We Can Do It!

“… the LORD is with us: fear them not” (Numbers 14:9 KJV).

When the Israelites were in Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 13), Moses sent 12 spies into the land to check it out.  The majority (10) came back with a discouraging and negative report: “We can’t do it.  We checked it out, and we are like grasshoppers in front of the giants of the land.”  But Joshua and Caleb went to the same land, saw the same giants, and probably experienced the same initial fear, but their report and recommendation was different: “We’re no match for them, but they are no match for God.  We can do it!”  Joshua and Caleb were honored for their faith.  That’s why they got to enter into the Promised Land while the other spies didn’t.

When we begin to worship God, when we praise Him, when we honor Him, when we hallow His name, our vision will be expanded.  We will be come more visionary—in business, in family, and in the church.  We will see life not in the little narrow, limited areas, but we will begin to see that part of our lives expand into what God wants to do through us.

Yes, there will be challenges and it will not always be easy, but our God is bigger.  Let’s Go Forward Together—We can do it!

(Adapted from Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God by Dr. David Jeremiah)

Basics of Life

Baptismal Service

On Sunday, October 23, we will have a baptismal service at the Bread of Life Rescue Mission immediately following our morning worship service at the TAD Center. 

Water baptism is a necessary act of obedience to Jesus Christ for those who have repented of their sin and confessed Jesus Christ as Lord of their life.  Jesus commanded His disciples to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”  (Matthew 28:19 KJV). 

Water baptism has no power to wash away sins, but is the answer of a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21) and represents for the believer an identity with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord (Romans 6:3-5).

Water baptism is the outward evidence of our submission to Christ in salvation and our public declaration that we are His followers.  It identifies us with His people in His kingdom.  (See also Acts 2:41; 10:47, 48; and 16:30-33).

An Awesome Church

New Beginnings Family Outreach Ministries is truly a diverse group of people. We have people from various “church backgrounds”: Baptist, Methodist, Church of God of Prophecy, Church of Christ, and many who don’t have a “church” background at all. How is it that people from such varied backgrounds can come together? The answer is quite simple! We don’t spend our time focusing on non-essential things. We come together simply to worship our Lord and seek to know Him better. HE is the reason we can come together in unity. If you don’t have a church home, we invite you to join us next week. Feel free to check out our website at www.newbeginnings-crossville.org for more information.

Fellow Workers for Christ

(The following was taken from “Sanctuary: Devotions for Every Day of the Year” by Dr. David Jeremiah).

“I think I ought to send my dear friend Epaphroditus back to you. He is a follower and a worker and a soldier of the Lord, just as I am. You sent him to look after me” (Philippians 2:25 CEV).

Epaphroditus was a fellow worker in the body of Christ, which is another reason why Paul was so fond of him.  Paul was without question a worker, and he was attracted to others who gave their all to the advancement of the gospel.

In the spirit of love, I must ask you the same thing I ask myself and those whom I pastor in my church:  Are you a worker?  If you are a Christian, I know you are a brother or sister.  But I want to know if you’ve moved beyond that point and become a worker for Christ.  Unfortunately, many in the body of Christ today are looking for the church that offers them the most services.  Who do they think provides all those services if not workers just like themselves?  If they do find a church offering what they are seeking, then they conclude, “This church is large and has everything all together.  They don’t need me to do anything.”  That perspective reflects a definite lack of knowledge about the church of Jesus Christ and it’s needs.

Every church needs its members to be workers.

Homesteads Apple Festival

New Beginnings will be participating in the Homesteads Apple Festival this year.  We will be selling Old Fashioned, Homemade Apple Butter.  The Apple Festival is September 24 and 25.   We hope you’ll stop by and say hello….and take home a jar of apple butter.

Onward!

Ok, it is abundantly clear to me that the enemy is very angry at what God is doing at New Beginnings. That doesn’t surprise me, though, and it doesn’t bother me either. I am confident in the God I serve! He has proven Himself over and over again in my life, and I trust Him.

The enemy is simply using some of the same old weapons he’s used against the people of God in every age: Fear, discouragement, shame. He used these tactics against the children of Israel through Goliath, and it worked…to a point. King Saul wouldn’t go out against him, he was afraid. The mighty men of war could be found hiding in fear, disheartened and discouraged by the taunts and stature of this giant-of-a man. Undoubtedly they were ashamed that they felt so powerless.

When David arrived on the scene he simply couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Here is this giant berating and challenging the armies of God and all the warriors were hiding. David went before the King and began to recall how God had used him in the past as he was taking care of his fathers sheep—a lion and a bear had each dared to take his sheep, but he boldly went out and faced those enemies and killed them. This giant would be no different.

I absolutely refuse to just lay down in fear and allow the enemy to intimidate me. Greater is He that is in me… I will not fear… I am not discouraged… I am not ashamed… There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
Today, I’d like to encourage you to stand up with me in the power of the risen Christ and let us PRESS FORWARD…TOGETHER.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never ’gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Just a reminder that New Beginnings will be meeting at the Crossville Housing Authority Center tomorrow at 10 a.m.

http://mapfling.com/qn7am2t

God's Comma's

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV).

Someone has said, “We often put periods were God often puts a comma.” What a true statement! Many times we experience devastating situations and circumstances (be it in our families, home, church, state, nation or in the world); that may appear to be the end, and we become discouraged and disheartened. In the midst of such situations, we must learn to trust God and know He has the final word, and what looks like a period, an end, is an opportunity for God to come on the scene.

In grammar, periods and commas both perform very important functions. While the period serves to tell us to stop, or that we are at the end of a thought, commas perform a variety of functions. One of these is “to keep ‘time’ in the musical score of a sentence. To pause or not to pause? That is the question.” Commas serve to remind us that there is more to come, that the thought is not finished.

Throughout the course of human history God has moved in the lives of people in the midst of situations where it seemed a period had been placed. Joseph the son of Jacob had such a life. He ran into periods that seemed would be the end of it all, but God turned those periods into commas. Placed in a pit to die by his own brother, while on a mission for his father, sold as slave, imprisoned falsely for rape, forgotten by fellow prisoners and friends, it seems, until God’s perfect time for him to come forth. When facing his brothers after his father’s death Joseph revealed God’s purpose of all the commas of his life.

“And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50:19-20 KJV).

All that Joseph faced through his life was bringing him to the place where he could be used to save his family and ultimately bring salvation to the world as an heir of Abraham and ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Job is another example of the commas of God. His wife and friends encourage him time and time again give up. They saw periods. They thought all was over when his children, home and possessions all destroyed.

As with Joseph’s life God had the last word, and turned Job’s periods into commas.
God promises to take life’s periods, and change them to commas if we will trust Him in the midst of our trials and storms. As we look at examples of those who have gone before us, who placed their trust in God, we can see how God brought them through, and we can know that He will do the same for us, too.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. {12} Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. {13} You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. {14} I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile" (Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV).

This text reminds us of God’s love and care for us. In the midst of all of life’s periods—dead ends, detours and diversions—God’s plans for our lives will be fulfilled as we trust Him and walk according to His Word.

Dr. Tom Renfro's Miraculous Healing

The following video is a powerful testimony of God's healing power. I hope it will encourage and strengthen the faith of all those who are trusting God for your healing.

WHAT IF…

What if every Christian…

…Stopped thinking and speaking negative words about others and started speaking positive words of hope and promise?

…Stopped having unreasonably high expectations of others and started doing something themselves?

…Stopped living their lives based on fear and started living their lives based on faith in Jesus Christ?

…Stopped talking so much about God and started talking more to Him?

…Stopped focusing on religion and started focusing on their relationship with Christ?

The world is experiencing tremendous political unrest. Economies are declining. People are struggling. Families are crumbling. Millions of people are fearful, hurting and lonely. They are searching for peace….for something on which to hang their hope.

What would happen if every Christian were to truly model the New Testament lifestyle? How would the world (and our own families) be affected by such an attitude adjustment?

What if…we gave it a try?

Fill My Way With Love

George W. Sebren

Let me walk, blessed Lord, in the way Thou hast gone,
Leading straight to the land above;
Giving cheer everywhere to the sad and the lone,
Fill my way every day with love.

REFRAIN:
Fill my way every day with love,
As I walk with the heav'nly Dove;
Let me go all the while with a song and a smile,
Fill my way every day with love.

Keep me close to the side of my Saviour and guide,
Let me never in darkness rove;
Keep my path free from wrath and my soul satisfied,
Fill my way every day with love.

Soon this race will be o'er and I'll travel no more,
But abide in my home above;
Let me sing, blessed King, all the way to that shore,
Fill my way every day with love.

Daylight Saving Time

New Beginnings Website

We have a new online presence!  Yes, New Beginnings Family Outreach Ministries can now be found on the world-wide web.  You can check it out at www.newbeginnings-crossville.org .

While the site is not complete at this time, our goal is for people who may be looking for a good church to attend, to be able to visit this site for information such as:

• · Who we are
• · Where we meet
• · What to expect on your first visit
• · What ministries we offer,
• · And much more

I invite you to check it out and offer any feed-back you might have. 

Special Announcement

Due to a scheduling conflict with the TAD Center, New Beginnings Family Outreach Ministries will be meeting at the Crossville Housing Authority Center (67 Irwin Avenue, Crossville, TN) on Sunday morning, March 6, 2011.  Fellowship with coffee and donuts will begin at 9:30, and the morning worship will begin at 10:00 a.m. 

Don’t Quit

I was filing some things today and came across a poem I used in a sermon last year.  Just thought I’d share it here.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
- Author unknown

We Are Not Defeated!

“What is going on?” This is a question I’ve been asked several times in the last few days as we have seen a number of accidents as well as sickness in our small-but-growing church. In recent weeks three ladies from our church have fallen and been temporarily incapacitated in some way. There has been sickness in several families. If it were just one or two, we might be able to dismiss it as simply being “part of life,” but the fact that it seems so pervasive in this church, I believe, is indicative of something else.

New Beginnings has been experiencing tremendous growth in the past few months—spiritually and numerically. This growth is the work of the Holy Spirit. He is birthing in our hearts a passion for Christ. As a result, this is a congregation that is willing and eager to do the work of ministry, and we are seeking other opportunities to reach out to people in need. Of course, the enemy is going to fight back.

Someone sent me a text the other day saying, “…the devil must really be mad at our church, he is trying to put us all out of commission.” And that certainly appears to be the case. What, then, will we do? Will we allow him to gain the upper-hand? No, no, no—a thousand times no! Here are a few passages of Scripture that have come to mind:

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you  (James 4:7 KJV)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world  (1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints   (Ephesians 6:10-18 KJV)

In spite of the adverse circumstances we face on a regular basis, we will trust in the Lord, submit to His will and go…Forward Together!

A Kind Word

The other day as I was leaving the hospital, a lady commented on my “cheerful attitude.” We talked for a moment, and then I wished her a good day. Her final comment to me was, “thank you for cheering me up.” I must confess, that made my day, too!

Too often we focus more on ourselves than on the people the Lord sent us to minister to. (I’m not always “cheerful chipper” either). In our selfishness, though, we miss countless opportunities to touch the lives of others in a positive way.

If we could just stop focusing on our own needs and desires so much we might see that people are struggling—emotionally, physically, spiritually. They are everywhere! They are the ones behind the counter/cash register in the department store, in the gas station and grocery store, in waiting rooms and gift shops. Almost everywhere you go you’ll see them. Sometimes it is very obvious, and sometimes it is not so obvious. These people may not always come right out and say, “I’m struggling,” but if you listen, the tenor of their conversation will give it away.

Let me encourage you today to pay attention to others as you go to work, school, shopping, etc. Keep a cheerful attitude and speak a kind word. You never know what impact you might have in doing so.

He Shall Direct Thy Paths

We live in a very hectic and chaotic world.  Often one can feel overwhelmed by all the “gloom and doom” and be drawn into an attitude of discouragement, frustration, and even fear. One may begin to rationalize and try to figure things out and attempt to set a better course for ones own life.

But for the child of God, this ought not to be! Our God has proven that He cares. Throughout the Scripture we see evidence of His strength and power in coming to the rescue of those whose hearts were turned toward Him. Even in our own lives we can surely recall times in which it was clearly the “strong hand” of the Lord that brought us through.

God has promised overcoming power to His children, but He cannot give it to us when we are trying to do things our own way.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths  (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).

The Threshing Floor

Tomorrows sermon will focus on how to live a life of surrender and submission to the Lord that will bring His favor and blessing into our lives.  The Threshing floor, in the bible, speaks of a place of meeting, a place of purging, a place of worship, a place of blessing and deliverance. 

If you don’t have a regular church home, we invite you to join us tomorrow at the TAD Center.  We serve coffee and donuts at 9:30, and our worship service begins at 10:00 a.m.