By Pastor Hartman

Thanksgiving will soon be upon us. I imagine many have come up with the menu. Some have even made the purchases which possibly include turkey, with all the trimmings, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie… Are you hungry yet?

Thanksgiving! Images come to mind such as the gathering of family and friends, an awesome meal, Thanksgiving Day Parade, Football, a nap and food, food food!

Almost everyone in America celebrates Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims dug seven times more graves than they built huts. For example, for ever 10 huts, they dug 70 graves. Yet they still set a day aside to celebrate with their new friends and give thanks to God for his blessings.

We have so much! Generally we get ourselves anything our heart desires. Sometimes we forget there are others just struggling to live.

Help Me Thanksgiving Day Prayer, by Samuel F. Pugh

O God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home,
help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer,
And remembering,
help me to destroy my complacency;
bestir my compassion,
and be concerned enough to help;
By word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.
Amen.

This Sunday we will take up a special offering for the hurting victims in the Philippines. It will go to the Red Cross, a trustworthy agency, that will use collected funds for the intended purpose. As we sacrifice just a little of what we have to bring relief, I know our meal will taste even better. And as we give God thanks for what we have, let’s pray for those in dire need.

By Pastor Hartman

This has been somewhat of a hard week for us. Charlie, our black (and graying) Labrador Retriever is no longer with us. She has been a part of our family for over 15 years. She was pretty old for a lab, they say. I, my wife and three grown children are affected by her sickness and her passing.

Since my wife was on the way to the hospital for a non-life-threatening procedure, it was my duty to take Charlie in to the local veterinary clinic. She had gotten so weak, she had bladder cancer, and suddenly lost the use of her back legs. The night before I took her in she had crawled using her front legs to our bedroom door, asking to go outside. She was actually too weak to bark, and had lost control of her bladder before we were able to put her outside.

After we cleaned her up, as well as the floor, we put her on her bed and threw a cover partly over her. My wife left and I was getting ready to do what I had to do. The whole time she was giving out a little whine. It was so interesting to me that she stopped whining when I told her it was time to go. She never made a sound from that point on as I drove to the vets.

I couldn’t help but think of Isaiah 5:7, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

Late that afternoon I picked up my wife and we went on to be with Charlie for a few more minutes. We got to say our goodbyes, and praise her for being such a good dog. She was alive, but barely with us. Then the doctor gently allowed her to leave a body that was used up. I admit, tears flowed, and do so now as I write this. As hard as it was, we did the right thing for her.

As I write on, please don’t be offended as I make a comparison between our dog and Jesus’ death. I in no way do I consider our Lord to be like our dog.

My dear friends,

When the Lord Jesus went to Calvary’s cross, he went in the very prime of his life. He could have reviled, but didn’t. He could have called heaven’s angels to release him, and smite his enemies, but he didn’t. It was not a used, diseased and worn out body, but a pure, undefiled one that was being crucified. He submitted himself to a heavenly plan to bear our sins and diseases.

Those that thought him to be weak we’re wrong. He was God in the flesh, manifested to take away the sins of the world. He was strong in resolve… He was strong in his love for humanity… He was intent to do God’s will.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

I am so glad he went willingly for you and me… He died so we could live forever with him. Some reflect their love with only words. Jesus reflected his love through words, but when it was finished, he reflected his love for us, in silence.

As I praise the living, loving Lord of heaven, I also pray for you, my brothers and sisters. May God bless and keep you today, and forever.

By Pastor Hartman

I trust the first half of your week went smoothly. And I trust the second half of your week goes well. At this moment, or any other, we stand between yesterday and tomorrow.

What went well for you last week? What didn’t go so well? If you could live it over, what would you change? What could you change? Some things that happen are out of our control. Some things we make happen. Yet in every thing, whether good or bad, whether controlled by us or not, our attitude is involved. Following attitude is emotion. Attitude and emotion can either paralyze us or propel us as we face tomorrow.

Where is God in your yesterdays? One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:28. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

That doesn’t mean that all things are good, but they work together for my good.

If some things work together to bring me on my knees in prayer, they work for my good.
If some things work together to illicit praise from my heart, they too work for my good.
If I remember that I am God’s child, that He loves me, regardless of what comes or goes, it all occurs for my good and for His purpose.

His purpose is my salvation. That’s His purpose for you too, that you will be saved for all eternity. If anything turns you from your Savior and your salvation, from His truth and your trusting Him, then it is outside of His purpose for your life. Your attitude and emotions are key.

Remember, God loves you and wants the best for you and from you. I know what He would choose for you. What will you choose for yourself? May all things work together for your good for you today and always.

By Pastor Hartman

When I think of Christmas, I think of God giving His best for me, for you, for the world.
Wrapped up in that tiny bundle was a gift that didn’t lose value, and that keeps on giving.
Unwrapped, we see the supreme love of God bringing grace and truth to a lost world.
And in the face of an innocent baby we see the hope our lost innocence found again.
One can’t read the story of Christ’s birth without considering the death He was to die.

To me, Christmas wouldn’t have meaning without considering these things.
It would be an empty holiday of going fast, but getting nowhere fast.
It would be a season of purchasing presents because everyone else is, and it’s expected.
It would be a time of decorating to see if we can out-decorate our neighbors.
It would be a time to only sing songs of flying reindeer and an eternally jolly man.

Without Christ Christmas wouldn’t be merry and bright. It would be Christ-less indeed.
So, let’s remember the One who remembered us.
Let’s give our best to the One who gave His best to the world.
Let’s sing loudly those carols that release the true story to every one everywhere.
CHRIST the SAVIOR is born!  Christ the savior is born!
Yes, it’s Christmas time once again.
Praise God!

By Pastor Hartman

2014!  Wow…. Where did 2013 go anyway? I’ve written the wrong year several times on correspondence this year already.  I’m getting better though. All it takes is correcting it a couple of times, and I’m writing “2014.”

We greet each other, “Happy New Year!” And we truly want the best for our friends and relatives. We truly want to experience a good new year ourselves. There’s those New Year’s resolutions we write down as we determine to help make it a better year than we experienced last year:

“This year I’m going to lose weight, get in shape, read the Bible through,” and so on… You fill in the blank. But I wonder what God wants for me and for you this year?

As we begin each day, let’s start out by asking the Lord to direct us. “Lord, what would YOU have me do? I belong to You and I want to yield myself to You. Is there anyone I can help today? Is there anywhere in particular You want me to go today?  What would You have me do and say?”

As we open ourselves to God and His design for us we WILL experience a Happy New Year!

God bless each of you! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
And Happy New Year God!