A Double Blessing

Sabbath Blessings to you, my friends!

A DOUBLE BLESSING. “[God] blesses man upon every day, but he has blessed only one day, and that is the seventh day. So when man, upon whom the blessing of God already rests, comes to the seventh day, upon which a blessingrests, there are two blessings, and both of them for man; and so it is possible upon the seventh day of the week to enjoy a blessing which cannot be enjoyed upon any other day because it is not there.” (Christ and the Sabbath, p.20)
HOLY COMMUNION. Tomorrow morning I invite you to remember and celebrate our redemption. We’ll gather at the Lord’s table and will partake of the symbols of His broken body and of His cleansing blood. The Communion service will take place during both 9 am and 11:30 am services. My message from the Word of God will be based on Hebrews 4:15.

PRAYERS NEEDED. Your prayers are needed for our sister Beth Best. She fell early this week and broke a bone in her foot. Please, contact Nancy if you would be available to help Beth at least one day next week with food or assist her with bathing.

Our extern and elder Daniel De Silva had to see a cardiologist last weekend due to some unusual pain in his chest and high blood pressure. After a few doctors’ visits Daniel is doing better but still needs our prayers.

OAKS. On Thursday morning I had a privilege of speaking for the OAKS Chapel. What a wonderful group of children we have at our school! They expressed their passionate desire to be Christ’s ambassadors in this world. After the Chapel some of the students shared with me their personal experiences of how they traveled or lived in different countries of the world where people didn’t know about Christ. I pray that we teach our students to be missionaries for the Lord wherever they may live after they leave OAKS.

PRISON MINISTRY. We have many wonderful ministries in our church. One of them is the Prison Ministry. Our Head Elder Steve Bremner and Paula Wolfe visited a local prison last Sunday.  Here is their story in Steve’s own words:

“The fire alarms went off just as the guard brought out the prisoners and we entered the prison hallway.  When the alarms stopped the guard let us know that he had to leave and someone else would bring the key to open the classroom.

After some time had passed Paula Wolfe said it looked like we had been forgotten. She began to play her keyboard and we started the song service in the hallway.  We sang a few songs when a guard came and unlocked the classroom door.

I began speaking on Isaiah 43:1-4 when suddenly guards went running past the classroom.  We had been told that when that happens something is very wrong and we are to leave the prison immediately. I glanced at Paula and she said she was fine. I continued speaking only pausing as the guards ran back and forth three more times. Each time I looked at Paula and each time she gave me a great big smile.  I said, “it’s very hectic out there but in here with the word of God it’s very peaceful.”

Isaiah 43:1-2 (NKJV)

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.

PATHFINDERS. Many of our Pathfinders are camping at Cohutta Springs this weekend. Let the Lord give them safety and good weather! We’ll certainly miss them at church tomorrow morning.

Be blessed. I hope to see you tomorrow at the Lord’s table. Christ would not want to see your seat empty.
Pastor Peter