Mark 6:45-52   And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.  And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.  And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.  And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:  For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.  And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 
For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

            In this passage of scripture we find the disciples considering not the past miracles.  Jesus had just fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fishes.  After everyone had finished eating they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments.  In less than twelve hours they were in a storm and their faith had diminished. 

This shows the weakness of man.  That’s why Paul said for us to always have a prayer or song in our hearts.  Even Jesus said men ought always to pray.  It’s so important to take advantage and listen when were in church to everything going on; the teaching, the preaching, testimonies, singing and during prayer.

Scriptures say faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  Just like the disciples getting distracted by the storms, we get distracted by the cares and struggles of life.  We face situations when we need God and it seems that He is so far away.  It isn’t God that has moved away, it is us.  While the disciples were in the storm, scriptures say Jesus was watching over them.  He saw the hardship in rowing.  He saw that the wind was contrary to them and before they perished, He showed up.

If you’re a Christian and living right, Jesus does care about what is going on in your life.  He will show up before you perish.  It’s hard to understand how the disciples, just in a twelve hour period, had forgotten how Jesus had taken so little and fed so many then had taken up more than a hundred times what He started with.  Just like James said about Elijah, He was a man of like passion to us; meaning that just like us and Elijah, we need to hear from God.  This is why we should learn not only by the teaching and preaching but also from every part of the service.  For example the line in the song “our God will show up and take you through the fire again,” or “There’s nothing too hard for the Lord.”  I don’t know what I may face in the next week but I do know that there’s nothing too hard for the Lord and He will show up for me just like He did for the disciples.

Love in Christ,

Your pastor,

Charles A. Clark

            Remember the words of Jude when He said, “I thought it needful to write unto you of the common salvation and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  This foundation we’re on was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ and the lives of the Apostles and others.

Be Swift to Hear

By Brother Mark Simmons

In these last days we hear a lot of empty words from preachers and especially from politicians.  They lack wisdom from God. They have no purpose or reason for what they say.  I am sure that you have heard about Shirley Sherrod, from the Agriculture Department who was forced to resign because she was misquoted in a speech she made.

Everyone should follow James 1:19-20, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

Luke 11:17, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falleth.”

The Muslim nations all seem to be working together toward the down fall of the Christian nations and Israel.  The Muslim god is called Allah which is one name of the moon God.  This was the favorite god of Mohammad’s family.  I was always told that their god was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but this seems to be incorrect.  Their god is not our God.

We, as Christians, are not working together because we are working in many different man made churches instead of the only church Jesus wanted us in, “His Church”.  Instead of one church there are many.  The many churches are divided against each other.

We will fall because we are always fast to speak, fast to fight and too slow and stupid to hear the truth.

We have also let lawyers take control of this nation and unless we vote them out, we are in a position of complete chaos.

Remember what Jesus said about lawyers.  Luke 11:52, “Woe unto you lawyers!  For ye have taken away the key of knowledge”:  God in our schools.  “Ye entered not in yourselves”.  Not many of them really know the Lord or they could not lie and cheat the way they do.  “and them that were entering in ye kindered” The laws they place us under are in direct opposition to God.

Stay strong in Jesus.  This is the only way we have ever had or will ever have to make it home.

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Some Assembly Required

By Brother Duane Bailey

Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

We as saints are part of the body of Christ, with Christ being the head.  Paul mentioned in Ephesians 4 that it is from Christ that the body is fitly joined together or put together.  Each individual saint is a piece of the body and when we all come together, in Christ, we make up the complete body.  A piece by definition is a part of a whole and yet it is considered complete in itself.  Take a piece of pie for instance.  The pie with say 8 pieces is a complete pie.  Remove a piece and the pie is no longer whole, but that piece, which is part of the whole, is a complete piece.  It has a crust, a filling and a topping. 

Let’s say that we are going to take the 8 pieces and put the pie back together to make a whole pie.  But someone has run their finger through the topping of one piece.  Now when we bring all of the pieces back together what has happened to the whole?  Because one of the pieces is incomplete, the whole is incomplete.  The body is incomplete.  The same is true of the body.

When the life of one of the pieces of the body of Christ is incomplete, the body is incomplete.  When one part of the body suffers, it all should suffer.  When one member of the body is not complete, the body is not complete.  This shows the importance of you, the individual, as a member of the church or the body.  You affect the body whether you want to think you do or not.  You can hold the body back or you can help push the body forward.  When your life is not complete in Christ, you hinder the body. 

Our lives are divided in sections.  We have Church, work, family, play time, school, friends, hunting, fishing….  You fill in the blank what is in your life.  Some parts we allow Jesus in and allow Him to be the head.  Some parts we can limit His part in and some we push Him out all together.  But Christ should be the head of our body, the individual pieces of the body.  It is through Him that we as pieces are fitly joined together.  When He is not the head of every piece of our lives, we will fall apart, because He is the glue that holds it together.  You get stamped “Some assembly required”.  Take Christ out of one section of your life, no matter what it is, and your life will suffer.  And until you place Him back in as head, you will continue to suffer.  Take Christ out of enough of the pieces of your life and you die spiritually.

 I know that Hebrews 10:25 talks about assembling ourselves together by coming to church.  But as pieces we cannot forsake the assembling ourselves together either.  God says “get it together, so I can bless you”.   Colossians 2:19 says that the Head gives all the joints and bands of the body nourishment ministered and knit together and increases with the increase of God.  It is God that gives true increase, not the world.  Get increase from the world and you will be left wanting.  Get increase from God and you will be satisfied.

Whatever part of your life, place Jesus as the head.  In your home, your job or business, your “play time”, whatever it is.  That is where you will find true increase and you will fit into His body.  You can be a blessing to the body.  Fit Him in so He can fit you together.  Keep yourself assembled by keeping Him the head.

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Day by Day

Written by Eloise Speer

Submitted by Sister Brenda Bailey

Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

            Today had been a sad day for us and many of our friends.  We went to the funeral of a close friend’s son.  The boy was only 21 years old, killed instantly in an accident.  While sitting in the funeral home looking at the cold, lifeless body of this young man, I wondered if this young man could sit up now and speak to us, what he would tell us.  I am sure he would not try to get our attention by telling a funny joke.  He would speak to us of those things that are eternal.  There is life beyond the grave, but the destination of this eternal abode is settled in this life.  We often look at our young men and women and see only their healthy looking bodies and feel that they have lots of time to decide where they will be in eternity.  But his young man, though dead, speaks to us.  His sudden death speaks of the uncertainty of life.  The Bible says, “It is appointed unto man once to die.”  None of us know when that appointed time is.  Job declared, “All my days will I wait till my change come.”  This young man’s early death speaks to warn us to prepare to meet our God today.  He had many plans made for the tomorrows, no doubt, but the quick exit he made from life to death speaks to us of not boasting of the tomorrows.  Today, right now, is all the time we have.  We need to realize the value of time.  This young man would speak to us, even the young people, about weighing our actions carefully and making the most of every opportunity God has given.  Realize each day, each hour.  We should redeem the time for God.  He would speak to us that life is too short here and too precious to waste on frivolous things.  He would beseech us to put our house in order.  Harbor no idle, foolish, bitter thoughts.  Live for God.  The difference between the wise man and the fool can be seen by his use of time.  Killed time has no resurrection.

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

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The Core of Selfishness

By: Sister Lynne Conley

Scripture Text: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1st John 4:7 KJV Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three friends of the prophet, Daniel, in the Bible. They all were arrested during the attack of Israel. Daniel was appreciative to see the King of Babylon. The King of Babylon at that time was Darius. Daniel gained a lot of trust through his faithfulness to all those around him. He attended the royal schools for three years. In time all those around him each day knew about his skill.  He was gifted in the understanding of dreams. He became the governor of the region of Babylon. The king’s management was jealous and irritated with Daniel because he was favored by the royal leader. Daniel’s friends were thrown into the fiery furnace, and it was heated seven times hotter than ever before. They wouldn’t bow and worship the King of Babylon as their God. They were miraculously saved from that fiery furnace. Years later Daniel was thrown into a den of lions because he wouldn’t bow to the king. The same miracle happened to Daniel as his friends as his life was spared.  The king ordered Daniel’s accusers to be thrown into the lion’s:  the men, their wives and their children.  The lions broke all their bones into pieces. The King commanded and made a decree that everyone has to worship ‘’ The God of Daniel’’.  The cords of selfishness can and will bind us if we let it.  Selfishness is where a lot of people’s problems start at a very early age. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36 KJV. We all learn by the examples of others around us. What kind of example are we showing to those who once knew the Lord, or those who has never known the Lord? The Lord has to help us all to be the best example to all those we’re around each day so that someone that doesn’t know the Lord would see their need to serve Him. We are only here for a season in this life. What we do for the Lord will matter my friends. Stay Encouraged!

Let us all remember in our prayers daily: All the many individuals suffering with all kinds of pain and heartaches. All the individuals with cancer, heart related problems, diabetes, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick people everywhere. All those individuals that have the authority over our churches, our communities, our jobs, our government, our politicians, our leaders, homeless individuals, the many people who have lost their loves ones, all the elderly in the nursing homes, the shut ins… that each day that someone will give them all a kind word, and a phone call or a card in the mail from their children. Let’s not forget all the little children with cancer at St. Jude’s hospital, the trauma units, all those individual are in financial ruin. Our service men and women as they are in harm’s way, they are protecting our freedom.

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Testimony

By Sister Julie Conley

            On December 15th the Doctor walked in and gave us the most devastating news we had ever heard.  “Mr. Conley I don’t need a biopsy to tell me that this is a stage four cancer”.  With this unbelievable news he informed us that he would be sending us to Wake Forest to see a specialist in throat cancer.  Feeling more numb than upset I told Mike that I would be right back and decided to walk outside.  As soon as I stepped out to the doors, the weight of the world fell upon my shoulders and I started shaking and crying hysterically.  The only thing I could think of was to call the kids but at that point I couldn’t have told you my kids names, much less their phone number.  As I’m sure you would know the kids were devastated and I remember Josh saying that Doctors are always right and that God is bigger than this.  He reminded me that Pastor Clarks church is cancer free and that to be strong and everything would “come out in the wash”.

            The next day we went to Winston-Salem just to hear that Mike would have to go through treatment and that this was a very treatable disease.  Even though the doctors were giving up positive feedback I began to let me mind wander and my faith began to fail.  That night we were talking about everything and I told Mike that I didn’t understand why this was happening.  I felt that since Mike would get up and go to church that he would be covered under the promise of a cancer free church.  I sa something that night that I have rarely seen, Mike looked at me with teary eyes and said “I have been straddling the fence for way to long” and that night we both hit the floor and pleaded for the Mercy and Grace of God.  As I cried asking for forgiveness I realized how long I had ran from the Lord and how easy it is to have your world come crashing down.  I felt horrible for not remaining faithful to the Lord and Mike trying to go to church whenever he got the chance.  I feel that if I had been faithful and came to church then Mike would have been able to attend more services.  I know that God has a Master Plan and that everything happens for a reason but I couldn’t help but to feel responsible.

            The purpose of this is to inform all of you not only of Mike’s situation, but to all of you to stay faithful.  I will be the first to tell you that I know God will bring you through the storm, but don’t wait for the thunder to sound to get you life right.  For those of you who have been faithful, I admire and encourage you to stay at the foot of the cross.  I thank God for the chance that He has given to Mike and I and I will glorify Him through the rest of my days.  I now understand that you have to stay faithful to God to be covered under the cancer free promise.  We had convince ourselves that a Sunday Christian would be enough and that nothing like this could happen to us.  Mike has made great progress and I thank God that he will be 100% cancer free.  I know that some people questioned how could Mike have cancer but as we told Josh, just because you make it to service every few Sundays, ti doesn’t mean that you’re faithful to Christ.  I will never take for granted what God has done for us and Mike and I are humbled and grateful for this.  Even though it has been hard to see my husband go through this trail I praise God for bringing us closer to Him!

            May the Lord bless you all, Mike and Julie Conley.

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THINKING HAPPINESS

Submitted by Sister Judy Clark

            In order to speak good things to the inner self, the thoughts must be controlled in order to do so.  We choose what we think as described in the following poem:

“Thinking Happiness”

Think of the things that make you happy,

Not the things that make you sad;

Think of the fine and true in mankind,

Not its sordid side and bad;

Think of the blessings that surround you,

Not the ones that are denied;

Think of the virtues of your friendships,

Not the weak and faulty side;

Think of the gains you’ve made in business,

Not the losses you’ve incurred;

Think of the good of you that’s spoken,

Not some cruel, hostile word;

Think of the days of health and pleasure,

Not the days of woe and pain;

Think of the days alive with sunshine,

Not the dismal days of rain;

Think of the hopes that lie before you,

Not the waste that lies behind;

Think of the treasures you have gathered,

Not the ones you’ve failed to find;

Think of the service you may render,

Not of serving self alone;

Think of the happiness of others,

And in this you’ll find your own!

–Robert E. Farley

Ezra 3:10-13   “And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.  And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 
But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:  So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

            The foundation makes the difference, whether it is a building, a house, a home, a marriage, one’s life or a church (the people).  In these scriptures the young shouted with joy. But the ancient men wept because they had seen the first foundation laid.  These scriptures should make us all stop and think.  A foundation determines the shape of the form and also the strength and stability of any company, organization, life or church.  In these scriptures only the foundation had been laid.  The building had not been built.  Yet, the young shouted with joy but the old wept.  The young dressed in fine apparel, played on their instruments, sang and shouted with joy.  But the old men sat and wept for they had seen the first foundation.  They knew what it would take to weather the storms.  They knew the importance of the foundation. 

            Scriptures say that the young did it according to the ordinances of King David.   For them it was only part of the singing and dancing.  Their voices were loud with joy.  The old men knew there was more to it.  The foundation wasn’t laid like the one before.  This was the foundation of the House of the Lord in the Old Testament.

            Now it’s our day.  When Jesus came, He said, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  We see some of the same things going on today that took place in the scriptures above: the old saints sat and weep while the younger generation dress in fine apparel, play, dance and shout with a loud voice.  However, they are missing the main ingredient.  They aren’t living holy, walking in holiness or talking holiness.  As I’ve said before, the church isn’t where we go.  It’s who we are.  I wonder how many are on that rock that Jesus said the gates of hell cannot prevail against.

            Listen people.  Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.  But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.  For other foundation can no man lay that that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”  This brings me to the most important part of the foundation.  It is said of the old temple foundation that the old wept and the young shouted with joy so loud that it was heard afar off and the people couldn’t discern what was going on.  There was confusion.  I’m going to be very frank. Our foundation is the ordinance.  We are the light of the World. We are the salt of the earth.  If you go to church on Sunday and shout with joy, then on Monday you dress like the world, talk like the world and act like the world, then you are of the world and the love of God is not in you.  All you’re doing is causing confusion and God is not the author of confusion.  Jesus gave us the example of the two men building their houses; one on sand and the other on the rock (Christ).  Then the storms came.  The man who built on the rock survived but the one on the sand was destroyed.

            Listen church.  God is showing me, as your pastor, that we need the stability in an unstable world.  We will only survive if we are building on the right foundation.  This is my calling, like Paul, by the grace of God which is given unto me as a wise master builder.  I am to warn you there is only one foundation which is Jesus Christ.  So take heed how you build there upon.

Love in Christ,

Your pastor,

Charles A. Clark

            Remember the words of Jude when He said, “I thought it needful to write unto you of the common salvation and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  This foundation we’re on was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ and the lives of the Apostles and others.

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Focus on The Lord

By Brother Mark Simmons

Psalm 8:4:9, “What is man, that thou art mindful of Him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?”  “For thou hast made him a little lower that the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honors.”  “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands, thou hast put all things under his feet.”  “All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field.  The foul of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea”, “O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth.”

God has given us a huge responsibility to have control over everything to do with daily living and mortal life on earth.  We need to have control over our spiritual life first.  Surely things are not under man’s control today.  We have a broken government like all other governments of the earth.  We have out of control schools, confused leaders, banking systems collapsing, a complete breakdown of moral values, and major disasters.  This is in a so called Christian nation, the United States.  Man has lost control of what God intended for us.

“But wait a minute, two thousand years ago Jesus came to earth, and he is still over the works of thy hands.  All things were placed under his feet and in subjection to him.  (Hebrews 2:7-9) “We need to see Jesus”, and quit worrying about the world.

Everywhere we go we see fear and confusion.  This is caused by Satan and as Jesus said this confusion and fear is causing men’s hearts to fail.

Satan wants nothing more than to turn Christians off of Jesus’ message.  This has been going since God created man.  Satan today, causes us to get off Jesus’ message by riling us up over a political issue or an environmental issue until it consumes all our thoughts and actions.

Jesus and his word have been placed on the back burner.  We don’t want our hearts to be opened up to bitterness and fear.

God’s promise of eternal life has not changed.  Pray for others that they will get back on the straight and narrow.  Jesus is our hope and peace; keep him in your heart.  Pray to and praise him daily.  Keep focused on Jesus.

The Man

By Brother Duane Bailey

I Corinthians 14:26 “How is it then, brethren?  When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation.   Let all things be done unto edifying”.

Paul is talking in Chapter 14 about the importance of doing things that only edify the church.  He said to seek out spiritual gifts, but it is better if you were to prophesy because prophecy edifies the group and not the individual.  He spoke against speaking out loud in tongues loud enough to disrupt a service.  He said if you do this; make sure you interpret the tongues.  It is OK to pray to yourself or worship in tongues, but just not so loud to draw the attention to you.  It is all about the group, the church and not the individual.

            So he asks the question, how is it when the Corinthians came together, each person had their own psalm, their own doctrine, tongue, revelation or interpretation.  How is it that when it is the same spirit that gives wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing or miracles (Chapter 12) that there are so many different ideas about the teachings?  Why is there no unity in the church?  I believe Paul had the answer in Romans.

Romans 16:17 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them.”

            Rather than avoiding those people that caused divisions and spoke against the teachings (Doctrine) of the church, people gave ear to them and began to sympathize with them.  Then they began to form their own ideas about how things should be done.  When people begin to run around and spread their own opinions about things the Pastor should be preaching/teaching, it only causes confusion. 

The pastor has spoken so many times recently that if we are of the same spirit, if someone came to preach, that that person would preach his message because they are both getting it from God.  Paul talked about this.  In verse 30 he says “If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace”.  In other words if you think that God has given you a “greater” revelation about how things should be done in the church and about what can be done and not be done, keep it to yourself.  God will reveal it to another person.  Don’t go around telling your friends or anyone that will give ear, “I think…” because most times that is what it is, your thoughts. 

            If God is going to reveal something new to the church or change the way things are done, he will give it to the pastor.  He may give it to you as well, but you keep it to yourself.  When you see that He has given it to the pastor then you can say, “hey God showed me this as well” and it can have confirmation.  But if it is not revealed to the man of God, then more than likely it was you or worse.

            God gives a man to guide the people.  Moses was that man for Israel.  God punished those that tried to disrupt His system.  When David was king, God didn’t reveal things to David, it was the man of God, Nathan.  It was Nathan that showed David his sin with Bathsheba.  When David numbered the people, he realized he had sinned when God smote the people, but it was Gad that God spoke to about how David would have to be punished. 

Paul said “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints”.  That’s why there is a “Man” of God; One individual within a group that He will deal with.  As long as that man’s heart is toward God and toward the Word of God we have to trust that God will lead that individual to lead us, the group, the Church.  Get behind the Pastor.  Get behind the anointed preaching.  When you are behind him that means you are following him.  Follow him as he follows Christ.

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LET THE WORD PROFIT YOU

Written by Sister Brenda Bailey

Hebrews 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, because they were not united by faith to them that heard it.”

Sometimes we have those “light bulb” moments and while doing my daily devotions, I had one.  I was reading Hebrews chapter 4 and this verse just stopped me.  The gospel is preached to all but only those united in faith will profit from it.  We all hear what the pastor and visiting ministers are preaching but we are not all profiting from it.  Why?  Because we are not united in faith.  If we had faith in God’s word and truly believed everything it says, then we would be profiting from it.  We are limiting God because of our lack of faith.  As Bro. Joey Hall preached in his message on June 5^th, we need to adopt the message.   When we begin to do so, we will see a difference in our lives.  As Sister Linda has been teaching, the revival fire will begin to burn again within us and will spread to those around us.  Now is the time and we are the children of God. Let us unite together in faith so that we may profit from the WORD. 

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Day by Day

Written by Eloise Speer

Submitted by Brenda Bailey

Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

            You may wonder how that having the Word of God in your heart will keep you from sinning.  The Bible says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.”  It also says in James 3:2, “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man and able to bridle the whole body.”  So, if we have the Word of God down in our heart, when we are troubled or angry, sick or well, or whatever state of mind we find ourselves in, we will only say the things God wants us to say.  Some people curse and swear a lot; they say they cannot help it.  They are right.  As long as they have all this stuff down in their hearts, this is the kind of words their mouth will speak.

            The Apostle Paul, when writing to the church in Philippi, said, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  You see if you meditate on good, clean, pure things, you will always speak that way.  To those of us who are born again, it is hard to realize that swearing and vulgar talking can be easy.  We have to remember that what we have hid in our heart shows forth in our speech.  We may guard our speech ever so carefully when around certain people, but in a moment of careless anger or thoughtlessness, we will say something we forever regret.  When David was saying, “Thy word have I hid in my heart,” he knew what it was to be caught off guard.  The Word of God will keep us in all our ways if we keep it in all our heart.  It will bridle the whole body.  We need to get the dust off our Bibles and begin to hide the Word in our hearts.  What is in the well of your heart will come up in the bucket of your speech.

Philippians 3:20 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;”

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A way of escape

By Sister Lynne Conley

Scripture Text: For  whatsoever  is  born  of  God  overcometh  the  world:  and  this  is  the  victory  that  overcometh  the  world,  even  our  faith.  1 John 5: 4 KJV

            We all have done things in our lives. There  is  not  one  day  goes  by  that  something  from  our  past  cannot really  get  to  us. Sometimes  it has  been   a  bad marriage,  the loss  of  a  loved  one,  a  battle  of  depression, or a case of being  abused  by a  close  loved  one.  The list can go on and on. Sooner  or  later  we  have  to  face the  facts  and  press  on.  We can’t live in the past.  I  know  from  my  personal  experiences  that  those  hard  times  have  taught  me  to  put  all  my  trust  in the  Lord. The  Lord  knows  exactly  what  we  can  take  better  than  we  do  ourselves.  The  enemy  loves  it  when  he  can  fill  our  mind  with  lies, discouragements,  and  our  past  failures.  We  all  have  a  past;  it doesn’t  matter  what  we  may  have  done. We  have  to  learn  to  forgive  ourselves  I  think more  so  than  others.   Rahab was a prostitute in the land of Jericho.  At  this  point  in  time,  Joshua  was  leading  the  Israelites  into  the  promised  land  which was  Canaan.  Joshua  was  in  charge  to  take  the  land  of  Jericho and  to  get  rid  of  the  adversary.  Joshua sent two spies to evaluate the whole situation.  The spies entered the home of Rahab the harlot which  to anyone watching wasn’t  unusual  for  men  to  enter  the  house  of  a  prostitute.  They  knew  it  was  the  path  that  God  was  leading  them  to  enter  her  house.  The  whole  city  was  on  alert,  knowing  that  the  Israelites  were  in  the  city.  Almost immediately  the  King  of  Jericho  sent  his  messengers  to  Rahab’s home. Rahab  hid the  two  spies  on  her roof, and she  told  the  King’s  men  that  they  had been there  but had already left  her  house.  The king’s men quickly hurried away to try to catch the spies.  Rahab met with the two spies and made an agreement with them.  She  had  heard  of  the  Mighty  God  of  Israel  who  dried  up  the  Red  Sea  and  saved all of His  people but caused all of the armies chasing them to be  drowned.  Rahab  asked  the  two  spies  to spare  her  life  and  her  entire  family.  She would hide them out so that when it was dark   they could escape.  This  happened  and  Jericho  was  destroyed,  and  Rahab  and  her  family  were  spared.  Rahab is recorded in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.  That  one  step  of  faith  spared  her  and  her  family,  and  her  heritage  lives  on  today.  The  Lord  reveals  his  love  and  mercies  to  all of  us  each  day.  I am so thankful for the heritage of the Lord. Just take note: His love and mercies endure forever. Stay Encouraged!

xodus 20:22-26   And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.  Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.   An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.   And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

            In these scriptures we find the provisions for approaching God.  God told Moses, “ say unto the people see how that I have talked with you from heaven”  meaning  “I have,  as an Holy God ,spoken to you from an holy place.”  So pay attention.  These are truths. 

The first thing we find in approaching God is: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  We also find that God is not impressed with expensive or fancy frills.  This is why the apostle Paul stated that women should dress in modest apparel.  Men should also realize that God is not impressed with a three piece suit.  We find that out when John the Baptist arrived on the scene.  His attire was camel hair and a leather girdle.  Jesus said that there was none greater than John the Baptist and also that he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.

            Those that are in the Kingdom of Heaven are clothed in righteousness.  God told Moses, “An altar of earth shalt thou make me and if it be of stone you cannot carve out the stone.”  He also told Moses, “Thou shalt make it in a place that I have chosen and set my name there.”  What God was trying to convey unto man was that He knew the heart of man and that man operated out of pride (flesh).  It’s not how fancy a church or building is.  If it’s built out of pride, God would not honor it.  A servant of God was not graded on his attire.  It was the inside of man, the heart of man that man is judged by. 

            Scripture says as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.  The Apostle Paul states that it is not what goeth into a man that defileth him but what cometh out.  Man cannot just build a church where he wants to.  It won’t work.  Just like I have told you many times, if you manufacture it you will pay for it; but if God manufactures it, He will pay for it. 

            In conclusion I will leave you with this: the scripture says acknowledge the Lord in all thy ways and He shall direct thy steps.  You do this in your walk, your talk, your dress and your actions.  God will answer His promise to you as He promised Moses.  He said I will come unto thee and I will bless thee.

            This is Memorial Day weekend, so let us take time to reminisce back on all the memories of not only our loved ones that have gone on before but also on God’s promises and God’s blessings of our Christian truths.  May God richly bless you and comfort all those who have lost loved ones.

Love in Christ,

Your pastor,

Charles A. Clark

Pray Continually

By Brother Mark Simmons

e all have lost loved ones, and they are passive about coming to the Lord.  It is up to us to continually pray for them and ask Jesus to change their heart, mind, and soul.

What we have to have is a faith that won’t give up; a prayer that doesn’t quit, even if the answer doesn’t come quickly or if the person gets worse instead of better.  We have to continue to pray even when the situation seems impossible to solve.

The Lord wants a church that won’t give up on our petitions to him.  How many prayers have we given up on?  Do we give up on praying for our children? If we give up on prayer then we have given over to Satan and we are saying that God doesn’t answer our prayers?

Acts 6:4, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”  We have seen, heard, and felt the promises of God.  We have witnessed God’s answer to our prayers many times.  This should excite us and should make us pray more often and more patiently.

We often find that people become passive about their walk with the Lord because they have not really listened to the word or the warnings that pastor Charles gives us each week.  Nothing seems to get through to them.  I believe that only the Holy Spirit which is in each of us can reach their hearts.

Sin’s Cost

By Brother Duane Bailey

oshua 7:1  “But the children of Israel committed a tresspass in the accursed thing;  for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Juda, took of the accursed thing:  and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.”

God had just toppled the walls of Jericho for the Israelites.  They had followed God’s plan to a tee.  They had not missed a step.  They had marched when they were told to march.  They had blown when they were told to blow.  They shouted when God had told them to shout.  And God brought the massive walls down all around the city.  The Bible says that it “fell down flat”.  I think that it just sank into ground so that there was not even any ruble that they had to cross over.  God worked a miracle and delivered a great victory in the hands of Israel. 

Only one problem, Achan had taken of the belongings of the people of Jericho which God had told them not to take.  Just before the beginning of their final march around the city, Joshua had warned them that God was making the city and everything in it accursed for the Lord and not touch it unless they make themselves accursed as well.  But evidently Achan came across some “stuff” he could not resist. 

So the next time Israel went to battle, they sent just a few thousand men to small Ai, because it didn’t seem like it could put up much of a fight.  But Ai put Israel on the run.  Not because how well they fought, but because God’s angered was kindled against Israel.  As they fought 36 men, lost their lives and the people’s hearts melted.  Joshua was upset at God because God “allowed” this to happen to Israel.  He fell on his face and put dust on his head.  God told him to get up and asked why he was laying on his face.  Then God told him why Israel had lost the battle.  Someone had sinned.  When God finally pointed out who the culprit was, they brought Achan, his family, all of his animals and even his tent and laid it out to the Lord, everything he had.  They stoned him with stones, then burned them and then piled a heap of stones on them. 

One man’s sin cost so much.  The lives of 36 men in battle, the lives of his wife, his children and his animals, all lost because Achan’s sin.  Ecclesiastes 9:18 says “Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroyeth much good.”  No matter how wise Joshua and all of the people of Israel were, one sin was able to undermine their whole objective. 

Sin kills, sin destroys, and sin undermines all that it comes in contact with.  Achan took his sin home with him.  He had become accursed.  He touched his family making them accursed and touched his animals making them accursed.  All had to be destroyed. 

We have to guard against sin in our lives.  Not the mistakes that we make from time to time.  But premeditated sin, the sin that sets in front of us and we think about and go out and do it anyway.  That is presumptuous sin.  That is stepping over the lines that God has drawn in our lives.  And when those lines are crossed danger lies ahead for the sinner.  It’s bad when sin destroys the sinner’s life, but it rarely stops there.  There are always other lives that are affected.  Those lives may not be destroyed, but there are hearts that are hurt.  Relationships severed.

God hates sin and he calls us to hate sin as much as he does.  Looking at our world and what sin has done to it should make us want to run from sin more than ever before.  Let’s live our lives free from sin and its destructive power.          

Always Seek Jesus

By Brother Pat Sutphin

f you didn’t read it, last month I submitted a story sent to me by a friend about a dad and his daughter.  The dad had given the daughter a puzzle to work on, really to make her ‘go away’ because he was busy with work.  The little girl turned the puzzle pieces over only to find a broken picture of Jesus which led her to quickly put the puzzle together.  The puzzle was a picture of our country, the United States.

She then professed to her dad that she had found Jesus and our country should do the same and it would come together.  Since we have taken God out of our government, and our schools, it would seem apparent that there must be some correlation to all of this havoc and chaos we are seeing and experiencing the world over.  Instead our society or ‘popular culture’ has went so far as to create a saying that it is no longer ‘politically correct’ (what does this really mean) to wish someone a Merry Christmas because of Christ’ name in the greeting.  As Christians that know the Truth we should absolutely choose to go the other way.

Matthew 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

The truth is that we should look to find Jesus in all we do. From your jobs, to your travel - daily, school, decisions about or for your children, for your physical, mental, financial or health decisions.  If you are truly committed to the Lord and you can discipline yourself to seek him in all you do, he is there and will be every time.

Isaiah 55:8-9  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Many times you will not like what you find or hear him say.  It’s then that the old flesh will stand up and lead us astray.  It may take some time but we will wake up in a mess and only then seek Jesus to get us out.

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Even sometimes we will find ourselves asking in our minds, well ‘where’s Jesus at when I need him’.  Let me tell you he is there.  He is standing right beside of you maybe looking at you saying ‘Okay, let’s see if you really have faith’.  Will you still stand at all costs in the name of Jesus?

Ephesians 6: 13-14

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and have done all, to stand. 14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.

Stay the course and keep the faith.

Day by Day

Written by Eloise Speer

Submitted by Sister Brenda Bailey

Mark 4:35,37 “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.  And there arose a great storm…”

            Some people try to paint a picture of complete tranquility for Christians.  Once you start living for Jesus, you won’t have any more troubles and problems.  But this is not what Jesus said.  He said we would have persecution, and we would have trials and tests.  Yet, He promised to be with us in the midst of every trial or test.

            Just because we are in the center of God’s will does not mean we will never be in a storm.  Jesus’ disciples were certainly in His will.  They were crossing the lake at His command.  Yet, they were in a terrible storm and feared they might even be in danger of drowning.  There was a storm with Jesus right in the ship with them.  He was even asleep.  You say He does not care; He does not hear.  Notice, as soon as the disciples cried out to Him, He answered.  Jesus can calm the storm any time, but be sure He will not come until we bid Him come.  He will not be late nor will He calm the storm until we become sincere in our prayers.  He often lets us weather the storm for longer than we think is necessary.  Jesus knows when we have been strengthened by the storms of life.  He knows when we need calm seas with a contrary wind.

            Jesus has said to everyone who is born again, “Let us cross over to the other side.”  There may be many storms to hit our ship, to toss us severely against the things Satan has strewn in life’s stream, yet we can hear Jesus say, “Let us cross over unto the other side.”  The secret of our safety is in that little word “us.”  As long as Jesus is with us, we will be able to make it safely to the other side.”  Do not fear the tempest, just trust in God’s power to take you through any storm.  Often when Jesus wants to show us His power, He intensifies the storm.

Jeremiah 25:4

The Beauty of Mathematics

And the Love of God!

From “The Voice” March 2010

Submitted by Sister Joan Lester

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What equals 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they

Are giving more than 100%

We have all been in situations where someone

Wants you to

GIVE OVER 100%

How about ACHIEVING 101%

What equals 100% in life?

Here’s a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:

IF:

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11=98%

And:

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5=96%

But:

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5=100%

Then, look how far the love of

God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4=101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, It’s the Love of God that will put you over the top!

Happy

Dad’s

Day

June 20

Pressures Will Come Our Way

By Sister Lynn Conley

Scripture Text: ‘’My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children’’. (Hosea 4:6 KJV)

Pressures make known to everyone what’s inside us or who is inside us. When you apply pressure to the orange, you’re supposed to get orange juice. What will come out of us when we are squeezed? Many times our true colors are shown to everyone. People will remember the bad of someone before they do the good - no matter if it’s the truth or not. Many times people just feel their best hurting someone else’s character. Good people of God need to stop the mouths of those kinds of people and not give in to their wicked actions and ways. We should choose our friends by the way they treat us and others. Don’t choose your friends by the house they live in, the style of clothing they have chosen to wear, or their position on their job. True love for someone or something will always show up. It’s doesn’t matter who is around love shows through someone.  At some point in our lives we have felt rejected. We have felt like we are ready to throw in the towel in and just give up for what we know down deep is right. We just want to give up and stop trying. We need to just get mad at the enemy and stop letting him control us. Some think that they will never pay for anything they have done. In the Word of God it records, ‘’Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him’’. (Malachi 3:16, 17 KJV) Stay Strong Friends!

Let us all remember in our prayers daily: All the many individuals suffering with all kinds of pain and heart aches. All the individuals with cancer, heart related problems, diabetes, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick people everywhere. All those individuals that have the authority over our churches, our communities, our jobs, our government, our politicians, our leaders, homeless individuals, the many people who have lost their loves ones, all the elderly in the nursing homes, the shut ins… that each day that someone will give them all a kind word, and a phone call or a card in the mail from their children. Let’s not forget all the little children with cancer at St. Jude’s hospital, the trauma units, burns units, all those individual are in financial ruin. Our service men and women as they are in harm’s way, they are protecting our freedom.

1 Peter 5:6-11  “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:   Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.   To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen

If we look back in history to the days of Job, we find that Job was the only man of that day who could take an all out assault from Satan.  The scriptures say Satan took them at his will, meaning no one could survive his attack.  However, God said, “Hast thou considered my servant Job?”  Satan said, “Yes, but thou hast a hedge about him.” 

It is the same for us today.  If it weren’t for Jesus, none of us could take on Satan today.  We see the destruction he is causing; murdering and stealing the lives of our young and old, sending them to an eternal fiery damnation.  We know Jesus and His power.  He has given us this power to resist the temptation and the desire of the path of destruction that Satan wants to lead us down.

            I just saw a story on the news where three young kids not over the age of 10, tied a cinderblock around their three or four year old cousins neck and drowned her.  Surely we are blessed and should not give or show any respect to Satan by sinning.  We should be like the Apostle Paul in his closing remarks in the above scriptures.  Let it be so.

            As your pastor, I would like to encourage you to always look and think before you do something; know whether you are glorifying God or Satan.  God wants us to have life and to have it more abundantly.  However, Satan only desires for us destruction and death.

            May God bless you and lead you in making the right choices and decisions.  Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers.  I encourage you to keep your children from the adversary.

Love in Christ,

Your pastor,

Charles A. Clark

V V V V V V V V V V

Jesus “The Living Water and Healer”

By Brother Mark Simmons

I am late this month getting John this letter.  Satan sat on my brain and deterred my thoughts.  However, Satan looses again because Jesus broke through.

What God wants you to think about are two things.  First, what our pastor said in Saturday night service.  He told us that he could lead us to the Lord, but it was up to each individual to accept the truth and let Jesus have his way with our soul.

This made me think of the old saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.”  In other words, our pastor leads us to the living water of Jesus, but we have to drink on our own.  No one will force us to drink, not even the Lord.  I do know when we drink, we will thirst no more.

The second thought Jesus told me to tell everyone to think about is healing.  We all know that God put doctors on this earth to practice on us even though he guides their knowledge and hands when they operate.

What came to me was that when doctors operate, you bleed; you have scars, pain and suffering.  I had a place on my leg that the doctors could not get to heal; they did not know what to do.  I knew who could heal and who could practice.  The elders anointed me and I prayed for healing.  This process took two years to heal but Jesus showed me through this that only he could heal me.

You think about how God directs doctors to help, but they leave marks on you.  When Jesus heals you, there is never a scar made and no blood is spilled.  You have no further pain or suffering.

This is because he has already spilled his blood, taken the cuts and scars.  He went through tremendous pain and suffering.  Jesus desires that you trust him to heal you because “with” his strips you are healed.

Jesus loves each of us; we need to love him more.

V V V V V V V V V V

USA MAP

Submitted By Brother Pat Sutphin

A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little girl.

She wanted to know what the United States looked like.   Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the country.

Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to her and said, ‘Go into the other room and see if you can put this together.   This will show you our whole country today…’

After a few minutes, she returned and handed him the map, correctly fitted and taped together.   The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly..

‘Oh,’ she said, ‘on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged,   Then our country just came together.’

V V V V V V V V V V

Submitted by Brother Steve Deatley

If we are distressed it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.  (2 Corinthians 1:6-7)

Once I heard a song of sweetness,

As it filled the morning air,

Sounding in its blest completeness,

Like a tender, pleading prayer;

And I sought to find the singe,

Where the wondrous song was borne;

And I found a bird, quite wounded,

Pinned down by a cruel thorn.

I have been a soul in sadness

While its wings with pain were furled,

Giving hope, and cheer and gladness

That should bless a weeping world

And I knew that life of sweetness,

Was of pain and sorrow borne,

And a stricken soul was singing,

With its heart against a thorn.

You are told of One who loved you,

Of a Savior crucified,

You are told of nails that held Him,

And a spear that pierced His side;

You are told of cruel scourging,

Of a Savior bearing scorn,

And He died for your salvation,

With His brow against a thorn.

You “are not above the Master.”

Will you breathe a sweet refrain?

And His grace will be sufficient,

When your heart is pierced with pain.

Will you live to bless His loved ones,

Though your life be bruised and torn,

Like the bird that sang so sweetly,

With its heart against a thorn?

V V V V V V V V V V

Day by Day

Written by Eloise Speer

Submitted by Sister Brenda Bailey

Daniel 6:16, 20 “Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.  Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.  And the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thy servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

            We all know the story.  “Yes, my God is able to deliver me.  He came down and shut the lions’ mouths.  I’m safe, O King.”  The king did not want to harm Daniel for he knew he was an honest and honorable man, one he could depend on.  I am sure, then as well as now, there was not an abundance of men like that in the entire kingdom.  After a restless, sleepless night, the king came to the lions’ den and called to Daniel, “Was thy God able to deliver you from the lions?”  How wonderful it is to know that this great God of Daniel’s is still alive and has not changed.  He is still able to deliver His children from anything. 

            I often think as I am passing through a trial or test, “My Jesus is with me in every furnace of affliction, in every lions’ den I am thrust into.”  He did not say He would prevent us from having to go through these things.  He just promised that He would go with us.  Daniel said, “Why, King, last night I had an angel visit me.  He came right into the lions’ den.”  Perhaps Daniel saw the angel touch each lion and shut their mouths.  How thrilling!  Can’t you just imagine how you would feel if an angel came into your room?  We would probably try to detain him to have at least a little chat.  Daniel must have felt unworthy of even this special visitor.  The great thing for us to remember is that God still dispatches angels to help those who serve Him.  Daniel was a servant of the living God, and we, too, can still be servants today of this living God.  In our hour of desperation we can touch God.  He is able to deliver us from any trap Satan sets for us.

1 John 4:18

Dark clouds of trial, when committed to the Lord, bring showers of blessings.

My Advocate

By: Martha Snell Nicholson

Submitted by Sister Beth Kast

I sinned.  And straightway, post-haste, Satan flew

Before the presence of the most high God,

And made a railing accusation there.

He said, “This soul, thing of clay and sod,

Has sinned.  ‘Tis true that he named Thy name,

But I demand his death, for Thou hast said,

Thy sentence be fulfilled? Is justice dead?

Send now this wretched sinner to his doom.

What other thing can a righteous ruler do?”

And thus he did accuse me day and night,

And every word he spoke, O God, was true!

Then quickly One rose up from God’s right hand,

Before Whose glory angels veiled their eyes.

He spoke, “each jot and tittle of the law

Must be fulfilled; the guilty sinner dies!

But wait-suppose his guilt were all transferred

To Me and that I paid his penalty!

Behold My hands, My side My feet!  One day

I was made sin for him, and died that he

Might be presented, faultless, at Thy throne!”

And Satan fled away. Full well he knew

That he could not prevail against such love,

For every word my dear Lord spoke was true!

V V V V V V V V V V

The Heated Times

By Sister Lynne Conley

Scripture Text: And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? (Nehemiah 4:2 KlV)

One of the deadliest fires in American history was the ‘’ The Peshtigo Fire’’. On Sunday, October 8, 1871, the path was Michigan and Wisconsin, in addition to the cities Peshtigo, Holland, Manistee, and Port Huron. At least 1,200 people died, and approximately 800 fatalities occurred in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. That same night, the great Chicago fire erupted. The conditions were just right for a fire. The winds were blowing southwesterly; the winds blew like a hurricane so it made is impossible for the fire fighters to extinguish the fire. There was a huge wood bark pile at the Cappen & Bertch, a building where animal’s skins and hides were tanned. This building and The Third Reformed Church in the southern part of the city were among the first to be attacked by the fire. This destructive fire was like a wild beast. No one really knows exactly how the fire started in Chicago. At the beginning of the fire there was supposedly an eye witness at the home of Catherine and Patrick O’Leary’s barn. A rumor was all over town that Mr. O’Leary’s cow was responsible for knocking over an oil-burning lamp setting the straw on fire. Whatever the cause of the fire, over 300 Chicagoans were dead. Over 90,000 of 500,000 residents were left homeless. Four square miles were leveled, including the business district. Soon Chicago was rebuilt with new fire regulations. Many people were burnt as well. Many times it’s dreaming or thinking that our lives should be a certain way: By getting married, having a bunch of children, a big white house with a white picket fence, a dog, or a cat, two vehicles, a family that loves everybody, and with a promising future without any interruptions. Let’s face it, friends; we are living in a real world. Every person is facing some kind of circumstances.  The heartaches I face today may possibly be yours tomorrow. We never know what a day will bring to us… We have to practice what we preach and be there for each other. Stay Encouraged!

Let us all remember in our prayers daily: All the many individuals suffering with all kinds of pain and heartaches. All the individuals with cancer, heart related problems, diabetes, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick people everywhere. All those individuals that have the authority over our churches, our communities, our jobs, our government, our politicians, our leaders, homeless individuals, the many people who have lost their loves ones, all the elderly in the nursing homes, the shut ins… that each day that someone will give them all a kind word, and a phone call or a card in the mail from their children. Let’s not forget all the little children with cancer at St. Jude’s hospital, the trauma units, all those individual are in financial ruin. Our service men and women as they are in harm’s way, they are protecting our freedom.

Matthew 19:16  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

            In this scripture we find a rich young ruler coming to Jesus asking how he could attain eternal life.  We find Jesus listing the Ten Commandments because these are required by law.  The rich young ruler replied, “all these have I kept from my youth yet what lack I?”  Then Jesus took him to the heart of the matter.  The young man was willing to do one good thing but Jesus knew where his heart was.  Jesus said, “Sell what you have and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasures in heaven and come follow me.”  This is getting to the heart of the matter; whether we think that treasures in heaven are worth more than treasures on earth. 

You know I have to thank God for our church.  We have never looked to ourselves or attained a selfish spirit.  We could have a bigger and nicer church with nicer things but we have chosen to see to the needs of others.  Today there is a spirit that glamour and fame is better.  We see people using side shows and all different means to get people in to church, even to the point of compromising on the doctrine.  People seem to think that a bigger crowd or a mega church will please God rather than living a simpler life using the words of Jesus.  Jesus said that He would add to the church daily such as needed to be saved and He commanded us to stand firm on the gospel and doctrine.  Jesus wasn’t executed for being rich or famous.  He was executed for standing firm on the oracles of God. 

Some might think this was a lot to ask of the rich, young ruler but Jesus was asked to give His life.  Jesus said, “No one taketh my life but I lay it down.”  Many times we hear the eulogy read at funerals and some have good things that they have accomplished in life.  The man who developed penicillin did a good thing.  Many others have done good deeds but will never see the gates of heaven.  This is why treasures in heaven or treasures on earth are the heart of the matter. 

This young ruler walked away sorrowful because his heart was on treasures of the world.  He will not be in that number when Jesus says, “Enter in my good and faithful servants.”  According to the scriptures a servant must first be found faithful.  So as your pastor I urge you to talk to Jesus even though you’re keeping the commandments.  There might be more that you need to do and only you and Jesus can get to the heart of the matter so that you may have treasures in heaven rather than treasures on earth.

May God richly bless you as you make your journey toward home.  Let Jesus guide you every step of the way.

Love in Christ,

Your pastor,

Charles A. Clark

Coldness to Hardness

By Brother Mark Simmons

In every teaching we hear from Duane, in every newsletter that John produces, and in every sermon we hear from Pastor Clark, we are continually reminded of God’s grace but also to fear the Lord.

Today’s people have lost their fear of God.  The word tells us over and over of the fear of God.

Proverbs 3:7, “Be not wise in thine own eyes:  fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”

Proverbs 8:13. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.”  Therefore by the fear of the Lord people depart from evil.

If you look at people today they can’t possibly fear God because there is too much evil in the world.  This evil is from Satan and is causing many Christians to fall away.

Jesus told us that many believers would turn away and grow cold.  Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

Many Christians who were on fire for God will drift into spiritual coldness.  Many will return to their worldly ways.  Jesus told us in Matthew 24:8, “All of these signs are the beginning of sorrows.”  If you ever truly loved and followed Jesus but you are now cold and indifferent, the Holy Spirit is speaking to you.  He is inviting you to come back into his merciful arms.

Anyone who continues in coldness to God’s voice or who keeps distant from the Holy Spirit will receive “hardness”.  Hardness indicates a condition that is beyond the influence of grace or mercy from the Holy Spirit.  It begins with coldness toward the Church of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 3:12-15, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.”  “But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation.”

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Wisdom Is For The Young

By Brother Duane Bailey

Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14  “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:  Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

I was thinking the other day what it means to get older (not just old).  I thought that as you get older, we really should be getting wiser.  Our knowledge and life experiences should be increased and we should be able to pull from those experiences to make much better decisions.  And it dawned on me:  What if we could somehow find out in our youth, what we know in our older age.  The old saying is that youth is wasted on the youth, but you could also say that wisdom could be wasted on the old.   By the time you figure out how to raise kids you have grandkids.  By the time you learn how to use wisdom and patience, you do not need them as much.

Solomon was just such a man.  He spent his youth searching, searching for the meaning of life.  In the second verse in the first chapter of Ecclesiastes, we find him saying that all is vanities or all is vapor; basically nothing.  This was Solomon the wise old man.  He found out that he had wasted his time and efforts on things of the world.  He sought pleasure, laughter, and wine.  He made great houses and vineyards.  He had servants and maids.  He had silver and gold, cattle.  Whatsoever his eyes desired he got it.  He withheld nothing from himself.  He finally looked one day at everything he had and it made him sick, it vexed him.  There was no profit to it.  He then looked and decided it was better to be dead than alive.  More still it was better to never had been alive.  This has the sound of a man that has looked back over his life and is very unhappy with how he has spent it.  You can almost taste the distaste in his mouth.  Solomon went to sleep as a young man with wisdom from God, but without the desire to seek that wisdom.  He awoke as an old man that saw the error of his ways, no doubt wishing to go back and redo his life.  But we have but one life to live.  

He finishes out the book showing that wisdom is better than strength and weapons of war.  He gives reference to the difference between the wise and the fool.  He says that riches and the work that we do here on earth are vanity.  He finds that it is better with the person that fears God than with the sinner whose days are prolonged. 

God gave Solomon his wisdom for a purpose, to share.  Not with just those of his days, with everyone through time.  As he started the final chapter of the story of his life, Solomon starts with “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth”.  Solomon referred to himself as the Preacher in this book.  As we just learned in our Sunday school lessons, in order to believe, we have to hear and to hear we have to have a preacher. 

How can we as young men and young women obtain the wisdom that is normally reserved for the aged?   By fearing God and by keeping His commandments.  Keep God close to your heart in your youth and strive to get as close to Him as you can.  But Solomon wished that all of us could learn from the mistakes that he made in life.  These are lessons that can be learned by all of us no matter the age.  You are only as young as you think you are.  Not once while speaking of wisdom did Solomon mention old.  Let us all follow after God and His ways so that we do not wake up and find our lives being vanity.

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The Flow of Anointing

By Sister Brenda Bailey

I want to say a big THANK YOU to our pastor for allowing me to take our young ladies to the Esther conference.  It was refreshing and I hope our young ladies were able to take something lasting away from it.  I just wanted to share a couple of things with you from the conference.

One of the classes had to do with hair; we learned biblical principles on why our hair is our covering and also heard testimonies about how God moved in situations because ladies had honored God by not cutting their hair.

The highlight for me was hearing about the flow of anointing.  In biblical times, whenever someone was anointed, the oil was poured out over the head and it flowed to the feet.  God is our head, then the man is the head of our household and we, as women fall in line as our children follow us.  The anointing comes from God and then flows to our husbands and then on to us and our children.  This is the way God intended it to be and we are to follow after Him.  If we become rebellious and take away our covering (our hair) we are stepping out of line and we break the flow of anointing.

I truly believe that as women of God we are protectors of the home.  We set the tone for our families.  If we don’t fall in line according to the scriptures we are in danger of God turning away from us.  I want God’s blessing and anointing on my family.  I want my children saved.  I want my husband’s ministry to increase and I want to be used of God.  I am not perfect by any means but I want to always strive to do what God would have me do.  I want to keep the flow of anointing on my family without interruption.

Lord, help me to daily seek Your face and do what is right before you.  Help me to be an encourager to others and not a hindrance.  In your name Jesus- Amen.

Day by Day

Written by Eloise Speer

Submitted by Brenda Bailey

Jeremiah 18:4 “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”

            The Lord told Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house because He had a lesson He wanted him to learn or maybe a message for all Israel.  When Jeremiah went, he saw the marred vessel and how the potter took the clay and made it again into another vessel.  Can’t you just see the Prophet Jeremiah standing there watching the potter work the wheels?  Maybe Jeremiah could not see much wrong with the vessel the potter was looking over.  He might have thought, “That vessel will be all right.  It looks good to me.”  However, the potter’s eyes were searching that vessel inside and out; his hands could feel the slightest imperfection.  He knew the purpose the vessel was being made for, and if it had flaws in it, then it would not be fit for its intended use.

            Oh, this is such a wonderful lesson for us.  We are worthless as the lump of clay-just nothing.  Then the Master Potter takes us into His hands. The flaws in our life are not because of something the Potter has done or not done, but they are because of too much clay (too much self) or even too much water, making us slippery and where we won’t hold form.  We will be like the waves of the sea, unstable.  As the Potter looks us over, His all-seeing eyes will see every flaw.  He knows what our purpose in life is, and with any little flaws, He knows that we will not serve His purpose.  Let us not fret and complain when the Lord begins to put us on the potter’s wheel to remake us.  As the Lord said, it is foolish to think that the clay would argue with the potter.  He tells us to learn to be as clay in the potter’s hands.  Anything, Lord, you want me to be, I’ll be pleased to be.  Yes, anything, for what a wonderful privilege just to be in His hands.

Ecclesiastes 8:12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

Lord I can’t even walk without You holding my hand.

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Difficulties in Our Lives

By Sister Lynne Conley

Scripture Text: Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. (Psalm 32:7 KJV)

Mary and Martha were sisters who lived in town called Bethany. Jesus loved Martha, Mary and their brother, Lazarus. Jesus entered Martha’s house, and she welcomed him into her home. Martha was troubled about the meal she was preparing for her visitor. Mary was at the feet of Jesus instead of helping her sister prepare the meal for Jesus. Martha said to Jesus,’’ Don’t you care I have to make this meal by myself? Jesus, please enlighten my sister that I need help with the meal.” Jesus answered her, ‘’Martha, Martha; you are so worried and troubled over many things. Your sister, Mary, has chosen the best part which will not be taken away from her.” Does this really mean Jesus cared more for Mary than Martha? No, they both had something different and unique to give to Jesus. Martha needed to focus on loving her neighbor as herself and to be a servant of Jesus. Martha had a servant’s heart and wanted to be sure that Jesus was well fed. Mary was like a young child at the feet of Jesus; she didn’t want to miss one word Jesus was telling her. Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus was not well. Both of them sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was very sick. Jesus risked his own life to go see about His friend’s sickness. By the time the disciples and Jesus arrived to see about Lazarus, he had been dead four days. Jesus finally came and Martha met him in the road. She began to tell Jesus, ‘’ Lord if you were here our brother wouldn’t have died.”  He began to tell her this,’’ Lazarus is just asleep; I will awake him up.”  Mary was in the house sitting so still. Martha plainly showed her great faith in Jesus. Martha confessed that Jesus was the resurrection, and it’s recorded in the scriptures this way, ‘’She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world” (John 11:27 KJV).   We all have distractions in our everyday lives. God’s people don’t always sing in the midst of trials. There are times that we have to have faith that God will see us through. Many times we have said “God where are you? What have I done to deserve this trial?”  We have to rehearse this in our minds; all my tomorrows must pass by the Lord before they come to me. Even through sicknesses, death, pain, trouble, heartache, God has to approve it before it comes to us.

Let us all remember in our prayers daily: All the many individuals suffering with all kinds of pain and heart aches. All the individuals with cancer, heart related problems, diabetes, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick people everywhere. All those individuals that have the authority over our churches, our communities, our jobs, our government, our politicians, our leaders, homeless individuals, the many people who have lost their loves ones, all the elderly in the nursing homes, the shut ins… that each day that someone will give them all a kind word, and a phone call or a card in the mail from their children. Let’s not forget all the little children with cancer at St. Jude’s hospital, the trauma units, all those individual are in financial ruin. Our service men and women as they are in harm’s way, they are protecting our freedom.

Sunday School Reports

Kindergarten Class

Sister Lynne Conley

My class learned in the month of March.  There is only one God.

‘’Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD’’ Deuteronomy 6:4 (KJV)

Worshipping God can be fun and exciting, but, there is a quiet time that we talk to God.

My name is Sister Lynne, my close friends and family call me ‘’ Lenny’’ and you all call me the Bug Lady. I am the same person? They said yes, you are. ‘’Bug wady’.’   There isn’t three of me, there is just one of me. When we talked to God, We all may say God, or Lord, or Jesus, but we are only talking to one God. There is only one God. Some people pray to the sun, moon, stars, and statues.  A statue can’t heal your body! God also wants us to know we love Him, and we should love each other.  I asked the children to put their right hand over left shoulder and put your left hand over their right shoulder! I said, on your mark, get ready, get set, go… Squeeze really hard! ‘’ You just hugged yourself! God wants us all to know that every boy and girl is our neighbor… We should love them as much as we do ourselves… We give God hugs when we Praise, worship, giving offerings, going to church, reading the bible, loving other people.

Primary Class

Sister Larissa & Sister Darlene

As we go into the month of April the class will learn about the Power of Sowing and Reaping.

The scripture text this month is taken from James 1:22-24.

 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.    For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he behold himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was”.

The class will learn that we are to be doers of the word and not hearers only; our lesson tells us we must do something with God’s seed (His Word). We can hear it all day long but we must do something with it. When we listen to and obey God’s Word we are a “doer of the Word”.

The class is given activity/take home papers with stories that reinforce the Bible lesson each Sunday.

II Kings 23:1-3 And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.  And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.  And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

            It’s time again for another New Year to start and many are making New Year’s resolutions.  The scriptures I have just listed above would be a great example for the church to comply with.  Josiah had become king of the Jews.  No doubt, the house of the Lord had deteriorated over the years because the people had forgotten about the Lord’s house and had spent their time and resources on their own dwellings.  It may have looked all right to the king’s before because as the scriptures said, they did evil in the sight of the Lord. Their mindset and their pleasure were about themselves. 

There may have been strangers and foreigners who passed by that had seen Israel in previous years keeping the house of the Lord looking better than any other building.  But now, however, it had become run down and had just become a common place.  Now a new king had arrived on the scene; one with a heart to do that which was right in the sight of the Lord.  Josiah hired carpenters and builders and masons to repair the house of the Lord.  In doing so, as they were cleaning out all the trash, Hilkiah, the high priest, found the book of the Law.  The scriptures said that the book was delivered unto the king.  He read it and rent his clothes.  This was a sign of humility and shame. 

I am not trying to tell you that we need to do more to take care of our church building.  I am referring to our bodies and all of us together make up the House of the Lord.  If someone with spiritual eyes could look at us, who are supposed to be the house of the Lord, they would probably do as King Josiah did and rend their clothes.  Hatred, envy, strife, greed, jealousy, and slothfulness, among everything else, would probably look worse than the literal house of that day. 

Scriptures say examine yourselves to see if you are of the faith.  I think time is coming to an end.  I’m not worrying about the paint on the walls of the church, or stains on the carpet, nor holes in the church pews.  However, I do worry about the spiritual condition in the church. 

So my appeal to us all this coming year is that we do as Josiah.  We have already discovered the Bible.  Now let us make a covenant with the Lord to keep His commandments.  Josiah, after the discovery of the book of the law, was not happy until reform took place.  Jesus will not give the blessings because of how great our choir is or how well we can clap our hands or how good our Sunday school teachers are or how great Bro. Duane or Bro. Clark preaches.  Jesus will be happy when reform comes. 

Scriptures said that Josiah gathered them all together, both great and small.  So let us all come together to do the words of the Bible.

From my family to yours, we wish you a Happy New Year.

Love in Christ,

Your pastor,

Charles A. Clark

CONVERT OR DISCIPLE

By Brother Mark Simmons

I know that the Lord is ready to move through everyone in his church in an even greater way.  It’s our time.  The darker the world and its people get, the brighter the church of Jesus needs to shine.

In men’s prayer service we talk about various problems and blessings.  Brother Clarence stated that he could feel moving in his house and family and how the spirit was showing him that we had better make sure that we were ready for Jesus to come back.  I know that same feeling and I know that all of us have that same spirit telling us that time is short; stay in the word.

In Matthew 28:10 Jesus tells us “Go ye therefore and teach all nations.”  He meant to make disciples of, not just converts out of people. 

Converts means to change people from one religion, doctrine, opinion, course or action to another.  Disciple means to teach, to learn, to follow Jesus.  We want our light to lead people to Christ so that they will want to follow him as disciples.

 Whether we realize it or not the direction we take either to follow Jesus or the world is controlled by the way we think; personal philosophy.  Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

The Lord’s word or philosophy is what we need to follow, not man’s.  Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ.”

 A lot of Christians are not what they proclaim to be because they are following man’s philosophies and religious traditions.  Religious people believe that Jesus is not enough, that we need to observe rituals and ceremonies.  I believe that these requirements make the word of God take second place in their churches, and render them ineffective in their praise and worship.  This lets them bring converts into their church, but not disciples of Christ.

When the pressures of life happen they are able to quote dozens of scriptures about God’s promises but they follow their hearts values, or man’s philosophy.  This is why our pastor leads us into Jesus’ philosophy, “The Word of God”.

Matthew 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

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WHOSE TERM IS IT?

By Brother Duane Bailey

I Samuel 13:11-12.  And Samuel said, What hast thou done?  And Saul said, because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not with in the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Mischmash; Therefore said I, the Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord:  I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

            I like to hunt.  I enjoy getting out in the woods and waiting to see if something is going to come by.  I enjoy being in the woods early in the morning and hearing everything starting to wake up in the mornings.  As far as things to do that in non church related (but still can be God related), it is what I like to do the most.  But I like to do it on my terms.  I like mornings more than evenings even thought evenings see to work better.  There are certain places that I just enjoy hunting whether I see something or not because I like the place.  It is hard for me to change from those places.  I’m not the guy that scouts the woods for months and puts out cameras, and checks for sign.  My hunting might be more successful if I did those things, but I just don’t want to.  I like to hunt with others but if it interferes with what I want to do, I will hunt alone.  I don’t always watch the wind or the moon phase or what the weather is about to do.  Right, wrong or indifferent, I hunt the way I want to.  It keeps it fun for me I guess. 

This is OK for hunting.  I might take an animal or I might not.  Either way, I am not worse for the ware.  But I can’t choose to do things on my terms when it comes to serving God.  I have to do things His way.  But that is not the attitude that Saul took.  He thought that he could serve God in the manner that he wanted to, as long as he was “serving” God.  But when it came down to doing God’s will, Saul choosing his own way cost him and his offspring the throne. 

God was particular about how he wanted offerings to be sent up to Him.  With a battle looming, the people running around afraid and Samuel a little late, Saul felt pressure to take things into his own hands.  Rather than waiting on the man of God as was God’s rules, Saul decided to offer the sacrifice himself.  Just as he got done, along came Samuel and said “what have you done”.  Of course Saul gave his excuses, but there is not an excuse for not following God’s rules.  Samuel didn’t hold back and told him that he acted foolishly.  He told Saul that God would have established his kingdom forever, but now he would take it and give it to another.  Saul lost the kingdom and probably his salvation because he did it his way. 

            We like to think that our walk with God is like the old Sinatra song “I did it my way”.  But it isn’t.  If God was particular with how the sacrifice was given, and what materials Israel wore and how they planted their crops, how much more particular is He when it comes to those that He died for?  I can hunt on my terms.  I can exercise on my terms.  There are a lot of other things I can do on my terms, but my salvation is at risk when I serve God on my terms.  His ways are not our ways.  The one problem that Saul had was realizing that “obedience is better than sacrifice”.  Give all of your time, all of your effort and all of you money, but if you have not done it the way that God has commanded us to, it is for naught.  God told Israel in Jeremiah chapter 7 to eat their sacrifices because when He brought their fathers out of Egypt, He didn’t command them concerning offerings.  But He commanded them saying “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people:  and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you”.   In this New Year, let’s take a stand and tell God that we are serving Him, His way, on His terms.  

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The  L  I  T   T  L  E   Things

Submitted by Brother John Johnson

As you might remember, the head of a company survived   
9/11   because his son started kindergarten. 

Another fellow was alive because it was   
His turn to bring donuts.   

One woman was late because her  
Alarm clock didn’t go off in time.   

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike 
Because of an auto accident.   

One of them  
Missed his bus.   

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take 
Time to change.   
Car wouldn’t start.   
Get a taxi.   
Who put on a new pair of shoes that morning,  
Took the various means to get to work  
But before he got there, he developed  
A  blister on his foot.  
He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid .  
That is why he is alive today.

One’s   

One couldn’t   

The one that struck me was the man  

Now when I am   
Stuck in traffic,  
Miss an elevator,   
Turn back to answer a ringing telephone…

All the little things that annoy me.  
I think to myself,  
This is exactly where   
God wants me to be   
At this very moment..

Next time your morning seems to be  
Going wrong ,  
The children are slow getting dressed,   
You can’t seem to find the car keys,  
You hit every traffic light, 
Don’t get mad or frustrated;   
It May be just that   
God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you  
With all those annoying little things  
And may you remember their possible purpose.

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Day by Day

Written by Eloise Speer

Submitted by Sister Brenda Bailey

II Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

            We know that where there is life there must be either growth or decay.  When our bodies have fully matured, they tell us that then they begin to start decaying.  This does not always appear true to us for we look sometimes at some strong athlete, and it seems he gets stronger and stronger.  True, he does grow in strength or he begins to diminish in strength.  The process of growth is not always immediately detected.  Our children grow sometimes an inch or so without our taking notice.  All of a sudden their clothes don’t fit any more.  They’ve outgrown them. 

The growth Peter was talking about was our growing up in God.  Truly there is no standing still in our spiritual growth.  We are growing up or we are diminishing.  The Word says, “As newborn babies desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.”  We know what happens if we can’t get our newborn babies to eat; they will soon die.  Just so, we as newborn babes in Christ will die if we fail to feed upon His Word.  Before our babies will eat they have to be hungry.  So we must learn to desire the sincere milk of the Word.  David said, “Thy word have I desired more than my natural food.”  David knew it was more important to feed the soul than the natural body.  There is no way to put a price or value on the soul of man.  Jesus said, “What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” 

We must partake of Jesus.  He must live and abide in us.  We must daily eat and drink spiritually if we are to grow spiritually.  Study the Word; pray fervently.  There are many church members who do not read the Bible.  Do you know what thus sayest the Lord?

II Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

If we fail to grow we become deformed.  There are no dwarf Christians.

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Our Responsibility

By Sister Lynne Conley

Scripture Text: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. (Matthew 27:58 KJV)

Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judaea; he ruled over forty provinces in the land of Judaea. Pilate was under the leadership of the royal leader, Tiberius. The Sanhedrin was a group of Jewish judges that commanded the Jewish laws. At the Last Supper, Jesus shared his last meal with his friends, the disciples, before the time of his death. Simon Peter asked Jesus a very important question. He asked Jesus if he had the words of eternal life. Peter told Jesus that he believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus began to talk with his friends; he told them that, out of his chosen twelve disciples, one was a devil. Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the cock would crow. Peter warmed himself by the fire because it was cold when Jesus told him that he was going to deny him. The Sanhedrin arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. They brought Him before Pilate because the Sanhedrin accused Jesus of speaking blasphemies.  The definition for blaspheme is: the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God. (Merriam-Webster) Pilate had the life and death of Jesus in his hands. He found no fault in Jesus, but he was scared. ‘’When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him’’. (Matthew 27:19 KJV) Pontius Pilate didn’t want to condemn Jesus to death, but the crowds of people were screaming. Pontius Pilate washed his hands in front of the people, letting them know that Jesus’ blood was on their hands. By custom each year during the Passover, they would pardon a criminal. Pontius Pilate released a prisoner by custom and released Barabbas because the crowds wanted Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus. Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus to death. We all have been guilty of comparing our lives to someone else’s. It’s not so bad to compare ourselves with someone else. Our words can be a motivator, whether we realize it or not, whether you mean to or not. Our words can bring life, or it can cause someone to take their own life. While we all still alive, let’s make our days count for something for the good of someone else. Stay Encouraged!

Let us all remember in our prayers daily: All the many individuals suffering with all kinds of pain and heart aches. All the individuals with cancer, heart related problems, diabetes, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick people everywhere. All those individuals that have the authority over our churches, our communities, our jobs, our government, our politicians, our leaders, homeless individuals, the many people who have lost their loves ones, all the elderly in the nursing homes, the shut ins… that each day that someone will give them all a kind word, and a phone call or a card in the mail from their children. Let’s not forget all the little children with cancer at St. Jude’s hospital, the trauma units, burn units, all those individuals that are in financial ruin. Our service men and women as they are in harm’s way, they are protecting our freedom.

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STATEMENT OF DOCTRINE

e believe and teach these fundamental truths.  1) The Bible is the inspired Word of God; 2) Salvation is by active faith in Jesus Christ, which includes obedience to the biblical plan of salvation:  repentance, baptism in water in the name of Jesus Christ, and the infilling of the believer by the Holy Ghost, with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues; 3) Holy living is the mark of the Spirit-filled Christian.

John 5:39-47 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honor from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

            Today is just like the day when Jesus was speaking to the Jews, the people that should have known and accepted Jesus. In their hearts they thought they were God’s children and that they knew more than Jesus.  That’s why Jesus said, “Search the scriptures for in them you think ye have eternal life.”  This is the mentality of most of the world.  I believe the last report I heard was that 90% of Americans think they are saved.  But just like Jesus told the Jews, “I know that ye have not the love of God in you.”  If you run reference on this, Jesus was saying, “I understand what you are.  You said Moses was your teacher or preacher but you don’t even believe Moses’ writings.”  Jesus said, “Do not think I will accuse you but the one you seem to be following, his teachings you don’t even believe and he will accuse you.” 

Jesus used the words, think not, many times when speaking.  Today, when you listen to people talk, you wonder where or what planet they’re from.  Their thinking is out of sync with reality.  In Moses’ writings, I think he is best known for the Ten Commandments in Exodus Chapter 20.  These will test our thinking.

1.    Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.

2.    Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.

3.    Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

4.    Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

5.    Honor thy father and thy mother.

6.    Thou shalt not kill.

7.    Thou shalt not steal.

8.    Thou shalt not commit adultery.

9.    Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

10. Thou shalt not covet.

            If everyone could just pass Moses’ accusation; as the old song says, “What a wonderful world it would be.” 

      Christmas is coming up, so think not that Christmas is all about us.  However, think that it is about the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Always remember what the scriptures say, His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways.

            May you have a Merry Christmas from my family to yours and may you keep Jesus number one in your thinking.

Love in Christ,

Your pastor,

Charles A. Clark

Don’t Mock the Lord

By Brother Mark Simmons

This article came across the internet and was the same passage Duane had in our Sunday morning class, but used in a different way.

Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.”

Mocked means to be outwitted or outfoxed; to disobey God’s commands and then escape divine punishment would be to outwit God, thus making a mockery of him and his word. 

You best believe that you can’t escape the living God and you need to be fearful of what he will do to you.  These are examples of people who mocked God and what they reaped.

John Lennon of the Beatles stated, “Christianity will end; it will disappear.  I do not have to argue about that, I am certain.  Jesus was okay, but his subjects were too simple.  Today, we are more famous that Jesus.”  Lennon was shot 6 times and died.

The man who built the Titanic was asked by a reporter how safe the ship was.  With an ironic tone he said, “Not even God can sink it.”  He ate those words.

Actress Marilyn Monroe was visited by Pastor Billy Graham during the presentation of one of her shows.  Pastor Graham told her that the Holy Ghost had sent him to talk to her.  After hearing what Pastor Graham had to say, she stated, “I don’t need your Jesus Christ.”  A week later she was found dead in her apartment.

The last example I will give you took place in Campinas, Brazil.  A group of friends, all of them drunk, were going to pick up their friend.  The friend’s mother accompanied her daughter to the car.  She was worried about the drunkenness of the people in the car.  Instead of pulling her daughter out, she told her to go with God and may he protect you.  The daughter responded, “Only if God travels in the truck, because the seats are already full.”  Hours later, the news came that they had been involved in a fatal accident and everyone had died.  The car could not be recognized as to what type it was because it was so badly damaged from the impact of the crash.  Surprisingly, the trunk of the car was not damaged.  The police said that there was no way the trunk could have remained intact.  To their further surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs; none were broken.

We need to keep God #1 in our lives; in the driver’s seat, not the trunk.  Don’t mock the Lord; fear him, and seek his face.  The Lord is love if you trust and obey.

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OPEN YOUR EARS TO THE WORD

By Brother Duane Bailey

Nehemiah 8:7-9  “Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.  So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.  And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

The book of Nehemiah is the story of Israel returning from exile.  Because of thei r continuous nature to sin, God finally had them carried captive out of their own land, something that we all need to take heed to.  But as always, God hears their cry of repentance and brings them back home.  And they quickly start to get busy, doing His work, making plans to get back to the basics.  They started with the Word of God.  As the people gathered, Ezra began to read to them from the book of the law.  As he reads, the Levites “caused the people to understand the law”.  In other words, they could not understand completely, what the book said.  They had grown hard and cold to the word of God. 

As they lost the ability to understand, they lost the ability to see the consequences of their sins so they had no fear of God.  And the lack of fear of God means that there is a lack of respect for the Word and the things of God.  But as the Word was read and the ministers explained, their understanding was opened because as verse 3 says, “the people were attentive unto the book of the law”.  Plus they were respectful, standing as the word was read (verse 5).  With their understanding opened, they were able to see where they stood in Gods eyes and not their own.  It scared them because they knew from the word it was not good.  They repented and in Chapter 9 “sealed” a “sure covenant” with God. 

The Word of God is our guide to life in this world.  As someone coined the phrase, the Bible is our Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.   It allows us to look into the mind of God and teaches us how He wants us to live and the consequences if we don’t.  But when we grow cold to the Word our understanding is clogged.  We then find ourselves in a situation where we are not satisfied with serving God and begin seeking other ways or other gods in our life as Israel did.  That leads to exile from God, from His protection and from His Blessings. 

That is why we need to be respectful to the Word of God and attentive when the preacher is preaching.  As it was with Israel, when we open our ears to the Word, God will open our understanding.  The Word washes us and cleanses us.  The people wept when they heard the Word because they knew that God could be a God of wrath.  But because they understood, it allowed them a space of grace, a chance to repent.  Jonah didn’t have to say but eight words and an entire city repented because they believed God and was respectful and attentive to the preacher’s words.

Start opening your ears to the Word of God and He will set and open doors before you as He did for the church in Philadelphia, because He found that they had kept His word.  God Bless.

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TRUSTING IN THE LORD

By Brother Pat Sutphin

Forward:  When reading this please keep in mind that Carson Quarles is a very politically versed individual.  I personally love that about him.  Please keep in mind that this article is not intended to represent a political position for me or the church.  It is simply the way it was written.

The Word should always lead and guide us.  Sometimes though we can learn or be humbled by or from actions and words from other people.  Last month that happened to me and the Lord laid it on my heart to share that with those that choose to read this.  Carson Quarles is a man I met turkey hunting in Alabama some years ago.  Carson and I over the years have become good friends and have shared the same guide, Al Mattox.  Carson is Norma Quarles’ husband and she is the one I request prayer for every Sunday.  As you may know the church sent Norma a prayer cloth and she kept it with her every step of the way – she still has it today.  She is in full remission.

Al has been called back to Iraq for another mission.  He leaves in late January.  In both his civilian and military jobs Al is a bomb and explosive expert and deals with homemade explosive devices, land mines, and IED’s that are prevalent there.  The church is also sending Al a prayer cloth but you will tell by his note below he also has the right attitude.  His attitude and outlook moved and touched me deeply.  It has impacted me and my way of thinking and I am sure it will do the same for you.  Al has to leave behind his family as you will note in his email and also his service dog in his civilian job.

When I read this, I immediately thought of Proverbs 3: 5-6

5) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

From Carson to Al:

From: JCARSONQ@aol.com [mailto:JCARSONQ@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 6:57 PM
To: strut4me@charter.net
Subject: Checking in.

Al, have not heard from you in a while.  I hope you, the wife and twins are doing OK.

Norma and I have wondered and worried about any plan that you may have to go back on active duty and to Afghanistan.  We hope and pray that you will defer any decision to do that.  With the Commander in Chief that we have in DC, please don’t rush into anything.  You have done your dues.

We are doing good.  Norma continues in remission and we are optimistic that it will be long term.

I guess our March trip to Alabama is history.  We have not developed anything that would work for us.

Take care, accept our prayers and regards and God bless.

AL’s Response.

From: Al Mattox [mailto:strut4me@charter.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 10:10 PM
To: JCARSONQ@aol.com
Subject: RE: Checking in.

We are all good! Thank you for checking on us. The girls are doing great. Anna finished her freshman year at the University of Kentucky with a 3.58 GPA, and Sara finished her freshman year at Troy University with a 3.25 GPA. UK bumped Anna’s scholarship up to 100% for the spring and summer semesters. That was actually a gift from God. I took the Sergeants exam, and placed in Band 2. There were only 6 people in Band 1, so I am promotable now. Who knows what will happen with that. I have turned that over to God.

I am scheduled to go on Active Duty January 24, 2010. I will be going to Iraq. I cannot tell you much in an e-mail about what I will be doing; accept to tell you I will be following God’s will. I can’t tell you how many different times God has spoken to me to confirm that this is His plan for my life. Having said that, if I die day 1 on the ground I have died carrying out His will for my life. I am in a place right now in my life that is absolutely amazing. I can’t keep up with the blessings I receive each day. I will be leading a bible study while I am there. I will be deploying with an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, but I will not be doing any rendering safe of explosives.

Laurel will be adopting Jessie my bomb dog when I deploy. Jessie is 13 or 14, and will be Laurel’s partner and companion while I am gone. Thanks again for checking on us. I cherish our relationship deeply.

I guess I probably ought to get the turkey from White Oak before I leave even though it has not sold. Do you want to call Robert and tell him you want me to come pick it up for you?

Al

Sometimes we are dealt tuff cards but the scriptures tell us (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27) that with God all things are possible.  Please pray for Al and his family.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.  Stay the course and keep the faith.

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Day by Day

Written by Eloise Speer

Submitted by Sister Brenda Bailey

Ezra 2:62 “These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.”

            So many people argue about what is in a name.  This entire second chapter of Ezra is the recorded genealogy of the children of Barkos, the children of Rezin, and so on down the line.  These people were all returned from captivity, but there were some who claimed to be of the Levites in the line of priests.  However, they could not find their names on the register of those among the priests.  They could not show their father’s house nor prove that they were seed or children of Levi.  They were put out and treated as though they were polluted.

            These people may have been morally good, clean, and virtuous people.  They may have never had a bad reputation, but they could not prove they were of the priesthood tribe.  Therefore, they were cast out.

            One stood up and said that they must not eat of the most holy things till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.  These two stones were in the priest’s breast vesture, and they determined many things through God. 

            When we think how important records are today, we can begin to see that in the line of the priests, they wanted to be certain who ministered to them.  They needed assurance that all those claiming to be descendants of Levi were actually born into that tribe.

            Jesus said we would be hated of all people for His name’s sake.  There is no objection or at least very little objection to our speaking in tongues.  Many people of various religious beliefs love speaking in tongues.  The great cross comes when we tell these people that they must take on the family name in baptism.  They do not want to be reckoned with the “Jesus name people.”  How are they going to be reckoned at the time of the rapture?  Jesus is coming for His bride.  Don’t you think the bride will have His name?  Of course the bride wants to bear the name of her bridegroom.

            Jesus is the family name and I am so thankful that when the genealogy of the Lord Jesus is read, my name is registered there.  I will not be put out because in His records, my name is recorded.  You can be morally clean and a virtuous person, but except you are reckoned in Jesus’ family and a record is made of your birth (by water and Spirit), you will be thrust out.

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WHAT ARE OUR INTENTIONS?

By Sister Lynne Conley

Scripture Text: He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. (Psalms 33:15 KJV)

            The eagle is a symbol of power, courage, and majesty. The eagle is the national emblem of the United States of America. It also appears on the flag or coast arms of Germany, Mexico, and Poland, and Spain, and the flag and seal of the following states, Utah, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, and North Dakota. The eagle is a bird that belongs to the hawk family. Its hunting is usually done with sudden dashes and a concealed roost. The bald eagle or American eagle is about 30 to 43 inches with a wingspan of 78 to 98 inches. The definition for wingspan is: the distance from the tip of the one of a pair of wings to that of the other. (Merriam- Webster)Bald eagles are usually found near lakes, marshes, seacoasts, and rivers.  They feed off of fish, small mammals, birds, and decomposing and decaying flesh of dead animals. They have exceptional vision and can see a small object at a distance up to three miles or about 5 km.

            God sees our good and bad intentions. He knows exactly what we are going to do better than we do ourselves. If we do things to get a name for ourselves or have people look at us, then we are dead wrong. If we allow things and stuff to contaminate our hearts, it will take us over. ‘’ O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.’’ (Matthew 12:34. 35 KJV) We need to remember that all the glory and honor belongs to the Lord, and it’s not about us, it’s about Him. Stay Encouraged!

            Let us all remember in our prayers daily: All the many individuals suffering with all kinds of pain and heart aches. All the individuals with cancer, heart related problems, diabetes, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick people everywhere. All those individuals that have the authority over our churches, our communities, our jobs, our government, our politicians, our leaders, homeless individuals, the many people who have lost their loves ones, all the elderly in the nursing homes, the shut ins… that each day that someone will give them all a kind word, and a phone call or a card in the mail from their children. Let’s not forget all the little children with cancer at St. Jude’s hospital, the trauma units, all those individual are in financial ruin. Our service men and women as they are in harm’s way, they are protecting our freedom.

Genesis 6:5-8

5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

I hope all that read this finds or sees the heart of God for man and the duty of how man’s heart should be toward God.  The above scriptures start out by saying that God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was evil continually.  My tendency is to say that our day is like that.  I sometimes think, “How does God put up with man today?”  But like the old cliché, you can’t see the forest for the trees; I don’t see the big picture.  I just view what’s around me.  And I’m glad that God sees all.  God saw the big picture in Noah’s day and saw that all was evil.  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  This shows us God’s heart toward man.  Just for one man and his family, God made an escape.  This would be like us having a million unruly animals but one was good and calm.  We pick out that one and start all over to raise another herd.

I don’t believe we could see the goodness of one over the others.  This is the difference between God’s thoughts and heart and ours.  But what we need to see as man is how Noah’s duty and heart was for God.  God gave Noah commands.  It was all about one thing: the ark.  Scriptures say, “thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him so did he.”

Noah just didn’t serve God working on the ark for years.  Neither did he get slothful.  He worked even through all the abuse and scorning of the people around him.

Noah worked all those years believing God and his faith, not wavering, believed that something was going to happen that had never happened before.  It was going to rain upon the earth and bring a flood.

            How does this relate to us?  God has called and chosen us and one day something is going to happen that has never happened before.  Are we going to let the abusers and false teachers talk us out of being like Noah?  We have found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  Are we going to be like Noah and do all according to that which God commanded us?  When Noah’s work was over and he had completed the ark, God said unto him, “Come thou and all thy house into the ark.”

  If we complete our task and keep all that God commands us, one day God will say to us, “Come, enter into the kingdom of heaven.” So no matter what other’s do, take your example from Noah.

May God bless you.

Love in Christ,

Pastor Charles A. Clark

Keep the Faith; Don’t Waver

By Brother Mark Simmons

            In Luke Chapter 5 Jesus tells Peter to launch out into the deep to catch fish.  Now they had been fishing all night without catching any fish.  Now we know that Peter was an experienced fisherman and he knew how and when to go fishing.  But when Jesus spoke, Peter said, “Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”

            Because they obeyed the Lord, they caught so many fish the net began to break.  So they called out to their partners to come over with their boat to help.  They filled both ships until they began to sink.

            When we face problems, we have a choice.  We can either focus on the Lord or we can focus on our problems.  Relying on our five senses will rob us of God’s blessings and keep our needs from being met.  But if we take God at his word it will bring us victory.  It is not up to us to determine how God will supply and deliver us.  We just need to have faith and believe God will do what we need.

            Steve told us about his encounter with two different types of bees.  He has faith that Jesus will help him in his time of need and the Lord took care of him and his family.  Steve cooperates with God to manifest His power and blessings.

            James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  The Lord can’t do anything for us unless we ask Him.  Unfortunately even when we do ask the Lord for something, sometimes we waver; Steve didn’t.

            Wavering is when we believe the Word of God one day and doubt it the next.  Instead of standing firm in our faith, we go back and forth.  We start out believing God’s Word and gathering together in his name, but then we look at our problems or sickness and we begin to doubt his promises.  James told us not to do this.

            James 1:6-7, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.”

Are You Changing?

By Brother Duane Bailey

Jeremiah 2:11  “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.”

It is a continuous struggle for the Washington Redskins to stay, the Redskins.  There are several groups that feel that the name Redskins is a derogatory word against Native Americans.  And as usual, a few determined individuals can change things that the majority do not have a problem with.  When asked in a survey if they were offended by the name Redskins, more than 75% of those that responded said no.  And yet they still seek to change the name to something more politically correct.  The Redskins is what Washington identifies itself with in relation to football.  The faithful fans that fought this, didn’t want to change just to appease people, people who had no love of the team, just so that the name would fit in with the times.  They didn’t want to offend anyone or appear insensitive, but the Redskins had been the Redskins for more than 70 years and they were not going to change the name.  NFL football in Washington is the Redskins.

In Jeremiah 2, God was asking Israel, do other heathen nations change their gods.  Do they take the idol and shave a little off of the bottom.  Do they remove an arm or a leg or add a head?  No.  They make their gods, put them on the mantle and respect them.  And god reminded them that these were not even real gods, again, just idols, made out of materials that The God had created, by the hands of man.  And yet God said that Israel had “changed their glory”.  Israel’s glory was God’s glory.  Parsons Bible Dictionary defines glory as “The glorious moral attributes, the infinite perfections of God”.  Israel was changing their moral attributes from Gods to something else, the worlds, mans; something that is made by mans hands and has nothing to do with God.  God had Jeremiah to tell them that the glory that they were changing to does not profit.  And actually it will cost in the long run.  It may feel good and look good to the flesh, but as the old saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus was the brightness of God’s glory.  He was the perfect example of Gods glorious moral attributes and infinite perfection.  Jesus is who we are identified with and today people are trying to change that glory.  They are saying that we don’t need that name.  They are saying we don’t need holiness, which Hebrews says to follow and that if we do not have it, we will not see God.  They are saying that we can change God into whatever that we want Him to be.  That He adapts to us and that we are OK because He made us this way.  I remember Him saying in Malachi “I am the Lord, I change not”.    The glory that the world and even religious people are trying to obtain is not profitable.  We cannot garner anything out of that glory.  But the glory of Jesus Christ, which is godliness, “is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and that which is to come” (I Tim 4:8).  We are to change, but not His glory or our ideas of Him.  We are to change ourselves to match Him.  Paul told the Ephesians that the new man is created after God “in righteousness and true holiness” or the Holiness of Truth.  Jesus said that he was the truth.  I can’t find anywhere in the Word of God that says that I can search within myself for truth or that I am OK setting the standards by which my life should be lived.  When Israel was preparing the tabernacle, God provided the pattern and said “According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.”  The glory that we must obtain and must pattern our lives after is Jesus Christ.  Let’s strive to reach His perfection.

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The Power In The Prayer Cloth

By Brother Pat Sutphin

Every Sunday there are always many people that come up to our prayer line to get  prayer cloths for their friends or family in need whether they are sick, have personal problems, or are traveling.  The spiritual power of Jesus in these cloths is not in the cloth themselves but the anointing that God puts on them and they carry to the individual, car, or whatever they are prayed and used for.

One of many great examples of that power is established in Matthew Chapter 21.   Jesus not only tells the disciples but shows them the power of prayer, faith and belief by wilting a fig tree.  He said ‘Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.  22)  And ALL things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

I have gotten many of these prayer cloths for individuals and have sent them to many different people.  Everyone that attends our services on a regular basis knows the story of the prayer cloths and the fact that all of the soldiers returned from Iraq unscathed.  Along with the prayer cloths went the Piedmont Prayer.  Sort of double indemnity I guess.

I thought that I would share a couple of incidents and results with you that I have been witness to where the Power of the prayer cloths that were sent out resulted in.

Kevin Nicewonder – A business acquaintance of mine that over a year ago received a diagnosis of multiple myeloma.  He was a very healthy, smart and upright young man.  He is in complete remission.

Norma Quarles – A similar incident to Kevin.  She is the wife of a friend of mine, Carson Quarles that I have turkey hunted with in Alabama for many years in the spring.  Very healthy, active – loves to golf, jog…etc.  She received a diagnosis of multiple myeloma about the same time as Kevin.  She is in complete remission and back on the golf course.  Carson only recently told me that she kept it with her at all times.

Louise Sutphin – My 1^st cousin.  She received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer over two years ago.  This is a cancer of the worse kind (metastatic squamous cell carcinoma) and only has a 7% survival rate.  She has had a battle but she is still alive today.

A dear friend of mine’s wife had a scare of a lump that was thought to be for sure cancer.  Upon her visit to the physician – nothing there, no cancer.

All cancer – all cured and healed.  I will leave that for you to ponder.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Stay the course and keep the faith.

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Cast Down Sheep

By Sister Angel Sutphin

As my study of the 23rd Psalms continues the more I learn about The Lord our shepherd and His sheep.                                                                                                              

running too long-the Shepherd must revive us

running on empty-the Shepherd must refresh us

running with the wrong people-the Shepherd must replace them

running away-the Shepherd must retrieve us

running scared-the Shepherd must refocus us

The Case Of Elijah “The Cast Down Sheep”

We see Elijah, the most famous and dramatic of Israel’s prophets, a man who performed many miracles for God (and one of God’s largest and strongest sheep). Elijah was God’s representative in a showdown with the prophets of Baal and the prophets of the groves. After calling down fire from heaven and after overseeing the slaughter of all 450 of the false prophets of Baal, something happened-Elijah received word that Ahab’s wife Jezebel was seeking to kill him. (I Kings 19) And so this great man of faith ran for his life, running and running….

….and he ran away into the wilderness

….and he ran too long

….and he ran too hard

….and he ran scared

And he ran so far and so long and so hard that soon he was running on empty. He fell down in weariness (much like a cast down sheep.) He sat under a juniper tree and requested that God take away his life. And then the prophet of God lay down and slept.

How did God bring healing to His servant Elijah and restore him to usefulness?

He gave him physical care: rest, food, and drink.

He spoke with him and listened to his discouragement, to his dismay

and to his feelings of emptiness.

He gave him something to do. He gave him a plan and some facts.

(I Kings 19:4-18).

God kept right on in His ministry of restoring His precious prophet, never letting go and never giving up on him.

If one of God’s largest and strongest sheep could succumb to exhaustion, discouragement, and depression, is there any hope for little ewes like us? Before we give up we must realize that the causes and the cures are the same for us as they were for Elijah. Something to do is one of God’s cures so we can feed on His word.

He restores my soul, -not the TV, not shopping, not a drug, and not a vacation. One way for me to touch the Shepherd and to experience the promise of His healing is to read His word.

Psalm 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”

I can have direct contact with God if I feed on His word.

Another one of God’s cures for us is to commune with Him in prayer. It’s a blessing to be able to leave the cares of life for a while and spend time in the outstretched arms of my Shepherd. I can have fellowship with God in prayer. I can find my strength, hope, and happiness during prayer. God can make my walk and work in life complete by asking for His will and His guidance.

Psalm 102:17 “He will regard the prayer of the destitute (needy), and not despise (loathe) their prayer.”

No matter what happens in life, no matter how or how often any of us become cast down, God can “heal” us. God can “restore” us. God can give us life again….to go on with Him!!

The Lord is our shepherd and we are His sheep.  

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Day by Day

Written by Eloise Speer

Submitted by Sister Brenda Bailey

II Chronicles 22:12 “And he was with them hid in the house of God six years…”

 This is the story of young Joash, the son of King Ahaziah, who Athaliah thought to have destroyed all his seed.  Yet, God had said a long time before that there would always be an heir of David to sit upon the throne.  So, God had prepared a hiding place, a place of refuge for the rightful heir.

Had Athaliah known about this infant son, she would have had him killed, too.  He was hidden in the House of the Lord for six years.  This tells us a great deal about the woman who sought his life.  Though she was Queen, she probably never went to the house of God.  Babies cry and holler and play.  No doubt, had she gone to the house of the Lord, she would have heard him.  But he was in the secret place of the Most High.

Sometimes it seems that Satan looses an attack against us, and we must seek refuge in the house of God.  It is as though an invisible shield of God is about us, so that no matte how hard Satan tries, he cannot reach us.

There are places that are off-limits for Satan, but we must be careful that we dwell constantly in the power and shadow of the Almighty.  Once we venture out, even for a little bit, Satan is there waiting that he may take us at his will.  Without the indwelling power of God in our life, we are no match for Satan.  We can remain hidden with God in Christ all our days and then go on to dwell with Him forever.  He is our safe retreat, our refuge, our fortress in the day of battle.  Never stop to listen to Satan.  He is the enemy of our soul and only seeks us that he may destroy us.

Psalm 91:9-10 “Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”

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Friends Helping Friends

By Sister Lynne Conley

Scripture Text: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving on another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”. (Ephesians 4:32 KJV)

The character Winnie the Pooh, even though he is a cartoon character his role is a great example for us to learn to help one another.  His friends consisted of Owl, Eeyore, Roo, Kango, Tigger, Christopher Robin, Rabbit and loads more. Pooh loves his friends; he really tries to help them out a lot.  The Rabbit was so grouchy, negative, and selfish; he was always negative to Pooh. He wouldn’t even give him a bite of lunch. His comeback was “Get it yourself.”  If you see a child in a burning vehicle, what kind of human being wouldn’t call for help? We shouldn’t think twice about helping them.

We see people every day that has such heartache, suffering, stress, turmoil and fear in their lives. If we really cared for them, we would take that extra time for them. In the Word of God it records, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35 KJV). Jesus loved people; He didn’t turn anyone away that came to Him. Reach out your hand and let people know you really care for them. This is what this is all about friends; it is about helping others. Give someone a kind word today and encourage one another my friends.

Look around you, there are so many scenarios that could have happened to us all. It isn’t by chance the Lord has spared us and all of our families from so many things that could have happened. The Lord’s blessings are all around us each new day. Stay Encouraged.

            Let us all remember in our prayers daily: All the many individuals suffering with all kinds of pain and heart aches. All the individuals with cancer, heart related problems, diabetes, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick people everywhere. All those individuals that have the authority over our churches, our communities, our jobs, our government, our politicians, our leaders, homeless individuals, the many people who have lost their loves ones, all the elderly in the nursing homes, the shut ins… that each day that someone will give them all a kind word, and a phone call or a card in the mail from their children. Let’s not forget all the little children with cancer at St. Jude’s hospital, the trauma units, burns units, all those individuals that are in financial ruin. Our service men and women as they are in harm’s way, they are protecting our freedom.

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Blueberry Walnut Bars

Submitted by Sister Jewell Williams

2/3 c ground walnuts

1/2 c graham cracker crumbs

2 Tbs. plus 1/3 c sugar, divided

1/3 c old fashioned oats

3 Tbs reduced-fat butter,melted

1 pkg (8oz) reduced-fat cream cheese

1 Tbs orange juice

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2c reduced-fat whipped topping

2 Tbs blueberry preserves

1 ½ c fresh blueberries

Directions

1.    Combine walnuts, (I used pecans) cracker crumbs, 2 Tbs sugar, oats and butter. Press onto bottom of 8′ square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 9-11 mins or till set and edges lightly browned. Cool on wire rack.

2.    In large bowl,beat cream cheese and remaining sugar until smooth. Beat in orange juice and vanilla. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over crust.

3.    In a microwave-safe bowl,heat preserves on high for 15-20 seconds or till warmed; gently sit in blueberries. Spoon over filling. Refrigerate till serving.

4.    You could use any kind of berries or peaches. There is no use to use the preserves if you do not want to.

I did not use the reduced fat ingredients it called for, I used regular (the good ole fat stuff).

Enjoy!!!!  

Tid Bit: Greet the dawn with enthusiasm and you may expect satisfaction at sunset.