Drawing Close to the Heart of God {by Bob Stout}

Over the last 6 years, I have created a notebook of prayers and meditations written with the intention of drawing closer to God. Some of these meditations are inspired through scripture readings from that day but written as though you are in the presence of the Lord himself. I encourage you to keep a journal and write some of your thoughts and prayers to God. It helps bring definition and clarity to the spirit within us when we can come back years later and read what was said.

The meditation below was written on Sunday morning, April 11, 2010:

Lord, your word says in Proverbs 1:7 that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Understanding the love of the Lord comes later. But first, to know my place and recognize the power and strength of God’s majesty humbles me to bow in spirit. Lord, show me understanding and reveal your wisdom that I may begin to understand the expanse of your glory. Open my mind and show my heart the way I should go. Forgive me when I take my life into my own hands and try to direct it on my own. Father, your creation is full of beauty and majestic in all its ways. Your ways are right, refreshing, full of newness and creativity. Let me boost in the smallest of your creations and the vastness of your reach. For sure you have made the earth and the heavens reflect your glory. From the delicate workings of a silk fly to the grandeur of an oak tree, from the fragrance of the lilac flower to the gentle breeze on a clear blue day. Your word is ever present and comforts my soul.

Whether you write your thoughts down or not, the important thing is that you read God’s word and spend time talking with God in prayer. With dedication, you will find His peace, comfort, and guidance for your life.

God’s blessings be with you.

~Bob Stout

Shepherds’ Corner: What a Treasure! {by Bob Stout}

When you read the scriptures, do you have a longing to spend time in them? Do you have a yearning to get engrossed in the Bible’s text and feed on its message?

I feel as though the Bible is a treasure that I have only begun to tap. It represents the living word of God making it a “new life” testament from God that is alive and active. Through its words, it provides living waters of refreshing life to those who drink from its stream. Having faith in God’s word can be a challenge to anyone, but the Bible teaches us to spend time in it, learn its contents, and know its words. 2 Timothy 3:16 reads, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work,” and Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Learning God’s word takes time and requires a desire to get into it. With so many distractions that keep us from making that time happen, it takes training and requires practice. Some have said that 21 days of putting a practice into ones routine can help make it a habit. Whether that is true depends on the treasure you find in that practice. My thought is that when I do not see God’s word as the blessing that it is, then I have missed the treasure of wisdom and knowledge that God has given to all men.

Joel 3: 18 states, “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk;all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house and will water the valley of acacias.”

When I read God’s word and remember that all scriptures point to Jesus as the ultimate gift that God has given, then I begin to get a taste of the living waters that God has for all. When I read about the teachings of Jesus and the words he spoke, then I can know the wisdom of God. When I read of the life and sacrifice that Jesus gave, then I can know the everlasting love of God. When I can read and believe in the resurrection of Christ, then I can know the grace and promise of eternal life that God has for those who have faith in Jesus.

Through the scriptures, we can find renewal of life and drink from its stream of living waters.

~Bob Stout

Shepherds Corner: This is The Way, Walk in It {by Bob Stout}

As we look forward in 2015 and the retirement of our minister of 15 years, there is a real sense for some feeling a lack of direction or what is next for our congregation. The eldership has been very mindful of that perception and have discussed to great length what is best for us to spiritually grow. We have also prayed for the Lord’s guidance and believe that he is guiding us as we go forward. The elders are excited with what Don Utley is bringing to our worship time and believe his plan for rotating speakers with focus on our mission statement to be a good opportunity for us to grow in faith. We are also excited with what our Deacons are doing to help us grow in the ministries we are engaged in. Please pray for God’s continued guidance for our church and may we all work together to make the most of the changing times that are ahead of us.

So what has it meant for me to grow in faith as we face this transition period without a preacher? I have been reading through the book of Isaiah this week and love the way it reveals God’s desire to be gracious and show his compassion to his people. Isaiah 30:18 states: “the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” In verses 19-21, Isaiah states: “How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

What a great statement of God wanting to work in our lives. As soon as he hears my cry for help, the opening of my heart, mind and soul to the Lord; he hears me and is willing to answer. He wants to hear our thoughts, struggles, our suffering, our triumph, our all that is going through our lives at all times. And when he hears our true witness, the bible says he will answer us. I believe this and want to believe it more in heart but know that Satan challenges this faith and places doubt in my mind. Isaiah says: “Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.” So no matter what our trials may be, God teaches us that we can still rejoice in His grace given to us through the blood of Christ. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, the Lord can instruct us in “This is the way; walk in it.” Praise be to God for his word and the power it has to transform our lives. God will guide us and He will direct us if we have faith that he will.

So in this time of transition, my comfort zone has been challenged with worship as your comfort may be challenged. As I can witness, the elders are holding faithful to the scriptures but more so wanting to bring our members to greater maturity in Christ. Examine the scriptures and search God’s will out – How gracious he will be when you cry for help! Place your worries before the Lord, believe that the Lord has control of the circumstances we face, and have faith that He will direct us to the place we need to be.

God be with you this week.

Bob Stout

A Time of Thanksgiving {by Bob Stout}

In reflecting on the Thanksgiving holiday, it is humbling to recognize that God has chosen to reveal his will through the scriptures that we have available to us today. To read about all that God has made and to recognize the order that he has given to his creation. Considering the beauty of the heavens and stars above to the creation of the wonders of nature all around us. We have a God that is so incredible that he is able to make an insect as small as a flea to that of an animal as great as an elephant. A God who is able to make the wonder of an exotic bird in the tropics to that of a polar bear that can survive in extreme cold temperatures. We have a God who is so creative and unique that his name calls out to be praised.

But to consider his greatest achievement, God has made man as a special creation in his image, with unique features of touching, seeing, hearing, tasting, and smelling with the ability to think and reason while experiencing all that God has created. What is even more amazing, is that God granted this special creation the gift of free will to choose and do as it sought after. We are so special in how God has made us in that he has provided a way for all mankind to come to him and to know him. Jesus is the ultimate sign of God’s love, even to God allowing Jesus to die on a cross that we may understand his love. Jesus is so much more than I can ever give credit. What greater love is there than for God to send his Son into this world that we might have life. That is something to be thankful about.

During this time of thanksgiving, remember the gifts that God has given through his word: the gift of a promise to bless his people, a law to guide his people to faithfulness, and his greatest gift as found in his Son who gives us the true meaning of God’s love.
From all the elders to you and your families, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving

Deuteronomy 10:12
12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,