy Spirit.
–Saul will not turn back from his eye-opening experience. His mind has been changed and his heart transformed. He will now become Jesus’ personal representative to Gentiles as well as the Jews.

Think about it…
–God will use those same gifts and talents born in Saul to be used now for His glory and to help others, many others find and follow Jesus. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
–Saul not only as a change of heart but of name. He will now be known as Paul, the passionate, humbled but tenacious, representative of Jesus Chris, His Savior and now Lord. He is led by the Holy Spirit in an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
–One of many examples of Paul’s attitude shift:
“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.” Galatians 6:14

Are we sometimes “blinded” by our own leadership versus being led by the Holy Spirit?

Dear Heavenly Father,
You are God and we are not. You are in charge and we are those to be led by Your Holy Spirit. Forgive us when we step ahead of You as if we think we know what is best. Continue to transform us to be all you intended for us to be and do.
In Jesus Name, Amen

 
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JUST SAY YES

Posted on December 17, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

Why do we always have to know why before we do anything at all. It begins at an early age so this must be a natural phenomenon. Our parents told us to do something and our first thought was why. We grew up and gave our kids tasks to do and their first response was always a whiny why. As a first grade teacher I would the why before they asked and I still get the question, “but why?” Exasperating, isn’t it. WHY can’t people just do it without explanation? How God, Our Father in Heaven, must feel when we stop to ask why before doing what He asks us to do.

There are many through out the Bible who didn’t question, they just “got up and went”. Today’s great example is Philip, our passionate missionary, who drops everything to say yes to God.

Acts 8, The Message
The Ethiopian Eunuch
26-28 Later God’s angel spoke to Philip: “At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza.” He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. The eunuch had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia, where he was minister in charge of all the finances of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.

29-30 The Spirit told Philip, “Climb into the chariot.” Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

31-33 He answered, “How can I without some help?” and invited Philip into the chariot with him. The passage he was reading was this:

As a sheep led to slaughter,
and quiet as a lamb being sheared,
He was silent, saying nothing.
He was mocked and put down, never got a fair trial.
But who now can count his kin
since he’s been taken from the earth?

34-35 The eunuch said, “Tell me, who is the prophet talking about: himself or some other?” Philip grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus to him.

Acts 8 Philip

36-39 As they continued down the road, they came to a stream of water. The eunuch said, “Here’s water. Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the chariot to stop. They both went down to the water, and Philip baptized him on the spot. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of God suddenly took Philip off, and that was the last the eunuch saw of him. But he didn’t mind. He had what he’d come for and went on down the road as happy as he could be.

40 Philip showed up in Azotus and continued north, preaching the Message in all the villages along that route until he arrived at Caesarea.

What do we learn?
–Say yes to God!
–Preach Jesus…”grab” every chance given to us!

Randy and I have a few tasks that we planning to accomplish in Bolivia, but I must confess, there is a greater reason that we are going and I don’t know why…yet. God said go, so we are going. That’s all I need to know for now. That’s how God works in us and through us. Trust Him, He knows what He is doing!

Please join us in prayer as we prepare our hearts to do His will in His way by His Spirit here and in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We don’t always have to know why, do we, Lord? We trust in You. Continue to transform us making Your desires become our desires. We are listening…
In Jesus Name, Amen

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JESUS. IMPRESSED?

Posted on December 16, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

There is an old saying in leadership circles about spending all your efforts and passion climbing the ladder to success and then find that you had your ladder propped up against the wrong wall. This is Saul. A zealous man, full of God’s Law, a leader by nature with a following. He was able to use his authority to ravage homes of new Christians proclaiming Christ. The church gathered in homes at that time. This sent many underground to gather to pray, worship and commune. However, a great many were “forced to leave home” and became missionaries of the gospel!

“Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus.”

Philip is one of the first missionaries to preach away from home base. God acted in many miraculous ways through Philip. There was great joy in the city of the Samaritan region. Evil protested loudly. Evil was defeated and sent packing. Imagine going to a sin filled city where evil reigns and has control then watching God enter and bring salvation to all. And they accept!

We meet Simon “the wizard” in this passage. The writer of Acts decided we needed to know how God exposed him. Simon had his own following when Philip arrives on the scene with Truth. God acts of healing are far better than Simon’s performed tricks.
So, Simon is impressed with Jesus…merely impressed. He sees the power of the Holy Spirit and offers to buy this gift freely given to all who believe which shows the shallow depth of his own belief.

The story takes us on Simon’s journey from mere performance to raw belief. We are shown how God dealt with him from the inside out. We see the steps God took Simon through to transform his thinking, change his heart’s desire to perform for riches and humble his very soul. “Pray for me!”, Simon cries out.

The gospel is preached passionately today. How many are merely impressed with the baby Jesus in the manager without developing a surrendered relationship with Jesus Christ, the Savior and Lord of our lives?

How many get rich on the emotions of people, manipulating God’s Word to bring people to themselves? Woe to those who’s desire is to use God to make money. Be alert, dear Christians!

Acts 8, The Message
Simon the Wizard
8 1-2 That set off a terrific persecution of the church in Jerusalem. The believers were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. All, that is, but the apostles. Good and brave men buried Stephen, giving him a solemn funeral—not many dry eyes that day!

3-8 And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail. Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah. When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God’s action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city!

Acts 8 not truth

9-11 Previous to Philip’s arrival, a certain Simon had practiced magic in the city, posing as a famous man and dazzling all the Samaritans with his wizardry. He had them all, from little children to old men, eating out of his hand. They all thought he had supernatural powers, and called him “the Great Wizard.” He had been around a long time and everyone was more or less in awe of him.

12-13 But when Philip came to town announcing the news of God’s kingdom and proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, they forgot Simon and were baptized, becoming believers right and left! Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. From that moment he was like Philip’s shadow, so fascinated with all the God-signs and miracles that he wouldn’t leave Philip’s side.

14-17 When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God’s Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn’t yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit.

18-19 When Simon saw that the apostles by merely laying on hands conferred the Spirit, he pulled out his money, excited, and said, “Sell me your secret! Show me how you did that! How much do you want? Name your price!”

20-23 Peter said, “To hell with your money! And you along with it. Why, that’s unthinkable—trying to buy God’s gift! You’ll never be part of what God is doing by striking bargains and offering bribes. Change your ways—and now! Ask the Master to forgive you for trying to use God to make money. I can see this is an old habit with you; you reek with money-lust.”

24 “Oh!” said Simon, “pray for me! Pray to the Master that nothing like that will ever happen to me!”

25 And with that, the apostles were on their way, continuing to witness and spread the Message of God’s salvation, preaching in every Samaritan town they passed through on their return to Jerusalem.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Don’t let us be merely impressed with you as a baby this time of year as our emotions run high as we are exposed to music, arts, lights, tinsel and flashy displays of what others depict you to be. You are Savior of the world. You are God and we are not. You are Lord of lord and King of kings! And Your one desire is to be in an intimate, unconditional, loving relationship with us. Emmanuel…God with us! Every day. Not just at Christmas. Forgive us when we are distracted, Lord from the beauty of being WITH You. Transform our thinking and behavior.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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