Genesis 12:1-9 April 16 LHC Kids

Genesis 12:1-9 the beginning of Abrams journey. It is all about Faith.

We are teaching Faith every week in April to our children at LHC Kids.

Open your Bible to chapter 12 (read a little of 11 to get the genealogy), read about the faith Abram had.

It sounds so simple because you think....well they were probably nomadic people in those days. They were probably use to going hither and yon.

Well.....not really! The Bible says that Abrams father ( Terah) settled in this land and he lived 205 years. By the accounts of the family tree I gather they were a pretty tight family.

Leaving Haran for Abram was not an easy task or one Abram was really excited about. Think of the FAITH.......

In those days what did they really know about were they were going? For us when we move to a new city we know the classification of the schools, the demographics of the area, how close the grocery store is, weather or not it snows in January, the average temp in July, do people were white before Easter (just checking to see if you are alert).

In other words lets not overlook the sacrifice Abram made to follow God's plan.

Faith - the persuasion of the mind that certain statements are true.

So Abram had to convince himself what God was telling him was true and he needed to carry on what God told him.

In my life when God tells me to do something. Especially something hard, something I don't necessarily feel comfortable doing or feel a great sense of excitement about giving up, I wrestle with it. I try to find reason's God doesn't want me to do it before I come to the conclusion God isn't going to let this go.

Sometimes these are big things but sometimes they are little things.

Abram left his hometown to settle in another very unfamiliar place. God promised Abram some great things. Make him a new nation, bless him, make him famous, make him and all who bless him blessed, all people who he blesses will be blessed.

Wow! Does God give me those audible promises? Maybe not. But God does give me his word and through His word He promises me the same things He promised Abram.

God tells me that if I have faith in Him. If I follow His lead He will bless me in more ways than I can imagine. It may be hard but the end result is clear. He will bless me!

Have a great remaining week. I pray you have faith in Gods plan and you are filled with blessings beyond measure for being His obedient child!

Matthew 28:1-15 - Easter 2009

It is Sunday after Jesus was crucified. Mary M. and the other Mary go to the tomb to see Jesus and to sprinkle oils, as was a Jewish custom.

An angel appeared to them and said, "Do not be afraid."

From the beginning of the New Testament angels appear saying, "Do not be afraid." Zachariah, Mary (Jesus' mother), Joseph and now the 2 Mary's.

Imagine the angel. How in awe they must have been. Yet, the two Mary's had been in the presence of Jesus. They have seen God in the flesh. Why would they fear an angel?

Remember the traditional fear of God's presence? If a priest was in the Holy of Holy's, in the Temple and his heart was not right with God he would die. Also, women were not traditionally welcomed into the religious hierarchy of the day. So fear of the Lord was common.

The angel appeared to those who's hearts were pure. Mary Magdalen and the other Mary. Not the ones around them. The soldiers passed out. Remember that! The angel spoke to the 2 Mary's only. He did not speak to anyone else around them.

I am wondering. Is my heart pure enough for me to listen to God, or His angel, speak to me? What is His message for me? Are you ready to hear Him?

Jesus died for you and me and He has a specific message for each of us. He will reveal himself if we are ready. God knows when that is. We don't know when but we can prepare ourselves. So, as I ask myself, ask yourself, "Am I ready to hear God's plan for me?" I pray I am. I pray you are too.

Have an awesome Easter Sunday!

In Him......

Laurie

Matthew 21:1-11

The week before Jesus was crucified He paraded through Jerusalem with crowds cheering in recognition that He was The Savior.

Prior to His procession, Jesus gives his disciples specific instructions to follow that will full fill prophecy. Keep in mind they just heard Jesus predict his death for the third time.

What were they experiencing at that time? Were they as excited as the crowd was? Or were they morning the fact that Jesus was going to be crucified?

I have always loved Palm Sunday. I find it a time of celebration. I want to know that the disciples felt that way too. Did they know what they were a part of? Did they feel the excitement of the crowd? Finally Jesus is recognized as King! "Hosanna to the Son of David!"

Wikipedia says the word Hosanna is a cry of praise or adoration. It is also a Hebrew word meaning please save or savior.

Jesus is our Savior. The disciples experienced the crowds praise Him in adoration! They had to be joyful Jesus was about to full filled prophecy and they were there to witness it.

Reflect on Sunday, Palm Sunday, the procession and excitement of the day. This is part of the foundation of our belief. Jesus was born. Jesus walked with us. Jesus died for our sins. His people had an opportunity to praise and worship Him. Remember that in service this Sunday. Praise His name. Worship your King. Raise your hands high and praise Him.

This weekend our children will mimic the parade Jesus created. Our preschoolers will march through the worship center with palms in hand waving them in recognition of our Savior and the promise He came to full fill!

Have a great weekend. See you Sunday

In Him.......

Laurie

Prophets - John the Baptist

Seems odd to me that a mortal baptized Jesus. Yet I have to remember that John was more than just 'anybody'. John was a prophet.

John 1:6 A man came who was sent from God. His name was John.

So I real myself in and realize the importance of prophets.

John came to tell us about Jesus. To prepare his way. That is a huge job!

I'm the messenger who is calling out in the desert, 'Make the way for the Lord straight.'" John 1:23

John knew his role. He answered his call from God.

John, Habakkuk, Micah, Nathan. The prophets we learned about all month. They all had different jobs. All had different gifts. They remain steadfast in their role to communicate God's word to His people .......US! Prophets are selected by God to speak as His formal representative (Wikipedia). Deut. 18:18 "I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak to them all that I command him." See the important job? John wasn't just 'anybody'.

God breathed. Just as His word is true, the prophets words are true. So regard the prophets as God's voice.

I cannot imagine listening to a person who just spoke directly to God. Yet this has been going on for hundreds (thousands) of years. God has always been here and has sent messengers to speak to us yet we as a culture have a hard time listening. It's that 'free will' nature God gave us.

We continue to have a hard time hearing God's voice. We have it in writing. Clearly spoken, interpreted in any version that suits your fancy. You can even get the Word in magazine form! If you don't have a Bible at home you can get many different versions online. For free. Be in the word. God sent us His word so that we could have the audible voice. We have the prophets words. We have their written accounts. When we read His Word God's voice comes alive.

I hope you are all making your conversations with God personal. Journal. Pray. God will make His voice audible.

Have an awesome week!

In Him.......

Laurie

Prophets - Habakkuk

Have you ever read this scripture? Really? Habakkuk. A first for me I have to truly admit.
Lesson learned. There are NO bad books in the Bible!

Habakkuk was a prophet. A very frustrated one at that. He sees all kinds of things going on around him and he cannot believe all these people are getting away with it. Sound familiar?

Well it struck a cord with me. People being bailed out of this and bailed out of that. No one taking responsibility for bad things they did. Sometimes it looks like the entire world is falling apart. But is it?

Habakkuk finds himself in a world much like we see today. What does he do? He takes it to the source. He prays to God. He asks God some tough questions.

vs. 3 Why do you make me watch while people treat others so unfairly? Why do you put up with the wrong things they are doing? I have to look at death. People are harming others. They are arguing and fighting all the time.

The Lord replies, "Look at the nations. Watch them. Be totally amazed at what you see. I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe. You would not believe it even if someone told you about it."

It is hard to understand why God allows bad things to happen. But never forget that He is always in control.

Relying 100%. Giving God all we have is the only answer to the 'why's' we have for Him. Remembering that God does have a plan. Things are not falling apart so much that He cannot fix it. God is in control.

Enjoy the reminder of your spring break. See you Sunday!

In Him.......

Laurie

Loving Our Neighbor

Our recent stock market rally notwithstanding, the last year has been an exercise in uncertainty for many of us. In these trying times, some people are turning away from the church at a time when we need the church more than ever. We need the church to spread the message of salvation through Christ. And, often, people won't listen to a message aimed at their salvation unless their earthly needs are being met. This makes charitable giving (of both time and money) and missions work so important right now.

On that note, I just want to take this take chance to thank some LHC Kids volunteers for the generous giving of their time to the Pan De Vida Children's Shelter in Sandoval, Mexico. Mo Larrea, Sally Colombo, Jimmy Hampton and Jeannie Hampton all stepped up and showed love to the kids and got a lot of love in return.

And on a lighter note, here is the LHC Kids video on love from February. And thanks to Bob Fonseca for doing the heavy lifting on this.

Doug

Micah the prophet

Micah the prophet wrote of his vision from God. Micah's letter was written to warn God's people to repent. Micah wanted the people to realize the love of God, recognize their sins (fraud, theft, greed, debauchery, oppression, hypocrisy, heresy, injustice, extortion, lying,, murder, etc.) and rely on God to forgive them and change their hearts.



In chapter 5 (our teaching lesson for this week) Micah foretells the coming of Jesus Christ. This chapter provides one of the clearest Old Testament prophecies of Christ's coming.



vs. 2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, who's origins are from of old, from ancient times."



vs. 5 "And he will be their peace."



vs. 5.......we will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men.



What Micah means is that God will bring good leaders when he returns to reign.



Micah pleads with Gods chosen to repent. The Lord is coming. Repent. Put your trust in the Lord. Instead of being overwhelmed with fear we should put our trust in God and have confidence God will provide all military and monetary mite.



This just sits right with me, here, were I am right now. Why fret and worry about were the economy is going, etc., etc. With the knowledge and trust of Gods justice (foretold thousands of years ago). He will save His chosen. I am one of His chosen.



Thank you Lord for choosing me.



Amen



In Him.......



Laurie