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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Paul was at the end of his third missionary journey when a man by the name of Agabus approached him. He had traveled from Jerusalem to Caesarea to give Paul a word from God.
Acts 21:10-11 “After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.” Paul’s friends begged him not to return to Jerusalem upon hearing this. But, Paul replied that he was willing and ready to be arrested and to die for the Lord. He returns to Jerusalem and is later arrested, put on trial and then sent to Rome as a prisoner. Paul had answered and was committed to the call of spreading the good news of the gospel. He knew God had called him so he knew God would see him through it.
Not all are called to be an apostle-evangelist as Paul. That was his mantle of ministry. But we all have been given a mantle to be a witness for the Lord. How committed are we to that calling – witness? Being a witness is not just something that you do but who you are. In Matt. 5:13 Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth” and in Matt. 5:14 He says, “You are the light of the world.” Since God has called us to it at our salvation He will provide the opportunities to be light to be salt in our everyday life. I pray we all have the determination, the boldness that Paul had.
Let who you are be a light shining-let who you are be salt sprinkles as a witness to the goodness of your God.
Paul was at the end of his third missionary journey when a man by the name of Agabus approached him. He had traveled from Jerusalem to Caesarea to give Paul a word from God.
Acts 21:10-11 “After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.” Paul’s friends begged him not to return to Jerusalem upon hearing this. But, Paul replied that he was willing and ready to be arrested and to die for the Lord. He returns to Jerusalem and is later arrested, put on trial and then sent to Rome as a prisoner. Paul had answered and was committed to the call of spreading the good news of the gospel. He knew God had called him so he knew God would see him through it.
Not all are called to be an apostle-evangelist as Paul. That was his mantle of ministry. But we all have been given a mantle to be a witness for the Lord. How committed are we to that calling – witness? Being a witness is not just something that you do but who you are. In Matt. 5:13 Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth” and in Matt. 5:14 He says, “You are the light of the world.” Since God has called us to it at our salvation He will provide the opportunities to be light to be salt in our everyday life. I pray we all have the determination, the boldness that Paul had.
Let who you are be a light shining-let who you are be salt sprinkles as a witness to the goodness of your God.
In Genesis chapter one we read that God spoke this vast universe into existence. But God does differently with man. “God formed Man out of the dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life”. The Man became a living begin. Genesis 2:7 God forms man with his hand from dirt. Formed comes from the Hebrew root word meaning, form, fashioned, mold. This is the word used for a potter making a vessel.
I am reminded of the Scripture in Isaiah 49:16 “See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands and your walls are ever before me”. Engrave means to shape in such as likeness.
For you created my innermost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalms 139: 13-16
THE EAGLE AND THE CROW
The only bird that will peck at an Eagle is the crow. The crow sits on his back and bites his neck. The Eagle does not respond or fight with the crow, instead, the Eagle just opens his wings and begins to soar higher in the sky. The higher the Eagle flies the harder it is for the crow to breathe. Eventually the crow falls off due to lack of oxygen.
I read the above article a few days ago and my first thought was why can the Eagle continue to soar to higher altitudes and the crow is not able to. Aren’t they both birds? Yes they are both birds but the Eagle was created to soar to higher altitudes and the crow was not created for the high altitude. The difference was the wings. The Eagles wingspan is bigger than a crows which makes the Eagle able to soar to higher altitudes. The amazing thing is that the Eagle knew he was different from the crow. The Eagle knew to keep flying higher and eventually the crow would fall off his back.
My takeaway from this story: Keep soaring. When the crows show up, know who you are. Not everyone is going to soar where God is taking you to. Don’t let them bring you back down. You keep soaring.
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31.
ARISE CHURCH YES YOU THE CALLED OUT ONE
It is time to soar. It is time to roar For I have a lot more Don’t stand back in the shadows Step forward to a new day Yes, you have a lot to say. My hand is upon you to guide you through. You will see my WORD for you is true. Take upon the mantle I have given you. Be bold in what you do. Walk in the authority of the Believer Now is the time to shine For the light you possess is mine.
August is the eighth month on our calendar. Biblically the number eight represents “new beginnings.” New beginnings bring new victories. Let us not get stuck in the victories of the past that we are missing out on the new victories that are available to us now. Yes praise God for them-be thankful for them let those victories be an encouragement. But it is a new day for a new victory. Are you expecting to step into your new day where greater things are waiting for you? Step forward to a new day!
The battle you have been in is on the seventh day. The number seven Biblically represents “completion.” I know you may be battle worn and just tired of fighting the same ole fight. It is time to come into His rest. Your eighth day has come and a new beginning is happening. It is time to move forward. Leave the past behind. Yes, another victory is in store.
If you are the one in the battle or if there’s something that you’ve been waiting for a long time to happen, still it hasn’t happened; in this eight month of new beginnings, I pray for you that this month your new beginning happens! God’s favor surrounds you today!
Don’t revel only in the past, or spend all your time recounting the victories of days gone by. Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak, and you’re about to see it. Isaiah 43:18
Interruptions – Opportunity for God moments!
We all have interruptions in our lives. It is part of living everyday life. How do we handle those interruptions in life? Do we consider interruptions in our life as a nuisance or an opportunity for God to reveal what is truly in our hearts? Faith is not strengthened without challenges. May we consider interruptions as an opportunity for God to break into our routine everyday life.
Interruption is “Inter-rumpere” (in Latin) literally means “to break into.” The Latin dis-rumpere, literally means “to break apart.” An interruption occurs when “something” or “someone” breaks into our life. We have those times in our life that our plans have been changed because of “something” or “someone” . Maybe that moment could be life-changing for us and for the other person.
Even in Jesus’ life he had many interruptions. Jesus was sitting in the home of a religious leader. In the middle of their meal, a prostitute comes into the house. She falls at the feet of Jesus crying while washing the feet of Jesus with her tears. As the Pharisee is ready to cast the woman out of his home, Jesus softly addresses the woman, forgives her sins, and offers healing for her broken life. WOW! What would happen to this woman had Jesus said, “I am in an important meeting please don’t bother me”. For Jesus this was no interruption; it was an opportunity to offer love and good news to a person in need.
Maybe we should look at interruptions differently. Maybe that interruption is really an opportunity for service.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
There is a lot of talk of bad news on the horizon-but there is no bad news for the Christian. We do have a better report. Whose report will you believe! Choose to believe in the report of the Lord. In the end we will win. When you know the outcome of a battle the stuff in between doesn’t seem that heavy.
We have been given promise after promise in the Word that God takes care of those who belong to him. My favorite verse is the Amplified Version from Hebrews 13:5 “For He [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!]” This verse starts out by saying, “Let your lives be without love of money.” Money in itself is not evil. The issue of money is really about the human heart. It’s not about the object. The point of Hebrews 13:5 is that the Lord will provide all that we need for a life founded on faith.
In tough and uncertain times, it can be difficult to look beyond what’s currently happening in the nations or what may be coming. Psalm 62:5-6 “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”
Hebrews 5:6 “So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me”?
On July 4th we celebrated Independence Day. We recognize the freedom we have in this nation. Freedom is not free. There have been many who have paid their ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. May we never forget and let us continue to pray for those who are still defending our nation today.
A greater independence day came and that was the day we accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. John 1:12-13 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice giving his life so we could be free. We are no longer in bondage to sin. Whom the Son has set free is free indeed! The Bible tells us that Jesus died and rose again not only so that we could receive forgiveness but even more so he died and arose again so that we might have life. I John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Our eternal life is secured. This life is the journey we are on right now. Jesus said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)”. John 10:10.
How do we live this life that we have been given the freedom to live? Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20 “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved and gave his life for me”.
“He (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor’” Luke 4:16-19
The word “anoint” simply means to rub into or to smear upon. Jesus was smeared with the anointing, specifically the person, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 10:27 tells us that the anointing is the burden-removing, yoke destroying power of God. It is this anointing that delivers and sets the captives free. The anointing is God on flesh doing what flesh can’t do. It is God’s super added to our natural. Acts 10:38 described the impact of the anointing on the life and ministry of Jesus: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went around doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” This powerful verse reminds us that Jesus is a doer of good, that the affliction and sickness comes from the enemy, not God, and that the anointing is what removes the oppression. We as believers walk in that same anointing that was upon Jesus. We are smeared with the anointing. Let us go about doing good-sharing the Good News-setting the captives free-freely you have received freely give! `
Sweet Wind
There’s a wind a-blowin’, all across the land
A fragrant breeze of Heaven
Blowin’ once again
Don’t know where it comes from
Don’t know where it goes
But let it blow over me
Oh, sweet wind, come and blow over me
There’s a rain a-pourin’, showers from above
Mercy drops are coming’
Mercy drops of love
Turn your face to heaven
Let the water pour
Well let it pour over me
Oh, sweet rain, come and pour over me
There’s a fire a-burnin’, falling from the sky
Awesome tongues of fire
Consuming you and I
Can you feel it burnin’
Burn the sacrifice
Well let it burn over me
Oh, sweet fire, come and burn over me
Happy Birthday America July 4, 1776
The Declaration of Independence was signed by John Hancock, the beginning of freedom for our nation. We are thankful for the men and women who have given their lives for this freedom and those who are still on the front line. We experience freedom today in this country because of what Jesus secured for us 2000 years ago on a hill outside Jerusalem. He shed his blood for the sins of the world, was buried for three days and rose again. Because our nation was and is founded on that, we can say, “the red, white, blue one nation under God ”. I love to see those big American flags gently blowing in the wind. How beautiful it is. My favorite colors are green and blue. I think they are God’s too. The green grass and the blue skies remind me of this. My next favorite colors are red, white. The colors of our flag remind me – Red is for the blood of Jesus – White is for the purity our sins forgiven – Blue is for the Holy Spirit, our helper in time of need. When I see our flag I am reminded of the freedom we have as Americans to worship the one true God. It is obvious that our nation is in dark times. The heart of God must grieve over what has taken place and is taking place.
Holy Spirit whispered and said, “God loves this great nation you call home. And once again, this nation shall stand proud and be the envy of those who now hate her”. I believe!
America! America! May God shed His grace over thee!
“I will remember the works of the Lord-surely I will remember your works of old”. Psalm 77:11
One of the ways we stay encouraged is to remember what the Lord has done for us in the past. God has done it before He’ll do it again. This gives up hope in our present circumstances.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” Romans 12;12
Remember this song-”Look at what the Lord has done He healed my body He touched my mind He saved me just in time I’m gonna praise his name Each day He’s just the same Come help me praise Him Look what the Lord has done”.
Each day He is the same. Though we may be faced with trouble, He remains the same. He is our faithful God in every circumstance of life. God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proven help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
As I have been cleaning here at the church I have found a lot of broken crayons. This reminded me of a quote – “Broken crayons still color”. A crayon may be worn down from use, may be broken, the covering may be damaged but it is still a crayon and still has value to someone. Sometimes in life we may feel like a broken crayon-worn down, broken, damaged. We still are valued by God who loves us. God loves the one who has not accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and the one who has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. Simply because we all are created in His image. “Yet, Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you our potter: we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:7 If you are one who has not accepted Jesus Christ as Savior what a glorious life you are missing out on. Yes you will have troubles come your way as a child of God but as one who belongs to Him you won’t have to carry them alone. The Word tells in Matthew 11:28-29 “Come into me all who are weary and heaven laden “Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to find rest for your weary soul”
Today is a day to recognize Father’s. Past experiences can color the present and for some it may not be a day of celebration. Maybe you have regrets as a father, there is hurt from a father, you have lived life without a father’s presence. If you are a broken crayon may you find healing today. Father God is still writing your story and His love for you is unmeasurable!
“May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! He is the compassionate Father and God of all comfort. He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God”. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Apostle Paul wrote in a letter to the church at Ephesus. “For a great and effective door has opened unto me, and there are many adversaries”. 1 Corinthians 16:9
The “door” is a metaphor for an opportunity. “Has opened” literally stands open. The words “unto me” come from the Greek word moi, which means uniquely to me.
The city of Epheus was receiving the Gospel Paul was ministering. Paul called this unique opportunity not only a “great” door, but also an “effective” door. The word “effectively” is the Greek word energies, from which we get the word energy. The word energes describes something that is forceful, effective, active, or powerful. Paul declared that when this door opened to him and to the Gospel, it created a divine release of God’s power that immediately began to engulf the city of Ephesus.
A door has been opened for the Church to, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples, but the Lord shall rise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you. The nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising”.
Just as there were adversaries against Paul so there will be adversaries against the Believers. The Church has been brought to an open door for such times as this. We are anointed, equipped and sent to do the works Jesus did and greater works. We have been given a unique opportunity for the living Word to go into all the world. Awakening is here, Revival is here. The Kingdom of God expressed on earth as in Heaven thought the Saints of God.
Holy Spirit says there is a windstorm and it is not for destruction but debridement.
Windstream is a storm with very strong wind but little or no rain or snow. Having several years in nursing home care, I knew the meaning of debridement. Debriding a wound requires cutting away and removing decay and death from the affected area. It requires removing everything that interferes with healthy transformation to a state that is whole. The wound heals from the inside out.
How long do we carry wounds and attempt to cover them up? Like a wound in the flesh covering it up will cause it to get worse. When this happens there must be a debriding to cut away the part of the wound that has died in order for life to resume to that part of the body.
Offense, bitterness, and unforgiveness are things that cause us to be wounded. When we choose to stay in that place the wound expresses itself outwardly. When this happens, we experience the pain of the wound. May we invite Holy Spirit to blow on us and bring healing from the Father!
Following is a Prophetic Word given to New Life through Jim Childs. “I see a windstorm coming our way. As the wind of my spirit storms its way through every situation and circumstance, prepare yourself for celebration. As you see, immovable things suddenly blow out of your life. There is a freshness to be experienced as old things are blown away and new things are blown in. New things shall begin to spring and new life shall be experienced. Dreams are awakening and new visions are being released.
Good morning Holy Spirit”.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Fear is not new; it has been here since the fall of man in the garden. According to the Scripture God has not given us the spirit of fear; it is from the devil. Fear comes from the devil to sabotage our faith. Sabotage is to take advantage of. We will have many opportunities in life as believers to walk in fear or faith. The devil will use situations in our life to cause us to fear which leads to being afraid. It is not that we will never experience fear, it is what we do when it comes to us. We just keep doing life even if we are afraid. That is faith.
“Fear, he is a liar He will take your breath Stop you in your steps Fear he is a liar He will rob your rest Steal your happiness Cast your fear in the fire ‘Cause fear he is a liar.” ( Zach Williams)
In the Bible we read where God told his people over and over do not fear, don’t be afraid. The reason we also do not have to fear or be afraid is found in Isaiah 41:10 For [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice”.
God by His spirit brought Ezekiel and set him down the midst of the valley of dry bones. The word tells us that Ezekiel saw there were many and they were very dry. God asked Ezekiel if these bones could live and he said, “Lord God, you know if they can”. God then tells Ezekiel to prophesy (speak) to the bones to hear the Word of the Lord”. Ezekiel 37
I believe that God strategically put Ezekiel in the valley of dry bones. God must have had great faith in Ezekiel when asked to do the right thing. And Ezekiel did. Verse 7 “So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied there was a noise, a shaking and the bones came together”.
Maybe you are in a place thinking what am I doing here. You are looking around at the brokenness, the mess, the situation. God has faith in you to do the right thing at this moment of time. Speak Life! The situations are waiting for your life-giving words.
Arise to the call Church! Situations that are dead or dying are waiting for our life-giving words. Speak life to the nations, governments, your family, your life.
I can hear the Lord saying ‘Surely I will put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD’’
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
Shalom is translated peace. Some meanings of this word peace are success, prosperity, wholeness, completeness, well-being, and welfare.
This peace was a gift to all believers. New Living Translation of John 14:27 ”I am leaving you with a gift- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
Peace is not the absence of trouble. In the midst of trouble we can have peace of mind and heart and peace shows up big when we trust God. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
When we are walking through troubled times in life, we calm our mind with the truths of the Word.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind stays on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.
Let us go to the other side-moving forward.
When there is a transition that begins to happen in our life it requires action on our part. We have to be willing to move. The move happens in our mind. Once we recognize the promptings of Holy Spirit speaking to us about moving forward, the mind has to get in agreement with Holy Spirit. Now your mind will tell you every reason to stay in your comfort zone. After all, things are going well. Why upset the apple cart right? In order to grow, we have to go, and that go is the transition. The greatest move you can have is in your mind.
Corrie Ten Boom said, “We must “never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” People of faith are called to do radical things in order to achieve the purpose of God in their lives. God said to Abram, “Leave the land you have always known. Go from your homeland to a new land that I will show you. I will make you and your people a great nation. I will bless you.” This was a place familiar to Abram. All he had ever known. What are you holding on to for support-comfort, that familiar place. Could it be the very thing that Holy Spirit is saying, “let go”? My blessing for you-my breakthrough for you is in the transition. Let us go to the other side-moving forward to that place called there.
God says to us today, “I am going to command by blessing from that place called there. Let go of the fear that has caused you to stay in a place of stagnation. For you coming out and unto your place of purpose that I have planned long ago for you”!
“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if heed the voice of the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 28:2 AMP
Today, despite whatever you are facing in life, take time to hear Jesus. If you are concerned about symptoms in your body, keep hearing and hearing about how our Lord Jesus loved to heal and still heals today. Hear how He bore the cruel Roman lashes for you, so that by His stripes, you are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Hear how he went about doing good and healing ALL who were oppressed (bodily, emotionally, and mentally) by the devil (Acts 10:38, Matt. 9:35. Hear how when He saw the crowds waiting for His healing touch, He was moved with compassion—He didn’t see them as people with impossible demands, but as sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36). And hear how He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). Faith will infuse your spirit, and His divine healing and health will flood every cell, organ, and system of your body. (to be continued).
Joseph Prince
“Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness”. 2 Peter 1:3
What have we not been given in order to lead the life God calls us to? Peter’s answer would be that we are not missing anything. We are fully equipped. For those who are in Christ, the Word tells us that God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. All of this was deposited in us when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior. We don’t lack anything to live a good life, an overcoming life now in the present. He calls for us to follow, and has fully equipped us to make the journey through this life.
Are we taking ownership of what we have been freely given? Taking ownership is about taking initiative. We take ownership when we believe that taking action is not someone else’s responsibility. God has already done everything for us. What are you waiting for?
Before I spoke in my Word says the Lord that you are to wait on me. But I say while you are to wait on me, do not forget I am waiting on you. And if we move together, says the Lord God you will see tremendous things that I have spoken of and your heart will rejoice. Your bodies will revive as you listen to me as you walk with me, says the Lord God.
Word from Pastor Jerry
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