Five Kernals of Corn

Good morning. Here. We are on our second week of doing things virtually and as we talked about that our hope is to return 10% worship on November 29th. But you know that could change if our County moves to a red status as Doctor Ainsworth has anticipated this next week. We might have to change things one option. We are considering is that so we can stay within the guidelines of not having a gathering of more than 25 that we will have to separate Services probably 1 in the morning 1 in the afternoon or evening and You will call ahead and reserve your time. So if you want to come to the morning one you call and let us know so we can know when we have our 25 people and same with evening service and we will try to do things that way and if we need to have a third one in there will introduce the third one but to do it that way to try to set a good example in our community and try to stick by the 25% guideline if we move that right now, we're at 50 and we should be okay.

Might be closed, but we will see when it comes to that. So keep looking for updates. And if you're wondering about it, just go ahead and call the church next week. We'll fill you in on what we're doing on all of that.

Hopefully that means also if we can come back on the 29th at youth group will be able to start back up at that time. Also, so be letting youth high school or middle school age know that we're having that on Sunday nights 6 to 8 p.m.

And we are not going to do the decorating party that we had planned for November 23rd. Connie has already come in and started decorating putting up the tree and all that. Cuz that Sunday we come back is first Sunday of Advent. So we're not doing the party. We're going to do a little bit of Probably a little abbreviated version of our decorations this year just not knowing what's going on moving forward. So if you do want to help but you can always give the office here or Connie a call and see where she might need assistance in helping with the decorations at church.

Our birthdays we have coming up this next week. We have sherry emenhiser, November 22nd Anthony raus on November 25th and Addison Gilbert on November 28th. Be sure to wish them a happy birthday and we have anniversary is going on Austin and Josie Smith on November 24th in Rogers and Donna Curry on November 26th. Be sure to wish them a happy birthday. also As we get into our times of Joy's concern some I just want to remind you that during this time while we're virtual. If you have a joy or concern, please call me text me to do whatever so that we can share it with the rest of the church family or so. I can just pray with you individually if that's what you want. But please call and help us to know what's going on during this time while we're apart. We certainly want to continue to pray for those in their care facilities. Many of the care facilities are back on lock down again, and that makes things especially difficult as they can't see family and loved ones. So be praying for Marcille King and that the Lord will just sustainer during this time and for Bill and for Bonnie that he'll plus their time and for Christie that they will all just feel his presence and it's Lord will keep them company during those times that we can't be there person. And then also praying for those within our own congregation. I'll be praying for Ron Stuckey and his own battle with his health then also with the recent lost his brother just pray for him and his family continue to pray for Russell and Mary Jane Nichols for Jed Nussbaum and Tim Dean that the Lord would be with them and help them in their battles with their health. Also, we want to remember our service members we owe them so much gratitude for all that they do for our country and our freedom AJ and Ruth Rouse Avenue boys, many marine and our very own Bryce Bennett. Remember them in your prayers daily, and that the Lord would use them in a mighty way. Please bear with me in prayer. Heavenly father as we come to you today Lord. We thank you for the many blessings you give us Lord. We thank you for Even being able to Worship You virtually or it's not the same as being together with our church family, but Lord. We thank you that to technology. We can still learn about you learn more from your word and Lord at least feel like we're still doing something together as a church or I pray you'll plus it during his time and Lord. I pray that you will come and heal our land and heal our County in our community Lord and just slow the spread of the coronavirus and Lord help all of us to do our part to do what we need to do to help slow down that spread and Lourdes week. Listen to your word this morning Lord. I pray that you will clear our hearts and our minds of all the worries and stress that comes from dealing with this pandemic or help us to focus on you and learn to hear what it is that you have for each of us today. I pray that's all in your most. Holy name. Amen.

Well, if we continue on and talking about thankfulness and gratefulness this morning of the title of my messages five kernels of corn and you'll understand that here in a little bit. Are the pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock over 300 years ago knew nothing of the affluent times, which you and I enjoyed today in this great country of ours. Even in the midst of a global pandemic and all the things we have to deal with it. Maybe must face the reality that compared to the life and the struggles that those early pilgrims faced. We still have it pretty easy. You know the next time that you and I are tempted to complain about living through this Global pandemic. We need to remember some of the following things. During that first Long Winter at the Plymouth Colony seven times as many graves were dug for the dead as homes constructed for the living. And the shift which was to bring food and relief for those early pilgrims instead brought 3435 more mouths to feed but not one ounce of food. No Provisions to help ease their struggle.

I know the early pilgrims had a custom of putting five kernels of corn upon each empty plate before a dinner of Thanksgiving was serve. Each member of the family would pick up a kernel of corn and tell what they were thankful for. It was to remind them that the first pilgrims were in such Dire Straits that their allowance was only five kernels of corn per person per day that first difficult winter.

So today I want us to think about the many reasons we have to be thankful. Let's Take Five grains of corn and using Psalm 103 verses 1 through 5 is the bassist think of five things to praise God for

Psalm 103 verses 1 through 5 praise the Lord. Oh my soul. All my inmost being praise His. Holy name praise the Lord. Oh my soul and forget not all his benefits. Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion who satisfies your desires with good things so that your used is renewed like the eagles.

Jonas song David calls upon his body mind and soul and spirit to join in one grand Symphony of praise for the benefits. God has so graciously bestowed upon him. I hope that you can begin to see the five in there and you might notice some different things, but there's five things. I want to point out today. The first one is the kernel of forgiveness. Verse 3 it says who forgives all your sins? You know, there are many different scriptures that talk about forgiveness. You're just a few examples of that are 2nd Chronicles. 7:14 says 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land?

Matthew 6:14 says for if you forgive men when they sinned against you your heavenly father will also forgive you. Colossians 3:13, this is bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

forgive as the Lord forgave you

or 1st. John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

You know, there's no mistaking it God offers forgiveness. All any person must do is repent and forsake his sin and God will forgive him and revoke the penalty of sin. From the depths of our hearts a sense of gratitude should well up for the wonderful blessings of forgiveness.

But did you also notice that most of these verses that I just read we are also reminded of the importance of forgiving others. It's easy for us to feel like we have a right to hold on to our bitterness when we have been wronged by someone. But what if God treated us that way? You must remember to forgive as the Lord forgave you.

The second one is the kernel of forgiveness. or up Redemption verse for says who redeems your life from the pit.

The Lord not only saves our souls from hell, but he also redeems our lives from the clutches of the devil. Satan has been on damning our souls and destroying our lives, but thanks be to God who redeems our lives from the pit of Hell by his divine power. All we have to do is take a look at the world around us and we can see a multitude of people whose lives are being destroyed by our enemy. Jesus said Matthew 7 13 wide is the gate and Broad is the way that leads to destruction and many are on that road. think of the price Jesus Paid for a stink of the depths into which he had to journey in order to find us and then to redeem has but we praise God today with the Samus who said in Psalm 40 verses 2 and 3. He Lifted Me Out of the slimy pit out of the mud in the mire. He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth a hymn of praise to our God many will see in fear and put their trust in the Lord. Colossians chapter 1 verses 13 and 14 says for he has rescued us from the Dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son. He loves in whom we have Redemption the Forgiveness of sins.

How can we sync up the price that Jesus Paid to redeem us and not be filled with an overwhelming sense of thankfulness and gratitude.

Colonel number three is the kernel of healing. Verse 3 says who heals all your diseases?

First considering this passage of scripture. I was reluctant to use it because I couldn't reconcile it with the fact that God doesn't heal everyone who has an incurable disease. It's something we often struggle with but I believe the Holy Spirit can help us to see three important truth contained in this purse. The first one is that all healing is Divine Healing. Maybe ever thought about that any and all recovery from sickness and Dre and surgery is result of healing properties that God has built into our bodies. Medicine surgery and therapy are merely extensions of God's Healing Ministry. They wouldn't work if God hadn't designed it that way.

You know, this verse doesn't say that God heals everyone's diseases, but that he heals all diseases. There is no disease or sickness that lies Beyond his healing power. Not even what we call incurable. He is the great physician. I mean truth I learned is I studied this verse was that the psalmist is speaking of his soul. Bless the Lord. Oh my soul. He said who heals all your diseases?

Are diseases of the Soul emanate from the virus of sin Jesus identified this virus and it's symptoms and disorders and Matthew chapter 15 verses 19 and 20. It says for out of the heart come evil thoughts murder adultery sexual immorality theft false testimony slander. These are what make a man unclean just as surely as some disorders of the body can be cured by medicines and

surgery, so the soul of a man can be cleansed purged in purified and made whole when God is allowed to possess is completely 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 24 says he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we might die to sends and live for righteousness by his wounds. You have been healed. What we must remember here is that healing can come in many forms. Sometimes we are healed physically. Sometimes we are healed emotionally. Sometimes we are healed spiritually there also times when God chooses to heal us spiritually and emotionally but not physically Paul addresses says in 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 verses 7 through 10 where he writes there was given me a thorn in my flesh a messenger of Satan to torment me. Three times. I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore. I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses. So that Christ power May rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake I Delight in weaknesses and insults and hardships and persecutions and difficulties for when I am weak then I am strong.

Paul found a way to the light in his weakness. We must learn to do the same. We must look for the diamond in the black coal of our despair me must allowed its will to work out in our lives and allow him to show us how he has healed us.

I feel that God healed me and I shared this a few weeks ago. He healed me in the sense that you allowed me to see that the heart problem that has been my Thorn In the Flesh for my entire life is a big part of who I am. It has shaped me and molded me. And without it. I wouldn't be me and I don't think that I would have many of the character traits that I do have. I don't know who or how my life would be different.

But I can't sync simply if I didn't have this Thorn In the Flesh that everything will be better. Is this is the life that God chose for me and he wants to use it to be a testimony to bring him glory. and in that sense, I can realize that and realize that I can take the light in my weakness just like Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 4:16 read therefore. We do not lose heart though outwardly. We are wasting away yet inwardly. We are being renewed day by day.

Give all your infirmities to Lord and allow him to renew you day by day. Give all your worry and stress. Exhaustion from this pandemic to the Lord and allow him to renew you day by day.

Number for is the kernel of love and compassion. The first part of verse for it says crowns you with love and compassion.

Is there was a doctor doctor J Wilbur Chapman who? was an evangelist and he was having meetings and One day and one of his meetings a man Rose to give the following remarkable testimony. The man said I got off at the Pennsylvania train depot one day as a tramp. 4 year I begged on the streets for a living. One day I touched a man on the shoulder and said Mr. Please give me some money so I can have something to eat. As soon as I saw his face, I recognize him as my father. Father don't you know me I asked. Throwing his arms around that he cried. I found you. I found you all that I have is yours. Think of it that I a tramp's did begging my father for a few cents when for 18 years. He had been looking for me to give me all he was worth.

Yeah, I tell this story because how similar this is to the loving kindness and Tender Mercies of the Lord which sits waiting for us to come home and accept his gift.

Psalm 103 verse 13 Madrid as a father has compassion on his children. So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him Psalm 145 verse 9 says the Lord is good to all he has compassion on all he has made. Are Matthew 9:36 this when he saw the crowds he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.

I think that we have no idea how many times God showers us with his love and compassion everyday. I say this because I know there are ways in which we are blessed each and every day that we never noticed. However compassion is not just a character trait of God. It is an essential trait for all who claimed to be children of God. We should seek to model that same compassion in Colossians chapter 3 verse 12. It says therefore as God's chosen people holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with compassion kindness humility gentleness and patience. I think the best way for us to show our appreciation to God for his Wonderful Mercy and compassion is to show it to others. What have you done lately to show God your appreciation for his compassion and mercy?

During this pandemic when we're told to stay away from people and distance ourselves. How can we find ways to still show compassion and mercy to others? something important to think about turn on number five is the kernel of satisfaction in renewal. First five says who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

This reminds me of the words of Jesus given in The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 6 where he said blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied?

You know, there's a great Paradox here. It's we're satisfied but never fully satisfied cuz we hunger and a thirst were right. Just makes me think of my grandmother and she used to make the best potato soup in the world.

And you know, it's one of those things that you enjoy so much that when you eat it, you know, I was always satisfied when I ate some but I always wanted more because what I had experienced maybe want to taste it again and again,

So it is with righteousness. We're filled and the filling is so sweet. And so rich that we want more even though we are fully satisfied. So we're satisfied but it is so rich and wonderful that we want more when we seek God's righteousness. He grants it. He wants to continue filling gas with it as it says in Psalm 107 verse 9. He has satisfied the Thirsty soul and the hungry Soul he has filled with what is good. Since God has filled us with what is good. Then why do we waste our time and energy seeking lesser things?

Seems so often we only give God an hour a week at church. When we spend the rest of our week seeking after things that will not last or move into eternity. Isaiah chapter 55 verse 2 says Why spend money on what is not bread in your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen listen to me and eat? What is good and your soul will Delight in the richest of fare? Eunice off and learn the hard way that seeking the Lord in his will for our lives is the only thing that is going to satisfy us and renew us day by day. Universe 5 also says that God will renew my youth like eagles.

Yeah, this is the result of living a fulfilled satisfied spiritual life. We are seeking to live our life the way that God intended it. We will see that we are constantly being renewed refreshed and revived in our souls and that God is doing it all. No wonder then that the psalmist said bless the Lord. Oh my soul and all that is within me bless His. Holy name. Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31 it says but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.

And we must ask God to transform our lives so that we can live this sort of life. That begins with a grateful spirit in it a new understanding about what is important in life.

Maybe just maybe that's the purpose behind this entire Global pandemic. Remind us what is so important in life. How does that happen? How do we begin to transform or spirit? Romans chapter 12 verse 2 gives us a good starting place. Brett says do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve. What God's will is his good pleasing and perfect will

you know, we must ask God to renew our mind and thus to renew our priorities in life. I think that we must also ask him to restore our joy so many things in this world can steal our joy and Satan knows it is extremely difficult Worship the Lord with a thankful heart if he has stole all your joy, don't let him do it. Do not let him discourage you during this pandemic and that can be a difficult thing to do with all of the isolation and with all the limit on our normal activities where we get to be with other people.

Use this time to spend more time with the Lord and ask him to fill you with his Joy.

Please pray with me. Heavenly Father we thank you for the many blessings that you give us Lord. I pray that you will restore our joy restora thankful grateful spirit and all of us. And Lord help us to see what truly matters in this life Lord help us to see what is worthy of our time and our effort. Lord help us to place a higher value on other people and building those relationships.

Turn all this isolation movie come to see the true value of friendship and spending time face-to-face with others.

Lord may you help us to persevere through this pandemic and Lord help the church to grow during this time. how to church to step up in to be the encouragement that people need or draw people to you and use us as your instruments to draw them to you. The prey the saw in your most. Holy name. Amen.

Are benediction I want to read Psalm 51 verse 12. It says restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing Spirit to sustain me. May God fill you with joy and may He sustained you each and every day.

Shall we should not let a day go by that we do not take time to thank the Lord for the blessings. He gives us for those five kernels that we talked about today. Journal of forgiveness to Colonel of Redemption 2 Colonel of healing the kernel of love and compassion and the colonel of satisfaction and renewal. May the Lord renew you each and every day this week fill you with his joy and give you a thankful grateful Spirit. Have a blessed week. Amen.