Advent 2023 (Wk 1)
A Return to Bethlehem
The Kidz Zone Time Machine with Cyndi
And the government will a]rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
Quotes from a version by Casting Crowns (verse 4)
The little Lord Jesus, lay down His sweet head
Lord of all creation, lay down His sweet head
The Savior of the nation, lay down His sweet head
at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For one will hardly die for a righteous man;
though perhaps for the good man
someone would dare even to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood,
we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
Cyndi & Jody sit with the children and share about the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth.
If you would like to watch this presentation on YouTube, click HERE.
If you prefer the entire service with music and announcements, etc., click HERE.
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Seize the Moment – Day 1337
Focus on what Matters Most!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, November 14.
Did you know that in today’s world you can be busy doing nothing? Are you utilizing the precious time you have to focus on what matters most? Proverbs 31:10-31 captures a description of “an excellent wife,” but what it really does is teach us what the life that embodies wisdom looks like. The conclusion of the matter is found in Proverbs 31:30-31, with a characterization of a person who lives according to the fear of the Lord, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” These are the concluding words of the book of Proverbs, a summarization of the theme of Solomon’s wisdom – a wise person lives according to the fear of the Lord.
Take some time today to meditate upon this description of a godly life, seeing how important the wise use of time is for each of us. How are you investing your time? What matters most to you? If time is your best expression of love, to whom are you giving this exquisite gift? If I were to write a short story about your life, what would it sound like based on how you are investing your time and energy? Are there things you would like to change? Consider taking active steps today to do this because you do not know how much time is left that can still be rearranged. Today is a gift!
Seize the moment and apply the wisdom of Proverbs 31: focus on what matters most by cultivating the character of a godly person, and you will reap a harvest of praise to God by bearing the good fruit of the Spirit in your life, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
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Seize the Moment – Day 1336
Ask God for His Will to be Done!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, November 13.
What are you asking God for and why? What are the motivations of your prayer life? In Proverbs 30:7-9, Agur petitions God, “Two things I asked of You, do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.” He asked for a life of integrity, and a life of contentment. Both of which he desires so that he may honor God with his life. Motives matter when we petition God, as James 4:3 explains, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
Prayer is a gift from God. He desires to be in a personal relationship with you, and He wants to hear from you. We are to approach God in the name of Jesus, which means we are to ask Him in accordance with His character and will, as revealed to us through His Word (John 14:14; 15:16; 16:23-24). In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in a new way:
Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Seize the moment and apply the wisdom of Proverbs 30: ask God for His will to be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven!
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
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Seize the Moment – Day 1285
Today’s song focus will be
What a Beautiful Name
Colossians 1:15 (NASB95)
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”
Brooke Fraser Ligertwood had been writing songs before she was even a teenager. She came to the Lord at the age of 15 in her home country of New Zealand. She later moved to Sydney, Australia where she joined Hillsong Worship, helping to write songs like ‘Desert Song’, ‘Hosanna’, and ‘None but Jesus’. In 2015, she co-wrote “What a Beautiful Name” with Ben Fielding, which went on to receive a Grammy award. She said they wanted to create a song that brought a balance of sound theology and personal lyrics of what that means for the individual worshipper.
What a beautiful Name it is.
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King.
What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this.
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
We need to wake up each morning declaring our worship to the One who gave everything for us so that we could have the abundant life that can only be found in Him.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
What a Beautiful Name
Verse 1
You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ
Chorus 1
What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
Verse 2
You didn’t want heaven without us
So Jesus You brought heaven down
My sin was great Your love was greater
What could separate us now
Chorus 2
What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
Bridge
Death could not hold You
The veil tore before You
You silence the boast of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring
The praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again
You have no rival
You have no equal
Now and forever God You reign
Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names
Chorus 3
What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
Tags
What a powerful Name it is The Name of Jesus
What a powerful Name it is The Name of Jesus
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Missionary: Jim White
Faith (And what it takes to live in Faith)
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
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Ed Bell’s Testimony Sept 10, 2023
Ed Bell, Husband, Father, Farmer and Speaker.
Little things make a big impact!
Deb and I were dating and thinking about getting serious. She had a former boyfriend who couldn’t take no for an answer. Deb was a nurse and had moved into an apartment. She invited me over to see it.
My life was changed forever on Sept 5, 1982.
Her boyfriend shot at the apartment and drove off. The police came and told us to stay put. I had driven the farm truck that weekend and I had a 22 rifle and took it into the apartment. Her boyfriend came back and broke all the windows out of the truck. He climbed up to her balcony.
Deb hid in the closet and dialed 911. He kicked at the sliding glass door. He had a trench knife and a large pistol. He dropped the knife as he kicked. The door latch broke and he came in. He said, “Kill me, Ed.” Ed had his rifle and knew he had the right to kill him. Ed wouldn’t kill him. He grabbed Ed’s rifle and Ed heard a “boom”.
They continued to struggle. Ed shot him in the leg and it made him angrier. Ed fell over and he shot Ed point blank while he lay on the floor. Ed tried to shoot him but the rifle jammed. He shot Ed again and hit him in the collar shattering vertebrae paralyzing him. It was a 44 special hollow point. The blood was pouring out of his body (he lost half of his blood supply) and Ed could hear it hitting the floor.
He was passing out and could hardly breath. He was sure he was going to die. He could only think of all of his dreams. He feared for his parents’ reaction. He even wondered if his science teacher was right – there is nothing after death. But he said “NO!, I believe in Jesus”. His sins passed before his eyes. “No, I believe in Jesus! I’ve got nothing but Jesus!” I remembered the song, Jesus Loves Me. The blood stopped!
He had to learn to do things all over again.
God has called Ed to till the soil and cultivate people whenever he gets the chance.
Ed took the chance to challenge us…
Romans 15:28-29
Matthew 16:24-26
Galatians 2:20
Isaiah 57:11-13
“Get planted where you are, grow, make fruit. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind – and tell the world.
It’s that simple. Do it now. Repentance isn’t you crying. It’s you changing.
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
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Seize the Moment – Day 1250
Today’s song focus will be
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
John 3:16-17 (NASB95)
““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did
not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might
be saved through Him.”
Today’s song was written by Christian Worship Leader Stuart Townsend in an effort bring our focus on our Lord more than ourselves. He desired to help believers to put Christ as the center of our worship, no matter the situation. Many times, our
emotions try to be the center when, if we put Christ as the center, we will never be disappointed.
How deep the Father’s love for us, How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.
We need to wake up and focus our worship on the One Who did so much for us. Our worship should never be self-seeking or self-serving, making it all about how we feel or what we need. Our worship should be focused on the One who deserves our highest praise…our wonderful, omnipotent God. Then our emotions will be a by-product of that focus.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.
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FBC Church Picnic
Sin, God’s Divine Mercy and Our Answer To It
By Grace Through Faith
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Outline of Message:
You can watch just the message by clicking HERE.
You can watch the entire worship service by clicking HERE.
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Seize the Moment – Day 1224
Faithful to All Generations!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, July 24.
God is faithful to all generations! As I care for the older members of the congregation I serve, I do so with thanksgiving in my heart for the legacy of faith they have passed down to the next generation. From my perspective, apart from God’s faithfulness through them there would be no church for me to pastor. God uses people in every generation to demonstrate His faithfulness. We need to stop our incessant busyness and take time to thank the people from our families, churches, and communities who have been faithful in their generation to pass on their legacy of faith, hope, and love.
I have been on pastoral staff at two churches, and both times I helped the church celebrate their centennial. Both times, the theme verse came from today’s psalm, specifically Psalm 100:4-5, which proclaims, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” When a congregation looks back over a hundred years of gospel ministry, there is only one right emotion – thankfulness to the God who is faithful to all generations! How does a church make it to their centennial? From my experience, it takes faithfulness – His and ours! Who are the faithful people who have come before you? Thank them! Who are the faithful people in your generation? Be one of them and pass it on to the next generation of faithful followers of Jesus (2 Timothy 2:2)!
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 100, meditating upon the faithfulness of God to all generations, giving thanks for all He has done in your family, church, and community. Take time today to reach out to an older person and tell them thank you for being faithful. Send a card. Make a phone call. Go and visit. Be faithful!
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
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Seize the Moment – Day 1203
Where Righteousness and Peace Kiss!
Psalm 85
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, July 3.
When we speak of mercy and truth as well as righteousness and peace being reconciled in God because of the work of Jesus Christ, we imply that somehow they are in conflict. But the qualities in God are never in conflict, and the psalm is certainly not speaking of a conflict. On the contrary, love and faithfulness, righteousness and peace are always at home in God, and it is from this divine harmony that all other harmonies come. We have peace only when we rest in him.[1]
You can trust that the same God who sent His only begotten Son to save you from your sins will show up in your circumstances today. Whatever you are going through, don’t let doubt or fear cause you to become double-minded about God’s salvation. James 4:8 invites you, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Rest in God by trusting Jesus and His atoning sacrifice where righteousness and peace kiss in your life.
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 85, meditating upon the perfection of God’s salvation on the Cross of Calvary.
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
FOOTNOTE:
[1] James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 42–106: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 700.
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