Pastor's Devotionals 2020

Pastor's Devotional for 1-3-21

What is Sacrifice?

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:1, 2

What is the meaning of a, “living sacrifice.”?

Dr. Bob Jones, Sr.: “Every great Christian who did anything for God, at some point in their life came under the dominating power of a Biblical truth.”

Daniel Webster: “The greatest truth that ever entered my mind is that I will live forever somewhere.”

Pastor's Pen Devotional for 12-27-20

The Reason for the Season

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” - Luke 2:10, 11

Please, never forget, Jesus is the reason for the season! Amid the lights, the shopping, and the stress of the season, never lose sight of the One whom we should be worshipping and adoring! The night Jesus was born, many people missed the celebration of the Messiah because everyone in Bethlehem seemed to be concerned about the census, the Roman oppression, and the everyday cares of life. There was an exception though and that was the lowly shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem. 😊 That night, they were privileged to see the most spectacular celebration in Heaven or on earth, as the angels rejoiced and proclaimed the news of the birth of the Messiah. The skies rang with music and lights, as a heavenly host praised His birth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” - Luke 2:14

Do not be the one who misses the reason for the season. Do not let the busyness and the stress keep you from worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ during this month. “Oh come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” - Psalm 95:6

Christ alone is worthy of our worship and never forget that Jesus is the REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God. The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” - Isaiah 9:6

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Pastor's Pen Devotional for 12-20-20

The Christmas Story

“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” - Luke 2:20

After the shepherds heard the good news that the Messiah was born in Bethlehem, they ran to see the manger where He laid. No doubt moved by the tender scene of the divine Baby wrapped in rags and laid in a horse’s trough, the shepherds left the stable that night changed by what they had seen. As they returned to the fields, they sang and glorified God for the miracle He had done.

Singing praise and glorifying God is a natural manifestation of the inner working of the Holy Spirit in a revived life.

One of the best indications of a thriving, revived church can be seen and heard in the song service. And one of the best indications of a thankful, revived individual is that there is a desire to sing and tell others about the grace of God.

The shepherds would glorify God, praise His name, and tell everyone around them about the Savior Who was born in the manger.

Will you glorify God today in your song?

Will you tell others of the message of Christmas?

“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.”

Colossians 3:16

Pastor's Pen Devotional for 12-13-20

The Music of Christmas

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.” -Luke 2:13, 14

Charles Wesley was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, on December 18th. 1707. He was the 18th of 19 children. He would be taught how to read as soon as he could speak. As a child, he learned Greek and Latin and excelled at both. His mother, Susannah Wesley, would pray and have devotions with her children each night, leading them in the ways of the Lord. Charles would join his older brother John in college and graduate with a Master’s Degree in classical languages and literature.

Perhaps Charles’ greatest contribution to Christianity were his hymns. “And Can it Be?” “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” would be the most remembered of his six thousand hymns.

At this Christmas season, meditate on the powerful doctrine in his beloved Christmas carol:

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies;

With angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest Heav’n adored; Christ the everlasting Lord;

Late in time, behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’ incarnate Deity,

Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die;

Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Devotion for 12-6-20

Solving Problems God’s Way

John 6:1-13

One of the tests of leadership is how we face and solve problems. Figuring out a way to feed 5,000 people would test the faith and wisdom of any leader! The disciples suggested that Jesus send the people away and let them find their own food, but the Lord rejected that solution. Money was not the answer, although money can solve many problems. Andrew found a lad who had a small lunch but what was that among so many? We can learn five steps to take in problem solving.

1. WE MUST BELIEVE THAT THE LORD HAS ANSWERS. V. 6

· Scripture tells us, “… He Himself knew what He would do.” Thank God He has answers!

· Our problem is that we try to work out problems without His wisdom.

· When we put God between ourselves and the problem, God gets bigger and the problem gets smaller. But when we put the problem between ourselves and the Lord, it makes the Lord look very small.

2. WE MUST ASSESS OUR RESOURCES AND TURN THEM ALL OVER TO CHRIST.

· What we have may not seem like very much, but it can become more than sufficient if it is put into the hands of the Master.

· The miracle of feeding the five thousand took place in the hands of Jesus, not in the hands of the disciples.

3. WE MUST BE AVAILABLE TO DO WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO DO.

· Philip wanted to give the Lord advice about their finances, but our Lord does not want advice. Romans 11:34 – “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counsellor?”

· When Jesus started to give orders, the disciples obeyed … and God made a miracle!

4. WE MUST FIRST THINK OF OTHERS. Matthew 6:33

· No doubt the disciples were also hungry, but it is likely that they served the crowd first and saw to it that nobody went away unsatisfied.

5. WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO WASTE THE BLESSING.

· What we do after a problem is solved is just as important as what we do before the Lord gave us the solution.

· This involves assessment and follow-through. There are lessons to learn but the disciples did not learn them because they were caught up in eating their own supper

· The Christian life involves facing and solving problems. This is the way we grow, and this is the way the Lord is glorified.

Devotion for 11-29-10

Balance

“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10:41, 42

This passage tells how Jesus visited the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus to enjoy a good meal and their company. What Jesus found in that home is similar to what happens in our homes. The account of Jesus’ visit teaches a basic lesson in life: We need to keep our lives in proper balance. There are three dimensions of life to be balanced, and all have to do with our use of time.

MAKING TIME FOR CHRIST

· Martha wanted dinner to be a culinary delight. She wanted each dish ready on time and was feeling pressured. The “quiet dinner” was becoming a source of tension.

· Mary sat quietly, listening to Jesus. His words brought her inner peace and deepened her understanding. What a contrast: Martha, pulled to pieces, with a riot going on inside-and Mary, calm and at ease. The difference? Mary made time for Christ.

· Time spent with Jesus is a priceless investment. It is not a luxury; it is a necessity.

SPENDING TIME AT WORK

· God intended that we work! It is one way to use our abilities and fulfill our potential. Martha gets a lot of criticism, but she was not all wrong! People must eat. And there is nothing wrong with preparing and enjoying a good meal. The problem was with motives. Martha was trying to impress Jesus, not satisfy His needs.

TAKING TIME TO ENJOY LIFE

· This is the third dimension needed in a balanced life. Jesus came to this home to relax, not to cause tensions. He wanted to enjoy time with his friends, be among people who loved him. The simple joys of life provide the deepest satisfactions.

· If work is not balanced with relaxation, then the life we are living is much less than God intended.

· Jesus wants our lives to be balanced. And that balance begins with Him.

Devotion for 11-22-10

Accountability

“When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed Him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” - Luke 7:9

All of us need to be held accountable for our decisions and actions. Socrates said that the unaccountable life was not worth living. As believers in Christ we must constantly be reminded that God will hold us accountable for all that we say or do.

Our ultimate example is Jesus Christ our Lord, and He must always be the perfect example for us to follow. Ephesians 4:13 But sometimes it does us good to look at other people mentioned in the Bible to see how we measure up.

In Luke 7:1-10 we read of a Roman centurion who was commended by Jesus. What qualities in this man should we admire?

And how should we emulate his example?

CARING CONCERN: vs. 1-3

· This man had great concern for others. He also loved the Jewish community and had helped the people build a synagogue. V. 5 Remember that he was a Roman and had a tendency to look down upon the Jews and their “exclusive” religion. Our most important job as believers is to help build up the church of Jesus Christ! Jesus instructed us to let our light shine by doing good works. Matthew 5:16 and also to, “… do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” – Gal. 6:10-b

· He also had a deep love for his dying servant. Most Roman soldiers, especially officers were hardened to death. There were over 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire, and it would not be too difficult to replace the boy. But this servant was, “dear to him.” V. 2

HUMILITY: vs. 4-7

· The Jews said, “He is worthy” but the man said, “I am not worthy.”

· God’s work has been damaged more by man’s pride than perhaps by any other sin that we commit. James 4:6 –b “… God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

· Pride has brought division to the church and painful disagreement into the family of God. Pride robs God of the glory that belongs only to Him.

UNDER AUTHORITY: v. 8

· As God’s children we exercise authority only because we are under His authority.

FAITH: V. 9

· The Centurion believed in the power of God’s Word, that Jesus could “say the Word” and the cure would be complete. V. 7

Devotion for 11-15-20

Hope, Joy, Peace

“Now the God of HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” – Romans 15:13

Here are three powerful words from scripture, Hope, Joy and Peace! Our God is a God of Hope. God wants us to look ahead with hope and not with despair. Whenever the Old Testament prophets thundered out their messages of judgment, they always wove into the dark cloud of judgment the silver lining of hope. In fact, some of the greatest promises of hope in the Bible are found in the midst of dark messages of judgment.

You and I need never fear the future. God knows and controls the future! He knows the end from the beginning; He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. God is never surprised or caught off guard. No matter how confused things may be on earth, God is on the throne of heaven, calmly guiding the affairs of history.

God wants us to abound in hope. This means having our hearts filled with His hope and guiding our lives on the basis of the wonderful future God has prepared for His own. To abound in hope means much more than believing the promises of God; it means being motivated by these promises. It means living today in the light of eternity, with our lives controlled by the future, not by the past. What a tragedy it is when people permit themselves to be controlled by the past – past regrets, past failures, and past sins.

God also gives us unbounding JOY! I have experienced great joy even while suffering some of the greatest pains in my life. Joy enables you to face life without fear or complaint. Billy Sunday used to say, “If you have no joy in your religion, there’s a leak in your Christianity.”

Along with Hope and Joy, God has also given us His Peace. John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” This is the, “… peace of God, that passeth all understanding …” – Philippians 4:7-a These three gifts take care of our past, present and future. Now, the key word here is “believing”.

Admit to God your worry about the past, your misery in the present, your frustration about the future. These are sins! Confess them to God and let Him cleanse you! Then, by faith, ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit. You won’t hear any bells ringing; you won’t see any flashes of light; but you will experience within a deep sense of HOPE and PEACE and JOY!

Devotion for 11-1-20

How Deeply Do You Desire God?

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” – Revelation 3:15, 16

Sickness has a way of turning us toward God. When we have gone to our doctors, taken our meds, followed all our instructions then we wait. Now what happens when nothing happens, or our condition worsens? Did you know that sometimes God wants us to realize that He alone has the power to heal us of infirmities! That is why we trust, that is why we pray and that is why God asks to wait on Him. Isaiah 40:31

Dr. E.M. Bounds wrote these words concerning our desire for God:

“Do we feel the inward pantings of desire after heavenly treasures? Do deep desires stir our souls to seek after Him? Oh, how frequently the fire of our heart burns altogether too low. The flaming heat of soul has been tempered down to a tepid lukewarmness. This, it should be remembered, was the central cause of the sad and desperate condition of the Laodicean Christians, of whom the awful condemnation is written that they were “rich,” and “had need of nothing” and didn’t know that they were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Rev. 3:17

Have we that desire that presses us to close communion with God, which is filled with unutterable burnings and holds us there through the agony of an intense and soul-stirred supplication? Our hearts need much to be worked over, not only to get the evil out of them but to get the good into them. And the foundation of and inspiration for the incoming good is strong, propelling desire. This holy and fervid flame in the soul awakens heaven’s interest, attracts God’s attention, and places at the disposal of those who exercise it the exhaustless riches of divine grace.”

Devotion for 10-18-20

Don’t Lose Hope

“And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.” - John 5:5

One day Jesus visited a place in Jerusalem called Bethesda, which means, house of grace. There were many sick people at that place because at certain times the water would be stirred, and whoever got into the water was healed. 😊 Jesus found a man there who had been waiting for 38 years to be healed! ☹

Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be healed?” Instead of saying, “I sure do!” He began to give excuses. ☹ Opportunity had finally arrived and he almost allowed it to pass him by.

Day after day, month after month, year after year he watched others being healed but someone would always beat him … because he had no one to help him in the waters. ☹ This man made three major mistakes:

1. HE JUDGED THE PRESENT BY THE PAST.

· His argument made sense but he left God out of the equation.

ü No matter how many failures or disappointments we experience … when the Lord enters the picture … Everything changes! 😊

· Never accept failure just because you’ve had many failures in the past!

· God can change things in your life … Today!! He can forgive, He can Heal, He can Repair and Restore! Never lose Hope!

2. HE SAW ONLY THE PROBLEMS AND NOT THE POSSIBILITIES.

· Jesus did not ask him what his problems were … he asked him what his desires were.

· The optimist sees possibilities in the problems, and the pessimist sees problems in the possibilities. What do you see today?

· “Two men looked out from prison bars … one saw mud, the other saw stars.” 😊

· The real basis for optimism is faith. Hebrews 11:6

3. HE ONLY SAW WHAT HE DIDN’T HAVE RATHER THAN WHAT HE DID HAVE.

· God always starts with what we have before He gives us what we need.

ü He used Moses’ rod and Peter’s boat and He can use what we have.

ü This man only had a crippled body … but he also had faith. 😊

ü Great men in the Bible weren’t heroes because of their talent, personality or gifts. They were great because of their faith!

· Do you have an impossible situation that needs to change today?

Luke 18:27 – “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Try Forgiveness

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” – Matt. 6:14

I recently talked with a person who was nervous, physically ill, and disturbed emotionally. My first thought was that he needed to see a doctor. As he insisted that he wanted me to talk to me, I listened to him. As his story came out, I began to understand why he was so miserable: he was long on memory and short on forgiveness. He remembered every unkind thing anybody had ever said or done to him. At times, his eyes blazed with murderous anger. As I listened, I was reminded of the importance of forgiveness as one of the greatest spiritual medicines in all the world.

Mark Twain is best known for his humorous stories, but he could be a philosopher when he wanted to be. One of the most beautiful things he ever said was, “Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that crushed it.” Forgiveness is not easy, but it is necessary. An unforgiving spirit does not hurt the other person; it hurts us. To harbor grudges, to cultivate malice toward another person, to refuse to forgive-all of these, poison the inner man and produce spiritual and emotional sickness that no man-made medicines can cure.

I am amazed at the great number of disturbed people I meet who carry in their heart an unforgiving spirit. These people are restless, they run from job to job or apartment to apartment, never able to settle down; they are always being hurt by somebody; they have a hard time making friends. When asked if they forgive others who have wronged them, they look at me with a surprised look as if I had read their mind.

Unforgiving people think that they are better than other people. Others make mistakes but they never make mistakes. They are super-sensitive, taking everything personal. An unforgiving person withdraws and becomes a spectator not a participant.

One of the saddest things about an unforgiving person is that they build up aggression on the inside. Many people who carry grudges and harbor malice are filled with hostility. They are unable to laugh off the little problems that people sometimes cause; they take these matters seriously and build them into big issues.

Remember this: to forgive, you must receive forgiveness. Never forget what our Lord said in Matthew 6:15 – “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

From Parent to Child

I Gave You Life, but I Cannot Live it for You,

I Can Teach You Things, but I Cannot Make You Learn,

I Can Give You Directions; but I Cannot be There to Lead You,

I Can Allow You Freedom, but I Cannot Account for It.

I Can Take You to Church, but I Cannot Make You Believe,

I Can Teach You Right from Wrong, but I Cannot always Decide for You,

I Can Buy You Beautiful Clothes, but I Cannot Make You Beautiful Inside,

I Can Offer You Advice, but I Cannot Accept It for You.

I Can Give You Love, but I Cannot Force it Upon You,

I Can Teach You to Share, but I Cannot Make You Unselfish,

I Can Teach You Respect, but I Cannot Force You to Show Honor,

I Can Advise You About Friends, but I Cannot Choose them for You.

I Can Advise You About Sex, but I Cannot Keep You Pure,

I Can Tell You About Facts of Life, but I Cannot Build Your Reputation,

I Can Tell You About Drinking, but I Cannot Say No for You,

I Can Warn You About Drugs, but I Can’t Prevent Your Using Them,

I Can Tell You About Kindness, but I Can’t Force You to be Gracious,

I Can Warn You About Sins, but I Cannot Make Your Morals,

I Can Love You as a Child, but I Cannot Place You in God’s Family,

I Can Pray for You, but I Cannot Make You Walk With God,

I Can Teach You About Jesus, but I Cannot Make Jesus Your Lord,

I Can Tell You How to Live, but I Cannot Give You Eternal Life.

- Author Unknown

Little is Much When God is in It

“For who hath despised the day of small things?” - Zechariah 4:10-a

Too many people are impressed with the size of ministry rather than the sort of ministry. God is more concerned with quality than quantity! I Cor. 3:13-b - tells us that at the judgment seat of Christ God will, “try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

This lesson should teach us that God does not measure life the way we do. Little things in the Bible can teach us some big lessons!

Zechariah was trying to encourage Israel as they were rebuilding their temple. They were having a tough time! As they struggled, the budget was low, the morale even lower, and it looked like the job would never be finished. The people were discouraged because the whole project seemed so small … it just was not the temple it used to be.

Remember that all of us began life as babies. 😊 When God wanted to deliver His people from Egypt, he sent a baby to a Jewish family, and years later, Moses led his people out of bondage. Hannah gave her baby, named Samuel, to lead Israel to greatness. Then when God wanted to deliver mankind from sin, He sent another baby, Jesus!

God not only uses small things, but God also uses small acts to accomplish big things. Have you ever done something small and then wondered, “Well, nobody knows about that and it won’t accomplish much.”

You are so wrong!

For example:

· Mary of Bethany gave a spikenard of ointment for Jesus in John 12:3

· The little unnamed boy in John 6:9 gave his small lunch to Jesus.

· The widow gave her two mites to the Lord in Luke 21:2

· Joseph of Arimathaea in John 19:38 gave a burial plot for the body of Jesus. (Jesus only needed it for three days.) 😊

· The early New Testament church met in a prayer meeting with only 120 people. Acts 1:15

· David was a young shepherd boy … God saw a King!

Remember, nothing done for God or in the name of God is small!

No gift is small if it is given in faith and love. No service to God is small if it is done for God and His glory!

God measures for eternity and that is what really matters!.

The Eternal Encourager

“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.” - John 14:16

I am sure that the disciples felt as their world had collapsed after the death of Jesus!

Jesus had told them that one of them would betray Him and another would deny Him. ☹ Was there any encouragement or hope for these men?

Yes! Jesus had promised them a Comforter to come to them. John 14:16

The word Comforter translated means “the encourager.” Our English word comfort comes from two Latin words: com means “with” and fort means “strength.” So, a comforter is someone who helps to give us the strength we need to keep going. It is impossible to live a joyful, successful Christian life without the Holy Spirit of God. He is our encourager! He also discourages us from sinning.

So, if you are discouraged it could be that you are not depending on the Holy Spirit of God. ☹

How does the Holy Spirit encourage us as Christians:

· He teaches us great truths from His Word. John 16:13 – “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth..."

· He prays for us and helps us to pray within God’s will. Romans 8:26 – “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

· He gives us the power to live the Christian life. Philippians 2:13 – “For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

· He takes away fear from our lives. II Timothy 1:7 – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

· The main reason why the Holy Spirit is in the world today is to GLORIFY JESUS! John 16:14 – “He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”

The Holy Spirit did not come to glorify men or churches or organizations; He came to glorify Jesus Christ!

If we are living for the glory of God, then His spirit will encourage and enable us. If we are looking to receive glory only for ourselves then we will grieve Him. Ephesians 4:30

Help, Hope, and Happiness

“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” - Psalm 146:5

No matter how capable and efficient we may be, there comes times when we need help. I am not a mechanic, a plumber, electrician, builder, or a doctor, so I need help all of the time!

Psalm 46:1, 2 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” What a great word of encouragement!

Hebrews 13:6 reads, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

What about hope? Sad to say there are many who are losing hope or have absolutely nothing to live for, life has become unbearable for them, and they would rather die than live. When a person knows Christ, they always have hope!

Hebrews 6:19 tells us that our hope in Christ is an anchor. And that anchor will never slip or never fail. As Christians we are to be, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” – Romans 12:12 I read where Ferdinand Magellan took 35 compasses with him when he started on his voyage around the world. A ship without a compass is doomed! And so is a life without hope!

What is happiness? Happiness is living in God’s perfect will according to Romans 12:1, 2. Happiness is not found in possessions or wealth.

Jesus said, “… Beware of covetousness for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.” - Luke 12:15

Happiness is not found in thrills! Thrills never last! Are you in the center of God’s will? Why not?

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You Can’t Fool God

You can fool the hapless public, you can be a subtle fraud,

You can hide your little meanness, but you can’t fool God!

You can advertise your virtues, you can self-achievement laud,

You can load yourself with riches, but you can’t fool God!

You can criticize the Bible, you can be a selfish clod,

You can lie, swear, drink, and gamble, but you can’t fool God!

You can magnify your talent, you can hear the world applaud,

You can boast yourself somebody, but you can’t fool God!

- Grenville Kleiser

Time Flies

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” - James 4:14

The Bible has much to say about time and how it passes so quickly! Someone has well said, “Time goes you say? Oh no, time stays, and we go.” The older we get, the quicker time passes. Remember, God is not affected by time and change; He is the great I Am! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. His Word is forever settled in heaven. So, if time is too fast for you, don’t fight it. Surrender to Christ and let time work for you and not against you.

When I am sick or recovering from a surgery, time trudges along like tired turtles. Remember that God has a pattern and a purpose for us. He is in control! We cannot see the total picture; only God can see that. Please don’t get disgusted with your life when things are not going your way. God knows best! Don’t try to improve God’s plan, you can possibly make something ugly that God intends to be beautiful.

Also, never judge another person’s life or give up on them. You may be a parent, discouraged over your wayward child. Let God work everything out according to His good pleasure. Romans 8:28 Also, never give up! Keep going onward, forward until our heavenly father takes us all to our eternal home!

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Measure of a Man

Not, how did he die? But, how did he live?

Not, what did he gain? But, what did he give?

These are the merits to measure the worth,

Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.

Not, what was his church? Nor, what was his creed?

But had he befriended those really in need?

Not, what did the sketch in the newspaper say?

But, how many were sorry when he passed away?

- Selected

"Are You Being Controlled by Fear?"

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” – II Timothy 1:7

It seems as if nowadays many are filled and controlled by fear over many things. Fear is a sign of the end times. In Luke21:26, Jesus said, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” D.L. Moody was once approached and told him that they had found a great verse to overcome fear. They quoted Psalm 56:3 – “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Mr. Moody replied, “Why I have a better verse.” He then quoted Isaiah 12:2, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid.” Mr. Moody did have a greater promise. 😊

As Jesus warned us during the end times that men’s heart would fail them. City and state officials are afraid to act or react to open anarchy in our streets across this land. Scripture tells us that, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” The word snare means a noose. So, the greater the fear the tighter the noose. Many books have been written to show us how to overcome fear. Scripture tells us that, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” -Proverbs 1:7-a What creates fear in our lives?

A GUILTY CONSCIENCE:

· When Adam and Eve sinned, they felt guilty and experienced fear. Whenever we disobey God, we lose our close fellowship with Him, and that spiritual loneliness creates fear.

· The solution of course is simply to confess and forsake our sin and draw close to the Lord.

IGNORANCE:

· People fear the dark because they cannot see what is in front or around them.

· People fear the future because it is so uncertain.

OUR WEAKNESS:

· We are so used to managing life ourselves, not needing anyone else’s help, not even God’s. ☹

What is the main cause of fear? I believe that the main cause of fear is UNBELIEF IN GOD’S PROMISES. Remember what our Lord asked His disciples in the midst of a storm? “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” – Mark 4:40 Fear and faith cannot be friends! This is why Isaiah 12:2 says, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid.” The secret of victory over fear is faith in God! Faith is not simply medicine to kill the disease; faith is spiritual power to keep us from being infected in the first place.

Hickory Creek Baptist Church
940-484-2091

Praising our Lord Jesus Together!

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Devotion for 10-18-20

"Are You Being Controlled by Fear?"

Hickory Creek Baptist Church940-484-2091

Praising our Lord Jesus Together!

Pastor's Devotional for 1-3-21

Pastor's Pen Devotional for 12-27-20

Pastor's Pen Devotional for 12-20-20

Pastor's Pen Devotional for 12-13-20

Devotion for 12-6-20

Devotion for 11-29-10

Devotion for 11-22-10

Devotion for 11-15-20

Devotion for 11-1-20

How Deeply Do You Desire God?

Devotion for 10-18-20

"Are You Being Controlled by Fear?"

Hickory Creek Baptist Church
940-484-2091