For Unto Us A Child is Born

"FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A CHILD IS GIVEN; AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE ON HIS SHOULDER, AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE."   ( ISAIAH 9:6 *NKJV ) 

As we celebrate this day let us not lose sight of the first Christmas present ever given, that being God giving us His Son our Savior Jesus Christ to dwell with us! 

So let us not get lost in all the hustle and bustle of this time of year. Instead, let us be mindful of all our blessings, and share the Christmas Spirit with others. 

Remembering: THE GREATEST Gift 

 The greatest gift at Christmas time Is one we all may give - 

 

A friendly smile that helps to make Life easier to live. 

 

A kindly thought, a helping hand, To show someone we care 

And let them know how much it means For us to have them here. 

The greatest gift at Christmas time Costs not a lot to buy - 

It's being a good neighbor As days and months go by: 

It's offering a shoulder When someone needs a lift, 

And so I pray this Christmas Day That this may be your gift! 

 Poet, Grace E. Easley 

 May have a Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful, Joyful New Year! 

 In the love of Christ

Be a Good Communicator

 Steering Clear of Shaky Assumptions

If I make one mistake more often than any other as a preacher, it is assuming more than I should about my congregation. I assume, first of all, that people want to know what the Bible says.

  (Photo: By James Steakley.)

• I assume they know I have their best interest at heart.
• I assume they understand the context.
• I assume they have a theological frame of reference.

And having begun on those shaky assumptions, I begin building a great big sermon when the foundation has not been laid.

I’ve discovered it’s better to keep the message simple (but not simplistic), to take it a little slower and to establish a good, firm foundation. Then I can build my case.

I’ll never forget when I was asked to speak to an audience who didn’t have a lot of biblical knowledge.

I decided to start simple.

“I will be referring to passages in the Bible according to numbers,” I told them. “For example: ‘John 3:16.’ Now, the ‘3’ stands for the chapter, and the ‘16’ stands for the verse.” And Cynthia was sitting on the front row rolling her eyes like, Oh, man, they’re going to think Chuck fell off a turnip truck!

But would you believe it? I had a guy come up to me afterwards and say, “All my life I’ve been wondering what those numbers are, and what that colon in the middle was for. Now I know! That’s a chapter! And that’s a verse!”

No kidding.

Most people will never see the inside of a seminary. (That’s why they have hope!) They don’t know a lot of the things we think they know. And unless we keep it simple, we lose them . . . and they never will.

I received an e-mail not long ago from a friend whose teenage daughter had taken notes during my sermon and then had written my application points on her bathroom mirror. (My friend sent me the picture.)

(A teenager wrote my message points on her mirror.)

I’ve said for many years that if I can communicate in a way that teenagers get it, write it down, remember it, and then apply it—I will have accomplished something very gratifying.

Keep your stuff simple. The goal is to communicate, remember—not to impress.

The Pastors Blog: Chuck Swindoll (Reprint)

 

The Solid Rock

 

   One of my fondest memories of growing up in northern New Hampshire in the 60’s and 70’s was being surrounded by the natural beauty of the White Mountains and the cascading radiance of the Presidential Range landscape that surrounded my home where I lived. One of nature’s grand wonders in the North Country was the natural rock formation that became known as “The Old Man of the Mountain”, made internationally famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne back in the early 1900’s in his short story called “The Great Stone Face”.

   The “Old Man of the Mountain” remained a huge tourist attraction for over 200 years until nature once again took its toll and, undone by natural erosion, the “Old Man of the Mountain” eventually broke apart and fell down the Franconia Notch mountainside in May of 2003.

   The Bible reminds us that there is a solid rock that will never break and whose foundation will never crumble – that Rock is Jehovah God, the Almighty.  Moses in making his final declaration to the Nation of Israel before his death, spoke to them reminding them of the awesomeness of the one true God:

“For I proclaim the name of the Lord;
Ascribe greatness to our God!
⁴ “The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are^]just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.” Deut 32:4 (emphasis added)

What a wonderful reminder for the children of God. That in a world of uncertainty, with social values that change like shifting sand, with evil and godlessness seemingly running rampant, one thing we can be sure of is that our God is solid and unchanging – a very present help in times of trouble (Ps.46:1). A glorious note of assurance in these turbulent and decadent times.

   The question each child of God needs to ask themselves on a daily basis is ‘Am I building my life on a true and solid foundation?’

Jesus gives us the simple answer in His parable on the two foundations, found in Matthew chapter 7, when He said,

 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” (emphasis added) 

   When we take the words of Jesus from God’s Holy Bible, and make a dedicated effort to have them become a viable & purposeful facet of our everyday way of life, Jesus says then we will have the wisdom needed to face life with an assured confidence and trust like no other, no matter how the tides of circumstance flow.

   What solid rock are you building your life on today? There is truly only one you can trust - the Almighty God of heaven and earth. He will never let you down. He is the Omniscient and all-powerful God of the universe, who wants to hold you in the palm of His hands and to bless you to the fullest. He has given you His only begotten Son and asks you to trust Jesus like you trust Him. Jesus says the only way to do this is by listening to His every word and living our lives according to that word. That’s as solid as it can get.

“On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.”  William Bradbury – “The Solid Rock”

Br. Dennis   

 

Psalm 32:7

       

YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE; YOU WILL PROTECT ME
FROM TROUBLE AND SURROUND ME WITH SONGS
OF DELIVERANCE.
 ( PSALM 32:7 *NIV )

    Now when problems surround us and we feel
overwhelmed by them, we all would like to escape from
them even if it is for only a little while!  When we turn our
problems over to God we can escape!

    Thus, just like king David who wrote; THOUGH I WALK
IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE, YOU PRESERVE MY
LIFE; YOU STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND AGAINST
THE ANGER OF MY FOES, WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND
YOU SAVE ME.  ( PSALM 138:7 )  FOR IN THE DAY
OF TROUBLE HE WILL KEEP ME SAFE IN HIS
DWELLING; HE WILL HIDE ME IN THE SHELTER OF
HIS TABERNACLE AND SET ME HIGH UPON A ROCK.
( PSALM 27:5 )

     For; THE LORD WILL GUIDE YOU ALWAYS; HE WILL
SATISFY YOUR NEEDS IN A SUN-SCORCHED LAND
AND WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR FRAME.  YOU WILL
BE LIKE A WELL-WATERED GARDEN, LIKE A
SPRING WHOSE WATERS NEVER FAIL.
( ISAIAH 58:11 )

     So the next time problems start getting you
down, and you think it is impossible to handle them,
remember the words of our Savior Jesus Christ; "WHAT IS
IMPOSSIBLE WITH MEN IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD!"
Amen   ( LUKE 18:27 )

 

 Blessings

 

Reprinted from God’s Minute

Make the Time for Solitude

 We pastors love being with people . . . but not all the time. Let’s be honest: people (especially talkative people) can be draining.

(Photo courtesy of Unsplash)

In times of solitude with God, however, the only person who needs anything is you.

• You bring your needs to God’s inexhaustible supply.
• There He sifts the essentials of life from the chaff.
• There He trains your mind on what’s important.
• The result? You’re left with a healthy perspective of who you are and what He’s called you to do.

The gospel of Mark tells us:

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. (Mark 1:35)

Why so early? Was Jesus a morning person? Not necessarily. Early morning was probably the only time He could be alone. He arose early even though the previous day had been non-stop.

Even as a busy man, Jesus found a way to balance the demands on His time with His need for solitude with the Father.

That requires creativity.

Time with the Father will require a willingness to inconvenience yourself . . . to the point of losing sleep, if necessary. But even making that sacrifice, there’s no guarantee you’ll get all of the time alone that you would prefer. Check the record. Jesus sought solitude, while everyone sought Him! (Keep reading in Mark 1:36–38.)

Ministry’s Inescapable Tension

Solitude and ministry exist in tension with each another, yet they cannot be separated. Effective spiritual leaders must learn the discipline of keeping themselves in proper balance.

Our purpose as pastors, like that of Christ, is to serve others, not to cloister ourselves away in order to hoard up spiritual treasures for our own enrichment.

• In terms of ministry, solitude is an investment—one that will make us richer so we can share that wealth with others.
• On the other hand, a pauper has no riches to give. Fail to seek solitude, and you will be too poor to give anything away. Your spiritual reservoir will quickly drain and stay near empty.

The refreshment Jesus gleaned from solitude with the Father translated into meaningful ministry to the people.

In truth, some of you reading this are on the ragged edge.

• You are continually in motion, constantly in the presence of needs and people and demands and expectations—children pulling at you, spouse needing support, friends wanting help, groups looking for leadership, schedules, making plans, attending events.
• You can’t remember the last time you were absolutely alone, sitting—or better, kneeling—in silence.

Because you have lost perspective, you will soon burn out. Stop before it’s too late! Not much ministry gets done from a pine box.

Let me suggest the obvious. Make time for solitude with God. Schedule it in your calendar like any other appointment.

Then guard it—and enjoy it—without explanation or apology.

reprint: The Pastors Blog - Chuck Swindoll

Rewriting History

   An amateur, genealogical researcher discovered that his great, great uncle, Remiss Starr, a fellow lacking in character, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana back in 1889. The only known photograph of Remiss Starr, shows him standing on the gallows, rope around his neck. On the back of the picture, is this inscription,

“Remiss Starr,

horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial prison 1885, escaped 1887,

robbed the Montana Flyer six times, caught by Pinkerton detectives,

convicted shortly thereafter, hanged 1889. “

 

   A family friend rewrote the story of Remiss and this is the way he presented the biography:

 

   “Remiss Starr was a famous cowboy in the Montana territory.

His business empire grew to acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad.

Beginning in 1885 he devoted several years of his life to service at a government facility. Finally, taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad in 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remiss passed away during an important civic function held in his honor, when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.”

 

   While we find that rewrite of family history humorous, there have been many attempts down through the ages of people determined to rewrite history, to cover up the egregious behavior of past decades and centuries in the name of social justice and equality.

 

   There are people today who deny that the holocaust ever happened. But after World War II, the Jewish nation was markedly determined that history would remember the horrors of the holocaust and the Nazi effort to wipe out a whole race of people. They preserved, as painful as it was, the stories and pictures and artifacts that would document the horrors of that time so that mankind would never allow it to be repeated or forgotten.

 

   There have been many attempts down through the Gospel age of people and governments who have attempted to rewrite history by trying to destroy the Christian religion and eliminate any evidence that it existed, including it’s one great tangible of the faith, the written Holy Word of God.

   

   The persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire was one of those horrifying realities of history. But of the 10 Roman Cesare’s who ruled after the death of Christ, Diocletian (284-305 AD), inaugurated the most venomous and violent persecutions of all.  The 10^th and last of the Emperor’s to inflict their wrath on the Christian faith, Diocletian began a systematic attempt to wipe the name of Christ from the earth and from the history books. In a.d.303, Diocletian issued an edict requiring the uniformity of worship of Cesare. By refusing to pay homage to the image of the emperor, all Christians became outlaws. Their public and private possessions are confiscated, their assemblies are prohibited, their churches are torn down and worst of all, their sacred writings are destroyed. Those tortured and killed is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. Every means was devised to exterminate the obstinate religion.

 

   And yet, as it always does, the truth of scripture would prevail as God had promised, “But the word of the Lord abides forever.”  I Peter 1:24

One promise is clear from scripture that one day “… the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.”  

 

   So no matter how hard fallen humanity rails against Jesus and those who follow Him, the attempt to rewrite His history in this centuries old battle of good and evil, will still only end one way, when Jesus Christ ultimately rules as King of Kings and Lord of Lords over the entire breadth of humanity. The Word of God will endure forever because it is God Almighty who controls and writes the history of mankind.

 

 ^“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. … and His name is called The Word of God. …  And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 19:11,12,16

 

                                                                       Br. Dennis

A Final Priority

Somebody copied the following paraphrase from a well-worn carbon in the billfold of a thirty-year veteran missionary. With her husband, she was on her way to another tour of duty at Khartoum, Sudan. No one seems to know who authored it, but whoever it was captured the essence of the greatest essay on love ever written.

If I have the language ever so perfectly and speak like a pundit, and have not the love that grips the heart, I am nothing. If I have decorations and diplomas and am proficient in up-to-date methods and have not the touch of understanding love, I am nothing.

If I am able to worst my opponents in argument so as to make fools of them, and have not the wooing note, I am nothing. If I have all faith and great ideals and magnificent plans and wonderful visions, and have not the love that sweats and bleeds and weeps and prays and pleads, I am nothing.

If I surrender all prospects, and leaving home and friends and comforts, give myself to the showy sacrifice of a missionary career, and turn sour and selfish amid the daily annoyances and personal slights of a missionary life, and though I give my body to be consumed in the heat and sweat and mildew of India, and have not the love that yields its rights, its coveted leisure, its pet plans, I am nothing, nothing. Virtue has ceased to go out of me.

If I can heal all manner of sickness and disease, but wound hearts and hurt feelings for want of love that is kind, I am nothing. If I write books and publish articles that set the world agape and fail to transcribe the word of the cross in the language of love, I am nothing. Worse, I may be competent, busy, fussy, punctilious, and well-equipped, but like the church at Laodicea—nauseating to Christ.

How about you and me committing ourselves to a life like this . . . a life that amounts to something . . . rather than nothing.

Each new day God brings our way is a fresh opportunity.

reprint from Chuck Swindoll & Insight for Living

 

I KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD;

HE IS THE FAITHFUL GOD, KEEPING HIS COVENANT OF
LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO
LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.   
                      ( DEUTERONOMY 7:9 *NIV )

     Brethren, there is no way humanly possible to measure
the love that God has for each of us.

    Moses wrote; KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR
GOD IS GOD; HE IS THE FAITHFUL GOD, KEEPING HIS
COVENANT OF LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS
OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDS.  
( DEUTERONOMY 7:9-10 )  

     The Prophet David explained it best when he wrote: YOUR
LOVE, O LORD, REACHES TO THE HEAVENS, YOUR
FAITHFULNESS TO THE SKIES.  YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
IS LIKE THE MIGHTY MOUNTAINS, YOUR JUSTICE LIKE
THE GREAT DEEP.  HOW PRICELESS IS YOUR UNFAILING
LOVE!  BOTH HIGH AND LOW AMONG MEN FIND REFUGE
IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS.   ( PSALM 36:5-7 )

     The Apostle John wrote; HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE THE
FATHER HAS LAVISHED ON US, THAT WE SHOULD BE
CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD!   AND THAT IS WHAT
WE ARE!   ( 1 JOHN 3:1 )

     So tell God how much you love Him when you pray,
today and every day!  Also thank Him for all of the
Blessings that He has given to you as well.  Then before
you know it you will be saying, "I WILL SING OF THE LORD'S
GREAT LOVE FOREVER; WITH MY MOUTH I WILL MAKE
YOUR FAITHFULNESS KNOWN."  Amen.  ( PSALM 89:1 )

     Have a wonderful day brethren, and may God Bless You!

A God's minute reprint

Our Calling: What We Fight For

 Our calling as pastors includes fighting. I don’t mean we strap on the gloves and go toe-to-toe with our elders and congregational members. I mean, as pastors, we’re called to defend the faith.

  Image from Photodune.

As time passes, we will see our orthodox faith in Jesus Christ attacked more and more. We will find that the things of God are increasingly viewed with suspicion . . . addressed with cynicism . . . and, eventually, banned completely.

When we entered ministry, whether we knew it or not at the time, we entered a war zone. The pastorate is a battleground, not a playground.

This is why Paul included in his first letter to Timothy these sober commands:

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12–13)

As pastors, it is never appropriate for us to earn a reputation as a fighter, in the sense of being argumentative or a bully. That’s the last thing the body of Christ needs—another angry, bullheaded preacher pushing his agenda.

What We Fight For

No, here’s the type of “contender” we need to be:

• We must have a strong determination mixed with keen discernment.
• We must refuse to allow anyone to intimidate us in our convictions.
• We must fight against those things that can damage the flock.
• We must have a tough hide and a tender heart.

Paul commissioned Timothy to pastor the church at Ephesus. Interestingly, the letter Paul penned to that local body echoes with battlefield metaphors. Because our battle is a spiritual conflict, our weapons also are spiritual (Ephesians 6:11–17).

What We’re Up Against

May we never forget that our adversary is the devil, not our congregations. Speaking of our adversary, here are a few reminders:

• He is wily, clever, and brilliant.
• He stands against everything you stand for.
• He will despise the times you preach the truth.
• He will want you to soften your blow.
• He knows you better than you know yourself, making a study of every chink in your armor.

Drawing Upon the Strength God Gives

The battleground of ministry always reminds me of Martin Luther’s ageless hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Take a moment now, lean back in your chair, and sing these verses out loud and clear.

And I mean sing! After all, we’re in a battle.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe— His craft and pow’r are great, and armed with …
… to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours thro’ Him Who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also— The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still: His kingdom is forever. 1

Notes

1.

↑

Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” in The Celebration Hymnal: Songs and Hymns for Worship (Nashville: Word/Integrity, 1997), hymn 151. reprinted from The Pastor's Blog - Chuck Swindoll

Happy are the people!

HE WHO HEEDS THE WORD WISELY WILL FIND GOOD,
 AND WHOEVER TRUSTS IN THE LORD, HAPPY IS HE.
                   ( PROVERBS 16:20 *NKJV )
       Dear Brethren, do not let the enemy steal your joy and leave you downcast!  Instead enjoy what God has given you, for HAPPY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SUCH A STATE; HAPPY ARE THE PEOPLE WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD! ( PSALM 144:15 )
       Now when we have negative thoughts it draws negative
  results into our lives.  Likewise, when we think positive
  thoughts we draw positive results in as well!

      After all when we are downcast it brings on depression,
  worry and anxiety.  All of those things are known to cause
  health problems.  So always think positive for A MERRY
  HEART DOES GOOD, LIKE MEDICINE, BUT A BROKEN
  SPIRIT DRIES THE BONES.  ( PROVERBS 17:22  )
       Now I know that, MANY ARE THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE
  RIGHTEOUS, BUT THE LORD DELIVERS HIM OUT OF
  THEM ALL.  ( Psalm 34:19 ) So again, do not let the
  enemy steal your joy each day.  For you know that
   YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL WALKS ABOUT LIKE
  A ROARING LION, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.
  ( 1 PETER 5:8 )
       So Dear Brethren, enjoy what God has planned for you,
  and show that pretty smile of yours.  For when you smile
  it shows God's joy within you!

Blessings

a God's minute reprint

If He promised, He will deliver!

THERE HAS NOT FAILED ONE WORD OF ALL HIS GOOD
PROMISE, WHICH HE PROMISED BY THE HAND OF MOSES  HIS SERVANT.
                            ( 1 KINGS 8:56 *KJV )
   Dear Brethren ,
      Did you know that there are 8,910 promises in the Bible?  There are 7,706 promises in the Old Testament, and 1,104 promises in the New Testament!  That is a total of  8,910 promises in all!

      Now you will find that God made 7,485 promises to mankind,
  and mankind made 1,416 promises to God.  [ The remaining 9
  promises were made by satan to mankind!  Most of those you
  will find in the Book of JOB.]

      Well, these 7,485 promises from God to us just about
  cover all of the bases!   Isn't it wonderful that we have a Heavenly
  Father that is gracious enough to give us all of those promises?
  A God that also anticipates all of our needs and often sends us
  help even before we ask Him too.  After all it is written; HE SHALL
  GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER YOU, TO KEEP YOU IN ALL
  YOUR WAYS.  ( PSALM 91:11 )
       So, HAVING THEREFORE THESE PROMISES, DEARLY
  BELOVED, LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES FROM ALL
  FILTHINESS OF THE FLESH AND SPIRIT, PERFECTING
  HOLINESS IN THE FEAR OR GOD.  ( 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1 )
       Therefore my dear brothers and sisters in the faith, why not enjoy your day thinking about  how well GOD has taken care of you, and knowing that HE
 always will!    Amen.


a God's Minute reprint

Home Improvements and Renovations

Over the last couple of years, my wife Faye and I have been replacing windows in our home. This 2020 year was no different, as we chose to replace the bathroom and kitchen windows.

   It is a lot of work but well worth it because during this process I found there were issues with the current Tyvek,(a synthetic insulation for outdoor walls), and the Sheathing, and even with broken siding, and along with that, I had to relocate an electrical box in addition to the other areas that needed fixing.

   Now during this window replacement I also planned on removing the siding from the deck area near the kitchen window. My plan was to only remove the siding and replace the old Tyvek and put in another electrical outlet.  I had the pieces ready to go, I just needed the opportunity which seems simple, right?    No, not at all. As I started pulling the siding off and seeing what was left of the old Tyvek, I came across bigger problems.  So being the person that I am, I took the necessary steps to fix it the right way.   To do this, I had to pull ½ the deck apart, remove the rotted sheathing and replace it with new sheathing. Then I could add the flashing and waterproof the decks ledger board due to a lot of water damage.  I am thankful that I had the opportunity to fix this to avoid issues further down the road.  

   It was during this time of the house project that I was also needing to prepare the July forward for our CBF newsletter.  I was having trouble coming up with something to write. I kept asking the Lord for help in finishing up the house and providing me with something to write about.

It was then that I felt the Lord speaking to me to write on home improvements and renovations, not on my house, but on our spiritual houses/temples.

   Now during the whole COVID 19 pandemics, many people have been taking this time to do home improvements and what a wonderful opportunity for Christians to be doing the same, spiritually speaking.

 When we are self-evaluating our lives and addressing issues that need to be dealt with, there will be times that the Lord will reveal to us an area other than the one we are working on, possibly an area of our lives that has a lot of rot which l know needs to be addressed.  That is the time to address it and fix it right and not ignore what the Lord is trying to show us by saying to ourselves, ‘not now, I do not have time’ and then we cover it back up.  You might say to yourself, ‘I will fix it later’, as we all know, later can often lead to more damage being done, just like under the surface to the structure of the integrity of the building.

   We are commanded to not be like the Pharisees and Sadducees, when the Lord addressed them in Matthew 23:26 and Luke 11:37-40, to clean the inside of the cup first then the outside.

   Jesus was referring to what is inside us, where our spiritual character is defined and developed. We can only improve and renovate our character by the Holy Spirit that the Lord promised to all of God’s children. There is no room for shortcuts, or ‘I will deal with it later’ attitudes.

   I pray that the holy spirit may continue to speak and reveal to you as it has revealed to me.  But remember, one must seek and be willing to hear and do. 

  

   For we can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Phil 4:13. 

May the Lord Bless you and keep you this day.  

Brother Steve

Being a Child of the Almighty

THE SPIRIT HIMSELF BEARS WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT
  THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD.
                          ( ROMANS 8:16 *NKJV )
   Dear Brethren,
      Indeed we are God's Children for; GOD SENT FORTH HIS
  SON, BORN OF A WOMAN, BORN UNDER THE LAW, TO
  REDEEM THOSE WHO WERE UNDER THE LAW, THAT WE
  MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION AS SONS. AND BECAUSE
  YOU ARE SONS, GOD HAS SENT FORTH THE SPIRIT OF
  HIS SON INTO OUR HEARTS.  ( GALATIANS 4:4-6 )      

    The Apostle Paul used adoption or "sonship" to illustrate
  to us, the believer's new relationship with God.  For when a
  person becomes a Christian, he or she gains all the privileges
  and responsibilities of a Child in God's family.

      One of these privileges is being lead by the Spirit. Now we
  may not always feel as though we belong to God, but the Holy
  Spirit is our witness!  For His inward presence reminds us of
  who we are and encourages us with God's love.  For it is written;
   NOW HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT, BECAUSE THE LOVE
  OF GOD HAS BEEN POURED OUT IN OUR HEARTS BY THE
  HOLY SPIRIT WHO WAS GIVEN TO US. ( ROMANS 5:5 )
      
     So, have a wonderful day remembering that you are
  indeed a Child of God Almighty, and an heir as well.  For it is
  written, YOU ARE NO LONGER A SLAVE, BUT A SON; AND
  SINCE YOU ARE A SON, GOD HAS MADE YOU ALSO AN
  HEIR.   Wow!  Wow, Indeed!   Amen.   ( GALATIANS 4:7 )

Blessings

reprinted from God's Minute

Pastors - Being Well-Prepared

If sweat were blood, my study would be red. So would yours. As pastors, part of what helps us become good communicators is paying the personal price for being well-prepared. That takes hard work.

“The Preacher,” Solomon tells us, “also taught the people knowledge”—and this occurred by “pondering, searching out, and arranging” his thoughts (Ecclesiastes 12:9). These verbs are in the intensive stem in the Hebrew. In other words, in becoming well-prepared, you have to sacrifice. The cost is high! Both in time . . . and in tools.

Buy books that help you understand the Word of God. Some of my best books are what I call my “blood” books. When I was in seminary, I used to donate a pint of blood and in return receive twenty bucks. I bought the Old Testament series by Kyle and Delitzsch with blood money. I bought Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament with blood money. They were supposed to take my blood only every six weeks, but I’d occasionally go in after five weeks. One time I pushed it to four weeks! Cynthia told me, “I think you’re kind of pressing it on this thing with your library.” And she was right. But hey, where else can you have 100 scholars at your fingertips when you’re stuck away in Fargo . . . or Frisco! Get and use good tools.

You’ll have to deal severely with the temptation to dance around a passage rather than to dig in deeply—especially when time is of the essence. So start early. We both know that Saturday night panic doesn’t yield quality stuff on Sunday. “A mist in the pulpit puts a fog in the pew” is another way of saying it!

I would encourage you to write down more of your ideas. Don’t rely on your memory. Write down those fleeting thoughts that come to you in the middle of the night. Many times I have gotten up to write something I didn’t want to lose. Those times that I didn’t do that, almost without exception, I forgot them by the next morning. I must go through half a yellow tablet of paper per sermon writing things down. I have discovered that it is in the writing of my thoughts that my ideas take shape and narrow into understandable terms. It is in the “pondering, searching out, and arranging” of thoughts that the preacher is well-prepared.

Oh, and please . . . don’t feel bad about taking your notes and outline into the pulpit! What could be more frustrating than being well-prepared to communicate only to forget half of it after the choir sings? The best expositors I’ve heard use notes.

Changing lives is God’s job. We rely on Him for that—unquestionably. But being well-prepared . . . that’s our responsibility.

—Chuck

A reprint from Chuck Swindoll

A New Heart from God

I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART AND PUT A NEW SPIRIT

 WITHIN YOU; I WILL TAKE THE HEART OF STONE OUT OF YOUR FLESH AND GIVE YOU A NEW HEART OF FLESH.  I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU AND CAUSE
 YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUES, AND YOU WILL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS AND DO THEM.                     (EZEKIEL 36:26-27 *NKJV )
  
 Dear Brethren,
      Now this verse proves that GOD did the very first
  heart transplant.  In fact HE has been doing transplants for
  thousands of years!  Even better than that, the heart that
  GOD gives to us is filled with the fruit of the spirit!  And;
   THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE,
  PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS FAITHFULNESS,
  GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL.  ( GALATIANS 5:22 )

       Remember when you invited GOD into your life.
  Think about how hard your life was before that day!  Also
  think about how your life has changed for the better since
  then!

      Now just in case you haven't received that new heart yet,
  today would be a great day to ask GOD for it!  No appointment 
  is needed, and HE won't leave you in the waiting room for two 
  hours, reading last years magazines either!
  By the way you won't need health Insurance to pay for it
  because is a free gift from GOD as well.

      So why not ask GOD for that new heart today, if you
  haven't already?  For HE has said; "THEN I WILL GIVE
  THEM ONE HEART, AND I WILL PUT A NEW SPIRIT
  WITHIN THEM, AND TAKE THE STONY HEART OUT OF
  THEIR FLESH, AND GIVE THEM A HEART OF FLESH,
  THAT THEY MAY WALK IN MY STATUTES AND KEEP
  MY JUDGMENTS AND DO THEM; AND THEY SHALL BE
  MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD."    ( EZEKIEL 11:19 )
      
      Now, may you; GROW IN THE GRACE AND
  KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS
  CHRIST.  TO HIM BE GLORY BOTH NOW AND
  FOREVER!  AMEN.    ( 2 PETER 3:18 )

Blessings;


God's minute reprint