Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Come, Lord Jesus
December is already here! I know what you are thinking, there is so much to prepare. From the family photo Christmas card, planning family parties, decorations, Christmas tree, presents [etc.], there is much to do. Even as a church, we have so much planned during the month of December- Living Nativity, Advent Dinner, Voters Meeting, Children's Christmas Program, advent suppers and all the midweek and Christmas services. All we can say is...there is a lot to do! And yes, this month can be very stressful in so many different ways.
Yet it is during the season of Advent where we, in the midst of the flurry, slow down and dwell upon the blessed hope in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Advent, also translated as "coming" is a time to dwell upon our Savior coming to us in the past [Word made flesh], present [Word and Sacrament] and future [second coming]. A time where we meditate upon God's Word and His merciful promises given through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our theme for this year's Advent midweek services is based on the words, "Come Lord Jesus".
December 4th
"Come, Lord Jesus, to Him who comes to lead us in daily life"
Preacher: Rev. Timothy Barkett, Christ the King, Newbury Park.
December 11th
"Come, Lord Jesus, to Him who has come to create faith"
Preacher: Rev. Ernest Jeong, Faith Lutheran, Moorpark.
December 18th
"Come, Lord Jesus, to Him who has come to defeat the devil"
Preacher: Rev. Matthew Nolte, St Paul's, Agoura & Redeemer, Thousand Oaks.
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name, Immanuel, which means, God with us" Matt 1:23.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Through the all the busyness of life, the struggles, the chaos, the pain, it is in these words, "Come, Lord Jesus" that give the blessed comfort of God and His promise to you. His Coming is a great comfort knowing full well that our Lord never leaves nor forsakes us but He is with us until the end of the age. From past, present and future, may this season be a time of prayerful preparation, renewal and hope in God and His Word.
Come, Lord Jesus.
He has. He does. And He will.
✝️ Pastor Jeong
The full newsletter can be found here:
http://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2019/2019-12-Newsletter.pdf
Yet it is during the season of Advent where we, in the midst of the flurry, slow down and dwell upon the blessed hope in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Advent, also translated as "coming" is a time to dwell upon our Savior coming to us in the past [Word made flesh], present [Word and Sacrament] and future [second coming]. A time where we meditate upon God's Word and His merciful promises given through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our theme for this year's Advent midweek services is based on the words, "Come Lord Jesus".
December 4th
"Come, Lord Jesus, to Him who comes to lead us in daily life"
Preacher: Rev. Timothy Barkett, Christ the King, Newbury Park.
December 11th
"Come, Lord Jesus, to Him who has come to create faith"
Preacher: Rev. Ernest Jeong, Faith Lutheran, Moorpark.
December 18th
"Come, Lord Jesus, to Him who has come to defeat the devil"
Preacher: Rev. Matthew Nolte, St Paul's, Agoura & Redeemer, Thousand Oaks.
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name, Immanuel, which means, God with us" Matt 1:23.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Through the all the busyness of life, the struggles, the chaos, the pain, it is in these words, "Come, Lord Jesus" that give the blessed comfort of God and His promise to you. His Coming is a great comfort knowing full well that our Lord never leaves nor forsakes us but He is with us until the end of the age. From past, present and future, may this season be a time of prayerful preparation, renewal and hope in God and His Word.
Come, Lord Jesus.
He has. He does. And He will.
✝️ Pastor Jeong
The full newsletter can be found here:
http://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2019/2019-12-Newsletter.pdf
posted by Faith Moorpark
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12:42 PM
Friday, November 1, 2019
Thanksgiving
"Rejoice always, praying without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" 1Thessalonians 5:17-18.
Why are we thankful?
Of course, we thank the Lord for all that He has given to us in our daily bread. This includes, "food, drink, cloth- ing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like " [Explanation of the Fourth Petition of the Lord's Prayer]. Yes, there are many reasons to thank our Lord from whom all blessings flow!
Yet, at times, when life has its difficulties, where struggles arise, and suffering ensues, how quickly we retreat from rejoicing and giving thanks. It's easy to rejoice when things are going according to plan. It's very easy to give thanks when things are stacking up correctly. However, when circumstances go awry, how quickly we flee from our Lord. And thus, rejoicing, praying and giving thanks follow suit as they flee as well.
And I agree, life has its many and various challenges. As a Pastor, numerous they are. Even in life, constant they seem. Yet through it all, even in the times that seem to be full of darkness, the eternal light of Christ endures forever [Is40:8]. Yes, the word of God is the lamp unto our feet [Ps119] and therefore we flee, in faith, to His Holy Word. St Paul in the book of Thessalonians, reminds us of faith, rejoice, prayer and thanksgiving. All these rooted in the one who sent for us.
It is Jesus.
Yes, we may suffer and witness tragedy. Yes, we may face hardships that seem overbearingly overwhelming. Yes, we might see an insurmountable battle that is full of strife. And yes, we may tell ourselves that we have many reasons to be joyless, prayerless and thankless during this time of year. But again, in faith we flee to the One who died for us.
It is Jesus.
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Rm5:8
"Oh Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever" Ps107:1
"O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" 1Cor15:55-57
It is Jesus.
We "rejoice always" because He died and rose for us. From sorrow to joy [Jn16], it is our Lord who stood in our place [2Cor5:21], shedding His body and blood, dying on the Cross and defeating the grave three days later. Through His gracious sacrifice, we are covered in the good news of great joy! Your sins are forgiven, your names written in the book of life, your salvation has rescued you from sin death and the power of devil. This is your mark of true thanksgiving.
It is Jesus.
I pray that the Lord may grant you His joy as you continue to live in the victory of Christ to which our faith depends! Have a blessed November!
✝️ Pastor Jeong
The full newsletter can be found here:
http://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2019/2019-11-Newsletter.pdf
Why are we thankful?
Of course, we thank the Lord for all that He has given to us in our daily bread. This includes, "food, drink, cloth- ing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like " [Explanation of the Fourth Petition of the Lord's Prayer]. Yes, there are many reasons to thank our Lord from whom all blessings flow!
Yet, at times, when life has its difficulties, where struggles arise, and suffering ensues, how quickly we retreat from rejoicing and giving thanks. It's easy to rejoice when things are going according to plan. It's very easy to give thanks when things are stacking up correctly. However, when circumstances go awry, how quickly we flee from our Lord. And thus, rejoicing, praying and giving thanks follow suit as they flee as well.
And I agree, life has its many and various challenges. As a Pastor, numerous they are. Even in life, constant they seem. Yet through it all, even in the times that seem to be full of darkness, the eternal light of Christ endures forever [Is40:8]. Yes, the word of God is the lamp unto our feet [Ps119] and therefore we flee, in faith, to His Holy Word. St Paul in the book of Thessalonians, reminds us of faith, rejoice, prayer and thanksgiving. All these rooted in the one who sent for us.
It is Jesus.
Yes, we may suffer and witness tragedy. Yes, we may face hardships that seem overbearingly overwhelming. Yes, we might see an insurmountable battle that is full of strife. And yes, we may tell ourselves that we have many reasons to be joyless, prayerless and thankless during this time of year. But again, in faith we flee to the One who died for us.
It is Jesus.
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Rm5:8
"Oh Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever" Ps107:1
"O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" 1Cor15:55-57
It is Jesus.
We "rejoice always" because He died and rose for us. From sorrow to joy [Jn16], it is our Lord who stood in our place [2Cor5:21], shedding His body and blood, dying on the Cross and defeating the grave three days later. Through His gracious sacrifice, we are covered in the good news of great joy! Your sins are forgiven, your names written in the book of life, your salvation has rescued you from sin death and the power of devil. This is your mark of true thanksgiving.
It is Jesus.
I pray that the Lord may grant you His joy as you continue to live in the victory of Christ to which our faith depends! Have a blessed November!
✝️ Pastor Jeong
The full newsletter can be found here:
http://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2019/2019-11-Newsletter.pdf
posted by Faith Moorpark
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12:00 AM