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Showing posts from June, 2012

Fresh Start Devotionals

June 30 Are You in the Picture? We’ve had a bad habit for several years, we load the film in the camera, take the pictures, and then put the roll of film in a dresser drawer. Recently, Susan’s been taking a few rolls a week to get them developed. We never know what we’re going to see when we open the package. It’s the closest we get to playing the lottery. The pictures range from snapshots of church functions to pictures of our children when they were tiny, but they do have one thing in common—Susan isn’t in the picture. Why? She’s the official family photographer. While thumbing through the pictures, I remembered a story Pastor Dan Rhodes told me last year. Dan is the pastor of two rural churches in Colorado and stays busy. Like most pastors, he has plenty to do, but by being the pastor of two churches, he has twice the committee meetings, and twice the worship services. As Dan tells the story, his daughter’s third grade teacher requested a parent teacher conference with h

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

June 30 WHY DO I SING ABOUT JESUS? Words and Music by Albert A. Ketchum, 1894–?   Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing to the glory of His name; offer Him glory and praise! (Psalm 66:1, 2)   Fill me with gladness from above,   Hold me by strength divine;   Lord, let the glow of your great love   Through my whole being shine. —Unknown The Christian life was meant to be a joyous experience. One of the most effective ways to demonstrate our inner joy is to carry a song upon our lips throughout our daily activities. It was my father who first taught me this truth. As a painter-decorator, Dad became known to his many customers as the “singing painter.” Singing his favorite hymns while he worked became his natural way of life. At his funeral, many of his customers, both believers and nonbelievers, told me of the impact my father had upon them as they observed his cheerful attitude while he worked. It is important that we carry a song of the Lord with us. The world needs t

Fresh Start Devotionals

June 29 Persecution A few years ago at a Mission’s Conference at Glorieta, New Mexico I met one of our missionaries to China. She told me about a Christian friend of hers who was attending the “three self” church. Three self stands for Self governing, self supporting and self propagating-it is the official church, the government-controlled church in China. Unfortunately, the pastors of these churches are usually not Christians and are placed in the position so they can identify Christians in the congregation and report their activities to the government, resulting in persecution that includes getting fired from their jobs or even jail time. According to the missionary, the pastor identified her friend as a true believer and was beginning to report her to the authorities. It looked like she was about to come under persecution, so they began to pray for God’s intervention. Soon after they began praying, the pastor was fired and then turned to the woman she was trying to destroy f

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

June 29 CHRIST LIVETH IN ME Daniel W. Whittle, 1840–1901   I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ liveth in me. (Galatians 2:20) “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). One can almost hear the apostle Paul exhorting the carnal Christians at Corinth with these strong words. How important it is that believers realize with conviction that their earthly bodies are the residence of the living God! Such an awareness should cause us to have an earnest concern for the proper care of our bodies. It is also the motivation we need for Christ-like living—to allow His perfection to be demonstrated in our mortal flesh.   Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord, Oh, to be lost in Thee;   Oh, that it may be no more I, but Christ that lives in me. —C. H. Forrest The evidence of true conversion is the growing awareness of Christ within us as the Holy Spirit confirms this fact with our human spi

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

June 28 THE HAVEN OF REST Henry L. Gilmour, 1836–1920   We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. (Hebrews 6:19) What stabilizers are to a ship in stormy water, the conscious presence of Christ is to a Christian during the storms and stresses of daily living. Christians have never been promised an exemption from any of life’s storms. The Scriptures teach that “man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). It is our reaction to life’s storms that reveals the level of our spiritual maturity. We can either become bitter and belligerent, or we can use the experience to develop greater spiritual strength as we learn to rely more fully on our Lord. Not only do we have the indwelling presence of Christ, but we also have the assurance that Jesus Christ is in heaven today interceding for us. Just as an Old Testament priest stood behind the

Third Installment on "Faith"

Third Installment on  "Faith" This Wednesday is the third installment and final installment on  "Faith" . This series carried with it the manner of  "Faith"  leading up to the prerequisite of "Prayer" to believe in  "Faith"   that God will provide your request in your supplication if you have  "Faith" . I pray that you have been richly blessed and anointing in fulfillment of your prayer-life through Christ Jesus.  - Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy

Prayer

Lord , have mercy on the people in Florida (USA) that asked  You  for water because they were tired of not having any water.  Now,  You  have sent them two (2) tropical storms that one brought them much rain and they complained; now there is a second tropical storm that is reaping heavy rains, floods, evacuations, sink holes, roads closures and foolish deaths of people that tried  You  in the oceans. Lord , may this  Your  rains teach the people that  You're  in command and they need to stop blaming  You  (mother nature--Lol) for too much rain.  You  can open and close the heavens when  You  want to. There is no "Big Bang Theory" or "No  God "(Atheistic believes) or any god that can do what  You  do when  You  want to do it! Lord , with  Your  rains, may the people learn of  You  through  Your  Son Christ Jesus  for their souls salvation and believe:  "that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the e

Fresh Start Devotions

To The Penny “Lord,” I’d pray, “we’re not making it. Everything we make is going to pay for Seminary and the new baby, we need more money.” We weren’t economically challenged. We were flat broke. We were sharing a small apartment with several hundred cockroaches and often were only able to eat a partial meal each day. Times were tough. The church I was pastoring was growing, but most of the new money was going into programs and for the new building we were planning. I took on some side jobs teaching Speech at a Christian school and substituting in the public school system to help ease the pressure, but we needed divine intervention. We were in over our heads. When I prayed about our situation, I kept hearing God say the same thing—”increase your giving.” “You’ve got to be kidding,” I’d pray, “increase our giving? You don’t understand, we need more money, not less.” We were already tithers, giving 10% of our income to the Lord, but now He was asking us to take a step of fa

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

June 26 NO ONE EVER CARED FOR ME LIKE JESUS Words and Music by Charles F. Weigle, 1871–1966   … Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night? (Job 35:10) It is not difficult to sing when all is going well. But often God gives a special song to one of his hurting children during the night times of their life. Believers find new joys in their nights of sorrow and despair, and they discover a greater closeness with their Lord during times of deep need. The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation while on the barren island of Patmos; John Bunyan completed the classic Pilgrim’s Progress while in the Bedford jail; Beethoven composed his immortal 9th Symphony while totally deaf; and Fanny Crosby once remarked, “If I had not lost my sight, I could never have written all the hymns God gave me.” Charles Weigle’s song, “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus,” was the product of one of the darkest periods of his life. Weigle spent most of his life as an itinerant evangelist and gos

Prayer

May the Lord bless you all as you begin a new week. Remember that you have been given only the moment that you read this prayer and the next moment is not promise to you, so, ... did you  STOP  TO PRAY THIS MORNING? If not,  STOP  TO PRAY. May the  Lord  watch between me and you in  his  precious  Son Christ Jesus'  name. Amen. - Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy

Fresh Start Devotionals

To The Penny “Lord,” I’d pray, “we’re not making it. Everything we make is going to pay for Seminary and the new baby, we need more money.” We weren’t economically challenged. We were flat broke. We were sharing a small apartment with several hundred cockroaches and often were only able to eat a partial meal each day. Times were tough. The church I was pastoring was growing, but most of the new money was going into programs and for the new building we were planning. I took on some side jobs teaching Speech at a Christian school and substituting in the public school system to help ease the pressure, but we needed divine intervention. We were in over our heads. When I prayed about our situation, I kept hearing God say the same thing—”increase your giving.” “You’ve got to be kidding,” I’d pray, “increase our giving? You don’t understand, we need more money, not less.” We were already tithers, giving 10% of our income to the Lord, but now He was asking us to take a step of fa

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (

June 25 O HAPPY DAY Philip Doddridge, 1702–1751   I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10) It is always encouraging to share in a testimonial service by recalling with other believers the time we responded to God’s loving invitation for personal salvation. To remember what we were, how we were going, and where we could be today had not God encountered us is truly an important spiritual activity. But we must also be quick to note that the “happy day” of our new birth was never intended to be the final goal for our lives. Rather it was the starting point for developing a Christ-like life and an endless fellowship with our Lord. Along with Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley, Philip Doddridge is generally ranked as one of England’s finest 18th century hymn writers. “O Happy Day,” a text which expresses so aptly the sense of joy in a personal relationship with Go

From Suicide to Salvation

June 24, 2012    From Suicide to Salvation       Acts 16:25–34           I.      Introduction          A.      Drama in a Dungeon          B.      Paul and Silas in Prison          1.      Their feet in stocks          2.      At midnight, they pray and praise the Lord          C.      Questions from the Darkness           II.      Body          A.      What Makes the Soul Delight? ( v. 25 )          1.      The pain, the darkness, tomorrow’s prospects          2.      Reasons they might have been depressed            a.      They had obeyed the Macedonian call ( 16:9 )            b.      They had been leading people to Christ            c.      They had been sensitive to human needs            d.      Now they were in prison          3.      Nevertheless, they praised God          4.      How can the soul delight in the dark?            a.      By focusing on Jesus rather than problems            b.      By identifying with Jesus in suffering            c

Fresh Start Devotionals

June 23 Peace “Peace on Earth, good will toward men?” Not in the shopping malls in America. Christmas, it seems, is bringing out the worst in some people. “No matter how fast you go, it’s not fast enough for some people,” said Dee Stripp, a part-time clerk at the Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, Michigan. “People don’t seem to have common courtesy anymore.” The holiday anger has a name “retail rage.” Shoppers feel mistreated, employees feel abused. “People are at the limit of their tolerance,” said Christopher McGoey, a professional security consultant. The hostility isn’t just between employees and customers. Sometimes customers come to blows with one another. Two women got into a fight over the last $39.95 scooter at the Jackson, Mississippi Wal-Mart store the day after Thanksgiving. Both of the women and the security guard were injured in the incident. (http://detnews.com/2000/features/0012/04/a01–157302.htm) How’s your retail rage? You doing OK? I doubt that I’ll slug some

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

June 23 I’D RATHER HAVE JESUS Mrs. Rhea F. Miller, 1894–1966   For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21) The inspiring and challenging words of this hymn, written by Mrs. Rhea Miller, so influenced 23–year-old George Beverly Shea that they determined the direction of his entire life. As he began to compose a melody for these moving lines, he decided to devote his singing talent to God’s glory alone. Growing up with devoted Christian parents, Bev was encouraged to use his fine singing voice often in the services of the Wesleyan Methodist churches of which his father was a minister. Financial needs of the family made it necessary for him to leave college and work in an insurance office. However, he continued singing in churches and for Christian radio programs. Unexpectedly he was offered an audition for a secular singing position in New York City and passed the test. The opportunity for a substantial salary and wide recognition made Bev’s decision very

Fresh Start Devotionals

The Patter of Little Feet Elizabeth had long since resigned herself to the fact that she would never hear the patter of little feet in the parsonage where she and her husband, Zechariah lived. Elizabeth was barren. Barren—the very word elicits thoughts of sand blowing across a desert wasteland. Zechariah was in the sanctuary carrying out his priestly duties, when God interrupted him. Gabriel, the angel that stands in the very presence of God, left his coveted place to stand in the presence of God’s priest. Shocked by the angelic sight, Zechariah became frightened. Like many worshipers today, Zechariah wasn’t expecting to hear a word from the Lord while he was doing his religious duty. Gabriel had some good news: Luke 1:13 NLT “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.” “Thy prayer has been heard”—what prayer! Zechariah hadn’t done any praying for a child in year

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

June 22 IN JESUS James Procter, dates unknown   The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1) This song is the testimonial hymn of an avowed atheist who led others in a vain search for the true meaning of life before finding his answer in Jesus. James Proctor grew up in a Christian home and attended church and Sunday school regularly in Manchester, England. In his teens, however, he began to read extensively the writing of infidels and a group called The Free Thinkers. Gradually his faith in God began to be shaken. Eventually James renounced all interest in Christianity. He joined the Free Thinkers’ Society and soon became its president. Some time later, James Procter became seriously ill and feared that he would not live. Finally in desperation, he called for a minister of the gospel, who came to Procter’s bedside and led him to a definite conversion. Soon after this, as Procter’s sister sat beside his bed, he asked her to locate in his dresser two verses he had

Fresh Start Devotionals

June 21 Patriotism My mom made Susan a beautiful vest that displays several patriotic symbols. Susan asked me “do you think I can wear this anytime, or only in July.” I told her she should be proud to display patriotic symbols anytime. She wore it this morning as she left for work. What if Patriotism were limited to July 4th. Wouldn’t that be ridiculous? I once served in a Church whose leadership looked more like a delegation of the United Nations than a Baptist committee. We had one Japanese American, a couple of Canadians, a couple of Californians and a British national. We were planning a picnic for the early part of July. I was feeling a bit precocious, so I asked the Brit if they had 4th of July in England. She gave me one of those what-are-you-talking-about-glances. You know, the way the school librarian looks at you when she tilts her head and looks over her reading glasses. “Of course we don’t have the 4th of July,” she said. “What do you do, skip from the 3rd to the 5t

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

June 21 MY FAITH HAS FOUND A RESTING PLACE Lidie H. Edmunds, 19th century   I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. (2 Timothy 1:12) Saving faith is much more than a commitment to a creed, church, or a doctrinal system. It must be a commitment to a person—Jesus Christ. Doctrinal statements and creeds are important in defining and delineating truth, but they must never replace a personal relationship with “The Truth.” We can get so caught up in our creedal statements, interpretations and arguments, or church traditions that we lose the sense of simple, child-like trust in Christ and his written Word. This was the concern of the apostle Paul—“I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Again and again we must take inventory of ourselves and determine what is the real foundation of
Second Installment on "Faith" This Wednesday is the second installment, and several Wednesday's to follow will be sermon outlines on  "Faith" . This series carry with it the manner of  "Faith"  leading up to the prerequisite of "Prayer" to believe in  "Faith"   that God will provide your request in your supplication if you have  "Faith" . Follow this series in the following weeks to learn about  "Faith"   first, to lead up to an anointing and fulfillment prayer-life through Christ Jesus.  - Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy

Faith: What It Is and What It Does!

    Faith: What It Is and What It Does!       Hebrews 11:1           I.      Introduction          A.      An Important Word in the Bible          1.       Ephesians 2:8–9 : We are saved by faith in Christ          2.       Romans 5:1 : We are justified by faith in Christ          B.      Faith Defined          1.      The assurance of things hoped for          2.      The conviction of their reality          3.      Believing God to the point of action          4.      Humanity’s favorable response to God’s revelation          C.      How Faith Affects our Lives           II.      Body          A.      Faith Made Abel Worship God ( v. 4 )          1.      We do not know many details of Abel’s faith            a.      We do not know just how much was revealed to him            b.      Remember that Adam walked with God          2.      We do know that his faith caused him to worship God            a.      Picked the choicest lamb as an offering            b.    

Fresh Start Devotionals

June 19 Patience The alarm clock screams at you at an ungodly hour. Your kids can’t find their socks, won’t look for them and expect you to know where they are. The milk and your husband have something in common … they are both spoiled. He’s upset because he wants to hear “snap, crackle and pop” while he reads the paper. If he mentions the milk one more time you’re fully prepared to give him “snap, crackle and pop!” It won’t be in his cereal bowl. You look at your watch, “oh no late again.” You rush through your routine, get dressed as fast as you can. “I can’t be late again.” Oh No! Your last pair of hose just got a run. Isn’t that the way it always is? Dressed in your best jeans, you turn the key in the car. NOTHING! Your car won’t start. What a day, your hose runs and your car won’t! Life is filled with challenging days, and we can’t do anything to change that fact, but we can do something about the way we react to them. Challenging days can be filled with life when we app

mazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

June 19 NOW I BELONG TO JESUS Words and Music by Norman J. Clayton, 1903–   If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. (Romans 14:8)   God is FOR us—that is good.   God is WITH us—that is better.   God is IN us—that is best! —Unknown We hear much these days about the problem of homeless people—people of the street with no place to go and no one who cares. Can we really appreciate the terrible state of despair and loneliness experienced by these masses? Man was created by God to enjoy His fellowship and the fellowship of family and friends. All of us have a need to belong to someone and something. The greatest “belonging” in life is described by the Heidelberg Catechism, which begins its instruction in this way: Question—“What is your only comfort in life and death?” Answer—“That I, with body and soul, am not my own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior, Jesus Chris

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions

June 18 SAVED, SAVED! Words and Music by Jack P. Scholfield, 1882–1972   Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13)   Indulgence says, “Drink your way out.”   Philosophy says, “Think your way out.”   Science says, “Invent your way out.”   Industry says, “Work your way out.”   Communism says, “Strike your way out.”   Militarism says, “Fight your way out.”   Christ says, “I AM THE WAY OUT!” —Unknown We commonly use many terms to describe a Christian—“saved,” “born again,” “justified.” Although these words are important to us who understand and appreciate them, they can sometimes be confusing and misunderstood by anyone who is unfamiliar with a biblical vocabulary. To people who are seeking, we must always be ready to explain these terms in language that is relevant to them. A personal encounter with Christ is much more important than the terminology we use to describe this salvation experience. We must emphasize that it is Christ and Christ

Fresh Start Devotions

June 18 Patience The alarm clock screams at you at an ungodly hour. Your kids can’t find their socks, won’t look for them and expect you to know where they are. The milk and your husband have something in common … they are both spoiled. He’s upset because he wants to hear “snap, crackle and pop” while he reads the paper. If he mentions the milk one more time you’re fully prepared to give him “snap, crackle and pop!” It won’t be in his cereal bowl. You look at your watch, “oh no late again.” You rush through your routine, get dressed as fast as you can. “I can’t be late again.” Oh No! Your last pair of hose just got a run. Isn’t that the way it always is? Dressed in your best jeans, you turn the key in the car. NOTHING! Your car won’t start. What a day, your hose runs and your car won’t! Life is filled with challenging days, and we can’t do anything to change that fact, but we can do something about the way we react to them. Challenging days can be filled with life when we app

Father's Day

Father’s Day “Love, Father” Dr. Burns Jenkins was a popular preacher and writer of a generation ago. When his son went to college, Jenkins admonished him not to join a certain fraternity. This, of course, was the very fraternity young Jenkins joined. For months he lived with the secret. Then, as he spoke to a church youth group one night, he was smitten by a sense of unworthiness. Returning to his room, he wrote his father in detail of his disobedience. Two days later he received this wire: “It’s all right. I forgive you. I knew it two days after you did it. Love, Father.” Too Late “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Sam. 18:33b). The sun and wind of the centuries have failed to dry the tears or still the anguish of this exceedingly sorrowful cry. Who was this distraught person? A neurotic parent? No, a king—King David! David was the first king in history to be selected according to ability rath

The Prodigal’s Father

June 17, 2012     The Prodigal’s Father Luke 15:11–32           I.      Introduction          A.      My Favorite Father in the Bible          1.      Chosen by Jesus to illustrate the Heavenly Father          2.      He must then be the ideal earthly father to study          B.      He was a Father of Two Sons Who were Prodigal for a Time          1.      The younger was prodigal in choosing the pleasures of sin          2.      The older was prodigal in choosing pride of self          C.      Because the Father was what he was, the prodigal became what he should be          1.      The younger son returning and the older in decision          2.      What king of a father was he?           II.      Body          A.      He was an Approachable Father ( vv. 12–18 )          1.      The text would seem to give some family history            a.      Seems that the mother of the boys had died            b.      Perhaps at the birth of the youngest son          

A Unique Person in God

In His own image God created man, He formed his body from the dust of the earth; But more than that, to all who are in Christ He gives eternal life by second birth. —Hess Each person is a unique expression of God’s loving design.

Fresh Start Devotionals

June 16 Passion In his 84 years, Thomas Edison patented over a thousand inventions. He is most famous for inventing the light bulb, but made more money off the alkaline battery. Edison was a bulldog, unwilling to accept failure as a final outcome to his efforts. Before he successfully invented the alkaline battery, he failed 9000 times! Edison credited his success to hard work. “Genius is one percent inspiration,” Edison said, “and 99 percent perspiration.” No one will debate the fact that Edison was a hard worker. He built a laboratory beside his vacation home in Fort Myers, FL and he is known for sleeping very little. He was unstoppable. On his 80th birthday he announced the formation of a company to do research to develop rubber. He was relentless. Why did he work so hard? Was it determination? Was it will power? Was it discipline? No. I believe the key to Edison’s success was his PASSION to invent. Determination, discipline and will power will only take a person so far,

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions; JUST AS I AM

June 16 JUST AS I AM Charlotte Elliott, 1789–1871   Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away.” ( John 6:35, 37 ) Often we feel that if only we were in different circumstances or had some special talent, we could be a better witness for God and serve Him more effectively. Today’s hymn was written by a bed-ridden invalid who felt useless to do anything except express her feelings of devotion to God. Yet Charlotte Elliott’s simply worded text has influenced more people for Christ than any hymn ever written or perhaps any sermon ever preached. As a young person in Brighton, England, Miss Elliott was known as “carefree Charlotte.” She was a popular portrait artist and a writer of humorous verse. At the age of 30, however, a serious ailment made her an invalid for life. She became listless and dep

A Father's Day Prayer

Happy Father's Day Please don't buy dad a tie or handkerchief; he wants an electronic gadget--these are modern times: iPad, iPod, smart phone, Kindle Fire, Nook, Android or a gaming system. Amen.

Fresh Start Devotionals

Partnership We were quite a pair. At my last church, there were five of us on staff, two full-time people, me and the secretary and three part-time ministers. One of the part-time pastors was Dr. McGuffin, a semi-retired pastor who’d spent the bulk of his ministry pastoring in New Mexico and California. He did some of the preaching and most of the ministry with the Senior Adults in the church. But his greatest contribution was the almost weekly trips he and I would take together to the Pecos River to hunt for ‘bows. To this day I miss fishing for rainbow trout in New Mexico. I still read the fishing reports for the area on the Internet several times a year. Because we both loved the outdoors and enjoyed playing dominos, we spent a good bit of time together. One afternoon we decided to go to a drive-through burger stand for lunch. At the time, I hated drive-through windows because it was after I lost my voice to thyroid cancer, but before God restored it through the work of an

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions; IN TIMES LIKE THESE

June 15 IN TIMES LIKE THESE Words and Music by Ruth Caye Jones, 1902–1972   Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” ( John 6:68 ) Wars, earthquakes, famines, violence, drugs, child abuse, humanism, the occult, New Age … When world events and ideologies like these seem ominous and unsettling to us or when personal sorrows or tragedies confront us, where can we go but to the Lord? How comforting it is to know that we can always flee to Him and rest securely on our “Solid Rock.” During the fearful days at the height of World War II, when the stress and strain of daily living seemed almost overwhelming, the comforting hymn “In Times Like These” was written. In the midst of a busy day as a housewife, Ruth Caye Jones felt a direct inspiration from the Holy Spirit. She stopped her work to quickly put down both words and music just as they were given to her by God. Since that day the hymn has been a blessing to countless Christians

Fresh Start Devotionals

June 14 My Parents When I was ten, my parents could do no wrong, but by the time I was thirteen, they could do no right. Both perspectives were clouded and inaccurate. Like a pendulum swinging, the teenage perspective corrected the naive childish view. Today I’m able to evaluate my upbringing with greater clarity. My parents? They were the greatest. Really, I grew up in a Norman Rockwell painting—I was lucky. Yeah, a couple of times they punished me unjustly, but that seems pretty insignificant now when weighed against the number of times I didn’t get punished because I didn’t get caught. The thing I admire most about my parents is the way they taught their values to their children. I can’t remember too many times that we studied the Bible together or had a structured time of teaching, but they taught us with their actions. When they attended our recitals or ball games, they taught us that we were important to them. When they did their jobs with excellence, and required the

Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions ; ROOM AT THE CROSS FOR YOU

June 14 ROOM AT THE CROSS FOR YOU Words and Music by Ira R. Stanphill, 1914–1994 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ( Romans 5:8 ) Out of the varied experiences of a fruitful life have come the many moving hymns of Ira F. Stanphill. As a child he traveled by covered wagon from Arkansas to New Mexico, then later moved to Oklahoma and Kansas. Converted at age 12, Stanphill began preaching at 22 in revival meetings and later served pastorates in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas. At 17 he wrote his first gospel song and traveled for several years with evangelists, playing the piano, organ, ukulele and accordion. Mr. Stanphill began to write his own gospel hymns, and he employed the unusual practice of creating a text from titles suggested from the congregation during a service. He would explain:   “The basic reason I have written songs is that I love God and Christ has loved me. Most of my songs are the outgrowth of

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Beginning this Wednesday, and several Wednesday's to follow will be sermon outlines on "Faith" . This series carry with it the manner of "Faith" leading up to the prerequisite of "Prayer" to believe in "Faith"   that God will provide your request in your supplication if you have "Faith" . Follow this series in the following weeks to learn about "Faith"  first, to lead up to an anointing and fulfillment prayer-life through Christ Jesus. - Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy
    The Birth of a Nation Series on Faith Hebrews 11:8–10; Genesis 12:1–3           I.      Introduction          A.      The Three Beginnings          1.       Genesis 1 : Beginning with Adam          2.       Genesis 6–7 : Beginning with Noah          3.       Genesis 12 : Beginning with Abram          B.      When the World Rebels, God Deals with one Man          1.      The Tower of Babel          2.      Out of the confusion comes a call          3.      God will give birth to the nation Israel through Abram          4.      Many lessons here for individuals and for any nation longing for God’s blessings           II.      Body          A.      God Calls Abram to a Life of Faith ( v. 1 )          1.       “Get thee out of thy country”            a.      Ur of the Chaldees, Abram’s country            b.      Great surprise to archeologists: an advanced civilization          2.      Abram, a wealthy man in Ur          3.       “Unto a land that I will show the