About The Georgia post. (Knoxville, Crawford County, Ga.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 2013)
THURSDAY OCTOBER 24, 2013 THE GEORGIA POST 5 Angels ascending and descending Jacob’s Ladder Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, was on the run, fleeing from his twin brother Esau who had vowed to kill him. Esau was furi ous, because Jacob had tricked Isaac into blessing him and not Esau, the firstborn son, who by tradition would receive his father’s blessings. Jacob’s mother, Rebecca, told Jacob to flee to Haran to stay with her brother, Laban, until Esau’s anger subsided. Genesis 28:1-22 continues the story: “Jacob left Beer- sheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham and Isaac. I will give you and your descen dants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place.” He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It must be the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Jacob’s ladder foreshad owed the coming of Jesus who forged a bridge between heaven and earth. Jesus made it clear that He is the “Ladder”— the means by which heaven comes down to us and by which we can go to heaven. Je sus stated to his disciples: “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (John 1:51) Jesus does not just show us the way to heaven-He is the way. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) In conclusion, we all need a “Jacob’s Ladder” experi ence—especially the “prison ers of the bottle” who want to get off the merry-go-round of drinking alcohol, sober- ing-up, feeling guilty and ill, and having to resort to anoth er drink to remedy the shakes. I knew a man who was a prisoner to drugs. Referring to his never-ending misery, he remarked, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.” This man could not get off the carousel of hopelessness and ultimately committed suicide. A minister once said, “It is only when things get as bad as they can possibly be that God can help you the most.” Jacob’s life had reached the crisis point. He sorely needed God. So do those who are hopelessly enslaved to alcohol or drugs. God is their only answer, their only hope. BILLY POWELL is a con tributing columnist and has authored many books, www. billypowellbooks.com Billy Powell Being chastened by God At times, God must punish us to help us. This is similar to a loving parent disciplining his child. The punishment is not very enjoyable to the child but is very needed to teach him right from wrong. The Bible says that; ‘For whom the Lord loveth, He chas- teneth. Let me ask you a question; Who loves His child more? A par ent who allows his/her child to do whatever he/she wants to, or a parent who corrects, trains or even punishes his/her child. You know the answer. We cannot let our children do as they please. God is holding us accountable. Even with us, it is never pleasant to be corrected and disciplined by God but His chastening is a sign of His deep love for us. When we are being chastened by God, we need to ask God, “what is He teaching me through this.” We may respond in several ways; we can accept it or we can accept it with self-pity, thinking we really don’t deserve it or we can be angry and resent God which is very dangerous and destructive, or we can accept it gratefully knowing somehow it will work for my good. Even though, God may punish us, He does not enjoy inflicting pain on us. He loves us and is con cerned about our growth and development. He knows that in order to become strong, we must learn the difference between right and wrong and know that bad decisions bring bad results. But if we confess and repent, He is able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and turn any situation around. Be blessed! Angie Carr is a contributing colum nist, motivational spaker and writer. Contact her acarr@windstream.net. Weekly Devotion Angie Carr Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (NIV) CHURCH EVENTS Prayer Line, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Christ Abundant Life Ministries, S. Dugger Ave., Roberta. Call 478- 836-3912. Word of God Tabernacle invites you to join them for the following weekly services: Sunday Prayer at 9:00 a.m., Sunday School at 10:00 a.m., Sunday Service at 11:00 a.m.; Monday Prayer at 9:00 a.m.; Wednesday Prayer at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday Bible Study at 7:00 p.m.; Friday Prayer at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is invited. Pastor Frank Martin, Sr. Lizella Baptist Church Special Needs Ministry will have a monthly event the 2 nd Friday of every month, 7-9 p.m. They also have a Parent/Family/ Caregiver Support Group for those who love someone with special needs. It is always the 1 st Tuesday of the month, 6-8 p.m. They have guest speakers and then a time of sharing. The Zion Hill Baptist Church invites everyone to their regular services on 2nd Sundays at 11 a.m., 4th Sundays at 10 a.m. and 5th Sundays at 8 a.m. They have Bible Study every Wednesday at 7 p.m. “We are daughters of Sarah and Abraham Walking in Obedience” Women’s Conference A Women’s Conference will be held October 19, 2013, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Sunday, October 20, 2013, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The Theme will be “We are Daughters of Sarah & Abraham Walking in Obedience” Speakers for Saturday, October 19th will be: Minister Gwen Willis Minister Carolyn Clark Minister Cynthia Howard Prophetess Amelia Wilson Speakers for Sunday, October 20th will be: Evangelist Sandra Whiters founder of BEAUTIFUL MINISTER out of Butler, GA. If anyone would like to sing for this conference please call Carla Saffold at (478) 973-1674- Come and visit Community Fellowship Church, 9 Winston Street, Reynolds, GA Ever felt like God was tak ing a chisel to your life? Come find out the beautiful truth of why God chinks away at us...Good folks, good music, and incredible Savior! CF- 10:30 a.m. every Sunday and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. New East Star Baptist Church Outreach Center, at the corner of Hwy. 42 and 80, Courthouse Lane, Knoxville, GA adjacent to old Knoxville Courthouse will have their services beginning every Wednesday, 7-8 p.m.; weekly prayer meeting is held 6:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.; Sunday service 10 a.m. -11 a.m.; Praise and Worship service every Sunday at 11 a.m. Musella Masonic Lodge #381, Hwy. 341 North Musella, GA will have its annual 3 night Revival service, October 28 thru 30, 2013 beginning nightly at 7:30. We will have a different man of God bringing the word from God each night. The location of the revival will be Pleasant Grove Church in Musella. Monday, Oct. 28th - Rev. Justin Johnson & Cool Spring Baptist Church (Choir); Tuesday, Oct. 29th Rev. Mac Arthur Child and mary Lizzie/Mt. Gillard Baptist Church (Choir); Wednesday, Oct. 30th, Rev. Rickey V. Wright and Pleaseant Grove Church (Choir). Masons, Eastern Stars and KOP will be fully dressed on Wednesday. Bethel United Methodist Church at 1119 Sandy Point Rd. is celebrating their 164th Homecoming, October 27, 2013; services at 11:00 a.m. with lunch following. Tommy Martin Dist. Supt. will be giving the message. Everyone is welcome. The Cerease Independent Church Youth Choir will cele brate its youth choir anni versary Sunday, November 3rd at 2 p.m. Joy Tabernacle will be hosting our annual Men Conference on the following dates starting at 7:30 nightly. Oct. 25-Pastor Colten of Newnan, Ga. Oct. 28-Pastor King of Roberta, Ga We will have Youth Service on Sunday Oct. 20th at 4:00 p.m. Joy would be elated to have you fellowship with us. Desconess Melinda Traylor-478-973-4211 Fall Festival A Fall Festival will be held October 31st, 6-9 p.m. at Roberta Baptist Church. The Bethel Independent Church will have its Family & Friends Day Program on October 27, 2013 at 11 a.m. Dinner will be served. Bethel Independent Church will have a yard sale, October 26th, 7 a.m. - until all is sold. The yard sale will be at Bethel Independent Church — 2475 Pope Rd, Roberta, GA 31078. Open Bible Tabernacle Baptist Church, 6490 Sandy Point Road in Lizella will have a gospel sing November 10, 2013 at 11 a.m. Charles Surrall from North Carolina will be singing. For more informa tion call 478-935-8163. Deadline for Church Happenings: Friday 5 p.m. Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. What’s in a name, anyway? I cannot express how ecstatic I was when someone gave me a coupon for a free donut. Nor mally, I am not overly excited about “free.” All I had to do was fill out a little survey online and they would send me a code that would guarantee me a free donut. In my “daily diary diet,” I have a whole section devot ed to the subject that when a forbidden food is free it cancels out all calories. When I first told the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage she looked at me rather strangely and said, “Who said that?” I know we are both getting old but we are not that old! I got close to her, waved my hand so she could see me and said, “It’s me. I just said it. Can you see me now?” “That is not funny. You know exactly what I meant.” My grin drained from my face and I said to her, “Well, I said it.” “Did,” she said inquisitively, “anybody ever say that before you said it?” My wife has many talents, skills and gifts. It would be difficult for me to say which is her best gift but at the moment, her greatest skill is backing me into a comer. And in a comer I was thus backed. I then had to explain to her, in detail, how this was an observation I worked through with much research. This is an original with me and I am quite proud to be the author. All she said was, “Huh, that is exactly what I thought.” I will go to my grave be lieving when a donut is free it means it is free of calories. Call it what you will but free by any other name is still free in my personal dictionary. Getting back to my free donut. I was anxious to get to the donut shop, cash in the coupon and enjoy a donut. I do not know when the best time to eat a donut is, so I just started at my conve nience. I got at the donut shop and walked in and the smell was overpowering. Nothing like the smell of donuts baking in the oven with a hint of coffee brewing in the background. I just stood there for a few seconds absorbing the luxury of this marvelous atmosphere. It is not often I can enjoy such luxuries, especially if my wife knows where I am. When I became adjusted to the ambience, I walked up to the counter and presented my coupon for a free donut. It was at that moment I saw them. I know I am not the most observant person at the circus. Many things get by me without noticing them. Sometimes I am just in deep thought and not aware of my surroundings. I can relate to Walter Mitty in many ways. There they were, freshly baked Apple Fritters. I was stunned. It just never crossed my mind that a donut shop would have this kind of delicious tidbit. But there they were. Freshly baked and staring at me with allur ing eyes of desire. I do not know how much better a day can get than this. When I got up this morning, I did not realize this would be a wonderful day. There they were staring at me and I staring back and immediately there was a connection. Standing in line I could hardly wait for my turn to order. I presented my coupon for a free donut and the young woman behind the counter said, “Which donut can I get for you, sir?” I savored the moment, licked my (hying lips and said, “I’ll have an Apple Fritter.” With that said, I sighed a deep sigh of hue contentment. “I’m sorry, sir,” the young woman said. “There is no need to be sorry, young lady,” I said as cheerful ly as I possibly could. “No, sir, I’m sorry but an Apple Fritter is not a donut.” I can take a joke as well as anybody else. In fact, I have put forth my share of jokes. However, an Apple Fritter is no joking matter. “Excuse me,” I said almost breathlessly. “An Apple Fritter is not a do nut, so what donut would you like me to get for you?” The thought began unfold ing in my mind at this point that she was not joking. She sincerely believed an Apple Fritter was not a donut. I know an Apple Fritter is among the Cadillac of donuts but in my mind, it is still a donut. I did not have much oppor tunity to set this young woman straight with one of the great fundamentals of life. I had to take one of her “free” donuts along with my coffee, go to a comer and think about these things. What good is “free” if it is not really what you want? Sometimes people use the word “free” as a device to get you to a place where they can sell you something else. The Bible is the only place I will accept a “free” offer. One particular verse sets this forth quite nicely. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 KJV). This is often used out of con text. The truth that makes us free indeed is none other than the truth about Jesus Christ. He is the only One capable of delivering something absolute ly free. Rev. James L. Snyder is a pastor of the Family of God Fel lowship in Ocala, Florida. E-mail him atjamessnyder2@att.net. His web site is www.jamessny- derministries.com. Out to Pastor Rev. James L. 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