Feb
26
Feb
26
Feb
22
Got Hope
One of the saddest events recorded in God’s word is the story of the weeping prophet Jeremiah’s hurt and heartache over the fall of Jerusalem. I don’t know that we appreciate the concern and dedication that Jeremiah had as he wrote the words of Lamentations. It is interesting to me that out of a horrible experience, one was able to take the words of Lamentations 3 and compose a song that fills our hearts with hope. The prophet Jeremiah witnessed unimaginable horrors when the Babylonians invaded the beloved city of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. The splendor of Solomon’s temple was reduced to ruins and with it went not only the center of worship but also the heart of the community. The people were left with no food, no rest, no peace, no leader. One would be hard pressed to come up with a more dismal picture, a picture that seems to be totally hopeless. But in the midst of suffering and grief, one of the prophets of God found a reason for hope. Read the words Jeremiah wrote carefully. As you read them, try to imagine setting amidst the ruins of the city and seeing the smoke from fires, hearing children cry, or watching people go through the rubble hoping to find a loved one alive. “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Jeremiah’s hope came from his personal experience of the Lord’s faithfulness and from his knowledge of God’s promises in the past. Without these things in his heart, he would never have been able to comfort the people of the city. It was good for Jeremiah to know that he served a God of hope. The same sentiment is expressed in Romans 15:13 by the apostle Paul. Through events in our lives, we all begin to see how important it is to have hope.
The hope of Lamentations 3 is echoed in a hymn by Thomas Chisholm. Thomas was born in 1866 in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky and dealt with great many health issues throughout his life. He spent time as an editor for a local paper and penned 1200 poems. Among those poems came “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” It assures us that even in times of great fear, tragic loss and intense suffering we can find comfort and confidence as we trust in God’s great faithfulness. That is the hope that you and I can build on daily. That is the hope that allows us to move forward with a smile saying “all is well!”
Feb
19
Recipe Blog
Kolleen Mangrum will be putting together a recipe blog with recipes from the ladies at Maple Hill. This will be done instead of a cookbook, however recipes are needed. If anyone has a recipe that they would like to share send them to send it to Kolleen. There will be a link to the blog from the newsletter.
Feb
19
Feb
15
Who do you love?
One of the most popular movies as well as novels is The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk. It is a thrilling account of events in and around World War II. There are several story lines in the book, but one in particular that is of special interest to me. There is a series of events that contain an excellent illustration of what happens when someone becomes a follower of God.
In the novel, a young man from an influential family has enlisted in the Navy. On the day of his induction, his mother drops him off in her fancy car and then kisses him goodbye. The young recruit shakes hands with the guard as he enters the building, and the door closes behind him. He has now entered the world of the military. His mother, suddenly worried that he might not have enough money, rushes up to the door. But the guard politely stops her. When she demands entrance, he refuses to let her in. She can see her son standing inside the door, so she reaches for the doorknob. “He’s my son!” she cries. The guard gently removes her hand from the doorknob and says softly , “I know, Ma’am, but he belongs to Uncle Sam now. He’s a sailor.”
I wonder sometimes what type of commitment I was making when I said I wanted to be a Christian. I know that I was young, and that my understanding of God’s word has grown. However what type of commitment am I making. When we believe in Jesus and give our life over to him in baptism, we are subject to His commands. We now belong to Him. What was once import to us begins to lose significance. We find ourselves evaluating things differently. Our desire is to love and serve the Lord with all our heart (Deuteronomy 6:5-6). Jesus used the words from Deuteronomy and said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). That is a perspective of commitment that is not often seen in our society today. Too many times our commitment is only a commitment of convenience. Too many things get in the way and keep us from the real love that we should have for our Father and His Son. As a follower of Christ, I need to understand that I get my marching orders from Him. As I receive these orders, I can understand that they are my good. I can also understand that He will always be with me each step I take. There is a child’s song entitled “I’m in the Lord’s Army.” Have you made the decision to join his ranks in loyal service.
Feb
12
Feb
5
After Closing Prayer
Please keep your children with you after the closing song and/or prayer . The teacher’s need time to get to their classrooms to greet the children once they arrive. Thanks for your assistance in this matter.
Feb
5
Just a little talk
There are a lot of things about what I do that bring me a great deal of joy in life. I truly enjoy studying, trying to come up with the right lesson to meet the needs of as many people as possible. I have a fondness for visiting people. I like to go to our assisted living facilities and speak when I am invited. The list could go on and on. Most of you would be aware that one of the thrills in my life is to be able to work with our missionaries. I have been blessed to be able to travel and spend time with many of our missionaries in one on one situations. To learn of their dreams and to experience what they experience. When I return home, there is usually an email or two from our missionaries who simply want to talk. And that is what we do. We email back and forth sharing what is going on in each others life. I learn about their families and the challenges they face. I want each email to be as personal as possible.
I found an interesting passage from Exodus 33:11 that says; “The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Moses enjoyed not merely a phone call or occasional email with the Lord, but frequent, direct conversation with Him. The other Israelites could only observe this from a distance. During those intimate talks, the Lord gave Moses instructions for leading the people of Israel.
What about you and I? Do we enjoy our time spent with God? Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, and because the Holy Spirit now lives within us as obedient believers of Christ, we too can enjoy a special friendship and closeness with God. He speaks to us through His divine Word. And by His Spirit, we have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer. What a rich blessing that is! I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I would imagine that somewhere along the course of the day, that you will find yourself saying to God, “We just have to talk.” Isn’t it wonderful to know that because of our intimate relationship with God, that is something we can do.
When was the last time you had “just a little talk” with the creator of the world? Did you sense his presence in your life. Did you believe that he heard your words and that they were real to Him? When you were through with your conversation, did you feel a “peace that passes all understanding.” Let each of us work on developing an intimate relationship with our God.
Feb
5