Holy Cross Lutheran Ministries - Lake Mary, Florida

HCLM BLOG

A blog dedicated to starting conversations.

Waiting For Jesus

Paul Hoyer - Thursday, December 24, 2009

It was almost 2 months ago that I was encouraging Jon to blog more, and as you can see he is talking with you all on a regular basis. However, I have fallen off of the face of the earth!

Tonight is Christmas Eve and it is 9:45pm. We have finished three services and we have the 11:00pm service to go. A boat load of people have been here already tonight. For some reason the 6:30 service was HUUUUGE way over 500 people! But then we had less than 200 at the 8:30 service. I can't figure it out and I doubt that there is any good reason for the fluctuation. It will be interesting to see what the 11:00pm service brings.

The other interesting thing is the way the Spirit of the Lord moves in our Worship services. We prepared like crazy for the services tonight and we rehearsed and we prayed and we worked and worked, then it is here and I watch for what the Lord will do. It was in the 8:30 service, that I really saw Him start to move among the people present. From the songs and right into the sermon I could see God 's Holy Spirit moving across the faces of His people. In the 6:30 service I am sure that the Evil One was at work to try and push back the Spirit. In the song set the band struggled on a song that had not given them trouble before and I had a cough that I have not had at all through out the rest of today! The Devil was doing whatever he could to distrupt the people of God in Worship. But then came Silent Night and the Spirit of the Lord FILLED this place.

We have a great God who is waiting to give you His Peace that Passes all understanding, I pray that on this Christmas day you will know Him in a more intimate way than any Christmas before. May God bless you and your family on the Christmas day.

In Christ,

Paul Hoyer

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Christmas according to 4 year olds

Jon Thomas - Wednesday, December 16, 2009

I just finished watching our pre-school class present the Christmas story to a room full of parents, grandparents and siblings. There are times that I am amazed at just how unbelievable the Christmas story, even the whole story of Jesus sounds. God becoming a man, born of a virgin, lives, is crucified for our sins and rose again victorious. It could be a Disney tale. I have friends that don't believe it. In watching children, I am reminded that faith itself is a gift of God. So I am spending some time in prayer for friends of mine that do not believe. May God grant them to gift of faith this Christmas. And I am thanking God for the gift of faith that I am so fortunate to enjoy.

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Why is it?

Jon Thomas - Friday, December 11, 2009

I had the opportunity this week to meet with several people in various difficult life situations. There seems to be two types of people. Some have a wonderful support network of friends and family to support and encourage them and they turn to them in their time of need. Then there is another type that seems to isolate themselves from everyone and everything. You don't have to be a therapist to realize that the latter have a tendency not to fair well. Which leads to my question, why is it that some people, in their time of need, keep to themselves? Is it embarrassment? Is it a fear of being vulnerable? Is it not wanting to be considered a burden? Whatever the reason, one of my prayers is that people would start opening up to each other EARLY. It seems that by the time they have followed a path that finally broke them to the point that they come to me, they are completely lost. Wouldn't it be wiser to stop and ask for directions before you arrive at desperation? I would love to hear your insights.

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Comments

James Carey commented on 17-Dec-2009 10:09 PM

Yes sometimes these people do not fair well because of embararrassment, fear of vulnerability or not wanting to be a burden. For those who can not handle difficult situations should see their pastor early, no doubt. Look for signs of depression in others and make recommendations to search for help before its too late if they choose to embrace despair which leads to the deep black hole of desperation. However, those of us that are focused on a path of spiritual enrichment may go a different direction. A book I just read called "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas Kempis is truly a compelling journey, granted this book was made for monks but offers us a wonderful insight and at a good time...it reads as follows:
Chapter 50, THE DESOLATE MAN SHOULD PLACE HIMSELF IN GOD'S HANDS, It is good, Lord, that You have humbled me so that I may learn Your justifications and that I may cast from me all pride and presumption of heart. It is for my own good that shame has covered my face and that I seek my consolation in You rather than in men. From this I am to reverence Your unsearchable judgements which affect both the good and the bad, but always with justice and equity. I thank You for not having spared me for my sins and for having punished me with bitter stripes. I thank You for inflicting pain on me and for sending me trials that assail me within and without. Under the heavens there is no one who can console me except You, my Lord God, heavenly physician of souls. You wound and You heal, You take down to the depths but You also raise up...Grant me Lord, to know what I ought to know, to love what I ought to love, and praise what pleases You the most. Let me hold in esteem what is most precious to You and detest all that is foul in your sight. Let me not judge according to what my eyes see nor decide accordingly to what my ears hear from ignorant men, but let me, with true judgement, discern between matters material and spiritual and always and above all seek Your good will and pleasure....In summary...Is a man any better because other men think him better?...The humble St Francis said: "A man is only as great as he is in Your eyes and no greater." Hope this helps to refresh other spirits... I believe this book is a worth while read...Amen