Sunday, May 28, 2017

So Close, Yet So Far

by Pastor Randy Scott

Iron Faith Fellowship
Wilmington, Deleware

May 28, 2017
Memorial Day



1 Kings 22Revised Standard Version (RSV)

22 For three years Syria and Israel continued without war. But in the third year Jehosh′aphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” And he said to Jehosh′aphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehosh′aphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
And Jehosh′aphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I forbear?” And they said, “Go up; for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” But Jehosh′aphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” And the king of Israel said to Jehosh′aphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micai′ah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehosh′aphat said, “Let not the king say so.” Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micai′ah the son of Imlah.” 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehosh′aphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samar′ia; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 And Zedeki′ah the son of Chena′anah made for himself horns of iron, and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”



Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Depression is real and sadly dangerous



If most who are struggling with depression, stopped to think why, they most probably would not find the answer! At least not right away! That is where the danger lay, not knowing why, not knowing how to deal with it, thus giving up to find the answer! They struggle with embarrassment, isolation, rejection, not having answers to the questions they take what they think to be the easy route!

That route may be drugs, drinking, anything to reduce the pain even to the point of suicide not realizing they are not alone! Yet when they are not encouraged to talk about it, seek help for it, and not hide from it, they think themselves as the scourge of society and rejected for being misunderstood! They miss the part where anything is fixable as long and you do not deny you have the problem!

Denial not only hurts them it can kill them, they have to be reminded over and over they are precious and needed! For themselves and most certainly for others around them struggling with the same thing! Answers are not easily found, yet they can be found! We as friends and family, even though we may not understand, need to learn from them, listen to them, giving them the time they need!

I understand that different personalities are involved and some folks choose to stay the way they are giving up the fight! But they need to be reminded, even they did not get there overnight, so a remedy and a fix may take just as long to achieve success as it did to get depressed! There is no quick fix, many times we need to endure the pain of time!

Yet never give up, never lose your value, in the end it will be worth the pain and work it took to guide them through their journey! Never forget that it is real, it is genuine, and it is dangerous, never ever take it lightly or shrug it off as a passing thing! When you do that becomes a most dangerous place also! Always remember you cannot fix them alone, if they do not contribute to their recovery, it becomes more of an enabling event instead of a recovering one!

Walk with them never let them feel alone, but encourage them to work also! We have all struggled with depression at one time or another, but no two people are alike! The less one talks about it the deeper they go pay attention and give support! Philippians 4:6-7 is always a good place to start even for ourselves!

Philippians 4:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Warnings Are Just Teasers, Right?

by Pastor Randy Scott

Iron Faith Fellowship
Wilmington, Delaware

May 21,2017

Jeremiah 5 (ESV)

the prophets prophesy falsely,
    and the priests rule at their direction;
my people love to have it so,
    but what will you do when the end comes?







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Sunday, May 14, 2017

Unforgettable Moms!

by Pastor Randy Scott
and members of Iron Faith Fellowship

Iron Faith Fellowship
Wilmington, Delaware

May 14, 2017

2 Timothy 1Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers. As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lo′is and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you. Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.


Sunday, May 7, 2017

Preparing for Christ's Return

by Associate Pastor Haus Piasecki

Iron Faith Fellowship
Wilmington, Delaware

May 7, 2017

Matthew 24English Standard Version (ESV)

24 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away[a] and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.






Friday, May 5, 2017

Hopeless, helpless, and anxious this may help?




We worry about the Government, we worry about Healthcare, we worry about Jobs, we worry about war, we worry, worry, worry! Worry does not help us, does not feed us, does not cloth us, does not shelter us! What worry does is distract us, makes us stressed, makes us sick, keeps us down! Makes us hopeless, helpless, and anxious! 

Now why in the world do we turn to it since it helps nothing all? And people laugh at me when I talk about faith, and hope! Well I would rather put my energies into something that keeps me moving forward than backward! I would rather deal with the things I know for sure, than the things I don't! I would rather deal with that facts and not the feelings!

 I have done the worry thing, now I want to do the healthy thing! That is why I always share what has worked for me, my faith in Jesus and His word! It tells me not to worry, not to be anxious, and not to fret! It tells me about a throne we can approach in our time of need and talk to Him and He hears us and gives us the grace and mercy we need to sustain us! 

It builds our faith and confidence to face a world of distractions that will only bring us down! And gives us hope that all this is temporary! If you don't know Jesus as Lord of your life, if you are tired of the worry and the stress you cannot find the escape from. Come to Jesus all you who labor and are heavy laden and He will give you rest! 

If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved, you have to believe deep in your heart, giving it all to him by faith! That is the only thing you can do! If you are honest and surrendered, Jesus will transform your life, old things will pass away and all things will become new! Give Him your worry, your doubt, and watch the distractions of life start to disappear! 

Romans 10:9-13, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21