Memorial Day – Remembering Always

According to Statista we have lost the following number of soldiers:

Civil War – 620,000

World War II – 405,399

World War I – 116,516

Vietnam – 58,209

Korean War – 36,516

War of 1812 – 20,000

Too many lives lost but we celebrate today for what they gave their lives for. Their lives for ours we must never forget the price they paid, the price their families have suffered with their death.

Memorial day began to originally honor the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. There is nothing “civil” in war. This remembrance inspired the Confederate army to do like wise and honor those lives. After Worl War I is was extended to ll who died.

“Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American soldier.

One died for your soul; the other died for your freedom.”

Take a moment to thank them both.

Bible Study May 24, 2024

Acts 6:8 – 10, 15 (ESV)

8 “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”

15 “And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

We could learn a valuable lesson from Stephen. When he was dragged before the court for his beliefs he never wavered and he never lost his poise. He remained calm in the midst of the storm before him.

We all face trials in this life. My worst was the death of my son but through it all I knew God knew what He was doing and I understand better each day what His plans are. We may not like everything that befalls us but we can rest assured God has it all under His control. Not our control but His control.

In the midst of all of life’s conflicts our greatest secret can be our devotion to the One who watches over us and loves beyond anything we can imagine. The world has no answer for Christ.

Frederick Whitfield said, “Oh how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, because He first loved me.”

God Bless.

Bible Study May 23, 2024

Genesis 2:15 – 18 (ESV)

15 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

This verse asks me some questions. Why would God say you can eat from any tree but this one, why the tree in the center of the garden? Why not a tree that was in obscure location? Did man need someone to support him from being tempted of the fruit? What kind of tree was it, it must have been the best looking tree with the best looking fruit?

Then God created woman to be with the man, the original two genders created in the image of God. I believe He gave woman to man and man to woman for companionship and fellowship in order to develop them. Relationships are important to God He takes priority in them.

Families have two working adults today. The economy is a factor but I think there is a much deeper reason. We want stuff and it takes money to buy stuff. If we have more stuff the quality of our lives will improve but the plan God has is that relationships are more important than stuff. Relationships enhance the quality of our lives that stuff does not. Just think if we worked for relationships rather than stuff how much better the world would be.

Make people your number one priority, give others attention, give them some of your energy today.

“The Most High rules the children of men.” George Fox.

Bible Study May 22, 2024

Psalm 121: 1 – 3 (ESV)

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved;     he who keeps you will not slumber.”

“America Runs on Dunkin”, Lay’s: Betcha Can’t Eat Just One, Bounty: The Quicker Picker Upper. Then there is FEDEX –  FedEx – “When There Is No Tomorrow”

“When there is no tomorrow”- this is the promise that the brand made. The slogan communicates that your courier will be processed the very same day because tomorrow will be too late. The slogan perfectly communicates the company’s vision and mission.”

When we are struggling with something in our lives we need help right now. FedEx says there is “no tomorrow.” The scriptures teach us, Jesus proclaimed it, and the church is to communicate that there is indeed a tomorrow.

We will all die once a physical death we all accept that. However I heard a Bible teacher say the other day “we will live forever we need to know where we will live.” We will live a glorious life in heaven or a cursed and damned life in hell. The choice is ours.

Choose life, choose Jesus He is the way to salvation the hope that lies within us. He says to call upon Him He is waiting to accept your invitation for new life in Christ. If you’re not sure how to find it please respond to this study and we will show you how. Tomorrow will be too late.

God Bless.

Bible Study May 21, 2024

Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)

14 “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness>

In our struggle to do good and sin not we have a battle on our hands and in our hearts. One of the weapons of warfare is the breastplate of righteousness.

• The breastplate will protect areas like the heart, emotions, conscience, desires and will.
• The breastplate refers to the righteousness of Christ it refers to justification by faith and sanctification.
• The breastplate will  protects us from the devil’s accusations as we pray. Look at Romans 5:1-2.
• The breastplate further protects us from the devil’s accusations when we sin.
• The breastplate protects us from the devil’s accusations as we die.

The breastplate provides us with a security that will never depart from it.

We must be on guard that Satan does not turn the tables on us and lead us astray.

“Lay hold on the Bible until the Bible lays hold on you.” Will H. Houghton.

Bible Study May 20, 2024

3 John 1:5 10

“Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. 9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.”

One quality that some have difficulty with is that of humility. Mac Davis may have summed it up in his song “It’s Hard To Be Humble” with these words:

“… Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble

When you’re perfect in every way

I can’t wait to look in the mirror

Cause I get better looking each day

Paul writes a scathing note to a man named Diotrephes who seemed quite about himself. He was more interested in himself than in the church. He rejected the authority that Paul in and in the letter that he wrote. He refused to accept those sent and even ejected them from the church.

It would serve us all well to be more humble and accepting of everyone. We may not agree with their beliefs (we are not required to do so), lifestyles, friends, or some other issue but we should accept them.

God Bless.