The Light Outshines the Dark

Good Morning Church Family,

I pray you are well and blessed as we begin a new week. If you were not in worship yesterday, you were missed. I understand from many yesterday that the flu is taking its toll on many. I pray God's healing hand upon all who are sick at this time of year.

Yesterday's message centered upon Matthew 2:1-12, the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child. Hear these words from Matthew 2:1-12:


Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

I felt led to focus on the journey of the wise men on this journey. What was it like? What did they see? Was there any grumbling on the journey? After hearing Jeremy Peffer's testimony the week before, it became clear that that all too often we grumble along the journey and to begin the year looking at the blessings of life can certainly shape the way we live our lives as Christ followers in 2013.

Will we live in a year where we grumble and complain or will we open it up to more of seeing the blessings that God delivers daily? To do this, a practical help that Jeremy mentioned was a gratitude jar. This gratitude jar will give you an opportunity daily to write the blessings you have experienced daily and write them and place in your jar. Maybe around Thanksgiving, take them out, as an individual or as a family and see where you found blessing in 2013.

These jars are available in the lobby. Feel free to take one for you or one for your family. They are a gift to you. Matthew 5:16 calls us to let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

I'd like to thank the many people who came out this weekend to tear down all the Christmas decorations! You are a blessing! Where did that time go?

I hope you have a blessed week church! Pray for our youth and our leaders as they head to SPARK this weekend. May it be a time of renewal for them! (Youth, thanks for the snowman this morning as I drove into church! You brought a smile to my face!)

Back here at Christ Community over the next three weeks, we will begin a new series on the book of Esther. May it be a time of growth and development for you as we share the Good News to all!

Church family, it is an honor to serve and lead as your pastor.