“COUNT THE COST”

Good morning. I pray your week has started off with a bang. We are in the last week of July already and this year like the past, is just zooming by. I also wish all of you had the Spiritual boost I am running off of today. I was able to attend two nights of revival at Crossland Ave. Baptist and then church at Bethel Sunday morning and now I am about to bust. LOL.

Today I want to talk to you about “The Cost”. I am talking about the cost of your life and your afterlife. With the prices of everything skyrocketing, do you ever stop to count the cost of your life? Has anyone ever told you that you will either suffer later from what you do now, or you will be rewarded later for the things you do now? Do you live a life with these thoughts in mind, or do you think you will think about it later, you have plenty of time to deal with that? Let me show you some scripture that comes to mind when I ponder this subject.

Hebrews 9:14, 22, say, “ 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” “22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” 1 Corinthians 7:23 says, “ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” 1 Corinthian 6:19-20 says, “ 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's” Galatians 6:7-8 says, “7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Matthew 16:24-26 says, “24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Luke 14:26-28 say, “ 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--”

In the beginning, to be forgiven, you use to have to take animals to a priest and have them killed and their blood to make an atonement for your sins. After many years of this, God saw that it was going to take something more, and grace, (Christ) entered the picture and then His blood was required to cleanse all man's sin. You see, money couldn't pay this price. It took blood, and not that of some farm animal, but it had to be much more. See in the beginning if you sinned a little, you could bring a goat. Then the bigger the sin, came in lambs and then bulls. This is my paraphrasing by-the-way. But now, we are talking the sins of the world, not one man or his family, but the world. What blood could be worth so much to cover all the sins of mankind? Only the blood of a King and not any ordinary king, but that of a King who would live a perfect sinless life. The blood of Christ. It is the only blood valuable enough to pay for you and I, and Christ willingly shed it to purchase all those who would be bought. There is no other blood so valuable. There is no other Christ

Have you ever told someone you would die for them? Has someone ever told you that, and if so, did you believe them? I want you to stop for a moment and consider this. Christ did not just “die” for you and I, He willingly SUFFERED before He could even die. Does that change your mind? Would you tell the one you told you would die for before, now that you will suffer first, and then die for them?

We see that we were bought by the suffering blood of Christ. This is the price of our souls and it has been paid for those who choose to be bought. Once we have chosen to accept God's gift of salvation, we become His. The point I'm trying to make is our salvation cost you and I nothing, but it cost Christ His suffering, blood and life.

Now we see what it cost Christ to purchase our souls. The next thing to consider is what we are to do now. The Bible tells us that once we have accepted God's gift of salvation and His invitation to be part of His family, we are to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. This is the part where most of us draw the line. We want God's “fire insurance”, to keep us out of hell, but to deny ourselves and do what He wants instead of what we want, I don't think so. Herein lies the problem.

Many of us have the false sense of security that just because we believe in God, or because we walked an isle and “accepted” Christ, or because we have been baptized, or because we try to live a good life, or because we try to treat others with respect, we are saved and on our way to heaven. This is not always true. Even the devil believes in God, but he will not be in heaven. The Bible teaches that it take more than lip service to be saved, it takes a change of heart. It take a real, everyday relationship with Christ where we “deny” ourselves and do what He wants us to do instead of what we want. You and I were not created to be happy, or to please ourselves or those around us. We were created to serve God and have fellowship with Him. If we do this, we will find a happiness like we've never known. Salvation is free, being a servant cost. ARE YOU WILL TO PAY THE PRICE?

Remember: God counted the cost of your soul and gave His Son to pay the price for you. Have you counted the cost of being a servant, and are you paying up?

Until next time, please pray for each other, and me, as I continue to pray for each of you. 

Love in Christ,

Brian Hanvey

Associate Pastor

Bethel Baptist Church

“FASTING”

Good morning everyone. I pray you had a wonderful weekend. We were able to enjoy a bit of cooler weather, if you can call the 90's cooler. At least we weren't in the 100's again and we got a little rain that was much needed.

Fasting. What comes to mind when you think of this? Do you automatically think you have to starve yourself? Do you think that fasting is solely devoted to going without food? Have you ever fasted? Do you know how to fast, or what you might fast for?

It is ironic that God would lead me to this subject. This past Saturday we had our monthly men's prayer breakfast. Here is how this ties together. While we ate a wonderful meal, we were meeting to pray, but the Bible teaches that prayer and fasting go together like peanut butter and jelly. Let's look at some scriptures.

Isaiah 58:5 says, “ You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord? Matthew 4:1-2 says, “ 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.” Matthew 6:16-18 says, “16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Joel 2:12 says, “12 That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” Ezra 8:23 says, “ So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.” SCRIPTURES FROM THE NLT BIBLE

The Bible should be our ultimate authority for all of life. Anything and everything we will face in life, can be solved by the scriptures. Prayer and fasting are two things that some people seem to take lightly. I don't think any of us fully grasp the seriousness of what we are doing, or we all would melt into shame, realizing that we are calling on the most Holy of holy s, the Creator of everything. In old testament times, a priest would have a rope tied around his leg so that if he went into the holy of holy's, in God's presence to pray, and was unclean himself and died, he could be pulled out.

How and why do we, or should we fast? Some people cannot go without food due to medical reasons or maybe because of medications they may be taken. In these cases, you can choose to fast from something else. Maybe you will skip one meal a day. Maybe you will skip the news for so many days. Maybe you will give up reading the newspaper for a period of time. Maybe you will give up all electronic devices for a period of time. The point of fasting, is to give up something you will miss, and replace that with time with God.

If you skip lunch everyday for a week, you would use that time to read God's word and pray. If you decided to skip the nightly news, you would use that time to find quiet time for just you and God. You have to remember that communing with God is not just us always going to Him with this long laundry list of “stuff”, it is also reading His Word and giving Him time to speak to us and show us things that we may never otherwise realize. Most of us miss out on so much because we fail to give God His time with us. A time of silence, away from the TV, phone, computer, cell phone, tablets, IPod, mp3 players, video games and so on and so on. We try to squeeze Him in for a minute here or there and instead of giving Him our best, we give Him what's left.

For a successful fast you need to remember a few things. You should only do this if you are feeling led by the Holy Spirit to do so. First, you must seek the Spirit's leading to clarify what it is you are fasting for. Is it for spiritual renewal, for guidance, for someone else? He will enable you to pray more specifically. Remember, through prayer and fasting we humble ourselves before God so the Holy Spirit can stir our souls and awaken our churches. Second, you should start reasonably. Don't set your goal too high. Do not rush into a fast. Prepare yourselves for what you are going to do, so that you will succeed rather than fail. Third, stay committed. Don't give up. See it through to the end and God will reveal things to you, like you have never known. Forth, start your fast with resolve. Keep God's Word open, listen, give Him the opportunity to show you things. Fifth, stopping your fast. If you have given up food, ease back into eating again. Don't binge eat. If it is something other than food, ask yourselves if you really need to spend the time doing what you fasted from. Finally, if you sincerely humble yourselves before the Lord, repent, pray and meditate on God's Word, you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence, (John 14:21). You will find yourself to be mentally, physically and spiritually renewed, (Romans 12:1,2).

Ultimately the key to prayer and fasting is a sound confidence in the Word of God. Making the study of God's Word a priority will enable you to pray effectively.

Remember: Fasting is between you and God. If you expect to get something from Him, you have to do it His way, and that is private.

Until next time, please continue to pray for each other, and me, as I continue to pray for each of you. 

Love in CHRIST,

Brian Hanvey

Associate Pastor

Bethel Baptist Church

"OPEN EYES"

Good morning. I pray this finds each of you cool on this hot summer day, feeling well and enjoying all the blessings God continues to pour out on us. It is the time of year when many churches are planning to have, or are having spring revivals. I ask you to keep them in your prayers. Our church is participating in a “cluster” revival this week that combines several denominations and we covet your prayers as well.

This weeks topic is "Open Eyes". Why is it, that so often we refuse to see things that are right in front of our face? It's like, if we keep our eyes closed, and pretend something is not there, or going on, then maybe it isn't. Well, just because we don't acknowledge something, doesn't make it more or less real.

Let's take a look at what the scripture says. Matthew 7:13-20 says, "13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 1 John 3:4-10 says, "4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. 7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

The Bible tells us how to recognize those who really are God's. The world's response to Christians calling things black and white is "you're judging me". In Matthew 7:20 we are told, "So then, you will know them by their fruits". We don't have to guess, or as some say, "judge". The Bible tells us we will know them by the good, God's good, or the bad, the world's way. 1 John 3:10 makes this clear, "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother". 1 John 3:4 says, "sin is lawlessness. Lawlessness is used here in its broadest sense--defection from any of God's standards.

Verse 6 of 1 John 3 helps us to understand that the lifestyle of the believer who keeps God's commands (abides) will be obedience, not sin. The lifestyle of the one who keeps on sinning demonstrates that he does not know God. Verse 8 says, "practices", one who continually practices, sins as a regular way of life. In verse 9 we should understand that God's people cannot sin habitually. Habitual actions indicate one's character, and if God's seed abides in us, this nature prevents the Christian from habitually sinning.

In no way am I inferring that a Christian is perfect, or that his actions will be without wrong doing. What I am saying, and what God's word is telling us is, that many claim to be children of God and choose to continually practice sin, (committing the same sins over and over) proving that they really don't know God and His seed does not abide in them. Those who have accepted the gift of salvation and have a genuine relationship with God, will learn from their sins and grow and overcome and have victory and be able to stand and face other sins in their lives. We will grow, learn and know these things if, we have open eyes.

Until next time, please pray for each other and me, as I continue to pray for you. 

Love in CHRIST,

Brian Hanvey

Associate Pastor 

Bethel Baptist Church

"BROKEN HEARTED"

Good morning to all of you out there in cyber land. I hope you were in the house of God Sunday and that you can say you had a true encounter with the Holy Spirit. If you are not attending a house of God where you can feel Him as soon as you drive up on the grounds, you need to find a new place of worship, or you need to ask yourselves if you are going with an open heart to experience Him, or if your heart is filled with so many other things you cannot hear Him anymore.

“Broken Hearted” Have you ever had your heart broken? Have you ever broken the heart of another? Do you remember what that felt like to have your heart broken? Have you ever said, I would never wish that pain on anyone?

I really feel like God is wanting someone out there to take a good look at me and my situation. This is the third week in a row, He has given me a message to share with you, that kind of relates to me. This week I'm referring to the loss of use of my legs. The reference is, you don't miss something until you don't have it.

By this point, you are probably asking what is he talking about. This Wednesday I was able to attend church. While sitting there, I was beside a man in his 80's. This man of God, has never missed Sunday's church in over 50 years. As I looked at him, I was overcome with emotion. Here sat a man, with so much knowledge, so much wisdom. He has taught Sunday school. He has been a deacon for I don't know how many years. He has loved his Lord and served Him for decades. Now the years have caught up to him and his shell is giving out on him, yet here he sits, with a giant print Bible, trifocal glasses and a super magnifying glass with a light that will only show about one word at a time, trying to read his Bible. He is going blind. His eyes are going fast.

I am broken hearted. I am sure this man has read his Bible forward, backward and any other “ward” you can come up with, and still he hungers for God to speak to him, so he “works” at reading God's holy word. You see, he is trying to use what sight he has left to get all of God's word in he can, before the light of his eyes is turned off. He will be unable to read his Bible and that is what he will miss the most. The loss of his eyes, even at his age is devastating him. He is already regretting what he will no longer be able to do for God. Just as I think often of all that I would be doing if I could walk. I think about this man that cannot get enough of God's word and soon will no longer be able to read it, and how many leave it on the shelf to collect dust and and don't realize what they are missing. If you were told you sight was failing would His word be important to you then? What if God treated you like Paul and took your sight instantly?

James 4:13-14 says, “13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

Romans 12:3 says, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Ephesians 4:30 says, “ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Genesis 6:6 says. “And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Psalms 34:17-18 says, “ 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

Where is your heart today? Is it harden by this world we live in? Has circumstances caused you to build a wall around your heart so no one, or nothing can touch it? How long has it been since you have given thought to what the sins in your life are doing to the heart of God? Does it matter to you? The next time your child does something that makes your heart ache, stop for a moment and reflect on how God feels about the things you have done that day, week and so on.

Lamentations 3:21-23 says, “ 21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

While my heart breaks for my friend and brother in Christ, I know that one day soon, he will meet his Heavenly Father face to face and not need glasses of any kind. He will be in the presence of the Word and the Word will be with him. Praise His Name.

Remember: If your heart breaks, the best one to fix it, is the One who made it. Seek the Lord and He will never fail you.

Until next time, please pray for each other, our country and me, as I continue to pray for each of you. Love in CHRIST,

Brian Hanvey

Associate Pastor

Bethel Baptist Church

"SPIRITUALLY PARALYZED”

Good morning to everyone. I hope you are enjoying some of the activities available to you during the summer times without getting too hot. The temperature is climbing and I pray you take the necessary steps to avoid the damage of too much sun or heat.

Today's topic, “Spiritually Paralyzed”, has hit me hard this week. While I wait on the Lord to reveal His thoughts to me, so that I may share them with you, I try to discern which ideas are His and which are mine. It is my pray and heart's intention to first and foremost serve my Lord and then to feed you His word.

This past week, the need arose to find volunteers to assist one of the widows of our church. The event had been announced for a few weeks, so there was plenty of time for others to plan for it. Because of a lack of volunteers, I was ask to seek out those who might help. I made many calls. I had ONE to commit to help.

Last week I used myself as an example and I am going to do that again. I can feel nothing below about four inches above my bellybutton. From that point down I am still alive, blood flows, toenails grow but I feel nothing. My point is, God is showing me that many of our heart's are the same way. They are pumping blood, beating and doing their jobs, but dead. Let me show you what God is telling me.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Revelations 1:5 says, “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood “ 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 says, “14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” Matthew 15:8, 19 says, “ 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me” “19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” John 8:47 says, “He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God." James 2:17-19 says, “17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!” 1 Corinthians 1:17-18 says, “ 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

So, let's review what we have read. God created us for “good works”. He washed our sins away with His own blood. If we have truly accepted Him as our Savior, we are to STOP living our lives to please ourselves, and seek to please Him. We talk a good talk but God, the One who looks at the heart, knows that while we offer good lip service, our hearts are truly far from Him and His. From our hearts. God sees what is really important to us and why we do the things we do.

He knows our intentions, sees our loyalties and all the things that go on behind closed doors. Again, if you are truly His, you will hear His word and want to do His will. Faith without works is dead. The Bible tells us even the demons believe, but that doesn't mean they are children of God, or that they will get to heaven.

With all of this knowledge, what does that say about you and I? We cannot argue that God created us. And if we have been saved, asked forgiveness for our sins and ask Christ to come and live in and through us, then we were bought by and washed in His blood. We were created to do His “good works”. Not to do anything and everything that pleases us. Don't throw stones at me, I'm just sharing His word, not my own. I am not saying God expects us to be miserable, I'm saying if we are doing what He has called us to do, we will find a satisfaction, a gratification, like we've never known. We can talk all day until we are blue in the face about God and how much we believe in Him, but if we are not doing the things He wants us to do, we are just putting on a show.

If you frequent a convenient store and run into the same man each afternoon and he has paint on his clothes, you can surmise he is a painter. You don't need to hear him tell you he is, there is evidence. The Bible tells us you can tell a tree by the fruit it bears and by their fruit we shall know them. If you are a true child of God, there should be fruit, evidence. We should be able to recognize each other without having to make some proclamation of who and what we are.

The intent of this writing, is to get you to look into the mirror and examine your spiritual health. Is there evidence that you are a child of God? If God followed you around for a day, for what would you be ashamed of? If He called you home today, what regrets would you have over lost opportunities?

You may say none of this pertains to you. I want to challenge you to be 100% honest, and for one day, make a journal of everything you do, For one day, other than Sunday, write down what you spend your time doing. Then I challenge you to be honest enough to message me back and say either yes, I am doing more of what God would have me to do, or no, I am failing God and spending more time pleasing me. I will not share with anyone, anything that any of you send to me, I am just looking for honest answers and whether you are honest with me or not, God already knows.

If we are not being the Holy Spirit filled people God created us to be, what are we teaching our children? If we are teaching them to be slack and to compromise a little here and there, how much more will they teach their children to do the same and more?

Remember: If you are suffering from Spiritual Paralysis, seek God's R-E-H-A-B. Repent—Evict all the bad—Hold to the good—Accept responsibility—Be ye a doer of His will.

Until next time, please continue to pray for each other, and me, as I continue to pray for each of you. Love in CHRIST,

Brian Hanvey

Associate Pastor
Bethel Baptist Church

"IT'S TIME TO PUT UP, OR SHUT UP!”

Good morning to everyone out there today. It was so nice to get out on this father's day and make it to church. I talked with my son by phone 5 or 6 times, (he lives in GA.) and felt very much appreciated and loved. Our pastor delivered a powerful sermon, relevant to the day and the music was just what was needed to prepare our hearts.

“It's Time To Put Up Or Shut Up”. Have you ever said that, or maybe heard someone say it to you? What do you think of when hearing this? Would the statement offend you if someone said it to you?

I have been in my chair five years and nine months. I have not, am not and will not ever complain about being in this chair. The alternative was death and while I am ready for that trip, I am thankful for each day that I have to spend with my family and to do my best to serve my Lord. I am on borrowed time and maybe that is why I think of this statement to much. But, I am not the only one, on borrowed time.

James 4:13-14 says, “13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” Matthew 9:37-38 says, “37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." John 9:4 says, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” Matthew 6:19-21 says, “ 19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

James 2:15-26 says, “ 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

So, what have we read from God's word? Our lives are but a vapor, so don't plan to do things tomorrow, do them today. There is more than enough work to be done. We must work now, because death is coming and then the time for work will have past. We need to be doing the work for which we were created so that we store up our treasure in heaven, not here. And we need to stop giving lip service about what we were “going to do” , what we “meant to do”. We don't get brownie points for intentions. The Bible tells us, “faith, without works is DEAD”.

Why do you think God told Abraham to take Isaac up the mountain to be sacrificed? God wanted to see that the child He had promised him for so long, was not more important to Abraham than service to God. I say this, to pose the question to you, what are you allowing to prevent your service to God? How many times have you felt God lead you to do something, or seen a need with your own eyes, or had someone contact you with an opportunity to do a service for God, and you put ___________, in front of Him. What do you think matters more to God, that you spent all four Saturdays of the month cutting your grass, of if you missed one to cut the grass of one of the church's elderly? Do you think it will matter more to God that you signed up your child to play ball every Wednesday, teaching them to skip church or that you take a stand and show your family that being in church is more beneficial and pleasing to God?

Think for a moment about all the good and things you see that need to be done in your church and around you. Now, ask yourself, what is preventing me from doing this. I'm not saying you should leave your family out. Include them. Get your spouse, your children or your friends to help out. Instead of allowing others to pull you from His service, pull them into service with you. I tell you, I sit in a chair knowing what I use to do, and seeing what needs to be done and I know it grieves God at the lack of commitment and enthusiasm from those who have no physical limitations to please Him. We were never created to please self. I'm going to close this weeks thought with a poem. Enjoy.

Today, upon a bus, I saw a lovely girl with golden hair, I envied her…she seemed so gay…and wished I were as fair. When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle; She had one leg and wore a crutch; But as she passed…a smile! Oh, God forgive me when I whine, I have two legs. The world is mine!

I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm. I talked with him He seemed so glad. If I were late ‘twould do no harm. And as I left he said to me, “I thank you. You have been so kind. It’s nice to talk with folks like you. You see,” he said, “I’m blind.” Oh, God, forgive me when I whine, I have two eyes. The world is mine.

Later, while walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue. He stood and watched the others play. He did not know what to do. I stopped a moment, then I said, “Why don’t you join the others, dear?” He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear. Oh, God forgive me when I whine. I have two ears. The world is mine.

With feet to take me where I’d go, with eyes to see the sunset’s glow, With ears to hear what I would know…Oh, God forgive me when I whine. I’m blessed indeed. The world is mine.

Remember: When it comes your time to go home, it won't matter what you meant to do, but what you've done.

Until next time, please continue to pray for each other and me, as I continue to pray for each of you. Love in CHRIST.

Brian Hanvey

Associate Pastor
Bethel Baptist Church