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Apr
30
Apr
17
Does this Describe us?
They are words, that when we hear them, we think of what we are supposed to be. Words like love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, goodness, compassion, kindness, and generosity. These are words that should describe you and me as we live our Christian life. Do people ever criticize those who are supposed to possess these wonderful qualities of life? Have you ever heard of this group or that group that has little good to say about “religious people?” If we are loving, forgiving, merciful, filled with grace and goodness, then why would someone want to speak out against us. Why would they call us nasty names, consider us dangerous to society, and seek to put as much distance as possible between themselves and Christians?
I think there might be a reason that each of us should consider. Could it be because in the “Christians” they know, they do not observe love, forgiveness, compassion, goodness, kindness, mercy, grace and generosity. They won’t see Christ and His attributes if we’re standing in the way. If we have a self-serving agenda or cause, they’ll see our hate and anger instead of our love. They will look and find us harboring grudges instead of forgiving. They will realize there is indifference in our lives instead of compassion. They will see our harshness instead of our goodness. How important it becomes for our lives to be consistent with the message that we proclaim. Take time to read through I Thessalonians 2:-1-12 to see the guidance Paul gave about putting into practice our religion.
It is evident that Christianity is about Christ and His loving, forgiving, and compassionate gift of eternal life. Any and everything we do that reflects something else gives others the wrong idea. It is all about Jesus. We need to strive to let Him shine through our life so that others can see Him. I ask myself would I be able to quote I Thessalonians 2:8 and then say that is me? “We were pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives.” That assurance and comfort will only bring more glory and honor to the Lord. What I am trying to say is that I need to live my life, so that others will want to know my Savior. One poet put it this way:
Show me the way, Lord, let my light shine
As an example of good to mankind;
Help them to see the patterns of Thee
Shining in beauty, lived out in me.
Prayer Thought: That I will see opportunities to serve the Lord, bringing Him more glory and honor
Apr
9
Are You One?
Thank you notes do not often appear on the front page of the bulletin. However, we received one recently that we felt would be good to look at for a few moments. For those who do not attend Maple Hill, maybe it will help you appreciate the type of church family we have. For those who worship at Maple Hill, but fail to get involved in the many opportunities that are made available, maybe you will re-evaluate your Christian walk and say I want to be an active part of what is going on. For those who read this and are working to make a positive difference here at this place, just maybe you will sense that your works are not in vain. The letter is from Katharine Wood.
“Dear friends at Maple Hill;
I want to give a great big thank you for all the kindness you have shown me since I have been attending the Maple Hill congregation. I want to thank all the people who helped me and made me feel so welcome. I have been to many churches, but none has shown as much love and concern to someone who was a total stranger. I hear all the time about how people at Maple Hill has shown love and concern for people in their midst as well as people outside. It is so refreshing to see so many friendly and helpful people. You are wonderful people and I am gratified to you. I am glad I chose to come to Maple Hill. I believe that God has truly you.”
One of the joys of life is really being able to come to worship at Maple Hill. To come and share in the worship experience with people who love the Lord and love one another. I often think that our actions speak louder than our words. To simply stand back and watch the interaction of the people on Sunday morning as they come to the building, as they shake hands or embrace one another is truly a beautiful sight. When we received this note from Katharine, one could not help but think of a passage in III John: 3 “It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.” What an accurate description of our family at Maple Hill. Now let’s go back to the title of the article, which asked a question: “Are you one?” Are you one who is friendly and shows your love to those who are lonely, or strangers? Are you one who is willing to strive to make a difference in the lives of others? Are you one who can say at the end of the day, I tried my best to serve the master? Why not take a moment and reread the passage in Matthew 25:34-46 and then once again ask and answer; “are you one?”
Prayer Thought: Pray for our mission efforts through out the world as well as those in the United States.
Apr
3
Where is God
Perhaps you have heard the story of the two brothers who were extremely mischievous and their parents were at their wits’ end. So they asked their minister to talk with the boys. The minister sat the younger brother down first. He wanted him to think about God, so he started the conversation by asking, “Where is God?” The boy didn’t respond, so he repeated the question in a stern tone. Again he gave no answer. Frustrated, the minister shook his finger in the boy’s face and shouted, “Where is God!?” The young boy bolted from the room, ran home, and hid in his closet. His older brother followed him and asked, “What happened?” The younger boy replied, “We’re in big trouble now. God is missing, and they think we did it.”
The story is somewhat amusing, and yet tragically accurate in describing many people who think they can simply hide their actions or thoughts from God. Remember years back when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden. They were filled with guilt and tried to hide from God. They had known the Lord’s close fellowship, but how they were afraid to face Him. God pursued them, though, and asked, “What is this you have done?” (Genesis 3:13) The best thing that Adam and Eve could have done was to admit their mistake and ask God to forgive them. Instead of repenting, Adam blamed God and Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent.
As a child do you remember doing something against the wishes of your parents, and then trying to hide what it was that you did? Deep down inside of you, you knew that they would uncover the wrong actions you had done. I often think that Adam and Eve knew they would not be able to hide from God. How do you and I respond when we’ve sinned against God? Do we hide, hoping He won’t notice? If we are His, He’ll pursue us. The wisest choice is to come out of our hiding place, confess our sin, and have our fellowship restored. What a peaceful filling will flood our souls, knowing that we have returned to the one who first loved us. What a joy to be in the right relationship with the creator of the universe. The psalmist said that God “knows when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down.” (Psalms 139: 2-3) We will never be able to hide from our God.