This is the day that the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 18:24
Often we hear this scripture describe any ordinary day. However, this verse is not speaking of just any ordinary day. Psalm 118 is a Messihanic psalm, meaning that it was about Jesus. The context of this verse is speaking of the Crucifixion. Verse 23 tells us that "This was the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes." As sad as the death of our Lord and Savior was, it was still the will of God. This Easter season be appreciative of the love that God showed us that day and realize that God made that day happen for us.
Sorry for my absence.
In Christ,
Pastor Rob
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Cats and Dogs
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6
Cats and dogs are not often thought of us pals or buddies; but I saw the exception of that today. As I was driving down my road I saw a large black dog sunning himself in the warm spring air. What was unusual was the yellow cat sunning himself why he laid on top of the dog. I could not help but think of this verse in Revelation. One day cats dogs getting along will not be the exception but the rule. We should comfort ourselves with this thought; God is going to fix what man has broken. Remember that the sickness and heartache we experience in this world is not the result of God's creation but our sin. However, God's grace will prevail and God will bring the cats and dogs together again.
Pastor Rob
Cats and dogs are not often thought of us pals or buddies; but I saw the exception of that today. As I was driving down my road I saw a large black dog sunning himself in the warm spring air. What was unusual was the yellow cat sunning himself why he laid on top of the dog. I could not help but think of this verse in Revelation. One day cats dogs getting along will not be the exception but the rule. We should comfort ourselves with this thought; God is going to fix what man has broken. Remember that the sickness and heartache we experience in this world is not the result of God's creation but our sin. However, God's grace will prevail and God will bring the cats and dogs together again.
Pastor Rob
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
A Few Good Men
To everything there is a season, a time for ever purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1
John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, passionately preached a message, using this scripture as his text, in 1775. He adamantly proclaimed, "There is a time to preach and there is a time to fight. And now is the time to fight." He then took off his clerical robe to reveal the uniform of a revolutionary soldier.
This man realized that there are some things worth fighting for. As Christians we need to see ourselves as soldiers for the cross, defending our faith and declaring the gospel. Ask yourself these questions this morning. Do believe your faith is worth fighting for? What uniform are wearing today? Are you AWOL in the fight for souls?
Pastor Rob
John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, passionately preached a message, using this scripture as his text, in 1775. He adamantly proclaimed, "There is a time to preach and there is a time to fight. And now is the time to fight." He then took off his clerical robe to reveal the uniform of a revolutionary soldier.
This man realized that there are some things worth fighting for. As Christians we need to see ourselves as soldiers for the cross, defending our faith and declaring the gospel. Ask yourself these questions this morning. Do believe your faith is worth fighting for? What uniform are wearing today? Are you AWOL in the fight for souls?
Pastor Rob
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Thirsty?
Blessed are they which hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
I was so thirsty. This thought consumed my mind. "Please give me something to drink", I asked the nurse repeatedly. I was sixteen and just had an accident. The nurses refused to give me something to drink until all of the x-rays and scans came back OK. Have you ever been really thirsty? We should have this type of desire for the things of God. We should strongly desire inimacy with God, righteous living, prayer, and study time in the Word of God. If we do, God will fill us. And we shall not be disappointed.
Pastor Rob
I was so thirsty. This thought consumed my mind. "Please give me something to drink", I asked the nurse repeatedly. I was sixteen and just had an accident. The nurses refused to give me something to drink until all of the x-rays and scans came back OK. Have you ever been really thirsty? We should have this type of desire for the things of God. We should strongly desire inimacy with God, righteous living, prayer, and study time in the Word of God. If we do, God will fill us. And we shall not be disappointed.
Pastor Rob
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sinking in Mud
" . . . Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.: Ephesians 2:21
One of my earliest memories in life involved my dad and I having to walk in the mud after our car broke down a little outside of Nitro, WV. I remember that the mud was very soft and thick and how my feet would sink with every step. At one specific point I pulled my foot up, but my shoe stayed behind (my dad never did notice).
Life can often be like this mud; it is sticky, messy, and complicated. It can weigh us down and bring us to the point of desperation. However, we can have a firm foundation, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. Depend upon Him and never feel like your sinking again.
Pastor Rob
One of my earliest memories in life involved my dad and I having to walk in the mud after our car broke down a little outside of Nitro, WV. I remember that the mud was very soft and thick and how my feet would sink with every step. At one specific point I pulled my foot up, but my shoe stayed behind (my dad never did notice).
Life can often be like this mud; it is sticky, messy, and complicated. It can weigh us down and bring us to the point of desperation. However, we can have a firm foundation, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. Depend upon Him and never feel like your sinking again.
Pastor Rob
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Making Crayons
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away ; behold , all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
My two sons asked for and received a Crayola crayon maker for this past Christmas. In precious spare time this evening we got it out and got busy making crayons. It is a very simple machine. You add broken crayons into a tray, they are melted, and then you pour them into a crayon mold. After a few moments you have brand new crayons. What a picture we can see in this of what God does for us. He takes broken pieces of our sin shattered lives, applies the blood of Christ, and makes us into new creatures, whole and complete in Him! My children may have a crayon maker but my God has a Christian maker.
My two sons asked for and received a Crayola crayon maker for this past Christmas. In precious spare time this evening we got it out and got busy making crayons. It is a very simple machine. You add broken crayons into a tray, they are melted, and then you pour them into a crayon mold. After a few moments you have brand new crayons. What a picture we can see in this of what God does for us. He takes broken pieces of our sin shattered lives, applies the blood of Christ, and makes us into new creatures, whole and complete in Him! My children may have a crayon maker but my God has a Christian maker.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Your Looking Old Dad
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth , and the flower thereof falleth away : 1 Peter 1:24
Truth often comes from the mouths of babes. This was certainly true a couple of nights ago when getting my oldest child out of the bath tub, he pauses and then says, "Daddy you are getting more white hairs on your head. You are really starting to look like Paw-paw." This was a blow to the ego for sure. My experience and the verse above serves as a good reminder to us that time does not stop. I am getting older (not old), as we all are. Life is short. Make the most of your God-given opportunity this week to live out Christ's love and Biblical truths.
Pastor Rob
Truth often comes from the mouths of babes. This was certainly true a couple of nights ago when getting my oldest child out of the bath tub, he pauses and then says, "Daddy you are getting more white hairs on your head. You are really starting to look like Paw-paw." This was a blow to the ego for sure. My experience and the verse above serves as a good reminder to us that time does not stop. I am getting older (not old), as we all are. Life is short. Make the most of your God-given opportunity this week to live out Christ's love and Biblical truths.
Pastor Rob
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Christian Spinach
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid. Psalm 27:1
I can barely remember hiding my face into my Dad's shoulder when I was just a little kid because the movie scared me so much. No, it was not a scary movie (well at least for most people). It was the movie, Popeye the Sailor Man; and it was the first time I had ever been to the movie theatre. Everytime Popeye got in trouble, he would just open up the can of spinach, swallow it whole, and then be ready for the fight. Well, sadly to say, there is no magical can of spinach. Instead, we can get tired, exhausted, and discouraged. But as Christians we have something much better than spinach, we have the creator of the universe on our side. When you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed this week, remember that the Lord is the strength of your life. There is nothing we can not overcome when God is with us!
I can barely remember hiding my face into my Dad's shoulder when I was just a little kid because the movie scared me so much. No, it was not a scary movie (well at least for most people). It was the movie, Popeye the Sailor Man; and it was the first time I had ever been to the movie theatre. Everytime Popeye got in trouble, he would just open up the can of spinach, swallow it whole, and then be ready for the fight. Well, sadly to say, there is no magical can of spinach. Instead, we can get tired, exhausted, and discouraged. But as Christians we have something much better than spinach, we have the creator of the universe on our side. When you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed this week, remember that the Lord is the strength of your life. There is nothing we can not overcome when God is with us!
Monday, March 1, 2010
A True Love Affair
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2
I remember when I was a 12 year old boy our church having a special revival during the spring. The evangelist had brought boxes full of a variety of study bibles to sale during that week. Ever night I would go look at this table full of new bibles. They all had that new book smell and the pages stuck together as I tried to leaf through them. There was one particular bible that I wanted. It was a hard back blue bible that had caught my eye. I had never had my own bible, I wanted so much to have that one but my parents could not afford it. The last night of the revival had come and the service had ended. The evangelist had begin to pack up the unsold bibles when a kind lady from our church came and took me back to the evangelist to buy me that bible. I could not express to you the excitement I felt that night and the closeness to God that overtook me. This evening Carla and I presented Evan with his first real bible. His face lit up and he gave that brand new bible a great big hug. I was a little envious of my son this evening because I saw the love he had for that God-breathed book that was once in my own eyes. Let us pray that we develop the child like love for God's word that we should have.
Pastor Rob
I remember when I was a 12 year old boy our church having a special revival during the spring. The evangelist had brought boxes full of a variety of study bibles to sale during that week. Ever night I would go look at this table full of new bibles. They all had that new book smell and the pages stuck together as I tried to leaf through them. There was one particular bible that I wanted. It was a hard back blue bible that had caught my eye. I had never had my own bible, I wanted so much to have that one but my parents could not afford it. The last night of the revival had come and the service had ended. The evangelist had begin to pack up the unsold bibles when a kind lady from our church came and took me back to the evangelist to buy me that bible. I could not express to you the excitement I felt that night and the closeness to God that overtook me. This evening Carla and I presented Evan with his first real bible. His face lit up and he gave that brand new bible a great big hug. I was a little envious of my son this evening because I saw the love he had for that God-breathed book that was once in my own eyes. Let us pray that we develop the child like love for God's word that we should have.
Pastor Rob
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