[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (4/27/08)

Tue Apr 29 14:30:20 CDT 2008

Walking in the Light

"For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light."
"The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the
simple." 

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another...."
(Psalm 36:9; 119:130; 1 John 1:7a)

April 27, 2008

www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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INFORMATION: My WEB Site  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com has just been updated to include the articles and
sermons listed below. All the sermons posted each week to my web site are in
.pdf format.  The PowerPoint charts are also included with ALL the sermons
that are posted to the web site. To access the sermons page, visit the site
and click on "Richard's Page" and then click on "sermons." Please visit the
"Reference Works" links page for updated links to various Bible study
resources. If you are a newcomer to the area or wanting information
concerning the San Juan church of Christ here in Montrose, Colorado, then
click on the San Juan church of Christ Web Site at
<http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org/> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org. Thank
you for visiting my web site and as always, your comments are welcome. 

If you know of someone that would like to receive the "Walking in the Light"
electronic bulletin each week, please send an e-mail message to
<mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com  with their
name and e-mail address and I will add them to the list.

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CONTENTS:

"Shaping Our Lives" (Richard Thetford)

"Free Agency" (Richard Thetford)

SENTENCE SERMONS

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SHAPING OUR LIVES

Richard Thetford

As we live each day we encounter various trials that we have to learn to
deal with. As Christians, we understand that these trials will be before us
and that they are a test for us individually, as we prove to ourselves and
to God that we are able to overcome these trials and pressures of life. In
James 1:2-4 it says "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing." It is interesting to note that James tells us to count it
"all joy" when we encounter these various trials and tribulations in life.
Why joy? Because when we understand that these trials are tests of life and
we do overcome them, then we can be joyful that we did so, knowing that as a
result, we can someday have an eternal home with our heavenly Father.

Our Christian Walk Is Not Easy

When we are striving to walk in the paths of righteousness, obeying God's
will and not man's, then it is certain that we will suffer persecution.
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution"
(2 Timothy 3:12). Do you feel that you are suffering some type of
persecution as you live your daily Christian life? If so, then you must be
doing what God expects of you as a Christian. It is not easy to tell someone
that you are with not to use that kind of language around you. It is not
easy to tell one of your friends that you cannot go to that movie because
there is bad language, nudity, and other things portrayed therein that God
would not approve of. When we take a stand for Jesus in ALL things that we
do, then we WILL suffer some type of persecution in our life.

A beloved sister in Christ, Ellen Kyle, wrote a beautiful poem that goes
along with this thought of shaping our lives. It is entitled "The Stone
Cutter".

THE STONE CUTTER

I watched a stone cutter as he worked with great care,

He was cutting and shaping a stone so fair.

I looked but I couldn't see where it would go,

Finally I stopped him and told him so.

He pointed to a spot on a building so high,

That it almost seemed to touch the sky.

With the blows and cuts to the stone so fair,

I'm shaping it down here so it fits up there.

As I stood there and thought about what he had said,

A truth in my life took shape in my head.

I started to tremble as tears filled my eyes,

For I was beginning to realize,

The trials in my life that have hurt me so bad,

The things that trouble me and make me feel sad,

Are the blows that a heart of stone must receive.

And it's through these struggles that God shapes my will,

And if I only let him, my well of strength He'll fill.

So I try now to remember when trials are everywhere,

God is shaping me down here so I'll fit up there.

---Ellen Kyle

Allowing God To Shape Our Life

When we allow God to shape our lives then we can have joy knowing that when
the end comes we will be able to "fit up there" with Him in heaven.
Christians should be the happiest people on earth. Christians fully
understand that those trials, tribulations, and persecutions will be there,
and KNOW that if we will be patient and let God direct our steps (Jeremiah
10:23), then we will be rewarded for our steadfastness. Have you allowed God
to shape your life? If not, won't you now be determined to live for him each
day, allowing God to shape your life into an individual that will not be
afraid to deal with life's trials so that in the end you will "fit up there"
in heaven above!

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FREE AGENCY

Richard Thetford

In the sports world we probably know what a free agent is. It's when an
individual fulfills their contract with a specific team and then has the
freedom to choose to play for the team of their choice. In the spiritual
realm God has allowed every person to be a free agent. We always have the
option to choose to live for Christ or live for Satan. But we can't have it
both ways, it has to be one or the other. Jesus said: "No one can serve two
masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will
be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon"
(Matthew 6:24). Long ago God addressed man as a free agent in Deuteronomy
11:26-28. Joshua, in his often quoted speech to the children of Israel told
them "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve..."(Joshua 24:15). While it is true that we
have free agency, it is only when we choose to serve God that we can live
forever (John 5:40). Before signing on with the Devil, come and hear more
about God at the San Juan church of Christ!

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SENTENCE SERMONS

"He who loves the Word, will receive the power to understand what he loves."

"Leisure is a beautiful garment, but it will not do for constant wear."

"Habit is either the best of servants or the worst of maters."

"The world owes you a living only when you have earned it."

"It is a short road to some people's wit's end."

"The best way for a person to have happy thoughts is to count his blessings
& not his cash."

"The little oil of courtesy will save a lot of friction."

"Too many people are broad-minded about the wrong things."

"No one is ever too old to learn, but many people just keep putting it off."

"One may go wrong in many directions, but right only in one."

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SERMON

None Posted This Week

Sermons can viewed at my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com

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Meets at:

1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C
Montrose, CO   81401
(970) 249-8116

 <http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org/> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org

ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY
Bible Study....................10:00 A.M.
Worship.........................11:00 A.M.
WEDNESDAY
Bible Study......................6:30 P.M.

Evangelist
Richard Thetford

(970) 626-5558

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

Web Site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> www.thetfordcountry.com

RICHARD THETFORD

1491 Canyon Drive

Ridgway, CO  81432

(970) 626-5558

E-Mail:  <mailto:richard at thetfordcountry.com> richard at thetfordcountry.com

Web Site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com> www.thetfordcountry.com

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