He is the Author and the Finisher!

Author: one that originates or creates, one that writes or compose a literary work
Finisher: to bring to completion, to come to the end of a course

Have you ever thought about Authors? In many ways, an Author is also a Captain and a Chief leader. They spend their time creating the story line, working out the plot, developing the twists, and then writing the perfect ending. There's a lot of planning that goes into writing a good story. If the planning or the story itself gets off track, in most cases, the author can "right the ship" or to steer it back on path - just like any other captain or leader would do.

Have you ever thought about God as an Author? He's our creator, right? Before the foundation of the world, He spent time writing our story, thinking about the twists and turns our lives would take. And like a captain, He's had to steer us back on the right path more than a time or two. Psalms 23:2-3 tells us that "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Likewise, He's the one who's going to bring His master plan to completion: "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" (Psalms 23:6).

That doesn't mean our story will be all sunshine and rainbows. There will be dark times. He will allow us to get off track here and there. Not because it's the right thing for us to do. Sometimes He allows us to follow our own plans because He's giving us the opportunity to chose. To chose Him, and his master plan/story for our lives. Even after we have hit a few bumps in the road, and had a few heartache and pains, He will allow us to get right back on track with His story line for us and will allow us to complete His plan for us.

Consider Jonah. Jonah felt like he could be the Captain of his own story. You probably know his story well, but just in case you don't, here's the highlights: Jonah went to Tarshish when the Author told him to go to Nineveh. The Lord allowed Jonah to deviate from the plot that had been developed for him. But like any great author, the Lord developed a twist in the story line - He allowed a great fish to swallow Jonah up!

The Bible says, "out of the belly of hell Jonah cried out and the Lord heard his voice, and spake unto the fish and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land" (Jonah 2:1-10). We must not forget, the Author wrote the plan, so if we get off track it's going to cost us something and we will still have to finish that chapter of the story that God has written for our lives; just as Jonah still had to go and preach to the people in Nineveh.

When in doubt; when you don't know what to do in a situation; just read the book - i.e. the Bible - that God left for us  as a road map or a guide for how our story should go. If it's still not clear - just ask the Captain, "Lord, what would you have me to do in this situation?"

Remember, He's the Author and the Finisher, whatever He starts, He will surely finish it. Most importantly, He's the best author out there, so He doesn't need our help! He wrote the plan, all we need to do is listen and obey! Jesus loves you, my friends.

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

God is an Unmovable Rock!

Immovable: Not capable of moving or being moved

Let's focus on the rock of Gibraltar for a minute. Normally people look at it as a symbol of strength and power, but today we want to look at it as an immovable object - just as Jesus is our majestic rock of Gibraltar - our salvation, our love, power, and strength. He's immovable. The devil might try this thing or that thing, but if we are anchored in the immovable rock, he can't shake our foundation.

I know that you all have read  about the three Hebrew boys, but let me remind you of the story. Those three boys took a stand and were immovable. Daniel 3:10 tells us that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made an image of gold. He also made a decree that every man that shall hear the sound of all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image (verse 11) and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Pretty serious, right? This might be enough to shake some people's foundations, but not those of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, for they were anchored in the solid rock.

When the music played, the three Hebrew boys did not worship the golden image. When this was told to the king, he became furious and asked them, "is it true that ye did not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image that I set up?" The king also asked, "who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" In Daniel 3:17-18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told the king, "we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

When he heard this, the king commanded that the boys be cast into the fiery furnace. As he watched, the king was astounded and rose up in haste and spake, "did not we cast three into the midst of the fire?" The king's men answered, "true, O king." The king responded saying, "lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

How awesome is our God? It's He that pushes us out, but it's also He that's right there to pick us up before we ever hit the ground - especially when He sees that His children are immovable for His name sake. Remember my friends, He's in the midst of our fiery furnace with us... oh how we need to take a stand for the rock.

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

Don't "Passover" The Importance Of Easter!

This Sunday is Passover - some folks call it Easter; others might call it Resurrection Sunday, but today we're going to use the word Passover. I thank God for Passover, for it was on that day and what He did on that cross that makes it possible for us to live spiritual and have the victory.

Jesus was an amazing man in the natural - He had such a wonderful attitude - even while hanging on the cross. I'm pretty sure that His attitude was MUCH different from what ours would have been if we had been in the same situation. It was even different from the people that were hanging around the cross on that day. I want to share Jesus's attitude, because it’s the one we must have as we carry our financial, emotional and career-related crosses today.

On that fateful day, there were hours of light and hours of darkness. While Jesus was hanging on the cross during the hours of light, He was forgiving as the Bible tells us in Luke 23:34-35, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." When we are walking in our hours (or days) of light, that's what we should be doing - Forgiving. If some of us are being honest with ourselves, we would admit that although the light is shining on us, both naturally and spiritual, we are still not forgiving. Let’s learn to forgive people. Jesus did it and He was hanging on the cross with nails in His hands and nails in His feet. You and I aren't dealing with even half of that!

As we continue to read through the 23rd book of Luke, we find the second thing that Jesus did in verse 43, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily (or truly) I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." In other words, Jesus told the thief that He was taking him (the thief) with Him (Jesus) to paradise. In Jesus' hours of light, He spoke the truth - are we speaking the truth? Are we forgiving our enemies? The people around the cross were sinning against the Lord even as He was dying for them... and us. Not only was He forgiving and speaking the truth to them; He was also leading them into good pasture. My friends, we must be like the criminal hanging on the cross with Him - we have got to cry out to Him. At this very moment, He’s ready and more than able to carry us out of whatever we are in. Whether we are a thief or a convicted murderer, Jesus is ready to take us to Paradise with Him. All we have to do is say, "Lord remember me... have mercy on me" and be sincere in doing so. If we will do that, He will prepare a table for us right in front of all our enemies, even when we are getting just what we deserve.

The third thing He did while on the cross where He was hanging bleeding, dying and hurting was to make sure that His mother was going to be taken care of. In John 19:26-27, the scriptures tell us that "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Women, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." Not only did He take care of His mother (mother speaks of safety and comfort), but also He also took care of His good friend John. That’s the same thing He’ll do for me and you. When we are carrying our crosses (situations and burdens), if we'll just remember to call on him sincerely, He will make sure that we are taking care of.

When we call on Him, He will forgive us. He will speak the truth to us; He will lead us to green pasture; and He will make sure that we are taking care of. He did it for that thief on the cross and He will do it for us. Thank God for Passover!

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

Worship Before You Get The Miracle!

Worship: to honor, the expression of such reverence
Miracle: an unusual event. An intervention in the natural universe by God

It's so important that we remember to worship the Lord for our miracle before we get it. When praises go up, blessings come down! I know that most of us like to praise God after we have received the miracle, but when you praise God in advance, it's like saying, "I've got total confidence in knowing that what I've asked for is going to come to pass." The word tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God, so let's put our faith into action and praise God before our miracle happens.

That's what blind Bartimaeus did, as he was sitting by the highway begging. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he stop begging and started worshiping. He began to cry out, saying, "Jesus thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Even though many of the people around "charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he receive his sight" (Mark 10:46-52).

Need another example of worshiping first? Okay: "...there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live." "...When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose." (Matthew 9:18, 23-25). That ruler praised God in advance and as a result, his daughter arose.

Those are just two quick examples, but they are all throughout the word of God. Remember, we don't need to wait for the miracle before we begin our worship - worship before the miracle and you will see just how fast you will get your miracle!

Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

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