Worship Spotlight 12 28 09

2010 is upon us. What hopes do you have for this New Year? The age old resolution: “I’m going to get into shape” (which we all know means eating healthier and exercising more.) Or perhaps you plan on taking control of your finances; spending more quality time with your family; making new friends or reconnecting with old ones; and the list goes on and on. Yet, it seems to be the same list year after year, doesn’t it?

This year I’m going to try to read my Bible more. Let me restate that in a less intimidating way, “TODAY I’m going to read my Bible.” And tomorrow, I plan on doing the same. I’m sure there will be days that my busyness crowds out the time I plan to set aside to read God’s Word, but the next day I am determined that I will start over. And at the end of ‘10, I hope to have done better than I have before.

You see, I desire a closer relationship with my Lord and Savior. The best way to get to know Him more intimately is to spend time reading the love letters He’s written to me. It’s how I will come to appreciate the nuances of his character; how I will learn to see His hand in my life and the lives of others; how I will know what He requires of me – what He desires from me – what He plans for me. You see, it’s difficult to worship what you do not know.

There are many tools around to help you read through the Bible in a year. A couple years ago Mark challenged us to do just that and he provided us with a reading chart to accomplish it. I started out strong but fell behind and became discouraged. This year I’ll start again and I hope you will join me.

I’ve decided to use the “One Year Chronological Bible NLT” (available at www.christianbook.com or any Christian book store.)This Bible is divided into 15 minutes of reading for each day. This Bible places events in the order in which they happened rather than in book order as usual. There are also online Bible guides available to help you. Look through your Bible, it may have a chart listed for you already. Open up your Bible, God has something to share with you today.

Christmas Worship Spotlight 12 14 09

We are fast approaching Christmas Day. Have you taken time as a family to acknowledge what it’s all about? We’ve decorated, baked, purchased gifts, sent cards, attended parties…. now let’s spend some time during the next couple of weeks preparing our hearts to celebrate the coming of the Christ Child. Let’s make our homes a place where the true meaning of Christmas is celebrated.

Here are some Bible readings/videos that you can do together at home after supper or before bed each night. Several of these suggestions are prophecies about the Messiah’s coming, written hundreds of years before that miraculous night. Revel in the complexity of God’s plan – of His timing. If you don’t have access to the internet, put on a Christmas CD as you do your readings and really listen to the message in those familiar songs. Take some time to Be Still and Know that He is God!

Luke 1:26-38
Luke 1:39-56 Search youtube.com for “Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant”
Luke 2:1-20
Luke 2:21-40
Isaiah 7:14 & Matthew 1:18-25 Search youtube.com for “Joseph’s Song by Michael Card”
Psalm 72:10, Micah 5:2-5 & Matt 2:1-12
Search youtube.com for “While you were Sleeping by Casting Crowns”
Hosea 11:1 & Matt 2:13-15
Matthew 2:16-23
The following song is by Chris Rice - "Welcome to Our World”


Reminder: Christmas Eve service at 8:00pm. This is a time that we at Scott Avenue come together and acknowledge that Jesus IS the Reason for the Season. Please join us as we celebrate Jesus’ birth with a special service.

The True Meaning of Christmas by Joyce Schafer

I love Christmas. I love the shopping, the baking, the decorations, the music, the school programs, the parties, and especially our Christmas Eve family gathering.

It is so easy to get caught up in the season and forget the true meaning of Christmas. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus. We all know the story about Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem and Jesus being born in a stable. How does Jesus being born so many years ago affect mankind today? He was born and later died so that our sins could be forgiven. Our age, our circumstances or how many sins we have committed in the past does not matter. Jesus was born and died for us.

God wants to be Our Father and he wants to give us the gift of Eternal Life. What better time than Christmas to make this happen?

Lavished by Susan Shull

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are.” I John 3:1

I stand amazed when I consider the love of my Heavenly Father! To think that he “lavishes” his love on me! It makes me feel all warm and cuddly and I want more of it. The scriptures are full of verses about the love our Savior has for us. The concordance in my Bible has 8 columns! of tiny print listing verses that contain some form of the word “love”. These verses are metaphorical hugs from the Creator of the universe to us.

Evidence of God’s love for us is all around. He created the beauty of this earth, the animals, birds, flowers, plants, and music for us-a perfect world. Then man messed up by rejecting God. That rejection resulted in death and decay in the world.

Thank goodness God didn’t stop showing his love there. His plan for us continued throughout history. The Old Testament prophets proclaimed that a Savior would be born-Moses, 1500 years before Christ; David-1000 years before; Isaiah-700 years before; Malachi-400 years before Christ. Isn’t it comforting to know that God, the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God, is in charge?

When that promised Messiah came as a sweet, tiny, baby boy, God had given us his best and most perfect gift. Our Savior loved us so much he came to the fallen earth and lived an ordinary life that ended in an extraordinary way. He experienced everything we do: the unconditional love of his parents, childhood, the teen years, friendship, pain rejection, temptation, suffering, death, but praise God, he did it without sin, gave His life to cover ours, and rose from the dead.

His ways are so far above mine! His love is indescribable. I think He knew we wouldn’t be able to come up with words to express our wonder and marvel at His greatness, so he gave us the Psalms, including this one smack dab in the middle of the Bible.

“Praise the Lord, all you nations, extol him all you peoples, for great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 117

The Christmas Tree by Donna (Ensign) Woods

The scent of pine fills the air...
Ornaments hung with loving care.
Delicate hues of handblown glass
...Keepsakes from the past.
A display of dazzling lights,
To warm the heart on wintery nights.
Decorations crafted by tiny hands,
Glitter and glue and rubber bands.
Shimmering tinsel of silver and gold
Cascading from boughs that gently hold
The sweet jingle of a Christmas bell,
And a priceless story to tell...
...For deep within this festive display
Is a reminder, of another day.
A splintered cross...no boughs of green
No twinkling lights to be seen.
Twisted thorns, in place of tinsel bright
...The Earth trembling on a starless night.
Imagine Christ...hanging on that Christmas tree...
His outstretched arms, for the branches we see.
A satin tree skirt, carefully spread
For blood drops from hands and head.
Packages wrapped with holiday flair,
A symbol of love He came to share
From the cradle...to the cross...
He came...even knowing the cost.
As you gather 'round the Christ child's tree
Look beyond, lighted boughs you see
Unwrap His gifts of eternal love
As angels fill the skies above.
Accept His gifts on Christmas morn
...Remembering the reason Christ was born.....

The Gift of a Kind Deed by Glenna Shryock

Several years ago, I had a fracture in my back. After yet another trip to the doctor in Terre Haute to check my extremely slow healing process, I stopped at Wal-Mart to purchase groceries and dog food. My back was hurting from being on my feet and pushing the cart. My spirits were low as I didn’t seem to be making any progress with recovery. As I approached my car, I wondered how much more my back would hurt after loading the dog food into the trunk. At that moment, a man with only one arm walked up, grabbed the dog food bag and placed it in my trunk. I was stunned! I finally recovered enough to quickly thank him as he walked away.

My heavenly Father knew my need. He sent an earthly “angel” who reminded me that we are all capable of showing His love to someone else, no matter our own personal situation.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

The Call of a Lifetime by Vaneta Andrews

On December 10, 1991 Tim received the call of a lifetime – the transplant call.

Tim’s journey began in June 1985 when he was diagnosed with kidney failure at the age of 24. He would spend the next 6 ½ years on kidney dialysis. Kidney dialysis meant spending 3 days a week – 4 hours a day hooked to a machine that took blood out of the body, filtered it and put it back in. This was a grueling day. So many do’s and don’ts to live by – can you imagine no chocolate for 6 ½ years?

As with many transplants, Tim’s was a cadaver transplant – meaning someone had to die for Tim to live. We don’t know a lot about the person Tim received the kidney from – he was a 21 year old male killed in a motorcycle accident. It’s the same for all of us – someone had to die so that we might live except we know a lot about the person who died for us and it was no accident! That someone was Jesus.

We can’t celebrate Jesus’ birth without thinking of His sacrifice as well. Jesus said “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10. In order for us to have life more abundantly that meant Jesus would have to die a grueling death on the cross. He would have to shed His blood for us. Jesus knew he would have to die for us and yet he offered to be that sacrifice.

Tim never lost hope, never lost sight of the prize. He didn’t hesitate to answer the call and we shouldn’t either. God is calling each one of us to something. To eternal life if you don’t already have it, to service if you aren’t serving, to sharing your faith if you aren’t sharing. Please don’t hesitate to answer the Call of a Lifetime!

I Remember by Lori Smith

I’ve loved Christmas ever since I can remember. What child doesn’t? I loved the traditions and always wanted each Christmas to be just like the last. I remember spending Christmas Eve cleaning the house for Santa because Mom said he wouldn’t leave presents at a messy house. Clever, wasn’t she? I remember my Dad sneaking in that last minute gift for my Mom and always asking one of us girls to wrap it. I remember our family friends bringing us their yearly cookie tray filled with cookies, M&M’s, and Hershey’s kisses. I remember being allowed on Christmas Eve to open just one gift, which was usually clothes to wear at Christmas services that evening. I remember the sound of the men unfolding those old wooden chairs at church when the pews were all full. I remember my brothers and sister teasing me about stealing my “special Christmas spot” the next morning……and I remember always being the first one awake only a few hours later and claiming that “special spot” which was located directly on top of the only heat vent in the living room. Most of all, I remember the first sight of all those gifts under the glistening tree and that magical feeling that I cannot begin to express with words.

Christmas brings so many memories, but do we stop to remember why we are celebrating? Do we remember baby Jesus making His arrival on that glorious day and claiming His “special spot” here on Earth? Do we remember why God sent Him to us and the sacrifices that He would later make for us? Do we remember that without Him, we are nothing? Do we remember to thank Him every day for the blessings we have received? If not, then there’s no better time to start than right now. And always remember that “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” James 1:17. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Everyone Needs Hope by Theresa Zuber

For the past year or more we've heard a lot about "Hope." But still, there are so many who feel hopeless. Real hope cannot be found in any politician or plan. True hope can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. He is always there, He keeps His promises & He will supply everything you need.

I don't pretend that I have it all together or that my life is a bed of roses because I'm a Christian. I mess up. I fall short. I have disasters in my life, too. But covering over all my sins - all my failures - is Jesus blood, His grace and His forgiveness.

I have hope because I know God has a plan for me - and for you! I have hope because I know there's more to life than what the world offers.

It started with a baby in a manger but it didn't end with his death on the cross. My Savior defied death and rose from the grave. His vitory over death gives me hope that there is MORE.

I pray that this Christmas season you will accept the gift of salvation and hope that Jesus purchased for you with his life. He's longing for you to belong to those He calls His own. If you'd like to find out more about this hope we have, we'd love to help you find it!

The Light of the World by Tana LeMay

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. (Matthew 2: 1-2, 9-11)

I find the nighttime sky so amazing and so vast with all its stars. I could gaze at them for hours. There are so many. And yet, the Magi, or wise men, knew which single star to follow to find Jesus. It had to have been brighter and bigger than all the other stars in the sky at that time. The journey of the Magi took them a long time, many months, and the star remained before them, guiding their path. I wonder if the sky was ever covered by clouds, which obscured the star? Did they ever get lost on this journey and have to search for the star? Where is the star now? Did it disappear after the Magi found Jesus?

Fortunately, the miracle of the first Christmas is still with us. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. (John 1:9) That light is Jesus. The star the Magi followed is no longer needed, thanks to the gift of God’s son. He wants to be your guiding star. If you ask, He will provide hope and direction as you travel through this life’s journey. If you ask, He will shine His light on you and through you. That is my prayer for you. Merry Christmas!