It All Started With God

Colossians 1:16
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

One interpretation of this verse goes like this:

"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible,... everything got started with Him and finds its purpose in Him."

We definitely live in a world where everyone thinks of themselves. Everyone is out to find what their purpose in life is. Folks will go to great lengths to find out why they are here and will do whatever necessary to get an answer. No amount of money will be enough to find out what destiny lies before them. Some people are looking to the stars while others are looking at fortune cookies, and some of them have lotto numbers to gamble with. People have had their palms read in hopes to know the future and even more keep up with their horoscope.

If you'll look back at the verse I started with, it plainly tells you that God created each and everyone of us by His own Hand. God did not create us just to flounder around aimlessly with no purpose in life. We were created by God... (Now Watch This)… and for Him.

God has a purpose for each and all of us. As Jesus did all that He did to please the Father, we should always have in our hearts to please our Heavenly Father. Remember that it's not all about us but it IS certainly about Him. Let's take time and pray and ask God what His plan for our life might be. God will show us the right way. May God bless!!

The Joyful

Their is an old gospel favorite that has been sung down through the years that says: “We have heard the joyful sound Jesus saves Jesus saves; Spread the tidings all around Jesus saves Jesus saves.” It was recorded in scripture that the majority of mankind would end up in a place called Hell. It says that wide is the gate that leads to destruction and many their be that find it. The Bible also says that narrow is the gate that leads to eternal life and few their be that find it. Folks, it goes back to what makes you happy. Their is a joy in just doing your own thing in life even if it means pushing God aside to get it. I pray you will not push The Lord Jesus aside to find happiness in your life, for the only true peace you’ll ever find is in Him. This world and what it offers is temporary but what Jesus offers is eternal. If you don’t know Christ as Lord of your life then ask Him into your heart today. He is waiting...

May God Bless!!

God Has A Purpose

With everything going on around us, if we could look deeper into the shadows we WILL find Jesus. Humanity seems to demand answers to why things have become the way they have. One thing is certain, God is not slack concerning what’s happening in the world today. He most definitely knows every minute detail of what’s going on. In the most darkest time in history God Has A Purpose for it all. God’s desire is for ALL men to come to repentance of sin and even now seek Him while He may be found. Jesus is getting ready to take His church out and when He does then this world will see a time of sorrow never witnessed before. Nothing is hid from the All Seeing Eye Of God. The Lord is tenderly calling souls to turn to Him daily in repentance. Are you ready to go to Heaven today? If you don’t know The Lord Jesus as Lord of your life then will you ask Him into your heart today. Don’t wait another moment for now is the acceptable time of Salvation. Call on Him even right now and your never regret it. May God bless you real good.

A Workman That Need Not Be Ashamed

There was a time that in order to discover what the Bible said about a certain matter, you would have to read it for yourself. There was a time when technology was not as it is now and you would have had to find in it scripture for yourself. Now, with every tool in hand to prevent you from picking up the Bible, you can speak to Alexa and she will read out loud what you want to hear from scripture. I began to take a hard look at myself only to find out I was caught up in it as well. Some might say that nothing is wrong with this as long as you hear the Word of God, but nothing is as sweet as holding the precious Word of God in your hand and reading it for yourself. Sometimes I like to bring the pages of scripture to my nose just to smell the sweet aroma it gives. Rest assured that God is pleased with the worn pages of His Own Word. May God Bless!!

Gonna Stand By Me

I woke up this morning with the words to this song on my mind “Gonna Stand By Me.” I can just hear that song being sung over and over to myself even before I got up. Over the years I’ve witnessed those that I thought would always be there, well... they’re gone. It seems so hard to find someone you can trust to be there. Someone that no matter what life throws at you, will be there to help share the load you may be carrying. And oh how the weight of this world can press you down. It’s as though the sight around me is completely black in some places. BUT as I look around me and am about ready to give up I see something in the shadows. As I get a closer look... I can see Jesus standing right there looking back at me with eyes that tell me He was there all the time. That’s my word for this morning that you have a friend that sticks closer than a brother. And His name is Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. I hope you know Him today.

Give It To God

You’ve heard the expression “If God brings you to it then He will bring you through it.” This is so true yet so many have not witnessed the Truth of this because of their lack of faith. It’s easy to believe God when things really aren’t that bad, but when life gets overwhelming then we tend to forget God’s promises toward us. Promises that say He would never leave us or forsake us. Surely the trying of your faith worketh patience just as the Bible tells us. Nothing is too hard for the outstretched arm of God. We can trust God not just in certain things... but all things. The Lord brings us through paths we don’t understand but He has a purpose in it all. My declaration to you today is to keep your eyes on the Lord. You can always be assured that standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus. He loves you and me with an everlasting love. A love that nothing of this world is able to separate us from. So with that I say to you “Have Faith in God”

May God Bless!!

A Child is Born

Imagine how special it must have been for the Christ Child to be born. The words to that special Christmas song we hear each year "Oh Holy Night." And oh what a Holy Night it was for sure to witness every detail of that special night. The Star, the wise men, the shepherds or perhaps to hear the angels sing Hosanna to the Highest. I just get a little excited just thinking about it. But God had it all planned out so perfectly, even to the very night of Christ's birth.

Galatians 4:4
4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

So many in that day were not ready for the Messiah to come, though scores of prophetic scripture said He was coming. Folks, it's been 2000 years since Christ went back to Heaven. He said He is coming back to get us and for us to Occupy Till He Comes. Let's keep busy for the cause of Christ. This very day may be when Jesus comes to take His Bride back Home. May He find "US" Faithful and may He find "US" Watching and Waiting with an expectant heart. He Who said He Will Come... Will Come!! So Let's Be Ready! God Bless!!

Deliverance

How long has it been since you‘ve had to ask God for deliverance? The world has much to offer when it comes to needing deliverance from something, except the world leads us toward the problem instead of away. I couldn’t tell you how many times I have read scripture where Israel was surrounded by the enemy with no possible way of escape but then.... God Shows Up! Is that the way it is with you right now? Do you feel like you have been met with impossible odds? Well I have goods news for we still serve a God of impossibilities. Nothing is ever impossible with the outstretched arm of God. God does want to show up in your life today! I say to YOU Have Faith in God for He will make a way for you even this very hour if you’ll trust Him completely with all your heart. He is a God who is always there and will not fail you. He loves you and you can Trust Him. You Can Trust in Jesus Name. And with that I say May God bless you real good!!

Are You Rapture Ready?

Their is an excitement in my heart as I think that this could be the day Jesus returns for His Church. Nothing is left to be fulfilled according to Scripture except the Rapture of the Church itself. Yet in the midst of my excitement is an ever growing sadness for those ones who know not the Lord as personal Savior of their lives and will be left behind as witnesses of the Tribulation Period. When we look back over the last several months around the world, we see what a pandemic with a 90 some % survival rate can do to change the normality of life as we know it. Needless to say it has not turned out well. Yet what we have witnessed through all of this is nothing compared to what will be during the Tribulation Period. Folks, we need to be ready when Jesus returns to receive His Church. Have you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart? No better time than today to get things right with God. Perhaps you are saved and have things between you and the Savior that ought not be there. We serve a God of a second chance, so let’s make it right today. Jesus could return today, are we ready if He does? Today is the acceptable time for Salvation. Turn to Him today as He is waiting for you.

Depression

If our eyes could be opened to know those around us who are depressed and are good at hiding it, I believe it would totally shock us. So many of us have become very knowledgeable about how to cover up what we don’t want seen. But that doesn’t change what is felt inside, so we just deal with it the best we can. Depression affects you mentally, emotionally, psychologically and it affects you spiritually. It affects how you are when you are awake, when you are asleep (if you go to sleep). It affects how you interact with others which leads to how they interact with you. I could go on and on but I believe you get the picture here. I personally believe that what affects you spiritually will spiral out amongst these others and be a hindrance to your happiness in life. Even though life seems to be full of unhappy thoughts, God has told us where to turn to even if it seems impossible. God wants His people happy, so you can believe that.
Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Psalms 30:5 - For his anger [endureth but] a moment; in his favour [is] life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning.
Psalms 9:9 - The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Folks, standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus. Look to Him today and live. God bless You this day!!

Even On The Darkest

This morning I sat on the front porch drinking my coffee. The sun had not come up and it was still a bit dark outside. I began to realize how strange it was for the sun to be rising as it always does this time of the morning yet it be so dark still. I then begin to remember those several verses in the Bible that tell us that the darkest hour is always before dawn. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Psalms 30:5 which says: “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Isn’t life so much like that? I’ve seen it so it many times in my life and unfortunately in many of those times it was me who started it. Yet in my Christian walk I’ve seen over and over again God restore the light amid the darkness that was placed around me. Folks, we don’t deserve the goodness of God in our lives but He does so because He loves us. How much do you love Him today? Are you living in darkness right now and are just waiting on a little sunshine? I tell you this morning that Jesus is still the light of the world and YOU can still look into His beautiful face this morning. Have Faith in God and again I say Have Faith in God!!

May God bless you this morning

Don’t Be a Fake Christian

You've heard the expression that birds of a feather flock together or if it sounds like a duck then it probably is. So many expressions and they're nothing less than warning signs to keep us safe. In our spiritual lives it's not all that easy and if it wasn't for the presence of God in our lives then where would we be? The song we used to hear as a child that reminds us that the devil is a sly old fox yes a sly old fox is he. No matter what the situation is in life, the devil can dress himself up to look like everything we would ever want. Yes he IS a sly old fox and he wants to not only pull a fast one on you but yet pull you as far away from God as he can. He knows how to disguise himself in order to make a little white lie look like nothing else but the truth. The majority of the world is following his disguise and are being led down this long dark smokey road of destruction. The bible teaches of only two ways to follow in life with one being straight and narrow and leads to life eternal with God or the other is a wide yet crooked path that leads to eternal separation from God. Which way have you been led toward today? Don't be deceived by the devil and his evil tactics. I'm glad to report that God loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins. No longer do I live in the bondage of sin but I live in the Righteousness of Christ Who lives inside of me. Jesus died for you, do you know Him as Lord of your life? If not then ask Him into your heart today so I can see you Heaven too. God bless!

We’re Never to Forget

All of our lives we’re forever changed on 09/11/2001 when four planes were hijacked by foreign terrorists and crashed into both of the twin towers in New York, the Pentagon and one crashing in a field in Pennsylvania probably headed to the White House. Nearly 3000 people died in lieu of those attacks on that day which drove a nation into grief and despair. From that day on much of our joy, happiness and song of praise as a nation we’re stripped from us. Our hearts were held captive from that time on as our promise to ourselves was never to forget what happened on that dreadful day.
I am reminded of Psalms 137:2 which says “we hung our harps on the willows.“ This reminds us of when Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, in 597 BC, attacked Jerusalem and took them captive. Many Jews were killed on that day and many more were taken prisoner and held captive. The Jews had lost their will to sing and to rejoice as they could not worship their God. Folks, they were in bondage to someone else. They took their harps of music and set them aside because of the hurt in their hearts. God had not forgotten His people the Jews and God has not forgotten us in this day and hour. God was waiting on His people to turn back to Him back then and He is waiting for you today. Have you hung your harps of faith on the willows of your soul or are you ready to turn to the Master today in obedience to Him? Jesus is waiting for you my friend. May God Bless!!

Birthing Pains

My son and daughte-in-law gave birth to an almost nine pound baby boy. She had gone through many hours of labor and was so close to delivery yet the choice was made to do a cesarean section. Sometime before the birth I had made a call to my son while he was with her. While talking to him I could hear her painful moans in the background as her pains had elevated to a substantial level. I felt so bad for her as all of us did as she labored through her pain. As I thought on that event perhaps a couple of days later, the Lord gave me a spiritual truth I’d like to share.
Each and every one of us who are alive have been birthed into this world in lieu of the birth pains of our biological mother. And having said that... let us just imagine even a fraction of the pain our mother endured to birth into this life. The birth of a child is described as the closest to death a person could go. Did you know that Christ suffered a humiliating death on the cross of calvary near

ly 2000 years ago so that you can have the chance to be birthed into the family of God. I believe it was Isaiah who said it best; “He was marred more than any man.” He did not just come close to death, but He died a death that day so that you and I could have a new life by being birthed into the family of God. Thank you to all the mothers out there whose pain brought life into this world. But let me thank the Lord Jesus for the pain He suffered on the cross of Calvary nearly 2000 years ago so that I could have life and to have it even more abundantly. May God bless you all

Armored Up

Every battle has a weapon, and in that battle, every weapon has its purpose. The same is true when you consider the Christian walk, in that, every spiritual battle needs a spiritual weapon, and every spiritual weapon must have a spiritual purpose. Most everyone who knows anything about the Bible, knows the story of David and Goliath. How the young shepherd boy, used of God, took down one of the biggest enemies of Israel when he killed the great giant Goliath. But what’s so interesting about this story is that before the battle, King Saul tried to get little David to wear Saul’s own armor. When you read the scripture you find that David had trouble wearing it because it was so big and of course David probably was not trained to use that equipment. I like what one preacher said must have been David’s response to Saul, “David said he was having trouble using Sauls armour because it got in the way of his slingshot“... Folks, you and I as soldiers of the cross are a one of a kind. God has a place for you. God has a weapon just for you to use against the devil. Do as David of old did and put God first and you’ll be taken care of and so will your enemies. David used a slingshot and at the end he used the enemy’s sword to finish the job. What has the Lord given you and will you have faith in God. I say..... HAVE FAITH IN GOD!!! May God bless

Everyone is a Christian

Their was a time when telling someone you were a Christian meant you were a man or a woman of character. It meant that you had standards to live by that could only be accomplished by you living a life that parallels with how the Bible teaches us to live. Though the world has changed it's view on the Bible you can rest assured that the Bible has not changed it's view on how we should live. We now live in an all inclusive world with what appears to be no barriers that would hold us back from doing wrong. We certainly live in a do whatever makes you happy world and God is no-where in sight of accepting it. If it wasn't for the Word of God and the Holy Spirit convicting us of our sin then surely we'd all be lost forever. I say this because man does not have to live this way yet he chooses to. It is sad to see how people will interpret portions of the Word of God and go right on and live against what it says and not even blink an eye. Everything that was wrong at one time is now totally acceptable and everything that was right at one time is now totally wrong and they'll tell you that they'll be no arguing the matter. The worse part is that Satan has blinded their hearts so bad that they can't even tell the difference. Folks, turn to the Lord while he may be found.

Condemned

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

As I read this verse I am quick to remember all the ugly sins of my life before I got saved. They are enough for me to stop and thank God for forgiving me of all my sin and giving to me life instead of condemnation. Hell could have been my final destination when I die but because of God’s Love it is Heaven I will see. For those who have trusted Christ Jesus as Lord of their lives, it is as though they had never done wrong in God’s eyes. God has chosen not to remember our sin against us at all because of what Jesus did on the cross that day in Jerusalem. If you wish to find someone so imperfect that you may even blush to stand beside that person in public, well here I am. Yet, from the moment I truly trusted Christ as Savior of my life, He took away my condemnation of sin and gave me a promised home in Heaven. I AM HEAVEN BOUND WITH THE HAMMER DOWN. It is truly my desire to walk after the things of the Spirit of God and not after the things of this world. I have failed Him indeed yet He has never failed me, no never. I hope you know Him as Lord. May God Bless!!

Deaf and Dumb

Matthew 20:32-34

32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him

A very familiar passage of scripture about two blind men who received their sight because Jesus passed by one day. When I read these verses I can’t help but see the problem of the majority of the world today. The problem of this world is simply blindness to the things of God. The reason those blind men were healed is because they believed that the Lord would heal them. In today’s world most people don’t have that faith to believe in such a way. In fact they don’t even know Jesus is nearby let alone hear any commotion from the crowd that Jesus is passing by. Our eyes have been blinded and our ears have been stopped up to know that God is even nearby. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. People live in darkness and enjoy it better than the light. This may not sound like happy words to most unless of course you know Christ as Lord of your life then you‘ll have a reason to rejoice. Folks, Jesus is coming soon and we need to be read for His return. If we’ve been saved then we’ll hear the trumpet blow and we’ll see Him in the sky one day soon. Are you ready to meet Him. I hope so and with that I say God bless.

Challenges

How many times have you heard it said just to “follow your heart.” The Bible says to train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they won’t depart from it. That doesn’t mean they will never make mistakes but it does mean they won’t forget what you taught them whether they fall or not. One thing YOU learn about your children is that they don’t forget too much. They do listen even if they may not speak. That’s why we need to guard them from what life might do to harm them. Most of us know that life is a challenge as adults. Try to remember when your were a child and could not understand why something took place around you, yet you couldn’t stop it even though you knew it was wrong. It is because you were taught better than that. With all that’s going on in our nation alone, it’s a wonder we can keep anything straight in our minds let alone our hearts. Yes, we are daily confronted with challenges but God is bigger than them all. God has never met a challenge that He could not overcome. You can depend on Him. Yes, you can depend on the Lord Jesus. Come before Him as a child. He’ll listen to you. May God bless!!

O Lord Our Lord:

O Lord Our Lord:

Psalms8:1

O LORD; our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Not many can say that they have had the privilege to say these words “Your Majesty” to the Queen of England while in her presence. She has been Queen since 1952 and those that have done so surely have not forgotten what it felt like from that day on to be able to speak to her let alone see her. What a privilege it would be to go to church one Sunday morning with the Queen of England and hear the Queen pray. To be right beside her as she prays these words: “O LORD; our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth... Think about this folks: The privilege to speak to the Queen of England would be wonderful in itself, but when we think that the God of all Glory, the Creator of all the Universe, the One that Isaiah calls Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Jesus the Prince of Peace and I’m glad I know Him as Lord and Savior of my life and I hope you know Him too. God Bless!!