When God Says "Shut Up!" (Luke 1: 67-79)

     I know, I know! It’s rude to say “Shut up!” to anyone. And, no, God did not literally say, “Shut up!” But he may as well have! Zechariah, a priest fulfilling his service to God in the Temple, had been praying that his wife Elizabeth would be given a child. As Zechariah was burning incense at the altar, God sent an angel to tell him that Elizabeth would soon be pregnant and give birth to a son who was to be named John. Instead of leaping for joy and singing songs of praise, Zechariah, like any person who is realistic, said, “How will I know this is true?” That’s when God might as well have said, “Shut up,” because the angel closed Zechariah’s mouth until the time John would be born as a sign and, apparently, as a consequence to Zechariah’s unbelief.

     The God who shuts up is also the God who opens wide! Upon John’s birth, Zechariah became a prophet, telling of all that God was about to do through John and, more importantly, through the savior, Jesus Christ, who was soon to be born. Zechariah and Elizabeth had hoped for years for a child. The people of Israel had hoped for generations for God to send a savior, and this broken, conflicted world has been hoping from the moment of Adam’s sin for healing and wholeness to come from God who alone has that kind of power. God sent John, Zechariah says, to “go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace (Luke 1: 76-79).” God opened Zechariah’s mouth to say to the world, “all you have hoped for and believed would come is on the way in my son Jesus, the savior.”

     What are you waiting and hoping for when Jesus returns again to bring the fullness of his Kingdom to earth? Talk to God about that in prayer, and keep your eyes open, believing that Jesus is still in the business of bringing salvation!

     I welcome you to join our church in Sanford over the next 4 weeks leading up to Christmas as we try to find biblical answers to the question "What Difference Does This Baby Make?"   Check out our videos or follow us on facebook! 

Plenty To Share

     Last week we discussed the truth that God gives us plenty of time to do what God wants us to do and that, often, we feel we don't have enough time because our expectations of what we think should be done are out of line with God's.  We talked about being stewards of the time that God gives us, choosing by faith to use it to live more fully in God's Kingdom of love and to help others find salvation in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3: 20-21).  And we talked about how following Jesus means walking with him, not rushing with him.  Here is the link to the video many of you enjoyed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17ZrK2NryuQ.

     This week we will hear how our abundant God gives us plenty to share.  You will hear the story of the disciples responding to Jesus' call for them to feed the crowd of 5,000 people late in the day by saying, "With what?"  And you will hear Jesus say, "Let's start with what you've got!"  You will hear the story of a couple who realized through Financial Peace University the power of being good stewards of what God gave them and what a difference they could make in the world through their generosity. 

     We will be asking our Sanford church family to prayerfully consider how they will offer themselves generously to God's ministry of gathering, growing, and sowing the love of Jesus in 2011 by filling out an "Estimate of Giving" card in person or online.  Next week, November 21, we will present them to God as we share that God gives us plenty of reasons to celebrate our life in Jesus Christ!

     I encourage you to view this message series:  "Abundance:  Plenty of Time, Plenty To Share, and Plenty To Celebrate!" on our video site or you can keep up on facebook and our website.

Plenty: God's Life Of Abundance

     “I don’t have enough time…I don’t have enough money…If only I had “x,” then I would…” What if these statements really aren’t true? What if what we have been given is plenty to do what God wants? And what if it’s our expectations that are out of whack? Join us the first 3 Sundays in November as we learn about the abundant life God gives us through Jesus Christ. We will learn that God gives plenty of time, plenty to share, and plenty of reasons to celebrate. You will hear real life stories from people like you about God’s great work in their lives. You will hear about God’s work through Lakeside United Methodist Church. You  will be encouraged to open your eyes to see the many gifts the Lord has given generously to you,and you will be asked to prayerfully consider God’s call on your life to generously share in God’s work of gathering, growing, and sowing the love of Jesus. So come, invite your friends, and enjoy the abundant blessings of God! If you can't make it in person, catch the video or keep in touch via facebook.  This week we will learn how God gives us plenty of time to do what God wants us to do!

     "Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90: 12)."