4/10/20:   

1 Corinthians 15

3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

Paul tells us in summary what we learn in the Gospels about what Easter is all about.

As we move closer to Resurrection Sunday we hear about Jesus breaking out of the Tomb, and we know He came upon the 12 while they were locked down.

Have you ever been locked in or locked down?

The first year I was pastor at Skippack, over 20 years ago, I went to the church for some office hours. It was a cold dark night. We lived about 5 Miles away at that time.

I decided that before I left for home, I would change the Lettering on the sign outfront.

Once I was finished, I was cold cause I didn’t wear my coat out to the sign.

That is when I realized that my keys and my Phone were in my Coat pocket. I wasn’t able to get back in the church, my car or even call anyone.

I decided to Break In.

Now Skippack was built in 1855 and in those days the windows were heavy pieces of solid wood. They would be hard to open, especially if locked. I used part of the Mailbox pole to pry one open. Slowly I was able to lift it up so I could slide up and into the church.

I was pretty proud of myself.
That feeling left quickly when, just as was ¾ of the way inside, the window abruptly closed, catching me just behind my two Knee caps. Right in the crook of the legs.
I couldn’t move. I was dangling about 2 feet off the floor inside and could even yell for help – who would have heard. We are a “small Country Church”, and no one was around.
I thought how disappointing the folks would be when they came in the next day to see their new pastor, frozen and stuck in the window.
The I saw lights flashing. At first I thought I was heading to Heaven, but instead I realized they were Police.
I was filled with joy.
That quickly ended when I heard the Office say “Sir, come out from the window and raise your hands”.
WHAT?? I thought, is he serious?
“Officer, I responded, ‘I cant do that”
He repeated “I am telling you to come out of the window…”
“Officer, you're not going to believe this, but I am the Pastor of the Church and I am stuck in the window.”
I went from my “Good Friday” moment to an Easter moment, once he rose the window and I slid out. 
I still have to convince him who I was and all my ID and Keys were inside….. He held the window as I went in and kept the bright Flashlight on me till I climbed in and walked over to the front door.
I was Free!!

The Photos attached take us from The 3 Crosses for Good Friday to Easter – or as I like to call it, “The Son-Rise”.
Many of us wear a Cross around our neck, many have a Cross hanging in our homes. The Cross is a symbol of Christianity.
Let’s consider the Empty Tomb as one as well. Many died on a Cross but only one came out of the tomb.
Only One was Locked In and Came out – very different from me –Locked Out and Came In - well at least with the Police Officers help.
That is a powerful statement about the power and the love of God.
It is a statement about the power to wipe away fear and uncertainty cause the Tomb was empty.
Should we continue to live a life of Good Fridays”, we may miss the joy and the power of the Son-Rise.
On Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. The grave no longer has a hold on Him. We know that everything is OK now and we can wipe away the tears.
I’m sure that every one of us has been touched by difficulty in recent months.
I’m not just talking about the Pandemic. That in itself is enough to make our world sad.
But, in addition, some of you have lost loved ones. Some of you have lost relationships. Some have lost jobs. Some of you have lost your health.
Some of you grieve over school or in our personal lives.
An elderly man facing difficult trials said this past week, “I don’t know how much longer I can take this.” Yesterday I spoke with my mother who was at my dad’s bedside in the hospital.. I told her that I was going to talk today about wiping away the tears. She said, “Sometimes it’s hard to wipe all of them away.” We have all experienced it and we feel that all the tissues in town won’t wipe away the tears.

On that first Easter morning we see how God took Mary and the others from sadness to joy, from brokenness to wholeness.
Mary knew what it was to weep. Then, according to Luke 7, she came to Jesus, kneeling at his feet, weeping, and bathing his feet with her tears. Finally, she had found one in whom was real love. Jesus not only loved her; he forgave her sins.
And when Jesus died on that cross- Good Friday -she was heart broken.
Then she discovered that the tomb had been opened and the body was no longer there.
The grave was empty, not because someone took Jesus away, but because he got up and walked out. God had opened the door of that prison and freed Jesus from death. He did not get stuck – in a window or on Good Friday.
As we move to Easter and the Joy of the Son-Rise, let us be the same.
Think about this. Easter this year may be a little different for us. Many are Locked IN, not Out, many have troubles and are worried. Many are overworked standing up for others. That FIRST Easter was similar. They didn’t go to a church to sing “Thine is the Glory” or other songs .. they were LOCKED in. They were frightened, disappointed, worried. They Jesus broke out and broke into their lives.. The Joy returned. They went from a Good Friday life to an Easter life.
We can do the same. Let us celebrate the JOY,


Lets Pray:  Father God, during these days till the SonRise we marvel in the power and promise of our Holy God. You lord Jesus were not LOCKED in any longer. You take us from the Good Fridays of our lives to the Joy of Easter.
We thank you and we praise you. We shout for Joy “He is Risen – He is Risen Indeed”.
We pray this in the risen lords name, our Jesus, Amen 

  4/4/20:   

   Luke 5
5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Reading this passage shows us how important it is to follow directions. Peter didn’t know it at the time, but because he followed directions he soon would be 'fishing for men' rather than in the Sea. His entire life was about to change.

Following direction is important.

A few years ago Barb and I were at a Conference in West Va. We were staying on the top floor of the Marriott. 

Barb was in a seminar and I went to the room to do some work on my laptop. 

I received a call on my Cell and as I usually do, I walk around when talking. I walked over to the Balcony and the sliding doors, I noticed a sign on the door which read "This Balcony is only for view from the inside. DO NOT GO OUT ONTO TH BALCONY"

Guess what? Yeah, you’re right, I slid the door open and went out. The door closed behind me as I continued the call.

The hot summer afternoon sun was beating down on me. I started to feel it, and decided to go back in.

Guess what? 

Yeah, right again, the door was locked. I was stuck on a balcony I didn’t belong. I quickly ended my call.

How was I to get back. Barb wouldn’t be back for 2 hours and I couldn’t call her while she was in the Seminar. I looked down to the ground. I saw a friend I knew and Yelled “Herb…. Hey Herb”. He looked around, could barely hear my call…. Then he looked up to the 14th floor.

That is when I thought ‘what can I say to him, how do I explain, what could he do?’… so I just waved to him and said “Hi There”

Now I was really getting hot.

I decided to call the Front desk…. “Hi, this is Mr ONeill in 1427 and I am stuck on the balcony.

“Sir’,  the reply came back, ‘you are not to suppose to be ON the balcony”

“Yes, I know, I am sorry, but regardless I am locked out and need help”

“I cannot help you but will transfer you to Concierge”, she told me.

Finally Concierge answered.

“ Hi this is Mr ONeill in 1427, I am locked out of my room”

“Oh, so sorry’ he said. “are you outside your door”

“No, I am on the Balcony”

“Mr Oneill, youre not suppose to be ON the Balcony”

UGGGG.    “Yes, I know, but I AM. I need someone to help me”

By now the summer heat was getting to me in a few ways…

“I will transfer you to Security”

FINE, I thought…. “Yes, Please do”

“Hello Security” was the voice I heard after 10-15 minutes.

Again, “This is Mr ONeill and I am locked outside on my Balcony.

Yeah, right again…. “Sir you are not suppose to be on the Balcony”, was the reply.

“I KNOW, I KNOW but I AM!!  Yeah the heat in my body was getting to rise like the Heat ON my body.

“I will send someone up”.

“Thank you”. I also thanked God.

Another 10-15 minutes went by, and then I heard a KNOCK on my door. Yes, a KNOCK. I couldn’t believe it. Then the knocking ended. They left.

I called Security again. This time a different person.

“Sir we sent someone up but no one answered the door”

“How am I suppose to answer the door when I am stuck on the balcony”

“Mr ONeill, you are not suppose……..”

I cut him off in midsentence. “I KNOW I am not suppose to be, but I am and I need security NOW!!”

The Sun was beginning to turn my Scots/Irish body to a cooked lobster state.

FINALLY, I heard a knock again and two fellows came in.  They walked across the room to me.

There I was standing in my drenched T-Shirt, sweating, hot and annoyed… one at myself and two, cause it took over an hour to get back in.

They walked to the door and before they opened it – yeas, truth… They pointed to the sign which read “DO NOT GO OUT ONTO THE BALCONY”

I growled slowly -- “OPEN – THE- DOOR”

They did.

Barb came back about 20 minutes later and looked at my redness and the sweat and said “Oh, I didn’t know you were going down to the Pool”

This passage from Luke is about following directions.

Different of course, but still directions.

I thought that the Sign was insignificant, probably as Peter felt when Jesus, this fellow who was just preaching on his boat said “Put out into deep water”

The day was over, he had this teacher in his boat and he had other plans…. But, unlike me, he followed the directions.

It may have seemed trivial, but it set him on a different course as he ‘sailed’ though history.

Then he threw out his nets, the same ones he had out all day, and had more fish than he could handle.

I wonder if he may have even found a Lobster or two.

Just by following these directions verbatim , he saw the power of this preacher man, and never looked at Him the same.

God still gives directions.

We surely have had a lot of directions lately.

“Don’t go out in public – stay 6’ feet apart- No social gathering – wash your hands”

I have been following them, as many of you are.

We have been washing our hands so much to the tune of Happy Birthday to me….just as the directions say … that later this month, when the family brings my Birthday cake in, and they start to sing, I will probably rush over to the sink.

Yes, we follow those directions well.

Are we following HIS directions as well.

To “Be Still” to “Trust in me with all your heart”; to “not be anxious for anything – and to pray”

When we listen to HIS directions, we may still find ourselves stuck on a balcony someday, but we will never be lost or alone.

Lets Pray:

Father God, We thank you for the directions you give us. Sometimes we find them in your Holy Word. The Bible gives us them abundantly.

We hear them as well in the stillness of the day, when the Spirit speaks to us. May we follow them this day and throughout this journey.

Bless those in need, and you, Lord Jesus, know whom they are and what they need. Yes, Bless them and us this day.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen

  3/31/20:   

Luke 15:1-7

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
HAVE you ever wandered off like the sheep?
Part of you knew you shouldn’t but you did anyway…
A few years ago I was in the Hospital for 2 weeks. I missed being home with Barb and I missed our Dogs. 
One day Barb brought the dogs over for me to see. They were in the car down in the Parking Lot, and she parked near my window. I was on the 4th floor.
When she arrived my sister was there as well visiting.
She said the dogs were here and in the car. I was excited to see them.
My Sister and Barb were blocking the view and I wanted to see.
I could hear them laughing and saying things like.. "aw, look how cute they are", but I couldnt see them.
SO – I took my Drip Pole and in my Gown and walked out.
Barb and Sharon never saw me go, I walked right pass the Nurses station, got on elevator and walked to the car..
My sister saw this 'guy', rolling his Drip Pole through the Lot and laughinly said...“Hey, that fellow with the Pole looks like Larry”
Barb turned to see my empty bed… “THAT IS LARRY”.
They ran out, followed closely by Nurses and Security.
They got me back. Gotta tell ya, they were not happy.
Yes, I guess I knew I should not have done that, but when other things distract us, perhaps we 'wander off'.
That can be not be good in these times as well.
We are doing what we should be doing, for ourselves, our families and the community at large, and some for almost 3 weeks. We get rammy (if thats a word) and start drawing on the things we WANT to do rather than what we SHOULD do and wander off.
Now that is just not meaning we want to get OUT, but we also fall away from our spiritual life.

It surely would be wonderful if after we accepted Jesus, our lives progressed in a straight line of uninterrupted obedience to our heavenly Father. 
That is not always the case however, because we all stray now and then. 
Jesus tells this story about a shepherd who went in search of a lost sheep. 
While this parable is about the salvation of a wayward soul, the lessons in the story can also be applied to those of us who belong to Christ.
We know we are held  in the Father’s hand (remember - He's Got the Whole World in His Hands) and will never lose our salvation, we can drift away from Him when distractions come in front of us.
Those distractions can be Cabin Fever, or Fear, worry and anxiousness. That is the time when we should ask - why would I wander away from the God who loves me?
If a sheep takes its eyes off the shepherd, it can easily meander toward a more appealing patch of grass and end up far afield. 
In the same way, we might see a path that seems to lead to a better outcome. 
But as we follow it, we grow further from the Lord and His light upon our path.
We may not notice the distance between us and our Savior until we find ourselves in trouble.
We may know our choice is not the right one, but we rationalize the decision or blame our circumstances for misleading us.
We, like I did that day, wander away just because I couldn't look at the window.
Regardless of how we end up off of Jesus’s path, we are responsible for the action that put us there. 
Though another opportunity may look good, the only place believers will find true contentment is in a trusting, obedient relationship with Jesus Christ. 
Therefore, we must keep our eyes on Jesus and guard against pursuing anything except His will.
When we do, we do not need to have security drag us back.

Lets Pray:
Father God, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the blessings you have given us. Let us be aware of what we DO have rather than what we do NOT have. 
Lord, we are anxious, bored, worried and some, over worked and over stressed and we want to give it all to You.

Jesus calls us to Come to Him, and this day we do -- and by doing so, we will not wander away from the Good Shepherd.
Bless us and bless us indeed this day.

In Jesus name we prayer, Amen

Peace and Blessings, Be safe and stay well and remember the 5 P’s.

  3/25/20:   

Where is God?

A couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous.

The two were always getting into trouble and their parents could be assured that if any mischief occurred in their town their two young sons were in some way involved.

The parents were at their wits end as to what to do about their sons' behavior. The mother suggested they talk with their Pastor. He may help, he had children…

The husband said, 'We might as well. We need to do something before I really lose my temper!'

The Pastor agreed to speak with the boys, but asked to see them individually.

The 8 year old went to meet with him first. The pastor sat the boy down, made some opening introductions and then asked the boy--'Where is God?'

The boy made no response, so the pastor repeated the question in an even sterner tone, 'Where is God?'

Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the pastor raised his voice even more and pointed his finger and asked again 'WHERE IS GOD?'

At that the boy bolted from the room and ran directly home, slamming himself in the closet.

His older brother followed him into the closet and asked what had happened. The younger brother replied, 'We are in BIG trouble this time. God is missing and they think we did it.'

Sometimes we all have problems with that question as well. WHERE IS God?  We try and try, we pray and pray and yet it seems sometimes we wondered if someone took him.

During these days, many of us may wonder sometimes, WHERE IS GOD, as well.

In John 11, they wondered as well.

11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

Here we read that Jesus, God incarnate waited.

Gods timing however is always perfect, and He is always in control.

He told those who were angry at Him for healing the Lame man by the Pool in Jerusalem, and doing it on the Sabbath.

He said, as recorded in John 5:

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”

Sometimes that work comes in Mountain top ways … we all know about The Flood, David’s clash with Goliath, Opening the Red Sea and of course the miraculous. Birth of the long awaited savior.  Those in darkness have seen a great light.

It doesn’t end there however.

He is always at work, in in quiet ways and when we think He has stopped.

This is what the sisters said when He finally arrived in John 11 again : 

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

then a few verses later:

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

He wept…. Scripture tells us just before that verse, the shortest on in the Bible, “He was moved by the Spirit and was troubled”

Perhaps one of the reasons He was troubled because of the sadness, but also because their faith was wavering.

When we face difficult times we may waver as well.

When we remember that He is always at work we can feel encouraged and walk ‘through’ any Valley, even when the darkness overcomes us we can see a great light.

We don’t have to hide in a closet and worry “where is God”, we know He is wherever we are.

Lets Pray: Father God, we do not hide in our closet and wonder where you are today. We come to you full of faith, faith is that whioch is believed though unseen.

Thank you Lord Jesus for being with us always. Just as you promised “I will never leave you NOR forsake you”.  That ‘forsake you’ stands with us today as much as the faith that you will never leave us.

Forgive us when we sometimes wavier, when we succumb to the fear and loneliness which the Evil One showers upon us.

We love You and our faith is in you.

In Jesus name we offer our prayer… AMEN

  3/21/20:   

  Joshua 1:1-9 

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Many years ago I dropped off my date after a Movie Date.

I was just a little over 16 years old and had my first car which my father bought me for my birthday. Now it wasn’t anything fancy, not like a Charger , a Camaro or a Vette etc, it was a Corvair, but it was special to me -- .

The Movie we watched was especially scary.  There was a scene in it where the Villian hid in the back seat of a car and when ready, he reached up and grabbed the driver.

It was close to midnight, and I was driving up Township Line Road as I thought about this. It was dark of course and I just wanted to get home. I was about 2 miles from home as I was getting ready to go over the RailRoad tracks. 

The scene from the movie was waying heavey on me and then I thought –“ya, know, I never even checked the back seat before I got in; someone could be back there right now, and as soon as I stop, he’ll grab me”

I stared to panic.  So I thought – I’ll just slowly check the back seat with the rear view mirror, nothing fast, nothing obvious, just look. So slowly I adjusted the Mirror a bit and began to move my head to look….

AHHHHH ---- there he was, looking at me, he was right there and close…

I over reacted and yelled, and my car went off the road and down the embankment on the other side of the RR tracks.

My car was buried in brush and the front end – it was a mess. Only then did I realize the face I saw in the mirror – was mine. 

I scared myself off the road. 

That wasn’t my only lack of courage that night.

One can only assume what courage it was going to take, now to walk 2 miles home and tell my Dad I was in an accident and “I” was the reason….

I thought of this passage from Joshua 

Can you imagine the COURAGE it took for Joshua to move ahead?

Much more than it was for me, walking home.

As Joshua stepped into Moses’ giant-sized sandals, he faced a tremendous challenge: bringing the Israelites into the Promised Land. 

The responsibility was huge, and we can surmise from the Lord’s repeated commands to “be strong and courageous” that Joshua was probably not feeling up to the task (Josh. 1:6-7; Josh. 1:9). 

At one time or another, we all face obstacles and difficulties that seem insurmountable.  Many are feeling isolated and alone right now. Others are on the ‘front lines’ of this virus and they and/or their families may be  worried.

The question is, How do we respond? 

Some people try to push through or manipulate their way around the barriers, while others give up. 

But the Lord wants us to trust Him to remove each impediment. 

Any obstacle that stands between us and God’s purpose is subject to His supernatural power. 

Most of us would readily agree that nothing is too difficult for the Lord, but fear and worry reveal our doubts. 

By focusing on the problem, we allow it to grow and block our view of almighty God.

Knowing the difficulty of Joshua’s assignment, the Lord assured him that he would be successful in completing the mission. God’s responsibility was to remove every hindrance that stood between the Israelites and the land He had promised to give them. Joshua’s job was to believe the Lord and carefully obey all His commands. 

Obstacles are one way that our faith can grow. 

When we are confused and cannot see how God could work out your situation, lets  not walk away in defeat and miss His blessing. 

He wants to teach you His way of obedience, trust, and courage. 

Believe Him—He always keeps His promises. 

BTW – I summed up my courage and told my Dad exactly what happened.

He never was mad at me, and helped me that night as late as it was to dig my car out of the Brush….. actually, he couldn’t get mad, we was laughing too hard all night.

Be safe, stay well and always blessed.

Lets pray, Father God, we come to you this day with varied obstacles in our path. Some are worn out and tired, fatigued and perhaps over worked as they are working in the medical practice; some are our first responders , now doing extra duty due to others who may be not ‘on the lines’, ; families who wory for their loved ones; others may be angry at their situation or perhaps bored…. They are all obtacles which prevent us from seeing the blessings you shower upon us.

Lord as we pray for all those above, we ask that help us remove our own obstacles and to “Be strong and courageous “ and to put our trust in You.

Thank you Lord Jesus for being our Good Shepherd and walking with us through our Valleys.

I Jesus name we pray, amen.

PS – This link is a wonderful song by one of my favorite artists. It makes a point that obstacles can be large or small. I am also trying to practice on my Ukulele.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe4SckesWLE

 AMEN

 3/15/20: 

Good morning, 

There is a story of a young couple who were planning their wedding. They were in love with ONE another as well as with their Lord Jesus.

The Bride hired a wonderful Baker and Decorator to make the Cake for their reception.

She asked that he just put the words “1John 4:18” on the top.

That is the beautiful passage : “18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love”.

They knew they had ‘perfect love’

She was aghast when they arrived at the reception and saw on the top on the cake “John 4:18”.

The Baker forgot the “ONE (1).

John 4 is the story of the Woman at the Well and the Verse 18 is:

18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

Wow, how things can change just ONE number.

Yes, One number, One person, makes a difference.

In THESE times when each “ONE” of us is, or should be,  taking it upon ourselves to not only ‘be’ healthy, but to keep someone else healthy, that number has new respect.

That number is important as well to our little church and to the greater church as well.

Paul writes about Jesus and His Bride in Ephesians 4:

He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe. 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

What does that mean to us…..WE, individually and as a Body of Christ are ONE with Him.

Charles Stanley explains it this way:

One body. God adopts people into His family without regard for race, gender, or denomination. Trust in Jesus Christ is all that matters

One Spirit. All Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We’re different on the outside, but as believers, we all have the Spirit to empower and guide us. 

One hope. As believers, we share a common hope—the return of Jesus and life in heaven with Him. 

One Lord.  Jesus’ lordship extends over all people. We should submit to His authority in every area of life. 

One faith. Believers are united in one faith, which is founded on several basic truths: Jesus is God; He lived a sinless life, died for our sins, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where He’s seated at God’s right hand. 

Yes, when we are ONE in Christ, we can better understand the things we have in common and not dwell on that which separates us.

My Prayer for today:

Father God, We thank you, and bring praise and honor to you this morning .. we are grateful we can join together as B&S’s in the body of Christ, perhaps not in person, this day, but as ONE BODY united in our love for you. We may be in many different places this day, but are ONE with you.

We thank you for this day of light and warmth.. and not just in the pre-spring sunshine but for your love. 

We know that spring and summer will turn into fall and winter.. not just outside, but also in our lives.. but your presence is ever upon us..

We come here this morning, children in need of your comfort. 

We hunger for tranquility. 

We thirst for the peace we have known in months and years past.

We seem somewhat separated from our social norm, but we feel secure in your arms and in the prayers of our sisters and brothers in Christ.

We pray for family and friends around the world who are in similar situations and we know you are in control and all ‘this shall pass’.

As we adjust to what may be the new norm at least for a few weeks,  we understand that we do not always appreciate what we have till its gone … we struggle with a day to day regimen that keeps us anxious, keeps us on edge, but Lord Jesus, we come to you today knowing that YOU can calm the seas of our souls, that YOU can establish a PEACE within us and OH God, we thank you for that.

Lord, we ask you to Bless us, and bless us indeed .. 

For all the mercy you have showered upon us. For all the grace you have bestowed ON us.. for the glory that belongs to you and you alone, we praise you, thank you and love you … In Jesus name we pray -AMEN  

Remember the 5 P’s and let us be One with Christ and with One Another.

Blessings and Peace

Larry ONeill, Pastor

Skippack Church