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"Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick."
(Philippians 2:25, 26 KJV) Paul wrote a letter that became part of Our Awesome God's Bible from his Roman prison about a Greek convert to the Christian faith named Epaphroditus. He was a fellow worker with Paul who had been very ill. Epaphroditus, as far as we know, was not a preacher or a deacon and he never performed a miracle. But the light his life cast still shines centuries later in the Holy Bible. When thinking about good Christian character, we should think about characteristics such compassion, courage, discipline, endurance, faithfulness, forgiveness, generosity, grace, holiness, hope, humility, justice, love, mercy, obedience, repentance, sacrifice, service, trust, truth, wisdom, prayer and contentment. Are these words descriptive of the life you live? They describe the life that Epaphroditus lived. He modeled a life that exemplified brotherhood, a work ethic, spiritual endurance and service for Our Awesome God's people to follow. The Christian characteristics that are seen by others in your life are very important to those around you and should include qualities such as love, compassion, discipline, faithfulness, truth, wisdom, and obedience. These are some of the characteristics Our Awesome God is slowly teaching you. What characteristics would Paul have used to describe your life? How are your characteristics being seen by others around you? Maybe you have few or no real Christian characteristics because you need Jesus Christ and His example in your life as Epaphroditus had. If so, come to our church and learn how to become a child of God. Our Awesome God helps His children develop these characteristics as they learn more about Him while traveling through life. It isn't easy to live life here on earth because Our Awesome God uses most things we do, good or bad, as an area for teaching us to use Jesus Christ as our example to follow. But eternity in heaven is worth it! Join us at Living Word Baptist Church as we pray and worship Him this Sunday at 9:30 AM for Bible Study and 10:30 AM for worship Service. Sunday evening at 6:00 PM we have Bible Study along with a children's program called AWANA which goes until 7:30 PM. On Wednesdays, we meet at 7:00 PM for Prayer Requests and Bible Study. First, it is time that you should know and love Our Awesome God as your creator and Savior. We can show you how from the Word of God and we love visitors.
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"And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth."
(Genesis 9:1 KJV) "And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited;..." (Exodus 16:35 KJV) Although there are several cities that predate 3800 BC, most of the history before 2300 BC involved three major ways of life that people followed: city life, nomadic herding and farming. The actual family life in each of these settings was slightly different but the overall work of the men, women and children remained about the same. The gender and age made a difference in what people were allowed to do. Our Awesome God slowly used each of these three groups of people and their ages to develop Families. By the time of Moses, the nomadic herding Family would have had the men hunting, killing animals in the wild and from the herds to eat, occasionally herding (camels, horses, sheep and goats, cows and oxen, etc), practicing warfare, worshipping, teaching the boys old enough to work with them and governing their Families. The women of this time would have cooked, gathered food except for meat, woven the fleece into rugs and blankets, laundered the clothes and put them away, cleaned the tent, and taken care of the children not working. They also taught the girls old enough to work, bathed themselves, bathed the children and, when possible, provided water for the men's baths and for eating and drinking purposes. The children of Moses' time started with simple tasks around the tent of their mother, with her guidance, until they were about 5-9 years of age and could start working with their father if they were boys or more complicated things with their mother if they were girls. Eventually, the children learned what the adults knew from herding techniques to laundry to how to worship Our Awesome God. The Family was a close interdependent group who usually learned to work well together. The Family was the place of learning to socialize, to work together, to depend on others as well as themselves and to worship Our Awesome God if they were part of Moses' Exodus. God fed them so they didn't need to kill their animals except to sacrifice them to God. He created the family so we would learn to work and depend on others as we saw, heard and experienced life. If you are a Christian who has strayed away from Our Awesome God or someone who has never been a Christian or a person who needs to help minister to others, join us at Living Word Baptist Church on Sundays at 9:30 AM for Bible Study and at 10:30 AM for the Praise and Worship Service. From 6:00 to 7:00 PM Sunday evening, we have a Bible Study and AWANA for children extending until 7:30 PM. On Wednesdays, we meet at 7:00 PM for Prayer Requests, and a Bible Study follows until 8:00 PM. We welcome all people and love them! "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law... Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
(Romans 13:8, 10 KJV) The apostle Paul wrote the Book of Romans and, in the 13th chapter, he wrote about love and a person's need to give everyone their due but especially our need to love our neighbors. In verse 13:8, he teaches us that our highest obligation toward men is our obligation to love them. There are other obligations which we will always have toward men, but these obligations are to be of less importance than our obligation of love. Paul doesn’t exclude those other obligations, but rather makes them less important than our highest obligation. Loving Our Awesome God is our first level of priority. Loving others is second and all other obligations (in their own levels of priority) are subordinate. Let's summarize the implications of this truth for just a moment. Our obligation to government is subordinate to our obligation to love others. But when we love others, we fulfill the law (Galatians 5:23). But if the government orders us to do to others that which is contrary to love, we would have to disobey the government. An example would be: a WWII German citizen who was ordered to betray known Jews so that they could be exterminated would have had difficulty doing so in a way that could be viewed as loving his neighbor. Romans 13:8-10 of Our Awesome God’s Bible not only give our obligation to love others a higher priority than our other obligations (such as to obey government and its laws), but it explains why this must be true: When we love others, we fulfill God's law. Fulfilling our higher duty assures that we will obey our other duties as citizens of a country as well as citizens of heaven. Loving Our Awesome God will not hinder us from loving others, and loving others will not keep us from our obligation to obey the law. It should just expand our ability to love. So love Him, learning as much as possible about this God that loves you and wants you to know His Kingdom and His expectations. Read His Book, the Holy Bible, and pray to Him. This love from everyone decreases wars! Learn more about Our Awesome God by reading His Holy Bible, praying to Him and worshipping in a church which preaches and teaches the Holy Bible. Join us at Living Word Baptist Church as we pray and worship Him this Sunday at 9:30 AM for Bible Study and 10:30 AM for worship Service. Sunday evening at 6:00 PM for Bible Study along with a children's program called AWANA which goes until 7:30 PM. On Wednesdays, we meet at 7:00 PM for Prayer Requests and prayer. First, it is time that you should know and love Our Awesome God as your creator and Savior. We can show you how from the Word of God and we love visitors. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
(Romans 8:14-15 KJV) When we are adopted into the family of Our Awesome God, we have certain responsibilities that are a must in order to feel comfortable and be accepted as the King's child. They include, at least, the following: 1) The children of the King should strive to live by the Words found in His Holy Bible (Luke 4:4). 2) The children of the King are led by the Holy Spirit and God's Bible (Romans 8:14). 3) The children of the King have access to God through prayers (Matthew 21:22) 4) The children of the King are adopted sons and heirs to God's kingdom (Romans 8:17). When we are children of the King, we should act as such, think as Christians should and live as Our Awesome God would want us to live. Are you living like you belong to Jesus? I hope so. Are you passionate about what He is passionate about? Your life should be going the way our Lord would want it to. Is His purpose your purpose, are you letting Him lead your life? Prayer should be at least three times a day, but to be really involved with Our Awesome God you need to talk to Him and get to know Him well. He is your Father, your King! We, as "heirs" and "adopted sons," need to know Him and His kingdom well. You can't direct others as Our Awesome God would want if you don't know what He wants and what His purpose is. You will direct a part of His kingdom in some manner, if you are a Christian. So learn all you can about Him. He has a purpose for your life on earth and part of it is to learn all about Him and His ways so that you can help Jesus Christ. This will be for eternity with Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord, there is always something new to learn and do. Our church is a loving church that wants to help others to a better understanding of Our Awesome God and His love, mercy and grace for all of mankind. Join us at Living Word Baptist Church as we love others while preaching and teaching from our Holy Bible about God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Our church has a Bible Study at 9:30 AM on Sunday and Worship Service at 10:30 AM and then from 6:00 to 7:00 PM there is another Bible Study along with a children's program called AWANA which goes until 7:30 PM. We love visitors! "But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard."
(Leviticus 25:4 KJV) Our Awesome God set up a beautiful way for the land to rest, for Hebrew slaves to be set free (Deuteronomy 15:12-18), for debts to be canceled (Deuteronomy 15:1-11) and just for people to take a look at what they had done the last 6 years as they rested. This was a sabbatical seventh year that they could put changes in order for the next 6 years. This rest also increased the fertility of the land. But did they use that seventh year as the Lord had commanded? It probably was forgotten, as were other of their good intentions. When we look at our busy life with something to do every minute, we realize we could use a seventh year to rest and take a look at what we have done the last 6 years. There are demands of family, church and work that might need a change. Think about that 7th year to rest and prayerfully refocus our lives to increase Our Awesome God's glory. What changes could we make to improve the next 6 years? Can we do it with God's help in a year? Couldn't we find time, even a week, to rest and look at changes that we should make to be more productive for our Lord? Our Awesome God wants you to rest and reevaluate what you have done and what you should change to make it better. This rest and prayer makes you realize the good things you have done with God's help, as well as how to change others and make them better. Our God is good! Our Awesome God wants you look back over the past 6 years, rest (even for a week) and, with His help, see what changes need to be made in your life. Praise the Lord! We (as a church) want all people in church, worshipping Our Awesome God with faith and obedience every Sunday. If you are not yet a Christian, it is time that you should know and love Our Awesome God as your Creator and Savior. Join us at Living Word Baptist Church as we pray and worship Him this Sunday at 10:30 AM and at 6:00 to 7:00 PM for Bible Study along with AWANA for children until 7:30 PM. On Wednesdays, we meet at 7:00 PM for Prayer Requests and a Bible Study follows until 8:00 PM. We love visitors! "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee... My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."
(Proverbs 3:1-2, 11-12 KJV) "As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee." (Genesis 17:4-5 KJV) While our present holiday called "Father's Day" was a long time in coming it is now a national holiday. Father’s Day is a day set apart to celebrate fatherhood, recognize the influence of fathers in our homes and society, and foster paternal bonds. But it wasn't until1966 that President Lyndon Johnson made a proclamation for the third Sunday of June to be Father’s Day. Finally, it was made an official national holiday when President Nixon signed a similar proclamation in 1972. Our Awesome God never set aside a special day to honor Biblical fathers, but He did say to Abraham, “I have made you a father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5), clearly indicating fatherhood was a place of honor in His eyes. The father was the leader of the family and as such should be honorable and upright leading his sons and family to follow the Lord. Those fathers, with respect and love of Our Awesome God and His Son, Jesus Christ, had fewer problems with their families. While this is not always true, it was the strong "back bone" of the United States of America until recently. Parents trade spouses frequently today and this usually confuses the children making their role model unclear at times. Christian fathers of today should be good role models whose example should show Christian principles, love, and care for his family and those around him while attending a Christian Church regularly. These fathers who show these characteristics are hard to find in today’s society. Pray and thank the Lord for those we have! Join us at LWBC as we work in Our Awesome God's vineyard to tell everyone about Jesus Christ and His salvation. We start with small groups on Sunday at 9:30 AM and Worship Service at 10:30 AM. There are many opportunities to learn about God in our programs which include Bible Study groups, Prayer Meetings at 7:00 PM on Wednesday and AWANA for children on Sunday evening at 6:00 PM. See what you can do and learn! "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."
(Proverbs 22:7 KJV) "The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth." (Psalms 37:21 KJV) When you have considered your living expenses (your needs), made provision for the Possible Problems to success and set up giving and wants, you have made your basic Financial Plan. The Budget is a tool that lets you track how well you are sticking to your plan. It will include the following: 1) All payments you must make (Psalms 37:21 KJV), 2) Taxes you expect to pay after withholding (if any)(Romans 13:6-7), 3) Your family average Needs (food, clothing, shelter, transportation), 4) Income average (6-12 months), 5) Emergency Saving, 6) Giving (Leviticus 27:32), and 7) Wants. This Budget is a living document and it will change whenever your income or expenses change significantly. To avoid reworking the plan, any change in a budget item must be balanced by changes to one or more other budget items. This should not happen often but any change in the Budget or Plan must be done with the entire family so everyone knows what and why changes have been made. By this time you have finished planning and budgeting. It is now your personal responsibility to watch your expenses daily and stay within the budget. You can give to God every week with confidence that your other responsibilities will be met. You should regularly review your plan and budget twice a year for any necessary changes. Our Awesome God is not concerned about the techniques you use to manage the things He gives you but He is concerned that you meet your worldly obligations as well as your obligations to God. Your plan will help you do all of that but it must be made and operated with prayer. Our Awesome God will help you if you ask Him. He owns everything!! So when your plan works, give God the glory and testify to others about His grace. (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:27-28) Our church is a loving church that wants to help others to a better understanding of Our Awesome God and His love, mercy and grace for all of mankind. Join us at Living Word Baptist Church as we love others while preaching and teaching from our Holy Bible about God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Our church has a Bible Study at 9:30 AM on Sunday and Worship Service at 10:30 AM and then at 6:00 PM there is another Bible Study. We love visitors! |
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December 2016
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