Maybe we need “simple”!

Greetings Saints,

Last night was our Candlelight Communion Service.  The crowd was good, I think there were 145 or so here last night. But the greatest part was the hands that went up to receive God’s free gift.  I am not the best keeper of records but to my best recollection we have seen 12-15 people accept Christ in the last 6 or 8 weeks.  There were around 60 – 70 youth here last night … some have never been in a Candlelight Communion Service in their life, I think they did remarkably well.  Last Wednesday night there were 135 in the Youth Service.

It was also good to see our kids home from college…give them a big hug next time you see them.

Just a thought:  Has Christmas become the busiest time of the year?  I was in Cracker Barrel and it seemed there were decorations for “that day at the end of October” something called “trunk or treat” and the next thing you saw were Christmas decorations for sale.  I have a book the title is “Simple Church.”  Have you become overwhelmed with “doing stuff?”  Maybe we need “simple.”

Love….I heard on the news there are department stores where people are randomly paying off someone’s lay away.  Wow!  Jesus has paid off our lay away!  That’s a stretch Pastor…okay….it’s a stretch.   Jesus loves us so much He paid a debt He did not owe for someone who could not pay it.  Just sounds churchier to say it this way.

Joy…I remember a song that said “if you’re happy notify your face.”  Remember Scrooge, you may even know one or two.  His present was based on the past pains.  The past is good for two things…forgiveness and learning.   Lord, forgive me where needed and help me to learn.  I have even had to learn a lesson or two more than once…let’s try to not stop trying to learn.  We can get skewed perspective of life if we don’t practice this.  After all as believers we have accepted the free gift of eternal life and that should be our perspective.  Grumbling and complaining robs me of His Joy, does it you?  Lord, help us to notify our face…Jesus really is the reason for the season…let it show on our face.  Help us to focus on Your goodness and not all the difficulties & busyness life throws at us at times.

MAY GRATITUDE SWELL UP IN US AND PEACE FLOOD OUR SOUL!

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Pastor Duke

God is still in the people business!

Greetings Saints,

The saying goes…”God is good” and the response is “All the time.”  Last night the God’s presence was evident at folks gathered around the altar to spend time in His presence.   I have received two reports from the prayer last night. 1. Chriss Sopke is doing much better, thank you for the prayer of agreement for him.  2. Cheryl Bellmore was prayed for because the doctor was going to sew her eye shut permanently.  But God! The eye had improved dramatically and her vision is 20/25 improving from 20/40 & the ulcers are almost gone.

Beloved, God is still in the people business and HE cares for you.  Yesterday the message was about “Merry Christmas.”  Have you ever had the thought  “why was I created?”   I promise you it is not because God is cruel and mean….that His purpose was to torment you and cause you to live in pain and agony!  No, that is what the devil does… Jesus came that you might live…. That you might have a “Merry Christ anointed, festive and joyful live.”  If your will…”Merry Christmas.”  Jeremiah 29:11 is still true….

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

I can almost hear someone say…”but Pastor the reality is………”   Yes, I know, I have tasted reality.  God is good, all the time!  All the time, God is good!  Even in the midst of difficulty and hard places…my outlook will determine my outcome.  In the middle of the genealogies in I Chronicles 4 this verse is tucked away (9) There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. (10) He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that You would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.”  One can choose to take the negative…downbeat…depressing road of life… avoiding the reality that nothing can be a substitute for the goodness of God or one can jump into the Word of God and realize…He really had a good plan for my life and I think I will follow in the path of Jabez.

Prayer:  Lord, I accept Your good plan for my life! I reject the negative, depressing and downbeat for the upbeat direction You have for me!  I will take the path of Jabez, bless me Lord & expand my thinking to include You in my dreams. I will accept the good things from you!  In Jesus Name!  AMEN!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Pastor Duke

Every good gift!

Greetings Saints,

James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Lamentations 3:22-23  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

With God there is no shadow…no change…He is constant.  I saw on the weather we are to lose 11 minutes of sunshine in December.  We will never lose Son Shine in Him. In Him is no variableness, not even the appearance of turning.  Variableness is variation or change.  He is the same and cast no shadow.   This means nothing cast a shadow on Him.  His character, purpose, plans His attributes never change.  What He has always been is what He is.  What He is… is what HE will be tomorrow!  There is “neither shadow of turning” means that He never cast a dark shadow over us.  While the earth rotates and clouds may fill the sky and cast a shadow from the heavens…He shines from above as well as from within…

Every good gift!  Wow!  Every perfect gift is from God!  He is good…all the time. He is infallible, perfect, & cannot do evil.  He understands everything…His mercy keeps us safe and His compassion never runs out!  God is faithful!  He said “let there be light “   and there was light.  Nothing foul or bad comes from His mouth.  He is the Father of lights…merciful and gracious…who changes not.

Jump to James 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

By the word of His mouth and The Word, Jesus, He brought you and me life.  Beloved, life is precious and it is a gift of God.  Cherish it, love it, live it & serve God with all your heart!

This Christmas season… remember the old saying “Jesus is the reason for the season.”  Receive His gift from above, let His compassion be yours and let the SON shine in your heart.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Duke

…it rained…it misted

Greetings Saints,

The weather last night did not cooperate…it misted, rained, stopped and then did it all over again. And yet there was one lady here long before the 5pm start time.  I heard another in the fellowship room saying her she brought her daughter Saturday night but she wanted to come back again, even in harsh weather THEY CAME BACK.  Saints, thank you for being committed. I know it was not easy, but you rose to the occasion! Saturday night 786 people, Sunday night 272 (?) for a total of 1148. WOW!  You are to be commended for faithfulness to a hard task, may the Lord richly reward you.

Just a thought:  Eph 3:16  I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.     I am limited,  God is unlimited.  He empowers, we receive. God will never run out of anything…He speaks into existence everything.  Paul said God will empower believers …read this verse… Mar 11:24 (nlt)  I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

But Pastor, what if I don’t receive anything?  The first thing I do is check my heart.

The next 2 verses Mark 11:25-26  (nlt) But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.  But if you refuse to forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins. 

God’s power is unlimited!  We walk by faith and not by sight… we check our heart and if there is unforgiveness…I forgive!  The New Living say “a grudge.”  We don’t hold a grudge.

But Pastor what if I don’t receive?  Here is the premise… the mind set we must develop… God is for me!  As believers we base our life on the Word of God.  I don’t know about you but my “feelings” are not always connected to what the Word says!  I must get this into my spirit man…God wants to empower me with His Spirit in my inner man.  God is for me!  Maybe you need to say this right now!  “God is for me. I am going to keep praying, believing, confessing and trusting He is strengthening me!”

Beloved, even if you get knocked down….get back up!  Life is too short to walk in unforgiveness or holding a grudge.  Love everybody, forgive everybody and be strengthened in your inner man.  May His joy be your strength!!   Love, laugh and let your faith soar like an eagle!

Blessings,

Pastor Duke