Church guide

And can it be that I should gain An int’rest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? #easterhymn

Verse for August 5 (8/5) is 2 Corinthians 8:5 "And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God." What a description of the Macedonian believers - "they first gave themselves to the Lord." More than just "giving some money" these believers gave THEMSELVES. They presented themselves to the Lord. They said HERE AM I!! Oh that each believer would present themselves as a present to the Lord - Here's my life Lord! Take and use it LORD! I am ALL YOURS, LORD!!

Verse for July 23 (7/23) Jeremiah 7:23 "But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you." The key to God's blessings is OBEDIENCE!!

Verse for July 20 (7/20) is Ecclesiastes 7:20 "For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin." We are all sinners in need of a Savior who will make us right with God. Jesus Christ is that Savior. He not only died and paid the penalty for our sins He gives to us His righteousness so we can be right with God! What a Savior!!!

Some songs really help us to say what our hearts want to say to God in praise. The Doxology is one of them!

Verse for July 16 is Matthew 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?" The context of this verse includes verse 15 where we are WARNED to beware of FALSE PROPHETS. False prophets will are pictured as ravenous WOLVES who though appear wearing SHEEP'S clothing. Now Jesus says WE WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS - to know something means you will have to MAKE A JUDGEMENT - (so be very very careful how you use Matt. 7:1, which is one of the most misused verses in the Bible - False prophets love to say DO NOT JUDGE!) We are to make judgements about people so that we don't end up with a wolf that destroys. And Jesus says that what tells you whether someone is real or not is by the fruit they produce. Thorn bushes are not producing grapes. Thistles are not producing figs. Our actions are indicators to others and other's actions are indicators to us. What we do know is one who abides in Christ will be FRUITFUL. We will have fruits of righteousness and we will show forth the fruits of the Spirit. A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST brings for FRUIT!! No fruit lead me to conclude no faith! Now - is there evidence today from your life that you are a CHRISTIAN - A CHRIST FOLLOWER - a sheep? Are you heeding the warning today to beware of FALSE PROPHETS - which means judging - (there I have said the dreaded J word)?

verse for July 15 (7/15) is I Samuel 7:15 "Samuel gave solid leadership to Israel his entire life." What a statement!!! Samuel was prayed into existence by his mom. He was presented to the Lord. Famous words from Samuel are "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!" When told to go to Jesse's house and anoint a king he listened to the Lord and instead of anointing who he thought should be anointed based on looks and strength he waited and anointed David. Over and over Samuel listened to the Lord and in doing so developed a legacy of providing solid leadership! Let us listen and let us obey!

Verse for July 13 (7/13) Matthew 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it." Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is moving to a conclusion and He will be making a call for commitment. To prepare for that call He lays out 4 images to show contrast. First there are two road. Then there are two trees, two claims, and finally two builders. In Matthew 7:13 we have two roads before us. One road is narrow - the Latin is strictum which in KJV you see "Strait." It is narrow as it is speaking of just one way to heaven. It is a difficult teaching as everyone wants to think their ways are right. Jesus will make it clear that He is the only way to heaven for He is the only one who has done what is necessary for us to get to heaven. On the other hand there is a BROAD road and it is easy to get on and people love to get on it because it makes no demands. The only problem is it is a road that leads to destruction whereas the narrow road leads to LIFE. Robert Lewis Stevenson wrote, "two roads diverged into a wood and I, I took the one less travelled by and that has made all the difference." Friends Jesus provides a way to heaven but you have choose to ENTER through the NARROW gate. You are on the Broad Road. Turn around and enter the narrow gate (accept Jesus as Savior) and be on the road of LIFE, not on a road to destruction and damnation.

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene And wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean! Singing, how marvelous! how wonderful! And my song shall ever be!!! How marvelous and how wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me!!

Verse for July 7 (7/7) is Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Don't hesitate to ASK our Heavenly Father for provision, for protection, for direction, for anointing, etc. The context has Jesus teaching that God is not a distant, uninterested, unconcerned God but rather a Father who cares very much about His children. Our Father is not reluctant to provide for us. Jesus wants to expand our view of the Father, concluding with this statement; 11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Our Father is both ABLE and WILLING to assist us with living life! ASK!!

Verse for July 5 (7/5) is Ecclesiastes 7:5 "It is better for a person to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a person to hear the song of fools." Those who would be wise must make wise decisions and in order to make wise decisions one must be wise enough to RECEIVE REUKES from someone who is wiser. While a rebuke stings it has been stated in order to protect. Proverbs 9 talks about the risk the rebuker takes in rebuking as they may very well be hated - yes HATED - for speaking into a persons life. In life you will have people who care very deeply about you who will say some very hard - yes very difficult things to hear. A wise person will LISTEN - HEAR - RECEIVE the rebuke and CONSIDER what is being said. On the other hand you can simply turn the music up and listen to those who have no interest in your future - their songs tell you to enjoy the moment. It will tell you if doing something is wrong then you don't want to do right. (a country song) Our life journey will always have opportunities to get off the straight and the narrow. A wise person will listen to a wise person saying say stay on the straight and narrow. A wise person will receive the rebuke of a wise person to get back on the narrow road. So, are you listen to the wise or listening to the fools? Prayer for today; Psalm 141:5 "Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it."

Verse for June 27 (6/27) is Luke 6:27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." The teachings of Christ will challenge how we think and live! Here we respond to people DIFFERENTLY - really differently!! Love enemies - do good to haters. See value in those who do not see value in you! And by the way - that is what Christ did on the cross for us! While we were yet sinners (enemies) Christ demonstrated His love for us and died for us!

January 12th we LAUNCH with a year long series called "The Story" which is chronological journey through the bible!