https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUbHGFs6XEU&t=5s
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon, which is normally broadcast every Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love, sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Jesus Christ in a way that we believe embraces the ways Jesus taught us to manage. We bring His Word to the many as opposed to the few, in order to continue the legacy created by the ministry of Jesus Christ.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube
Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio
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.
- Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog has asked that we pray for her mother’s health. She also asks for prayers for her brother’s attitude and also for Rabbi Karen’s stress levels.
- We continue our prayers for Evangelist Cal Jennings, that his health becomes steadier than it has been for far too long. We pray that his medical needs are fully met, and he has all that he requires for comfort and peace.
- We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they navigate through the maze of medical tests and specialists to get all the answers they need in both of their health issues. They are continually frustrated with the runaround they have been getting with the various referrals.
- We continue our prayers for JB’s sister Debbie that her therapy for her cancer continues to go well. Her surgery came back with clear margins, so that’s worthy of a hallelujah and praise the Lord!
- We will add another hallelujah to the books, my mother’s cast is finally off her wrist, and she is able to resume most of her normal daily tasks and even the vacation she thought she would have to miss next month.
- We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Alexis, who is in desperate need to improve her current situation and has set up a site for donations to help her with this. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including two survivors of the disease, my Aunt Donna and my friend Kelly.
- We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather, and other dangerous conditions, including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide.
- One of our outreach ministers, Waqas Gill has asked me personally to include his ministry and his country Pakistan, which is at war with India over territory and more lately. It is very dangerous for his congregation and his family and he has lost several in his circle of friends and family this past month or so.
- We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Pastor Amir Aneel, Sister Santhi Swaroopa, Pastor Duke Moenga, and others in Kissee, Nairobi, and other places in Kenya, Pakistan, and India.
- We pray also for our American outreach ministries, including Rev. Lisa Tyler on the other side of Georgia from where I am and Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog with her ministry, Way Maker Messianic Jewish and Christian Center – USA as well.
* We celebrate Mother’s Day with all the mothers that are out there, living and in spirit, because they will always be our mothers, regardless.
* We celebrate my daughter Deanna Howerton’s birthday on Tuesday.
*We celebrate my daughter-in-law Rebecca Neff’s birthday on Saturday.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for everything You have brought to us in this life. We are thankful for our mothers, who have sacrificed so much for us throughout our lifetimes. We are thankful for the memories of those mothers who are no longer with us in this world. We are blessed by Your grace and unconditional love for each of us. We pray for those who are sick or suffering, including EB, JB, and others in our families and friends. We pray for the orphans and the displaced including those under the care of our outreach ministers all over this world. We thank You for healing those who have been sick or injured including my Mama, our cancer survivors, Debbie, JB, Alexis, and Kelly. We thank You for the many blessings bestowed upon us on this beautiful Mother’s Day. We pray all this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Poem: Precious Memories ~ Copyright © 1995 Rev. Laura A. Neff (Click the photo and it will expand, so you can see the background of the poem written below.)
Now, I wrote this poem when my children were in the earliest parts of their childhood, and one of them hadn’t even been born at the time. I didn’t set it into a photograph until those same children were nearly grown. The photo of that poem is included in the blog post for anyone who wants to see what it looks like, with portraits of all four of my children, my husband and myself at the time.
In a lifetime so short,
Or one so fulfillingly long.
Many precious memories to report,
Both in poetry and song.
Finding true love is one,
Marriage and family another.
Holding both daughter and son,
Losing sister, being mother.
So many emotions to feel,
Little time to express all.
Life moves like a spinning wheel,
And someday I might fall.
For life is an experience,
Too good not to share.
You must breathe its essence,
And show that you care.
For some life is long,
And seeming an eternity.
Some, short as a song,
Filled with great uncertainty.
Precious memories are held,
In my mind so close.
Creating one great meld,
Full of hope I suppose.
For the future I see,
Many new horizons.
For whom they might be,
Why my little ones.
For what better hope,
Can any person claim?
Certainly no telescope,
Can sharpen our aim.
Life is full of questions,
Fears, hopes and calamities.
But for my little ones,
I pray for precious memories.
Sermon: Today we are continuing chapter one of the first letter Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. Paul is issuing a serious warning to the church there at Corinth. It’s not something to be argued over. Jesus Himself had issued many warnings to the Apostles, and Paul is passing on this very crucial information to the church there at Corinth and he’s warning them not to mess around with these arguments and focus on GOD’S TRUTH!
1 Corinthians 1:13 KJV –Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
NIV – Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
This is the specific reason we as ministers must be alert and definitive when it comes to promoting Jesus Christ and God the Father through the Holy Spirit. We have to remember that, though we lead our congregations, and bring new people to Jesus Christ, we have to remember He is the reason we are doing this! He is the reason we need to be vigilant and watchful in how, what, and why we are teaching His Word! That’s why Paul was so angry with the church leadership at Corinth. This is the only Old Testament reference Paul utilizes through this first verse today.
Isaiah 44:6 KJV – Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
NIV – “This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.
So often we forget that we need to be connected with God and Jesus through the Holy Spirit always, not only in the worst of situations, but in the best ones as well. The reason churches fail would indeed be the separating of the membership from the leadership. This is something that Jesus warned about all the time. Here we see it in two of the gospels written by Matthew and also John the Beloved. This is something we’ve heard outside of ministry, outside of the church, as well. Society as a whole suffers when we cannot agree with one another. We see it in ethnic wars, national wars, territorial disputes, all sorts of very human issues. This is how Jesus responded to this specific series of questions.
Matthew 12:25 KJV – And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
NIV – Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
John 17:21 KJV – That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
NIV – that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Paul continues with references from the gospel writer Luke in the Acts of the Apostles as well as Paul’s letters to Rome, and Galatia.
Acts 4:32 KJV – And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
NIV – All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
Romans 6:3 KJV – Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
NIV – Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Romans 12:5 KJV – So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
NIV – so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Galatians 1:13 KJV – For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
NIV – For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
Galatians 3:28 KJV – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
NIV –There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
One of the hardest things for people to understand in the earliest days of the church was to understand what baptism meant. People could not be baptized in the name of the priest or apostle, but in the name of God and Jesus. This is the subject that Paul confronts at this moment.
1 Corinthians 1:14-15 KJV –I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
NIV – I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name.
Paul references the Word as spoken by Jesus in the gospel of Matthew and Mark.
Matthew 3:11 KJV – I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
NIV – “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 28:19 KJV – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
NIV – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mark 16:16 KJV – He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
NIV – Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Paul adds to this with the words of John the Beloved as an observation of baptism witnessed alongside Jesus. He adds to this with three references of Luke’s writing in the Acts of the Apostles.
John 3:22-23 KJV – After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
NIV – After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized.
John 4:1-2 KJV – When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
NIV – Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.
Acts 2:38 KJV – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
NIV – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:12-13 KJV – But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
NIV – But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
Acts 16:15 KJV – And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
NIV –When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Paul does not want to be heralded as the one who baptized in the name of Jesus. He wants them to recognize Jesus and God through the Holy Spirit. It is important for us, even this many years later, to act, and feel, the same. It is our mission to bring people to God and to Jesus in the proper way. Paul points toward his own efforts to bring people to Jesus sharing this next line in his first letter to Corinth.
1 Corinthians 1:16 KJV –And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
NIV – (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)
Three references to Luke’s writings in the Acts of the Apostles and one from Paul’s letter to Ephesus as well.
Acts 2:41 KJV – Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
NIV – Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 16:33 KJV – And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
NIV – At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.
Acts 18:18 KJV – And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
NIV – Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.
Ephesians 5:26 KJV – That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
NIV –to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Our mission is the same today as it was in the first half of the first century of the Common Era for Paul, dated near the year 50. Paul reminds us that we aren’t here just to baptize. We are here to preach and teach the Gospel as it should be taught. We are here to preach the life and legacy of Jesus Christ. We are here, all of us who are called to preach and teach, to ensure that everyone learns and understands the Scriptures the way they are meant to be learned and understood. This is why we are so meticulous here in our learning. I want to ensure that if you have questions, I can answer those with the Scriptures themselves. Paul points toward what Jesus wants us to know right now with this next verse.
1 Corinthians 1:17 KJV –For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
NIV – For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
The cross that held Jesus Christ on the day of His crucifixion carried a heavy burden, no, not the physical body, the human form of our Savior, but the heaviness of earthly, mortal, sin. You have to understand. Jesus didn’t just carry the sins of the millions of people who had lived since Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. He carried the sins of EVERY SINGLE MAN, WOMAN, and CHILD to ever exist, even long, long, after His death and resurrection. That’s a LOT of SIN for a single man to bear all at once. This is why there are so many crisscrossing references throughout Scripture, so we do not forget the lengths God will go to save His greatest creation. Here Paul again returns to his favorite Old Testament prophet, Isaiah and adds Jeremiah, Jonah, and Zechariah to the references.
Isaiah 52:7 KJV – How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
NIV – How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 55:11 KJV – So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
NIV – so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 KJV – Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
NIV – This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
Jonah 3:2 KJV – Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
NIV – “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
Zechariah 4:6 KJV – Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
NIV –So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Paul only adds one reference from his second letter to Timotheus to round out the verse.
2 Timothy 4:2 KJV –Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
NIV –Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Paul wants to remind the church at Corinth of their mission. It is the same now as it was then. We are to preach the Word. We are to be informative at all times. We are to caution, warn, chastise, and exclaim over the congregation in our ministry. We need to do so with patience, and with confidence through Christ. That is what Paul shares here.
1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV –For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
NIV – For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Paul again leans on the writings of his go to prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Isaiah 29:14 KJV – Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
NIV – Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”
Isaiah 53:1 KJV – Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
NIV – Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
NIV – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Jeremiah 8:9 KJV – The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?
NIV – The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?
Paul adds to this with two references of the Word as Jesus spoke it in the gospels written by Matthew and John the Beloved as well as the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.
Matthew 11:25 KJV – At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
NIV – At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
John 3:18-21 KJV – He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
NIV – Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Acts 17:32 KJV – And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
NIV – When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
Paul’s last reference here is to his letter written for the church at Rome.
Romans 1:16 KJV – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
NIV –For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Our last verse from this first letter to Corinth is this one.
1 Corinthians 1:19 KJV –For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
NIV – For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Jesus wants us to think, but not to exalt our own thoughts above His or God’s. That’s what will have us fall fast, far, and not in a good way. It can be a short trip to the bottom or a long, painful one. That would be our choice. This is why Paul warned the churches throughout the known world at that time. He, as Jesus had requested, insisted on God’s pure guidance as taught through Jesus Christ our Savior and Salvation. Paul references King Solomon, the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the trials and tribulations of Job through the Old Testament.
Proverbs 21:30 KJV – There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
NIV – There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.
Isaiah 29:14 KJV – Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
NIV – Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”
Jeremiah 8:9 KJV – The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?
NIV – The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?
Job 5:12-13 KJV – He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
NIV – He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away.
Now Paul adds just one gospel verse and it is a telling one for a church congregation that needed guidance. This is something we as ministers, priests, pastors, apostles, evangelists, elders, all have to remember and reflect on every single time we get up to preach to the masses, no matter where we are in this world. His truth is more important to us than we may ever realize in this life we live on earth.
Luke 10:21 KJV – In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
NIV – At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
Paul’s final reference is from the words of James the Just, the younger human brother of Jesus. Again, it is a warning, a seriously dire warning to be careful how we preach, teach, and portray the Word to those who surround us.
James 3:15 KJV – This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
NIV – Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
It is extremely important for each of us to remember the reason for our being here. His name is Jesus Christ, who comes to us from the great Yahweh, Jehovah, God our Heavenly Father. It is through the life death, and eternal legacy of Jesus Christ that we are here today. Now, let’s show each other how faith and belief in God go hand in hand, and all of us have the opportunity to walk in the faithful steps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The ability to do this requires us to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you are willing to do so, please leave me a note in the comments and I’ll be in touch. Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us.
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 Poem: (Click the photo and it will expand, so you can see the background of the poem written below.)
A Grandmother’s Hopeful Prayer
I want to celebrate the mothers that,
Each of my children has become;
I consider them all as my own,
Even through marriage to my sons.
Deanna, my only daughter by birth,
I celebrate your lookalike daughter every day;
Rebecca, my youngest daughter by marriage,
I celebrate your inquisitive son’s exuberant play.
I celebrate each of my four children always,
My beautiful daughter and three handsome sons;
Regardless of the trials of this world that occupy your days,
I am proud of you for your choices, yes, even the crazy ones.
I praise God for each of you and all you have brought,
To this life I have lived since the moment I knew you;
I relish the memories of the laughter, love, and chaos wrought,
As each sunrise brings each of you something new.
Royce, I am amazed at your steadfast silliness and humor,
Lukas, I am blessed to know the amazing things you do;
John, I am thankful for your ability to surprise my heart and more,
Douglas, I am thankful for the strength of spirit within you.
My last daughter through marriage, thus far, anyway,
Victoria, though you haven’t yet experienced these memories;
I am thankful that you bring whimsy and creativity my way,
Your laughter, love, and heart will bring many more of these.
With all my love and care, Amen and so it shall be.
Mama & Granny
Laura A. Neff
2025
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Evangelist 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 © 2025 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.
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