Christian Church of Santa Clara

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 St. Francis of Assisi wrote a poem in 1225, about a year before his death, called "Canticle of the Sun." Around 1900, this Italian dialect poem, based on Psalm 148, was paraphrased in English as the hymn, "All Creatures of Our God and King." St. Francis, for whom the city of San Francisco is named, was the son of a prosperous Italian silk merchant. He lived the lavish life typical of a wealthy young man, but he found such a lifestyle uns...atisfying. Francis's attitude and behavior alarmed his father, who took Francis to court to strip him of any claims to inheritance. Francis renounced his father, and took a vow of poverty. He founded the Franciscan Order of monks, and the related women's Order of Saint Claire, for whom the city of Santa Clara is named. Francis had a great love for animals and called all creatures his brothers and sisters. He organized the first known Nativity scene in 1223 using live animals. Churches hold ceremonies to bless pets and other animals on his feast day of October 4. St. Francis exemplifies the superiority of a simple lifestyle reliant on Jesus rather than the luxury, pride, and vanity that the world chases. Below is the full text of Psalm 148, which inspired this song. "Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! "Let them praise the name of the Lord. For he commanded, and they were created. He established them forever and ever. He gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. "Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! "Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted. His majesty is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 148) https://youtu.be/e0CyvT2RZEo See more

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) If you've been around Christians, you've probably heard people ending their prayers with the phrase, "In Jesus' name, amen." That's because the Bible teaches that there is power in the name of Jesus. Some treat those words as a magic incantation, as if I could say, "God, give me a new Mercedes," and as lo...ng as I add "In Jesus' name, amen," then a shiny new car will be in my driveway in the morning. Nonsense! There is power in the name of Jesus, but it doesn't guarantee we'll get whatever stupid stuff we request. The Bible warns, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:3) God promised to meet our needs, but we should not feel entitled to receive all our wants. This song has a much better focus. It says the name of Jesus is a refuge, a shelter, a help, a fortress, as saving place, and a hope. When we face stress, anxiety, or discouragement, turning to Jesus in prayer brings relief. Jesus saves us when we fall. He answers when we call. Those "chains" of bad thinking and bad behavior can be broken and replaced by the freedom that God brings. We just need to turn to Jesus in faith. https://youtu.be/Q692yLjCzpE See more

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Psalm 37:1-2

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) Everyone seems to spend a fair amount of time complaining. There is a lot to complain about. Between politics, protests, and a pandemic, it's been quite a year. Being upse...t and frustrated is understandable. But consider this. You are able to complain today only because you're still alive. You didn't die from being run over by a truck, or by getting mixed up with a violent protest, or from catching this virus. And beyond our biological life, we have the spiritual comfort and support of God walking beside us. Every day of life is a blessing. Further, our blessings go beyond life on this Earth. Those of us who know Jesus are assured that God is preparing a place for us in eternal life. That's why today's verse tells us that when we pray, when we talk to God and ask Him for stuff, our prayers should be "with thanksgiving." Just knowing that the God of the universe is willing -- no, eager -- to listen to us should overwhelm us. An unrestrained fountain of praise from our lips is the appropriate response to our God who loves us so much. https://youtu.be/yKr_MSHlZjA See more

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is honored with a federal holiday today because his Christian faith inspired him to make this country a better place by advancing civil rights through nonviolence. Dr. King spoke on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963 to more than 200,000 people. His speech, "I Have a Dream," is considered one of the greatest in American history and helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 19...Continue reading