https://www.dropbox.com/sh/faxjyvh076ioa0m/AADwfwM4CWbmIdaENDEhqRlwa?dl=0
Homecoming Franklin Memorial United Methodist Church
5/19/19
He Touched Me, sung by the Lewis family. Lenster, Rebecca and Delphia.
Shot by Payton Ashton
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
The Lord Jesus loves us too much to let us go our own way without disciplining us. Proverbs tells us to not despise God’s correction. As the song says, we often go astray, even if only a little. We get so busy or preoccupied we forget to stay in fellowship with Him or read the Bible or pray. It often takes an unpleasant event or experience to make us realize where we are.
God’s ways to correct us are not to punish us, but to cause us to change our behavior. When we’re experiencing trouble, we need to consider it may be due to something we’re doing, or not doing.
Years ago, I remember not being able to make sales as a salesman. I HAD been doing well, previously, but it had been quite awhile, and things were getting tough.
I HAD been considering a move, and FINALLY realized that the Lord was letting me know that it was His will As soon as I got the message, we made the move, got a new job, and things worked out!
That was a very important move, leading to the start of a new church. New Wine Fellowship came into being due to my being obedient to the Lord.Attendance grew to around 200 in a few months. What a reward for a couple of months of discomfort. PTL!!!
DR. ARNIE SMITH
One of my teachers while in Bible School. I learned how to study the Word, because of his teachings.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Attuned:
Paul was Attuned, or in tune with the Holy Spirit. He was Zealous in his Faith, and Desire to serve the God he knew.
A religious Jew, defending the Law, and Will of God. Then he met the Lord and became attuned to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
He wasn’t and isn’t alone. We all can be in tune with and led by, the Spirit of God. (There is more to the Holy Spirit than Speaking in Tongues).
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, to be tried by Satan. (Mathew 4:1). Phillip was led to the Ethiopian man, to explain the gospel, and was then translated to another country. (Acts 8:29, 8:39)
The Spirit spoke to Peter and gave him both a Word of Knowledge and a Word of Wisdom. that the unclean can be cleansed (Acts 10-11)
The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Teacher, the Spirit of Truth, that Jesus sent to us to give us the Power to build His Church.
in acts 16, we find Paul following the directions of the Holy Spirit.
He with Timothy traveled through the cities and established the Churches in the Faith, and they increased in number daily. (Acts 16:5)
As they traveled they ‘were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,’ (:6)
They attempted to go elsewhere, ‘but the Spirit suffered them not.‘ (:7)
When they entered Troas, ‘a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.‘ (:9)
After receiving the vision, they were sure of the Lord’s direction and traveled to Philippi. (:12)
While there, the Lord opened the heart of a woman, who had them stay at her home and provided for them.
As they went to prayer a woman possed with the spirit of divination, (a fortune teller, an evil spirit).
The spirit was cast out by Paul in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Paul and Timothy were beaten and thrust into the inner prison their feet in stocks. (:14-24)
At midnight they prayed and praised God. resulting in an earthquake, their shackles being broken and the cells opening. (:25,26)
The jailer was saved, and his household. (:30-34)
We find following the lead of the Holy Spirit, brings us into a realm of Power, to save, deliver, and cause earthquakes.
I am convinced that whosoever is willing can become attuned to the Spirit and the Church can be empowered and enlarged daily
2 Corinthians 13: 14.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.”
To be in tune with, or in communion with the Holy Spirit is one of the benefits of accepting not just Salvation, but the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Please study the Word. See what it says. Receive what to believe from the source, the Holy Spirit will guide you to all Truth.
If there is a conflict between what you were taught and the Word, THE WORD IS YOUR GUIDE.
Not man’s interpretation.
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
The cross shows brightly in those who believe. Our Witness shines forth, as a light to the world.
“I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.” (Isaiah 43:12)
Our light shines less bright, as the world resides within us.
We must remember we live in the world but not of the world.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Mathew 5:16)
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Saints it’s a truth…
Ecclesiastes 3:17
“I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
“There is a time”
The end of June 2018, my sweet wife was diagnosed with Stage 4 bone Cancer. It was a time of fear, a time of reflection, a time of confussion.
What else could go wrong? At the same time, I ended up hospitalized for acute renel failure, acute respiratory failure, and congestive heart failure.
We went to her Cancer Drs appointment, today. Her numbers are good. She feels good, the Dr said she would never be in remission, but the Cancer is at bay right now.
Thank You, Jesus!
I had my regular blood work done, (INR) and a full workup. My creatine level is 4.7. Not sure what that means except that my kidney is not functioning as it should.
Tests and appointments the beginning of next week. We are faithful, trusting in the Lord’s timing, and judgment.
‘For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.‘ (Romans 1,17)
Are we just? Is the righteousness of God revealed in me? I am concerned that my Christian Witness is not nearly strong enough and certainly not as pure as the driven snow.
Yet, I know my Redeemer, in Him do I trust.
Psalm 91:1-2
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Fame, Pain, and Gain: At times fame or pain have been primary motivators in my life.
Seeking Fame:
As a young man, I was sure that I would grow to be Rich and Famous. I have realized to achieve either, you must work hard and study. (Having Talent also helps). I was never fond of either endeavor, (and Talent eludes me).
I love to sing and play piano, but am I willing to put in the time or effort to become exceptional in either?
I love to lead Praise and Worship. The Lord has me playing piano at a Church that loves the Lord but is not of the Tribe of Judah. (Praise) They prefer Hymns and Ritual.
I desire to Preach. The Lord has me Teach. I have this Blog, and a Bible Stuy. But a Pulpit? (No one is offering one). The Lord protects me and works in mysterious ways.
James 4:5,6
“Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
The Lord is working within me to conquer the sins of covetousness and pride. I long to become worthy to share the Power of His Gospel with others.
Living with Pain:
Pain, our own or our loved ones, is certainly a motivator. There have been many who relie on drugs or alcohol to dull the hurt and fear, of the source of our Pain.
The need is to turn to the Lord.
Repent of the sin in our lives. Repent of our unbelief. Repent of our lack of knowledge of Gods will. Repent and turn to the Lord.
Psalm 25:18
“Look upon mine affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins.”
Cultivating Gain:
This is where we should live. Seeking, Cultivating, Spiritual Gain. Not Temporal goods or desires.
To learn to be content where the Lord has us. (1 Timothy 6:6)
To learn to be servants of all, to bring more to Christ. (1 Corinthians 9:19)
To Gain, we must put Christ first and foremost. Spiritual life and work are our most effective weapons, in the cause of Christ. (Philippians 1:21)
Luke 9:25
“For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”
We need to put aside our Desire for Fame, the Inconvenience of our Pain, and concentrate on Cultivating Spiritual Gain, (the Wisdom to serve the high calling of Christian).
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Prayer is a wonderful practice, but, do you receive the answers you are looking for? I wonder if most of the answers, we receive, do not disappoint us?
The list of King Davids prayers is long and varied. From his time of running from King Saul to praying for his first child with Bathsheba. Most were answered in the affirmative, this last one was not.
He was a man after Gods’ heart, a faithful servant. He was a Righteous man, who sinned. He fasted, prayed and wore sackcloth because the baby was afflicted, having been born of lust, and murder. (2 Samual 11-12)
He desired life for the child, but, ‘the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.‘. (2 Samual 11:27). The child died.
Davids reaction? He cleaned up and Praised the Lord. How could he do this?
He realized this was Gods punishment for the sin in his life, and he knew what he must do.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
He turned to, not away from the Lord. We need to understand ‘Prayer Is Powerful.’
“The effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much.”. (James 5:7)
Our actions may help or hinder our prayers. The first thing we need to do is take a page from Abraham.
“He believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness.“
When our eyes and ears are opened to Gods love, we gladly believe and accept Salvation. It is sad that we do not expect His other promises to be as easy and true.
So we must be ‘transformed by the renewing of our minds’ (Romans 12:2).
This only comes about as we seek the Lord, in prayer, praise, and the study of His Word, and by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Solomon and Hezekiah both had major Prayers answered. (1Kings 3:3-15)
Solomon had a dream. The Lord asked what he desired? In this dream, he recognized he didn’t know how to Govern Gods people. He asked for an Understanding Heart, so he could judge and lead the people Righteously.
The Lord granted his request and added Widom, Knowledge, Riches and Honor, so none before or after was as Wise.
The people were blessed as long as he walked in the Lord’s way as his father David had.
Hezekiah had a different experience. (2 Kings 19-20).
Israel was threatened by Sennacherib king of Assyria. He prayed and the Lord promised deliverance. Later we find.
“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.” (2 Kings 20:1)
His prayer was a reminder to the Lord, of how he was Righteous, and he walked with God, in truth, with a perfect heart and had done well.
He prayed for himself, the Lord answered his prayer and healed him. The Lord gave him a sign, the sun moved backward.
He was given a letter and a visit, from the King of Babylon. He showed him all the Treasures of Israel. Isaiah returned.
He was told all these Treasures would be taken to Babylon and his people, become slaves, after his death.
Hezekiah answered:
“Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?“. (2 Kings 20:19)
Not a shred of concern for his people. So why was this prayer answered in his favor?
“The effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much.”. (James 5:7)
Saints, please think of what you are asking, what it is that concerns you, and how the answer to your prayer may affect others.
As Righteous people, (those saved, sanctified, people who believe and trust God), can change the World. Our best prayers are for others and for Wisdom in sharing the Love of God.
Are your prayers for good, or could they harm others?
Is sin, or an ‘evil heart of unbelief,’ (Hebrews 2,:12), the cause of your prayers failure?
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Great truth written by Nicole Johnson
🔹Invisible Mother🔹
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way
one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be
taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, ‘Can’t you see I’m on the phone?’
Obviously not; no one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping
the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see
me at all. I’m invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of
hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??
Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being. I’m a clock
to ask, ‘What time is it?’ I’m a satellite guide to answer, ‘What number is
the Disney Channel?’ I’m a car to order, ‘Right around 5:30, please.’
Some days I’m a crystal ball; ‘Where’s my other sock?, Where’s my phone?,
What’s for dinner?’
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes
that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared
into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She’s going, she’s
going, she’s gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a
friend from England . She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she
was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there,
looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to
compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she
turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, ‘I brought you
this.’ It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn’t exactly
sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription: ‘With admiration
for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.’
In the days ahead I would read – no, devour – the book. And I would discover
what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could
pattern my work:
1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals – we have no record
of their names.
2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never
see finished.
3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
4) The passion of their building was fuelled by their faith that the
eyes of God saw everything.
A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the
cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird
on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man,
‘Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that
will be covered by
the roof. No one will ever see it’
And the workman replied, ‘Because God sees.’
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost
as if I heard God whispering to me, ‘I see you. I see the sacrifices you
make every day, even when no one around you does.
No act of kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve
baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to
notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see
right now what it will become.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of
the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work
on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went
so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime
because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’s
bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, ‘My Mom gets up at 4 in the
morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3
hours and presses all the linens for the table.’ That would mean I’d built a
monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there
is anything more to say to his friend, he’d say, ‘You’re gonna love it
there…’
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re
doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel,
not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the
world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.
❤️
➖Original author: Nicole Johnson
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Psalm 57:9-11
“I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. For thy lovingkindness is great unto the heavens, And thy truth unto the skies. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; [Let] thy glory [be] above all the earth.”
I have not sung this Psalm for a long while. It is once again in my head and heart.
Thanks for visiting.
We all have the relationship we desire with God. My desire is for an intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
“Seeing is believing.”
We have heard this all our lives. It has been true since the Creation of man. When Adam and Eve, Saw that they were Naked, they knew, they had sinned. (Genisis 3:7)
So they hid.
God saw the Righteousness in Noah and told him to build an Ark. (Genisis 7:1)
Noah sent a Dove, to see if the waters had abated. (Genisis 8:8)
David saw Bathsheba yet didn’t realize how far he had fallen, until Nathan the Profit, made him see, and rebuked him. (2 Samual 12:7)
Do we have the same problem as the Hebrews?
Deuteronomy 29: 2.
‘And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.’
Not really. The Church today doesn’t see and experience the Signs, Wonders and Miracles of God.
One of my favorite scriptures is in Isaiah 41:19-20.
Isaiah 41: 19.
“I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”
When John the Baptist, in a time of doubt, sent his disciples to Jesus to ask, Are You the One?
Jesus told them to tell John what they had seen and heard. (Like 7:22). The sick healed the dead raised, all of the miracles He performed.
We should be seeking the tools the Lord sent to build His Church. We somehow refuse. We bury the Talents the Holy Spirit delivered to us.
The Gifts are sitting on our mantle, unopened, unused, and not recognized. People need to see, know, consider, and understand, that the Lord He is God and that He has given us the job of building His Church.
I am disappointed in myself, for not seeking His face, for not being the obedient Servant, He has called me to be.
Only Believe…. Why do we not?
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Psalm 53: 2.
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
Are there any that understand, that DO SEEK GOD?
As I look at the Church on Sundays and the Bible Studies on Wednesdays, then look outside the Church, any day, I have to Ask.
The answer is a sad few, seek God. Why is this true? Our Christian Witness is lacking. What, do we lack, you might ask? The Power of God.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)
Those of us who Know the Lord, Know the Power, of Grace and Forgiveness. Those who know not the Lord, can not understand it, it is Spiritually Discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14) It is all Foolishness, Needless and Senseless, to the Unsaved.
When the Lord wanted to cause people to recognize His Power, He performed Signs, Wonders, and Miracles. That people would See, Consider, Understand and Believe, He IS GOD. (Isaiah 41:20)
Folks sat up and took notice. Many only followed for the perks, but many followed because their eyes and hearts were opened. Jesus understood and did not commit to those whose hearts were not His. (John2:24)
Saints, we should be seeing the Power of God, not just for Salvation, but to change lives, by comforting the brokenhearted, healing the sick, meeting the needs of people. NOT JUST PHYSICALLY, BUT SPIRITUALLY.
Jesus said only Believe, all things are possible to them that Believe. (Mark 9:23)
Are there any that Understand, that Seek God?
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
I have to admit, I always wondered what this part of Psalm 23 meant. I thought “He anoints my head with oil” was figurative language for God keeping the Psalmist healthy. I never knew this parallel.
Anoint my head with oil
“Sheep can get their head caught in briers and die trying to get untangled. There are horrid little flies that like to torment sheep by laying eggs in their nostrils which turn into worms and drive the sheep to beat their head against a rock, sometimes to death. Their ears and eyes are also susceptible to tormenting insects. So the shepherd anoints their whole head with oil. Then there is peace. That oil forms a barrier of protection against the evil that tries to destroy the sheep. Do you have times of mental torment? Do the worrisome thoughts invade your mind over and over? Do you beat your head against a wall trying to stop them? Have you ever asked God to anoint your head with oil? He has an endless supply! His oil protects and makes it possible for you to fix your heart, mind, and eyes on Him today and always! There is peace in the valley! May our good good Father anoint your head with oil today so that your cup overflows with blessings! God is good and He is faithful!!”
#GoodFriday
Thanks for visiting,
Know You Are Loved
We all have the relationship we want with God. My desire is a more intimate one.
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
theunfetteredpreacher 