Remember the earlier days of hit TV series like ‘Hawaii Five-O” and “Kojack” back in the 1970’s? Well from 1963 – 1967 audiences were drawn into another drama series called “The Fugitive.” The main character, Dr. Richard Kimble, was wrongfully convicted for murdering his wife. After escaping custody he made it his goal to find the real murderer – a one armed man. But as an escape convict, he couldn’t stay in one place and so he was constantly on the run from the law. The man who PERSISTENTLY PURSUES Dr. Kimble was Lt. Gerard. And even as Gerard is PURSUING Dr. Kimble, Kimble himself was PERSISTENTLY PURSUING the real murderer. Everybody was relentless in their PURSUIT. With that in mind our FF for today draws us to realize that God PERSISTENTLY PURSUES us!
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Thursday, February 2. 2012
PERSISTENTLY PURSUING!
Tuesday, January 31. 2012
Who is God? Really!
Posted by Rev. Bevon White
in Daily Watchword
A son honors his father. If then I am a father, where is the honor due me? says the Lord. Malachi 1: 6
The prophet Malachi [means My Messenger] is concerned with two main issues, one of which is God’s displeasure with Israel’s unfaithfulness. It is in dealing with this that today’s text is uttered. The analogy of a normal relationship between a father and son is used. ‘God appeals to the first feelings of the human heart, the relation of parent and child, or, failing this, to the natural self-interest of those dependent on their fellow-men.’ [Barnes Notes on the Bible] It is normal and natural for sons to honor their fathers. It is part of the unwritten law of nature and it is part of the commandments. While love may grow out of a good relationship, honor comes naturally. We look with disdain on a child who dishonors their parents. Here however is Malachi as God’s messenger proclaiming God’s disappointment with the way God’s people have been treating their Father.
Continue reading "Who is God? Really!" »
The prophet Malachi [means My Messenger] is concerned with two main issues, one of which is God’s displeasure with Israel’s unfaithfulness. It is in dealing with this that today’s text is uttered. The analogy of a normal relationship between a father and son is used. ‘God appeals to the first feelings of the human heart, the relation of parent and child, or, failing this, to the natural self-interest of those dependent on their fellow-men.’ [Barnes Notes on the Bible] It is normal and natural for sons to honor their fathers. It is part of the unwritten law of nature and it is part of the commandments. While love may grow out of a good relationship, honor comes naturally. We look with disdain on a child who dishonors their parents. Here however is Malachi as God’s messenger proclaiming God’s disappointment with the way God’s people have been treating their Father.
Continue reading "Who is God? Really!" »
Friday, January 27. 2012
TIME TO RUN!
Posted by Rev. Mikie Roberts
in Friday Focus
As a boy growing up in a village, every now and again you were involved in some sort of fight. Although boys didn’t usually fight girls there were some girls who were never afraid to pick a fight whether it was against a boy or another girl. Some boys were known to be the village bullies. They had a reputation of always getting into a fight. Village life taught you that you had to know when to stand up and fight and when it was TIME TO RUN from a fight. Sometimes it was after the fight was started that you realized that you made the wrong choice. So to avoid any further bodily damage and to protect whatever pride you had left, you figured out that there was only one thing left for you to do – RUN. For our FF for today, let’s consider that in life there are those moments when it’s TIME TO RUN!
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Continue reading "TIME TO RUN!" »
Tuesday, January 24. 2012
Praise God in the Congregation!
Posted by Rev. Bevon White
in Daily Watchword
In the congregation will I bless the Lord. Psalm 26: 12
In Psalm 26, the Psalmist makes a distinction between his condition and that of the unrighteous. While the unrighteous walked along a crooked and unjust way, he had found a straight path to travel along, a solid ground on which to stand. The entire verse of today’s text is a declaration of this. My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the LORD. ‘He had been anxious about his condition. He had been examining the evidences of his piety. He had had doubts and fears. He had seen much to apprehend, and he had appealed to God to determine the question on which he was so anxious - whether his hope was built on a solid foundation. His path in these inquiries, and while his mind was thus troubled, was like a journey over a rough and dangerous road - a road of hills and valleys - of rocks and ravines. Now he had found a smooth and safe path. The way was level. He felt secure; and he walked calmly and safely along, as a traveler does who has past over dangerous passes and who feels that he is on level ground.’ [Barnes’ Notes on the Bible]
Continue reading "Praise God in the Congregation!" »
In Psalm 26, the Psalmist makes a distinction between his condition and that of the unrighteous. While the unrighteous walked along a crooked and unjust way, he had found a straight path to travel along, a solid ground on which to stand. The entire verse of today’s text is a declaration of this. My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the LORD. ‘He had been anxious about his condition. He had been examining the evidences of his piety. He had had doubts and fears. He had seen much to apprehend, and he had appealed to God to determine the question on which he was so anxious - whether his hope was built on a solid foundation. His path in these inquiries, and while his mind was thus troubled, was like a journey over a rough and dangerous road - a road of hills and valleys - of rocks and ravines. Now he had found a smooth and safe path. The way was level. He felt secure; and he walked calmly and safely along, as a traveler does who has past over dangerous passes and who feels that he is on level ground.’ [Barnes’ Notes on the Bible]
Continue reading "Praise God in the Congregation!" »
Friday, January 20. 2012
YES & NO
Posted by Rev. Mikie Roberts
in Friday Focus
There are two words that we learn very early in life: YES & NO. Most often, a toddler keeps hearing more NO than YES. We learn that YES means we want something. NO means we do not. And somehow from very early we also are taught that you can’t have it both ways. In other words both YES & NO can’t be your answers at the same time. You have to make a choice. It’s either YES or NO! I guess that’s where ‘maybe’ comes in. It’s sort of somewhere in between. Saying YES or NO means that you have made a clear commitment one way or the other! ‘Maybe’ is in ‘no man’s land’. It’s really being undecided. ‘Maybe’ can be a safe ground to walk on. And then again it could also be a cowardly place. ‘Maybe’ people don’t get much done and don’t get very far in life because they are afraid to commit. They are without obligation. But for this year we are challenged to use ‘maybe’ a whole lot less. Instead let this be a year when we are more committed and make definite decisions with the words YES & NO. That’s our FF for today YES & NO.
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Continue reading "YES & NO" »
Tuesday, January 17. 2012
Receiving to Give.
Posted by Rev. Bevon White
in Daily Watchword
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 1 Chronicles 29: 11
It is always a good feeling when someone gives to you something that you already had power over. A good example is the child who receives something from the parent and chooses to give back something from it to the parent. Although it belonged to the parent in the first place, it still produces a wonderful feeling when it is given by the recipient. This joy is then multiplied in the giver because of the response of the receiver. This is what happened in the text for today. David is giving final instructions for the building of the temple which will be undertaken by Solomon. He has ensured that all the material is available for this venture. His final gift is to bequeath all his gold and silver to the project. He then praises God, recognizing that everything belongs to God, even the gifts which he has been able to give. It gives him great joy to have been able to return to God what he had been blessed with.
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It is always a good feeling when someone gives to you something that you already had power over. A good example is the child who receives something from the parent and chooses to give back something from it to the parent. Although it belonged to the parent in the first place, it still produces a wonderful feeling when it is given by the recipient. This joy is then multiplied in the giver because of the response of the receiver. This is what happened in the text for today. David is giving final instructions for the building of the temple which will be undertaken by Solomon. He has ensured that all the material is available for this venture. His final gift is to bequeath all his gold and silver to the project. He then praises God, recognizing that everything belongs to God, even the gifts which he has been able to give. It gives him great joy to have been able to return to God what he had been blessed with.
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Friday, January 13. 2012
UPGRADE!
Posted by Rev. Mikie Roberts
in Friday Focus
I am one of those who still believe that a cell phone is first and foremost just that – a phone. Guess I’m one of those who may be viewed as from the old school, meaning if I need to take pictures, I will use my camera and not the phone. But before you think I belong to the dinosaur age, let me be quick to say that I have made some progress. These days I do more than talk on my cell. At least now I’m texting. Hooray! That was a major step! But as an AT&T customer, just about every few months it seems I get these mails telling me about the latest deals available. AT&T wants me to know that I can do so much more if I were to purchase the latest model cell phone. And they don’t give up easily as they try to bait you to sign up for the latest package. They constantly remind you that it’s time for you to UPGRADE. That’s our FF for today: as we begin a new year it’s time to do an UPGRADE!
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Continue reading "UPGRADE!" »
Wednesday, January 11. 2012
Rend Your Hearts!
Posted by Rev. Bevon White
in Daily Watchword
Rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God. Joel 2: 13
This is a verse of scripture that we so very often misquote. Note that it says ‘rend’, not the proverbial ‘render’ that we always read into it. I fact, when we say ‘render your hearts and not your garments’, it may sound good, biblical even, but in reality makes the actual verse say much less than the prophet intends. It is therefore a less effective transliteration of the text. To render [in the sense used] is to present or to give. To rend is to tear, rip or to shred. You will agree that it is a big difference. Joel did not ask the people of God to present or give their hearts, but to rip, tear or shred their hearts instead of their garments.
Continue reading "Rend Your Hearts!" »
This is a verse of scripture that we so very often misquote. Note that it says ‘rend’, not the proverbial ‘render’ that we always read into it. I fact, when we say ‘render your hearts and not your garments’, it may sound good, biblical even, but in reality makes the actual verse say much less than the prophet intends. It is therefore a less effective transliteration of the text. To render [in the sense used] is to present or to give. To rend is to tear, rip or to shred. You will agree that it is a big difference. Joel did not ask the people of God to present or give their hearts, but to rip, tear or shred their hearts instead of their garments.
Continue reading "Rend Your Hearts!" »
Friday, January 6. 2012
Psalm 40:8
Posted by Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados
in Advent & Lenten Journey
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8
David responded to the truth in verses 7-8 by yielding his life to do God's will. He presented himself willingly to the Lord, received direction from the book, and expressed his desire to do the will of God. These verses present a marvellous example of what is involved in dedicating oneself to God's will in accordance with His Word.
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David responded to the truth in verses 7-8 by yielding his life to do God's will. He presented himself willingly to the Lord, received direction from the book, and expressed his desire to do the will of God. These verses present a marvellous example of what is involved in dedicating oneself to God's will in accordance with His Word.
Continue reading "Psalm 40:8" »
Thursday, January 5. 2012
YOU MADE IT!
Posted by Rev. Mikie Roberts
in Friday Focus
Each January 01, people choose different ways to welcome the arrival of a new year. Some choose to party with their friends and may pop the champagne at midnight. Others may sit quietly at home watching TV seeing the crowds at Time Square in New York wait for the ball to drop. But for those who chose to go to church, worshipping God as YOU welcome a new year is an unforgettable experience. In many Moravian churches, it is customary that the sermon ends a few minutes before midnight. The New Year is greeted in silent prayer with the ringing of the church bell. That is a sacred moment! Wherever and however you chose to spend the last few hours of 2011, the arrival of the New Year is greeted with profound joy. There’s a sense of arrival. It’s as though you’ve come to the end of a long journey. But that joy is mixed with relief and some regret. January 01is not just another day! It’s witnessing the beginning of another year. There’s the start of another journey called 2012. And as we look ahead with anticipation and expectation, we cannot help but also look back with thanksgiving. And for this the first FF for 2012, with the completion of 2011 and all that came with it behind us, let’s just open our mouths and utter a shout of victory giving God thanks that YOU MADE IT. That’s our FF for today: YOU MADE IT
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Continue reading "YOU MADE IT!" »
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