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Abortion is a God-Involved Decision

I saw a photo post that said ‘Abortion is a personal decision, not a legal debate’.  The TRUTH is, “Abortion is a God-involved decision”!   Life matters to God, our Creator!  He is the Giver of Life! 

SCRIPTURE TRUTH says  “For YOU formed my inward parts;  YOU covered me in my mother’s womb.  I will praise YOU, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  marvelous are YOUR works, and that my soul knows very well.  My frame was not hidden from YOU when I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  YOUR eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in YOUR Book they all were written, the days fashioned for me when as yet there were none of them.  How precious also are YOUR thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!”  ~Psalms 139:13 -17

I have been blessed for years to spend time with and connect with children thru my family, church, music classes, school, and community…….. and I always carry in my heart a thank you to parents who have and continue to choose LIFE!
Children are Gifts from God!   Choose life for them!  He did! 
Allow them to fulfill their God-given purpose in this world!
-Sharon Langford
  John 10:10 

Watch our words

Most often it is not a fist hitting us in the face that wounds us, but rather it is words spoken to us by family and friends.
The words quickly spoken, without forethought, are among the most potent weapons we use against each other. James chapter 3 says clearly that we are to control our tongue as if it were a rudder on a ship.

My prayer for us all is to stop even one second before we through those firey words out of our mouths. May we learn to respond rather than react.

Celebrate Life

 

Devotional by Cindy Green,  Sunday, June 26, 2022

It’s a good thing to spend a few minutes reflecting on some historic days. On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States of America determined that our Constitution gave “autonomy” over our bodies – thus “abortion on demand” became the law of the land. Unapologetic, misguided, uninformed, desperate women and men made a choice to abort healthy pregnancies on a massive and unimaginable scale. They called it “reproductive healthcare”. Over 63 million unborn children have been literally torn from the womb or chemically terminated. These infants were not babies “yet to come into being”, they were already human beings – already made in the image of God. They existed, and then they didn’t. Their lives were extinguished before they had an opportunity to take their first breath and the blood of the innocent has drenched our soil ever since January 22, 1973.
Most of these abortions were NOT
1.) initiated to save the mother’s life;
2.) because of rape/incest;
3.) because of substantial and probably fatal birth defects.
They were initiated because of bad choices that resulted in unwanted pregnancies. These ‘crisis pregnancies’ were of course, very inconvenient to the situations and plans that women and men had for their own lives. So the life of the unborn was ‘negated’. Roe vs Wade on January 22, 1973, was the over-whelming catalyst that nurtured a culture that values “death’ as a solution. But we serve a living God and as Christians, we believe in solutions that promote “life” and not death! On Friday, June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States of America reversed the interpretation of 1973 concerning the right to abort unborn children. Thank You Father God for changing hearts and perceptions! Hallelujah for a long-overdue victory! Now, just because our Supreme Court Justices have decreed that abortion is not a guaranteed right in our Constitution, it does not mean that the war for life is over nor does it mean that ‘abortion’ is dead. No, no it does not! June 24, 2022, is the date that the ‘power to decide’ was given back to the states. We must elect the right state officials to relegate abortion to only the direst of circumstances. Some of our western states in particular have pledged to protect and actively support abortion on demand. I am happy and grateful that our great state of Florida will not fall into such a category.
Let’s celebrate the victory for life that June 24, 2022, brought to America. However, let’s not completely pack up our weapons and go home. We won a ‘battle’. The war still rages on. We must continue to pray the good prayers, repent for our nation, and fight the good fight of faith because that’s what the righteous do. That’s what we do. Amen.

 

The One Who Rescued You

The One Who Rescued You

How often do we feel the need to be rescued?  There are so many challenges in the world we live in today.  Wars, unrest, families torn apart by so many things and we must make our way through all the parts of our lives.

Lately, I have been crying out to the Lord for his help in keeping my heart focused on Him.  It is too easy to be distracted by the events surrounding us.  He answers my prayers with a peace that helps me stay stable and firm on His Word.  I keep reading and meditating on the Bible, seeking answers to my heart’s questions.  What a wonderful Savior he is.  Time after time, my heart reaches out to Him, and time after time, He answers.  He brings peace, joy in the small things, fellowship with other Christians, hope for tomorrow, and reassurance for my eternal future with Him in Heaven.

Today, if you are needing to be rescued, allow Jesus to be the One who meets that need.  He will always answer the cry of His children.

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

I will call upon the Lordwho is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.
May your heart be blessed as you reach out to the One who created you in your mother’s womb.

 

 

 

Pentecost Sunday is here

Acts 2:16-21 ERV

Act 2:16  But Joel the prophet wrote about what you see happening here today. This is what he wrote:
Act 2:17  ‘God says: In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will have special dreams.
Act 2:18  In those days I will pour out my Spirit on my servants, men and women, and they will prophesy.
Act 2:19  I will work wonders in the sky above. I will cause miraculous signs on the earth below. There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke.
Act 2:20  The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon will be as red as blood. Then the great and glorious day of the Lord will come.
Act 2:21  And everyone who trusts in the Lord will be saved.’

We have to let peace prevail

dennis-langford_brdr
  • Worry will cause peace to evaporate
  • Stress will dissolve its resolve
  • Willfulness will break down its fortifying effect
  • Fear will test its mettle
    But-
  • Faith will follow its path
  • Obedience will reap its reward
  • Hope will carry you along to its designation
  • Vigilance will protect the fruit of peace in your life
    Be encouraged in these troubling times

 

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If God seems far away, who moved?

dennis-langford_brdr

It is a good time (as it is always) to seek after the Lord through reading the Bible and praying to Him in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ!  Drawing close, and staying close to God provides overcoming strength to keep on  “keeping on”.

As a young man, my developmental years were spent in a church with my family that was a “country church”.  There were a lot of good people in the church body and more good people in the community where I lived.  Many of those people, in addition to my family, spoke into my life and helped me grow in my personal faith.  One such person was a man by the name of John Tharp.  Brother Tharp was not a typical “worshipper” in the church where I grew up, but, he was a very profound thinker.  I do not know who originated the statement, “If God seems far away, who moved” but, it was Brother John Tharp who impressed it upon me.  A dear sister from my church created a poster with that message on it and the poster was placed in a shadowbox.  As far as I know-over 50 years later-it is still there to remind worshippers of the need to seek after God in order to stay close to Him.

Some messages are enduring for a reason.  As Chrisitan believers, our faith is the most precious treasure we have on this earth.  If God seems far away from you today, you can find Him in the Scriptures.  Faith comes from reading and obeying the Word of God.  Faith encourages us to pray, engaging the journey of faith for the glory of the Name of our God and of his Son, Jesus Christ.

I want God to come near to you today.  I believe He will as you read His Word, given to all of us, and as you pray to Him about your needs, in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

 

32 Years and Counting

Sunday, April 8th, 1990, 10 AM worship service is when Dennis officially became Pastor at 15th Street Church of God in Leesburg! It was also my 39th Birthday! I am reflecting today how that we have moved thru our 40 age, 50 age, and 60 age while pastoring here! We merged two congregations in 2001 and moved our church location to 706 Urick Street in Fruitland Park (Covenant Life Church of God).
A song that reflects the past 32 years for me is…. 🎶He’s been Faithful, Faithful to me, Looking back His Love and Mercy I see; In my heart I have questioned even dared to Believe, Yet He’s been Faithful, Faithful to me! 🎶
I asked Dennis what song reflects the past 32 years for him. His reply was…. 🎶Through it all! Through it all! I’ve learned to Trust in JESUS, I’ve learned to trust in God; Through it all! Through it all! I’ve learned to Depend upon HIS WORD !🎶
Dennis and I have grateful hearts for our Father’s Love and care upon us – His called pastoral servants to this congregation~ past and present!
We both realize and confess that
“we’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting in His holy Word…..
He’s never failed us!”
We sing:
🎶Your goodness is running after- running after me! Your goodness is running after- running after me! With my life laid down I surrender now, I give You everything… Your goodness is running after- running after me! 🎶

15th Street Church of God in Leesburg (also known as Abundant Life)

Covenant Life Church of God in Fruitland Park (the new name given after the two churches merged in 2001)

Psalms 91

 

 Псалом 91

 Ті, що живуть у покрові Всевишнього , знайдуть спокій у тіні Всемогутнього.  Це я проголошую про  Господа : Він єдиний мій притулок, моє місце безпеки; він мій Бог, і я довіряю йому.  Бо він врятує вас від усякої пастки і захистить від смертельної хвороби.  Він покриє вас своїм пір’ям. Він прихистить вас своїми крилами. Його вірні обіцянки – це ваша зброя і захист.  Не бійся жахів ночі, ані стріли, що летить вдень.  Не бійся хвороби, що перебуває в темряві, ані лиха, що вражає опівдні.  

   7  Хоч тисяча впаде поруч з тобою, хоч десять тисяч гинуть навколо тебе, це зло не торкнеться тебе.  Просто відкрийте очі і подивіться, як покарані нечестивці. 

 Якщо ти зробиш  Господа  своїм притулком, якщо зробиш Всевишнього своїм притулком, 10  ніяке зло не переможе тебе; жодна чума не наблизиться до вашого дому. 11  Бо він накаже своїм ангелам захищати вас, куди б ви не пішли. 12  Вони піднімуть тебе своїми руками , щоб ти навіть не пошкодив ногу об камінь. 13  Ти будеш топтати левів і кобр; ти тиснеш лютих левів і змій під ногами своїми! 

14  Господь каже: «   Я врятую тих, хто любить Мене. Я буду захищати тих, хто довіряє моєму імені. 15  Коли покличуть мене, я відповім; Я буду з ними в біді. Я врятую і вшаную їх. 16  Я винагороджу їх довгим життям і дам їм своє спасіння».

(Ukrainian version)

    Psalm 91

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes,
    and see how the wicked are punished.

If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
    to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
    you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
    and give them my salvation.”