Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. God wants us to come to Him with confidence (boldness). Confidence that all the mercy we need for protection and all the grace we need to sustain us is waiting at the altar of prayer. Let us flee to the prayer closet of our hearts throughout today to talk to our God who wants to hear everything we have to say. Also, let us rest in the knowledge that in His mercy and grace we will receive what is right and what is needed, every time and in every situation.

I Corinthians 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity is the old English word for love. Not the kind of love of most songs and scripts. But the kind of love found from the cradle to Calvary in the person and work of Christ. As our text teaches, this love is rooted in a choice (not a feeling) to live for others. We are called upon to live out Christ-like love throughout all our days and within all our relationships. Today let us live and love like Christ showed us and His word teaches us. Let our love be seen in the choices we make and the self-discipline we exercise.

Isaiah 36:6 Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him. Israel was in “a fix”. An invading army was threatening them and at the time they had no hope of being able, on their own, to defend themselves. The result was that they turned to the world (Egypt) instead of turning to God. The outcome was predictable. It did not work. In fact that which Israel trusted in would, in the end, hurt them more. Today, if we find ourselves in “a fix” let’s be careful where we turn and in whom we place our trust. Let us turn our hearts, minds and lives toward God. He and He alone can give what we need, lead us where we need to go, and sustain us in each step. Pastor Tony P.S. Thank you for your prayers last week when Karen and I were traveling.

Colossians 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” A thermometer is designed to reflect the temperature while a thermostat is designed to set the temperature. How often is the “temperature of our hearts” set by how we feel about the world around us instead of the truth of God within us? Paul challenges the Colossians to walk in God’s word. So allow the truth of God to fill our minds and heart that the abiding result is thanksgiving. God help us this week to stop complaining about everything – in fact – can we ask God to help us go one day without complaining about anything! Instead let us saturate our response to life with God’s word. Have a great day in the Word – praising God each step of the way! Pastor Tony P.S. This Pastor’s E-note was originally sent out the week of April 2013. Karen and I are traveling this week and are scheduled to be back on the Outer Banks this weekend.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” When pondering the never ending changes and challenges of life Solomon concludes that life only works if God is our reason and reality. The reason for our life is God as revealed in His presence and His commands. The reality is that we all must give an account of our choices. Those we make in public and in private. Today, let us live in the light these truths. Not out of fear, being punished for our sins. For all of us who have trusted Christ as our Savior live in the blessed light of eternal forgiveness. But with reverent surrender to God’s plan for our life day by day as we live in His reason and reality!

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established” We live in what could be characterized as unstable times. Many things around us are changing at an alarming rate and in many cases in a negative direction. Yet as believers we can, and should, be able to live with a mind that is not pushed around by all the stuff around us. How? By committing all we do and all we are to the Lord. Today, let us place our confidence in the Lord and turn all our efforts at life over to Him! Let our minds be stabilized by God’s desire and ability to take our lives, in the time in which we live, and do great things!

1 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. Have you ever been discouraged, disappointed or ready to give up? If so, you’re in good company. Timothy struggled throughout his ministry with the challenges that come when any of us seek to serve God over the long haul. Paul constantly was encouraging him to not give up but to stay faithful to the task at hand. Today let us follow the exhortation to make the most of the abilities and callings God has place upon our lives. Stop allowing the environment in which we serve God to sidetrack us. Do your best with what you have where you are – and then trust God to work everything out for His glory!