Heart To Heart With Pastor Ed Bowen – #12

Pastor Ed Bowen was saved on March 24, 1957 at a revival meeting at Horse Branch Church in Turbeville, S.C. at the age of 23. Brother Bowen has been married to his wife, Margaret, for over 54 years. After being ordained in 1960, Pastor Bowen went on to preach in various places until he became pastor of Cherryvale Baptist. Having been there for over 43 years, in 2000, he had to slow down a bit due to prostate cancer.

Though unable to do what he used to do, Pastor Ed has just changed venues. For over ten years now, he has been encouraging people via email. He has graciously agreed to be a contributing author to this website. This series of posts entitled, “Heart To Heart” are the fruit of his times with our Lord Jesus! If they mean as much to you as they do me, then EMAIL him and let him know about it!

Come Now

(Isaiah 1:18) “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”  (KJV)

This great invitation shows that God has a desire for peace to be made between two parties in conflict. He is willing to forgive and eager to set things right between them. God is the one who has been sinned against, but He takes the initiative in bringing peace.

He anticipates the greatness of the sins in reference to time for they are said to be “red like crimson”. This is seen in the fact that it takes a long time in the dying vat to dye cloth that color.

He understands the failure of man to whiten his own heart. Crimson and scarlet cannot be removed by men, but God can blot them out. He can erase them and make the heart as cloth, once scarlet, as white as snow and as cloth once crimson, as lamb’s wool. (which means, as wool never dyed.) The despair of soul one’s sin has caused, He will over-rule and bring blessing… despite the cursedness of the sins.

The invitation is a gracious one. Come just as you are! His promise is to forgive and cleanse. It is for the person who is lost and far away from the Lord or the person who has strayed as a lost sheep from the fold.

Pastor Ed Bowen

Conclusion

I am glad that God forgives! We would be in a real dilemma if God did not provide a means of salvation from sin! Thanks Pastor Bowen for the encouraging devotion!

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Would You Consider Purchasing…

61848: Wiersbe"s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament

By Warren Wiersbe / David C. Cook

No matter how you have studied the Bible in the past, you are in for an exciting time as you let Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe lead you chapter by chapter through the New Testament. These outlines will help you understand the “big picture”of the New Testament.

Heart To Heart With Pastor Ed Bowen – #15

Pastor Ed Bowen was saved on March 24, 1957 at a revival meeting at Horse Branch Church in Turbeville, S.C. at the age of 23. Brother Bowen has been married to his wife, Margaret, for over 54 years. After being ordained in 1960, Pastor Bowen went on to preach in various places until he became pastor of Cherryvale Baptist. Having been there for over 43 years, in 2000, he had to slow down a bit due to prostate cancer.

Though unable to do what he used to do, Pastor Ed has just changed venues. For over ten years now, he has been encouraging people via email. He has graciously agreed to be a contributing author to this website. This series of posts entitled, “Heart To Heart” are the fruit of his times with our Lord Jesus! If they mean as much to you as they do me, then EMAIL him and let him know about it!

LESSONS FROM THE WILDERNESS JOURNEY!
“So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur.” (Exodus 15:22)

New lessons are not so easily learned; “hungry and thirsty, their souls fainted in them.” (Psalm 107:5) The Lord was teaching Israel to look to Him, but they murmured against His provision.

When we figuratively and spiritually travel our wilderness journey, we find that associates and companionships once loved and enjoyed before conversion have lost their charm and sweetness; now, worldly lusts and pleasures are foreign to the taste; the world is seen as “a dry and thirsty land in which there is no water”; God is the fountain of life, so we need only to look to Him for satisfaction and fulfillment, we need not murmur.

The great lesson of the wilderness is to trust an unseen, but very present God and draw from Him, day by day, hour by hour, all that is needed to sustain us. Our spirit may be overwhelmed at times, our tears may flow, but we are assured that He “will never leave us nor forsake us.”

As He removes each prop from us, He draws us closer to Himself, to prove to us that he is indeed a kind and loving Heavenly Father. Thus, chastened, subdued, weaned away from the world, we tread on through the wilderness toward our heavenly home, leaning upon the Lord. He is working all things together for our ultimate good.

Under His wings,

Pastor Ed Bowen

Would you consider purchasing?

10576: A Pastor & The Pastor"s Wife, Framed Sentiment A Pastor & The Pastor’s Wife, Framed Sentiment

By Larry Howland / Parsons Pen

Measures 15.5″ x 12.5″. Light oak finish frame. Neutral mat. A pastor is a faithful friend/Who has his Father’s flock to tend./He cares for us through trying days,/Retrieves the lamb who sometimes strays./He brings us loving words from God,/Of Moses’ feats with Aaron’s rod,/Of Daniel in the lion’s den,/Of godly women and their men./From parables the Master taught/To understanding what Paul thought./He speaks to us of God’s dear Son,/Of unity, so we’ll be one./When sick or sad he’s always there/To comfort, guide and offer prayer./He’s tender, caring, meek and kind;/The Spirit’s in his heart and mind. And She’s like a fresh and lovely rose/That angels planted, then God chose./He gave her soft and gentle ways/To help us through our trying days./She walks with us through pain and loss/And lives the meaning of the cross./She always thinks of others first/And loves us when we’re at our worst./She has such kind and gentle ways/And builds us up with words of praise./Her tears and prayers and long hours spent/Have helped so many to repent./A confidant with whom to share,/A partner when it comes to prayer,/Two blessings in a Christian’s life/Are pastor and his faithful wife.

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Heart To Heart With Pastor Ed Bowen – #2

Pastor Ed Bowen was saved on March 24, 1957 at a revival meeting at Horse Branch Church in Turbeville, S.C. at the age of 23. Brother Bowen has been married to his wife, Margaret, for over 54 years. After being ordained in 1960, Pastor Bowen went on to preach in various places until he became pastor of Cherryvale Baptist. Having been there for over 43 years, in 2000, he had to slow down a bit due to prostate cancer.

Though unable to do what he used to do, Pastor Ed has just changed venues. For over ten years now, he has been encouraging people via email. He has graciously agreed to be a contributing author to this website. This series of posts entitled, “Heart To Heart” are the fruit of his times with our Lord Jesus! If they mean as much to you as they do me, then EMAIL him and let him know about it! 

The Power Of Private Devotion

(Psalms 23:1-6) <> “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”  (KJV)

“Let the foe be met and conquered in the closet of private devotion and defeat shall not be mourned when we meet him in public. We must come forth from the presence of God, before we enter into service for Him. The closet is the great battleground of faith.

David defeated Goliath, the giant warrior, in private devotion before he ever faced him publicly. The boldness of David came from faith in an all-powerful God, not from human courage. This was with David and will be with us in our battles with the ‘giants’ of our lives, the difference between success and failure.

The battle is indeed the Lord’s. He is seeking a yielded vessel to work through. The glory also is the Lord’s and David honored Him by giving Him all the glory for this great victory. We see in the text above, David’s confidence in the Lord’s shepherd’s care. Through David’s communion with Him, we see complete provision, perfect guidance, restoration of inner strength, victory over fear, comfort, joy, trust and security. These are ours also, as we face the go out to face the ‘giants.'”

Pastor Ed Bowen

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