Matthew 6:14-15

Today's church message dealt with forgiveness.  The guest minister based her message on Matthew 6:14-15:

14.  For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

Happy Easter!

Romans 13:1-7

I read the above Bible verses this morning, and thought perhaps this may benefit some my fellow Christians who are moving further right and becoming anti-government and anti-taxes.

Submission to the Authorities

1. Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is not authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.  Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
4. For he is God's servant to do you good.  But if you you wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.  He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
5. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
6. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.
7. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Psalms 100 (NIV)

1. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the Earth.
2. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3. Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture; give thanks to him and praise his name.
4. Enter his gaes with thanksgiving and his court with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5. For the Lord is good and his love endures foreever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Luke 6:43-45

43.  No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  

44.  Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.  Please do not pick figs from thorn-bushes, or grapes from briers.  

45.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

The Love Shack

February 13, 2011 sermon by Pastor Beau

"But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first!" Revelation 2:4-5.

How a Relationship Deteriorates:

Romance - Reality - Rut - Resentment - Regret

Romance Report Card:

Attention (intellectual intimacy)
"Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interests in others, too." Philippians 2:4.

Affirmation (emotional intimacy)
"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." Romans 12:10.

Affection (physical intimacy)
"How beautiful you are, my love! How your eyes shine with love behind your veil. Your hair dances like a flock of goats bounding down the hills of Gilead. You teeth are as white as sheep that have just been shorn and washed. Not one of them is missing; they are still are perfectly matched. Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; how lovely they are when you speak. Your cheeks glow behind your veil. You neck is like the tower of David, round and smooth, with a necklace like a thousand shields hung around it...What a magnificent young woman you are! How beautiful are your feet in sandals. The curve of your thighs is like the work of an artist...How pretty you are, how beautiful; how complete the delights of your love. You are as graceful as a palm tree, and your breast are clusters of dates. I will climb the palm tree and pick its fruits." Song of Solomon 4:1-4; 7:1, 6-8.

Adventure (recreational intimacy)
"Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and your toil in which you have labored under the sun." Ecclesiastes 9:9.

Accordance (spiritual intimacy)
"But if we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin." 1 John 1:7.

Happy Valentines Day!

Matthew 5:25-26

Jesus said it best, "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."

Ecclesiastes 1:3-11

3. What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
4. Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
5. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.
6. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round it goes, ever returning on its course.
7. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full.
8. All things are wearisome, more than one can say.
9. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
10. Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.
11. There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow.

Charlotte's Prayer

Dear God, feed the hungry, heal the sick, and provide for the needy. You are the Lord of compassion, and your people are suffering. Come and provide for them, and show us our part in helping you to do so. Amen

- Charlotte Mande Kasongo-Lenge

Philippians 4:4-9

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Luke 11:9

Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find.

Hebrews 13:5

Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you."

Acts of Giving

Lord, fill us with joy each time we give, and help us be willing to sacrifice for others as an act of praise to you. - Maureen Pratt

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

[God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Romans 8: 1-2

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

Service with a Smile

"You can tell what they are by what they do." - Matthew 7:16

"Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers." - Galatians 6:10

"Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now." - Proverbs 3:28

"If you wait for perfect condition, you will never get anything done." - 1 Corinthians 12:6

"If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only feeling yourself." - Galatian 6:3

"When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven." - Matthew 6:1

Use the Talents Given by God

"Don't act thoughtlessy, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you." - Ephesians 5:17

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that." - Galatians 6:4b

"Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him." - 1 Corinthians 10:31

"Christ has given each of us special abilities - whatever wants us to have out of his rich storehouse of gifts." - Ephesians 4:7

"Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." - Galatians 6:4

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15

Job 20: 1 - 18

Happy Easter!

1. Early on the first day fo the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
2. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of his tomb, and we don't know where they hve put him!
3. So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.
   
4. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5. He bent over and there but did not go in.
6. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,
7. as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.
8. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
9. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
10. Then the disciples went back to their homes,
    
11. but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
12. and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13. They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him."
14. At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15. "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
16. Jesus said to her, "Mary."
17. Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
18. Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord! And she told them that he said these things to her.
    

Shaped by God

"You hands shaped me and made me." - Job 10:8

"The people I have shaped for myself will broadcast my my praises." - Isaiah 43:21

"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works" - Ephesians 2:10

Purpose in Problems

"Don't be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you." - 1 Peter 4:12

"We felt we were doomed to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us." - 2 Corinthians 1:9

"We know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produce character." - Romans 5:34

"The plans I have for you [are] plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11