Happy Sunday!
Happy New Year!
New things are exciting! Well, new things we enjoy are exciting! New clothes, new shoes, new true love, new friends, new places to travel, and new money are all enjoyable. We also enjoy fresh starts, do-overs, and resets. The New Year gives us all of these and more.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Yet, my brothers, I do not consider myself to have “arrived”, spiritually, nor do I consider myself already perfect. But I KEEP GOING on, grasping ever more firmly that purpose for which Christ grasped me. My brothers, I do not consider myself to have fully grasped it even now. But I do CONCENTRATE on this: I LEAVE the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I GO straight for the goal—my reward the honour of being called by God in Christ."(Philippians 3:12-14, Phillips). Don't you just love this portion of that scripture, "with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead"? I do! Can't you just see yourself moving into the New Year with Faith for a prosperous future? I can! I hope you do too!
2020 is so catchy since we can apply it to 20/20 vision. But I'm hoping we see what God really wants us to see. I believe he's been showing us his vision for thousands of years. The Apostle John told us, "The Son of God came for this: to destroy the devil’s work."(1 John 3:8b, Easy-to-Read Version). Plain and simple, God's Plan is for us to work with Jesus to destroy the works of the enemy. We can destroy hatred by showing love. We can destroy lies by speaking the truth. We can destroy ignorance by learning and sharing what we've learned with others. We can destroy poverty by giving.
My cousin Sonya shared a meme with us about how the 20/20 Vision sermons are about to begin. It made me think. I searched the bible for verses that are chapter 20, verse 20. Out of the 66 books in the bible only 17 have a chapter 20, and verse 20. The content in these scriptures ranges from knowing God is for you and doesn't want you to sin, not having sex with your uncle's wife, instructions for specific wars, Jonathan's method of warning David of impending danger, two disciples' mother asking for special treatment for her sons, and the Apostle Paul insisting that everything he did was profitable for the body of Christ. I did find one I will hold on to for the New Year. 2 Chronicles 20:20b, "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper."(KJV).
The Voice translation says is even more clearly, "Trust in the Eternal One, your True God, not in your own abilities, and you will be supported. Put your trust in His words that you heard through the prophets, and we will succeed."(2 Chronicles 20:20, Voice).
Love and prayers for a Happy and Prosperous New Year, Cynthia
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Do Good
Happy Sunday!
"Nearby, in the fields outside of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds were guarding their flocks from predators in the darkness of night. Suddenly a messenger of the Lord stood in front of them, and the darkness was replaced by a glorious light—the shining light of God’s glory. They were terrified!
Messenger: Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority!"(Luke 2:8-11, Voice).
Luke 2 is a go-to scripture passage for the Christmas Holiday! We love the story, and the details, and reading it in other translations is also so much fun. Did you see this portion "news that will affect all people everywhere"? Did you realize that the news of the birth of Jesus the Christ is still affecting believers and non-believers after thousands of years? Sure, they may call the work party a Holiday Party, but its celebrated during the Christmas Season. And yes, Santa gets top billing, but the real dude was a Christian bishop who used his wealth to help the less fortunate. What about giving and sharing? Aren't those acts of kindness part of what Jesus taught his followers? Luke 6:35 says, "I’m telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do this, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High God. Yes, because God is good even to the people who are full of sin and not thankful."(Easy-to-Read Version).
Since we are all affected, how are we demonstrating the effects? The first scripture said he would be a liberator. The Prophet Isaiah received this revelation as well. Isaiah 61:1-2 says, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;(KJV). Listen to this scripture in the Easy-to-Read Version, "The Spirit of the Lord God is on me. The Lord has CHOSEN me to tell good news to the POOR and to comfort those who are SAD. He sent me to tell the CAPTIVES and prisoners that they have been set free. He sent me to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his KINDNESS, when our God will also punish evil people. He has sent me to comfort those who are sad;" Don't miss this! We are the "Chosen Generation" we have been anointed to do the same works.(1 Peter 2:9).
Let's have a positive affect on everyone we meet.
Merry Christmas!
Love and prayers, Cynthia
"Nearby, in the fields outside of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds were guarding their flocks from predators in the darkness of night. Suddenly a messenger of the Lord stood in front of them, and the darkness was replaced by a glorious light—the shining light of God’s glory. They were terrified!
Messenger: Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority!"(Luke 2:8-11, Voice).
Luke 2 is a go-to scripture passage for the Christmas Holiday! We love the story, and the details, and reading it in other translations is also so much fun. Did you see this portion "news that will affect all people everywhere"? Did you realize that the news of the birth of Jesus the Christ is still affecting believers and non-believers after thousands of years? Sure, they may call the work party a Holiday Party, but its celebrated during the Christmas Season. And yes, Santa gets top billing, but the real dude was a Christian bishop who used his wealth to help the less fortunate. What about giving and sharing? Aren't those acts of kindness part of what Jesus taught his followers? Luke 6:35 says, "I’m telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do this, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High God. Yes, because God is good even to the people who are full of sin and not thankful."(Easy-to-Read Version).
Since we are all affected, how are we demonstrating the effects? The first scripture said he would be a liberator. The Prophet Isaiah received this revelation as well. Isaiah 61:1-2 says, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;(KJV). Listen to this scripture in the Easy-to-Read Version, "The Spirit of the Lord God is on me. The Lord has CHOSEN me to tell good news to the POOR and to comfort those who are SAD. He sent me to tell the CAPTIVES and prisoners that they have been set free. He sent me to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his KINDNESS, when our God will also punish evil people. He has sent me to comfort those who are sad;" Don't miss this! We are the "Chosen Generation" we have been anointed to do the same works.(1 Peter 2:9).
Let's have a positive affect on everyone we meet.
Merry Christmas!
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Wait For It
Happy Sunday!
Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord’s help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help."(Easy-to-Read Version).
We hate to wait! Amazon and so many other businesses have capitalized on our desire to get it now. You can order your groceries, your medicines, your concert and movie tickets online and never leave your recliner. Its hard to believe but there really was life before the Drive Thru.
Even though we want everything immediately, there are times when we must wait. And as the Psalmist encouraged us, we must be strong and brave while we wait. Psalm 126:6 says, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."(KJV). Another translation describes more of what is happening in this scripture. "We cried on the way to plant our seeds, but we will celebrate and shout as we bring in the crops."(CEV). It took Faith to plant the seeds and Trust that at the right time God would ensure the harvest.
Psalm 27:13 is one of my all time favorites! It says, "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."(KJV). Waiting is hard, I'm not going to lie to you about that! BUT remembering the Promises of God, meditating on them, and speaking them out loud to yourself makes waiting far less tedious. The Living Bible says it this way, "I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see his goodness to me here in the land of the living".
Happy Waiting.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord’s help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help."(Easy-to-Read Version).
We hate to wait! Amazon and so many other businesses have capitalized on our desire to get it now. You can order your groceries, your medicines, your concert and movie tickets online and never leave your recliner. Its hard to believe but there really was life before the Drive Thru.
Even though we want everything immediately, there are times when we must wait. And as the Psalmist encouraged us, we must be strong and brave while we wait. Psalm 126:6 says, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."(KJV). Another translation describes more of what is happening in this scripture. "We cried on the way to plant our seeds, but we will celebrate and shout as we bring in the crops."(CEV). It took Faith to plant the seeds and Trust that at the right time God would ensure the harvest.
Psalm 27:13 is one of my all time favorites! It says, "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."(KJV). Waiting is hard, I'm not going to lie to you about that! BUT remembering the Promises of God, meditating on them, and speaking them out loud to yourself makes waiting far less tedious. The Living Bible says it this way, "I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see his goodness to me here in the land of the living".
Happy Waiting.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Give Life
Happy Sunday!
Proverbs 11:30 says, "What good people produce is like a life-giving tree. Those who are wise give new life to others."(Easy-to-Read Version).
So many times a good meal, or a tasty treat as my grandson, Nesta calls it, seems to bring life. What we are trying to say is it gives us a degree of satisfaction, pleasure, and enjoyment. The Bible says we should be giving life to others. In the King James Version this scripture says, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.". We should be winning. Winning and reigning in life, and winning others to Christ.(Romans 5:17).
We live our eulogy. They may lie about who we really were on the funeral program. But we know the truth about how we lived our lives. The Word tells us in Isaiah 52:7 that people should be happy to see us coming, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger bringing good news, breaking the news that all’s well, proclaiming good times, announcing salvation, telling Zion, “Your God reigns!”(Message). Is this the affect you have on people? Or do they try to avoid you?
Commissioned sang, "Only What You Do For Christ Will Last" and echoed the sentiment of 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, "It is our aim, therefore, to please him, whether we are “at home” or “away”. For every one of us will have to stand without pretence before Christ our judge, and we shall be rewarded for what we did when we lived in our bodies, whether it was good or bad."(Phillips).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Proverbs 11:30 says, "What good people produce is like a life-giving tree. Those who are wise give new life to others."(Easy-to-Read Version).
So many times a good meal, or a tasty treat as my grandson, Nesta calls it, seems to bring life. What we are trying to say is it gives us a degree of satisfaction, pleasure, and enjoyment. The Bible says we should be giving life to others. In the King James Version this scripture says, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.". We should be winning. Winning and reigning in life, and winning others to Christ.(Romans 5:17).
We live our eulogy. They may lie about who we really were on the funeral program. But we know the truth about how we lived our lives. The Word tells us in Isaiah 52:7 that people should be happy to see us coming, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger bringing good news, breaking the news that all’s well, proclaiming good times, announcing salvation, telling Zion, “Your God reigns!”(Message). Is this the affect you have on people? Or do they try to avoid you?
Commissioned sang, "Only What You Do For Christ Will Last" and echoed the sentiment of 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, "It is our aim, therefore, to please him, whether we are “at home” or “away”. For every one of us will have to stand without pretence before Christ our judge, and we shall be rewarded for what we did when we lived in our bodies, whether it was good or bad."(Phillips).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, December 1, 2019
To Tell the Truth...
Happy Sunday!
I hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving Holiday, and are ready to enter the last month of this decade. 2020 is fast approaching and it seems as if it was only yesterday that we began 2019.
Our Children's Church lesson today was about what it really means to believe. It's easier to believe someone you trust. God is trustworthy, and always wants the best for us. We get all kinds of random questions from the 10-12 year old students. One student seriously asked if Santa Claus was real. I did what my mother said never to do. I answered his question with a question in order to locate his thoughts on the issue. I resolved to let his parents break it to him. But I did expressed to him the fact that Jesus is real! Even people that don't accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior believe he existed. Historians, and other religious groups will acknowledge that he was a "good man". BUT we know the truth. Jesus is more than just a good man, he is God! I always wanted to be truthful with my children, and I still do. The truth is hard at times, because telling the truth can reveal our own personal shortcomings and flaws. But the truth is best.
Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."(John 8:32, KJV). Truth is imperative. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."(John 14:6, KJV). Knowing Jesus is knowing the truth, and the better we know him the easier it is to follow truth. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Why is it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God’s people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity; until finally we all believe alike about our salvation and about our Savior, God’s Son, and all become full-grown in the Lord—yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ. Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will lovingly follow the TRUTH at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."(Ephesians 4:13-15, Living Bible).
Following the Truth.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
I hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving Holiday, and are ready to enter the last month of this decade. 2020 is fast approaching and it seems as if it was only yesterday that we began 2019.
Our Children's Church lesson today was about what it really means to believe. It's easier to believe someone you trust. God is trustworthy, and always wants the best for us. We get all kinds of random questions from the 10-12 year old students. One student seriously asked if Santa Claus was real. I did what my mother said never to do. I answered his question with a question in order to locate his thoughts on the issue. I resolved to let his parents break it to him. But I did expressed to him the fact that Jesus is real! Even people that don't accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior believe he existed. Historians, and other religious groups will acknowledge that he was a "good man". BUT we know the truth. Jesus is more than just a good man, he is God! I always wanted to be truthful with my children, and I still do. The truth is hard at times, because telling the truth can reveal our own personal shortcomings and flaws. But the truth is best.
Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."(John 8:32, KJV). Truth is imperative. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."(John 14:6, KJV). Knowing Jesus is knowing the truth, and the better we know him the easier it is to follow truth. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Why is it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God’s people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity; until finally we all believe alike about our salvation and about our Savior, God’s Son, and all become full-grown in the Lord—yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ. Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will lovingly follow the TRUTH at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."(Ephesians 4:13-15, Living Bible).
Following the Truth.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Remind Me
Happy Sunday!
Can I tell you a secret? I love a good Nollywood Movie. Don't know what that is? That's a reference to Nigerian movies. I recently watched, "New Money" on Netflix. The movie was good, but the best thing about watching the movie was a song I heard in the movie. The artists' name is Simi(Simisola). The song is called, "Remind Me". I think you will like it too.
The Lyrics are...
I forgot how to be
The kind of person that you asked me to be
I forgot how to see
Love in everything,
I forgot totally
My brother say e love me, I love am too
My man call me honey and I call am boo
But my neighbor no like me, I hate am too
A man call me stupid, I call am fool
(Chorus)
I forgot how to give
Those who are in need, so selfish of me
Even when it got too hard
Too hard for me to care,
I forgot how to try
My baby said she hungry, I give am food
I tell am I will do anything for you
But a stranger said please sir, I nor get shoe
I look am like this say who are you?
It hit me. It hit me hard. I've been crying on the train and listening to the song on repeat. I've been forgetting how to love the way Jesus asked me to love. Life can be hard. We each have our own trials and tribulations. It's so easy to focus inward and forget about the other people Jesus gave his life to save. During hard times, I remember my mother saying she hated people. She was a people person. How could she hate people? I didn't fully understand then, but I can see now how it can be possible to hate. People without God's Real Love are harsh, cruel, deceptive, conniving, vindictive, selfish, inconsiderate...and the list could go on and on. Sometimes even the people who profess to know Jesus are amazingly despicable. BUT God didn't command us to love the lovable, he commanded us to love them all just like he did.
Jesus said it best, in Matthew 5:44-48, "But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. If you do this, you will be children who are truly like your Father in heaven. He lets the sun rise for all people, whether they are good or bad. He sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong. If you love only those who love you, why should you get a reward for that? Even the tax collectors do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than anyone else. Even the people who don’t know God are nice to their friends.
What I am saying is that you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."(Easy-to-Read Version).
Then Dr. Matthew L. Stevenson III topped it all off with his sermon this morning. He encouraged us to examine ourselves and the condition of our hearts. Our hearts can become harden because of things that have happened to us. Yes, stuff happens, but don't let that stuff change you! Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life."(Voice).
Remembering.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Can I tell you a secret? I love a good Nollywood Movie. Don't know what that is? That's a reference to Nigerian movies. I recently watched, "New Money" on Netflix. The movie was good, but the best thing about watching the movie was a song I heard in the movie. The artists' name is Simi(Simisola). The song is called, "Remind Me". I think you will like it too.
The Lyrics are...
I forgot how to be
The kind of person that you asked me to be
I forgot how to see
Love in everything,
I forgot totally
My brother say e love me, I love am too
My man call me honey and I call am boo
But my neighbor no like me, I hate am too
A man call me stupid, I call am fool
(Chorus)
I forgot how to give
Those who are in need, so selfish of me
Even when it got too hard
Too hard for me to care,
I forgot how to try
My baby said she hungry, I give am food
I tell am I will do anything for you
But a stranger said please sir, I nor get shoe
I look am like this say who are you?
It hit me. It hit me hard. I've been crying on the train and listening to the song on repeat. I've been forgetting how to love the way Jesus asked me to love. Life can be hard. We each have our own trials and tribulations. It's so easy to focus inward and forget about the other people Jesus gave his life to save. During hard times, I remember my mother saying she hated people. She was a people person. How could she hate people? I didn't fully understand then, but I can see now how it can be possible to hate. People without God's Real Love are harsh, cruel, deceptive, conniving, vindictive, selfish, inconsiderate...and the list could go on and on. Sometimes even the people who profess to know Jesus are amazingly despicable. BUT God didn't command us to love the lovable, he commanded us to love them all just like he did.
Jesus said it best, in Matthew 5:44-48, "But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. If you do this, you will be children who are truly like your Father in heaven. He lets the sun rise for all people, whether they are good or bad. He sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong. If you love only those who love you, why should you get a reward for that? Even the tax collectors do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than anyone else. Even the people who don’t know God are nice to their friends.
What I am saying is that you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."(Easy-to-Read Version).
Then Dr. Matthew L. Stevenson III topped it all off with his sermon this morning. He encouraged us to examine ourselves and the condition of our hearts. Our hearts can become harden because of things that have happened to us. Yes, stuff happens, but don't let that stuff change you! Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life."(Voice).
Remembering.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Pure Religion
Happy Sunday!
Hope you are enjoying the weekend, and are prepared for a glorious new week. Dr. Matthew L. Stevenson III used this passage in his sermon this morning, and I want to share it with you. I know you have read it before many times, but it's always a good reminder. Zig Ziglar once said, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily". I recommend getting a daily dose of the Word also.
James 1: 19-27 (Living Bible)
"Dear brothers, don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry; for anger doesn’t make us good, as God demands that we must be.
So get rid of all that is wrong in your life, both inside and outside, and humbly be glad for the wonderful message we have received, for it is able to save our souls as it takes hold of our hearts.
And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. So don’t fool yourselves. For if a person just listens and doesn’t obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can’t see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God’s law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does.
Anyone who says he is a Christian but doesn’t control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself, and his religion isn’t worth much. The Christian who is pure and without fault, from God the Father’s point of view, is the one who takes care of orphans and widows, and who remains true to the Lord—not soiled and dirtied by his contacts with the world."(James 1:19-27, Living Bible).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Hope you are enjoying the weekend, and are prepared for a glorious new week. Dr. Matthew L. Stevenson III used this passage in his sermon this morning, and I want to share it with you. I know you have read it before many times, but it's always a good reminder. Zig Ziglar once said, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily". I recommend getting a daily dose of the Word also.
James 1: 19-27 (Living Bible)
"Dear brothers, don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry; for anger doesn’t make us good, as God demands that we must be.
So get rid of all that is wrong in your life, both inside and outside, and humbly be glad for the wonderful message we have received, for it is able to save our souls as it takes hold of our hearts.
And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. So don’t fool yourselves. For if a person just listens and doesn’t obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can’t see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God’s law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does.
Anyone who says he is a Christian but doesn’t control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself, and his religion isn’t worth much. The Christian who is pure and without fault, from God the Father’s point of view, is the one who takes care of orphans and widows, and who remains true to the Lord—not soiled and dirtied by his contacts with the world."(James 1:19-27, Living Bible).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Peaceful Living
Happy Sunday!
Happy Veteran's Day! Thanks to all the brave men and women who serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces.
Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."(Amplified Classic). The Message Version says it like this, "People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole. Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit".
This world is noisy. So many things bombarding us daily. News, politics, weather, sports, job responsibilities, family responsibilities, traffic, neighbors, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, friends, and foes. I'm sure you can add a few more to the list. There are a lot of things to think on and think about. The scripture doesn't describe a life free of obstacles or distractions, but it describes a life of peace. Jesus said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."(John 16:33, KJV). Don't miss this! In this world we can expect some trouble, but it is possible to be cheerful. It is possible to have peace! Jesus said so, and I believe it!
My Aunt, Pastor Theaha McClendon used to say that she got up early to get on top of things before things had a chance to get on top of her. If you knew her, you can testify that this was true. Before 9 am each morning, she'd already been praying, studying and interceding, and walked several miles for exercise. Jesus gave us a command and a promise, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."(Matthew 6:33, KJV). Jesus went on to say, "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."(Matthew 6:34, Message).
Praying you enjoy a peaceful week!
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Happy Veteran's Day! Thanks to all the brave men and women who serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces.
Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."(Amplified Classic). The Message Version says it like this, "People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole. Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit".
This world is noisy. So many things bombarding us daily. News, politics, weather, sports, job responsibilities, family responsibilities, traffic, neighbors, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, friends, and foes. I'm sure you can add a few more to the list. There are a lot of things to think on and think about. The scripture doesn't describe a life free of obstacles or distractions, but it describes a life of peace. Jesus said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."(John 16:33, KJV). Don't miss this! In this world we can expect some trouble, but it is possible to be cheerful. It is possible to have peace! Jesus said so, and I believe it!
My Aunt, Pastor Theaha McClendon used to say that she got up early to get on top of things before things had a chance to get on top of her. If you knew her, you can testify that this was true. Before 9 am each morning, she'd already been praying, studying and interceding, and walked several miles for exercise. Jesus gave us a command and a promise, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."(Matthew 6:33, KJV). Jesus went on to say, "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."(Matthew 6:34, Message).
Praying you enjoy a peaceful week!
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, November 3, 2019
No Fear
Happy Sunday!
Today was a good day! I'm so ready for a good nights sleep.
Our Children's Church Lesson today was "The Gift of Faith; Fear Has Torment". 10 to 13 year old children ask the best questions. We have redirect them so many times, or we'd never finish the lesson. We talked about our fears. One young man mentioned being afraid that he would not succeed. WOW! At their age, I was just trying to deal with a changing family dynamic, success in life hadn't entered my mind. I shared Joshua 1:8 with him, "Let the words from the book of the law be always on your lips. Meditate on them day and night so that you may be careful to live by all that is written in it. If you do, as you make your way through this world, you will prosper and always find success."(Voice).
Another young man was afraid he wouldn't make it to high school, and a young lady was afraid something tragic would happen to her family. 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."(KJV). Don't miss this! When we lack an understanding of the Love of God, we are afraid. Don't feel bad, or condemned. You are not alone. Society, family, and the enemy have all done a good job convincing us that we are unlovable. BUT that's a lie, from the Father of Lies himself. God loved us so much he gave his prize possession, his only begotten son. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, "God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body."(Easy-to-Read Version).
Faith is the antidote for fear. Hebrews 11:1 says, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."(Living Bible). God has given every believer a measure of faith.(Romans 12:3). What we are responsible to do is increase that measure. It's like body building, or investing. There are steps your must take daily, and regularly to get a return. Reading the Bible, hearing the Word preached and taught, and prayer and meditation on the Word will ensure faith flourishes and fears fade away.
Psalm 27 is a great book to read if you are tormented by fears. Verse 1 says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"(KJV). Read it for yourself. This guy dealt with enemies, armies, wicked people, liars, and rejection. That's a lot, but he knew that he knew that he knew, there is nothing to fear with the Lord on your side. Let this be a reminder...Fear Not.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Today was a good day! I'm so ready for a good nights sleep.
Our Children's Church Lesson today was "The Gift of Faith; Fear Has Torment". 10 to 13 year old children ask the best questions. We have redirect them so many times, or we'd never finish the lesson. We talked about our fears. One young man mentioned being afraid that he would not succeed. WOW! At their age, I was just trying to deal with a changing family dynamic, success in life hadn't entered my mind. I shared Joshua 1:8 with him, "Let the words from the book of the law be always on your lips. Meditate on them day and night so that you may be careful to live by all that is written in it. If you do, as you make your way through this world, you will prosper and always find success."(Voice).
Another young man was afraid he wouldn't make it to high school, and a young lady was afraid something tragic would happen to her family. 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."(KJV). Don't miss this! When we lack an understanding of the Love of God, we are afraid. Don't feel bad, or condemned. You are not alone. Society, family, and the enemy have all done a good job convincing us that we are unlovable. BUT that's a lie, from the Father of Lies himself. God loved us so much he gave his prize possession, his only begotten son. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, "God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body."(Easy-to-Read Version).
Faith is the antidote for fear. Hebrews 11:1 says, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."(Living Bible). God has given every believer a measure of faith.(Romans 12:3). What we are responsible to do is increase that measure. It's like body building, or investing. There are steps your must take daily, and regularly to get a return. Reading the Bible, hearing the Word preached and taught, and prayer and meditation on the Word will ensure faith flourishes and fears fade away.
Psalm 27 is a great book to read if you are tormented by fears. Verse 1 says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"(KJV). Read it for yourself. This guy dealt with enemies, armies, wicked people, liars, and rejection. That's a lot, but he knew that he knew that he knew, there is nothing to fear with the Lord on your side. Let this be a reminder...Fear Not.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Prosperity in Everything You Do
Happy Sunday!
I hope you had a great week, and an enjoyable weekend. This Lesson is from Brother Bob Yandian. It's entitled, "Prosperity in Everything You Do".
Prosperity in Everything You Do - Bro. Bob Yandian
Have you ever wondered why God made Heaven’s streets out of gold or built the foundations of the heavenly city out of diamonds, rubies and other precious gems? The answer is so obvious that it is easily missed – in Heaven there is no place to cash in the gold or gems or to spend money, so why not use them for building materials!
However, on earth we can spend gold and it is God’s will that we have it to spend. He wants us to be financially prosperous so that we can use our wealth to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ!
It is God’s ultimate will that our soul prospers and then, as God can trust us with His riches, our outward man will also prosper and walk in divine health (3 John 2).
God’s plan is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but that it is a growing process. In this process we move from the good to the acceptable, and finally, to the perfect will of God by the renewing of our minds. This growth is similar to the seeds which are sown into the ground and produce some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred-fold return (see Romans 12:2).
In Psalm 1, David tells us that, if we take delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night, whatsoever we do shall prosper. Psalm 112:1, echoes this, “…blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that who delights greatly in his commandments.” In verses 2-10, we find a commentary on this which elaborates the blessings that will come to this man who renews his mind with the Word.
The Blessings
The first blessing is found in verse two, “His descendants shall be mighty upon the earth …” The point of this blessing is that financial prosperity is meaningless if your children are an ungodly generation who will squander your wealth. Satan preys upon young people so that godly parents will have no one godly to inherit their wealth and blessings. By patiently waiting to destroy the next generation, Satan can steal all that God has given us. This is why it is imperative that we instruct our children in the Word of God!
The second blessing is found in verse three, “wealth and riches shall be in his house; and his righteousness endures forever.” Notice that righteousness endures forever. It is passed from generation to generation so that those who have the riches will also have the strength and abilities necessary to handle and keep them.
Verse four tells us of another part of prosperity. “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.” This “light in the darkness” is the guidance God gives us in Satan’s dark world. This includes, what to do with our families, what to do in the affairs of life, as well as what to do with our finances. The reason this man in verse four is prosperous is because he is a giver at heart. The ultimate goal of prosperity is not self-gain, but to be able to be a giver to those in need.
This idea is carried into verse five. “A good man deals graciously and lends, he will guide his affairs with discretion.” As God has graced you, you should grace others. As God’s nature, which is of love and mercy, comes inside you, it should become your nature to reach out as He does and bless others no matter what they look like, live like, or act like. You love them simply because it is your nature to love.
The word discretion means “judgment.” Good judgment is another facet of prosperity. This enables you to assess, evaluate, and judge the affairs of life so that you can maintain all the blessings God has given you.
Furthermore, when a believer remains in the Word and reaps God’s blessings, he becomes stable, and as verse six tells us, “Surely he will never be shaken…” In the time of testing he will not be moved away from God’s Word. Thus, he will be victorious.
This verse also says, “… the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.” Prosperity encompasses the righteous man’s being remembered after he dies. Because of his righteousness people will desire to understand what he had in life. Because of this, he will leave an everlasting remembrance on this earth.
Whereas verse six was speaking of standing fast in times of testing, verse seven is telling of how to deal with evil tidings, “He will not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” When calamity strikes, outward prosperity is of little consequence and often is impotent. However, the key to overcoming calamity is to keep your heart fixed and steady on the Word of God.
Verse eight tells us about another benefit of prosperity – patience – when it says, “his heart is established, he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.” When you see your enemies prospering even though they are evil, you don’t go running after their way because your heart is established and fixed. Then, when they fall, as they eventually will, you will still be moving on one step at a time because of the patience in your heart.
Verse nine reveals another secret of this man’s (and our) success, “He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor….” It’s told to us again; he is a giver! This reiteration is used to emphasize the fact that we prosper when we are givers.
This verse goes on to say, “… his righteousness endures forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.” When a horn is exalted, it is turned so that it can catch the blessings that are poured from heaven.
The reaction of the unbeliever to this believer’s receiving all these blessings is graphically described in verse ten. “The wicked will see it, and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth, and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.” It is God’s will that this prosperity grieve the wicked. The ultimate purpose of a believer’s prosperity is to provoke the sinner to jealousy so that when his man-made schemes have failed, he sees God’s prosperity and wants it enough to turn from his own ways to God’s way! - Bro. Bob Yandian
Love and prayers, Cynthia
(https://www.bobyandian.com/bible-topics/prosperity-in-everything-you-do-editing)
I hope you had a great week, and an enjoyable weekend. This Lesson is from Brother Bob Yandian. It's entitled, "Prosperity in Everything You Do".
Prosperity in Everything You Do - Bro. Bob Yandian
Have you ever wondered why God made Heaven’s streets out of gold or built the foundations of the heavenly city out of diamonds, rubies and other precious gems? The answer is so obvious that it is easily missed – in Heaven there is no place to cash in the gold or gems or to spend money, so why not use them for building materials!
However, on earth we can spend gold and it is God’s will that we have it to spend. He wants us to be financially prosperous so that we can use our wealth to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ!
It is God’s ultimate will that our soul prospers and then, as God can trust us with His riches, our outward man will also prosper and walk in divine health (3 John 2).
God’s plan is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but that it is a growing process. In this process we move from the good to the acceptable, and finally, to the perfect will of God by the renewing of our minds. This growth is similar to the seeds which are sown into the ground and produce some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred-fold return (see Romans 12:2).
In Psalm 1, David tells us that, if we take delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night, whatsoever we do shall prosper. Psalm 112:1, echoes this, “…blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that who delights greatly in his commandments.” In verses 2-10, we find a commentary on this which elaborates the blessings that will come to this man who renews his mind with the Word.
The Blessings
The first blessing is found in verse two, “His descendants shall be mighty upon the earth …” The point of this blessing is that financial prosperity is meaningless if your children are an ungodly generation who will squander your wealth. Satan preys upon young people so that godly parents will have no one godly to inherit their wealth and blessings. By patiently waiting to destroy the next generation, Satan can steal all that God has given us. This is why it is imperative that we instruct our children in the Word of God!
The second blessing is found in verse three, “wealth and riches shall be in his house; and his righteousness endures forever.” Notice that righteousness endures forever. It is passed from generation to generation so that those who have the riches will also have the strength and abilities necessary to handle and keep them.
Verse four tells us of another part of prosperity. “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.” This “light in the darkness” is the guidance God gives us in Satan’s dark world. This includes, what to do with our families, what to do in the affairs of life, as well as what to do with our finances. The reason this man in verse four is prosperous is because he is a giver at heart. The ultimate goal of prosperity is not self-gain, but to be able to be a giver to those in need.
This idea is carried into verse five. “A good man deals graciously and lends, he will guide his affairs with discretion.” As God has graced you, you should grace others. As God’s nature, which is of love and mercy, comes inside you, it should become your nature to reach out as He does and bless others no matter what they look like, live like, or act like. You love them simply because it is your nature to love.
The word discretion means “judgment.” Good judgment is another facet of prosperity. This enables you to assess, evaluate, and judge the affairs of life so that you can maintain all the blessings God has given you.
Furthermore, when a believer remains in the Word and reaps God’s blessings, he becomes stable, and as verse six tells us, “Surely he will never be shaken…” In the time of testing he will not be moved away from God’s Word. Thus, he will be victorious.
This verse also says, “… the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.” Prosperity encompasses the righteous man’s being remembered after he dies. Because of his righteousness people will desire to understand what he had in life. Because of this, he will leave an everlasting remembrance on this earth.
Whereas verse six was speaking of standing fast in times of testing, verse seven is telling of how to deal with evil tidings, “He will not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” When calamity strikes, outward prosperity is of little consequence and often is impotent. However, the key to overcoming calamity is to keep your heart fixed and steady on the Word of God.
Verse eight tells us about another benefit of prosperity – patience – when it says, “his heart is established, he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.” When you see your enemies prospering even though they are evil, you don’t go running after their way because your heart is established and fixed. Then, when they fall, as they eventually will, you will still be moving on one step at a time because of the patience in your heart.
Verse nine reveals another secret of this man’s (and our) success, “He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor….” It’s told to us again; he is a giver! This reiteration is used to emphasize the fact that we prosper when we are givers.
This verse goes on to say, “… his righteousness endures forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.” When a horn is exalted, it is turned so that it can catch the blessings that are poured from heaven.
The reaction of the unbeliever to this believer’s receiving all these blessings is graphically described in verse ten. “The wicked will see it, and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth, and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.” It is God’s will that this prosperity grieve the wicked. The ultimate purpose of a believer’s prosperity is to provoke the sinner to jealousy so that when his man-made schemes have failed, he sees God’s prosperity and wants it enough to turn from his own ways to God’s way! - Bro. Bob Yandian
Love and prayers, Cynthia
(https://www.bobyandian.com/bible-topics/prosperity-in-everything-you-do-editing)
Sunday, October 20, 2019
I Been Thinking...
Happy Sunday!
This is a Re-Post from October 20, 2013. Yes, I wrote this and shared it with you six years ago. A lot has changed, Bishop Alexis A. Thomas has gone on to heaven, and I now live in Chicago. BUT the Word never changes. There is always something rich we can get from the Word. Enjoy.
****
Blog Post entitled, "I Been Thinking", October 20, 2013
Bishop Alexis A. Thomas continued preaching from 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. He encouraged us again to "Break Out of the Box", but entitled this message, "I Been Thinking".
Brian Tracy said, "You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you". That's exactly what Jabez did. He did not allow his negative experience to control his destiny. He determined in his heart and mind that things could and would be better. He realized that, "People cannot save themselves. But with God, all things are possible". (Matthew 19:26, Voice).
If we did a survey of everyone we know, we would find that we are all "Survivors". Each person has gone through their own type of hurt, disappointment, and loss. We are living our lives successfully in spite of the difficulties. We "put on a happy face" for those around us, especially in church. But we have to admit our lives changed as our minds changed. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he". (Amplified Version).
Think about the man at the Pool of Bethesda. He'd been thinking incorrectly for 38 years. He had a "welfare" mentality. He thought he could never make it because the system, The Man, or a man was never there when he needed it. Jesus asked him "do you want to be well?" Remember, Jesus is God in the flesh. He never asks a question because He doesn't know the answer. He asked the question in order for the man to realize he wasn't thinking right. We do it too.(John 5:2-8).
What about the Prodigal Son? He thought he knew it all. He thought the inheritance would make him happy and bring fulfillment. Luke 15:12-16 says, “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any". (Message Translation).
Bishop said, "You don't have to be in prison to do time". The enemy wants to keep you trapped in the box. He wants you to believe his lies. He wants you to think this is how it has always been and will always be. But you can "THINK" your way out! Start thinking of all that God has done for you, start thanking Him for all He can do for you! Renew your mind with the WORD of God. Meditate on the Word and memorize it too. When the enemy starts trying to depress you, Speak the Word. Think on the Word. Isaiah 43:19 says, “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new". (Message Translation).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
This is a Re-Post from October 20, 2013. Yes, I wrote this and shared it with you six years ago. A lot has changed, Bishop Alexis A. Thomas has gone on to heaven, and I now live in Chicago. BUT the Word never changes. There is always something rich we can get from the Word. Enjoy.
****
Blog Post entitled, "I Been Thinking", October 20, 2013
Bishop Alexis A. Thomas continued preaching from 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. He encouraged us again to "Break Out of the Box", but entitled this message, "I Been Thinking".
Brian Tracy said, "You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you". That's exactly what Jabez did. He did not allow his negative experience to control his destiny. He determined in his heart and mind that things could and would be better. He realized that, "People cannot save themselves. But with God, all things are possible". (Matthew 19:26, Voice).
If we did a survey of everyone we know, we would find that we are all "Survivors". Each person has gone through their own type of hurt, disappointment, and loss. We are living our lives successfully in spite of the difficulties. We "put on a happy face" for those around us, especially in church. But we have to admit our lives changed as our minds changed. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he". (Amplified Version).
Think about the man at the Pool of Bethesda. He'd been thinking incorrectly for 38 years. He had a "welfare" mentality. He thought he could never make it because the system, The Man, or a man was never there when he needed it. Jesus asked him "do you want to be well?" Remember, Jesus is God in the flesh. He never asks a question because He doesn't know the answer. He asked the question in order for the man to realize he wasn't thinking right. We do it too.(John 5:2-8).
What about the Prodigal Son? He thought he knew it all. He thought the inheritance would make him happy and bring fulfillment. Luke 15:12-16 says, “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any". (Message Translation).
Bishop said, "You don't have to be in prison to do time". The enemy wants to keep you trapped in the box. He wants you to believe his lies. He wants you to think this is how it has always been and will always be. But you can "THINK" your way out! Start thinking of all that God has done for you, start thanking Him for all He can do for you! Renew your mind with the WORD of God. Meditate on the Word and memorize it too. When the enemy starts trying to depress you, Speak the Word. Think on the Word. Isaiah 43:19 says, “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new". (Message Translation).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
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