If you would like to send a letter or card of encouragement to Lisa Mozingo, please mail them to the following address:
Lisa Mozingo (Room N347)
c/o Pitt Memorial Hospital
2100 Stantonsburg Road
P.O. Box 6028
Greenville, NC 27835
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Lisa Mozingo Fund
On Tuesday night, May 29th, 2009 - just a few weeks shy of her graduation from High School, and three days after her Senior prom - 18-year-old Lisa Mozingo was in a car accident which left her paralyzed from the waist down. Lisa is a beloved member of our church family, and we want to help her family during this time, as they work toward making their home wheelchair accesible prior to her release from the hospital. If you would like to contribute a tax-deductible donation to the Lisa Mozingo Fund, please mail it to:
The Lisa Mozingo Fund
c/o Zion United Methodist Church
1727 Zion Church Road
Mount Olive, NC 28365
Please be certain to make out all checks to Zion United Methodist Church, with the notation "The Lisa Mozingo Fund" on your check's "For" line...
Scriptural Texts for Sunday, May 24th, 2009
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Romans 8:28 - "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Phillipians 4:8 - "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 1 Corinthians 10:13 - "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." Sometimes a shadow, dark and cold, lay like a mist across the road. But be encouraged by the sight, where there's a shadow, there's a Light.
Homecoming 2009 - May 17th, 2009
Our speaker this year was Mrs. Sonda Foley Boles of Kinston, who is best known for her widely read pamphlet, "The Miracle of Amy." Sonda's testimony detailed how the Lord blessed her family with miracle after miracle by His Grace in the face of adversity following a horrific car accident involving a falling bolder on I-40 on April 18th, 1981, which crushed the Boles family car, and grievously injured her then-12-month-old baby...we were blessed by her words, and are extremely grateful the Lord sent her our way.Sonda owns Sonda's Gift Gallery in the Vernon Park Mall at Kinston, where she makes copies of her story available to all who are interested. Sonda's daughter, Amy, is the store's manager. Sonda's e-mail address is sonda@whirlwind.net, and she and Amy may both be reached at the following address:
Sonda F. Boles
2076 Summerhill Terrace
Kinston, NC 28504
(252)522-1077
or
Sonda's Gift Gallery
Vernon Park Mall
Kinston, NC 28504
(252)522-4221
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Notes from Mother's Day Sunday 2009
The Most Memorable Mothers in Scripture…
10. Eve – The first mother; she shows us that God forgives, and restores…(after Cain killed Abel, God blessed Adam and Eve with Seth, accord. To Gen. 4.); Paul wasn't too fond of her in the eleventh chapter of II Corinthians, and the second chapter of I Timothy...
9. Sarah – the mother of Isaac; she shows us that God always keeps his promises, per Genesis 18:10)
8. Rebecca – she shows us that God understands the special love between a mother and her children; Gen. 27:6-14 – her craftiness in assuring Jacob would gain the birthright over Essau is never defined as sin in Scripture).
7. The unnamed mother of Moses – she shows us that God blesses the children of the faithful; Exodus 2:1-4.
6. The Egyptian mother of Moses – she shows us that God is no respecter of persons, and He is concerned with our hearts, not our deeds; Ex. 2:5-10.
5. Naomi – she shows us that agape love, love that is unconditional, is pleasing to God; Ruth 1:16-18.
4 . The unnamed widow of II Kings 4:1-37 – she shows us that God provides for the children of the faithful, and for the faithful as well (her oil was stretched, and God restored her dead son to life…after Elisha prayed over him; he’s the one who sneezed seven times after he came back to life).
3. The Syrophanecian woman of Mark 7:25-30 – she shows us that God is not a respecter of persons (a gentile who begged Jesus to heal her daughter, and reminded him that even dogs get scraps from the table).
2. Elizabeth – She reminds us that nothing is impossible for God (her story in Luke 1:41-44 is parallel to the story of Sarah, as she bears a child in her later years).
1. Mary…of course...is the most memorable mother in all of Scripture. Nothing negative is ever spoken of her in any of the Gospels. It was she who was visited by the angel of the Lord, and was referred to as "Blessed amongst women," and was told that all nations of the world would be blessed because of her. Despite all odds, she bore the Son of God, and remained faithful to her son, Jesus, throughout his entire life. She was told, before anyone else, that the Messiah was about to be born. She harbored in her heart the truths of his spiritual lineage throughout his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. She initiated the first miracle. She remained near Christ after his disciples fled, and stood at the foot of the cross while they remained in hiding. She was the first to see the empty tomb. She was the first Evangelist, telling the world that Jesus had risen from the dead, and she was present on the Day of Pentecost, and was filled with the Holy Spirit, along with the remaining disciples. Her eyes were always fixed on Jesus, no matter what. May we all aspire to be like her.
10. Eve – The first mother; she shows us that God forgives, and restores…(after Cain killed Abel, God blessed Adam and Eve with Seth, accord. To Gen. 4.); Paul wasn't too fond of her in the eleventh chapter of II Corinthians, and the second chapter of I Timothy...
9. Sarah – the mother of Isaac; she shows us that God always keeps his promises, per Genesis 18:10)
8. Rebecca – she shows us that God understands the special love between a mother and her children; Gen. 27:6-14 – her craftiness in assuring Jacob would gain the birthright over Essau is never defined as sin in Scripture).
7. The unnamed mother of Moses – she shows us that God blesses the children of the faithful; Exodus 2:1-4.
6. The Egyptian mother of Moses – she shows us that God is no respecter of persons, and He is concerned with our hearts, not our deeds; Ex. 2:5-10.
5. Naomi – she shows us that agape love, love that is unconditional, is pleasing to God; Ruth 1:16-18.
4 . The unnamed widow of II Kings 4:1-37 – she shows us that God provides for the children of the faithful, and for the faithful as well (her oil was stretched, and God restored her dead son to life…after Elisha prayed over him; he’s the one who sneezed seven times after he came back to life).
3. The Syrophanecian woman of Mark 7:25-30 – she shows us that God is not a respecter of persons (a gentile who begged Jesus to heal her daughter, and reminded him that even dogs get scraps from the table).
2. Elizabeth – She reminds us that nothing is impossible for God (her story in Luke 1:41-44 is parallel to the story of Sarah, as she bears a child in her later years).
1. Mary…of course...is the most memorable mother in all of Scripture. Nothing negative is ever spoken of her in any of the Gospels. It was she who was visited by the angel of the Lord, and was referred to as "Blessed amongst women," and was told that all nations of the world would be blessed because of her. Despite all odds, she bore the Son of God, and remained faithful to her son, Jesus, throughout his entire life. She was told, before anyone else, that the Messiah was about to be born. She harbored in her heart the truths of his spiritual lineage throughout his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. She initiated the first miracle. She remained near Christ after his disciples fled, and stood at the foot of the cross while they remained in hiding. She was the first to see the empty tomb. She was the first Evangelist, telling the world that Jesus had risen from the dead, and she was present on the Day of Pentecost, and was filled with the Holy Spirit, along with the remaining disciples. Her eyes were always fixed on Jesus, no matter what. May we all aspire to be like her.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Scriptural Notes for Sunday, May 3rd, 2009
II Peter 3:10-14
“The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. It will be a day in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the very elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also - and all the works that are within it - shall be burned up. Seeing then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be: in all holy conversation and godliness? We should be looking for, and hastening unto, the coming of the Day of God, a day in which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look forward to new heavens and a new earth, in which will dwell Righteousness. Wherefore, my beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found by Him at peace, without spot or blemish, and blameless.”
In First Peter, we are reminded that our lives are finite; we’re all going to die someday. And we’re also reminded that God’s word is going to survive the destruction of this planet:
I Peter 1:24–2:2
In First Peter, we are reminded that our lives are finite; we’re all going to die someday. And we’re also reminded that God’s word is going to survive the destruction of this planet:
I Peter 1:24–2:2
“All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word, which by the gospel is preached unto you. Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
Words have power; words can change our perception of the world. Words can express the unseen contents of our hearts. Sometimes we forget that we human beings have to express ourselves in order to remain spiritually and emotionally healthy. But this is true. It is also true that we determine how we express ourselves; we can either be negative, or positive when we express ourselves. It’s our choice…
Matthew 12:33-37 tells us, “[We can] make [our] tree good, and [our] fruit good; or else make [our] tree corrupt, and [our] fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [our] fruit. How [can the generation of vipers], being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good person, out of the good treasure of their heart, brings forth good things: and an evil person, out of their evil treasure, brings forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that we speak, we shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned.”
We need to be careful of what we say…as I said before, words are powerful. And it is primarily through words that God has chosen to speak to his people.
Isaiah 28:11 “With stammering lips and another tongue will God speak to His people.”
The Endurance of the Word - Bibles on Church Communion Tables – they endure from year to year, from Pastor to Pastor, member to member, church building to church building. Adjectives we can use to describe God’s Holy Word:
Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” This comment comes just one chapter after Paul advised Timothy in chapter 2, verses 15-19, to “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babbling: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as a canker does: like Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who, concerning the truth erred, saying that the resurrection had past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows those that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Ephesians 6:10-18 tells all believers to – “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might,” and it identifies for us what the word of God actually is, when we read:
“Put on the whole armor of God, so you will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
The Word of God is “The Sword of the Spirit!” – Our DEFENSE!
Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
During his ministry, Jesus said, “Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Mark 13:31 says the same thing, as does Luke 21:33). When he ascended to the Father, his words were the primary inheritance he left us. They serve as the evidence of His existence when they prove themselves to us, and they can, and they do; they are the basis of our faith. Test them and try them and see if they do not endure. THE WORD ENDURES.
John 15:4-11 records that Jesus said to his Apostles, “Abide in me, and I will abide in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same will bring forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. If a man doesn’t abide in me, he will be cast forth as a branch, and will become withered; and men will gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he will be burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. In THIS is my Father glorified: that you bear much fruit.”
Words have power; words can change our perception of the world. Words can express the unseen contents of our hearts. Sometimes we forget that we human beings have to express ourselves in order to remain spiritually and emotionally healthy. But this is true. It is also true that we determine how we express ourselves; we can either be negative, or positive when we express ourselves. It’s our choice…
Matthew 12:33-37 tells us, “[We can] make [our] tree good, and [our] fruit good; or else make [our] tree corrupt, and [our] fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [our] fruit. How [can the generation of vipers], being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good person, out of the good treasure of their heart, brings forth good things: and an evil person, out of their evil treasure, brings forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that we speak, we shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned.”
We need to be careful of what we say…as I said before, words are powerful. And it is primarily through words that God has chosen to speak to his people.
Isaiah 28:11 “With stammering lips and another tongue will God speak to His people.”
The Endurance of the Word - Bibles on Church Communion Tables – they endure from year to year, from Pastor to Pastor, member to member, church building to church building. Adjectives we can use to describe God’s Holy Word:
Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” This comment comes just one chapter after Paul advised Timothy in chapter 2, verses 15-19, to “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babbling: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as a canker does: like Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who, concerning the truth erred, saying that the resurrection had past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows those that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Ephesians 6:10-18 tells all believers to – “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might,” and it identifies for us what the word of God actually is, when we read:
“Put on the whole armor of God, so you will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
The Word of God is “The Sword of the Spirit!” – Our DEFENSE!
Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
During his ministry, Jesus said, “Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Mark 13:31 says the same thing, as does Luke 21:33). When he ascended to the Father, his words were the primary inheritance he left us. They serve as the evidence of His existence when they prove themselves to us, and they can, and they do; they are the basis of our faith. Test them and try them and see if they do not endure. THE WORD ENDURES.
John 15:4-11 records that Jesus said to his Apostles, “Abide in me, and I will abide in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same will bring forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. If a man doesn’t abide in me, he will be cast forth as a branch, and will become withered; and men will gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he will be burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. In THIS is my Father glorified: that you bear much fruit.”
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Notes for Sunday, April 26th, 2009
Matthew 9
1And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7And he arose, and departed to his house.
8But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
9And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
16No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
17Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
24He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
27And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.
28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
(They had audiences, though – not congregations; this is probably why we don’t know their names now)
32As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
33And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Note: LABORERS, not priests wearing priestly garments…not Pharisees, etc., who pray loudly so others might hear them, or dress so that others might see that they look religious…
James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Isaiah 42:2
(A prophecy of the coming Messiah…)
He shall not cry out, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
His coming will not be with pomp and noise, as earthly princes.
Wesley's Notes
42:2 Cry - In a way of contention, or ostentation. Lift - His voice. Heard - As contentious and vain - glorious persons frequently do.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
2. Matthew [Mt 12:19] marks the kind of "cry" as that of altercation by quoting it, "He shall not strive" (Isa 53:7). The street-the Septuagint translates "outside." An image from an altercation in a house, loud enough to be heard in the street outside: appropriate of Him who "withdrew Himself" from the public fame created by His miracles to privacy (Mt 12:15; Mt 12:34, there, shows another and sterner aspect of His character, which is also implied in the term "judgment").
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
42:1-4 This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ, Mt 12:17. Let our souls rely on him, and rejoice in him; then, for his sake, the Father will be well-pleased with us. The Holy Spirit not only came, but rested upon him, and without measure. He patiently bore the contradiction of sinners. His kingdom is spiritual; he was not to appear with earthly honours. He is tender of those oppressed with doubts and fears, as a bruised reed; those who are as smoking flax, as the wick of a lamp newly lighted, which is ready to go out again. He will not despise them, nor lay upon them more work or more suffering than they can bear. By a long course of miracles and his resurrection, he fully showed the truth of his holy religion. By the power of his gospel and grace he fixes principles in the minds of men, which tend to make them wise and just. The most distant nations wait for his law, wait for his gospel, and shall welcome it. If we would make our calling and election sure, and have the Father delight over us for good, we must behold, hear, believe in, and obey Christ.
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