Pastor John's Blog Site

2012 A Work In Progress

Well, how are all of you as we are 17 days into this new year? Hope you are doing well, physically, mentally, emotionally, and most of all spiritually. Keep growing in our wonderful Lord!

II Peter. 3:18, �But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.�

We want to let you ladies and young ladies know early so you can make different plans for the day, we are postponing the Lady and Young Ladies Pancake breakfast at Poole�s for this Saturday. Donna has had a reaction to some medicine, and had developed a GI Bleed (bleeding ulcer). She had blood work yesterday (1/16) will be having a further test on 1/24. This has weakened her and given some other physical problems. We were glad that God allowed her to be at church for all the services this past Sunday, as that was where she wanted to be. Please pray for Donna to get her strength back and as she faces the tests ahead.

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: Here is a list of some coming events:

1/21 � 9 AM Ladies and Girls pancake Breakfast @ Poole�s (POST

PONED)

-- Youth outing to Lansing & Globe Trotters game

1/26 � Seam�s Good Quilters, 10 AM, @ Carol Caldwell�s

1/28 � 9 AM Men and Boys pancake Breakfast @ Poole�s (under

Consideration � listen for announcement @

church)

12 Days of Christmas

Well, here we are just 12 days before Christmas! Hopefully, you are excited about the coming day that we celebrate our Savior�s Birth! By His coming, He opened to us the opportunity of New Birth by faith into His family, forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and the assurance of eternity with Him!

John. 3:16, �For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.�

Hopefully, you are sure you have been forgiven, and are ready to share His Heaven! Hopefully too, you can share the message of salvation with someone this Christmas Season!

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: A reminder for some future opportunities:

12/14 � Annual Business Meeting and election of officers � 7 PM Church members please try to attend so we can get this important business taken care of for the coming year.

12/15 � Medical Care Service � 7 PM

12/18 � We decided to fill candy bags during the Sunday School Hour to be given out on Christmas Sunday after our Christmas Service after all. If you could bring some boughten or homemade candy for this (80 pieces) and bring it to Sunday School at 10 AM for bagging.

12/18 � Four Friends Quartet, 11 AM Service

12/18 � Orchestra Practice after the AM Service

12/18 � Christmas Candle Light Service with family specials, readings, etc.

12/21 � Church Christmas Fellowship at Pooles � devotional & fellowship � 7 PM (We will feed you supper�don�t bring anything�just come hungry)

12/25 � Christmas Program, choir, orchestra during the AM Service � 10:30 AM (No Sunday School, no PM Service)

Comes Veterans Day & Snow

Today is a special day for all of us. It is 11/11/11; it is Veterans� Day (so be sure to be thankful for those who willingly labored in harms way to protect our freedom); and it is the first dusting of snow that stuck. Donna and I went to visit mom in the Medical Care Facility in Hillsdale last night, and it looked like we were driving in a snow globe. Just a beautiful reminder of how important it is for us to remember:

Isa. 1:18, ��though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.�

What a blessing to have our sins forgiven and to be ready for Heaven!
Hope you know that joy and peace, and that you are sharing it with others.

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: A reminder for some future opportunities:

Nov. 13 � Wedding Shower after AM Service for Matt & Rebekah Kalnbach, potluck (bring a couple passing dishes � NO BEVERAGE), afternoon service, no
PM service. . FOOD SHOWER instead of gifts.

Nov. 13 -- Samaritan�s Purse (Shoebox) gifts brought to church. Remember the $7 donation to help with the shipping. We need to drop them off at
College Baptist, Hillsdale (the collection place for our area), so they may get to the children by Christmas. Check: www.samaritanspurse.org

Service Opportunity & Schedule

Here we are in the last week of October. Where has this month gone? It seems like time flies all too quickly, so let�s be sure we make the best
use of our time, remember Who holds it in His hands.

Ps. 31:15, �My times are in thy hand��

One of the ways we can best use our time, is to help others in need.
This coming Saturday, (10/29/11), we want to help the Bishop family with some needs. Their house is progressing well, so right now they don't
need help with that. But we can help them by getting some wood for the
winter. Please bring chain saws, splitters, etc. to help them with this
need. (They have a log splitter that will help). Lunch will be
provided with chili from Pooles and Mike and Julie Bowers. We will work
from 9 AM � 3:30 PM. Hopefully, we can get a lot done for their need
this winter. Hope to see you there!

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: A reminder for some future opportunities:

Oct. 27 � Seams Good Quilters will meet at Pat�s place, 10 AM � 3 PM
Oct. 29 � Work day at Bishops. 9 to 3:30, Chili provided. We will be
cutting wood for the winter needs.
Nov. 13 � Wedding Shower after AM Service for Matt & Rebekah, pot luck,
after-noon service, no PM service. This will be a FOOD SHOWER which will
be a great help to them now

Special Conference and upcoming schedule

How are you all doing? Hopefully everyone is trusting God and walking in His Will.

We are having a wonderful opportunity in a couple days to have a Bible scholar, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, with us for special meetings. Try to
make every effort to come to as many of the meetings as possible. The schedule is as follows:

10/21 -- Fri. 6:30 � 8 PM 8 Covenants
10/22 � Sat. 10 � 12 AM 8 Covenants continued
Lunch
Sat. 1 � 3 PM 8 Covenants continued
Sat. 3 � 4 Break
Sat. 4 � 5:30 8 Covenants continued
Sat. 5:30 � 6 Stump the Frucht. (bring Bible questions)
10/23 � Sun. 10 � 12 Messianic Miracles (during Sunday School and AM Service)

We will have a pot luck on Sunday after the morning service. Bring a couple passing dishes (and maybe some extra for visi-tors), and a beverage to share. We will not be having an evening service on Sunday as many will be coming all weekend for the meetings.

Please pray, attend, and bring someone with you to the ser-vices. We�ve invited many others to come, plus we�ve put special announcements in the
papers, on the radio, post office, and library to encourage others to
attend.

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: A reminder for some future opportunities:

Oct. 27 � Seams Good Quilters will meet at Pat�s place, 10 AM � 3 PM
Oct. 29 � Work day at Bishops. 9 to 3:30, Chili provided by Pooles. We will be cutting wood for the winter needs.
Nov. 13 � Wedding Shower after AM Service for Matt & Rebekah, pot luck, after-noon service, no PM service

Special Invitation

Dear Church Family,

We are looking forward to our special meeting with Dr. Fruchtenbaum on
Oct. 21-23, and hoping everyone will make a special effort to be there. We
grow as Christians by understanding and obeying God�s Word, and Dr.
Fruchtenbaum will help us to do that. We are privileged to have this great
Bible scholar and man of God with us. You may want to do a little review
to help prepare yourself to get the most out of the sessions.

THE SEVEN DISPENSATIONS

Innocence  (see Gen. 1:28)
Conscience (see Gen. 3:7)
Human Government (see Gen. 8:15)
Promise  (see Gen. 12:1)
Law  (see Ex. 19:1)
Church or grace (see Acts 2:1)
Kingdom  (see Rev. 20:4)


THE EIGHT COVENANTS GOD MADE

Edenic  (see Gen. 2:16)
Adamic  (see Gen. 3:15)
Noahic  (see Gen. 9:16)
Abrahamic  (see Gen. 12:2)
Mosaic  (see Ex. 19:5)
Palestinian  (see Deut. 30:3)
Davidic  (see II Sam. 7:16)
New  (see Heb. 8:8)
	(If you have a New Scofield Bible there are great helps with understanding
            these in the footnote under Heb. 8:8)


  Enjoy your study in preparation, and come to the meetings to learn even
more wonderful truths from God�s Word!

Spring Rejoicing

Well, here we are in the Spring of 2011. We are seeing some signs to let us know it's getting closer. But what about the Spring time in your heart, and rejoicing in the Love of God? Are you rejoicing in Him today? Paul wrote to the Philippian believers:

Phil. 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."

May God help us to fill our minds and hearts with the many reasons we have to "Rejoice" in Him today.

Perhaps today!
Love to you all,
Pastor John

PS: Please remember these in prayer:

The Boellners could use your prayers and encouragement as they lost their baby. Pray for God's comfort.
Steve Boellner--job need.
Pat Wells will be having knee replacement in late April. Her birthday is April 8th. Carole Knowlton has suggested a card shower and also that we each enclose a little money for Glei's, if God so leads.
Deb Riley still has health needs - but is making progress.
Joan Tejkl-neck problems getting better.
Steve Biship with the MS.
Judy Smith - had blood work and will see a Doctor next week.
Joel Bowers - is progressing from his surgeries.
Norm Caldwell will be having surgery soon.
Pastor and Donna will be traveling to Kentucky to pick up Pastor's mom on Saturday. Pray for a safe trip.

PSS: Don't forget our Sunday School Fellowship this Sunday at 9 AM at the Fellowship Hall. Bring a passing breakfast dish. We will then stay together for the Sunday School hour.

Sharing Joy

These are exciting days for some in our church. Some of us are enjoying a little larger family. Maybe you have seen the license plate �Let me tell you about my grandchildren.� Some of us are enjoying that or will be very soon.

God also enjoys a larger family when people take Him at His Word, turn from their sin, and accept Jesus as their Savior from sin. We read:

Lk. 15:10, �Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.�

Let�s help spread that �joy� by telling others about Jesus and His love for us!

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: A couple of reminders for you:

Baby Shower for Kinzie Maree Wyse:

2/19/11, At the Poole�s House, 2 � 4 PM � Ladies and girls. Please RSVP Donna so she knows how many to plan on.

Pray for:

Deb Riley with some health problems

Joan Tejkl � neck problems

Dawn (Kalnbach�s daughter) and baby: Jason Charles White,

9#4oz., 2/14/11

Carol & Norm Caldwell-with tests and Dr. visits about cancer

Chase Boellner-job interview-2/17

Judy Smith-back & knees

Each other

Services at church this week

Prayer Before The Storm

Just a short note to you with a couple of reminders. We've got some items to remember for prayer. Remember a very important part of the Christian's armor is:

Eph. 6:18
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"

God wants us to uphold each other in prayer.

-- Remember to pray for each other with the snow storm coming. Pray for safety in travel and snow removal.

-- Also, remember to pray for Jeff Kunkel at around 11 AM Tuesday, as he will be having Kidney stone surgery.

-- Remember too, the benefit dinner for Melissa Kelly (the little girl with cancer), at Camden Frontier School, multi-purpose room, 2/4/11, 4-8 PM. Cost: $5 - adults; $3 - kids 10 and under. There will also be a silent auction to participate in with donations if you have anything you might want to give, and bids to help the family. If you have anything for the auction please get it to Sheryl as soon as possible. Also, if you would like to give some snack items for the family as they have trips to and days in the Hospital in Ann Arbor, there is a box in the entry of the church.

We will keep you posted about the Wednesday night service as we get more into the storm.

Perhaps today!

Tis Winter

What a beautiful snow fall! I know some of you have to be out in it with your labors and travel. Be careful and still enjoy God�s covering of our dead grass, the leftover leaves, and the thin layer of dirt on your car with His snow cover.

Seeing the little covering of white stuff, reminds us of the blessing of God�s sweet forgiveness. He tells us in:

Isa. 1:18, ��though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.�

Wonderful is the blessing of a clean and pure heart. See you tonight or Sunday.

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: If any of you might be able to help with a meal or casserole for Dan & Amanda Smith, that would be great. Amanda has to have bed rest until the baby comes in Feb. You can bring it frozen on Wed. or Sun. and give it to Vincent and Judy.

Also, just a reminder of our busy Church Schedule:

--12/8 � Monthly Board Meeting 7:45 PM

--12/15 � Annual Business Meeting

--12/19 � During SS Adult Class to put up Candy Bags for the Christmas Program. Bring

boughten or homemade candy for the bags (70 bags to be done)

--12/19 � The Four Friends Quartet 11 AM

--12/19 � Young People Christmas Program PM

--12/22 � Christmas Candlelight Service � specials from your family

--12/29 � Devotional and Supper @ Poole�s � 6:30 PM

Who Cares How You Are?

How are you doing? Sometimes we are asked that question and we answer, "Just fine!" When we know the person asking doesn't have the kind of time for us to tell the whole story. We've got aches and pains, concerns, problems, trials, etc.

Aren't you glad that you have a Heavenly Father Who knows, cares, and wants you to take your cares to Him?

I Peter. 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

These are very busy days for all of us. Let's keep trusting Him and resting in His care, grace and peace.

See you Sunday.

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: This coming Sunday, we are going to have our regular AM Service, followed by a Hot Dog roast and fellowship. Bring a passing dish & drink. We will have a short devotional time after and no Evening Service.

Post VBS

Hope this short note finds you all well and rejoicing in God�s goodness! Thank each of you for your part in our VBS last week! Whatever you did to help the VBS Program shared a part in the decisions that were made. So thank you and may God bless you for your part!

Just to let you know about a couple of things coming up this week.

7/24 � A pizza fellowship at the Bishops Place, 1372 Saunders Rd., Hudson, 4:30 (or so) PM. Bring a beverage, dessert or finger food, maybe a skit or funny song if you wish, and some money to help with the Pizza expense. (Bishops didn�t ask for money to help with the pizza, but it would be nice.) Hope to see you there!

7/25 -- Regular AM Services, Pot Luck/Baby Shower, Bring: A couple Passing Dishes, Beverage, something for the babies if you wish (April�s and Aubree�s)

1:30 PM Service � Jeff Kunkel Preaching

We hope you will enjoy these times of fellowship and encouragement of each other!

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

On Eternity

I read Psalm. 90 recently for my devotions. What a blessing! There are many great verses of encouragement. Read it sometime soon and rejoice in God�s blessings.

One of the verses that encourage us is:

Psalm. 90:2

�Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.�

What a blessing to think of the eternality of God. He never started and will never end. He didn�t have a birthday, and He won�t experience death. He is forever!

But then think of the blessing that He shares with us. We are given, as a result of our faith in Jesus as our Savior from sin, the promise of:

John 3:16

��whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.�

Eternity with Him Who is eternal! What a blessing!

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

A Penny For Your Thoughts!

Have you ever had someone say to you, �A penny for your thoughts?� That is not much pay for what runs through our minds. But daily our minds are at work, thinking our thoughts � hopefully all worth thinking.

�A penny for our thoughts� may not be much. But remember that while someone might want to know what you are thinking � GOD ALREADY DOES.

Ps. 139:2
��thou understandest my thought afar off.�

That is why it is important for us to:

2 Cor. 10:5
�[Cast] down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;�

The prophet Isaiah reminds us:
Isa. 26:3
�Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.�

Let�s keep our minds �stayed upon� Him, obeying Him, walking in fellowship with Him, and resting in Him. We may not earn very many �pennies� this side of Heaven, but what blessing when we see Him face to face.

Perhaps today!
Love to you all,

Pastor John

Spring Is Sprung, For Some

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather God has been sharing with us. He has been giving us great signs of Spring, and warmer than normal temperatures to show us His loving-kindness and tender mercy.

In my devotions this morning, I was reading Ps. 73. It is a great psalm that shows the feelings we at times can get when we wonder why some have life so easy, and we seem to struggle. The psalmist goes into the house of God, and in fellowship with God and His word and will, comes to the conclusion, that some have temporary blessings, while believers have both temporary and eternal blessings. He comes to this wonderful conclusion:

Psalm. 73:25-26, �Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.�

Enjoy Him and His wonderful workings today and every day. Remember also, we are one day closer to home!

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

Circumstances Beyond Our Control

How is your week going? At times, we all struggle with difficult situations, with health issues, with trials, with temptations, financial struggles, with relationships, with family issues -- with circumstances beyond our control. We might at times wonder about these things, as did the psalmist in the following text:

Ps. 44:17

�All this is come upon us��

But then comes a wonderful response that should also be our response in our circumstances and trials:

Ps. 44:17-18, ��yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way��

We need to remember that life sometimes is difficult. But the goal of our heart ought to be to respond as the psalmist, �not forgetting God,� or �not turning back.� There are so many blessing He gives each day, and His grace is wonderful to help us through our circumstance. Don�t forget the reminder of the prophet Jeremiah, who faced extremely difficult circumstances:

Lam. 3:22-23, �It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.�

Keep looking unto Jesus, and looking up to Him! He is there and He cares for you (I Pet. 5:7).

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: Don�t forget:

The Chili Supper & PM service at the Poole Hall Sunday 6 PM. Bring: a dessert to share.

Follow Jesus No Matter The Cost

"To Jesus blessed means the experience of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances. To find hope and joy, the deepest form of happiness, follow Jesus no matter what the cost" (Life Application Bible notes on Matthew 5:3-12).

Healing and Thankfulness

How has your week gone so far? Hopefully, yours is one filled with gladness for God�s blessings in your life. We have so much to be thankful for!

This week, we are rejoicing in our Lord! After seeing the surgeon on Tuesday (1/19), I was permitted to drive home! (A big relief to Donna also -- as I�m not a good co-pilot and she doesn�t enjoy driving.) Also, I have graduated from sponge baths to the shower. And hopefully, back in the pulpit again on 1/31! God is good (and we should never expect otherwise). Today, 1/20, I saw Dr. Collins about the numb fingers and hand. He said about once a year, he sees a surgical patient who has experienced a similar problem. I have to see a nerve doctor soon, but hopefully no surgery to correct the problem right now, just extra Ibuprophen, ice packs, and the nerve conduction tests. If surgery, outpatient, 3 incisions, staples, and therapy. But God is in control, and reminds us to:

Psalm 100:4

�Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.�

Thanks for your continued prayers, visits, cards, phone calls, and friendship. We enjoyed a visit from the church last Sunday. That was very special!

Keep looking unto Jesus, and longing for His coming, while you live each day trusting His grace and goodness!

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: Don�t forget:

To pray for Jeff K. and our deacons as they fill the pulpit, and support them by your attendance and attention to God�s Word as they share it.

Also, pray for the situation in Haiti and for missionaries there seeking to point needy to spiritual help along with their great needs.

Entering a New Year

Well, here we are almost 2 weeks into the New Year. How are you doing in your walk with the Lord? Hopefully some of the goals for 2010 included considering your faith and faithfulness to Him Who has opened a new year to us. Maybe He will call us home to Heaven to be with Him this year � and we don�t want to be embarrassed or empty handed as we stand before Him who gave everything for us..

So far, this New Year has not been the way we planned it. We didn�t know the recovery from joint surgery would take so long. But God has given some great opportunities to catch up on correspondence, to study a book on prophecy by Dr. Fruchtenbaum, and to spend more time in the Word of God and prayer. God has a purpose for everything, and though we miss you all, we have to let this healing take place, and for the bone to solidify to the implant as there is nothing to hold it in place, and a bump could undo it all. Tuesday�s (1/12) doctor visit said still another two weeks of recovery after looking at the x-rays and taking out the stitches. So we are learning God�s truth:

Eccl. 3:1

�To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:�

Thanks to all who are filling in in our absence. God bless you all, and thanks for your prayers, patience, and protection of the foot.

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: Don�t forget:

The Pot Luck after the AM Service this Sunday, followed by an afternoon service.

Pray for Jeff as he fills the pulpit, and support him by your attendance and attention to God�s Word as he shares it.

Remember The Reason For The Season

Well, here we are getting closer to another Christmas. Hopefully this one can be a great one for you to remember and celebrate our Lord's Birth.

I was sharing in the Adult Class in Sunday School on 12/13 about the wonderful Musicians (Angel host) God used to announce Jesus' Birth. God also used the Heavenly Host to share beautiful Music as Heaven's choir sang forth His Message of:

Luke 2:14
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

As you share Christmas with family and friends, we hope you know and love the Christ of Christmas. He loved you enough to come and die on the Cross for your sins. If you have not accepted Him as your Savior and Lord, accept His love gift to you this year telling Him you are sorry for your sinfulness, and that you want Him to be your Savior. He will give you the best Christmas ever as you experience first time His peace and a clean heart.

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,
Pastor John

PS: Don't forget:

12/16 - Annual Business Meeting. Tonight we hope to have the final ballot posted

12/20 - 4 Friends Quartet (Dan P's quartet, singing Southern Gospel Christmas Music during AM Service; Kid's Christmas Program PM. We need young people at all services including Prayer Meeting in the weeks ahead.

12/23 - Candlelight Service, each family bring reading or special. Carol after @ Riley's

12/27 - 6 PM - Supper and service at the Poole Hall

1/3 - Jeff Kunkel filling the pulpit while Pastor recovers from surgery. Deacons on Wed. 1/6

Please bring a bag of candy (100 pieces) to Sunday School on 12/20, for us to make candy bags to give out after the Kid's Program 12/20/09.

Remember Some Of 'em

Well, today is Thanksgiving Day, 2009. We have so many blessings for which to Thank God. Our greatest blessing is the gift of His Son, Jesus, Who willingly came to earth to die for our sins. Because of Him, we have so many reasons for thankfulness.

D.L. Moody was reading Ps. 103 and came to:

Ps 103:2
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:"

He stopped reading and said, "You can't remember 'em all, of course, but don't forget 'em all. Remember some of 'em."

So as you come to this Thanksgiving, though "You can't remember 'em all, of course, but don't forget 'em all. Remember some of 'em," and give Thanks to God for His goodness.

We want to thank each of you for your prayers, your love, your encouragement, and your faithfulness. Thank you for the very nice food

The Sound Of Silence

Have you ever thought of what silence sounds like? Sad to say, we often don't know. Our world is noisy. Our lives are cluttered with sound. Motors run, people talk and shout, the winds blow, critters make their noises, babies cry, clocks tick - noise is everywhere to be heard. About the closest thing we come to silence is when the power goes out - and then we probably hear the rumble of thunder and the crack of lightening.

But consider the blessing of silence. In Matt. 15:21, Jesus took His disciples away from the crowd, away from the criticisms, away from the confusion as seen earlier in the chapter. He leads the disciples to "the coasts of Tyre and Sidon" in the area of Phoenicia. This is unusual as these were Jews, well into Gentile territory. But it serves as a reminder to us of:

      John 1:11
     "He came unto his own, and his own received him not."

The scribes and Pharisees were upset with Jesus and His disciples. So Jesus took the disciples away and left SILENCE in the land.

But there is also a blessing here in this silence in Israel and the Jews rejecting Him and His ministry. Jesus is fulfilling the prophecy concerning Himself (Matt. 12:17-21).

But then this woman came to Jesus asking for His help with her demon-possessed daughter in Matt. 15:22-23, and Jesus was silent. Why this silence?

C.H. Spurgeon in his devotional Morning by Morning and Evening by Evening, shares:

"He answered her not a word." Were not her prayers good? Never better in the world. Was not her case needy? Sorrowfully needy. Did she not feel her need sufficiently? She felt it overwhelmingly. Was she not earnest enough? She was intensely so. Had she no faith? She had such a high degree of it that even Jesus wondered, and said, "O woman, great is thy faith." See then, although it is true that faith brings peace, yet it does not always bring it instantaneously. There may be certain reasons calling for the trial of faith, rather than the reward of faith. Genuine faith may be in the soul like a hidden seed, but as yet it may not have budded and blossomed into joy and peace."

--computer Bible prog.

But while Jesus is silent, His disciples are noisy. "Send her away!"

Jesus then broke His silence and notice the wonderful exchange

(Matt. 15:24-25).

Let's not forget that God's silence does not mean a denial. He is testing her faith as He often tests ours. Do we ask in faith or just wanting satisfaction? Are we looking to Him, or simply needing a crutch to help us stand?

This woman "worshipped" and then cried for "help." Jesus then reminded her of her distance as a Gentile ( Matt. 15:26 ).

But His grace is still reaching out. She wisely in faith responded (Matt. 15:27).

How different this was from His teaching in Israel. She was moved by faith, while the scribes and Pharisees were moved by facts. Then our Lord commended her faith (Matt.15:28).

Let's remember that God is still looking for faith in His followers. Sometimes His silence is to strengthen our faith.

God's timetable is not ours. God's working is often different than we might desire. God's answers may be on the way - some very quick, while others may be on a snail's back. But patience when He seems silent is a necessity, and faith a requirement.

Sometimes, He desires us also to:

      Ps. 46:10
     "Be still, and know that He is God."

"Be still" lit. means: let go, take your hands off. If God says "Wait," then "Be still." If God says, "No," then "Be still." If God says, "Yes," then wait patiently for His perfect timing and increase your faith to rest in Him.

Silence. Hopefully we will experience as Thomas Hardy wrote of a character in his work: Under the Greenwood Tree:

"Silent? Ah, he is silent? He can keep silence well.
That man's silence is wonderful to listen to."

Keep trusting and looking up!

Perhaps today!
Love to you all,
Pastor John

A Quote From George McDonald

George MacDonald: "When we are least worthy, most tempted, hardest, unkindest, let us even then commend our spirits into His hands. Where else would we dare send them?"

In His Service

On Revelation 7:15:
B.F. Westcott: "We make a great mistake if we connect with our conception of heaven the thought of rest from work. Rest from toil, from weariness, from exhaustion-yes; rest from work, from productiveness, from service-no. 'They serve God day and night.'"

A Quote From Elisabeth Elliot

An ancient prayer that Elisabeth Elliot prays: "Teach me to treat all that comes to me with peace of soul and a firm conviction that Your will covers all."

Unpredictable God

Well, our vacation time is now closed. We have missed you all, and were glad to be back with you this past Sunday.

We have had the privilege to share in the services with some other believers, and hear God�s Word preached and taught. At one of the services, the pastor from Open Door Bible Church in Hudson shared this thought:

�Our God is incredibly faithful, but notoriously unpredictable.�

He shared that he and his wife had learned that at Bible College.

Hopefully all of us can learn that through life experiences. We at times tend to put God in a box � which is utterly impossible. We think He can only work one particular way � the way we want or expect Him to work.

Yes, God still works today. But He often works in ways we can hardly understand or ever imagine possible. That is why we read:

Eph. 3:20

�Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,�

So let�s praise Him that He is: ��incredibly faithful, but notoriously unpredictable.�

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

PS: We just got news from the Kunkel�s that Karen�s heart procedure will be on 10/27/09 at 8 AM. Lord willing, this will be an out-patient procedure. Let�s pray that way. For our church family, let�s seek to help the Kunkel�s with some frozen casseroles for the family. Please bring them this Sunday, 10/25. Thanks, and God bless you for your prayers and help!

Also, continue to pray for Deb Riley and her physical needs with pneumonia and asthma. She has been very sick and needs a lot of prayer.

God Uses Small Things

One of the fascinating things to see as you read through God�s Word, is how God often uses small, insignificant things to do great things. In the Book of Judges, He uses a dagger in a left hand; an oxgoad; a nail; trumpets, pitchers and lamps; a millstone dropped at the right time and place; and even a jawbone of a donkey. In I Samuel, God uses a boy with a sling and stone. In the feeding of the 5000 + He uses a lad�s lunch.

It ought to make us praise God that He uses little things to accomplish His purpose. It is when we begin to feel big and self-sufficient that God can�t use us. He wants us to remember that:

Ps. 103:14

��he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.�

For us to:

James 4:10

�Humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.�

Let�s never forget that empty vessels can be filled with more of His Spirit and power to be used. Those filled with themselves don�t leave much �room for Jesus King of glory� to work in and through them.

Remember our Lord�s teaching on the Vine and branches:

John 15:5

�without me ye can do nothing.�

So, as we see our weakness and insignificance, then we can say with Paul the Apostle:

Phil. 4:13

�I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.�

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

Seeking God's Counsel

One of the blessings of God�s Word is that God doesn�t hide the failures of His servants. In Josh. 9, we read about Israel forming an alliance with the Gibeonites � inhabitants of the Promised Land, after being deceived by their moldy bread and ragged garments. They were deceived because they:

Josh. 9:14

�asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.�

We too can be easily deceived when we fail to do what we read in the verse above. That always leads to failure and defeat.

But do not loose heart. Josh. 10 speaks about the great victory for Israel over 5 kingdoms of the Promised Land who were coming against the Gideonites � Israel�s slaves. In this account, Joshua communicated with God, and God even stopped the sun and moon so the battle could be finished.

This serves as a reminder to us, that even though we may have defeats in our walk, there is great victory when we look to God. He still can still use us when we:

James 4:8

�Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts��

Repentance leads to restoration, and restoration leads to rising above and going forward in His power. Peter failed miserably in the court yard, but went out weeping in repentance, was restored by the forgiveness of God, and in his first sermon 3000 walked the isle to trust Christ.

It is always best to not head into failure and defeat by not �looking unto Jesus� (Heb. 12:2). So stay close, stay clean, stay captivated, stay carrying out God�s will and work, and stay counting on His coming.

Perhaps today!

Love to you all,

Pastor John

Another Quote from Barclay

�God is the great Saviour, the great deliverer of His people. And the deliverance which He gives is not the deliverance of escape but the deliverance or conquest. It is not a deliverance which saves a man from trouble but one which brings him triumphantly through trouble. It does not make life easy, but it makes life great. It is not part of the Christian hope to look for a life in which a man is saved from all trouble and distress; the Christian hope is that a man in Christ can endure any kind of trouble and distress, and remain erect all through them, and come out to glory on the other side� (William Barclay).

A Quote From Barclay

�Happy are you, if you are serving God and carrying out His purpose as faithfully as an earthworm. Whatever carries out the function for which it was created is thereby worshipping God� (William Barclay).