Separate: divide, become parted from, disconnected
Love: warm affection, delight in, admire passionately
What can separate us from the love of God? Nothing - absolutely nothing!
There is no place we can go and no place that we can hide that can divide or disconnect us from the warm affection of our God (isn't that awesome?!). Psalms 139:7-12 (NLT) tells us, “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night - but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.” You see, my friends, NOTHING can separate us from the love of God.
Roman 8:35 says; “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation (misery, trouble, affliction), or distress (severe trouble, mental pain), or persecution (oppress because of religion), or famine (very hungry), nakedness (exposure), or peril (danger; exposure to injury), or sword (weapon with long blade for cutting). Verse 37 says; “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” or plainly put, the love of God is in all those things, in fact, if these things were to happen to us, we should trust and believe that God has ordained it and that He's in ALL of it.
If we could ask Jonah, I feel pretty confident that he would tell us that even when he was in the belly of hell, the love of God was there. When the three Hebrew boys were in the fiery furnace, the love of God was there and protected them in a mighty way. I heard the testimony of the miracle man, who told of how he laid face down in a fire for 17 minutes, and all he could do was pray. God was there, when the fire department found him, he had been moved out to safety. Truly, the love of God is everywhere.
This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe, but it's true! Nothing can separate us from the love of God... NOTHING!
With all that said, let the Church say Amen and... AMEN!
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Create an Environment of Thankfulness
We know that when we want to keep something safe that it's our job to protect it, guard it, and preserve it, right? Well, we need to do the same thing with our hearts. There is so much going on in the world; in our cities; in our homes - and that stuff is trying to keep us SO busy that we won’t have time to have a thankful heart. But what a blessing it is to have a mind to keep a thankful heart! As I Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us, "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
We should not mark just a single day to be thankful - being thankful should be an environment we live in; a state of mind - and it should be something that we carry with us daily. If it’s raining outside - we have an umbrella of Thanksgiving. On the other side of that coin, if the sun is shining too bright - we still have that umbrella of Thanksgiving! If the road is too crowded, we have our own lane of Thanksgiving. It’s that environment of thankfulness that we carry around!
You might be wondering - how do we keep a thankful heart? Well, like we talked about earlier, we have to build an environment around it and make a point to be thankful every single day!
When we get up in the morning and we turn the faucet on and water comes out - we need to be thankful that we have running water! When go to brush our teeth, if we open the drawer and there is toothpaste waiting there for us - we need to be thankful! By doing that, we are creating an environment of being thankful for everything, whether it’s big or it's small AND regardless of whether it makes us happy or sad.
Now, if you turn the faucet on and the water isn't getting hot fast enough for us and we let out a sigh of disgust or we open that drawer and the toothpaste that's waiting for us isn't the kind we want and we turn around and complain, what kind of environment are we creating?? Let me tell you, we are creating an ungrateful environment all around us. When we get in our car and it doesn’t start right away - especially when we are in a hurry - what do we do? Most of us start complaining, and when we do - what are we creating? A climate of ingratitude, that's what!
What did the scripture tell us in I Thessalonians 5:18? To give thanks in every thing! Imagine if we started to practice that kind of thankfulness - what would that entail for you today?! Think about how many times you would have been thankful before you got to work; before you started doing whatever you had planned for that day, if you were being thankful for every thing.
When we get up in the morning and we turn the faucet on and water comes out - we need to be thankful that we have running water! When go to brush our teeth, if we open the drawer and there is toothpaste waiting there for us - we need to be thankful! By doing that, we are creating an environment of being thankful for everything, whether it’s big or it's small AND regardless of whether it makes us happy or sad.
Now, if you turn the faucet on and the water isn't getting hot fast enough for us and we let out a sigh of disgust or we open that drawer and the toothpaste that's waiting for us isn't the kind we want and we turn around and complain, what kind of environment are we creating?? Let me tell you, we are creating an ungrateful environment all around us. When we get in our car and it doesn’t start right away - especially when we are in a hurry - what do we do? Most of us start complaining, and when we do - what are we creating? A climate of ingratitude, that's what!
What did the scripture tell us in I Thessalonians 5:18? To give thanks in every thing! Imagine if we started to practice that kind of thankfulness - what would that entail for you today?! Think about how many times you would have been thankful before you got to work; before you started doing whatever you had planned for that day, if you were being thankful for every thing.
What an awesome and powerful way to start each day - with a mighty attitude of Thanksgiving!
With all that said, let the church say Amen... and AMEN!
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Let's Be Our Own Hero!
Hero: one greatly regarded for achievements or qualities
Today, let's say in our heart that each one of us will be our own hero today. Now, I don’t mean that we can do it all ourselves without the help of the good Lord above. What I mean is that so often we wait for others to bless us instead of us being out there looking for someone that we can bless. If we can let go of that type of thinking, then that will open the door for the Lord to change our ways. Once our thoughts and our ways are changed, then we will have such an attitude of gratitude that we will be looking for someone that we can be a hero to. Let's go forward not looking for our hero to come along and rescue us; let's instead see who we can offer our strength and our qualities to.
Sometimes we don't have to go looking for a chance to be a hero - sometimes the opportunity will present itself to you, much like it did with David. You might remember that David didn't leave his father’s sheep to be a hero. Out of obedience to his father, he went to the army camp to take food and to see how his brothers were doing, so he could bring his father word of how they were. However, when he got there, he heard Goliath defy the army of the living God - just as he had done morning and evening for forty days. David did not stand around scared like the other men, looking for a hero to come and rescue him - he stepped up and became the hero. It was like David was saying “who does this devil think he is defiling the army of the living God??” We all know how the story goes, through the grace of God, David slew Goliath and became his own hero that day (1 Samuel 17:17-50).
David’s story reminds us that we don't have to worry about what makes us a hero, it's not about our size or our supernatural powers - David was just a boy herding his father’s sheep at the time. Being a hero is more about our obedience, our faith and our love for one another. Remember, with the help of the Lord, there is no giant that is unbeatable! We can go from a zero to a hero in no time flat if we purpose it in our heart! Say it with me my friends - “today I will be my own hero!”
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
Today, let's say in our heart that each one of us will be our own hero today. Now, I don’t mean that we can do it all ourselves without the help of the good Lord above. What I mean is that so often we wait for others to bless us instead of us being out there looking for someone that we can bless. If we can let go of that type of thinking, then that will open the door for the Lord to change our ways. Once our thoughts and our ways are changed, then we will have such an attitude of gratitude that we will be looking for someone that we can be a hero to. Let's go forward not looking for our hero to come along and rescue us; let's instead see who we can offer our strength and our qualities to.
Sometimes we don't have to go looking for a chance to be a hero - sometimes the opportunity will present itself to you, much like it did with David. You might remember that David didn't leave his father’s sheep to be a hero. Out of obedience to his father, he went to the army camp to take food and to see how his brothers were doing, so he could bring his father word of how they were. However, when he got there, he heard Goliath defy the army of the living God - just as he had done morning and evening for forty days. David did not stand around scared like the other men, looking for a hero to come and rescue him - he stepped up and became the hero. It was like David was saying “who does this devil think he is defiling the army of the living God??” We all know how the story goes, through the grace of God, David slew Goliath and became his own hero that day (1 Samuel 17:17-50).
David’s story reminds us that we don't have to worry about what makes us a hero, it's not about our size or our supernatural powers - David was just a boy herding his father’s sheep at the time. Being a hero is more about our obedience, our faith and our love for one another. Remember, with the help of the Lord, there is no giant that is unbeatable! We can go from a zero to a hero in no time flat if we purpose it in our heart! Say it with me my friends - “today I will be my own hero!”
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Praise The Lord For His Goodness!
Praise: to express thanks to or love and respect for
Do me a quick favor, please... take a quick minute to take a deep breath.
Our exercise proved that we indeed still have breath - so according to the word of God, we should ALWAYS have a praise of thanksgiving in our hearts, minds and mouths! We should never have to wait specifically for the month of November or for the last Thursday in November to give praise and thanks, for the Lord our God is indeed worthy of it!
As it says in Psalms 118:28-29, "Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Remember, it's not up to the U.S. government to designate a day in November for us to be thankful - it's up to US to make up our minds to be thankful for all that the Lord has done for us on a daily basis! "I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation" (Psalms 118:21).
Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!( Psalms 107:15). Not just during this season, but every day.
With all that said, let the church say Amen... and AMEN!
Do me a quick favor, please... take a quick minute to take a deep breath.
Breathe in... and then breathe out again...My friends, if you were able to complete that simple task, the Bible tells us that we should be giving thanks - Psalms 150:6 tell us, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."
Breathe in... breathe out...
Last time - breathe in... and breathe out...
Our exercise proved that we indeed still have breath - so according to the word of God, we should ALWAYS have a praise of thanksgiving in our hearts, minds and mouths! We should never have to wait specifically for the month of November or for the last Thursday in November to give praise and thanks, for the Lord our God is indeed worthy of it!
As it says in Psalms 118:28-29, "Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Remember, it's not up to the U.S. government to designate a day in November for us to be thankful - it's up to US to make up our minds to be thankful for all that the Lord has done for us on a daily basis! "I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation" (Psalms 118:21).
Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!( Psalms 107:15). Not just during this season, but every day.
With all that said, let the church say Amen... and AMEN!
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Don't Give Up On God!
Give Up: Acknowledge defeat; abandon.
As the songwriter said, "Don't give up on God, 'cause He won't give up on you - He's able." Our God is able to do everything but fail - just because we don't see changes over night, or even in a few weeks, that doesn't mean that He's not working in the background. It also doesn't mean that He doesn't love us, or that He doesn't want to bless us. It just means that it's simply not time yet.
Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." So you see my friends, we don't think the way the Lord thinks, so we must trust Him and we must have patience. Don't give up on God, don't give up on your dreams, don't give up on yourself, and don't give up on your children! You might be thinking that your situation requires help or change now, now, now; but God's requirements might be to wait, wait, wait!
Look at the woman who had the issue of blood for twelve years. She had spent all that she had, but had not gotten any better. However, she never gave up. When she heard about Jesus, she went into the crowd, touched His garment and she was healed immediately (Luke 8:43-44).
Sarah, on the other hand, had no patience. God told Sarah and Abraham that they were going to have a Son, but she gave up on God and tried to fix the situation herself. You see, according to Sarah, it was taking too long, so she gave her handmaid to Abraham to marry and to have children with her - but what Sarah didn't understand was that was not God's plan. Even though Hagar did have a son, she ended up turning against Sarah, which resulted in Abraham having to send them away - all because Sarah gave up on God.
Friends, Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or can even think of, according to the power that worketh in us. Be of good cheer and don't give up on God, 'cause He won't give up on you!
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
As the songwriter said, "Don't give up on God, 'cause He won't give up on you - He's able." Our God is able to do everything but fail - just because we don't see changes over night, or even in a few weeks, that doesn't mean that He's not working in the background. It also doesn't mean that He doesn't love us, or that He doesn't want to bless us. It just means that it's simply not time yet.
Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." So you see my friends, we don't think the way the Lord thinks, so we must trust Him and we must have patience. Don't give up on God, don't give up on your dreams, don't give up on yourself, and don't give up on your children! You might be thinking that your situation requires help or change now, now, now; but God's requirements might be to wait, wait, wait!
Look at the woman who had the issue of blood for twelve years. She had spent all that she had, but had not gotten any better. However, she never gave up. When she heard about Jesus, she went into the crowd, touched His garment and she was healed immediately (Luke 8:43-44).
Sarah, on the other hand, had no patience. God told Sarah and Abraham that they were going to have a Son, but she gave up on God and tried to fix the situation herself. You see, according to Sarah, it was taking too long, so she gave her handmaid to Abraham to marry and to have children with her - but what Sarah didn't understand was that was not God's plan. Even though Hagar did have a son, she ended up turning against Sarah, which resulted in Abraham having to send them away - all because Sarah gave up on God.
Friends, Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or can even think of, according to the power that worketh in us. Be of good cheer and don't give up on God, 'cause He won't give up on you!
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
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