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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THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME…..
More and more I am feeling that what I believe as a Christian does not fit in with our current culture. There are some churches that try to fit in with today’s culture so much in order to make people feel comfortable that they have compromised the Word.
When God raised up New Life for the Nations, He never mentioned anything about making people comfortable during the service. Our assignment here in this area was to teach the Word of faith and grace, love people, and pray for them. While it is important to reach out in winning others to Christ, the purpose of the church is to “make disciples.”
I thought of the old song my mom used to sing: “This world is not my home; I’m just a-passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door…and I can’t feel at home in this world any more.”
The contemporary song that speaks to me is:
“All I know is I’m not home yet. This is not where I belong. Take this world but give me Jesus. This is not where I belong.”
THE MEANING OF THE SNOWFLAKE by Holly Gerth
Every new snowflake comes to the earth as a picture of our Savior’s birth
because they are sent from up above and remind us of God’s care and love.
Each one is so intricate and small because Christ sees the details of us all,
and just as two are never the same the Lord knows and calls us each by name.
Snowflakes gently cover the world in white and hide what’s unlovely from our sight,
showing us how He covers our sin and gives us His grace when we come to Him.
So may every snowflake bring Christ to mind and in every bit of white your may you find
a reason to celebrate anew and a reminder of His love for you.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crops fail and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls…” the poor man had a few problems. To others it may have looked over for Habakkuk. People may have just been waiting for him to throw in the towel and give up. But as we will see he did not surrender to those problems. In the next verse-Yet (nonetheless or in spite of) I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk is choosing to rejoice because, he is confessing that the Lord God is his Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places.
When we are faced with what seems as if nothing good is happening in our life-bank account is in the red, the pain persist, that addiction is creeping back in, laid off—-this is not the time to surrender to a attitude of why me, but take on the attitude of, “I will rejoice.”
The difference between the person who is defeated and the person who is victorious is their attitude. Habakkuk was able to rejoice in spite of all that was happening in his life because of his attitude. He was choosing to say, yet in all these things that are happening, “God is my strength.”
Attitude is controlled by choice. Choose to rejoice in spite of. Regardless of the circumstances, begin to rejoice! Rejoicing is an expression of joy.The joy of the Lord is your strength. This too shall pass. Behold, the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Things are being put in order on your behalf. Be strengthened now in Praise to our Sovereign God!!!!
Pastor Shirley
MEDITATE ON THE THINGS OF GOD by Joyce Meyer
If you don’t want to be devastated by discouragement, then don’t meditate on your disappointments.
Did you know that your feelings are hooked up to your thinking? If you don’t think that is true, just take about twenty minutes or so and think about nothing but your problems. I can assure that by the end of that time your feelings and maybe even your countenance will have changed.
When you get disappointed, don’t sit around and feel sorry for yourself. As bad as things may seem, we still have a choice. We can choose to fellowship with the problems or fellowship with God.
We can allow our thoughts to dwell on the bad things until we become totally discouraged and devastated, or we can focus our attention on all the good things that have happened to us in our life–and on all the blessings that God still has in store for us in the days ahead.
“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
And God’s peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, the peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
“Our thoughts are silent words that only we and the Lord hear, but those words affect our inner man, our health, our joy, and our attitude
JOYLESS CHRISTIANITY IS DANGEROUS by Jim Johnston
One key sign of spiritual danger is losing your joy., Don’t skim past what Paul says at the end of Philippians 3:1, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. to write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” Paul reminds them to rejoice because it is safe. Joy is one of the vital gauges on the dashboard of the Christian life. When the needle dips–when you lose your joy–you should take note. To stay safe, you need to pay attention to your joy.
Here’s an illustration. Coal miners know that dangerous gases can gather silently and secretly in the tunnels. Carbon monoxide will asphyxiate them. Methane explodes. But in the early days of coal mining, they found an effective, low-tech solution: they brought canaries into the mines. A canary’s metabolism is very sensitive to air quality. As long as the bright yellow birds chirp and sing, miners know the air is safe. If gas levels rise, the canaries stop singing, wobble on their perch, and eventually fall to the floor of the cage.
Christian joy is like that singing, yellow bird. One of the first effects of sin or doctrinal error is that we lose our joy in Christ. When your heart stops singing, that is a warning to watch your life and doctrine closely.
John 15:10-11 “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Don’t confuse this unique joy with other upbeat feelings. Genuine Christian joy is not the power of positive thinking. Joy is not a bubbly, optimistic personality. Joy is not being happy because life is going my way. Joy is not walking through life with a naive, glass-half-full attitude. “The joy we have in Jesus cannot be extinguished by the circumstances of life.” Jesus says it is my joy…in you. Joy is the emotion of salvation. It is the joy of seeing, knowing, loving and trusting Jesus Christ. We cannot generate this true joy ourselves–it is the product of the Holy Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22). Joy is a glorious gladness and deep delight in the person of Jesus Christ.
WHEN LESS IS MORE…..by Ziz Ziglar
Many of us are afflicted with the “go, go, go disease.” Somehow, we’ve developed the core belief that we can’t be happy unless we have our lives full of activities. But the disease leaves us feeling exhausted. Our most cherished relationships become shallow and tense, and we become confused because we’re trying so hard but feel so empty.
In our light-speed culture, one of the marks of true wisdom is the determination to carve out time and space to reflect, rest, and recharge our emotional batteries. Creating “margin” in our lives doesn’t just happen. We have to schedule it, value it, and then protect it from the onslaught of voices that scream, “You’ve got to do this, too!”
The price we pay for creating these regular times is that we have to say no to some activities, but we need to be honest about the price we’ve paid for saying yes to too many things. Making margin a priority reduces stress, increases fulfillment, and leads to richer relationships with God and every person in our lives.
YOUR NEIGHBOR BY Zig Ziglar
Jesus says that our love for others should compare favorably to the attention we give to our own needs. When we’re hungry, we find something in the refrigerator. When we’re sleepy, we go to bed. We don’t spend a lot time wondering if we have this need or that one. If it’s obvious, we just meet it. Our love for others should have the same reflexive quality; When we see their needs, we simply meet those needs.
Too often, we get wrapped up in our own little worlds, and we’re consumed with our own needs without even noticing the needs of those around us. Or we’re so exhausted at the end of each day that we can’t imagine giving out to anyone else, such as to demanding kids or a spouse who is at least as tired as we are.
We have to break this cycle, back up, regroup, and bring some sanity to our lives so we’ll have the perspective, energy, and compassion for the people we see each day, and especially those who live under the same roof with us. Then we can love them like we love ourselves.
“Jesus said, The second…is this:”You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31
“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. “ Romans 13:8
WHY CHURCH? By David Feddes
No matter what your reasons for staying away from church, ask yourself, “Are there good reasons for going?”
- God says so. Eph. 2:19, 3:14-15 The Church is God’s household, and home for God’s family. Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” So, why church? For the teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
- Fellowship. The church fellowship gets us through crisis times and more. The church the whole is greater than the parts. Like a body, the church has many parts, each with its own unique function. God brings together many unique individuals, who are gifted in many different ways. Every part is important. The church needs you. We all benefit from each other’s God-given abilities. Finally, church fellowship helps to keep us accountable.
- Breaking bread. As we gather together to take the Holy Communion together, our mouths take in the bread and the wine, our souls take in the living Christ and the benefits that His body and blood give us.
- Prayer. Matthew 18:19-20 “I tell you if two of you agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where 2 or 3 come together in My Name, there am I with them.”
Every church has its own problems. If the people were all perfect, they might not want sinners or other Christians to join it and spoil it. Be glad the church isn’t too good for you.
THE PRAYER FOR A NEW BEGINNING Dr. Daniel O. C. Bishop A.E.G.A.
If you want the world to heed, then put your creed into your deed.
Give to your enemy-forgiveness,
to your opponent-tolerance,
to your friend-your heart,
to your spouse-love,
to a customer-service,
to all people-charity,
to every child-a good example,
to yourself-respect.
Never throw mud at others. You may miss your target but you will have dirty hands.
“Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:9
from WHAT IS CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY
by Andrew Wommack
If you want to see the results the Word of God promises, then you have to adopt God’s way to thinking……..
Being a Christian isn’t about changing your outward appearance. It isn’t about what you do or how you act. If you don’t change the wrong concepts and the belief system on the inside, then you’re going to have the same results in your life you had before you were saved. That’s why God gave us the Word–to change the way we think…….
We have to control the way we think. The way people act is a result of how they think, and a thought process that says everything is permissible promotes immoral behavior, which then leads to the deterioration of society…..
We can’t afford to think like the world thinks. We need to have a philosophy that focuses on God more than all of these secular ideas that are being promoted. The worldly attitudes being pushed on us go against a Christian way of thinking.
Society doesn’t need more laws; the people in society need to embrace morality–specifically, a biblically based way of thinking.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Colossians 2:8
THANK GOD FOR A SECOND CHANCE
Moses was one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known. We often think of him as the man who led God’s people out of slavery in Egypt. But that’s only part of his story.
Moses had murdered an Egyptian. His motive may have been to help his people, but murder is murder. God sent him to the middle of nowhere for forty long, lonely years. During all that time, how often did he think his life was over? Did he despair that his life would never have meaning again?
But God gave him a second chance. It didn’t come when Moses wanted or expected it, but when it came, he responded. Many of us have blown it in a big way, either at work or at home, publicly or privately. We’ve experienced the consequences of our sins, and we feel like we’ve been exiled to a foreign land. Yet, God is amazingly gracious. We don’t deserve a second chance, but He gives it–and maybe a third and a fourth, too. We may wait for a long time, but when it comes, we need to be ready to respond.
by Zig Ziglar
THE POWER FOR A NEW BEGINNING
If you want the world to heed, then put your creed into your deed.
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To your opponent, tolerance.
To your friend, your heart.
To your spouse, love.
To a customer, service.
To all people, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
Therefore, never throw mud, you may miss your target but you will have dirty hands.
from Bishop Dr. Daniel O.C. Singapore
STAND UP FOR THE TRUTH
FROM “DON’T LIMIT GOD by Andrew Wommack
I Kings 17:1 “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”
Most people won’t stand up and speak for morality when people talk about shacking up with each other and acting like dogs and alley cats. We should stand up and say, “Did you know that’s destructive? You need to make a commitment. Why would you want to live with someone who’s not even committed to you?”
We will limit what God can do through us if we know something is true but won’t stand up for the truth because we are afraid of what people will say. There is zero excuse for this in America. In foreign countries, many have given their lives standing up for the truth. That’s true persecution! But in our country, we feel persecuted if people just look at us in a certain way. When we have a fear of man and let criticism and rejection keep us from doing what God called us to do, we limit God. (pages 76-77)
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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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Philippians 4:6–7
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Experience Jesus’ Robust Peace
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Peace is not the absence of trouble in your life. It is possible to be in the midst of the biggest crisis in your life and still experience peace. That’s the true kind of peace that Jesus gives—peace that surpasses all understanding. Naturally speaking, it does not make sense for you to feel completely at rest and at peace in the middle of a clearly stressful situation, but supernaturally, you can be filled with His peace!
The world defines peace based on what is happening in the sensory realm. Its notion of peace would look something like this: A man lying in a hammock on a white sandy beach with waves rolling languidly along the shoreline. It calls that peace—until reality kicks in!
Beloved, you cannot use your external surroundings to permanently influence the turmoil that you are feeling inside. Only Jesus can touch what you are feeling inside and turn that turmoil into His peace. It’s not the other way round. With Jesus, transformation is always from inside out and not outside in. So when you turn your cares into prayers and seek His presence and favor, He puts a peace and rest in your heart that is robust and secure. You will find yourself able to face any challenge without worry or stress, regardless of your circumstances and environment! Joseph Prince
DON’T LIMIT GOD–OUR SECURITY IS IN HIM
People fear making mistakes. This really comes down to the fact that they aren’t secure in Jesus. They are afraid because their identity and worth is caught up in what they do. But that’s not the way it should be. We need to find our security and identity in our relationship with God. If my ministry failed and I had to go back to pouring concrete for a living, I know that God would still love me. I could have a wonderful relationship with Him without a ministry. My identity is not in my ministry. That is not what I am. That is just a vehicle that God has given me to use while I’m on the earth.
from DON’T LIMIT GOD by Andrew Wommack
CRUSHING THE HEAD OF THE OPPRESSION
Look to other books for information but look only to the Bible for transformation. Many Christians spend more time reading the newspaper than they read the Bible. The Bible will not be a dry book if you know the Author. In every step, in every stride, I will let the Saviour be my guide, His word, His love, and I will embrace and let His wisdom set the pace.
An oppressor is a tyrant, tormentor, bully, scourge, and slave-driver. It is God’s will for our oppressor’s head to be crushed. It is God’s will for us to conquer, overcome, overpower, and subdue all our oppressors.
“Thank You, Lord, for crushing the oppressor under my feet.”
from GOD’S STRENGTH FOR THE DAY by Dr. Daniel O.C. Bishop of AEGA
Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV Finally, let the Lord make you strong. Depend on His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor. Then you can stand firm against the devil’s evil plans. Our fight is not against human beings. It is against the rulers, the authorities, and the powers of this dark world. It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world. So put on all of God’s armor. Evil days will come. But you will be able to stnd up to anything. And after you have done everything you can, you will still be standing.”
I KNOW MY REDEEMER LIVES
Behavior is a mirror in which we show our image. There is nothing truly great in any man except character. The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out. Character is not made in a crisis but only exhibited.
Because my Redeemer lives, therefore I will overcome. I am more than a conqueror because my Redeemer lives. I endure all things because my Redeemer lives. I am not defeated because my Redeemer lives.
(from Dr. Daniel O.C., Bishop in AEGA)
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth.” Job 19:25
FOCUS ON POTENTIAL, NOT LIMITATIONS
In order to succeed at being yourself, build confidence, and overcome insecurity you must focus on potential instead of limitations. Focus on your strengths instead of your weaknesses.
We cannot do anything and everything that everyone else is doing or anything we want to do. We can do anything God says we can do.
Each of us is full of gifts and talents and potentials and abilities. If we really begin to cooperate with God, we can go for the very best God has for us. If we set goals and ideas that are beyond our abilities and grace gifts on our life, we will become frustrated with life. We will not attain these goals and may end up blaming God for our failure.
Gifts and talents are distributed by the Holy Spirit according to the grace that is on each person to handle them. If you are going to like yourself, if you are going to succeed at being yourself, you are going to have to focus on your potential–what God has created you to be–not on your limitations.
If God called you to do something, you will find yourself loving it despite any adversity that may beset you.
from Joyce Meyer “NEVER LOSE HEART”
GOD’S WORD FOR YOU…..
Romans 12:6 “Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them…”
HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE DIFFERENT
If you are going to overcome insecurity and be the person you are called to be in Christ, you must have the courage to be different. You are going to have to take a chance on not being like everyone else.
As believers, our sense of worth has to be rooted and grounded in the love of God. We are worth something because God sent His only Son to die for us. We are worth something because God loves us, not because of what everybody else thinks about us or says about us.
As followers of Christ, we are to be led by the Spirit, not controlled by people, doing what everybody else wants us to do because we think that will gain us acceptance and approval. We should also not try to control others, but allow them to be led by the Spirit. Don’t put God in a box. by Joyce Meyer from “NEVER LOSE HEART”
2 Corinthians 3:13,17,18 “We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away…..Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed int0 his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
The law came by Moses–Grace and truth by Jesus Christ.
The law demanded righteousness–Grace delivered righteousness.
The law required–grace provided.
The law was pressure-grace was relief.
The law was bondage–grace was freedom.
Grace and truth can be modeled only in the light, in being seen. Because of the very nature of grace, we have no reason to hide.
from “The Jesus Style” by Gayle D. Erwin
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