MESSENGER

Sunday, August 30, 2015

You Have to Share Mercy for It to Be Shown and Shared with You

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 that his boredom be eased with music and more.

- 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.

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.

Opening Song: God of Mercy (Prayer Song) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnSm1wLCNPw




Sermon: This day had me thankful that there are those who are merciful and practice with the gift of mercy. There is so much we see in this world where no mercy can be found. This is one reason to actually teach what mercy would be. What is it? Mercy is compassion, pity, benevolence, this is a kindness shown toward someone that’s done something wrong, or even an enemy. Remember the prayer Jesus taught us asked us to forgive each other. That is part of being merciful. What can happen to our hearts, spirits and souls if we do? Let’s take a look at what Scripture has to say.

Proverbs 11:17 KJV – The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

We’ve seen a lot of cruelty in this world. What happens if we show cruelty toward another? Well, in a lot of ways we pay for it, whether it is by the hands of another, justice in the hands of the people, or some other means. Yet there still would be something Jesus taught us in the Sermon on the Mount found here.

Matthew 5:7 KJV – Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Jesus proves even now that He is merciful, as our Father is the same. How so you might ask? Well, we’re alive to tell the story, share our own as we follow in faith and love. That’s exactly how He is merciful. He gives us the chance to follow, no matter what. Forgive us our trespasses, that’s bringing mercy toward us. If we forgive, He will do the same for us even if the ones we forgive would not do the same toward us.

Psalm 18:25 KJV – With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

We are good people if we share mercy. Those who share mercy with us would also prove to be good in one way or another. It is no easy thing to share mercy, to offer mercy. It prove there is something good in each and every one of us. What happens when we don’t show mercy? Well, He has something to say about that through yet another of the Apostles.

James 2:13 KJV – For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Now, James, being the younger brother of Jesus, was very good at telling it like it is, no holds’ barred. He didn’t waste words. In fact he was straight to the point in seconds and usually makes you think twice as you read, and re-read, his words. Mercy, when we don’t show it, will not be shown to us. Who will not show us that mercy? Jesus won’t even when He wants to do so. That’s where it comes up to the day of Judgment. When we show mercy it is noticed, not just by those around us, but by Jesus Himself. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that 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
Elder Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
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 © 2015 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. 

Sunday, August 23, 2015

The Light of the Lord ~ Guest Aspiring Minister ~ Lukas Neff

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 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.

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.
Opening Song: I Saw the Light https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtolv9kM1qk





Sermon: This morning’s sermon will be brought to us by my son Lukas Neff, an aspiring minister of God’s Word.
There are many things about the light that we do know, but forget sometimes. These can be characteristics, or verbal, or anything you may be able to think of with these verses. Remember Moses when he was led by a pillar of cloud by day? He was already within the light of the Lord. At night you have darkness, so it is hard to see with our eyes. God led Moses with a pillar of fire, showing the way with His light. So we have number two which is God as he led the way with light. Number three: God’s light has no shadow. There are many verses to prove this.

II Corinthians 4:6 KJV – For God, who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

God’s light shines in the darkness, which means it knows no darkness. Have you tried to look at a match’s shadow? If you light it, you’ll find the flame doesn’t cast a shadow. The majority of people usually squint to try and see the shadow. Light is a beautiful thing though, so why not be a light?

Ephesians 5:8 KJV – For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are we light in the Lord: walk as children of the light.

This tells us to walk as children of light. Other people who do not completely understand what we completely do for the Lord cannot comprehend our actions like it says here.

John 1:5 KJV – And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth not.

If we become like a light though, perhaps we can shine in the darkness. If we spread this light to them we can lead them to walk in God’s light. Do you walk in God’s light? Do you know someone who is in the darkness right now? Perhaps there is someone you want to lead, but don’t know how? Well, now is your chance.
Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that 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: This Little Light of Mine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGtqsutUK68






~ Be blessed in the light of His love ~ Lukas A. Neff

~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Elder Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
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 © 2015 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. 

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Share His Love With One Another and Let’s Get Along

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. May He also find a way to get his home fixed up so he would manage moving back in.

- Pray for a friend of mine who has suffered a mighty infection that requires surgery to repair. May her surgery be a success.

- 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.

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 thank you for our friends as our family, that their lives be filled with happiness and healing. 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.
Opening Song: All Day Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVieDyfg_Qk




Sermon: Two verses have been in my mind all week. Nothing through the spirit until writing this sermon. I am now certain He wished me to think about it, as I always share with you. While doing so I have seen how so often we are the opposite. It does not matter how we look at things, or where we look for them, there is always an adversarial view. Have we completely forgotten each of us would be brothers and sisters? Do we not understand that the only way to have peace is to give it and share it? These are the best questions. They are answered through Scripture as seen here.

Romans 12:10 KJV – Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

Note it says love one another without those specific words. When we are affectionate we are enjoying each other’s company. When we are preferring one another obviously we are listening and hearing together, teaching and learning, and more. We can only do so if we share that love and affection, listen to each other and hear what we’re saying. Without those we can’t learn through what we can teach each other.

I Peter 2:17 KJV – And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Why does it say to pass the time sojourning? Well, we want to stay with one another as friends sharing faith and more in the presence of God at least for a little while. Our doing so teaches one another. So love one another, share time with each other, listen and hear each other, and the gifts of peace will be taught, given, held, and so much more. This is exactly what Jesus was teaching the disciples and Apostles. This is what we should teach each other. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that 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)



~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Elder Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
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 © 2015 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. 

Sunday, August 9, 2015

His Love Can Be Seen, Heard, Felt, and Known

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.

- 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. Pray that an answer has been found for at least some of those trials and tribulations through events this past week.

- 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 our sick and wounded that they may heal.

Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today is to have the Spirit bring clarity to each of our decisions. We thank You for that great 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, the homeless, and the rest. We pray in thanksgiving for every gift brought us. We pray that every tomorrow may 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.

Opening Song: What A Friend We Have In Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SCorW9r_Is




Sermon: Today’s sermon again came to me in a meditative dream of sorts. As I was waking I heard one of my favorite verses playing in my head. Yes, we’ve shared this particular verse many, many times. However, no matter how many times we do so, it always needs to be said again. Many of us do not realize how much it helps to hear these words in our hearts, in our minds, in our ears, and in our souls. These very words free our spirits and give us the gift of hope. We’re going to start here.

John 15:13-14 KJV – Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Friendship, and especially that which is built for reasons beyond business, can go a long way toward healing a heart, a spirit, and a soul. No matter what happens Jesus proves that He is our friend. He did so by first dying on the cross. When He was resurrected He gave us a great gift of friendship, the Holy Spirit. It is this gift of friendship which continues to comfort us, proving that the time for meeting Him face to face will come soon. Now, let’s see where more in this regard can be found.

Proverbs 8:17 KJV – I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

There are days when we feel God and Jesus are very, very far from our hearts and spirits and souls. There are some we can hear, feel, and even see them. This can be heard loud and clear, seen eye to eye, and through and through. That is the reason we must learn that loving one another actually helps us love God even more. This is the lesson Jesus teaches us through that parable of the Vine and Branches there in John 15. Friendship and love can extend within our families and our friends of many views. If we work hard enough those friends will become family. Many of you would be just that for me. Let us remember that in doing so we are also friends to Jesus and God as well. This through the Holy Spirit which guides us. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that 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)




~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Elder Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
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 © 2015 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. 

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Step Through the Open Door Into the Light

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 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.

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.
Opening Song: I Saw the Light



Sermon: Today’s sermon came to me via an interesting consideration. I actually woke up wondering about a single point of view I’ve shared with many within our mission statement. There are many ways to view the words ‘walking in the light’. So today we’re going to explore that one beginning here in the Gospel as spoken by Jesus.
John 14:6-7 KJV – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If ye have known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
There are lots of ways to view walking in the light. Every person has their own method to get to that path. Each of our paths would be different. Yet we are all heading for the same direction.
John 1:4 KJV – In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Jesus gives us light. When our hearts have experienced darkness all we have to do is let Him in. That will bring us light and the willingness to look toward a brighter tomorrow even with the gloom and sorrow found in yesterday and today. It’s the hardest thing for us to remember. Tomorrow is a brand new day. All we have to do is close our eyes on a prayer and wake up to a brand new one for a better day. This is the way Jesus wants us to look forward to. Our tomorrows all reach for that special destination promised us through Christ as we walk in His path even in our own way.
John 10:9 KJV – I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
See this? Not only can we go in, we can go out as well. This is the epitome of freedom, the gift of choice. Remember, in the very beginning God gave man freedom of will. We have to be willing to enter that door and stay there in that beautiful place. Love is that pasture. It is the ultimate gift, an unchanging, unconditional part of life that we have to first find within us and then share with those around us. Peace is that gift of love. Remember, when following the light, we are the peacemakers, and so much more. This is what Jesus shared for those of us who are the peacemakers.
Matthew 5:9 KJV – Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Give peace and you’ll feel it within you, heart, mind, spirit, and soul. When we release our fear, our anger, within the love of peace we’ll find peace ourselves. No, I don’t mean by venting our anger. I mean by sharing our sorrows at the many terrible things that cause us anger and fear and more. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that 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)



~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Elder Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
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 © 2015 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. 

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Do Unto Others Shared in the Words of Jesus

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. He has been diagnosed with tuberculosis and is currently under 24 hour daily medical care. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him.

- Pray for our friends and family who would be ill and in need of comfort.

- Pray that my family gets answers that will help us in our current situation.

- 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.

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. 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 our friends who are ill or in dire straits. 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.


Opening Song: Anytime You Need a Friend https://youtu.be/fNxXyKjiyoQ?list=PL614A115BF39E5936





Sermon: Today’s sermon is, in some ways, an extension of our last one. In this case it was inspiration based on a single verse sent in my email. The Lord works in mysterious ways as we all know. So we start in the scroll of James. With what we have learned over the years in this particular epistle says a lot more than is often realized at first. Let’s take a look.

James 1:21-22 KJV – Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Now last week we spent time discussing giving gifts of God. This week we’re doing the same in another view. Do what the Word says after hearing it. Otherwise you’re deceiving yourselves. This is repeated in many ways. Let’s take a look at another verse.
Matthew 7:1-5 KJV – Judge not that ye be not judged.
For with that judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Now Jesus says quite a bit throughout the gospels. Here is another that is shared in Matthew’s Gospel. 
Let’s take a look.

Matthew 7:12 KJV – Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

We all know how hard it is not to judge a person. There is a saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’. This applies in so many ways to what Jesus shares in these verses. You can’t judge a person by what you see on the outside. You can’t always judge a person on what they say alone. You have to look at the whole picture because if you say one thing and then do something different you are lying. That’s something you definitely don’t want to do. Yet don’t judge the person. Judge their actions. If you judge the person alone you end up judging yourself. That’s what Jesus cautions us about. He does so as God has done many times as well. We see it in the Old Testament as well as the New. So let’s learn something about this. If you would be glad to have someone save your life, no matter the method, then you should be willing to do the same for another. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that 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: Thank You For Being a Friend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN3E9Yyd1HA



~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Elder Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
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 © 2015 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.