From the Pastor’s Desk T here is an old song sung by Karen Carpenter that went something like this as best I can recall, “Talking to myself and feeling small, sometimes I’d like to quit, nothing ever seems to fit, hanging around, some kind of lonely clown, rainy days and Mondays always get me down.” I love the song, even though the theology leaves something to be desired, the words express real human feelings. As “luck” would have it, I am writing this month’s article on a Monday and yes, it happens to be raining, and we need the rain! Like the much needed rain and the cloudy days are much needed; so, are the “rainy days and Mondays” of our lives; but unlike the writer of the above popular song, don’t talk to yourself or look to yourself or your circumstances look to God and His Wo rd: “…do not fret – it leads only to evil.” (Psalm 37:8b) A distinction is made in Webster’s Dictionary between the difference in the words “fret” and “worry”, not entirely the same i n meaning. Worry, according to Webster is “great care and anxiety”; whereas the meaning of the verb, “to fret” is accompanied by severe consequences to us, “to eat away, to gnaw, to wear away, roughen, agitate, disturb.” It is one thing to talk to yours elf by say- ing, “Don’t fret”; but yet another to have a nature that only God can give us to actually be unable or not capable of fretting . Why does it have to come from a changed nature as a gift from God? Because, again, the cure found also in Psalm 37, the pre- ceding verse can only be obeyed with God’s help: “Be still (or rest) before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” Is it really possible to “be still”, to “rest”, to “wait patiently” for the Lord when the “rainy days and Mondays” of our liv es may turn our own world upside down if even for just a season? If God’s command in Psalm 37 does not work during these times, it will not work anywhere! This “do not” must work during our difficult days of uncertainty as well as our days of peace or it will never work. And if it will not work in your particular case as a Christian, it cannot work for anyone else (amen?). We must keep God’s truth before us at all times and especially if “foggy and rainy” to trust His “instrument panel” called th e Bible. First, “Being still” or “resting” in the Lord is not dependent on our external circumstances at all; but, on our relationship with God in Christ Jesus. Second, fretting always results in sin, leads to evil and remember, harms our body. We may think fretting is an indication of concern; but it is a much better indication of how evil or wicked we are (I know this seems harsh; but look again at Ps.37:8b). Thirdly, fretting rises from our temptation to have our own way . Our Lord never committed the sin of fretting or worry, He was never anxious; because His plan was to do the work and accomplish the will of His Father in heaven only. Jesus’ purpo se was never to fulfill His own plans; but to fulfill God’s plans through Him. Remember, fretting leads only to evil. Have you been talking to yourself and not God and feeling small? Do you have the idea that your circumstances are too much for God to handle? Set all of your own opinions aside and your own speculations and begin by meditating on this verse from my “quiet time” this very morning from Psalm 91:1: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” Deliberately tell God today, right now that you will not fret about what concerns you. All our fretting results in planning without taking God into account: “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this…” (Psalm 37:4,5) Your pastor, praying for each of you to be “fret -free” by grace only, John A Publication of New Hope Presbyterian Church (PCA), Abbeville, SC May 2013 The Rev. John R. Fastenau, Pastor OUR MISSION IN WORSHIP To glorify God by exalting Christ while using Biblical elements as interpreted in the rich tradition of the Reformed Faith. By Reformed, we mean that we are of the Calvinistic heritage and ever seeking to conform our beliefs and lives to the Word of God.
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From the Pastor’s Desk
T here is an old song sung by Karen Carpenter that went something like this as best I can recall, “Talking to
myself and feeling small, sometimes I’d like to quit, nothing ever seems to fit, hanging around, some kind
of lonely clown, rainy days and Mondays always get me down.” I love the song, even though the theology leaves
something to be desired, the words express real human feelings. As “luck” would have it, I am writing this month’s
article on a Monday and yes, it happens to be raining, and we need the rain!
Like the much needed rain and the cloudy days are much needed; so, are the “rainy days and Mondays” of our lives; but unlike
the writer of the above popular song, don’t talk to yourself or look to yourself or your circumstances look to God and His Word:
“…do not fret – it leads only to evil.” (Psalm 37:8b)
A distinction is made in Webster’s Dictionary between the difference in the words “fret” and “worry”, not entirely the same in
meaning. Worry, according to Webster is “great care and anxiety”; whereas the meaning of the verb, “to fret” is accompanied by
severe consequences to us, “to eat away, to gnaw, to wear away, roughen, agitate, disturb.” It is one thing to talk to yourself by say-
ing, “Don’t fret”; but yet another to have a nature that only God can give us to actually be unable or not capable of fretting.
Why does it have to come from a changed nature as a gift from God? Because, again, the cure found also in Psalm 37, the pre-
ceding verse can only be obeyed with God’s help:
“Be still (or rest) before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…”
Is it really possible to “be still”, to “rest”, to “wait patiently” for the Lord when the “rainy days and Mondays” of our lives may
turn our own world upside down if even for just a season? If God’s command in Psalm 37 does not work during these times, it will
not work anywhere! This “do not” must work during our difficult days of uncertainty as well as our days of peace or it will never
work. And if it will not work in your particular case as a Christian, it cannot work for anyone else (amen?).
We must keep God’s truth before us at all times and especially if “foggy and rainy” to trust His “instrument panel” called the
Bible. First, “Being still” or “resting” in the Lord is not dependent on our external circumstances at all; but, on our relationship with
God in Christ Jesus. Second, fretting always results in sin, leads to evil and remember, harms our body. We may think fretting is an
indication of concern; but it is a much better indication of how evil or wicked we are (I know this seems harsh; but look again at
Ps.37:8b). Thirdly, fretting rises from our temptation to have our own way. Our Lord never committed the sin of fretting or worry,
He was never anxious; because His plan was to do the work and accomplish the will of His Father in heaven only. Jesus’ purpose
was never to fulfill His own plans; but to fulfill God’s plans through Him.
Remember, fretting leads only to evil. Have you been talking to yourself and not God and feeling small? Do you have the idea
that your circumstances are too much for God to handle? Set all of your own opinions aside and your own speculations and begin by
meditating on this verse from my “quiet time” this very morning from Psalm 91:1:
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”
Deliberately tell God today, right now that you will not fret about what concerns you. All our fretting results in planning without
taking God into account:
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will
do this…” (Psalm 37:4,5)
Your pastor, praying for each of you to be “fret-free” by grace only,
John
A Publication of New Hope Presbyterian Church (PCA), Abbeville, SC May 2013
The Rev. John R. Fastenau, Pastor
OUR MISSION IN WORSHIP To glorify God by exalting Christ while using Biblical elements as interpreted in the rich tradition of the Reformed Faith.
By Reformed, we mean that we are of the Calvinistic heritage and ever seeking to conform our beliefs and lives to the Word of God.
NOTE FROM THE SESSION
The Session and Deacons will meet May
15, 2013. Please let the officers know of spe-
cific prayer. request or any spiritual needs you may
have.
A Monthly Devotion by John Latham
SEND A GREAT REVIVAL! ...O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!...
Habakkuk 3:2
Perhaps the most notable revival of the twentieth century happened in 1904 and 1905 in the tiny land of Wales. This revival started with a few people fervently praying. The prayers of these people had powerful results. Churches that had been one-fourth full of apathetic Christians began to come alive. The Spirit of God fell on various towns, moving everywhere. Within five months, over a hun-dred thousand people in that small land converted to Christianity! The bars in many towns had to shut down completely, and the jails were emptied and closed! Another powerful revival happened years ago on the battleship North Carolina. While this battle-ship anchored in New York harbor, four young men asked for a room where they could meet and pray. They were assigned a little room way below the waterline, and day after day they faithfully met together to pray. They prayed that God would pour His blessings upon that ship. Finally one day the Spirit of God descended, the sailors’ hearts burned within them and they knew that God was present. They began to sing praises to God, and their hymns of praise wafted up through the ship. Hearing the singing, rough sailors came down to mock the four men, but when these rough men entered the room, the power of God’s Spirit gripped them. These men fell to their knees. Eventually, hundreds converted to Christianity, and a great revival swept the entire ship. In fact, the revival carried from that ship to others. The same God who changed these men, the same God who changed Saul of Tarsus into Paul the Apostle, can change anyone. Begin now to pray that God will bring revival to our nation, especially to the people whom you’d least expect would give their lives to Christ, He can work through you as you faithfully pray.
It (revival) is a sovereign act of God, whereby He intervenes to lift the situation completely out of human hands and works in extraordinary power.
JEFFREY KING
Taken from: New Every Morning by Dr. D. James Kennedy
Pray without Ceasing
First and foremost, when we pray God says to “keep ask-ing the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, that He may give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, SO THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM BETTER.” Ephesians 1:17
Pray for our nation and its leaders; for true spiritual re-vival; for conviction of sin; and turning back to God.
Pray for our missionaries: Guillermo Salinas, Gary Al-ward, Rick Brawner, Stephen Speaks, Rob Hamby, Will Faires, Gary Watanabe, Paul Henry, Mo Montenegro, Kristen Trace, Ryan Culbertson, Brooks Cain, Mark Faires. Additional support to Calvary Home for Children.
Pray for those in the Nursing Home: Ruby Link and Elise Kroeze.
Pray for Irene Ellis, Joyce Cooper, and Terry Love in their various struggles.
Pray for New Hope : Session, Deaconate, and Committees.
Notes from the President…Rachel Fastenau
For Zion’s sake I will not rest and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep silent, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.” Isaiah 62:1
Grace and peace to you Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ,
May I challenge you with something Jesus has been teaching me? It is very applicable to us as women of the church as we seek to serve. I was reading in Matthew 10 about God promising us that we will not lose our reward for even doing the littlest acts of service we do for Him. 1 Peter 4:11, "Let him who serves, serve in the strength in which God supplies, so that in everything God will get the glory."
The point is to encourage us that when we serve and keep on serv-ing, even in the small and seemingly unnoticed ways, God will never forget. Every note you write, every call you make, every visit, every act of love and kindness, every act of service out of love for God's name and glory He sees and will not forget to all eternity.
So women of the church let us love God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength, and for the sake of His name serve each other.
He will not forget. His justice guarantees it. :) Chief of sinners, serving by His grace, Rachel Fastenau
Sharing Notes
Dear New Hope Church,
Greetings from Alaska! We hope this letter finds
you all doing well and enjoying warmer weather. Thank you all so much for your commitment to
partner with us in ministering to the native people of Alaska. God has richly surrounded us with people
who support and encourage us. We are so thankful. We have enjoyed spending time with George dur-
ing his travels to and from Alaska. It will be exciting
to see the plans God has in store for him this summer and in the coming years.