Mid-Week Message - The Everlasting Love of Our Father

"Long ago the Lord said to Israel: 'I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.  With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.'"  Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)  

I had this habit as a little one of getting in trouble first thing in the morning.  I would get out of my bed, walk into the living room or kitchen and straight into a fight with my brother or sassing my mother.  One way or the other, I found a way to start my day off with these words, "Just wait until  your Daddy gets home."  Those dreaded words set the tone of my days on a fairly regular basis for a span of my young years.  My mother knew that I loved my father beyond measure and the worst punishment I could have was the knowledge that I would disappoint him.  

Fast forward to my teen years.  After church one evening, the youth group was going to the local A&W restaurant.  Since I had driven my mother's car that evening, I offered to be one of the drivers.  As I was making a left hand turn into the parking lot, one of my passengers said, "A motorcycle!" right before I heard it hit the car.  The hardest part of the accident for me was calling my dad and telling him about it.  By the grace of God, no one was hurt.  But I had wrecked my mom's car.  When my parents arrived at the scene I saw that my dad's left cheek was twitching, which was a tell-tale sign that he was angry.  My heart was crushed.  

Because I derived my picture of God from my relationship with my earthly father, I spent much of my adult life worrying that I would disappoint Him just like I worried about disappointing my dad.  When I struggled with sin in my life I wondered how long the Lord would continue to love me.  I was fearful that at some point He would give up on me.  I have heard other people wonder how He could possibly continue to love them when they are unsuccessful at conquering the challenges life presents.  

What I have learned through the years, as my relationship with Him has grown, is that His love has no end.  God is not going to turn His back on us.  Just as the prodigal son's father ran to greet him, so the Lord is waiting for us to return to Him when we stray.  Sin is a fact of our lives.  We have an enemy that is unwilling to cease tempting us with earthly pleasures that seek to pull us out from under the umbrella of God's covering.  However, provision was made over two thousand years ago for the remission of our sins.  It is the blood of Christ that washes us clean and allows us to stand before the Father and receive His acceptance and to be confident in His love for us.  

I know so many people who are dealing with sin in its various forms.  Aren't we all in some way or another?  What I want to reassure everyone of is that we are not at risk of losing the love of our heavenly Father, no matter how difficult the road we walk might be.  He is right there with each of us.  Every step.  Every struggle.  Every tear.  His love for us never wavers.  There is nothing we can do to stop our Creator from loving us.  All we have to do is to turn to Him and ask Him for his help and confess that we need Him.  When we ask for His forgiveness, scripture says He will grant it.  May we all walk in His love and peace this week. 

Thoughts from the Heart - Jeremiah 9:23-24

Jeremiah speaks about the wisdom of the Lord and the importance of acknowledging Him. Verse 23 states: "This is what the Lord says: 'Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.'” (Jeremiah 9:23 NLT)

The verse emphasizes that wisdom, might, and riches are not things to boast about, as they ultimately come from the Lord. It reminds us not to be proud of our own abilities and accomplishments, but to acknowledge that they are gifts from God.

Verse 24 continues: "But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord

who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 9:24 NLT)

This verse states that the only thing worth boasting about is knowing and understanding the Lord and recognizing that He is the one who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness. It reminds us that true wisdom, might, and riches come from knowing and understanding the Lord, and that this is something to be proud of.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 is a powerful reminder of the importance of humility and the dangers of pride. It reminds us that wisdom, might, and riches are not things to boast about, but rather gifts from the Lord. The only thing worth boasting about is knowing and understanding the Lord and recognizing that He is the one who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness on the earth.

Mid-Week Message - Coming Through the Storms

"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."  Jeremiah 32:17  

It rained last night.  It rained hard.  We were under threat of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes part of the time.  The weather report said there could be high winds and tree damage.  Gratefully, though everything is very soggy, we came through the storms just fine.  

As I was listening to the pouring rain, I was thinking about life.  We all have times of hardship, or storms if you will, that we encounter. Like rain, some storms we can anticipate, but others seem to pop up out of the blue.  Someone gets gravely ill.  A job is lost.  The economy takes a downturn. Relationships end.  A child struggles with addiction or rebellion.  A loved one passes away.  The list is endless. Everyone encounters something in life that is difficult to make it through.

How should the storms of life be dealt with?  In a perfect world, we would go straight to the cross and dump those issues at the base, trust the Lord to take care of them, recover our smiles and go on. In a perfect world.  But since there are no perfect people, we do not have a perfect world.  We fight our humanness as we struggle to gain or maintain control.  We do the best we can as feeble beings who were never intended to carry the weight of these burdens.  Then, eventually, hopefully, we remember that we have a Holy Advocate who has all power and can calm our storm just as he calmed the storm for His disciples.  His words were, "Peace!  Be still."  The storm stopped raging and calm was restored.

One evening while scrolling through a social media site, I saw these words, "Don't tell God how big your storm is.  Tell the storm how big your God is!"  No storm, physical, mental, emotional or spiritual is too difficult for our Lord.  Not depression.  Not divorce. Not money problems.  Not addiction.  Not the loss of a job, the rebellion of a child, illness or the death of a loved one.  Nothing is beyond His ability to turn darkness into light, sadness into joy, or emptiness into the abundant life that He promised.  Nothing! 

So, what do we do?  Pray!  Tell the Father how we are feeling.  He delights in His children confiding in Him.  When Jesus was in the garden before His crucifixion, He was honest with His Father.  He admitted how He was feeling and asked God to take what was coming away from Him if there was any other way to accomplish His purpose.  Surely, if Jesus can do that we can too.  God didn't remove the storm from Jesus, and He may or may not remove ours. But look at what is available to us as His children because of what Jesus went through.  This is our assurance that the Lord will use our storms for our good if we will allow Him to.  

Are you facing a storm today?  Turn to the only One who can calm it then hang on for whatever comes next and know that on the other side of the darkness is the great light of His goodness, grace and mercy.

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Depends on Your Perspective

When I was growing up, my father enjoyed a very unique and rather smelly sandwich called a “stinky”. For those who are unfamiliar with this sandwich, it is made with a big slice of Limburger cheese and red onion on pumpernickel bread. Yes. For most individuals, a stinky is something that would find its way into a garbage can or, better yet, a nuclear waste dump. If it was on a menu, most would pass it up very quickly and ask if people really order it. To my dad, it was the best sandwich in the world. He also enjoyed eating raw oysters. 

As a young man, I didn’t care for either of those things. Just the mere thought of raw oysters or a stinky would have me holding my nose or commenting on how disgusting both are. After growing up, I found myself enjoying both. Like most things in life, we acquire a taste for certain things that we once shied away from. We find that what we didn’t like soon becomes something we enjoy and want more of.

The reason I am sharing this story with you is to illustrate a point that Paul made in his second letter to the Corinthians. I found that the story and what Paul said in chapter two were an interesting parallel. 

Paul writes, “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?”

Christians remind non-believers of the stench of death and doom. For them, the smell of death and doom is always present. No matter how hard they push them out of their minds, the images keep coming back. When we face our mortality in some way like a car accident that we nearly avoided or another major tragedy, we begin to wonder about our mortality and then begin to wonder what comes after death. When individuals start to do that, a shiver runs up and down their spines. It is a question that has plagued men and women since we walked out of the garden.

Just as Paul points out, believers smell things a little differently. We don’t smell the stench of death and doom. The fragrance we smell is that sweet, sweet smell of life and salvation. Remember when you first met a Christian who wanted to witness to you, most of us do and would say that it was a very awkward moment. When someone brings up salvation, most people tend to duck away very quickly. We just don’t realize at the time how important that moment really is for us.

But, over time, our perspectives begin to change. What was something we didn’t even want to consider has become something that has allured us. We are drawn to the message and that sweet perfume of salvation. We find it pleasing and want to be around it more and more.

Paul, in chapter four of his letter to the Philippians, describes it this way, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

The saved are drawn to not only the life-giving perfume but they are also drawn to those things that are excellent and worthy of praise. As we continue to grow spiritually and become more Christ-like, we, too, give off that fragrance that is pleasing to our Heavenly Father and also to other Christians. Others who once only knew of doom and gloom will, like bees swarming to the sweet smell of flowers, be drawn to the gift of salvation.

That sweet fragrance of life is to be shared with others especially those who do not believe. We are not to keep it for ourselves. It is to fill the air and give joy to those who seize about its scent. 

In order to be a pleasing fragrance to God, we must live our lives as Christ would. We must not shirk our responsibilities to be obedient and worship God.

The Lord, in chapter six of the Book of Jeremiah, says, “Listen, all the earth! I will bring disaster on my people. It is the fruit of their own schemes, because they refuse to listen to me. They have rejected my word. There’s no use offering me sweet frankincense from Sheba. Keep your fragrant calamus imported from distant lands! I will not accept your burnt offerings. Your sacrifices have no pleasing aroma for me.”

This is not only pleasing to the Lord but the life-saving perfume to those around us. We must not just follow the laws for the sake of following the laws. Our hearts and actions must always have the purest of intentions. Each act done must be done out of love for the Father and His children.

For those reading these words, I ask you to begin changing your perspective. Those things that you didn’t want to consider should now fill your heart. You should be seeking out the sweet aroma of salvation. When you do and you take the first steps to having a relationship with the Lord, you, too, will be a fragrance that rises up to Him and is pleasing. That first step will allow you to stand firm in His grace daily.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Stray and Lost Sheep

Many of us in the United States have been ordered to shelter in place and, if we go out for essential items like food or medicines, we must make sure that we exercise “social distancing”. I am not going to tell you whether or not these policies work or not or discuss their merits. That debate will continue to go on and on and on until the end of time. When we look back at all of the events that have led up to this moment, what questions will we ask ourselves? Will thoughts of toilet paper shortages and canned meats and beans fill our heads? Or, will we think about all of the other things like not being able to go to bars and restaurants?

Although I am not pleased with some of the inconveniences of COVID-19, I do find it a great opportunity for me to look at society and myself and think about our spiritual response to all of this. Under certain jurisdictions, people are unable to go to church to worship. During Holy Week, many people could not attend services at their local churches. Churches provided “virtual services” to their congregations by live streaming their messages. The pandemic of 2020 has changed many things and has allowed us to examine our culture and the way we interact with one another. We can no longer take things for granted. Even the simplest things we do like shake hands or hug one another are being viewed as things that people used to do. Touching elbows and even “fist bumping” are now being considered unacceptable due to the close proximity of individuals.

We have a lot of things to think about and an ample amount of time to reflect and process. What will the “brave, new world” look like when we emerge from our shelters? We will find that we prefer the distance limitation and run back to our little holes like scared rabbits? Earlier this week, I read an article about a study looking at whether people would be too scared to return to work or even wanting to go outside. Every time a doctor or another expert answers a reporter’s question, we are not only flooded with additional information but we also have to deal with all of the commentary from other doctors and experts. Each day It seems like we are flooded with more and, at times, conflicting information. Our hearts are filled with fear, uncertainty and doubt. We are literally drowning in a sea of information and we are desperately trying to figure out what will happen next.

As we ponder the next steps of a society that is facing a pandemic, I think it is time for each of us to ponder our next step. I am not talking about wondering if going to the store will be safe. What I am talking about is our spiritual steps. Have you thought about your life and each step that you have made? Have you wandered away from and rebelled against your Shepherd and guardian of your soul?

Peter, in chapter two of his first epistle, writes, “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.”

Notice what Peter says at the end of the scripture. He reminds us that each of us were like sheep. We strayed away or got lost and wandered from the gentle hand of the one and true Shepherd. Instead of staying close, we put our trust in other things. We worshiped other things like money and fame. We allowed our vanity to get the better of us as we strayed further and further away from the Shepherd. 

Even now, other shepherds preach to the flock and lead them away with promises of wealth and health. Some sell trinkets and so-called cures for all those things that ail you. These shepherds speak of things of this world and play to your pride. They tell you things you want to hear as you shelter in place and hope that things will return to normal.

Do not listen to them or be fooled by them. Their words are sweet in the mouth, but bitter in the belly. Their words and their voices only lead to destruction, death and damnation. They will tell you what you want to hear and have you following them. There is only one Shepherd and Guardian of your soul. You know this and you know his voice.

Jesus, in chapter ten of the Gospel of John, says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.”

Although no one can snatch the sheep away from the Good Shepherd, his hand will not stop them from wandering and straying away. We have a choice. We can either stay with the Shepherd who provides us green pastures and living water or follow the other shepherds who preach a doctored up gospel full of gimmicks, junk and cons that lead you further astray.

Each of you already knows his voice. You know that “his law is love and his gospel is peace”.

The prophet Jeremiah reveals God’s message to His people in plain language. In chapter ten, Jeremiah writes, “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray and turned them loose in the mountains. They have lost their way and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold. All who found them devoured them. Their enemies said, ‘We did nothing wrong in attacking them, for they sinned against the Lord, their true place of rest, and the hope of their ancestors.’”    

We know where our true place of rest and peace is and where our hope is grounded. We belong to the one true and Good Shepherd. Jesus is that Good Shepherd who willingly gave his life for his sheep.

Take this time while you are sheltered in place to listen to the voice of the true and Good Shepherd. Listen to his words and follow his example. He came to serve and not be served. He came to save and not condemn. He came to love and not hate. He was the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins. He died a criminal’s death upon a cross for our sins and iniquities. Isn’t it about time that you live your life as God intended in fullness and in love and not in fear, uncertainty and doubt?

Jesus, in chapter eleven of the Gospel of Matthew, says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Don’t allow the time that you have been given to slip through your fingers. Use this time to listen to that voice that you already know so very well. It is the voice of the Good Shepherd that leads his flock to the still waters that restores their souls. Find that rest and peace that you so desperately seek and desire. When you return to him, you will be strengthened and can face tomorrow with boldness, certainty and confidence by standing firm in His grace.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Wolves in the Fold

Over the past couple of months, I have heard many say that we are living in the end times and that the day of judgement is at hand. In almost the same breath, after scaring everyone, many ask for donations and hawk their wares to all those who will listen to their pitch of paradise and perdition. Many, who can ill-afford it, will gladly give them money to buy or exchange their money for some sort of bucket of food or cure for COVID-19. Each claims to speak their message in soft, but persuasive, tones to “tickle the ears” of those who fall victim to these “wolves in sheep’s clothing”.

Jesus says, in chapter seven of the Gospel of Matthew, “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

Each day seems to be worse than the last. More scammers and those who profess to preach the Good News prey on those willing to listen to their messages. Some will fall victim to these charlatans and gladly give them their money. Instead of praying for those in need, they “prey” on them. These wolves look for the weak and those who are desperate only to give them false hope and continue to bilk them until they have nothing left to give.

Just as you work to protect yourselves from the virus, you should also work to protect yourselves from those who would swindle you out of your money with empty words. Beware of these individuals who are only interested in lining their pockets through the fear, uncertainty and doubt of others.

In chapter twenty-three of his book, Jeremiah writes, “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says to his people: “Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for the LORD!”

Many will claim that they speak for the Lord or that God has placed a message upon their heart. The messages and words have a fragrance of sincerity, but you will soon find that the closer you listen to their words, that same fragrance turns into the stench of death. Their words are empty and bring no hope.

In his second epistle to the Corinthians, Paul writes, “But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.”

Even during the days of the early church, there were those who preached in the name of God only to further their own agenda of filling their earthly coffers and building for themselves earthly wealth. Have you no eyes to see what those who have called out, “Lord, Lord” have done? Some have preached a false gospel designed only to tickle the ears of those who would listen while slipping in a message of deceit and deception.

Jesus, in chapter thirteen of the Gospel of Mark, said, “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!”

In chapter four of his second letter to his brother in Christ, Timothy, Paul writes, “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.”

What Paul observed then, we also see now. Many flock to those who preach a gospel filled with love and hope to entice those who long for those things. Their empty words will lead only to disillusionment and sadness. Many will no longer believe and become sullen. Some will have their hearts hardened and become skeptical of those who preach the true Gospel of the Lord.

Many have asked why I have not written books. I respond, “The free gift of God is love and salvation through His son, Christ Jesus. Likewise, His Word is free.”

The key word is free. I cannot improve on the words of the Lord or embellish upon them. I can only preach the Word as it was given by God the Father. Each word, written by men of God, inspired and given life by the breath of God.

As we continue to go through this valley of darkness called “pandemic”, let us test every word spoken by those who profess to be God’s messengers, His prophets or apostles of Christ. Examine each word against the entire content of the Holy Scripture. Be in prayer daily asking for God’s word and love to fill you with wisdom and discernment. Do not allow those who prey on others to fill their pockets with earthly treasures a foothold in your life. 

 In chapter four of his first epistle, John writes, “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.”

There are many false prophets who claim that they speak with conviction and authority. Question every word. If they say that the Bible says this or that, read the scripture to truly determine the real meaning. When you do these things, I guarantee that your daily walk with the Lord will be a blessing even during the roughest of times. Rest assured that you will be standing firm in His grace daily as you follow His words and not the words of those wolves in sheep’s clothing and false prophets.     

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Anticipation

As we begin to look towards the blessed birth of Christ Jesus, we anticipate his birth and celebrate that wonderful night. Our homes will soon be filled with the trappings of Christmas. There will be trees decorated with ornaments that have been collected over the years. Each ornament has a story attached to it. Those stories bring laughter and smiles while others have bittersweet memories. Lights will be added to the tree and to the home. Evergreen garland and wreaths will be hung up and little handmade art projects made by children will adorn the home and hearth. The spirit of Christmas will not only fill our homes but soon will also fill our hearts.

For children, the magic of Christmas never seems to change. Toys may change, but the magic never does. As I reflect on my own childhood, which sometimes seems so distant, I remember all of the things my father and mother would do to prepare for that one special night. Dad would decorate the outside while Mom spent her time decorating the inside of the home. Dad, along with my brother and myself, would assemble the Christmas tree and bring the boxes and boxes and still more boxes of ornaments that Mom had collected over a lifetime.

My brother and I would look forward to getting the mail. Each hoping to be the first to lay his eyes on the Christmas catalogs. One of those catalogs, the “Sears Wish Book”, had everything and anything a child could desire or want. My brother and I could barely contain our joy when that catalog finally came in the mail. Between the Thanksgiving parades and the “Sears Wish Book”, we knew Christmas was right around the corner.

The anticipation we had could not be contained. My brother and I couldn’t wait for that glorious day when we got presents and more presents from that jolly old elf, Santa Claus. Later, we found out that parents were the givers of those gifts. Each gift wrapped and place gently under the tree by the hands of our loving parents who often scrimped and saved and sacrificed to make sure that their children would have the best Christmas ever.

Just like the excitement of children waiting for their gifts, we, as Christians, cannot contain the love we have in our hearts and the joy of the season. We eagerly anticipate that wonderful moment when a small child wrapped in swaddling clothes was placed gently into an animal feeding trough. Unlike children who had wonderful gifts under the tree, there was no tree, lights, garland or wreaths adorning his home. His home was borrowed and it was a stable. But, if you asked that child who would grow up to be the Savior and King of Kings, whether or not he thought that night was horrible, he would look at you with love in his eyes and tell you that it was the best Christmas ever. It is because of his birth that we are able to face tomorrow with hope and know that God gave us his one and only son to pay our debt of sin and give us the gift of eternal life with Him.

The birth of Jesus and the anticipation felt by all should never fade. The Israelites were told of the coming of a king and what he would do for them. Each person waited and waited in anticipation of that birth.

Almost 700 years before the birth of that small child, God told his prophets to share the news of this birth. Those prophecies gave hope not only to the Israelites but also to the entire world and for each generation to come. 

In chapter twenty-three of the Book of Jeremiah, God speaks to His children and tells them, “For the time is coming when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.”

The Lord spoke to all and there was great anticipation for this new king. Years passed by and people continued to anticipate the arrival of their Lord. I am sure that people did grow impatient and wanted things to hurry along so that they could see the fulfillment of the prophecies. 

Micah records, in chapter five of his book, the words of the Lord, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.”

God reminded His children of that promise through each of His prophets. Anticipation continued to build with each year and each prophecy. The Israelites continued to hope for that king. 

Isaiah tells the Israelites to remain patient and wait for the Lord. In chapter seven of his book, Isaiah speaks to the children, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).”

As the blessed day approaches, let us always remain patient with the Lord and allow things to happen in accordance with His will. While growing up, my brother and I learned very early in our lives that you cannot rush things. All happen in accordance to time and planning. Although we wanted Christmas to come faster, it came when it came. No matter how much we wanted or anticipated that moment. Christmas came on its schedule and not ours.

In his letter to his brothers and sisters in Rome, Paul, in chapter eight, writes, “But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.”

Although he is talking about receiving our future glory from the Father, those same words can be applied to our anticipation of that glorious moment when the Word became flesh. Paul reminds us all that we must temper our anticipation with patience and confidently know that the promises of the Lord will be fulfilled. As the old adage goes, all good things come in time. Just be patient and wait. The coming of the Lord is at hand.

As you continue through this season of advent, temper your anticipation with patience and remain confident in your hope. Continue to be joyful and show the love of the Lord through all that you do. Share with those who walk in darkness the story of the small child who came into this world not to judge it but, rather, to save it.

When you share God’s love and the story of Jesus’ birth, you are giving a gift that many need and want. It is through sharing God’s love that you are able to stand firm in His grace.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - God Provides for Us

During the course of a weekend afternoon, I visit various local stores and businesses to take care of my errands and chores. With Thanksgiving coming up quickly, there are organizations that are taking donations to feed the less fortunate in the community. Many of the businesses are sponsoring food drives to provide meals for families who would not have a meal or much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day. My family and I make it a point to help wherever and whenever we can. 

If there is one thing that I have learned, it is that God always provides for our basic essential needs. My wife and I have seen firsthand the blessings of the Lord. When we faced the unknown, He was there for us. Just like the Israelites, we knew that He would lead us to green pastures and to the Living Water that would restore our souls. But, there were times when we just didn’t see the blessings. Our minds became entangled in the realities of life. Our faith was challenged and it became more and more difficult to see the promised land of milk and honey.

We, like the children of old, felt that we wandered in the desert only to face more problems and heartaches. But, just when we were ready to give up, God provided us with exactly what we needed at the right time. The lesson was to always have faith in Him.

In Hebrews, the author, in chapter eleven, writes, “It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, ‘Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.’ Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.”

When you think about the words, you can see that it is only by faith that we are able to receive the blessing of God’s promises to us. Even when we feel that we are facing the worst thing in our lives, we should always remain faithful to the Lord, because we know that He will provide a way for us every single time.

In the story of Abraham’s sacrifice of his son, Isaac, Abraham remained faithful and did not question God’s command. He knew that God would do what He promised and would not go back on His word. His promises are eternal and unchanging. Abraham had no doubt in his mind or heart. He knew that God would keep His promise.

As many of you remember the story, Abraham did not sacrifice his son on the altar and that God provided a ram as a sacrifice. In Genesis 22, Abraham “called that place The LORD Will Provide. So to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.’” In Hebrew, it is one of the names of God, Jehovah-jireh. 

In order for us to truly receive what the Lord will provide to us, we must have faith in Him. We cannot just have a faith of convenience. Abraham knew from the very moment that God asked him to sacrifice his one and only son that God would provide. He remained faithful. 

When we face situations in our lives, are we strong enough to remain faithful and follow the Lord wherever He leads us? Once again, look at the life of Abraham. The Lord asked him to pull up stakes and go where He directed him. Speaking for myself, I know it would be so difficult to do so. I would question God repeatedly before taking the first step. In time, I remember the promise of the Lord. 

In the twenty-ninth chapter of Jeremiah, God tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you.”

As a child of God, you should never doubt the promises of the Lord. He will not only provide you what you need but he will also provide you with what you need most. Look closely at the words of the author of Hebrews. He tells us that Abraham knew that God was able to bring Isaac back from the dead and, in a sense, did when He provided the ram as a sacrifice.

So, God not only provides us with our daily bread but He also provides us with the spiritual bread that gives us spiritual life. In short, God provides everything that we, as His children, need daily. There is nothing for us to worry about. The Lord will always provide.

But, it doesn’t end there. Just as God provides for us, we must, in turn, provide for those around us. We must give comfort just as God gives us comfort.

Paul writes in chapter one of his second letter to the Corinthians, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Just as we receive blessings from God, we are to, in turn, bless those around us and provide for their needs. God is the source of all comfort. God has blessed us and those blessings will also bless others. As we receive, so shall we give.

During this holiday of Thanksgiving, I urge each of you to remember the lesson of the second kernel of corn and remind those around you that the Lord provides for everything and that is only by faith that we can receive. As recipients of His blessings, we, out of love, must provide for those who are in need of more than just food but who also need the true gift of life eternal with the Father. When we receive by faith and act in faith, we are able to stand firm in His grace. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Morning Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 17:7-8

Jeremiah 17:7-8 New International Version (NIV)

7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

Morning Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 23:21-24

Jeremiah 23:21-24 New International Version (NIV)

21 I did not send these prophets,
    yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
    yet they have prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my council,
    they would have proclaimed my words to my people
and would have turned them from their evil ways
    and from their evil deeds.

23 “Am I only a God nearby,”
declares the Lord,
    “and not a God far away?
24 Who can hide in secret places
    so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
    “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the Lord.

Morning Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 29:10-14

Jeremiah 29:10-14 New International Version (NIV)

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listento you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Footnotes:

1. Jeremiah 29:14 Or will restore your fortunes

Morning Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 7:1-8

Jeremiah 7:1-8 New International Version (NIV)

False Religion Worthless

7 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Stand at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message:

“‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. 3 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.

Morning Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 29:10-14

Jeremiah 29:10-14 New International Version (NIV)

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Footnotes:

1. Jeremiah 29:14 Or will restore your fortunes

Morning Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 29:10-14

Jeremiah 29:10-14 New International Version (NIV)

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listento you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Footnotes:

1. Jeremiah 29:14 Or will restore your fortunes