Good Morning,
Dan O'Brien will begin a new Sunday school series this Sunday morning. If you have not be attending, it would be a great time to start. It will include a DVD, "The Indestructible Book", which is an historic path of God's word from Mr. Sinai to Plymouth Rock. 2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." It has survived. Generation follows generation-yet it lives. Nations rise and fall-yet it lives. Kings, dictators, rulers come and go-yet it lives. Torn, condemned, burned-yet it lives. Hated, despised, cursed-yet it lives. Damned by atheists-yet it lives. Exaggerated by fanatics-yet it lives. Misconstrued and misstated-yet it lives. It's inspiration denied-yet it lives. What's the reason: Yet it lives-as a lamp to our feet. Yet it lives-as a light to our path. Yet it lives-as the gate to heaven. Yet it lives-as a standard for childhood. Yet it lives-as a guide for youth. Yet it lives-as an inspiration for the matured. Yet it lives-as light for the heathen. Yet it lives-as salvation for the sinner. Yet it lives-as grace for the believer. To know it is to love it, to love it is to accept it, to accept it means life eternal. One of my heroes from two generations ago, Andrew Murray, said: "Prayer is like fire. The fire can only burn brightly if it is supplied with good fuel. That is God's Word, which must not only be studied carefully and prayerfully, but must be taken into the heart and lived out in life." Several of you that receive these invitations to Sunday school, really plan to start. Let me suggest that you begin planning now to attend Sunday. Purpose in your heart that you are going to do it, God will help you find a way, and you will have a new perception of more time not less. God bless and remember that you are loved!!! Henry
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Good morning,
Let me share a devotional with you, I just read this morning. (Matthew 2:1-12 When the wise men came looking for the messiah, they expected to find a king. The stars announced one worthy of worship. When Peter rudely interrupted the Master’s private prayer time, he declared, “Everyone is looking for you!”(Mark 1:37). As the sun peaked over the horizon, Jesus quietly slipped away to a place where he could be alone; but the people went looking for him and invaded his quiet time (Luke 4:42). After the 5,000 had eaten, the crowd realized Jesus and his disciples were not around, so they went in search of Jesus (John 6:24). Desperately wanting to see who Jesus was, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore fig tree (Luke 19:4). Would you like to see Jesus? “‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD” (Jer. 29:13-14). The writer of Hebrews reminds us that as we come to God, we “must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” Heb. 11:6.) If you have not found Him yet as your personal Savior, let me assure you, He is worth seeking today. God bless you, and remember that you are loved!!! Henry Hello,
If on this Monday morning, Jesus examined you and me as He did Peter in John 21:15-17, how would it be? Let's humble ourselves before Him. Let's confess how cool and casual we too often have been in our expression of love to Him. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to fill us to overflowing with love for Jesus. Paul tells us it is the Holy Spirit who pours such love into our hearts. Let's hear the word of God. "....because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:5b "Lord, it is my chief complaint That my love is weak and faint, Yet I love Thee, and adore; Oh, for grace to love thee more!" William Cowper "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love ........." 1 Thessalonians 3:12a However, if you are one that has never accepted the love of God, please do that today. Repent, ask for forgiveness, and receive Him into your life. You will never be happier, and you can begin growing in your love for Christ. God bless you, have a great start to a great week, and never forget that you are loved!!! Henry Good Morning,
Many of the poets who write country songs seem to have an understanding of coveting. One from a few years ago said something like: "She always saw and wanted what she didn't have." And one line tells of wrecking her corvette while rubber necking a Mercedes Benz. Coveting is a marriage of two of the seven deadly sins - one part envy, one part greed. Greed is the inability to say enough. Envy is the inability to enjoy the life we have because our eyes and thoughts are always on what another person has. Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." For me to really understand this commandment as God intended, and to enjoy the covered promise and blessing, I will be focused on my neighbor. This way of life - loving the neighbor, showing mercy, providing, welcoming - is the polar opposite of coveting. Rather than having an eye on the neighbor's house, wife, and work animals with the desire to have them, our eye is on the neighbor and our desire to do him or her good. Where there is coveting, there can be no neighborhood. But in God's neighborhood, there is contentment, for we are not coveting what another has; nor they what we have. This is a good time of the year, this time when the world is in a material feeding frenzy; that we hold this commandment close and dance with it. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS TODAY, AND ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE LOVED!!! Henry Hi,
Millie spent the night with us last week-end. She was to exchange Christmas gifts with her 4-H friends last Saturday. She had a small gift to give, but wanted to fool everyone with a bigger package. She said: "They will all want to get my gift." We had her place the little box in a bigger box, in a bigger box, in a bigger box, and so on. You may have played that trick on someone yourself. Have you been anticipating some large gift you want to receive this year? A kind storekeeper once said to a little girl whose eyes were locked in on a jar of candy, "Take some; take a whole handful!" The little girl hesitated for a minute and then asked, "Will you please give it to me? Your hand is bigger than mine!" We must let the hand of God reward us as He deems just and fair. Remember, His hand is always bigger than ours. Let's live for Him today; and let's leave the rewarding to Him later. "....for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6b Henry Good Morning,
Running was never one of my strong suits, nor one of my favorite activities. In high school, my basketball coach wanted me to run on the Cross Country Team, which he also coached. It was not because I could be a big help to the team, for I usually finished near the end. No, he wanted me to be in condition to play basketball. Lynn, one of my best friends, one that played guard with me on the basketball team, was a great runner. He won many of our Cross Country meets, and running in the State Championship against several hundred, Lynn finished 20th. He always ran to win. I never did, for I thought that was an impossibility. In Hebrews 11 we read of Noah, Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Moses’ parents, etc. who lived by faith and looked forward to a coming Messiah. Jesus said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day" John 8:56. These men and women in Hebrews chapter 11 were people like us. They had been called to run a race and they ran the race. They are witnesses as to how we are to run that race. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" Hebrews 12:1. Endurance "We count them happy which endure" (Jas. 5:11) Endure...chastening (Heb. 12:3-17). Endure...grief, suffering wrongfully (1 Pet. 2:19, cf. 1 Pet. 3:17). Endure...temptation (Jas. 1:12, cf. 1 Pet. 1:6-7). Endure...afflictions (2 Tim. 4:5). Endure...hardness, as a good soldier (2 Tim. 2:3). Endure...all things, for the sake of those we are seeking to win (2 Tim. 2:10, cf. 1 Cor. 9:22). Love endureth all things ( 1 Cor. 13:7). He endureth, as seeing Him who is invisible (Heb. 11:27). Henry Hello,
"O Lord , I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23). "Lead me in a plain path" (Ps. 27:14). Many people want to direct God, instead of resigning themselves to be directed by Him; to show Him a way, instead of passively following where He leads. --Madame Guyon (1648-1717) I said: "Let me walk in the field"; God said: 'Nay, walk in the town"; I said: "There are no flowers there"; He said: "No flowers, but a crown." I said: "But the sky is black, There is nothing but noise and din"; But He wept as He sent me back, "There is more," He said, "there is sin I said: "But the air is thick, And fogs are veiling the sun"; He answered: "Yet souls are sick, And souls in the dark undone." I said: "I shall miss the light, And friends will miss me, they say"; He answered me, "Choose tonight, If I am to miss you, or they." I pleaded for time to be given; He said: "Is it hard to decide? It will not seem hard in Heaven To have, followed the steps of your Guide." I cast one look at the fields, Then set my face to the town; He said: "My child, do you yield? Will you leave the flowers for the crown?" Then into His hand went mine, And into my heart came He; And I walk in a light Divine, The path I had feared to see. --George MacDonald (1824-1905) Be blessed as you slip your hand into His hand today, and never forget that you are loved!!! Henry Good Morning.
We've all heard the old sayings that go: Don't major on the minors, keep first things first, and keep the main thing, the main thing. Well from the beginning of Church life, God has said in different ways: "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:14 We had another wonderful day at Dogwood yesterday with a full house, some great music from a Quartet, a trio, two duos and several solo's. They all shared the gospel, "Good News", with us in song. This was followed by a sermon, which was followed by a great family meal we enjoyed together. As we look back today, we may be recalling different things about yesterday. Some will remember the conversations around the dinner tables, some the food, some a song, and some the sermon. Two things in the sermon keep coming to mind. First, is the fact that whatever bad news surrounds us, heaven is rejoicing before the thorn of God, and that constantly. They sing: "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty". When the angles appeared to the shepherds with "Good News" and sang "Glory to God in the Highest......" that was so natural for them. Second, was such a simple but profound statement, that I don't believe I will ever forget it. For the past several years, the very popular phrase, "Jesus is the reason for the season", is really not the bottom line. Jesus has such great love for us, that you and I are the reason for the season. If we are Christians today, saved by His grace, we need to sing "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty, and sing "Glory to God in the Highest". If we are not a Christian, we too, need to realize that we are the reason for the season, and humbly accept His great Gift. God bless all today, and remember that you are loved!!! Henry Good Morning,
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given......." Isaiah 9:6 This Gift is offered to everyone. However, many have and still are, turning and walking away from this priceless Gift. Though it is priceless, it is a free Gift. All we give up is our pride, and humbly accepted Him as the price paid for our sins turn to Him, live for Him; and even that is with His help. God bless you and yours today, as we all begin to celebrate this wonderful time of the year. And never forget that you are loved!!! Henry Good Morning,
For the last two or three generations in our beloved America, the "world view" has told us we have great potential within ourselves. We just need to tap into our own resources, and accomplish great things. Fulfill our dreams, find our peace and contentment, and at the same time help mankind greatly. However, through discerning eyes, we can see that with each new generation, man sinks lower into sin, corruption, greed, and immorality. The "Biblical world view" is so diametrically opposite this idea. Simple, but true, the only answer that can turn this around is Jesus. Surrender our worthlessness to Him. Jesus will come into our surrendered lives and unite Himself with us, imparting to us His own life and being. From day to day, He will become the supply of our spiritual needs and the substitute for our helplessness. Our part is simply to yield fully, recognizing our worthlessness, and then taking Jesus Himself to live in us and be, moment by moment, our strength and purity and victory. "......As he is, so are we in this world."—1 John 4:17c Jesus, you said Your ways are contrary to the ideas of the world, but help me keep my worthless self surrendered to You. If ever I'm aware of a failure here, help me to come back and totally yield to You again, and go with You step by step. Knowing that I can't change the world, help me to effect the little world I live in. Go with Jesus today, be blessed, and remember that you are loved!!! 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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