Hello everyone I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, I know we did! In Pauls Valley we had a white Christmas, in sothern Okla. we don't get many of those. It was a wonderful time to stay in and reflect on how truly blessed we are. Ellen and I enjoyed a more calm Christmas, not as much trying to run all over the world.
Well as a person who loves to reflect I have spent some time looking back at 2009. I think it's always a good thing to evaluate your life and its contents. In the Christian life we can always find areas in life to grow, become more mature.
I also think on all the blessings God has given Ellen and me this year. Our children are healthy, Dustin got married, Cheyenne went to Wales on a mission trip, Cole is finishing his masters degree not to mention we had one wedding (Dustin) and are looking forward to another(Cole, not Cheyenne!) I could go on and bore you all with so many blessings to numerous to mention! Our whole family would agree how wonderful God has been this past year!
As I reflect on 2009 and blessings the one thing that jumps out in my life is that this year the Lord has blessed me to call me into the ministry. It is something I had struggled with for a while now and this year I finally surrendered. All praise to God!!!!
I think no matter what happened this past year or might in the next year we must look to God. He is always there for us. When the hard times come (and they will) take comfort God is always there for us. "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt. 28:20
Take comfort friends when the chips are down He is always there! A friend of mine told me yesterday he was alone on Christmas Day, after my wife and I both scolded him for not coming to our house (he more than knew he was welcome) he shared how he worked on a sermon and reminded me he was NEVER alone because God is always there! Praise the name of the Lord!
In this next year remember this passage of scripture; Lamentations 3:22-23
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I hope in some way this passage will give you comfort,hope,and strength, it does me!!! Always remember that as Christians we are not perfect and neither is life-when the storms come(not if but when) God is there!
Happy 2010
I love you and the Lord surley loves you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Him, Brian F
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
From the mouths of babes
Good Monday Morning;
It truly is a beautiful day, just like yesterday was! If one can tell anything about weather forecasts we may be in for a white Christmas. My wife is so excited at that prospect, we havn't had one in several years, I've only seen a few in 50 yrs.
O.K. enough of that.
Well Christmas is upon us I hope everyone has their shopping done and everything ready to go. If you are traveling be very careful and if you are not, pray for those traveling! My stepson and his fiance will be flying to Wyoming so we'll be in prayer for them.
I think I'll keep this blog short this week. I would like to share my experience from last night. The Youth of Bethlehem MBC put on a Christmas program that was one of the most awesome musicals that I have ever witnessed! Am I biased since I am on the pastor's staff at Bethlehem? Sure but I'll tell you this anyone who could've sat through that and not have been moved I feel for them! I think of through out the Bible how God has used children in His work and I am brought to this passage: Mark 10: 13-16 NIV
13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
I think most adults including me could learn alot just from observing children. That child like faith is what the Lord truly wants from us! I have a daughter and I can remember when she was learning to walk, she would start off knowing and without worry that me or her mother was there to watch and protect her from harm. There was no questioning that! she knew we were there!
That's how it is with God. We need to just step out in faith without any worry, no question of the outcome, He's there for us to never let us fall! Isn't that enough to praise Him for?
Give yourself a gift of a renewed faith in the Lord this Christmas; if you don't know Him step out in faith and accept Jesus as your personel savior! John 3:16 BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!
If you don't have or are looking for a church home please give Bethlehem Missionary Baptists Church a prayerful consideration.
Well from my wife Ellen and myself we would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and remember the greatest Christmas gift of all was Jesus, He saved us!
Always remember I love you and the LORD surely does!
In Him, Brian F
It truly is a beautiful day, just like yesterday was! If one can tell anything about weather forecasts we may be in for a white Christmas. My wife is so excited at that prospect, we havn't had one in several years, I've only seen a few in 50 yrs.
O.K. enough of that.
Well Christmas is upon us I hope everyone has their shopping done and everything ready to go. If you are traveling be very careful and if you are not, pray for those traveling! My stepson and his fiance will be flying to Wyoming so we'll be in prayer for them.
I think I'll keep this blog short this week. I would like to share my experience from last night. The Youth of Bethlehem MBC put on a Christmas program that was one of the most awesome musicals that I have ever witnessed! Am I biased since I am on the pastor's staff at Bethlehem? Sure but I'll tell you this anyone who could've sat through that and not have been moved I feel for them! I think of through out the Bible how God has used children in His work and I am brought to this passage: Mark 10: 13-16 NIV
13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
I think most adults including me could learn alot just from observing children. That child like faith is what the Lord truly wants from us! I have a daughter and I can remember when she was learning to walk, she would start off knowing and without worry that me or her mother was there to watch and protect her from harm. There was no questioning that! she knew we were there!
That's how it is with God. We need to just step out in faith without any worry, no question of the outcome, He's there for us to never let us fall! Isn't that enough to praise Him for?
Give yourself a gift of a renewed faith in the Lord this Christmas; if you don't know Him step out in faith and accept Jesus as your personel savior! John 3:16 BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!
If you don't have or are looking for a church home please give Bethlehem Missionary Baptists Church a prayerful consideration.
Well from my wife Ellen and myself we would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and remember the greatest Christmas gift of all was Jesus, He saved us!
Always remember I love you and the LORD surely does!
In Him, Brian F
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Art of Prayer
GOOD MORNING; I truly hope everyone is having a wonderful time preparing for Christmas, it should be a happy time. I heard my wife tell someone a couple of days ago that it was almost like a job anymore to get ready for Christmas, she's right in a lot of ways. We put to much on ourselves this time of year, things that on the grand scale don't really matter! That's enough!
In the past few months the Lord has placed on my heart that we need to get back to prayer. I know we all pray before we eat, at church,family gatherings etc... but I mean getting back to a scriptural prayer life, a way of life!
In the modern church I also believe we must see the need to be a praying body of believers, not just at the regular times but a way of life. We need to learn how first!
Mattthew 6:5-8 NIV
5.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
8.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Here we have our Lord give His very instructions on how to pray. After these verses Jesus goes into what we call the "Lord's Prayer" (I think it should be known as the model prayer, the Lord's prayer is in the garden of Gethsemane). Never the less, Jesus Himself gives very clear instructions on how to pray. In later blogs we'll look more into these instructions.
I, along with my wife Ellen are praying about doing a class at Bethlehem MBC in Pauls Valley on prayer. It will be on a week night so if you feel lead we would love to have you. Please pray for us not only in this class but our entire ministry and for Bethlehem where we attend, I truly believe the most loving church anywhere!!!
Remember the key is PRAYER!!!!!!
I close as always; I LOVE YOU AND THE LORD SURELY LOVES YOU!!!!!!
In HIM, Brian F
In the past few months the Lord has placed on my heart that we need to get back to prayer. I know we all pray before we eat, at church,family gatherings etc... but I mean getting back to a scriptural prayer life, a way of life!
In the modern church I also believe we must see the need to be a praying body of believers, not just at the regular times but a way of life. We need to learn how first!
Mattthew 6:5-8 NIV
5.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
8.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Here we have our Lord give His very instructions on how to pray. After these verses Jesus goes into what we call the "Lord's Prayer" (I think it should be known as the model prayer, the Lord's prayer is in the garden of Gethsemane). Never the less, Jesus Himself gives very clear instructions on how to pray. In later blogs we'll look more into these instructions.
I, along with my wife Ellen are praying about doing a class at Bethlehem MBC in Pauls Valley on prayer. It will be on a week night so if you feel lead we would love to have you. Please pray for us not only in this class but our entire ministry and for Bethlehem where we attend, I truly believe the most loving church anywhere!!!
Remember the key is PRAYER!!!!!!
I close as always; I LOVE YOU AND THE LORD SURELY LOVES YOU!!!!!!
In HIM, Brian F
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tradition or New Law?
I was sitting at my desk this rainy afternoon and thought I would read the book of Galatians. I will admit it is one of my favorite books of the Bible. It gives me real hope that we live by faith and nothing else!
I have been troubled the past few months with the subject of "tradition". We as the modern day church, and this seems to be all churches I have ever seen, have so many rules and regulations on church. Is this just another form of Law? We seem to be still enslaving ourselves to a new law. Jesus did not come, live, and die to establish a new law. I thought He came and died to bring in Grace by Faith!
25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
Gal. 3:25
Why put more burdens on ourselves when it's not the way of scripture?
6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Gal. 5:6
I beleive that we should show respect in all aspects of life, our elders, leaders, and yes most definetly the church facility, I truly don't see it as law.
13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature[a]; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Gal. 5:13-15
I think as Christians we need to "mellow out" a little. We need unchurched coming through the doors and getting saved. Hopfully this will happen and when it does, these dear people will not know the "rules" we have in our flesh established. The new circumcision as I like to call it. If a new Christian does not know our customs they should be approached with kindness, or maybe we could just start right now doing away with tradition, stuff that is not in the Bible any way! I know we think if grandma or aunt & uncle so and so did it that's the way it should be done, but that don't make it Gospel!
This was alot more difficult to write than normal, but I truly felt lead. With that I will end the same way I always do:
I Love You and I know the Lord Loves You!!!!!!!
In HIM Brian F
I have been troubled the past few months with the subject of "tradition". We as the modern day church, and this seems to be all churches I have ever seen, have so many rules and regulations on church. Is this just another form of Law? We seem to be still enslaving ourselves to a new law. Jesus did not come, live, and die to establish a new law. I thought He came and died to bring in Grace by Faith!
25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
Gal. 3:25
Why put more burdens on ourselves when it's not the way of scripture?
6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Gal. 5:6
I beleive that we should show respect in all aspects of life, our elders, leaders, and yes most definetly the church facility, I truly don't see it as law.
13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature[a]; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Gal. 5:13-15
I think as Christians we need to "mellow out" a little. We need unchurched coming through the doors and getting saved. Hopfully this will happen and when it does, these dear people will not know the "rules" we have in our flesh established. The new circumcision as I like to call it. If a new Christian does not know our customs they should be approached with kindness, or maybe we could just start right now doing away with tradition, stuff that is not in the Bible any way! I know we think if grandma or aunt & uncle so and so did it that's the way it should be done, but that don't make it Gospel!
This was alot more difficult to write than normal, but I truly felt lead. With that I will end the same way I always do:
I Love You and I know the Lord Loves You!!!!!!!
In HIM Brian F
Monday, December 7, 2009
Strange Days
Well two things have happened that make me see these days as strange. 1. Tiger Woods scandal, 2. an article I just read directly from the U.N. summit in Copenhagen,Denmark. It read as follows;
"Participants at the Copenhagen global climate summit opened talks Monday at the start of the holiday season, but they won't be surrounded by festive Christmas decor, according to Denmark's Foreign Ministry.
Since Christmas is a religious holiday, it has no place at a United Nations event, said officials planning the event."
I guess one could say the old expression "no such thing as Santa Claus" really applies this year! We now live in a world that has gone so far as to say that an old holiday (alot older than the U.N. or global warming) should be ignored to keep fron offending the people that do not observe it.
I wonder how many people caught the small article (scandal) on how some scientists held data away from other scientists that did not agree with them, by the way they were people in the the sky is falling camp that would not share data.
I was also dismayed at the fall of one of the most celebrated athletes of our time. Tiger Woods wasn't only a great golfer, he had a squeaky clean image like no other athlete in recent years. I'm not throwing stones at this man! What happened to him could happen to anyone. Perfect lives are not what they seem at all.
Truly the only perfect life the world has ever known is that of a carpenter about 2,000 years ago. We gather this month to celebrate His birth! In an age of believing any and everything that comes along I am reminded of the scripture John 14:6: Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Just as true today as ever!
In todays society it would appear that we are being deceived at every corner. It is great to know we still have a freind in Jesus! Just always remember how this blog is always signed off;
I Love You and more importantly the LORD Loves You!!!!!! God Bless You
In Him, Brian F
"Participants at the Copenhagen global climate summit opened talks Monday at the start of the holiday season, but they won't be surrounded by festive Christmas decor, according to Denmark's Foreign Ministry.
Since Christmas is a religious holiday, it has no place at a United Nations event, said officials planning the event."
I guess one could say the old expression "no such thing as Santa Claus" really applies this year! We now live in a world that has gone so far as to say that an old holiday (alot older than the U.N. or global warming) should be ignored to keep fron offending the people that do not observe it.
I wonder how many people caught the small article (scandal) on how some scientists held data away from other scientists that did not agree with them, by the way they were people in the the sky is falling camp that would not share data.
I was also dismayed at the fall of one of the most celebrated athletes of our time. Tiger Woods wasn't only a great golfer, he had a squeaky clean image like no other athlete in recent years. I'm not throwing stones at this man! What happened to him could happen to anyone. Perfect lives are not what they seem at all.
Truly the only perfect life the world has ever known is that of a carpenter about 2,000 years ago. We gather this month to celebrate His birth! In an age of believing any and everything that comes along I am reminded of the scripture John 14:6: Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Just as true today as ever!
In todays society it would appear that we are being deceived at every corner. It is great to know we still have a freind in Jesus! Just always remember how this blog is always signed off;
I Love You and more importantly the LORD Loves You!!!!!! God Bless You
In Him, Brian F
Thursday, December 3, 2009
A or F?
I read this little note on Google this morning, thought I would share.
Reader's Digest, 1949]
Just before Christmas a college professor read the following on an examination paper: "God only knows the answer to this question. Merry Christmas."
Across the paper the professor wrote: "God gets an A, you get an F. Happy New Year."
Remember He is the only perfect one; I love you and the Lord loves you!!!!!!!
In Him Brian F
Reader's Digest, 1949]
Just before Christmas a college professor read the following on an examination paper: "God only knows the answer to this question. Merry Christmas."
Across the paper the professor wrote: "God gets an A, you get an F. Happy New Year."
Remember He is the only perfect one; I love you and the Lord loves you!!!!!!!
In Him Brian F
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tis the Season?
As my wife,Ellen and I sat and watched tv last night I was again amazed at all the fine "new" stuff for Christmas this year. I say new because who would have ever thought of giving sweaters,coffee makers,jewlery,games,toys-well I think you know where I am heading. We give the same ole thing year after year, things we don't need, stuff we all can do with out! Yet we do it anyway in the "spirit of the season".
Christmas is a Christian holiday, one in which we should reflect on the birth of our Savior,Jesus! We have become so PC as to let it be known as "winter festival"; you can't be serious. This is a Christian holiday, maybe if we that call ourselves by HIS name treated it like a Christian holiday (by the way the word holiday comes fron the words holy day) the "world" might take note and not even try this notion of winter festival.
I'll tell one thing, if the PC crowd can't do Christmas, let them have their own holiday. They are more than welcome to work on the 25th of December! Yes they do have their own holiday; April 1, (April Fools Day) "the fool has said in his heart there is no God" Psalms 14:1 Psalms 53:1 KJV.
Let's all try a new approach this year and celebrate CHRIST! I'm not saying to not buy presents(not to worry Ellen,Chey) lets just remember the "reason for the season". We hear that every year but still get caught in the commercial side of it. I'm the worlds worst!
It's great to be back from vacation (ya right)!
I love you all and the Lord loves you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Him, Brian F.
Christmas is a Christian holiday, one in which we should reflect on the birth of our Savior,Jesus! We have become so PC as to let it be known as "winter festival"; you can't be serious. This is a Christian holiday, maybe if we that call ourselves by HIS name treated it like a Christian holiday (by the way the word holiday comes fron the words holy day) the "world" might take note and not even try this notion of winter festival.
I'll tell one thing, if the PC crowd can't do Christmas, let them have their own holiday. They are more than welcome to work on the 25th of December! Yes they do have their own holiday; April 1, (April Fools Day) "the fool has said in his heart there is no God" Psalms 14:1 Psalms 53:1 KJV.
Let's all try a new approach this year and celebrate CHRIST! I'm not saying to not buy presents(not to worry Ellen,Chey) lets just remember the "reason for the season". We hear that every year but still get caught in the commercial side of it. I'm the worlds worst!
It's great to be back from vacation (ya right)!
I love you all and the Lord loves you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Him, Brian F.
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