Apostle's Creed

Sallman painting

 1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

1l. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

Since our church's disaffiliation of our old denomination and joining a new denomination, we have been reciting The Apostle's Creed at the beginning of most services. I find this refreshing to do. These words give me a lot to think on. 

Set Free From Sin

 

Pinterest

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. Romans 6:20-22 (NKJV)

People caught up in sinfulness do not seek righteousness, moreover they do not understand about righteousness.

Paul asks an interesting question. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? As I think on this, Paul is asking the believers What ‘reward’ did you have then that now you do not care about?

He tells them that the outcome of sinful ways is death. He then tells the believers that once we are set free from bondage, we have our reward and also everlasting life.

We must always look to the LORD when we see things that would lead us back into the slavery of sin. When we realize we might be headed into sinful habits, we can ask God’s forgiveness and repent from sinful actions.

A Gift of God’s Grace

 

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, and godly lives in this present age.

Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)

When we turn over our hearts and lives to Jesus, He gives us His Father’s grace to guide us through our lives. We receive salvation and so much more.

We receive the strength to stand against the worldly ungodliness that, from time to time, we have to face. Yes, as I read this scripture believers can say “No” to the worldly things.

The grace of God teaches us that we can manage in this world when we trust in the Holy Spirit to utilize self-control through Him and live lives pleasing to God before our neighbors and those we see where we do business.

I believe it is important that each follower of Jesus must strive to get closer to God and model our beliefs to those around us. However, I do not say this is easy to do. We have to rely on the Holy
Spirit to guide us through the roadblocks that life throws in our way.

Bearing with One Another

 

 

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering (patience), bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

                                                                                                                Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV)

 

Words of Paul to the believers in Ephesus.

 

Paul tells us that they and subsequent believers should live humble and gentle lives. Believers are to be patient and should bear one another’s differences in love. While endeavoring to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit through the bond of peace.

 

There are times in our lives that we must realize that there are those prone to say or do things that do not represent godly thought, speech, or behavior. They may say they are Christians, but their behavior tells otherwise. It is possible that they might not realize what they are saying or doing is wrong in God’s eyes and does not represent Him.

 

According to what Paul tells us here, it is our duty to be patient,

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Colossians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

Joy Inexpressible

 

www/joyconcerts.com

 

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9 (NKJV)        

 

Believers have times of grief due to trials entering their lives. Knowing Jesus does not make us exempt from the hurts of our earthly life.

 

However, the apostle Peter tells us because of the realness of our faith, being more valuable than gold, we will receive God’s praise (commendation or approval), honor (possibly crowns at the judgment seat of Christ) and glory (a precious, enduring, and genuine faith) because of our suffering.

Like Peter’s readers, we have not actually seen Jesus. However, we rejoice with a joy we cannot describe to anyone else.

 

Prayer: Father God; We thank You for our salvation, for your guidance through our days. We thank You that, when we see You, you will honor us with various crowns for our faith while we walk this earth. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

God Is Love

 

God Is Love

 

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. In this 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 also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:8-11(NKJV)

 

God personifies love. When a believer thinks of love, he or she looks to Him. In looking to the LORD God, we learn that love is THE main attribute He has.

 

In dealing with others, we must remember that about God. He loves us even when we are unlovely. My best friend was teaching a class of children on the love of God. She named some people who had done some terrible unlawful acts to others. As she named them, she asked, “Does God love that person?” The answer in each instance was, “Yes!”

 

God loves the vilest criminal as much as He loves you and me. We wonder how that is possible. God loves everyone because He made them, the murderer, the thief, the insurrectionist, the thieves, and the ones who violate others.

 

Some Music about New Things

A New Name Written Down in Glory

 

A New Heart

 

bible-daily.org

Then, I will give them one heart, and put a NEW spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19 (NKJV)

 

The prophet Ezekiel heard from God. Part of what He said states a very basic belief. God gives new hearts to those who believe in Him.

 

When a believer truly lives for Jesus, his or her life changes. Nothing is viewed in the same way. This does not mean that all is easy for the believer. God will bring His children through very difficult times. The Israelites were being hauled into exile when God spoke to his prophet Ezekiel.

 

In our present world, God speaks to each of His children, as He has need. A man and his wife at our church are praying for their son’s soul. He was hurt in an accident in March of 2021. He can’t go back to his job until he is completely healed physically, it could be another year. When you pray, please remember this couple and their adult son.

“The Lord will cleanse His people from sin as they repent. He will transform their hearts and minds and place His Spirit within them to empower them to be obedient. They will repopulate the desolate land and enjoy His rich covenantal blessings”. ⁽¹⁾

(1)   Jeremiah Study Bible© 2013 Worthy, Hachette Book Group, New York, NY. Page 1064 (FYI) Sidebar.

Jesus is the Vine

 

Steve Thomason

 

                                                                “I am the vine, you are the

                                                branches. He who abides in Me, and I in

                                                him, bears much fruit; for without Me

                                                you can do nothing. If anyone does not

                                                abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch

                                                and is withered; and they gather them                      

and throw them into the fire and they

                                                are burned. John 15: 5-6 (NKJV)

               

                               

Jesus continues his comparison by stating that He is the vine and those who follow Him are the branches. That is a potent statement for the disciples to hear. He continues by saying something that must have shaken them to their cores. Simply stated, he tells them they can do nothing to save someone or to minister to their broken spirits unless He is present and working in the circumstance. We must remember this when we present the Gospel to those around us.

 

Per the scripture, those who do not abide in Christ and chose to continue going their own way are punished for their disobedience.

 

Without Jesus’ guidance in our lives, we cannot become the persons He has planned for us to be.  We must learn to remain in Him, no matter what we face in our earthly life.

 

A couple at our church went through a very difficult time. They both lost their jobs; then, they lost their house. The husband decided that they would stay with God and see how He would work things out for them. The church helped them by referring people to them if the people had odd jobs that needed to be done. They found a place to live. He found a new job within walking distance from their new home.  He shared this story when he was asked to speak on Laity Sunday one year.

We Must Not Forget

 

understandingchristianity.com 

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:25 (NIV)

 

When we practice our faith, we study what God had done for us. Primarily, His deeds are written in His Word. We have evidence that He performed those deeds.

 

Friends of ours had their son and their youngest daughter in the first Gulf War. The mother was not handling it well.  She told me one day that God reminded her of the things He had brought her through in the past. Some people call these reminders, benchmarks.

 

When God presents these benchmarks, we should feel that God has things in control whether it looks like it or not.

 

We all have times when events look out of focus for us. When we have faith in God, we see His hand at work in our lives.  

 

God handles all things to His liking. When we believe that we will receive blessing upon blessing.

Book Review: Lead like Christ By A. W. Tozer

Amazon.com

This book is edited by James L. Snyder.

Dr. Snyder has compiled a series of sermons based on the New Testament book of Titus by A.W. Tozer.

 

Tozer aims his writings to “those with an incurable hunger and thirst for the deep things of God.”  [1]

 

This should be considered a workbook to raise up men and women to become the Christian leaders needed in our world today.

 

I found myself caught up by the concept of purpose. Some of today’s believers follow Christ but do not realize they have a purpose for following him. It can be a challenge for some Christ-followers to discover their purpose. I know it was mine. I found out just recently that our purpose can change as we advance in age and deterioration of our state of health.

 

I would recommend this book to anyone who is seriously searching for a closer walk with the LORD. Because of the shortness of each chapter, I believe it would make a good study book for a small group made up of such Christians. I would also recommend this to be in any pastor’s personal library. 

 

(1.) Lead like Christ, by A.W. Tozer and James Snyder, Bethany House, © (James Snyder), 2021, page 7.

 

 

 

---

[1]

Jesus’ Mission

               

Etsy

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)

 

As we honor God in our world today, we may receive a special urge from Him to perform a task that will give someone the opportunity to know Him or even to know Him better.

 

I recently heard of a church that has a soup kitchen every Tuesday. I need to add that church to my prayer list. They are trying to reach and provide help for the poor in their area of town.

 

Another church in our city has a bereavement ministry that hold public meetings once a month.

 

In our downtown area are four ministry organizations. One serves men who have been incarcerated. Their ministry is to teach these men skills that will make them employable.

 

Another is a center that ministers to homeless men. They also have a store that re-sells items donated by the public. Recently, this center opened an auxiliary center that gives the homeless a place to do laundry and take showers. The main center made arrangements with the United States Post Office to allow those that use this site to have an address to pick up mail.

 

 A new ministry in that area is a shelter for homeless women. The women’s circle at my church collects items for this women’s shelter.

 

 I believe that all these ministry agencies in our town are fulfilling the mission of Jesus as they assist those who are in need.

There is a building that provides retirement housing to senior citizens that have weekly Bible studies for their residents. Before COVID they had people from the community volunteer to lead these studies. This building and an assisted living are locally owned by the local faith communities of our area.

Showing God’s Love, Part B

 

 

Pinterest

 

Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 (NIV)     

 

Doing a Tangible Deed

 

I first heard this scripture in the late 1960s. I am not sure of the translation, but the text was: “Put love into deeds and make it real.”

 

John brings to the forefront the idea of being real with our love. We Christian believers must live up to this command especially during the time of this pandemic.

 

How can we show God’s love in this time of COVID, you may ask?

 

We can either call, text, or electronically contact some of those we care about. We must check on those who have health issues.

 

When I was facing surgery, friends sent me cards. I appreciated them. I sat them on top of a bookcase in the living room where I could see them every day.

 

My best friend, with the assistance of another friend and me, created a fruit basket for another friend from church who lost her husband after a lengthy illness. (She loved it.)

 

We can support those who have lost spouses, children, parents, or siblings. I saw this first-hand several years ago when a man in our church had passed away. The parents-in-law of two of his children came to the celebration of life held for him. I knew both couples. Their action impressed me.

 

Showing God’s Love, Part A

 

 

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NIV)

 

Praying with/for Another Person

                                               

Several years ago, I went through a very dark time. My close friends knew I was bothered about some things. I did not feel as if anyone was reaching out to me. I bravely called a dear lady I felt I was close to. I asked her why no one seemed to care about where I was in this “downtime.”  She had an incredibly good response; no one felt able to help me. (Speaking here in the physical sense.)

 

One Sunday night, I went to the altar with my need. Another friend came to pray with me. I told her I needed to know that there were people praying for me. She assured me that people were.

 

I developed a habit. When anyone at that church greeted me and asked,” How are you?” My response was, “Thank you.” When I gave my response, I got the strangest stares.  It was shorthand for, “I appreciate your caring, but we do not have the time for me to tell you everything I am going through.” I began to feel the prayers of God’s people.

 

During this time of darkness, I could not laugh. One fall, I attended a special Praise Gathering in Indianapolis, filling in for someone who found she could not attend. A Christian comedian was excellent and drew me out. I was able to enjoy his humor and laughed out loud. That night, the friend who asked me to fill in for her stepdaughter came to my bedside and told me that it was good to hear me laugh again.

 

The night before Thanksgiving, we had a special worship service at church. Each of us was asked to tell five things we were thankful for. One of mine was the gift of laughter.

 

Yes, prayers for others and with others show God’s love for them.

Some Thoughts on Christmas

 

This Christmas season has been different for all of us. People being advised not to congregate in large crowds or celebrations. However, we must remember that the first Christmas was observed by a few people, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds.

We still send Christmas cards to some friends in southern Indiana. The picture above is an ornament that came in one of those cards. The lady that sent it to us is Jim's best friend's sister. She has had a rough couple of years, healthwise.  She made this from scratch. She has the dove so that one can turn it over and see another dove. I love the poem. I am unsure where she found it. I love the message.

Merry Christmas to each of you and to your families.

Praise God, our Source

 

livinggracecatalog.com

 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow

Praise Him, all creatures here below

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Lyrics ~ Thomas Ken, 1637 - 1711

 

Music ~ Louis Bourgeois, c.1510 - c.1561

 

in the Grenevan Psalter, 1551

Praise God from who all blessings flow,

God is the source of ALL our blessings. Every good thing that happens in our lives has its beginning with Him. Our Father leads us through tough times to the outcome He has for us.

 

Praise Him, all creatures here below.

In Psalm 150:6 we read that all who have breath are to praise Him. As I initially wrote this, I saw the evidence of sunshine peeking through the clouds. The temperature had dropped overnight but I could still praise the LORD for the partly sunny sky.

 

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host

The psalmist tells the angels to praise God. Should we not also praise Him?

 

Praise Him, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

This thought gives us pause as we consider the three forms of the Godhead. God the Father is our creator. God the Son is our Savior. God the Holy Ghost (Spirit) is our sustainer.

 

We must praise God for all He does for us, for all He will do for us, and for all He has done for us. When we praise God, we thank Him.

Jesus Prayed; God Responded

turnback to god.com

 Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son, with you, I am well pleased” Luke 3:21-22 (ESV)

Jesus chose to be baptized along with other people by John the Baptist. There are several thoughts on why Jesus chose to be baptized. One is that “this was the first public declaration of His ministry.” ⁽¹⁾ He chose to be identified with “those who were repenting of their sins”. ^(2). His heavenly Father confirmed his decision to do this.

When we pray, do we expect answers from God? Yes, we do. Can we expect answers to be forthcoming quickly? Not always. God sometimes must withhold His answers until we are ready for them. It is during these times He equips us with what we need in order to receive the answer we seek.

This event in Jesus’ life came eighteen years after He was in the temple where He listened to the reading of God’s word. When Mary and Joseph found him there, He told them, He had to be about His Father’s work. God chose to wait for His Son identify with the common ordinary people before He blessed Jesus with the words at the end of our focus text.

(1) Life Application Bible (NIV), Tyndale House Inc., Zondervan Publishing House, ©1991-page 1797

(2) IBID

Jesus Asks A Blessing

anakainoo.com 

And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of then fish. And those who at the loaves were five thousand men.

Mark 6:41-44 (ESV)

In this story, Jesus asked for God to bless the food that a small boy willingly gave to Him in order to attempt to feed 5,000.

I wonder; did Jesus say an extended prayer over this food, or did he just ask for God to bless what He had? All we know is that God blessed that meager offering many times over.

Everyone who ate was satisfied. They were no longer hungry. There were leftovers, quite a lot of bread, 12 baskets full. We are not told how many fish were in the baskets. Must have been a lot.

What does this miraculous story tell us? It might tell us to trust Jesus and let Him do the work when we have difficult issues facing us. It may tell us to be thankful in all things, no matter how devastating they look.

August Reflections

This month has been somewhat unusual. At the beginning of the month, our son had a week’s leave off work, He did a  staycation, intending to do some camping in the area where he lives. Hubby and I went down to see him midweek. We saw friends, eating dinner with a couple of them. One of those friends, Betty, underwent colon cancer surgery about the middle of the month. She seems to be doing well.

Betty's son and the catfish he caught.

I attended two funerals and went to another friend’s time of calling. One of those who departed this world was a friend from high school, Gaile. I had just seen her at our high school class reunion in the middle of July.  The second was a friend I met at a church in 1985, Jerri Lynn. I went to the hospital and sat with Jerri's family for a while. She passed into heaven about two hours after I had to leave. The time of calling was for a lady from our church who suffered a stroke 21 years ago. All these visits seemed to work on my friend Martha and me.

I had sent Gaile a card. Two weeks after she passed, I received the card back-return to sender, undeliverable. This sent my heart into a tailspin.

I was able to get some help with my bookmark project from a friend, Patsy. She forwarded the file to the print shop where she used to work. I picked them up the middle of the month. I turned them in to my friend Martha. She loved the finished pieces. On September 20^th those bookmarks will be received by 50 Christian women.

Due to a misunderstanding, Martha asked me to give devotions at that September 20^th meeting. I spent one Saturday afternoon choosing a topic and researching scriptures for verses. I posted that devotion to a forum for critique in order to seek guidance in order to polish it. I received favorable comments.

We had beautiful weather most of the month. We had a few times where the predicted storms never came through.

Several nights, I spent praying for people who had very special, very serious needs. It got to the place that one night, I had a mental list of several of these people.

One evening this month, I went to see a friend, Kelly, sing gospel songs to the residents of a retirement community in our town. I saw grace extended by Kelly and by the facility’s activity director. It was refreshing to see a person being included who was a last-minute ‘surprise’ to the evening.  God blessed the entire event. When it was over, everyone who attended seemed to say, “We needed this.” Across the bottom of our church’s worship folder appears the following statement: “This service is committed to the leading of the Holy Spirit.” I thought of the Holy Spirit’s presence while we were singing along. Kelly grew up across the street from us. She is also my hairstylist. She also trims Hubby's beard and cuts his hair.

Kelly and her husband singing the last song of the program, a prayer song.

Starting in mid- September, I will be taking a Bible Study to the residents of this special retirement community.

I have one more picture to show you. This is our son, Roger. He was home for his high school class reunion the end of July. Usually, he is in a sport shirt and jeans. 

We Need to Humble Ourselves

 

Due to some concerns and anxieties that some of my friends and I have experienced, I found myself fretting over some issues I could not completely put out of my mind. I remembered this scripture and studied it again. Please bear with me as I explain what it means to me.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV) 

Humble yourselves--when we look at our habits, our ways, and our activities, through God’s eyes and compare them to His teachings and what He expects from us, we humble ourselves.

under the mighty hand of God under God’s direction. All our thoughts, words, and actions must come through the filters He gives us. (see Philippians 4:8-9)

at the proper time, -- God will act on our needs and the requests we make when He sees we are ready. We might have to grow closer to Him to understand what is happening around us.

he may exalt you; -- He will use his discretion to lift us up. He is the One who calls the shots, makes the decisions about circumstances in our lives.

casting-- Picture a fisherman as he throws his line into the water. He reaches back over his shoulder, rod in hand, placing his arm behind him or her. The angler brings that arm across his body. The line flies across the water. The hook lands a great distance from him or her.

all your anxieties-- I find the important word here is “ALL”. We are not to withhold any fear or concern from God. Nothing is too small or insignificant for God to handle.

because he cares for you. -- God made each of us. Because of that, He loves us. When we have times when we think no one cares about us God does care.

Will you please pray for us for the next seven weeks?