Good Morning.
Praise the Lord for this new day. The Lord blessed us yesterday through worship, fellowship, and the ministry of the Continental singers. It was a glorious day full of His splendor and majesty as the autumn colors were in peak this weekend. Every time I hear the songs of praise and worship by the gifted and talented Continental Singers I get excited about Jesus our Lord. I am provoked to love Him more and serve Him with devotion and self-abandon. Every time I hear the call and the challenge of Jesus in my life afresh and anew I get humbled and propelled to follow Him and serve Him with joy and gladness.
Gideon was a man in the Old Testament who was called by God for a special purpose at a special time, but there were several things that kept Gideon from understanding what God’s purpose was for him and how he fit into God’s plan. These are the same things that keep us from discovering the reason for which we were born. Gideon’s first challenge was the challenge we all face: We have to overcome discouragement. The people of Israel were horribly oppressed. They were starving because the Midianites kept destroying their cattle and crops. There was great suffering and discouragement in the land. Hope was gone. Gideon was hiding in an old wine press that had been dug. He was threshing a few stalks of wheat that he had somehow managed to keep hidden from the Midianites. He was depressed. But the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior’” (Judges 6:12). I’ll bet he was tempted to laugh out loud. Mighty warrior? He was a scared young man hiding out in a wine press. But then, God always sees us in a different light than we see ourselves. We see our inadequacies and failures, and use them as an excuse. He sees our potential and what could be.
Gideon’s discouragement came pouring out. He said to the Lord’s messenger, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midianites” (Judges 6:13). The angel did not argue with him, but said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” God promises to be with him, as he does with us. But Gideon was filled with thoughts about his own inadequacy. He said, “But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord simply answered, “I will be with you” (Judges 6:14-16). The answer to your discouragement, as it was with Gideon, is the knowledge that God is with you and makes up for your inadequacies. You don’t have to do it in your own power, or by your own ability. You go in the strength of the Lord.
But Gideon is not sure about this, even though the angel of the Lord is standing right in front of him. We, like Gideon, not only have to overcome discouragement, the second point is that: We have to overcome doubt. Gideon says to the Angel of the Lord who is standing right in front of him: “Give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.” So Gideon prepared an offering to the Lord, and as a sign, the Angel of the Lord touched the offering with his staff, and fire flamed from the rock and consumed the offering. Then the Angel of the Lord disappeared from his sight. Wow. A visit from God and a special sign. That should have been good enough for anybody. But it still was not good enough for Gideon.
The Midianites were encamped against Israel, and Gideon summoned the men from all the towns of Israel to come and protect the land from the invading army. Then the Bible says, “Gideon said to God, ‘If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised — look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.’ And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew — a bowlful of water” (Judges 6:36-38). This is the passage where we get our phrase of “putting out a fleece before the Lord.” What more could you ask. Gideon asked for a specific sign and God gave it to him. But then he thought, “Oh, I made a mistake. That could have been a perfectly natural explanation. The fleece would naturally hold water longer than the ground around it.” So then he said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.” Then the Bible says, “That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew” (Judges 6:39-40). Gideon finally decides to trust God and do what the Lord has been telling him to do.
I find it interesting that many people take this as an example of what we should do when faced with a dilemma — put out a fleece — as though it is a biblical principle. Putting out a fleece was actually a lack of faith on Gideon’s part. He had already been given clear direction by the Lord, and he had received a miraculous sign. But all that is not enough, and now he wants more proof. But there is never enough proof where there is no faith. Evidently, having faith is important to God, for the Bible says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
The third point is that if we are going to realize the purpose for which you have been born: We have to overcome obstacles. There will always be obstacles. And some of these will be God testing your faith so it can grow. That was the case with Gideon. As he faces the army of the Midianites, which stretches as far as he can see, he realizes that he is overwhelmingly outnumbered. But God tells him that it is not that he has too few men to win the battle, he has too many. And you remember how this wonderful story goes. God directs Gideon to tell his men that if any are afraid that they may return home. With that, 22,000 men leave, and only 10,000 men remain to fight the hoards of Midianite warriors riding on their camels. But then the Scripture says, “But the Lord said to Gideon, ‘There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, “This one shall go with you,” he shall go; but if I say, “This one shall not go with you,” he shall not go’” (Judges 7:4). Then, as the men went down to the water to drink, three hundred of them kept going through the water as they scooped up the water in their hands and drank. All the rest fell to their knees and gulped the water down. And the Lord said, “With three hundred men I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go.”
This is a new obstacle for Gideon. He had a little hope when his men numbered over thirty thousand, but now he is down to three hundred. And as he looked at the enemy, here is what he saw: “The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore” (Judges 7:12). But God was about to introduce unconventional warfare to Gideon. The Lord directed him to have his little band of men go to the edge of the enemy’s camp at night. He gave each man a ram’s horn trumpet and a clay jar. The men were to take a torch and place it inside the jar. At Gideon’s signal they were to break the jar to reveal the fire, blow their trumpets and shout, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” And then God caused a panic in the enemy camp, and those who came to fight against Israel began to fight each other. Those who did not die in the battle fled back to the country from where they had come. They never threatened Israel again during the lifetime of Gideon.
It is a great story of overcoming depression, discouragement, doubt and huge obstacles. But, unfortunately, it is not the end of the story. The fourth thing that is necessary for finding the purpose for which you have been born is: We must remain faithful. Gideon has discovered God’s purpose for him, and God has wonderfully used him. He was used by God to deliver Israel from her enemies. But the reason that Israel was being oppressed in the first place was because she was worshiping foreign gods. In the beginning of the story, the prophet spoke the word of the Lord to Israel saying, “I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me” (Judges 6:10).
Gideon let down his guard when it seemed the imminent danger was over. The people of Israel came to Gideon and asked him to rule over them. But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you” (Judges 8:23). Sounds great, but now Gideon wants to please the people. He had taken away the pagan gods, the Baals and Ashtoreths, but now there is a spiritual vacuum. He tells them that the Lord will rule over them, but he asks them to create an ephod so they can consult God. The high priest used to wear an ephod, a sort of breastplate, for this purpose, but there is currently no high priest. The Bible says, “Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family” (Judges 8:27). Gideon permitted this religious article to become an idol. It led the people into idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness, and implied in the passage is that sexual immorality became a part of the ritual surrounding this ephod. So, in the end, the very reason that God brought judgment on Israel is going on once again. Even Gideon and his family are caught up in it. Gideon began well. He accomplished some important things that God had called him to do — things he was born for. But he failed to remain faithful. His wealth multiplied. He had many wives. His heart was proud, and he turned away from the Lord. We never hear of any other visitations from the Lord.
If we are going to discover the purpose for which we were born, we are going to have to overcome discouragement, doubt and obstacles. But most of all we have to remain faithful. It is important to finish well. Faithlessness in the end cancels out a lot of good that we may have done.
In Christ,
Brown
Monday, October 22, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 10-19-07
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for this Friday. Praise the Lord for the coming Sunday, when we can all gather in the house of the Lord to worship and to praise His name.
Here is a true story about a man who said that one particular event cured him of being obnoxious in a restaurant. He had ordered a steak well done. But when they brought it to him, he cut into it and it was rare. The blood was running out of it. He waved at the waitress and said, “Come here, come here.” She came and he said, “This steak is too rare.” So she took it to be cooked some more. When she brought it back he cut into it again, but they had overcooked it. Again he waved for the waitress, “Come here. Look, it’s almost burnt to a crisp.”
So she took the steak, went to the kitchen and got him another one. He started cutting it and then waving once again for the waitress, he complained, “It’s too tough. I can’t eat it. Take it back.” So she took it back and brought him yet another one. With the waitress standing there, he cut into that steak and it was just right this time.
Then he cut into his baked potato and it had a black spot in it. Turning to the waitress, he said, “Look at this potato. It’s a bad potato!” The waitress, who evidently had just about had it at this point, picked up the potato and said, “Bad potato, bad, bad, bad!” (spanking it as she did). Then she put the potato back down on his plate and said, “If you have any more trouble with that potato, just let me know.” And she walked off. He said that was the last time he ever complained in a restaurant.
Somebody once said that there are only three ways to make a basic, fundamental change in another person’s attitude: deep psychotherapy, deep religious conversion, or brain surgery. TAKE YOUR CHOICE! I prefer conversion to Christ. II Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
In order to enter the kingdom of heaven every person must first go down. They must recognize how bankrupt they are before God. We all need to be humble and, especially, to be humble before the Lord. I Pet. 5:5-6 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Charles Wesley (brother of John) wrote:
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Look upon a little child;
Pity my simplicity,
Suffer me to come to Thee.
Lamb of God, I look to Thee;
Thou shalt my Example be;
Thou art gentle, meek, and mild;
Thou wast once a little child.
Jesus was meek and mild, but He was not always mild! Certainly He was not mild when He cleansed the temple of the moneychangers. Furthermore, meekness is not necessarily weakness. Jesus was meek but He was not weak! He was strong when He cleansed the temple. He was strong when he told the Pharisees who had caught the woman in adultery, “Let him who is without sin be the first to cast a stone.” He was strong when He rebuked Satan with, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written….”
In the original language, the word “meek” is used in bridling a horse, or taming a wild animal. The word “meek” is a picture of “power under control.” So, when we talk about a meek person, we’re talking about one whose life is under the control of Jesus Christ.. Jesus the Christ is in control of his or her life.
Did Jesus mean that if we allowed Him full reign in our lives that we would have everything this world has to offer? No, I don’t think so. I think perhaps the idea is that while we are on earth we will enjoy our lives more when Jesus is in control. And that makes a whole lot of sense. The way of Jesus is always best. He came to give us life and give it more abundantly.
I think thejoyful people in the world and those who enjoy life the most are those who allow Christ to lead them in life. As the song says, “When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way!”
Remember - The Continental Singers will be in concert this Sunday, October 21 at 6:30 p.m. at our church - the Union Center United Methodist Church at 128 Maple Drive, Endicott. Please come and show your support for this anointed group of talented musicians.
Tune in tonight at 7 p.m. on Channel 4 for our weekly television outreach.
In Christ ,
Brown
"The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day
rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in
shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other
point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come
flowing in." - C. S. Lewis
A woman was weed-eating her yard and
accidentally cut off the tail of her cat
which was hiding in the grass.
She rushed her cat, along with the tail over
to WALMART!
Why WALMART???
WALMART is the largest retailer in the world!!! Submitted by brother J.B.
Praise the Lord for this Friday. Praise the Lord for the coming Sunday, when we can all gather in the house of the Lord to worship and to praise His name.
Here is a true story about a man who said that one particular event cured him of being obnoxious in a restaurant. He had ordered a steak well done. But when they brought it to him, he cut into it and it was rare. The blood was running out of it. He waved at the waitress and said, “Come here, come here.” She came and he said, “This steak is too rare.” So she took it to be cooked some more. When she brought it back he cut into it again, but they had overcooked it. Again he waved for the waitress, “Come here. Look, it’s almost burnt to a crisp.”
So she took the steak, went to the kitchen and got him another one. He started cutting it and then waving once again for the waitress, he complained, “It’s too tough. I can’t eat it. Take it back.” So she took it back and brought him yet another one. With the waitress standing there, he cut into that steak and it was just right this time.
Then he cut into his baked potato and it had a black spot in it. Turning to the waitress, he said, “Look at this potato. It’s a bad potato!” The waitress, who evidently had just about had it at this point, picked up the potato and said, “Bad potato, bad, bad, bad!” (spanking it as she did). Then she put the potato back down on his plate and said, “If you have any more trouble with that potato, just let me know.” And she walked off. He said that was the last time he ever complained in a restaurant.
Somebody once said that there are only three ways to make a basic, fundamental change in another person’s attitude: deep psychotherapy, deep religious conversion, or brain surgery. TAKE YOUR CHOICE! I prefer conversion to Christ. II Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
In order to enter the kingdom of heaven every person must first go down. They must recognize how bankrupt they are before God. We all need to be humble and, especially, to be humble before the Lord. I Pet. 5:5-6 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Charles Wesley (brother of John) wrote:
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Look upon a little child;
Pity my simplicity,
Suffer me to come to Thee.
Lamb of God, I look to Thee;
Thou shalt my Example be;
Thou art gentle, meek, and mild;
Thou wast once a little child.
Jesus was meek and mild, but He was not always mild! Certainly He was not mild when He cleansed the temple of the moneychangers. Furthermore, meekness is not necessarily weakness. Jesus was meek but He was not weak! He was strong when He cleansed the temple. He was strong when he told the Pharisees who had caught the woman in adultery, “Let him who is without sin be the first to cast a stone.” He was strong when He rebuked Satan with, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written….”
In the original language, the word “meek” is used in bridling a horse, or taming a wild animal. The word “meek” is a picture of “power under control.” So, when we talk about a meek person, we’re talking about one whose life is under the control of Jesus Christ.. Jesus the Christ is in control of his or her life.
Did Jesus mean that if we allowed Him full reign in our lives that we would have everything this world has to offer? No, I don’t think so. I think perhaps the idea is that while we are on earth we will enjoy our lives more when Jesus is in control. And that makes a whole lot of sense. The way of Jesus is always best. He came to give us life and give it more abundantly.
I think thejoyful people in the world and those who enjoy life the most are those who allow Christ to lead them in life. As the song says, “When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way!”
Remember - The Continental Singers will be in concert this Sunday, October 21 at 6:30 p.m. at our church - the Union Center United Methodist Church at 128 Maple Drive, Endicott. Please come and show your support for this anointed group of talented musicians.
Tune in tonight at 7 p.m. on Channel 4 for our weekly television outreach.
In Christ ,
Brown
"The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day
rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in
shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other
point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come
flowing in." - C. S. Lewis
A woman was weed-eating her yard and
accidentally cut off the tail of her cat
which was hiding in the grass.
She rushed her cat, along with the tail over
to WALMART!
Why WALMART???
WALMART is the largest retailer in the world!!! Submitted by brother J.B.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 10-18-07
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this beautiful day. The colors of Fall are brilliant and beautiful. They remind me of the way the Lord makes our lives beautiful and bountiful. As we walk the Pilgrims way we are called to trust the Lord and trust in His unseen hand. In May 1995, Randy Reid, a 34-year-old construction worker, was welding on top of a nearly completed water tower outside Chicago. According to writer Melissa Ramsdell, Reid unhooked his safety gear to reach for some pipes when a metal cage slipped and bumped the scaffolding he stood on. The scaffolding tipped, and Reid lost his balance. He fell 110 feet, landing face down on a pile of dirt, just missing rocks and construction debris. A fellow worker called 911. When paramedics arrived, they found Reid conscious, moving, and complaining of a sore back. Apparently the fall didn’t cost Reid his sense of humor. As paramedics carried him on a backboard to the ambulance, Reid had one request: "Don’t drop me." (Doctors later said Reid came away from the accident with just a bruised lung.)
Who do we trust? We have trusted many people and many things:
What do all of these things have in common? Sometimes they fail our trust.
We have all felt the disastrous results of failed trust within our families and by our friends. Confidences are shattered, tears are shed, feelings are hurt, trust is damaged and bitterness often grows.
We have witnessed the devastating results of national failures. Security was breached, planes were hijacked and used like missiles, lives were lost in the thousands, our nation is shaken and stunned, insecurity rises and fear grows.
Far too often in life we become completely focused on the trials and difficulties of life and we lose our focus on Christ. When Peter walked on the water with Jesus he was doing well until he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the waves. The same is true of us today. God can get us through the most impossible situations but we must keep our focus and trust on Him. How can we ever expect to find help and healing when we are still focused on our difficulties and not our deliverance
Trust is found in our unswerving belief that the God of Heaven will indeed work on our behalf to bring His perfect will for our lives into being.
We need to place our trust in something or someone and we do it every day. We trust our cars to get us to our destination. We trust our employers to deliver paychecks. We trust our doctors top heals our illnesses. How much more should we trust God? God blesses those who trust Him. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Life, sometimes, is beyond us. Disasters strike and tragedies happen in our lives. Life can indeed be hard. Life can be uncertain. Life is beyond our control. In times like this, life is beyond our understanding. We are left with raw emotions and tough questions. Answers are beyond us as we grapple with the question of why.
In times like these, who do you trust? The Good News we have, Life is never beyond our God. Nothing and I mean nothing that we go through in life is beyond Him. The truth is that we can and must rely on God in every situation in life. Times that just don’t make any sense in human terms; we need to trust in God. The more senseless life becomes the greater our need to trust in God. The writer of Proverbs states it simply and clearly that God wants your full and complete trust. Trust God with all of your heart. We must hold nothing back and surrender to Him all that we are, all that we have, all that we may become because without the presence and guidance of God we will go nowhere. This is trust in all situations
God wants you to trust even when we don’t understand. When life just doesn’t make sense. God wants us to follow Him when the future seems uncertain. It is only when we completely trust God that He'll give us the power of His direction and the power of His presence. God is worthy of trust. He is completely trustworthy. The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9-10. God is our source of strength. When we feel weak, God is our strength. When we are pressured by life, God is our relief. When we need security, God is our refuge. The full resources of God are at our disposal when we place our trust in Him. If we do not place our trust in Him, there is no access to His power, His mercy or His love. When trials arise and we go through difficulty; it is then that we must place our trust in God. Without trust in God there is no comfort, no peace, no strength and no relief. Our Lord God has made a promise that He will never forsake those who seek Him. The promise that God made so long ago is still valid today because God has never broken a promise yet. He is true and faithful to His people. Amen.
Please keep the following in prayer:
Sunita who is flying to Rwanda this coming Sunday.
Continue to pray for Dr. Doug Kerr and team who are in Kenya.
Pray for Dave and Linda Barton in Uruguay.
Pray for Linda Allen, Linda Ayer, George Carmon.
Continue to pray for Jack Hoppes, Jack Black, Danielle DeGaramo, Patsy Carmon, Prudence Wesner, Eloise Tewksbury and Andy Morse.
Happy birthday to Debbie Haines.
Congratulations to Howard and Emily Seymour on the birth of their granddaughter, Jenna. Proud parents are Christine and Jim.
Congratulations to Dave and Linda Barton on the birth of their granddaughter, Louisa. Proud parents are Becky and Shawn.
The Continentals are coming this coming Sunday, they will be in concert at the Union Center UMC at 6:30 p.m.
Those who live around here come and join us for a time of worship and celebration.
The Russians are coming, they will be in concert Saturday, November 10 at the Memorial Baptist church in Vestal, they will be in concert at Union Center UMC on Sunday, November 11 at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. and at 7:00 p.m.
Have a wonderful day, Lord bless.
Brown
"
God of our life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and weigh us down; when the road seems dreary and endless, the skies grey and threatening; when our lives have no music in them, and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage. Flood the path with light, run our eyes to where the skies are full of promise; tune our hearts to brave music; give us the sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age; and so quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road of life, to Your honour and glory. " Augustine
Flight Delays
There was a blonde sitting next to a man on an airplane.
About 1 hour into the flight the pilot comes on and says over the intercom, "One of our four engines is out, we will be about fifteen minutes late arriving."
About 30 min. later the pilot comes on the intercom again and say "There is a second engine out, we will be about 30 min. late."
Fifteen minutes after that the pilot comes on again and says "I'm sorry to say that there is a third engine out, we'll be about 1 hr. late arriving at our destination."
The blonde turns to the man and says "Man if that forth engine goes out, we'll be up here all day."
Praise the Lord for this beautiful day. The colors of Fall are brilliant and beautiful. They remind me of the way the Lord makes our lives beautiful and bountiful. As we walk the Pilgrims way we are called to trust the Lord and trust in His unseen hand. In May 1995, Randy Reid, a 34-year-old construction worker, was welding on top of a nearly completed water tower outside Chicago. According to writer Melissa Ramsdell, Reid unhooked his safety gear to reach for some pipes when a metal cage slipped and bumped the scaffolding he stood on. The scaffolding tipped, and Reid lost his balance. He fell 110 feet, landing face down on a pile of dirt, just missing rocks and construction debris. A fellow worker called 911. When paramedics arrived, they found Reid conscious, moving, and complaining of a sore back. Apparently the fall didn’t cost Reid his sense of humor. As paramedics carried him on a backboard to the ambulance, Reid had one request: "Don’t drop me." (Doctors later said Reid came away from the accident with just a bruised lung.)
Who do we trust? We have trusted many people and many things:
What do all of these things have in common? Sometimes they fail our trust.
We have all felt the disastrous results of failed trust within our families and by our friends. Confidences are shattered, tears are shed, feelings are hurt, trust is damaged and bitterness often grows.
We have witnessed the devastating results of national failures. Security was breached, planes were hijacked and used like missiles, lives were lost in the thousands, our nation is shaken and stunned, insecurity rises and fear grows.
Far too often in life we become completely focused on the trials and difficulties of life and we lose our focus on Christ. When Peter walked on the water with Jesus he was doing well until he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the waves. The same is true of us today. God can get us through the most impossible situations but we must keep our focus and trust on Him. How can we ever expect to find help and healing when we are still focused on our difficulties and not our deliverance
Trust is found in our unswerving belief that the God of Heaven will indeed work on our behalf to bring His perfect will for our lives into being.
We need to place our trust in something or someone and we do it every day. We trust our cars to get us to our destination. We trust our employers to deliver paychecks. We trust our doctors top heals our illnesses. How much more should we trust God? God blesses those who trust Him. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Life, sometimes, is beyond us. Disasters strike and tragedies happen in our lives. Life can indeed be hard. Life can be uncertain. Life is beyond our control. In times like this, life is beyond our understanding. We are left with raw emotions and tough questions. Answers are beyond us as we grapple with the question of why.
In times like these, who do you trust? The Good News we have, Life is never beyond our God. Nothing and I mean nothing that we go through in life is beyond Him. The truth is that we can and must rely on God in every situation in life. Times that just don’t make any sense in human terms; we need to trust in God. The more senseless life becomes the greater our need to trust in God. The writer of Proverbs states it simply and clearly that God wants your full and complete trust. Trust God with all of your heart. We must hold nothing back and surrender to Him all that we are, all that we have, all that we may become because without the presence and guidance of God we will go nowhere. This is trust in all situations
God wants you to trust even when we don’t understand. When life just doesn’t make sense. God wants us to follow Him when the future seems uncertain. It is only when we completely trust God that He'll give us the power of His direction and the power of His presence. God is worthy of trust. He is completely trustworthy. The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9-10. God is our source of strength. When we feel weak, God is our strength. When we are pressured by life, God is our relief. When we need security, God is our refuge. The full resources of God are at our disposal when we place our trust in Him. If we do not place our trust in Him, there is no access to His power, His mercy or His love. When trials arise and we go through difficulty; it is then that we must place our trust in God. Without trust in God there is no comfort, no peace, no strength and no relief. Our Lord God has made a promise that He will never forsake those who seek Him. The promise that God made so long ago is still valid today because God has never broken a promise yet. He is true and faithful to His people. Amen.
Please keep the following in prayer:
Sunita who is flying to Rwanda this coming Sunday.
Continue to pray for Dr. Doug Kerr and team who are in Kenya.
Pray for Dave and Linda Barton in Uruguay.
Pray for Linda Allen, Linda Ayer, George Carmon.
Continue to pray for Jack Hoppes, Jack Black, Danielle DeGaramo, Patsy Carmon, Prudence Wesner, Eloise Tewksbury and Andy Morse.
Happy birthday to Debbie Haines.
Congratulations to Howard and Emily Seymour on the birth of their granddaughter, Jenna. Proud parents are Christine and Jim.
Congratulations to Dave and Linda Barton on the birth of their granddaughter, Louisa. Proud parents are Becky and Shawn.
The Continentals are coming this coming Sunday, they will be in concert at the Union Center UMC at 6:30 p.m.
Those who live around here come and join us for a time of worship and celebration.
The Russians are coming, they will be in concert Saturday, November 10 at the Memorial Baptist church in Vestal, they will be in concert at Union Center UMC on Sunday, November 11 at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. and at 7:00 p.m.
Have a wonderful day, Lord bless.
Brown
"
God of our life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and weigh us down; when the road seems dreary and endless, the skies grey and threatening; when our lives have no music in them, and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage. Flood the path with light, run our eyes to where the skies are full of promise; tune our hearts to brave music; give us the sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age; and so quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road of life, to Your honour and glory. " Augustine
Flight Delays
There was a blonde sitting next to a man on an airplane.
About 1 hour into the flight the pilot comes on and says over the intercom, "One of our four engines is out, we will be about fifteen minutes late arriving."
About 30 min. later the pilot comes on the intercom again and say "There is a second engine out, we will be about 30 min. late."
Fifteen minutes after that the pilot comes on again and says "I'm sorry to say that there is a third engine out, we'll be about 1 hr. late arriving at our destination."
The blonde turns to the man and says "Man if that forth engine goes out, we'll be up here all day."
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