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| ABEL AND SETH We only have the names of three of Adam and Eve's children, though we know they had many more. The names we know are Cain, Abel and Settl. As we know, Cain was the wicked one. Abel and Seth were different. They of course were sinners as all men are since Adam. However, they were the spiritual seed. They were born again men, men of faith. This is proven by Abel's offering (Gen. 4:4, Heb. 11 :4). When Cain killed Abel, he did so because he was a self-righteous and hated faith or anyone who really possessed it. However, God will not have the spiritual seed destroyed, so He gave Adam and Eve a special son to replace Abel. They named him Seth. Just as Cain was the father of a wicked civilization, Seth was to be the father of the children of faith. Seth's fIrst son was named Enos. There were eight generations from Seth through Noah. In each of these generations there was a godly man who passed on to his children the truths of God and kept his marriage pure. These men like Adam lived to very old. Three of them lived to be older than Adam. In all, there were seven men who lived to be over nine hundred years old. Methuselah -969, Jared -962, Noah -950, Adam -930, Seth -912, Cainan -910, Enos -905. Abel and Seth set a pattern for the children of repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ. "I am what 1 am by the Grace of God," for they are eternal subjects of God's Grace. Come Join us at South Jackson Baptist Church |
| THE UNSEEN PRESENCE by Peggy Shepherd 9-8-02 This evening my devotion is on a very personal level. I have Titled it The UNSEEN PRESENCE and the ability to recognize the unseen presence of Christ in our daily lives. It's a presence that some of you know, and then, maybe it is an awareness that you have never reasoned out within yourselves.Sometimes we christians treat Christ like he is a paint brush. Like he is there to cover up all the things we don't want to hear.Paul told the Ephesians, "You only want to hear what you want to hear." I will try to give you an example of this, Most of us have done things in our minds which we would never do or say.Thats part of being human. Isn't that true? Think about it. As a matter of fact, this world in which we do our thinking is a much more important world than we realize. We always think with our minds before we say it with our lips. ( If you don't do this---then you have put the horse before the cart,and that will get us into all kinds of trouble) As Proverbs says, The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. Another example--Proverbs, 15:28 reads" The heart of the righteous studies before answering, but the mouth of the wicked pour out evil things. We always think a thought in our minds before we do it with our hands! Its called the subconscious thought. The person that has Christ in their thoughts, will study long before putting lips into play.We must always remember that we have a companion near. An unseen presence. Even when we least realize it--Christ is near. Have you ever been guilty of telling your child that you read their thoughts? Most of us have. Of course we could not do that, no Mother can, but the Master himself always overhears the silent conversation of our minds. He is the companion in the lonely night hour. He knows us with an insight from which no secrets are hidden. Most of our thoughts are dictated by the people we meet and the experiences in their lives. If we keep the unseen power of Christ near, it gives us a new background. a new standard, a new inspiration. Most of us, while raising and teaching our children, told them to look beyond themselves and to be mindful of the needs of those less fortunate, My Mother pounded that into our heads at least once a month,and it was always whenever we took ourselves too seriously,we learned real fast that the world did not revolve around us. We also knew that there were definite rules in being part of our family.We had obligations, my sister's and I to Our Mother,who was left a widow with 6 children to raise,way back then when there was not welfare. Just because we were girls did not mean that we didn't have to serve our stint, in carrying in water or cutting wood for the old cook stove and pot bellied heater,or the fireplace in the bedrooms. It didn't matter if you were male or female. If you were an Anderson and in our family you did your share.It's a lot like being part of Gods family, and our obligation to him as christian women. We rise each morning glad of his nearness, but do we live the day through believing he is near. Or do we push him aside, haphazardly, as we go about our day? It's for sure that we, in this,modern time don't have "The Pillar of Cloud" to show us the way to go each day, nor the Ark of the Covenant in which the presence of God stayed with his people. Deut. 4:7 tells the Jews, ",What other nations are so great as to have their God near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we talk to Him?" Down in verse 9 there is a warning to them, it says " Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. We have the precious Son of God as our daily companion,He is beside us every step we take. If we as Christians always keep our thought and conversations as in Heaven we can then grasp a new meaning of his nearness. Blessed are we whose actions express a concious companionship with the living Christ. There is a wonderful room in the human heart which is empty until God is There. We learned in our Bible study that Jesus departed from the eyes of men forever but He lives forever in our heats- if we let Him. Just place your hand there, over your heart and you will feel his presence. If you talk to him He will hear--Never fail to keep Him near. |
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| God Knows all Impurities 9-25-02 Peggy Shephard The word, sincere is not often used in this day and time. It comes from the Latin word sine- cere which means, without wax. In Biblical times wax was often used by uncrupulous potters to hide the cracks in the pottery. They did not throw away the cracked or chipped pottery as it should have been, but they took it from the hot furnace,where it was set apart from the pure. They placed it in a dark room to cool and repair for later. When no one was around to see, they took the broken pottery out of it's hiding place, and carefully used a special wax too conceal the cracks.After the wax hardened he would smooth it to match the rest of the pottery. He then used a special paint to hide the flaws. When all of this was finished, he set the impure pottery out with the sine-cere group. No one was aware of this, as long as no fire touched the wax. However, under a test of fire, the wax would melt and reveal the hidden impurities. Two other words are associated with sine-cere, Holiness and pureness. If we are to be Holy- we must be separate from all that stains and dirties our lives. We must be free from all sinful thoughts, impure motives, and questionable activities. There is nothing in creation hidden from Gods sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him which we must give account. God knows us inside and out. He knows our secret thoughts, our dreams, and our aspirations. God knows where our loyalties are and when we occasionally stumble. He watches us as we interact with people, and He hears with a sad heart to circumstances which are not pleasing to him.God looks to see if we are trustworthy and faithful. He will do many wonderful things for us if our faith in Him is sincere. If we want God to reveal himself, and ( melt away the wax) in us, so that we can see him clearly. We must approach him with " clean hands and a pure heart.", He will then place a sincere mark on us. John-3-6, Christ says that He knows us and will call us by name---. We will recognize Him and know His voice, and respond to Him. It is easy to love people to whom we have a close family relationship. When we love with God's love, we will love all our Christian brothers, even those whose views are different than our own. The mark of a Christian is to love his fellow believer,it is not how much we work, nor, how much we sacrifice. Jesus says that the world can perceive if we are a follower of Him by the way we treat others.If we have a relationship with a fellow believer that is not consistent with the type of love that Christ demonstrated for us, set it right. If we fail to show love for one in whom Christ lives, we can't properly love anyone who is apart from Him. John 13,34-35. It is Christ we are serving, and it is Christ we are ministering to, when we love and care for our fellow believers. |
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| What is Love? The South Jackson Baptist Church 9-25-02 Beloved, let us love another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth God not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten son into the world, we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Here by know we that dwell in him, and his in us, because he hath given us of his spirit.And we have seen and do testify that the father sent the son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us, God is love; and he that dwelleth in God, and God in him. Here in is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as he is, so are We in this world. (1John 4, 7-17). Have You Helped Someone this Week? |
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| First Church of God Old Quicksand Road 50th Anniversary Celebration Oct. 4th, 5th, 6th Friday, Oct. 4th - Former Pastors' Appreciation Night All pastors invited. Main speaker, Rev. Dennis Creech. Saturday, Oct. 5th - All-day gospel singing, 2:00-5:30, under the tent. Preaching, Rev. Bobby Hollon. Featuring singing group, New Vision from Hamilton, Ohio. Sunday, Oct. 6th - Church service beginning at 10:00 with first minister, Rev. Walter Strong. Dinner-on-the-ground and hymn sing at 12:00. Closing, 2:00. EVERYONE INVITED!!! COME AND HELP US CELEBRATE OUR GOLDEN JUBILEE! |
| Brotherly Love 10-14-02 By Peggy Shepherd My devotion is based on I John 2:7-11 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command. It's truth is seen in him and you because the darkness is passing, and the true light is already shining. Any one who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in darkness. Who ever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But who ever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. John writes these words to warn us that if we allow barriers to come into our life and take our minds from Jesus, we cannot do what God wants us to do. But then....Words are like coins, they can be in circulation so long that they begin to fade and the shine wears off. Just take the word " LOVE," for example it can be used so often and so frivolously that the meaning becomes vague and unrelated as to the true meaning of the word. We say such things as, I love to go shopping--I love my car --I love hot dogs and butterscotch pie. The Greeks would have bristled at the idea of using such a serious word for a trivial statement, for they had five different meanings for the word, Agape. These were Brotherly love, Charitable love, Christian love, spiritual love and lastly platonic love. Matthew 22:37 told his disciples that they should love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind! And then he admonishes them to be an example by saying; by this, ( here the emphasis is on this) Everyone will know that you are my disciples, If ( here is David's big little IF, word) You cannot love God without loving one another! You only love God as much as you love the person you dislike the most. This is a powerful statement, think about it. It had to be a perfected love Jesus had for His disciples, to teach and train them. For they came from such various backgrounds. Peter was given to boast about things. Even unreliable when it came to his own personal safety, he lied three times. James and John were called "Sons of Thunder" ..no wonder! They were spoiled and selfish. They even talked their poor Mother into asking Jesus for the top two spots in his kingdom. In Luke, They even wanted to call down fire, as Elijah had ,on the Samaritans who were hostile to Jews on their religious festivals. Thomas wouldn't believe anything. That is why Jesus held out his nail pierced hand for him to touch. Thomas called Judas a devil in his anger. Jesus must have had his fill of them when he told them," How much longer must I put up with you," as they began to argue which of them would be greater, after Jesus left them. Was this love? Was it greed to see who could be best? Let us consider who Jesus loved. His Enemies and they were many. Think of the way he loved them---He agreed to his self-sacrifice. How many of us would gladly be nailed to the cross for the person sitting next to you? In all honesty, I could not do it on my own. A fellow ship with God means loving God's family and keeping His commandments. It is the old commandment from the beginning. This commandment was old when the pyramids were new. In the upper room at the last supper Jesus said, "I am giving you a new commandment. Love each other. How is that new? Jesus goes on to say, ( Just as I loved you). He was the new light that does not walk in darkness. I was reading a story the other day about a woman who went to a doctor for a physical problem. He soon discovered that her problem was really spiritual in the fact that she had a hatred for anther woman in the church, for years. She felt that this woman had treated her unjustly. Her hatred had turned her bitter and rancid and poisoned all her thoughts. The Dr. told her, that for her to get well, she must forgive this woman as God had forgiven her. "But, I can't forgive her, and I'll never forgive her". " But you Must, said the Dr. for if you don't, you are not a christian, and you were never born again." This shocked the woman, and she started to cry, realizing that she had been deceiving herself. The end of the story goes on to add that as soon as she forgave the woman her health took a remarkable turn for the better. The impact on her, after realizing what she had done, was like turning night into day. It is not easy to love one another, Jesus knew that, because of our carnal side. Christians are some of the hardest people on earth to love. Some are stubborn as an old mule, and dogmatic,never listening, stiff-necked, uncooperative,overzealous,and opinionated. He list goes on and on, But the important thing to remember in our lives, is, if we ask for forgiveness and repent,God must forgive us. That is what he does best. He will love us, just as he always has, if we obey his commandments. |
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| The South Jackson Baptist Church 10-14-02 Treasures in Heaven Lay not uo for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also. The light of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eve be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6, 19-24) |
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| Perseverance in praying by Peggy Shepherd 10-29-02 Paul in Ephesians 6:18-24 ends this book with a call to prayer. {Prayer: Our Lord and Savior, you know that Satan loves to assail us with doubts and fears, about prayer. You know that the enemy tries to deceive us, to make us think that prayers are a waste of time. Thank you for these words of Paul, these words which you inspired, cautioning us to be devoted to prayer. Open our ears and my mouth so that you may fill it with the holy spirit and that we might have your presence and insight into this most important teaching. In the name of Jesus,Amen} What is the purpose of praying? Do we pray to change the mind of an unchangeable God? A God who is outside time. Or do we pray like Aladdin to the genie in the bottle, thinking that God will give us three wishes. Did you try that and the wishes did not come true, so now we pray for obedience but do not understand why? Does prayer work? Is anything accomplished through prayer, is anything changed by you and me getting on our knees and talking to God? If God is really outside time, if he is the eternal one who created time, if he is sovereign over all creation, then why pray? Every Christian struggle with some of these questions at times. Each one of us has deeply wanted something-- the salvation of a loved one, a victory over persistent sin, the healing of a sick person, revival in our church, all of us prayed earnestly for it-- and seen nothing. This is a common experience of Christians, some of us are feeling " I have tried to pray; I have prayed until my knees are weak.I have tried to be like that persistent widow in Luke 18:6 who kept going to the unjust judge pleading for justice against her adversary.--and still not seeing results. Why keep on trying?" EPH. 6:18-20--Pray in the spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind be on alert and always keep on praying for the saints.Pray also for me (Paul is saying)that whenever I open my mouth words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make know the mystery of the gospel,for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. In these verses' Paul gives us seven reasons to pray. First: Effective prayer means putting on the armor of God. Putting on the armor means turning our thoughts to God and the truths of our position to him. He has given us his truth, which is completely trustworthy; we are the righteousness of God, and thus can never be condemned; God has granted us his peace. We are to take up the shield of faith and place our confidence in what we cannot see so that we are not fooled by appearances. We are to put on the helmet of salvation knowing that we are to be glorified in the presence of Christ. And finally, we are to take up the sword of the spirit, the word of God, as this makes parts of his word come alive for us just when we need them. Second, Effective prayer includes all types of prayer Paul says we are to pray with all types of prayer, our prayers should not be the same or even the same form each day. Paul brings out two types, prayer and petition. The first concerns honoring God, bowing in reverence before him,,worshiping Him. The second are our requests, both for ourselves and for others. The Third: Prayer for all season,We need to pray for the good times, the bad times, times of tragedy, times of rejoicing, times of accomplishments, times of failure, and times when we feel close to God, and at times when we feel God has let us down.when we cannot even sense his presence. We need to pray ALL TYPES OF TIMES. Fourthly: Prayer IN THE SPIRIT, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT. John4; 24 God is spirit,and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.{ Here Paul is telling us that we cannot pray effectively unless we are in the power of God's spirit. Effective prayer results from an active dependence on the spirit within us, and as we acknowledge that we do not know how to pray, we open ourselves to his leading and his prompting. Five Effective prayer is the result of being watchful and alert: We are the body of Christ, we need each other and all of us need to do his part if the body is to prosper fully And doing our part means to watch and pray. Sixth Effective prayer is perseverant Paul says to be on alert with all perseverance. This word means to serve constantly.This means to wait on him constantly, being forever devoted to Him, anticipating his needs and trying to meet those needs before being asked.Holding up under the pressures of tribulation, looking at prayer not as an enduring burden-- but as a form of service And finally Seven: Effective prayer is in accord with God's promises and gifts. Here, Paul is in prison, and does he ask to be set free? Does he ask to be made more comfortable, new clothes, better food? No! Paul asked God to let him forfill his mission. He asked that he might use his spiritual gifts effectively, In verse 19- 20 Paul did not rest on the fact that God has commissioned him, or that God had gifted him. He sought out prayer, because God chooses to work through our prayers. This brings us back to the question, Does prayer work? Prayer is our active dependence on God, our turning to him,acknowledging, that we need him when we pray, and we are always reminded who God is, and what he has done for each of us, of what he will do and that God will forfill his promises to us.How does God work through prayer? We will never fully understand this and it is no different than the way God works with any of our actions.God works though prayer in exactly the same way he works through preaching or witnessing,or exercising our spiritual gifts. We can do nothing on our own power But God chooses to work through us. Prayer doesn't change God --it changes us for the better. That is one important reason for prayer.While prayer does not change an unchanging God, prayer changes the world around us God has ordained that he will work through our prayers. Pray through the scriptures, pray in praise to God,thanking him, recalling his great deeds as recorded in the bible( I see that Carol does this a lot) Pray for your elders and they will be empowered and changed. Think of ourselves as a General in God's army, asking for reinforcements when we pray for lost souls.So we can have assurance that the battle will be won. Always go to battle against Satan with our Christian helmet on.Pray. Thats my devotion for today. This devotion was written by me to encourage our Ladies Prayer Group, on July 31, 2001, At The First Church of God of Jackson Ky. |
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| New billboards are getting attention in Arizona. 11-18-02 Here's a list of all variations of the "God Speaks" billboards. Tell the kids I love them. GOD Let's meet at my house Sunday before the game. GOD C'mon over and bring the kids. GOD What part of "Thou Shalt Not..." didn't you understand? GOD We need to talk. GOD Keep using my name in vain, I'll make rush hour longer. GOD Loved the wedding, invite me to the marriage. GOD That "Love Thy Neighbor" thing... I meant it. GOD I love you and you and you and you and... GOD Will the road you're on get you to my place? GOD Follow me. GOD Big bang theory, you've got to be kidding. GOD My way IS the highway. GOD Need directions? GOD Don't make me come down there. GOD |
| Daily Faith by Peggy Shepherd 12-10-02 In the Book of Ezekiel we find that "the cloud" that hovered over the mercy seat of The Ark of God, signifying the Presence of The Almighty, appeared to become restless: it moved from that place (mercy seat) to over one of the doors: later it moved outside the city, and then later it departed, altogether! It was not long after that event, that Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed! "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." It has been suggested, and with good scriptural ground, that our Court's action in taking a stand regarding the God Almighty and withdrawing The Bible and Prayer from our children, may have resulted in God withdrawing his Presence and protection from our nation to the place where an enemy was able to cut down many lives and send the economy plummeting into a mild recession.. "Not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Heavenly father" observing and permitting. In this time of trouble and discontent among the nations, we should pray more devoutly and constantly that our leaders are good and God fearing men. We are starting a new year and what better time than now to make a change in the way we present ourselves to God. Our faith is essential and necessary to have a dialogue with God-- " The devils believe, fear, and tremble!" Hebrews 11:6 tells us: " For he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seeks Him". Romans 10:17 tells us also that: " Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," and this is the reason this writer urges everyone to read God's word, get familiar with it as much as possible, asking God and His Holy Spirit to be your teacher. |
| The Unity that Brings Joy by Peggy Shepherd 1-15-03 The nature of “unity” that produces joy involves “being like -minded”. This means to think the same thing. Having the same love, knowing we will love the same thing in matters that pertain to Christ, His church and our Community. Our love for one another will be of the same kind, sincere, fervent, and from a pure heart. All of this can be said of ,“The Monday Night," county wide prayer service. The church was full of happy smiling faces. It was a joyful place to be on a cold snowy night. . All of the “celebrities” and their spouses, sat on the first five or six rows of the church. They all seemed to be in a “like-minded” mood. Freddy Finley was the perfect master of services for Monday night. he started the evening off on a wonderful note; saying, "we are one community unified, we could not spell the word community --without the unity." This statement set the mood for each speaker to voice the concerns facing their districts. It was very evident at the service that some of these policy makers were there for the right reasons. Many stood up and testified of their faith in the Lord, it was a most unusual night. One outstanding testimony was given by out new County Attorney, Brendon Miller. The audience sat still as stone as Bro Bobby Hollon gave the charge; first to the officials and then he cautioned the churches to accept a responsibility for working together, to work for the same purpose and intentions God has in store for those who work in unity to serve Him. He charged the officials to let nothing be done through selfish ambition or sinful deeds., always conducting themselves in a manner so as to be worthy of the Gospel. He went on to call attention to keeping a good reputation, to live our life so that an young person would be proud to follow into the footsteps of an elected official. He suggested to the newly sworn--in officials, to perform their duties, so that a new definition could be given to the word “politician”. The night ended with much fellowship and joy. Only time will tell if their words were sincere or not, but let us , our church, keep a vigilant prayer going for God to direct their paths in the most righteous way. |
| GOD IS LIKE.........10-03-03 A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results: BAYER ASPIRIN He works miracles. a FORD He's got a better idea. COKE He's the real thing. HALLMARK CARDS He cares enough to send His very best. TIDE He gets the stains out that others leave behind. GENERAL ELECTRIC He brings good things to life. SEARS He has everything. ALKA-SELTZER Try him, you'll like Him. SCOTCH TAPE You can't see him, but you know He's there. DELTA He's ready when you are. ALLSTATE You're in good hands with Him. VO-5 Hair Spray He holds through all kinds of weather. DIAL SOAP Aren't you glad you have Him. Don't you wish everybody did. the U.S. POST OFFICE Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination. "God Grant Me the Serenity to Accept the things I cannot Change, the Courage to Change the Things I Can, and the Wisdom to Know the Difference." |
| Valentine Devotion by Peggy Shepherd Vol. 1 No. 23 Feburary 11, 2003 When we think of Valentine's day, we often think of red roses, candy in heart shaped boxes, mushy valentines, winged cherubs flying about shooting starry-eyed lovers with arrows. But did you know that the origin of Saint Valentine's Day came from the life and death of a Christian martyr? Who was the real Valentine, and why was a day named after him? St. Valentine was a Roman Christian who was martyred during the third century by Emperor Claudius II. Claudius was the Emperor who declared all Christians illegal citizens. By his definition, they were guilty of treason because Roman citizens were required by law to worship the Emperor by declaring publicly, "Caesar is Lord." Of course no Christian would do this. So Valentine, refusing to declare Claudius, God, was thrown into prison. One guard was a good man who had adopted a blind girl. He asked Valentine if he could help his daughter. Valentine feeling the grace of God come upon him prayed, and the girl was given sight. The guard and his whole family which totaled 46 people believed in Jesus and were baptized. When Emperor Claudius heard about Valentine still carrying on his work while in prison was livid with anger. He sentenced Valentine to death. He could not have someone in prison, converting his guards to Christianity. He would lose face and his power to rule as he chooses. With chains on his hands and feet, Valentine asked to write a last letter to the jailer's daughter. History does not record what the contents of the letter. But it does say the letter ended with, " From Your Valentine". This first valentine was really a Christian witness. And growing out of this beautiful act of love for the little girl whose sight was restored, is the reason we participate in a custom of sending cards to people we love. Why not as Christians, celebrate the true love that compelled young Valentine to give up his life. Let us remember that the day we know as St. Valentine's day actually commemorates the death of an early Christian martyr. One who was put to death for refusing to renounce his faith in our Lord . Instead of soon wilted flowers and candies full of calories, let us all exemplify the real meaning of St. Valentine's Day. Please celebrate the day, but re-create it with Christian meaning by resolving to live for Jesus. Celebrate without the shame and fear of following his Godly example of unconditional love for Christ. First ,try to turn everything over to Christ Second, Made a promise to yourself to tell everyone about Christ even if it cost you something, Do the things that have no element of materialistic value. Thirdly, become a servant to those you love, rather than demanding your wants be met. This valentine's day remember that you are loved, God loves you and wants you to be his Valentine. The world's love is only as sturdy as a piece of paper .The love that God gives us is not an imitation, it is the real thing! His love is patient. In conclusion, this Valentine's Day, write a letter to God. Put it in a Golden Memory Vault that Bridgette sang about. When you feel unloved, take out the letter, read it to yourself. That letter is who you are! |
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| Joy and Happiness and Prayer submitted by Peggy Shepherd 8-21-03 1 Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even tho you do not see him now, you believe him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith. the salvation of your soul. Sunday, Me and my husband were invited to the Bach Memorial church,I was asked to sing . Jack Neace, is the pastor there.He spoke on a subject that caused me to ponder more seriously on certain aspects of life, and the way we perceive) Joy and Happiness and prayer. So I quietly took some notes on the sermon. I learned that Joy is not a natural thing we are born with it’s something we are given in our life. It is a perfect love or contentment with God and others, which can only come from God. It means taking the big M in me away and making it last in our lives. Happiness on the other had is just for the moment. It is a fleeting thing. A feeling of self gratification. Designer clothes wear out, a big house will be a burden as we age, and can no longer keep up the work it requires. Investments can fail, even the best ones. Our positions, they can become insecure. Suppose your boss dies or sells out to another company. An enterprise that brings in their own people. We are suddenly without a job. Or some fanatic high jacks a few planes, which will eventually effects a stable economy. This event I am writing about effected my son. His future which was so bright the day before, is now gone. His happiness at having a promising retirement fund was destroyed in a matter of hours. His happiness was only a fleeting thing. A throne can topple in a moment of passion, look at Lady “Di” and Prince Charles. A dictator who ruled the country with power and treasures unknown, now lives in constant fear of assassination. Treasures in the material sense can be comforting one moment, but it may kill you in the next. I learned that when we Pray, sometimes God wants us to take the load ourselves! I learned that he hears our every prayer, but his plan is much broader than ours. But, Joy is a person---It is Him! Our Living Christ! There are ways to get this Joy: Do whatever God commands, if he touches us to do something for him, do it. Don't complain! You will know if it is real Joy or just a fleeting happiness. Next, we must endure what ever God appoints, however severe. I can say this because several of us here tonight have been there and we have done that. I, personally, am going to take joy in this because I know that God has a special Joy waiting for me! It is because I have endured and fought a good fight, and I have won the race! I no longer have pity parties for myself. I have learned to love and forgive my enemies and those that don't view the world as I do. I remember when I was a hairdresser and working hard to make a living , people would try to destroy my reputation as a hairdresser by saying mean things to other people about my work. I thought several times that I would abandon my career as a hairdresser and go back into dentistry. But, it was at that moment, - the moment my heart was broken and I was at one of the lowest peaks in my life that Christ was closest to me. I didn't know it,then but He was right there beside me, -to give me Joy. If I had only reached out for him. He only wanted me to take an action in my life. The action he wanted from me --was to get sin out of my life. He wanted me to have joy, not happiness. It is so plain to me now. It suddenly came to me of the time in the old testament when Joshua thought if he just laid down and prayed all day God would take care of the battle with the city of Ai. Joshua thought he wouldn't have to do anything. But--God told Joshua in, Joshua, 7:10, “Get thee up; why are you lying there on your face”? Joshua had been lying there on the ground, all evening, praying, while the soldiers of the Ai were killing the Israelites. God has heard his prayer, the first time he prayed, he wanted Joshua, to be a man of action. God wanted Joshua to do something. God told Joshua that someone in the camp had taken the spoils of battle and put it in the camp. God could have no sin in the camp. Israel had been unfaithful to God in doing this and unless it was taken care of they would always be defeated. After Joshua got up from the ground and found the perpetrator, they defeated the Ai and they had great Joy .Sometimes when we pray we need to do more than just pray, We need to act.! As a example, we can spend months or even years praying for a lost soul, or a relative to turn their life over to Christ.When nothing happens then we start to doubt because that person is still living in sin. But God heard our prayers that very first time. Could it be that He wants us to do something first? He wants us to take action. So when we pray lets all ask God what action He wants us to take. I know that He will tell us in some way in which we understand what Joy is waiting for us. Let us wait upon the lord. Christian living is more than prayer, It is also taking hold of the wisdom of prayer God gives us and actually applying it. So our Joy is permanent if we abide in him. But there is a cost, we must believe and we must obey. |
| Join God's Army by Peggy Shepherd 11-2-03 There was a story told of a mustard seed . It was planted and grew into a tree. The birds of the air rested in it. The birds ate the seeds of the tree and spread them all over the world. The Ladies Missionary of the First Church of God are planting seeds . These seeds have very fundamental principles which are simple to grow and flourish. We work humbly for the Lord. We have prayer and devotion We depend on the Holy Spirit to direct us in all our endeavors . You may have planted seeds at one time or another. There are four different types of soil in which to plant. Let us compare ourselves to these types of soil: There is thin soil on the path. Rocky soil on the hills we climb. There is soil thick with thorns. And finally, we have “Good soil.” How sad it is that so many of the seeds we plant do not bear fruit. Yet the words of God does not return to him empty. There will always be enough, “Good soil” to do the work of God. Did you know that,each of us resemble a flower in our special and unique way? Each of us must grow. We can only grow if we place ourselves in God’s own nurturing soil where progress is inescapable and renewal is irrepressible. God’s unfailing love is causing us to bloom in patience, hope, and a deep desire to give ourselves to others who are in need. Have you asked yourself how can I plant seeds of faith? Start small and humble and God will do the rest. He knows if you are serious about His creations. It has to go into you -- into your mind, your heart, your soul, and your life! Do you allow the word of God to be planted into you? Have you ever noticed how flowers reach up for the light. We Christians do the same thing. We reach our heart’s out to the “ Son ” , He gives us light for the soil “thick with thorns”. He removes those heavy rocks in our road to perfection. Observe the flowers in your garden. There are species of all kinds , some are hybrid, and some are growing wild, yet notice the way they nurture each other. The beauty of one does not effect the beauty of the others. Each are reaching out for a source and a purpose. The dahlia’s, the Queen’s of the Meadow, and the Crimson Rose , all are different, but with one purpose and desire to reach for the sun. The tallest flower shades the lowest creeping vine so that thorns will not grow. A thorn cannot grow where there is no sun. It will become weak and die, it will not produce good seeds. We ladies of the Missionary Club are forever striving to produce good “seeds “ for God, and community. We need your help ladies. ! How can I stress the importance of helping in this work ? We are praying that God will touch each of you in a special way. Our prayers will be that you can find a way to attend this worthy cause. We need your special blossoms in the Ladies Missionary . Please come and help us! Just listen to your heart. |
| Area Women Invited to First Church of God Retreat 11-2-03 By Jenny Edmonds Women, do you have joy? Is your life blessed? In Matthew 5 of God’s Holy Word, Jesus gives the recipe for a blessed life. This recipe is known as the Beatitudes. Proverbs 15:13 says, "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the Spirit is broken." In other words, (women), what is inside is reflected outside. Having the right attitude determines how we respond to everyone and everything on this earth. Having the right attitude also determines how we respond to God and eternity. The women’s group at our church has been working for several weeks planning a fall retreat which will take place Friday evening, November 7th, and continue through all day Saturday, November 8th. The retreat will take place at the church, with the theme being JOY, a Recipe for a Blessed Life. Emphasis will on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5). The First Church of God is located at 1829 Old Quicksand Road, near the Lions Club. Our ladies have prayerfully prayed and sought God guidance that through this event He would lead us to touch other women. We realize the many difficulties, challengers, and trails, that we as women of today all face. It is hoped that every person who attends this retreat will be renewed, motivated and come to realize that she CAN have joy and peace in her heart, no matter what the circumstances. We pray most of all that women needing salvation will come and find forgiveness. We encourage all females, teens and older, to make plans to join us. There will be someone, or something, to bless you, no matter your age. Schedule of events is as follows: Friday afternoon, Nov. 7, 5:00-6:00 registration & getting acquainted; 6:00 evening session opening. Saturday, early morning prayer 6:00; 8:30 opening; 9:00 morning session; 12:00 lunch provided; 1:00 afternoon sessions. Food and refreshments provided by First Church of God Ladies Group. Women from several different churches will be participating. We invite you to bring a friend, or friends, and treat yourself to a wonderful relaxing, joyfully free time--loving God, loving others and loving yourself! |
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| Serving Two masters by Peggy Shepard 7-13-04 Matthew 6: 24-34 No one can serve two masters, for he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and man. Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body or what you put on. Is not life more than food? The body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow or reap or gather into barns. And yet our heavenly father feeds them. Are we not of more value than them? And which one of you by being anxious can add one second to the span of his life? And are you anxious about clothing? Consider the Lilies of the Field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin Yet even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like them. But if God clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive --and tomorrow thrown into the oven, will He not clothe us? So why do we say, what do we eat or what do we wear or what do we drink? Our heavenly Father knows what we need. If we seek the kingdom of heaven first, He will supply all our needs as well. So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. So let the days own trouble be sufficient for the day. Jesus used this illustration of nature as a vision so that we can see what peace and contentment means, all of us here can identify with these things. --the birds in the air,-- the lilies turning a face toward heaven. -These things show the natural order of His creation. The peace of nature and the innocent creatures of God seem to be secure and safe. But only so long as the presence of man and his restless spirit are not there to trouble its sanctity. Anxiety can come happen in your back yard, as well as the deep green forest. Yesterday morning, an event in our garden made me think that I had unknowingly troubled its sanctity, changed the order of God’s creation, so to speak. Bill and I like to feed the little birds on our deck;. It seemed like a safe place for them to perch . We were soon to realize that even under the protection of our deck the enemy can charge --. Accidents in nature do happen; for, there will always be the broken wing of a butterfly and a faded rose petal trampled on the ground , that is to be expected. And… Trouble will come to all things if they live long enough. . In my case it came from two direction , by two different species. This particular morning was hot and humid, as I took my little dog out for his morning constitutional. I could almost see the moisture in the air and my bronchial cavities began to resist the pollen and mold as I began sneezing. Birds were singing in the trees, some flying to and fro, eating from the feeders on the deck. Just about then, Willie- Boy signaled that he was finished with his duty and -- As I turned to go back into the house, I heard a flapping of wings. A strange whimpering -- a sound that was not natural to the peaceful scene. Under the large Japanese tree the neighbors cat had a small sparrow in the grips of death. The cat was crouching, getting ready for the final kill. I screamed as loud as I could --“get away from the bird.” The cat ran under some shrubs, all the while peeping out, reluctant to leave his meal.. Instantly, I ran to the bird, with Willie- Boy close behind, he knew the bird was in trouble as he put his nose to the birds wing .He stopped and looked up at me with his big brown eyes, as if to say, I need some help here. I picked up the little brown piece of feathers, one little leg had already began to stiffen, as the claws on its feet were drawing up into a ball. I knew it would die of fright if I did not do something quickly. It’s eyes were wide open, staring at nothing-ness,. I slowly cupped my other hand over the baby bird. I could feel it relax. The darkness was comforting to it. I held it very quite for a few minutes as I sat on the porch. The heart of this small thing was beating so hard I could feel it through my hand. After awhile I felt it was safe to take my hand away. What I saw was encouraging, the bird was alert and moving it’s eyes, the feet had resumed a normal position, so I took the bird and put it in a flower box. I felt it would be safe there, until it‘s strength returned. Being busy I soon forgot about the bird until my Mother came running into the house, she was sitting on the deck-- “Come fast she says, a big snake is trying to get the bird.” A large black snake had managed to crawl up the limbs of a Lilac bush , next to the deck to reach the small helpless bird. As I ran out to the deck, the snake dropped to the ground, and the bird was gone. I couldn’t help but wonder if things would have turned out differently if I had not disturbed the order of things. Maybe it was in the order of creation for the cat to eat the bird, By changing that order, I had brought another element into the equation. One which was in my opinion, even more threatening. It brought on a feeling of anxiety, a feeling that --“if” I had done this and “if” I had done that. After much thought, I came to the conclusion that, When God said, ”Give us this day our daily bread” He will provide that daily bread. I had taken into my hands the ability of nature to provide. My anxiety over a natural action had caused a reaction. In my case it was neither helpful nor necessary. The reaction had caused me to have anxiety about doing a good deed. Anxiety will rob us of our faith and confidence in God’s help and it will sap our energy for doing good. What does “serving two masters” and “anxiety” have in common? They both have the same root problem. An anxious person is tossed two and fro. Paralyzed by indecisions. A Fear that some bad come . It’s the case when someone wants to submit to God, but live according to the world’s standards of success and fulfillments. Who is the Master in Charge of our lives? Our Master is who we let control and govern our lives . It is the Master which governs our thought- life, shapes our ideals, controls the value of our hearts and the values we choose to live by. Tonight , lets start by leaving all that anxiety in God’s hands. Let us be overflowing with confidence that He will provide for our needs. He took care of that old ugly snake, didn't‘t He? I am not going to question why He gave an innocent bird to that old black snake. I think it was to show me that I was not to question His way of creation. I leave this thought with you, “Lord, free me from needless worries and help me to put my trust in you. Make my first concern be for you,. Help me to live each day with trust that you will provide for us”. |
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| Visit these Links: http://groups.msn.com/Begottenbytheword http://groups.msn.com/LittleSistersGirlsYouthMinistry |
| Little Sister's Girl's Youth Ministry preparing young ladies to become Godly women
We are non-denominational, we do not teach doctrine, we teach the written word according to the King James Version Bible http://groups.msn.com/LittleSistersGirlsYouthMinistry Monthly classes Guidelines: for all girls ages 9 years old and up For more information about Little Sister's , please contact: Cathaleen Abner Phone number= 606- 666-9578 Email address: Abner41339@hotmail.com Abner41339@praisinghim.com |
| Hello, What better way to begin the new year than to begin in praise of our heavenly father and intercession with believers from all over the region? This months praise jam will involve churches from Breathitt , Lee, and other surrounding counties coming together to sing, celebrate, fellowship and stand in the gap for our region, state, nation , and world. There is power in prayer, and there is more power in Christian believers praying together across denominational lines! Come join us, bring someone. Here's the info...
Where: "The Happy Church" in Downtown Jackson, on Broadway adjacent to city hall. When: This Sunday night ( Jan. 23 ) 6pm Dress: Not an issue What : Come ready to sing, pray, snack, fellowship, and worship. Questions? contact Mark @ 606-693-1104 or driskill@hillbillymail.com Blessings, Mark Driskill |
| Five Mile Community Church is putting up a new website and it will be www.FiveMileChurch.org Going Home By Peggy Shepherd 10-11-05 In my Father’s house are many mansion’s; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 I enjoy watching HGTV, “Mission Organization”. On one of the program’s, Rachel and her assistant wrecked a kitchen with the skill of a master construction crew. Since I have an I relationship with the homeowners and decorators on this show, I really like it when they visit the opulent homes. It shows one how the other side lives, the rich tapestry fabrics, gorgeous antique furniture, and priceless works of art. Many of the homes have breathtaking views of the ocean, others have private gardens that would rival “Vanderbilt’s, Biltmore Estate’” But none of this will compare to the heavenly realm which waits for his saints. . God’s son , His only Son, returned to heaven to prepare a place for me. I cannot imagine what that will look like! Can you? I have dreamed of heaven once or twice in my lifetime, but I know there is more to it than what my finite mind can conceive. The Bible tells us that Jesus was with God when He formed the earth. He was witness to the first star being born. He watched as His Father placed it in the universe. He saw the peacock being designed, and He must have smiled when He made the anteater, for being nosy serves a good purpose in this case. In addition, the first sunset will never happen again. It must have been made for their eyes only. He witnessed each step of the creation. He looked upon Adam and Eve and said, “This is good“. He is there now, designing a home for each of us. Just think, one day we will have an eternity to visit the many rooms he talked about. I cannot wait to wade in the river of water of life, which the Bible tells us is as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God. Thank you Jesus for my beautiful heavenly home, I know it will be wonderful there. What is Good by Peggy Shepherd Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men,that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. What a verse to live by. This verse was brought to my remembrance several weeks ago by a friend of mine. As it happened, we were casually discussing the Bible, where upon she made this statement, “Peggy, you are a Christian, so tell me what it means to be “a good person.”! I looked at her for a few seconds to see if she was serious and I saw that she was very serious. ”You are a Christian” is the statement she wanted me to capitalize upon. I knew at that very moment I was being tested and challenged, not only on my level of knowledge, but also on my Christian way of life. It would have been perilous for me as a friend to make just a blanket statement defining the meaning of good . She wanted some special meaning from this word. I felt that she was looking for a spiritual meaning, and I did not know if I was equipped with enough knowledge on the subject, to explain the meaning to her. A quick thought went through my mind, “What or by who’s standard do I use to define good?” I knew that she did not want a simple child’s definition of good, such as, always being obedient to our parents. She did not want to hear that being neat or eating our vegetables is a good thing . It did not mean if I was good I would get what I wanted for Christmas. She did not want to hear that as we age or become an adolescent the meaning changes a bit. Being good at this age would mean not doing things that terrify our parents, or being good meant that you did not indulge in cigarettes, alcohol, sex and drugs. Or Being good meant not taking a risk that could change your life forever. So what was the definition she wanted? I believe that she had her own standard of goodness. We all have a belief of what is good. This does not mean that your standard of goodness is wrong and mine is right. What is important to me is what God thinks. God is the source of all goodness. God is good. God created us to be good, but due to sin we are not always good. True and pure goodness is flawless. You and I can strive to be good and do good acts. Acts which are not self seeking, and dependent on who or what it is centered around. Acts to which only God knows about are the truly good acts. I believe that true goodness has to come from God. When God provides me with a beautiful flower garden-- That is good! I praise and thank Him for it every day. He knows that I am glorifying Him. The beauty of the flowers is from God and if I am a good steward of His creations they will thrive. And , if I take good care of what He has given me , they will come back again and again., year after year in double abundance. To understand more fully, suppose you have a blind friend, you tell her about a beautiful sunset . You see the most beautiful colors, and your blind friend can sense what you are feeling at this wonderful sight. Now your friend asks you to explain to her-- what makes this sunset so good and beautiful. You try with all your might to tell her what you see but without eyes to see she cannot share your ideas. What my friend wanted was to see Christ in me. I talk to many people about being a Christian and I tell them all the same thing, “ There is nothing like having the goodness of Jesus in your heart” At times I wish I had a Jesus cream I could rub on them. My, I would put ‘Bath and Body’ out of business. Words alone cannot describe goodness. Only those that have eyes to see and ears that hear his words, can reap the good rewards He has in store for us. Full Gospel Church of Jackson is having a yard sale on route 30, between Jackson and route 52, Friday July 1st and Saturday July 2nd. All monies raised will be going to toward our new church, please come out and support us. God Bless you Full Gospel Church of Jackson Pastor Doug Finley We are located on College Street in Jackson, Morning worship and Sunday School at 10:00AM Sunday evening worship at 6:00PM Wednesday Women's prayer service at 5:00PM, Men's prayer service at 7:00PM Thursday Bible study for youth and adults at 7:00PM What is Good by Peggy Shepherd 6-2-05 Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. What a verse to live by. This verse was brought to my remembrance several weeks ago by a friend of mine. As it happened, we were casually discussing the Bible, where upon she made this statement, “Peggy, you are a Christian, so tell me what it means to be “a good person.”! I looked at her for a few seconds to see if she was serious and I saw that she was very serious. ”You are a Christian” is the statement she wanted me to capitalize upon. I knew at that very moment I was being tested and challenged, not only on my level of knowledge, but also on my Christian way of life. It would have been perilous for me as a friend to make just a blanket statement defining the meaning of good . She wanted some special meaning from this word. I felt that she was looking for a spiritual meaning, and I did not know if I was equipped with enough knowledge on the subject, to explain the meaning to her. A quick thought went through my mind, “What or by who’s standard do I use to define good?” I knew that she did not want a simple child’s definition of good, such as, always being obedient to our parents. She did not want to hear that being neat or eating our vegetables is a good thing . It did not mean if I was good I would get what I wanted for Christmas. She did not want to hear that as we age or become an adolescent the meaning changes a bit. Being good at this age would mean not doing things that terrify our parents, or being good meant that you did not indulge in cigarettes, alcohol, sex and drugs. Or Being good meant not taking a risk that could change your life forever. So what was the definition she wanted? I believe that she had her own standard of goodness. We all have a belief of what is good. This does not mean that your standard of goodness is wrong and mine is right. What is important to me is what God thinks. God is the source of all goodness. God is good. God created us to be good, but due to sin we are not always good. True and pure goodness is flawless. You and I can strive to be good and do good acts. Acts which are not self seeking, and dependent on who or what it is centered around. Acts to which only God knows about are the truly good acts. I believe that true goodness has to come from God. When God provides me with a beautiful flower garden-- That is good! I praise and thank Him for it every day. He knows that I am glorifying Him. The beauty of the flowers is from God and if I am a good steward of His creations they will thrive. And , if I take good care of what He has given me , they will come back again and again., year after year in double abundance. To understand more fully, suppose you have a blind friend, you tell her about a beautiful sunset . You see the most beautiful colors, and your blind friend can sense what you are feeling at this wonderful sight. Now your friend asks you to explain to her-- what makes this sunset so good and beautiful. You try with all your might to tell her what you see but without eyes to see she cannot share your ideas. What my friend wanted was to see Christ in me. I talk to many people about being a Christian and I tell them all the same thing, “ There is nothing like having the goodness of Jesus in your heart” At times I wish I had a Jesus cream I could rub on them. My, I would put ‘Bath and Body’ out of business. Words alone cannot describe goodness. Only those that have eyes to see and ears that hear his words, can reap the good rewards He has in store for us. Something to Do 5-23-05 Sometimes it is very hard for me to find a subject to do my devotion. When I finish my prayers and praises to God, I ask Him for some special help. Help in giving me the right thoughts, showing me a way to be of use to Him. (How can I do something for Him? ) God knows me so well, even more than I know myself. He knows the very words that touches my most inner being. He knows how to make me a warrior for Him. He answered me shortly after asking for help in finding a subject, There I sat with head in hand, rubbing my eyes for some guidance, I picked up a book of poetry on the desk by my hard drive, and I opened the book. It was page 88, I started to read a poem, titled “Daffodils” by Wordsworth. In this poem, Wordsworth describes the profound experience which gave life it’s meaning to him. The first verse is what caught my eye. I wondered lonely as a cloud. ( Wordsworth was feeling alone and desolate, detached from earthly fellowships) That floats on high o’er vales and hills When all at once I saw a crowd( Suddenly he sees the flowers floating in the breeze and they remind him of the stars in the heavens and he feels an unity with nature.) A host of golden daffodils; Beside the lake ,beneath the trees’ Fluttering and dancing in the breeze Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle in the milky way They stretched in never ending line Along the margin of the bay Ten thousand saw I at a glance Tossing their heads in sprightly dance It was after reading those beautiful words; that--God filled my head with thoughts. What use am I to Jesus? Another poem popped into my head. O Christ, the way, the truth, the life, Keep me safe amid the raging strife: Help me a warrior brave to be, And help me take the battlefield for thee. Whew! How powerful can one be? I thought, “Stop Jesus, let me catch my breath, my fingers can only type 100 words a minute. Hold up here now! “ There is so much for us to do; everyone is needed to help in doing it!” In this great busy world there is something for everyone to do, even if you think you cannot spare one second . Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might‘. Think about those words for a moment .Do it with thy might. To me--- that means with every bit of strength in my body. And, That means-- I must put my whole heart into it. It means I will not be a failure. God has a work for everyone who comes into the world. This world can be made a little better by you for coming into it; or it can be made worse. Which shall it be? No one can do the work of another, since they are doing all they can do, or are they? We are told to bear one another’s burdens-- If I am to help you bear your burdens, you are to help me bear mine, also! We need the help of each other,( the other day I asked a person to come and help us sing in the choir, she has a beautiful voice, one that our choir needs, well --you would think I asked her to commit a sin, she flared up and almost flogged me) but I cannot do what they should do, only they can! What we neglect to do-- will have to go undone. If we stop doing what we have to do, just as large a hole is made in your life’s work as would have been made in our life. Except for one thing, the reflection falls on you. Christian sisters, don’t let these precious moments of your life flee away without doing , what you know you have to do. Do it with all your might. Jesus is our example. He went about doing good Everywhere He went--- He left evidence behind that He had passed that way. Ladies, what are we leaving behind to show He passed this way? Is it flowers or sunshine? Do we do enough to show the lonely that someone loves and thinks of them. Do we bring a ray of sunshine and cheer to lighten the hearts of others? Oh how sad it would be if there is none to say, ”They did me good’ It doesn’t matter how small the part is that; the Father has assigned for us to do, the important thing is doing it well. And doing it with an earnest heart. In the sight of God the most menial of tasks is as sacred as those of the highest order, And, when it is done well, they just as greatly meet His approval. Again, I repeat, “What ever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. All of us are working, but how many of us are giving 110%? So much time and labor are being wasted; so many things are being done that had as well not been done. God wants not only our service, --BUT OUR BEST SERVICE. We are under obligation to do our best every day. If we let a day go by without doing all that we can do, and in the best way we can, --our work is not done. God pours His blessing upon us, but that is not the end of things, for He says," Freely ye have received, freely give”. Let us, (Ladies Missionary) leave some footprints for those that follow us. Opportunities do not wait. Do good while we can. If we give the flower to someone tomorrow, the flower has already faded. If we intend to speak a kind word tomorrow, and the kind word is lost in tomorrow, it came too late. I will close with this thought: What works are we going to do? This poem says it much better than I. Let’s not be living in the past, On what we have been doing, Nor building castles in the air, And after them pursuing. ‘Work in my vineyard, go today’ The Master’s time is narrow For yesterday, we’ll see no more-- We may not see tomorrow. Gospel Singing 5-22-05 Rosalee Stacy and the Couch Family will be singing at the Penecostal Holiness Church of God at Beattyville, Kentucky. The event will take place on June 04, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. Location of event in Pentecostal Holiness Church of God, Highway 11 South, Beattyville, Kentucky. Please come out and help us lift up the name of the Lord. Sacred Winds Ensemble Summer Concert: The Body of Christ 5-20-05 The Sacred Winds Ensemble, under the direction of G. Scott Bersaglia, will present its ninth annual Summer Concert on Sunday, June 5. The programmatic concept focuses, in part, on the body of Christ as written by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:14-16. Divided into two sections, the program will feature chamber ensembles during the first half. The small ensembles will join together for the second half to perform one large work. This concept signifies how each Child of God has a specific function of service for the ultimate goal of God’s glory. The first half will include the world premiere performances of John Vander Gheynst’s fanfare for brass and percussion. Additionally, the Sacred Winds Ensemble’s Children’s Choir will make its debut performance performing Jesus Loves Me. Closing the first half is Barry Milner’s setting of Christopher Rice’s Untitled Hymn, scored for solo soprano and violin solo and woodwind choir. In the second half, the smaller ensembles will combine to perform David Maslanka’s Symphony No, 4. The symphony, partially based from the Doxology, is scored for wind ensemble with piano, harp, organ, and expansive percussion. The concert will begin at 2:30pm at The First Federal Center on the campus of the Hazard Community and Technical College. Admission is free andall are invited. Please contact sacredwindsinfo@yahoo.com for additional information. Our God 4-17-05 God is always there for us, just a breath away, and he always answers whenever we pray. He knows when we’re happy or when we’re hurting or sad, because he is our God in good times and in bad. Sometimes we may feel so alone and there’s things that’s not right, but our God is right there beside us to ease the pain, both day and night. On earth, so low and tired, we’ll sometimes feel, but our God can give us the strength to walk up that highest hill. So we must trust in God, no matter how bad things seem to be, for he won’t let us sing far in deep water, because he always calms the roaring seas. By: Katy Noble Easter Play The Jackson First Church of God, 1889 Old Quicksand Road, will be presenting an Easter play, "Take Me To The Cross", on March 24, 25, and 26 at 7:00 P.M. The community is invited to share the old story of our Lord Jesus Christ's last days on earth, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His journey into Heaven where He awaits us today! Seating will be limited each night so come early to get a seat. Pastor Bobby Hollon, the talented actors and singers, and the congregation welcome you to share this special presentation of music and drama with us. |