Sunday's Coming

In my reading today, I want to share this from The Sower.

FAITHFULNESS IS MUTUAL

Memories are a gift from God. However, what we do with them, how they affect us or the difference they have on our way of living is what matters most.

When we recall the many gifts that God grants to us each day, do we take enough time to pause and thank Him and share the fact of His love, grace and mercy with family and friends?

When He brings healing and wellness to us and our loved ones, do we give Him the credit He deserves or do we think that He is obligated to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves?

When our financial needs are met and we have a surplus, do we give a “thank you offering” and praise Him for blessing us and giving us more than we deserve?

“A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished,” is a proverb worth noting carefully. God does indeed bless those who are faithful - often much more than can be imagined or deserved. Unfortunately, there are those who believe they have earned what they have accumulated and therefore do not need to give God credit or praise. How sad.

We have what we have because of God’s grace. Whatever we have is a result of Him showing us His favor. The strength and abilities I have come from Him and the opportunities I have to use them come from Him. If we use them to “get rich” without recognizing it’s all because of Him, we can expect a tragic ending.

Scripture for Today: 
Proverbs 28:20 
A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

Sunday's Coming

In my reading today, I want to share this from David Jeremiah.

Praising God for Miracles

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 
Psalm 121:2 

Among the stories connected to the memory of Francis of Assisi is this one: 
One day Francis gathered his friends at a remote monastery in central Italy. When he asked them about their journeys, each brother had an exciting tale to report. One had been riding his mule across a narrow bridge that spanned a deep gorge. When the mule bolted, the man was nearly thrown into the ravine. He praised God he hadn't been killed.

Another brother had nearly drowned fording a river but, he said, “God in His grace provided a tree that had fallen across the water. I was able to grasp a branch and pull myself to safety.” Other brothers expressed similar stories of God’s protection. Then someone asked Francis about his trip. “I experienced the greatest miracle of all,” said the famous friar. “I had a smooth, pleasant, and uneventful journey.”

We should always remember to praise God for His miracles in whatever form they come. He blesses, heals, rescues, delivers, helps, and uplifts more times every day than we can count. We should always be saying, “Thank You, Lord!”

Sunday's Coming

In my reading today, I found the following in my "archives" and want to share it with you.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A TRUE FRIEND
Author Unknown

“A friend is someone who likes you in spite of anything you do and will do everything possible to keep you from making a mistake.” Everyone needs someone like that in their lives. There have been times in my life when, if a “friend” had been available, my decisions would have been different and not disastrous.

“The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters; but a man of understanding draws them out,” gives us a place to begin when we are making difficult choices, serious decisions or intricate plans. More often than not we have stored feelings and thoughts, ideas and memories deep within our hearts. Over time we have forgotten them and their importance. Perhaps we have pushed them deep inside of us because we did not realize they would ever be important. Solomon calls them “deep waters” or “wells of wisdom that has been covered up over time.”

“A man of understanding or a “good friend who understands us” will draw them out of us - much like bringing up a bucket of cold, refreshing water from a deep well. This friend or “man of understanding” forces us to examine our “motives or unclear thoughts” - whatever is within us - in light of God’s own wisdom. Our “friend” will not allow us to do what we intended to do without challenging our desires to make certain that they are pure, wholesome, and God-honoring.

This “man of understanding” must first admit that he is not a man of understanding. While that may sound contradictory, it really isn't.  This “friend” must first listen to God’s wisdom before he can impart it to another “friend.” Then, there is the requirement to pray for and with us as we seek and listen for God’s guidance.
We all need “a man or woman” of understanding in our lives. We need someone who will force us to seek God’s wisdom.

Prayer: Lord, grant us one friend who will force us to examine our motives and ideas and make certain they are true to Your teachings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 

Proverbs 20:5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.

Sunday's Coming

Coming Back to the Cross
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home" (John 19:25-27).

To understand the significance of this statement from the cross, it is important to look back at a statement Jesus made when He was with His disciples before His arrest. The Lord said to all of His disciples, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me" (Matthew 26:31). And sure enough, by the time we get to Matthew 26:56 we read that all of the disciples deserted Him and fled, including John.

But then at the time of Jesus' trial, John shows up again; he's the only disciple who does. John could not stay away from his beloved Lord. John alone came back to The Cross.

When John showed up at The Cross, Jesus did not say to him, "John, where were you? I was looking for you. I thought that of all the disciples you would be the one who would have stood by me during the trial."

There was no rebuke. There was no, "I told you so." But rather, He looked at him, and He gave him the highest responsibility that our dying Savior could give anyone. He said, "Son, here is your mother." The Lord was saying that He wanted John to substitute for Him. He wanted John to stand in His place to speak for Him.

Some of us have made promises to the Lord, promises that we are going to walk closely with Him, promises that we will spend time in His Word. We made those promises and then we became busy or tired and forsook those promises. Disappointed with the circumstances of life, we gave up on the promises that we made to God.

Thankfully, we can repent, return to Jesus and receive His loving care and direction today.

Prayer: God, I realize today that I need to come back to The Cross. I need to kneel at Your feet in adoration and love and follow through on the promises I have made to You. Thank You for being patient with me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"Come near to God and he will come near to you" (James 4:8).

Sunday's Coming

God’s Grace:

There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak .. .. 

"I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, ‘What do you have there, son?’ 

"Just some old birds," came the reply. 

"What are you going to do with them?" I asked. 

"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time." 

"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?" 

"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them." 

The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?" 

"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!" 

"How much?" the pastor asked again. 

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?" 

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story: 

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. 

Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught a world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!" 

"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked. 

Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!" 

"And what will you do when you are done with them?" Jesus asked. 

"Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly. 

"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked. 

"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!" 

"How much? He asked again. 

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life." 

Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price. 

The pastor picked up the cage and walked from the pulpit. 

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? 

I thank God every day for my blessed life. I'm not rich, don't live in a mansion and don't have the nicest of material things, but, I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, food on my table, a family that loves me and lifelong friends to get me through .. . I'd say I have a lot to be thankful for. 

Have you counted your blessings today?

Have a great day, love you, pass it on,
Don

For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

Philippians 1:29 NLT

Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

Thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls what a blessing you are to us. Your support makes such a difference, so again Thank You. Our services continue every Sunday, and we continue to have a great time and see God at work here. Thanks again for all your help.

In my reading today, I want to share the following:

Love Leads to Love
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

At Calvary, the cross of Christ became an eternal emblem of love. Jesus never lost sight of God's purpose for His life. Everything He learned from the Father was in preparation for this moment.

As Scripture tells us, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

Jesus not only laid down His life for those who loved Him, He laid it down for all men and women, even those who choose to reject Him. He didn't die just for those closest to Him; He died for all of us. No one is left out. But we must make a choice either to accept Him as our Savior or to turn away from Him and face the judgment of a tormenting death.

When you find yourself being drawn away by the world's passions and temptations, remember the cross, where Christ gave His life as atonement for your sin. There is no greater love than God's love for you.

Prayer: Lord, it is hard to imagine the depth of Your love for me. Thank You for dying for me. May I love others as you have loved me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Have a great day, love you, pass it on!
Don

Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

Thank you for your prayers, e-mails, support and phone calls what a blessing you are to us. Our services continue every Sunday, and we continue to have a great time and see God at work here. Thanks again for all your help.

In my reading today, I want to share the following:

Life Goes Better with Praise
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Years ago, a soft-drink company came up with a slogan that claimed "things go better with" their product. Who can really say what the positive effects of a soft drink are, but we certainly know that life goes much better with praise!

When we fail to praise God, frustration builds. God is grieved, and we miss a great opportunity for blessing. When we take time to praise Him, feelings of fear, doubt, and frustration fade.

The psalmist writes: "May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. ... Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us" (Psalm 67:3, 6). Praise is the prelude to blessing!

Henry W. Frost, a veteran missionary to China, discovered the power of praise amid dark and difficult circumstances. He writes: "Nothing so pleases God in connection with our prayer as praise and nothing so blesses the man who prays as the praise which he offers."

Frost goes on to explain just how he learned this truth.

A deep shadow had covered my soul. I prayed and I prayed, but the darkness did not vanish. I summoned myself to endure, but the darkness only deepened.

Then one day, I went to an inland station and saw on the wall of the mission home these words: Try praising the Lord.' I did, and in a moment every shadow was gone, not to return. Yes, the psalmist was right; it is a good thing to give praise unto the Lord!

Praise does not reduce the seriousness of the problems facing us, but it can certainly lift our downcast eyes to the One who has the power to lift our hearts and to offer us eternal hope.

When trouble increases and the stress of the day seems too much for you to bear, try praising God, and you will experience His wondrous joy.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know Your faithfulness is bigger than any trial I could ever go through. Thank You for the hope and peace that come when I worship You instead of focusing on my problem! I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"I will ever praise you" (Psalm 71:6).

Have a great day, love you, pass it on!
Don