Marysville Nazarene

Faith matters. It is the lens through which we view wonder, drawing us closer to Christ and helping us not only see who Jesus is, but how much God loves us. 

Are the questions we ask in the midst of our spiritual storms the right ones? Like the disciples facing a storm in the boat, we might recognize the authority of Jesus, but fear and panic still lurk when we don't know who Jesus is.

In the Gospel of Mark, the author focuses on how Jesus was received and the reaction of the people. Jesus taught differently because He was different. He taught with authority because he was the authority! The world and the Law hadn't changed, but His heart, intent, and motive were different. When we drift from the truth, from His authority, the wonder fades.

After the Israelites passed through the waters, they were tempted and failed to live in obedience to God. But Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days and lived in obedience and fidelity to the Father. The very tempations that Satan presented to Jesus attacked his sonship and his obedience, but Jesus proved to be the true Son of God--a sort of redo for the destiny of Israel. But, practically speaking, what does it look like to live a life of obedience to the Father? "Let me who you how it's done."

The Magi traveled with eagerness to worship Jesus, the newborn King of the Jews, though they had limited knowledge of who He was or why His birth had been foretold. These men of satus, position, and means were among the first to worship the Messiah... but no one followed them to Bethlehem. Why not?

Culturally, Christmas has come and gone, but for those who understand the history of the Church, Christmas is just beginning! The twelve days between Christmas Day and the Epiphany of the Magi (on January 6) are for us to revel in the wonder of the incarnation of Jesus--Emmanuel, God with us.

When we share the Messiah with others, there is power in that testimony because of the Christmas Story itself. WE are the reason for the season! The shephers recognized the angels had brought them good news of great joy: God is not dead, nor does He sleep.

When we consider Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus within the Christmas story, we know the least about Joseph--he only appears twice in the Bible and doesn't speak in either appearance. But Joseph was provided, by God, to shepherd and guide Jesus on His mission as Emmanuel--the Lamb of God sent to take away the sin of the world. Jesus is God's gift to the world. Joseph was God's gift to Jesus. Both were given with the all-encompassing love of our Heavenly Father.

Through the story of Mary's visit from the angel, we learn key ingredients to finding everlasting peace in our lives.

There are lot of situations in our world that make us feel hopeless at times, which causes us, like Zechariah (Luke 1:5-25), to pour out our hearts over and over to God just looking for a little bit of hope. We also struggle to keep silent--we've got lots of words and lots of outlets through which to say them. In this day and age, it's almost an expectation! But... what if God is inviting us to be quiet for a bit? Out of the silence, God speaks. And the word God speaks is Jesus. Emmanuel. God with us, embodying hope and bringing about redemption that’s available for all people.  May this Advent season be one where we slow down, remove some of the "noise" in our lives, and practice silence so that when we do speak, our words bring life, peace, and good will to men.  

Thanksgiving isn't just a Thursday in November. It's an attitude. And at the heart of thanksgiving is God. Jesus... grace... JOY! As the Church, we are called to distribute what we have been given and what He has blessed and multiplied. There is enough for ALL to have their fill.

Praying with passion isn't about words, or years in church, or even theological understanding. It's praying for God's glory--seeking His face before His hand. All prayer leads us to God. Hallowed be His name!

Intercession is an essential testimony of a vibrant, united faith family. When we learn to pray specifically for others--to stand in the gap--we position ourselves to pray for the things important to us, our passions, and our own Spirit-sourced desires. Practicing intercession prepares us to recognize God's ordained intersections and to depend on His leading and the Holy Spirit's prompting.

The core of sin is birthed out of selfishness, but Jesus invites us to something better, something more--relationship with both God and others. We need only repent and respond! For when we seek redemption and acknowledge our separation from God, we gain intimacy, relationship, and closeness with Him. And the heart of the kingdom of God begins with forgiveness.

The progressive nature of prayer is important. Each part prepares and leads us into the next. First we must refocus on God, then realign our will to His, then release our needs... the order matters! And in those moments when we don't know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit steps in. When we lead with God, our needs and requests change.

We pray to be reminded of who He is, what He has promised, and of His faithfulness. Prayer gives attention to our covenant relationship with God, prioritizing our time and aligning our hearts with His, and our prayer life is a reflection of who we believe God to be.

We often approach prayer as words or thoughts we express TO God, or maybe ABOUT God. But if prayer is not a conversation WITH God, then we never really understand or experience all that God has for us. Especially when we presume that prayer begins when we speak first.

Reflecting on the message from a couple of children's movies regarding who we are and WHOSE we are.

The act of worship is a significant part of who we are as a church. We experience worship in community with others. We discover worship in our growing. We express worship through compassion and generosity. Worship is all over our values! And we worship best when we are poured out. It's what we strive toward--what we are compelled to DO in response to who God IS.

Jesus invites us out of whatever state of "emptiness" we find ourselves, and doesn't ask us to do anything He hasn't already done. Therefore, we find life in community, in growth, in compassion, and in generosity. We are FILLED UP to be POURED OUT.