HE'S ABSENT TODAY!

This past Sunday was Pentecost. This is recognized by the Church as the time in which the people of Jerusalem understood the power of God in a new way as suddenly they began to all speak a language that they understood. You can find this witness in Acts 2.
Can you imagine the joy in the world if we all could speak today and everyone would understand fully the way you love Jesus? That is the power of the Holy Spirit.
I am reminded of a story of a fifth grade Sunday School class. Each Sunday morning as they began class, they would line up and recite their one section of the Apostle’s Creed in the order that it was written. That teaching method worked well and went on for about four months, until one Sunday.
They began the class the same way. The first girl as usual recited her line flawlessly, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth." The second, a boy, stood up and said his sentence, "I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord." But then silence descended over the class. Finally, one girl, who felt she had discovered the problem stood up and loudly said, "I'm sorry, teacher, but the boy who believes in the Holy Ghost is absent today."
If that child was so important to make the creed whole, can it be true about your voice in church also. Is there something missing if you are not there?

Mid-week Prayer

Lord, Jesus, have you needed my voice so badly and I did not realize how empty the world is without my witness? Then let me boldly sound forth your love in Church and the world not only tomorrow but every day of my life. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week we will find how broken hearts have a great power. Join me and we will share this together.

A RIGHT PERSPECTIVE

Matthew Henry, the famous Bible scholar was once threatened by thieves and robbed of his purse. He wrote these words in his diary:
"Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because, although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed."
Maybe that is what we need in this hurried life of ours, a new perspective that helps us see what we really have to be thankful for.

Mid-week Prayer

Lord, let me open my eyes to the life that I have. Before I lose it to the world, let me lose it to Your love. Then I will truly gain what I need to be thankful for. In the blessed name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. I hope that you realize that your being a part of this ministry is one of the greatest joys in my life. I thank God every day for you. Now you tell others of God’s love and let us all see if we can gain a new perspective on life. See you next week in the Mid-week Epistle.

A RUINED LIFE IN THE HAND OF THE MASTER

Have you ever felt like your life is out of control? Everything that you have planned seems to be subject to change at a moments notice. When the Christian walks with God and the change occurs, we realize that He gives us the strength to encounter the change, but we must be expectant of the power of God.
There was an artist who was visiting a dear friend. When he arrived, she was weeping. He asked why. She showed him a handkerchief of exquisite beauty that had great sentimental value that had been ruined by a drop of indelible ink.
The artist asked her to let him borrow the handkerchief that he returned to her by mail several days later. When she opened the package she could hardly believe her eyes. The artist using the ink blot as a base had drawn on the handkerchief a design of great beauty with India ink. Now it was more beautiful and more valuable than ever.
You see, sometimes the tragedies that break our hearts can become the basis for a more beautiful design in our lives. Be patient with the hurts over which you have no control. They may become a source of healing, help and beauty.
Remember the words of Paul to the church in Rome: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” And just a few sentences later he said: “If God is for us, who can be against us.”

Mid-Week Prayer

Let us pray: Father, many times in our lives we have faced challenges which seemed difficult or unfair. We may feel that because we love and follow You, we should be passed through the testing without any pain because we know Your Son. The truth is that we find the testing is even more difficult because of His love.
O God, You do not always let us take the easy path, but you always call us to the path that will give us the power to face even more challenges in life. Christ understood how it felt to be alone and forgotten. Even today at times we still do the same thing to him when He calls us to be His children. Forgive us and lead us onward in the path that You would have us to go in the blessed name of the Suffering One, Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week as we journey through God's Word together.