"Come unto Me... and I will give you rest.
Dwight L. Moody was fond of pointing out that there are three kinds of faith in Jesus Christ: struggling faith, which is like a man floundering and fearful in deep water; clinging faith, which is like a man hanging to the side of a boat; and resting faith, which finds a man safe inside the boat--strong and secure enough to reach out his hand to help someone else.... Only one had discovered he could actually be in the boat-- where all he had to do was rest. This is the kind of faith God wants us to have--a faith that trust Him totally.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Pastor's Honor Day
The church gave Sister Martin and I a wonderful Appreciation Day on Sunday, October 19. Everyone was so thoughtful and A large crowd gathered at the Pelham church to honor us as their Pastoral Team. There were various speakers and songs that gave honor to us in a very special way.
Another large Grocery Shower was give and also a nice offering. In addition to these things we were also given three (3) nights stay at the famous "Shamballa Point of Light Retreat Center." We have stayed there before and enjoyed it so much.
The people brought lunch and the Pastor's Committee had invited our family to come and have lunch with us at the church. What a surprise to us when we went down stairs to see our family.
Our thanks to Sister Melinda Bratton, Sister Becky Chance and Sister Annette Daniel for planning such a WONDERFUL day for us.
It is such an honor to be the Pastor at Pelham and God bless the church for everything they have done for us.
Another large Grocery Shower was give and also a nice offering. In addition to these things we were also given three (3) nights stay at the famous "Shamballa Point of Light Retreat Center." We have stayed there before and enjoyed it so much.
The people brought lunch and the Pastor's Committee had invited our family to come and have lunch with us at the church. What a surprise to us when we went down stairs to see our family.
Our thanks to Sister Melinda Bratton, Sister Becky Chance and Sister Annette Daniel for planning such a WONDERFUL day for us.
It is such an honor to be the Pastor at Pelham and God bless the church for everything they have done for us.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Staff Appreciation Day
Sunday October 5, 2008, the Staff was honored by Pastor and Sister Martin. The Staff at Pelham COGOP are doing a great job in leading the church to growth in the Lord.
Friday, September 26, 2008
He Can Do The Impossible
The kingdom of heaven. Its citizens are drunk on wonder.
Consider the case of Sarai. She is in her golden years, but God promises her a son. She gets excited. She visits the maternity shop and buys a few dresses. She plans her shower and remodels her tent ... but no son. She eats a few birthday cakes and blows out a lot of candles ... still no son. She goes through a decade of wall calendars ... still no son.
So Sarai decides to take matters into her own hands. ("Maybe God needs me to take care of this one.")
She convinces Abram that time is running out. ("Face it, Abe, you ain't getting any younger, either.") She commands her maid, Hagar, to go into Abram's tent and see if he needs anything. ("And I mean 'anything'!") Hagar goes in a maid. She comes out a mom. And the problems begin.
Hagar is haughty. Sarai is jealous. Abram is dizzy from the dilemma. And God calls the baby boy a "wild donkey"--an appropriate name for one born out of stubbornness and destined to kick his way into history.
It isn't the cozy family Sarai expected. And it isn't a topic Abram and Sarai bring up very often at dinner.
Finally, fourteen years later, when Abram is pushing a century of years and Sarai ninety ... when Abram has stopped listening to Sarai's advice, and Sarai has stopped giving it ... when the wallpaper in the nursery is faded and the baby furniture is several seasons out of date ... when the topic of the promised child brings sighs and tears and long looks into a silent sky ... God pays them a visit and tells them they had better select a name for their new son.
Abram and Sarai have the same response: laughter. They laugh partly because it is too good to happen and partly because it might. They laugh because they have given up hope, and hope born anew is always funny before it is real.
They laugh at the lunacy of it all.
They laugh because that is what you do when someone says he can do the impossible. They laugh a little at God, and a lot with God--for God is laughing, too. Then, with the smile still on his face, he gets busy doing what he does best--the unbelievable.
He changes a few things--beginning with their names. Abram, the father of one, will now be Abraham, the father of a multitude. Sarai, the barren one, will now be Sarah, the mother.
But their names aren't the only things God changes. He changes their minds. He changes their faith. He changes the number of their tax deductions. He changes the way they define the word impossible.
From
The Applause of Heaven
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999) Max Lucado
Consider the case of Sarai. She is in her golden years, but God promises her a son. She gets excited. She visits the maternity shop and buys a few dresses. She plans her shower and remodels her tent ... but no son. She eats a few birthday cakes and blows out a lot of candles ... still no son. She goes through a decade of wall calendars ... still no son.
So Sarai decides to take matters into her own hands. ("Maybe God needs me to take care of this one.")
She convinces Abram that time is running out. ("Face it, Abe, you ain't getting any younger, either.") She commands her maid, Hagar, to go into Abram's tent and see if he needs anything. ("And I mean 'anything'!") Hagar goes in a maid. She comes out a mom. And the problems begin.
Hagar is haughty. Sarai is jealous. Abram is dizzy from the dilemma. And God calls the baby boy a "wild donkey"--an appropriate name for one born out of stubbornness and destined to kick his way into history.
It isn't the cozy family Sarai expected. And it isn't a topic Abram and Sarai bring up very often at dinner.
Finally, fourteen years later, when Abram is pushing a century of years and Sarai ninety ... when Abram has stopped listening to Sarai's advice, and Sarai has stopped giving it ... when the wallpaper in the nursery is faded and the baby furniture is several seasons out of date ... when the topic of the promised child brings sighs and tears and long looks into a silent sky ... God pays them a visit and tells them they had better select a name for their new son.
Abram and Sarai have the same response: laughter. They laugh partly because it is too good to happen and partly because it might. They laugh because they have given up hope, and hope born anew is always funny before it is real.
They laugh at the lunacy of it all.
They laugh because that is what you do when someone says he can do the impossible. They laugh a little at God, and a lot with God--for God is laughing, too. Then, with the smile still on his face, he gets busy doing what he does best--the unbelievable.
He changes a few things--beginning with their names. Abram, the father of one, will now be Abraham, the father of a multitude. Sarai, the barren one, will now be Sarah, the mother.
But their names aren't the only things God changes. He changes their minds. He changes their faith. He changes the number of their tax deductions. He changes the way they define the word impossible.
From
The Applause of Heaven
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999) Max Lucado
Monday, September 22, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Old Fashion Day
This coming Sunday, September 21 will be Old Fashion Day at our Church. Everyone dress "OLD" Fashion, (meaning any era before 1900). You may dress like the Pilgrams or even before that era of time.
Nice Bibles are being given to the male and female that is the "most original" old fashion dressed.
Lunch will be served after our State Bishop, L. V. Jones delivers the morning message. All our ladies are fixing plenty because we will have extra guest.
Nice Bibles are being given to the male and female that is the "most original" old fashion dressed.
Lunch will be served after our State Bishop, L. V. Jones delivers the morning message. All our ladies are fixing plenty because we will have extra guest.
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