WHAT’S YOUR TAKE? Today is “the day after” the presidential
election in the United States of America, and the news media and social media
have been frenzied with people’s takes on the results … all the way from being
overjoyed to expressing despair. So no
matter what your opinion is about the outcome, my question is, “what are you
going to do now?” And before you stop
reading, thinking this is political – please keep on reading, because it is
not! I just want to encourage all of us
as God’s people to respond to each other in Christ-like love and may we be
spurred on to deeper, more fervent prayer than ever before – because we love
our nation and we cherish its freedoms and principles, and we invite God’s
leading and blessing upon us, no matter if the one sitting at the Oval desk in
the White House is the one we voted for – or not. As believers we should be excited to live in
such a time as this … a time that God planned for us to be here to make a
difference … the kind of difference that will ultimately glorify the King of
kings. While not watering down our
beliefs, may we watch our words. People
read us with magnifying glasses, and we want them to read a message that will
point to our God and not detract from His love or His plans. He, after all, has all of this in His
control, you know. He always has, from
the beginning of time, and He always will, down to the end of time! In that, we can rejoice and move forward,
becoming a mighty force that will exude the righteousness of God … our actions
speaking louder than any words we could ever speak! I am reminded of the message that several of
us ladies heard at the Women of Faith conference a few weeks ago. Max Lucado, one of my very favorite authors,
was speaking from the gospel of John, chapter 8. Powerfully, he sketched out a dramatic view
of the first eleven verses … and shared that grace is “God’s radical commitment
to the people who will reign with Him forever.”
He then went on to say … “Grace – if it is a gymnasium, work out in
it!” These days that we’re living in
definitely are a reminder to us of just how much we need God’s grace, both as a
gift to us - and as a gift that we are to offer to others. People wonder why Jesus “stooped” when He
talked with the woman caught in the act of adultery. Max’s take on this biblical account is that
Jesus stooped – perhaps so she wouldn’t be the lowest person in that place that
day. Then Jesus stood – and He gave the
accusers permission to stone her, only if they hadn’t ever sinned. Jesus stooped once more – this time to write
in the sand, and what did He write?
Again, Jesus stood, this time to ask, “Where are your accusers?” Max made a profound statement for all of us
to ponder, “Guilt is the preferred commodity of Satan. Satan cannot take your salvation, but he can
take your joy.” Powerful! How many times do we let him do that? With Satan’s accusations, comes the robbing
of our sleep, our peace, even our effectiveness, and definitely, our joy. He is our accuser. But then there’s Jesus, and what is He doing
for us in the midst of these awful accusations Satan throws our way? Well, He is stooping - for us. He stooped to be nailed to a cross – for
us. He stooped to be placed in a tomb –
for us. Then He stood to walk out of
that tomb – for us … and He’s been standing for us ever since! He speaks on our behalf. You see, grace does not just describe what
Jesus did, Max said, but what He does.
Grace comes in waves. Jesus gave
the woman help that day – He gave her His heart. Then came a question for each of us to
answer: “When God hears your heart,
whose heart does He hear? Whose heart is
it? Yours – or Jesus’ heart IN you? Scripture tells us, “It is not I who live,
but Christ IN me!” Christ in
us! Grace upon grace upon grace …
because we are not perfect, but we are a work in progress. “Heart transplants” take time, you know! We’ve got some good days ahead! We need to maintain the heart of a sponge –
not the heart of a rock! We need to
remember – He placed Himself between us and certain destruction! Oh yes, what did Jesus write in the
sand? Who knows? Max thinks it could have been, “Grace
happened here today!” And so God is
saying not just to her, but to each of us, “Neither do I accuse you. Now go live out this life of grace!” That includes us stooping to pray for our
nation, then standing again to show grace to each other as we live out our
lives the way Christ meant for us to!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to Spencer and to Laura who will
celebrate on November 17th; and a belated HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Joel
and Laura who celebrated on November 7th! May God bless all of you with His very best,
is our prayer!
SUN, NOV 11: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with a service honoring our veterans and a challenging message!
SUN, NOV 11: 10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH with Verla & Kelly … teaching our young ones about Jesus!!!
WED, NOV 14: 7:00 P.M. – BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 905 El Dorado Street SE in Owatonna – invite a friend!
THU, NOV 15: 7:00 P.M. – BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 165 24th Place NW in Owatonna – join us & bring someone!
FRI, NOV 16: 7:00 P.M. – LADIES NITE OUT; plan to bring non-perishable food items to deliver to a needy family!
SUN, NOV 18: THANKSGIVING POTLUCK LUNCHEON following Praise & Worship focused on gratitude to our God!
REMEMBER . . . “Faith makes the uplook good, the outlook bright, the inlook favorable, and the future glorious.” ~ V. R. Edman
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
SUN, NOV 11: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with a service honoring our veterans and a challenging message!
SUN, NOV 11: 10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH with Verla & Kelly … teaching our young ones about Jesus!!!
WED, NOV 14: 7:00 P.M. – BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 905 El Dorado Street SE in Owatonna – invite a friend!
THU, NOV 15: 7:00 P.M. – BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 165 24th Place NW in Owatonna – join us & bring someone!
FRI, NOV 16: 7:00 P.M. – LADIES NITE OUT; plan to bring non-perishable food items to deliver to a needy family!
SUN, NOV 18: THANKSGIVING POTLUCK LUNCHEON following Praise & Worship focused on gratitude to our God!
REMEMBER . . . “Faith makes the uplook good, the outlook bright, the inlook favorable, and the future glorious.” ~ V. R. Edman
