Greetings Brethren and Friends,

Before the foundation of the world, God had a plan to redeem us from our sins for the purpose of glorifying Him.  He put all things under His feet, and gave Christ to be to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all-Ephesisan 1.22,23. He chose us to be with Him before the foundation of the world-Ephesians 1.4.  This was the plan of the soverign, all knowing, all powerful God.  God has always wanted us to be holy and without blame in a relationship with Him.  He loved us and sent His Son Jesus, that through Him, by His grace we might be saved.  But it is really not about us, it's all for God's glory.  We should be at the center of God's world, not He at the center of our world.  Through Jesus we are redeemed and accepted into fellowship with Him and In Him we obtain an eternal inheritance and He gives us the Holy Spirit to seal our inheritance.  We are beneficiaries of God glorifying Himself and we should be grateful and thankful.  But it's not about us.  It's all about Him.

Greetings Brethren and Friends,

Jesus taught His disciples (and us) to pray-Matthew 6,9.  His model prayer was to our Father in heaven and included the words, HALLOWED (holy) be thy name, to show that we should honor our God and to speak to Him with all humility and respect.  Our prayers should express our weaknesses and our dependance on Him for His strength and His forgiveness for our confessed and repented sins.  Pray earnestly, pray often for our families, for the spread of the Kingdom, for our Elders, our ministers, our enemies and those who are outside of Christ.  The avenue of prayer is a gift given us by God and we should give daily thanks to Him for His love, His mercy and His kindness.  Jesus frequently prayed to the Father before speaking, acting or making decisions and we would be wise to follow His example.  Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?

Father, humbly and respectfully we come to You on bended knee to thank You for your love, mercy and kindness that brought us Jesus, our Savior and redeemer.  We thank You for gifting us with the avenue of prayer, our Only means to talk to You and express our thanks and our need for Your help and guidance as we face the trials, tribulations and temptations in this lost and dying world.  We pray for our ministers who are spreading Your gospel both here and abroad.  Bless them and strengthen them as they do their work. Bless and help our Elders who are keeping watch for our souls.  We pray for the lost and for our enemies that their hearts might be softened and they would turn back to You.

Thank You for the kindness You show us each day; praise and bless Your holy name.  This prayer we offer in Jesus name, AMEN

Greetings Brethren and Friends,

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  And God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of Your Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Father, we come to you this morning, not to ask for anything more than You have blessed us with, but to thank You for the love You have shown us through Your Son, Jesus, and for His giving up His Life that we might have a more abundant life in Him.  By this Father we can know love.  We have great sorrow to know that our sins are the reason for His death.  But we find peace and joy in our hearts to know the love You have for us.  And that now in You through Jesus, we have received reconciliation. 

In Jesus name we offer these words of thanks. AMEN

RE: John 3.16; Romans 5.6,10.

Greetings Brethren and Friends,

In both the old and new testament scriptures speak of a perverse and crooked generation, a stubborn and rebellious generation, an adulterous generation, a faithless generation.  From generation to generation it seems God's people have had a difficult time remaining faithful to God.  Because of sin; faith can weaken, hearts can harden and go astray from His word.  In Romans 15.4, Paul told those in Rome and by extension, us, whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.  But have we learned?  Or is this generation like those of the past?  (Questions to ponder).  We live in a world of trials, troubles and temptations.  But there is still hope for our generation, for the One who has been given all authority in heaven and earth.  Jesus the Christ has told us we would face these things in the world, but that we should be of good cheer FOR HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD!  See John 16.33. Sin is the reason for trials and tribulations.  And Satan dresses up temptations to look so good and inviting that we can and some do fall away and walk with the Lord no more.  Don't fall for Satan's lies.  Stay close to the Lord and you will become more than conquerers.  Rejoice in the Lord and thank God for Jesus.

Father,  we give thanks to You for Jesus.  Help us to stay firmly planted on Your word that we not fall for Satan's lies.  Increase our faith.  Help our unbelief.  Strengthen our hearts as we walk with You in the light of Your words.  Help us to follow the way of escape which You provide from all temptations.

In Jesus name, AMEN 

Ref: Philippians 4.4

Greetings Brethren and Friends,

Our God is a merciful God (Deuteronomy 4.31), who has shown us what is good and requires us to Love mercy (Micah 6).

Jesus said "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."(Matthew 5.7). His mercy is everlasting (Psalms 100.5). Mercy and truth have met together (Psalms 85.10). And the wise man said, "Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.(Proverbs 3.3). God who is rich in mercy, has shown His mercy to us because of His great love for us (Ephesians 2.4), "therefore we should be merciful toward others, even our enemies just as our Father is merciful.

(Read Luke 6.27-36).