Uncategorized

BCBC Fellowship Meeting

This note is for the Boones Creek Bible Church Ladies regarding our upcoming ladies’ RefreshHer meeting.

“And some having compassion, making a difference.” Jude 22

Our monthly ladies’ fellowships will resume in February. Our first meeting will be Monday, February 9th from 7-9 p.m. (Tuesday nights are now designated for C.A.R.E.). The theme for the year is “Making a Difference.” Our heart’s desire is that as ladies we make a difference in our homes, our church and our community.
If you are new or relatively new at our church, I am making a special invitation to you. Please join us for this evening. We want to get to know you better, and the best way to do that is through a fellowship like this! At this meeting I will be sharing with you the calendar of events for the ladies’ ministry. We’re going to play a “getting to know you” game, we’ll have a challenge from God’s Word about compassion, and we will also be filling visitor bags for the C.A.R.E. ministry.

I’m asking those of you that are able to bring items to bag up for our C.A.R.E. Ministry. C.A.R.E. members will make visits and take them to recent visitors of BCBC. You will find this list of needed items following this article. This is one way we can make a difference in our church!

Items to bring:
· Wrapped treats like Little Debbie Cakes, small candy bars, etc
· Tea bags, hot chocolate mix
· Individually wrapped mints
· Treat bags
· Soup mix
· Small bottles of lotion
· Travel size Kleenex
Uncategorized

Vital Truths from an Old Story

As I continue my reading through the One Year Bible I’m now entering the book of Exodus. These are such familiar stories to most of us. How clearly I remember seeing in my Sunday school class as a child the beautiful pictures showing the baby Moses in the basket being rescued by the Pharaoh’s daughter. It can be easy to read over these familiar stories and not allow the Truths to penetrate our hearts. I prayed again this morning, “Oh Lord, open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Here’s what the Lord showed me in chapters 5:22 – 7:25:

  1. Even when you’re doing what God tells you to do things can be rough. The children of Israel were now having to work even harder than before! Be patient though, because God’s plan will be fulfilled.
  2. God is in control of what the Pharaoh (and what our president) does and God will ultimately get the glory. 7:3 God hardened the Pharaoh’s heart to accomplish His purposes.
  3. God will remember his covenant – vs.6:5 God didn’t forget the promise He made to the Israelites.
  4. Sometimes even those who are supposed to be “on our side” will also turn against us! – 6:9 The Israelites were very angry with Moses and Aaron.
  5. Satan will always have a counterfeit ready to deceive. 7:11 The magicians’ rods also became serpents.
  6. God is stronger than Satan. 7:12 Moses’ rod swallowed up the magicians’ rods.
  7. God knows everything that his children are going to do tomorrow, and He is also very aware of his enemies’ plans. 7:15 He knew Pharaoh would be at the river in the morning.
  8. When God wants us to do something He will give us all the details we need. 7:15 He told Moses to hold the rod over the water but He specified that it wasn’t just any rod, it was the rod that had become a serpent.

As I continued my reading into the Psalms and Proverbs I saw a thread being woven through my entire reading today. The psalm I read was the 23rd and I could see how God shepherded Moses in his pilgrimage through the wilderness. He led him by green pastures and still waters (literally!). His cup ran over. Goodness and mercy followed him all the days of his life, and God will do the same for me. Then the proverb was from chapter 5:22-23 and says, “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.” Is this not what happened to the Pharaoh? Yes indeed!

God’s Word is so precious. It is pertinent to what is going on in my life today, just as it applied to Moses’ life. What truths did you learn today? If you’re able, why not leave me a note and tell me – I’d love to hear about it!

P.S. Many have shared that they have tried to leave a comment and could not. I believe I have fixed the problem and anyone should be able to comment now.

Uncategorized

Just Sing!

Yesterday was a day that will long be remembered in the history of our country. The people voted and got what they wanted, and now a new president has been sworn into office. I reminded myself of God’s control and sovereignty – not only of my individual life, but also of this country. I have to admit that my heart was heavy, so I turned some music on my computer while I was working. The Abiding Radio station that this blog has a link to (top left corner) is what I began listening to. I usually listen to the instrumentals, but this time I listened to the sacred, which plays both vocal numbers and instrumentals.

I cannot tell you what that music did for my heart. It encouraged me so much that I did something I never do and left it on all day. I listened as I cleaned, cooked and worked around the house. I cranked the volume up so I could hear it in the other rooms. I heard, “Now I Belong to Jesus” played by the majesty brass. What a blessing to sing in my heart – Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me. Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity! Another instrumental number of “America” played, bringing tears to my eyes as I sang along. I listened to the words of “At the Cross” and was reminded of the place where my burdens all rolled away. “Amazing Grace,” “Bow the Knee” and so many other songs made my heart flood over with rejoicing. Oh, the power of good music!

There are somewhere around 527 references in the Bible to singing. Think about just a few references – at the Red Sea after their deliverance Moses and the children of Israel “sang this song unto the Lord – I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously…” (Exodus15:1) Paul and Silas sang hymns while they were in prison. At the Last Supper the disciples sang a hymn before they left. The psalms are full of verses about singing to the Lord at times of joy and sorrow alike. God knows that good music will encourage our hearts, and He tells us over and over to sing to Him.

If your heart is sad today, sing! If you feel overwhelmed, sing! If you are rejoicing, sing! If you feel lonely, sing! If you are discouraged, sing! If you are in a trial, sing! Use the tool of some good music to get your heart in tune.

Psalm 146:2 – While I live will I praise the LORD; I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
Uncategorized

An Example to Follow

Whew! Pulling off a surprise wasn’t the easiest task I’ve pulled off as a wife. I so wanted my husband’s 50th birthday to be a special one. It’s been my desire to encourage him on this monumental day (Jan. 22nd). He’s taking this birthday a little hard and I wanted him to see and hear that his life and ministry have counted for so much in light of eternity. Sooooo, I planned a few things to accomplish that.

Beginning on December 4th, fifty days before his birthday, I’ve had one person a day call him to mention his upcoming birthday, then share how his life has impacted them. It took him about five days to figure out what was going on, then each day he’d try to figure out who was going to be “his caller.” Many teased him about the big “5-0”, but then went on to express their appreciation for his friendship and/or ministry. What a blessing each caller has been.

Then of course this surprise party at church last night was another way to encourage him. How wonderful our dear congregation was to come out on a cold night and let him to know how much they love him. As he was practicing music in the sanctuary, about 130 people filed into the auditorium singing “Happy Birthday!” We then headed down to the gym for a soup supper and fellowship, followed by the hilarious opening up of his gifts. He received many gifts of “50.” Fifty pennies, quarters, jelly beans, chocolate kisses, raisins, dollars (!), lists of reasons why they appreciate him, reasons why he should have a happy birthday, etc.

Lastly, the service that followed was also to encourage him. He had no idea that he wasn’t doing any preaching or leading last night until we went upstairs. It was a blessing for Allison and me to sing one of his very favorite songs – “Written in Red.” Then a DVD was shown that our dear sound man put together of my pictures of Dale’s ministry at our church these eight years, plus voice recordings of as many people in our church that were able to come and make a recording of a birthday message for him. It ended with “I saw Jesus in You” by Ron Hamilton. One of our young preachers ended the service preaching about David, a man after God’s own heart. He made much of Christ, which is exactly what Dale desires.

We were not there last night to exalt Dale Cunningham, but his God. We were not praising Dale Cunningham for what he’s done, but for what the Lord has done through him. We all need examples of people that are vessels – just a receptacle, which is defined as a container, device, etc., that receives or holds something. A godly person receives Christ as their Savior, then walks under the control of the Holy Spirit so others can see Him at work.

When I finished reading the story of Joseph this morning I was reminded that just as we are given so many wonderful examples of godly people in Scripture, so are we given living examples of people whose lives we may emulate. They should be honored so that our children will see that these are the kind of examples to follow. The world is always throwing before us poor examples of people whose lives are worldly and sinful. We should praise the Lord when we see someone who is, not perfect, but trying by God’s help to walk the path our Savior trod.

For that reason I say, “Sweetheart, I thank God for your life and example. What a blessing you are to me! Happy birthday!”
Uncategorized
In the Secret of His Presence

In the secret of His presence
How my soul delights to hide!
Oh, how precious are the lessons
That I learn at Jesus’ side!
Earthly cares can never vex me,
Neither trials lay me low;
For when Satan comes to tempt me,
To the secret place I go,
I tell Him all my doubts, my griefs, my fears –
Oh how patiently He listens and my drooping soul He cheers.
Do you think He ne’re reproves me? What a false friend He would be
If He never told me of the sins which He doth see.
Would you like to know the sweetness of the secret of the Lord?
Come and rest beneath His shadow-this shall then be your reward!
And when’er you leave the presence of that happy meeting place
You will surely bear the image of the Master in your face!
–Ellen Lakshmi Goreth