Great Expectations

 

Devotional: Great Expectations

 Topic: The Still Small Voice

 Text: 1 Kings 19: 11, But the Lord was not in it…

 Discussion:  it seems that when we walk with the Lord that we always seem to expect to do earthshaking things.  Things that make the whole world cry out,

“It is the Lord, God Almighty!”  But what we do not understand is that God is the God of all things.  From the majestic to the microscopic.  Every detail is in his hands.  Sometimes God will call us to defeat the giants and call us to withstand the great trials.  God also calls us to stand the everyday drudgery of life.  Elijah was “the Prophet” the man that out lasted the strongest, wisest most influential men of the day, the prophets of Baal. But God now called him to something simple. 

             God calls us to realize that He is in charge of all things.   The mighty things will distract our attention and cause us to stop and stare, but the small things are God’s too. 

            The business of The Lord is hard work.  But the business is not focus here.  There are things that one must do before leaving this earth.  How about a clean face, or carefully painted fingernails or even the scent of bread baking in the oven.  Just a person to sit beside or walk down the hall with can mean so much to a person who is facing life’s greatest challenge.  Can we offer that to someone?  It is evident that the small things of life make the heavy matters, doable.   How did the great prophet know that God was in the still small voice?   He understood that God reveals himself to his chosen when they stop and listen for him. 

The earthquake, wind and treacherous fire is how we would expect God to speak to us, but we must know that God is not always in them.  At times, He speaks to His own children with a gentle whisper. 

 Conclusion:  Colossians 3:23, Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.

            Make the simple things just as important as the miraculous and God may come in a gentle whisper.

HW: Find a simple but important way to serve and connect with someone you know or serve.   Send a reply of what simple way you found to connect this week.

  1 Kings 19: 9-13

And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  

^{1Ki 19:10} He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant,   broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

^{1Ki 19:11} The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”  Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 

^{1Ki 19:12} After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.    

^{1Ki 19:13} When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

The National Day of Prayer

 

If God knows everything, Why pray? 

    

         If My people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

      The difference between a wish and a prayer is that the person fervently lifts that desire up to our God and creator who calls for us to continue to depend on Him and not on our own resources to navigate the issues of life. 

        God commands His people to pray because of our desire to be independent of Him and follow our own idiosyncratic preferences. God knows all factors, players, the scope of effect and the future events. God is the only One who knows All contingencies but knows nothing contingently upon what will happen. God is the one to remember who can change Any situation for the good of all who desire the well-fare of all.  This is why wise leaders call for citizens of this country to pray. This is the way God's people have navigated the tides of world circumstances. God commands the events of the whole world and does so for His own glory and the good of those who love Him. 

       Some history below. 

         

First Call of Prayer in 1775

Because of the faith of many of our founding fathers, public prayer and national days of prayer have a long-standing and significant history in American tradition. The Supreme Court affirmed the right of state legislatures to open their sessions with prayer in Marsh vs. Chambers (1983).

The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations. 

       Here is a wonderful prayer by the National Day of Prayer Task force. 

https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/2023_national_prayer?recruiter_id

     Remember to say a prayer and walk a little closer to God. 

Remembering Bishop Horace L. Cutter

 October 2, 2022

Life of Bishop H.L. Cutter, Sr.

Table of Contents

Family Origin and youth

·         Born March 30, 1933 to Mr. Perry Oliver Cutter & Mrs. Ida Lou Cutter in Sylvania, Ga.  Harvey Lee Cutter was the fourth child of seven children. 

·         Moved to New York City, NY at the age of 8 yrs.   

·         He was a dedicated son and joined mother on her journey in attending church.  Traveling through the big city to get to church religiously.  And soon became loyal members of the church, House of Prayer in Jamaica, Long Island.  As a young man he made a path through the snow and journeyed through the heat of NY to get the sisters to their mission to support and new church in Jamaica.  This is where Harvey Cutter made a strong commitment to serve God.

·         As one of the first members of the new mission church in Jamaica, Bro. Cutter and his brothers started a musical band.  The Silvertones was the original name but was changed by the Bishop to the Hummingbirds. The members of the band became brilliant musicians to the point that they were known all over the church from the North to the South and from the East Coast to the West coast.

 

Spiritual Journey

·         Was born again on Jan 8, 1950 and received the call to ministry as an elder on Jan 17, 1951.  He was a student of his pastor Elder Salid of Jamaica.  His faith grew stronger as he trusted God at His Word.

·         Joined in marriage to Willie Mae Carson on July 12, 1953.

·         Children: Willie Harvey Lee; Gregory Courtney; Ivan Maurice; Alvita, Horace Elliot; Walter; Marjorie Alice; Melissa Elease; Vanessa Ida Ruth; Faith Elizabeth.    

·         In December 1960 Horace and Willie Mae bought a house in Rahway, NJ and soon after became the Pastor of Plainfield mission in Plainfield, NJ 1961.

·         Met Long-time mentor and friend in the Dry-cleaning business, Lenny Rahming in 1960.   

·         During this time he served as the first pastor of the new Plainfield mission and worked as a Dry-cleaner during the trials and challenges of the 60’s.

 

 

 

From the North to the South

·         1970 was requested by the Bishop to move his family to Winston-Salem, NC.  He took on this challenge and moved upon their own family finances to serve as the pastor of the church in the south. 

·         The challenge was great for Elder and Sis. Cutter as they moved the family from the North to the south and giving up the first home and being business owners.  To a South that was like the test of the wilderness to Moses, the Apostle Paul and other great men of God.

·         When the opportunity for change became possible, Elder and Sis. Cutter accepted the pastoral position in Atlanta, Ga.  This was a difficult time for the family due to us being split.  One part of the family in W-S and the other in Atlanta, Ga as Elder Cutter sought to build and repair a church which was in need.  Elder Cutter took on the challenge with the same strong spiritual acumen as was placed in him from his early ages. 

·         The Deep South was more of a challenge.  In 1975 Elder Cutter pastored a mission which needed strong guidance and a strict reliance on God.  This church Elder Cutter led for 5 years and soon after his leaving was in position to receive a building and it did.  Most of Elder and Sis. Cutter’s friends of that time know that they put Atlanta, Ga on the map as a secure mission. 

·         1978 After being in Atlanta for several years, Elder and Sis. Cutter moved the family back to NC.  Elder Cutter Soon became pastor in High Point, NC. 

·         1980 Elder Cutter now had the title Apostle was requested to go to High Point, NC.  There they served an older community of people who loved them both but they still faced the challenges of ministry. 

Stepping out on Faith

·         In 1985 Apostle Cutter took a greater responsibility in the role of caregiving.  This was a tremendous task to transfer Father and Mother from New York City to Winston-Salem and to their own home to live.  Horace Cutter the son cared for Father and Mother along with the help of wife and children.  This was an amazing act of love and selflessness. 

·         In 1994 a serious conflict of interest caused Apostle Cutter to create a new source of ministry.  He started along with his Cousin Dr. James Allen and His Sons, The Redeemed House of Prayer, Inc.  

·         This was when he received the Title Bishop. 

·         The Redeemed House of Prayer soon became the Redeemed Outreach Ministries, Inc.

·         The Redeemed Outreach Ministry continued on until 2008.  Upon the next few years Bishop began to serve the City of Winston-Salem at the City Counsel meeting.  He was requested not to pray in the name of Jesus and soon decided that If Jesus was not welcomed, He was not called to continue with this meeting.

·         For the next several years Bishop Cutter served the Winston-Salem Correction Center.  Serving as a chaplain and ministering to men who needed to know that God still could use them in this life.   

Tr        Traveled from this life into Eternity on October 13, 2020 

From your children we say Daddy we love and honor you, for in the scripture God told us to honor you so that our days will be long on the face of the earth.  Our precious father through you and because of you we have life. Some people spend an entire lifetime looking for a role model, that special person of whom you can say, I want to be just like him.  We did not have to look that far because you were right in front of us instructing us guiding us down the pathway of righteousness. To you Apostle H.L. Cutter we give this tribute, because of you each one of us that believe will have our name written in the lamb’s book of life and for this we your children say thank you.

A Better Name

 A Better Name

Isaiah 56:3-5.

 "Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.”   And let not any eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.”4 For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant 5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

     What is in a name?  Why do you want a good name?   

What do names like Rockefeller, Templeton and Gates mean in our society?  They point to access in the business world.  They speak of influence in the broader community around the world.

       The Word declares that God will give us a better name.  The name given by the world is not the same one that God gives.  For those of the Ancient Near East, a name meant access and influence and even for the world of the Jews it meant what you were given access to the Temple.  You had a place in the community of the people of God.  This is one reason why the Pharisees disrespected Jesus.  Jesus was the son of a carpenter not a prophet nor a Levite.     

The passage talks about the foreigner who joins himself to the Lord. The foreigner was allowed to join him/herself to the people of God through a serious ritual (Exodus 12:38), (remember the story of Ruth).  They were allowed to join themselves to the Israelites but they were not allowed specified access to the comfort and support from the community.  And you may know that the eunuch was the man who was captured and castigated so that he could not have children but was allowed to be part of the Israelite community.  This person was influenced to understand that he was cursed in a sense that he could not have children. As many passages in the Old Testament that it was God’s disfavor that caused infertility.  They would come away from the worship service thinking about not having a family tree, “I am only a dry tree.”  God says, “This is not the case for those who join themselves to the Lord.”  The prophet informs them directly that God will establish their names.  

   The promise of a memorial offers to them who will have no one to tell their personal story, the fact that they will be remembered.  This just goes to show that our names will last forever because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  Some may ask, “How does this promise come to me through the blood of Jesus Christ?”  In summary, the promise of Christ is that He is the fulfillment of the law of God (Gal 3:14).  The promises given to Abraham are extended and established through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. 

We have a memorial garden here at Southwest Christian Care that helps families remember their loved ones.  The memorial message is on a brick in the garden.  If you haven’t seen it, you may want to visit.  The garden offers to families the remembrance of the loved ones in stone.  This is so comforting and helpful in the grieving process.  It helps families to state to the community and visitors that their loved one is remembered.      

       This is what God offers to those who have joined themselves to Him.  A name better than that of Sons and daughters.  Not just making a memory of you but the mark you make in the world is established in the hearts of people who may never meet you and to those long after you have entered into eternity.  God offers to everyone who joins themselves to Him, an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

      In the daily routine of working and being responsible in life, it is possible to lose sight on the importance of your place in the world.  The call of God on your life is much like the call of God on those many people who devoted themselves to the glory of God in the pages of scripture.  But just as their names have a place of remembrance in God’s testimony of His relationship with His people, you have a place and name better than of those of the culture who seem to make the big impression on the world today.       

      The world offers to you no promise of remembrance but God has already shown the proof of His promise just by the testimony of many people who joined themselves to Him in Scripture.  These will always be remembered.  Your name  will be remembered too…

You have a better name than you know.

Chaplain H. E. Cutter

      

A Reckoning of the Gospel

 

A Reckoning of the Gospel

^{Chaplain Horace Cutter}

^NLT John 20:19 That evening, on the first day of the week, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! "Peace be with you," he said.

    This familiar reminder of the resurrection story opens all kinds of thoughts for the searching Bible student.  Years ago, I was alerted to the fact that it points to the picture it gives us that Jesus walked through the walls in his resurrected body.  Wow, What a passage!   Jesus still doing amazing things and giving his disciples faith, hope and love. 

But the passage gives rise to another thought. 

     When the disciples were afraid that they were next because they followed Jesus, that was no delve into speculation.  Many times, in ancient days those taking power over from a ruler or king would go after his most obvious next leader to make sure they don’t gain strength from the death of the leader so that the movement would go on.  The Jews very well could have been planning to come after the disciples, I just think that Governor Pilate was not about to have another issue to explain to Cesar.    

       But what I see here is the way that the disciples saw, in the crucifixion of Jesus, their own mortality.  Let’s face it.  Walking with Jesus must have given them a certain type of hope that made them feel like they would never have to face persecution, torture or even death.  Jesus told them on many occasions that he would be killed but they could not reckon that bit of information into their minds after seeing him raise the dead.  How could they be in any type of danger after witnessing such a thing? 

        Just as the disciples withdrew into a room together for fear of the Jews after the reality of a fallen world, Jesus shows up to give them another shot of faith, hope and love.  As we experience the loss of a patient, we might be reminded of death’s apparent power.  We at Southwest will be reckoning the death of a long-time pt, Ms. Annelle Burch.  I do believe that everyone of us at some time stopped in to visit Ms. Burch, just to say hello as she read the news paper or watched a sports game on TV.  She passed on this weekend and our dear chaplain BJ Spanos offered spectacular pastoral support to the family. 

      And now she has been given entrance into the glorious company of saints in light, into the merciful arms of her savior in heaven.  We do not always cope well with the death of someone who seemed to have the upper hand on death.  But this event will shake us into reality to remind us of our own demise.  That can be scary….

        Being a chaplain, I believe this is a good thing because it allows us to take the mission of Jesus just like he said it would be.  To bask in the glory of the miracles of Jesus can be somewhat deceptive on the human side because we each want to settle a score in life that God does not.  We may feel that we can survive this life without the pain of loss and suffering because we are children of the Great King on High.  But that was not part of the mission and plan of God, and the crucifixion shocked them and us to know that we will face the very harsh lesson that life as we know it will come to an end.   

But!

    Jesus stepped into the room with His disciples to let them know that the crucifixion was not the end.  It was the commencement of their mission to go to all the world to deliver this faithful message.  They needed a shot of faith, hope and love.     

       ²⁰ As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his side. They were filled with joy when they saw their Lord! ²¹ He spoke to them again and said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."  Jn 20:20-21

     Even though they were filled with joy, as the Crucified One was alive again, Jesus gave them next phase in the mission of God.  They were not to cower in fear.  They were not to be shaken with suffering and the threat of death was not the basis by which they would make future decisions.  God, the Father was with them just as He was with His dear Son Jesus. 

     I know that I will miss the graceful face of Ms. Burch in her room sitting up and reading the paper or enjoying her lunch but I am reminded that she has gone on to enjoy the real reward that was promised by Christ.  The death may sadden me but her new life in eternity should give me great joy!  God is still with her. 

     The aftermath of the crucifixion shocks us into a crucial reality that we now have a reminder of the urgent message of the One who makes all things new.  Jesus has paid the price and we now can look fearful opposition in the face and proclaim to all that Jesus is alive!   The glory of the Gospel is special and continues to overcome sin in the world, But:

      The reality of the Gospel is that the world is still fallen and people everywhere are seeking A Savior.  So, we must go.  This earthly experience tends to send us into the fight, flight or freeze mode but You may need a shot of faith, hope and love. God has different plans.   

     So, we are to go and make disciples wherever we find ourselves. 

Having a Talk with Jesus

Thought: Having a talk with Jesus

Text: Rev 1:17, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man.  He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid.  I am the first and the last, and the Living one.  I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Intro: When was the last time you met a person who was dead but is alive again?  Let me put it a little softer.  Think of a time when you were reunited to an old friend whom you hadn’t seen for years but they came back to you in person.  How did you act?   Ho hum, Happy or crazy elated?

    Crazy right?  You may have acted like you had to catch up on all the things they had done and let them know about the good, bad and ugly of your own life as well.   In other words, your life was enriched and renewed by the reconnection of your friend. 

    The time period before the Pentecost is to be a time when Jesus continued to reveal to those who followed him that he was back from the dead.  We are 16 days out from the Day of Resurrection and we remember that Jesus was still in the task of loving His disciples.  Remember the first day of the resurrection, Mary and the other ladies went to the tomb.  They expected to see the body of the Lord there but they got an amazing surprise.  They met Jesus and immediately went to tell the disciples.   But I would like to mention another account

Luke 24:13   “Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia (about 7 miles) from Jerusalem.  They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened.  While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them.  But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?”

     

Discussion:   As you may know the story, you know that they were sad because of the crucifixion of Jesus.  They thought that God had disappointed them and failed their expectations.  They were sad because they thought that Jesus was going to put Israel back into the place of glory and excellence as it was in the days of David and Solomon.  When they had pride and strength to comfort their hearts even when it faced a troubled day. 

That day was not the day that God failed their expectations but the day that God blew their expectations off the map of speculation and exceeded anything they could grasp or even imagine.  God brought back Jesus from the dead!  Just think.  This man whom they saw on the cross and crucified now was again alive.  This is not like when we hear stories about Elvis, that he perished in his hotel room or through some rumor that he succumbed to an overdose of drugs and a hard life.  But more like the shooting of President Kennedy who was killed in national view with many thousands to witness.  But now is back.  Alive Again?

     It is very common to get bogged down into the problems, sinfulness and treachery of the state of mankind today but if you believe that Jesus is alive.  Just have a little talk with him and he will exceed what ever expectations you may have had.  Many believers think about the problems of the world and become stuck..  it traumatizes them into a state of confusion to where they do nothing but just what is needed at the moment.  But remember Jesus is Alive!   The very one whom was seen to have failed their expectations still exceeds our expectations, or does he?  Have you spoken to Jesus lately to hash out the experiences of life yet?  Have you turned to the one who said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”  Have you turned to the one who asked these believers, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?”

      I like to point out the phrase ‘as you walk’ or ‘as you go’.  It is used many times in scripture to connotate ‘as you are living’.  Like Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in the first sentence, “ I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called.”  Paul clearly was talking about the life of the believer and their calling or ‘actions’ as believers.  The question to the disciples was, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?” I’m sure the words, “I thought He would…” or “we expected that He would be the answer to…” Came up in this talk.

 But God had Bigger Plans!

     As you read along in the story of these two disappointed disciples, you will find that their little talk with Jesus broke through many of their expectations and ultimately made them go back to Jerusalem to find out the rest of the story. 

      Conclusion:  How about you today?  Are you stuck in the mud of your own expectations about what you wanted Jesus to do?   Are you stifled in what you expected God to perform?    Just a little talk with Jesus will reaffirm His devotion, ability and sovereignty in your life.  Many people miss the power and majesty of Jesus because they are looking beyond the resurrection as if it happens every day.  But this is a silly and stupid approach. 

God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son, Yes the same Jesus who was crucified, dead and buried is back now Alive and Revealed to you to live a life of being continuously surprised by what God can do.  

 Blessing:  May God bless you to know His presence, peace and safety as you seek to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to our world.  May there be a fusillade of grace, by way of direction, connecting, and compassion that grant you success in your efforts to offer support and hope to patients and their families in the future. Amen    

Guilty By Association

 

Thought: Guilty by Association

Text: John 12:39-46

       Vss 42-44 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.  Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.  And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.  And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.  I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” 

         There are many people in prison and jail today because they were so close to the crime committed that the investigators could not determine whether they helped commit the crime or they were there just looking on and got caught up on the mix.  They were accused of guilty by association.    

       Discussion:  This information from John helps us to know the attitude of many who heard Jesus and were torn because of their associations.  They believed in Jesus but could not bring themselves to admit it before people because they would lose their statues among the authorities. They were afraid to lose what they enjoyed most of all.  Jesus affirmed this information

8 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21But all these things they will do to you on account of my name because they do not know him who sent me.  John 15:18-21

 

     They would not admit how clear Jesus’ teachings sounded but held on to their comfortable places in life so as not to ‘rock the boat’. 

     Now that we have celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, it is time to ask.  What is my part from here on?  Many people love Easter and the celebration of life from the dead of Jesus which proves that He is the Son of God.  But are we now willing to prove by our actions and words that we believe that He really rose up from the grave and has our allegiance.  The story of Jesus crucifixion is the greatest story ever told by the Bible; the innocent son of man and man of God who did and said so much good, crucified by evil and wicked forces now comes back from the dead.  Now that’s a great end to a catastrophe.  But why do you like it? 

      Jesus confirmed the fears of the rulers who believed in him by telling them that they would lose their status even after he was gone, if they associated themselves with Him.  Are you willing to take that risk? 

      God gave us the most powerful story we have ever heard, one that we probably would not think to make up so that we would have the confirmation of His hand upon Jesus and that we would live after the lessons and life of Jesus. 

    

Empowerment:   There are many great things that we can go after in our life pursuits but there is one pursuit that must take priority over all and that is association with Jesus Christ as He is presented in scripture.   The testimony of Jesus is the true account that we must test for ourselves and believe in our hearts so that we can reveal the Kingdom of God in the Earth. 

   Acts 17:30 “ The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

        God gives us a convincing story of grace, a powerful message of ‘new life’ and not commands that we associate with Our Lord no matter what it takes.  Let’s allow ourselves to be guilty by our association with Jesus and make sure that the world knows that we are His first and foremost. 

 Blessing:  May God bless you to know His presence, peace and safety as you seek to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to our world.  May there be a fusillade of grace, by way of direction, connecting, and compassion that grant you success in your efforts to offer support and hope to patients and their families in the future. Amen