Manna~Fest

If you get this program, Manna~Fest, you probably already have heard this show in the series. It is hosted by Perry Stone, and he has featured his father, Bro. Fred Stone several times. This one really grabbed my attention. Hope you enjoy this quick outline. The series airing now is called "Supernatural Encounters in the Last Days."

Bro. Stone, Sr. told of an incident several years before where he had a special visitation of the Lord. He was on his knees praying and the Holy Spirit came upon him so mightily that he was allowed to look into Heaven. His inner man was taken up and he saw a great Library full of huge, beautiful books. One was titled, "The Mighty Acts and Words of Jesus". This book contained Christ's preaching that was not recorded in the Bible. John 21:25, which is the very last verse in the book of John, says "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written."

Bro. Fred found in this particular book, for instance, the Sermon on the Mount. The Holy Spirit put into the Bible what He wanted us to read, but there are millions of words and sermons of our Lord Jesus. Many preachers get so inspired today as God pulls some of Jesus' teaching and people will marvel at some of this preaching. They ask, "where did that come from?". It's like our Pastor tells us, the Bible is an endless stream of God's truth! To think the King of Kings would give us His divine Words of Life, what a precious gift is ours for the taking! Awesome!

God is no respecter of persons, we only need to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Bro. Fred Stone, Sr. said we should be true to God always, no need to worry about the ups and downs, the sweet times and the sour times of life. This dear man of God, now in his late 70's, talked about how quickly his life had passed, seemed like no time at all. Always keep the Lord first and stay true to Him and His Plan for our lives because we are going home soon. We will see those we have loved and gone on ahead, we will see the Holy Angels, and we will finally see the wonderful face of Jesus, who loved and died for us, and lives evermore!!!

Just a few thoughts....

How sweet the time we take to just enjoy the presense of the Lord of Hosts, to bask in His infinite love and mercy, to read the Word and ponder the greatest story ever told. What mercy He bestows upon man, who has failed God at every turn, yet He loved us enough to give the very best He had for us. Amazing Grace!!!

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Ps 37:4

"The joy of the Lord is my strength." Nehemiah 8:10

"If we say we have no sin, we decieve ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8,9.
In our Christian life too, practice makes perfect-when you fall and fail, confess it to the Lord and try again-He remembers we are dust.

Our God is an awesome God!!

Someone once asked, why do we run from the only One who can help us? Waiting on the Lord is not giving up, it is only putting it in God's hands. Lord, help us to realize we can't fix everything, we need Jesus every minute of every day. If we have a heart tuned to hear the words of the Lord, and desire to cleave to Him, we will face the rage of Hell itself-but that battle is the Lord's. He will fight it for us.

"Don't worry about what you don't understand of the Bible, worry about what you DO understand and don't live by." Billy Graham

Close to His Heart

How often do we stray from the ways of the Lord only to face defeat in our lives? God desires for us to walk near Him and trust Him for every battle we face, and He wants us to share our joys with Him. Our God is as close as a whispered prayer.

This message was given for another time and place, but is just as fresh today as it was then:

"Ye shall be victorious only to the degree that ye trust Me. I can help thee only as ye ask. Only as ye WALK shall the waters of adversity be parted before thee. I need those who have proved My sufficiency to lead the suffering to the fountains of Life."

My, how precious are the promises of the Lord, how comforting are His words, how gentle His love for His children. Knowing Jesus, and being wrapped up in the sweetness of the Holy Spirit, how could we help but love and obey the One who gave His all to buy our pardon! Lord, help us all to keep You close in our hearts and rest secure, knowing that in all our days, whether they are filled with laughter and joy, or seem to be only one long night of sorrow, Your boundless love sustains us. No matter what!

Proverbs 3:5,6-
"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."
Read a little bit of Proverbs, and you'll see right away that the whole book is speaking of wisdom and foolishness. All wisdom comes from the Father, and we sure do make a mess of things when we go our own way.

I know I've found that out too many times. Thank you, Lord, for not throwing me aside in my own selfish, and foolish mistakes. Thank you for your love and mercy, for the Word tells us: His mercy endureth forever!!! AMEN and AMEN!!

Singing, Singing!!!

In case you never noticed before, WCFC is overflowing with musicians!!! Bro. Todd is a great singer and guitar player, as is his son, Austin. That young man is awesome, just wonderful on guitar. Todd often leads the singing and also teaches the adult SS class. Joan is so annointed on the keyboard and a good singer also. (We just want to hear more from her).

Sunday morning Janice McDaniel honored us with a beautiful song that speaks to the heart: In the good times and in the bad, give Him thanks!! What a precious message in song. For a very long time, Janice didn't really want to sing as she had in the past, but since coming to our church, the Holy Spirit gave her back that desire! Glory to God!! She has such a talent and how like the Lord to restore what the enemy has taken away. Janice told us about an unexpected direction her life took when her son, Joseph, was only 16 months old. Newly divorced with a child to raise and with no job, life didn't look easy to her. However, the Lord had a plan. She did get a job and then went on to a teaching career, and was a loving and devoted mom to her son. That child is now in his 30's and just recently had lost his job and had his heart broken by his fiance'. When all looked so grave for him, he gave his heart to the Lord and is now testifying to the grace and mercy of God-Praise the Lord!!!! When Joseph had lost his job, he went for an interview-so had 2,000 other people. Guess who got the job? Yes, Joseph!!! That song on Sunday was perfect. In the good times and in the bad, give the Lord praise. Her scripture for strength in the hard times is Joshua 1:9. "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
Thank you, Janice, for your witness and encouragement through your own trials.

Jennifer was here Sunday night and she sang "My Spirit pants for You" She has a beautiful voice and we are always glad to see her and especially love it when she sings to us.

Sunday night was also testimony time. Is there ever a time when we shouldn't praise Him? It is so important for our walk with the Lord to give Him praise even when we are hurting and don't feel much like ANY kind of praise. Maybe that's the test of our faith-to thank Him when we want to do anything but praise. The Word tells us that we are strengthened by honoring our Father at all times. God has a reason for His commandments to us. It lifts us up as well as being the way UP and out of our depths of despair. His plan for us is to give us peace and show us a better way to live.

Have you ever heard of "AngelFood"? Not me, but Carol Barton knows all about this program and is leading us in this ministry. She was in charge of this at the Haleyville COG. She gave out the printouts of the November Menu and it is something that looks good. There is a Signature Box, that will feed a family of four for 1 week, a Senior Box, Allergen-free Box, Thanksgiving/Holiday Box, and 4 November Specials. If you need more information, please call Carol @ 486-4868. Thanks to her for taking on this project-may the Lord richly bless you for your faithfulness!!! (Noone even asked her to do this-WOW)

A Lesson from the Potter's House

This morning, Bro. Dewayne sang such a precious song called, "He didn't throw away the clay."

Isaiah 64:8 reads:
"But now, O Lord, thou are our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand."
Potters are one of the oldest known craftsmen throughout history. The Lord used them to illustrate His points in teaching His children of His ways. Potters had a place where they would just toss out clay that couldn't be used. Often we look at certain people and wonder why God doesn't throw them away. We need to consider His Word concerning our own usefullness, and how we are like clay in His hands.

1. God thinks about you. He knew all about you before you WERE! The Holy Spirit can accomplish what He wants to do and succeed through you-if you follow Him. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that the Lord knows the thoughts He has toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil. When will we learn to put our lives in His hands, to be molded to His will?

2. God puts His eyes on you. He looks at the real you and sees the finished product. Pray that God's eyes are on you, delivering you from evil. Respect Him, fear the Lord, talk to Him and study His Word daily.

3. God puts His feet on you. The potter had to mix the clay with water, walk on it, sifting and squeezing out the rocks and debris, softening it, refining the clay. When it is cleaned of the impurities, He walks on it on the floor. Ever feel like you've been walked on? He smoothes out the lumps that would mar us and He makes us like Himself. Then He picks up the clay and puts it on the wheel, so He can put His hands on it and make it a vessel of honor that will never be marred. Learn to listen to the Lord's voice-He wants to take you where you will be used for the Master.

4. God puts us in the furnace. In the old days they sun-dried pottery, then they learned to fire the pieces. There has been pottery found that is centuries old. The firing time is crucial. Our Father knows exactly how long we can bear the heat and how hot the fire we can stand.

5. God scours and finishes us, preparing us for the final application of paint. That is the annointing. He brings you out of the fire, polishes, then paints you with His annointing. Not all of us turn out the same. Not all of us have the same gifts, the same glaze, but now we are able to be poured into-in order to pour out. Finally, God sees to it that the quality is there before He puts His name on it. Some vessels won't accept the pressure, being stubborn vessels, and falling apart. God has to start over, again and again, working the process all over again.

Where are you in this process?

Update on a Prayer Request

Last week we were asked to pray for an elderly gentleman who has cancer and the outlook is not good. However, his daughter says that they were very comforted by the doctor/oncologist who is a Christian and takes his patient's needs very, very seriously. He deals with the entire family, hugs the patient and even gives out his personal cell number. Mr. Harold Sherer is facing alot of treatment and a long battle, and they want to say to the church they appreciate the prayers. That means so much to them all.

The Wednesday night study is on Revelation and it is a deep book. Please come and join in.

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to recieve glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:11

Amen

Reading the Scroll

Bro. Smith preached a wonderful sermon on Luke 4:18 &19. You could just read those verses and not notice in the verses just above that Jesus had a Divine Appointment where He went into the synagogue to start reading the Scroll where it had been opened to a certain place in Isaiah (Is. 61:1, 2). In verse 21, Jesus said to them "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears".

We need to realize that the "gospel" means good news-it liberates us. God's way is to love our enemies, take what He has given so freely and give it to others. Learn the economics of God-tithe, believe in what the Word says, read the Bible, and obey the Lord when He speaks to us. Many people who have been forced to withstand severe, fiery trials will tell you, it is ONLY prayer and the close communion with a loving Father that can comfort the heart. Jesus said He is annointed to heal the broken-hearted. When you are down and out, deep in depression, facing oppression, what gets you through that? If you are a child of the Lord, His annointing will lift you up.

We need to praise Him in every situation in life. It's not easy. It is NOT easy. But the Bible tells us Jesus wants to dwell in the praises of His people. Praising the Lord is key. In life we get hurt by people and even in the church. We get our feelings hurt by something or someone and go back out to the world. Satan brings hurting church people into captivity, but Jesus can heal up our hurts-He wants to fix what is broken. We may mask the pain and build walls for
protection, but the One who searches the heart knows and sees it all. We will never hide anything from the Lord. Once you can lay all the shattered dreams and broken lives at the foot of the Cross, Jesus is ready to come in and heal the hurting soul.

We have Talent!!!

Yes, we indeed have been blessed with the arrival of Janice McDaniel to our church. Last Sunday night, she treated us to that beautiful song, "To God be the Glory". Her voice reminds me of Sandi Patty who is world-famous and sings often with The Gaither's Homecoming Series. Janice is a precious, dear and loving person, and I just want to welcome her to WCFC.

We are looking forward to hearing more singing from Janice-soon! Also, the new bulletin board is one she did just this week. Make a point to see it for yourself. Great talent!

We have also have some other visitors who, hopefully, will be a permanent part of the church. Linda Franks and her daughter have been coming, as well as several people who live at Crestwood and ride the church van.

Divine Appointments

Isn't it awesome how our Father 'sets us up' sometimes? He may put you in a certain situation with a particular person at His designated time and place for the purpose of glorifying Jesus. Just today I saw Dr. Kandie Sherer and she asked if our church would please put her 84-year-old dad on our prayer list. Of course, I said I would do it that night, being a Wednesday night.



She said he has always been a very active and healthy man, a good, good man. He knew he had cancer but now, they are going to find out how much worse the cancer is than they had believed in the beginning. They will be seeing the doctor in the morning. It seems more involved than they thought before, and will need more treatment. She told me something he said the other day and I wanted to just share it with you. They have a family burial plot where his dad and mom are, and then when he and his wife (of 64 years!!!) pass, they will be buried there also. He wants to be placed where he would be as close as possible to the two women he loves so much, and that way, he would be able to 'protect' them. When he told this, his wife came over to him and gave him a big hug and a kiss and a huge I LOVE YOU. Isn't that a wonderful story? A caring husband, dedicated father and someone who so loves the Lord Jesus Christ, that is a powerful testimony. I don't personally know Kandie's dad, but Neal and Sondra Sandlin are close friends of the family. His name is Harold Sherer and I know you will remember this family in your prayers. Dr. Kandie always brags on Neal and Sondra and her whole family loves them.



Isn't it wonderful that we are able to lift each other up in prayer as a church? That's what it means to be part of the Family of God. What a blessing.



Oh,I have a praise report!

As you may know, I do alot of sewing and quilting and have for 30 years. Much of my things are for sale, some are for family and I try to do a little volunteer sewing. Two weeks ago, I had to return some beautiful pieced "Lonestar" blocks to the Quilting Guild I belong to in Tuscaloosa. Can't say it wasn't tempting to just somehow keep all that pretty stitching someone else had done and donated to the group, but it really did NOT belong to me, so I knew I had to give it all back. That was hard to do. That was on a Saturday morning. The very NEXT day, Sunday morning, Jerrie Scott brought me a huge box of quilt scraps. Yummy!! What I couldn't get over, in the bottom of the box were many gorgeous quilt blocks--done in vintage fabric in the exact same "Lonestar" pattern of the ones I had returned the day before!!!! Less than 24 hours later. Is that GOD or WHAT????? I mean, the exact pattern!! Wow, how's that for the hand of God? Thank you, Jerrie, for your kindness and thoughtfulness.

We have such a great congregation, don't we? Each person fits into the Body to do what He has called us to do. God help us do more for You.

Someone once said "Lord, help me do today what I will wish I had done when I stand in Your Presence".

Amen

Learning to Lean

How precious it is to lean on the strong arm of our Lord. How many sleepless nights and tears of frustration we shed when we should bring ALL our burdens to Jesus. How hard we make the way when we try to do it alone and fight the battles without Him Who died to make us victorious.

We are defenseless without the aid of our Heavenly Father.

Enjoy this short message; it has ministered to me for several years and I hope you get a blessing from it's reading.

"Release Thy Grief"

My child, lean thy head upon My bosom. Well I know thy weariness, and every burden I would lift. Never bury thy griefs, but offer them up to Me. Thou wilt relieve thy soul of much strain if ye can lay every care in My hand. Never cling to any trouble, hoping to resolve it thyself, but turn it over to Me; and in so doing, ye shall free Me to work it out.

Cast aside thy questionings. Fling aside thy fears. For surely Mine arms are already outstretched to recieve thee~Only Believe!!! For in that moment that thou relinquish ALL~in that same moment shall thou know release. Mine arms shall gather thee, and I shall never let thee go!

Praise the Lord! We serve a God Who will not let us get away from Him. We are safe forevermore within the arms of our Saviour the minute we become a child of the King! He WILL honor His Word!