1/25/15 Sundays Verses

Sorry I'm so late in getting these verses from last Sunday posted.  I wasn't able to attend services last weekend but Pastor sent me the verses that he taught from.

Here are the verses:

Romans 5:12-14
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-- 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (ESV)

1 John 3:8
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.  (ESV)

Ezekiel 28:14, 15
You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.  (ESV)

Isaiah 14:12-15
How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' 15 But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.  (ESV)

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.  (ESV)

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.  (ESV)

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.  (ESV)

Genesis 3
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" 10 And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." 11 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" 12 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." 14 The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." 16 To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." 17 And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." 20 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. 22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever--" 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. (ESV)

Genesis 2:17
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.  (ESV)


Genesis 6:5
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  (ESV)

Romans 7:7-13
What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.  (ESV)

Quote:
In Matthew Henry's commentary on the Bible, he says this about Romans 7:
"The same heat that softens wax hardens clay. Food or medicine when taken wrongly may cause death, though its nature is to nourish or heal. The law may cause death through man's depravity, but sin is the poison that brings death. Not the law, but sin discovered by the law...the ruinous nature of sin, and the sinfulness of the human heart are clearly shown"

Have a great week,
Lauri 
 

1/18/15 Sunday's Notes

Did you know that yesterday was "Sanctity of Human Life Sunday"?  I must say, I myself was unaware of it until Pastor Randy spoke about it.  He began our study of God's word with  Psalm 139 (referenced below).  What a beautiful passage explaining that God knows everything about us - from before we were born to who we are today to our future.  These verses show us the creative hand of God in every human beings existence. Please take some time to read through it and pray that hearts would be changed in our communities, our nation, our world to protect every precious human life. - not just on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday but everyday.


Once again my notes are rather long and sloppy, so I'll try to be brief and get to the scriptures. The rest of our study was based in Romans 5 (scroll down to my last post for the Romans 5:1-17verses).  Pastor taught that as extreme as God's wrath is, so is His grace that He pours out upon us abundantly.  We also learned about sins of ignorance, which are after all, still sin. This is all explained to us in Leviticus 5 and several other verses listed below.

Now, on to the verses (all are English Standard Version - ESV):

Psalm 139 
O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain! 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!


1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Romans 1:18-20
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 

Leviticus 5
If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity; 2 or if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean wild animal or a carcass of unclean livestock or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him and he has become unclean, and he realizes his guilt; 3 or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt; 4 or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; 5 when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, 6 he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.  7 "But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8 He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering. He shall wring its head from its neck but shall not sever it completely, 9 and he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering. 10 Then he shall offer the second for a burnt offering according to the rule. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven. 11 "But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for the sin that he has committed a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it and shall put no frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. 12 And he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take a handful of it as its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, on the LORD's food offerings; it is a sin offering. 13 Thus the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed in any one of these things, and he shall be forgiven. And the remainder shall be for the priest, as in the grain offering. 14 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 15 "If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the LORD, he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued in silver shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering. 16 He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven. 17 "If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. 18 He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven. 19 It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the LORD.

Ezekiel 45:18-20 
Thus says the Lord GOD: In the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall take a bull from the herd without blemish, and purify the sanctuary. 19 The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and the posts of the gate of the inner court. 20 You shall do the same on the seventh day of the month for anyone who has sinned through error or ignorance; so you shall make atonement for the temple.

Hebrews 10:26
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins

Luke 23:34
And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. 

Pastor also read these verses from the song 'Amazing Grace' which I thought I'd share as well since they speak of recognizing our sin:
Amazing Grace verses 1 & 2

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

In closing, sometimes we have to just fall on our knees before God and say, "Show me, help me hear that still, quiet voice that convicts me of my sin" but don't stop there - confess your sin and get right with God. Recognize sin in your life and determine to be a child of God.

Have a wonderful week,
Lauri 

1/11/15 Sunday's Notes

Woo! was that good or what?   This past Sunday I took 3 pages of notes in my little notebook, but don't worry, I won't post them all here.  I do hope you're not getting tired of reading them.  My main goal is to get you the scripture just in case you missed it or want to review it. 

Anyway, Pastor's sermon was based in Romans 5.  We studied the "Therefore" verses and learned what they are there for.  Within the context of our text, Pastor also spoke about God's wrath and the different definitions of it. Basically, God's wrath is always righteous, always to correct or punish those who choose to disobey his commands.  God's commands are not an option and He does have a remedy for our failure. 

Pastor also asked, "What is the difference between sin and sins?".  After much discussion,  we found that the best way to describe it is that  sin is collective, as in all have sinned, but sins is individual acts of disobedience (Thank you, Deb, for nailing it! So blessed to have you teaching in our local school).  Sin is broader yet is inseparable from sins. Our sin is never accidental but intentional.  It's a failure to conform to God in act, attitude or nature.  As you'll see in the verses below, if we reject God we'd also better expect the consequences of our actions.

Here are the verses I jotted down yesterday:
(all are English Standard Version - ESV)

Romans 5:1-17
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-- 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 

Verses on  God's wrath and sin:
Genesis 18:30
Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 

Exodus 15:7
In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble. 

Deuteronomy 31:4
And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them.

2 Kings 22:13
"Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us." 


Romans 1:18 
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Genesis 19:24 
Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. 

Ephesians 5:6 
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 

Romans 1:20 
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 

Romans 3:10  
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one

Romans 3:23 
  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 6:23  
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, now we know that by one man's  (Adam's) disobedience sin came into the world and by one man came eternal life - salvation through that one Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  Keep in mind that redemption is not a process, there are not several ways to receive eternal life.  We can't work for it or buy it.  The only way to be saved from the wrath of God and have eternal life is through faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  

Here's a quote from Pastor Randy that I loved:  "If  He is sufficient enough to save us, isn't He sufficient enough to give us victory over sin?  Only by faith are we justified and viewed by God as tho we had never sinned." 

So, have a great week and go conquer your giants!
Lauri 

Happy 2015

Out with the old, in with the new...if only it were truly that simple! (or necessary!)
We had a small gathering of friends and family at the church last night for fellowship, a word from The Word and a time of prayer; all part of welcoming the new year to Marion. It was good!

As I continue to ponder the days of 2014, I'm reminded of so many blessings, so many "new" things including new believers in God's kingdom. And the many "new" opportunities. I believe it was these things that prompted a personal challenge to those gathered last night at First Baptist in Marion....

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison - that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak." Colossians 4:2-4 ESV

*Continue steadfast in prayer - a challenge we hear every Sunday that we gather together. Prayer is our source of power, the place we hear the desires of God as we spend time talking with Him. Our praise, our petition, our privilege as His children.

*Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ - what is it that we pray about? How do we intercede on behalf of one another? How do we make intentional steps to testifying to the saving grace of our Savior to the world we live in? Pray that God will open a door to share the mystery of Christ! It begins with prayer and it will end with praise.

*That I (we) may make it clear, which is how I (we) ought to speak - The language of salvation. Clear, concise, unclouded with "christianize", unfettered by embarassment or fear. Clearly sharing our faith in the One True God! It is God's words that bring men and women, boys and girls to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Lord, help us to speak Your Word clearly!

We begin a new year, nothing has changed, there is no "clean sheet" to start over, just another day of opportunity to be faithful to God and to see Him Glorified! That's what its all about, isn't it!

I am looking forward to what God will choose to do with us as His bride in Marion MT. I'm looking forward to how He will graciously reshape each of us so that we seek to only glorify His Name. I'm looking forward to what He will do in me!

God Bless!
Pastor Randy

12/29/14 Sunday Sermon Notes

Well, the big Christmas celebrations have come to an end for 2014 and the new year is right around the corner. We've just come out of a season of thankfulness and praising the Lord for the precious gift of His one and only Son and now we are rushed right into a time of reflection; reflecting on what we've accomplished in the past year and what is to come in the new year.

Yesterday, Pastor Randy spoke about how God wants to use us in the coming new year. Sure, we like to make our own plans but God's plans are the ones that matter. He told the story of how he asked his grandfather-in-law (or maybe it was his father-in-law) “How can we write a plan that's pleasing to God?” and I loved his grandfather-in-laws reply: “Write things in pencil and keep a Big eraser on hand.”

Here are some of the verses that Pastor referenced yesterday in his sermon titled "Come, Seek, Call":

Isaiah 55:1-9

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (ESV)

Luke 2:22 -35 (Jesus presented at the temple)

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." (ESV)

2 Corinthians 4:5-6

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

John 16:7-8

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (ESV)

James 3:10-12

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (ESV)

Please let me know if I forgot any verses.

In closing, make prayer a priority in your life. Now is a good time to think about who you would like to see come to Christ in the coming year and pray fervently for them.

Have a happy and safe New Years Eve celebration,

Merry Christmas!

12/21/14 Sunday's Notes

Merry Christmas...No, let me try that again...MERRY CHRISTMAS! As December 25th draws so wonderfully close, my heart fills with joy.  As I mentioned in one of my last posts, I love celebrating Christ's birth and today just added to that joy.  Our church family enjoyed the most scrumptious Christmas brunch this morning and then topped it off with our annual Christmas program.  What a blessing to hear all of the singing and praising going on this morning.  I, myself, cannot sing worth beans and the only instrument I can play (as you can probably guess) is the radio! So, for me, I loved hearing all of the voices that can actually sing, along with the beautiful piano playing and then some banjo music to round it all out. Thank you to everyone that participated in today's festivities.

The program was filled with folks reciting poems about gifts.  Not the kind of gifts you'll find tucked under your Christmas tree, but a better more valuable kind of gifts.  The gifts are those that God gave to us and then in return the gifts that our feeble little selves can give back to God.  Here's a brief list of the ones I jotted down from today's program:

Gifts that God freely gave/gives to us:
  1.  Christ - The baby born to save us
  2.  Love - Sacrificial love
  3.  The Word of God - Clarity for us of Gods plan
  4.  Grace - The redeeming grace of God - comes by faith alone
  5.  Forgiveness of Sins - again, comes by faith alone
  6.  Rest & Peace - for those who belong to him
  7.  Eternal Life

Gifts we can give to God:
  1.  Empty Hands
  2.  Praise & Thanksgiving
  3.  Open Hearts - longing for the righteousness of God
  4.  Love - Surrendering our desires, our lives to God

Sure, this list could go on and on, but let's keep in mind that the gift of Christ is the greatest gift of all.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.   (ESV)

Have a blessed week and a very, Merry Christmas!

Away in a Manger

Have you seen our nativity decorations? I love it!  Thank you to all that had a hand in putting it together.  What a sweet reminder of what this season is all about.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.    Luke 2:7 (ESV)

12/14/14 Sunday's Sermon Notes

I gotta tell ya, I LOVE Christmas.  I love the decorations, the lights, the baking of goodies, the pageants and plays and programs.  Oh, and lets not forget the music, I love the music, but most of all, I love the reason for this big celebration - JESUS.

Pastor Randy's message yesterday (12/14/14) was about how we, and others around the world, celebrate Jesus' birth.  As Pastor stated, all of our decorating and preparing should remind us of the simplicity of the birth of our Savior.  Just as we are preparing to celebrate, God also planned and prepared for the birth of His one and only Son.

Here are some of the verses I jotted down from Sundays sermon:

Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. 

Hebrews 1:1-3
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.

Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.    

Hebrews 2:1-4
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? 

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  

Pastor also mentioned that he had read that the song  The 12 Days of Christmas had a hidden meaning for christians in the dark ages.  I have a children's book that tells this story.  I've added some notes from it HERE.

Finally, however you plan to spend this wonderful celebration, whether it be by going all out with decorating or by shunning all decorating, just DON'T FORGET THE SIMPLICITY OF THE CELEBRATION - JESUS.

Have a blessed week.

Sunday, 11/15/14 Notes

I trust you all had a wonderful weekend.  Yesterday, Sunday, Nov. 15th was a beautiful, yet chilly day here in northwest Montana and today looks like a carbon copy.

I hope you didn't miss Pastor Randy's teaching on "Justification by Faith" yesterday.  It was so good. Pastor taught about how Abraham was found faithful long before Judaism even existed. He explained that in the book of Romans, Paul is simply trying to show the readers that their Jewishness didn't save them, but it was their faith alone that saved them.   Here's a few of the verses I jotted down yesterday:  (If I've missed any please let me know)

Gen. 15:1-6
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great." 2 Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir." 4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." 5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
 
Rom. 3:28-31
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. 31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. 

Rom. 4:1-3 
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."  

Rom. 4:9-25
Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." 10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.  13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE." 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. 

Gen. 15:8
He said, "O Lord GOD, how may I know that I will possess it?

Notes:  (these may not be verbatim)
Abraham's faithfulness was written for us - to show us that we are also justified by faith alone.

Are we prepared to share our faith with others?  The joy of the Lord should ooze out of us to others.  We are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - LIVE IT! Don't let fear or pride hold you back.  

Hope you all have a blessed week.