God’s Promises / Mrs Terri Martin

Mrs Terri Martin

Evangelist’s Wife

Heritage Baptist Church

Lawrence, KS

One day while driving down the road through a torrential downpour we came to a clearing, the sun was shining, and across the sky was a beautiful rainbow.  I am so thankful for the promise that the rainbow represents.  A promise God gave us so many years ago.

A promise is defined as: a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen, a pledge, a vow, assurance, word of honor, commitment.

Have you ever thought about all the promises that the Lord gives to those who  believe him?  To name a few;

1) He Promises to never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5b ..."for he hath said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  He will be with you through everything that you go through.

2) He Promises to forgive our sins.  I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Micah 7:19b ..."and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."

3) He has Promised to never leave us comfortless.  John 14:18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."  John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever;"  All of us need comfort at certain times in our life.  Comfort will strengthen our mind and renew vigor in our spirit.  I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

4) Lastly, He Promises us Eternal Life through Christ.  

John 3:36a "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life..."  I John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life."  God promises eternal life to those who repent of their sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Nobody likes to have a promise broken, and our God will never break a promise.  He always fulfills His Promises!

These are just to name a few.  There are many more that you can find in His Word.  So thankful for a God of Promises!  What a Great Father!!!

Discovering Great Truth / Mrs Jancie Wolfe

Mrs Janice Wolfe

Faith Music Radio Show Host

Boeke Road Baptist Church

Evansville, IN

Discovering Great Truth

Within the last few years I have watched a loved one make some very poor spiritual decisions. It has been heart wrenching to say the least. I have experienced much grief over the loss of what had once been a close and enjoyable relationship. Like other trials I have experienced in life, I have found God has been good to me and has taught me much. As Christians, we are exhorted to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 2:18. Each trial is a chance for growth. Yes, even the trials that come when close family relationships and friendships become awkward and challenging. 

There are lessons to be learned as we navigate the rocky roads of strained relationships. It is safe to say that my “homework” assignments have been difficult. I have sat perplexed and in tears at the problems before me. I have been at a standstill more times than I can count, not having a clue what to do next. And through it all, God has been patient with my lack of knowledge concerning His Word and His ways. For that, I am grateful. As I have called out to Him, He has been gentle, yet thorough, in His instruction. After all he is the Master Teacher. Nicodemus called Him Rabbi and a Teacher come from God, for Nicodemus did not yet know that He was God. 

Jesus often used “discovery” teaching methods with his disciples and followers. He asked questions. He taught in parables. He got them thinking so they would discover the truths for themselves.  He does the same for us as we go through trials. Trials, and especially relationship struggles, bring us face to face with the tough questions of life. 

Does a God Who could allow this really love me?  Why did God allow this?  Will God really let them or that person get by with this?  Why doesn’t God stop her? Why did God give him to me to take him away? 

Tough, gut wrenching questions that seem to raise doubt and fear while we are commanded to walk by faith. And yet the answer to all of these questions are found in the Word of God. A careful study done in faith and bathed in prayer usually reveals the answers we need at just the right time.

How many times have we watched a child sit with the textbook open before them crying because they don’t know the answer to a problem. Yet, as their parent or teacher, we can plainly see the answer on the page.  We almost want to scream out, “The answer is right THERE!” But…we realize the need for the student to discover the answer for themselves. 

And so, it is with our testing. The Bible is s book that is meant to be studied. We have the answers! Being a good student of the Word of God when you are faced with tough questions brought on by tough trials leads to discovery of great truth. Truth that is meant to set us free and change us forever. 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Tim. 2:15

It's Time to Rise and Shine / Mrs Robyn Bachman

Mrs Robyn Bachman

Assistant Pastor's Wife

Parkside Baptist Church

Mesquite, TX

It's Time to Rise and Shine

Okay, so when I was a little girl I remember learning a song called "Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory, Glory"... it was about Noah and the ark. Through the years these words have entered my mind on various occasions and I have been reminded that we are to do just that...GIVE God the glory. However, sometimes in our lives things happen that cause us to struggle with glorifying Him as we know we ought to do.

Oh, trust me, I could write a book on heartbreak, failures and bad things that have happened in my own life that have, at times, caused me to struggle with this very topic. However, as I have grown older; observed more mature Christians and sought to improve my own walk with the Lord, I have seen more and more that even in the "negatives"...there are positives. I have slowly begun to understand on a very personal level that God is only and, yes, always good. There is nothing that He allows in my life or yours that comes as a surprise to Him. There is no tragedy, no sickness, no sorrow, no heartache...nothing of which He is unaware. All that we face in our lives from birth to the grave is known by a loving Heavenly Father Who longs for nothing more than us to "rise and shine" for His glory.

How can a lost world see a living Savior if we are not shining for Him? How can a hurting heart see a Savior longing to carry their load if we are not shining for Him? How can a desperate soul grasp the depth of His loving heart toward them if we are not shining for Him?

Just like the song says we must first, "rise" and then, we can "shine". I remember, too, doing the motions. We would stand for the word "rise" and then, we would wave our hands in the air for the word "shine" signifying that glory belonged to God. What a simple lesson from such a simple song!

The word "rise" means: to get up from lying, sitting or kneeling; to get up after falling down; to spring up or grow; to be built up, erected or constructed, etc.

The word "shine" means: to give forth or glow with light; to be bright with reflected light; sparkle; to appear brightly or strongly

Psalms 29:2 says, "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." I love this verse!! We are to give Him what is due Him...we are to worship Him...He is holy. How can we continue to live our lives bogged down by the cares of life if we truly focused on Him? He has done so much for us! If nothing else, He has provided salvation...the opportunity for us to spend ALL of eternity with Him and that, alone, is truly worthy of our praise. There is NO greater love! Yet, our flesh, our emotions, our feeble understandings are quick to forget when faced with difficulty. So, to myself and to others I would remind us that it IS time to RISE AND SHINE:

How can we do this?

1. Rise from flaws (defects or features that mar the perfection of something)

These are the things we allow ourselves to believe are hindrances as to why we can't be used by God. However, He looks at those and uses them for His glory so that others can see Him work in our lives and know His strength...

*So, rise from the flaws by SHINING His strength at work in your life. Allow Him to perfect your weakness.

2 Corinthians 2:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Eph. 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might"

2. Rise from failures (proving unsuccessful; insufficiency)

These are our sins...the things that bind us day to day. We have a Savior Who forgives and forgets. We must confess and turn from these things. We must not allow Satan to keep us bound by something that God has chosen to forgive. When we do so, we become hostage to Satan and this renders us, in effect, useless to God. That is exactly what Satan wants. Go to Acts and read chapter 26 verses 2 to 23...it is amazing to see the power of God work in Saul (who becomes Paul). Paul obtained His help from the Lord. He turned from his failures (past sin) and others saw God work in his life.

* So, rise from the failures by SHINING the grace of God at work in your life.

Acts 20:24 " But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

Eph. 3:7 " Whereof I was made minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power."

Eph. 1:7 " In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."

3. Rise from frustrations (something that frustrates; feeling of dissatisfaction; often accompanied by anxiety or depression resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems)

These are the trials and troubles that we face ...the things that cause us to be burdened, worried or weighted down with care.

Look to the story found in Daniel 3....Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego...now they had problems! However, they stood and remembered their God . They, on purpose, chose to allow Him to carry their burden.

Another person I think of is Job. I am amazed at the words found in Job 1:21-22, "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: for the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." WOW!! WOW!! WOW!!

*Giving God the glory by SHINING the goodness of God.

Psalms 106:1 "Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

I Chronicles 16:8 "Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people."

It seems like the trials we face are tools that when handled properly will allow others to see the very goodness of God. It all depends on how we handle these trials.

Next year, much to my disbelief (lol), I will turn fifty...yes, fifty. If I were honest, I don't even know how fifty years have come and gone. It is truly hard to believe, especially, when I don't remotely look it...hahaha. Laughter aside, though, time stops for no one and time will continue to pass for each of us.

Wouldn't it be great if our remaining days were spent with RISING AND SHINING AND GIVING GOD THE GLORY, GLORY...for in truth, He, alone, deserves all our glory!! No matter who you are He loves you and no matter what you are facing, look for ways to glorify Him. I promise, it will help to ease the load you carry, it will help to encourage others and it will please the One who created you. Will the flaws, failures and frustrations never come again? Oh no, they will come. The difference will be in how we each choose to carry them...sitting, bogged down in our own weakness, complaining because we just can't do it OR rising, shining and glorifying a Holy and perfect God Who can and will bear those things for you!!

I challenge you to join me today and every day to remember to:

Go out there and get busy Rising and Shining for His Glory!