Nashville Voting on English as Official Language

Today thousands of Nashvillians will go to the polls and vote for or against the English language referendum. Both sides have stated that taxpayers will loose if either vote wins. Makes me wonder which is correct. If Nashville chooses to make English the official language, how will that affect those who cannot speak English? If Nashville votes down the referendum, what difference will it make? Our country still provides for equal rights to all people regardless of race, creed or religion. So, it seems that this election is going to cost taxpayers a lot even if the vote is finally for or against.

Some say, they are for all people as long as it does not infringe on their freedom to be financially independent. These people want those who immigrate here to work for their needs and not become dependent on those who have already worked to make their way. They point to the way immigration was decades ago and believe governmental programs have become too generous and regulations have become lax.

Others feel that all who are in need of services and help should be able to access it through the government - local, state and federal (taxes). I understand the federal government allows legal immigrants to live here and work here for a period of time without paying taxes in order to get their "feet on the ground." We understand there are hundreds of dialects in our nation at this time and more coming. The government also provides translators for those who need services.

We have come through the "salad bowl" era and the "melting pot" era. What is next? Some may be wanting the full course meal with all the trimmings without any work ethic. Some may want to be selfish and hold on to their full course meal and not share with those in need. Perhaps it would do us some good in this nation to all eat "soup" for a while. I'm sure those who were around in the Great Depression of the late 1920's and 1930's could share some good pointers on how to be thankful for what we have and to share with those who are in need. Maybe we need to be involved in more pressing matters than what language people speak.

Here are some headlines from the Great Depression.

Headlines of 1932

U.S STEEL LAYS OFF ANOTHER 10,000
GENERAL MOTORS STOCK DOWN FROM $500 A SHARE TO $10 A SHARE
CHICAGO TEACHERS FEED 11,000 HUNGRY CHILDREN
IOWA CORN WAY DOWN IN PRICE
SALE-SALE-SALE SUITS AND COATS FOR $15
KENTUCKY COAL MINERS FOUND LIVING ON DANDELIONS
N.Y.C. COPS TO CARRY LIST OF CHARITIES TO DIRECT THE HELPLESS
110 CHILDREN IN N.Y.C. DIE FROM MALNUTRITION

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE?

Prayer and Fasting

Today is the end of the 21 day scheduled public fast. Some will stop their fast. Others may continue. Prayer must continue. We believe that this time of intensive prayer and fasting will be an impetus for the work ahead as we move forward.

Revival is scheduled for February 27, 28 and March 1, with State Evangelist, Tim Farmer. There is no secret formula for revival. Prayer, fasting, pure worship, visiting, and witnessing are all needed. As the local church here involves themselves in the work of the Lord, giving themsleves to Him wholeheartedly, growth will be the result.

There are a couple examples in the scripture that speak of move 'n on. 2Kings 7:3 tells us, ". . .there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?" These four lepers were in a time of famine and starving to death. They could not get food in the city and were not supposed to get near anyone. There was the enemy army outside the city and surely they could not go in there. They declared, "why sit we here until we die?" They went to the enemy army camp and found the camp empty of soldiers because God had already created a sound like a vast army to come upon them. The lepers ate enemy food, took what they wanted (clothes, silver, and gold) in two different trips to the camp. Then they felt guilty about getting the spoils alone so they told the Captain of the Guard who told the King. The whole city spoiled the goods of the enemy soldiers. As Elisha had prophesied, there would be plenty of grain to sell.

The other example is the two sons that Jesus gave us. He tells us in Matthew 21:28 "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard." One son quickly resonded that he would go to work in his vineyard. The other son was very hesitant and would not go. During the course of time, the one who said he would go did not go. The other son who was hesitant went. Its time to GO! Why sit around and die? Let hesitation be turned into moving on.

Lets GO!

Move 'n On

There are times in our lives when it seems we get stuck. Ever feel like you are stuck - just spinning your wheels. That's what happens when a car gets on soft, muddy ground. No matter how much you give it the gas, it just sits and spins. There must be some type of solid ground to get it unstuck or you need another vehicle to pull it out.

Perhaps you are "stuck in the mud." The mud of undue criticism. I heard about a junior in high school who had a particularly hard teacher. She got a C on her first test. When she went to ask the teacher how she could study better to make better grades the teacher responded, "You are just not an A student are you." Now, I don't know about you but that would have sent me spinning in the mud. This remark from the teacher could have discouraged this student and left her "stuck in the mud." With some help from the parents and others she took in stride and moved on.

By the way, I graduated with a C+ average in high school, not because I could not do better but because I didn't want to study and work harder - had other interests on my mind (sports, hunting, fishing, skipping school). That was a unique type of "mud" in another time of my life.

Anyone who gets "stuck" in some type of "mud" (there are different kinds) needs to seek to move on. There is the mud of gossip, unforgiveness, division, backbiting, strife, etc. etc. Then there are the crystal clear waters of "move 'n on." Move on with grace, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-contol. The only way to get out of the mud is the solid ground of God's grace. Then, move on in the Holy Spirit.

What 'd ya say? Lets move on. . .

By God's grace, I'm move 'n on. . . .

Peaceful Transition of Presidents

Former President George W. Bush, right, hugs President Barack Obama after Obama was sworn in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

From Comcast

Prayer and Fasting

This is day 21 of the prayer and fasting intensive. I admit, it has been a challenge but great blessings and benefits have come and will continue to come from this time. The most valuable is the relational closeness that has been more intense with our Father in Heaven. Thank God for the challenge that Jesus left us, "then shall they fast." Some may phase out of the fast today. If you have been on a total fast. . .drink juice and water mixed first. . .then eat light for a few days to get your body to accept bread, meat and sweets a little at a time.

Some may be continuing the fast. . .let your health be strongly considered. Talk to your medical doctor if necessary. Prayer will continue on. We know the Bible records, "pray without ceasing." We thank God for this intensive time.

Five Truths About Problems

1. They’re unavoidable.

2. Perspective on the problem, rather than the problem itself, determines success or failure.

3. There’s a big difference between problem spotting and problem solving.

4. The size of the person is more important than the size of the problem.

5. Problems, responded to correctly, can propel us forward.


Click here to read the rest, From Leadership Wired, John Maxwell

Forty Fourth President

The Scripture admonished Christians to pray for leaders - "for all in authority." President Barak Obama needs the prayers of Christians. He will lead effectively only as he leans on God and trusts God. No leader can be effective without the overarching influence of God in their lives and the wisdom that only God can give.

Let us pray for our new President.

Prayer and Fasting

Day 20 of prayer and fasting continues. Thank God for His greatness and goodness! It is beyond any human words to express the awesomeness of our Great God. "Joy unspeakable and full of glory," said the Apostle Peter.

Corporate Prayer and Fasting Continues

Today is day 19 of the corporate prayer and fasting time. Of course, we need the Lord more than just 21 days but we are starting the year with emphasis on seeking the Lord through intensive prayer and fasting. It has been said, "fasting intensifies our focus and affections upon the Lord." Surely we do not want this to be a "humanistic" and much less "carnalistic" endeavour.

We desire to see God's good pleasure in our lives and His perfect will accomplished among us both individually and corporately. When we are realizing His good pleasure we will, without doubt, be blessed beyond measure and fulfilled completely - no matter the temporal conditions or extenuating circumstances.

Prayer:
"Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name." "This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." Thank you Heavenly Father for being my Father and letting me be your child. Help me to let your light shine out more to others today and encourage someone who is in need of your touch. Forgive me when I am less compassionate than you desire. Bless my family and protect them today - my children, grandchildren, mother, brother and family, sister and family and my precious wife and her family. Please bring the ones who don't know you to repentance and salvation. Bless the church here where I pastor. Help me to be the Pastor you desire. Forgive me when I fail to care for the members and friends of the church as you would have me to. Help me to serve better and give me a greater passion for the ministry you have called me to. Bless the leaders of our church, nation and the world. Be with the President and President-Elect during this time. Protect them. Help them make wise, godly decisions. I ask these blessings in Christ's holy and precious name. AMEN!

Prayer and Fasting Continues

This is day 18 of the 21 day prayer and fasting time throughout the churches of the nation and possibly over the world. We continue to seek the Lord's face. Remember the Scripture says in Hebrews 11:6 ". . .he that cometh to God mut believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Eleazar prayed and fasted a day to seek God for Isaac's wife.

Moses went into the mount to pray and fast to seek God.

Elijah went into the mount and prayed and fasted to seek God.

Jesus went into the wilderness to pray and fast and seek His Father.

Daniel mourned and prayed and fasted for three weeks to seek God for return to Jerusalem.

Esther and the jewish people prayed and fasted three days to seek God for protection and deliverance.

Samuel and Israel joined together to pray and fast for revival.

Nehemiah mourned, fasted and prayed to seek God for restoring the walls.

All the people of Nineveh (and even their livestock weren't given food) fasted and prayed to God to seek repentance and forgiveness.

Saul prayed and fasted three days after being encountered by the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. He was transformed into the Apostle Paul.

Peter was on the housetop praying and fasting when he received the vision to go minister to the Gentiles.

The early Christian church prayed and fasted to the Lord before sending ministers out to do mission work.

Do you know of others you would include here? Let us continue to pray and fast unto the Lord.

WISDOM FROM THE PSALMS from Crosswalk.Com

Psalm 8:5Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast cr owned him with glory and honour.

There are not many days that go by where I feel very holy. As much as I might like to be a reflection of Jesus Christ, I am afraid that my image is a very dim one at best. For each success I have at walking in the footsteps of Christ, I have a dozen failures where I have strayed from the path. And through it all, God still loves me totally. In my imperfection, God still reveres me and thinks I am good. It boggles the mind to realize that human beings are God's pride and joy. Despite the grief and frustration we must be, God believes in us and helps us to be the best people that we can be. He loves His children and rejoices in their victories. Our Lord created us just lower than the angels; the most perfect of His creations.

Despair not. No matter how inadequate we might feel, we are considered beautiful by our Creator, and in the end it is His opinion, not ours, that makes all the difference in the world.

Prayer:
Grant me spiritual wings that I might soar as an angel on this earth, O Lord. Help me to live up to the intention You had at my creation. Let me wear my crown wisely and proudly, to Your glory. Amen.

Prayer and Fasting Continues

Today is day 17 of the 21 day of corporate fasting. We are believing the Lord for His direction, power and blessings. To seek Him as our reward is far above anything that could be given. He wants to bless us. He wants to provide all that is resident in His Son, Jesus Christ. Keep looking to Him who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Go here for instruction, encouragement, and admonition in fasting.

Urgent Prayer Request

I received a call late last night from Vickie Lawrence, daughter of Mildred Lawrence. Sister Mildred has been admitted to Jackson General Hospital. She was having severe pain last night and tests are to be conducted today. I spoke with Sister Vickie this morning and she is more restful today. Join us in prayer for Sister Lawrence.

Core Value - Prayer

General Overseer, Bishop Randall Howard, shares a message on the first core value he shared in the General Assembly last year.

You can go here and click on the link under the heading VideoStream near the bottom of the page.

Let us continue persistently in prayer leaning heavily on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Read Luke 18.

Prayer and Fasting Continues

This is day 14 of the corporate extended prayer and fasting time. Let us continue to "look unto Jesus" for direction and power. He cannot fail.

Here is a link to an encourging word each day during this fast time. Jentezen Franklin offers encourging words and biblical examples each day during this time.

Listening to praise and worship music during your time of fasting can be a means of encourgement. Christiannet.com has several stations. The link posted here is more contemporary praise and worship. There are other stations that can be found by doing a web search.

WISDOM FROM THE PSALMS from Crosswalk.Com

Psalm 6:2Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak; O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

The closer we get to God, the more glaring are our faults. The brighter the light of perfection that we subject ourselves to, the more flaws are revealed. The better we understand the awesome magnificence of God, the more we expose our own imperfection. As the great men and women of the Bible came to realize, the stronger we become in the faith, the more wretched we sometimes feel.

This, however, is no cause for despair. Our Lord wants nothing more than for us to come to depend on Him. We can only truly become dependent as we acknowledge our inadequacies. As the Apostle Paul found out, true strength comes from admitting our weakness, and total healing comes by realizing that without God we are sickly and terminally diseased by sin. Cry out for the mercy of God and He will strengthen you; ask for His healing and you will be made whole.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I try to be perfect and f ind that I am hopelessly deficient. Nothing I can do will bring me the perfection You intend for me. Fill me with Your Spirit and do for me all that I cannot do for myself. Amen.

Prayer and Fasting Continues

As we continue to fast and pray, remember that there are significant changes that you will feel and see in your body. Headaches, backaches, joint aches, weakness, dizziness at times, cold hands and feet, dry mouth and/or eyes, and ringing in the ears are some of them. . .to those who are working and can't stop to rest when you need to. . .remember to drink plenty of liquids and eat only wholesome foods. . .raw fruits and vegetables and juices, soups with no sugar and low sodium. Most Krogers have a health food section

There is a web site called Synergy that offers good informational help for your fasting. Don Brock, who Pastored and Evanglized in our churces, is the editor.

Bible Verse of The Day

Proverbs 30:32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. King James Version

Proverbs 30:32 If you are such a godless fool as to honor yourself, or if you scheme, you had better put your hand over your mouth. God's Word Version

Corporate Prayer and Fasting Continues. . ,

Today is the 12th day of our 21 days of prayer and fasting to begin the year 2009 seeking the Lord. We have high anticipation of hearing from the Lord and what He wants from us as a local church and from each one individually. We have joined together in this time to intensify our focus on the Lord and what He wants for us.

NOTE: To those who are on a partial or intermittent fast consider this. Eat some raw celery, if you can. The benefits of this vegetable are given on this web site. Click here . Remember, your body is the temple of the Lord and you are the steward of that body. To those on an extended total fast, take care not to become dehydrated. Drink pleny of water. We are fasting to the Lord and desire not to be destructive to our body in any way.

Prayer Requests

These request prayer. . .

James Moore had a knee replacement Friday. He requests prayer for a speedy recovery.

Lilly Grooms continues to request prayer for strength.

Ralph and Mildred Stacey request prayer.

Willodene Davis requests prayer.

Chuck Burks is scheduled for kidney surgery on February 2. He only has one kidney and the diagnosis is cancer with 20% of the kidney needing to be removed.

Ragene Burks requests prayer for her two granddaughters.

Jenny Sanders requests prayer.

Continue to pray for revival.

Thanking God!

Sunday's meeting was filled with God's presence as we worshipped the King of Kings. There were visitors, James and Karen. We appreciated them and she also sang during the service. We continue seeking the Lord.

Death Notice, Shelia Robbins

Sister Shelia Robbins died today. Sister Robbins' husband, Jerry Robbins, pastors the church in Dyersburg, Tennessee. They have served churches in Tennessee, Arkansas and North Carolina. He was my pastor when I attended the church in Burns, Tennessee. He not only is a colleague in ministry but a very special friend. We love this family and pray for them. The following is from our State web site. . .at http://www.tncogop.org/

Early this afternoon, Sister Shelia Robbins passed away at Dyersburg, Tennessee. Shelia's husband, Jerry serves as the pastor of the Church of God of Prophecy in Dyersburg.

I spoke with Brother Robbins on the telephone twice today, reminding him that his church family in Tennessee (and beyond) are praying for him and his family during this time in his life.

Pastor Robbins, his family and the local church have been examples of love, kindness and the grace of God in action.

Please join me in prayer for Jerry and his family, I will be posting details of the funeral services tomorrow just as soon as I receive them from the family.

What's All The Buzz About Fasting?

Churches all over the nation are involved in the first 21 day's fast of this year. Emphasis and encouragement has been sent out from the International Offices and State Offices of the Church of God of Prophecy along with many other church organizations. This discipline is vital to the ministry and growth of God's Kingdom but lets not turn fasting into a humanistic effort.

Christian television is emphasizing the 21 day fast. Books on fasting have been written and printed over the past couple years. We see many different suggestions, hints and details on fasting in books and articles. Has this been a lost discipline of the church over the past several decades with all the material emphasis in this nation? Have churches gone through the mechanics without the unction and anointing of the Lord?

Some blogs include details on fasting. One could surmise that the only way to fast is to get the latest book and articles so that one can do their fasting right. Of course, the indicated motive for these books, articles and blogs is to encourage people and not put on them something that is unnecessary and burdensome. Before someone thinks I am being too critical, let me continue.

Yes, the Scripture tells us to fast - especially when we read Christ's teaching in the Gospels. Yes, there are numerous examples of those who fasted in the Bible. Yes, we are admonished by our Lord and Savior, "when ye fast," and "when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then shall they fast in those days." (this part of this passage is included in Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:20, and Luke 5:35) Further, our Lord tells us that fasting should not be a somber, public show of perfunctory piety. He says, "be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." Matthew 6:16 Fasting is more than doing without food and water (sustenance for physical life). It is more than detailing what to do on certain days and being overly mindful of the physical man. Godly fasting is born out of being "driven" by a divine burden from the Lord. It is "driven" by God's timetable. Fasting and prayer go hand in hand with God's burden.

So, we understand that fasting is a divine part of the Christian's discipline. Yet, why do we fast and why so are so many giving so many details about the fasting? Most of the fast's in the Scripture were "driven" by some great need or crisis in the work of the Lord or in the Kingdom of God. Nehemiah fasted when he received word that the walls of Jerusalem were razed to the ground. He mourned and wept over a divine burden to go back to Jerusalem and work on the walls. Daniel mourned and wept when he read the words of Jeremiah showing that the 70 years of Babylonian captivity were to be soon accomplished. He prayed and fasted to the Lord, confessing to the Lord, "we have sinned." (Daniel 9:2, notice he prayed, we have sinned and not they have sinned) The book of Joel declares "sanctify a fast" unto the Lord. The call to fast in Joel is driven by the lack of faithfulness and consecration of the people to God. Pending destruction of the land is inevitable. Some also believe it is a call to Israel not only in those days but also of the latter days to fast. (read Joel chapter 2 & 3) Fasting is more than doing without food and water but it does include doing without food and/or liquids. Fasting for selfish interests seems ridiculous but there were those types of fasts recorded in the Scriptures.

God chided those who fasted with the wrong motive and spirit. He says in Zechariah 7:5, "Tell all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these past 70 years, did you really do it for me?" GWV It is one thing to do without food and/or liquids and to have the best detailed instructions for praying and fasting (thank God He knows our hearts and motives) and another to have the right spirit about fasting. One can fast (without food or liquid) and be in the wrong spirit. One man stood in the temple and spoke these words, "I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." Luke 16:12 There was no commendation from Jesus for this type of spirit. The one who went home justified was the one who would not look up and smote on his chest and cried, "God be merciful to me a sinner." (v. 13)

Isaiah 58:1-4 tells us, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high." WOW, what an indictment! How can any fast be God's fast if there is no repentance, seeking His righteousness and focusing on what Jesus wants in these last days? God has a chosen fast. Read the rest of Isaiah 58 and also read the times of fasting in the New Testament (Matthew 17:21, Acts 10:30, Acts 14:23, 1 Corinthians 7:5, Acts 13:2)

Our Captain has admonished us that "in those days shall they fast." What are "those days"? He is gone into heaven and now we are in the "those days." The bridegroom is in heaven now but is coming back soon. The days of the fulfilment of the prophecies of the Scripture are upon us daily. The days of the completion of preaching of the Gospel into all the world are getting fulfilled. What could "drive" us more than His compassion to see the lost repent and come to Him as Lord and Savior. Our Lord was "driven" by the Spirit. Mark 1:12 say, "And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness." He was in the wilderness praying and fasting to the Father. The devil tempted Him. He came through victorious over the desires of his human nature. Angels were dispatched to minister to Him in His weakness. Are we "driven" by the same Spirit? Are we motivated by the compassion that He had. He is coming again. Do we "look on the fields that are ready to harvest." Do we see the souls that are crying for deliverance?

Could it be stressed that we are to pray and fast that we may hold fast to the Lord and what He wants for us and our ministry to others? O Heavenly Father, forgive this nation of many sins, forgive this church of many sins. Forgive our wrong motives and lack of contriteness before you. Forgive me Lord of wrong motives and lack of contriteness and brokenness. Give me your compassionate love for the lost. Let us fast and pray unto YOU. AMEN!

Psalmist David's Prophetic Image of Christ

Psalm 109: 24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness. 25 I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.

Psalm 110:1 ¶ A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Charles Spurgeon

"It is God that writes intercession upon men's hearts. All true prayer comes from Him, but especially that least selfish and most Christ-like form of prayer called intercession--when the suppliant forgets all about himself and his own needs--and all his pleading, his tears and his arguments are on behalf of others."~ Charles Spurgeon

PRAYING GOD'S WILL

•James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
•3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

•1John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
•1John 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

•PRAY HIS WILL - DO ANY OF THESE BIBLE VERSES SPEAK HIS WILL?. . .

•2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

•1Thess. 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. . .

•Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

•Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

•Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

•Ac 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
•Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Lu 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 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.

Matthew 28:19 So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.20 Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. "And remember that I am always with you until the end of time." GWV


ANY COMMENTS. . .WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

•Reshaping The Church Researcher, George Barna has identified 4 factors he describes as “indicative of the reshaping of the church in the U.S.” They are: (1) The priorities embraced by church leaders. Most local churches essentially ignore: ministry to children, ministry to families and prayer. From Sermon Central, George Barna Research

•One teenager’s view of prayer: “God answers prayer four ways: yes, no, wait awhile, or, you’ve got to be kidding!”
•A Preacher’s Prayer: “Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff, and nudge me when I’ve said enough.”
•The Top 10 Issues Facing Today’s Church. Number 1-Prayer (Life-Way.com)

•A little girl was pushing the limits of her mother’s very last nerve. Mom was nearing the end of a hectic season of cooking, cleaning, shopping, wrapping and church stuff. She was also nearing the breaking point with her little pre-schooler. Finally the little girl was bathed and ready for bed. As she knelt to say her prayers, Mom listened as her sweet three year old theologian "customized" her evening prayer, ...And forgive us our Christmases, as we forgive those who Christmas against us! From Sermon Central

Pulling No Punches

“Life is war. That’s not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world. Prayer gives us the significance of front-line forces, and gives God the glory of a limitless Provider. The one who gives the power gets the glory. Thus prayer safeguards the supremacy of God in missions while linking us with endless grace for every need.” (John Piper, “Let the Nations Be Glad”)

"Prayer is surrender-surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boat hook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God." E. Stanley Jones, in Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome, K Hughes, Tyndale, 1988, p. 73

Our churches today need to be a spiritual house. Many times our churches have become a social house where as one old preacher said: We traded our upper room into the board room, the fire of the Holy Spirit for a warm heater, our prayer meetings for chicken dinners, and we have become as weak as our tea, cold as our soup, and dead as the chicken we eat. Tony Abram, Sermon Central

Americans Support Christian Monuments In a new USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll Americans are overwhelmingly thumbing their noses at liberal judicial activists who seek to strip the public square of all references to God. The poll shows the following preferences: * The inscription “In God we trust” on U.S. coins: 90% approve. 8% disapprove. * Non-denominational prayer at public school ceremonies: 78% approve. 21% disapprove. * Monument of the Ten Commandments in public areas: 70% approve. 29% disapprove. * Monument of the Koran in a public area: 33% approve. 64% do not approve. * Federal funds for social programs run by Christian organizations: 64% approve. 34% disapprove. * Federal funds for social programs run by Islamic organizations: 41% approve. 56% disapprove. These numbers are interesting not only because they show the nation supports generic religious expression, but also because Americans clearly prefer Christian references to those of other religions, the antithesis of our courts today. (PWB 10/3/03) From SermonCentral.com

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

TWENTY ONE DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING: The local church has been challenged to be actively involved in intensive prayer and to fast for the first twenty one days of 2009. The Office of General Overseer has also challenged the worldwide church to be involved in this prayer and fasting time. Read more by clicking here

WEST TENNESSEE LEADERSHIP MEETING: Date: Jan 4, 2009 Time: From 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm Location: Holiday Inn Conference Center
541 Carriage House Drive
Jackson, TN 38305

This annual event will be hosted by the West Tennessee District Presbyters, Bishop Clayton Mahan and Bishop Robbie Wier. The service will include the opportunity for local church leaders, pastors and other ministers to interact with the State Staff, and look forward to the events for the next calendar year.

There will also be an ordination service and the sermon will be delivered by Bishop E.C. McKinley, Tennessee State Presiding Bishop. All are invited to attend.

The above announcement is from the State Overseer's Web Site: http://www.tncogop.org/

SCHEDULED REVIVAL: February 27, 28 and March 1, 2009 with Tennessee State Evangelist Tim Farmer.

From Charles Stanley

John 14:14 reads, "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."

People sometimes interpret this to mean that any request ending with the words "in Jesus' name, amen" will automatically be fulfilled.

Yet basing our entire concept of prayer on one isolated verse would lead to a skewed perspective. It is also important to consider . . .

Our Fellowship With God. For God to hear and answer prayers, we must first be saved from our sin through the redeeming blood of Jesus. Once we have trusted Christ as Savior, God will hear us only when we walk in righteousness before Him. Of course, He understands our weakness and doesn't expect perfection. But if we knowingly continue in sin and fail to repent, He will not listen.

Our Request. For some people, ending prayers with "In Jesus' name, amen" can seem like a magic charm, but nothing can force God's hand. This saying did originate from a good motive, though: the desire to ask only for what is consistent with Jesus' character. When we ask, we should pray with faith, believing that God is able and will do whatever is in His will. And we should willingly submit our desires to Him.

Our Motive. The Lord won't say yes to prayer that will hurt us or His purpose. When we bring supplications before Him, it is important to check our motive. Is our goal to glorify God and let others see Him in us? Or is our motive selfish, greedy, or impure?

Our heavenly Father tells us to pray. And He will answer when our hearts are pure.

from www.crosswalk.com

PRAYER AND FASTING

Today began the 21 day of Prayer and Fasting.

•Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

•Jesus said, “when ye fast.” Showing that there will be times of fasting
•But it is a time to the Lord and not to get what “I want”
•Expected by Jesus, but Neglected by the Church

•Mark 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

•Does this verse mean that we can do without food and water and get what we want from the Lord?
•We must fast to the Lord and not for what “I want.”
•Bring them to Jesus. . .

•David Yonggi Cho pastors the largest church in the world (believed to be the largest church in history) - over 700,000 members! He and his staff have such a belief in the power of prayer and fasting that they rarely counsel people. If someone comes to them with a great problem or urgent need, their standard answer is, “go to prayer mountain and fast and pray for three days”. If they return with the problem still unmet, they tell them to go and fast and pray for a week. (Then for ten days/then for forty days.) They do not think it possible that a person would ever return to them again and not have the problem resolved!

•Nehemiah 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven


•Zechariah 7:5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?

•Daniel 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

From our family to yours, we wish you a Happy and Blessed New Year!

Profundities From the Apostle Paul

1 Thessalonians 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.6 ¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Sleep. Awake. Darkness. Light. Sober. Drunken. These are words that the Scripture includes in this passage. We are admonished by the Apostle Paul to be be "sober," be "awake," and not "sleep," in the spiritual sense as do others.

Have you ever been in the physical state between being asleep and being awake? I remember being in this state at different times in my life. It is not a good feeling. If you have ever been drunk on alcohol to the point of passing out, you may know how it feels to be in this state between being physically awake and asleep. You want to wake up and it seems you are stuck and no matter how much you try to wake up, you continue to be in limbo. I remember feeling smothered and strangely frozen in this state. I felt that If I fell back to sleep, I would never wake up. So I struggled and struggled until I finally awoke. When I finally awoke, I jumped up and breathed heavily for several minutes. Not a good feeling.

In the spiritual sense, we are admonished to be "awake." The Apostle Paul encourges Christians to continue as children of the light and to avoid the darkness. Perhaps there are those who are "stuck" in limbo between being awake and being asleep in the spiritual sense. We should be ever diligent in being prepared for the coming of the Lord for we know that he has warned that he "will come as a thief in the night." Our light should shine out to others who need to be awakened out of darkness or to those Christians who are stuck in "limbo" between being actively awake or just hanging on between being awake and being asleep spiritually. These Christians are "drunk" on things that keeps them from being actively awake. This "stupor" keeps them from shining as they should for the Lord. Maybe its the stupor of unforgiveness or the stupor of gossip, or a number of other stupors. The cry is "AWAKE!" Those stupors are just "drugs" of the devil to keep us from being awake. Put those things away and joyfully awake!

Put those stupors away and joyfully put on faith and love in HIM! So we gladly rejoice that we can be with HIM who died for us that whether we continue living in this life joyfully awake or in that final light that comes with the final sleep with HIM (passing from temporal breath to the celestial breath). . . .God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

ANNOUNCEMENTS

•PRAYER AND FASTING JAN. 1-21. DANIEL FAST OF 21 DAYS.
•TOTAL FAST, PARTIAL FAST, INTERMITTENT FAST, FAST TO THE LORD

•January 4th at 6 pm. West TN District Meeting with Sectional Overseer, Clayton Mahan and State Overseer, E. C. McKinley, 541 Carriage House Drive, Holiday Inn, Jackson, TN

•Workday on Friday of this week at church for those who will come and help.

Today's Meeting and Revival

Thank God for a great time in the Lord today. The Holy Spirit was very evident in our midst wooing and leading us into a time of intensive prayer and fasting. We have been challenged to join in the 21 day Daniel fast beginning January 1 through the 21st. Some may fast a "total fast." Others may fast a "partial fast" (liquid only or lighter diet). Others may fast intermittently (one meal a day, or a day or two at a time). We are simply fasting to the Lord and desiring HIM and what He wants for us.

The following is part of today's message.

•Some reasons why should we fast?
•1. We fast in obedience to Jesus’ teaching. (Matt. 6:16-18)
•2. We fast to demonstrate our dependence upon God. (James 4:10, 1Cor 9:24-27)
•3. We fast to demonstrate repentance from sin (and to intercede for others who need to repent). (Jonah 3:5-10, Daniel 9, Nehemiah 1)
•4. We fast to receive God’s wisdom and direction. (Acts 13:1-3, 14:21-23)
•5. We fast to receive deliverance in times of crisis. (2Chronicles 20).

We fast to God and for His good pleasure.

We are seeking God for revival and for reaching out to the lost.

SCHEDULED REVIVAL: Revival is tentatively scheduled for February 27, 28 and March 1 with Tennessee State Evangelist Tim Farmer.

Christmas

My family and I wish you and yours a blessed Christmas and a prosperous and happy New Year.

Karen, Jason and I have enjoyed a great Christmas week. We have visited with most of Karen's family and most of my family who all convened at her mother's on Christmas Eve and my mother's on Christmas Day. I did not take pictures this year but focused more on being with each one in my family. God has tremendously blessed us and we are thankful.

Quotes

"I learned not to let compliments go to my head, nor criticism my heart." John Hope Bryant, who went from being homeless to founding Operation HOPE, America's first nonprofit banking organization, which has raised more than $400 million for the poor.



"Don't dwell on what you lack; dwell on what you have and use it to the fullest with gratitude. Don't dwell on your failures--learn from them and move on. Don't dwell on your fears or sorrows--dwell on your hopes." Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children's Defense Fund. . .from her Book The Sea Is So Wide and My Boat Is So Small: Charting a Course for the Next Generation

Christmas Service this past Sunday

We thank the Lord for a special Christmas service. We sang Christmas songs and had a great time in our Christmas banquet. We enjoyed playing the Christmas gift game. The game was new to the people here. We read the birth of Christ account from Luke and put the words right and left throughout the story. Each time the word right or left was read each one moved their Christmas present to the person to their right or left. All ages enjoyed this time.

We also enjoyed the Turkey provided by the pastor's family and all the trimmings provided by the members and friends of the church. We thank the Lord for this special time of the year and for our Lord and Savior who was born of a virgin and took upon himself the earthly, human body. Emmanuel, God with us, how awesome!

Profundities From the Apostle Paul

2Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

It has been said, "the greatest gift in the privilege to give." This was evident with the church at Macedonia." Paul says of them, "2 Corinthians 8:15 ¶ Brothers and sisters, we want you to know how God showed his kindness to the churches in the province of Macedonia. 2 While they were being severely tested by suffering, their overflowing joy, along with their extreme poverty, has made them even more generous.3 I assure you that by their own free will they have given all they could, even more than they could afford.4 They made an appeal to us, begging us to let them participate in the ministry of God’s kindness to his holy people in Jerusalem.5 They did more than we had expected. First, they gave themselves to the Lord and to us, since this was God’s will." GWV

The Macedonians were desirous to give even in their "extreme poverty" to those Christians in desperate need in Jerusalem. With the persecution and ostracizing of the Jerusalem Christians came great temporal need. Those in Macedonia were "extremely poor" as well but they understood the joy and blessedness of giving. The Apostle Paul commended and then admonished (not commanded) the church at Corinth, "2 Corinthians 9:1 ¶ I don’t need to write anything further to you about helping the Christians in Jerusalem. 2 I know how willing you are to help, and I brag about you to the believers in the province of Macedonia. I tell them, "The people of Greece have been ready to send their collection since last year," and your enthusiasm has moved most of them to act. 3 I’ve sent my coworkers so that when we brag that you’re ready, we can back it up. 4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me, they might find out that you’re not ready after all. This would embarrass us for feeling so confident as much as it would embarrass you." GWV

He emphasized the greatest gift of all. He reminds them in 2 Corinthians 8:9, "You know about the kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor in order to make you rich through his poverty." When we think of the greatest gift of all we are constrained, yes moved with compassion, to give. He gave the best and the most to us.

So at this time of the year when we remember the gift that God (Emmanuel, God with us) gave we are thankful that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son." No matter what words are used, "unspeakable gift," or any other words, no words have the power to describe the greatest gift of all. That is what Paul said, "unspeakable." What more can I do but give myself and all that He has given me or made of me. Just as the Macedonians who, "did more than we had expected. First, they gave themselves to the Lord and to us, since this was God’s will."

God knows what one can give but most of all we should give ourselves. As the "Little Drummer Boy" song says, "I have no gift to bring, Shall I play for you, ba rum ba bum bum on my drum." He brought himself and what he had. So I bring myself, with all the faults, with little else to bring and joyfully proclaim, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!

Today God Is First

The Anguish of Faith

Psalms 143:7 Do not hide Your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

Of all the biblical characters, David gives us a glimpse of a man who walked with God with great emotion in victory and in defeat. David never lost a battle throughout his many years of serving as king of Israel. In many of the Psalms, David often lamented about the difficult places where God had placed him. He talked of his enemies and the need for God to deliver Him. He talked of God's everlasting love for him. How do you suppose David came to this understanding after years of being sought after by King Saul who wanted to take his life? His years of turmoil within his family gave him many reasons to lose all hope in a loving God.

David often began his Psalms in a place of discouragement and loss of hope. But He never ended one Psalm in defeat. He always came to a place of victory in God by the end of the Psalm. David always placed his life in God's hands, knowing He would care for him.

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. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground (Psalm 143:8-10).

It is okay to feel discouragement. It is part of the process of grieving and working through those times of pain. But God wants each of us to allow Him to walk with us in these places. If you find yourself in one of these places, do what David did. Ask God to show you the way and let Him bring the word of His unfailing love to you.

From http://www.crosswalk.com/

Sister Cathy Coleman's Visit Today

What a great time in the Lord today! The presence of the Lord was very evident throughout the worship time and the Sunday School today. Thank God for the power of the Holy Ghost and the closeness of the presence of our Captain - Jesus Christ.

Sister Cathy Coleman came today with her family after being unable to attend services since her brain injury accident back in late April. After much prayer and several months in rehabilitation, we rejoice that she is back with us. She went to class and was singing and worshipping the Lord throughout the worship time. She sang the songs from memory. It was a special time for her family and all of us to see our Sister who has gone through so much to be back in church. She had attended one other time with her husband about three months ago but was unable to stay because of pain and hearing problems. Today, however, she was there rejoicing and we all rejoiced with her. Praise the Lord!

Sister Cathy and the family continue to request prayer as she continues to gain strength and memory.

This Coming Sunday's Message

The Spirit of Christ. . .Forgiveness

Text: Matthew 16: 14, 15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Introduction: There are many treatises, books, articles and papers on forgiveness. Some have pushed forgiveness as the absolute answer to any trouble in a person's life. They casually and pointedly say, "just forgive and it will all work out." Some have made forgiveness as an optional discipline that only applies if the person chooses to forgive.

It has also been said, "to err is human, to forgive is divine." While this may be partially true, it cannot cover the full extent of the command of our Lord. This message may challange some of the casual statements that have been put forward over the years. This is the first of several messages on forgiveness. These messages will not exhaust this text but hopefully and prayerfully the Holy Spirit will help each one of us to become forgiving.

Supporting Scriptures:

Forgiveness is a command not a suggestion.
Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

There is no limit to forgiveness.
Matt 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?“
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Did Jesus mean that we keep count and after the 490th time then we can wallop them?

Unforgiveness holds one in bondage.
Mt 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mt 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Matt. 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

Forgiveness is a volitional act.
It is a choice not a feeling. (hurt, anger, resentment, and vengence will resolve with forgiveness)
It is a purposeful decision.
It is based on Christ’s sacrifice and His power.

Reconciliation is always the answer.
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Illustrations: In his book "What’s so Amazing About Grace," Philip Yancey tells a story about a man and wife who one night had an argument about how supper was cooked, it was so heated that night they slept in separate rooms. Neither has approached the other to say I’m sorry or to offer forgiveness, and they have remained in separate rooms years after the argument, each night they go to bed hoping that the other will approach them with an apology or forgiveness, but neither goes to the other. God’s forgiveness does not wait for repentance, it initiates and calls out repentance by offering forgiveness.

Power to Forgive and Love With The Weakest Effort
Her name was 66730, or at least that was the name she went by. Her father had died in a German Concentration camp as did her sister. Her freedom, her dignity, her humanity had been stripped away by those who imprisoned her and yet she survived. They had robbed her of everything she ever possessed but they couldn’t rob her of the one who possessed her, Jesus. She saw every day in Ravensbruck as a chance to minister to someone more needy then herself, and then one day she was released. As suddenly as she had become a prisoner she was freed, and her solitary aim was to minister to others. When the war was over she began traveling and speaking sharing her Savior and the vision that He had given her. And then one day, something happened, something that shook her to the very center of her being, why don’t you let me read you her account of what happened, oh you probably wouldn’t know her as 66730, you would be more apt to know her as Corrie ten Boom.

"It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there, the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsy’s pain blanched face.

He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. "How grateful I am for your message Fraulein, " he said. "To think, as you say, He has washed my sins away!"

His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendall the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.

Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man: was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him.

I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness.

As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.

And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that this worlds healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself."

Joseph says to his brothers: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20 NIV)

The Judds - Beautiful Star of Bethlehem (full song wynonna)

WISDOM FROM THE PSALMS

Psalm 145:2Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Janet, Ann, and Jenny all agreed. This year they were going to get together daily to pray together and share their experiences. Over the past few months they had spent more time in fellowship with one another, and it was the best part of their weeks. They all worked in the same office, ate lunch together, went to church together, and they lived close enough that they could meet at one another's homes when necessary. In covenant with God and one another, they promised to get together for praise and prayer.

Perhaps such a set-up is not feasible for everyone, but it is easier and more enjoyable when we can share our faith with others. Other people hold us accountable to the commitment we make in a way that God does not. He will not force anyone to make time for Him. It is from a willing heart that God wants our time with Him to come. Friends and prayer partners can help us remember God every day, and thereby help us praise Him always.

Prayer:
Every day will I praise Thee, Lord. I will try to take time each day to reflect on the great gifts I have been given and the wonderful love that is in my heart. Thank You for that love. Amen.

From: www.crosswalk.com

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

CHRISTMAS SERVICE AND DINNER: Sunday, December 21, 11-1 pm. Children will present their Christmas poems and there will be a Christmas program.

This Coming Sunday's Message

Continuing with "The Spirit of Christ - Humility."

Text: Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Introduction: Ever been around little children for any length of time? It is amazing to observe them and see the interaction between them.

For the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to work with 3, 4 and 5 year olds. One of them who is three years old, has trisomme three or Downe's Syndrome. She is the sweetest and easiest one to work with at times, yet the most independent and difficult at times. She can do many things for herself but sometimes she tries to do more difficult things that she needs help with.

Most of the children at this age are between becoming more independent in doing things for themselves, yet needing encouragement, and sometimes, help to do what is needed for them (like putting their coat on and taking it off, going to the bathroom, getting their lunch trays, etc.). They need a lot of encouragement and simple instruction.

For the most part these children are dependent. That is, they need constant care and supervision. They look to adults (parents, teachers, caregivers, aids, etc.) for supervision, provision, security and stability. Children smaller than them (birth to 3) are even more dependent. They need closer supervision and care.

As children grow older they become more independent. That is the goal of most parents - to see their children become independent (supervise and provides for themselves) and be able to function as mature, responsible adults. The natural flow of life leads one to want to become independent. When the child turns twelve, we want to see certain growth patterns and educational levels. As the young person reaches 16, 18 and 21 we look for benchmarks in their maturity (there are variations and factors to be considered with each one). That is the natural flow of growing and maturing. This may seem simplistic and it is in the natural physiological realm.

Yet in the Kingdom of God a more unique insight is noted. Jesus says in Mark 10:15, "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." Jesus does not say that we are to continue to be spiritually immature or to be childish in our knowledge. The Bible speaks clearly that we should grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, but we never come to the place that we do not need Him. That is, one can never declare independence from Him. We are dependent on Him from the beginning of our faith and all throughout our lives.

Independence from Him often becomes the failure of many. Adults or even older chilren often fall into the pit of "managing" their lives or being caught up in temporal, trivial pursuits that are completely independent of Christ. A sixteen year old decides he or she does not want to follow acceptable rules and patterns for life. She or he becomes involved in "independent" living that is far removed from Christ and a close relationship with Him. Child-like faith, dependence and innocence are pushed aside for what "I" want and not what Christ wants. Humility is pushed aside for "I" and Christ is removed from the picture.

One can never fulfill their destiny with Christ as long as "I" rules. The Apostle Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 An independent Pharisee who "wasted the Church of God" never forgot his dependence on the ONE he met on the road to Damascus.

Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

to be continued. . .

WISDOM FROM PSALMS

Psalm 141:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.


"You were really out of line back there."

Alan looked over at Barbara and nodded. He had been angry about a mix-up at the bank and had taken out his wrath on a poor, innocent teller. His temper often got him into hot water. Without a word, the two turned around and headed back to the bank. Though the line was long, Alan waited until he could return to the same teller, where he then apologized.

We need to have loving friends around us who will let us know when we are doing something wrong. If we are to grow, we need to have our shortcomings pointed out to us, so we can turn our weaknesses into strengths. Loving, constructive criticism will not hurt us; in fact, it will make us feel better. Love each other enough to criticize, for in caring criticism is the seed of maturity.

Prayer:
I do so many foolish things. I allow my own emotions to get the best of me at times. Channel my passions into constructive streams, and show me the better ways to go. Amen.

From: http://www.crosswalk.com/

This Coming Sunday's Message

Continuing With Series - Continued Below

Title: The Spirit of Christ

Text: Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Introduction: The Spirit of Christ includes the attributes of Christ. The Holy Spirit does not come into an individual to allow them to live licentiously and lawlessly. He comes to "testify of Christ" or as one version says "he will declare the truth about me (Christ)." John 15:26:b God's Word Version

The attributes of Christ are many. This message will begin a series on the Spirit of Christ and His Attributes. Some of those attributes include but are not limited to the following: humility, forgiveness, immutability, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and pre-existent. Of course we know that some of these attributes are only characteristic of Christ. No-one would say they are omnipotent or omnipresent. The attributes of Christ that these messages will deal with are those that God expects of Christians and are necessary by the power of the Holy Spirit.

These attributes are - humility and forgiveness.

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES: Philippians 2: 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Matthew 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

I am the least of the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:9

I am the very least of all the saints. Ephesians 3:8

I am the foremost of sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15

Illustrations: A truly humble man is hard to find, yet God delights to honor such selfless people. Booker T. Washington, the renowned black educator, was an outstanding example of this truth. Shortly after he took over the presidency of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when he was stopped by a wealthy white woman. Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by sight, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her. Because he had no pressing business at the moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested. When he was finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace. A little girl recognized him and later revealed his identity to the lady.

The next morning the embarrassed woman went to see Mr. Washington in his office at the Institute and apologized profusely. "It's perfectly all right, Madam," he replied. "Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides, it's always a delight to do something for a friend." She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek and gracious attitude had endeared him and his work to her heart. Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute. Our Daily Bread.

Humilty and A Passion For Praise
Humility and a passion for praise are a pair of characteristics which together indicate growth in grace. The Bible is full of self-humbling (man bowing down before God) and doxology (man giving praise to God). The healthy heart is one that bows down in humility and rises in praise and adoration. The Psalms strike both these notes again and again. So too, Paul in his letters both articulates humility and breaks into doxology. Look at his three descriptions of himself quoted above, dating respectively from around A.D. 59, 63, and 64. As the years pass he goes lower; he grows downward! And as his self-esteem sinks, so his rapture of praise and adoration for the God who so wonderfully saved him rises.

Undoubtedly, learning to praise God at all times for all that is good is a mark that we are growing in grace. One of my predecessors in my first parochial appointment died exceedingly painfully of cancer. But between fearful bouts of agony, in which he had to stuff his mouth with bedclothes to avoid biting his tongue, he would say aloud over and over again: "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Ps. 34:1). That was a passion for praise asserting itself in the most poignant extremity imaginable.

Cultivate humility and a passion for praise if you want to grow in grace.

James Packer, Your Father Loves You, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986.

Beethoven's Piano
On a visit to the Beethoven museum in Bonn, a young American student became fascinated by the piano on which Beethoven had composed some of his greatest works. She asked the museum guard if she could play a few bars on it; she accompanied the request with a lavish tip, and the guard agreed. The girl went to the piano and tinkled out the opening of the Moonlight Sonata. As she was leaving she said to the guard, "I suppose all the great pianist who come here want to play on that piano."

The guard shook his head. "Padarewski [the famed Polish pianist] was here a few years ago and he said he wasn't worthy to touch it." Source Unknown.

Be humble or you'll stumble. D.L. Moody.

Many years ago, Christian professor Stuart Blackie of the University of Edinburgh was listening to his students as they presented oral readings. When one young man rose to begin his recitation, he held his book in the wrong hand. The professor thundered, "Take your book in your right hand, and be seated!" At this harsh rebuke, the student held up his right arm. He didn't have a right hand! The other students shifted uneasily in their chairs. For a moment the professor hesitated. Then he made his way to the student, put his arm around him, and with tears streaming from his eyes, said, "I never knew about it. Please, will you forgive me?" His humble apology made a lasting impact on that young man. This story was told some time later in a large gathering of believers. At the close of the meeting a man came forward, turned to the crowd, and raised his right arm. It ended at the wrist. He said, "I was that student. Professor Blackie led me to Christ. But he never could have done it if he had not made the wrong right."
Source Unknown.

Continued. . .


Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews. . .


Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. KJV

Colossians 2:18 Let no one who delights in false humility and the worship of angels tell you that you don’t deserve a prize. Such a person, whose sinful mind fills him with arrogance, gives endless details of the visions he has seen. 19 He doesn’t hold on to Christ, the head. Christ makes the whole body grow as God wants it to, through support and unity given by the joints and ligaments. 20 If you have died with Christ to the world’s way of doing things, why do you let others tell you how to live? It’s as though you were still under the world’s influence. 21 People will tell you, "Don’t handle this! Don’t taste or touch that!“ 22 All of these things deal with objects that are only used up anyway. GWV

There's an idea floating around today that has to sicken the heart of God. It's this idea that true humility means you have to conjure up a kinder, gentler version of yourself so we can all just get along. It's a humility that says you have to straddle the fence, not offend anyone, and "make nice" with everyone. What a phony-baloney load of crap that is! I'm searching the Scriptures, and I can't find anyone like that, at least not anyone who was serving God. Am I to believe that John the Baptist was not humble because he confronted the Pharisees and called them a bunch of snakes? Did Paul lack humility because he appeared to be unkind when he sharply confronted the Judaizers in Galatia and hinted they should all do themselves bodily harm? And in the Old Testament the Prophets of God probably never understood the concept. Where was Elijah's humility when he confronted Ahab and Jezebel, and slew the false prophets of Baal? Surely Elijah wasn't putting forth his best efforts to get along.
From http://www.voiceofonecrying.com/humility.htm


Matthew 18-4 Therefore , anyone who becomes as humble as this little Child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

James 4:6 He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the scripture say, "God sets himself against the proud, but heshows favor to the humble."

1stPeter 5:5-6 You younger men, accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility ,for "God sets himself" against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble." So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you.


When we listen to most people talk these days, you could come to believe to be humble or show humility, means that anyone of this ilk is weak and spineless, but as we see in the above scriptures to be humble and show humility is true strength, for it reaches into the kingdom of heaven. When we are full of pride we are playing right into the devils hands, pride makes us weak and it reaches no further than our own ego. So therefore, we become a tool for the devil to use.

NAAMAN

GEHAZI

MANESSAH

SPECIAL DAY

Today, Karen and I are enjoying being with my mother who is a young 78 years old. She has been up cooking and doing her daily activities. I want to take this opportunity to give love, honor and respect to my mother. She has been a "beacon" in my life. She often worked two jobs when I was young to support me and my sister. There have been some memorable moments as I grew up with a very special mother.

I remember one time when we were in Dickson, Tennessee where mom was paying some bills. As we walked along down Main Street about to cross the railroad tracks a five dollar bill blowed by us. We looked all around us and there was no one within 50 yards. I took off runing after the five dollars and grabbed it. I was about 8 or 9 years old and I knew my mother was having a difficult time paying some bills. She looked at me and smiled and said, "You better be glad you can run faster than me." Then she laughed. I looked at the five dollar bill (which was about like a fifty now). Then I grinned at her and held it up to give it to her. She smiled at me and lovingly said, "Thank you son." I knew she needed it and felt like a "million" dollars after I gave it to her.

I ask her today if she remembered that time. She said, "Why shore I remember it, I don't forget things like that." She just now said, "Thank you again son." She gives and gives and gives. If I could give my mother a million dollars it would not be enough to repay the life she has given me. I THANK GOD for a godly, loving mother.

She has traveled many miles for the Lord singing the gospel, serving in the local church in many voluntary capacities. She continues to sing to her Savior and teaches the Senior Adult Class at her home church. She may have some "odd, unique" ways but I can attest that she loves the Lord and serves Him from the heart - she has a heart after God.

When her life here is over and her time comes to go, I feel assured the angels will bear her over to the heavenly shore. Yet, she always says, I'm not worthy - only through the shed blood of Jesus - which is another reason why my mother is so special.

Accolades may be given to many on this earth but I give my respect, honor and love to my mother today and every day. Man may keep many records but only God keeps good books. God will reward her for all her faithful works to Him and the many on this earth.

THANKSGIVING

To all who read this, my family and I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving. We will be traveling to be with family.

See what you know about Thanksgiving by clicking this link

Death Notice - Ruth Helen Parker

Ruth Helen Parker, Sister of Deacon J. E. Moore died yesterday. The following are the arrangements from the McKenzie Funeral Home, McKenzie, TN.

Services for Ruth Helen Parker, 67, will be held Monday, November 24, 2008 at 2:00 pm at McKenzie Funeral Home with Bros. Jim Roberts and Jarrod Bailey officiating.

Interment will follow at Long Rock Methodist Church Cemetery near Huntingdon. The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 23, 2008 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm and Monday, November 24, 2008 from 10:00 am until service time.

Mrs. Parker, a bookkeeper and homemaker, died Friday, November 21, 2008 at her residence. She was born on January 23, 1941 in Selmer, Tennessee to Virgil Lee and Bonnie Mae Meggs Moore. She was a member of McKenzie Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by a son Donald Ray Sanders, a brother Samuel Moore and two sisters Dorra Lee Moore and Dorise June McGee .

Survivors include her husband Elery Parker of McKenzie, a daughter Jeanie Ruth Lowe of McKenzie, a son James Douglas Sanders of Huntingdon, three sisters Corinne Moore of Selmer, TN, Guinne Ogle of Cary Don, KY, Lula Maie Adams of Wildersville, five brothers William Neese Moore of Humboldt, J E Moore of Huntingdon, Coy Moore of Huntingdon, Mack Moore of St. Peters, MO, Rodney Moore of West Port, TN, three grandchildren Tasha Lowe and Josh Lowe both of McKenzie, Melissa Townsend of Huntingdon and two great grandchildren Will and Bradon Townsend both of Huntingdon.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, the McKenzie Church of Christ, or the donor’s choice.

McKenzie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For more information please call (731) 352-4848 or visit www.mckenziefuneralhome.com

From Power Point with Jack Graham

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. --Romans 8:26

Go ahead, you can admit it... prayer is hard work. There is a weakness within us that makes prayer difficult. It is our humanity, our "flesh."

When I start to pray, I can think of about ten other things I could be doing. Does that happen to you? I go over all my responsibilities or my mind wanders. Other times, I just don't feel like praying.

But it doesn't have to be that way! You and I can have effective, fulfilling prayer. What's the key? Praying in the Spirit.

There are two ways to pray. You can pray in the flesh or you can pray in the Spirit. What's the difference? Scripture says, "The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."

So if you pray in the flesh, you pray in weakness. Prayer through our own efforts alone and for our own purposes does not get through to God. But if you pray in the Spirit, you pray with strength.

Wouldn't you like to pray with power? Wouldn't you like to know that your prayers are getting through? You can if you partner with the Spirit in prayer.

I want to encourage you to depend upon the Holy Spirit in prayer just as you depend upon the Holy Spirit for witnessing, for teaching others, and more.

Because He is our Comforter and our Help!

PRAYER THROUGH OUR OWN EFFORTS AND FOR OUR OWN PURPOSES DOES NOT GET THROUGH TO GOD. BUT IF YOU PRAY IN THE SPIRIT, YOU PRAY WITH STRENGTH.

from www.crosswalk.com

Profundities From the Apostle Paul

2Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. KJV

1Timothy 6:6 ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. KJV

Did you ever hear the statement, "this is the worst of times and best of times." The Apostle Paul warned of some of the worst of times or, better said, "the worst attitudes and behavior of the latter times."

He continues, "2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith." KJV

What a list! What a warning! Reprobate or failing the true test of faith. They go through the form and seem to have all the right words at the right cues but, beware, lest their deceitfulness takes you in. Many of these preach a "prosperity only gospel." Their message is imbalanced and lacks the rightly divided aspect of the scripture. They deny the power of the Holy Spirit to effect change in a person. Their message includes no passages that deal with the the demise of those who "desire to become rich." Their message hammers, harangues and almost harasses people to turn their hard earned income over to them promising a "harvest from their sowed seed." The Scriptures are taken out of context over and over again and again. There is no mention of the passage that says, 1 Timothy 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." KJV

Yes, there are those who are blessed with money but the money does not have them. They are good stewards of God's supply and realize that it belongs to HIM not them. Be warned, do not be duped in these "perilous times." Jesus watched him and said, "How hard it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!" Luke 18:24 GW Version "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5 KJV

This Coming Sunday's Message

TITLE: Enabling Grace

TEXT: Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES: Colossians1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Peter 1:13 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; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 8:1 ¶ Brothers and sisters, we want you to know how God showed his kindness to the churches in the province of Macedonia.2 While they were being severely tested by suffering, their overflowing joy, along with their extreme poverty, has made them even more generous.3 I assure you that by their own free will they have given all they could, even more than they could afford.4 They made an appeal to us, begging us to let them participate in the ministry of God’s kindness to his holy people in Jerusalem.5 They did more than we had expected. First, they gave themselves to the Lord and to us, since this was God’s will.6 This led us to urge Titus to finish his work of God’s kindness among you in the same way as he had already started it.7 ¶ Indeed, the more your faith, your ability to speak, your knowledge, your dedication, and your love for us increase, the more we want you to participate in this work of God’s kindness.8 I’m not commanding you, but I’m testing how genuine your love is by pointing out the dedication of others.9 You know about the kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor in order to make you rich through his poverty. GW Version

ILLUSTRATIONS: You're worried about permissiveness--about the way the preaching of grace seems to say it's okay to do all kinds of terrible things as long as you just walk in afterward and take the free gift of God's forgiveness. . .While you and I may be worried about seeming to give permission, Jesus apparently wasn't. He wasn't afraid of giving the prodigal son a kiss instead of a lecture, a party instead of probation; and he proved that by bringing in the elder brother at the end of the story and having him raise pretty much the same objections you do. He's angry about the party. He complains that his father is lowering standards and ignoring virtue--that music, dancing, and a fatted calf are, in effect , just so many permissions to break the law. And to that, Jesus has the father say only one thing: "Cut that out! We're not playing good boys and bad boys any more. Your brother was dead and he's alive again. The name of the game from now on is resurrection, not bookkeeping. Robert Farrar Capon, Between Noon and Three.

Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the 19th century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon's orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself. Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit. The attack was printed in the newspapers and became the talk of the town. People flocked to Parker's church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal. "I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here instead." The crowd was delighted. The ushers had to empty the collection plates 3 times. Later that week there was a knock at Parker's study. It was Spurgeon. "You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.
Moody Monthly, December, 1983, p. 81.

C.S. Lewis says of true friendship, “True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter in to this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?” These were his comments regarding Jesus’ words to Philip in John 14:9, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?”

The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God. C. S. Lewis


Note: Unless otherwise noted the above illustrations are from sermoncentral.com

Profundities of The Apostle Paul

2 Corinthians 2:14 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Why am I going through this? What did I do to deserve this? Have you ever heard those questions? Sometimes one may think they are the only one going through something difficult. Yet, we know that each person has their "difficult days" and "dark night of the soul."

Reading about the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul could make one cringe if one had to go through what he did. He says, "Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. . ." 2 Cor. 11:23-27 Of course, he was an exceptional minister that God enabled with abundant grace, but sometimes we faint at much less than what he went through.

If we can view our tests as something that God uses to help us become stronger and also to be able to minister to others, we surely will receive the grace to endure. What a difference it makes when we put things in perspective. . . . "For consider him (Jesus) that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Hebrews 12:3