Be Ye Thankful!

“Let the Peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in One Body; and be ye Thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom; Teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in Word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”  Col. 3:15-17

As the Body of Christ, Scripture tells us that Peace should rule in our heart and we are commended to be “Thankful!” Because the Word of Christ dwells in us! We are to admonish one another in Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs.  It is about the Grace of God that rules in our life. When I think about God’s Grace, it overwhelms me. It is also interesting that the Word of God calls for Hymns, yet it seems today there are masses of saints pulling away from Hymns and considering them archaic, old music. There is great purpose here as we meditate upon the Hymns we sing in our Church. Songs written from the heart directed by Spirit of God are a gift to the Church. When we sing them, there is a sense of the Holy Spirit which brings dedication to our heart. The whole world is captivated by “Amazing Grace” I have heard it often in my youth in the tavern as I would get my Father to take him home. “Are You Washed in the Blood?” a grand old song with a Salvation Message. When sung it tugs at your heart and reminds you of the cleansing power of God. Hymns are appropriate for the Church of our Lord. Spiritual Songs of thanks, Spontaneous lifting up one’s voice as the Spirit of God fills their soul. They are exhortation given in song perhaps, and the singing of the Psalms from the Word of God. Hymns, Psalms Spiritual Songs enlarges His Grace in us and a Spirit of Thanks pours forth from our soul. I hear the strands of Music as the Palmist declares …”I will enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with Praise – and be thankful unto Him … it seems music, singing, and Hymns are often included with the Giving Thanks! A song of Praise erupts as we give thanks for a Faithful God. In the Old Testament, Ezra gives us a glorious rendition of Thankful Praise! He is talking about an event that took place regarding the temple and he says: “They sang together by course in Praising and Giving thanks unto the Lord; because He is good, for His Mercy endureth for ever …. And all the people shouted with a great shout, and Praised the Lord ...!” Ezra 3:11. Let us be Thankful until a Song of Praise fills our heart and soul … are we willing even at midnight to rise and give Thanks? O Church be ye Thankful, let a Song of Thanksgiving arise in your heart for the Lord is Good, His Mercy endureth forever … O give Thanks at the remembrance of His Holiness! Desire the Song of the Lord to Reign in your being! And be ye Thankful!      You are in my Prayer, and Loved, Pastor

His Promise

“The Lord is not slack concerning His Promise, as some men count slackness; but is Longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  ~ 2 Peter 3:9  

From the Pastor Study: What a powerful Scripture as we look at Second Peter 3:9. To think that the Lord is Longsuffering toward us – it touches my heart. God is not willing that any should perish! His desire is that all will repent. Meditate upon this -- God’s great burden is for Israel.  Zech 12:1 “The burden of the Word of the Lord for Israel” – And God reveals He stretched out the heavens and laid the foundation of the earth. God’s Creative Power is ever-present working, as Jesus said, “My Father worketh hitherto and I work!”  God’s preservation of things which He created is continual. He upholds everything by the Word of His Power and He is ever ready to hear our petitions when we bring them before the Throne of Heaven. Prophets continually remind us of the Creative Force of God. Amos 4:13 “For, lo, He that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is His thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, The God of Hosts, is His Nname.” God stretches out the heavens every day afresh, and every day He lays the foundation of earth, which, if His power did not uphold the earth, if would move from its orbit, and fall into ruin! I say all this for we need to remember the Power of our God when He makes a Promise to us. His Promise is powerful! Have you noted we know more today than yesterday? The knowledge of the Lord is being revealed from day to day even as it is in the world.  Next statement is worthy of a Selah [stop and think] “He formeth the Spirit of man within Him.”  God has formed His Spirit within us! 1 Cor 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” To know the Promise is to the Gentiles [us] is revelatory to us! The Power of the Creative God has said in His Word – Gal 3:14 “The Blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith!” And what is the Promise? 1 John 2:25 “This is the Promise that He hath Promised us, Eternal Life.” The Promise of the Old Testament is found in Isa. 7:14, and 9:6” And to us Matt. 1:23 – Wishing you a wonderful Winter season as we wait for Christ’s Return.  Loving you, Pastor

Road Work Ahead

“I must Work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day:
the night cometh, when no man can work.”  ~ John 9:4

I’m sure everyone has seen a sign “Road Work Ahead? Our response is usually, O no! There are detours, lost of time, long lines sometimes/waiting, etc. Do these things sound familiar?  We are on a Spiritual Journey, and the enemy of our soul often plants things in our path to detour us from the Work that God has for us. Today’s Message is about our Road Work. What can we do for Jesus/Kingdom as we travel toward Eternal Life. We must overcome the detours, have patience while waiting, and “Work!”  So then we become “Doers!” Jesus was a “Doer” of His Father’s Will and ultimately obeyed God’s Word! Jesus’ road was most difficult, on His Journey to the Cross He “Worked!” The end of His Journey was suffering, shame, and crucifixion. Yet Jesus persevered & “Worked” on His Journey!  He paved the Road for our Journey to end in Eternal Life! Today we want to explore what it means to be a “doer” of the Word of God. It is a simple thought, but not so simple to do. It is time to be a “Reaper of the Harvest that awaits us!” It is not popular today to be a Christian Leader. It is great in the Church but when we get out of our comfort zone, it seems more difficult. A good place to start or continue whatever the case might be is – to notice, to be alert, to request the Lord to open our eyes, and our understanding, that we might grasp the opportunities that arise. We are living in a “self” society!  To be a “doer” of the Word, we must hear, we must see – Spiritually! Perhaps our eyes, our understanding is not fully opened – you know, the shades are nearly closed, drooping…. In Ex 31:3 we read God looking at a certain man and God said: “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in Wisdom, and in Understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship” … I love this – because Scripture goes on to say why He has so gifted this man: VS4-5 Sooo “he can “Work” in gold, silver, brass, he can cut stones and carve timber… wait for it … to “Work” in all manner of workmanship.” He was gifted with purpose to Work! What kind of work can we do for the Lord as we travel down the Road toward Eternal Life? If there ever was a time that we must to be busy for Him, it is now! “While it is day, for the night cometh, when we can not work.”  Sincerely Loving U! Pastor