Friday, April 20, 2012

The Wine Press of Life

Good Morning World!


Have you ever felt like life was just crushing you?  Have you ever felt like a little grape being crushed in the press?  I would like to use this analogy to encourage you today.


What are grapes used for?  Juice, Wine, Jelly.  Do we enjoy these products?  Do we know that for the most part they are beneficial to the body? (In Moderation!)  So how do we get these products?  They are crushed, squished, rendered, cooked, boiled just to name a few.  This process of destruction brings forth the sweetest of Juice and is then made into many things!


Your life may seem like it is going through the wringer, but just have faith and trust in God!  You may not like the process, but the outcome will be beautiful and full of flavour! You may be crushed, bruised and thrown from the fire into the frying pan, but remember your problems will only last for a season and joy comes in the MORNING!  His mercy is new every day!


Raise your head, Raise your hands, Lift your voice and let Jesus know that you are holding on!


Yours for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Pastor Fred

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Prayer: Important for your Life!

Good Morning World!  This morning I have had many thoughts I could share, but as I was reading a friends blog I thought that what he had to say was of such import that I wanted to share it.  Prayer is so important!  We must connect in someway with our creator if we are going to find out what His plans and ways are!  We must connect with our creator and Saviour if we are going to discover what must change in our own lives!

http://inbythroughhim.blogspot.ca/2012/04/collective-us-in-lords-prayer.html  Please click and read!

or read below: By Scott Phillips


The collective "us" in the Lords Prayer. 

I use the Lords' prayer in my regular prayer time. 

As I pray the Lord's prayer through, slowly, working through each word and meditating on it's import and point.  I will work my way through to each section and finally will pray the whole thing through.  This might take a few minutes and other times I find it to be a place where I spend much time.   I find it a good way to get my mind and spirit in the mode and spirit of prayer. Repetition is not the point, but introspection.

This morning, it occurred to me, seemed the first time, 

the collective us, we and our in the prayer.

Our Father
Give us
Our Daily Bread
Forgive Us
Our Debts
We forgive
Our Debtors
Lead Us Not into temptation
Deliver us from evil

Jesus taught his disciples to pray that way. To include ourselves and to include others.... Not just to pray for others or to just pray for ourselves, but to pray for both together.

With this in my heart, I continued to pray.  

I at times will sit in different places in the church.  I will sit where certain people or families sit and pray for them, the things I know or discern.

Today while praying, I felt that as I prayed for them... I really needed to pray for myself. 

And I did, for the next short time... I prayed for us. They and Me and Me and them...

Prayer is a singular imperative in leading a successful christian life.  

No doubt, talking to God is important, but praying properly is a more important understanding than simply praying.

"And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."  Luke 11:1

Jesus used this question of the disciples to dispense the greatest wisdom about prayer the Bible has for us.


The importance of the collective approach to prayer

It is easy for us to pray for others what we know because it seems we can easily summarize what we think they need.  It is easy to dispense honest prayer and advice to others, but ourselves, not so much.

"Help them with their temper"
"Help them with their pride"
"Help them with their habits"

And no doubt on the surface it is good to see and pray for the weakness of others.  However, it is even more powerful, when we can see we have a current struggle and while it is good for us to pray for others and their struggles, to deal honestly with our own is even more important.

"Help me with my temper."
"Help me with my pride."
"Help me with my habits."

The point is much more sharper when aimed at ourselves, in that when we pray, we are participating with the individual that has the most power to effect change in THAT situation.

And if my temper is better, my pride is dealt with, my habits positive, that one influence may have more power in influencing the lives of others than all the praying I could do.

I can pray for my wife to be a better wife.  However, if I will be a better husband, it might be easier for her to be a better wife.

Notice the instruction of Jesus concerning two men praying.

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."  Luke 18

It is more important and powerful that we have the insight into our own personal struggles, than the ability to pray for others struggles.   When we have properly, honestly and humbly addressed our own personal needs, we can then address the needs in the lives of others.

Lord help "Us" to do your will and accomplish that which pleases you.

The understanding that even in prayer, we are not alone.  The church is a body and the collective tissues that hold us together is not just the victories we share, but the conflicts we overcome.   

In Jesus Name, 

Scott A. Phillips

www.newbirth.us


Matthew 6
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
 10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
 11Give us this day our daily bread.
 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.



Isaiah 6:5
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man ofunclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Are you comfortable?

Good Morning World! I am going to start with a blunt statement this morning.God hates comfortable Christians!WOW!  That was to the point!  What are you talking about?


Revelation 3:15-18

New King James Version (NKJV)
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,[a] I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (www.biblegateway.com)

While in prayer this morning it dawned on me that I have been a comfortable Christian, and not a vicarious disciple of Jesus Christ!  The problem with being a comfortable Christian is that we don't have true faith in God's power to have a impact in the present. We knew at one time that God had power to save, and we received that Gift, but we have settled into a life that is blessed and comfortable.  We don't give to God beyond our means, and Jesus had much to say about that!

Luke 21:1-5

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Widow’s Two Mites

21 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,[a] but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” (www.biblegateway.com)

We must understand that when we play it safe as a Christian we are not showing that we have faith in God's blessings, power, love and grace!  We must learn that if we are going to become effective and affective that we are going to have to step off the plank of comfortable lukewarmness and dive into the sea of the unknown, and it is there that we are going to find Jesus!

Get of your backside and start serving Jesus today!

Yours for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Pastor Fred



Monday, April 16, 2012

Purposed Righteousness!

During my Bible reading this morning I read a verse that I plan to integrate into my life!


Psalm 17:3b ..."I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress"


This should be a life verse for everyone!  David the great psalmist wrote some of the most poignant literature that there is, and this is no exception.  I wonder what would happen in this world if people would begin to purpose that they were going to talk right?


Just like the old quote, "you are what you eat," the same is true, "you are what you speak!"  We must learn to use right words.  Let us not be crass and obnoxious, but let us learn to speak with wisdom, thought, understanding and tact.


The lost art of being tactful is all but gone, and people don't seem to care what they say or write to each other.  This is a degradation of society that is really a shame.  We must purpose in our own minds that we are going to do what is right.  We must purpose that we are going to take responsibility for our own actions, words and ways.  We must purpose that we are going to do what is necessary to change our lives!


Did you know that you have available the greatest asset to a mind set and life change?  His name is Jesus!  He has offered us all the resources and help that we will ever need to have a fulfilled and successful life.  Jesus gives us assistance through the power of His Holy Spirit and ministering angels.  Through a daily lifestyle of prayer and Bible reading and study we can gain all the insight and instruction that we need to life a peaceable and successful life!


Don't ever complain that you are alone in this life, because Jesus is just a prayer away!


Your's for the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
Pastor Fred

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Back In The Saddle

Good Day to everyone today!  I've been away from the blog for quite a long period of time, but I'm back in the Saddle!  I've been busy getting Green Bay Digital our printing business established both online and offline, and we are well on the way.  Also, I've been working at getting The Sanctuary of Truth back online, and I believe we are well on our way toward that goal too!
God has certainly blessed us, and with the help of Google and a few online friends such as UCStreaming.net we are hoping to start broadcasting our services live over the net so we can effectively affect our society, community, province, nation and World!
This blog has been read by many people over the past few years from all over the world, and I want to continue this ministry with a pray that we may affect as many people as possible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
So stay close and come back often you may be surprised one day to be able to watch us live!

Yours for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Pastor Fred

Something to Laugh About!

Pastor Fred Online: Sermons & Puppets

Our Prayer Family: A List of Prayer Requests

  • Newfoundland & Labrador! That a wave of God's Spirit would flood this great province!
  • Your Neighbors, that Jesus would save their souls!
  • Springdale, Newfoundland: Pray that God's Spirit would awaken souls to their need of salvation and continued spiritual growth. Also, pray that Pastor Fred can teach many Home Bible Studies.
  • Pastor Fred and his family: Pray for Health, Strength, Inspiration, Revival and that God will lead him to many hungry souls
  • The Country You Live in: Pray for Salvation, Revival, Missionaries and the Moving of God's Spirit

Weekly Prayer for A Country on my counter:

Please pray with me for the country that is in focus each week. Thank You and may God richly bless your prayer life.


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A Prayer for Canada:



This week Lord Jesus we bring the country of Canada. Let the revival of your Word and Name sweep across this vast dominion. Let all ethnic groups that now call this great land home become hungry for something more, and find YOU! Let the Church arise to become the bastion of Truth that it is meant to be. Let you people become the light and power that spreads your Gospel throughout all this land!
We ask this all in the Name of Jesus Christ -- Amen!