THE COURAGE TO DO THE HONOURABLE THING (PART 2)

There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim);  and we became

Like grasshoppers in our own sight.

Numbers 13:30

The twelve spies were commanded to spy out the land.  They came back with the report, 27) 

“Thus they told him, and said,  “we went in the land where you sent us;  and it certainly does flow
with milk and honey, and this is it fruit.”  28) Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong,
and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover we saw the descendants of

Anak there.”

Moses had commanded the men to be of good courage before they left, and to bring of the fruit

of the land.  It takes courage to carry out a command and bring back evidence to verify your

completion of the command.  The spies did that but they brought other news that put fear in the

Hearts of the people, the Anak are there and they are fortified.  This in the report caused the 

People to shrink back from completing the command of God.  It is having faith in God and executing
his commandments that we move forward and accomplish the will of God in our

Lives.

Life shrunk back for the ten spies, they thought that doing the command was impossible.

Joshua and Caleb believed and they were able to enter into the land and received the blessing.

LIFE SHRINKS OR EXPANDS IN PROPORTION TO ONE’S COURAGE

- ANAIS NIN

 THE COURAGE TO DO THE HONOURABLE THING (PART 1)

 “And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, “Get you up this way southward, And go up into the mountain: And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; And what the land is that they dwell in whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; And what the land is, whether It be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes.” (Numbers 13:17-20)


 Moses is commanding the twelve spies to go and spy out the land of Jericho. God had promised them the land for an inheritance. They obeyed and spied out the land. Moses tells them to be of good courage. In Life it takes courage to carry out a command or to do the right thing. Having courage will determine Whether or not we will accomplish the task or command. When we attempt to do something and have not The courage to do it we fail in life. Life shrinks back when our courage is weak and small. Life expands When our courage is strong and we are enabled to accomplish the task or job at hand. It is not that we Could not do it we did not have the courage to .

GOD TOOK NOTE OF MY PRAYER


Many times in our lives we feel that what we say to God is not important or that he is not aware of our desires or needs.   Jesus says, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light"  Matthew 11:28-30.  I was pregnant with my first child, and being an only child I didn't know a lot about life but I knew there was a God.  One night I began to pray to God and tell him that I needed him and that I didn't know how to bring up my child.  I didn't know what to do.  I always felt that I could go to God to help me in whatever situation I was in and that is what I did.  I wanted a bible name for my baby and I began to look up bible names.  I decided to call the baby if it was a boy, Baruch Immanuel and if it was a girl, Serena Simone.  God blessed us with a boy and we
named him Baruch Immanuel which means Blessed the Lord is with us.

Baruch was born August 21, 1975.  Later on that night a young lady came into my room to see me to visit.  I did not know her,  she worked at the hospital with my husband.  Her name was Diane walls.  She began to talk about the Church of Christ and that God had only one Church.  He had only one body.  I got very upset because I felt that God had been with me in delivering my baby and I knew God.   She continued to tell  me that God only built one church.  I was very upset and wished that she would leave.  She stood on God's word.  When I came home from the hospital she visited me and became my friend. She invited us to visit the church and we did.  The church was very friendly and very honest.  My husband and I searched our bibles over and over to see the truth of God's word and to prove them wrong.  The more we searched, the more we realized that we were wrong.  Ephesians 5:19 is the scripture that really touched my heart and I couldn't reject, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." It means one.

The night of October 17, 1975, my husband and I obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Lord added us to His Church.  That night God fulfilled the name of our son in our lives. Baruch Immanuel,  Blessed the Lord is with us.  Thank you God and thank you for sending Diane to share the good news!
Have a Great Day!!!!!!!           Keep Shining!!!!!!!!!!

    THE POWER OF A FAITHFUL LIFE

" And they lifted up their voices and wept again;  and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clung unto her.  Then she said, " Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.  But Ruth said," Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people and your God, my God.  Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried.  Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."  Ruth 1: 14, 15, and 16.

We see that love is the tie that binds Naomi and Ruth, and their faith in God.  Naomi demonstrated her faith because when she heard that God had visited his people with bread , she made the decision to leave Moab and return to Bethlehem-Judah and to God.  It was a godly decision that made a difference.  Ruth demonstrated her faith by making a godly decision to leave Moab and chose the God of Israel and His people.  Naomi's example and faith changed the course of their lives.  Embracing the story of Naomi and Ruth our faith in God is nourished and deepens our trust in God.  God provided food and protection for Naomi and Ruth.  God further provided for Ruth by giving her a husband, a home and a family.  God provided for Naomi through a redeemer, Obed in her old age. When we demonstrate faith in God in our life it brings honor and glory to Him.  Praise God for His Faithfulness !!!! 

Have a Great Day!!!        Keep Shining!!!!!!!!!!

A Tribute To My Mother

Mrs.  Bernice Coleman

     I would like to tribute this blog to my dear mother.   It was in the last three years of her life that she gave the most to me.  My mom learned in 2005 that she had lung cancer and she requested me to help her.  I made a promise to her that I would be there all the way to the end.  I didn't know at the time that God was using me as an instrument to bring someone I love to His fold.  My mom was seventy-three years old at the time.  I went to chemotheraphy with her three times a week and radiation twice a week or a year.  I would take my bible with me and in the difficult moments I would pray to God on her

behalf.

     As time drew near, I told her that there were some things she needed to know about God that she didn't know.  She expressed with tears that if there was something she needed to know she wanted to know, because she did not want to be lost.  I set up a bible study with her right then and there.  When she was released from the hospital we began our study, in two weeks she obeyed the gospel of Christ.   Praise the Lord!  Never, Never Give Up!  Trust God all the way,for when you think it is bad, it is God at work to shew forth his wonderful works. 

     When she found out that she had lung cancer, she said God was going to use it to glorify himself. I did not understand it at the time,  but God did.  My last night with my mom, I was walking around her bed and she said, "Jean, it's worse than you think", I brushed it off lightly.  She asked, "How do I look?"  She didn't have any hair and I said "You look fine".  She began to give me the details of how she wanted her funeral arranged, where to find everything, and that she wanted it to be held at Lake Harbour Drive Church of Christ.  Through Christ all of her wishes were carried out and God was magnified!  Many that came to the funeral had never heard of the Church of Christ or had never been in the building of a Church of Christ.

     I thank my mother for her courage to look at the truth of God's word and change from error to the truth.  I came to her hospital room right after she obeyed the gospel and she was reading her bible and she said, "What an awesome God!"  I thank my mom for having the courage to face death and I thank God for the  joy that was in her at the end.  They have been gifts to me that I have cherished greatly these past few years.  Thank you Dear Motherdear!  Thank God!