 In 2009 a Dutch artist purchased a cell phone number for God. He wanted people to know that God is available anytime, anywhere, as close as speed dial on your phone. He invited people to "call God up" and leave their prayer request. Apparently within a week over 1000 people left God a message.
Is this how it works? The voice on the other end of the line stated, "This is God. I am not able to take your call at the moment, but please leave a message." Hardly leaves one with the impression that God is available anytime, anywhere.... One day Jesus was out with His men and they approached Him and asked if He would teach them how to pray? So Jesus obliged and we know this today as the Lord's Prayer. Well, it's actually the disiple's prayer. Jesus gave this model prayer to us, His followers. Two things stand out. First, Jesus by teaching us how to pray affirms that God indeed does hear us when we call out to Him. We might always get it right, but God listens. Two Jesus says, call Him Father. Our Father, who dwells in Heaven, wants to be connected with us His children. Over the next few Sundays we're going to seek to know God better. I want you to know you matter to the Father. What concerns your heart concerns His. 40 Days of Prayer is the opportunity for us to seek the heart of God. We'll also discover this-- that praying to the Father is more about getting to Know Him that Getting my wish list answered. What we really need is to know how great the Father's love is for us, that we would be called Children of God. Join me Sunday either in person at 9:33am or as part of our online community! Pastor Mike PS - How can I be praying for you? Will you drop a note and let us know how we can pray to the Father on your behalf!
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 Two words that depending on the situation make our hearts jump. You're Invited! To the game. To a show at the fox. Backstage to see the celeb. To the wedding of your best friend.
Jesus spoke one time about people being invited to a wedding party. HUGE CELEBRATION. The SAVE THE DATE was sent out followed by the RSVP. People responded they would be there. Wouldn't miss it they exclaimed. The time came for the party, the people began to bail. Lots of excuses, none of them good ones. Jesus then likens this to people who say they want to be part of His Kingdom, but when the opportunity presents itself to take part or have a role, they don't show. I think the neatest part of the whole story is this.... Jesus wants you and I to show up in this thing called life. To follow Him with our whole hearts. To be about the business of His Kingdom and inviting others to join us in being a part. To experience the Love of Christ. His peace. His purpose. If only we'll just show up. Think about it? Are you making yourself available to be a part of what Jesus is doing? Is your heart open to where God is leading? Now is the time because Jesus has everything ready. 'Will you show up....Cuz You're Invited! Pastor Mike   Ever encounter a HANGRY person? I know I have. There used to be a commercial that began, "What do you feed a hungry man??" Today it might be asked, "What do you feed a HANGRY person?" There seems to be too many who are HANGRY and not enough to appease them.
Jesus and his disciples once encountered a crowd that may have been HANGRY. They came to Jesus hurting and looking for something. They may not have been exactly sure what they wanted, but they were hungry? For Food & drink. Yeah likely. Help- no doubt. Healing from hurts physically, emotionally and spiritually. Yep, check all three. Jesus asked his guys to feed them, and they checked the credit card & decided the spending limit wasn't high enough. So send them away they said But Jesus wanted them to be of help, so he invited them in to be a part of something bigger than themselves. This week there is talk of having to regulate Artificial Intelligence, for fear of the dangers. There are stories of people out of lonliness buying meals, flowers, setting place tables for the artificial voice that draws people for companionship. People are HANGRY. Hungry. Angry. For what? More than food.For a friend. For help. For comfort. For meaning & purpose. To know they matter and are heard. Jesus knew how to help HANGRY people and this week in Luke 9:10-17 we're going to see His remedy. It's found in bringing people together. Feeding their stomach so they might listen with their hearts. Offering friendship. Meaning. The purpose that comes from following Jesus Christ. Are you HANGRY? Are you willing to help someone who is? Invite someone to share a meal or get a drink with you and share what you have... yourself.... the Love of Jesus. See you Sunday! Pastor Mike   Anna Jarvis. You may not recognize the name but you have been influenced by her life. Anna is the mom behind Mother's Day. In 1907 she wanted to commemorate the passing of her mom and did so in her local congregation. She soon led an effort to recognize the influence and role moms play in our families. At first rebuffed, the idea soon caught on in all 50 states and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared by an act of Congress the 2nd Sunday in May to be established as Mother's Day. A day set aside for "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country."
Never underestimate the influence of a mom! In 1920, Febb Ensminger Burn, the mother of Tennessee state Rep. Harry T. Burn, asked her son to "be a good boy" and he became the deciding vote to pass the 19th Amendment in the state of Tennessee. This Sunday we're going to honor all the good that moms and women of influence do. There we be an awesome breakfast bar with different casseroles. (with gluten free options). Fresh fruit. Bagels. Coffee, Chocolate Milk & OJ. All we need is you! After our worship set I'm going to remind us all how to use our influence on our kids and grandkids so that we set them up for success. I've always believed that the way in which Patti and I raised our kids gave us our best shot at influencing our grandchildren. Thanks for being faithful to Jesus Christ Mom! We need you! Pastor Mike  This week the Surgeon general released a report stating that one in two people admit to feeling isolated or alone. Things have not trended well since the pandemic. God made us for friendships. He said it's not good for us to be alone. (Gen. 2:18)
Matthew was a guy who knew what loneliness felt like. Before he was a follower of Jesus he was public enemy #1. A tax collector. Worse yet, he was a Jewish tax collector. He was ripping off his own people on behalf of the despised Roman government. After he gave Rome their cut, he kept the rest to himself. He wasn't welcome in church. He testimony wasn't invited to court and nobody in the family thought to inform him of the family BBQ.. Then Jesus came. Offered him a brand new life and he jumped at the opportunity. One of the first things he did was invite his cronies over to a meet and greet with Jesus read his story here. Jesus once again was criticized over his choice of dinner companions. But it never bothered Jesus. Jesus mission was to restore people far from God and one another. He welcomes us. Wants to be with us & spend time with us. Jesus knows the one thing lonely people need is love and value. Do you know this? Could spending with Jesus & others, encouraging them in their walk with Jesus be what we need? The Surgeon general said one of the things needed today is to restore "kindness, respect, service and commitment to one another." Sounds very similar to what Jesus had in mind for believers and the church. Messes need mercy. Messed up people need mercy more than judgement. Join me in being part of the Jesus solution!. See ya on Sunday! Pastor Mike PS - So very grateful for all the new faces we are seeing. Each face has a name. Jesus saw Matthew- the man, the person and ended up at his home at a party. Once a month for May- August have someone or a family over to share some good food and good company! |
AuthorStonebridge Community Church is a Bible-based non-denominational church located in Dardenne Prairie, Missouri. Archives
September 2024
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