A little country church with a big heart for people.
Author: Margret Abbott
I am a wife, mother of 3, mother in law of 3, and grandma of 8 The important things in my life are my relationship with the Lord, my family, friends, and pets. I am active in my little country church.
I love to read, create whimsical Fairy and critter garden spots and spend time with family and friends. Our pups along with Graham and Gus Kitties have been entertaining folks with their antics so I thought it would be fun to devote a blog to them.
There is a beach near Fort Bragg, California covered with smooth colored pieces of glass and pottery. Between 1905 and 1967 it was an active dump for garbage. In 1967 it was closed. Pounding waves broke down the glass and pottery into small, smooth pieces that came back on shore often in jewelry quality – hence “Glass Beach.”
Don’t you sometimes feel like that piece of glass on Glass Beach before it is refined? You are broken and rough – not good for much of anything. How can you be like that smooth, beautiful piece of glass and be at peace in your heart and soul?
You can’t do this yourself? Prayerfully, turn your eyes on Jesus and look to God’s Son right now. Put your faith in Him. He loves you so much. Jesus forgives all your sins. Yes, He died for you on the old rugged cross – yes, He died for you and arose three days later to take away your sins. As you yield to Jesus, He takes the sharp edges and shapes us all to be more like Him.
Just ask Him into your heart. He will begin to smooth off the rough edges in your life, keep refining you, loving you and staying with you forever and ever.
Romans 10:9 NIV “If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord. And believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
There is a simple New Year’s Resolution and one that you may find easy to keep. Every morning ask Jesus to put a hymn or song of His into your heart and mind to begin the day. He will do it. Once in a while I wonder what the song is, but I just ask and one comes to mind! Sometimes, there is more than one!
For example, songs or hymns like Jesus Loves Me, Sweet Hour of Prayer, Lord, You’re Beautiful, He Is Lord, In My Heart There Rings a Melody, or Hallelujah come to mind. If you want, you can share your song and bless others – don’t keep your light under a bushel! Matthew 5:15*
So, what are you waiting for? Don’t wait until tomorrow morning. Start right now and ask the Lord for a song that honors Him. Then, you will be ready for another hymn tomorrow!
*Matthew5:15 (KJV) Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Worship Service will resume this coming Sunday December 6th at 9:30 am. Sunday School and Wednesday night Bible Study will not meet until further notice. Thank you
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace .”
(Isaiah 9:6 NKJV)
Quote that verse as you go through the Christmas Season. There are many things that take your mind off the reason for the season, but do they really need to distract you?
As you go shopping, decorate, bake, visit friends and enjoy all the activities for the holidays, just ask Christ to keep His birthday at the center of all these things. As you enjoy your family, children or even grandchildren, remind them of how much you love them and how much the baby born in a stable loves them. Jesus protects them every day and He arose from the grave and promises to be in our hearts if we ask him. Do you know folks who are miserable? Well, life may not be fantastic all the time, but with Jesus it is worth it for we can know our eternal destiny.
Have a joyful, peaceful “Christ”mas.
We care so if you need a place to celebrate Jesus’ birth, visit us this December.
Ole Kirk Kristiansen was a Danish carpenter. In1932, Kristiansen founded the Danish construction toy company: The Lego Group Born: April 7, 1891, Filskov, South Jutland, Denmark Died: March 11,1958, Billund, Denmark
In 1868, an American inventor by the name of John Wesley Hyatt developed a similar product that he dubbed celluloid. After joining forces with his brother, Hyatt created the first injection molding contraption in 1872. This injection machine revolutionized the way that objects were made.
A thought from your Pastor!
If you have ever stepped barefooted on your child’s LEGO® brick in the middle of the night, you have the Hyatt brothers and Ole Kirk Kristiansen to thank. In 1872, the Hyatts, American inventors created the first injection molding process whereby raw material, like plastic, is squeezed into a mold and hardened. Molding: making malleable materials conform to a desired shape. This is the story of Legos.
It can happen not only with physical material like plastic but with spiritual material like us!
1 John 2:15 (ESV)15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Romans 12:2 (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
John Bertram Phillips or, J. B. Phillips (16 September 1906 – 21 July 1982) was an English Bible scholar, translator, author and clergyman. He is most noted for his version of The New Testament in Modern English. Phillips was born in Barnes, Surrey. He was educated at Emanuel School in London and took an Honors Degree in Classics and English from Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He was ordained an Anglican clergyman in the Church of England in 1930. Phillips died in Swanage in Dorset, England in 1982
It’s why when British Bible translator J. B. Phillips translated Romans 12:2, he put it this way: “Do not let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold.” The defense against being molded into the world’s image’? The renewing of the mind.
Again, J. B. Phillips: “But let God re-mold your minds from within.” The result of being “re-molded”? Discovering the “good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Before coming to Christ, our minds are molded to the shape of this world. The renewing of our mind into a Christ-like mind is the doorway to knowing God’s will for a lifetime.
The secret of being molded properly is:
We may not be meeting at the church but please: Stay in the Word ~Take some extra time to pray ~ Listen to some good services on the radio or TV
Thanksgiving:—2020 may be a celebrated a little differently this year because of all of the concerns and all that is going on.
We still need to take time to especially thank our Lord and Savior for what He has done for us.
A thought from your Pastor!
Psalm 95:1-2 (NIV)1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
In America, this Thursday will be Thanksgiving Day. Its roots go back to 1621 when the Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest in the New World. But it was not until 1863 that it became an official U.S. observance at the initiation of President Abraham Lincoln.
In the most general terms, the way to give thanks was expanded from the Old Testament to the New Testament. In the Old Testament, God was normally thanked “for” things-His works, His attributes, and His blessings Psalm 106:1 Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. While that focus is maintained in the New Testament, it is expanded to giving thanks “in” all things 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
That is, in all circumstances. We can do that because we know God causes “all things” to work together for our good Romans 8:28 (NIV) we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
So why not do both today?Give thanks to God for His blessings and give thanks for whatever circumstances you are experiencing. Fill this day with thanksgiving to God.
Psalm 100:1-5 1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is
He who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Thanksgiving refocuses our attention: Life is filled with distractions that can make it harder to notice all that God has done for us. Instead of living with the weight of the world on our shoulders, it’s good to try refocusing on the Lord by thanking Him for His faithfulness.
Thanksgiving refocuses our relationship: Gratitude keeps us from thinking that the Christian walk is about us and our needs. Our fellowship with God is enhanced when we focus on Him.
When we’re overwhelmed, thanking God is probably not on your radar. But I’ve learned from experience that acknowledging all the Lord had done is a sure way to change attitudes and re-energize
In the Book of Common Prayer (1549 forms of service for daily worship & Sunday worship in England) we read; “Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, thy unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us, and to all men.”
Even if our gatherings have to be small and maybe only immediate family, be sure to invite your Heavenly Father and Jesus. They should be your most honored guests.
Always be on your guard, because satan wants to fool you into thinking that God doesn’t care for you or He is upset with you. Always remember Jesus loves you and wants the best for you.
Don’t’ be like this turkey and let Satan fool you.
St. Petrie Lutheran Church AFLC 