This is the season for WISDOM! Get the free e-book, "The House of Wisdom."

Thursday, March 26, 2020 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments


This is the season for WISDOM! Get the free e-book, "The House of Wisdom." 

Download at NewCovenant.org

"Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches." Prov. 24:3-4

Take Your Sunglasses

Thursday, March 26, 2020 Bryan Hudson 1 Comments



Lamentations 3:22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 
      
One day I looked outdoors and could see that it was cloudy. The weather forecast called for rain and storms. Some drops of rain were beginning to fall when by the time I gathered up my things and headed to the car.

On the way out of my house, I looked at my sunglasses laying on a table and thought, “I won't need my sunglasses since it's going to be rainy and stormy all day.” 

By mid-morning, storming warning horns were blowing and fierce storms where passing through the city. While in a meeting, I could hear the rain pelting the building and see the sheets of rain outside the window. I thought, “This is a day to stay indoors and work.” I drove in the rain and wind to get back to my office for another meeting.

By mid-afternoon, the storm had passed and the sky cleared. When I stepped outside following another meeting with a friend, the glare of the bright sun and brilliant blue sky filled my eyes. Among other things, we had been talking about the faithfulness of God during times when it seems like breakthrough is slow to come. 

 My conclusion to the events of that day was this: 
God always comes through for us. He always has and He always will. God has shown His faithfulness over and over again.

Regardless of how any day begins, I will always take my sunglasses.

FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART: Nine Insights While We Navigate This Storm

Tuesday, March 17, 2020 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments




(Adapted from the contents of a pastoral letter)

Greetings to New Covenant Church family and friends! 

Romans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

We’ve entered into a season none of us have seen before. The closures, restrictions, fears, and uncertainty make one thing clear: Jesus Christ is Lord of all!

This morning I awoke with a sense of renewed purpose and optimism. We are not the first generation to face difficulty, inconvenience, and hardship. We are entering uncharted territory, but we are not sailing alone.

It appears that we are not going to be able to hold church March 22, so we’re going to lean into what we do best: Seek the Lord and care for one another. I will be communicating with our elders, deacons and leaders about this “new normal” that has been thrust upon us.

We’re going to leverage technology, conference calls, visits, and small group meetings to continue our covenant of fellowship, instruction in the word of God, and pastoral care. We’re also going to gather resources to share with individuals, families, and children. We’re also going to continue to reach out to our community.

There’s much to pray for, and rejoice in, as we enter the spring season, which is a time of renewal.

Let me offer these insights and recommendations:

 1. Only look at as much news as you need to stay current. Fill your mind with the word of God and content from good books and resources.

 2. Do not be fearful, which means “full of fear.” Be faithful, which means “full of faith.”

 3. As always, pray, read the word of God, and have your devotional time. There are a lot of encouraging lessons and devotionals at my blog, www.bryanhudson.com. There are also links to the podcasts and other resources at the church website, www.newcovenant.org.

 4. When the weather gets better, take frequent walks and enjoy fresh air. Drive to a park and walk around. Your emotional and mental health are still important!

 5. Do not hesitate to call on others when you have a need.  Never be too proud to ask for help.

 6. Don’t get stuck on the Internet looking at conspiracy theories and foolish prophecies. Don’t click on links from people and sources you do not know. Evil people will attempt to scam others in these desperate times.

 7. Trials have already started on an experimental COVID-19 vaccine. Pray that scientists will be successful and that production of the vaccine will be accelerated when it’s ready.

 8. Remember that coronavirus is not deadly like Ebola, but it is dangerous to elderly persons and people with other medical conditions. You won’t get it walking outside. You wouldn’t even get it from an infected person standing away from you. Do not let fear dominate your thinking and make you afraid of all people.  Use wisdom.

 9. Encourage yourself in the Lord your God!

I’ll be in touch...

God is Good…All the Time!
Pastor Bryan Hudson

 (Read my statement about novel coronavirus COVID-19 and current updates from federal and state government)

Latest Teaching on Firm Foundation Podcast with Bryan Hudson “Hope In Three Dimensions"

Sunday, March 15, 2020 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments




Romans 15:13, I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 We usually think about hope in one way or one dimension. We understand hope as something that people need who are struggling and feeling hopeless. Thank God that when we struggle, there is hope to sustain us. When life does not makes sense and hope seems lost, there is a great hope from God to lift us up. 

 Hope is more than a survival strategy. Hope is not only for the hopeless. Hope gives substance to faith. Hope is a picture. Hope is a sustaining power from the Spirit of God. Jesus is the true hope giver.

 The Biblical Greek definition of hope simply means,  “An expectation.” (noun); “To anticipate” (verb).

 A modern dictionary definition of Hope: 1) a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, 2) grounds for believing that something good may happen

 I want to suggest that there are three dimensions, or aspects, of hope: 1) Expectation, 2) Desire, and 3) Purpose.

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Firm Foundation Minute: Ride the Wave! (Video)

Saturday, March 14, 2020 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Firm Foundation Minute: “Ride the Wave!”
Respect the danger and power of circumstances, but have no fear!

Dealing With Your Mountain: Leaves or Figs?

Sunday, March 08, 2020 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments





We Have Come This Far By Faith
Part Four - “Dealing With Your Mountains: Leaves or Figs?”

 Mark 11:12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it. 
20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. [“Be faithful to God and fruitful. Don’t be like this tree, putting out leaves, but showing no fruit.” 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

 Faith in God is not all about getting stuff, it is about doing God’s will. Don’t forget this statement: Faith begins where the will of God is known. Jesus' teaching in Mark 11 is dealing with personal character and doing the will of God.

 Important question: Why did Jesus curse the fig tree, if it was not the season for figs?

 It appears shocking that Jesus cursed the tree and made it wither from the roots, never to yield fruit again. This seems stunningly out of character for Jesus. What should we learn from this story?

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Joy in Every Season

Saturday, March 07, 2020 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT), Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

 In the midwest, we experience four very different seasons of weather and conditions, of which one, winter, can be hard and dangerous. Life also has seasons, some of which are hard. 

 The prophet Habakkuk described a hard season, in which outward conditions were troubling. In the middle of those outward conditions, he described his inward condition - JOY! Joy is not an emotion or a feeling. It is a mindset and a decision that determines an inward condition. It is a mindset shaped by the decision to stay focused on the Lord. This results in the condition of joy as expressed in rejoicing and being joyful. This brings a better feeling from within.

 Sometimes circumstances do not bring encouragement. Sometimes circumstances are encouraging. Because of this, you can't depend on circumstances, but you can depend on the Lord!

Latest Teaching on Firm Foundation: Don’t Live in Fear of Coronavirus (Or Any Other Person or Thing )

Monday, March 02, 2020 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments




Latest Teaching on Firm Foundation: Don’t Live in Fear of Coronavirus (Covid-19). “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
1 John 4:18, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 

While we do not ignore health threats, being fearful is a condition that breeds more fearfulness, hinders faith, and gets in the way of walking in wisdom to take appropriate preventive actions.

 This message also include a brief video about the scientific effects of fear on your mind and body.

Learn how fear can be useful, but how fearfulness is a state to avoid. You will be greatly encouraged by this teaching!

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WATCH TEACHING VIDEO ON YOUTUBEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgOgvhnGkAk&feature=youtu.behttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgOgvhnGkAk&feature=youtu.be

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