"Where Love Reigns!"
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From Pastor Sheli's Weekly 'Prayer & Praise' email
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THANK YOU RC!! 1000 LBS of food givien to FISH Food Bank
1/4...Youth Class Following Worship
1/4...Healing Service
1/11...Vision Day 2026
1/15...Womens Bible Study
Giving Opportunity- 'Dare To Believe' Worship Night
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Good Morning Church Family! God is able and faithful! It's almost Christmas and I am so excited! I love the story of Jesus' birth and I love finding truths in it year after year. The thing that jumped out to me this year was a phrase that kept repeating over and over again, "Do not be afraid." Before the word of the Lord came to Zachariah, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds they first got the message to not be afraid. I was thinking about this this morning and I just love the Lord. He is so good to us and knows us so well. Each of these people could have had fear overwhelm them with the messages that were delivered to them. Actually, just having an angelic visitation could have been a lot for them. The Lord wanted to make sure that they were all ready for what He was about to share with them. Part of the preparation was the need to be in a state of faith and peace. Fear normally causes the exact opposite to happen to us. When you are dealing with fear it's hard to even concentrate on what someone is saying let alone remember details that aren't going to be repeated. Remember Samson's mom... she was visited by an angel about Samson and she was so overwhelmed and couldn't remember all the details to tell her husband. God was gracious to them and the angel came back to instruct them again. In the story of the birth of Jesus, the angel leads with... "Do not be afraid." I can imagine that those words, directly from heaven, caused each person to feel a sudden and indescribable peace. When you are in a state of peace, you can see clearly, hear clearly, think clearly and then act clearly. They needed to be at peace to receive and absorb the message that was about to be given to them because each of them had to act on the message they were given. God has this same peace for you and I for today.
The world during the birth of Jesus had a lot going on. Joseph and Mary were basically forced by Ceasur to go back to their home country to be counted. There was trouble between the Romans and Jews as seen in Herod attempting to kill Jesus as a toddler and Joseph's warning not to return to Bethlehem because of those in authority. I think sometimes we forget that the words of Solomon are true... there is nothing new under the sun. We live in crazy times, yes, but there really hasn't ever been a perfect time in history because we are living in a fallen world and men are not perfect. We have a real enemy who is trying to come against us and our families and that is nothing new either. The key is remembering that the message from the story of Jesus's birth is still true for us today! The Bible is God's word speaking to us every time we open it. We don't have to wonder or wait for a message from the Lord because His word is His truth speaking to us! We can know that the Bible is His words, directly from heaven, coming to us to bring us the same indescriblable peace that Zacariah, Joseph, Mary and the shepherds experienced. And guess what? That peace is not for the moment or just for the situation. No, it is something that we can live in every single day of our lives! When we put our faith in the Lord, nothing and I mean nothing, can take our peace away unless we give it up. Fear will try to come and try to take away our peace but we don't have to let it go. We should be hearing the truth, "Do not be afraid... do not be afraid... do not be afraid... do not be afraid" until it comes out our mouths, "I refuse to fear! I refuse to fear! I refuse to fear! I REFUSE TO FEAR!!" How can we refuse fear? By putting our trust in God. That's really what each of the people in the Bible story did. They chose to trust God no matter what and be obedient to what He was telling them to do. We have an even greater ability to trust the Lord because He is living inside of us! How? Because God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. I will say it again, I love the story of Jesus's birth! This Christmas season make it your goal to welcome every day by saying, "The Lord says, Do not be afraid. So I will say, I refuse to fear." Then no matter what He asks you to do... no matter what is happening in your day... no matter what plan or strategy the enemy is working against you, you can rest in God's peace. Then you will see clearly, you will hear clearly, you will think clearly and you will act clearly! Have a blessed rest of your day Church Family and know we are praying for you and your families over this Christmas week! Blessings, Pastors Sheli and Steve
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