In Psalm 147:4 we read that "He [God] counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name." How well I remember laying down on the lawn as a child and staring at the stars in the evening sky...trying so desperately to count them...and then just giving up because it was an impossible task! Not only does our God count them, He names them! But while God knows and numbers the stars, YET, He is concerned about you and me... Verse 3 of Psalm 147 says, "He [God] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." He binds our shattered hearts with sensitivity and kindness He brings healing to the depths of our souls...He cares even when we're broken by sin!

The greatness of our God is the greatness of His heart...His strength is the measure of His love...He is a tender and mighty God. I still like to look at the stars...these celestial bodies are but mere matter, yet He knows their name...so how much more must He care for us who bear His image. Because of His care for us...we can leave our cares with Him!

How we have claimed His promises time and time again...and He has been faithful! His love (and His hand) have been so evident.

One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village, the son of a peasant woman.

He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter's shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he became a wandering preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn't go to college. He never visited a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of those things one usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through a mockery of a trial. He was executed by the state. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that One Solitary Life. (Dr. James Allan © 1926).

We hope you'll join us for our Easter activites -- we indeed are celebrating a Risen Savior!

Stewardship

Pastor Doug has been speaking on "Stewardship" these last couple weeks! Psalm 24:1 tells us that "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to Him." An article I read today touch on this! It said, "If a friend loaned you her new car, you'd make every effort to care for it and use it well. Everything you have is on loan to you from God; He owns it all and He is letting you use it!" Make sure you are a good steward of all He has entrusted in your care because someday you will have to give it back to Him and account for what you did with what He gave you! Romans 14:12 says, "Each of us will give a personal account to God." What is your attitude toward the things God has trusted you to care for???

Valentine's Day With Jesus

Jesus does not send perfume

To linger in the air

Instead He sends salvation, sweet

To show how much He cares.

He doesn’t bring me candy heartsIn boxes of delight

Instead He always lets me know

I’m precious in His sight.

He doesn’t send out pretty cards

Trimmed in shades of red

Instead He gave His life for me

His precious blood was shed.

He doesn’t hand out fancy gifts

Like we would send to mother

Instead He sends a message clear

To always love each other.

He doesn’t give me teddy bears

That whimper, "please be mine"

Instead He gave His heart to me

I wear it all the time.

He doesn’t give me roses, pink

For all the world to see

Instead He gave eternal life

That’s good enough for me!

-- Marilyn Ferguson

LISTS!

It is that time of the year..no, not resolutions, but LISTS! As I have watched TV this last week, I have been bombarded by “lists” from the past year. They consist of best football teams, best sports plays, best news stories, and even best bloopers.
As you reflect back on 2010, I think it would be good to think of the areas in our lives that stood out as excellent and those that were not so excellent. Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” I would challenge you to look at a couple areas of your life:
1) Obedience – As you look back, is that on the “best” list or the “bloopers”? Am I listening for His instruction, either in the Word or by His Holy Spirit? Have I done as He asks? Elizabeth Elliot said, “He is Master…it is simply up to me to obey orders as given.”
2) Unity – God has been burdening my heart to pray for unity among us all at Anoka Wesleyan Church. When it is my will and not God’s will that I am seeking, conflict will arise and god’s purpose is hindered. Jesus prayed, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know You sent Me.” “Best” or “blooper” list? I think the reasons are two-fold. First, we want our own way. That’s not Christ-like. He said “Not my will, but Thine be done.” Secondly, we are focused on the church and not on the lost. Nothing but love for the lost will unite the divided forces of Christ and organize us into a mighty soul-winning army!
So how does your list look?

Jesus Is The Gift

Merry Christmas to our friends! We have some awesome opportunities to share Jesus this Christmas season! He is the Ultimate Gift that has already been given to us! Join us for Christmas caroling on December 5th! Our Sunday School Christmas Program is always a special time. See you there on December 12th at 6 pm. You will be blessed by the choir's musical "O Holy Night" on Sunday morning, December 19th, at 10:45 am. And most special of all will be our time of worship on Christmas Eve at 6 pm. Invite someone to come with you!


Oh, what a miracle Christmas is! God came to us so we could come to Him! Have a most blessed Christmas.

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Jesus is the Gift

Jesus is the gift that perfectly fits every heart and it is with His love that all celebration starts. We rejoice in Him as we remember His birth and thank God for sending His only Son to earth.

His life led from a manger to a cross on a hill where He faithfully followed His Father's perfect will. He freely laid down everything so that we could live and there is no greater treasure anyone could give.

Like a scarlet ribbon His love wrapped around the cross and He offered it to us all at the greatest cost. So each time that we give we remember what He's done and honor the perfect Gift - God's one and only Son.

For God so loved the world that He gave... John 3:16

My Tribute of Thanks

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Hebrews 13:15

I sometimes cannot believe we are already in November of 2010! The new year will be just around the corner before we know it! When we come to the month of November, I immediately think of Thanksgiving…a time of giving thanks!

Giving praise to the Lord is one of the best ways to express our thanks to God for His many blessings and yet, I wonder how many of us do it on a regular basis? I’m not just talking about “saying grace” before we eat…or the list of blessings you may write down during this month. I’m talking about Hebrews 13:15…continually offering praise!

Continual doesn't just mean once a year or even once a day for that matter. It implies that it is repeated without interruption. David said in Psalm 34:1, "...His praise shall continually be in my mouth." He also said, "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments." (Psalm 119:62) When's the last time we found ourselves up at midnight thanking the Lord? Later on in that same psalm David says, "Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments." Do we stop seven times a day to praise God? Do we even stop once or twice to praise Him?

My desire for you this month is that you develop a lifestyle of praise to our Lord…realizing WHO God is and who we are not! Oh, may it be an amazing time of giving thanks to our Lord…not only in November but throughout the entire year!

I close with one of my favorite songs...”My Tribute” wriitten by Andre’ Crouch…

How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me? Things so undeserved yet you gave to prove your love for me. The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude. All that I am, and ever hope to be, I owe it all to thee. To God be the glory, to God be the glory. To God be the glory for the things He has done. With His blood He has saved me. With His power He has raised me. To God be the glory for the things He has done. Just let me live my life and let it be pleasing Lord to thee. And if I gain any praise, let it go to Calvary. With His blood He has saved me. With His power He has raised me. To God be the glory for the things He has done." Have a most blessed Thanksgiving!