https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuz4nN4eRsU
Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon. You will normally see us posted in written and live form on Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love and sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus 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.
- Pray for all the fathers in this world as they celebrate Father’s Day in more than 111 countries. Pray for those who are missing their fathers who have left this side of life and help them realize that they may not be here in person, but they are always part of our hearts and memories.
- Evangelist Cal Jennings is still having a little bit of an issue with his recovery, but his dog Scrappy is doing much better and both continue to thank everyone for their prayers.
- Pray for my sister’s youngest child who is headed for scoliosis surgery this summer at the end of June. She has been in a love pain. Pray that he feels better, and that the surgery goes well.
- Pray for my daughter and son-in-law’s family members as they work through some serious family issues.
- Pray for my Mama. She’s having a hard time right now, still mourning my father, who passed away in May 2021 and her life hasn’t been easy as she spends most of her time alone now.
- Pray for Janice’s mother who is still having issues after a stroke last year and other medical issues.
- Pray for my employer, Ed, who has been diagnosed with skin cancer and has had the cancer removed, let’s pray that it doesn’t return. Keep his wife Joy in prayer as well as she continues treatment for chronic issues that have caused a whole lot of pain. The two have been feeling a lot of different aches and pains this past month or more.
- Pray for a high school classmate of mine, her name is Kelly, who has been diagnosed with cancer and is going through a lot of emotions and more as a result. Her treatments have been going on for the past few weeks now and she’s got quite a few more to go through before it is done.
- Continue to keep my Aunt Donna in your prayers. She is hanging on even with the cancer treatments and the many changes she is going through.
- Pray for my niece, Autumn, who is having a lot of health issues relative to a head injury from a car wreck. Pray that the doctors find a solution to fix everything.
- Pray for a friend who has had a lot of issues to deal with in their life and is working hard to straighten them out. She returned home two weeks ago to find her husband had cleaned out all of his things and left. Pray for her as she picks up the pieces. (SGE)
- Pray for Pastor Stephen Okoth as he helps a brand new church establish its presence. Pastor Stephen is in Nakuru, Kenya and has been one of our outreach ministers for fifteen years. He and his congregation have done amazing work there in Kenya. God has been with them and the prayers we bring help as well.
- Pray for those who were killed in accidents and violent criminal actions this past week, and for the families who are saying good-bye.
- Be thankful for each day as we do not know what tomorrow brings.
- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Holy Spirit.
- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and pray our own be the same.
- Pray for those
who have lost their lives in the pursuit of faith and
hope.
- Pray for all of
those who suffer from cancer and other uncurable
diseases and conditions that they be
secure in God’s embrace through
the Holy Spirit.
- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.
- Pray for those who are serving our countries around this world.
- Pray for peace on earth and good will to men as Scripture shares, because peace needs to be shared or it cannot exist. This is the gift Jesus gave to all of us when He sent His peace out into this world.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have several friends, family members, and colleagues that we bring to You on this beautiful Sunday. We pray for the fathers past and present, that they be remembered for their contributions to their children, parents, friends, and colleagues. We pray for those in this world who have suffered great pain and sorrow that they each receive comfort in Your arms. We pray for those who are, and have been, ill and in need of healing through Your grace. We pray for those who have suffered incredible and unfathomed situations in their lives to the point of starting over. We pray for those who suffer from deadly situations worldwide and those who have been in accidents of all forms. We pray for the blessings of growth in Your heavenly kingdom here on this earth as Pastor Stephen Okoth and our other outreach ministries bring Your Word and Presence toward more and more people in Kenya and other places through the continent of Africa and in India as well as other places supported by our prayers. We pray that they also continue to spread Your Unconditional Love in the way Jesus taught. We pray for all of this in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Poem: The Wisdom He Imparts ~ Written by Laura A. Neff
The Great I Am once said,
Abide in Me in all that you do;
In the Word is where I read,
To find wisdom tried and true.
Jehovah my Father known,
In my heart where You reign;
As the Spirit has grown,
I know it wouldn’t be in vain.
The path might be narrow,
Impossible to truly discern;
For Your wisdom would show,
The truth for which we yearn.
With tears of joy we’ve overcome,
That stone which once stood in the way;
As must listen and hear earns some,
A gift of love as we stand and pray.
It has rolled away that old stone,
And opened the door in our hearts;
Love as He gave now has known,
Where we all would know death departs.
I Am He said on a long ago day,
Providing truth and wisdom anew;
In the land of victory He would say,
Verily, verily, I will always love you.
Know in your heart, soul and spirit,
That His love can only grow;
When you feel the sorrow won’t quit,
This is when His heart would show.
So take this wisdom He imparts,
And hold it deep in your soul;
And when pain and sorrow starts,
Know His love is your next goal.
©2011 Rev. Laura A. Neff
Sermon: Today we are continuing our voyage into the last chapter of Romans. This is our second of three sermons on this final chapter. Paul, as is his typical methodology, has packed a whole lot of information into his twenty-seven verse farewell to the church there at Rome. He continues this chapter with more farewells, salutations, and friendly, brotherly, good-bye kisses. He starts with a salutation here to Apelles, who Paul had noted as surviving the tests of faith in Jesus. He shares the same sentiment for everyone in Aristobulus’ household.
Romans 16:10 KJV –Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
NIV –Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
It’s not the first time someone has taken to bringing encouragement the same way as Paul did in his letter to the Romans in his farewell address. We see one similar to this in the words of Moses in the Torah scroll of Deuteronomy. Remembering is an important part of all Christianity. We have to remember that God knows us to the smallest hair on our body, from the top of our heads to the soles of our feet. He can see through our words and actions to our minds and memories and more. This is something we can’t easily understand in a metaphysical point of view, because we are not God. We don’t have omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, only God has this capacity. He knows all, sees all and is our all in all. This is what these supporting verses share.
Deuteronomy 8:2 KJV – And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
NIV – Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
1 Corinthians 11:19 KJV –For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
NIV –No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.
2 Corinthians 12:2 KJV –I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
NIV –I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.
Galatians 1:22 KJV – And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
NIV – I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
2 Timothy 4:19 KJV –Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
NIV –Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.
Paul is recognizing all the people in Rome who are furthering the call Jesus made when He sent out the Apostles and Disciples through the Great Commission prior to His crucifixion, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. It’s hard when people don’t recognize one another as fellow Christians, even in the same church building. Returning to the roots of Christianity is something every person who chooses Christ should pursue. We all have something vital to learn with these words Paul shares, even in his farewells.
Romans 16:11-12 KJV – Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
NIV – Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Paul is simply adhering to what Jesus taught. We see this in the references here in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 5:47 KJV – And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
NIV – And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Matthew 9:38 KJV – Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
NIV – Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Paul then references his letters to Corinth and Thessalonica as well.
1 Corinthians 15:10 KJV –But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
NIV –But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV –Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
NIV –Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 16:16 KJV –That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
NIV –to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 KJV –And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
NIV –Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.
Paul adds something that we often don’t think about. We are all related through Jesus Christ as His Brothers and Sisters, no matter our age, from birth to revelation and resurrection. That’s what Paul focuses on here.
Romans 16:13 KJV – Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
NIV – Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
Paul references Jesus and His words to the disciples as recorded by the gospel writer Matthew here.
Matthew 12:49-50 KJV – And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
NIV – Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 20:16 KJV – So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
NIV – “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
The Gospel writer Mark makes these two observations in the words of our Savior.
Mark 3:35 KJV – For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
NIV – Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 15:21 KJV – And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
NIV – A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.
John the Beloved is also referenced in one of the most utilized parables Jesus ever taught in the Vine and Branches.
John 15:16 KJV – Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
NIV – You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
As I shared earlier, even the mothers, fathers, grandparents, and more were recognized by the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus. There’s a reason for that as well. Paul references the desperate request Jesus shouted out toward John the Beloved in taking care of Mary, the mother of Jesus, until her death.
John 19:27 KJV – Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
NIV – and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
2 John 1:1 KJV –The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
NIV –The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—
John the Beloved took on the task without question or protest and Mary accepted the gift that it truly was, she wouldn’t have to be alone raising her other children, there was someone who could be there to assist. It's important to have a support system. Christianity is all about that. In fact, in one way or another, the Apostles who remained after the death and resurrection of Jesus were the ones who continued to treat each other and their relatives as family, as friends, more than just apostles and disciples of Jesus. They literally took the things that Jesus taught them and shared them without question, without fear, regardless of whatever might have happened in their future. Paul continues his farewell in these next two verses.
Romans 16:14-15 KJV – Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
NIV – Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.
Paul is recognizing the leadership of the Christian church in Rome. He points out that all of them have some importance in the spreading of Christianity throughout Rome. People are important to God, and, regardless of what happens here in earthly fashion, we are always loved by God. This is what Paul is reminding the citizens of the church at Rome all about. Sometimes we need the reminder when the world is filled with chaos and calamity. Paul references his go-to prophet, Isaiah, next.
Isaiah 60:21 KJV – Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
NIV – Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.
Paul has to bring up the words of our Savior in the recording of Matthew.
Matthew 5:47 KJV – And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
NIV – And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Paul then references the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles and also his letters to Colossae, and the writings of the Hebrew prophets.
Acts 9:13 KJV – Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
NIV – “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.
Colossians 1:2 KJV – To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV – To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
Hebrews 3:1 KJV – Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
NIV – Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.
Now, the next verse that Paul shares in his farewell involves a “holy kiss”. This is not your typical view of kisses from parent to child, husband to wife, or any of that. This is a kiss of respect and appreciation. It’s a kiss of reverence through faith, and nothing more. In this world today even kisses are often given the wrong connotations due to the earthly nature of humanity. Kisses of greeting and farewell have occurred for millennia around this world. We see this with friends and family members most often. This is the point of view Paul is sharing.
Romans 16:16 KJV – Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
NIV – Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
Paul references his pupil Luke in the writings of the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 20:28 KJV – Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
NIV – Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
Acts 20:37 KJV – And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,
NIV – They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.
Paul adds to this with his letters to Corinth, Thessalonica, and also the first letter written by fellow Apostle Peter.
1 Corinthians 16:20 KJV –All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
NIV –All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
2 Corinthians 13:12 KJV –Greet one another with an holy kiss.
NIV –Greet one another with a holy kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:26 KJV –Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
NIV –Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.
1 Peter 5:14 KJV –Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
NIV –Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
The hardest part of being Christian and also being human is that we don’t always see eye to eye, even if we are in the same church congregation. The same is seen outside the church, and it is something Jesus addressed many times. Paul points toward this with his next verse.
Romans 16:17 KJV – Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
NIV – I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
We have a saying in America “beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing”, and it’s important to realize Jesus actually coined this phrase. He pointed toward false prophets in this world. He knew them during His lifetime and knew there would be many more to come. Matthew and Luke both have earned reference in this verse from Paul.
Matthew 7:15 KJV – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
NIV – “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Matthew 18:7 KJV – Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
NIV – Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!
Matthew 18:17 KJV – And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
NIV – If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Luke 17:1 KJV – Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
NIV – Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.
Paul adds more writing from his pupil, the gospel writer Luke as the last two references in this verse.
Acts 15:1-5 KJV – And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
NIV – Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”
Acts 15:24 KJV – Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
NIV – We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.
Our final verse from this chapter of Romans today contains a warning about those false prophets and wolves in sheep’s clothing. It’s a warning we should all listen to, because we don’t know if, when, or how we might meet up with these charlatans pretending to be something they are not.
Romans 16:18 KJV – For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
NIV – For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
One thing that Jesus despised was a self-serving, two-faced, portrayal within the church. We recall His reaction to the money-changers in the temple. Now, Jesus wasn’t the only one who felt this way about sinners the likes of those same money-changers. We see this with the writings of the prophet Samuel, King David, and the prophets Isaiah and Daniel as well.
2 Samuel 15:6 KJV –And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
NIV –Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.
Psalm 12:2 KJV – They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
NIV – Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.
Psalm 119:130 KJV – The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
NIV – The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Isaiah 30:10 KJV – Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
NIV – They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.
Daniel 11:34 KJV – Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
NIV – When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.
Paul, of course, has the Word of Jesus to back up this ideal. It is important to understand where Jesus was coming from. We cannot serve God through Jesus and then turn around the next minute and serve someone, or something, else. That distraction, the disarray caused by doing such a thing, creates confusion, and hesitation in your faith. Those are bad things to have eating away at your faith, eroding its strength. That’s why Jesus shares this as shared by Matthew and John the Beloved.
Matthew 6:24 KJV – No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
NIV – “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
John 12:26 KJV – If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
NIV – Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Building faith is the most important reason for Scripture to exist in the first place. Scripture gives us roots that are deep and strong. Faith brings those roots the nourishment they need, like water and soil to the blades of grass, trees. Faith gives birds the strength to fly and gives each and every one of us a reason to live a life that gets us closer to God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 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 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: In My Father’s Footsteps ~ Poem Written by Rev. Laura A. Neff
We savor every day that you live,
You share all the heart can give,
Both find the patience to forgive,
Each show a love that is massive.
Our father’s footsteps would be,
Far more and farther than we see,
Hearts together are set free,
Brought from you and through me.
In my father’s footsteps I stand,
Wishing to always hold his hand,
Sharing a view that’s always grand,
Where only a father can understand.
In my father’s footsteps I know,
There are so many places to go,
With every moment we will grow,
Because love always proves it so.
So a father’s footsteps we hear,
Whether very far or oh so near,
In our hearts we hold them dear,
Keep them close from year to year.
© 2014 Rev. Laura A. Neff
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
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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
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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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