NEWS NOTES April 21, 2024

 

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ESV

 

 Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Jay Graham is our speaker next week and we will have a potluck lunch. 

 

Upcoming events:

 

 

Benefits of Raising Godly Children

Adapted from a lesson by Emery Wright 5/19/2019

 

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.  Proverbs 10:1

My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. Proverbs 23:15

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Proverbs 23:24

 

As can be seen plainly from Proverbs, godly children are a joy to their family, and to others - especially God -  as we can see by Samuel’s example: 26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man. I Samuel 2:26 ESV

 

Life in general goes well for godly children (Ephesians 6:1-3) as they become godly adults.  Adults raised in a godly home had the advantage of an atmosphere of love, where they learned from those who loved them the most - their family - about their loving heavenly father.  They saw in those closest to them the benefits of an honorable name developed out of  honest, industrious efforts, and kindness to others.

 

Raising godly children is also the best recipe for getting godly grandchildren: 3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. II Timothy 1:3-5 ESV

 

Here are three keys to godly parenting:

NEWS NOTES April 14, 2024

 

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. Psalm 19:1 (KJV)

 

 Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Everyone returned safely home from their Spring travels. 

 

Upcoming events:

 

 

“The Very Unlikely Coincidence”

 

2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge.  3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.  4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,  5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. Psalm 19:2-6 (KJV)

 

With a little planning, anyone in southern California last Monday April 8 could have seen the solar eclipse.  While 13 US states and parts of Canada and Mexico were in the path of totality, our local partial eclipse was still spectacular to view and feel.  The weather began to noticeable cool as the moon passed between the earth and the sun, literally hiding the heat that David spoke about in Psalm 19.

 

The newspaper described the occurrence of a total eclipse as “a very unlikely coincidence involving the sizes of the moon and sun, and their distances from the Earth”. . . “we happen to be on a planet with a moon that’s about 400 times smaller than our star, but that our star is about 400 times further away.”  So in a solar eclipse, “we get to experience the moon being exactly the same size in the sky as the sun.”[1]

 

As Christians, we recognize the “very unlikely coincidence” as the magnificent handiwork of our heavenly Father - the Lord God.  We join with the psalmist David in our admiration of God’s creation while not worshipping it:  And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. Deuteronomy 4:19 ESV

 

More clearly than the created Universe, God is seen in His inspired Word - the Bible. The second part of Psalm 19 confirms that God's written revelation is perfect, trustworthy, right, pure, clean, and true. It revives the soul, brings wisdom, creates joy in the heart, gives enlightenment, and endures forever. Knowing and obeying God's Word is more valuable and sweeter than anything in all creation:

 

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.  9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Psalm 19: 7-11 (KJV)

NEWS NOTES April 7, 2024

 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV)

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  

 

Upcoming events:

 

 

“YOUR  PORTION  OF  HIS  VINEYARD”

Jay Graham

 

“Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.” Mark 12:9

 

These are Jesus’ words from His parable of the wicked vinedressers.  He was speaking very plainly to the Jewish leaders, and vs 12 of this same chapter tells us they knew Jesus was speaking in regard to their not working for the Lord as they should have been.  They were not amused.  Jesus is pointing out that since the Jews had not obeyed the Lord by giving Him glory, as was His due as the Creator and as the Owner of the “vineyard,” God would take the care of His vineyard and give it to “others.”  I am convinced the “others” Jesus referred to were His future Christians.  In other words, Jesus gave the care of His “vineyard” to us, as His special people.  His “vineyard” is the world that we live in.

 

The care of the Lord’s vineyard belongs to all His people.  Not just to preachers or elders, but to all His saints.  While most in the denominational world give a special “place” to what they call “clergy,” in the Lord’s Church there is no clergy, nor are there special people to do the Lord’s work to the exclusion of the others.  This work, or “work of the ministry” as it is described in Ephesians 4:12, is performed by His saints.  Yes, all His saints are “equipped” by the gifts the Lord gave to His Church, but it is the work of His Christians to labor in His vineyard and to give Him glory through the spiritual harvest that is due Him.

 

Consider your individual and specific responsibilities.  You may be a father or mother who is teaching and raising your children to love and follow the Lord.   Or you may be a brother who teaches the Scriptures to the saints.  You may be a sister who teaches the children’s classes.  You may be a deacon who is watching for brothers or sisters in need looking to help them.  You may be an older sister who keeps a list of those in need of prayers for various reasons.  You may be an employee who is willing to share your love for the Lord and His gospel to those you work with.  You may be an employer who is striving to own a business that considers integrity to be important as you present your business to the public.  You may be a school teacher who is willing to use your teaching ability so others in the body can learn to organize their thoughts so they can, in turn, use the skills you taught them when the body comes together.  You may be a Christian that is willing to ask your elders what you can do for the church.  You may be an elder who is endeavoring to shepherd those sheep in your care.

 

The point is that there are so many areas of individual responsibilities all the Lord’s people may find themselves in as you labor in your portion of the vineyard the Lord has granted into your care.  An area no one else can do for you.  A work that you are called to do.

 

Let us not be like the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day who failed in their task.  Let us all endeavor to be workers for the Lord in His vineyard in whatever circumstances and responsibilities we find ourselves in.  Let us humbly give the Lord the fruit from His vineyard, and let us humbly give to the Lord that which is rightfully due only Him. 

NEWS NOTES March 31, 2024

 

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. . . (Luke 24:1-6 ESV)

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Please stay for lunch today.

 

Upcoming events:

 

 

What Date?

Suggested by comments by Michael Manning

 

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7 ESV)

 

You may have noticed the 2024 calendar for March and April shows Easter - the so-called Christian celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead on both Sunday, March 31 and Sunday, May 5.  Your calendar may distinguish them as Western Easter (March 31) and Eastern Easter (May 5).  Which one is correct or does it matter?

 

The Bible does not explicitly specify the precise date of Jesus’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection.   We know from the Bible that Jesus was crucified just before the Jewish Passover Feast and arose from the dead on the first day of the week after Passover.  Before his death Jesus also instituted what is called the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:14-22, I Corinthians 11:17-34).

 

Passover (Leviticus 23:5, Numbers 9:3) started at twilight on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan) on the Jewish calendar (coincides with March-April).  This date moves around compared to our calendar because it is a lunar-based calendar and because periodically a 13th month is added to true up with the solar year.

 

The first Christians met each first day of the week to observe the Lord’s Supper, also called “to break bread” (Acts 20:7), set aside assets to meet the physical needs of the church (I Corinthians 16:2) , and to worship God through singing, encouragement, and study of God’s word (Hebrews 10:24-25, Colossians 3:15-17). 

 

Fixing a date for “Easter” as it is called was determined in 325 AD by a council that the Roman Emperor Constantine convened.  The formula was pretty simple: the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox.  At the time, they were using the Julian calendar put in place by Julius Caesar.  However, it wasn’t very accurate and was revised in 1582 under the direction of Pope Gregory XIII to what we call the Gregorian Calendar.  The western denominations (Roman Catholic Church and Protestant) use the Gregorian tables while many Eastern (Orthodox) Christian churches use older tables based on the Julian Calendar and a date after Passover.

 

As true worshipers of God, we need to be concerned with every day and every Sunday of the year.  Sunday is the time to meet together and remember Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection through our participation in the Lord’s Supper as a body of Christ.  The label of “Easter” on the calendar does not add to nor diminish our responsibility.

Welcome to our in-person worship service. Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  We thank the La Verne Congregation for sponsoring the potluck, songfest, and Charles Fry as speaker. 

 

Upcoming events:

 

 

Anxiety

Adapted from lesson by Douglas McKenzie 4/19/2020

 

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 NIV

 

During the COVID pandemic four years ago, anxiety was also in pandemic portions.  In addition to fears of getting what at the time was a life-threatening virus, the economy was up-ended, and people were forced into isolation.  Even today anxiety seems at higher levels than before 2020.  Risk of anxiety applies through our entire life. 

 

Worry is a component of anxiety.  Worry can be like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but doesn’t get you anywhere.  Real or imagined threats to our wellbeing or the wellbeing of those we love send us down the emotional hole to anxiousness.   Feelings of fear and dread can lead to physical conditions such as heart palpitations, tightness in the stomach, and worse.  Add negative thoughts and feelings of helplessness and you are on your way to unhealthy anxiety. 

 

While a Christian may at times feel insecure, helpless, or isolated, God is always there for us.  He has given us a great tool box for handling our fears and worries.  The more you use these tools the better they will work.

NEWS NOTES March 17, 2024

 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:1-3 NIV)

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  This afternoon La Verne congregation is hosting a potluck lunch and singing.  We will broadcast our evening service from there so we can hear their speaker Charles Fry. 

 

Upcoming events:

 

 

Remembering Kirby’s Lesson on Judgment, Forgiveness, and Discernment

Adapted from lesson by Emery Wright 3/15/2020

 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5 NIV

 

Kirby Whitrock had a great way of presenting a Bible lesson and over the years I wrote some of them down.  Here’s one I’d like to share:

 

Jesus said to “take your plank out first” before passing judgment.  Rather than meaning “don’t judge at all, ever” Jesus was talking about judgment with discernment and forgiveness.  We need to discern what is right in God’s eyes.  Don’t equate righteousness with being critical or judgmental.  But Jesus did not advocate accepting of everything.  God has unconditional love for mankind (Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:4-6), but not unconditional acceptance of sin by commission or omission (Matthew 25:31-46).

 

Do watch out for unjust judgment (Matthew 26:6-13).  Jesus rebuked his disciples for being harsh and unjust toward the woman who poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ head. 

 

Judgment is unjust when we:

 

Which do you want God to use on you - judge by only justice or justice tempered by mercy?  Generally we are more lenient with our self than with others.  That’s the way the men were who brought to Jesus the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).

 

We are easily “blinded” to our own faults while we fuss about the small things in others.  Beware of David’s hypocrisy (II Samuel 12).  It’s not wrong to help brothers who are in sin.  But first examine and discern what sin is in your own life - fix it.  Then, don’t accept the other sin, in love help your brother (Romans 2:1-16).

NEWS NOTES March 10, 2024

 

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (Colossians 3:23-25 ESV)

 

 Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  

 

Upcoming events:

 

 

Stay Awake

 

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”  Words of Jesus - Mark 13:32-37 ESV)

 

On March 19, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law The Standard Time Act, creating Daylight Saving Time.  The advertised reason was to give Americans an extra hour of sun to enjoy.  Currently 48 states observe the twice a year time change.  Jay Graham says his home state of Arizona doesn’t go on Daylight Saving because they don’t need any more sun to enjoy.  However, the practice of adjusting timekeeping to make better use of daylight is much more ancient than 1918.  The Romans in Bible times did it too - instructions still exist for how they adjusted their water clocks. 

 

With or without government sponsored time changes, each of us needs to make the most of our daylight and evening hours.  This is the message in several of Jesus’ parables. 

 

As Christ’s doorkeeper, we are to be ready spiritually when He returns (Mark 13:32-37).  Our record is sealed when we die if Jesus doesn’t return first.  None of us knows the day of our death nor the Day of the Lord.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (Revelation 20:12 NKJV)

 

In the parable of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:11-27) Jesus warned this disciples He would be going away for a long time, but would return and, like a sovereign,  He will take account of what they have done with His money.  While He is away He expects us, His servants, to use the gift of the Holy Spirit to live and grow spiritually, and to share the Gospel with others (Matthew 5:14-16, Acts 2:38-39, James 2:18).

NEWS NOTES March 3, 2024

 

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV)

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  California and much of the nation returns to Daylight Saving Time next Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 2 AM.  This means you lose an hour.  Go to bed an hour earlier Saturday night and move any clocks that do not change automatically forward one hour.  Otherwise you may be late or even miss church services.  We remain on Daylight Saving Time until November 3, 2024.

 

Upcoming events: Sunday, March 17 afternoon potluck lunch and singing in La Verne with our evening service broadcast from there so we can hear Charles Fry.  April 28 and May 26, Jay Graham is our speaker.

 

June 17, 2024 week, summer camp-out at Shaver Lake. 

 

 

Words of Remembrance

 

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.  Romans 12:9-16 NIV

 

 

“PRAISE THE LORD

FOR AMAZING BLESSINGS

ALL THE TIME EVEN IF THINGS

MIGHT SEEM A LITTLE DOWN FOR

ME PERSONALLY.  NEVER FORGET TO

THINK ABOUT GOD’S BIGGER PICTURE.

AND IF YOU GET STUCK THINKING ON THE

NEGATIVES ABOUT YOURSELF, DON’T

FORGET TO THINK ABOUT AND PRAY FOR

OTHERS, THEIR BLESSINGS, AND HOW

MUCH IT SHOULD MEAN JUST THE SAME TO

YOU TO CELEBRATE THEIR BLESSINGS.  IF

WE REJOICE WITH OTHERS, THERE WILL

ALWAYS BE A RAY OF SUNSHINE AND

A SMILE TO SHARE.”

 

Alyssa Joy Twaddell

(9/29/1990-2/16/2024)

Written

October 1, 2023

NEWS NOTES February 18, 2024

 

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer man is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.  (II Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV)

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.  Taking advantage of the long Presidents’ Holiday weekend, several are out of town today.

 

What a blessing - the Excelsior Springs congregation has formally sent out Samuel Ward Woody as an evangelist.

 

 

Not a Checklist

Adapted from graveside service comments by Doug Twaddell February 11, 2017 regarding his father Dale and fitting as well for his daughter Alyssa who died February 16, 2024

 

One of Jesus’ last parables was of a shepherd separating the sheep from the goats and then the King - Father God separating the righteous from those “on his left” (Matthew 25:31-46).  He gives his criteria (verse 35-36) as “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” The righteous sheep were so surprised, wondering when they had done these things for the King.  The King answers (verse 40), “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

 

Later we see the parable in action in Acts 9: 36-4 2.  “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. . . she became sick and died. . . When Peter arrived he was taken upstairs to the room.  All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.”

 

Jesus’ parable is not a checklist of things we have to do nor the only things we should do for others.   Rather these are directional examples to inform our thinking about doing for others what we can, when we can.

 

Doug Twaddell saw this “always doing good” spirit in his father Dale and our heaven Father expects to see it in us.  Those of us who knew Alyssa saw this same spirit in her as well.

 

Basic things within the ability of everybody such a drink of water, a visit when someone is lonely or down make a difference in the comfort of the other person and in our own self-worth. 

 

We can also think of it as an “OTHERS” attitude.  “I” and “me” are short words reflecting the short range of satisfaction when we think mostly of ourselves.  Doing good for others is liberating and a reward even before we are called before our Heavenly Father.

NEWS NOTES February 11, 2024

 

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

What is man that You are mindful of him,

And the son of man that You care for him?  (Psalm 8:3-4 NKJV)

 

Welcome to our in-person worship service.  Other services continue to be virtual via the GoTo application.

 

The congregation in La Verne is planning to host a potluck lunch and singing on Sunday, March 17.  Charles Fry is scheduled to be their speaker Sunday morning and afternoon.  We plan to broadcast our evening service from there so we can all hear Charles.

 

 

A  FRANTIC  SEARCH

Adapted from a message from Jay Graham

 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

 

It seems to me that many are frantic to discover life on other planets.  It has become the new normal in our area to read or hear headlines proclaiming -- “Discovering life on other worlds is only a matter of time!”  “Scientists are close to discovering alien life!”  “Water found on Mars!” (Because where there is water there is life.)  etc. etc.  What is behind such a search?  What seems to motivate this intense push?  I think it has much to do with mankind’s “hope” to try to find anything that points to another explanation for the Universe rather than a Creator.

 

The fear of repentance is a root of this frantic search.  Repentance is at the heart of our Creator’s message for mankind.  Peter’s words in Acts 3:19— “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” drive fear and anger in the hearts of many.  Man’s nature is to live as he sees fit, and no one has a right to say otherwise.  That’s not new; it was the attitude of the Israelites during the time of the Judges:  Judges 21:25 - In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.After all, many ask—“Who is God to require man to change their lives?”  The answer is that our Creator has every right, because He IS our Creator.

 

I assume the rationalization is that if mankind can actually discover what he calls “alien life” then that will “prove” that God did not create the universe as the 1st verse in the Bible says.  And if God did not truly create us then His messages of repentance can be ignored.  And if there does exist alien life on other worlds, then that proves there is no God anyway!

 

In my mind this type of reasoning is flawed.  I do not believe there is life outside of this earth we live on.  This world seems to be at the center and forefront of God’s Divine Plan and His Word.  But even if there is some sort of life on other planets, such a discovery will not shake my faith.  Why?  Because I believe the first verse in the Bible - Genesis 1:1.

 

Despite the vastness of space and our own seeming insignificance here on earth, God cares about and knows each one of us (Psalm 139:7-10).  God is merciful and loving and knows what is best for us: Matthew 11:28-29 - Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take My yoke upon youand learn from Me, for I amgentle andlowly in heart,and you will find rest for your souls.

 

Do not allow man’s futile attempts to escape His Creator to deceive you.  Do not allow it to weaken your faith in God and His Word.  These attempts are nothing but Satan’s ways of deception and distraction.

 

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.