WHEN TROUBLE COMES A RUNNING

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. ” Matthew 6:33-34

When trouble comes running, we each handle it differently. Trouble seems too always be in our path. When things seem to be going well is when problems seem to rise up before us. Some of us try to handle our own situations. We feel that we are weak and unsuccessful if we cannot handle our own problems. There is a better way. There is a spiritual strength that helps us through our problems without much effort on our part. That spiritual strength comes in the name of Jesus. He has done all of the hard work for us. He died a cruel death and then rose from the dead to set at the right hand of God the Father. As he knocks at the door it is up to us to invite him into our heart. It is up to us to build our faith and turn our problems over to him. We must be able to trust him and let him work in our lives in ways that best suit our solutions. He knows and we don’t. It is so easy to begin to feel like the world is against us and begin to say things that allow our problems to grow even larger. It makes no difference how large or how small our problems are, Jesus is there for us. We must continue to be persistent and seek him is all situations. We must understand that our Lord is only a prayer away. We must train ourselves up in his word, his strength, his understanding and his wisdom. We must work to build our faith to a point where Jesus is the first one, we think of in times of need. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

ASHAMED OR NOT ASHAMED?

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes- the Jews first and also the Gentiles.” Romans 1:16

” It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Romans 1:17

There are many Born Again Christians who are ashamed to tell others of their experience. When accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior you have made the biggest decision in your life. Your life changes because you invite Jesus in. He knocks and you allow him to enter. When we accept Jesus, our thoughts begin to change as well as our attitudes and ways of life. Our language goes from cursing to blessing and our focus goes from worldly to spiritual. When this happens, the bible becomes real, and we begin to understand that it is not just a book we are to read, but it is the Lord talking with us. He is showing us how to live, speak, love, care, and bless those around us. We are to be happy to be a part of his spiritual army and should not be ashamed to tell others about our experience. You see, if we don’t allow others to understand what our conversion was all about then there will be millions who will miss the opportunity to get to heaven and live with God eternally. Let us never be ashamed to tell others about Jesus. Our message may be a lifesaving experience for whom we tell. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

THE SALVATION PRAYER

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9-10

There are so many in the world today that believe they know God when in reality they do not. Some believe that going to church will get them to heaven. The are others who believe that since they read the bible on occasion, they must be believing Christians. Still others believe that once they are baptized, they are saved. That is not how Romans 10 describes the salvation actions that must be taken. If you have not truly bowed your head and ask Jesus to live in your heart, then the time is now. Please recite out loud the following the following salvation prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,

“I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me life. I know you are the only way to God. So now I want to quit disobeying you and start living for you. Please forgive me of my sins, come into my heart and make me yours. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me eternal life. I accept you as my Lord and Savior! In Jesus Name I pray Amen.”

Welcome to the family of God! Praise the Lord in all things!

THE RESURRECTION – DEATH DEFEATED!

” Then the men asked, ‘ why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead! Don’t you remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and that he would rise again on the third day.’ ” Luke 24:5-7

When Jesus came to this earth, he came with a mission and a purpose to fulfill.  He came to save you and me from certain death, with no hope after death but hell itself.  On Good Friday he died a horrible and humiliating death, one that you and I could never withstand.  He was placed in a tomb as though dead and buried.  However, as 1 Peter 3:19-20 tells us, he was on his way to preach to those who disobeyed God long ago, when God waited patiently while Noah was building the boat. The final step of his journey took him to set at the right hand of God the Father in heaven where all of the angels and authorities and powers are bowing before him.  It is because of you and me that he took this journey.  Easter is a day that we celebrate his rising and remember that it is he who allows us to live.  HAPPY EASTER!

PRODUCING THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

The fruit of the Spirit are not just qualities of character, but rather the outward manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in our lives. As we live our lives through the Holy Spirit our actions will be a sharp contrast from those of the world. The world produces immorality, idolatry, hatred, anger, jealousy, doubt. worry and fear. The Fruit of the Spirit produces love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control. There is a stark difference in the actions from each. As a follower of Jesus, we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God. With that filling we receive our instructions on how we are to live our lives. Although all have ears to hear not all will listen and follow instructions. To win the world for Christ we must listen and do. We must take action and be a part of what God wants. Not being a doer will allow us to be overcome by the huge wave of indifference from the world. As we continue to pray each day, read his word, and consistently praise him with all of our heart, we will be able to get closer to our Lord and become a part of him. His words will begin to fill us with the love, peace and joy that reflects the true nature of our God in heaven. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!


	


	





	

		
GETTING TO KNOW GOD IN HEAVEN
	


	
	

		

“God’s word is living and active, and sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12





It is quite natural and inevitable, that if we spend sixteen hours daily of our working hours in thinking about the affairs of the world, and five minutes in thinking about God- this world will seem two- hundred times more real to us that God. – Dean Inge





As human beings we spend most of our waking hours with thoughts about this world. Our work, our family and/or our time of rest and relaxation are centered on the world, and what we can do to make our lives more beneficial to us. Our lives are lived under the rules and the regulations of the world, and our thoughts and words are obedient to those rules and regulations. The time we spend with God varies, depending on our daily schedule, but God is fortunate if he hears from us before we go to bed, and then, he usually hears our complaints, wants, and needs rather than a conversation that includes praise for his great promises for our lives. I believe that what Dean Inge has pointed out is very real. Our attention goes to the things of the world that we can see, feel and hear directly. Due to these things, the world becomes real to us. However, our eternal life is also real. As we begin to spend more time with God, the spiritual world becomes more and more real to us. We become more attentive and more sensitive to the words spoken to us from our God in heaven. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
BEING EFFECTIVE IN THE WORD
	


	
	

		

“ ADD TO YOUR FAITH GOODNESS; AND TO GOODNESS, KNOWLEDGE, AND TO KNOWLEDGE, SELF-CONTROL, AND TO SELF-CONTROL, PERSERVERANCE, AND TO PERSERVERANCE GODLINESS, AND TO GODLINESS, BROTHERLY KINDNESS, AND TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS, LOVE.  FOR IF YOU POSSESS THESE QUALITIES IN INCREASING MEASURES, THEY WILL KEEP YOU FROM BEING INEFFECTIVE AND UNPRODUCTIVE IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.”  2 PETER 1:5-8





Becoming an effective carrier of God’s Word is work.  It takes faith, belief and trust on our part in order to show others the way Jesus lived his life.  Being effective is much more than just reading the Word and then laying the bible down until the next time we read it.  It takes effort and action on our part to make it come alive.  It takes trust in God to deliver us out of troubled situations.  It takes strong faith to believe things unseen by our own eyes.  It takes courage, understanding and wisdom to help us rise up, with risen hands, to praise our Lord and to lay our prayers at His feet, and then turn around and leave those prayers with Him.  It takes sacrificial, selfless, and unconditional love, just as Jesus has for us, to believe, receive and to dedicate our life to Him.  To be effective we must be involved in the truth.  We must pray often, pray hard, praise the Lord with our might, and believe we receive!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
A DAILY WALK WITH JESUS
	


	
	

		

“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.  ” Colossians 2:6





” For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  2 Corinthians 5:7





Walking with Jesus signifies a life of discipleship that is characterized by obedience, faith, and a close relationship with Christ.  As we walk daily in his truths we follow his teachings, training ourselves up in his values, and seeking his guidance within our lives. Taking a daily walk with our Lord allows us to grow more like him. We build upon our faith, and we begin to trust in his power and guidance.  Walking with Jesus is not a one-time event. It is a continuous journey of growth in our faith and character. As we walk with Jesus we are going in the same direction. We begin to drop our old ways and take up the new. Our lives begin to reflect his characteristics, and we grow stronger each and every day. Our lives become living examples of the bible and how Jesus wants us to live.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS! 






	


	





	

		
TO EACH OUR OWN TASK!
	


	
	

		

“Why was this man born blind?  Was it because of his own sins or his parent’s sins?  ‘ It was not because of his sins or his parent’s sins, Jesus answered. This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.  We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned to us by the one who sent us.’ ” John 9:2-4





“Then Jesus said,’ I entered this world to render and to show those who think they see that they are blind.’ ”  John 9:39





We are all born with a purpose.  Some of us live longer lives on this planet than others.  There are those who are stillborn.  There are those who are born and at a very young age are taken to heaven.  There are those who live on this earth who are huge in age. There are those who live in poverty and those who live lives of wealth. There are many questions, especially when we lose those so young or when we see those so needy and others of great wealth. What we must try and remember is that God has a plan.  Each person born, no matter how long they live upon this earth or their position in life, is taking a journey with a purpose that will have an effect on others in this life.  The power of God is in each of us.  How long our journey will be on this earth is not up to us but up to God. Our job is to carry out our tasks that have been assigned to us.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!











	


	





	

		
I WAS NOTHING UNTIL JESUS CAME TO ME!
	


	
	

		

As a person living on this earth, I sometimes forget just how important my God in heaven is to me.  Philippians 4:7 and Romans 5:1 reminds me that he provides me with the ability to have peace in any situation I confront.  I am reminded in Psalm 23:3 that he guards my heart and mind and leads me into paths of righteousness. Philippians 1:6 and Psalm 107:9 confirms to me that he gives me confidence and satisfies my soul.  I have been chosen as His; received salvation; been adopted as His child; been forgiven; received insight into the things of the Spirit; received the power to serve God and do his will; received the gifts of the Spirit; and received the hope of living forever with Him. Without my God in Heaven, I am nothing, but with my God I am everything.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!  

	


	





	

		
LIVING IN YOUR WEALTHY PLACE HERE ON EARTH
	


	
	

		

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13





Faith and trust are everything when we are trying to live in a good place here on earth.  Without faith we cannot know Jesus.  Without trust we cannot receive the promises he has stored up for us.  We all know that our destination is eternal life with God in heaven.  However, God has put us in this world for a reason.  There is a reason for everything God does, and you and I must do our best to obey his every command.  Many years ago, God led me to the following information that has helped me tremendously in my walk with Christ.  It has helped me to live in this world knowing that I am here for a reason and that if I follow the ways of Jesus, I will be able to accomplish my role.   I was led to understand that if I follow these steps, I would be able to live my life in my wealthy place here on earth. 





    

  1.  Discipline yourself to diligently listen to God.
    2. 




  2. Don’t listen to the worldly system.
    3. 




  3. Keep your eyes on God’s Word and be a doer and not a hearer only.
    4. 




  4. Love God and all of God’s people.
    5. 




  5. Walk in love, remembering that God is love.
    6. 




  6. Stay away from covetousness.
    7. 






Many of you may already know these things and are doing them in your life.  As we focus on God, our lives here on this earth become our wealthy place, as we able to overcome our anxieties and fears, and accept God’s promises for our lives with open arms. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS! 






	


	





	

		
FOLLOW THE LIGHT!
	


	
	

		

” I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  John 8:12





Trying to find your way in complete darkness is very difficult.  You can get turned around; you may confront things that you cannot see, or you may find yourself tripping and falling.  God has given us a light so that we don’t have to stumble around trying to find our way.  All we have to do is find Jesus and begin to know him. When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we begin to know him intimately and on a personal level, we no longer are lost in the darkness but instead we begin following the light of the world.  Jesus is our Savior, our healer, our eyes and our ears.  He leads us through life helping us along the way.  With Jesus we are able to handle surprises that may pop up along our journey.  He is always just a prayer away.  Problems never disappear but there is no reason to try and solve them on our own. There is no struggle too small nor one too large.  Our Lord is always willing and ready to allow our faith to become stronger each day, and as it grows so does the peace in our lives through our faith in Jesus! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS! 






	


	





	

		
SAVOR OUR SAVIOR!
	


	
	

		

“ Sing to him; yes, sing his promises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.  Exult his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and his strength; continually seek him.”  Psalm 105:2-4





When we go to a restaurant and order our favorite foods, we try to take our time and enjoy them.  We all pay hard earned money for what we receive. It is important to be satisfied and enjoy our food as well as the pleasant surroundings of the restaurant. When we do, we often tell others about the establishment, and in doing so, create more customers for them.  Our salvation was expensive.  Jesus paid the heaviest of prices by giving his life to take away our sins and to offer us salvation that will get us eternal life in heaven.  We should savor the sacrifice.  We should sing our praise to him and exult his name.  We should shout out his wonderful deeds to the world around us.  It is important that we spread his message and allow others to take advantage of what Jesus has offered us.  Let us all enjoy the presence of our Lord, praise him and give him the thanks for all he does.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!











	


	





	

		
THE JESUS HOTLINE
	


	
	

		

“Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path; keep your feet from following evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27





There are times in life that things just don’t go as we think they should. We can run into problems that we just can’t solve on our own. When we confront these obstacles, we can feel comforted with the promise that God never sleeps. He is available to us early in the morning and late at night. All we have to do is pick up the prayer hotline and call on Jesus. He will always answer. He will listen patiently and will provide us with the help we need. I have learned that he never hangs up. He sees my name and picks up right away. He will see your name and do the same. He understands our anxieties and always provides comfort. He knows what we need, and he fills that need. The next time you are startled by a problem, pick the Jesus hotline and visit with the most understanding person there is. He will comfort and provide the answers to your prayers. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
THE STAR STILL SHINES!
	


	
	

		

"About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 'where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.'" Matthew 2: 1-2

I have learned over the years that that same star that led the three wise men to Jesus is still with us today. The truth of God's word is always close by.  Through the struggles we have and the good times in our lives, that star continues to shine brightly. As Jesus's arrival on this earth has come and gone, his purpose has not changed. The same star that guided the wise men to Jesus is there for us to follow in our travels, to find hope, peace, love and the truth. Our focus must never change, and our travel must not be misled down the wrong path.  We must always keep our eyes on that shining star. It shines brightly as it leads us to our destination, and once we have arrived, we can praise our Lord for providing us a guiding light that shines and leads us to his beloved Son, Jesus Christ.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!  

	


	





	

		
I LIVE BY THE SHELTER OF GOD MY ROCK!
	


	
	

		

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  Psalm 18:2





“He is the rock, his work is perfect, and all his ways are just.”  Deuteronomy 32:4





The Lord my God is my rock. When troubles try to deter me from the path that God has set before me, I seek shelter behind my rock. He is my force in times of trouble and my safety net when I fall. He is my shield when others hurl insults and my comforter when I need to be comforted. My God has me in the fold and I have the security of his mighty strength. With my rock by my side there is nothing in this world that can overcome me. There is nothing that can be said or done to me that I am not able to defeat. I have the rock. I have the greatest source I can have. I can do all things when I have my focus on Him, and my faith built upon my rock of salvation. He delivers me, he secures me, and he knows me, and is patient with me. His love is more than you and I can understand. We must trust him and love him as he loves us. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
PRAY, PRAISE AND RECEIVE WITH FAITH!
	


	
	

		

“DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING, LET REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD.  AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.”  PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7





God is listening.  He is ready and more than willing to hear our concerns.  Prayer through Christ is our way of communicating with Him.  He hears us no matter where we are or what we are doing.  He is listening and will hear our voice.   As Philippians tells us, we are not to worry or become overly concerned about problems that we confront.  We are to talk with him.  We must communicate our prayers and then we must take a step back and listen.  We must be focused on the Holy Spirit and listen to the small still voice that is talking with us. Many times, we are not patient enough do what we are being told to do. When we pray, the love and calmness of God will consume us.  God allows us to know that he now has control of the situation and that we are not to get anxious about anything.  The world’s time schedule is not the same as God’s time schedule. However, God’s time is the only time we are to be focused on.  We should pray and then thank him for his answer. We should praise him for who he is and what he does.  We must pray, praise and believe that we receive by using our strengthened faith.  We should always remember that God is our source for all things in our lives.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
WHAT TREASURE DO YOU SEEK?
	


	
	

		

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be.”  Luke 12:34





Sometimes we must take a step back from our busy lives and take notice of where we are and what we are doing.  Just what are we seeking?  What path is our life on? Where is our focus? Are we self-seeking?  Are we looking out for ourselves?  Luke 12:34 is very clear. Our focus tells us a lot about where our heart and desire are.  We have two choices.  We can run from God, or we can run to God. We can seek the things of this world, or we can trust our Lord and seek the treasures that he provides for us.  We can seek his blessings, his healings, his wisdom, his understanding, his love, his truth, his trust and his faith.  Our Lord God is in control of all these things, and they are ours for the taking.  All we have to do is believe and receive.  If we desire our Lord, we must change our focus and go after spiritual things he gives us.  We must strengthen our faith and live our lives with trust in God.  When we do these things, he will bless us.  He will protect and defend us. His love will overflow and consume us.  We must remember that “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” Philippians 4:13. Our lives on this earth will begin to fall into place.  When trouble confronts us, we will have the faith to get us through.  His love is strong and unwavering.  Seeking the right treasure and living the truth when we find it, will get us through every situation we must overcome.  Focus on Jesus, our Lord and Savior! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!  






	


	





	

		
GOD BLESS YOU!
	


	
	

		

“ For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11





“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8





The Lord our God blesses us in many ways. He heals the sick, directs the lost, forgives our sins, gave Christ Jesus to save us and many other blessings.  There are so many times that we focus on our problems in life and forget to do as we are asked to do.  Our Lord tells us that he is our safety net and our refuge.  When we run into obstacles it is important that we train ourselves to pray, believe and trust.  Without us performing those steps it is impossible for us to receive the blessings God is ready to give us.  God has our blessings all prepared but His obstacles are you and me.  We leave God lost in the shadows and forget that he has promised us his blessings of strength, courage and wisdom.   All we have to do is believe and receive.  This requires our participation of dwelling in his Word, praying in all situations and praising him with all of our heart.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUAITONS.










 






	


	





	

		
THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH
	


	
	

		

The foundation of our faith, as a believer in Christ, is built upon the work and life of Jesus.  Christ is considered to be the Rock of our salvation and the cornerstone to our beliefs.  Our beliefs are built upon our faith in Jesus as the Son of God. It is built upon our belief that Jesus died, went to hell and then rose again to set at the right hand of God the Father.  It is He who was sent by his Father to be sacrificed for our sins and to be our stairs to salvation.  It is by his death and resurrection that you and I have a chance to have eternal life with our God in heaven.   It is our faith that helps us to live a life that is so revered by our God, that he sacrificed his only Son for you and me.  It is our faith that is the foundation for pleasing God, receiving his offer of salvation, and experiencing His power. Hebrews 11:6 says: “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”  It is by the foundation of our faith that we are able to seek, believe and receive.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!











	


	





	

		
DECEPTION IS ALIVE AND WELL
	


	
	

		

“THE LORD DETESTS LYING LIPS, BUT HE DELIGHTS IN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRUSTWORTHY.”  PROVERBS 12:22





Our Lord Jesus is the truth.  When we fall away from the truth, we begin to fall into the false perception of what reality is.  When this happens, we suddenly become very susceptible to deception within our world.  It is easy to follow the ways of those who live in this world because we have, for the most part, been brought up in worldly ways. The devil and his demons are running wild with lies and misconduct on God’s earth.  It is important that we get close to our Lord through prayer, praise, and the bible.  We must realize just how easily it is to have our hearts swayed by deceitful voices who hate God and contradict his teachings.  By recognizing the nature of deception, we can strengthen our resolve to seek Jesus in all aspects of our lives.  JESUS IS LORD!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

	


	





	

		
TO SERVE OT TO BE SERVED?
	


	
	

		

“FOR I AM AMONG YOU AS THE ONE WHO SERVES ” LUKE 22:27





We sometimes take for granted as to how we are to live our own lives.  When Jesus came to this earth, he came as a servant to all. He was not given life on a silver platter, nor did he allow himself to be lazy and allow others to wait upon him. He was always out-front serving others.  He healed those in need of healing, he fed those who were hungry, and he gave his life as a sacrifice so that we could live our lives in love and forgiveness.  He is the prime example of just how you and I are to live our lives.  We too, are not to be lazy. We are to be as Jesus was, when he walked this earth, and work hard to glorify our God in heaven.  We are to serve others and prepare ourselves for eternal life.  We are to love and to be testimonies of the life of Jesus.  We are children of the living God, and we are to live our own lives just as Jesus our Lord lived his. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
THE VOLCANO OF LOVE
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  “Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your hearts desires.”  Psalm 37:4





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  The love of Jesus is like a volcano that has erupted.  It slowly flows down from God and flows into the hearts of those in its way. There is nothing that can slow it down or stop it.  It just comes closer and closer to those who will accept it.  Many of us have never experienced a volcano.  However, we have seen the effects that happen during such a great calamity.  The difference between a volcano and the love of God is the purpose behind each.  One is to destroy, and the other is to show mercy and to give blessings.  Beyond that they are much alike.   They both can move slowly, and both overcome the things and the people who stand in their way.  





If we take delight in our Lord, he will bless us beyond measure.  We will be able to stand before him in prayer with confidence and peace of mind.  We will have the assurance that when we pray, he will hear us and answer us.  We will be forgiven of our sins, and he will help us to overcome our disobedience and faults that plague us.  As his love overwhelms us, we will feel the warm loving arms of our God begin to protect us and keep us from harm.  His love will give us the ability to love others and not become a hindrance, but instead, become a pathway to salvation and a tool of our living God in heaven.  God’s love is warm and welcoming.  Just like a volcano, some of us have never experienced it.  We must understand that his love continues to slowly move toward us and that as long as we run from it, we will never have a chance to feel his warm and loving arms around us. Instead of running from his love we should run toward it.  It is our salvation and our protection.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
STRENGTHEN YOURSELF IN THE YOUR GOD!
	


	
	

		

TODAY'S SCRIPTURES: "I can do all things him who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:13

" So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yea I will help you, yea I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

TODAY'S MESSAGE:  If we decide to strengthen our bodies, we will often get a gym membership and begin to do workouts that will help us to build up our bodies. When we decide to strengthen ourselves in the Lord our God, there are tools we can use to do spiritual workouts that will help us to become stronger in our faith and closer to our God. 
     1.  Meditate on God's word every day.
     2.  Put our focus on the Lord and not our troubles.
     3.  Understand and remember the power of God.
     4.  Walk with God each day.
As we develop our relationship with our Lord we are to put our trust in him.  This takes time and it takes commitment on our part.  We must never stray from his word but stay in it every day.  We must commit ourselves to staying obedient to his word and what he tells us to do. We must be doers of his word and not hearers only. We must put his words to work in our lives, and as a result, our faith will grow, and our trust will become stronger each day.  He loves us and we are to love and trust in Him.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS! 






	


	





	

		
THE LIGHT OF SALVATION!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  ” God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.”  John 3:19





TODAYS MESSAGE: If we are dedicated to the ways of this world then we are living in darkness. Our eyes have been blinded by the evil ways of the devil, and we have dedicated ourselves to his plan for our lives. God, however, has sent his Son Jesus to expose the evil of our ways and of those around us. He gives us an opportunity to drag ourselves out of the mud hole, called worldly living, and onto the dry and lush green grass of his salvation. He is the light we need to see our way clear of the disasters going on around us. There are more people living in the darkness of the world than there are who live with Jesus in their hearts.  It is easier to live in line with the ways of this earth than it is to have the faith we need to believe in the ways of our God in heaven.  It takes effort and work to follow Jesus but, in the end, it is all worth it.  It takes hard work to build up our faith and live our lives with honor, truth and in God’s light.  However, we are on the right road.  We have the light to lead us in the correct direction toward heaven.  We must keep our focus and stay on track for all of the blessings and promises that have been given to us.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!











	


	





	

		
BE SURE!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  “that in these last times there would be scoffers whose purpose is to enjoy themselves in every way imaginable.”  Jude 18





 TODAY’S MESSAGE: In the last days we are to be sure of what we are learning and of what we believe.  Believing is more than just hearing and then continuing to do our own thing in the world.  Believing is not only hearing but taking action and living our beliefs.  The scriptures warn of the scoffers and those who will teach misleading things.  2 Peter 2:1 tells us:  “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them-bringing swift destructions on themselves.” These messages of deception will be introduced so subtly that many will not realize what is even happening.   1 John 4:1 says:  ” Do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” It is our responsibility to test everything that is being taught.  It is up to us to examine their every word and its meaning.  We can very easily be misled in our journey along the road to heaven.  You and I must be knowledgeable in God’s Word and know it well.  Our daily routine must lead us to check everything we hear.  The devil is trying to be like Jesus but with a different message.  Let us be sure of what we believe and are living.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
















	


	





	

		
THE STAIRWAY
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: “I tell you the truth, you will see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”  John 1:51





TODAYS’S MESSAGE: I hear so many say that the troubles we have today are no worse that the troubles of those before us. I would disagree with that thinking. In today’s world we see the devil increasing his warfare because he knows the end of the story and that his time is very short. It is because of his increase in effort that you and I must be so very careful in our efforts to live on this earth. The devil is scheming with strong lies and deception, the strength of which has not been seen before. However, you and I have been given even stronger tools and weapons to maneuver in this world. We have been given strength in the truth, understanding when we ask, wisdom, and the shield of faith to ward of the hurts and deception of the devil. This spiritual warfare is on its last legs. The devil knows that the next stage is about to take form. Jesus is about to return. The devil is not about to let up. It is dangerous to even go into a town as we used without the fear of something bad happening. It important that we keep up our faith by being strong in knowing the Word of God and how to use it. It is also important to know that we have been given the stairway to heaven, in the person of Jesus Christ. We have the assurances from God’s promises that when our time is up on this earth, we will take that journey without disability or pain. We must always remember that the battles that are going on today are spiritual battles. The war is about the devil(bad) and our God in heaven(good). When we remember and understand this, our efforts become so much easier, because we know that we are victorious. We know that it doesn’t matter whether we live on this earth or in heaven we are a part of this battle. We are already victorious! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!











	


	





	

		
THE GENTLE BREEZE BENEATH US!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  ” For my God shall supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  For every problem we have there is a solution. That solution can be one of disaster or it can be one that is received from our Lord.  Our God in heaven has an answer for all things.  He is willing to give to us the easiest of solutions if we just ask and believe.  We are told in Philippians 4:19, that all of our needs shall be supplied by God.  There is not a one that he cannot fulfill.  It matters not whether it is healing in our lives, money that we need for the mortgage or just simple help to get us out of an argument, he is there to help us.  He is by our side at all times and never leaves us.  He is the gentle breeze that calms us when we are allowing anxiety to get to us.  He provides us that kind word, that comes to our mind when we need it, so that we can give it to those around us. He is our saving grace is all of our situations.  It is much easier to live this life knowing that we have a great God who loves us and takes care of us.  It is more than difficult to live in this life not knowing what is around the next corner.  It is hard enough to deal with this world but without our Lord beside us it is next to impossible.  It is by the blood of Jesus that we are saved.  It is by his saving grace that we can rest assured that no matter the difficulty in life we are overcomers and are redeemed through his death on that cross.  Have you accepted Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior?  If not, it is time. Bow down before your God and confess you are a sinner.  Ask Him into your life and then praise him for who he is. Seek out a faith believing church where you can find continued teaching and support in your faith walk with the Lord. This will be the greatest decision you will ever make.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
THE LIGHT
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it,” John 1:5





” Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”  Proverbs 3:6





TODAY’S MESSAGE: When the lights go out in a bad storm the first things that we look for are either a flashlight or candles.  Either one or both help us to navigate within the darkness of the night.  When the storms of life approach us, we also search for a light to help to guide us through the dark. We are all looking for something to help us along the way.  We sometimes try to find the nearest relative to give us advice.  Other times we try to find a friend to give us words of assurance.  As Christians we have the real answer to the dark storms of life.  When these storms approach, and we feel as though the whole world is against us, the God of our life, our God who sits on the throne in heaven, has given us the true light.  He has given us Jesus.  All we must do is ask and we will receive.  He is the one to give us unfaltering advice.  He is the one to give us the love that we miss in the dark times.  He is the one who stands beside us when all else fails.   It is He and He alone who has the answers we need.  He is in total control and is ready and willing to lead us through the darkness and into the light of day.  The next time a storm approaches, don’t hesitate, go straight to the source and ask. He is there to answer and assist us all the way through the problems of life.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!











	


	





	

		
A SLAVE TO RIGHTEOUS LIVING!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  “Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.”  Romans 6:18





TODAY’S MESSAGE: In today’s world it is easy to get caught up in what the world believes to be righteous living.  The world believes it is ok to cut corners in life.  What is the trouble with telling a little white lie?  What is wrong with talking behind someone’s back? What is wrong with a little gossip?  What is wrong with fitting into society?  Everyone else is doing it.  Before becoming a child of the living God, we were all children of the devil.  We were born into sin and knew no different.  We were slaves of the way the world was run and to the beliefs that were brought forth by those who enforce its ways.  However, once we accept that Jesus is our Lord, our ways of life are to change.  Our lifestyles are to become different.  People are to see a change in the way we act and speak.  Before we were saved the devil had a foothold in our lives.  We saw nothing wrong in the ways we were living.  But once Jesus takes over our lives, we are to shed the evil ways of this world and become slaves of righteous living.   We are to conduct our lives in ways that are morally right and pleasing to God.  We are to live our lives in the way God dictates through his Holy Word, and we are to live by acting in accordance with his moral principles and standards.  We are to be obedient to his commands seeking every way to align our actions with His will.  We are to strive to be free from sin and evil and commit our ways to justice, fairness, and compassion.  We are to walk with integrity, speak the truth, despise evil, and live a life of faith and trust in God in heaven.  We become slaves of righteous living and not in living in this world.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!