Pastor’s Thoughts Sunday 5-19 through Tuesday 5-28-24
God is Always Right on Time: And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9
God has a timetable for every seed we plant…but His timetable is not always our timetable. Sometimes the “due season” means a quick return. Sometimes it means a process or a slow return that may take years, even a lifetime. But we can count on three things:
God will cause a harvest to come from the seeds we plant, God is never early or late. He is always right on time with our best interests at heart, Our harvest will have the same nature as the seeds we have sown: good seeds bring good harvests; bad seeds bring bad harvests.
What are we to do during the growing time of our seeds? Refuse to become discouraged because God has promised an abundant harvest. Determine to keep faith alive and active by allowing the hope planted in our hearts by the Spirit to flourish. Give and keep on giving…because we know this…His harvest is guaranteed!! Jack Hayford
Psalm 66:12 proclaims, “You let people ride over our heads; we went through Fire and Flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance.” In these words, we find a testament to the faithfulness and goodness of our Heavenly Father…who leads us through the trials and tribulations of life…to a place of abundance and blessing. In Psalm 66:12, we are reminded that even in the midst of adversity and challenges, God remains steadfast in His love and care for us. Like the Israelites who traversed through Fire and Flood, we too may encounter difficult seasons in our journey. Yet, in the midst of it all, God is with us…guiding us with His strong and steady hand…and bringing us to a place of abundance and blessing beyond measure.
Today, as we face the challenges and uncertainties that may come our way…let us take heart in the promise of Psalm 66:12. Let us trust in the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father, knowing that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
As we journey through the day…may we be reminded of His goodness and grace…leading us to a place of abundance and blessing in Him! —Cathy C. Charles
I SPEAK JESUS I just wanna speak the name of Jesus Over every heart and every mind ‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence I speak Jesus I just wanna speak the name of Jesus ‘Til every dark addiction starts to break Declaring there is hope and there is freedom I speak Jesus ‘Cause Your name is power Your name is healing Your name is life Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows Burn like a fire I just wanna speak the name of Jesus Over fear and all anxiety To every soul held captive by depression I speak Jesus ‘Cause Your name is power Your name is healing Your name is life Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows Burn like the fire Shout Jesus from the mountains Jesus in the streets Jesus in the darkness over every enemy Jesus for my family I speak the holy name Jesus Shout Jesus from the mountains Jesus in the streets Jesus in the darkness over every enemy Jesus for my family I speak the holy name Jesus ‘Cause Your name is power Your name is healing Your name is life Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows Burn like a fire Your name is power Your name is healing Your name is life Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows Burn like a fire I just wanna speak the name of Jesus Over every heart and every mind ‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence I speak Jesus ❤️❤️ —Charity Gayle
GOD WANTS TO FORTIFY YOUR FAITH Sometimes the well dries up before God fills it again. Sometimes the waters overwhelm us before they part before us. If you’re in over your head, out of options, and can’t see a way through…do not fret! Remember what you know about God…He’s the master of the miraculous breakthrough! Don’t fixate on your problem…fix your eyes on the One who promised never to leave you or forsake you. Don’t waste precious energy on things you can’t control. Letting go and letting God is good for your soul. Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Have you found your grace-space yet? That place where God’s provision flows and His life within you grows? Jesus is working even now. He will make Himself known to you in this place. Don’t doubt it for a second. LET FAITH ARISE! ❤️ Isaiah 43:19 (NLT) For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. —Susie Larson —————————— Psalms 91:14-16 Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.
THE JOY OF RESTORATION: Romans 5:8-10 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!”
All of scripture was written for the purpose of restoring the relationship which sin destroyed; “All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).
The message is clear: return to God! Believe He sent His Son Jesus to die as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin and begin to walk in an intimate fellowship of obedience which is consistent with that belief. God sent His Son to die so we could be restored. This is the heart of a loving Father…to call His children home.
The enemy will try to deceive us into believing this relationship is no longer possible…but this is a lie!! Jesus came to restore what the enemy destroyed…and His restoration is made complete by grace through faith.
The pain of separation does not need to continue. Let’s begin today to trust Him with all our heart and truly experience the joy of restoration! –Steve Troxel
God is a God who pursues us. When we get off track…He leaves the 99 to come find us. It was God who loved us first. We love each other because He loved us first. 1 John 4:19 Just like my mom wasn’t afraid to come find me wherever I was in my addiction, God did the same thing for me. He pursued me wherever I was. Freed me from my mess, and brought me back to Him. Reader take note, God is pursuing YOU too. Wherever you are, in whatever mess you’ve made, He is pursuing you. He is drawing you into a relationship with Him. —Tashina Rickerson —————————— Amen and Amen!! Stop running from Him and SURRENDER…come as you are…don’t wait another moment…it will be the best decision you ever made. It certainly was for me.
GOD IS GREATER THAN ANYTHING THIS WORLD CAN THROW AT YOU!! Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3 We can often encounter difficulties in life, but we should remember this call to praise and worship the Lord…for He is to be praised. When we are feeling weary or discouraged…our priority should be to know the greatness of God Who carries us and refreshes our soul. When we feel like our faith is being tested…we should turn to the Word of God. This question is, are you putting God first? Do you trust Him? His love endures forever. His Word is true! ❤️ —Liz Nova —————————— On this Memorial Day, we remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Every day God places people in our life who need encouragement and desperately need to be directed onto a path which will lead them closer to God.
None of us know all the answers, and we certainly don’t need to force everything we know into a single conversation, but we each are given an opportunity to minister…an opportunity which may only last a moment and may never truly return.
Let’s look for the specific needs of those who cross our path…and be prepared to encourage with the truth of God’s Word. But as we speak the truth, whether on the water, in the boat or even back on the shore…let’s minister as we meet them where they are. ❤️
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and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11