Trees for God’s Glory Psalm 104:16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; The Scriptures mention trees hundreds of times throughout the Word of God. The Bible mentions: Palm, Willow, Lign-Aloe, Cedar, Olive, Fig, Pomegranate, Mulberry, Fir, Almug, Sycomore, Juniper, Apple, Frankincense, Myrrh, Teil, Oak, Shittah, Myrtle, Pine, Box, Cypress, Ash, Almond, and the Chestnut. Here in this Psalm the trees are said to be full of sap. The Lord created trees as living creatures upon the face of the earth. These trees were created for the benefit of mankind. They provide shade, shelter, heat, and food for man. Moses records the importance of the tree to man in Deuteronomy, “When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the [...]

STAYING PURE IN AN IMPURE WORLD From the desk of Pastor David A. Smith Demonstrating Moral Courage for Personal Purity! It is obvious that the environment of this wicked world is active and pervasive in contaminating and corrupting human minds and hearts. It takes conviction and courage for a believer to remain pure before the Lord. • The Pastoral Epistles give some strong counsel on the importance and priority of personal purity in our lives: “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.” I Tim. 5:22-25 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the [...]

“For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” Ezra 7:9-10 My mother penned these verses on the inside cover of a Bible she gave me upon my graduation from high school. I am certainly thankful for “the good hand of (my) God upon (me!)” While I often fail the Lord in faithlessness, I want it to be known that it is my heart’s desire to “prepare (my) heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach…statutes and judgments.” The Lord has been so merciful and gracious to Amanda and I, and we are so humbled to think that He would choose to use [...]

Blessings upon the Upright Proverbs 11 Many examples in the Scriptures show forth a righteous life. Joseph the earthly father of Jesus, was such a man. Matthew 1   God is looking for the man who has a heart that is right with Him. This man will reap the blessings from the Lord upon his life. On the contrary the person who does not live right will miss out upon the blessings of the Lord.   One must have the right character before the Lord before he can expect God’s blessings upon his life.   Honesty—vs. 1 A life characterized by truthfulness in life and lips(Honesty starts in the heart) I won’t tell I lie from my lips if the truth is in my heart! The faulty balance was built by a deceitful heart. The deceitful heart is known by its treachery or transgressing—vs. 3 Humility—vs. 2 Pride invites shame upon my own life. If I am too proud to admit my own faults and [...]