The Heart of Jesus – the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort

Good morning everyone,

“Praise be to God and the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

GIVING THANKS:

    *    A sincere thanks to Margaret Rizzio for doing a wonderful job with the bulletin.  This is a weekly commitment and is time consuming.  She keeps track of each and every edition, and works quietly and humbly updating it every weekend to provide this resource for our church family.  Many people use the bulletin to pray for those in need of prayer and take note of the upcoming events.   We appreciate her efforts and God is glorified. Thank you Margaret!

    *    Thanks to our dedicated teachers who take time to teach God’s word to our members young and old.  Lessons are studied in advance and prepared each week.

    *    Thanks to all of our humble servants here who are true encouragers.  We appreciate each of you.  You know who you are and you look like JESUS!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

    *    Our deepest sympathy is extended to Patrick Keller since his brother Kevin, who lived in their home, died suddenly a few days ago.  Prayers for Pat’s sister-in-law, her children and the whole family as they make arrangements and cope with their loss.

    *    Christiana Froehlich is due to have her second baby in May and was recently diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.  Prayers for her health and the baby’s health over these next few weeks.

    *    Desrine Forbes has asked for prayers for her son Shane who is in Jamaica and in great danger with his job.  This is a very volatile situation and his life is at risk.  She is grateful for all prayers for Shane’s safety.

    *    Mary Lou and family asked for prayers for Andy Palo, a very close friend of the family who has complications from having had liver cancer surgery.

    *    Irene Aschen will be having a total hip replacement on April 6th. Her CAT scan on Tuesday  was rough but she made it through. Thanks to all for your prayers.

   *    Nadine’s cousin whom we have been praying for passed away.  Please pray for Jascinth Smith and family at this difficult time.

    *    Ray’s sister-in-law Teri is beginning a new chemo regimen to treat her cancer.

    *    Pat Yaglowski is still dealing with severe pain and health challenges after having pneumonia. She is still not well.

    *    Prayers for all who have lost loved ones in recent tragedies.  Including the families affected by the Nashville shootings.  Such a heart wrenching, devastating time for them all and for our world in general.

CONGRATULATIONS:

Bob DiScala retired from Sikorsky Aircraft yesterday, after 39 years of working on the President’s helicopter.  We rejoice at this happy time in Bob and Joanne’s life and wish them all of God’s blessings in this new phase of their lives!  Congrats Bob!

REMINDERS:

 

 

 

    *    Food for Spooner House – just a reminder to keep our donations going by bringing in a few non-perishable foods each week.  Thank you all!

APRIL EVENTS:

    *    Tuesday morning bible studies lead by Lisa and Mary Lou this month will be on April 4th and  April18th at 9:30am. 

    *    Saturday April 22nd at 11:30 a.m. there will be a baby shower here at the building for Jessica Lennon. There is a sign up sheet posted on the auditorium doors for people to bring food or deserts.  Here is an amazon link for anyone who is not able to participate in the preparation for the shower, and who might like to contribute something toward the decorations for shower:

Check out my list on Amazon

    *    Saturday April 29th at 6:30 p.m. – Beyond Reasonable Doubt series.  Last weekend we watched one of the best of this series yet.  John took us on a journey to Jerusalem and Cypress.   Bring a friend and enjoy the historical evidences supporting the bible. A time of fellowship to follow so bring some appetizers and join in the fun.

MAY:

    *    Friday night May 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the building:

         *   Men’s Bible study – Upstairs. More details to follow

         *   Women’s Bible study – Downstairs

             Tori and Laney will be leading our ladies bible study.

             “ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND”.

COMING UP:

 

 

 

 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL is slated for Saturday July 22nd!  

“Trusting God through the Circus of Life“.

A great theme and huge thanks goes to Jayden Rzasa who is leading this event. See the sign-up sheet that will be posted on the auditorium doors.   This is a wonderful outreach to families in our community and a great opportunity for all ages to participate.

What a privilege it is to read and study God’s word.  It’s a beautiful thing to see our church be a teaching church.  All of our bible classes, our worship, all stem from a deep regard for God’s word and God’s word alone.

Please join us on Wednesday nights at 7:00pm via zoom, as Ron leads us in an in-depth study of the Holy Spirit.   

On Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m.  Jay will lead our study in the adult class on the book of Acts over the next few weeks.

In Jesus’ powerful ministry he came face to face, heart to heart with the hurting, the oppressed, and sinners. The lame were made to walk,  the blind were made to see, and the diseased were healed.  Those broken from life’s trials gained a new perspective and were given, hope. All of these flawed, broken people were made new or clean by their coming into contact with Jesus Christ.

 

God is love.  Jesus came to show us the love of the Father.  

He came to shake up the religious leaders who knew the law, yet they had no love in their hearts.   He WAS the law, and the fulfillment of all prophecy.  Right before their eyes was the Lamb of God, & they missed it! They were completely blinded by their own pride and social positions and the law.

 

Knowledge and wisdom mean nothing unless it is acted upon.  We know from scripture what Jesus tells us to do, yet sometimes we struggle to do what is right.  Our humanness is a block for us all. 

 

James, the brother of Jesus shares great insight on this in James 3:13-18:

“Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  

 

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 

 

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”

 

 

 

Jesus meets us where we are today and offers us complete forgiveness, mercy, grace and hope. All of which we need to reflect to others, as we humbly wear the name of Christian.  

 

He who created all that we see, and who knows our hearts and thoughts intimately;  He who carved out the oceans and controls the winds, endured torture and suffered a brutal death, for each one of us…. because…. He LOVES us.  

 

Jesus showed the world that LOVE is at the heart of ALL LAW.

 

As we follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,  let us focus on all his loving attributes and strive to be more like HIM….

 

Jesus appealed to the crowd when he gave the Sermon on the Mount and shared the Beatitudes with all.  The word beatitude refers to a state of deep HAPPINESS or JOY.

Matthew 5:3-10  Who is blessed?

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

Blessed are the they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

 

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

 

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

 

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

 

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

 

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

 

Jesus had something called compassion.  The Merriam Webster’s definition of compassion is:  “sympathetic consciousness of other’s distress together with a desire to alleviate it.”

Jesus spoke of compassion when he shared the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.

Jesus showed compassion and followed it through to hang on the cross, and demonstrate his great LOVE for us.

Words are just words, but if we do not put love and compassion into action, we are nothing more than a loud gong or clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:1

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.“

Colossians 3:12 “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience.“

Isaiah 49:13 “Shout for joy you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.“

Isaiah 54:10 “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. “

Psalm 116:5 “The LORD is gracious and righteous; our GOD is full of compassion.“

Psalm 103:3 “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power. Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?“

For baptized believers God gives us beautiful gifts by and through the Holy Spirit.  By these gifts, we are able to reflect the glory of God to all of the world.

Galatians 5:22

Just words on a page, until they are brought into action, by US. 

The fruit of the Spirit should be a lifetime study.

Such a stark and powerful contrast to that of the world today which is defined by man.

 If we are not producing good fruit, or any kind of fruit that is beneficial to the kingdom of God, that is something to ask ourselves.

The world has become a self-worshiping society.

In contrast to the fruit of the spirit, the world today offers the complete opposite of what God’s essence is all about:

Hatred

Sorrow

War

Impatience

Hostility

Evil

Unfaithfulness

Bullying

No control

The only remedy for the world is JESUS CHRIST.

The Psalmist David who was known as a man after God’s own heart, was always concerned that his heart be right before the LORD.  This is a battle we all struggle with daily between the physical and the spiritual.  This war that goes on in our minds and hearts is tough but if we have contrite hearts, having a renewed spirit brings us such peace!  Why, because we are HIS!

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, 

and renew a right spirit within me. 

Do not cast me from your presence 

or take your Holy Spirit from me.  

Restore unto me, the joy of my salvation, 

and renew a right spirit within me.“

Having a renewed spirit before the LORD daily, keeps us humble and allows God to work within us.  We all fall short of the glory of God and are always a work in progress.

Each week as we participate in the Lords supper, we are given the beautiful opportunity to look inward and do a heart check.   We are asked by God to examine ourselves before we partake of the bread and drink from the cup. This is a refining process within our own mind, heart and soul and helps us be right with God.

“Therefore, whoever eats the bread, or drinks the cup of the LORD in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the LORD. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread, and drinks of the cup.  For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the LORD eats and drinks judgement on himself.“

1 Corinthians 11:27-29

What a beautiful concept, to look inward at our own hearts.  We cannot control what others do, but we can change our mind-set and be accountable to God for what we say and do.  A self-refining process… God is truly amazing!

SINGING LIFTS OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO THE FATHER:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God“

1 Colossians 3:16

CHANGE MY HEART O GOD

Change my heart O God,

Make it ever new,

Change my heart O God,

Make me be like you.

You are the potter,

I am the clay,

Mold me and make me,

This is what I pray.

Change my heart O God,

Make it ever new,

Change my heart O God,

Make me be like you.

 

FAITHFUL LOVE

Faithful love, flowing down, from the thorn-covered crown

Makes me whole, saves my soul

Washes whiter than snow.

Faithful love calms each fear, reaches down, dries each tear,

Holds my hand, when I can’t stand on my own.

Faithful love (faithful love)

From above (from above)

Came to earth to show the Father’s love

And I’ll never (and I’ll never)

be the same (be the same)

For I’ve seen faithful love face to face,

And Jesus is His name.

Faithful love is a friend,

just when hope seems to end

Welcome face, sweet embrace

Tender touch filled with grace,

Faithful love, endless power, living flame, Spirit’s fire

Burning bright in the night, guiding my way.

Faithful love (Faithful love)

From above (from above)

Came to earth to show the Father’s love

And I’ll never (and I’ll never)

be the same, (be the same)

For I’ve seen faithful love face to face,

And Jesus is His name.

For I’ve seen faithful love face to face,

And Jesus is His name.

INTO THE HEART OF JESUS

Into the heart of Jesus,

deeper and deeper I go,

Seeking  to know the reason,

why He should love me so.

Why He should stoop to lift me up

from the miry clay,

Saving my soul, making me whole,

Tho I had wandered away.

Into the will of Jesus,

Deeper and deeper I go,

Praying for grace to follow,

Seeking His way to know,

Bowing in full surrender,

low at His blessed feet,

Bidding Him take,

Break me and make,

Til I am molded and meet.

Into the cross of Jesus,

deeper and deeper I go,

Following thru the garden,

facing the dreaded foe.

Drinking the cup of sorrow,

sobbing with broken heart,

O Savior help,

Dear Savior help,

Grace for my weakness impart

Into the JOY of Jesus,

deeper and deeper I go.

Rising with soul enraptured,

Far from the world below.

Joy in the place of sorrow,

Peace in the midst of pain,

Jesus will give,

Jesus will give,

He will uphold and sustain.

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as as sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”  Isaiah 53:7

As Jesus hung on the cross, his words pierce our hearts and souls to this day.

        “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”.   Luke 23:34

In closing we share Philippians 2:1-3

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, 

if any comfort from his love, 

if any common sharing in the Spirit, 

if any tenderness and compassion, 

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, 

having the same love, 

being one in spirit and one of mind.  

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. 

Rather, in humility 

value others above yourselves.”

 

May His name be glorified in all that we say and do, as we follow HIM!

Our love in Him,

Bruce & Paula