02/01/2018

General background info for those who don’t know: the word “love” is mentioned 310 times in the KJV Bible and located in 280 verses. The fourth time the word in mentioned in the Bible is in the 10 commandments (not suggestions). Exodus 20:6 (KJV) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Here we have God talking about people who love him and keep his commandments.  We who love God will keep his commandments. Why? Because when you love someone you try to please that person. We know the best way to please someone is to do what they ask of us. How better to please God then to live our lives following after Jesus who is the perfect example of love personified that this earth has ever known.

Jesus, by what the Bible states, spent most of his time being with people. Very few times do we read where Jesus went off by himself. Yes, he spent time with the crowds teaching them and caring for them and their needs. Recently I read of two separate occasions where he told the disciples to feed the multitude before sending them home. Remember the five loaves and the seven loaves. Jesus also made time to be with just the disciples and teach them even more in depth than he did the crowd.

The Triune Godhead would love to spend time with us. In our daily walk, going about our daily lives plus in our daily devotions and prayer time.

Lord, I bring before you those who read this and want to show their love to you. I ask that you give each one a sense of your presence as they draw closer to you. Guide them into that close walk that will let those around them see YOU in their lives. Then Lord I petition you to give them the words they need to lead those around them to a personal relationship with you.

Most of all Lord, thank you for loving us. Amen.

C.I. Wilson

1/30/2018

As I was praying and reading my Bible, the Lord brought this scripture before me, as never before.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.   2 Corinthians 8:9 (KJV)

It reminds us that Jesus, the Son of God, was rich beyond words. He lived in the splendor of heaven. Yet he loved us so much that he was willing to leave Heaven’s riches and his Father, to come to this earth to be our redeemer. Jesus came into this world like all of us. He was born of woman, even though Mary was a virgin when he was conceived in her womb and a virgin until after his birth. He left all that was his in Heaven to become poor on earth.

Yes, Jesus knew what being poor was, and in this way, he found compassion for others. He knew what it was to feel pain and sorrow. His heart was made to weep for the souls of others. We may ask ourselves why Jesus would do this. It is because of love. He helped to create this world; he was there when God created man.

There was in him a love for us, a love as of a parent for their child. His compassion and love caused him to give of himself to others. He healed the sick, raised the dead and more than anything else he gave his life for us. The law could not do what was needed. The blood offering of animals was not enough. There had to be one final blood sacrifice so great that man could come into fellowship with God. That sacrifice was the blood of God’s own son.

Jesus gave his life for all of us. His blood covers a multitude of sins, that we, you and I might enjoy the glorious presence of God. That we might be rich in Christ Jesus, not earthly riches as all men seek riches. But, heavenly riches through the blood of Christ; and a wonderful promise that one day we will live with Christ forever in the presence of God.

Through the poverty of Jesus Christ, we are made rich in Heavenly blessings.

David D. Wilson

Board Member

1/27/2018

Two songs that are running through my head describe a person’s prayer life. Do you have one or the other? Should you have both in your life?

SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER: Do you pray one big prayer and feel you are through for the day? That you have talked to God as much as you need. While doing my devotions each day is my time for the good long prayer. How long depends on you and God. It may be as short as 30 minutes or as long as several hours, depending on you and how you pray. If God places a burden on your heart or you are interceding for someone, it can go on for hours. When you go into your “prayer closet” do not put a time limit on God. Pray until you feel that God is through talking to you. Can you live the life that God wants you to by only praying this way?

JUST A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS: Someone told me the other day that they pray all day. This is good and it is a vital part of our walk with Jesus. We do this when we receive a blessing from God, hear of someone else’s blessing, or have a need come up. These prayers last just a few seconds to several minutes. On occasion, they may last so long they might be able to be considered a “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” Can you live the life that God wants you to by only praying this way?

I feel that a life that prays in the style of both of these songs is the one that gets close to God and stays close to him. If you have the Sweet Hour of Prayer every day it makes it so much easier to live as God wants and then we have Just a Little Talk with Jesus all day long. However, if the only praying we do is Just a Little Talk with Jesus, how much does this do for us. Christians need both types of prayer in their prayer life every day.

Precious Lord, help each one that reads this get closer to you. Help each one get to the place where when we pray it is as though we are talking to our very best friend and can go on and on. Thank you Lord for being someone we can talk to and tell our darkest, deepest secrets to. Help us know that we can take anything and everything to you. Amen.

C.I. Wilson

1/26/018

Mark 1:17 (KJV)
 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Twice in the Bible, it states we are to be “fishers of men” and I remember reading a book years ago about how if God put it in the Bible more than once it was important for us to know. Therefore, with it put in two different ways it speaks to me as saying:

We are to follow Jesus and get closer to him and while we are following Jesus, we are to learn how to win the lost for Christ. Now there are fast learners, slow learners and those that are born with an instinctive ability to do things wither it be cooking, driving or winning the lost for Christ. However, most of us need training or teaching.

Yes, we can ask God to help us learn. Most people need someone here on earth to teach him or her. Class instruction, hands on instruction (going with someone that knows how), time in the Word and on our knees. With the proper preparation we can all be fishers of men.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your son, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. You are the strength that helps me make it from day to day. While your son is my friend and companion that walks with me everywhere I go. Your gift of the Holy Ghost is my guide and help. I ask you to help each one that reads this draw closer to you then they have ever been before. Open their eyes, Lord, to be able to see you. Amen.

C.I. Wilson

1/20/2018

God give me love . . .

     That is patient, loving and kind,

     Forgiving and helps me place the past behind.

God give me love . . .

     That does not demand its own way,

     The love that helps others find a new day.

God give me love . . .

     That is humble and without pride,

     Never selfish or rude, where hate is denied.

God give me love . . .

     That is never boastful, envious or jealous,

     That gives me strength for others to be zealous.

God give me love . . .

     That is never irritable or easily hurt,

     It holds no grudges, is never curt.

God give me love . . .

     That will always be sincere, loyal and true,

     I really want my life to be a reflection of You.

Amen

- Unknown Author -