Covenant Of Hope Ministries: May 2013

Sunday, May 26, 2013

An Exhortation to the Nations

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_5_26_2013

Good afternoon, and welcome to this Sunday Sermon for Covenant of Hope Ministries. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff, and the ministry knows me as the Rainbow Minister. You can find us posted on Sundays. These are our locations 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 and Instant Messenger through Facebook available most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays 10AM to 2PM ET US. We’re still working this out between the two of us as to what will happen, our Elder, Cal Jennings and I. I will be informing you further in regard to changes being made. These changes were made due to health reasons. There will be live sermons, and the sermon length will be shortened dramatically, but we are unsure as to when that might be.
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.

A friend, Jimmy, has suffered a serious burn on his leg from ankle to knee. Please pray that he heals well, and soon.

Pray for those lost, injured, or missing after the flood in San Antonio, Texas, the tornadoes that hit the Midwest, and

A friend, Heather, has just gone through major surgery. Please pray that she heals well, and quickly.

A friend Steve for his migraines and for his dog who was hurt enough to have surgery this past week.

Continue to pray for the family of Shane Thrift, his wife, daughter, and unborn baby, after a terrible accident, he was taken off life support. They are friends of my niece.

We have a prayer that comes from Pastor Mary Kemuma Moriango, wife to Pastor Richard Nyaitira. He passed away in December. Sadly, he left wife and five children, two boys and three girls. They need prayers for school fees, food, and shelter for them. Pray for the memory of Pastor Richard, for his family, and his friends.

Continue your prayers for Pastor Eric from our Outreach Ministries for financial situations.

Pray that Elder Cal Jennings would heal at last, don’t just pray, claim that God can heal him, because we know He can do just that through the Spirit which was given through Jesus.

Please pray for success for my youngest brother, that his continued education be beneficial toward a great career.

Pray for my daughter as she prepares for her new career.

Pray for my eldest son who is just beginning his collegiate pursuits, that he would grow in his learning and understanding.

Pray for friends Karen, Christie, her son Calvin, Art, Heather, Chris and his family, Jackie and her father, Debby, Tom, Teresa, Hope, during the start of the year for their issues of many forms.

Pray for Fran who is suffering a lot of pain and other issues.

Pray for my friend Grace as she has had pretty bad migraines. Pray also that her stepson would make the right decisions. They are having a hard time, may we have praise from the LORD.

Pray for my friend Laura who continues to heal.

Pray that observations made in health and in family will lead to the discovery of answers for us. Pray that the Lord will find a way for my family to reach the ability to solutions that are necessary for health, shelter, and more. Praise the LORD more than half of those issues have been solved. There are family members who continue to need prayer. Claim that God knows and will be there.

Pray that pain, which all who we love and care about may suffer, would ease, no matter the type of pain it would be.

Continue your prayers for the continued success for little Phoebe Faire. She is doing very well. Praise the Lord.

Pray for our outreach ministries, and all on their separate prayer lists, no matter where in this world they would be.

Pray for all the members of Covenant of Hope Ministries and all those who they reach out to. May each of the members find grace and peace in His love.

Pray for our leaders, local, state, federal and around the world. That they make good decisions for the many.

May the LORD allow us to claim His truth and His healing hands. May we listen and hear and understand what those things we listen to and hear as well.

Monday is Memorial Day here in the United States. Let us remember that freedom has been fought for by many a brave soul in many ways. We celebrate our soldiers, who fought, win or lose, to protect their fellow citizens, just as Jesus did for all of us. John 15:13 KJV says this: No greater love hath anyone than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We are thankful and blessed to have You with us through Your Son Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. We know that You already know every want, and every need. We bring prayers for each of those who are in pain or sorrow both on our list and in our hearts. We bring you prayers for those we know and those we don’t, friend, and enemy, that we find a way to reach toward unconditional love. We pray these prayers in Your Holy Name through Jesus Christ our Savior and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Peace Be Still http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=twfa72JO67M

Sermon: The title of this psalm is An Exhortation to the Nations, *A Psalm for the sons of Korah, also said to be A psalm of the sons of Korah. What does it mean an exhortation? It means to offer a plea. They are pleading, the sons of Korah are pleading or being pled for. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at what is said here in Psalm 47:1-2 KJV – O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

God is good. He is great. He is mighty. These are worthy of triumphant shouts, of glorifying, of sharing in every point of view. It should be more than one of us. It should be all of us. It is another view of ‘fear not’, just in a more joyful manner. We can see some of that here in Deuteronomy 7:21 KJV – Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.

Don’t be afraid, that’s what these words mean, God is with us. He is mighty, and strong, and works for you, with you, in you. That’s what the beautiful part of this is. He is all of those things, so, fear not.

Nehemiah 1:5 KJV – And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

We often wonder what those commandments are, and if we can keep them. We do if we remember to love one another, not necessarily as the best of friends, but as humans. It is more than just liking or loving someone the way we see either of those. It is respecting each other for who we are. Sparing those who don’t understand is something we must work at. What’s meant by that, you wonder? You can’t make everyone believe and not everyone can do the same for you. God will either be accepted, or rejected, and sometimes would sit somewhere in the middle for people.

Malachi 1:14 KJV – But cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

The unbelievers, the heathen, a former name for the Gentiles, sacrificing just to sacrifice means nothing, and actually would be seen as corrupt. When you don’t share your faith, with YOURSELF, with all of your heart, then what’s the point of owning it, or sharing it? This is what God means. He wants us to see HIM with every part of our hearts, because it will include mind, spirit, body, and soul. Now, that’s an interesting view of the mind and body experience.

Psalm 47:3 KJV – He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

Who are the people under us, the nations under us? Those are the ones who choose to be unbelievers, deceivers, you see, like life or death, it is a choice to be good or not to be, to believe or not to believe.

Psalm 18:47 KJV – It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

God takes care of us. He will steer us away from those who would bring us harm, or show them their misdeeds, misconceptions and more. This is something we often don’t know how to do alone. It requires His guidance. That’s one thing we often fail to allow Him to give, or to bring.

Psalm 47:4 KJV – He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

What inheritance did God choose for us? He chose to give us a choice to follow Him or not to, through a son of David, child of Jacob, a prophet loved by God, and proven in so many ways. Stop and think about it, our inheritance is chosen because HE LOVES US FOR WHO WE ARE. That’s a beautiful thing. It truly is an awe inspiring ideal. Yet, do we see it? Do we recognize it?

I Peter 1:4 KJV – To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

His inheritance for us is never going to go away. Nothing can corrupt it, defile it, or cause it to disappear. Every part of it would be reserved, held safely, just for us. 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: Voice of Truth http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=KwsvqVmFV6Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=KwsvqVmFV6Y

~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

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.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Suum Cuique ~ To Each His Own

One thing that is undeniable in life is that man will always take sides against another man. Somewhere, somehow, man will take sides. This can be due to race, nationality, you name it. This happens, even when we try to “fix” it. Take, for example, demonstrations around the world, doesn’t matter what they’re about, they are still man versus man. How is that? Well, it’s easy enough, man has simply forgotten how to be neighbors. They have chosen, instead to hate their enemies, which, sadly, ends up being each other. There is a song, One Tin Soldier, that fits this exact ideal. So, where does this lead? Well, let’s start with the definition of man, people, and human before we get to the definitions of both a publican and a republican, as well as a republic.

Man – a person, a being.

People – human beings.

Human – consisting of or produced by people.

Publican – in Ancient Rome a collector of public revenues, tolls, etc. In other words, it’s another name for a tax collector.

Republic – a state or nation in which the supreme power rests in all the citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives elected, directly or indirectly, by them and responsible to them.

Republican – Favoring, or in accord with the nature of a republic, a characteristic of or having the nature of a republic.

Matthew 5: 46 KJV – For if ye love that which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans have the same?

Matthew 5:46 NIV – If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

These two versions of the same verse go with the words LOVE THY ENEMIES. What does it mean to love? Everyone sees it as a family thing, mother, and father to child, child to parent, grandparent, and so on. Yet, there is the love for a neighbor, even if they are unknown to you. Then, naturally, there are those who are enemies, which would, in fact, be the hardest consideration for us. Many of us don’t want to, refuse to love our enemies, no matter what reason would cause them to be such. If you love your enemies only for the sole fact that they are human, you can put aside the where they live, what they do, what they believe, and so on. This is NOT easy. We see it every day. Like the song One Tin Soldier, there are times we have seen, and probably will again see, the genocide of both sides, one against the other, or the genocide of one by another. Humanity attempting to wipe itself out, one segment at a time. It doesn’t matter whether you are white, black, or green with purple polka dots, what does matter is that you learn to not take sides. Believe as you choose, because it is just that, A CHOICE. God gave us the ability to make that choice, to each his own or in Latin suum cuique. Think about it this way, each of us has a path, that path will end up somewhere, and it may be the same place as everyone else, but it can, and often does, take us in different directions away from each other, friends, family, neighbors, it doesn’t matter, each of us has that choice. It is a God given choice known as FREE WILL. We don’t think about things this way, a Christian is a Christian is a Christian, they’re all the same, I’ve heard that so many times it isn’t funny. The thing is, everyone, no matter what faith, Christian or non-Christian, each sees their faith as just that THEIR faith. In other words to each his own. So, Jesus speaks of the publicans, to the publicans, and even as friends with publicans. Many countries, if not all countries, want to be considered a republic. The republic for which it stands, as the pledge, or part of it, for Americans would say. It is the understanding between republics that counts. It doesn’t necessarily equate to peace, but understanding each other. It’s more than a truce, it is actually on the path toward peace. Once we understand each other, we can be willing to see each side of things and make peace. Remember, Jesus said in John 14:27 KJV – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Fear leads us away from understanding, from peace. The place to start is to find your own peace. You have to start within your self, to be able to give of your self. It doesn’t matter who you are, whether you are publican or not, whether you are any faith, or not, or even whether you are white, black, or green with purple polka dots. What matters is that YOU ARE. Think about it.

~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

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

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Be Still in the Refuge of the LORD

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_5_19_2013

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

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

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

I need a new prayer list. I haven’t had anything new in months save a select few. Here are the ones that are new.

We have a new prayer, and it is tragic. Pray for the family of Shane Thrift, his wife, daughter, and unborn baby, after a terrible accident, he was taken off life support. They are friends of my niece.

We have a most urgent, tragic and more. This comes from Pastor Mary Kemuma Moriango, wife to Pastor Richard Nyaitira. He passed away in December. Sadly, he left wife and five children, two boys and three girls. They need prayers for school fees, food, and shelter for them. Pray for the memory of Pastor Richard, for his family, and his friends.

Continue your prayers for Pastor Eric from our Outreach Ministries. He is having issues with his leg and needs funds to manage fixing the problem, pray that the funds are made available for his health and strength.

Pray that Elder Cal Jennings would heal at last, don’t just pray, claim that God can heal him, because we know He can do just that through the Spirit which was given through Jesus.

Please pray for success for my youngest brother, that his continued education be beneficial toward a great career.

Pray for my daughter as she prepares for her new career.

Pray for my eldest son who is just beginning his collegiate pursuits, that he would grow in his learning and understanding.

Pray for friends Karen, Christie, her son Calvin, Art, Heather, Chris and his family, Jackie and her father, Debby, Tom, Teresa, Hope, during the start of the year for their issues of many forms.

Pray for Fran who is suffering a lot of pain and other issues.

Pray for my friend Grace as she has had pretty bad migraines. Pray also that her stepson would make the right decisions. They are having a hard time, may we have praise from the LORD.

Pray for my friend Laura who continues to heal.

Pray that results from a test done this past week would bring answers as to my health.

Pray that the Lord will find a way for my family to reach the ability to solutions that are necessary for health, shelter, and more. Praise the LORD more than half of those issues have been solved. There are family members who continue to need prayer. Claim that God knows and will be there.

Pray that pain, which all who we love and care about may suffer, would ease, no matter the type of pain it would be.

Continue your prayers for the continued success for little Phoebe Faire. She is doing very well. Praise the Lord.

Pray for our outreach ministries, and all on their separate prayer lists, no matter where in this world they would be.

Pray for all the members of Covenant of Hope Ministries and all those who they reach out to. May each of the members find grace and peace in His love.

Pray for our leaders, local, state, federal and around the world. That they make good decisions for the many.

May the LORD allow us to claim His truth and His healing hands. May we listen and hear and understand what those things we listen to and hear as well.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We know You hear our prayers, whether they are prayers of hope, sorrow, or solace. We know that You hear our voices, whether in song or in sorrow. We know that if we are still, we can hear You. So please help us to be still and listen to hear You, whether it is but a moment, or for a long conversation. May You teach us to be still, listen, and hear. We ask prayer for friends, family, and those we don’t know. We ask prayer for solutions to the troubles that surround. We ask these things in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: Whisper of Angels http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jLOwUrwWho&list=FLys7UjSJHrgrNHy9kLrkxpw

Sermon: Our title says a lot. It shares the fact that there are many ways we seek refuge, a safe haven, and yet, all we have to do is calm down, and be still. We’ll find it right there in front of us, all we have to do is claim it as a gift from God. We complete this chapter with some interesting verses that share both the same and the opposite of what we had for our last sermon. There is a song titled He Is In the Midst. This particular song gets its title in many locations, this is only one of them. Psalm 46:5 KJV – God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: Good shall help her, and that right early.

Who is she? Well, she is the earth, of course, she is the troubled, filled with troubled human beings, plants, animals, and the dust beneath our feet. She shall not be moved, in other words, she shall stay and the good will come to help her, that means not just the land and water, but each and every one of us.
Deuteronomy 23:14 KJV – For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

The ideal of being delivered from terrible things in life, like war, disease, false imprisonment, those kinds of things, is something we often hear about in Scripture. We often wonder about the enemies. There are many forms of enemy, they can be human, animal, or behavioral. That’s where vanity, envy, enmity, lust, wrath, shame, and doubt come in. You remember those seven. Changing from earthly to holy takes quite a lot of work, not just for ourselves, but for God, because it requires an understanding that God is with us, everywhere, and always.

Isaiah 12:2 KJV – Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Be not afraid. How often do we hear that in Scripture. If we were to look, there would be many, many verses that would share it. This is one of the additions to the gifts given to us, provided for our use, if we choose to. That’s yet another thing, to choose or not to choose. Many of us live with decisions that we look back upon and doubt that they were the right ones. But, think about it this way, it is yet another bridge we have crossed. Now we look at the view of the Gentiles, also known as heathen in the Old Testament. When bad things happen, they don’t just happen in regard to the Jews, there are many times Gentiles would be involved. That is shared here in Psalm 46:6 KJV – The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

Yet again we get the ideal of vanity, and no, it’s not a good thing to consider. Our next verse is in an earlier Psalm and shares a view of the heathen and how the Jews feel about them. On top of that, consider this as well, even the Gentiles were susceptible to the seven. You see it in these verses in Psalm 2:1-2 KJV – Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his annointed, saying.

What happens when we argue? Does it ever have a good result? A good portion of the time one or both parties stomp off in frustration. Sure, we can fight against the truth, but the truth is always going to overcome that which makes us fight it. Sometimes this is a painful realization. On occasion we pay for it through God’s voice as shared here in Psalm 18:13 KJV – The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire

The idea would be shared more than once. There are differences, in the fact that this next verse shares how strong God is, both in His goodness, and in His sharing of truth. These are shared in the next two verses. Joel 2:11 KJV – And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide in it?

The land shall melt, the ones dwelling there will mourn, and Egypt’s flood will be repeated. This is something God promised wouldn’t happen, but, in this case, it alludes to the sorrow, the grief, in the fact that they had been wrong. It’s hard to admit we’re wrong. It’s even harder to forgive and forget. That’s what this one shares here in Amos 9:5 KJV – And the Lord GOD of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell terein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.

Yet, there is a blessing. Yes, I said there is a blessing. Lessons learned will often allow us to realize the best parts of being within God’s love. We see that also in many places, but often remember it here in Psalm 46:7 KJV – The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

He is our refuge, our hiding place, our haven. It ends with musical thoughts. Why does it say Selah? Remember, this is a musical term. Is this a prayer within a psalm? Is this a song that celebrates the fact that God is with us? In this instance, look at it this way, God shares it as being both. That is one reason pardon, mercy, and more would be seen in His gifts to us. Many times we will beg, ask, plead for pardon, and we see that here in the next verse Numbers 14:9 KJV – Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now

The greatness of God’s mercy, that’s a lot of greatness. Mercy often is seen in different ways. It is seen as a step toward forgiveness, a step toward salvation as it were. Forgiveness, that’s what we look for, remember we pray for forgiveness of our sins. It doesn’t matter what they are, but, if you think about it, that iniquity suffered is something we must learn to overcome and consider them as lessons learned. There are consequences in relation to iniquity as it is seen in this pair of verses, nearly at the end of this chapter. Psalm 46:8-9 KJV – Come behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the charoit in the fire.

What desolations he hath made in the earth. What would be desolate? You remember that desolate means leaving them alone. There are those who fear being alone. This is something shared with us. Look at how it says that they feel alone because they feel that God has destroyed everything. Actually, what did He do? He pointed out what would be good, and what would not be. The ideal of being desolate, or alone, allows us to realize where we have been excessive, and more. He takes war away, enmity, the ideal of man versus anything and the wrath man, beast, or the earth itself might be. Too often, in those times, we don’t realize that we can erase it as easily as we can create it. How can we do this? The easiest way is to accept God’s unconditional love. Fear often clouds that ideal and it would be seen here in Ezekiel 39:9 KJV – Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.

And still yet, He asks only the easiest things in the world. We are the ones who make them difficult. He asks such amazingly simple considerations, yet, we quite literally can’t see that which is right in front of our face. This is when we have to pay attention as we see here in Psalm 46:10 KJV – Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Think about it this way. How often were we asked or told to be still? How often are we now? We hear that a lot in regard to children, from babies to teenagers. Sometimes we hear it as adults. In truth, we need that. Stand still, sit still, and just listen to that which is around us. When we do, everything settles down, and clarity comes into view. How often is it we actually think, see, understand what is shared in Psalm 100:3 KJV – Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

God made us. God created us from the dust of the earth. There are many who don’t remember that, or even refuse to remember or believe that. Yet, it is truth. We are His people, likened to sheep, but meant to be seen as followers. If you are familiar with farming and caring for sheep, you gather them together when they are feeding in the meadows. It is seen as being humble, that’s something. It really is. Being humble is sharing modesty. It is the opposite of vanity. That is what is seen here in Isaiah 2:11, 17 KJV – The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

And we see here again that musical term and that God is with us. God is here. The true God, the One God. Now, that’s an amazing thing brought to us here in our final verse Psalm 46:11 KJV – The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge, Selah.

Our refuge, our haven, again we see this, and it shows that not only is it such, but it is also seen as higher ground, safety. We often think of safety in the midst of bad times, or sorrowful times. We often share a need for that haven, that hiding place, the higher ground to get out and away from fear, pain, sorrow, and so much more. 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: Keeper of My Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK2LMz5cU6A&list=FLys7UjSJHrgrNHy9kLrkxpw

~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

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

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Body, Heart, Mind, and Spirit, and Soul

Jesus speaks to all of us through the Spirit, as the vine reaching out to us as His branches. When one, or many, would suffer sickness of any kind, body, mind, spirit, or soul, we have the gift of His grace. He can, and does, heal us, if we give that sickness up to Him. We see that here in Matthew 4:23 KJV – And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

I have had a cold, and my body has been bringing me pain and more. But, I persevere. I might have days I wonder why this is happening, but I keep going. I have seen many of you do the same. There have been illnesses of the body, the spirit, the mind, and the soul. We have seen it in the prayers we send for family, for friends, for our members, and even for those we do not know. God speaks to us through Scripture, yes, but He also speaks to us through our thoughts, our dreams, our pain, and our sorrow. We just have to learn how to listen and hear. Those two words are the single most difficult efforts to pursue. In order to hear, we must listen. But, in order to listen, we need body, heart, mind, and spirit, and soul, together, and willing to listen as one.

See what this verse shares? It shares that Jesus goes through healing both sickness and disease. Some wonder if these are the same. Well, they are, but they aren’t. Sickness can be any form of sickness, mental, spiritual, physical. Disease can affect one of those three more than the others. Being physically sick, where you suffer pain in your body, can indeed affect you spiritually and mentally. Disease, when it is present, thusly affects the physical health of anyone. It is as though one leads to another, and then to another. Yet, if we keep faith in the fact that Jesus can heal us, no matter what, then we will remember that He told the crippled man to take up his mat and walk. Luke 5:23-24 KJV – Whether is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say Rise up and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. Whether we do so literally, or proverbially, our spirits will carry on. We take up our couch, our mat, and walk. Think about it.

~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

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

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Seek Confidence in the Church of God

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_5_12_2013

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

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

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

Note: Today is the celebration of Mother’s Day. May we remember our mothers, and realize they are a treasure brought to us by God Himself. Just as each of us would be, let us share that gift with our mothers, one and all.

Monday is my daughter’s birthday. She will be 21.

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.

I need a new prayer list. I haven’t had anything new in months save a select few. Here are the ones that are new.

We have a new prayer, and it is most urgent, tragic and more. This comes from Pastor Mary Kemuma Moriango, wife to Pastor Richard Nyaitira. He passed away in December. Sadly, he left wife and five children, two boys and three girls. They need prayers for school fees, food, and shelter for them. Pray for the memory of Pastor Richard, for his family, and his friends.

Pray that Elder Cal Jennings would heal at last, don’t just pray, claim that God can heal him, because we know He can do just that through the Spirit which was given through Jesus.

Please pray for success for my youngest brother, that his continued education be beneficial toward a great career.

Pray for my daughter as she prepares for her new career.

Pray for my eldest son who is just beginning his collegiate pursuits, that he would grow in his learning and understanding.

Pray for friends Karen, Christie, her son Calvin, Art, Heather, Chris and his family, Jackie and her father, Debby, Tom, Teresa, Hope, during the start of the year for their issues of many forms.

Pray for Fran who is suffering a lot of pain and other issues.

Pray for my friend Grace as she has had pretty bad migraines. Pray also that her stepson would make the right decisions. They are having a hard time, may we have praise from the LORD.

Pray for my friend Laura who continues to heal.

Pray that results from a test done this past week would bring answers as to my health.

Pray that pain, which all who we love and care about may suffer, would ease, no matter the type of pain it would be.

Continue your prayers for the continued success for little Phoebe Faire. She is doing very well. Praise the Lord.

Pray for our outreach ministries, and all on their separate prayer lists, no matter where in this world they would be.

Pray for all the members of Covenant of Hope Ministries and all those who they reach out to. May each of the members find grace and peace in His love.

Pray for our leaders, local, state, federal and around the world. That they make good decisions for the many.

May the LORD allow us to claim His truth and His healing hands. May we listen and hear and understand what those things we listen to and hear as well.

Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We are blessed that You brought us to our Mothers, and that we have our Mothers in our lives. We thank you for keeping their memories alive, each of the mothers who are gone from life as we know. We praise You for helping us celebrate the gifts of life, including motherhood, which gave each of us life itself. We pray for those who have lost their lives, no matter the method. We pray for those who mourn, wives, husbands, children, and more. We pray for those at war, fighting for peace. We pray for those who have suffered, may they receive healing and solace. We pray for those in sorrow, that they might find solace. We pray all these things in Your Holy Name, the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: The Gentle and Forgotten Art of Blessings https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6BkT6-CDIjw

Sermon: Our sermon today starts out with the title and that would be Confidence in the church of God. Already in this title and what follows there would be a wording change, potentially these words are * For the sons of Korah which could also be seen as of the sons of Korah. We don’t even get to start with the psalm we are working with which is Psalm 46. Let’s start with the reference verse for our title. That verse is here in I Chronicles 15:20 KJV – And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel and Unni, and Eliab, and Manaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;

Psalteries are musical instruments. In other words they will bring music to the location. What a beautiful gift, the gift of music for Israel, for the sons of Korah. This shows something more, as shared in our first verses of Psalm 46:1-2 KJV – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

We have, at least most of us, have heard this pair of verses in many shapes and forms. You can also see it here in the NIV where it shares the same verse as Psalm 46:1-2 NIV – God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

In the King James we have a word change seen in the midst of the sea which also could be the heart of the seas. You can see that change in the NIV version of this pair of verses. This is a comfort, a gift of that comfort, as music can be for many, if not all. Remember that Selah is a musical term. So all of this relates to the gift of music. That is regardless of what the next verses, something we should remember in times of trouble as seen here in Psalm 46:3-4 KJV – Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof, Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

What a beautiful sight. Imagine bringing natural beauty and having it flow from the city of God. These bringing not just beauty, but hope in our faith, a blessing as shared here. Then there is the fact that others shall understand, as this verse shares in Isaiah 8:7 KJV – Now therefore, behold, the LORD bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels and go over all his banks:

This isn’t just any river. It is one that can, and will bring us pure faith, purely unconditional love. Now, think about it, unconditonal love is what will give us more than hope, it will free us from the troubles of the earth that currently exist. Now, that’s a beautiful thought. These other verses show the same, just in different points of view. Yet, every one of them comes from the mouth of God. We’ll start with Revelation 22:1 KJV – And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as a crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God, and the Lamb.

Clear, clean water, untouched, not needing purifying, because it is already. That’s something the earth hasn’t had in a long, long time. We have salt, sewage, and other potentially frightful things in our water, but all that will be gone when God brings us home, to the home we should have had in the first place. We see it here, a very clear view of what God is working toward. II Chronicles 6:6 KJV – But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

He chose David to be over the people of Israel, not just people, God’s people. He chose Jerusalem as His city. That’s a very important point of view to see. It is shown easily in the next verse, one that has been sung about, and more. Think about it, there is singing in all forms, music in all shapes and sizes, this verse shares that same ideal.

Psalm 48:1 KJV – Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

This has been shared in so many ways. We can think of many songs, many poems, and more in regard to this verse. Yet, look at this verse and how it connects to our chapter, even just at the beginning. God is our strength, our security, our hiding place in many ways. Why do we want to hide in God’s embrace? That’s easy to answer. It’s the safest place you can find spiritually, emotionally, and so much more. Let us think about that as we see more regarding our verses in Psalm 46. Here we see more from Isaiah 60:14 KJV – The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Look at it this way. Those who have brought pain and sorrow will do one thing, or many at once. They will say they’re sorry for what they’ve done. They apologize. Sometimes it is hard to apologize for things we have done, at least immediately afterwards. Forgiving others is either easy, or difficult, sometimes it takes no time at all, others it can take quite some time, but it can be done if our heart grows in understanding. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to then find something so beautiful as what is shared here in Hebrews 12:22 KJV – But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Angels, we’ll be amidst God and angels. What a beautiful idea! What an amazing sight that would be! Standing in the company of God and His angels. 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: A Mother’s Prayer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7qRF-fRW7M

~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

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

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Generation To Generation Great Is The LORD

Covenant of Hope Ministries Sunday Sermon_5_5_2013

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

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

Our Main Video Feed: Covenant_of_Hope

Pray that Elder Cal Jennings would heal at last, don’t just pray, claim that God can heal him, because we know He can do just that through the Spirit which was given through Jesus.

Please pray for success for my youngest brother, that his continued education be beneficial toward a great career.

Pray for my daughter as she prepares for her new career.

Pray for my eldest son who is just beginning his collegiate pursuits, that he would grow in his learning and understanding.

Pray for friends Karen, Christie, her son Calvin, Art, Heather, Chris and his family, Jackie and her father, Debby, Tom, Teresa, Hope, during the start of the year for their issues of many forms.

Pray for Fran who is suffering a lot of pain and other issues.

Pray for my friend Grace as she has had pretty bad migraines. Pray also that her stepson would make the right decisions. They are having a hard time, may we have praise from the LORD.

Pray for my friend Laura who continues to heal.

Pray that results from a test done this past week would bring answers as to my health.

Pray that pain, which all who we love and care about may suffer, would ease, no matter the type of pain it would be.

Continue your prayers for the continued success for little Phoebe Faire. She is doing very well. Praise the Lord.

Pray for our outreach ministries, and all on their separate prayer lists, no matter where in this world they would be.

Pray for all the members of Covenant of Hope Ministries and all those who they reach out to. May each of the members find grace and peace in His love.

Pray for our leaders, local, state, federal and around the world. That they make good decisions for the many.

May the LORD allow us to claim His truth and His healing hands. May we listen and hear and understand what those things we listen to and hear as well.

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 those surprise blessings, for they bring hope. We thank You for the gifts of friendship and faith. We hold many on our prayer lists that are offered up to You, since You know their names. We are grateful for You hearing our prayers. We bring prayers of thanksgiving and so much more in Your Holy Name through Our Savior Jesus, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: A Living Prayer~By Alison Krauss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=kY17JeYhD7Y&list=PL77ECAAA799CC83C9

Sermon: Last week we spoke of the king’s daughter. This week we will describe further in regard to this daughter of the king and how she will look, who will attend her. They would be brought rejoicing, filled with gladness, all to enter the king’s palace. God’s children, not our history’s children, but God’s children, that is what the writer shares. The fathers of mankind brought forth those who would understand, who would share that understanding and thus bring wisdom to all. That is what the first series of verses would share.

Psalm 45:14-16 KJV – She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.

Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayset make princes in all the earth.

We often have spoken of who SHE is. Think of it this way, there is CHRIST and then the BODY OF CHRIST. If you liken it to parables, like the Vine and Branches, one I often bring up, you’ll remember from John 15:1 KJV – I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

So who is SHE? Well, SHE would be the branches that are IN CHRIST, of course. The branches, people who believe.

I Peter 2:9 KJV – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

The chosen generation, believers, someone not like others who don’t want to believe, or can’t believe for whatever reason. Yet, still, those who don’t believe have a chance. Those who realize and do believe are called out of the darkness into the light. There are a lot of things to think about when we explore this. Some would wonder how we could be considered kings or princes, remember, Jesus is the king of kings. That is yet another reason to have us reminded as we are here in Revelation 1:6 KJV – And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Our names remembered, think about it, Jesus died for ALL of us, not just those standing there in horror as He was hung on that cross, those who believed then, but all who have believed since, and on to those who would believe after us. Generations have come and gone, and there are generations to come.

Psalm 45:17 KJV – I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefor shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

Praise God, that’s what we do, even now, we praise God. Why do we do this? There’s an easier answer, love comes from the heart, and God gave us that heart. God gave us hope through that love. His name is Jesus. He is our hope, our gift toward salvation, and His life is foreshadowed here. Scripture does that a lot, give us a preview of what can be, what will be, if we listen, hear, and believe.

Isaiah 11:10 KJV – And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

The symbol of truth, the symbol of eternal and unconditional love, and His name is Jesus, the descendant of Jesse and David, a gift for the people, both Jew and Gentile. A glorious gift to be shared, not just to be kept to ourselves, but to be shared, as a gift should be shared.

Malachi 1:11 KJV – For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great amongh the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

Often the heathen are spoken of, those are the Gentiles, those who were not seen as possibly being worthy of even being spoken to, or of, as they didn’t believe the same as the Jews. Jesus, however, saw that Jews and Gentiles, though different in how they share belief, even now, still follow God, and Jesus, through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Great is the LORD, it is truth, regardless of who we are, so long as we believe, we will see and understand what it means to have 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: Somewhere in the Middle ~Casting Crowns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=DveYBno-pmQ&list=PLBFFA90EEA597CFC3

~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

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.

About Us/

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

MESSENGER

Sunday, May 26, 2013

An Exhortation to the Nations

Monday, May 20, 2013

Suum Cuique ~ To Each His Own

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Be Still in the Refuge of the LORD

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Body, Heart, Mind, and Spirit, and Soul

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Seek Confidence in the Church of God

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Generation To Generation Great Is The LORD