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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2013-03-14, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013. PAGE 15. By Pastor Ernest Dow Living Water Christian Fellowship (EMC), Blyth Is there a God? If there is, what is He like? And - the most pertinent question of all - does He really LIKE me? One of the strongest arguments for God today is the moral argument. For instance, in Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis wrote, “Conscience reveals to us a moral law whose source cannot be found in the natural world, thus pointing to a supernatural Lawgiver.” As the Apostle Paul put it, “[Gentiles] show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness…” (Rom.2:15) Scripture gives us clues as to what God is like. In Exodus 34(6) God unpacks His name to Moses: “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” This is echoed in Psalm 145(8), “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” Now, assuming then there is a God and He is as He describes, what does our Creator want from us? According to the Bible, one goal God has for us is shining – that our righteousness shine out splendidly to God’s credit, accentuating and augmenting God’s beauty, making Him look good, bringing Him honour. Isaiah prophesies about God’s people (62:1b-3), “...her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory...You will be a crown of splendour in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” What quality of ours is it that will shine out? Our righteousness. Our right-thinking and right-acting shines glory upon our Saviour. Jesus commanded, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Mt.5:16) God has designed us for beauty and brilliance; He has also designed us for relationship, companionship, to find protection sheltering with Him. Psalm 36(5) says, “Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” How vast is His love! How greatly we can trust in Him, confide in Him! God has designed the human heart to long for relationship, companionship, togetherness – not alone and defenceless or isolated. He offers this loving community to those who come to Him. If we want to experience spiritual closeness with God, we need to confess our sins that would separate us from the Lord, making us feel ‘deserted’ or ‘desolate’ (Is.62:4). It’s the blood of Jesus shed for us that makes that forgiveness possible (1Jn.1:7) – that’s why Good Friday and Easter are such high points of the year for Christians. “Does God really LIKE me?” Yes! When you’re in His Son by faith. God delights in those who become His children by receiving Jesus. Isaiah 62:5 adds, “As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” Psalm 149(4) says, “For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.” There’s that ‘crowning’ idea again! Zephaniah 3(17): “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zep.3:17) Who do you look to for approval? To your classmates? Your teacher? Your co-workers or boss? Your neighbours or relatives? When you yield your life to Jesus, you’ve already got the approval of the most important being in the universe – God Himself is rejoicing over you, cherishing you! The Apostle John exclaimed, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1Jo 3:1; cf. Jn.1:12) The Father rejoices in His ‘kids’. God really likes you, if you’ve given yourself to Him. He shelters and cherishes you, and has a plan for you to shine beautifully in His Kingdom. But what if you don’t see yourself that way? What if you’re just too aware of all your blemishes and failures and weaknesses? In May 1987, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported: “A rock hound named Rob Cutshaw owns a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina. Like many in the trade, he hunts for rocks, then sells them to collectors or jewellery makers. He knows enough about rocks to decide which to pick up and sell, but he's no expert. He leaves the appraising of his rocks to other people. As much as he enjoys the work, it doesn't always pay the bills. He occasionally moonlights, cutting wood to help put bread on the table. “While on a dig 20 years ago, Rob found a rock he described as ‘purdy and big.’ He tried unsuccessfully to sell the specimen, and kept the rock under his bed or in his closet. He guessed the blue chunk could bring as much as $500, but he would have taken less if something urgent came up like paying his power bill. That’s how close Rob came to hawking for a few hundred dollars what turned out to be the largest, most valuable sapphire ever found. The blue rock that Rob had abandoned to the darkness of a closet two decades ago – now known as ‘The Star of David’ sapphire – weighs nearly a pound, and could easily sell for $2.75 THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS MINISTER Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. All Welcome MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224 MARCH 17 ~ Salty, Sour, Bitter and Sweet MARCH 24 ~ Join The Palm Parade getlivingwater.org Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School Wingham Bible Study - Tuesdays 7:30 pm Youth Group - Tuesdays 7:30 pm (at CRC) Women At The Well - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Evangelical Missionary Church Mar. 17: Ps. 139:23f; 1 Jn. 1:5ff “Road to Recovery” #4: “Coming Clean” March 24 ~ 6:30-9:00 pm: Inter-church “Walk through Holy Week” March 29 8:30-10:30 am at Mem. Hall: FREE BREAKFAST & Good Friday Worship 250 Princess St., Brussels 519-887-6388 www.bmfchurch.com Pastor Jim Whitehead Guests Welcome Jesus Is Lord! Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Worship Service 10:00 am Sunday School 11:15 am HuronChapel.org Sundays @ 10:30am Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, March 17 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Interim Minister: Pastor Gary Klumpenhower 519-523-9233 Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743 www.blythcrc.ca MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, MARCH 17 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9017 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School BRUSSELS Sandra Cable, Pastor Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am Sunday School Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship United Church From the Minister’s StudyDoes God really like me? Pastor Dow asks Continued on page 23