“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:3-5 Have you ever stopped to consider the intricacies of our natural bodies? Every organ, every cell, and every muscle work perfectly together. We…
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” II Corinthians 9:6-7 Paul wrote these verses to the church at Corinth concerning the offering they were raising to help those in need in the church in Jerusalem. This was something they were doing beyond their tithes and offerings to their local church. He advised them to let the Holy Spirit show them what they should give and to do it cheerfully. We who love the Lord must be faithful in our giving to our local congregations. Malachi 3:10 “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” God also blesses us when we support our churches beyond our tithes, with offerings for Missions, Building Funds, and other needs that may be…
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers:” I Peter 3:12 As I was thinking about the way the Holy Spirit guides us and directs us, I remembered an incident that happened many years ago. One of our teachers in Bible College was Sis. Marguerite Stairs. She was a great teacher, knew her Bible well, and was loved and appreciated by us all. Weekend trips were always looked forward to. One or more of the teachers would go with us, dropping two students off at each church in a particular area, so that we could gain some practical experience in ministering. On this day, I remember as we came out of the school and were preparing to get into the Volkswagen bus, Sis. Stairs stopped on the steps and said, “I have changed my mind. I feel a check in the Spirit and will not be going with you today.” We never knew the reason for this, but I am firmly convinced that the Lord knew something none of us knew, and there was some reason He did not want her to go. I am thankful that the Lord is…
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 It hardly seems that a year has passed since December 2022 was ending and we were looking ahead to a new year, wondering what it would hold for all of us. The word that I chose for the year was “Anticipation.” Throughout the year our Prayer Team has focused on the Harvest – revival in our hearts, and a burden to see prodigals return to the fold. God has blessed our church abundantly. We have had many visitors and several…
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 There were probably many stables in and near Bethlehem, so how did the shepherds know where to go to find the Baby Jesus? The sheep that these shepherds were watching were the ones from which the unblemished lambs were chosen for the sacrifices in the temple in Jerusalem. No doubt the place where the newborn lambs were placed was well-known to the shepherds. So, when the angel told them they would find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, they knew exactly where to go. When the lambs were born, they were quickly wrapped tightly in cloth and placed in a manger, probably made of stone, for protection. The lambs for the sacrifices had to be without blemish. Isn’t it amazing, how God’s plan is so perfect – when we think of the timing and the circumstances of the birth of Jesus? I would like to share this poem that I wrote last year and hope you all enjoy it. The Perfect Lamb Lonely shepherds…
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15 Surprise and wonderment can occur at the turn of a single word. When I was preparing to teach a Bible study this week this scripture, that I’ve read many times, stood out to me. God said, “I WILL,” not “YOU WILL.” Oftentimes when we do something wrong we are the ones that have to make it right. But, here in Genesis, when Adam and Eve fail miserably, God didn’t say “you need to figure a solution on your own.” Instead, God said, “I WILL” make a way and pave a path toward salvation. Genesis 3:15 is full of mystery and intrigue, as a conquering promise is given to Eve over a scheming menace, whom we refer to as the serpent. The Hebrew Bible has more to offer than a few beautifully depicted sentences; it has hope, love, and abundant life. Redemption for Humanity Genesis 3:15 is a prophecy that elucidates a plan of redemption for all humanity. This scripture explains that God would manifest Himself in flesh (John 1:14), be born of…