Thank you Lord

I recently got my finger smashed under a trailer hitch loaded with sheet rock. It smashed it and broke it. I had to get stitches. It was so SCARY it looked AWFUL! Well it happened at the worst time because we are fixing up rooms for my mother to move here next week. Although it hurts and I can't do some things...God has touched it and I am with His help accomplishing so much! I believe that it is healing. Please keep me in your prayers. Love you all!
Nancy

Devotion 7-20-09

Tempting God
Read Psalm 78:54-64
There is only one direction for Christians to travel--forward. We must not think back or look back or turn back. We must move ahead, out of the old life and into the new.
That's the picture of the Israelites. God delivered them from Egypt. He brought them into the Promised Land, yet when they got there, they failed Him. "Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, and did not keep His testimonies, but turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. For they provoked Him to anger with their high places, and moved Him to jealousy with their carved images" (vv. 56-58). They ignored all of God's greatness. He defeated the other nations. He gave the Jews houses they did not build. They drank from wells they did not dig. They ate from trees they never cultivated. They ignored God's goodness, and then they deliberately tempted Him.
How do you tempt God? When you deliberately disobey Him and dare Him to do something. You are not walking in ignorance--you know what you are doing. To tempt God means to sin with your eyes wide open. This provokes Him.
The people of Israel even adopted the idolatrous worship of the people they had defeated! We do this today, too. How easy it is for us to accept the idols of this world, to trust in money and position, to trust in the words of men instead of the words of God. And the result? "He forsook the tabernacle" (v. 60). God moved out. He said, "If you don't want me, I'm leaving." As a consequence, the people of Israel went into captivity.
What a tragedy to enter into the blessing God has for us and get so confident and selfish we forget the One who gave us the blessing.
* * *
Be careful never to place your trust in God's blessings rather than in God. Enjoy the Blesser--the God who gives and guides you--rather than the blessing.

Name it claim it!

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21:22

You may have heard sayings like, “ask and ye shall receive” or “name it claim it.” Some preachers will tell you to put a picture of your dream home or car on your refrigerator so you see it everyday, waiting for God to give you what you ask for. Dream big, because God is a giving God, right?

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James 4:2

The definition of the word “ask” from Webster’s dictionary says it means “to call on for an answer.” God wants us to call on Him with our requests. Not necessarily about our dream cars and houses, but about our basic needs. Like food, shelter, clothing, our health, finances, the basics.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:6-13

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:23, 24

“Give us this day our daily bread” is a basic request, a basic need, and God wants us to ask Him. He wants us to ask for things we need.

Pray for blessings on your life, spiritually and physically. Ask Him for protection, for health.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:8

Whatever you ask for in prayer…

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. James 4:3

God won’t always say yes to your requests, but that’s because He knows you better than yourself. You may think you need it for a good reason, but God knows it would change you for the worse instead. You don’t always get the answer you’re looking for.

Come before Him with prayer and thanksgiving…

Notes from the sermon this morning

Update

Everything is going great in sunny Havre Montana! God is good and has been blessing in a wonderful way. We had great sunday school time last week. Noelle bought a visitor. They had a great time in the word and then did a fun craft. The girls love having Gracie as teacher. Tom and Emilie are doing so good in class. Tom is staying n his chair for the most part and loves participating. The message preached by Pastor Kirby was anointed and a blessing to all.
We are all looking forward to tomorrow. Noelle's friend is coming back. We have seen a difference in her already. On Tuesday we had youth night. Caleb and Mandie are gone for the week working in the camp kitchen so Jason had a devotion ready. It was a blessing and so good to see Jason involved. I am sure Grace will be updating everyone on this coming weeks events. Hopefully pictures too!
God Bless!

Sunday school classes

Click on the picture to enlarge.

Thought For The Day July 11, 2009

HOPE

Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield.

For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Psalm 33:20-22

The Solid Rock

Edward Mote

My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

I never want to loose sight that God is my hope. He has never failed me. I know that he never will.

The more we know Him, the more we will experience that deep inner joy that is not dependent on external circumstances. This joy is present even in the midst of suffering and sorrow; it is a motivating power even in discouragement and dismay.

But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

Psalm 71:14

God Bless You,

N. Alexander

"Life with Christ is an endless hope; without him a hopeless end."

anonymous

Thought For The Day July 10, 2009

I can do all things through Christ which stengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13

Sometimes we wonder about certain things in this life, weather they are sin or could just become sin. There are things that some would struggle with that might never cause another to stumble. As individuals we need to have our hearts and minds turned toward God so that we can hear his still small voice guiding us in these areas of our life. We need to be in a place in our walk that we are willing to give up anything for Christ.

There is not a single thing in this world that I long for more than I long for the Lord. My hearts desire is to serve him and to live with him for eternity. So I will gladly trade any temporal pleasures here for eternal joy.

Sometimes God just wants to know that we are willing. It is not always sinful things that we give up to place him first in our lives. We don't always respond well to mans demands on us. But when God asks anything of me I want my heart to be ready and willing.

I am continually praying for God to mold me into a better Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt and Friend. I want to be a women after Gods own heart. When he speaks I want to hear and obey. The seemingly hardest of things to give up can be made easy through Christ who gives us strength.

God Bless You Is My Prayer

N. Alexander

Thought For The Day July 9, 2009

Jesus Did Devotions

Jesus quiet time was a source of his strength. Personal fellowship with his Father in Heaven was the top priority of Jesus' life on earth (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; 22:39-44). Even when his days were busy and filled with exciting ministry, he spent time in prayer (John 5:30). If a time of quiet prayer was a priority for Jesus, how much more do we need to make it a priority in our lives?

God Bless You Is Our Prayer
N. Alexander

Church In The Park

Notes from Paul Alexander

But he said, yea rather blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Luke 11:28

I feel that sometimes we forget the importance of reading God’s word. Sometimes we come to a place where we just go about our lives, and we feel like praying and living a good life is enough to get us by. Not to say there isn’t as much importance on prayer! It’s not the case at all. It is very important to speak to God daily, but it is equally important to let Him speak to us. And how does He speak to us? In the Old Testament, God spoke to His children in audible and amazing voice, such as Moses and the burning bush, or Samuel hearing His voice in the night. God speaks to us in a different way today. He speaks to us through His word. What is the word? The Bible says in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God, and the word was God.” This, of course, means Jesus Christ. And Jesus was sent to us here on earth as the living word. The life and words of Jesus were recorded for us to experience everyday. The first verse we read says, blessed are they that hear the word of God. That means when we read our bibles we aren’t just simply reading words, but we are to listen to the very voice of God- Jesus Christ. We need to pray and ask the Lord to help us not just simply read His word, but to hear His voice and to keep it.

In Colossians 3:16 it says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” If we hear the words of Christ and we let it dwell in us, we will have the wisdom and understanding to admonish each other and those around us with the love and wisdom of God. All of us as men are leaders, or future leaders, of our homes. Our wives and/or children depend on us to be wise and have a solid relationship with the Lord. The only way we can do that, and the only way to hear the words of God speaking into our lives, is by getting into His word and hearing His voice. So today I encourage us, all of us, to dig deeper into His word, and take the time to hear His voice speak into our lives.

Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it..

*These are the notes used in ABM service July 7, 2009

Welcome!

The Church of God in Havre, Montana now has a blog! Please come often to read how we're doing and see recent photos of the church. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Church Reporter

Grace Alexander