Mercy

Happy Sunday!

It's me again!

I love my church!  Service was awesome.  I attend the 830am service.  If I was a real football fan, I'd never miss a game because I'm home before 11am.

Anyway, I usually take the opportunity to visit other churches for their 11am services.  I visited New Salem Missionary Baptist Church today.  I love Pastor Jerry McAfee.  Everytime I go over there I leave inspired and encouraged. In stature he remids me of Rev. Zachary L. Lee, in singing he reminds me of a cross between Smokie Norful and Elder Otis A. Eanes.  New Salem also has a wonderful choir, which makes me think of St. Louis and East St. Louis.

Pastor McAfee preached from Lamentations chapter 3.  From verse 1 to verse 20, Jeremiah the weeping prophet pours out his soul about all the bad things that are happening to him.

BUT in verse 21, he remembers...It's because of the Lord's mercy (Mercy is a term used to describe the leniency or compassion shown by one person to another, or a request from one person to another to be shown such leniency or compassion.;Wikipedia) that we are not consumed (Consumed = transitive verb destroy something or somebody: to destroy something or somebody completely was consumed by fire; dictionary). 

Pastor McAfee asked us to be truthful.  Can you remember a five day period where you did wrong or made a mistake at least once each day?  Of course, I admit I have had periods that extended longer that five days.  Periods that I spent in unforgiveness, not relaesing forgiveness to others.  Periods that I spent doing what I wanted and with whomever I wanted.  But according the this scripture text, each day God's mercies and compassions for me were and are new. Yes many of my problems, I brought on myself.  But each day even though I go through things, God's mercy and compassion are NEW = revived or different: constituting a revived, different, improved, or more advanced form of something; dictionary).

Today is a new fresh chance for me and you to be all God created us to be, one day at a time.

I love you!  I love Minnesota and most of all I love GOD, cause he first loved me.

Have an awesome day in the Lord!

 

Faith vs Failure

Happy Sunday!

Happy Anniversary to me!  Yes, Praise God I have been in Minnesota for a full year! I thank God every day for being here.  I love you and I miss you but I don't want to leave this place. 

I'm loving it!  I thank God for a job I enjoy, a church that stretches me and encourages me to be all God designed me to be, and a cultural environment that features so many varied expressions.

I went to church this morning as I usually do.  And of course I would like to share some of the message with you.

Pastor Randy's topic was "The Root Causes of Failure" (http://www.stwc.com/)

Hebrews 4:1-2 (The Message)

When the Promises Are Mixed with Faith

1-3 For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God's goal for us, we need to be careful that we're not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn't do them a bit of good because they didn't receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting. But not if we don't have faith.


We fail because we do not believe.  We must believe GOD, he's not a man that will lie.

Ask yourself, what would I do if I knew I could not fail? What would you try?  Where would you go?  What business would you establish?  What ministry would you begin?

Fear of failure keeps us paralyzed!  FDR said in his inaugural address, "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance". 

We didn't give up on walking as babies just because we fell down.  Why do we give up on God's promises, just because we miss it one day.  From the beginning the enemy (Satan) has deceived us.  Deception causes failure, ask Adam & Eve.  The serpent deceived them, but when satan tried the same thing on Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus spoke the word that was deep in him.  He didn't have time to pull out his bible and bible dictionary.  He spoke word that was already committed to memory and in his heart as David said, "Psalms 119:11   Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Hebrews 2:15 (Amplified Bible)

15   And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the [haunting] fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives.
Failure is a breakdown of a function in any attempt to complete an assignment.  When we lose focus we fail; examples, Sampson. King Saul and King David, when they lost focus they sinned and suffered.

Failure only has power over you as long as you permit it to.
I hope this little bit blesses you.

Love Cynthia

 

Plans to Provide

Happy Sunday!

 

Hoping everyone had a great day.  If you are a mother, I pray that you were loved and appreciated today.  If you are not a mother, I pray that you showed some love and appreciation to your mother or other mothers.

I pray that you have an awesome week...full of the best that God has to offer.

Last week we were in our annual Empowerment Conference.  It was awesome.  I was blessed to be able to attend every night session.  We also celebrated our pastor's 30th anniversary in ministry.  It was a wonderful night Saturday night and I will never forget it.

I'm excited about the future and I want to share that excitement with you.

One of my all time favorite scriptures is Jeremiah 29:11, the Word is so real and relevant for ervery day...

Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation) 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Also, the Word I'm standing on and believing...Corinthians 9:8 (New Living Translation)

"And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others."

 

Have a wonderful week, love and prayers, Cynthia