Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Devotions |
Hi Friends!
It is good to be home after an amazing 10 days in Haiti. Thank you so much for your prayers, and all of your words of encouragement. I hope to give a report (with pictures of course) soon, but suffice it to say here that my time with Haiti Foundation of Hope was an incredible experience. It was an emotional time – with the highs being very high, and the lows quite low. But we saw God working in powerful ways there in Terre Blanche. I would highly recommend for anyone who is able to go and serve in Haiti – do it!
This Sunday I will be starting a new series – GALATIANS: Set Free! This first message will be an introduction to this letter from Paul, explaining some of the “facts.” We will hopefully get a brief understanding of the overall message of the book. Why did Paul write it in the first place? What does it have to do with our lives today? I trust that this Sunday will whet your appetite for more Galatians in the weeks to come!
Posted on Mar 7, 2013 in Devotions |
Hi Everyone!
This is a quick note for four purposes:
1. MEN’S BREAKFAST this Saturday at 7am!!! Guys don’t miss this great time together. The second part of Session 1 in our Stepping Up video for men will be shown. Come prepared to be challenged to be a godly man!
2. Thank you for praying for Ron & Jeanne Whitted while they were in Haiti! They made it home safe & sound, and it sounds like they had such an amazing time they are already wanting to go back! We can look forward to hearing more from them in the near future. Also, tomorrow is the day for Mike Kirk, Dave Ezell, and myself to head down to Haiti as well. Please be in prayer for us! Hopefully you can download a specific prayer letter for our team by clicking on the following:
3. The next two Sundays should be fantastic times of worship and growth at FBC. This Sunday you will hear from David Douglass. As many of you already know, you are in for a blessing when David preaches the Word! Then on March 17 will be a great opportunity to hear from Paul Gunderson, missionary to Indonesia who is currently living in Eugene. Come hear what the Lord is up to in the lives of the Gundersons.
4. 25 days to Easter!!! Are you praying for your OIKOS? Look for opportunities to serve, love, share with, and invite to FBC. I am excited about our series in GALATIANS that I will start when we return. I had an idea today: many of you did such a great job memorizing the verses I asked you to a few weeks back, that maybe we could pick 5 verses in Galatians and memorize them together as we go through the book in the coming Sundays. So, for those up to the challenge, here are the five verses I will be working on, with the “deadline” date for each one (which corresponds to the date I plan to be preaching about each verse, Lord willing of course) —
Posted on Mar 1, 2013 in Devotions |
Hi Friends,
It feels good to feel good again! Thanks for all your prayers for me as I dealt with Bells Palsy, prednisone, that nasty cold… I think I’m around 90%, praying for 100% by next Thursday when Dave Ezell, Mike Kirk, and I take off for 10 days in Haiti! Speaking of Haiti, please remember to pray for Ron & Jeanne Whitted as they experience the final four days of their trip. And remember John Joiner as he finishes his time in Burundi.
There has been a TON of sickness going around! Many of you have probably already had a bad cold or the flu recently. Now, while I am always urging you to make coming to church a priority, let me give you permission to stay home if you are sick! We’re a sharing bunch, but these brutal illnesses are simply not nice to share with others!
This Sunday I will be speaking on a familiar story from Luke 19:1-10. Many of you probably remember the song “Zaccheus was a wee little man…” But this story is not only the inspiration for a cute kid’s song. It is packed full of insight for us to consider regarding our relationships with “sinners.” Do you have any unbelieving friends, relatives, acquaintances? How do you relate to them? Jesus was harshly criticized for being a “friend of sinners.” Can the same be said of us?
Posted on Feb 14, 2013 in Devotions |
Hi Everyone!
I want to thank everyone for the prayers and encouragement this week. Some of you may not have been aware that I was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy a couple weeks ago. The doctor put me on prednisone (a steroid) to try to “knock it out.” The medication has done a number on my blood sugar numbers, and caused me to not feel “right.” But I am on the mend! My smile is a little less crooked, and today I was able to wink my right eye for the first time (just in time to be able to wink at Elizabeth for Valentine’s Day)! I will still be on the medicine for about 10 more days, but my dosage is tapering down. Thank you again for your prayers and support.
On this Valentine’s Day, as I was reading my Bible this morning, I was struck by the fact that my family has decorated our house with multiple hearts. Hearts are everywhere! It is a fitting symbol of the holiday, which focuses on the love we have for one another. And as I read, I couldn’t help but notice (again) how many times the words “love” and “heart” appeared today! There were at least 12 passages, from each of the 4 areas we’re reading from, that included either “heart,” “love,” or both. For example, read Psalm 40 today (especially verses 8, 10-12, and 16) and see what I mean.
Posted on Feb 8, 2013 in Devotions |
Hi FBC Friends!
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation. (Psalm 35:9 ESV)
Are you rejoicing in the LORD today? In reading the chapter’s in our daily Bible reading today, I found a mixture of joy and sorrow. Joy in His salvation; sorrow over our sinfulness, and sorrow over Christ’s death; but joy that He was willing to endure that for us!
And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:37-39 ESV)
This event, along with His resurrection (which I can’t wait to read about tomorrow), is the most monumental event in all of history! And the curtain being torn in two, because of His perfect sacrificial death, is what gives us access to the Holy of holies! We can boldly approach the throne of grace! This is definitely cause for us to rejoice in the LORD and exulting in His salvation!
Posted on Feb 1, 2013 in Devotions |
Hi again Brothers and Sisters,
Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. (Psalm 28:6-7 ESV)
I was impressed today with how many times the subject of the “heart” came up in our Daily Bible Reading. In Exodus 7 & 8, the story emphasized Pharaoh’s hardened heart. I counted 8 times in those two chapters his hard heart was referred to. Then in our reading in Mark 8, Jesus chastised His disciples by asking them, “Are your hearts hardened?” (vs. 17). But on the positive side, we see in Psalm 28 that David (a man after God’s heart) expressed how his heart trusts and exults in the Lord. And when describing how the “Proverbs 31 woman” helps her husband and does not cause him harm, the writer states, “The heart of her husband trusts in her…” (v. 11).
I went back through my journal, where I write down key verses from the daily reading. And just from this past month, I found 18 verses or passages that mention the heart! As I was journaling this month, I wasn’t specifically looking for verses about the heart, so there are probably many more that we have read in recent days on this key subject. Obviously, the heart is a key theme in the Bible. I think one of the most important expressions for us is when Jesus said we are to “love the Lord your God with all your heart…” So how’s your heart today?
Posted on Jan 25, 2013 in Devotions |
Hi Friends,
Thank you to all who have been praying for Caleb’s recovery from hernia surgery. The doctor seemed pleased with the result. Caleb is pretty sore, but getting better each day. We appreciate all the prayers and concern!
Also, before I forget, let me remind you about the All Church Game Night tomorrow, Friday, from 6 – 9pm in the fellowship hall. Bring a friend; bring a game; and bring a snack to share! The purpose of the evening is to have a good time together, get to know a few people better, and develop relationships outside of the usual quick hello’s we say on Sundays.
Members, following the worship service there will be a brief meeting to vote on the allocation of funds for the building of the Christian Education classroom wing! Please be prepared to stay for a few minutes.
Posted on Jan 17, 2013 in Devotions |
Hi Friends!
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
For years I have been deeply impressed with this response from our Lord. While the Pharisees and Scribes certainly argued about which commandment was the most important, and made many laws of their own, Jesus cut to the heart of the matter – literally! What could any of His opponents say in response? Nothing! It is great to have a desire to study and know all of God’s laws, but it is critical that we understand the purpose behind them. And the best way to be sure that we are covering all of His commands in our lives is to measure ourselves against this criteria – are we loving God with our entire being, and are we loving other people?
Posted on Jan 11, 2013 in Devotions |
Good Afternoon FBC Friends!
PRAISE THE LORD! And, THANK YOU! Last Sunday may go down as one of our “memorial stones” (Josh. 4:7) moments at FBC Brownsville. After much prayer, and through the generous and sacrificial giving of many people, we had a special offering for the Christian Education classrooms of $44,169.90! Add that to the $20,000 that had already come in towards the end of 2012, and the over $200,000 already in the fund, and we are over $268,000 and ready to move forward with this next phase of expansion! We have much to rejoice over, much to be thankful for, and much responsibility to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with! PRAISE THE LORD! Please be praying for this next stage in the days ahead. Also be praying about ways in which you may be able to help with some of the work in the coming months.
In today’s New Testament reading, we are in Matthew 13. Jesus of course is the master teacher. His parables are rich with truth. Sometimes they take quite a bit of thought to grasp what He means. Even His own disciples often had trouble understanding. Thankfully, He sometimes explained very clearly what the parable meant. In the beginning of the chapter He told the parable of the sower. I’d encourage you to read that today even if you’re not following the reading calendar.
Read more…
Posted on Jan 3, 2013 in Devotions |
Hi Friends!
Happy New Year! I pray that 2013 holds many joyous moments for us along with great growth in Christ.
As you know by now, this Sunday is our special offering for our Christian Education classrooms addition. January 6 has traditionally been celebrated by the Christian church as “Epiphany”, remembering the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus. Just as those wise men brought their valuable gifts to the Lord, we will do the same. Just as the poor widow (Luke 21) set an example for the rest by her faithful, sacrificial giving, I hope and pray we will follow suit. Just as people gave as the Lord stirred their hearts in the days of the tabernacle and the temple, so I pray that our hearts will be moved to accomplish the goal the Lord has laid before us! This offering will take place early in the service, and will be separate from our normal general fund offering. In preparation for Sunday, I invite any who would like to join me in fasting and prayer for the special offering. We will be praying for the gifts, and just as important, the hearts of the givers. You can choose to fast from one meal, two, or the whole day. It’s up to you; the point is for us to diligently seek God’s face. I realize that some have already given generously toward this offering. Thank you! And please continue to pray for the others who will bring their gifts this Sunday.