MAMA - Bulletin 05-11-14

  “MAMA”

“Save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.”  Psalm 86:16 

As David shared about his mother’s faith, so shall I.  Mama Sikes has always been there for me!   She's still my biggest fan - telling me I can do anything.  She's my heroine of faith and prayer warrior.  She taught me to pray to God for the littlest of things, like missing socks.  "Stephen, God wants to hear from you about everything" she’d encourage.  

She taught me how to read and mark my Bible, memorize Scripture, develop a lesson, live a life.  She was my Dad's secretary at the Children's Home, barber for 65 boys, chorus director – plus, the mother of 13 kids! 

This Friday my mother turns 4 score and six (86 years).  Six years ago this week, I wrote down 80 reasons why I love Mom! Among the top of the list: when I think of someone being Jesus in my life - she's my first thought; she’s extremely positive, yet, always un-afraid to confront me in love when needed; she's the one person I want praying for my marriage, my family, my future because she believes God answers prayer and is GOOD ALL THE TIME!

Mom was faithfully married to Dad, who passed last October, for over 65 years.  Yet, she was not a Christian when they married.  Dad is the one who led Mom to our LORD!  Thanks, Dad.  

I’ll brag anytime on the blessing and difference Mom has been in my life, but especially today!  Thank you, God, for molding Mama Sikes into your likeness.  You are good! Mr. Steve 

God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!  Mr. Steve                                                                                       

C.A.R.E. - Bulletin 5-04-14

  C.A.R.E.

Connect - When someone is hurting, we often don't know what to say or do. But even simply expressing, "I'm sorry and I care about you," can make a tremendous difference.

Accept - When we try to help someone, it's easy to direct their emotions or give advice. But emotions need to be shared openly. You'll be a blessing by providing a safe place to grieve.

Respond - While it is important to take action. What you do can be practical (like providing a meal) or symbolic (like sharing a thoughtful gift).  “Thank you, Rochester church family!”

Extend - People are flooded with attention when a loss first occurs, but support usually decreases over time. By remembering and continuing to reach out, you can bring comfort and healing.

(This excerpt is from Comfort & Encouragement: A One-Year Ministry Guide for Helping Those Who Are Hurting by Holley Gerth.)

You Can, Because He Can

You can ask the Lord
because He will not give you a wrong answer.
You can wait upon the Lord
because His timing is always perfect.
You can trust in the Lord
because He makes no mistakes.
You can hope in the Lord
because He holds your future.
You can rest in the Lord
because He is in control of your life.
You can lean upon the Lord
because He is completely faithful.

“I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” Job 42:2 NKJV

God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!  Mr. Steve  

Kidsʼ Prayers - Bulletin 04-27-14

Kidsʼ Prayers

Many of the Psalms are direct prayers from the worshipper to God.  Here is an anonymous sample of some children’s prayers to God: 

1. Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother, but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.  Joyce

2. God, I read the bible. What does beget mean?  Nobody will tell me.  Love, Alison

3. Dear God, I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.  Nancy

4. Dear God, My Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy. How far back do you go? Love, Dennis

5. Dear God, Did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident?  Norma

6. Dear God, Please send Dennis Clark to a different summer camp this year.  Peter

7. Dear God, I keep waiting for spring, but it never did come yet.  What's up? Don't forget.  Mark

8. Dear God, I do not think anybody could be a better God than you. Well, I just want you to know that.  I am not just saying that because you are already God.  Charles

9. Dear God, I am doing the best I can. Really!!!!  Frank

10. Dear God, I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday night.  That was really cool.  Thomas  

God IS good all the time & all the time God is good! Mr. Steve

“MOST PITIED?” - Bulletin 04-20-14

   “MOST PITIED?”

Who in this life is to be most pitied?

• Is the most pitied the orphan from the slums of this world, without family, without support, without hope?
• Is the most pitied the extremely affluent of our world with no desire to use his or her riches to better the lives of mankind?
• Is the most pitied the person who has never loved nor been loved?

NO!  According to the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:12-19), IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION, then those of us who have risked everything to believe in the scandal of the cross and the mystery of an empty tomb are to be most pitied!  IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION:

• Our preaching is vain!

• Our faith is vain!
• We are false witnesses of God because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise!
• The dead are not raised, and if that’s the case, not even Christ has been raised!
• Our faith is worthless and we are still in our sins!
• Those who have died before us have all perished!
• And all of us who have put our absolute hope in Christ – are to be most pitied!

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THERE IS A RESURRECTION, THEN:

• All who have lived and now live as if there is no resurrection ARE TO BE MOST PITIED!
• All who have risked everything for this world’s goods ARE TO BE MOST PITIED!
• All who deny the Father and the Son are antichrists (1 John 2:22-23) and ARE TO BE MOST PITIED!

 “BUT NOW CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED (1 Corinthians 15:20)!”  Praise God!  HE HAS RISEN!  

God is good.  Mr. Steve

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR SONG? - Bulletin 04-13-14

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR SONG?

Since PSALMS has become a vital part of our daily reading through the Bible, here’s a “psalm story” by Annie Chapman: 

“All alone, she sat in the back of the church. The rest of the 500 women at the women's conference that weekend had already exited the auditorium. I was gathering up my books, papers, and props when I saw her at the back of the room.  I walked over to where she was sitting; her head was bowed low, and her shoulders were drooping. I sat down, and she began to tell me her story.

She was the mother of three. Her oldest son, suffering from muscular dystrophy, had been confined to a wheelchair for most of his 17 years. Her other two children had a variety of learning and emotional challenges.

With her head still bent, she whispered, "I'm married to a mean, hateful man who makes my life miserable. He won't help me with our son. He even refuses to help while I hold our son when he goes to the bathroom.”

"I buried my father this week," the woman continued. "At the funeral I learned that my father had disinherited me from his estate because he hated my husband."  Then she told me something that still haunts me: "I came this weekend with one prayer," she said. "I asked God to kill my husband. I prayed, 'Lord, I need a way out! I feel like a bird in a cage.'"

Finally she lifted her eyes and said, "When I prayed that prayer, God spoke to me as clearly as I've ever sensed His voice. He said, 'Even a bird in a cage sings.'"

With tears running down her face she asked, "What am I supposed to do with that? How do I live with that answer?"  Feeling utterly impotent, I replied, ‘If God says,'sing,' you need to find your song.’”

-----

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR SONG?  Psalms 27:6  “Surrounded by my enemies... I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy...”  

             

God is good!  Mr. Steve

GOD USES YOUTH TO DO GREAT THINGS! - Bulletin 04-06-14

GOD USES YOUTH TO DO GREAT THINGS! 

Megan is now an eleven year-old granddaughter of one my closest friends.  Over the past 9 years, my friend has sent me “Meagan Stories.”  Since we have just read about David & Goliath, I couldn’t resist sharing the following story he sent me when Megan was six:

“Like many of us, Megan’s parents are experiencing a bump in the road financially.  Their power was shut off due to late payment which was finally resolved with the power being restored around midnight a few weeks ago.  

Over the past month or so, Megan’s Wednesday night Bible class has focused on Jesus being the light and our role in being the light of the world.  Throughout the class, Megan has been completing the worksheets for Bible bucks, etc.  So when Megan and her mother came home (to a dark house) and realized the power was out – Megan lifted up her little hands and said, “Well, Mom, it’s a good thing God is our light!”

I’ve heard a number of Megan stories from my Grandfather friend over the years and am always encouraged by Megan’s young, but very personal faith!  Here’s the rest of the story:

“That night, Megan’s mother counseled her six year-old not to tell anyone at school about their power being disconnected because it would be embarrassing to Mommy and Daddy.  The next morning, Megan went to school and told her teacher, “Something awful has happened but I can’t tell you because it would embarrass Mommy and Daddy.”

The teacher and her classmates pressed for the story, but Megan held her ground, “I can't tell you because Mommy said it would be embarrassing.”

What is the message here?  Here are several I see from this six year-old:

1. Honor God – especially in the darkest of times!  Megan’s right: HE IS OUR LIGHT!  (1 John 1:5)
2. Honor parents – even when peer pressure says otherwise. (Ephesians 6:1-3)
3. Never compromise faithful character – God has always used this for great spiritual wattage!  (Hebrews 11:1-12:4)
4. The Holy Spirit definitely teaches great truths through young children so we had better pay close attention!                   

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!  Mr. Steve

FOLLOWSHIP - Bulletin 03-30-14

 FOLLOWSHIP!

Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me (Matthew 16:24).”    

True or False: 

_____One of the easiest things in the world to do is…… FOLLOW!  

_____One of the hardest things in the world to do is……FOLLOW!

Which one is TRUE?  YES!   It is so easy to follow the crowd and do what everyone else does and say what everyone else says.  It is so hard to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and go where He leads and do what He says!

AS THE GREATEST LEADER OF ALL TIME, JESUS MAJORED IN BEING LED …. FOLLOWSHIP!                                                                                                          “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1).”  

"Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner (John 5:19).” 

"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me (John 5:30).” 

In 1890, Ernest W. Blandly wrote the words to the old song “Where He Leads Me I Will Follow.”  Sing the first verse and refrain with me: 

I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling,“Take thy cross and follow, follow Me. “Where He leads me I will follow, Where He leads me I will follow, Where He leads me I will follow; I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way.”

                                                                                                                 If you asked Jesus where leadership begins, i believe He would say, “FOLLOWSHIP!”  But not just any kind of followship  HOLY SPIRIT FOLLOWSHIP!  “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Romans 8:14).”

 God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!  Mr. Steve