Our Children

                                                Our Children

     Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) Says, "Train up a child in the way he should go:  and when he is old, he will not depart from it." In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 6, the Israelites are instructed to obey the Lord's commandments, statutes, and judgments. Part of these instructions pertain to teaching our children.  Chapter 6:4-7 Says, "Hear, O Israel:  The Lord our God is one Lord:  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these Words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  And thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou riseth up."

     Let me begin by saying that whether we have children of our own or not, we more than likely have children in our lives. The importance of our teaching them about the Lord, and His Word, and setting a Godly example for them cannot be overstated. 

     The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Proverbs instructs us to train up children in a manner that guides them in a right direction, and that when we do so we are giving them a strong foundation on which to stand. That strong foundation is God, and His Word. There are situations where parents have raised their children teaching them about the Lord, and guiding them in a right direction, yet when these children grow older they veer from what they've been taught. I can tell you firsthand, however, that if they accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior that foundation doesn't crack, and the Holy Spirit will be relentless in nudging them back in the right direction. I strayed from my walk with God in my teenage years, and not a day went by during that stray that I wasn't reminded by the Holy Spirit that I needed to get back on track, and I praise God for never giving up on  me. I was brought up by a Mama who loved the Lord, and she saw to it that each of her children attended church, and were active in Sunday School, and other events that the Church offered. Of all the wonderful things my Mama did for me raising me in church, where I came to know and accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, was the greatest. I was also blessed with a grandmother who was a huge part of my life, and she set a fantastic Godly example for me. She was a wonderful woman who had a huge impact on my life. 

     The above passage of scripture taken from the book of Deuteronomy makes clear that we are to teach our children the commandments, statutes, and judgments of the Lord. Not only does this passage instruct us to teach them, but to do so diligently. The word diligent in Greek is spoudazo, and it means to use speed, be prompt, to make effort, earnest. This term means "to hasten to do a thing, to exert oneself, give diligence, endeavor."

     In a world where the main focus seems to be getting children into the best colleges where they can earn a degree that will enable them to earn large sums of money, I encourage you to set for them, first and foremost, the goal of being the best Godly person they can be. I urge you to teach them about God and His Word, and the importance of living in obedience to Him. Be for them a great example of what that looks like. Teach them to love the Lord. Talk to them about God and his Word throughout the day as the above passage of scripture taken from Deuteronomy instructs us to do. It is by far the greatest thing you can ever do for them. Do your best to lead them to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior reminding yourself that where they spend eternity depends on that. 

     If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.

     

     

     

Working All Things For Good

Romans 8:28 (KJV) Says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

In the above verse of scripture it is made clear that God will work all things in our life for good, if we will but love Him. It is worthy to note that this verse of scripture says ALL things, not one, some, or a few, but ALL. This includes even the mistakes we have made in our past. Does God prefer that we live our lives in obedience to Him our entire lives? Absolutely. He is, however, gracious, forgiving, and loving, and because of the tremendous love He has for us He blesses us with this promise along with  many others.

One manner in which God works All things out for good for those who love Him is by putting people in our path that are going through some of the same things we struggled with, when we were not living in obedience to Him. This allows us to share our story with the person struggling, and to testify to them as to all that God has done for us in seeing us through to victory over the very same struggles. Never be ashamed to share your story with someone who is walking through things you yourself have walked through because in so doing you make yourself relatable to them.  Hearing your story and all that God has done for you will prayerfully lead them to have the desire to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior recognizing that with God they too can be victorious. Sharing  your story and all that God has done for you gives hope to the hopeless.

When we lose someone who is a huge part of our lives and that we love tremendously it is devastating. God can and does work this out for good as well in that we are then able to comfort others who are walking through the storm of losing a loved one, and we are able to do so on another level having a higher level of compassion, sympathy, and understanding. For example, I lost my Daddy a few years back and it was devastating. God has worked good in this loss by allowing me to relate to those who lose their Dad with a level of compassion, sympathy, and understanding that was not possible prior to my own personal loss. Having experienced the loss of my Daddy also allows me to share with others the things that helped me through my grief.

Above are just a couple of examples of the many ways in which God works ALL things together for good for those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose, there are many others. I urge you to share your story including all that God has done for you with those it will benefit recognizing that God is allowing you to bring encouragement and hope to those who find themselves in a storm that has left them feeling hopeless. I urge you to share the gospel and give your testimony taking advantage of every opportunity you are given to do so. Don't allow pride and shame to stand in the way of you sharing your testimony with someone else. Failing to testify to others can have devastating consequences in that it could make the difference in them finding hope in Christ and accepting His precious gift of salvation or remaining in a hopeless state. Withholding your testimony could make the difference in a person spending eternity in Heaven with God or remaining lost and spending eternity in Hell. It doesn't get more vital than that.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

Christ In You

2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV) Says, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." John 15:18 (KJV) Says, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. John 3:20 (KJV) Says, "For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." Matthew 5:10 (KJV) Says, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:  for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." Luke 6:22 (KJV) Says, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake."

When anyone chooses to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior they can expect to lose friends, and sometimes even have family members turn against them. Many who are lost or have turned away from God after being saved do not want to socialize with Christians. We should not take this personal as often times it is not us they are uncomfortable with, but rather Christ in us. The world is a dark place and born again believers and followers of Christ, who are living in obedience to Him, have His light shining through them. When we are living right others can see the light of Christ in us, and it prompts them to consider their ways. If they are not ready to accept Christ or they have turned away from Him, they have no desire to be reminded of the changes they need to make. The light of Christ forces them to consider their ways, and if they're not ready to accept Him or make the changes they need to make they often choose to avoid those with the light of Christ shining through them. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Luke tells us that men shall hate us and separate us from their company.

In the above verses of scripture God's tells us, when we opt to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, and choose to live in obedience to Him, we will suffer persecution. We are also reminded that the world persecuted Jesus Himself. Note Jesus tells us in John 15:18 that the world hated Him before it hated us. Jesus was persecuted while here on earth in various ways. He was falsely accused, betrayed, mocked, spit upon, beaten, and so much more with the greatest persecution being His crucifixion, and we are not greater than or even equal to Jesus, therefore we too should expect to be persecuted while in the world.

When we first accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior we can expect some friends and family members to abandon us, it can be hurtful, and leave you feeling lonely. I encourage you not to be discouraged as you are never alone because God is always with you. You have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, God promises in His Word that He will never leave you nor forsake you, and He also tells us in His Word that He is holding our right hand. God will bring the right people into your life to walk beside you, be patient and trust Him. Beware of those who tempt you to fall back into old ways and habits that no longer fit who you are as a born again believer and follower of Jesus Christ. There will more than likely be those who try their best to encourage you to do just that. I urge you to Stay strong, resist temptation, and stand firm in your faith knowing that choosing to live your life in a Christ-like manner is choosing to live the best life you could ever possibly hope to live. When we live our life in a Christ-like manner, others recognize that, and it is our greatest testimony. It is the hope that the lost come to desire for themselves what they see in us which is Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

Blocking The Light Of Christ

Romans 3:23 (KJV) Says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" I Peter 5:8 (KJV) Says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

As the above verse of scripture, taken from the book of Romans, tells us we as human beings are all sinners, and each and every single one of us fall short of the glory of God. This means we all have weaknesses, and that we all have areas within ourselves that we need to work on. With that said, once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior we should have the desire in our hearts to grow in Christ, and become more and more like Him. In order to do this we must identify and work on getting rid of the things in our life that do not reflect who we are in Christ. To be a Christian by definition means to be Christ-like.

Although we will never reach perfection, it is vital that we identify our areas of weakness and address those issues. The first step to correcting those things in our lives that do not fit who we are as born again believers, and followers of Jesus Christ is to admit them. As long as we remain in denial about the personal behaviors within us that do not fit who we are in Christ, we will cease to grow in Him. Once we get out of denial and face our issues then we can go to God in prayer asking Him to help us make the changes we know we need to make. If we will do our part in making those changes, then we can rest assured that God will do His.

God's Word tells us that as Christians we should be known by our fruit, and that fruit is listed for us in Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) which reads "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Do you have issues in your life that are contradictory to who you are in Christ? Do your actions and words reflect your love for others? Remember love is an action word. Do you walk in the joy of Christ or do you gripe, complain, and wear a miserable look on your face? Do you have the divine peace in your heart that God has so freely given you or do you carry turmoil in your heart? Are you patient, gentle, and kind? Do you truly walk by faith, and not by sight? Are you humble? These verses taken from the book of Galatians tell us specifically what others should see in us, and anything and everything in our lives that demonstrates opposite behaviors should be addressed, and weeded out.

There are multiple issues that can be found in human beings that do not fit the life of a Christian. Maybe you're dealing with envy, jealousy, greed, a disrespectful attitude, unkindness, an addiction such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, or over eating. Maybe you have anger issues, bitterness in your heart, or you're harboring unforgiveness. The list goes on and on. The truth is whatever our weaknesses are we are aware of them even if we are not willing to profess them. Many people refuse to look at their weaknesses because along with facing them comes the awareness that they need to be addressed, and some are simply not ready to do that.

It is important for us to recognize that it is often times through our weaknesses that Satan temps us in an attempt to lead us away from Christ. As the above passage of scripture taken from I Peter tells us Satan roams the earth looking to devour. It is worthy to note that God uses the words roaring and devour in this verse which are strong words insinuating the fierceness of the lion, and letting us know that Satan is looking to completely consume us. The great news is that for every temptation Satan puts before us God provides a way out. Having freewill, however, we must opt to take the way out that God provides in lieu of falling prey to the temptations of Satan.

I encourage you to conduct a self-examination, and identify the areas in your life that do not fit who you are in Christ. Once you identify them, go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you weed those things out. Do your part in making the changes you know you need to make, and trust God to do His. I urge you to begin today examining your heart and your life, and to get started making the changes you know you need to make. Choosing to address your issues and make the changes you know you need to make will help you to grow in Christ becoming more and more like Him. The more your life reflects who you profess to be, the more joy and divine peace you will have in your heart. I urge you to get rid of the things in your life that are blocking the light of Christ in you. Move those things out of the way, and allow others to clearly see His light shine through you with the hope that they will want what you have. After all, the manner in which we live our lives is our greatest testimony.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

Called To Be A Light

Matthew 5:16 (KJV) Says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." Ephesians 5:8 (KJV) Says, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:  walk as children of light:"

When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, and we become new creatures in Christ. As the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Matthew tells us, we are to let the light of the Holy Spirit within us shine through in all we do so others can see our good works, and glorify God for them. As the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Ephesians tells us we are to walk as children of light. In short, we are called to be a light in a dark world.

As Christians we should be easily identified by our words, and actions. People should be able to identify us by the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit as follows: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. I encourage you to ask yourself, if others see these things in you. Are others able to recognize that there is something different about you? Can they clearly tell by your words and actions that you are a born again believer, and follower of Jesus Christ? Or, do you dim the light of Christ within you via your words and actions? It is vital that we live our lives in a manner that reflects who we are in Christ. The manner in which we live our personal lives is our greatest witness for Him. When others see us live our lives in a Godly manner and the divine peace and joy it brings us, they will want what we have.

Far too many self-proclaimed Christians attend Sunday morning worship services, and allow that to be the only way someone could recognize them as being of the Christian faith. Attending worship services on Sunday mornings, and then going out into the world displaying behavior that in no way reflects the light of Christ within us does more damage than good. Proclaiming to be a Christian and living like lost souls does more harm than good to the reputation of Christians, and Christianity overall. This type behavior has earned Christians labels such as "hypocrites." Clearly when the lost see negative behavior in Christians they may decide they want no part in becoming a Christian or in Christianity overall. The vital point here is this type behavior can result in lost souls dying without having accepted Christ.

I urge Christians everywhere to make sure your words and actions line up with who you say you are as a born again believer, and follower of Jesus Christ. Live you life in a manner that makes clear you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. Conduct yourself in a manner that allows others to see the fruit of the Spirit. Stand firm in your faith and on God's Word even if it means standing alone. I encourage you to remember that you are called to be a light in this dark world.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

Feel Good Preaching

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) Says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

Take note that the above passage of scripture uses the phrase "All scripture" recognizing that all scripture means that each and every Word of the Bible is important, necessary, and has a purpose. This verse goes on to tell us God's Word is profitable for doctrine which means a belief or set of beliefs taught by a Church. It further instructs that it is profitable for reproof which means an expression of blame or disapproval. It goes on to inform us that scripture is profitable for correction and for instruction in righteousness which means that it is profitable in correcting us, and in instructing us on how to live our lives in obedience to God. All of the profitable elements listed in this verse of scripture are of vital importance as is each and every single Word of God.

We live in a world where many people are adding words, changing words, and taking words away from the Bible in order for it to fit the lifestyle they are choosing to live. The Bible tells us in the book of revelation not to add or take away one word from scripture yet that is going on. There are pastors who opt only to preach on God's promises, and the blessings that He is prepared to rain down upon us while omitting sermons that touch on the importance of living in obedience to God, and the curses that come with failing to do so.

I am by no means saying that preachers should not preach sermons that lift up and encourage. Sermons that uplift and encourage, sermons that include the fact that God desires to bless us, and sermons that include all the wonderful promises He has made to us are very important. What I am saying is that sermons that include how important it is to live in obedience to God and the trouble it causes us when we don't are equally important.

Preachers who preach only what I call "feel good preaching" are not doing their hearers justice as they are limiting scripture by omitting vital sermons on obedience and disobedience. If a child misbehaves their parents are more than likely not going to bless them with a new toy. Just as this is true congregation members should not be led to believe God is eager to rain blessings down upon them while they are living in disobedience to Him.

It seems that more and more sermons are aimed at keeping congregation members coming back. Many sermons have the purpose of ensuring congregation members are reminded and encouraged often to tithe. In short, many are about money. Many pastors seem to avoid preaching the whole truth for fear they may run some people away from the Church, but this should never be a reason to sugar coat the Word of God. The truth does in fact upset some, but that's okay. If the truth offends some people, then they needed to hear it. I encourage you to recognize that God does indeed have the desire to rain blessings down on us, and that He has made us wonderful promises that He will keep. I encourage you also to recognize the importance of living in obedience to God because you have the desire in your heart to do so. Live in obedience to God, and you will be living the best life you could ever possibly hope to live.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

Equally Yoked

II Corinthians 6:14 (KJV) Says, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:  for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"
I Corinthians 15:33 (KJV) Says, "Be not deceived:  evil communcations corrupt good manners."

In the above verse of scripture taken from the book of II Corinthians Christians are warned about surrounding ourselves socially with unbelievers. While Christians are to mingle among the lost spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ we are not to spend idle time with them involving ourselves in activities that do not fit who we are as born again believers in, and followers of Jesus Christ. Christians are human beings, and as such we can fall into temptation. If we surround ourselves with people who tell dirty jokes, get drunk, partake in sexual promiscuity, lie, cheat, are unkind to others, abuse the people in their life, and other like behaviors we are headed for trouble. First and foremost as Christians we should be uncomfortable with these behaviors secondary to the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Secondly, Satan is a master manipulator. He is a liar, deceiver, and the author of confusion. He would love nothing better than to cause you to turn your back on God, stop spreading the gospel, and live your life in a manner that matches that of a person who is lost. When you surround yourself with lost souls, slowly but surely Satan will draw you into the secular world, and you will appear no different than one that is lost. You will no longer be a light in a dark world. As my twin sister says, "It's a short trip from standing outside the fire to being in the middle of it."

As the above passage of scripture taken from I Corinthians warns us evil communication can corrupt us. We must be vigilant recognizing that interacting with evil communication is a snare of Satan. For example, if someone tells a dirty joke, and we listen to it and join in the laughter it brought on we are behaving no differently than the lost. Being surrounded by the wrong people makes us vulnerable to falling prey to those Satan has sent to tempt us with phrases such as "just try it." If we agree to go to a movie that we know has content that God would not approve of just to be accepted socially then we are hiding the light of Christ in us. If we listen to or join in on gossip then we are partaking in a behavior that does not fit the Christian we claim to be. In short, when we as Christians live our lives in a manner no different from those that are lost while proclaiming to be Christians, we are damaging the reputation of Christians and Christianity overall. It is behavior such as this among self-proclaimed Christians that has earned Christians the reputation among non-believers of being a bunch of hypocrites. Worst of all, we are missing opportunity after opportunity to lead lost people to Christ.

I cannot stress enough the importance of being equally yoked in all of our relationships. This means we marry someone who is Godly, and that we surround ourselves with friends who are born again believers in, and followers of Jesus Christ. It is so important that we stress this lesson to our children in hopes that  they heed the lesson, and avoid inviting chaos into their lives. I've witnessed married couples who are unequally yoked and the struggles they face with some ending in divorce.  I've witnessed Christians who have gotten off track because they chose to spend idle time with friends that are unequally yoked for purposes other than witnessing to them in an attempt to lead them to Christ.  I've seen firsthand born again believers in Jesus Christ, who were serving the Lord in many ways, turn their back on God, and fall prey to the temptations of the world after allowing Satan to lure them away with his wiles.

I encourage you to stand firm in your faith, if it means standing alone. I encourage you also to live your life in a manner that fits who you say you are as a born again believer, and follower of Jesus Christ.  Don't fall prey to Satan's wiles, and participate in things that you know do not fit who you claim to be. I urge you to be the Godly witness, through your words and your actions, that God has called you to be.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

God Never Changes

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Malachi 3:6 (KJV) Says, "For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."

As the above two verses of scripture tell us, God never changes. This means He is still a God of miracles, He is and will forever be all powerful, present everywhere, and all-knowing. This means there is no sickness or wound He can't heal, no disease He can't cure, no situation He can't restore, and no problem so great He can't solve it.

All God asks us to do is to take all of our problems to Him in prayer, believe in Him with all of our heart, mind and soul, have faith even as small as a mustard seed, trust Him, and wait on His perfect timing. I encourage you to take a moment to ponder what a privilege it is to be able to cast all of our cares on Him knowing that nothing is beyond His power.

God's Word is full of promises He has kept, and He has kept and will keep every single one He has made. The Bible  is full of battles won by those who had God on their side. There are many examples of people who believed in Him and His power, and were healed by Him with Him telling them after healing them that their faith had made the whole.

God doesn't promise us that as Christians we won't face trials and tribulations in this world. In fact, He tells us that we will, but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. God also assures us that He is with us always, and that He will walk through our storms with us. He tells us that He will hold our right hand.

I urge you to pray talking to God as your best friend. I encourage you to read His Word, meditate on it knowing that it is the one hundred percent truth, and to have faith in God and His timing which is perfect. There is no need to go through life carrying burdens, when we can take them to God in prayer and leave them with Him. Remember that God blesses us with strength, comfort, and divine peace among other blessings and all we have to do to receive these things along with others is to trust Him, have faith in Him, believe in His power, live in obedience to Him, and wait patiently on His perfect timing.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. God bless you!

Hearing From God

John 10:27 (KJV) Says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV) Says, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." John 14:26 (KJV) Says, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

Many people have shared with me that God doesn't speak to them. If you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ, I assure you God speaks to you. God also speaks to the lost by convicting their hearts prompting them to come to Him in prayer, and accept His precious gift of salvation. With that said God does indeed speak to us. We miss Him speaking to us only when we fail to listen, and do so with intent.

One of the ways in which God speaks to us is through the Holy Spirit. For example, when a person comes to mind out of the blue, reach out to them they may need prayer, and recognize the thought as the Holy Spirit talking to you. If you have a prompting to perform an act of kindness, recognize the prompting as coming from the Holy Spirit, and perform the act of kindness . Have you ever walked by someone in need, and after walking past them repeatedly been bothered with the thought that you should have stopped to help them? That is the Holy Spirit letting you know that you should have stopped. In short, God placed the Holy Spirit within us to lead, guide, and direct our path.

Another manner in which we hear from God is through other people. For example, if God has placed something on your heart or on your mind, and it recurs, He may place a person in your path who confirms what He has been telling you.  Let me add here to make certain that the person who shares something with you is a born again believer, and that what they tell you lines up with what God has placed on your heart and/or on your mind.

Yet another way God speaks to us is through His Word. God speaks to us as we read His Word by shining light on scripture that pertains to what He wants us to glean from it at a particular time for a particular reason. I strongly suggest going to God in prayer prior to reading His Word, and asking Him to shed light on anything that He specifically wants to tell you at that moment. He will certainly do so. He speaks to us through all scripture. There are times, however, when He has something in particular that He desires to say to us through His Word.

One more way that God speaks to us is through prayer. When we go to God in prayer, if we will pause to listen periodically as we prayer, God will speak to our hearts. Prayer is vital as it is our means of communicating with our Lord and Savior, and what a privilege it is to be able to go to Him anytime day or night and talk to Him as a friend. Prayer is a vital part of our building and maintaining a strong personal relationship with Him.

Yet another avenue through which we hear from God is circumstances. For example, if we allow ourselves to drift away from God, spending less and less time with Him, He may allow something to occur that forces us to slow down. When that happens, most times the first thing we do is go to God in prayer asking for help. He will do whatever is necessary to prevent us from drifting to far away from Him.

If you think that they are not hearing from God then there is only one reason for that, and it is because you're not listening. As God tells us in the above verse of scripture taken from the book of John His sheep hear His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him. I don't know if you are aware of this, but multiple herds of sheep can be together in the same pasture, and when a shepherd calls out to his sheep only his sheep heed his voice, and follow him. The remainder of the sheep continue as they are until their shepherd calls out to them. Just as the sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd, we as children of God should have such a close relationship with Him that we hear Him, when He speaks to us.

I encourage you to build a strong personal relationship with God through prayer, reading and studying His Word, meditating on His Word, attending worship services, and spending time alone with Him simply listening with intent. As the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah tells us, if we will call unto God He will show us great and mighty things. God loves you tremendously, and He will never leave you nor forsake you. Again I urge you to spend time with Him, and to listen with intent as He speaks to you through whatever avenue He chooses. If we grow distant from God it is not because He walked away from us, but rather that we have distanced ourselves from Him. I urge you to listen for God to speak to you, and too obey His voice as it will result in your living the best life you could ever possibly hope to live.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message, and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

The Best Life

Romans 10:9 (KJV) Says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) Says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." John 14:21 (KJV) Says, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:  and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

Let me begin by saying that if you want to live the best life you could ever possibly hope to live, the way to do that is to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. There is nothing greater than having all powerful, all knowing, omnipresent Almighty God dwelling in you via the Holy Spirit as you walk through this world filled with trials and tribulations. There are no words to describe the divine peace and comfort that come with having the creator of all that is walking with you through this life. You can go to Him in prayer anytime day or night and He is there to listen, there is no problem so great He can't solve it, no wound or sickness He can't heal, no disease He can't cure, and no situation He can't restore. I urge you not to put off accepting Christ for another second. Don't try to clean up your life before you ask Jesus into your heart because that is not necessary. God loves you right where you are, and there are no changes necessary for you to make prior to going to Him in prayer and accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Once you accept Him then He will help you clean up your life. So the first step to living your best life is to go to God in prayer and tell Him you're a sinner, ask him to forgive you of all your sins, tell Him you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and that He rose again the third day, and ask Jesus to come into your heart telling Him you want to make Him your personal Lord and Savior. Accepting Jesus Christ not only guarantees that you will have the best earthly life you could ever possibly hope to have, but more importantly it guarantees you that when your days on earth are finished you will spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Choosing to accept Christ is the greatest decision you will ever make.

The next step to the best life possible is to learn to trust God with all your heart. As the above verse of scripture taken from proverbs tells us we are to trust God, and not our own understanding. God is all knowing therefore He knows what is best for us, and because He loves us, He wants what is best for us. We must trust God even when we don't understand what He is doing in our lives. For example, if we apply for a job that we are more than qualified for and yet fail to be hired we can trust that God's plan did not include us working there, and that He will lead us to the job best suited for us, and that we will be hired. Wait patiently on the Lord, continue in prayer, read and study His Word, and have faith knowing He heard your prayers, and that He will meet your needs.

Not only must we trust God we must also obey Him. The Bible is God's instruction book for life, and it is thorough in its content. Read and study God's Word daily, and you will be amazed at all that He shows you from within it. Ask God to help you rid your life of the things that do not fit who you are as a follower of Jesus Christ, and He will do it. He may take some things away instantly and others may require you trusting Him to give you the strength to lay them down. As human beings we are all sinners, and as such we are a continued work in progress. There is only one perfect, and that is Jesus. We will all be a work in progress until the day God calls us home. With that said God knows our hearts, and He knows when we have a sincere desire to change, and have fallen pray to temptation. He knows when we are sincerely remorseful. On the other hand, He is also well aware of willful sin committed by those with no desire in their heart to change. There is a huge difference between the two, and make no mistake there is no fooling God.

If you want to live the best life you could ever possibly hope to live, I urge you to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and begin your walk through this life with Him immediately. If you have already accepted Christ, and you have somehow drifted away from Him, I urge you to ask Him to forgive you and to get back on track with Him immediately. I encourage you to pray, read and study God's Word, and to trust Him with all things. I encourage you to live in obedience to Him. Living your life as a born again believer in Jesus Christ trusting and obeying Him doesn't mean you will never have trials and tribulations in this life, but it does ensure that you will not walk through even one of them alone.  Remember God loves you tremendously and wants what is best for you. You are His child. When we as believers trust and obey God it is to live our greatest life, and more importantly it is pleasing to Him. You will find divine peace, strength, comfort, and so much more by choosing to trust and obey God. You will experience a joy in your heart of a magnitude that makes clear it could only come from God.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, send me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

People Need People

I Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV) Says, "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) Says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Proverbs 27:17 (KJV) Says, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Romans 15:1-2 (KJV) Says, "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification." Hebrews 3:13 (KJV) Says, "But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (KJV) Says, "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow:  but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."

I have heard many people make remarks like "I don't like people," "I don't need people in my life," I'm better off alone," I can't tolerate people," "people get on my nerves," "I don't want to be around people," and other similar statements. The truth is God knew that we would need one another as we walk through this life, and He made that clear in His Word. One verse of scripture in support of this is found above and is taken from the book of 1 Thessalonians where we are instructed to comfort and encourage each other. If we are being honest with ourselves, we have all needed comfort and encouragement multiple times in our lives, and having experienced that need we should be more than willing to comfort and encourage others that need it.

The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Hebrews further supports the fact that God knew we would need one another. It instructs us to come together exhorting one another. By definition, the word exhort means to strongly encourage or urge someone to do something. We have all needed uplifting more than once in our lives, and God blessed us with people in our lives that are willing to do that, if we will lay pride aside, and accept the help being offered us.

The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Proverbs tells us that iron sharpens iron and that a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. When you rub an iron blade against another iron blade both become sharper. As friends we should stand by one another through the good times and the bad. We should be willing to stand with one another in support helping each other endure whatever storms come our way, and eager to celebrate the victories in one another's lives.

Romans 15:1-2 Makes clear that when we are strong and others are weak we should be there to support them. We have all experienced weakness in our lives, and needed to lean on God, and another person or group of people drawing from their strength.

The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Hebrews instructs us to encourage one another, and help one another to resist sin. We are to hold one another accountable in a loving Christ-like way. As a Christian never underestimate the benefits of fellowship with like-minded individuals. The love and support gleaned from Christ-like support has kept many individuals on track preventing them from straying away from their Lord and Savior.

Finally, the passage of scripture taken from the book of Ecclesiastes makes clear that two are better than one. This passage points out that, if you are alone and you fall, you have no one to help you up. If, however, you are with another person you have someone to lift you up. This not only refers to falling in the literal sense, but includes falling away from God, falling emotionally, taking a fall in life such as job loss, the loss of a loved one, and the list goes on and on. We should be there to lift one another up and encourage one another no matter what type fall occurs.

I urge you to consider how important we are to one another as we walk through this life together. Life can be extremely difficult at times. Some of the storms we face are so difficult that in order to make it through them we need God, and we need one another. We have all been faced with painful situations in our lives, and some so painful we didn't think we'd make it through them, but looking back we recognize that God and the people he blessed us with in our lives saw us through it all.

If you are a person who has a negative attitude toward people and don't think you need them to the degree that you shut people out choosing to spend a great deal of time alone, I urge you to recognize the importance of allowing people into your life. I urge you to recognize that God sends people into our lives to be a blessing. I urge you to open your eyes and recognize which ones He has sent you. I urge you to appreciate them, love them, and respect them, and to count them as the blessings they are. If you are a human being then you need other human beings in your life for love, support, encouragement, strength, and fellowship. Needing help from others in whatever form is not a sign of weakness it is merely being human. I encourage you to open your heart and let others into your life, and to be there for them. In summation, there is no shame in admitting that we need one another because the fact is people need people.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

Rock Bottom

Luke 15:11-24 (KJV) Says, "And He said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his Father, Father give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in the land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly; with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, how many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his Father. But when he was yet a great way off, his Father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the Father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:"

In the above passage of scripture Jesus shares a parable about a young man who ask his Father for his inheritance, and the Father complies. This young man as we see takes his inheritance, gathers his things together, leaves his Father's house, and travels a good distance from home. This young man set out eager and ready to be on his own, and to live it up. Live it up he did, to the degree that he wasted every single bit of his inheritance. He landed at rock bottom, and as the scripture states he was in want. He wound up taking a job feeding swine, and being so hungry that he wanted to eat the husks that he was feeding the swine, and there was not one person who offered to feed him.

It was at rock bottom that this young man began to face and too own the mistakes he had made. As the scripture puts it, he came to himself. He began thinking about all his Father had in provision, and how the bread his Father's servants ate was so plentiful there was enough to spare. He began to think about how blessed he was, when he was at home. He faced and owned at that moment the fact that because of his bad choices he found himself in an extremely low place, and in great need. He realized he had made many mistakes for which he was remorseful.

As we see in the above passage of scripture, this young man was down trodden, and feeling so bad about himself and the choices  he had made he felt he didn't even deserve to be called his Father's son. Feeling guilty, ashamed, and remorseful he headed home not knowing how his Father would receive him. The thoughts he was having about himself and his choices more than likely came with thoughts that his Father would be angry with him, disappointed in him, ready to give him a lecture, and  possibly reject him altogether. Being a Father who loved his son, however, this man received his child with open arms. In fact, he had so much compassion for him; the first thing he did was throw his arms around his neck and kiss him. He then had his servants bring his son the best clothes and shoes, and gifted him a ring. He then ordered that the biggest calf be killed and prepared in order to serve his son a fine meal. All this Father wanted was to have a huge meal prepared and celebrate the fact that his wayward son had come home. It is worthy to note that his Fathers said nothing at all to his son about the mistakes he had made.

There are many of us who have hit rock bottom at one time or another in our life, and we have had some of the very thoughts and feelings that the young man in this parable experienced. If you are at a place where you've allowed your life to spin out of control, and you're having these thoughts and feelings recognize them as coming from Satan, and rebuke them immediately. Just as the Father in this parable was eager and excited to welcome his son home your family is waiting for you. They're eager and ready to throw there arms around your neck, kiss you, and welcome you home. No one is waiting to condemn you they are waiting with love and compassion to celebrate your return. I urge you not to wait any longer to make the decision to return home to the people who love you. They are waiting for you with love and open arms.

This parable also applies also to the way our Heavenly Father feels towards those who go astray. When a person hits rock bottom they also have negative thoughts about the way God views them and feels about them, and the bad choices they've made. I can tell you for certain that the moment you opt to repent and turn back to God, there is a celebration in heaven. God is not standing ready to condemn you for your mistakes. He is eager to hear your prayers, and welcome you back to the fold with compassion, love, and open arms.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I urge you to do so immediately. Go to God in prayer and ask Him to forgive you of all your sins, tell Him you believe that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins, and that you believe Jesus rose again. If you believe this in your heart and confess it with your mouth to the Lord in prayer you have been saved, and will spend eternity in Heaven with your Lord and Savior. If you prayed to accept Christ, leave me a message so I can pray for you, and praise God with you. It is without a doubt the greatest decision you have ever made.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

God's Strength In Our Storms

Philippians 4:13 (KJV) Says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) Says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee:  be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:13 (KJV) Says, "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." Psalms 31:24 (KJV) Says, "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."

As born again believers in Jesus Christ we can find great hope and strength in the above passages of scripture as we walk through the dark places in our lives. Most, if not all, Christians will tell you they believe in the Word of God, and that His Word is God breathed, and that it is one hundred percent truth in its entirety. Yet, when walking through storms in their lives some fail to stand firm on the promises of His Word, and instead experience a faith failure secondary to their lack of true trust in Him. God's Word is full of promises to us, and He has NEVER nor will He EVER break a single one of them. He is an unchanging trustworthy God who is there for us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. God's Word tells us that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that means He is still a God of miracles. Which further means there is no sickness or wound He can't heal, no disease He can't cure, and no situation He can't restore. There is nothing beyond the power of Almighty God, and as born again believers in Jesus Christ we have the power of God dwelling within us in the form of the Holy Spirit we only need remind ourselves of these things.

When you find yourself walking through a dark valley hold on and trust God. Remind yourself as it says in the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Philippians that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Remind yourself that as Isaiah 41:10 says  God instructs you not to be afraid because He is with you, and not to be dismayed for He is your God, and that He will strengthen you and uphold you with His the right hand of His righteousness. Remind yourself that He tells us in Isaiah 41:13 that He will hold our right hand, tell us not to be afraid, and that He will help us. Remind yourself also, that in Psalms 31:4 God tells us to be of good courage and He will strengthen our heart, if we will only put our trust in Him. Read the above verses of scripture slowly, and take in what they truly mean.

Life can be, and often times is very difficult. We all go through struggles, fall prey to temptation, and are hit by storms that we never saw coming. The Word of God tells us that it rains on the just and the unjust. The Word of God also tells us that we will face trials and tribulations in this life, and as Christians we are not exempt from those things. The good news is that no matter what life throws at us as born again believers in Jesus Christ, we can stand firm on the promises found in His Word, we can be certain that God will hold our hand and walk with us as we conquer the mountains we must climb. God promises us strength, comfort, divine peace, love, understanding, forgiveness, compassion and so much more. He provides us with everything we need to battle Satan and His wiles, and come out victorious.

If you are going through a storm in your life, I encourage you to remain steadfast in your faith, and to go to God in prayer crying out to Him in prayer. He is listening and He is more than able. I urge you to remind yourself of His promises, and to truly believe in your heart that you can trust what His Word tells us. It is of a certainty that we can rely on Him. With God by your side you can make it through whatever storm you're facing. He will be with you every step of the way, and He will provide you with the strength you need to make it. You are a child of the most High God, and He loves you tremendously right where you are. Stay strong in Christ and with His help, which He promises over and over in His word, you will make it through.

If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I urge you to do so immediately. Don't put off the greatest decision you will ever make. We are not promised tomorrow. Romans 10:9-10 (KJV) Says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." If you truly believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and that He rose again, go to God in prayer, ask Him to forgive you of your sins, tell Him you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and that He rose again, and ask Him to come into your heart and be your Lord and Savior. If you prayed to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior please leave me a message so that I can pray for you as you begin life anew.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

Begin Again

Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV) Says, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning:  great is thy faithfulness. Jeremiah 3:22 (KJV) Says, "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God." Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) Says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Micah 7:19 (KJV) Says, "He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and after doing so gotten off track finding yourself in a backsliding state? If so, you can turn things around, and you can do so immediately. God is not an unforgiving and condemning God. As the above verses of scripture taken from the book of Lamentations tell us, He does not consume us because He is merciful, and His compassions do not fail. These verses go on to tell us that His mercy and compassions are new every morning.

God is never going to force himself on you. If you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ and you are in a state of backslide having thoughts such as "It's too late for me to turn back to God", "I have been living in sin for so long there's no way God will forgive me", "there's no hope for me", "I had my chance and I wasted it", and/or any other like thoughts recognize them for exactly what they are lies straight from Satan. Satan would love nothing more than for you to believe his lies, and continue living in sin. Don't give him that victory.

The above verse of scripture taken from the Book of Jeremiah tells us that all we have to do is return to God and He will heal our backslidings. God is a loving, kind, forgiving, merciful God. He is not a Condemning God. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Hebrews tells us to go boldly unto the throne of grace, and that God will give us  mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Micah makes clear that if we will turn back to God, He will have compassion on us; and will throw all of our sins (not some, but all) into the depths of the sea.
There is no sin scale with God. Sin is sin so don't feel as though your sin is so great there's no hope for you, and that God would never forgive you. He will forgive you, if you will only go to Him in prayer, and ask Him to.

If Satan has led you astray step by step, and you're feeling hopeless, go to God in prayer immediately and ask Him to forgive you of your sins, tell Him you will turn away from them and back to Him. Remember it doesn't matter how terrible you think your sins are with God sin is sin, and He will forgive you. Lay the heavy weight of your sins down at the cross, and be rid of that weighty burden. God will forgive you immediately, and cast your sins into the depths of the sea. You are His child, created in His own image, and He loves you so very much. God will give you the strength you need to resist the temptations of Satan. It is never too late to begin again. Trust in and rely on God, and He will walk through life with you holding your hand every step of the way.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so.

A Gold Star

Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV) Says, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

In order to build and maintain a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it is vital that we pray, read and study God's Word, and meditate on it. It is also vital that we ask Him to lead, guide, and direct our path, and that we sit quietly listening and watching for all that He desires to show us, and all that He desires to place on our hearts.

In the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah God tells us that if we will call on Him, He will answer us. He also tells us in this verse that He will show us great and mighty things that we know not. With that said, I want to share a personal story that without a doubt demonstrates the power, magnificence, and love of Almighty God.

This story begins with my youngest brother's best friend. He and my brother have been great friends since they were little children. I can remember them laying side by side on our den floor at home, watching movies, and laughing for hours. They remained close friends into adulthood. Not only did my brother love this friend, but our entire family did as well. This young man was always willing to help others. In fact, he helped many people, and groups of people in numerous ways. In short, because there are not enough words to describe all he did to bless others, he was an outstanding example of what a fine Christian man with a loving and compassionate heart looks like.

Without going into details, my brothers friend passed away last week, and his death came unexpectedly. My brother told me that his friend was taken by life flight to a nearby hospital, and that told me that whatever the problem was; it was serious. I began praying right away. I asked God to be with this young man, and his family, and to please heal him. In my prayer I told God that His Word tells us that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that this means He is still a God of miracles, and that I was asking for one. This young man had to have emergency surgery, and when I got that update I prayed for God to guide the surgeons hands, and I continued to ask God for a miracle. When I came home from Church Wednesday night, my brother was standing in the driveway, and I told him that I had been praying all day, and asked for another update. With a broken hearted look on his face, he said, "you haven't heard?" I said no what is it? He said "he passed away." I said, I'm so sorry, and we shared a hug, but no more words; as we were both speechless and too choked up for conversation. I entered the house through the garage and went immediately out the back door, and onto the deck. The deck is where I go daily to pray, read God's Word, watch and listen for God to show me anything he wants to show me, and to listen for anything he desires to place on my heart. That night, I needed to be alone, and talk to God.

As I sat in my usual chair I began talking to God, and I have to be honest being only human I was upset. I reminded God of what His Word says, and I asked Him why he took this young man. I told God he was a great Christian man doing wonderful work for His kingdom, that he was a husband, and the father of two children, that he was a brother, and that he had a mother who loves him tremendously. I told God that it hurt me to see my brother so broken, and to witness the sadness that this great loss had brought on my family and so many others. I said God I just don't understand.

Then I sat quietly gazing at the same stars that I gaze at nightly, and listening and watching for God to show me something or place something on my heart that made sense. He answered my prayers. The first thing that he placed on my heart was that His ways are not our ways, and that He knows best. He also reminded me that Heaven is amazing, and that my brother's friend is in a far greater place than we could ever imagine. Then God showed me something in a miraculous, amazing, and a divine way. He did so through one of the whitest and  brightest stars in the sky. This is a star that  stands alone, and one that I have stared at on clear nights for at least the past five years. I had been sitting with my face in my hands, and the moment I looked up at this star that I had so often studied, it turned as Gold as it could possibly turn. This once bright white star was now golden. Then God placed on my heart that he was aware that my brother's friend was a steadfast Christian soldier, and that he was gold star worthy for all the blessings he bestowed upon others while he was here on earth.

All that God promises in the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah, he demonstrated for me that night. I called upon Him, He answered me, and He showed me great and mighty things.

I encourage you to cry out to God when you need to, and to watch and listen for him to answer you. He loves us all tremendously and we are all of equal importance to Him. I pray strength and comfort for this young man's mother, his wife, his children, his sister, and his entire family, as well as for his friends. When God calls someone home who impacted so many lives here earth in such a positive way, a huge void is felt immediately. To this young man who meant a great deal to my brother and our entire family, I say with love go rest high, and I have no doubt that God was able to say when they stood face to face, well done my good and faithful servant.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

A Right Heart

Philippians 2:4 (KjV) Says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." 1 John 3:17 (KJV) Says, "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" Galatians 6:2 (KJV) Says, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Proverbs 19:17 (KJV) Says, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again." Proverbs 22:9 (KJV) Says, "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV) Says, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:  for God loveth a cheerful giver." Matthew 6:1-4 (KJV) Says, "Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:  otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in Heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have the glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret:  And thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly."

The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Philippians makes clear that God wants us to look out for one another. The verse taken from 1 John makes clear that if we have plenty, and we know of someone who is in need we should have compassion on them, and help them. This verse also makes clear that, if we know of one in need and we do nothing to help them then the love of God is not in us. As born again believers in, and followers of Jesus Christ who have the Holy Spirit living within us, we should have the desire in our hearts to help those in need when we are able to. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Galatians tells us that bearing one another's burdens is fulfilling the law of Christ. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Proverbs makes clear that those of us who have pity on the poor and lend to them  are lending to the Lord. It also tells us that the Lord will repay us. The verse taken from chapter 22 of proverbs states that those who give to the poor will be blessed. The above verse taken from 2 Corinthians makes clear that we are to give with a right heart. We are not to give while begrudging, or because we have to do so, but because we have the love of Christ in our hearts and we desire to help others. Finally, the verses of scripture taken from the book of Matthew makes clear to us that if we give and make it known or do it for show in order to get the praise of men then their praise alone is our reward. If we give with a right heart and do not boast of our giving to others, but do it in private then we well be rewarded by God Himself. 

By definition, God is love. When we opt to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior then the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, and we become a new creature in Christ. As born again believers in Jesus Christ we should have the desire to help others and to do so with a right heart. The Word of God tells us that Christians are known by their fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is listed for us in Galatians 5:22-23 which says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." If a Christian is aware of someone in need and they do not have the desire in their heart to help them, when they are able to do so then not only is the love of Christ not in them, but they are also failing to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit.

I encourage you to adhere to the Word of God, and to help the poor and needy whenever you are given the opportunity to do so. If you have difficulty helping others without begrudging the help, then go to God in prayer, and ask him to cleanse your heart. Giving to and or helping others and doing so begrudgingly or doing so in order to get the praise of men is in no way pleasing to God. If you have the desire to please God, give without begrudging it, and keep the fact that you helped someone to yourself. The Word of God tells us that we will always have the poor among us, and it warns us about treating them badly. Matthew 25:31-36 (KJV) tells us in the Words of Jesus about God separating the people standing before him on judgment day referring to them as goats and sheep. He places the goats on his left and the sheep on his right. He speaks to those standing on his right hand saying to them come and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. He says to them that He was hungry and they gave Him meat, that He was thirsty and they gave Him drink, that He was a stranger and they took Him in, that He was naked and they clothed Him, that He was sick and they visited Him, that He was in prison and they came to see Him. The righteous then asked him when they did all of these things, and His reply was "Verily, I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the lease of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." He then addresses those standing on His left and says to them "Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away unto everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."  

I encourage to help those in need any time you are given the opportunity to do so. I urge you to remember that it is pleasing to God, and that you are doing it unto Him. God will bless and repay you for being a blessing to others, when you do it with a right heart.  I also encourage you to remember to give because you truly desire to help, not begrudgingly, and not for the praise of men. Don't allow the devil to cause you to pass up an opportunity to be a blessing to someone by convincing you that they're being deceptive. If they are asking for help and do not truly need it then God will deal with them, and he will still bless you.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

Abandon Ship

Philippians 2:1-2 (KJV) Says, "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, , if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." Matthew 18:20 (KJV) Says, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

There is a rapidly growing problem among Churches where the entire truth of God's Word is being preached. The problem is that people are leaving these Churches for Churches that preach only blessings omitting sermons on important topics such as what it looks like and takes to live a true Christian life in obedience to God. There are many reasons people give for leaving their Church. Some leave because they feel their Church isn't offering enough in the way of activities for them, and for their children. Some leave because they have a problem with a Church member, or a group of Church members, and have been offended. Some leave because they feel their Church lacks members that are close to them in age. Some leave because they dislike the music.  Some leave because they are following others that have left. Some leave because they say they don't feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in their Church. In short, there are a number of reasons that individuals are giving as to why they chose to leave their Church.

In the above passage of scripture we see that God finds joy in Christians coming together, and being like minded, being of one accord, and of one mind. It is important to note that God's Word tells us in the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Matthew that where two or three people are gathered in his name he is present. Therefore, if you attend a Church where the truth of God's Word is preached, where the core of the gospel, which is salvation, what it means, and how to accept Christ is shared then unless God calls you to another Church why abandon ship in lieu of remaining loyal to your Church, Church family, and your Pastor?

I understand that issues arise that need to be addressed, and that is true of all Churches. If you feel that your Church doesn't offer enough in the way of activities then maybe you could suggest something, and be a part in your idea coming to fruition instead of looking elsewhere for what you feel your Church is missing. If you have a problem with a Church member or group of Church members then go to them directly and address the issue in a Christ-like manner remembering that we are all fallible human beings. If your Church lacks members that are close to your age go out and invite some that do fall under your age. Inviting people your age will solve your issue, and it will help grow your Church. If you dislike the music then perhaps you could make a request to the person in charge of song selection asking them to incorporate a few of your favorite hymns/songs. Don't leave your Church following other members, or at the urging of people outside your Church.  if you have an inkling to do so remind yourself you are following Christ, not people. If you begin to feel that the Holy Spirit is not present in your Church, remember the verse of scripture from Matthew that clearly states where any two people are gathered in my name, I am present.

I am in no way suggesting that if God called you away from your Church you should stay. If God calls you somewhere other than your Church, you should without a doubt do as He has directed you to do, and leave. If you are attending a Church where the Pastor is preaching sermons that do not line up with the truth of God's Word, you should leave. My point in this blog is to encourage people who are attending a Church where the truth is being preached to remain loyal to their Pastor, their Church, and their Church family, and to make suggestions as well as volunteer to help in areas they feel are their Church's weak points. I further encourage you to work out issues in a Christ-like manner with any individual or group of individuals that you are having problems with. Whatever issue or issues arise for you, first pray about them, and then ask yourself what you can do to assist in resolving them. Addressing with the Pastor what you feel is lacking in your Church may open a door to another area of service made available to you and other Church members. Pray and consider your true reasons for desiring to leave your Church, and if they are valid then leave, but if not don't be so quick to abandon ship.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

False Teachings About Salvation

Romans 10:9-10 (KJV) Says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus; and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." John 3:16 (KJV) Says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER  believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Romans 10:13 (KJV) Says, "For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." II Peter 3:9 (KJV) Says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance." Ephesians 4:30 (KJV) Says, "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

There are those in the world today who are of the opinion that salvation is only available to individuals who have been pre-selected or chosen by God to be saved. That opinion has be born from a misinterpretation of scripture. The Word of God makes very clear that salvation is available to anyone who invites Jesus Christ into their heart asking him to be their Lord and Savior. This is supported in scripture more than once, and I have listed above some of the verses that make clear salvation is available to all. For one, John 3:16 (KJV) which clearly states that WHOSOEVER believes in Him shall not perish, but will have everlasting life. Another confirmation that salvation is available to all is found in Romans 10:13 (KJV) which states that WHOSOEVER calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Every single human being falls under the category of WHOSOEVER. It is also made clear in the above verse of scripture taken from II Peter that God doesn't want ANY to perish, but rather he desires for all to repent, and be saved. God's Word makes it cut and dry that salvation is available to everyone. Therefore, I warn you to trust in the truth of God's Word and stand firm on that not allowing yourselves to fall prey to false teachings secondary to the misinterpretation of scripture.

Yet another false teaching that is prevalent in the world today is that you can lose your salvation. This too is a misnomer. We can backslide and fall out of line with God, but if and when we do we will be under conviction by the Holy Spirit to get back in line with Him and live our lives in obedience. We do not lose our salvation once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior and that is not my opinion; it is a scriptural based fact.  Ephesians 4:30 (KJV) States that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. This makes clear that once we are saved our name is written in the Lamb's book of life, and it remains there. When God's Word tells us that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption, that means that we cannot lose our salvation and that seal is and will be in place until the day that the Lord calls us home.

The ever growing opinion that one, salvation is only available to a select few, and two, that we can lose our salvation is damaging to the growth of God's kingdom. Spreading the false idea that salvation is only available to certain individuals can and does cause some lost individuals to give up on accepting Christ, and giving up on accepting Christ means spending eternity in Hell. This is a horribly tragic result, and it is brought on by individuals who go about spreading false doctrine.

Spreading the misnomer that salvation can be lost is also damaging. It gives the impression that we must live our lives in perfection in order to hold onto our salvation, and the fact is that not one single human being can live their life in perfection no matter how hard they try. Salvation is not earned there is no work or works we can do to obtain it. Salvation is a free gift from God that is there for WHOSOEVER chooses to accept it. The only one who has ever, or will ever, walk this earth in perfection is Jesus Christ Himself. Romans 3:23 (KJV) clearly states "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." We cannot earn our salvation that would be taking credit for what Jesus suffering and dying on the cross did for us, and that was paying our sin debt in full. We had nothing to do with salvation being made available to us, and being human if we had, we would boast about it. This too is supported in scripture in Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) which says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

In short, remember, for one, that the Word of God makes clear that salvation is available to WHOSOEVER chooses to invite Jesus Christ into their heart making Him their Lord and Savior.  Remember also that God's Word makes clear that we cannot lose our salvation, but rather that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day that God calls us home once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Base your beliefs on the truth of God's Word not on false doctrine which the Bible warns us to beware of.

Finally, if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and you have the desire in your heart to do so, Go to God in prayer tell him you are a sinner, ask him to forgive you of all your sins, tell him you believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and that he rose again. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and tell Him that you want Him to be your Lord and Savior. The decision to accept Christ is the greatest decision you will ever make. It is life changing, and it is free for the asking. It means that he will walk beside you in this life holding your hand, that he will never leave you nor forsake you, and that when you leave this world you will spend eternity with Him in Heaven, and those are just a few of the many blessings that come along with being a born again believer in Jesus Christ. If it is on your heart to accept Christ, don't put it off for one more second; as we are not promised the next second of life, and the result of procrastinating is that you are risking spending eternity in Hell. The importance of this message requires that I be blunt, and it is my prayer that all people would come to accept Christ, and to live their lives in obedience to him.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. If you read this and chose to accept Christ I would love for you to leave me a message letting me know about your decision so that I can pray for you. Remember you are a Whosoever. May God bless you!

A Choice

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 (KJV) Says, "Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee."

In the above passage of scripture it is made clear that when we live in obedience to God and serve Him we will be blessed, and when we live in disobedience to God and opt not to serve Him; there are consequences. We are born with freewill, therefore it is up to us to choose how we will live our life. Choosing to live in obedience to God and in service to Him, as the above passage of scripture states, is to choose a life that brings joy and gladness to our hearts. It is to live a life filled with abundance in all things. On the other hand, when we choose to live in disobedience and opt not to serve Him, it is to choose to live in need, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and wanting in all things. In short, choosing to live in disobedience to God; opting not to serve Him is to choose an extremely difficult life; a life of misery.

Many people choose not to live a Christian life because they perceive it to be strict, and void of any and all fun and happiness, when nothing could be further from the truth. Living in obedience to God and opting to serve him is to live the greatest life anyone could ever possibly hope to live. It is to take all of your problems to the Lord in prayer, and leave them there knowing that there is no problem so great he can't solve it. It is to lay down the weight of all our worries and to live in the divine peace that He has given us. It is important to note here that "divine" peace given to us by Him is a peace that is so great, as His Word tells us, it surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7 (KJV) "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"). Living in obedience to God and serving him, is to live a life knowing that you have Almighty God walking with you every second of each and every single day. It is to be able to rest knowing that he will never leave you nor forsake you. It is to relax knowing that God can make a way where we don't see one, and that if we will trust and believe in Him, He will meet our needs. It is knowing that we never walk through one single trial, tribulation, or storm in our life alone, but rather that God is walking with us; holding our hand.

Living our lives in disobedience to God, and opting not to serve him is choosing to live a life that is void of God, and all that he provides for us. It is to live our lives creating our on storms secondary to falling prey to the temptations of Satan, and allowing him to devour and destroy us. It is to live our lives carrying the weight of all our problems and the burdens that this life can bring, and that's a tremendous amount of weight; yet many choose to carry it in lieu of giving it all to God and living for Him. It is to live a life in want and need of even the most basic of things. It is to place ourselves in a vulnerable state where we easily fall prey to the temptations that Satan puts before us, and then suffer the consequences of that. Satan knows our weaknesses and he will lure us via those weaknesses attacking us every opportunity he gets to do so. Living in disobedience to God and opting not to serve him is to live a life filled with doubt, confusion, and misery buying into the lies of Satan, and falling prey to him. Remember God's Word tells us that Satan is the author of doubt and confusion, and that he is the father of lies.

There are far more blessings that come with living in obedience to God and choosing to serve Him, so many in fact that I could never possibly list them all here. There are also far more troubles, pain, and misery that come from living a life in disobedience to God, and opting not to serve Him, and it is not possible to list each of those here either. We are born with freewill, therefore, how we are going to live our lives is our choice. We must choose one or the other. We cannot live in partial disobedience and expect God to bless us. None of us will ever be perfect as there has only been one who walked this earth in perfection, and that is Jesus Christ. God knows our hearts, however, and he knows whether or not we are sincere in our efforts to live our lives in a Christ-like manner.

God will not force Himself on you or demand that you make the right choice. That is not who He is. In fact, there is a well-known painting that has Jesus standing at a door waiting and wanting to come in, and it is worth noting that the door he is standing at has no knob. The reason for this is that he is waiting on you to open the door, and ask him in. He will not force the door open. I urge you to open the door, and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. I urge you to make the right choice. I urge you to opt to live in obedience to God, and to serve him. I urge you to choose God's love, divine peace, joy, forgiveness, understanding, and all the other blessings that come with living for him over the doubt, confusion, lies, and misery that Satan has to offer. If you are honest with yourself this should be the easiest decision you've ever made.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!

More Than Able in Christ

Genesis 1:27 (KJV) Says, "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) Says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Romans 5:8 (KJV) Says, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 8:28 (KJV) Says, "And we know that all things work together for good for them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) Says, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Philippians 4:13 (KJV) Says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

The above verse of scripture taken from Genesis makes clear to us that we were created in the image of Almighty God Himself. Knowing this should be enough for people to recognize that they are beautiful. Take a moment to consider that out of the millions of people in this world God found you to be necessary as he creates no two people alike. That in and of itself is a miracle. With God as your divine creator you can rest assured you are worthy, you are enough, you are loved, you are beautiful, and you are necessary.

In the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah, it is made clear that God has a plan for our lives. It is also made clear that his plan is for us to enjoy a life filled with His divine peace, and joy as we live in obedience to Him.

In the two verses listed above from the book of Romans, we see that God loves each of us so much that He sent His Only Son who was perfect and sinless to die on the cross paying our sin debt in full. That is a love so great that there are no words to articulate it. He also tells us that He will work all things out for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. A good example of this is Joseph who shared dreams he had with his brothers telling them that in his dreams they would bow down to him. This along with the fact that their father had given Joseph a coat of many colors which they saw as favoritism prompted the brothers to be overcome with jealousy. They threw Joseph into a pit and sold him into slavery. God took all that Joseph went through and worked it for good as through a series of events, Joseph winds up going from the pit to the palace, and his brothers indeed end up bowing down to him. God placed Joseph in a high position under Pharaoh, king of Egypt which allowed him to distribute food to his family, during a time of famine in their land. Joseph was able to do this years after his brothers had thrown him into that pit.

 If we will remind ourselves that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us then we should have no problem doing as the above verse of scripture taken from the book of Hebrews tells us to do, and that is to go boldly before the throne of God in prayer bringing all things to Him. Remember God is all-powerful, all-knowing, He is everywhere, and there is no problem he can't solve, no sickness he can't heal, no disease he can't cure, and no situation he can't restore.

Finally, the above passage of scripture taken from the book of Philippians sums it up well by making clear to us that there is nothing we can't do with God working through us, and walking by our side. We can face the storms in our lives knowing that we have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within us, that He is with us every second of every single day, that He will never leave us nor forsake us, that He loves us tremendously, and that He wants what is best for us.

It is vital that we come to believe and take to heart the truth of God's Word, and stop allowing Satan to convince us via the thoughts he puts in our minds that we are weak, that we will never be able to accomplish the tasks before us, that there is no way we will make it through the storms we face in life, that situations are over our load, and that we are not enough. When we allow Satan to push God's Word, which is the absolute truth, out of our minds, and replace it with his lies then we allow him to stop us from moving forward in life. Believing Satan's lies  prevents us from accomplishing all that God has planned for our lives, and from living the life filled with divine peace and joy that God intends for us to live. It lands us in a state of misery and depression which has a negative affect on everyone and everything in our lives.  Satan is thrilled when we buy into his lies, and allow them to overtake us because in this state of mind we are not likely to be a very good example of what being a Christian looks like. It prevents us from  witnessing to others via our character, behavior, attitude, and responses in all that we do. It hides from others what a true Christian looks like.

I encourage you to pray daily, and to keep God's Word close to your heart. When Satan starts bombarding your mind with negative thoughts kick those thoughts out immediately, and replace them with the truth of God's Word. Remember that you were created by Almighty God in his own image, and that as a born again believer in Jesus Christ you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. Truly ponder the power of that. I urge you to remind yourself often that God loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for your sins paying your sin debt in full. That my friends is a tremendous amount of love. Finally, knowing all of these things, I urge you to remind yourself often in the peaks and in the valleys of life, that no matter what you're facing in life you are more than able in Christ.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you!