2 June 2019 - ENCS

More about relationships Pastor Joey did share today

We need love and trust, and forgiveness he did say

He spoke of the why, what, and how of forgiveness

For it is a cornerstone of relationships he did express

Forgivneess is important for health, per the Mayo Clinic

Lowering blood pressure and an immune system uptick

Paul said we are all sinners, per Romans chapter three

Thus pain and sin each day each of us will feel and see

Forgiveness acts like a reset button and a clotting agent

Per Matthew six, Jesus gave a command not just intent

Colossians three says that if we forgive, God will forgive

Like Mandela, we can choose forgiveness in how we live

Of course showing forgiveness is usually quite difficult

First, we must acknowledge pain caused or the insult

Second, per Mark six, forgiving others involves a cost

But without this step, God’s forgiveness for us is lost

His love for us never ceases, per Lamentations three

It is important that God’s forgiveness we feel and see

Third in forgiveness we should aspire for perfection

Per Matthew five, love our enemies without objection

But we must forgive others before we can show love

As Jesus did, praying for others we may be tired of

Fourth is that for God’s healing we should believe

Pain takes time to be healed, not an instant reprieve

30 April 2017 - ENCS

Using Genesis three, Pastor Josh spoke on the benefits of pain

Which of course is linked to the old adage of “no pain, no gain”

Josh said pain is actually an extension of God’s grace and mercy

For Adam and Eve should have died after eating from the tree

Lamentations three encourages us to bear the yoke in youth

Handling various tribulations without shouting words uncouth

Doing chores as children results in us being taught diligence

Sometimes we end up facing persecution that is quite intense

But remember that God has compassion and the pain will end

Death can produce life, which is why God did Jesus to us send

The fact that pain can often lead to growth is well supported

Job chapter forty two says no purpose of God can be thwarted

Through his immense pain, Job's understanding of God grew

Later on, all of Job’s possessions God turned from one to two

We should likewise not waste our pain, Pastor Josh did say

For pain can be a catalyst for growth in many a different way

It was also mentioned that pain can lead to additional strength

In Jeremiah twelve, God spoke of the need for this at length

Paul said he received comfort, per Second Corinthians one

So he could comfort others in the way for him God had done

In order to face tougher challenges, we often need to improve

Pain should draw us closer to God, not the relationship remove

Pain, suffering, and persecution can also lead to leadership

Per Genesis thirty seven to forty five, look at Joseph’s life trip

Throughout his tough times, the Lord was with him always

And at all times, Joseph made sure to give God all praise

Per Psalm sixty six, God tests us by putting us through fire

But always brings us to a place of abundance much higher

31 May 2014 - The Fall and Restoration of Israel

Jeremiah looked at Jerusalem, per Lamentations one

It seemed the people’s suffering was far from done

It was as if the nation went from queen to slave

She weeps bitterly for citizens gone to the grave

But Jeremiah had hope, per Lamentations three

For the Lord’s great love is there for all to see

“His compassions never fail” and his faithfulness great

Jeremiah said to himself that for the Lord he would wait

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him”

For those who seek Him, things will never be grim

The Lord replied to Habakkuk’s complaints in chapter two

Saying the enemy is arrogant and greedy in what he will do

And although he will take all the peoples captive

Piling up stolen goods and wealth is no way to live

Habakkuk prayed with admiration in chapter three

He waited for the day of calamity on the enemy

For despite the barren fields and empty stalls

Habakkuk rejoiced in the Lord though the halls

In Obadiah, the prophet shared words from the Lord

Edom will be judged, for God’s message it ignored

For violence against their brethren they were to blame

As a result, forever they would be covered with shame

They stood aloof as Jerusalem strangers attacked

And the holy city was plundered and ransacked

“The day of the Lord is near for all nations”

For their actions, there will be ramifications

But, God did say, “on Mount Zion will be deliverance”

“And the house of Jacob will possess its inheritance”

In the middle of a valley of bones, per Ezekiel thirty seven

Ezekiel was brought and then set by the Spirit from heaven

To prophesy to the bones, God then instructed Ezekiel

God would give the bones breath and life, Ezekiel did tell

While prophesying, Ezekiel saw bones come together

A vast army came to life despite the extreme weather

“The whole house of Israel” the bones did represent

And God then said what by this He actually meant

He would revive the Israelites and let them settle in their land

That He did it for them, they would once again understand

1 March 2014 - Fruit of the Spirit (part three)

The kindhearted gain respect and are blessed by God in heaven

But the ruthless gain only wealth and trouble, per Proverbs eleven

Proverbs fourteen says that “He who despises his neighbor sins”

“But blessed is he who is kind to the needy” for then God wins

For “he who oppresses the poor shows contempt for the Maker”

“But whoever is kind to the needy honors God” the census taker

Be kind and compassionate to one another”, per Ephesians four

“Forgiving each other just as Christ god forgave you” for evermore

“As God’s chosen people,…clothe yourself”, per Colossians three

With compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, and humility

“Bear with each other and…whatever grievances you may have” forgive

To “forgive as the Lord forgave you” is the way we should all live

Isaiah told “of the kindnesses of the Lord”, in chapter sixty three

About God’s deeds and compassion, that should be met with glee
Jeremiah chapter nine shared what the Lord did to him say

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom” for it may go away

For the strong and the rich, He said that the same holds true
But instead boast in the Lord’s kindness that comes through

Titus chapter three says that “we lived in malice and envy”

But God’s kindness appeared because of His great mercy

Proverbs twelve says “A good man obtains favor from the Lord”

But warns that a crafty man is condemned to face His sword

“No good tree bears bad fruit” in Luke six Jesus did say

Based on his heart, the good man does good every day

Galatians six states “let us not become weary in doing good”

“For at the proper time we will reap a harvest” it is understood

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people”

“Especially to those who belong to the family” under the steeple

“For we are God’s workmanship, created…”, per Ephesians two

“To do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”

“Do not imitate what is evil but what is good”, per 3 John eleven

For “anyone who does what is good is from God” in heaven

“Taste and see that the Lord is good” says Psalm thirty four

“Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him”, rich or poor

David said he would praise God forever in Psalm fifty two

Because His name is good and His name brings hope anew

“Surely God is good to Israel” begins Psalm seventy three

“To those who are pure in heart”, it is quite common to see

“The Lord is good and…endures forever”, Psalm one hundred ends

And also with His faithfulness, on which every generation depends

In the last verse of Psalm one hundred and eighteen

The same phrase “his love endures forever” is seen

Psalm one hundred thirty five says “the Lord is good”

The psalmist would constantly praise God if he could

The line from Psalm one hundred forty five should never fade

“The Lord is good…[and] has compassion on all he has made”

Per First Samuel twelve, “Be sure to fear the Lord” every day

“Serve Him faithfully” and consider His great deeds it does say

David did declare about God in Second Samuel twenty two

That He would be faithful to those who were faithful too

In Psalm thirty one, the faithful the Lord will preserve

“But the proud He pays back in full”, as they deserve

And in the last line of that same psalm, David did impart

“All you who hope in the Lord”, “be strong and take heart”

But in Second Timothy chapter two verse thirteen

“If we are faithless, He will remain faithful” is seen

In Deuteronomy seven, Moses repeated words from above

Know that “He is a faithful God, keeping his covenant of love”

Psalm eighty nine contains one of many famous declarations

“I will make Your faithfulness known throughout all generations”

In Lamentations chapter three, Jeremiah did profess

“They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”

In First Corinthians ten “God is faithful” Paul did declare

He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear”

Per First John one, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just”

He “will forgive us our sins and purify us”, in this we can trust