Notes of Faith December 28, 2022

Notes of Faith December 28, 2022

Casting Our Cares On God

Suppose you lived in a village with about five hundred people and no army, no fortress, and suppose you heard that an enemy army of five thousand armed soldiers was coming against you to take your village and destroy its inhabitants. Now, that would be in your heart a burden. It would be an anxiety, and the kind of thing Peter says in 1 Peter 5:7 should be cast on the Lord, right? “Cast your anxieties onto the Lord.” Or Psalm 55:22: “[Roll] your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

And suppose that there was a king, with an army of fifty thousand soldiers, who had pledged himself to protect you and your village when you call him for help. So you send a messenger to the king and plead with him to come and protect you against the enemy, and he sends a royal messenger back with a message with the official king’s seal on it that says, “I will protect you. The enemy will not overwhelm you.” Signed, “The King.” Now, what would it mean for you at that moment to cast your burden, to cast your anxiety, onto the king?

Surely, the answer is this: to the degree that you trust the king’s promise to protect you, to that degree, your burden will be lifted. If your trust is small, you will still feel burdened, but if your trust is great, your burden will be light. So the key to casting your burdens, your anxieties, onto the king is to trust the word of the king, the word of promise, which, of course, includes trusting that he has the power to do what he says he’ll do, that he has the wisdom to be as strategic as he needs to be, that he has the will, or the desire, or the commitment to do what he says. Trust will involve all those things, but trust is the key to letting your burden go, putting your burden on the king.

What Kind of God?

When it comes to casting our anxieties onto God, the most fundamental thing is for God to tell us what kind of king he is. Is he the kind of God, the kind of king, that wants to load his people down with burdens like slave labor — as the Israelites in Egypt were loaded down with making bricks without straw, because that’s the kind of king Pharaoh was? Or is he the kind of God that loves to lift burdens off of his people? What kind of God is God?

“God will never surrender the glory of being the all-sufficient provider and deliverer.”

That has to be settled, and God has to tell us and show us what kind of God he is. Oh, how liberating, how thrilling it was — I can remember it — for me when I first saw the texts that I’m going to read right now. I had never quite articulated for myself that God really is this way. This is the kind of God who created the universe, who sent Christ into the world, who governs things by the providence of his wisdom. He really is this kind of God. So here they are.

GIVER

Acts 17:25: “[God is not] served by human hands as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” In other words, God has no needs at all. He doesn’t need me. He doesn’t need my slave labor. On the contrary, he shows his divine fullness, wisdom, power, love by giving, not getting.

DELIVERER

Here’s Psalm 50:12, 15. God says, “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. . . . call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” What an amazing two verses. In other words, never think that you can glorify God by sacrificially providing for him, providing your labor for him, as though he depended on you for anything. God is not glorified by being your beneficiary. He’s glorified by being your benefactor. “Call on me,” he says, “in the day of trouble; I will deliver you” — not the other way around. “I’ll deliver you, and you will glorify me for my delivering you.” He’ll never surrender the glory of being the all-sufficient provider and deliverer.

WORKER

Isaiah 64:4 — oh my goodness, this is glorious. I remember the first time I saw this and had it pointed out to me what kind of uniqueness God claims for himself. “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you.” Okay, now what’s the uniqueness here that nobody has seen? “. . . who works for those who wait for him.” In other words, what makes God unique among all the pagan gods of the nations is that he doesn’t look for help; he provides help. He works for those who wait for him. Baal and Nebo, those Babylonian gods, they’re like idols sitting on carts that you’ve got to drag around with yokes over your shoulder, whereas our God carries us. We don’t carry him.

SUPPORTER

And maybe the text that amazed me the most of this cluster that I’m reading was 2 Chronicles 16:9: “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” What that really says is that God is prowling around; he’s on the lookout for people who let him work for them, for people whose hearts will turn to him and trust him to be strong on their behalf. God is looking for ways, so to speak, to show off his power for us, not against us — for the sake of those who humble themselves under his mighty hand and trust him to work for them. Amazing.

SERVANT

One more text to illustrate the point, and it goes right to the heart of the matter because it has to do with the incarnation and what God was up to when he sent Jesus. Here’s Mark 10:45: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” In other words, at the very peak of the revelation of who God is — namely, in the incarnation of his own Son — the point he makes again is this: “I’m not coming to recruit help. I’m not coming to be served. I’m coming to serve. I’m the Savior here. I’m the helper here. I’m the rescuer here. I’m the provider here. I’m the all-wise guide here. I’m the treasure here. Don’t switch roles with me. Be needy, be satisfied, be trustful.”

Trust the All-Sufficient God

So, the answer to our most fundamental question — What kind of God are we dealing with when it comes to burden bearing? — is that we are dealing with a God who is so full he does not need our help to be more full, to be better, to be more effective, to be more satisfied, to be more glorious. All of his fullness — all of his excellence, his effectiveness, his glory — is shown for his people by his working for them, not them working for him. He lifts burdens. We don’t lift his. So with this glorious, massive reality of the kind of God that we are dealing with, what it means to cast your burden or your anxiety on the Lord is that you listen to his promises concerning your situation, and you trust him that he is the kind of God who is strong enough, wise enough, good enough to take onto his strong shoulders your concern and fulfill his promise to you.

“God is the kind of God who is strong enough, wise enough, good enough to take onto his strong shoulders your concern.”

Now, notice that the command in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast your anxieties on the Lord is preceded by the statement that God is mighty and followed by the statement that God cares. It goes like this: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, . . . casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6–7). Therefore, the casting of our anxieties means trusting his might and trusting his care to fulfill specific promises that he makes to his children in their various situations of life.

So as I’m facing a situation of anxiety, I admit that I cannot provide God’s needs. That’s not my job. He doesn’t want me to take that role. I’m helpless. God is all-sufficient, so I call to mind a promise like Isaiah 41:10, my go-to precious promise, where God says to me personally (I can hear him saying my name almost), “John, I will help you. I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” — a wonderful promise. And I trust that promise at that moment, and that trusting is the casting of my anxiety onto him. If, by grace, I am able to rest in the promise, the burden is lifted, and I can walk into the scary situation without fear.

So, never cease to be amazed that God is not a man that he should be served, but he is God, and he delights to show his power and his care not by burdening us, but by lifting our burdens. Trust him for this.

Peace is found in casting our cares, giving our anxiety to God. Our burdens are lifted when we let God do the heavy lifting. Trust is key.

Prov 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

NASU

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 27, 2022

Notes of Faith December 27, 2022

4 Reasons to Memorize Scripture in the New Year

Memorizing Scripture is one of the most effective means to engage with God's Word and always have a verse available to you when you need it most! Memorized Scripture allows you to dwell continuously on a passage throughout the day.

In an age when Bibles are readily available, it might seem that the work it takes to memorize Scripture is not worth the effort. Most of us don’t memorize much of anything, so why should we memorize the Bible? Didn’t people in the past need to memorize Scripture because the Bible was not readily available? In reality, there are numerous spiritual reasons for Scripture memorization.

Why Memorize Scripture?

1. First, Bible verses that are memorized will come back to you. Memorized Scripture is particularly helpful when you’re being tempted. Jesus combated the half-truths of Satan by quoting Scriptures from the Torah that he had memorized as a young man (in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus quotes from passages in Deuteronomy and in Psalms). Psalm 119:11 is clear about the relationship between memorizing Scripture and its power to help you resist temptation: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” As the saying goes, “Don’t forget what you learned in the light when you’re in the dark.” Scripture memory, done in the “light” times when you are strong in your faith, will come back to you during the “dark” times of temptation. When you need encouragement, comfort, or strength to stand firm in your faith, God’s Word will be readily at hand.

The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. –Deuteronomy 30:14

2. Second, memorizing Scripture, like all Scripture engagement practices, will help you grow in your knowledge of, love for, and obedience to God. The truths of the Bible will soak into your life, changing your understanding of what is real and good. It will help you to be stronger emotionally, bring a deeper peace into your life, and will be used by God to renew your mind.

3. Third, memorized Scripture is also helpful as you serve other people. You can bless others when you have an appropriate passage to share. In Colossians 3:16 we read, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” When giving advice to others who are hurting or struggling, God’s Word, readily available to you if you have it memorized, is powerful to bring healing and encouragement. Also, being able to quote specific passages as you share your faith will help others to hear God’s Word and might even be used by God to bring others to Christ (Romans 10:17).

4. Finally, memorizing Scripture is a powerful tool to help you to live out your faith. It’s important to keep in mind that memorizing God’s Word is not the final objective of memorizing the Bible. We’re called to be “doers” of the Word (James 2:14-19; Matthew 7:24-27). In Deuteronomy 30:14 we read, “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”

What to Memorize

What passages of Scriptures should you memorize? Some people prefer to memorize shorter passages, often individual verses. You can choose verses on topics that have meaning for you (e.g., God’s forgiveness, comfort, promises). Some people memorize verses in preparation to counsel others or to share Christ. You might memorize passages on theology (e.g., the attributes of God). You may end up preferring to memorize chapters or whole books of the Bible.

* * *

© Phil Collins, Ph.D., 2014. This material was created in partnership with the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement, originally published at BibleGateway.

Reading/Listening to the Bible everyday is an incredible blessing. You will remember things that you read or listen to. Read/listen to them over and over and you will be amazed what you remember! God’s Word does not return void and will be used to do His will in you and through you! Be in the Word of God every day! Start now!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 26, 2022

Notes of Faith December 26, 2022

Thoughts on Unity

Since I was a child, I’ve been studying the Torah. I attended Hebrew school two days a week in addition to regular school and synagogue, keeping me rather busy for a kid. Yet even then, as I read the stories of the Jewish personalities, the characters came alive, leaped off the pages, and affected me deeply. Over time, my appreciation for the holy text has only grown.

Something I particularly love about the entire Bible is the way the Hebrew texts parallel so much of the New Testament. The books are not isolated stories but rather part of a vast tapestry of God’s design. Prophecies come to pass, and sometimes history repeats itself. The narrative arc rises and lands beautifully. And the result is a story of wholeness and harmony for all of God’s people —

a call for unity and peace.

When Jesus (or Yeshua, His Hebrew name) came to earth, the children of Israel had been on the lookout for the prophesied Savior. He didn’t look the way many expected him to, and he certainly didn’t preach in ways that satisfied many Jewish religious authorities (the Pharisees and Sadducees). But perhaps most surprising of all was Yeshua’s plan for the salvation of all mankind — not just the Jews. Jews expected Gentiles to experience salvation with the coming of the Messiah. What was radically different about the message of the issue in the kingdom was that Gentiles could be saved as Gentiles and would be given full citizenship and an equal inheritance in the Kingdom as Gentiles.

Jesus first came to bring the message of the kingdom to Israel, as He stated:

I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. — Matthew 15:24 NASB

Yet He also clarified that He was sent because “God so loved the world” (John 3:16 NIV). Salvation is of the Jews (John 4) but not exclusively for them. Paul wrote that the Gospel

is the power of God unto salvation... to the Jews first, and also to the Greek. — Romans 1:16 KJV

Yeshua went out of His way to make this message clear — to bring salvation to the entire world, unifying the Jew and Gentile in the Kingdom of God.

In some ways, Gentiles have always been a part of God’s story. When Moses parted the Red Sea to make a way for the children of Israel to escape Egypt, Jewish tradition makes note of the Erev Rav: those not of Jewish descent who chose to escape alongside the Children of Israel. Perhaps most notably, even the Savior’s lineage includes four important and faithful Gentile women: Tamar, Rahab Ruth, and Bathsheba. To be the ancestor of Yeshua is no small part to play in the story of humankind. Yet there were, and have always been, barriers between the Gentile in the Jew. Today, Gentiles are not full members of the Jewish community and cannot participate in many things unless they convert.

Galatians 3:28 proclaims,

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

And no better story reveals the importance of unity in Christ than that of Cornelius and Peter.

In the book of Acts, in the early days of the Gospel being spread, Cornelius was a Roman centurion — a Gentile — who had a vision of an angel of the Lord. The angel told him to send people to Joppa to find Peter. In the meantime, Peter had his own vision:

[Peter] became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance. He saw the Heavens opened, and something like a great sheet coming down, lowered by its four corners to the earth. In it were all sorts of four-footed animals and reptiles and birds of the air.

A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! For never have I eaten anything unholy or unclean.”

Again a voice came to him, a second time: “What God has made clean, you must not consider unholy.” This happened three times, and the sheet was immediately taken up to Heaven. — Acts 10:10–16 TLV

Soon, men arrived where Peter was, asking him to return to Cornelius’s house. Upon arriving there, seeing a large crowd, and hearing of Cornelius’s experience, he said, “’You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean’” (NIV). Their corresponding visions helped Peter to see that God does not favor one over another, and the Holy Spirit came to those who listened that day.

Cornelius’s vision flew in the face of what Judaism taught, but it served to bring unity — Jew, and Gentile together as followers of Yeshua.

This unity of God’s people created a wildfire of transformation. I hold firmly to the fact that God’s presence, power, and provision are in direct proportion to the unity of His people.

I believe one of the reasons we don’t see the kind of revival we desire is because Adam and Eve, Jew and Gentile, are not partnering together. They are not unified. We cannot be genuinely fruitful without each other.

Jesus gave us the Great Commission. He said,

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. — Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV, emphasis added

We can’t fulfill Yeshua’s command if we are apart from each other. In a sorely divided world, may we, as God’s people, work harder in unity to accomplish our assigned mission.

Excerpted from The God of the Way by Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel.

Unity is something that mankind has not had since the rebellion against God’s command not to eat of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden bringing sin into the world. Our human hearts are selfish and want what they want and want others to not have what they don’t have. Greedy evil hearts cause us to not seek unity. Unity can be found in the love of God. As we seek God and pursue His perfection in Christ we can become unified and learn to love all that God created. May we be blessed with such reality in this life and for all eternity!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 25, 2022

Notes of Faith December 25, 2022

He Has Come

Rejoice today, because Jesus has come!

— Psalm 118:24

They will call Him Immanuel — which means, “ God with us.” — Matthew 1:23

Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6

There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky!

There’s a mother’s deep prayer,

And a baby’s low cry! And the star rains its fire

While the beautiful sing,

For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King.

A number of years ago a remarkable Christmas card was published by the title “If Christ Had Not Come.” It was based on our Savior’s own words, “If I had not come,” in John 15:22. The card pictured a minister falling asleep in his study on Christmas morning and then dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

In his dream, he saw himself walking through his house, but as he looked, he saw no stockings hung on the chimney, no Christmas tree, no wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort and gladden hearts or to save us. He then walked onto the street outside, but there was no church with its spire pointing toward Heaven. And when he came back and sat down in his library, he realized that every book about our Savior had disappeared.

The minister dreamed that the doorbell rang and that a messenger asked him to visit a friend’s poor dying mother. He reached her home, and as his friend sat and wept, he said, “I have something here that will comfort you.” He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended with Malachi. There was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and all he could do was bow his head and weep with his friend and his mother in bitter despair.

Two days later he stood beside her coffin and conducted her funeral service, but there was no message of comfort, no words of a glorious resurrection, and no thought of a mansion awaiting her in Heaven. There was only “dust to dust, and ashes to ashes,” and one long, eternal farewell. Finally he realized that Christ had not come, and burst into tears, weeping bitterly in his sorrowful dream.

Then suddenly he awoke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing these words in his church nearby:

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!

Come and behold Him, born the King of angels, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Let us be glad and rejoice today, because He has come. And let us remember the proclamation of the angel:

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

He comes to make His blessing flow, Far as the curse does go.

May our hearts go out to the unconverted people of foreign lands who have no blessed Christmas day.

Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. — Nehemiah 8:10

Excerpted from Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman, copyright Zondervan.

One of the greatest days on earth that God has given us to celebrate! Let us rejoice together that the Father sent the Son, the Son gave His life that we might be saved, and that Jesus sent His Spirit to live within those who would believe in Him! Celebrate His love and work and eat and drink together with friends and family!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 24, 2022

Notes of Faith December 24, 2022

Son of the Most High

When Gabriel announced to Mary that she would have a son, the angel invoked a promise that had echoed throughout the Old Testament. Her son would be called the Son of the Most High and would reign on the throne of His father, David. Those familiar with the Law and the Prophets, including Mary herself, would have quickly begun to connect the prophetic dots.

God had picked David, a young shepherd boy, from among an entire family of brothers and made him the ruler over Israel. God promised to make David’s name great. In addition, God promised that after David died, God would raise up one of his offspring to establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:8-16).

During his life, as David faced enemies and conspiracy, he sang songs of praise to God for protecting him as God’s anointed (Psalm 2:1-12) and for establishing his line for as long as the heavens endure (Psalm 89:19-29). David intoned a psalm of praise that contained a phrase that Jesus later quoted to confound his critics: “The Lord says to My lord…” (Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44). Another psalm affirmed that God, to His promise to David about the duration of his throne, had sworn an oath that could not be revoked (Psalm 132:11-12).

No word from God will ever fail.

The prophet Isaiah continued to prophesy the fulfillment of God’s promise to David. He wrote that to his people a child would be born, a son would be given and the government would be on his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6-7). Isaiah also affirmed that a shoot would come up from the stump of Jesse, David’s father, and from its roots, a Branch (referring to Jesus) would bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1-15).

In time, God’s plan became clear: He would fulfill this promise through His Son, Jesus.

When the angel appeared to Mary, God provided the ultimate update on God’s plan to keep His promise.

The Baby in Mary’s womb, conceived by the Holy Spirit though Mary was a virgin, is God’s Son who would reign eternally (Luke 1:31-33). As a capstone to the astounding declarations, the angel reminded Mary that no word from God would ever fail (Luke 1:37).

The intricate history of God’s initial promise realized so fully at Jesus’ first coming increases confidence that the rest of God’s promises will be fulfilled at Jesus’ second coming and after that, into eternity.

Excerpted from The Jesus Bible, copyright Zondervan.

Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophesies with His first coming! He will fulfill many, many more with His second coming…it is a sure hope and promise fulfilled of salvation, redemption, and eternal life with the Giver of life! Believe, worship, and wait patiently for the timing of the Lord for His return in glory! He is coming, quickly. May it be soon.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 23, 2022

Notes of Faith December 23, 2022

The Promise of a Grace Gift

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. — Ephesians 2:8

Gift giving and gift receiving are important parts of our own experiences. When birthdays and anniversaries roll around each year, we engage in this traditional pastime. The Bible teaches that when it comes time for gifts, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The Lord should know. After all, He has given us our greatest gift:

The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 6:23

All the Bible writers were careful to describe eternal life as a free gift and not something that could be earned or deserved. To a Samaritan woman at a well, Jesus declared, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10). Peter called for repentance on the Day of Pentecost with the promise to his hearers that, “you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). James added, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). And Paul summed it all up, saying, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

In the Bible promise of this chapter, Paul made plain that a gift has three characteristics. A gift is costly. It costs the giver something to give it. A gift is conditional. It is of no use unless it is received by the one to whom it is intended. And a gift is calculated. Behind the giving of a gift is the desire to benefit and bless the recipient.

Gifts are costly

When we give a gift, it costs us something to do so. But no gift ever cost as much as God’s gift of eternal life. Paul, in our promise, said, “By grace you have been saved,” making plain that the origin of our salvation is found in Him and not in us or any of our human efforts. Salvation is God’s work, provided by His grace, and is not offered in response to any good thing we may have done. It is provided to us wholly because of His grace.

Grace is God’s unmerited and underserved favor toward us. It came at a great price. The Father did not send Jesus to die on the cross to provide the gift of our salvation for us because we kept begging and pleading with Him to do so. It was by His grace alone. Grace can be defined as getting what we don’t deserve. No wonder we call it “amazing.” God’s gift to us came at a high cost, the sacrificial and substitutionary death of His only Son on the cross. Gifts cost us something.

Thanks be the God for His indescribable gift.

Gifts are conditional

What good is a gift you pick out and purchase for someone if they refuse to receive it? Listen to our promise; this gift is received “through faith.” That is it. The gift of God’s grace is conditional on our transferring our faith to Christ alone for our salvation. These words make me want to shout this verse: “Through faith... not of yourselves... the gift of God!” The following verse attests that it is not of works “lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:9). Our faith is the channel through which salvation flows from God to us. It is through faith.

Paul’s repetition of the truth that salvation is “not of ourselves” and “not of works” brings emphasis to his point that it is the “gift of God.” In some other faiths, people do extreme things — even give their lives — in feeble attempts to please their gods and be ushered into Heaven. But it is “by grace... through faith... not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” God is offering His free gift of eternal life to any and all who will simply believe by faith in Christ alone.

What should amaze us is that although God is offering by His grace this free gift, we still have to encourage and exhort people to receive it. Salvation is God’s work (by grace) in God’s way (through faith). Gift giving is costly. But it is also conditional.

Gifts are calculated

Why do you and I give gifts to those we love? It is because we calculate the fact that it will benefit and bless the one who receives it. Otherwise, why bother? It is the same with God’s gift to us. He gives us salvation to benefit us and to bless us. Paul continued with this promise to say, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

When you receive God’s gift of eternal life through faith, you become a new creation, “created in Christ Jesus.” You become His “workmanship.” We derive our English word poem from a transliteration of this Greek word. You are God’s own creation, His own work of art. He so fashioned and formed you that no one else has your specific DNA. You are unique and indescribably valuable to Him.

Think about this the next time you sit around your Christmas tree with your extended family, exchanging gifts. Don’t watch the face of the one opening the gift. Catch a glimpse of the joy on the face of the giver as he or she watches the one they love open the gift. And so it is with God. His gift to us was costly. It is conditional. And it is calculated — to benefit and bless you. Claim this promise — and receive it gladly — through faith.

A promise and a prayer

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

— 2 Corinthians 5:17

Lord, what more can be said than to join Paul in saying, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift”? What a benefit — what a blessing to know You, whom to know is life, not just abundant but eternal. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Excerpted from The Promise Code by O. S. Hawkins, copyright Dr. O. S. Hawins.

Who keeps promises like Almighty God? There is none like Him. The gift of salvation by the grace of God through believing faith in Jesus (this faith also being a gift of God!) is hard to understand. It is God’s promise of reconciliation between Himself and mankind through the offering of His Son Jesus to atone for our sin and redeem us back to a righteous, pure, and holy relationship with God that Adam and Eve had before sin entered the world. How could anyone turn down such a gift? Yet we press on, proclaiming the truth of Jesus, why He came to earth to live, die, and rise from the grave! Let us be filled with the sure hope of God’s grace and promises that are always fulfilled. Believing in Jesus brings all of the promises of God to completion. Receive the free gift, believe and be saved and also receive the gift of eternal life with Jesus!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 22, 2022

Notes of Faith December 22, 2022

Expectant

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

Experts say that babies in utero are impacted by the atmosphere of their parents’ home and the attitude of their parents. If God had chosen you to carry the infant Jesus into the world, would your home life and the attitude of your heart have nurtured in the holy child such traits as kindness, gentleness, patience, and trust in God? Would God have chosen you for such an important assignment? The answer is, He has…

Isaiah wrote the well-known words above more than seven hundred years before Christ was born. God’s chosen people had been waiting for the promised Messiah for a lot longer than they had anticipated. Finally the wait was over. God chose a human being named Mary to bring Him into the world. And God has chosen you and me to carry the truth and the love of this Christ child into the rest of the world.

Lord Jesus, may the atmosphere of my life and the attitude of my heart make my life a place where You want to be and a place where people can meet You. Amen.

Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

— John 1:29 NKJV

Those people will never be hungry again, and they will never be thirsty again. The sun will not hurt them, and no heat will burn them, because the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. — Revelation 7:16-17 NCV

I love decorating the house with nativity scenes at Christmastime. In each one, young Mary tends to her Newborn while her faithful husband stands guard. Wise men and shepherds stand in awe. And often near the Christ child is a little lamb. Jesus is known as the Lamb of God, and the symbolism is not lost on us.

Throughout the Old Testament, the people of Israel sacrificed lambs as sin offerings. John the Baptist was direct in drawing the comparison. When he saw Jesus coming toward him, he said,

Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

— John 1:29 NKJV

Then on the cross Jesus was the perfect sacrifice — the perfect once-and-for-all sin offering — that removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.

This Christmas, when you spend time in front of a nativity, may you be filled with peace and awe as you behold the Lamb of God.

I stand in awe before the manger as my soul whispers, “Behold, the Lamb.” Amen.

Excerpted from 365 Devotions for Peace by Cheri Cowell, copyright Zondervan.

God with us! The promise to believers of the Holy Spirit living within them! This relationship with God is too much for a human mind to comprehend! But, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever would believe in Him would not perish, but have eternal life! Abundant life and eternal life are in Jesus!

Believe and truly live!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 21, 2022

Notes of Faith December 21, 2022

Mary, God’s Humble Servant

My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

And holy is His name. — Luke 1:46–49 NKJV

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. — Philippians 2:5–6 NIV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. — 1 Peter 5:6–7 NIV

Devotional

RABBI JASON

God chose perhaps His most unlikely vessel to set into motion the salvation of mankind: a teenage girl named Mary. Mary thought she was waiting for a wedding to a carpenter named Joseph, but something came to her that was far different — an improbable event she never would have dreamed of. A holy interruption. Much about Mary and her relationship with God is revealed when we read about her response to the angel when she was told she would give birth to the promised Messiah (see Luke 1:26–38). Mary showed tremendous humility of heart — the same humble quality we find in Yeshua (see Philippians 2:6–11).

A characteristic of humility is receiving. Probably understanding some, though not all, of the misunderstanding and scorn that would surely come, Mary embraced God’s new vision for her life without complaining or sarcasm. First Peter 5:5 tells us that

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. — NKJV

You want God’s grace? Become humble. Mary was humble in spirit.

Being willing to decrease so that others can increase is the essence of humility (see John 3:30). It’s important to note, however, that I’m not talking about self-abasing. A truly humble person is secure and confident in God’s love. They know who they are.

Genuine humility is not thinking less of ourselves. It’s thinking of ourselves less.

It also takes humility for us to be completely transparent before others, allowing them to speak into our lives, encourage us, sharpen us if needed, and help us in our own journeys. Notice that when the angel ended his time with Mary, he said,

Nothing will be impossible with God. — Luke 1:37 TLV

Genuine humility is not thinking less of ourselves. It’s thinking of ourselves less.

Mary needed to be transparent to receive that word and then live by it. She responded by humbly worshiping and magnifying the Lord (see verses 46–55).

Think of what obedience meant to this young girl. She needed to confront Joseph and risk a divorce. She had to face her neighbors, whose imaginations must have run wild. She had to confront her parents and Joseph’s parents. But through all this confrontation and gossip, she was able to cling to the angel’s promise to her and to Joseph’s loyalty to her after his own angelic visit (see Matthew 1:18–25).

I find it interesting that Mary obeyed without hesitation. Obedience was her delight. Looking back at the times God has called me to do something, I have to ask, Did I react like Mary?

Not all the time. There were moments of hesitation. I wonder what blessings from God I lost. Today, we often regard obedience as a weakness. Mary’s example should correct our thinking. In Scripture, we can almost see that His will became her will. She willingly yielded to what God wanted for her instead of fighting for her self-defined life direction.

As in Mary’s experience, faith and humility together will lead us to God’s favor. To walk in our divine assignments and sing our unique songs, we will need to seek God’s presence, understanding that He is the source of favor to open the doors that only He can open — doors that no man can shut. Humility is knowing that you are in God’s control and, when the situation calls for it, having the bold faith to do what God has asked you to do.

Respond

How can following Mary’s example of humility transform your relationship with God?

What has God asked you to do for Him? How have you responded in the past?

Where in your life do you need bold faith to do what God has asked you to do?

Excerpted with permission from the 10-Day devotional from The God of the Way by Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel.

There is no one more humble than the Son of God…to leave the glory of heaven and take on the flesh of man, live a perfect sinless life and then give that life that man might be reconciled to God for all who would believe in Him. Jesus is the image of humility to imitate. Give thanks to God and follow the humility of the Son through the power of the Holy Spirit within you!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 20, 2022

Notes of Faith December 20, 2022

God’s Great Gifts

Thanks be to God for His gift that is too wonderful for words.

— 2 Corinthians 9:15

Why did He do it? A shack would have sufficed, but He gave us a mansion. Did He have to give the birds a song and the mountains a peak? Was He required to put stripes on the zebra and the hump on the camel?

Why wrap creation in such splendor? Why go to such trouble to give such gifts?

Why do you? You do the same. I’ve seen you searching for a gift. I’ve seen you stalking the malls and walking the aisles. I’m not talking about the obligatory gifts. I’m talking about that extra-special person and that extra-special gift. Why do you do it? You do it so the heart will stop. You do it so the jaw will drop. You do it to hear those words of disbelief “You did this for me?”

That’s why you do it. And that is why God did it. Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, “Do you like it? I did it just for you.”

~ The Great House of God

Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious One in a human womb.

The Promise Remains

Joseph was the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus. Jesus is called the Christ. — Matthew 1:16

Seems like the only common bond between [Jesus’ ancestors] was a promise. A promise from Heaven that God would use them to send His Son.

Why did God use these people? Didn’t have to. Could have just laid the Savior on a doorstep. Would have been simpler that way. And why does God tell us their stories?

Simple. He wants us to know that when the world goes wild, He stays calm.

Want proof? Read the last name on the list [of Jesus’ lineage]. In spite of all the crooked halos and tasteless gambols of His people, the last name on the list is the first one promised — Jesus.

No more names are listed. No more are needed. As if God is announcing to a doubting world, “See, I did it. Just like I said I would.”

~ When God Whispers Your Name

God Became a Man

He gave up His place with God and made Himself nothing. He was born as a man and became like a servant. — Philippians 2:7

It all happened in a most remarkable moment… a moment like no other.

God became a man. Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious One in a human womb.

The Omnipotent, in one instant, became flesh and blood. The One who was larger than the universe became a microscopic embryo. And He who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.

God had come near.

~ God Came Near

Excerpted from Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

These are short excerpts from great books by Max Lucado. I have nearly all of his books and love the easy reading and spiritual thoughts that he brings in every story. The Great House of God, When God Whispers Your Name, and God Came Near are spectacular gifts of God through the writings of Max Lucado. If you are interested, borrow mine or purchase your own or take a look at the many others he has written. I recommend them all for a spiritual uplift and challenge.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 19, 2022

Notes of Faith December 19, 2022

The Birth of Jesus

Fulfilling our longing for redemption, Jesus, God the Son, was born a man.

TODAY’S READING: MATTHEW 1

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. — Matthew 1:18

Our culture seems fascinated with discovering our ancestry — what country we’re from and what our family’s story is. In Jewish times, this was incredibly important as well because people gained certain rights and status based on the tribe into which they were born.

This is why Matthew opens his Gospel with a genealogy and the story of Jesus’ birth. Matthew’s entire message unfolds to show us why Jesus is the one true King and Messiah. Matthew reminds us 16 times that Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies. King David’s bloodline brought us both Joseph and Mary. The prophecy from Isaiah 9:6–7 foretold the Messiah would come from the house of David.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

John 1:14

1. Why do you think Matthew would choose to start with the genealogy of Jesus?

Matthew then told the story of Jesus’ birth. It was time for the prophesied Son of God to make His grand entrance into this world. By the power of God, the Holy Spirit, the One who is fully God and fully man, confined Himself in the womb of a virgin named Mary. This amazing miracle fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14.

2. Read Isaiah 7:14. Jesus’ name is Immanuel which means “God with us.” What does this mean for you that Jesus’ name is Immanuel, God with you?

With the birth of Jesus, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). God’s children needed redeeming. God, the Father, sent God the Son, Jesus, as the vessel for that redemption. Through that redemption, God provided a way for His children to fulfill the longings we’ve been exploring so far throughout our study — both the longings they could identify and those they could not. For it was, as it still is, God’s desire for His children to fulfill their longings in Jesus alone, not the things of this world.

~ Hannah Schindler

Excerpted with permission from 40 Days Through the Bible by Lysa TerKeurst and the Proverbs 31 Team.

If you have believed in and received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you are a child of God! There is no greater family. You are positioned eternally in Christ to receive the glory that God has prepared for you. Those that miss the opportunity to be adopted into the family of God miss this glory of God. Pray for those you come across this time of year who do not know the reason for the season, the indescribable gift of God that is Jesus!

Pastor Dale