The Preacher's Post

Do you find yourself in constant need of a pick-me-up?  Now I’m not talking about a cup of coffee for some quick energy although I gotta have my keurig coffee in the morning!  This pick-me-up is of a spiritual nature.  It is sustaining and supernatural!  Here’s the honest truth: just because you are a child of God, a follower and disciple of Christ doesn’t mean that life will get easier for you.  Most times it gets harder and more difficult.  You say, “Wait a minute, I didn’t sign up for that!”  Life is hard in general.  But now throw in the fact that you have real adversary—the devil.  Once we are in Christ, been born again into the family of God by faith we are His child forever!  The devil cannot touch our souls!  But as a believer one of the things the devil tries to do is discourage us and bring us low.  I got some bad news for him and good news for you!  God will provide all you need to defeat the devil and live for Him each day!  I came across these encouraging verses this week during my quiet time that really can help us keep our focus on God and stay strong in Him as we live life.   

Psalm 33:18-22, “¹⁸ Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; ¹⁹ To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. ²⁰ Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. ²¹ For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. ²² Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.”

 Wow!  As a child of God as we fear Him, that is reverence and respect Him and follow his ways according to the Bible; as we trust Him each day God’s favor falls into our lives.  His eyes are on us–He’s looking out for us!  He is with us and will sustain us “keeping us alive” and well strong in His strength.  As we learn to rest in Him and draw from His presence and power we receive help, safety, strength, and hope, basically everything we need to live life each day!  That’s mercy–God providing for us what we cannot provide for ourselves.  So keep believing, keep hoping, keep trusting and God’s mercy will keep coming!

Have you experienced the mercy of God recently?  What did you appreciate about it most?  Leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you!

Can you believe another week has gone by?  It was a great, exciting, stressful, busy, and profitable one!  Here are some things that happened this past week in my life and at Emmanuel Baptist Church:

• Experienced beautiful weather!
• Had an unexpected but fun field trip to the Suwannee River which included a cookout with friends! 
• We saw buffalo…a lot of buffalo—and a donkey. My girls loved it–so did I!
• Enjoyed a great worship service on Wednesday night…great fellowship; enjoyed teaching Proverbs 18–God’s Principles for better living–the Lord Blessed!
• Helped Emily (my lovely wife) with some set up for her Mother Daughter Tea activity!  She’s doing a great job of planning and organizing activities and ministering to the ladies in our church!  Thanks babe!
• The ladies had a great turn out and time at the Tea–about 45 attended with the Baptist curve:)
• We had a great Mother’s Day at church and at home!  I praise God for the women He has placed in my life!
•  Had great doughnuts in our young adult Bible class–of course enjoyed the fellowship too!
• Good spirit and attendance in the morning and evening services!

A special thanks to all the ladies who helped with the mother daughter tea this past Saturday!  Emily really appreciated your help and it turned out great!  God bless you for your efforts and attendance!  Be sure to do your part by serving and participating in the activities and ministries our church provides.  Hope to see you Wednesday for our evening prayer service.  On Wednesday night we enjoy fellowship, have a time of praise and prayer, and learn lessons from God’s Word that will apply to everyday life.

What did you enjoy during our worship services this past week?  How did God work in your life?  Would love to hear from you!

I came across a verse that encourages me because it tells me that God understands me better than anyone else yet He loves me, is patient with me and is compassionate towards me when I sin and fail!

 Psalm 78:35-39, “³⁵ And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. ³⁶ Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. ³⁷ For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. ³⁸ But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. ³⁹ For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”

 Time and time again even though I falter and fail, even though I am sometimes too harsh on myself God is forgiving and compassionate.  When we come to Him with a repentant heart and a dependent spirit He comes along side and forgives our sin, relieves our burden, and eases our grief.  That is if we let Him.  Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves and beat ourselves up when we sin and fail.  Be sensitive to sin, ask God for forgiveness and then receive his cleansing, compassion, and teaching. 

Thank you God that you know me and yet you love me and forgive me when I fail you.  You then restore me to serve you and experience you another day!

Are you thankful for God’s forgiveness and compassion in your life?  Are you experiencing it?  Leave a comment!

Well well well! God blessed us with a great Easter weekend!  Here are some exciting things that happened on Easter at Emmanuel Baptist Church:

• Got all the Easter prep done–o.k most of it!
• Had a yummy Easter breakfast in the Young Adult Bible Class!
• Enjoyed a full worship service–182 in attendance!  Praise the Lord!
• Many guests came thanks to our members inviting folks!  Way to go!!
• Some of the guests were a result of our Saturday outreach efforts!  Awesome!
• The Praise team is back–and they added life and excitement to the service–great job–keep it up!
• The children had a great time on the Easter egg hunt!  Thanks to all the workers and leaders!

That was just the morning serviced! During the evening service God worked and blessed too:

• Sang “Jesus is alive and well!”  Fun!  Praise the Lord He’s alive!
• We were blessed and challenged by the sermon preached by our church planting missionary Dr. Shoemaker!  Very encouraging thanks!
• Had communion!
• Then baptized 4 people to include my 2 daughters!  Awesome privilege–I’m proud of each one of you!

God we thank you and give you the glory for giving us a great Easter and we pray for your continued hand of blessing and guidance as we lift up Jesus in all we do!

What was your favorite part of the Easter weekend?  Leave a comment!

Have you ever got up in the morning (of course you have), got up and felt discouraged and overwhelmed with the day you had to face?  To be honest I feel like that often.  Being a husband, father, pastor (lots of hats there) friend etc brings a lot of responsibilities and challenges.  Now of course there are blessings and great joy that come as well.  But let’s face it life is hard and if we do not have a hope beyond ourselves (our feeble flesh)–a real help in times of trouble we are in BIG trouble!

Psalm 46:1-3 says, ” God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, thoughthe mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”  Life will get tough, there will be trouble, it gets scary at times, it will get a bit “shaky”, the waves will “roar” and make us feel overwhelmed.  But if you know Jesus Christ, if He is your Savior and you are God’s child then YOU HAVE HOPE!  You have a real help–a present help for your life! 

We had quite an exciting and busy week at Emmanuel!  

• We had worship services!
• Sunday school classes!
• Praise team Practice!
• Ladies Bible Study!
• A men’s prayer breakfast!
• A spring clean-up!
• And we even had a fish fry! 

The christian life can truly be fun and filled with the joy and love of Christ!  Jesus said in John 15:11, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”  As believers in Christ we can really have this kind of joy and fulfillment.  It comes from a close walk with Him and then sharing the Christ life with other church members and others in our community and beyond! 

Oh by the way, Easter is coming real soon. It’s this Sunday!  Who will you compel to come and join us?  Be sure to invite your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, even strangers to come so they too can know the One who can give them eternal life and real joy! Let’s pray and get out there and do some inviting this week!

God blessed us with a good weekend at Emmanuel!  We had Easter outreach with the teens on Saturday.  The teens really enjoyed themselves as they passed out Easter invites in a sub-division near the church.  Bro Eddie Stevenson and I were able to share the Gospel of Christ with some families as well!  It was a good day.

We had a good Sunday also.  I encouraged our folks to pray and pass out the new Easter invites to their friends, family, neighbors–really anyone they bump into!  Unfortunately our sound system crashed.  Thank goodness I have leather lungs–no need for a mic.  One of our teen girls willingly played the piano for us and the service went well.  God is already working and providing help to fix our sound system!  God blessed the message on Sunday too.  Several people came and prayed at the alter during the invitation. PTL!

Well, welcome to my new blog Mike Ramondetta live!  I am so excited to share what’s happening at Emmanuel Baptist church and in the Ramondetta family.

• I have been Senior (the only) pastor here now for almost a year and a half! (The Baptist Curve)
• We have been Glen St Mary (neighboring city) residents now for over 9 months!
• We love living in the country!
• We have enjoyed getting to know our church family and serving Jesus with them!
• I have caught a lot (yes a lot) of fish in the river across from my house and I have pictures to prove it! 
• I have preached a lot of sermons and taught a lot of lessons since I’ve been here!                   (Almost 300–the Baptist Curve again)
• Easter Sunday (4-24) is coming soon.  Hope you can join us!
• Keep up with me on twitter too!