Proverbs 17:3Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk
📖Proverbs 17:3 (NIV) The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. 📘Pastor's Note: In the tapestry of life, where do we place our faith? What holds the greatest significance in the depths of our hearts? These questions resonate profoundly when we ponder the wisdom found in Proverbs 17:3: "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart." This verse evokes imagery of refinement and purification. In ancient times, precious metals were subjected to intense heat to remove impurities and reveal their true worth. Similarly, the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, tests the very core of our being – our hearts. But what exactly does this mean for us? At its essence, this verse calls for us to examine ourselves. It urges us to examine what truly matters in our lives. Is our faith in the Lord, the cornerstone, upon which everything else rests? Do we prioritize His will above all else? These questions beckon us to explore the depths of our convictions and the sincerity of our devotion. In a world filled with distractions and competing priorities, it's easy to lose sight of what's truly important. We may find ourselves chasing after wealth, success, self, sexual immorality, earthly possessions, or fleeting pleasures, only to discover that these pursuits leave us empty and unfulfilled. However, when our lives are anchored in Christ Jesus, we discover the source of enduring strength and purpose. Faith isn't merely a set of beliefs or rituals; it's a supernaturally transformed heart that changes our thoughts, actions, and priorities. It's about entrusting our lives to the guiding hand of a loving Creator who knows us intimately and desires the very best for us. When we place our faith in Christ, He aligns us with His divine purpose, finding peace and fulfillment in His promises and presence. Yet, the journey of faith isn't always easy. It will cost us. Like the refining process for precious metals, it often involves moments of trial and testing. Challenges may arise that may shake us to our core, may challenge our faith, causing us to question and doubt. But it's in these moments that we see the reality of our faith, refined, strengthened, and deepened. Ultimately, Proverbs 17:3 reminds us that our heart for Jehovah is the true measure of our faith. It's not about outward appearances or religious observance but about the sincerity and authenticity of our relationship with God. As we allow Him to purify our hearts and mold us according to His will, we discover the abundant life He promises to those who trust in Jesus. So, as we journey through life's highs and lows, may we never lose sight of the precious gift of faith. May we continually seek to align our hearts with God's word and purposes, knowing that He alone is the source of true fulfillment and joy. And may we embrace the refining process, trusting that through every trial, our faith emerges stronger and more radiant, like pure gold tested in the furnace. 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️God Bless! Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2017&version=NIV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare #notesfromthepastorsdesk #thegpchurch #jesuslovesyou #bethechurch #EnterpriseAL #bibleverse #Truth #biblestudy #seek #study #serve #churchnearme #faith #hope #christianity #growth #go #learning #fellowship #loves #GodsWord #prayer #wordofgod #NotesfromthePastorsDesk #Jesus #jesuschrist #mygpchurch #EnterpriseAlabama #bible Psalm 23:4Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk
📖Psalm 23:4 (NIV) I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 📘Pastor's Note: If God is for us, who can be against us? We need not fear evil. We live in evil times where sin is celebrated instead of being mourned over. Depravity is all around. Innocent children torn from the wombs of women, men lying with men, corrupt government leadership, people seeking self and worldly pleasure, murder, strife, malice…the list goes on and on. Yet we need not fear, brethren…our Lord remains enthroned and our time draws nearer. Find peace from the hope we have in Christ Jesus. One day, the lion will lie down with the lamb. One day, sin will be no more. What a glorious day that will be when we are in the presence of our Lord. Until then…fear not! For He is with us, His rod and staff comfort us! Blessings 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️God Bless! Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NIV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare #notesfromthepastorsdesk #thegpchurch #jesuslovesyou #bethechurch #EnterpriseAL #bibleverse #Truth #biblestudy #seek #study #serve #churchnearme #faith #hope #christianity #growth #go #learning #fellowship #loves #GodsWord #prayer #wordofgod #NotesfromthePastorsDesk #Jesus #jesuschrist #mygpchurch #EnterpriseAlabama #bible Job 42:1-6Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk
📖Job 42:1-6 (ESV) Then Job answered the Lord and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” 📘Pastor's Note: What a blessing it is to have our eyes opened so that we can see truth! Have a blessed day on this Lord’s day! 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️God Bless! Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2042&version=ESV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare #notesfromthepastorsdesk #thegpchurch #jesuslovesyou #bethechurch #EnterpriseAL #bibleverse #Truth #biblestudy #seek #study #serve #churchnearme #faith #hope #christianity #growth #go #learning #fellowship #loves #GodsWord #prayer #wordofgod #NotesfromthePastorsDesk #Jesus #jesuschrist #mygpchurch #EnterpriseAlabama #bible Acts 4:13Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk
📖Acts 4:13 (ESV) Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 📘Pastor's Note: God uses unschooled, ordinary men who walk with Jesus! A PHD is not required…as a matter of fact, in our weaknesses, He is more glorified because it demonstrates His strength. How precious and gracious He is to lowly man for His Name sake! Have a blessed day worshiping and serving the Lord of glory! 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️God Bless! Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019&version=ESV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare John 19:30Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk
📖John 19:30 (ESV) When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 📘Pastor's Note: In the Greek text, the phrase "It is finished" is one word and represents the perfect tense of a verb meaning "to make something complete or perfect." In English, it could be expressed as "It is completely complete" or "It is perfectly perfect." Was God's wrath satisfied on the cross? Absolutely. Not only was it satisfied, but it was also perfectly and completely satisfied. Jesus took upon Himself every evil consequence that rebellion had brought upon humanity, exhausting every curse of God's broken law. All of this was done so that we might, in turn, receive the true blessing of salvation due to His obedience. His grace is truly marvelous! Remember, "It is finished!" 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️God Bless! Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019&version=ESV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare Acts 13:47Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk
📖Acts 13:47 (ESV) For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” 📘Pastor's Note: Happy New Year! This morning, I woke up with the question in my heart, "What will this year bring?" Then, I was convicted that it was the wrong question I was asking. The better questions are, "What will God do this year, and how can I be obedient in my participation for His will to be accomplished?" This scripture from Acts 13 demonstrates the answer to those questions. God has made us to be a light to this lost world so that salvation can be brought to the ends of the earth. We are Gospel-carrying messengers of His Son, Jesus Christ. We are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus so that others may be saved from sin and death and be made right with the living God! That’s what this new year will bring. That’s our purpose in 2024 until we breathe our last — to glorify Him by making disciples who, in turn, make other disciples of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am praying for you today and ask you to pray for me. Let’s pray that we are faithful at being the light God has called us to be in this ever-darkening world until He comes again. 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️ Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2034&version=ESV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare Psalm 34:1-7Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk
📖Psalm 34:1-7 (ESV) I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 📘Pastor's Note: For me, this is one of the most beautiful psalms found in the book. It's a psalm that boasts about the only thing worthy of boasting about—our Lord! In this psalm of David, he is crying out in praise and worship to the Lord. He can't help but have praise for the Lord "continually" in his mouth. Not only in his mouth but also in his soul, he boasts in Him. From the depth of his soul comes forth praise and boasting in the Lord! David's cry is "Magnify the Lord with me!! Let's exalt His Name together!!" Then he goes on to say why. The Lord is not some mythical creature that cannot be found. When truly sought, the Lord is found and will answer and deliver you/me from all our fears! He is the God that hears when the poor man cries out! Not only does our God hear, but He also takes action upon the one that humbly cries out! "He saved him out of all his troubles!!" My dear friends, what a mighty God we serve that encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them!! Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Have a blessed week. Magnify the Lord with me on this precious day the Lord has made. 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️ Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2034&version=ESV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare John 11:35Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk
📖John 11:35 (ESV) Jesus wept. 📘Pastor's Note: In this well-known story from John's Gospel, the account is the shortest but perhaps one of the most impactful verses in the Bible. John's dear friend Lazarus had died, and Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha, were understandably mourning the loss of their beloved brother. As Jesus arrived in the village, Mary arose, ran out to meet him, and fell at his feet, saying, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Seeing her weeping, the scripture notes that Jesus was "deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled." He wept with her, fully aware that He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead. He could have said, "Stop your crying and watch what I'm about to do!" But He didn't; He wept with her. There's a lot to this story, but let me simply point out that Jesus joined her in weeping because of His great compassion. He empathized with her, feeling the distress of her broken heart and crying with her. That's compassion. That's what it means to mourn with those who mourn. Do we show this type of compassion with others? Do we shed tears when others shed tears? Compassion involves bearing the pains of someone going through a difficult time. How great is it that we serve a God who not only sympathizes with us but literally weeps alongside us, having compassion on us! Today, look for an opportunity to show Christlike compassion to someone. 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️ Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2011&version=ESV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare Colossians 2:1-3Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk
📖Colossians 2:1-3 (ESV) For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 📘Pastor's Note: This letter, written by Paul, specifically these verses of scripture, speaks to me and demonstrates Paul’s heart for God’s people, His church. The word “struggle” means to strive for, to fight for. It paints the picture of forceful, almost violent effort on behalf of the saints of God. This is the heart of a shepherd. His main concern, second only to his relationship with the Lord, is the flock of God. All a shepherd wants is to encourage and knit together one another in love so that they reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and knowledge of Christ. I feel Paul’s heart. I believe as a pastor, this deep love and desire for God’s people to know Him more, to grow in their faith, to be transformed by the washing of His word is at the heart of a shepherd’s calling. For me personally, much of my time is spent in prayer, that I will “struggle” for the flock God has charged me to care for. Sometimes, I ask myself, do I struggle enough for them? Does the flock know how much I truly love them? Do I care for them well enough? Maybe those are questions that further spur me on to struggle more and more for those that belong to Him. Pray for me and all pastors that have this calling on their lives, that we will “struggle” well in our service to the Lord, caring for His people. 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️ Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%202&version=ESV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare Mark 1:16-17Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk
📖Mark 1:16-17 (ESV) 16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 📘Pastor's Note: Following Jesus redefines our purpose in life. The once lowly fisherman, whose efforts were focused on catching fish, now casts his net to catch men. Our new purpose is rooted in our identity in Christ, as we live to make His name known to a lost world so that others can be saved by believing the Gospel. It shouldn't escape our thoughts that the first disciples Jesus called were lowly fishermen. The King of glory calls, saves, and uses common vessels to accomplish His divine work of proclaiming the good news of salvation. The depth and breadth of God's knowledge and love are profound. What a wonderful friend and Savior we have in Jesus! Have you ever asked God, "How can You use such a lowly person as myself?" Well, I'd say that your question is a good starting point to understand that He came to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. Today, I encourage you to cast your nets! Have a blessed week. 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️ Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=ESV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare |
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