Ezra and Nehimiah

                                                   Ezra and Nehemiah

          Two Sundays ago the sermon at our church was on Ezra and Nehemiah. During this time period the Israelite kings and the people were not honoring their God. But here is an example of a time when God allowed tragedy to happen. The people refused to listen to the prophets and God let Babylon invade and take His people captive.

          Now the Israelites wanted to cry out to God in worship. They needed Him, but the kings in Babylon would not let them worship. God ordained that Persia would capture Babylon along with Israel.

           The Cyrus king of Persia was more benevolent to the Jewish people. He gave them permission to rebuild their temple.  After the temple was built the people came back to worship and remembered what it was like to be able to worship their God.

Ezra 3:11-12

 “With praise and thanksgiving they worshiped the Lord:                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ‘He is good: his love toward Israel endures forever’ And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, sho had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they say the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.”
              Nehemiah, cup bearer to King Artaxerxes was allowed to go to Judah and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. God ordained this cup bearer to be in the right place at the right time to help His people.  

Daniel

Daniel

          Evan’s sermon on Daniel brought out so many new thoughts that I couldn’t get it all in the picture. Daniel, his friends Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego practiced self-control, because they knew God was in control. They refused food the King offered because God wanted everyone to know it was God that kept them strong. The three friends refused to bow to anyone but the one true God, because they trusted that God was in charge. Even if they died, they would not bow to an idol.

          When Daniel realized praying to his God would mean a trip to the loin's den he did not give in to fear. He knew God was in control of his life, and death. I know there are some that say the phrase “God is in control” is a cliché Christians shouldn't banter around. Well, honestly, when I go through the hardest of trials I want to know there’s a reason. That God does work it out for the good. That He is in control. Adonai, the God who is in control.

          Evan, also, included a great quote from Eugene Peterson. He tells us it is not all a simple flip of a believing switch.  Is it hard to trust? Yes! It takes practice, sweat, tears, and struggle, but walking in God’s control grows our own self control over fear, anger, doubt, and procrastination. (That last one is my worst.)

Here is the quote from Eugene Peterson. “There is far more to the Christian life than getting it right. There is living it right. Learning the truth of God, the gospel, the Scriptures involves understanding words, concepts, history. But living it means working and praying ourselves through a world of deception, of doubt and suffering, a world of rejections and betrayal and idolatry.” 

Prophets

Prophets

          Our lessons from The Story have moved into the time of the prophets, Elijah, Elisha, and Isaiah. Greg’s sermon spoke to what a prophet is. Not someone who only prophesies the future, although he may. He is appointed by God to call the people to repentance, obedience, and hope.

          Jesus was said to be a prophet when he preached in his hometown. He told the people what they should be doing. We can, and should, be this kind of prophet today.

          We don’t need to give out lists of what we’re against, but we need to let people know what we stand for. We need to stand up for justice, mercy, and to offer hope to people for this life and for eternal life through Jesus Christ. 

The Split

The split

          Pastor Greg Ralston’s sermon covered the times when the Jewish nation was split in two. Solomon had not kept his word to Jehovah and allowed the worship of other gods. The next king in line decided to continue to overburden his people with taxes. So the people rebelled and most of the country split off. Before this happened God told His prophets this was about to happen. God split the nation into ten tribes and these became Israel.  The tribes of Benjamin and Judah became Judah.

          Greg told about the history of the event. Then he went into how we have splits in our churches and denominations. Some split over very petty things, some over things that cannot be ignored.

          But the point is that somehow the work of God keeps moving forward in a way that most cannot explain. God has a plan even when everything seems to be falling in around us. Barnabas and Paul split up and God turned it into good. Churches split and God still uses the people. Friends split, but God does not abandon them.

          In other words, in spite of what humans do, God doesn't give up.

King David

King David

          Shepherd, giant killer, soldier, king, man after God’s own heart, adulterer and murderer, this is David. Pastor Evan and Pastor Greg told the story of David’s sin.  I retold the story in the King’s crown.

          David loved God but lost his way, like any of us. But he sinned in a very kingly way, a real whopper. Taking another man’s wife and when he couldn’t cover it up he put the man in harm’s way and the man died. Nathan, the prophet, confronted David in a searing way that cut into David’s heart, and he repented. Though David prayed with tears and grief the baby born of the infidelity died.

But after David married Bethsheba they had another baby. This child became the famous and wise, King Solomon.   Read the story for yourself in 2 Samuel 11-12.

What's Next?

What’s Next?

          I've been cleaning out my Art/craft Room. My husband gave me some beautiful shelving from Ikea for Christmas. My son, Adam, and husband, Jon, spent Christmas Eve day putting them up for me. My son Todd and daughter-in-law gave me cool storage containers with many drawers in them. Adam also, gave me great music to work by.

          As a result of all the cleaning, I found this sketch I made many Christmases ago.  I decided to put it up here because it might be where some people are as they look toward the New Year. You may be as I have been at times, staring with dullness into the night’s fire, tired, bone weary, and discouraged. Not knowing when the Messiah will come.

          But have faith. Just when you think there is only darkness ahead for you, the next turn of your head may reveal angels waiting to shower you with hope and joy, and a star biding you to follow it to a new calling.

          “Fear not, for unto you is born this day in the city of David . . .” I love the answer the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us.”

Yes, when God calls, be excited to say, “LET’S GO!” 

The Gospel Tree

The Gospel Tree

          For the month of December our pastors Greg Ralston and Evan Westburg preached on the gospel of how to come to, and follow, Jesus. They preached on how God has a plan for us, that we are separated from Him through sin, that God made a way for us to come to Him through His Son, and that we must, not just believe in, but accept this gift. No one else can do it for us. Since they used a Christmas theme I made a Christmas tree that held this message. I added to the tree each week.

          Here is the finished Gospel Tree. Also, here is something my oldest son Todd wrote recently, and I think it fits here.

The Story of My Foolish Faith

By Todd Spieker

I am a fool I believe that this infinite, complex, ancient universe has a beginning. I believe that it has a beginner A first Word, and a last one. But when I look outside the world is broken. Yet we yearn for wholeness Death is our constant companion. Yet we cling to life Look outside and you will see evil winning and good losing. The heroes die and the good FAIL. I believe that Once the God of light entered this dark world. This light that built the world lived in it. He set aside his strength and put on weakness and humanity. The creator became his broken creation. He came to turn all people back towards God, back towards the author of all life. came for the forgotten, the outcast, the poor, and the weak. came to help those alone in a dark world at first it seemed like the darkness won. He was abandoned by his friends, and condemned by those who claimed to serve his father. He died, alone, outcast, poor, and weak just like those he came for. And as he lay cold and dead in a dark tomb, his followers scattered. But that is not the end of the story. No, when his followers came his body was gone. They saw him again, Not dead, alive. The light, this light that entered the world was not extinguished. The darkness did not overcome him Three days later He lived, The grave could not hold him. This Lord, this light, the same God who made us This God calls us to die like him. To die to our darkness, to be raised new in his light. To live as his agents of restoration This is his plan This is how he sets it right I die in order to live. I surrender to be set free. My faith is a paradox, where the last is first and the greatest died for the least. But this God is not happy with just me. This God loves his creation. This God died for his creation. This God rose for his creation. This God won’t rest until his creation is whole. This God seeks his people like a poor woman searches for a lost coin Like a shepherd for a lost sheep Because we are his prized possession. This God is the one who calls me. The one who called me, when I was selfish and cruel and evil I believe this God calls you Come be a fool.