Satan was also present on this occasion. He was undoubtedly making accusations to God against the Jewish people requesting that God condemn them for their sins. Satan today is making accusations to God against the brothers and sisters in God’s family. (Rev. 12:7-12; 1 Pet. 5:8)

Let us take comfort in knowing that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is also present. If Satan is the accuser, then Christ is the Advocate, the heavenly Lawyer, who is pleading on our behalf before the throne of God. “My little children, the things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 Jn. 2:1) He paid the price for our sins with His own blood to assure us of forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9)

By listening to the accuser, you will become discouraged and quit. Turn to your Advocate in confession of sins, and God will change your clothes as He did the people of Jerusalem. (Zech. 3:3-5) We have and can claim the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Rom. 8:34) Always be mindful and thankful that you have an Advocate pleading your case before the Father. Praise and thanks be to God for His indescribable gift. (2 Cor. 9:15)

As you go forth this week remember to strive to keep on Imitating your Lord and God a little more each day. God bless you. I love you.

Kevin

May we each commit now to be here a week from tomorrow night to worship God with around 200 teens as Lonnie Jones preaches and Larry Arnold leads singing when we host the Murfreesboro Youth Meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. Also remember to bring the items listed at the bottom of the bulletin as we will be providing a meal for everyone after the period of worship.

I thank God for Brother Danny’s announcement last week about moving forward in faith with plans to complete the parking addition and then stripping and seal coating of the entire parking lot. Metal awnings are also being put on the entrances to the education building doors. The entrance to the auditorium will also be replaced with exposed aggregate as well as a proper handicapped entrance completed into the front of the education building in early fall. With all of these projects being completed there is a need for all of us to give generously as we are able to do so. Please add to your contribution as you are blessed to help offset the cost of these improvements to assist us in accommodating more and more newcomers to our worship assemblies.

As we all go forward this week, may we keep in mind our theme for 2010 of striving to Imitate Him more and more each day. God bless you. I love you.

Kevin

• -Pray for each of them by name daily. (Acts 14:23; 20:36)
• -Show love to each of them by esteeming them very highly because of all they do for our spiritual well-being in helping us all to be in heaven together praising God forevermore. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
• -Be obedient and submissive to each of our elders as they care for and pastor our souls. (Hebrews 13:17)
• -Encourage our elders at every opportunity you have. Notes in the mail or an email can mean so much in conveying this encouragement to each of them. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) David Henry – davidhenry3421 (at) comcast.net; Mike Howard – mike (at) mikehoward.org; Danny Thomason – danny.thomason07 (at) comcast.net.

As we go forward through the week ahead, let us go forth striving to Imitate Him a little more each and every day. God bless you. I love you.

Kevin

This preservation of freedoms we enjoy is so important because our country was founded on religious freedom. Millions of American citizens take advantage of this religious freedom by practicing no religion at all. What their forefathers came here to this land for, these people today are completely leaving out of their lives, and our religious freedom allows for this. Let us each choose anew this day to always exercise our religious freedom by serving the Lord daily and worshipping Him with the church here in this
place as often as possible.

As you celebrate Independence Day with family and friends today, make sure to thank God for the freedoms you enjoy. God has been so good to us to allow us to live here in the United States of America and enjoy all the freedoms we have. Keep thanking God continually for these freedoms and using that religious freedom daily to allow God to rule in your heart and life as Lord so that you will be prepared to enjoy eternal life with Him in heaven at the return of His Son and your Savior. Keep looking to your Lord and Savior striving to Imitate Him more throughout this week. God bless you. I love you.

Kevin

Which do you think was the more difficult command to obey, Elijah having to hide himself or show himself? By far I believe the hiding was the hardest because Elijah had work to do. He had a message to deliver to people.

Why did God hide Elijah? In continuing to read 1 Kings 18, we can see that God was preparing Elijah for the contest with Baal on Mount Carmel. During the three and a half years of hiding, I’m sure Elijah was learning some very important lessons. He was undoubtedly learning the importance of waiting on God, praying to God, and trusting in God for his every need. (1 Kings 17:4-6) Before Elijah could show himself, he had to hide himself and learn the lessons God had prepared for him. Too often today God’s people are so anxious to serve the Lord that we forget to worship Him. Yet we must remember that the success of showing ourselves in God’s service is dependent upon the success of our hiding time with Him. When we do take time to individually hide ourselves in God’s presence, then and only then is God’s power at work in and through us as we show ourselves in His service.

We must go “outside the camp” to serve God (Hebrews 13:13-16), but let us first always remember to go inside “the veil” to worship Him. (Hebrews 10:19-20) As you continue to strive to Imitate Him a little more this week, take time daily to go inside the presence of God before you go outside in the world to serve Him. God bless you. I love you.

Kevin

As fathers we have a tremendous blessing and responsibility as a result of the children God has placed within our hands. The blessing of children is wonderful. The responsibility of raising these children is challenging. We can’t do it alone. We must rely on God to help us. He will if we’ll simply reach out to Him for help. In striving to be the fathers God wants us to be, may we always remember:

1. to pray to God for wisdom and guidance in raising our children. (James 1:5)
2. that little eyes are watching and hearing everything we do and say. Therefore let us strive to follow Jesus’ example in our own lives and thus teach our children to follow Him as well. (1 Corinthians 11:1)

What a great Vacation Bible School we enjoyed together this past week! Attendance was great every night reaching a high of 141 on Wednesday night. Thank you so much to everyone who worked so hard in all aspects of VBS to make this the greatest VBS we’ve had in years! It is truly a joy to work with you and serve among you here at Leanna. Please remember in prayer this morning about 25 of our number who are returning today from a weekend of fellowship and fun at Holiday World in Indiana.

I hope and pray for you a very Happy Father’s Day. I also hope that we will all allow the Father in heaven above to help each of us to be the children of His that He wants us to be. Keep looking to Jesus this week striving to Imitate Him in 2010. God bless you. I love you.

Kevin

Classes for All Ages

Lesson One: Sunday Morning 9:00 a.m. – God, Our Creator (Genesis 1:1-2:3)
Lesson Two: Sunday Evening 6:00 p.m. – God, Our Father (Genesis 2:7-3:24)
Lesson Three: Monday Evening 7:00 p.m. – God, Our Provider (Genesis 22:1-14)
Lesson Four: Tuesday Evening 7:00 p.m. – God, Our Strength (Exodus 17:8-16)
Lesson Five: Wednesday Evening 7:00 p.m. – God, Our Shepherd (Psalm 23)

What an exciting week we have before us with VBS starting this morning and continuing through Wednesday evening. May we all take advantage of every opportunity to be here to learn all we can about the nature of God and having a better relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Let’s all strive to bring others with us each evening. Stay after VBS each evening for continued fellowship and food. Throughout each day of the week ahead, continue focusing on Jesus and His example He left us to follow as we strive to imitate Him more and more in our daily lives. God bless you. I love you.

Kevin

Lesson One: Sunday Morning 9:00 a.m. – God, Our Creator (Genesis 1:1-2:3)
Lesson Two: Sunday Evening 6:00 p.m. – God, Our Father (Genesis 2:7-3:24)
Lesson Three: Monday Evening 7:00 p.m. – God, Our Provider (Genesis 22:1-14)
Lesson Four: Tuesday Evening 7:00 p.m. – God, Our Strength (Exodus 17:8-16)
Lesson Five: Wednesday Evening 7:00 p.m. – God, Our Shepherd (Psalm 23)

With Vacation Bible School one week from today, I want to encourage us all to make every effort to be a part of the whole week’s Bible School opportunities. What a great opportunity is before us to grow in our understanding of how our God is there for us to help and be with us in our daily lives! What a great opportunity is ours to bring others with us to help them learn of our great God and Savior and how He can be their God and Savior too! Pray for God to bless our Vacation Bible School in every way to His glory. Be here to get VBS kicked off during the Sunday School hour next Sunday morning starting at 9:00 a.m.

I want to commend you as a congregation for the great response in our missions contribution last Sunday. Over $5300 was given for local mission work efforts. Pray for our missions committee as they strive to use this money toward the growth of God’s kingdom here and Leanna and throughout Murfreesboro.

Continue to remember Trey Neal in your prayers and encourage him as he came forward last Sunday morning seeking the prayers of the church for God’s forgiveness and for help to be a better Christian as well as making better decisions in his life. Trey lives at 572 Meadowview Dr., Christiana 37037. Keep praying for Trey and encouraging him.

As we each go forth this week, let us not lose sight of Jesus. Keep focusing on Him as you strive to imitate Him a little more this week. God bless you. I love you.

Kevin

The work that Christ has done for you and me leads to the work He continues to do in each of our lives. “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.” (13:20-21) The good Shepherd died for us, and He continues to work in us to make us more like Himself in the world today.

Jesus works in us by His Spirit, and the Holy Spirit uses the word to work in us. (Rom. 8:9, 13; Eph. 6:17) All that the Holy Spirit does in our lives will be to bring glory to Christ. (Jn. 16:14) May we spend time in the word and allow the Spirit to work in us through the word. (1 Thess. 2:13) Then as we become more aware of God’s will for our lives, let us strive to put it into practice and allow the Spirit to produce His fruit in us. (Gal. 5:22-23)

Have you benefited from the work that Christ has done for you? Are you also continuing to benefit from the work He is now doing in your life as well? Keep striving to imitate Him more and more each day as you give yourself to benefit from the work Jesus has done and continues to do for you. God bless you. I love you.

Kevin

The “sword of the Spirit” must be used along with other tools for good to come forth. In Neh. 4:17-18, we see that Nehemiah had learned that the sword alone was not enough. Other tools were needed by his men for the task at hand. You can fight with the sword, but you can’t build with it by itself. As you use the “sword of the Spirit,” be sure to use other tools available so that building will occur at the same time.

The “sword of the Spirit” must be combined with prayer. After telling the brethren to put on the whole armor of God in Eph. 6:10-16, Paul concluded by saying, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit …” (Eph. 6:17-18) Praying always in the Spirit means that we will have God’s power at work in us to help the “sword of the Spirit” serve its intended purpose in our own lives.

The “sword of the Spirit” must also be combined with gentleness, patience, humility, and love. (2 Tim. 2:24-26; Eph. 4:14-16) We must always think about the other person when using the “sword of the Spirit.” Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Reach out to them in gentleness, patience, humility, and love, and they will be much more likely to listen and respond.

The “sword of the Spirit” is the word of God. It is to be used by every Christian to accomplish the will of God in our lives and the lives of others. It must, however, be used along with other tools to build up for good. Always pray for the sword of the word to penetrate your own heart in the way it needs to. Then go forth in gentleness, patience, humility, and love with the “sword of the Spirit.” God will then be working in and through you to bring forth fruit to His glory. As you strive to imitate Him a little more in the week ahead, do so with the “sword of the Spirit” leading you forth at all times. God bless you. I love you.

Kevin