All is rather quiet at the church this week. A reminder that white elephant donations are accepted until December 15th. Food donations are still being accepted for John Boise Middle School.

The sermon theme for the 4th Sunday in Advent (12/20) is hope. Christians always have hope because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is nothing worse than trying to face life with a sense of hopelessness. We will explore that theme.
Reminder: Christmas Eve candlelight communion service at 7PM.

Please keep praying for an end to this pandemic crisis! Th vaccines are on the way. While our attendance is down we continue to have services at 10 AM on Sunday. Our finances have held up well. Thanks for your faithfulness.

Pastor Bowman

Daniel 12:3 (NKJV)
Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

From whence does wisdom come? Do we gain wisdom by attending college? The colleges I attended led me away from true wisdom.  I learned a worldview that basically excluded God or minimized Him. One of my philosophy professors challenged the class to debate him on the existence of God. No one (including me!) had the courage to stand up to this atheist Goliath.

True wisdom comes from God and His revealed Word. Those who are truly wise adopt a biblical worldview. When we begin to see the world the way God does, wisdom is born. Daniel declares that the truly wise are like bright lights in the sky. And as we point others toward righteousness (namely, Jesus), we are like bright stars in the heavens. I suspect this verse inspired the song, “ Will There be any Stars in my Crown?” When we point others to Jesus, our star shines brighter.

We spend so much time on things that have no eternal significance. Hopefully, we find room in our calendar to share Jesus with others. That is what wise people do.

Gracious God, creator of the heavens and the earth, I want to be a person of wisdom. Help me to see the folly of all worldly wisdom which excludes You from consideration. Help me to reach out to those who know you not and share Jesus with them. In His name, Amen.

DEVOTION, 12/12/20 A comforting word

Isaiah 40:11 (NKJV)
“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.” See also Psalm 23.

Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd. Isaiah’s prophecy gives us insight into what Jesus will do for His people, as does Psalm 23. He leads us and feeds us like a shepherd. A shepherd must care for the sheep. He has to make sure they have food enough and that they are protected from wild animals. Jesus does that for us. As we trust in Him, He leads us to the still waters and the green pastures. He protects us from our enemies. No enemy we ever face is more powerful than Jesus, our Protector. I love the next picture.

He will take up His lambs into His arms and carry them close to His heart. Try to create a mental picture of this verse. You are being carried in the arms of Jesus. He holds you tightly in His arms. You are like a little lamb to Him. He loves you, and He cares for you. Nothing can harm you when you are under His care. As we trust Him more and more, we experience the reality of this verse. The popular “footprints” poem expresses this truth. Jesus carries His people in His arms through the dark valleys. And so we fear no evil. We are comforted by His rod and staff.  We are comforted knowing that He is with us always, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Father, I thank You for sending Jesus to us to be our Shepherd. I am so blessed when I close my eyes and see myself in the arms of Jesus. Lord Jesus, I thank You for being my Good Shepherd. I pray that my faith in You will grow ever stronger. May I never lose my deep appreciation for who You are and what You are doing for me. Amen. 

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Don’t be afraid; what do we face that causes us to fear? Illness? Relationships? job security? —many things cause us to fear. God tells us to turn to him and not be discouraged. He will give us strength and help. He reassures us He is with us always, and as we face difficulties, He will hold us in His victorious right hand. Imagine yourself welcomed in the palm of God, your father. Do you resist the holding at first?  Can you feel yourself relax as He holds you much as an infant in the womb curled and safe in the warmth of his love? What incredible comfort when we are afraid.

Father, we give you thanks that we need not fear. You will keep us safe and secure from those things that discourage us. Thank you for your son Jesus’s sacrifice, He suffered for us, but you kept him safe as you keep us safe as we face trials. Be with all your children as we placeour fears in your hand. In Jesus name Amen

DAILY DEVOTION, 12/10/2020, The Gift

Romans 3:23-24 (NASB)
²³  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴  being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus—

This is one of the great salvation verses we find in the New Testament. In a few words, Paul says it all. We all have something in common. We have all sinned and fall short (far short!) of the glory of God. Salvation begins with our recognition of this fact. If we are like the Pharisees and believe we have earned God’s favor through obedience, we have turned away from God. Once we admit that we have sinned against God and deserve an eternity in hell, we are on the way to recovery.

Next, we realize that God offers us salvation (justification) as a gift. This gift is offered to us by God’s grace. We don’t deserve it (who deserves a gift?), but God graciously says to us, “I know you have sinned against my holy will, but I will forgive you and offer you a gift. There is a simple condition. If you will trust in the redemption granted to you through My Son, the gift is yours.”

Our salvation is tied to Jesus. If we trust Him as Lord and Savior, we enter into the family of God. Faith does not earn the gift. Faith receives the gift.

Gracious Father, I thank You with every ounce of strength I can muster. Thank You for Jesus, who suffered for me and is my redemption. I cannot undo the sins I have committed. My only hope is to trust in Jesus and in the forgiveness He purchased for me at Calvary. May His name be blessed forever, Amen.