DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE (early release of Shepherd to Sheep)

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE

(Zec 9:12) Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.

Trouble. It’s something we are all familiar with. We don’t ask for him but he shows up anyway. We opt for the smoothest life possible but then this unwelcome visitor appears on our doorstep with his luggage. He smiles with that menacing grin and puts his foot in the door. We try to push him away but he angles himself in such a way that he finds himself inside our life. He unpacks his bags like he’s going to stay awhile. He fixes himself a big meal and sits down and puts his feet up on the table. How do we get trouble out of our life? What good could come from his visit?

Job said it well: (Job 5:7) Yet man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward. Difficulties and problems are just a part of life. We have to tell ourselves that we live in a fallen world. Christ did not promise us a problem-free life. That is what I like to term a “Disneyland mentality.” Where did we ever get that concept that knowing the Lord would be pain-free? (John 16:33)

Like Job we have to accept adversity and learn to deal with it. (Job 2:10)…Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?"… We’ve got to remember to turn our troubles over to the Lord and let Him deal with things. (1 Pet 5:7) casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. We must claim the promise that we’re growing stronger and that He won’t give us more than we can handle (Rom 5:3-5; 1 Cor 10:13). Then we have to remember to stay in the “NOW” and not borrow trouble from tomorrow. (Mat 6:34) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

But may I submit to you something in addition to the above? Something we don’t usually think about as believers in Christ? This is the promise that the Lord will not only help you through trouble but He will also give you DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE! That means that God will work everything out for good and that your future blessings will far exceed your past troubles! (Job 42:10) And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Psa 71:20-21; Joel 2:25-26)

At this juncture you might begin to barter with this because you might be saying to yourself that your trouble has been self-induced and that God surely can’t bless the mess you have created. Ah, but think again! Because of God’s grace even your mistakes can be turned into T-bone steaks of God’s blessings. (Isa 61:7) Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. Don’t you just love the Lord? Isn’t His grace amazing? Are you ready to receive DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE?

Louie

CHRISTMAS AT THE MONTEITH HOUSE

Hope your Christmas was blessed as much as ours.

Clockwise from left is my daughter Lindsay...my parents Mavis and Bill Monteith, my daughter Kelsey, Cheryl's brother Roger, Josh and his mom Judy (Judy is Roger's girlfriend), Dianne (Cheryl's mom) and Cheryl. I'm taking the pic and am ready to eat the awesome meal Cheryl made.

(Psa 128:4) Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD.

CHRISTMAS EVE CHILDREN'S PROGRAM

Tonight the Christmas Eve service was such a blessing. The kids did such a great job sharing the Christmas story. We all enjoyed the presentation and it reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas...JESUS!! MERRY CHRISTMAS everybody! (Luke 2:11) "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

PRISONERS OF HOPE (early release of Shepherd to Sheep)

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

PRISONERS OF HOPE

(Zec 9:12) Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.

Think about this past year. So much has happened. It’s been a time of struggle in our nation. It’s been a time of struggle in our own lives and in our families. But a new year is upon us and we are ready for a change. Can we put the past behind us or do we have to be held captive to our burdens for another year? I’ve got good news for you. God’s going to make you a prisoner of hope!

Israel was coming home. They had been in captivity in Babylon for seventy years for their idolatry. A new era was ahead of them. They were leaving the past behind. The prophet Zechariah was prophesying about their future. He was speaking of their Messiah who would come to them and build them a new tomorrow. Based upon these promises they were then prisoners. Not of Babylon. Not of their disgraceful past. But they were prisoners of hope. They were now bound by a promise of a brighter day ahead. Their past was forgiven. New glories awaited them as they returned to the land to rebuild their Temple, rebuild their city, and rebuild their lives.

Doesn’t that sound a lot like us? Things happened that put us in a bad way. Maybe it was beyond our control. Maybe it was our fault. Whatever the case may be our lives seem to be in captivity. We become captives of poor circumstances. Poor choices. Poor prospects. But then we hear the Word of God and we start to get encouraged. We hear the message of grace and love through Jesus Christ. We respond with hope. Our spirits revive and we start feeling better about our expectations in life. We break out of the bondage to our past and it’s affects upon our lives. We now feel bound up in a wonderful outlook on what will be. We don’t know all that lies ahead but excitement builds in our hearts in regards to what God is going to do in our lives.

Listen to what God told Moses: (Exo 3:7-8) And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. {8} "So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. God sees our oppression and sorrow. God hears the cry of our heart for freedom. And God has come down to deliver us from bondage and bring us into a good land. Jesus said…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

May you abound with hope in the coming new year (Rom 15:13). Happy New Year in Jesus!

Louie

MERRY CHRISTMAS vs. HAPPY HOLIDAYS

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP (archives)

MERRY CHRISTMAS VS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS

(Luke 2:7) And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Can you imagine? No room for the Son of God at any residence or place in Bethlehem. Someone was kind enough, though, to allow the couple to stay out in the barn. Jesus was born. No crib for a bed. Just a manger . . . that’s a fancy way of saying an animal feeding trough. The first Christmas fraught with misunderstanding and just plain indifference. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. (John 1:10)

Can you imagine? A nation based upon the Bible and the faith of our forefathers now taking down crosses and the Ten Commandments? And now employees are told not to say “Merry Christmas” to their customers for fear of offending someone. America wants to put Jesus out in the barn. No room for Him in the inn because He’s not “in.” But remember it’s not the first time.

Without Merry Christmas there can be no Happy Holidays: (Psa 144:15) . . . Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!

So what do we do? Have a Merry Christmas by letting Jesus “in” our hearts. Will He find a warm reception in your heart? (Rev 3:20) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

“O come to my heart, Lord Jesus. There is room in my heart for Thee!”

Louie

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?

Here's some of the notes from this morning's message entitled "How Low Can You Go? We talked about how Jesus humbled Himself in coming to the earth. I know I went fast so you note-takers can get all the points and references:

Paul says in Philippians that Jesus not only was found in appearance as a man but that He humbled Himself even further by becoming obedient to death and even the death of the cross. But before we talk about the cross let’s talk about our Lord’s birth. Before we speak of Easter let’s talk about Christmas. We find Jesus was lowly all throughout His earthly life. Let’s identify some of the points of His life in this regard:

- Born in a manger – This was an animal feeding trough.

- But let’s go back even further. Think about it. Nine months before He was born, the divine Son of God was a single cell! He made Himself of no reputation (Phil 2:7). This means He emptied Himself of His privileges of deity.

- Born into poverty – His parents had no money to influence someone to give them a room. Later on they offered the poor sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves at the time of purification (Lu 2:24).

- Lived in a lowly town called Nazareth. (Mat 2:23)

- Lived in obscurity for thirty years (Lu 3:23)

- Was not educated (John 7:15).

- Chose humble disciples (Mat 4:18-22)

- Had no home (Lu 9:58)

- Did not promote Himself or showcase His signs (Mark 8:25-26)

- Rode on a donkey (Mat 21:7)

- Died in the most undignified way between two thieves (Mark 15:25-32)

- The soldiers gambled for the only piece of property He owned…His robe (John 19:23-24).

- He was laid in a borrowed grave (Lu 23:51-53)

- His spirit even went lower as His body lay in the grave - (Eph 4:9) (Now this, "He ascended"; what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

(James 4:10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

CONVALESCENT HOME CHRISTMAS OUTREACH

This morning was awesome! Each year the GO! Team puts on a Christmas party and passes out bakery goodies and gifts and have people share from the Word. People walk around giving encouragement and the sweet aroma of Christ fills the room.

This is Mary loving on a lady.

Jerushah plays a few Christmas carols on her violin and glorifies the Lord.

Preach it Tony!

Brian leads worship and Mary is the mike stand!

Ron Ayala with his daughter Maria (left) and Julie Kirkconnell

Ginny Lumley along with Jonathan and Jerushah. Jonathan just had his cast put on before he came. He injured his hand at Youth Camp (but still had a great time!).

(2 Cor 2:15-16) For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. {16} To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?