Thoughts From The Pastor

Bulletin Thought

2010-08-22T23:31:58.999-05:00

August 22, 2010

Bulletin Thought

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem , he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”

Daniel 6:10

Daniel is probably best known because of his experience in the lion’s den (Dan. 6:1-23). But we should also know Daniel as being a man of prayer. It was his practice of praying to God that caused him to be placed in the lion’s den to begin with.

Individuals were jealous of Daniel because the king was planning to promote him to a very prestigious position. Those envious of him could find no fault in Daniel so they devised a plan that would put him out of favor with the king, thus ending his promotion. They knew Daniel prayed to his God regularly. So they were instrumental in getting a law passed that no one should pray to anyone but the king for the next thirty days.

Daniel was not swayed by the law, he prayed to his God anyway. Wouldn’t it be great if we had similarities to Daniel when it came to prayer? Note the following:

Daniel prayed when times were good and when they were bad. A law had been passed banning prayer to God, but Daniel still prayed to his God. When trouble comes our way, it’s interesting that we tend to stop communicating with God. It’s when trouble comes that we really need to be communicating with God.

Daniel prayed with his focus on God. By facing Jerusalem , the city of God , the focus would always be on God and their eventual return. We must be careful not to allow distractions to get our focus off of God. Ultimately, only God can truly help us.

Daniel prayed more than once a day. Three times a day he made it a point to have quiet time with God. Nothing deterred him from prayer. What about us? Are we devoted to praying regularly? Or do we allow television or recreation take priority over prayer?

Daniel was thankful in spite of. A law had been passed banning prayer to God. Punishment was sure to come and it did. But Daniel, in spite of being in what was a less than desirable situation, still found reasons to be thankful. We don’t have to look far; reasons abound as to why we should always be thankful.

Daniel’s custom was to pray…

I’m sure that Daniel’s courage and commitment was a result of his prayer life. O Lord, help us to be a praying people.

Bulletin Thought

2010-08-15T17:08:28.045-05:00

August 15, 2010 Bulletin Thought Children’s Ten Commandments for Parents 1. My hands are small; please don’t expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short, slow down so that I can keep up with you. 2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; let me explore it safely; don’t restrict me unnecessarily. 3. Housework will always be there; I’m only little for a short time. Take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly. 4. My feelings are tender; don’t nag me all day long… Treat me as you would like to be treated. 5. I am a special gift from God; treasure me as God intended you to do – holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by, and disciplining me in a loving manner. 6. I need your encouragement (but not your empty praise) to grow. Go easy on criticism; remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me. 7. Give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I’ll be prepared to make decisions life will require of me. 8. Don’t do things over for me; that makes me feel my efforts didn’t measure up to your expectations. I know it’s hard, but don’t compare me with my brother or my sister. 9. Don’t be afraid to leave for the weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, and parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it’s a great way to show us kids that your marriage is something special. 10. Take me to Sunday school and church regularly, setting a good example for me to follow. I enjoy learning more about God. Kevin Lehman, quoted in “Dear Abby,” Independent Press Telegram, January 12, 1981 (Source – Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes)

Bulletin Thought

2010-08-08T10:08:37.452-05:00

August 8, 2010

Bulletin Thought

Fanny Crosby’s Prayer Life

Fanny Crosby, though blinded in infancy, greeted friends and strangers alike with a cheerful “God bless your dear soul.” And, according to her own statement, she never attempted to write a hymn without first kneeling in prayer. If this be true, Fanny Crosby spent considerable time on her knees. She wrote no less than 8000 songs.

Miss Crosby was often under pressure to meet deadlines. It was under such circumstances in 1869 that she tried to write words for a tune Composer W. H. Doane had sent her. But she couldn’t write. Then she remembered she had forgotten her prayer. Rising from her knees, she dictated – as fast as her assistant could write – words for the famous hymn, “Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross.”

But one day in 1874, Fanny Crosby prayed for more material things. She had run short of money and needed five dollars – even change. There was no time to draw on her publishers, so she simply prayed for the money. Her prayer ended, she was walking to and fro in her room trying to “get into the mood” for another hymn when an admirer called (came to visit). Greeting the stranger with “God bless your dear soul,” the two chatted briefly.

In the parting handshake the admirer left something in the hymn-writer’s hand. It was five dollars. Rising from a prayer of thanks the blind poetess wrote: “All the way my Saviour leads me.”

Clint Banner

(Source – Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations)

I asked the Lord to comfort me when things weren’t going my way,

He said to me, “I will comfort you, and lift your cares away.”

I asked the Lord to walk with me when darkness was all I knew,

He said to me, “Never be afraid, for I will see you through.”

I didn’t ask for riches, He gave me wealth untold,

The moon, the stars, the sun, the sky, and gave me eyes to behold…

He came to me when I needed Him, I only had to pray,

And He’ll come to you, if you ask Him to, He’s only a prayer away.

Bulletin Thought

2010-07-04T12:45:46.748-05:00

July 4, 2010

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

On July 4, 1776 the thirteen Continental Colonies of America adopted a document known as the Declaration of Independence. This document was a declaration of freedom from British rule. Now, every year, the United States celebrates this as a holiday in which we celebrate our freedom.

As Christians, we must never forget that over 2000 years ago, God in the person of Jesus Christ performed a work that granted us “freedom” from the rule of satan and sin in our lives. Not only did God deliver us, God also changed our status and our future. Whereas we once were known as sinners headed for eternal destruction, we are now known as saints and have a place in the eternal kingdom of God .

Because of what happened on July 4, 1776, this country recognizes every July 4^th as a national holiday and celebrations are held across the land. But do we not realize that because of what happened over 2000 years ago when Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross and bought our freedom, for those of us who believe, everyday is to be a day of celebration and thanksgiving?

Because of our faith in the redeeming Savior we are free and now have dual citizenship. We are citizens of these United States , but we are also citizens of the heavenly kingdom. When life is over in this land, we can rest assured that God will receive us in His heavenly kingdom where the wicked shall cease from troubling and the weary shall be at rest. In the heavenly kingdom, there will always be a “praise party” going on. You don’t believe me, read the following:

Revelation 4:8-11

Revelation 5:8-14

Revelation 7:9-12

Today as we celebrate July 4^th as Independence Day, let us also as children of God have a joyful spirit as we always remember and continually celebrate the redeeming work of Jesus on the cross. We are redeemed and we are free. Hallelujah!!

“Always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God’s holy people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and He has brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son. God has purchased our freedom with His blood and has forgiven all our sins.” (Colossians 1:12-14 NLT)

Bulletin Thought

2010-06-20T08:59:06.992-05:00

June 20, 2010

Bulletin Thought

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

“Sing to God, sing praises to His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name YAH, and rejoice before Him. A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in His holy habitation.” (Psalm 68:4-5 NKJV)

Today we observe and celebrate Father’s Day. To say celebrate might be a bit of a stretch when compared to the attention given to Mother’s Day J

In the reality of life, we acknowledge that some do not hold Father’s Day in high regard given their negative experiences with their own fathers. But, we must not fail to recognize the reality of a loving God who is our heavenly Father. The good news is that He is a father to the fatherless. Just consider some of the things our heavenly Father does for us:

Each day we have is a gift from Him…
All of our needs are provided for…
Loves us unconditionally…
Never leaves us alone…
Has a bottle for all our tears…
Works through others who come into our lives…
Is patient and merciful…
Is always working, never slothful…

Of course, our heavenly Father does far more than we could ever write or speak about. We just need to remember that we have a heavenly Father who loves us and will never forsake us.

Our heavenly Father has provided some wonderful earthly fathers who are indeed a blessing to their families, but if ever you start feeling down because of some disappointment due to your earthly father, just remember, we are our heavenly Father’s children and He wants us to have a relationship with Him.

Praying to Him is always available to us – Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…

Bulletin Thought

2010-06-13T10:04:26.595-05:00

June 13, 2010

Bulletin Thought

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

In game four of the NBA championship playoffs, the Boston Celtics won a hard fought game that tied the series at 2 games each. In the post game interview, one of the key players for the Celtics in that game gave thanks to God for his talent and the teams’ victory that night. He gave thanks to God more than once. In essence he was praising God…

It is not unusual for sports figures to give thanks to God after a game or even during a game (a glance upward and a finger pointed toward heaven after scoring). But, if ever there were a group of individuals who “specialize” in giving praise to God – it ought to be the church.

Collectively we gather week after week to worship God. Unfortunately, it is what we should specialize in that sometimes becomes a source of controversy in the body of Christ. Some don’t like the music – it’s too loud, too fast, or too slow. We would do well to remember a song that the youth sing from time to time –it’s not about us.

If we are students of Scripture we will notice throughout the Scriptures exhortations to offer praise to God. According to Scripture, there is no one way to praise God that takes priority over the other, we’re just told to praise God. Sometimes it will be loud; sometimes it will be quiet and reflective. Musical instruments are involved as well as dancing to the Lord. Oh yes, and even the lifting of hands toward heaven. There are a number of reasons we are to praise God, just to name a few:

We are loved by God…
We are forgiven…
We are saved from the wrath of God…
We are sealed by His Holy Spirit…
We have the Holy Spirit in us…
We are provided for…
We are heaven bound…

We are too blessed to have disagreements over how we praise God. It’s not about us, it’s about Him. We are to continually offer the sacrifice of praise, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

Next time you are about to complain about some aspect of worship, just remember how blessed you are and who blessed you – then give the Lord some praise instead.

Bulletin Thought

2010-06-06T10:01:57.642-05:00

June 6, 2010

Bulletin Thought

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving for the faith of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:27 NKJV)

In Philippians 1:27 the apostle Paul is encouraging Christians at Philippi to work together in a spirit of unity. This is a message that is worth repeating constantly among believers today.

There is also another message that needs to be kept before professing Christians today – that our conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. Our conduct, our behavior, our mindset says a lot about our spirituality. Our conduct should say that:

We are saved. Because of faith in Jesus as Savior a spiritual transformation has taken place within us. A new heart has developed within us so much so that we are new creatures in Christ. Outwardly we look the same but inwardly new birth has happened. Our conduct should say that:

We are growing. The Christian life is a progressive life. We are in the process of maturing – becoming more of the person that God would have us be. We do not stay the same, if we’re not growing, developing more in our faith then there is a problem. Our conduct should say that:

We are committed. Our Savior set a good example of commitment. Jesus did not waver in doing God’s will. He was often criticized, scrutinized, and even betrayed by His own disciples. But through it all He remained faithful to doing God’s will. Our conduct should say that:

We are filled with hope. Our hope should be as a result of faith in God and His Word. We have assurance that although things may get rough we can always depend on God. Our Savior has promised never to leave us alone. Our Savior has promised that His grace is sufficient. Our Savior has promised that He is coming back.

Is your conduct worthy of the gospel of Christ? Remember, He has called us to be witnesses.

Take my life and let be consecrated Lord to Thee…

Bulletin Thought

2010-05-23T10:00:14.313-05:00

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV)

Not long ago several Mt. Nebo members volunteered their time on a Saturday afternoon to help out in one of the neighborhoods that had been ravaged by the recent flooding.

We were assigned to work to at the home of a woman in her late 60’s or early 70’s. Her home, like the home of her neighbors was hit particularly hard, everything had been lost. She was sitting outside sorting through what paperwork that was not washed away.

She was divorced and retired, with no flood insurance. Given her plight, having lost everything and having no flood insurance, it would have been easy to understand if she was caught up in despair. But such was not the case.

This woman witnessed to us while sitting in the midst of ruin. She had recently bought new appliances but watched as they were all destroyed by the flood waters. She recounted some of her past problems in life and said –“God brought me through. He is also going to bring me through this.” Several times she mentioned the goodness of God and stated she had much to be thankful for.

This woman is a living testimony to God’s peace in the midst of trial. While she obviously thought on things she had lost, those things were not the chief focus of her mind. She focused on God and His divine ability to help us in time of need. While many challenges are before this woman, I believe her faith in God will see her through.

God encourages us in His Word to trust Him and keep Him as our focus, as we do – His peace will flood our souls and His strength will be ours.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Bulletin Thought

2010-05-02T10:27:59.481-05:00

Bulletin Thought

May 2, 2010

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

Romans 8:37

In college basketball this season– one women’s team stood out above all others. The young women of Connecticut finished the season undefeated as well as winning the NCAA championship game. As a matter of fact, their win streak is over 70 games. They were truly conquerors on the basketball court and if you watched them play – they presented themselves as conquerors.

As individuals who profess faith in the risen Savior, we should also see ourselves as conquerors. This is what the apostle Paul expresses in Romans 8:37. He presents several scenarios – tribulation, distress, persecution, famine or nakedness (v. 35) but in spite of those things that might present themselves as challenges, Paul states in verse 37 – “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” The “Him” of course is the risen Savior, Jesus.

They were so connected to Him they had the assurance of victory no matter what they might face in life. As students of scripture we know they faced many challenges but held fast to their faith. So should it be with us today. Challenges abound but because of our faith in the risen Savior we will not, we cannot adopt a defeated mindset.

There are primarily two key aspects to maintaining the mindset of a conqueror. First is our focus. We must keep our focus. Keeping our focus involves keeping the Lord first and foremost, not our challenges or problems. We must also keep the end in mind. This world is not our home, we’re passing through, we’re pilgrims and strangers on the earth. Whatever we encounter on our journey toward our heavenly home is a temporary situation.

Second is our connection to our Savior. Jesus taught in John 15 that we are to abide in Him and He in us for without Him we can do nothing (verses 1-7). As long as we stay connected to Jesus we’ll always be victorious. We stay connected to Jesus as we surrender self daily, remain a student of Scripture and apply the principles that it teaches, communicate with the Lord through prayer and meditation, and maintain fellowship with other believers.

That Connecticut team that I mentioned earlier, the day will come when they will eventually lose a game and will no longer be seen as conquerors. But for those of us who profess faith in Jesus, the risen Savior – like Paul we ought to go through life saying to ourselves in the midst of our challenges – “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” At the end of our journey we’ll enter heaven not as defeated individuals, but as overcomers.

O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever! He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him – He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.

Bulletin Thought

2010-04-18T07:06:25.63-05:00

April 18, 2010

Bulletin Thought

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

“…be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

(I Timothy 4:12 NKJV)

It is very important that believers in Jesus as Lord (young and old) be mindful of their behavior. Being saved does not take the fun out of living or mean that we must walk around with a somber look on our faces never smiling. But it does mean that in the process of traveling through life – we’ll always be mindful that we’re Christians, followers of Jesus Christ and our conduct and or behavior is to reflect our relationship with Him.

May the following devotional thought by Leroy Brownlow from his book – Give Us This Day: A Devotional Guide for Daily Living encourage us concerning our conduct on a day to day basis:

There are four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and the fifth is You, which is the most read by your associates.

The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,

Are read by more than just a few,

But the one that is most read and commented on

Is the gospel according to You.

You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day,

By the things that you do and words that you say,

Men read what you write, whether faithless or true,

Say, what is the gospel according to You?

Is it love? Is it forgiveness? Is it helpful? Is it fairness? Is it truthfulness? Is it ethics? Is it kindness?

Is it courtesy? Is it tolerance? Is it Bible Study? Is it church attendance? Is it sacrifice? Is it clean speech? Is it unselfishness? Is it bigness?

These qualities will make you an effective living epistle, admired and loved by those who read you. And read you, they will!

A page of example is worth a book of preach.