GROWING IN CHRIST

Growing in Christ We as parents have the privilege of watching our children grow and mature. Last Saturday, Malia and I took our oldest son Wade to look at a college. As I was driving, I began talking to Malia about how when he was a toddler I never imagined being at this moment. We have seen this young man grow from a baby into a rambunctious toddler and then into an energetic boy. At age six he accepted Christ as his Savior and then he continued growing. He has now grown into a young man. He looks at me eye to eye. We have adult conversations. He even is borrowing my shoes. Malia and I have watched him mature and decide what he wants to do with his life. It is an honor to know that he wants to spend his life helping those who may have great difficulties in their life. There have been many trials along the way but we have watched Wade get through each of them and come out a better man on the other side. We look forward to watching him turn into the adult that God has intended. Does God the Father look on His children and see us maturing in Christ? Or are we like the Corinthian church who when Paul wrote to them in 1 Corinthians 3 he wrote “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as the spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.” The cause of problems in the Corinthian church was more than external, worldly influence. It was also internal carnality. The pressures from the world were combined with the weakness of the flesh which made them as Paul would say “carnal”. The carnality of the believers was indicative of their immaturity. They had no excuse for not being mature, since Paul implied that he should have been able to write to them as mature, in light of what he had taught them. So what does maturity in Christ look like? Spiritual maturity is simply Christlikeness. We are as mature as we are like Christ, and no more. He was the only fully mature man. His character was complete, well balanced, and perfectly integrated. All His qualities and capacities were perfectly attuned to the will of His Father, and this is the model, the standard God has set for us. Philippians 2:11 “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Aaron Hodges

GOD KNOWS ME...HE REALLY KNOWS ME

God Knows Me...He Really Knows Me "O LORD, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in-behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain." Psalm 139:1-6 This passage has always given me hope but it also has been very convicting. That the Lord God would want to know me is beyond my comprehension. He chooses to search me and be concerned about even the smallest detail of my life. He knows every time I rise and every time I sit down. He even knows what I am thinking. Before I speak, He is aware of what I will say. These truths should convict us of our sin and cause us to really evaluate our motives and behavior. The Psalmist goes on to even say that the Lord goes before us and behind us and even has His hand on us. Wow! These truths really rock my world. The God of the Universe, the One who holds this world in orbit, the One who has all living creatures on His mind, is concerned about puny me. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light will become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like t he day, for darkness is as light to you." Psalm 139:7-12 There are two ways this passage can be read. God's omnipresence is expressed in a way that reminds us that we cannot hide from Him. There are no "secret sins" that we can hide from God. On the other hand, the presence of God is reassuring because it reminds us that we can go nowhere where God is not. Should our lives be taken, our soul will be immediately in the presence of the Almighty. The grave cannot separate my body from the love of my Savior, who will raise it a glorious body. No outward circumstances can separate me from my Lord. "For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because 1 am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are Your thoughts,0 God! How vast is the sum of them. Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand." Psalm 139:13-l8 God loves you and has loved you from the very beginning of time and will continue to love you for eternity! PRAISE THE LORD! Aaron Hodges

Surrender: Let Go and Let God Work

Surrender: Let Go and Let God Work We raise our white flag; we surrender all for You, all for You. We raise our white flag; the war is over! Love has come; Your love has won! “Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:7 Surrendering your life means: •Following God's lead without knowing where He's sending you; •Waiting for God's timing without knowing when it will come; •Expecting a miracle without knowing how God will provide; •Trusting God's purpose without understanding the circumstances. You know you're surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, and control the situation. You let go and let God work. You don't have to always be in charge. Instead of trying harder, you trust more. You also know you're surrendered when you don't react to criticism and rush to defend yourself. Surrendered hearts show up best in relationships. You are not self-serving, you don't edge others out, and you don't demand your rights. The most difficult thing for many people to surrender is their money. Many have thought, "I want to live for God but I also want to earn enough money to live comfortably and retire someday." Retirement is not the goal of a surrender life, because it competes with God for the primary attention of our lives. Jesus said, "You cannot serve both God and money," (Matthew 6:24 NIV) and "Wherever your treasure is, your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21 NIV). The supreme example of self-surrender is Jesus. The night before His crucifixion Jesus surrendered Himself to God's plan. He prayed, "Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want Your will, not mine" (Mark 14:36 NLT). Jesus surrendered Himself to God's will. He prayed, "God, if it is in Your best interest to remove this suffering, please do so. But if it fulfills Your purpose, that's what I want too." Genuine surrender says, "Father, if this problem, pain, sickness, or circumstance is needed to fulfill Your purpose and glory in my life or in another's life, please don't take it away!" This level of maturity doesn't come easy. In Jesus' case, He agonized so much over God's plan that He sweated drops of blood. Surrender is hard work. In our case, it requires intense warfare against our self-centered nature. from Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Devotional Email April 29, 2010

Experiencing Victory through Pain

Experiencing Victory Through Praise It is easy to praise God when the sun is shining, our children are making good grades in school, and we have received a promotion at work. But when the storm clouds gather, the grades start to slip, and the pink slips are read, the last thing we feel like doing is praising God. Yet, this is the very time when we need to lift our voices to Him in praise. When we praise God, we proclaim our faith in Him. The psalmist writes, “As for me, I will always have hope. I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure” (Psalm 71:14-15). A sacrifice of praise is something that we offer to God – in times of well being and in times of sorrow. Never allow praise to become a habit or a trite activity. It is a priceless honor to kneel before the throne of our Lord and Savior. One of the greatest misconceptions concerning praise is that it is something we do for God. However, nothing could be further from the truth. God does not need our praise, but certainly, He desires it. He knows when life takes an unexpected turn toward sorrow or when a serious illness lingers for months and even years, praise has the ability to lighten our hearts and fill us with a sense of love and security that can only come from one place – heaven’s throne. Praise teaches us to be joyful and thankful regardless of our circumstances. It prepares us for God’s service and helps us to see beyond our present circumstances to the immense possibilities that are ours through faith in Jesus Christ. No matter how deep our sorrow or how grave our circumstances may seem, we can learn to praise God while acknowledging His sovereignty over our lives. A.B. Simpson wrote, “Lift up the hands that hang down. March straight through the flood, and lo, the waters will divide, the Red Sea will open, the Jordan will part, and the Lord will lead you through to victory.” This sounds like good advice, but what do you do when life becomes so dark that it seems impossible to praise God? How do you lift your voice to the Lord in praise when your husband has left you or your daughter has terminal cancer? How do you praise God when you the world calls you a failure? You begin by recognizing who God is and how worthy He is of our offering of praise. Praising Him may not immediately lesson our sorrow or change our circumstances, but it will bring light to our darkness and shift our focus onto the One who is good, loving, righteous and sovereign. Dr. Michael Youseff - Leading the Way Ministries

Worship

“Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins.” ~ Alexander MacLaren A Call to True Worship Psalms 29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. Psalms 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! Psalms 99:5 Exalt the LORD our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is He! John 4:21-24 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Examples of Worship Exodus 33:9-10 Then when Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Worship in Song Exodus 15:20-21 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider He has thrown into the sea.” Psalms 59:16 But I will sing of Your strength; I will sing aloud of Your steadfast love in the morning. For You have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. Psalms 63:3-4 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Psalms 150 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with strings and pipe! Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

AUDIENCE OF ONE by Greg Fergeson

It's such a strong temptation to live for man's applause But I don't want to buy into the lie 'cause I know that's not a worthy cause So to keep things in perspective I hung a sign upon the wall The sign is nothing special but it really says it all And the sign says… I'll be content to serve an Audience of One. Only His approval counts when all is said and done And this is my prayer when the race is finally run I want to hear well done from the Audience of One. When the drive for recognition starts to get the best of me All I've got to do is look around at the people serving selflessly And they don't serve for glory, and they're not keeping score There's a sign that's written on their hearts A sign I've seen before… I'll be content to serve an Audience of One. In the not too distant future When the crowds all fade away I'll stand alone before my Lord And this is what I long to say… I'm overjoyed to serve an Audience of One. It's what I've been created for ever since day one And this is my song as I bow before Your throne I love to hear well done from the Audience of One. So this will be my prayer 'til the race is finally run I want to hear well done I long to hear well done From the Audience of One. By Greg Furgeson Question from last week: How are you doing passionately loving Jesus, the Word, each other, your neighbors and the world? Remember that if we love Jesus passionately, the other steps should come naturally.

WHAT SHOULD THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD LOOK LIKE?

What Should the Church of the Living God Look Like? I have recently been thinking on what the Church should look like. I look around and see many variations of the way the Church conducts itself. I grew up in a church that I thought was really outward focused. I have served in churches that were inward focused. I have viewed churches that were committed to service. I have also seen churches that were all about Sunday morning and what happens on their church campus. So which one is right? This may shock you but they are all wrong…and right. Yesterday as I sat in staff meeting I heard our Pastor say what he believes the Church should look like. Let me list what he said and where it comes from. First, the Church should be passionately in love with Jesus. Luke 10:27. And He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind…" Second, the Church should be passionately in love with the Word of God. 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. Third, the Church should be passionately in love with each other. John 13:34-35. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Fourth, the Church should be passionately in love with our neighbors. Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Fifth, the Church should be passionate about sharing our love with the world. Mark 16:15. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Matthew 28:19-20. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Let’s pray together that FBC Canton becomes this kind of church. Aaron Hodges

ALWAYS REJOICE?

Always Rejoice? Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice. Philippians 4:4 Each Wednesday night when we meet together, we have a time when we offer prayer requests. We may suffer from a terminal illness or perhaps a loved one has been deployed. We may wonder how we will pay the mortgage or grieve for a family member who has wandered far from the Lord. There’s nothing easy about rejoicing when our lives are churning with turmoil or capsized by tragedy. Elisabeth Elliot, widow of martyred missionary Jim Elliot, once said, “The Christian life is simple, but it’s never easy.” Paul’s instructions in Philippians 4:4 call us to live out this truth. When we stop and think about all the hardships we are dealing with we may ask ourselves, “Did God really mean ALWAYS.” The simple but difficult answer to that question is yes, that’s exactly what He meant. How is it possible to obey this command? Look carefully at the verse: we rejoice IN the Lord. For example, in Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus prepared His followers for the persecution they were going to encounter as His ambassadors. First He gave them a command that He knew would lead them into many hardships: “Go and make disciples.” Then He promised, “I am with you always.” Like the disciples, we are called to navigate dark and difficult waters. But we also can rejoice in the presence of the Lord. He stands beside us, ready to keep us on course. In 2 Corinthians 9:8 Paul says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need you will abound in every good work.” When we allow God’s grace to flow into our lives, He infuses us with the power to praise Him. We can always rejoice in the Lord’s presence and His provision because He has promised that He will always supply what we need (Philippians 4:19). But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:5-6 Therefore, rejoice IN the Lord ALWAYS! Aaron Hodges

“What does the Bible say about jealousy?" “For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living like unbelievers?” 1 Corinthians 3:3b We can learn a lot from children. All I have to do in my house is look at my children and see in them the very things that are wrong in me. They are sometimes mirrors of my own faults. It is so easy to see it in them, but not so in myself. One of the things I watch them deal with is jealousy. “My friend has a nicer baby doll.” “My friend has a better phone.” “My friend has a car.” Instead of being happy for their friend, they tend to be envious of what their friend has. What does the Bible have to say about jealousy and envy? When we use the word “jealous,” we use it in a sense of being envious of someone who has something we do not have. This kind of jealousy is a sin and is not characteristic of a Christian; rather, it shows that we are still being controlled by our own desires (1 Corinthians 3:3). Galatians 5:26 says, “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” The Bible tells us that we are to have the perfect kind of love that God has for us. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The more we focus on ourselves and our own desires, the less we are able to focus on God. When we harden our hearts to the truth, we cannot turn to Jesus and allow Him to heal us (Matthew 13:15). But when we allow the Holy Spirit to control us, He will produce in us the fruit of our salvation, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Being jealous indicates that we are not satisfied with what God has given us. The Bible tells us to be content with what we have, for God will never fail or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). In order to combat jealousy, we need to become more like Jesus and less like ourselves. We can get to know Him through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with mature believers. As we learn how to serve others instead of ourselves, our hearts will begin to change. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). Aaron Hodges

Enter into REST!

Enter into REST! Throughout the school year, many of us are running this way and that. First its early mornings getting everyone headed out the door in a timely manner, without World War 3. Then, when we get home from work or the kids get home from school, we head to baseball, dance, piano lessons, football, basketball, soccer, underwater basket weaving, and after that homework. Somewhere in that mess, we are supposed to eat as a family followed by getting everyone cleaned-up and off to bed. In my house it is about 10:00 pm when Malia and I finally stop to say, “Hello!” I know by some of the stories I have heard others tell, it is even worse for some families. I look forward to this time of year! The hustle and bustle seems to calm a little and somewhere in that peace we can find rest. We need physical rest along with spiritual rest. The Bible has many references to rest. I believe that if God said he rested on the 7th day of creation, then we should follow His lead and rest from our busy work. In God we find… 1. Rest of salvation. - “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for you today…” Exodus 14:13 2. Rest of conscience about our sins. - “ I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 3. Rest from the fear of Judgment. - “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” Romans 8:1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24 4. Rest from fear of death. - “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 5. Rest from the power of sin. - “…because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought Him, and He has given us peace on every side…” 2 Chronicles 14:7 6. Rest of heart in fellowship with Christ. - “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 7. Rest in service from doubt and anxiety. - “For we who have believed enter that rest, as He has said, ‘As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Hebrews 4:3 8. Rest from the presence of sin in glory. - “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” Hebrews 4:9 These 8 biblical truths concerning rest have been adapted from the commentaries of F.E. Marsh. Finding rest in God, Aaron Hodges

No Condemnation and No Separation There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35 Romans 8 is a much loved chapter of the Bible. Many Bible scholars claim Romans 8 to be their favorite chapter of the Bible because it is a chapter that helps us understand the doctrine of eternal security. After the internal struggle that Paul expressed at the end of Chapter 7, it is refreshing to see him open Romans 8 with these words, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” These words are for those who have put their faith and trust in Christ as Savior. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father,’” (Romans 8:15). There are many wonderful truths in Romans 8. The beginning and ending of the chapter help the reader understand the context and content of the rest of the other verses. Paul starts by saying there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This shows God’s mercy—not giving us what we deserve. It ends with the fact that we cannot be separated from His love. This is God’s grace—giving us what we do not deserve. We are free from the law of sin and death (i.e. judgment, v2)! However, Jesus Christ was judged for our sin and died in our place. In Adam we are sinners who deserve punishment by death (Romans 5). Jesus accepted our punishment on the cross. In Christ we are justified in God’s sight by faith in the finished work of Jesus (Romans 8:33, 34). We enjoy the mercy of God because we are in Christ and God has accepted Jesus’ sacrifice. There is no condemnation on us today. Praise the Lord! Verse 35 asks the question, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” The answer, of course, is no one. Then Paul continues to say that no created thing is able to separate us either. Neither tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril nor sword can separate us from God’s love. Why? Because we are more than conquerors in Christ! Beyond the natural things that can happen to a man, Paul lists things completely out of our control to show how secure we are in Christ. He says that he is convinced that death and life are no match for God’s love. Angels, principalities and powers have no authority over those who are in Christ. The list continues with the present and future as well as all creation being named as things which cannot separate us from the love of Christ. The final five verses of Romans 8 show us that we can enjoy the grace of God through Jesus Christ. This grace is not temporary. Those who are alive in Christ have the eternal security that they will never be separated from the love of Christ. Is it any wonder that this book and chapter in the Bible is so well loved? It is an encouraging and heart-warming reminder that we have such a loving Heavenly Father. He is merciful and gracious to everyone. For those that are in Christ Jesus, not only are we free from the condemnation that we deserve for being the sinful creatures that we are, but we can also be sure that because of the grace of God (grace that is not temporary) we will never be separated from the love of Christ. Aaron Hodges

Because Jesus Lives I Have HOPE

George Herbert, an English Poet in the 17 century, wrote these words: “He that lives in hope dances without music.” We had finally got a girl! After having three boys, we never thought we would have the possibility to have a girl, but, in July 2003, she arrived. Her name was Meeghan Lyn Hodges. Meeghan was a beautiful child with gorgeous curly hair and a smile that could melt your heart. She was like any other little girl: she played, she laughed, she got into trouble, but she was our girl! It was Tuesday, February 22, 2005. Malia and I woke up that morning as we normally did and went into Meeghan’s room to get her out of her crib. This morning was a little different though. Instead of a cheerful little girl standing up in her crib with arms outstretched, we found Meeghan with little energy and having difficulty standing. We got her out of her crib and, since we all were not feeling well, we all crawled back into bed to rest. As the morning progressed, we realized something wasn’t right with Meeghan. Around 11:00, I went to work and Malia took Meeghan to the doctor. I was called a little while later and told that the doctors wanted Meeghan to be taken to Baton Rouge General Hospital. Not realizing the severity of the problem, I slowly made my way to the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital, Malia informed me that something was very wrong. Meeghan was placed in PICU where she was diagnosed with having a major stroke. We later learned that she had endocarditis which caused a blood clot to shoot directly to her brain. By Thursday night Meeghan’s little brain had herniated twice and we were faced with the reality that we had to let Meeghan go. By Friday morning, February 25th, Meeghan’s heart stopped and she went to be with her Heavenly Father. To say that that was the darkest time in my life would be only scratching the surface of the pain I experienced. We had to learn how to live again. We had to learn what the new normal of life was going to be. You may think that as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I would have no issues holding on to the truth of God’s Word. That was the furthest thing from the truth. I stayed in a very dark hole for months. I had totally lost hope. About 6 months after Meeghan’s death, I had gotten to such a dark place that I was having trouble coping with life. I was not dealing with my work well. I was not dealing with family well. I was really messed-up. There was a moment - I remember it like it was yesterday – when the pain was so intense that I did not see a way out of it and I contemplated how to take my own life. I was having a very difficult time hoping in the Lord. It was at that moment that I heard my God say, “I know your pain and I will see you through it.” God reminded me of the family I had and how they needed and wanted me. Soon afterwards with the encouragement of my wife, I sought medical help for major depression. I believe God allowed me to get to the point where all I had was Jesus. All I could place my hope in was the living Lord. I may not understand all that God is doing but I do know that Jesus is with me every step of the way and that He has prepared a place for me where I will go someday and be reunited with my daughter. Joni Eareckson Tada said it like this, “The best we can hope for in this life is a knothole peek at the shining realities ahead. Yet a glimpse is enough. It's enough to convince our hearts that whatever sufferings and sorrows currently assail us aren't worthy of comparison to that which awaits us over the horizon.”

GLORY TO GOD FOREVER

Glory to God Forever An old hymn has filled many worship centers and all of have sung a few times: “Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God I come! I come!” Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children have responded to the call of the Spirit in the incredible moment created by this song. In many cases, emotions are high, and an almost tangible experience of the Spirit’s presence is felt by all who are astounded by God’s saving grace. Few things bring more glory to God that a heart pounding in response to His loving approach. In the book of Revelation, we are given a glimpse of saints and angels caught up in this same, heartfelt response described above. We see, in Revelation 7:12, the angels respond to God’s glory, bowing before the throne and shouting “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” Like those angels, sometimes our over-spilling praise can leave us at a loss for words as our emotions flood toward God in complete surrender. Rather than having nothing to say, sometimes the best response is a “phrase of praise,” that is repeated over and over until it takes on new meaning in our hearts. “Glory to God forever” is one such phrase. In a moment of complete self-offering, our hearts, like the angels above, turn quickly to words that are not focused on our own comfort, achievements, or needs. Caught up in praise, we simply acclaim God, shout His worth, and use simple words of declaration to say what needs to be said. (More Songs for Praise and Worship 6, page 319) Glory to God Glory to God Glory to God forever. Aaron Hodges

OUR HOPE IS IN JESUS

George Herbert, an English Poet in the 17 century, wrote these words: “He that lives in hope dances without music.” We had finally got a girl! After having three boys, we never thought we would have the possibility to have a girl, but, in July 2003, she arrived. Her name was Meeghan Lyn Hodges. Meeghan was a beautiful child with gorgeous curly hair and a smile that could melt your heart. She was like any other little girl: she played, she laughed, she got into trouble, but she was our girl! It was Tuesday, February 22, 2005. Malia and I woke up that morning as we normally did and went into Meeghan’s room to get her out of her crib. This morning was a little different though. Instead of a cheerful little girl standing up in her crib with arms outstretched, we found Meeghan with little energy and having difficulty standing. We got her out of her crib and, since we all were not feeling well, we all crawled back into bed to rest. As the morning progressed, we realized something wasn’t right with Meeghan. Around 11:00, I went to work and Malia took Meeghan to the doctor. I was called a little while later and told that the doctors wanted Meeghan to be taken to Baton Rouge General Hospital. Not realizing the severity of the problem, I slowly made my way to the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital, Malia informed me that something was very wrong. Meeghan was placed in PICU where she was diagnosed with having a major stroke. We later learned that she had endocarditis which caused a blood clot to shoot directly to her brain. By Thursday night Meeghan’s little brain had herniated twice and we were faced with the reality that we had to let Meeghan go. By Friday morning, February 25th, Meeghan’s heart stopped and she went to be with her Heavenly Father. To say that that was the darkest time in my life would be only scratching the surface of the pain I experienced. We had to learn how to live again. We had to learn what the new normal of life was going to be. You may think that as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I would have no issues holding on to the truth of God’s Word. That was the furthest thing from the truth. I stayed in a very dark hole for months. I had totally lost hope. About 6 months after Meeghan’s death, I had gotten to such a dark place that I was having trouble coping with life. I was not dealing with my work well. I was not dealing with family well. I was really messed-up. There was a moment - I remember it like it was yesterday – when the pain was so intense that I did not see a way out of it and I contemplated how to take my own life. I was having a very difficult time hoping in the Lord. It was at that moment that I heard my God say, “I know your pain and I will see you through it.” God reminded me of the family I had and how they needed and wanted me. Soon afterwards with the encouragement of my wife, I sought medical help for major depression. I believe God allowed me to get to the point where all I had was Jesus. All I could place my hope in was the living Lord. I may not understand all that God is doing but I do know that Jesus is with me every step of the way and that He has prepared a place for me where I will go someday and be reunited with my daughter. Joni Eareckson Tada said it like this, “The best we can hope for in this life is a knothole peek at the shining realities ahead. Yet a glimpse is enough. It's enough to convince our hearts that whatever sufferings and sorrows currently assail us aren't worthy of comparison to that which awaits us over the horizon.”