Christ in Christmas
Take time this advent season to re-align your focus on Jesus Christ.
He is the only reason for this season.
Take time each day to read the Scripture passage and to listen to the song.
If you do not have a Bible you can copy and paste the link into your web browser
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%209:1-7
Song for today: What Child is This?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltX-6HblGJI
May God bless you as you pursue Christ this Christmas
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Thought for today
My ransomed soul shall praise the Lord while I live
and I will live forever
because I am redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ
and I will live forever
because I am redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Thought for today
Many are the plans in a man's heart
But it is the Lord's purpose that prevails
Proverbs 19:21
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Life in perspective
This is a story illustrating what should be of importance in our lives.
This story first appeared in Ensign Magazine - October 1975
Author: W.E.Petersen
RED MARBLES
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation
between Mr Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?'
'H'lo, Mr Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure
look good.'
'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'
'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
'Good. Anything I can help you with?'
'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'
'All I got's my prize marble here.'
'Is that right? Let me see it' said Mr Miller.
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'
'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.
'Not zackley but almost.'
'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble' Mr Miller told the boy.
'Sure will. Thanks Mr Miller.'
Mrs Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.
With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our
community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short
time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size... they came to pay their debt.'
'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she
confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho .'
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
This story first appeared in Ensign Magazine - October 1975
Author: W.E.Petersen
RED MARBLES
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation
between Mr Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?'
'H'lo, Mr Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure
look good.'
'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'
'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
'Good. Anything I can help you with?'
'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'
'All I got's my prize marble here.'
'Is that right? Let me see it' said Mr Miller.
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'
'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.
'Not zackley but almost.'
'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble' Mr Miller told the boy.
'Sure will. Thanks Mr Miller.'
Mrs Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.
With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our
community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short
time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size... they came to pay their debt.'
'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she
confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho .'
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
The Reigns of Control
"But I like to be in charge."
"I like to make my own decisions and set the course for my own life."
"It's my life, and I'll do what I want to."
Have you ever found yourself saying these words? Or similar ones?
Knowing the right course for our lives is about letting go of our control and letting God be in the driver's seat. For years the thought of having God as my co-pilot was the direction for living, but that still leaft me calling the shots and hoping that Gof would bail me out if I got into trouble. How much better to trust God with the reigns of control in my life and let Him guide and direct me.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says,
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will make your paths straight."
What Scripture verses keep you on the stright path of trusting God to be in control?
Where do you turn in God's Word to find the guidance you need to live each day God's way?
Try some of the following verses that I have found helpful, or find some of your own as you explore God's Word.
1 John 5:11-12
Matthew 11:28-30
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 John 1:9
Psalm 23
Joshua 1:9
Isaiah 40:28-31
Pslam 139:23-24
Prayer for today:
Lord, lead me to let go of the reigns and let you be in the driver's seat of my life.
If you would like to know more about how to take this step in your life please contact me.
Pastor Jared Enns
Westside Alliance Church
250.769.5481
pastor@westsidealliance.com
"I like to make my own decisions and set the course for my own life."
"It's my life, and I'll do what I want to."
Have you ever found yourself saying these words? Or similar ones?
Knowing the right course for our lives is about letting go of our control and letting God be in the driver's seat. For years the thought of having God as my co-pilot was the direction for living, but that still leaft me calling the shots and hoping that Gof would bail me out if I got into trouble. How much better to trust God with the reigns of control in my life and let Him guide and direct me.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says,
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will make your paths straight."
What Scripture verses keep you on the stright path of trusting God to be in control?
Where do you turn in God's Word to find the guidance you need to live each day God's way?
Try some of the following verses that I have found helpful, or find some of your own as you explore God's Word.
1 John 5:11-12
Matthew 11:28-30
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 John 1:9
Psalm 23
Joshua 1:9
Isaiah 40:28-31
Pslam 139:23-24
Prayer for today:
Lord, lead me to let go of the reigns and let you be in the driver's seat of my life.
If you would like to know more about how to take this step in your life please contact me.
Pastor Jared Enns
Westside Alliance Church
250.769.5481
pastor@westsidealliance.com
Friday, November 1, 2013
Human Relations
Today I want to share with you an excerpt I was reading from the book "Power of Influence" There is no known credit given for the following statements.
The following words are definitely worth taking to heart.
The Six Most Important Words: "I admit I made a mistake"
The Five Most Important Words: "You did a good job."
The Four Most Important Words: "What is your opinion?"
The Three Most Important Words: "If you please"
The Two Most Important Words: "Thank You."
The Most Important Word: "We"
The Least Important Word: "I"
It is the dynamic of self that always seems to get in the way.
Pray and ask God to help you look beyond yourself and put your focus on others.
Read Philippians 2:1-10
"Instead of putting others in their place
put yourself in their place.
The following words are definitely worth taking to heart.
The Six Most Important Words: "I admit I made a mistake"
The Five Most Important Words: "You did a good job."
The Four Most Important Words: "What is your opinion?"
The Three Most Important Words: "If you please"
The Two Most Important Words: "Thank You."
The Most Important Word: "We"
The Least Important Word: "I"
It is the dynamic of self that always seems to get in the way.
Pray and ask God to help you look beyond yourself and put your focus on others.
Read Philippians 2:1-10
"Instead of putting others in their place
put yourself in their place.
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