RUSSELL SANDERS

10-7-2024

WE’LL TALK IT OVER

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My favorite gospel songwriter is Ira Stanphill, who penned many great songs in the 1940’s to 1960’s period. One of his well-known songs was written as a result of a very great personal heartache.

Ira was an Assemblies of God pastor. His wife left him for another man. That cost him his pastoral ministry as his denomination did not allow divorcees to pastor a church.

He spent years in anguish over it. He questioned God as to why He allowed it. He never got an answer. Remarriage was out of the question, so he was destined to live the rest of his life alone.

This personal tragedy became the inspiration for one of his most popular songs entitled, “We’ll Talk It Over.” (Stanphill 1949©) As you read these lyrics try to put yourself in his place.

Verse 1              Tho shadows deepen and my heart bleeds                               

                               I will not question the way He leads.

                               This side of heaven, we know in part

                               I will not question a broken heart.

Verse 3              I’ll hide my heartache behind a smile

                               And wait for reasons ’till after while

                               And tho He try me, I know I’ll find

                               That all my burdens are silver lined.

Chorus:            We’ll talk it over in the by and by

                               We’ll talk it over, my Lord and I

                               I’ll ask the reasons, He’ll tell me why

                               When we talk it over in the by and by.

I cannot imagine how deep some sorrows go here on this earth. However, I know when we reach our heavenly home “in the by and by” that Jesus will make everything right. There will be no grief or sorrow there.

HELEN SANDERS

10-7-2024

BLOOD COVENANT

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Are you familiar with the word Covenant? Sure, you would say. It is an agreement between two people. Did you know that the covenant God makes is much stronger than an agreement? It is ratified, or sealed, by blood. The word covenant can also mean testament. Most of us know there is an Old Testament and a New Testament. A better rendering is Old Covenant and New Covenant. Any covenant made with blood is unbreakable. 

You might have heard of kids making a “blood brothers” covenant. They would each cut a finger and then mingle the blood together. This would bind them as “blood brothers,” but most kids don’t really understand what they did. 

Marriage is also a covenant. God wants purity in marriage, and the coming together as virgins is sealed with the blood being shed through sexual intimacy. 

We should never take covenants lightly, for they are a serious matter with God. When it comes to sin, God made a covenant in the Old Testament that covered the sin by the shedding of blood of an innocent pure animal. It only covered it. It did not wash the sin away

In the New Testament (Covenant) blood was shed also, but it was sinless blood shed by a sinless Savior. The beauty of this covenant is that Jesus was all man and all God. He shed his blood to bring the covenant to us, that washes our sin away. It is a one-time covenant, sealed by the Holy Spirit that comes to reside within us. Men of old would have a scar noting the covenant. They would rub the wound and cause a scar to come. It would be a sign of the covenant. Jesus’ wounds are the signs of his covenant with us. He took the wounds and gave us life.

To covenant is a sacred thing. We should never take it lightly. Perhaps you have never entered into a Covenant with God. Today is the day to do that. His blood for your sin! Be blessed.

APOSTLE PAT MURRAY

PROPHETIC EXHORTATION

We’ve heard it said, “When one door closes, another door will open”. However, some folks get so engrossed in looking regretfully at the door that God allowed to close; Until it caused them NOT to see the new “God Door” that was opening up right before their very eyes. I wonder how many have looked back so intently at something or someone that’s long gone from their lives...Even knowing in their hearts that it was God who allowed that door to close for their own good? If you can relate to that then maybe it’s time to cry out to God asking Him for better judgement; So that you’ll desire to see and to walk into what He wants for you. After all, it’s only then you can be assured that in God’s timing the right door will open for you. Yes, it’s only the “God Door” that will take you into the right season that you’re now desiring to walk into. Just don’t ever forget that God knows what’s best for you; And He opens doors and He closes doors with you His child in mind. So, sit back and trust Him...And at the right time your “God Door” will open to you

DEBRA TOPE

SEER/INTERCESSOR



Monday Scripture Of The Day

This originally appeared a year ago. Considering what is still happening in Israel, it seems appropriate to revisit this devotional. This is not a time to be afraid, but now is the time to keep praying and standing with Israel. Keep praying!

“O God, do not be silent! Do not be deaf. Do not be quiet, O God. Don’t You hear the uproar of Your enemies? Don’t You see that Your arrogant enemies are rising up? They devise crafty schemes against Your people; they conspire against Your precious ones. “Come,” they say, “let us wipe out Israel as a nation. We will destroy the very memory of its existence.” Yes, this was their unanimous decision. They signed a treaty as allies against You— these Edomites and Ishmaelites; Moabites and Hagrites; Gebalites, Ammonites, and Amalekites; and people from Philistia and Tyre. Assyria has joined them, too, and is allied with the descendants of Lot.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭83‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 A Shout! HCC

Raise up a shout!! To the Lord! Tell the World

Of his Saving Grace. Look to nature and all

God gave to us. We are blessed with his

Blessings. Shout to the World as you help others.

Give what you can to the poor, the homeless,

The abused, the sick and dying.

Do the best you can, with what your means

Can give, and know our God sees all,

He is All! Doesn’t it blow, your mind, to see

His Creation” Do you think we are in control?

We are not! We are Gods Sheep! We are walking,

In the pastures of life, and God pets us,

Forgives us and loves us.

To see more of HCC's beautiful poems on YouTube click here