Key Scripture:

John  15:2a.  “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; …

Key Idea:

The branch is exactly like the vine in every aspect–the same nature, the same life, the same place, the same work. In all this they are inseparably one.
– Murray

Pray for revelation:

Lord Jesus, I pray Thee, reveal to me the heavenly mystery of the branch, in its living union with the Vine, in its claim on all its fullness. And let Thy all-sufficiency, holding and filling Thy branches, lead me to the rest of faith that knows that Thou workest all.
– Murray

Key words:
Branch.

Before a vine can produce fruit, there needs to be a branch. More on fruit tomorrow, but to continue the comparison of Jesus to the vine, we are the branches. Focus on that idea. The vine is the main trunk of the plant. It grows in the ground and provides life giving nourishment for the branches.

A vine doesn’t normally grow fruit on it directly, it grows branches, and those branches is where the fruit is produced.

There needs to be unity. The branch needs Read More…

Key Scripture:

John  15:1b.  …and My Father is the vinedresser.

Key Idea:

A vine must have a husbandman to plant and watch over it, to receive and rejoice in its fruit.
–Murray

Pray for revelation:

Blessed Father, we are Thy husbandry. Oh, that Thou mayest have honor of the work of Thy hands! O my Father, I desire to open my heart to the joy of this wondrous truth: My Father is the Husbandman. Teach me to know and trust Thee, and to see that the same deep interest with which Thou caredst for and delightedst in the Vine, extends to every branch, to me too.
–Murray

Key words:
husbandman, farmer, or vinedresser. Literally a word that means “land worker”. Take your pick on which aggricultural job description to use.

Jesus has declared that he is the vine. A living, growing, living plant. He now declares that his father, God, is the farmer.

A plant grows and can produce fruit, but how did it get there? Somebody had to plant it. The soil the plant is growing in is kept cultivated, and nurtured. It needs a farmer. God’s roll in the universal scheme of things is as high above that of Jesus, as a farmer is above the vine. He keeps the Read More…

Marriage and family therapists diagnose and treat mental and emotional issues and concerns within marriages, couples, and families. They offer free pregnancy tests, post-abortion counseling, assistance for the Mother-to-Be (finding a doctor, available social services, nice maternity clothes, new and used baby clothes, baby furniture, baby layette), teen mother support, and a quarterly newsletter for Moms.

Key Scripture:

John 15:1a. “I am the true vine, …

Key Idea:

All earthly things are the shadows of heavenly realities–the expression, in created, visible forms, of the
invisible glory of God.
–Murray

Pray for revelation:

HolyLord Jesus, the heavenly Vine of God’s own planting, I beseech Thee, reveal Thyself to my soul. Let the Holy Spirit, not only in thought, but in experience, give me to know all that Thou, the Son of God, art to me as the true Vine.
–Murray

Key words:
True.

From a Greek word where we get our word for allegiance. The form of the word and the way it is used means that Jesus is the ‘True One’. He is true, he is real. Truth can be a dificult concept for some people. Jesus also compares himself to a vine. Ah, something that can be seen, touched, and understood. A vine, a living, growing plant. Jesus says Read More…

The purpose behind today’s post, as well as those that will follow, are about daily discipleship. Some of the things I hope to accomplish are:

• To learn about God.
• To live according to what is learned from reading the daily scripture.
• To be accountable to others by sharing in a public place.
• To encourage readers to share their own reflections, and also to put into practice the topics that are being studied.

Accountability. You will notice that I post these devotional readings annonymously. It is not to avoid being accountable. Please use the comment feature on this page to hold me accountable for what I say. It wouldn’t take much work to discover who I am. I would rather that you spend that effort in focusing on these daily readings. It will benefit you more than trying to discover who I am. I have my reasons for being annonymous, but if it bugs you that much, tell me, and I’ll let you know.

Discipleship and devotional time isn’t about me, it’s about God, and how we grow to know him better, and show evidence of him in our lives.

This upcoming study material is a 31 day course in discipleship titled, The True Vine, by Andrew Murray. I’ll be using snippets from his book, add my own reflections, and leave it up to any readers to contribute comments as well.

Andrew Murray’s book, the True Vine, which is in the public domain, can be read in it’s entirety at:

http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/Murray.The.True.Vine.html

The link to the book is off this web site, and is out of my control. The link worked when I posted it, but there’s no promise whether it will continue to be valid.

Please, feel free to download the book. Glance ahead. Read Andrew Murray’s entire commentary. However, try Read More…

Money is a litmus test of our true character. It is an index of our spiritual life. Our stewardship of money tells a deep and consequential story. It forms our biography. In a sense, how we relate to money and possessions is the story of our lives.

If this is true of all men in all ages, does it not have special application to us who live in a time and place of unparalleled affluence? Take a man or woman who works from age twenty-five to sixty-five and makes $15,000 a year. In his lifetime this person of modest income by our standards will handle well over half a million dollars. He will manage a fortune. And if Scripture is true, and men must give an account of their lives to God (Rom. 14:12), then one day this man must answer these questions:

• Where did it all go?

• What did I spend it on?
• What has been accomplished for eternity through my use of all this wealth?

In the account of the poor widow, Mark wrote, “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury” (Mark 12:41). Notice we are not told, “Jesus happened to see….” No, it seems he deliberately watched to observe what people were giving.

Jesus was interested enough in who was giving what to make an immediate object lesson to the disciples about the true nature of trusting God as demonstrated in sacrificial financial giving.

If we stop to think about it, this passage makes all of us who suppose that what we do with our money is our business and only our business feel terribly uncomfortable. On the contrary, it is painfully apparent that it is God’s business-that God makes it his business. He does not apologize for watching with intense interest what we do with the money he has entrusted to us. If we use our imaginations, we might even peer into the invisible realm to see him gathering some of his subjects together this very moment. Perhaps you can hear him using your handling of finances as an object lesson. The question is this: what kind of lesson?

Read More…

2010 Lottie Moon Offering ~ Are We There Yet?

God knew and was preparing His people, calling across denominational lines to focus their attention on bringing all the world’s peoples to worship Him. Southern Baptists, along with our Great Commission partners, have followed His lead, tackling the ever steeper climb to fulfill the Great Commission with renewed vigor.

Scores of dedicated churches have provided a continuous foundation in a supporting role, giving faithfully to the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Many churches have looked further up the climb, exploring how they might take on a more direct role reaching people groups. Through partnering relationships, some churches have taken bold steps forward, personally engaging the unreached. And several have broadened the base camp by equipping other churches to become strategically involved, thus multiplying churches in the climb.

Are we there yet? Not yet.

But for the first time in history, we can identify the people groups that remain untouched by the Gospel. We can get there in our generation! But that last part of the journey will be the hardest. It will take all of us — our churches, our missionaries, our national partners, our Great Commission partners.

Our church goal in giving to this mission effort is $1240.00

More about Lottie Moon

At age thirty-three, Lottie heard a call to missions “as clear as a bell.” In July 1873 the foreign mission board of the Southern Baptist Convention appointed her its first unmarried missionary to China. She tirelessly advocated for the needs of the people of China. In 1888 she persuaded SBC women to take an annual missions offering on Christmas Eve. By 1912, despite such gifts, thousands of people were dying every day in famine-ravaged Shantung Province. At seventy-two, Lottie Moon was coming home. But that same night, aboard a ship off Japan, she died—of complications from starvation. A few months before she had written, “If I had a thousand lives, I would give them all for the women of China.”" The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering continues to this day.

Lottie Moon Quotes

“How many there are … who imagine that because Jesus paid it all, they need pay nothing, forgetting that the prime object of their salvation was that they should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in bringing back a lost world to God.”
Tungchow, China,Sept. 15, 1887

“When the gospel is allowed to grow naturally in China, without forcing processes of development, the „church in the house. is usually its first form of organization. God grant us faith and courage to keep „hands off. and allow this new garden of the Lord.s planting to ripen in the rays of the Divine Love, free from human interference!”
Pingtu, China, Sept. 10, 1890

“O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 1 Ch 16:34(NIV)

What a blessed time of year! As we approach the holiday season, we are thankful for God’s goodness to us in the gift of His Son and for all the many blessings that He bestows on us. We want to share His love and remember our church family Shut Ins – to call, visit, or send cards – just to let them know that we care and that they are missed. Although the holidays can be lonesome and difficult times for many, our goal is to encourage and lift up those who can’t always fellowship with us.

We have recently visited with Cleo Allen, Bob Atchison, Doris Larsen, Vivian Prater, Irene Tucker-Riley and Sybil Wooldridge. More Shut In visits are scheduled as we continue this outreach.

If you have an interest to serve in this ministry or if you know someone in our body in need of encouragement, please contact Alice Potts or Nancy Byars

Merry Christmas blessings to all!

Pick up Jared Casey’s Christmas wish list in the lobby if you would like to contribute to this 17-yr-old’s Christmas through our church.

Save your receipts! Surrender wrapped gifts and receipts to Linda Riley in early December. She will gather the items for Jared together and deliver them before their Christmas Party on December 12th.

We’ve had 89 boxes that are now packed and ready to be delivered–praise God!

Many thanks to all those who donated items and who volunteered their time to make this mission effort a success.

The absolute last day to drop off donations of complete boxes (wrapped) is Sunday, November 21st. Delivery is Tuesday, Nov 22nd.

Please hold onto any boxes that miss the Nov 21st deadline for next year.

Now is the time to take a fresh look at the challenges ahead and be ready to finish the task of reaching all peoples. Here’s a global snapshot of the work ahead of us:

4,743 people groups not engaged at all with the Gospel

6,426 unreached people groups (those with less than 2 percent of people
who profess to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ)

1.7 billion with little or no access to the Gospel

1.5 billion Muslims – 22 percent of the world’s population

950 million Hindus in the world

There is much work to be done. With 45,560 churches in the Southern Baptist Convention, the task is doable, but it will take all of us, starting with our own church!

“… Let us now fear the Lord our God, Who gives rain in its season, both the autumn rain and the
spring rain, Who keeps for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.” Jeremiah 5:24 NAS

As we celebrate this Thanksgiving, let’s be especially mindful of the bountiful harvest for our community farmers this season ~ to mightily praise our God for His awesome creation, for His majesty in nature, for keeping our farmers and families safe, for His continuous provision for all of us.

Please remember our Shut-Ins. Give them a call or stop by for a visit. Keep them in prayer for health needs, comfort and encouragement.

If you have an interest to serve in this Shut-In Ministry, or if you know someone in our body in need of encouragement, please contact Alice Potts or Nancy Byars through the church office. Please contact the office through our Contact Page.

Posted on behalf of the SHUT-IN MINISTRY

Such a beautiful fall we are enjoying and indeed the start of a busy time mission-wise.

First, thanks to all who prayed and gave to State Missions throughout and beyond September. We exceeded our goal of $440 with giving so far at $520!!! Praise the Lord! Pray as we seek to do God’s work throughout Illinois.

October was World Hunger. Our gifts go to help feed others and to teach and equip them to grow their own crops and raise animals for food. So far no totals…but pray and remember to give.

At the same time the AMA local food pantry inventory is very low. So…continue to fill the baskets in the foyer with canned goods, baking items and paper products.

Please no perishable or outdated items!

We will fill our Samaritan Christmas Shoeboxes on November 3rd and 10th . Continue to bring necessities to fill them. Also, one can sponsor a box with postage of $7.00/box. All checks must be made payable to: First Baptist Church for the project so we can send one check. The absolute last day boxes will be accepted for delivery is November 21st as they will be delivered November 22nd .

Pray for each child getting packages too.

Coming soon we should have a child’s name for Christmas from the Carmi Baptist Children’s Home (BCH). I will let you know of the date to deliver the Christmas gifts donated and all other items to BCH and Angel’s Cove.

In December it is the Lottie Moon Offering to help support our many foreign missionaries. All money goes directly to that purpose. Pray and give as God directs you. Our church goal is $1,240.

Please remember love offerings to missions should always be beyond the tithe to do our Lord’s work at First Baptist Church of Altamont. Also, remember a clinched fist can neither give a gift nor receive a gift (or blessing). Pray always before giving….

In Jesus’ love and service – Your Missions Team

Born into privilege on a Virginia plantation, Charlotte Digges Moon was a smart, forceful woman who could have achieved most any goal. But God’s call focused Lottie’s life on sharing Christ’s love with China’s lost masses.

For 37 years she endured hardship and danger in a land oppressed by famine, disease and war. In the end, she loved the Chinese people more than life itself, giving her own food to starving neighbors – eventually dying of starvation herself.

Why is Southern Baptists’ international missions offering named for this early missionary?

Throughout her career, Lottie wrote numerous letters home urging Southern Baptists to greater missions involvement and support. One of those letters, excerpted below, triggered Southern Baptists’ first offering for international missions in 1888 – enough to send three more missionaries to China.

“How many there are … who imagine that because Jesus paid it all, they need pay nothing, forgetting that the prime object of their salvation was that they should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in bringing back a lost world to God.”

Originally found at: http://www.gospelines.com
≈ Devotional for Monday, July 28, 2008

A new day has dawned! Behold the handiwork of our awesome God once more.

Standing outside my office I was amused at the swirling leaves mixed with debris, twisting tornado-like through the parking lot. I smiled as the whirlwind danced its way from car to car, effortlessly shaking antennas on this cloudless autumn day. When it stopped, a lady who was sitting in her car rolled her window down long enough to shout my direction, ‘Isn’t God a trip!’

GospeLines Prayer: “In all things give thanks to the Almighty, for he IS an awesome God.” Thank you, Father, for displaying your omniscience through nature. You really are a TRIP! Amen and amen.

Tommy Harrison, D. Min.

tommy@gospelines.com

Colossians 3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
3:17. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Living a Christian life gets misunderstood as having to give up things, but it is a life that frees from the burdens that would otherwise make us miserable. This entire passage is all about living a life of richness. A Christian life is one of emotional and spiritual well being. It is the kind of rich living that never depends on how big your bank account is. It all starts with having Jesus fill your life.

Get more of the details by reading the entire chapter of Colossians 3. Verses 16 and 17 sum up the whole thing in a nutshell. Abide in Jesus. Let his teachings, ways, and attitude sink in.

Read More…

2 Peter 3:8-9

3:8. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

This is a message that is being written to a group of believers who are growing a little complacent. They are letting some of the doubts of the world creep in, and having their patience stretched. Their minds need to be stirred up. Take time to remember the words of the prophets of old, the words of the apostles, the commandments, even the words of the savior himself.

It’s easy to say to ourselves that God spoke to early, ancient people, but they are long dead and the world keeps plugging along without much change. Seasons come and go, years come and go, and miracles seem to not happen anymore. Where are the things promised, When is the last days going to be? Don’t rush things. The earth was created long ago, and was designed to endure for a long, long time. In fact the promise is that seasons will continue for as long as it takes. the earth will continue, just as it has, preserved, until God destroys it with fire, when he comes to judge all people.

Read More…

Statistically, most people will become married in their lifetime. Being married is how we pass on the family name and traditions, and leave a legacy behind us. Before a person gets married though, it takes getting to know that special person to share in your lifestyle. Maybe you are reading this and in a relationship, that’s a place to start.

The main purpose behind this writing today is for those who are not in a relationship, not dating anybody, and maybe have no clue about whether there is even anybody out there for you. No prospects at all, or know how to even get started in that direction.

You know who you are. You’re not married? Not even dating, or in a relationship? But you want to be? No garantees but here’s some tips and questions to ask yourself to help you focus.

Read More…

Colossians 1:15-17

1:15. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
1:16. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
1:17. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
–NKJ

The great thing we have about the Bible is that we can read God’s word in human language. The trouble with it is that human language is sometimes barely adequate to describe things in this world, and has trouble describing things on a spiritual, or Godly level. The Bible teaches that there is only one God, God is one. Christian teaching claims that Jesus is God. In describing such things words are used to describe, as best as possible, images and concepts that humans can understand. There are people who stumble over the language of calling Jesus a “firstborn”, or if he is his own person, how can he also be God. It can be hard to understand. Teachings like this have their root in the things that Jesus taught, and what the Old Testament hints at.

In verse 15 we find that Jesus is the image, or icon of God. God is spirit and invisible. Moses was told that nobody has ever seen the face of God, and nobody can and live. Have you ever wondered what God looked like? old testament prophets did. I’ve wondered that many times, and I’m sure most people have. If God had a tangible form that we could see, if God was to let people see him face to face, he would look like Jesus. The image of God that we can touch, taste, smell, see and hear.

Read More…