Our week here at New Hope started with our women’s prayer meeting on Tuesday morning. It is a wonderful way to start out the week. I read something one time about the “A.C.T. of p.r.a.y” It said “A” for adoration of the Lord; “C” for confession; “R” for repentence; “A” ask for others and “Y” for your own needs. I think it is easy sometimes to get so involved in the world and during our prayer time with God to do more complaining than praying, so I consider it a privilege and honor to be able to come together with other ladies and lift up others in need in prayer.
During our Wednesday night Bible study we are studying in the book of Genesis. We did chapters 3 and 4 this week which was over the temptation in the Garden of Eden, the birth of Cain and Abel and the killing of Abel by Cain, his brother.
Sunday morning we had 19 people attend service. We started out with prayer requests. We have a lot of members who have family and loved ones in the hospital, who have lost loved ones, sick and of course, all the other churches who worship in spirit and truth, our prayers are with you all.
The children’s Sunday school class has been doing Jesus, His life study from birth to resurrection and the adults studied Mark chapters 15 and 16. We had a beautiful spirit filled song service.
Our morning message was delivered by Bro. Scott from Psalms 46:1-11, “Put our confidence in God.” I don’t really know what more I can say about that message. It seems like it should be pretty cut and dried. When things go bad, put your faith in Him. When things go good, praise Him! Through prayer He will sustain us. If we lack in that area, pray for more. God hears all. He is merciful and loving and awaits us to call upon His name.
We had 19 attend our evening service also. We took up prayer requests and sang songs. We had specials done by Bro. Scott, Lyndon, Larry and Mike and Sis. Aloma, DeeDee, DiAnne and Virginia. Our evening sermon was delivered by Bro. Scott and it was from the book of I Samuel 24:16-19, “Forgiveness for your enemies.” I’m sure this message touches pretty close to home with a lot of people. Hurt or offended feelings can cause us all to struggle with forgiving others. Something I find that helps me is the forgiveness shown by Christ. David had a strong and great heart, even though Saul sought after David with evil intentions. David returned this evil with goodness and forgiveness. How do we deal with people who have hurt us? Do we forgive, do we keep a kind heart?
Disobedience and evil can cause God to pull blessings off of us, or worse His spirit like He did Saul for disobedience. David put faith in God to take care of the situation for him, like we should do. Do we feel and react with a fleshly heart, or with a Godly heart. Do we ask God to create in us a new heart when fleshly feelings arise in us? The world tells us even to “love those who despitefully use us.” Do we have love and forgiveness in our hearts for all?
This week we have revival coming up and are so excited! We hope that any one who desires the Lord will come and share in Revival with us May 16-21 at 7 p.m. nightly. Our regular service times are Sunday school at 10 a.m., morning worship at 11 a.m. and Sunday evening service at 7 p.m., Wednesday night Bible study at 7 p.m. and women’s prayer meeting on Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m.
