SING A NEW SONG

Sing a new song.

Psam 96:! encourages us to 'sing a new song...sing unto the Lord.' I read this verse again about three or four weeks ago in preparation for a message. I filed it in the back of my mind. I then began to notice the things that I sing to the Lord about. I wake up in the morning and even before I am out of bed the thoughts of the day begin.

"O Lord", I think as I begin my ritual of brushing teeth; shaving; spiking the hair and all the other manly things I do in the morning. "O Lord, I hope I feel better today than I did yesterday. My feet swell so bad I could hardly walk so I pray to you Lord for strength to make it through the day. Oh, Lord, no one knows how bad I feel...they just don't understand how it hurts to move. How sometimes I don't feel like smiling...they just don't get it, Lord." You might could even make a song of my words..."O Lord, no one knows the troubles I've seen, No one knows but Jesus.'

Every day I sing the same old song to the Lord. How I feel!...How I hurt!...How I have so much to do and I just don't feel like it. Is is any wonder that I hurt; am always tired; and just never feel good? After thirty, fifty, a hundred, even thousands of times that I have sung the same old song it is now a part of my personality. It is me! I have sung the same old song so much more that now it is hard to remember the songs of praise...hard to remember the joy that comes from fellowship with Jesus.

What about you? Are you singing the same old song? Has your life simply become one of the verses in the same old song. Try it---you'll like it! Everyone around you will like like it. Psalm 96:1 Sing unto the Lord a NEW song! How? Just do it. Tomorrow could be the beginning of all things new.

You Have To Watch This

Hello Everyone,

I received this from Sister Theresa Tese of ComfortSocksOnline.org today and I just had to pass it on to each of you. It is a video that you can open with Windows Media player or another player that is compatible. See the bottom of this post to watch the video .Please watch it all to the very end...the ending will surprise you. BTW, Theresa we have some more socks that were collected. I will get them to you soon.

Also, I forgot to announce at the worship this morning that I will be speaking this coming Wednesday night at 7:30 at New Life Fellowship Church located on Stone Chimney Rd about a 1/4 mile on the right past the "junkyard". I would love for you to join me there.

Thanks and Blessings to each of you...Pastor Ray

Grown Men Do Cry

This is a true story!

A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'.

They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together..

One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father said 'Yes' too.

For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever.

The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island .

Father and son went on to complete the race together. View this race at.......

NOW WATCH THIS VIDEO: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513

How to Lock Your Car and Why

This was forwarded to me. It is good information to know.

I locked my car --- as I walked away I heard my car door unlock I went back and locked my car again three times. I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car in the fire lane next to the store. When I looked straight at them they did not unlock my car again.

How to lock your car safely -
While traveling, my son stopped at a roadside park. He came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later and found someone had gotten into his car, and stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator, briefcase......you name it...

He called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into - the police told him that there is a device that robbers are using now to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key-chain locking device. They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and have a few minutes to steal and run. The police officer said to manually lock your car door-by hitting the lock button inside the car, that way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim it will not be you.

When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting...it does not send the security code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on your key chain - it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be stolen. Something totally new to us...and real.

Be aware of this and please pass this note on...look how many times we all lock our doors with our remote...just to be sure we remembered to lock them....and bingo someone has our code...and whatever was in the car...can be stolen.

Snopes Approved. Please share with everyone you know... Good
information!!!

What A Difference One Will Make

What a difference one can make in so many things. From the least to the greatest needs, wants, or whatever in our lives one can make a great big difference. Suppose you are walking alone in a forest with which you are unfamiliar and become lost. You are alone and night is approaching. Out of desperation you begin to holler and yell at the top of your lungs. Soon you hear footsteps coming in your direction. It is your older brother and he has been looking for you. At the sight of him you realize what a difference one can make in your life.

Today is September 11, 2009, the eighth anniversary of the worst terrorist attack our nation has ever suffered. At the hands of cowards lives were lost; families broken; children orphaned; spouses left without their mates; and billions of dollars in property damage. As great as the catastrophe was it could have been even worse. But in the passenger list of one of the hijacked planes, one made a difference. One decided that something had to be done even at the expense of their own lives. One decided enough was enough. Another joined and then another and another. What a difference one had made on that horrendous day.

Every day One makes a difference in our lives. In the midst of our greatest sorrow One can truly make a difference. In the lowest valley of despair or on the highest peak of joy, One really does make a difference. Thousands of the faithful found out eight years ago that One always makes a difference.

Today is September 11, 2009, and that One is just the same as He was then--always there. This day might find you in your own "9-11" but, be assured, what a difference One will make. Who is this One? Who is this One that always makes a difference? Who? His name is...JESUS!

King of kings; Lord of lords; Alpha and Omega; Healer and Deliverer; Prince of Peace; Bright and Morning Star---The Holy Son of God! What difference has this One made in your life?

WHAT DO WE CALL OURSELVES?

I have been wondering about something for the past few hours and I really would appreciate some feedback. Since Easter I have had the privilege of bringing the Word of the Lord to a very diverse group of folks. These people are from all over North Carolina and other states but they come to Holden Beach for their vacations and weekend getaways. Some live here in Ocean Aire Travel Park year-round. But on Sundays they come together in the morning in the outside air to listen, pray, and meditate on God's Word. And the fellowship has brought a closeness that only the Lord can provide.

I do not know the depth of everyone's relationship with Christ, nor do I know their backgrounds in the faith. Some may be Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian or some other denomination and others might have a Pentecostal background or a non-denominational background. A few may not have any history in the faith or anything more than a cursory relationship to the Lord.

Many are loving and giving folks who have given me a great gift of which they may or may not be aware. In this 63rd year of my life and my 42nd year in the ministry the fire of my calling has ignited and glows brighter and is spreading more quickly than the California wildfires. In this group there are those who are hurting; those who are in need of finances; those who need healing; and those who need the Lord. The make-up of this group varies from week to week but always with the faithful who are here every Sunday. I love every one of them.

But what are we as a group? How would organized ministries and churches recognize? Somehow I feel a strong connection to the first century Church that was composed of many of these same kind of folks. Are we a church? Are we just a group of worshipers? Maybe we are simply a part of THE CHURCH--The Body of Christ.

What do you think?

No Prayer is Ever Unanswered

If you had attended our service at Ocean Aire Chapel this morning you would have heard some of my thoughts on unanswered prayer. One of the earliest truths that I learned in my ministry is that God does always answer our prayers. There is probably not a pastor alive who has not counseled many of his people in this area. The seemingly unanswered prayer can cause concern, doubt, and even agony.

We read in the Word: "Whatsoever you ask in my name, believing, it shall be done unto you." Jesus is ever ready to make intercession for his own. So why, when we ask with all of our heart, believing God for healing or supply, do we sometimes seem to not receive an answer. Could it be that sometimes God as our Father answers no to our supplication? No...a word that no child likes to hear from their parents when they have asked for something. And it is not different with us. How could our heavenly Father possibly say no to his children. Because he is God and he knows what is best for us.

Then there are those times that we send up the "urgent" requests to Heaven. We mark the prayer "URGENT" and expect the Lord to immediately give what we have asked for of him. "Lord, I really need a new job. My boss doesn't like me and I am going nowhere," we cry. But, instead of the new job the Lord answers us with WAIT.
Wait? How could God expect us to wait when we are asking in faith for that new job. God tells us to wait because He is the one who knows what tomorrow might bring. "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep us..." I don't know the future but I know who holds the future.

O, God, if you would just bless me financially I would help everyone I could. If you would let me win that lottery just think of all the poor and homeless that I could help. To this our Father responds with a resounding GROW...UP! Yes, some of our prayers seem to go unanswered because we need to grow...up. We might need to grow in our personal relationship to the Lord. We may need to grow in the faith. To mature on the meat of the Word instead of continuing to try to suck truths from a baby bottle.

But, then comes the time when we pray, and we pray in faith and maturity. We listen to the Holy Spirit of God as he leads and directs. We sit at the Master's feet and we learn from him and we GROW in the grace and knowledge of the faith. A seed is planted and we pray. One of my good friends listened as the Spirit spoke to her heart and mind...and she prayed. She prayed seeking an answer from the Father concerning giving socks to the homeless. She prayed and God responded with a hearty "LET'S GO!" When God responds to your prayer with "let's go" you better roll up your sleeves because you and God are about to do great things.

No prayer is unanswered. Some are answered with NO; some with WAIT; some with GROW...UP; and some with LET'S GO. Are you listening?