UNTO THE CHURCHES

Gal. 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

One of the greatest discoveries of the Christian life is learning of the importance and role of the Lord’s churches. Paul is writing this epistle as he did numerous others “unto the churches.” It is interesting that people, who claim to love the Bible and live by the Bible, and enjoy the teachings of these same epistles, discount the significance of the very institution to which God gave the revelation. There are reasons Paul wrote “unto the churches.” There is much to be pondered and appreciated in the simple statement, “unto the churches.” Why did Paul not write his epistles to individual Christians and post them in a public forum so that believers, independent of any congregation, could find and read them? The answer is simple. God’s plan, according to the Scripture, is to place His children in local congregations for accountability, growth, and service. Paul wrote to the churches because that is where true Christians should be, assembling and worshipping in the place of God’s leading. This is the pattern for New Testament spiritual teaching and growth. Jesus promised to meet with His churches when they assembled together. In the Book of Revelation, we see Jesus walking among the candlesticks, which are the churches, and giving His Word to the churches. The churches of the New Testament were independent, local, organized, autonomous, and assembling bodies of believers. Jesus loves His churches. The Bible says, “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). And in love, He speaks to the churches words of comfort and sometimes words of reproof. The great responsibility of getting the message of the Gospel to the world was given to His churches. The churches, through their membership and ministries, are to preach, disciple, train, and commission workers. As these churches see people come to Christ through their missionary activities, they in turn establish other indigenous churches, which are to do the same thing. God gifts each of us individually to serve and minister through our church. What a blessing it is to be a member of one of the Lord’s churches! God’s Spirit leads us and adds us to the body of Christ of His choosing, and uniquely uses us for His glory.

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Do You Have Blood on Your Hands???

(I received this earlier this week. It was sent from Amazing Grace Mission as their soul-winning tip of the week. Convicting, isn't it???)

Ezek. 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

I am sorry to say I know that I have blood on my hands. Yes, the blood of those who I have not warned of the impending danger of hell. Hell is not something most people want to speak of. We like the softer version of the gospel, which is the "gift of God," which comes from the love of God. We want to hear about the love of God, not the justice of God which comes in the form of hell. BUT, every one of us is called to be a "watchman," warning of the danger ahead for the sinner who is without salvation.

The fact that I have blood on my hands came again to me this week when I heard that my neighbor had died from the cancer which had been eating at his body for more than a year. Yes, he had been warned. He had been warned by Pastor Gooding of 1st Baptist of Prosperity. He had been warned by others, but he had never been warned by me. You may say, "Glen, don't be so hard on yourself," but what you don't know is that God had put on my heart several times during the last 9 months to go and warn him myself. You may say, "But, Glen if a pastor could not convince him of his need for the Saviour, how do you think you could?" I don't know that I could, but all I know is that God spoke to my heart even as close to two weeks ago to go by and see him, and "warn him." But, I didn't! You see it's not my job to save him, or convince him, that is the job of the Holy Spirit, which I did not take heed to. How do I know the Holy Spirit would not have taken that very opportunity, if I had made the visit to open the man's heart. Shame on me; Yes! this man's blood in on my hands because the Holy Spirit had spoken to me, and I did not respond.

You see, when a person goes to hell, they have no second chance. BUT, I have no "second chance" either! I will never have another chance to speak to the man, to warn him, to respond to the calling of the Holy Spirit. What is even worse is: how does a person like me ask for forgiveness for such an act. Yes, I know I can ask for forgiveness, and God will grant it, but it will never help Hal, my neighbor. I'm sure I am not alone in this lack of response, but that doesn't help me, or Hal. I'm sure most people who will read this, if they are honest with themselves, can remember people they will never have a second chance to warn. I'm going to endeavor to not let it happen again; how about you?

Understanding the Word of God

Neh. 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Most people--even most Christians--devote very little time to the Scriptures, complaining that they are either too hard to understand or too uninteresting. Yet, when Ezra read "the book of the law of Moses" to the whole congregation of Israel, he read "from the morning until midday," even "one fourth part of the day," and "all the people stood up" as he read (Nehemiah 8:1, 3, 5; 9:3). Such a scenario is almost impossible to imagine today.

Neh. 8:1,3,5;9:3 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.

Ezra's congregation evidently understood what he was reading and found it of vital interest. "For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law" (Nehemiah 8:9b). For "another fourth part of the day they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God" (Nehemiah 9:3b).

Yet all they had were the books of the Pentateuch! How much more concerned we should be, and how much better we should understand, when we have the entire Bible.

Note that Ezra and his colleagues simply read the Scriptures and gave a straightforward exegesis. That was enough to enable the people to understand, and this brought repentance, confession, and worship. No emotional appeals, no gimmicks, no technology, just the Scriptures--taken naturally and literally.

The Scriptures are not hard to understand--just hard to believe, and even harder to obey. Like any book, the Bible is intended to be understood, and its author--the Holy Spirit--was able to say what He meant. The secret is in the attitude of heart with which one approaches it. "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. . . . Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:97, 104).

A devotional thought by Dr. Henry Morris published by ICR

Is God Judging America???

(Here is an article by Ray Comfort which gives us all something to think about.....)

America is nine trillion dollars in debt. For those who normally don’t count that high and are not familiar with how much that is, a “trillion” is a thousand billion. That’s no small change. Ironically, 1.7 trillion of that debt is to Arab nations, 200 billion to China and 125 billion to Russia. Think about those nations for a minute.

Over two million houses are in foreclosure. Two million. A gallon of milk costs as much as a gallon of gas, and a gallon of gas is costing an arm and a leg. Add to that the incredibly bad news that we are not winning the war over cancer--over 2,300,000 Americans will get cancer in the next year, many of whom will be children, and you can see that we are in serious trouble.

ABC News recently published an article titled “More Than 60 Percent of U.S. in Drought.” We have become used to seeing onslaughts of floods, hurricanes lining up on our coasts, and killer tornadoes by the dozens ripping up the nation like there’s no tomorrow. And, of course, we are in a war that it seems we can’t win.

The above are all signs of God’s dealings with a sinful nation. If you find that hard to believe, read Deuteronomy 28 and see what God warned would happen to Israel if they forsook His Commandments and turned their backs on Him. Hold onto a pen and underline places where Scripture warns that they will get into financial debt and become the tail, not the head. Look again at the nations to whom we are in debt. Underline how God says that aliens will flood the country, or that their enemies will overcome them, or that disease will plague them.

When you hold your pen also hold on to your theology, because that chapter will destroy any image of God as being a celestial Santa Claus. He is a God of Justice and truth as much as He is of love and mercy. To have a mere one or two virtues of His character in your image of God, and to leave out the others, is to have an idol in your mind.

We are no different than ancient Israel. We are a nation that has forgotten God and created other gods before Him. He lavished His goodness upon us and we have blasphemed His holy name. Instead of honoring the God who gave us life, we have bowed before the golden calf of Wall Street (which is melting before our eyes). We have also embraced the foolish, unsubstantiated, unscientific theory paraded as the gospel truth called “evolution,” and when the blossoms bloom, mother nature is praised for what she has made. Our churches are filled with preachers who preach another gospel, portraying God as a divine butler. As a nation, we have forgotten God. Almost. When there’s a tragic disaster and people are killed and property destroyed, insurance companies call it “An act of God.” Perhaps they have been reading the truths of Holy Scripture.

(The sad fact of the matter is very few people read the truth of God's Word in today's world, and even more, many will ridicule even the slightest possibility that the article above does make sense regarding the similarity of God's judgment against the nation of America as that of His chosen nation Israel as detailed thoroughly in the Old Testament scripture. God details specifically the history of His dealings with mankind in His Word, but many reject even the mention of His name and abhor the thought that man must submit to His commands in this modern, technologically advanced society. Mankind is only concerned about SELF, with prosperity, greed, and sinful pleasures the areas of focus in their daily life.)

What God's Word Says About RELIGION

In today's world, just as that of the entire length of human history, man's focus is upon RELIGION to satisfy their spiritual longing for their God. RELIGION, however, is man-made, and has very little to do with the one and only God who created us and His entire creation.

Many believe the Bible to be a collection of stories gathered by men who record their thoughts about God, instead of the very Word of God given to men to record for all of mankind. Anyone who has read my blog for even just a short period of time knows that I believe the Bible is the very Word of God, to be read and incorporated in our daily walk here on earth. Our life here on earth simply prepares us for eternity. Death is not the grave, but simply a launching point to our eternal home, either Heaven or Hell.

Man relies upon RELIGION to obtain Heaven, but let's take a look at what God thinks about RELIGION as recorded in His Word:

1. Religion is spoken of as a strict set of rules and regulations, adding to the clear commands of God's Word, and judging those who do not live by those rules (Pharisaical judgment). This mention of RELIGION in the Bible in this verse gives a negative connotation of religion. Acts 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
2. Religion resulted in persecution of others who don't live by the same doctrines of faith. Again, this mention of RELIGION in the Bible in this verse gives a negative connotation of religion. Gal. 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
3. Religion relies upon the tradition of man instead of the commands of God. Again, another negative connotation of religion found in His Word. Gal. 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
4. Religion results in ungodly speech about others and a deceived heart; the man seems to be religious, but is no where close to being in fellowship with God. Again, another negative connotation of religion found in God's Word. James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
5. Religion is described as pure and undefiled when one thinks of others ahead of themselves, and lives a separated and holy life apart from the sinful pleasures of this world. Finally, we have a positive connotation of religion spoken of by God in His Word. Unfortunately, however, the RELIGION found in today's world is not pictured by this positive definition. James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Five times in God's Word the word RELIGION is mentioned, with only one positive statement spoken by God. God looks down on RELIGION created and designed by man. Man's RELIGION is deceptive and brings strife, hardship, and persecution to many innocent people in our world.

We need to focus on God's Word as our guide in knowing and worshipping God, not man-made religion. Don't forsake the Bible because of what man has done through RELIGION - the Bible speaks the truth about RELIGION. As a matter of fact, the Bible speaks the truth about everything that counts for all eternity!!!!! It teaches us how to live!!! It teaches us about our need for a Saviour!!! It teaches us about the history of man!!! It teaches us about our future!!! It teaches us about our advisary and how to combat his lies and deception!!! It teaches us how to serve others!!! It teaches us how to love God and our neighbors!!! It teaches us about our eternal home in Heaven!!!

Don't follow RELIGION; follow God through His Word!!!!!

Where Did Morality Come From?

Morality is a very difficult problem for the evolutionary worldview. This isn’t to say that evolutionists are somehow less moral than anyone else. Most of them adhere to a code of behavior. Like the biblical creationist, they do believe in the concepts of right and wrong. The problem is that evolutionists have no logical reason to believe in right and wrong within their own worldview. Right and wrong are Christian concepts which go back to Genesis. By attempting to be moral, therefore, the evolutionist is being irrational; for he must borrow biblical concepts which are contrary to his worldview.

The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3). All things belong to God (Psalm 24:1) and thus, God has the right to make the rules. So, an absolute moral code makes sense in a biblical creation worldview. But if the Bible were not true, if human beings were merely the outworking of millions of years of mindless chemical processes, then why should we hold to a universal code of behavior? Could there really be such concepts as right and wrong if evolution were true?

Some might respond, “Well, I believe in right and wrong, and I also believe in evolution; so, obviously they can go together.” But this does not follow. People can be irrational; they can profess to believe in things that are contrary to each other. The question is not about what people believe to be the case, but rather what actually is the case. Can the concepts of right and wrong really be meaningful apart from the biblical God? To put it another way, is morality justified in an evolutionary worldview?

(A portion of an article from AnswersWeekly, a weekly email newsletter, prepared by Answers in Genesis ministry. More information about this ministry can be found here: http://www.answersingenesis.org/)

What You LIKE vs. What is IMPORTANT

2 Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Acts 17:20-21 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Someone said, “You can observe a lot by watching.” Well, after watching Christians during my thirty-four years in the ministry, I’ve observed a few things. One thing I’ve observed is Christians are more interested in what they like, than what is important. They like to attend church services that are entertaining and easy to sit through. They like services that make no demands on them personally. They like comfortable services without any challenge to leave their “comfort zone.” They like services that tickle their emotions with warm fuzzy feelings, instead of enduring the drudgery of sound doctrine.

Isaiah must have had this crowd in mind when he wrote, “That this is a rebellious people… children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things” (Isa. 30:9-10). Too many Christians want a “smoothie” religion rather than a serious religion. The prophet Amos wrote, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion” (Amos 6:1).

What is important to you? Being entertained or being exhorted to do something that will glorify God eternally? Are you merely doing what you like, or what is truly important? Wouldn’t it be great if what you like and what is important were both the same thing?

A portion of an article by Pastor Al Hughes

I Never Found the Time!!!

(Although the ending of this poem does not line up with the truth of God's Word, I thought I would post it anyway to present a sharp rebuke to those of us Christians, myself included, who neglect to tell others about the truth of Jesus, Salvation, Heaven, and Hell because we are too busy with the things of this world week after week, day after day, hour after hour, etc.!!!)

I knelt to pray but not for long,

I had too much to do.

I had to hurry and get to work

For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,

And jumped up off my knees.

My Christian duty was now done

My soul could rest at ease...

All day long I had no time

To spread a word of cheer

No time to speak of Christ to friends,

They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,

That was my constant cry,

No time to give to souls in need

But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord,

I came, I stood with downcast eyes.

For in his hands God held a book;

It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said

"Your name I cannot find.

I once was going to write it down...

But never found the time"

Rev. 20:12-15 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

THE CERTAINTY OF TRUTH

Luke 1:4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

As Luke begins this glorious Gospel, he states a clear objective, “That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.” This presents for our consideration a simple, yet profound, principle. Truth is absolute and certain. God wants us to know THE CERTAINTY OF TRUTH. This detail is of definite importance in our day, as truth is usually considered to be anything but certain. Many present truth as being relative; and thus, its meaning will depend on our circumstances or situations. Rather than being fixed and unchanging, truth is often seen to be in a state of flux or evolution. Others seem to genuinely believe that some truth is outdated or irrelevant because it clashes with contemporary thinking. Still others assume that cultures or traditions make truth irrelevant. Yet this is not the message of the Word of God. The Bible’s purpose is to help us know “the certainty” of truth. God’s Word, like God Himself, is forever unchanging. This is one of the foundational doctrines of Scripture. God is faithful, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His Word is likewise forever “settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). Our view of truth will greatly affect the way we receive it, believe it, and obey it. Knowing THE CERTAINTY OF TRUTH helps strengthen our confidence in the promises and principles of the Bible. Because we know the “certainty of those things” wherein we have been taught, we can believe them without reservation. It is the work of Satan to cast doubt on the integrity of the Word of God. Unfortunately, the devil has many assistants in his cause to delude those who might waver from their steadfastness, including those who claim to be Bible scholars or teachers. Classrooms and pulpits today are occupied with false prophets who undermine “the certainty” of the Holy Scriptures. Rather than presenting the Bible as a Book of “certainty,” they take the position that it contains error or contradiction. According to these heretics, it then falls upon us to determine which parts are true, which are uninspired, and which are symbolic, even if they are presented as factual. This is nonsense. God’s Word is to be taught and received as truth that can be accepted and believed with “certainty.”

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

FEAR HIM

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

One of the most basic principles of the Bible is learning to fear the Lord. We know that God is merciful and caring. He is also patient and kind. But the same God who loves us so dearly is also just, holy, jealous, and righteous. He expects reverence and faithfulness. He judges sin and compromise. It is pleasing to Him and beneficial to us if we develop the wholesome quality of fear toward Him. When Moses stood before Him, he was instructed to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. When John saw the Savior in Revelation 1:17, we are told that he “fell at his feet as dead.” It is not natural to fear the Lord; this habit must be acquired and maintained. The Bible teaches us plainly that God is to be feared. The further our world drifts from a Biblical worldview, the more we see casualness about the Person of God Almighty. Blasphemy and cursing are more commonly heard in the public arena than words of respect for Jesus Christ. There was a day in our country when the majority of businesses would not consider being open on Sunday, out of respect for God and the importance of worship. This lack of respect for God is taking over many places of worship. Man-centered worship is the order of the day. People shop for churches that will cater to their individual tastes and schedules. If Sunday worship is not convenient, why not forget the Lord’s Day and go to church on Saturday evening? If rock-and-roll music fits their personal preference, they look for a church offering a live band and contemporary worship. This is the trend of our generation. God is often referred to with terms such as, “The man upstairs,” or “Our buddy in the sky.” Preaching is being replaced by entertaining and shallow and non-offensive mini-sermons with little Biblical content or call to commitment and holiness. How wicked and carnal all of this is! It should make us shudder to think of this wholesale lack of respect and fear. Nowhere in the Bible can you find anything that would condone such behavior. Our text beckons us not to fear man, but to fear God. We are not to be people pleasers, but God pleasers. Our nation needs a revival, including a revival of the fear of God.

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

True Learning

Deut. 5:1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.

In a day when more people are going to school than ever before in history, it is important to learn the BEST subjects.

Jer. 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

Most important of all is to learn the Word of God, as the initial verse above states rather clearly; and then to obey it, once we have learned it.

Rom. 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Obedience to what we learn in Scripture, of course, means learning many other things from the Scriptures:

• Learn to do well - Isa. 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
• Learn to maintain good works - Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. Good works do not come naturally; they must be learned!!!
• Learn to be content in whatever state you are in - Php. 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
• Learn to lean on Him - Matt. 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
• Learn from lessons in life, such as suffering and heartache - Heb. 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

The very first mention of learning in the Bible, however, is vitally important for all of mankind:

Deut 4:1-10 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day. Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

Friend, have you received any true learning during your walk through life??? Have you learned the TRUTH from God's Word, or has Satan blinded and deceived you during your lifetime with the wisdom of this world?????

The Heart of our Understanding

1 Cor. 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

The wise man wrote long ago; Prov. 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. However, we need to be sure that the understanding we acquire is not perverted by the spirit of this world. When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he emphasized the contrast between a darkened understanding and a spiritually illuminated understanding.

Eph. 4:17-18 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

A blinded heart produces a darkened understanding!!!!!

Paul prayed, rather, that God would give them "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened." (Eph. 1:17-18) We need an understanding enlightened by the Holy Spirit, not darkened by a hardened heart.

By the same token, as the verse at the beginning of this post commands, we should seek to attain a mature understanding of the things of God, not remaining stagnant at the elementary level of understanding. It is dishonoring to the Lord who called us into His family to remain spiritual children. We should exhibit the faith of a little child, and be as free from malice as a little child, but in understanding we must grow!

Heb. 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Our Household Will Be Getting Even Busier!!!

I know that I have a few faithful blog readers who may be wondering where I have been, and I apologize for my limited posts during the last few days, and really the last several weeks. I rarely share personal family activities here, but I thought in this case, I would share a bit of news!!! My mind and prayers for the past several weeks has been on my daughter and her continued on-going courtship with a fine young man from GA. A father will always think of his daughter that he is the only man in their life, and she as his "little girl," however, the greatest responsibility (other than leading her to the Lord and teaching her about God and His Word) a father has with his daughter is to make sure he prepares her for her future husband, and to make sure that man also loves God with all his heart and has a desire to serve Him with his life. By God's hand and perfect will, an outstanding young man, Christopher, was brought into my daughter's life during the past year, and after nine months of courtship, their engagement was announced this past weekend. Now, I only have a short time left to offer my experience and counsel to help prepare them for their future marriage, and I am quite sure, a period of much reflection of Courtney's memories which we have shared together as father/daughter personally and within our happy family. However, I can assure you I won't spend too much time looking backward; what is past can not be changed; instead, I plan to focus upon their future blessings together as husband and wife as they both continue to serve the Lord in the path that He has set for them together. Two serving together in the Lord's work can accomplish much more than either of them alone. I pray that she will be the "help meet" her mother and I have been training her to be for all these years.

You can read about the engagement and view some pictures of the happy couple on my daughter's blogsite found at http://courtneyscontemplations.blogspot.com

Congratulations Christopher and Courtney!!!!!

God's Perfect Way

2 Sam. 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

One of the most common excuses given by men for rejecting the God of the Bible is their opinion that His ways are unfair. Even Christians are prone to complain at the way God deals with them. But the fact that we may not understand God's ways hardly gives us the right to pass judgment on them. He often reminds us in His Word that His way is perfect and His Word has been tried and proved, again and again.

Psalm 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

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

We need to settle it in our hearts that, whether we understand them or not, God's ways are always perfect. What He does is right, and whatever He says must be true be definition. His ways are always in the context of eternity, but we leap to judgment in terms of present inconvenience.

His perfect way is seen most fully in Christ, and His truth is heard most clearly in Christ; John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Yet Christ's way was through the cross, and His truth was opposed by the father of lies;

John 8:44-47 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

God's way for us may also lead us into suffering and great opposition, but His way is always perfect and His Word is tried and true. If we trust Him through it all He will be our buckler as He was for David as shared in our opening verse above.

Prov. 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

REASON OR REVELATION

Matthew 16:16-17 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus had just asked His disciples what others were saying about Him; who did those in the community think He was? The disciples answered that the opinion was varied, some thinking that Jesus was John the Baptist, others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Then Jesus asked the disciples the same question: “whom say ye that I am?”(15) Simon answered first by declaring, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This was one occasion when Simon delivered in a big way. Jesus was more than a prophet; He was the Messiah, Emmanuel, and God in the flesh. In response to Peter’s statement, Jesus pointed out where the disciple had gotten his information, saying, “flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Peter had the right answer about Christ, but it was not because he figured it out on his own. God revealed it to him. The residents of Caesarea Philippi reasoned that Jesus might be any number of different characters, but Peter knew exactly who Jesus was because God made it clear to him. This provides for us the basis of where we obtain our opinions, especially concerning God, His work, and His ways. It is either by REASON OR REVELATION. There is a world of difference between reason and revelation. Many misguided souls are basing their views of eternal things on that which seems right or logical to them, rather than on the revelation of God. This is one reason why there are so many diverse positions on matters of great spiritual consequence. Christians are embracing contemporary and popular positions that are clearly in violation of sound doctrine and Biblical principles. Peter gave the correct response because he confessed what God had shown him. This should bring great encouragement to each of us, knowing that God wants to reveal His truth to us. God does not want us blinded by error, personal opinion, or wrong traditions. He wants to guide us into His perfect truth. If we are going to have the truth revealed to us, we must be willing to submit to the only true source of divine revelation, the pure Word of God.

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Today is National Atheist Day!!!

Today has been set apart to remember and celebrate National Atheist Day!!!!!

Pslm. 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Prov. 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

unHappy APRIL FOOL (atheist) Day

(This was posted on a mailing list I received today and I just had to post for others..... I too once did not believe in God or His Word, but now, Praise God, I know the TRUTH!!!!! But of course, some now call me a fool for believing His Word..... but in the future, the true FOOLS will be known by all; and they will wish that they could have been wise when they had a chance to obtain Godly wisdom while living the life God gave them here on Earth.)