Song of Solomon is one of the Biblical poetic books and has both a literal and an allegorical interpretation.

This study uses an allegorical rather than literal interpretation.

Characters:

• Maiden represents you and me
• Solomon/the King represents our enemy using all the pleasures of this world to entice us away from Jesus our Beloved
• Daughters of Jerusalem represent people who entice us away from Jesus
  • Shepherd represents Jesus, our true Beloved

 

Scenes:

Scene 1 (Chapters 1-2) the maiden is captive in the king’s harem

Scene 2 (Chapter 3)      the maiden devises her own plan

Scene 3 (Chapter 4)  –  mutual love is expressed

Scene 4 (Chapter 5)     the maiden has no time for her Beloved

Scene 5  (Chapters 6-7) Solomon and his 700 wives & 300 concubines try to entice her

Scene 6 (Chapter 8) –  the maiden is freed and with her Beloved

 

Scene 1 Chapters 1-2): the maiden is captive in the king’s harem

Read these two chapters and then look specifically at these verses.

 

Maiden’s coping strategies

Focus on the Shepherd’s love and person

Chapter 1:

² Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

³ Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

Chapter 2:

⁷ I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

¹⁶ My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

¹⁷ Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

 

Realize excessive busyness gets in the way of time alone with the Beloved Shepherd

Chapter 1:

⁵ I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

⁶ Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

 

Solomon’s  (your enemy) strategies

Flattery of power, praise

Separate her from her beloved

Chapter 1:

⁹ I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.

¹⁰ Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

Note: the neck connects the body to the head

 

Daughters of Jerusalem (people) strategies

Give lip service to lower your guard

Chapter 1:

⁴ Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

 

Give outward adornments

Chapter 1:

¹¹ We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

 

Shepherd’s Strategy

Give love better than wine, His love is exhilarating but never intoxicating or degrading

His love always finds a way- Chapter 2

⁸ The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

⁹ My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

 

Protect-Chapter 2

³ As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

 

Give identity -Chapter 2

⁴ He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

 

Provide -Chapter 2

⁵ Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.

⁶ His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

 

Urge readiness-Chapter 2

¹⁰ My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

¹¹ For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

¹² The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

¹³ The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

¹⁴ O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

 

 

Scene #1 Questions for reflection

1) What are some times of intimacy you have had with Jesus?

 

2) What fragrance of Jesus lingers with you most?

 

3) What busyness keeps you from times alone with Jesus?

 

4) Do you see a better way to organize your day or do you just need to ask Jesus for help?

 

5) Can you think of a time when Jesus surprised you?

 

6) What about power or riches attracts you?

 

7) Which inner beauty characteristics do you desire to display?

 

Hebrews 12:

¹Wherefore 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,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Let us run with patience the race He set before us, looking unto Jesus,

Coach Patti

In the midst of running your race Jesus designed just for you, remember He has plans for those around you, also. Jesus cares about all of His creation. Even the sparrow’s well-being does not escape Him.

In this session we will look at the steward to Joseph in Egypt. He was certainly not an Israelite. Yet he knew things about Joseph’s God. How did that happen? Joseph was 13 years a captive in Egypt, estranged from his family and homeland because his brothers sold him into slavery. So how did his steward know things about God? The Bible does not tell us.

Let’s look at what the Bible does tell us.

Genesis 42:

¹Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

² And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.

³ And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.

⁴ But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

⁵ And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

⁶ And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.

⁷ And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

⁸ And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

⁹ And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

¹⁰ And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.

¹¹ We are all one man’s sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.

¹² And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

¹³ And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.

¹⁴ And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:

¹⁵ Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.

¹⁶ Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.

¹⁷ And he put them all together into ward three days.

¹⁸ And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:

¹⁹ If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:

²⁰ But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

²¹ And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

²² And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

²³ And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

²⁴ And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.

²⁵ Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.

²⁶ And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.

²⁷ And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack’s mouth.

²⁸ And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?

 

Genesis 43:

¹¹ And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

¹² And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:

¹³ Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

¹⁴ And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

¹⁵ And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

¹⁶ And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

¹⁷ And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.

¹⁸ And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

¹⁹ And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

²⁰ And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

²¹ And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

²² And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

²³ And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

1) What do you understand verse 23 to mean?

2) How could Joseph in his circumstances covey good information about God to his steward?

Was it just by his conduct or did he actually speak about God to his steward?

Of course, Old Testament saints are not part of the Church. But looking at something Paul tells the Christians at Corinth sheds light on the ability of God to touch others through us. God is the same yesterday, today, forever. He does not change.

2 Corinthians 2:

¹⁴ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

¹⁵ For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

¹⁶ To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

 

 

MAY THE MIND OF CHRIST, MY SAVIOR

Words: Kate B. Wil­kin­son, be­fore 1913; Music: Ar­thur C. Barham-Gould, 1925

May the mind of Christ, my Savior, Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph Only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing, This is victory.

May I run the race before me, Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me, As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel, Seeing only Him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRTLocMzTvs

 

Hebrews 12:

¹ 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,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus,

Coach Patti

Where are you today? Are you feeling insignificant like you don’t fit in with others? Sometimes that happens. We do not always see clearly what God is doing. He wants us to live by faith not by sight. It seems that more often than not His plan is not visible to us.

Remember He has a plan for you

Jeremiah 29:

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

You have so much significance to Him that He thinks of you and has planned for you!

Remember He has works only you can do. Ephesians 2:

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

How can anything He plans for you to do be insignificant?

Hope in Him-Psalms 130:

⁵ I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

⁶ My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

⁷ Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

Spend time with Him and studying His Word. Let Him speak to you as only He can.

The Apostle Paul provides 4 windows into thriving while in seemingly insignificant circumstances. His letter to the Philippians was written while he was a prisoner of Nero.

Window #1- Philippians 1:

⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

¹² But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

¹³ So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

¹⁴ And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

¹⁶ The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

¹⁷ But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

¹⁸ What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

¹⁹ For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

²⁰ According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

²² But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

²³ For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

²⁷ Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

²⁸ And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Put your confidence in God. His plan never fails. Do all things for His glory and leave the results to Him.

Window #2 – Philippians 2:

⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

¹² Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

¹³ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

¹⁵ That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

¹⁶ Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Focus on Jesus, your Savior and Lord. Consider what He has done for you and the future He plans.

Window #3 – Philippians 3:

³ For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

⁴ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

⁵ Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

⁶ Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

⁷ But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

¹¹ If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

Remember your goal and press toward it – to know Him in these circumstances, to know the power of His resurrection in these circumstances, to know the fellowship of His sufferings in these circumstnacesand to attain unto the resurrection of the dead..

Window #4 – Philippians 4:

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Rejoice!

Press On by Dan Burgess

When the valley is deep -When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary-When we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard -When we’re battered and scarred
When we’ve spent our resources -When we’ve given our all

Chorus:
In Jesus’ name, we press on -In Jesus’ name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on

In Jesus’ name, we press on – In Jesus’ name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on
To press on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bg2cJ5bw2k

 

Hebrews 12:

¹Wherefore 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,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us, looking unto Jesus,

Coach Patti

What are your plans for 2014? Do you have special events planned?

Will there be special achievements?

For sure there will be challenges. How will you face them?

The Apostle Paul gives us 5 special words for facing challenges.

But before we look at those 5 words, let’s look at two thoughts.

Thought #1-Ephesians 2:

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Jesus is in control, has a good plan for your life and is developing you.

Thought #2-Hebrews 13:

⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Jesus will never leave you or forsake you

Paul’s 5 words for facing those challenges are found in the context of his letter to the Galatians, chapter 5:

¹ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

² Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

³ For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

⁴ Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

⁵ For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

⁶ For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Face the challenges of 2914 with faith which works by love.

Face those challenges with faith in Who Jesus is and what He is doing and who you are in Him. Use your love for Jesus and for yourself because He loves you unconditionally and His love for His creation.

It was a Sunday afternoon, January 1956 when these 5 missionaries trying to give the gospel to the Aucas in Ecuador sang this song, not knowing they would pass over their finish lines into the presence of Jesus due to martyrdom later that day. Jim Elliott, Pete Fleming, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian

We Rest on Thee

Edith G. Cherry, c.1895

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

Yes, in Thy Name, O Captain of salvation!
In Thy dear Name, all other names above;
Jesus our Righteousness, our sure Foundation,
Our Prince of glory and our King of love.

We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
“We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.”

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYjBWOz9kwM

Hebrews 12:

¹Wherefore 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,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us, looking unto Jesus,

Coach Patti

Where are you today in your race He set out for you?

Are you overwhelmed with the busyness of Christmas?

Are you discouraged with others or yourself?

Are you lonely?

 

God knows all about you and He cares.

 

Let’s focus on His Christmas gift.

 

What is the significance of this gift in your daily life?

 

Let’s examine the gift of Jesus.

 

 

The gift was given at an appointed time for an appointed purpose

Galatians 4:

⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

⁵ To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

 

You have been bought out of the hand of your enemy

Psalms 107:

¹O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

² Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

 

 

Jesus is both God and man so He fully understands both God and you.

He is the daysman for whom Job longed.

 

Job 9:

³² For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

³³ Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

 

Hebrews 4:

⁹There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

¹⁰ For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

¹¹ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

¹³ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵ For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

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.

 

1 Timothy 2:

⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

⁶ Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

 

 

God’s complete plan for your redemption is not finished. We can only glimpse and imagine what the finish will be like.

 

Ephesians 5:

²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

2 Peter 3:

³ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

⁴ And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

⁵ For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

⁶ Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

⁷ But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

⁸ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

¹¹ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

¹² Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

¹³ Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

¹⁵ And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

 

 

 

Revelation 21:

¹ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

² And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

³ And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

⁴ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

⁵ And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

⁶ And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

⁷ He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son

 

 

Hebrews 12:

₁Wherefore 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,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

 

 

Let us run with patience the race Jesus set before us,

Coach Patti

In this series we examine some of the top reasons Christians give up on their appointed ministry assignment.

Today we examine the problem of fear. Fear is the #2 problem emotion. What things make you afraid? Are you afraid today? Fear can paralyze. Fear can force our focus off Jesus, our assignment, our appointed task at hand and the goal of hearing His “Well done!”

Fear is normal. Emotions are only signals about what is going on around us.

Fear is not a sin.

How you react to the feeling of fear is important for running your race and for your development.

Let’s look at the example of David in 2 Samuel 22. Psalm 18 is the same thing but 2 Samuel puts the psalm in context.

Here is the context from 2 Samuel 21:

¹ Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

² And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)

³ Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?

⁴ And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.

⁵ And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,

⁶ Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.

⁷ But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD’S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

⁸ But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

⁹ And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

¹⁰ And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

¹¹ And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

¹² And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

¹³ And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.

¹⁴ And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.

¹⁵ Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.

¹⁶ And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.

¹⁷ But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

So we see from the context that David is aged and no longer able to fight. David, whom God identified as a bloody man, unfit to build the temple. 1 Chronicles 22:

⁸ But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.

We also see from the context that David is finishing unsettled business with Saul’s house and with his wife, Michal.  Remember when David danced before the Lord as the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem? Michal scorned him and David gave retribution.  2 Samuel 6:

²¹ And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.

²² And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

²³ Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

So what can we learn from this Psalm?

2 Samuel 22

¹ And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

² And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

³ The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

⁴ I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Solution to fear: Focus on your relationship with God. He is personal

⁵ When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;

⁶ The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;

⁷ In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears

¹⁷ He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;

¹⁸ He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

¹⁹ They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

²⁰ He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

Solution to fear: Remember what He has done for you in the past

²⁹ For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

³⁰ For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

³¹ As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

³² For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?

³³ God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

³⁴ He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

Solution to fear: Celebrate Who He is and what He is doing

Hebrews 12:

¹Wherefore 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,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Let us run with patience the race Jesus has set before us,

Coach Patti

 

 

In this series we examine some of the top reasons Christians give up on their appointed ministry assignment.

Today we examine the problems ofLoneliness. You might experience loneliness because it seems no one understands, or because things are too personal to share, or because you are a private person or because your focus differs from everyone around you. Loneliness is an emotion. Remember your emotions are yours. You are entitled to them. No one has the right to determine how you should feel.

There is a planned and purposeful unique race set up for each of us from the point of salvation to the face-to-face encounter with our Savior, Jesus. God has created us each with unique talents, abilities, spiritual gifts and placed us each in unique circumstances for our growth and His glory.

Let’s look at the example of Joseph.

Joseph – Hebrews 11:

²² By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

What would give Joseph that confidence in God? The Bible gives us four windows into his mindset

 

Remember Joseph, aged 17, was sold into slavery by his brothers!

Remember Joseph was falsely accused of lying with his master’s wife and imprisoned!

 

1) Window #1 – Genesis 41:

¹⁵ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

¹⁶ And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

 

2) Window #2 – Genesis 41:

i⁵⁰ And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.

⁵¹ And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.

 

3) Window #3 – Genesis 41:

 ⁵² And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

 

4) Window #4 – Genesis 45:

¹ Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

² And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.

³ And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.

⁴ And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

⁵ Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

⁶ For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

⁷ And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

⁸ So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Final words – Genesis 50:

²⁴ And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

²⁵ And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

²⁶ So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Joshua 24:

³² And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph

What do you see in Joseph’s example? Do you see an absence of bitterness? Do you see an acceptance of divine providence while waiting for the Lord’s timing? What do you see?

The example of Moses in Hebrews 11:

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

²⁵ Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

²⁶ Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

²⁸ Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

 

What do you see in Moses’ example? Do you see choice not based on the present?  Do you see focus on things unseen rather than that which is seen? What do you see?

Remedy for loneliness

1) Remember His promises:

Genesis 39:

²And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

³ And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

 

²¹ But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

 

Hebrews 13:

⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

2) Keep God’s track record – journal your prayer answers

 

3) Live life with Emmanual

Isaiah 42:

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

Matthew 1:

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

¹⁹ Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

²⁰ But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

²¹ And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

²² Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

²³ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

 

4) Ask God to help you see His bigger picture and to focus on Him rather than on circumstances.

 

Hebrews 12:

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

May the Mind of Christ My Savior – Kate Barclay Wilkinson

Born: August 27, 1859, Eng­land –Died: De­cem­ber 28, 1928, Eng­land.

Daughter of me­chan­i­cal en­gin­eer Will­iam Beck­ett John­son, Kate mar­ried Fred­er­ick Bar­clay Wil­kin­son, a ca­shier, in 1891, at St. John the Evan­gel­ist An­gli­can Church, Alt­rin­cham, Che­shire. Kate worked with young wo­men in west Lon­don, and was ap­par­ent­ly in­volved with the Kes­wick Con­ven­tion move­ment.

 

1. May the mind of Christ my Savior Live in me from day to day,
   By His love and pow’r controlling   All I do and say.
2. May the Word of Christ dwell richly In my heart from hour to hour,
   So that all may see I triumph   Only through His pow’r.
3. May the peace of Christ my Savior Rule my life in everything,
   That I may be calm to comfort   Sick and sorrowing.
4. May the love of Jesus fill me, As the waters fill the sea;
   Him exalting, self abasing,  This is victory.
5. May I run the race before me, Strong and brave to face the foe,
   Looking only unto Jesus   As I onward go.
6. May His beauty rest upon me As I seek the lost to win,
   And may they forget the channel,   Seeing only Him.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/401#ixzz2LGbjYMsq

 

Hebrews 12:

¹Wherefore 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,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Let us run with patience the race Jesus has set before us,

Coach Patti

 

 

 

 

 

In this series we examine some of the top reasons Christians give up on their appointed ministry assignment.

Today we examine the problems of team discord and personality conflicts.

God has created us with different personalities and strengths. In His wisdom He has orchestrated       different backgrounds so we have different approaches to ministry, different positions in spiritual growth and different attitudes.

Our Biblical example in this study is the relationship of Paul and Barnabas

Who was Barnabas?

1) Acts 4:

³⁶ And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

³⁷ Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

2) Barnabas assisted Paul and spoke well of Paul

Acts 9:

²⁶ And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

²⁷ But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

3) Barnabas stood with Paul

Acts 11:

²² Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.(90 miles)

²³ Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

²⁴ For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

²⁵ Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

²⁶ And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Who was Paul?

1) An apostle according to Romans 11:

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

2) Saw the risen Jesus and was converted from a Christian killer to a Christian seeker-Acts 9

3) Wrote 13 NT books, 14 if you count Hebrews

4) Suffered for Jesus-2 Corinthians 11:

²⁴ Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

²⁵ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

²⁶ In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

²⁷ In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

²⁸ Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

³⁰ If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities

Paul & Barnabas served together on Paul’s first missionary journey lasting two years in Acts 13

Paul, Barnabas and John Mark started at Seleucia, the seaport of Antioch sailed across to Cyprus, some 80 miles to the south-west. After landing at Salamis, and proclaiming The Word of God in the
synagogues, they traveled along the entire southern coast of the island of Cyprus until they reached Paphos. From Paphos they sailed north up to the Asian mainland in what is today Turkey. They traveled the short distance up the river Cestrus to Perga in Pamphylia , where Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.

Paul and Barnabas then continued inland for about 100 miles, up to Pisidian Antioch.. After being expelled from the region, “they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. From there they continued southward to Lystra . After preaching the good news in Derbe, they then returned back along their entire route, through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch then continued southward through the regions of Pisidia and Pamphylia until they arrived at the seaport of Attalia. From there, they boarded a ship and sailed back home to Antioch, where they had began 2 years before.

The problem and what Barnabas did (set Paul free)

Acts 15:

³⁵ Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

³⁶ And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

³⁷ And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

³⁸ But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

³⁹ And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

Notice the church’s reaction: Acts 15:

⁴⁰ And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Did Barnabas leave during the night and alone except for John Mark?

Did the church snub Barnabas?

The Holy Spirit deemed it unnecessary for us to know. Nothing else is recorded of

Barnabas in the scripture. But we see evidence of his ministry with John Mark

2 Tim 4: (approx. AD 67 before Paul’s death)

¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

 

Solutions to team conflict:

• Remember we are all human- none has yet arrived,      even Paul said that Phil 3:

¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Remember your goal to please Jesus not others

Take the initiative to settle disagreements

Be generous in seeking to understand another’s point of view

Trust God-Ephesians 1:

¹¹ In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

• Take action according to Jesus’ prayer-what do      these words mean to you? John 17:

¹⁸As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

²⁰ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

²¹ That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

²² And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Where are you today? Are your circumstances difficult? I encourage you not to give up but to keep your eyes on Jesus and meeting Him at the finish line of your race. May the Lord richly bless you and encourage you!

Hebrews 12:

¹Wherefore 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,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race Jesus has set before us,

Coach Patti

Consider the reason for Christmas. The Son of God became a man to do for us what we could not do for ourselves-be reconciled to God.

 An ornament serves to adorn, decorate and embellish.

 We decorate Christmas trees with a variety of ornaments. So Jesus can use a variety of people in a variety of circumstances and conditions to bring honor and glory to Himself. Where are you today in your race and relationship with Jesus? Which of these ornaments best describes you?

broken, aged, worn, tarnished, not the favorite, in storage. out-of-date

 You can be an ornament for Jesus even if you feel like one of these.

 

The Touch of the Master’s Hand by Myra Brooks Welch

 ‘Twas battered and scarred, And the auctioneer thought

 it hardly worth his while To waste his time on the old violin,

but he held it up with a smile.

 

“What am I bid, good people”, he cried,

“Who starts the bidding for me?”
“One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?”

“Two dollars, who makes it three?”
“Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,”

But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,

Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

 The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said “What now am I bid for this old violin?”
As he held it aloft with its’ bow.

 “One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?”
“Two thousand, Who makes it three?”
“Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone”, said he.

The audience cheered, But some of them cried,
“We just don’t understand.”

“What changed its’ worth?”
Swift came the reply. “The Touch of the Masters Hand.”

 And many a man with life out of tune

All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin

 A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.

 But the Master comes,

And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters’ Hand.

 Lamentations 3:

²¹ This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

²² It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

²³ They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness

 

So tell Jesus all about it. He is both God and man and fully understands.

Determine by His grace to live for Him in constant communication with Him.

Enjoy the wonder of Christmas.

 

Redeeming Love – by Bill Gaither

 From God’s heaven to a manger,

From great riches to the poor,

Came the Holy Son of God, a little Child;

From the azure halls of heaven to a lowly manger stall

Jesus came, and He gave His life for all.

Redeeming love, a love that knows no limit;

Redeeming love, a love that never dies;

My soul shall sing through-out the endless ages

The adoration of this great love on high.

From a loving heavenly Father,

To a world that knew him not,

Came a Man of sorrows Jesus Christ, the Lord;

In my wandering Jesus found me,

Touched my life with His great love,

And this Babe has grown to be my Sovereign Lord!!

Redeeming love, a love that knows no limit;

Redeeming love, a love that never dies;

My soul shall sing through-out the endless ages

The adoration of this great love !!

 

 

1 Peter 3:

⁴ But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

 

 

Hebrews 12:

¹ 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,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Let us run our races, looking unto Jesus,

Coach Patti

 

 

Christians today are in a spiritual battle. Jesus has already defeated the enemy at Calvary but we await that final removal of both the enemy and our sin nature. So where are you today in that spiritual battle? Where are you in your unique race He has set before you? Where are you today? Discouraged? Weary? Tired of the battle?

Here are some lessons from the life of Moses

You remember Moses saw injustice and tried to right it. He knew the Egyptians were wrong.

Exodus 2:

¹¹ And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

¹² And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

¹³ And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

¹⁴ And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

¹⁵ Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

 

Then Moses was in the desert for 40 years and content not opposing the injustice

Exodus 2:

²¹ And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

But God had other plans –Exodus 3:

⁷ And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

⁸ And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

⁹ Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.

¹⁰ Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

 

But Moses had excuses in Exodus 3:

Excuse #1-Who am I? Remember God does not choose as we choose

¹¹ And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

 

God’s solution is Himself:

¹² And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

 

Excuse #2: What shall I say?

¹³ And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

 

God’s solution is Himself:

¹⁴ And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you

 

Excuse #3 in Exodus 4: they won’t believe me

¹ And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

 

God’s solution is Himself:

² And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

³ And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

⁴ And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

⁵ That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

⁶ And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

⁷ And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

⁸ And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

⁹ And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

 

Excuse #4: I am not…..

¹⁰ And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

 

God’s solution is Himself:

¹¹ And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

¹² Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

¹³ And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

¹⁴ And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

¹⁵ And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

 

Jesus provides great encouragement and direction. Matthew 28:

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Hebrews 12:

¹² Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

¹³ And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

¹⁴ Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

¹⁵ Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

¹⁶ Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

¹⁷ For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

¹⁸ For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

¹⁹ And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

²⁰ (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

²¹ And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

²² But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

²³ To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

²⁴ And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

²⁵ See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

²⁶ Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

²⁷ And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸ Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.

 

Hebrews 12:

¹ 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,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus,

Coach Patti