Archives for May 2014

May 31, 2014

“NOTHING CAN DIM THE LIGHT THAT SHINES FROM WITHIN”

“At the age of eight, while living with her mother, Angelou was sexually abused and raped by her mother’s boyfriend, a man named Freeman. She told her brother, who told the rest of their family. Freeman was found guilty but was jailed for only one day.

Four days after his release, he was murdered, probably by Angelou’s uncles. Angelou became mute for almost five years, believing, as she stated, “I thought, my voice killed him; I killed that man, because I told his name. And then I thought I would never speak again, because my voice would kill anyone.” (Wikipedia)

Friends we know how that story plays out if you have followed the life of Ms. Angelou. What an awe inspiring life, one of  faith, determination and endurance picking herself up under insurmountable circumstances grabbing God by the hand and moving forward and upward.

That inner light, that vision from within which keeps us motivated that wakes us up daily by the hand of God and tells us the world awaits even though at times we would like to lay there and close our eyes until life changes on our behalf.

But God “never said it would be easy But in the end through Christ if we are faithful, victory awaits because Jesus defeated all of our enemies before this battle began over our Salvation. In addition the impossible, the unmovable, that mountain that seems like we will never get over is God’s only chance To work a miracle in each of us because we are being tried in the flames of our day to day challenges that Christ allows the god of this world to carry us through.

That faith and endurance seems at times like a fleeting dream that you are forever trying to keep up with. But God’s promises are sure and complete for His faithful so let’s all keep fighting. The finish line has not been moved “but about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matt 24:36 (ESV)

So our Father knows when this race will be over, so hold on, the end is near, prophecies are being fulfilled my friends “the Lord goes (before each of us). He will be with (us); he will not leave (us) or forsake (us). Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deut. 31:8 (ESV) We are a Child of God we all have THE LIGHT THAT SHINES FROM WITHIN for it is the light of God

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” David, a 2-year old with leukemia, was taken by his mother, Deborah, to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, to see Dr. John Truman who specializes in treating children with cancer and various blood diseases.

Dr. Truman’s prognosis was devastating: “He has a 50-50 chance.” The countless clinic visits, the blood tests, the intravenous drugs but David never cried and although his friends in the clinic had to hurt him and stick needles in him, he hustled in ahead of his mother with a smile, sure of the welcome he always got.

When he was three, David had to have a spinal tap a painful procedure at any age. It was explained to him that, because he was sick, Dr. Truman had to do something to make him better. “If it hurts, remember it’s because he loves you,” Deborah said.

The procedure was horrendous. It took three nurses to hold David still, while he yelled and sobbed and struggled. When it was almost over, the tiny boy, soaked in sweat and tears, looked up at the doctor and gasped, “THANK YOU, Dr. Truman, FOR MY HURTING.” (Monica Dickens, Miracles of Courage, 1985) and a Child of God’s words must also be THANK YOU GOD FOR MY HURTING”

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing… (and) Blessed is the man (and woman) who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:2-12 (ESV)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

May 30, 2014

“GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL.”

“GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL.” My friends where does your “INTO ALL THE WORLD” begin and end  “According to the first chapter of Acts, 120 believers met in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. This is a ratio of 1 Christian to approximately every 500,000 to 580,000 people in the empire at that time in History.

From a human standpoint, Jesus’ command TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD seemed unthinkable. The Christian church exploded in growth. Tens of thousands were converted. The message of Jesus’ love was carried to the remotest parts of the empire.

(This shows each of us who are committed to serving God, the power of God, when we as Christian’s take up the banner for Christ) Because in a few generations Christianity had invaded nearly every level of society even in the remote provinces. “(Mark Finley)

And this was actually done without the Social Media or Hashtag if you love Jesus. In addition, millions died so a world could receive the good news of Christ Salvation. Persecution of the Christians started with the Emperor Nero in the summer of AD 64.

At that time Christians were a small underground rag tag group among the slaves and poor people, making them the perfect scapegoat, Nero blamed the fire of Rome on them, and ordered all Christians to be persecuted. Persecution lasted for years but Christianity continued to grow so Satan devised a plan and a union was eventually formed between Christianity and paganism.

But thank God many Christians chose to die before they would deny their Lord. So the millions who endured through it all came to be called MARTYRS, which means “WITNESSES.” As God’s chosen witnesses “for such a time as this” what is our responsibilities in each of our own UNIQUE WORLDS Matt. 25:13 tells us “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

Where I need you to focus today my friends is what are our duties as we are watching and praying for Christ soon return. A story is told about the duke of Wellington who was once present where a party of Christian men were discussing the possibility of success in a missionary effort among the heathen.

They appealed to the duke to say whether in his judgment such efforts were likely to prove successful, proportionate to the cost, the old soldier replied: “Gentlemen, what are your marching orders, Success he said, is not the question for you to discuss. If I read your orders, they run thus, ‘GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Gentlemen, obey your marching orders.’

So as we are watching and waiting for our Saviors second coming our marching orders from God is GO! GO to your friends! GO to your family,!GO to your love one’s! GO to your neighbors! GO to your co-workers and GO to the world and tell them of the good news of Christ soon return and the conditions upon which they may return to His kingdom with Him when He returns.

But you will never have a passion to serve Christ if you have not allowed Christ to transform your Character to serve as He served. As Christians, we all need to come to terms with the actuality that Satan still exists and he is as strong as ever.

But my friends the story does not end with victory through the god of this world. But it ends only through our faith and endurance and the grace and love of Christ who gave it all for our salvation, and he, or she whose heart is fixed to serve God and will always find the opportunity to be a witness for Him. in addition, the more we can focus on the character and love of Christ the more we come to realize that we must follow Him all the way to Calvary by being A humble servant to others as we carry out Christ mandate TO CARRY HIS GOSPEL INTO ALL THE WORLD.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

O WRETCHED MAN OR WOMAN THAT I AM! WHO SHALL DELIVER ME FROM THE BODY OF THIS DEATH?

O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man and (woman) that (we are)! Who will release and deliver (us) from the shackles of this body of death? O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:24-25 (AMP)

That text tells each who claims to be a Child of God and seeks life eternal that each day that we try and seek God’s grace and justification by our own power we will lose that battle as we continue becoming a slave to sin who’s supreme leader is the god of this world.

But today we must take hold with dear life to the Spirit of God if we ever have any chance of being free men or women from the law of sin and perdition and that my friends is anything in opposition to the purity and love of God. But it must become a joint effort, a willing participant in that we give our all to Christ who will transforms our Character to be like His.

In addition, without Christ we become WRETCHED, CONTEMPTIBLE, DESPICABLE, REPREHENSIBLE, DEPLORABLE, DISGRACEFUL sinners WORTHY for only a death sentence. But Calvary and the death of Christ gave us life with the attributes that can only come from a pure and holy God.

Consistent with that is a new life of LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, MEEKNESS and SELF-CONTROL. My friends our heartfelt prayers each day must be “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” Gal. 2:20 (NKJV)

But it takes a daily commitment as we study Gods word and pray without ceasing for a double portion of His Spirit, while staying focused on our Salvation through Christ, because our life depend on our faith and endurance to stay focused. But where we most often fail is in not allowing a total and complete transformation of our lives.

Otherwise as Christ points out to us in Luke 11:24-26 (KJV)  we clean house, but do not attempt to fill it with the attributes that can only come from God’s word and Spirit. So we allow our lives to be re-occupied by the evil that we once drove out because we have not filled our life with Christ righteousness and love as an alternative.

Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man or woman becometh worse than the first. My friends don’t think you can just stop sinning and then heaven is yours for the asking.

The key to true repentance and Salvation is to die daily, we can never skip a day or go into time out like we give our kids when they do something wrong. We must continue replacing whatever it is in this world that is keeping you from total and complete transformation with the anointing power of God’s love and the the daily study God’s Word. In addition as we seek His Spirit we begin to recognize, reject, and replace each sin and gain victory through Christ.

Remember The road to the Kingdom is a narrow road that few will succeed in finishing the journey if Christ is not the foundation and focal point of our lives. God calls us to pursue righteousness each day, to sustain a drive toward excellence and to have a life of purpose far beyond what you think yourself capable of living. The key is to believe and give it all to the Master the source of all our needs as He provide us with the adequate amount of strength to fulfill His will in our life and to overcome sin and make it to His pure and holy kingdom.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

May 27, 2014

MY FRIENDS, ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE YOUR ALL TO THE MASTER?

Christ earthly ministry was spent in praying, teaching, helping, healing and interacting daily with men and women from every social, educational, and economic class. So like Christ, a child of God must also HAVE A PASSION TO GIVE OUR ALL for the glory and honor of the one who gave it all for us on Calvary.

A passion that controls our mind, body, and most of all our time and resources, and not our time, talents and resources controlling our passion. Our love for God is absolute when we remain focused and make our life all about Him as we spread the good news of the gospel with a passion that transcends into an urgency for the amount of times we have left on this earth to live.

We must redeem our all for the Master “by being co-workers with God in His great plan of redemption. In him who does this, a transformation of character takes place.” (Ellen G. White Christ’s Object Lessons) and It is only through this transformation, and God’s grace that our lives become centered on the needs of the Master in finishing up His work here on earth.

There is nothing in us, or of ourselves by which we can GIVE OUR ALL TO GOD if we do not realize our helplessness and our need of God’s Holy Spirit to guide us to do so. We should never begin our day without committing OUR ALL WITH A PASSION to God.

Satin is at his best when he can utilize our life for his agenda. First of all we must refuse to waste, squander, or misuse what God has given us to be used for the finishing up of his work here on earth. Any wasted moments or resource is selfishness on our part and a transgression of God’s precepts that says to have no other god’s before him.

Meaning, when we don’t give OUR ALL TO CHRIST we honor the god of this world by given him what is due only to our savior, as we squander what God has given us on things not eternal. My friends we were bought with a high price and our only purpose should be to serve Christ.

Matthew 6:24 (KJV) tells us “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other……” John Maxwell summarized for us this powerful lesson on given it all to God when he writes: “Giving is the highest level of living.”

“Perhaps you have instead heard it said that “to live is to give.” If this is true, and Christ made painfully clear He believes it is, what does it say about the extent to which you or I are really living and using our time? Our mission as Christians is “to love God absolutely and love others sacrificially.” Isn’t that what Christ epitomized upon the cross?”

My friends as a child of God our commitment to God must go beyond our tithe and a yearly donation to the Red Cross, OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD MUST BE OUR ALL, simply put, because he gave His all for our Salvation and the choice to live throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity with Him one day.

As His chosen generation we must fall on our knees today with heartfelt supplications as we unite with God and His Spirit as we devised a systematic plan in a joint effort together on how we will get from this earth to His kingdom. But before you fall on your knees think about what you are asking and what you are about to give up and the sacrifice you are about to commit to and what our Savior may ask from you.

Remember the rich young ruler before you do anything and Christ words to him “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matt. 19:21 (KJV) Are you Ready for God’s response to your prayer because it will be TO GIVE YOUR ALL TO HIM. So think hard but not long my friend’s on what you are about to ask, time is running out for all of us.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

May 26, 2014

“THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN BUT IT IS NOTHING WE CAN DO”

“And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome, Until they were filled (permeated and saturated) with every kind of unrighteousness, iniquity, grasping and covetous greed, and malice. [They were] full of envy and jealousy, murder, strife, deceit and treachery….” Romans 1:28-29 (AMP)

“THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN BUT IT IS NOTHING WE CAN DO” the words of a policeman in the investigation of America’s latest mass murderer, someone “which had lost all hope.” Who had the same MO or modus operandi as Satan who said “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Is. 14:14 (NIV)

I can make that statement with some assurance because the words recorded from the manifesto of Americas latest media hero before his so called day of retribution were “I am not part of the human race…..I am Elliot Rodger … Magnificent, glorious, supreme, eminent … Divine! I am the closest thing there is to a living god. ….I will purify the world of everything that is wrong with it. On the Day of Retribution, I will truly be a powerful god, punishing everyone I deem to be impure and depraved.”

My friends I need you to Focus today on the purity of Jesus Christ and where we are today in the realm of Christ second coming and where you as a Child of God fit into the overall scenario that is being played out hourly in front of us each day.

Satan knows HIS HIGH HOPES and AMBITIONS to “ascend to heaven (and) exalt (his) throne above the stars of God; (as he tries to) sit upon the mount of assembly in the uttermost north. (and) ascend above the heights of the clouds; (and) make himself like the Most High” Is. 14:13-14 (AMP) was MADE UNATTAINABLE  at the cross when Christ the Son of God said IT IS FINISHED.

Satan now knows without any reservation that his time is winding down faster then ever before as he goes about as an adversary to those “who have no hope.” “As a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) even a child of God becomes his top prey if we do not allow self to die daily and the transforming power of Christ to take complete control of our life.

So the question we must ask ourselves is when do we become serious about our salvation and WHAT WE MUST DO TO BE SAVED and to lead others to Christ? We can no longer bury our heads into the sand and let the world orbit around us as we sit back and ignore God’s prophecy and the “signs of the times” that we wake up to each day.

God is now given us a choice in this controversy and that choice is to “fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness as you put away the gods of this world and serve the Lord. But if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of this world who will lead you to perdition, or the Creator of the universe who”

“so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV) Remember my friends many will be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold but “THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IT IS NOTHING WE CAN DO” but God gives His “chosen generation” a mandate to witness to the world and to those “who have lost hope.” among the carnage and turmoil of our world and tell them “God saves” and one day “God will come quickly; and his reward is with (Him), to give every man and woman  according as his work shall be.” Rev 22:12 (KJV)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

May 24, 2014

“LET US THEN WITH CONFIDENCE DRAW NEAR TO THE THRONE OF GRACE”

“He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.” Heb. 5:2 (NKJV)

My friends I have lived long enough to have seen the world as it is, but not like I would want it to be. As a kid you wake up each day to a brand new world where the adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and the Hardy boys would come to life within one’s imagination.

Where outdoors was a world of castles and moats, that comprised of an array of trees, dogs, tadpoles lightning bugs, creeks and the woods where every trail, hill and rock you figured would be your safety net for life and then somewhere in between your fantasy world and today May 24, 2014  life became real, with real choices we all make over life and death, good and evil.

Real choices that determines one’s Salvation and destiny in this great controversy between good and evil. So today let’s close our eyes and focus on a God who like us somewhere between a day (which to God is) like a thousand years” and His observance of the “darkness (that) was over the face of the deep and the creation of light, sin became real and a plan was immediately established on our behalf for our salvation.

And that plan meant Him leaving His safety net in the heavenly courts to a world that He had created, where Satan had claimed as His own. That is why our God can say “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:18 (NIV)

My friends we are His Children because this controversy was very real to Christ and He knew it would be very real to us as we moved from the safety net of our homes as a child to dear God, if one day I lose my hope and purpose, please allow your Spirit to once again give me the confidence, faith, and endurance to realize that your plan for me is better than everything I could want or could ever imagine because we know “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matt. 7:14 (NIV)

But Dear God you made it across that narrow path and you paved the way for everyone who would keep their eyes focused on you and follow you to Calvary to make it across also “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. LET US THEN WITH CONFIDENCE DRAW NEAR TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb. 4:15-16 (ESV)

My God that is where I fall short each day. Those words in that text that gives your Children the faith to continue and the assurance if we would just “WITH CONFIDENCE DRAW NEAR TO THE THRONE OF GRACE” we would find LOVE, COMFORT, PEACE, JOY, HAPPINESS, FAITH, ENDURANCE, HUMILITY, all the attributes to make it across that narrow path and finish this journey you have placed each of us on.

My friends it is time we begin to realize “When (we were a) child, (we) talked like a child, (we) thought like a child, (we) reasoned like a child. (But) When (we) became a man (or woman), (we had to) put the ways of (our) childhood behind (us). 1 Cor. 13:11 (NIV)

The fantasy of our youth is behind us, Christ will be here very soon because this world can not last that much longer for we are living in the time that Christ told us “many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” Matt. 24 (NIV)

But His promise to His Children is, if you can only STAND FIRM TILL THE END and “WITH CONFIDENCE DRAW NEAR TO THE THRONE OF GRACE” MY FRIENDS YOU WILL BE SAVED AND LIVE THROUGHOUT THE CEASELESS AGES OF ETERNITY IN GOD’S KINGDOM AND THE EARTH MADE NEW.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

May 22, 2014

FROM THE PRODIGAL TO THE MASTERS TABLE!!!

“…….Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. BUT WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF…….” Luke 15: 11-32 (NKJV)

Today our devotion will focus on “The Parable of the Lost Son or Daughter” who has allowed the god of this world to fix their sight on the things of this world and not the saving power of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. Six words in that verse is where I need you to focus “BUT WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF”

Webster defines Prodigal as an adjective or someone who is wasteful reckless and extravagant. So as a child of God does the word PRODIGAL define a part of your character that is not in the image of our Savior Jesus Christ while at the same time you have refused to allow God’s transformation process to take effect and to cleanse you from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

Friends time is of the essence we must begin to seek God’s presence with all the faith and passion that is within us. Our Savior stands at the door of our heart at this vary moment and knocks, He stands and waits, Salvation is in his name but we must have faith and ask but you “do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:2-3 (NIV)

Christ knows we are allowing the god of this world to control us, He knows we are not focusing on the example our Savior has laid out for us, although creator of the universe and the king of kings our Savior was a humble servant. So as a child of God who seeks the Character of Christ and life eternal, does your lifestyle reflect the humble lifestyle of Christ.

Paul paints a picture for us to see the example that our Savior has laid out for us “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross….”Phil 2:5-11 (ESV) That my friends is where we must be at on our journey Christ has placed us on. So today let’s make it personal let’s make it all about you and I

WE MUST NOW COME TO OUR-SELF we must arise and go to (our) father with heartfelt prayer and supplication and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son, or daughter because I have turned my back on the precepts in your word and have placed “other gods before me.”

“Because my heart Sometimes can wander And my faith at times can stray But I know That when I fix my eyes on You That I will always remain Safe in the shadows of Your Grace, grace God’s grace Grace that will pardon And cleanse within Grace, grace God’s grace Grace that is greater Than all my sin.”

Then (“our Father which are in heaven”) said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him or (her) and put a ring on his (or her)  hand and sandals on his (or her) feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son (or daughter) was dead and is alive again; he (or she) was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

My friends please today not tomorrow because tomorrow is not promised to us. Allow God’s Spirit that has “began a good work in you, (PLEASE ALLOW HIM TO) carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” along with all the redeemed “WHO ARE INVITED TO THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB!” Rev. 19:9 (NIV)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY