Pastor Beth

The Holidays

2008-12-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are my favorite time of year. I have so much to be thankful for. God has blessed me with a beautiful family, with friends, with a church family that loves and cares about me, with a job that allows me to serve him, and with so much more. Life is so busy that I forget to take time to be thankful and beginning the Christmas season with a thankful heart is the best way to start. Christmas is by far my favorite holiday. It is not all the gifts, which don't get me wrong I love to give, but it is the remembrance of what God has done for me.

As a mother I think about Mary and the journey she had to take and I am not sure how she did it. I can't imagine being close to your delivery time and spending days riding on a smelly donkey, to then have to deliver your baby in a barn with a bunch of animals. She must have been tired, dirty and maybe even frustrated or angry at the situation. Mary, just an ordinary girl with ordinary feelings and yet God chose her to give birth to the Savior of the world. Oh, the joy she must have felt when she looked at baby Jesus for the first time. All the fears, frustrations and tiredness are forgotten and all she can see, think and feel is Jesus. Most amazing to me is that God did that for me. He gave the greatest gift, the gift of Jesus and He did for me.

When I think about Christmas my heart is filled with so much joy. I am reminded that Jesus was born and lived a life not so much different than my own. He knew what it was like to face the challenges of everyday life. He felt all the same fears, frustration, anger, happiness, joy and other emotions that I experience today. It is this time of year that I am reminded that Jesus knows all about what I am going through because He went through it himself. My heart is so filled with joy and peace as I reflect on His birth, life, death and resurrection and realize that it was all for me.

As you look around this Christmas season don't get caught up in all the things that Christmas has become. Don't allow worldly things and motives to harden your heart to the real reason for the season. Take time to remember the simple story of Jesus birth and what He has done for you. Take time to share that story with those around you. Share the joy of Christmas. Take time to remember the greatest gift ever given, Jesus.

2008-10-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

About five months ago I came out of a store and my attention was immediately drawn to shouting in the parking lot. As always I was in a rush. My family was waiting on me and if I did not leave right then I was going to be late. I started to go to my car when I noticed that the shouting turned into pushing and then punching. Before I even realized what I was doing I was at the fight asking the people to stop. For a brief moment they listened. They heard my voice and stopped but only for an instant. At that moment their anger was the only thing they could respond to. I called the police as they continued to fight. There was so much anger between them that nothing, not even the threat of the police coming, could stop them. Eventually one of them heard the police coming and decided it was time to leave. I later found out that the people fighting were brothers.

So, how is it that brothers could be so angry at each other that they would continue to fight and risk being arrested? Even with a voice pleading with them to stop and warnings of the emanate consequences, the rage continued. The how, in my opinion is that they were consumed. They were consumed with anger. Just like the anger of the brothers there are things in our lives, both bad and good, that consume us and prevent us from heeding the warnings of our Heavenly Father. We get so wrapped up in what we are doing that we do not hear the still small voice that is speaking to us trying to guide us down his chosen path. This week I have been working on listening. Listening for God's voice over all else. I encourage you to join me this week in looking at the things that consume our lives.. What is it that we do that hinders us from hearing from God? Remember that God only wants the best for us so take time to listen for His voice.

Take My Hand

2008-09-25T06:33:00.000-07:00

As I listen to the news and read the newspaper I find myself becoming more and more concerned for our world and what tomorrow might bring. With the money crisis, severe weather conditions, crime, families falling apart and so many other things happening life can become overwhelming and fear can begin to set in. It is in times like these that we tend to start casting blame and allowing our fears to control who we are and what we do. The question that comes to mind for me is who do I want controlling my thoughts and my life? Are there things going on around us that are scary? Yes. Do they bring concern and fear? Yes. Do I want to live in fear? No.

In Joshua 1 God promises us that He will never leave us or forsake us. He tells us to to be strong and courageous. He also tells us not be terrified or be discouraged for He will be with us no matter where we go. It does not say there will not be troubles but it does say that we do not have to go through them alone. God promises that no matter what we face, if we will let him, He will face it with us.

Picture in your mind a little child standing outside of a darkened room wanting to enter but too afraid. They do not know what is in the room nor do they know what will happen if they enter in. If, however, their father stands beside them, holds their hand and walks in with them the fear is removed. With their dad by their side they believe they are safe and they can do anything. God wants to do the same thing for us. He is standing beside us ready to take away our fears He is waiting to bring us peace and comfort. He is ready to walk through the darkness with us shedding light on our path.

My daughter and husband sing a song called, "Take My Hand and Walk" by the "Kry". The words to this song tell us that God wants us to give Him all our fears and sadness and allow Him to take our hand and walk with us. One of my favorite lines in the song is, "Just like a child holding daddy's hand, don't let go of mine, you know you cant stand on your own." God is with us. He is waiting for us to take his hand and allow him to walk with us.

May you find peace and comfort in God's hands.

Beth

Being a Lightning Rod

2008-09-10T23:18:00.000-07:00

As the Children's Pastor at Turning Leaf Community church I am privileged to work with and grow with an amazing staff. It has become our practice to participate in book studies. We are currently reading "Chasing Daylight" by Erwin Raphael McManus. The focus of this book is learning how to seize the power of every moment. As I was reading this past week I was struck by a passage that has kept me thinking, praying and seeking all week long. This is what McManus stated, "When we offer ourselves as instruments for God's purpose we create opportunities for others to experience God through us. We become living lightning rods of God's activity."

I find this statement humbling and at the same time exhilarating. There are hurting people all over the world. They need to know of God's love and His power in their lives. When I think about the fact that God could use me to spark a change in their lives, it really humbles me. The fact that God can take what little I have to offer and use it to bring people into a relationship with Him is amazing. When I imagine a lightning rod and the current that flows through it I can't help but become excited about what God can and will do through me as I offer myself to Him.

My question for you this week is are you willing to be a lightning rod? Are you willing to let go of yourself and offer all you have so that God's power and love can flow through you to help bring lost and hurting people into a relationship with Him?

My prayer this week will be that God will use you and I as lightning rods to spark God activities in the lives of people we come in contact with.

May you always know that God loves you and wants only the best for you.

Blessings,

Beth

Welcome

2008-09-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog page. I look forward to communicating with you through this venue. This week I would just like to remind you of the promise that God has for you in Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Keep your eyes on the Lord and He will give you whatever you need to face the day.