The Pettit meetings were last week at our church and they were great! There were a lot of decisions made. It was amazing to see the way God worked during the week. Thursday was amazing! Monday thru Wednesday we went out and passed out flyers and got names for the teen night on Thursday. On Monday a group of us headed out together. We didn't see many people walking around. Pastor James pulled onto a side street so that two people could jump out and catch two people at a bus stop. When he was trying to turn around he turned into an apartment complex that we didn't even know existed. There were some girls there so Erika, Emily and I hopped out to talk to them. They were really excited about it and gave us not only their own names and numbers but the numbers of some of their friends. They came on Thursday night with few of their friends, and 4 or5 of them got saved! If that isn't a divine appointment, I don't know what is.
Please pray that those who professed salvation Thursday night would continue to come back and grow. Also pray that those of us who made decisions during the week would keep them up. This is a critical time and we need your prayers.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Special in the Eyes of God - Psalm 139:13-14
I was reading my bible and I came across these two verses which made me think:
Psalm 139:13-14
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
We are God's wonderful creation and he gave us all potentional and talents to fullfill his purpose.
Psalm 139:13-14
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
We are God's wonderful creation and he gave us all potentional and talents to fullfill his purpose.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Staying Right with God - Colossians 1:10
As I look around me I see friends and people close to me falling away from the Lord. It's very heartbreaking. I just want to encourage you all to stay right with God and walk with Him, doing His will always. Spend time with Him everyday so you can grow in Him. I know that no one is perfect, and yes, we all sin. But when you do, get it right with God. He will forgive you. Also pray for those around you that are having a hard time. You can also encourage them and help them out. Always keep your eyes on God. Doing His will is the best thing out there for you.
Colossians 1:10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1:10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Christmas
It is the time where we remember two things:
1. When Full Divinity took on full humanity. . . in order to be able to provide a perfect blood atonement for sin. . .
2. When Full Divinity and full humanity shall return to earth to reign. . .
Even so LORD, come quickly. . .
1. When Full Divinity took on full humanity. . . in order to be able to provide a perfect blood atonement for sin. . .
2. When Full Divinity and full humanity shall return to earth to reign. . .
Even so LORD, come quickly. . .
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Praise
I just wanted to let you all know that my dad got a job. He started on Monday. He works at John C. Lincoln. Thank you all for praying for my family.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Glorify God
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:55-58
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Ephesians 1:12
That last few days I’ve been thinking about what is really important in life: brining glory to God. It’s easy to get so consumed with my own plans that I lose the big picture! In my Bible class, we just finished studying Ecclesiastes, and I was reminded of how our lives are vapors and so much of what we do is “chasing the wind.” The only way to find true satisfaction that will last is through Christ.
My roommate’s mom died a few years ago and she was saying that ever since then she’s realized how short life is. She said she wants to run the race everyday with all she has because she doesn’t know when her last lap will be. So many of us think we will have forever to live, but our lives really are short. I know when I die I want to hear “Well done,” and have crowns to lie at Jesus feet. My life is short and I can’t waste it living for myself. I must use it to bring glory to God – He is worthy!
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Always the same
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Isn't that great? Jesus is always the same! He never changes and He will always keep His promises. Unlike our friends, family, or anyone else Jesus is always there for us and He will never leave. People are never perfect and they make mistakes and I think its great we can depend on God because He will always be there for us, keep His promises, and will never change.
Isn't that great? Jesus is always the same! He never changes and He will always keep His promises. Unlike our friends, family, or anyone else Jesus is always there for us and He will never leave. People are never perfect and they make mistakes and I think its great we can depend on God because He will always be there for us, keep His promises, and will never change.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Careful Worship
There have been posts here in the past that have focused on the right kind of attitude to have when coming to church. The following verse continues on that same theme.
Ecclesiastes 5:1
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
In our fast-paced day and age, it is common to kind of squeeze church into our schedules. Many times, right up to when the service begins and even continuing through the service, we are thinking and talking about things completely distracting or even contrary to our God—the cares of this world.
This verse warns against such a flippant attitude. It actually calls such an attitude evil ("for they consider not that they do evil"). Wow! It is kind of humbling to imagine that we may be sinning in church more than we even realize. How often do we take the time to examine our hearts before worshipping at church? How common is it for us to ask God to direct our thoughts and to change us as a result of what we learn from His Word? Do we guard our actions in such a way? Is that our primary focus?
Unfortunately, we often "give the sacrifice of fools." That is, we go through the motions, offering lip-service to God, but with no real focus, no real desire. That kind of flippant attitude toward worship is something that God hates. It is disrespectful to Him, and it is unconcerned with the wonderful opportunity that God has given to worship Him because of what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross in our behalf.
We need to be very careful in the way we approach worship. And if we will obey God in this way, He will make our worship something of immense profit. He will fill our hearts with joy when we take time to commune with Him—on His terms, and in His ways. May we consider what God’s Word has to say concerning this matter, even as we prepare ourselves for this coming Sunday.
Ecclesiastes 5:1
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
In our fast-paced day and age, it is common to kind of squeeze church into our schedules. Many times, right up to when the service begins and even continuing through the service, we are thinking and talking about things completely distracting or even contrary to our God—the cares of this world.
This verse warns against such a flippant attitude. It actually calls such an attitude evil ("for they consider not that they do evil"). Wow! It is kind of humbling to imagine that we may be sinning in church more than we even realize. How often do we take the time to examine our hearts before worshipping at church? How common is it for us to ask God to direct our thoughts and to change us as a result of what we learn from His Word? Do we guard our actions in such a way? Is that our primary focus?
Unfortunately, we often "give the sacrifice of fools." That is, we go through the motions, offering lip-service to God, but with no real focus, no real desire. That kind of flippant attitude toward worship is something that God hates. It is disrespectful to Him, and it is unconcerned with the wonderful opportunity that God has given to worship Him because of what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross in our behalf.
We need to be very careful in the way we approach worship. And if we will obey God in this way, He will make our worship something of immense profit. He will fill our hearts with joy when we take time to commune with Him—on His terms, and in His ways. May we consider what God’s Word has to say concerning this matter, even as we prepare ourselves for this coming Sunday.
Big Prayer Request
Hey everyone,
I really really would appreciate your prayers right now. Alot of my friends at IBC seem to either be walking away from God or getting burned out and it really hurts to see that. So please pray that God would do a mighty work in the student body, I would really appreciate it. My heart is breaking for so many of my friends there.
I really really would appreciate your prayers right now. Alot of my friends at IBC seem to either be walking away from God or getting burned out and it really hurts to see that. So please pray that God would do a mighty work in the student body, I would really appreciate it. My heart is breaking for so many of my friends there.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Prayer requests
My mom had foot surgery today. So if you could pray that it will be a fast recovery. She has to stay at the hospital over night but should be home tomorrow.
Also you can pray for Sean he broke his jaw. Just pray that it will heal fast and not be painful. It looks like it hurts really bad. thanks
Also you can pray for Sean he broke his jaw. Just pray that it will heal fast and not be painful. It looks like it hurts really bad. thanks
Friday, September 22, 2006
A Biblical Perspective on Fear
Is it a bad thing to have fear? Is it proper to have fear? Look for a moment at the following verses in Psalm 112.
Psalm 112:1, 7
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
Notice that this whole psalm is speaking of a person who fears the Lord. Then, notice how v. 7 gives us one of the life results of the person who fears the Lord: he is not afraid of evil tidings or bad news.
Fear is proper when directed toward God. The point this psalm is making is that if an individual is going to receive God’s benefits, he must live with a proper reverence and awe of Him. It is important, therefore, to constantly marvel at the attributes and works of God. Praise God for them in your prayer life. Meditate upon them throughout the day. Proper fear of God can only result from proper thoughts about God and much time spent meditating upon Him as a person.
One of the benefits for the individual who fears God is that he/she is then able to stop fearing the stuff of life that could happen. Sometimes, Christians are very pessimistic, almost expecting bad news to come. It is like we are afraid that somehow, in order to experience a dynamic Christian life, something terrible has to happen like it did to many of the great men and women of the Bible. Other times, we are simply paranoid about the future. We fear a substantial loss of money, or an accident, or a family crisis, or a health issue, etc. Instead of seeking first Christ’s kingdom and letting Him concern Himself with the rest of our lives (Matthew 6:33), we seek first our kingdom.
The message I gleaned from these two verses in this psalm is that if I find myself fearing bad news, I am not properly fearing God. I am not meditating upon Him enough. I am not depending upon Him. We should ask God to help us fear Him, and then trust Him to take care of the things that we might be tempted to fear.
Psalm 112:1, 7
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
Notice that this whole psalm is speaking of a person who fears the Lord. Then, notice how v. 7 gives us one of the life results of the person who fears the Lord: he is not afraid of evil tidings or bad news.
Fear is proper when directed toward God. The point this psalm is making is that if an individual is going to receive God’s benefits, he must live with a proper reverence and awe of Him. It is important, therefore, to constantly marvel at the attributes and works of God. Praise God for them in your prayer life. Meditate upon them throughout the day. Proper fear of God can only result from proper thoughts about God and much time spent meditating upon Him as a person.
One of the benefits for the individual who fears God is that he/she is then able to stop fearing the stuff of life that could happen. Sometimes, Christians are very pessimistic, almost expecting bad news to come. It is like we are afraid that somehow, in order to experience a dynamic Christian life, something terrible has to happen like it did to many of the great men and women of the Bible. Other times, we are simply paranoid about the future. We fear a substantial loss of money, or an accident, or a family crisis, or a health issue, etc. Instead of seeking first Christ’s kingdom and letting Him concern Himself with the rest of our lives (Matthew 6:33), we seek first our kingdom.
The message I gleaned from these two verses in this psalm is that if I find myself fearing bad news, I am not properly fearing God. I am not meditating upon Him enough. I am not depending upon Him. We should ask God to help us fear Him, and then trust Him to take care of the things that we might be tempted to fear.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Establish My Works
In reading through the psalms the last few days, I came across this prayer of Moses:
Psalm 90:17
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
This verse warrants careful observation. It contains the words of a man who fought and fought God's will at the burning bush because, in his pride, he felt he was not able to obey (Exodus 4:10-18). Yet, God used him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt en route to the Promise Land.
On the other hand, Moses was also the one who, in pride, hit the rock when God told him to speak to the rock (Numbers 20:7-12). Because of that, Moses would never actually enter the Promise Land himself.
This psalm may have been written before Moses struck the rock. Nevertheless, his words here contrasted with his actions in the two instances noted above make an important point: man is unable to accomplish anything of any lasting value for the Lord unless God Himself "establishes" that work. In other words, the works we do for Christ mean absolutely nothing without God giving them value. Moses could try to avoid God’s will or change God’s will, but God would have none of it. Moses needed to be in God’s will and submitted to it in order to have God’s power on his life. Just as dynamite has no power until it is touched by the flame, so we have no power unless the flame of God touches upon our lives and works and makes them powerful for Him. And then, things will be as they should be, and He gets all the glory, not us. We must quit trying to live a successful Christian life by ourselves, because our flesh and judgment are often weak.
May my prayer be today, "Lord, establish my works!"
Psalm 90:17
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
This verse warrants careful observation. It contains the words of a man who fought and fought God's will at the burning bush because, in his pride, he felt he was not able to obey (Exodus 4:10-18). Yet, God used him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt en route to the Promise Land.
On the other hand, Moses was also the one who, in pride, hit the rock when God told him to speak to the rock (Numbers 20:7-12). Because of that, Moses would never actually enter the Promise Land himself.
This psalm may have been written before Moses struck the rock. Nevertheless, his words here contrasted with his actions in the two instances noted above make an important point: man is unable to accomplish anything of any lasting value for the Lord unless God Himself "establishes" that work. In other words, the works we do for Christ mean absolutely nothing without God giving them value. Moses could try to avoid God’s will or change God’s will, but God would have none of it. Moses needed to be in God’s will and submitted to it in order to have God’s power on his life. Just as dynamite has no power until it is touched by the flame, so we have no power unless the flame of God touches upon our lives and works and makes them powerful for Him. And then, things will be as they should be, and He gets all the glory, not us. We must quit trying to live a successful Christian life by ourselves, because our flesh and judgment are often weak.
May my prayer be today, "Lord, establish my works!"
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Please pray for me
Hey everybody, i would really really REALLY appreciate your prayer right now. My life is really coming under spritual attack right now, so please pray that i would stay strong and fight the good fight. Satan busted out some heavy stuff today and i came under attack like i never have before. I will not give in to it, but i need your prayer! Thanks you.
Dan
Dan
Forgive others
Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking,be put away from you, with all malice:And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Just think about those verses. When someone does something to you and hurts you we are to forgive them. We are to love them and forgive them just as God forgives us everytime we do something wrong against Him. Don't stay mad at them and hold a grudge against them. You can't grow in Christ when you are bitter at someone. Also if you dont forgive others God wont forgive you.
Matthew 6: 14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Just think about those verses. When someone does something to you and hurts you we are to forgive them. We are to love them and forgive them just as God forgives us everytime we do something wrong against Him. Don't stay mad at them and hold a grudge against them. You can't grow in Christ when you are bitter at someone. Also if you dont forgive others God wont forgive you.
Matthew 6: 14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Monday, August 21, 2006
College
I’d like to ask you to please pray for me this semester while I’m away at college. Please pray I’d do well in my classes and have fun, but most importantly that I’d trust God while I’m there rest and rely on Him for my strength. I know college is going to be really busy and I want to make sure I keep God first.
-Rachel :)
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Press toward the mark
Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
We need to do what that verse says. We need to leave those things which are behind us. Even if we have fallen 7 times we need to just get right back up again and reach for the prize. Isn't it great that God is merciful and forgives us!
Psalms 26:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Psalms 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
We need to do what that verse says. We need to leave those things which are behind us. Even if we have fallen 7 times we need to just get right back up again and reach for the prize. Isn't it great that God is merciful and forgives us!
Psalms 26:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Psalms 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Jesus is my Best Friend
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. John 15:13-15
…A friend of publicans and sinners! Luke 7:34b
Jesus is my best-friend! He was a friend of sinners like me, and He died on the cross so that my sins could be forgiven! I have some great friends, and I am very thankful for them, but they can’t always be there when I need them. I am so glad that Jesus promises never to leave me or forsake me. He will always be there with me no matter what is going on! I can cast all my cares on Him, because He cares for me! Jesus is a friend who is always the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Other friends will let me down, but not Jesus…He will never be fair-weather. I praise Jesus for the friend that He is to me!
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged:
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness:
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
- Rachel
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Prayer Request Update
This is what Miss Heidi said about the accident
Hey, Praise God no one was killed or anything like that. There is no life threatening injuries. Some people have to stay in the hospital overnight so they can keep an eye on them. Keep praying. The ones that are still in the hospital are Josh Ledgerwood, Lydia, Audrey Merrick, and Michelle Sekuras. They are injured.
And then this is what Miss Kat said:
Thank you for praying for them. Everyone is okay, just bruised a little. Audrey Merrick broke her pelvis in 3 places, but she will be alright after a few months and some physical therapy. Continue to pray for all of them as they heal and for the people working at camp. The accident has become a distraction to many of us and we have another week of camp to focus on.
Hey, Praise God no one was killed or anything like that. There is no life threatening injuries. Some people have to stay in the hospital overnight so they can keep an eye on them. Keep praying. The ones that are still in the hospital are Josh Ledgerwood, Lydia, Audrey Merrick, and Michelle Sekuras. They are injured.
And then this is what Miss Kat said:
Thank you for praying for them. Everyone is okay, just bruised a little. Audrey Merrick broke her pelvis in 3 places, but she will be alright after a few months and some physical therapy. Continue to pray for all of them as they heal and for the people working at camp. The accident has become a distraction to many of us and we have another week of camp to focus on.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Be thankful
I want to encourage you all to be thankful for what God has given you.
At Ironwood I was sitting by the big tree early in the morning waiting for everyone to come to go to the prayer chapel. No one was there yet. I sat there looking around and thinking. I was thinking.... God made everything is this world for us and it all is good. Isn't that great! God made everything for US! HE spent His time for us and sent His only Son to die on the cross for us and you know most of the time we don't even care! We go through our day not caring about anything , anybody but ourselves! We cant even hand out a track to the person standing next to us at work or at the grocery store. Its because WE DON'T CARE! You know what else.... we always want more things. There are people around the world that have much much less than us and they are happy for what they have. But no we have all this stuff and we want more!!! We have eternal life through Jesus Christ. That should be enough! So before you go through your day caring just about yourself or wanting that big screen TV think about what God did for us and what He gave us. This time do something for God. He has done everything for us... I think we can do some things for Him.
Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
At Ironwood I was sitting by the big tree early in the morning waiting for everyone to come to go to the prayer chapel. No one was there yet. I sat there looking around and thinking. I was thinking.... God made everything is this world for us and it all is good. Isn't that great! God made everything for US! HE spent His time for us and sent His only Son to die on the cross for us and you know most of the time we don't even care! We go through our day not caring about anything , anybody but ourselves! We cant even hand out a track to the person standing next to us at work or at the grocery store. Its because WE DON'T CARE! You know what else.... we always want more things. There are people around the world that have much much less than us and they are happy for what they have. But no we have all this stuff and we want more!!! We have eternal life through Jesus Christ. That should be enough! So before you go through your day caring just about yourself or wanting that big screen TV think about what God did for us and what He gave us. This time do something for God. He has done everything for us... I think we can do some things for Him.
Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Wonderfully Made
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” ~ Psalm 139:14
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; but I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” ~ 1 Samuel 16:7
Praise God for how you’ve been made, and focus on what He is most concerned about – your heart!
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