Our Mission To love all people at all times and lead them into a new life in Christ.
Our Vision To be a church that will be multicultural and generational, having a lasting impact on the people to whom we minister.
To see the gospel extend beyond the walls of our church through various outreaches.
|
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come. It will not tarry. Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:2-4
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Heb. 11:8
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” II Cor. 5:7
If God has changed His mind about our mission, I did not get the memo. Jesus gave His disciples a mission right before going back to heaven. He said, ”Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mk. 16:15 We have managed to complicate the mission orders. That can be seen in the dozens of “Christian” denominations that have developed over the last two thousand years. It is time to reconsider our orders and how we are told to implement them. God’s way always works better than ours.
Hebrews 11:8 “Urged on by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go”.
Abraham received the promises of God again and again, because he was fully persuaded. When God gave His word to Abraham to make him a father of many nations he refused to look at his own natural circumstances. What he did consider was what God had told him. He was fully persuaded.
He never stopped believing God’s promise, for he was made strong in his faith to father a child. And because he was mighty in faith and convinced that God had all the power needed to fulfill his promises, Abraham glorified God! So now you can see why Abraham’s faith was credited to his account as righteousness (right standing) before God Romans 4:20-22
The good news for believers today is found in verse 23-25- And this declaration was not just spoken over Abraham, but also over us. For when we believe and embrace the one who brought our Lord Jesus back to life, perfect righteousness will be credited to our account as well. Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised back to life to prove that he had made us right with God!
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait I say on the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14
David said, “I would have lost heart (given up, thrown in the towel) but I believed. Believe – To be firm, stable, established, and fully persuaded. To believe-“that is to consider trustworthy”. David was going to believe to see God’s goodness.
With all the unrest in the world we need to know more than ever where our trust lies. The Psalmist says, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God” Psalms 20:7
Where is your trust in these times we are living. Let us say, “Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation”. Isaiah 12:2
In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him. Let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:9
Why do you seek that which does not bring life? For I Am the Lord your God who desires to give life. So choose life. Choosing life is the doorway to living in abundant living. For it is there you will find joy forever more. Seek not the ways of the carnal man but seek that which is wholesome and righteous. The carnal man would want you to see that which is of the flesh. You become frustrated because you will be trying to live between the two the carnal–the spirit. The Spirit will always lead you into truth. And in knowing that truth which is what Scripture declares is what will set you free to be all who I say you are. I say you are more than enough. I say you are free to be what I have anointed you to be. As you walk in this truth you find healing for your mind, body and soul. For I would want you to walk as one with the Spirit. Yes live from the reborn spirit man. For that is the real you. To walk as one is to be in agreement. I am waiting for a yes from you. And in your yes there is power released. For in that yes you are saying not my will be done but your will be done.
The spirit of the Lord came over me. The Lord brought me out by his Spirit and put me down in the middle of a valley. The valley was filled with bones. He led me all around them. I saw that there were very many bones at the bottom of the valley, and they were very dry. Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live? I answered, “Only you know, Almighty Lord.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones. Tell them, ‘Dry bones, listen to the Lord’s word. This is what the Almighty Lord says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. Ezekiel 37:1-5
God asked Ezekiel,” can these bones live?” Ezekiel answered, “Only you know Lord.” Ezekiel I want you to “prophesy” to these dead bones. Prophecy means to speak words of divine revelation – words of force and power. But Pastor Shirley I am not a prophet. I am not a minister. If you are a born again son of God, that is credential enough for you to prophesy. The word is nigh you even in your mouth. Through the creative power of God’s word in our mouth hopeless situations can change. When we prophesy, we are speaking what God already desires to do. God can do anything by Himself and in the case with Ezekiel and the dry dead bones God could have sent the Spirit to do what needed to be done. But He wanted the cooperation of Ezekiel. He wanted Ezekiel to come into agreement with Him.
When we prophesy, we are agreeing with God. God then blows upon the dry bones, upon that hopeless situation. He sends the Wind, the Breath, and the Spirit. Dry bones will live again.
Who can help but to prophesy. Does God have your cooperation-your agreement? May it be a yes and amen!
Rand McNally is the world’s largest business mapmaker. Their commercial states that Rand McNally and Company offers the most trusted tools to discover, map and navigate your world. Founded in 1856 with their headquarters located in Skokie, Illinois, its motto is, ”Rand McNally … the most trusted name on the map.”
In just a few short days we will be turning our calendars over to a New Year. And we don’t know what this year is going to bring. I want to remind us of a roadmap for the New Year and it is the most trusted and the most proven roadmap ever given. Many who are traveling this road called life have found it to be trustworthy and reliable. We have proof in testimonies from those that have followed this roadmap who have never lost their way and found the road of life easier to navigate. It is a roadmap that will guide you through the New Year and every New Year to follow. This roadmap is called the Bible. Within the pages of this book we find most trusted tools to discover, map and navigate our life. No matter what the New Year brings, always turn to the Word. For within the pages of this book is life.
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalms 119:105
In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Proverbs 3:6
“She shall bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins. Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet behold the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son and they shall call His name Immanuel which translated means “God with us.” Matthew 1:21-23
The greatest gift God gave us was the present of His presence. The Son was given a baby was born. Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 9:6 “For a child will be born to us a son will be given to us….. Jesus not only came to do the Fathers will he came to represent God the Father.
John 1:1 “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God”. Verse 14 The Word became human and lived among us. We saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shared with his only Son. A glory full of kindness and truth.
Immanuel also called Christ (God with us) changed the world. In that moment God became flesh hope was born. Jesus God’s Son was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy. Yes He was the long promised Immanuel sent by God to save his people. A mediator between God and man as our Redeemer, Savior and Friend.
What a wonderful time of the year-as we are reminded of the reason for the season
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears is not made perfect in love.” I John 4:17-18
I want to begin this by asking each one of us, “Why do you serve God?” It may seem surprising but there would be many different answers to that question given. I don’t want to go to hell. I’m afraid of God and something bad might happen. I was told that I should serve Him or else. I serve Him to get the “blessings” He promised. I serve Him because He loves me. I serve Him because I love Him. Are any of these reasons better than the rest?
It is my belief that the best two reasons for serving God is that He loves me and I love Him. Though any of the reasons given have an element of truth in them all of them except the two concerning love are compromised to start with. They are only as strong as human ability takes them. What is the greatest power God has? Of all the mighty powers and abilities God possesses it may be hard to realize His greatest power is LOVE.
All of the great things God has done for mankind were done by His love for us. Jesus wasn’t born into the human race because of sin of any kind. God gave Him, not because of sin, but because He loves us. Everything we receive from God is through the power of love.
Today we will look at the connection of love, praise, and fear. Hopefully we will come away knowing the place each has in our life.
“Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to dispute over doubtful things.” Rom.14:1 “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” Rom. 14:13
We are children of the Most High God, and we are to be led by His instructions given in His Word. One of His greatest commandments is to love one another as we love ourselves. Sadly, we expect others to follow that order towards us but find it hard to love one who offends us.
Do we love enough to forgive someone who has offended us and hold no account of their actions against us? Does God refuse to forgive us for a trespass and revoke our salvation if we do not live a perfect life? God knows we can’t “perform” our life without making a mistake or sinning. That is why He sent Jesus to die for our sins. Jesus took our sins and nailed them to the cross so we could be freed from them. But it was the love of God that nailed Jesus to the cross. God operated the plan of our salvation, and it was His love that made it possible. While we were yet sinners, in the fullness of time Jesus Christ died for the ungodly.
Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn or judge it. He came to save it. When we were at our worst, He loved us with His best. I implore you believe that God loves YOU as much as He loves anyone who has lived on this earth. If you can do that, you can love your neighbor as you love yourself. Oh, learn to love yourself as much as God loves you. That will bring peace that passes understanding. It’s a wonderful life.
“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Romans 2:4 (NKJV)
What causes a person to decide they need to be saved? Is it the fear of going to hell? Is it a fear of God’s judgement? Is it the desire to go to heaven when one dies? Is it another personal reason? If it is one of these it may not last. The only sure reason is the revelation that God loves you so much and He wants you to love Him in return. Nothing else matters. Love is God’s only requirement for your salvation.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all you mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” Matt. 22:36-40 (NKJV)
Jesus’ answer then is still the same today. If we can truly understand the power of love we will know the security it gives us in Jesus Christ. The love of God never changes, no matter what happens. He still loves the “worst sinner” as much as His “greatest saint”. ONLY God can do that. God loves our fellow man through His love in us. It is our love that all men need, not our judgement. Let us all be “about our Father’s business”.
If we live up to love, it will solve all our problems with other people and with God, our Father. “And the world will be a better place.” Let’s just do it!
We are the Church – the blood bought – called out – the redeemed – the anointed – the overcomers!
You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock] I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it.
God was also pleased to bring everything on earth and in heaven back to himself through Christ. He did this by making peace through Christ’s blood sacrificed on the cross.” Colossians 1:20
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary.” Psalm 107:19
They shall lift up their voice They shall sing for joy They shall cry aloud and be free They shall glorify the name of the Lord It’s the blood bought, the church, the redeemed
Oh, pick up your heart, Oh, Zion of the Lord Let the earth ring forth with His praise All His children rejoice form the island of the sea It’s the blood bought, the church, the redeemed
And we are in that army of the Lord We’ve been washed in the blood And we are going forth There is nothing that can stop the mighty moving force, With a shout of praise, a two edged sword Every stronghold of bondage must fall beneath our feet Every prisoner held captive must be freed For our deliverance has come Through the power of the Son It’s the blood bought, the church, the redeemed
Let the earth be silent All winds cease to blow Every created being hold your wing For there’s new song being sung With a new melody It the blood bought, the church, the redeemed! Song by Nancy Harmon
Life has a way of throwing curve balls. This year we have seen them make living life a little different than previous years.
Two things I have learned in the difficult seasons of life is-God is with me-this too shall pass.
We can go back and read in the Word the countless stories where a person or a group of people faced a significant challenge – a difficult situation and those things eventually passed away. There were times in the wilderness, wandering in the desert, exiles, being stuck in the belly of a whale, illnesses, plagues, jail time and even death – all of these things came to an end. There are situations that we go through that are difficult and hard, but they are only for a season and then they will be over. Yes they will pass.
Hebrews 13:5-6 “God ]Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
God wants to answer the prayers of His people.
The Word tells us, “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles”. Psalms 34:17
Are you experiencing trouble or distress in your life? Cry out to Lord. I have heard people say well I can’t do anything to help you but pray. Well praise the Lord. Matthew 18:19 tells us, “Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven”.
I encourage you to keep praying. Don’t lose heart if your answer seems not to come when you think it should. God has heard your cry and He is working on your behalf.
Joshua’s mentor had died. In Joshua 1:2, the Lord told him “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them…” Joshua knew he had some pretty big shoes to fill. Joshua remembered that God had once parted the Red Sea for the Israelites under the leadership of Moses, but he still had to believe the Lord would part the Jordan River under his leadership. Remember the land I am about to give to them… But the only way to see God move was for Joshua to make a move of faith. In verse 3, God said to him, “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” This meant Joshua and those following him had to take a step of faith. They were about to walk into their place of promise, as long as they were willing to act on God’s Word.
The word is right there in front of you could see God waiting for you to make a move of faith. In Joshua 3:15 we see that it wasn’t until the feet of the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant—symbolic of the presence of God—touched the water that a miracle occurred. The water stood up in a heap and all of Israel was able to cross on dry land. God did it again!
I believe God is doing it again for you. Make a move of faith toward the promises of God.
So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8:35-39 Message
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?” Psalm 42:5
Recently I found myself asking a question we ask all the time. The problem is we usually don’t think about the answer. The question is “Why”?
We usually ask about the “whys” but take very little time considering the answer. “Whys” always seem to arouse a feeling of the lack of understanding and it troubles us because we seemingly can’t come up with the answer. We spend a lot of time on why things happen. “Whats” are easy to see but “whys” do not come as easily.
We can explain the “whats” but we can’t understand the “whys.” In the New King James Version of the Bible the question “why” appears over 440 times. Many of the times it is a person asking God the question.
“Why” is an easy question for us to ask. Most of the time it is being asked to justify our position in the matter. “I can’t understand why this is happening to me.”
We are familiar with using what as a question to be considered but why is so many times used to question what is happening.
Today I hope to help us understand a deeper reason for the question. Consider asking why before you commit to the “what”. Maybe it will be easier to deal with “what.” Is the “why“ good enough to justify the “what”? Then, you can decide the action to take.
You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold, But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19
Of all names given to Jesus the most precious one is that of “Redeemer”. Redeemer definition means “a person who redeems someone or something”. Jesus Christ redeems us from our sins by offering Himself. When we speak of the name “Redeemer” we are recalling the ultimate price that it cost Jesus to bring us back into relationship with God. Our Father God had to give up His only begotten Son and Jesus had to shed his precious blood to make the redemption. Instead of our death there was His-instead of our shed blood there was His. Had it not been for the redeemer we still would be lost without any hope.
He paid a debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay, I needed someone to wash my sins away And now I sing a brand new song: Amazing Grace (all day long) Christ Jesus Paid the debt that I could never pay. He paid that debt at Calvary, He cleansed my soul and set me free. I’m glad that Jesus did all my sins erase. I now can sing a brand new song: Amazing Grace (all day long) Christ Jesus Paid the debt that I could never pay.
David said in Psalms 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Faint in this scripture means to lose heart, to grow weary. What kept David from giving up? His hope was in God not what was going on around him. His hope was not wishful thinking but faith in knowing better days were coming because of the faithfulness of his God.
Our hope as Christian’s is sound because it is founded upon the redeeming work of Jesus. This is living hope. Celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has shown us his extravagant mercy. For his fountain of mercy has given us a new life—we are reborn to experience a living, energetic hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
What great encouragement for us in the times in which we are living. We choose to believe that we are seeing the goodness of God in the land of the living. Don’t lose HOPE- Help-in-Overcoming-Problems-in-Everday-life.
May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord high and lifted up. Isaiah 6:1
Isaiah turned his eyes away from the throne that had seated an earthly king. In his grief he turned his eyes to the King who is seated on the heavenly throne now and forever more.
Whatever situation you may be in the midst of, turn your eyes to what Isaiah saw-the Lord high and lifted up seated on the throne. He is in control and bigger than any situation that would discourage you.
Bigger Than Any Mountain
Bigger than all my problems, bigger than all my fears;
God is bigger than any mountain that I can or can not see.
Bigger than all my questions, bigger than anything;
Bigger than all the shadows that fall across my path,
He’s bigger than all the confusion, bigger than anything;
Bigger than all my problems, bigger than all my fears;
Bigger than all my questions, bigger than anything;
Bigger than all the giants of pain and unbelief;
Bigger than any hangups, bigger than anything;
My God is bigger than any mountain that I can or can not see.
We know that God spoke to people in the Bible, but also wants to speak personally to each of His children today. This means that each person must be attentive because no one else can listen for us.
Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive. Isaiah 55:3 Incline means to lean forward.
God is always speaking but we are not always hearing. We are bombarded by chatter all around us. Have you ever learned (inclined) toward someone in order to hear more clearly what they were saying. We have to lean into God and listen to what He is saying to us.
When the words hearing or ears were used in the Bible it referred to listen up-take notice.
Proverbs 8:34 “Blessed are those who listen to Me”.
|
|
