"But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison" (Genesis 39:21). Joseph was in trouble. Joseph was in a trial – he was throne into prison without a trial! That was my poor attempt at humor, but Joseph's situation was certainly not funny. He needed a friend, and he found one in the Lord. In the midst of his anguish, Joseph found a shelter in the time of storm. Look what we find in our featured verse.

Genesis 25:11 “And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.” Notice that after the death of the faithful father, Abraham, God blessed Abraham's son, Isaac. I don't know what you faced in 2008, and I don't know what you will face this year, but I do know that there is a God in Heaven Who cares for you. Even after intense times of disappointment, sorrow and bereavement there is still a blessing from God! God blesses His children with many things including comfort, grace, mercy and… a well. Really? A well?

2 Corinthians 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” I love the sights and sounds of the season. But what I really love is the fact that God loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son into this world to die on Calvary’s cross to make a way for us to go to Heaven.

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever (Psalms 107:1).” W. J. Cameron once said, “Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” It has been said many times, but not too many times, “We have so much for which to be thankful.” Yet it seems that far too often we are unthankful.

Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." During this election cycle we have heard a lot about change - and change is coming! Change is an inevitable part of life. Some change is for the better, and some changes aren't. However, in the midst of our changes, there is One upon Whom we can depend Who will never change.

Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Heaven became even sweeter for me this past week. My Papaw, as he was affectionately known, went home to be with the Lord early Thursday morning. I miss him dearly, but I am comforted in knowing that I will see him again.

Psalms 62:8 "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." Here the Psalmist exhorts us to trust in the Lord and encourages us to ascend the high hills of Heaven in prayer. And for those who do just that, there is the grand promise of a refuge. This is a good reminder to trust in the Lord even during these uncertain economic times we are facing.

On September 17th, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of our Pastor’s tenure. Dr. James D. Rolen along with his wife, Mrs. Loretta Rolen, have been faithful servants of the Lord, and I wanted to publish the following remarks made at their 30th Celebration Dinner on Saturday evening.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.” Solomon gives us a sober reminder. Let us be busy about our most important task.