“Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet and a Light to my Path” Psalms 119:105
God has given us an instrument to live by which is His Word. We are not to trust our own feelings or decisions. When the storms of life come as we know they will and you are being attacked from every side and feel disoriented, God’s Word can always be trusted to give us clear direction. His Word shows us the way to safety, security and peace to shield us from all forms of danger. So, whenever you feel you are up against a insurmountable obstacle turn to God’s Word. His direction has never let anyone astray.
Xavier James
“Jehovah Jireh” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Family,
I know that many of us are suffering at the moment, particularly financially during these trying economic times. In continuing with my CALM DOWN devotional, I’d encourage each of us to read and reflect on 2 Corinthians 12, and the Apostle Paul’s experience.
Paul had a thorn in his flesh, which he pleaded three times for Father to remove. Nonetheless, that thorn was not removed, and the explanation was that Paul was to TRUST that GOD would provide all that was needed to endure his suffering. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. 2 Cor 12:9
Jehovah Jireh translates into “GOD Our Provider”. Our wonderful Father is exactly that, a provider for each and every living soul on this planet – whether they choose to believe so or not. I certainly PRAISE HIM that each recipient on this mailing list believes so.
COBBC, remember to always go to GOD with your pain and suffering. Know that FATHER is with you, and that He is keenly aware of your pain, your suffering & your struggles. Most importantly, believe that His grace is sufficient to relieve you of that pain & suffering, and to stop the struggles – in His time and in His way.
Trust GOD and keep on pushing at that thang!
Remain Blessed,
Deacon GB
“One Plus One Equals Survival” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Thw word lonely describes one of the most desolate conditions known to man. For many people , loneliness is a way of life, especially for the majority of those who make it to the highest level of their professions. As Solomon finishes describing the grim scence of numerous top dogs, he offers a plan for combatting loneliness that everyone can appropraite. If we take counsel to heart, we discover one of the most down to earth thruths in Scripture – two really are better than one. And by applying Solomon advice along with some other biblical principles, we will begin to experince the cure for loneliness — namely
companionship.
Songwriter Paul Simon compose some poignat lyrics and put them to music. The song he wrote reassured millions of people that ehen everthing falls down around them , one thing will get them through —- a friend . The second verse of that beautiful song gives a message we can all sing.
When you’re down and out , when you’re on the street,
When eveing falls so hard, I will confort you.
I’ll take you part.
Oh! When darkness comes and pain is all around ,
Like a bridge over trouble water, I will lay me down.
We cannot make it through days of diillusionment and times of trouble without friends.
One plus one does equal survival.
Peace and Love!!!!!!
Deacon Lawrence Butler
“God Loveth A Cheerful Giver” – 2 Corinthians 9:7
10.27.10
So often we refer to this as a gift of money, but not today COBBC family. Why aren’t we cheerfully giving? Are we grudgeful with our time when it comes to spending it with him? Are we grudgeful in allowing him to be the final decision when it comes to trusting him? Finally, are we grudgeful in leaving our present state spiritually and physically when he say to us….. “GO” my son….. “GO” my daughter….. and lead the way?
Don Johnson (Deacon, COBBC)
“Expect A Miracle” – Acts 3:5-7 NIV
So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
Miracles still happen. In spite of cloudy days and the seemingly constant turmoils you have to endure, the sun will shine again and bring forth a new day. God created you with great things in mind. His word tells you that you are destined for greatness. Miracles only come to realization with expectation. To acheive the impossible, accomplish the unimaginable and to do the unthinkable, you must have a expecting nature. So, go out today with the purpose of expecting something so incredible you never thought possible and watch what God can and will do.
Xavier James
“Turn Your Attention To God” – 10.22.2010
Good Morning Children,
Todays Devotional comes from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young
As YOU TURN YOUR ATTENTION to Me, feel the Light of My Presence shining upon you.
Open your mind and heart to recieve My heavenly smile of approval.
Let My gold-tinged Love wash over you and soak into the depths of your being. As you are increasingly filled with My Being, you experience joyous union with Me: I in you, and you in Me. Your Joy-in-Me and My
Joy-in-you become intertwined and inseparable. I suffuse your soul with Joy in My Presence; at My right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
John 17:20-23 Psalm 1616:11
Be Blessed
CW. Laster
“Have Confidence” – 10.07.10
COBBC Family,
Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ which strenghteneth me”.
Nonetheless, I ask, what do you say? DO YOU BELIEVE that greater is He that is within you than he that is in the world? If so, why do you lack confidence in your endeavors? You have the most High GOD working in you. You have Jesus Christ constantly making intersession for you. Therefore, you have really nothing to worry about, outside of maintaining your relationship with our Father.
Family, GOD can’t fail, and therefore neither can you, his beloved child! Whatever comes of your life has been pre-ordained by the Father. I emplore each of you – stop holding your head down; stop doubting yourself and your abilities. Pray for the elimination of your low self esteem, and for Christ’s sake, stop the pity parties! Walk and act in confidence – because your Father demands such of his children!
You ARE the light of the world – so act like it.
Remain Blessed,
Deacon GB
“How GOD Hugs” – 08.24.10
Good Morning Children,
I’ll get up, go to my father; and say to him, ”Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands”
So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.
Luke 15:18-20
It is not weeping that attracts the all-forgiving God. It is honesty. “Lord I have sinned”—yes, and sinned again. Feel Him come,hold you, and forgive.
Be Blessed
CW.Laster
“Thank GOD for Favor” – 08.27.10
Good Morning Children
If your reading this, God has smiled on you once again, and that my friend is Favor. Today I’d like to take a different route.
First I want to remind you to make that $10.00 contribution to the “Kidney Fund” for Maxine Kemp.
The request I have is for PRAYER. I’d like for you to pray for Justin Macklin, Jamar Dowell, Brandon Williams all starting their Freshman year @ college and living away from home for the 1st time. I include LISA, CYNTHIA, and BREE in that prayer.
We’ll have close to one hundred teenagers on our campus tomorrow for the Youth Conference please Pray that God gets Glory and the kids lives are enriched from this event. Pray for the instructors and the volunteers as well.
Be Blessed
CW.Laster
“Opposing GOD’s Leaders” – 09.14.10
This is applicable in and out of the church. The Bible tells us that whoever is in authority, God has placed them there. Be they “good” or “bad”, God is using them to bring about His perfect will. We must be careful how much we strive against the men and women that God has placed in authority over us. We must be prayerful and have our ears inclined to God. This is even more applicable given the political climate of today. As Christians we must trust that whoever is in authority over us is there by God’s providence. To try and tear down, displace or characterize as illegitimate a leader, be it in the church or the world, is to in effect say that God messed up and we have to fix it. Don’t misunderstand; we aren’t called to submit to the point of disobedience unto God. As the devotion states, if you are struggling with a leader that has been placed over you, pray for that leader and trust that God will either change the leader or you! But in the meantime, we are called to submit: I Peter 2:13 – 17 states “13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
There’s a lot of good stuff in this passage but that’ll be for another time. Be Blessed! – CW
Opposing God’s Leadership
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2 by Os Hillman
Tuesday, September 14 2010
“The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them” (Num 12:9).
Beware of trying to depose a leader that God has raised in your midst. Leaders are placed by God in business, government, churches – almost every place where leaders are required. When God places a person in position of authority, it is a grievous sin to go against that leadership. God Himself opposes those who come against His leadership.
God’s leaders are not perfect. They make mistakes. That is why following a leader can require a faith that goes beyond faith in the leader. Our faith lies in the God who elevated the leader to his or her position.
Miriam and Aaron, the older brother and sister of Moses, had a family dispute about Moses’ wife, who was an Ethiopian and Cushite. She most likely was a black woman. We do not know the nature of the dispute, but it was a typical family conflict.
However, the family conflict began to impact God’s agenda for a nation. They were now meddling in God’s business. And He did not like that in the least. God literally brought Aaron and Miriam into the switching house. He judged both Miriam and Aaron for their rebellion against His ordained leader. “Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Num 12:8).
Miriam was stricken with leprosy and had it not been for Moses’ appeal on her behalf, she would have been cast out for good. God gave her a second chance but it required being cast away from the camp for seven days. Miriam and Aaron repented for their rebellion.
If you struggle with a leader that God has over you, pray for that leader. If God wants to remove that leader, He can do it. Think twice about conspiring to remove a leader whom God has not chosen to remove yet.
Charles Wright
Plant Manager
