Surrender, Luke 19.28-38

When we set aside Sundays for worship and rest, we follow the cadences of God’s rhythm for life and for living. Sabbath keeping is not something we do in order to please God, but rather something we do because God knows it will make us whole, restore our spirits, and renew our lives. The Sabbath is a day blessed by God and set aside for rest and worship. One of the most important practices of Jesus was finding rest and making time for Sabbath. We must model the restfulness of Jesus, which is more than just a day, but is a spirit we live by all week long.

We know from Scripture that Jesus valued prayer in solitude. “And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray” (Mark 6:46). Jesus recognized that time with God is necessary and he habitually withdrew to spend time in prayer. Jesus teaches and models the priority and the place of prayer and solitude in our lives. So must we. Start by seeking at least a few minutes of time alone with God daily, and seek extended times as well. If you are like most, solitude with God won’t consistently occur without intentionality but it’s a pursuit worth the discipline. So when will you start?

In order to understand who we are as a people, we must look at the Person we are to be formed into. Jesus shows us who God is and what true humanity looks like. He was a part of a community of practice—he honored and participated in the life of faith of the people of Israel. During Lent we are going to attend to the habits, the rhythm, the way of Jesus because in these habits we see who we ought to be.

We are not here to survive as a Church but to thrive in ministry to each other and the world around us. This is accomplished through a community of generosity. A community with a cause can be inspiring, which makes a larger impact for God’s Kingdom. While it is sometimes necessary or desirable to give anonymously, when we give together in community there can be amazing joy that becomes infectious to those around you. Giving generously and openly can catalyze an abundance of generosity throughout a whole community.

Everything we have belongs to God and is ours only in stewardship under his direction. Jesus, always advancing radical devotion to his father, commended the poor woman who gave everything she had. He told the rich young man, obsessed with his wealth, to give up everything in order to follow Jesus. His parable of the talents taught us that we are stewards who should be multiplying what we are given, not for ourselves, but for our master and for the advancement of his kingdom.

Worship is celebration—a celebration to be experienced and shared. So come. Celebrate! Lay aside your troubles, your anxieties, your fears, and your cares. Celebrate God's gift of mercy and grace; God's touch of forgiveness; God's power to lift you out of the slimy pits of life; God's provision to set you on firm footing. Come see the spectacular hand of God. Come witness something beyond yourself. Be in awe, spellbound, mesmerized by the life-giving, life-flowing, power of God. Worship him!

Happy New Year! Are you growing in your faith? Is your trust in God increasing? Walking with Jesus is the most exciting life a person can live. Your eternity is assured; the opportunities ahead are full of hope and you have the very best Companion on the path of life anyone could desire—the living God. You have entered into a relationship with the Lord that is continuous. God’s plan is that we mature in our knowledge and understanding of his ways—living vibrant lives in obedience to him.

As a New Year draws near, I am reminded that we are one year closer to the day of our death, or the day the Lord returns. So, let me use this opportunity to suggest some resolutions for the coming year. Resolve to draw near to Christ by daily reading his word. Resolve to be diligent in prayer, telling God what you need and thanking him for all he has done. Resolve to become closer to your Sugar Land Methodist Church family. Join a Sunday school class or small group. Resolve to get to know more people who don’t know Christ. Meet your neighbors or co-workers, build meaningful relationships in which opportunities are created to share the Good News. These resolutions may sound simplistic; but if implemented, they will go a long way to bless your life and bring glory to God. Happy New Year!

Hallelujah! It is in the joyous season of Christmas that people everywhere are brought into remembrance of the greatest gift of all, the gift of God’s only begotten Son. God’s gift to the world is a gift of love and a gift of life—a life of hope, joy and purpose. At just the right time, God gave his Son, knowing that his Son would one day give himself for us all. Such a marvelous, unspeakable gift! Yet what makes this gift even more fantastic is that it was given “unto us.” This precious gift was not reserved for a people that loved and honored God as he deserves to be loved and honored. No, unto us, such ungodly sinners, a child is born. Unto us, a people so utterly without merit, a Son is given. This is a great reality, a cornerstone of truth. God did not give us his gift because we are good. God gave us his gift because He is good. This is what Christmas is all about.