Wednesday, September 28, 2011

How about this beautiful fall Arkansas weather? I can barely remember what 110 degrees feels like now. Consider the following thoughts from a lesson I preached recently at Liberty on Highway 64. My topic was “Jesus Keeps Blessing Me Over and Over Again – But How?”

God blesses His creation simply because He is the Creator and Father of all. He blesses us with life, sunshine and rain, gravity, the change of seasons, the air that we breathe, and the capacity to breathe. God made the world and everything in it. He gives to all life, breath, and all things. He has made from one blood every nation of men. In Him we live and move and have our being. Paul spoke these things to the Athenians. Luke wrote them for all to read and believe in Acts 17:24-28.

God extends some blessings only to those who are in a right relationship with Him, to those who love Him and are following Him. Consider Romans 8:28. “Now we know that all things work together for good…” This promise that everything will work out just fine is made to whom? To all creation? No. God promises that everything will work out just fine to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Consider Psalm 1. God promises blessings to the one who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, to the one who does not stand in the path of sinners, and to the one who does not sit in the seat of the scoffer. He offers this blessing to the one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on that law day and night. Prosperity is promised to this one. Consider Psalm 23. All the blessings of this psalm: green pastures, still waters, soul restored, leadership in the paths of righteousness, comfort walking through the valley of the shadow of death, comfort in view of a rod and staff, provision in the midst of enemies, an anointed head, a cup that overflows, the surety of goodness and mercy every day, and heaven are promised to the one whose shepherd is the Lord. Consider Mark 16:16. Salvation is promised to those who believe and are baptized. I could go on and on with many more examples from the Bible of blessings promised and delivered to those who choose God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus keeps blessing me over and over again because I live one day at the time. Too many people try to live three days at the time. They try to live today while at the same time reliving and regretting yesterday and also at the same time looking into tomorrow with fear and doubt.

Jesus keeps blessing me over and over again because I count my many blessings every day rather than focus on my sorrows. Ephesians 3:20-21 says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” I am richly blessed every day. We all are. Why not count those blessings and rejoice in them rather than look over those blessings to focus on my disappointments?

Jesus keeps blessing me over and over again because I have decided to be optimistic. Do you know that we usually feel, learn, find, and become what we expect to feel, learn, find, and become? Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

My grand daughter, Faryn made me a very special creation from construction paper, crayons, and tape. The words on the creation hanging from my dressing room mirror say, “God Morning.” Of course she meant to say “Good Morning.” She tried to add another “o” to “God” but I like the first creation better. Every morning should be and is a “God Morning.”

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Have you had a good week? These are very busy times for everyone. In these busy times please remember to set proper personal priorities. Jesus commanded every Christian to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and our every need will be met (Matthew 6:33). We must not allow worldly activities and events to overshadow the duties and privileges we have as Christians. Every Lord’s Day and at other times as well, the church meets for Bible study, worship, and fellowship. As a member of the church I have the duty and the privilege of taking my place among my Christian brothers and sisters to encourage and be encouraged in my faith. I promise that I will do my part as a gospel preacher to provide Biblical, challenging, encouraging, interesting lessons and sermons every week aimed at helping us all grow in our walk with God. Our elders are committed to God and to their responsibility to meet our needs and lead us ever closer to heaven. Our deacons are committed to their individual roles as special servants to the church. It is my prayer that every member of the Enola Church of Christ will make Christ and His church the #1 priority in their lives at home, at work, at school, in the neighborhood, everywhere. Ask yourself: Am I reading my Bible every day? Is prayer a priority in my life every day? Do I look for opportunities to help someone in some way every day? Do I meet with the church at every opportunity? Am I committed to doing what I can to help the church grow every day? Am I living the Christian life the way I should? Am I enjoying my life as a Christian? If you can answer these questions with a “Yes,” that’s great. If not, then make the change you need to make to be all you can be for Jesus our Savior and Lord.

This Sunday morning we will continue in our series “The Bible – God’s Inspired Word to Humanity” with a lesson aimed at helping us understand and appreciate the benefits of the Bible. God’s word makes us wise to salvation. God’s word promotes faith in the life of every believer. The Bible nourishes our spiritual life. The Bible teaches us God’s will and teaches us how to worship, how to pray, how to give, how to organize our lives, how to live and how to die. When we understand and appreciate these benefits, we will read and rely on the Bible more and more every day.

This Sunday evening we will begin a new series entitled “The Way of the Cross.” Lesson one will be “The Requirements of the Way of the Cross.” Each letter in CROSS will provide our points: C – Courage, R – Reason, O – Obedience, S – Sacrifice, and S – Sincerity. We sometimes sing the song entitled “The Way of the Cross Leads Home.” Maybe we can sing this song (#343 in our books) before the sermon to get us started in the right direction.

I will be preaching at the Liberty Church of Christ on Highway 64 on Sunday afternoon, September 25th at 3:00 p.m. Our topic will be, “How Jesus Keeps Blessing Me Over and Over Again.” Please mark your calendar and plan on being present for this lesson. We can still make it back to Enola in plenty of time for our Sunday evening worship hour at 5:00.

Remember the Birthday and Anniversary Get-Together at the Burleson’s on September 25th immediately following our Sunday evening worship assembly. Bring your favorite finger food and come out to celebrate our September birthdays and anniversaries. Drinks and cake provided.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Now this is what I’ve been waiting for! Cool breezes…royal blue Arkansas skies with feathery clouds ever changing shapes…the smell of fresh-cut hay…family and friends gathered together in the back yard…grilling out…watching football…ever being grateful for God’s rich blessings in my life. There are way too many people who have become so busy make a living that they never make a life. Life is too short, too volatile, too interesting, too exciting, too beautiful, too wonderful to miss and miss it we do when we spend our time fussing and fighting, regretting and being afraid, sorrowing and being depressed. Wake up. Look up. Get up. Live!

Our lesson on Sunday morning is entitled “The Bible – God’s Inspired Word to Humanity.” We will ask ourselves the question: What is the Bible to me? We will see what God’s word contains. We will see what the Bible teaches us. We will see the results of studying the Bible. We will see that the Bible is the traveler’s road map (John 14:6), the pilgrim’s staff (Matthew 7:24), the pilot’s compass (Psalm 119:105), the soldier’s weapon (Ephesians 6:17), and the Christian’s charter (Matthew 28:18-20).

On Sunday evening we will continue Sunday morning’s lesson with a look at what we find in the Bible: the Object, the Design, and the End. Did you know that the Bible can give life? It will be opened at judgment. The Bible will be remembered forever. No wonder the Bible is called the Book of books. It is indeed holy and written to us from God Himself.

If you are not currently involved in Bible study at Enola, please come at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning for a wonderful Bible study with Brother Eddie Hawkins, one of our elders. I teach the adults on Wednesday evening at 7:00. We are studying through the book of Romans. We are currently in chapter 9. Of course Brother Brandon and others teach our teenagers. We have Bible study opportunities for children too. Please take advantage of every opportunity you have to learn more about God’s ways and will for you and for the world.

I hear that our new congregational picture directories will soon be printed and ready for distribution. Make sure you check the bulletin this Sunday for special announcements concerning our picture directory. We would like to have every member of the church of Christ at Enola included in this publication.

SPECIAL NOTE: We are in the process of selecting additional deacons at Enola. Please pick up a selection sheet located on the tables in the lobby, read the instructions from our eldership, fill out the sheet with the names of those men you believe are qualified to serve as deacons, and turn in your sheet to one of our elders. This is not a complicated process. As soon as our elders have our selection sheets they will meet with the prospective men. They will then announce the names of those who will be put before the church for our consideration, and then after a day or two of consideration, they will be appointed as deacons. Let’s get involved with the work and service of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so that the church will continue to grow and prosper.