Keep Your Mind Right!

Happy Sunday!

It's been a full and exciting week!  We enjoyed our Annual Fresh Rain Conference!  Dr. Kerwin B. Lee, Pastor of Berean Christian Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia was our guest lecturer each night.  He taught "How to Experience a Major Turnaround" in our personal, relational, and church lives.  Wednesday and Thursday nights, Dr. Lance Watson, Pastor of St. Paul's Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia preached and encouraged us that nothing catches God by surprise..."God has thought that thing out, and thought that thing through!"  Friday night, Dr. E. Dewey Smith, Pastor of Greater Traveler's Rest Church in Atlanta, Georgia preached and taught us to "Give God the Glory!"

Today, Bishop Alexis A. Thomas began a new series entitled, "Keep Your Mind Right!"  He will be preaching this series using the Book of Philippians.  He used Philippians 1 verses 6, 12, and 27 for this message.

The Book of Philippians was written by the Apostle Paul.  He was in prison in Rome for preaching the Gospel, and yet he encouraged the believers to be joyful and to rejoice!  Paul wanted believers to be aware of the joy thieves.  He wanted them to know that focusing on God and good things makes it easier to be joyful.  In chapter 1 verse 6 Paul wrote, "I am confident that the Creator, who has begun such a great work among you, will not stop in mid-design but will keep perfecting you until the day Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, returns to redeem the world." (Voice)  Did you get that?  God the creator has a plan for your life! He is a good planner and has considered everything you will ever need!  He won't get to the middle of the project and have to stop because he has run out of funds!  He has more than enough to bring you to a desired end.  Knowing that God is faithful, and trustworthy should encourage us and bring us great joy!

In verse 12, Paul says, "I have good news, brothers and sisters; and I want to share it. Believe it or not, my imprisonment has actually helped spread the good news to new places and populations." (Voice)   This scripture reminds me of Genesis 50:20. Joseph said, "Even though you planned evil against me, God planned good to come out of it." (God's Word Translation)  In order to keep our minds right we must believe that even negative situations and circumstances can have a positive effect on us!

Verse 27 says, "So here is what I want you to do: conduct yourselves as true and worthy citizens of the Anointed’s gospel, so that whether I make it or don’t make it to see you, I will at least hear that you continue to stand, united in one spirit, single-minded in purpose as you struggle together for the faith in the gospel." (Voice)  Paul wasn't sure he'd ever see the Philippians again, but he wanted them to stand strong and be an example to the world around them.

Verse 28 was not included in Bishop's message, but when I read it I knew it would bless you.  It says, "Don’t be paralyzed in any way by what your opponents are doing. Your steadfast faith in the face of opposition is a sign that they are doomed and that you have been graced with God’s salvation." (Voice) Don't let the circumstances sway you!  Don't surrender to depression!  Don't fear!  Don't doubt!  Keep your mind on God, the Word, and positive things!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Participate

Happy Sunday! Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "You Have To Participate!" He used John 6:1-13 as his reference scriptures. This is the familiar story of the feeding of the 5000 men, and an unnumbered group of women and children. Jesus asked Philip, “Where can we buy bread to feed these people?” The Message translation says, "He said this to stretch Philip’s faith. He already knew what he was going to do." I imagine Philip probably felt like you or I would when pressed with a perplexing question...Philip answered, “Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece.” (Message) Thank goodness Andrew came to Philip's rescue..."One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.” (Message) You know the story. Jesus instructed the disciples to have the people sit down in orderly groups. Then He gave thanks and broke the bread. The Message translations says, "All ate as much as they wanted." You have to participate! When Moses and the Children of Israel were surrounded by mountains and the Red Sea with the Egyptians approaching quickly. Exodus 14:15-16 says, "God said to Moses: “Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving. Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground." (Message) God commanded Moses to use what he had! He had to participate! John 11:43 says, "Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.” (Message) The people had to participate! Lazy Faith is no faith at all! James 2:20 says, "that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless." (Amplified Version) We have to be willing to do our part! In Mark 11:22-26 Jesus said, "Trust in God. If you do, honestly, you can say to this mountain, “Mountain, uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea.” If you don’t doubt, but trust that what you say will take place, then it will happen. So listen to what I’m saying: Whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you’ll receive it and you will. When you pray, if you remember anyone who has wronged you, forgive him so that God above can also forgive you. If you don’t forgive others, don’t expect God’s forgiveness." (Voice) Did you get that? You have to participate! You have to speak to your problems! You have to pray! You have to believe! You have to forgive! Many times we say that we are waiting on God...I believe that God is waiting on us! The Bible says that Jesus is seated at the right-hand of the Father in Heaven. In God's system, you can't sit down until your work is done! Jesus did what he was supposed to do! Because of his sacrifice we can be SAVED in every area of our lives! Salvation means wholeness, healing, and deliverance. Let's participate! Love and prayers, Cynthia

Possibilities

Happy Sunday! We are still basking in the Glory of the Lord! Bishop reported that the giving last week totaled more than $70,000.00 from all three services. That was giving above and beyond regular tithes and offering! He also read reports of blessings and financial breakthroughs that happened to many of our members this week. Wednesday we were blessed to have a seminar with Joe Sangl. You can visit his web site to get more information (http://www.josephsangl.com/category/oxen/). Today, Bishop encouraged us with a story from Mark 9:19-29. The disciples were unable to heal a young boy and his father appealed to Jesus. Jesus said, "Bring the boy here.” They brought him. When the demon saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a seizure, causing him to writhe on the ground and foam at the mouth. He asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been going on?” "Ever since he was a little boy. Many times it pitches him into fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!” Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!” Seeing that the crowd was forming fast, Jesus gave the vile spirit its marching orders: “Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you—Out of him, and stay out!” Screaming, and with much thrashing about, it left. The boy was pale as a corpse, so people started saying, “He’s dead.” But Jesus, taking his hand, raised him. The boy stood up." (Message) The young boy had been oppressed by the devil most of his life. Jesus told his father, "Anything can happen!" What is there in your life that has been the same for too long? Can you imagine things being better? Can you see yourself prospering? Can you envision yourself healed? Can you picture your relationships mended? Don't Limit God! Anything is possible! Love and prayers, Cynthia

GIVE

Happy Sunday! Happy New Year!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas encouraged us today!  He began with announcing some of the events we will be participating in in the coming weeks.

Our theme for last year was "We are a WELL Church...Walking Examples of Liberated Lives!"  This year we will continue with that theme but expand it a bit.  Our theme for 2014 is, "We are a WELL Church, and This is the Year We Will SEE It!" 

One of the new changes is our weekly broadcast.  Our service is broadcast locally on Sunday evening at 6pm.  Bishop said he had been asked to do a television broadcast many times in the past years, but he always declined.  This year he was led to do it.  Last Sunday he jokingly said that each broadcast was $800.00.  He pointed to a particular member and said, "Lucy feel free to pay for a broadcast."  This week that woman walked up to him and gave him $800.00 for one broadcast.  He mentioned it at each service and other members just started coming forward bringing checks and cash in varying amounts.  I attend the 11am service most of the time.  Bishop wasn't even able to preach due to the number of members coming forward to give their gifts.  One young lady came up and told Bishop she recently lost her job, but she felt the Holy Spirit prompting her to give her last $20.00.  A young boy came up with a few dollars, he began to cry and said, he wanted to give and he was praying that God would bless his mother with enough money to take care of them.  Bishop asked the boy's mother to come up and blessed them with an undetermined amount.  He also blessed the young lady and encouraged them with this scripture..."Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 (New King James Version)

As the congregation gave, I was reminded that we are to be channels and not reservoirs.  God wants to bless us in order for us to be a blessing to others!  The old church song says, "You can't beat God giving...no matter how you try!"  Malachi 3:10 says, "Feel free to test Me now in this. See whether or not I, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, will open the windows of heaven to you and pour a blessing down upon you until all needs are satisfied." (Voice)

Love and prayers, Cynthia