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Sometimes moms feel like the most invisible people on the planet. Many days it seems like they are nothing more than nannies, Uber drivers, chefs or human clocks answering "what time is it?". Struggling to find time for themselves, they are always there for those they love. We all have a God given desire to be seen. Hey have you seen ... Your mom? Your wife? Your husband? Your Friend? For who we are, what's going on in their world? Not just for what they've done or failed to do? One of the major sources of mom guilt or feelings of anxiety is the sense we haven't done a "good enough" job with our kids? Or our marriage? Or our career? We all want to be valued! Appreciated. Feel like we matter to those we love. We want to be noticed, to be seen, by those whose opinion matters to us. On Sunday we're going to look at a soon to be mom named Hagar in Genesis 16. Feeling unwanted and unappreciated, she was running away from it all. Until Jesus met her, in the desert (I told you she really wanted to get away). Where do you "look" when you want to be noticed? Many people "look" to be seen because of their work or career, are they considered successful? Some look to be noticed because of how funny they are, are they popular or well liked? Are they considered "beautiful" or "athletic"? Genesis 16:7 says "the angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert." How did God find her? Because He was looking for her. He saw her. He sees you. Today. Reading this. He knows your true worth. He knows your inner heart. Jesus loves the real you! I hope you join me on Sunday as we dig a bit deeper in this idea of being seen, to be known, for who we are. It's not just little kids that yell out, "Mommy can you see me?" It's each and every one of us. See You Sunday Friend! Pastor Mike PS- Register for Mother's Day breakfast- would love to see you this Sunday beginning at 9:15am. Click here now to register. We live in the Show Me State. Right now I'm trying to book a place for a dinner for 40 people. They restaurants want some "money down". They want me to SHOW THEM the Money! Ever look for a home? You know then that you need some "earnest money", you need to put money down. People want you to SHOW THEM that you're sincere. In John 4 we have the story of a desperate dad, His son is really sick. He comes to Jesus begging the Lord for help. To heal his son. I know many a parent who has begged Jesus to help when a child has a problem....Maybe even you? Read the dad's story here. Then as you see above, Jesus answers the man's plea by telling him to go home. That's it? Traveled a day to meet Jesus. Begs Jesus to return home to help his boy, and Jesus sends him home. John says the man TOOK JESUS at HIS WORD. Jesus just said the word and the dad left. Not really knowing, or did he? On his way, the man's servants ride out to meet him with Good News. The boy is well. A coincidence? There's only one way for the father to know? So he asks, "What time did my son get better?" Wouldn't you know it? The exact time Jesus said, "Go, your son with live". Here's one thought that emerges from this Miracle. When you face a problem or difficulty, where or to whom do you turn for help? You go somewhere? When you face obstacles you do something? Maybe as you read this you're facing a very stressful situation. Where is your help going to come from? The Bible reminds us in Psalm 121:1-2, "I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven & earth." It is the Lord who will watch over your life friend. Take Him at His Word today! Pastor Mike PS - register for mother's day breakfast - would love to see you on Sunday May 12 beginning at 9:15am. Sunday Service - 4/28/24 - 7 Signs - Miracles of Jesus - "Jesus Heals the Lame Man" - Shawn Simmons4/30/2024 Sounds like a dumb question I know! On a YouTube video, a young boy comes across a small sheep stuck headfirst in a long narrow trench which has been dug beside a road. The boy uses his hands and a belt around the leg of the sheep to rescue the trapped sheep. Immediately on being set free, the sheep takes a few stumbling steps, and then a couple of joyful leaps … only to land headfirst back in the same trench further along the road. The audio then records then sheep baaing helplessly after finding itself right back in the same condition. It's not so funny when people do similar things is it? In John's Gospel, read story here there's a story of a guy who had been in a tough spot for a very long time, almost 40 years. His whole adult life. Waiting for help. One day Jesus asked this guy, "Friend, do you want to get well?" What a dumb question? But maybe he, like you and me, don't really want to get well? Consider how he'd lose all the attention of others. No more pity parties and look how tough i have it, you won't believe what so & so did to me? Or now he'd have to fend for himself. Jesus told the man to get up and walk and take his stuff with him, and he did that, but now he'd have to keep doing this. He had clearly gotten use to a life of blaming others, who would he have to blame now that he was made whole? Do you want Jesus to help you get well? That's an honest question we all would do well to ask ourselves. For the implications of the answer will determine the direction our life takes. Do you want to be better? Find help? What might Jesus say to you to do in order for your life to go in a better direction? See You on Sunday Friend! Pastor Mike Sunday Service - 4/21/24 - 7 Signs - Miracles of Jesus - "Jesus Feeds the 5,000" - Shawn Simmons4/23/2024 If only I could really believe, my life would be better!! If only I had more faith?? In one of the most well know stories in the Bible, Peter was walking on the water to Jesus. He took a step and got outta the boat. He's soooooo close. And just like that, he begins to sink. Literally he's in over his head. As he cries out to the Lord for help, Jesus is close enough to reach out his hand and grab his, to pull him up to safety. The text doesn't tell us, but i've always wondered... how did they get back into the boat? Once there, Jesus asked him, Peter, you came so far, why did you begin to doubt you'd make it all the way? Why do we doubt Jesus? Why do you doubt God? Sometimes we doubt because we simply get distracted by the storm? When the "winds" push against our "boat", it's easy to get discouraged. We get tired. We see the obstacles and acknowledge that it's crazy to think Jesus can help. So we doubt His care? Or that He can provide us a way out. Charlies Brown said, "I've developed a new philosophy... I only dread one day at a time." I hope you'll join me Sunday as we take a look at Jesus miracle in walking with Peter. It's easy to get busy and distracted by the stuff that is happening in our lives. We feel overwhelmed and like we're "drowning"! All the while, Jesus promises that He is with us and there to see us safely back into the "boat". "Truly you are the Son of God". The remedy for doubt is worship. See You Sunday friend! Pastor Mike |
AuthorStonebridge Community Church is a Bible-based non-denominational church located in Dardenne Prairie, Missouri. Archives
May 2024
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