Thanksgiving Service Planned at Jacob’s Church November 22 @ 9:30

Thanksgiving Service Planned at Jacob’s Church November 22 @ 9:30

Many have passed down the road of adversity and sickness. Whether survivors through a miracle of God and/ or medicine and even those called home to the greatest miracle of everlasting life, their stories inspire us. Through this journey none should walk alone. God has given to us each other, His presence, and the medical community to help us.

We at Jacob’s Church will celebrate life together. We will hear testimonies from survivors that have gone through treatments and some that are still going through their journey. Here are some of their statements that I found so inspiring.

• “Every day belongs to God.”
• “Every day is a vacation and every meal a banquet.”
• “God obviously has a reason for my being here.”
• “Richard, it was as though I could feel the church praying.”
• “I believe God heard all our prayers.”

Join us as we pray together for those still going through their journey. We will also have a prayer for our doctors and medical communities to help them in their fight to relieve suffering. Finally we will give thanks for life and survival.

Pastor Daughtridge will deliver a short message on:

• Prayer (what to pray)
• Encouragement (what to say)
• Touch (power of a hug)
• Love (tears are allowed)

Spread the word that we will celebrate life.

Outline of Scriptures and Songs:

Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know  page 76

Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty   page 3

Today’s Message  “My Journey”  by Pastor Richard Daughtridge

Romans 12:9-10

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. [10] Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Romans 12:15-16

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. [16] Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

James 5:11-16

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. [12] But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. [13] Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. [14] Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: [15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. [16] Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

My Journey (Testimonies of  believers  that we have been praying for. )

Prayer for these with the anointing of oil and a Thanksgiving prayer for our Medical Community

He Has Made Me Glad    page   214

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee  page 90

Sermon OutLine 11/08/09 “God’s Presence” by Pastor Richard Daughtridge

Standing on the promise of God’s Presence

Last night watching public television I was so overwhelmed with a program which scientifically attempted to prove that we came from monkeys or as we know it, the Darwin Theory. I felt invaded by science’s vocabulary spoken over my head as they presented a skull that they recently found in an African desert, which they claimed was 4.5 million years old. This they said was a missing link, a fossil half man and half ape, which disproved the creation doctrine that man was created by God according to Bible history about 6000 years ago.

“That’s not scientific. You can’t prove that.” I thought to myself.

I believe there is a traceable history of about 2000 years to when Christ lived. Historical and geological finds prove that.

There is enough evidence through recorded history, biblical and otherwise, that we can confidently say that about 4000 years prior to Christ’s being born in Bethlehem that  Adam and Eve were created as the Bible records. This  totals a little over 6000 years of history of man as we know it.

How contradictory and confusing that we are teaching our children that we are one nation under God and at the same time endorsing a theory that deletes God as having anything to do with our origin. The faith of our forefathers gave us honor,  moral values, and the ancestry of human dignity. The Bible says that we were created in the likeness of God.

At the end of all our presidential speeches we always hear “God Bless America”. After 9-11 or in the wake of tragedy we, in our moments of despair, plead for God’s help. Rarely do I hear God go unmentioned at a funeral or when we face death.

If we came from a monkey and just accidentally happened over evolutionary time, what God are we praying to?

Evolution makes no provision for such a God to exist. Evolution offers no destiny of Heaven nor life after death.

The fact is that, “In the beginning, God” is more believable.

If the DNA is similar to a monkey, or even has some similar components, that should be of little surprise. The same Creator created both man and animal.

God created man in his own likeness and then breathed His own breath of life into him.  What an honor!  equally important, what love.

After watching the TV program my faith was buried in a tomb of doubt and frustration listening to what were seemingly sincere people contradict what I really believe to be the farthest thing from the truth. It’s not even close of how we live and die.

I felt like Mary Magdalene outside of the tomb after Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection  asking, “What have you done with my Lord? Where have you placed Him?”

My heart was sad and I felt lonely and afraid.

I longed to be embraced by God’s arms of love and calmed by His words of peace. I wanted to hear the whisper Elijah heard in the cave. I longed for faith to be renewed in my heart.  I prayed for my grandchildren to never be violated with such misrepresentation of truth.

I longed for God’s presence.

After the disappointing TV program  I stepped outside and was greeted by the most beautiful full moon. I pondered its creation.  God created it to provide light at night. The light, however, is not from the moon. It reflects the sun’s light which is on the other side of our planet because of the earth’s rotation. God must have thought of everything.

Seeing the very wonders that God created calmed my fears and renewed my faith. I even sensed God’s presence. I knew in my heart that I was not alone in life. It was sincerely a God moment at the end of a troubled night.

The more we study, the more we find intelligent design. Non- speaking  teachers of our universe that tell a story about life, God and creation are everywhere.

I love this scripture from the Message translation of the Bible.

Psalm 19:1-4 Mes “ God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God’s craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.  Their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded, But their silence fills the earth:  unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.”

Not only does nature lecture us about God  but the Bible speaks volumes about God being present in our lives.

Joshua 1:5  There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Thomas Merton:  “Security is not the absence of danger, but the presence of God, no matter what the danger.”

Genesis 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1 Chron. 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

Psalm 8:3-6 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; [4] What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? [5] For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. [6] Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

Isaiah 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

How long will God be with us? Until the end of the earth.

Romans 8:38-39  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

After life on earth, life with God continues and so does the wonder.

Isaiah 60:19-20  The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. [20] Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Rev. 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

I guess you could say, “We, God and I, are inseparable.”  Thank God!

The promise is to everyone that believes and places his trust in Jesus Christ.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.