Jeremiah, Job, and Sometimes... Us
By Jim Mattison

"In·de·scrib·able- that which cannot be described; surpassing description. " Words seemed to fail the Apostle Paul as he expressed, "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15) Paul is right- words aren't enough to thank God for His greatest gift to and for us, the gift of His own Son. What great love! 1 John 4:9 states, "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." John continues, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." When Paul bursts forth in thanksgiving, he is thanking God not just for His Son, who was humbly born in Bethlehem, and whose birth we celebrate during this season. His heart was overflowing with praise to God for Jesus, who was "delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Rom. 4:25) "You shall call his name Jesus," the angel announced to Joseph, "for he shall save his people from their sins." "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you," the angel called to the shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks that wondrous night so long ago. We read in Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given." At this time of year, when so much emphasis is placed upon gift-giving, let's not forget that our giving God is the source of all good gifts- the greatest of which is the indescribable gift of His Son- the gift of salvation that's offered through faith in Jesus. Jesus, who "gave himself as a ransom for (in behalf of) all men." Words may not be enough to thank God for His Son, but we should never stop thanking Him for Jesus, thanking Him for providing for our greatest need- our need for a Savior. The greatest "thank you" that can be offered God for his indescribable gift is to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, be baptized in Jesus' name for the forgiveness of your sins, and rise to serve in newness of life- living a life that pleases and brings glory to God and to Jesus. In 2 Cor. 5:14 Paul said, "Christ's love compels us." (Is such a great prevailing influence...excites, impels, motivates us) Paul continues (Vs. 15), "Christ died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." Have you expressed your thanks to God by accepting His gift? If not, why not? If so, your heart (and the actions of your life) must then say along with Paul, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life that I live is by faith in Jesus, who loved me and gave himself for me. Thank you God, for your indescribable gift!"

Is Jesus' teaching of the "roaring of the sea and the waves" one of the signs preceding His Second Coming? It appears to this writer that it is. Three verses later, Jesus said, "When these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Under the title "Storm Warning, 2006 Hurricane Forecast," two independent hurricane prediction sources besides the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration are predicting "another hyperactive hurricane season this year--the 10th in the past 12 years--and warned that the trend of more powerful storms could persist for the next decade or longer" (The Atlanta Journal Constitution, May 23, 2006). They say that "warmer ocean temperatures and favorable wind patterns in the tropics have set the stage for a 'very active' hurricanse season beginning June 1 and lasting till November 30'. They are expecting at least 13-16 named storms, 8-10 hurricanes, and up to 6 intense hurricanes during 2006, which is about 50% more than average.

by
Martha Ann Monroe

I once heard a motivational speaker say, "We can do anything if we are just motivated." How motivated are we? The most urgent thing we should be motivated to do is to Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.

I read somewhere that motivation comes from action. Many of us sit around waiting to get motivated before we get started. If we sit and wait to get motivated, it may never happen. If we get started with what we need to do, the motivation will come. Much of our motivation to serve God comes from Bible Study, Prayer, our wonderful pastors, churches, and brothers and sisters in Christ (our support group). But for those of us who are separated from our churches, pastors, and support groups, it is more difficult. It's not impossible, but it is harder.

by

Martha Ann Monroe

“I have found…there are three types of people,” notes Richard M. Swenson, MD., in his book Margin. “(There are) those that fill you, those that just sit there, and those that drain you. Unfortunately, the drainers outnumber the fillers about two to one (not a scientific number).” Since it costs us nothing and isn’t difficult to be a life-giver, it’s surprising that there are more life-drainers than there are life-givers. “After all, a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle,” says Harvey Mackay, author or Pushing the Envelope.

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Martha Ann Monroe

James 1:1-3 (KJ) - My brethren, have not the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, with respect of persons. For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in a poor man in vile raiment, and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing and say unto him, sit thou here in a good place and say to the poor, stand out here, or sit here under my footstool.

The following story is a touching example of what the verses in James are saying to us:

by

Martha Ann Monroe

Trust and obey for there’s no other way. This is the first line in an old hymn that most of us love, but what does it mean to trust and obey? According to Webster, to trust is to have a firm belief or confidence in the honesty, integrity, reliability, justice of another person or thing. Obey means to carry out instructions or orders. When we put these together to trust and obey would mean to have a firm belief or confidence in someone or something and to carry out their instructions or orders.

About thirty years ago, I took a course called Effective Communication Skills. Since I like to talk, I figured this was the class for me. The instructor asked the class during the first session what we thought was the most important communication skill. After some discussion among our assigned groups and not being able to come to a consensus, the instructor decided to tell us. He said listening is the most important and effective communication skill. He gave us an example of not only how important it is to listen, but how important it is to give good instructions.

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Pastor Mike Montgomery

Easter 2006 is past. The choir presented their Easter cantata, Amazing Grace, on Sunday morning, a communion service was observed on Sunday evening, and most enjoyed plenty of food and family time in between. How do you feel now that Easter is over? What thoughts occupy your heart and mind on April 18th? Income tax returns? Cleaning the house and readying the kids to get back into the school routine? The latest development in the Duke University lacrosse team scandal? The horrific injustices in Purcell, Oklahoma, and elsewhere in the world? My prayer is that we will all continue to reflect upon Jesus’ sacrificial death and subsequent glorious resurrection from the grave. Perhaps, as no other time, during the days leading to Easter we see what Jesus experienced on our behalf. On Resurrection Sunday we see most clearly the glory of our Risen Lord. Perhaps at no other time than when holding the bread and the cup between our fingers do we see Jesus’ abused body and shed blood, and then see our own sins and seek forgiveness. A little phrase by the writer of Hebrews reads, “But we see Jesus...” Yes, despite all the horrors and injustices of this life, despite the trials and difficulties that we may experience ourselves, we can see Jesus. We see him “who was made a little lower than the angels (so he could die in our place), now crowned with glory and honor” - Heb. 2:9. We see, through the eyes of faith, a better day coming. We see our Lord and Savior Jesus coming- in power and in great glory! He’s coming for those who belong to him- coming to bring salvation to those who are loving/longing/looking for his appearance. We see the day when all wrongs will be righted. We see an ultimate day when all things are made new- a day in which there will be no more pain, sorrow, sickness, or death. Easter is over, but the joy of our Risen Lord remains. Before he died, Jesus told his disciples, “After a little while you will see me,” and, “I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” He was referring to his post-resurrection appearances, but his words speak to us today. Today is the “little while”, but when he comes back to this earth from the right hand of the Father in heaven, a new age will dawn. What joy will characterize that resurrection morning! Those who belong to him will see him as he is, be like him, and forever be with him. Praise God that even today (This little while) we can see Jesus, and we can experience the power of his risen life. Have a wonderful week.

by

Joe E. James

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb is joyfully remembered and celebrated on Easter Sunday. We serve a risen saviour who following his resurrection ascended to heaven to the right hand of His Father to serve as our high priest. Acts 1:10,11; Heb. 7:23-8:6. This same Jesus will one day leave heaven to return to the earth to reign as king. Acts 1:11; Acts 3:20,21.

The cross and the tomb preceded the resurrection. Isaiah 53 prophesied of the death of Jesus and the reason for his death in the plan of God, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities,” vs. 5. God offered his only begotten son as a sin offering for us. Jesus lived in perfect submission to the will of God and is described in Heb. 9:14,15 as being “without spot”. Looking forward to the cross and the sacrificial death of Jesus, John described Jesus as “the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world”, John 1:29,36. Paul emphasized that Jesus died for our sins, I Cor. 15:3,4. We are tremendously thankful to God for providing a means for forgiveness of our sins since we are all sinners and need forgiveness, Rom. 5. Thanks to God for the sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary, for the shed blood of Christ and that the blood of Christ provides the means of “remission of sins” for us, Heb. 9:14,15,22.