Happy Saturday!

Today was the Advent Women’s Extravaganza. About 20 women decorated tables to represent the holiday season. Some tables were Christmas and some were fall and all were beautiful! It was a day spent in celebration of the gifts from God with friends and family. What a wonderful way to spend a day.

John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Jesus, comforter of all the sorrowing, help us to bring Your comfort into every heart and life to which You are longing to express that comfort through us. Use us, Lord. The years may be many or few. Place us where we can best serve You, and influence most for You.

This was the opening of my meditation tonight. Tomorrow Bruce and I will lead worship at two small Disciples congregations. I wrote a sermon for tomorrow from the Book of John using the passage about the death of Lazarus. Everything Jesus did throughout His ministry was to the glory of God, never for His own gain.

The family of Lazarus is grieving over Lazarus’ death. Jesus gets to the family after Lazarus has been dead for four days. When Jesus prays before He calls Lazarus out of the tomb, He prays for this miracle to be performed not for the glory of Jesus or even for the consolation of the sisters and neighbors who are grieving for him. Jesus prays for the crowd to see God’s glory. Jesus was sad at the death of his friend Lazarus, but His love for God, obedience to His service and strong desire for others to understand God’s purpose on earth forced Him to put aside His own grief so that the work of the Father could be accomplished. Jesus allowed Himself to be used as the vessel through which God would do His work. Jesus became a little less so that God could become more.

In order for us to serve in the Kingdom we, too, must become less of ourselves so that God can become more. When we become less of ourselves and God becomes more then we are being made ready to serve in whatever capacity God needs us.

God will use each of us as vessels to filled with His wisdom and will for our lives to show others about Jesus so that we might show others how much we believe in the One who sent Him.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, count your blessings and say your prayers. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.