Please disregard the 1st version of this blog you probably have already received. I hit the publish button by accident before I was finished! Here is the correct version and it is different than the working version you received.
The spring flowers and trees are getting ready to bloom. The squirrels and the spring birds are preparing to have babies. The crappie in the lake are preparing to spawn. The stars at night are still magnificent. The trees are loaded with buds and getting ready to bloom and bring forth their leaves. Spring is coming as always.
It is man’s world that is being shaken and disrupted! For all the rest of God’s creation it is business as usual. They are all doing exactly what they were created to do, to Glorify God in the way He made them. We too were created to Glorify God. We are God’s greatest creation and yet too often are His greatest disappointment.
Zechariah 1:2-3 . “The Lord has been very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:6-12 . “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,”Says the Lord of hosts.“But you said,‘In what way shall we return?’ “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”Says the Lord of hosts; “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,”Says the Lord of hosts.
“So what should we do? Luke 3:10-18 . So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.
The Good News! Jesus has made a way for us to be seen as spotless before God. We need to Go to Him in prayer and then listen. He will speak to you. Do what he says and watch the miracle of peace, love and joy begin to fill your heart. We are loved by an amazing God. There is much to be thankful for. Praising God for all the blessings we do have is what we should be doing. You have a choice. Worry or Worship! Choose Worship! Hope to see you all soon.
With Love, pastor Kent