Happy New Year

Wishing you all a Happy New Year. A year that is filled with God's Grace. I came across the following today while doing some reading. I thought it might be a blessing to someone else.

“A Prayer for the New Year”January 5, 2003 (Col. 1:1-11) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (Psalms 37:4 KJV) There are some amazing prayers in the Bible. This is one of them. This was Paul’s prayer for the church at Colosse. This is my prayer for you in the New Year. May God grant us the request of our hearts as we delight ourselves in Him.Paul’s prayer for the church at Colosse was a prayer for:I. Perception – (1:9)For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (Colossians 1:9 KJV) Þ Paul prayed for the church that they would be able to understand or perceive the:A. Will of God – “that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will”How are you going to do God’s will if you don’t understand what it is that God would have you do? The phrase “filled with the knowledge” means to have full-knowledge. Paul did not want the church to guess at God’s will for their lives. Neither do I want you to guess at God’s will for you. You can know what God wants you to do. You do not have to meander through life hoping your life is counting for something. You can know it is. Ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will tonight. Tell Him that you are willing to go wherever He wants you to go this year. Surrender your time, talents and treasures to Him tonight. Don’t hold anything back this year. Your life belongs to God. Give it back and watch Him use you in His will.One thing is for certain. If you are going to do the will of God this year you’re going to have to know what it is. God will tell you if you want to do it.Þ Paul prayed for the church that they would be able to understand or perceive the will of God. Secondly, he prayed that they might be able to perceive the:B. Word of God – “in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10 KJV) It’s impossible for me to fully explain how important the Bible is in your life. It doesn’t matter how old you are – the Bible is your all in all. Þ You may just be learning how to read. Read the Bible. It’s the instruction book for all of life. You’ll be a better student if you learn the principles found in the Bible and practice them throughout grade school. Þ You might be in your teen years when all of your friends have turned their backs on God and the church. They think the Bible is a book of fairy tales and matter that are unimportant. Read your Bible. It will get you through the years when you want to wonder away from God, home, the church, and everything that is decent and moral.Þ You might be in you twenties when the teen-age years have left you standing alone. It might not be popular among your friends to stand for God. Read your Bible. It will give you wisdom above your years and lead you into a life of significance.Þ You might be in your thirties or forties while raising children, teen-agers or young adults. You are going to need the encouragement and inspiration the Bible provides. Your children are still watching you. They may not come to you with their problems, but they are watching to see how you handle the pressures of life. Your Bible will help you be a wise testimony to them beyond their adolescent years.Þ You might be in your fifties and beyond. Read your Bible. All of the other generations need the guidance of godly Christian grandparents. Leave a legacy of godliness. Pass on your passion for the Bible.Þ Paul prayed for the church that they would be able to understand or perceive the will of God and the Word of God. Secondly, he prayed for:II. Prosperity – (1:10)That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10 KJV) Here again, Paul’s prayer for their prosperity was in two areas. First, he prayed that they might be prosperous (fruitful) in their:A. Walk – “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing”I spoke about this in the morning service. I’ll not spend a lot of time here. Let me just say that Paul prayed that the believers at Colosse would be prosperous in their walk with the Lord. My prayer for each of us this year is that we would be prosperous in our walk with Him. I’m not praying for you to make a million or to stockpile things that will rust and decay. I’m praying for you to prosper in your spiritual life. I’m praying that you will be the best example of what a believer in Christ should be. If we will do that, we will be prosperous.Þ Paul prayed that they might be prosperous in their walk. Secondly, he prayed that they might be prosperous in their:B. Work – “being fruitful in every good work”That’s a good prayer, isn’t it? As we serve God this year, I pray that the work we do for Jesus Christ will produce more fruit than it ever has. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV) Þ Paul prayed that the church would be able to perceive the will of God and the Word of God. He prayed that they would be prosperous in their walk and work. Lastly, he prayed for God’s:III. Power – (1:11)Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (Colossians 1:11 KJV) The Colossians needed the power of God in and on their lives and ministry. So do we. We have done without it too long, and we have not done without it very well. Like the Colossians, we need God’s power to:A. Endure – “unto all patience and longsuffering”B. Enjoy – “with joyfulness”What a prayer! “Lord, help the Colossians to understand Your will and Your Word. Help them to prosper in their walk and work. And give them Your power to endure the difficulties and still enjoy the journey.”

Talents

God gives talents to everyone as He sees fit. He decides who gets what and how much they get.Now, how these talents are given may not seem fair to those of us who feel less gifted in some respects or completely forgotten in others. But this distribution of talents, whatever the measure, is in exact accordance with God's eternal plan for each of us. We must take care in how we esteem each other's talents, and be mindful to not elevate one gift over the other. I've often looked at people and coveted their talents. Or I've coveted the ease with which the seem to acquire and wield them. How God uses their talents-and blesses them- oftentimes far exceeds what He's done in my own life. And I have struggled with jealousy, and I've wondered why them , and not me? At those times I try and remember that I have not walked that person's road. It may be well that I haven't endure what they have had to, and perhaps that's the reason they shine with such strength. They have been through the fire, so to speak, where I have gone untouched by the flame. Something else to remember is that I am not competing with that person. God has simply gifted us for different purposes. While I may desire another person's giftedness, I do not desire the shaping they have undergone from the Potter's hand. And I hardly envy the countless hours spent upon the Potter's wheel which is what may very well be what allows them to possess such giftedness in the first place. When we endure hardship and pain and life doesn't turn out like we thought it should, what do we do? Do we blame God? Think Him cruel and unfair? Let us not fall into this trap put before us by the wicked one himself but, let us always look to God for His direction.

Bitterness

After having dealt with the issue of bitterness in my own heart, I have decided to share some things with you in hopes that you may be saved some the heartache that I endured.

In order to remove bitterness and Sow Seeds of Reconciliation one must:

Repent Act 8:22
Forgive Matthew 6:14
Swallow your pride Proverbs 8:13
Humble yourself James 4:6
Shut your mouth Isaiah 53:7
Speak soft words Proverbs 15:1
Submit-for your own blessing James 4:7


Our Pastor touched on the subject a bit this past Sunday. A comment that he made was: bitterness remembers details!

A good way to test whether or not you are bitter is to ask yourself, Am I remembering all the petty details? Bitterness will make you a miserable person, it will affect your spouse, children , co-workers, friends, neighbors, your church and your overall state of mind. It will end up affecting your health as well.

The American Dictionary Of The English Language Noah Webster 1828 defines bitterness as:

BIT'TERNESS, n. [from bitter.] A bitter taste; or rather a quality in things which excites a biting disagreeable sensation in the tongue.
1. In a figurative sense, extreme enmity, grudge, hatred; or rather an excessive degree or implacableness of passions and emotions; as the bitterness of anger. Eph.4.
2. Sharpness; severity of temper.
3. Keenness of reproach; piquancy; biting sarcasm.
4. Keen sorrow; painful affliction; vexation; deep distress of mind.
Hannah was in bitterness of soul. 1 Sam.1. Job.7.
In the gall of bitterness, in a state of extreme impiety or enmity to God. Acts.8.
Root of bitterness, a dangerous error, or schism, tending to draw persons to apostasy. Heb.12.


If you are harboring bitterness IT MUST BE ROOTED OUT! The rooting process will be hard but it is necessary in order to continue.

Thankfulness

Thanks: Expression of gratitude; an acknowledgement made to express a sense of favor or kindness received.
Thankful: Grateful; impresses with a sense of kindness received, and ready to acknowledge it.
Thanksgiver: One who gives thanks or acknowledges a kindness.
Thanksgiving: Rendering thanks for good received.

A s we approach the Thanksgiving holiday let us remember all the blessings in our lives. All the the good that we are undeserving of yet have we received. Personally I have had a most trying year in many ways. However looking back I now know that there is a purpose for my heartache. I am happier at this point in my life than I have been for several years. It is sad to say that I allowed people and circumstances to control my thoughts, actions, and ultimately my everyday live. I have not been the person that I know to be. But PRAISE BE TO GOD that I gave all my burdens to The One Who Cares-GOD!! I have a peace in my heart today that is not of me but that of my Savior.

I am thankful for a great many things. Hear are just a few:
Salvation (Free to all those that ask)
God's Holy Word (King James Bible)
My Church (Faith Baptist in Freeport Texas)
My Pastor (Bro. James McEntire)
Husband of almost 16 years and friend for almost 20 (Jesse)
My children (Jaime, Nicholas, Christian, Victoria, Isaiah)
God's Faithfulness
Answered Prayers
God's constant provision
My Mom (Pamela Peters)
This country
The vacation my family took in May
Our van
Good neighbors (John & Tasha, Mrs. Doris, Mrs. Thomas, Tyrone as well as others)
Renewed friendships
For the chance to see my family in Kentucky
My nephews and my neice that is on her way
Coupons
Thrift stores
Cheaper gas prices
My husband's job
Blogs
Forgiveness and those willing to extend it
Unexpected blessings


But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:57
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Cor 9:15

God’s Great Woman

I came across the following today while studying . It spoke greatly to my heart and therefore I share it with each of you. It is a bit long but I am sure you will be just as blessed by reading it as I have been.

God’s Great Woman


Of the many women in God’s word, only one is said to be a “great woman.” Women like Sarah, Esther, Ruth, and Mary are commonly thought of as being great women in the Bible, and rightly so, but the lady who is actually called a “great woman” by the Lord is sadly overlooked. Consequently, most Christian ladies never learn from her life’s great example.

This woman is found in II Kings chapter four. Take a few moments, if you will, and read II Kings 4:8-37. Then continue with this tract as we point out some spiritual truths from this lady’s example.

The basic theme of this story is that this lady was considerate of the needs of God’s man, so God was considerate of her needs. She sowed seeds of kindness and reaped a great harvest. Yet, in doing so, she set some fine examples for Christian women of today. Take note of some of these examples and ask God where they need to be applied in your own life.



She Practiced the Golden Rule

The golden rule, of course, is derived from Matthew 7:12. In a nutshell, the rule is “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” Well, unlike many modern women, this lady in II Kings chapter four practiced the golden rule. Without being told by anyone, as the man of God passed through her area, she thought of something she could do to help him in his ministry. Self-centered women of the world do not think this way, but this woman was different. She was led by God’s Spirit, not by the spirit of the world. She was led by the Spirit of I Corinthians 13:3-5 which says that charity “seeketh not her own.” This woman, being filled and led by the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, sought to comfort others rather than herself, even when having to bear the burden of having no children. She wasn’t bitter; she was a blessing instead.

Are you waiting for some special blessing to come your way? It may be that God is withholding this blessing due to some bitterness in your own heart, some bitterness that is causing you to cultivate a selfish spirit instead of a caring and considerate spirit for others. Perhaps you have a lesson to learn from the great woman of Shunem. Perhaps you need to follow her example and obey the golden rule.


She Was Spiritually Minded

This lady’s first comment about the prophet was “this is a holy man” (verse 9). She didn’t say, “This is a religious fanatic” or “Here comes the preacher; let’s pull the shades and lock the door!” No, she was a spiritually minded woman who enjoyed having a man of God around.

God is going to give this woman a son because He knows it will be a good investment. He knows that this is the kind of woman who will always ask, “What does God think about this or that?” Her act of kindness wasn’t just toward any man, but toward a HOLY man, and this greatly impressed God.

Christian lady, what is your attitude toward preachers and other dedicated Christian men and women? Are you a spiritually minded lady who enjoys the friendship and fellowship of spiritual people, or do such people make you nervous and uncomfortable? You can never be a great woman in God’s sight if you aren’t a SPIRITUAL woman.


She Didn’t Yield To Worldly Temptations

Notice in verse thirteen that this lady had the opportunity to be spoken for to the king! What an opportunity! What a chance to “be somebody” and “get some respect” for a change! What a chance to take a few steps up the social ladder! Yet, none of this interested her. She was a godly woman who sought to please God, not the world, so worldly temptations did not appeal to her. She simply said, “I dwell among mine own people.” This lady was content with her own people and had no desire to break away from her home and her roots and become a woman of the world.

Oh, how God’s women need this example today! Satan is firing his darts from all sides in an attempt to pressure Christian ladies to turn their backs on their God and the their families and become women of the world. Godly wives and mothers have left their homes and become “career women.” This is supposedly being done because “it takes two incomes to live these days,” but the real reason is just plain old worldliness. A great woman will say no to the world and dwell among her own people.


She Was A Woman of Faith

A few years after God gave this lady a son, the boy became sick and died. Rather than give up hope and become bitter, this lady runs to the man of God for help. In fact, when the servant asks her, “Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child?” she answers “It is well.” My, what faith she displayed. A dead child is not well, yet she had faith to believe that God could raise this child from death, so she said, “It is well.”

Christian lady, are you following this great example of faith, or do you find yourself often doubting God’s ability to fulfill His word in your own life? Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Do you really believe Romans 8:28, or is it just another Bible verse with no special meaning to you personally? To be a great woman you must be a woman of faith.


She Was Emotionally Strong

Notice the emotional strength of this lady. She had a desperate situation on her hands, yet she held up and even kept the matter to herself. The only person she spoke with about the child was the man of God, the only one who could help her!

Most women today do just the opposite. They carry their many problems to their various friends and family members, and yet they never find any real help. Countless hours they spend chatting about their troubles with people who can’t offer any help at all! A great woman will not chat carelessly about her troubles. She will take such matters to God and maybe to a godly person or two who can actually offer some help. She doesn’t speak of her troubles for the sake of complaining or getting sympathy. She speaks only to get help.

What about you, dear reader? Are you the emotionally strong woman who controls her tongue, or are you the loose-lipped woman who spends more time complaining about problems than really seeking help with them?


She Was Thankful

After Elisha had raised the woman’s son from death, she “went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.” (verse 37) This tells us that she was THANKFUL for what God had done for her. She didn’t have a bitter attitude because of what had happened. She didn’t reason that she was entitled to be bitter with God and that she deserved to have her son raised. She was just thankful!

Christian lady, are you a thankful lady? Do you thank God regularly for His blessings in your life, or do you feel entitled to such blessings. A truly great woman feels entitled to nothing. She deserves nothing. She is simply glad to be alive, glad to be saved, thrilled to be a servant of God, and THANKFUL for God’s blessings in her life.

I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” When is the last time you thanked God for your husband, for your family, for your church, for your salvation, for Christian friends, for your health? You could certainly have it a lot worse! Many women do! You ought to be thankful, and you will be, if you are a great woman.

God has a plan for your life. You don’t have to be a bad woman, or even a normal woman. You can be a GREAT woman, a great woman for God, if only you’ll follow His word.
Copyright © 2006 James L. Melton

A quick vent

I have many things I would like to say but will refrain. However I will say it is comforting to know that my Saviour will never betray my confidence.

A passage from last night's meeting: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:12&13