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Recently, members of the congregation have been encouraged by the Administrative Team to share how they have put God as a priority in their life.  Below are some examples from the congregation:

• Our Youth Group has been making God a priority in our lives by committing to a weekly devotional series that highlight and focus on God's Word.  We engage in conversation on the weekly topic through texting, and have discussion during our Bible Discovery time every Sunday immediately following church service.  We have been discussing topics that relate to everyday challenges and focus on the approach God would like to see us take to overcome the challenges.  In the coming weeks we will be "taking it to the streets" in a manner of speaking through various service projects and begin our focus on discipleship.

• Sue VanDerLinden and Elaine Barnes taught Bible lessons and led children in song at Club Can Do at the Hornell Intermediate School.
  
• Weekly meeting with a friend to pray for an hour.
• The Tuesday Guys meeting every Tuesday morning to take care of the needs/repairs of the church building.
• Another member shares that she meets with God first thing in the morning for Bible reading and prayer.  It's a time to soak up God's Word and receive Gd's guyidance and bring God her concerns.

October 17. 2021

Guest Speaker: Joyce Norfolk

From the Pulpit of HFBC

Sermon Title: Title – A Reflective Journey

Sermon Scripture: The Book of Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 1-5;

The Word of God reads:

“When the people of Jerusalem went to exile,

 The word of the Lord came to me (Jeremiah), saying

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

Before you were born I set you apart,

I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” Jeremiah 1:5

May the Word of the Lord etch in our hearts:

Before entrance to my message, let us pray.

Let us pray: Father, Anoint your child and the message to the end.  I ask for your presence to stir our hearts and minds to know you. May we grasp of your wonderful work and appreciate of your salvation unto us. In Jesus Name we pray.

           My sermon title is reporting the mighty deeds of our creator through his lens.

We know that we cannot see much when we look at the outside of a kaleidoscope. All we see is the outer shell, hard and dull. But when we look through the lens, we will see myriads of colors intertwined; the intricacy beauty reflecting toward us is incredible.

           Just imagine: I am now surrounded by a group of people, they want answers from a reporter’s view; they want the truth. So one by one questions are being raised: Where is God before I was born? Where is God when I was in my mother’s womb? How about after I was born, young and enthusiastic of life, and where is God now I am old, physical limited?

           So this morning, I would attempt to give you honest answers: The Truth. I am here standing as a reporter not for the world major company like CNN, CBS etc., but as a reporter for the Lord Almighty. Though God’s news is over 3000 years, the news is still relevant today. God, the creator, knows his creation better than any human can. 

           The report comes from the Written Word, the Holy Bible. The Divine God is the author. The Bible is God’s eternal and unchangeable principles for us to obey and to follow. Applying the Bible to situations as they arise is not always easy to grasp, nevertheless, the Word of God is our source for “sound and comprehensive knowledge”. All other views or philosophies, from history or our own reasoning are secondary.

           So, sit tight: Here is the news: God is there in every season of our lives. We are in His grip. This reflective journey is about God’s constant help from infant, childhood, youth to old age.

           REMEMBER: Whatever the news, it is the purpose of the Lord that will prevail (Proverbs19:21).

           The first point: God formed us; He knows us:

           Hear the Word of God in Psalm 139: 13-17:

“For you (God) created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

Your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me,

were written in your book, before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts O God, How vast is the sum of them.”

           By God sovereign power, God brought us into existence from non-existence. You and I were once not a being but now we are.

           God knew you, as he knew the prophet Jeremiah, long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you. When you are discouraged or feel inadequate. Be reminded that God has always thought of you as valuable. You are an essential worth being. He has a purpose in mind for you.

           In Genesis chapter 25: 23 – while Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, was pregnant with the twins, the Lord said to her “ Two nations are in your womb.” God did not call the

unborn a chemical substance or fetus. God said that two nations are in the womb. In

this case, through the unborn in Rebekah’s womb the nations of the earth will be blessed. 

           Since the unborn in the mother’s womb has the potentiality to become an actual living being and yet, in the name of human, millions of unborn have been eradicated from the face of the earth. If they were not snuff out before they were born, some of them might help to solve the dilemma of our sufferings today. A baby is an entity created in the image of God. A human is a unique entity not a quantity. Unlike a quantity of one plus one is two. Half a slice of bread plus half a slice of bread is one slice of bread. It works in the mathematical realm. Not so in a human. Solomon proved it in his court (1 King 3:16-28.) Half a baby plus half a baby is not a baby. It is a gruesome mockery of a human child.

           A true story about my nephew, Alex: When my sister was pregnant with my nephew the doctor advised her to end the pregnancy because her life would be endangered if she carried him to the full term. She stood to her ground and defied all odds, and Alex was born. Now, Alex is an Air pilot of Jumbo 747 for Singapore Airlines. He is married and a father of four. My older sister has been reminded of God’s care and mercy.

           When my mother related the story of my birth that the chance of my survival to the new world was very slim, Like the Psalmist, I praise the Lord: “ From birth I have relied on you, you brought me forth from my mother’s womb (Psalm 71:6).

           The Bible clearly declares God views a preborn child as a person whom God knows intimately. How will we view preborn children when God values them so highly?

           Second: God loves us; God rescues us:

           Some of you might be familiar with this story about a boy who loved boats. He decided to make a boat by his own hands. For months, the boat was slowly and

painstakingly taken shape beautifully before his eyes. He was so elated and with

shout of joy: He lifted up his boat: I made a boat and this boat is mine.

           One day, he brought the boat to nearby lake. When he lowered down his boat on the water, WOW! Not only the boat did not sink, instead it was drifted by the wind and sailed slowly and smoothly. He watched with amazement and paid little notice of the boat drifting away. When he came to his senses, he desperately cried out “ come back, my boat, come back”. But the boat was way too far to be reached. He lost his boat.

           Month passed by without any news of his boat. In one evening, he walked

passed by a store. His boat was there on the displayed window with a price tag. He

rushed in and said “Sir that is my boat, I want it back.” The owner answered: “You

want that boat. You have to purchase it.” There was not enough to buy back his

beloved boat. With teary eyes and with imploring voice “Sir, I will return for my

boat.” He left with a broken heart and he began a plan to buy back his boat. Indeed,

he saved enough money and again rushed back to the store: “Sir, here is the asking

price for my boat, I want to buy that boat of mine.” When the boat was handed to

him, once again, he shouted with joy and held it close to him “ Twice you are mine. 

First I made you and now I purchased you.”

           This is the heart of our creator to redeem his lost people back to his own.

The redeeming story is at the core of the Bible. In the beginning God created a splendid and beautiful world. Originally humans were noble, reflecting the image of

the creator. The Bible says in Genesis Chapter 1:26-27: Mankind was made in the

image of a relational God, created for relationship, vertically, to worship and enjoy

God, horizontally we are created for each other. How do we come to such a miserable place?

           The story was too familiar: Man and Woman wanted to live independently

without his creator. He chose to disobey the word of his maker. As the result, the

power of evil polluted the world, and mankind is degraded : our relationship with our creator is fractured and we are spiritually blind. 

           Sin separated us from the holy God. As King David knew full well and he cried out to God: surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me (Psalm 51).

           God settled once and for all. He initiated to win back the lost. It was the massive settlement to save his lost people.

           First, the Father began to unfold his plan as recorded in Genesis 3:15 and Act 2:23. Second, Jesus obeyed his Father and offered salvation to the world.

According to the Scripture: The redeeming process could only be settled by the shedding of the precious and priceless blood of God’s very Son (1 Peter 1:18-19).

           The good news: God sent his son, Jesus, to seek and save those whom he called lost people. Thus, the central drama unfolds: The cross- Jesus died on the cross, bore our punishment; to save us from the slavery to sin; the resurrection, give us living hope in the now and beyond the grave; His ascension, going up to heaven, assures his redeemed people will one day face to face with him.

           The redeeming story is vividly captured in the words of the Psalmist:

“He brought me up out of the slimy pit. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to my God (Psalm 40.).

           Months after my conversion: Someone asked me to reflect my redemptive story:    I likened myself like a cocoon: wrapping with layers of doubts, guilt, pain,

Hopelessness, helplessness, and daily I struggled to come out of the dark, dreary self. One day, I was found by one who knew my struggles, my condition, and who himself bore my hurt. With his tender voice and a gentle touch, he drew me near to him and healed and bade me live. So, I emerged to become a beautiful butterfly. I came flitting by, winged freely through the cloudless blue, glided happily over the arbor, high, Wow! I got a view of beauty that I have not seen. I finally saw his hand bored the cruel scars for me and I thank Him.

           This is the truth: First, God rescues me out of the slimy pit; He then rebuilds me by steadying my feet and he makes me useful for his service.

           The Bible spoke of many redeeming persons. One of them is Matthew. We

have been reading the Book of Matthew each Sunday. Matthew was a despised tax

collector. He collected the money from his own people and charged them in excess

and placed the extra in his pocket. When Matthew met Jesus he did not hesitate to follow him even though he knew it would cost him everything. His employment as tax collector ceased permanently. There was no turning back.   

           In surrendering his life to Jesus: he adopted a different way of life. He

belonged to a new group. He belonged to the Son of God. Most importantly; He was now an accepted person.

           Matthew past job was to record the collected money in the book. His skill

was with his pen. Jesus gave him a new purpose for his skills. With his keen observance to life, Matthew used his pen to record the greatest story every lived. The Book of Matthew bears his name.

           For the young men and women, God too has a meaningful purpose for each of you: Like Jeremiah to be a spoke person for God, like Matthew to pen down the beautiful, living story ever lived. You are one of God’s work in progress. The skill and the abilities you possess have been given to you from the beginning. When you trust him and give the Lord your all, you will begin a life of real adventure.

           Third: God is gracious to you.

Some young person might think that when they surrender their lives to Jesus, their

lives will be so dull, lack of fun. They think God will withhold life best from them.

           Not so. Listen to the words of our Creator.

           “ Be happy, young man, while you are young,

And let your heart gives you joy in the days of your youth.

Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see,

But know that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment.

However many years a man may lives, let him enjoy them all,

But let him remember the days of darkness,

for they were be many” Ecclesiastes 11).

           We often hear “It doesn’t matter.” But it does. Your choice you make now will

affect you for a lifetime. Some of them are irreversible. The Bible encourages us to

enjoy life now, but also must obey God’s commands. So don’t do anything physically, morally or spiritually that will cause barriers to enjoying life when you are old (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10).

           God is gracious and he wants us to live life with the attitude that even though we know life is short, we will live with God forever.

           Seek God during your youthful years. Give your strength and the best of your youth to God. Make sure you don’t waste your strength and the exciting years on evil or meaningless activities that become bad habits and make you insensitive to sin.

           “Remember your creator, in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the year approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them.”

(Ecclesiastes 12:1)

           The last point: He sustains you:; He carries you:

           Hear: The Word of God reads”

“Listen, to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel,

You whom I have upheld since you were conceived,

and have carried since your birth

Even to your old age or gray hairs ,

I am he, I am he who will sustain you,

I have made you and I will carry you:

I will sustain you and I will rescue you (Isaiah 46: 3-4)”

           Our God created us and cares for us. His love is so enduring that he will care for us throughout our lifetime and even through death.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

From Psalm 73: The Word of God reads:

            “When my heart was grieved, and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you, you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me to your glory” (Psalm 73:21-24).

                       We face life struggles; we moan and groan, we shout with anger when our plans fail to succeed. We grieve and bitter of life unfair. All in all: child of God: The good news to those who know and love God, no matter what you do or where you go, you can never be far from God’s love.  His comforting presence is ever near (Romans 8:35-39).

           “For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end” (Psalm 48:14).

           Children of the Lord: From birth to death, God has us continually in his grip. But far more, we have a constant companion and he has an intimate knowledge of the way. He will be both our life companion and our guide to the end. The Bible is the map to show us the way, the Holy Spirit in us is our life companion.

           Let us pray: Father: How marvelous to hear your word. Your word gives us hope and your promises preserve our lives.  Thank you, Lord. We love you.

           Benediction: May you know your Creator: and enjoy the benefits of a life lived in companionship with God both now and eternity. Amen.

              RECIPE FOR LOVE

Ingredients: The main one - HEART –

                          Mixed in Spices:

H - Honesty – Honest exchange of feelings and in conversation.

E - Encouragement – Take every precaution to build up each other.

A – Attitude – Apply Godly attitude to combat life battle.

R – Respect – Show respect at all times even in disagreement.

T – Tenderness – A soft answer turns away wrath, heals brokenness.

The last ingredient is a MUST for daily consumption: - KINDNESS -

Kindness sweetens the taste bud. 

It is a guardrail on the mountain passes. It protects you and restricts you to go over the fences.

Kindness beholds brokenness, fixed not, yet still valued and loved.

By Joyce Norfolk

Below are some of the ways in which our First Baptist Church congregation have served the Lord in self-sacrificial opportunities:

·    spent time in prayer for others

·     feed the hungry

·     visited a widower

·     listened to someone complain without response

·     worked at church clean-up day

·     paid an older gentlemen’s bill at Walmart

·     spread the Word

·     sat with a homeless woman

·     took homemade meal to  someone

·     helped a family with yard work

·     let a co-worker rest and did their job

·    mowed someone’s lawn

·    let people ahead in line at grocery store

·    gave a cart to someone

·     told a worker thank you for all they do.

·     cleaning another’s house

·     babysat so parents can have a night out

·     helped a family get ready for a yard sale

·     helped a family clean and move

·     babysat children at various times to help parents out

·     wrote a letter of reference on behalf of an incarcerated person

·     helped with Compeer event

·     led (co-led) an exercise class

·     Bible study groups

So Much Sadness - Written by Pat Dunning  on 7/1/2020 while in the hospital at Strong Memorial

It's times like this that makes me cry, not the tears that run down my eyes, but tears of hurt, pain and sorrow thinking about this world of tomorrows.

The hate, the anger, the senseless ways, so many people choose to show their rage, the looting, the killing, everyone taking sides, the choices they make are wrong and unwise.

The television news and look at the cost, we can't bring back those we have lost.

Just think about all of this hate, the time is now, it's never too late.

People are breaking so many hearts, why caan't we be friends and all do our part?  So what do you say...let's make a new start!

Let's start anew with God as our guide to lead us and help us all to survive.

It all comes down, to only one word, and love is the answer, it's what we deserve.

Put away your anger, fighting and hate, just love one another....that's all it will take.

We all are one and need to unite, to come together, and give up the fight.

We all are the same in body and soul, God gave us choices, and also control.

HE wants us all to give him our hearts, then loving each other will be just a part of a life that was intended for you and me, a life of love and one family in harmony.