NDP @Coosa County

National Day of Prayer

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

“Prayer is simply a two way conversation between you and God.”

 -Billy Graham, April 28, 2013

In Coosa County, at the crossroads of the county, where the county seat is, we will observe the National Day of Prayer with several events.  Beginning the day at 6:15, I will join several men from Rockford for our weekly prayer breakfast and we will remember our nation and leaders.  At 7:45 AM I have the pleasure of joining the Central Middle School in a time of prayer for our nation.  Then at noon, in the courtyard of the Courthouse we will join a few hundred for a short time of prayer.

This will be my 5^th year to be a part of this event in our small county, but it will be the 62^nd year for the event on a national level. 

The following is a press Release from NDP media@nationaldayofprayer.org which was circulated on April 8^th:  

 

Americans to Unite and Pray on Thursday May 2, for the 62^nd Annual Observance of the National Day of Prayer

Colorado Springs, Colorado (April 8, 2013)-As our nation struggles with continued economic insecurity, vast healthcare reform, and countless challenges to our constitutional rights, citizens of the United States are preparing to exercise their freedom to gather, worship, and pray.  Millions will answer the call to prayer on May 2^nd in observance of the 62^nd annual National Day of Prayer.  Organized events will be held in thousands of public venues where intercession will be made for America and its leadership.

This year’s theme, “Pray for America,” is based on Matthew 12:21 which reminds us that “In His name the nations will put their hope.”  National Day of Prayer (NDP) Task Force Chairman Shirley Dobson, wife of Family Talk founder Dr. James Dobson, has said that, “The American people continue to be plagued with challenges that defy simple answers, and our hope lies in humbly seeking the Almighty’s guidance, protection, and blessing-not only on the National Day of Prayer, but throughout the year.”

Senior Pastor of Harvest Fellowship and Founder of Harvest Crusades-Greg Laurie-will serve as the 2013 Honorary Chairman of the NDP Task Force and will give the keynote address at the National Observance in Washington, D.C., to be held at the Cannon House Office Building.

To learn more, or to find a National Day of Prayer event in your community, visit www.NationalDayofPrayer.org.

 

“The nations will have hope because of him.”

Matthew 12:21 (GW)

Many are looking for hope.  Much attention has been drawn toward the White House, because the man sitting in the Oval Office promised “Hope and Change.”  Americans are feeling the pinch that change is bringing, but there is little hope.  The government debt continues to spiral out of control, wars and rumors of wars loom on every front, while a little man with a big mouth is stirring up strife in a foreign country were we have a truce, but the war never ended.

On the home front we have bombings, mass murders, shootings, assaults, and robberies to name just a few of the problems.  Not to mention the low morale, the gutter filled with sickening immoral attitudes and the church sitting idly by allowing the world to go to “hell in a hand basket.”  There is less hope for a future and less hope for a miracle than ever before.

This is why the nation needs to observe this Day of Prayer as never before.  We need to band together across denominational aisles, ethic boundaries, and put aside social status and preconceived notions and hit our knees as a nation.  We need to seek the help and assistance, the intervening power of Almighty God and call out to the only One who can give hope.

As the nation prays to the God of Heaven, the Creator and Sustainer of Life, we must acknowledge our own sin.  We must seek Him and His mercy for our own lives.  By doing so, we will see the hand of God move in ways we have never seen before.  That is why prayer must begin with confession and deep soul searching, not as a bargaining chip, but as a clean slate before God.  He only can cleanse sin and make righteous that which has acted unrightfully.

His promise is that He will hear, He will forgive and He will heal.  We must allow Him to act in our lives and in the life of our nation.  We must stop attempting to clean up the mess we have made; we have proven that we just make matters worse.  When God comes along and is allowed to make what is wrong right, it will be right with protection.

So let us pray and seek God.  His Word says to “be still and know that I am God.”  This Thursday, take a moment to be still before the maker of the universe and see what God will do in your life, in your nation, and in our world.

God bless America, again!

 

Update information...

Concerning Blogs

I am changing up my blogs.  Because of the volume of writings I am involved with and the request for sermon material by friends, each blog will have a designated purpose in order to help me when sharing these with others.

Life from My Point of View

www.jfuller.blogspot.com will be the site for articles and information related to my personal ministry.  This blog “is the writing of a pastor in small town America.  I will write about life from that perspective, deal with issues, politics, Christ-like living and marriage and family.  All of these and more will be under-girded with scripture and Biblical wisdom.”

Stoned Witnesses

www.stonedwitnesses.blogspot.com is a blog “based on scripture which speaks of Christians being willing to die for the cause of Christ.  This blog will not only encourage readers in living a life of carrying the cross but also share devotionals, insight and Biblical guidance for our daily lives.”  With that as the original purpose of this blog, I will dedicate this blog for sermon manuscripts, devotionals, and Biblical and theological writings, as well as research I find which might help readers who are preparing a message of Sunday School lesson. 

Living Life in Liberty

www.rockfordchronicles.blogspot.com is my third blog, designed to speak to the Christian community related to freedoms we have as Americans.  My purpose for designing this site says: “As Christians, we are to live in liberty; as Americans we have liberty.  This blog speaks to those two valuable and cherished aspects of our life.”  Here I will include articles and research I have conducted related to these two vital gifts which we so often take for granted.

I hope you will enjoy the restructuring of these blogs, and will now know what they are actually intended to contain.  Maybe it will make it easier to follow.  If you have not selected on of the blogs to follow, I hope you will do so today.  Also, feel free to leave comments of the articles you find on these blogs, as I will look forward to interacting with my readers.

God bless you and God bless America!

Jeff Fuller

 

   

Why God Made Mom’s: A seen through the eyes of 2nd Graders

"Why God made moms"

answers given by 2nd grade school children

to the following questions:

 

Why did God make mothers?

·         She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

·         Mostly to clean the house.

·         To help us out of there when we were getting born.

 

How did God make mothers?

·         He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

·         Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

·         God made my Mom just the same like he made me.  He Just used bigger parts.

 

What ingredients are mothers made of?

·         God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

·         They had to get their start from men's bones.  Then they mostly use string, I think.

 

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

·         We're related.

·         God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

 

What kind of little girl was your mom?

·         My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

·         I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

·         They say she used to be nice.

 

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

·         His last name.

·         She had to know his background.  Like is he a crook?  Does he get drunk on beer?

·         Does he make at least $800 a year?  Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

 

Why did your Mom marry your dad?

·         My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world.  And my Mom eats a lot.

·         She got too old to do anything else with him.

·         My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

 

Who's the boss at your house?

·         Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

·         Mom.  You can tell by room inspection.  She sees the stuff under the bed.

·         I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

 

What's the difference between moms and dads?

·         Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just go to work at work.

·         Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

·         Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.  Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

 

What does your Mom do in her spare time?

·         Mothers don't do spare time.

·         To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

 

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?

·         On the inside she's already perfect.  Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

·         Diet.  You know?  Her hair.  I'd diet, maybe blue.

 

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?

·         She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean.  I'd get rid of that.

·         I'd make my Mom smarter.  Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

·         I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back of her head.

 

Found at: KERUX ILLUSTRATION COLLECTION; ID Number: 10351; SOURCE: Wit And Wisdom at http://www.witandwisdom.org by Richard G. Wimer; TITLE: Why God Made Moms; DATE: 3/16/06

“She is far more precious than jewels.”

Proverbs 31:10

 

Spiritual Springtime #2

Spiritual Springtime #2

Bloom where you are planted

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7

 

 

 

 

It is a fact of Christian experience that life is a series of troughs and peaks.  In his efforts to get permanent possession of a soul, God relies on the troughs more than the peaks.  And some of his special favorites have gone through longer and deeper troughs than anyone else.

 

-Peter Marshall

Introduction

 

At the beginning of this year, I challenged you to build your life upon the rock.  By sharing with you my own personal challenge from the Lord, I attempted to convey to you the importance of living a life pleasing to God, founded on the rock, and that Rock is Jesus Christ.

Today I am reminded of a special verse of scripture we explored at that time.  It is my verse for this year and comes from the passage of scripture in Psalm 40.  It is actually a portion of beautiful section of scripture, the last phrase of verse 2 of Psalm 40: “[He] set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.” (HCSB)

We know that following Christ will bring peace, happiness, hope, life, joy, and the list could go on and on.  We know that scripture tells us that we are to “Trust in the Lord with all [our] heart; and lean not unto [our] own understanding. In all [your] ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct [your] paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV)  Yes, we know that, right?

 

But what happens when the going gets tough?  What happens when everything seems to be falling in on our heads?  Have you ever felt like life was an out of control18 wheeler which has run over you, back up and run over you again?  Sure you do, because everyone of us in this room this morning has experienced the struggles and heartaches of life. 

I find in God’s precious Word, this word of affirmation, this word of promise:

 

But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

Jeremiah 7:23 (KJV)

 

Oh, heavenly days!  Does this not sound like something Paul wrote about many years later? (Romans 8:28)

Jeremiah found this to be the truth and you and I can find this to be the truth we need today.

      Doing the right thing, doing what God has called you to do is usually not very easy. The prophet Jeremiah knew all about that.   The Book of Jeremiah is God’s message of hope from the prophet Jeremiah.  As an example, Jeremiah 29 comes during a particularly rough period in their history.

      Jeremiah had been sent by God at a very young age to prophecy to the people of Judah, the southern two tribes after Israel was split into two kingdoms after the reign of King Solomon.

      He went to live in the capital, Jerusalem, in the thirteenth year of the reign of the good king Josiah. That was 628 B. C.  Josiah was bringing about reform among the people of Judah until his untimely death in 609 B. C.  After Josiah’s death, Judah went downhill very quickly.

      Jeremiah’s job was to warn the people of Judah that God was going to punish them for their disobedience of His commands, especially for their turning away from Him and worshipping other gods.  This did not gain him any friends.  He was not well liked for telling the people bad news.  The king and the religious leaders thought that he was spreading dissent among the people.

      You see, Jeremiah was asked by God to be most vocal when the Babylonians were right outside the gates of Jerusalem.  These enemies were about to take over their nation.  Therefore, when the future seemed to be just about as bleak as it could be, Jeremiah was asked to prophecy doom and gloom, that they would lose the war.  This is never popular, not at all.

      Finally in 597 B. C. God allowed the Babylonians to conquer the Israelites and cart the best and the brightest off to Babylon.  In 587 B. C. God brought the Babylonians back to destroy Jerusalem and take all of Judah back to Babylon.

      And that is when the message changed.  You see, God’s message through the prophets were archaic.  They were out of step with time.

      Now, when the Israelites were at their lowest, God’s message to them was at its heights of hope.

With this in mind, turn with me to the text today and read with me the words of Jeremiah: (29:1)

Here is the lesson for us: Bloom Where You are Planted!

·        When troubles come, and they will between this side of the cross and this side of heaven, we are more often willing to pout and sulk, than to do what is necessary to overcome and prevail.  We would rather give up and give in than move beyond the situation or circumstance we find ourselves entangled with.

·        It is so very easy to become bitter, than to be better.

·        Here we find that the hand of Nebuchadnezzar had been hard on Judah.  The elders, priests, prophets and many others had been carried away into captivity in Babylon.  In the midst of judgment, the messenger of God relayed God’s message for hope to a downtrodden people.

·        The question for us is how do we respond to the discipline in our lives?  The same hand that disciplines is the same hand that lifts up.  He comes to reprove and rebuke with one hand and with the other comes into my mess and your mess to lift us up and out, establishing us on that firm, unmovable foundation, which is Christ Jesus.

 

Three things you and I need to grasp this morning…

 

God continues to speak to those He disciplines (Verse 4)

 

Listen, sometimes we are so prone to be wrong and enjoy being wrong and will be wrong at the top of our lungs.  True; but the problem is when you define all problems and struggles in your life as an attack from the evil one, you are wrong!

Not all that comes your way is the doing of the evil one.  Sometimes disappointments and displeasures and defeat comes at the hand of God and you are wrong if you overlook the lesson He wishes to teach you in those times.

No, the captivity of the Children of God was not good and no it was struggle and heartbreaking, back breaking work, but God was working out His purposes for them through this event in their history.

He was seeking a response from His people; He was disciplining them for their disobedience and in so doing was willing and ready to bring them through this situation.

O that we would grasp this reality.  O that would accept this truth in our lives this day and every day!  Our chastisement for is for our good. 

If the reason is because of a deaf ear of disobedience; the response is a hearing ear of acceptance.  If the reason is a hand of misuse; the response is a hand submitted for use to Kingdom service.  Turn to God, friend.

Submission to the voice and way of God is the only hope we as believers have; it is the only hope the church has; it the only hope this world has.

 

God’s instructive Word is for progress not setbacks (Verses 5-6)

 

Listening to and obeying the Word of God in the barren places is the only way for you my friend.  When circumstances and situations are such that you want to throw up and your hands and quit, then and only then is the real way to move forward the answer and that is my accepting and internalizing the Word of God as truth in your life.

The false prophets continued to speak and preach an early release from exile thus making the people lazy, idle and unproductive.

God wanted them to continue to grow and flourish in a barren place.  He wanted them to bloom where they were planted.

Yes, God calls us to take the situation we find ourselves in and go forward with God.  Some would say that we live in a county where nothing much happens, where our churches cannot grow, where we are limited because of economic constraints and low morale; but I am here to tell you that that is all a lie from the pits of hell.

Because of the situation where we are we need to shine like the noonday sun.  We need to go forward.  We do not need to be lazy and idle, twiddling our thumbs saying “Oh whoa is me.” 

Due to the economy gifts to the local church seem to be at a standstill, while spending is up.  Due to the situations in society, many are finding other things more important that church attendance and service.  Apathy is eating away at the churches, in America and in Coosa County.  This erosion has caused some to wonder what are we to do?  How will we survive?

Listen, we are to be active and obedient in barren places and at barren times.  We are to allow these situations to propel us forward.  We are to make progress, not allow setbacks.

We are to bloom where we are planted!

 

God’s people are to be instruments of His blessings in disheartening circumstances (Verse 7)

 

While in this place, God wanted the people of His choosing to be instruments of blessing.  They were to pray for the peace of the land in which they were living.  They were to allow others to see God through faithful service.

That is what Martin Luther referred to as the doctrine of vocation.  It was thought in the Middle Ages that the only people who truly pleased God were priests, monks, nuns – those who worked for God directly, or so they thought.  However, Martin Luther rediscovered what Christians have known but forgot from time to time, and now seems to be one of those times, that whatever you do using your God-given abilities as a Christian, do it as to God; make it God-pleasing.

·         You don’t have to be a vocational minister to please God.

·         When you are the best father, son, husband, mother, daughter, wife that God has made you to be – God is pleased.  When you are the best church member, best Sunday School teacher, best worker, best anything-God is pleased.

God calls you to bloom where you are planted

 

Notes:

1)     Rockford Baptist Church; April 14, 2013 AM

2)      Research found at: www.preaching.com; www.livetohonorgod.com