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1st Quarter Note January, February, March 2012
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever. Psalm 146:5-6
We’ve just come through the season of hope, peace, joy and love; the Advent season and Christmas celebration of the birth of God’s Son, Jesus. And yet I know there are some, who even though they may have joined in the festivities, may not feel filled with hope, peace, joy and love. There are times in our life when we pray, “God just get me through this day.” Isn’t this asking too little of our awesome God? He is the creator of the universe, the One who made heaven and earth, the sea and the sky. He is the one who created the incredible workings of the human body. He is the one who came to earth as Jesus Christ, fully human and yet fully God. He can do anything! Luke 1:37 tells us, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” We remember another important verse in 1 John 5:14, “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” As we begin 2012, I invite you to open your Bible more, and find out about this incredible God for whom nothing is impossible. This year I suggest you begin with the Gospel of Luke. Immerse yourself in the beautiful writings of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection. Luke stresses Jesus’ relationships with people; emphasizes prayer, miracles, and angels and inspires hymns of praise. The next few months bring winter days of snow and cold, yet we have a choice as to how our hearts respond. Don’t pray to just get through the day. Pray instead to enjoy each moment you’ve been given. Pray instead that the God of hope, peace, joy and love will infuse your heart and your life with His Spirit.
O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray, Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel O little Town of Bethlehem, #240 UMH, 4th verse
This is one of my favorite Christmas Carols and a good one to begin 2012 with. May the God who brings hope, enter your heart and your life; that each day of the New Year may be filled with the presence of Jesus Christ, our Lord Emmanuel!
Serving God with JOY, Pastor Rosemary DeHut
4th Quarter note October, November, December 2011 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence And don’t take your Holy Spirit from me Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, And make me willing to obey you. ----------------------------Psalm 51:10-12
The season is changing. A wonderful display of God’s creativity is all around us. How does he do it? More important, why does he do it? Why bother with children who so often turn from God’s presence and go their own way? Why bother giving such gifts to children who don’t appreciate them? I believe it is because of God’s great love for each of us. I believe that it is because God wants us, as his children, to know the joy of being human and the joy of living in His creation. More than once Joe and I have been some place special and we say we wish our children and grandchildren were there with us to experience what we are enjoying. We love them and we want them to know the joy and the fun. I think God is like that too. Autumn is here and winter snow is not far behind. We will soon be celebrating Advent and the anticipation of celebrating God’s greatest gift to his children, His Son Jesus. I encourage you to: take a walk, climb to the top of a hill and gaze upon the glorious vista, walk along a stream and be amazed at the way God’s creation moves in rhythm. Take a deep breath of the autumn air and give thanks to our creator and provider. I found this beautiful Chippewa Indian poem to share with you. Prayer of a Chippewa Indian Author Unkown O Father, whose voice I hear in the woods, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me I am a man before you, one of Your many children. I am Small and weak. I need Your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold The red and purple sunsets. Make my hands respect the Things You have made, my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may know the things You have Taught my people, the lessons You have hidden in every leaf and rock. I seek strength, Father—not to be superior to my brothers. But to be able to fight my greatest enemy, myself. Make me every ready to come to You with clean hands And a straight eye, so that when life fades like a fading Sunset, my spirit may come to You without shame. Serving God with JOY, Pastor Rosemary DeHut
3rd Quarter Note 2011 July, August, September God blessed them and told them, “Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals.” And God said, “Look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given all the grasses and other green plants to the animals and birds for their food.” And so it was. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day. ------Genesis 1:28-31 NIV
Summer is upon us: all the delightful sights and sounds and smells. Think for a moment about the brilliant colors in the flower gardens and baskets; the sounds of the birds in the morning and children laughing in the noon day heat; and the smells of barbecue grills sizzling with summer cooking and families enjoying one another. Why is it food always tastes better from the grill? We’ve waited some long cold months for this time of year. Don’t miss out on our short window of summer’s delights. God’s creation is wonderful to experience. He created all this for you and me. Pray and Praise God for all he has done and for giving us His Son Jesus Christ. I dare anyone to be grumpy when the sun shines on the delights of summer and the Son of God shines in your heart. No Blue Can Match the Sky By Florence Pedigo Janson
No blue can match the sky, no green the grass; For petal tones of flowers, no copyright Can be obtained; their depth and glow-surpass All human skill in molding grace and light. Synthetic fragrance, mocking substitute For souls of flowers, for sweetness gladly spent, Can claim no depth of firmly anchored root From which the rose derives its matchless scent.
No pulsing symphony that stirs the air Can match the robin’s song in simple grace; No instrument, however famed and rare, Can shame the meadowlark or take its place. The splendid things, the things of truest worth Are nature-formed, inherent in the earth.
Serving God with JOY, Pastor Rosemary DeHut
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