Recent Sunset on Dunlap Lake by Cynthia Hamilton
Good morning PCF family, Easter is either true or not true, where do you stand? I know that seems like a simple question for those who are regular church attenders but the sermon this past Sunday was meant to get us to reflect how deep our beliefs go when it comes to the stories in the Bible.
There is a wonderful story in the Bible that illustrates what happens when we develop false beliefs about the reality of the living Jesus.. The story is found in the book of John Chapter 9. When you have about 5 minutes you can read the story HERE When you study this story, concentrate on how the Pharisees reacted to this miracle and how they “could not see” the long predicted Messiah who was there walking and talking with them. Their religion and their traditions were blinding their Spiritual awareness of GOD’S truth.
Mental assent or actionable belief?
Mental assent is “the intellectual agreement with a truth or proposition without acting on it or believing it in one’s heart”
Our true beliefs are the beliefs we use to make decisions in our life, and that can be very telling. For example, How many people pray and wait before they make any kind of major decision? If you are like me, I have made far too many decisions in my life without first consulting and then waiting on God. Why? It’s not because I don’t believe in God, but I obviously did not believe enough in the power of prayer and Holy Sprit to seek God’s direction and will before I made my decisions. That proves that my belief was more mental assent than actionable belief. And it is mental assent beliefs that have lead many people down hurtful and costly paths. That’s why seeking “God’s Truth” is the Christian’s greatest quest. I want to know God’s truth in all things and the only way I know to uncover this truth is to continue reading his word while praying for the Holy Spirit to help me understand. Oh, and then wait! That’s many times is the hardest part.
Easter Holiday is now past but the miracle of Easter exists everyday for the Christian. Like the man declaring that he was blind but now he could see, we too should be able to say the same thing as we continue to learn more and more about the God’s presence, power, and love in our lives.
As Angel said to me this past week, “Even though there are some days I do not feel that blessed, I know my purpose! And that purpose is to Glorify God by being the light of God to the people He puts in my circle everyday. Angel said, “If I can be a blessing with a smile, offering a kind word and it lifts someone’s spirit, then I know that God is shinning through me.”
Let God shine through your life regardless of the circumstances. Be the beacon of truth and God’s love. You can become that by asking God everyday to fill you with His Holy Spirit as you continue to seek His truth in the stories in the Bible.
Update on Mike and Amy Beatty: Ann is home from the hospital. She is very weak and using a walker while her leg is healing. Their daughter is home trying to find a placement for Mike that can help him with his dementia care. Continue to pray for mike and Ann and Cynthia for Gods wisdom, healing, and His peace in this situation.
I spoke top Donna Swanson about her niece Julie Roberts who recently went to Houston for a special test to see if she would qualify for their special cancer treatments. The Hospital there is confident that they can get her cancer into remission. Her cancer is in her bile duct and metastisized into her spine which has become very painful. She is back home and finishing treatments at a St. Louis hospital after the Houston hospital changed her treatment program to better meet her needs. After this local treatment concludes, Julie will return to Houston for 7 weeks to complete her treatment program. Let’s continue to pray for this young lady because we believe in the God who helped a blind man see again!
Pray for one another and forgive all those who have sinned against you. Become the angel of light in this fallen world. It is up to us believers to demonstrate Jesus to the world. Blessings, Kent