I miss you, my friend

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Hebrews 20:24

This week is dedicated to my good friend, brother and companion Chuck Childs.  You are greatly missed!

        

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

The word consider (kata noeo) describes a mental assessment of another’s condition

    kata - up and down

    nous - a thorough process

Together, it refers to place yourself in the shoes of another’s situation.

1. •    How would you feel if this was you?
2. •    How would you respond if this happened to you?
3. •    How would you want someone to treat you?

Chuck had a gift of knowing just what to say, how to say it and when to say it... when it came to people and their problems, he always would remind me that if it were him in need, he would want to be treated in a certain way...

Provoke (paraxusmos)

    para - to be beside; attached to

    xusmos - to excite; to stimulate with a sharp instrument

Chuck always made it his priority to excite and stimulate all of us to continue our love for one another and serve the Body of Christ unselfishly.

Keep the Faith, my friends...

Pastor Jody

"It wasn't me! It was the one armed man!"

For you shall not go out with haste, Nor go by flight;

Isaiah 52:12 NKJ

The two key words in this verse are haste and flight.  they need to be defined in order for us to fully understand the Lord’s  leading and dealings with us.

Haste is a word which implies a “compulsive action”.  it suggests being on the run, out fo guilt, fear or anxiety; a fugitive, if you will... a constant cycle of being driven by another...

    The wicked flee when no one pursues... (Proverbs 28:1 NKJ)

Flight is better understood when we add the letter “y” and change it to the verb, “flighty”.  Webster defines flighty as: frivolous; slightly delirious; dazed; light-headed “mildly crazy”.

Flighty describes someone who is unstable and always trying to escape reality by taking “imaginary trips” or vacations in the mind to a fairy-tale land.

You and I, being led by the Holy Spirit, will never have to make decisions or take impulsive actions out of guilt, fear or nervous unrest.  The way our Heavenly father leads us is by His reassuring words in scripture and by the calm workings of His Holy Spirit!

Press on my friends, press on!

Pastor Jody

"Just can't wait to get on the road again..."

Have a mind of Him wherever you may go and He will clear the road for you...

Proverbs 3:6 MOF

Do you remember what automotive travel was like before the development of the Interstate Highway System?  Most roads were narrow and winding as they followed the natural contour of the land.  Traffic was slow and visibility was limited.  Traveling was dangerous and exhausting!

Today, instead of allowing the terrain dictate the shape of the roads, heavy-duty equipment and machinery have removed or have traversed most of the natural obstacles and barriers like mountains, canyons and rivers; and as a result, traveling has become easier, quicker and safer - all thanks to banked curves and graduated slopes.

This is what this verse promises us.  As we bring the Lord into our everyday plans, he will clear the road for us - “...and he shall direct thy paths.” (KJV)  The Holy Spirit will use the shortest and safest route of travel for us to reach our destination.

1. ➡No Road Blocks...
2. ➡No Detours...
3. ➡No Back-road Hazards...

Just straight-ahead progress!

Until next week, 

Pastor Jody