"The God of Dedication"

" The eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the Dedication of the Altar seven days..."  2 Chronicles 7:9

Thoughts from Pastor's Message...
Today we are blessed with "Dedicating" a child. It is a glorious occasion and one I know blesses our Father in Heaven. We see the example of this as we read in Luke 2 where the parents of Jesus bring him to the Temple. There, He is blessed by the Priest and it is prophesied, "He is a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy People Israel."  This is awesome, for at this moment of the Child Jesus' dedication, it was revealed that He would not only be the Light to Israel, but to the Gentiles, that's us! Seeing Simeon, the Prophet of God, taking Jesus up in his arms and blessing has become the pattern even to this generation as we bring our children to the Lord! God is a God of Dedication! As we read the Scriptures in the Old Testament, often there is mention of God requiring Israel to dedicate things. In the Book of Numbers, there is the anointing and dedication of the Altar. In the Book of Ezra, there is the dedication of the House of God and with "Joy!" In Nehemiah, there is the dedication of the Walls of Jerusalem, with "gladness and thanksgiving, singing, and with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps." In Psalms, there were songs of dedication and in 2 Samuel, the spoils of war, vessels of gold and silver and brass were dedicated to the Lord. Think of this: The Old Testament Covenant and the New Testament Covenant that God made with His people were dedicated in Blood. On and on, the occasions wherein dedication is mentioned in Scripture. Then, there are events such as the "Blessing of the Christ Child" that does not have a word dedication; but the fact of dedicating is there as the Child was presented in the Temple. We see this in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  This is the moment in our generation that God is calling for His people to present themselves afresh to Him! Our Altar is dedicated and ready for this precious purpose!
                   Loving you, Pastor

"Our Gracious God!"

"The Lord was gracious unto them, and had Compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of His Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast He them from His presence as yet." 2 Kings 13:23

Thoughts from Pastor's Message... 
As I read the Scriptures regarding Moses, the children of Israel; I am amazed at what I see. Here was a nation of God's people, favored by God above all the peoples of the earth, and yet they continued to go against God. In our Congregational Scripture Reading today, we note that while they were disobedient, and actually shameful in attributing the great Exodus from bondage to the molten calf, it makes me ponder the graciousness of our God. It also reminds me of God's children in America. We are a nation founded on Godly principles; but the Godliness of our nation is fastly losing its commitment to God and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Our nation is built on sacrifice: God's Son sacrificed for our eternal existence and the forefathers of our nation sacrificed themselves as they signed the Declaration of Independence, which signing brought about our freedom as a nation. God dealt with the nations of the Old Testament as they refused to obey Him. God always deals with rebellion. Yet, as we read the Scriptures of God's dealings with His children, we hear over and over: He is a gracious God! What does gracious mean to us? There are several statements in Webster's Dictionary; the very first being: "Godly!" Gracious is an attribute of our God. "Graceful" is next, not only are we talking about how we conduct ourselves, but "Grace" is part of our Liberty in Christ. As the definitions go on we find: "Merciful, Compassionate!": God continues to be gracious, compassionate, and merciful toward America. But, never let us forget the sacrifices that have been made lest judgment be the portion of a nation that turns its back on our gracious God! We see the graciousness of Christ as He speaks to Peter and tells him, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Luke 22:32
                     Loving you, Pastor

"Partakers of the Inheritance!"

"Giving Thanks unto God the Father, which hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the saints in Light." Colossians 1:12

Thoughts from Pastor's Message...

Many thoughts move through my mind as I think of this glorious day of the "Declaration of Independence!" We as a nation have lived in freedom so long that we take for granted the liberty that God has granted us. Rarely do we think of the 56 men who laid their lives on the line that we today might have this freedom. While society today would like to remove God out of everything, He was very present at the signing of this Declaration. The men who fought for our freedom believed in Him. Today there are those in the leadership of our country that prize the fact that it was their faith, their trust in God that brought about our inheritance--an inheritance of freedom above most nations. Why has America been blessed? Scripture reveals: Psalms 33:12, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His Own Inheritance."  This is a powerful statement coming out of the Book of Psalms. The Psalmist is a worshipper! This 33rd Psalm opens with great rejoicing; the psaltery and ten stringed instruments are in motion and the Word of the Lord is declared and I hear the song in my spirit... "Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him!"  There is much rejoicing as the Psalmist describes the wonderful acts of God in our world! As we celebrate another year of our freedom, let us rejoice; let us recognize the awesome acts of our God in His creative glory! Let us not take for granted our freedom in the earth nor our freedom in God! We are a Blessed Nation because our foundation is built on Him.
       Rejoicing in the Liberty that has set us Free!
                       Loving you, Pastor