Forced Change

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached "Forced Change". He used several reference scriptures; Isaiah 6:1, Luke 22:41-42, and 2 Corinthians 12:8-9.

Bishop always mixes a bit of humor in his sermons. I appreciate that. He recounted the story of his flip phone. He loved that flip phone, and even in the age of smart phones he was hesitant to let it go. One day it finally died. He went to his service provider, assuming they would simply fix his phone and he would be on his way. But they couldn't fix it or replace it. He was forced to get a new phone.

He had his wisdom teeth removed last week. He admitted that he has been suffering with pain from his wisdom teeth for over a year! Now, before we start judging him...how many times have we been so comfortable in an area, or situation that we didn't want to move or change?

God's Best for us usually means we must leave the comfort of our current level and move forward into the unknown. The Word says, "We walk by Faith, not by sight". 2 Corinthians 5:7 (King James Version) God's Best requires that we leave the past behind. Everyday God invites us to the next level, "To achieve this, you will need to add virtue to your faith, and then knowledge to your virtue; to knowledge, add discipline; to discipline, add endurance; to endurance, add godliness; to godliness, add affection for others as sisters and brothers; and to affection, at last, add love." 2 Peter 1:5-7 (Voice Translation) The writer of Hebrews wrote, "let us drop every extra weight, every sin that clings to us and slackens our pace, and let us run with endurance the long race set before us." Hebrews 12:1 (Voice Translation)

Bishop used Isaiah 6:1 as one of his reference scriptures. My daughters and I chuckled. I think that scripture is probably one of the most preached and used scriptures in the church world. Isaiah lets the readers know when he saw the vision. He saw it the year that something changed in his life. A great man, King Uzziah died. CHANGE. Perhaps you have experienced the death of a loved one, the death of a relationship, or the death of a dream. God wants to take you to the next level. 1Thessalonians 4:13 says, "First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus." (Message Translation) We have hope! 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." (Message Translation)

Now don't beat yourself up about not wanting to change. The Disciples wanted things to stay the same as well. They asked Jesus, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?” He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.” Acts 1:6-8 (Message Translation)

Let's embrace change this week, and not wait to be forced to change!

Love and prayers, Cynthia


*** Change is inevitable. Change is constant. - Benjamin Disraeli
*** All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. - Anatole France

I'm Not Dead

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas was out of town this week. Minister Vernita Polite preached, "I'm Not Dead, I'm Just Waiting on My Destiny!" She used the familiar story from John Chapter 11.
 

It's amazing how the Holy Spirit will minister to you, and then verify it out of the mouth of other witnesses!
 

We Christians have already been given everything that pertains to life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) We have been given power to do great works. (John 14;12) But even with all that we have been given, we sometimes live powerless and unfruitful lives. Our enemy is allowed to run over us because we don't know what power we have, and we don't know how to use it! The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 (King James Version) 
 

If you have a child, and that child remains in first grade for ten years, you would be alarmed, concerned, and embarassed. Think of how our Father God must feel. We've been living for the Lord for 10, 20, 30, even 50 years, but our lives remain the same in so many areas. The Word says we should, "Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18 (Message Translation) Faith comes by hearing, hearing, and hearing the Word again and again. Romans 10:14-17 says, "But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That’s why Scripture exclaims, A sight to take your breath away! Grand processions of people telling all the good things of God! But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: “Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?” The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to. (Message Translation)
 

Our enemy doesn't care how much we go to church. He wouldn't care if we went everyday! What he doesn't want is for us to open our Bibles and begin to learn how to defeat him! He doesn't want us to learn about Faith! He doesn't want us to find out that we win in the end! He doesn't want us to know that God wants us healed! He doesn't want us to know that God wants us to prosper and to succeed in everything we do! He doesn't want us to pray and to speak the Word!

 

The word Salvation means more than just being saved from going to Hell. It means salvation and deliverance in every area of our lives. Jesus said, "I came to give life with joy and abundance." John 10:10 (Voice) Ephesians 2:9 says, "Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving." (Message Translation)

In John 11:25, "Jesus said to her, “I am the one who brings people back to life, and I am life itself. Those who believe in me will live even if they die."

Let's commit to growth this week. Let's get the truth...“If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” John 8:32 (Message Translation)

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Go For Broke

Happy Sunday!
Pastor La'tresa Jester from Gideon Baptist Church in Tucson, Arizona was our guest speaker today as we celebrated our Annual Women's Day. She preached "Going For Broke". She used St. John 12:1-8 as her reference scriptures.

It's amazing how eight scriptures can be so full of activity and revelation. The Apostle John is writing. He let's us know that this all happened six days before the Passover. You remember that the Passover is the Jewish celebration commemorating the deliverance of the Jews from Egypt. It's all in Exodus 12, Pharaoh refused to let the slaves go. Because of the hardness of his heart, the final plague would be the death of the firstborn. The Jews were instructed to kill a healthy male lamb, smear the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintel of their houses. When the Death Angel came by that night to kill the first born, he would "Passover" the homes that were marked by the blood. Jewish people still pause to celebrate and remember that night. We Christians believe that Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb. He shed his blood, and that blood covers and protects us. Even John the Baptist recognized that Jesus was the Lamb. John 1:29 says, "Look! This man is more than He seems! He is the Lamb sent from God, the sacrifice to erase the sins of the world!" (Voice Translation)

John also lets us know that this all happened in Bethany at the home of Lazarus and his two sisters. Lazarus was a good friend of Jesus. In John chapter 11, we read the story of how Lazarus died. When he was sick, Jesus waited several days before he came to see about him. When he arrived Lazarus was dead, but Jesus went to the tomb and called him forth.

John continues to write. Lazarus is at the table with Jesus, Martha is serving the meal, and "Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus’ feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house." WOW! Six days before Passover, in the home of a man who had been resurrected, a woman anointed the feet of Jesus with a very expensive jar of ointment. Think about this. Feet in the Bible represent foundations, and assignments. In this story, it's six days before Jesus is to fulfill his ultimate assignment on earth. His death on the cross became the foundation for our lives and our salvation. Mary worshipped Jesus with all she had, and even Judas recognized it was an extravagant gift, he remarked, "How could she pour out this vast amount of fine oil? Why didn’t she sell it? It is worth nearly a year’s wages; the money could have been given to the poor." (Voice Translation) Judas wasn't concerned about the poor! He wanted more money to steal! Read it for yourself. Verse 6 says, "This had nothing to do with Judas’s desire to help the poor. The truth is he served as the treasurer, and he helped himself to the money from the common pot at every opportunity." Judas was a thief and his only desire was to get more money. He had been stealing from the "bag" all along.
What does this have to do with me? So glad you asked. Everyone of us has an assignment. We have all been created for a purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Eternal, “plans for peace, not evil, to give you a future and hope—never forget that." (Voice Translation) I know, I know...at times it can be hard to believe that there is any rhyme or reason to life. But there is a plan. Ask God what his plan is for your life. Surrender to his plan for your life and give it your all. Go for broke!

Do you remember the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart? The main character George Bailey was struggling financially and emotionally. He wishes he had never been born and decides to end his life. His guardian angel appears and shows him what his family and community would be without him. Just like George, you may not see the impact your life is having on the world. You may think no one cares, and no one knows. Snap out of it! This world needs you! Ray Boltz sang a song called "Thank You". You should Google it and listen. He talks about how ordinary people and ordinary everyday things that we do impact the lives and destinies of others. Like the song infers, we may never know until we get to Heaven what a great blessing we have been in the lives of others. But how wonderful it will be to know that we obeyed God and lives were changed.

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.

Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made.
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed.

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave.

Let's Go for Broke this week! Give it our all!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Come Up Higher!

Happy Sunday!
 

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "Come Up Higher!"  Yes, he has preached using that topic for several weeks now.  But, you know repetition is a powerful technique used in learning.  Deuteronomy 6:7-10 says of the commandments of God, "Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you’re sitting together in your home and when you’re walking together down the road. Make them the last thing you talk about before you go to bed and the first thing you talk about the next morning. Do whatever it takes to remember them: tie a reminder on your hand and bind a reminder on your forehead where you’ll see it all the time, such as on the doorpost where you cross the threshold or on the city gate." (Voice Translation)

Revelation can change your life and your level! Think about it! Walt Disney had been betrayed by some of his team members. With a few dedicated team members remaining, they came up with the idea of Mickey Mouse and created a kingdom around him. Walt Disney later said, "I only hope we never lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse".  Bill Gates didn't have a definite plan for his life, but spending time around computers at Harvard he got an idea to start a computer company. You and I both know, he has been tremendously successful. The Wright Brothers dreamed of flying and worked to bring that dream to reality. If you have ever driven cross-country I know you will agree, "Thank God for the Wright Brothers!" Flying is so much easier!

As Bishop was preaching, I thought..."Revelation is the Insider Trading for the Kingdom of God".  God reveals secret things to us during prayer, meditation, and study. That information allows us to excel and to overcome our enemy.  Now, don't get me wrong there is nothing illegal or ungodly about us getting revelation. We won't be going to prison like Martha Stewart because of the insight God gives us. But we will be able to prosper and succeed in every area of our lives.

Jesus ministered what is called the Parable of the Sower.  Luke 8:8-14 says, "His disciples heard the words, but the deeper meaning eluded them. Disciples: What were you trying to say? Jesus: The kingdom of God contains many secrets. They keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep observing, but do not understand. I want you to understand, so here’s the interpretation: The voice of God falls on human hearts like seeds scattered across a field. Some people hear that message, but the devil opposes the liberation that would come to them by believing. So he swoops in and steals the message from their hard hearts like birds stealing the seeds from the footpath. Others receive the message enthusiastically, but their vitality is short-lived because the message cannot be deeply rooted in their shallow hearts. In the heat of temptation, their faith withers, like the seeds that sprouted in gravelly soil. A third group hears the message, but as time passes, the daily anxieties, the pursuit of wealth, and life’s addicting delights outpace the growth of the message in their hearts. Even if the message blossoms and fruit begins to form, the fruit never fully matures because the thorns choke out the plants’ vitality. But some people hear the message and let it take root deeply in receptive hearts made fertile by honesty and goodness. With patient dependability, they bear good fruit." (Voice Translation)

 
Bishop encouraged us with these four points;

Separation - Before we can receive revelation we need a time of separation. God told Abram, "Abram, get up and go! Leave your country. Leave your relatives and your father’s home, and travel to the land I will show you. Don’t worry—I will guide you there." Genesis 12:1 (Voice Translation)

Revelation - Matthew 11:25 says, "Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.” (Message Translation)  God provides the revelation, the insight, the ideas, and the inventions. We have to be willing to move forward with what he has given us. We have to trust and obey.

Continuation - We live in a Microwave Society. We're accustomed to getting things immediately.  But in the Kingdom we have to be patient. After God gives us the revelation it may take time for our vision to become a reality. James 1:2-8 says, "Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing." (Voice Translation)  Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (King James Version)

Elevation - God told Abram, "I have plans to make a great people from your descendants. And I am going to put a special blessing on you and cause your reputation to grow so that you will become a blessing and example to others. I will also bless those who bless you and further you in your journey, and I’ll trip up those who try to trip you along the way. Through your descendants, all of the families of the earth will find their blessing in you." Genesis 12:2-3 (Voice Translation) God wants to bless you as well. He blesses us in order for us to be a blessing to others. He wants us to prosper so that we can cause others to prosper.

COME UP HIGHER!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Promises

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas encouraged the congregation today. He didn't take a text or give a reference scripture, but he did remind us of our need to "Come Up Higher!"

So many times we are blinded by our personal needs, our personal problems, and the trials of life. We don't realize that there are others in the world who would love to have the blessings and opportunities that we enjoy. There are others that could use what we have been given to excel and succeed. Luke 12:48 says, "The servant who knows what his master wants and ignores it, or insolently does whatever he pleases, will be thoroughly thrashed. But if he does a poor job through ignorance, he’ll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!" (Message Translation)

The Apostle Peter wrote, "His divine power has given us everything we need to experience life and to reflect God’s true nature through the knowledge of the One who called us by His glory and virtue. Through these things, we have received God’s great and valuable promises, so we might escape the corruption of worldly desires and share in the divine nature." 2 Peter 1:3-4 (Voice Translation) God has given us GREAT and VALUABLE PROMISES! Bishop reminded us of some of those promises today. It is so beneficial to rehearse, repeat, and memorize the Promises of God. The psalmist wrote, "I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt." Psalm 119:11 (Message Translation)

Here are just a few of the Promises Bishop used to encourage us today!

Psalm 23:1 - "The Eternal is my shepherd, He cares for me always. (Voice Translation)

Psalm 27:1 - "The Eternal is my light amidst my darkness and my rescue in times of trouble. So whom shall I fear? He surrounds me with a fortress of protection. So nothing should cause me alarm." (Voice Translation)

Psalm 1:1-3 -"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." (New Living Translation)

Isaiah 40:31 - "But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength. They will soar on wings as eagles. They will run—never winded, never weary. They will walk—never tired, never faint." (Voice Translation)

Romans 8:16-17 says, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (King James Version) When we accepted Jesus as our Personal Savior we became the children of God, and joint heirs with Christ. All of the promises and blessings given to Christ are now available to us. We accept all of this by Faith. Search the Word for yourself, find those promises and stand on them by Faith. Remember, "God is not a man—He doesn’t lie. God isn’t the son of a man to want to take back what He’s said, or say something and not follow through, or speak and not act on it." Numbers 23:19 (Voice Translation)

Have a wonderful week!

Love and prayers, Cynthia