The days are still getting shorter; the harvest bounty of food crops is winding down here in the Columbia Basin where we live. For these blessings, we thank God.

God’s word Genesis 8:22 after the flood. “While the earth remains seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, day and night shall not cease.”

God’s word; Luke 10:2 Jesus words “…The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.” Jesus then tells us; verse 3. “Go your ways: behold, I send forth as lambs among wolves.”

This troubled world is full of conflict. Maheim death and destruction of all types are taking place all over the globe. Just read, hear, or look at the news, the United States of America; is not exempt. “When men’s hearts are failing them for fear seeing the things coming upon the earth”

How should we Christians be in these last times, as we hear and see what is going on around us. Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”

The Bible says Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.”

We are on a Journey to heaven above, the Lord has promised to bring us Home.

Oh lord grant us not to be afraid or to tremble and be fearful, believing we have life through Jesus name, and all sins are washed away in his blood

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love..”

Look up brothers and sisters, soon Jesus comes’
God’s Peace! and rest be upon you.
Pastor Mark

“… perhaps you will say: we know well enough that God gave His Son into death on our behalf, yet we, on our part, have by many transgressions and sins proved ourselves totally unworthy this His grace and mercy; from which it follows that God has again become our enemy on account of our crimes, though He may formerly have loved us for His Son’s sake. St. Paul tell us that this is false reasoning , and that we by no means give way to it, (don’t give the devils sermon of unbelief, any place in your heart) for he distinctly declares: “Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.” Remember this and be comforted by it. These words give us the explicit assurance, when our sins accuse us with God’s wrath and dire punishment, that Christ for no other purpose than to save sinners, and for no other persons. If, therefore, we commit new sins, if our conscience accuses us, and if we have merited anew the vengeance of God, we ought ever to remember that Christ died for us as sinners, for such sinners that we are, and shall remain. (sinners) though we may constantly exercise penitence and faith and new obedience with a good conscience. Yea, though we be ever so saintly, we will always need this consolation, that Christ died for us sinners, as St. Paul says “Though I know of no sin, I am not therefore justified;” and the Psalmist, Psalm 143 “Enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.” It therefore remains a fixed fact, eternally unalterable, that the passion and death of Christ took place for our sin, no matter when committed, and while we were yet sinners, and that therefore we are freed from the eternal wrath of God, that we have forgiveness, that the atonement is made once for all, and that we can now obtain eternal life.” Martin Luther

Words in parenthesis are mine.

Brother and Sisters in Christ “Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.” 1st Peter 5:7

Jesus ever lives making intercession for us.
Oh Lord Give us grace, this Lenten and Easter season, to behold what You have done. Worshiping, You with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

Easter Blessings!
Mark

Psalm 61
1.Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2.From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

4.I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

5. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

6.Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.

7.He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

8.So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

“ Some people object to taking vows, but in the Bible you will find many great men of God directed by covenants, promises, vows and pledges. A carnal man refuses the discipline of such commitments. He says “I want to be free. It is legalism.” There are many religious tramps in the world who will not be bound by anything. Now here are five vows I have in mind which we do well to make and keep.

1. Deal thoroughly with sin.

2. Never own anything ie. Get rid of the sense of possessing.

3. Never defend yourself.

4. Never pass anything on about anybody else that will hurt him

5. Never accept any glory.” A. W. Tozer

“Pour Out Thy Spirit from on High”
by James Montgomery, 1771-1854

1. Pour out Thy Spirit from on high,
Lord, Thine assembled servants bless;
Graces and gifts to each supply
And clothe Thy priests with righteousness.

2. Before Thine altar when we stand
To teach the truth as taught by Thee,
Savior, like stars in Thy right hand
The angels of Thy churches be.

3. Wisdom and zeal and faith impart,
Firmness with meekness, from above,
To bear Thy people on our heart
And love the souls whom Thou dost love;

4. To watch and pray and never faint
By day and night strict guard to keep,
To warn the sinner, cheer the saint,
Nourish Thy lambs, and feed Thy sheep.

5. Then, when our work is finished here,
We may in hope our charge resign.
When the Chief Shepherd shall appear,
O God, may they and we be Thine.

Oh Lord this is our prayer, Thy will be done in our lives,
In your strength keeping covenants, vows and promises
made, to thy honor and glory Amen.

“… if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart,
and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us
not, then have we confidence toward God.” John 3:20-21

When your heart is filled with “doubt’s un-certaines, by
trembling fears” or your heart rejoices with “joy unspeakable
and full of glory.” “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today
and forever.” Cling to the word and sacraments, the promises
of God therein shall stand forever. Christ-Word-Solid-Rock!

“Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God
Nothing else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.

I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!”
Martin Luther

“Heaven an earth shall pass away, God’s word abides forever”
Light for the journey, strength for the day, look to the word of
God, which is Christ who said “Thy word is truth” ‘the sword of
the Spirit is the word of God. Yes the word is everlasting truth.

Mark

Jesus said “My peace I give unto you…” This is the
“..peace that passeth understanding…” In other words
the peace Jesus gives is so great and wondrous that by
words it cannot be explained. It is only know by God’s
children who have it. It comes with the Joy of the Lord,
by the Holy Spirit. It is not a outward thing or things but
a heart matter as Apostle Paul writes “… righteousness,
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom 14:17

In the 1700’s Jonathan Edwards wrote of this peace.
“The peace which believers enjoy, is a participation of the
peace which their glorious Lord and Master himself enjoys,
by virtue of the same blood which Christ himself has
entered into rest. It is in a participation of this same
justification; for believers are justified with Christ. As he
was justified when he rose from the dead, and as he was
made free from our guilt, so believers are justified in him
and through him; as being accepted of God in the same
righteousness. It is the favor of the same God and
heavenly Father that they enjoy peace”

This peace comes to the lost through the children of God
blessed peacemakers called to bring the gospel of peace
to the lost broken souls wondering aimlessly in the dark
night of unbelief and sin without hope. We proclaim Jesus,
what he has done is the hope of the gospel of peace.

Can you hear the Savior saying go!! Let us obey whether
far away or close to home. Peach it sing it teach it with
words and loving deeds. Proclaiming Jesus blood and
righteousness. The gospel of peace. Which delivers from
death and the Devil; closes Hells wide gate opens Heavens
Gate giving eternal salvation to all who believe.
Mark

Assurance
Whether trials from within or without we have the
Lords promise “I will never leave you nor forsake you”
2 Cor 4:8-9 “We are troubled on every side, yet
not distressed; we are perplexed but not in
despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down
but not destroyed” This is assurance.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh what a foretaste of Glory Divine!
Heir of salvation purchase of God,
Born of the Spirit washed in His Blood.
Fanny Crosby

Jesus said “….In the world ye shall have tribulation
but be of good cheer; I have over come the world”
John 16:33

With all the devil the world and our own sinful
flesh throws at us. We learn and are learning, that
the confident hope we have, does not depend on
the present circumstance or how we feel, alone
upon Rock of ages under our feet which cannot be
moved. It is In Christ we stand, all other ground is
sinking sand. This is confident Hope.
Mark

Jeremiah 15:16
“…and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my
heart; for I am called by thy name O Lord God of hosts.”

As Christians in the age we live in let us remember “..the joy
of the Lord is our strength. Though sorrow and trails are part
of life this side of heaven. We are to be a joyful children. Why?
We are the redeemed of the Lord. United to Christ by faith.
A 1800’s English preacher has written it better than I can.

“The religion of Christ is the religion of Joy. Christ came to take
away our sins, to roll of our curse, to unbind our chains, to open
our prison house, to cancel our debt; in a word, to give us the
oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness. Is not this joy? Where can we find a joy so real, so
deep, so pure, so lasting? There is every element of joy- deep,
ecstatic, satisfying, sanctifying joy- in the gospel of Christ. The
believer in Jesus is essentially a happy man. The child of God is,
from necessity, a joyful man. His sins are forgiven, his soul is
justified, his person is adopted, his trials are blessings, his con-
filicts are victories, his death is immortality, his future is a heaven
of inconceivable, un thought-of, untold, and endless blessedness.
With such a God, such a savior, and such a hope, is he not, ought
he not, to be a joyful man?” Octaviius Winslow

The answer is Yes! Yes!! Yes!!! Let Apostle Pauls words speak to
us in 2012 Let His joy be fulfilled in our hearts. “Rejoice in the
Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Let us praise and thank
Jesus for the joy he has given us.
Mark