Thursday, April 30, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 30, 2015

Grace for your spirit
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.  Isaiah 43:2

Who could have known they really would have to cross rivers up ahead?  God did.  Who could have known they would face fiery furnaces for their faith? God did. Although He didn't fix the rivers and the fire, He fixed the responses and victories.  We don't know the rivers and fire we must face, but God does.  The rivers and fires will still be there, but so will God to bring us through them with victory.  Look for Him.  He is looking for us.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 29, 2015

Grace for your spirit
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalm 91:1

Shelter, shadow, and shade are all related. If we choose to stay out in the sun, we sacrifice the protection and relief of shade.  While we are suffering in the burning sun, God has left directions to find relief in His shadow.  If we don't follow the signs, we will perish in the desert of sorrow and sin.  If we don't want to find His shade, we are either not desperate enough, or we are too far gone. Let's look up and see His oasis just ahead.  It's not a mirage, it's real.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 28, 2015

Grace for your spirit
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Galatians 6:9

Some say, "No good deed goes unpunished."  It seems there is a organization somewhere to discourage people from having a nice day.  
When Jesus has filled our heart, we don't just say, "have a nice day", but we go about doing good to help people have a nice day.  We will reap the blessings of God, if we don't get discouraged and quit.  Let's keep listening to the Lord, and turn a deaf ear to the people out to discourage us.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 27, 2015

Grace for your spirit
So the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads.  They shall obtain joy and gladness; Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.  Isaiah 51:11

God has a way of giving us great hope even before we know we need it. Bad times and bondage were coming for Israel but they didn't see it. God didn't just warn them, he gave them a glimpse of the victory beyond it.  If we can learn to look beyond our sorrow and sighing, and see the joy set before us, we can endure anything with joy.  Look yonder at the coming joy.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 24, 2015

Grace for your spirit
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in according to their own desires.  II Tim 4:3-4

I once knew an old preacher who served a church that punctuated his sermons with constant "Amen's". Their "amen corner" was the size of a choir, and twice as loud.  They liked and agreed with everything he said. He told me that the real learning began when the "amen's" stopped, and the "Oh boy's" began.  How about us?  Will we endure teaching that makes us say, "Oh Boy, that hurt a little."  Ear tickling is fun, but seldom productive to learning.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 23, 2015

Grace for your spirit
No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.  II Corinthians 11:14-15

Not everyone who has a hammer can build something.  Not everyone with a knife can do surgery.  Likewise, not everyone with a "Jesus T-shirt" on, is a servant of righteousness.  Servants of the devil can most certainly lead us away, disguising themselves as those who have the Light.  Let's learn to examine everything carefully, and be well acquainted with our lie detector; The Bible.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 22, 2015

Grace for your spirit
Then He said to HIs disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest ot send out workers into His harvest.  Matthew 9:37-38

Some things never change.  There is still plenty of work to be done, and very few willing to do it.  Years ago there a beatnik character on TV named Maynard G. Crebbs. Whenever he heard the word "work", he screeched the word loudly with a high pitch.  It scared him just to hear the word.  It certainly takes work to bring the harvest for the Lord.  God certainly hasn't given any of us a spirit of fear, or the gift of  laziness, so let's step up and be laborers for the Lord.  How to churches grow?  WORK !

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 21, 2015

Grace for your spirit
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.  I Corinthians 15:10

Paul became an apostle far from Jerusalem, and away from the other apostles, years after Jesus had ascended back to heaven.  He had been a persecutor of their works, and they didn't trust him. Nevertheless, grace changed everything.  His late start did not diminish his service, because God was in it.  We may have got a late start as a disciple, but that doesn't keep our ministry from being victorious.  Grace can change everything when we let it work in us.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 20, 2015

Grace for your spirit
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. II Corinthians 12:9

Most of us boast about our weaknesses to get out of doing anything. We flaunt our limitations so people will feel sorrow for us and leave us alone.  The Apostle Paul discovered that God's power works best in our weaknesses.  He boasted about his weakness so everyone could see God working in him, and access more power from Him everyday.  Let's not use our effort explaining our weaknesses, let's use it to boast in the power of God.

Friday, April 17, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 17, 2015

Grace for your spirit
He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.  John 14:21

Do we want to know more about Jesus?  Would we like to see Him?  We have the power to complete that wish within us.  We have His commandments.  When we commit to keep them, love Him, we will be loved by God, loved by Jesus, and He will disclose Himself to us.  This is the way for us to be one with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 16, 2015

Grace for your spirit
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of a man who carries out evil schemes.  Psalm 37:7

One of the things that can get us off the right track is, "keeping up with the Jones'."  We may be trying to please the Lord, and as we look around we see the evil people prospering.  When our eyes are wandering, these thoughts from scripture can give us peace.  Many prosper in the short run, but in the long run those who trust in the Lord, rest in the Lord, and wait patiently, will be the real winners.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 15, 2015

Grace for your spirit
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls; and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;  Proverbs 24:17

Jesus said "You have heard it said, "Love you neighbor and hate your enemies  but I say to you, love your enemies and pray for them."  We can say we love everybody, but our true colors show when someone fails and stumbles.    When we are praying for anyone, we will only rejoice in their victories. 

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 14, 2015

Grace for your spirit
But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.  Matthew 18:18

We try to encourage everyone to be ready to give an account of the hope that they have in Christ.  It is great when we can return a blessing when we are criticized.  If we are going to reach these goals it is not just about our mouth.  We need to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts and minds.  When our spirit belongs to Him, our responses will reflect His glory living in us.  Remember the GIGO cycle.  Grace in, grace out, or garbage in, garbage out.  Let's choose grace, and grace will be our speech.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 13, 2015

Grace for your spirit
The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.  Isaiah 26:3

We are encouraged by God not to be double minded, nor tossed about like the waves of the sea.  The steadfast mind trusts in God and His word, and sets a path according to His will.  Because we have chosen to walk in His footsteps, we can walk in peace.  Let  us not be turned by the lure of false pleasure, not the peril of disaster.  God gives us a protected way and real gold at the end of His rainbow.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 10, 2015

Grace for your spirit
So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.  Acts 5:;41

Peter and the rest of the apostles felt that persecution was special for them. Paul  considered sharing in the suffering of Jesus a pleasure. We are encouraged to share in His suffering with rejoicing..  The rejoicing today will help us rejoice with exultation at the revelation of His glory. One way we can know that we are on the right track, is when people try to discourage and stop us.  May we let persecution be our stepping stones, not our stumbling blocks.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 9, 2015

Grace for your spirit
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  Philippians 4:4

Always? Paul wrote this message as a prisoner.  The letter was received by people who were worried about him.  There was grumbling and complaining.  There was persecution for their stand in the faith. They were surrounded by false teachers, and there was some fighting among themselves.  Paul's antidote; Rejoice in the Lord always !  We used to sing this scripture song at camp. It kept going and going and no one could ever find the way to stop it.  There's a good lesson there. Just keep on rejoicing, and again I say REJOICE !

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 8, 2015

Grace for your spirit
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?"  Mark 14:21

This event at this time in history has three names.  Certainly it was the Passover Supper remembering their freedom from Egypt.  It was also the Last Supper, for it was the last Passover feast of the Old Covenant. Finally it was the Lord's Supper, as Jesus set the elements to remember His death that would take place the next day.  From then on, the Lord's Supper would only include the Unleavened Bread and Fruit of the Vine, for the body and blood of Jesus.  No more Passover Lamb because Jesus is our Lamb.  May we take it in remembrance of Him.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 7, 2015

Grace for your spirit
The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.  Luke 18:11-12

A humble tax collector was standing there close enough to hear this Pharisee.   He could have prayed, "Lord, I thank You that I am not like that guy." Instead he humbly asked for God's mercy.  Perhaps OUR first thought it to criticize and run down the Pharisee for his lousy attitude. When we do, we may become just like that Pharisee.  Surprise!  His shortcoming is also OUR shortcoming.  Let's be careful when we criticize,  We run the risk of becoming just like them.  Better we should turn to God, and say, "Be merciful to me, a sinner

Monday, April 6, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 6, 2015

Grace for your spirit
For I delivered to you as of first important what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.  I Corinthians 15:3-4 

This is the gospel, the good news by which we are saved.  There is nothing more important, and we need to make sure it is first in all our lives everyday.  On resurrection Sunday this good news is in the forefront of our lives, but it has a way of slipping away for the rest of the year.  When someone asks, "what the most important thing in the Bible?"  Here you go!

Friday, April 3, 2015

What to expect at the Northwest Church of Christ

The church building is located on U.S 41 North at Florida Avenue. Just 1/2 mile north of the 41/63 interchange in Terre Haute, Indiana

Sunday Bible Classes: 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship 10:30 AM:
Sunday Evening 6:00 PM:
Wednesday Study 7:00 PM:
SHULTS LEWIS CHILDREN HOME
Our commodity items this  year are canned chicken and hot sauce.  They will be picking up our collection on May 17rh.
FAITH STATEMENT
We believe in one all powerful, all knowing, ever present God. We believe the Bible is God's inspired word, and provides our only standard of right and wrong.
We believe that Jesus Christ, God's Son, died for our sins all the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead for our justification. We believe that mankind is lost without the saving blood of Jesus and that He is the only way to the Father

We believe that saving faith includes repentance, and baptism for the forgiveness of our sins. We believe the baptized believer is a member of the Lord's church and the kingdom of God.

We believe that the Christians should worship properly and share the good news of Jesus until He returns with out heavenly reward

At worship you may expect joyous acappella singing,prayers,communion services, and a lesson from the Bible every Sunday Expect our worship to be warm, uplifting, and orderly, praising the Lord.

Everyone is always welcome. We hope you will be spiritually enriched by your worship visit

Grace for your spirit April 3, 2015

Grace for your spirit
Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as  You say, and let down the nets."  Luke 5:5 

As Jesus was about to call Simon Peter to be His Apostle, this powerful message in the sea would change him.  Follow the advice of Jesus, his nets and boats were filled and overflowing with fish.  Peter suddenly realized the power of Jesus and how He could accomplished anything. Peter was humbled by this event and Jesus told him he would be catching men from now on.  When the power of Jesus becomes real in our lives, we also will be willing to follow Him.  We too can become fishers of men when we follow Jesus.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 2, 2015

Grace for your spirit
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  I Corinthians 6:9

Many people hold the view that people are basically good, and that a loving God would never punish anyone.  Neither of those are true.  Men by nature are sinful and rebellious.  God by nature always rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. Let's not live on with the guidance of people who "know not, and know not that they know not."  Let's trust in the Lord and let Him lead us to righteousness and our inheritance.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Grace for your spirit April 1, 2015

Grace for your spirit
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.  Proverbs 30:5-6

We are encouraged to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil.  The armor that is described in Ephesians has been long tested and approved.  That shield of faith is perfected by the amount of time we spend in God's Word.  Let's find refuge in the shield given by God.  Don't leave home without it.