Saturday, October 12, 2024

SELF TALK

 

   Dianne Neal Matthews-  "I recently read an article in a psychology magazine that focused on self-talk, that inner voice most of us have that offers a running commentary throughout the day.

   This combination of conscious thoughts and subconscious beliefs helps our brain interpret and process our experiences. Positive, encouraging self-talk can help people combat fear and grow in confidence.

   Negative self-talk can lead people into depression, convincing them that they are a failure and that their situation will never improve. Like many people, I tend to hear the latter.

   Centuries ago, the Psalm writers knew how to correct unhelpful self-talk. They often began by venting negative emotions but then deliberately shifted their focus. They rehearsed God's past goodness and His promises for the future, often ending by stating an intention to trust and praise God.

   Like the psalmists, I can change my self-talk and change my perspective. After admittinig my fear, disappointment, or anger in prayer, I can remind myself that thanks to Jesus, I am forgiven, free, protected, and unconditionally loved.

   I don't have to let negative thoughts and feelings dictate my mood; I can choose to focus on truths that uplift my soul and give myself something good to talk about."

Let's pray-

     Father help me watch for negative self-talk, and be prepared to replace each of those thoughts with a Bible verse or statement that expresses what Jesus thinks about me. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

#56- Quote-

   "Is it not sad that our thoughts about the Holy Spirit are often coupled with grief and self-reproach? He bears the name of Comforter, and He is given to lead us to find in Christ our main delight and joy. There is something still more sad, though. He who dwells within us to comfort us is often grieved by us because we will not permit Him to accomplish His work of love. What a course of inexpressible pain to the Holy Spirit is all this prayerlessness in the church!" 
(p. 47 of Andrew Murray's book, The PRAYER LIFE, Persevering in Prayer)
 

1306-1310 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted- 
 
1306- Is. 58:9a "Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, 
           and he shall say, Here I am."
1307- Pro. 4:10a "Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings."
1308- Ecc. 12:1a "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth."
1309- Ecc. 5:6a "Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin."
1310- Jer. 17:18b "Let me not be dismayed."


 #56 Hymn- Come, Ye Thankful People, Come 

 The story behind this song:

  "In the fall of 1844, while Henry Alford was at Wymeswold, his first charge, the people of this hamlet decided to have a festival, rejoicing in the abundant harvest already gathered into their barns.

   For this particular occasion Alford wrote this song which has been sung, perhaps millions of times during Thanksgiving celebrations.

   After you sing this inspiring song, rededicate yourself to a life of thankfulness."


 Some encouraging words-

  "If the Church does not struggle in prayer for lost souls, the Spirit does not pursue them. If the Spirit does not pursue and draw people to God, then they will be lost. Yet, the Spirit can and will pursue; when the church does the work of prayer. He can and will pursue any person, who has not hardened his heart, to come to Christ." 
(p.65) DESTINED FOR THE THRONE, by Paul E. Bellheimer)


Upcoming posts:

19th-  WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE- Bill Crowder
 26th- THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT- Rich Carmicheal
11/2-   LOVE LIKE BLAZING FIRE- Winn Collier



The North Country Christian Fellowship Center Churches,

located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,

broadcast their Sunday services at 10 or 10:15

You can view past services too.

Sermon listing:https://www.cfconline.org/sermon-library 



Saturday, October 5, 2024

HOW DO YOU LOVE GOD?

  

 Dave Butts-  Living a life of obedience to the Word, confession and repentance from sin, and walking in holiness will all be demonstrations of our love for God. 

   Without in any way detracting from those parts of our Christian life, I would like to suggest one other very critical part of what it means to love God. It is very simple and so very human. To love God means to want to be with Him.

   Isn't that our human tendency? When we love someone, we find ourselves attracted to them. We want to spend time with them.

   In the Old Testament, David expressed that some kind of desire to be with God:

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple" (Ps. 27:4).

   This is the cry of a lovesick heart. "God I want to be with You. Wherever You are, that is where I want to be." This desire to be with God is written of again and again in the Psalms. Psalm 84 is a plea to live in the presence of God:

"How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God" (Ps. 84:1-2).

   The good news for us, as Christians, is that we do not have to journey to Jerusalem or anywhere else to be with the Lord. He has come to make His home with us.

   Jesus said, speaking of Himself and his Father, ". . . We will come to him (the one who loves Him) and make our home with him . . ." (John 14:23). The problem that most of us have on a daily basis is to simply be aware of the Lord's abiding presence.

   The lack of awareness is typically a lack of love. Because we are not passionate about our relationship with God . . . because we allow our things or other people to crowd our schedules . . . we forget the most amazing fact in the universe: God Himself has come to take up residence within us.

   Cultivating a love relationship with God is in some ways like any other relationship. . . it takes time. Time to spend with Him . . . listening, loving, enjoying His presence . . . It will involve changing how we view prayer and time in the Word.

   Rather than seeing prayer as a way of getting things from God, we begin to see it as time spent in His presence. Instead of reading the Bible for insight into our lives (though that is valuable), we begin to see our Bible as a meeting place with God.

   God loves us so very much that He endured the Cross so that we might spend eternity with Him. He wants us WITH Him. Our love response to Him will involve cultivating a lifelong, passionate desire to be with HIm — not just some day in heaven, but every day He gives us on this earth.

[Dave Butts (1953-2022) His message condensed.] 

Let's pray-

"Bless me, heavenly Father
   forgive my erring  ways,
Grant me strength to serve Thee,
   put purpose in my days.
Give me understanding
   enough to make me kind
So I may judge all people
   with my heart and not my mind.
And teach me to be patient
   in everything I do,
Content to trust Your wisdom
   and to follow after You.
And help me when I falter
   and hear me when I pray
And recieve me in Thy kingdom
   to dwell with Thee some day."

My Daily Prayer 



 
1301-1305 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted- 
 
1301- Ez. 7:4b "And ye shall know that I am the LORD."
1302- Ps. 104:30a "Thou sendests forth thy spirit, they are created."
1303- Neh. 13:27a "Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil?
1304- Ps. 60:6 "God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice."
1305- 1 Kings 8:42a "For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, 
          and of thy outstretched arm."


 #55  Hymn- O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

 
Author: George Matheson (1882) "It was composed with extreme rapidity; it seemed to me that its construction occupied only a few minutes, and I felt myself rather in the position of one who was being dictated to than of an original artist.  I was suffering from extreme mental distress, and the hymn was the fruit of pain."


 Some encouraging words-

  "The only time a person can offer the sacrifice of praise is when things seem to be going wrong, for it is only then we are asked to die to our own opinion, choices and common sense."  (p. 124 of DESTINED FOR THE THRONE, by Paul E. Billheimer)


Upcoming posts:

10/12- SEARCH ME O GOD- Lois J. Stucky
19th-  WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE- Bill Crowder
26th-  THE GLORIOUS MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT- Rich Carmicheal


The North Country Christian Fellowship Center Churches,

located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,

broadcast their Sunday services at 10 or 10:15

You can view past services too.

Sermon listing:https://www.cfconline.org/sermon-library 



















Saturday, September 28, 2024

WALKING ANEW

 

   Patricia Raybon- Applause rang out as a school's top students received certificates of excellence for academic achievement. But the program wasn't over. The next award celebrated students who weren't the school's 'best,' but instead were most improved.

   They'd worked hard to raise a failing grade, correct disruptive behavior, or commit to better attendance. Their parents beamed and applauded, acknowledging their children's turn to a hight path—seeing not their former shortcomings but their walk in a new way.

   The heart-lifting scene offers a small picture of how our heavenly Father sees us—not in our old life but now, in Christ, as His children. "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God," wrote John (John 1:12).

   What a loving perspective! So Paul reminded new believers that once "you were dead in your transgressions and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). But in fact, "we are God's handiword, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (v. 10).

   In this way, Peter wrote, we are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may decare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light," and we are now "the people of God" (Peter 2:9-10) Through God's eyes, our old path has no claim on us. 

Let's see ourselves as God does—and walk anew.


Let's pray-

   Father, when top students receive certificates of exellence for academic achievements, awards are given. Other awards for most improved students are given to some too. These are those who worked hard to raise their grades, correct disruptive behavior or committed to better attendance.
   No doubt their parents are grateful and proud of them, acknowledging their children's efforts to do their best, and now walk in a better way. This is a heart-lifting scene that offers a small picture of how You see usnot in our old sinful ways, but now in Christ, as Your children.
   It's a loving perspective, Father, that we who were dead in transgressions and sins, are called out of darkness and into Christ's wonderful light, and have become Your people. Through Your eyes, our old sinful path has no claim on us.
   For this we praise and honor You and the work Christ has, and is doing in us! Amen.


# 54  Quote-  on Jesus in Gethsemane-

   "Now we come to the most remarkable instance of all. In Gethsemane, we see that our Lord, according to His constant habit, consulted and arranged with the Father the work He had to do on earth. First, He pleaded with Him in agony and bloody sweat to let the cup pass from Him; when He understaood that this could not be, He prayed for strength to drink it, and He surrendered Himself with the words, Not my will, but thine, be done (Matthew 22:42). Jesus was able to meet the enemy full of courage, and in the power of God He gave Himself over to the death of the cross. He had prayed."
(Andrew Murray in The PRAYER LIFE, Presevering in Prayer, pg 45).


1296-1300 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted- 
 
1296- Jer. 49:7c "Is their wisdom vanished?"
1297- Ps. 51:9 "Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my inquities."
1298- Ps. 98:2a "The LORD hath made known his salvation."
1299- Jer. 37:9a "Thus saith the LORD; Decieve not yourselves."
1300- Ps. 109:31a "He shall stand at the right hand of the poor (in spirit).


 #54 Hymn-  O I Want to See HIm

 
   Arthor, R.H. Cornelius, known as Rufus Cornelius by his friends, was born in Blount Co., AL., January 24, 1872. He was educated in the public schools of Oneonta, the county seat. He began teaching in the public schools at an early age and at one time was associate Principle of the Oneonta High School. It was while teaching in the high school that he became interested in church music and began to study with some of the best teachers of the time.


 Some encouraging words-

   "God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. Do we realize that as Christians we have within us the selfsame Holy Spirit that was in the Lord Jesus when he was here on earth? The Spirit that enabled him will enable us." (p.172, Corrie Ten Boom in her book, Each New Day, 365 Reflections to Strengthen Your Faith)


Upcoming posts:

10/5- HOW DO YOU LOVE GOD?- Dave Butts
12th- SEARCH ME O GOD- Lois J. Stucky
19th- WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE- Bill Crowder



The North Country Christian Fellowship Center Churches,

located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,

broadcast their Sunday services at 10 or 10:15

You can view past services too.

Sermon listing:https://www.cfconline.org/sermon-library 






Saturday, September 21, 2024

SOMETIMES GOD SAYS NO

 

  

sometimes God says noKen Barnes- "Sometimes, God gives us what we need, not what we want.

In Series 3 of The Chosen, Jesus encounters a disciple called Little James, who is depicted as disabled. James wants Jesus to heal him before He goes on a mission to heal others. Jesus tells him that He could heal him on the spot, but He has something different in mind for him.

In the Bible, James the Less is never shown to be disabled. Still, the enactment illustrates a scriptural truth: God, in His sovereign foreknowledge, sometimes says no to give us something better. In relation to James’ situation, the reason given was that a disabled man praying for the healing of another would significantly impact the kingdom of God.

I believe God heals—and I have seen many healings—but I have also fasted and prayed fervently for others whom God did not heal. In the cases where the sickness was unto death, it can be heartbreaking to family and friends. Nonetheless, God can be after something higher than the miracle we seek.

I have been in churches where people come in seeking a miracle, and God does not grant them their request. They tend to lose interest in church activities, and we often never see them again. They obliviously were seeking the gift rather than the giver.

When Jesus’ disciples returned from a successful missionary journey, they rejoiced that even demons were subject to them in Christ’s name. Jesus’ retort, however, was, “But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven” (Luke 10:20 NLT).

No matter what you receive or don’t receive from God's hand, rejoice that your name is written in heaven. You will never see a greater miracle than the salvation of a soul."

"So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times, I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time, he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”  2 Corinthians 12:7b-8, 9a NLT

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and Greyerbaby.)


Let's pray-

     Father, what we want does not necessarily be what we need. The story today tells of a young man who wanted to be healed, so he could pray for the healing of others. It was not granted, as Jesus had something different in mind for him.
     You, in Your sovereign foreknowledge, do sometimes say "No," to give us something better. The inactment above showed the impacting of the kingdom, that God would give something better.
     We need to believe that You do heal, and that in cases where the sickness is unto death, You are to be trusted to help those involved to find something higher that the miracle they sought.
     Some come into churches seeking a miracle, and when it's not granted, they lose interest in the church activities and leave, never to come again. It is obvious that they weren't seeking You, but wanted a particular gift.
     When Jesus' disciples returned from a successful missionary journey, they rejoiced that even demons were subject to them in Christ's name! Jesus said to them that they were to rather rejoice because their names were registered in heaven!
     No matter what we receive or don't receive from Your hand, help us rejoice that our names are written in heaven, that it is a greater miracle; the salvation of our souls.
     We pray in the name of Jesus for understanding and enlightment, to trust in Your hearing and answering our prayers as You would see best. Amen


# 53- A Quote- A prayer by Dick Leggatt-

   "Lord, I confess that lately I have been tempted to give up. Circumstances have pressed in upon me, and thoughts have come to me about not going on anymore. Please forgive me for entertaining such thought.
   Lord Jesus, I focus now upon the example You set. Even facing crucifixion, You set Your face like flint to go to Jerusalem, the very place where you would face betrayal, pain and death. I join you now in setting my face like flint to move forward in God's purposes. Thank You for giving me the strength and the grace to move ahead. I look to You, the Author of my faith, and I declare that I will move forward with endurance.
   I place all the circumstances I am facing right now in Your hands. They are Yours to deal with, Lord. My job is to cling to You and move forward in Your will. So this is my proclamation: I am moving forward in Your strength and in Your grace. Amen.

   Now, it is time for us to move forward with a new sense of encouragement. Together, we fix our eyes on the Author of our faith, who endured hostility and suffering at the hand of men without flinching or turning to the right or to the left." Dick Leggatt 
(From April issue of Herald of His Coming 2024)


1291-1295One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted- 
 
1291-  Pro. 28:21a "To have respect of persons is not good."
1292-  Ps. 119:170 "Let my supplication come before thee; deliver me according to thy               word."
1293- Ecc. 5:2a "Be not rash with they mouth."
1294- Jer. 1:17a "Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise."
1295- Job 17:15a "And where is now my hope?"


 #53  Hymn- O Worship the King


 The information about this song,  is taken from the book by Robert J. MorganTHEN SINGS MY SOUL   (pg. 109)

   "In 1832, Robert Grant was appointed Judge Advocate General. This hymn was published in 1833, and he was knighted in 1834. He died in India, land of his early childhood on July 9, 1838. A nearby medical college was built in his honor and named for him. But his most lasting memorial is this majestic hymn of praise, calling us to worship the King of kings."


 Some encouraging words-

   "The connection between the prayer life and the Spirit life is close and lasting. It is not merely that we can receive the Spirit through prayer, but the Spirit life requires, as an indispensable thing, a continuous prayer life. This is very evident in the life of our Lord. A study of His life will give us a wonderful view of the power and holiness of prayer."
(Pg. 41 ofThe PRAYER LIFE by Andrew Murray)

Upcoming posts:

9/28th- WALKING ANEW- Patricia Ranbow
10/5thHOW DO YOU LOVE GOD?- Dave Butts
12th-    SEARCH ME O GOD- Lois J. Stucky       



The North Country Christian Fellowship Center Churches,

located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,

broadcast their Sunday services at 10 or 10:15

You can view past services too.

Sermon listing:https://www.cfconline.org/sermon-library 


Saturday, September 14, 2024

IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

  

Andrew  Murray- "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, . . . If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it . . . I have. . . ordained you . . . that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you, . . . Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.  . . .At that day ye shall ask in My name . . ." (John 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23-24, 26).

   "In My name"—repeated six times over. Our Lord knew how slow our hearts would be to take it in, and He so longed that we should really believe that His name is the power in which every knee should bow, and which every prayer could be heard, that He did not weary of saying it over and over.

   Between the wonderful "watsoever ye shall ask," and the divine "I will do it," this one word is the simple link: "In My name." Our asking and the Father's giving are to be e equally in the name of Christ. Everything in prayer depends upon our apprehending this.

       As we grasp the meaning to the words, "At that day ye shall ask in My name"—the day when in the Holy Spirit Christ came to live in His disciples—we shall no longer be staggered at the greatness of the promise: "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, I will do it."

   What is asked in the name of Christ, in union with Him, out of His nature and Spirit, must be given. As Christ's prayer nature lives in us, His prayer power becomes ours too. The honest and wholeheartedness of our surrender to all that we see that Christ seeks to be in us, will be the measure of our spiritual fitness and power to pray in His name.

   "If ye abide in Me," He says, "ye shall ask what ye will" (John 15:7). As we live in Him, we get the spiritual power to avail ourselves of His name. As the branch wholly given up to the life and service of the vine can count upon all its sap and strength for its fruit, so the believer, who in faith has accepted the fullness of the Spirit to possess his whole life, can indeed avail himself of all the power of Christ's name.

   Here on earth Christ as man came to reveal what prayer is. To pray in the name of Christ we must pray as He prayed on earth, as He taught us to pray, in union with Him as He now prays in heaven. We must in love study and in faith accept Him as our Example, our Teacher, our Intercessor.

   When we realize what time Christ spent in prayer, and how the great events of His life were all connected with special prayer, we learn the necessity of absolute dependence on and inceasing direct communicaiton with the heavenly world if we are to live a heavenly life or to exercise heanenly power around us."

(Abridged from the Ministry of Intercession by Andrew Murray)


Let's pray-

     Father, "In My Name" was repeated six times in the above verse. Evidently, You knew how slow our hearts would be to believe that You longed for us to believe that every prayer would be heard, that You wouldn't tire of our saying it over and over.
     Our asking in Christ's name, is the key to have our prayers answered. Everything depends upon our understanding this. Using His name means His whole nature, person and work and disposition and Spirit to be involved. We're to pray in unison with Him, what He wants done.
     As a new believer grows in the foundation of his faith and developes confidence, he'll enter more deeply and truly into union with Christ. Abiding in Him, we learn to pray in His Name, Spirit and nature that the Holy Spirit imparts in us.
     Christ is our Example, Teacher and our Intercessor in heaven! His life, while on earth, showed us how effective prayer works. The great events of His life were all connected with special prayer; He had direct communication with You! If we want to live a heavenly life and exercise heavenly power around us, we must love to study and in faith, follow His example.
     We pray for this type of prayer to be what we are presently involved in, to have Christ's power manifested in our praying in His Name for His help to accomplish Your will, Father. Amen.
  

#52 Poem - Taken from Helen Steiner Rice's Poems of Faith, (p. 84):

God, Open My Eyes

"God open my eyes
   so I may see
And feel Your presence
   close to me,
Give me strength
   for my stumbling feet
As I battle the crowd
   on life's busy street,
And widen the vision
   of my unseeing eyes
So in passing faces
   I'll recognize
Not just a stranger,
   unloved and unknown,
But a friend with a heart
   that is much like my own,
Give me perception
   to make me aware
That scattered profusely
   on life's thoroughfare
Are the best gifts of God
   that we daily pass by
 As we look at the world
   with an UNSEEING EYE."
 

1286-1290 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted- 
 
1286- Ps. 149:5 "Let the saints be joyful in glory. Let them sing aloud upon their beds."
1287- Is. 62:3 "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God."
1288- Job 13:23b "Make me to know my trnasgression and my sin."
1289- Ps. 135:13 "Thy name, O LORD, endureth forever, and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations."
1290- Lam. 5:15a "The joy of our heart is ceased."


 #52  Hymn- There Is a Fountain
 
The information about this song,  is taken from the book by Robert J. MorganTHEN SINGS MY SOUL  (p. 69)

"William Powper is one of God's gracious gifts to those suffering from depression. He shows us that our emotional struggles often give us heightened sensitivity to the heart of God and to the needs of others."


 Some encouraging words-

   In dark times, we experience God's closeness. His Word becomes more precious, and we often pay more attention than when on the mountaintop, where we seldom, if ever, learn anything. Instead, we receive most of our training and knowledge about God and the Christian life when walking through our dark valleys.


Upcoming posts:

9/21- SOMETIMES GOD SAYS NO- Ken Barnes
9/28-  WALKING ANEW- Patricia Ranbow
10/5-  HOW DO YOU LOVE GOD?- Dave Butts


The North Country Christian Fellowship Center Churches,

located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,

broadcast their Sunday services at 10 or 10:15

You can view past services too.

Sermon listing:https://www.cfconline.org/sermon-library