He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Matthew 22:37-40 (HCSB)

In this statement by our Lord Jesus lies the one and only answer to our world's problems. It must start within the heart and conduct of His people.

  Today's cherished nugget from guest blogger, Pastor Bill.

 

 

"No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourself so. If you find yourself so loaded, at least remember this: it is your own doing, not God’s. He begs you to leave the future to him and mind the present" (George Macdonald 1824–1905).

If we knew what tomorrow would bring, we would either worry about what was going to happen, worry about how to change it, or worry about what if it doesn’t happen. Someone once said, “90% of what you worry about never comes to pass.”  Jesus reminded us in Matthew 6:34, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”  

God, thank you for handling the things I don’t need to worry about. Amen

Bro. Bill

In God we Trust!

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing. But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing.”
Mark 11:25-26 (HCSB)

Dear Father, what a challenge … to be forgiving … as are You.

  Today's cherished nugget from guest blogger, Pastor Bill. 

 

A lady had a little gold cross, on the upright part of which the words, “God’s will,” were engraved. On the crossbar were the words, “My will.” At the touch of a spring, the cross disappeared and left only a straight beam bearing the words, “God’s will.”

In like manner, when our will is lost in God’s and we are indeed dead unto sin, it is no longer a cross to follow Christ. We shall no longer complain that we do not get our own selfish way because we shall not have any. On the other hand, when our will is contrary to God’s will, then we have a cross to bear.

Let us remember the beauty of Jesus’ prayer in the garden in Matthew 26:42: “Thy will be done.” The real beauty is we are the beneficiaries of Jesus’ obedience.

God, let me find rest by following Thy will.  Amen.

Bro. Bill 

In GOD we Trust!

  Today's cherished nugget from guest blogger, Pastor Bill.

"Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you're alive, it isn't” (Richard Bach). 

God gives us each day as a gift, not merely to exist, but to fulfill the purpose we are here for. That purpose is ours and ours alone, whether it brings greatness to each of us and to our families, or a smile to one person in a lifetime.

At a crisis in his life, the apostle Paul told us in Philippians 1:2: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Such a realization and a decision based on that knowledge is truly a win-win situation.

God, thank You for being the controller of our destiny. Amen.

Bro. Bill

In GOD we Trust!

  Today's cherished nugget from guest blogger, Pastor Bill.

“Remember the wonderful blessings that come to you each day from the hands of a generous and gracious God, and forget the irritations that would detract from your happiness.

Remember the gift of life; forget your aches and pains.
Remember the privilege of prayer; forget the negatives that needle you.
Remember the majesty of the mountains; forget the valley of despair.
Remember the friends who encourage; forget the frustrations that discourage.
Remember to forget your losses, setbacks, and defeats.
Don’t forget to remember your blessings, your triumphs, and your victories.”  (William Arthur Ward 1812–1882)

Let us keep our focus on the Lord and His provisions. Remember these words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33-34, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

God, Thank You for the gifts of each day and the beauty it brings. Amen.

Bro. Bill

In GOD we Trust!

  Today's cherished nugget from guest blogger, Pastor Bill.

“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good” (Ann Landers).

In the story of the good Samaritan, as told in Luke 10:30-37, we see the perfect example of the Samaritan treating well someone who could not repay the favor.  May we rise to the same level by doing random acts of kindness to others without expecting anything in return. Jesus tells us: “our Father that sees in secret will reward us openly” (Matthew 6:4). 

God, help me to walk with a heart like Yours for those around me.  Amen.

Bro. Bill

In GOD we Trust!