14 Dec

Preparing for Christmas

Posted by sandhillspastor in Advent, Change, Christmas, Giving, Gospel, Praise, Repentance, Truth, Uncategorized, Worship.

Today, I would like to share some thoughts on preparing for Christmas, as outlined in a recent article I read. We are about half-way through the season of Advent. Its purpose is to allow us to make preparations in anticipation of celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The writer of the article takes us to the time of John the Baptist as recorded in Matthew’s gospel. John was preparing the people for the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

The story begins in Matthew 3:1—In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

So, first of all we see that preparing for His coming involves change, that’s what repentance is about. Could we perhaps change our thinking on how we spend our Christmas funds? Maybe we could contribute an amount equal to what we spend on ourselves to a homeless shelter or food bank.

John lived a simple life. He dressed in animal skins and ate what the and provided. Most of us wouldn’t do well in that kind of environment, but I’m sure we could simplify our lives to a greater degree than we do. As we try to make it to all the holiday activities, might we slow down a bit, and take the time to read and meditate on the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2? The second way we might prepare for the coming of the Lord, is to simplify.

Finally, we read in verses 5-6 of Matthew 3— “People went out to him (John)…Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”

Without too much of a stretch, we can see the act of being baptized as worship. The symbolism for us might be that we leave our homes and go to a church or some other meeting place to worship Christ. We should set aside time to worship, both privately and with other believers.

Let’s prepare for Christmas with repentance, simplicity and worship.

Anticipating His coming
Pastor Jerry

7 Dec

Giving or Getting?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Christmas, Giving, Gospel, Service, Uncategorized.

Warmer weather is again on the horizon. I see 60 degrees forecast for Wednesday, but we will wait to see if that happens. Christmas decorating continues at our lake house. My spouse has been a bit under the weather with a cold this past week, so progress has been slow.

In other news, Alex celebrated his 16th birthday last week. It was also the day he got the braces off his teeth. We observed the occasion with a trip to Red Lobster. Along with all that, he now has his driver’s license. Time marches on, doesn’t it?

Around Thanksgiving time, one of the cell phone companies ran an ad that emphasized the term “Thanksgetting.” I have to admit I had not thought of that concept. In fact, it seems to be a more fitting slogan for our modern Christmas celebration. Most of the advertising at this time of year seems to be geared more toward what will I get for Christmas, instead of what can I give?

If God is our example, we should be much more concerned with giving that with receiving. Remember, not only did He give us life and breath, He loved the whole world so much that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). James tells us that God is the source of all good things. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17). The Bible lists many gifts that God has given. Here are just a few: In addition to life itself, there is the sun, plants and animals for food, water, clothing, marriage between a man and a woman, children. Also, the ability to work, artistic abilities, and many more.

In gratitude for those gifts, we should to use them for the building of His kingdom, and for a life of good works. As it says in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do. Paul, speaking to the Ephesian elders, quoted the Lord Jesus, saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). In gratitude to God, may we concentrate this Christmas season on giving, instead of getting.

Blessings to all,
Pastor Jerry

30 Nov

Christmas is Coming

Posted by sandhillspastor in Advent, Christmas, Eternal Life, God's Word, Gospel, Judgment, Second Coming, The Good News.

Thanksgiving is past, and now we look forward to the Christmas season. As we anticipate the first coming of the Lord Jesus as an infant in a stable, we can also rest assured that He will return again. However, when He returns to earth the next time, it will not be as a helpless baby, but as scripture tells us, He will come as a conquering King.

In the Bible, He is also described as a sacrificial Lamb. “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain” (Revelation 5:12). In addition, He is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5), and King of kings (Rev 17:14).

As we celebrate the Christmas season, let us not just focus on the Baby in the manger, but as world events seem to spin out of control, let’s remember His promise to come again and set things right. He will come again, and He will bring judgment on the world. Those who have placed their faith in His finished work on the cross will go to spend eternity with Him in heaven, while all others are condemned to eternity in hell.

It is okay to celebrate Christmas. I enjoy the season as much as the next person, but His first appearance was just the beginning of the story. He grew to manhood, was hung on a cross as payment for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead, and today is seated at the right hand of God the Father. In God’s perfect timing, He will return to earth as victorious King, and we will see what John saw in Revelation 5:13…Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

The Christmas season calls us to make a decision. To accept the Lord Jesus as Savior and Lord, or reject this Gift that God given to us. What will your answer be?

In Him,
Pastor Jerry

23 Nov

Being Thankful

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Blessings, Faith, Freedom, God's Word, Gospel, Praise, thanksgiving, Uncategorized.

Rain! Who would have guessed we would have received so much rain in late November? Since I had taken the rain gauges inside for the winter, I don’t have an accurate measurement. All I know, is, I am very glad we didn’t get that much precipitation in the form of snow.

As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, let me share some things I am thankful for. First of all, I am thankful for still being here to write these columns. In relation to that, I thank the Lord for bringing me though my medical crisis back in August. I believe I am almost back to normal. I am reminded in writing this that we too often take good health for granted. It only takes a moment for that to change in a big way. I am now more aware of the need to thank God for each new day; another day to be with family, another day to serve Him.

The topic of thanksgiving, I believe, should always turn our thoughts toward God, who provides for our every need. After all, He is our Provider, the Giver of every good gift. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4). Regarding our tendency to worry about the future: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

The Psalms have much to say concerning being thankful to the Lord. Here are a few verses: “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30). “Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song” (Psalm 100:4). “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp” (Psalm 147:7).

Finally, the one thing for which we are eternally thankful, the gift of salvation through faith in Christ. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). “Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15)!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone,
Pastor Jerry

16 Nov

God’s Judgment

Posted by sandhillspastor in Eternal Life, God's Word, Judgment, Sin.

We arrived home from our Colorado trip just ahead of the nasty weather. It was good to be home when the wind and rain/snow arrived. It was good to see friends and family again, but home is always a welcome sight.

Last evening (Sunday), our church held its annual pancake and sausage supper. It is our gift to the community in which we reside. It was well attended and everyone enjoyed the food and fellowship.

One topic which seems to surface from time to time, is, why did God allow all those people in the Old Testament to be killed? I will attempt to give an answer from God’s own word.

All through the Old Testament, we see God commanding his people Israel to destroy the pagan nations. At times, though, he brings pagan nations against Israel as the means of executing judgment on them. We might ask what is up with this. If we study these situations, God gives the answer.

In Ezekiel, as God pronounced judgment on Israel, the prophet asked the question, “Oh, Lord God! Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel when you pour out your wrath on Jerusalem?” God’s answer… “The iniquity (or sin) of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great… I will not show pity or spare them.”

God also used Babylon to punish Israel for her sin, but Babylon went beyond what God had planned, and as a result, God brought judgment and punishment against that nation. Every time God punished nations, including his chosen people, it was for their disobedience and rejection of Him.

In the New Testament, we are warned of the consequences of turning our backs on God, and failing to acknowledge Him as Holy God, creator of everything. When we reject God, it is called sin. Romans 3:23 tells us, “all have sinned and come fall short of the glory of God.” Further, Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…”

In the book of Revelation, we see a time of final judgment, when God once and for all brings judgment on the world for all its sin. He then brings those who have been obedient to his call to salvation into the new heaven and earth, where they will spend eternity with God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In His love,
Pastor Jerry

9 Nov

Going Home

Posted by sandhillspastor in Christian Living, Eternal Life, Heaven, Salt and Light, The Good News, Truth.

I’m writing this morning from Livermore, Colorado. We have had a good visit with friends, and later today, we will visit my brother and sister-in-law further down the road. We hope to return to Ericson Tuesday or Wednesday. That will depend on the weather, and it sounds as if Tuesday might be the day to head back home.

Thinking of going home, early this morning I was remembering a time several years ago when a cow of ours somehow got across the fence, and into an adjoining pasture. I didn’t know she was gone until the next morning when she was standing on the wrong side of the fence, wanting to get back into her home territory.

Knowing a little about bovine behavior, I figured she wasn’t welcome in the other group of cows, and she decided home wasn’t too bad. (I’m not too sure cows make too many conscious decisions, but who knows?)

Scripture reminds us Christians that we are aliens and strangers in a foreign land. One version of the Bible calls us strangers and temporary residents. We are in this world, but our true home is heaven. Many times, we don’t feel welcome in our world, and long for our heavenly home. The difference between us and a stray cow is that we are placed in this world by the Lord, and he expects us to remain here and influence our world on his behalf until he calls us home.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, told of his desire to go to be with the Lord. He wrote, “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body” (Philippians 1:23-24). His desire was to be in heaven, but he also knew the Lord wanted him to stay in this world until his work for the Lord was completed.

At times the world around us seems to be moving further away from any notion of a sovereign God, and we, like Paul, sometimes desire to be at home with the Lord, but again, he has left us here to be salt and light to a dark world. And, when our work here is done, rest assured, he will take us to that home he has promised us.

Blessings,
Pastor Jerry

2 Nov

God’s Playbook

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, God's Word, Gospel, Truth, Wisdom.

Dear friends,
We have been enjoying some cool fall weather, along with a little rain. Daytime temperatures have been comfortable, to say the least. Later this week, we’ll be taking the camper out for a few days. We’ll leave Thursday, and probably return Tuesday of next week. We’ll be visiting friends and relatives in Colorado, so we won’t be filling the water lines. It will be ‘dry camping’ in a literal sense. As far as weather related problems, the forecast is pretty good for that time period.

On a recent road trip, a billboard caught my eye. It was promoting a popular brand of beer. Now, I gave up supporting that industry years ago, but here is the ad: “(Insert brand name) beer, helping you live life by your own playbook.”

I have followed that playbook. I can assure you, it doesn’t live up to its promises. I have found the Word of God to be a much more dependable guide for life, than any personal “playbook”. It gives practical advice on dealing with every-day life. By following it, you will be living a life that is pleasing to God.

Let’s look at a few verses that support my position. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word” (Psalm 119:9). “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11). “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (Proverbs 30:5).

Here some more passages that speak to the benefits of following God’s Word: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers (Psalm 1:1-3). “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

A word of warning to close; “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).

In Truth,
Pastor Jerry

26 Oct

Preparations

Posted by sandhillspastor in Christian Living, Eternal Life, Eternity, Salvation. Tagged: , .

This month has certainly flown by. It seems as winter approaches, we move slower. Maybe it is because we are seeing the things we didn’t get done over the summer looming larger as we think of colder weather ahead. I have winterized the camper, and closed the ventilation windows in the crawl space of the lake house in preparation for winter.

Speaking of things that get put off to a later date, how about making preparations for where we will spend eternity? I read recently of a man whose wife had prayed for his salvation for many years. Finally, at the age of 93, he placed his faith in Christ.

The question I would ask is this. What if he hadn’t had 93 years? The Bible says those who reject Jesus as Savior spend eternity apart from God in a place of torment and anguish. Not everyone has 93 years. In fact, not one of us is guaranteed tomorrow. God’s word says “now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). In another place it says “just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people” (Hebrews 9:27-28). In Hebrews 4:7, it says, “Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later He spoke through David as was said before “Today, If you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts”, indicating that if He is calling you to be saved, you need to respond now. Do not wait. It is the most important decision you will ever make.

In spite of what many so-called “religions” try to make you believe, there is only one way to heaven. That way is through faith in Jesus Christ. I quote again John 14:6, the words of Jesus: “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”

You may be able to put off winterizing your home or RV. The worst that can happen is frozen pipes and a mess, but when your eternal destination is on the line, please don’t delay. Remember, scripture says man is destined to die once and after that the judgment. There are no second chances. Now is the day of salvation.

In Him,
Pastor Jerry

19 Oct

Renewing the Fire

Posted by sandhillspastor in Faith, Holy Spirit, Prayer, renewal.

We had our first freeze last week, although it didn’t seem to affect much of the vegetation right here in town. The leaves are changing colors and many are falling from the trees. I suspect winter is on its way.

I got some actual work done this week. It wasn’t much, but considering the time it has taken to regain a measure of strength since my hospital stay, it is a big improvement. There were some maintenance issues needing my attention, so I figured I might as well get at them.

A piece of siding had blown off the side of the house one windy day, so I got the ladder and put it back. I mowed the lawn (with the riding mower), and was going to trim, but the trimmer wouldn’t start. I quit trying to start it just before I gave out completely. After working on the trimmer a while, I decided the spark was weak. We went to town the next day, so I picked up a new spark plug. With the new plug installed, the trimmer started on the second pull of the rope. A stronger spark was all it needed.

Christians, I believe, sometimes lose their spark, so to speak. The zeal we have as new Christians seem to fade after a while, and we need to renew the spark. In Romans 12:11, believers are told, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” How do we renew, or regain that spark? I believe it begins with prayer. As we renew our relationship with the Lord through prayer, he will renew our passion for Him.

Psalm 51:10…A prayer of David; “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” To his disciples, Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” (Acts 1:8).

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Paul prayed for the believers in Rome, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Trusting Him,
Pastor Jerry

12 Oct

Blessed Assurance

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Eternal Life, God's Word, Gospel, Salvation, Truth.

Hello friends,
It’s time for another of our weekly chats. I realize these are somewhat one-sided, but you are welcome to respond at any time. I hope you have been enjoying the nice weather. It is quite a bit cooler this morning than yesterday, but 95 degrees in October is a bit too much.

In Sunday’s message, we discussed two topics that are closely related. They are the ‘assurance of salvation, and the ‘perseverance of the saints.’ There are those who believe a Christian can lose his or her salvation. Scripture teaches once saved, always saved, and the follow-up of that, is God will see to it that the saved person will persevere to the end.

On assurance of salvation, we have these passages of scripture: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:5-6). “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28).

On the perseverance of the saints. Paul writes to the believers at Philippi, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Believers persevere to the end, not by their own effort, but because God has promised to preserve the saints, that is, those who believe on the Lord Jesus.

If a person appears to have lost their salvation, the Bible teaches they were never saved. They either were never really saved, or they had a false assurance based on false doctrine. Concerning those who appeared to have lost their salvation, the apostle John said this: “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us” (1 John 2:19).

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves…” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Saved forever,
Pastor Jerry

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