(FOR THIS THANKSGIVING SEASON, BY BARB BYER - A RECORDING OF
MAY BE AVAILABLE, IF YOU REQUEST IT, FROM OUR 'FORMIDIBLE GRACE' PRAISE BAND. AS THE MUSIC FOR IT IS A LOVELY, CANON TYPE
ARRANGEMENT)
WHEN I HAVE CHRIST, I HAVE EV'RYTHING I NEED FOR LIFE
WHEN I HAVE CHRIST, I HAVE EV'RYTHING I NEED FOR LIFE.
HE HAS THE CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS,
LIVING WATER SPRINGS FROM DEEP WELLS.
FROM THE FULLNESS OF HIS GRACE WE ARE ALL RECEIVING,
ONE BLESSING AFTER ANOTHER,
FROM THE FULLNESS OF HIS GRACE WE ARE ALL RECEIVING,
ONE BLESSING AFTER ANOTHER
DAILY BLESSINGS FLOW, DAILY HIS BLESSINGS FLOW,
DAILY BLESSINGS FLOW,
DAILY HIS BLESSINGS FLOW.
IN THE MORNING WHEN I RISE,
I WILL PRAISE YOU!
AND BEFORE I CLOSE MY EYES,
I WILL THANK YOU.
WHEN YOUR BLESSING SEEM SO CLEAR,
IF THEY'RE CLOUDED BY MY FEAR,
I WILL PRAISE AND THANK YOU, LORD!
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!
Planning a family reunion, or just want to make
some extra chili to freeze & use later? Here's
Paul Gros' recipie for serving 20 - 25 people:
15 lbs of lean hamburger or ground steak
3 whole onions chopped (yellow)
5 red chili peppers (chopped)
2 #10 cans of whole tomatoes
1 #10 can of tomato juice
2 large green peppers
2 green onions chopped
2 teaspoons of chili powder and/or
10 of the small chili seasoning packets
from a Wendy's Restaurant
Other spices to suit your taste
Pre-cook the hamburger/steak and gradually add in the other
ingredients in a large roaster pan, simmer for 2 hours.
HERE'S A BEAUTIFUL GRACE YOU MIGHT USE.
FOUND AT A FAMOUS NORTHERN INDIANA RESTAURANT:
"Give thanks for the fullness of days spent together,
The friends that we pray will be with us forever;
The feelings we've shared, the food and good fun.
With faith that God's blessings have only begun."
On a recent Sunday morning, the Major preaching
asked those in the congregation here to list, on a little
card, the greatest fear they have in life. As follows,
you'll see what was on people's minds (be sure to see
the "However" section following):
+Fear of falling +Fear of keeping my children &
grandchildren out of harm's way
+Heights and claustrophobia
+God taken out of schools and our children suffering
+Loss of my mother leaving me alone as she's my
best friend
+Fear that those I love most will not submit to God's grace
+Not being able to take care of myself in old age and having
to depend on others
+Not being 'good enough' to spend eternity in God's presence -
being a disappointment to Him
+Bees, spiders (big black hairy ones), physical pain, drowning
or suffication, losing my husband or child.
+Homelessness.
+Being alone.
+Going places / travel
+Dying in pain and suffering
alone.
+Flying.
+The condition of my house, people finding out!
+Alzheimer' disease.
+That I may not be living my life that is pleasing to
our Lord (but I'm trying!)
+Losing my limbs, smothering, high places
+Darkness
--------------------------------
HOWEVER: Whatever our fears may be, God is
interested and will help us to be comforted by our
faith in Jesus Christ, who opens our access to God.
See the following, a few verses among many, that
give us courage to face our fears, and trust ourselves
to God's care:
FEAR NOT!
The Word of God is very emphatic about ‘not to fear’.
(2 Tim 1:7 KJV) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
The opposite of faith is fear. The devil uses fear to attack us in every area of life.
In this message we want to hear the Word of God beginning with the birth of
Jesus through the Word hearing God continuing to tell us “Fear Not”. God wants
us to walk in faith not fear. Faith brings the blessings from God while fear causes us
to walk in defeat.
I. God sent an angel to tell Joseph not to fear.
(Mat 1:20 KJV) 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
II. The angel told Zacharias that his prayer was heard.
(Luke 1:13 KJV) But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is...
III. The angel told Mary not to fear, she found favor with God.
(Luke 1:30 KJV) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found...
IV. Then the angel told them all not to fear.
(Luke 2:10 KJV) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you...
V. God wants us to live in victory. We cannot lose for winning. We cannot
go under for going over.
(Luke 12:32 KJV) Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give
you the kingdom.
(2 Kings 6:16 KJV) And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
(Deu 31:6 KJV) Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for
the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
(Joel 2:21 KJV) Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
VI. We are very important to the Lord and we are not to fear, he knows all about
us.
(Luke 12:7 KJV) But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore:
ye are of more value than many sparrows.
VII. We are to fear that we cannot do what He wants us to do.
(Isa 41:13 KJV) For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee,
Fear not; I will help thee.
(Gen 15:1 KJV) After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision,
saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
VIII. We need not fear sickness or death.
(Luke 8:50 KJV) But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not! believe
only, and she shall be made whole.
(Judges 6:23 KJV) And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
IX. We need not fear that we cannot be a witness for the Lord.
(Luke 5:10 KJV) And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners
with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
Read also Psalm 27, for help and comfort, and the surrounding Psalms, for God
promises to be faithful to those who love Him.
The Best Place to Be / The Worst Place to Be
One of my brothers used to say, “Remember; wherever you go, that’s where you’ll be.” How profound?! I recall the words of an old Gospel song, “If it had not been for the Lord on my side, then where would I be?” And how often have you heard people say, “He was in the right place at the right time.”, perhaps inventing something just when it’s found to be essential to its era, making the inventor (or more likely, some developer) a fortune. Then there’s being in the WRONG place at the wrong time. ‘Nearly happened to us as we toured the White House on the morning of September 11, 2001. It’s been said, “The worst place to be when going through doubts, is all alone. You need a friend – someone close – to support you.” Blessing us far beyond an earthly friend, ‘tho those are valuable, is our Friend Jesus who as the 2nd Person of the Trinity, “sticks closer than any brother” (Pr. 18:24). Do you know and serve this faithful Friend? - from the "Lafayette Ledger" 3/6/07 Maj. R. Meyer
