We have been enjoying the Holy Spirit Conference this week here at MCA.  Both the children and the adults have been able to participate in this wonderful event. It has been a great time for learning more about the Holy Spirit and for spending time in the presence of the Lord.  The last two nights our kids have joined with the adults during altar time to seek the Lord.  Many have been filled with the Holy Spirit and experienced God’s presence so powerfully. 

If you and your children haven’t been able to attend yet, make it a priority to come and be involved.  You won’t regret it.

Here at MCA we are blessed to have a wonderful event coming up.  The Holy Spirit Conference will be held January 11 - 14.  We will not only have wonderful services for the adults, we will have special services each night for our kids. 

Do children need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit?  Absolutely.  They need the Spirit working and moving in their lives just as much as any adult.  Many adults wonder if kids really understand the working and moving of the Holy Spirit.  I can tell you that they are able to understand some things and there are some aspects they don’t always understand.  I can say that for myself too.  However, I have watched many children over the years respond to the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit.  I have observed them as they feel the presence of the Lord and are touched and filled with all that God has for them.  It is one of the most exciting times in their spiritual lives!  The Holy Spirit loves to minister to everyone that opens his heart, including children.

I hope that you will attend the conference and bring your children.  Sunday night our MCA team will minister to the children.  Monday and Tuesday evenings we will have special guests that will minister.  Wednesday night we will have our Mpact and Royal Ranger programs as usual.  Each evening we will have nursery and preschool also.  Make it a priority for your family to start out the year spiritually uplifted and empowered. 

2008 is almost history.  As the last few hours wind down I am reminded that almost nothing ever stays the same.  2008 has been a year of many changes.  We have watched our economy fall, we have elected a new leader, we have seen our global family go through times of war, famine and disaster.  If we just look at the circumstances in our world, we could be worried and anxious about what 2009 will bring.  However, because we are in the hands of our loving Father, we can be sure that He has everything in control.  He is a God that will always give us strength to face whatever is ahead.  That is why I know that 2009 is gonna be one great year!

Isaiah 40:29-31 - He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.  But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Christmas is a time for family.  This year Tracy and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary.  As we look back, there were lots of different stages to our family.  Those baby years with lots of crying, diapers and sleepless nights were tough.  Then as the kids grew we tried to keep up with them.  We laughed, we cried, we prayed a lot.  We increased our prayer life even more as they became teenagers.  Now they are all adults and leading their own lives with children of their own. We are blessed with 5 beautiful grandchildren.  It is a joy to watch our children in the stages that we went through.  Somehow the perspective now is much different.  Sooooooooooooo…I said all that to say this.  Cherish and enjoy every moment.  Make lots of memories and take out T-I-M-E to talk to your child.  You will never regret the time you took out of your schedule for that! 

I am so excited!  Christmas is in just 2 more days.  Most of the big parties are past and now it is just looking forward to actually celebrating with family and friends.  Last minute gifts are being bought, food is being prepared, school is out and the kids are antsy, looking forward to opening those presents.  It is a wonderful and hopeful time of the year.   A baby always reminds us of hopes, dreams and potential.  That is what Jesus brought to a world without hope.  He brought the dream of having an abundant life on this earth filled with His love.  He also brought the potential for us to take our ordinary existence and make it something extraordinary for Him!

Happy Birthday Jesus!  You are the best gift we have ever been given.  We love you!

Hey MCA Students.  Tomorrow night is our youth Christmas Party.  We will be meeting at the North Campus at 7 pm. Just a reminder, plan on bringing a gift under $5 for our gift exchange.  Look forward to seeing you.

Blessings!

Pastor Billy

This month my son will turn 30.  I can’t believe it.  I can’t be old enough to have a child of that age!  But, it’s true.  As I reflect on being a parent (and now a grandparent of 5 adorable children) I realize that I don’t remember all the presents I gave my kids at Christmas over the years.  Just a few are memorable but for the most part they are long gone.  However, there are some gifts that I have given that continue to keep on giving.   They aren’t the latest computers, video games, dolls or bicycles.  These gifts cannot be bought with money and will never break or get old.  That is why I am recommending these 3 gifts to give your child this Christmas and throughout the year.

1.  The first gift is time.  In kid language love is spelled T-I-M-E.  Make sure that you take time to connect with your child each day.  Give him/her your undivided attention, without any distractions, for even just a few minutes each day.  It could be awkward at first but as you start communicating, it will become easier and it will pave the way for good communication during those rocky teenage years.

2.  The second gift is prayer.  Pray for your child each day.  Pray for him/her and with him/her.  Let your child see that the answers to life’s questions and problems lie with the Lord. This will prepare him for facing problems in adulthood. A great way to pray for your child is to pray the scriptures. Ask the Lord to give you specific scripture to pray and to hold on to during difficult times.  3 of my favorite scriptures to pray are:

Psalm 1:3 - He (put your child’s name in there) will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it’s fruit in season and who leaf does not wither.  Whatever (he/she) does prospers.

Philippians 1:6 - He who began a good work in (your child’s name) is faithful to complete it.

Isaiah 44:3 - For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground.  I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendents.

3.  The third gift is to make it a priority to see that your child receives good spiritual training.  No responsible parent would feed their child only occasionally when it fits into the schedule.  No responsible parent would keep their child out of school.  A responsible parent will do whatever it takes to make sure his/her child is healthy and happy.  We are three part beings.  We have a physical body, emotions and a spirit.   Most parents do their best to take care of the first two parts.  But, many parents neglect or even ignore their child’s spiritual needs.  Statistics say that most people receive Jesus as their Savior when they are very young, under age 14.  So, make it a priority to bring your children to church, send them to camp, talk with them about spiritual things, have a devotional time with them and be a living testimony of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

You can’t buy these gifts, but they will cost you something.  You will be so glad you invested.  These gifts will last for an eternity!

Last night our MCA kids presented their Christmas Production, All I Want for Christmas!  It was a smashing success and fun for all.  Our kids are some of the cutest ever and they are extremely talented.  Of course, I’m prejudiced, I love each and every one!

I want to say thanks again for all those who made it possible.  Thank you Teresa Kress, Lisa Meier, Mari Nordby and all of our wonderful tech crew.  You are blessing! Thanks to all the parents who spent lots of hours bringing their children to practice and listening to their lines and songs over and over again.  Your support of Children’s Ministries means a lot to me. 

Enjoy these lovely photos of a memorable night!

Our Christmas Production is coming up in a few days,  Sunday, December 7th, to be exact.  Our boys and girls have been practicing very hard to make it a worthy gift to Jesus on His birthday!  I know they will do a wonderful job. 

Our very last practice will be held this Saturday, December 6th, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Lunch will be provided.  This practice is mandatory for everyone in the play.  So, please be here with your costume on and ready to practice, practice, practice!