2009 Awaits 1-4-09

2009 Awaits Ecclesiastes 3:14,8-14

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil -- this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere Him.

Thank you for the Christmas gifts to me and my family.

Today is the first Sunday of the year -- Wesley covenant service.

Wesley met with his preachers to give thanks for the past and to tell them what lay ahead. On the first Sunday of the year, Methodists have gathered to renew their commitments for 200 years. I am not Wesley, you are not his preachers. I would not have made it as one of Wesley's preachers. I want to spend a few moments giving thanks today and then I want to suggest to you today that there is something for us to commit to in 2009.

Look back, give thanks.
The scriptures say that there is a time to dance.....we have much to dance about. I am the most fortunate preacher alive. God has blessed me more than I deserve.

Give thanks for the accomplishments of 2008. Children were taught, generosity was learned, sick were comforted, missions were extended. Lives were changed, hope was instilled, fears were relieved. What would you lift up? THERE IS MUCH TO DANCE ABOUT! I could recount it all, but we don't have the time. We need to take some time to look ahead.

What will we do in 2009?
If you need to rest, then rest, it's ok.
But for the rest of us, it is time to love, to heal, to act out our faith.

God makes all things beautiful in His time. How do you, or do you let God make all things beautiful in your life? Everyone talks about putting God first. Sounds like a nice New Year's resolution. The problem with that is that we give Him a "Hi, howdy," and then move on and live our lives however we want.

George in Oklahoma -- summer camp curriculum.
I said, God should be first. George and everyone else said, God should be in and through it all. Will God be first in 2009, or will God be in everything?

What might we do as a church in 2009?
I want to offer up 3 things.....this is not everything, it is just a beginning.

#1 -- Love one another
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Treat each other with kindness.....for the most part, you do. But you know when people are unhappy, they forget to be nice. Bad economic times brings out bad attitudes. More people are fighting in their marriages, but fewer can afforda divorce. A bunch of unhappy people running around.

It is time to love one another.....when the rubber hits the road.
It is time to make sure that our talk about love grows legs.

#2 -- Dream big dreams
What are our dreams for 2009? That is not my question.........my question is this -- What are God's dreams for us in 2009? God's dreams are bigger than ours. Men cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. We have grown accustomed to the extraordinary....the adoption resource fund, We Care, missions department.....

God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, Eph 3:20.
God has big dreams, but He wants to work them out by the power that He puts in us.

Whatever our problems, our dreams must be bigger than the challenges.
Whatever the problems of the community, our dreams must be bigger.

God's dreams are always big enough to meet the task at hand. Our challenge is to have the discernment to see them and the commitment to carry them out.

What's in a dream?
All men dream, but not in the same ways.
Some men dream in the night,
only to wake in the daylight and forget their dream.
But those who dream in the daytime are dangerous men,
for they may act out their dreams with their eyes open,
and cause the impossible to become possible.
-Adapted from T.E. Lawrence

How big are your dreams? How big are God's?

#3 -- Act with compassion

Not simply to be aware of, or pray for, but to sacrifice to help those in need. To be gripped by a passion and a compassion for the needy.

This picture is Katrina.....we cannot forget.

I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Mt 25:40

I am asking you again, to live outside of yourselves. To give yourself away. To lose yourself that you may find yourself.

We cannot withhold our ability to help in the name of Christ. We cannot squander God's blessings, living a self-consumed life, while the least of these are still hungry, thirsty and in need of clothes.

I want to tell you a story....
DIOLA from one of the Methodist orphanages in Mozambique:
On Friday, 12/26, around 4 pm, we lost our beloved daughter from the orphanage, Diola Joaquim. She had anemia and was taken to the nearest hospital. She got a blood transfusion and when she came back yesterday, she was given a bath. After the bath, she got a paralysis. She was taken to the hospital again. She lost her life around 4 pm. We are mourning at the Center, but we know where she is going. She will not come back but we know that we will meet her again in Heaven. May her soul rest in peace.

We are so disconnected from so many of God's children. I would love to see us send a gift to our sister church in memory of this little girl.

The scripture says -- He makes all things beautiful in His time -- and we can help. That is why we are here.

Let us pray.....lead into communion.