exists to...   Worship God.   Love Others.   Share Jesus.

March 15, 2008

This past Sunday’s message segued from our "In Search of the Family" series, to our newest topic "Commitment." The man at the center of our sermon was Josiah, who at the age of eight, began to reign as King. You can read all about his rise to power, reformation, and death in the book of II Kings, chapters 22-23. He was the King who had been prophesized to come and bring a transformation and renewal within Israel’s kingdom. He did exactly that and I am quite certain he made a lot of people mad but it was time for a change from the wrong way of living. God was not happy with His chosen people and yet would not bring destruction upon them until after Josiah died...all because of Josiah’s attitude toward finding the Bible during a repair on the temple. God’s words were read aloud to the people and everyone repented. Reformation began immediately and God’s people enjoyed 31 years with Josiah as King and there Nation as of serving as King...something we in America should look at implementing.

I spoke last week about the Women’s group from Mt. Zion meeting together to hear from a speaker and filling Easter baskets for the children of the poor area of McKee. Well...it was such a great event that some of the ladies emailed Sharon Blackburn with their reactions and thoughts and I asked permission to share these, so...here are just a few of those comments:

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"What an AWESOME evening!!!! We made 80 Easter baskets/bags to send to the McKee mission. There is probably enough toys and such left to make maybe 7 or 8 more. Isn't it amazing what a group of women can do when we all work together. Thank you to everyone who came out tonight. Didn't we all have a great time?"
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"I thought it was wonderful. I really enjoyed socializing and helping others."
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"I had such a wonderful blessing making the baskets for those children. It was a great time to see all the gals working together for such a wonderful mission."
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"It was a great evening. I'm so excited about our women's group. God is going to work through all of us in such a mighty way. I can feel His presence. Looking forward to the next meeting. "
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"It was really awesome. Those baskets are really going to touch a lot of people's lives in such a great way. I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next meeting."
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"Even though I wasn't a part of the basket making. I loved the energy and spirit that was in our church last night. Such a reminder that God is still with us and that we have GREAT AWESOME people at our church."
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"Sorry I had to miss...Wasn't feeling well. I can't believe that you all made that many baskets in one evening."
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"What a blessing Wednesday night was! Helping others is on my heart so much and sometimes it is hard for just one person to feel like they are getting much done, but when there is a group together and we accomplish so much it really makes a difference. I hope we can get our canned food drive going soon. We could have people bring in just anything or we could do a different thing each month, like soups one month, pasta the next. Whatever you think would work in getting people motivated to grab up an extra box or can of something and bring it to church on Sundays. Have a good, cold, snowy weekend."
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Now...with those comments you might get the feeling that some of our ladies are really excited about their meeting.

This Sunday we will explore the day in Jesus' life where He rode into Jerusalem on a colt. The Hebrew children were oppressed by the Roman government to the extent they even had to go each day to a Roman official and request the priestly robes so they might worship. But this was not something new. God’s children have lived every day of their lives in bondage since we refused to follow God’s instruction in the Garden of Eden. The people in our text for Sunday were excited about Jesus and they were thinking He was going to become their physical King which would remove the Romans. They laid down their coats and palm branches to honor Jesus. They cried out to Him, as was stated in Isaiah chapter 12:

1 In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. 2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."

We will see this Sunday what the culmination of the books of Matthew chapter 21, Mark chapter 11, Luke chapter 19 & John chapter 12, have to tell us about this awesome day. Come Sunday and learn more about Jesus...the Jesus we usually do not like to talk about.

For the Cause of Christ,

Kenny