From the Pastor: The Lord’s Purpose Prevails — What A Relief!
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. -Proverbs 19:21 What a relief! We live on God’s earth. We aren’t limited to or trapped by the self-serving schemes cooked up by others. Too often, we grow jaded or discouraged watching people dream up get-rich-quick schemes, manipulating others for their personal gain. They plan to lavish themselves with luxury and pleasure with little regard for those who will suffer because of their selfish desire
Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 13 – Nothing’s Impossible
by TJ Bates "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'" -Mark 10:27 Is this word in your vocabulary? Do you use it or think it quite often? Pastor Snyder says it isn't in God's vocabulary. He goes on to say: "…it makes perfect sense that if the God of the Bible exists, then there's nothing, literally nothing, that's impossible. By definition, God excludes the realm of the impossible. Water into
Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 12 – The Lord Is My Shepherd
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." –Psalm 23:1 Do we believe this when we repeat it? Or have we heard it so often, it tends to lose its force? Does it mean we will never want or suffer because we are his sheep? Not so, but because we are his sheep, there is reason to be positive in our prayer and expectations, and Dr. Snyder explains why. "One thing we can be sure of is this: Even if
Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 11 – Pressed But Not Crushed
by TJ Bates "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body." -2 Corinthians 4:8-11 Paul is amazing!
Living in Hope
via C.S. Lewis Institute The three virtues that Paul sets forth as being of greatest importance in the believer’s life are faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Although in our day faith and love are spoken of far more often than hope, it remains true that hope plays a vital role in faithfully following Jesus Christ. The importance of hope is highlighted by C.S. Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity, when he says— Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means
Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 10 – Disturbing the Heart of God
by TJ Bates "In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old." -Isaiah 63:9 Have you ever wondered if God really cares about what you are going through? Well, Pastor Snyder makes it clear that God does care—for which I am most grateful. "God not only knows every thought and emotion, but he actually enters into our
Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 9 – Break the Circuit
by TJ Bates "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." -Romans 12:21 Sounds good, doesn't it? But how do we overcome evil with good? Pastor Snyder describes evil as an electric current. He goes on to say, "It flows from one person to another when the circuit is closed, and it stops flowing when the circuit is open. How do we open the circuit? We don't allow it to move through us to the next person. It stops with us.
Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 8 – Wait for the Lord
by TJ Bates "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." -Psalm 27:14 In this day and age, waiting is something that none of us want to do. We get frustrated if our computers are too slow, or traffic isn't moving as fast as we like, and, heaven forbid, if we have to wait in line for anything. Why is "waiting for the Lord" important? "If anything matures our faith, it's this—waiting for the Lord to act when
Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 7 – Finish the Race
by TJ Bates Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:13-14 Do you have difficulty, as I do, in letting go of the past and all the mistakes, regrets and lost relationships that go with it? If so, then you will benefit, as I have, by reading in the book: "Nothing can derail us in our spiritual lives
Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 6 – Ever the Same
by TJ Bates "Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." -Psalm 33:1-4 So are you feeling like singing joyfully today? Are you ready to make beautiful music in spite of all