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THE SURPRISE OF CHRISTMAS: MARY!

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Frankly Speaking,

“For THE WORD OF GOD will never fail!” ~ Luke 1:37 NLT

THE SURPRISE OF CHRISTMAS ~ MARY: THE MOTHER OF JESUS! Decisions: Life is full of them every day. Mary had a decision to make when the angel Gabriel appeared to tell her that she would be the mother of Jesus. She could embrace this decision or refuse to agree fighting and fussing all along the way. It was her decision.

Imagine for a moment that you were given the opportunity to take a pill which would ensure that you find love, peace, joy, and hope. You decide to accept this pill, and your life just gets better. It is not your circumstances that change, but your outlook and attitude are brand new. Every day brings fresh wonderful news, and problems no longer seem overwhelm you.

Now, imagine that you choose not to accept this pill. You refuse because you fear the side effects, or what your friends might think. You do not believe that the pill is real. Maybe it is just a hoax that people have fooled themselves into believing. This whole pill thing is just a conspiracy theory. You finally decide, “It’s just a placebo that people have bought into to make themselves happy.” So, you sit cynical, miserable, and frustrated.

What will you do? You must choose: to quote Charles Schulz as Linus, “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” When Gabriel appeared to Mary, it was “Good News!” “Hark the herald angels sing.” Listen to the message of Jesus arriving though Zecheriah. John the Baptist would herald His coming!

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, 77 to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:76-79 NLT

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS.


Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

THE GOD OF HEAVEN!

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Frankly Speaking,

I replied, “THE GOD OF HEAVEN will help us succeed. We, His servants, will start rebuilding this wall.” ~ Nehemiah 2:20a NLT

THE GOD OF HEAVEN! ~ Imagine The God of Heaven is a book. It is also a video which you can watch on YouTube. It contains a series of people’s testimonies of near-death experiences. It culminates with a description of those whom John Burke has interviewed. Each of those interviewed describe what happened when their heart stopped, and they were clinically pronounced dead. Each describes that there is most definitely life after death.  If any of these stories are true, then we shouldn’t we prepare for this encounter? Isn’t it worth considering the idea that there is more than this temporary life since we only live for less than a century. Of course, many explain this with science, but what if you’re wrong? What if there is more?

Nehemiah accepts the truth that GOD is THE GOD OF HEAVEN. In fact, so does everyone who has been recorded by history in the Bible (the best-selling book of all time). There must be a reason! The simple truth of the Bible is redemption. In the Old Testament, the Bible repeatedly illustrates our nature which naturally rebels against GOD.  In his message, Burke states that 23% of people who have near-death experiences see hell. The GOD OF HEAVEN made a way that assures each of us that we can go heaven without worry. However, it is not what we’ve done! It’s all about what JESUS has done. The cross, death, burial, and resurrection was all for you! GOD loves you! 😊 

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS.

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

How to Get Kicked Out of Church!

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Frankly Speaking,

You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. ~ I Corinthians 5:2b NLT

CHURCH DISCIPLINE! ~ What does it take to embarrass you? Some people say that they never get embarrassed or ashamed. I find that hard to believe. Often, Christians are seen as stuffy and narrow-minded because we discipline ourselves to avoid many of the popular cultural tendencies of the day. However, shouldn’t we be conscientious of what we do and say around our children?

There was a time when we treated others with respect, especially women and children. Yes, I am older and maybe a bit wiser too. Some things ought to cause us to blush. If you question that concept, check this out:

Are they ashamed of their disgusting actions? Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush! ~ Jeremiah 6:15a NLT

Now that we agree blushing can be a good thing, how do we correct someone in the church who seems to have forgotten this truth? How do we approach someone who is living a life of sin while actively leading the church: pastor, minister, board-member, trustee, deacon, teacher, and more? Which sin does the church act upon in the lives of these non-blushers? What are the qualifications to be an admonisher? Finally, how do we work all of this out in our current culture with so many churches re-writing or at least re-interpreting the BIBLE?

This leaves us in a challenging place. Do we do nothing pretending GOD says anything goes? Do we begin with a witch hunt as we have done so many times in the church? Perhaps, it begins with each of us alone with GOD praying and spending time with HIM. Seek HIS wisdom and direction. Barney would say this is how we “Nip it” in each of our lives, first! 😊

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15