Pastor's Heart

From The Pastor's Heart

April 2010

April 30, 2010

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.

John 1:16 NLT

One gracious blessing: an opportunity to read this message.

PS – Try to count your gracious blessings this weekend!

Let me know what happened on Monday. J

April 29, 2010

Then he (Jesus) opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Luke 24:45 NLT

Some doors will remain closed until the Master opens them.

April 28, 2010

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.

Luke 23:46 NLT

Who do you trust with your last breath?

April 27, 2010

(Daily Double)

That night the Lord said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them!”

Judges 7:9 NLT

Sometimes tomorrow’s victory is announced the night before so you can rest well and be ready for the task.

Weeping may endure for a night…but that’s not every night.

April 26, 2010

Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.

Luke 23:12 NLT

Friendships built on the worst in us do not always bring out the best in us.

April 23, 2010

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God and I trust him.

Psalm 91:1-2 NLT

Looking for a safe place? Try the shelter in the shadow.

PS – Have a restful weekend! J

April 22, 2010

The people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him – those who had personally experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel.

Joshua 24:31 NLT

If you are serving the Lord because of someone else, when someone else is gone so will your service.

April 21, 2010

(Daily Double)

It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

Proverbs 13:19 NLT

Did I say that there has to be some “work” along with those dreams?

Daydreams and night visions both require either day laborers or night workers to be fulfilled.

April 20, 2010

The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.

Psalm 89:7 NLT

The One who sits is greater than those who stand or surround.

April 19, 2010

(Daily Double)

They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.

Luke 19:44 NLT

Some opportunities are too critical to ignore.

The opportunity you accept today may be the blessing your children receive tomorrow.

April 16, 2010

I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Luke 18:14 NLT

It’s not who you think you are that makes you right with God; it’s who you know you aren’t without God.

PS – Have a God-focused weekend! J

April 15, 2010

If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.

Luke 17:33 NLT

It is better to let go of what you can’t hold on to and hold on to what you can’t do without.

April 14, 2010

There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!

Joshua 10:14 NLT

When you dare to pray such a prayer, God will prove to be such a God.

April 13, 2010

(Triple Threat)

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

Luke 16:10 NLT

Whatever you do with one dollar you will do with one million.

However you handle 10 members you will handle 10,000.

Faithfulness has little to do with what’s in your hand as much as what’s in your heart.

April 12, 2010

(Double/Double)

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people – even eating with them!

Luke 15:1-2 NLT

Sinners really want to hear what Jesus has to say; it’s the religious folks they often have difficulty listening to.

If religious folks would just be quiet, the world would hear Jesus.

April 9, 2010

(Daily Double)

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Proverbs 12:25 NLT

No worry, no weights. Good word, good cheer.

When you leave the gym, leave the weights.

PS – Have a cheer-filled weekend! J

April 8, 2010

These instructions are not empty words – they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you will occupy when you cross the Jordan River.

Deuteronomy 32:47 NLT

Don’t take God’s words lightly. Your life depends on them.

PS – My mom is 77 today! I thank God for His Word which brought her thru two bouts with cancer.

April 7, 2010

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Luke 12:34 NLT

My dad would often say: “you could tell a person’s heart by their check register.”

April 6, 2010

Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT

Today’s choice yields tomorrow’s consequences. Choose wisely.

April 5, 2010

(Daily Double)

Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

Luke 11:23 NLT

People only have two sides to choose from.

This should make it rather easy to spot your supporters.

April 2, 2010

(Daily Double)

But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:62 NLT

If Jesus can keep his hands on a cross, certainly we can keep our hands on a plow.

You don’t plow the road behind you but ahead of you.

PS – It’s a Good Friday…the day we remember that Jesus died. What makes it so good?

He didn’t stay dead long! Ain’t that Good News!

Have a Jesus-filled weekend! J

April 1, 2010

Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power.

Luke 9:43 NLT

I am still in awe when I see the Lord do what only the Lord can do.

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Anderson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church

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