Isaiah 9:2–3(KJV 1900) — 2The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light:They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy:They joy before thee according to the joy in harvest,And as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

To look at history is really eye opening....most people think history is a boring subject that we dreaded taking in High School....nothing could be further from the truth! History is our greatest asset in life really.....whether we invest in the Stock Market or make any decisions about our future, we would be wise to consult any history regarding that subject we can find.....when you go to see a doctor, they want to know your history for good reason.....Our nation was founded by a number of groups who had various reasons to come over here....by the way, for those who insist we are a people who stole this country, I should like for you to name one nation that wasn't "stolen" at some point in time....I have no disrespect for any nationality, I just deal in reality....anyway, our nation was founded by men and women who had various goals in mind....one thing we can say for a CERTAINTY....GOD HAS BLESSED THIS NATION!!  Many Bible teachers and preachers believe the reason God has blessed this nation is because we have always [hopefully will stay this way] been a help to the Jewish people and nation....even before Israel actually got at least part of their nation back.....If you think about it, we have no good reason to believe it was because of our "ingenuity" or any other human trait that made this nation great....think about it....we were at war with ourselves and should have been very vulnerable to any conglomerate of nations during our civil war period, but alas here we are today, the greatest nation on earth! And yet.....so much discord, so much sorrow, so much depression, so much anxiety, so much anger, so much hatred, so much confusion......look at this verse again: 3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: 

this is our nation today....God has increased it, but our spiritual condition as a whole seems to be deteriorated.....We have so much....why aren't people happy?? History.....When the Children of Abraham moved into their Promised Land [Israel], God blessed them....they had everything they could ever possibly want....There was no doubt to any of them that the Lord had led them there, defeated their enemies, and blessed them.....yet, without exception, within a couple generations of living apart from any conflict [because of the protection of Almighty God] the leaders of Israel fell back into immoral idol worship....the list of poor kings certainly outnumbers the list of good kings in their history.....now for our nations history....you may not accept it, but there really is no other way of describing America except that God has blessed it....with so much....yet where is the joy?? Tomorrow I will finish this blog with the answer which is given to us in Isaiah 9:1-7

God bless your day!! 

​Pastor Scott 

Mark 8:1–4(KJV 1900) — 1In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, 2I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: 3And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. 4And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

Our memories are a fickle thing.....most of us I would imagine suffer from some form of "selective memory" .  Back in Chapter 6 of this great Gospel of Mark, Jesus had fed 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes.....the disciples were there....yet now faced with a similar dilemma, their memories have faded....you know we are the same way....every time we've ever been in a tough situation, God has managed to work us through it even if it was our own fault we find ourselves in the situation.....yet the next time troubles arise....we are doing the same thing the disciples are doing.....forgetting, and possibly doubting....Friends we need to remember that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! Our circumstances change, our lives change, our bodies change.....But God never does.....His promises are made new every morning.... in closing I would like to remind us what Jeremiah felt when writing the Book of Lamentations....remember these verses often friends: 

Lamentations 3:18–26(KJV 1900) — 18And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:19Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.20My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.22It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.24The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.25The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

Having grown up on a farm, seeing a pasture turn green in the early spring always seems to brighten my mood.  To be able to stand on a knoll and look down over a green pasture is also one of my favorite scenes in life.  God gave us His Word, and Psalm 23 is a favorite of most Christians for a lot of reasons.....lets revisit it again this morning:

Psalm 23 (KJV 1900) — A Psalm of David.1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:He leadeth me beside the still waters.3He restoreth my soul:He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

the entire psalm is a powerful reminder that God is in control of His children no matter where our circumstances may take us....it is a deep dive....like most Scripture, it can be read and understood by most children with comprehension, but it can also be as deep as a persons mind can fathom as well.....I want to only focus on verse 2 this morning.....2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:He leadeth me beside the still waters.

​He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters.....question: how does He do that?? You know this isn't speaking of a physical place we can magically go and all will be at peace right?? There is no magical spiritual disneyland we can flee to and all will be at peace.....we realize this correct?? I want you to really get this point for a reference the rest of your lives here on this earth.....He makes me lie down in green pastures.....how does this happen?

You are driving down a familiar road that you've known for a long time.....you've spent so many years driving this same road that you really don't even pay attention to all the scenery....one day you're driving like all the days before and you look up and realize....you're not sure where you are.....and as much as we hate to do it [speaking as a man] we have to consult the roadmap to figure out where we went wrong [or smartphone if we have a signal haha].....can you use this analogy with your spiritual life? Your prayer life? Your Worship Life? 

Lets look at it this way....when our spiritual life becomes secondary....God will use the experience of life to cause us to "lie down in green pastures"....when our circumstances change, or become difficult, or fear of the unknown comes in, our lives seem to have a dark cloud hanging over.....it is then we realize we must get closer to the Lord for wisdom and grace....fellowship and prayer and meditation....these are the green pastures He MAKES us lie down in....my friends, God will have you pray, one way or another.....God will have fellowship with you, one way or another.....He will make you lie down in green pastures, He will lead you beside the still waters.....these go together....once we've realized our need of following the Lord, the still waters are always in view! 

I hope this day finds you beside the still waters, if not, you are never far away! God bless your day! 

​Pastor Scott 

2 Timothy 1:7–12(KJV 1900) -- 7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

we should often be reminded of the Scripture in 1 Corinthians 13 which tells us that 3 things will always abide: faith, hope, and charity and the greatest of these is charity.....remember that charity in the KJV is a word that is stronger than love....it is love in action.....but note that the 3 things which will abide throughout eternity are attributes of God....in other words, if I want to learn about these things I must consult God [the Bible, His Word].....where else would I learn about love?? By watching Hollywood movies?? Do you ever stop and think how many young people get a warped and perverted sense of what true love is? Love is an action word....not a feeling.....lust is a feeling.....I can prove this....Jesus tells us to love our enemies.....ouch.....that can't be based on a feeling can it?

Getting back to the Scripture above, God Himself has given us a Spirit of Power and Love.....and a sound mind....these are His attributes....the world has anything but a sound mind.....people are driving themselves crazy worrying about things like the environment....you know why? this earth is their Paradise, that's why....this is all they have....isn't that sad?? I think we should take care of the earth the Lord has given us to occupy best we can, but even if we get our carbon emissions to zero like they probably were in the days of Sodom and Gomorra [they got globally warmed remember?] God is still going to purify this earth with fire one day...How do I know that?? The Bible tells me so......it is a horrible spirit of antiChrist which has spawned over this nation in the past few decades that has caused us to become so divided and hateful and angry.....these are not attributes of God my friends.....but I have no business becoming a political or social activist you know why?? Because my God has given me a Spirit of power and love and a sound mind....those things will drive a person crazy.....just listen to some of these activists if you don't believe me....

the title of this little post is "A Sure Thing" and I get that from the last verse in this passage: 12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

its a funny thing to listen to how politicians have forked their tongues over the years over issues like illegal immigrants and border security.....not funny haha but funny as in their minds can't be sound....politicians can and will come and go, their opinions will change with the tide.....but God's Word will never change or fade....His Word is the ONLY sure thing we have....His Promises are  made new every day! The only sure thing we know about this world is that it had a Creator....His Name is Jehovah God....He became flesh in Christ Jesus....He came to earth....He still lives....I hope He lives happy in your heart this morning!

May God bless your Day

​SW 

Revelation 3:7–9(KJV 1900) — 7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

the love of our Heavenly Father is an amazing phenomenon.....Sometimes I dream things and they are weird….I had this dream where there was a circle and a bunch of S’s inside the circle….the question came to mind was how many s’s can you put inside the circle….immediately I said the range for that is 1 to infinity minus 1 … my mind doesn’t normally work that quick….but the funny thing is I don’t know if infinity -1 is a thing or not….but a circle is a fixed object, there is only so much space in it, so it can only hold so many s’s ….. so the answer could be infinity -1 
 
What is really mind boggling to me is that there is no such thing as infinity with God because He is eternal…..He is the God of infinity…..the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow says He is going to let all of His and our haters know ….. He is going to let them KNOW …. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! And He is going to make them KNOW that He has loved us….
 
This love is eternal…..charity….love in faithful action…..the Bible says 3 things will abide, faith, hope and love…..the greatest of these is love
 
This isn’t something you read about and it’s abstract so that you’ll never understand it….you can feel it AMEN! 
 
I feel so sorry for children born into this world that don’t have a family … a Mom and Dad, that love them….make them know they are loved….kids can be happy and not be loved….that’s possibly the reason there are serial killers and other major wickedness  in this world…..
 
This love of the family unit is what God designed for us on earth….marriage between a man and woman…..bring children into this world in love….in loving obedience to Almighty God….to worship the one who created us…..why settle for anything less…..but people will and do….they reject the Lord….Jesus says they will KNOW that we have been loved...
 
They make fun of Christians….TV does today….they wouldn’t dare do that back 40 years ago…..

The Roman soldiers spit on Jesus and  blindfolded Him and smacked him and said tell me who did this….mocked Him….the world did this to Jesus you think they’d treat us any better given half a chance?? 
 
They threw Him in a grave and said don’t let Him out whatever you do….it was love that brought Jesus to earth…..it was love that put Him on the cross, it was love that brought Him back to life….it was love that caused Him to arise and ever intercede for us…..
 
They are going to KNOW I have loved thee! Once and for all at the end of all time…..they’ll also realize the love they so desperately sought in the things of this world were shallow and  temporary

Our God is the God of Infinity....and His Love is Infinite! Let that sink in 

God bless your day! 

​Pastor Scott 

Mark 7:24–30(KJV 1900) — 24And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. 25For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: 26The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. 27But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. 28And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. 29And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. 30And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

I'm not sure what part of this passage I think about the most.....the first reply Jesus gave the woman or the womans reply.....first thing about verse 24 is that Jesus cannot be hid....and He is still the "elephant in the room" to the world today....People such as Voltaire and Thomas Payne and many of their ilk have tried to kill off the Bible and the deity of Jesus Christ.....they are long since gone, and Jesus still is not hid....He is still alive and well and still bringing lost souls to His precious light! People can deny Him, hate Him, despise Him, speak evil of Him, but Jesus is not hid friends! AMEN! Now to this story, Jesus came here to this place for a reason....He did everything for a reason....He knew He would cross paths with this woman....a woman in need....she asked Him for help for her daughter....evidently Satan had a lot more leeway in the world before Jesus came along and "bruised his head" as foretold in Genesis 3:15....don't get me wrong, Satan is still alive and well today but the only power he has is the power people give him in their own messed up lives....this girl was possessed and needed healing.....but Jesus' answer to the woman is puzzling:  27But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

Why would He say such a thing?? Is He that apathetic towards this woman? You see Jesus has always had enemies, we know that....so there are people who would take the wrong side of this conversation....you know people like this....always looking for the worst instead of the better.....however, we know Jesus was simply giving this woman a chance to do something that we must all do at some point in our lives.....express our faith.....simple as that.....Jesus gave this woman a chance to express her faith....she did and He responded....Jesus always responds to faith.....this woman believed Jesus had the ability to heal her daughter, she also trusted the Lord to help her even though she was a Gentile....in short, she had great faith.....and again, Jesus always responds to great faith....how is your faith this morning?? if you are given a chance to express your faith will you?? my prayer is that you will live a life of faith everyday! 

May God bless you this wonderful day! 

​Pastor Scott 

Revelation 3:9(KJV 1900) — 9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

As we look back through history, it doesn't take a person long to figure out that not every one who claims to be a Christian are truly born again Christians...We can remember the Salem witch trials....the "Puritans" were about in their 3rd generation....this was a group of people who were truly devoted to Jesus Christ.....in the beginning....but they were so afraid of their children becoming Catholic that when they were born, they were "baptized into the Puritan faith"....which again teaches us that Christianity cannot be forced on anyone....baptism without regeneration [truly being born again] will just get a person wet....that's about it....after 3 generations of this, we get the bunch who led the Salem witch trials...yet the world will say "Look at how "Christians" act".....in this passage we see that many of the "Jews" in spiritual reality weren't Jews at all....their bloodlines may have been, but in reality Jesus says they are actually of the synagogue of Satan.....What is kind of ironic is that Christians, true Christians, should all be on the same team....I can't tell you how many times I've invited people to Church and they acted offended and said, well I'm ____________ [name some denomination] as though it was atrocious to think of attending a Baptist Church....now granted, most of these people used this excuse as a defense mechanism ie they didn't attend Church at all.....but as Christians we really need to bond together, encourage one another, not drifting apart but loving and caring and helping one another....this world around us is become more and more Anti Christian and we are truly going to need each other before it's all said and done.....I hope that you know the Lord today and that you have a Bible believing Church to call home....if you do, attend it faithfully and be an encouragement to your fellow Christians! God bless your day! 

​Pastor Scott