God Loves You

Encouraging Word Stay away from fools, for you won't find knowledge on their lips. Proverbs 14:7 NLT

Saturday, August 16, 2014 Sonja gets the last word: Ever been around a know-it-all? It’s not a very pleasant experience is it? Consider the following words from a Church of God Evangel article: "Prisons are full of know-it-alls who refuse to admit they are wrong. Instead of learning from their mistakes, they are doomed to repeat them. They’re stuck – spinning their wheels but going nowhere." – Roy Borges / incarcerated in Florida "Prisons are full of know-it-alls." Did you catch that? People who think they know it all and are never wrong might as well be living in prison. Truth be told, they are already locked up behind the steel bars of their arrogance and pride. When we cannot admit we are wrong or need help, we are dooming ourselves and our relationships to inertia and stagnation. There will be no growth and no adventurous life found in any relationship where these attitudes prevail. Our "prison" could be a five bedroom house with a three car gar...

Friday, August 15, 2014 If You Could Only Do Two Things Today Proverbs 1:1-2 (NKJV) The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding I have yet to lose my fascination with the book of Proverbs. Each month when I start over on the first day of a new month, I am struck with the sheer practicality of Solomon’s proverbs. Up front Solomon lets you know his purpose for recording his proverbs: "To know wisdom…" First and foremost, the pursuit of wisdom was on his mind. The expression "to know" denotes having a very intimate relationship (an example is the intimacy of the sexual relationship in marriage). In other words, growing in wisdom is not a haphazard, casual, hit-or-miss endeavor. You will not drift into becoming wise. Living a wise life will not be easy—knowing wisdom and thus knowing how to live your life requires sustained commitment and practice. As I have done so many times,...

Thursday, August 14, 2014 Just Keep Going Forward – Part 2 However—and this is very important—there is one thing all three examples have in common. This would be true with any biblical example, and that one thing each of these examples have in common is that God promised to go with them. Sonja and I have often looked back over our amazing life and ministry together and scratched our heads at the mercy and kindness of God. When we started, we had no grandiose plans or vision, but we did love God with all our hearts, and we’ve tried to please Him. Oh, we’ve failed many times and come up short many times in that effort, but one thing we did get right: we kept getting up and moving forward—trying to do the right thing, the wise thing one day at a time. And it has worked. Without a master plan or visionary strategy, we have managed to get a few things right, and make a few worthy contributions toward fulfilling the Great Commission. Was it our smarts or our talents? Heavens no! It was...

Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Just Keeping Going Forward Genesis 19:26 (NKJV) But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 2 Kings 4:24 (NKJV) Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, "Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you." Recently I read that when famed missionary to Africa, David Livingstone, volunteered as a missionary with the London Missionary Society, they asked him where he wanted to go. He replied, "Anywhere, as long as it is forward." When I read that snippet from David Livingstone’s life, it had particular significance for me that day, for it was a "planning day" for me. A few times throughout the year, I sequester myself away for a day or two and spend time alone in prayer and study, and in seeking direction from God on how He wants me to conduct my life and ministry. These days really help me clear my mind and heart, and I always get back in the flow of life a better ma...

Tuesday, August 12, 2014 Strange Rewards Luke 23:26 (NKJV) Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. He was just standing there, and suddenly a cross was thrust upon him—someone else’s cross: Jesus Christ’s. In spite of our best plans, life is full of unexpected surprises. Sometimes those unexpected surprises are crosses. Bear them with honor. You will seldom be remembered for the trophies you won, but the crosses…that stays on your record forever. (Simon of Cyrene) Yes, staying close to Jesus has its rewards, but it also has its crosses. But then again, if you had looked up Simon later, after he had had time to reflect on that day, he would have told you the cross was a reward. Prayer: Tuesday is the day I ask you to pray for our pastors and staff. Get your bulletin and go to the email listings and pray through that list.  by pastor kemp(Fo...

Mon. Aug. 11, 2014 To Gain Admission Acts 4:12 (NKJV) Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." A list of good deeds will not get you into any sporting event or concert anywhere on earth. A 51% success-rate of driving without an accident will not get you a driving license anywhere on earth. Being nice and polite and honest will not substitute for paying for your meal in any restaurant on earth. Good intentions alone will not get you a job anywhere on the planet. So why is it that so many people think that being basically a good and decent person will get them into Heaven? Prayer: War clouds are looming higher and higher across our world. Pray for Israel and for our "active military" prayer list. See the iPray newsletter for suggestions.  by pastor kemp (fort Mill Church of God)