He Lives

And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. Mark 15:20

Betrayed, falsely accused, humiliated, scourged, crucified and buried. These are words we use to describe what happened to Jesus on Good Friday as the Lamb of God lay down His life for the sins of the world.

Risen, victorious and alive are words we use to describe the resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning. The stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty!

Because He lives, we shall live also!

Rev DB

Victory over our enemies!

Victory over our enemies!

Psalm 60:12 Through God we shall do valiantly: For he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

Victory in Jesus is one of our theme songs. We have victory through what He did on the cross. We win through Him. He is the One that defeated sin, Satan, and hell. It is through the Lord that we have all that we have that is of any value.

I can also live a life of victory thanks to what Jesus did on the cross. I can see God do ministry in and through me. I can have victory over temptation. I can see Satan defeated. There is no reason I shouldn’t live in victory because I know Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

It is He and His power that gives me victory.

Rev AG

The Lure of Momentary Pleasure

The Lure of Momentary Pleasure

Genesis 25:29-34

You probably read the story of Jacob and Esau today and thought, I can't believe Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. How foolish! But let's think beyond birthrights and soup. Is there anything of true value that you are trading for something of lesser worth? In other words, what is your "bowl of soup"?

Have you pursued wealth and a career at the expense of family? Maybe your busy schedule has kept you from spending time with God in His Word each day. Some people become involved in extramarital affairs, trading the well-being of their family for the satisfaction of lustful desires. Others sacrifice their health by consuming harmful or addictive substances, or even by overindulging in food. The list of ways we make foolish, shortsighted choices is endless.

Some of the decisions we make today could rob us of the blessings God wants to give us. When you yield to temptation in a moment of weakness, you're actually sacrificing your future for momentary pleasure. We can't afford to live thoughtlessly, basing our decisions on immediate desires or feelings. Since the principle of sowing and reaping cannot be reversed, we need to carefully consider what we are planting. The harvest will come, and we'll reap what we have sown--and more than we've sown.

Are you contemplating anything that could have serious long-term ramifications if you yield to the yearning? A wise person evaluates choices by looking ahead to see what negative consequences could follow a course of action.

Don't let "a bowl of soup" hinder God's wonderful plans for you.

Rev CS

Rejoice evermore

Rejoice evermore. 1Thess. 5:16

Paul says rejoice! Rejoice because our sins have been forgiven! Rejoice because our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life! Rejoice because Jesus is alive and because He lives we shall live also!

Paul says rejoice evermore. Rejoice today, for this is the day the Lord has made, Rejoice for eternity because He has prepared a place for us with Him. Rejoice in the Lord! 

Again, I say rejoice!

RevDB

It came true

It came true

Job 8:6 If thou wert pure and upright; Surely now he would awake for thee, And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. 7 Though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

The first thing that impresses me here is the way God will make this hurtful comment come true. If you were right then, God would bless you, and you would end up better than you started. That is precisely what will happen with Job by the end of the book. He will end up much better off in every way. God will vindicate him also.

This friend must have felt like a fool at the end of the story. It would be better for me to keep my thoughts to myself instead of making such a fool of myself. I do not know what God is doing in the life of my brother. I would do well to worry about my own spiritual life more than trying to correct my brother.

You might wonder why God isn’t coming through for you. You might be considering why things are not working out as you wanted. Give God time to do what He is going to do in your life.

He is at work, and in the end, you will see His hand.
REV AG

Children for Jesus

A couple of days ago Sarah and I walked into the kitchen to find Jack searching through drawers and looking on shelves...it seemed like he was really intent on finding something in particular. Naturally we asked what he was looking for and if we could help him. I wasn't expecting him to reply with anything profound, and yet I'm still rejoicing about what he said. Jack told us that he's been talking to one of his friends about Jesus and that the little boy doesn't go to church, he doesn't really know much about God, and "he doesn't even have a Bible." Jack said he knew we had extra Bibles at our house and he was looking for one to give to his friend. So today he gave his buddy a brand new pocket sized New Testament with the plan of salvation inside.

 I'm so thankful that my children want to introduce their friends to Jesus!
REV JH

Reap what you sow

Reap what you sow

Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow wickedness, reap the same.

It has been pretty evident throughout history that you reap what you sow. If you plow twisted sin, and plant wickedness you will receive the same. You get back what you dish out. What goes around comes back around to you. Sin will always hurt us. We can’t escape that reality. We must realize that sin has consequences.

The only way that cycle is broken is by Jesus taking our sin on Himself and paying our sin debt. Thank God that He loved us enough to send Jesus to die for us and to pay our sin debt.

Lessons are be saved and get the forgiveness of your sins. Another lesson is to break the cycle by not sowing more sin. 

Let’s begin to sow righteousness and allow that to be our harvest.

Rev AG