Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Comfort - compassionate speech

December 7 “Comfort – Speak Compassionately”  Isaiah 40.1-11  Jacqueline Hines

The December sermon series will echo the words of Isaiah: [ # 1 verse 40Comfort, … ]  40Comfort, O comfort my people, God tells the prophet to comfort God’s people.  So often a prophet was assigned to challenge [ #2 man over pulpit   ]   and rebuke God’s people in hopes that they would change from their less than honorable ways.
Not this day. This day, the prophet is told to comfort, [  #3 Jesus hugging  ]   comfort my people. Isaiah is told to speak tenderly, to the heart, compassionately. It is a season of reprieve [ #4 lion on branch ], a season of rest from swimming against the tide of temptation [ #5 just say no ]  or diving into demanding discipline [ # 6 tightrope ] . It is a moment of warm hugs and friendly gestures. [# 7 dogs resting together ] It is a time of pleasant exchanges [ # 8 several jumping for joy   ] and joy -filled connections. It is like those days just before the Christmas holiday a teacher might announce, there is no homework, [# 9 kid smiling] the test is cancelled, there will be no final exam, or if there is a final exam, it is going to be really easy. [# 10 kids cheering  ]God says, instead of the usual challenge and rigor, tell them there will be free time and enjoyment, leisure and rest. Sounds good, feels good, and it is good.
God sends someone with compassionate speech which is so comforting. It helps us to rest, rejuvenate so we can emerge to reach far above what we expect. [#11 passing a baton ]  Words of compassion and comfort help us to recuperate from the many wounds and injuries that we accumulate in life’s wildernesses.
Verse 11 like –[# 12       verse 11 he will….] “ 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd;  he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom,  and gently lead the mother sheep.” [# 13 man holding lambs  ]
We need all the comfort that God’s compassionate words bring to us, for it enables us to go to the next level in our spiritual journey.  It is being in our comfort zone that enables us relax, sit back and see exactly what God is doing in our lives, to appreciate it and give thanks. Verse 4 says what God is doing.   [  #14  verses 4-5 every valley  ]   4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.  5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed…
In our comfort zone, we can see where God is working to straighten up or build up something in our lives. [ # 15 God first]  Your comfort zone is a place where you are at rest, a place where your heart’s longings and desires come quickly to the surface. [ #16 gushing spring ] 
Your comfort zone is the place where you think about God, where your hopes are high and you dare to dream. [# 17 dream big] It is where you stand still long enough to look around and see the hand of God working with mercy, justice, and compassion in each and every one of our lives.
Have you seen lately how God is working to straighten something out in your life? Is God straightening a path toward right living, moral ground, speaking up, shutting up, forgiving more, doubting less? What is it that God is straightening out in your life?
What is it that you want God to build up in your life? Is it a healthy relationship, a happy home, stronger resolve, fewer burdens, more cash?
Certainly there are messes we want God to quickly turn into miracles, though they seem so impossible. Definitely there are broken areas that we are trusting God will fix, even when there is nothing left but the ruins. We can rest assured
 [   #18 man relaxing  ]  that God is working to transform each and every one of our lives for the good. We can trust that God’s good will is being done. We can trust that God will be glorified, that others will see that God is good and worthy to be praised.
Our creating God instructs the Isaiah to bring words of compassion, to comfort God’s children so they rest while God does a great work among us. We all know it is not easy to sit back, relax, [ #19 frog relaxing ]and rest while God is working on the most important issues in our lives. It is not easy to be comforted or comfortable when God is working around us, up close and personal.
Is it easy to rest before a big game or a final exam? Is it easy to relax when we are getting a needle, or when a sliver of wood is being removed from our finger?
We are blessed with an abundance of good news in our lives. Our blessings, great and small, are too numerous to count. We have trusted God [  # 20 let go of cliff]   and God has never failed us nor forsaken us. So sit back,[ #21 relax in chalk   ] relax, rest [ #22 God is in control   ] and let Christmas come as Christmas always comes,[ #23 Merry Christmas - camels    ] to straighten something out and to build something wonderful. Amen


  

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

November 23 2014 Thanksgiving for Ability

November 23 2014 Thanksgiving for Ability, *Matthew 25.14-30 Jacqueline Hines

A certain business man chose to invest in three servants. He gave each of them some talents – which is one Greek word for money - [ # 1 Matthew 25.15  to one he gave…..] 15to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. We can’t be 100% sure about the value of a talent. One source suggests that a talent was about 75 pounds. Today, 75 pounds of silver or gold could be worth as much as $250,000.  No doubt there are some here who have been responsible for thousands of dollars at home or at work – whether it be a business budget, a school loan, or a mortgage.
Money is no small matter. God is serious about money. God makes very large investments in us and expects us to produce profit as well as character.
Money is funny. A mother told me that she bought her teenaged son a very nice designer jacket. She could well afford it. She had a good job and her husband was a state trooper. Unbeknownst to her, her son would walk to school, and hide that jacket in the bushes because it was so uncool to wear a jacket – even if it was an expensive designer jacket.  When he returned home from school, he would retrieve the jacket from the bushes and go home. One day, this mother got a call from the school, saying we are sending your son home with a jacket because he comes to school every day wearing no jacket. It is cold and he needs a jacket. She was so embarrassed to be considered too broke to get her own son a car.
Another mother sent her daughter to school with a shirt that was too short because she had grown so fast and they were on a strict budget. So she put a sweater on her daughter and told her that soon they would go shopping and get new clothes, but in the meantime keep the sweater on so everyone won’t see that the shirt was a bit too small. Well, wouldn’t you know that when she got to school – it was a Catholic School – she was told she had to take off her sweater. The little girl immediately, told the teacher that her mother said she had to keep the sweater on because they were too poor to get new clothes. She was not at all embarrassed about this truth. The mother on the other hand…As humans we have strong opinions about each other and what we do with our money.
Each of the three servants in Jesus’ parable was given a talent – perhaps up to $250,000 according to their ability – that is their ability to care, to be filled with the Spirit of God, their ability to obey God, their ability to complete 100% of their servanthood training without dropping out, their ability to finish spiritual bootcamp without being booted out. Two of the servants had very impressive results. [  #2 Matthew 25. 16-17 - The first one received 5 talents,…] 16The one who had received the five talents – over a million dollars - went off at once and traded with them, and earned five more talents.  17In the same way, the one who had the two talents – about a half million dollars – earned two more talents.
[ # 3  money ]
These two were good financial managers. They were excellent stewards. The money they had was just like a mirror, reflecting the prosperity that was inside their hearts and minds, [# 4 cat in mirror ] reflecting who they were as good people . [ #5  Nelson Mandela in mirror] They were wise investors. This was especially noble because the money they were managing was not their own money.  All money belongs to God and we do well to act accordingly because God is watching like that eye on the dollar bill watches [ #6 eye on dollar bill ]. God knows and God cares.
The servant who received ONE talent about a quarter million dollars buried it in a hole in the back yard or put it under the mattress or stuffed it in a cookie jar. [ # 7 Matthew 25.24-25  Master I knew….] saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.
His master WAS tough, no nonsense, rock solid, and not to be played with, and the servant WAS afraid. Perhaps he was afraid of losing his master’s money because making an investment is definitely risky.  Perhaps he was afraid of the fees that go with investing. Have you ever watched your money go down the drain with the stock market or something. It makes you sick. Investing can be a terrifying experience.
This servant – according to the Greek – was afraid. He was  fob-eh’ – o.
 [  #8  fob-eh'-o   ]   or   phobeo  - it looks like the word “phobia” from which our English word  is derived.  He was phobic, and if you have ever suffered from a phobia, you understand how distressing and debilitating it can be. You understand the feeling of terror. You understand the havoc, the headaches, and the disorientation that fear generates. Nevertheless, the parable focuses on the results of this servant’s  phobia. The phobia started to control his life. The phobia made him wicked and lazy. We know that God is not a God of fear. The servant’s fear was off the charts. It was so intense as to be the work of the enemy, the devil.
This parable is an invitation for God’s servants to eliminate fear’s control and tap into God’ spirit of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1.7.  [ #9   2 Timothy 1.7]
If you have issues around money, you are not alone. I felt guided to read a book called Money Matters. [ #10 Money Matters book cover]  I read a few pages and by the time the second edition came out, I still had not finished reading the book. When I finally did what I was led to do, I received power to make a giant spiritual step in a good direction.
A pastor told me recently that when he served a certain church he had no idea what his members gave. He said his finance secretary asked him every year if he wanted to see the list of members who were tithers, and whether church leaders, were demonstrating faithful financial commitment. The pastor said “no” every year because he thought did not want to know because he did not want to show any bias to anyone. When he left that church, he was handed a sealed envelope with all the member’s names and the amount they gave. A few months later, he did look at it, and he was shocked and surprised that the giving was not at all what he imagined. It is true, we cannot begin to figure or assume what God’s big picture in the church looks like. We just need to do OUR part.
In God’s graciousness, we all have an opportunity to invest the little or great amount of whatever God has given us.
The master said to the servant,  [ #11 Matthew 25.27  you knew…]  “You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.”
What he had been given was taken away. His penalty was to be thrown, not simply into darkness, but outer darkness. When the electricity goes out at night, we are uncomfortable with utter darkness in our homes. When the electricity goes out at night and we are outside in the pitch black darkness, we are not only uncomfortable, but we are exposed to predators and savage beasts.
We have all traveled on a rough road, and it was not always for lack of better models and purer options. Whether we make less than helpful choices intentionally or unintentionally, whether we find ourselves in inner darkness or outer darkness,  if we remember to cry out to God for help, help will come.
The prophets saw it with their own eyes. [ #12 People walking in darkness….] The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; … Isaiah 9.2 [ #13 Isaiah 9.2….]
At a Massachusetts’s revival meeting, a young man stood up to testify about whether God had saved him from his sins.  He said, "I am not quite sure, but I'm going to trust, and I'm going to obey."   The song leader that day was so blessed by his simple and honest testimony that he shared it with his friend John Sammis a Presbyterian minister born in Brooklyn died in California who wrote a song in 1877:
When we walk with the Lord
            in the light of his word,
            what a glory he sheds on our way!
            While we do his good will,
            he abides with us still,
            and with all who will trust and obey.

2.        Not a burden we bear,
            not a sorrow we share,
            but our toil he doth richly repay;
            not a grief or a loss,
            not a frown or a cross,
            but is blest if we trust and obey.

3.        But we never can prove
            the delights of his love
            until all on the altar we lay;
            for the favor he shows,
            for the joy he bestows,
            are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
            Trust and obey, for there's no other way
            to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 

 As we trust God’s Spirit to work in our hearts and in our Church, the good we produce will be 100%  appreciated and acceptable. When we give our all, all the world will see the greatness that God has put inside of us. [ #14 cat  in mirror] We have done it before. We can do it again. Amen.








Friday, November 21, 2014

November 9 2014 Thanksgiving for a Lift Matthew 23.1-12

November 9   Thanksgiving for a Lift, Psalter 830, *Matthew 23.1-12 Jacqueline Hines

One of the most precious gifts we as the church have to offer one another is to honor one another. Honor is like the sweet fragrance of a beautiful rose. If we spend enough time in an atmosphere where WE are honored, we learn to honor like God honors. We learn that every human being is worthy of our honor and respect at all times. Even when the prophets rebuked and chastised God’s people it was always filtered through respect and honor for God and God’s precious people.

If no one in the world honors us today, God honors and delights in us. Nevertheless, like the scribes and Pharisees there may be times when we long to be recognized and honored by others. We feel a need for attention and we seek it. There are preachers who always want to sit up front, who want to be the next Charles Stanley. There are teachers who are waiting for that Teacher of the Year ribbon. Sales persons compete for that gold star on their lapel, and we have seen actors who cannot stand it when the curtain closes.
Jesus knew the heart of the Pharisees, so in the 23rd chapter of the gospel of Matthew, we read [ #1 Matthew 23.1,2] Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; [ #2 Moses’ seat  ]
When you walk into a school class room, you automatically know which seat is the teacher’s seat. When Jesus referred to Moses’ seat, the Pharisees who were very fine teachers, understood that Jesus was pointing to Moses’ authority and Moses’ teachings. Everyone understood that Moses was great enough to receive the Ten Commandments; that was great.   2‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; [ #3 another Moses’ seat ]

The Pharisees wanted to imitate Moses. They knew the rules, they knew the teachings, [ #4 Matthew 23.3] 3therefore, Jesus says, do whatever they teach you and follow it;  [ #5 Matthew 23.3…continued] BUT DO NOT DO AS THEY DO, for they do not practice what they teach. [ #6 Matthew 23.5 ] 5They do all their deeds to be seen by others;

[ # 7  Matthew 23.5 continued ]  for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.
You have probably seen pictures of Jewish men with fringes and phylacteries. They represent devotion to God.  Each fringe on the prayer shawl [ #8 prayer shawl with fringes ] has five knots representing the first five books of the bible. Phylacteries are boxes with portions of scriptures inside, worn on the bicep and the head. [#9 black box on head]. They were worn by ancient worshippers [# 10 boy and man wrapping phylacteries ] and they are still worn today. [ #11 modern scene of boy and man with phylacteries]. The leather binding, [  #12 leather around the hand ] wrapped around from hand, to heart, to head symbolize a very intentional and intimate connection to God and a reminder to keep the law. [ #13 young boy with phylacteries]

Jesus noted that the Pharisees and Scribes had a habit of wearing these very dramatic displays, not for devotion, but for attention, in order to be thought of highly. Instead all were instructed by Jesus to be lowly servants who positioned themselves to look up to others, for looking up to others also gives the best view of God’s will and blessings.
[#14 Matthew 23.11,12]  11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. (or lifted up)

The humble will be lifted. Thank God for a lift. When Jesus lifts us up, we can lift up those who need it most. Last week I had the opportunity to meet the President of Lincoln University, Robert Jennings who serves over 2000  students [ #15 picture of Dr. Jennings ]. He talked about the future of the Church. He talked about the need to seek the lost, to lift up the lowly among us, to invite the unchurched to church, to have a relationship with those who are hungry for a gospel that works, hungry to hear our stories of faith, like the one Rocky shared this morning.  Dr. Jennings urges us to reach out to this new generation. He calls those born in the 80’s the NET generation for their constant exposure to technology and the internet. They are also called Millennials because they are the first generation of the new millennium.

The new generation has their own language, their own dress, their own lifestyle as every generation does. You do not have to think back too far to remember some of the confusing speech and controversial lifestyles you had that made some seasoned citizen wonder about your generation. Dr. Jennings talked about today’s generation’s prolific use of tattoos. He made mention of a bright young medical school student who was attracted to a wonderfully ambitious young man who had tattoos all up and down his arm. He had all expectations of going into the Navy, but was disappointed when told that he could not be promoted until he got rid of the tattoos, and removing the tattoos would take 7 long years. Every generation has their own way. This new generation is said to be more culturally diverse than any generation in world history. There is no doubt that in order to lift them up as worthy of our love and attention, we must continue to keep a healthy conversation going with them. If we keep our eyes on what the church has been in the past, we will be turning our backs on the future.

This is a new day, and we need a new church. It is an important time to be the church that God’s dreams are made of. That is why the Holy Spirit led us to not only develop a preschool but a Christian Preschool. One Philadelphia pastor talks about seeing rows and rows of taxi cabs lined up on the street where his church is. They are Muslims stopping to offer noonday prayers. The pastor mourns the fact that if he were to ask the Christians in his church to gather for noon day prayer, he doubts anyone would come. This is a new day, a day to be devoted to God as never before.
Are we doing whatever God asks us to do to be the church we are called to be? Only by surrendering to the work of the Holy Spirit can we possibly know what to do and what to say. The Spirit of God can teach us how to act in ways that unite us so we can live in harmony with those who think differently from us. The church is a business, Dr. Jennings  warns the church, and if we are going to be in business in the next generation, we need to invite people to Christ and the Church, connect with those who show up so they return, disciple those who stay, and send them back out into the world to be neighborhood missionaries. The face of evangelism is relational. We grow the church one healthy, positive, loving conversation at a time, one act of obedience at a time. Giving in to temptations to uphold isms and schisms and to build between us what Ephesians 2 calls “walls of hostility.” Unless we forgive others, our sins will not be forgiven. Others may not notice, but God sees all. Why start a war with God when we know we cannot win.

The Holy Spirit always gives us dreams and visions, insights and guidance, strength and wisdom so we can be a strong body of Christ. It is not easy. This world can be dark and scary. There may be battlefields in every corner. The only way to survive as a good soldier of the Lord is to follow God’s commands, to humble ourselves and pray, to bind ourselves to God’s word, [#  16 boxes with leather]mind body, heart and soul [ #17 young man wearing phylacteries and fringes]

On this Veteran’s Sunday, we remind ourselves what every Christian soldier understands, [#18 soldier] the battle belongs to God. We fight with weapons of divine power that demolish strongholds that separate us from God’s diverse people [#19 demolishing strongholds]

We need divine power to heal, help, and save those who are spiritually drowning. We need divine power to drive out demons, petty attitudes, sneaky one-way conversations known as gossip, and nasty ways our human egos have deceived us into believing will make others think more highly of us. Instead, we are called to humble ourselves, to give somebody a lift, to look up to others in order to get a good view of God’s holy will and abundant blessings. Then when we see somebody who needs a lift, we can speak with confidence of a God who has given us a lift and who can lift them up, too. [ #20 God lifting another up] Amen.


November 16 2014 Thanksgiving for Light Matthew 25.1-13

November 16 2014 Thanksgiving for Light, Matthew 25.1-13 Jacqueline Hines


Have you ever been ready, really ready -  ready for a meeting or a vacation, ready for winter? What did it take to be ready? What about the future? Do you need to get ready for a rainy day and save some money? Winter’s coming. Do you need to winterize your car or check the amount of oil in the furnace? Maybe you need to stock up on can goods or pull blankets out of storage. Meteorologists tell us there may be a lot snow this year. The Compassionate Care Team will be alerted, so each of us can be reminded to look out for our neighbors. We need to get ready.

What do you have to do to get ready for the next move of God?  We don’t know whether God’s work will entail a much desired blessing or an unwelcome trial. We don’t know, so we wisely prepare for the worst and pray for the best.

You have prepared yourself spiritually for great things. You have said your prayers of petition on behalf of others. You have given thanks and praise to God for all the blessings received. You have decided which committee you will serve on. Is there anything else to be done to get ready for whatever is coming your way?

The gospel of Matthew tells us ready or not the Lord is moving by the Spirit in a way that you cannot imagine. God is moving toward your life with a blessing. God is moving toward your life in order to be present in every trial you have. Ready or not, God is moving in your lives through the Holy Spirit. That movement creates an atmosphere and stirs up the best in us so we can keep the covenant and so that the Kingdom comes to us and to our children and our children’s children.

We know that God’s kingdom is in every holy place. God’s kingdom has a holy atmosphere, where good and right are the order of the day, where justice and mercy are plentiful, where unity and harmony prevail as the will of God is being fulfilled. That is why we pray [ #1 Thy kingdom come…] “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.”

The Apostle Paul, speaking in the Spirit, taught the Church of Rome [ #2 kingdom of God is righteousness, peace…] that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

And, Jesus tells us disciples that [ #3 The kingdom of God is… within you.] “The kingdom of God is within you.”

In Matthew’s gospel today, Jesus tells us what we need to get ready for God’s moving in our lives and building the kingdom. [  #4  Matthew 25“Then the kingdom of heaven…]. 25“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this.” The metaphor begins:
[ #5 Ten Bridesmaids….]  Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

These bridesmaids were ladies-in-waiting. They were there to serve and wait on the bride. Even though the story never mentions the bride – the bride throughout the bible is a symbol of the church.  So it begs the question, “Where is the Church?” Of course, the church is surrounded by bridesmaids. When you see God’s servants, you know the bride is close by.

Part of a first-century Palestinian marriage celebration included the bridegroom going to the home of his new wife, making the dowry arrangements and taking her to her new home. The bridesmaids were waiting for the bridegroom to appear. That was their cue to help the bride get ready and to get their lamps shining so that they could light the path and celebrate the new covenant.

Those listening to Jesus that day had to wonder if they were ready for the next move of God. Since the bible often uses female voices to represent submission to God, males who see themselves in covenant with God will also ask the question, “Am I ready. Am I ready to celebrate and am I willing to participate with those who have made a covenant with God, who love the Church for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part?”

As they waited [ #6 bridegroom delayed…]  5…the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.     [ # 7 but at midnight…..]    6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

The bride’s groom is the first to be up front and center in the wedding.  A Russian rabbi preached that the bridegroom was a symbol of a man who built a home – a home constructed with quality elements using gold and silver and copper – a home where there was a sanctuary for worshipping our God. [ # 8 rabbi…]  

When the bridegroom came for the bride, she knew she would be going to something solid that had been prepared especially for her. [ # 9 Exodus 25.8….]

The bridesmaids who were servants were waiting, preparing to light the way for the bride who is the Church to meet the love of her life. As Christians, we carry a light so we can see and celebrate, so others can see and celebrate.
After we turned the clocks back a few weeks ago, we noticed that it gets dark early. The darkness dramatically reminds us that light is so important and so appreciated.
The wise bridesmaids had enough oil to keep their lamps lit for as long as it took. They were prepared, and it is a good thing because the bridegroom was delayed. Perhaps he was helping the poor. He could have been at the bank handling unexpected financial blessings. Whatever the reason, he was delayed, and the ladies in waiting fell asleep – sleep is a biblical metaphor for prayerlessness.

Five of them did not have enough oil to bring light. Oil is the biblical metaphor for the Spirit of God. It flows, shimmers, shines, it is comforting, functional, and often fragrant. When they ran out of oil, they had no light.

Jesus knew that it would be impossible to celebrate this wedding, or any covenant in the dark. The bridesmaids who were ready were prayed up, organized, and diligent.
When we are prayed up we can maneuver in the dark. We can see what others cannot see. We can see what can only be seen from a high place, a holy place. 

[ # 10 Artistic face - sketch]* Artist Jorge Rodriquez Gerada took 7 years to create this 11- acre image for the Belfast Festival in Ireland. He used Topcon GPS technology and 30,000 manually placed wooden stakes in the ground, and with volunteers for four weeks moved nearly 8 million pounds of natural materials including soil, sand, and rock, producing this image of an anonymous Belfast girl. It can only be seen from the highest points in Belfast or from an airplane. Some things can only be seen from a high plane. [ #11 artistic face - real view]

A handsome young man in the armed services had a group of friends who encouraged him to date a beautiful woman. There was only one problem. He was not attracted to her enough to date her, but he did anyway.  With time, he saw the error of his ways. He saw the light and found his way to speaking the truth in love, avoiding breaking a young girl’s heart.

It is not easy to see the truth that sets us free. It is not easy to get a clear picture of what God wants us to see. We need to be right and we need the light.

A few years ago there was a report about two teachers in the Poconos. One teacher was vibrant, spectacular, and popular. The other was very traditional but just as effective. The popular one started getting threatening letters and other bizarre incidents occurred. The assumption of investigators was that the traditional teacher was crazy with jealousy and did hateful things. The case was even more confusing when they both passed a lie detector test. In the end, through the eyes of the law, they both were allowed to remain in the school system.

We need always be ready – always prayed up, always listening for God’s next move, so we can at least see where God is leading us in the midst of darkness and confusion.
When the foolish bridesmaids ran out of oil, they asked the wise ones to share. Those who had prepared answered with an emphatic  “no.” There was no way the bridesmaids could give up their oil. Some things are definitely NOT to be shared. They are to be guarded, protected, and watched over carefully.

The founder of Methodism, John Wesley [# 12 John Wesley in a crowd] was a man who spent hours in prayer. He did not compromise that time. He did not share it with other tasks nor did he cut it up, divide it, and give it away to more pressing needs of the day.  He is quoted as saying the busier he was, the more time he spent in prayer. He knew what was needed and he prepared with no excuses.

Verse 10 tells us that while the bridesmaids were out buying oil, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’  - in other words – keeping enough oil in our lamps - praying, praising, serving, celebrating  – opening our hearts to enough of God’s Spirit that we shine, is the way to get close enough to God to enjoy and to have doors open to us.

13Keep awake therefore, Jesus tells us. Keep that oil lamp [ #13 burning light] burning bright- for you know neither the day nor the hour that the bridegroom will return. We don’t know how God will move next, but we do want to be ready, because ready or not something great is coming our way! Amen.


 

  http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/10/wish-jorge-rodriguez-gerada-belfast/



Sunday, November 2, 2014

Thanksgiving For Happy People - All Saint's Day November 2 2014

All Saint’s Day, November 2 2014 Thanksgiving for Happy People, Psalter 769, *Matthew 5.1-12 Jacqueline Hines

On this All Saints’ Day, we remember and rejoice in loved ones with whom we have shared our very lives. [#1Hands joining in cross] We have lived and served side by side and elbow to elbow with these most precious people.  [#2 Team to Target] Today, Jesus tells all of us that we are blessed, that we are happy when we are poor in spirit. We are happy when we know we are poor compared to God’s riches, when we know our dire need and God’s abundant ability to provide for us.  Blessed, meaning “happy” are the poor in spirit. [#3 Jumping for Joy]

Do you know how poor you are today? Do you know how badly you need what you can only receive from God’s hands? Do you need wisdom for some important decision ahead? Are you a bit barren when it comes to one of the fruit of the Spirit? Do you need a little more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (generosity), faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control? Do you need to receive or to share? What exactly do you desperately need this morning? [ #4 on knees ] Whatever it is, God has it and only God can give it to you, so go to God. [#5 God’s hands]

Today we are reminded that many of God’s blessings come to us through people. Many people shower[ #6 showers on man] us with God’s blessings and the flow goes on and on and never seems to stop. On the other hand, some people bless us by giving us plenty of hard times, but those hard times teach us valuable lessons that strengthen us. [#7 Lion] Hard times are the time to fervently seek more of God’s love. ‘For the less we love, the more we judge.’ (Steve Arterburn)

It is true, in our lives we have blessing upon blessing upon blessing. No matter what kind of life we have, when the sun rises in the morning, we are blessed. It is also true that we do not have total control over all our blessings. Job’s words rarely comfort us, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

When our blessings come, we rejoice. [#8 rejoicing ] When our blessings are taken away, we mourn, and well we should. [#9 angel mourning] For as one poet says, when someone we love leaves us, it seems as if the music stops. The music stops just when it was getting sweet, just when we were learning the tune, the music stops.

When the saints die, they take a part of us with them. Every pore of our being screams that something is not quite right. It is just as C. S. Lewis said after his wife died too soon of cancer, "Joy's absence is like the sky, spread over everything. There is spread over everything a vague sense of wrongness, of something amiss." Our own tears and bated breath bear witness to the fact that things are all of kilter and will never, ever be the same.

God knows, we need to mourn for four reasons as Pastor Bill Kincaid teaches. We need to mourn because mourning lets loving, faithful people into our heart to share our pain. Afterall, the wise understand that a burden shared becomes a half of a burden.  Secondly, mourning  brings instant healing by creating a circle of loving space. It is a space to walk safely through our grief rather than walk recklessly around the edges. Thirdly, mourning helps us to release our anger, to get our strong emotions off our chest, to tell God just how mad we are about our loss. Finally, mourning gives us a chance to remember, reflect, celebrate, and give thanks. We are then comforted, not by having the memory erased, but by having our pain soothed to the point that we can remember all the ways we loved so deeply, which is why we hurt so deeply.

So what Jesus says is true, “Blessed or happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.“  [#10  Jesus hug man] Through mourning, our comfort becomes just as strong as our love has been. [#11 Jesus hug woman]

In good times and tough times, we have a source of happiness that comes from Heaven. It is a blessing that we may not always appreciate. In spite of it all, blessed are the poor in spirit. They have God’s abundance to make them happy. Blessed are the meek, the humble, the teachable because the have a world of blessings at their fingertips when they are willing to give their all up for the kingdom. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, or persecuted. They can be happy in spite of the pain.

In our losses we are promised comfort. “Comfort is not the erasing of a memory, but having our pain soothed to the point that we can remember. Comfort is not a drying of the tears, but a peace that allows us to remember and give thanks even while we cry.” ( Bill Kincaid).

In the past several weeks, besides mourning the loss of loved ones, we are mourning the invasion of Ebola, beheadings, terrorism, children killing children, not to mention the day to day disappointments. Still, we are promised that in a certain corner of our heart we will find a peace [#12 waterfall ] that goes beyond any explanation and puts a smile in our heart. That’s what makes us happy people. The whole world can give thanks for God fills it with happy people. Bobby McFerrin put it this way:
Here's a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy   [#13 Don’t worry, bee happy]
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy


Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The land lord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy

AMEN!  [#14 to do – be happy]
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU (Bobby Mcferrin Don’t Worry)




Wednesday, October 1, 2014

The Feast - Fitness

September 28 2014 A Feast: FITNESS - *Exodus 17.1-7, Philippians 2.1-13 Pastor Jacqueline Hines
God’s people were on their way to the Promised Land. After a while, they got thirsty, but there was no water to drink. They poured their anger out on Moses. Suddenly, Moses went from being a hero   [  #1 Moses hero with a staff ] who delivered them from the wicked Pharaoh to being despicable and worst of all, useless. [  #2 useless ] It’s a terrible thing to believe that nobody needs you. Have you ever had that feeling?  That you’ve been put on the shelf [ #3 reaching for shelf ] and all that is left now is for you to just sit there and not mean anything? It’s also a terrible thing to believe that you’ve lost your influence; nobody pays any attention to you anymore. Unlike E. F. Hutton - when you speak, nobody seems to listen. [ #4 man blocking ears ]
Over and over again, Moses’ leadership was challenged; the crowd grew angrier and angrier. It became a mob ready to riot. [ #5 mob dumping leader ]We all know pouring our anger on one another never helps and always destroys some precious connections that may not be healed for generations. [ #6 hands joined ]
They had obediently followed Moses’ big plan to leave for the Promised Land, [#7 crossing Red Sea ] they expected that things would get easier. Instead, they seemed worse. The time for being polite was over. They weren’t even over the trauma and difficulties of they suffered in Egypt; how could they possibly endure the threat of another crisis. Where’s the water, Moses? And where is the God who is supposed to be guiding us to the Promised Land?
Last winter, when the snow fell so hard, power lines were knocked down, and temperatures plummeted. Some of us found ourselves days and weeks without water, without heat, and no idea how long it would be before things were back to normal. Secretly, we may have compared ourselves, wondering who was blessed and who was not, who had good luck and who had bad luck. In the end, we all had our faith stories, our stories of how God blessed us, whether we appreciated it in the midst of the struggle or not. God always deserves better than we give him and we deserve worse than we get.
Still, when things turn sour, it does not mean that God has abandoned us. Instead it is a time to remember that God has a purpose and a plan. [ # 8 notebook God’s pan ] It is a time to put our faith in action, to increase our spiritual fitness, to feast on God’s wonderful word day and night, from the bible, the internet, television, radio, the testimonies of family and friends. God’s word is everywhere. Feasting on the word keeps us fit. It strengthens us for the journey toward whatever God has promised us. [#9  Jesus with Teddy Bear]
Peg Linderman sent me an email that I never forgot. It showed a man carrying a cross. His cross was wide and long. [ #10  man and cross ]It looked heavy and hard to carry. The man complained to God that it was too much for him to bear and he cut it down and continued the journey. After a while, he became tired and continued to complain that his cross was still too much to carry so he cut it down some more. He kept cutting it down until it became easy. Traveling on, he came to a cliff that was several feet away from the next step he was supposed to take. The cross he rejected was the very cross that he needed to make it through. [#11 cross at cliff]
One of the crosses that we are called to bear in the Church universal is the cross to remain in harmony and unity despite our diversity. How in the world are we going to stay together as a family of God if we do not have healthy, respectful, adult conversations on our different views on sexuality?
Denominations have become divided without finding a way to live together, but I cling to a hope that the United Methodist Church will be able to have meaningful dialogue [ #12 let’s start talking ] that will bring peace and respect. Our international missions depend upon our staying together. The United Methodist Church responds to every crisis in the world – including the Ukraine and the Middle East. What matters more than being able to talk together without exploding in each other’s faces or bombing each other’s lives? Good soldiers respond with integrity and self-control. [#13 soldier/flag] Anger and disrespect leave us vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.
Instead of asking where is the water? Where is what we want, what we need, and where is God?, can we first take a moment to answer the question Jesus asked the disciples in the middle of a dangerous storm. “Where is your faith?”  [#14 faith ] Though the disciples followed all the holy directions they were given, the storm still rocked their boat. Fearing for their very lives, Jesus still asked them, “Where is your faith?” Being afraid is no excuse for giving up our faith. Being thirsty or hungry or tired or sick or grieving is no excuse for faithlessness. Where is our faith in the God who promises to guide us, to provide for us, to love us though family and friends forsake us? Where is our faith in a God who faithfully keeps covenant with us, even when we reject that covenant? Whatever our circumstances, we do well always to keep the faith!  [ #15 keep the faith ]
After all God had done for them, they still doubted God’s love and provision. They walked head first into trouble, as we often do. Still God delivered them. They were freed from the Pharaoh, the waters were parted, the enemy was eliminated, and God gave them a vision of a new home where they would be free to plan and prepare a faithful life.
Instead of keeping their eyes on such an awesome God first, their first focus was on themselves. So they kind of had the attitude, “Thank you very much, for all you have done, Lord, but can you just give me what I want now?” All along, God says, just “Trust me. Call on me and I will show you great and marvelous things, you’ve never seen before. Trust me through your wilderness. Don’t rely on things that look secure. Don’t trust those simply because they appear strong. Don’t trust in a quick fix out of desperation. Don’t allow yourself to remain discouraged and depressed. Trust in me. I love you.
A counselor asks the question, how do you know when a marriage is bad? The answer was a marriage is bad when the two people in it continually subject the love that undergirds it to daily doubts. "Do you love me?"  
“The same is true of the marriage between God and creation as it is in the marriage of husband and wife. When there is no trust in God, nothing God can do will ever be enough. No prayer that God can answer will ever be enough. No blessing that God can bestow will ever be enough. God will always be one bad experience…from no longer being believed.*
As children of God, we can trust God’s love because God hears our every cry, just as he heard the Israelites. Just like any loving parent hears. Even when there are lots of children around, a parent knows the cry of their child, even when they have not even learned to say a word. A loving parent interprets the meaning of each cry and responds to what is wrong. Calling on God, crying out to God is a very powerful way to communicate with God. God hears the need, the urgent, loud cries of pain, anguish and distress. God cares, and God answers each cry.
God sent Moses as an answer to their cries and their prayers. Moses was given specific instructions from God: First he was to get away from the angry crowd – and bring along a few wise, calm, and trustworthy elders. Second he was to take the lead and go up front, carrying the same symbolic staff that he used earlier to divide the waters of the Red Sea, crossing over to freedom. Thirdly, he was to strike a rock and release water for all the thirsty people and their animals to drink. God did provide. Their prayers were answered!
What are you thirsty for today? [ #16  glass of water ]What longing lurks in your heart? What storms have you weathered? Trust in God!! Seek the Lord with ALL your heart. Do like Moses, get in front of the fray and bring someone who loves and trust YOU and your God; bring a symbol of the last miracle you received, [ #17 baby foot ] and dare to strike the rock. [#18 water coming from rock]
In Hebrew the word strike in this verse is “Naw Kaw” the rock, “Naw Kaw” to hit, strike a blow, capture, subjugate. In order to be refreshed, God wants us to deal with the hard, seemingly impenetrable things in life that we find on our way to our Promised Land. There may be hard work and hard conversations to be had because God loves us the way we are, but too much to let us stay that way.
In another telling of this story, Moses is not instructed to strike the rock because he had anger management issues. Moses is instructed to speak to the rock. Whether God tells us at a certain point in our journey to speak up in a hard place, or to strike the rock, one thing we have learned as we have kept the faith, and as we have used every gift and talent in good service, God will provide the refreshing waters that we need for the feast to begin. The quarreling, whining, and complaining cease and we can continue our journey and complete our mission. So, drink up! [#19 water spilling over] You will quickly find that our God is one who can take ordinary water and make it intoxicating. May we find rest in God’s presence today.  [cat at rest] Amen.

*Sermons.com






Sunday, September 14, 2014

September 14 2014 A Feast - Forgiveness

September 14 2014 A Feast: FOCUS on Forgiveness- *Matthew 18.21-35
Pastor Jacqueline Hines

A man named Joe was on his dying bed. For years he’d been at odds with Bill, formerly one of his best friends. Wanting to straighten things out, he sent word for Bill to come and see him.
When Bill arrived, Joe told him that he was afraid to go into eternity with such bad feelings between them. Then, very reluctantly and with great effort, Joe apologized for things he had said and done. He also assured Bill that he forgave him for his offenses.
Everything seemed fine until Bill turned to go. As he walked out of the room, Joe called out after him, “Now, just remember, if I get better, this doesn’t count.” *
2000 years ago, the disciples were gathered around Jesus just as we are today, the focus of their conversation was forgiveness. They no doubt discussed how to forgive. The answer had to be by the power of the Holy Spirit [# 1 plug] because they could not forgive on their own. [#2 power] They had to have discussed who to forgive. The answer to that was easy. You are to forgive everyone, no matter how much they hurt you, how much they owe you, what country they were from, or how much they don’t deserve it. All of humanity who know the benefits of FORGIVENESS will wrestle with who and how to forgive those who hurt us. [#3 How…forgive]
The question they dared to ask Jesus out loud in their discussion focused on forgiveness [ #4 purple forgiveness ] was how many times should we forgive someone. Obviously, the real question was not how many times do we have to forgive, but how long do we have to wait before we can get what we deserve!  How long will it be before we can get what we really want, and need, and desperately long for? How many times do we have to put up with other people’s mess?  [ #5 loving someone ]
A lovely Christian woman told me she was accustomed to spending time with God in prayer. One morning she was pouring out her heart to God, saying how much her husband got on her nerves with everyday irritations. Clearly, she heard God speak to her heart saying, “And he puts up with you, too.” [ # 6 finger pointing] For every time of trouble, we are more than ready for the mess to end, and we especially focus on somebody else’s mess! [#7 DOG]
The disciples had yet to learn the lesson [ #8 pile of books ] that they were just like the families in Noah’s Ark. There is always plenty of mess to deal with. [#9 gum on sneaker] Those who want to avoid the mess have to do it outside the Ark of safety. [ #10 shark]
It’s true. Life has plenty of messy moments. The only reason we are here today is because we have learned that when life gives us lemons, [ #11  lemon tree] we make [#12 cut lemon] lemonade. [#13 pitcher of lemonade]  It is in our best interest to kneel [#14 kneeling in prayer] before God’s throne of grace every day so we can learn what God expects of us. [#15 kneeling hands open] God can teach us how to act and how to cope during life’s messy situations, situations that are bound to end up with hurt feelings and a need for forgiveness.
Hurt feelings require the healing hope of forgiveness. Forgiveness does not mean becoming instant friends because we have to set boundaries. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting, because forgetting risks our losing the lessons we learned and the strength we accomplished while wrestling with each other’s demons.
“Jesus, should we forgive someone 7 times? [ #16 wooden 7] After all, seven is the spiritual number for the end, the completion, the finish.” [ #17 people jumping at finish line ]
Perhaps Jesus explained it this way, ‘Now think about it my beloved, anything as messy as our hurts cannot always be resolved in a mere 7 acts of forgiveness.’ God knows it may take 17 times, 57 times, or 75 times before forgiveness has finished its work. If we have forgiven 7 times 70 times and we are still counting, that means we are still forgiving. By the time we get to 490 times we have likely MASTERED the art and the discipline of forgiveness!! The CHURCH is a storehouse of forgiveness. We are not wimps afraid to speak out or draw a line and push any devil who tries to cross the boundaries, but we do forgive.
You would not be here if it were not for your ability to forgive; we cannot stand to be in the house of God unless we are upright, upstanding, and under the rule of the God [#18  bowed in pew] whose mercy and justice and forgiveness are bountiful in our lives. We cannot be “all that” unless we have learned – to one degree or another how and who to forgive.
The man in Jesus’ parable had some tough lessons to learn about forgiveness. He was in deep financial debt [#19 Debt]. As Americans, we know all about debt. We know about student loan debt, [#20 graduate] mortgage debt, and credit card debt [#21 cutting credit card]. We know about the foreign debt we owe to China and all of our oil exporters [#22 pockets out]. We know what terrorists owe us [#23 Obama]
We know about the emotional debt of respect, honor, and love owed to us by our children, grandchildren, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, family, friends, neighbors, ex’s and vexes. Every day we awaken hoping to collect the debt that is due us. We want what is ours and we want it now. [ #24 chalk ]
At the same time how we wish the debt WE owe could be somehow wiped away. It is often our human nature to do just what the man in Jesus’ parable did – enjoy the awesome benefits of God’s mercy and forgiveness, while stingily struggling to give a little mercy and forgiveness to others. [#25 treasure chest ]
When we count our blessings, including the many ways we have been forgiven, when we name them one by one, soon it will surprise us what the Lord has done. When we submit ourselves to the spiritual discipline of counting our blessings, they multiply and we are less able to blaspheme or harass God about what others owe us. Gratitude helps us to see that our lives are full of all the love, attention and gentleness we will ever need. Life has its burdens, but as the songwriter reminds us:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one…

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Have you learned any lessons on forgiveness this year? Sure you have. By now those lessons are a part of your daily life. Again, you wouldn’t be here if you were not able to forgive. There is no doubt that forgiveness is deeply embedded in every pore of your life. Forgiveness is a part of every breath we take, every beat of our heart.
Through the veil of hurt and tears, we have forgiven and we continue to forgive. [# 26 purple forgive] Like every cell in your body, your forgiveness is microscopic. You don’t even know it is there. Forgiveness may be imperceptible, but every day we appreciate its beauty, its importance, its capacity to generate life in our hearts, our homes, our communities, our country, and in every corner of the globe [#27 anger, rage…. ]
We know we have forgiven when we do three things [#28 key] : First, we have forgiven when we stop angrily trying to get even and resentfully demand what is owed us; Secondly, we know we have forgiven when we appreciate the fact that those who hurt us are human and they too have been hurt too. Thirdly, we know we have finished the work of forgiveness when we can picture those who hurt us in the loving arms of Jesus [#29 in arms of Jesus] and pray that they will be blessed.
We can only do that when we ourselves have been forgiven. That’s why Jesus teaches us to ask for forgiveness. “Father, Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…. Holy One, Forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” As we confess to God, we are forgiven. I John 1.9 tells us if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The forgiveness we receive is the forgiveness we have to share. We are not orphans; the love we receive from our heavenly father is the love we have to share.
As we journey in the footsteps of Jesus, the hurting people of this world can see the light of forgiveness, shining from our hearts. Whether we are Arab or Jew, Gentile or Greek, gay or straight, accepted or rejected, rich or poor, happy or sad, forgiveness makes us greater than we would be without it. Forgiveness, we have tried it and we like it. [#30 candles ] Amen.


 *How to Forgive by King Duncan – Sermons.com

Monday, September 8, 2014

Feast: Fresh Creation

September 7 2014 - Rally Day - A Feast: Fresh Creation Matthew 18.15-20, Genesis 1.1-2, 2.5-10 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

The Creation stories of Genesis have inspired many songs. One favorite is Hymn [slide #1 of the hymn ]    92 For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. [slide #2  nature scene]
So many times we have jubilantly praised God for God’s wondrous creation.  [slide nature scene #3] Every season brings its special beauty.   [slide #4 nature scene ]  What is your favorite season? Is it spring with its bursts of color and freedom to roam? Is it winter with its frost and early sun downs that put us in hibernation mode? Is your favorite season fall with its reminder and readiness for constant change? Or is it summer when you run to your favorite beach? God creates seasons and each one has its beauty for all to enjoy.
Praising God for God’s creation shows that we understand that there is a power higher than us. [slide #5 mountains]  You remember the story of the genius inventor who studied the human body in detail. So excited about the gifts he had been given, he said to God, I can create a man just like you. So, God said, “O.K. Go ahead. Let me see you do it.” So the man gathered a pile of dirt. Then God said, “Uh uh. Get your own dirt!”   [slide # #6  dirt and shovel]  A creating God is far beyond our understanding. We take pleasure in simply standing in awe and giving praise.
As human beings, we are creators, too. We are made in God’s image, so we create in the same way that God creates. God starts us off with nothing, nothing but at least 6 things as chapter 2 of Genesis tells us - #1 emptiness, #2 darkness, #3 chaos, #4 wind, #5 dust, and #6 water.
Wherever there is emptiness in our lives God wants to create fullness. Wherever there is darkness in our lives God wants to create light. Wherever there is chaos, God wants to create order. Wherever the Spirit blows like a wind, God wants to create a heart that goes with its flow. Wherever there is dust, God wants to create priceless, beautiful diamonds. Wherever God’s word springs up, God wants to refresh and enliven!
God is ALWAYS creating, and because we are children of God, we too are always creating. God #1 fills our empty lives with good things, [slide #7 gas tank being filled]  and we fill the lives of others. We serve, and even sacrifice day and night to bless our families, our friends, our neighbors near and far.   [slide #8 ]  Of the last 365 days all of us have experienced at least one day when it seemed we did not even see one ray of sunshine. There are days when the grey clouds linger all day long. Those are the days God CREATES, #2 light. [slide # 9 light shimmering through trees]  A card of encouragement comes in the mail and brightens our day. A text comes through that leaves us beaming. A door of opportunity opens, illuminating God’s goodness. A window of doubt closes, encapsulating us in shimmering truths.
#3 God creates order where there is chaos. When our life is like a rubrick’s cube, [slide #10n rubrik's cube made in human form] [slide # 11 rubriks's cube pattern on nailpolish] God creates a path for each piece of our life.  [slides # 12 rubrik's cube pattern ] when we are at our lowest, God creates power and protection that pulls us to a place of peace. [slide #13 rubrik's cube pattern of sneaker]
#4 When the Spirit blows a gentle wind like a baby’s breath, [slide # 14 laughing baby] we are inspired and inspired to follow where love leads us. We are quickly aware and confident that the path will be rich and wonderful. [slide # 15 babies on roller skates]
#5 It is the nature of our life her on earth that dust is never permanently eliminated. No matter how many times we dust our homes, our cars, ourselves, dust always seems to reappear. Dust seems to be a nuisance, but when we consider the definition of dust, we are enlightened.   [slide #16] In the Hebrew, the word for dust is “aphar” and it is defined as dry, loose earth or rubbish. It is also defined as “ore,” “a naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be profitably extracted.”
Iron ore can be processed until it produces iron. Gold ore can be processed until it produces gold. [ slide # 17 golden eggs]Since dust is defined as ore in the book of Genesis, we know that the dust of our lives when put in God’s hands produces a precious life we could not create on our own. [slide # 18  person standing in vicotious stance]
Finally, #6. Throughout the bible, water is a symbol for life. Life without water is a threat to life. Water is also a symbol of God’s word throughout the bible. It is a known fact that people of faith have rivers of water flowing through them to bring life and refreshment to a thirsty world. [slide # 19 thirsty elephant approaching a swimming pool with people in it]
One of the most memorized verses is Psalm 1. It reflects a refreshed life. “Blessed is that person who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly,          [slide # 20 good and evil direction sign] and does not even stand in the path of sinners, [slides #21] nor sits in the seat of the scornful; [slide # 22]
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates                       day and night.3 He shall be like a tree, [slide # 23  tree near water] planted by the rivers of water,  [slide #24] that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”
Life happens with God’s word.   [Slide # 25] Whether we read God’s word, listen to God’s word on internet, radio, or television, sing God’s word, preach God’s word, testify to God’s word, debate God’s word, and study God’s word, our life is refreshed, revived, and enlivened [slide #26 nature scene, tree and waterfall] beyond what we could ever imagine. Amen. [slide # 27 amen in script].