12/13/2020

Have you ever been in trouble? Are you in trouble now and do not know how to get out? Are you in trouble in several areas of your life? Do you want to get out?

In the Bible, when the Israelites got into trouble, they started out murmuring and grumbling and it seemed as if they just kept getting deeper into trouble. Their trouble kept growing until they turned to the only dependable source of help. They cried unto the Lord.

When you turn to the Lord in humble supplication, God will answer. Will He take all of your troubles away? Yes. Will He do it in an instant? Depends. Our main trouble is that we have not made God our Lord and Master. When we ask God for help, He will take our sins away instantly.

Yes, God will take our trouble and sometimes they are all gone in an instant and sometimes He wants to show us that if we give Him control in all areas of our life, He will make the way out of our troubles. He knows what is the best way to take care of our troubles.

C.I. Wilson

12/6/2020

Open your eyes.

THERE IS NO DARKNESS THAT CAN CONSUME YOU!

Step into the light.

GOD’S PRESENCE IS YOUR ILLUMINATION!

Even death has no hold on you.

Yes, our world revolves in a cycle of beginnings and endings. The seasons follow one another from spring to winter. The leaves of the trees fall to the ground, dead and brown.

NEW GROWTH IS ON THE WAY!

Spring will come again. Leaves will once more burst forth.

Are you entering a winter season? Are your days winding down? Is the vivid palette of your sunset already rising on your horizon?

The beauty of the sunset as it flashes across the sky is only a foretaste of what’s to come.

GOD IS WAITING ON YOU TO TRUST IN HIM!

He has not forgotten you. He has not abandoned his promises. His will is for you to live in success until you cross that winter barrier and burst forth into new life in his glorious and eternal kingdom.

Hosea 13:14 says:

“I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.”

We will one day close our eyes here and open them in the arms of Jesus. Can you sing and dance in the power of the Lord?

Here’s the thing you must get from this:

Our hope is not here on this plane of existence. Our hope comes when winter releases its grip on us, and we smell the sweet spring of Heaven’s eternal landscape.

Woo-woo! That gives me shivers as I say it, and it should do the same for you!

God is our hope, and he draws us homeward day by day.

Copyright © 2020 MyChurchNotes.net

Used by permission from the copyright owner

11/29/2020

Years ago, during our first pastorate we put a slogan on the wall where everyone could see it on their way out.

Do not expect a $1,000,000 answer to a 10 cent prayer.

This is still true today. As whole ten cent prayers are just as popular today as they were forty-two years ago when we put that sign up. The sad truth is that people are still expecting a million-dollar answer to their little ten cent prayers. The way I have been hearing people lately I am beginning to wonder if they even expect a ten cent answer to their ten cent prayer.

Please read the following from a new book by Rev. David D. Wilson called, A Study on Titus & Philemon.

C.I. Wilson

This reminds me of another person who looked with anticipation while expecting to receive. This man, being crippled from birth, was carried every day to the gate of the temple to beg for his living. One day, he saw Peter and John coming to the temple. As they came close, he began to ask alms of them. He hoped, perhaps even expected to receive money from them. However, he received a lot more than he dreamed of. Peter and John told him that they had no money, but in the name of Jesus to rise up and walk. When he accepted what they offered, he immediately received his healing with great joy. He went into the temple walking and leaping and praising God.

Acts 3:1-8

¹ Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

² And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

³ Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

⁴ And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

⁵ And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

⁶ Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

⁷ And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

⁸ And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

When we pray, we need to expect God to hear us and to answer. For when we expect to receive, we shall receive, because we have put our faith into action. Paul is telling us to look with expectation for our blessed hope, the coming of our Redeemer and Saviour, Jesus Christ. His coming is even at the door. My friend, if you are not looking for Jesus to return, I can assure you that you will not see Him when He comes.

Used with the publishers permission.

11/22/2020

Mark 6:48–52 (KJV)

⁴⁸And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

⁴⁹But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

⁵⁰For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

⁵¹And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

⁵²For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

When we are going through things, such as the disciples in verse 48, all we see is how hard it is. How can I be accomplishing anything for God? Why is God putting so much on me? All we see is the hard testing / trial that we are going through. We do not remember all of the testing / trials that we have gone through while holding onto the hand of Jesus.

In verse 52, Mark states that “they considered not the miracle of the loaves.” Humanity has the habit of forgetting the past and in the last year, here in America, the people are trying to wipe history away so that there is no reminders of our past lessons. When we forget the lessons that we have learned getting to the point we are at today then how are we going to overcome the testing / trials that we are going through today and will go through until we go to meet our maker, God, face to face.

C.I. Wilson

11/18/2020

During the pandemic quarantine of 2020, it seemed at times the entire world was shutting down. France, Spain, the United States … even Russia got into it.

Nonessential businesses and schools were closed, and mandatory stay-at-home orders blanketed countries across the globe.

Even citizens of Australia and South Africa were asked to shelter at home … keep off the streets … help keep the helpless safe.

Washing hands became the mantra. Twenty seconds. Memes showed people with their hands under running water while singing the birthday song twice in a row.

Parents began homeschooling. They refused to let their children fall behind in their education. They also admitted how difficult it was, but they soldiered on, refusing to give up, no matter how frustrating it became.

The Bible says we should do the same with our children’s spiritual instruction.

Proverbs 22:6 says:

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

How do we train up our children? Here are six ways:

1. Read them Bible stories at bedtime.

2. Pray with them … by their bed … on your knees.

3. Take them to Sunday school … and stay for the adult class.

4. Make time for church activities in your family’s schedule.

5. Let them see and hear you keep a private prayer time.

6. Check up on them spiritually … follow through … show an interest in their spiritual welfare.

We’re all teachers, whether we like it or not. We’re teaching our children to follow Christ … or to go the other way.

Homeschooling is the way to begin. Your job as a teacher starts tonight … with your child … on your knees and in prayer.

Today is the day to build your children’s spiritual foundations in the Lord.

Copyright © 2020 MyChurchNotes.net

Used by permission from the publisher