Archives for August 2014

Aug. 12, 2014

MY FRIENDS “FINISH STRONG SO THAT YOU MAY NOT GROW WEARY OR FAINTHEARTED!!!”

“FINISH STRONG” Those are the words I heard from a teacher a few days ago so my friends, now let’s put it in the context of our journey that Christ has placed us on, for “Worthy is the lamb” that has ask us to bear our cross and follow Him.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, SO THAT YOU MAY NOT GROW WEARY OR FAINTHEARTED.” Heb. 12:1-3 (ESV)

In addition, we are only able to finish Strong because our Savior volunteered 4000 years ago to become our pacesetter so that WE MAY NOT GROW WEARY OR FAINTHEARTED for He is our model who we must imitate. As God’s chosen, we have to out distance the god of this world AND FINISH STRONG as we carry many souls we have lead to Christ, across the finish line with us.

Remember we have the advantage of being covered with the armor of God and the blood of Jesus Christ. I know you say to put it in words is the easy part but to make FINISHING STRONG a reality will take us my friends, to our knees like never before.

For each of us who are looking for Christ soon return, as we come into that final stretch to the finish line, must ask ourselves; Are we moving just as strong  in finishing up Christ work here on earth as we did when we first started this race?

With the help of the Spirit of God, are we spreading the good news of Christ saving grace to our friends, family, love one’s, co-workers, neighbors and a world that has lost sight of the saving grace of our savior? Are we constantly asking the question; what must I do to be saved and enter into Gods pure and holy society?

Consistent with this, FINISHING STRONG AND NOT GROWING WEARY OR FAINTHEARTED”  must become our attitude in our final stretch today. Our desire, our goals, our passion, our focus, our faith, our endurance, our prayers, and the never ending study of God’s word, must never waiver.

To FINISH STRONG will be very grueling, but we must  never forget that this race was won on Calvary. We just have to believe and trust God that he is in control of our destiny if we will only give it all to Him as we allow self  to die. It can never be about us, we must pull the field around behind us, by first keeping everyone encouraged.

Modeling the way, Inspiring a shared vision to the promise land, and always reminding the rest of the field, that once we cross that finish line with torch in hand, no matter what place you come in at, if you have faith, and believe, and stay focused, and study the course which is the word of God, we will all receive the ultimate prize life eternal.

For we must never forget Phil. 3:14; “Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”. So today as you stand at the CROSSROAD of life there are two signs, one pointing to our Savior Jesus Christ and eternal life and the other is pointing toward a path bound for perdition. Christ still waits for you to Chose Him.

In addition, as a Child of God there should be no doubt, Christ second coming in our lifetime is becoming more of a reality than ever before, since He left the first time telling us “I will go and prepare a place for you and I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3 (KJV) BUT ONLY IF YOU BELIEVE AND FINISH STRONG.

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

Aug. 10, 2014

“FOR WE ARE A MIST THAT APPEARS FOR A LITTLE TIME AND THEN VANISHES”

My friends we “do not know what tomorrow will bring [or] what our life is? For [WE] ARE A MIST THAT APPEARS FOR A LITTLE TIME AND THEN VANISHES. James 4:14 (ESV) Life! It’s 1:30 am. and I am trying to gather my thoughts as to where God will lead me today.

I then begin to focus on a 1997 photo with my parents along with five more couples. Then it dawned on me, out of the 12 individuals on that picture 6 of them now wait on the “Lords appearing” that is when I go to James 4:14 and recall the words of one of my deceased love one’s on the picture. “We are all just standing in line”

My friends generation go and come the Palmist tells us “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” Ps. 90:10 (NIV) So What God’s Word is telling us is, we are only promised 70 years to establish a legacy, and if you are a Child of God, the foundation of that legacy must be centered around what God expects from our time we spend on this earth.

In addition, our life does not belong to us, it belongs to God for He created us in His image to serve Him and give Him all of our praise, glory and honor. So friends that doesn’t give us much time. So today it becomes personal again as we ask God to please give us the power of discernment, so that we may not “as others do, who have no hope” and become complacent.

To waste one day not in the total presence of our Savior is to waste that small amount of time and grace God has given us to get it right. So how do we COMMUNICATE our message to others and especially to ourselves in the midst of the over saturation of technology, and the bombardment of the media on every level which has allowed the god of this world to manipulate our minds with wasted time, along with what we watch and listen too, the few years we are promised hear on this earth.

When do we say, enough is enough! My God! Not another day will go by that I will not seek Your presence as I say “not my will but thou will” for if we are a child of God and study prophecy while asking God’s Spirit for understanding of God’s Word “we know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” [one day soon] destruction will come upon [all who have not allowed Christ to transform there life]…..and [they] will not escape.” 1 Thess. 5:2-3 (ESV) My friends Satan’s only desire is that we all lose sight of Christ saving grace, while forgetting that life is too short to squander away on the things of this world that he has placed before us to cause us to lose out on life eternal and God’s pure and holy kingdom.

I can’t repeat these words enough; nothing in this world is worth losing our Salvation over. For God’s “sake [and entrance into the promise land we] have [to suffer] the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that [we] may gain Christ,” [and life eternal] Phil. 3:8 (KJV)

Our focused must never waiver. 2014 has fulfilled prophecy like never before, “with wars and the threat of wars throughout our world, famines and earthquakes in various places, Ebola, HIV, false prophets telling the world “Peace where there is no peace”, lawlessness abounds like never before and the love of many continues to grow cold.

But my God also gives His Children promises in His Word of His love, grace and mercy, promises which makes it very personal which states. [any of my children] who endures to the end will be saved. And [the good news of the] gospel…..will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then [OUR SAVIOR WILL COME AND TIME AS WE KNOW IT WILL BE NO MORE] Matt. 24 3:13 (ESV)

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

Aug. 9, 2014

THOU BELIEVEST THAT THERE IS ONE GOD; THOU DOEST WELL: “THE DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE, AND TREMBLE” James 2:19 (KJV)

My friends, let’s focus on what James is saying to us today. Do We believe in God? that is great!! But what does that prove,  the Devils believe and tremble!! Paul even tells us one day soon “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:10-11 (ESV)

Again what have we proven to God. As I see it, there must be a distinctive difference between Satan and a child of God because we all know the god of this world and his forces will never behold God’s pure and Holy Kingdom again. So what is that distinction since we all believe, and one day we will all acknowledge that Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

Mrs. White tells us, [the forces of evil] “belief does not bring them justification, neither will the belief of those who give a merely intellectual assent to the truths of the Bible bring them the benefits of salvation. This belief fails of reaching the vital point, for the truth does not engage the heart or transform the character…..In Christ, the justified believer beholds his only hope and deliverer. Belief may exist without trust, but confidence born of trust cannot exist without faith.” (Sings of the Times Nov. 3, 1890)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV)

My friends that verse gives us at least one distinction between Satan and ourselves. Satan’s chance for reconciliation has passed, and it passed when he said in [his] heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ Is.14:13-14 (ESV)

But what other distinction are there between Satan and everyone who claims to be a Child of God, what is lying dormant in our heart that takes us away from the same place Satan has been barred for life from, which is God’s pure and holy kingdom.

My friends is it our pride like Satan, or our envy towards others, has our lies destroyed us like it did too the father of lies, has our covertness taken it’s toll, or have we gotten so brazen as to tell ourselves “I will make myself like the Most High.” My friends let’s focus today on, what character traits of Satan could be so attractive to us, that would make us want to lose our Salvation for.

Satan has made this world such a complicated place to live. “While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction [has] come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and [the majority] will not escape.” 1 Thess. 5:3 (NIV) and it is not because they don’t have the desire to escape.

But “the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. [But] the gate is narrow and the way is hard [that leads to Life Eternal and Gods Pure and Holy Kingdom,] and those who find it are few.” Matt. 7:13-14 (ESV)

So it is time every child of God makes a personal decision about their future, as we ask ourselves today “How long will [we] waver between two opinions? If the LORD is [our] God, [then we must] follow Him; but if [Satan is our] god, [then] follow him.” 1 kings 18:21 (NHV)

Time as we know it is about to end my friends and God NEEDS WORKERS YESTERDAY which means we are already running behind schedule. Time is fleeting away and the world is “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd…. [for] “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest [that we have the faith and endurance to give it all to the Master and become] laborers into his harvest.”

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

Aug. 8, 2014

MY FRIENDS, “I AM A LIVING TESTIMONY, THAT GOD RESTORES”

“I AM A LIVING TESTIMONY THAT GOD’S RESTORES” for He took a sinner like me and I hope you can say the same about your life that He has RESTORED, REDEEMED AND RELEASED us from the penalty of sin and transformed our life into His image in spite of the wretched sinners we were.

And now I recognize and believed through my faith in the cross and His word that the transforming power on Calvary absolutely and without any doubt in my mind saved us from the penalty of sin and the clutches of the god of this world. That is why I can say with no reservation that “I AM A LIVING TESTIMONY THAT GOD RESTORES”

Oh the grace of God! And what Calvary meant for our SALVATION and through our faith, we can say Lord, I am going to trust you totally and place all of my confidence, hopes and dreams of eternity exclusively, on Calvary and what Christ did for each of us.

In addition, each who believe they are a child of God, have been given the power of the Spirit For Christ tells us in John 14:15-17 (ESV) “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

Also Acts 1:8 (NIV) tells us that “we will receive power [from] the Holy Spirit; and [we] will [be able to represent and speak for our Savior] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Yes my friends, as Christians we must tell the world of Christ death, resurrection, and soon return.

And most of all we must be willing to follow Him all the way to the cross. This binding contract between the two parties Jesus Christ and each of His Children is so vital in this great controversy between good and evil. In addition, as God’s chosen we must be a LIVING TESTIMONY WHO THROUGH OUR FAITH AND ENDURANCE CAN TELL THE WORLD THAT GOD RESTORES.

And because He RESTORES, there is no need to “live as those who have no hope: but if we “are [His] children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, [but also as His Children we must share] in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Rom. 8:17 (NIV)

Because if it is our ambition to [represent] Christ [and receive life eternal we must also] have a passion in [our] heart [that we have] never known before that [will] make [us] love [God even] more. [We must also be willing to] lay [aside] everything that [we seek] on this earth,] all [of our hopes dreams] and ambitions, For what [God] wants [from us as we] take up [our] cross and follow [Him] wherever He may lead.

[and as Omniscient, an all-knowing] God He knows [we] seldom measure up to what [His plans are for us but we must also recognize His love mercy grace] and how far His arms will reach to rescue [each of us from perdition and where the god of this world is trying to take us.

So our heartfelt] prayer [must be to live each day in such a way That in all we do we would bring [our God all the] praise, [glory and honor that He deserves] (Newsong, For the glory of Christ) My friends the power is ours if we are willing to give it all to the Master not just 99.9%.

Consistent with this, through, His grace, love and the power of the cross today as His Children we can Say these words with complete confidence  “I AM A LIVING TESTIMONY, THAT GOD RESTORES”, because we ”once was lost, but now we are found, Was blind, but now, we can see.”

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

Aug. 6, 2014

MY FRIENDS, THE TALE OF TWO, TIME ZONES!!!

TIME ZONE too a Child of God; as we talk to God we really can “hear the sound of the rushing wind”, as we realize, “His appearing is closer than ever as we begin to hear the trumpet of Gabriel, and hear the Father as He says Son go get My Children”, and the more we pray we can see our Savior standing on a cloud, with tens of thousands of angels as we witness for ourselves on his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Yes my friends, there is a passion, deep from within and our faith tells us that it will all happen “in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” There is another TIME ZONE for those “who have no hope.” in “a world of many fools [that say] in their heart, There is no God.” “Time is two edged. It forces [the fool] nearer to [perdition], [because they cannot] save [themselves.]

But even more horrendous, it habituates [them] to existing conditions which, by familiarity, seem less and less threatening. [And] Once [their] minds have been conditioned to that sort of thinking the keen edge of danger is blunted, and [they] are no longer able to see the dark chasm on the brink of which [they] stand” (Bernard Baruch)

The god of this world keeps those in his TIME ZONE thinking that the world owes them, so they have to acquire many things, and because their anchor is not firmly rooted in the solid rock of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, their Perception of evil begins to transform their Reality, instead of God doing the transforming.

David tells us “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked who seems to have the least share of the troubles of this life; but have the greatest share of this worlds wealth and comforts. They have no fear of [God] and yet they prosper, in a world that My God created.” Ps 73:3-5

High into the mountains, as you look down the smaller the world below you get’s. So it is with a child of God, the Higher up or closer we get to Christ the smaller the world gets until it’s no longer relevant, only the presence of God, as we continue to get closer and closer to Him through His Spirit.

Today, I tell a story I’ve used before on how easy it is too loose our focus, right here at the threshold of the promise land. The story is about the Golf legend Arnold Palmer: “It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, he had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. “I felt I was in pretty good shape.”

As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus. On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters.”

My friends, what is distracting you from focusing on life eternal and what our God has prepared for His Children who keeps His Commandments. What keeps you from setting “your mind and keeping [it] set on what is above, [and] not on the things that are of this world.” Col. 3:2 (AMP)

Satan failed in every way possible to distract our Saviors attention away from Victory at Calvary. But today my friends it is not about Christ, He has accomplished what he was sent here to Do. The spotlight is on you, what will you as a Child of God do to remain focused and complete the plan that was implemented for your salvation?

Remember friends, our journey will end one day soon and “He who began a good work in [each of] us will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:6 (ESV) BUT ONLY IF WE BELIEVE. AND THEN THIS TIME ZONE in this world Ends and a NEW ONE BEGINS IN THE EARTH MADE NEW.  BUT ONLY IF WE BELIEVE!!

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

Aug. 4, 2014

DEFINE GOD; GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO DIE FOR OUR SINS

GOD; “IN CHRISTIANITY AND OTHER MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS, GOD SIMPLY MEANS THE CREATOR AND RULER OF THE UNIVERSE AND SOURCE OF ALL MORAL AUTHORITY; THE SUPREME BEING” WHO IS OMNISCIENCE, OMNIPOTENCE AND OMNIPRESENCE.

gods; “ONE OF SEVERAL DEITY’S, PRESIDING OVER SOME PORTION OF WORLDLY AFFAIRS,,” OR ANYTHING THAT TAKES OUR LOVE AND AFFECTION AWAY FROM OUR CREATOR WHO IS THE TRUE GOD.

Looking at the two definitions, of God and god and the choices that need to be made in regards to our Salvation tells us if “we are laborers together with God, we cannot set our affections upon [the gods of this world];

“for where our affections are, our thoughts will be; and where our thoughts are, there will be our treasure. When we dwell upon things seen and temporal, we fail to obtain divine knowledge (E. G.White)

So to have no other gods before Jehovah Which is the first commandment  in God’s Word, would mean to Renounce  anything that hinders true loyalty to God. In addition the “commandments to Israel established an exclusive relationship between the nation of Israel and its God, Yahweh, which was a covenant initiated by Yahweh after delivering the Israelite’s from apartheid and Egyptian bondage.

At this time God is giving His 10 Decalogue’s to Israel and the Bible says, “then God spoke these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” So as we try an analyze why God gave His precepts to Israel? We also have to recognize that His precepts don’t begin with a threat or a command, but a statement of acknowledging who He is

“I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD” and then He speaks of what He has done “BROUGHT YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE.” So as His chosen, this statement only confirms that relationship of love to a people who He had a special relationship with and not the surrounding nations who had decided that their man made god’s were more important than Jehovah the creator of the universe.

But His love still extended to all nations “for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.” Matt. 5:45 (ASV) Consistent with this, God’s mandate to Israel’s was to extend the good news of who God was and what he will do for those who “love Him and keep His commandments.”

But instead of Israel influencing other nations, who worshiped other gods. The ungodly nations influenced Israel with their many deity’s, which resulted in Israel’s eventual downfall. So as God’s chosen “for such a time as this” we also have a mandate from God too influence through His Spirit to “all nations kindred’s and tongues.” the need for Salvation.

Or has the gods of this world determine our relationship with God and our responsibility to tell other’s about Him as he did Israel? My friends a commitment to serve only God can only happen when you give it all to the Master and follow him to Calvary.

Unlike Israel His chosen of  Abraham’s seed. His 21st century Chosen generation must not allow other gods to hinder our relationship with God, and take us also into captivity and then to perdition.

In this busy complex world we live in, a Child of God must begin to sacrifice the things we love to do, for the sake of what is most important to the God we serve. God know’s in giving us the first commandment, that He wants nothing before Him that will distract us away from His love, grace, mercy and His Children doing His will.

“for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” In other words, every decision you make in life should first be centered and focused on our LOVE, HONOR, RESPECT, WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE AND RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH GOD.

In addition, God started His precepts off by saying “I am the Lord your God” who has purchased the rights for your Salvation. Oh what love “THAT WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH IN HIS SON MAY RECEIVE LIFE ETERNAL.”

So my friends will you make God first and foremost today as His Spirit prepares you for eternity in “the earth made new.” Or have you made other plans?

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

Aug 2, 2014

MY FRIENDS, WILL YOU FINISH THIS RACE, THE END IS IN SIGHT?

Webster defines a race “as a contest of speed” but if you are a Child of God and your desire is life eternal then speed or physical strength is not a factor, only the preparation and being able to endure to the end with the torch of faith still in hand.

In addition this race resembles more of a journey because of the length of time it will take to finish. At the beginning, along with the torch of faith a belt of truth is placed around our waist which our sponsor has given us with the word GRACE engraved into the special leather.

A breastplate of “integrity and rectitude” covers the upper part of our body to break our fall at various times along the way, because at any given moment along the route the road changes from a smooth surface, to a hilly and rocky road. Our sponsor also provides us with a special foot wear made from the moral fortitude and stability that will never tear or wear out during such a long encounter, with the words the good news of the gospel across both shoes in visible sight for all to see.

My friends the ultimate prize will be given to many for John tells us “and, lo, a great multitude, [who had finished the course] which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred’s, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; Rev. 7:9 (KJV)

On the mount of Olivet it was our savior’s humanity that recognized the difficulty of his Journey he would have to finish, it was his humanity that knew the height and treacherous road he was about to take, and He knew their would be times on our Journey when it would seem impossible for us to finish, so our Salvation rested on our Savior So He stayed focused and prayed more earnestly than ever before, until his sweat, was like drops of blood, falling to the ground.

Here in the garden, humanity took its toil as the whole weight of the world rested on his shoulders. but his faith, endurance, and prayer’s while staying focused as he conquered each obstacle along the way from the betrayal of Judas to the court of the high priest as He is spat upon and beat.

Then before Pilate, Herod, then back to Pilate where He was scourged, beat, stripped of His dignity and a crown of thorns placed on His head and a cross on His back as He is then lead to Calvary to die for each of us who He knew would have our own crosses to bear one day on our Journey to the promise land.

My friends this is why we must finish this race. Paul says in Phil. 3:7-8 (NKJV) But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things [on this journey].

[But]I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” Nothing else in this race matters, for Christ our pace setter stands at the finish line with nail scared hands held out to embrace each runner as we cross and He says, My father awaits along with your friends and love one’s at the  banquet table that has been prepared for all who crossed over.

In addition, many you have read about in my Word are there, to name a few; Moses and David who were both murderers but they finish the race, Peter who denied Christ He also finished, Abraham and Jacob were big time liar’s, but they finished, Judah was a Whoremonger, John was self-righteous, Mark was a scary cat, and was rejected by Paul who also was a murderer.

But all finished the race and will be there my friends along with many others who stayed focused and“laid aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [them while on this earth], and [ran] with patience [and endurance] the race that [was] set before [them never given up] Heb 12:1 (KJV) SO NOW MY FRIENDS WILL YOU FINISH THIS RACE, THE END IS IN SIGHT.

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