Happy New Year

January 1, 2020 Pastor Stephen Dedman Encouragement, Trust

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God has done great and wonderful things in 2019 but we anticipate even greater things for 2020. When we stop to think about the last year or even the last decade we can’t help but think of His wonderful attributes. Only God can do such wonderful things.

Are you anticipating great things for this new year? Are you hoping for wonderful opportunities to present themselves to you? We hope for the best to come and as a child of God we can rest assured the best is yet to come. Jesus is coming!

God wants us to experience His goodness. If we are not diving into His Word and devoting ourselves to His majesty we are living less than what we should. Strive to see how you can experience Him more now than ever before. The Scriptures tell us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord…”‭‭ (Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11-14‬)

I hope you have a wonderful and happy new year and I pray that you find joy and peace that fills your heart and soul.

In The Secret Place

December 26, 2019 Pastor Stephen Dedman Encouragement, Trust

In The Secret Place

But you, when you pray, go 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 ‭

When You Pray…

Do you have a quiet place to go into and pray? If not, you should find a place that is your quiet place that you can get away and pray. A place that is away from distractions and free from interference. Everyone needs their special place where they can speak with God in prayer.

While Jesus preaches the famous “Sermon On The Mount”, He addresses the subject of prayer. The idea behind finding a place to pray is so that you can keep your eyes on God and not anyone else. Your place should be somewhere you can go and no one knows you’re praying. Prayer time with God is not to impress anyone with big words or with impressive speech, but to impress God with a heart that is seeking His will and way. Jesus goes on to say that we should not use vain repetitions. If you are saved God hears your prayers. There is no need to use key words that have more power or impressiveness. Prayer is not the source of getting from God it is the act of becoming one with God. When our prayers align with the will of God then we have answered prayers. The Holy Spirit will teach us and instruct what to pray when we are controlled by Him.

When we pray we need to act like Jesus is in the room with us and we are speaking directly to Him. Say what is on your mind and what is on your heart and communicate the things you want to say to Him. This is when we can have the right fellowship with Him.

Prayer

Lord, I love you and seek you in all things. Help me to stay in constant prayer and meditation with Your Word.

Merry Christmas

December 25, 2019 Pastor Stephen Dedman Faith, Trust

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of he only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

God With Us

The birth of Jesus was a miraculous event not just because He was born of a virgin but because God became a man and came to this place called Earth. Matthew 1:23 says, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). When Jesus was born the greatest blessing of all time was witnessed and some didn’t even realize that He was God. As we read through the Gospels we realize that a few knew that Jesus was God’s Son or God in the flesh. As John says, “we have seen His glory.”

Jesus is the most precious gift anyone can receive. Jesus is God’s gift to mankind. God became flesh so that we as believers may be with Him in Heaven for eternity. God wants to live in your heart and give you an amazing inheritance. Nothing can compare to the gift of receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. God came to save you from your sins. Have you invited Him into your life?

On this Christmas day take time to “see” His glory. Look out into His wonderful creation and witness His love towards mankind. The world is full of His majestic glory. Merry Christmas!

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for giving up your place on the throne and coming as a humble servant to die in our place on the cross. Thank you for giving us eternal life.