Tim's Topics: Don't Worry. You Are The Body of Christ!

Tim's Topics: Don't Worry. You Are The Body of Christ!: Matthew 6:25-33 25  ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, *  or about your...

Don't Worry. You Are The Body of Christ!

Matthew 6:25-33

25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,^* or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?^* 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor was spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory not clothed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” ³² For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But strive first for the kingdom of God^* and his^* righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Beloved, as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week and we gather with our families to feast in abundance, let us truly thank our Heavenly Father for the provisions that he has given us this year. At this time of year the need is truly the greatest for those that have lack of food, shelter, clothing and even fellowship. Many of those that are without this Thanksgiving may be parents that are wondering how to feed their children and supply them with the most basic of needs.

There may be those that are alone that are worried and depressed that they will be alone this Thanksgiving. The scripture from Matthew tells us not to worry about these things, for the Lord will supply them.  As a Pastor and fellow Follower of Christ I am sure that God will provide for the needs of many, but this is where you and me come in.

As the Body of Christ, we are those that can physically stop the worry, the need, and the loneliness this Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our call as followers of Christ, those that were created in God’s image, is to reach out to those in need, and those that are in loneliness and depression. Yes, God will supply the needs of the many and it is up to us to answer His call and to feed His sheep and to tend to His flock.

 ³² For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³But strive first for the kingdom of God^* and his^* righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

How will you be the Body of Christ, this Thanksgiving and Christmas? God is calling, how will we respond? You truly have the gift and the call to stop others from worrying.

This is the Day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

Making Room at the Table.

1 Corinthians 10:17 ESV

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

As we will soon be approaching the time of Thanksgiving, the narrative that most Americans will gather around is that of the Thanksgiving Table of Bounty. Many of us also understand that there will be others whose tables will be sparse or even empty of this bounty that we celebrate. Many of us will work with local ministries and charities to feed the needy and often the forgotten this Thanksgiving. What would the world be like if all of the world was invited to a bountiful table every day and that hunger no longer existed?

One of my prized pictures that hangs in our home is that of Polish Artist Bohdan Piesecki’s titled “Last Supper”. This painting of the Last Supper by includes 6 women and 2 children, as well as Christ and His 12 apostles. Most classic paintings of the Last Supper (like Leonardo DaVinci’s Masterpiece) only show Christ and His 12 male apostles. But we know from scripture that Christ’s women disciples and His mother Mary had followed Him from Galilee up to Jerusalem, and the next day it was the women who were at the foot of the cross when the men ran away. This painting also shows a traditional Jewish Passover meal, with all the men wearing prayer shawls, eating with their right hands and reclining around a low table on cushions and rugs. In the front of the painting can be seen the basin and a towel from the washing of the feet.

As I walk down the stairs of our home, this picture is strategically placed at the bottom of the stairs, there is no way to go any direction without seeing it. This picture centers me and helps me to understand that with Jesus Christ comes bounty, yet in this world we still see many who hunger for the nourishment of Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual food.

Beloved, through the Lord’s Table, we gather as a united people in one bread and one cup which represents the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ. In my tradition, all are welcome at the Table of the Lord. Jesus calls all who hunger and thirst, those that hunger for a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, to come to His table.

My prayer is that this Thanksgiving (and every day) we will feed the hungry and invite them to our tables with open arms, open hearts and the blessings of God’s bountiful table and bountiful relationship.

This is the Day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

“Mommy you aren’t holding a hand.”

Isaiah 41:13 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹³ For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you.”

Recently when praying the closing prayer of our worship service, our small group gathered and held hands as to pray our closing prayer together. As we began to pray a small child’s voice spoke and said:

“Mommy you aren’t holding a hand.”

The child’s mother was holding a hand, but her other hand was not holding another’s hand as to close the prayer circle. Needless to say, small laughs started as we heard this precious child request that a complete prayer circle be made. Our group made a complete circle of held hands as we prayed the closing prayer together.

The scripture from Isaiah tells us that His holding of our right hand can also be read as “will strengthen you”. This verse speaks to the fact that when in prayer we are forming an alliance with God as to enable us to do the things that we request in His name.

The same can be said about holding hands when praying and even when forming a circle of hand held prayer. As we approach the Father in relationship and gain strength from this relationship, we gather in community as a conjoined alliance seeking out the Strength and Support of God.

It is this unity of faith that comes from these moments of group prayer that strengthens our faith and commitment to God, while being with people of like faith in prayer relationship.

This can also supply the answer that some have in asking: “Why do I need to go to church, I can worship God anywhere”? Beloved, it is the support and alliance with like minded people that reminds us that we are the family of God, and together we form the Body of Christ.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is a personal relationship. But when we gather to worship as a group and when we hold hands and embrace one another in Christian love, we are truly holding and embracing each other with the hands and arms of Christ.

It only took a small child to remind us of this.

Matthew 19: 13-14

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

Connecting Growing and Serving

2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

The message the Apostle Paul is communicating is that the people of God are to be committed to His ministry.

The grace that we take with us is the fact that we minister with the full power and full energy that God has bestowed upon us. We that call ourselves the Body of Christ continue on in this year 2015 with God's message that we represent Him to the ends of the earth. 

We that we are called to be the bearers of God's providence to a suffering world, must be prepared to go out in full power and praise of the one who sent us.

Beloved, my prayer for you this week is that you will feel the energy that God has placed in you, as to be His disciples. May we take this moment and this opportunity to 

·                     Connect with others

·                     Grow in Christ

·                     Serve others.

God has called and God has instructed. May we use this God given energy to touch others with the love and spirit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.




This is the day that the Lord has made.

Tim's Topics: Tuffy Snuggles

Tim's Topics: Tuffy Snuggles: Zephaniah 3:17English Standard Version (ESV) 17  The  Lord  your God is in your midst,     a mighty one who will save; he will re...

Tuffy Snuggles

Zephaniah 3:17English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷ The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

Many of us find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, especially when the warmth and comfort of the bed are just right. Our family has a dog named “Tuffy”, and Tuffy loves to jump in bed with his human parents (Lynne and Myself).

Tuffy will tuck himself in behind our back or legs and curl himself into a snuggle ball. I guarantee that this ball of fur makes it difficult for one to get out of bed because of his comfort and also not wanting to stir him from his loving trust of us.

If you can imagine the love and comfort that a pet family member brings to their humans, can you imagine the love and comfort that our Father God supplies us.

Zephaniah uses some powerful words to describe this love:

• ·         Is in our Midst (He is always among us)
• ·         Rejoices over us (Takes delight at being with us)
• ·         Quiets us (Frees us from disturbance, places us at peace)
• ·         Exults over us with His love (Rejoices with us)

Beloved, even on difficult days when we are so comfortable that we don’t want to go out into the world, take hope that God’s is surrounding you with his love and presence. God, is much more than that family pet that supplies you with warm cuddles on a cold morning. God supplies this feeling to us whether we are in bed, at work, or at play.

God is present and rejoicing over us as to quiet us and comfort us when we are in places of discomfort. God quiets the world and showers His love over us in the snuggling love and bear hug love that only a Father can provide. So, don’t be afraid to kick the dog out of the bed and start your day, for the Father is holding and loving you this day and through eternity.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Pastor Tim.