BEGGARS ALL

Mark 10:46  And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. ⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. ⁴⁸ And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. ⁴⁹ And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. ⁵⁰ And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. ⁵¹ And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. ⁵² And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

“Beggars all” described our plight,

Like Bartimaeus, we needed sight.

Lost in darkness, grief and sighs,

Till Jesus passed, and heard our cries.

Son of David, your mercy shower,

Upon us who need your heavenly power.

And it was done, healed and free,

Beggars no more, we will follow Thee.

Thankful for the grace that you have shown,

We now live to make thee known.

So all blind beggars, can hear the story,

And one day sit on thrones of glory.

Once beggars all, our praise we give,

For Jesus our Lord, our lives we live.

Beggars no more, we belong to Him,

Whose death has freed us from our sin.

Beggars nor more, we worship Him.

Beggars no more, we worship Him.

Tom Chesko

 

CELEBRATING SIN

In the time when there was no king in ancient Israel, the people were constantly subjected to attacks by their enemies as a result of their sin in breaking the covenant with God which they had promised to obey. This followed the victories of Joshua, the successor to Moses. We call the era “the time of the Judges” (Acts 13:21) which lasted from the entrance of Israel in the promised land until Samuel the prophet. The judges were not judges as we commonly understand the term; they were leaders whom God raised up to save Israel from their oppressors. Generally, the Israelites were free from oppression as long as the judge lived, then they resorted back to their sinful ways and the cycle repeats itself.The one verse of Scripture that tells the story of the time of the Judges is 21:25, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Sin has always made its’ presence known in this world in some very horrific ways. Over the course of time mankind is becoming more and more immune to its’ deceptive influence and destructive power. Jesus said, “as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26,27).  In the New testament we read, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1). We are certainly living in perilous times when people become lovers of their own selves (verse 2) and evil men get worse and worse (verse 13). 

Rather than repenting of sin and turning to God, the course of history reveals that sinners become more and more emboldened and defiant. Rather than being sorrowful over sin, it becomes a matter of celebration. 1 Timothy 4:2 says, “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron”. This vivid description means their conscience is “dead to truth”. There is no better picture of this than “Pride Month”. Here in the United States it is the month of June. Everywhere you go you are reminded of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. You cannot escape it even if you go to a sporting event. Professional football teams, baseball teams, basketball teams, soccer teams etc. have all joined in the celebration of this sin. Disneyland, which one provided wholesome entertainment now joins in the party of wickedness. Hollywood is what Hollywood has always been. There is however nothing proud about sin. America has become like Sodom, “as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:28,29). 

Sodom was guilty of many different acts of evil, but their chief sin was their violation of the laws of God pertaining to human sexuality (Genesis 19:1-3; Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13: Romans 1:26,27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Yes, the LGBTQ etc. is sin. It is a sin against nature (what is normal) and a sin against God. What makes this sin even more grievous is the fact that it has become a “national celebration.” Not just one day of the year like President’s Day, or Martin Luther King Day, but an entire month. When sin like this becomes normalized and accepted it screams out for God’s judgment. “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination,” (Leviticus 18:22); Romans 1:26 describes same sex sin as a “vile affection”. The word vile means shameful or dishonorable. Proof that a man’s conscience is “dead to truth” is when what should be shameful becomes a matter of pride. The least of sins will separate a man from God and needs forgiveness which comes only through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). The grave danger of the LGBTQ sin, like the sin of abortion is that it has become our national sins. D. L. Moody the American evangelist once said, “Man is born with his back toward God. When he truly repents, he turns right around and faces God. Repentance is a change of mind. Repentance is the tear in the eye of faith.”

Rather than marching in parades, protesting against the sanctity of life and doing what is right in their own eyes, those bound in a sinful lifestyle need to turn to Jesus who promised to set them free, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

A true Christian does not hate the LQBTQ people, they actually love them and desire to see them come to know the love of God in Christ and have eternal life. A true Christian mourns when they see any sinner on a path of destruction and prays that they will heed the warnings of God’s Word and turn from their sin and live. The prophet Ezekiel wrote to a disobedient nation “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live” (Ezekiel 18:30-32). 

America is too young to die, but we must understand that the wrath of God is abiding over this country and no one knows how long a holy God will continue to bear with us in our rebellion. Before God turns America to ashes our nation must repent in sackcloth and ashes, the Old Testament symbols of repentance. Jonah was God’s reluctant prophet who never applied for the job but ended up going to the wicked city of Nineveh and preached, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). What followed is a remarkable example of true repentance. “For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is  in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not” (Jonah 3:6-10). 

May the gospel (good news) of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus be preached as never before in our land, as the only hope for every man, woman and child. May every sinner beginning with our nation’s leaders many of whom are estranged from God, respond in repentant faith and turn from their sin to Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior. America needs a true spiritual revival whose hallmark is not pride, but humility.

Shalom!

Pastor Tom

   

CHOSEN IN HIM

 Chosen in Him, from darkness set free,

A child of God forever to be.

How precious the blood Immanuel gave,

How glorious His triumph over the grave.

Atonement for all, God’s wrath is appeased,

As soon as the guilty sinner believes.

No debt so great Jesus cannot forgive,

All that it takes is one look to live.

 

Look to Jesus, and Jesus alone.

The prodigal child is free to come home.

Back to the Father’s house far above,

Washed in the blood of redeeming love.

Salvation accomplished by unmerited grace,

Jesus has died for the whole human race.

Glorious love, freely given to all,

Chosen in Him, and cleansed from the fall.

The last Adam came and victory won,

How precious the gift of God’s dearest Son.

Wonderous love, glory Divine.

Once far from God, now Jesus is mine.

Tom Chesko

4/15/22

CHRIST'S GLORIOUS RESURRECTION

 Author Larry Moody wrote, “We are not in the land of the living going to the land of the dying. We are in the land of the dying going to the land of the living.” The Bible is clear that death does not end our existence. Death is the passage way to another life that is endless. Whether in heaven with God, or in hell separated from Him forever. Jesus said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28,29). This week Christian’s take time to reflect on the passion & death of Christ, climaxed by the His resurrection from the dead. Jesus demonstrated that death was impotent to hold Him in its’ grasp. Graves are often referred to as a man’s final resting place. Nothing could be further from the truth. The women who came to anoint the body of Jesus on Sunday found His tomb empty. “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.  And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:1-3). What was running through their minds at that moment?  We don’t have to guess at the answer; they didn’t know what to make of it as we are informed, “And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:  And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? HE IS NOT HERE, BUT IS RISEN:” (Luke 24:4-6a). Talk about shock and awe! Praise God for His power and victory over man’s greatest enemy. Our blessed Savior was “…declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4): 

Because Jesus was victorious over death and is alive now at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:3), everyone who believes in Him will also live forever with Him. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory (1 Corinthians 15:52-55)?  As you celebrate the resurrection of Christ this Sunday take time to express your praise to God for the promise of eternal life because Jesus triumphantly rose from the dead. Also, be sure to thank God that your loved ones who “died in Christ” are with Him now and shall be with Him forever. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Christians who have died are indeed absent from their physical bodies and present with the Lord awaiting that grand resurrection day when their bodies will be resurrected and fashioned in the likeness of Christ’s glorious resurrected body.

Keep pressing on,

Pastor Tom

KEEP ON TRUSTING THE LORD!

 I have lived as a Christian for over four decades now and God has never failed me. I can say that with all sincerity. That doesn't mean that I have never been disappointed with the outcome of things which have happened during the course of those years, nor does it mean that I have not been discouraged by what seems to be "unanswered prayer." What it means is that 'through it all' I have learned, and am still learning to lean upon Jesus, to trust in Him completely, and to run with patience the race that I have been called to run, as it says in Scripture, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). My race is not yet over, so I have yet to see how God will have worked in all things for my good (Romans 8:28). "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose". The words, "And we know" speaks to me of certainty and assurance. "... they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee" (Psalm 9:10).

When Corrie Ten Boom, a holocaust survivor would tell her life story, she would often hold up the back side of a blue cloth of embroidery with hundreds of tangled threads hanging down from it. Many have wondered if she was holding up the wrong side by mistake, but she wasn't. She would then turn the right side to the audience and say, "The wrong side is chaos, but look at the beautiful picture on the other side, which revealed a beautiful, detailed embroidered crown - symbolizing the crown of eternal life. The illustration was striking. In our lives we see the wrong side, but God sees His side all the time. One day we will see the embroidery from His side and thank Him for every trial and unanswered prayer. Friends, don't give up on God when the going gets tough. Keep pressing on!  Keep on trusting the Lord!

Pastor Tom

“My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.”

~Corrie ten Boom

 

 

 

 

A LIFE WHOLLY DEDICATED TO GOD

 D.L. Moody (1837-1899) was an American evangelist/revivalist who had only a fifth-grade education and poor grammar. He was hardly a candidate for success in Christian ministry, particularly one that involved public speaking. Moody once admitted, "I know perfectly well that, wherever I go and preach, there are many better preachers ... than I am; all that I can say about it is that the Lord uses me." Why did God use D. L. Moody to become the greatest evangelist of the late 19^th Century, leading hundreds of thousands of people to profess Christ as their Savior? What was the secret to Moody’s success? The answer is, "a life completely dedicated to God." Moody’s most famous saying was, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”  I was reminded of that saying when I read the words of a man named Caleb, one of Israel’s twelve men who went to spy on the land of Canaan, before Israel would enter the land. He was forty years old at that time. In Joshua 14:8 Caleb states, “Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-Barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God. At the age of eighty-five Caleb was still serving God with his whole heart. He “wholly followed the Lord.” Age did not lessen Caleb’s passion for God, nor his strength, “ I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in” (Joshua 14:11). God blessed Caleb’s commitment to God and he went into the land at an old age and drove out the son’s of Anakim, a giant, warlike people from the land", And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak  (Joshua 15:14). 

In the end, the Lord did not forget Caleb's dedication, just as He does not forget our labors of love in His name,  “And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance” (Joshua 14:8). In commenting on Joshua 14:9 and Caleb, “wholly following the Lord” Wayne Barber wrote, "literally in the Hebrew,  “He was fulfilled to walk behind Jehovah.” He was fulfilled. The word fulfilled means filled full—to the brim. Nothing else was needed in his life. That’s the most beautiful thing; he needed nothing else. No wonder Caleb was so successful! God was everything to Him and he gave his all for the Lord, just like D.L. Moody. What does God mean to you, and what are willing to give up and do to follow Him?

Keep pressing on,

Pastor Tom

 

MAKE YOUR TIME COUNT FOR ETERNITY

 Greetings and welcome to 2022. One thing we know from Scripture and from our personal experiences in life is that no one is guaranteed to see tomorrow. James, the half-brother of Jesus wrote, "Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that" (James 4:13-15). While it is wise to plan for tomorrow, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest (Proverbs 6:.6-8), the only moment we have is the present one. Dr. Benjamin Mays, the mentor of Dr. Martin Luther King wrote a short poem on the subject of redeeming the time (see Ephesians 5:15,16). To “redeem the time: means “to buy it back” or live with the awareness that once time is gone it is gone forever. So Mays penned,” I have only just a minute, only 60 seconds in it. Forced upon me, can’t refuse it, didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it, but it’s up to me to use it. I must suffer if I lose it; give account if I abuse it. Just a tiny minute, but eternity is in it.” How true that last thought is especially true for the Christian, “eternity is in every minute which God has given to us. This is why we must “set our sights on things above and not on the things of this earth” (Colossians 3:1,2). Think about how long it might take to hand a gospel tract to someone, or share “a word appropriately chosen” (Proverbs 25:11). A single minute of your life can make an eternal difference in the life of someone else. I would challenge everyone who names the name of Christ to make it your aim in 2022 to do away with everything that is robbing you of precious time which can be better spent in more important matters. That might mean turning off the TV, getting off social media, ridding your life of things (even possessions) which clutter it up, and shutting off the many voices which compete for your attention. You have been given 31,536,000 seconds to use this year. Some of those seconds have vanished away, how will you use the rest of them? 

Keep pressing on,

Pastor Tom

 

SAVED BY WORKS?

 “God will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,” (Romans 2:6-8). These verses sound like a person gets to heaven based on their good works, (trying the best they can). That is what the majority of professing Christians now believe. The problem is the words “patient continuance” mean “steadfastness or constancy”. That means your attempt at being good would have to be perfect all the time, which is impossible because “there is not one righteous person “ (Romans 3:12). Furthermore, Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. Jesus didn’t come to make good men better; Jesus came to save evil men who could not save themselves by trying to do the best they can. This is why the word gospel means “ good news”. This is why the word “grace” in the Bible means “gift or unmerited favor”. Eternal life comes only to those who put their complete hope in the work Jesus did on the cross for their salvation, “the just one, dying for the unjust ones to bring them to God” (1 Peter 3:18). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVES in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). 

May God bless you with eternal life through Jesus Christ,

 Pastor Tom.

THE BRONZE SERPENT

After their exodus from Egypt the nation of Israel began a long history of disobeying God. Rather than showing gratitude for what God had done for them they soon began to become a nation of complainers which displeased God greatly.  “From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live” (Numbers 21:4-9). The bronze serpent was a symbol of God’s judgment and salvation. In John’s gospel we learn that the symbol became a reality when Jesus took the judgment in behalf of sinners. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-16). Look to Jesus as your Savior and you will be saved from the judgment of all your sins. “…. because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”(Romans 10:9). 

Keep pressing on, Pastor Tom.

PREPARING FOR WORSHIP ON THE LORD'S DAY

 Alexander Mc Claren wrote: “Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins”. How are you preparing to worship God before you go to church this coming Sunday to hear the Word of God proclaimed? That begins by worshipping Him every day (Monday through Saturday) in the sanctuary of your heart. “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:1-3). If praising God is continually in our hearts there is no room for complaints, and the joy of the Lord will be our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Keep pressing on, Pastor Tom.

COME LORD JESUS

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10 ). Metaphorically speaking, the church made up of all believers is the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27). We await the return of our bridegroom, the Lord Jesus. What a wonderful and glorious day it will be when we see Jesus, who will rule and reign upon this earth as King of Kings. This is the hope of all those who know Jesus as Savior. Even so, come Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20). 

God bless, Pastor Tom.

SHOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO OTHERS

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:9-11). The love of Jesus for a world of sinners is a love that cannot be equaled. It was an amazing, matchless, wondrous love. As ambassadors of Christ in this world, the Christian has been commanded by Jesus to let His love shine through them.This is never easy because we are still very sinful, and selfish people. However, by the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, we can do it. The fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22). This time of upheaval, fear, and uncertainty in our country is the perfect time to show that we are Christians by our love. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others (Philippians 2:4).

God bless you all, 

Pastor Tom.

ARE YOU LIVING FOR JESUS?

The prolific hymn writer, Fanny Crosby wrote, "One life to live will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." I can hardly believe how fast my life is passing, and you probably feel the same way about yours. In the end what really matters? How many of our achievements will be remembered? The fact is that 100 years from now, every single person you personally know will be dead, and not one of them will be remembered. That's the sad reality of life. How many people can you name who lived in 1920? Who was the President of the United States in 1920?  Who was the last King of England? “Go to now, you that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas you know not what will be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:13,14). Consider these words as you consider the brevity of life: “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). The apostle Paul was willing to die for Christ; are we willing to live for Him? It’s only by living for Christ that we find a purpose in life that transcends this world. May God receive glory from the short duration of our earthly existence!

Keep pressing on, Pastor Tom.

THE GLORY OF GOD IN CHRIST

The first miracle Jesus performed was at a wedding celebration in Cana of Galilee where he turned water into wine.The Scripture says, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him (John 2:11). All the miraculous works of Christ were the revelation of the glory/majesty of His being, as God in human form (incarnate).The Bible speaks frequently about the glory of God. “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens” (Psalm 8:1). God’s glory has been revealed in the past in unique ways and will be in the future. “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen”! (Psalm 72:18-19). This Scripture speaks of the realization of the prophetic day when the whole earth will be filled with the radiant glory of Jesus Christ?  Psalm 24:7 reads, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” What a day of rejoicing that will be when Christ’s Kingdom comes to earth. If Jesus is your Lord & Savior, you will be among those who inherit the Kingdom of God. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). If you reject Christ as your Savior you will be among those who inherit a kingdom of everlasting torment (Matthew 25:41). Turn to Jesus, the King of glory while there is still time.

Pastor Tom

GOD IS OUR ALL IN ALL

The apostle Paul encouraged the Christians in the church at Philippi with these words, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Over the course of my Christian life I have found those words to be true. I have not received everything I asked for, but I have received everything I needed. Meditate on this Scripture from Psalm 68:19-20, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death”. What a mighty and gracious God we serve. We are down and He lifts us up. We need strength for the day and He provides it. We needed salvation and God sent Jesus. We need deliverance from death and God will deliver us and we will be in heaven with Him forever (Psalm 23). The Lord is our all in all. Keep pressing on, Pastor Tom.

THE CONSOLATION FOR TROUBLING THOUGHTS

Every Christian knows what it is to face “the battle of their thought life” There are many Scriptures which admonish us concerning our thoughts, whether they be good or evil. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:4, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” “You are what you think” upon has a great deal of truth to it because thoughts lead to actions. James 1:14 makes this clear” every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finishes, bringeth forth death.’ This is certainly true as it applies to sinful thoughts, but our thoughts can affect our physical health, even when they are not overtly sinful. Especially when our minds are receiving a steady stream of bad news. Maybe you find yourself doing that today, as our country, and much of the world are facing something new and threatening to us, a global pandemic. We need to remind ourselves that God has not lost a grip on His plan for this world, and He always bids us to come to Him for comfort and rest. “In the multitude of my thoughts within me, Thy comforts delight my soul” (Psalm 94:19). The ESV translation puts it this way, ”When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul”. While many hearts are troubled these days, the solution is the consolation God’s Word brings. Now more than ever, is the time to hide that Word in your hearts.

Keep pressing on, Pastor Tom.

PRESCRIPTION FOR PEACE

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). These words that Jesus spoke to his disciples in anticipation of the time he would no longer be with them are his words to us today. At a time when life is not normal and people are anxious about many things, the Christian has an inner peace that translates into hope. Don’t let circumstances trouble and overwhelm your mind. Be at peace by trusting in the Prince of Peace and walking in fellowship with him. Trust and obey, for there is no other way to overcome your fears.

God bless, Pastor Tom

CALM IN THE STORM

The Sea of Galilee lies 680 feet below sea level, the lowest freshwater lake on earth. It is susceptible to sudden storms resulting from differences in temperatures between the seacoast and the mountains beyond. The storms are accompanied by strong winds dropping to the sea, funneling through the hills. One such storm is mentioned in Matthew 8 and verses 23-27. Another we find in Matthew 14:24-27 which reads: “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spoke unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." Everyone has unexpected storms. Our nation and many other nations are going through the COVID -19 storm. I pray that during this trying time we all remember that there is no storm that Jesus cannot calm! He is our peace and He never ceases to amaze those who put their faith in Him. Be of good cheer friends, Jesus is with us always.

God bless, Pastor Tom.

OUR GOD REIGNS!

What are you thinking upon in this difficult time? The daily Coronavirus Task Force briefings from the White House are not very comforting. A vaccine may not be available until the next winter flu season, if then. Nobody really knows when this will end and how it will end. But may I remind you that COVID-19 did not take God by surprise. Psalm 47:8 reminds us, “God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. In spite of the bad news we hear these days, the Christian can confidently say: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). Never forget that Jesus is the light of the world, the Savior of the world, and the Almighty God who created the world. Don’t let your heart be troubled. The Good Shepherd will always look after His sheep.

Keep pressing on, Pastor Tom.

A SPIRITUAL COMPASS

When I lived in Pennsylvania many years ago,I was out in the woods as snow began to fall and quickly covered the ground, It was getting dark and I was about one mile from where my car was parked on a dirt road. Although I was young and in good health I began to fear that I might have to spend the night in temperatures belo mal as I became disoriented and nothing looked familiar. I could hardly see anything and didn't know how to proceed Eastward which was the way to safety. If only I had a compass, but I didn't! In uncertain times people need a spiritual compass. We look around us and see trouble everywhere. Presently there is a threat from COVID-19. One can easily get weighed down by some of the more dire predictions. Or, one can look up to God.  Psalm 127:1 says, "I will look up unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth." Consider the words of Psalm 43 where we read: "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance and my God “ (verse 5). Sometimes the best therapy when you are downcast is to “talk your way up” by praising the Lord. 

Stay safe and keep pressing on, Pastor Tom.