God Clears Our Path

Do you remember what automobile travel was like in the days before the development of modern highways?
I remember they were narrow, winding, slow, poor visibility, dangerous and tiring. Depending how far you were traveling it would take hours and days longer compared with the roads we have today. Today everything is planned out for curves, speed, and visibility. Traffic in many instances glides safely and smoothly.

Proverbs 3:6 - In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. NKJV
Proverbs 3:6 - In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will level your paths. CJB
Another version says: "Having mind of him whereever you may go, and he will clear the road for you.
God has promised to lead, guide, or show you the way.

The Lord's guidance will always keep us from having to follow a round-about path. He will clear the road ahead of us and get us to our destination by the safest, straightest route possible. Unless He just wants to take you on a scenic drive there will be back road, no detours, no raodblocks, no lost time.
Just travel straight ahead and on the right track.

What a God we serve.

Walter L. Rose
Pastore

Chick-fil-A thoughts

By now many in America are aware of the comments made by the COO of Chick-fil-A, a corporation that is owned and operated by those of strong Christian Belief and Faith. They were asked a simple question about their stand on the hot subject of lesbians, gays and homosexuals. As I recall Mr Cathy said simply, "We do not promote the gay/lesbian agenda. We will serve anyone who comes to our establishment however." Chicago and Boston retorted that they were discriminating against gays. We have gay/pride days across our country and in our nations capitol. People on everyside make their remarks. No one takes away their voice and ability to speak their minds.
Look out! With the continual encroachment upon and against Christian values it is now possible for people of "power" (small "p" here) to sway persons and ply for the vote for their office in any manner or way they wish without regard of the consequence.
"Thank the Lord we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles" Mr. Cathy added in the interview that led to the controversy.
I agree.  Let's keep our freedom alive. Read the Bible (God's Word to Us) and see what happens for those who remember God and see what happens for those who refuse God. The difference is dramatic on both sides of this picture.
"Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Words sopken of Joshua to a rebellious group in the Old Testament Record.
We must pay attention and choose wisely. There is only one way out of her alive the other is death. Choose.

Walter L. Rose
Pastor

Peace in action

Philippians 4:7 "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
I have thought quite a lot about the peace of God in the last two weeks.  Two weeks ago my wife and I kissed and said "see you in a while." She was then taken into surgery where two physcians surgically repaired the firing system in her heart. The great peace we both sensed is almost beyone description. In normal situations I could have been a little anxious but this case was different. We had prayed and thought a lot about the day prior to its events.  The God of peace placed a guard on both our hearts and we did just fine. Two weeks later we are still at peace and recovery is well in progress.
Are you going or perhaps going to go through a place where you need peace then call upon the Prince of Peace. That is the name isaiah the prophet declared would be for our coming savior. 
Lean on Him. Read His word and find the peace of God that makes all the difference in our lives.
May God add His richest blessings upon your life today.

Walter L. Rose
Pastor

The Peace of God

Peace of God is a wonderful thing.  I have studied and spoken of its value to all who pursue after the Prince of Peace.  Scripture teaches us that God gives us a peace that passes understanding.  Tuesday, July 17, 2012 was a day of God's supernatural endowment of peace.  My wife went into major surgery for her heart after years of fighting the ailment with medicines. She had changed medicine on three occasions and now her heart was not better.  Factually the medicine was not intended to heal the heart, only slow it down to thwart the Atrial Fibrillation which seemed to be on the increase not the decrease. So the day came for the procedure both external and internal that will sever the pathways of these errant signals and cease her heart of being out of time with itself. We had friends who know how to pray. They prayed.  We both faced the departure in the pre-op room with a peace that "truly defies understanding." Not one bit of anxiety coursed through my body or emotions. My wife and I were talking today and she said the same thing. She was perfectly at peace.  Two weeks ago we both had some anxieties about the whole procedure and outcomes as well as what if?  Tuesday I spent five hours in the waiting area without anxiety and in perfect peace, nothing doubting as to the outcome.  We are not disappointed.  Yes we have several weeks of post-op recovery with the wonderful outlook of dispensing with the expensive medicines to control her heart. We both look forward to the peace of God to guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Thank you for praying

Walter & Barbara Rose

Breaking Bread and Fish

Jesus went aside to mourn the death of John the Baptist. When He came out from the place a multitude awaited Him. He had compassion on them and healed their sick. The day wore on and late in the day His disciples came to Him requesting that Jesus send the crowd away as there was no food in the place. Instead Jesus said to them, "you feed them." These men who were still learning just couldn't figure out how they would do such a thing. Jesus asked them "what do you have?" Five loaves and two fish they said. Have the people sit down in an orderly fashion. They did.  Jesus took the bread and fish, looked up to heaven and blessed it, He then broke it and gave it to the disciples and told them to distribute it to the crowd. THey obeyed and at the end of the day 5,000 men plus women and children ate their fill and twelve baskets of fragments were picked up.
What is the moral of this story? It is a spiritual truth.  The vast numbres of hungry people are wanting Jesus to bless them. Our lives, brought to Jesus, looking up to our heavenly Father, broken and made usable for His purpose will, when distributed to the need, fill the hungry soul, with plenty to spare. Jesus receives us unbroken, makes us usable for His kingdom and distributes us. The measure of good that comes from such a life can only be measured in eternity.
I trust these thoughts will give you courage.

Walter Rose
Pastor

Are You At Peace With Your Purpose

Ephesians 2 13-14 describe it this way. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace.
Are you at peace with the direction of your life? If you're a Christian, you should be. Perhaps you seek a new direction or a sense of renewed purose, but those feelings should never rob you of the genuine peace that can and should be yours through a personal relationship with Jesus.
Have you found the lasting peace that can be yours through Jesus, or are you still rushing after the illusion of "peace and happiness" procured by your feeble efforts? Have you sought a peace that our world cannot deliver?
Today, as a gift to yourself, to your family, and to your friends, claim the inner peace that is your spiritual birthright: the peace that comes through our submission to Jesus Christ.
When we seek the "Prince of Peace" we will find "true peace." A peace that passes understanding.
Proverbs 3:7 - Don't consider yourself to be wise; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
When we turn to the Lord we will find what will satisfy, not for a season but for an eternity.

Walter Rose
Pastor

Cost of Independence

Edward Schneider was a young student at Philip's Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted at once and fought well, until he was mortally wounded at the Battle of Cold Harbor. As he lay dying, he said to his chaplain:
"Don't weep, chaplain, it is God's will. Please write to my father, and tell him that I have tried to do my duty to my country and to God...And there is my brother in the navy: write to him, and tell him to stand by the flag and cling to the Cross of Christ."
     Quote from: "Billingsley Christianity" pg. 95.

Let's remember to stand by our flag and cling to the Cross of Christ this coming Independence Day. The flag is a constant reminder of our quest and victory for freedom placed at the top of a mast to waves in the winds that blow across this great land.
The cross is a constand reminder placed to stand across our land as a constant reminder that Jesus Christ fought the great fight for our freedom from sin and ultimately the strength of our nation through its people of faith.
Let's never forget to stand by the flag and cling to the Cross of Christ. It is our duty.

May God bless you with freedom and strength.

Walter L. Rose
Pastor