Advent-Hope In the Greater Montgomery Area

Christians are a people of hope, even in a time of widespread despair. We (should)know that no matter how bleak the world around us may seem, God is tearing open the heavens and coming to us. We hope for more than an economic recovery and an end to partisan bickering. Even when the unemployed find work and our political leaders work together, we continue to live in a broken world. The Christian hope is that Jesus Christ was born and will come again—now as well as in the fullness of God’s reign—to transform our individual lives and our world.
(from Ministry Matters)

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:11 

MANY, MANY people live without HOPE every day in the Greater Montgomery area. Wonder what it would look like if we were very intentional this Christmas to share God's HOPE with our neighbors, our co-workers, those we see every day and usually don't pay attention to? Will you commit with me to be INTENTIONAL in sharing God's love this Christmas season.

In the Five Areas of Concern for the Greater Montgomery area, here are some thoughts about being intentional this holiday season.

RACE RELATIONS-Be intentional as you consider how other cultures feel and think. How can you be a bridge this Christmas instead of building a wall?
CRIME-Be intentional about praying for our public safety officers. Reach out to those who you might not hang out with. Crime has deeper roots than just violent behavior. It is about a heart change from desperation to hope.
POVERTY-Be intentional this Christmas about sharing the love. Matthew 10:8 in the Message says this: "Treat others generously as you have been treated generously." And we all know, we have been given to VERY generously over the years. Share those blessings with others. Consume less and give more. In our family, we try very hard to give more than we receive. That meant cutting back on all the gifts and sharing hope with others.
SCHOOLS-Be intentional about praying for teachers, administrators and others who work for all of our schools in the Greater Montgomery area. Pray for students as they finish up the semester and pray for Jesus to give each and every student HOPE this Christmas.
CONSUMER RELIGION-We are all consumers of something but are you a "consumer of religion"..you know, "let me get what I can from my church" type of thought process. Be intentional this year.....check YOUR heart. Are you getting more than you give? Are you consuming religion but not practicing it? For all of us, because we are human, this calls for a CONSTANT heart check.
In all of these challenges in the Greater Montgomery area, WE CAN BE the HOPE that someone is craving. Will WE be intentional about sharing HOPE with others where we live?

Let's also be so intentional that we don't get so busy with our own lives that we forget others......

“Never be so busy as not to think of others.”
― Mother Teresa, The Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living

Serving Greater Montgomery at Christmas

SERVING OUR CITY AT CHRISTMAS.....Montgomery Baptist Association Community Ministries, seeks to help people be independent, have integrity and dignity in moving out of poverty or difficult circumstances through all of our ongoing ministries.

Sam's Angel Market Video

Our Annual Toy Sale, now Sam's Angel Market, is a way to help families in need provide Christmas presents for their children in a dignified and responsible manner. The parent has the opportunity to choose gifts for their kids and pay for the toys themselves. Toys are priced at a very low cost to the parent (all toys are $5 and under) and every penny is given back to the benevolence of Forest Park Ministry Center and Community of Hope Ministries.  Parents who shop are made aware of how the money is used after the sale to support these ministry efforts.

EVERYONE can participate as a donor or volunteer. We have several volunteer spots available.

For more information on giving or volunteering, contact Lisa Rose at 334-271-6794 or email lrose@mgmbaptists.org.

WORDS

WORDS.

They give life or the can destroy someone. As followers of Christ in the Greater Montgomery area, we need to always be checking our words. We cannot live like others live. We live according to what Jesus taught.
Our prayer today comes from Ephesians 4:31-32.

Ephesians 4:31-32 "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."
AND
James 3:10
"From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so."
AND
Matthew 15:11
"It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
AND
Titus 3:2
"To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people."
AND
Proverbs 10:19
"When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent."


Will you, as you go about your days this week...bring life to others through your words, not death?
Pray for our city, our state and our country as we process ALL that is happening around us. Let us recommit today to live lives of PEACE, KINDNESS and LOVE toward our neighbor.

Our Tongue

Tomorrow is the DAY, right? We think that after tomorrow(depending on who you are voting for)it will make or break our country, our state, our city. As followers of Christ we must work very hard to change our mindset on this. If we really feel that our way of life in the country as a whole will be demolished OR uplifted by ONE PERSON, then we have a very narrow view of who God is. God is not surprised by anything that happens my dear brothers and sisters.....He KNOWS the outcome and HE IS STILL IN CONTROL.

So, what do we do when our "candidate" does not win? Let's read from Ephesians 4:30-32 on how we are to act. These verses are so very important. We are to watch out actions AND our words AND not be afraid. We MUST trust that the Lord is in charge. As followers of Christ, we are his vehicles of LOVE, GRACE and MERCY to this world. How do we expect the people we are disgusted with to come to a saving knowledge of His love if we are acting wrongly toward them?

Paul urges us in this passage to LIVE DIFFERENTLY.
"And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

This is how we are to live, to act, to speak. Someone posed this question to me once.....would someone who is NOT A believer or follower of Christ be DRAWN to Christ by what you post or say or do? Every day, every way.

I challenge each and every reader here today to think about this passage in light of how we live here in Greater Montgomery. As I wrote on my personal timeline: "are you willing to follow God's Way or will you follow the world's way today, tomorrow and Wednesday(and the rest of your days)?" Is one snarky remark about a politician or another human being WORTH losing someone to eternal death?

Here are a few more reminders about our tongue and how powerful it is...we have to power to bring LIFE or DEATH to Greater Montgomery.

Which will you choose?

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Matthew 15:18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
Proverbs 12:18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Matthew 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
Proverbs 16:24
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.