Hamlin New Testament Church

Ever since we retired almost seven years ago, we've kept a close eye on our financial investments. Every month or two, I'll update a spreadsheet to see if we're heading in the right direction. Most of the time, thanks to the ups and downs of the economy, the numbers aren't exactly going the way I'd like. But I'm thankful there's still something there.

One thing I've learned over the years is that God takes very, very good care of us. He is generous beyond measure, and that's something we should all strive to learn from.

The truth is, giving freely to others is an amazing concept to grasp and understand. Let me say that again: giving freely to others is an amazing concept to grasp and understand!

We read in 1 Timothy 6:18-19:

"Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven - it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well."

If we stop and think about it for a minute, there's really no greater investment than investing in God's Kingdom. When we help others with our time, our money, our talents, or whatever resources God has entrusted to us, we're actually making an investment in heaven.

Truth is, our investments there are completely secure. Unlike the stock market, they never crash. The dividends are eternal, and there is absolutely no risk involved.

Friends, maybe it's time for all of us to take a fresh look at our investment portfolio and make sure we're investing in Kingdom opportunities. I can guarantee one thing - we'll never be sorry we did. Amen?

After enjoying an awesome service at HNTC yesterday, Lee Lee and I made our way home with no real plans for the rest of the day. I had a conversation with a friend at church who said they try not to plan anything on Sundays if they can help it. And that's pretty much what happened to us.

Nuttin'.

We enjoyed a simple meal, did a couple of things around the house, and then. . .we just rested. We don't do that as often as we could - or should. And I think that's true for a lot of us.

Many of us don't think much about resting, but we know Jesus does. In Matthew 11:28-30, He tells us: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

The truth is, "resting" can take on a number of forms. Taking a nap or simply sitting and relaxing are the first things that usually come to mind. But resting can also mean reading our Bible, praying, being still before the Lord, and quietly listening for His voice.

I recently read this in an article: "The word used of God resting on the seventh day in Genesis 2:2 is 'Sabbath.' It's the same word later used when God called Israel to cease from their normal activities. In the creation account, God established a rhythm for us to follow, both in our work and in our rest, so that we can maintain our effectiveness and fulfill our purpose as people created in His image."

Truth be told, if we keep going 100 miles an hour, we'll eventually run out of gas. Expecting life to be "normal" when we're constantly finishing one thing only to jump right into the next isn't realistic.

That's why I love Proverbs 14:30: "A heart at peace gives life to the body..."

And let's not forget Jesus' invitation in Matt. 11:29 - "Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Friends - what a beautiful promise! My prayer today is that we'll slow down enough to let Him teach us, refresh us, and give us the rest that only He can provide! Amen?

It was somewhere around 10:30 last night when the neighborhood fireworks finally ended. We had gone to bed around 9:45, but pretty much laid awake until they were over. As I was thinking - and even praying a bit - I realized those fireworks were bringing a lot of joy to the people watching them. Not so much for me, since I was trying to get some sleep!

It made me ponder how some things bring great joy to some people while, to others. . . not so much. Yet I found that I could still have joy in my heart simply because others were enjoying what was happening.

Back in 2018, for KING & COUNTRY released a song titled Joy. It's about choosing joy in this life. One particular line caught my attention again this morning: "The time has come to make a choice, and I choose joy." That made me stop and think: How can we choose joy?

Here's the thing - joy is not a feeling based on circumstances that constantly change. Instead, it is a deep, abiding gladness of the heart that comes from knowing and experiencing Jesus.

1 Peter 1:8 tells us: "Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory."

The truth is, joy is a gift from God that is available to us in the good times and the bad times - or, to put it another way, all the time! We can choose to receive and live in that gift, or we can leave it unopened. It's like receiving a beautiful Christmas present and never taking off the wrapping. A gift can't bless us unless we open it and make it our own.

Friends, choosing joy won't remove the trials or difficult situations we face, but it will help us walk through them with hope and confidence. So as we begin this new day, let's make the choice to embrace the joy God has already given us. As we place our trust and hope in Jesus, He fills our hearts with a joy that no circumstance can take away! Amen?

Happy 4th of July, and Happy 250th Birthday to our great nation! I am so thankful for our freedom and for the many ways God has blessed and protected us through the years.

I was looking for a T-shirt to celebrate this special day and found one with the logo pictured here. I was planning to wear it to the party we were invited to, but unfortunately our host became sick and had to cancel. Please join me in praying that Kathy heals quickly!

As I was typing "United States of America" a little too quickly this morning, I accidentally typed "Untied States of America." It made me stop and think. Maybe that little typo was a bit prophetic. And it caused me to ponder a bit - why aren't we more focused on creating unity?

The Bible is filled with passages that encourage unity. One example is the church at Corinth. They had become divided over competing loyalties to charismatic leaders like Paul, Apollos, and Peter. Spiritual pride had also taken root in their status-driven culture. The rich were getting richer, and the poor were getting poorer. Hmmm. . .sound familiar?

Paul didn't ignore the problem. Instead, he lovingly challenged them in 1 Corinthians 1:10: "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."

Friends, on this very special day in the history of our great nation, let's be intentional about being the unifiers God has called us to be. Not just today, but every day moving forward.

It reminds me of that old children's song:

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!"

May our lights shine brightly today - with gratitude for our nation, love for one another, and a desire to point people to the One who brings true unity. Amen?