Pastor’s Ponderings: My Christmas Wish
Did you get what you wanted for Christmas??? The poem in this post reminds us of the best gifts.
Read MoreAdvent Wreath Pre-Prayers for Christmas
The Advent Wreath shouldn’t be stuck in front of the church sanctuary. Keep the light burning day by day as you prepare for the next week’s worship and reflect on the previous week. This post uses excerpts from the Daily Devotions for Advent booklet to guide you through each of the wreath’s four candles.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Worship- the Most Important Time of the Week
Is it just another Sunday morning? Same ‘ole routine? Wrong outlook! In this “ponderings” Pastor Jim shares some ideas on how each worship service should be filled with anticipation and unity as we gather together.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: The Most Useful Tool
Discouragement is the Devil’s most frequently used and most effective tool. How can we fight against it? In this offering, Pastor Jim gives us some insight on how to become more encouraging.
Read More2021 Advent Devotionals: Preparation and Reflection
The Advent Devotional booklets for 2021 are available. If you haven’t received a printed copy, you can access the articles electronically by opening this post.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Celebrating Teachers
As we return to school, small groups and Sunday School, we should always remember our teachers and be thankful for those who give of their time, talent, and energy to help us learn.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: What’s it Mean to “Bear Fruit”?
In this excerpt from “Cultivating Fruitfulness,” Bishop Schnase reminds us that purpose and life come when the church turns outward to serve the community. When it turns inward, the church gets weaker and looses purpose.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Focusing on the Goal
An Olympian became distracted, lost his focus, and lost the race. Are we on target, focused on the bull’s eye? Or do we squander what God has given us and settle for fourth place? May we have such a level of commitment that we will not be distracted until we reach the goals God has set before us.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Running the Race with Perseverance
American athlete James Connolly dreamed of competing in the Triple Jump on the world stage. When the Olympics returned in 1896, he quit college and sailed for Athens. His persistence paid off; He won the first place prize. Victory is assured, but we are called to “run the race with perseverance” until the prize is won.
Read MoreYes U-Turn!!!
NO U Turn! It’s a sign we see all the time. NO! But God invites us to change, to grow, to experience deeper joy in life. God not only allows “U Turns,” He helps you make them!
Read MorePrayer Conditioning Warms Hearts!
A home Air Conditioner cools a room, but a person’s “Prayer Conditioner” warms their heart. When our first reaction is to turn to God and to trust Him, our hearts will be warmed by a more loving relationship with God, others, and ourselves.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: The Gift of Laughter
Did Jesus smile? Did He laugh??? God wants us to worship Him with Joy. Is it possible that we live in a world which needs to learn how to laugh again? Pastor Jim looks at these questions in these “ponderings.”
Read MoreWhat’s Your Garden???
During the 2020 pandemic, recordings from a “virtual choir” were merged together to produce a moving rendition of the hymn, “In The Garden.” Where is YOUR Garden? Where can you go to “walk with Him and talk with Him” and hear Him say that “you are His own”???
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Our Faithful God Can be Trusted!
Over and over, Scripture shows us that God is committed to us and is ready to help whenever we reach out to Him. God is so faithful to us! Are we faithful to God in all that we do?
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Forgive with God’s Forgiveness
We’re commanded to forgive, just as our infinite God has done. But what if we don’t have any forgiveness to give? If we can’t give our own forgiveness, let God empower you to extend His forgiveness.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Running the Race with Perseverance
As we look forward to the the end of the pandemic, the Bible and the experience of Olympian James Connolly give us guidance and inspiration to hang on and persevere. Pastor Jim submitted this devotion on 4/28/21.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: How to Carry a Burden
Carrying around burdens isn’t easy; rough times can really drag us down. But the good news is that God will carry the burdens and protect us from slipping. We can feel peace because God has promised that He will give us the victory.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Lifted from the Pit!
Feeling like you’re standing on the edge of an abyss, just trying to hang on and keep your footing? Or maybe you feel like you’ve already fallen down into the depths. In the scriptures, God promises over and over that He will rescue us from our “pits”. He is always with us.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Challenged but Not Overcome!
Julian of Norwich wrote that “God never said that we would not be assailed. But He did say that we would overcome. ” During all of the trials of this pandemic, how can we claim Jesus’ victory of “Overcoming the World”?
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Regardless of the Storm, Look for the Rainbow
We are currently enduring the “storm” of a pandemic, but throughout life we endure many different types of storms. But God continues to send rainbows. In this devotional, Pastor Jim reminds us that God is present regardless of the “storm” which we may be facing. There is hope. There is promise.
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