Instructions and Results!

Instruction: Command, directions, an order
Results: Effect or consequence

Today, I would like to share some instructions - or you could call them words of wisdom. Regardless of what we choose to call it - words of wisdom or instructions - how we choose to follow it has consequences. If we wholly follow the instructions of the Lord, there will be tremendous results. I bet you can guess what the consequences are when we don't follow the instructions of the Lord (one word: Jonah). Anyway, it's critical that we remember that faith without works in dead. That means in order to receive the results (or reap the benefits), you must do the works (or sow the seed).

Let me share with you some instructions you can follow in hard times:

Instructions:

1. Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts that we often have, and stay close to anything that makes you want to do right.
2. Have faith and love for those who love the Lord and have pure hearts.
3. Don't get involved in foolish arguments which only upset people and makes them angry. As people of God we must not be quarrelsome, we must be gentle, patient teachers of those who are wrong. Sometime as teachers you don't have to say a word, people will see what you stand for and believe in just by your talk and your walk.
4. Be humble when you are trying to teach those who are mixed-up concerning the truth. If we talk meekly and courteously to them they are more likely, with the help of the Lord, to turn away from their wrong ideas and believe what is true.

Remember that we cannot force people to see things our way and we cannot change people - that's not our job or responsibility - but we are to approach them in the way God said in His word. People may or may not accept what you say, but if we stand steady and leave nothing undone, the Lord will stand with us.

Results (these are the consequences after we have followed directions):

1. The Lord will give you the desires of your heart.
2. You will be blessed in the city, you will be blessed in the fields, you will be the head and not the tail. 
3. The Lord will deliver your life from destruction (the pits of hell) and crown you with loving kindness and tender mercies.
4. He will be a very present help in our time of trouble. He will protect us, deliver us, and fight our battles for us. No weapon formed against us will prosper, He will hide us under His feathers, He will even hover over us like a mother hen hovers over her chicks. 

The bottom line: in the end, if we follow His instructions as He has laid them out for us, we will receive Eternal Life!


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

Words of Encouragement!

Encouragement: to inspire with courage and hope; stimulate

We have to remember my friends, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalms 118:24). To rejoice means to feel or show great joy or delight. So this scripture tells us that we should be feeling and showing great joy every single day! That means we should be doing this over and over again - even when we may not understand everything that is happening to and around us right now. No matter what, we still must stand and rejoice, because of who God is, and we must continue to be strong and stay encouraged in the Lord.

We are in a season that we have never walked through before. The majority of us have never seen businesses closed and so many people out of work as we see today. Despite this, we must be and remain encouraged and thank God that we are still alive and well. We must not complain about how tired of things we are, because it could certainly be worse. Instead, let's focus on what the Lord has already done for us, and be mindful of how gracious and merciful He is; how slow to anger He is and of the great kindness that He has shown to us. My aunt was just telling me the other day that she stays encouraged because she still has eyes to see, ears to hear, a mouth to talk with and feet to walk with. So let's take a note from my aunt and be inspired with courage and hope!

Let's encourage ourselves by thinking on the wonderful things that God has already done and the wonderful things the Bible tells us about ourselves. Things like "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." (Psalms 139:14), and "I can do all things through Christ which strenghteneth me" (Philippians 4: 13). Don't forget about "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:37) and "In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). How can you not feel encouraged when you read all of those words of truth?!

Remember my friends, "For His anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Psalms 30:5). So no matter what we (and the world) are going through right now, we can rest assured that joy will come in the morning.

I hope these words of encouragement will stimulate you with courage and hope. God loves us and none of what's going on is a shock or surprise to Him!

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

What Is Everyday Faith? (part 2)

Faith: belief without proof; trust

Today, I want to tell you a little more about what I mean when I say "everyday faith."

Let's say that we have the faith to believe that we can get a big, fine car or a beautiful mansion. Those things are amazing blessings, BUT let me ask you this - how will they help you eternally? After all, you can't take those things with you when you leave this earth. What's really going to help us eternally is knowing, understanding, and believing that God is working in our lives, along with the understanding that whatever is going on in our lives is a part of God's master plan - even if it's unpleasant. Even when it feels like the pain is too much - the knowledge and trust that He will see you through is the kind of everyday faith that God wants us to have.

Let's take Noah, now he had that everyday faith. When God warned Noah of the coming flood and told him to "make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch" (Genesis 6:6-14). Noah believed God and began to build an ark as he was told. Noah and his family labored on the ark for 120 years. That's a LOOOOOOONG time to hold on to some faith! You have to know that people laughed and talked about him, but Noah had that everyday faith. He knew that God was right there with him to protect, to provide and to give him strength to build the ark - in spite of what others said and thought. And when the flood did come, Noah and his family had a place to ride it out because of their everyday faith.

On the other side of the coin, we don't want to be like the children of Israel. They saw God do miraculous things. They witnessed the Red Sea part as they walked across on dry land. They watched as Pharaoh and his army tried the same thing, only to be drowned in the same water that stood apart for them. It seems to me that when you behold an awesome miracle like that, you should have no problem having everyday faith. Yet they murmured and complained about not having water and not having food. What part of that sea parting that made them think that God wouldn't take care of them? That's a simple lack of everyday faith, my friends.

If you take away one thing from today's post, I hope that it's the knowledge that we must trust God each and every day and rest assured that He is right there with us, always. As Hebrews 13:5 tells us, "for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

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

God Bless Mothers!

As I often do for Mother’s Day, I would like to share this poem, written by our resident poet, Ms. Shonta Alexander.

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. 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!

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.

Be blessed my friends and Happy Mother's Day to you all!