Quote from Forum Archives on December 17, 2002, 10:40 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

This week and during this month, we've been looking at the reason
for the season, which we know is Jesus Christ. In today's
message, Larry Davies sends us some really practical stories,
mixed in with scripture, that remind us how important it is for
us to respond and to make daily, even moment by moment, choices
about what God wants to do with our lives. I don't know about
you, but I'd hate to miss out on what God has planned for me,
just because I have some different idea of how things are
supposed to be or because I'm too busy, or too occupied with
work, or looking for work, or whatever else it may be. I pray
that I'll respond as God calls, and I pray that for you, too.

I encourage everyone to read the Bible, not just as a story, but
His Story, the story of how God created us, how we chose a way
that was against God, and how God placed upon us consequences for
our actions, but also how God has chosen, from the beginning of
time, to redeem us once again, and call us His own. This weeks
selection of verses is a nice compilation of past prophesy,
fulfilled in Christ, writings about when Christ was among us, and
messages about what Jesus expects from us as we follow Him.

Are you ready for Christ? I sure want to be, so I renew my mind
regularly, preparing for Him, confessing the ways I've failed to
follow Him, and purposefully turn back to Him. Jesus is proof
that God loves us and will not eternally condemn us for our poor
choices. But He does require us to acknowledge that we need
Christ, and ultimately, we need to accept Him as the One who has
paid the high price for our misdeeds. Do you acknowledge that?
I sure do!

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Sowing Seeds Ministry would like to take this opportunity to wish
you a very merry "Christ-Filled" Christmas. We also thank you for
the many donations to the Christ child fund. So far we have
helped several families in need. Thank you for your unselfish
generosity toward others.

Looking for that special gift for your pastor or Sunday school
teacher? They will love the book. "Breaking the Peanut Butter
Habit." Filled with excellent sermon and teaching illustrations.
Normally $24.95 now just $10 through the end of the year. Each
book is personally signed by the author. Limit of four books
please. Click here for more information or to order the book
online: www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm For church
Sunday school class or group orders please email for a special
discount: mailto:sowseeds@nesbeonline.com

Sowing Seeds of Faith...

"Roof Repairs and Shepherds: Merry Christmas"
by Larry Davies

Just when you begin to accept your life the way it is: busy yet
comfortable... God sends a messenger turning everything upside
down forcing you to reexamine yourself, change directions and
once again discover the awesome miracle of the Christ child. But,
if you're not watchful, you'll miss everything.

A woman with a damaged roof and no money for repairs needed help.
We had a group at our church that repaired houses for those in
need. Her own church offered to help us. I made the arrangements
with our church leaders expecting the work to be done Saturday...
or so I thought. Early that morning I received a phone call: "We
cannot find anyone to fix her roof," said the person in charge of
volunteers.

"That can't be. I promised the woman and the other church that we
would have the materials and a work crew there at 9:00 AM this
morning." I stammered, sensing trouble. "I am sorry," she
responded. "I've called everyone but the only one who can come is
our supervisor, Frank."

Frantically, I tried to call a few potential volunteers but no
one was home. We had to help this woman today. What would I do
now? Then, a thought: "Larry for a preacher, you can be pretty
dumb. You go."

"That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the
village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of
the Lord appeared among them..." (Luke 2:8-9)

"But Lord," I replied. "I am pastor of a big church with a lot of
responsibility! Preachers don't do roofs! We pray for people who
do roofs! What if I fall off and get hurt? What if they ask me to
actually work?"

Do you ever wonder why God appeared to the shepherds? Why not the
inn keeper? It was his property. Why not the local religious
leaders? They were looking for a Messiah. Why not a few of the
local visitors in town for the census? They didn't have anything
else to do. Why the shepherds?

* The inn keeper missed the birth of Christ because he was too
busy. There were customers to care for, meals to prepare and
rooms to get ready... Christmas can be a busy time.

* Religious leaders missed the event because they had their own
version of the Messiah which didn't include a baby born in a
water trough... Christmas is often misunderstood.

* Townspeople missed the birth of Jesus because they were
celebrating a census. There were parties to attend, dinners to
enjoy and gifts to open... Christmas is more than a celebration.

God's angels appeared before the shepherds because unlike
everyone else in Bethlehem, they were ready and willing to
respond. In other words, a lot of folks missed the miracle of
seeing the Christ child.

"When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each
other, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this wonderful thing that
has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'" (2:15)

God occasionally offers "shepherd like" moments in the midst of
everyday lives. My moment came on a Saturday morning just before
Christmas. I drove to the house half-heartedly and resentful but
I went. Then, I met the woman, toured her house and saw the
damage. I knew this was where I needed to be.

"They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was
the baby, lying in a manger." (16)

Only Frank, our supervisor knew how to repair a roof but somehow
our motley group of volunteers managed to work without anyone
getting hurt. Frank measured and rolled tar paper while others
nailed it down. We were having so much fun swapping stories and
making fun of our lack of carpentry skills that the morning flew
by and the repairs were competed. As we came down, we were
greeted with hot coffee and ham biscuits and a warm hug from a
grateful woman who called us her "angels of mercy."

"Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the
angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the
shepherds' story were astonished..." (17-18)

Just when you begin to accept your life the way it is: busy yet
comfortable... God sends a messenger turning everything upside
down forcing you to reexamine yourself, change directions and
once again discover the awesome miracle of the Christ child. But,
if you're not watchful, you'll miss everything.

If you like this devotion you will love the book: "Breaking the
Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a Better Life"
now on sale only through this website. Click here for more
information: www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

Join our prayer ministry by clicking here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm

Jesus said: "You are the light of the world--like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine
for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

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--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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