Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

I am so grateful to God for you. Thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls; what a blessing you are to us. With nine present, we began a weekly Bible study in our home Tuesday night. LaVon and I prepared dinner for all before the study; the fellowship, the food and study was very good. So begins our next ministry opportunity.

In my reading today I want to share this:

DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE?               
byThe Sower

“Wire-walkers” are known for their death-defying performances. These well-prepared and highly skillful entertainers are known for walking on thin wires that are suspended high in the air over dangerous sites. Normally they use a long pole for balance.
There was one “high-wire walker” who decided to use a wheelbarrow filled with 200 pounds of bricks for his balance as he crossed Niagara Falls. After he accomplished his feat a crowd of reporters gathered around him and began to ask questions. After he answered the last question he pointed to one of them and asked, 

“Do you believe that I can take this wheelbarrow that is now filled with bricks back to the other side?”

“Certainly,” came the reply.

“Good!” 

The wire-walker then dumped the bricks on the ground and said to the reporter, “Get in and I’ll take you to the other side.”

Mark tells the story of a father who brought his demon possessed boy to the disciples for healing. They failed. Then, he took his son to Jesus, and said, 

“Do something if you can.” 

And Jesus said, 

“If I can? Anything is possible if you believe.”

And the father replied, 
“Lord, help my unbelief!”

Our faith only grows when we pray, release our fears and trust.

Prayer: Father, remove our doubts and fears and fill our minds and hearts with a faith that completely relies on You for all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 
Mark 9:24 
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

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

Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

I am so grateful to God for you. Thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls; what a blessing you are to us. It has been a busy couple of weeks moving to Norman and having the Q transported to Lake Eufaula. We could not have done this without the help of so many, friends in Magnolia, friends in Norman and Lake Eufaula, and our family. How blessed we feel today, We love you all.

In my reading today I want to share this:

Self-Sufficient? 
By David Jeremiah

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9 

When someone does something nice for us, instead of enjoying their kindness, it’s easy to start thinking of ways to repay them. 

When we come to Jesus, we realize that the most important thing cannot be earned; the greatest gift can never be repaid. The truth is that nothing we do can add to or take away from the gift of salvation and a relationship with God. This is a difficult concept to grasp in our culture of self-sufficiency. Accepting this gift opens our hearts to God. As we meditate on His gentle kindness and mercy in the life and sacrifice of Christ, our thankfulness grows; and we are filled with joy. Today, thank God for His gifts and rest in the peace of accepting His provision. 

The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation. - Charles H. Spurgeon

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

Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

I am so grateful to God for you--thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls what a blessing you are to us. You make us feel that we are not doing this alone when the days are long and trying, thanks. May our God Bless you richly today.

In my reading today, I want to share this:

1 Thessalonians 5:17
pray without ceasing,

I received an email some time ago and have shared it from the pulpit, that demonstrated how to use your fingers to pray. It’s a simple reminder of how we can easily be reminded of different ways to pray for those around us. If you’re looking for ideas to improve your prayer life, give it a try. 

Thumb: The strongest digit on your hand. Give thanks for all the strong things in your life, like home and family, or relationships that support and sustain you.

Index finger: This is the pointing finger. Pray for those people and things that guide and help you in your life. Friends, teachers, doctors, nurses, emergency services and so on.

Middle finger: The tallest finger. Pray for all the important people who have power in the world, like world leaders and governments, members of parliament and local councilors, city mayors and aldermen, or our president.

Ring finger: The weakest finger on your hand. It cannot do much by itself (ask anyone who plays piano). Remember the poor, the weak, the helpless, the hungry, the sick, the ill and the bereaved.

Little finger: The smallest and the last finger on your hand. Pray for yourself.

One of the things I like most about this guide to prayer is that it reminds me to keep others before myself. Too often when I pray, I immediately present God with my needs, wants and desires and then lose my train of thought before I even think to pray for anyone else. Try using this tool as you drive home from work or go out for a walk. Prayer is something we can do at all times and this may be just the tool to make it a part of your life, not just something you do before you go to bed or face a difficult situation. Prayer is an activity we can’t engage in enough. The word "pray" is found 392 times in the New King James Version. God hears our prayers and your hand is a good way to remind yourself to pray for someone else.

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

Don

Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

I am so grateful to God for you. Thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls; what a blessing you are to us. You make us feel that we are not doing this alone when the days are long and trying, Thanks again, may our God Bless you richly today.

In my reading today, I want to share this from Charles Stanley:

Jesus made it clear that we would endure hardship in this life. But God gave His children amazing tools to keep trials from overwhelming us. For instance, He placed His Spirit inside each believer to guide and empower. In addition, He gave us prayer so we could not only communicate and stay connected with our Father but also bring Him our requests.

Psalms 32:8 states, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you." 

We can pray God's words back to Him, saying that we believe He will teach us and reveal His path, while remaining by our side as our caregiver through the entire situation.

When hardships arise, we need a solid foundation on which to stand. Otherwise, our emotions could easily lead us astray through faulty thinking. God is faithful and unchanging, so we can trust in His promises, which enable us to rest confidently and act boldly.

I don't know what trials you are facing today but I do know God is here to help and listen. If you have a prayer need, let me know so we can pray with you

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

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.