A Lot to be Thankful For

September 11, 2008 By Pastor David Stone

A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR

We Americans have a lot to be thankful for—guess you’ve heard that before, but we need to be reminded. I’ve often wondered why I was born in the good old USA instead of some “Third world” country, being forced to eat out of a garbage dump and sleeping on the floor. I guess I could say, ”because God is good”, but that doesn’t explain it. God is good regardless of where we’re born or what the circumstances are. We can only attribute our birth- place and our blessings to the providence of God. Regardless of the case, we’ve got a lot to be thankful for.

Seven years ago our beloved nation suffered a devastating blow from our enemies. A lot has ensued since that dreadful day. We sent our young men and women off to war in an effort to take the fight to our enemies, rather than giving them free course to strike again. With all the ,“Bush bashing” that takes place I believe we need to give credit where credit I due. I certainly don’t agree with our president on everything, but I deeply appreciate the good he has done. We haven’t had an attack on our home front for seven years. We also over threw a dictator, liberated a nation, and established a democracy. How can we not be thankful for that?

I’m fed up with all the bellyaching because the economy takes a dip, etc. Instead of complaining we should thank God that we have it better than any place on earth and a president who has the guts to buck the tide of public opinion and do what’s needed instead of what’s popular. I don’t know what history will record about his presidency, but as one who lived through it I say “THANKS!”

Our nation faces a lot of uncertainties and challenges. Our future is uncertain, but God is still on His throne and He has a plan. Let us stop complaining about our circumstances—they could be a lot worse. As we observe the anniversary of 9-11 let us pause to thank God for our blessings. After all, we have a lot to be thankful for. Think about it!

THE NEXT THING

February 26, 2014 By Pastor David Stone

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home – John 19:27

We are commanded to “look to Jesus” on the cross in order to know how to handle suffering (Hebrews 12:2).——

When we face overwhelming grief, unrelenting discouragement, or pounding pain, it is often hard to know what to do. We tend to want to roll up in a ball and hope that the storm will pass or that some easy solution will present itself.

However, the right response, even in times of great suffering, is to make practical preparations in the midst of your sorrow. You must still get out of bed, or go to work, or do the laundry, or pay the bills, or play with the children, or write up your will — no matter how low you may feel, ignoring your responsibilities will not help any problem go away.

Here was Jesus, in the darkest moment of human history, bearing the brunt of man’s and God’s wrath. No one has ever been in as low a state as Jesus was at this time. And, yet, he is making simple, mundane preparations for after his death. He is making sure that his mother will be cared for.

Elizabeth Elliot calls this fundamental need to face reality the “do the next thing” principle. When you don’t know what to do next, she says, do the next thing. This excellent and practical advice comes from an old, sacred poem:

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing. —–From “A Good Thing”.

Getting Ready for the Election

September 10, 2008 By Pastor David Stone

Getting Ready For The Election

The presidential election will be here before you know it and now’s the time to prepare. As we think about getting ready for the election there are four things that we need to do.

GET THE FACTS

We can’t make an intelligent decision unless we know the facts. Instead of listening to the rhetoric, the polls, and the liberal press we should consider the candidates character and their record. Sadly many people will vote on a whim, kind of like flipping a coin. Some will base their vote on the candidate’s personality-“ He just seems like a nice person, etc.” Some will vote based on the advice of others. Some will vote out of blind loyalty to a particular party. But the wise person will consider all the facts and base his choice on them. The wise voter also realizes that everything is not of equal importance. He understands the difference between right and wrong, what is good and what is best, and he votes accordingly.

GET THE WORD OUT

We all have a circle of friends and we need to share the facts with them. I realize that some folks get all bent-out-of-shape when you talk about politics and we have to use wisdom. But the election of a president is too important for us to remain silent. Everyone won’t be open to discuss this matter with, but some will and we need to take advantage of our opportunities. You can be sure that the proponents of evil will not be silent, neither should those who contend for righteousness.

GET ON YOUR KNEES

None of us are as smart as we think we are. Believing you know the facts doesn’t mean that you do. You can be sincere and be wrong. We need God’s help and every Christian should pray for wisdom and that God’s will be done. If we fail to pray we are sure to fail. We are involved in a spiritual warfare and nothing short of prayer will enable us to prevail. Our nation is spiritually sick and only by turning to God can we be healed (I Chron. 7:14).

GET TO THE POLLS

Being a citizen of the United States is a great privilege and an awesome responsibility. It is shameful that people reap all the benefits of living in America and then refuse to vote. Those who do such have no right to complain when the results turn out bad! God has given us the wonderful freedom to take a part in electing our leaders and we ought not take it lightly. He will hold us accountable for our actions. The up-coming presidential election just might be the most important one ever. We can’t afford to just sit back and hope things will turn out for the best. Get the facts, get the word out, get on your knees, and then get to the polls and vote!

OUR RESTING PLACE

February 25, 2014 By Pastor David Stone

– – – -“I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
In this troubled world there are many hard trials, powerful enemies, tough tasks, and difficult days— and we are oh so weak and weary! Yet in these times of darkness the bright light of God’s promises give us hope. Such is this precious promise from the lips of our dear Savior– “I will give you rest”!

Back in the 19th century, Pastor James Smith wrote these words to his congregation: “There is no rest for the Christian in the world. There will be always something to disturb, perplex or distress him; it is an enemy’s land. But Jesus says, “I will give you rest.” He does so by enabling us to rely on His word, recognise His hand, submit to His will, and trust in His perfect work. He assures us that our sins are forgiven us; that our persons are safe in His keeping; that His presence shall always be with us; and that all things shall work together for the best. We can rest on His faithfulness; He has been tried, and found faithful. We can rest on His love, for it knows not the shadow of a turn. We can rest on His power, it is ever engaged on our behalf. We can rest on His covenant, it is ordered in all things and sure. We can rest on His blood; it speaks peace, pardon, and acceptance with God. We can rest at His feet; there we are safe, and can never be injured. We cannot rest on our graces, on our comforts, on our friends, or on our possessions; but we may rest on Jesus. We should rest on Him with unshaken confidence and

In the ark, the weary dove
Found a welcome resting place;
Thus my spirit longs to prove,
Rest in Christ, the Ark of grace.

Capitializing on Calamities

September 9, 2008 By Pastor David Stone

CAPITALIZING ON CALAMITIES

The ancient Psalmist wrote, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted—“(Psalms 119:71). Is that not amazing? Some might even question his sanity. With our tendency to despise trouble, it is seldom that we find a person who feels this way.

As the writer looked back over his past, and considered his calamities, he concluded that they had been good for him. He doesn’t give us any details. He mentions no dark valleys, rugged mountains, or raging seas that he was forced to face. He just gathers all the painful experiences together into one bundle and labels it affliction.

Maybe it’s best that we don’t know the exact nature of his trials, lest we think ours to be unique because they aren’t on his list. Perhaps we would think his to be more bearable than ours. The truth is that we all have troubles in some form or another that seem unbearable at the time. Although we live in a different time and place we have something in common with this man and every other person. Job put it like this: “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Life for all of us is a mixture of sunshine and shadows, pleasure and pain, mountains and valleys, comfort and calamities. It’s the same for us all, the difference is in how we deal with them. Some become bitter and some become better.

Those who accept their afflictions with the right attitude turn their pain into pleasure, their cross into a crown, their hurt into help. They capitalize on their calamity and it becomes a cure rather than a curse.

Trials will surely come to us all, but they need not wreck our lives. When the storms of life rage against us, when dreadful diseases drain our bodies of much needed energy, and when the ugly monster death rips out of our hands the things we cherish most, we can still cling to the precious promises of Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to this purpose.” So, even when it seems that all is lost and there appears to be no hope, we can capitalize on our calamity and say with the Psalmist, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted—.” Think about it!