On May 7, 1710, the great Bible scholar Matthew Henry preached a sermon entitled "The Everlasting Arms." It was the final message in a three-and-a-half-year series of sermons on the subject of the Promises of God. To Matthew Henry, God's promises were His everlasting arms. They support us, bear us, carry us, and we can never exhaust them. "They are a foundation of our faith, and we have them as such," said Henry. "On these we are to build all our expectations from God; and in all temptations and trials we have them to rest our souls upon. . . . We have them as the means by which the grace of God works for our holiness and comfort, for by these we are made partakers of a divine nature." 

As we have started this new year with so many challenges, it is possible to be overwhelmed by them. I am reminded of the children's chorus, "He's got the whole world in His hands" and it goes on to remind us that He has each one of us in His hands. I am willing to face the unknown with this promise from God. 

I invite you to join with me and to start writing down the many promises that we find in God's Word. Then, when we get discouraged get it out and read the promises and be encouraged.

This has been a wonderful time as we have passed through Thanksgiving into this season of Christmas. We have three beautiful Christmas trees, Christmas garlands and wreaths and in the center the nativity scene at PSNAZ. The choir has sung and we have joined our voices in singing the well-known carols. In the next ten days we will be rushing to get our final gift shopping done and attend endless dinners and parties. When Christmas day arrives my prayer is that we will have enough energy left to stop and remember the great message of the season. Read with your family or on your own Luke 2.1-20.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David  a Savior which is Christ the Lord. In this short verse the great message of Christmas is summarized. Jesus is a gift to us- unto you. He came to save the whole world but the glorious message of grace is that is was for the individual which means you. Jesus is the Savior, He came to give His life for us. We can never think of the manager in Bethlehem without remembering the cross on Calvary. Jesus is the Christ the promised Messiah. this reminds us that as God has kept His promises in the past, He will continue to keep His promises to us today and in 2015. Finally we are reminded that He is Lord.  We have the opportunity of making Him our personal Lord. We look forward tot he day when He will be Lord of Lord. 
This is a great message that we can share during this Christmas season.  

        Paul writes to the Philippian church and he praises God with joy because of their partnership in the gospel. This past Friday I was filled with a similar joy when so many came from both our congregations to help with our outreach project. 
        It started at a Bible study when Robert asked if we could do something for our community during Halloween. We discussed the possibility of offering an alternative to the children of our community. We prayed about it and decided to call our event Truth and Treat. The Bridge Church loaned us some of their games, several people donated candy and then on Friday our people came out and manned the games. We had between 100 and 175 adults and children coming during the two hours. We used all the donated candy, hot dogs and drinks. It was a fun filled time. 
        Each child received a bag with an invitation to our children's ministry and the Way of Salvation attached to the packet.  As the children played the games they received a bilingual Bible verse (truth) and candy (treat).  We prayed that God would use this witness to touch the lives of many. We claimed the promise in Isaiah 55.11, My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 
        I, your pastor, was tired on Friday night but tremendously blessed. My prayer is that in the days that lie ahead that we as a congregation will have many opportunities of working together to spread the Gospel.