Sunday, December 18, 2011

Christmas!

Luke 1:30-33

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.




  















Sunday, December 11, 2011

Past, Present and Future

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Steve Modrzejewski. His message was based on Titus 2:
11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
 15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
The passage speaks of the Past, Present, and Future of the Christmas message-

  • Past vs 11 -- the grace of God had appeared
  • Present vs 12 -- the discipline, righteousness, godly living, change in attitude, and growth in sanctification that is now possible because of the message of salvation in Christ
  • Future  vs 13 -- we can look forward to Christ's glorious and majestic return
Mr Modrzejewski's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.



Sunday, December 4, 2011

Luke 1: 5-25

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Steve Modrzejewski. His message was based on Luke 1:

5THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
 7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
 8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
 9According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
 11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
 13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
 14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
 15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
 16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
 17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
 18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
 19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
 20And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
 21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
 22And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
 23And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
 24And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
 25Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

From the above passage, we learn the following about God -
  • He uses faithful, common people
  • He "moves" when we are faithful
  • He answers prayers
  • He has a plan for us
  • His timing is perfect
  • and, He honors His Word
Mr Modrzejewski's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Genesis 28

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Bob Titus; pictured with his wife, daughter, and sister, Irene. His message was based on Genesis 28 ---

10And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
 11And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
 12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
 13And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
 14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
 15And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
 16And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
 17And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
 18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
 19And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
 20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
 21So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
 22And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
This was a time of desperation for Jacob, and the future was uncertain. God reveals Himself to him; and we also see a picture of the Lord Jesus' work on our behalf in Jacob's dream of the ladder that reaches from earth to heaven. We must remember that in our neediest times, the Lord is still with us. Mr Titus' message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

2 Kings 6:8-23

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Steve Modrzejewski. His message was based on 2 Kings 6 

8Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
 9And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
 10And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
 11Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
 12And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
 13And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
 14Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
 15And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
 16And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
 17And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
 18And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
 19And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
 20And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
 21And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
 22And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
 23And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
Lessons from the above passage:

  • walking with God gives us insight, direction, and perspective 
  • things are not as they appear
  • the man/woman of God focuses on PRAYER
  • God's forces are always with us
  • God's tactics are not the world's tactics 
Mr Modrzejewski reminds us to seek to be that man/woman of God that fellowships with Him. Let us remember that God is in control; and be ready to  commit our problems, big or small, to God.  Mr Modrzejewski's full message is available on DVD.

Cindy

Here are recent pictures of Cindy B. at the Rehabilitation Center. Please continue to uphold her in prayer (healing, financial). 




Sunday, November 6, 2011

Luke 22

 Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Steve Modrzejewski. His message was based on Luke 22:31-34 --



 31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
 33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
 34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Based on the above passage, there are 4 things to remember while going through trials
  1. Satan requires God's permission to do anything to us. God is aware of what's going on.
  2. Jesus intercedes for us.  The Creator and Sustainer of the universe is praying for us.
  3. The Lord allows the trials and storms in our lives
  4. Jesus restores after we think we have failed
When struggles/trials/storms come our way, we are never alone --- the Lord Himself intercedes on our behalf; and often uses our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us during these times.
Mr Modrzejewski's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

 Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Joshua Miekley, missionary to Albania. His last visit to our congregation was 10 years ago. Welcome back, Mr Miekley!
His message was based on Psalm 39 --

1I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. 2I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. 3My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, 4LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. 5Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. 6Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. 7And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. 8Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. 9I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. 10Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand. 11When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah. 12Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.
From the above passage, we learn of the 4 actions that occupy our struggle for hope after we sin

  • We often keep our mouths shut, although this does not help us in our struggles (vs 1-3)
  • We reflect on the futility of life; this world does not provide us with hope regarding sin (vs 4-6)
  • We wrestle with our rebellion/sin, and must take responsibility for them (vs 7-11)
  • We plead for mercy from God (vs 12-13), who is forgiving and loving. Our sins are forgiven through Christ, and we have hope!
Mr Miekley's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Am I a Servant?

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Tom Marinello, pictured with Bill. Mr Marinello currently serves as the interim President of   Tyndale Theological Seminary  in The Netherlands.  His message was based on Philippians 2 ---
3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 
4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:   6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:   7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:   8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:   10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We learn from the above passage that a Biblical servant --

  • considers the interest of others as well as his own
  • does not clutch at status even if it is rightfully his
  • is conscious of humbling himself
  • has the Lord Jesus Christ as his example of a servant 
Mr Marinello's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.

We warmly welcome our visitors today: Joel, Smitha, and Baby Mark:





Sunday, October 16, 2011

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Steve Modrzejewski. He continued his series of messages on the miracles of  the Lord Jesus.  Today's message was based on John 6:1-14 

1After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
 2And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
 3And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
 4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
 5When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
 6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
 7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
 9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
 10And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
 11And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
 12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
 13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
 14Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

The above passage reminds us that we need the heart/faith of a child to be a follower of Christ. Note also that ...

  • The Lord was motivated by compassion when He saw the vast, hungry crowd
  • He will test us through our responses
  • God is the Giver, the Provider, the Source of all things good
  • We are to be thankful for what we have 
  • "Little is much, if the Lord is in it!"
Mr Modrzejewski's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.

We welcome our special guest, Barb Abbot from Arkansas. She is on her way to Minnesota to visit her daughter, Debbie, and her family. Please pray for Debbie's husband, who recently suffered a ruptured appendix:

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Worry and Anxiety

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Jon Gauger of Moody Radio. He is pictured with his wife, Diana, and granddaughter, Josilyn. His message was based on Matthew 6:25-34 ---

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Based on the above, here are 5 Reasons why we must not worry:

  1. Worry does not work
  2. Worrying causes us to live like pagans
  3. Our heavenly Father already knows our needs (thus, is already acting on our behalf)
  4. Today has enough challenges without having to add worry to the list
  5. The Lord Jesus as asked us to stop worrying 
Mr Gauger's antidote to worry, as well as his complete message, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.


Sunday, October 2, 2011

John 5

 Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Steve Modrzejewski. His message was based on John 5 --

1After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
 2Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
 3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
 4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
 5And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
 6When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
 7The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
 8Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
 9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
 10The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
 11He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
 12Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
 13And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
 14Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
 15The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole...
Jesus was on His way to a feast, and stops at Bethesda. The great multitude may be a picture of the nation of Israel, which wandered about in the wilderness for 40 years; or a picture of the world around us, waiting to experience relief and God's favor. The man with the infirmity experiences God's instant, miraculous healing, yet does not initially know who healed him. Is this another picture of a world that wants the benefits, yet does not know or want the Savior? Mr Modrzejewski's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

The Test of Christian Fellowship

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Greg Carlson, Chairman, Department of Christian Ministries at Trinity International University. He is pictured with his lovely wife, Donna. Professor Carlson's message was based on 1 John 1:5 through 1 John 2: 11 --

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
 6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 2
 1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
 3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
 4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
 5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
 6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
 7Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
 8Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
 9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
 10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
 11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Prof Carlson's message discusses tests of fellowship as Christians figure out truth; and how to tell if a person is spiritually "dangerous".  As a quick summary, the three tests are ---

  • What a person says about sin (1 John 1:5 -1 John 2:2)
  • The test of obedience (1 John 2:3-6)
  • The test of love (1 John 2:7-11)
Professor Carlson's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy

Till we meet again!

It is with genuine fondness that we bid the Sauseda Family farewell as they prepare for their move to Colorado.  God bless the Saucedas!