Viewpoint - March 15, 2010
By Pastor Steve Harris

THE WHISTLE

Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom.  And in all your getting, get understanding.”

When Benjamin Franklin was seven years old, his mother game him several pennies – the first money he’d ever owned.  He ran into the street and met a boy blowing a whistle.  Giving all his coppers for the whistle, young Benjamin ran home to show his treasure to his brothers and sisters.  Imagine his chagrin when they laughingly informed him his whistle was worth only one penny at best.  Throwing himself on the floor, he cried with vexation.  But the lesson wasn’t lost.  “Afterward …,” he wrote, “when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself. ‘Don’t give too much for the whistle.’”

If even children can learn from their mistakes, God’s children can do the same.  When we pay too much for the whistle (or foul up in any way), it’s important to take responsibility for our actions, to repent, and to learn from our mistakes.  By confessing our sins, we’re removing guilt and allowing ourselves to learn the lessons of grace and growth.  A day is never lost if a lesson is learned.

Benjamin Franklin said, “After crosses and losses men grow humbler and wiser.”

(Steve Harris is pastor of the First United Pentecostal Church of Center, TX and host of the morning radio devotional, Living the Life, heard Monday-Fridays at 8:45 a.m. on KDET 930 AM and KQSI 92.5 FM)

Happenings at FUMCJ - March 15, 2010
Submitted by: Randy Smith, Pastor

Notes From a Prayer Journey - March 9 , 2010
Submitted by Shirley Goodwin

God’s Special Assignments

Eph 6:18 In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. (MSG)

Most of us have had the following experience: The name of someone we know comes to our minds and for a few moments we feel a desire to encourage or help them in some way. Often we fail to recognize these thoughts as specific promptings by the Holy Spirit. Most of the time when we have these quiet, yet, very impressionable thought of others, it means that someone is in need of our prayers. The Holy Spirit will lead us to pray for a particular person, a family or someone in need.

Consider this scenario:

1. Someone in need of prayer, prays and asks the Lord to lay a burden on someone’s heart to pray for him/her during his/her hour of need. (This is supplication: entreaty, petition, invocation, request, plea, appeal)

2. God gives someone a prompting to pray. (This is God’s Special Assignment: usually a quiet, yet unforgettable thought of someone)

3. The person given the prayer assignment prays for the one in need. (This is intercession: pleading for another.)

4. The one in need of prayer is given strength for his/her situation; perhaps an accident was avoided, or an illness is healed, or a family situation is resolved, or a desperate emotion, spiritual or financial need is fulfilled, et cetera. (This is edification: enlightenment, instruction, and spiritual benefit.)

In chapters nine and ten of the book of Acts, there are examples of God’s Special Assignments and the consequences of prayers. Verses, three through nine, of Acts chapter nine, record the conversion of Saul outside the city of Damascus. Acts 9:11 (NIV) states, for behold, he (Saul) is praying. As Saul gave himself to prayer and fasting, the Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision and told him to go to Straight Street and pray for Saul. As a result of Ananias’ response to God’s Special Assignment, we enjoy reading many books in the New Testament today. (Read Acts 9)

In Acts 10, as Cornelius prayed, God sent an angel who gave him instructions so that he and his family could receive salvation. Meanwhile, Peter received instructions to go to Cornelius’ house and preach. The result of Cornelius’ faithfulness to prayer was salvation for his household, his family and near friends.

Both Ananias and Peter received God’s Special Assignments. Both men were prompted by the Lord to go to someone, pray with them and teach them truth from God’s word. As a result of their willingness to be lead of the Holy Spirit, the church today, many, many years later receives innumerable blessings.

Perhaps, this day, God has given us Special Assignments. What is our response? Will we pray for others? Are we willing to be used of God for the benefit of others? Will we pray when others need for us to pray for them?

Will we do our homework when God gives us a Special Assignment? Will we pray? Will we bless others?

Prayer for the day:

Jesus, I thank You for Your blessings. I thank You for the people in my life who pray for me and teach me Your word. I ask Your forgiveness for the times that I did not bless others when Your Holy Spirit was leading me to pray for someone. Lead me Lord, to the person who has needs. Help me Lord that I will be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit and understand my Special Assignment. Please use me Lord, today, that others will be blessed. Thank You for always hearing my prayers. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Pull Up a Chair - December 16, 2009
By Bro. Michael

Christmas is a time of celebration as we gather with friends and family to celebrate the birth of the one who divided human history. Seemingly, the world stops for one day to remember the advent of God into the world in the form of a baby.

Baby Jesus is the most controversial person of history; because history was divided by Jesus Christ. Mankind looks for events to determine our historical record and the one event that stands out is the coming of Jesus Christ into the life of mankind.

Some secular historians no longer want to use A.D. or B.C. Instead they want to use C.E. “Common era”. Instead of B.C. they want to use B.C.E “before the common era.” Still our dating system is based on the birth of Jesus Christ. The Greeks held the first Olympiad and said, “We’re always going to date time according to the Greek Olympiad.” The Romans said, “We’re always going to date time from the date of the founding of the city of Rome.” During the time of the French Revolution in the late 1700’s the French said, “We’re going to have a new world dating system based from the beginning of the French Revolution.” Now in the 21st century every time you write a check, put a date down on a calendar you acknowledge the most significant event in human history, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the most important person in human history. Matthew 1:21 the angel said to Joseph “She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Jesus was on the most important mission anyone could ever do. He came to die on the cross and pay for the sins of all people of all time. As someone else once said Jesus Christ was not a good man trying to get to God, He was the good God trying to get to man. Therefore Jesus Christ brought a message that was revolutionary in His day and in our day. John 3:14-16 gives that message. “Just as Moses lifted the snake in the desert,” if you have not read this story it’s a good one. “So the Son of Man must be lifted up” refers to the cross, “that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” Then the next verse really causes controversy, “for God so loved the world” world means individuals, “that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

But you say that’s what we have always believed? That God loves each of us so much that He gave His only Son to die on a cross to pay for the sins of all humanity. The very idea that God loves you was not the belief system in Jesus day nor is it today in the world. As we celebrate Christmas and the Christ child, don’t forget the rest of the story. Remember we need to tell the world that the God who created this world loves them and sent His only Son into the world to bring forgiveness of sin.

Pointing to God - February 19 , 2010
Carla Reed , Pastor of Shelbyville United Methodist Church

Lent is the season occurring 40 days (excluding Sundays) that precedes Easter. Biblically, during this time Jesus headed to Jerusalem where he would eventually be crucified. We use this time to look at ourselves critically and understand how even our sin had a part in Jesus’ death. His death was for all humankind throughout all the ages and including ours.
When we look at ourselves with open eyes, we notice our vulnerable condition. We are constantly being battered around by the negative events in our lives and by the pressures to achieve more and more in comparison to our neighbor. We become wounded by the assault of a variety of things that threaten our self confidence and undermine what we thought was the purpose of life.
There is a medical term called proud flesh. Proud flesh is the tissue that rushes in to fill the space around and between the tissues of a wound. There are many body defenses that step in when our body senses something that threatens the integrity of skin or various other tissues and quickly this swelled granulated tissue rushes in with various defenses. In the process of healing, however, it may be necessary to cut away this “proud flesh”. If removed it allows the healing process to occur more rapidly and minimizes scarring.
I propose that this season is the time to cut away the proud flesh from our spiritual life. We need to cut away the things that separate us from the ultimate source of healing – Jesus Christ. By setting aside time for reading our instruction book, the Bible, and applying its principles to our life we are convinced of our need for the healer. Then we sit in silence and wait for his certain voice that accepts our confession and administers grace and mercy.
Jesus says:
“I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”