I Timothy 1:1-2 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith; Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord."

 

Do you need more grace? (God doing for you what you can not do for yourself)

 

Do you need more mercy? (God withholding from you the negative consequences you deserve)

 

Do you need more peace? (God calming your spirit and mind in the midst of all the movement in life)

 

Then remember that our God and Saviour Jesus Christ is our hope. Our only hope.

 

Ask Him for the grace, mercy and peace you need today. He knows what you need and how to give it to you.

 

In the midst of your most pressing challenges today turn to the only source that can sustain you, the person, presence and power of Christ.

Luke 1:6-8 "And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,"

 

In the midst of great disappointment (no children) both Elizabeth and Zacharias were faithful in two very important ways.

 

Fist they "did right"! In their individual lives they chose to follow the Lord in obedience to His word.

 

Second, they "stayed committed" to the ministry to which God had called them.

 

They did not allow a broken heart, that had no expectation of relief, to throw them off course.

 

Life, this side of heaven, is going to to be filled with plans that do not work, desires that are not met, and pain that will not go away.

 

The question is, "Will we still be faithful?"

 

This week may we examine the commitment in our personal lives to being and doing right, regardless of the condition in which we find ourselves.

 

Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead

works to serve the living God?"

 

Freedom & opportunity are two sides of the same door! It is true in government and is certainly true in our relationship with God.

 

We are free from the power and penalty of our sins. This freedom is found in the sufficiency of the blood of Christ!

 

This freedom is designed to lead to a singular focus on ministry - for all of us! We are to serve the living God.

 

Today, let us celebrate our freedom in Christ with a unreserved commitment to serve God with confidence.

 

Remember - we are all "saved to serve!"

"And he (Jesus) went a little farther and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

 

The prayer of submission.

 

Jesus, hours before the cross, pours out His heart to the Father, acknowledging the difficulty that He was facing and the natural desire to avoid it.

 

Then comes the sweet prayer of submission.

 

The prayer begins with the word "nevertheless" and concludes with the phrase "as thou wilt".

 

The first (nevertheless) is the prayer of abandonment; willing to give up whatever plans we might have or hold dear to our hearts.

 

The second (as thou wilt) is the prayer of acceptance; willing to embrace the Fathers will as the best.

 

Today, let us pray the prayer of submission in word, in deed, and in response to the difficulties of the day.

 

If you are having your own "garden of Gethsemane", make a plan to spend some concentrated and extended time in the prayer of submission. You will find, as Jesus illustrated, the strength you need to fulfill the calling of God upon your life.

 

Pastor Tony

 

NOTE: "Pastor's enote" will be taking a two week break because Karen and I are on vacation. (April 9- 23) Looking forward to reconnecting afterwards.

Matthew 4:1-5 "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted  by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

 

Temptation often comes while we are doing God's will. Christians sometime think that the will of God insulates us from the attacks of Satan. Yet the truth is righteousness can often act like a magnet.

 

If we are doing right and seeking to glorify God in our lives, we must beware that we are in danger of spiritual attack. This is compounded if we are physically under stress.

 

Let us do the same thing Jesus did. Respond with the Word of God. No matter in what form the temptation comes fill our heart and mind with God's word.

 

May the Lord guide each of us today as we seek to stay right as we are doing right!

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

 

Do you sing? This is a question that can produce a variety of answers and editorial comments.

 

But this morning I want to ask another question "WHY do you sing?"

 

There are two reasons for you and I to sing today - and every day of our lives:

 

1. Christ controls what and when things happen. The book can only be opened by Him and will not be opened until He decides.

 

2. Christ has redeemed us by His blood. We are saved, born again, adopted, secure, free, justified, sanctified, redeemed, bought with a price, a child of God, all because of the blood He shed for us

 

You might not consider yourself choir material but that should not stop any of us from singing from our hearts to the One and for the One that saved us!

 

Sometime today - take the time - find a place (even if you feel you must do this out of earshot of others) - and sing a song of praise.

 

 

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

 

To God be the glory great things he hath done! So love He the world that he gave us His Son,

 

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin and opened the Lifegate that all may go in.

 

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice!

 

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!

 

O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son, and give Him the glory great things He hath done.

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”

Don’t be ashamed – in fact let us be bold!

Our world is in need of the gospel. 

North Carolina is in need of the gospel. 

Dare County is in the need of the gospel.

Every unsaved person you and I come into contact today, and every day, is in great need of the gospel!

Let us not become so busy living with people that we forget to ask were those same people will spend eternity.

The Gospel of Chris is powerful.

Today – Live it out through a compassionate heart and holy life. Share it with confidence and conviction!