IS YOUR ANCHOR SECURE?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IS YOUR ANCHOR

SECURE?



As I am writing this, a massive hurricane is heading up the eastern seacoast and surrounding areas, threatening millions of people.  It is threatening their lives, their homes, business and everything they hold dear.  In places like New York, City they have shut down the subways and everything will stop, even for those millions who rush to work every day.

Along the sea coast, homes and businesses are being boarded up, and people are urged to evacuate to higher ground, as the storm rages. I remember sitting on the beach there just a couple of months ago, on a calm Sunday, watching the people and the Atlantic Ocean as the waves rolled in Now those waves are lashing out, threatening anything and everyone who may be in its path.  The skies are dark and the winds are howling.

We are indeed living in troubled times.  The people of this world are trembling in fear as they watch the events coming upon our world and nation, and our cities.  There is violence in our schools, businesses and in our homes, and wars continue around the globe. 

And I ask you, my friends, where do you turn in times like these?  Is your foundation built on the solid rock or on sinking sand? (Matthew 7:24-27). There is only One answer in these times and only One person you can cling to.  Is your anchor holding, or are you about to be swept away into eternity without God?

And I also think of the “times of our lives” or the season of our lives.  As a young person out there, are you anchored in Jesus?  In that time of life, you think you have all the time in your life to follow Jesus. For you do not know what the future holds, so make sure you are secure in Jesus. “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.  Therefore remove  sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity”  Ecclesiastes 11:9-10. 

And to you seniors out there, and all those in between,  I call to you make sure you are ready to meet Jesus.  In this time of your life, one never knows when the call will come to face eternity.  Are you ready?  I talk to many seniors, and I have led many to the saving grace of Jesus even into their 90s.  So in times like these make sure you are anchored securely to the Rock! When you face those times of pain, and the struggles that come with failing years, make sure Jesus is there to hold you in His arms securely.

 IN TIMES LIKE THESE

“In times like these you need a Saviour, in times like these you need an anchor; be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.

This Rock is Jesus, yes, He’s the One, This Rock is Jesus, the only One; be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these, you need the Bible, in times like these, oh, be not idle, be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.

In times like these I have a Saviour, in times like these, I have an anchor.  I’m very sure, I’m very sure, my anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!” (Ruth C. Jones).

Yes, you need a Saviour!  All your worldly possessions, all your hope in this world will not save you.  When the storms are raging, and you are lost without Jesus, you don’t have an anchor to hold you fast.  All those things you base your hope on in this world are going to “blow away.”  Your only hope in these times is Jesus Christ and Him alone!  There are only two paths in this life, the wide path to destruction and the narrow pathway to life eternal!  Your only hope is to cling to the “Rock” Christ Jesus!  He is the “Rock of Ages,” our “Rock in this weary land.”

And he said: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence.  I will call upon the LORD who is worthy to be praised; so I shall be saved from my enemies” 2 Samuel 22:2-4. “For who is God, except the LORD?  And who is a rock, except our God?” 2 Samuel 22:32.

So, I call upon you, my friends, who may be drifting upon life’s sea, drifting alone in the storms of life without Jesus.  You can be very sure right now that you belong to Jesus.  It is very simple, and He is waiting for you just to ask Him.

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” Romans 10:9-10.

So today begin your walk with Jesus, and when times are troubled, and the storms rage around you, you will Have Jesus to cling to.  He died on that cross for you, rose from the grave on the third day, and someday soon He is coming back to take His children home.  And I pray you will be among those saints who join Him in our heavenly home.  And when you do accept Jesus, find a Bible and begin reading God’s promises to you, and begin spending time in prayer, so your faith will grow strong in these troubled times, and then find a good Gospel believing church with other believers to encourage you in your walk of faith.

And I say to you who know the Lord as your Saviour, and you see the storms raging around us, and around you in your walk with the Lord, stay in God’s Word and in prayer.  God’s Word will anchor you solid to Him, and continue the work He has called you to do, to tell others about Jesus.  We don’t have time to be idle about the Lord’s work, men are dying out there on life’s sea without Him.

And we who love Jesus can proclaim that we do have that anchor, we are held fast in His arms, as the storms rage around us.  Oh, we will have trials in our lives and tribulations will come, but oh, the peace and joy, when we are assured that our foundation is built on the solid Rock.

 “On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.”

And I pray, in the Name of Jesus, for those out there who are living in times like these without the solid Rock of Jesus Christ, to hold them fast.  I pray they will anchor their lives in Him, even as the world grows darker and the storms are intense, that they will call upon the Name of Jesus.  “For whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:13. Amen……..

Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

 

WHY WORRY WHEN YOU CAN PRAY!

WHY WORRY WHEN

YOU CAN PRAY!

In my recent journey of memories, we found an old group picture of church summer camp.  Many groups were there from different churches, and each group was dressed in special outfits for the camp picture.  And there in the middle of this large group was mother, myself, my cousin, and others who were there from our church for a wonderful week of hearing God’s Word, fun and fellowship.  I went to this camp from the time I was nine years old through my last year of high school, and there were so many memories as we looked through these pictures. And many of my commitments for my life ahead, and my walk and service for the Lord were made around the campfire at camp.  Oh, such precious memories!

The camp is in the High Sierra Mountains, and as the road winds ever closer to the camp, it gets very narrow, with cliffs on the side, and thick forests.  And on this particular trip to camp mother was driving, and in the car were my cousin and another lady from our church, and may have been others in the car.  This lady’s name was Mina and she was terrified of those mountain curves.  And as mother drove around those curves she began to sing:

 Why worry when you can pray.

Trust Jesus, He leads the way.

Don’t be like doubting Thomas

Who leaned not on His promise,

Why worry, worry, worry

When you can pray.

(Unknown)

As I remember, mother sang that song over and over all the way into the camp, and Mina became calm and was reminded when she was fearful, she should pray, and the Lord would calm her fears, and she could look forward to her week at camp, and the drive back down that mountain, around those curves, back down into the valley.

And as we, as God’s children, continue our journey in this life, there will be many mountain passes to travel through also.  Some of our “mountain” journey will lead us to those wonderful mountain top experiences with the Lord.  As a child and continuing on into high school, those moments at camp were so precious with the Lord, that I did not want to leave the mountain and go home.  But the time comes when we have to face the challenges ahead and spend time in the valleys. 

And no matter how steep the mountain may become, our Lord has walked that path before you, and He knows what is ahead and around the next curve.  And someday, we will round the last bend, and there ahead of us will be our destination, heaven at last.

I remember so well going around those curves, and the last climb into the camp ground.  There was an old oak tree, from which the camp was named, and there was the archway leading into camp, and there we could see at last all the camp before us, the lodge, and the dormitories where we stayed and so on. And, especially as a child, I was so excited!  Can you imagine with me the excitement climbing that last curve and down the road and there is your heavenly home?  Heaven won’t begin to compare with summer camp, but it will be permanent, never having to go back to the valley, never having to go back to sorrow or pain. We will never have to leave the “mountain top” again.  Praise the Lord!

And as we travel through the “mountains of our lives”, He calls us not to worry when the way gets rough.  We live in tough times, life for some is very hard and difficult.  Some worry where the next paycheck will come from so they can feed their families.  But listen to the words of Jesus, as He calls us not to worry about tomorrow:

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘what shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ “For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” Matthew 6:31-34.

The Lord is telling us in this hour not to worry about draught, or water shortages, or buying clothing tomorrow, for ourselves or our children.  Our Wonderful Lord knows that we need the basic necessities of life.  But look at what He says is the solution to our worries about tomorrow.  He calls us to seek His kingdom, walk with Him, serve Him and make Him the Lord of our lives.  And how do we do that?  It is by spending time in prayer and reading His Word.  His Word is full of His precious promises to you, to me.  His Word is “our daily bread,” as we read, pray and meditate on those precious promises.

And He calls us not to worry about what may happen tomorrow, not to be fearful about those things coming to pass in our world.  He wants us to just live for today, right now.  Tomorrow will have its own troubles.

“But you, when you pray, to into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” Matthew 6:6.

So when those worries began to come, and you become anxious about the needs in your life, go into your prayer closet (your room) and shut the door and pour it out to your Lord, as He will hear from heaven, and will being you peace in the situation, and we serve a Wonderful prayer answering God.

And if you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior, and you are filled with fear and anxiety about the future, call on Him now.  He is waiting for you.  And you, too, can learn to lean on His promises and instead of being filled with worry, you can pray.

And we all look forward to that wonderful day, after all the struggles on our journey on the steep pathway home, we will “See Our Home, Sweet Home.”  And we will never have to worry again.  Praise the Lord!

 

Home, sweet home,

Home, sweet home.

Where I’ll never roam.

I see the light of

That city so bright,

My home, sweet home.

(N.B. Vandall)

 In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon

 

 

KEYS TO SUCCESS WITH JESUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEYS TO SUCCESS

WITH JESUS!

This past week we took another journey down to my hometown.  It was a journey of memories through our lives from three little girls to the senior adults we have now become.  As I stood at my mother’s graveside with my sisters, I realized what an impact she had on our lives, and the faith in her God that she left with us.

She stood strong, and left us a legacy of her faith as we sort through the many journals she left us.  So I am going to share a favorite hymn and remember those precious memories with mother. And then I will share some of her thoughts called:  “Eight Keys to Success,” but due to space will not be able to share all of them but just some highlights from Psalm 37 to bless you and encourage you in your walk with Jesus.

And I know that someday, just around the corner, maybe a few hills to climb and struggles we may have to go through, as we travel over “The Sunset Mountains” mother will be there waiting for her children with open arms and that lovely smile that she left in our memories.

“Over the sunset mountains someday I’ll softly go into the arms of Jesus who has loved me so.

Chorus:  Over the sunset mountains Heaven awaits for me, over the sunset mountains, Jesus my Savior I’ll see.

Toiling will all be ended, shadows will flee away, sorrow will be forgotten, Oh, what a wonderful day!

Chorus:  Over the sunset mountains Heaven awaits for me, over the sunset mountains, Jesus my Savior I’ll see.

Jesus, my Savior and me, Jesus my Savior I’ll see.  (John W. Petersen and sung by the Statler Brothers).

But before we finish our journey here and as we look forward to seeing Jesus face to face, He has many things to teach us and give us strength for our journey.  The first thought I will share is thoughts from Psalm 37:3-7:  “Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.  Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD.  Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.  He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.  Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of Him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.”

First of all, we learn to lean on Jesus.  1) Trust in the LORD, verse 3 – try.  2) Delight yourself in the LORD, verse 4 – Confidence.  3) Commit your way unto the LORD, verse 5 – Priority.  And 4) Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him, verse 7 – stand still.

We learn to trust in the LORD, no matter what the circumstance, just to step out in faith and test and try Him and see what He will do.  And then just delight yourself in Him, just take time to just praise Him and worship Him, just let your soul find confidence in your God.  And then commit your way, your walk to the LORD.  Let Him be your priority in any decision you need to make, let Him be LORD of all your decisions.  And then He calls us to rest in Him and just wait, to stand still and see what God will do, and He will do wonders in your life.  Sometimes we have to just stop.  We need to stop our hurrying around and fretting about what will happen next, and just rest.  And I know that is hard to do.  We live in a hurry, hurry world.  And God is calling us to just rest in Him no matter what is going  on around you or in our world and nation, or how wicked men seem to be.

And someday my friends, we will end our journey here and find eternal rest in His arms.  And Jesus our Savior we will see. 

I pray, my friends, that you are on this journey with Jesus, leaning on Him, trusting on Him, and have committed your way to Him.  If not, please make that decision today, right now.  He is waiting for you.  He loved you so much He died for you, shed His precious blood for your sins.  All He calls you to do is repent of your sins, and that means to turn around and go the other direction, in other words, He will give you a new life, make your heart brand new.  What a joy to walk with Jesus down this road towards our heavenly home, and I pray to meet you there someday. 

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OH, FOR JUST A GLIMPSE OF JESUS!

OH, FOR JUST A GLIMPSE

OF JESUS!     

As we enter this lovely fall season, the days are getting shorter and soon it will be dark early, and the days will become dark and dreary and cold.  As I take my husband to work early in the morning it is still dark, as only a few weeks ago we enjoyed the rising of the sun at that hour.

And just as it is getting darker as the season changes, the world around us is growing spiritually darker. The darkness of sin surrounds us, and it is growing darker as violence increases and men tremble in fear for those things coming on the earth, as wars and violence continue to increase.  And I hear of much sickness and despair in people’s lives.  Some are filled with grief and do not know where to turn in their sorrow.  Men and women have lost their hope, their peace, their joy.  I despair for the next generation should the Lord tarry in His return.

As I shop in stores, or in places to observe people, I notice people’s faces.  And as I look on them, I wonder what grief that person is experiencing.  Do they have problems which seem too difficult to solve?  Has that person received news that medical test results were not good, and they fear for their future?  There could be any number of burdens and trouble that people around me are going through.  I also wonder how many of those people know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and are walking in faith through great trials, knowing that He is the answer to all of life’s struggles.

Where is our hope in these turbulent times?  Are you, my friend, facing difficult days?  And let me tell you that there is hope.  There is hope for you, my friend, and all those rushing around in stores, trying to fill the empty place in their hearts with things that don’t satisfy, and hope for those in cars as the traffic goes by. 

I recall an old chorus we used to sing and it goes like this:

 What the world needs is Jesus,

Just a glimpse of Him;

What the world needs is Jesus,

Just a glimpse of Him;

He will bring joy and gladness,

Take away sin and sadness;

What the world needs is Jesus,

Just a glimpse of Him.

(Benjamin A. Bauer)

Yes, people’s hearts are empty and dry, but just one glimpse of Jesus will fill hearts to overflowing, and satisfy that empty place inside.  “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat, yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance” Isaiah 55:1-2.

When we are bowed down in sin and sadness, we need to look up at the cross, and see our Lord there as He suffers and dies for our sins, and realize the sacrifice of love He made for you for me, and for the whole world.  Our minds cannot comprehend that kind of love:  that God would send His only Son to the cross to take upon Himself the sin of the whole world, as the spotless Lamb of God.  And the world needs only to look up from the darkness of this world and see that cross lifted up.  (See John 12:32).

“Did you ever notice the peculiar and wonderful shape of the cross?  The foot points to the earth and humility, and to the fountain filled with blood, as though it were saying:  “Come, poor, tired, troubled, sin-sick soul.  Lay down your burden; plunge into the fountain filled with blood.  Here is cleansing for the filthy, pardon for the sinful, rest for the weary, peace for the troubled, relief for the oppressed, freedom for the captive.  Just throw yourself down at the feet of Jesus and He will make you whole.”

The top of the cross points upward toward the sky and Heaven, as though saying:  “Lift up your head, poor, weary pilgrim; lift up your eyes to the Heavens above you; lift up the hands that hang down; strengthen the feeble knees; say unto them that are weak, ‘be strong and of good courage’, for He who died upon the tree has gone up yonder, beyond the clouds of glory, to prepare a place for you, that where He is there you may be also.

The two arms of the cross are outstretched as though to gather the whole world into the loving embrace of Him who said:  “Come unto Me, Oh ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved.”  Thank God for such a sign-post to reveal the way of pardon and point out the narrow Heaven-bound road to the sin-sick soul.” (Aimee Semple McPherson-“This is That”

So, my friends, look up to Jesus today and get a glimpse of the Savior, the one who died for you.  Look up to our Resurrected Lord, seated at the right hand of His Father interceding for you.  Look up to the heavens, for Jesus Christ, the King of Glory is coming again in the clouds to take His children home to the mansions He has prepared for them.  He has prepared a glorious place where there will be everlasting peace at last.  So look up to Jesus and receive the gladness and joy that only He can bring.  He has promised to bring light into this troubled world, but glory is coming, Praise the Lord!

“Arise, shine; for your light has come!  And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will rise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you”  Isaiah 60:1-2.

In Jesus' Name,
Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

 

 

 

OH, KNEEL AT THE CROSS

 

OH! COME KNEEL AT THE CROSS!

When I wrote this, I looked out my window, on a very warm August afternoon, I saw Thunderclouds forming in the distance.  I sensed the mighty power of God in His creation!  The seasons come and go as He wills.  Now the lovely Fall season is upon us.  I think of those around me in my world who do not know this wonderful Creator personally. 

They do not know that Father God sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins, and has prepared a wonderful place for us in His Heavenly home.  And how I long to tell everyone about Jesus, that He is the only answer to the problems of this world, and the problems each of us face every day.  I meet many in the nursing home who are in desperate condition, and long for a touch from His Precious hand.  I also have met some who refuse this Wonderful Lord, refuse the Wonderful salvation that He accomplished on the cross.

Jesus is calling, calling today, my friends.  Why do you wait?  He is calling you to just “Kneel at the Cross.”  He will meet you right there.

“Kneel at the cross, Christ will meet you there, come while He waits for you; list to His voice, leave with him your care and begin life anew.

Kneel at the cross, leave every care; kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there.

Kneel at the cross, there is room for all who would His glory share; bliss there awaits, harm can ne’er befall those who are anchored there.

Kneel at the cross, give your idols up, look unto realms above; turn not away to life’s sparkling cup, trust only in His love.”  (Charles E. Moody)

When we take that step of faith, and faithfully kneel before him, leaving our sins and heartaches there at the cross, a miracle will happen in your life, life begins anew.  I remember the day I accepted Jesus into my heart.  I was 9 years old.  I was raised in church, had Christian parents and grandparents.  Our whole life revolved around the church, but at that age I realized I had not accepted Jesus as my Savior.

An Evangelist had been holding revival meetings in our church, and that night an illustrated sermon was presented.  Some of you may remember the illustrated sermons of past days.  The message that night was on the books being opened in heaven, and there on the stage were giant books, with “Angels” standing nearby looking for names that are written in the Book of Life. (See Revelation 20:11-15.)   And I knew, even as a little girl that my name was not written there.  And I made my way down to the altar and knelt at the cross that night.

Being raised in a Christian home didn’t save me.  I had to kneel at the cross for myself.  I remember vividly the next day it seemed like the sky was brighter, the trees and the whole world seemed new to me.  I had been changed into a new creature in Christ Jesus.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Do you want to share in His glory today?  Do you long for the peace and joy that He brings in the midst of a dark and sinful world?  As we walk this journey of life, there are many trials and heartaches, and many would try to go it alone without Jesus.  And I often wonder how a person can go through great tragedy and despair without Jesus to walk that road with him/her?  Great joy awaits each person who kneels at the cross.  Oh, in walking this road with Jesus, there will be trials of all kinds, storms and heartaches, but oh, what joy to know He is right there in the storm, walking with us! 

But as it is written:  “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

 When you answer His call and kneel at the cross, confessing your sins, giving up those things which have become idols in your life.  Idols in your life can mean anything that has kept you from serving Jesus, the sin which has separated you from Him.  He will wash away all your sin in the blood of the cross, and give you new life and a joyful future with Him forever.

So, I call you today, to stop what you are doing, and just kneel there at the cross, the cross of Calvary, where new life begins, new life in Christ Jesus.  You will have a new desire to serve Him, to read His Word, to have fellowship with other believers.  And you will have the assurance that He will be with you every step of the way, as you walk this pathway toward your heavenly home.  Praise the Lord!

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon