In His Praise

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Happy New Year! It’s the first day of a new week and the first day of a new year! It’s a new beginning!   We serve a God of new beginnings. Look at the stories of Noah and family, Abram who became Abraham, and Job. Look at the disciples who left their work and families to follow Jesus. Think of the thief on the cross that Jesus assured would join Him in paradise. Think of all the lives down through the ages that have been changed by God. Anyone that has accepted Jesus as their Savior has experienced a new beginning. Psalm 40:2 says it beautifully, “He lifted me…

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16 As the celebrations of Christmas 2022  come to a close, we at East Point C.P. Church want to wish to all of you a very Merry Christmas! We pray that each of you have received the very best gift of all — salvation through Jesus Christ.  It is Jesus’ birth in which we rejoice during this season. It is Jesus’ death and resurrection that give us reason to rejoice in all seasons of life.  His gift of salvation is a treasure that anyone can receive. Through belief in and confession of Jesus all people may receive this free gift. (Romans 10:9-10) How…

“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” Luke 1:31 Have you ever had someone predict your future? There are people that claim to be able to tell what future events will be, but in reality no one, except God, knows what tomorrow will hold. In Luke we read the words spoken to Mary by the angel Gabriel. God had sent Gabriel to Mary with His message about her future. Mary probably did not fully grasp  all that was being said to her at the time, but she humbly accepted God’s will and praised Him for her part in it. Mary could be joyful in receiving this message from God because she knew that God’s plans were good…

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”2 Corinthians 9:15 This Advent prayer was part of our worship service today at East Point C.P. Church. It is very meaningful and directs our focus on the true meaning of Christmas. God of angels songs and hidden miracles, wing your way into our world,  for we are in need of your presence.  We have been caught up in busyness, frantic with lists too long and pocketbooks too empty. We have lost patience and misplaced hope.  God of heavenly choruses and humble beginnings, wing your way into our hearts. Let us know a peace that calms unrealistic expectations. Let us be lifted up by angels’ song and see with new perspective what is truly important. Let love grow, for after all the presents…

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 This week’s writing focuses on young people. We sometimes forget that God has work for children and youth to do too. We tend to think that only seasoned adult Christians can be leaders or set good examples. But in Paul’s letter to Timothy, his young protege’, we see that the opposite can be true. Timothy was sent to Ephesus to continue the work of spreading the gospel. Timothy was probably a teenager at the time and was given the responsibility of instructing believers in how they should live. He likely met with some resistance from some that thought him…

“You are the light of the world. … let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14, 16 Today is the first Sunday in Advent; the season leading up to Christmas Day when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Advent is a time of renewal and preparation; a time to emphasize and remember the true meaning of Christmas. As the first Advent candle was lit today in our church service, we were reminded that Jesus is the light of the world and His birth brought light (hope, salvation) into the world.  In Matthew 5 Jesus says that we, His children, are the light of the world. As Christ’s followers we  have received the light that He brought, and…

“…where sin increased, grace increased all the more…, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20 Happy Thanksgiving! We will hear this phrase a lot over the next few days. Our wishes to our friends and family are heartfelt and genuine and show our love for others. There will be a lot of gatherings with family and friends, a lot of good food to enjoy, and a lot of celebrating the joys of being together. Some family traditions may take a few minutes to share with others things for which they are grateful. The list may include life and health, family or even material possessions. Rightfully so, we should give God thanks for all the ways that we are blessed.…

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29 How grateful we all should be for  God’s care for us and His help from day by day. These words from Isaiah remind us  of that very thing.  We all have times when we feel inadequate and weak. We become tired and weary. We may feel discouraged when the devil whispers to us that we are not smart enough, not talented enough, or not worthy enough. We may feel as though we’re not accomplishing anything for our Savior! But chapter 40 of the book of Isaiah reassures us that the opposite is true. First of all, God reminds us in verse 28 that He NEVER grows tired or weary. He ALWAYS has our back (so…

“For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as a shield.” Psalm 5:12 How wonderful it must be to be in God’s favor! To be showered with undeserved blessings; to be protected by an Almighty God; to be loved unconditionally. It is almost too much for our human minds to understand. Does God really care that much for us? How can we be sure?  Are we even worthy of such blessings? No, we are not worthy on our own merit to receive anything from God. But as David reminds us in this verse, God blesses the righteous. Who are these righteous ones? Simply stated the righteous are those in “right standing” with God. The righteous are those that have accepted salvation, confessed Jesus as…

“Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come…” Ecclesiastes 12:1 Today’s young people are faced with many, many challenges. We know that evil runs rampant in the world. It even seems as though youth and children are being targeted by the devil and his dark forces. Abortion rates are high, suicide victims seem to be younger than ever, and deadly drugs are made to look like candy in order to attract children. It is not uncommon to hear of a child being kidnapped or killed by a stray bullet or worse, caught in the middle of an adult altercation. This verse of scripture from Ecclesiastes reminds us of the importance of teaching our children, grandchildren, neighbors, students and friends about God’s love for…