God Drops Breadcrumbs...

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text: Matthew 15:21-28
Key Verse 27: "And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table."

Manna was "bread from heaven" miraculously supplied each morning for the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings. God invented and God supplied, it was portable and perfect (met the need). Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." The disciples said, "Evermore give us this bread."

The Canaanite woman was not a Jew, not an heiress, not blessed; but she had a need and sought Jesus' mercy. He answered her not a word (shut the door). Even the disciples wanted Him to send her away. But she hung in there - He was her only hope. She had no other resource, so she kept waiting.

During the time Noah and his family were loading the animals, supplies, and themselves into the ark, the door remained open. But when mercy's opportunity was complete - God shut the door. (Not Noah or anyone else.)

The Canaanite woman was not giving up. She waited... until... she was not leaving without her blessing. Jesus brought up the subject of bread. He also told her she was not one of the "favored children," and called her a "dog." (And technically speaking, she was all that.)

She agreed (didn't take offense,) but came back with, "Truth, Lord, but even dogs get to eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table." She knew that He could supply her need.

Your faith releases (unlocks) your blessings!

Jesus said, "O woman, great is your faith!" He marveled at her - knew her by her faith. ("When the Son of man cometh, will He find faith in the earth?")

Your faith is bigger than your shortcomings.

Another woman, with an issue of blood, knew that just by touching the hem of His garment, she would be made whole. And she was! She knew that even the breadcrumbs were sufficient to meet her need.

Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life!"

(John 6:33)

Remembering Bernice Driskell...

Bishop Grisham called her the "I-75 Missionary." Famous for her favorite response, "I'm blessed!" (always said with a bright-eyed smile,) Sis. Driskell loved to spread an encouraging word. She clipped poems and devotional sayings she felt would be valuable to others and sent them with cards and kind words through the mail, or submitted them to be read during services.

Quick to look for ways to be helpful, she was good at her endeavors. Once the Lord Jesus got ahold of her heart, she was committed to His Kingdom and His service. No matter which church she attended, she gave love and prayers to every church she'd ever been a member. As long as she was able to drive, she was faithful in attendance, giving cheerfully as she was able.

She considered the chorus, "I Am Blessed" to be her theme song - and although I do not know who the writer of the song is, I tend to agree. So, whenever she visited here at New Life, we liked to use the song at some point during the service...

I am blessed, I am blessed,

Ev'ry day that I live, I am blessed;

When I wake up in the morning,

Till I lay my head to rest,

I am blessed, I am blessed.

 



Sister Bernice Driskell went home to be with the Lord on June 12, 2013.

Milestones / Graduation

By Marjorie Kinnee

 

A milestone's not a mill stone,

It's not a cumbersome thing;

It simply means we stop awhile

And see life's on a wing.

 

Milestones show how far we've come,

How far we've yet to go;

Provide a sense of where we've been

And set our hearts aglow.

 

The road ahead is yet unknown

Its joys and sorrows hidden;

Going back is not a choice,

To higher ground we're bidden.

 

For some it's graduation

From lesser, tamer shoals,

And launching out into the deep;

Uncharted, higher goals.

 

In life, there's many milestones,

from the cradle to the grave;

We're ever hoping, learning,

absorbing what others gave.

 

And when this life is over,

And our race on earth is run;

May we hear our Father saying,

"Welcome home, My child, Well done!"

 

 

Editor's Note: Three high school graduations, and graduations from kindergarten, elementary, and middle school, as well as promotions and home-goings to glory mark this year's month of June. While millstones only tie us down and hinder us from moving on into  future victories - milestones help us reminisce and make new pledges for continued growth and progress. The future is full of promise for the child of God!

 

 

 



The Reason for Tests

By Don Warfield

Text: Mark 6:45-52 (Jesus walks on the sea.)

In context, first Jesus fed the 5,000 (+) - then He "constrained" His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side of the sea of Galilee, while He sent the people (the 5,000 + He had just fed with the loaves and the fishes,) away, then went into a mountain to pray alone.

As even was come, from the land, He could see them in the midst of the sea. He watched them toil and struggle in rowing because the wind was contrary to their goal. In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the water. The disciples cried out in fear, thinking they saw a spirit. Acting as though He would pass on by, they cried out in their fear. This was no dream, they all saw Him and they all were troubled. Calming their fears, Jesus said, "Be of good cheer: it is I, be not afraid." As He climbed into the boat, the wind ceased. Their reaction was amazement beyond measure and wonder.

Strange that their memory was so short. Just a few short hours ago He fed 5,000 (+) with just five little loaves and two fishes - they themselves had taken up twelve basketfuls of left-over fragments, yet they couldn't connect the dots when they saw Him walking on the water. Verse fifty-two tells us plainly that this "memory lapse" was due to the hardness of their heart. The miracles they'd witnessed should have brought them to sincere worship of HIM. Jesus was coming from a time of prayer. He'd replenished His supply after the miracle of the loaves and fishes, but the disciples were toiling along in their own strength and missed the point entirely.

The contrary wind was a test. Jesus knew their hearts already, so the test was not for His sake. Oh no! the disciples needed a pop quiz. Their "strength" was not in their knowledge of boats, rowing, winds, water currents, and the oddities of the sea of Galilee.

Tests prove our metal (mettle). HE already knows who and what we are. WE need to know who and what we are!

The disciples were discouraged, due to their circumstances; storm, wind, waves, weariness.
They were fearful, half-way across, in deep water, felt abandoned.
They were also doubtful; doubt born of fear/unbelief, losing what ground they'd gained.

Jesus said, "Be of good cheer: it is I, be not afraid." HE doesn't need GPS! HE sees us where we are and comes to meet our need. The old song says, "When I could not come to where He was, He came to me!" In the Matthew 14:22-32 account, Peter cries out, "Lord, save me!"

Therein lies the crux of the matter. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." The Word is what will help and save us. Stay in the Word!

Editor's Note: Bro. Don Warfield delivered this message in a recent Bible Study. It was a blessing to all who heard it and strengthened the believers.

Who's the Boss?

By Rachel Coltharp

Submission is not an easy thing. From the moment we are born, we fight for our own way. I am no exception. Submission grates my skin like sandpaper, its grit rubs me raw; exposing the real me underneath. While it goes against our nature, everyone submits to someone.

It's what you do when you choose to be employed. You submit your "mission" of sleeping till noon, talking/texting to your friends all day - to their "mission" of being productive in whatever area they direct. It's what you do when you choose to stop at a red light when you'd rather plow on through because there are no other cars on the road but yours. It's what you do when you choose to pay your taxes rather than spend them on a vacation to Hawaii. Submission is part of our everyday life.

The heavy handed misuse of the principle of submission by non-Christ-like individuals has given it a bad image. The true pattern found in I Peter is that of a husband who takes time, effort, and energy to study and learn his wife - to get a Ph.D. in her! Husbands are instructed in I Peter 3:7 to study her, to honor her, and treat her as an equal in Christ, and is warned that if he doesn't, God will not hear his prayers. In Rachel language, this says, "Look here son, I'm trusting you with my precious baby girl. Get to know her, what makes her tick, and remember she's MINE, before she is yours. Treat her like MY daughter should be treated. And if you don't, don't even bother coming to Me with your petitions for repentance, provision, or protection.

You don't get any more serious than that - to have your connection to the Father cut off. God takes this authority/submission thing seriously. So should we.

As a follower of Christ, I choose submission to my spiritual authority (Pastor) and to my husband. I do not find it to be an easy thing. Simple, yes. Easy, no.

In choosing submission, I find that I learn a LOT about myself. I see that I am often selfish. I see that I am easily irritated. I see that I have a lot of pride. And I would NEVER see these things if I did not choose submission. The weaker me wants things MY way. The undisciplined me wants things MY way. It takes strength and stamina to push past me, the big fat baby me, to get to the best me.

What about you? Who do you submit to? Who has veto power in your life? How are you doing in submitting your will/mission to that of your authority? Do you take your role of spouse/parent/child/spiritual authority seriously?

Everyone follows someone. Everyone leads someone. I beg you to prayerfully consider your role in submission. Someone's soul may be at stake. Maybe yours.

Editor's Note: Rachel Coltharp is the wife of Brent L. Coltharp, (Illinois District Superintendent,) pastor of First Apostolic Church of Aurora, Illinois. She is not only a pastor's wife, but mother of four, friend of many, homeschool teacher extraordinaire, consoler, writer and speaker, and wearer of many hats. Her joy and wisdom reveals her as a modern-day Proverbs 31 lady. It's a privilege to reprint this article written recently.

On Eagle's Wings...

By Rufus M. Parker

Text: Job 39:27-30 - "Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she."

The eagle is a unique bird. Everything we read about him seems to portray what a child of God should be. Some have even called us Eagle Christians. From my reading about the eagle, his eyesight is very keen. His strength and agility exceed all other fowl. His ability to soar above danger is unmatchable. He proves his abilities to his mate before they birth offspring. He mates for life. And when he becomes ill, he places himself in the sun. These are just a few of the things I've read about the eagle.

It seems that this bird understands life to its fullest. The Lord asked Job, "Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?" She makes her home on something high and solid. The rock. High means that she places it away from danger. A rock is something firm and unmovable.

If we would study and build our lives according to the ways of the eagle, we too would protect our families and ourselves from danger, and not be easily moved. Life is so much easier when we follow God's ways.

Editor's Note: Bro. Rufus Parker, former UPCI Missionary to Okinawa, now pastors Calvary Apostolic Church (UPC) in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. He has authored several books, including "Reflections of the Man in the Mirror" and publishes a daily devotional called "Morning Manna."  http://morningmanna-parker.blogspot.com

Heavenly Kisses

By Marjorie Kinnee
Editorial

Text: Psalm 85:10-11 - "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven."

Mercy is God's business. At man's best, his kind of mercy is flawed, dependent upon God's example to be of any effect. Proverbs 16:6 says, "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD, men depart from evil." As God's mercy comes down to us, we begin to see the truth of our lack and our need. A repentant heart is the seed bed of truth.

David's condition was grave, his sin was egregious. In his prayer, (Psalm 51,) we can identify twenty-one key words or phrases. They are the facets of true repentance...

1. Have mercy,
2. Blot out my transgressions,
3. Wash me thoroughly,
4. Cleanse me, 
5. I acknowledge my transgressions,
6. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned,
7. I was shapen in iniquity,
8. Thou desirest truth in the inward parts,
9. Purge me, and I shall be clean,
10. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow,
11. Make me to hear joy, and gladness,
12. Hide Thy face from my sins,
13. Blot out all mine iniquities,
14. Create in me a clean heart,
15. Renew a right Spirit within me,
16. Cast me not away,
17. Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me,
18. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,
19. Uphold me with Thy free Spirit,
20. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,
21. Open Thou my lips.

David's spiritual condition was desperate. Without God he was in total darkness, as if he were dead. Hedged in by his sin, he had nowhere to go. His prayers went no higher than the ceiling; God wasn't listening. Condemnation lie in wait like a predator. His strength and hope had perished. He saw and heard the snide remarks and derision of all those around him. Sitting in misery and affliction, David felt cut off, estranged from every good thing he'd ever known.

But God! (See II Peter 3:9.) As the mercy of God flowed down toward David's need, truth rose up to meet it. "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Right there, at the conjunction of mercy and truth, righteousness and peace, David found himself squarely in the center of a heavenly kiss! Though his sin had separated him from God, mercy like the morning dew embraced the truth of what true repentance is. It is the great reconciler! You too can find the joy that comes from placing yourself in the center of a heavenly kiss!

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." (II Corinthians 5:20)