Pastor Caroline - October 31, 2021- Give Thanks to God

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday October 27, 2021 - Be Not Afraid

 

Be Not Afraid

 

Isaiah Chapter 41 Verse 10 in the Good News Bible reads:

Do not be afraid – I am with you!

I am your God – let nothing terrify you!

I will make you strong and help you;

I will protect you and save you.

 

This is a beautiful verse to read at the beginning of your morning.

Be not afraid – sometimes we hear this and in the midst of our situation or circumstance it is hard to just erase or invade our fear. God tells us; be not afraid – or not to fear because He wants us to put our trust in Him. God is bigger than any of our fears and so if we believe in God, then we must believe He is a God who can take us from fear to trust. Trust in Him who is all powerful! Over and over in the Bible we certainly can see that He is indeed trustworthy. Do not fear is found in the word of God over 200 times so I guess God is trying to tell us something. Are we listening?

 

As a matter fact, 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 7 in the Good News Bible reminds me of this

(7) For the spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love and self-control.

One of the synonyms for timid is fear. So if we read this verse again replacing the word timid with fear or fearful, you will realize God does not make us fearful or full of fear. Actually the Spirit fills us with power, love and self-control. This is wonderful to know.

 

Jesus; oh that beautiful name. When we whisper, pray, shout or sing the name of Jesus, peace seems to flow over us. His name calms our thoughts, relaxes our tension, and removes our fears. There is just something about that name: as the song says.

In the Bible Jesus commanded the storm to be still and immediately at His command, it became calm. (Mark 4:30.)  He turned the water into wine at the wedding in Cana. (John 2:9). He feed over 5000 people in Matthew chapter 14 verses 13 to 23. These are just a few examples of His great power proving to us that as we trust in Him, He certainly can set aside our fear.

 

As we take His hand, so to speak, we sense His power over all things and we become calm because we know He can do all things. So He in fact, can remove our fear making us strong, protected and safe in Him. Know that God is with you and fear not; or be not afraid! His word gives us this instruction in Isaiah 41:10. We opened with that verse. Also again in Isaiah 43:5, we read:

Do not be afraid—I am with you!

 

As we trust in you Lord and believe Your word we set aside our fear because faith overpowers fear. We put ourselves in Your care knowing You are with us at all times. Thank you Lord as You fill us afresh every day.

 

If you go to youtube.com you can bring up the song Be Not Afraid by John Michael Talbot. Have a listen. The voice of this artist is peaceful and lovely. Surely she has a voice of an angel. It does not say who she is so I am unable to give credit to her as an artist. There are several versions so hopefully you will find one you like.

Enjoy now your day, and be not afraid for God is with you.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Judges Part 7

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - BLOOD and WINE

 BLOOD and WINE

It has been said that the New Testament is concealed in the Old and that the Old Testament is concealed in the New. What this really means is that the details of one part of the Bible are often found in the other and vice-versa. It also indicates just how important the details found in the Biblical accounts are.

In Exodus, the first plague consisted of turning the waters of Egypt into blood. We often say that the water of the Nile River became blood, but in fact the Bible relates that God said to Moses “…stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. There shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt” (Exodus 7:19). And so it was for 7 days.

So the Nile, considered a god by the Egyptians, and in reality the lifeblood to the nation, was temporally destroyed by God to indicate His power and strength over the gods and the Pharaoh of Egypt.

In contrast, in John 2, we read of the first miracle preformed by Jesus at the wedding in Cana. This also concerned water being changed into wine, the same colour as blood. We often read of this but don’t realize the true significance of this miracle. Wine is considered a symbol of blessing, grace, and judgement and also of transformation. When we read of this miracle, it’s not often pointed out that the water that was transformed into wine consisted of the contents of six water-pots each containing twenty to thirty gallons of water. Certainly enough to satisfy each person at the wedding without excess.

So the first plague temporally destroyed the Nile, the same river that saved Moses initially when he, as all Hebrew male children, were under the threat of destruction by order of a previous Pharaoh. Now Moses had returned to show that the gods of the Egyptians were no match for the God of the Hebrews.

In the same way, the first miracle of Jesus was to illustrate that His transformative power could produce enough wine (grace, blessing, and symbolic of His blood) to satisfy everyone. It was an early way of saying that His grace would be sufficient. As the first plague revealed to all Egypt that they were in fact lost, so the first miracle indicated that God’s grace and future sacrifice would be sufficient for all.

Symbolism in the Bible: certainly something to think about.

Pastor Caroline - Sunday October 24, 2021 - The Lord is My Shepherd

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday October 20, 2021 - Your New Day

 

Your New Day

 

Psalm 62 verse 5 in the Good News Bible reads:

(5) I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him.

 

Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never be mine is an old saying (from an old song perhaps?) I used to hear my mother say. This is so true.

I cannot today, change the events of yesterday, and today, I cannot predict the events of tomorrow. Today I start a new day, the moment I open my eyes to a new morning. Before I get out of bed, I say good morning to the Lord and I thank Him for this new day. I also lift a prayer, asking Him to guide me as I serve Him today. Perhaps I can make someone’s day a little more pleasant by doing something for them. Maybe I can visit or speak on the phone with someone who is a shut-in for whatever reason. A smile goes a long way when I see someone down in the dumps as they say. Buying a coffee for the person behind me in a line up lets that person know someone cares.

 

As I listen to God first thing in the morning He sets my day up to be a good day. I expect Him to stay with me all day because His word tells me in Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31;

(31) But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.

This is a powerful verse reminding me that my strength is renewed and then I will not get weary and I will not be weak. I am off to a good start in my new day. I can depend on God alone; as I put my hope in Him.

 

Proverbs chapter 3 verse 6 in the Good News Bible tells us;

(6) Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.

This tells me God will make clear my path so every day I trust in His word and instruction for my life. He wants me to have a good day, a day filled with His goodness and joy and for me to share that with others. When I spend time with God, reading His word, lifting prayers of praise, thanks and intercession, and listening for His direction for this day expecting all to be well; then, I can have a good day in Him. Seek the Lord with all your heart and your new day will be filled with the joy of the Lord.

 

As you take personal time with God first thing in the morning He will share with you the plan He has for your day. He will teach you how (1) to balance your day from the pressures and the pleasures this day will bring, (2) to exercise self-control, and (3) to encourage those around you as you are a blessing to those in need.

 

We all can be instrumental in creating a positive impact on the life of someone we meet today. Jesus, through us, can change the very life of someone we sit with today, through our conversation or our helping hand. They will see Jesus in us and want to know more about Him because our life is a testimony of His mercy, grace and love.

 

I once read this little line and it stayed with me;

— If you are too busy to start your day with God

Then, you are busier than God intends you to be.—

This is so true.

 

So take those precious moments with the Lord when you awake and start your new day with Him. Once you start to do this; I assure you; you will be glad you did. Your day will be so much better with God than without Him. He will empower you to be the best you – you can be!! Enjoy your new day - every day – with the Lord as you awake to the fresh start of each day and to His purpose and plan for your life.

 

        This is Your New Day!!

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Judges Part 6