On Sat, Jan 28, 2023 at 7:45 AM Pancoast's <bpancoast@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Good morning church family,We hope everyone continues to grow in the Grace & Knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. If there are needs with our church family, please make them known.TONIGHT:* Tonight at 6:30 p.m. John Cooper's video series will be shown here at the building – BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT. These first two presentations are primarily about archeological finds that link to history and historical figures. A great opportunity to bring family, friends and begin dialogue about God's wonderful creation and faith.GIVING THANKS:* Randy Springer is back to work. Thanks be to God for his recovery!* Thanks to Mary Lou for organizing the Time for Prayer night. God was glorified and many prayers were lifted up.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
* JoAnne Discala will have shoulder surgery Tuesday. Prayers for the surgeon and team and for all to go well.* Zach and Tori are traveling to Boston. Prayers for a safe trip.* Pat Yaglowski is seeing a Pain Specialist for her chronic pain. Prayers as he works with her to manage the pain soon.* Prayers for Beulah's safe trip to Trinidad. She will be there for one month visiting family.CONGRATULATIONS:* Jose and Karla from the Spanish ministry at the baptism of their daughter Jennifer. We rejoice in her new walk with the Lord!
COMING UP:
* There will be a hymn sing at the Manchester Church of Christ tomorrow, January 29th from 5pm to 7:30 p.m.* The next Tuesday ladies bible study will be February 7th at 9:30. Watch for the zoom link.* Saturday February 11th Ladies devotional at the building and cooking with Gina Porto at 10:00 a.m. “Taste and see that the LORD is good“. Feel free to bring a friend!* Saturday, February 25th Beyond a Reasonable Doubt video series at 6:30 pm. at the building.Tidal River Christian Camp:* Tidal River Christian Camp is having their 50th anniversary! Flyers are on the table in the auditorium. See Pat Keller if you are able to help out at camp this year! Thanks to Pat and all of the TRCC team for providing a wonderful camp experience for our children all these years. They've done a wonderful job and put forth a tremendous amount of work. A truly dedicated team!Rainbows in the bible hold such promise and hope!It doesn't matter how many times we have seen them in the sky, they leave us in complete awe each and every time.This photograph was taken in Rhode Island while we were visiting our daughter Jody. It was a breathtaking scene and the rainbow only lasted a few minutes. Thankfully we were able to take the picture before the rainbow disappeared.Sadly, the symbol of a rainbow today does not have the significance it once had. As sin prevails in this fallen world, and things are re-defined, we must continue to hold unswervingly to our Faith.In the book of Genesis chapter 5, we read the account of Noah. Noah found favor with God for he alone was righteous among the people of his day.Genesis 5:5-8 “The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the LORD said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created – and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground – for I regret that I have made them.” But, Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”We know the story well, but reading the whole detailed account in scripture is inspiring. An abbreviated version is below for the sake of brevity in this email.God saw how corrupt the earth had become, and God gave Noah a tall task. in verse 13 we read, “So God said to Noah, I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out….” God proceeded to provide Noah specific details of what to do. These are mere words on a page, but Noah followed each and every command to a “T”.In verse 17 God said, “I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.“In verse 18-21, “But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark – you and your sons and your wife and your son's wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”In verse 22 we read “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”Genesis 7:24 “The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.”Chapter 8:3 “The water receded steadily from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days, the water had gone down, and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. The waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month, the tops of the mountains became visible.“vs. 15-16, “Then God said to Noah, Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons, and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you – the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the grounds they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.“vs. 20 “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and taking some of the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.“Chapter 9:1 “God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.“9:12-16 “And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”Noah walked with God. Noah obeyed God and was blessed for his obedience.A covenant establishes a relationship between two parties, similar to marriage, when two people commit to a lifetime relationship with one another, until death. The church also parallels a covenant, where followers of Jesus Christ unite together, in harmony and in light of the Gospel message. The covenant between us and God, is a Holy covenant, paid for by the blood of God's one and only Son.God has promised never to flood the earth again and He will keep that promise. However, the scriptures tell us that the at the coming of Jesus Christ, the earth will be destroyed by fire.2 Peter 3:10-13 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.“In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus is quoted through most of this book as he talks about signs of the End of the Age.vs. 3 “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately “Tell us, they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming , 'I am the Christ', and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.“vs. 29-31 “Immediately after the distress of those days, 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. “vs. 36-39 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriages, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”In Revelation 4:3-11 we read about a rainbow which encircles the throne of God…“And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian.A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.Surrounding the throne were twenty-four elders.They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing.These are the seven spirits of God.Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.In the center around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings.Day and night they never stop saying:“Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God Almighty,Who was, and is, and is to come.”Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:“You are worthy, our lord and God,to receive glory and honor and power,for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”The rainbow was given to us as the symbol of hope and the bright emblem of mercy and love.
The rainbow denotes the everlasting covenant between God and us.The rainbow is a symbol of God's faithfulness and mercy..
The rainbow, reflects the beauty and majesty of God.The rainbow reflects God's Glory.Throughout scripture, we read that God keeps His promises!2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”Jeremiah 29:12 “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.“Isaiah 40:29 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.“Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me: your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart“John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.“KEEP SINGING….TO GOD BE THE GLORYTo God be the glory, great things He hath done;So loved He the world that He gave us His son,Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,And opened the life gate that all may go in.Praise the Lord,Praise the Lord,Let the earth hear His voice!Praise the Lord,Praise the Lord,Let the people rejoice!O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,And give Him the glory,Great things He hath done!Oh perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,To every believer the promise of God;the vilest offenders who truly obey,That moment may enter the heavenly way.Praise the Lord,Praise the Lord,Let the earth hear His voice!Praise the Lord,Praise the Lord,Let the people rejoice!O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,And give Him the glory,Great things He hath done!Great things He hath taught us,Great things He hath done,And great our rejoicingThrough Jesus the Son;But purer and higher, and greater will be,Our wonder, our transport,When Jesus we see,Praise the Lord,Praise the Lord,Let the earth hear His voice!Praise the Lord,Praise the Lord,Let the people rejoice!O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,And give Him the glory,Great things He hath done!When a Rainbow appears, let us focus on our Creator who created the heavens and the earth, He who commands the lightning bolts where to go; He who causes the mountains to tremble; He who established a covenant with man and He who promises us that once the trumpet sounds, we will be taken up to eternal glory with Him forever.
When a Rainbow appears, let us remember that God is faithful even during the storms of life, and we have an eternal hope with him in Heaven!1 Peter 3:15- “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, But do this with gentleness, and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all , were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.“Share the saving message of Jesus Christ to everyone, for that is our purpose in this life. It's not at all about us, but about HIM!Revelation 22:7 “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book“Revelation 22:12-13 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”To God be the Glory both now and forever.In Him,Bruce & Paula
