I am sitting in my office getting ready for Sunday (tomorrow) and for a lovely wedding that I will be officiating tonight. The rain this morning was refreshing and, I hope, enough to cause the corn and the tomatoes to make. Our youth arrived home a little after noon from their time in Pike County Kentucky. They were ready to be home after the 700 mile trip, but they were also filled with enthusiasm about their experience.....ready to plan the next trip. That is good. I hope that you will engage some of them in conversation and ask them where they experience the Spirit of God in their journey.
In the 2nd chapter of Isaiah he speaks of the last days and of the mountain of the Lord being lifted up, chief among the mountains. He speaks of Jerusalem and this correlates with John's revelation of a New Jerusalem. He tells how, in those last days, that peace will be the pattern of our lives; that the instruments of war will be converted into implements of peace. Isn't that a wonderful thing to think about.....no more war. Will that mean that the season of our ugliness to each other, dividing into opposing sides and shouting at each other across the aisle or street or ocean will be done? I hope so. I grow weary of the vilification of our leaders and of the coarseness of our language and of our making enemies of those who disagree with our position. Come Lord Jesus ascend into the hearts of every man, woman and child! Reign as Prince of Peace!!
That day will be a marvelous day, but it will not come with out pain and sorrow, wailing and gnashing of teeth. Mankind with all of his science, technology and warpower will be brought low. The mighty will be humbled and the humbled will be exalted. Those who have not come to terms with Jehovah on his terms should scatter to the hills and hide in the rocks (but it will do no good), judgment will come to those who have trusted in their own might rather than in the strong right arm of the Omnipotent one.
The warning of Isaiah to the kings of Judah and Israel: "stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?" God and God alone is to be trusted. Put your bets on the King of Kings, Adonai, Jehovah-Jireh; he alone is worthy of our praise.
Hope to see you on the Sabbath. God bless you.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Isaiah
We have been away for awhile on a short mission trip with our youth to Pike County Kentucky. The trip was very successful with 10 youth and 6 adults participating in a variety of projects including building a handicap ramp, doing remodeling in a church, working in a thrift store clothing give-away project, sealing a church parking lot, doing repair on senior citizen homes. The youth were great. Jessica Robb led our evening study time and did an absolutely great job. Chandler Meierarend brought his guitar and provided some great musical accompaniment. We met some great youth from Pittsburgh, interacted with some wonderful mountain folk, saw some incredible Eastern Kentucky scenery, witnessed the hand of God. We had no cell phone or internet contact. It was great.
We are moving out of the Books of Wisdom and into the writings of the prophets and none is better known or more widely read than Isaiah. Isaiah is thought to have ministered in Judah for nearly 60 years during the reign of both good and not so good kings.
Isaiah was born to a family of nobility and was well respected in the courts of the kings and by the people of Judah. That was a good thing because his message was not a fun one to deliver or to recieve. Imagine a preacher trying to bring America back from the brink of destruction by telling our leaders that they are perverted and hard-hearted; that the nation had accepted sinful ways and practices as normal and that our courts favored the rich and those with influence. What would happen if this preacher told them that the economic downturn and ecological problems were the result of God's desire to drive them back to a more righteous lifestyle. How do you think that would go over? And if that wasn't enough, he added that the beatings would continue even to the destruction of the nation if repentence and a return to righteousness didn't come about soon.
Isaiah was even berating the church folks by telling them that their worship was hollow and was unacceptable. Folks who were giving their tithes and offerings were doing so with wrong motive. Sin was even acceptable to the church folk. What if God sent one to us to say that we had become to calloused toward pornography, that the plight of poor folk was unacceptable, that the homeless, teen pregancy, lack of healthcare, our care of the elderly, all were part of the downward spiral of our national status and eventually our nation would die by the sword of a rising power. So said Isaiah to the rulers of Judah even predicting the destruction of Jerusalem.
Are their lessons for us to learn personally and nationally? As you read, make the comparisons. Is God speaking to our nation? Have we been blessed hugely by God? Is their an expectation that we will respond righteously? Is our nation on a slippery slope. Perhaps, but Isaiah also brings a word of hope. Zion will be redeemed by justice, her repentant ones by righteousness. Where do we begin? We begin with our personal behaviors as we seek to walk faithfully as God has instructed us by his holy scriptures and we become an influence in our communities; an influence for righteousness and equality. As John Wesley said, we become a people who are holy of heart and holy of life.
See you Sunday. God bless you.
We are moving out of the Books of Wisdom and into the writings of the prophets and none is better known or more widely read than Isaiah. Isaiah is thought to have ministered in Judah for nearly 60 years during the reign of both good and not so good kings.
Isaiah was born to a family of nobility and was well respected in the courts of the kings and by the people of Judah. That was a good thing because his message was not a fun one to deliver or to recieve. Imagine a preacher trying to bring America back from the brink of destruction by telling our leaders that they are perverted and hard-hearted; that the nation had accepted sinful ways and practices as normal and that our courts favored the rich and those with influence. What would happen if this preacher told them that the economic downturn and ecological problems were the result of God's desire to drive them back to a more righteous lifestyle. How do you think that would go over? And if that wasn't enough, he added that the beatings would continue even to the destruction of the nation if repentence and a return to righteousness didn't come about soon.
Isaiah was even berating the church folks by telling them that their worship was hollow and was unacceptable. Folks who were giving their tithes and offerings were doing so with wrong motive. Sin was even acceptable to the church folk. What if God sent one to us to say that we had become to calloused toward pornography, that the plight of poor folk was unacceptable, that the homeless, teen pregancy, lack of healthcare, our care of the elderly, all were part of the downward spiral of our national status and eventually our nation would die by the sword of a rising power. So said Isaiah to the rulers of Judah even predicting the destruction of Jerusalem.
Are their lessons for us to learn personally and nationally? As you read, make the comparisons. Is God speaking to our nation? Have we been blessed hugely by God? Is their an expectation that we will respond righteously? Is our nation on a slippery slope. Perhaps, but Isaiah also brings a word of hope. Zion will be redeemed by justice, her repentant ones by righteousness. Where do we begin? We begin with our personal behaviors as we seek to walk faithfully as God has instructed us by his holy scriptures and we become an influence in our communities; an influence for righteousness and equality. As John Wesley said, we become a people who are holy of heart and holy of life.
See you Sunday. God bless you.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
enjoy life, Ecclesiates 8
The preacher observes all of the absurdities of life; wicked receive the rewards of the righteous and the righteous are treated badly. Have you ever seen that. I have and sometimes it causes folks to wonder, "where is God in all of that." In fact, I know some folks who have walked away from the church because they cannot conceive of a good and righteous God who would allow the innocent to suffer and the evil to prosper. It is a complexity, a conundrum that we will not fully understand in this life.
The preacher observes and comments "There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: righteous men who get what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun."(Ecclesiastes 8:14-15)
There are mysteries in this life. The evil one has considerable influence with the souls of many men and righteousness seems far away.....mercy and justice are difficult to find. Still we believe that promises of God, that the broken hearted will be comforted and the sick healed. The righteous shall one day reign and the beast will be cast into a lake of fire and sealed up never to afflict God's children again. In the meantime we must be content with the knowledge that God is at work and his plan cannot be derailed. There is good being accomplished according to God's plan in every situation.
If we can be content in that knowledge, then we can enjoy life because we have the full faith in the promise and the promiser. We will survive, we will recieve an eternal reward, the resurrection will be ours. We can live in that joy, we can find comfort in the sunshine and the rain, the good time and the bad, our God reigns and that is enough to give us hope and joy and strength for the living of our days.
The preacher observes and comments "There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: righteous men who get what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun."(Ecclesiastes 8:14-15)
There are mysteries in this life. The evil one has considerable influence with the souls of many men and righteousness seems far away.....mercy and justice are difficult to find. Still we believe that promises of God, that the broken hearted will be comforted and the sick healed. The righteous shall one day reign and the beast will be cast into a lake of fire and sealed up never to afflict God's children again. In the meantime we must be content with the knowledge that God is at work and his plan cannot be derailed. There is good being accomplished according to God's plan in every situation.
If we can be content in that knowledge, then we can enjoy life because we have the full faith in the promise and the promiser. We will survive, we will recieve an eternal reward, the resurrection will be ours. We can live in that joy, we can find comfort in the sunshine and the rain, the good time and the bad, our God reigns and that is enough to give us hope and joy and strength for the living of our days.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
consider the oppressed, Ecclesiastes 4
The preacher (king Solomon) considers all of those that are oppressed and he thinks that those who have lived a life of oppression are better dead than alive or, better yet, not yet born. Why? Because there is no comforter for the oppressed.
Wow!! Isn't that an awful perspective and an even worse possibility.....there is none who will comfort the oppressed. How insulated we are from such a condition where there is no hope. But doesn't the Bible tell us that Jesus came to give hope to the helpless, Grace to the hopeless and to restore the Faith of the broken hearted? Don't the scriptures promise peace and justice? Yes, they do and when those things come, the kingdom of God will be near at hand.
We see glimpses of the kingdom as we read of the life of Jesus. The hungry are fed, the blind see, the lame walk, the woman caught in sin is offered forgiveness. John the Baptist, alone in prison and waiting to be executed for his faith sends a disciple to Jesus to ask, "are you the one or should I look for another." Jesus response was not a yes or a no to his cousin but "go tell John that the lame have learned to walk and the poor can hear the word of God and the deaf can hear me talk and the blind can finally see." Why, what does this mean? These were the signs that had been promised by the prophets that the Messiah the Savior had come. Restoration had begun. Jesus had announced at the beginning of his ministry that the "Spirit of the Lord is upon me. I have been anointed to preach the good news to the poor. I am sent to proclaim freedom to prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind and to release the oppressed." The Savior comes to comfort the comfortless and to gave aid to the oppressed...these are the signs that the Kingdom of God draws near.
We are the Body of Christ and have been trusted to usher the reign of God into this world. We do this by declaring the year of our Lord and by restoring that which has been upset by the fall of man. We are the comforters, we are the healers, we are the freedom fighters, we are those who give hope because we follow in the image of the one who is Hope and Health, Justice and Liberty, Freedom and Eternity.
We are those who declare, contrary to the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, there is hope for the helpless, there is help for the hopeless, there is comfort for the broken-hearted. We have seen him and we bear his image and offer this to the oppressed of this world. There is good news and his name is Jesus.
Is there oppression in places that we can influence? Are there people that need to be comforted and lifted? Do we have the heart, the faith, the passion to do the work of the Master? That is our challenge....we who bear the mark of the Christ and call ourselves Christian.
Wow!! Isn't that an awful perspective and an even worse possibility.....there is none who will comfort the oppressed. How insulated we are from such a condition where there is no hope. But doesn't the Bible tell us that Jesus came to give hope to the helpless, Grace to the hopeless and to restore the Faith of the broken hearted? Don't the scriptures promise peace and justice? Yes, they do and when those things come, the kingdom of God will be near at hand.
We see glimpses of the kingdom as we read of the life of Jesus. The hungry are fed, the blind see, the lame walk, the woman caught in sin is offered forgiveness. John the Baptist, alone in prison and waiting to be executed for his faith sends a disciple to Jesus to ask, "are you the one or should I look for another." Jesus response was not a yes or a no to his cousin but "go tell John that the lame have learned to walk and the poor can hear the word of God and the deaf can hear me talk and the blind can finally see." Why, what does this mean? These were the signs that had been promised by the prophets that the Messiah the Savior had come. Restoration had begun. Jesus had announced at the beginning of his ministry that the "Spirit of the Lord is upon me. I have been anointed to preach the good news to the poor. I am sent to proclaim freedom to prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind and to release the oppressed." The Savior comes to comfort the comfortless and to gave aid to the oppressed...these are the signs that the Kingdom of God draws near.
We are the Body of Christ and have been trusted to usher the reign of God into this world. We do this by declaring the year of our Lord and by restoring that which has been upset by the fall of man. We are the comforters, we are the healers, we are the freedom fighters, we are those who give hope because we follow in the image of the one who is Hope and Health, Justice and Liberty, Freedom and Eternity.
We are those who declare, contrary to the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, there is hope for the helpless, there is help for the hopeless, there is comfort for the broken-hearted. We have seen him and we bear his image and offer this to the oppressed of this world. There is good news and his name is Jesus.
Is there oppression in places that we can influence? Are there people that need to be comforted and lifted? Do we have the heart, the faith, the passion to do the work of the Master? That is our challenge....we who bear the mark of the Christ and call ourselves Christian.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Ecclesiastes, the preacher
Ecclesiastes is written by King Solomon near the end of his life. You will remember that Solomon asked God in a dream for wisdom and he was reputed to be the wisest and wealthiest of men. Kings and Queens from all over the known world came to ask his advice. Solomon walked with God early in his reign but became enamored by his wealth, power and all that he could have of the world. He strayed from God's path; he tasted of every pleasure that the world could offer and he led a life of dissipation. Perhaps the biggest example of foolishness in his life is the record of his marital affairs; according to scripture he had 700 wives and another 300 concubines.
In experiencing all of the world's he found it to be, "meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." Ecclesiastes 1:2 It was and it is. Have you ever looked at a pile Easter candy and been tempted by the succulent taste of Chocolate. You take the biggest, best looking Easter Bunny and bit off an ear only to be disappointed because it is hollow! Hollow is what Solomon discovered in the pleasures of the world. There might have been a temporary high, but it was followed by disappointment. All that the world offers is temporary. When our joy is dependent upon the world's pleasures, we will always find disappointment at the rainbows' end.
We must remember that as beautiful as God's creation is, it has been marred by the fall of man. The Prince of this world is the deciever and until the Day of Judgement all of creation suffers because of his influence. If we seek to find ultimate meaning in our work, our wealth, our status, even in relationships; we will ultimately be disappointed. All of these things are terminal outside of the meaning that God intends for them. It is only when these things that are commited to God's purpose rather than our purpose that they can be used for eternal good. Nothing really matters outside of the eternal purpose of God.
God does have a plan. We can resist that plan and find disappointment, frustration and sorrow or we can embrace that plan and rest confidently in the knowledge that God in his wisdom will winnow and sort and all will finally be as it should be. Imagine how much easier life will be when we can walk in that knowledge.....God, who loves and cares for us, is in charge.
there is a time and a place for everything. there is a cycle which we all will endure. there is birth and death. there is planting and harvesting, their is building and tearing down. There is weeping and laughing. Their is keeping and giving away. There is love and hate, peace and war. Everything is made beautiful in his (God's) time. (partial paraphrase Ecclesiastes 3:1-11) Can you wait? Can you trust? Can you find your joy in the knowledge that God is on our side? Only then can you find meaning and purpose.
In experiencing all of the world's he found it to be, "meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." Ecclesiastes 1:2 It was and it is. Have you ever looked at a pile Easter candy and been tempted by the succulent taste of Chocolate. You take the biggest, best looking Easter Bunny and bit off an ear only to be disappointed because it is hollow! Hollow is what Solomon discovered in the pleasures of the world. There might have been a temporary high, but it was followed by disappointment. All that the world offers is temporary. When our joy is dependent upon the world's pleasures, we will always find disappointment at the rainbows' end.
We must remember that as beautiful as God's creation is, it has been marred by the fall of man. The Prince of this world is the deciever and until the Day of Judgement all of creation suffers because of his influence. If we seek to find ultimate meaning in our work, our wealth, our status, even in relationships; we will ultimately be disappointed. All of these things are terminal outside of the meaning that God intends for them. It is only when these things that are commited to God's purpose rather than our purpose that they can be used for eternal good. Nothing really matters outside of the eternal purpose of God.
God does have a plan. We can resist that plan and find disappointment, frustration and sorrow or we can embrace that plan and rest confidently in the knowledge that God in his wisdom will winnow and sort and all will finally be as it should be. Imagine how much easier life will be when we can walk in that knowledge.....God, who loves and cares for us, is in charge.
there is a time and a place for everything. there is a cycle which we all will endure. there is birth and death. there is planting and harvesting, their is building and tearing down. There is weeping and laughing. Their is keeping and giving away. There is love and hate, peace and war. Everything is made beautiful in his (God's) time. (partial paraphrase Ecclesiastes 3:1-11) Can you wait? Can you trust? Can you find your joy in the knowledge that God is on our side? Only then can you find meaning and purpose.
Friday, July 15, 2011
By wisdom a house is built.....proverbs, part 4
Bible School is nearly concluded for this year. I think it had a record breaking attendance. The teachers were awesome and the students ready to learn. Tonight is their program. It will be a delight to all who attend. I hope you are able to do so. It begins at 7 p.m. An hour in church on a hot Friday evening would be a good, good way to begin your weekend.
One of our church ladies has undergone shoulder surgery and will be coming home soon. She lives alone and we will try to have someone available to her each day while she recovers. Some of you have already said yes to my begging and I am grateful to each one of you. If you would have a few hours any day in the next week to sit with someone who is healing, would you be kind enough to give me a call and tell me of your availability. Thanks in advance for your kindness.
Early in the proverbs we are made to understand that wisdom begins when we acknowledge who God is. Much of this book then tells us how we may operate out of this wisdom to build lives that are based upon Godly wisdom. This is a great book to read devotionally. It is interesting that this book has 31 chapters as do 1/2 of the months in the year. Hmmm......a chapter a day, I suspect a diet of the Proverbs for a few months would make each of us wiser.
Some of the proverbs in the later chapters include such adages as: "Do not withhold discipline from a child", Do not let your heart envy sinners", Keep your heart on the right path, Do not join those who drink too much wine, listen to your father and do not despise your mother." All of these are wise sayings and principles that will help us to grow in Godly wisdom.
I particularly like what 24:3-4 has to tell us, "by wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures."
The writer is, of course, speaking of the home rather than a physical dwelling place. The home is established, maintained, expanded, passed from generation to generation when we build it upon the wisdom of God. How are we to love in the family? How are to mutually submit? What does God tell us about raising our children? How do we interact with the world? What is our responsibility for our neighbor? Do we owe allegiance to civil authorities? Does God require our involvement in the church? Is there biblical instruction for dealing with extended family? The Bible is a book filled with wisdom teaching, not the wisdom of the world, but the wisdom of the one who created us with a plan and a purpose. We are especially designed, gifted for accomplishment. The Book explains God's design and to alter his plan is to play with fire.
By God's wisdom a home is established that will stand against the tests of a broken world. It is in searching for God's wisdom and living in its principles that we will be transformed into the image of Christ. It is yielding to God's will that we are made into rare and beautiful treasures. Treasures that bless the world around us and treasures that will one day be transported into a most beautiful place, there to enjoy the fruit of paradise for an eternity.
One of our church ladies has undergone shoulder surgery and will be coming home soon. She lives alone and we will try to have someone available to her each day while she recovers. Some of you have already said yes to my begging and I am grateful to each one of you. If you would have a few hours any day in the next week to sit with someone who is healing, would you be kind enough to give me a call and tell me of your availability. Thanks in advance for your kindness.
Early in the proverbs we are made to understand that wisdom begins when we acknowledge who God is. Much of this book then tells us how we may operate out of this wisdom to build lives that are based upon Godly wisdom. This is a great book to read devotionally. It is interesting that this book has 31 chapters as do 1/2 of the months in the year. Hmmm......a chapter a day, I suspect a diet of the Proverbs for a few months would make each of us wiser.
Some of the proverbs in the later chapters include such adages as: "Do not withhold discipline from a child", Do not let your heart envy sinners", Keep your heart on the right path, Do not join those who drink too much wine, listen to your father and do not despise your mother." All of these are wise sayings and principles that will help us to grow in Godly wisdom.
I particularly like what 24:3-4 has to tell us, "by wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures."
The writer is, of course, speaking of the home rather than a physical dwelling place. The home is established, maintained, expanded, passed from generation to generation when we build it upon the wisdom of God. How are we to love in the family? How are to mutually submit? What does God tell us about raising our children? How do we interact with the world? What is our responsibility for our neighbor? Do we owe allegiance to civil authorities? Does God require our involvement in the church? Is there biblical instruction for dealing with extended family? The Bible is a book filled with wisdom teaching, not the wisdom of the world, but the wisdom of the one who created us with a plan and a purpose. We are especially designed, gifted for accomplishment. The Book explains God's design and to alter his plan is to play with fire.
By God's wisdom a home is established that will stand against the tests of a broken world. It is in searching for God's wisdom and living in its principles that we will be transformed into the image of Christ. It is yielding to God's will that we are made into rare and beautiful treasures. Treasures that bless the world around us and treasures that will one day be transported into a most beautiful place, there to enjoy the fruit of paradise for an eternity.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Being Righteous......Proverbs, part III
The book of Proverbs is full of Godly wisdom, advice on how to live righteously and in so doing, honor God. As I mentioned previously, these bits of wisdom do not come with guarantees, the world is a broken place and our enemy is always seeking to derail our best efforts. Evil does sometimes seem to have the upper hand, but operating out of the wisdom that God has given us gives us the best chance at a blessed, God-honoring, life worth imitating, putting our trust in the Lord lifestyle.
There is much said in the Proverbs about living righteously. As and example 10:24 says that what the righteous desire will be granted. Again, this is not a guarantee, but consider that if we ask with a righteous heart, then what we ask is most likely in the will of God and the will of God will always prevail. We may ask without seeking, but God is at work accomplishing his will. The key is developing a righteousness that allows us to see and to ask with a pure heart. This advice should also make us a much more hopeful people. We know that God loves and cares for the sheep of his pasture. If we are working toward the same end that God is working, we can be assured that God is on our side.
One who is guided by a desire for righteousness cares about the same things that God cares about. We should be concerned about God's creation. That makes us aware of the things that are going on around us that are harmful to the earth and its inhabitants. Pollution, wasteful use of resources, practices that endanger wildlife all would be areas that we would be active in. 12:10 says, "a righeous man cares for the needs of his animal."We were given dominion over all the earth in the creation and to practice dominion in a Christian way means to manage in a Christlike way to insure that their is sufficiency for all.
Likewise we will care about the poor, the widow and the orphan. It is impossible to read much of the Bible without concluding that God cares intensely for those who have little. Violence and gain that comes at the expense of the weak and the poor will eventually draw the ire of God. Those who live righteously will be found laboring side by side with the poor, seeking justice and sufficiency for them.
11:23 tells us that "the desire of the righteous ends only in good." Can you measure your words and deeds by what you believe to be the outcome? Only that which results in good honors God. Hurtful words, selfish deeds cannot be found in the heart of a righteous person. Let us live righteously, seeking always to honor God and to love all that he loves.
Sunday is coming. Hope to see you on the Sabbath.
Faith serves is going to Della Lamb for a service project on Sunday. If you are interested in going, meet Kim Compton at the church at 9:00 a.m.
The Youth group is sponsoring a Missions Car Wash from 10-2 on Saturday. Stop by and get a car cleaning.
There is much said in the Proverbs about living righteously. As and example 10:24 says that what the righteous desire will be granted. Again, this is not a guarantee, but consider that if we ask with a righteous heart, then what we ask is most likely in the will of God and the will of God will always prevail. We may ask without seeking, but God is at work accomplishing his will. The key is developing a righteousness that allows us to see and to ask with a pure heart. This advice should also make us a much more hopeful people. We know that God loves and cares for the sheep of his pasture. If we are working toward the same end that God is working, we can be assured that God is on our side.
One who is guided by a desire for righteousness cares about the same things that God cares about. We should be concerned about God's creation. That makes us aware of the things that are going on around us that are harmful to the earth and its inhabitants. Pollution, wasteful use of resources, practices that endanger wildlife all would be areas that we would be active in. 12:10 says, "a righeous man cares for the needs of his animal."We were given dominion over all the earth in the creation and to practice dominion in a Christian way means to manage in a Christlike way to insure that their is sufficiency for all.
Likewise we will care about the poor, the widow and the orphan. It is impossible to read much of the Bible without concluding that God cares intensely for those who have little. Violence and gain that comes at the expense of the weak and the poor will eventually draw the ire of God. Those who live righteously will be found laboring side by side with the poor, seeking justice and sufficiency for them.
11:23 tells us that "the desire of the righteous ends only in good." Can you measure your words and deeds by what you believe to be the outcome? Only that which results in good honors God. Hurtful words, selfish deeds cannot be found in the heart of a righteous person. Let us live righteously, seeking always to honor God and to love all that he loves.
Sunday is coming. Hope to see you on the Sabbath.
Faith serves is going to Della Lamb for a service project on Sunday. If you are interested in going, meet Kim Compton at the church at 9:00 a.m.
The Youth group is sponsoring a Missions Car Wash from 10-2 on Saturday. Stop by and get a car cleaning.
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