by George | Aug 18, 2022 | Community News, Devotional
One Of A Kind
“Before him, there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.”
2 Kings 23:25
Have you ever heard the expression, “One of a kind?”
Merriam Webster defines this phrase as:
“A person or thing that is not like any other person or thing.”
An example of this is:
“I don’t know how we’ll ever replace Mary after she retires. She’s really one of a kind.”
One of a kind, not like any other…
King Josiah was one of a kind…
How was Josiah different from all the other kings?
First of all, he got an early start, literally… He was 8 years old!
“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. He did right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the carved images, and the molten images.”
2 Chronicles 34:1-3
He began to seek God “while he was still a youth.”
I don’t know about you, but my years of youth have been gone for a long time. This verse challenges me to seek God, much like Josiah.
Then, he put his faith into action and got rid of the idols, and false places of worship.
So how do we start the process of becoming “one of a kind?”
Paul instructs us:
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be CONFORMED to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:1-2
We don’t have to be conformed to this world, we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds…
It’s much like the idea of shutting your computer or phone down and restarting. It gets rid of junk and clutter that hinders performance.
Start right now to seek God with all your heart, soul, and mind. You will truly be “One of a kind!”
by George | Aug 15, 2022 | Community News, Newsletter
August Community Church Ministry Newsletter
My heart is filled with gratitude as I write these words to you. Here’s why:
- God enabled us to do 13 events in July. 12 were back-to-school events.
- The weather was good for all of them except one, but the rain was brief at that one.
- We had enough school supplies to give out and some extra for next time.
- God supplied enough help.
- Seeds were planted of which we are praying to spring up to eternal life.
We all have so much to be thankful for!
Please continue to pray for Community Church Ministry
that God would guide the scheduling, that the Lord would open doors for us, hearts to be receptive, resources, volunteers, and good weather.
Our desire is to expand into other communities. Please pray about networking with us to reach your neighborhood.
Upcoming neighborhood dinners:
Monday, August 15- Swan Lake MHP
Thursday, August 18- Pine Village MHP
by George | Aug 11, 2022 | Community News, Devotional
A War Cry
“When Judah turned around, behold, they were attacked both front and rear; so they cried to the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets. Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, then it was that God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.”
2 Chronicles 13:14-15
Things looked pretty bleak for Judah… They were surrounded on every side by their enemies.
What did they do? Did they surrender? No! They cried out to God.
Theglobalwatch.com explains:
“This crying out is the Hebrew word “Tsa’aq” (צָעַק ṣâ‘aq or tsa’aq). The word connotes an alertness to trouble that catalyzes an awakening and releases a cry of anguish in us. It will incite a gathering for agreement with others.”
Other examples:
- Genesis 27:34 Esau’s cry when he realizes Jacob had stolen his birthright.
- Genesis 41:55 The cry of the people of Egypt when there was a famine in the land.
- Exodus 5:8, 15 The cry of the Israelites when Pharaoh laid extra work on them in making bricks.
Theglobalwatch.com goes on to say:
“The “War Cry,” the rua, is a sure sound. It leaves no room for doubt or dismay. In our story it was a pivotal sound…. The “War cry,” or Heb. rua, is a different stance than tsa’aq. It is a stance that moves us beyond our prayers, petitions, and even declarations into a catalytic posture between God and what we see on earth. It is a position of full trust in God. Doubting and despair have dropped off our radar…”
- It was the shout that blew down the walls of Jericho, “And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: ‘Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!’” Joshua 6:16.
- It was the shout that Gideon’s army released when they defeated the Midianites, Judges 7:21.
- It was the shout that shook the earth when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, 1 Samuel 4:5. Once we have cried out to God, sounding the trumpet of war, we then issue a war cry, a declaration of faith that God is answering our prayer. Cry out to God! He is listening.
