SCARCITIES
October 28 “Scarcities” John 10:10
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Just over two years ago, this nation was experiencing abundance and there was record employment and prices for the average individual were affordable and he were, economically, enjoying the blessings of our labors. What happened? Amazingly, today, we are becoming accustomed to hearing new words to describe our existence. Words like, “Crisis,” and “Scarcities,” and “Shortages,” and “Lack!” From a human perspective, we are told that the most pressing and world changing problem, or “Crisis,” is “Climate Change!” Do you see what is happening? Can you understand the lesson in this “madness?” Oh yeah, where have all the people that were working, just two years ago, gone? This earthly existence is fragile and temporary, and, as “Forgiven Believers,” we must understand the dynamics of this situation, and embrace the promises of our God! Satan, and his minions, are determined to seek and destroy, and to create chaos and disharmony, and to confuse and to divide and conquer, yet our God loved us enough, that He sent Jesus to die for us and to provide the means of redemption and rescue. The scripture for today describes this world perfectly, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Satan is the great deceiver and the champion of doubt and division; however, God loved us enough to empower us to overcome the Evil One and to live “Abundantly,” right here, right now! Please recognize this fact: Circumstances and situations will come and go, and there will be times of prosperity and times of lack, but our Savior has provided the stability and abundance that we need to survive. Satan and this world want to destroy you and to keep you from God! Keep growing in His Grace and Keep growing in His abundant Love and embrace and enjoy the “Abundance” that He brings to the “Forgiven!” REMEMBER…” It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that will determine your altitude!” Regardless of the lack that exists, in this world, we are blessed and bountiful because of God’s Amazing Grace! So, my call today is for us to ACT LIKE IT!!! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…REGARDLESS OF THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THE BEST IS ABSOLUTELY AND MOST ASSUREDLY YET TO BE!!! It Is IMPORTANT that YOU VOTE, SO GO VOTE!!
WE HAVE A CHOICE
October 27 We Have A Choice Joshua 24:15
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “If you don’t want to serve the Lord, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15)
There is one overriding fact: God has invited us to be a part of His Kingdom, to be “Forgiven” through Jesus Christ, to embrace His Love and Grace, to serve Him and to be saved! There is no mistake in His invitation to us! God loved us enough to send Jesus to die for our sins, and He loved us enough to ensure that our lives would be secure, through the Holy Spirit, and He has provided redemption and Grace! He is clear in what He asks of us, and His offer to us is clear! God has left the choice to us! I find it amazing that God has left the choice to us! He loves us, He has provided relief and redemption, He has offered complete salvation, yet He has left it up to us! It is incredible that He has “moved heaven and earth” for us to be in a relationship with Him, and the decision is ours to accept or reject! So much of this life is a done deal! We cannot choose how tall we are, or how large we are, or if we will have a small nose or a “honker!” Praise God! We can, and must, choose where we will spend eternity! This is a BIG choice, this is a CRITICAL decision, and He has left it up to us!
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).” You make decisions every day and the only real and true and lasting and MOST IMPORTANT decision is WHO ARE YOU GOING TO SERVE! But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!!! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE! PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE!
IN THE NAME OF JESUS
October 26 In the Name of Jesus Colossians 3:17
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17)
There is power in the NAME OF JESUS! Throughout the New Testament, the NAME OF JESUS was used to perform great and amazing miracles! Peter and John used the NAME OF JESUS (Acts 3) to heal the lame man. Paul said, “In the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST come out, as he prayed for the girl to be released from the demon. Praise God! The NAME OF JESUS can fix broken lives and heal the sick and restore the afflicted and transform the lost and dying. Believers, we have a powerful opportunity! Just as the disciples used the NAME OF JESUS to effect great changes in the lives of many, we too, have that same opportunity and we have this same POWERFUL NAME TO USE AND TO SHARE! So, live your life with hope and confidence and with the assurance of His Grace and Glory! “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” What can the NAME OF JESUS do for you? Reflect on the lyrics of a Gaither song and embrace the NAME OF JESUS! “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; There's something about that name. Master Savior Jesus, It's like the fragrance after rain. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; Let Heaven and Earth proclaim! Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but There is something about that name!” Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE! REMEMBER TO VOTE!!
BIRTHDAYS FOR OCTOBER 26, 2022
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
NEAL BATTEN
TOM VAUGHAN
JORDAN LILES
TRUST IN THE LORD AND PRAY
October 25 “Trust in the Lord and Pray!” Mark 11:24
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:24)
One of the favorite sayings, from my mother, was that I should always “Trust in the Lord and Pray!” From an early age, I was witness to the necessity and the power of Prayer. Mama would tell me, in every situation, “Pray about it!” As I matured, I came to realize that “prayer” was the key to my survival and that “Prayer” has no limits or boundaries! My God can do everything necessary to guide me and to help me and to allow me to grow in Him. Praise God! He is unique and He is ready to hear my prayers, about anything, at anytime and anywhere! Mama would caution me to understand that my prayers should be “in His Will,” and that I should pray about everything! Just a note: Every prayer that I have prayed to my Savior, He has answered! His answers are “Yes,” “No,” or “Wait on Me!” God loved me enough to sacrifice Jesus, so that I could be saved, and have a relationship with God the Father. So, I am still trusting in the Lord while I am praying and I know that, through the challenges and trials of this life, He hears me, and He will answer in the manner that is best for me! I am excited that my God sees tomorrow, while I can only see today! He sees next month and next year and I am limited in my human prospective, yet I am trusting Him and talking with Him and excited about the future! The longer I live, the more I know that I can Trust Him! By the way…God hasn’t given me everything that I have asked for, over the years! Thank God, that He hasn’t! I can only imagine the mess that I would be in today! Listen, I have struggled when it appeared that I was not going to get my way, and I have wanted to “pout!” Then, there was this voice, a strong and loving voice, that gave me the best instructions: “Trust in the Lord and Pray!” Thank you, Mama, for sharing the Love of God with me! NO ONE knows what is best for me more than my Savior, Jesus Christ! Today, as every day, I place my doubts, burdens, worries at the base of the Cross, and plead the “Blood of Jesus” for these petitions. Trusting in God to be God, and to do what He promised that He would do, is the most amazing and “Freeing” thing! PLEASE VOTE! Please Pray about your vote and vote for the individuals that best represents YOUR commitment to CHRIST and REMEMBER that YOUR POLITICS cannot be SEPARATED from YOUR commitment to CHRIST!! “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8.)” May We Be Singularly Minded, and Totally Committed, as We Serve Our Savior! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CAROL HIMMEL
JOYFUL DIRECTION
October 24 Joyful Direction Psalm 35:9
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation.” (Psalm 35:9)
I believe that everyone would agree that this life is full of ups, and downs, and bumps and twists. It has been said, and I may have said it, “Life is like a Roller Coaster!” If you have been to Disney World and have ridden Space Mountain, you have experienced the twists and turns and the ups and downs of the car as it zooms along the tracks. It is dark, and the next turn or drop or climb sneaks up on you and you must hang on and ride it out. Life is like that! Some hills and valleys and curves that we face are small and we barely notice the movement, and others are huge and create anxiety and dread and fear and hurt and anger. Sadly, when we face these monumental challenges, we react on our feelings, at that moment! Praise God, as a Follower of Christ, we have another option! We can go through life, drifting and aimless in our experience or we can connect with God, through His Son, Jesus, and experience the Life Changing Relationship with Jesus Christ! Keep in mind, our relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ, does not free us from troubles and difficulties and challenges of life, the Good News is that, because of Jesus’ Love, we experience the Peace and Joy that only God can provide. I know that claiming His Provision is better than riding the ups and downs of my emotions and feelings! HE is Steady and I, in my humanity, am not! Please do not place your trust in your feelings! Feelings change like the wind… Trust God and Ask Him for Guidance and His Peace and Strength and Protection and His Joy! As we experience greater and greater challenges to our Faith and beliefs, we MUST claim His Power and Seek His Will and Trust His Word and not our “FEELINGS!” My “feelings” will fail me; God’s Grace and Peace and True Joy will NEVER FAIL!! What God does with us is up to us…Always has, and Always WILL!! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…. THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
** Let’s commit to “PUSH BACK THE DARKNESS,” as we serve God and look for the day when we will see Him, face to face! Let Your Light Shine!! I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE! Exam the candidates and test their stance on the moral and ethical issues of our time, and VOTE! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE! **
THE CHURCH WILL SURVIVE
October 23 “The Church Will Survive” Matthew 16:18
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
Several months ago, I was listening to a radio program, and the featured speaker was speculating about the demise, or in his words, the destruction of the Church. I was intrigued by this “learned” man’s approach to the dismantling of the Church. Wow! How wrong could he be? Regardless of the opinions and the popular thoughts of the present day, the Church will survive! Peter confessed the true nature and purpose of Jesus Christ, when he declared that Jesus is the Promised Messiah, the Son of the Living and All-Powerful God, and that the very foundation of the Church is fixed on Him and His Power to build, maintain and sustain! The Church is built one stone at a time, and each one of us, Followers of Christ, are the living stones that are placed on the foundation of Jesus Christ! The word “Church” is found two times in the Gospels, and the scripture for today is one of those places. Keep this fact in your minds: Jesus is the foundation of the Church, and we are promised that the very gates of Hell will not and cannot prevail against it! Praise God… We will overcome sin, sorrows, and even death, and the destination of the Church is not the torments of Hell, but the Victory of Heaven! The Church has stood through persecutions and trials and tyrants and ignorance and “enlightenments” and everything that Satan can throw at it, yet the Church survives, and is thriving! The very idea that the Church is in “Free-Fall” is preposterous! Jesus Christ is the Secure and Eternal Rock on which the Church is founded and Satan, not any other power can alter the mission of God’s Creation! Jesus is our “ROCK OF AGES” and we have HIS PROMISE! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
** Let’s commit to “PUSH BACK THE DARKNESS,” as we serve God and look for the day when we will see Him, face to face! Let Your Light Shine!! I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE! Exam the candidates and test their stance on the moral and ethical issues of our time, and VOTE!
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES FOR OCTOBER 22, 2022
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
STELLA BOYKIN
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:
LUCAS & HEATHER LANE
PROCLAIMING OUR LORD
October 22 Proclaiming Our Lord Isaiah 61:1-3
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)
This passage is so powerful and prophetic! It is the proclamation of the coming of our Messiah, Jesus Christ! Isaiah, under the power and direction, of the Holy Spirit, tells us of the coming “servant” of the Lord, who will be the ultimate “Preacher” of all time, and he declares the ministry that He will be proclaim. Do you remember the wristbands that had “WWJD” embossed on them? “What Would Jesus Do?” We are told that He will “Preach” the Good Tidings to the Poor, He will heal the brokenhearted, He will proclaim liberty to the captives, and He will open the prison doors for the prisoners. THAT IS TRULY “GOOD NEWS!” When individuals are without Jesus, they are imprisoned in their sin and their hope for freedom is found in the “Preacher” that we call Jesus! Because of God’s Love for humanity, Jesus came to take on our sins, and He, at the Cross, insured our freedom, and allowed us the privilege and responsibility to live, so as, to, honor God, and reflect the Love of Jesus! Folks, as Redeemed Believers, we are to be “Like Jesus,” and that means that we are to be about sharing the Good News and we are to set the captives free and to help the brokenhearted and we are to be about the Father’s Business! Our priorities should and must be about serving God! Paul said, in Romans 1:6 that he is “not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!” We must share the Good News! We must live it out before men! This world is hearing the “Bad” news, how about we share some “Good News!” Let’s commit to “PUSH BACK THE DARKNESS,” as we serve God and look for the day when we will see Him, face to face! Let Your Light Shine!! I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE! Exam the candidates and test their stance on the moral and ethical issues of our time, and VOTE! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
THE BATTLE RAGES
October 21 The Battle Rages Romans 8:6
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)
Make no mistake, there is a great battle going on for absolute control of your mind and your actions! Satan and his minions are aggressively active in the goal of controlling your thoughts and your actions! Our Loving God, through the Gift of Salvation, through Jesus Christ, has given us the capacity to overcome and to experience a taste of the heavenly glory that is to come. When we are redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus, we have the privilege to commune with God and to embrace His Power and Provision, and we are fortified to take on the challenges that are hurled upon us by the Evil One! Be Aware! This Evil and Decaying World is going to attempt to drag us down and to thwart our Godly Influence and to alter our minds, by creating an atmosphere of lust, greed, hatred, criticism, prejudice, and despair! PRAISE GOD! We have the Blessed Holy Spirit that empowers us to face the challenges and to be OVERCOMERS! Believers, refuse to be swayed by the evil that exists! Recognize the battle that rages, avoid the influences of the worldliness that attempts to alter our thoughts, and weigh us down in misery! Stay aware and stay alert, to the wiles of Satan, and Look Upward to Our God for His Power, Provision, Presence, and His Sustaining Grace! I look forward to the day when I am in the presence of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I will be in a strife-free and Blessed life, worshipping and praising God for Eternity! How about you? REMEMBER: 1 John 2:15-17 NIV – “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES FOR OCTOBER 20, 2022
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
CHARLENE PRICE
VICKIE VAUGHAN
LANCE WHEELER
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:
TOM & VICKIE VAUGHAN
KEEPING YOUR EYES ON HIM
October 20 Keeping Your Eyes on HIM John 10:14-15
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know Me – just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father- and I lay down My life for thee sheep.” (John 10:14-15)
Struggles, difficulties, barriers, challenges are the reality of our daily lives! The secret to survival, and the secret of successful living, isn’t a secret, at all! When we navigate through this life, keeping our eyes on the Savior, and trusting Him to clear the way and to secure our walk, and believing that each step that we take is already insured by His Amazing Grace, and when the difficulties are present and the task of living seems too hard to overcome, He, in His Power and Promise, lifts us over the challenges and places us, securely, on solid ground! PRAISE GOD! Even though, we remain aware of the challenges and harsh realities of this lost and decaying world, and we see the depravity of our human existence, the reality, the power, the success in our walk with Christ is found in His Love, His Grace, and His Promises! Regardless of the difficulties of the road ahead, we MUST Trust Him to see us through the Rough Patches of Life, and we MUST embrace His Promises and Enjoy His Presence and Claim His Power to allow us to face each new day with confidence and calm! TO GOD BE THE glory! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
BIRTHDAYS FOR OCTOBER 19, 2022
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
BILL HINNANT
COME TO ME
October 19 Come to Me 1 John 1:5-7
**HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL HINNANT!**
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)
So much of our time is spent in attempting to be what we think others expect us to be! We create barriers of protection, to secure ourselves against the world and its challenges and expectations, and we tend to forget the promises of God and His ability to secure our daily walk! Mama used to tell me that God (and she) sees everything that I do and that I should come into His presence with my defenses down, and my attitude proper, and be ready to be blessed and to receive the manifold blessings of our creator! When I pray, thank you Mama, I feel a sense of relief and the reality of being totally open and exposed before my God. In reality, we have nothing to hide, He sees everything, so come into His presence with the assurance of His Grace and His acceptance of our devotion to Him. Praise God! The relationship that I enjoy with my Savior, is the best relationship that I have, in this life, and I look forward to coming into His presence, in prayer and surrender, daily! When I encounter the false fellowship of those who are participating in the false atmosphere of worldly fellowship and their ability to create a situation of disharmony, both for themselves and for me, I am so excited to come to God, in prayer and supplication, thanking Him for His Grace, His relationship and His Supreme Power, over my life! Dear Friends, living for Jesus is a “Lifestyle,” and a Choice! He Promises that He will take can of us and that He will provide His Rest for our existence! Exodus 33:14 declares this fact: The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest!” Come to Him in complete surrender and relax in His presence and enjoy His bounty and embrace His Promises and Live your Life as a Reflection of His Grace and Glory! Commune with Him, Worship Him, Glorify Him, and watch just how sweet your life will become!!! TO GOD BE THE GLORY! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
BIRTHDAYS FOR OCTOBER 18, 2022
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
LES BROWN
SHELLEY HALES WRIGHT
VICKIE RENFROW
SALVATION
October 18 SALVATION Isaiah 53:12
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)
The birth of Jesus, and His death, was and is a part of the grand plan of Almighty God. Today’s scripture passage comes at the conclusion of the poem that is about being a servant. This servant’s poem prophecies the death of Jesus on the Cross. The sacrificial death of Jesus points out His role as a servant. His glory and eternal blessings are available to those who accept His sacrificial love. The scene here, is of a victorious conqueror, sharing the victory with his allies! However, this victory and this sacrifice, came with a price! Jesus was numbered among the sinners (transgressors), and He divine plan was charged to Him: He bore our sins and He took the penalty of sin and He took it to the Cross, so that you and I can have a relationship with God, through the shed blood of Jesus! He is our intercessor! He is our advocate! He is our Savior! Jesus had provided, in God’s eternal plan, the opportunity to have a fresh start, a second chance! Every one of us are born into sin, and the Love of God, the sacrifice of Jesus, ensures our opportunity for redemption! Jesus died for the sins of the world (that includes ours), and He also died for us, individually! It was our sins, the sins of humanity, that sent Him to the Cross! Victory is won! We have the chance to share in this victory, when we recognize that we are sinners, and we confess our sins, and we ask God, through Jesus Christ, to save us and to sustain us! I thank God for loving me enough to send Jesus to provide the opportunity for salvation and a growing relationship with God. It is my desire, my goal, to honor His commandment, and to “take up my cross,” every single day, and follow Him!
The path to Salvation is simple:
A. Admit you have Sinned!
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 )
B. Believe on Jesus Christ!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17 )
C. Confess Christ Publicly!
“…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
May God bless you as you serve Him! Claim His Victory and Live for Him and Share His Good News! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!