September

The last week of August, I was able to get away with my youngest son and we headed to a small mountain town called, Scaly Mountain. We were visiting Dee Dee and Grandfather. My wife’s family has been blessed to have visited there for decades and now my kid’s grandparents live there full time. This was the first time, my wife and I were not together for the entire time. Not many things change on the mountain, a new church here or there maybe a new driveway, but for the most part it stays the same year to year. I was able to keep the windows open and the fan on “blast” soaking up the cooler weather both day and night. It gets pretty dark under the canopy, but there was a calm during the night as the forest comes alive. During the day my son and his grandfather played golf, all but one day. It gave me time with my mother in love to hang out and we had some very deep conversations about God. I cherished these talks. Then afterwards, I would retreat to my little cabin and pray and get into my daily devotions, until the old truck would come up the road and pull in, letting me know, the guys were back from golf. On the next to the last day, Dee Dee and I took a walk up to the top of Scaly Mountain. A hike that my whole family has taken many times. You are in the canopy most of the time, so it’s nice and cool. Then at the top it opens up to the sky. The whole top is rock and you can literally look out and count (6) mountain ranges. You can see North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. My mind drifted away thinking about when Jesus was being tempted looking out and seeing the land before Him and then to creation, when God the Father separated the land from the waters, made the trees, plants & animals. Just looking out at what God had made, kind of made me feel small in comparison. What brought me back, was a voice that said, yes, I made all of this and it is good, but my love for you is still greater than all of this! He was and still is the only one that died for me, He took all of my transgressions upon Himself, the only one without sin. He took my sin upon Himself so that I may have life. He died and then rose again when our Father called Him to rise as the scripture said He would. Out of all the gods in this world only Jesus/Yeshua was the one that forgave sin. No other person was able to do this. He also spoke and nature listened to Him and did what He commanded. No other god had done this, not then and not to this day. I serve a Risen Savior, He’s in the world today!

I know that He is living, whatever men say, I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer at just the time I need Him, He is always near. I used to sing this song as a kid and it still holds truth today.

We will be starting to teach about the fall feasts this month. We have a baptism & re-dedication coming up and will be having the Lord’s Supper before the end of the month. We are praying about God’s vision here at Two Branch Ministry. He has been bringing many new people in to confirm His mission for us! Please continue to pray with us and help support us through your tithes and offerings, which help keep this ministry strong in this community.

We look forward to meeting you here, let’s come together and “Grow In God’s Word”.

In love, In Christ, Shalom ~ Pastor Tim