Pastor’s Blog pg2

March 12, 2020 Blog post:
March 12th 2020
Don’t Worship Convenience. 
Why are so many panicking over the Virus that is sweeping the world?  It not only potentially threatens our life. It certainly threatens our CONVENIENCE. Whether we get sick or not.  This nation celebrates and I dare say worships our conveniences.  I would be a hypocrite to say that I’m not affected.  But we love our comfort AND our conveniences. 
This is a political year again; and of course, with the Presidential election season comes talk of Abortion. I have been shocked on how bold and straight forward some have been about abortion.  Why is it that in such an advanced, educated, enlightened age, people are still holding on to such an immoral, barbaric and horrible practice?  BECAUSE IT IS CONVENIENT! That is of up-most importance to people who have no Higher Authority to answer too.  Having the “right to do what we want with our bodies”; which translates: “I want the right to do what is most convenient for myself at any given moment without anyone telling me what I should or should not do”. 
Let’s be honest. We want the light to come on when we flip the switch; the air to come on when we turn on the AC; the car to crank when we turn the key and our knees to bend and straighten when we try to stand…and if these things don’t happen…we panic or get very frustrated at the very least.  There is nothing wrong with all our MANY MANY conveniences. But we do not need to allow it to become so out of control that we will kill a baby in the womb when it cramps our style, interrupts our life, or causes us discomfort. 
What is the solution? 
A greater Value placed on God and His Will; than our own personal Convenience.  I believe that this would require a REVIVAL. For me and you to hunger more for God’s move than for my convenience.  I must press toward the LORD!  Strive, strain, push, and climb toward His high calling. There are PLENTY of “low” callings from the world and ourselves. People want marijuana to be legalized for goodness sake!  It is not enough that Alcohol ruins millions of lives A DAY in America…some want people to numb their mind further with another mind “lite” habit. Why?  Because this would make peoples decisions to worship their CONVENIENCE less condemning.  But sadly, there is a JUDGMENT DAY coming!  And we need to rely on the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6 (the whole chapter for that matter) to capture our hearts again! “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your steps.”  God would certainly direct us away from these acts of Convenience!  
Stop right now and ask God what acts of convenience in your life could possibly be keeping you from being hungry for more of God and experiencing Revival.
God help us all.  HE will, in HIS WILL! 
January 21st 2020
Being an Intentional Wall Climber
In This New year, instead of being someone who feels like climbing the walls in a frenzy; how about we climb the walls of life with intention.  Now there is no doubt, some walls just need to COME DOWN! God can help with that too.  Some walls need to be leveled. Others are there and need to be there, but we need to climb them.  Sometimes, like for Nehemiah, it is to lead a people to repair our first line of defense.  A wall of protection.  We need our first line of defense to be our trust in God.  If that “wall” has been damaged or has holes in it…you need to repair that. 
Isaiah 62:6 the Bible says: “…I have posted watchmen on your walls, they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.”
Here Isaiah is speaking to a people who need to intercede for Jerusalem. I am calling on you, as God wills, to intercede for Grace Family Fellowship.  I believe God wants us to do 3 things as we “climb the walls”. 
 
1.  Rebuild any damage done by or regain any ground lost to the enemy (satan). Especially your ability to put God first and Trust in Him. We also desire to do our part to serve this community and win the lost. God says: “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18) but as the Body of Christ, we must do our part. God uses us; our skills, talents, personalities etc. to do His Kingdom work. Let God use you as we build and rebuild Grace Family Fellowship TOGETHER.
2.  Be a “watchmen” on the wall. Keep your eyes open and don’t let the enemy take you, your family, your church family off guard!  Be mindful of the attacks that may be on the horizon and identify them for what they are. But don’t let them stop you from doing what God has called you to do. Be a watchmen Night and Day.  Isaiah said: “take no rest”. This means, don’t take a break from being a Christian in service to Your King Jesus. Serve the Lord with gladness. You are apart of God’s Kingdom work force as a believer. Your primary responsibility is to be His ambassador & witness of Jesus and His Gospel. WATCH for souls hanging in the balance, letting your life speak well of the Lord you say you serve.
WATCH for opportunities to serve the Lord and others; recognizing that when you do it to the least, you are doing it unto Jesus. Matthew 25.
WATCH for Christ’s return that you are not caught unprepared.
3. Praise the Lord!  Praise Him in the good times and in the bad! Recognize that all good things come from Him (James 1:17). Always WATCH for reasons and ways to give God Glory and Praise for the blessings, provisions, and protections that He has provided. There are many that we are not even aware of, yet He has provided! 
 
If we stay busy climbing the walls with purpose to tackle the tough challenges this day and time brings; and keep our focus on doing God’s work as a priority; then we will not focus as much on our problems. This will disarm the devil of one of his tricks; which is to keep us down and paralyze our zeal to serve because we are overly focused on what we don’t have or how damaged we are. 
It is time to Build! God will provide the tools and He will fight for us.  Praise His Name!
 
November 15th, 2019.
 
During this Season of Thanks; Consider the Source of ALL THINGS GOOD!  (James 1:17) Consider the Originator of all that you ENJOY! Consider the Voice of God! 
The Bible says: “The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. For when God spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command.” – Psalm 33:6,9. Eleven times in Genesis chapter 1 and 2 it begins a sentence or paragraph with “God said” and He spoke something into existence.  From Light to space, day and night, earth and sea to plants and animals…God spoke and it was!  Being that God’s voice is THAT POWERFUL, imagine what His voice can do for you today! His word is right there on your smartphone or tablet. It is right there in between the leather bound pages of your Bible.  His Voice echos through your soul with every reading of God’s word or sermon you have heard preached or taught. His powerful words are speaking in the still small voice of the Holy Spirit inside of every true believer. God’s word speaks to every situation we may face or are facing in one way or the other.  Do not underestimate God’s voice!  
 
It is God who spoke and gave you taste buds to enjoy good food, ears to hear good music, eyes to see the beauty all around you, hands to feel the soft skin of a baby and feet to carry you to His house to worship God in His presence!  God gave you a voice too!  A voice to ACTIVATE His word when you speak it.  Isaiah 55:11 says: “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” 
Accept the challenge to enlarge the Power, authority and importance of God’s word in your day and in your life! Stop underestimating God’s Voice! He deserves Praise and Thanksgiving for all He has created and provided for us.  To God be the Glory for His Amazing Word and powerful Voice!  When God speaks, it does not just say something once…it continues to be and to speak and to say something FOREVER! His word is NEVER idol, mute, or still!  It Works, Moves, Creates, Delivers, Encourages, Corrects, Transforms, Guides, Judges, Loves, Provides, brings Peace, Protects, and always Succeeds! So put God’s word in Your Heart – It will cause you not to sin against Him.  Put God’s word in your mouth and you will make declarations and decrees that will bring Blessings and prosperity to your life and soul.  Put God’s word on display in your life and everyone around you will see His glory and will be blessed!  WOW – What a wonderful God!  “Give Thanks unto God, for He is good and His love endures forever.”  (Psalm 107:1)  “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  To receiving a blessing, click on the media below to hear Jimmy Swaggart sing: “His Voice Makes the Difference.”
 
 
October 31st 2019.
Don’t Be Scared!
 
Yes, there is such a thing as Ghosts…but I really only know of ONE.  The HOLY GHOST!  And we are not supposed to be scared of Him at all!
He is the 3rd manifestation of the “Triune God Head”. 
His duty is to:
 
1.  Convict the world of sin (John 16:8)
 
2. Be a Helper, Comforter, Advocate and Guide to the Believer (John 14:16)
 
3. Dwell in the heart of a Christian. (Romans 8:9)
 
4. Teach and guide us into all truth (John 16:13)
 
5. Give the Spirit filled believer Power to be a Witness for Jesus (Acts 1:8).
 
6. Help us bear His Fruit – evidence that God is in our lives and we are growing more like Him (Galatians 5:22-23).
 
7. Give Christians gifts to operate in God’s will and ministry; even in supernatural ways. (1 Corinthians 12). 
 
8. To help us pray when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26).
 
So the Holy Spirit does not want us to be scared of Him. In fact, He would like us to fully immerse ourselves into Him and allow Him to control our lives in harmony with God. (Galatians 5:16-17).  This is not suppose to be scary either. Because if you learn to Trust God, you know He will do nothing to hurt you, only to help you, protect you, provide for you and bless you.  The Holy Spirit’s function in our lives is what makes it possible for God to work all things, ultimately, to come out for our good (Romans 8:28). The Holy Spirit also anoints us to do those things Jesus taught us and modeled for us to do. Acts 10:38 is one of my favorite scriptures: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. For God was with Him.”  Wow, what a powerful scripture. And this same Holy Spirit is with us like that too! 
 
You know the scripture, 2 Timothy 1:7 that says “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
 
So actually, God wants us to have a WAAAAAY opposite reaction to His Holy GHOST.  God desire’s His Spirit to give us confidence in Him, never fear! This confidence comes from a pledge that is confirmed in us and our soul when we allow and desire the Holy Spirit to work in our lives (2 Corinthians 5:5).  In fact, having the Holy Spirit working in our lives will help us be less scared, anxious and afraid.  So if you struggle with anxiety, fears, or weaknesses of any kind (Romans 8:26) I would suggest you draw closer to the Lord and ask Him to work more through you, by way of His Holy Spirit. And He will!  Never be scared to let go and let God have more control. 
 
Be Blessed!
 

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