From the desk of Pastor Ben
One’s True Heart: A Parable

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.”    (Matthew 12:33)

Jesus’ short parable illustrates the obvious principle: a good tree produces good fruit, and a bad one produces bad fruit (Luke 6:43-44). The Lord used the word translated “make” metaphorically to mean “consider, evaluate, or judge” — we must make up our minds about the nature of something and its products or results.
We might use our sanctified imaginations and paraphrase our Lord’s words as follows: “Make up your minds, friends, about Me and My ministry. I’m either evil and an evil doer, or good and one who does good. But I can’t be evil and a doer of good deeds, or vice versa. God would enable Me to perform good works, and the devil would empower Me for evil. These propositions would merely align with the logical workings of God’s universe, but only one can be true concerning Me.”
Christ’s more specific point is this paraphrased: “Illness and death result from sin, and demon possession is evil and from Satan. Therefore, if I miraculously heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead, these must be good things because the result is a deliverance of people from the destroying power of sin. Anybody who accuses Me of doing good by Satan’s power, he attributes to Satan the work of the Holy Spirit. That is the supreme and unforgivable blasphemy.”
No matter what people like the Pharisees think of Jesus personally, His works have always testified indisputably to His divine goodness and power. (See Matthew 11:4-5; John 5:36; 14:11)

Ask Yourself:
Sometimes we’re convinced that our defense of Christ, which seems so easily defeated by a doubting skeptic, must therefore be in opposition to logic and consistent thinking. Today’s theme is one clear example of how God’s truth stacks up with common sense. What are some others?

From the desk of Pastor Ben

I admit, the rapid pace of 21st century living is not very conducive to setting aside time to slow down, read the Bible, and pray and meditate on God’s Word (although the Covid pandemic has slowed us down some). Yet, spending time with God ought to be the daily priority of every Christian — it is the primary way God leads us in our sanctification. Just as physical nourishment is essential to physical life, so spiritual nourishment is essential to spiritual life — your growth in Christ depends on it.
The frustration comes for many Christians when they’re unable to find the time to study God’s Word as they would like. I certainly understand that frustration. While we should be striving to carve out as much time as possible to spend with the Lord, which we can do by letting go of less important priorities, I do realize that’s not an easy thing to do.
So, I’m going to be sharing with you some daily studies from God’s Word that I have put together over the years of my ministry. I use the word “studies” because they are more like mini-Bible studies than they are devotionals. The goal is to help you develop a consistency in reading and meditating on the truths of the Bible — yet does not mean a large time commitment on your part. The focus of these studies is the life of Jesus. Over the last few years, I have been studying Jesus’ life & ministry. In the Church of God, there has even been a focus on this entitled, “Jesus Is the Subject.”
My greatest joy in the pulpit has been teaching from the gospels and seeing how our Lord lived and interacted with all sorts of people, from the disciples who truly loved Him, yet were weak in their faith, to the masses of people who were mesmerized by His miraculous acts, yet many of whom never believed in Him, and to the religious hypocrites who pretended to want to know Him, yet always wanted to kill Him. By observing how Christ dealt with people, we can gain great insight into how you can live as He did.
Starting tomorrow, in each of these daily studies, you will draw nourishment from a nugget of God’s Word, and each one will, I hope, challenge you to meditate and act on significant truth. My desire for you is a growing commitment to deeper study, meditation, and prayer with our Heavenly Father.
       Pastor Ben

From the desk of Pastor Ben
Letting Go — By LeAnne Martin

She checked the basket again and again for any signs of damage or weakness. Finding none, she carefully tucked him into the basket, making sure he was swaddled snugly. Then she did the unthinkable — something only a desperate mother could do — and put the basket that held her baby into the river. “Follow it, Miriam. You know what to do.” The young girl obeyed, and the baby landed in the arms of the bathing princess, who agreed to Miriam’s suggestion: he could be nursed by a Hebrew woman (his mother) until he was old enough to live with the princess as her son. Just as God had planned.
Where did Moses’ mother get the strength to put her son into the crocodile-infested Nile? Only from the Lord. If she held onto Moses any longer, he would be discovered and killed because of Pharaoh’s brutal new law against Hebrew baby boys. Moses’ mother loved her son dearly, but she also trusted God with him. No doubt the Lord comforted her, perhaps assured her He had a special plan for Moses. So, for the short while that she nursed him, she raised Moses in God’s ways, and then she let him go again — this time for good, to a life without her.

Elizabeth had waited so long for a child, enduring years of judgment and ostracizing because of her barrenness. She and her husband, Zechariah, a priest in the temple, were old and had likely given up the dream of parenthood. Until the angel Gabriel gave Zechariah the good news: Elizabeth would bear a son.
John would be the first biblical prophet to speak for God in 400 years. He would lay the groundwork for the Messiah’s ministry, calling the people to repent. He would even baptize the Son of God; what greater honor could there be? But Elizabeth knew only that her baby was God’s gift, and that he was called out by God. Despite her great love for John, she trusted God with him and, along with Zechariah, she raised John in God’s ways. And then she let him go.

Though very young, Mary, Jesus’ mother, had a strong faith and a humble spirit; she believed god would do what He said, and she said yes to Him. Luke 2 says that after her Son was born, she stored up things in her heart: the shepherd’s visit, Jesus’ teaching in the temple. As Jesus matured, she likely had a long list of treasured and troublesome memories of Him. She knew He would be the great Messiah but did not know what that would require of Him or of her. She trusted God, and with Joseph, she raised Jesus in God’s ways. And then she let Him go.

These three mothers’ stories make me ask myself: do I trust God with my kids? As they approach their teenage years, the unknown bears down upon me some days: Will they . . . ? What if . . . ? How about . . . ? These mothers didn’t know what the future held for their children either. Did they sometimes find themselves wavering or worrying or fearful? Perhaps, but Scripture shows us that they believed God was in control and that He was faithful. They knew that their children were His anyway. So do I.

I’m asking God right now, for wisdom to consistently raise my kids in His ways and for strength to let them go in the big and little moments, even as I acknowledge that they are already in His hands. I’m asking for a double portion of trust that His plan for them, whatever it might be, is for their good. Now and always, my deep desire is that the Lord be glorified in my life as their parent — and, also, in their life as His child.
Whether you’re a mother or a father, or neither one, the process of letting go and trusting God is something that each of us is called to do over and over again in our lives. It can seem scary sometimes, and trying to control things certainly comes more natural to us, but peace and security are only found in submitting our plans to God and allowing His plan to unfold in the best possible way.

From the desk of Pastor Ben,

God’s Promises To The Believer

Salvation —                                         Acts 2:38-39

The Holy Spirit —                             Luke 24:49

The Kingdom —                                James 2:5

The Crown of Life —                       James 1:12

Access to God —                              Romans 5:1-2

Christ’s Intercession —                  Hebrews 7:25-26

Eternal Life —                                  John 17:2-3

Growth Assured —                          1 Peter 2:2

Intercession of the Holy Spirit — Romans 8:16-17

Kinship with Christ —                    Hebrews 2:10-14

Members of God’s Kingdom —     1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Partakers of His Divine Nature — 2 Peter 1:4

Reconciled to God —                         Romans 5:10

Trials Overcome —                            1 Peter 1:6-8

Victorious Living —                           Romans 8:37-39

From the desk of Pastor Ben,
Meet ME In the Stairwell

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke-filled room with a man who called his wife to say “Good-Bye.” I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, “Honey, I’m not going to make it, but it’s ok. I am ready to go.” I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to ME for help. I said “I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years! Of course I will show you the way home, only believe in ME now.”

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his flock in Heaven. He heard MY voice and answered.

I was on all 4 of those planes that day, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith had saved them.

I was all over the world that day. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense ME? I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name — though not all knew ME. Some met ME for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought ME with their last breath. Some couldn’t hear ME calling to them through the smoke and flames: “Come to ME . . . This way . . . Take MY hand.”

Some chose, for the final time, to ignore ME. But, I was there. I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, But I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for ME? September 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek ME now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are “ready to go.” I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

 GOD

From the desk of Pastor Ben,

Friendship

The person who has a good friend and is a good friend is a very rich and fulfilled person indeed. A good friendship should display these characteristics:

    1.)     Good friendship is selfless. Proverbs 17:17 tells us that “a friend loves at all times.” True friendship therefore is not based on changing conditions. There are people who say, “I’ll be your friend if, or when, or until, or because.” These are all conditions, and conditions may change. But a real friend loves at all times. A friend who says, “I love you if…” or “I love you when…” is not a Bible kind of friend. A true friend says, “I love you, period. I love you at all times. My love is selfless and unconditional.”

    2.)     Genuine friendship is steadfast. Again, Proverbs 17:17 says that “a friend loves at all times.” An English publication offered a prize for the best definition of friendship. One definition that won honorable mention was this: “A friend is one who multiplies our joys and divides our grief.” Another one said: “A friend is one who understands our silence.” But the definition that won the prize was this: “A friend is one who comes in when the rest of the world has gone out.” How true that is! If you want to really know how many friends you have and who they are, make a mistake and see what happens. Get into difficulty and see how many supposed friends stick with you. True friendship is steadfast.

    3.)     True friendship is sacrificial. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” True friendship is costly, but it’s worth it. The Indian word for friend comes from a compound word meaning “one who carries my sorrows upon his back.” So, if I would be a friend, I have to live sacrificially toward the one who is receiving my friendship. We need to think of others first.

    4.)     True friendship is sanctifying. Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” A real friend will make you a better person. True friendship is going to put the edge on your life; it’s going to sharpen you. It will make you more keen. You’ll be a better and more useful person because of the friendship. A true friend doesn’t just tell a person what he thinks he wants to hear — he tells the truth — even if it hurts.
True friendship will not blunt your influence or dull your spirituality. A real friend is one who cares enough to confront you when you are wrong. Proverbs 27:6 says, “The kisses of an enemy may be profuse, but faithful are the wounds of a friend.” Flattery is not friendship. A flatterer is the flip side of a hypocrite: A hypocrite says behind your back what he will not say to your face, but a flatterer says to your face what he will not say behind your back. A true friend, by contrast, is honest with you.
The big question is, “Do you have a friend like this?” But an even more important question is, “Are YOU a friend like this?”

From the desk of Pastor Ben

TRUST & THANKSGIVING                    
What comes to mind when you think of the future? Are you challenged by the prospects of new opportunities, or are you apprehensive about what the future may bring? Quite honestly, I think most of us entertain a blend of both outlooks. We expect to see some aspects of our lives — personal, spiritual, family, work — change for the better. Still, we realize there are obstacles to such change. Additionally, there are events over which we have little or no control. That makes us nervous. So, for whatever  may come into your life, (and only God knows what that may be), I would like to engrave 2 words into your heart: TRUST & THANKSGIVING!
You can trust God at every turn. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him [another expression of trust], and He will make your paths straight.” This is a simple command that can bring great stability to your spiritual journey.
You can trust God’s promises in His Word. He will do what He says! He will provide for all your needs. (Philippians 4:19 – “My God shall supply all your needs…”). He will carry all your emotional loads. (1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your care upon Him…”). He will sustain and help you with each days problems. (Psalm 54:4 – “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me.”)
You can trust in God’s character. Circumstances may vary, but God’s character never changes. He is always good when times are bad. He is totally trustworthy when all around you is unreliable. He never fails to be gracious (giving you what you don’t deserve) or merciful (withholding from you what you do deserve).
You can trust in God’s purposes. He always works for you; never against you. His plans are for your good only, ever seeking to make you more like Christ. (Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”) There is never a dull day when you yield yourself to the Lord to do His will. He fits everything into His design.
It only makes sense then, that the more you trust in Jesus Christ, the more you will thank Him. Trusting God allows you to meaningfully give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18 [“will of God”]) because you see Him at work in everything. A thankful heart is a strong deterrent to discouragement, fear, and pessimism.
Thank God for who He is, what He has done, and what He will accomplish on your behalf. Pray for your needs with an attitude of thanksgiving. (Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”) Go around work and home with a happy heart. When you don’t feel thankful, Thank the Lord anyway. You are cultivating a healthy spiritual and emotional atmosphere to face life from God’s perspective and with His strength.
So make today a day of trust & thanksgiving in Christ Jesus. I can’t think of any better way to survive today, or for that matter, the rest of your life!
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope!”     (Jeremiah 29:11)

A Love Letter From Our Father

From the desk of Pastor Ben

To My Child:

You may not know Me but I know everything about you.        Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up.            Psalm 139:2
I’m familiar with all your ways.                        Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs of your head are numbered.            Matthew 10:29-30
You are made in My image.                        Genesis 1:27
In Me, you live and move and have your being.                Acts 17:28
For you are My offspring.                            Acts 17:28
I knew you before you were ever conceived.                Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation.                    Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake for all your days are numbered.        Psalm 139:13
I determined the exact time of your birth.                Acts 17:26
You were fearfully and wonderfully made.                Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother’s womb.                Psalm 139:13
I brought you forth on the day you were born.                Psalm 71:6
It is My desire to lavish My love on you.                    1 John 3:1
Simply because you are My child and I am your Father.        1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.            Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect Father.                        Matthew 5:48
Every good gift you receive comes from My hand.            James 1:17
For I am your Provider and I meet all your needs.            Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.        Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love.                Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless like the sand            Psalm 139
on the seashore.
And I rejoice over you with singing.                    Zephaniah 3:17
And I will never stop doing good for you.                Jeremiah 32:40
For you are My treasured possession.                    Exodus 19:5
You have all My heart and all My soul.                    Jeremiah 32:41
I want to show you great and marvelous things.            Jeremiah 33:3

From the desk of Pastor Ben

I used this story as a sermon illustration years ago. Don’t know its origin.

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going to church. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home, alone, sitting by the blazing fire. Guessing the reason for the pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some time, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and place it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon, it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately, it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, with a tear running down his cheek, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I’ll be back in church next Sunday.”
We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes, the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

I asked God to take away my pride and God said, “No.” He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said, “No.” He said, “Their spirit is whole, their body is only temporary.”

I asked God to grant me patience, and God said, “No.” He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation. It isn’t granted, It’s earned.

I asked God to give me happiness, and God said, “No.” He said He gives me blessings. Happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare my pain, and God said, “No.” He said, “Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow, and God said, “No.” He said I must grow on my own, but He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if He loved me and God said, “Yes.” He gave His only Son who died for me and I will be in Heaven someday because I believe.

I asked god to help me love others as much as He loves me, and God said, “AH, FINALLY, YOU HAVE THE IDEA!”

-Author Unknown-