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2023 Why Hate? – Love Is The Answer! 3 20 23 2022 Let Go, Let God 4 14 22 Forevermore And Evermore! 12 23 22 |
2020 How Can You Mend A Broken Heart 3 3 20 |
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Thursday, April 20, 2023 |
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Scriptures: 1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV) – “For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” John 15:12 (NIV) – “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Luke 6:31 (NIV) – “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NIV) – “Do everything in love.” Message: The Bible states that no person is the result of an accident or mistake; humankind is God’s creation. God is very clear; all humans are made in His image. Jesus preached about discrimination and not judging others. So why do we hate? Why do we discriminate? Why do we condemn and judge others who are different from us? God’s attention to the physical, emotional, and social needs of those who don’t look like us, speak like us, or live like us, is significant. Yet some disregard these aspects of Jesus’ teachings; they “pick and choose”, and express their hatred for anyone who is not like them. If we believe the Bible is the fully inspired Word of God, then God should be our guide rather than our own personal opinions. If we believe the Bible has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct, doesn’t it make sense that we live our lives according to the Bible, rather than our own preferences? Regardless of race, sexuality, homelessness, or disability, all people are equal – and should be treated as such. Understanding that all men and women are created in the image of God means that we are called to see all other humans equally. We must walk in love. As it states in Proverbs 10:12 (NIV) – “hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all wrongs”. Prayer: Gracious and loving Father, Creator of all, please help us to always remember to love each other as much as Your unconditional love for us. Encourage us to listen and read. Shape us, so that we do not twist the meaning of Your teachings to justify our own thoughts and feelings. Jesus came to show us Your unconditional love. He befriended the poor, the lonely, the outcasts, the sinners, the ones that others deemed immoral. He was crucified so that we could be redeemed of our sins. Please help us to not lose sight of why Jesus came and died for us, and to continue His mission of love to and for all. Amen. Audrie Weissman |
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Maundy Thursday, April 14, 2022 |
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Scripture: Matthew 26:36-42 (NIV Extract) – “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter. ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’”Message: We probably have heard the phrase “Let Go, Let God.” Such a simple phrase, yet so powerful. It sounds so easy to do; yet it is the hardest thing to do. There are so many difficult times when we struggle, feel lost, confused, broken, or heart‑fallen; when we simply do not know what to do. We try to fix things on our own, but to no avail. We try repeatedly to do things our way, only to find ourselves no better off. We get frustrated, angry, depressed, and feel like there is no way out, because nothing changes. Those four simple words are the relief we need; we need to surrender ourselves, and pray: “Let Go, Let God.” Jesus did just that. As He was facing crucifixion; it was more than He thought He could handle on His own. He tried to talk with Peter and the two sons of Zebedee in His darkest hour. He brought them with Him as He went to pray, telling them the importance of His need to have them with Him. As He was praying, He simply “Let Go, and Let God”. Jesus turned to God in His time of need. He knew He couldn’t fix what was forthcoming by Himself. He needed God even more at that moment, to be with Him to carry Him through. Do we do that? Do we completely surrender ourselves to our loving God? We should, in all circumstances, "Let Go and Let God." The scars on Jesus’ feet and hands will always remind us of who He is and what He did for us all. Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray, that during this season of Lent, You help us to give ourselves completely and totally to You. Let us bring our brokenness to You. Let us never forget what Jesus’ scars meant for all of humanity. Help us to seek You out, so we, too, can “Let Go and Let You”. Amen. Audrie Weissman |
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Friday, December 23. 2022 |
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Scriptures: Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) – “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” John 1:4 (NIV) – “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” Message: The Advent season invites us to step away from what can be a frenzied time of parties and shopping to consider how we await the birth of Jesus. This is Advent…. We celebrate a new coming. We celebrate the arrival of a baby boy born in a stable. A baby, yet a king. The arrival of new life to a young, bewildered couple. The arrival of a new life for you and for me. This is Advent…. This is the time to reflect on the coming Messiah. Remember God's promises of hope, love, joy and peace that we have through Jesus Christ. Let’s focus our hearts and minds on Jesus during this busy holiday. This is Advent…. We eagerly await the arrival of the newborn King. We can eagerly await, with hope and assurance, the promise of a Savior who will one day return for us yet again! This is Advent…. When we look to Jesus and celebrate His birth, we remember WHY He was sent to earth. We realize that with His coming, we’ve been given so very much. This is Advent…. We celebrate the arrival of a baby. A baby who means so very many things to us. A baby who is the gift of grace. The gift of love. The gift of peace. The gift of life. And so much more…. He was. He is. He will be. Forevermore and evermore! Prayer: Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send Your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do, we who seek quiet spaces to hear Your voice each day, and we who are anxious over many things, look forward to Your coming among us. We praise You for Your everlasting love, Your endless patience, and for the greatest gift You could possibly give to us. It is in Your mighty name we pray. Amen. Audrie Weissman |
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Tuesday, March 3, 2020 |
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Scripture: John 14:27 (NIV) – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Message: The season of Lent is among us. We reflect on all of Jesus’ pain and suffering, and greatly await His resurrection which overcomes death, pain and sorrow for us all! During this season, most people give something up. Usually it’s some form of electronics – TV, computer, phone. Sometimes the purchasing of material things – like shopping. For me, 7 years ago, on an Easter Sunrise Service, I gave up pain, anguish, suffering, and a lost soul. My mom had died 5 years prior to that, and it was the most deepest, devastating loss I had ever encountered. I kept asking God to help me, yet I was sinking deeper and deeper into despair. For five years, I kept constantly reliving her last few weeks of life and her death, much like we relive Jesus’ life, suffering and death. But hope came through as Jesus left all of that behind at the resurrection. His pain and suffering were gone as He spread out His arms and gave it all to God. We can’t hold on to pain with both hands expect God to just take it away. He has nothing to grasp. We have to free up our hands to give them to God, just as Jesus did on the cross, so He can take it from us. So, during this season of Lent, a time of reflection, let’s not just give up “things”. Let us reflect on all that is weighing heavy on our hearts, and open up our arms and give it to God so He can take it, just as He took it from Jesus. Prayer: Loving God, I pray that You will comfort us in our suffering. Give us such confidence in the power of Your grace and love, that even when we are afraid, lost, or suffering, we may put our whole trust in You, as did our Savior, Jesus Christ, when He was on the Cross. I pray that we may never lose sight of You, even in our darkest moments, knowing that we can always give You our hands to take. Amen. Audrie Weissman |
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