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  • HOME
    • WHAT'S NEW?
  • ABOUT
    • contact us
    • our history
    • our pastor
    • visitors (FAQ)
    • what we believe
    • WHAT'S NEW?
  • AUDIO & VIDEO
    • AUDIO ARCHIVES
    • -----------------------------------
    • audio - 2025 radio
    • -----------------------------------
    • audio - 2024 revivals & CM
    • audio - 2025 weekly services
    • -----------------------------------
    • VIDEO - 2024 revivals & cm
    • VIDEO - 2025 revivals & cm
    • -----------------------------------
    • VIDEO - 2024 weekly services
    • VIDEO - 2025 weekly services
    • -----------------------------------
    • music [choir]
    • -----------------------------------
  • CHILDREN
    • children's choruses
    • KAREN'S KORNER
    • printable lessons
    • sunday school
  • EVENTS
    • Calendar of Events
    • camp meeting
    • dates and reservations
  • GALLERY
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2023 portraits
    • 2022 portraits
    • 2021 portraits
    • 2020 portraits
    • 2019 portraits
    • 2018 portraits
    • 2017 portraits
    • -----------------------------------
    • - 2015-2016 archives
    • - 2013-2014 archives
    • - 2011-2012 archives
    • - 2005-2010 archives
    • -----------------------------------
  • LIVE STREAMING
    • JOIN OUR LIVE BROADCAST
  • RESOURCES
    • -----------------------------------
    • -----------------------------------
    • study materials
    • - by author
    • - by category
    • - by title
    • -----------------------------------
    • sunday school (adult)
    • sunday school (primary)
    • sunday school (youth)
    • -----------------------------------
    • The Gospel Trumpeter
    • Questions & Answers
    • -----------------------------------
    • Revelation Explained
    • the revelation chart
    • the tabernacle study
    • -----------------------------------
  • YOUTH
    • -----------------------------------
    • meet our local youth group
    • -----------------------------------
    • youth devotions
    • youth lessons
    • -----------------------------------
    • ARCHIVES (audio & video)
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2024 audio messages
    • 2025 audio messages
    • -----------------------------------
    • 2024 video messages
    • 2025 video messages
    • -----------------------------------
    • bible studies
    • senior bible studies
    • -----------------------------------
    • sunday school lessons
    • video lessons
THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY​
​
​devotions for daily living
| inspiration from our youth leaders |

weed removal

8/25/2022

 
Picture
​How quickly weeds grow! Recently, while working in a flower bed, I noticed that weeding in areas where there were no plants or flowers was not nearly as difficult as working under and around the plants. When weeding a creeping phlox, I had to lift the plant to get to the roots of the weeds. Some of the more firmly entrenched weeds required a tool to remove them.

As I worked, I thought about how ministers, evangelists, and teachers work hard to remove the spiritual weeds in our lives. It often takes a skilled, loving pastor who knows his people to remove the weeds under and close to the plants. Just as weeding might require moving the plants around and loosening the soil for the coming rain, often preaching can make people feel uncomfortable. Are there times when pastors make decisions or preach something that we do not like? Some have said, "He's getting in my sandbox." Or perhaps we could say, "He's working in my flowerbeds."

There might some firmly entrenched weeds that need a removal tool. The pastor might feel impressed to call for a revival. The "plants" (the congregation) find that their schedules have to be rearranged. This can be inconvenient. However, a week or two of continual preaching pokes, prods, and begins to remove some of those stubborn weeds. While the "plant" (our flesh) does not enjoy the weeding process, God knows that it is vital!
​
God promised to give us "pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:15). Today's verse admonishes pastors to "take heed ... to the flock." Just as skilled shepherds care for their sheep and seasoned gardeners care for the plants in their garden, God's pastors are ever watching and weeding out the things that (if allowed to grow) will choke out the lives of the people. What a blessing to have a God-called pastor!
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
—1 Timothy 5:17

STABILITY OF THY TIMES

8/22/2022

 
Picture
In June 2022, the Utah Bureau of Land Management issued a warning to hikers of an area of quicksand. The warning said, "Mud cracks around the edges of the pond give the illusion of stability, but it is unstable." While firm, stable ground is important, how much more needful is "stability of thy times!" When Isaiah wrote these words, Israel was facing an invasion by the cruel Assyrians. During such a time of great fear and stress, "stability" was much needed.

What about our "times" today? Is there instability and uncertainty in our world? Often, we hear people talk about "my truth" or "your truth" instead of "the truth." Like quicksand, "my truth" is not a trustworthy foundation. "My truth" usually consists of my opinions, my beliefs, and my understanding. There is much room for human error.

While the world has much "knowledge," this has often proved to be areas of quicksand. "Follow the science" is a popular slogan. Yet, in years gone by, science has told us the sun revolves around the earth, that handwashing is not very important, and that metal can be turned into gold. If we cannot fully trust "my truth" or the "world's truth," what can we trust? Where is "the stability" of our "times"?
​
Jesus said, "I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life" (John 14:6). "All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3) are found in Jesus. "Stability" of our "times" will not come from following "our truth" or the "world's truth." When we earnestly seek God for "wisdom and knowledge," Proverbs 2:5 promises, "Then shalt thou . . . find the knowledge of God."
If God leaves us to ourselves any morning, we are undone.
—Matthew Henry

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