The Devonshire Files

The Road To Bethlehem Part 4 "Hope"

2011-12-21T10:55:00.001-06:00

Illustrations: As Alexander the Great was setting out on his conquest of Asia, he inquired into the finances of his followers. To ensure that they would not be troubled over the welfare of their dependents during their absence, he distributed crown estates and revenues among them. When he had thus disposed of nearly all the royal resources, his friend General Perdiccas asked Alexander what he

The Catfish and The Cod

2011-12-14T11:47:00.002-06:00

Rev. Webster in Germany shared this illustration with me: "Let me tell you a story of the cod fish. At the turn of the century cod fish were in much demand on the east coast. News of this tasty fish spread across the country all the way to the west coast. There was however a problem. How could they get the fish across the country and still keep it fresh. They tried to freeze the fish and send

The Road To Bethlehem Part 3 "Healing"

2011-12-13T23:31:00.000-06:00

Bible Reading John 4:4-29So many of today can relate to that old song…running on empty. Especially during the holiday season! Running from store to store, trying to get all of the obligations covered. On top of that, many have to deal with the financial concerns of an economy that has been troubled. It can frazzle your nerves!This woman was experiencing the same thing. She was empty, she was

The Road To Bethlehem Part 2 "Peace"

2011-12-08T16:14:00.001-06:00

We are leading up to the celebration of the birth of our Savior. When the day comes and the presents are opened and the food is eaten and the family is called or hugged, we want there to be something more left over then just torn wrapping paper, empty boxes and broken toys. That is why we are taking these five weeks and focusing on just what Christ’s coming means to us. So there will be more

Fishermen

2011-12-07T11:26:00.000-06:00

The story is told of a group of fishermen who went to a remote lake to go fishing for an extended weekend. The first day there was heavy rain, the second day, more of the same. On the third day, the weather hadn't improved, they had grown tired of playing cards, playing games and hearing the same old stories. They started to get on each others nerves. Minor irritation, grew into a full fledged

Righteous Jealousy

2011-12-03T08:58:00.001-06:00

When Tim Keller moved his family to New York City to start Redeemer Presbyterian Church, he asked his wife Kathy to grant him three years of long hours, and after that, he promised, things would change.Kathy agreed to Tim's request, but when the three year mark came and went, Tim said, "Just a couple more months." Still, the months flew by with no change. Although Kathy was incredibly patient and

The Road To Bethlehem Part 1 "Recovery"

2011-11-30T11:44:00.001-06:00

Luk 2:15(15) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. Intro to Series: Thanksgiving anticipation and then 30 minutes of eating, and then the next 30 days trying to get it off our body! Anticipation…We are

The Road To Bethlehem: What His Coming Means To Us

2011-11-29T16:45:00.000-06:00

The song calls it the “Most wonderful time of the year…” it may also be the most stressful! The anticipation leading up to Christmas, the excitement, the preparation, the shopping and cooking and then Christmas morning comes…and goes, and we are left with torn wrapping paper, empty boxes and broken toys. There must be something more! The angels announced His arrival saying they brought “Good

28th Anniversary Photo

2011-11-26T18:13:00.000-06:00

Why Did Joseph Weep?

2011-02-25T12:13:00.000-06:00

The story of Joseph is a moving reminder of God's love. He went from favored son and hated brother, to successful slave, prime prisoner, to prime minister! There is one particularly poignant portion. Joseph had been in Egypt over 20 years and his brethren came to buy food. They didn't realize that this hard "Egyptian" leader was actually their brother. When Joseph mentions "I fear God" it

Why Worship? Why Praise?

2011-02-24T11:18:00.001-06:00

Worship and praise are important because they remind us that we are the created and not the Creator. We place our worth (worship) on Him. When we don't worship and praise and magnify Him, we begin to get out of place and elevate ourselves above what we ought to be. We forget our neediness, our infinite smallness. Our ego edges us up higher and we depend on what we can do and know etc. Romans 1:

What kind of church would it be...???

2011-02-23T11:00:00.002-06:00

What kind of church would it be, if all the Christians were just like you? just as dedicated, just as generous. just as prayerful? Would it be strong and energetic, or weak and powerless?

New Testament Christian Seminary Choir

2010-12-21T15:46:00.002-06:00

Another Baptism!

2010-10-22T21:20:00.000-05:00

We rejoice with the next batch of new believers who were recently baptized. A couple of these folks are from the Belleville church. We used their church to do the baptism in. Thank you Rev. Sewell and the Belleville crew for your hospitality to us again!

Lincoln's Quote

2010-08-14T22:59:00.000-05:00

"Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has grown, but we have forgotten God." -Abraham Lincoln 1863 Amazing that President Lincoln said this in 1863 and it is still appropriate for 2010. Yet, I thank

27 Year Church Anniversary

2010-08-09T16:28:00.000-05:00

A Mother's Love

2010-05-09T00:22:00.000-05:00

I was reading some Mother's day sermons and came across this illustration: The story is told - out of WW 2 & the holocaust that took the lives of millions of people - of Solomon Rosenberg & his family. It is a true story. Solomon Rosenberg & his wife & their 2 sons & his mother & father were arrested & placed in a Nazi concentration camp. It was a labor camp, & the rules were simple. "

Him? or His help?

2010-05-07T20:42:00.000-05:00

I heard a man recently who was remarking about America directly after 9/11/01. He said when America came together to pray after the horrible tragedy, you could find many who prayed for God's help, but no one praying for Him. I think we can see the same today when many are concerned about getting His blessings, but not Him. I have often heard the scripture quoted: "Seek ye first the kingdom of

What God is doing? or Who He is?

2010-05-03T18:45:00.001-05:00

Oswald Chambers, was the author of "My Utmost For His Highest". Once, when his wife had asked him "I wonder what God is doing?" he answered her: "I don't care what God is doing, I am more concerned about who He is." His wife understood his tender heart and that this was not meant to be a callous reply, but rather sometimes God's actions can be confusing, while the Lord Himself, never was. (

To Whom Belongest Thou?

2010-05-03T00:25:00.000-05:00

The Amalekites had invaded Ziklag. The families of David and his soldiers had been taken captive. David and his army were pursuing them and came across a young man. David asks the question "To whom belongest thou?" The young man answered that he was an Egyptian and was a servant to one of the Amalekites, but had gotten sick and they had left him behind. There are thousands of soldiers and

The devil's armor

2010-05-02T01:16:00.003-05:00

(Read "Whose Armor Are You Wearing?" first) We have seen before that Judas had power, but piece by piece the devil clothed him with his armor. Belt of Lies Joh 12:5-6 (5) Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? (6) This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. We see Judas

Whose Armor Are You Wearing?

2010-05-01T00:49:00.011-05:00