Limping Towards The Finish Line

 Happy Sabbath Lighthouse!  On this the last Sabbath of the year 2012, we still find ourselves in a world filled with problems, doubts, worries, and fears.  However, if we are limping toward the 2012 finish line, the only ‘bad news’, one author notes, ‘is that time flies’.  The good news is that you’re NOT the Pilot.  With Jesus as our able Pilot, may we declare, ‘forward ever, backward never’.  May He ever lead us ‘in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake’.

The Salt And Light Of This World

Happy Sabbath servants of the Most High God!  Christ has commissioned and empowered us to be salt and lights in this sin sick world.  As we walk this Christian pathway, let us take our rightful place as salt and lights, leading sinners to Christ.  Ellen G. White states, “The light of heaven is to be reflected through Christ's followers to the world. This is the Christian's lifework - to direct the minds of sinners to God. The Christian's life should awaken in the hearts of worldlings high and elevated views of the purity of the Christian religion. This will make believers the salt of the earth, the saving power in our world; for a well-developed Christian character is harmonious in all its parts.

His shed blood and His broken body

Communion service reminds us of what our Savior did to save us. In this service, we are reminded of the price of our salvation - His shed blood and His broken body. The question many have asked throughout history is ‘why Jesus allowed himself to be bound and crucified by evil men?’ The great theologian, Spurgeon, gives the answer, “As Isaac was bound before he was laid on the altar, so Jesus, the great antitype, was bound before he was nailed to the cross. He could have snapped those bonds as easily as Samson snapped the Philistines’ bonds, but there were other invisible cords that bound him – the bonds of his own oath and promise, the bonds of his love for you and me. These constrained Jesus to yield himself to the Jews and Pilate as a lamb to the slaughter.” Church, thank God for his sacrifice for you and for me. Amen.

Keep fast hold on Jesus

Happy Sabbath, Church. After a week of trials and victories, our gathering in God’s house of worship is a testimony of God’s goodness toward us. Amen! Let us therefore continue to trust in God and keep our eyes on our heavenly home as we face the new week. E.G. White encourages us to, “Keep fast hold on Jesus. Look up to the haven of rest and the home of the blest. Keep your soul in the love of God whatever may betide, and you will grow spiritually strong. Jesus is your loving Friend; He will take your hand and help you over every hard and trying place. A grateful, trustful, habitual recognition of God lies at the very foundation of all right conduct, all true character. You must never lose confidence in God.”--Letter 22, {UL 276.5}

Dwelling Among God

Happy Sabbath servants of the Most High.  Having health and strength to come into the house of the Lord another Sabbath is a blessing and a privilege.  God told Moses “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” (Ex 25:8).  E.G. White further states, “Happy are those who have a sanctuary, be it high or low, in the city or among the rugged mountain caves, in the lowly cabin or in the wilderness. If it is the best they can secure for the Master, He will hallow the place with His presence, and it will be holy unto the Lord of hosts.” My brothers and sisters let us be ever conscious of the fact that in the sanctuary we are in the presence of God.

As We Gaze Heaven-Ward

Warm greetings family. I pray that we will continue to claim, know and believe the love God has for us. As we gaze heaven-ward, we are to trust Him relentlessly and avoid being side-tracked by the needs and cares of this life. Sis. White notes that, “Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet” (Help in Daily Living, p. 13). Praise God! Amen.

Molding For A Purpose

Hello brothers and sisters!  I have great news for you. God has a plan and a purpose for every one of His children as we await His return.  Thus, He is molding us and preparing us every step of the way.  McNeal (2000) noted that “before Moses could leverage leadership or even speak a syllable, his life was being providentially superintended in order to prepare him for his unique assignment.”
My question to you is what is your God given purpose?

The Importance of Prayer

As we continue on our pilgrim’s journey we are reminded to be people of prayer. S.D. Gordon states, “The great people of the earth today are the people who pray! I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor those who explain prayer; but I mean those who actually take the time to pray. They have not time. It must be taken from something else. That something else is important, very important and pressing, but still, less important and pressing than prayer. There are people who put prayer first, and group the other items in life's schedule around and after prayer. These are the people today who are doing the most for God in winning souls, in solving problems, in awakening churches, in supplying both men and money for mission posts, in keeping fresh and strong their lives far off in sacrificial service . . . .”  May Lighthouse Tabernacle continue to be filled with prayerful saints; a house of prayer for all people. Amen.

Head to the Heavens

After a week of trials and victories, our gathering in God’s house of worship is a testimony of God’s goodness toward us. Let us therefore continue to trust in God and keep our eyes on our heavenly home as we face the new week. E.G. White encourages us to, “Keep fast hold on Jesus. Look up to the haven of rest and the home of the blest. Keep your soul in the love of God whatever may betide, and you will grow spiritually strong. Jesus is your loving Friend; He will take your hand and help you over every hard and trying place. A grateful, trustful, habitual recognition of God lies at the very foundation of all right conduct, all true character. You must never lose confidence in God.”--Letter 22, {UL 276.5}

"Holy Ground"

God said to Moses amidst the burning bush, “the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” The place where God meets with His people is Holy ground. Thus, God’s house of worship is the place where He meets with His people. As a result, we should worship and conduct ourselves with the faith that God is in our midst. E.G. White notes that “If when the people come into the house of worship, they have genuine reverence for the Lord and bear in mind that they are in His presence, there will be a sweet eloquence in silence. The whispering and laughing and talking which might be without sin in a common business place should find no sanction in the house where God is worshiped. The mind should be prepared to hear the word of God, that it may have due weight and suitably impress the heart.” (CCh 249).

Calling All Women

Happy Sabbath. God has called not only men to be agents of truth; He has called women as well. Thus, the need is for women of faith and integrity to proclaim this gospel and stand for Christ in these last days. E.G. White states, “Women of firm principle and decided character are needed, women who believe that we are indeed living in the last days, and that we have the last solemn message of warning to be given to the world. They should feel that they are engaged in an important work in spreading the rays of light which Heaven has shed upon them. Nothing will deter this class from their duty. Nothing will discourage them in the work. They have faith to work for time and for eternity. They fear God, and will not be diverted from the work by the temptation of lucrative situations and attractive prospects. These are the ones who will correctly represent our faith, whose words will be fitly spoken, like apples of gold in pictures of silver. . . .” {Ev 477.2}. Praise God for the women in our midst.

Family Re-invigoration

This week, as we focus on giving new life and energies to our families, God is reminding us in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life”.  It follows that in our families, God is calling us to give Him His rightful place and allow Him to bring resurrection and life; allow Him to reenergize our love, our peace, our joy; allow Him to revive the true value of the family. May He guide us to this blessed end; may we be saved as a family when He shall return.  Amen.

What A Fellowship

 It is a joy to be together in the Lord’s sanctuary for another Sabbath of sweet fellowship after a week of love and joys, mingled with storms, trials and tribulations. As we gather Sabbath after Sabbath, we receive spiritual strength to face our storms and trials; we are also reminded to reject the devil’s deceit – that our storms have no end. Rather, keep the faith, for glorious days with Christ are ahead. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. attests as he once stated, “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality” (Martin Luther King, Jr. - Nobel Price Acceptance Speech). Today, we too can derive hope from the precious promises found in God’s word.

Dr. David McKenzie

To fellowship with us click here

Live on Purpose!

I have great news for you - God has a plan and a purpose for everyone of His children as we await His return. Thus, He is molding us and preparing us every step of the way. McNeal (2000) noted that “before Moses could leverage leadership or even speak a syllable, his life was being providentially superintended in order to prepare him for his unique assignment.” My question to you is what is your God given purpose?

Pressing on with Revelation!

Greetings family! This week we continue studying the book of Revelation. This great prophetic book (along with the book of Daniel) contain prophesies for these last days. E.G. White states, “In the Scriptures are presented truths that relate especially to our own time. To the period just prior to the appearing of the Son of man, the prophecies of Scripture point, and here their warnings and threatenings pre-eminently apply. The prophetic periods of Daniel, extending to the very eve of the great consummation, throw a flood of light upon events then to transpire. . . . None need remain in ignorance; none need be unprepared for the coming of the day of God.” (RH, September 25, 1883 par. 6) Let’s stay awake and watchful, for our Lord Jesus will come and will not tarry.

What Shall I Render?

Hello brothers and sisters; In preparation for Stewardship Day I would like to leave a quote with you.  In verse and refrain, Margaret Pleasant Douroux’s song raises stewardship concerns. “What shall I render unto God for all His mercies? What shall I render? What shall I give?  Like Margaret, we too can conclude that all we have belong to God, and we cannot avoid giving back to God any more than we can avoid paying Uncle Sam - a conclusion not quantified in dollars and cents. All we can render is ourselves!  Furthermore, whatever our gifting capacity; let our work for God commence with a fervent commitment to evangelism and stewardship in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.