Pastor’s Desk July 27th
Scripture Passage: “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.” Proverbs 31:1
Dear Friends,
Pastor’s Desk July 20th
Scripture Passage: “Two things have I required of you: deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny you, and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” Proverbs 30:7-9
“God, I’m asking for two things before I die; don’t refuse me- Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence. Give me food to live on, neither too much nor too little. If I’m too full, I might get independent, saying, “God, who needs him?” If I’m poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God.” Proverbs 30: 7-9 THE MESSAGE
Dear Friends,
It’s funny how a man’s prayers change the older he gets. When I was young, I prayed for wealth, prestige, success, and “stuff.” Even the “stuff” I want has changed. Now that I am older I pray for good health, peace of mind, money to pay the few bills I have, and enough to eat. We are in the process of down-sizing everything and thirty-eight years of accumulation is going in a yard sale. At one time we needed, or at least wanted it. Now it is just stuff in the way that will have to be moved if we keep it. Hobbies and interest have changed and now so will our lifestyle. I am an avid reader. If I ever saw a book that I did not love, I don’t remember what it was. My Bible and doctrine study books are lining the hallway as I write. My music, history, tractor, trucks, and shop manuals are yet to be collected. I still have all my children’s books from when they were little and most of their toys. It is all over whelming because I have to go through them and decide what to keep. It won’t be much.
Let us look at what Solomon desired at the end of his life. He was the wealthiest man of his day. Scripture says there was none like him before, nor none that would be like him after. What could a man who has it all possibly want? You will be surprised.
His first request was that God would remove things that do not satisfy and people who are counterfeits. There are so many things I have purchased down through the years that I thought would make me happy. They did for a while, but eventually that happiness waned. The Bible is so true when it says that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses. Luke 12:15 The second part of his first request was that deceitful, lying people be removed from his life or at least from his presence. The older I get the less tolerance I have for such people. Just tell the truth and let the “chips fall” where they may.
Solomon’s second request was that God would give him just enough. Enough food and enough money to take care of his needs. When you are young, you want more than enough. That is why we pay in so much to retirement plans and annuities. That is why we go deep into debt for things that we rarely use because we are working so hard to pay for them. We do not can vegetables like we used to or stock the freezer as we one time did. We plan for the future but have stopped stocking up like we are going to live forever. We, like Solomon, would like to be comfortable in our dependence on God. I think we realize how much we need the Lord more than we ever have before. Patty and I pray we may finish well and honor the name of our God in the process. “Lord do not deny me these things before I die.”
In Christ,
Pastor Johnny
Pastor’s Desk July 13th
Scripture Passage: “A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards.” Proverbs 29:11
Dear Friends,
Pastor’s Desk July 6th
Scripture Passage: “He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Dear Friends,
Pastor’s Desk June 29th
Scripture Passage: “As in water face answers to face, so the heart of man to man.” Proverbs 27:19 “Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart.” Proverbs 27:19 THE MESSAGE
Dear Friends,
Pastor’s Desk June 22nd
Scripture Passage: “”He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears.” Proverbs 26:17
“Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” Proverbs 26: 20-21
Dear Friends,
Pastor’s Desk June 15th
Scripture Passage: “A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.” Proverbs 25: 18-19
Dear Friends,
Pastor’s Desk June 8th
Scripture Passage: “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10 “For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 24:16
Pastor’s Desk June 1st
Scripture Passage: “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, says he to you, but his heart is not with you.” Proverbs 23:7
Dear Friends,
Pastor’s Desk May 25th
Scripture Passage: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” “A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.” The Message
Dear Friends,