"LIVING    IN    REMEMBRANCE"

INSTITUTION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

"For I received from the LORD  that which I also delivered to you:  That the LORD JESUS
on the same night in which HE was betrayed took bread:
And when He had given thanks, HE broke it and said ' take, and eat; this is my body which is broken
for you; do this IN REMEMBANCE OF ME.

In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying  'This cup is the new covenant in My
blood.  This do, as often as you drink it, IN REMEMBANCE OF ME. (I Corinthians 11:24-25).

Now let me set the scene here:
My wife Mary, and I, have a nephew, Stewart, who lives with us part of the time.  Stewart lives in a
separate part of our house, and Mary and I live in "our part" of the house. 
Hold that thought for a few moments --- while I share and "set the scene in More Detail.
When I was age 6, both of my parents died.

In GOD'S wonderful GRACE........My Aunt Willard and Uncle Joe adopted me and raised me as their own child.

When I was a very young boy I was always encouraged to visit  my Grandfather (on my Mother's side of the family).  my "Granddaddy raised his own hogs, and cured his own hams in his own smoke house.

I often ate meals which included COUNTRY HAM CURED BY GRANDDADDY."

Occasionally, when there was some ham that had become (too strongly-flavored)--- Granddaddy set that ham aside for me, He knew that I would eat it and love it!!!

OK now, lets bring this (continuing) story to the present time.

A couple of days ago, Mary, my beloved wife cooked for supper one of my favorite meals; it included "smoked pork chops".  These smoked pork chops have a flavor which is very similar
to the flavor of country ham.

Accidentally, Mary and I left the frying pan on "Stewart's side of the house.  (There was some smoked pork chops left in the frying pan.)  A day or two later, I went over  to "Stewart's
side of the house, looking for the remainder of the pork chops.....hoping that Stewart had not eaten them nor disposed of them.

Indeed, Stewart had NOT eaten them  Nor had he disposed of them. Thank You Lord!!!!!
As I thanked Stewart, the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance (John 14:26) the details, and flooded my heart with REMEMBRANCE  of the FEELINGS that accompanied my eating of the
country ham.

Soon after being adopted by my Aunt Willard and Uncle Joe, we had a meal which included my favorite-country ham. The message that was conveyed to my heart, soul, and spirit by that meal was that I was in truth chosen, adopted, and accepted into my new family, and that I could be sure that
I had, and would have my favorite things to eat.
As long as Aunt Willard/Mama Joe was able to cook - she frequently cooked ham for me --- continuing to confirm my  acceptance!!!

In these current years, my treasure from GOD wife frequently cooks for me smoked pork chops, and other favorites for me ---thus (by the same Spirit) speaking "acceptance" and love to me.

Now I hate to disillusion you men out there --- but MY WIFE MARY IS THE BEST - she was, is, and always will be GOD'S BEST FOR ME!!!

Of course the title of this message "Living in Remembrance" -  refers to JESUS CHRIST'S words in
(I Corinthians 11:24-25). Often those same words are spoken when we participate  in communion service.
What Jesus did NOT say here, is as important as what He DID say;  He DID say "Do this in remembrance of Me".  He did NOT say "Remember  (only) that I died on the cross to save you from your sins.
(But) Remember also that I was resurrected by My Father, I rose from the grave, and I ascended to My Father in Heaven - where I sit at His right hand (Hebrews 1:3).
Remember that I "continue forever, thereby He (JESUS) is also able to save (completely and forever) those who come to GOD through Him. Since He always lives to make intercession for us.(Heb. 7:25.
Live in remembrance that "Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever". (Heb. 13:8) Remember that He is "With us always". (Matt. 28:20).

Live in remembrance that JESUS is Resurrected, Risen, Reigning, and soon Returning. (Rev. 22:20). (Definition (of 'able'):  able-' Dunamai'/ a word that combines POWER and WILLINGNESS, inherent STRENGTH and ACTION.".
"Now to Him Who is able to keep us from stumbling, and to present you FAULTLESS before  the Presence of HIS GLORY with exceeding joy.  To GOD our Savior, Who alone is wise, be GLORY and MAJESTY, DOMINION and POWER, both now and forever. AMEN" (Jude 24)

Will YOU agree with that?

Will YOU humble YOURSELF before GOD and say "AMEN" with your voice, AND with YOUR
ACTIONS?

GLORY TO GOD ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
   
 

  

    

WAFFLE HOUSE, DOMESTIC TERRORISM, AND GOD'S WILL!!!!!!!!!!

What is (YOUR PART) IN ALL OF THIS??????????

Before I retired,  HOLY GOD led me to begin to seriously study HIS WORD/THE BIBLE.
My place of employment was in Toccoa, Georgia (Stephens County).  As I continued studying
GOD'S WORD, I sensed that our LORD was leading me to not listen to the radio...but to PRAY
as I drove back and forth from Cleveland, to Toccoa every work day. 
Because I did not know the needs of the people in the homes, businesses, etc., God led me to pray
as Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:5-13 "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done here on earth as it is in Heaven"  in the lives of all the people in their homes, in the lives of all the people in the businesses
that I passed by in my commute morning and evening. I enjoyed both His great joy, and contentment
as I drove and prayed.

Because I was working --- I had a regular schedule of driving, and a specific route which I drove morning and evening.  So the homes, places of business, schools etc. were included in my prayers
daily.

So... what about the "domestic terrorism" that I mentioned in the title of this message, and
"YOUR PART" in all of this???

Okay, I will address both of those in that order.

When I did not know the specific things to pray for those people --- I would indeed pray:  "Father,
in Jesus' Name  "Come YOUR kingdom, be done YOUR will (as it is in heaven)  in the lives of all the people that come to that place."

My EVENING drive from work to our home...took me past a "Waffle House" restaurant in Toccoa.
Our HOLY LORD gave me the understanding to pray over that Waffle House each time that I drove by it.
Because there were   MANY  people going in and out of that Waffle House day and night.....I understood
to pray "Come YOUR kingdom O GOD, be done YOUR will here on earth as it is in Heaven in the
lives of all those people and their families."

For several years,  ONLY GOD  KNEW WHY  I was praying for the people who visited that Waffle
House.  (Again) After several years of praying that (Matthew 6:5-13), I read an article in the local newspaper  -  "The Toccoa Record".....

The article revealed that several men (from both Cleveland and Toccoa) met regularly at that Waffle House.  The article further revealed that local law enforcement officials had sent an "informer" to join
 that group meeting there ---- and that group of men were in the process of planning, and equipping
themselves to kill Federal Officers, and to disburse Sarin (a poisonous gas) around the Atlanta area.
[Sarin gas has been used in some terrorists' attacks in other nations.]

When the men of that group were arrested ---  they had  ALREADY obtained a gun, AND the necessary
ingredients to make Sarin gas!!! 

As I drove past that "Waffle House" a few days later ------- The HOLY SPIRIT reminded me that
( I, BARRY COKER???) had a part in preventing that terrorist attack!!!!! 
My response was ("  I did?")  He reminded me that He had guided and enabled to pray: "Come, kingdom of GOD, "  "BE DONE will of GOD On earth as it is in heaven" in the lives of ALL who came in  and out of that place" --- and that HE had used those prayers to prevent that terrorists' attack!!!

HOW AWESOME IS OUR HOLY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Psalm 139:1 - 34 reveals to us that GOD KNOWS our thoughts before we think them, and our words
before we speak them ------- HE IS OMNISCIENT --- (HE KNOWS EVERYTHING!!!!!!!)
Probably there were others praying also.  But all that I know for sure is that I PRAYED, HE ANSWERED!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOUR PART:  I  URGE  you to pray every where that you go, and GOD will answer in the way that will be good for us and others, and FOR HIS GLORY!!!!!!!!!

Also, remember Isaiah 55:11 --- "So shall MY WORD be that goes forth from MY mouth; It shall
 not return to me void (empty, fruitless).  But it shall accomplish what   I    please, and it shall prosper
 in the thing  I for which  I   sent it."

SGD  Sole Deo Gloria   -  FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ALONE!!!!!!!!!