The Local Church

The Bible tells us to seek first God’s Kingdom - the things of God, the things God wants to build, the things God wants to grow, and the children He wants to grow…and He promises that when we do, all the things that we need will be added to us!

When we ask someone how they are doing, they usually reply with "busy". However, the truth is that the American workweek is now shorter than it has ever been before. This means that Americans have more leisure time than they have ever had before. If we are busy, it is often because we have added too much to our lives. In other words, our need to be busy is often self-imposed.

Too many people try to manipulate God so they can get what they want. “God if I do these things, and pray these prayers, and give this money, you have to give me what I want!” And this text has been twisted to serve our selfish desires instead of seeking first the Kingdom of God!

It is undeniable that we put in the effort to cultivate and refine our natural abilities, but it is equally undeniable that God is the ultimate source of those abilities.

We’ve all been created with an innate desire to know others and be known by others. But the other part is because a portion of our purpose is that we’ve been commissioned for invitations by God.

Being the perfect place for different imperfect people can mean different things. “It’s the perfect place for me to meet people. To get away. To take a nap." That’s not what makes this the perfect place for imperfect people. The presence of God is what makes this place perfect for imperfect people. The presence of God means…Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. It’s His fruit. …it’s His Gifts that He gives to grow us! Anything is possible in the presence of God because it’s not by our might or our power!

"If we want to have a clear vision of where God has called us to go, we need to know who He’s called us to be confident. And for us to know who we are and who we are supposed to be, we have to look to Jesus. It’s always all about Jesus! We’re made in God's image, so we’re to live, love, and look like Jesus."

It’s God’s divine direction that comes from God’s from God’s Spirit according to God’s word. God gives us a picture of what He desires to do in His Church, and empowers us to help bring that vision to pass so we could live with purpose.

God’s Christmas gift to us is not a helpless baby boy, but His presence, walking, breathing and living with us. That’s humanity’s greatest desire, to know unconditional love and acceptance for who we are, grace and forgiveness for our shortcomings…hope to be the best us we could possibly be. And that can only be found in the presence of the God who created us.

We celebrate Christmas by leaving out Christ and getting more stuff for everyone else. Holidays originally were celebrations of Holy Days. A day set aside for a holy purpose. Until we forget the purpose and simply embrace the celebration.