Stay on Course

Over the past week, I have really been thinking about the importance of staying on course. 

In these pictures you see the airstrip to the left and a photo of a small branch stuck in the wing about two feet in. 

Two feet off course that is all it took for my grandfather to loose control of his plane and loose his life. 

I started thinking about my own course in life. Am I off course some where? Am I still in the race? Two feet. That's it. 

We think we can do this or that and it is not really a big deal but it could be, that one thing that turns your world upside down along with everyone else's. 

I asked myself what course am I on really? Am I on the course God has set before me am I running the race that He has asked me to run? Maybe I started out on course and I have started to drift away from it. Two feet. Some times that is all it takes for your race to be over. 

I want to finish the race God has given me and stay the course that is before me. I know this with out him that is impossible because he is my compass, my guide, my everything. Just how you can not fly a plane with out the right instruments, you can not stay on course with out the word of God to guide us. 

Life goes by in an instant. My grandfather didn't realize he was off course till it was to late. 

I don't want my life, the vapor it is, to be over and stand before God and not have stayed the course he set before me. 

A plane crash

I just received a phone call that my grandfather died an hour ago. I don't know anything other than he was trying land his two man plane on his airstrip in Florida. 

Please pray for his wife Anne who lost her son in a motorcycle accident just 6 months ago. 

Stephen and I are going to leave as soon as possible. 

Before and During the Call

It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)

Quick work this! The Lord hears us before we call and often answers us in the same speedy manner. Foreseeing our needs and our prayers, He so arranges providence that before the need actually arises He has supplied it, before the trial assails us He has armed us against it. This is the promptitude of omniscience, and we have often seen it exercised. Before we dreamed of the affliction which was coming, the strong consolation which was to sustain us under it had arrived. What a prayer-answering God we have!

The second clause suggests the telephone. Though God be in heaven and we upon earth, yet He makes our word, like His own word, to travel very swiftly, When we pray aright we speak into the ear of God. Our gracious Mediator presents our petitions at once, and the great Father hears them and smiles upon them. Grand praying this! Who would not be much in prayer when he knows that he has the ear of the King of kings? This day I will pray in faith, not only believing that I shall be heard, but that I am heard; not only that I shall be answered, but that I have the answer already. Holy Spirit, help me in this!

Just a thought from Spurgeon.

It's a small world...

After all.

Last night the Lord gave me the opportunity to speak at a ladies meeting in Ooltewah, TN for the first time. They have been such faithful supports through their giving and prays, it was an honour to get to know them better. 

As the Pastor,  his wife (Bro. Gene Hooker and Mrs. Bessie) and I introduced ourselves we realized what a small world it really is. Turns out Bro. Gene was a Rock of Ages man for over 25 years, so of course we knew some of the same crowd of people. The more we talked the more we thought about friends and places we had in common. I told him my home church during that time and he fondly remember Bro. Landy and Mrs. Rita, John and Sandy, and our little church on the hill. He said he really enjoyed our church and the people there and it was a real blessing to see them in the new building. 

It was an encouraging time in the Lord. I  meet the Ladies and had a wonderful bit to eat. God allowed me to share from my heart about Ireland, the times we spent there, the people we meet and give God the glory for the souls saved during those four months.

I shared a lesson about overcoming bitterness, kindly shared and written by Teri Snode (Thank you Teri),  that had really helped me to see bitterness for what it was and how it effected my life, others and warnings signs to avoid becoming bitter. 

The lesson really helped me to grow closer to the Lord and see that there is just so much more we can do with our time then be bitter, be it bitterness toward someone I love that has hurt me or bitterness toward the Lord over a problem I am facing. God wants us to have a life full of Joy and yes sometimes some trails come along the way, maybe so we can remember and embrace the sweet times just a little more and forebear the bitter ones a little easier. 

The ladies seemed to really get a lot out of the lesson. At different times each lady let me know just how much they enjoyed me being there and more importantly how much they needed that lesson. They shared some their hearts and some situations taking place in their lives. I am grateful it was blessing to them. The Lord always knows what we need to hear. 

Some thing that was a blessing to me. Was the young ladies involved in the meeting. Some of the girls are as young as 11 & 13, helping to set up and coordinate the speakers, meals, read the minutes form the meetings. It truly was a wonderful example of the older women training the younger.  

I praise the Lord for the great meeting and the fellowship. 

Just wanted to say

I was thinking about how much the Lord has blessed me over the years with good, I mean great men of God who I have had the privilege to call my Pastor, along with those men were sweet Ladies of God who were shinning examples of what a Pastor's wife should be.  

I just wanted to say thank you to my Pastor's and their wives.

Bro. Landy & Sis. Rita, Bro. Austin & Mrs. Betty, Bro. Wayne & Mrs. Connie, for loving me and always being there. 

When we thank God for our pastor
We must give Him thanks for two,
For when your husband came to us
God also sent us you.

A pastor's wife must be many things,
You have many hats to wear;
And we say thanks for all you do
And lift you up in prayer.

You adjust your life to meet the needs
Of your husband's congregation,
And it seems that you can always cope
With most any situation.

Your presence blesses all of us
Who know you from day to day
As our pastor's wife, you are serving God
In a fine and worthy way.

by: Helen Bush

Pray for Sandy Pearson and family

by gardner@bcwe.org

Sandy Pearson’s brother Tommy Cofer died on Friday afternoon. He is the son of Pastor Kenneth Cofer of Trinity Hills Baptist Church!

I wanted to inform you of the plans so that you can express your love to Sandy, all the Pearson family and also the Cofer family.

Everything will take place at the Bill Head Funeral Home in Tucker! The viewing will be Sunday, August 10, 2008 tomorrow, from 2 until 8 PM. The funeral will be held on Monday at 2 PM with Michael Dickens preaching.

Lilburn/Tucker Chapel
6101 Highway 29 • Tucker, GA 30084
(770) 564-2726 • Fax: (770) 564-2527 • Email: bhfuneralhome@earthlink.net

This is the information that I have received from John Pearson. Thank you for praying for the family!

From Spurgeon

Confidence Not Misplaced

The Lord God will help me. (Isaiah 50:7)

These are in prophecy the words of Messiah in the day of His obedience unto death, when He gave His back to the smiters and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. He was confident in divine support and trusted in Jehovah.

O my soul, thy sorrows are as the small dust of the balance compared with thy Lord's! Canst thou not believe that the Lord God will help thee? Thy Lord was in a peculiar position; for as the representative of sinful men—their substitute and sacrifice—it was needful that the Father should leave Him and cause Him to come under desertion of soul. No such necessity is laid upon thee: thou art not bound to cry, "Why hast thou forsaken me?" Did thy Savior even in such a case still rely upon God, and canst not thou? He died for thee and thus made it impossible that thou shouldst be left alone; wherefore, be of good cheer.

In this day's labors or trials say, "The Lord God will help me." Go forth boldly. Set your face like a flint and resolve that no faintness or shamefacedness shall come near you. If God helps, who can hinder? If you are sure of omnipotent aid, what can be too heavy for you? Begin the day joyously, and let no shade of doubt come between thee and the eternal sunshine.

A thought from Charles Spurgeon

Rules for Prosperity

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 1:7)

Yes, the Lord will be with us in our holy war, but He demands of us that we strictly follow His rules, Our victories will very much depend upon our obeying Him with all our heart, throwing strength and courage into the actions of our faith. If we are halfhearted we cannot expect more than half a blessing.

One of God's greatest blessings

 Our Pastor

Who is it calls when we are ill
With cheerful words and right good will,
And lingers gently then to pray
And soothe our care and fear away?
Our Pastor!

Who is it comes when sorrow falls,
When death of friends our heart appalls,
And tells us of mansions fair,
And that sweet home, "just over there"?
Our Pastor! 

Who is it shares our happiest hours,
When life is crowned with wedding flowers,
And to the scene lends added grace
By reverent voice and kindly face?
Our Pastor! 

Who is it on the Lord's day
Points to Heaven and leads the way,
And brings a message from the Word,
Until our hearts within are stirred?
Our Pastor! 

For whom then shall we daily pray
And ask for him God's grace alway,
And wish for him a glad new year,
With new-born souls his heart to cheer?
Our Pastor! 

Lean G. Browne

A thought from Charles Spurgeon

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. (Psalm 37:31)

Put the law into the heart, and the whole man is right. This is where the law should be; for then it lies, like the tables of stone in the ark, in the place appointed for it. In the head it puzzles, on the back it burdens, in the heart it upholds.