Month: January 2022

OUR PASSOVER!

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

FRANKLY SPEAKING,

6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I AM THE LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I WILL FREE you from being slaves to them, and I WILL REDEEM you with an OUTSTRETCHED ARM and with MIGHTY ACTS of JUDGMENT.’”                                                                   Exodus 6:6

THE BOOK OF EXODUS ~ What comes to mind first? What about Charlton Heston in the role of MOSES in the movie, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. Could it be Israel in bondage to the Egyptians for over 400 years? Maybe, it’s MOSES chosen by GOD to be the DELIVER. What about the animated movie, PRINCE OF EGYPT? You might think of the parting of the RED SEA, the PILLAR of FIRE by night and the CLOUD by day. How about MANNA and QUAIL? What about the encounters MOSES has with GOD at the BURNING BUSH or atop MOUNT SINAI?  GOD writing THE TEN COMMANDMENTS as MOSES watches, and then MOSES destroying them. Let’s not forget how often ISRAEL COMPLAINS and the GOLDEN CALF. GOD walks by and covers MOSES’ face with HIS HAND leaving MOSES with such SHEKINAH GLORY that the people cannot even look at MOSES. Then, there are these moments, MOSES in a basket in the NILE RIVER, THE TEN PLAGUES, AARON’S ROD, THE ARK OF THE COVENANT, THE TABERNACLE, THE LAW, and so much more.

Which is your favorite? Considering all these mighty acts of GOD it is hard to choose just one. Nevertheless, none of these is the most amazing part of EXODUS to me. In EXODUS, we discover GOD’s PLAN for a PASSOVER LAMB. The entire BOOK of EXODUS points to GOD as DELIVERER of HIS people for all time! As the death angel was to PASSOVER the homes with BLOOD on the doorposts, GOD will withhold HIS judgment on those who have been to the CROSS and received the BLOOD of the LAMB as payment for their sins. My friend, THE BIBLE is not sixty-six separate books, nor is it two editions or volumes. THE BIBLE tells the story of JESUS as our ONLY way to heaven from beginning to end! Where does JESUS fit into your story? 😊

Living in the Shadow of the Cross

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes~ I Peter 3:15

GENENSIS ~ BEGINNINGS

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

FRANKLY SPEAKING,

“In the beginning GOD…” ~ GENESIS 1:1a

The story of beginnings! Life is full of beginnings. All of us start out as newborns, and everything is new. As babies become toddlers, they begin to walk and go new places much to a parent’s pride, joy, and fear of them getting hurt. As they grow, they realize the world is so much bigger than they believed. As childhood ends adulthood begins. In Milton Bradley’s GAME OF LIFE, this is the point where the player chooses college or career. Next, most of us search for a spouse and begin life anew in marriage. Soon, we become parents and realize that our children create a whole new group of beginnings for each of us. Finally, a few get to really live and begin as grandparents. 😊

There’s no way to cover all the new beginnings we encounter in life: jobs, friendships, disappointments leading to open doors, loss, pain, and so much more!  There is one more new beginning we ought to consider. We will all begin a new story when we shed this mortal flesh and step into eternity. For many, that is the greatest unknown new beginning. Throughout life, we often ask, ponder, meditate, and sometimes argue about the concept of eternity.

Remember all those beginnings which led to the next place? Well, they include GOD’S place in each of our stories. Like that GAME OF LIFE, GOD has a celestial plan which began long before we knew it. HIS plan was written out to help us to realize that everything we experience in life has a purpose! HIS perfect eternal plan is much more complex than any of us can fully understand. Nevertheless, HIS plan is written out so simply that we can clearly follow HIS purpose for our lives by living out the words in the BIBLE.

We begin in GENESIS. During our journey through the books of the BIBLE, we’ll examine GOD’S overall arching plan of redeeming HIS fallen creation. Join us, as we see GOD’S eternal purpose in all sixty-six books of the BIBLE. Have you’ve ever thought, “I can’t understand the BIBLE?” This is a chance for you to see the BIBLE as a whole and develop a deeper understanding! 😊  

Living in the Shadow of the Cross

Blessings in CHRIST ~ Pastor Wes~ I Peter 3:15

Life is full of New Beginnings!

Celebrating the Sanctity of Life!

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

FRANKLY SPEAKING,

13 YOU made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank YOU for making me so wonderfully complex! YOUR WORKMANSHIP is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 YOU watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was WOVEN TOGETHER in the dark of the womb. 16 YOU saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in YOUR BOOK. Every moment was LAID OUT before a single day had passed. ~ Psalm 139:13-16

“CELEBRATING THE SANCTITY OF LIFE!”  People are quick to share their opinion to try to convince us that they’ve done their research proving that they’re right and others are wrong. Here are some critical issues facing Americans today according to The Pew Research Center: health care, the national deficit, illegal immigration, gun violence, COVID, racism, unemployment, and climate change. Start a conversation on any of these topics and a healthy debate might ensue. However, mention PRO-LIFE and get ready for war! The SANCTITY OF LIFE pits darkness against LIGHT!

Unfortunately, the church as the place where the standard of TRUTH is THE BIBLE is becoming less prevalent today. Have we forgotten…?

4 THE LORD gave me this message: 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as MY prophet to the nations.”        ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5

As we examine Psalm 139 today, we must either come to the conclusion that GOD declares HIS SANCTITY FOR LIFE or determine that THE BIBLE is not THE TRUTH we hold on to in any season or culture. Are we prepared to leave our opinions and experiences at the door? Can we approach the timeless WORD OF GOD as THE ULTIMATE TRUTH in each of our lives? I belief that’s our biggest CHOICE as we “CELEBRATE THE SANCTITY OF LIFE!” 😊

Living in the Shadow of the Cross

Blessings in CHRIST ~ Pastor Wes~ I Peter 3:15

LIFE IS A GIFT!