tinatinva

The message for this Sunday was the miracle of Jesus' birth and the great things that were of the Christ Child. It was also a message that was to set the church family to the mindset of our study for January on "What am I here for?"

Good morning, Be welcomed here as we celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.

We all look towards the future and make plans… our plans. Thousands of years ago the Hebrew people lived in bondage, and yet their faith and trust in the Lord brought them peace. As the people waited for their deliverer then, generations of people waited for a savior to come. In a little town he was born - a prince without wealth, but a king of the world.
Exodus 33:19 reads:
And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

As the angels and people rejoiced in the birth of a savior some 2000 Years ago, today we also rejoice - our savior is here. He lives within each of us and calls upon us to live in His name – and while we may have plans for our lives, just as God had a plan for the Christ child – God has a plan for our lives. Many of us spend years of worry and waiting trying to figure out why we are here when we simply need to recognize that if we listen, to the Spirit within us, the Lord will whisper it gently.


In Acts, Chapter 13 the bible says that “David served God’s purpose in his own generation” (Acts 13:36, NIV)

Like David, Christ served God’s purpose in his generation and for generations to come.. and today, we are called to serve God in our generation. What talents do we have that will serve him? How do we even start?
Just as they were then, today’s times are troubled – What then is our purpose? How do we find it?

Why are we here?

You know, day in and day out, I wonder some times, “Is this all there is?” you know really what it’s about?? There was a time when this really got to me.. right after our third son, Caden was born, my Dad died that same day just a few hours later .. for months, I’d get up, I’d go to work, I’d take care of the kids and the things that needed to be done. One day, I recall Terry said something.. he said “God works miracles through normal people”. It wasn’t long after that day when I heard a song that really spoke to me.. and I played it over and over again – there were many makeup touch ups in the parking lot where I work. For quite sometime, it became my anthem..my strength – and my saving grace – these simple words helped me embrace that my simple – but hectic life – well it might be my purpose..
Here’s how the song goes..

Wasn't That Long Ago
I Was Skipping To School With A Lunchbox
Pigtails In My Hair
Where Did The Time Go
One Minute I'm Playing In The Sandbox
How'd I Get To Hear From There
Making Lunches And Folding Clothes
Is Not The Most Glamorous Life I Know
But I've Got So Much More Than Most

I Had It All Planned
First I'd Make It Big In Nashville
Then Take Hollywood By Storm
But It Was In God's Hands
There Were Three Little Lives That Would
Need Me
To One Day Be Their Mom
I Wouldn't Trade It For Anything
Those Movie Stars Don't Have
Everything
I Know I'm Right Where I Wanna To Be

I Had To Let It Go, But I Have No Regrets
I Would Have Never Known This Kind Of
Happiness

I'm Not Famous But My Kids Think
I'm A Star
I'm Not Rich But I've Made A Million
Memories So Far
I May Not Be A Model
But My Man Thinks I Could Be
I May Not Be From Royalty
But In These Four Walls
I'm The Queen

I wonder what Mary thought those many years ago – did she know how very important her role as a mother and nurturer would be?