The New Year by Martha Snell Nicholson

 

The New Year

Dear Lord, as this new year is born

I give it to Thy hand,

Content to walk by faith what paths

I cannot understand.

Whatever coming days may bring

Of bitter loss, or gain,

Or every crown of happiness;

Should sorrow come, or pain,

Or, Lord, if all unknown to me

Thine angel hovers near

To bear me to that farther shore

Before another year,

It matters not — my hand in Thine,

Thy light upon my face,

Thy boundless strength when I am weak,

Thy love and saving grace!

I only ask, loose not my hand,

Grip fast my soul, and be

My guiding light upon the path

Till, blind no more, I see!

--Martha Snell Nicholson

Favorite Bible Verse

This verse is simple but yet very powerful.  It gives me strength for me to know that my savior is always with me and protects me at all times.

Let me hear what your favor bible verse is and why.

Is it too late for a Miracle?

Is it too late for a Miracle?

Devotional

6/30/2020

“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

Miracles are real and are an active part of our faith,   Many people today are familiar with miracles in the Bible — the parting of a sea, water turned to wine, and, most frequently in the New Testament, healing, even of blindness, leprosy, and the reversal of recent death.

Vice President Joe Biden stated “there are no miracles coming”(Covid 19) It’s tragic when doubt and fear has made us so calloused to even believe that God is capable of miracles.

We serve a miracle working God who shows His majesty and power in ways most of us think is impossible.  Many of us have seen the miracles of God work in our lives, recovering from a fatal accident, healing from a terminal illness, comeback from financial ruin, Within the realm of impossibilities we see God working and saving us in our hour of need.  The miraculous power of God leads us, protects us, delivers us, and save us.   Psalms 37:39 says: The Lord rescues the Godly, he is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord rescues the Godly. Our God has the power to save, to deliver, to rescue.

In the story of the death of Lazarus, Martha criticizes Jesus for not coming sooner, her doubt shaped her lack of faith.  Notice John 11:17   ¹⁷ On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸ Now Bethany was less than two miles^[b] from Jerusalem, ¹⁹ and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. ²⁰ When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.    ²¹ “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” ²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”   ²⁴ Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  ²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Miracles can happen in your life because wants to reveal himself to you.

If you would like to talk anytime you may reach me at supreme1955@yahoo.com.

                                         Pastor Al

 

Alternative to Prayer? Faith and the Inner Self

Alternative to Prayer?

Faith and the Inner Self

Country Devotional 6/28/2020

In our desire to pursue inner peace and wholeness many times we seek to find answers outside of God’s spiritual serenity.  As a result, we find ourselves, following different theories within the field of psychology.   The study of psychology has its own merits but is limited in teaching about our inner spirit.  Psychology begins with a basic premise, if we ask enough questions of the client, they will find the answer within themselves.   

God’s approach is to give the answers “Call unto me and I will answer thee and show you great and mighty things which you cannot even comprehend” Jeremiah 33:3 “

While teaching college psychology I learned some interesting theories about human behavior.  There were times however, some therapeutic strategies made little or no sense.  One of them is the empty chair therapy a technique of Gestalt therapy.  It was a method in which the client confronts their feelings towards someone who has hurt, shamed, criticized, or angered them.   He or she is asked to imagine that someone (such as a boss, spouse, child, or relative), are sitting in the empty chair. They speak openly to the empty chair releasing their feelings of anger, disgust, shame, or bitterness.  This tension releasing experience is supposed to help the client with issues such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, and even physical ones like migraine headaches, ulcerative colitis, and back spasms.  Look at God’s approach to finding hope and inner peace, which goes beyond an empty chair and into an open heart.

Galatians 6:1 Share one another’s burden’s… Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ² Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ

While Gestalt (empty chair therapy) may be unique, wouldn’t be easier to pray to God then scream at an empty chair?   Prayer is the positive energy which comes from God, Prayer is the place where I can learn to forgive, heal and find hope.

Christians have a wonderful experience when following God’s concept rather than man’s notions.  The book of Ephesians says “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new (inner) self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger”    

Psychology probes the weakness of the inner self such fear, frustration and anxiety and tries force the individual to confront these feelings.   God probes the strength of the inner being and offers solutions and a promise of strength and courage.    Grab the Bible today it may surprise you what answers God has in store for you  

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” Romans 15:33   

  Pastor Al

Prayer when we need it most devotional Country Church Chronicles

The Power of Prayer:

Country Chronicles a Devotional June 26,2020

“God is great, God is Good”  The words have become so familiar we say them without thinking, we fail to see the profound truth they hold.  For without God’s greatness in our world, the world becomes an immoral junkyard of depravity and hatred.  

Christians we need you to stand by your faith and believe that God is still in control.    The classic call for today is ….” socially distance” it’s OK to socially distance but it’s not OK to Socially Abandon”   We still need each other communicating face to face, sharing, and caring and helping others in their time of need.  We need to be able to practice our faith.  How can we as Christian practice the Golden Rule “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and still be safe by committing to our spiritual responsibility?   One of the greatest opportunities that we have, is to improve our prayer life.   It may be OK for some to socially distance from church but it is not OK to spiritually distance from our prayer life.   

The perfect means to communicate to God is through prayer.     It is the power of prayer that gives us influence with God.    It was the simple publican in the temple who said God be merciful to me a sinner and Jesus said he went away justified.    My favorite prayer comes from the book of psalms “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved” (Psalms 46)   What a beautiful prayer in the midst of protest, persecution, and a pandemic.  

Prayer unifies us and gives us hope.   We waste our lives away, worrying and missing the comforting power of Prayer.      Many of us have the proof that prayer works in your lives.   Each of us have personal experiences in which God answered our prayers. God heard our prayer in our moment of despair and answered us.   God is in control and hears our prayer.     Prayer is alive and comes from the heart of God to you.   Open your line of communication with God.    Power belongs to you, O God, and with you. The Lord, is unfailing in His love Psalms 62:11

 We pray for you daily and if you would like to talk about your relationship with God or if you are in the middle of fear and frustration, Lets talk.     Pastor Al Fernandez supreme1955@yahoo.com   Please continue to support your church, God Bless you.  

Devotional - The Home and Parenting with a Passion

For Young Father's, "There Goes My Life" Life and Love of Fatherhood - Devotional June 21, 2020