Wednesday Thoughts

Pastor's Entry

December10, 2025

Luke 2:6 -7 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.

From the beginning, everything that happened to Jesus, every detail had a purpose and was a sign for all those who believe in Him as Savior and Lord!
Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. Mary did you know the significance of this act?? She was just doing what every mother did for their newborn babe...as she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. However, this represented our Lords full humanity and His identification with those He came to save. It also represented His humble birth as he came into the world. Swaddling cloth were linen strips of cloth wrapped around the baby to keep them warm and to keep their limbs straight...the same material that was used for swaddling was used to prepare the lambs for sacrifice in the Temple. Linking the " Lamb of God" (Jesus) to His eventual sacrifice for all mankind. The same cloth was also used to wrap Jesus after His crucifixion! Isn't that amazing!!
And Mary laid Him in a manger...the Son of God and the Son of man...in a manger?? Usually, a trough made out of stone, cold and hard. The Savior of the world!! In a manger!! Jesus came to serve, He came to love, and He came to die for the sins of all mankind. He didn't come to rule over us; He came to show us a better way...he came to set us free from the captivity of satan and his lies, He came to deliver us from evil, He came so that we might live in eternity with Him as He sits at the right hand of the Father!!
He didn't come in luxury as most kings did, He didn't come with accolades as most kings did...He came as one of us...the shepherds were the first to be alerted to His coming!! The lowliest of all men saw Him first!!
Jesus came to turn the world upside down and he did!! The last shall be first and the first shall be last!! Everyone who humbles himself before God will be raised up!!
There was no place for them in the inn...tell me, is there a place for Jesus in our lives?? In our hearts?? Or are our hearts to full of other things??
Make room today for your risen Lord, He died for you!! He lived for you!! He calls out to you to follow Him!! Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life!!
No matter what we have done, no matter where we have come from, no matter the sins we have committed, He came to cover it all!! He knows our frame, and He knows our hearts, and He came on that dark cold night to set us all free!!

Past Entry

December 3, 2025

Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Jesus, His first appearing...His unassuming entrance into the world...how amazing. His mother Mary and His earthly father Joseph thought they were the only ones who knew he was born!! In this dark and lonely stable, unseen, unknown, without even a bed to lie in the Savior of the world was born... I wonder were they thinking that they had heard the Lord wrong, that the angels were just messing with them and none of what they said was true!!
Then suddenly Lord of the universe gave them a sign of hope!! A sign of His promise and that His words were true!! Because all of a sudden, the shepherds show up!! How did they know?? How did they know where to find them?? How did they know that this babe in a manger was the Son of God and the Son of man??? They came and they worshipped!! They came seeking who the angel had told them about!! " Fear not!! For I bring you good tidings of great joy that will be for all people!! For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord!! And this will be a sign for you; you will find Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger!!
YES!! There he was, just as the angel had said!!
I believe that Mary and Joseph needed a sign!! Think of their discouragement in not being able to even find a room for them to stay...think of the worry of knowing that soon this baby was going to be born, and the stable was the only place for them...Think of the weariness of what they had just been through and then to have to lay their precious child in a manger wrapping Him in swaddling clothes...trying to keep Him warm through the cold night.
I think the importance of the shepherds is overlooked, they were not only the first to see Christ, but they were also the first of the signs to Joseph and Mary that this was real!! That this little One was truly the Son of God!! That He truly did come to save the world!! That the angels were not messing with them!! That all that had been told to them would come to pass!! That the prophecies of old were in their lifetime being fulfilled!!
JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD HAS COME!!
Much like Mary and Joseph...we can become discouraged, we can become weary...but our Lord is coming back as a Warrior King this next time and we must be looking for the signs!! So that when he comes, we are ready!!
I would say to you church, do not grow weary, do not be discouraged for Christ is coming again, that the prophecies will be fulfilled, and we will see Jesus!!
JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD IS COME AND HE IS COMING AGAIN!!! YES!! JOY TO THE WORLD!!
Blessings, Pastor Karen

Past Entry

November 26, 2025

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you!

There are so many of us looking for Gods will in our lives. Looking for purpose.
This afternoon we had a major temperature change, it went from 65 degrees to a windy 50 degrees, just like that!! It just so happened Toccoa was here when it happened...and as I grumbled about the change, I watched Toccoa run and dance in the wind!! She looked at me and said I love the wind!! It didn't matter to her that it was a cold wind and that that cold wind was pushing out that beautiful warm weather!! She just enjoyed what was happening...every moment.
It's no wonder the Lord tells us to come to him as little child!! Just the joy, the exuberance, the whatever comes attitude!! What a way to live!!
Dear church, tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day...a day that is a reminder to us to give thanks...why do we need a reminder??
Can't we as followers of Christ do as the scripture says?? Pray without ceasing...let our life be a prayer, let our thoughts always be on our Lord. Give thanks in all circumstances...ALL!! Not just in the good times but at ALL times!! I believe our Lord perfects our faith in the bad times! We learn to rely on Him, trust in Him, call on Him!
And believe it or not this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us!! Yes! This is God's will!! This scripture has the answer that so many are looking for!!
This is our purpose!! This is God's perfect plan for us!! When we pray, when we give thanks...our Lord works His perfect will in our lives!! There is a joy that comes in trusting our risen Lord!! There is a freedom that only our Lord can give, so that when the cold wind blows, we can dance in the wind!! We can look with joy and say I love the wind!! We can lift our hands and say, "Thank You Father!" for the wind, the storms, the test and trials, for in all of these we are being refined!! We are being made new!! We are being sanctified!!
So today I thank You Lord for Your perfect will for my life!! Let's all give thanks to our Father who is so, so good!! And may all of our days be full of thanksgiving to our Lord for His perfect will for us.
I pray blessings for you today church, I ask the Lord to bless you with life and life abundant! And may we remember to pray and give thanks and know that we are in God's perfect will.

Past Entry

November 12, 2025

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away.

Tuesday, we lost a beloved brother who had been a part of New Beginnings since its beginning. Douglas Wayne Miller fought a long hard fight. He had many tests and trials in these last years and I am sure none of us know the suffering he endured.
Doug always had a joke and was always ready to laugh at one that was told to him. There were many times he told a story that you would just shake your head and laugh, because usually he was making fun of himself!! Doug was grumpy sometimes and looking back I wonder how I would have been with all of his troubles.
Doug was a people person, and I know it was frustrating that he could not get out and go like he wanted to. Doug was also blessed with his wife Joyce (Puddin) that truly took their marriage vows seriously. I would often say, I don't know how you do it Joyce and she would say..."I love him" and that is all that needed to be said. Joyce took him everywhere he needed to go, and I know there is a special reward for her loyalty and love to Doug.
So today I am remembering all the good and bad times, those times when Doug no longer wanted to live and I saw the faithfulness of God bring him back to life. I saw the times when he and Joyce would laugh and be just happy to be together, I remember their wedding day and how full of happiness it was.
Revelation tells us that our Lord will wipe away every tear from our eyes, there will be no more mourning and no more crying and NO MORE PAIN!! Doug has passed on into glory...where the Lord has made everything new...Revelation 21:5 says, " and He who was seated on the throne said, BEHOLD I AM MAKING ALL THINGS NEW!! Yes, Doug has been made new, and I am thankful to have known him, and I am thankful we have a gracious and merciful God that has a place prepared for us. So dear brother Doug, rest easy as you are pain free, totally whole and healed and with your Savior Jesus, of whom I have heard you call out to many times. Tuesday you called, and He came and He took you in His mighty hands and led you HOME.

Pastor Karen

Past Entry

October 22, 2025

Luke 12:35-36 Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to Him at once when He comes and knocks!

So, every morning when I get up there are certain things that I do...I get dressed, wash, dry and style my hair, put on my make up so that I am ready just in case I would need to leave in a hurry. I know that at any time of the day I could get an emergency call, and I have learned to be ready when that call comes.
Jesus is telling us in this scripture to stay dressed for action!! To be ready for His coming!! To keep our lamps burning!! This is a spiritual challenge to His people!! What does He mean when He tells us to stay dressed for action?? We must be spiritually alive!! Living for Him, serving His purposes, seeking His guidance and keeping our eyes and ears open to His coming!! Keeping our hearts pure!!
How do we keep our lamps burning?? By the power of the Holy Spirit that will fan into flame our faith, our courage and our love for Jesus and His people!
We have to be ready to open the door to Him!! We must have the door of our hearts ready when He comes again!! Are we ready!!
Where will we be when Christ returns?? What will we be doing?? How will we be living??
The question for the day is...are we leaving a mark for Christ everywhere we go!? Are we telling others about our Lord, the One who saved us from sin and death?? Are we walking alongside our brothers and sisters, reaching out our hand to help them in their journey?? To pick them up when they fall??
Are we taking a stand for Truth?? No compromises!! No bowing down to the craziness of this world!!
Dear church, Luke 12:40 says, "You also must be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect!!" Jesus, Himself is warning us...preparing us...alerting us to the fact that He is coming again and we must be ready!!
Jesus tells us, to repent, to turn from our sinful ways and follow Him!! This is an urgent message to the church!! Then as we wait on His return, we go out and make disciples, we spread the gospel, and we baptize all who want to follow Jesus in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit!!
Yes!! we are to take the gospel, the Truth to the world!!
So church, stay dressed, keep your lamps burning and be ready to see Jesus at any moment of any day...and be aware of the company we keep, be aware of things we are doing in the darkness that are not of Christ, be aware that Jesus Christ sees it all for there is no darkness in Him, only light!!
Be ready!!

Past Entry

October 15, 2025

2 Timothy 1: 6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

This past week I officiated a funeral service for a lady who was ninety-six. She was a friend of our family, and I had the privilege of baptizing her in 2022 at the age of ninety-three. What an honor that was.
While at that funeral I met a lady named Karin that played the music for the services at the funeral home. She was lovely and full of life and little did I know the beautiful gift she had hidden inside of her. When she began to play the piano there was a hush over all who were there...I don't believe I have ever heard the piano being played with such passion and such an anointing of the Holy Spirit as she played. Her music ministered to my spirit, and I left there feeling so renewed and refreshed. She has allowed the Lord to fan into flame the gift He has given her!!
That experience made me think of the church...how so many never share the gift that God put inside them, possibly because they are afraid of rejection, of not succeeding, or fear of failure.
Our Lord Who has placed this gift within you wants you to remember He has given you a spirit of power!! Of love!! And of a sound mind!! Yes! He has given you everything you need to overcome fear!!!
Paul laid his hands on Timothy so he could encourage him to realize his destiny in Christ!! He prayed for him to rise up and be the disciple of Christ that he was called to be without fear!!
Dear church! Our Lord has placed so much within you!! As Paul reminded Timothy, I am reminding you today that you can walk in power, love and a sound mind!! You can trust your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to give you the strength to overcome fear and all obstacles in your life!! Our Lord has promised us life and life abundant!!
Hang onto His precious promises!! Hang onto His precious Word which is true!! Reach out and take His hand and let Him lead you and show you what He has put within you!!
What an incredible way to live!! Knowing that the gift within us is from our Lord and He will bring it out if only we allow Him to!!
My prayer today for all of New Beginnings and all who read this message is to let go and let God work His wonder working power in and through you!! I can guarantee you will never ever regret giving your life, your time and your talents and gifts to Him!!
Let Him fan into flame the gift He has given you!!
Blessings, Pastor Karen

Past Entry

October 8, 2025

Matthew 9:37 Then Jesus said to His disciples, " The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

In this scripture Jesus challenges His followers to pray earnestly for more laborers!! This scripture tells me that there are many who need to hear the gospel and very few who are preaching the true gospel!!
The harvest is ready!! Where is the church?? I believe we are either asleep or we are distracted and fighting over who is in charge or what color we should paint the walls, or we are just plain comfortable where we are and really don't care as long as we are okay!
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus tells His disciple before He leaves to sit at the right hand of His Father that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. He also tells them to go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you!!
This is called the "Great Commission!" This is the purpose for all of us!! Unfortunately, the gospel has been so watered down and so twisted that we have been fooled into thinking that once we are saved that is all there is to it! I believe that is why the laborers are few!
If everyone who professes Jesus as their Lord would tell one person, let's just say one person a month, think how many more people would know Jesus as their Savior! Think how many more laborers we would have!!
Today, my prayer for the church is for the Lord to give us a Holy Spirit filled boldness for Jesus!! That our hearts would grieve for the lost, for those who have no hope, for those who have lost their way and for those who are in darkness.
Jesus came to set captives free...His Word sets us free!! Do not be fearful of telling others about your Lord, do not be timid about His saving grace!!
2 Timothy 1:6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift God gave you, which is in the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of timidity, but of power and love and of a sound mind!!
Yes church!! Let the Holy Spirit fan into flame a fire for those who need Jesus!! Be a laborer for His kingdom!! Be brave!! Be strong!! Walk in love, a love so strong and powerful for the lost that they will be drawn by that love!! Keep your mind on Christ and it will remain sound, and it will not be deceived!!
And may Christ bless your words, your life and your ministry and you look to the hills from where your help comes from!! Our help comes from the Lord the Maker of heaven and earth!!
Pray earnestly and without ceasing dear church for the time of harvest will one day end and Christ will return just as He promised He would!!
Blessings, Pastor Karen

Past Entry

October 1, 2025

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil. Who put darkness for light and light for darkness.

I don't usually do this, but I want to share the commentary in my ESV bible on this scripture.
It is common in an ungodly society for people to portray evil as good and wrong as right. Often this misguided thinking is done as an expression of freedom, compassion, understanding and "tolerance." Many people today consider God's laws and standards to be harsh, limiting or evil. They label Christ's followers ---those who resist immoral ideas and behavior--- as close-minded, judgmental and hateful. Those who choose to live by God's standards are said to be a danger to society. Followers of Christ must never compromise their commitment to God's standards of good and evil---right and wrong---as revealed in His Word. However, they must show a godly compassion to those who disagree with their beliefs and morality.

Wow! I couldn't have said it better! You must remember that Isaiah wrote this between 700-680 B.C! This was before Jesus came on the scene. There is a scripture in Ecclesiastes1:9 " What has been what will be and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
Evil has always been. From the beginning evil has always tried to call good evil. The Pharisees were always condemning Jesus for spreading hate and unrest. They condemned Him for wanting the people to be set free from their oppression! From their captivity to sin! From the religious hierarchy that kept them from knowing their Lord for themselves!! So, they called Him evil!!
Nothing scares satan more than a bible believing Christian!! Nothing scares him more that those who will not compromise their beliefs and bow down to the prince of the power of the air!! Nothing scares him more than a Christian who knows who they are in Christ!!
So, the attack is on...satan tries to deceive us by twisting good and evil...he uses the airwaves...the TV, the computers, the phones to infiltrate society and the more often we hear the twisted truth the more apt we are to believe it!!
Be careful little ears what you hear!! Be careful little eyes what you see!! For the Father up above is looking down with love...Oh be careful dear followers of Jesus what and who you believe!!
I would challenge all those who read these thoughts to turn off the TV, use your phone only for phone calls, just do your work on the computer and then turn it off. We must learn to discern what is good and what is evil!! We must know what the true light of Christ looks like and recognize the darkness!! Our lives and the lives of those we love depend on it!! Isaiah says WOE to those who call evil good and good evil...
Definition of the word "WOE".... sorrow, affliction, a declaration of divine judgement and condemnation against sin of hypocrisy, a proclamation of doom or serious warning about the consequences of sin and rebellion against God."
This is a serious warning to all of us! Remember church, be very careful what we call good and what we call evil. Run from compromising the Word of God and stay clear of those who do and choose life and light as you run your race!!
Blessings, Pastor Karen

New Beginnings Covenant Brethren Church