Covenant Of Hope Ministries: September 2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Chastening and Chastisement Have Reasons to Be Just to Make Us See

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_09_30_2012

Good afternoon, and welcome to this Sunday Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff, and the ministry knows me as the Rainbow Minister. You can find us live Sundays at 12:30 PM ET US and These are our locations online only:

Main Site: http://www.covenantofhope.multiply.com

Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Our Main Video Feeds: Covenant_of_Hope & CovenantofHopeMinistries

We have email and Instant Messenger available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday 10AM to 2PM ET US via Yahoo IM. The IM is available if you ask first and identify the reason as being part of the ministry. This IM is connected through Facebook as well. I will be informing you further in regard to changes being made. These changes were made due to health reasons. There will no longer be live sermons, and the sermon length will be shortened dramatically.

Little Note: This one is going to have to be written due to a lot of things going on health and otherwise here at the house. I will do my best to have something live this month. I will be discussing this with Elder Cal. Oh, please feel free to email or comment if you need clarification on anything. That's what I'm here for.

Prayer List: Phoebe Fair is back in the hospital in between treatments. Her family, save her father, is down with whooping cough.

Sister Mary is working hard to work on her health, and also find a new home.

Elder Cal continues to have issues with his heart, his general health and more.

Sister Lisa has many on her prayer list, please keep them in your thoughts.

My friends Christie, Heather, Kristy, and so many others need prayers for their health and their families.

My health needs some prayer, and other things in life would need prayer as well.

My nephew needs some serious prayer and my sister does as well.

My brother also needs prayer for a job.

Let us pray for those known and unknown who are without homes, jobs, food, and more. May hope fill their life in His love.

Let us pray for those in war torn, weather ravaged areas in this world, that something good, and hope would fill their hearts.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. Please hear our prayers, spoken and unspoken, for friends, family, and those we know and don’t know. Pray for enemies as well, no matter the reason. We pray for the sick and the well, that hope would live in their lives. We pray for those who hurt in this economy, needing so much, and surviving on so little. We ask this all in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Sermon: Punishment is something no person ever enjoys, but sometimes it is found as what some in this world term a “necessary evil”. These days we find that “time out” or “go to your room and think about it” tend to be managed more than spankings, whippings, writing “I won’t do this ever again” a couple million times as was managed in the years long gone at this point. Now, some are going to wonder where this came from. It actually came from the treatment of more than one person known in life as we know it. At least one of those would be known by our congregation and some of those outside of it. Whether the chastisement was deserved or not, in some cases, the answer is up for serious debate. So, instead of working with our scheduled considerations in Psalms today, this subject seemed to all but bite the proverbial nose and perhaps other parts of the anatomy. Let’s see what chastisement, chasten, and chastise would have to share in Scripture. Notice, I said nothing about punishment. We’ll save that one for a later time. That is one complex subject and this barely scrapes the surface for what we might have to see in these. So, let’s begin with our first verse in Job 34:31 KJV – Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

All of us in our lifetimes have been sorry for things we have done. Some of us have meted out chastisement ourselves. In some cases, there are those that believe some forms of chastisement is quite lethal in intent. In others, the chastening would hardly be enough to consider it a slap on the proverbial wrist. In these first verses we see a realization of the need for chastisement, and here with David we see a pair of pleas to stop the potential for chastisement for the things done. In other words, apologizing before chastisement might be managed. Some of us actually manage doing so. Psalm 6:1 KJV – O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

Psalm 38:1 KJV – O LORD, rebuke me not in thine wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

There are some times in this world we try so hard to get people to understand. In this case it is the “heathen” those who “don’t know”, and in truth, this wouldn’t matter what it is that is “unknown”. Jesus taught us to love everyone, friend, enemy, those the same as we are, and those who are not. It is hard to see that in this world today, and sometimes chastisement gets ignored. Scripture proves that the world today, as it was then, aren’t all that much different in that regard. Psalm 94:10, 12, 13 KJV – He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth knowledge, shall not he know?

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

Jesus bore a great many of our sins, what are known in Scripture as stripes, wounds, which paid for the transgressions, the sins, the causes of the chastening, chastisement and such that had come before and would continue even after Jesus rose from the dead. We see that here in a very familiar verse, Isaiah 53:5 KJV – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

We forget that, even in our worst times, we live, even if we are dying, emotionally, physically, or any other way. No matter how deep our sorrow can go, God can reach and bring us out of that sorrow. We can be all but begging on the street corners, homeless, feeling hopeless and helpless, yet He is with us, and because of that we are rich, no matter what. You see, it doesn’t take things, money, any of that, to be rich in this world as is shared here in II Corinthians 6:9-10 KJV – As unknown and yet well known; as dying and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

There is a price to any success we manage. It is a price paid, not always by our selves, but by one who died for us long ago. Let’s remember, for every time we are rewarded, someone paid the price for that. Every time we gain, someone ensured that it would be managed. This is remembered in the words to the people of Corinth here in II Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV – And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

The thought take it, understand it, recognize it, and correct the reason for it, would be the first thing that comes to mind. This is something learned over many years of life. It is learned from parents, relatives, teachers, adults, even children, and life itself. There are just times we must stop and really look at things to see what is shared here in Hebrews 12:5,8 KJV – And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

When we were going through the Scroll of Revelation we studied a great deal in regard to what is there. Yet, in truth, we didn’t get into what those letters and more revealed in regard to chastisement, chastening, and such. Right here, before our very eyes, Jesus delivers some world class chastisement, and it sure hits a home run when it comes to today, as it more than likely did when John brought it home from Patmos all those centuries ago. Revelation 3:19 KJV – Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Do we really know what it is to learn from chastisements? In today’s world there are times us “old-timers” would wonder if that was a joke, or a simple question being asked. Some of those “old-timers” are much younger than many might think. Chastisement can be subtle, yet still cut like knives, stab like swords, and worse. Yet, if and when it is deserved, understanding, realization, and then undertaking measures to change are part of the path toward hope once again. That path is known as faith, and they lead us to love which is unconditional. Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer Jesus taught us saying: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site: http://www.covenantofhope.multiply.com

Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Our Main Video Feeds: Covenant_of_Hope & CovenantofHopeMinistries

Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries and Poetic-Expressions is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together as the rainbow in the darkness.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Continue in the His Word and Truth Shall Set You Free

Someone, somewhere in my life once said this, "You never stop learning, it began the day you were born, and will continue on until the day you breathe your last breath. Life is what you make of it between those moments.” I have seen many who have lived lives too short, and also many who have lived very long, and amazing, lives. I do not know just why this thought hit me, but I do know what caused it. That has to do with what I found in my email this morning.

This would be the gift from the Gospel of John 8:31-32 KJV - Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Years ago I was asked if I knew the difference between the truth and a lie. I think most of us were. Well, you know, that's an interesting question. Consider this. Did the one asking know the same according to the standards Jesus speaks of here? Did we back then? Do we now? There are "degrees" of truth in this world today, just as there are "degrees" of lies. They're even given colors, black, white, and one heck of a river of gray.

The same person once told me, “You can spot the truth by the sound of the words, and the fire of a lie in the depths of an eye.” In this world today, that’s very, very difficult, because there are many who have learned the art of the soothsayer, as Scripture calls them. So, again, there are “degrees” of truth in this world today. Until, and unless, we are willing to go by the “Gospel” truth as it was originally meant to be gone by, we’ve still got a lot of learning to do. Think about it.

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site: http://www.covenantofhope.multiply.com

Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Our Main Video Feeds: Covenant_of_Hope & CovenantofHopeMinistries

Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries and Poetic-Expressions is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together as the rainbow in the darkness.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Grace So Amazing and Love So Awesome (Originally posted 9/23/2012)

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_09_23_2012

Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our sermon or midweek study. You will normally see us posted on Sunday and Wednesday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love. It doesn’t conform to society’s wishes. This ministry shares the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus. Those who know me well will recognize that there are definitive differences in the creation of every sermon from this point forward. It is God’s will that has brought this to be. We wish only that God’s truth will be shared within His words as brought to us by the Spirit as it fills my heart, mind, and soul to be shared with my hands, but with His words alone.

You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Google+ & Blogspot & Twitter

Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list grows or changes every week. This is our current list.

- Please pray for Elder Cal Jennings who has been suffering greatly with his health. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him.

- Pray for those who were lost or injured during the attacks in Paris this past week.

- Please pray for relief in the trials and tribulations for Sister Theresa and myself as we have had a great many over the past year and more.

- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.

- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.

- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and pray our own be the same.

- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors that have occurred just this past week around this world.

- Pray for our sick and wounded.

Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today is to have the Spirit bring clarity to each of our decisions. We thank You for that gift and the many more You have brought us. May our fears be drawn out of us. Help us to see the many gifts Your love brings and the unknown locations it might be found. May our pain and sorrow be eased. May peace be brought from our hearts and shared with others. May Your gifts of love shine through us toward others. We pray for the poor, the sick, the sorrowful, the wounded, and the frightened. We pray for the soldiers, the Samaritans, the children, and the rest. We pray in thanksgiving for every gift brought us. We pray that every tomorrow bring good things. For each of these we pray in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Sermon: To be honest, I had no idea what to bring you for this sermon. So, I thought about it, and went looking into the verses and such that I have never shared with you prior to this. Now, our new Elder, Calvin Jennings, would remember part of this from quite some time ago. It was originally some form of music, but never, truthfully managed to reach that point. In some ways, that poetic song fits these verses.

We’ll start with wisdom. One needs to have wisdom to realize what love can mean to them. It is not an easy task to gain wisdom and understanding. Job is one of those in Scripture who proves this unequivocally. So, let us start with his thoughts in this here.

Job 12:12-13 KJV – With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

In some ways with this next verse, I always think of the day Jesus was with His disciples and apostles and sharing the parable of the vine and branches. The reason would be, this too shares just what He did there. You can see it here.

Proverbs 22:11 KJV – He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

Again, it is intriguing how three things connect so much in Scripture. Love, hope, and friendship. There is love and hope in every friendship. There is grace in that fact. Jesus proves that just in the fact that He would reach out upon stormy seas and help create calm. He proves that in the fact that He could heal so many, sick from such a variety of illness, up to, and including death, or what appeared as death. It is something to know that Jesus and God would be our friends, and King Solomon shares that in so many, many ways as we see here.

Song of Solomon 5:16 KJV – His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

Without thought, there is just one verse that could possibly close out our tiny sermon this week. That sermon is one of my all time favorites beyond the Great Commission and the verses in Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes, both of which share hope and love, but there is something more that is seen, beyond this, a tried and true version of friendship which can easily be seen at the end of the parable of the Vine and Branches.

John 15:13 KJV – Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Love, hope, wisdom walk hand in hand because we are willing to learn, to know, to share and be understanding, one to another in this regard. As a result of feeling this way, I wrote, just a while ago, a poem that just might, some day, be transformed to song. That poem is titled:

Grace So Amazing and Love So Awesome

A friend does indeed

Live in each waiting heart

That remembers the words

Spoken as promises to impart

Grace so amazing we can feel

Love so awesome and so real

A friend existing forever

Lives with a name known

The world would never

Think how the gift has grown

Grace so amazing we can feel

Love so awesome and so real

A friend to always hear

In the voices around us

Who would be oh so dear

Enough to listen without fuss

Grace so amazing we can feel

Love so awesome and so real

A friend remaining unseen

Yet right there all the same

For good and bad and between

All we need is just one name

Grace so amazing we can feel

Love so awesome and so real

An amazing friend is found

In any hearts that stay open

Without the slightest sound

Prayers heard whispered again

Grace so amazing we can feel

Love so awesome and so real

There is as would truly be

Just One who fulfills this

With no fear known it is He

Holding pure grace and bliss.

Grace so amazing we can feel

Love so awesome and so real

Lyrics: © Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ 2012

Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer Jesus taught us saying: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

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Elder Calvin Jennings

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Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together as the bringers of the light of Jesus found in the midst of darkness.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Thought for Today 9/18/2012

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 KJV - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ever since I heard my first Scripture lesson, at least the first one I remember hearing, I go back to this series of verses. It's not just because they are the words to a fabulous song, or because they are part of Scripture, it's because they describe every part of life. They describe everything that does happen, not just everything that can. These words apply to every type of person, color, creed, nationality, male, female, it doesn't matter. Every one in humanity fits these verses. That's why, I think, I am always drawn to them. They calm me down, keep me feeling good, and help me understand when the world has decided to descend into chaos. It's always something to think about when it comes to these verses. How do they apply to each of us? Now, that's a good question.

~Shalom~Rainbow Hugs~Rev. Laura

Sunday, September 16, 2012

See the Difference Between the Phrases To and Fro and Up and Down

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_09_16_2012

These are our locations online only: Note, the Multiply site is only available until November 30, 2012.

Main Site: http://www.covenantofhope.multiply.com

Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Our Main Video Feeds: Covenant_of_Hope & CovenantofHopeMinistries

We have email and Instant Messenger available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday 10AM to 2PM ET US via Yahoo IM.

Prayer List: Phoebe Lucille Fair is three years old suffering AT/RT cancer. She has been on our prayer list for quite some time. Currently we should keep her whole family in our prayers as all the boys are sick along with their mother. Phoebe is the great grandchild to author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar.

Mary Michel-Lynch is in need of new housing and prayers for her health.

Cal Jennings continues to have health issues with his heart, his stomach, and his teeth, please keep him in prayer for this.

We pray for the family and friends of Jacob Olivier, that answers be found.

We pray for those at war, or in conflict, that they find peace.

We pray for those who are ill, or injured, that they might be healed.

We pray for those who have died, and for those mourning their passing, that they receive respect, solace, and understanding.

We pray for our family and friends, including Christie and her family, for Heather and hers, for the families of Debby and Karen, and all who might be hurting, or sick, or suffering, that they be healed, given solace, and know they are loved.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We thank you for our friends and for their assistance when it comes to Your inspiration. We thank You for Your wisdom, love and grace. We pray for the members of Covenant of Hope Ministries as we continue to transition. We pray for Brother Cal, that he feel better. We pray for Sister Mary that her health and her housing issues be taken care of soon. We pray for my family, that our issues of all descriptions be taken care of. We pray for Christie and her family, for Heather and hers, for the families of Debby and Karen, and other friends and families. We pray also for the Faire family, Phoebe Faire and her entire family, as her brothers and mother all have whooping cough and must be separate from her while she is still in treatment for AT/RT cancer. Let us pray for the violence, that there be peace at last. Let us pray for peace, that we learn to share it, so as to have it ourselves. We pray all of these things in Your Holy Name, Amein and so it shall be.

This will not be a traditional sermon for us here at Covenant of Hope Ministries. In fact, I, Reverend Laura A. Neff, the Rainbow Minister, have had issues with my inspiration. What you will be seeing is a gift from one of our members. His name is Brother Lloyd Elson. His thoughts include the words TO AND FRO and add to them UP AND DOWN. Now, there would be two separate beings who share these particular phrases, and words. The first would be our FATHER. The second would be SATAN. You will note, as we study these six little words in two separate phrases, that they span nearly all of the Old Testament Scriptures, but are found in only two of the New Testament verses. This fact is one that is quite interesting in truth, and in the light of what it all means. Let us start with the very first Scroll in all of Scripture here in Genesis 8:7 KJV – And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.

This verse comes from the days of Noah and the ark. Remember, the birds were sent out to seek dry land. The raven sought dry land at the time. Let us go and look at the next verse, which shares something just as interesting.

II Samuel 15:20 KJV – Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? Seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.

This is not necessarily the evil of Satan as we know it, in fact, though, it shows earthly aspects of humanity. Samuel is here attempting to share truth with those who do not see it. That is the difference seen in these particular words.

*Job 1:7 KJV* – And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it.

Satan is a deceiver, and God knew this even before it caused him to be cast out of heaven. This is one of those places where that is shared. Note that Satan can deceive us by doing what God would do, as well as what he would. You see it here clearly as he seeks out one of the single most devout men toward God, and His truth. You will note that I have put asterisks around verses that do this. Job notoriously has this type of verses, as we see the same here again in *Job 2:2 KJV* – And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it.

Another thing to notice about Satan’s walking to and fro or up and down, is he would do so “IN” the earth. That’s another thing to keep your eyes on. Now see how Job reacts to the torment bestowed upon him here in Job 7:4 KJV – When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

There are many, many other locations for these two phrases, to and fro and up and down. We will share still more next time. It would be nice to see and hear from others in our ministry as to their ideas in regard to these words. What makes them important as we study all of Scripture? Why would they jump out at us, like some others that could come to mind? Are you able to give an answer, or even many answers? Now, for many of us, that is something to think about.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)

Rev. Laura A. Neff

The Rainbow Minister

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site: http://www.covenantofhope.multiply.com

Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Our Main Video Feeds: Covenant_of_Hope & CovenantofHopeMinistries

Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries and Poetic-Expressions is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together as the rainbow in the darkness.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Thought for the Day

In the Gospel of Luke 8:15 KJV - But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
When I woke this morning, the first thing I heard God say to me was "Be honest with yourself, and with those who care about you as you care about them." This is something I have had to become more and more familiar with over the years. This is something I now realize takes more than brain power, it takes action. And as such, I'm going to be making a few phone calls. Those who will be called, well, I just might surprise them to jaw dropping proportions. So, remember, God loves you, and so do I my friends and family. ~Shalom~ Rev. Laura

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

A Remembrance for All 9/11/2001

This was long before I was ordained a minister. On this day, I was watching television on a main news channel when 9/11/2001 became a reality, not just for those standing/sitting/or commuting there in New York, Washington D.C, or on that lonely hillside in Pennsylvania, but for everyone around the world. That moment in time was life changing. Like many times in my life, I wrote a poem. I remember reciting that poem on live radio one year later. I choked up on the words even one year later. I still choke up on those words today. ~Rev. Laura~

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Finding the Path Toward Mercy Leaving Pain and Woe Behind

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon originally posted _09_09_2012

You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Google+ & Blogspot & Twitter

- Please pray for Elder Cal Jennings who has been suffering greatly with his health. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him.

- Pray for my parents and youngest brother who would have lost their dog Shadow just two days ago now. He was a faithful companion for nearly sixteen years.

- Please pray for relief in the trials and tribulations for Sister Theresa and myself as we have had a great many over the past year and more.

- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.

- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.

- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and pray our own be the same.

- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors that have occurred just this past week around this world.

- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.

Opening Song: He Knows ~ Jeremy Camp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsccUg4TDd8

Sermon: We have often spoken of the troubles and how they connect to wickedness, to evil, to iniquity, and for sin as a whole. The thoughts in this chapter expand the lessons to be learned in history, in behavior, and so much more. We see some of that here in our first verse of Psalm 36:4 KJV – He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

There is a phrase change from "mischief upon his bed" to "vanity upon his bed". Now, either one of them as we all know, are, in Scripture at least, equally bad. Granted, there is a time for mischief in life, so long as it doesn't prove harmful. In this verse, it is the harmful version of mischief being spoken of. Vanity is harmful, and not just to the one expressing it, but to those around them. This is shared in the supporting verse here in Micah 2:1 KJV - Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

Here we are with the word "woe" again. It means sorrow, grief, sadness, and we all have seen these views in life, yet not all of us have created them. It is those who create those woes that are spoken of here. Another supporting verse is found in Isaiah 65:2 KJV - I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts.

The thought is continued even through yet another point of view here in Proverbs 4:16 KJV - For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

In this last case, the Scripture is speaking of resting in peace, sleeping in the goodness of the LORD. Yet, we can return to that ability to rest in peace, all we have to do is learn from our mistakes. We all make them. There is no way we could deny that, and in admitting our mistakes, or just simply learn from them and go on, we see where God would open doors to paths waiting for us through mercy and faith. Let's see what is shared to be in the next verse of Psalm 36:5 KJV - Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

The sentiment is repeated in many ways, in many places. Here are two of those found in Psalm 57:10 KJV - For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

And here as well: Psalm 103:11 KJV - For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Vanity of vanities, as we remember, mischief made of vanity equals woes in place of blessings. Faith and returning to faith can bring mercy, understanding, and a full realization of the power of love. As we know, love should be unconditional, accepting us as we are, and sharing together what we can be. Now, that's something to think about as we pray in the prayer Jesus taught us saying:

Our Father, which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

Closing Song: Lord Have Mercy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuXsk_mV5ls

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

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Elder Calvin Jennings

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Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

Sunday, September 2, 2012

The Estate of the Wicked Versus Unconditional Love

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon (Originally posted 09_02_2012)

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- Please pray for Elder Cal Jennings who has been suffering greatly with his health. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him.

- Pray for my parents and youngest brother who would have lost their dog Shadow just two days ago now. He was a faithful companion for nearly sixteen years.

- Please pray for relief in the trials and tribulations for Sister Theresa and myself as we have had a great many over the past year and more.

- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.

- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.

- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and pray our own be the same.

- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors that have occurred just this past week around this world.

- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.

Opening Song: Just As I Am https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9oSB3elWY4

Sermon: This chapter is titled “Estate of the Wicked” here in Psalm 36. What this chapter starts out with is a serious comparison between wickedness and love. Added to that comparison, the fact that God must be seen through the eyes of love, not the source of fear. Though, often people will see fear within love, the truth would be, unconditional love is just that, love given unconditionally. Let’s get started here in Psalm 36:1 KJV - The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

When we think of the words “the fear of God”, we realize we have heard this phrase many times, not just in Scripture, but in life itself. We have seen and heard this phrase in many ways. Most of the time it’s used in chastisement. Yet, in truth, we shouldn’t always view “the fear of God” in this way. There is one reason, though unconditional love is an amazing ideal, many of us do fear finding that capacity. That is one challenge all of humanity would have. We see fear in too many ways, to where even the heroes of Scripture are subject to it. Take a look at how fear takes hold of Abraham here in Genesis 20:11 KJV - And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

When we fear for those we love, sometimes we might do some crazy things. On occasion they backfire. With others, they work, but, end up sometimes being regrets. Love should not hold any of this within it.
Proverbs 8:13 KJV - The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Here we are, looking straight at our studies on the seven troubles. You know, those seven we have read, studied, watched and known, vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame and doubt. They are ever present, and it is no easy task to rein them in, to silence them. Here is further proof of that fact as seen in Ecclesiastes 12:3 KJV - In the day when the keepers of house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bown themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened.

There is a song that holds the word “tremble” within it. This song has the phrase “causes them to tremble”, which only cements the ideal of “fear of the Lord” for some. Loving anyone, even God, holds fear of some form. Some of us fear loss of love, being overly loved, being alone, and more. With God, we are never alone, yet, we don’t see this. We tremble instead. Now, the wicked, they aren’t interested in the ideal of unconditional love, and it is proven in our next verse here in Psalm 36:2 KJV - For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

There is only one word change possible here. It has to do with the phrase “until his iniquity be found to be hateful”. This phrase could also be shared as “to find his iniquity to hate”. Now, if we look at this in the NIV we’ll see this difference: For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. Ah, the sins of vanity, and this reminds me of an old story, one of them a fairy tale, and another a myth. In both cases, they were so fixated on themselves, they could not see anyone or anything else. When we do this, we suffer the troubles, all at once, and loud and clear. That’s not a good thing, either. Our last view of the chapter is seen here in Psalm 36:3 KJV - The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

Love is to share wisdom and goodness from the heart. Yet, for the wicked, they have forgotten this ideal. This is something we must learn to prevent in our lives. We must share love one another, not just as part of the commandment Jesus gave us, but as a gift, because that’s what it should be. There is one last view today of how wickedness can be seen and that is found here in Jeremiah 4:22 KJV - For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

The first thing I know some will ask is what the whole verse means. Sottish means stupid or foolish behavior as though a person were drunk. The NIV version shares this verse in this manner: My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no undertanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.
Understanding takes practice, but we must be willing to actually practice. Knowing how to be good and to do good, again, takes a teacher, and practice, practice, practice. Fear of the Lord, as part of Unconditional Love, combats wickedness, evil and sin, yet, too many would miss that fact. Do we? Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer Jesus taught us saying: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)

Closing Song: Trading My Sorrows https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KsfwvpcQhY

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

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Elder Calvin Jennings

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Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

About Us/

Welcome, we are Covenant of Hope Ministries. We celebrate the light in the darkness. There are those of us who need a connection, one to another, whether it is someone we want to learn about, or someone we know and wish to keep in touch with. Ministry is all about sharing faith, hope, and unconditional love. This all would offer peace from the heart. It doesn't matter who you are, where you live, if you are traveling a lot, or otherwise, we serve Christians and Others who are disabled, displaced, disadvantaged and disenchanted in today's world. Licensed Ordained Minister, Rev. Laura A. Neff, Evangelist, Cal Jennings, Outreach Ministers including Rev. Lisa, Pastor Stephen, Apostle Eric, and many others. I am licensed to perform wedding ceremonies in the state of Georgia, USA. I was ordained in 2007 by Rev. Teresa Piercey-Gates. We established this ministry in October of 2008.

MESSENGER

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Sunday, September 2, 2012