Answers Inside - Gospels

Luke 1:4 New Living Translation

Begin Each Morning with Praise

Each morning I get up and spend time in the Word and listening to praise music. In fact, as I write this blog posting, I am listening to praise music. 

With all of the things going on in our lives, we need to take time to be in the presence of the Lord with words of praise and thanksgiving. Each morning when we rise, it is a blessing. Just as God the Father blessed us with another morning and day of life, we should bless Him by spending time with Him. 

We should be speaking from our souls and raise up our voices in praise. We should be extolling His mighty power in our lives. 

1 Chronicles 16:8 New Living Translation (NLT)

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.

    Let the whole world know what he has done.

He is Exalted!

Twila Paris

Answers Inside - Proverbs

Proverbs 16:3 New Living Translation

Easter Sunday - Receiving the Gift of Eternal Live

John 17:3 New Living Translation (NLT)

And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

Do you have that guarantee of eternal life? On this Easter Sunday, please ask Jesus to come into your heart and accept him as your personal Savior and Lord today.

Easter Sunday - He Loved Us First

1 John 4:19 New Living Translation (NLT)

We love each other because he loved us first.

Easter Sunday - Raised from the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.

Easter Sunday - Death Has No Hold

Acts 2:24 New Living Translation (NLT)

But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

Easter Sunday - Every Knee will Bow

Philippians 2:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Easter Sunday Message - Don't Be Afraid

In this message, Chaplain Jesse will look at the words uttered to Mary by an angel, to the shepherds, to Jesus' disciples and to the Mary Magdalene and the other Mary when they visit the tomb. Those words are "don't be afraid".

When we encounter things that are outside of our frame of reference, we become fearful. We must be reassured and change how our minds and hearts focus on Jesus.

Easter Sunday - New Life

Romans 6:4 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Easter Sunday - He is Risen!

Luke 24:5-7 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

Why Should You be Fearful or Tremble?

Psalm 27:1 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
    so why should I tremble?

He will Swallow up Death Forever!

He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The LORD has spoken!
Isaiah 25:8 NLT

Answers Inside - New Testament

Revelation 3:20 New Living Translation

Good Friday - He Bore Our Sins

1 Peter 2:24 New Living Translation (NLT)

24 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.

Good Friday - Mission Possible

Chaplain Jesse, in his Good Friday message, will be looking at the sacrifice of Jesus and his mission on earth. It is because of his sacrifice that we have the salvation that is freely given. It is undeserved and unconditional. God loved us so much that He gave us His son.

The Legend of the Dogwood Tree

According to legend, the wood of the dogwood tree was used to build the cross that Christ Jesus was crucified on. After he died on the cross, the dogwood trees in the grove changed over night. The wood that was once strong and straight curled and became misshapen. It was said that the tree felt the shame of being used to crucify the Son of Man.

The following poem describes the plight of the dogwood.

In Jesus' time, the dogwood grew 
To a stately size and a lovely hue. 
'Twas strong and firm, its branches interwoven. 
For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen. 
Seeing the distress at this use of their wood 
Christ made a promise which still holds good: 
"Never again shall the dogwood grow 
Large enough to be used so. 
Slender and twisted, it shall be 
With blossoms like the cross for all to see. 
As blood stains the petals marked in brown, 
The blossom's center wears a thorny crown. 
All who see it will remember Me 
Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree. 
Cherished and protected, this tree shall be 
A reminder to all of My agony."

Even in Our Darkest Hours

Let our faith arise to the challenges of any obstacle. The joy of the Lord is our strength. We will praise you, Lord! Nothing can stand in our way when the Lord stands with us. He is our protector, provider and Father.

Nehemiah 8:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Good Friday - Scripture

Isaiah 53:5 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.

Overwhelmed by Problems?

I can honestly answer that question with a resounding "yes". I have problems that eat away at me. We all face them, but we need to be going to the Lord with our problems and praying. The other thing that we need to do is make sure we listen to Him. It is so easy to get wrapped up in your problems and not focus on God or listen to Him. He is talking to you.

If I fail to hear the message, He will see to it that He gets my attention by providing the message to someone via the Holy Spirit. So, rest assured God is listening and He is on the case. Answers are already on their way to you. Just stay focused on Him and listen and watch for the answer.

Isaiah 26:3 New Living Translation (NLT)

You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Answers Inside - Old Testament

1 Chronicles 4:10 English Standard Version

Mid-Week Music - Easter Song

As we continue through this Holy Week, let us remember why Jesus came to live among us. His life, death and resurrection are the foundation of our faith. It is through him that we are able to live life eternal with our Heavenly Father.

Easter Song

2nd Chapter Of Acts

Encores

Mid-Week Message - Incredible Love

Years ago, for a Christmas dinner at our church, I wrote and performed a skit showing Mary, the mother of Jesus, at her Son's crucifixion.  While she was watching the horrors unfold before her, she was thinking back to His birth.  Of all that I have ever written, I have to say this was my personal favorite.  Not because I thought it was written well, but because I had to reach deep inside myself to try to imagine the feelings each event must have evoked in her.

The resurrection is crucial for the Christian faith.  If Jesus did not rise from the dead then He was not who He claimed to be and we are believing in a lie.  However, if in reality all that we are taught through scripture is true, then we actually do have a risen Savior who accomplished all He promised.

Easter Sunday is the day to celebrate.  It is why we sing out hallelujah's and dance with joy.  But there were a series of events that led up to that miraculous day that we need to remember as well.

Jesus always knew what was coming.  Every word He spoke and every move He made were done with His death in mind.  Every minute of every day of His life, He could have said, "NO!"  Each time He faced trials, rejection or hatred, He could have decided that we weren't worth it. All the way up to, and including, when He was hanging on the cross, He could have changed His mind.  So why didn't He?

We know that as He prayed in the garden before being arrested, He asked His Father if the cup could be removed from Him.  Being fully divine but fully human, He had the same emotions we have. Fear, dread, anguish.  Yet, He was willing to put all those feelings aside and say, "Not my will, but Yours be done."

Why did He go through with it?  Why did One who could have called down legions of angels to His defense allow Himself to be beaten, spat upon, scourged, mocked, humiliated and nailed to a cross with a crown of thorns jabbed into the skin of His head?  He was fully God.  What held Him there? Not the nails.  Man made nails could never have the power to hold Him.  No.  Not nails, no matter how strong and large.  The only thing that could keep Him on that cross was love.

Your face, my face, every face of every person that has ever lived or ever will live and His incredible, unconditional love for us is what He gave His life for.  His blood, shed for us so that we could be forgiven, is the reason.  And because He is Truth, He rose again as He said He would and someday, soon, I hope, we will get to see His beautiful face and experience His love as He welcomes us home.
Hallelujah!

Holy Week Scripture - Romans 8:11

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Romans 8:11 NLT

Answers Inside - Gospels

Mark 1:15 New Living Translation

Pray for World Peace

As I read article after article regarding Syria and the actions of the superpowers, we, as Christians, need to be in prayer more than ever to ask for wisdom and love for our neighbors. 

I know that I sound naive and have a very simple view of world affairs, but I do know that our leaders need to seek the wisdom of our Heavenly Father. Please pray that we will no longer seek confrontation.

We should remember the words of Isaiah 2:4.

The LORD will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.

By seeking God in all of our actions, we know that we can live in peace. We have seen the tragedies of Syria, children hurt in Mosul and list of horror goes on. 

Please continue to pray for peace.

Prayers for San Bernardino Elementary School

A California elementary school is currently on lockdown after 4 people reportedly were shot there Monday in what police suspect is a murder-suicide.

The incident happened around 10 a.m. local time at the North Park Elementary school in San Bernardino.

Please keep the families and students in your prayers. 

Holy Week - Scriptures

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:28 New Living Translation (NLT)

Prayers for the Persecuted - Andrew Brunson

American Pastor Andrew Brunson, a United States citizen from North Carolina, has been unjustly held in Turkey on false terrorism charges. Languishing in a prison cell built for eight, which at times holds as many as 22 prisoners, of which Pastor Andrew is always the only Christian, he and his wife stand firmly in His grace.

Turkey, our NATO ally, has begun increased crackdowns on Christians. If convicted, Pastor Andrew could face years in prison based on extremely serious and false charges.

Pastor Andrew sent a message to President Trump asking for help. In response, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently met for 20 minutes with Pastor Andrew's wife in Turkey.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Andrew, his family and for his release. As we remember him, let us also remember all of those who are being persecuted for their faith.

1 Peter 4:12-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.

Answers Inside - Proverbs

Proverbs 28:13 New Living Translation

Prayers for the Persecuted - 2 Coptic Churches in Egypt

With the death toll now at 49 from the 2 bombings of Coptic churches in Egypt, the families of the dead have started to bury their loved ones.

The attacks occurred in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria. The President of Egypt has declared a state of emergency for the next 3 months.

According to CNN, 27 people were killed and 78 were wounded in the northern city of Tanta while attending Palm Sunday services at St. George. In Alexandria, 18 civilians and 4 police officers were killed outside of the St. Mark's church. The police officers had stopped the bomber from entering the church. The Coptic Pope Tawadros II was leading a service there at St. Mark's.

As more information comes out about these horrible attacks, we, as Christians, must continue to pray for the families of the dead and for those injured in these attacks. 

Matthew 5:9 (NLT)

God blesses those who work for peace,
    for they will be called the children of God.

Palm Sunday - Psalm 103:2-4

Palm Sunday - Psalm 9:10

Palm Sunday - Zechariah 9:9

Prayers for the Persecuted - 2 Coptic Churches in Egypt Attacked

According to the New York Times, two explosions at Coptic churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday left at least 40 people dead and injured dozens of others as a day of worship in the besieged Christian community turned to destruction and carnage.

The first blast ripped through St. George’s Church in northern Egypt in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, 50 miles north of Cairo, during a Mass about 9:30 a.m., according to an official from the Health Ministry. The deputy minister of health put the death toll at 27.

Hours later, a suicide bomber set off an explosion outside the main Coptic church in Alexandria, St. Mark’s Cathedral, killing at least 13 — including three police officers — and injuring 21 others, the Health Ministry said.

Sunday Praise and Worship - The Lord Needs

Chaplain Jesse will lead the Palm Sunday praise and worship service. In his message, "The Lord Needs," Chaplain Jesse will be examining what the Lord needs from us.

Prayers for the Persecuted - Church Bombing in Egypt

A bomb exploded in a church north of Cairo that was packed with Palm Sunday worshipers, killing at least 13 people and wounding 25 others, officials said.

The attack in the Nile Delta town of Tanta was the latest in a series of assaults on Egypt's Christian minority, which makes up around 10 percent of the population and has been repeatedly targeted by Islamic extremists. It comes just weeks before Pope Francis is due to visit Egypt.

Please pray for the families that have lost loved ones and for the injured and their families.

Matthew 5:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Changing Sunday Praise and Worship Format

In order to minimize the disruptions of reading and listening to the praise and worship service, we have decided to provide the entire service in audio format and it will be made available at 9AM EDT every Sunday. 

Instead of reading parts of the service, all entries are provided in one podcast.

Let us know what you think. Additionally, we have added music to our service from our friends at www.gospelriver.com.

Answers Inside - New Testament

Jude 1:3 New Living Translation

Answers Inside - Paul

Galatians 5:22 New Living Translation

The Lesson of One Small Tree Frog

Last night as we faced the last round of the storms, I went outside to check on things. We had pea to marble-sized hail striking our house. Needless to say, I was worried that it was just the beginning of something a lot larger and more damaging. The rain came down in sheets and the wind whipped through the pine trees and caused them to sway violently. I felt as if the powers of hell had been unleashed upon our house.

As I turned to go back into the house, I saw this small green tree frog holding on for dear life. With all of the wind, rain and hail, it would have surely died. It, however, fought to find a place of safety. As I took this picture of this small creation of God, I prayed for its safety and asked God to watch over this little life. Jesus said in Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?" God takes care of all of His creations especially us. No matter what size they are, they are all precious to Him.

Thank you, Lord, for this frog and the words of Your son. May we always remember this small, but wonderful, lesson. Amen.

Answers Inside - Old Testament

2 Kings 2:3 New Living Translation

Mid-Week Message - Storms

It rained today.  It rained hard.  We were under threat of severe thunderstorms most of the day and tornadoes part of the day.  The weatherman said there could be winds up to eighty miles per hour and to expect tree damage.  We also had a chance for large hail.  Gratefully, the dangerous part of the storms all passed to the north of our home and they ended much sooner than we expected for them to.

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

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.

Prayers for the Persecuted - Pastor Raymond Koh

Please pray for Pastor Raymond Koh and his family. He was abducted on February 13 of this year and has not been seen or heard from since. There have been no ransom demands or phone calls from his abductors. The family is afraid of the worse. Please keep them in your prayers as you pray for the safe return of Pastor Raymond. 

He and his wife, Susanna, have been serving in Malaysia. Susanna asked that all pray for the safe return of her husband and for the family so that they will not lose hope.

Mid-Week Music - Praise You in This Storm

As many of you know, my family and I have been and continue to go through some very difficult times. We are in prayer and seeking His will with every decision we make. There are times when even the simplest decisions are truly painful, but we know that God loves us and would not allow us to fall.

As you listen to this song, let it minister to you and help you through your trials.

"Praise You in This Storm"

Casting Crowns

Lifesong

Answers Inside - Gospels

Matthew 16:18 New Living Translation

Prayers for the Persecuted - Pastor "Vanu" and His Church

Please pray for Pastor "Vanu," whose Christian church was burned by extremists in India. The church lost everything (Bibles, chairs, PA system, mats and their roof). The fire department quickly responded, but the building and its contents were either badly damaged or destroyed completely.


As always, please keep all those persecuted for their faith in your prayers. Pray for those who try to destroy faith. Remember Paul. He, as Saul, persecuted Christians. Until one day when that amazing grace came into his life. Everything changed for him, because of HIM.

Answers Inside - Proverbs

Proverbs 1:4 New Living Translation

Sunday Message - Closing Prayer

As we conclude today's day of praise and worship, we end it with a simple prayer that prepares our minds, bodies and souls to serve Him during the week ahead.

Gracious and loving Father, we thank You so very much for the opportunity to share the Word with all who listen and read our ministry message. We have been given this great commission to spread the Gospel to all those around the world.

As we continue to go about our daily chores, give us the courage to share the message with those who walk in darkness. At one time we walked in darkness, but we heard the words of the shepherd and we came to feed in those green pastures. We are truly thankful for those who shared the Word with us.

Lord, as we continue our journey, help us to remember that we should keep You in focus and concentrate on those things that are beyond the clutches of rot, rust and rodents. The treasures we store in Heaven can never be touched or stolen by a thief.

Help us to always seek Your kingdom first in our lives and know that You will always provide our needs.

We pray for those who have problems in their lives and ask that You provide for their needs. Since we have the guarantee of Your grace, we know that answers to their needs are already on their way. For that, we thank You, Father God.

It is in Your son's most precious and holy name, we pray.

Amen.

Sunday Message - Praising Him with Song

One of my favorite hymns is "Rescue the Perishing". I remember hearing this hymn for the first time while attending church services at the First Baptist Church in Gatesville, Texas. I must have been 6 or 7 years old at the time. As I attended the adult services, I sat with the older ladies of the church. They were my grandmothers. I would hear them sing this wonderful hymn and it meant so much to me. 

Even at early age, God was working on my heart and paving my way to serve Him as a minister and disciple of His son, Christ Jesus.

This beautiful hymn by Fanny Crosby is dedicated to those wonderful ladies of the First Baptist Church of Gatesville who ministered to me so that I, in turn, could minister to others.

Rescue the Perishing

Frances J. Crosby, 1869

Sunday Message - Seek First the Kingdom of God

In this Sunday Message, Chaplain Jesse will be looking at Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and examining Matthew 6 as it pertains to what we should do as Christians.

Sunday Message - Scripture Reading from Psalms

Today's scripture reading is from Psalm 33. The Lord is truly our help and shield. We know that His unfailing love surrounds us and nothing can penetrate it. Our hope rests squarely and firmly with Him alone.

Psalm 33:20-22 New Living Translation (NLT)

20 We put our hope in the Lord.
    He is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
    for our hope is in you alone.

Sunday Message - Opening Prayer

As we approach Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, let us be in pray and remember the meaning of Jesus' life, death and resurrection as it relates to our salvation.

Almighty God, we begin our day of praise and worship by bowing our heads as we come into Your presence. You are so wonderful to us and we are so undeserving of You. You provided us with the only way possible for our salvation by giving Your son as our sacrifice for our sins.

As we continue this day of praise and worship, let every thought and word be pleasing to You. 

It is in Your son's most precious and holy name, we pray.

Amen. 

Answers Inside - New Testament

3 John 3 New Living Translation

3 Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth.