Hosea 1, 2, and 3

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Greg Carlson, Professor at Trinity International University. His message was based on chapters 1, 2, and 3 of Hosea.  Here is an excerpt:

Hosea 1: The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

 ²The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.

 ³So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

 ⁴And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

 ⁵And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel, in the valley of Jezreel.

 ⁶And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

 ⁷But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

 ⁸Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

 ⁹Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

 ¹⁰Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

 ¹¹Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel... 

Background: It was a time of economic prosperity and stability in the Northern Kingdom. However, they were ruled by an evil king (Jeroboam); and the people were worshiping false gods.  The chapters show how God deals with His people.  It is also teaches us how to deal with difficult  family relationships.

Observations: godly people can have stressful homes; love is a choice, not just a feeling; faith can persist in the toughest situations; hope is based on God's promises and work.

Mr Carlson's excellent message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.

1 John 1 to 1 John 2:2

 Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Greg Carlson, Professor at Trinity International University. His message was based on the following verses:

1 John 1: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

 ²(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

 ³That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

 ⁴And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

 ⁵This 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: 1,2: My 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.

His message and the Bible passages lead us to ponder the following questions:
- Are you and I sharing what we've seen and heard of the Lord
- Are we partnering with other Believers of God in sharing, edifying, & fellowshipping
- Are we participating in the joy of the Lord
- Is the Holy Spirit prompting us to extend forgiveness to someone who many not have asked
Important point: You and I cannot have the joy that overflows until and only if we're full of the source of joy,  the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mr Carolson's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD.  See Romy.

Luke 15

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Jim Stevenson.  He is pictured with his wife Kristen, and their children: Hope, Heather, Grace, Courtney, Caleb, and  Kelsey.  It's always a blessing to have him preach at our chapel.
He message was based on Luke 15: 1-32:  

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

 ²And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

 ³And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

 ⁴What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

 ⁵And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

 ⁶And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

 ⁷I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

 ⁸Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

 ⁹And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

 ¹⁰Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

 ¹¹And he said, A certain man had two sons:

 ¹²And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

 ¹³And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

 ¹⁴And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

 ¹⁵And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

 ¹⁶And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

 ¹⁷And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

 ¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

 ¹⁹And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

 ²⁰And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

 ²¹And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

 ²²But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

 ²³And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

 ²⁴For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

 ²⁵Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

 ²⁶And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

 ²⁷And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

 ²⁸And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

 ²⁹And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

 ³⁰But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

 ³¹And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

 ³²It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

In the passage, Jesus responds to the criticism of the Pharisees and scribes for drawing publicans and sinners to Himself.  He uses three parables: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son.  The parables reveal the loving and kind  heart of the Father; and the rejoicing and celebration that results for each repentant sinner.  God WANTS to draw people to Himself.  He WELCOMES sinners and literally RUNS to embrace them and welcome them home.
 Mr Stevenson's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD.  Please see Romy.

Celebration

We enjoyed a time of celebration with Kristi and Brian. 

 They were married a year ago.

More on Joshua 1

 Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Jim Stevenson, pictured with his daughters, Hope and Heather.  He spoke from Joshua 1: 1-9 --- that's two weeks in a row on the same passage --- God is TELLING us something! 
We all wish everyone a "Happy New Year"; how about greeting everyone with a "Prosperous New Year" instead?  We find a promise of prosperity, albeit a conditional one, in verse 8:

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Meditation on God's Word is the key.  We must feed on His Word, obey His Word, speak His Word.  It is the source of our prosperity, spiritually, and in all other ways.


Related Passages --
2 Chronicles 26: 3-5:

 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

Deuteronomy 30: 10-14: 

If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

Mr Stevenson's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD.  Please see Romy.

We welcome our guests from California, Joel & Smitha

Joshua 1

Our Speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Steve Modrzejewski. We are starting a new year. For our encouragement, he based his message on Joshua 1:1-9 --Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

 ²Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

 ³Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

 ⁴From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

 ⁵There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

 ⁶Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

 ⁷Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

 ⁸This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 ⁹Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

In summary: From the above passage we learn that we are to be God's witnesses--His COURAGEOUS witnesses.  We can be courageous because of:

(1)  God's promises (see verses 3, 5, and 6)

(2)  God's Word (see verses 7 & 8)

and, (3) God's presence (see verses 5, & 9)

Thus, focus and meditate on God's Word each day. Don't be boastful, contentious, or proud. Use your successes to encourage others. 

Mr Modrzejewski's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.