Saturday, December 14, 2024 – “Decisions and Choices” by P. Williams
You can op through life Happy or Sad
Its your choice -
No One else’s… No one controls that but you
Remember that Happy or Sad… Your choice
Each of us has many different choices
in life… Many happy… many sad, and
Many more. Every day “driveway” kind of decisions.
Today, embrace your choices
Hug the happy… Put your heart around
the sad… and cherish the everyday.
Thank God for your troubles… they give you strength.
Thank Him for your many blessings. They give you joy.
And Thank God for all of the “driveway” decisions for they
make up a large part of life.
Many Thanks God for Watching over me Everyday
and in Every Way as I make decisions and choices.
Amen
God Bless Each one of you.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 – “Jesus” from Unwrapping the Names of Jesus
Jesus is God’s creative Word who spoke everything into existence: the beautiful flowers, majestic mountains,
brilliant northern lights, fascinating animals, and breathtaking sunsets. God’s creation speaks to us His eternal
power and divine nature because it was fashioned by the Creative Word Himself.
Jesus is God’s communicative Word as well because Jesus is God in the flesh. In the past, God used prophets
to speak to His people, sharing His thoughts and intentions with a select few, who then spread His message to the
masses. But in Jesus, God’s Word became readily available to whoever was willing to listen. Jesus is the full
revelation and intelligent communication of God.
Lastly, Jesus is God’s final Word. He fulfills Old Testament prophesies that point to Him and not only sets in motion
but finishes God’s redemptive plan for His people. On the cross, bearing the sins of all those who believed and
would believe in Him, Jesus said these marvelous words: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Nothing more needs to be
added or changed in order for people to have a relationship with God, and nothing in history will change the finality of
Jesus’ work on the cross. Jesus is all we need.
Without Jesus, our communication from God would have been indirect, impersonal, and distant. In Jesus, we have
the very Word of God – the most direct, personal, meaningful communication God could ever give us – available to
everyone who seeks Him.
Saturday, December 7, 2024 – Basic Needs by P. Williams
Thanksgiving holiday is over and now
begins the most blessed season in the church.
The Christmas story…
Like most stories it has a beginning, a middle
and an end. But this story is truly
“one of a kind” – Never be another.
Did you see the sun come up this morning? Then like me, you are
already blessed.
Did you sleep with a full tummy? A nice warm bed? Did you know that
this morning you would get up to Hot Coffee and your choice of breakfast…
That you would get to choose lunch, snacks, clean water,
and dinner every night. We all take these things for granted…
Clean water, warm bed, hot food, heat in our home…
We are blessed every day. So many in our own North Carolina
do not have these basic necessities… Western NC is so devastated…
will be many years to even have basic needs. Please remember
them in your prayers.
Remember on Sunday when we all walk into church and are
greeted by a beautiful nativity and wreaths and the tree covered
with lovely chrismons.
We are Blessed… I am Astounded by His gifts to us…
Every day, every where, in every way.
God Bless Each One of you. Amen
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 – “Jesus” from Unwrapping the Names of Jesus
The name “Jesus” is a transliteration of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means “the Lord is salvation.” In Bible
times, it was not an uncommon name, just like Jesus Himself didn’t appear out of the ordinary to those who grew
up with Him. Yet His given name holds great significance to who He Is and what He did on earth.
In the Old Testament, Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan. He saved the people through courageous leadership,
charging into battle upon bloody battle, leading hundreds of thousands into the Promised Land. In contrast to the
first Joshua, the second Joshua (Jesus) saved through an epic battle that He fought alone, quietly making the way
for His people to enter the Promised Land of God’s presence.
Jesus came to save people from their sins. What the first Joshua was powerless to do, the second Joshua was
born to accomplish.
During Jesus’ lifetime, the Israelites were waiting for a political leader like Joshua who would free them from the
yoke of Roman oppression and allow them to live in the land God had promised them, just as their forefathers had
been freed from Egyptian slavery and led into Canaan. They wanted a macho man who would reinstate Israel as
an autonomous country and make the Romans run in fear.
But Jesus’ perspective is always bigger than ours. His gaze was set on the universal dilemma of sin. His battle
was one of cosmic proportions, to deliver all who believe in Him from the bondage of soul-deadening sin and wel-
come us into the family of God.
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - Message found on Facebook
You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making
you spill your coffee everywhere.
Why did you spill the coffee?
“Because someone bumped into me!!!”
Wrong answer.
You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup.
Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.
Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out.
Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out.
It’s easy to fake it, until you get rattled.
So we have to ask ourselves… “what’s in my cup?”
When life get tough, what spills over?
Joy, gratitude, peace and humility?
Anger, bitterness, victim mentality and quitting tendencies?
Life provides the cup, YOU choose how to fill it.
Today let’s work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation, resilience, positivity;
and kindness, gentleness and love for others.
Saturday, November 23, 2024 – Thanks Giving by P. Williams
Dear God,
How can I tell you the depth of My heart.
How deep my thanks goes.
You have taken care of me over and over
again. You have shown me the right
path every time I asked.
You love me in spite of me.
You help me even when I am not worthy.
Dear God, How can I ever repay you
for my life of wonderful blessings?
That is the real clue…. I can never
repay you… You gave the ultimate
price for my salvation.
So Hear This dear God… I cherish
it every day. This unbelievable
sacrifice you gave for me…
Hear me as I whisper it at night
Hear me as I shout it to the sky
Hear me as I tell you in my prayers
Thank You God for my
many blessings! Amen
Saturday, November 16, 2024 – “Morning Frosty” by P. Williams
Some Mornings are Frosty and cold as can be
Then the Sun comes out and warms Mother Earth
Late afternoon brings cooler weather for us
Then clear colder nights so stars can sparkle
I love the weather… all kinds… even Storms and Wind
Do you wrap up this time of year? In sweats
A toboggan? A sweater and gloves
I really like to bundle up… Go for a walk
makes my nose red and makes it run
I love a blanket or throw across my lap
In my chair… put my feet up and get warm
Drink Hot chocolate in the evening
Caffeine free and “I am good to go!”
That warm drink helps me sleep on cold nights
Come on Winter! Stay with us!
Kill the mosquitoes and freeze the garden dirt
Make for a better spring season
Thanksgiving is coming very soon and
All of us should make a list of all We are thankful for
Than read it out loud and
Put it away… You won’t forget!
So here’s to a span of Cold weather
I for one hope to hold on to each hour
Love the cold… love Thanksgiving traditions…
Love my family and friends and love the food
Thank You God for all of Your Many Blessings!
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 – “First Steps” from Daily Devotions
Acts 3:8 Jumping up, he began to walk around. He entered the temple with them, walking, leaping, and praising God.
Waking up in the early hours of the morning is hard for me. Waking up with a worshiping soul and a heart of praise
is even harder. As a college student who is often up late, upon waking, I usually think, It is way too early for my day
to begin. That mindset made the mornings miserable. However, when I set my focus on God before I roll out of bed,
those first steps of the day become more joyful.
The first steps of the man healed in Acts 3 were full of worship. Later in Acts 4:22, we see that the man was more
than 40 years old. He had never taken a step in 40 years! He was healed by a miracle, and he praised Jesus as he
began to walk.
Waking up every morning is a miracle in itself, and that’s worth celebrating. Each new day is a gift from our gracious
God.
Saturday, November 9, 2024 “Instructions on Living in a Broken World” – author unknown
Lean into community
Seek out love
Applaud the good you see
Keep paying attention
Talk to your neighbors
Dance to the music and embrace art
Look for love and small joys
Take breaks and relish in nourishing your body
Donate what you can
Longer at the dinner table with friends
Check in with your people
Let yourself grieve
Love one another as deeply as you can
The storm is upon us and we must hold on
Don’t give up, we’re here together.
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Becoming a Jesus Human - from Pastor Harris
What is impossible to me,
God weaves with threads unseen
Where I see only brokenness,
God’s hand is stitching seams
A fractured world, weary and scarred --
God sees the Church as balm
A hospital for wounded hearts,
Restoring peace, restoring calm.
When shadows drown out every hope,
God sees the promised dawn;
Where I see ends, God considers the plan,
A life redeemed, reborn.
Though I am human, frail, and flawed,
I strive to live His way --
To be a Jesus human now,
In grace, in truth, each day.
Let us all strive to be like Jesus every moment of our lives! Amen
Saturday, November 2, 2024 – Pray Out Loud by P. Williams
God has blessed us with beautiful days this week.
Blue sky days with Sunshine and sparkley clouds
We are supposed to have super low humidity today
Tomorrow too! I bet we can feel the difference
Got a lot of errands to do today
I bet you have days like that, too!
Gotta go to Staples to copy several things
Also have to get him to print a return Label
since I don’t have a printer anymore.
Then drop by Goodwill to add my box to the pile
Silly little errands that make up time
In our daily lives
When I drive between stops I always pray
In the car… out loud
Then not only does He hear
But I remind myself how blessed I am --
So have a wonderful “Gift from God” day
A reminder that He Loves Us…
Maybe especially when we pray out loud.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 – Sermon preview
Jesus is fierce in His holiness, powerful in His justice, and yet compassionate in His love. Too many of us approach
as though He is tame and manageable, but He is not. You can love the Lamb of God, the One who takes away the
sin of the world, but don’t forget the Lion of Judah. We must come before in awe knowing that He is both good and
powerful. – Pastor Harris
Saturday, October 26, 2024 – “Bread Basket of Thoughts” by P. Williams
I saw an article about this being “deer season”
I sure have seen a bunch
Just don’t want to meet them with my car.
The leaves are changing fast and the cold nights
Coming next week will slowly push them along
I see pumpkins, Halloween candy… along with Turkeys
and Christmas decorations in the same store.
Our Brunswick Stew sale is creeping up fast and furious
And Veteran’s Day when we celebrate all who have served.
Then comes Thanksgiving… the Big Holiday in my family
We all get together with food and laughs and walks and prayers
History every year… but this year will be different
North Carolina had what is now deemed a
Geological event due to 1,400 landslides, the
reshaping of riverbeds and whole towns
being wiped away -- 1,000 bridges and 126,000 homes
160 water and sewer systems… 6,000 miles of roads.
Changed forever – our Western North Carolina
I pray for you and I pray for
North Carolina
God bless Each of you! Amen
Wednesday, 10/23/24 – “Strength to Move Forward” from Daily Devotions
Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The moon jellyfish is a fascinating animal. As they swim, their wispy tentacles gracefully trail behind their mushroom-
shaped body. When a moon jellyfish loses or breaks tentacles due to injury, it cannot regenerate new ones. Instead,
it works tirelessly to reorganize and reposition its remaining tentacles so they are symmetrically spaced around its
body, allowing the jellyfish to efficiently navigate the water. The jellyfish’s muscles contract and relax constantly to
rearrange its tentacles, a process that can take days.
I think about the losses I have experienced, and I recognize a parallel with the jellyfish. When a loved one dies, we
cannot replace them; their loss might shatter us. But as we grieve, we also gradually heal and adjust. We work to
bring back stability in our lives and look for strength to move forward. This process takes time and looks different for
each person.
The psalmist reminds us of the promise that God will be close to us in our tragedy and heartbreak. As we navigate
our grief, we can ask God to strengthen our spiritual muscles and sustain us on the journey. God provides healing
and repair for our brokenness and “saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Saturday, October 19, 2024 – “Fall is Falling” by P. Williams
It is quickly transferring from Summer to Fall
The cooler mornings… with some frosty windshields
The wind blowing leaves from trees to the ground
And the blush of fall is all around us
Each plant is getting ready for Fall… then Winter
Every animal spends their time getting ready
A different season… they know they need to be prepared
Their young are older now… Ready for Winter
The farmer stacks his hay and checks his fences
Checks his barn and all of his gates.
Everyone checks their water pipes and re-seals
Just like the beaver, he re-seals his “apartment” complex.
We are each getting ready to change seasons too
We will all go through Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving,
and the Christmas Season.
So I urge you to get your house in order
Just like Mr. Beaver and all of God’s creations
Get out your warm clothes… prepare for bad weather
Have a “stash” for emergencies… Water and food in advance
And every day Praise Go that we are blessed
We live in the beautiful state of North Carolina
I conclude with this prayer
We don’t pray to inform God
We pray to involve God.
God already knows what’s going on in your life,
He is waiting for you to ask for His help! Amen
God bless each one of you
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 - “No Dead Ends” from Daily Devotions
As I walked one morning, I pondered a seemingly impossible situation that my young grandson was facing at school.
Up ahead I saw a “Dead End” street sign and concrete wall. As I got closer, I noticed a metal door built into the wall
and could hear the sound of heavy traffic. Opening the door, I saw that it led to the sidewalk of a main thoroughfare.
The street was a dead end for cars, but on foot I could reach anywhere in town. I knew then that God could make a
way through, even though there seemed to be no way. I was reassured that God had an answer to my grandson’s
situation.
We often encounter situations that appear to be dead ends. We may slow our pace or turn around, fearful of what will
happen when we reach the end. But with God, there are no dead ends. When we have courage and keep walking,
God will show us the way through our difficulty.
