Why should he love me so? God Knew
Do you ever suppose that He
Was thinking of the nails they’d form
To nail Him on a tree;
And when God made the trees so tall
Was he seeing far ahead
The cross to be made for lumber
Where His Son’s own blood was shed;
And when God made man’s muscle
And gave him brain and will
Did God believe these creature men
Would use that power to kill?
Oh, yes, God knew of all of this
And yet because of love
For sinful men He came to earth
And left His home above
He took on Him the form of man
And then men’s sins He took
And then redeemed by faith in Him
Our names within the Book.
--Unknown
The Gift that keeps on Giving.
To learn more about connectional giving click here.
God Is Still In Control!
Miss Lladale Carey
Web Producer
UMCGiving.org
United Methodist Communications
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful
Wonderful savior! We worship before You,
Jehovah Almighty-Eternal “I Am!”
This we confess, while our hearts still adore you.
As, washed in Your blood, we cry, “Worthy the Lamb.”
Wonderful Jesus! The babe in the manger;
Though born of the virgin, Your nature all clean:
Thine was the Kingdom, yet counted a stranger,
Your welcome how cold, and Your lodging how mean!
Wonderful Person! The Son of the Father;
Known only to Him can this mystery be:
We may not fathom its meaning: but rather
Our faces we veil as we think upon Thee!
Wonderful too, in Your manifestation:
Revealing the Father, declaring His name
Who but Yourself to procure our salvation
God’s justice could meet, and His love could proclaim?
Wonderful price of Eternal Redemption;
Oh! Marvelous work with which none can compare!
The blood that has bought our exemption
From judgment, which else we forever must bear.
Wonderful object of Worship in heaven:
Unspeakable gift from the heart of our God!
Countless the blessings with You which are given
To sinners made nigh to Himself by Your blood.
Wonderful Savior! We love to adore Thee;
And blessed the hope that ere long You will come:
Then shall we see all Your beauty and glory,
And praise You up there in Your wonderful home!
--Author Unknown
Give the gift that lasts this holiday season. Give a gift of $10, 25, or $50 to the churchwide Specials Sundays and help someone in your congregation or beyond have an opportunity to go to college. Click here.
God is still in Control!!
Miss Lladale Carey
Web Producer
UMCGiving.org
United Methodist Communications
Wonderful savior! We worship before You,
Jehovah Almighty-Eternal “I Am!”
This we confess, while our hearts still adore you.
As, washed in Your blood, we cry, “Worthy the Lamb.”
Wonderful Jesus! The babe in the manger;
Though born of the virgin, Your nature all clean:
Thine was the Kingdom, yet counted a stranger,
Your welcome how cold, and Your lodging how mean!
Wonderful Person! The Son of the Father;
Known only to Him can this mystery be:
We may not fathom its meaning: but rather
Our faces we veil as we think upon Thee!
Wonderful too, in Your manifestation:
Revealing the Father, declaring His name
Who but Yourself to procure our salvation
God’s justice could meet, and His love could proclaim?
Wonderful price of Eternal Redemption;
Oh! Marvelous work with which none can compare!
The blood that has bought our exemption
From judgment, which else we forever must bear.
Wonderful object of Worship in heaven:
Unspeakable gift from the heart of our God!
Countless the blessings with You which are given
To sinners made nigh to Himself by Your blood.
Wonderful Savior! We love to adore Thee;
And blessed the hope that ere long You will come:
Then shall we see all Your beauty and glory,
And praise You up there in Your wonderful home!
--Author Unknown
Give the gift that lasts this holiday season. Give a gift of $10, 25, or $50 to the churchwide Specials Sundays and help someone in your congregation or beyond have an opportunity to go to college. Click here.
God is still in Control!!
Miss Lladale Carey
Web Producer
UMCGiving.org
United Methodist Communications
Monday, December 14, 2009
Experiencing Abundance and Scarcity
Why do church people often seem the poorest people in the world? That poverty has little to do with the financial resources available for ministry.
Congregations in prosperous communities often seem as impoverished as their less affluent neighbors. The poverty to which I refer comes from the tendency of church people to focus on what they do not have, rather than what they do have.
Knowing resources are limited, we easily find ourselves using the language of scarcity rather than abundance, and in doing so fail to recognize God’s miracles in our midst.
Jesus told his disciples, “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, god-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” (Matthew 6:33, The Message)
When Jesus sent his disciples to preach, heal and cast out demons, he explicitly sent them with nothing but the coats on their backs. While they easily could have found themselves worrying about the lack of resources for ministry, they simply did what Jesus had told them to do. When they returned, they found great things had happened among them despite their poverty.
In September 2008, when the financial crisis began to show itself in our church, we engaged in the difficult conversations that come when times get hard. However, I also invited our congregation to answer the question, “What resources do we have to share the love of God with our community?” It was a call to recognize the assets and gifts among us, rather than engaging in the “If we only had…” game that often seems to guide our lives. As we identified what God gives us, we posted those gifts on the wall for all to see.
Our task is to recognize the abundance God’s gifts. Yes, we may have to simplify. Yes, we may not be able to afford all the programs we have offered in the past.
The good news, however, is God is in our midst, giving us all we need: the love and grace that transforms us into something new. That is what makes us the richest people in the world.
By giving 100 percent to the 7 apportion funds and 6 church-wide Special Sundays, you show God's abundance to those who do not have. To learn more about the connectional giving system of the denomination click here.
God is Still In Control!
Miss Lladale Carey
Web Producer
UMCGiving.org
United Methodist Communications
To submit your own success stories on our blog send us an email at connectionalgiving@umcom.org
Why do church people often seem the poorest people in the world? That poverty has little to do with the financial resources available for ministry.
Congregations in prosperous communities often seem as impoverished as their less affluent neighbors. The poverty to which I refer comes from the tendency of church people to focus on what they do not have, rather than what they do have.
Knowing resources are limited, we easily find ourselves using the language of scarcity rather than abundance, and in doing so fail to recognize God’s miracles in our midst.
Jesus told his disciples, “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, god-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” (Matthew 6:33, The Message)
When Jesus sent his disciples to preach, heal and cast out demons, he explicitly sent them with nothing but the coats on their backs. While they easily could have found themselves worrying about the lack of resources for ministry, they simply did what Jesus had told them to do. When they returned, they found great things had happened among them despite their poverty.
In September 2008, when the financial crisis began to show itself in our church, we engaged in the difficult conversations that come when times get hard. However, I also invited our congregation to answer the question, “What resources do we have to share the love of God with our community?” It was a call to recognize the assets and gifts among us, rather than engaging in the “If we only had…” game that often seems to guide our lives. As we identified what God gives us, we posted those gifts on the wall for all to see.
Our task is to recognize the abundance God’s gifts. Yes, we may have to simplify. Yes, we may not be able to afford all the programs we have offered in the past.
The good news, however, is God is in our midst, giving us all we need: the love and grace that transforms us into something new. That is what makes us the richest people in the world.
--Jay Voorhees
God is Still In Control!
Miss Lladale Carey
Web Producer
UMCGiving.org
United Methodist Communications
To submit your own success stories on our blog send us an email at connectionalgiving@umcom.org
Monday, December 7, 2009
I Took Your Place
One day a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked the car, and got out. Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, “I always park there. You took my place!”
The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat, and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, “That’s my seat! You took my place!”
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday School, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, “That’s where I always sit. You took my place”!
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing.
Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the man stood, and his appearance began to change.
Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.
Someone form the congregation noticed him and called out, “What happened to you?”
The visitor replied, “I took your place.”
May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun. It is there for each and everyone of you.
--Author unknown
Share the love of Christ this holiday season. Give. Encourage. Love.
To learn more about connectional giving click here.
God is Still in Control!
Miss Lladale Carey
Web Producer
UMCGiving.org
United Methodist Communications
One day a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked the car, and got out. Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, “I always park there. You took my place!”
The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat, and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, “That’s my seat! You took my place!”
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday School, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, “That’s where I always sit. You took my place”!
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing.
Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the man stood, and his appearance began to change.
Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.
Someone form the congregation noticed him and called out, “What happened to you?”
The visitor replied, “I took your place.”
May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun. It is there for each and everyone of you.
--Author unknown
Share the love of Christ this holiday season. Give. Encourage. Love.
To learn more about connectional giving click here.
God is Still in Control!
Miss Lladale Carey
Web Producer
UMCGiving.org
United Methodist Communications
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