MVCC New Testament Challenge

Today we read Psalm 143, one penned by David. I am not as familiar with this psalm as some others, but here are just a few things that stood out to me while reading this... David is in despair here as he hides out in a cave from the relentless Saul. He freely confesses to feeling crushed and dismayed to the extreme and cries out to the Lord for relief. Have you ever been in such a state that you cried out to God in this way? Perhaps you weren't being pursued by a jealous foe, but felt crushed by worries, doubts, depression, or any number of things that can weigh any of us down. David is in major trouble here, but I admire how he is not afraid to ask for help. He remembers the goodness of God and puts his full trust in Him. In the midst of all this despair, he recognizes that God is righteous, faithful, loving, and wise. I also like that he ends the psalm with the words, "for I am your servant."  There is so much chaos in the world right now and each day brings ne

Start your week off with this song.  https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=uBZk0bVjCAA   Praise the Lord for his great mercy!  Pastor Tony

Start today by listening to this song. Trust in the One who is truly over all.  https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=936BapRFHaQ    Pastor Tony

Romans 16:13 G reet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.   Here we come to the end of the book of Romans. Paul mentions some different people by name. Some we know well and others we do not know. One person that is mentioned is Rufus. Many people believe that this is the same person who carried the cross of Jesus. Mark 15:21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus , to carry his cross. Most likely Rufus mother would have heard, either from Simon, Alexander or from Rufus, about who Jesus was. However, that is not what I want to focus on. I want to focus on how Rufus mother treated Paul. This speaks of her hospitality and how caring she was towards Paul. This simple question that we can pull from this is, how do we treat others? Rufus’s mother had such a tremendous impact on Paul that he says that she was like a mother to him. How do you trea

Psalm 139 points out some key things, V2. God knows all our thoughts V3. He knows our tendencies V4. He knows what we are going to say before it even comes to mind V7. You cannot run away from God, He is Omnipresent (Everywhere) V13. He is our creator and knows us personally V14. You are a masterpiece, created by God! Psalm 139 points us to the awesome power of God, to the great love of God and to the sovereignty of God. Then David ends with this… Psalm 139:13-14 Search me, O God, and know my heart!      Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me,      and lead me in the way everlasting! Have you ever prayed this before? Start your day with this prayer today. “Lord, search my heart. Show me what I am doing that is against who you are.” The truth is that God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows the things in life that are hidden. Things that we don’t see or don’t want to see. He already knows them. I love th

There is a very powerful verse about love in our reading today.  It is Romans 12:9.  If your translation is the King James Version, it reads “Let love be without dissimulation.”  Perhaps your reaction is, “I’ve never dissimulated anyone in my life.”  The ESV makes it a little more clear when it states, “Let love be genuine.”  Love must be sincere, not faked; it is without hypocrisy.  It is without play acting.  It is real.  This is the kind of love that is not in words only, but in the actions of love also.  It is love at work.  It is not talking cream and living skim milk   For love to be sincere, it must be a giving, sacrificial, unselfish, unconditional love.  It’s the kind of love seen often from the believers who are the Mount Vernon Christian Church.     I read about this kind of love in action near the South Pole.  Love is not confined to any particular geographic location.  Here is a memorable story that help us focus our thoughts and direct our actions to real lov

At our previous church, we often read verses from the book of Romans when speaking with non-believers about salvation through Jesus. Recently, reading verse 23 of Romans 3 and verse 23 of Romans 6 brought back memories of “the Romans Road” as that evangelistic method was called. Verse 9 of Romans 10 ( If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ”) was another verse on the Romans Road. I can’t say that I fully realized the meaning and importance of claiming that “ Jesus is Lord .”   Oh, I understood that I was testifying that Jesus is fully God; that he died on the cross and was resurrected; that his shed blood covered my sins and the sins of all who accept his gift of salvation. However, it took many years and many life lessons before I understood that Jesus is (my) Lord… Lord over my life . I’ve had to change some things in my life that didn’t reflect that truth and am still working on that

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?   36  As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;      we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.   38  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,   39  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yesterday, in the sermon, I talked about how God is always with you through everything that you go through in life. In this passage, Paul reminds us that all of things listed about cannot separate you from the love of Christ. He is with you today and will be with you tomorrow. No matter what challenges face the Church, we are more than conquerors throug

Through all difficulties and challenges, expected and unexpected, isn't it wonderful to know that He abides with us. Start your day with this. If you are a believer, God is with YOU! https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=84YASWe3_2Q   Pastor Tony

Psalm 134 Come, bless the  Lord , all you servants of the  Lord ,     who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place     and bless the Lord! May the  Lord  bless you from Zion,     he who made heaven and earth!   What do we do when uncertainty and difficultly surround us? Lift your hands and bless the Lord! What do you have to be thankful for today? Such a simple, yet complex thought. We have so much to be thankful for, even when times are difficult. What are you thankful for? Leave a comment to encourage others below and list what you are thankful for.   I am thankful for… Let us know!    

For most of my life I have lived close to urban areas.  The glare of the city lights would eliminate almost all the stars, and the sound of heavy traffic, planes and trains was continuous day and night.  Snow was black within a couple hours of falling and most trees were cut down to save raking leaves.  God’s creation was at times difficult to see.  Then, we moved to Oxford – land of beautiful sunsets, green fields, dark nights with stars, white snow (when we have it), spacious vistas, buggies and silence.  In Psalm 19 David tells us “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”  Each day we see God’s glory in His good and perfect creation revealing what a great and incredibly awesome God He is!  What a beautiful land flowing with milk and honey He created and brought us to! But as we read our passage today centering on Rom. 1:18-21, Paul explains that the unrighteous do not recognize God’s handiwork and will not be guiltless for ignoring wh

There are some very interesting developments in Acts 27.  One of the most amazing is to see the quick rise of Paul’s status on the ship – the meteoric rise from low man on the totem pole to chief of the whole tribe.   In v. 1 we find that of the 276 people on board the ship heading for Rome, Paul was numbered among the prisoners.  He was near the bottom of the barrel.  When we approach the end of the chapter we find that Paul has now virtually taken over the leadership of the boat.  He has practically been given command.  The others are looking to him for inspiration and leadership.   From prisoner to commander in a short voyage.  How did it come about?  It came because Paul demonstrated leadership in the storm.  Everyone else was looking at the storm.  He was looking at God.   The child of God, no matter where we find him, can be master of the situation.  Circumstances should never affect our confidence and hope and sense of well-being.  A Christian’s hope is in the Lo

Today we read an account of Paul, who is in chains in Acts 25-26 and had appealed to Caesar. He is defending himself against accusations made against him by the Jews. In his lengthy defense, he recalls living as a Pharisee, punishing and persecuting many believers. Paul then recounts the story of his dramatic conversion on the way to Damascus, after which he becomes a Christian and a fervent missionary for Christ. What stands out to me in this passage is the fact that Paul tells his story, which is definitely very unique. Everyone has a story, and it is important that we share our stories with others. We don’t know for sure how Paul’s testimony affected his listeners during this time, other than the fact that he remained a prisoner, though these particular leaders didn’t think he deserved death or imprisonment. But who knows how his words and story may have resounded with them long-term? Perhaps some within earshot at this trial went on to become believers. We don’t know, but God

Out of the depths I cry to you, O  Lord !      O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive      to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O  Lord , should mark iniquities,      O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness,      that you may be feared. I wait for the  Lord , my soul waits,      and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord      more than watchmen for the morning,      more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the  Lord !      For with the  Lord there is steadfast love,      and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel      from all his iniquities.   What in the world is going on?! -A virus has spread across most of the nations in the world without vaccine. -Stores are emptying with people panic shopping -There is no more toilet paper in America it seems. -Schools all over are closed. -Almost all, if not all, of the professional sports leagues are cancelled -Wo

So, this blog is up a little later than the others. I am going to completely deviate today from our texts and just share some thoughts of encouragement. How do you respond in times of trouble? In times of trials? In times of difficulty? The COVID-19 virus has many people worried. Yet, as believers we are not to worry. Why? Because God is greater than any virus. We rest in Him. Psalm 46:10 says “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” This song is where my heart is today. I hope it is an encouragement to you. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=O25pj_Nimc4 Pastor Tony