Good morning,
We heard a wonderful message yesterday morning from Brother Paul. A message about heaven or hell? What's wonderful about that? Well, it's a wonderful thing to know the truth. The truth that ever soul is blessed to know, is that there is a is a real hell to shun; a hell that was created for the Devil and his angles, but a hell where every unclean sinner that rejects Christ, will also be cast. Furthermore, it's a wonderful blessing to everyone who knows the truth, there is a real heaven to gain. A heaven where a just and holy God allows no sin, no rebellion, and no unclean thing to enter. But He is such a loving God, He makes it accessible to all who will accept His Son's sacrifice for their sins. It will be a New Heaven and New Earth. We as family members needs to know that our soul, and the soul of each of our family members are in the balance. If we are keenly aware of this, we will take Jonathan Edwards words to heart: "Every Christian family ought to be, as it were, a little church consecrated to Christ and wholly influenced and governed by His rules." James Dobson said: "The God who made your children will hear your petitions. After all, He loves them more that you do." He also challenges us with these words: "The most valuable contribution a parent can make to a child is to instill in him or her a genuine faith in Jesus Christ." You may be thinking, Henry, don't but that responsibility on me this Monday morning, but may I say: "It is already yours, because no one has a greater influence on your family members!" Let's look at Genesis 5: 1. "....In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him. 3. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth." God created Adam without sin, but after Adam sinned, giving up his God-given nature, and taking on a self-centered nature, he brought forth sons after his own likeness. With Adam's sin, his nature had become corrupted, and that same nature had been imparted to his son. Let us note how the father's sin reappears and ripens in the child, for Adam failed to love God and His commandment, and Cain failed to love his fellow man and killed his brother. We must not forget the influence of the parent's life. "In his own image, after his likeness." The great truth is that these words refer not only to the blessing lost in Paradise, and to a curse that came with sin, but also to a grace that comes with redemption. Parents must be what they want their children to be. If we want to keep them from the sin of Cain, who did not love his brother, let us beware of the sin of Adam, who did not love the commandment of his God. Let father and mother lead a life marked by love to God and man. This is the kind of atmosphere in which loving children can be trained. When our children hear us speak of others, of friends or enemies, let the impression they receive be one of Christ-like love. Father and mother should also show love and respect for one another. Their considerate and unselfish attitudes should prove to the children that love is possible and has immediate rewards. "and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image" When we, with a sincere heart, do what we know to do in our families, a just, holy and loving God will never fail to be true. May He bless you and your family today, and please always remember that you are loved!!! Henry
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S'SGood morning from N.C.
There are words that are a part of our vocabulary today that our parents probably never heard. While we do not seem to use codependent as much as we used to, the word dysfunctional is easily attached to family. If you said "ACOA" a few years ago, people might have thought it was a reference to an aluminum manufacturer. Now it is an acronym for "Adult Children of Alcoholics." All these words carry the theme that people are affected by their past. Sometimes it sounds like Popeye talking. One of his favorite lines is, "I's am what I's am and that's all that I's am." People "excuse" themselves with words such as that. "My upbringing was dysfunctional and I am a product of my environment" in other words, "I can't help myself." Paul's theology was somewhat different, and he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to share with us: "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10). God had worked in his life and changed him. The affects of his past, and they were bad ones, were overcome by the work of God. Are you still struggling with the past? What Jesus did for Paul, He can do for you and me. God bless you today, forget the past but never forget that you are loved today!!! Henry Good morning,
The sharing of our faith with an unbeliever would be simpler if we really understood we are the witness not the attorney. We are not to argue the case just proclaim the truth about what He has done for us. Let me share something I read recently. (A metropolitan (bishop) of the Orthodox Church in Russia was faced with an atheist in the congregation who loudly declared, "Today nobody believes in the resurrection of Christ." Instead of answering the claim, the metropolitan cried out, "Christ is risen!" and the hall, which was supposedly filled with atheists, responded with a roar, "Indeed He is risen!" This is the proclamation of faith. It is often a waste of time and energy to argue with doubters--including ourselves. If we are assailed with unbelief, let us return to the bedrock of faith: the resurrection, for without this our faith is certainly vain. Let us shout (even alone with our private doubts) Christ is risen! It is a fact. Everything else is trivial by comparison.) "......Ye shall be My witnesses......." Acts 1:8b May the Lord richly bless you today as you serve Him as a witness. Never forget that you are loved!!! Henry Good Morning,
We are in the mountains of Western N.C., but let me share with you something I read this morning from John Newton, the writer of Amazing Grace. Since Anthony's message a week ago, have you shared your faith with anyone? Don't wait until you think you are mature, you have grown enough, or you feel you are complete. It may not happen. Our sins are many, but His mercies are more; our sins are great, but His righteousness is greater; we are weak, but He is power. Wait on the Lord, and He will enable you to see more and more of the power and grace of our High Priest. The more you know Him, the better you will trust Him; the more you trust Him, the better you will love Him; the more you love Him, the better you will serve Him. This is God’s way. You are not called to be strong in yourself, but in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. He is teaching you these things. Remember the growth of a believer is not like a mushroom, but like an oak, which increases slowly indeed but surely. Many suns, showers and frosts pass upon it before it comes to perfection; and in winter when it seems dead, it is gathering strength at the root. Be humble, watchful and diligent in the means, and endeavor to look through all, and fix your eyes upon Jesus, and all shall be well. Just share with the lost what Jesus has done for you. How He changed you from what you were to where you are now. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall parish but have everlasting life." May the Lord bless you today, and never forget that you are loved!!! Henry Hello,
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please..." Isaiah 55:11 Never underestimate what God can do with your faithful effort, regardless of how small you might think it is at the time. By just a smile, an encouraging word about God's love, leaving a gospel tract or a copy of God's word, may lead to the saving of a soul. Not likely, you say? In 1969, Christian missionaries Bill and Betty Bray set sail on their small sailboat to visit the small island of Romblon in the Philippines. Following their plan, they went from house to house to hand out Gospel tracts and talk to people about Jesus. They were surprised to find that every person they talked to testified that they were born-again Christians. As the various families offered them refreshments and fellowship, they learned that many years before, during World War II, a U.S. Navy lifeboat had drifted ashore, and one of the village elders found a Gideon New Testament on the boat. Familiar with English, he was able to read it, and when he found out about the love of Jesus, he gave his life to the Lord. He then led his family to Jesus, and eventually the whole village became Christians. The islanders now have several thriving house churches, and were delighted to talk to other believers. My, how the Lord's hand was in all of this! He kept the little New Testament dry and undamaged. It fell into the hands of a leader who could read English. The Holy Spirit then brought the islander into saving faith in Jesus. That Gideon that placed a New Testament in the hand of the sailor before he was deployed, never had any idea what God was going to do with His word. He may never have lived to hear this story; but we know that he was just being faithful with what God had ask him to do. May the Lord richly bless you today as you faithful obey Him. And please, always remember that you are loved!!! Henry Good morning,
Have you ever suffered and never been able to understand why? Maybe, but most of the time we know why. We may have made a mistake and cut our finger, or broken a leg like I did once trying to ride a horse I should not have tried to ride. Maybe you or someone you work with made a mistake and you were injured on the job. Maybe you purchased something you shouldn't have at the time, and now you are suffering financially for it. The list could go on. Paul wrote: "For this reason I also suffer these things;....." For what reason did Paul suffer? Just before our verse for today, he said he preached and taught the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He taught and preached it to the Jews and Gentiles. When he said: "I suffer these things." What things was he referring to? As he wrote this, he was in prison, but you can also read what he suffered in 2 Corinthians 11 starting with verse 24. Did it change his mind about what he was doing? "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day." 2 Timothy 1:12 Commitment is a crucial part of becoming a Christian and growing in Christ. In fact there is little if any growth in that commitment without a commitment to share what Christ has done for us and given to us. Have you ever made an unreserved commitment to be a sharing person? Anthony's message this past Sunday may have convicted you, as it did me, of my weakness, but I don't want it to stop with conviction. With God's help I plan to be strengthened in sharing His love with others. A quote from Leighton Ford: "Commitment to Christ must involve commitment to our neighbor and our world, for Christ's sake." May God bless you today, as you look for someone to share your faith in Jesus with, and never forget that you are loved!!! Henry Hello,
In Jesus we are now complete. At Dogwood, plans are being drawn up for a new building, a place to gather and worship. Even as the architect's model is planned and prepared and completed in his office, so the perfect pattern of the life of holy service, for which Jesus has redeemed and called us, is now in Him in heaven. But now it must be formed in us and transferred to our earthly lives, and this is the Holy Spirit's work. He takes the gifts and graces of Christ and brings them into our lives as we need and receive them day by day, just as the various components of our new building may be produced in different places, then brought together. Thus we receive of His fullness, even grace for grace-His grace for our grace, His supply for our needs, His strength for our strength, His body for our body, His Spirit for our spirit. He Himself "of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." 1 Corinthians 1:30. Are you saying: "But I will never be what He wants me to be?" Please know, it is much more than mere abstract help and grace, much more even than the Holy Spirit bringing us strength, and peace and purity. I can assure you, you can be exactly what He wants you to be, for it is not mere abstract but, it is personal companionship with Jesus Himself! Lord, help us receive from You today that grace, your very life in us that shall result in our being made complete. Henry |
Henry DeatonHenry D. is from Southern Indiana and writes these wonderful daily devotionals to encourage those at the Dogwood Community Church located in Paoli, Indiana. Henry has graciously agreed to share these wonderful devotionals here at Without Excuse Ministries to encourage you our valued guest! Archives
January 2013
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