“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Dear Faithful and Fearless Seed Sowers,

At The Seed it is our hope and prayer that you come to know the love of God, grow in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and go into our world sowing seeds of faith. The SEED wants you to SOW SEEDS OF FAITH in your world.

Know God’s Love!
Grow in Christ’s Grace!
Go in Power of the Holy Spirit!

We sit at the brink of a New Year. The canvas of this year is mostly clean (except for a few weeks). Can we allow the Holy Spirit to help us go in His power to sow seeds of faith, hope, mercy, grace, and love? And, if so, what does that plan look like for each one of us?

January 17th marks the 23rd year of my ordination into full-time ministry. My goal from the very beginning was to serve our mighty God in full-time ministry for at least 25 years. I went into seminary at the ripe, old age of 40 (like Moses)! When people would ask me why I made that career change, I would answer that I had 25 good years left in me! You see, I was a Good Year tire dealer, and the choice was to dream God’s dream or play it safe and sell tires for the next 25 years. I’m so glad God placed that giant-sized burden of ministry onto my shoulders way back in 1994. My prayer as I begin my 24th year of ordained ministry serving in a church is that God will lead me all the way. I want to finish these 25 years of ministry STRONG! I want to press on and reach the goal. I don’t want to slow down and coast past the finish line. God gave me a plan and I’m in it to win it. How about you? Perhaps you are 40 years old and you are being called into a brand, new career, too? My only advice for you:  read your living WORD, pray and obey.

And so, for the 23rd year I have been doing just that. I’ve been opening my Living Word, praying and seeking God’s heart on what my 2021 preaching schedule could look like. I’m always open to the Holy Spirit changing my plan but, as of yet, God’s plans have worked! And so, at the end of December, I sat down and spent time seeking God’s voice for The Seed.  “What do you want me to preach on in 2021?” To be boldly honest with you, I am extremely excited to begin a New Year and a new sermon series: “God With Us.”

All during Advent, the Holy Spirit put it on my heart, “Dave, with all the world has been going through, stop and reflect on the three little words of Christmas:  “God With Us.”   Isaiah* 7:14 — “Therefore the Lord himself will give you (this pronoun is plural it include you and me) a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (which means God With Us.)  *Just a quick invitation — I am teaching the book of Isaiah on Wednesday nights in our Get-A-Life group.  We are doing this study by ZOOM at the present time.  If you would like to join our study, send me an email at pastordave@theseedchristianfellowship.com and I will send you a ZOOM invite. (We begin at 6:30 pm Pacific Time; believe it or not, we have people from the east coast who join us.)

This Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled when the angel Gabriel showed up to Joseph and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife.  Listen to how Matthew records this in Matthew 1:20-23:

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:20-23

Did you hear those three, little words?  GOD WITH US!   Three little words with big meaning. All wrapped up in one little Hebrew name, “Immanuel.”

Maybe a good “so what?” question before we dig into our message for this week is:

Do you believe those three little words — GOD WITH US? How do these three, little words affect your life? Is God with you?

Like everyone else I have been waiting and watching all that has been happening in our world in this world-wide pandemic and again I am watching with all the political upheaval. These days are tumultuous, turbulent, trying and terribly frightening.  There seems to be confusion in the chaos. Friends and family members are getting sick and some are dying.  Businesses are closed, schools are shutdown and moved to online, Even our churches closed and moved online. Relationships have been limited and stretched to the limits. Families have been isolated and quarantined from one another.  Many people are struggling with depression, doubt and despair.  Some are asking — “How Long — Lord?”   Fear, frustration and anxiety and anger seem to be the emotions that are being expressed by so many.

Do you believe those three, little words — GOD WITH US?

How do these three, little words affect and impact your life?

There is a story told of two missionaries who were captured and imprisoned in the same cell but forbidden to speak to each other. Christmas came. One of the missionaries, shivering and silent, sat on the floor covered with hay. As he was playing with bits of hay around him, he thought that he discovered a silent way of communicating with his friend. He spelled out the word Immanuel. As soon as his friend saw the word, immediately he lit up with joy. They were captives, but they both believed that God was with them and that ultimate triumph would be theirs.[i]

Listen, if you are all alone: the SEED has spelled out for you in the straw of life: IMMANUEL! GOD IS WITH YOU!

So What?
Over the next few months as we make our way to Easter, I am going to share some of the famous stories in the Bible, stories where God showed up despite dark, dismal days.  God was with Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego in a fiery furnace. God was with Daniel in a lion’s den.  God was with David when
he faced a giant named Goliath. God was with Elijah when he was confronted by hundreds of prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. God was Elisha when he raised the dead son of the Shunamite and filled the widow’s olive oil jar to overflowing. God was with Jonah in the belly of the big fish. God was with Samson, Gideon, Isaiah, Jeremiah and all the prophets. The entire bible is filled with stories that beat the odds.  God has not left us! GOD IS WITH US!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

This is my prayer for us as we journey through 2021.  No matter what, I want you to know that GOD IS WITH YOU. He’s with you whether you have small children and are losing your mind being encapsulated! God is with you whether you are sick and need medical care. God is with you even if you are all alone and feel as though you are dying of loneliness.

GOD WITH US.  SAY IT OUT LOUD. SAY IT WHEN LIFE IS HARD: GOD WITH ME. SAY IT WHEN LIFE IS GOOD: GOD WITH ME. PRAY IT OVER YOUR FAMILY WHEN THEY ARE STRUGGLING:  GOD WITH US.

Every day my wife and I care for Dad in our home. Andy celebrates his 89th birthday on MLK Jr Day! He’s ordered a prime rib, corn and baked potato dinner cooked at home. Jac’s been busy getting cards from people who know Dad. We will hang up the HAPPY BIRTHDAY sign and put 89 on top of his chocolate cake. You see, Dad suffers from end stage Alzheimer’s and the past few months have take a toll on his mind and body but not his spirit. Every night as Dad and I head down the hallway to his bedroom, Dad tells me, “Talk about forgiveness, Dave. No baggage.” Dad is aware that I preach on Sundays and record messages for the radio and you tube. After 23 years of ordained ministry, I pray I never forget: GOD WITH US. I AM FORGIVEN. NO BAGGAGE. Amen.

It’s not about our power, it’s about GOD’S POWER at work IN us. There.  Do you see it?

GOD WITH US. Amen.

See you Sunday!

God loves you and so do I,
Pastor Dave
www.theseedchristianfellowship.com