Pastor Bryan's Devotions
About Pastor Griffith

Good morning TBC

I pray all are well and rested well last night. If anyone needs anything or any help please let me know. Please remember Bro Gary and his brothers as they attend their Father's funeral. Mr Powell was a wonderful Christian man, unashamed of his Lord, so this indeed is a celebration of life and Life Eternal in Christ our Lord.

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Hope: toheleth is the Hebrew spelling: expectation Many and maybe some of you today had an expectation of retiring comfortably only to have your hopes dashed by a falling stock market, or a failing economy. Many have a broken heart or spirit today, not because God has failed them, but because their expectation was in the very thing God had warned about and that is "trusting in uncertain riches or the arm of flesh". One thing for certain is that nothing in this world is for certain if we are depending on any other source than our Lord and Savior. If you are one that has had your expectations "deferred" or dashed, now is the time, rather than losing all faith, to refocus our faith on the One who will never change in this changing world. Our true hope must be centered in the unchanging, all powerful God and Savior that is able to restore all things.

Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

When we refocus our faith through repentance and recommitting our lives to Christ and His cause, He is able to restore the hope that was deferred for a season and make that hope our Tree of Life.

God bless your day more than ever with His grace and peace.

Love you all.

Good morning TBC,

I hope you all rested well. Another week has quickly come and gone. We thank the Lord for life and liberty that is in Christ our Lord. With all the media pushing the panic buttons let's not allow them to cause us to become panicked within our hearts today. I love Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Let's keep our focus on Jesus in these uncertain times, because Jesus never fails. Please remember Sister Janice Bradshaw as she has be hit with a sore throat. Please remember Michael and Holly's son Ethan, terrible strep throat. Cold and flu season is not over yet, so protect yourself as much as possible and be considerate of others also.

Proverbs 12:5,6 5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. At first glance of today's passage my heart fell because my thoughts are not always right and pure. I am reminded of Paul's writing to the Roman Church, chapter 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, In 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

The battle in the mind was in Paul's day and remains a battle for today's believers. We must learn to allow the Spirit and the Word to conform our hearts and minds to the thinking of Christ. With that said, as I looked further into the Hebrew meaning of the word "thoughts" in today's Scripture it actually means purpose, plans and advice. So we might say, "the purpose, plans and advice of the righteous are right." Though the thoughts that come through a believer's mind may not be right at times, the plans, purpose and advice of the righteous remain intact. Our heart's desire is for God's purpose to be accomplished in our lives. The fleeting evil thoughts that come into a man's mind does not define whether he is righteous or not, but rather the actions that he takes to reject the thoughts or fulfill the evil thoughts reveal the true nature of man's heart. I believe it was the reformer Martin Luther that said: You can't stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop it from building a nest in your hair. Let's make sure our plans, purpose and advice match our profession of faith in Christ our Lord. Let's keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I pray all are well and each one rested well last night. Thanks to all that came out to prayer meeting last night.

Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

The exalted position of a virtuous woman can not be over emphasized, but I am afraid in many cases she is under valued. The woman was the last of God's creative work and I must say it was very good! She was the icing on God's great and beautiful creation. I can only imagine Adam, when God awoke him to see Eve for the first time, he probably named her with his first words, WHOA MAN!! The word virtuous means to be a source of wealth or value, valiant, strength and value or valuable.

The scripture says in Prov.18:22, that a man that finds a wife finds a good thing and has obtained favor from God. The Word says that the man is the head of the woman, 1Cor. 11:3, but by reason of her virtue she is declared as the crown of her husband. She becomes the source of identification or praise to her husband, as a kingdom is known by the Crown. A man can do and say many despicable things and get by with it in this world, because, well he's just a man. However let a woman get out of line and her name is quickly tarnished, Why? The answer is the high value that God placed upon her. She is the Crown which God made especially for man. When the Crown is polished and valued, nothing can compare to her beauty nor give more glory, honor and splendor than that beautiful Crown. When that Crown falls and gets dirty and tarnished she becomes a source of disgrace and the brunt of every conversation. Men let us never forget nor underestimate the value of our beautiful Crown and let's not forget to make it known, She is our glory! Wives never forget the High value that God our Creator placed upon you. You are the standard of beauty and virtue to the family and this world. You are a priceless Crown of Glory!!

God bless you all with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good Morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well last night. Hope to see you tonight at prayer service. Bro Jerry's devotional Monday night is reflected in today's devotional.

Proverbs 12:3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

The wicked have no lasting hope. Their wicked desires and devices will perish with them, "but" the root of the righteous shall not be moved. During hurricane Florence, one of the Pear trees behind our house was blown down. That tree produced some of the biggest and juiciest pears I've ever seen. It was sad to see the tree cut up and hauled to the burn pile. No more pears from that beautiful tree. "But" the root system of that tree was not destroyed and in the spring following the storm new growth came forth from the roots of that beloved Pear tree. Now there are four or five small pear trees in it's place. The unseen root system was the source of life for that beautiful tree and though the tree was gone the "Root" was not moved and was still producing life.

Great Christian leaders have come and gone, great Revival movements have come and gone, but the Root is still intact and still producing life. It will take a few years for the new growth to produce fruit like the old fully grown tree did, "But" it's root system is the same source of life that the old tree, now gone depended on and produced through. Therefore there is hope for another day. If we don't give up, if we don't turn back, I'm sure that our "Root of Jesse" Jesus Christ cannot be moved. He will continue to produce great trees and great fruit for future generations to come and for the glory of His God and Father.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well. Thank you to the men that came out last night to the fellowship and thank you to Bro Jerry for leading.

Proverbs 12:2 A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

What is a good man since Jesus said there is "none good but God." First, a good man is one that is not trusting in his goodness or works, but he is one that trusts only in the Lord. Second, a good man through his works displays his abiding faith and obedience to the Lord. Therefore, a good man is one that is gracious, because he has experienced God's grace. He is merciful and kind because he has received God's mercy. He is full of joy because he has found his strength comes only from God. He is prosperous because God has become his great reward.

When a man sets his heart for the purpose of glorifying the Lord and not seeking recognition of himself, God extends His favor to that man. Some will say, I thought that God was no respecter of person and they would be right, partly. When it come to salvation, God is no respecter, for all have sinned and all need a savior and so without respect God will say, "Whosoever will, come". That is God's unmerited favor called grace. Any man that has placed his trust in God's saving grace which is in Christ alone, now has the responsibility and privilege to be the "good" man God redeemed him to become. As the new man is displayed in faithfulness, God then gives a favor that is earned.

Joseph's story is the best example of God's favor. From the pit to prison to Pharaoh's palace, Joseph's faithfulness to his God brought him protection, promotion and a double portion in the Land of Promise. Do we want God's favor in our life? Trust His way and remain faithful through good and tough times and his favor will be on display in our lives. God bless you today with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

It was good to see everyone at Homecoming yesterday and the food was wonderful, Thanks to everyone! Men's Fellowship tonight at 6PM, Bro Jerry Morgan leading. It was great to see Bro David M and Matt back with us yesterday also.

Proverbs 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

Instruction is needful for all, especially in regards to righteous and holiness. The word instruction here means, reproof, correction, discipline, to warn or restrain. In the book of Hebrews chapter 12, it says in vs.11, that no chastisement at the time seems to be joyous but to be just the opposite, however the end is peace and righteousness if received properly. Scripture is really saying that those who accept correction properly will receive beneficial knowledge from it which will prosper those exercised by it and they will receive God's best for their life.

I remember in high school, when the cross country team would host an event, the coaches would have trail spotters along the course in order to keep the runners on the the right course. On a seven to fourteen mile trek through the woods and back roads, one that had never run the course before could easily get lost and those familiar with the course could be tempted to take a short cut. The spotters would serve to keep the novice safe and the familiar honest. So it is with instruction and knowledge, when both are heeded and listened to properly we can make the race successfully. Those however, that reject instruction and knowledge are likened to an animal which cannot be trained (brutish). They become a danger to themselves as well as to others and will never complete the race successfully and rather than being filled with gratitude for helping them see the way clearer, they fall by the wayside into a life of bitterness and waste. If we are corrected today by our loving Heavenly Father, embrace it and be thankful, because He only wants us to receive His best at the end of our race.

God bless you today with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone has rested well. Tonight is the youth meal at 6pm and this Sunday is Homecoming. This coming Monday @ 6pm is the new Men's fellowship. For more info. contact Bro Jerry Morgan. Pray for Bro Dave M as he recovers from pneumonia.

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

The life of the righteous produces life and in return can share life with others. There is one big problem though, there is none that is righteous.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

In order for a life to produce an acceptable fruit of righteousness, it must be connected to an acceptable tree and that tree you might say was made in the form of a cross. Upon that dead cursed tree was the Fruit of the Righteousness of God (Jesus Christ) displayed and offered to the whole world to partake. Those who will partake of God's fruit will in turn produce the same fruit of righteousness that will point to God's Tree of life. Through the wisdom, mercy and grace of God, we can see the true value of the soul of man. Now in that same wisdom of God, we seek to win or rescue the perishing lives of man, by pointing them to the righteous fruit that points to the Tree of Life. WE WIN AND RESCUE SOULS BY POINTING THEM TO JESUS!!!

God bless your day with his grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC

I hope everyone rested well. I want to thank everyone that was at prayer meeting last night. Please remember Youth sponsored Supper Friday @ 6PM Please remember Homecoming this Sunday w/Brother Warren Kennedy Continue to remember Susie's Young friend Sadie.

Proverbs 11:27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

Favor is defined as the friendly regards, approval or support shown toward another, especially by a superior. We all want to find favor, but how do we obtain this favor. Solomon says we obtain or procure favor by diligently seeking the good and prosperity of another. Favor is obtained not by self centered thinking or brown nosing, but by seeking to secure good for another without expecting anything in return. If we set our lives to the betterment of others, favor will follow.

Just one example of procuring favor is found in, Psalms 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. To seek mischief is to seek one's own gain through deceitful or unethical means. If we engage in such practice to obtain favor or gain, this same action will come back to haunt us. I think of Jacob, he lived most of his early life tricking and tripping others to get gain for himself. After tricking his father into giving him Esau's blessing, his mother had to send him away to his uncle to save him from his brother's wrath. When he arrived at Laban's, he found out where he inherited his trickery.

The Lord's means of showing his favor to his children is through his children seeking favor and blessings for others. Favor is secured by showing favor and mischief comes upon the mischievous. Psalms 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

God bless your day with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good Morning TBC,

I hope all are well and fully recovered from your sicknesses. We still have a few coughing and runny noses. Prayer service tonight at 7. Sunday is Homecoming, Brother Warren Kennedy will be with us to speak. I heard my favorite word for this time of year, Snow!! Bro Jim said the steroids he was taking was helping his breathing and he hopes to be back with us for Sunday, keep him in your prayers. Please remember and come to the Youth sponsored Dinner for Friday @ 6pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Proverbs 11:24-26 24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

Today's Scripture is the simple law of the harvest. Our God is a husbandman. He knows the secret to a good harvest is sowing an abundance of seeds. How big of harvest do we want? Sow small, reap small, sow much reap much. Let's consider the parable of the sower, three fourths of his seed was fruitless, but the seed on good ground brought forth an abundance. Do we quit sowing into lives just because most seem unaffected by our efforts? God forbid, if there is to be an harvest we must continue to sow into lives. With the knowledge that some seed will be stolen by Satan, some will be burnt by the heat and droughts of life and some will be choked by the troubles and trials of life, we must continue to sow. There is good soil out there that will receive the seed and fruit will be produced and God will be glorified. If we allow ourselves to become discouraged by the initial results and we stop sowing then no harvest will be produced at all.

Psalms 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Don't be discouraged, weeping, sweating and sometimes even failure is all part of God's plan of producing a harvest that will bring Him glory. When the sheaves are finally gathered in, you and I will rejoice and the labor and tough times will be forgotten.

God bless you with His grace and peace throughout the day.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone had a restful night. Please remember Susie's young friend Sadie as she continues to battle her sickness called Gastroparesis. A praise from Bro Matt Anker, his Father, Bill's last cancer scan showed cancer free!! Remember the youth sponsored meal Friday night at 6PM. Please come out and support the youth.

Proverbs 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

The wicked are increasing in their boldness. They are joining forces together to come against anything that resembles decent God given standards, We haven't seen so much outward animosity against righteousness in our country as we are seeing and experiencing today. Wickedness' desire is to become so fortified that it can drive God and His standards out of the public square. What are we to do, or what can we do to change the course of our country's downward spiral? As we look at history, including the Bible, we see that when men have bent their necks against God, there is not much chance of far reaching reform. So what do we do?

First we must hear what the Scripture says about the wicked. Though the wicked join hand and hand to come against God and His people, they will not fully succeed. It may appear at times they will succeed, but they will not go unpunished. Second we are to remain faithful to our Lord and Savior. We must never give into the temptation to quit, just because it seems everyone else is. Third, we must stay before our Lord to remain strong and be able to encourage our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord to not despair or give into the world's demands. Fourth, we must never lose sight of the promise of our Heavenly Father, that we will be delivered one day from the hopes and desires of the wicked.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

It was great to see each one yesterday at Church. Please remember Sister Ioma, she can't seem to get her strength back to par. Brother Tristan B called and requested prayer for his Grandfather who is going to have a heart procedure tomorrow. Remember Homecoming this coming Sunday the 24th, there will be no evening service. Monday the 25th @ 6pm will be a men's fellowship time led by Bro Jerry Morgan. Sister Brenda C has two Sisters and a Brother in-law in need of prayer. Sister Susie has a young friend that is in need of a medical miracle. She is only 15yrs. old. Her sickness will not allow her to eat. She is getting weaker and weaker.

Proverbs 11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder it's been said. What good is a golden jewel to a hog? It is of no benefit, it would only cause the hog irritation as he would root around in the ground for grubs and roots. Who would put a precious jewel in a hog's snout anyway? Solomon is helping us to see that when women or men use only their God given beauty to root around in this muddy nasty world to get only something to satisfy this flesh we are no better than the hog. I think of two women in the Bible that used their attractiveness for two different reasons. Both were queens, Jezebel and Esther. Jezebel used her beauty to destroy the morality of the northern kingdom of Israel. She turned King Ahab's heart to the worship of Baal. She used her seductions and treachery to destroy the prophets of God, but ultimately her beauty was only fit to be wild dog's food. Esther however, we are told that she was very fair or beautiful. God used her beauty, coupled with chaste discretion to win the heart of king Ahasuerus. Her beauty and proper surrender to God would ultimately deliver her people, the Jews from annihilation. Do we use our God given beauty, looks or talent to only get our way with people or do we lend ourselves to the Lord for His glory and honor as a proper tool in the Master's hand. Don't make a hog of yourself.

Have a blessed day, filled with God's grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope all rested and are recovered from all the sicknesses we've experienced these last two weeks. Please pray for Bro Reed Callahan, his breathing ability has worsened Ms Linda said and they are not going to be able to be with us for Homecoming,:( Homecoming is the 4th Sunday, the 23rd of this month.

Proverbs 11:4, 28 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

I think of the old song by the Beatles, Money can't buy me Love. Think about it, we work every day to accumulate riches and money, but can we name one thing that we can acquire through them that will not perish with this world? Think of the Rich man, he had much goods, he tore down and built bigger in order to store all his riches. The night his soul was to stand before his Creator, not one ounce of his riches could pay for his soul nor could he take it with him. Think of the Rich man as he lifted up his head in the torments of hell. As he cried for relief, all the riches he had, could not purchase just one drop of water.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Isaiah 55:1,2a Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?

"But righteousness delievereth from death" Lazarus the beggar had nothing to offer, nothing to purchase life's necessities with. He was sick in body, he ate the scraps of the Rich man. Poor Lazarus, only the dogs cared enough to tend his sores. However, when it was time to meet his Maker, he had at some point in his life purchased by faith, a first class flight to Paradise. Only Righteousness purchased by faith in Christ Jesus alone, can deliver any man in the day of wrath.

Proverbs 11:28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Matt. 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Let's make sure the focus of our affections are above, where faith in Christ is the only riches accepted.

God bless you with grace and peace today.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

Please continue to pray for our folk recovering from their sicknesses. LeRays, Swans, Hobbs, Browns, Camerons, Powells, Ms Powell, Jim, Jones', Sheldons, Anna, Becky, Buck. Since there are few that come out for Wednesday night services anyway, we will not have services tonight to give further time of recovery from all the sicknesses in the Church. Hopefully we will meet together again this coming Sunday!!

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Integrity is said to be what we are when no one is looking. The Hebrew gives the sense of being morally complete, innocence and above reproach. Integrity is said to be the guide of the upright, it is the moral compass that directs our action in the right and moral way. The Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit are the agents God uses to develop a man's integrity. The Holy Scriptures set the absolute truth upon which integrity is built and the Holy Spirit is the power to reinforce these truths in the heart of a man. Living in an age that rejects the idea of absolute truth, we are left with the dilemma of situational truth. Situational truth destroys true integrity.

Without absolute truth, there is no absolute standard of morality. The subtility of the Serpent is once again found in the perverse culture of non-absolutes (hath God said). By teaching situational truth, this eliminates perverseness, which eliminates transgression of the law, which eliminates the need of repentance and forgiveness in the heart of man, which eliminates the need of salvation, which shall eternally destroy the soul of the perverse. How Subtle!! We must never fall for the trickery of that old serpent the Devil. God's word is both sure and steadfast. Both time and testing have proved God's word absolutely true. What is the integrity of our lives based on? If not God's word, it cannot be trusted. Psalms 119:89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all.

Good morning TBC,

I pray all are continuing on the good road of recovery. The last word I had from our precious Amelia is she was doing some better but still very sick with pneumonia and strep throat. Please remember our friend Angie B as they have scheduled her for reconstructive foot surgery for Friday morning. Thank you for your prayers because the greater possibility was that amputation of her foot and lower leg was the only option. Our Father is GOOD!

Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Pride in the believer's life is an undesirable guest. When pride comes to visit, he is like a cancer that can slowly destroy the life and testimony of a believer. Pride stops the flow of God's blessings and grace. Arrogance, an unteachable spirit. boastfulness and a highly elevated opinion of one's self are just a few destructive characteristics of pride. When pride is allowed to come in, he is not alone, but he will never tell his victims, because, with pride comes shame. Shame brings reproach, confusion, disgrace and dishonor. The greatest weapon against pride in our life is to always keep the cross of Christ before our face and to know, it was my sin that nailed Jesus to that cross. As we do this then Humility comes to stay and his partner is wisdom. To walk in pride is to our own demise, but to walk humbly before God shows great wisdom and receives more of God's grace.

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

God bless your day with his grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I pray everyone rested and are on the mend from all sickness. What a week last week was, but this a new week that will bring new challenges and possibilities and further healing. Continue to lift each other up to the Lord. If you are not completely well please stay in but if you're well we will be having prayer Wednesday night.

Proverbs 11:1 1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.

The scales of lady justice are supposed to be blind and equal. No prejudices, no predetermined outcome. She is to weigh with the same equality to the wealthy as to the poor, to the home born as to the stranger. In business or in the court of the land the Lord requires a just and equal balance. Our nation's people have just witnessed why an unjust scale of justice is an abomination to the Lord. We have seen politics, prejudices, power and perjury from our nation's leaders, with a desire to bring down the people's confidence in our nation's rule of law and conduct. We are to let the established weight or Law be applied to the scale and then let the true product or evidence be placed on the scale without any desire to tip the scale in either direction and the scale will tell the tell. I am reminded that when I began school at 6 years old, we were made to memorize the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." I wonder how often that rule has caused me to do right when faced with the opportunity to profit with just the slightest tipping of the scale.

Colossians 3:17 is another golden rule that makes a pleasing set of scales in the presence of our God and Judge, Vs 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Can we put the Lord's honest blessings to whatsoever dealings we undertake to do? Is my scale just, is my motive pure and is my Savior and God pleased. These three simple questions will help us keep our scales pleasing and a delight to our LORD.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I pray all are feeling well this morning. Seems that when it rains it pours. Everyone use wisdom concerning all this sickness going through the Church. If you know someone is sick stay away from them if you can, and if you are sick try to stay away from others as much as possible. Please continue to pray for those that are sick.

Proverbs 10:7,11,16,22,28,30 7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. 22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. 28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

Throughout history men have watched the wicked seemingly prosper at everything they touch. If we are not careful we can find ourselves envious of their prosperity. We must not allow ourselves to forget the end of the wicked. No matter how much of this world's goods they may acquire, it will only perish with them. When God views man, both righteous and wicked, He ultimately views them through the eye of eternity and not in the here and now. The wise and righteous man, though he may not have much of this world's goods will leave a lasting legacy that leaves the sweet smell of a blessed memory to those he influenced and touched. The wicked's name will rot. What a horrible thought it would be that the very memory of our name would bring a stink in the minds of those we left behind.

The labor of the righteous provides for life but the fruit of wickedness brings only separation from God. The righteous' words are full of instruction, wisdom and life, but the words of a wicked mouth are words that bring reproach and violence upon themselves. When God blesses the righteous with riches, the attaining of those riches never bring regret or guilt, unlike ill gotten gain of the wicked. The hope of righteousness brings only gladness of heart, but the hope and expectations of the wicked shall perish. The righteous, though despised and maligned by the world will never be moved from their hope in their God, but the wicked shall not abide on the earth but their abode will be that of eternal separation from the presence of God and the things they lived for. We should never forget nor lose sight that we are living for eternity, not for the moment.

God bless you with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good Morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well last night, especially those who are sick. We have several folk that have been diagnosed with the Flu. Please take care of yourselves. Please pray for these who are sick. If there are others please let me know so we can be praying for you also. Due to the fact that there is so much Flu in the church the Youth's Valentine's dinner is cancelled for Friday evening. AWANA and Youth leaders need to consider cancelling for Sunday night for the sake of the children outside the Church that may not have been exposed. As of now we will be having Sunday morning service but if any have colds or other symptoms please stay home. We have disinfected the pews and classroom chairs as well as the carpet throughout the church and all of the hymnals and pew bible covers. That's no guarantee but Lord willing it will help.

Proverb 10;4.5 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

I remember an old saying goes something like this, "Do you know what you have to do to fail? Nothing". Another saying is "nothing from nothing leaves nothing." I'm afraid that our society today has strayed away from the hard work ethics of just a few years ago. We have entered into a time where the entitlement syndrome has replaced the ethics of earning one's way. As we see more and more of this attitude in society we will also see poverty increase and a people full of shame. There is another old saying that comes to my mind when we think of the diligent and wise, "you gotta make hay while the sun is shining." If we don't apply ourselves at the proper time with the proper energy, we will have nothing when the harvest has come.

I am also afraid that in stressing the free gift of God's salvation, we have failed to make our generation of church folk understand that God still requires diligent hands to the plow. We have in so many ways ceased from the call of Christ, to take up our cross daily and follow Him and have replaced our spiritual heritage of sacrifice and selfless service to our God and Savior with spiritual entitlement. In doing so, the Church has become a generation of impoverished and weak spiritual crybabies. Let's make sure that we exercise diligent hands in our Lord's Kingdom, so that we may have something of value to lay at His feet when we see Him, face to face. God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all,

Pastor Bryan J. Griffith

Good morning TBC,

Please continue to pray for Bro. Al and Penny Ms Cindy went back to Texas yesterday and arrived safely, it was so nice to have her back at TBC Sunday.Keep her in your prayers as she is trying to relocate back here.

Proverbs 10:3 The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

Proverbs 10 is a series of positive to negative proverbs, revealing the benefit of proper righteous and wise actions and reactions compared to improper actions and reactions of the wicked and foolish Here in verse 3, the righteous soul is satisfied in times of hardship. The Lord's promise to provide in times of poverty is a comfort and assurance to the righteous. He may have a Joseph sent ahead of you, maybe a raven or a widow with a handful of meal, He may just rain down manna. However bleak our circumstances may seem to us at the time our Lord saw it and has already made a way, even before the need arises.

Psalms 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

The wicked may be resourceful, he may be storing up goods and building bigger barns, but when God brings the hardships and the famine, all his substance, if without the Savior, will quickly vanish away. What will satisfy our souls in time of poverty, the beggarly attempt to meet our own need or our trust in our God and Savior that promised to supply all our need. Phil.4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. God bless your day with grace and peace.

Love you all.

Good morning TBC,

I hope every one rested well. Three more Sundays till Homecoming Sunday! Ms Sandy and Penny made it safely to Duke and back yesterday thank the Lord. Continue to pray for CEF Team as they minister to the school children.

Proverbs 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

The word "Treasures" might better been translated Storehouse or Armory. The Hebrew word "otsar" means a treasure house a place to store or keep treasure and or weapons. When the wicked comes to the end of this live, no manner of stored treasures can pay a ransom for their soul, nor can any weapon of defense deliver them from the JUDGE OF ALL SPIRITS. The Righteous however is secure, because the Lord is his defence and deliverer.

Psalms 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Notice the Psalmist make two statements and ask one question in this short verse. 1. The Lord is on my side: What a statement of blessed assurance and peace. 2. I will not fear: What a statement of confidence against any foe or danger. 3.What can man do unto me?

A great question with an obvious answer, Nothing that the Lord doesn't allow and control. Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. No weapon or treasure will bring deliverance to the wicked and no weapon formed against the righteous shall hinder their deliverance which is wrought by the Lord. Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC.

Hope you all rested well last night. Thank you to all for your faithful obedience to our Lord and Savior.

Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

Parenthood is a wonderful and challenging calling and gift from God. The Lord placed a high value on being a parent. The first authority we are confronted with in this life is that of our parents. Scripture commands us to honor or parents with the promise of long life. The way we respect or parents will ultimately reflect on how we approach other authorities along our way in this life. Solomon says that the actions of a wise son brings gladness to his father. The way a son or daughter treats responsibility entrusted to him by his parents is a pretty good gauge on how he will conduct his life away from home.

Our lives as sons and daughters reflect to the world how we really respect our parents and their instructions. A faithful wise son brings gladness but a rebellious and unwise son bring great heaviness to a parent's heart. As a parent, I now know just how precious children are to their parents. Nothing is more precious in the heart of a parent than their child. Godly parents will give up anything for the sake of their children, they would walk through the fire for them. Therefore as children we can give no greater honor to our earthly parents than to live a life reflective of their godly instruction. However, no matter how I failed representing my parents, (because children do sometime fail), I found that my mom and dad always welcomed me home in love and correction, but mainly love.

If as a child you find yourself on the failing end of the spectrum, don't stay there. A simple "I'm sorry, please forgive me" goes a very long way, whether with our earthly parents or our Heavenly Father. Our parents, earthly or Heavenly, understand our failures and have no desire to see us remain as a failure. So we must get up, confess up and grow up and we can watch our parents brighten up. Though we may not always act the wisest, we don't have to remain a fool.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone was able to rest well. January has flown by, where did it go? I hope your weekend is good.

Proverbs 9:13-18 13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Forbidden: I wonder why it is so difficult to understand? Man and woman alike, have always been attracted to the forbidden. If it's forbidden, it must be better than what I have or what I've experienced before. The lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life has been and always will be the ways that man is drawn from the way that God would have us go. The two sisters, Seduction and Temptation presents themselves as simple, silly, easily controlled or manipulated. Surely they are harmless. They offer sweetness and satisfaction, while all along they are the masters of deceit and death. Listen to the way Seduction and Temptation might begin with the clamor of their deceit, "hath God said". Familiar?

Once we ever allow them to get us to question God and his boundaries, it's all down hill from there. We find ourselves looking and lusting and longing to experience their side of the story. It's beautiful and it's pleasing to our thoughts and taste, but it's poison and the end is death and hell. We must always remember that Temptation and Seduction are masters at what they do and have mastered many a man and woman that thought it could never happen to them. When these two sisters come knocking at the door, and they will come, make sure you let Wisdom answer. She knows the way of escape.

1Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

God bless you with His grace and peace, hope to see each one Sunday.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I thank the Lord for each of you and pray you all rested well. We are most grateful for the worship service yesterday and the obedience to the Holy Spirit's leading that was shown. God bless each one of you.

Proverbs 9: 1-6 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Imagine Wisdom's dinner table. All she has prepared is for the celebration of joy and love of her home. She's prepared the fatted calf, she has set the best wine. Her table is spread in splendor. Wisdom has spared no expense or labor to set this banquet. She sends out the call, it's supper time, but notice the call is not to her family for they are with her. Her call is to those outside her family. She is willing to share her house, her family, with any that will come and dine. Wisdom desires to share her labor, her benefits with anyone that is hungry for a change.

I grew up with six brothers and a sister. Our table was always crowded, but there seemed to be room and enough food for anyone who wanted to join us for a meal. Momma's table was first for family, but who ever came in at her call for supper was family. Once anyone tastes of the banquet that God's Wisdom sets, they won't be satisfied any longer with what worldly wisdom serves up. It is like trading the swine's husks and slop water for a T-bone steak and and the most expensive glass of wine. Listen to the call of Wisdom at supper time.

Isaiah 55:1-3 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”; You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time; He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine, To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”

God bless you with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well. Another week has flown by and the weekend is upon us again. I hope we all are looking forward to gathering together Sunday to worship our Heavenly Father and Lord and Savior. Let's start now preparing to meet together for the purpose of giving to Him the honor and glory due His Name! Bro. Buck is doing remarkably well. Please pray for Dave and Brenda's grand daughter Madi as they run test on her thyroid.

Proverbs 9:1-5 1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

The House Wisdom built was built with family in mind. The word used in the Hebrew for house (bayith), actually means household or family. Wisdom's house was built for the purpose of family and her house is her family. The first institute that God created on earth was the institute of family. It was in this Family that God went to find and share fellowship. God wants and intends to make Himself known in His house. Family is still the foundation of every society that exists today. Never before have we seen such a push to redefine family as we see today. However, we as believers need to rethink and revisit the meaning of family. Often we have allowed ourselves to fall for the deception of defining our home as just the house with the big yard and pretty white picket fence.

The Hebrew language saw the family as the house where one lives and the material structure as just the shelter of the house. Too many believers today major on a beautiful shelter and fail with the family house. I hope that we can see a little clearer why Satan and his world system seeks to distort, destroy and redefine the "House". Without the house or household as God designed it, there will be no fellowship with God or for God. When all is said and done, I believe that all that Christ has done, He did for the restoration of His family house of fellowship.

God bless your day and weekend with His grace and peace.

Love you all,

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well. Bro Buck is home and doing well. thanks for the prayers, please continue until fully recovered. Please remember Al and Penny, Yvonne, Gary and Dale, Terry and Ioma as they begin this afternoon in Leland, their first Bible Club in Belleville Elementary School.

Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: Wisdom is the master builder, she is also the architect.

She drew the blueprints, surveyed the property, laid the foundation and chose the materials and paid the cost. Wisdom is not building just any house, but her own. As owner she knows exactly the layout she wants, she understands each purpose of every room and what it will be furnished with. She has complete authority and rights over this house for she owns it, it is her's. No wise builder would ever begin building without counting the cost to completely finish the building.

As Wisdom calculated the expense of her extravagant new house, she new the cost was more than sweat and blood, more than an arm and leg and it would be the sacrifice of a life time, Hebrews 10:5,10 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. As a master builder Wisdom knew the importance of the foundation.

She did not dig down to lay her foundation on top of a changing and shifting earth, she placed her house's foundation upon the solid foundation, that eternal foundation that cannot shift, crack or crumble. This foundation holds and supports all things. 1 Cor. 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. The blueprints Wisdom uses is the eternal forever settled in heaven Word of God. Psalms 119:89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. The building that Wisdom is building is no ordinary building, but a spiritual habitation. The building material Wisdom uses in her house is every believer. Eph, 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The glorious seven pillars of the house are carefully hewn by Wisdom's skillful hands from the tested and tried life of the overcomer saint. Seven is that glorious number of perfection, completion and rest. Rev. 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. I Hope we are beginning to see even better why Wisdom is so important. Who else could take our earthen vessel and make an eternal spiritual habitation worthy of our Eternal God and Savior. 2 Cor. 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

God bless you all with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC.

Thanks again for your prayers yesterday for Bro Buck. Please continue to remember Ricky Rambeaut's grand daughter's mother as she continues in he fight with cancer. For sake of time I just picked these verses, but I encourage everyone to read at some point the entirety of chapter 8 and enter the beauty and strength of Wisdom.

Proverbs 8:11.15.20,23,32,36 11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

The enduring strength, integrity and beauty of Wisdom is revealed here in Proverbs 8. What a magnificent portrait of words Solomon uses to describe Wisdom. His description soars high and digs deep into the splendor, grandeur and value of Wisdom. These Scriptures reveal at least five aspects of Wisdom.

1. The Value of Wisdom vss. 10,11,18,19 Wisdom's value far exceeds the beauty and price of any treasure that can be found in this world. No amount of gold or silver can purchase Wisdom, for Wisdom is priceless. However Wisdom is free to those who seek and ask of God. James 1:5

2. The Virtue of Wisdom vss. 14,15,16 Through the virtue(strength and integrity) of Wisdom, kings, princes and nobles are able to rule and kingdoms are established by Wisdom or fall for the lack of Wisdom. Through Wisdom equal and just judgments are decreed.

3. The Validity of Wisdom vss. 22-30 Wisdom is validated by and through whom She originated. Wisdom was from before the beginning of creation and existed with God from eternity pass and by Wisdom God created all things and established all boundaries of creation Wisdom was and is God's delight.

4. The Valor of Wisdom vss. 20,21 The valor of Wisdom is known by Her undaunted pursuit of righteousness and the ability to secure both the righteous and their inheritance.

5. The Vexing of Wisdom vss. 35,36 The finding and receiving of Wisdom is the way of life and favor with God. However the spurning of Wisdom and Her cry brings the vexing(anguish) of one's soul and ultimately death. Doesn't Wisdom's description sound so familiar? As Solomon describes the attributes of Wisdom, he is actually describing the very attributes of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:23,24 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

God bless your day with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well last night and was able to stay warm, I sorta got used to last week's warm weather, but hopefully this will help the fruit trees from blooming too early. Please remember Bro. Buck today as he undergoes hip surgery today and pray for a good post-op recovery. Continue to remember Ms Sandy Powell as she is still in pain and short of breath and discouraged some too. If anyone would like to call her or just send a text you can at 616-477-4938. Thank you Continue to pray for David, Iris and Matthew. We are also thankful for a peaceful day in Richmond Va. yesterday.

Proverbs 8:1-8 1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. 4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. 6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things 7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

In Proverbs 7 we see the personification of Immorality and Wickedness. In Proverbs 8 we see the personification of Wisdom and Understanding. Immorality and Wickedness only produced victims but Wisdom and Understanding produces victors. Immorality and Wickedness uses deception, darkness and death to overcome it's victims, while Wisdom and Understanding cries aloud in the open market places and offers power to become victorious over the powers of this dark and wicked world.

Wisdom and Understanding's words are pure, practical and peaceful. Their words are offered in order to make the simple wise and the foolish righteous. We will never hear profanity nor perverseness come from the lips of Wisdom and Understanding, unlike the poison that is spewed from Immorality and Wickedness. Whose words are we listening too? If we choose to follow the smooth flattering words of Immorality and Wickedness we will find that we were fools to swallow their poison and realize, often too late, that death was their goal all along. If we choose to listen to the passionate cry of Wisdom and Understanding and heed their warning and embrace their instructions, we find that their way, is the way of life and Victory!

God bless your day with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

It was good to see each one yesterday morning. I pray that everybody will have a blessed week. Please remember Bro Buck as he prepares to have hip surgery tomorrow.

Proverbs 7:1-5 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart 4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

Today we look at chapter 7 and the steps of moral decline and it's final destiny if unrepentant. What leads us into moral decline? First step in moral decline is the rejection of God's moral law. God's moral law is given for our protection and guidance. When we refuse the author's moral code of conduct, the only thing left is a steady downhill spiral. Second step, we listen to the flattering words (vs 5), of Immorality's code of conduct. "if it feels good it can't be bad or wrong" or "this life is too short to deny yourself pleasure". Third step, we find ourselves in the middle of and confronted by the works Immorality's darkness. (Vs 8-9) Fourth step, We are attracted to the enticing attire or alluring and lust driven speech of Immorality. (10-11) Fifth step, we are deceived by her false affections shown, (vs 21) Sixth step, we follow without understanding that her intentions are only to trap and destroy. (vs, 22-23) Seventh step is self deception, "it won't happen to me, I'm stronger than that". Many Strong men have been slain by Immorality's devices. (vs 26) Eighth step is thinking we can return from it's final destiny, Hell. (vs 27) We do well to heed Solomon's exhortation: Vs. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

I pray that God give you grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone is well and rested well last night. Remember this Sunday is fellowship meal Sunday.

Proverbs 6:30-35 30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Today's scripture reveals two thieves. One thief steals to sustain his life and the other thief steals to fulfill his lust. One thief steals because his life is precious but perishing, while the other thief steals to pursue unlawful pleasure. I believe that we have wrongly concluded that there are no big sin and little sin, but sin is sin. While any sin will separate man from God there are certain sin that can and will bring swift and unmerciful retribution from God and man. Though a thief may be despised by most, yet the thief can be shown mercy even in his punishment, when his circumstances are so desperate that he feels he has no other choice but to steal or die. However when a man would touch the apple of another man's eye just to fulfill the hunger of lust, he can expect retribution that will not be appeased nor softened.

In 1 John 5:16,17, John says that there is a sin unto death and there is a sin that is not unto death. I do not know exactly what the sin unto death is, but it must be measured by a different weight than the sin not unto death. God's promise of blessings to Abraham(Gen. 12) was also a solemn warning to others. There are certain things and relations that God strictly put out of bounds to man. When it comes to a neighbor's family, or God's family, He put a high value and a stiff penalty when one would dare to defile another's family.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all, hope to see you Sunday.

Ms Sandy came home from Duke Hospital yesterday with no real answers. Please keep her in your prayers. Third Sunday Fellowship meal after worship service this Sunday.

Proverbs 6:23-25 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. Instruction received can help avoid the snares of sin.

However, even if one receives good instructions and intends in their heart to keep it that's still no guarantee we won't fall. Although Solomon is warning his son against a froward woman and her ability to draw a man into her trap, we must realize that different things tempt different people. Some people are drawn by physical attraction, while others are drawn away by riches, power position and so on. Whatever the flesh's desires are, that is what Satan will use to draw his victims away from the Lord and into sin's death trap.

Paul said in Romans 7:7,11: ....I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. The epistle of James says in chapter 1: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Lust is the result of the deceitfulness of sin. Sin gets our attention by things that appeal to our flesh. There is pleasure in sin for a season scripture says, but the end of sin is death. We only fool our selves to think that we are above temptation and lust. We must never reason with sin and lust for they will certainly win over the flesh. The only sure way of victory over sin and lust is to die to it. We must recon ourselves dead to sin but alive unto righteousness through Jesus Christ our Lord and we must be continually yielded to the Holy Spirit.

Romans 6:11,12 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Keep looking to Jesus and your eyes will be set on the proper prize and only fulfillment of this life. God bless your day with His grace and peace.

I love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well last night' Remember Ms Sandy as she is at Duke Medical Center now waiting the Dr's diagnosis. Remember Bro Tim and his Family as Brother Tim's loved Aunt's body is laid to rest in hope of the Resurrection! Anna's friend's daughter was released yesterday with a long road to recovery. Bro. Al Cameron procedure went well yesterday and he awaits the lab results.

Proverbs 6:16-19 16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

We come today to the seventh thing that God hates and with this seventh hated action he adds to this offence, not only His hatred, but God said it was an abomination to Him. Abomination is found 117 times in scripture. It is used to describe the offering of an unfit or unauthorized sacrifice to God. This word is also used to describe the participation in any unlawful, immoral, unnatural and forbidden sexual act as morally disgusting. How many times have we heard of acts so heinous that we automatically cry out for justice. If we were given the opportunity in the moment we would ourselves, administer swift and just judgement to the perpetrator of such moral depravity. Yet often we fail to understand or maybe just overlook the fact that God sees the sowing and the sower of discord among His children as an abomination, an act that is morally disgusting and totally unacceptable in His congregation and His presence. Christ paid too high of price for His Bride, for her to be in disarray and discord. Discord is defined as: strife between two or more. It is also a musical term that means notes out of harmony.

Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Our Lord values unity between His children, but when we allow or sow discord within the ranks of believers, things change. The sweet smell of unity becomes the disgusting stench of division. True worship ceases, work is halted, and God's blessings and refreshing presence are hindered and will not flow fully until the disgusting smell of discord is gone. We must set a guard on our heart and lips and be willing if need be, to suffer damage for Christ sake, rather than to spread discord among God's people. If problems occur, God has provided channels for correcting them, without sowing discord throughout the entire fellowship and we must use them.

Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

When the unity of the Church is maintained or restored then we operate as a well rehearsed chorus, in perfect harmony. Nothing sounds much worse than a song, sung out of key and harmony, so let's strive to keep the unity of the faith so that we may be a well pleasing chorus to the Master's ears.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well last night. Please remember Ms Sandy Powell, She was taken to NHRMC yesterday with terrible head aches. She was going to Duke hospital by ambulance last night when I talked with her. Thanks to everyone who came out to hear from Bro Jerry and thanks again Brother Jerry for everything. Beginning in February, there will begin a renewed monthly men's fellowship. For details see Bro Jerry and Bro Jason.

We come to the sixth thing that God hates, "a false witness that speaketh lies" We have seen that God hates a lying tongue in vs. 17. So what is the difference? The lying tongue is one that has proven himself unworthy of trusted confidence. His reputation is tarnished to the point that he cannot be taken seriously, sorta like the little boy that cried wolf too many times. He has lied to his own hurt or demise. Today's scripture, we look at a legal situation, where witnesses affect not just their own reputation, but those which they are either testifying on behalf of or against. God knew that because of man's fall, an earthly court system must be established and honesty within this system would be the hinge pen on the justice scale.

Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. 2Cor. 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

I am reminded of the greatest trial that ever took place. The trial of our Lord and Savior Jesus. At His trial, he was determined guilty by the "judges", they just needed witnesses to back up their guilty verdict. Mark 14:55-61 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. 59 But neither so did their witness agree together.60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing...

Because of the "trusted" Chief Priest's testimony at Jesus' trial, the people condemned Jesus to die. We may say, but that's why he came, right, to die. Yes, but the Priest's malicious and false testimony against Jesus so marred the character of Christ in the minds of the people he came to save, that even today the majority of Jewish people still reject and blaspheme the Name of the One that came, "to save His people from their sin." Probably millions of souls have missed Heaven's shore because of a few men who gave lying and misleading testimonies in the case against the Son of God. No wonder God "hates" a false witness that speaketh lies. Our words, testimony and actions have greater and longer effects than we realize, so it is always important to think before we speak or act and when we do speak or act, do it in truth and love for the truth.

God bless your day with grace and peace.

I love you all

Good morning TBC

We will be voting to approve an amendment to our Church's by-laws concerning background checks for anyone working in youth related ministries.This vote will take place immediately after Sunday worship. Brother Jerry Morgan has agreed to do the Sunday evening Adult service to help us better understand the US, Iraq and Iran situation, I encourage everyone to make plans to attend.

Today we look at: "feet that be swift in running to mischief," Mischief can be defined as anything hurtful, wrong, trouble and affliction. We are so blessed with men and women, called first- responders who run to events of mischief and affliction without regards for their own personal safety, in order to assist and rescue harm's victims. Today's scripture however is identifying those who are drawn to mischief like a moth to a flame. These feet may or may not be personally involved in the causing of trouble, but they want to see, they want to investigate, they take pleasure in witnessing the misfortune without any real concern for those affected.

During hurricane Florence, I saw car after car coming into the hard hit areas, not to lend a helping hand or bring food and supplies but to "see" the devastation, pain and loss of others. If we are determined to witness the afflictions of others, let's make sure we are drawn by the desire to relieve by offering help in Jesus name, rather than just observe.

God bless you with His grace and peace today and hope to see everyone Sunday.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

Hope you all rested well. Thanks to all for your prayers for Ms Sandy Powell. Her heart went into afib and her defibrillator/pacemaker did it's job and corrected her heart rhythm and she was able to return home last night.

The fourth thing that brings God's hatred is a wicked and vile heart. The heart, in Hebrew thought, is the center of a man's will and emotions. It is the ability to process thoughts. God hates the heart that devises, fabricates, or manufactures wicked plans and ways to carry them out. The sad commentary on the heart is that every unregenerate man has a heart that is wicked.

Before God sent the flood in Noah's day, He had this to say: Gen. 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. King David had this to say about the need of his own heart: Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Man's heart is a lost cause without Christ. It has been rightly said that the heart of man's problem is his heart. We cannot rehabilitate the heart of man. My heart, your heart every heart is a total irreparable wreck, we must have a heart transplant. We must let Christ give to us a New Heart, a heart that is from God and for God, because He hates the natural heart that is after the things of the world and not after the things of God. The condition of our heart is revealed not by what we are tempted by, but by what we pursue in this life. Is our pursuit for the things that satisfy our flesh, or does our heart pursue the things of Christ, who died to give us a new heart. The number one killer in today's society is heart disease and the same goes for the spiritual. We had all better let our Cardiologist Jesus give us a thorough exam.

God bless your day with peace and grace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope your night was a restful one.

The third thing in the list of things that God hates is, hands that shed innocent blood. When I think of innocent blood being shed I think of two things. First I think of the first shedding of man's blood, when Cain murdered his brother Abel. Abel, was not guiltless of sin, for it was his admission and offering for sin that sparked his brother's violence toward him. However, Abel was innocent of any action against Cain and in Cain's jealousy and anger because of God's rejection, he did to Abel what I believe he wanted to do to God.

The second thing that comes to mind is the abortion industry. If ever there was innocent blood shed it is here. Over 60,000,000 babies in the USA alone have been slaughtered in the name of "right to choose". Uncontrolled and unrepented anger caused the the shedding of the first innocent blood and uncontrolled selfish passion and greed is causing this modern day shedding of innocent blood. If the blood of Abel cried out to God, how much crying does heaven hear from our own infant holocaust happening right here and right now! Much innocent blood has been shed due to unbridled passion, lust and greed. This is why you and I must be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

May I just throw this in at no extra cost, the Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. With that said, the same bunch that is screaming over the killing of a known and self declared enemy of our country as well as an enemy of Christ, those same ones are screaming for the preservation for the right to shed the blood of the most innocent of all on earth, a Baby. Don't be fooled by such false indignation. Oh God forgive us! God "hates" the hands that sheds innocent, but thanks be to God, that for even this, Christ died and there is forgiveness for those who ask. Oh what a Savior, let's go tell someone!

God bless your day with peace and grace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well, thanks for your faithful prayers for the request we present. Michelle's family is of course sad but rejoicing for Bro Mike's promotion home. She will keep me informed on the arrangements of Mike's memorial service. Bro Reed is home after a procedure to clamp off some vessels that were bleeding. He said he was weak but doing ok.

A lying tongue. Of course, He who is the Truth, must hate lying tongues. Lying means to deceive without a just cause, to deceive in order to cover one's guilt or to deceive in order to prosper or receive gain wrongfully. Let me first clarify a just cause. A just cause for lying, would be to lie in order to protect innocent life from harm or death. An example would be during WWII, when people were sheltering Jews and the Nazis would come by and ask if any Jews were there, those providing the shelter would lie at their own peril in order to save innocent lives. If they had told the truth then the lives they were sheltering would have been taken.

The reason that God hates a lying tongue is because of the harm it causes to innocent victims of the deceit, and the damage and sometime irreparable damage it does to the one who has lied. Though lying is not the unpardonable sin with God, it is one of the most difficult sins for it's victim to forgive and get past. No one wants to be lied to. No one wants to be used through deceitful means for someone else's gain. God "hates" lying, so let's always tell the truth even if it costs us. (unless it truly is to protect and preserve an innocent life in danger).

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Nothing can harm a relationship with God or man more than a deceitful lying tongue. May we always speak the truth in love and trust the Lord with the outcome.

God bless your day with grace and peace. Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well. I forgot yesterday to mention for prayer Brother Reed Callahan and Sister Linda. Linda is recovering from thyroid surgery and Bro Reed is in the VA hospital in Johnson City TN from passing blood. Linda said Reed wasn't doing well at all. Michelle Remy's father, Brother Mike, went home to the Lord around 1am this morning. Please pray for the family but especially he mother Violet. I consider Bro. Mike one of God's choicest servants.

Hate is a very strong word, especially coming from God who's very nature is love, 1John 4:16. To hate in this passage is to consider one to be an enemy or to declare something completely odious and foul, with the sense of never being acceptable. An abomination is behavior that is morally and completely abhorrent and unacceptable in the presence of God. These seven things mentioned in today's passage are so hideous to our Lord that we must examine them more closely and examine our own heart and see if there be any of these hated traits and allow the Spirit to deal with and remove them far from our hears and lives. 1. A proud look. To set one's self separate and above, to exalt or present one's self as arrogant and superior in rank, knowledge, and worth. I suppose we might think of our self as God's gift to mankind .

Paul warned of this attitude of pride in his epistle in Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

James, the Lord's brother, could have allowed his physical relation to Jesus to be a source of pride and maybe at one point he could have and therefore warned against sinful pride in James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. A proud look is to forget from where the Lord Jesus had to come in order to redeem us all. We are never to forget that it was "my" sin that nailed Jesus to that cross. As beggars, none of us has the right to look down on another. We are just beggars that found food, trying to tell other beggars where to find food.

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? May we never for a moment forget where the Lord brought us from and the price He paid to redeem us from our sin.

1Cor. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

God bless you today with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

Another week is quickly coming to an end. I hope your New Year has been good so far:) Please pray for our little grandson Yates, he was placed in the hospital yesterday evening, the Drs are not completely sure whats going on but he was some better as of last night. I just found out last night around 10:30 that I will be doing my cousin's husband's funeral on Saturday morning. Thank you for your prayers as we travel. Remember that Sunday is Communion Sunday.

Proverbs 6: 12-15 12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

Today's Scripture paints us a picture of a godless man. First his character is defined. He is described as "naughty" which in the Hebrew culture meant, worthless and without profit and then he is called "wicked", which means, vain or one that will come to nothing. So the character of the godless man is basically good for nothing. He can not be trusted nor relied on. Second we see his conduct. His winks are with malice in his eyes. His mouth exercises perversity, swearing falsely, speaking lies and blasphemy. His feet and hands speak louder than his mouth for his heart is perverted and full of fraud. He continually walks in the way that brings harm or distress to those around him and he devises snares and traps for the unsuspecting. Through debate, quarreling and brawling he brings discord to those around him. Third we see his calamity is sudden, in an instant and there will be no remedy nor cure, his eternity will be one with no hope. But there is hope for the wicked in this life, Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

God bless your day with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope all rested well with each one today. Sunday is Communion Sunday, lets prepare our hearts for a true time of worship and fellowship with our Lord Jesus.

Proverbs 6: 6-11 6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Today's passage deals with the "sluggard". A sluggard by definition is one that is habitually lazy and idle in his daily life. The sluggard, has only to consider the small ant and her ways in order to correct his condition. The ant by nature knows that weather and seasons change and she must be prepared for such change and gathers her supplies while weather permits. The sluggard however refuses to apply himself to secure his future and expects others to meet his needs as he folds his arms and sleeps opportunity away.

The sluggard is not a beggar nor is he poor by reason of some disability or lack of opportunity but, he is what he is by reason of choice. Though opportunity lies all around him, he chooses to remain idle, often blaming others for his condition and demands from others their substance in order for him to survive. As much as the sluggard may be disliked, we have many in Churches that are spiritual sluggards. I was once one of these until I was willing to examine myself and I still find that the tendency to be one, still lingers. The spiritual sluggard sets back and wonders why others in the church are prospering spiritually, why they are always speaking of the Lord's blessing and the Lord's provisions and the Lord's closeness, yet the sluggard, often is never willing to consider and undertake any spiritual discipline, they become and remain spiritually impoverished, bitter and angry at God and jealous of His people.

The sluggard, whether natural or spiritual can change, but only when he is willing to ask in sincerity, why am I poor and wanting while those around me are full and blessed and then in repentance apply himself to the disciplines and wisdom necessary to correct their way. The Scripture says in: Ps, 41:1 "blessed is the man that considers the poor." But it also says that those who refuse to work can't eat, 2Thess. 3:10. There is a great difference between the poor and the sluggard. There is no place of respect for the sluggard in this world or in the Church, so let's make sure we apply ourselves in this new year to the wisdom, examples and discipline our Lord Jesus has afforded us in order to be productive, both physically and spiritually.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Happy New Year TBC,

Thanks to all who made it out to the church to celebrate the ending of 2019 and the beginning of 2020. Lets do our best to make this the best year TBC has ever had for the glory of our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit!

Exodus 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

Our great God and Savior is so wonderful in so many ways. Though He is not controlled by or changed by time, he understands that we are. Through out our days He understands that we are faced with so many challenges and we are often stretched out of shape. In His wisdom and love He affords us a "do over" every 365 days. Though a new year is in reality, just a continuing on of days, yet we can refresh, rekindle, and revive our outlook on spiritual things in our lives. We are able to set new goals, and have a new view of the same scenery. Lets make the best of this new year, it could be the year of our Lord's return, so lets live with that hope ever before our eyes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! May it be filled with His presence, grace and peace!

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well last night, This is the last day of 2019 and the end of another decade, It sure seems like time is flying by too fast. It seems like yesterday was Y2K and in just a few hours it will be 2020. The morals of our country have gone down the drain, but our God and Savior is still the same and time and circumstance will never change Him, Hallelujah! Remember, those who are able to come, New Year service @ 11Pm tonight and Communion at or near midnight.

Proverbs 6:1-6 6 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

In today's Scripture passage, we are instructed in our becoming involved in another's transactions and financial affairs. Surety means to become the assurance of payment of another man's debt. Striking of the hands is simply a hand shake for sealing a business adventure. The Lord is interested in our involvement in areas that can bring unnecessary hardships to us as well as avoiding the possibility of destroying or damaging our relationship with our brothers. Although Scripture does not completely forbid us to becoming surety, it's warnings against it let us know the possible ramifications of not only having to make good on a brother's default, but such surety can bring about a break in a friendship and the destruction of our own testimony.

If we find ourselves being asked to become surety, make sure you are able to pay the amount without causing harm to your friendship or your family. Any deal or business we may be asked to enjoin ourselves to, we must do our due diligence to secure our transaction and our testimony before God and man. Here are a couple of things to consider before our transactions: 1. For what purpose does my brother need me to become surety and am I willing to pay, without requiring payment back and am I willing to forgive my brother's failure. 2. If the deal is too good to be true it probably is. We should know whom we are doing business with and if the business is legit and God honoring. The real cost of any deal is how will it reflect and affect my relationship with Christ and how will it affect my personal testimony in Christ to others.

May God bless you with His grace and peace today.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

Thank you all for making the service special yesterday morning and a special thanks again to the LeRays for their further commitment to TBC. Remember, those who haven't already made plans, we"ll be meeting Tuesday night from 11pm to Midnight to worship and share Communion together at the New year's beginning.

Proverbs 5:7-23 (7-11 for space and time sake) 7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; 11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed.

This world has many devices to attract our attention, to the which if we yield, we will find ourselves spiritually bankrupt and robbed of what we truly love and what truly matters. One of this world's great deceptions is to paint us a beautiful picture of something that we don't have, in order to cause discontentment in our heart over the things that our Heavenly Father has given. Many beautiful lives and loving families have been damaged or even destroyed because someone gave attention to the beautiful lie the world painted.

Thinking the grass was greener or more satisfying than what they were experiencing, many a man and woman have become covetous of another experience or relationship. All the while forfeiting the safety and true blessings of what our Father had given. In order to avoid such tragedy and loss we must keep our attention focused on the Lord and His word. Remain thankful for God's gifts and provisions and always cherishing the Family that God has given. Just remember, if the grass looks greener somewhere else, a septic tank is probably close by.

God bless your day with his love, grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning from the mountains TBC,

Thank you all for your prayers, our trip to the Mountains was good and safe. Remember Sunday morning is the ordination service for Jason LeRay after Sunday School. Sunday evening service is 5th Sunday singing. All ages are invited to participate in sing solos, groups and instrumentals and of course congregational.

Proverbs 5:1-6 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

Flattery or Compliment In verses 3-6 the scriptures describe the flattering words and desire of a froward woman and can also be said of a froward man. Flattery is defined as: excessive and insincere praise given especially to further one's own interest. Compliment: a polite expression of praise or admiration In verse three, we see that flattering words are desirable words, they drop sweet as honey and smooth as perfumed oil. Most would say that it's a wonderful thing when someone notices and speaks words that touch their ego in a good way. However theses words of a froward person are not for our benefit but for their own selfish desires and lust. In verse four we see that although these words start as sweet and smooth they are dangerous words, which poison our minds with fleshly desires. In verse five these words end in death and destruction if we allow them to draw us away to fulfill the desire they create within our heart. In verse six, if or when we begin to try to figure out what the froward and flatterer desire from us, they prove to be masters of their deceitful ways, which makes them even more difficult to refuse to follow. Their deceit is like the flame that draws the moth to it's death. Because flattery tickles our ears and egos, we must ask our Lord for wisdom to know the difference between a compliment and flattery and allow the Holy Spirit to control the emotions of our heart and mind.

God bless your day with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC.

I pray everyone had a worshipful Christmas. Becky and I will be traveling today to the mountains to see her Sister and family and our son Zeb. Lord willing we will return Saturday.

Proverbs 4: 26,27 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Ponder: carefully giving consideration of a matter from all sides, to weigh mentally the outcome of a decision or action. Established: to set upon a firm foundation, to follow a proven path or truth. At every cross road in our life's journey we must be diligent to maintain the course that the Lord has charted for us to travel. Any deviation from the Lord's road map will bring serious consequences. The spiritual path we travel has been established by God and can be safely and clearly traveled by relying on the Holy Spirit to instruct us through God's inerrant word.

Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Psalms 119:89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

In verse 27 we receive the simplest and easiest directions anyone could ever receive in traveling. In order to not miss the intended goal our instruction is simply, go straight with no turns left or right. The goal is straight ahead,

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Any deviation, left or right will take us out of the path and away from the gate. We must keep our eyes and heart always upon Jesus because He said, John 14:6 ... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Philippians 3:13b, 14 13b... this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let's coordinate our heart and eyes with our feet so that we will not stray from the path charted for us and avoid the hazards set by the enemy and claim the prize in Jesus. God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Merry Christmas TBC

I just want to thank each one who came out last night to make the service so wonderful. Ordination service for Jason LeRay is this coming Sunday morning. Fifth Sunday evening singing service this coming Sunday also. Becky and I will be traveling Thursday and will return Lord willing Saturday evening.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

We celebrate today the birth of the virgin born Savior of the world. Every aspect of Christ is perfect, He is the perfect eternal Son of God He is the perfect son of man He is the perfect lamb of God He is the perfect High Priest of God He is the perfect mediator for man He is perfect in all that He is and therefore, we have through Him the perfect hope of eternal life. Rejoice for I bring you tidings of great joy, because He is perfect in all His ways, we are Perfectly Complete in Jesus!!

Merry Christmas!!! May your day be filled with His grace and peace

Love you all

It's Christmas Eve TBC!

Are you ready for Christmas? I hope each one rested well last night. For those who are able to come, we are having a Christmas Eve Communion Service starting at 7 tonight. We will begin with prayer, songs and end with Communion.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Jesus, Iēsous (ee-ay-sooce) in the Greek, and Yeshua in Hebrew. His purpose for coming was to save His people from their sin. His name means, "Yahweh saves". In Jesus' name we see that Yahweh, Father God is declared the one who actually does the saving and Jesus is the payment or price required for God the Father to grant or justly declare one forgiven. Our sin had separated us from the presence of God, but now through the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus, He has reconciled us through repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Jesus.

Jesus told Nicodemus, For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Let's make sure that we celebrate the Wonderful gift of the Father this Christmas season, Jesus, Iēsous, Yeshua the means and Name of God's redemption for all men. God bless your day with grace and peace.

Love you all, Merry Christmas!

Good morning TBC,

Thank you all for all the beautiful Christmas cards and all your love. Thank you to the youth for sponsoring a wonderful movie evening together. Though I never mentioned it today, we are going to have a Christmas Eve Communion Service Tuesday night @ 7 pm for any and all that are able to come. We will sing a few Carols and then Communion. I am sorry for not allowing time for your plans, but if you are able to come please do. The service will not be too very long. We will have a New Years eve service of worship in song and end with Communion @ midnight. We will begin @ 11 pm.

Proverbs 4: 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. We have looked at the heart in verse 23 and the froward mouth in verse 24 and now we examine the eyes.

In today's Scripture Solomon instructs on where to keep our focus. The word for "eye" in the Hebrew means: sight, fountain, pleased or pleasing. As we travel through this life we are to keep our eyes in one direction and that is hard to do sometimes because many things are vying for our attention. If we see the eyes as a fountain, we see that we can find refreshment and satisfaction through the lens of the eye and whatever we continually look and ponder on we will pursue in order to find our refreshment and satisfaction. The same is true if we see the eye as for that which pleases or pleasing.

When King David stayed home from battle, he cast his eye in the wrong direction which caused him to seek satisfaction and pleasure in the wrong thing. David's eyes, focused in the wrong direction, cost him as well as others a very high price. Our eyes must stay focused straight ahead, keeping them focused on the eternal prize and high calling of Jesus Christ. To look any other direction will bring a price to high for us to pay.

Hebrews 12:2: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Remember the little song that we probably all learned as a child; "O be careful little eyes what you see O be careful little eyes what you see There's a Father up above And He's looking down in love So, be careful little eyes what you see." Whatever we are continually looking at, will become our fountain we long to drink of and the pleasure we desire to be satisfied by. Keep looking to Jesus for in Him we are complete and completely satisfied.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone had a good night's rest. We are glad to announce that Bro David McCullum got his neck brace off yesterday with a complete healing of all injuries, Praise the Lord! Sunday evening service is combined with the youth for a movie,The Nativity, and popcorn:)

Proverbs 4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Nothing is more revealing than the mouth.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The Psalmist said in Ps, 141:3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. James said in 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. James 3:6,8 the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

We are instructed to put away the froward (out of control) mouth and the perverse (poisonous) lips. Solomon doesn't say we are to tame or control such a mouth and lips, but to "put it away" Put away means to eliminate, pluck off, remove, turn away from and even behead. We are not to tolerate, condone or put up with a foul mouth.

We can not excuse ourselves, for Paul said in Ephesians 4:29: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Jesus said the problem with the mouth is the heart. If any of us has a foul mouth or an angry mouth or a mouth of cursing not blessing, we actually have a heart problem. We either need a new heart or a good Holy Ghost cleansing of the heart. It is important for us to be aware of our mouth, because it reveals the true health of our heart.

God bless your day with His grace and peace,

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

The TBC Youth has invited all of TBC to join them Sunday evening to an evening of fellowship around the movie, "The Nativity". Popcorn will be provided!!

Proverbs 4:23-27 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

In these scriptures we see the anatomy of one who follows wisdom. We start with the heart, In both the spiritual and the natural world the heart is the biggest concern for man. Heart disease is the number one killer of man.

Jeremiah said in 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? In Matthew 15:11 Jesus is recorded as saying: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

What is the remedy of a diseased, defiled and deceitful heart- a new heart?

King David in repentance cried unto God to "create" in him a clean heart. 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

After the heart transplant takes place in our lives through repentance and faith in Christ Jesus, the wise man then does his spiritual exercise to strengthen his new heart. He keeps his heart with all diligence, by eating the proper spiritual food, which is God's word and maintaining a proper exercise program through prayer, and obedience and running the race of faith. I've heard it said many times, "the heart of the problem is the heart". If we are wise, we will Keep (maintain) with Diligence, a proper guard on our heart and eat the proper food to keep it healthy, so that we may please Him who called us, Jesus Christ. Be aware, something will try to defile your new heart today.

God bless you with grace and peace,

Love you all.

Good morning TBC,

Once again I Pray everyone rested well last night. I want to thank Bro Jessie for installing a seven day clock on our parking lot lights, This will make sure the parking lot is well lit for the ladies as they meet for prayer and when evening services are going on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Proverbs 4:11,19 11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Two ways are described in vss 11 and 19, Wisdom and Wickedness which is light and darkness. We will look at the way of "wickedness". Wickedness is so very often down played, disguised or transfigured into something that on the surface appears harmless or pleasurable, a path of peace and acceptance and lasting fulfillment. In reality though, the path of "wickedness" is no lighthearted path to travel. If continued on, it's end is always sorrow, pain and death.

Let me introduce us to just a few travelers that we will meet if we choose to walk on this path. Darkness, Unrest, Malice, Anger, Treachery, Dissatisfaction, Untrustworthy, Violence, Deception, Despair, Gloom, Sorrow, Doubt and Death. Their diet in Vs 17,could be described by a verse from the modern Christmas story:

Mr Grinch: Mr. Grinch! You're a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich,

With arsenic sauce! Deadly!!

The way of Wickedness is a scary path to ponder, much less to travel. Those who chose to travel this way will never exit unharmed or untouched by the evil that is present on all sides and most will never exit at all.

Therefore Solomon warns and pleads: 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. Will we listen to Solomon and choose our path well today? There's more than just a Grinch on the path of wickedness.

God bless your day with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC

I hope all rested well last night. Please remember the LeRays as they travel today to the western part of the state.

Proverbs 4:7-9 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Wisdom, how important is it? In today's scripture, Solomon wants us to realize that of all the things that can be attained in this life, Wisdom is the "principle", the chiefest, the preeminent gift that can be received from God. Wisdom: Promotes it's recipients to honor. A Partner to be embraced. The Provider of grace and glory. Wisdom should be sought as a treasure that's been hidden and waiting to be found. She should be labored for as mining for gold, silver and precious stones. She should be cherished as a loving faithful companion. Finally Wisdom should be on display as an extravagant necklace or ornament that is given to us from God. Wisdom is found in God's word, revealed by God's Son and Applied by God's Holy Spirit, but we must be willing to ask, seek, and knock.

God bless each one with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

What a great day yesterday was, thank you to everyone for your obedience to the Holy Spirit's beckoning. What a Savior, No wonder His name shall be called "Wonderful", for He is Wonderful! Thank you Youth for the great evening, please keep looking to Jesus!! Thank you for the gifts given for the Children of Haiti, what a blessing!

Proverbs 4:1-6 1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Listen to the words of the wisest mortal man to have ever lived. As Solomon instructed his children in wisdom, doctrine and law, he reflected on the days of his youth and his father's personal time he had given to Solomon. The older we get, the more precious our parents or parent figures become to us. Solomon does not gloat in his own wisdom (and he could have) but he remembers the instruction, love and care he received from his father, David and his mother, Bathsheba. Without doubt, David told great stories of his exploits, that could captivate the heart and mind of any child and would inspire them to be like dad.

However, what touched the wisest man most, were not stories of great adventures, stories of giant victories, the stories of personal struggles, but, it was the time his father took to show love and instruct him in the most important things of life, wisdom and understanding. When God asked Solomon, what request do you have, Solomon's reply reflected his father David's teaching, " Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth... she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee." Solomon answered God, give me wisdom that I may know how to lead your great people. When wisdom is cherished and imparted by those looked up to, then wisdom will become the treasure sought out.

Fathers, never underestimate the power of your influence to give wisdom. In all our opportunities to share our lives, whether at home, on the job, in the classroom or on the playground, lets make sure we share more than memorable stories about our lives adventures, share wisdom, share Jesus. Because, what if they gained the whole world, but was without the wisdom of God in Jesus Christ? Children of all ages, cherish time well spent with those to whom they look to for guidance.

God bless you with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

Another week has quickly come and gone and I pray your's has been a blessed week. Please remember, Sunday evening at 5 will be our Christmas celebration and Jesus Birthday party. Potluck dinner will follow at or around 6. Please remember the opportunity of sponsoring an Haitian child for a Christmas gift. The gift will be received at the Christmas celebration for anyone wanting to give.

Proverbs 3:29-35 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.32 For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Vss. 29-30 Conduct:In this world of fear and distrust our conduct as believers in Christ, should always secure our neighbors. We should never conduct our lives in a manner that would ever cause distrust or uneasiness from anyone we may be in contact with. Our lives should always gender trust and peace.

Vs.31 Character: While conduct is what man can see, character is what God sees. While our conduct toward others may be acceptable, we must guard our hearts from the temptation of envying to be partakers of the deeds of the wicked. We must surrender our lives completely to the Spirit of the Lord each day, so that our conduct and character will match.

Vs.31b Choices: The oppressor's ways are violent, hateful, cruel, false, unjust and greedy. As we are witnesses of such deeds and sometimes personally affected by them, we are to daily choose to walk in the paths of righteousness, love, grace and peace.

Vss. 32-35 Consequence: God's promises of revelations, blessings grace and glory are on the habitations of the righteous, but His promise of cursing is in the house of the wicked. Which house would you want to live in? Yet so many choose the cursed house.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: Joshua 24-15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Conduct and Character is important, God and man are watching. Choices have consequences! God bless your day with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

Thanks to all who attended the Business Meeting last night. If anyone or any family would like to sponsor a Christmas gift for an Haitian child through our Church sponsored Haiti Mission, you can do so for $10. Anyone that desires to do so can bring your gift to church either service on Sunday. Any amount will be ok, less or more, all donations will be combined.

Proverbs 3:28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

Solomon Says that if we have the ability to help a neighbor, we are not to delay or rather make excuses for not helping our neighbor in his or her need. So the question of the Lawyer to Jesus, "who is my neighbor" in the Gospel of Luke 10:25-37 becomes very important. You can read the story here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A25-37&version=KJV In Luke's account of the Good Samaritan there were a series of questions and answers, 1) what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 2) What is written in the law? 3) Love God and love your neighbor(abbreviated answer) 4) Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 5) "And who is my neighbour?" 6) Jesus answered by parable, and then Jesus asked a different question, (abbreviated version) 7) Who was a neighbor to the injured victim? The Lawyer answered, 8) the one who showed mercy and Jesus instructed him to do likewise.

Jesus then turned the question of "who is my neighbor", to a directive, "Go, and do thou likewise." By showing mercy to those who fall victim to a cruel and hateful world we are being a neighbor, therefore everyone is a possible neighbor, known or unknown. If we have the "ability" to help someone up, clean someone up or render care to someone that's been abused or harmed or fallen in some way, we are to be a neighbor by helping them. Because this is your neighbor. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." Let us not pass to the other side, without at least seeing if we have the ability to help our neighbor in need. We would want the same for ourselves or one of our loved ones.

God bless you with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well last night. Please remember the quarterly business meeting tonight at 7 pm. If you are an active voting member I encourage you to come tonight. We will be voting on the 2020 budget and committee leadership positions. We will also discuss some changes in the 2020 Church worship services.

Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Solomon instructs in honor and benevolence. When we have the opportunity to show or give "good", honor and tribute to someone it is due, we are to give it according to the power we possess to render it. Who is "due" such good? This small word due covers a rather large area. It can mean a spouse, parent, teacher an appointed captain or chief ruler, or someone who has served well under command or authority. To give "good" can mean material goods, monetary reward or payment and can be as simple as showing grace, gratitude, kindness, respect or a kind word or deed toward those worthy.

In today's toxic society, rendering good, or honoring those to whom its due is the furthest thing from many people's minds. Let's keep a guard on our emotions and keep them from getting caught up in all of the poison that is being spewed out in today's society. The Apostle Paul said it like this to the Romans:

Romans 13:1,4,6,7 1.Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 4.For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 6.For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7.Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Lets try to be aware each day of any opportunity to do "good" to those to whom it is due, they are God's ministers. God bless you with grace and peace.

Love you all

Good Morning TBC.

I pray that each one rested well last night. Thank you to all who attended the Church Council last evening. Remember the quarterly Business Meeting tomorrow night at 7 pm. Bro Al and Sister Penny asks for continued prayer for themselves and their team, Gary, Dale, Ioma, Terry and Yvonne as they prepare to begin their ministry in Brunswick Co. School System this coming Thursday after school.

Proverbs 3:26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Confidence, what is it? This word comes from a Hebrew word which means: fatness of the loins. We may understand it better as , "being able to stand on our own two feet". We want our children to grow up and be able to stand and we want to be confident in all our decisions we make. Governments want us to trust their intentions, companies advertise to gain our trust and confidence in their products. Many in this world and even in the churches are trying to gain our confidence.

Paul said in Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

In reality, we cannot put absolute trust in anyone or any system in this world when fallible man is involved. George Duffield wrote the song "Stand up, Stand up for Jesus". One line he wrote says, " the arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own". Solomon in all his God given wisdom instructs us today, that only in our trustworthy God and Savior can we put our total confidence and when we do that, we can have "Confidence" that we can stand and our feet will be on a firm and eternal foundation.

Paul told the Philippians: Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

We should do all we can to live a successful and confident life and teach our children the same, but never place our full "confidence" in any other person or system than our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who is able to make you stand and bring our lives to a successful conclusion. Jude vs 24 and Jeremiah 29:11

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC.

I pray that each one will have a blessed week and have many opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ. There is a church council meeting tonight at 6pm Continue to pray for Al, Penny and their team as they prepare to enter the Brunswick County School system with the Gospel on Thursday this week. Quarterly Business meeting is Wednesday night at 7pm.

Proverbs 3: 19-25 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

Long before Solomon, long before Darwin, Einstein and Steven Hawkins, there was a Creator God, the intelligence behind intelligent design. The more scientist study the creation the more complicated they find creation to be. Even Mr Hawkins before his death declared that creation was to vast and too organized, just to be the results of an accident. Though as far as I know, he never just came out and said that God created the heavens and earth, he did say there had to be intelligent design behind our universe. He basically said it could not begin as an explosion and develop through evolution into the well organized, complicated universe man has come to know today.

Solomon understood that everything he could see, was here because of the God of wisdom. God had established, settled and ordered creation by and through His wisdom. Solomon now instructs his son and us today, to lay hold on this wisdom that is available from God. This wisdom will give life to our soul and beauty to our life. This wisdom will order our steps in safety, and we can lie down in peace without fear of the things that are coming upon the wicked of this world. If God in His wisdom created all things and set them in motion, I am confident we can trust Him to direct our lives today, no matter what we may have to face. As the preacher and hymn writer, John Stockton penned, "Only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him now..." We can trust our God, Creator and Redeemer Jesus Christ, for He is wise and faithful.

Have a blessed day and may it be filled with God's grace and peace

Love you all

Good morning TBC, I hope your week has been good and that this day is blessed with the Lord's presence. Please remember Jen's family as her Aunt passed away unexpectedly this week, Jen's family will be having a memorial service at TBC on Saturday from 2 to 4. Continue to remember Sister Jackie Jones as she continues recovery at home.

Proverbs 3: 13-18 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

God's value system is totally different from that of the world. When men are working and striving and spending their precious time to gain corruptible treasure such as silver and gold, God places the highest value on godly wisdom and understanding. The Father wrapped up all that valuable wisdom in His Son, Jesus and Jesus became our source of heavenly wisdom. What is the value of earthly treasure? What merchandise can you obtain through it? Well, you can buy a car, an house, an education. You can purchase all manner of things that will perish with the using, but all of earth's treasures and it's merchandise will remain on earth and will never afford Heavenly merchandise. Truly, what are we living for? What is our focus? What is our hope? If we seek and obtain the Wisdom of God, It's purchasing power is not only valuable in this world, but of the heavenly also.

Wisdom exceeds all of man's expectations and desires. Nothing can compare to Her merchandise, which is, lasting beauty and value, length of days, riches and honor in this life. Her countenance is pleasant and her paths are peace, Wisdom is the Tree of Life and her fruit is abundant blessings for all who find Her and continue under Her shade. Let us make sure that our value system aligns with that of our Heavenly Father's. Let's spend time seeking the eternal treasures of Christ first and all the things pertaining to this life will be added to us.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Now that's Wisdom! God bless you today with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC, Hope everyone rested well. I want to thank each one for the prayers for our resent travels. In the last week we've traveled between 2300 and 2400 miles without a glitch, praise the Lord for His mercies.

Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

People today are seeking happiness in so many different ways, through pleasures, possessions, power, prestige and the list could go on. The Scripture today, instructs us that in finding wisdom and understanding we find the true source of being happy or blessed. The wisdom and understanding the Scriptures is talking about is the wisdom and understanding of God, which comes from diligently setting ourselves to seek His presence each day of life. As we search and dig through the word of God by the direction of the Holy Spirit, we begin to uncover hidden nuggets and jewels of the mysteries of God's glorious person.

Most of the time treasures are found deeper than the surface. You and I must be willing to dig and stay the course if we are to find the true treasures of God that brings lasting happiness. However, our Lord is faithful to drop a few nuggets and jewels on purpose for easy finding, in order to keep us from being discouraged as we dig for the treasures of God. Do we really want true happiness or will we settle for a worldly counterfeit? Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened and ask and it will be given to you. Wisdom and understanding is worth the effort it takes to find them.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC

I hope all rested well last night. Remember prayer service tonight at 7 PM.

Proverbs 3:11,12 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

We have seen how to honor our Heavenly Father through giving. Now we will see how to honor our Heavenly father through receiving. Do you reckon that's what the scripture meant by "it is more blessed to give than to receive":)

Hebrews 12 addresses these very verses and Hebrews 12:11 states: Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Chastening is simply the giving of appropriate correction. It can be done through verbal rebuke, removing of privileges and a rod of correction. We can be confident that chastening from our Lord is always for our benefit and always because we need it. The instruction of today's scripture is for us to not despise or rebel against the Lord's correction and to understand that He corrects only those that He loves and belongs to Him.

Hebrew 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

The blessing of correction in a child of God's life is that it produces righteousness and peace. Chastening is not enjoyable, but we can honor our Father by surrendering to His corrective voice or hand and become thankful, when we know that God always corrects in love.

God bless you with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well last night.

Proverbs 3:9,10 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Giving for the right reason is so very important, if we are to give with the right and proper motive. We have seen that our giving, whether by tithes, alms or offering, is to be done all for the glory and honor of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our giving to the Lord, to honor Him, comes with some very good benefits as we see in vs. 10. It would seem, according to Solomon, the more we are willing to trust God, which is shown through our giving back to Him, the more He will bless us, in order to be able to continue to honor and bless His Holy Name. Selfishness, stinginess, greed and covetousness are all ways of cutting off the flow of God's benefits to us and to others.

I am always reminded of an incident that happened to me. A man that I knew, came to me quite often to ask to "borrow" some money. One day he came in where I worked, once again to borrow some money. I saw him coming and I told the ladies not to tell him where I was, so I hid. He stuck his head in the door and when he never saw me, he just turned and left. The ladies in the office told me it was clear and so I came out of hiding, but lo and behold he came back without me seeing him and he caught me. He asked to borrow $5. I was so aggravated, but grudgingly gave him the money. After he left, my boss asked me to pick up trash that had blown into the office yard the night before. As I picked up the trash, I found the worse $5 dollars I'd ever seen. The Holy Spirit said to my heart, that if that $5 meant so much to me I could just have it back. That was one of the toughest lessons on giving I had ever received, but probably the best one I could have ever gotten.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

God bless you with grace and peace today.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope all rested well and we thank the Lord for His many blessings He bestows on us each day. Continue to remember Sister Jackie Jones as she recovers from surgery, Remember Ladies prayer tonight at 6:30 PM, all ladies are invited to come.

Proverbs 3:9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

We come to the third way of giving, "the Offering". The Offering is a "ministering" gift, to minister to the Saints of God in need. In Paul's second epistle to the Church at Corinth, chapter nine, he commends and instructs them in their willingness to minister to the needs of suffering Saints in Jerusalem. Please take time to read chapter nine as time won't permit us to cover the whole chapter.

2 Cor. 9:6,7 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

The Offering is a purposed gift, it is to be prayerfully considered in the giver's heart before it is offered. The offering is not a dictated amount by the leadership of the Church, but is an amount settled on between the giver and the Spirit of God. Once we have spent time in prayer and settled on the amount to be given, then we will be able to give the gift with a cheerful, rejoicing heart. Paul also gives a few basic instructions on our attitude in giving an Offering. Paul says to give, without covetousness (holding back) vs. 5, not sparingly but bountifully vs.6 and in vs. 7, not grudgingly nor of necessity (being forced or shamed into), but cheerfully.

In all of our giving, whether Tithes, Alms, or Offerings we are only giving back to the Lord a portion of what He has given to us. These three ways of giving are also three ways of showing thanks.

1) Thankful that God trusts us.

2) Thankful that we are not in the same condition of the poor and able to show God's love and compassion.

3) Thankful to be partakers in the sufferings of Christ, by relieving the Saints that are suffering for Christ's cause.

In this season of giving of gifts. I pray we all will consider how we give and with what purpose and motive.

May God grant to each one His grace and peace throughout this day.

Love you all

I hope all had a great Thanksgiving time with families and friends. Please continue in prayer for those traveling on these busy highways.

Proverbs 3:9,10 9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

We listed three ways to give unto the Lord, Tithing, Alms and Offerings. We saw that the tithe belonged to the Lord and the tithe was actually a trust or a stewardship on our part. The second means of giving was and is through the giving of Alms. Alms is the compassionate giving to the poor, needy and afflicted. Jesus instructs us in Matthew 6:1-4, how the giving of alms were to be done.

First, alms were to be done discretely if at all possible. Alms were not to be given in the sight of other men. Alms is a transaction between the giver and the receiver only and if possible we should give in a way that the receiver doesn't even know who we are. Second, alms are to be done quietly. We are not to announce to anyone that we have given an alms. The giving of Alms as Christ said, discreetly and quietly does two things, one, it saves embarrassment to the receiver. Second, it gives God all the glory because the giver is seen only as God's provision. If alms are given in the sight of men, the giver will lose their heavenly Father's reward. Likewise if after we do alms, we announce it to anyone and receive praise for our giving, our giving is considered hypocritical and we are considered hypocrites and lose once again our Father's blessings and reward. Alms giving is a delicate manner of giving, one's motive can be quickly exposed and rewards lost, both now and in glory, if not done according to the Master's plan.

Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

God bless your day with grace and peace, Have a blessed weekend.

Love you all.

Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving Day TBC.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers as we traveled, we made it without any trouble. Remember the Swans and Garvey's as they travel during the Thanksgiving Holiday. There may be others traveling from TBC that I'm unaware of also.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Holidays, instead of being a delight, can turn into something just the opposite, I pray that the peace of God rule,(orders, controls, and directs) each one's heart and family during this time together and make us at one with one another, so that we all can truly be "THANKFUL"

God Bless you all with His grace and peace and give to each one a true spirit of Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Love you all

Good Morning TBC.

I hope you all rested well. Thank you for your prayers for Sister Jackie, keep her in your prayers as she recovers. No service tonight, Becky and I will be traveling today, thank you for your prayers.

Proverbs 3:9,10 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

There are basically three ways of giving of our increase to the Lord:

1 The Tithe

2 The Alms

3 the Offering

We will attempt to briefly define each way of giving unto the Lord. The Tithe according to the OT book Leviticus 27:30, belongs to the LORD. And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord. The tithe, which means the 10th part was, and is, a trust between God and his people. The tithe includes all of our increase. Israel was an agricultural economy, so the tithe was according to the harvest value of their crops. Our society is more a monetary economy so we measure the tithe accordingly, 10% of our total increase, belongs to the LORD. The tithe is not a gift from us to the Lord, but a stewardship of a trust, that He trusted us with and is the primary means of meeting the needs of the local church ministries and operations.

Now, I know that some will immediately say, that's under the law and we're not under the law. Actually the tithe was given by Abraham before the Levitical law was given, (Gen, 14: 20) and Hebrews 7:9,10 says that Levi paid tithes in Abraham. As we contemplate the action of tithing, we must remember two things: first, the tithe is the LORD's and second, the tithe is a sacred stewardship between God and his child.

Malachi in chapter 3 verses 8 and 9 says, that those who refused to give the tithe to the Lord was actually a thief. 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Today, whatever the Lord has trusted us with, I pray we are found faithful.

God bless you with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I pray everyone rested well and I pray every heart is filled this week with praise and thankfulness unto our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember Sister Jackie today as she prepares to have her surgery this afternoon. No mid-week service this week. Becky and I, Lord willing will be traveling to Falls Church Va. to be with Daniel, Darla and Carolina for Thanksgiving. We will return Saturday, but if something comes up, we will return sooner.

Proverbs 3:9,10 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

We often wonder how to give proper praise and honor to the God of our salvation. Solomon says to honor Him by giving back a portion of His bountiful supply. Giving is an act of worship to God. for His faithfulness in supplying for all our needs. By giving unto the Lord, we are saying thank you and we trust you. When we give back to Him, He allows us to partner with Him in blessing others and getting the Gospel of Jesus Christ out to the world. As a young child my Grandfather took us to church, but before we went into church, he gave each of us some money to put in the offering plate as it passed by. As a child I was so proud that I had something to put in the plate, but as I got older, I realized, I was only giving what my grandfather had trusted me with to give. What a lesson he taught me, not only that it was an honor and joy to give, but what I was giving, really wasn't mine. I really had nothing to give, except a trust from my Heavenly Father. So we really have nothing to give to the Lord of ourselves, but what we give back to the Lord and His Kingdom is just a portion of what He had trusted us with.

Lets renew our thoughts and attitudes on giving and give to honor and worship the One who has given His increase into our lives. We really have nothing to give except from that which the Lord has given.

God bless you with His grace and peace throughout this day.

Love you all

Good morning TBC.

I hope everyone rested well last night. Thank you to everyone for yesterday's service of Thanksgiving to our LORD Jesus Christ. There will be no Wednesday night service this week. Please continue praying for Sister Jackie Jones as she prepares for surgery Tuesday afternoon. Continue to pray for Dave, Iris and Matthew as Dave and Iris both are still recovering.

Proverbs 3:7,8 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

There is a fear that is harmful and unhealthy and there is a fear that if healthy and life preserving. The unhealthy fears are call phobias. These fears are defined as extreme or irrational fear, or fear with no real basis. Solomon said to fear the LORD and depart from evil. This fear is defined as: to morally reverence, exceedingly dreadful and fearful. A healthy fear and reverence of God is both nourishing in child development and will bring us into spiritual growth and maturity.

We don't have to be "afraid" of the LORD, but it is wise to fear Him. As we learn to follow Him, we understand His holy hatred of evil, which in turn give us the wisdom to stay clear of what ultimately raises God's anger, wrath and chastisement. When we learn to have the proper fear of God, we will have no need to fear anyone else.

Jesus said to His disciples: Matt. 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. With fear on every side, let's choose to fear only one, the Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is our Father and God.

May God's grace and peace be with each one today.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I pray your week has been a blessed one. Remember after worship service Sunday, the Church membership present, will be voting on the nomination of Jason LeRay for the office of a Deacon for TBC. This vote must be a vote of at least 75% in order for the nomination to be approved. Please continue to lift up Bro Tim and Sister Elaine. Please continue to pray for Ricky Rambeaut's Grand Daughter's mother, Alisha in her recovery from her surgery and for the possible treatments that lay ahead of her. Pray for Sister Jackie Jones as she prepares for surgery on the 25th.

Proverbs 3:5-8 5.Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 8. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Trust as we learn to trust the LORD for all our provisions, we must trust Him for all direction also. We must trust Him to be involved in every aspect of our life. We must trust Him to have the best for us in His heart and purpose. The Scriptures say to "acknowledge" Him in "all" our ways. To acknowledge Him is to recognize His right to direct and intervene in our journey here. We must also understand that it's not just His right but his heart felt desire to direct and give to us the best options in life. He who knows the beginning from the end and all things in between, should be gladly trusted with our every way on this earth, We are instructed by the writer to give the LORD this right, not just in our ways but in all our ways. Big or small God wants to be involved.

What change in direction are we contemplating today, what business deal, what purchase are we thinking about? No matter how big or small, let's honor our Heavenly Father by first seeking His direction. He really desires for us to "trust" His wisdom in every matter of our life. No matter how fast we may feel we have to act on any decision, it will always be to our benefit to take time to seek God, so we can know that He is directing, whether it turns out as we had hoped for or not. Father Knows Best.

God Bless you today with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope all rested well. Prayer service tonight at 7.

Proverbs 3:3,4 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Yesterday we defined Mercy and Truth. Mercy: is the absolute undeserved, benevolent action or gift of God and Truth: is the absolute, steadfast trustworthiness of God's character, God in His infinite wisdom, married Mercy and Truth together. When apart from each other, they can quickly be misidentified or misunderstood. God loves Mercy, but He cannot show Mercy without or apart from Truth, He will always show Truth, but Truth without Mercy is a bitter pill to swallow. Mercy shown without Truth can become compromise, entitlement and victimization. How? Mercy alone will never hold anyone accountable for their deeds nor reveal the nature of their condition. Mercy alone can cause people to accept any standard of morality. Mercy alone can make everyone entitled to the same benefits without having to hold to the same standard of ethics. Finally, Mercy alone may only see victims of their own society and surroundings Mercy without Truth, cannot give to "victims" a way out or the ability to change, just comfort in their mess' Truth is always truth, Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" Truth can always stand alone. Truth never compromises.

Truth's standards and ethics are never lowered to include anyone. As the old saying goes, Truth will be standing when the world is on fire. When there is no Mercy, there will still be truth. The truth is, we cannot handle Truth without Mercy, by His side. God will not compromise his Truth for any man, for any reason. Truth demands "Justice." So Truth, in His love for truth and need for Justice and in His great love for us, took His true love Mercy, and nailed Mercy to the cross, satisfying Justice and making a way out and giving power to change, for those who had broken and maligned His Truth. Hallelujah! Now that Mercy and Truth are together forever, they are able to save all that come to them to the uttermost.

Thanks be to God for His Mercy and Truth God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC

I pray all rested well last night. Be in prayer as the Church will be voting on Jason LeRay's nomination as a Deacon this Sunday immediately after worship service this coming Sunday. In order to be approved, the candidate must receive a minimum of 75% approval of the voting members.

Proverbs 3:3,4 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Today Solomon points us to Mercy and Truth. Mercy is the absolute undeserved, benevolent action or gift of God, given to those who deserve justice. Truth is the absolute, steadfast trustworthiness of God's character, which guides Him, in every action, judgement and desire that He possesses. Our Father not only possesses these characteristics but also expects his children to be possessed of the same characteristics. He wants them displayed around our necks as a necklace, so that men may see them lived out in our lives. He also wants them written on the tables of our heart so they are not just actions that men can see, but the controlling characteristics of our nature.

When we practice Mercy and Truth that man can see, we receive favor from man, but when we allow the Holy Spirit to engrave Mercy and Truth, the very nature of God, on the tables of our heart and they become our nature, we then receive the favor of God on our life. In order for Mercy and Truth to become our nature, we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves for the glory of God our Father.

Romans 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

I pray our Lord will keep His grace and peace on each one throughout this day,

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well last night. What a wonderful time spent at church Yesterday morning with our Gideon speaker, Bro Shawn Stovall and and his wife were wonderful. The testimonies of God's glorious work through His Word thrills my heart to hear. Because of your generous giving around 225 Bibles or 500 New Testaments will be placed somewhere around the world, that others may know our Savior, GLORY! Thanks to each one who made the Thanksgiving dinner great, the food was wonderful and plenty. The Christmas Shoe boxes were packed and ready to go, I forget the actual number, but there was over 60!! Great job, AWANA Children, Youth, wonderful Leadership and generous donors; I believe one glorious day, each of you will meet some one on the Streets of Gold and they'll let you know what impact your gift and love for Jesus meant for them. Thank you and God bless you all.

Proverbs 3: 1,2 1. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2. For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

In today's scripture, I don't just hear a command from a father, but I hear a father's plea to his son. Don't forget what I've told you, please. I hear the same plea from the Holy Spirit of our Heavenly Father. Satan is a thief, a liar and a murderer. He came to steal, kill and destroy. Every time our Heavenly Father speaks to us, Satan is not far away, trying to steal away God's word spoken to us. A thief only steals that which is of value and Satan understands the eternal value of God's word to us. A murderer wants to end life and a destroyer wants to take away any sense of normality and peace.

We must set a guard on the vault our heart, that the precious treasure of God's word, placed within our heart won't be stolen away. What the enemy desires to do to us is exactly the opposite of what the Word of God can and will do for us. Instead of stolen and broken dreams, our Father gives "length of days" or abundant Life; instead of death, our Father's words are Eternal Life, and instead of destruction and chaos, His word gives peace. Sometimes our Father's words may seem kinda harsh, a killjoy, but in reality, they are life protecting and life giving. Let's not forget the value of our Father's Word, The thief knows its value, so let's make sure it's kept secure in our heart and safe from the thief that would steal it away. In doing so, we are also securing our own life.

I pray you all have a most wonderful day and God grant you His Grace and Peace.

Love you all

Good Morning TBC,

Tim's daughter, Shelley came through her surgery well, but I was told that time will tell the degree of success. Please continue to lift her to the Lord, especially for spiritual healing. Keep Elaine and Tim in your prayers also. Sunday after service is the Church Thanksgiving Dinner, the church is providing the meats. Gideon Missionary will be with us in the morning service. The AWANA children are packing Operation Christmas Child Boxes Sunday evening.

Proverbs 2: 10,11 10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

When the "Wisdom and Knowledge" of God becomes "Pleasant" (agreeable, beautiful, delightful, sweet) to the listening soul of the believer, they give unto their receiving host discretion (ability to distinguish). Discretion in turn becomes a preserver, a keeper, and a deliverer for those willing to follow Wisdom and Knowledge's directions. The word preserve means to hedge about with thorns, to protect by making aware of danger. The wisdom and knowledge of God preserves, hedges us in against the perverse and froward words (that which is contrary to established truth) of the wicked.

We are seeing and hearing more and more perverse teaching today, leading the simple and vulnerable astray from sound and established truth. However when such words or teachings come near those preserved by wisdom and knowledge, it come up against a hedge of thorns. What happens then? As the thorns of wisdom and knowledge sink in, we are warned by the increased loudness from the pain inflicted to perversity as it tries without success to get to the heart of the preserved.

Wisdom and Knowledge also keeps us in touch with reality and make us aware when flattering words come our way. Flattery means to speak smoothly in order to lessen the severity or extent of the actions requested or of a crime committed. If Wisdom and Knowledge are not heeded and Flattery gets her way:

Vss. 18 ... her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

No matter how convincing and smooth the words of the wicked sound, make sure that God's wisdom and knowledge is your heart's delight and has you hedged in. May God hedge you in today and give you grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

Please pray for Tim's daughter, Shelley as she under goes liver surgery today, pray for God's peace on Bro. Tim and Elaine also. We will be privileged to have Bro Shawn Stoval, of the Gideons International with us this coming Sunday morning. An offering will be received for the Gideon Ministry Sister Michelle, missionary to Haiti, request continual prayer for their deteriorating spiritual and governmental conditions. Michelle is having to spend most of the time almost like a prisoner in her own home, under lock down due to the violence and unrest. Remember Thanksgiving Dinner after service Sunday.

Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

In our Scripture today, Solomon makes two simple but very important statements:

1. God is the source and giver of Wisdom.

2. Knowledge and understanding comes from the mouth of God.

I think it is important we understand that Solomon made these statements to his son. Why you may ask, because Solomon's son had seen kings and queens and ambassadors come from all over the known world, to give gifts and honor to Solomon, his father, and to witness his wisdom for themselves. Solomon was the wisest ruler any one had ever known. When the Queen of the south came to sit before Solomon and hear his words and see the glory of his kingdom and how he conducted himself, she was totally taken with what she witnessed.

In 1Kings 10:6,7, she says, concerning all she saw and heard, 6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. 7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.

How grand and wonderful Solomon must have been in the eyes of his son, but Solomon knew that the source of his wisdom was not in his intellect, but from GOD himself. Therefore Solomon, in his great wisdom was pointing his son away from himself and to the real Source of wisdom, GOD, which would also be available to his son for the seeking. When God trusts us with His wisdom, knowledge and understanding, let's make sure we point those who are listening, watching and following, to the very source of wisdom and understanding, Jesus Christ.

Corinthians 1:24,30: 24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

If given the chance to show forth your wisdom today, make sure they see your Source, Jesus. Give them wisdom, give them Jesus.

Matt. 12:42b ...she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Hallelujah!!! God bless you today with His Wisdom, Grace and Peace, to share with others.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I pray all rested well. Its already Wednesday, seems like time sure does fly by these days. Please remember Brother Tim's daughter, Shelley, as she under goes surgery on the 14th, also remember Brother Tim as he ministers to his daughter both spiritually and physically and as well as for Tim's safe travels along the many miles.

Proverbs 2:1-5 1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding;3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding;4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures;5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Today I pose a question to each of us. Do we really want to know and worship God, as our Lord instructed the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:24? God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. If our answer is yes, then we must be willing to start our journey and pursuit that will last a lifetime. Though this is a lifelong endeavor, it is always one step, one day and one revelation at a time and then we must do battle to retain the knowledge and wisdom gained or the enemy will steal it away and we must start over.

I am going to list the actions Solomon gave unto his son in order to find the silver and treasures of the Holy One. Receive, Hide, Incline, Apply, Cry, Lift Up or Shout, Seek, Search, "Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God." Philippians 3:10

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; We must take time to know God, it's truly not, an overnight thing. God bless you with grace and peace throughout this day.

I love you all

Good Morning TBC.

I hope everyone had a good day yesterday and was able to thank at least one veteran for their service and sacrifice. Remember that our Thanksgiving meal will be this coming Sunday after morning service. Brother Kenneth said he would cook the turkeys and the Boston butts, everyone else bring the sides and desserts.

Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

As I read today's passage, I began to understand why so often the knowledge and worship of God is so shallow, powerless and driven mostly by emotion, rather than deep knowledge of Holy God. Solomon compares the getting of God's knowledge and wisdom to mining silver and uncovering treasure. Mining silver, is a labor intensive operation today and especially in Solomon's day. Silver is not normally found lying on top of the ground, but in dark and dangerous mines. Digging, hammering, loading, sledding, sifting, heating and so on must be done, until the final silver is produced.

Hidden treasure is just what it says it is, it's hidden. It is real, it exists, it's valuable, but it's hidden. To find it, one must dedicate themselves to the task of finding it, no matter how long, how discouraging, how dangerous, or how delusional people may think you are. We must determine in our heart, that the treasure is worth the hunt. Today, we can either be satisfied with shallow and unfulfilling knowledge and wisdom of the Holy, or we can set ourselves to dig and hunt for the deep treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge.

Our Holy God wants to share Himself with us, but He wants us to determine in our hearts, whether the pursuit of the Holy, is the prize worthy of our pursuit. I pray your day is filled with God's grace and peace.

I love you all

Good morning TBC.

Happy Veteran's Day to all our military vets. God bless you all for your service. Wasn't it great to see Stephen and his daughter in church yesterday! If you have the day off, I pray you have a great day, thank a Vet.

Proverbs 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

In verses 21-32 we saw a place where grace could not go. A place of no hope, after God's pleas and calls were continually rejected. What a dismal terrible place I left us in last time. "But", what a beautiful, wonderful. glorious conjunction.

Joseph would tell his brothers in Gen. 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Paul, in Ephesians 2, says we were going the wrong way, following the wrong crowd, heading toward a hopeless end, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Ephesians 2:4 We would all seem to be in a place where grace could not go, "but", Hallelujah the Lord makes a way, a door of hope in the valley of Achor, Hosea 2:15.

Achor means trouble and in the midst of trouble, hopeless despair, we can find God's grace and wisdom saying, But... in verse 33 God is saying, while others may be going down a hopeless path into eternity, you and I don't have to travel that path of rejection. If we but hearken (listen with obedience) to God's call, we will avoid a life and eternity of hopelessness. But, we shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope each one rested well last night. Thank you for each one's faithfulness to pray for those who have been listed for prayer. Our Lord said, men ought always and not faint. The fervent prayers of the righteous avails much. Bro Dave M informed me that their case was continued to a later date. Please remember Tim's daughter, Shelly, as she prepares for liver surgery. Pray also that her heart will be softened to hear the good news of Jesus and receive the ultimate healing. Lord willing Bro Terry's son, Steven comes home today! Keep him in your prayers as now the real battle begins. Ricky's grandchildren's mother is in rehab and seems to be doing great.

Proverbs 1: 24-29 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

There is a place where grace cannot go; sad, scary and sobering words. In these verses, God readdresses three men previously mentioned here in Proverbs, chapter one, The Simple, the Scorner and the Fool. The Simple was satisfied with being the town Jester, he never took eternity or the things of God seriously. He is satisfied being used by the world, always seeking the world's approval, but never seeing it's abusive end. He may say something like this, "well I was just put here to make people happy and I think my good will outweigh my bad, God understands."

The Scorner, he is loud, arrogant and mocks at God's truth. He ridicules those who trust in Christ and he speaks sarcastically about eternal things. . You might hear Scorner say, "don't tell me about hell and anyway, if I do go to hell, I'll be in good company."

The Fool, absolutely hates any knowledge of the Holy. He may say, "don't tell me about God, I make my own destiny, when you're dead you're dead. There isn't any such thing as God or heaven or hell". These three have rejected God's counsel, mocked at His cry and rejected His outstretched arm. They are entering eternity and as they do, for the first time, they cry, but no answer. They reach out, but no arm to rescue. They believe, but only to hear a laugh, no mercy, no hope, and no way out. Grace cannot go where these have chosen to go. My heart breaks as I write this, we must share this truth with those heading into an eternity without GOD and NO Hope.

May God's grace and peace guide you today.

I love you all

Good morning TBC,

Continue in prayer for Amanda as she will need to go to Durham for further test and treatment. Lord willing Steven comes home tomorrow. Brother Dave and Kristine Moncuse request prayer, as they go to court today to maintain full custody of their foster child Jayden. Dave, Kristine and Jason are the only family little Jayden have ever known. Pray for God's best for Jayden. When I fail to mention someone or something for prayer, please feel free to let me know. I try not to be redundant, but I do want prayer request known, thanks.

Proverbs 1:24,25 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

In 2 Peter 3:9, Peter says, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. In verses 24 and 25 we can see the distance the Lord is willing to go in order to keep man from his own demise. First, we see, God calls to man. The word "call" means to call out by name. God makes a very personal call when trying to stop a man in danger. This word call also can be interpreted as to continually call until agitated.

The Lord wants to deliver man so much, that He's almost like a telemarketer; He calls and calls and calls until you either answer or block His calls. Second, He stretches out a hand of reconciliation or rescue. As a man who is willing to forgive wrongs committed or lift someone who has fallen, he will offer his hand, so does the Lord, offer His hand to those who walk contrary to His will or have fallen into sin.

In Isaiah 59:1, the prophet says: Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

Third, the Lord freely gives to the wayward, counsel. He gives directions for travel, advice in life's transactions and the true purpose and meaning of life.

Psalms 33:11 says: The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Fourth, The Lord gives reproof in order to correct the journeyer's path, so that he avoids the perils, that can and will bring him harm and disaster. The Lord wants everyone to arrive alive and well.

Hebrews 12:6 says: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

The Lord calls, He reaches out, He gives needed counsels and reproofs, just so man will not miss the best that He has to offer, which is eternal life through His son Jesus Christ. What a patient and loving God, our Lord is, praise HIS holy Name!! It surely pays, to listen and heed His calls and warnings and receive His hand up, in our journey into eternity. I pray you all have a blessed day, filled with grace and peace from our Heavenly Father.

I love you all

Good Morning TBC,

Please continue to pray for Amanda, Terry's daughter, also Terry's son Steven gets to come home at the end of this week. Please keep him in your prayers.. Please pray for Brother Reed and Sister Linda Callahan and their family.

Proverbs 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

If you're on the receiving end of God's Reproof, it is usually not a pleasant experience. However, if it is received properly, it will result in less pain and heartache and trouble avoided, or at least not prolonged. Obeying the reproof for our Heavenly Father comes with two promises:

1. The outpouring of His Spirit unto us.

2. The understanding or revelations of God's word given to us. The pouring out of God's Spirit, after His reproof is given and received properly, is the spiritual oil that is poured over the wound of reproof, to heal, strengthen and soothe its sting.

It is this outpouring that makes us realize, that God's correction, was for the purpose of life, not death. This experience now enables growth and fruit bearing in our lives, worthy of our Lord and Savior. The revelation of God's word, after the experience of reproof, reinforces the Father's love and intentions toward the erring child. Maybe some can remember receiving a sharp reproof from a parent or even a teacher, we thought our world had ended and then, the tone changed, they sat us down and further explanation is given and their heart of compassion and their desire for us to have the best in our lives is revealed. The words of reproof have now become words of life. When God's Word has to reproof us, let's turn and hear, the heart and wisdom of His reproof and receive the healing oil of His Spirit, to mend our broken spirit.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC

I hope you all slept well last night. Please continue to pray for Ricky's Grand children's mother, Yavonne's cousin and Brother Matt Anker's father, Bill. Dave and Iris and Matt are still recovering and desire the prayers of the church. I think of our youth and I praise the Lord for them and the leadership the Lord has raised up for them, please keep both the youth and the leaders in your prayers. Please remember my Pastor Clifford's son, Clint, he is a severe diabetic and is in the hospital with heart problems. He has had bypass surgery in the past, but at this time they are not sure exactly whats going on.

Proverbs 1:22,23 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

In verses 22 and 23, I hear the cry of Wisdom turn from a cry of greetings in verse 20, to a cry of urgency. I can almost hear her say, "how long will you keep doing the same old thing, follow the same old advice and expect to get a different result? Why won't you listen, why won't you turn?" Wisdom's, cry is now out of frustration, she has cried and no one listened, she has made herself available and no response is given. To the simple, Wisdom says, "how long do you want to be misused and abused?" To the scorner, she says, "how long will you make your scornful faces and show your contempt at my instructions?" And, to the fool, she says, "how long will you reject the knowledge and reality the the Almighty?"

These three types of people, are not in trouble today because God has abandoned them. They are in the mess they're in, because they have rejected the invitational cry of God and his Wisdom, to: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

It is not wrong to want to help, those who seem to always be on the losing side, but most people who are there, are there because of their refusal to listen to the voice of Wisdom, calling them to "TURN". If we want a successful, God honoring journey, we must make the conscious decision to not follow after the paths of the simple, the scorner or the fool, but to follow the path and instructions of God's Wisdom. Her voice can be heard , if we just take the time to listen.

GOD bless your day with his wisdom, grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well last night. Yvonne's cousin, Mr Register was taken out of ICU and put in a private room yesterday, please continue to pray for him. Please remember Ricky's grandchildren's mother in her recovery and battle with a brain tumor.

Proverbs 1: 20,21 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, Solomon personifies Wisdom in Vs' 20-33.

In verses 20 and 21, she has a voice to be heard by those who will listen. Wisdom cries and invites people to come and receive her instruction. The first thing we can see about Wisdom, is that she is not hidden, she is not a recluse that cannot be found. Wisdom makes herself available to any and all who desires her. She is described as being daily in the public arena. Wisdom wants to be known. Wisdom wants to share her value with anyone who will stop and take time to listen to her voice.

The gate of ancient cities was there for the protection of the city, business was also conducted at the gate, court was held at the gate. Both, residents and foreigners entered and left through the gate. The gate played such an important part of a city in ancient days and Wisdom was the watchman. It was almost guaranteed that every person of that city, would at some point come or go through that gate. The watchman was familiar with every one and every transaction that went on at the gate. If you needed direction, the watchman could give it. If you had business, the watchman could direct you where to go. The watchman was so valuable and had to be trustworthy.

Just as a watchman of a city gate is familiar with the daily concourse, so Wisdom understands and is familiar with our life's happenings and she what to share with us her insight, in order for us to make our passage safe and prosperous. Today and every day, we will have business to conduct, a change in direction to consider, a judgement to make, or maybe a security concern. Will we conduct our business alone, or will we hear the cry of Wisdom, as she says, who goes there, what is your business, how may I help you? Before we conduct any transaction, we must always consult Wisdom, she knows what we need and will freely give it. If you lack wisdom or just need more wisdom, just ask.

James 1:5,6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

God bless your day, Walk in God's wisdom, grace and peace.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope that everyone rested well and have had a good week. I hope to see each one at Church this Sunday. Remember our time falls back an hour Sunday. Continue to pray for Yvonne's cousin and David, Iris and Mathew. Terry's daughter was admitted to the hospital.

Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

As we go out into the streets of this world, as the Son in verse 8 was going to do. The first voice we need to hear and acquaint our self with, is the voice of Wisdom. There are so many voices vying for our attention in this world, we need to know which voice to hear. Solomon said that Wisdom cries and her voice is heard. Her cry is not one of distress or anguish, but a cry of greeting, to attract us without causing apprehension or doubt in the heart of the hearer. Her cry is one that says, "this is the way, walk therein."

The voice of Godly Wisdom can always be distinguished, by her reminding us of the Godly instructions and laws already given. She will have no new word or way, but she will take of what has already been instructed and give, with it the ability to apply the instructions we have already received. Whether we are just embarking on life's journey or we have been traveling for a while, God never intends for us to go about life aimlessly, without direction.

In order to properly navigate the streets that we must travel in this world, God has given to us proper instructions and laws. Along with these, He also has given us His gps, the Spirit of Wisdom, to guide us through the hazards of the road we travel. Let me say also, life's journey is not just about avoiding the hazards, but enjoying the journey of a lifetime. The voice of Wisdom gives us the wisdom to travel with confidence, to avoid the pitfalls and enjoy the splendors of God's glory along the way. If we walk with God's wisdom we can complete the journey successfully,

God bless you with grace and peace, have a great day and weekend.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope your week is going well. Time sure seems like its sped up. October has come and gone, wow. My Grandmother would say, the older you get the faster time gets. It sure feels like it to me. Paul said to redeem the time. Please pray for Yvonne's cousin as he undergoes a liver transplant.

Proverbs 1:8,9 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

How of us want to be victorious in our walk with the Lord? I am sure everyone would answer, I do. Solomon is saying to his son and to us today, that to keep the law of our mother and receive the instruction of our fathers, we will be victorious. Paul compared our life in Christ, as soldier in war and a runner in a race. If we are to be a good soldier of the Lord, we must follow the Lord's instructions and laws of engagement. We must know our weaponry and we must be willing to suffer hardships in order to successfully defeat the enemy and bring our Commander glory. As a runner in this race for the Lord, we must also train, we must know the course set before us. We must leave behind any unnecessary weights and with patience, keep our eyes on the Savior, for He knows the way.

When the soldier and the runner hear the rules and obey the instructions given to them to engage in the task set before them, they will receive the rewards of their sacrifice and faithful obedience. When we follow God's law and hear with obedience, His instructions, Solomon said it would be: "an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck." The ornament of grace, was the victors crown, for running the race successfully and lawfully. The chain on the neck was the reward of valor from his commander or king for going above and beyond the call of duty to achieve the victory for the kingdom.

Sometimes we may feel that all these Laws and instructions are just a boring weight that is unnecessary, but when we fail to listen and forsake the teaching of God's word and Holy Spirit we fail to achieve the goal and endanger those that follow. There's a "crown" for our head and a "chain" of gold for our neck if we only keep and hear God's Laws and Instruction.

God Bless your day with His grace and peace, I love you all.

Good morning TBC,

I hope all rested well last night and those who have been under the weather, feeling much better.

Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Solomon asks his son to do two things, Listen or "hear" and "Forsake not" To Hear, means to listen with attention, in order to be able to communicate with understanding and clarity, the instructions given. Solomon was saying something like this, "Son do you hear what I'm saying to you, tell me what I said and tell me what I meant." The word "instruction" envelopes several areas, which include: reproof, chastisement, restraint, warning, doctrine, and discipline. The word "law", or in Hebrew, Torah, means: teachings, precept or statute.

In the days of Solomon, the mother's primary job was to instruct their children in the proper ways of godly living, set the standard of how and what was expected of them from God's word and what was pleasing to God. To forsake, (thrust away or cast off) a mother's godly teaching, was to the child's own hurt and demise. The father's job, as the child grows, is to be the force behind the mother's godly teaching. He is to recall to the child's mind, the teaching he has already received and instruct them deeper in those truths they and been taught.

Today we are sons and daughters of the Most High God through faith in Christ. We have been born into His family by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. It is when we learn to listen and not forsake the the teaching of God's word and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and instruct us in the deeper realities and wisdom of God, that we become equipped to avoid the pitfalls of this world's allurements. No one in this world, loves us like our godly parents and no one ever cared for us like Jesus. Listen, call to remembrance the sound teachings and instructions that have come through our parents and our Lord Jesus and do not trade them or forsake them, for the teachings of this godless and perverted world. The truths of God's Word will stand when the world is on fire.

God bless your day with grace and peace, Love you all

Good morning TBC,

A big "THANK YOU" to all for making the Festival a success last evening, and not just for last evening, but for all you do to minister to the youth and their parents.

Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Solomon addresses his son and his desire for his son to listen to his father's instruction and the law of his mother. Before we address the sons and daughters, let me address the parents or parent figures in the Church today. More than ever before, children are being indoctrinated in godless and ungodly teachings. The "light' that is being fed to our youth and to our adults alike, is pure darkness in many cases.

Parents and parent figures, there has never been a time like what we're seeing and the teachings that are pushed upon and into our Children's minds. With that said, there's never been a time in history that godly men and women's voices of instruction, were needed, more than today. Fatherss and mothers, father and mother figures, make your voices of godly instructions heard, not only to your own children, but to the youth in the realm of your influence.

The world is neither bashful nor afraid to push their ungodly teachings and indoctrination, so we must take up the fight for the souls of our youth and children and give to them the teachings and instructions that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If we don't give them instructions, we can be assured that the world will. Be aware of opportunities to share the wisdom that God has shared with you.

May your day be filled with His grace and peace.

Good morning TBC,

I hope your week has been a great one for each of you. Remember the Fall fest this coming Sunday evening, invite your friends and family for fellowship,food and fun. If you need any information concerning the event, contact Jen LeRay. Let me say an early thank you, to all that are contributing, to make this Festival possible, Thank You. Bro David received a good report on his recovery yesterday, but the neck brace has to be worn another 4 weeks. Matt's father, Bill is through chemo, but is now going through radiation for about 2 more weeks. Please continue in your prayers for David and Bill, as well as their families, thank you. A praise, Brother Matt will become an active Deacon where he, Jodie and the Children attend in Kernersville, NC. Congratulations Lt. Colonel! Your Church is blessed to have you all. We miss you at TBC.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Solomon has talked about the four men thus far, the wise man that hears and increases knowledge, the man of understanding that seeks wise counsels, the simple that can receive wisdom to make sound judgment and the young man that receives knowledge and discretion to guide his path. This morning we are introduced to a fifth man, the Fool. A fool can be defined as one that is silly, perverse or one that refuses sound and wise instructions. the Psalmist describes the fool in these terms:

Psalms 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The fool, is not one that has been born with a mental handicap, but one, through the vain philosophies and wisdom of this world, he has corrupted and severely hardened his heart against true wisdom and instruction and the God of it. He despises, he has utter disrespect and contempt for God and any wisdom or instruction that is connected to God. Just as a footnote: Early US courts rejected an atheist's testimony as unreliable because of his inability to faithfully swear an oath unto God. In 1828 the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that an unbeliever in God or the afterlife was not competent to stand as a witness in the court room. Our nation's system today is just the opposite, rejecting Christianity and embracing godless humanism. Lets be aware of whom we partner with or trust our values and valuables with. The man with the highest IQ in the world is a fool, if he rejects the Wisdom and Knowledge of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not, as the Church of Jesus Christ become fools, trading His wisdom and knowledge for the cheap wisdom and ways of this world.

God bless your day with His grace and peace Love you all.

I hope all rested well last night. Remember the fall fest Sunday evening 4-7

Proverbs 1:7 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Someone once told me if you truly fear the Lord, you'll never have to fear anyone else. With that in mind what does this word fear really mean? The Hebrew definition of fear has a couple meanings that can be equally applied to today's verse. Fear: to morally reverence, exceedingly dreadful and fearful to morally reverence, is to hold someone in the highest, honor, esteem or order. When we approach the LORD we are to approach Him in humility, realizing the great honor that we have been given to be able to be in His presence, accepted by Him only through His son Jesus. We must never lose the reality, that we can never merit this great privilege given to us. We come to Him solemnly and with worship.

Exceeding dreadful and fearful is best seen in the reaction of men and angels in the presence of God. When angelic beings are in God's presence they are said to cover themselves with their wings. When men have been given a vision of God or Christ in their glory, they fall as dead men in their presence. Our God is a consuming fire and rightly feared because He is The Eternal God of Glory. To properly fear the Lord, Solomon say is the "beginning", the principle thing that can properly guide our knowledge in life's journey here on earth. When we understand who the Lord is: Almighty, Most High, All Seeing, All Knowing, Holy, Merciful, Loving; this glorious knowledge of Him can guide our thoughts, actions and decisions throughout our lives, if we allow them to stay in proper focus in our heart.

When the fear of the Lord is disregarded, man's life goes off track quickly. Without fear, poor judgement invades and sin enters in and leads down a path of ruin. With all that said, lest we go to far in the fear direction, we must "NEVER" forget that as born again children of God, we are accepted in Christ and can therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace Fear God, by giving Him Glory and Honor and Praise; Fear God, because we must give an account of our life's actions.

God bless your day with His grace, peace and healthy fear Love you all.

Good morning TBC,

Thank you for your prayers this week, we were able to meet with the young man, Carroel, he was doing well and praising the Lord for His miraculous intervention and healing. It was so good to set and talk with him and his mother and to pray together and give thanks together with them. Allie, of course is still in great mourning and shock from losing her beautiful little boy. We talked for a while about her feelings, about not allowing this great hurt to turn her from the Lord, but allow this to become a ministry of hope to others that may face this horror. Please continue to keep Allie and Carroel in your prayers. Pray for Bro Marty as he travels home.

Proverbs 1:5,6 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

Today we finally come to the end of the introduction and purpose of the book of Proverbs. " To understand...the words of the wise and their dark sayings." There is a lot that can be said about "words". To define "words" we find these words, oracles, laws, promises, provision, reasoning, judgments, and commands. Words contain power. Jesus is known as the Word of God. God's last word to mankind came through his Son,

Hebrews 1:1,2. When Jesus spake, the people who heard Him said, "no man ever spake like this man, He speaks with authority and not as a scribe".

It is important to listen to words, because words define the "man" that speaks them. Dark sayings are defined as riddles or truth, that is hidden from plain view or understanding, truth that must be navigated with deep thought and attentiveness. For us to understand God's words and dark sayings found within scripture, we must be willing to sit still and listen attentively to the speaker, the Holy Ghost, for the Word of God is spiritually discerned. Natural ears cannot comprehend the saying of a supernatural God. "Be still and know that I Am God". Often when Jesus spake His disciples would fail to grasp His words because they were preoccupied with other "important" things, such as who would get the right to sit beside Jesus in His kingdom. Others were busy worrying if the floors were swept, some thought of what they had given up to follow Jesus and what would they receive for their sacrifice.

What preoccupies our minds today, that keeps us from hearing and knowing God's words of wisdom and His dark sayings? Let's determine to be content and polite and be still and quite, while the Master speaks to our heart. If we miss hearing His words of wisdom and dark sayings, we miss exactly what we needed, to be victorious today. Words are powerful and defining, choose yours carefully today and let them be full of Grace seasoned with Salt.

God bless you with His grace and peace today. Love you all.

Good Morning TBC,

I pray all is well with everyone. Please continue to remember Bro David, Iris and Matthew, as David continues his healing process. He returns for a check up on Thursday.

The desired outcome of verse 5 is revealed in verse 6, to understand a proverb and its interpretation and a wise man's words and dark saying. A proverb is defined as a maxim, an expression of a general truth or principle. To understan that the purpose of a proverb or parable is to reveal a truth or principle, helps us to also understand the need of studying God's word and seeking wise and Godly counsel from God's Holy Spirit. His gifted people may know the truths and precepts revealed in God's word.

Solomon was not just interested in understanding, but to also be able to interpret the truth in a manner that one may also instruct others in the truth or principle revealed within the proverb. Truth that is not properly communicated is not worth very much to the one that is being instructed. Billy Graham once said that preaching over people's heads did not mean you were more intellectually superior to them, it just meant you were a bad shot. Let's seek to understand God's truth so clearly, that we will be able to interpret it clearly to any that's seeking truth.

God bless your day with His grace and peace.

Good morning TBC,

I want to thank you all for your prayers for safe travels. I'm supposed to meet with Ms Allie around 10am. Please pray for God's grace to be poured out into Allie and her family's life. I will meet with the young man that was shot last week in the afternoon also, Lord willing.

Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels

Wisdom and Knowledge compels or drives us to deeper understandings. The words "will and shall", are words that declare an intentional act of the will or purpose. Wisdom and Knowledge desires to grow or increase. Observe a baby as it grows, God has put within that child a natural desire to grow and increase in both size and understanding. One of the first needs of a baby is to be fed. Everything a baby can pick up, goes straight to its mouth. The baby is learning what will satisfy its need to grow. We could call it curiosity or a need of exploring this new world, what ever we may call it, God placed within that baby a natural desire to grow and increase in knowledge and wisdom of things that will be beneficial to its growth and well being. If a child is not exploring or curious about its surrounding, but remains docile and lifeless, we determine that something must be seriously wrong with the child and we will seek immediate help to determine just why the child is unresponsive to its surroundings. So it is in the life of a professing Christian, The Holy Spirit lives within the believer, giving them a desire to know more and to grow spiritually.

Peter says in 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby, If, in the professing believer, there is no hunger, no thirst, no inquisitive nature for the things of God, no desire to increase in wisdom and knowledge, then something is seriously wrong.

They could have fallen into a snare of the enemy, they could be oppressed by the enemy, maybe neglected by other believers or abused by false teachings or false teachers or even worse, they may be dead, just a profession without possession. Any of these are extremely serious spiritual conditions and must be diagnosed properly, their spiritual life depends on a good examination.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Our appetite and our curiosity reveals much about our true spiritual health.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. In every opportunity, let's seek to know and grow in Christ. He is our wisdom. May His grace and peace guide you today.

God bless, Love you all

Good Friday Morning TBC,

Another week has come and gone and the Lord has supplied all our needs according to His riches in glory through Jesus Christ our Lord:). Remember the third Sunday meal has been moved to the time of the Fall festival on the 27th, from 4-7 pm. Thanks to everyone for your faithful prayers for Brother David and Brother Bill as well as others you have been faithful to intercede for.

Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.

A man of understanding has the ability to separate, distinguish and discern between right and wrong and good and best. Most of the time though, it is easier to discern between right and wrong than between good and best. One of understanding will continually ask, seek, and knock for "counsels" of what God's best is for their life in order to give the greatest contribution to the Kingdom of God. He or she will strive to "attain" (procure, seek, purchase to oneself) God's best by surrounding themself with others that have the same desire and passion, to know God's best. To attain wise counsel is not just for self gratification, but to be able to give wise counsel or steering to those who are looking to us for God's best.

Let me brag a little here: Becky, has taught in the public education system for nearly 30 years and she has never ceased to seek out ways of improving her ability to instruct her students. She's always been willing to receive wise counsel from reading, studying, listening, attending workshops, and so on, in order to be able to instill into her students the best there is to offer. She is now sought out by other education systems to give wise counsel to their instructors.

AT&T came out with a TV commercial that states, "just ok is not ok". How true, especially in the work of the Kingdom of God. ( Read, Luke 17-7-10.) I'm reminded of an old hymn, "More about Jesus". One verse say this: "More about Jesus let me learn, More of His holy will discern; Spirit of God my teacher be, Showing the things of Christ to me." Lets push ourselves beyond a life of mediocrity, to attain the best Counsel our God and Father has to offer, lets surround ourselves with Godly wise counselors and dig deep into our Father's words of Wisdom. Our Lord's work deserves us to be operating in His best.

May the Lord bless each one with his grace, peace and counsel.

GOD Bless & love you all. Hope to see you Sunday

Good Thursday morning TBC,

I hope everyone rested well.

Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.

A wise man will do two things, "hear and increase". When we think that we know all we need to know and refuse to hear what other sources have to offer, we become stagnant, slow in our mind and soon forgetful of what we thought we knew and then we become unprofitable to anyone. Doctors, Nurses, Firemen, Teachers, Military, Ministers, Engineers and the list can go on and on, must hear and increase learning, as information and technology changes. Daily we must maintain, a constant "continuing education" or we will lose our ability to do our positions or jobs effectively. We will become dull and slow and can even become a danger to those we are suppose to be helping.

Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, understood this, while others were busy doing other things, she was at Jesus' feet hearing what the Lord had to say and having done so, it was she that got to anoint the Lord Jesus for His burial. If we are to be effective in the Kingdom of God, we must maintain a willingness to "hear and increase" in learning at the Master's feet.

2 Timothy 2:15, the Apostle Paul instructed young preacher Timothy to: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

We might think that the older we get the less studying we would need, but the opposite is true, at least in my case it is. Many things can cloud our minds so we must "renew our minds daily" with the wisdom and learning that our Lord offers in His Word and by His Spirit let us be wise men and women and at every opportunity that we are afforded, let us "hear and Increase learning", in the Master's School of Continuing Education.

God bless your day with grace, peace and wisdom

Good morning,TBC,

I can't hardly believe it's already Wednesday. Please continue to pray for Brother Bill Anker as he battles this cancer as well as the treatment. Keep Bro. David in your prayers as he recovers.

Proverbs 1:4... to the young man knowledge and discretion.

The next beneficiary of Proverbs' Instructors is the young man. A young man can be defined as a small boy to adolescence. It can also include a servant boy according to Hebrew tradition. With that said, we see it is never too early to begin training the young with a Biblical training, whether male or female. Young men are the object of a father's pride, through him we hope a continuation of our name for another generation. Through our young man we are able, in a way, to relive our own youth; however, we must be careful to impart to him more than ourselves. We are guilty of shielding and protecting our young ladies while pushing our young men to become men and rightly so (on both accounts). We encourage the young men to be strong, courageous, bold and chivalrous -which are all noble character traits.

If we instill these traits into the hearts of young men without instilling proper biblical instructions, we have only set them up to be self centered, self righteous and self indulging, without any discretion or concern for others. We must "give" them a biblical foundation on which to build and rely on. I remember as a youth at home and at school, the Ten Commandments were posted everywhere. Though I broke every one of them, they had given me the knowledge of God's holy requirements and they would lead me to realize I needed Jesus Christ.

Knowledge is to make fully aware. Discretion is power to make proper and right decisions. Young men are like young stallions that need a bridle. The word of God, along with the Spirit of God, is just the bridle the young man needs to become the Man of God he was intended to be.

Psalms 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

I pray you have a day blessed with grace and peace. Love you all.

Good morning TBC

I hope everyone is well and rested well. The 3rd Sunday Fellowship Meal is changed to the 27th Fall festival.

Proverbs 1:2-4 kjv 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

The four Instructors of Proverbs 1:3, Wisdom, Justice, Judgement and Equity empower those who apply themselves to Know, Perceive and Receive their instructions. Verse 4 tells us, that they give and bestow even to the simple in heart and mind. Simple, simply means those easily seduced, tricked or lead astray. The world has never given much time for these special ones, unless, they can be used to fulfill some selfish purpose and then they are set aside, out of sight, out of mind. Sadly though, even God's own people sometimes ignore these people and their needs.

Fortunately however, the LORD does not determine value or investment worth in the same terms as the world. Verse 4 says He invests or gives to the simple, Subtility, which means, prudence and sound judgment in practical matters. I think of one of the dearest friends I ever had in my ministry. Her name is Shirley. She is considered simple or in today's society, special needs. She certainly is special. She desired to be wise and prudent in every way she conducted her life, The single mother of two, she instilled in her children the value of getting an education and she never ceased in her desire to be educated, especially in the Bible. She, without shame, would get Becky to help her read the Scriptures so she could participate in Sunday School Class and learn about Jesus. I can still hear her excited voice as she got on the church bus. "Griffey, Ms Becky let me read in class today and I'm getting a lot better at it too!"

The world and Satan tried to deceive, seduce and lead her astray from Jesus, but as she continued in her desire to learn the Scripture, the Scripture made her wise unto salvation. Today my simple wonderful friend Shirley is in Glory, with the One who truly knew her true value and was willing to give and invest in her and empower Shirley to become a child of God. It doesn't matter how "simple" someone may be, give them wisdom, give them Jesus and He will turn the Simple into a Saint, Praise the LORD!!

God bless your day with grace, peace and wisdom

Good Monday morning,

I hope everyone had a great weekend and I pray that this will be a week that each one of us can bring glory to our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus. Please continue to pray for David, Iris and Matthew, as David heals from his fall.

Proverbs 1:1-3 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

The Proverbs of Solomon where given. As we have seen, for the readers to "know" and "perceive", and now, in vs 3 he says "receive". To receive means to seize upon opportunity, to accept or to carry away. We are to receive " the instruction" of wisdom, justice, judgement and equity. Instruction means, reproof, correction, doctrine, discipline and rebuke. It is one thing to "know and perceive" and another to receive. Solomon says we are to take away, to seize upon the opportunity to be instructed by four great Instructors. Dr. Wisdom, his specialty is navigation, he will instruct us how to discern our way through uncertain and uncharted paths we've never faced before. Dr. Justice, his specialty is ethics, morality and legality. He will instruct and guide us through the seemingly gray areas of life into the light of God's absolute Truth. Dr. Judgement, his specialty is evidence, in his class we will learn to gather and explore all the evidence in order to make a clear and proper verdict, whether favorable or unfavorable, but a true and perfect decree. Dr. Equity, his specialty is in sentencing. He will guide us in fair and equal application of the rule of law and grace, without partiality or hypocrisy.

2 Timothy 3:14-17(KJV) 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Ask, Seek, Knock and we will, receive, find and have instruction opened unto us. Let us with grateful hearts receive "the Instruction", that our four Drs. specialize in and we will be well equipped for the journey our Savior has trod before us.

God bless your day with grace, peace and instruction.

Good morning TBC,

I hope your week has been blessed. Thank you all for the prayers this week. Carroel is doing well and at home. Brother Anker is gaining much needed strength, I am told by Jodie and Matt. Janet and Billy made their trip to Chapel Hill without any trouble. Please continue to pray for these.

Proverbs 1: 2,3 KJV 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

The Words of understanding in the book of Proverbs and the entire Scriptures are words of perfect understanding. The definition of this Hebrew word (bee-naw), translated as “understanding,” is: to have and maintain perfect knowledge and understanding. This is so important for us to grasp this reality concerning God’s holy Word today; even in this age of increasing knowledge and ever changing technology, God’s words of understanding and wisdom are never, and will never, become outdated or irrelevant, in spite of what the world system may think or say.

Psalms 119:89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

Though we may not have that perfect understanding in ourselves, we can be assured that the Scriptures are perfect in their understanding. The Scriptures are the perfect source for mankind to find understanding in any age or circumstance. The Words of God’s Understanding can, and will, answer any need of anyone that earnestly seeks God’s answers to life’s simple and sometimes complex questions. We serve the God that “knows” it all and He wants us to “Know and Perceive” His words of understanding.

If today you find yourself in need of more understanding, seek the One who Understands it all and died to share it with you. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday today and forever, the Wisdom of God.

God bless your day with His Grace, Peace and Understanding.

Love you all

Good morning TBC,

I hope all rested well and enjoying the cooler days and nights. Please remember to bring the notes of encouragement for the persecuted in Nigeria, Sunday, so we can get them mailed to the Voice of Martyrs. Thank you for your continued prayers fro Brother Anker and Carroel. Please remember a young lady, Allie and her husband who just lost their little boy unexpected Tuesday morning. Allie rode the school bus I drove when I drove up in the mountains, thank you.

Proverbs 1:2 KJV To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding.

Today we will begin to look at Solomon’s second statement of purpose of Proverbs: “...to perceive the words of understanding.” The word perceive, means to be eloquent or able and skillful with words, to be able to express in an acceptable and proper way. You and I may have the knowledge and wisdom of God, but to be able to express it openly and correctly, is a totally different thing. Solomon, the wisest man of his time, (and his wisdom came directly from God) knew that for wisdom to be profitable it must be communicated properly. His desire was to perceive or be eloquent in God’s words of understanding; not to show off how wise he was, but to communicate properly to others the Wisdom of God. The purpose of becoming eloquent in God’s words of understanding is that we might be guided by, and able, to properly guide others by the same understanding given by God’s Word and Holy Spirit.

How many are afraid to testify because of a feeling of inadequacy in the Scripture? This feeling can be conquered by obeying what Paul told Timothy, 2Tim. 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We should never let inadequacy be an excuse, because it will not hold water when we stand before the Lord, we must not forget, we have the Spirit of Wisdom living in us. We should desire to become eloquent in God’s words of understanding. Doesn't our God and Savior, deserve the best communicators? I think so, don’t you?

Remember this: to be eloquent does not mean we are to become someone or something we’re not, or to show off our ability; we are to become so familiar with the words of understanding that we can communicate properly God’s wisdom in Christ Jesus to anyone that may ask us about our hope. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:1Peter 3:15.

God bless your day, with grace, peace and His perception.

Pastor Bryan

Good morning TBC,

I pray all is well and each one rested well.

Beginning last light until tonight is the most holy day on Israel's calendar, Yom Kipper or The Day of Atonement.

Leviticus 23:26-32 King James Version (KJV) 26 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

The Day of Atonement was the only day of the year that the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies where the Arc of the Covenant was at and the presents of God was over the Mercy Seat, which was the covering lid of the Arc. The High Priest,alone, had to first fill the Holy of Holies full of smoke from incense to cover the Ark, then apply the blood of a sacrificed bull on the Mercy seat by dipping his finger into the blood and sprinkling the blood seven times. This blood made the atonement for the High Priest, then he would take two goats, cast lots over them (sort of like drawing straws) one goat would be sacrificed, the other would become the "scapegoat".

The blood of the sacrificed goat would then be taken, alone by the High Priest into the Holy of Holies and applied in the same manner as the bull's blood. This would be the atonement for the sins of Israel for the year. The High Priest would then put his hands on the head of the Scapegoat and confess all of Israel's sins. A "fit" man would lead the Scapegoat out of the camp, far away to an uninhabited place and release the goat to wander in the wilderness alone,bearing the sin of Israel, thereby atoning for Israel's sins for another year.

What an elaborate and bloody system to atone for sin the Lord had given and it had to be repeated every year without fail or compromise. Today we can celebrate the fulfillment of this Day of Atonement through our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Praise the Lord Jesus for His eternal sacrifice for our sin, "once and for all". For Israel, this is the most solemn day, fasting and afflicting their soul for forgiveness. To us, who have trusted Christ, we can, and should be rejoicing. All of our sins are gone, carried away by our Scapegoat, the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice in the Lord and again I say Rejoice!! God bless your day for your sins are atoned!

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Pastor Bryan Griffith

Topsail Baptist Church

18885 US Hwy 17N

Hampstead, NC 28443

(910) 270-9038

Topsail Baptist Church

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