Today we celebrate the divine institution of motherhood, and we honor all of our mothers. “Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” (Genesis 3:16)  Mothers persevere through the pain of childbirth, the ordeal of raising children (but it is a joy), the pain of them going off to college and the joy when they marry. Mothers have the heart of God with their children.  Just as God never gives up on us, mothers never give up on their children. Have you considered how many “hats” mothers wear?  They are nurturers, educators, disciplinarians, disciplers, and this is early in the lives of their children. The mother of this pastor has gone to be with the Lord, but I remember fondly, lovingly, all that she was in my life. For those of you whose mothers are here on this people planet, honor and celebrate them. You are God’s gift to them, and they are God’s gift to you. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Eph. 6:1-3)  There is a difference between obeying and honoring. To obey means to do as one is told: To honor means to respect and love. Mothers: We honor you on this, your day. Happy Mother’s Day!

Pastor J. Amos Jones

It is with heartfelt appreciation that we welcome back the Greeters into service for the Master. The Greeting Ministry is very important to our worship experience. The Greeters welcome to the Lord’s house those who have come to worship Him in spirit and in truth. (A reference to the Triune God.) Delightful people with a merry heart and a smiling face are certainly an asset to the Kingdom. Greeters set the tone for us to “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.” To the Greeters and to every worker here at Friendship, the wise man has a word for you; “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Eccl. 9:10) Welcome back Greeters and be blessed as you serve Him.

In addition to the Greeters, we appreciate and honor every person who is serving in any capacity at Friendship. Be it ministers, deacons, choir members, ushers, missionary workers, brotherhood, sound room personnel, trustees, or children’s church. We are referring to the totality of the committed workers here at the church. The Lord Jesus said it best: “I must work the work of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4)

Dear ones, it is our time, we are occupying until He returns. Be blessed as you serve.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

By definition, content, i.e., the state of, is “happy enough with what one has or is.” Simply put, to be content is to be satisfied in any situation you face. A great example of contentment can be found in Phil. 4:10-14. The Apostle Paul has received a gift from the Philippian church, for which he is most appreciative. The church at Philippi had in the past contributed financially to Paul’s ministry but had not been able for whatever reason for some time. They have now resumed their giving with some disappointment, because for a period of time they were unable to contribute to Paul’s ministry. Paul reassures them, and us, that as a child of the Most High God, all is well.  Hear the great Apostle: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (vv. 11, 12) The secret to Paul’s contentment was drawing upon Christ’s power for strength. (I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.) Contentment is a learned process. Wherever and whatever your situation might be, learn to rely on God’s promises and Christ’s power for strength. Learn when enough is enough. If you always want more, ask God to remove that desire and to teach you contentment. We can trust that God will always meet our needs. Know this: godliness with contentment is great gain. (1Timothy 6:6)

Pastor J. Amos Jones

A refrain from a song of some years ago says:  “What the world needs now is love sweet love.”  How true that is for this present time.  Hate is now prevalent throughout our society.  Man’s inhumanity to man is now the order of the day.  Racism, antisemitism, and sexism are all on the rise. All this is in a nation that declares: “One nation, under God, with liberty, and justice for all.”  Believe me, my brothers, and sisters we are not there yet.  Having said that, this Pastor still has hope.  Our hope is found in and based on the infallible  word of God.  Our Lord Jesus, the Christ, tells us: “ Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two  commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt 22:37-40)   My dears, if we truly  love God and our neighbor, we will manifest that love in our interactions with one another.  Hear St. Paul as he tells us about “sweet” love: “Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.  Love does not demand its own way.  Love is not irritable, And it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.  It (love) is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always  hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (1 Cor 13:4-7)  Need I remind you, dear ones to love is a commandment of the Lord.  Love is a commandment to you and to me.  Let us love as the Lord commands.  Yes, we can!

Pastor J. Amos Jones

“And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.” (Mark 15:42, 43) Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy and honored member of the Jewish council. He was also a secret disciple of Jesus. (John 19:38) Is it not interesting, the disciples who had publicly followed Jesus fled, but Joseph boldly took a stand that could cost him dearly. He cared enough about Jesus to ask for His body so he, along with Nicodemus, could give it a proper burial. Joseph risked his reputation to give a proper burial to his Lord. For many of us it is frightening to risk one’s reputation even for what is right. If your Christian witness endangers your reputation, think about Joseph. There will come a time when we must boldly, courageously take a stand for our Lord. There can be no “secret” disciples, we must be, as Joseph and Nicodemus, totally committed to him. Matthew’s gospel tells us that “And when Joseph had taken the body,  he wrapped it is a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock:”.  (vs. 59, 60) In addition to his devotion, Joseph gave to Jesus his own “new tomb.” This reminds this Pastor of David’s acquisition of Araunah’s  threshingfloor as recorded in 2 Samuel 24:24: “neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.”  Like David, Joseph demonstrated his commitment to the Lord.

How do you show your commitment to Him?

Pastor J. Amos Jones