God’s Gift of Love Found In Your Heart Shared In A Song

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_6_29_2014

Good afternoon, and welcome to this Sunday Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. The ministry knows me as the Rainbow Minister. Find us posted on Sundays and studies on Wednesday. Our locations are online only:

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

We have email (instant messenger if you need me) through Facebook every day. These are now extremely variable. We’re still working this out between the two of us as to what will happen, our Elder, Cal Jennings and I. I will inform you further regarding changes. These changes were made due to health reasons. The sermon length has shortened dramatically. We are unsure as to when there might be video presentations.

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 has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.

- Continue prayers for Brother Wayne Bartosh and his family as they mourn the loss of his father. May they find their way through all that must be done. May their faith bring them peace in the knowledge that his life was worthwhile.

- Please keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers as he is very sick. His health goes up and down. His heart has been giving him some serious problems. The rest of his health issues are not helping. Let our prayers keep his spirits high, and his faith strong.

- Please pray for my friend Theresa’s sister who is in stage four cancer. Please also pray for her spirits as she has so much on her plate.

- Please keep others known by any of us up in prayer for whatever they might need.

- Please keep my friend Heather in prayer for patience and safe haven.

- Please keep my whole family in prayer for the pain, suffering, and chaos we are going through. There have been some drawbacks in our situation here. Our hopes would be tested, our faith would be the same. Let the Lord bring us hope, peace, and understanding.

- Pray that the adversity and the pain we have seen around the world would be relieved, and swept away. May we find common ground in many ways, even if we start with just one step.

- Remember those who have been lost either violently or peacefully this week.

- Keep the ministry in your thoughts, each member, no matter their location, their circumstances, because a group of friends, a ministry, should support one another.

- There are many in our ministry who are searching for more in regard to our presence with my health, and with the health of others. We pray that there would be health found once more, and that we have answers to all and for all.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We praise You for the gifts of laughter and song. We praise You for the gifts of friendship and family and the ability for those gifts to bring love, laughter, and song. We bring to You those in pain and sorrow. We bring to You those who have died and the ones who mourn them. May our hearts be brought peace in Your Holy Name, through the Savior Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Sing Your Praises To The Lord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_uQD6DXFkA

Sermon: For many years music has been a balm for the pain and sorrow in life. So many years in fact, that you’ll find it far, far back in Scripture. Music is a method to soothe pain, sorrow, despair, and more. It is a gift to share happiness and joy and spread peace. Music unites us in many ways. Yet most of us would hardly realize that fact. Let’s take a look at what is shared in Scripture. We’ll start here with Samuel’s take.

I Samuel 18:6 KJV – And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

What would be celebrated? A victory in battle. How is it celebrated? Singing and dancing by the women using musical instruments and sharing joy. There’s nothing better. Wouldn’t you say so? Now we’ll go into what Samuel is sharing in regard to his birthday.

II Samuel 19:35 KJV – I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

He feels as though he’s a burden. Why does Samuel feel this way? He is filled with doubt. He is afraid, not of things beyond himself, but of the fact that he can no longer sing, taste, or realize good from evil. Thus he feels as though he is a burden. Is it truly a burden to forget how to laugh, to sing, and to share joy? It is if you let it do so. Otherwise, open the heart and you’ll see. Fear will cause us to close our minds, our hearts. Music, singing, playing instruments, those can open our hearts, our spirits, our souls, to the love that should be shared. Samuel doesn’t realize here that singing, even when you are afraid, helps bring peace and comfort in many, many ways. This is what singing, even when you may not sound the greatest, is worth the effort. Sing your praise to the Lord, that’s the title to a song we know so well. This is just what God wants us to do, no matter how we feel, how we sound, or any of that. A song in the heart will bring that song to your voice and prove your joy to those around you.

I Chronicles 6:32 KJV – And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order.

Isn’t it amazing what singing can do when it comes to ministry? When you hear songs like Amazing Grace, or Praise Him, Praise Him, or even Kumbaya, the heart is lifted, smiles and laughter can follow, and people will talk to each other, paying attention, without anger or other violent emotions. That’s what God wants us to see.

I Chronicles 13:8 KJV – And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

Put your heart in your music. How you share the music isn’t necessarily important. You can go from choosing the songs, humming, whistling, playing an instrument, or singing. We can add clapping our hands, even stamping our feet or tapping our toes to the rhythm, even creating that rhythm.

II Chronicles 23:18 KJV – Also Jehoida appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.

Serving the people in the name of the Lord should be worthy of singing. The same can be said when we serve the Lord by sharing His Word with the people, the congregations, past or present. Peace shared through songs, music, all can bring faith, hope, and more into being. That’s what proves love exists, unconditionally, because just about everyone enjoys music, whether it’s singing or playing.

Ezra 2:65 KJV – Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.

Everyone is singing! Music from their hearts shared with their voices. Joyous, that’s how people should be when it comes to giving our lives over to God. Freeing, that’s how music can be for our hearts, our spirits, and our souls. God’s Word is sharing love, and the very thought is worthy of singing. Now that is an awesome thought!

Nehemiah 12:27 KJV – And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

Be happy! Dance, sing, play music! That’s the perfect view of love. Laughter, singing, even if all you do is hum, there is a song in your heart and you are sharing that music, just with the song deep in your throat. Humming might not seem like singing, but truthfully, it is in a way. So when you hum your favorite hymn, or other song, what are you doing? You’re praising God through the gift of song and singing.

Psalm 100:2 KJV – Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Happy, again, God wants us to be happy, singing shows us happiness, even when it’s pulling out other emotions from us, those songs can bring happiness to our hearts. So sing, no matter how you feel, because the music can bring peace, and joy, laughter, and even hope. Why do we really need to sing in one way or another? A song can be seen in many forms, humming, even laughing. Why is that? There are many who say laughter is music to their ears. Notice in the next verse you’ll see singing to yourself.

Ephesians 5:19 – Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

This view is good when you’re afraid, or lonely. Why is that? In the chords or a song, the rhythm and melody, you find a way to bring your friends, your families, into your minds, so that those memories will keep that fear or loneliness from swallowing you. People have said to me, on occasion, that music brings memories to life. Say you hear a song and remember someone who would sing it to you. Perhaps you sang it with them. Some of us don’t realize that with a song in our hearts we can draw Jesus closer through the Spirit of the Lord.

Colossians 3:16 KJV – 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.

We remember the song Jesus Loves Me, or Jesus Loves the Little Children, and Amazing Grace, along with Hallelujah and so many more. When we sing those songs, hum them, remember them, we bring Jesus into our lives again and again. That’s one thing that does many good things all at once. What would they be? Joy, Hope, Peace, Patience, Understanding, Faith, Knowledge, Wisdom, and so much more, all parts of the gift of Unconditional Love, are worthy of songs, music, singing. That’s what’s taught, even when speaking of dangers, pain, sorrow, and fear in Scripture. With everything experienced, there’s always a way to find the good in the midst of the bad. For many it might not seem like it. That’s why we have friends. We can sing, laugh, and more. When tears are ready to fall, remember, you’ve got a friend. His name is Jesus. He was given to us, to share joy in our hearts, lift our spirits, and help us to sing. 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: Hallelujah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR0DKOGco_o

~Shalom~

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter & Blogster

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition:Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press,The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA., USA

Sermon or Study Copyright © 2012 http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

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.

The Views of Tolerance in Scripture

Covenant of Hope Ministries Wednesday Study_6_25_2014     

Good afternoon, and welcome to this Midweek Study for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. You can find sermons posted on Sundays and studies on Wednesday. Our locations are online only:

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter & Blogster & Google+

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

We have email (instant messenger if you need me) through Facebook every day. Look for my name minus the title. These are now extremely variable. Our Elder Cal Jennings is just as variable and can be found on several sites as noted by his sermons. We’re still working this out between the two of us as to what will happen, our Elder, Cal Jennings and I. I will inform you further regarding changes. These changes were made due to health reasons. The sermon length has shortened dramatically. We are unsure as to when there might be video presentations.

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 has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.

- Please keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers as he is very sick, having been in the ER and more this week. His healing pathways continue to be a mystery.

- Continue your prayers for Brother Wayne Bartosh’s family in the loss of his father as they mourn him and pick up the pieces once more.

- Please pray for my friend Teresa’s sister who is in stage four cancer.

- Please keep others known by any of us up in prayer for whatever they might need.

- Please keep my friend Heather in prayer for patience and safe haven.

- Please keep my whole family in prayer for the pain, suffering, and chaos we are going through. We’ve had a few triumphs, and a few failures in the past two weeks. Keep your prayers going that we’ll manage two more steps forward.

- Pray that the adversity and the pain we have seen around the world would be relieved, and swept away. May we find common ground in many ways, even if we start with just one step.

- Remember those who have been lost either violently or peacefully this week.

- Keep the ministry in your thoughts, each member, no matter their location, their circumstances, because a group of friends, a ministry, should support one another.

- There are many in our ministry who are searching for more in regard to our presence with my health, and with the health of others. We pray that there would be health found once more, and that we have answers to all and for all.

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 the gift of unconditional love. We ask that You show patience, temperance, and understanding toward those around us, as well as ourselves. We pray that those around us will show temperance, and we might manage to do so in return. We pray for those who are sick, have died, and would be oppressed. We pray for those who are unjustifiably imprisoned, terrorized, and victimized. We pray for peace in a world filled with strife. These things we pray for in Your Holy Name through the Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Patience http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=273eSvOwpKk

Sermon: Temperance, self-restraint, patience, it depends on the point of view as to how you define it. Most would consider it abstaining from the compulsion to do things, the desire to go overboard or lash out over something. It’s not easy to keep from hitting those extremes. That’s where Scripture shows us what it can take, and what benefits there can be in regard to applying temperance. You can’t just think it, you have to show it, share it. You must do more than preach tolerance. If you don’t prove your tolerance in your actions and reactions then you’ll automatically negate the thoughts you bring voice to. Here we see the views of three different people, Felix, Paul, and Peter.

Acts 24:25 KJV – And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Felix is issuing a warning, that righteousness and temperance play a part in our redemption on the last day, the day Jesus will judge the living and the dead. Again, it’s not easy to hold on to our temper, our anger, our wrath, both might be the same, but they are also different. Anger is an emotion. Wrath is the action that is spurred on by that emotion. When we are willing to prove patient, forgiving even, then we prove that temperance is possible and part of the unconditional love we should hold and share as well.

Galatians 5:23 KJV – Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Notice how there is no one who can take you to task for being patient, kind, understanding, and keeping our self-control intact. We don’t have it easy in managing that. Human beings are just that, human. We have our faults, and things, situations, can indeed cause our temper to flare, anger to boil, and wrath to spread. That’s where judgment is impaired, and we will be judged for those slips in composure.

II Peter 1:6 KJV – And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

How intriguing it is that patience comes with understanding, self-control. It surely proves that we can indeed hold on if we remember to bite our tongues as James warned us to manage. We can remember to keep our mouths shut after disagreements. How can we do that? We might disagree, but we don’t need to advance it to actions. All we have to say is we’ll agree to disagree on the subject and then change the subject of our conversation. Thinking it but not saying it shows that temperance is part of our nature. In this world of racism, terrorism, and more it is no simple matter to be diplomatic like Jesus. It is not easy to be patient with the goings on around us. The stresses of life in general can try that patience and every person in the world has a breaking point. Avoiding that breaking point is what will prove we can indeed control ourselves in any situations. This is what Jesus taught. That’s why He asked us to love one another as He loves us. It doesn’t matter to Him our shortcomings, our faults. What matters is that we acknowledge their existence, and do whatever it takes to improve them. That’s why tolerance is so much of a benefit, and part of the ideal of unconditional love. 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: Softly and Tenderly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFqt8M1zOZk

~Shalom~

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter & Blogster & Google+

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition:Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press,The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA., USA

Sermon or Study Copyright © 2012 http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

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.

The Building of a Minister….What’s in a Name?

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_6_22_2014

Good afternoon, and welcome to this Sunday Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. The ministry knows me as the Rainbow Minister. Find us posted on Sundays and studies on Wednesday. Our locations are online only:

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

We have email (instant messenger if you need me) through Facebook every day. These are now extremely variable. We’re still working this out between the two of us as to what will happen, our Elder, Cal Jennings and I. I will inform you further regarding changes. These changes were made due to health reasons. The sermon length has shortened dramatically. We are unsure as to when there might be video presentations.

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 has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.

- Please keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers as he is very sick, having been in the ER and more this week. His healing pathways continue to be a mystery.

- Continue your prayers for Brother Wayne Bartosh’s family in the loss of his father as they mourn him and pick up the pieces once more.

- Please pray for my friend Teresa’s sister who is in stage four cancer.

- Please keep others known by any of us up in prayer for whatever they might need.

- Please keep my friend Heather in prayer for patience and safe haven.

- Please keep my whole family in prayer for the pain, suffering, and chaos we are going through. We’ve had a few triumphs, and a few failures in the past two weeks. Keep your prayers going that we’ll manage two more steps forward.

- Pray that the adversity and the pain we have seen around the world would be relieved, and swept away. May we find common ground in many ways, even if we start with just one step.

- Remember those who have been lost either violently or peacefully this week.

- Keep the ministry in your thoughts, each member, no matter their location, their circumstances, because a group of friends, a ministry, should support one another.

- There are many in our ministry who are searching for more in regard to our presence with my health, and with the health of others. We pray that there would be health found once more, and that we have answers to all and for all.

- Add prayers of blessing for my eldest son, whose birthday is tomorrow. He will be twenty-one.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We praise You for every blessing brought in black and white and every drop of color. We praise You for the faith You bring out of each of us. We pray that Your blessings will reach the hearts and spirits of those who need them, want them, and even those who don’t realize they would. We pray for those who are in pain and sorrow, suffering, oppressed, or imprisoned. We pray they have strength, faith, hope, and are able to share those gifts through the power of Your love, the ultimate gift. We pray these things in Your Holy Name through the Savior Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: The Rainbow Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvNprVe2-hQ

Sermon: Our elder, Cal Jennings and I were talking earlier this week. As a result of our discussion I’m going to share the beginning, my beginnings in ministry. There are many reasons this path was laid out as it is. There are just as many reasons for the path, as the name Rainbow Minister. I could go back many more years than I will for now. When I was fresh out of high school, only eighteen, I was off to university, a very small Christian university, in Oklahoma. There was a lot of freedom in just going out that far. It was the first time I’d been all on my own, far more than five hundred miles from home. I was in a new place with new faces, none of whom I had ever even met. The first week of school changed my life, forever.

That week I met several people who would change my life forever. Their names were Bubbles, Faith, Vea, Corinth, Angel, Smiley, Hope, and Trinity. There were one or two others, but the names escape me. It was the moment, the event, where I got the name Rainbow. We were a unique sort of ministry, a clown ministry. We dressed in outrageous clothes, wore clown makeup, and preached the gospel. It was 1988, and I was still so very young.

Though I was only able to stay with that group for three semesters, they were enough to make me realize there was more than one reason for me to be part of this world. Life became financially, physically, and emotionally difficult after the third semester. I ended up going home and trying to pick up the pieces. Rainbow had to fade into the background, though not too far back. I never realized that experience would carry such an impact even five years into the future, much less twenty.

In 2005, sixteen years after leaving Clown Alley behind, I again started pursuing ministry with the encouragement of ten other people. One of them, surprisingly enough, was my grandmother, who also was a minister. She found her calling later in life, becoming a minister shortly before I was a teenager. When I was ordained, my grandmother was in her last few months of life. I first adopted the name Rainbow Minister when I was ordained. Grandma laughed when she read that moniker after my name. She picked up the phone and called me, asking me why. I told her quite simply this.

Genesis 9:16 NIV – Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all the living creatures of every kind on earth.

It was this verse that jumped off the page after I had dropped my bible on the floor. It was just after we were asked to choose the name God gave us to have. Inspiration would indeed prove true more than once. Poetry had been one of my outlets long before ministry, but, were I to have every piece of poetry I had created in the last near thirty years perhaps more than one inkling could be seen as to what would happen with His ministry as my guide.

My mother told me that, on the day I was born, it was pouring down rain. The day I was being driven home for the first time, a huge rainbow spread across the sky. Did this have any significance in the choice of the name? He only knows. I didn’t know that particular piece of information until I’d been a minister for almost five years.

A short while ago my mentor, one of them anyway, passed away. Her name was Rev. Teresa Piercey. When we were on the best of terms she considered some things God winks. Those moments when something catches your attention and makes you automatically feel as though your faith is reaffirmed. She called them God winks. When I used the term rainbow hugs, she asked me why. I laughed, of course. Rainbows hug the earth. Didn’t you ever notice how they go from one horizon to the next? Wouldn’t you want to send a worldwide hug if you could? That’s where the term comes from.

There is a child’s song, Jesus Love the Little Children. Here are the lyrics for the chorus.

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white,

All are precious in His sight,

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

The beauty of these lyrics would be simple. Colors are everywhere and we should embrace them all. A rainbow of colors, we see and hear so much about color in Scripture. There is a second song, one I learned as a Girl Scout years ago. That song is A Rainbow Made of Children.

We’re a Rainbow Made of children
We’re an army Just singin our song
There’s no weapons That can stop us
Rainbow love is Much to strong

I was born in, Mississippi
Saying yes sir to all the men
But I found that it got me nowhere
So I’ll never say it again

We’re a rainbow made of children
We’re an army just singin our song
Theres no weapons that can stop us
Rainbow love is much to strong

I was taught that black was evil
I was taught that white was good
But when you become a rainbow
All the colors are understood

We’re a rainbow made of children
We’re an army just singin our song
Theres no weapons that can stop us
Rainbow love is much to strong

I’m a girl scout with many sisters
There are girl guides all over the world
We have fun and lots of laughter
Come and join us anytime

We’re a rainbow made of children
We’re an army just singin our song
Theres no weapons that can stop us
Rainbow love is much to strong
Rainbow love it much to strong 

It doesn’t matter who we are. Life can be lived anywhere. All of us are part of God’s rainbow. Each of us are, for one reason alone, God made a promise, and He’s kept it. His promise started with a rainbow over the earth. That led to a rainbow spread across the earth through Jesus and His love stretching near and far through the Apostles and His ministry. All thanks to the fact that He reminded us to follow Him with the heart of a child, carefree, and willing to embrace the people, no matter who they would be or where they would live. That’s the way it should be. That is also the reason for our mission statement, a rainbow in the darkness. No matter where we live, day or night, there is a rainbow somewhere.

We have them shared in the beginning of Scripture. We have a second shown to be in the middle. Here that one is in

Ezekiel 1:28 NIV – Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Notice how it’s just a bit over halfway through Scripture when you get to the second one? Yet, though there are several mentioning the rainbow in and around Genesis 9:13 you’ll only find the word rainbow in three books of Scripture. The last, as the first, Alpha, and Omega, Genesis and Revelation. Here are the final two verses as shared in the NIV.

Revelation 4:3 NIV – And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

Revelation 10:1 NIV – Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.

Rainbows scientifically are the refraction of light off water droplets in the atmosphere. Yet, spiritually they are so very much more. They are a seal, a promise, from God, that water would never again cover the earth. Think about things this way. When God first created earth, he had to move the waters away to bring out the dry land. He had the waters cover that land over again in the days of Noah, and since then has done everything to keep the water from swallowing all the land up again causing all life to perish. What does He bring instead? He brings us a pathway to heaven. That pathway is the rainbow, shared by Jesus, carrying us like a stairway to heaven, in a bow full of colors. That’s a hug I’m waiting for. I’d be certain you would be as well. 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: Jesus Loves The Little Children http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CBtA1A-cR8

~Shalom~

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter & Blogster

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition:Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press,The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA., USA

Sermon or Study Copyright © 2012 http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

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.

Our Father Shared By The Son of God and Seen Through Time

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_6_15_2014

Good afternoon, and welcome to this Sunday Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. The ministry knows me as the Rainbow Minister. Find us posted on Sundays with occasional studies on Wednesday. Our locations are online only:

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

We have email (instant messenger if you need me) through Facebook every day. These are now extremely variable. We’re still working this out between the two of us as to what will happen, our Elder, Cal Jennings and I. I will inform you further regarding changes. These changes were made due to health reasons. The sermon length has shortened dramatically. We are unsure as to when there might be video presentations.

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 has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.

- Please keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers for his strength, his perseverance, and his health.

- Please pray for my friend Teresa’s sister who is in stage four cancer. Keep Teresa and her daughter in prayer for many other things that have been weighing down on their hearts, minds, and spirits.

- Please keep others known by any of us up in prayer for whatever they might need.

- Please keep my friend Heather in prayer for patience and safe haven.

- Please keep my whole family in prayer for the pain, suffering, and chaos we are going through. We bring praises for the upcoming changes for our family. May our move be one that will be good for us in many ways.

- Pray that the adversity and the pain we have seen around the world would be relieved, and swept away. May we find common ground in many ways, even if we start with just one step.

- Remember those who have been lost either violently or peacefully this week.

- Keep the ministry in your thoughts, each member, no matter their location, their circumstances, because a group of friends, a ministry, should support one another.

- There are many in our ministry who are searching for more in regard to our presence with my health, and with the health of others. We pray that there would be health found once more, and that we have answers to all and for all.

- Continue your prayers for Phoebe Fair’s family as they continue to grieve her loss.

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 being our Father and the Father of everything. We pray for those who have been brought to harm, those who have died, and those who suffer, that Your solace be with those surrounding them, and they, themselves, for comfort, protection, and more. We pray all this in Your Holy Name through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Pater Nostra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhZBj1Runp8

Sermon: We’re going to have a unique sermon this day. The Lord thought to be humorous and show us four ways to say Our Father. These are many versions of the prayer Jesus taught us.

Matthew 6:9-13 Lamsa Greek

9 Therefore pray in this manner: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven so on earth.

11 Give us bread for our needs from day to day.

12 And forgive us our offences, as we have forgiven our offenders;

13 And do not let us either in temptation, but deliver us from error. Because thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church Latin

PATER noster, qui es in cœlis;
sanctificatur nomen tuum:
Adveniat regnum tuum;
fiat voluntas tua,

sicut in cœlo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie:
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris:
et ne nos inducas in tentationem:
sed libera nos a malo.

This is the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church version in English.

Our Father who art in Heaven, 
Hallowed be thy name; 
Thy kingdom come 
Thy will be done 
On earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread; 
And forgive us our trespasses 
As we forgive those who trespass against us; 
And lead us not into temptation, 
But deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:9-13 New American Standard Bible

9 “Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

Matthew 6:9-13 King James Version

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

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

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

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

13 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 New International Version

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

Here I have done my best to locate all the versions I’ve heard in regard to the prayer Jesus taught us. Notice how the subtle differences wouldn’t actually be all that different? That is, with the exception of the Lamsa Greek version. What was the reason for the transformation of the Hebrew and Greek to the Latin, King James, and New International versions? The translators often would see the words in the way their various languages portrayed them. God always says each path is our own, none would be the same, but none would be alone. So, if we look at this single prayer, the one prayer Jesus gave us, the differences are simply paths that walk side by side, holding hands, bridging the centuries, one to the next, Father to son, and so on, generation after generation. Today we celebrate Our Father, our forefathers, and our fathers. Let us remember them, as they would remember us, past, present, and future. Note also the very different views of the Lord’s Prayer in music.

Closing Song: Sister Janet Mead The Lord’s Prayer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGpnkPqjudM&index=6&list=PL614A115BF39E5936

~Shalom~

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter & Blogster

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition:Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press,The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA., USA

Sermon or Study Copyright © 2012 http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

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.

Bring Him Back To Life In Your Heart Through His Spirit

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_6_1_2014

Good afternoon, and welcome to this Sunday Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. The ministry knows me as the Rainbow Minister. Find us posted on Sundays and studies on Wednesday. Our locations are online only:

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Rev. Laura’s Other Sites: Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

We have email (instant messenger if you need me) through Facebook every day. These are now extremely variable. We’re still working this out between the two of us as to what will happen, our Elder, Cal Jennings and I. I will inform you further regarding changes. These changes were made due to health reasons. The sermon length has shortened dramatically. We are unsure as to when there might be video presentations.

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 has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.

- Please keep Brother Wayne Bartosh and his family in prayer. He lost his father this past week. I spoke with him personally. It has been quite a rough and tough year for the family. The Good Lord will protect their hearts and ease their sorrows.

- Please keep Elder Cal Jennings in your prayers as he is very sick and suffering quite a lot from various issues with his stomach, heart, and lungs, as well as his memory.

- Please pray for my friend Teresa’s sister who is in stage four cancer.

- Please keep others known by any of us up in prayer for whatever they might need.

- Please keep my friend Heather in prayer for patience and safe haven.

- Please keep my whole family in prayer for the pain, suffering, and chaos we are going through. Add to those prayers in regard to our new home, that we will be able to manage a smooth transition.

- Pray that the adversity and the pain we have seen around the world would be relieved, and swept away. May we find common ground in many ways, even if we start with just one step.

- Remember those who have been lost either violently or peacefully this week.

- Keep the ministry in your thoughts, each member, no matter their location, their circumstances, because a group of friends, a ministry, should support one another.

- There are many in our ministry who are searching for more in regard to our presence with my health, and with the health of others. We pray that there would be health found once more, and that we have answers to all and for all.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We bring up in prayer those who have had terror and sorrow fill their lives. We bring those who have suffered illness, injury, and more up to You for Your loving arms and healing touch. We ask that You protect and keep those who need that more than they realize. We pray that you might bring faith, hope, and peace through Your Everlasting and Unconditional Love. We pray all these things in Your Holy Name through our Savior Jesus Christ, in the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Jesus Lives in Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F69Dv7ZxoE0

Sermon: The inspiration brought today was like watching a movie or play scene by scene. It all began with a telephone call I made to one of the members. We all have some of God within us. It is only as difficult to bring that to the surface as we cause it to be. Timothy is urging those to whom he writes to listen, to go through with that which he is requesting. We’ll start here where he jogs their memories. II Timothy 1:6 KJV – Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

So, what’s he saying? He’s saying remember that I brought God’s spirit to you through the laying on of hands. That action, putting hands on a person to share the faith, kind of brings our faith together in some ways, connecting due to the physical contact. Let’s see what more Timothy has to say.

I Timothy 4:14 KJV – Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Don’t forget that gift is there. We have the ability to share our love, our faith, not just with those who know us well, but with those willing to share, and even those who allow the offering of that shared faith. Now, here we see the word presbytery. A body of elders, that’s what it means. He’s saying not to neglect the fact that the elders elected through Christ’s gifts of the spirit would have brought His love to others through the laying on of hands.

II Timothy 1:7 KJV – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

We shouldn’t fear anything earthly, because God has promised to deliver us from evil. Jesus gave us the prayer to remind us to always ask in remembrance of Him. We have the power to defeat the fear of evil and hate. That power is love with a sound mind and spirit.

Romans 8:15 KJV – For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father.

We’re not held as prisoners of fear! We are the adopted children of God our Father. We have that hope, that gift, given to us through the sacrifice of our Savior Jesus. We are the children of God, all of us. Remember that and all fear can be wiped away. It’s not easy to keep out of the prison known as fear. However, God gave us a way to keep that prison from locking us in. That would be prayer.

II Timothy 1:8 KJV – Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the affictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Well, of course we shouldn’t be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. We also shouldn’t be ashamed in regard to Timothy, and they shouldn’t either. In the NASB it shares that he is reminding to bring everything back to the surface in regard to God’s gifts. He worked with Jesus, through the Spirit. The afflictions of the gospel it says, in other versions would share as suffering for the Lord’s gospel in accordance with the power of God. We aren’t prisoners of shame in regard to God’s word or the testimony of Christ. We are bringers of that gift of God’s love and spirit to those around us. Let’s look at one last verse

Romans 8:28 KJV – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Good things happen for those who love God. They happen in His time, but they do happen. We have to remember to love God, and to do what we are led to do in His name. When He shows us a path, we shouldn’t be afraid. We should be willing to face fear head on. We should trust in His love. That is one gift that never fails. 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: Jesus Take The Wheel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lydBPm2KRaU

~Shalom~

Rev. Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister Facebook & Twitter & Google+ & Blogspot

Calvin Jennings ~ Elder Facebook & Twitter & Blogster

Covenant of Hope Ministries

Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition:Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press,The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA., USA

Sermon or Study Copyright © 2012 http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/

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.