I LOVE SNOW... BUT NOT ON SUNDAYS!!

This is what the first line was supposed to say!  Pastor Mutchler

MINOR PROPHETS

I LOVE ... BUT NOT ON SUNDAYS!!  I know that it sounds strange to those of you who actually have a winter, but here in Oregon, when it snows a little, it shuts us down!  We are having snow right now and cannot run the buses this morning although at this time we do not have even a full inch on the roads.  We have canceled Sunday School, and may not be able to have Church as well.  We will make that determination at 10:00am this morning.  It is really coming down right now though and doesn't look good.  Tonight is our Christmas program, and so forth and so on.  Well, God is in charge of the weather, and He does what He does because He knows what is best!!  We will bow to His knowledge and will. 1) WORK OF THE SPIRIT AND THEN SALVATION- In Joel 2:28,29 we see the verses where God will pour out His spirit upon all flesh.  These are prophetic concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer.  Then, in verse 32 of the same chapter, it says: "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delievered."  In Acts chapter 2, we see the Holy Spirit in believers and upon them, and then in Rom. 10:13 we read that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved."  The Holy Spirit works to bring people to Christ, and who ever calls then upon the LORD for salvation, gets salvation!!  That is God's promise to us as sinners!  Praise God! 2) YET- Five times in Amos chapter 4, we find the phrase: "yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD."  In this chapter, it tells repeatedly one thing after another how God judged the people to bring them back to Him, and "yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD."  What would God have to do to get our attention?  Why not return to Him now... before He has to chasten us to get our attention.  3) THE PATH AWAY FROM GOD IS ALWAYS DOWN!  In Jonah chapter one, we see a man who was given a message from God to Nineveh, and yet Jonah did not go to Nineveh with the message, he went the other direction.  In chapter one, it says three times... "went down"; "went down into it"; "gone down into the sides of the ship".  In chapter 2 verse 6, "I went down to the bottom..."  When you run from God, you are going in a downward spiral.  Down, down, down, down, yes I'm going down!  Now my soul's not free and in my heart's no song!  Buried in the deepest sea, yes that is where you'll find me... I'm now living miserably... Sad me, I'm going down, down, down, down!!  Well, maybe poor song writing, but a great truth! 4) CATTLE?  In Jonah 4:11, God asks Jonah a question. He says "And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"  Now, I understand about the children.... but the cattle?  Yes, God cares about His creatures too!  Does not the Bible say: Mat 10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father."  No bird falls to the ground without God being there!!  He cares for us much more!!  He clothes the lilies of the field, but He cares for us more!!  Know today, that Jesus loves you and cares for you!!  Well, so much for today.... no church this morning, snowed out!  Miss everyone, but I'm happy in the LORD anyway!  May God bless your heart and home!!  Pastor Mike Mutchler