Labor Day.  A day which we celebrate pregnant women.  Just kidding.  But it is a good day to  celebrate what God did for us in the beginning.  He labored for 6 days and rested from his labor on the 7th.  This also is not why we celebrate Labor day but many of us do get the day off of work.  Hopefully, you do remember on this day off of work that God is the one who created you and everything around you.  And hopefully you did not skip church yesterday.

Writing this a bit late this week but I am still thinking about the last hour.  This week’s school shooting and other headlines on the news shows just reinforce the idea that we are living in the last hour.  I hope you are ready when the trumpet calls and Jesus appears in the air.  Do not wait until the last moment or all will be lost.

We did not have many in services this morning so hopefully some of you reading this listened to the message on this website.  I want to let you all know that you were missed and I hope that we see you worshiping with us again soon.  And if this is reaching someone who does not regularly attend church, I would invite you to come to our humble little church and experience the fellowship that we have.

My family had a good trip out to my cousin’s funeral.  It is wonderful to attend a funeral when you know without a doubt about the final destination of the deceased.   We are only sad for her kids and grandkids.  But I will see her one day again in heaven.  Will I see you there as well?

I was reading Matthew 11-12 in devotions this morning.  It it he condemns people and places who have seen the many miracles of Jesus and yet still do not believe.  He even mentions that wicked cities like Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off in the judgment then the places Jesus did many of his miracles.  It reminded me of the place in Luke 12:43 which says, “But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  Last week, I asked us to pray for the peace not only of Jerusalem but America as well.  But I could not help but think that we have been given much here in America.  Many blessings are ours simply by being born here.  We have been give MUCH!!!  So how much is required of us???

When you know that you are following God’s will to the best of your ability and obeying what he has called you to do, it frees you from needless worries, doubt, and envy toward others.  But this can only happen if you are walking with the Spirit and carefully listening to his direction.  I hope that you all can experience that kind of freedom because there is nothing on earth like it.  If you do not have that confidence, maybe your prayers should reflect that.  Pray that God would show you how to live in the center of his will.

We often hear that we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps 122:6) but have you ever prayed for the peace of America or even the city that you are part of?  Jer 29:7 says, “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”  (note this verse is just before the famous “I know the plans for you . . .” verse).  We need to pray more often for peace.  And peace is not just the absence of war but for spiritual well being.  So PRAY.

I am still struck by something that was mentioned at our national conference last week.  BTW, for those following along, I think I might try to post a sermon from the conference on this website (you can find some more of them from MCUSA.org/shift).  The idea that the Missionary Church empowers everyday people (that is you and me) to love like Jesus and live like missionaries is powerful.  You and I can minister to people around us like missionaries.  Sharing the love of Jesus with them, telling them about his forgiveness and grace, and helping them fulfill their God given purpose in life is something every Christian is called to do.  Are you one of them?

Pray for me this next week as well as for the whole Missionary Church denomination as we have our biannual conference.  It will be a wonderful time to get together with churches all around America to celebrate and reflect on the last two years.  God has blessed us with incredible growth was other denominations are showing decline.  I pray that God will continue to bless us as we follow closely to his word without compromise.