Our Mission To love all people at all times and lead them into a new life in Christ.
Our Vision To be a church that will be multicultural and generational, having a lasting impact on the people to whom we minister.
To see the gospel extend beyond the walls of our church through various outreaches.
|
MY REDEEMER LIVES!!!
Job 19:25 “For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives…”AMP
I enjoy the song so much that says “I know my Redeemer lives. I know my Redeemer lives. Let all creation testify; this life within me cries,’I know my Redeemer lives!'”
The word, know, is such a postive statement. Job’s words ring out from such a terrible postion of losing everything and suffering such physical and mental pain. Regardless of what his “friends” accused him, despite the suffering, Job looked beyond it all and focused on the fact that he knew–no doubt,not maybe–he knew his Redeemer lived.
What does your life cry out? Regardless of your circumstances and questions, does your life cry out to those around you, “I know my Redeemer lives!” Galations 3:13 reminds us that we have been redeemed from the curse of the law. Jesus took the punishment of my sins once and forever and redeemed or bought me back into the righteousness of God. Now I walk in the blessings of Abraham-peace, prosperity, favor, healing–because my Redeemer lives.
If you can not positively say, “I know my Redeemer lives,” you can know it today by accepting the promise of John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son and whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
Mark 16:1-7 (NKJV)
He Is Risen
16 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”
This is Easter and many people who show little interest most of the year are taking part in the “religion” activities of the day. Programs, plays, sunrise services, and various other special activities are widely being presented today. Is the activity in honor of the resurrection of Jesus or because of man’s natural desire to show himself “religious”?
There is one thing more important than any other Easter activity. It is pronounced by the Angel at the tomb that morning. “He is risen! He is not here.” Nothing else in Christianity is as important as that statement. As a matter of fact, nothing else in Christianity really matters if He is not risen. None of the pomp and circumstance makes any difference if we miss the main point. A well known German liberal Bible scholar once said, “It doesn’t matter whether or not Jesus rose from the dead, as long as you believe He did.” Does that really make sense? Many leaders in Christianity today are doubting the cardinal beliefs of the Church including the resurrection. This is a death sentence for the Church. Paul put it like this. “..if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” I Cor 15:14 “For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” I Cor 15:16-17
Whatever is done or not done on Easter, the important thing is that Jesus rose from the dead and is ALIVE! That is the real meaning of Easter. That is what is to be remembered. That is what is to be celebrated!
RENEWING WEDDING VOWS
Some people may wonder why renewing your wedding vows is important. Jerry and I are not the same people who got married nearly 44 years ago. I was 18 and he was 21. We thought we knew what love was all about. We were blessed to be Christians and had the same ideas about marriage being forever and the importance of God and the church to the family. Yet there have been some hard times. It will be good to renew those vows and say to each other, “I may not be the same person but I am a better person who still loves you and wants to marry you all over again!”
Saying these vows can be the beginning of a deeper spiritual walk together in the Lord as you enter a new season in your marriage. It is a serious vow to take as were the original wedding vows.
Some couples may not have been Christians when they first married but now they are and want to really make those spiritual wedding vows to each other.
Invite your family and friends to enjoy this time with you. You must register by April 8 to participate in this ceremony.
Others may want to come to enjoy watching their friends and families take these vows. Please bring snacks,and refreshments for a fellowship time following the ceremony.
P.U.S.H-PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS
As we read through the Bible, we find the most effective prayers are those that were prayed persistently. In the Old Testament Hannah desperately wanted a baby. For many years she prayed and prayed to have a baby. After her prayer was unanswered for years, she did not say, “Well, it must not be God’s will for me to have a baby.” She kept on praying and God gave her a son-Samuel, the mighty prophet.
When Jesus went into the garden of Gethsemane and prayed, “Father I want to do your will, but if it is possible for people to be saved some other way, then let this cup pass from me and let’s do it the other way.” Jesus got off his knees after this prayer only to find he did not have the strength yet to go through it all. So He prayed again. Got up and still found out He did not yet have the strength. So He went back the third time. It was in the third time of P.U.S.H-ing that he received the much needed strength to be able to go thru. He told his disciples, “the hour is near and Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinner, rise for it is time for us to go.”
Praying until something happens is the attitude that says, “No matter how long it takes, or how many times I have to come before God, I will not be denied. I do not believe this is arrogance; it’s Godly hunger. It is about you pushing into God, not about trying to push God into doing something. This is praying to see the hand of God move, not praying for the sake of praying.
Church, are we tempted to give up to soon? What have you given up on because you have not received the answer yet? Now more than ever is it time to-P.U.S.H!!!
A MAN’S GIFT MAKES ROOM FOR HIM
Proverbs 18:16 “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.”
NKJV says this about this verse: “Gift makes room: This gift is not a bribe, but an asset or talent which opens the way. “
Whether your talent or gift is singing, preaching, making money, teaching, computers, administrion, and even sports, God wants to use your ability as a platform for Him. When we dedicate our abilities to God and trust His leadership with our lives, we will stand before “great men.” This means to honor and respect those whom God has placed in authority over you, and He will allow your gift to be noticed. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Ps. 37:3
No man can keep you from becoming what God has called you to be. There may be times when the devil tells you that no one will ever notice your capabilities, but God knows and will put you with people who will see your potential. He will use your gifts as a platform to bring Him honor and glory.
It starts with you. Are you willing to submit and honor those who are in authority and trust God to allow them to utilize your gifts? Let your passion be for God, and concentrate on doing your best, and He will cause you to have your heart’s desires.
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” James 3:1
One of the things I have noticed during the forty-one years I have been in the ministry is the great number of people “called” to be preachers and teachers.I think there is a vision of a place of recognition and honor associated with presenting the Word of God. Standing in front of people and presenting your ideas has an unquestionable appeal, especially if you enjoy talking.
Sadly, many of the “called” have fallen by the wayside or disappeared into the crowd. The genuine call of God is not measured by “success” (the world’s idea) but by faithfulness. “Be ye faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Jeremiah was not “successful,” but he was faithful. He never changed the message he received from God in order to gain the approval of the people. True success is being faithful to God’s calling on our lives. Whatever you do, do with all your might as unto the Lord. This applies from the least of these to the greatest.
As a “teacher” of God’s Word, I will have to give an account of what I teach people. This is a sobering thought to me. It is a weighty task not to be taken lightly. Fear and trembling accompany every presentation of God’s words that I give.
The most important thing I must ask myself is,”Have I presented the Truth?”
“Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.” Deut. 34:7
Many people associate age with sickness, weakness, and mental deterioration. It was not so with Moses. He was 120 years old and his vision was still good and his body and mind strong. I celebrated birthday number 62 last week and entered into what we call the “social security generation.” I had mixed feelings. I know what the Word said about Moses, and I know what the world says.
All the promises in the Bible are mine. Moses was under the old covenant and had wonderful health and vigor. He just went to be with the Lord. I choose to claim that promise and not what the world offers–sickness, weakness, mental deterioration. I received a beautiful card from Jerry and Denise Adamson that read, “And, in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years!” Lord, let Your life shine through me.
IMPORTANCE OF HONOR IN MARRIAGE
Honor has power. It is to value another person highly, to see them extremely important. You value everything they do. Honor is not earned. It is a gift that is not contingent upon your emotions.
You give honor because you choose to give it and not because it is earned. It is a decision you make. “I choose today to honor my husband/wife because God wants me to honor them.” In honoring them I let them know how valuable they are to me. Honor is giving preference to others by attaching a high value to them–a cherished treasure. The word honor carries with it the meaning of the way you treat royalty. This is necessary to do regardless if they are hard to live with.
How do you honor someone who has not earned your honor? Picture that person as being personally autographed by God. Psalms 139:14 “You are fearfully and wonderfully made.” You look for the good because God instilled His glory into each of us.
It is easy to only see irritating habits, failures, and broken promises. When we see people at their worst, we still show respect and honor.
You decide if someone is valuable. Your feelings will follow. Our feelings follow our beliefs and thoughts. Your beliefs generate thoughts. Thoughts create emotions, and emotions motivate behavior. When you show poeple honor, they will begin to live up to it.
CHURCH LADIES WITH TYPEWRITERS
Since I type the bulletins and from time to time I know you catch my “bloopers”, I decided to let you read some “Bulletin Bloopers” that I did not make. Pastor LaVerne
*The fasting and prayer conference includes meals.
*The sermon this morning: ‘Jesus Walks on the Water.’ The sermon tonight: ‘Searching for Jesus.’
*Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
*Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say ‘Hell’ to someone who doesn’t care much about you.
*Don’t let worry kill you off–let the Church help.
*Miss Charlene Mason sang ‘I will not pass this way again,’ giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
*For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
*Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
*Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
*A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
*At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be ‘What is Hell?’ Come early and listen to our choir practice.
*Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
*Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
*The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:23-25 (NKJV)
“I can sing in the troubled times, sing when I win. I can sing when I lose my step and fall down again. I can sing cause you pick me up, sing cause your there. I can sing cause you hear me Lord, when I call to you in prayer. I can sing with my last breath, sing cause I know that I’ll sing with the angels and the saints around the throne.” Midnight singing-singing at the worse possible time. It is singing in our darkest hour. It is singing when we must force the song to rise above the circumstances. It is singing from a source unrelated to our present condition. It is not an act, but rather a connection with a source of victory so powerful it cannot be ignored or dismissed as trivial. When we can sing in that kind of atmosphere, those around us can hear. When we “sing.” there is a strain of hope that flows out that will cause “prisoners” to stop and listen. At your midnight hour keep on singing; there is somebody that is listening. You never know what they might hear. You do not have to “sing” in order to “sing”. When you declare the power and Glory of God, you are “singing His praises”.
THE TWILIGHT YEARS
If you are age 65 and over, don’t miss the meeting Tuesday, Feb. 14, of the Twilight Years. The meeting begins at 6:00 at the church. For more information, call Martha Blankenship at 270 585-3825.
The Complete Trustworthiness of the Bible*
*Taken from KINGDOM DYNAMICS from New King James Version.
Psalm 19:7-8 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The Word of God is perfect–absolute, complete and entirely trustworthy are the Holy Scpritures. The Word of God is perfect in its accuracy and sure in its dependability.
It is inerrant. From the origianl manuscripts there was never any mistakes and it was protected by the Holy Spirit over the centuries. The Bible is the most completely reliable of any book from antiquity. It remains unchanged and accurate.
It is infallible. The Bible is absolutely a trustworthy guide for our faith and practice. God is true (John 3:33). The Word reveals truth (John 17:17). God cannot lie (Numbers 23:10, Titus 1:2, Heb. 6:18).
As a believer, I choose to trust the Word of God over the words of man and over the emotions about issues. I am not saved because I feel like it. I am saved because of Rom. 10:9. “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” I am not healed because I feel like it. I am healed because of I Pet. 2:24. “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed.” I make right decisions not based on my “feelings” but because of James 1:5. “If any man lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
I have found over the years that the more I turn to God and His Word for decisions in my life, the more I am aware of His contant presence. Doing what is right, because it is right according to the Word of God, will bring me more peace and victory in my life.
Ps 119:89 “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations.”
Ps. 119:165 “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.”
Small groups are coming. I told you last year we would be launching small group meetings. We are testing the waters with special times of fellowship, food, and fun along with spiritual growth. Even if you have seen the movie “Courageous,” it will bless you again to see it with church family and friends. I encourage you to get involved now and establish a pattern. Involvement fosters a sense of belonging. Be a part of what’s happening at New LIfe.
JOIN A GROUP FOR THE SHOWING OF THE MOVIE “COURAGEOUS”.
Three nights at three different locations. The meeting schedule is as follows:***
6:00 CST each night.
FEBRUARY 19 Jimmy and Gayle Dowell
FEBRUARY 26 Bob and Rita Reynolds
MARCH 4 Tim and Jodie Cooper (pending)
The size of each group is limited to approximately 12. Sign up early. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to fellowship and be blessed. ****Sign up sheets are on the table in back of the church.
***We will schedule another movie night on March 11 if needed.
DON’T LIMIT GOD
It is so easy to get in a routine and “comfort” zone in our spiritual walk. God wants us to “step out on the water” as Peter did and go beyond our human limitations. If you want to see miracles, signs and wonders, begin to reach for them with your faith.
The following poem was sent to me and encouraged me. Let this poem encourage you in your walk today.
BEYOND OUR LIMITATIONS
Lord we need to move beyond
This place that we are in
To touch your very heart, O God
To have your love within
We need to move beyond the limits
We’ve placed upon our lives
To move into more of you
Revealed through Jesus Christ
Help us to keep pressing on
As, by faith, we take more steps
To really conquer our inner selves
To know you with more depth
To be focused more on you
No matter how hard it gets for us
We need to press on through
Though Satan rises with hell’s fury
With vengeance to devour
We pray, O God, you’ll arise in us
And fight with holy power
For greater are you within us
Than the enemy of our souls
For you have power and might, O God
And your Spirit is in control!
We know the victory shall be ours
Though for now the heat is on
Help us Lord to not give up
For by this you make us strong
You will sustain us in your love
Through what we’re going through
And deliver us the other side
Victorious in you! By M.S. Lowndes
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 20-21(NKJV)
One of the major areas of study is that of faith. There is a wide spectrum of belief and opinion about the proper balance of faith with other “Biblical doctrines”, some of which may be erroneous in themselves.
I am attempting to shine the light of truth on a subject the scripture says you must have in order to please God. The trick is to have faith without it being a substitute for God.
In the verse above, the word “looking” is of extreme importance. When it comes to life, what are you looking at? If we are not watchful, we can spend more time looking at circrmstances and problems than we spend looking at Jesus. I am not calling into question the things we have learned about faith and confession. Rather, I am reminding each of us that it is Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. Make Him the focus of your attention even when dealing with your problems.
WHY WE GIVE TO THE CHURCH
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)
Everything we own, everything we have comes from God. So when we give, we simply offer him a very small portion of all the abundance he has already given to us. Giving is an expression of our thankfulness and praise to God! It comes from a heart of worship. For everything we give already belongs to him! God instructed Old Testament believers to give a tithe, or a tenth, because this 10% represented the first, or most important portion of all that they had.
Believers should give according to their income.
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (NIV)
We are blessed when we give.
Acts 20:35… remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (NIV)
God wants us to give because he knows how blessed we will be as we give generously to him and to others. Giving is a kingdom principle—it brings more blessing to the giver than to the recipient. When we give freely to God, we receive freely from God.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (NIV)
Proverbs 11:24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. (NIV)
The value of our offering is not determined by how much we give, but how we give.
—Mark 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.” (NIV) from notes by Mary Fairchild
“The mercy seat was a slab of pure gold as wide and as long as the ark, and was laid on top of the ark, fitting down inside the crown as a sort of lid. On the ends of it, and of one piece of gold with it, were fashioned two angelic winged figures, called cherubim. These faced each other, looking down upon the mercy seat and stretching their wings out above and before them until the tips of the wings of the one touched the other’s, making a sort of covering or canopy over this symbolic throne of the invisible God. “There,” above the mercy seat, overshadowed by the wings of the cherubim, said the Lord, “I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.” (Exod. 25:22). There shone the Shekinah, the glory of the Lord, according to Jewish tradition. There is some ground for this tradition in the pillar of fire that led Israel through the wilderness journey and in the glory of the Lord that at different times filled or was seen on the tabernacle. There on the mercy seat, on the great day of atonement, the atoning blood was sprinkled in the very presence of God. For only there in the presence of this blood could the holy God consistently commune with sinful men. “Russell Byrum,1922
It is doubtless here we get the beautiful expression, “throne of grace.” (Heb. 4:16). It was a place of mercy. Located beneath the mercy seat was the Ark of the Covenant itself. This special container held reminders of God’s relationship with His people. Because of man’s inconsistancies and lack of diligence the contents of the ark were lost. Jesus came to restore and complete all that God had promised in His first covenant. Under Jesus the New Covenant is established on better grounds with better promises.
A DIFFERENT SHORT CHRISTMAS STORY
Ian came home from work late in the week before Christmas, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the front door. ” Daddy, may I ask you a question?” said Jack. (Continued)
“Yep, sure, what is it?” replied Ian rather brusquely.
“Daddy, how much to you earn in an hour?”
“That’s none of your business! Why do you ask such a thing?” Ian replied angrily.
“I just need to know. Please tell me. How much do you make an hour?” Jack pleaded.
“If you must know, Jack,I make $12:50 an hour,” answered his dad.
“Daddy, may I please borrow $10:00?”
Ian became furious. “If the only reason you asked is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy for Christmas or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think abut why your are being so selfish. I don’t work hard every day for such childish frivalities.” Jack quietly went to his room and shut the door.
Ian sat down and started thinking about Jack’s questions. After about an hour or so, Ian had calmed down and started to think. Maybe Jack really needed that $10.00. He really didn’t ask for money very often. The man went to the door of his son’s room and asked, “Are you asleep, son? I’ve been thinking maybe I was too hard on you earlier. Here’s the $10 you asked for.”
Jack sat up. “Oh, thank you, Daddy,” he cried. Then reaching under his pillow he pulled out some more money. The father started to get angry when he saw his son already had money. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father with tears in his eyes.
“Why did you want more money?” his daddy asked.
“Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do. Daddy, I have $12:50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early on Christmas Eve so I can have dinner with you.” Ian was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and begged his forgiveness.
In the year 2012 are you going to adjust your priorities? My priorities will be: God, family, work. My personal relationship with God is first. I plan to pursue God with everything I have. Time with my family will be second. Time will slip by and I will not miss what is going on with my children and grandchildren. Then I will dedicate myself to do my work as unto the Lord with the best of my abilities.
Don’t let 2012 slip by. “Redeem the time for the days are evil.” Eph. 5:16
“Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new….” Rev. 21:5 There is much said in the Bible about “new”. We are a new creation. There will be new heavens and a new earth. His mercies are new every morning. What does new really mean? When we speak of a new car, do we think of it as a remade product? It is not just a “restored” product; it is brand new. We must understand ourselves as being totally different, even though we do not see ourselves that way. We have been given a gift that has transformed us into remarkable beings. We are capable of anything. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” We must learn to live in the light of our “new creation”. In our search for a 2012 slogan I have realized that there are not many words that rhyme with twelve. One of those words is “delve”. Delve means “to carry out a thorough and exhaustive search for information and truth.” Its basic meaning was “to dig with a spade.” A sample is, “Into God we will delve in 2012.” The only way to “delve” into God is to delve into His Word and immerse ourselves into His Spirit. Can we commit ourselves to this type endeavour and continue with diligence until the end? Let us try.
IMMANUEL–“GOD WITH US”
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.” which is translated, “God with us.”
I grew up in a church which preached a great message of salvation and right living. At the age of 12 I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I knew that if something happened and I died, I would go to heaven and be with God.
It wasn’t until years later that I came to understand what being “saved” really meant. “Going to heaven” was only one aspect of this great salvation. I began to learn that being a Christian placed me in a special relationship with God. Salvation was not just to “keep me from going to hell.” God really wanted to fellowship with me everyday and be a part of every area of my life. I learned to be conscious of His presence in my life all day and to talk to Him. How comforting it is to know that because of Christmas we have Immanuel–God with us in Christ Jesus.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
PRAISE AND WORSHIP
SPECIAL BY JERRY ADAMSON
PRESCHOOL–ASHLEY ADAMSON
PRIMARY–DENISE ADAMSON
SPECIAL BY RICARDO HUGHES
CHILDRENS’CHURCH-BOBBY & VIVIAN
SPECIAL BY SHERI STUMP
“OUR GOD REIGNS HERE”–Special Interpretive Dance directed and produced by MaKenzie Hughes. Performed by Mercedes and Matthew Hughes, Sarah and C.J. Lawson, Lane and Sky Dowell, Holli Mitchum.
|
|
