Ministry in Motion

For many people, me included, Thanksgiving kicks off the Christmas season. Decking the halls, putting a wreath on the front door and boughs around the fireplace mantle. I have Christmas carols playing as I write. Why is Christmas such a big deal? It’s the largest celebration around the world. Other holidays get a single day, but it seems Christmas is emphasized for an entire month. When it comes, you can’t miss it, even if you don’t celebrate it. Frankly, you can’t escape it! “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” God gave us three special gifts in the verse. First there is the gift of Celebration. The second present is an invitation for Salvation, like making peace with God. And the third gift is that of Reconciliation, what the world and maybe you desperately need. Over the next three weeks I want to share some thoughts on each Christmas gift. Next week, the gift of Celebration. Peace!...Pastor Keith Vist us on the web: www.ministryinmotionusa.or

Gobble Gobble From the time the Pilgrim settlers first celebrated their day of giving thanks to President Abraham Lincoln officially setting aside the last Thursday of November “as a day of thanksgiving" we celebrate Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks to God for His gracious and sufficient provisions. The Scriptures, from cover to cover, call on us to live a life of gratitude, not just a day. Living thankfully gives God the credit he deserves, and that's sufficient reason to do it.  We, like the Pilgrims, have a choice. In life there will always be those things that we can complain about (the Pilgrims had lost many loved ones), but there will also be much to be thankful for. What are you thankful for this final Thursday of November?...Pastor Keith

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you. Psalm 25 : 21 Integrity. I've been riveted on this word all week. Integrity comes from the word “integer,” which means “unit of one.” Applied to our life integrity isn’t the pieces of the pie; it’s being the whole pie. Integrity shows up in the stuff that nobody sees. Like our life behind the scenes, the minor, the unobserved, the unspectacular choices of life where we do the right thing even though nobody’s ever going to see it. When you do something good, don’t do it in front of others so that they will see you. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Good advise, because it’s possible to live one life publicly and another life privately. That’s not integrity; it’s an invitation for God’s discipline. Just a Sunday Thought. Peace…Pastor Keith

Mocking God, who me? Never! To mock God is to pretend to love and serve Him when we do not, or to act in a false manner, to be insincere and hypocritical in our professions. Consider this: Confessing sin without remorse isn’t that mocking God? Could we be mocking God in our prayers, like when we are all formal, rote or fluffy? Or, when we pray for things without thinking about what we say – we just blah blah blah? None of us would ever mock God at the Communion table would we? I think we do, especially when we come to the table of the Lord as a mere matter of form; or, when we come with hostility and aggression in our hearts towards any of our brethren, friends or colleagues. Isn’t that mocking God, too? So let me ask you, how is it with you, are you honest with God? Or is your relationship with Him, well, been a mockery? A heavy Sunday Thought, I know, but peace…Pastor Keith #ministryinmotionusa   

When ya mess up in life, do you automatically think, “God's going to get even with me – I just know it!” Nothing could be further from the truth. The cool thing about God is that He’s not sitting up in heaven with a tally sheet playing gotcha. God doesn’t treat his children that way. He doesn't rub it in - He rubs it out. He doesn’t rehearse it - He releases it. The prophet Isaiah says God doesn't hold our sins against us. Once we've confessed our sins to Him, it's all forgiven and forgotten, and he doesn't even bring up the past. We might not be able to get past the past, but He can, if we are genuinely apologetic. Is there anything in your life that you need to tell him you are sorry for? Just a Sunday Thought…Pastor Keith

God’s Word will never change your life until you let it become personal. How do you make God’s Word personal? Try the personalize-it method, anybody can do it! You don’t need any special tools or advanced theological training. You simply put your name in the place of pronouns or nouns in Scripture. For example, if I were personalizing John 3:16, I’d write something like this: “For God so loved Keith that he gave his one and only Son, that Keith would not perish but have everlasting life.” Put your name in the text, and you’ll strengthen your faith and encourage yourself. Peace...Pastor Keith