Heartland News & Prayer

December 19, 2010 by Wendy Carter.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’” Matthew 1:20-21

Winter officially arrives this coming Tuesday.  It seems as if it appeared two weeks ago particularly for the people in and around such places as Sarnia, London and Collingwood.  William is adjusting quite well to the cold and snow along with everything else.  Are you aware of the verse in Proverbs 9:9 which says, “Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.”?  We are all continuing to have a lot of fun being involved in William’s learning process.  He even got to have his first taste of pizza the other day when we took him to visit Stratford to show him some real snow with our son Lee, his wife Melissa and their baby boy.  William fell in love with Aiden (5 months old).  Tonight for the first time he gets to watch a hockey game with Steve Macdonald and Chris Burton playing.  Now, that will be cold.

How’s your coin collecting coming along for FAIR (money for Haiti)?  Are your boxes filling up?  How many eggs did you have in your house this past week?  1 cent per egg.  How about the number of socks?  2 cents for each pair.

Please continue to pray for Debbie Macdonald who is still facing possible surgery with her broken upper arm.

Unfortunately there will be no Home Group happening this week.

May you enjoy this season of celebration with your family and friends,

Wendy
wendy.carter@kainos.org
This blog is a summary of our 9:00 Sunday morning services held at 7777 Churchville Rd., Brampton, ON L6Y 0H3, 905-230-8116.  It can always be found at www.blog.heartlandfellowship.ca.

Why Christmas? by Gary Carter: It must have been very embarrassing when Joseph learned that his 15 year old girlfriend had become pregnant.  Even though it wasn’t easy he decided to move forward.  The angel then appeared (see verses above) and his day became very confusing as something like this had never happened before.  The Son was to be called Jesus or Joshua which means “saviour”.  Our world does not understand that we have Christmas because Jesus came to “save his people from their sins.”

A Canadian government study with 15,000 people revealed that if people go to church each week they will be half as likely get divorced. This is a reflection of just one way in which Jesus Saves! Jesus gave Himself up for the church.  Last week Gary learned from a colleague that when he was around 18 or 19 he was required by the Bible School he was attending to do Christian service.  Even though untrained, he taught five Grade seven boys.  Three out of five of these boys are today in full time Christian service.  Jesus gives us structure for life so that we don’t fall into the bad stuff of the world.  His life is not just a fantasy story like Santa Claus.

Urbanus & Stachys – Romans 16:9 - by Steve Macdonald: These gentlemen were also listed in this passage of scripture by Paul.  Probably  Stachys was personally known to Paul because he is called “a dear friend” like his friends Priscilla & Aquila; whereas Urbanus, a “co-worker in Christ” was not likely a fellow worker with Paul, but part of the same Christian brotherhood.  Paul has obviously heard about Urbanus (on the 6 o`clock news or in a blog ) and the work being done in Rome.  He is associating  himself with Urbanus as he speaks to the church of Rome.  The name Urbanus means “citizen” and Stachys means “ear of corn” - both names common to slaves or those that had been slaves.  These men are also numbered among the 70 Apostles.  Stachys assisted Andrew and was later  ordained by him as the first bishop in Byzantium (Constantinople). His feast day is October 31.

Jesus Feeds the 5000 – John 6:1-15 - by William: This is an important miracle as it is recorded in all four Gospels in the New Testament.  Jesus and his disciples were seeking a place to rest  but a very large crowd had followed.  Even though Jesus knew what He was going to do he asked Philip personally where they could buy bread for the people to eat.  He was testing Philip.  God wants to hear from as as believers and tests our faith to help us grow.    When gold is first found it is very dirty and mixed with stones and soil.  When tested with fire the gold melts and becomes pure. God will provide and has a plan for us even if we have nothing.  Jesus wanted to use the little boy with his five barley loaves and two small fish.  He wants to use His people even though they are little.  What do you have to give to your God?  Bring it to Him with a humble heart.

Jesus wanted the people to sit down on the grass.  We must sit down before God at His feet before we do anything.  We must listen to Him and then He will bless us.  Remember the story of Mary and Martha.  It is good to be hospitable as Martha was but Mary was not just sitting.  She was in the right position to get a blessing from Jesus.  Sit down before Him with a pure heart.

When the people had had enough to eat Jesus wanted the leftovers to be gathered up so nothing is wasted.  Why does God ask this?  He is not poor.  He wants to use the smallest things.  Jesus then withdrew from the crowd who wanted to make Him King.  He doesn’t want to sit on the throne without the cross.  He wants us to walk on the way of the cross – not a short cut or a popular way.  At the end of His journey Jesus did sit down.  He can use you and me.  Be faithful, humble and generous to God and He will bless you.  Don’t put your trust in your money or your job.  William was asked to translate for a pastors’ conference in Yangon.  Unfortunately they were not able to pay his expenses and even asked him to donate.  At the end of the conference two people came along, asking for prayer and gave him money to cover all his expenses and cover a Buddhist outreach planned in his church.

Communion:  This time of remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection is a very simple act.  It gives us an opportunity to give thanks for His body that became broken beyond belief.  His death was because of and for our sins.

Top Ten Favourite Christmas Songs for Cats by Steve Macdonald:

#10 – Up on the Mousetop
#9 – Have yourself a Furry Little Christmas
#8 – Joy to the Curled
#7 – I saw Mommy Hiss at Santa Claus
#6 – The First Meow
#5 – O come all Ye Fishful
#4 – Silent Mice
#3 – Fluffy, the Snowman
#2 – Jingle Balls
#1 – Wreck the Halls!

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