Jesus - The Real Gift Of Christmas!

Happy Holidays, Friends! Today I would like to share something my oldest son wrote. He said that he put into words what he had been studying. I was blessed by it and I pray that you all will be also.

Much of the ways we celebrate Christmas comes from our family traditions. But how often do we really, really celebrate Jesus' entrance into our world, or even think deeply about the true spirit of Christmas? The spirit that is meant to light up our hearts the way some decorations light up the tree.

Christmas is the day we celebrate the entrance of the eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, all righteous, all holy and glorious God into our world.  Now if we stop and consider that fact, and then read Luke 2:12, “Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” For those of you who may not be aware, a manger is a trough or open box for livestock feed or fobber.

So, what’s wrong with that picture? The God of all ages; too glorious to look upon; the God before whom Moses and Isaiah fell down on their faces is in a filthy stable. Isaiah 9:6 says, "For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." The person with those titles is in a filthy stable. Not in a palace or in a beautiful crib befitting the Son of God, but in a cold stinking stable lying in a common feeding trough used by beasts of burden.

God humbled Himself before us so that we would realize that there was nothing He wouldn’t do to bring us into a relationship with Him.

Today, Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts.  However, the tradition of exchanging of gifts began with our Heavenly Father.  The greatest gift came from Him! For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). This year, let's not get so caught up in getting that perfect gift for someone else that we forget to accept the ultimate gift the Lord is offering to us - a one-on-one relationship with Him.

With all that said, let the Church say amen and… AMEN!

And of course, Merry Christmas and May the Lord tremendous bless your New Year!        

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.

Breathe in... and then breathe out again...
Breathe in... breathe out...
Last time - breathe in... and breathe out...

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."

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!         

In This Season Give Thanks!

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.

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!

Choices Have Consquences!

Choices: Power to chose
Consequence: The natural result from a preceding condition

The Lord is a perfect gentleman - He doesn’t force Himself on us. He doesn’t twist our arm to make us choose right (Him).  He allows us to make choices wanting us to willing choose Him.  He demonstrates His love and mercy toward us by being a shelter from the rain, a very present help in the time of trouble, our El Shaddai (The Almighty God) - the strengthener and satisfier of His people.

1 Chronicles 21:1 and 21:3 gives us an example of a bad choices: "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel... And Joab answered, the Lord make His people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servant? Why then doth my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?" David had a choice, he could have stop the count right then, but he chose to go ahead with it.  David was trusting in the numbers, rather than trusting in God. That choice had devastating consequence, as noted in 1 Chronicles 21:14  - "So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men."

Choices have significant impact on our lives - both positive or negative. David's choice had a negative impact. Of course, when we make good choices the consequences are awesome, let’s take Joseph for an example.

Joseph was hated and rejected by his brethren; cast into a pit; sold into Egypt; AND cast into prison... but despite all of that, Joseph still managed to make good choices.  And as a result, "the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man" (Genesis 39:2). Pharaoh made him an overseer over his house, and all that he had. When he refused his master's wife, Joseph was cast into prison and yet he continued to make good choices. Genesis 39:21 says that the Lord shewed him mercy and gave him favor by way of the keeper of the prison committing to Joseph’s hand all of the prisoners that were in the prison. When there was famine in the land, those same brothers who hated and rejected Joseph had to go to him to buy their food. Joseph could have chosen to be angry, but instead he gave God the glory, for he knew who was behind the master plan. And because of the positive impact of making a right choice, Joseph became the governor over all the land of Egypt and over all Pharaoh house.

Time does not allow me to tell you of Ruth, Daniel, Joshua, Samuel, and many others that were truly blessed - all because they were willing choosing the Lord... won't you please choose Him too?

With all that's said, let the Church say amen...and Amen!
                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                  

Serve The Lord With Gladness & Thanksgiving!

Gladness: Being happy, being willing to help, grateful, joy and pleasure.

Thanksgiving: An expression of one gratitude, a celebration.

I realize that there is a lot going on in this world today, in fact, it’s enough to blow your mind, but I think it's important that we keep in mind that we didn't start those things and we can’t finish them. Of course, that's not to say that we shouldn't pray for our country - we absolutely should - especially as we see murder, sickness, and flooding going on in the world - and that's just the short list! However, after we have taken those things to Jesus, we must leave them at His feet. This allows us to move forward and serve Him with gladness, with joy, and pleasure as His Word has instructed us to do. We should never allow serving God to become a chore. Instead, let's strive to always serve him with an attitude of gratitude.

In the amplified version of Psalms 100: 1-5, David gives us some amazing advice:

"Make A joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing! Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He who has made us, not we ourselves (and we are His)! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations."

Serving the Lord with gladness and thanksgiving is easy! We can accomplish this by mentioning His Name to others and by acknowledging all the wonderful things He has done for us. Our God is awesome and truly worthy to be praised, so my friends I invite you to magnify the Lord with me, and let's exalt his name together!

                                                                                                                

With all that said, let the Church say Amen and … AMEN!                    

Praises To Our Gracious God!

Praise: To express approval; to glorify
Gracious: Full of compassion; merciful

Often times we don't give the Lord the praises that are due to His name. So this week, I want to do just that -- take a few minutes to brag on the merciful and gracious God. Our God who was, who is, and who will always be good!

If you have kids, then you probably know how much they love it when you praise them for what they have done. Well, it's not just our children who enjoy that, but if we're honest with ourselves, we would admit that we, as grown ups love it as well - and we have typically only done small things!! If we apply that same theory to our Lord and Savior, then it stands to reason that our heavenly Father loves our praises too, for He has surely done great and mighty things!

We will praise you, my God and King, and bless your name each day and forever; for you are great and greatly to be praised. You are full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord lifts the fallen and those who are bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all mankind look up to you for help; and you give them their food as they need it. You constantly satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. We praise you Lord because you are fair in everything you do, and are full of kindness. The eyes of all look up to you for help; and you give them what they need exactly as they need it.

The Lord is close to all who call on Him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who revere and trust Him. He hears our cries for help and rescues us. He protects all who love Him, and destroys the wicked. I will praise the Lord and call on all men everywhere to bless His Holy name forever and forever, for He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His wonderful name together, for He has done great things and His mercy endureth forever and ever! He is our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, our strength, the horn of our salvation, and our high tower. To sum it all up in a nut shell, He can do everything but fail - so why wouldn't we want to brag on our Lord who is so very worthy to be Praised?!

"O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isaiah 25:1)
                                                                                                                        
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!            

Run YOUR Race!

Run: to contend in a race: to go without restraint
Race: a contest for a desired end, to run swiftly

So many times in this walk of life we play this "game" where we try to keep up with others. We see someone else buying a new house and all of a sudden, we want a new house. We see someone else start a business, and then we start talking about that business plan we supposedly had all those years ago. We see people getting married and having babies and the next thing you know, we're all up in our boyfriend's or girlfriend's faces pressuring them to marry us and have some babies. We see someone get a promotion when we wanted or expected that promotion and our wheels start turning - we start thinking about that long list of things we've done and start wondering why they got promoted and we didn't.

Often times we forget to think about how much those people have prayed, or how much they have sacrificed or the amount of years, tears and sweat it took to get them where we see them today. Most of the time we want God to give us everything on a silver platter -- but we haven't even paid the price for a platter yet! On this walk, it's imperative that we keep our eyes on our own walk and run at the pace that God allows us to run. As we talked about in the examples above, when we take our eyes off our own walk, it's way too easy to start comparing and grumbling about what someone has. That's when the slippery slope starts crumbling - when we've taken our eyes off the prize and taken on an ungrateful, envious, and jealous heart.

My friend, let's run our own race at our own pace, because when we move ahead of God, we miss the grace that He has set up for us at that particular time. Don't forget that God has us where we are for a reason and for a season. Don't base your walk on others - some are further along than others and some run faster while others run slower. Wherever you are in your race, simply trust God and keep moving!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

I'm Coming Out Of This!

Coming: arrive, arise, approach

Out: exhaustion, or completion

At some point, everybody is going to go through some trouble in this life. Haven't experienced any troubles yet? Keep living. Sometimes the situation can be very troublesome - like an unfavorable report from the doctor or a pink slip at work, a bad addiction, or your children going every which way except the right way, Covid 19. There may be times when we don't have enough money to make ends meet or there maybe a sick spouse that prevent their partner from going to work. Trouble comes in all sorts of packages. If you don't think so - I'll say it again - just keep living.

II Corinthians 4:17-18 reminds us; "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are not seen are eternal." In other words, we shouldn't focus on what you can see right now - the trouble all around us - but instead we should look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. Those troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

Just like God took you in to it, He will allow you to come out of it.. in due time - HIS time. We will never know our true strength until we go through something. We would never know the magnitude of God's power or His love if we were always on a bed of ease. Fortunately, that's not God's way. No pain, no gain, my friends. That means that whatever we are going through, He will surely bring us out of, in His timing.

We must remember to count it all joy, because when it's too much for us, it's just right for God. Psalms 50:15 says; "I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you, and you can give me glory." (The Living Bible)

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Stop Trying to Do God's Job!

Vengeance: Punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense.

Sometimes we are like King David - we say the same thing he said in Psalms 94:3, "Lord how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?" We don’t always like suffering long with people (and it doesn’t matter who they are), especially when we feel like they have done us wrong… it's often worse when it looks like they are going to get away with doing someone else that we care about wrong. That's when we want to take matters in our own hands and retaliate, but friends - that’s not God's way.

Romans 12:19 tells us "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." As a believer, we know that the Lord will do just what He says… but every now and then, it's like we want what we want when we want it, right? It feels like the Lord's time takes too long, we want vengeance NOW! We want vengeance when we feel like we have been mistreated; vengeance when we've been talked about; vengeance when we feel like someone is talking down to us. And don’t let our spouses make us angry… vengeance can't come fast enough, can it?! And what about that person driving too slow in the fast lane when we're in a hurry? We want to ride their bumper, blow our horn, or exact our own vengeance by running them off the highway (or is that just me)? It could be just one person or a whole bunch of folks that does something wrong to us and we immediately want to be the Prosecutor, the Judge, and the Jury… but that’s not the Lord's way.

The Lord doesn’t want us taking matters into our own hands, because He knows we won’t be merciful in our search for vengeance. That's why we have to turn things over to our merciful High Priest who says, "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Be not overcome of evil, but over come evil with good" (Romans 12:17, 18, 21).

I assure you my friends, the Lord neither slumbers nor sleeps. He sees all things, He knows all things, and He’s everywhere at the same time. Hebrews 10:30 (Amplified Bible) reminds us, "For we know Him who said, Vengeance is mine (retribution and the meting out of full justice rest with me); I will repay (I will exact the compensation), says the Lord. And again, the Lord will judge and determine and solve and settle the cause and the cases of His people." To sum it up in a nut shell - no matter how bad we feel that we've been wronged - we can’t retaliate - vengeance belongs to our Lord. And when you really think about it - there is no one better to handle our woes!

With all that said, let the church say amen… and AMEN!

Speaking God's Promises Back to Him!

Speaking: to utter words; to express a thought in words.

Words: a comment, an order or command.

It is so important that we speak God’s word back to Him. God gave us His promises and He wants us to use them. The word says in Isaiah 55:11, "So shall my words be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it." Remember, "God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19. It's all up to us, my friends, to believe what God has promised.

When we go through our storms in life - and they are surely going to come - if we don't have the words stored on the inside of us, just pick up your bible; find the scriptures that fit your situation and pray them back to the Lord. For instance, when I was diagnosed with three different types of cancer, I found one of God promises, I typed it out, and I put it on my computer at work where I could see it every day. Each and every day I continually reminded Him of what He said. John 15:7 says; "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." God's word could not return to Him void, it had to accomplish what He promised - and it did - I've been cancer-free for many years now!

Have you ever said to your child; "if you finish your dinner, I'll give you a special treat" and then mess around and get busy? I'm sure if that's happened to you, your child probably hunted you down and say "mom/dad, you said I could have a special treat when I finished my dinner!" Do we not hasten to perform/fulfill our promise? Yes, we do, because we said we would. It's the same way with our Heavenly Father - when He hears His word, He hastens to perform it!

We don't have to worry about His word ever becoming old or obsolete, because as Isaiah 40:8 informs us, "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for ever." I can't express it enough, friends - Jesus loves us and He wants to show Himself strong in our lives.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen… and AMEN!

There's A Message In The Mess!

Message: A sign, indication, communication in writing or in speech

Mess: Disorder, confusion, trouble

We so often get ourselves in a mess - sometimes it's because we choose not to listen; sometimes it's because we get selfish and "decide" that it's going to be our way or the highway; and sometimes we just sit around and allow things to escalate and we simply don’t handle our business. There are many reasons why we find ourselves in a mess, but I'm here to tell you in every mess there’s a message!

Let’s take a look at Haman in Esther 3:1-2 -- the King promoted Haman and advanced him, and set his seat above all the Princes that were with him. "And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the King had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence." As a result, Haman got himself all worked up, just because one man would not bow down or give him reverence, so worked up that he sought to destroy all the Jews. All he really wanted to do was destroy Mordecai - he wanted to hang him, so much so that he had a gallows built for him - but in the end, he got himself into a big mess. Haman was exposed to the King by Queen Esther and they hanged Haman on the very same gallows that was prepared for Mordecai. The message there is don’t dig a ditch for someone else, because you could be the one to fall in it!

As parents, we sometimes get ourselves into a mess by trying to rescue our children (especially us moms). Sometimes we get ourselves in a financial bind that causes problems with our spouses. Most of the time our children don’t have the opportunity to learn and grow, because their crutch is right there to bail them out (that's us just in case you missed it). Much like being in school, life is a learning process for our kids. If they don’t pass the test, they will just have to repeat the process again, which means they will turn up at our doors again looking for that crutch. The message there is for us to stop trying to take the Lord’s job, as my daughter always tells me. It could be they are right where the Lord wants them to be, because He’s working on them - teaching them how to lean and depend on Him. Before bailing them out, be sure to go before the Lord and ask Him what He would have us to do and He will guide us.

Young ladies often get themselves in a big mess, because they think their biological clock is ticking and they need a husband, so they can have kids. The man could be on a page all to himself and that young lady still won’t listen to the Lord or any one else. She marries him and the next thing she knows, she's gotten herself into a big, old unhappy mess. The message there is, don’t go out and find a Bozo, pray and ask the Lord to send you a Boaz. The book of Ruth tells us that Boaz was a man of quality and character; a mighty man of wealth. Boaz didn’t fall in lust -- he fell in love.

Remember, God is not the author of confusion, He is the God of peace. He is our protector, our healer, our guide, our bank, our doctor, our lawyer and so, so much more! If we would just turn to Him and wait, we won’t get ourselves into such a mess and that is my message to you, my friends.

With all that said, let the church say amen... and AMEN!        

We Need Mercy, Not Judging!

Mercy: compassion shown to an offender
Judging: to form an authoritative opinion

We are creatures of habit - we love forming an opinion, regardless of whether we are right or wrong. Most of the time we assume that we know what’s going on based on what the situation looks like, regardless of what really might be going on. Fortunately for us, that's not God’s way - His way is to show love and compassion one toward another.

The word says in Romans 7:18-19: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." If we were to be honest with ourselves, we would easily see that we are all like those two scriptures.

None of us are perfect - no one is - so instead of forming an opinion (especially when you have no idea of what’s really going on), try having some compassion. Compassion on the ones you feel have offended you and on people in general, because most of us are like Paul - we all want to do good, but we don’t always succeed - so we need some mercy and not to be judged.

God had mercy on us (and continues to have), if He had truly judged us - none of us would be here today! He realizes that we need much mercy. Think about Joseph. His brothers put him into a pit AND he was sold into slavery - yet when they came to him for food because there was a famine in the land, he didn't judge them. Instead, he had mercy on them and feed them until the famine was over.

Don't condemn or judge, just show mercy to all mankind.

With all that said, let the church say Amen...and AMEN!

In Order To Be Successful, You Must Be Persistent!

Persistent: to continuing without change in function or structure, continuing to persist in a course.

This applies whether it’s in the natural or spiritual: we sometimes just sit around and expect the Lord to drop pie out of the sky, but it simply doesn't work that way (shocker, right?!). If we plan on being successful we have to be persistent. Giving up and quitting is so prevalent in our society today - mostly because it just so easy. We live in this microwave generation, where everyone wants everything right now. This rush-rush thing may be our way, but it’s not necessarily God's way. Sure, He can do whatever it is that we are asking for right away - if He wants to - but that's not always what He wants for us. If He gave us everything we wanted exactly when we wanted it, how would we ever grow?

Consider blind Bartimaeus, he couldn't see Jesus, but when he heard that He was passing by, he didn't just sit there and let everybody else get blessed and healed - he started crying out to Jesus. And because of his persistence, he was successful and the Lord not only heard him, but stood still for him and healed him (Mark 10:49-52).

This principle works in every facet of our lives. Take your job for example - if you are working by the hour you can't go to work once a week and expect to be paid for a full week. No, you have to be persistent and you have to continue going, five days, maybe even six, depending on what you agreed to. When God sees us continuing without change to be successful, He will open every door and knock down every barrier. You see this principle working in the world today, people fall, but they get back up and try another way and eventually it works for them.

I want to encourage you to be persistent in your prayer life, on your job, and in every other aspect of your life. The Lord is watching and waiting, because He wants to bless you. I'm sure there are so many things that we have asked the Lord for, but because we didn't get them when we thought we should have them - we stopped asking, we stopped being thankful for them and we simply lost focus. Remember, my friends; patience is another aspect of persistence - whether we are asking for something naturally or spiritually. We must never give up; we must never quit - we must continue to persist firmly despite any obstacle that might cross our path.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Vengeance Belongs To The Lord!

Vengeance: Punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense.

Sometimes we are like King David - we say the same thing he said in Psalms 94:3, "Lord how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?" We don’t always like suffering long with people (and it doesn’t matter who they are), especially when we feel like they have done us wrong… it's often worse when it looks like they are going to get away with doing someone else that we care about wrong. That's when we want to take matters in our own hands and retaliate, but friends - that’s not God's way.

Romans 12:19 tells us "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." As a believer, we know that the Lord will do just what He says… but every now and then, it's like we want what we want when we want it, right? It feels like the Lord's time takes too long, we want vengeance NOW! We want vengeance when we feel like we have been mistreated; vengeance when we've been talked about; vengeance when we feel like someone is talking down to us. And don’t let our spouses make us angry… vengeance can't come fast enough, can it?! And what about that person driving too slow in the fast lane when we're in a hurry? We want to ride their bumper, blow our horn, or exact our own vengeance by running them off the highway (or is that just me)? It could be just one person or a whole bunch of folks that does something wrong to us and we immediately want to be the Prosecutor, the Judge, and the Jury… but that’s not the Lord's way.

The Lord doesn’t want us taking matters into our own hands, because He knows we won’t be merciful in our search for vengeance. That's why we have to turn things over to our merciful High Priest who says, "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Be not overcome of evil, but over come evil with good" (Romans 12:17, 18, 21).

I assure you my friends, the Lord neither slumbers nor sleeps. He sees all things, He knows all things, and He’s everywhere at the same time. Hebrews 10:30 (Amplified Bible) reminds us, "For we know Him who said, Vengeance is mine (retribution and the meting out of full justice rest with me); I will repay (I will exact the compensation), says the Lord. And again, the Lord will judge and determine and solve and settle the cause and the cases of His people." To sum it up in a nut shell - no matter how bad we feel that we've been wronged - we can’t retaliate - vengeance belongs to our Lord. And when you really think about it - there is no one better to handle our woes!

With all that said, let the church say amen… and AMEN!

God is Love!

Love: Attachment, Affection, Adore, and Worship

God is the only one who knows how to REALLY love. His love is real, it’s unconditional, and it’s eternal. His love picks us up when we are down... and we were down - WAY DOWN - but God loved us so much that He sent His son - His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. God didn't have to do that. And He didn't do it because WE loved Him, but because He loved US. He is our saviour, our hero, our redeemer. He said in His word, He would never leave us nor would He ever forsake us. Why?  Because God is love!

Isaiah 49:15 asks the question, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." Why?  Because God is love!

God's love will never fail; it will never fade out or become obsolete, and it will never come to an end.  If we go down a path that’s not pleasing to the Lord, He said My anger is not turned away, but my hand is stretched out still. His hand is stretched out because He wants to pull us back to Him. Why?  Because God is love!

He will never give up on us and He will never put us down. He’s attached, He adores us. His love for us endures long and is patient and kind; it is not conceited, it’s not rude. His love toward us is SO AMAZING! I’m not saying that there will never be unpleasant times in our lives - there will be - but just know that His love and His mercy is there to gather us up with His arms and carry us in His bosom and gently guide us. He told us that He will stick closer than a brother - if we will just trust Him; He will redeem us out of our unpleasant situations. Why?  Because God is love!

There's a song that says "What the world needs now is love, sweet love, that’s the only thing that’s there’s just too little of," In my opinion, what she was really saying is - "What the world needs now is God." Why?  You got it - Because God is love!

With all that said - let the church say amen... and Amen!

There's a Message in the Mess!

Message: A sign, indication, communication in writing or in speech

Mess: Disorder, confusion, trouble

We so often get ourselves in a mess - sometimes it's because we choose not to listen; sometimes it's because we get selfish and "decide" that it's going to be our way or the highway; and sometimes we just sit around and allow things to escalate and we simply don’t handle our business. There are many reasons why we find ourselves in a mess, but I'm here to tell you in every mess there’s a message!

Let’s take a look at Haman in Esther 3:1-2 -- the King promoted Haman and advanced him, and set his seat above all the Princes that were with him. "And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the King had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence." As a result, Haman got himself all worked up, just because one man would not bow down or give him reverence, so worked up that he sought to destroy all the Jews. All he really wanted to do was destroy Mordecai - he wanted to hang him, so much so that he had a gallows built for him - but in the end, he got himself into a big mess. Haman was exposed to the King by Queen Esther and they hanged Haman on the very same gallows that was prepared for Mordecai. The message there is don’t dig a ditch for someone else, because you could be the one to fall in it!

As parents, we sometimes get ourselves into a mess by trying to rescue our children (especially us moms). Sometimes we get ourselves in a financial bind that causes problems with our spouses. Most of the time our children don’t have the opportunity to learn and grow, because their crutch is right there to bail them out (that's us just in case you missed it). Much like being in school, life is a learning process for our kids. If they don’t pass the test, they will just have to repeat the process again, which means they will turn up at our doors again looking for that crutch. The message there is for us to stop trying to take the Lord’s job, as my daughter always tells me. It could be they are right where the Lord wants them to be, because He’s working on them - teaching them how to lean and depend on Him. Before bailing them out, be sure to go before the Lord and ask Him what He would have us to do and He will guide us.

Young ladies often get themselves in a big mess, because they think their biological clock is ticking and they need a husband, so they can have kids. The man could be on a page all to himself and that young lady still won’t listen to the Lord or any one else. She marries him and the next thing she knows, she's gotten herself into a big, old unhappy mess. The message there is, don’t go out and find a Bozo, pray and ask the Lord to send you a Boaz. The book of Ruth tells us that Boaz was a man of quality and character; a mighty man of wealth. Boaz didn’t fall in lust -- he fell in love.

Remember, God is not the author of confusion, He is the God of peace. He is our protector, our healer, our guide, our bank, our doctor, our lawyer and so, so much more! If we would just turn to Him and wait, we won’t get ourselves into such a mess and that is my message to you, my friends.

With all that said, let the church say amen... and AMEN!  

Believe and Trust in God!

Believe: accept as true, to have a firm conviction about something
Trust: to place confidence, to rely on

Some people believe that hell is right here on earth, while others believe that all they need to do is be a good person and they will spend eternity with the Lord. There are people who believe there is no God, while others believe only in their riches. Today, I want to share with you how we should believe in the real and true God - the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let's look at Daniel. Daniel believed in his God and accepted God's word as the truth when He said; "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). And wouldn't you know it - all the Presidents of the Kingdom, the Governors and the Princes, the Counsellors, and the Captains - basically everyone with any type of power - then consulted together to establish a royal statute AND make a firm decree that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days shall be cast into the den of lions. As you might know, Daniel continued to pray to his God three times a day as he had always done and as was decreed, he was put in the den of lions. Daniel 6:23 tells us that Daniel was taken up out of the den, and that no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. That's the type of confidence we must have in God. If we're able to do that, He will deliver us from our situations, just as He did for Daniel.

Friends, when God is for you, tell me who can be against you? No One! But it's essential that we do our part by believing and trusting in Him. God said that He would never leave us or forsake us, so that means wherever we are, God is right there in the midst. We don't have to worry about other people and what they might do (or might not do, for that matter), because with God at the center - they might dig a ditch they intend to be for you, but they will be the ones to fall in.

If your faith ever begins to get weak, just stop and take a minute to remember what He did for the three Hebrews boys, for Daniel, and the many wonderful things that He has done for us -- that should be enough to snap your faith right back into place!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

What God Promises, He Will Perform!

Perform: Execute, successful completion of a process
Promise: An assurance given that one will or will not do something

"And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform" (Romans 4:21). In fact, Philippians 1:6 tells us, that we can be "confident of this very thing." So often we think that WE have to do this or WE have to do that; that WE have to make things happen - when in all actuality WE don't. Usually when WE try to complete the process, WE mess it up.

Proverbs 3:5 reminds us to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding;" instead, we must "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord" (Psalms 27:14).

Take Abraham for an example, he said, Lord God what wilt thou give me seeing I go childless? The Lord promised him a son in Genesis 15:4, but while they were in the waiting process, Abraham and Sarah took it upon themselves to execute God's promise. Instead of waiting on the Lord, Abraham was given Sarah's handmaid (Hagar) and had a son with her... but that was not the son God had promised him. The powerful, the awesome, the almighty God waited until they were old and well-stricken in years - Abraham was 99 and Sarah was 90 when she conceived her first son - so there would be no doubt that He is well able to perform what he promises.

There are consequences for our actions when we get ahead of God - Abraham had to send Hagar and her son away because he was not to be the heir with the child that God had promised. We must have the faith that the Lord is with us. We have to realize that just because that thing we've asked for doesn't happen in OUR time, it doesn't mean that it's not going to happen. Wait on the Lord, He's well able to perform what He promises... in HIS time!

With all that said - let the church say Amen... and AMEN!

There’s a Battle Going On!

Battle: A struggle, to engage in a war or battle

As Christians, we are in a spiritual battle of some sort on a daily basis and we are either the victors or the victims of that spiritual battle. Fortunately for us, in many situations we have the ability to choose whether we play the role of victor or victim (Praise God!). The reason we have a choice is because the battle I’m talking about is the one we fight within.

The first place we lose the battle within is in our own thinking. If we think something or some situation is permanent, then it is likely to be permanent. If we think we've reached our limits, then we probably have. If we're laid up sick and we think we’ll never get well, then the odds are that we won’t. It's imperative that we change our thinking - we must see any- and everything that’s holding us back - every obstacle and every limitation as simply temporary.

If you're out there thinking, "whew, she's not talking to me this week," think again! You can easily see an example of this - just go out of your way to do something for someone and them not reciprocate when you need them to (or you don’t reap the same in return). I bet it'll be a battle not to show any anger or what you are really thinking. What we fail to realize is that we are not responsible for what that person did to us; though it may affect us, their actions are not our problem. It's how we respond to what they did to us that is our responsibility.

Clearly, this is one battle we don’t have to leave home to fight. However, we must get dressed for it. Ephesians 6:11-14 tells us to "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness"

My friends, we may sometimes lose the battle, but we don’t have to lose the war! No, for we have a deliverer and a savior - His name is Jesus and He is only a prayer away. He's also the only one that can change us and help us to win these battles that wage within.

With all that said, let the Church say amen... AMEN!

God Wants Us to Thrive!

Thrive: To flourish, to prosper, to be healthy.

Jesus said in His word, "I am come that they (we) might have life, and that they (we) might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).  The Lord doesn’t want us to simply exist - He wants us to thrive!  There are so many people out there that are simply existing - they're murmuring and complaining and blaming others for their misfortunes. What those folks don't realize is that, in all actuality God is the head. He wants us to come into agreement with Him and confess that where we are is His master plan. He wants us to be successful both naturally, spiritually, and financially. Let’s stop complaining and start thriving.

Jeremiah 29:4 tells us, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon." As the scripture continues, verses 5 and 6 reminds us that God is telling us to thrive - regardless of what our situation may be, we must thrive; "build houses... plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.... take wives, have children, give your daughters to husbands, and your sons to wives that they might have children that we may increased and not diminished." Whatever your case (or situation) may be, don't forget that the Lord has allowed it. He allows things to bring us down just so He can take us higher -- but we must be mindful to praise Him and be thankful in all those situations.... after all, there is always something to be thankful for even when it doesn’t appear to be!

The Lord didn’t want them or us to just exist in the land, He wanted them and us to flourish, to prosper, and be healthy. We must leave off the pity party and start thriving right where we are.  When those things come up to interrupt our day, you should immediately start praising God because that’s another opportunity to thrive in order for the Lord to take us higher.

Just a few examples of how God wants us to flourish: Abraham was blessed greatly, he had flocks, herbs, silver and gold (Genesis 24:35); Boaz, a mighty man of wealth (Ruth 2:1); God gave Solomon wisdom, knowledge, riches and honor (2 Chronicles 1:12). These men thrived, they were in good health, and died a good old age. 

My friends, remember that God is the head over all things and all situations. You and I might not be planting gardens or getting married; but we are here doing something and whatever it is, God wants us to thrive right here where we are!

With all that said, let the church say amen... and AMEN!

There Is No Testimony without a Test

Testimony: An outward expression of a religious experience; witness
Test: An examination to determine one knowledge skill, intelligence or other qualities.

I personally know what it means to go through a test; and I’m glad to say that each one has made me stronger in my walk with the Lord. My faith has increased and I’ve grown spiritually. If the Lord doesn’t allow us to be put to the test, we would never know what’s on the inside of us. If I had not been put to the test of not being free to go serve the Lord in His house as I pleased; I would have never learned how to persevere. If I had never been diagnosed with three different types of breast cancer; I would have never known that God can heal. I’m blessed to say that after passing that test, I can share my testimony - eleven years later, I’m healed and cancer-free - with no chemotherapy, no masetocemy... just my faith in God and His healing power! Always remember that The Lord allows us to be put to the test so He can redeem us out. The awesome thing about that is we don’t come out of those tests empty handed.

Job, for example, was a perfect and an upright man. One that feareth God, and escheweth evil (Job 1:9), but the Lord still allowed Satan to test him… not because Job did something wrong, but because the Lord wanted to take him to the next level. Satan began to go to work on Job - his first assault was on Job’s wealth, his children, and his servants. Some of his servants were slain with the sword; some were burned up in the fire along with his sheep. On top of that, there came a great wind from the wilderness that smote the four corners of the house and caused it to fall upon the young men and they all died. Even after Job heard all the bad news, he still worshipped The Lord. Job 1: 21 tells us that he said “naked came I out of my mother womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In the midst of that test, Job still worshipped and maintained his integrity.


Satan’s second assault was on Job’s body - he smote him with sore boils from the soles of his foot to the crown of his head. Job’s wife said unto him in Job 2:9-10, “dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God and die. But he said unto her, thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?  In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” Job came through his test with an awesome testimony - The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before – i.e. his latter end was much more than his beginning. It was truly an outward expression of a religious experience.

We always  think it’s the devil that brings things upon us, but my friends, the devil can’t do anything to us without the Lord’s permission. If we never had a problem, we wouldn’t know that God could solve them. We wouldn’t know the love and the mercy that He has for us, we wouldn’t grow and our faith wouldn’t increase. 

Remember, there is no going to the next level without a test and there is no test without a testimony. The victory is ours, as the Lord blesses and delivers us, He wants us to share our testimonies with others. I’ve shared mine, so make sure you get out there and share yours! Don’t forget, no matter what test you might be in the middle of, Jesus loves each and every one of you!

With all that said, let the church say amen… and AMEN!

Don't Let Anger Rule!

Anger: A strong feeling of displeasure, rage

The Lord realizes that at some point in this life we are all going to get angry about something. That's why He said in His word, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:26-27). While anger may be a part of life, it's important that we don't allow it to carry us into sin.

Despite what you might have heard, it's good not to hid our anger. Instead, we should deal with it (and the reason for it) the moment it comes up. If we don't, it can become destructive. It's always good to acknowledge it, and then deal with it in a positive way by taking it directly to Jesus and confessing it to Him. Although it may feel good to the flesh to be angry and to take that out on others (like by telling them off!), two wrongs have never made a right.

Joyce Myers once said, reacting in anger is how we express our dissatisfaction with life. Let's use Naman as an example. He was a leper who went to the man of God to be healed. However, when the man of God sent his servant out to pray for him instead of doing it himself, Naman became dissatisfied with life and didn't want to do as he had been instructed (go and dip in the river Jordon seven times). Fortunately for Naman, he had a servant who told him that if the man of God servant had told him to do something "big" for his healing, he would have most certainly done it. With that in mind, Naman went and dipped himself seven times in the river and came out completely healed. Naman almost allowed his anger to cheat him out of his blessing! We should never allow our emotions to take over to the point where we cause our flesh to sin and we end up blocking our own blessings.

I can't say it enough - we must not allow ourselves to be in such a rage of anger that we miss out or almost miss out on our blessings that we have prayed so hard for. Even when we want to get angry with our spouse, our sibling, and/or our children for something they have done, we must remember that it's not our responsibility to change them; we are not responsible for their happiness nor their decisions. It is, however, our responsibility to stay focused, and to love them in spite of their actions. God will take care of the rest, after all it is His responsibility (not ours).

We should never allow our anger to fester, because years later it will affect us in ways we wouldn't believe. Remember to keep in mind, "This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!             

Who's Your Shepherd?

Shepherd: a person who tends sheep; a pastor (a spiritual overseer)

Surely: with assurance, confidently; without doubt, certainly 

How many times have you said/rehearsed the 23rd Psalms?? Any "regular" church-goer has probably recited this at least a 100 times; but how many of those times have you ever stopped and really thought about what you were saying?

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Do you know what it means to be a Shepherd? A Shepherd is a person who looks after and tends to the needs of the sheep in his flock. He protects them from danger and makes sure that they are where they need to be, when they need to be there. As your shepherd, The Lord is looking after you and making sure that all of your needs are met.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

As your Shepherd, He allows you to get your natural and spiritual bellies fed with the good stuff -- not the dried-up, used-up fields that won't fill us up and keep us properly nourished. Oh no, we get to graze and rest within the hearty green pastures. And He makes sure that there are plenty of times of peace and calm (still waters) in our lives.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even when we feel beat down and broken, He restores our soul -- He fills us with His grace and peace and He makes us whole again. Like that spiritual GPS we talked about some time ago, He's always guiding us along the path of righteousness to our ultimate destination (by His side).

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.

Even when we've sunk to what feels like the lowest of the lows and it seems like death is shadowing us, He's right there... and if we will just believe and follow him without question (much like those sheep faithfully follow their Shepherd) we will have no reason to fear -- just ask Ms. Gloria - she's a living testimony! He is with us and He will use His rod and His staff to fend off any evils that try to attack His flock - be that illness, depression, or anything else that might try to come after us.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

In the natural, most of us tend to watch our backs around our enemies... and our so-called "friends" as well! As sheep are cautious of coyotes and foxes; we have to be cautious of anyone who tries to steer us from The Lord. How awesome is the Shepherd that prepares a table for us right smack-dab in the middle of those enemies?! There's no need to watch our backs when our spiritual Shepherd has anointed us with His holy oil and is watching our backs for us!

On top of that - our Shepherd is here to make sure that our cups are running over. Take a quick minute to visualize that -- a cup that's so full that the contents inside are literally spilling out -- talk about having more than you need, right? That can and will be you - if you will just have faith and keep believing. You might feel like the brokest of the broke right now financially-speaking, but stand strong flock and keep following your Shepherd... sometimes it takes a little while to prepare a table! After all, we'll wait <somewhat> patiently for hours for a table at a nice restaurant. Can't we be patient enough to wait for The Lord's perfect time? I truly hope so, because this table and that overflowing cup are certainly well worth the wait!

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.

This verse is one of those verses that really brings things home for me personally. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."  Not "possibly," and not "maybe," no, the Word says SURELY -- our definition tells us that means without doubt or certainly -- goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. The next time the world seems against you, rehearse that - "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life"- and say it until you believe it, because if your Shepherd is with you, who can be against you??

So stay true to your Shepherd and He will stay true to you... and He will dwell within and around you for ever!

With all that said, let the church say amen... and AMEN!                    

Use What You Got!

Talent: a special aptitude, the ability to be good at something without being taught.

My Aunt sent me this poem the other day and it really hit home with me. I found myself guilty, so I wanted to share it with my friends, so we can be sure to use what we’ve got.

I have something to tell you whether you like it or not, Instead of criticizing other, why don't you use what you got? 

You have there a talent and its nothing you bought. God gave it to you, so use what you got. 

I can just hear you saying, “ah she ain't too hot,” instead of saying that, why don't you use what you got? 

Once a man hid his talent, hope that's not your lot, if so, you better find it and use what you got. 

If you polish your talent, you'll be doing a lot, then come out sincerely, and use what you got. 

Don't worry about Polly, Harry, John or Dot. Just mind your own business, and use what you got!

Often times we get caught up criticizing others, because we think if something was done this way or that way it would be so much better. But instead of us tearing others down and hiding our talent let’s polish those talents and use what we got!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Pride Will Steal Your Blessing!

Pride: A feeling of pleasure, because of something achieved or done

God hates pride! When pride comes in, we will not seek after God. He won’t be in our thoughts; instead it will be all about us. Pride will hinder our spiritual growth and steal our blessings. It is also one of Lucifer’s most successful strongholds. Pride puffs us up, until we're like a big balloon. When that balloon is full of air, it can swell so big that one cannot grip it with a single hand. But when God lets the air out of that balloon, it becomes very small.

Being prideful is the exact opposite of being humble. 1 Peter 5-6 tell us; "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." When pride is working, it wants to exalt itself; it wants credit for everything. Pride can even cause us to admire ourselves and condemn others - in other words - we overlook our faults, but seek out the faults in others. Pride will have us thinking that we look big and talk big, but rest assured that God has a remedy for that too.

We can become so driven by pride that we try to gain all we can in this world. We become so anxious, so restless and so discontent simply because we want more. Think about it my friends, what good will it do if we gain the whole world and lose our own soul? What has it profited? I don’t know about you, but I have never seen a hearse pulling a u-haul full of the deceased's possessions behind it on the way to the Church. And don't let us get a job that we think is beneath us, pride tends to work over time then!

Remember, those who walk in pride risk God letting all of the air out and bringing them down; just as King Nebuchadnezzar was brought down. God gave Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, and majesty, and glory and honor that the people feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his Kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: (Daniel 5:18-20). That feeling of pleasure, for what he thought he had achieved, caused him to lose it all.

God loves us and He wants to sit on the throne of our hearts. LET HIM DO SO! When you find yourself puffed up with pride, just confess it, repent over it, and move on. Our God is an awesome God - He forgives and He loves us - let’s love Him back and He will exalt us in due season.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!               

Live With A Purpose!

Live: to be alive, to be active
Purpose: a desired goal, an intention

You probably hear every day of people who appear to be living with no direction or no desired goals; people who seem to be going through life aimlessly - not really living or enjoying God's beautiful creations. Whether we have one dollar in our pocket or one million, there should still be joy and a real purpose for our lives. Although people might feel like if they don't have a pocket full of money, they are not being blessed, but I'm here to tell you that such thinking is not the case. Blessings are not always monetary. In fact, I would venture to say that if you wake up in the land of the living, then you are being blessed, because that means that you still have an opportunity to repent for your sins, to be thankful, and to be alive with a purpose - then that's being blessed!

I feel like we would be tremendously blessed if we woke up each day saying, "Lord, it's not what you can do for me, but instead what would you have me to do for you today? Often times, we forget that we were not created for ourselves, but we were created for the Glory of God and for His purpose! With that In mind, we should approach everything that the Lord lays on our hearts to do with a cheerful heart and purpose... and that purpose should always be to please our Heavenly Father.

You may not be working right now, but that does not justify you having a pity party. We must instead expect things to turn around and for new doors to be opened. Maybe your situation isn't that you don't have a job - it could be a sickness in our body, or maybe our finances are very low. Whatever the case may be, we are all still blessed because we serve a living God who owns everything in Heaven and in earth. Everything includes jobs, sickness, and finance problems, so be thankful and remember that He said in His word that He would be our provider - it's up to us to give Him that opportunity to provide for us.

Live with a purpose, my friends. And if you feel like you don't have a purpose or like you don't have anything specific to live for - well then, live for Jesus and wait for Him to give you the purpose that He wants you to have. Let's not drag our feet by moping around and complaining about this or that, because it's too easy to lose our focus when we are not living each day with a purpose. Our main intention should always be to be thankful and to ask God for direction, because it's within those directions we will likely find our purpose!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!                      

The Secret Of The Peace Of God!

Peace: a state of calm and quiet; freedom from disturbing thoughts or emotions

I want to tell you a secret.

That secret is how to have the peace of God. I want to tell you how you can be calm and free from disturbing thoughts or emotions - even in the midst of a storm. In today’s world, we so often hear of suicide, heart attacks, and people with so much stress that they are simply existing and not living. Friends, this should not be so. Philippians 4:4 tells us to; "Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say Rejoice." When we do this - rejoice always - it allows people to see that we are unselfish and considerate in all we do - no matter what is going on!

Verse 6 (TLB) "Don't worry about any thing; instead, pray about every thing." The fact is worrying does not add to our lives - it only takes from it. After we have prayed about whatever storm we might be facing and we have given God thanks for it (after all, we might as well give thanks, because He's allowing it). “Then the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." This peace comes as we stay focused on Jesus and what His word says.

Philippians 4:8 goes on to tell us what we should think about; "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

The secret of God’s peace is found in Isaiah 26:3-4: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength."

As it turns out, this is a secret we should be sharing with everyone we know! To find the peace of God - rejoice in Him always and keep your mind on Him!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Seek The Lord First!

Seek: to look for; attempt to obtain.

You know my friends, we are always looking for something - be it, good, bad, or indifferent. I think it's just in our nature. The great thing about that is the Lord doesn't have a problem with us seeking to obtain -- as long as what you're trying to obtain is in the will of God. The word tells us in Colossians 3:1-2; "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

Some of us like to seek things of the world for our own selfish interest. For instance, we try to see how many houses we can buy or how many cars we can obtain. Others even push others down to elevate themselves in order to get the highest positions at work. That's not to say that those things are wrong necessarily; in fact, God's desire for us is that we should have those things. But there's an order by which we must obtain these things. We must seek first.

1) God's Kingdom.  Matthew 6:33 tells us, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." God said in His word we can have the desires of our heart, but we have to do something first... SEEK!

2) True Wisdom.  Proverbs 2:7 says, "He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly." We need true wisdom to obtain and to keep what we have obtained.

3) Another's Benefit.  Ephesians 4:32. "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ sake hath forgiven you." It's not all about us, the Lord wants us to bless others as He has blessed us. So let's start by giving, forgiving, and being tenderhearted.

When we look for things and at least attempt to obtain them in the order that God wants us to; we won't have to try SO hard to chase things down. That's not to say that you won't have to do anything (remember, faith without works is dead!) - but it won't be as hard. The Lord will see us doing things in an orderly fashion and He will then bring those things to us. Let's remember to seek the Lord first.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Trust God In Every Situation!

Trust – to have confidence or faith in, to depend on

The message below was e-mailed to me recently and I was really blessed by it, so I wanted to share it with you all. I have to admit that I’m very guilty of wondering why did "this" or "that" situation happen; why things didn't work out the way I planned - after all, I did get up and pray! I've even asked the Lord to order my steps. But when things aren't going the way we want, we so often forget we have a heavenly Father who ALWAYS knows what’s best for us. This e-mail really helped put things into perspective. We must learn to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; lean not unto thine own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) I hope this blesses you as it did me.

Me (in a tizzy): God, can I ask you something?
GOD: Sure
Me: Promise you won't get mad?
GOD: I promise.
Me (frustrated): Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?
GOD: What do you mean?
Me: Well I woke up late
GOD: Yes
Me: My car took forever to start
GOD: Okay....
Me (growling): At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait
GOD: Hmmmm..
Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call.
GOD: All right
Me (loudly): And to top it all off, when I got home, I just wanted to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn't work. Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?
GOD: Well let me see..... the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.
Me (humbled): Oh...
GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that might have hit you if you were on the road
Me (ashamed): ...
GOD: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work
Me (embarrassed): Oh.....
GOD: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered
Me (softly): I see, God .
GOD: Oh and that foot massager, it had a short that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.
Me: I'm sorry, God.
GOD: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust me.........in all things, the good and the bad
Me: I WILL trust you God
GOD: And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan
Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.
GOD: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children.

~ Author Unknown

With all that said, let the church say Amen... and AMEN!!               

Our God Is An Awesome God!

Bragging: To assert or talk boastfully

Today I would like to brag on the Lord - you guys know how we often brag on our children, our possessions, our spouses and even our jobs. Today let's spend some time bragging on the One who does every thing; the One who gives us not only what we need, but also the very desires of our hearts! Let's put the spotlight on our Awesome, our Great, our Merciful, and our Almighty God - the One that was, the One that is, and the One that will always be!

Now check this out - Our God is so great; He created the light and He is the light. He is the author and He is the finisher (i.e. man started nothing and man can’t actually finish anything either). He is the cause and He is the effect. He is the cash and He is the cash register! He is the alpha and the omega (He always has been and He always will be). Our heavenly Father is the perfect father. He is our great provider and He is our great protector. To make a long story short - He is EVERYTHING we need!

Our God raises the dead; He opens the eyes of the blind; and He made the lame walk. He heals the sick. He is great and He is powerful. Our God is so powerful that when He grew weary of all of Job's complaining, He put him in his place by asking: "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding" (Job 38:4). In other words, where were you, little man, when I was creating the foundation of the earth?! He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords; He is the Master and Owner of everything. He’s wonderful and totally bad (in a good way, of course)!

Our God is so bad that He told Moses, "Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exodus 3:10-14). Our Lord didn’t say I was; He didn’t say I will be, He said I AM - present tense. In other words, when He said I AM, that means He is whatever and wherever He wants to be - back then with Moses and right now here with us!

Our God is mighty - He can open doors that were once sealed shut. Those things that are impossible for us are just everyday occurrences for Him. His awesomeness is worthy to be bragged on, so my friends, let's start bragging on His excellent goodness! Brag on His awesome miracle working power.  He is excellent; His name is excellent in all the earth and He can do everything - but fail!

With all that said, let the church say amen... and AMEN!     

Put Your Trust In God!

Trust: confidence or faith in a person or thing.

Some people trust in their riches, some trust in themselves, and others trust in man. It’s like when EVERYTHING and EVERYONE else fails, then we look to the Lord to bail us out or to fix the situation, when He is where we should always go first. He’s the one who can turn around any situation, He’s the one who has all the riches, and He's the only one who can do everything -- but fail! Not to mention, He has all the power and authority. To put our confidence and faith in Him is truly a must!

Let us not place our trust in riches -- Proverbs 11:28 tells us, "He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch." In Mark 10:24 we see that "... the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" The Word doesn't say that it’s wrong to have riches - God just doesn't want us to trust in them. Instead, let’s put our trust in Him.

God doesn't want us to place our trust in ourselves -- according to Proverb 28:26, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." And in Jeremiah 17:9, we learn that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Finally, we're instructed to "Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us, a fortress and a high tower" (Psalms 62:8 (amplified)

We certainly don’t want to put all of our trust in man -- as it is told in Proverb 25:19, "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint." We also find that "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man" (Psalms 118:8). Man can not direct his own steps, how can we expect that he can direct ours? "Thus saith the Lord; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord (Jeremiah 17:5).

Friends, God knows what's best for us, so let’s put our trust in Him -- He will never let us down! After all, He wrote the master plan before the foundation of the world. We don’t know what today or tomorrow will bring, but He does, so let’s trust God and leave the choices up to Him!

With all that said, let the Church say amen... and AMEN!                          

Never Give Up On Your Dreams!

Never: not ever, not in any degree, way, or condition

I was so impressed with Tiger Woods recently. He didn't give up on his dream and he won another Masters Golf Tournament. Despite the major bumps he faced along the way - knee surgeries, back surgeries, married problems, incidents with the law, people constantly putting him down - he persevered. It took eleven years, but Tiger didn't give up due to his struggles or setbacks... and he could have easily done so. He went from being a big time winner in the past to playing in tournaments where he was almost the lowest scoring person and there were some tournaments where he didn't even make the cut, but he never gave up on his dream.

One might have thought perhaps Tiger would have given up, but he didn't. He continued to pursue his career and his goals. Thank God that he didn't listen to people, because people will always have something bad to say, as well as negative advice. The same thing goes for us. It's important that we hold on to the dreams that God has put into our hearts. He's the one who put them there, and He's the one who's going to bring you through. Sometimes it's up to us to show Him how bad we want something.

We must remember that if there's no struggles in life, there will be no progress. So my friends, we can't give up in the face of our struggles, we must persevere. Take Thomas Edison - did you know that he failed time and time again? Now consider what would have happened if he had given up? Let me give you the short version - there wouldn't be any light bulbs! Although Edison failed many times, he stayed in the race. There will always be roadblocks along the path to success, we simply take the detour and keep pressing forward.

Friends, life is not always going to be peaches and cream, so when you are given lemons - make lemonade, lemon meringue pie, and lemon bars! Never give up on your dreams and never give up on God, because He will never give up on you. Always remember that He loves us so much that He died for us.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

A Mother Will Always Pray!

I heard my Grandmother say many times; "Give me my flowers while I yet live, so that I may see the beauty of them." You know, once our moms are no longer with us, flowers (and anything else we might do for them) are really of no avail to them. So it's important that we be mindful to show the Moms in our lives how much we love and appreciate them everyday - not just this Sunday on Mother's Day!

Today, your showing of appreciation could be a simple phone call that goes like that famous song, "I just called to say I love you!" It could be some kind words like, "Mother, I appreciate you and all the sacrifices you made for me," that are said exactly when she needs them. Or maybe it's a nice surprise she receives in the mail like her favorite perfume or a bouquet of flowers that brings a smile to her face. Of course, you can never go wrong with green backs! Whatever you decide to do, never miss out on the chance to tell your Mom just how special she is - because she truly is. Without her, there would be no you!

With that, I would like to share this poem, written by our resident poet, Ms. Shonta Alexander. Be blessed, my friends and Happy Mother's Day to you all!

MOTHER PRAYED 

When I think of my mom on this Mother’s day

I think of all the things that I would lovingly say

Like thanks for your concerns and all your prayers

Not just for me but for all your heirs

You went without food so that we all could eat

You made sure we came first and you took the backseat

You dealt with so much pain just to get us up and grown

Then by the grace of God you moved out on your own

Everything you did, you did it for us

You never complained; you never caused a fuss

How grateful I am when I look back today

On how you sacrificed and how you made a way

For us to grow strong, Independent and smart

To not just be good but to have a good heart

Late one night thru the crack of your door

I saw you bowed onto the floor

         Down on your knees in a special way             

Thanking the Lord for another day

Another day your children survived

By the grace of God, is still alive

And from then on, I would always say

My mother prayed for me both night and day.