Peace In Troubled Times

Philippians 4:5-9

4:5		Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (The definition of moderation is to be within reasonable limits. In other words, we are to live well within the boundaries of God’s Word…not seeing how close to the edge we can live, keeping in mind that the coming of the Lord is soon!).
4:6		Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Tell the Lord everything that is on your heart; don’t hold back. Give Him your problems…all of them! He WANTS to help you with them. Isn’t it comforting to know that the Master of the universe cares about everything you are going through and is big enough to solve every dilemma you face IF you will turn to Him and walk in His Word?)
4:7		And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (I cannot even begin to say what this Scripture means to me…the kind of peace that can ONLY be found in Christ the Lord. There is no other peace like that! The devil can provide only false peace. God alone is able to provide true and lasting peace…peace that passeth all understanding!)
4:8		Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (God used Paul to tell us exactly what our minds should be dwelling on. No matter what is going on in the world around us, if we will keep our minds focused on these things, we will enjoy true peace. Are we following this command? Read it again...)
4:9		Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Notice the commandment followed by a promise! Commandment…to DO the things we have learned, received, heard and seen from the Word and through those over us in the Lord. Promise…if we do those things THEN we have the PROMISE that the peace of God will be with us.

Are you searching for peace tonight? Are you going through a storm? Even in the most terrible of troubled times, God wants us to have His peace...the peace that passeth all understanding...Lord, let it be so!

Six Things the Lord Hates [part 2]

Continued from yesterday…

5:  Feet that be swift to running to mischief –

MISCHIEF is defined as: harm, damage, or injury esp. done by a person.  A person causing annoyance, conduct that causes trouble.  Tricks, pranks.

Is it really a bad thing to have what we call a little fun?  This is one of the things the Lord hates. He doesn’t hate us having fun, but if it harms someone, damages someone or something, or causes injury, then it needs to be avoided.  By definition, if it’s harmless fun, I don’t think there anything wrong with it.  What about constantly annoying someone?  Have you ever been annoyed to the point you get upset?  I have.  Maybe we should avoid it.  And if it’s something that causes damage to someone’s property, don’t do it.

What about “getting back” at people for something they did to you?

Proverbs 24:29:  “Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.”

6:  False witness that speaketh lies –

Again, Proverbs 19:9 says, “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.” And verse 8 says, “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.”

Proverbs 24:28 says, “Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.”

We all too often spread hearsay without knowing if it’s really true or not.  I’ve had false accusations against me before and it’s hurtful.  Sometimes, it’s by a misunderstanding of what someone else has said.  We get the story mixed up by accident and we may get mixed up in what we think is the truth.  But it’s the false witness that speaketh lies that is in Proverbs 24:28 that says not to be a witness against they neighbor without a cause to be.  To deceive someone about someone or something on purpose is what the Lord hates.

7:  He that soweth discord among brethren –

DISCORD:  disagreement, conflict.  A busybody (someone that stirs up strife).

2 Thessalonians 3:11 “For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.”

1 Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.”

1 Peter 4:15  “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”

The Lord is not pleased when we cause disagreement with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.  He is not pleased when we cause conflict between one another.

If the Lord hates these things and with me having a heart’s desire to follow Him, I too, want to hate these things and be pleasing to the Lord.

-[Amy Montgomery]

Six Things the Lord Hates [part 1]

In Proverbs 6:16-17, the scripture reads:

“16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

1:  A proud look –

PRIDE is defined as haughty behavior, arrogance, the best of a class, group, society.  Arrogance is an overwhelming pride.  An unduly (improperly, unjustly, excessively) high opinion of oneself.  Exaggerated self-esteem, conceit.

God wants us to be clean, presentable, look nice, I believe that.  On the other hand, when we become so proud of our look that it causes an arrogance, haughty, conceited, attitude, that’s when the Lord is displeased.

I heard a person say one day, “I will never buy clothes from Walmart.  They are so cheap, they would fall apart, and that’s where the poor people go.”   I’ve also heard people say that they will only buy from certain stores, or buy certain brand name clothes in order to fit into society, to not be looked down upon as a lesser class of people in order to maintain a certain degree of acceptance by the “in” crowd.  This is where the wrong kind of pride of “the best of the class, group, or society” comes in.

Proverbs 16:18-19 “18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

2:  A lying tongue –

Is a little white lie okay?  Some think so.  What about a parent that tells a child to tell someone at the door or on the phone, that they are not home just so they don’t have to speak to a certain person?  What about you doing something on accident, and you may get in trouble for it, but something got broken, or someone got hurt, but you either change the incident up just a little bit or you leave part of the story out so you don’t look bad?  Maybe you didn’t actually lie, but you lead someone to believe in a different way from the actual truth by leaving part of the story out.  Half truth is not the whole truth. 

Proverbs 19:9 says, “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.”

3:  Hands that shed innocent blood – Murder.

I think so often of babies (think unborn babies too!) and young children that their lives are taken away from them by murderers in this world with sick imaginations or from people who snap in a moments time.  The most recent event is the Fort Hood incident of a Muslim  Dr. that killed so many people that where just standing around in a room.  Innocent people who did nothing to deserve death.

4:  A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations:

WICKED & EVIL both mean: anything morally bad or wrong, acting or done with evil intent.

DEVISETH (DEVISE):  distribute, direct, regulate, talk, thinking, contrive (to think up, find out, imagine, a scheme for evil purposes).

So, replace deviseth with some of the definitions and these are some of what the Lord hates.

Continued in part 2 tomorrow…

-[Amy Montgomery]

Hen and Chicks

Ezra 1:30 I gathered you together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.......

 

Chicks in the shell communicate with mom and with each other by peeping. So the hen has a pretty good idea of what's going on and she clucks to the eggs to encourage them. When there are no eggs still peeping, mom considers the hatch complete and goes into caregiver role... takes the chicks for their first walk, shows them how to eat and drink etc.

Just as the mother hen cares for her chicks, the Bible compares the hen to God caring for His people. He knows us before we have even opened our eyes to see Him. He is our encouragement and strength and hope. He walks with us and talks with us and teaches us how to read our Bible and gives us clear understanding. He has given us the Greatest Teacher we could ever hope to have, and that is the Holy Ghost.

Many times we think of animals or even humans, and we see that when babies get scared they immediately run to their mother for safety. God is our refuge, and we can run to Him and find peace in the midst of trials and sufferings. Peace is not the absence of trials and temptations, it is the calmness in the midst of them knowing we are safe and secure in Him.

Psalms57:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

 

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Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Sometimes, there are those that wait to come to Jesus or that are ashamed or too scared. I know sometimes when I was younger in Youth Camp or even just in a normal Church service there would be an altar call and I would be too afraid to step out and go pray; however, we never know when our time on earth is over. We should make things right while we have time, because we are not promised tomorrow and though God is merciful and longsuffering, He does not have to give us unlimited opportunities to serve Him.

Luke 13:24] Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. [25] When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

None of us want to hear those words "I know you not". We all want to know the Lord. We want to inherit the Kingdom of God that He has promised to all who will walk in the way of righteousness, striving for perfection. So many songs nowadays that play on Christian radio stations basically say that perfection is impossible, but it is not. How do we know that? Because the Bible says it is so! Just as the mother hen loves and cares for her young and doesn't want any to die, Jesus loves and cares for us so much more. You don't have to be alone in a world full of fear and danger and sin, come to the Lord and find peace, hope, refuge, and love in the shadow of His wings.

I want to close with a story about peace that was told in our VBS this week...

Once upon a time, there was a king who offerred a painting contest requesting the artists draw picutres of peace. Three of the best painters in the kingdom responded to the request of the king. When the time came to unveil the masterpieces, a banquet was held and many people came. As the first painting was uncovered, the people marveled as they saw beautiful scenery of fields with the outstretched horizon as its' backdrop. The king was pleased with the first painting and ordered that the painting be placed in the courtyard of the palace where everyone could see it. After this, everybody was anticipating the second painting to be revealed. Again the citizens and the king were in awe as they looked at the beauty of a sunset. “Peaceful,” the king uttered with a sigh. The king ordered that the painting be placed in the palace’s biggest hall where people of high importance always walk. The king couldn’t wait any longer as he ordered for the third and final painting to be unveiled. Murmuring filled the room as the king was shocked by the image before him. Despair marked the king's countenance as he looked upon the dark clouds and raging storm of the last painting. The artist had captured the furry of the wind as it whipped black rain clouds laced with streaks of lightning. The foreboding sky was filled with the power of the furious thunderstorm. “This has nothing to do with peace,” he thought. But suddenly, he noticed something that made him leap from his throne and stand in front of the painting. As he smiled he said, “Place this piece in the master’s bedroom so that I will always be reminded of peace.” What the king saw after he gazed on the ugly darkness of the painting was a mother bird with her baby birds all nestled sleeping under her wings. Now that's peace. Not the absence of the storm, but peace in the middle of the storm.

Do you know that peace?

-[Destiny Turner]

Help or Hindrance

Genesis 2:18-20, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.”

 

A definition of the word help is "to give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need; to contribute strength." A definition of the word hinder is "to be an obstacle or impediment."

 

Notice the above verses do not just say an help, but an help meet. They do not say helpmate like some try to say, rather, they say help meet.  The definition of the word meet is “precisely adapted to a particular situation, need, or circumstance.” So we see that God gave Adam a wife to contribute strength that was precisely adapted to his particular situation and need. In other words, He gave him a help that was fitting for him, right for him.

 

Similarly, “meet” would also indicate that man and woman are not to be unequally yoked. Unequally means "not the same in any measurable aspect; unbalanced." The definition of yoked is "to join, couple, link, or unite." 2 Cor.6:14, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" Through rightly dividing the Word, it is plain that Christians should not consider marrying non-Christians.

 

The first step to marriage in our culture is dating. If we are not to marry unbelievers, we should not consider dating them either. To date someone outside your faith is to invite disaster, and beyond that, not everyone who goes to church is really saved. Not everyone who says, “I’m saved,” is actually born again, but if so will bear fruit over time as evidence of true salvation.

 

An example of this is a couple who met and married years ago. The girl was raised in the church and would not date anyone who was not saved, who did not hold to the same beliefs. This young man really liked her, so he started coming to church with her and got “saved.” He then convinced her to marry him but shortly resumed his sinful lifestyle. She remained committed to him until death, as she should have, but she had to live her Christian life alone, attending church without him much of the time.

 

This is not how God intended it to be. Marriage is important to God. The devil knows this and would love nothing more than to see every person unequally yoked and their Christian walk hindered. As he sees his time here coming to an end, he is waging all out war on the home, families, marriages. He wants to put a hindrance where God intended a fitting help be.  

 

With every dating relationship, we must look beyond the moment and ask ourselves a few questions: Can I see the Lord being pleased if I ended up married to this person? Am I thinking, “I can change him (or her),” or “We’re just dating!”? Dating and marriage should not be entered into lightly but should be prayed about with sincerity and the Word of God followed. Are you in a dating relationship that can help or hinder you?

 

1John 1:5- This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

-[Destiny Turner]

Peter

Act 2:14-15 

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

Peter is making reference to verse 13 where they mocked them, saying they were drunk with new wine. He tells them clearly that they are not drunken. This is speaking of the other tongues they were speaking in. They didn't know anything about what they were doing, because the way they were speaking was a strange thing to them. In the next verses Peter began to preach and explain further.

Act 2:16-17

16  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (preach), and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

The things he's talking about here, are the things that will be done as a Holy Ghost filled, child of God.

In verse 21, Peter continues and ministers a salvation message to them.

Act 2:21-22

21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 22  Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

He's almost finished in verse 36... now he's bringing them to a close, letting them know what they need to do to make it to heaven (verses 37-41).

Act 2:37-41  

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Isn't that amazing how through the power of God, Peter was able to win three thousand souls, souls that were added to the The Church of God that same day! We need to be just like that, able to minister to people at the drop of a hat, no matter what circumstances may come our way. We need to crucify the flesh, and swallow our fears and just do it. Just like Sister Destiny talked about in her most recent devotion, "Here am I Lord, Send Me." Truly that is the spirit we must all have.

And when we tell the Lord this, we need to make sure that we are sincere. Why? Because all too many times we say, "Here am I, send me, Lord," but our hearts and minds are going two different directions. One says, "YES, LORD, YES!", and the other part says, "Well, maybe, Lord..." but that's not how we need to be. God wants a willing vessel, like Peter was. So ask yourself this question here and now... Am I a Peter?

-[Matthew Branscum]

--The devotion "Here I Am Lord, Send Me" being referred to above is attached below!

Here I Am Lord, Send Me!

Making decisions is not easy. Moving to a new location is not easy. Understanding God's plans is not easy; however, obeying God's will and trusting in the Lord is required. I don't want to be someone that runs from God like Jonah. I want to do whatever God asks of me.

The Great Commission: Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

God has called all Christians to do this. We MUST "go" and do the work of the Lord. He calls each and every one of us to "go" to different people and places. When God calls you to go, are you willing?

Jonah was a man that God called to go to Nineveh. Jonah ran from God and bad things happened. As we all know, Jonah was swallowed by a big fish after being cast out of his ship during a raging storm. If Jonah would have just obeyed God to begin with, we know that everything would've gone better. God will supply our every need if we just obey and trust in Him.

In Isaiah 6:5-8, we see a different account.
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I: send me.We should all have this attitude. No matter what flaws we think we have or how insignificant we may be, God knows that we are capable of what He calls us to do, and He will make sure that we get the job done. All we have to do is say "Yes, Lord, Here am I". To make this offer to God, takes SACRIFICE. A sacrifice is "the destruction or surrender of something, for the sake of something else. Sometimes it could be a job, a house, a friend, a car, a comfort zone, or maybe even something more painful like leaving a parent or child. Whatever God brings us through, He will bring us out of. There is a reason for EVERYTHING that happens, and we have to trust Him on that. Don't be a Jonah. Don't run from the will of God. Surrender all to Him, and let God control your life. "Here am I, Lord, send me." 

-[Destiny Turner]

Touching Jesus

Mark 5:21, 24-34

21. And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. (Jesus had just healed the Gadarene man possessed with a legion of demons).

24. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. (Many people wanted to see the works Jesus did, some asked for things, some just wanted to OBSERVE…)

25. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, (12 long years she was sick!)

26. And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, (She actually SUFFERED at the hands of not just a few physicians, but many. Not only that, but her search for healing had taken everything she had and she did not get better…she only got worse).

27. When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind and touched his garment. (She had tried everything when she finally heard of Jesus. Remember, Jesus had just miraculously healed a demon possessed man. He had told the man to go and tell his friends how he had been healed. I wonder if this is how she heard…by some means, though, she heard of His awesome healing power. She was determined to be healed…she didn’t just want to be a casual OBSERVER. No! She wanted to get close to Jesus; she wanted what He had for her, and she pushed her way through the crowd and touched His clothes in order to receive it. It took some EFFORT on her part).

28. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. (She wasn’t clamoring for His attention…she just wanted to touch Him. She had GREAT faith to KNOW that by simply making contact with His garment, she WOULD be healed!)

29. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. (Notice it says she FELT in her body…we, too, can feel the touch of Jesus. It doesn’t say exactly what was wrong with this woman, some type of blood disease, but whatever it was she felt that she was healed INSTANTLY of it, even before she was told that she was healed!)

30. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? (Do you think Jesus did not know who had touched Him? Read on…)

31. And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? (They didn’t know what He was talking about. All they saw was the crowd).

32. And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. (He KNEW who she was…He wanted her to come forward).

33. But the woman fearing and trembling knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. (The woman was fearful, but she bowed herself before Him and was honest with Him. He knows EVERYTHING about us anyway. He wanted her to know that she could come to Him and confide in Him, not just to touch Him but to actually spend time with Him. Doesn’t He want the same for us…to come to Him, touching Him for our needs, but also to pour out our hearts to Him as we would a dear friend).

34. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace and be whole of thy plague. (Look what He called her…Daughter! And then He TELLS her what she had already felt in her body, that her FAITH has made her WHOLE).

Jesus can heal…body, mind, and soul…and bring peace to the broken. What do YOU need from Jesus? 

Power of Prayer

We know the story of Daniel and the lion's den.

We know the story of the three Hebrew children and the fiery furnace.

We know the story of Job and his circumstances. 

We know the story of Jesus and his ultimate sacrifice. 

Each account contained a battle, a trial, a fear, or a pain.

 

Daniel prayed three times a day. (Daniel 6:10)

The three Hebrew children trusted that the Lord would deliver them. (Daniel 3:17)

Job never charged God or sinned in all his trials and losses. (Job 1:22)

Jesus, the perfect example, prayed in agony until his sweat became as blood. (Luke 22:44)

 Each account ended in the Lord's will and divine deliverance.

 

From these messages we should learn to seek the Lord and pray continually for His protection. God promises to be our shield and our rock. In the most desperate times of our lives, He is there for us. The darker the storm, the brighter He will shine. Call out to Him when you need help. In life we will have issues, but dont let the issues have you. Dont be discouraged if you are going through things that seem unbearable. God will not take you through anything that He won't deliver you from. We should learn to rejoice in our suffering. 1 Peter 3:14- "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye; and be not afraid of the terror neither be troubled." Let go and let God. God is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forevermore. What He did for the men of the Bible, He will do for you and me if we will do our part.

 

Have you ever seen a shield move on its own? Have you ever seen a rock roll out in front of someone of its own accord? It is up to us to take action through the leading and guiding of the Holy Ghost and let God handle the outcome. We must take what God has given us and put it to use because we will never make it out alone.

 

There's a story jokingly told of a guy in a big flood. He prays for God to deliver him. A boat comes out to him and they ask him to get on board but the man said "No, thanks, God will save me." As the waters get higher a helicopter comes and they ask the man to get on, but the man again says, "No thanks, God will save me." Eventually the man died and went to Heaven. The man asks God, "Why didn't you save me?" God says, "I sent you a boat and a helicopter, but you wouldn't get on board." Fictional story, yes, but isn't this truly how we sometimes treat God's intervention? We must be sensitive to the Spirit of God and His prompting. He will lead us and guide us and deliver us, if we will listen to Him.

 

Time is winding down. It is about to get rough for every Christian...we are about to experience trials like never before. We may find ourselves knocked down, but we must continue to look up...for when life knocks us to our knees, we are in the perfect position to pray.

 

Romans 12:12- Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

 

-[Destiny Turner]

Finish What You Start!

1 Corinthians 15:58

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Look at these two words:

INITIATIVE               FINITIATIVE

Have you ever heard this statement? “He has initiative.” What is that? It means doing something without having to be prodded to do it.

What is finitiative? Well, it is not really a word. I saw it in a little book that belongs to my mother-in-law had, and it made me think… It reminded me of something my pastor sometimes says- “We need stickability!” (That isn’t a word either, but what he means is that we need the ability to stick with it and not give up).

In my mind, finitiative means something similar, like “displaying the ability to finish the work you start.”

The Lord has a work for us to do. He wants us to have the initiative to start the work, but He wants us to have finitiative, as well. In light of that, let’s look at this Scripture again…

1 Corinthians 15:58

“Therefore, my beloved brethren (he called them brothers because they were fellow Christians- meaning they had started in the work of the Lord), be ye steadfast (stay dedicated), unmovable (don’t move away from the Lord!), always abounding (continually grow and thrive) in the work of the Lord, (he specifically points to the Lord’s work) forasmuch as ye know (we KNOW, so don't let the devil try to tell you otherwise!) that your labor (work) is not in vain (not futile) in the Lord.” (In other words, we have started this work, so stay dedicated to it, don’t move away from the Lord, but let us continually grow and thrive in the Lord’s work until we have completed what we started. Why? Because it will all be worth it when we are finished…Heaven!)

May God give us FINITIATIVE…

-[Charlotte Dixon]

Sacrifice

There is a story told of a young boy whose older brother was in a car crash. The father approached the younger son shortly after the crash and said, "Son, if you will, your older brother needs a blood transfusion in order to live. The doctors have determined that only you can provide this blood . Will you provide blood for your brother so that he may live?" The younger son did not hesitate in answering he would indeed help his older brother. The little boy did not realize how simple and safe it was to donate blood to someone.

The car ride to the hospital was unusually quiet for this normally very talkative little boy. The father, at the same time in the most awkward and difficult position of his entire life, thought it best to leave the young boy to his own thoughts. The father and young boy entered the now familiar doors of the town hospital. As the father and son sat in the hospital room, the nurse entered with the needle in hand. She commented how courageous the young boy was, prepared the boy's right arm as she had done to hundreds of other patients over the years, and slowly inserted the needle into his arm ; the container quickly began to fill with the young boy’s blood. After it was full, the young boy, with tears in his eyes, turned to his father and asked, "Daddy, how long do I now have before I die?" (Oh! The little boy had thought he had to give up his own life so that his older brother’s life could be saved!)

We can relate this story to what Jesus did for us. He died for our sins as a SACRIFICE so that we wouldn’t have to kill animals and put them upon the Brazen Altar like Israel had to do in the Old Testament under the Law. Aren’t you glad that we no longer have to do that? Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins. God had a more perfect way and that was through the sacrifice of His Son, once for all.

In the story, the young boy gave blood to save his brother's life. Jesus, our Savior, sacrificed Himself to save our lives, to give us life eternal! Next time you feel discouraged, just think about what a wonderful gift we have been given- Jesus dying on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Praise the Lord today for the great sacrifice He made, and if you have not done so already, let Jesus save your life...

-[Destiny Turner]

Thinking on Romans 12:12

Romans 12:12: Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

Sometimes trials in life hit without us even seeing them coming. They knock us down and beat us up until all hope seems gone. Some may begin to doubt that Jesus is still there helping fight the battle. Sometimes Satan whispers the evil lie that "you don't belive in God or the Bible" or "you were never really saved." Satan tries to trick every one of us. It is normal to be tried and tempted. The danger is in giving in.

The Bible talks about temptation and trials many times, especially in James. No one is exempt.

James 1:12-15

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 15 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Romans 12:12 gives the exact remedy to handle all trials and sorrows.

REJOICING IN HOPE

There is hope to overcome temptation and to make it through trials in life. God makes a promise that if you overcome them, you will recieve a crown of life. He would not have promised it, if it wasn't possible. Notice in James 1:14 it says every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his OWN LUST. Everyone has a weakness and believe it or not, Satan will use it against you. That is common sense. The one thing that bothers you the most, is the one thing he'll throw at you. When you let that weakness turn into action, it is SIN. You must repent when you sin. Don't wait until its too late. You never know when you might die or the Lord may come back. If there is something you need to make right-- Do it now!

PATIENT IN TRIBULATION

Sometimes trials come upon us that don't necessarily cause us to sin; maybe we get sad, depressed, or doubtful. Still, this is from Satan. Don't allow yourself to get down in the dumps. The lower you go, the closer you are to Satan. Don't give up when things don't seem to be working out. God has a plan and He knows how to work it out. His ways are higher than ours. Be content, be faithful, be patient in every situation. We don't understand everything-- we're not supposed to.

CONTINUING INSTANT IN PRAYER

Mountains come up that we need moved. It may be physically impossible for a human to literally move a mountain; however, it is very simple for God to move a mountain. All it takes is faith, prayer, and fasting. Don't give up on the Lord. He will come on the scene right on time.

When life knocks you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

-[Destiny Turner]

There's No Such Thing as a SOMETIMES Christian... (Part 2)

2 Thessalonians 4: 14-25

14- Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

(This may be hard, but it is NOT up to us to decide who we will comfort, support or be patient toward.)

15- See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men.

(See that none render evil for evil unto any man--no man. Including parents, teachers, co-workers, friends or enemies…which may be the toughest of all...)

16- Rejoice evermore. 17- Pray without ceasing.

(Constantly pray...in the car, in bed, brushing your teeth- there's always something to pray about or to look at and say "Thank you Lord").

18- In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19- Quench not the Spirit. 20-Despise not prophesyings. 21- Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

(Hold fast that which is good. That reminds me of this song...Hold Fast… “Hold fast, Help is on the way, Hold fast, He's come to save the day, What I've learned in my life, One thing greater than my strife, Is His grasp, So hold fast.” It won't always be easy, but it'll be worth it in the end. No matter what you are going through, the answer is to trust in Christ FULL TIME!)

22- Abstain from all appearance of evil.

(To abstain means to stay away from in a sense…stay away from all evil and all appearance of evil…not just at church or home, but even on a night when you're out with friends who think it's okay to drink, smoke, curse, wear revealing clothing and jewelry, and pressure you to as well...stick up for what you believe- what you KNOW is right- that which is good.)

23- And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! He isn't coming for a Bride full of stains. You wouldn't expect a modern day bride to march down the isle in a wedding gown that has big ink stains on it, would you? In this same sense, the Bride of Christ will do her part in making sure she has no stains…)

24- Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

(He has called us. He is the one who will accomplish this in us. He is faithful to us. God has NEVER been unfaithful. There will be many times in life when friends and family will let us down and disappoint us, but God won't. True, we may disappoint Him, but here's where the next verse comes in…)

25- Brethren, pray for us.

(Having the prayers of our brothers and sisters in the Lord can help us as we are struggling…and seeing how we ALL want each other to make it to heaven, we should PRAY WITHOUT CEASING for each other and what did it say at the beginning of this passage…warn, support and be patient toward one another as well!)

-[Cindi Shaw]

There's No Such Thing as a SOMETIMES Christian... (Part 1)

Part of our Sunday school lesson for today said, “We can’t serve two masters. Discipleship DEMANDS a choice. It is either the enjoyment of temporal life now with separation from God eternally or it is the choice of self-denial now and eternal life at the end…We must understand that cross-bearing is a daily circumstance. Following Him entails the suffering and shame of Calvary- the surrender of physical life in order to save our souls unto ETERNAL life.”

There are a lot of people that believe they are saved, but their lives don’t show it. Many of them smoke, drink, curse, and live with people to whom they aren't married, among other things. This is not the lifestyle of a Christian. There is no such thing as a sinning Christian. We are not to sometimes smoke,sometimes drink, sometimes curse, or sometimes any other sin. We cannot be sometimes Christians, but we must be EVERYDAY Christians, using each day that the Lord makes to live a holy life and share his goodness with others. When we commit our lives to Christ, we put that old lifestyle behind us and take on a lifestyle with which Christ is pleased.

1 Peter 1:13-17, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:” (He couldn’t have made it much plainer than that…)

-[Cindi Shaw]

The Lord is MY...

Just before my pastor preached this past Sunday (in between Sunday School and the morning service), several people were trying to talk to me at the same time. Though all of these people are important to me and I love them all, I couldn't focus on them all at one time. As a matter of fact, I was having problems hearing what any of them said!

Brother Farthing's message that morning was from Psalm 18:2. "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."

On the way home, I began thinking about the message and the Scripture that he used. I was reminded of what had happened before the message began with so many talking to me at once. The thought came to me that there are people the world over facing problems, crying out to God, needing His help and direction, needing an answer, needing deliverance. Isn't it wonderful that though WE are limited in how many people we can listen to and focus on at one time (no matter how much we love and care about them), God is not so limited! I can be crying out to Him at the same time as you and millions of others, and He is able to clearly hear and focus and answer very single one of His children all at once. We can say as Psalm 18:2 says... He is MY- He is MY rock... He is MY fortress... He is MY deliverer... He is MY God... He is MY strength... He is MY buckler... He is MY Salvation... He is MY high tower! MY...that makes it personal for each of us and none of us has to worry that God is too busy to meet our individual needs. Praise the Lord!

Having a Christlike Attitude

Scenario 1: A husband walks through the front door after a long hard day at work. His wife greets him at the door and smiles, gives him a small kiss and asks him how his day was as she helps him take off his shoes.

Scenario 2: A husband walks through the front door and is greeted by “TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF! CAN’T YOU SEE THAT I JUST MOPPED THE FLOORS? YOU ARE SO INCONSIDERATE AND SELFISH. I ALWAYS HAVE TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOU!” Then she turns and stomps off to the bedroom, slamming the door.

James 3:17-18

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

I love these scriptures in James. (Funny that this is my husband’s name, too!) It says the “wisdom” that is from above. Do we ever stop and think how we act and how our attitudes will affect others? Consider how the husbands will react in each of the above scenarios.

The husband in scenario one would have to feel peace, and the second, well, there is nothing peaceful or merciful about coming home. After a little while, he might even look for reasons not to come home. There are numerous other scenarios which could be included here along with husband-wife…what about that of mother-daughter, father-son, employer-employee, grandparent-grandchild, brother-sister, boyfriend-girlfriend, cousin-cousin, even best friend-best friend. Think about how you act in your own relationships.

How we portray ourselves to the ones closest to us reflects on our Christian walk and can influence the willingness of others to come to the Lord. We cannot be holy-acting at church, and as soon as we leave church have an unkind, unmerciful attitude. Does the word hypocrisy come to mind?

I once read that our attitudes can be like electricity, except it can travel faster and touch more people. A good attitude can help others and even build them up, just like electricity can be used to power up our homes, while a bad attitude spreads quickly and destroys (like a spark can start a fire).

God wants us to have peace. He doesn’t want us to be in constant chaos and turmoil. In Our homes and our relationships peace should abound. It is all about how we handle everyday situations and the things that “annoy” us. As Christians, we must have a Christ-like attitude.

Here is a challenge to one and all… choose a verse that fits your particular struggle. Memorize that verse. Now, when you feel a bad or negative attitude coming on, quote that verse from memory, over and over if necessary.

Mine is James 3:17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” By the time I get to the word “peaceable” I feel God’s presence and His help is instant.

Today, what attitude will you show the world, to those closest to you? More importantly, will others see Christ in your attitude?

-[Melanie Dixon]