Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them…”

Known as the “Golden Rule” it seems some have thrown the gold away to buy a lie that we can treat others as less than human. All throughout history we’ve seen humanity rise up and pick out differences among ourselves. That’s why Jesus’ teachings of love towards God and others are so hard for us. Our sinful nature loves pride and to count ourselves more important than another. Whether that’s skin tone, language, job, financial status, or culture class, we all have our bias and have been influenced by the bias of others who raised us up. The cultures across the United States of America are so varied. This shouldn’t surprise us because as a melting pot of cultures that’s how it was when the European ancestors came over in the first place. We have tried to blend our lives together and when we get more than 1 person in a certain place together… we are bound to have a clash of sinful natures converge. And that’s what we are still experiencing today. 

How can this be fixed? 

A look back throughout Scripture and history books make us pretty pessimistic in the outlook for us all to just be friends…but the hope as Christians is the vision of the throne of Almighty God in Revelation 7:9-10: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 

This is our hope and our command found in Matthew 7 to prepare us for Heaven! You and I as followers of Jesus can live a little Heaven on Earth if we obey Jesus’ command to love Him with all of our being and love others as ourselves by treating them as we would like to be treated. We ALL want to be loved. We ALL want to be respected. We ALL want to be treated fairly. Now, will we have to be like God and show some grace (un-deserved favor) in our love towards others? Yes, at times we do. Do people deserve to be loved who do not love us? Some people are hard to love by their actions. But Jesus calls us to a higher way to love rather than the worldly way of an eye for and eye: Matthew 5:43-45a ““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” 

Be kind in your speech, thoughts and actions toward one another as God has been kind to us. Love even when it’s hard. And, listen especially when you don’t agree. It’s good for us to try to understand one another and the troubles that some go through that we have not. 

Let’s Encourage one another as we Equip each other this month and Become the Encounter that brings souls from death to life to enjoy the freedom of forgiveness through Jesus Christ!

God’s Grace & Peace, 

Becoming the Encounter – Acts 7

 

Until Death Do I Part

 

Main Point: As we Become the Encounter, we are to look for new opportunities to grow in our relationship with God and lead others to do the same as we Encounter the unexpected.

 

How do we live to be the Encounter every day? 

 

Don’t Give Up!!

 

Hard knocks, disaster and defeat,

Is that all there is to life?

Because of trouble must we retreat,

Because of trouble must we retreat,

To become victims of worry and strife?

 

Dare we trust that there is any hope,

Of a brighter future for those who believe/

Can  we this day learn to cope,

In help form others we receive?

 

Are we victims of events beyond our

control,

Caught in their grip and held fast?

Are we just waiting for the bells to toll,

Are we just waiting for the bells to toll,

When our doom is sealed at last?

 

Ah, no, life is still worth the living,

If owe trust the Master to lead the way;

And to Him our all we’re giving,

Assured in Him we’ll have a better day,

 

You’re not conquered unless you give up,

You can still stand your ground;

You may have tasted the dregs of the cup,

But you’re not defeated by losing the first round.

 

Believe that your tomorrow will dawn bright,

And you’ll have strength and courage to;

So all your fears will take their flight,

Then there’ll be no need to be blue.

 

 

 

8:30 a.m. Service

05 – Theresa Miller 

12 – Helen H.

19 – Kylie Loftin  

26 – Cindy Garrett  

 

Sunday School Service

 

05 – Lyndsey Reese

12 – Kim Johnson    

19 – Alisha Jones

10:45 a.m. Service

05 – Helen H.

12 – Kwincie H.

19 – Micca Sims  

26 – Lauren King

                 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

Freedom

 

Galatians 5:1 NIV

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

John 8:36 NIV

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Galatians 5:13 NIV

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Isaiah 61:1 NIV

Dairy Queen—Ice Cream

(From The Kitchen Of Lula Mae Denney)

 

2 c. milk

1 Tb. flour

1 c. sugar

1 egg slightly beaten

1/8 tsp. salt

1-2 tsp vanilla

1 c heavy cream

1 c milk

 

Combine flour, sugar, egg and 2 cups milk in pan. Cook until it starts to thicken and boil. Cool and strain and then add vanilla. Add the remaining milk and heavy cream. Pour into ice cream freezer.

Makes 1 1/2 quarts. This recipe can be doubled or tripled.