Pastor Joe

How blessed we are. Yes, you and me. We are spoiled rotten.
Last night we had 75 for a church thanksgiving feast- wow! It was great. The food was wonderful. The spirit was wonderful,too. The church decided to express to Louise and I a kind expression of their love for us will a love gift. That was so sweet.
I am so blessed. God must love me so much to allow me to pastor Refuge with its wonderful people.
Count your blessings.
Enjoy what you have. Treasure it.
Thank the Lord.
Trust Jesus as your savour now if you haven't- PASTOR JOE

People use a blog for all kinds of reasons. I want to use this one in many different ways. TODAY, I SHALL TRY TO ENCOURAGE YOU. It is true that we all need encouragement. The devil will make sure that we get down, but Praise God the Lord promises us grace for every need, and blessings now and in eternity. What a deal.
And it all begins with that relationship with Jesus. Listen to Romans 10. 1. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7. Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
WOW!!!
Think on these matters and have a good one-Joe

I did have a nice cool weekend. Hope you did. Spent much of it in the compfy house. The cold I have is so much better, still don't want to share it. Eat in Saturday. There is an untold story to add. Friday I spent some time in the dentist office- I had broke a tooth Thursday evening and it cut my tongue- boo. But the dentist rebuilt the tooth some and told me after the new year another crown will be needed-boo.
I missed so many buddies yesterday- so many were out with colds. I hate that. Tuesday night at 7 we have our church thanksgiving supper- there will be no sermons on gluttney for some time.
Tonya did a great job on her new song- I sang it the rest of the day.
Last night's sermon on warnings was tough.
Have a great one, and pray for rain-PASTOR JOE

Today is Friday- the weekend is ahead. Will we honor the Lord all weekend? Sunday we can honor the Lord in many ways, but don't leave out honoring Him, Friday night,Saturday also.
Live for the Lord, be a blessing to others. Please the Lord. Enjoy in a Christ pleasing manner. SEE YOU IN CHURCH ALL SERVICES SUNDAY-PASTOR JOE

JAMES 2: 24 - 26.
24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
If we never asked Jesus to be our Savior, then we would never be saved. If we are saved, it will show by what we do.
Too many say they are saved, but God alone knows if it is true. I hope and pray that our salvation clearly shows.
It is one thing to be saved, and another things to please the Lord by how we live.
Think about it-PASTOR JOE

JAMES 2:22 & 23
22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
This passage blesses me for it teaches several wonderful truths.
The work that brings us to right relationship with God is believing God. Again John 3:16 must come to mind- 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.
If we believe God and all of His word,then we become a friend of God. Yes,us-glory.
The work that makes an eternal difference is believing of Jesus as Savior- have you?
Do- PASTOR JOE

James 2: 20 & 21-.
20.But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
What is the point that James is trying so hard to make? Do we miss it? I hope not.
Our works shows that we have faith. Hello, wake up!!! If we are saved what we do shows that we are saved. If it doesn't, then it shows that we are a fake and not saved.
Lord, You love me, and I say I love You, but, the real question is-what does my works show?
Think on these matters-PASTOR JOE

James 2: 19.
Verse 19-Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Believing in God is great, but even the devil believes in God. To be saved more is required- faith 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. That is what the Bible teaches- so get saved and enjoy it.

Had a nice busy weekend. Church yesterday was a blast. The choir did so well. Harlan did well. The messages were from the Bible and led by the Spirit-can't beat that.
We have many sick and hurting-pray for each one-MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU AND YOURS THIS WEEK- PASTOR JOE

James 2:18
18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
What we are will show. If we are a christian, it will show. Yes it will. We will be like Jesus. We will go to church unless sick. We will read our Bibles. We will have a good attitude, and live right. Yes, we will.
What does our lives show? Are we satan's friend, or do we belong to Jesus-it will show- SUNDAY MORNING WHAT WILL SHOW?- PASTOR JOE

James 2:15-17
15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Lord, send someone my way today and everyday that I can help-physically, emotionally, or spiritually.Amen.
Are we so tied up in our own problems that we fail to see those who are hurting?
It is better to be the helper than the one being helped.
Keep your eye and heart open today-PASTOR JOE

What a great convention, how I thank the church for allowing me to come.
Doris' funeral went well, God bless the family. Jackie Manley sang so well.
The worship service here last night was special and different-a large choir, a drama, and preaching-wow!
The Lord willing I will be back at church tonight, and speaking from Ezekiel 8.
Have a great and blessed day- PASTOR JOE

I am at the SC Baptist Convention in Columbia SC. I will at the convention briefly this am for I will conduct the funeral of my friend Doris Roper this day at Refuge at 2. Please pray for the family and us friends. I plan to be back here for the evening session. Have a great one-PASTOR JOE

James 2:13-14
13. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James asks the tough questions, and makes us think. But let's get to the bottom line.
Do we show mercy? We need to. We better. It is like God to.
Faith is shown by what we do. Get that- faith can't help but show.
I lost a good friend who was a church member-Doris Roper-please pray for her family.
Have a good one-PASTOR JOE

Behold you see my lastest painting. It is ala van Gogh. He loved the streets of Paris, and it did rain there-so he made a picture like this in 1882. I changed things somewhat-so you have my versiom. It reminds us to pray for rain; it is a blessing from God.
Have a great one-PASTOR JOE

James 2:11-12
11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

It amazes me how quick we are to call someone else bad, and feel we are so good. The truth is we are all sinners, and have a serious problem with sin. Yes-us.
So clean out your closet and let God be the judge.

Tomorrow I will share my latest painting.
God bless us one and all-PASTOR JOE

JAMES 2: 9-10.
10. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
dO WE TREAT SOME DIFFERENTLY? Who are we to judge that some are better than others?
I do believe that we don't know enough info to be good judges.
And we need to realize that if we break 1 law of God, we are guiltly as a law breaker as if we had broken them all. Sad but true.

Join me in praying more for the USA AND THE WORLD- PASTOR JOE

PRAY
VOTE
PRAY

OUR NATION AND THE WORLD NEEDS SERIOUS PRAYER BY SERIOUS PEOPLE WHO LOVE GOD.

SO, PLEASE
PRAY
VOTE
PRAY

PASTOR JOE

James 2: 6-8.
6. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
The people who give the most trouble is the rich. They mistreat the poor. They don't love them. They love their gods-money and power.
This displeases God. He desires that we love others as much as we love ourselves.
The big question is, "How do we treat others?" Is God pleased with how we treat others? Think about it-PASTOR JOE