Devotionals

Last Sunday in the Children’s Message I had an hour-glass and explained how an hour-glass works. I explained the grains of sand could represent the seconds in an hour, the hours in a year; or the days in a lifetime. Any way we look at it, our time is running out like grains of sand through an hour-glass.
The psalmist writes:
“Teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
This Hebrew word for “number” means “to weigh” or “to measure.” God intends that we do the best we can with the time we have been given. This is especially important as we began a new year. I can’t think of anything better to do this year, with our time, than to read and preach through the Bible, to pray, to attend worship and Sunday school, to invite people to church, to help people in need, and to tell people the Good News of Jesus Christ (the greatest need of everyone)!
Each day is a great gift from God. Again, the psalmist writes:
“This is the day the Lord has made,
We will rejoice and be glad in it”
(Psalm 118:24).
We are to place each day God gives us in the balance and make it tip the scales in a way that will glorify God and bless the lives of others!
Happy Christ filled New Year to you and your family!
Pastor Mark & Robin

Several years ago we were blessed to see a very small portion of God’s universe that we don’t often get to see, a total lunar eclipse. We were living in Nashville at the time and we set our alarm clock for midnight. When the alarm went off we ran out into the night air and looked up into the heavens. Lights were on in some of the houses up and down our street. We saw the folks directly across the street come out and look up with us at God’s handy-work.
I wonder how many people looked up into the night sky two thousand years ago and saw the star that led the Wise Men to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem? Someone said, “Wise men still seek Him.”
Can it be as easy as following a star? Maybe.
The following poem was written by a dear friend of mine, Mrs. Anna Grim.
FOLLOW THE STAR
We see the stars above us at night
And wonder why they shine so bright.
But it was only one star long ago
That made the heavens all aglow,
So the wise men could find their way
To where the little Christ child lay.
Away in a manger — it must have been
Because there was no room in the inn.
The star of the east just led them there
So praises and blessings they could share.
For each one of us must always try
To keep following that bright star up in the sky
And if we ever lose it from sight
Look for it carefully the very next night.
For we must follow, follow that star;
No, it doesn’t matter where we are;
Just so we will not be led astray
From being with our dear Lord someday.
I hope you follow The Star to church this Sunday, because our Star is Jesus Christ!
With much love for you,
Pastor Mark

George Washington wrote the first Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation on November 26th 1789. He began his message by acknowledging God’s providence. He concluded that message by recognizing the Lord as the giver of national prosperity, and in between were no less than two dozen forceful references to the goodness of God. There was no doubt in Washington’s mind that the birth of this nation and its marvelous blessings were cause for deep gratitude to God.
The observance of Thanksgiving is rooted in our national heritage, but it has always been understood as directed toward God. Thanksgiving is a major theme in the Bible. It is my prayer that we will celebrate a wonderful Thanksgiving by keeping our thanks ever directed toward God.
The poet has said,
 He who thanks but with his lips,
 Thanks but in part;
 The full, true Thanksgiving
 Comes from the heart.
      (author unknown)
Happy Thanksgiving! We’re thankful to God for you!
Pastor Mark & Robin

Someone gave me this poem. It sounds like a Social Club but if you change the word “president” on the second line to “pastor” it would sound a lot like a church.
What is the Value of One Member?
Ten little members standing in line,
One disliked the president, then there were nine.
Nine ambitious members offered to work late;
One forgot his promise, then there were eight.
Eight creative members had ideas good as Heaven.
One lost enthusiasm, then there were seven.
Seven loyal members got into a fix;
They quarreled over programs, and then there were six.
Six members remained with spirit and drive;
One moved away, then there were five.
Five steadfast members wished there were more;
One became indifferent, then there were four.
Four cheerful members who never disagree,
Till one complained of meeting, then there were three.
Three eager members, what to do?
One got discouraged, then there were two.
Two lonely members, our rhyme is nearly done;
One joined a bridge club, then there was one.
One faithful member was feeling rather blue;
Met with his neighbor and then there were two.
Two earnest members, each enrolled one more;
Doubling their numbers, and then there were four.
Four determined members just couldn’t wait,
Till each won another, then there were eight!
Eight excited members signed up 16 more;
In another six verses, there’ll be a thousand twenty-four.
Please don’t get the idea we are here to simply sign up new members. But we are “Ambassadors for Christ.”
We are told to “make disciples.” Invite someone to church this Sunday.
With Much Love,
Pastor Mark

My brother-in-law, my sister’s husband, Robert, died at the age of 54, from a heart attack. (1993)

We made the long, cold drive to Swainsboro, Georgia and arrived about three hours before the funeral was scheduled to start at 2:00 pm on a Sunday.

I went around and asked family members what they would remember most about Robert. One niece said she would remember Robert as the peace maker in the family. A sister said Robert was always there for her (he had spent the day before he died sitting with her after surgery). Another said everyone loved Robert and Robert loved everyone.

The pastor who gave the eulogy grew up with Robert and was a life-long friend. He gave glowing attributes and all were very truthful.
When I got up to give the funeral message I explained Robert had another attribute that was most important. Robert had taken Jesus at His word when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
Christianity offers the only way of salvation, to the exclusion of all others. There are not any number of doors or ways to get to Heaven. There is only one way, one door, one bridge, and that door leads to His Heaven: the crucified, Risen Son of God, Jesus the Christ!
There are no detours or alternate routes into the Family of God. Not if you take Jesus at His Word. And that excludes many who have glowing attributes, many who are good and sincere but sincerely wrong.

Many in Jesus’ day and people in our day think they can attain salvation by keeping the law and being good. Many others have worked out their own procedures to gain salvation and they hope they are right. But procedures don’t save and there is only one hope, Jesus Christ.
“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”
And the rest of the Good News is, Jesus doesn’t say “Good Luck” and leave us on our own. He gives us the Holy Spirit who gives us the power to live good lives.

You won’t always be popular for pointing the way. But then, if one person finds the Way of eternal life because you cared enough, will it really matter what others may say and think?

With Love For Jesus and You,
Pastor Mark