A few days before the New Year! Are you ready?

Are you ready for the new year? Do we have a choice? Not really!

As I have been studying about Biblical finances during this class, I thought the class would be different than what it is really. God has placed a lot of things on my heart during this class. I don't know about you, but I try very hard to be obedient to the Lord Jesus. However, I do fall short many times.

One thing I have learned though is about tithing. Have you ever thought about what it means? We are to bring our firstfruits to the Lord. Tithe is greek for "a tenth" of our first fruits. It seems when you look at your budget, your incoming and outgoing, it doesn't seem possible to even give a bit. But in our obedience to Jesus, we give because it is asked of us. This is the hugest act of Worship to the Lord. It is to the Lord even though it goes to man, it helps to carry on Jesus to others who wouldn't otherwise hear it. The blessings that come from your obedience and from your giving are incredible. There are many scriptures to back up the reason to tithe, but it should be out of the abundance of your heart and your love and obedience towards Jesus.

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Sunday school will start back for Preschool and Elementary this Sunday, Jan. 4th. Elementary will be studying the Holy Spirit for the next 4 weeks. If you have a 5th grader who has not been attending for various reasons, I implore you to start bringing them. The next 4 rotations will be very important for them taking their first communion classes.

Awana will start again Jan. 7th.

Why is it important for your children to attend Sunday school or Awana? It helps them to have a faith foundation for their future, what will give them their strength when all crumbles around them?

When you put sports or music above God, that becomes your God- your idol. When your child learns what is important first, the rest will come. You can have games or practices on Sunday or Wed. but don't let it interfere with the possibilites God has for your children's life during this time. There is a blessing on the other side of your obedience.

Thursday, Dec. 18th

We sing this one often.



We sang this one during this season.


Why is it important to participate in worship when we don't in the regular church service? Well, worship is between you and Jesus. When the songs start, they are to draw your heart towards Jesus and grow your heart towards Him, it's okay to raise your hands. It is you surrending to Jesus, it isn't a show, its your inward heart coming to the surface to surrendering to Jesus wholly.

But when you decide to read the announcements instead of paying attention to the heart issues, you have shut Jesus out. He stands there waiting for you to glorify Him only.

If you do this during the week that is incredible! Jesus desires all of you, that is what He desires for everyday! He desires you to know Him more and more. He calls us His Own! He calls us to follow Him wholeheartedly. Are you? Have you laid down your life for Him?

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Sunday our 6th graders will graduate from the Children's Ministry and head into the Youth Ministry. Several are ready for this move and some are not. I have truly struggled with this move this year, last year wasn't so hard but it was difficult too. Every year I think it will be hard, because the relationship with each class is so unique and wonderful! So as we say tootleloo to this group of fantastic kids, we say hello to the new opportunities to grow in God's Word.

Growing your children for Jesus is at the top of my priorities, as it should be yours too. I can't do it alone, I have to have your help.

Soon we will see the 5th graders go through their 1st Communion class, but as they do, if they haven't been connected to Jesus, this is a foreign road that is a bit scary and a bit different. We will be studying along with the 5th graders about the Passover and the Last Supper, in Sunday School, so get to church and allow your 5th graders and anyone else elementary age experience this lesson in the Arts, in the Story, in the Theater, in the Drama, in the Kitchen, in the Bible Class, let them breathe it in and live it for 5 weeks. Let your child come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

Tuesday

Wednesday Night Awana is Dress as a Present! How? Well, how would you dress for Jesus? He cares about your heart and not your appearance. He deals with the heart. He is loving and kind.

In my long journey of being a Christian, I have tried my best to be sinless, however, my humaness gets in the way too many times. Is that the same with you? Did you start your journey with Jesus and find that it was easy? or hard? Did you start your journey with Jesus yet? If you haven't yet, are you waiting until you are clean and your life is right?

Shh... here's a secret, your life is right, right now for Jesus! You don't have to have it all in order to give your life to him. He will love you right where you are and right now! You just have to ask Him!

Okay, so you have had Jesus in your life for a long time, but somethings missing, your not sure what exactly it is, but you hunger for more in your journey with Jesus. Your Bible contains the answers. Sometimes it seems we can't understand the Bible, but the when you give or gave your life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit indwells Himself in you as your teacher/guide. He will help you understand but you have to ask. The Trinity is a gentleman and will never come in without being invited. There is a two step process to the Holy Spirit, He does enter when you have given your life to Jesus, but He also will enter when you ask for the Power that He has, it is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. That Power makes things clearer, heals, can speak in other tongues, believes greater, loves more, and helps define your walk, the Bible says it, and I believe it!

More later...

Kingdom Quest Sunday School will graduate their 6th graders Sunday Dec. 21st from the Elementary side of Sunday School to the Youth side of Sunday school. The 6th graders will continue in Awana until April 29th.

Christmas eve services are 4 p.m. - Family Service with children, 6 p.m. and 11 pm. No Christmas day services.

Have a Mary Christ-mas (Messiahmas)

What an incredible video.

Are you keeping up?

Are you keeping up with all the things that make you busy? Is your plate full or too full? Do you need a platter now because you have too much to put on your plate? If you get the platter will there be spaces between the busyness so you can have time with God?
I know what you're going through in your busyness. I use to be way too busy! I was on an education board that required my time, I was a director of 3 basketball teams, taught classes, involved with church and more, and schooling my children!

I remember being very busy, but one thing that focused me was that time I gave to Jesus in the morning. I spent at least 15 minutes in the morning in the Word and then prayed for the needs around me. As a family, we also studied our Bibles first thing in the morning together. I wanted my children focused for the day. It meant getting up earlier in the morning and starting our day by 7 a.m. But it grew us in God's Word and in our relationship with Jesus.

What does your relationship with Jesus look like? Are you acquantances? Are you friends who pass each other? Are you friends who talk frequently? Are you best friends? Are you bosom buddies? In order to move through these, you must invest in the relationship, you must give time to know Jesus. If you don't know how, let me show you. Do you have a Bible? If you don't, Walmart sells them reasonably priced. Open your Bible to John or in Ephesians. John gives you a glimpse of Jesus and Ephesians is written by Paul and tells you how you should be as a Christian. Read for 10 miniutes a day for 5 days. See what you have learned at the end of those five days. Did you learn anything new?


Here are some happenings at St. Paul's this week...

Awana Store Night and Dress in Red and Green!

Saturday night: Date your Mate! Childcare available for $10 per family. 5:30-9 p.m. The Children's room will be open for preschool and below and Janette and Steve Sanne will have K and up at the church, for a movie and crafts. Please call Linda or Jason Richards to sign up or call Janette at the church - 895-3366. It must be done in advance.

Sunday night: 4 p.m. Church Recital for kids 1st - 12th grade.
5 p.m. "It's a Boy!" Christmas Children's Play
Christian Kids' Choir will be singing as well.


Lastly, if you have a 6th grader, I would love to see them for the next two Sunday mornings! The 6th graders will graduate on Dec. 21st from Sunday school only. They will not be leaving Awana until the year is completed. WE LOVE our 6th graders!

It's lovely outside don't you agree?!

Okay, so maybe it is a bit cold, but it is crisp and clear and beautiful! Maybe scraping your windows in the early morning isn't so fun or the fact that your seats are cold when you get in, but the weather! Oh the Weather! It is magnificent!

We were off on Sunday and last Wednesday, did you enjoy the time off or did you miss something? Did you attend Sunday school or tried but went to church as a Family because we didn't have Sunday school? My hope is that you find sitting in service with your children rewarding. Training begins in the pew and goes into the home and everything you do.

It seems that when we became parents that there was an awful lot of responsibility that came with it. You have a lack of sleep, diapers to change/smell, bottles or nursing every two hours, and caring for your spouse or other children! Whew, it's enough to make you tired just thinking or remembering that!

This little child you held, so helpless and so new soon grew. As a little creeper, you never thought you would have to say no, or maybe you dreaded the day you would have to stop them from hurting themselves or others. When they began to toddle around, you hoped they wouldn't fall too hard and bruise themselves or they wouldn't topple into something else. You watched with the love that beats so hard and tried hard not to cry as they began their first step of Independence, but with that Independence came disobedience in the littlest of things. You knew you had to curb it then or it would grow and fester into bigger things.

That's the way God is with us. He desires us to know and grow in him. He desires us to learn as we toddle through this faith journey, as we grow, we know more, and can become very obedient to Him. When we have fallen and hurt ourselves or others, we hurt God as well. His heart beats for us as ours does with our own children. He loves it when we do what we are suppose to do and gives us great things when we are obedient. He cries for us when we have messed up. He yearns to have us back in His arms and in his loving care.

As we move into the Christ-mas season, what is the gift we can give to Jesus this year? He doesn't need money, although He would love it if you gave out of the abundance of your heart to a place or person in great need. He doesn't need clothes, although, there are organizations that could use them. He needs and wants YOU for Christ-mas. He wants all of you, your heart, mind, soul and strength for His Christ-mas present. What can I give Him, poor as I am, what can I give Him? I can give Him all of me!

Awana meets Wednesday for Soap and Shampoo Night! This will go to the Lutheran Ladies who will take it to the Food Pantry. Last year, the pantry was truly blessed by all that was given!

Sunday school meets on Sunday as we study Mary Did you know?

I remember having 3 babies in 3.5 years and being a single parent! My sons were 3 and 2 when my daughter was born. My oldest was a handful and my second was multi-handicapped and lots of appointments. My daughter was born and quit breathing many times. My youngest son was in the hospital the same time my daughter was born, she stayed for an extra five days to see if we could stablize her breathing. Like I said, I was single at that time. I had become a Christian when I was 6 weeks pregnant, so I was learning that God provided and He met my every need. I remember the discipline of my oldest from the time he was about 1 on. He was hard-headed, defiant and a goofball! He was a tough one.

I remember when my oldest was about 6. I was sleeping until 7 a.m. afterall it was a Saturday morning, he was up and had gotten the other two out of their cribs, was "making breakfast" and thought he would surprise me.

Oh He did! I woke up to find the house in smoke, the frying pan on the counter with a large burn spot under it! and his brother with broken glass on and in his feet and my oldest trying to handle it. My daugther was about 2 year old and crying. What a mess! I wasn't sure what to do first! I picked the glass out, turned the oven off, wiped the tears, and then talked to my oldest. "But mom, I wanted to surprise you!" How can you be upset with that statement? I sent him next door to get the babysitter's mom (She was a nurse) to help fix the cut feet). You see, because my youngest son had many issues, my oldest helped take care of his needs. He was just doing what he could to help. He desired to please me and show me he was old enough!

I believe we try to do that with God too. Instead of waiting on God, we try to do the stuff ourselves, we try to takeover and help, but it isn't always the kind of help He needs from us. We need to learn the patience that it requires to watch Him care for us. He has a hard time watching us grow in that too, he is gentle but firm, loving yet harsh at times when we have taken it on ourselves. When is the last time you gave everything to the Lord and didn't take it back to work on yourself?

Until next week, may your days be blessed by the power of God in your daily walk. May the healing power of Jesus, heal your every need! May His love be wrapped around you like a warm fuzzy blanket and may you know and show the love of Jesus to all. Healing comes from your faith that God can do what He says He can do!