Notes of Faith March 5, 2026

Notes of Faith March 5, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

May 20, 2001

“THE PRINCIPAL PART OF WISDOM”

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For most people wisdom is an attainment through the educational process. If we can just acquire enough education of the right kind we will be a wise man or woman and people will look upon us as such. However, that is not how God assesses true wisdom. This may be human wisdom - but not true wisdom in the Biblical sense. Wisdom is the application of knowledge. In The Old Testament, wisdom is learning to live life skillfully. That is pretty much what it means in the New Testament, also. Wisdom is acquired of God (cf. James 1:5).

The fear of the Lord is not the kind of fear we usually think of (cf. 2 Tim 1:7). God’s people do not cringe before Him in abject dread. First of all we recognize who God is and all His attributes. Then we recognize and accept who we are in all our weakness. In coming to know this, we then come to see how small we are in His sight. We know that He holds our life in the palm of His hand, and that He can direct us in the way that He pleases. Our times are in His hands (cf. Ps 31:15).

This wonderful reality should cause us to stop and assess where we are in life. We are where we are because God in His wisdom has ordained it. One of the majestic things the fear of God will do for us is cause us to increase in wisdom. The fear of God teaches us to hate sin and evil and to avoid it at all costs.

So let me ask you in this pen pulpit, do you recognize who God is? Do you recognize and accept who you are in His eyes? Do you acknowledge His hand in your present circumstance and do you hate evil? If the answers to these questions is “yes”, then you have gained the principal part of wisdom. Let’s work on this together. God bless!

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Ps 111:10

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.

His praise endures forever.

Prov 2:2

incline your ear to wisdom,

And apply your heart to understanding

Prov 2:6

for the Lord gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding

Prov 2:10-12

When wisdom enters your heart,

And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,

11 Discretion will preserve you;

Understanding will keep you,

12 To deliver you from the way of evil

1 Cor 1:30

you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

Col 1:9-12

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints

Col 1:28

28 we preach (Jesus), warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Col 2:2-3

attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

No one should be spiritually lacking in wisdom and understanding…if you ask such things of God, He will answer and provide beyond all that you could ask or even think, regarding Himself and His will for you!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith March 4, 2026

Notes of Faith March 4, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

May 13, 2001

“THE PERFECT WAY”

Psalms 18:30

As for God, His way is blameless; The Word of the Lord is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

When we say something is perfect, we mean it is complete and flawless - without spot or blemish. One thing we should keep in mind is that God is perfect and all of His ways are perfect.

Jesus said on one occasion, addressing His disciples, “Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).” He was expressing His goal for the lives of His own.

But can we ever be perfect? Well, not in the ultimate sense, but there is a way we can be perfect as God is perfect and in which we can be like Him. It is the Holy Spirit’s mission to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ. Paul, in Ephesians, talks about perfecting the saints. Here maturity is in view. God allows both good things and bad things in our lives for the purpose of perfecting us.

The question I would like to ask this morning is - how do you see ‘incidents’ that make their way to your door? Do you and I see them as God’s perfect way? The sickness, the unexplained pressure of a loved one or a financial setback? Do you feel that God is picking on you? Just remember that God’s hand is always in your life (cf. Psalm 139:10). It is hard to see sometimes but it is true that God’s way is perfect. He’s perfecting His character in each of His children - patience, love, long suffering, etc. It takes all kinds of experience to bring that perfection to pass.

Mothers, can you be thankful for the way in which He has worked His perfect way in your lives? Through some heartache or disappointment as well as the times of blessing?

Let’s all take a few minutes this next week to reflect upon God’s hand in our lives and we’ll have a new appreciation and understanding of God’s perfect way - I guarantee it! God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Ps 86:11

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord;

I will walk in Your truth;

Unite my heart to fear Your name.

Ps 37:5-6

5 Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light

And your judgment as the noonday.

Ps 67:1-2

God be gracious to us and bless us,

And cause His face to shine upon us — Selah.

2 That Your way may be known on the earth,

Your salvation among all nations.

Ps 77:13-15

13 Your way, O God, is holy;

What god is great like our God?

14 You are the God who works wonders;

You have made known Your strength among the peoples.

15 You have by Your power redeemed Your people,

God reveals Himself and His way that the people might know Him and the only way of salvation, Jesus! He is our Savior and redeemer! May we submit to Him, love Him and serve Him with all that we are!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith March 3, 2026

Notes of Faith March 3, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

April 29, 2001

“THE WISDOM OF GOD’S WISDOM”

I Corinthians 1:18-21

For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Wisdom is one of God’s premier attributes. The word is used scores of times in the Bible - both of God’s and man’s wisdom. I believe the most significant usage of God’s wisdom is found in the passage in I Corinthians 1:18-21. It is used in the context of the way in which God decreed to save man.

To begin - in verse 18 the message of the cross is utter foolishness to man who is perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. In verse 20 God challenges the wise men of this age, the scribe, the debater. Then He says that He has made foolishness of the wisdom of the world.

In verse 21 Paul says that God in His wisdom decreed that man in his wisdom could not come to know God. Then the apostle says that it pleased God to take the most foolish of the messages preached to save those who would look at that message as not foolish at all but powerful to save. The message is “Christ Crucified” which to the Jews is a stumbling block and to the Gentiles foolishness. However, to the believing Jew and Gentile, that message of foolishness becomes the power and wisdom of God.

Verse 25 sums it all up. That which we consider the epitome of foolishness, God considers the epitome of wisdom. That which the greats of this world consider the essence of weakness, God considers the supreme power.

To bring this down to where we live, before salvation I dare say that every one of us reading this message today regarded Christ’s dying on the cross a very noble act - the supreme example of sacrifice. But what we didn’t realize was the significance of that death for us. We each had our own idea of how to get to Heaven. In our wisdom we had it all planned out. Then there came the time when the Holy Spirit’s work culminated in our life. It was then that we realized the wisdom of God’s wisdom.

Beloved, let us contemplate the mighty wisdom of God in providing our great salvation. Remember that wisdom is available and workable in each of our lives every day!

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Rom 8:28-39

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,

"FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;

WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The wisdom of God is so great that our minds cannot comprehend all that He thinks and does! How great is the wisdom of God…to take out of darkness and bring us to light, from eternal condemnation and death, into eternal blessing and true life!

Eph 2:1-10

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

God transformed our lives with His gift of faith and is continuing to transform us through His Spirit into the image of His Son, Jesus! Oh, the wisdom and grace and mercy of God, who pours out on His chosen ones what we do not deserve… including His preparation of good works that we are to live out as His followers!

Praise God for His wisdom and work in us today!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith March 2, 2026

Notes of Faith March 2, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

April 22, 2001

“WALKING WITH GOD”

Amos 3:3

Do two men walk together unless they are in agreement?

This statement is self explanatory. Unless there is an agreement, can two people walk in harmony? The answer is NO! No agreement is like two horses pulling in opposite directions.

It is the same principle with God. God and a man/woman cannot walk in harmony unless they are in basic agreement. Just what does walking with God entail? Let me suggest a few things.

1. Walking with God is a Spirit walk - “But I say walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” Galatians 5:16. This verse explains itself. In order not to do or carry out the works of our flesh nature, we must let the Spirit of God control us. This includes our mind, our body, our total being. We must be in agreement with the Holy Spirit in all aspects of our life. He uses His Word to control us if we allow Him to do that.

2. Walking with God is a wise walk - “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise” Ephesians 5:15. God is a wise God. He expects His children to likewise walk in wisdom, learning to live life skillfully. Before we came to Christ we lived unwisely. Now in God’s forever family we are to handle life’s ups and downs in a wise and skillful manner (c.f. James 1:5).

3. Walking with God involves walking in love (Ephesians 5:1, 2). Children usually take on some of the characteristics of their parents. Love is one of the more prominent of the characteristics. Christians are to behave as children of God (c.f. I Corinthians 13). It’s impossible to walk in agreement with God if love is not controlling our lives. Love to our Christian brothers and sisters. Love to the non-Christian.

4. Walking with God involves walking in the truth (II John 4). Walking in truth is similar to walking in the Spirit. Our lives are to be lives lived in the truth. The truth is the truth of God’s Word. A disobedient Christian is a misnomer. We are to bring truth to bear on every aspect of our lives, no matter how it hurts. When we do this we are walking in agreement with God.

So walking with God involves:

1. Walking in the Spirit.

2. Walking in wisdom.

3. Walking in love.

4. Walking in truth.

How are you doing? How am I doing? Let’s work on it together. Amen.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Walking with God is one of the greatest things that could be said of you or me!

Gen 5:24

24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Enoch did not experience death on earth. God raptured him. God took him to live with him forever. There was intimate relationship between them. Though Enoch had a fallen nature as you and I, he walked with God.

Gal 5:16-26

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Gen 6:9

Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.

Noah believed God. Noah, by faith, built an ark as designed by God for the salvation of mankind and all life that Noah was told to take with him into the ark.

2 Kings 2:11

11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.

These men walked with God! There are many others given to us in the Scriptures and many that walk with us now. May we be blessed with their faith, devotion, and desire to live each day for the Giver of Life and that eternal!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith March 1, 2026

Notes of Faith March 1, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

Easter Sunday 2001

“THE BENEFITS OF HIS RESURRECTION”

Romans 6

We are all familiar with the teaching of I Corinthians 15 and other New Testament passages which show clearly that because Jesus was raised bodily from the dead, all Christians will one day have a glorified body like His. That is a fact settled in Heaven.

However, let us look briefly at His bodily resurrection as it benefits Christians today. In Colossians 3:1 Paul writes:

If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

This is a blanket statement of fact. We have to go to that familiar sixth chapter of Romans to see the details.

He begins in verses 1 and 2 by saying that because we died together with Him, then it is unthinkable that we can continue to live in a pattern of life habit of sin. Paul says we have been baptized into His (Christ’s) death, identified completely with Him in death so whatever happened to Him on the cross, happened to believers in God’s eyes. Then verse 4 follows logically - if we have died with Him, we live with Him because He was raised up from the dead by the glorious power of the Father. We are identified with Him in death and identified with Him in resurrection. The resurrection power of the risen Christ lives within each true believer in Christ.

Because of that fact, sin no longer reigns in our lives - leading us down the same old path we once trod. Paul punctuates that fact in verses 6 and 7:

Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for He who has died is freed from sin.

Beloved, that is the present application of the resurrection. Believers have no need to yield and keep on yielding to anger, pride, gossip, and all the things that go with the sin nature. Spiritually you are as much alive with Christ today as you will be throughout all eternity. Claim this truth for yourself and experience the true Easter message. All truth is relevant for today.

God bless each and every one of you this Easter Season. I challenge you to seek those things which are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Col 3:1-17

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him — 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Many Scriptures are good to memorize. This is one that Robin and I did many years ago that is still good to renew the mind with today! Maybe this will bless you as it has us over the years!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 28, 2026

Notes of Faith February 28, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

Palm Sunday 2001

This Palm Sunday I am going to repeat a pen pulpit I did last year - the reason being that I think the message so significant it deserves a second time around It is especially meaningful Easter week as we contemplate Christ’s death, celebrate His resurrection and look forward to His promised return.

“THE POWER OF HIS APPEARING”

I John 3:2-3

Have you ever given any thought to the awesome power of our Lord’s appearing? That power is seen in I John 3:2-3. In verse 2 John calls attention to our glorious position:

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Two points loom large and clear in this passage: one future and one present.

1. The power to change us.

“When we see Him, we shall be like Him.” Note what John says - when we see Him. There is something marvelous about seeing our Savior. There will be transforming power at the sight of Him. This is unexplainable. The molecular structure of our bodies will be completely altered when we see Christ. All imperfections of our present state will vanish in an instant of time. Paul says in I Corinthians 15:

Mortality will put on immortality;

Sown a perishable body - raised an imperishable body.

Sown in dishonor - raised in glory.

Sown in weakness - raised in power.

Sown a natural body - raised a spiritual body.

What this means is that at the first sight of the Savior, a glorious, miraculous transformation will take place. By and large our bodies will be just like His, only each of us will retain our individual identity.

Yes, the power to change us. But wait! What should that Blessed Hope do for us in the present? This brings us to the second aspect of the Power of His Appearing.

2. The power to challenge us.

“Everyone who has this Hope purifies himself just as He is pure.” There is something magnetic about the coming of the Lord. A drawing power. A desire and determination to take the initiative in seeing change take place in our lives now, to take note of the impurities in our thought life and attitude - then to submit to His authority and let Him replace those imperfections with His perfection. There is something wonderfully comforting and challenging - not in just knowing what He can do but in submitting to His ability and willingness to make us over. Just remember, He always knows what is best for us and He will never hesitate to take what we present to Him and overhaul it (Romans 12:1, 2.)

So beloved, this week let us contemplate the power of His appearing to change us and let that glorious reality challenge us in our present circumstances.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

God’s power calls us, gives us faith to believe, conquers the sin that we struggle with, makes us more like Christ day by day, and prepares us for the glory of transformation and redemption to live with Him forever! Let us recognize God’s power, dwell within that power, live for Him each day, and press on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 27, 2026

Notes of Faith February 27, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

Helps from Hebrews

November 19, 2000

“THE LORD’S DISCIPLINE”

Hebrews 12:5-6

My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord nor faint when you are reproved by Him. For whom the Lord loves He disciplines and He scourges every son whom he receives.

I can’t ever remember rejoicing when my dad disciplined me. His discipline was never pleasant. It always smarted in one way or another. But I always remembered that there was a reason for what he did - although he often let me discover the reason on my own. His “you know why I’m doing this, young man” still comes resounding back to me on certain occasions. For the most part I did know, although sometimes he left me wondering.

I discovered when I became a Christian, my Heavenly Father followed the same pattern. Well, more accurately, my earthly father was following the heavenly pattern, although he wasn’t aware of it.

However now I rather look forward to my Heavenly Father’s discipline. “Why?” you ask. Simply because it reaffirms to me that I am His child. The text tells me that if I am without discipline, I am not His child! In fact I now regard Divine Discipline as one of the points of assurance of salvation.

So when Paul says do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord nor faint at His reproof, just take it as your Father confirming His divine parenthood.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Hebrews 12:11

God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

Job 5:17

17 "Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves,

So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

Prov 3:11-12

11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord

Or loathe His reproof,

12 For whom the Lord loves He reproves,

Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

Prov 12:1

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

But he who hates reproof is stupid.

Prov 13:1

A wise son accepts his father's discipline,

But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Prov 13:18

Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline,

But he who regards reproof will be honored.

Prov 15:32

He who neglects discipline despises himself,

But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

Prov 19:27

Cease listening, my son, to discipline,

And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Prov 22:15

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

Prov 23:13

Do not hold back discipline from the child,

Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.

Eph 6:4

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Rev 3:19

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

Rom 8:14

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons (and daughters) of God.

Gal 3:26

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:19

For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

Even creation is expectantly waiting for the salvation and redemption of mankind since it will follow the same pattern, having fallen into decay through the curse of God in dealing with man’s sin, and resurrected to its original glory or perhaps even beyond when mankind is glorified for all eternity!

It is great to be called a child of God! May we listen intently and follow the disciplined instruction of the Lord, that we might grow in His grace and mercy becoming more like Jesus day by day!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 26, 2026

Notes of Faith February 26, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

Helps from Hebrews

November 12, 2000

“LET US DRAW NEAR”

Hebrews 4:14-16

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need..

In this meaningful passage in Hebrews we are told that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God. Since this is true, we are told to hold fast our confession - don’t let go of our convictions. The reason is that our great high priest can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. This means that every weakness we have ever felt, He has felt! This takes in everything.

Beloved, this is mind boggling! There isn’t any pain or discomfort that you and I have experienced in our lives that He hasn’t passed through. Hard to understand? Of course it is - but remember, He is the God man. He is as much God as if He had never been man and as much man as if He had never been God. He had human weakness but no human sin.

The exhortation is to “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the Throne of Grace.” The beautiful point here is that there is a throne where nothing but grace is handed out and this is the throne we are to draw near to. This is a gracious invitation from our Great High Priest. The Greek is very emphatic. “Let us keep on drawing near.” Not just once or twice but as many times as is necessary ... and we are to draw near with confidence:

• Without any inhibitions

• Without any doubtings.

The promise is that we shall receive mercy and grace in time of need.

Let me ask you Christian friend - do you have a need today? A need that no human being can provide? I’ll be honest with you. As I write this devotion I have some definite needs and I am drawing near to Him. I need Him every minute of every day. I need mercy and I need grace in my time of need.

Let me encourage you to do the same. The way is open. God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

In the sin-filled human life experience there is always need for mercy and grace from God. He is faithful at meeting our need and He is the only One who can meet that need. May we give thanks daily and remain in the presence of His throne of grace for every moment of every day!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 25, 2026

Notes of Faith February 25, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

Helps from Hebrews

November 5, 2000

“PREVENTIVE ENCOURAGEMENT”

Hebrews 3:13

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

In the human body there is what is called adrenal glands. These glands kick in when the body is depleted and down. They have a way of picking up the tired body.

In the Body of Christ there are adrenal glands called encouragers. Discouragement comes often to believers. Thank God for those in the body who are sensitive to these problems and quickly come to the aid of the discouraged. Many have been the spiritual “adrenal glands” who have come to my rescue in my down times. The key biblical passage for this truth is Hebrews 3:13. You will note two major movements in this verse.

1. The Responsibility

Encourage one another day after day as long as it is still called “Today.” This teaches that encouragement is in order every day of the week as long as the opportunity is there. Everyone in the Body of Christ has this responsibility. This is one of the many “one anothers” that appear in the New Testament. As you look around you on Sunday morning, just say to yourself, “Self, there are people here this morning who need a shot of God’s adrenaline. Lord, just point the way and show me how to do it.”

There are many ways to encourage. You can talk to the individual, make a phone call, send a card with appropriate verses and comments. But even more effective: you can pray for that person, naming specifics if you know any.

2. The Reason

“Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” This is the primary reason we should encourage and pray for others. Sin is deceitful and Satan tries every possible way to take God’s people out of commission with it. Sin, while mostly overt and recognizable, sometimes can be awfully hard to spot. Sin can easily disguise itself as a friend - so we have to constantly be on our toes.

I can hold out a straight stick and ask you to describe it. Well, there’s only one way a stick can be straight. But if I hold out a crooked stick and ask you to describe it, chances are you could not for a stick can be crooked a million different ways. Likewise, sin can be deceitful in a million different ways.

So beloved, you see the responsibility and the reason why we are to constantly encourage each other. I’ll encourage you and you encourage me. OK? God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

I find it almost impossible that since I am semi-retired that I could have missed a morning devotion without noticing some time during the day. Nevertheless, yesterday, I appear to have done so. I have need to be encouraged because I feel down, having left you without a “Note of Faith” for the day. Here it is…

Let us be a Barnabus for one another that we may remain encouraged at all times in the Lord, strengthening, uplifting, and encouraging one another daily, especially in prayer!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 24, 2026

Notes of Faith February 24, 2026

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

April 1, 2001

“ALWAYS VICTORIOUS”

II Corinthians 2:14-16

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

We Christians have been called to be witnesses to the non Christian. The wonderful thing abut this high calling is you are never a failure in your witness. We are always victorious in Christ (v. 14). In this victory there is the sweet aroma of His presence in every place we find ourselves.

To those who are being saved, we are a fragrance. They see in the victorious Christian a sweet fragrance of the Savior and they are drawn to Him by that fragrance present in the obedient believer (vv. 15, 16b). How many believers will be in Heaven because you were obedient to Christ down here in the presence of those who hunger and thirst after righteousness?

But not everyone will come to Christ through your testimony. Are you a failure then? Not at all. Look at verse 15b. We are also a fragrance of Christ to those who are perishing. We give off an aroma of death to this group. What does this mean? It means that there are some who have no intention at all of submitting their lives to Jesus Christ. They are set against Him. The aroma we give off to one group is life. To that other group that same aroma is death. That is why some people are so uncomfortable around the Spirit-filled Christian. They smell death - their death. Do we understand these things? Paul asks who is adequate for these things. That’s just the way things are and this is where faith comes in.

So you are never a failure. Jesus is the great example of this principle. His presence drew multitudes to Himself. He said, “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me (John 12:32).” He did just that. Some submitted and followed Him as disciples. Others turned away. Yet both groups made a decision. One group to follow Him in life. The other group to turn away from Him in death. Yet He was always successful and so are you.

The decision is not up to you to make. Your job and my job is to remain close to Him and draw from His strength day by day. God bless.

Love to you all,

Pastor Charles Covington

The sweet aroma of Christ in our witness is likened unto a sacrifice and the aroma that ascends to God. Our lives as Christians should be totally submitted to God, a living sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. We do this through obedience to His Word, loving Him, loving and serving those He places around us, and sharing eternal life in Christ Jesus because of His perfect love and sacrifice of His life for us on the cross. Let us pray for opportunity after opportunity to be a sweet sacrificial aroma to God, that Jesus Christ might be exalted before all around us!

Pastor Dale