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How Lovely!

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I have said, and I have heard others say, “If you miss a service at Boones Creek Bible Church, you miss a lot!” The service at BCBC Sunday night was extraordinarily special. If you weren’t there, you missed a wonderful worship service! We had a time of reflecting back on 2008 and recounting God’s goodness and blessings with one another through testimonies. We also sang songs that reflected those testimonies; Great is Thy Faithfulness, Trust His Word, Amazing Grace. We wept as some shared the trials they’d been through in the past year. We, as a church body, had gone through that trial with them. Their victory was our victory. The need that was met was our surplus because we had prayed for them. We are a family, and it was a precious time for hearts to be laid open. We were encouraging one another through the tears and rejoicing as we recounted God’s goodness in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ. That’s what the church is for. What a precious gift it is.

In Psalm 84 David shares his heart about being in God’s house. He starts out saying how lovely His tabernacle is. Its memory is lovely, its vision to the eye, to the memory, to the heart. Spurgeon says, “Earth contains no sight so refreshing to us as the gathering of believers for worship.”

David goes on to say that his soul longed for the courts of the Lord. His heart and flesh cried out for the living God. There are those believers that have to be begged to be in God’s house, but David is crying out for it. He longed to be with God’s people. He wanted to meet with His God there in that tabernacle. What is your attitude about being in church faithfully? Are you there out of obligation? Spurgeon says, “True subjects love the courts of their king.” Do you go when it fits into your schedule? Do you go looking to meet with God? Do you stay long enough after a service to be able to fellowship with God’s people? The people that head out the door as soon as the service is over miss out on a great blessing – fellowship! It’s during the times of standing around afterwards that you can learn of the burdens and blessings of the other members. You understand how you can serve them and pray for them that week.

Oh, the sweetness of God’s house! Truly, “Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee.” If you were in the service Sunday night, I’m sure you’re still praising God for the sweetness of the time of worship that we shared together. How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!

P.S. Remember BCBC members, our mid-week service is tonight instead of Wednesday night. See you there!
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God Brought Them Together

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January is always a special time for me. It holds the memory of the first date I had with my husband in 1980. It still amazes me how the Lord brought us together. Dale had been dating someone very seriously and I had been dating someone as well. Dale and I had been friends, but nothing more. On the same day we each broke it off with the others we had been dating. I was teaching school at the church where his father pastored and the Christmas break was over, yet he was still home from college. I was in the hallway with my first graders. We chatted, sharing with one another the break-offs. He invited me to go out and go bowling that night “just for fun.” What did I have to lose? We’d been good friends, and we both needed to get our minds on something else! We did go out that night and had a great time together. I was blown over at his kindness, his “gentlemanly” courtesies, and the way he treated me with such thoughtfulness. I was not in love, of course, but I had experienced a date with a man’s man that knew how to treat a girl and I was impressed!

Of course, that was only the beginning, and the Lord knit our hearts together in a sweet love that led us to marriage in June of 1981. Only the Lord could have orchestrated bringing us together at that time. It was a sweet love story that continues to today, for which I am so thankful.

I began reading in my One Year Bible this morning (I’m getting a head start on the year!) As I read the creation story I came to the second chapter in Genesis where God created Eve for Adam. It says in verse 22 “And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” Adam didn’t have to do anything. Eve didn’t have to do anything. God brought her to Adam. God did that for me when He brought Dale into my life. If you’re married, I trust this is your testimony too.

If you’re still single, be comforted by the fact that God continues to bring couples together in this fashion. He doesn’t need our help. He can bring two people together from the opposite ends of the earth. Single girls need to understand that they don’t need to act flirtatious, put themselves in a place where single men are hanging out, or let everyone know they’re available. If you believe in the sovereignty of God, you can trust Him to bring to you the one that He has created for you to marry. Today simply be where God wants you in His will. continue to serve Him and be faithful in living for Him. In His timing and in His perfect way, He can bring the right one into your life. You trusted Him for salvation, trust Him for the details of your life too!
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A Lifetime of Waiting

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Story is adapted from Luke 2:25-34
By Denise Cunningham

Anna opened the door of the temple and with slow steady steps she walked into this familiar place. She began to walk toward the altar, her wrinkled hand gripping the smooth wood of the pew to steady herself. The smells of oil and incense filled the air; a sweet fragrance reminiscent of times of worship and prayer being lifted upward just like the incense and candles.

Anna loved this place. It had been her home for many years now. Seven years after she had married, her husband had died and she had given herself to the service of the Lord, and that was eighty-four years ago. It was here in this temple that she had served Him faithfully. She had prayed with friends and strangers. She had shared burdens and joys alike. She had heard the preaching of God’s Word and was reminded of God’s promise to send a Savior. She looked for Him here every day as she carried out her duties.

Today as she made her way toward the altar she heard her friend, Simeon. His voice was jubilant and excited. There was an air of anticipation and Anna felt a shiver seize her small frame. Though her eyes were dim, due to her ninety plus years, she thought she could see Simeon holding a baby in his arms. Yes, it was an infant and standing beside Simeon was a young couple, most likely the baby’s parents. Then Anna heard Simeon’s voice as he lifted his eyes towards heaven, the baby held tenderly in his hands,

“Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”

Anna was lost in her own joy as Simeon then turned his words toward the young parents.
“This is my Savior!” she thought to herself. Tears formed in her eyes as she took in the details of this baby. Not just any baby, God’s Son, the Promised One!

Anna clasped her hands, tears of joy finding their way down her wrinkled cheeks. She would have wonderful news to share with all that entered the temple today…to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Christ was born, their salvation was here , their future secure!

We can learn much from the story of Anna. We could ask ourselves several questions in response to her life:
  • Who am I preoccupied with today?

  • Am I looking for the Lord’s return with as much anticipation as Anna waited for the Savior?

  • Am I sharing with others the redemption that has come through Christ?

  • Is my life happily filled with service to my God?
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Memory Making Crafts

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I have a video tape of our youngest daughter Allison helping me make cookies. She is standing up on the step stool stirring the dough. I asked her what we put in the bowl and she answers in her crackly three year old-voice,

“Sugar, butter, eggs”

“And and what else?”
“’M ms!’” (M & M’s)!

One of my fondest memories of being the mom of young girls is the time we spent baking or crafting together. What does a child love more than: 1.) spending time with their mommy

2.) getting to make something, edible or not?

Days are busy in December, but if you have young children in your home, let me encourage you to spend time doing projects together. Lay down newspaper or some kind of protection on the floor and then let them cut, glue, and glitter! We have several ornaments on our Christmas tree that we crafted together when the girls were little. They have become special treasures in that box of memories that we call “the ornament box.”
There are some great web sites to encourage your child’s creativity.

These are just a few places to get you started on a day of fun! Get out the glue sticks and have a memory making day! Be sure to take pictures!

(While the web-sites listed have great suggestions for crafts, I haven’t explored the other parts of their web pages; read with discernment.)