Pastor Adkins

by Doc Adkins

“God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Genesis 2:3

The old Porgy and Bess tune that declares, “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy” no doubt was written when life was so much different than what it is now. If you’re like most people, you are hoping that summer will be a time to kick back and relax a little, but maybe you’re afraid that it will end up like most other summers with lots to do and flying past far too quickly.

I have to confess to all of you, I am not a “rest kind of person” and my family is constantly bailing me out of exhaustion and full blown emptiness because I think of a kazillion things to do around the house or church or our camp. I don’t stop until the job is finished either even if the neighbors are in bed and it’s pitch black dark outside.

But while we may complain,  the fast pace of summer with all of its chores, the packing and unpacking for vacations, and repeated trips to Little League games, it would be good to stop and think about “easy living.” So, let’s get some perspective from God’s Word about the importance of rest.

It can’t go unnoticed that God Himself rested after six days of assembling the universe. Knowing that time to kick back was important for the people He created, God instituted the Sabbath so that we would get the point that no one can work without a break along the way.

Tanks that run on “weary” all the time soon lack the stamina to do well spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and relationally. Even Jesus, with more sermons to preach, more people to heal, and more tasks to accomplish for His Father, often went apart to rest a while.

I am not sure why it is that some of us feel guilty or unfulfilled if we are not busy all the time. It’s important to realize that not everything needs to be done—at least not done right now. It may be more important to sit back with a tall glass of iced tea and contemplate the beauty of nature and the greatness of our God who is as faithful to us as the dependability of the seasons. As the hymn says, in “summer and winter and springtime and harvest . . . join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.”

So carve out a little easy livin’ time this week and refresh your heart and spirit with blessedness instead of business. And don’t worry; the chores will still be there. They aren’t going anywhere!

by Doc Adkins

“Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying…” 1 Kings 2:1

June!  The beginning of Summer and a wonderful time to see God at His best. It’s also the month we celebrate Father’s Day.  (Just an early reminder to my girls and maybe yours too.)   I love being a dad. I have “daddy’s girls” right where they want me and I wouldn’t want to be any place else.  

When we are young most of us don’t see the importance of our parent’s advice whether it is fatherly or motherly. Sometimes it is only when we get a little older that we see that a lot of what advice they have given to us makes sense.

In 1 Kings 2:1-10, we see some advice, a charge really, that David gave to his son Solomon before David died. There’s so many good things that he says in this passage. Good advice whether you are a “momma’s boy” or “daddy’s girl”.

• Be Strong and manly. (vs. 2)
  David knew he was dying so I guess it makes sense that he told his son to be strong. I’m sure the women don’t want to be manly or “shew thyself a man” as the verse says but we can take from this to be the best godly woman you are able to be and teach the daughters to be godly women.
• Keep the charge of the Lord. (vs. 3, 4)
  In these verses David encourages Solomon to strive to do everything he can to keep his life centered on the Lord. He talks about walking in His ways, keeping His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies.

  David had some ups and downs in his own spiritual life so he knew the importance of a close relationship with the Lord.

• Show wisdom. (vs. 5, 6)
  David encourages Solomon to use wisdom when dealing with Joab and the things that specific situation entailed in verses 5 and 6.

  I think wisdom is something we all want for our children. I know I want my girls to use wisdom in their choices and decisions.

• Show kindness. (vs. 7)
  In verse 7 David urges Solomon to show kindness to the sons of Barzillai who had shown kindness to him. Kindness is one of those things that lack in so many people today. I know raising kind children should be one of our goals.

• Judge well. (vs. 8,9)
  David reminds Solomon of how to deal with Shimei, a man whose life David had spared at one point and time. You really have to go back and read through 2 Samuel 16 and 19 to really understand what the whole situation was about. I’m not going into detail here but judging and carrying out judgment was to be a big part of Solomon’s role as King.

  Even in our daily lives knowing how to judge in wisdom is so important. Also knowing that sometimes punishment has to be carried out is important as well.

Conclusion:
When we go on down to verse 10 of 1 Kings 2, we see that David died so these things he said to Solomon were probably some of the last words David spoke.

I think that David’s words to Solomon in this passage ended up being one of the most enduring father-son talks. This was right before David’s death and it was from the heart. David had learned many lessons in his life and I think he wanted his son, Solomon, to learn to keep his life in tune with the Lord so that his life would be the best it could be.

“Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.” 1 Chronicles 29:26, 27

So, do you take what your Heavenly Father tells you to heart?

by Doc Adkins

As a boy growing up in Hinton, I had a great mom.  She had gray to white hair most of her life. I don’t remember her not having it.  She was saved just a week before she died in April of 1982 but this following story reminds me of her. (at least a little bit)

Matthew 7:2-5 for with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you use, it shall be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me pull out the speck out of your eye; and, look, a plank is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first remove the plank out of your own eye; and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of thy brother’s eye.

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast upon her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, “Mom, why are some of your hairs white?”

“Well”, her mother replied, “every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.”

The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, “Mamma, how come all of Grandma’s hairs are white? You must have been a horrible kid!”

A funny story, yes — but isn’t it true that we’re always looking for someone to blame for our imperfections? The Lord warned us about the danger of pointing out the faults of others. He said that people with planks in their eyes should not attempt to remove specks out of other people’s eyes. Somehow, we lose sight of this so quickly! We are all still growing.

I don’t know about you but I tend to agree with the person who said “The only person I want removing splinters out of my eyes is someone with a clear vision and a gentle touch!”

The following are some things my mamma taught me:  her touch still touches my life today…

Say yes ma’am and no ma’am.

Always begin and end any request with please and thank you.

Never worry about the newness of your clothes, it’s who’s inside that matters.

Never lie to her! (that’ll get you a whoopin’ every time.)

Be grateful for every kind thing that is done for you, be it big or small. (neither HAD to be done)

–And the best thing:  she promised always to be my mamma.  (God I still so miss her.)

So May is the month of Mother’s Day and a time to reflect on those white hairs that we caused.  To all the dear moms in our Church from a white hair causing preacher…Happy Mother’s Day.

by Doc Adkins

Job 38:12 “Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;”

This is part of the Lord’s answer to Job when in questioning life as it was for him, God reminds him of some really wonderful truths.   He mentions several aspects of creation in this chapter.

Job 38:4-7 “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof?  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

Genesis 1:3-5 All the way back to Genesis we read, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.  And the evening and the morning were the first day.”

God created light, and the morning for the dayspring.

Genesis 8:22 Then after the flood, God made this promise, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

We may experience cold dark winters, but we can be sure that springtime, our seedtime, will follow.

God created the seasons, just as He created day and night and put them in their time and place.

And so, because of all this we are reminded that: “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

I am not usually a “morning person”.  I don’t mind rising up early and starting my day, just don’t ask me to like you first thing or talk to you first thing.

But when I wake up and hear the birds singing, and see the bright sunshine peeking through the trees it puts a song in my heart.

I hear complaints about hay fever and allergies brought on by the trees and flowers in bloom.

Others may gripe about the bugs and mosquitoes, but I like springtime.

The Psalmist said, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

We have many reasons to rejoice.  “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.  Selah.”  Psalm 68:19

That little word “Selah”, means “stop and think about it”.  God is so good.    He not only supplies our needs, but He has also made a way of salvation.

We read in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”

Also in I Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice evermore.”

If you still can’t think of any reason to rejoice, Christ tells us to “rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”  Luke 10:20   Rejoice!!!

by Doc Adkins

Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! …tell of His salvation from day to day.  Psalm 96:1-2 (ESV)

It does not matter what part of the country you are in during winter. Whether the temperatures have just dipped below freezing or I have endured a deep freeze for months, I always eagerly anticipate spring! I try very hard to be upbeat all winter, keeping my grumbling to myself. Staying positive during dreary days is difficult for me. Gray skies, cold air, wind, and short days depress me. On the other hand, when sunshine peaks through the clouds and warm breezes penetrate my skin, my mood changes immediately. The truth is that I have a hard time persevering through winter months. I wish it were spring all year long.

Why do I like spring? I like new life. I can’t help but open my eyes with a smile when birds’ songs announce a new day. The smell of fresh wet dirt just after a good rain causes me to breathe life back into my wilting soul.  When I first notice the flowers pushing through the dark dirt, I cannot contain myself. I become a fan cheering for the team of flowers that has fought the miraculous fight – popping out of a hard seed in a deep and dark place, forcing their way up though the cold soil, eventually tasting the bright rays of sunshine, and finally blooming in all their glorious color.

Guess what? I have great news! In God’s economy every day is spring! Listen to what He says:

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” (NASB)

Colossians 3:10, “… put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge, according to the image of the One who created him.” (NASB)

2 Corinthians 5:18-20: “The old life is gone; a new life begins! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him … God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives.” (MSG)

How can I make every day like spring?

Celebrate my salvation. Praise God everyday with new songs that tell of His love and new life.

Be intentional every day to be renewed. Make it a priority to become deeply acquainted with God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Learn something new about Him every day!

Be an ambassador. Share the good news daily, either through good deeds or saving words. Ask for God’s guidance.

Winter’s time is drawing to a close for now. It will return all too soon. Yet it doesn’t matter if you are prepared to celebrate new life every day of the year. Maybe you don’t feel like spring, but instead you are stuck in winter. Even though winter’s soil is hard and frozen, allow your heart to be tilled by God’s Word. Then go forth and cast the seeds that are able to come to life even in the darkest of times.

Dear Lord, thank you that every day You shower Your new mercies down on those You love. Help me to always see the new thing You are doing in my life. Give me wisdom and strength to respond in a way that would please and glorify You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

by Doc Adkins

“Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.”    Psalm 141:4

With such a health conscious craze going on, we hear all the talk of being Heart Smart. Our heart is a valuable organ and we have to take care of it. There are so many things that affect whether our heart will function properly.

I wonder how smart we are with our hearts where our Christian living is concerned. We know we should take care of our hearts but do we consciously do it? The Bible gives us some things that we can do to improve the functioning of our heart.

1. Believe With Your Heart.
   To begin with we need to have a personal relationship with Christ in order to have our heart pumping correctly. We have to see our need of salvation.

   “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ” Romans 10:9

2. Purpose With Your Heart.
   I love the story of Daniel. He was someone who took care of his heart. He decided he wasn’t going to intake the harmful things of the world and he chose to keep his heart pure and working properly.

   “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. ” Daniel 1:8

3. Serve With Your Heart.
   Serving Christ is one of the best exercises for our heart. It’s like doing a cardiovascular workout! Even Joshua was still doing this exercise when he was well up into years. It says in Joshua 23:2, that he told the people,”…I am old and stricken in age” and yet later in the passage he makes a commitment before the people of Israel that he was going to serve God. Even at his age he was exercising by serving God.

   “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. ”   Joshua 24:15

3. Sing With Your Heart.
   What a lift to our heart singing can be. When we are joyful and rejoicing in the Lord in our hearts, it’s like giving our hearts a healthy dose of whole grain.

   “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in yourheart to the Lord.”   Ephesians 5:19

5. Trust With Your Heart.
   Nothing can help us breathe easier than trusting the Lord.   It can make our heart beat in the proper way.

   “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”    Proverbs 3:5

6. Love With Your Heart.
   There’s something about having love in our hearts that makes that blood pump through our veins a little better. God not only wants us to love Him but love others too.

   “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbors as thyself. ”    Luke 10:27

If we don’t take care of our heart, it can lead to all kinds of health problems, heart disease and heart failure. There are certain things we need to do in order to maintain a lifestyle in order to take care of our heart. The same is true in the Christian life. Maybe we should make a commitment to do a few things to be Heart Smart.

• How about living a pure life and keeping out the impurities of the world?
• How about decreasing your stress by relying on God more?
• What about increasing your physical activity by serving the Lord more and being active for Him?
• How about more intake of that heart healthy Word of God?

Christ wants us to have strong and vital lives and we cannot have the lives He intended if we don’t take care of our hearts.

So, are you Heart Smart?

Dear Heavenly Father,

Blessed be your name.

You are the Father of time, the Creator of seasons.

Giving us the days, months, and years for our good use.

Thank you, Lord, for keeping every moment in your safe-keeping.

A fresh New Year renews the Christian’s heart

The old has passed, it’s an opportunity to restart

We can leave the old things from the past years forgiven and forgotten, tucked away in yesteryear

Let happiness and excitement fill our spirits.

The new day, the New Year we celebrate

Sharing this eve with family and friends

Fills us each with joy and hope.

Future things in this new year need not worry us

Jesus will be the same today & tomorrow as he always was

Nor is there need to scurry and fuss

Our time is His, we’re servants – not his master.

The coming days will occur one by one

Lord, help us to leave no good act undone

You’ve laid out our plans, guided our paths

Shown us your word, empowered us with Spirit

Lord, you promised your Word will never fail

And if we hear and obey we will ultimately prevail

So often we find trouble and beg you to appear

You quietly nudge us to trust and persevere

Jesus, shine your light on this new beginning

Show us your ways, keep us from sinning

Lord, reveal where we can improve

Inspire us to do the things which you approve

Helping the helpless and clothing the needy

Aiding the orphans and feeding the hungry

Loving our neighbors while walking with You

Helps us fulfill your precious Golden Rule.

We loved you last year, and we’ll love you this year

Thank you for loving us first, and always, dear Lord God.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

by Doc Adkins

Devotion and prayer are the perfect places to begin any new day, and especially the first new day of a new year.

New Years Devotional

2nd Corinthians 5:17 is the inspirational Bible verse for this New Years prayer: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

This verse isn’t only talking to new believers in Christ, but also referring to long-time Christians who have been struggling with pain, inner turmoil, and sin.

Many people across the world have experienced tough days this past year. God, because of

His mercy, gives us this wonderful opportunity to focus on the future, and to put the past behind us.

Paul stresses that Christians are to “forget the past” (Philippians 3:13-14). Listen, “Dear Brothers and Sisters, I have not achieved perfection, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

My friends, if you’ve sinned and repented, accept God’s forgiveness and move on. If you’ve had hard days, such as personal losses, i.e., losing a job, bank accounts, health, or other great losses… move on, and march ahead. Accept your lot, your circumstances, and your current place in life.

Be strong, be courageous. God gives you opportunity to call upon his strength and drop all your worries at his feet.

Know that the greatest possible possession you have is found in your living, loving relationship with Jesus Christ. He is your ultimate goal, your ultimate destination, your eternal companion.

Get to know him better and better day after day. Constantly read his love letter to you – the Bible.

Pick it up and read. Study it. Apply it. Let it mold your mind, heart, and soul.

Live it every moment. Start today – this New Years Day prayer can be your launching pad to a new life, or even a new start, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Turn from the past years, and your past ways, onto his straight and narrow way. Jesus is there by you, waiting for you to let go of the world that is perishing, and waiting for you to give your entire heart to him.

New Years Day is an excellent time to begin a new life!

May God bless your heart as you make this prayer your own to share with the Lord.

by Doc Adkins

It’s that time of year again. December has come and with it all the joys of Christmas. But what is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, turkey dinners with family and friends, snow in the yard, stockings hanging in the living room, and shouts of “Merry Christmas” to those who pass us in the streets? Is this really Christmas?

For many people, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don’t have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmastime when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons. Turkey dinners may be only a wish and not a reality for some.

Yet, Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. You see, Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child.

Luke 2: 4-19 says:

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Why did He come? Why did God send His son to this sometimes cruel and hard world? He sent Jesus to us so that one day, He would grow up to become a very important part of history. His story (history) is one of truth, love, and hope. It brought salvation to all of us. Without Jesus,  we would all die in our sins.

For the world: Jesus was born so one day the price could be paid for the things we have done that are wrong. The Bible says that all have sinned. We are all born with a sin nature. We do things that do not please God. Through the sins of Adam and Eve, we have all inherited that sin nature. We need to have that removed. The only way is through Jesus. Jesus came so He could die on the cross for ALL of our sins. If we believe that Jesus died for our sins, we can ask Him to come into our hearts and forgive us. Then, we are clean and made whole. We can know that heaven is a place where we can go to when this life is over.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” I John 1:9

For the weary:  We can truly be happy at Christmas! No matter what may be happening, we can know that we are His children. We then become sons and daughters of God. Heaven will be our home one day.

For the wanting:  Look at Christmas in a new way this year. This is the year to invite Jesus into your heart. You will then have a “Merry Christmas.” The joy and peace you will receive will last all year as you look to God for all your needs to be met.

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season! Rejoice!

From Pastor Doc and his family… may you have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy Jesus in every way possible.

by Doc Adkins

It’s officially autumn!  On certain recent days it seemed like winter but rest assured it is autumn.  I remember the bold autumns of my childhood in Hinton. That smell of smoke coming from the chimney. A well thought through pantry of all kinds of stuff canned from the garden. Fall apples in a bushel basket on the back porch for anyone to partake when they entered the screen door on their way into the kitchen entry of the farm house.

I recall the bright summer sunshine giving way to a deeper golden glow that casted a rich light over everything.   The soft summer breeze picked up a cool edge that rattles across the pavement with the fallen leaves.

I once heard that a tree shows its true colors only once photosynthesis has stopped and the green of the chlorophyll gives way to the gold or crimson or rustic specific to its variety. I find that so interesting–a tree spends most of the year growing and storing energy and only once it begins to rest can you see its “true colors.” 

People are often described as being in a particular ‘season of life.’ If there are parallels, our prime years would be autumn, right? At about the point we’ve passed the summer season of youth, we’ve reached the place where we can live off the wisdom we’ve gained through our experiences. We aren’t as worried with impressing anyone, even though we’ve finally developed some of our most impressive characteristics–a lack of self-consciousness, a new self-confidence, wisdom that overcomes insecurity, grace to let others make the mistakes we’ve already learned from–just to name a few.

I’m not as old as I look,  (at least, that’s what my birth certificate says,  but I so  enjoy playing the Geezer part of life.  And, I do look forward to my check in a few years). Part of me would love to look in the mirror and see unlined skin and hair.  And what IS left of it, is masked by the ever-increasing silver.  At the same time, I’m glad that I’m not the person I was in the ‘summer’ of my earlier years.

In our youth-obsessed culture it’s easy to overlook the value of growing and maturing. But just like trees grow and mature and produce fruit at the right time, hopefully, so do we.

The Bible puts it this way, Psalm 1:1-3

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take  or sit in the company of mockers,

But whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers”.

Wherever you may fall on the season of life’s spectrum, take time to appreciate what God has done so far and anticipate what He has ahead.