I Dare You.....

Can you remember growing up as a kid, getting challenged or "dared" to do something?

Most of the time it was something bad or something that could get you into trouble.

Let's put a different spin on the same idea....

I Dare You.....

• To Pray for direction for the leadership of our church
• To Give until it doesn't hurt anymore
• To Share the Gospel with someone everyday
• To Hold your fellow brothers and sisters accountable
• To Make a change in your living
• To Read Your Bible more
• To Tell someone about this Dare and how what it means to you

A Pilgrim's Thanks....

Lord,

As we enter in to the Thanksgiving season, please allow me to give thanks for all you've provided for me. I am a pilgrim in this land. A pilgrim that doesn't claim this world as my home, but, looking forward to the day when I can go home.

• A place that you've prepared just for me
• A place where I will never have to worry about bills
• A place where I'll never have to worry about buying food for Thanksgiving because it will be Thanksgiving EVERYDAY
• A place where we'll never have to deal with the enemy, because we will have WON
• A place where the streets are paved with gold
• A place where the river of life flows freely
• A place where there's no need for electricity, because your Glory will light our way
• A place where we will never grow old

Please help us to be unselfish tomorrow and be sensitive to those who do not have food that we might SHARE what you've provided to us to those who are not as fortunate.

I Love You LORD and it is my desire to be more like You in every way.

WANTED: Committed Christians

I grew up in a very small country church. And when one person wasn't there for any reason it seemed like part of our own body was missing.

We would always comment that each person had a part in the service and when that person was not there everyone else had to make up for the shortfall.

In larger churches we loose site of that small church mentality and maybe sometimes say, "no one will miss me if I dont' go to church today". One must always remember that you are not going to church for me or anyone else, and if you are then you need to take a look at your walk with Christ.

Our promise to God is to live as close to Him as we can. We can't do that if we play hide and go seek with church services. When you, as a child of God miss church because you just want to play hookie, you are only hurting yourself.

Don't get me wrong, there are times when we all have/need to be out of church for various reasons. That's not what I'm referring to here. What I am referring to is the willful disobedience to participate in worship when the church doors are open.

Your church family needs you to be at church, and you need your church family.

What are you waiting for......

Have you ever thought about what you do while you are waiting on the Lord to answer a prayer concern?

Some people put their lives on hold and just do what they must until they get an answer from on high.

Is this the right thing to do?

While we wait on God we should continue to:

Give like we've never given before.....

Praise His name every chance we get.....

Share the good news with everyone you meet that Jesus saves.....

Continue in the study of His word......

DO NOT go into shutdown mode....

You'll find that before you know it, you've become closer to God and the answer you were looking for is there.....

So....what are you doing while you wait?

Love and Respect....

Romans 12:9-21

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 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. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

God Has A Name.....

Have you ever given thought about what you call God, when you call on Him?

Most of us, when we pray, usually start with some pleasantry names or refer to Him with various names throughout our prayer.

My Pastor stirred me to think about the names of God in his message Sunday. He talked primarily about Jehovah-Jireh, "The Lord will Provide" or God my provider. But there are many, many other names that we never really talk about.

Let me share a small sampling of them with you....

Jehovah-Rophe - "The Lord Who Heals"

Jehovah-Nissi - "The Lord Our Banner"

Jehovah-M'Kaddesh - "The Lord Who Sanctifies"

Jehovah-Shalom - "The Lord Our Peace"

Jehovah-Elohim - "Lord God"

Jehovah-Tsidkenu - "The Lord Our Righteousness"

Jehovah-Rohi - "The Lord Our Shepherd"

Jehovah-Shammah - "The Lord is There"

Jehovah-Sabaoth - "The Lord of Hosts"


Do any of these refer to something going on currently in your life?

Try using that particular name the next time you talk to HIM!

I don't know that particularly cares how you refer to Him when you pray......just so you do!!!!!

Blessings!!

Emmanuel

Emmanuel.....God right here with us

We sometimes think God is so far away from us, but in reality:

- He's right with us
- He's in the seat beside us
- He's in the bed with us
- He walks with us
- He sits at our table
- He's with our lying down and our rising up
- He's with us at work
- He's with us even when we don't want Him to be there


Emmanuel-

- A baby born in a manger
- A child that spoke like an adult in the temple
- A teacher who taught us how to love
- A Lamb who was slaughtered as a sacrifice for our sins
- A Savior who defeated death, hell and the grave
- A Lord of Hosts who will come back on a cloud to receive unto Him, His Church that has made herself ready.

Bind Us Together

I've observed that if you take one stick by itself it's pretty easy to break.....

Take that same stick and about 20-30 more of the same size and bind them together, it's just about impossible to break them all....

As we go through life and experience troubles and trials, it's easy to fall into the enemy's snare(s). But, if we as a body of believers bind together in prayer and lift each other up, there's nothing that could overtake us.

Give it some thought.....

God Bless

A Heavy Heart......

Today my heart is heavy...

-Because some no longer worship with us......
-Because my Pastor, Mentor and Friend will leave us and follow the will of God for his life....
-Because souls are lost and refuse to listen to the voice of God and tug of the Spirit to come....
-Because the enemy is destroying marriages right in front of our eyes....

But I have...

-FAITH in a God that can do all things....
-FAITH in a Savior that can speak to the elements of this world and they OBEY HIM...(thank you Pastor for your message today....HALLELUJAH!!!)
-FAITH that if I ask anything of Him, He is just to answer....
-FAITH that one day I'll walk on streets paved with Gold and live in a mansion that HE made just for me....

Sing HALLELUJAH!!!!
Sing HALLELUJAH!!!!
Sing HALLELUJAH, to the KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS!!!!!!!

We've Come to Praise Him!!!!!

As you prepare for church tomorrow morning think about these comments....

Will I be obedient to the Will of God, if He speaks will I listen.....
Will I come "expecting" to see a move of God, and "move" if He prompts....
Will I greet those who cross my path with a handshake and a smile.....
Will I give into the store house as He prompts....
Will I give my sacrifice of praise, and be thankful for His sacrifice so that I could have eternal life....
Will I pray not only for my needs but for those around me.....

At GCPC tomorrow morning we will declare, "WE'VE COME TO PRAISE HIM!!"

Spirit of David

Most of us recognize David as a man after God's own heart. David loved God, but David was not perfect. He had many faults as a human being. But I think we all would agree when it came to praising God, David did it with all of his might.

We all praise God in our own way. Some are very animated while others are very still. Some raise their hands, while others raise their hearts. Some are loud, others are quiet. It makes no difference how we do it as long as we DO IT!!!

We all should take a good look at the comfort zone we are in and ask ourselves this, "Is God happy with my worship?"

He inhabits the praises of His people....!!

Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)

 ¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

There is a chorus that I've known for years I would like to share with you:

We have the Spirit of David,
We have the Spirit of praise
Longing to be in His presence,
Rejoicing in the Lord always
Lifting our hands in the temple,
Your banner of worship we raise
We have the Spirit of Daved,
We have the Spirit of praise.

When we, as blood bought children of God begin to lift our voices in praise, the angels have to be quiet and listen because as created beings, they cannot sing the song of THE REDEEMED!!!!

No Doubt......

Sometimes I don't know where I'm going, where the road is leading me.
Life can be full of so many changes, so many uncertainties.

But there's one thing that's constant in this heart of mine, it's knowing that Your gonna love me, rain or shine
I don't know what You've planned for tomorrow, or what lies up ahead for me.

Pleasure, pain, worry or sorrow, today is as far as I can see.

You may see fit to take me through the valley, Lord, or on the mountain.

It makes no difference where I go!!!!

I HAVE NO DOUBT, that You will never leave me, that You'll be there to keep me safe and warm.

I HAVE NO DOUBT, no matter where You take me, that nothing can separate me from You, LORD!!!


Hallelujah!!!!

What Sin?

I've heard many preachers over the years proclaim from the pulpit, "We are all sinners!". 

I've overheard many listeners later comment among themselves, "Maybe he's preaching about himself, or that was meant for Bro. or Sis. So and So....".

But, I ask this question, "How many times during any given day does the Lord prompt you to say a kind word, whisper a prayer about something or for someone in need that was laid on your heart, call and invite someone you know to church, volunteer for certain needed positions or help out at church, give a little extra in the offering plate at the prompting of the Spirit...but we just shrug it off or get pre-occupied with the cares of this life?"

My Bible tells me in James 4:17 (NIV)
    
 "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them."

As our church goes through this trying time of replacing our pastor, it is up to ALL of our church family to pull together and work in UNITY through the Spirit of God. To continually pray and seek His face, not only for ourselves but for each other. This is what will foster love for one another, love that will smother out bitterness and strife.

My prayer today is for God to show me, as well as you, what sin lies in my life that I can plunge beneath the crimson flow and wash it whiter than snow.

"What Sin, Oh God......??!!"

Open Me Up

As we face a new test of faith, there is a song that comes to mind:

Open me up, do what you will
I am a vessel, your longing to fill
Open me up, renew me again
I want to hold, Your presence within
I want to hold, Your presence within

Pour over me,
The fragrance of Your Spirit
I will receive
Healing from Your touch
I will be changed
Never be the same
Never be the same
When You open me up

Some powerful words in that song.

What do you think the world would see if he opened us up? Would we be ashamed? Do we fear what people would see?

I believe there are many people who like to live on the outer edge of Christianity, people who want to get just close enough to feel a slight breeze of the spirit, attend church just so people will see them and not hound them about coming to church or get a visit from their elder.

Men and Women of God, it is time to stop worrying about who sees you at church or who gives you a "look" because you lift a hand in praise and honor during worship. It's time to stand up and say who you are and what you are. It's time to either be Hot or Cold...."lukewarm" will only get you nowhere with God.

Today, ask the Lord to Open You Up!

Ask Him to reveal the things that need to change in your life.

Ask Him to reveal His PERFECT WILL for your life.

Then it will be up to you to decide....do I obey the Master or do I continue down the same path I've been travelling for years?