II Chronicles 32:7-8 "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah." Under the pressure of invasion and the prospect of defeat the King quoting the prophet Elisha (II Kings 6:16) challenges his people to adjust their thinking. To move it away from what they see and how they feel to what they know about God. In the midst of great pressure our feelings can take charge and our spiritual reasoning can take a back seat. We can not turn off how we feel but we can make a choice to surrender how we feel to what we know. Today, when the challenges of life mount and we are tempted to go with how we feel - let's stop and think. Think on the promises, power and presence of God. Allow these truths to ultimately govern your choices and response. We can not turn off how we feel but we can make a choice to surrender how we feel to what we know. Pastor Tony Note: I want to thank everyone who prayed for Karen and me as we were away the past two weeks. It is great to be back and looking forward to the summer ministries that start this Sunday with the beginning of our 8:15 summer service.

11 Chronicles 1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? Solomon faced a daunting task, leading the nation of Israel. What was his first request? wisdom and knowledge Wisdom is knowing what to do. Knowledge is knowing how to do it. , The will of God for our lives today is no less challenging or important. We are called to make countless choices every day that collectively make up our life. Let us spend time today asking God for the wisdom and knowledge we need. Let us ask in faith knowing that our heavenly Father wants to give us what we need. Pastor Tony Note: The church office will be sending out previous pastors E-note over the next two weeks while Karen and I are on vacation. We are scheduled to be back May 15 – D.V.

Mark 1:38 "And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth." Many times we can confuse complacency with contentment or familiarity with faithfulness. It is true that we are all called to be content with God's will and many times are blessed with a certain level of familiarity in our life. Yet when it comes to seeking to reach the lost we should always be open and ready to step out of our comfort zone. . After spending time in prayer Jesus is ready to "move on" to spread the good news of the gospel. Today, let us with purpose and persistence seek to connect with those who need Christ. Others will not be reached by accident. Pray that God will open the door for you to share Christ. And when he does, go for it!

II Kings 5:13-14 “ And his (Naaman)servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he (Naaman) down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” Naaman was a leader who at the height of his power became a leper. Through the providence of God he comes to the prophet Elisha who told him to go dip seven times in the river Jordan. Naaman responded by getting angry and refusing to obey. Yet in our text he is convinced to conform. What does Naaman discover? The power of obedience! Life is complicated in its demands and outcomes. Because of this we all are always in need of the power of God that comes to the life of those that obey His commands. Today, let us follow Naaman’s example. Whatever God calls us to do today, regardless of how we feel or think, just do it. Let this be a day that we experience the full power of complete obedience!

I Kings 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? Solomon, the son of grace, is now the King of Israel. King David has died and the throne of Solomon has been established. God asks Solomon what he wants and he responded with one request. Make me wise. Wisdom is not simply choosing right over wrong. Wisdom is choosing the best means to the best end. Let us spend time asking God to make us wise. (James 1:5) Ask for wisdom concerning what should and should not be done. Today let us let flee to our knees in prayer asking God for the wisdom to know what, how, and when to do what is best!

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Four daily challenges for each of us in our daily walk with God. Ask God to search the purpose of our life (heart) Ask God to search the thought of our life. Ask God to let us see us the way He does. Ask the Lord to lead us, step by step, in light of the previous three requests. Simple, yet profound. Easily understood yet not easily done. Today, let us take some time pouring out with passion and persistence all four requests. Then let us allow God to take away what He does not want and give us what only He knows we need in every area of our life.

Joshua 1:7 “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest” Joshua was facing a daunting task; to lead the great, and at times very difficult Jewish Nation into the promised land. Preparing Joshua for the task at hand, God lays out the plan to prosper(succeed in doing God’s will). Success began for Joshua as it does for each of us today, in our relationship with God’s word! While God has a uniquely different plan for each of us, the prescription for successfully completing that plan is the same for all of us. “Obey God’s Word – Do not alter it or move away from it – At All” Despite the pressures and difficulties of life our response needs to start and end in the same place, God’s Word! Always seeking to understand and apply it to our lives. Never seeking to change it to fit our own ideas (or those of others). Today let our hearts and minds not be distracted by the pressures and difficulties we face. Let us follow God’s word completely. All day and in every situation, the whole time trusting Him to accomplish His will in our lives for His glory!