First Baptist Family of Asheboro, NC

  In Psalm 22:3 the KJV reads, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel .” Other translations translate the word inhabitest as enthroned.   In practice, that’s not necessarily what we mean.   If I’m praising my child, I’m giving an affirmation to them.   It means god is present in moments when we are lifting ourselves up to Him.   God inhabits this space when we meet together.   God is always available.   God gives His presence to us.   We are no longer strangers to God.  Have you ever been in a group and someone introduced you to someone you already know?  It’s a good feeling when we already know someone.  Paul says you are no longer a stranger to God.  You know God.  This is a good reminder for us that we come to God not as a stranger.  In Colossians 1 God is the Creator of everything. Jesus takes first place.  What does it mean for God to be first in our lives? Follow Jesus. Who a...

  Nothing says fall like college football!   The leaves are now turning and there’s pumpkin spice everything.   A reminder it’s fall is the comic strip where Lucy holds the football for Charlie Brown.   We wonder if maybe this year he’ll finally kick the football.   Charlie Brown always ends up at the bottom on the ground.   Joseph is at the bottom.   The rug is pulled out from under him again.   Even at the bottom there are some good things.   We get our hopes up and the football is pulled right out from under us.   There is love at the bottom. God is with the brokenhearted.   To recap, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and he becomes Potiphar’s slave.   He’s accused by Potiphar’s wife and is thrown in prison.   Life keeps getting worse.   There’s a surprise here in verse 21:             21But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast...

We are thankful for our dads; they’re strong and courageous, especially when we’ve needed strength to face things.   In Genesis 21 Abraham has strength and courage.   God kept His promises to Abraham.   God was faithful.   We’ve already seen God keep His promises in Genesis.   God makes a promise and fulfills it.   Some of these promises God is still fulfilling today.   A few days ago I saw a rainbow.   It had been raining every single day.   You start wondering if we are going to need to look around for an ark when it rains that much!      God keeps His promises. Remember God promised Abraham and Sarah they will have a child.   Here’s the birth of Isaac in verse 2:                          2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him....