This is the day...

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Sad to say, we spend most of our lives wishing it were yesterday or tomorrow. We look forward all of our lives to the coming events: birthdays, teen years, 16 - driving, graduation from high school, college, marriage, children, our dream vocation, retirement, etc. Rather than enjoy the moment, we are constantly looking forward with anticipation to the next event. Then after all is said and done, we sit around and reminisce about the "good ole' days."

Jim Eliot, Missionary to Ecuador, said...

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."

It doesn't do us any good thinking about what might have been, or what could be. God has given us "today." God will not give us "tomorrow" if we are not good stewards of "today." Those dreams you have of tomorrow may come true, but you first must receive the day the Lord has given to you and make all you can of it! A wise man once said, "Live in the present for the future." Don't live in the future, live for the future!

There is no promise of tomorrow, but God has given you a wonderful gift of "today." Enjoy it to the hilt!

James 4:14

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Sunday, January 10, 2010

This morning the temperature is -5 degrees with a windchill of -16 degrees!

Humphrey Fire Department 2010

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Today my wife and I had the privilege of attending the annual Recognition and Swearing in Ceremony at the Humphrey Fire Hall. I was asked to give the invocation. I expressed my appreciation on behalf of the community to the firemen for their dedication. It is a volunteer department. I also took a shot at the Chief with a funny joke! He was very gracious to me. My wife and I sat with him along with an area Pastor. I then led in prayer for the food in which I ended "...in Jesus Name."

It was a blessing to get to know some of the community and I hope we made a good impression for the Lord's sake.

Katie and I posed for a picture with Senator Cathrine Young from our district. I was very impressed when she mailed us a letter welcoming us to the area, and she didn't disappoint me in person. It was a blessing to meet her.

This year marks the 40th Anniversay of the Department. Mr. Halladay pictured here with his wife (sister of Don Potter - member of HBC) spoke a word of testimony. It was he and Don Potter who helped put up the trusses 40 years ago!



The Fire Chief allowed me to have a picture with him. He had recently fallen on the ice and broke his leg.




There were around 70 folks who attended.
I think that's about all of them.

We had a wonderful spread of food. The afternoon began with delicious appetizers followed by your choice of steak, stuffed pork chop, or veggie lasagna. As you can guess, I chose... One of each - just kidding! I enjoyed a delicious steak!

Jude 1:21-23 "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

I read the preceding verses to the people gathered there and compared the church to a fire department. They save folks from a physical fire while we strive to save souls from a spiritual fire! They seemed to enjoy my brief words. Later a few came to me and assured me that I had done well.

I want to thank Autumn Burrell for giving us her afternoon to watch our boys so we could be able to attend the event! God bless her.

A Winter Wonderland...

Tuesday, January 5, 2009

The Cialini Men are hard at work!

I know a lot of places are getting hammered with snow worse than us, but here are some pictures of our winter wonderland

Here are a couple of views of our back yard.

On Sunday evening, we took part in the Lord's Supper. I mentioned to the people before we partook of the juice of how beautiful the snow is in the middle of winter. As we sit inside in our cozy homes, warm and comfortable, we look out to see the beautiful sight of the snow as it lays peacefully upon the bushes and the trees. It paints the landscape a gorgeous, pure white.

Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Imagine the pleasure it brings our Heavenly Father as He looks upon his children to see the precious blood of His dear, only begotten Son. The sight of a sinner, cleansed in the pure, sacrificial blood of the Saviour is something our Lord must find great pleasure in. Maybe that is one reason why the Bible says...

Luke 15:10

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence

of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

A Beautiful Manger Scene...

December 28, 2009...

About twelve minutes from our house, in the town of Allegany, is the most beautiful manger scene I have ever seen personally in my life. The lighting, especially at night, is just stunning.

The sad thought is that it is placed there each year by St. Bonaventure University, a Catholic College. As I reflect on what it means to them theologically, it saddens me that they worship the mother rather than the Son. They work to receive a gift that's already been paid for. They go through ritualistic tradition to establish their eternal destiny only to find out some day that they will be bitterly disappointed. Would to God, that He would open their "religious" eyes. Would God that they would see the Babe for Who He is and His earthly mother for who she is - a good woman, but by no means deity!

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The Last Sunday in 2009...

December 27, 2009

We had wonderful services today. The Lord blessed us with 38 in attendance this morning and 30 tonight! We had three visiting families this morning. I preached on "How to Have A Successful 2010"! Tonight Bro. Jim White, Misssionary to Togo, Africa, spoke to us. He is the son of one of our dear church families, on furlough for a year. He did a wonderful job testifying of the work and then spoke on "Thankfulness" from Psalm 23. Bro. Don Potter's son was also visiting with his family from PA. He is a Pastor there. He played the piano for us and did a beautiful job.

We missed my wife today. She was sick today along with Joey. Our folks definitely missed her!

A Christmas Present For Jesus...

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Matthew 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

When I had visited Heritage to hear Bro. Sharp, the Holy Spirit convicted me about doing something for the Jews - especially providing Bibles to the soldiers in the military. If there is one thing I know to do to get God to bless us, it is to be a blesing to the Hebrew people - the Apple of God's Eye!

Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

During our Sunday evening service we took up a collection to help Heritage in their effort to raise $10,000 by the end of December. I was blessed that our small congregation took up $330! Praise the Lord for our generous people who give sacrificially of what they have!

_

We paused after the morning service for a family portrait.

I wish Joey knew how to smile!

I sang, "O Holy Night" during the morning service. I appreciated all the time Mrs. Burrell put into preparation for that song and also the offeratory, which was beautiful.