God is our supplier

 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

 Giving is a valid part of the Christian walk to reflect Christ to all we come into contact with. So what kind of giving are you doing and who are you giving to? Those in needs or just those from your clique?,God's plan is not going to fail if you don't give.  God does not need money, he wants your heart and your talent and your time to give to those in need, those who do not know who Jesus and those who God wants to bless via you, are you willing to be the hands and feet of Christ??? Well are you? Cause it may require you giving not only your money but your time and your talent till it hurts.  I believe in giving for it a practice that Jesus himself openly with joy in His heart. Why? Because I need God's help and blessing, plus I have the chance to be a blessing to someone else and I know that will bring honor and glory to the name of God.. Jesus said that if you did something to even the least of His, it was as if you did it to Him. 
 I am not against spending money to spread the Gospel. I am just against the idea that this is the only way God could do it, and that God is somehow dependent on my giving. As an example, when the communists took over in China, they forced all the missionaries to leave the country, leaving around one million believers with no obvious help or support. They had no Christian TV or radio, no Bible schools, no
Christian publishing houses, no help from anyone but God. Yet it has been acknowledged that the number of believers grew to about one hundred million during the years they were cut off from all outside help. God will not be stopped! Even if all preachers in the world were killed today, and all Christian media was banned, God would still be at work, and would still bring to pass His will. We should use every available means to bless others and spread the gospel of Christ crucified and Christ risen. But we must never make the error of thinking God's plan will fail because of a lack of money or even a lack of volunteers for many are called and few answer, not sure if it out of fear that God will want you to give up your nice and comfortable life for him. But new flash, Job said everything he had was God's anyway, like Job naked did I come into the world and with nothing shall I leave this world with.  My goal is to do the will of my Father, for I know he is my provider and I have never seen the children of God begging for bread, this is word from the OT. Believe accept it or not, its God's word meant to edify your life and mine.
 

The sacrifice

My Savior didn't leave glory to come to earth to  make life on earth more like life in heaven, but
to help ungodly sinners like me. Jesus revealed the truth to us which was that our heavenly Father was not sitting in heaven ready to thrust lightening bolting down from heaven or hold the leaver to the gates of hell to send us there. on the contrary God loves us so much that he sent his only begotten son down from heaven to suffer in our place. However the deceiver of mankind tries to make us believe that God does not love us and wants to damn because of their sins. But nothing could be further from the truth. God loves sinners! Jesus died to save sinners like you and I. God does hate sin but not the sinner and the reason for that is God is against sin because it hinders our relationship with him and destroys us, but He is not against sinners.
If God could not or would not help a sinner, then He would never help any human. The Bible tells the opposite story. We have all missed the mark of perfection so we all need a Savior. And we all have a Savior if we will but receive Him. The sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient to deal with all sin. You have been forgiven. Accept that forgiveness. Turn away from going your own way and walk with God.


Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 
 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (Hebrews 9:26-28).

Sin Separates us from God

Many people let sin separate them from God. But the devil is the one who tells us God does not love us when we sin. Jesus paid a great price so you can be forgiven and freed from sin and its penalty God is against sin because it harms people, but God loves sinners! When we sin, it does not make God hate us. We should not run away from God, but run to Him for help and cleansing, so that our fellowship with Him will not be hindered in any way. We confess our sins to shut the door on the devil so he has no place in our affairs. We don't confess our sins to convince God to forgive us. God has already forgiven! We confess our sins to get rid of them, and keep the devil out.  God loves people, including you. His ultimate plan is to have a family of people who do not sin, but voluntarily choose the way of love, which is God's perfect way. But just as a good parent does not throw their baby into the street because they are not perfect yet, but still mess their pants, so God does not discard His children when they sin. God loves you more than any good parent ever loved their child. So look to Him for help in overcoming sin, instead of expecting condemnation from Him. When you sin, confess it to get rid of its influence in your life and to keep the devil from having any place. I don't mean begging God to forgive you and promising to never do it again. Instead say, "That is wrong. I should not have done that. Lord, I need your help to overcome it. Please continue working your
will in me."  Sin has already been paid for with the precious blood of Jesus. God has already decreed that sin is forgiven, so that it should not keep people from fellowship with Him.




If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ( 1 John 1:9).

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:21-23).

When people do us wrong, not taking revenge is difficult, especially for us men, the nature of the flesh seems to be an eye for an eye, however this is not what Christ desires we do. It seems natural to fight back when someone attacks us. But the Bible tells us to let God judge them, "do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. This is not saying you should never defend yourself, or what belongs to you. But do not seek revenge after you have been wronged. Instead, let God handle it.  People who try to take revenge, usually end up committing more injustice. Often a deadly cycle develops. Instead of taking revenge, God's Word tells us to bless our enemies.  God is aware of every injustice. And God promises to right every wrong, eventually. God is a righteous judge, but all judgment is not instant, or even in this life.  "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink."  Jesus reminded Peter in the garden, that those that pick up the sword shall die by that sword, for he did not Peter to take vengeance on his behalf for Jesus told Peter that God had given Jesus twelve legions of angels at Jesus disposal, which means had Jesus wanted mankind wiped he had 11 legions to many to get that job done, but he in fact love mankind and was willing to pay a great price that mankind could not pay. Let

Two ways to get to heaven

If you are a true believer washed in the blood of Christ  and repented, then you will go to heaven and will get there in one of two methods: death or the Rapture. Whenever the subject of the Rapture comes up, there are a lot of questions. Some critics like to point out that  the word "rapture" can not be found in the Bible. However that depends on what kind of Bible you have. If you have a Latin translation, then you have the word rapturous, from which our word "rapture" is derived. And the word rapturous comes from the Greek word harpazō, which is mentioned 13 times in the New Testament.  That term, "caught up" is translated from that Greek word harpazō, which means to take forcibly, to snatch, or to catch up. And that is what the Rapture will be.  Imagine this: you will be going about your business one day when suddenly, in a moment that is so rapid it can't even be measured in human time, you will be caught up into God's presence, and you will be reunited with your loved ones.

  "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).

Let us be humble like a lamb

I love the fact that the Bible presents Jesus as both a lion and a lamb. What a perfect picture. What is more impressive than a ferocious lion? And what is meeker than a little lamb?These metaphors and the attendant imagery give hope and confidence to the believer. As taken into union with Christ Believers may through the power of the Holy Spirit exhibit lion-like courage together with lamb-like following and dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, I find it amazing that this Lion, with all His power, came to earth as a submissive lamb. The Bible says, "He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). Both my parent marched with Dr. Martin Luther King jr, they were told that no matter what happen to be humble like a lamb, this was hard for my father being a military man and the son of John Henry who had died fighting and proving that he was a man to be reckoned with. My mother a white female herself was hit in the head with a brick dog beat her a fire hose turn on her and kicked and beaten, yet she remain silent and never fought back. While at that moment it didn't seem like their efforts were effective but I'm living proof that it was.
When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate,He submitted as a lamb and died for the sins of the world. And this Lamb still bears on His resurrected body the price for our sins the marks of the crucifixion. The only man made effects in heaven are the marks of the crucifixion that our savior maintain. Lord I can never repay the debt that is own to you for what you did, and I'm thankful that you my debt is paid in full by my savior Jesus Christ.

Count it all as joy

It's confusing to me to see those who claim to believe in Jesus Christ acting like they are afraid to die and go to Heaven. I am not afraid to die. I look forward to it. It will be wonderful to be with Jesus in Heaven, after my job here is finished and the race is won. How can we expect the world to believe, if we don't act like we
believe? Your death is part of your testimony. If you approach death like those who have no hope, it is a bad testimony.  Should we leave this life kicking, screaming and dragging our feet or shall we go gently into that  good night? If we believe we are going to Heaven to be with Jesus, what then should we worry about?
Although we pass through death to leave this sin-infested planet, there will be no more pain no more tears. Jesus defeated death for us an removed death's sting so it cannot hurt us. We need have no fear of death. Death has no authority over us, nor should we fear it! We don't have a choice whether we will die. I desire that Christ may be glorified, not only in my life, but also in my death. May the life I've lived speak of Christ may my life be a witness for Jesus even in death may it speak of Jesus. I am not advocating giving in easily to death before it is time. But we all must eventually face death, so when the time comes, let us face it without fear.There is a time to die, a time when it is best. A time when you have finished your course on earth, and you are ready to go be with Jesus. Until then, you should resist death. But you should near fear death.

 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 
 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:20-21)

 

for to you I pray.

My  seven year old son Yeshua, often times tells his older sibling when something does not go their way. Life is not fair.  There is often no rational reasoning to why an innocent child is gun down in a park, or an elderly couple are pistol whip to death things happen that don't make sense, and we wonder why God didn't stop it from happening, why when we are standing in the middle of  storm that he does not come along and stop the storm, perhaps this is a storm you or I need to go through. Don't stop praying for He is hears your prayers and he is standing right there by your side. I watched my son fall and my heart broke, but he didn't damage anything but his self pride, he cried for a moment and looked at me to come to his rescue. I told him to stand up and come to me so that I could examine him to see if he had sustained any injuries, just as I suspected nothing was broken or sprained  not even the flesh was broken or the jeans ripped.  I wanted him to get back up and I knew he was not hurt. Does God sometimes see and hear our prayers but know that we need to go through?  Something God says no to request simply because  it wasn't what needed to happen. Sometimes God says no to our request or prayers simply because he knows that the trial or tribulation will only make us stronger. What we don't realize today is this hardship or this tragedy or this inexplicable event ultimately will  prepare us to later aid another person that God will send our way.  It will be like a long chain reaction that will produce this, this, and this, all for God's glory. So that thing you wanted had to go away, or that circumstance had to arise to produce those other things, and ultimately you will give God the glory. In the meantime, you will have to trust Him, knowing that it all will be revealed in heaven when we stand before the Lord. Know  this all prayers are answered in God's time and His way, it's just that the answer is not always the one we want to hear or experience.   David the Psalmist , learned to wait upon the Lord, have you learned that waiting upon the Lord means that you trusting him provide for you and take care of you.

 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.

 In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell. (Psalm 5:2-4)

Forgiveness the first step in healing

Forgiveness is hard for  many of us, I'm guilty of having a hard time forgiving. Example when I was a child my favorite cousin molested me and when I was twenty one I begin to realize what he had done when I was like 3 or 4 years of age and I hated him for. He died and I was glade because he would not harm another child. My ex-wife committed adultery with my number one deacon, while I was accepting my calling into the ministry. I hated her and him and blamed God for letting this happen to me. Each case I blamed myself for the sins that were committed against me the hardest person to forgive often is ourselves, we think if I would have just done this or that perhaps I could have prevented this tragedy from befalling me.. So here is the reaility boys and girls, if our heavenly Father can forgive us, then we can, and must, forgive ourselves and those that harmed us. For you see the molested and the ex-wife have gone on with their lives I'm the one dragging around the dirty garbage bag , when Christ tells me to bring me heavy burden to him. If God can decree that we are forgive-able, but we say we are too bad to be forgiven, we are saying we know more than God. Should your standards be higher than God's standards? He forgives. Why won't you forgive yourself as well as those that hurt you?  The enemy wants us to stay focused on our past and our failures and the open wounds that we never let heal, yet Jesus wants to heal those wounds, stop thinking you can't give it to him what is greater than God???? There is no pain no sin that you may have committed or suffering that you have endured that He is not able to take away the pain and heal the wounds. Give to him what do you got to loose nothing but you got a world of joy and peace to gain by giving him your burden our pain.   Its time for forgive and let go and in return receive God's blessing. God wants you to believe His Word and focus on Him, so he give you a better future without all the pain and unforgiveness that only kills your spirit & can cause physical and mental illness. Jesus is after all the great physician, He knows your pain and what you need to finally begin the healing process..

 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13).

Does Love make the world go round

Last month I shared this word of encouragement with some of you, but love is a thing from God and only through God can we truly learn how to love with a perfect love, which is His love, learn how to love your spouse, your children, your friends, your neighbors, your enemies, that right love those who hate you.  Do you truly know what love is? Based on the below verse how well do you know love????

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1. If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and  

2.If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

3.If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 

10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).

Be content in the state you are in. If you are a single you need to be content as a single person and if you are married you need to be content as a married person. Understand this: no person is

going to ill those needs deep in you. It is all about God. That is who we need irst and foremost.  Wait on the Lord. Don’t be obsessed with finding a person. Focus your energy on seeking God. I

believe in His timing He will bring that right person to you. We want to be seeking irst the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these things will be added to us. Better to be

 happily single than unhappily married.  Living together is wrong. Not only do statistics show that living together hurts your chances of ever having a good marriage, quite simply and more importantly, it violates God’s law. It is a sin and God will not bless it.  There are advantages to being married and there are advantages to being single. Far too often,people feel the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, no matter which side they are standing on.  Look for someone who is more godly than you. The tendency in a relationship is that the stronger one gets pulled down to the level of the weaker. So ind someone you can look up to,someone you can admire  If a marriage is miserable, the fault is with the participants, not the institution. We make a big mistake when we think that marriage is going to solve all of our problem. Life is exactly what we make of it. True joy can only be found in the Lord. DO not look for a mate to feel that empty void inside of you, simple because that place belong to the Lord God. I was watching the movie Courageous for the 50th time in the scene where the father takes the daughter out to dinner and tells her how one day a young man will come and he wants that young man to love God more than anything cause if he loves God with all his heart and soul then he will truly be able to love her as God intended for her to be loved.  Have you put God first??? "Seek you first the kingdom of heaven  and all things will granted unto you" Myself I told God what I wanted, I didn't ask or wait to see what his desire for me was, perhaps many of you also didn't wait doesn't mean God can't take your present plight and turn into something beautiful married or single trust in the Lord and seek first his heart  and his desire for your life, not your desire for they can change more times than the waves of the sea toss back and forth.