Posts

Rick John Mar 7, 2025

Who Protects You?

Dear Friends, Psalm 16 begins with a simple prayer request. Psalm 16:1 NIVKeep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. This request is made to MY God. David is well acquainted with God; his request for protection is very personal. The picture is of a watchman guarding a city, soldiers protecting their king, or a shepherd gazing upon his sheep. The King James Version translates it: “Preserve Me, O God.” The simple reason for this request is that David has chosen to “take refuge” in God. The concept of God as our refuge is very prominent in…

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Rick John Dec 1, 2021

December 1 EncourageOgram

Dear Friends, I hope you will join me this month in daily reading from the gospel of Luke. As we ask God to feed us His truth, we will read one chapter each day.  By Christmas day, we will have completed the letter. Let us read with joy the letter that Dr. Luke wrote for us as a “orderly account” of the testimonies of eyewitnesses to the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIVO  Luke 1:1-4Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed…

Rick John Nov 25, 2021

November 25 EncourageOgram

Dear friends at FCC, I want you to know how much I thank God for each of you!  As I am reading today in 3 John these words jumped off the page into my heart.  Here is my thanksgiving prayer from your pastor! NIV  3 John 1:2-4Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater…

Rick John Oct 22, 2021

October 22 EncourageOgram

Dear Friends, My dear Grandmother John quoted to me the 23rd Psalm just hours before she entered heaven. It has always been a favorite for me.  Many of us would concur it is an inspirational song that feeds our souls!  NIV  Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. I will never forget the words of a wise preacher who told us: “The most important word in Psalm 23 is the fourth word.”  Yes, when we put our trust in the Lord as our Personal Savior and Shepherd – everything for this life and the next changes!  As a…

Rick John Oct 15, 2021

October 15 EncourageOgram

To my dear Friends in Christ, Today I have meditated on Psalm 37.  This precious song is intended to keep me from fretting when evil people seem to be winning.  Now if we are honest, we all expect God to work things out as we wish.  We want Him to give us the desires of our feelings and wishes.  When it seems that our enemies are winning; we are whining!  David experienced many victories, yet he was victimized by King Saul and others.  His advice seems so timely for our situation in life today.  David is addressing the age-old problem…

Rick John Oct 5, 2021

October 5 EncourageOgram

Dear Friends,  NIV  Colossians 1:28-29“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”  These words summarize the Apostle’s goal for his life and ministry.   First, we must proclaim Jesus Christ!  We dare not substitute anyone else.  He alone is our Lord and Savior.  No one can do what the Wonderful Counselor will do in a life who trusts in Him.  The good news of the gospel is used by God as the…

Rick John Jul 26, 2021

July 26 EncourageOgram

July 26, 2021  Dear Fellow-Worshippers!  Today I am thinking about the shout > Hallelujah!  Surprisingly, this cry only appears in Revelation 19 in the NIV translation!  Surely the announcement of the reign of our Lord Jesus deserves a long and loud shout of praise!  After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his…