Happy Thanksgiving!!

Tonya and I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving...

The first American Thanksgiving didn't occur in 1621 when a group of Pilgrims shared a feast with a group of friendly Indians. The first recorded thanksgiving took place in Virginia more than 11 years earlier, and it wasn't a feast. The winter of 1610 at Jamestown had reduced a group of 409 settlers to 60. The survivors prayed for help, without knowing when or how it might come. When help arrived, in the form of a ship filled with food and supplies from England, a prayer meeting was held to give thanks to God.

- Today in the Word, July, 1990, p. 22.

Tonya and I are spending Thanksgiving this year at home, along with our daughter Brooke and her boyfriend Carey. We're going to be having all the normal menu with; turkey, rolls, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, pistachio and banana pudding and butterscotch cake. Need I say more?

Weston, Ashley and girls are spending the day with her family. Mom and Dad have already made their journey to south Florida. They will be missed this year. Note to Dad: Capree is really missing your carving job that she always helps with - lol.

After Thanksgiving, Tonya and I will be traveling to Nashville, TN for a couple days of fun. We will be returning home on Saturday Night for Sunday services. Let us all remember what Thanksgiving is all about and let us be grateful to God for all His manifold blessings.


BLESSINGS!
MT

The 'BIG' Mo...

Momentum, we've all seen it, the ups and the downs of life. Whether its measuring the stock market, our health, or the life of a ministry. www.dictionary.com defines it as: force or speed of movement. Well, in my own ministry, I've seen the ups and the downs and I would rather have the former if it was my choice.

We all know what Jesus said about pruning. Basically He was saying that God allows us to be pruned (cut back) so that new growth can take it's place. He promised that the new growth would more than replace what was pruned. Personally I love the Spring time for the promise of newness. Respectively, in the Autumn, we see things die out and with that the reality on Winter is around the corner.

Recently the Lord has been moving in our church in a powerful way. Revelation knowledge is flowing out of my life, perhaps like never before. I am so thankful for the resources and people that have and continue to speak into my life. My mother used to ask me how did you get that sermon; I would answer her down on my knees.

Well, in the times when momentum is with us, we can like David, tell the giants of our lives, I've beaten a lion and a bear (momentum) and I will defeat you before this day is done!! And he did! While people said, Goliath is too big, David said, he's too big to miss! But in the years to come, David also knew the melancholy and lows of life: the death of a child, rebellion within his house and death seemed all around. Yet it was God who called David - "...a man after My own heart...".

Friends, isn't that what we need to be striving for? While others may be looking for their seat around God's throne, we need to be seekers of His face and His heart. That will bring momentum into our lives!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

MT

Praise Him!!

It's Sunday Sunday Sunday - hooray!! The Bible says, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it". What a great day. To know that Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was made for man; to rest from his labors and to worship God. While the Word of God is full of praise scriptures, I have a lot of favorites, here are a few:

• Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
• Give thanks in everything for this is the will of God is Christ Jesus concerning you!
• Clap your hands all ye people, shout unto God with a voice of triumph!
• His praise shall continually be in my mouth!
• For You are my praise!

While Sundays maybe the most taxing day of my week, I rejoice on this day GOD'S DAY!! I know what you're thinking... everyday is the day that He has made and you're right. But my heart today is full of praise and adoration to my GOD, my SAVIOR, my LORD, my KING, my FRIEND!

For Isaiah 9;6-7 says, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end..."

PRAISE THE LORD!!
MT

Storms...

I've lived in the Mid-West all of my life. While we may not have the storms that the Plains States have, we still have our share. Just a few years ago a tornado ripped through an area just 30 minutes away. In happened in the early hours of a Sunday morning in November. One area was a trailer park in which around 2 dozen people lost their lives.

As we read about the characters in the Bible, God has included the storms that came into their lives, so that we could benefit from their stories. The people that you and consider to be great, were not great because they didn't have storms, but rather that they did have storms and God brought them through. That's encouraging to this pastor...

Jesus had a conversation with Peter one day about faith and Jesus declared to Peter in Luke 22:31-21, And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” What a powerful statement! He didn't promised the immediate removal from the storm, but that Peter's strength (faith) would not fail him.

So many today are facing some of the greatest storms that they have ever faced. Whether its a storm of; sickness, finances, marriage, etc... people are going through storms. Let this statement of Jesus be an encouragement to us all. God has the promise of a rainbow for you! Stand strong and do not give up or in, He'll make a way for us all!

But do this one thing if you have time today: PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE STORM! Lift up their hands so that they will know that they are not alone! Let the Lord use you and I to be those to stand on either side of our friends and support them! They are looking for people to pour encouragement into their lives.


BLESSINGS!

MT

Happy Birthday Tonya!

Well, it has finally arrived after all this time, my wife has finally caught up with me and has turned (??), don't think I'm going to tell. Tonya is the strongest woman that I've ever known. She has without consideration for her own needs, unselfishly and endlessly helped others with her life. After being raised in a troubled home, she has allowed the Lord to give her the strength to pull up out of that heritage and become the planting of the Lord. She is a tree of righteousness as Psalms says.

One of her favorite verses is; Proverbs 18:22 "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD". Well, I have found the best in her. We dated for 5 years and on April 21st, 1979 we were married on our 5 year dating anniversary - that means we've been together for more than 34 years! This next year we will be married for 29 years, she was just a pup - :-)) I am the blessed one in our married and we tend to say, I know that I married up! She has blessed me with 2 great kids, who have in turn blessed me with a daughter-in-law and 2 granddaughters - WOW!

She is not only an awesome wife, mother and Meme, but she is a super Pastor's Wife. It's not easy living in a glass house in a small community, where we have lived for the past 25+ years. She has watched me go through the ups and downs of pastoring and has stood by my side through it all. It's not always been easy, but we are still here!! Tonight, yes on her very special day, we'll be doing what we've been doing for over 25 years, we'll be here in church worshipping the Lord and teaching the Bible to our church family.

I love her strength!! She is my 'best friend' and all that goes along with that. She is my partner through life and I thank my God for this great gift that He has bestowed upon me. Tonya, I love you dearly and am very thankful for you in my life!


Have A Great Birthday Honey!
Mark

Our Nation, Our World...

In Exodus 32, Aaron compromised as he stood in the priest’s office because he didn’t speak out against sin or stand for righteousness. He allowed that which was false to go unchallenged. In fact, he even allowed himself to participate in the sinful activities. However the prophet Elijah responded very differently to the evil activity of his day. In 1Kings 18, he boldly challenged the enemies of the Lord. The prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel cried for their false god to answer by fire. They did all they could to promote a lie. They prophesied, shouted, dressed up their sacrifice, and cried, but there was no answer.

Today the secular world is dressing up a lie and society remains void of having any answers. Even in the church we prophesy, shout, and at times, dress it up a facade. We cry but still there is no fire of revival. It will take the same thing that it took for Elijah, a man who stood boldly and became a fearless voice, putting his own life on the line. The reason God answered Elijah was because of his great sacrifice. He was so on the cutting edge that He poured water on the altar during a time of great drought. Water was unimaginably scarce therefore it was an incredible sacrifice made for the purpose of upholding the torch of righteousness.

During this election cycle, we once again have the awesome opportunity to let our voice be heard. It cannot be someone else’s responsibility, but it is your responsibility. What are you willing to do this election to lay your life down and sacrifice; to let your voice be heard that God may send revival fires and bring righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost to America? Do your part in the nation. Begin by voting, praying for the nation and then boldly stand up for righteous issues when they are threatened. You are a voice, so allow your voice to be heard!

Who ever wins today's elections, we must as the scripture says, 1Timothy 2:1-2 "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, and all who are in authority." Let us at the end of the day, lay down our anger, malice and division and pray that God would send revival. He doesn't need the power of political powers to do that, just His people praying - 2Chronicles 7:14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land"

God Bless America and Send Us REVIVAL!

MT