JOY IN HUMBLE PLACES

Christmas trees are beginning to go up around the nation. We are beginning to feel the season descending upon us as we see our neighbors put up Christmas lights and our children begin to tell us what they want for Christmas. It’s a season of giving, of joy and family. In the midst of this, I can’t help to think of the current state of our nation and the countries around us as we live in the wake of the Paris terror attacks and the threats that seem to be ever surrounding us.

As I read the story of Christmas, the story surrounding Christ’s birth, I realize that thenations that witnessed this glorious event were also in a fragile place.

 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. (Luke 1: 1-21)

¹³ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵ where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”^[c]

¹⁶ When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. (Matt. 2:13-16)

When Jesus was born, the Nation of Israel was under the rulership of the Roman Empire; Israel was looking for a Savior, a deliverer, a King. As in so many times, the Lord gave them not what they expected, but what they needed;a child born in the most humble of places and immediately on the run for his life from King Herod. He grew up a carpenter taking his father’s trade and once His ordained time of ministry came, His message was to lay your life down for another, this was not what Israel expected of their Savior, deliverer, or King.

Today; let us remember the hidden JOY found in what can sometimes be the most unexpected places in our lives. We may be in a war right now, but may we never forget our Savior’s greatest message, Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.³⁹And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matt. 22:37-28

Let us LOVE with all of our hearts this Christmas season, in ways other will not expect, in ways that we haven’t been able to love before. Let us SHINE with the LOVE of CHRIST and show this world the power and message our humble Savior came to show us.

Much Love,

~ Pastor Tarrah Deitrick

Reflect, Give Thanks, and Show Kindness

 

Wow…it is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just a few days away.  I love this time of the year.  I love to celebrate …great food, great fellowship and great fun.  Well, in the spirt of transparency, my birthday is right at the beginning of the holiday season and I so enjoy the fact that I was born around this time.  As a kid I remember being so excited and for the most part people were in a good mood from now until January 1.  I guess I still get just as excited!!!

What do you get excited about?  Don’t read on just yet…pause and get excited!

What wonderful weather we have had over the past several days.  I was able to take full advantage by getting out and taking several walks.  Each day I was so thankful for good music in my ear, the warmth of the sun on my face, the sound of the water, the birds, and the leaves as they crunched beneath my feet.  The heavens declare the Glory of God and the earth shows forth his handy work.  It is good to stop and enjoy the seasons as they change.  Each day Holy Spirit would bring to mind something special I experienced during this year and with each thought my heart filled with gratitude and I found myself just saying Lord…I thank you so much.

What has Holy Spirit brought to your remembrance?  Don’t read on just yet…pause and give thanks!

“Thanks” It is a simple word but it has powerful impact if used the right way, at the right time with the right person.  Webster defines thanks as kindly or grateful thoughts: gratitude.  People often take others for granted.  I often say people do not have to be kind to you.  If someone remembers you and extends some act of kindness to you…you should log it in your heart and remember to say thanks.  Do not take people for granted.  Be purposeful with your Thanks!  Make it real and people will be refreshed by your acknowledgement.

Who have you forgotten to say thanks to?  Don’t read on just yet…pause think about what that individual has done and make it your point to acknowledge them!

“Kindness” To show kindness is a choice.  When we show kindness we allow the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us.  Choose to show kindness even when people don’t appreciate or acknowledge it.  Look for ways to be a blessings to someone.  It can be someone in your family, someone at work, one of your friends, someone in your neighborhood, at school or someone you meet as you are out an about.  Every day we can do something for someone that can make a big difference in their life.  If you show kindness with the right motive…kindness will be shown to you.  You will reap what you sow.

Who can you show kindness to right now?  If not right now…within the near future?

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.

Take sometime this week to reflect, give thanks, and show kindness!

Love and Blessings,

Pastor Tonya Roberson

HAVERIM: Covenant Life in Community

HAVERIM: Covenant Life in Community 

Beloved Saint of God…

Let’s take a trip, you and I. Come on…let’s exercise the powers of imagination and journey back to 1st century Israel. I wonder what Believers looked like then — compared to now! How did they live? How did they relate to each other? Take this article, grab your Bible, your favorite beverage, find a comfy place to sit, cue up your favorite worship music…the soaking kind (smile), curl up, deep breath…let’s go! First we need to…

Reconsider Solitude

• As you sip your beverage, close your eyes and picture…imagine the 1^st painting or image of Jesus that pops into your head. Stay there for a few seconds…
• What do you see? Jesus in a solitary place, praying in Gethsemane, or holding a lamb, or nailed to the cross…?
• Many artists have portrayed Jesus as a solitary and lonely man. So when we close our eyes and imagine Him, that’s what we see!
• Sure, Jesus did have times of solitude that are described for us in Scripture.   See Mark 1.35, Luke 4. 1-13
• Because of this – many Believers try to imitate Christ by seeking solitude
• This can be helpful – but what about community??

Consider this…

• If the goal of discipleship is to become Christlike, then we must spend time with other disciples, learning how to love and be loved and letting our roughs edges be sanded away
• We need to learn to tolerate each other’s flaws and to admit our own so that Christ’s Spirit can refine and reshape us! This happens in community!
• For some of us – being alone is an escape from embracing people who annoy or challenge us!! Consider Jesus’ words in Matt. 18.20!!

“For where two or three are assembled in My name, there I am in their midst.”

As Westerners, we forget or fail to consider what Jesus’ reality was like on any given day. Close your eyes again and this time see Jesus surrounded by people like you and me:

• Most of His ministry was spent living side by side with his faithful Talmidim (Hebrew for Disciples)
• He traveled with them on foot from town to town. Imagine that! Walking everywhere! Dusty sandals! Sore feet! Tired legs. Hungry. Thirsty. Singing. Praying. Arguing. Discussing the Tanakh (Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures).
• They camped out everywhere they went…sleeping on the ground! (You’ve had it pretty easy, wouldn’t you say)
• Jesus spent many evenings sharing a meal with strangers who had generously invited them into their homes, as was the custom with visiting rabbis! Did you get that? There were people who generously opened their homes to Jesus and His 12 Talmidim, plus the women (female disciples) that traveled with Him! Hmmm…
• Even when Jesus made a point of getting away from the clamorous crowds – He usually did so with His disciples
• And – He never sent His students out alone—but always in pairs! Team! Team! Team!
• He knew their critical need for haverim! Haverim are study partners! They are the people you keep company with, wresting over the scriptures, praying together, growing in the faith! Your ‘haverim’ are your faith-friends! They are the ‘small-group’ you fellowship with! All Believers need to be a ‘haver’ and have their own ‘haverim!’
• Wait! Let’s not rush pass that! Jesus knew that we ALL NEED TO BE AND HAVE HAVERIM (SMALL GROUP PARTNERS IN THE FAITH)! We were created for COVENANT COMMUNITY — for covenant relationship(s)!
• Jesus loved the company of others! He was frequently found with children, at parties, hanging out with tax collectors and sinners

Following Jesus means sharing our lives in community

where the richness of life unfolds!

Don’t misunderstand me — Time Alone With God – away from the crazy pressures of daily life, can help us discern the still, small voice of God:

• So…do take time to nurture an intimate private devotional life with Christ! BUT – do not make solitude the norm! See Gen. 2.18
• Instead, let’s look for opportunities to “connect” with others in meaningful ways

Note: This is crucial in a world that seems to be spiraling in on itself, with people becoming more isolated…more “self” focused, selfish, selfies…etc. Many people work in cubicles, in front of computers all day, zoning out in front of the TV, Podcasts, headphones and iTunes, XBox, etc.

Americans, culturally — are some of the loneliest people on the planet! Our individualism and our wealth have allowed us to minimize our contact with others — to our detriment.

• We don’t call or visit each other any more, we just text…
• In church we sit together and sing together and half greet one another as we leave at the end of a service – sometimes for years, without forming any real personal Christian relationships!
• Church has become the place where ‘Christians’ live alone together!!!
• Christ intended for us to relate to each other and befriend one another in deeper ways! Did you get that? In DEEPER WAYS!!!

Let’s Become Haverim!

It is easy to become close to others when you spend time together in community, in struggle, in joy and pain, in praise and worship, discussing God’s Word and praying for each other! 

• BUT — get this —there needs to be more to being a ‘haver’ than just being a Christian friend!
• A haver is a fellow disciple who earnestly desires to grapple with others over issues of faith — someone who wants to delve into God’s Word, to be challenged and refined
• A haver is like a spiritual jogging partner or Crossfit WOD buddy– someone for whom you will crawl out of bed on a rainy morning putting on your Nike Metcon’s or Reebok Nano’s, sliding into your Capri Workout gear, shifting into ‘beast mode’ — instead of hitting the snooze button and burying your head under covers
• A haver pushes you spiritually and intellectually — forcing you to grow!
• It is not a casual commitment! It requires stretching!
• A haver carves out time for preparation and study, wrestling with the Scripture text beforehand so that they have something to share when the haverim come together
• Also – you can not be a good haver if you hold onto an extreme sense of privacy about spiritual matters! Haverim need to learn to trust one another, openly expressing their thoughts and feelings, confident that what is shared within the group will not go beyond the group. They ‘pastor/shepherd’ one another in the faith!
• They must also learn the art of ‘respectful disagreement’ – challenging each other when necessary — because healthy debate, wrestling with faith was a normal part of the life of disciples, an essential way to learn! 

Becoming each other’s ‘Haverim’ in small group settings is Bible — it’s New Testament, its judeo-christian — and it is an effective way to fulfill Jesus’ command to raise up disciples!

• We can help others grow by learning right alongside them!
• There are many ‘Believers’ in the ‘body of Christ’ who are not lost (they are in the sheep pen but just off on the side munching on grass occasionally) – they just need to be brought closer to Christ where they can learn how to be better disciples!!
• Becoming a haver opens ones life to becoming a powerful witness through honesty and authenticity!

Practical Application

1. If you don’t have study partners, peer shepherds, true haverim – ask the Lord to send you one/some! If you are married – perhaps you can start with your spouse. Then, look for someone in your church, neighborhood, on the job, or amongst your circle of friends who shares your interest in Scripture. Make sure that your haver is someone capable of challenging you to go deeper rather than someone who will simply agree with everything you say. Remember – debate is a helpful method for learning!
2. Consider holding a havruta, a study session, SMALL GROUP/LIFE GROUP in your home — in connection with your church. Watch for upcoming training opportunities to be equipped to shepherd/lead a Havruta ~ small group/LIFE Group!
3. The next time you read the Bible, try to relate to the Israelites as though they are part of your own family –— your aunts, uncles, siblings, or parents. How does your emotional reaction change when you consider the people in the stories as “us” instead of “them”?
4. Have lunch with friends and invite folk to share how a passage of scripture has worked in their lives, especially during hard times. 

Just sayin…

Pastor Bernardine Wormley Daniels

Shekinah Apostolic Team