SNOWY DAY

Today, I was looking at John and Acts, but I was occupied with the weather today.  Right now we have 15 inches outside on the flat land and drifts of several feet, almost covering our cars!  It is truly amazing for Oregon.  People are stuck at home and hopefully everyone is keeping warm.  Here are a few little thoughts for today: 1) FOUND AT HIS DEATH- Relatives were not to be found at the birth of our Savior, but they showed up later.  At 12 years of age, Joseph and Mary thought that Jesus was with His cousins when actually He was teaching the Scribes and Lawyers.  In John 19:25, is says: "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene."  "his mother's sister" was his aunt, and here she is by the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Those who were close to Him might have doubted him, but not for long.  They could see that Jesus was the real thing..... the Savior!! 2) MY GOD AND YOUR GOD- Yes, that is what the Lord told Mary.  God the Father was also Mary's God.  He is also our God.  Through Jesus Christ, we now have a personal relationship with God the Father through God the Son.  John 20:17 3) VISION TAKES TIME!  In Acts 7:30, it says: "And when forty years were expired,..."  This is forty years after verse 25 that says: "For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not."   Moses had a vision of leadership... but forty years later, God calls him to be the leader of the children of Israel and go before Pharaoh and say: "Let my people go!"  Here is the truth:  Vision takes time!  Don't expect your dreams to materialize so quickly.  God has to change us before God can use us, and before our vision grows, we have to grow.  It all takes time.... be patient! Well, so much for today.  May God bless you!  Pastor Mike Mutchler P.S.- Remember, after this winter storm to catch up on your tithes and offerings.  Our tithes, we owe God, our offerings we give willingly to God.  The church needs both to fulfill it's vision to reach a lost world.