Our new church library is taking shape. Marvin has the shelves in place by the side door. Rachel is working on the books. We also plan to have Christian DVD’s and CD’s available. 

FCM men’s group will meet for breakfast this Tuesday, March 1. All men are welcome. Come and join us for a great breakfast and time of fellowship. 

FCW women’s group will meet on Wednesday, March 2nd at 9:30. All church ladies are invited to attend. 

Bible study on Wednesday at 2:30. We will continue our study on the Holy Spirit. 

Sunday’s sermon will be a first-person sermon featuring the Apostle Paul. We have been studying his Epistle to the Romans. Sunday we meet the author. 

We should have warmer weather this week for which we thank God!  

May God’s goodness and mercy abide with you all.

Pastor Bowman

DAILY DEVOTION, February 28, 2022

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind (James 1:6).

James speaks of approaching God in prayer. What does it mean to ask in faith, with no doubting? Some teach that to pray without doubt means that God will do what we ask. So if I pray for healing, I must not doubt that God will heal me. I think there is a better way to understand what James says. We must not doubt that God cares for us and will answer our prayer according to His will. While another Scripture tells us we may ask whatever we will, we do not always know if our will is in harmony with God’s will. I often wonder if what I am asking of God is appropriate.

John writes, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.” Therefore, although we may doubt the faithfulness of our prayers, we must never doubt that God hears the prayers of His people and will always answer. He may not always do what we ask, but we must never doubt His love or His willingness to answer our prayers.

To doubt ourselves is inevitable. To doubt God is a sin.

Father, help me to pray aright, according to Your will. I trust You to answer my prayers according to Your will. My will is often confused. You are never confused. Thy will be done, in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Daily Devotion, 2/26/21, More on peace

Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God (Romans 5:1).

Yesterday we saw that we have great peace when we love the law of God. We also saw that it is one thing to love the law of God and quite another thing to keep it. We need a Savior. Paul reminds us that when we place our faith in Jesus, we are justified before God. That is, God receives us as His dear children when we trust in Jesus.

We see in these two verses the difference between salvation and discipleship. Salvation is God’s gift to us when we believe in Jesus (John 3:16). Salvation has nothing to do with how faithfully we keep the law of God. As redeemed souls, we certainly want to please God. We embrace His law as our way of life. We work hard at trying to live our lives in harmony with the will of God. One way to understand this is to see our lives as running on two rails: one rail is the law of God; the other rail is faith in Jesus. I can never reject either rail. If I discard the law of God, it means I have rejected God. If I reject Jesus, I have also rejected God.  While it is a bit of a paradox, the Christian embraces both the law of God and the Savior who forgives our failure to keep God’s law. Keep your feet planted on both rails!

Father, I am so sorry for my failures to obey Your law. I want to be faithful, but I confess that I fall short.  I thank You for providing for my forgiveness by giving Your only begotten Son as my Savior. I love Your law, and I pledge to do my best to obey, and I love Jesus who died to cover my failures. In His name, I pray, Amen.

DAILY DEVOTION, February 25, 2022

And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come (Matthew 11:14).

Jesus is speaking of John the Baptist. Some have concluded that the Bible teaches reincarnation. John the Baptist was Elijah reincarnated. When reading the Bible, we need to distinguish the literal from the figurative and also look at the full context. For example, Psalm 50:10 tells us that the cattle on a thousand hills belong to God. What about hill 1001? What about the cattle in the valleys? Psalm 50:10 is telling us in figurative language that all the cattle (and sheep, and dogs etc.) belong to God.

In John 1:21, the Jews asked John if he were Elijah. He responded, “I am not.” Luke 1:17 says that John came “in the spirit and power of Elijah.” Thus, John is “Elijah” only in a figurative sense. The Bible does not teach reincarnation.

The Bible uses figurative language as well as straightforward literal language. We need to read carefully in order to understand the Bible. A basic question to ask is this: is this passage speaking literally or figuratively? Christians do not always agree in answering that question. The main thing is to trust Jesus (literally!) and do your best to understand the Bible and be kind to those who disagree with you as to how a particular passage is to be understood.

Father, thank You for the Bible. It is a large book with many language styles. Help me to read carefully and prayerfully. I want to understand Your message to the human race, and I do not wish to twist or distort Your Word. Thank You for stating the main message that Jesus is the Savior is clear language over and over. May His name be glorified, Amen.

DAILY DEVOTION, February 24, 2022

I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

When God speaks, we better listen! We dare not add to what God has said nor take anything away. His word and His acts endure forever. He means what He says, no exceptions. For example, God says, “The soul that sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). That means we are all stand condemned.

God also says this: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This verse does not cancel the truth of Ezekiel 18:4. However, it tells us that God is willing to forgive us when we confess our sins unto Him. We are not to hide our sins. We are not to excuse our sins. We are to confess them to God. When we do, he forgives and cleanses us.

God’s word is clear. He does not like sin! However, because of what Jesus has done for us, God will forgive us when we own up to our transgressions. He also said this: “Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone” (Acts 4:12, CEV). Therefore, don’t trust anyone or anything else, just Jesus. God has made the path to salvation clear. Be sure you are on it.

Father, I thank You that I can always depend upon Your word. I thank You that You have made the way of salvation clear. Please help me to keep my faith in Jesus solid and secure. In His name. I pray, Amen.