July 24, 2015

MY FRIENDS, IS YOUR MIND FOCUSED BEYOND THIS WORLD?

For whom our soul yearns, How sweet the sound for we have “Set our mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 (KJV) My friends, that text tells us that our focus is completely centered on allowing a transformation to take place in our lives that transcends from this world to the world to come.

In addition, as we allow God’s Spirit to transform us, He will also “guide [us] into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13 (NKJV)

And “those things to come” are the promises in God’s word to all who believe and are “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord” 1 Cor.15:58 (NKJV)

Faith, endurance, studying God’s Word, praying without ceasing, and serving Christ with a passion, each essential to the life expectancy of the other, which are the foundation of “Setting our mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

So if we seek God’s kingdom, we must dissociate ourselves from the things of this world that do not center our attention on Jesus Christ and Him crucified, starting with what our eyes see, what we hear, how we spend our time and what we spend the resources that God gives us on.

If we are serious about our Salvation, there must be a deep passion from within, a passion “for things above and not of this earth”  and this passion can only come from a transformation from what this world deems as acceptable, too what God says is acceptable that will lead to life eternal in His pure and holy kingdom.

Remember my friends, “our citizenship is in heaven” this world is not our  home, we are just passing through. So as Christians our minds must stay on things not of this world, as our passion stays on what our God has prepared for us above. John 14:1-4 (KJV) tells us  “Let not your heart be troubled; if you believe in God, believe also in me.

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I now go to prepare a place for you……and I will come again, that where I am, there you may be also…..” Oh what an awesome promise.

And as children of the king, heirs to His throne, we should always feel like aliens, or strangers in a foreign country. The Psalmist tells us in Ps. 119:19 (KJV) “I am a stranger on earth” But as strangers, we still have a mandate from God, as long as we are in this foreign country we must spread the good news of the gospel to all who will listen and believe.

For “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 I continuously use that text because we need to have that vision imprinted within our heart that transcends out to a world that has lost hope.

A vision that has not been created by man or the god of this world, only our Redeemer “the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

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

July 23, 2015

MY FRIENDS, ASK FOR THE OLD PATHS, WHERE THE GOOD WAY IS, AND WALK IN IT!!

My friends, God’s word and law never changes, Christ tells us “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matt. 5:18 (KJV)

As a child of God who serves God and seeks His presence daily, no matter what situation or circumstances arises in our life there is no negotiating for change. Christ tells us, “Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls…” Jer. 6:16 (KJV)

Understanding and following the council of that text, let’s us know, our faith only becomes stronger knowing we only have one option and that is what God has set before us and with full assurance we then begin to realize that if we are strong and endure through our faith and be of good courage.

We have nothing to fear nor be afraid of “for the Lord our God, He is the One who goes with [us and]. He will not leave [His faithful] nor forsake us.” Deut. 31:6 (NKJV) But we must surrender it all to the Master as we allow Him to become “the center of our life and when we’ve lost our direction, He becomes the compass for our way.”

There are so many paths that the god of this world places before us that “seemeth right unto a man, [or woman] but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 14:12 (KJV) But our God has only one path and that is the one that was laid out for us from the foundation of the world.

“He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” Eph. 1”4-7 (NKJV) What a promise my friends, what more can we ask for as God’s chosen and all He asked of us is that we ”ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it;”

“Oh, let us contemplate the amazing sacrifice that has been made for us! Let us try to appreciate the labor and energy that Heaven is expending to reclaim the lost, and bring them back to the Father’s house.

Motives stronger, and agencies more powerful, could never be brought into operation; the exceeding rewards for right-doing, the enjoyment of heaven, the society of the angels, the communion and love of God and His Son, the elevation and extension of all our powers throughout eternal ages–are these not mighty incentives and encouragements to urge us to give the heart’s loving service to our Creator and Redeemer? (E. G. White Steps To Christ pp 21)

My friends, let’s stay focus today, and decide with no reservation to make heaven our home. Satan knows his time has just about run it’s course so his goal is to find a way to get each of us to stay focus on the things of this world  until we no longer recognize the love, grace and mercy of our God but only “evil as good, and good as evil.”

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

July 22, 2015

MY FRIENDS, IS THERE A POINT WHERE WE ARE FILLED AND NEED NO MORE?

“Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4: 13-14 (NKJV)

My friends, what a great promise if you are a child of God and believe in all of God’s promises. In addition,we must understand that is what we must long for day in and day out, “that fountain of water that springs into eternal life.”

“There are [also] millions in this world who are craving The pleasures earthly things afford; But none can match the wondrous treasure That we find in Jesus Christ our Lord. Fill our cup Lord,”

But, there is a process by which we all must go through to obtain that water where we will never thrust and once we have obtain it we must share the source of this rich blessing that leads to life eternal.

The woman at the well in John 4, after talking to Jesus knew she was in the presence of the Messiah because she longed for what she knew was missing in her life. Verse 15 tells us “The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

But the question we must ask is why the Jewish elect didn’t recognize Christ from all He did, while among them. Healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead, all the sermons of love, peace, grace and mercy He preached.

Being in the very presence of the Master but never allowing God’s Spirit to open their eyes or hearts to the source of all life, what a sad scenario. My friends the word of God was written so that we would forever recognize that God is among us.

But we must allow His Spirit to open our eyes and hearts to the fact that His presence is what we must seek if our desire is life eternal. My friend’s, life is a mystery at times that just can’t be explained as Christ fills us until we want more and more and our faith being stretched to the limit, we cherish the challenge.

Simply because, God’s grace is sufficient for [us], for [our] power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore we will boast all the more gladly of [our] weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon us. For the sake of Christ, then, [we are] content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when [we are] weak, then [we are] strong. 2 Cor. 12:9-10 (NKJV)

So as our Faith Grows and the more we are filled with God’s Spirit the more our responsibility and endurance grows as we serve Christ daily while still seeking more, even when we see His face and here those words “Well done, good and faithful servant.

And I can only imagine we continue being filled because, all through the ceaseless ages of eternity, His faithful heirs to the kingdom, even though the controversy is over, as we continue to see the scars of Calvary on our Savior, we will always be reminded of the sacrifice that was made that gave us the endurance to continue through every mountain, valley and terrain that we had to get over that gave us a perfect right to forever eat from the tree of life.

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

July 21, 2015

MY FRIENDS, LOOK AROUND YOU, HOW LONG WILL GRACE ABOUND?

“It was to redeem us that Jesus lived and suffered and died. He became “a Man of Sorrows,” that we might be made partakers of everlasting joy. God permitted His beloved Son, full of grace and truth, to come from a world of indescribable glory, to a world marred and blighted with sin, darkened with the shadow of death and the curse. He permitted Him to leave the bosom of His love, the adoration of the angels, to suffer shame, insult, humiliation, hatred, and death.”(E. G. White Steps to Christ pp. 13)

My friends, as I look at where we are as a society our unearned favor the unmerited mercy and favor that God gave to humanity by sending his Son to die on a cruel cross, for our Salvation has just about run its course.

Now look back over your life and think about every situation and circumstances that has occurred where God has not been a part of those choices you made and the many years our Savior has given you to get it right as you lived a life centered on self and not God.

That was grace 1 Peter 2:21-25 (NKJV) says For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,……..and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

For you were continually straying like sheep……” But our God is kind, loving, and merciful and in spite of us, His Grace continues forever, He will never abandon His children, that is not an option, so grace abounds as He pleads with us to seek his presence and focus on Calvary.

“Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. [Yes my friends] Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretched like me.” (John Newton, Amazing Grace)

Time belongs only to God. Man’s interpretation of time moves in one direction and it is set. “The days of our years are only threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Ps. 90:10 (KJV)

“you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4;14 (NIV) But to God “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” Ps. 90:4 (NIV)

But what I need you to focus on today my friends is each of our allotted time, or the divine influence which operates in a Child of God to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation.

I can say with full assurance as I see prophecy being fulfilled, we meaning a Child of God is just about at the end of God’s free gift and soon He will say to each of us “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still:……and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev 22:11-12 (KJV)

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

July 20, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WILL THERE REALLY BY “A TIME OF TROUBLE SUCH AS NEVER WAS SINCE THERE WAS A NATION?”

The white nation was founded by and for the white man! There is a apocalyptic vision of white genocide! White people are under siege! White people have been disenfranchise and neglected!

The rantings and ravings of a couple of disenfranchise white-supremacist who will one day have to face God and explain why God’s character and word was brought under siege when nothing had been done in a corner or hid from them about who God is and what their responsibility to Him should be.

Need I say any more about the direction we are headed as a country and a world? First of all God’s word tells each of us that “In the beginning God created [which also tells me He created this nation and] the heavens and the earth” Gen 1:1 (NKJV)

And the only thing that is under siege is Gods character and His word and the precepts by which we all should be living by, weather you are white, black, yellow, brown, red or any color, race or creed, that man believe in, because all men and women are created equal in the site of God and will be judge accordingly.

My friends if you talk to 100 people and ask them, what was their interpretation of the time of trouble, you would probably get 100 different answers. God’s word tells us “ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be…..”

Daniel 12:1 (NKJV) tells us “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.”

I believe it is safe to say with no reservation that each of those text are self-explanatory. My friends, we are closer then we have ever been before to that point when, “Michael will stand up.” in the meantime, God’s grace is gradually being removed from this earth.

Because “lawlessness continues to abound, and the love of many continues to grow colder and colder.” So God’s faithful must continue to endure with a passion to serve as we tell the world that Jesus saves.

Because God’s word will not be hid in a corner even if “the rocks have to cry out” because Christ tells us the “gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matt 24:14 (NJKV)

In addition, I would take an educated guess and say that probably every nation has received the gospel, but there are probably still, a few and I mean a few, tribes and tongues, that the gospel has not reached.

But with all of the technology that we have in our world today, I would take another educated guess and say not long my friends not long and the gospel would have reached all and then the end will come.

But if our eyes remain focused on Christ and we “Set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” It should not matter when the gospel is reached to every tribe and nation because we as God’s chosen who have a passion to enter the promised land and once we have crossed over feel we have “a perfect right to be there” are not sitting as we wait, but are working hard.

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

MY FRIENDS, “THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS”

“But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim. 2:19 (ESV) My friends our hope and faith rest on that promise and to hear those words should give each of us the strength to endure through the final days of this life’s history.

“The Lord knows those who are His” Such awe inspiring words, but it also places us in a position, that allows God with no reservation to be fully confident in what we will do or not do as He did with Job, when speaking to Satan.

“Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Job 1:8 (ESV) But then once you have place yourself in that position and stood “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

God then has the right to test the strength of our faith and if we are able to endure to the end. “Behold, he is in your hands [God tells Satan]; only spare his life.” That is the point in our life we must strive daily for, when those words “The Lord knows those who are His” relates to the strength of our faith.

My friends it will not be easy as we move closer and closer to Christ second coming to lay aside “every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us. Christ tells us to “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” There is a battle that rages on, every day over our very soul. Oh the pain of a parent to sacrifice His “only begotten ” and a Son who was willing to take on that responsibility and die in our stead.

And then we have the Spirit who “will guide [us] into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:3 (NKJV)

So my friends the Plan, if we choose to accept the conditions for our Salvation, is in place and it has been from the foundation of the world “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love” Eph.1:4 (ESV)

And if we follow the plan of the Trinity and allow self to die daily, then we have put ourselves in a position to be “safe to save” and this is why our God can say “He Knows those who are His” But Satan the accuser of the brethren has no intention in given up.

He is the perfect strategist, in that he watches our every move. If our faith begins to waver towards earthly things and not above on eternal things then he knows there is still hope and so our propensity now to yield becomes harder and harder to resist.

So stay focus my friends, If Christ loved us enough to Die in our stead, surely that love extends too, forever leading, and guiding us. And to pick us up when we fall, if we will believe and endure. Until He can say to us personally “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matt. 25:23 (ESV)

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

July 16, 2015

MY FRIENDS, LIKE A TAPESTRY HE’S WEAVING US TO BE LIKE HIM

As a child of God we try to follow His direction and in our limited capacity we try and comprehend the things of God, we figure we can follow His hand as it moves us along on this journey to the promise land. Then all of a sudden things happen, what seemed like a straight road is now a maze and so we panic.

Maybe it is the death of a love one, or maybe being laid off of that perfect job, or maybe your child is not the child you thought you had raised as a Christian but now has a mind of their own and that mind has nothing to do with the God you raised them to serve.

Or maybe you have been diagnose with cancer along with all the other trials in your life. My friends we live under the umbrella of uncertainty each day but as a child of God it is God’s hand and heart that guides us. In addition, I feel at times it is appropriate to fall on our knees and ask God what’s going on, where are you.

I know you will not always get an answer but “All things do work together though sometimes we don’t see how they could Struggles that break our hearts in two Sometimes blind us to the truth, Our Father knows what’s best for us His ways are not our own So when your pathway grows dim And you just don’t see Him Remember you’re never alone.

He sees the master plan And He holds our future in His hand so don’t live as those who have no hope, All our hope is found in Him, We see the present clearly But He sees the first and the last And like a tapestry He’s weaving you and me To someday be just like Him.

God is too wise to be mistaken God is too good to be unkind So when you don’t understand When you don’t see His plan when you can’t trace His hand Trust his heart.” (Babbie Mason) “Like a tapestry he’s weaving you and I to someday be just like Him”

By definition a tapestry is a piece of fabric consisting of material that you bend or twist out of shape, upon which colored threads are woven by hand to produce a design. Those bends and twist are each of the Trials we face each day but its all about shaping us into a design that is pleasing in God’s sight and one day with no reservations God will say, these are my chosen and they are “safe to save.”

It is not the perfect life that prepares us for the kingdom of God. On the contrary, it is the constraints and contentions, the mountains and valleys of despair that advance us in our Christian journey while at the same time we continue to yield to the will of God.

Consistent with this, we have God’s assurance that He “will never leave us or forsake us”  we also know the hand of God is guiding our life as we continue to say Lord “not my will but thou will be done.”

Trust my friends, we must allow our Faith in God and His word and Spirit to guide us with no reservation that God’s will is to prepare us for His kingdom. So we must “Be strong and courageous. We cannot  be afraid; we cannot be discouraged, for the Lord our God will be with us wherever we go.” weather at night or day, in the storm or in sunshine.”

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

July 15, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WE MUST STAY FOCUSED AND KEEP HEAVEN ON OUR MIND!

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Daniel 2:44 (KJV)

My friends, if we believe and endure we will be a part of that kingdom, but we must have a passion to see that vision and what it will take to get there. “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come.

Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:1-3 (NKJV)

My friends, promise after promise in God’s word is getting us prepared for a place that is beyond any and all imaginations of a created being. This earth is as far as our finite minds can comprehend when you talk about that special place, heaven.

And to all of God’s children whose focus is on that place  “eye have not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man or woman, the things that our Savior has prepared for everyone who loves as our Savior loves, must also be willing to let the world know that it does exist.

In addition, as heirs to God’s kingdom we must stay focused and keep heaven on our minds. We cannot allow the god of this world to draw our focus on the things of this world that will one day fade away.

Consistent with this, there must be a commitment that involves “laying aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, [as we] run with patience the race that is set before us” Heb 12:1 (KJV)

For each of us who are looking for Christ soon return, there is no doubt, we are in the final stretch to the finish line, as we travel in the unchartered territories of our mind which are the unexplored areas of our life that we have so hard of a time turning over to God.

Our desire, our goals, our passion, our focus, our faith, our endurance, our prayers, and the never ending study of God’s word, must be centered around given it all to the Master. To finish this race will be very grueling in this final stretch to the promise land.

But our example is Jesus Christ as we allow Him to guide us every step of the way on this journey He has placed us on as we stay focused and keep heaven on our mind. When the Israelites left Egypt Exodus 19:4 (KJV) tells us He said to the Israelites “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”

But then God asks them to do something breathtaking and awe-inspiring God asks them for a commitment. He asks them to stand up and pledge their loyalty to Him He says: in “Exodus 19:5-6 (KJV) Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.

Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation…..” So my friends today God is asking us to do something breathtaking and awe-inspiring also, and that is to stay focused, and keep heaven on your mind!!!

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

.

July 14, 2015

MY FRIENDS, GOD HAS A PLAN TO SAVE US, DO WE HAVE A PLAN TO BE SAVED?

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. Gen. 22:8 (KJV) The ram offered in Isaac’s place represented Christ, who was to be sacrificed in our stead.

When man was doomed to death because of his transgressions of God’s law, the heavenly Father, looking upon His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, said to the sinner, “Live! I have found a ransom” (H.M.S. Richards, Walking through the Bible”)

Webster defines ransom as, “the redemption of a prisoner, slave, or kidnapped person, of captured goods, for a price.” My friends the plan of redemption that was established for our salvation from the foundation of the world is so amazing.

In addition, God’s plan is the reason why planning is so crucial in our life. God didn’t create Lucifer as a bad seed with the intent that one day he would say in his heart “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God;….

I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Is. 14:13-15 (NKJV) But when man was created a plan had been established, if for some reason, God’s law of love was not adequate enough to make man happy.

But God’s plan was established so that we would see that His law is all we need to be truly happy in spite of what Satan tells us. And there would be only one name by which we must go through to make that happen.

“Live! My friends, for “Our Father which art in heaven” “found a ransom” and it was “His only Begotten Son”  “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

So today, let’s ask ourselves the question, what is our plan? Have we looked at our lives and decided how our plan relates in any way to God’s plan to save us? My friends the ransom has been paid, “God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor. 5:21 (KJV)

So as I see it and hope you see the same thing and that is, if we have faith and endure, we will only have to make sure our plan coincides with God’s plan. And the only way that can happen, is to allow self to die daily as we allow God’s Spirit to transform our lives into the Character of Christ.

And I can’t say this enough, there must be a passion within us to make that happen, as we say daily, Lord, “not my will but thou will be done” My friends, nothing on this earth is savable except what God created in His own image, we are what Christ died for.

God did not sacrifice His only Son for our, cars, houses, jobs, education, TV programs, the internet, food and the list goes on and on of things that has us bound to the point where the things of this world has become more important than our Salvation and telling others of a “risen Savior” that saves.

But my friends, it is all dung. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Phil 3:8 (KJV)

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