Nehemiah says that the Joy of the Lord is our strength. Strength enables us to accomplish the assignment. Nehemiah had a job to do, to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and while he faced great opposition it was the Joy of the Lord that motivated him to finish the job in 52 days. To me this proves that if you do your job with the Joy of the Lord, you will get the job done in a timely fashion that brings honor to God. The workers on the wall had a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other but their was the Joy of the Lord in their Heart. The Joy of Lord is the source we need to get the job done. When we lose our Joy, we lose our strength and the job is left unfinished. If you are tempted to quit before the job is finished then check your Joy meter. Jesus endured the cross despising the shame but for the Joy that was set before Him. Joy gave Him the strength to finish the work of the Cross and complete for all eternity the work of salvation. Get your Joy back and you can get the job done. When Joy is missing there is struggle but when Joy is present there is strength.

The true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world. Our greatest need as humans is salvation from our sins and there is only one who qualifies to satisfy the justice of God in regard to our sins. The one and only is Jesus. Jesus is the center of it all. He is the main event from the cradle, the crowd, the cross and the crown. It is all about Jesus! He is the alpha and the omega and everything in between. Make sure you don’t put Jesus out in the cold like the inn keeper, who had no room. Put Jesus in the center of your life everyday and let everything revolve around him.
A father wanted to read the paper, but was being bothered by his little daughter, Vanessa. Finally, he tore a sheet out of his magazine, on which was printed the map of the world. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to Vanessa, and said, “Go into the other room and see if you can
put this together.” After a few minutes, Vanessa returned and handed him the map correctly fitted together. The father was surprised and asked how she had
finished so quickly.
“Oh,” she said, “on the other side of the paper was a picture of Jesus.
When I got Jesus in His place, then the world came out all right.”
Christmas is only right when we get Jesus right, at the center of it all!
Merry Christmas to all!

This past Sunday, the worship team led us at BC in a new song entitled “Jesus Be the Center”.  As we worshiped the presence of Jesus came closer and closer and Psalm 16:11(Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore) became a reality.  Putting Jesus in the center makes everything else revolve around Him.  All other interest, hobbies, relationships, responsibilities, must surrender to Jesus being at the center of it all.  Are we having church about Jesus or church about us!  Are the songs to bless us or to bless Him!  We have today what I call selfish worship instead of self less worship.  I think that is what Jesus meant by spirit and truth worship.  Jesus Church and Jesus Worship is what we need, Jesus Be the Center of It All!  Visit bethelchurch.info for the music video “Jesus Be the Center”

Winning teams have players that make things happen. That is always true-whether sports, business, church, or some other arena.  Those team members who can make things happen are the go-to players.  Leaders are looking for people who can step up and make a difference when it matters.  Become a go-to player.  Everyone admires a go-to player.  They are the ones who find a way to make things happen no matter what.  Criticism does not stop them. Circumstances do not have to be favorable or fair.  Pressure does not hinder them.  They always produce even when the heat is on.  Jesus gathered go-to players around him and they turned the world right side up!  His team knew that it was do or die and they did both for the cause because they were a team determined to win Christ.  It is time we demonstrate consistent competence, responsibility, and dependability and regain our influence as a church that gets it done for the cause of Christ.   The good news is in Christ, WE  WIN!