Devotions «

Pastor’s Note 1-1-23

Posted on Jan 2, 2023 by admin in Devotions, Letters From Pastor |

“Happy New Year!” These three words bring hope and excitement this time of year.

Happy is what we all want to be. Happiness is a choice that we can make daily. We know what the opposite of happy is, it is sad. The weeping prophet Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:21-23; This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning. We are happy when we get something new. New is what we like most. This new year offers new beginnings, new challenges, new expectations, new experiences and new opportunities. The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17; Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The old year is behind us and the new year lies ahead of us. The next 365 can bring something new into our lives. We need a new touch. We need a new and fresh anointing. God wants to do something new for you. I pray we walk in the newness of life in Jesus Christ every day. So instead of “Happy New Year” how about “Happy New Day!” Everyday can be happy in the Lord.

May God bless you in the new year 2023!

Pastor Hatter

Dec '22

Pastor’s Note 12-1-22

Posted on Dec 1, 2022 by admin in Devotions, Letters From Pastor | Tags: gift, letter, note, pastor

Dec '22

As we quickly close out the month of giving thanks and enter the season of giving, we begin the hustle of purchasing things to give. We go seeking to find that perfect gift.

While we prepare for the time of exchanging gifts with our family and friends, we hand out gifts from a store that will fade into obscurity. Those gifts that once shone with splendor, will one day cease to shine. There are some gifts that will find their way to the local trash pile or the local Goodwill store. We give gifts that will soon have no meaning or purpose and that was never our intent, but time has a way of doing that to things.

James 1:17 (ISV) says; “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father who made the heavenly lights…….”

The gift of the Holy Ghost offers several timeless gifts that have been freely given to mankind from the Creator of all things. This one gift brings so much to our lives like love, joy, peace, healing, grace, mercy, forgiveness, freedom and faith. All of these gifts didn’t come from a store, nicely wrapped in box, but these priceless gifts have been bestowed upon us from God above.

The God of all creation, wrapped himself in flesh and dwelt among us. He came to a stable in Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes. He gave the greatest gift of all, “Himself.” He is the perfect gift.

Pastor Hatter

Nov '22

“The Power of Being Thankful” – Pastor’s Note

Posted on Nov 1, 2022 by admin in Devotions, Letters From Pastor |

Nov '22

Believe it or not, being thankful is the path to better health. Paul said, in Philippians 4:6-7; “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

It seems like the topic of our lives centers around our health. The question is often asked, “how are you doing?”

Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D, a psychology professor and his colleague Michael E. McCullough did a research on the difference between grateful and ungrateful people, and they discovered that grateful people had less depression and stress, lower blood pressure, more energy, and greater optimism.

So, in the month that we set a day aside for thanksgiving or giving thanks, it seems like we would be a whole lot more healthier society if we were a whole lot more thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says; In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

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There it is, the key words, the words that we could easily miss, “In everything give.” If we give thanks in everything we are in the will of God. We have to be thankful for both the good times and the bad times. God never promised an easy life or days without troubles, trials, difficulties, and temptations. He never promised that life will be perfect. We have to be thankful when it is all going smoothly and be thankful when things are very difficult. Be thankful for everything.

Psalm 103:2-5 says; Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

It seems to me that we are encouraged to be thankful. The charge is to be thankful. So be thankful, your health depends on it.

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Pastor Hatter

Oct '22

Pastor’s Note “The Best for Last”

Posted on Oct 1, 2022 by admin in Devotions, Letters From Pastor |

Oct '22

Behold, a new season has arrived. Once again, change is in the air, you can sense it and you can see it. One of the most glorious things about autumn is, like our savior Jesus, He saves the best for last. Spring time will burst forth with glorious blossoms, and fulfilled flowers in the summer, and then with great brilliance fall displays every gorgeous color imaginable to our human eyes in one final blast before the winter season sets in.

Every generation will always try to discover new ways of making things better. We seem to think that our younger years were some of our best, but I have found that God withholds His greatest blessings for the latter times of our life. I have found Him to be faithful to those that have weathered the storms of life, and have stood forever faithful until the end. The longer I live the more I begin to understand what I thought I understood in my earlier years of living about the grace and mercy of God. It does not compare to what I know now. I am becoming increasingly aware of the depths of God’s mercy and love towards me and those around me.

Our best days are ahead of us. The Bible says, “The latter shall be greater than the former.” Just hold on until the glorious return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What we see here on earth will not compare to what He has in store for us in heaven, it will be glorious. We are living in the last days, and God is saving His best for last!

Pastor Hatter

Aug '22

Pastor’s Note 8-1-22

Posted on Aug 1, 2022 by admin in Devotions, Letters From Pastor |

Aug '22

If there is one Scripture that prevails when you begin to look into the birth of revivals it is always this one. . .2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This verse is contingent on God’s people doing something. If we humble, pray, seek and turn, we change who we are. If we want a refreshing, a renewal, a revival, we need to resolve to change our lives.

If these requirements are fulfilled then God will begin to shift things in the spiritual world. He will hear, forgive, and heal.

We all want to be heard. We all a want to be forgiven. We all want to be healed and healthy. We know if we do the things necessary to make our lives better we need to make certain changes.

Many now are in need of our prayers dealing with different challenges of life.

Just knowing what God will do if we will do our part, ought to make every one of us seek to pray and deepen our spiritual life.

Spiritual awakening has always found its roots when the Church found its place of prayer.

Prayer prevails where sin assails!

It all starts with prayer!

Pastor Hatter

Jul '22

Pastor’s Note “Let Freedom Ring”

Posted on Jul 7, 2022 by admin in Devotions, Letters From Pastor |

Jul '22

July 4th is the day that we as a nation celebrate the Declaration of Independence from the tyranny of Great Britain. The signing of this declaration by fifty-six men set forth a nation down the road of freedom.

Down the road of freedom many people fought and gave their lives so that we can remain free.

For 246 years now we are a nation that is still free and it would do us good to remember that freedom is never free, it comes with a great price.

We are free means that men and women down through the ages paid a great price and sacrificed for generations of people that they would never know.

We should never forget about what one man, Jesus Christ did for us, some 2,000 years ago, on Calvary’s cross to set us free from sin and shame. The sacrifice of His life, His death, His burial, His resurrection paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Bill Gaither penned these words to a song, “Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary, let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains, let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain, let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key, we can be free and we can sing, let freedom ring.”

So, because of Jesus Christ, let freedom ring!