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.
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“And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:9
Jesus found Himself facing a people that regarded themselves as holy because they were off-springs of Abraham, the friend of God. The leaders had two thousand years to put their own ideas of religion in place. Jesus never broke any God given laws. He was sinless, yet the religious leaders saw Him as a sinful lawbreaker because He paid no attention to their “traditions”.
How similar things are two thousand years after Jesus birth, death, and resurrection. Religious leaders have had this time to incorporate many traditions into the Gospel. This is visible in the fact that Christianity is splintered into dozens of groups fostering the ideas of a past leader. Thank God that many of the traditions of man do not concern the essentials of salvation. Add- on traditions are mainly aimed at adding to or subtraction from the truth of the Gospel. Saying that some elements of the Bible have passed away assumes that we know better than the original writers of Scriptures. How can we say something has passed away when Jesus said, “heaven and earth will pass away but My word will not pass away”?
The Gospel is simple. What must I do to be saved? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31 Jesus said, ”Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” When Jesus said this He was talking to a mass of people who had struggled to keep the Law of Moses all their lives and failed. The Gospel of faith in Jesus Christ put an end to the law for righteousness. If you really believe in salvation by faith in Jesus you are free from keeping the Law to be righteous. Jesus’ death and resurrection made you righteous if you believe it. Since all our works are like filthy rags, how can you add conditions to salvation? We live by the Spirit let us walk by the Spirit.
“You shall also decide and decree a thing and it shall be established for you and the light of (God’s favor) shall shine upon your ways.” Job 22:28 (Amplified Bible)
A decree is a proclamation made by someone with authority. When I think of someone making a decree I think of kings. A king has authority over his dominion. He makes a decree by declaring what is legal and illegal and everyone in his dominion has a choice to obey or not.
Revelation 1:6 says, “and {Jesus} has made us kings and priest unto God and his Father.” Jesus has made us kings and priest now. Not just when we get to heaven to rule and reign but right now in this life. Romans 5:17”….those who receive {God’s} overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness… reign as KINGS IN LIFE….
“Reign” means to rule over, exercise dominion, to decree. As sons and daughters of the King he has made us kings and priest in this life and has given us authority to rule in life. We don’t rule over people but those things that are contrary to the will of God. We reign over the flesh, sin, situations and circumstances. Over all the power of the enemy. God has given to us everything we need to do so.
Matthew 18:18 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven.” The word bind means to “declare unlawful.” The word loose means “to declare lawful.” How do bind and loose? Through our decrees as we declare what we know to be of truth. Jesus looses the authority of His word as it goes forth on earth for the fulfillment of its purpose. We set the word forth in the earth with our speaking the will of God which is his Word.
We have entered into a New Year. What mind set have you entered into this New Year with? We cannot go back and change the past but we have the gift of now and the gift of choice. You have been given authority from God to reign as kings in this life. Stop living below what God says you are and what he wants to bless you with. You decide a thing-you make a decision. This is the year for the glory of God to shine through you.
“You’ll pray to him and he’ll listen; he’ll help you do what you’ve promised. You’ll decide what you want and it will happen; your life will be bathed in light.” Job 22:28 (Message Bible)
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel, which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:21
In Biblical times names carried a meaning and was clearly understood. In Matthew 1:21 we read, “And she will bring forth a son and you shall call His name JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins.” The name Jesus means “YHWH saves” or “the Lord saves.” a very appropriate name for that is exactly what Jesus came to do.
We read prophecies in the Old Testament that gave many names for the coming Savior. Isaiah 7:6 “And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Even though Jesus was not given those names at birth they would be characteristic of Him.”
Christmas is a time that reminds us of the greatest gift that was ever given to mankind. The gift that keeps on giving and giving. For God so love the word that He gave and when He did he gave the best he had.
For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, Making it bear and sprout, And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11
In school I remember being taught about the water cycle. I don’t remember them telling me it was God who created this awesome thing called the water cycle. Refreshing our memory on how the water cycle works: the rain falls down to the earth through precipitation; it waters and feeds the earth. Then through the heat of the sun it evaporates and rises again. As the air cools, condensation occurs and clouds are formed. This continues until the clouds eventually drop their load through precipitation again and the cycle continues. What is the impact of this cycle on the earth? This rain cycle created by God causes the earth to bud and flourish. Crops planted grow, the grass grows, the gardens planted grow, flowers burst forth in beautiful blooms.
The Word in Isaiah 55:10-11 tells us that just as there is a water cycle that goes forth to water the earth and will accomplish its purpose so does His Word that goes forth out of His mouth will accomplish His purpose. There is a natural water cycle and there is a cycle for the Word of God to bud and flourish. God has given us an example of how the water cycle operates in the natural for us to visualize how His Word (seed) operates in the spiritual realm. Just as the the earth is receptive and effective by the rain for the soil so is the Word (seed) of God when sowed in good soil.
God’s Word is the seed of His blessing’s. The seed is the word of God and the ground is our hearts. If we want His blessings to bud and flourish in our lives, we must do it His way. We honor God’s Word, keep that Word in our heart and then confess it’s truth with our mouths. We then will see the Word accomplishing its purpose. God’s Word brings life and will give life to those who choose to receive it.
In the parable of the sower Jesus said, “The seed is the Word of God.” (Luke 8:11)
A seed does nothing until it is planted. A sack of seed sitting on a shelf is just that a sack, of seed. The nature of that seed is there and in order for it to produce it has be taken off the shelf and planted in good soil.
God works in the hearts of His people through the Word that we put in our hearts. If we desire the Word to be productive in our lives, we must decide to plant the Word in our hearts and minds. God’s power is released through His Word. The reason the enemy attacks the Word is because the Word or the seed is full of power. God did not give us His word for it to be inactive in our lives. We have been given the Word of God which is the very life and power of God. When we put the Word in our heart, it gives God something to work with. As we partner with God and give Him permission to work in our lives, He will produce everything that is in the Bible on the inside of us. It is God’s will for us to understand and know that His Word (the seed) can accomplish great and mighty things in our lives.
The Word of God (the Bible) laying on a table has within it power to bring life. But until it is picked up, opened up, and looked unto it will be just another Book laying on the table. But once the Bible (the word, the seed) is picked up, opened and planted in our hearts on good soil than we will began to see great and mighty things happening in our lives for the glory of God.
His Word (seed) has been given to us to produce the Kingdom of God in us and through us. The Power of the Seed—
Therefore we do not lose heart. Thought outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
When you lose heart, you become discouraged. When you become discouraged, you lose your joy. To lose your joy is to lose your strength and the Word tells us the, “joy of the Lord is our strength.”
The greatest enemy of our souls can be discouragement. Just like God’s great servants in the Bible we also can become discouraged in our journey of life. James 5:17 tells us that Elijah was a man just like us.
1 Kings tells us the story of how Elijah became discouraged after things didn’t turn out the way he expected. God had just helped him win victory over the priests of Baal, and now Elijah expected that the idol-worshipping king and queen of israel would repent. Instead the queen swore that she would kill Elijah. Now this great man of God was running for his life. God did lead Elijah back to Mount Horeb where he met God face to face and then he obeyed God’s direction to go back and continue what God had called him to do.
It is easy to become discouraged when we are disappointed or tired. At such times we may feel like we cannot go on. No matter why we are discouraged, we can overcome with the help of the Lord.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. 2 Corinthians 5:17
When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior you are a new creation. We now live according to the new not the old. The old is dead and should be buried. Burying the dead things of the past is vital to moving on to new and greater things. If we continually treat or give attention to those dead things like they are still alive they will continue to influence our thoughts. Your thoughts will begin to be your actions.
Once we are born again we are not to look back. Stop feeling guilty on what was. The blood of Jesus has covered you and that blood cries out, “not guilty.” His blood makes you worthy to look forward to a brighter future. Get this settled in your heart “you are worthy.” As long as you feel unworthy you will never believe that God wants His best for you.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Our sins past, present and future have been washed away. We become righteous not by our doing but by the grace and the wonderful plan that God has already set up.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
The Bible is full of examples of what it means to trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Noah building a great big boat in the middle of dry land when there was not a cloud in the sky, despite all the ridicule of all those around him, just because God said so.
Abraham packing up everything and leaving his home land when he was eighty years old, because God told him to.
Peter got of the boat and walk on a stormy sea just because Jesus ask him to. (remember he only began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus.)
Whatever life may bring your way – Whatever God ask you to do. Be assured you can trust Him to see you through.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, But we will remember and trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalms 20:7
My chains are gone I’ve been set free, my God my Savior has rescued me and like a flood His Mercy reigns, unending Love, Amazing Grace. These are Words from a song sung by Chris Tomlin – “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)”
The Word tells us in Romans 8:3 “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” The law of Moses could not save us. Because of our sinful nature God put into effect a different plan to save mankind. He sent His own Son in a human body just like ours only ours was sinful. God then destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
My Savior has ransomed me. A ransom is something that is paid to provide for the release of someone who is held captive. Jesus paid our ransom to free us from sin, death, and hell. That ransom was His own life, the shedding of his own blood, a sacrifice. Due to his sacrificial death, each person now has the opportunity to accept that gift of atonement and be forgiven by God. For without his death, God’s law would still need to be satisfied by our own death.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us for if the blood of bulls and goats n and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies to the purifying the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself with spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:12-15 This Scripture tells us that Jesus once and for all took blood into that Most Holy Place. Not the blood of animals but His very own blood. This secured our salvation forever. If the blood of animals could cleanse people’s bodies from ritual defilement just think how more the blood Jesus cleanses our hearts so that we can worship the true and living God! Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He now mediates the New Covenant between God and people. All now can receive the eternal inheritance God has promise them.
“Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poiured out on the altar of the Cross, we are free people-free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And nut just barely free, either, Abundantly free! He thought of everything provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in christ, along-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in them, everything in in deepest heaven everything on planet earth.” Ephesians 1:7-10
Our chains are gone, we have been set free. His mercy, His love, His Amazing Grace!
…..but David encouraged himself in the Lord. 1 Samuel 30:6
We all have one time or another faced difficulties in our life. But we can believe as we keep our eyes on God He will see us through any bad day of our life.
In 1 Samuel chapter 30 we have the story of one man’s very bad day of his life. Not many of us have had to experience as bad a day as David did. He return home to Ziklag after a journey and discovered that his enemy the Amalekites had destroyed or stolen everything that was important to him-and even his own men turned against him.
David sat among the ruins of Ziklag he was greatly distressed for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters. (verse 6) He could have question God why-he could began to to question if it was something he had done for all this to have come upon him. At this moment in time David had a choice to give up or fight. But before David could fight back he would have to get his strength and courage back.
As David looked around him he saw only discouraged and downcast men. David had no one to encourage him, so he only had one option if he was to fight back: “He encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” (verse 6)
David was a worshipper. I believe he began to encourage himself by singing praises to God. Through praise and worship David’s focus began to change. I can see David sitting in the midst of the ashes of what Ziklag was at one time his home singing, “I will bless the Lord at all times his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Oh come and magnify the Lord with me.”
Nehemiah 8:10 “Do not sorrow the joy of the Lord is your strength.” The devil knows that if can steal your joy he can defeat you. When we choose to sing on the bad days it will but our focus on God. That is where our strength comes from.
Steven Curtis Chapmans sings a song called “Beauty Will Rise” – Out of the ashes beauty will rise and we will dance among the ruins. We will see with our own eyes out of the ashes beauty will rise for we know joy is coming in the morning.
Now Faith-Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hope for the evidence of things not seen.
Now meaning- at the present time or moment.
“For the wind of My Spirit is blowing anew. You have entered into a new season. You have heard it said, “new levels, new devils but is it not true that I have given you power over all the power of the enemy. Yes it would be. For even in the days ahead you will need to know that when I give a Promise I provide the way for it to be fulfilled. So rest assured when I speak that settles it! You have heard the saying, “ you can take to to the bank.” Just as I own the cattle on a thousand hills I own the bank where My Word is deposited. So why would I not watch over my Word to make sure it is performed. When you to withdraw I have given my seal of approval which is my Name and you can go and write a check on me and it it will never be turned away. Only believe and doubt not that it is good and are given to those who are willing to cash in on them. So there you have it. It is yours. “Now” is your time to step into the overflow of what I have given.
I am concerned that we get caught living between the time of in the yesterday and the time of someday. We have those who say, “ if only if could be like yesterday, if I had it to do over again or those who say just hold on it will be better someday.” In the process of time the someday never comes because we have got caught up in living the yesterday over and hoping for a better someday. We then miss out on what is happening “now”. Miss on the opportunity of “now” “Now” is the best time of your life. God want you to seize the opportunity of “now” It is time to stop holding on to yesterday and waiting for tomorrow. It is time for “now faith” to operate. It is time for “now faith” that is rooted and grounded in the settled Word of God. It is is time for “now faith” that understands and believes in all the promises of God that are yes and in Him amen unto the glory of God by us. It is the same “now faith” that says, “let us forget about the baggage of yesterday” and it is the same “now faith” that says, “don’t worry about tomorrow.” I will cash in on what God is saying “now.” I have His seal of approval which is his name-Jesus. The name that is above every name of death, sickness, disease, famine, poverty, depression….Need I go on on Hallelujah!!!
God is waiting on you to cash in what He has already provided. Believe!!
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works so that no one should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared that we should walk in them.
And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all authority and power. Colossians 3:10
You are God’s workmanship, the finished product of His creation. The Greek word for “masterpiece is “poema” literally meaning a poem or a work of art. Gods says to us, “you are my poem, my work of art.” I have finished the poem. I have finished the painting now walk in the completed work I have done.
God’s workmanship is not the ongoing process of what God is doing in you. It is the completed work of what God has done in you. You have inside of your Spirit man everything you need to accomplish His purpose. It is in your spiritual DNA. Quit trying to find your purpose and just be. And in just being you will walk in what God has prepared beforehand. The works He has prepared for us is not by self effort or following the law. I see that God has already placed genes of love, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self -control. This flows not from the outside in but from the inside out.
God did not just save us so we could go to Heaven someday. That is the purpose of salvation. The plan within the purpose is for you to show forth good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. They are waiting to be activated by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. The water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:13
Jesus was speaking to the Samaritan woman who had come to the well to draw water. He used this opportunity to minister to her.
Just as water is necessary for human life. So is the living water that Jesus has to offer necessary to those who are trying to find life outside of a relationship with God. Water accounts for 50-70 percent of our body weight and is crucial for bodily functions. The fountain of living water is crucial for living a life of peace and wholeness on this earth. Crucial means, “most vital and of the greatest significance in determining an outcome”. The outcome of your life will be determined on whether you live in relationship with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit or if you are singing the song, “I am doing it my way”.
In 1513 supposedly Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon set sail of the new land in attempt to find the legendary fountain of youth. A spring reported to have the power to make people young again. When you think of youth you think of life, newness vibrancy. People are still seeking the fountain of youth spending thousands of dollars on trying to stay young and vibrant. But if that which you are doing in the natural is to try fill a thirsty heart that is empty and void at the end of the day you will still have a thirsty heart that is empty and void. That is a place reserved for the one who created you-God.
John 7:39 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. In these two verses Jesus proclaims himself to be the place where the living water is found. Throughout the New Testament water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who abides in us and helps day by day.
What well are you drawing from? The well of the world that says you have to do the way of the world to quench your thirsty heart. Or are you drawing from the well of living water. Jesus is the fountain of living water and you can come and drink freely.
“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth.” Eccl. 11:1-2
“In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good.” Eccl. 11:6
There is much said in the Bible about giving. It is more blessed to give than to receive. As a man purposes in his heart let him give. One does not give because of the “Law of Moses” but because of the “Faith of Abraham.” (Read Hebrews 7:1-9) Tithing is not a “work” of law but an act of faith. He who is a follower of Abraham is blessed with Abraham, the believer.
Under the law a man was required to give a tithe of all he possessed but under grace he owes everything to Jesus Christ. We claim “all” we have as ours and use “grace” as an excuse not to give. We say that tithing is under the law but giving is not a matter of “Law” but an act of faith. Giving is sowing seed in order to receive a blessing and have all our needs supplied. Remember the words “he who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly and he who sows abundantly shall reap abundantly.” II Cor. 9:6
If you do not give to the Kingdom of God, you will never have more than what you can make yourself. But, giving bountifully insures that God will make up the lack you may have. I have always given to God, and I do not plan to stop. I have never had a big bank account and my dad told me once he didn’t guess I would ever have anything because I kept giving it all away. Strangely enough I have never lacked in what I have. The things I have had and the things I have done could only be because I have a lot of money to spend. That is not the case but I DO HAVE GOD and I have been faithful to give. “Give and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38. God is faithful to remember your act of love. The church needs your gift.
“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” Heb. 11:26, 27
In the above verses the writer is speaking of Moses about his choice to follow God rather than rule in Egypt and live in luxury. When you think about why he chose as he did, let us just say–it was in his blood. He chose to live with God’s people even though they were slaves in a foreign land. They were slaves living on a promise. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Heb. 11:13. It was not the conditions in which they lived that they were watching but it was the invisible. You cannot look at what is going on around you and live in faith. You must see the unseen by faith in the Word of God and stand on the promises of His Word to us. You must be like the people of faith and live entirely on the promises of the Word. Jesus Christ is the Word. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” John 1:1. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” Heb. 12:2. The word “looking” signifies undivided attention, looking away from all distractions in order to fix one’s gaze on one object. In Hebrews 12:2 it is having eyes for no one but Jesus.( NKJV Spirit filled Life Bible word wealth) Too often our attention is taken away from Jesus and set on our circumstances. Our faith is then shaken and we cry, “Jesus where are you?” He is still there, but we just quit looking at Him. When Peter walked on the water as Jesus told him, he started to sink. Jesus had not gone anywhere, but Peter saw the conditions around him and not Jesus. To be guilty of the same lack of faith, just take your eyes off Jesus. Don’t give up, don’t ever give up. “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition (destruction), but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:39. Keep on keeping on, and you can make the “Hall of faith!” Read Hebrews 10:35.
Now faith is the the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
Jesus says in John 17:17 God’s words are true. We should firmly fix our minds on the fact that God’s Word is true. Our faith does not make God’s Word true. A fact is true whether we believe it or not. We are given faith to believe what the Word is true. Our faith should stand on the uncompromised Word of God. Faith is simply taking God at His word and receiving it as truth. The attitude of faith-God said it, I believe that settles, it!
When we read through the Bible we see all the wonderful promises of God. Those precious promises are given to us as His children. The fact is they are true whether we partake of them or not. They only become ours when we claim them by faith and make them ours by believing God’s Word.
What does it mean, “ Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen?” It is the way we prove the reality of things not seen. We cannot see things of the spiritual world with our natural eyes but we know they are real by faith. We must always put our faith in the facts of God’s Word.
The Amplified version of Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance (title dee, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen (the conviction of their reality-faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses.”
When we think of God, we think great, grand or magnificent. After all He is God that stood in the middle of nothing and began to speak and created everything. When I consider my life, I have come to understand that what I have to give does not to be grand, great or magnificent.
So many times we look at the bigger as better. But a little is alot to God. He specializes in the small things. The things that may look and seem insignificant to us. We are to be faithful to give even if it seems as little to us. The Bible tells us to give. It does not say you have to give a lot to receive. It simply says give and it shall be given unto you. He is the one who will multiply what we give. Who knows what God will do with your little if you can just get it into His hands!
In Mark chapter 6 the mother that packed a little lunch that day had no idea that it would be used to feed as many as twenty thousand people. Jesus could have fed the multitude with nothing. He could have made bread and fish float down from the clouds if He wanted to. But he chose to use what was given to Him. Jesus was the Lord of the little that day, and He is still the Lord of the little today.
What is in your hands to give? Do you hold back from giving because it seems so little to you? God uses the little things we choose to give him to accomplish His purposes. Not only for us the give but that to which we are faithful to give to.
Bring your talents and abilities and place them in His hands and watch Him began to use you. God specializes in taking these clay bodies and using them for His glory.
Get your little into the hands of the great, grand and magnificent One! He is still Lord of the little!
Let “GG” rule your relationship.
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Col. 4:6
Isn’t it easy to apply this verse of Scripture to all those “people” we encounter during regular day activities? We have trained ourselves to make sure we speak that which does not offend. We are nice to our church board, our members, our elders and deacons, and generally even to our critics. But let us go home and we forget to remember this with our spouse and family.
Having our lives ruled by “GG” is simply allowing “grace” and “gratitude” to be the defining rule in marital relationships. Grace is the sheriff of our emotions that makes sure we interact with our spouse in an appropriate manner through word and deed. Do I love my spouse enough that I would not let anyone else say or do something to hurt them? Do you say things the same way to them in a tone of voice or attitude your spouse would not like coming from someone else? If we can show grace to outsiders, why is it so difficult to give our spouse the same grace? Practice grace with your spouse, even if it kills you. And, if you are having trouble in this area, it will “kill” the fleshly man. But, you will be resurrected a much better person. Remember in everything let grace be first.
The second “G” is also critical to remember in marriage. Everyone likes to feel appreciated and loved. This emotion comes from the gratitude shown by those around you. Workplace success does not make up for a lack of gratitude from spouse and family. When night comes and it is time for bed, don’t focus on the lack of grace that was shown that day but develop a sense of gratitude for a spouse that loves you and sticks by you. After all, you may not be as easy to live with as you think. Everyone has bad days now and then. LaVerne and I had a bad day yesterday which we allowed to happen. When the day ended, we were in full pursuit of “grace” that shook our “gratitude.” Both of us were thinking, “They can’t treat me that way.” But we had, so it became time to deal with the matter. It is amazing how God can remind you of what you know when you are not doing it. I am glad to report it is well, for now at least. The best mediator between a couple is God because He calls the counseling season before the fight. Couples! Live long and prosper!
“Therefore if the Son makes you free you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36
Freedom! That is a word that many people hold dear. You cannot understand freedom unless you have been in bondage. Some people are in bondage and are not even aware of it. In the above Scripture the Pharisees response to Jesus’ words was “We are Abraham’s seed, and we have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, You will be made free?”
I wonder what concept of freedom was instilled in the Jews. After God called Abraham, his descendants were slaves for over four hundred years under the Egyptians. After Israel turned to other gods during the time of Solomon they eventually were slaves in Babylon for seventy years. As they spoke to Jesus they were under the rule of the Roman Empire who eventually totally destroyed Jerusalem and scattered the Jewish people into the Gentile world. As a history student I wonder what they were thinking.
I suppose freedom is as much a state of mind is it is a set of conditions; meaning you can be free in spirit and be in bondage to circumstances. When Jesus talked of making them free, He was not talking about freedom from Roman occupation but freedom from the bondage of sin. A devote Jew held on to the concept of a coming Messiah that would set them free from slavery. Yet, they did not seem aware they were in bondage to sin. Sin is a harsh taskmaster. It will take you where you don’t want to go, make you do what you do not want, and keep you there longer than you want to stay.
The freedom Jesus was speaking of is that we “might have life and have it more abundantly.” Paul once said that “sin shall no longer have dominion over you.” When the slavery of sin is broken, it gives us the right to walk through other doors of freedom. If we are a follower of Jesus we are not waiting to be free, we are already free. That’s the truth and if we know His word, we KNOW we are FREE!
For I know the plans I have for you, “ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
A very familiar passage of Scripture. A wonderful promise to believers. A lifeline for those going through a hard place in life.
The Scripture was written to the Jewish exiles who had been removed by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. (Babylon means confusion.) They had been uprooted from all that was familiar to them. Hundreds of miles from home in the middle of pagan worship. The Jewish exiles may have thought they would never be in a place called Babylon–but they were. Once there they thought they would never get out–but God. While there a Word comes that gives them hope that they were not forgotten by God. In the midst of their Babylonian experience they survived by continuing to live. God told them not to let the prophets and diviners among them deceive them. (Jeremiah 29:4-9)
In life sometimes we may find ourselves in a place we never thought we would be. Going through an illness, an unexpected loss of a loved one, loss of a job, divorce, a child on drugs. When we find ourselves in that unexpected place, it makes us catch our breath and we forget to go on living. That is what the enemy wants to happen. He whispers lies about what God said, “The Word must not work for you.” Just as God encouraged the Jewish exiles so too He wants to encourage you. Don’t give up hope–keep on living life by believing. Don’t let the lies of the enemy keep you from breathing.
God wants to remind us today the plans He has for each and everyone of us–plans to prosper, plans not to harm, plans to give hope, and plans for a future. Breath again. Just as God promised the Jewish exiles He would bring them back home so He promises you today.
Home is a feeling of security, connection, love. When we are in that unexpected place, the enemy wants us to withdraw. When we began to withdraw, we get to feeling insecure, not connected, and unloved. Remember there is power in unity. God knows exactly where you are and what you are going through. You have Pastors and a church family that love you and will stand with you.
Allow the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit to blow over you today.
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