Dear Family and Friends,

Last week I mentioned to you the eternal law of sowing and reaping. Just like farmers who plant seed after cultivating the ground then making sure that the planted seed had plenty of water they waited until the sprouts are ready for harvest. We must utilize our faith in the same way. You see according to the word of Jesus Christ if we have the faith the size of a mustard seed we would be able to move mountains. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a mustard seed but it’s about the size of two pin heads. The point is that whatever we desire, whatever we need, and whatever we want to do for other people it first must begin an end with an exercise of our faith.

It doesn’t take mountain high faith to move a mountain, but it does take the same kind and amount that you used to believe in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. It doesn’t matter how much gas you believe is in your tank, if the tank is empty, you are going nowhere. It cannot take you beyond its ability. Likewise the power to begin and accomplish great things in your life can be no stronger than the object of your faith. The object of our faith is the doorknob that will open a million other things beyond our own capacity to attain them. You see the power in our lives lies within the object to which we have devoted ourselves.

If we have faith in ourselves only then we are limited, and if our faith is in an inadequate source of power we will fail. But if our faith is in an adequate source of power for instance, Jesus Christ, then failure cannot be found in us or near us. Just before Jesus’ ascension to heaven, He told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were clothe with power from on high. I realize there was a special power to be received on Pentecost, but in a very real sense God continues to clothe His children with power according to our faith. God wishes to clothe us with power from on high. The Bible says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV). Sincerely                                                            

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

Over seven weeks ago I began preaching a series of messages regarding the gift of faith that God has deposited within us as a spiritual gift. Today I hope that this might be the beginning of another series this time on faith—seed faith that is. I believe that it is of the utmost importance that we learn to develop positive faith in order to get our needs met. I believed that Jesus manifested certain principles that His apostles and others spoken of in the Bible duplicated.

I am intensely striving to make these principles so real and personal in my life that I feel led to share them with you. I believe that if correctly applied they will prove to work to bring about every need and fix every problem that we might incur whether they are spiritual or material. When you have no earthly source or person to turn to, when you might feel alone with nothing but big problems and challenges facing you, practicing these principles will without a doubt show you that God is your one and only source for all your needs.

These principles will show you how to use your giving as a seed you are planting, expecting God to multiply it even if it takes a miracle. We will call these principles SEED-FAITH, because everything begins with a seed. In Genesis 8:22 God said that as long as the earth remains there will be “seedtime and harvest.” Paul in referring to the eternal law of sowing and reaping said in Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Jesus constantly likened faith with a seed being planted to get a result. He said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove from hence and be moved to yonder place, and it shall be removed” (Matthew 17:20). If you have faith as a seed, or, if your believing becomes SEED-FAITH, no matter how small it seems to be, it will meet needs and problems that appear as impossible as mountains will be removed before you. This will happen as a result because each act of faith is a seed planted and it will multiply many times. I pray that you will be praying with me as I once again attempt to help bring the enlightening truth of God’s illuminating Word to your mind and heart!

Pastor T.         

Dear Family and Friends,             30 in a Series of 30

Not only should we be praying “Lord, teach Me to  pray,” but we should be praying that daily. You see daily prayers are the daily visits which will change our belief that God exists into belief in God as a loved and trusted friend, Father, and guide. It will change vague religion into vital, personal faith. And vital and relevant faith is what we need.

Then we need prayer and daily prayer because it provides a time of withdrawal from the busyness of life; a time for re-evaluating, for taking stock, and for getting our values straight. Just as an artist will withdraw from time to time from his easel to see the detail he is working on in the perspective of the whole, so we must have frequent times of withdrawal from the details of life to evaluate them in terms of our main purpose. If we don’t do this life will get completely out of balance and our picture of it doesn’t make sense.

Yes, we all need a time of withdrawal which prayer can give us; a time to get our values straight, so that God and the things of the Spirit are given central place in our lives where they belong. And to have such times of withdrawal in prayer does not impair our capacity for practical achievement. Rather it improves that capacity, because now we can see the practical details of life as having meaning in the whole. Through daily practical prayer life will cease to be fragmentary and conflicting and it will become harmonious. Tensions will be released, conflicts will be resolved, life will have wonderful meaning and purpose to it, and we will find ourselves working with a zest and interest and an ability never known before.

I have lived a life of 65 years with the last 33 being spent on the Lord’s side has taught me these principles that I have been attempting to share with you for the last thirty weeks. I pray that as you’ve read them and practiced them that your prayer life has grown and that you are able to measure your own growth in the light of God’s Word. I pray that you will truly discover that prayer can be a wonderful adventure, and not a tedious repetition! I love you all with the love of Jesus Christ.

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,            29^th in a Series of 30

The Bible says in Luke 11:1 “And it came to pass, that as Jesus finished praying, one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray.” This particular unnamed disciple undoubtedly felt the need to pray. He had committed his life to following Jesus, but he soon discovered that he could not with only the resources of his humanity to call upon. To follow Jesus correctly he needed more than human endowments.

Where Jesus had calm faith, he was afraid. Where Jesus could heal, he could not. Where Jesus could love His enemies, this disciple realized it was a struggle for him. Where Jesus sacrificed all, this disciple clung to life and his possessions. Where Jesus adhered to truth without hesitation this disciple undoubtedly compromised and denied. Where Jesus in humility served them, this disciple probably was one of the ones who schemed for the places of honor in His kingdom. So he asked his master, “Lord teach us to pray.”

Now you and I are trying to be our Lord’s modern day disciples. We too have committed our lives to Him, and, for the most part, we are sincere in this commitment. But we cannot expect to be able to follow Him anymore than the apostles who physically walked with Him without something more than just our human capacity. We too need the power that comes from prayer. The need is as great, if not greater for us as it was for them because of the times in which we live.

Ours too must be the request, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Many in our modern society do not recognize this need both in and out of the church. The mistaken belief is that if since people know what is right and good, we should naturally do it. I believe it was the Apostle Paul who said In Romans 7:15, “That which I do I do not approve, for what I want to do I do not; but what I hate, that’s what I end up doing.” You see my friends I don’t care how much good you think you have inside of you, there’s a war going on inside of you between the good and the bad.

You don’t believe me, let somebody do you wrong and see how quickly you are to do them right! That’s contrary to your natural self for the first law of nature is self-preservation. Therefore you need to know how to pray for only prayer will keep you from temptation to do the wrong thing! But you must recognize your need to echo, “Lord, teach Me to pray.”

Pastor T.  

Dear Family and Friends,           28^th in a Series of 30

A fact of existence is that all living things must grow and die. There is no middle ground. They cannot remain on a static level. If we were creatures who could hold to a spiritual level once we had attained it, perhaps spiritual growth would not be necessary. Our lives would not be heroic on this basis, but at least they would not be losing ground. But we are not such creatures. The truth about us is we must constantly grow spiritually or we will lose ground until the spiritual life in us dies altogether.

This is true of our prayer life also. It must be constantly growing in order to keep vital—yes, in order to keep alive at all. What, then, you may ask are the ways in which our prayer life grows? First, and most obviously, it grows by practice. We develop in prayer by praying! Over our lifetime we have heard the slogan “Learn by doing,” in educational circles. The theory behind the slogan is that children and young people learn more quickly by actually doing something than by reading or hearing about it. Laboratory experiments are in line with this “learn by doing.” theory.

This is true also in prayer. We learn to pray and develop our prayer life, by praying. When people apply for jobs, they usually express on the application form the academic preparation they have received. But nine times out of ten the perspective employer will brush that aside and ask, “What practical experience have you had?” The point is that the employer knows that there is no substitute for actual experience, no amount of book and classroom learning can replace that of actually doing the work.

So for growth in prayer there is no substitute for praying. A person who reads a book on prayer but does not put its suggestions into practice may possibly find the book interesting, but he or she will not find the great spiritual adventure which only actual praying can give. This can be found only by one’s personal practice of prayer, not by reading about it or repeating something somebody else has said. And that particular prayer life will only grow and develop as the person continues the practice of praying. Again we grow in prayer by praying! Ask yourself—has my prayer life grown to the point that heaven moves when you pray, or are you still stuck on lend me, loan me, let me have or God can you spare?                                                                     

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,           27th in a Series of 30

Just to remind you that through our perceived unanswered prayers God still says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weaknesses.” And this can be found to be true in our personal experiences if we keep our faith in God and turn to Him despite what we believe to be unanswered prayers. We must accept the fact that we cannot always explain it when we don’t get the answer we’re seeking. Sometimes we can, but by no means does all unanswered prayer fit into those explanations.   

Even as I write, my heart is heavy about certain situations that I’ve prayed about, prayed for, and prayed over, and the sad reality is that God did not answer those requests according to my petition. And guess what? All of those requests were for other people and nothing was in it for me. My prayers were not answered according to my human understanding; however, I don’t know the perfect will of God. So I am learning it is better to admit with the Apostle Paul that in our human finitude we just don’t know, and must hold on by faith until things are made clear to us.

Remember, “For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1st Cor. 13:12). And while we wait for God to make all things clear to us, we can be comforted and sustained, even when our prayer goes unanswered, by the knowledge that “and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Love you!
                                                             
Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,        26th in a series of 30

We closed last week mentioning to you that the test of our faith is not when it is easy to hold on, but when it is hard, as through the experience of what we believe to be unanswered prayer. We would like for you to know that God is not asking anything new of us or requiring something of us where He has not shown the way. He has shown the way in and through His Son Jesus Christ!

Let us remember that our Lord’s most agonizing prayer was not answered according to His personal will. Even though He didn’t get the answer He requested, He kept complete faith in God, His Father. The secret of His faith in the face of what appeared to be an unanswered prayer is in the word “nevertheless,” (which signifies the complete subjection of His personal will and desires to the will and desires of His Father, God). 

Every one of our prayers as well as the prayers of every other Christian should have that “nevertheless” either consciously or subconsciously present.  That way if the prayer is not answered as we hoped, we can, even though disappointed hold to the faith that God’s will is being accomplished in us knowing that His will is good acceptable and perfect.

Again, God has shown the way in His apostle, Paul. Paul apparently had some kind of troublesome physical handicap which he called “a thorn in the flesh.” He prayed that he might be freed from it three different times, but the prayer was never answered according to his will. Instead, he received the assurance from God, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” In denying Paul’s request God promised to give him the grace, the strength, to accept the handicap and to triumph over it. What about you? Do you believe that God’s grace is sufficient even though you feel like you’ve been abandoned by God? Do you know that God’s grace is sufficient even though you feel like your prayers have been unanswered? Can you go on trusting where you cannot see? Can you keep holding on even though you have no hands and feet touching? Stay tuned. Love you!
                                                               
Pastor T.   

Dear Family and Friends,               25^th in a Series

On last week we discussed with you how that natural law and order also played a part in our receiving a desired answer to our various prayer requests. We must admit today that this natural order which makes life possible can also take life. Earthquakes, fire, floods, even disease, are all part of the natural law of God. Death too, is part of the natural order.

Thus when someone we loves dies a sudden death due to some natural catastrophe, despite our earnest prayer that he or she may live, can we not say that though God did not will that individual death, He certainly willed the continuance of the natural order which caused the death. You see what I’m trying to say is that the continuance of the individual’s earthly life and the continuance of the natural order were incompatible at that point, and God had already chosen the greater good. In such a case the individual prayer could not be answered “yes,” much as God in love might desire to do so.

Let me see if I can explain that in a more palatable way. Let’s say that rains come to soak the ground of a parched drought stricken land. Now the rains come in such abundance that it causes flooding, and as a result of this flooding somebody gets caught in it and drowns. Now they’re on life support and their family is praying that they would live. But they die anyway as a result of the flooding that came about as an answer to the drought. God’s Will had already determined that the rains would come and as much as God may have wanted to spare that loved one He could not because the rains were the greater good at that moment. Do you see what I’m trying to say?

In the final analysis, a Christian will hold to his or her faith in God even through the experience of unanswered prayer, else there is no particular virtue of faith. Faith means trusting where we cannot see, believing where we cannot prove. If everything were completely clear to us, there would be no need for faith. The test of our faith is not when it is easy to hold to, but when it is hard, as through the experience of unanswered prayer. More next week and may God bless you. Sincerely!

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,                24^th in a Series

Picking up from last week, another reason why prayer must sometimes be unanswered, certainly in terms of the form of our petition, may be seen in the relationship between prayer and the natural order of natural law. From the point of view of religion there is one possible attitude toward natural law. It is that God has made himself a prisoner of His own laws; that once they are established, even He cannot suspend them. To accept this view would of course explain many unanswered prayers, especially in cases of accidental and sudden death. For example, a pilot is high in the air when his plane bursts into flames. He jumps out, but his parachute fails to open. Death then becomes inevitable unless the natural law of gravitation can be suspended or modified.

He prays to be saved, and others seeing the imminent tragedy pray for him. But despite these earnest prayers he falls to the earth and is killed. Why did God not answer those prayers? If we accept the religious idea of natural law I stated earlier, the situation would be that though God may have wanted to answer the prayers and save the pilot, He was powerless to do so because He cannot suspend the establish law of gravitation. By the way, I do believe in the overriding power of natural law above our own prayers and sincere request.

I am fully aware that many of my contemporaries would disagree with me, but this is just my opinion. Another way of stating the same thing is if I go up to the top of the Empire State building and jump off and before I hit the ground have a change of heart and mind and pray that God would save me, I hardly believe that when I hit the ground I’d only have a few bruises after crashing into that concrete on the ground.

Now to be fair even with my opinion, I will admit that if two people jump off the Golden Gate Bridge and on the way down to the water, both have a change of heart and mind and pray that God would save them, it is possible that one might live and the other might die. You may ask then Pastor how do you explain that, when both were in the powerful grasp of gravitation? My way of answering that is that the one that lived, it was not God’s time for him to die while it was for the other. Then you might further ask what is the difference between jumping off the Empire State Building and jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, and to that I say the difference is water and concrete and natural law has made concrete harder than water. Stay tune for further conversation on possible reasons for unanswered prayer. Love you.

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,               23^rd in a Series

As I was saying on last week in prayer we leave behind this hectic, practical world which demands quick results and step into eternity to work with God. And when we work with Him, we must expect to be governed by the laws of His kingdom and His long-range plans and purposes for us, not by the laws of the practical world we have left. Like Him, in prayer we can afford to take time.

If you ever had the blessed privilege of planting something then waiting for it to sprout up, you recall how you carefully dug and raked the small plot of ground. Then you bought seeds and planted them under a small mound of dirt. You watered it daily without ever seeing in progress of your labor of planting. You learned patience while waiting and watching every day to see if something was growing.

Then one morning according to natures timing and not your own you awoke and went and looked and to your amazement there appeared sometime over night a small bud which was the beginning of what you had planted weeks even months ago. Only in maturity did you learn the patience to let the slow process of growth take its course. In prayer we are sowing seeds in the garden of eternity, and if the results do not appear right away, let us have the spiritual maturity to wait for God’s good time.

A whole lifetime is not too long when we realize that the seeds of prayer are planted not for a short season but for keeps, for eternity. We cannot hurry growth no matter how much we want to, and we must learn to be patient, and wait. Those of us who are older than most, know that the blessedness and compensation of old age is the ability to look back. When we’re honest we’ll admit  that somehow that long life seems so short and now we can see how all our prayers in the long run have been wonderfully answered, though at the time God seemed deaf to our petitions and sometimes we thought He was on vacation and unavailable.

Have patience, and learn to wait for God’s good time. The answer to that prayer which now seems unanswered may be growing surely and steadily, though you cannot see its growth. Someday the seed of your prayer will burst into a flower, and you will know that God is faithful.

Loving you still with the love of my Jesus!

Pastor T.             

Dear Family and Friends,                 22^nd in a Series

As we continue our study on answered prayer I informed you when last I wrote that “No” is an answer, and often the best answer for us. Today I’d like to share with you that the answer to your prayer takes time and requires patience on your part. Yes God can answer you the moment you make a request, but let us not forget that in prayer we are dealing with Him to whom “a thousand years…are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” If you don’t understand that scripture reference it is merely stating that God is not in a hurry to do anything!

We live in a practical and energetic age where information is only a second away via internet and cell phones. We have become accustomed to micro waves and thermostats where you can get your food hot in seconds, change the temperature in your home with the flick of a dial, but when it comes to prayer being answered it’s not always so. Growing up I recall seeing a sign over a business door that said, “If it is difficult, we’ll do it immediately; if impossible, it may take a little time!”

Honestly speaking, this very practical capacity to produce results in a short time has made us impatient of results and we have learned how to transfer this impatience to the spiritual realm. We expect results from prayer overnight. And when these results are not forthcoming, we say that our prayer is not answered. We must learn the difficult lesson—certainly difficult to our age and understanding—that we cannot force spiritual matters, speed them up; that the answer to prayer is more often like the slow but sure process of growth in nature than the hectic speed of an industrial assembly line.

And why shouldn’t it be you might wonder? Spiritual results are for keeps. Industry has only time; God has eternity. The life of your car or your physical body is limited, but your life in the spiritual realm is for eternity or unlimited. Industry must produce for the market while the market lasts. It cannot afford to take time. God is trying to produce us for an everlasting, unchanging market. He can afford to take time for their really is no such thing with Him called time for He is time from beginning to end. It’s like a circle! God is working toward perfection and will not compromise because you suddenly have an urgent need. Like an artist He will take all the time necessary to achieve His end. He works with infinite patience and desires to make us more like Himself. I pray you are learning something about prayer through this series. I love you!

Pastor T.    

Dear Family and Friends,                21^st in a Series

On the last couple of weeks I’ve given you two possible explanations for unanswered prayer and today I’d like to offer a third. This one which people seldom recognize yet which ought to be perfectly obvious to all is this: Prayer can be answered in the negative. After all, No is an answer, certainly in human relationships. And if No is an answer in our human relationships then why not in our relationship with God?

Furthermore, in our human relationships, No is often the best answer to our petition. So it is in our relationship with God. God knows our needs far better than we do. In His infinite love, wisdom, and understanding He must always give the best possible answer to our prayer. And because in our ignorance and selfishness we sometimes pray amiss, the best possible answer to our prayer must sometimes be No. It is indeed a strange blindness in some religious people that they do not see this simple and obvious explanation of unanswered prayer.

One reason that prayer should sometimes be answered in the negative is that God is concerned for the welfare of all, not just the individual. Think what chaos would result if God answered the prayer of every individual in the form in which it is prayed. Again, God must answer our prayer in the negative sometimes because He is primarily interested in the development of our characters, not the satisfaction of our desires. Every prayer of ours must be subject to that greater prayer, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.”

If any specific prayer of ours is out of harmony with this greater prayer, then it is the greater prayer we should want answered, not the specific prayer. Thus an answer of No to a specific prayer is often the best and right answer as far as the development of our character is concerned. When our prayer is answered in the negative, it is not unanswered prayer. No is an answer, and often the best answer, and if we trust God the way we want others to think we do, then we must accept His answers, all of His answers, even those where He says clearly—No. Stay tuned!

Pastor T.   

Dear Family and Friends,               20^th in a Series

Picking up from last week, though we may not always get an answer to our prayer in terms of what we asked for—as in the case of the praying mother whose son did not return from war—we do always get the strength to accept the sorrow which may result and to triumph over it. Thus the unanswered prayer which we have come to call it—in no way disproves the efficacy of prayer.

Second, it can be said that what seems to be unanswered prayer may in reality be answered, though not in the form in which we expressed the prayer. Remember I told you weeks ago that God never did promise to give us what we always want but He did promise that if we called on Him, He would answer. We must always keep that faith that He will answer. Someone has said that “God doesn’t always answer the petition but He does answer the person praying.”

What may seem to us to be unanswered prayer may seem so because God is answering the prayer in a deeper and more lasting way than we can see at the time. It is important for us to remember at this time that all Christian prayer must always fit into the wholeness of the Christian faith and the perfect will of God. For example, the attitude of many modern people about death—that it is the worst possible thing that can happen to anyone—is sheer paganism.

You see to the Christian who believes that life is eternal, and that both on this side of death and the other we are under our Heavenly father’s loving care, death is by no means the worst thing that can happen. He or she can see that it is the best thing under some circumstances. Thus when we pray that someone we love may live, and that person dies, God may still be answering the spirit of our prayer, which really is, or should be, that what is best for the one we love may come to pass and not for us. Of course it takes the wholeness of Christian prayer to give us this insight but remember we’re talking about Christian prayer which is never selfish at its core! Stay tuned.

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,               19^th in a Series

It has been written that “we should not pray for tasks equal to our powers, but pray for powers equal to our tasks.” This is an eloquent way of expressing a truth about prayer we must always remember. And that truth is the purpose of prayer is not to change life to suit us but rather to change us to suit life. You know, whatever happens we pray that we will be changed to handle the situation and not the other way around.

I’ve often believed the opposite of the traditional saying we hear about prayer all the time. We hear that prayer changes things, but my personal belief is that prayer changes people, then people turn around and change things. Let me share an illustration. Remember this is my personal belief. If I’m lost in the forest with all my camping gear and freezing, I can pray all day that a fire will start to keep me warm and signal my whereabouts. I doubt seriously that a fire will start as a result of my prayer. But if I pray and ask God to give me the strength to cut some twigs and branches even though I’m cold and freezing, I believe that He’ll do that and then I can start my own fire. You see He won’t always change the situation, but I do believe He’ll change me and I’ll turn around and change my situation.

We pray that our lives may be made easy and comfortable when what we should pray is that we may have the strength and the courage to meet whatever life may have in store for us. There are conceivably two ways of meeting life. One is to avoid as much as possible its hardships and obligations. Even if this way were possible in the long run---for life has a way of catching up with the shirker ultimately---it is certainly cowardly and selfish. The other and far better way, is to accept our share of life’s hardships and obligations and to seek strength from God in meeting them. And this necessary strength is always found in prayer! Continued next week and I love you!            

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,               18^th in a Series

Picking up from last week, though we may not always get an answer to our prayer in terms of what we asked for—as in the case of the praying mother whose son did not return from war—we do always get the strength to accept the sorrow which may result and to triumph over it. Thus the unanswered prayer which we have come to call it—in no way disproves the efficacy of prayer.

Second, it can be said that what seems to be unanswered prayer may in reality be answered, though not in the form in which we expressed the prayer. Remember I told you weeks ago that God never did promise to give us what we always want but He did promise that if we called on Him, He would answer. We must always keep that faith that He will answer. Someone has said that “God doesn’t always answer the petition but He does answer the person praying.”

What may seem to us to be unanswered prayer may seem so because God is answering the prayer in a deeper and more lasting way than we can see at the time. It is important for us to remember at this time that all Christian prayer must always fit into the wholeness of the Christian faith and the perfect will of God. For example, the attitude of many modern people about death—that it is the worst possible thing that can happen to anyone—is sheer paganism.

You see to the Christian who believes that life is eternal, and that both on this side of death and the other we are under our Heavenly father’s loving care, death is by no means the worst thing that can happen. He or she can see that it is the best thing under some circumstances. Thus when we pray that someone we love may live, and that person dies, God may still be answering the spirit of our prayer, which really is, or should be, that what is best for the one we love may come to pass and not for us. Of course it takes the wholeness of Christian prayer to give us this insight but remember we’re talking about Christian prayer which is never selfish at its core! Stay tuned.

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,               17^th in a series

I have already attempted to point out to you in earlier writings that given a broad enough conception of prayer there is really no such thing as unanswered prayer; that the act of prayer, being communion with God, carries its own best answer with it—the renewal of our lives at the divine source of life.

However, though in the above sense prayer is always answered, there is another sense in which it is not always answered, namely the form of our petition (what we’re asking for). This is what people mean when they speak of unanswered prayer. It is this experience with which I’ll will attempt to help you.

Have you ever met someone who claims that all of their prayers are always answered? If so then for those people I say they are very fortunate people, or else they are disregarding their unanswered prayers because of some preconceived idea that to admit them would disprove the efficacy (effectiveness) of prayer altogether. Many more earnest Christians than you and I have the experience of unanswered prayer. In time of war many a mother’s earnest prayer that her child will come home safe and sound went unanswered. She knows that Christian prayer is not always answered according to one’s petition. What then, can be said about this experience of unanswered prayer?

First, then can be said: unanswered prayer in no sense disproves the value and usefulness of prayer. The question of asking and answer is not all there is to prayer, not even the most important aspects of it. There is a line in George Meredith’s novel entitled The Ordeal of Richard Feverel that says, “Who rises from prayer a better man, his prayer is answered.”

No one can sincerely pray without being a better and stronger person for it. Thus from the very prayer which we say is unanswered we derive the divine help which enables us to accept without bitterness its lack of an answer. Love you all.

Pastor T.   

Dear Family and Friends,               16^th in a series

Picking up where we left off regarding Intercessory prayer we should understand that the person interceding on behalf of another may not be able to do anything to physically help the situation or the person they are praying for. However the goal is to evoke and invoke the power and presence of God into the situation thereby beseeching God reverently to move on behalf of the problem and person.

Many thousands of prayers of this type are said during a war. Mothers pray for their children and spouses for their spouses when men and women are thousands of miles away on the various battlefields, their various whereabouts more often than not unknown by their loved ones at home. Obviously there is little or nothing these praying mothers and wives can do to help in the answer to their prayers. But we do have factual proof that God has been able to intervene and answer the intercessory prayer of praying saints.

God our loving Heavenly Father desires spiritual welfare for all of His children, yet He has left to us a real and necessary part to play in prayer. Prayer, then, is to spiritual welfare what inhaling is to breathing. Without it we simply do not, and cannot survive. By our intercessory prayer, then, we do not change God’s mind or add to His infinite love and good will, but we do bring a new and necessary factor into the situation which would not have been there had we not prayed.

Jesus said in Matthew 18:19, “Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” When we intercede on someone’s behalf we are in effect agreeing on that which is being interceded for! Please continue to be blessed in order to be a blessing through prayer!

Pastor T.   

Dear Family and Friends,           15^th in a series on Prayer

Today I’d like to talk with you about praying for others. Intercessory prayer as it is called or praying for others or for good causes in which we are interested, is perhaps the aspect of prayer most difficult to understand. We might entertain the following questions? “How can my praying possibly influence another person or some cause in which I am interested? I can see how my prayer can influence me, but I do not see how my prayer can influence another person, especially if that person doesn’t even know that I am praying for them.” That’s the beauty of intercessory prayer!

First of all, we do not need to know or wait to understand how intercessory prayer works before using it. We are simply commanded to pray ye one for another and to intercede for others as Christ Jesus is constantly interceding for us! You see I don’t need to understand how God put wet in water and heat in fire; I just need to know it. Too many of us become fainthearted in praying for others because we don’t see any changes in them, but God has promised to answer every unselfish prayer that we pray on behalf of someone else. I don’t know how and I may not be seeing any changes, but God is faithful and He is working behind the scenes.

I informed you sometime back that intercessory prayer was “love on its knees,” then all who truly love other people or have a deep concern for good causes will pray for them, in the faith that God can use such prayer even though we may not understand just how. It is true that some people would call this blind faith, but this is exactly what faith is. Faith does not see it then believe it, no-no, faith is to believe it and then we’ll see it. I tell our parishioners all the time that God has already promised us everything we need in the spiritual, but our seeing it in the natural will only be made manifest as we stay focused and faithful!

If we care deeply enough we shall pray first and seek to understand afterward, even as we all must live first and seek to understand life afterward. We don’t comprehend life looking forward, but only backward. Jesus said something’s are only accomplished by pray and fasting? When was the last time we prayed for someone or some good cause and attached it with fasting? TRUST GOD, STAND STILL AND SEE THE POWER OF GOD MANIFEST ITSELF! Love you still!                                                         

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,         14^th in a series on Prayer

Continuing from last week I want you to know that even in the medical profession doctors have for a long time been emphasizing the importance of faith and prayer and its importance in the healing process. Psychosomatics is their word for it a word that comes from compounding together the words “spirit” and “body.” Psychosomatics is the study of the relationship of mental and spiritual conditions to physical health.

Medical science without even knowing it is concerning itself with the kind of physical healing which followed when Jesus said to the sick, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Not all physical illness and suffering is traceable to mental and spiritual causes, but a great deal of it is. Physicians have long recognized the importance of spiritual attitudes with regards to prayer in the process of healing.

Now if faith is so important in the healing of illness, it follows that it is just as important for the prevention of illness. Spiritual attitudes of faith in God, belief in the essential goodness of life, and good will toward others; these actually give us immunity to illness—not to all illness, but to a great deal of it., especially the types of illness which can be traced to mental and spiritual causes.

Prayer strengthens and deepens these spiritual attitudes in us and gives us this aid to healing, this immunity to as great deal of illness. Praying for health is effective. We can and should thus pray for ourselves. The sick need not only a physician (doctor), but also the Great Physician (Jesus Christ), whose help and health we can find in prayer.

Not only should we pray for ourselves with regards to health, but we should pray also for wisdom, as well as inspiration for ourselves. We should also pray for courage and strength for ourselves. Praying for ourselves while we’re praying for others is not selfish, it is simply saying that we recognize that what we’re praying for others to receive, we ourselves need the same thing. Sincerely.

Pastor T.     

Dear Family and Friends,         13^th in a Series on Prayer

Two weeks ago we talked about how many of us have experienced having the second best at the expense of really receiving the best. Many of us know the story of the familiar fable regarding King Midas and the golden touch. If you do, you’ll remember that there were two outstanding things about King Midas. First, he had a beautiful daughter, and second, he had a lust for gold where he wished that everything he touched would turn into gold.

This wish, if you remember was granted and the king found himself supremely happy for a time as he saw the things he touched turning gold. But eventually his lovely daughter, the true love of his life fell victim to his golden touch and turned into a lifeless golden image. Then King Midas realized that his daughter’s love was more precious to him than all the gold in the world. He had been granted his desire for gold, but only at the expense of something far more precious—his daughter’s love. He had achieved the second best at the expense of the best.

The Prophet Isaiah cried many years ago asking the Israelites, “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and you labor for that which satisfieth not?” (Isaiah 55:2).  He might have just as easily cried out, “Why waste your prayer on that which does not satisfy?” As Christians we are exhorted not to pray for wealth and possessions that will rust and waste away, and really not satisfy like King Midas did. Then if that is the case what are we to pray for? First, we can and should pray for good health and then join with God in taking better care of ourselves thereby helping to answer our own prayer. This way we can be of a help to other people as opposed to being a burden to them.

Thus for the sake of others as well as ourselves, we need good health, and it is right to pray for it. Do you see the reality of such a “selfish” prayer as some may intimate. That’s when it’s all right to pray selfishly, when your selfish prayer is also for the benefit of others. One good that I see coming out of the Christian Science Church movement and I’m sure there may be some others is it reminds us “Christians” of the reality of faith healing!

Now don’t go too far with faith healing prayer by leaving out the aid of the doctor and the medication. We shall continue next week on other things we should pray for ourselves to acquire and have. Loving you still! 

Pastor T.                        

Dear Family and Friends,                12^th in a series

As we continue our discussion from the question: “Is it right to pray for ourselves,” it is important to know that personal motives are in order. In other words it’s alright to pray for ourselves if our motives are correct before God. You see, we can never do our best if we are not at our best, and we cannot be at our best without prayer, including prayer for ourselves.

If as I contend that it is alright to pray for ourselves, for it is necessary for full Christian living then what should we pray? I as usual am glad that you asked that question! I think that question might be better answered by starting with the things for which we should not pray. As Christians praying in Christ’s Spirit of “for their sakes I sanctify myself,” then we should not pray for anything of a purely selfish nature—our own happiness at the expense of others. We should be careful in even praying for our happiness, because it could lead us to become self-absorbed and self-concerned, self-centered, and we know that we have already been exhorted that we should die to self daily.

We also need to be careful praying for material wealth and possessions for ourselves because Jesus has already said, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul?” For necessities yes, as we are taught in the Lord’s model of prayer, but nothing of a materiel nature beyond this. You see the warning has already been given that perhaps the real danger of prayers for wealth and possessions is not that they will not be answered but that they will, and we might find ourselves in possession of the second best at the expense of the best.

You see our enemy and the arch enemy of our God has been granted limited power with regards to the giving of gifts. Most often what a person prays for in the Spirit that same person will sometimes attempt to bring about in the natural the opportunity to acquire that for which they are praying. Our enemy listens in on our prayers and he goes about presenting opportunities for us to acquire what we’re asking and if we’re not discerning we’ll wind up with what we think we want when in actuality we have a knock-off. Am I making sense? That’s why it is important to learn to pray for ourselves from God’s perspective of us. Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of flesh. Pray in the Spirit and you will not receive second best at the expense of the best! Love you, and see you next week.      

Pastor T.  

Dear Family and Friends,      11^th in a series on Prayer!

Now that we have discussed the environment of prayer, what we seek in prayer as well as the when and how of prayer, we now want to focus our attention on praying for ourselves and for others. We have been taught that Christian prayer which is proper prayer is always God-centered, then praying for ourselves might appear to be inconsistent with that teaching since praying for oneself can be thought of as being the most self-centered position one can take.

Now in truth praying for ourselves can be self-centered, but it need not be so. The last person in the world who could be accused of being self-centered was Jesus Christ, yet He prayed for Himself. In the passage of John’s Gospel known as the “high priestly prayer,” we find Him praying in these words: “And for their sakes I sanctify myself.” Jesus knew that without help and inspiration from God His Father, He could not do the great work for others He was called to do and which He wanted to do.

Thus His prayer for Himself was not self-centered. It was “for their sakes” that He prayed. The prayer was that He might sanctify Himself. The reason for it was that He might serve others the better. The need of others was the motive of His prayer for Himself. Thus we can learn from Jesus’ prayer, the spirit in which we should pray for ourselves.

For the sake of others we should pray for others. And because Jesus so prayed, certain things become clear about praying for ourselves. First, it is right to do so. Second, from our Lord’s Prayer for Himself what we should and should not ask for ourselves becomes clear. And third, in His life we see the effectiveness of prayer for ourselves. Please stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love you.

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,           10^th in a series of 10

As we close our series on prayer, I’d like for you to know that when we finally comprehend prayer for what it truly is then we will see the benefits as well as the necessity for prayer. When properly understood, prayer will help point us in the direction of what truly is of supreme importance. Once we realize what is important then we’ll understand that we have everything to be thankful for.

The point is that in most cases, the unthankful person has all these blessings but has not learned to appreciate them and to value them. We need the constant reminder of prayer to make us see that the blessings God has given us far surpass anything He has withheld from us. You see too many of us only think of prayer as “asking and receiving,” but prayer is much more, again it is about communing with the very God of the Universe. Once we see this, discontent and envy disappear. We then have found one of the secrets of happiness, a truly thankful heart.

Remember in our diagram of the cross a few weeks back we placed “intercession” at the cross beams. Intercession is praying for others. It is perhaps harder to understand than the other aspects of prayer, but simply put “intercession is love on its knees!” You see if we truly love people, if we are deeply concerned about causes which demand our support, we shall pray for them instinctively, even though we find it hard to understand just how can our prayers help.

If we do not so pray, it is more often a sign that we do not care rather than that we do not believe in the power of prayer. Love people! Care deeply about the concerns of other people, and you will find yourself inevitably praying prayers of intercession and leaving to the unfathomable power of God the question of the power of prayer.

Lastly at the foot of the cross is “petition.” There is petition in the Lord’s model of prayer. It simply says, “Give us this day our daily bread.” We are to ask God for ourselves only the simplest necessities, only that which will keep us alive and healthy and able to do our work. When we esteem others and their needs more highly than our own wants, God has a miraculous way of not only answering what we pray for others, but also giving us our desires. If you don’t believe me, check out Psalm 37:3-5. Over the weeks we have shared with you Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Intercession, and Petition; these are the five aspects of Christian Prayer. I leave you with this question: “Are you praying as a Christian, praying Christian prayer, or are you begging as a selfish person?”

Sincerely!

Pastor T.    

Dear Family and Friends,           9^th in a series of 10

As we continue our discussion from last week regarding how we are to approach God with adoration, the next step is confession. Our confession ought to be specific and thus real. It is too easy to say, “Dear God, please forgive my sins,” and leave it at that. It is amazing to me how adept we become at keeping such a general confession of sins from pointing out a specific sin. In the game of golf, though I don’t play I’m told that if you want to drive that ball from the tee to the hole, you’ve got to keep your eye on it.

In prayer, if we really want to drive a specific sin out of our lives, we must keep our eye on it, not some hazy idea of sin in general, confess the specific sin to God, pray for forgiveness, and seek God’s grace to avoid it or overcome it. Confession should form a part of our prayer, but let us make that confession real by making it specific.

Then there is thanksgiving, a subject which can mean so much in terms of happiness for those who feel it. A thankful person is a happy person. Yet how tragic it is that so many people miss the true source of happiness! Most of us if we’re honest have never learned to be thankful for the simple, good things of life, they are forever envying and coveting what they have not, and perhaps can never have, thus rendering themselves incapable of appreciating and enjoying what life has given them. The old folk had a way of saying, “you never miss your water until your well runs dry.”

I like to say, “Enjoy what you got until you get what you want!” When I learn the value of a penny, then I believe God will give me a dollar. Do you get my drift? To many people want dollars and they don’t comprehend the values of pennies because to them pennies are so insignificant. Prayer helps us to see things in right perspective. In the presence of God the things of God are seen as most important—goodness, truth, beauty, the love and appreciation of family and friends, the opportunity to join with God in His work, the privilege of serving others, and the health and strength to enable us to do this. These are the things which prayer points to as of supreme importance; having these we have everything to be thankful for.

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,           8^th in a series of 10

We have all heard it said that all Christian prayer must be God-centered. You see the language of adoration helps us to make it so by re-calling to our minds what prayer truly is—the cultivation of our relationship with God in His presence. And as such then surely the first thing we must do when we come into God’s presence is to greet Him—with fitting language.

One of my pet peeves is when people come into my presence for the first time on any given day and immediately start up a conversation with me without first inquiring as to how am I doing, as if their head has been on my pillow all night. Even though my wife and I sleep in the same bed we never wake up and start having a conversation without first inquiring “How are you feeling?” I’ve raised my children and they are raising theirs to greet people first with fitting language of adoration before you start laying out your wish list.

Well in my estimation, we shouldn’t do God any less. When the language of adoration recalls to our minds that in prayer we are in God’s presence, our first thought must be that we are unworthy of this privilege. We have made ourselves unworthy by our sin. We must receive God’s forgiveness of those sins if we are to assume the right to continue our prayer. That’s when confession becomes a part of our prayers. It never ceases to amaze me by how many public prayers I hear prayed and confession is never a part of the prayer as if you’ve been on God’s pillow all night in right standing with Him.

Through the teachings of Jesus Christ we have the assurance that God does completely forgive the sin of any penitent person. But we have a part to play in the receiving of this restoring forgiveness; we are humbly to confess our sins, the expression of our genuine repentance. I realize that the death of Jesus Christ for our sins—past, present, and future, has acquired the forgiveness of God, but that in no way alleviates us from still confessing them in language that loving displays our gratitude. Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and friends,

Today we celebrate the physical realization of what was prophesied in the B portion of Psalm 16:10 where the Psalmist said, “Neither wilt thou suffer (permit) thine Holy One to see corruption.” Even though the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ was God’s guarantee of our own physical resurrection from our graves, it accomplished so much more. According to Luke, First Corinthians, the Book of Romans, and many other various Scriptures so much more was accomplished and it fulfilled many, many purposes.

For me personally it guaranteed God’s friendship and peace with me all because of what Jesus did to appease the wrath of God against me and my sins. Accordingly, I’m at peace with God and because of that I must choose to exercise resurrection power that has been granted to me to live at peace with God’s other children. It really is a matter of choice. You see I cannot control the actions of others, but I do have power on the inside of me (Holy Spirit) to control how I respond and react to their actions.

This is another purpose for which God got Christ up. He died not only to accomplish our peace with God (Romans 5:1), but also to empower us to be able to live at and in peace with others. But again, it takes an exercise or a choice of our wills. Galatians 6:10 says, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  And Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

I heard it said that to forgive someone is Finding Ourselves Really Giving Individuals Valuable Energy. Isn’t that really what God has given to us through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ? But again, we have to choose to do that. Even the Lord’s Prayer says, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Many need to understand that God is plainly saying I run the risk of not being forgiven if I don’t forgive! For me, it’s tight but it’s right. God chose to wrap Himself in flesh and die for me. Christ chose to die not for Himself, but for me.

The Holy Spirit chose to indwell me, not for Himself, but for me. So then I choose to do the right thing regardless of what someone else is doing, not for me, but because He told me. To forgive is to release someone from the debt that is owed even if they never say “I’m sorry.” That’s what God did for us even before we said I’m sorry. Have a happy Resurrection Day! Love you.

Pastor T.     

Dear Family and Friends,              Seventh in a series of 10

Continuing from last week we should come to understand that real Christian prayer will start with adoration. Adoration in this context simply means, “The act of greeting God with language fitting to this relationship.” I have taught my children and they in turn have taught theirs that when you first greet someone in your lateral relationships you always start with, “Hi, how are you?” Or, “good morning, how are you feeling?” This is what we should do before we go into any kind of conversation with each other, because the greeting defines the relationship.

Well if that’s what we should do with each other, and I know I’m right, then what about God? When we come before Him, we certainly cannot ask Him how is He doing and expect an answer, but we can start with some adoration towards Him before we start laying out our requests, because our greeting to Him also defines the relationship. And I know I’m right about that also.

So in prayer we are meeting God, experiencing the greatest of all possible relationships—us with God. And when we greet God, we should express this relationship with language fitting the occasion and the relationship—the language of adoration. We can find fitting language in the words of Scripture, particularly in the Psalms. For instance, in Psalms 84:1, “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the living God.”

Now that’s the language of 1611 in England (KJV), but you can say something similar, “Good morning God, I just want you to know how good I feel when I’m able to come into your presence. I’ve longed to talk with you to the point that I started craving it.” Believe it or not, but I’m saying the same thing that psalm 84:1 is saying. Let God know how good you feel about Him before you start begging Him for anything! I love you and we’ll talk again next week.

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,      Sixth in a series of Ten!

When properly understood “praying” is the highest form of concentration of which the human mind is capable. Because of the disciplined thought process that should involve prayer we should not be surprised or discouraged when we sometimes find it difficult to keep our minds on what we are doing in prayer. I’ve told you before that it’s not good to attempt to pray when our minds are exhausted after a long day of working, because inadvertently we will be distracted by tiredness and sleep. It is also not a good time because it will prove to be counter-productive to answered prayer.

Thoughts will wander, especially when we tired and distracted. The remedy is simply to be persistent. As in other fields of endeavor, practice makes perfect in prayer—or if short of perfect, certainly it progressively improves our ability to concentrate. When praying one can effectively use aids to help concentration. Visual aids, either mental or actual, can be helpful. We as Protestants can learn much from Roman Catholics on this point. The rosary beads for example, are an effective aid to concentration in prayer.

I have found the following method helpful, both as an aid to concentration and as a pattern for the contents of prayer. Visualize a cross. For many it will be helpful to have a small cross at their place of prayer. Now at the points of the cross think of the following aspects of prayer. Top, adoration; left arm confession; right arm, thanksgiving; the foot, petition or supplication; the crossing or midsection, intercession. Thus we have ACTS I!

Adoration

                              Confession         † Thanksgiving

Confession

To have this visual pattern of prayer in mind helps us to concentrate on what we are doing in prayer, and also reminds us that prayer is much more than just petition (asking and receiving). Although petition is a legitimate part of prayer, it is only a part. To make it the whole of prayer, as so many do, is to so circumscribe a relationship with God that it is bound to seem unreal and childish to intelligent people. Stay tuned, and I love you.

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,                   Fifth in a series! 

I would like to pick up where we left off when I was sharing with you the importance of developing a habit of prayer.  We need you to understand that such a habit does not rule out spontaneous prayer.  If anything it fosters it.  You see it is a fact of experience that the person most likely to pray spontaneously is not the one who has no daily habit of prayer, but the one who has.  

Furthermore, the person who does not make prayer a daily habit is missing the inspiration of prayer when he or she most needs it.  And that’s too bad. As Pastors and preachers we have always made a great deal of what prayer can mean in times of great stress and tragedy. And this we have done in the right manner, for prayer according to Biblical doctrine is a source of strength and comfort and faith.

Prayer should also be used for great times of joy and exultation, for it is the only adequate language for praise and thanksgiving.  But my experience has taught me that the most important function of prayer has not received the attention it deserves. Prayer is a source of inspiration for the monotonous, day-by-day, humdrum sameness of ordinary daily life.

In other words if used correctly and properly understood, prayer can be a source of great encouragement in times of stress and danger, as well as simply being discouraged feeling down and out not knowing what to do. We often sing “Have a little talk with Jesus tell Him all about your troubles…..” “Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.” That’s the inspiration that lies inside each and every one of us if we would only learn to develop the habit of consistent time in prayer with God, and just not relegate it to asking and seeking. 

Stay tuned and I love you much!

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,              Fourth in a series!

As we continue our series entitled “The Adventure of Prayer,” drawn from Luke 11:1, “And it came to pass, that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples,”  and then in Luke 18:1 we are told, “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (lose heart). Some people believe that prayer should be an entirely spontaneous thing. They rule that if we make it a habit is to make it perfunctory (mechanical and ritualistic) and meaningless.

I agree that there is a real danger in any habit, and something we should all guard against. But there are good habits as well as bad habits, and a habit does not need to become perfunctory, and as a matter of fact, the constructive use of habit in life far outweighs its dangers. To become a great musician one must develop the habit of striking the right keys at the right time. It is only after he or she develops this habit that they can go beyond the habit to creative music. To be successful in anything we must first develop the habit of daily work and practice.

Perhaps the word “habit” has been associated too much with bad habits, and that is why we have trouble comprehending prayer as a habit. The Bible commands us to “work out our own soul salvation,” and part of that salvation is developing a life of prayer.  Many of us don’t really know how to pray and so we usually relegate prayer to what I call the “lend me, loan me, let me have, or can you spare” monologues with God that we somehow believe is prayer.

The Bible says that Daniel prayed three times a day as was his custom. That word “custom” can be defined as his “habit.” We are not told specifically in the Gospels that Jesus prayed daily, but the indications are that He did. And the fact that He gave His followers the Lord’s prayer, with its petition, “Give us this day our daily bread,” which clearly implies daily use of prayer, further supports the evidence that Jesus had the daily habit of prayer and expected His followers to do the same. I love you and please stay tuned.

Pastor T. 

Dear Family and Friends,                Third in a series!

As we continue our series entitled “The Adventure of Prayer,” drawn from Luke 11:1, “And it came to pass, that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples,”  and then in Luke 18:1 we are told, “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (lose heart). Picking up from where we left off last week. If we’re going to make quality time for quality prayer then we must first see the vital spiritual importance of prayer. The length of time is not important though it will differ according to our spiritual development.

Some people can pray a long time without any substance involved and then others can pray very short prayers that will be so impactful in the ears of God that He will have no recourse but to move in a mighty life changing way. Our spiritual development will grow only as long as our prayer life grows. But some time each day is vital. Please understand that a few moments each day in prayer will do more for us in terms of creative living than many days of hectic, undirected activity.

Some time each day is important, so the question becomes what time is best? Some people love mornings others love evenings and still others prefer both. The truth is there is no set time for prayer. God neither slumbers nor sleep! He’s waiting at every moment in every day to communicate with His children. A word of caution if you’re one of those that is holding on to your upbringing, you know, “always say your prayers before you go to bed.” Kneeling down by your bedside after you’ve experienced a grueling day can prove to be a bad time.

When your mind is tired and your limbs are sore this particular time will not allow your time in prayer to be of much quality. Quality means not only having a spirit of prayer but also having an alert mind as you begin to commune with the great “I am” of the universe! A disciplined prayer habit is the only way we can be sure that we shall find time for prayer each day.  Love you and please stay tuned.

Pastor T.  

Dear Family and Friends,                 Second in a series!

As we continue our series entitled “The Adventure of Prayer,” drawn from Luke 11:1, “And it came to pass, that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples,”  and then in Luke 18:1 we are told, “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (lose heart). If Jesus placed such emphasis on prayer and if our prayer can mean to us all in terms of spiritual power and creative living, then we should all be praying regularly. If we’re going to get all that God wants us to get from praying we really need to understand the importance of praying and how we should be praying.

Indeed, daily prayer is the ideal. “But I am such a busy person; I just can’t find time for prayer. I should dearly love to have a few quiet moments alone with God each day, but I just haven’t the time!” How often one hears this statement from honest people? Perhaps you who are reading these words have made it yourself. But is it really true we haven’t the time? Are we not rather making a choice as to what we think is important to spend our time on, pushing prayer aside for what we consider more important things—such as catching up on our favorite TV shows, texting, talking on FB, surfing the web and the likes.

It’s time for us to be quite honest with ourselves. If we are not praying quality prayers which require quality time, it is not because we have no time; it is because we do not believe very much in prayer. When we really do believe that prayer is what has been claimed for it, then we shall make time for it, as we do for other things we regard as of vital importance.

Spiritual starvation like sleep deprivation may not have as immediate and dramatic effects as physical starvation, but it is more deadly, for it embraces eternity as well as time. And the prayer less life is being spiritually starved. The remedy is to do what many of us do with our finances—we budget them—so we need to budget our time for prayer, daily prayer. That is just what we will do when we really see the vital spiritual importance of prayer. There’s power in focused and intentional prayer. Remember the formula is prayer+study+application=power!   Love you all and stay tuned,

Pastor T. 

Dear Family and Friends,                   First in a series!

We find in Luke 11:1 and 18:1 two instances that outline the subject of prayer. Many people come to us daily asking us to pray with them or for them. If we are to pray correctly we should take a moment to really attempt to understand what prayer is and what it is not. First in Luke 11:1 the Bible records, “And it came to pass, that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.’” And then in Luke 18:1 we are told, “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (lose heart).  

If prayer is all that we have claimed for it, and all that Bible says it is—the very heart of the religious life, a source of spiritual power opened to all people—then we should all be praying, and regularly. Not to do so is to deprive ourselves of the chief source of power for creative and right living. To do so is to find creative power beyond our highest hopes.

Prayer is not like going to your favorite restaurant and ordering everything you want from the menu, and then wait a while for everything to be delivered just like you ordered it. No-no, praying means a conscious, God-ward act of thought at a definite place and at a definite time in the day. Prayer is not a quick audible “Lord, lend me, loan me, let me have, or can you spare,” whatever it is we’re asking for! No prayer is spending time in the presence of God to allow God to instruct us on what we should be praying for. 

I have come to realize that there has been a lot of shallow, hazy, sentimental teaching and writing about prayer that would leave the pious illusion that one is a praying person whether he or she is or not. I believe that the aim and purpose of prayer is to deepen and strengthen the relationship of God towards us His children. Our church theme for 2011 is “Embracing a new decade with steadfast determination to model Jesus Christ through prayer, study, and application,” therefore we are embarking upon a time of teaching with our Pastor’s Pen. Stay tuned next week for more!

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

My journey has taught me that there are certain questions that the enemy of our souls (the devil) loves query us with. I believe one of his favorites is “Now what are you going to do?” Sometimes I believe he sends out special demons that have one specific task, and that is to whisper the question in our ears as believers. If you listen the more the questions will increase! The more they increase the more negative and intense they become. Before long, you think of every possible obstacle in your path, and ultimately you begin to feel as if nothing is right in your life.

That is the devil’s task. He and his helpers wage war on the battlefield of your mind. They want to engage you and other Christians in long, drawn-out, costly combat. The more questions and uncertainties they raise, the greater their chances for victory over your mind. Jesus instructed us in Matthew 6:31, “Therefore do not worry and be anxious for nothing” (paraphrased). The first thing that we should remind ourselves of when we become anxious is that we are living in disobedience when we allow those anxieties to fill our minds.

Second, when we worry and become anxious we’re looking at the wrong things. In school, most of us were shown pictures that were optical illusions. If we looked at a picture one way, we saw a woman’s face. If we looked at the same picture another way we saw a rose. Think of that as a mindset. If you focus on the promises found in God’s Word, you’ll live in peace. But if you focus in on problems and past adversity, you see another picture—one that spells only problems, defeats, and discouragements. It really does depend on where you concentrate your attention.

The enemy knows that if he can feed your mind often enough and long enough with the wrong things, he can make you think about and feel only the wrong things. For instance, instead of being thankful that the Lord has been with you through many dark and troublesome times, you can begin to ask, “How did I get here anyway? What am I doing in this fix? If God really loved me…”

That’s not the end of it. Once the devil starts to win in the area of poisoning your mind, he moves on, and before long, you’re repeating Satan’s words—words that not only tear you down, but also hurt and tear down others. Now I know that none of you would willingly do this, but unconsciously we model our feelings, thus the devil can have a double victory. There really is only one way for you to win: refuse to listen and then tell your enemy, “Satan, the Lord rebuke you, and stay out of my mind!” I still love you!

Pastor T.  1/16/11

Dear Family and Friends,

Joyce Meyer in her book entitled “Battlefield of the Mind” writes about a fictional couple named John and Mary. John is a low-key type and Mary is strong-willed. She says that John was verbally abused by his mother and bullied by playmates growing up. He hated confrontation and couldn’t stand up to his wife’s strong will. Both of them were prisoners. He blamed her; and of course she blamed him—and here we see Satan’s deceptive ways.

John was convinced that it didn’t do any good to stand up to anyone, so his mind told him to just be quiet and accept whatever happens because change will never come. John also believed another lie of Satan—that he wasn’t truly loved by God. How could he—he reasoned within himself. After all he wasn’t worth loving. Because he thought and felt that way, he truly believed the devil’s lies.

Satan’s biggest lie to us is to make us feel that we’re not worth it. If the enemy of our minds can convince you that you’re too bad or too worthless, and that you don’t deserve love, you’ll never feel love. Jesus said in John 8:31b-32, “If you abide in my word (hold fast to my teachings and live in accordance to them), you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Many people are on lock down and locked up behind the confines of their own thinking.

This is the time of year where God the Father showed His love to all humankind. He gave us His only Begotten Son who became flesh like us. You see when you properly understand what transpired in Bethlehem, you’ll know that God became what we are in order to make us what He is! He was sent to set us free and He did that at His death and resurrection. So now we need to see ourselves as free and not place yourself back in bondage.

Here is truth: It’s the things you learn after you know it all that really count. And if you do what you always did, then you’ll get what you always got! Jesus said He came to make all things new. It’s Christmas time 2010, and we’re not guaranteed Christmas time 2011. So get up today and enjoy your new life in every aspect of life! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and much love.

Pastor T.    

Dear Family and Friends,

We have arrived at that time of year which most often than not proves to be very difficult for people to deal with. Yes, once again the holiday season is upon us. The emotions of people run the entire gamut of our being. For the one, it is a time of celebration from November 20 through January 5. For another one it is a month and a half of grief and sadness.

Not grief and sadness because they don’t have the resources to purchase items or didn’t receive an invitation to one of the many party gatherings that will be conducted during this time frame. No it is sadness brought on by the fact that their significant other is not around any longer to celebrate with them. So many people suffer with longing and being alone at this time of year that truly was given to us to celebrate with family and friends all what the Lord of the universe has given and done for us.

God’s Word is very clear on the fact of suffering. It will come to all of us in one form or another and sometimes there are people who experience multiple instances of suffering. What we do with our moments of pain and suffering will help to determine how we truly see God. I’m one who does not believe that God causes pain and tragedy in the lives of His children. But by the same token, I must admit that even though I believe that God can prevent all tragedy from happening, sometimes He does not for reasons that only He knows. Yet His Word tells us that after “we have suffered a little while, He will make us complete, establish, strengthen, and settle us” (1 Peter 5:10).  

That age old question of “Why do bad things happen to good people” can never be answered properly on this side of heaven. But if we believe in the sovereignty of Almighty God, then we must also trust in His providence. So to all of you my family and friends I say, “Enjoy each day to the best of your ability regardless as to the pain you may or may not hide from the outside world.” It’s been a tough year for many of us, but an even tougher year for some others of us. So therefore, be ye kind and tenderhearted one to the other for you never know when you may be called upon to switch groups.  I love you all, but my love is limited, it’s unconditional, but limited, while God’s love is limitless. Won’t you accept His love now?

Pastor T.  11-28-10

Dear Family and Friends,

The shifting sentiment of society is unpredictable, but God is the same always. Rumors are the sport of people with too much time on their hands. They are the economic drivers for some industries like the media, but we should not be deceived or distracted by them. Discerning children of God choose to outright reject rumors or selectively listen only to the soft murmur of truth that may be represented. Jesus forewarned us about rumors when He said, “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is not yet” (mark 16:7).

There are daily rumors of possible terrorist attacks. There are rumors of government corruption. There are rumors of someone’s infidelity. There are rumors of job lay-offs and job creations. There are rumors of mass firings and rumors of mergers. There is also the most ridiculous rumor of all that there is no God!

We seem to enjoy rumors because they are tantalizing to the tongue. We want to know the juicy details, even though it is none of our business. Rumors feed our pride, and get us focused on issues which are out of our control or even non-existent. May I offer an alternative to those of you who get caught up in rumors?

Why not rest in the rumor of Christ’s return? Though we do not know the day or hour, we can prepare for His glorious return. Jesus said, “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father, take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when that time will come.” (Mark 13:32-33). The Lord’s return is a righteous rumor that will occur. When other worthless rumors may bombard your mind, why not rest in the certainty of the physical return of Jesus Christ? Loving you all with His love!

Pastor T.  11-21-10

Dear Family and Friends,

In Proverbs 4:20-22 God says, “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart, for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” Now all of us, including me your Pastor, have made mistakes along life’s highway. But there is a word of instruction and caution found in these three verses. 

If we want to avoid some of the mistakes in our past as well as prevent us from making terrible decisions in our future we need to learn to meditate on the Word of God. You see God is very proactive and His desire for us is that we might live a mistake free life according to His will. If we would only gravitate to His Word, it would become our guide for all of life’s decisions.

David said unto the Lord, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart so that I might not sin against Thee.” When we refer to “meditating,” we mean we ponder something and give it our full attention. Meditating on God’s Word demands discipline! We live in such a fast-paced world that few of us make time just to sit and think about God’s Word and the wonderful promises He has made to those who believe in Him.

Many people make decisions apart from God and then when they find themselves in a quandary they have to sit and ponder their next move. But oh my friends, if we would only take advantage of the road map that has been left for us to guide us all the days of our lives, our lives would be much less hectic and regretful. Learn to spend time with God in prayer and in study of His Word each day.

One of the painful things for me as Pastor is to see, hear and listen to people who are having problems with the issues of life, but also to know that they for whatever reason are refusing to take the medication that God has prescribed. I preach, teach, and counsel with regards to the healing that’s found in God’s Word, and yet these same people refuse to take the medication as well as the prescribed dosages. It’s really very simply: study, meditate, and follow, or else don’t study, don’t meditate and live defeated lives!

Sincerely.

Pastor T.    11-1410

Dear Family and Friends,

We read in Matthew 4:1, “Then was Jesus led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil.” After Jesus had fasted for 40 days and nights, Satan approached Him with three tempting offers. The devil came to Jesus when He was weak and hungry. If you look closely you’ll discover that just as he tries to tempt us, he tried the same tactics on Jesus. He tried to appeal to His flesh, eyes, and pride. And each time Jesus defeated him with the Word of God.

Now many of us have wound up in places and situations and we really can’t explain how we got there. And most times if you can’t explain how you got there, then you really can’t see how to get yourself out. Sometimes God will lead us places for purposes we’re not aware of, but the temptation of Jesus proves that if we just follow God and rely on His all-seeing eye, He’ll deliver us.

The devil may make attractive offers, but if we just remain focused and faithful, we’ll have strength to turn him down. Jesus was able to recognize the deliberate crafted lies of Satan and as a result He never hesitated in calling Satan out. Again Jesus teaches us that His is not an easy way. Instead we must take the right way. Whenever the devil tries to convince us there is an easier way—one that will make life better for us—we really don’t want to listen.

Not only will the devil tempt you to give in and to receive the things you’d like to have, but he also makes it sound simple and easy. God never works that way. He wants us to have the best and only the best, but it has to come in His way which is the right way. At the end of the temptation accounts, Matthew inserts a powerful statement. With each temptation, Jesus won because He relied on the Word of God for His strength. And the devil can’t fight the Word.

Finally Matthew records, “Then the devil departed from Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (Matt. 4:11). The wisdom to be gleaned from this experience is powerful. Even after you’ve been battered and tempted, God doesn’t leave you. He remains with us to comfort us, to minister to our needs, and to encourage us. Let us never forget that He is as close to us as the mention of His name. He promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and that we can take to bank!                              

Sincerely,

Pastor T.   11-7-10

Dear Family and Friends,

In 1^st John 2:9 we read, “Whoever says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until this very hour. He that loves his brother abides in light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

Hate my friends is a strong and harsh word. Any discussion among believers about hating other Christians would lead most of them to say, “I don’t believe I have ever hated anyone.” If we think about these words of John, however, perhaps he didn’t mean hate as we think of it—feeling great hostility or animosity toward someone. Perhaps our form of hatred today is more like indifference. We don’t really dislike people, but we don’t care enough to help them when they have troubles and problems.

Most of the loving we see today especially in church is based on convenience. When this happens it opens a wide door of opportunity for Satan to separate us from those who most need our love. Jesus commanded us to love one another just as He has loved us. He said that people would recognize us as His disciples by our expressions of love toward one another. Perhaps one reason they don’t say that about many of today’s so called Christians is because too often we’re unwilling to go out of our way to meet the needs of others. After all, love means meeting needs.

Love is an action verb. If you love others, you do things for them. To hate, in the Biblical sense is to do nothing or to turn away. To make it worse, you judge and criticize others and think that if they really loved God they wouldn’t be in the predicament they’re in. We need to see and understand that if we would only practice God’s love walk, we would not only help our own growth, but enable others to grow. The devil can’t do you much harm if you truly walk in loving relationships with others.

Sincerely.

Pastor T. 10/31/10

Dear Family and Friends,

We read in Matthew 4:1, “Then was Jesus led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil.” After Jesus had fasted for 40 days and nights, Satan approached Him with three tempting offers. The devil came to Jesus when He was weak and hungry. If you look closely you’ll discover that just as he tries to tempt us, he tried the same tactics on Jesus. He tried to appeal to His flesh, eyes, and pride. And each time Jesus defeated him with the Word of God.

Now many of us have wound up in places and situations and we really can’t explain how we got there. And most times if you can’t explain how you got there, then you really can’t see how to get yourself out. Sometimes God will lead us places for purposes we’re not aware of, but the temptation of Jesus proves that if we just follow God and rely on His all-seeing eye, He’ll deliver us.

The devil may make attractive offers, but if we just remain focused and faithful, we’ll have strength to turn him down. Jesus was able to recognize the deliberate crafted lies of Satan and as a result He never hesitated in calling Satan out. Again Jesus teaches us that His is not an easy way. Instead we must take the right way. Whenever the devil tries to convince us there is an easier way—one that will make life better for us—we really don’t want to listen.

Not only will the devil tempt you to give in and to receive the things you’d like to have, but he also makes it sound simple and easy. God never works that way. He wants us to have the best and only the best, but it has to come in His way which is the right way. At the end of the temptation accounts, Matthew inserts a powerful statement. With each temptation, Jesus won because He relied on the Word of God for His strength. And the devil can’t fight the Word.

Finally Matthew records, “Then the devil departed from Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (Matt. 4:11). The wisdom to be gleaned from this experience is powerful. Even after you’ve been battered and tempted, God doesn’t leave you. He remains with us to comfort us, to minister to our needs, and to encourage us. Let us never forget that He is as close to us as the mention of His name. He promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and that we can take to bank!                             

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

In 1^st John 2:9 we read, “Whoever says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until this very hour. He that loves his brother abides in light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

Hate my friends is a strong and harsh word. Any discussion among believers about hating other Christians would lead most of them to say, “I don’t believe I have ever hated anyone.” If we think about these words of John, however, perhaps he didn’t mean hate as we think of it—feeling great hostility or animosity toward someone. Perhaps our form of hatred today is more like indifference. We don’t really dislike people, but we don’t care enough to help them when they have troubles and problems.

Most of the loving we see today especially in church is based on convenience. When this happens it opens a wide door of opportunity for Satan to separate us from those who most need our love. Jesus commanded us to love one another just as He has loved us. He said that people would recognize us as His disciples by our expressions of love toward one another. Perhaps one reason they don’t say that about many of today’s so called Christians is because too often we’re unwilling to go out of our way to meet the needs of others. After all, love means meeting needs.

Love is an action verb. If you love others, you do things for them. To hate, in the Biblical sense is to do nothing or to turn away. To make it worse, you judge and criticize others and think that if they really loved God they wouldn’t be in the predicament they’re in. We need to see and understand that if we would only practice God’s love walk, we would not only help our own growth, but enable others to grow. The devil can’t do you much harm if you truly walk in loving relationships with others.

Sincerely.

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

Paul said in Romans 1:16a and 17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believeth; for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.” Faith my friends, is a word the apostle used quite often in his writings. While the word “faith” means belief or absolute trust, it’s more than that—the word also implies loyalty and commitment.

Faith means being convinced that something is true regardless as to how you may feel. The Book of Corinthians tells us that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then our faith is meaningless and utterly useless. You see it is that fact and that fact alone which has become the basis for everything in life we hold dear as children of God. True faith acknowledges that the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is true and absolute.

True faith begins when we’re receptive—when we’re willing to listen. It starts with a kind of mental assent. True faith becomes alive when we say, “I’m willing to stake my life on that fact.” Paul quoted from the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk 2:4 saying, “That the just (righteous) shall live by faith.” One way to think of the just is to think of those who were justified or made right, by the death of Jesus Christ in appeasing the wrath of God against our personal sin. At that point in our confession of that glorious fact God moved us from being His enemy to be His son or daughter (Romans 5:1).

When God calls us just, or righteous, we enter into a relationship of love, confidence, and friendship. We need not fear or worry because there is no punishment of eternal exile from the presence of God for us. When Paul says the one “who through faith is just and upright shall live and live by faith,” he means that those of us who have been made right with God live by our faith. That is, we live by our trust in the God who reaches out to us.    

All that I’ve said previously to now is said to encourage you to know that wherever you are in life right now, no matter what circumstances you face right now, regardless as to what negative forces are raging in your life right now, you God and my God, your Savior and my savior has it all including us in the palm of His hand. He’s working right now on your behalf even though you can’t see Him or feel Him working, but your faith tells you that He is, and He’s still a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Be encouraged your deliverance is at hand and it is not as far away as it once was!    

Love you all!

Pastor T.

FIRST-PERSON: Straight Talk to Church Members

about Pastors

By Thom Rainer President of LifeWay Christian Resources

I know. Pastors aren't perfect. But they do have one of the toughest jobs in the world. Regardless of the church polity they have to answer to every church member. Please allow me to speak to you who are church members. I know most of you  do love your pastor. I know most of you respect your pastor. But you may not know how you can best help your pastor.

I have served as a pastor of four churches, and I have consulted with hundreds of pastors. In many ways, I think I understand the heart of a pastor. So would you allow me to share with you how to demonstrate love to your pastor?

I put them in the form of five things not to do, and five things to do.

What Not to Do
 

Let's get the negatives out of the way first. I've tried to streamline the list some.

Don't criticize or make critical suggestions to the pastor unless you have spent much time in prayer over the matter. Pastors have  to deal with criticisms every week. It drains them. Also, don't criticize the pastor's family.

Don't ask the pastor to make announcements right before the worship service. He needs to be focused on his sermon.  Similarly don't say other things to him that may distract him before he preaches.

Don't tell your pastor how he compares to other pastors.

Don't expect the pastor to be at all the church events and functions you think he should attend. Most of the other church members  want him at "their" events as well.
 

Don't expect the pastor to be the primary pastoral caregiver to all members, their relatives, their distant relatives, and the rest of the community within a 30-mile radius.

What to Do
 

As I have talked with pastors around the world, they have shared with me some of the steps church members have taken  that have really encouraged them. Let me share five of them.

Do pray for your pastor. Send him an e-mail to let him know you are praying for him.
 

Do encourage your pastor. He needs it because he's human, and he needs it to balance the criticisms he hears.

Do work with the leadership of the church to make certain the pastor is getting sufficient rest, time off, and family time most pastors are on a 24/7 call.

Do encourage the rest of the church to take on pastoral care responsibility, particularly through small groups and Sunday school classes. The pastor should be the primary caregiver for the most urgent and serious of needs. The rest of the church should do the bulk of the ministry.

Do be faithful to the ministry of the church. Few things encourage a pastor as much as committed church members.

Dear Family and Friends,

Romans 4:18-21 says when speaking of Abraham, “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken (by God), So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that, what God had promised, He was able also to perform.”

Doubt, as I’ve told you before raises many questions. It makes us ask, “Did God really say…?” “Does the Word really mean…?” Doubt is often the devil’s entry point into our minds. Just such simple, easy and valid questions are enough to give Satan a place to attack. As my friend Pastor Peace said a few weeks ago, “Many people believe in God, but how many of those same people believe God?” Now unbelief is far worse than doubt. Doubt brings in the question, but unbelief is the result.

Many times Satan has launched his attack on Christians by first posing a question and then causing that question to bring doubt. The temporary triumph of sin in the Garden of Eden began just that way. Satan said to Eve, “Can it really be that God has said, ‘you shall not eat from every tree of the garden?’” (Genesis 3:1b). That’s subtle. Satan doesn’t fight with God or argue with the Bible. He just raises a question and allows our minds to do the rest. Many people have been duped by the enemy of their souls all because they formulate what they believe to be a simple question.

The example of Abraham as recorded in Romans 4 by the Apostle Paul who never met Abraham in the flesh should be an encouragement to us. The example of Abraham’s Godly obedience should amaze us. Yes, Abraham had his moments, but he trusted God anyhow. In the natural everything seemed to be against God’s promises to Abraham as they will sometimes seemed to be against God’s promises to you. But like Abraham you and I must stand the test. The Bible says that Abraham, “did not weaken in faith…but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God.”    

When the odds seem stacked against you and everything appears to be pointing in the other direction you must remain focused and faithful on the promises of God made to you and guaranteed by the shed precious blood of Jesus Christ. Remember God said that heaven and hell would pass away, but not one letter of His Word would come back void without accomplishing that that He said.                     

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

If you recall I told you last week that we as Christians must choose to exercise all the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit and not pick and choose which to exercise and which to ignore. You see, whatever we exercise the most becomes the strongest. If you lie more than you tell the truth, then lying becomes habitual more than telling the truth. If you live deviously and deceitfully more than you live Godly, then that also become habitual and second nature.

Our thoughts and words are two areas in which the Holy Spirit is constantly prompting us to exercise self-control, which remember is also an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. The devil is constantly trying to get us to accept wrong thoughts about everything from God’s love for us (or the lack of it) to what terrible thing is going to happen to us next. Why? Because he knows that once we start accepting and believing his lies, it is just a matter of time until we begin to speak them out of our mouths. And when we speak wrong things, we open the door for wrong things to come into our lives (se Proverbs 18:20-21).

What if, instead of allowing our minds to go over all of the things that have hurt us, we would remind ourselves to think about all the good things God has brought into our lives? When we allow Satan to fill our minds with worry, anxiety, and doubt, we wear out our ability to make good decisions. Worry is also thankless by nature. Notice people who worry rarely see much good in life. They talk about tragedy, failures, sickness, and loss. They seem unable to focus on the good things that they still have in life.

Try focusing each day on all the things God has done for you in the past. This will make it easier for you to expect good things in the future. Do you remember reading about all of the memorials mentioned in the Old Testament? Often the people stacked up heaps of stones as reminders that God had delivered them or appeared to them. As they looked backward and remembered, they were able to look forward and believe! The Psalmist in his search for God in Psalm 42 starts off saying, “As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God, and my tears have been my food day and night, while my enemies continually ask me, where is your God?”

But in verse 6 he proclaims even though I’m not feeling or seeing you now, and “even though my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan!” In other words he was proclaiming that the goodness and presence of God had been with Him in times past and that’s what he would meditate on and not how he’s feeling or experiencing presently. What about you? Will you continually bemoan your current situation or will you exercise your mind and remember when He was right there with you? He’s still there----daily as well as nightly. Loving you still!                                                                    

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

It doesn’t matter what kind of problem we have in our lives, we need self-control and discipline to gain and maintain the victory. I believe this is especially true with regard to our thought life and the battle for our mind. What begins in the mind eventually comes out of the mouth, and before we know it, we’re telling anyone who will listen how we feel. The Apostle Paul told his young protégé Timothy, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

We have to discipline our mind, our mouth, our feelings, and our actions so that they are all in agreement with what the Word of God says. Every quality of God that is in you and me, God Himself planted in us in the form of a seed the day we accepted Christ. Colossians 2:10 says that we are complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power. Over time and through life’s experiences, good or bad, the seeds of Christ’s character begin to grow and produce the fruit of His Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

It is virtually impossible to operate in any of the other eight aspects of the fruit of the Spirit unless we are exercising self-control. Please know and remember there are nine aspects of the “fruit” of the Spirit, and “not nine fruits” of the Spirit! How can you and I remain patient, for example in the midst of an upsetting situation unless we exercise restraint? Or how can we walk in love and believe the best of someone after they have repeatedly hurt us unless we use the fruit of self-control?   

As Christians, we have the fruit of the Spirit in us, but we must purposely choose to exercise all of its aspects. Not choosing to exercise the fruit of the Spirit is what produces carnal Christians—those who are under the control of ordinary impulses and walk after the desires of the flesh. You wonder why so-called “Christians” can do the things they do—I just told you how! They choose to do their own thing as opposed to exercising that thing that the Holy Spirit, the Son of God, and God the Father Himself wants them to do.  TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK!!!!!  

Love,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

I’m mighty afraid that one of these days many of us are going to look back over our life and realize how we wasted so many years of our life worrying about things we could do nothing about. We will come to a point where we’ll wish we could have those years back and be able to approach them in a different way. However, once we have spent the time God has given to each of us, it will be impossible to get back and do things another way.

One of the things that we don’t realize is that the death of Jesus Christ has made it possible for each and every one of us to experience and have His peace each and every day of our lives. You see the peace and rest of Jesus operates in the middle of trouble, noise, and confusion. Too often, we think we’d be just fine if there weren’t so many storms in life. But I’ve lived long enough to realize that’s absolutely not true. Real peace comes from going through the storms and winning the battles of life.

On His way to the cross Jesus said to us and to His disciples at the time, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” So many people fret and worry about so many things until they cannot enjoy this present moment for fear, worry, and anxiety about the next moment and tomorrow. People and sometimes especially love ones will always let us down, but the love of God as found in Jesus Christ will always uphold us if we just let it.

Remember Jesus also 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.” So today as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ that provides for us forgiveness of sin and eternity in heaven with God; let us also celebrate the peace that comes in spite of obstacles which is ours now and for all eternity. So the next time your mind and spirit becomes bothered and anxious about anything just ask the Holy Spirit to breathe afresh on you the peace of Jesus and do what you can and don’t worry about that which you cannot control.

Happy Easter to all of you,  

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

There is a six word exhortation found in the Book of Ephesians chapter 4 verse 27 that simply says, “Neither give place to the devil.” Perhaps the best way to interpret these words of the apostle Paul is to simply say, “Don’t give the devil an opportunity.” There are many ways we actually give the devil an opening to pounce on us. One of those ways involves being passive.

To be passive is the opposite of being active. This can be a dangerous problem because it means you aren’t on guard, you aren’t actively standing up, and you aren’t alert. One of the devil’s most deceiving tricks is to get you to do nothing, to ignore certain warning signs, to convince yourself that it will change, to tell yourself that it’s not that serious, and then to feel content about it. Somebody has so eloquently said that when you have a “gut feeling,” it’s really a “God feeling” telling you to leave it alone and move on. So many persons have been duped by the devil to the extent that it cost them precious time, energy, and emotional scarring that will take years to heal all because they were passive about something they should have been active about.

There are many definitions for the word passive, but you can describe it as a lack of feeling, a lack of desire, apathy, laziness, and lukewarmness. It is what John referred to when Jesus addressed the church at Laodicea (Rev. 3:15), “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot.” Paul wrote to Timothy and to us, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee (The Holy Ghost. For God has not given to us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” In essence what Paul is telling us to shake ourselves up and do something! He’s urging us to get moving and start using the gifts that God has given us.

The devil knows that inactivity, laziness, or failure to exercise good judgment can throw us into ultimate defeat. As long as we move against the devil, we can win the battle. When we do nothing, we become his prime target. It’s when we get stirred into action, and passionate about faith, and zealous to follow the will and way of God that we can destroy all the devil’s influence. Don’t wait until somebody has hurt you and then get mad at them, get mad at the devil and see beforehand what he’s trying to do to you through somebody or some situation. Learn to battle the devil proactively instead of fighting with people reactively! You’ve got Holy Ghost discernment down inside of you—start using it.

Finally, Peter wrote to the persecuted believers of his day, “Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for the devil (enemy of yours), roams around like a roaring lion (fiercely hungry); seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith (against his onset—rotted, established, strong, immovable, and determined)” (1^st Peter 5:8-9 paraphrased). Get active—stir yourself up. You don’t want to give place to the devil by doing nothing or procrastinating. If you make the effort to read and study for the sake of understanding what the weapons of your warfare are, God will bless you. If you don’t you are inviting the enemy into your life. Get moving—start today!                  

Sincerely---Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

God said to the nation of Israel in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you hope in your latter end,” or final outcome. God’s plan for the people was only for their good. Yet they wandered around the wilderness for forty years on what was actually an eleven-day journey. Why? They constantly went against God’s will for their lives continuing to do things their way according to their thinking and not His.

We really shouldn’t view the Israelites with astonishment or misbelieve as we do, because most of us do the same thing they did. We keep dealing with the same problems over and over again. The disappointing result is that it takes us years to experience victory over something that could have and should have been dealt with quickly. We refuse to receive the testimony of others who did it their way thinking that we are smarter and have a better idea.

Many of us know where we come from, but have no idea where we’re going. We think we know better what’s best for our lives, and we refuse to pay attention to all the red flags and warning signs that are always appearing before us, until one day we wake up and we have lost so many years wandering around in circles (just like the Israelites in the wilderness).

God has a different and better plan for us and Jesus came to open the prison doors and let us out. However we won’t ever make any progress until we start to believe that we really can be free. Free from thinking that we need someone or something in our lives to validate who we are as men and women. We need all to get rid of the negative thinking and replace it with a positive vision for our lives. Get rid of the negative people who drain the life giving blood of the joy of the Lord out of our lives. Start believing that God’s Word is true as it pertains to you and start walking in that truth. I love you all!

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

In 1^st Corinthians 14:15 Paul says, “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding.” Have you ever paused to pray and your prayers felt flat? Have you ever sincerely desired to commune with God in prayer but nothing seemed to energize them—and there was no help from my spirit. I wanted to, but I didn’t and couldn’t feel anything. Ever been there?

I’ve found that if you’re serious and you keep on praying a powerful energy will take hold of you. You see, when we pray we must touch the area where the Holy Spirit wants us to pray. You really can learn to pray out of your mind and God will reveal Himself and His Will for your prayer time and life. Too many people just want to say flippant prayers as opposed to praying Spirit filled and Spirit moving prayers.

Think of it this way. God calls us to prayer. That’s our joy as well as our responsibility. Sometimes when we talk to God, we hardly know what to say except for begging. We pray, but our words feel inadequate. It’s as if there is a depth to our burdens that transcends words. Something is going on that’s so strong within us—so overwhelming—we have no words to speak. No matter what we say to God, we feel we have not broken through and obtained an audience with Him.

I’ve never spoken in tongues, but I relish that experience, but I want more the anointing to pray in the Spirit. Some people teach that the gift of speaking in tongues went away with the early church, but I believe there are millions of people worldwide who speak in unknown tongues today. But I also believe that those who speak in tongues are no better, nor more spiritual than those who do not speak in tongues for it is the heart of a person that the Spirit of God visits and lives in.

I encourage you to seek God for yourself in this area, so your prayers can be as powerful as possible. When we pray in the Spirit, our minds and our spirits should work together. Our minds will yield to our spirits, and we are praying the perfect prayer that God desires.  

Loving you still,

Pastor Tyler

Dear Family and Friends,

In 1^st Kings 19:11-12 we read part of the story of God’s dealings with His deeply committed prophet Elijah. Elijah had defied wicked King Ahab and equally wicked Queen Jezebel for years. The big moment came on Mount Carmel when Elijah destroyed 450 prophets of Baal. Later, when Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him, he ran away, apparently in terror.

He must have been worn out by the powerful events. Then suddenly the man was alone, with no crows, no one trying to kill him, and no one to talk to. Just before the two verses mentioned above, Elijah had gone into a cave to hide out. When God asked him what he was doing there, he spoke of his zeal for the Lord. Then he told God that the children of Israel had gone astray, killing prophets, “And I, only am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (verse 10).

The Bible says that God brought strong winds, falling rocks, an earthquake, and fire. I think that was the way Elijah expected God to appear—in a miraculous and powerful moving way. But the writer tells us that God wasn’t in those things.

This is really a true to light spiritual principle of God at work. We can find the devil in the noise and shouts. We can find the devil with big attractions to lead us astray. But God likes to speak in the still, small voice—the voice that not everyone will hear—the voice that only the committed will listen for.

As long as Elijah sought the dramatic, he wouldn’t hear God. But when the prophet pulled back and listened for the inner voice, the soft, non-demanding voice of the Holy Spirit, Elijah could communicate with God. What kind of voice from God are you listening for? Will you recognize the still, small voice when you hear it? Do you take time to be quiet and just listen? You’ll be surprised at what God has been trying to tell you, not only about you and your concerns, but also about others. I love you all!!!!!!!!

Pastor T.  

Dear Family and Friends,

The Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 2:21-24 remind us of a saying we used to hear often, “Don’t do as I do—do as I say.” People who give this kind of advice expect others to live according to rules and regulations that they themselves admittedly are not willing to follow. This is a place that causes many a young Christian heartache and discouragement. They see and hear of church leaders or those in authority doing things they know aren’t right, but saying something different.

This attitude among the leaders can either lead the young Christian to do the same things or turn away from God altogether. I recall being a brand new Christian and going to my first church business meeting. I left so discouraged and in tears. My Pastor noticed my trouble and when I got home he telephoned that same night to inquire what was wrong. When I informed him that I was disturbed because the language and attitudes that flowed that night from some people was so at odds with what these same people exhibited on Sunday mornings.

I was so disturbed that I wanted to leave and never returned. I had to quickly learn that God has called each of us to be responsible for our own actions. God holds us accountable for every thought and every action—but our responsibility doesn’t stop there. We are also responsible to help lift up others when they fall. Perhaps nowhere in the Bible is this concept more clearly defined than in Galatians 6:1-3. Paul laid down three important principles that Satan doesn’t want the child of God to grasp.

First, when we become aware that a sister or brother has fallen into sin, we are to do whatever we can to help lift that person. Paul wrote, “If any person is overtaken in any kind of misconduct or sin of any sort, we who are spiritual should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.” Second, Paul said, “When we become aware someone has fallen, instead of pointing fingers and looking down on them, we should look at ourselves.” The devil could have tempted us to do the same thing or something else just as bad…or even worse. We need to look with compassion on those who fall and remind ourselves, “Except for the grace of God that could be me.”

The third thing we are exhorted to realize is that, “we need to push away pride in our own achievements.” If we think we are more spiritual, we’re deceiving ourselves. Proverbs 16:18 gives us warning: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” We must never compare our achievements with others, but instead ask ourselves, “Have I really done all that I could have done?” Have you? Will you? Do you? Those are the questions set before you today as you judge, contemplate, and complain about the actions and words of others!        

YOU KNOW WHO LOVES YOU!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Proverbs 3:5 in a paraphrased version says, “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.” And Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever that we may do all of the words of this Book.”

I have heard many people say that reading the Bible is confusing. They say, “I’ve tried to read the Bible, but I don’t understand what God is saying and I end up feeling frustrated and confused.” The problem most times is that as finite creatures with an insatiable need to know we oftentimes are trying to figure out everything. We need to stop trying to reason and explain everything. As the above verses point out, we cannot always rely on our understanding. There are some things that we are not meant to know or understand. Moses understood this concept, and he explained to the children of Israel that there are “secret things” known only to God. He pointed out that when God revealed His will—making things clear—those were the words they should obey.

It really is that simple. Like the Psalmist, we can say, “Give me understanding, that I may keep your commandments; yes, I will observe them with my whole heart” (Psalm 119:34). We must ask God to show us what to do, and then we must not question it when He reveals it to us. Too often people try to reason things out, but that can be dangerous. When we start trying to figure out why God says or does something or does not do something, our first mistake is thinking we’re smart enough to understand the mind of God.

Reasoning can also move us in a particular direction that, although it may seem logical, may not be the will of God. If you would read the biblical account in 1^st Samuel 13 you see what I mean. We need to learn to depend on God to show us things in such a way that we will know—with an inner certainty—that what has been revealed to our minds is correct. We must not allow ourselves to reason with our minds, searching for logical solutions. Instead of doing that we need all to learn to say, “My trust is in the Lord, and whatever He tells me to do, I will obey, because He said it.”                

Still loving all of you,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

My, my, the year is twenty-ten (2010) or two-thousand and ten (2,010) which ever suits your palate. It’s taking me a while to get adjusted as the sound of the numbered year sounds too farfetched. But I thank God that I’m here to see and experience it. But regardless as to the year for us as children of God one thing remains constant. And that is we must continue to allow God to increase and develop our faith.

An increase in faith means that sometimes the faith you and I currently have must be stretched beyond the capacity of its present quality. The account of Matthew 28:16-20 which we have come to know as the Great Commission is an example of how some people walked in faith and how some others doubted. I said Sunday in the message, that fear and doubt were enemies of faith. And when the truth is known sometimes we too find ourselves on the road of doubt.

Matthew’s Gospel says that the disciples worshiped Jesus the instant they realized it was actually Him they were seeing after His crucifixion and resurrection. But Matthew goes on to add the one sad, negative statement in his significant story and account of Jesus: “But some doubted.” When Jesus cursed a fig tree for its non-production of fruit, the disciples asked Him, “How is that the fig tree has withered away all at once?” Jesus’ answer about the fig tree can also apply to our faith. For He said, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done” (Matt. 21:21).

The point is this: When we believe and do not doubt, we can accomplish miracles. Faith is a gift of God, but doubt is a choice of ours. Doubt is a result of thoughts formed in the mind that are in direct opposition to God’s Word. That is why it is so important for us to know the Word of God for ourselves. We are immediately able to discern the devil’s lies when we know the Word. Doubt is just another part of the devil’s arsenal of weapons aimed against our minds. WE MUST JOIN WITH GOD AND DEVELOP THE KIND OF FAITH THAT SEES THE INVISIBLE, FEELS THE INTANGIBLE, AND THEN ACCOMPLISHES THE IMPOSSIBLE. And since without faith “IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD,” we have no choice in that one area! 

Loving you still in 2010!

Pastor T.    

Dear Family and Friends,

There is an account in the 17^th chapter of Acts where Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica, and the people tried to kill them, so believers helped them flee. From there, they went to the city of Berea. Luke records that the people there were fair in their thinking or they had a ready mind to receive the message being delivered. That means that the people were open to God—they were willing to hear what God said, no matter whether it was good news or bad.

Most Christians would readily exclaim that they were ready-minded if asked. But that’s because they believe that is what being a Christian is all about. They assume it means being ready, open, willing to hear God, and to be obedient to what He says.

But for many people, being ready-minded means they are ready and open if the message is what they want to hear. If it’s not what they want to hear, they don’t try to kill the messenger like the Thessalonians, but they say, “Oh, we know all of that,” and stop listening.

But what does it really mean to be ready-minded? It means being willing to turn away from every lie and deception that the devil offers. It means being willing to say, “I was wrong.” It means that instead of listening only for what we want to hear, we listen for what we need to hear.

To be ready-minded means we discern the source of the voice. We love to hear words that make us feel good and encourage us, but we don’t like words that make us aware of our shortcomings. One of the tricks of the enemy that a lot of people fall for is thinking in their minds that the message is not for them but rather someone else or that they already know that.

To have a ready mind is not always easy. In fact, the more seriously the Holy Spirit wants to deal with us, the more Satan tries to convince us that we already “know all that” or it’s not something we need to hear. Where are you? Do you possess a ready mind or are you an expert with limited experience and no willingness to learn? Will you make this year of 2010 a better year than 2009 was by being ready-minded?  

Love you,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

As we draw closer to the end of another year I wonder how many of us are practicing Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” If we live an average of 65 years, we have approximately 600,000 hours at our disposal. Assuming we are 18 when we complete high school we have approximately 47 years or nearly 412,000 hours to live after graduation.

If we spend 8 hours a day sleeping and relaxing, 8 hours for personal and recreational activities, and 8 hours for working, that amounts to 137,333 hours in each category. When we think of the time we have to work and play in terms of hours, it doesn’t seem like much. And when seen in light of eternity, it really is but a fleeting moment.

But the question is how much time per day we are allowing for our spiritual intimacy with God our creator who we say we love and whose home we want to spend eternity in free of charge. When presented in this light how important, then does the time we spend our waking hours wisely count?

I’m mighty afraid that when we think about it many of us are wasting precious hours, minutes, and days on fruitless endeavors instead of spending quality time on quality things with quality people. Remember, we’re going to have to give an account of the deeds done in the body and the thoughts and intents of every heart are going to be radically scrutinized by God Himself. Just a little something to think about as you prepare for the year end and the new year 2010 beginning. Happy New Year to each and every one of you, and may God richly bless you this year.                                     

Love you all,

Pastor T.      

Dear Antioch,

God informed the nation of Israel in Deuteronomy 7:22 as they began their conquest of the Promised Land, “And the Lord your God will clear out those nations before you, little by little; you may not consume them quickly, lest the beasts of the field increase among you.” For most of us, if we had known at the beginning of our Christian journey—all the things God would take us through, we probably would have been too afraid to sign up for the trip. As we look back, however, we realize that God held our hands and let us advance in small steps.

We had times of great discouragement, and we remember times of shedding bitter tears over personal failures. But God kept nudging us forward step by step. Without even knowing it we were learning the secret of living the victorious Christian life—we move ahead little by little. It’s an inching forward over months and years. Most of us can understand that.

The same is true in the battle with Satan for our minds. We don’t defeat the devil in one big blow and then live in victory forever after. We win one small battle, and then we’re ready to move on to the next one. We may have a few major victories that come suddenly, but not many of them.

God has a wonderful plan for each of us, but it never comes with just one major victory, so that we never struggle again. Instead, it’s an ongoing warfare, and we must remain vigilant and be aware of the attacks of the enemy and always remember that God has already promised us victory and reward.

Above all remember that we move ahead little by little. It makes us savor every victory. Each time we overcome we rejoice. We can remain in a constant state of thanksgiving. If we’ve had only one victory, and that was thirty years ago, how dull our lives would be. Or worse yet, how easy it would be for us to take God for granted. Isn’t it better to serve a God who takes us slowly forward, always showing us the way, always encouraging us, and knowing that around the bend it’s a straighter road ahead?         

Sincerely,

Pastor T.   

Dear Family and Friends,

The Bible in 1^st Thessalonians 5:18 exhorts us, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  My friends, we are entering a time of year when depression and stress find themselves at an extremely altitude in the lives of humans. Yes, because of the fast approaching holiday season if you’re not careful depression and stress will overtake and consume you.

You see stress is the inability to handle perceived trouble and depression can be defined as a coping mechanism for being challenged and overwhelmed. Both are dangerous and unhealthy for us as children of God, and both come from our enemy, the devil.

But I’m writing you today to inform you that if you let it persecutions can perfect your praise and you’ll learn how to give thanks in everything. You see, most of us misread that scripture. It does not say “Be thankful for everything,” but rather, “In everything be thankful.”  You see to be thankful for everything would be ludicrous, whereas to be thankful in everything is to be grateful. Grateful for what did occur as to what could have occurred. There are alternatives to every situation and every alternative does not have to be a positive one.

When we look at things from that perspective, we can truly give thanks in everything. For though we can’t really fathom what we’ve been through, we know that God was and is in the midst, and that means better days are coming. So become grateful and thankful for what you have this holiday season as opposed to be sorrowful and woeful for what you don’t have.                                  

Sincerely,

Pastor T.         

Dear Family and Friends,

I wonder if you could be honest with yourself and admit that you have at one time or another been guilty of seeking the things that God can provide as opposed to seeking God Himself? There have been instances in my life where I have been too excited about what God does and can do for me, than I’ve been about seeking His face and rejoicing in who He is. If we‘re honest we’ll admit that we’ve craved the blessings and wonderful things God does in our lives instead of seeking the blessing Giver. 

You see too many of us are like some of the people that God has raised to great heights on the ladder of success. We crave more and more and one day they forget who was giving it all the time. That’s one of Satan’s tricks to beguile the child of God. He wants us to focus in on the gifts as opposed to the gift giver. And when we do that it becomes very easy for the devil himself to slip us one of his gifts disguising it as a gift of light that we think has come from God.

That’s why we confuse knockoffs from the real thing. We miss the real man or woman from God and fall for the imp from Satan all because we didn’t like the way they were built or talked. Remember when Solomon was visited by God in a dream and God told him to ask what he would. He didn’t ask for riches as we would, but he humbly asked for the mind of God accompanied with an understanding heart.

And that’s when God gave him what he asked for and all that he didn’t ask for. You see when you ask for right things that are pleasing to God and not gifts and people so that you might enjoy them yourself, that’s when God will give you the one good thing (His constant presence) and all the other things you didn’t ask for that He knows you want. Remember, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness and all these other things (the things you desire) will be added unto you.” If you would start seeking God and not gifts you’ll end up with God and the gifts!                                           

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

How deeply can we trust ourselves? How much of ourselves do we give to others, and how vulnerable are we to them? I suppose the answers to these questions are as varied as the different situations. But if you would just consider the questions I believe that you will find them definitely food for thought.

Those of us who have been hurt by trusting too much tend to pull back when we get into certain situations. I once was daily involved in a professional working relationship with someone whom I thought was a positive role model in my life. At some point God helped me see that our relationship wasn’t healthy for me. I had become too dependent on this person, even placing a trust in them that belongs only to God. I became too busy trying to please and be accepted by this particular person as opposed to seeking God’s acceptance and approval.

All of us know that we are supposed to place our ultimate trust only in the Lord. But sometimes we encounter individuals or groups who mean so much to us that we give too much of ourselves too fast, or we allow them power and authority to control our very emotions. When this happens, our lives are out of balance. And when we get out of balance, we open a door for the devil. The words of John’s Gospel 2:23-25 serve as an appropriate warning to us. He was speaking of the relationship Jesus had with His own beloved disciples. Jesus knew how much—and how little—He could trust even those who were closest to Him. He understood human nature—something all of us have.   

We are broken and we deal with broken humanity in other people and many times we are deceived, not on purpose, but because we don’t spot the Gucci from the knockoff. That’s why we need the precious Holy Spirit to guide us with His discerning eye to let us know who we can trust and who we need to stay away from. Paul said in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be worried or anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Ultimate trust comes from God not from others!

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

There is a precious promise found in Isaiah 26:3 that says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Tell me, what is it about nighttime that makes us more vulnerable to satanic attack? Is it because daylight is gone and it’s dark? Is there some kind of association between evil and the dark hours of night? We are usually able to cope with whatever happens to us during the day, but sometimes it’s a different story at night.

If we recognize that we are more susceptible to the attack of the enemy at night, we can take steps to be better prepared to stand against the enemy. The Scriptures admonish us to think on things that are honest, true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. These words from the Bible enable us to remain vigilant even in the dark hours of night. By using the Word of God and walking in His promises we can defeat every onslaught of the enemy—even in our weakest hours.

But if we have not armed ourselves with the Word and spent time in prayer, we will fall for Satan’s plan when he brings to mind some troublesome event or some irritating person. He takes advantage of us when he knows we are weak and the most vulnerable to his influence.

As maturing Christians we should be mastering fighting the good fight of faith knowing that our God is greater than any outward influence of the devil. After all, the Word says, “Greater is He that’s in you than he that’s in the world,” and “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper.” Those are also His solid promises!

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and friends,

In Ephesians 1:18a Paul talks about “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” The story of Mary and Martha is an appropriate example about the dangers of being too busy with the busyness of life. Some people are busy all the time. They wear their busyness like a badge, as if that makes them more important.

Busyness can easily distract us from developing a solid and wholesome relationship with God. Oftentimes, busyness will cause us to lack depth of peace and rarely know spiritual contentment. In other words we won’t have what God calls a normal mind. And that definitely is not the condition He would like us to be in.

People who are excessively busy cannot even sleep when they lie down at night. They are either mentally going over the day’s activities or making mental lists of the tasks for the next day. This isn’t the lifestyle Jesus calls us to. As believers, we are spiritual beings, but we’re also natural. The natural doesn’t understand the spiritual and constantly fights that part of our nature. The Bible makes clear that our minds and our spirits ought to work together.

For our minds to aid our spirits we must learn to pull back from all the distractions around us. There will always be demands on our time and energy, and we can always find plenty to do. But if we want to live with the mind of Christ, the one that should be normal for Christians, it means we must learn to imitate Mary and not Martha. Despite all the clamor and activities going on around her, she was able to sit, relax, and listen to the voice of Jesus the Master. Are you imitating Mary or are you duplicating Martha?

Sincerely,

Pastor T. 

Dear family and friends,

In Numbers 12:1-2 we find Aaron and Miriam, Moses’ sister and brother complaining about the Ethiopian woman their brother had married during his forty years of exile. But a closer look will confirm that wasn’t the real issue. The real problem was revealed when they asked, “Hast the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Has He not spoken also by us?” That revealed the “I” problem—also known as the issue of pride. That’s one way Satan gets into our lives, divides us, confuses us, and causes us to fight among ourselves.

In the incident cited above, the issue wasn’t whether God spoke through them or only through Moses. It was their way of calling attention to themselves and yearning for recognition. But their plan backfired on them. If you read the entire account, you will find that God punished Miriam with leprosy and she had to stay outside of the camp for a week. There’s another interesting note: “She held them back from moving forward.” What we need to recognize about pride—one of Satan’s most powerful tools—is that while it may actually attack only one or two of us, it affects everyone around us.

Pride makes you stand up and say, “I’m special,” but the unspoken message is “You’re not special like me.’’ That’s when jealousies and anger erupt—and the devil is the only one who is happy.

To win over the big “I” problem, we must remind ourselves of this simple fact. Everything we are and everything we have comes as a gift from God. If we stay focused on that fact, pride will find no place in our hearts. And always remember that the word of God says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”  Have you checked your pride level lately????????????

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that is waiting for good weather shall not reap or harvest.” Simply put, what the Scripture is telling us is that timing is everything. Many people are waiting until everything is right or perfect before moving out and doing what they know they should be doing. As Christians we are people of faith not people of sight. We walk when, where, why, and How God has told us to walk. We do not wait until the stars line up, but rather we move when God says move!

Fulfilling the will and purpose of God for our lives is not depended upon hindrances being removed. You see, God may not remove the circumstances or hindrances in my life, but I know that He will most certainly fix me to be able to operate in the hindrances and circumstances. It’s amazing how we’ll say in a moment that “trials come to make us strong,” but as soon as they arrive we whine and cry, complain and moan about what’s going on.

You see Church, when we say yes to God and His way, the enemy attacks with power to make us change our minds, to arouse doubt and confusion, and to make us wonder does God really care about how I feel. I can assure you that He does! Everything has to do with God’s timing, both the things that concern us and the things about us. Jesus came when the time was right, not when they wanted Him. You got saved when God extended the invitation for salvation, not when you were ready.  

It’s all in God’s timing. God never says to you or to me, “Here’s what I want. Do it when you’re ready. Part of listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit is hearing the call to act when God wants you to act. The timing is everything, because it’s God’s timing that matters—not yours.

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

The Word of God in 1^st Kings 18 allows us to see the consequences of a doubtful mind. Some people assume that doubt and unbelief is the same thing, but I argue that they are two separate animals all together. Obviously, neither of the two brings God the respect and reverence due His name and Word, but let me show you how they function in different ways. The story of Elijah and King Ahab is an excellent picture of doubt at work.

When Elijah proclaimed that there would be no rain upon the earth because of Ahab’s wickedness the people feared because their minds became full of questions that they could not answer. Elijah finally called the people together, along with the king and the false prophets, and asked them why they doubted the Word of the Lord. Why were they caught between two possible answers? That’s what doubt really is. Doubt is simply unbelief—it’s more of an attitude that says, “I believe, but…” or, “I want to believe, but…”

Doubt often comes to reside where faith once lived. Doubt is active opposition to faith, and it tries to push faith aside. The people had originally believed the prophet, but as time wore on—apparently questions arose and uncertainty crept in. I wonder if that is what is happening too many of us? Are the answers to our prayers being delayed and our minds are beginning to tell us that it’s not going to happen based upon what we see? Remember doubt never comes from God—it is always in opposition to His will.

Paul pointed out in the Book of Romans that God gives each of us a measure of faith. When we cling to that faith, we push away the doubts and fear. Matthew’s Gospel in the 13^th chapter says that Jesus could not do many miracles in Nazareth because of the people’s unbelief. When we allow our minds to wonder about the certainty of what God has already spoken—that’s doubt, and doubt leads to restricting the power and presence of God in our everyday situations.

People are in fear today regarding finances and life in general, but the Word of God has already declared that He would take care of His children in spite of the economic horizon. That’s why it’s important that you know the Word of God for yourself. If we know the Word of God, we can recognize it when the devil lies to us and causes us to question. Don’t fall into the trap of saying you believe in God when your heart is filled with doubts and questions. Choose true faith and say, “Lord, I believe. I may not always understand, but I trust you.”       

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Family and Friends,

In Romans 8 verses 6-9 we read about the dangers of someone following the carnal mind. And a carnal mind is simply a mind devoid of the presence of the Holy Spirit. God’s Word makes it clear. If you follow the carnal mind—the natural, unregenerate mind—it leads to death. But if you are spiritually minded, which means the Spirit of God lives in you and you heed what He tells you to do, you are alive and you walk with God. Simply put, we are exhorted to go with God’s flow!

The choice is yours. You can travel down the river of least resistance and let the undertow pull you wherever it wants. Or you can choose to go—I say with God’s flow. Because the mind of Christ is positive, whenever your thoughts turn negative, you can be sure you are not going with God’s flow. You’re not operating by God’s power or His Spirit. Think of it this way: God wants to lift you up and help you focus upward toward the heavens; the devil wants to press you down so you’ll focus downward toward the earth.

We need to constantly remind ourselves that we are loved. Jesus loved us so much that He died for us—for you! Sometimes you may need to say to yourself, I am loved. Too often we miss this obvious message in the Bible. We look at our imperfections and ask, “How could God possibly love me?” God looks at each of us through eyes of pure love and asks, “How could I not love you? You are mine.”

No matter how often you have failed or how weak you are, God holds out to you the wonderful assurance in the words of Paul, “For I am persuaded beyond doubt that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us (me) from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s the message: Nothing can separate you from God’s love. The more you meditate on God’s love for you, the more easily you will flow in His love.

The economy, lack of money, no man in your life, no woman to call your own, jobless, divorced, separated, child on drugs or incarcerated, spouse up and died on you, mother don’t recognize you because of Alzheimer’s, none of these things and much, much more can ever separate you from His care and love. My people stop struggling and start snuggling! That’s what He wants from you!!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Friends and Family,

The Psalmist said in Psalm 34:1 and 19, “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” All of us know we need to be thankful. God tells us to do so, and we also know from our own experience that once we seriously start praising God, our burdens and our troubles seem to weigh less heavily on our shoulders.

That’s part of the power of being thankful. As we pause to give thanks to God for what’s good in our lives, we also appreciate what we have. I believe God wants us to be grateful people—people who are filled with gratitude not only towards God, but also toward other people. Many people are so burdened down that they fail to realize that in spite of what they don’t have, in spite of what is currently going on, it could be so much worse. If we would spend time daily meditating on the things for which we can be thankful, we’ll have less time to spend complaining and grumbling about what we don’t have.

Tomorrow morning when you wake up and before you get up out of the bed, try counting off ten things on your fingers that you have that you can thank God for. As the song goes, “Count your many blessings name them one by one.” For instance, your children, your spouse, your reliable mode of transportation, your job—regardless as to how much you are making, your health, your food to eat, and I could go on and on. The bottom line is that we have so much to be grateful for.

Then another thing you can be thankful for is when you go to bed at night. Before you go to sleep think of three things that you can thank God that went well for you that day. A case in point, you made it home safely, your house did not catch fire, no one died in your family, and you did not get a lay-off notice as much as you hate your job, it wasn’t your child who got shot down for minding his or her own business, and again I could go on and on. I believe that I’ve made my point.

Then on top of all that, and this one is for all of you who daily succumb to fear. The Psalmist declares that when you do get in trouble the Lord will deliver you out of it all. Now that’s intended for the consistent righteous person, and not the one who hits and misses, who comes every now and then, who becomes faithful when it’s convenient. We need to seriously consider and fulfill the Word of God in our daily lives and put God to the test! He won’t fail you ever!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Hello Family,

Most of us have heard of the story of King David and Bathsheba with regards to their sin of adultery and murder. What many of us have not heard is that approximately a year after David committed this terrible sin before God, Nathan the prophet was sent to him. In that meeting between these two men of God Nathan told David, that, “the Lord also has put away your sin: you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord and given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child that is born to you shall surely die.” Previously God had informed David that the sword would never depart his house because of his killing of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah.  

The first lesson I would like each of us to grasp from this story is that when you fail God by purposely sinning, you harm others and yourself, but you also bring dishonor to His name. Whenever you take a false step, there are those who watch and gleefully point their fingers. The two always go together, when you knew the right thing to do, but chose the wrong.

As if that were not enough, the evil one (devil) also whispers one of two things. To the serious child of God he says, “See how bad you are. God won’t forgive you. It’s too awful.” Of course he’s lying, because that’s what he does best. Don’t listen to those words, because there is not one sin that the legitimate child of God can commit that God won’t forgive. But to the pretended child of God, the one who does not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the one who has not become a new creature in Christ, he says don’t worry about it God will forgive you anyhow. Notice the irony in both of his statements and to whom they are directed.

He wants the real child of God to doubt God’s forgiveness that’s solidified in the shed blood of Jesus that has appeased the wrath of God against our sin. His other statement is intended to keep the pretended child locked down in the bondage of sin. He wants that child to keep on sinning and doing what he is doing until time has run out on him or her and the breath has left their body. Remember, 2^nd Corinthian 5:17 says, “therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” And Galatians 5 testifies that we should “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage,” and “walk in the Spirit and we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”  Which voice and what words have you been hearing lately?

Sincerely,

Pastor T.       

Dear family and friends,

Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” This verse has the tendency to overwhelm many people at first reading. Most people shake their heads and ask, “How can this be?” Paul was not saying we’re perfect or that we’ll never fail. He was telling us as believers in Jesus, the Son of God, that we can think spiritual thoughts because Christ is alive within us. We no longer think the way we once did, or at least we shouldn’t.

God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel and said, “A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them.”  We have sinned and failed God in every conceivable way, but He will not abandon us. Instead, He promises to change us, if we let Him, and give us His Holy Spirit who will instruct us in every way we should go.

When we have the Holy Spirit living and active within us, the mind of Christ is in action. The mind of Christ is given to us to direct us in the right way. If we have His mind we will think positive thoughts and conduct ourselves accordingly. The most disheartening thing for me as a Pastor is to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the inerrant Word of God is being preached and taught, and people are still carrying themselves as they formerly did.

The mind of Christ is there to compel us to act as Christ acted in every situation. In spite of being lied about, lonely, misunderstood, and a multitude of other negative things coming upon Him, He continued to be positive. He was deserted by His disciples when He needed them most, yet He remained positive—always able to offer an uplifting, encouraging word. Just being in His presence would suggest that all fear, negative thoughts, and discouraging hopelessness would evaporate into thin air. The mind of Christ in us is positive.

So the next time you’re tempted to act contrary to the Spirit of Christ, remember the mind of Christ is in you to direct you to do the right thing as opposed to doing the wrong thing. What we often forget is that we choose the bad or the wrong without conscious thought. We follow old patterns—or the old mind—and not the mind of Christ. You can’t call yourself a child of God and continue to exercise your own will and your own way, operating the way you have all of your life. Those kinds of actions are totally contradictory to be a new creature in Christ! Love.

Pastor T.

Hello My Father’s Children,

1^ST Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt (raise you up) in due time: Casting all your care (anxiety) upon Him; He careth for you.” This verse tells me that you and I shouldn’t struggle to believe that God wants us to lay all of our concerns at the foot of the cross, when He so clearly has told us in His Word to do exactly that. God, I say wants to take care of all of our worries.

The word casting refers to throwing, hurling, arising, sending, striking, thrusting, driving out, or expelling—all rather forceful terms, wouldn’t you agree? It seems to be difficult for some of us to believe that God considers worry or care a sin. Some of you will have to become spiritually violent about casting your care upon the Lord. You see, it is your enemy, the devil who causes you to worry even though you have the spiritual experience of knowing that God has delivered you before.

Satan wants you to doubt God this time around and worry is his way of making sure that doubt, and fear creeps into your subconscious. You have to become angry enough at the devil to rise up against his principalities, powers, and wickedness that tries to keep you from enjoying all the blessings that God has intended for you. Too often you get mad at other people when your anger should be directed to the source of your problem—the devil and his demons.

Just as anger at Satan can be a form of righteous violence, so can casting our care on the Lord. We can resist Satan, worry and anxiety, guilt and condemnation, until we get so fed up that we react with holy anger. When he tries to force us to carry a burden of care and anxiety, we can stop him in his tracks and say, “No! I will not carry that anxiety and care. I am casting it all upon the Lord.”

We fail God when we insist on shouldering our burdens instead of giving them to the Lord. Only God can deliver us, and He wants us to know that. In every situation He wants us to humble ourselves, admit that it is too much for us, then throw it off on Him. If His shoulders were broad enough to carry the sins of the entire world, persons past, persons living, and persons yet to be born; then surely they are broad enough to carry your current burden. Won’t you try Him, He want let you down!

Sincerely,

Pastor T.     

Dear friends and family,

One of the things I’m learning as I study and meditate on God’s Word is that we can’t hurry the Lord. He does things in His time. Both Abraham and Joseph had long waiting periods before God fulfilled His promise in their lives. Moses fled into the wilderness after killing a man, and waited forty years for God to tap him on the shoulder. Rachel prayed for years to have a child, and so did Hannah, before God answered them.

When God sent Ananias to pray for the blinded Saul (later called Paul), the Lord said, “… Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). After being healed, did Paul immediately rush out and preach to royalty? Years passed before God fulfilled that promise. No instant gratification there. Many people grow impatient in waiting, and of course, the devil uses that to sneer and say, “God isn’t going to do what He promised. If He were going to do it, He would have done it by now.” 

As I think about the matter of human impatience, I’ve realized that impatience is the fruit of pride. The proud can’t seem to wait for anything with a proper attitude. It’s as if they cry out, “I deserve it—and I deserve it right now.” Two things from James 5:7 will help us. First, God doesn’t say, “Be patient if you wait,” but, “Be patient as you wait.” He uses the beautiful example of farmers. They prepare the soil and plant the crops, and then comes the waiting. They know that in God’s time, the crops will produce, and they also realize that it’s a different growing season for tomatoes than for say wheat.

Second, we need to enjoy our lives now—right now while we wait because the next moment is not promised. So many people complain about wasting time (which is how they talk about waiting). Instead of pacing and grumbling about how long we have to wait in line at the grocery store or in the traffic congestion on the freeway, what if you said, “Thanks, God I can slow down now. I can enjoy this moment. Every second of my life doesn’t have to be productive or bring results. I can just relax and enjoy this moment, because it really might be my last.”

The Psalmist said it this way: “My times are in your hands.” Isn’t that how God wants us to live? Doesn’t it follow then, that if you’re facing delays and have to wait, God knows? He’s the One who controls the clock of life. Don’t focus just on receiving or moving on. Focus on relishing the moments that God has given you to relax, and enjoy them as a gift from God Himself.  

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

My dear family and friends,

There is for me a connection between Proverbs 4:23 and Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6-7 which I’d like to share with you. Proverbs says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” And Philippians says, “Be anxious or worried about nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (KJV).   

When properly understood, God is telling us in Proverbs to guard our hearts—watch over them carefully. But what does that really mean you may ask? It means to be alert or watchful about the ways of the enemy. It’s easy to become careless about guarding our hearts and being alert to Satan’s subtle tactics when things are going our way and God is pouring out His blessings on our lives. Many people are watchful over other people’s hearts in helping to keep them in line, but often time these same people go to sleep when it comes to watching over their own hearts.

All of us face struggles from time to time, but when we diligently stand guard over our hearts, we become more aware that God’s plan is for us to overcome. When we post a sentinel or a guard if you will around our hearts we will become more vigilant against the attacks of the enemy. We often find ourselves looking in the wrong direction when surveying the landscape to see which direction the enemy is coming from. The two greatest sentinels we can employ is the Word of God and Prayer!

If we pray for God’s Holy Spirit to guard our hearts, He will honor that request. When the enemy creeps up, as he surely will, the sentinel calls out, “Thus saith the Lord,” and the enemy flees. (The devil really is a coward and won’t openly fight us). I told you before that the thing the devil fears most is a child of God on his knees beseeching the Lord with the Word of God in his or her heart. Added to that according to Philippians, if we push away our anxieties which we do by prayer and supplication (request or plea), and fill our hearts with thanksgiving, God’s peace stands guard over us. God helps us resist any charge of the enemy.

As the old hymn says: “Count your blessings—name them one by one; count your many blessings—see what the Lord has done.” It’s more than just singing a few words, however—it is actually pausing on purpose to remember all the good things that God has already done. As we rejoice over past blessings instead of focusing on present problems, we open ourselves to more blessings in the future. Another ally we sometimes overlook is other believers. When we’re aware of our weaknesses, we can agree in prayer with other believers. See Matthew 18:18-19 and be blessed!

Sincerely,

Pastor T.     

My dear friends,

I wonder how many of you have ever heard the statement, “function follows form?” It’s really an architectural term which simply means that you build according to the intended purpose of your building. In other words if you plan on using a room to teach 25 students, then you must have ample square footage per student in the room. That’s exactly how our lives work. Once we decide the form, the function should follow.

This could be stated another way by saying, once we set our minds to something—that’s the form—then the form—the function, or the action should follow. Too many people want to change their actions but not their thoughts. They may want to be free from anger, gossip, lust, dishonesty, or lying. They want the bad behavior to stop, but they don’t want to change their bad thinking. The principle of God’s Word is simple, “right action follows right thinking.” None of us ever walks in victory unless we understand and put this principle into practice. We won’t change our behavior until we change our way of thinking.

Many people struggle over trying to do the right thing. What they don’t understand is that until they change their way of thinking, they won’t ever be free. You see God is holding us to accountability, and as creatures of flesh we don’t like being accountable. We want to hold other people accountable while we ourselves are free to roam.

It’s impossible to change wrong behavior to right behavior without an attitude adjustment, which means that first we change the way we think. In Ephesians 4:22-24 Paul taught about the contrast of the old nature with the renewed mind. He admonished his readers, “Strip yourselves of your former nature (put off and discard your old unregenerate self) which characterized your previous manner of life which became corrupt through lusts and desires that sprung from delusion: and be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude), and put on the new nature created in God’s image, in true righteousness and holiness.”   

Another translation puts it this way: “Let the Spirit change your way of thinking, and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please Him and be truly holy.” And Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove (demonstrate) what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” There it is: YOU WANT CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE, THEN CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Let the Holy Spirit change your way of thinking. That’s the only way you can make permanent changes in your life.

Love you all,

Pastor T.

My dear friends,

I believe that pointing a finger at someone in judgment is often the way some people cover up their own weaknesses. Their theory seems to be, “judge others before they have a chance to judge you, and speak badly about others before they can speak badly about you.” The devil loves to keep us busy, mentally judging our perceived faults of others. And the shortcomings in other people are often easy to see, especially when we’re looking for them. My wife will tell you that I enjoy people watching. I learn so much by sitting in public minding my own business just watching the actions and inner actions of people as they go by.

Now today, I love watching people because I get a lot of sermon illustrations from people without ever saying a word to them. However, there was a time when I sat and watched them I could find something wrong with every one of them. I could point out bad hairstyles on women, out-of-style clothes on men, and any number of other “problems.” When we choose to be judgmental, we will find that there is no end to the possibilities. Notice I used the words “choose to be judgmental,” because that’s exactly what I did.

If anyone had called me a judgmental or critical person, I would have denied it, because I wasn’t aware of my negative attitude. I thought I was just giving my innocent opinion. At that time I wasn’t aware that I had a choice about my thoughts. Another thing I didn’t think about then was the uselessness of my opinions. I didn’t help anyone by pointing out to my friends what I perceived to be other people’s shortcomings. I now know that we can choose the thoughts we want to focus on. We can’t always choose the thoughts that come to our minds, but we can decide to let them stay and fester or we can push them aside with a little effort.

It took me a while, but I eventually learned that when the devil brings those harsh, unkind, judgmental thoughts to us, we can use God’s Word to chase them away. There may be no better verse to repeat than Philippians 4:8 to get our thoughts properly centered. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” I say again, “we can choose our thoughts!”

You put yourself through a lot of unnecessary misery because of judging others. God holds us accountable for what we think and say about others. Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-2 paraphrased, “Don’t judge and criticize others, and you won’t be judged and criticized. For with the same criticism you judge, you will be judged: and with what measure you hand out, it shall be measured to you again. And why do you look at the toothpick that is in your brother’s eye, and forget about the telephone pole that is in your own eye. Get rid of the pole that’s in your eye, then you’ll be able to see more clearly to help your brother remove the toothpick in his eye.”                                             

Sincerely,

Pastor T.  

My dear friends,

The Word of God says to us in Psalm 63:5b-6, “my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips when I remember you upon my bed and meditate on you in the night.” Then in Psalm 119:97 the psalmist said, “Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” I wrote to you some time back regarding the rewards of meditation. Now most of us have heard of Transcendental Meditation, Yoga, or New Age. We hear these terms all the time, and they cause many Christians to avoid any reference to meditation. They’re afraid of the occult or pagan worship. What they don’t realize is how often the Bible urges us to meditate.

We can explain biblical meditation in a number of ways, but the one I find most helpful is to think of it as expressed in the Bible. If we read the verses above, and there are many others, we see three significant things about meditation in the Word. First, the Scriptures refer to more than a quick reading or pausing for a few brief, reflecting thoughts. The Bible presents meditation as serious pondering.

Second, the biblical contexts show meditation as ongoing and habitual. “It is my meditation all the day,” says the verse above. In Joshua 1:8, God told Joshua to meditate on the law day and night. We get the impression that the people who spoke of meditating did so seriously and threw their minds fully into the action. Psalm 1 says that the Godly person meditates on God’s law day and night. Third, meditation has a reward. Oh yes, you’re waking up now because the intimation is that there’s something in it for you! It’s not just to meditate or go through a religious ritual. In most of the biblical passages where the term occurs, the writer goes on to point out the results. Again in Joshua 1:8: “…. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.”  

If you want to win the battle for your mind, meditation is a powerful weapon for you to use in the spiritual war we’re in. You must focus on portions of Go’s Word when the devil is trying to capture your joy and rob from you the precious promises of God in your current situation. You see we must understand that you won’t put the Word of God into action physically until you first practice it mentally, and meditating on that same Word of God for the sake of familiarity will help you in this struggle for your joy, peace, prosperity, and success.

Sincerely,

Pastor T.     

Hello My Family and Friends,

How we bless God for another opportunity to speak with you through the gift of writing. The story of Abraham and Sarah should amaze us every time we read it. It’s not just the birth of a son when he was a hundred years old. That’s a miracle! But just as amazing is the information that he waited twenty-five years for the fulfillment of the promise. Yes, he was seventy-five when God promised him a son.

It’s often very difficult to believe God and hold on and wait for a minute let alone hold on year after year after year. Sometimes after worship service, people will come up to me and tell me many stories. I try to encourage them to be positive and upbeat. Some people will listen to every word I say, nod, maybe even smile, and then they say the most negative word of all: “But…” With that single word, they are negating everything I’ve said.   

The Bible gives us promises, hope, and encouragement. God promises good to those of us who serve Him. Despite the adversity of our circumstances—and some people have absolutely terrible situations—God still promises good. Our sense of goodness, however, may not be the same as God’s. Getting what we want immediately may not be best for us. Sometimes waiting is the best thing because it helps develop the character of God in us.

The Lord chooses to do good to us and to make us happy; the devil chooses to do wrong and to make us miserable. We can remain patient and keep believing God’s promises, or we can allow the evil one’s whisper to fill our ears and lead us astray. Too many of us have ignored the fact that God is the originator of miracles. He specializes in doing the impossible: He provided a son to barren Sarah; He opened the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk across on dry land; He destroyed Goliath with a single stone from a slingshot. Those are miracles. That’s the Holy Spirit at work, defying the laws of nature—He made the laws, so He can break them.

Hebrews 11 is a chapter about faith and the people of God who dared to believe the promises. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (v.6). Considering that verse can’t you see how the devil creeps in? He says to us, “Yes that’s true. But those were special people. You are nobody. God won’t do anything special for you Why should He?” That is a satanic lie—and one that too many easily accept. God loves each of us, and the Bible says He’s our Father. Any good father loves to do good things for his children. God wants to do good things for you and for me. Positive belief in God’s promises yields good results because the Good One sends them to us. Refuse to give up and you will see the result of your positive belief. Expect a miracle, as a matter of fact, expect many miracles!

Sincerely,

Pastor T.  

Dear Family and Friends,

The writer of Proverbs 4 says in verses 20_22, “My son (and daughter), attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart, for they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” In these verses the writer uses the words attend to my words, which is another way of exhorting us to meditate. It is a fact that God not only tells us to meditate—to ponder seriously—His Word, but He frequently promises results. It’s as if God says, “Okay, Bill, if you meditate, here’s what I’m going to do for you.”

In this passage, the promise is life and health. That’s amazing, because it’s even a promise that when you contemplate and brood over the Bible, it will affect your physical body. We’ve known for a long time that when we fill our minds with healthy, positive thoughts, it affects our body and improves our health. The opposite is also true. Suppose we fill our minds with negative thoughts and remind ourselves how frail we are or how sick we were the day before. We soon become so filled with self-pity and self-defeating thoughts that we get even sicker. I’ve often told you, church, that I can convince myself that I can do anything, even fly a 747 and I’ve never ever been inside of one.

You see the mind is an awesome friend or enemy depending on what you allow to infiltrate it. If you think negative thoughts they can be destructive and defeating. In Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1 God promises prosperity. The problem for most of us is that when we think of prosperity we only think in terms of financial gain. Never fully understanding that with God prosperity means enrichment and prospering in every part of our lives. It’s not a promise of more material wealth, but an assurance of being able to enjoy all the wonderful blessings we already have.

What we often forget is that God wants our fellowship, our company, and our time with Him. If we want a deep relationship with our Heavenly father, we have to make quality time for God. And quality time for God comes from meditating on His goodness in spite of our debilitating circumstances. When we spend time with God on a regular, daily basis, then we can experience those special, life-changing moments.    

I recall so vividly when I stopped worrying about my circumstances and situations and started spending my time regularly in God’s Word, things began to brighten up. My outlook began to change even though my situation and circumstances hadn’t. If God did that for me through study and meditation, just what might He do for you—if you try it and give Him a chance?

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Family of God,

In the Book of Numbers chapter 14 we read about how “All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their present situation.” The nation had been in Egyptian bondage for 430 years and as soon as they were delivered they started complaining because freedom had not afforded them some of the luxuries they experienced during slavery. Many of us think we would have asked them what was there problem. Their chief occupation seemed to be to grumble. As the chapter tells us, they not only lamented and groaned about their situation, but they also accused Moses of bringing them into the wilderness so they could die.

God provided fresh food and water every morning—but they didn’t like the heavenly diet. In short it wouldn’t have mattered what God did for them or what Moses and Aaron told them. They were committed to complaining. They had formed the grumbling habit. And much of it is a habit. If you grumble about one thing, it’s not long before there is something else to complain about. When two moaners come together, the situation gets worse. What about the three million or more people who came out of Egypt? Once the disease of disgruntlement struck, it became like a virus and infected them all.

As their journey progressed it seems that they had acquired the ability to forget all about what God had previously did on their behalf, and only complained about the current situation. Ultimately we find out that they themselves were the problem, and they never accepted that fact. Forty years of wandering, and they never got the message. How dense could they be we may wonder? Of course it’s easy to say that because we weren’t there and we can see the situation with hindsight. It’s harder to examine our own lives and see why we gripe and moan.

Your individual situation may be different, but the spirit in which you and I operate is the same as those in ancient Israel. Sometimes we become so caught up in grumbling, complaining, and seeing what’s wrong that you have no energy or time to appreciate what’s good. I see it and hear it all the time. Folk complain about all they see wrong in and at church, but seldom if at all does anybody run up and compliment all the good that’s going on. Folk will tell me in a moment when they think the message was too long, but seldom can those same people tell me what was good about the message and what did God reveal to them out of it. We would all do well if we stopped looking at the problem, stopped magnifying the negative part of a particular situation, and start seeing the good in every situation. Good and bad can be found in every situation if we look hard enough. Why don’t you focus on the positive and help change the negative!

Sincerely,

Pastor T.      

Dear Family of God,

The word worry is defined as a feeling of uneasiness or a troubled, anxious, distressed, and concerned mind. Another definition I have heard for worry is “to torment oneself with disturbing thoughts.” Upon hearing the latter definition, I immediately decided that I am smart enough and my mama taught me to know better than sit around tormenting myself! The world and the devil will do a good enough job tormenting me, and either one needs my help.

Sadly, far too many people may actually be addicted to worrying. Most people or should I said a lot of people are worried about something that has happened, is happening, or what may happen. You will never know peace if you are numbered among those persons. And for me it is absolutely impossible to worry and to live in peace at the same time. Yet there are persons that are trying to do both. Jesus said that we could not serve God and mammon, mammon being defined as material wealth and worldly care. Some people have gotten so accustomed to worrying that they apply this condition to almost every function of their live.

What if instead of using the word worry we would use the word torment? If we thought of worry as satanic torment or mental torture, we get closer to the biblical idea. Think of agony and suffering as part of torment. Isn’t that exactly how Satan works? As long as we see the agitation coming from someone else or a situation we can’t do anything about, we live in torment. That’s when the devil preys on us and makes it even worse. Worry is a tool of the devil, so it’s not something that you, as a Christian, need to tolerate. Worry is nothing but a satanic attack on your mind. It does not accomplish any good thing.

But you need to beware. You see if the devil can convince you that worry is a small thing and everybody does it, then you won’t take it too seriously. “Oh everybody worries a little,” you tell yourself. No-no, not everyone worries. Most often than not, there is nothing you can do about the things that cause you dreadful concern. They’re beyond your control. You can worry about your future or your children’s marriages or whether the company you work will close and lay you off. But in reality there’s nothing you can do in the natural about these things.

It is a far better plan to spend the time and energy you would spend worrying on reminding yourself of God’s promise: “You will guard him and her and keep them in perfect and constant peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because they commit themselves to You” (Isaiah 26:3 paraphrased). Plus Jesus told us in Matthew 6:31, “Take no thought for tomorrow (future): for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto today is the evil thereof.” In other words today has enough problems to concern ourselves with than to be worried about the what—ifs of tomorrow!   Sincerely loving you all,

Pastor T.

Dear Antioch,

In his first Epistle to the Church John said in chapter four verse 18 “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.”  Wouldn’t everything in life be better if we didn’t have to deal with fear? Of course, there are healthy fears that alert us to danger—and these are good because they protect us. There is also the fear of God, which means to have a holy, reverential awe and respect for Him. But there is a debilitating fear that Satan tries to put on us every day that is intended to keep us from having power, love, and a sound mind that God wants us to have.

If you have ever struggled as I once did with anxiety, you are familiar with the worry, stress, and feeling of heaviness that comes with it. Many people struggle with fear that has no obvious cause or source. They wonder why they are always afraid and can’t change, no matter how hard they try. Others spend every minute worrying about what might happen. The endless list of possibly tragedies keeps these unfortunate people bound up and miserable every day of their lives.

There are serious things going on in the world, and we need to be aware of them, and prepare for them, but to stay awake worrying about that which we cannot control is self-defeating. The Word tells us that God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but He has given us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind to make sound and gratifying decisions. Sometimes we think of fear as an emotion, but we need to realize that fear is actually a spirit.

Jesus said in Mark 9:23, “All things can be (are possible) to him who believes!”  We have to believe that there is nothing worse for the enemy of our souls than an on-fire, Bible-believing Christian who is fearless! God didn’t promise us that life would be easy. We all face problems and challenges. But the outcome depends on whether we trust God—or give in to fear. The Psalmist said, “Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me!” When God is with you and you know it there is nothing to fear, but fear itself!

Sincerely,

Pastor T.

Dear Antioch,

In Romans 1:16-17 Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.” Faith is a word the apostle used often in his writings. While the word faith means belief or absolute trust, it’s more than that –the word also implies loyalty and commitment. Faith means being convinced that something is true.

True faith begins when we’re receptive—when we’re willing to listen and respond. It starts with a kind of mental assent—when we’re willing to say, “Not only does it make sense to me, but I’m willing to stake my life on it.” When God calls us just, or righteous, we enter into a relationship of love, confidence, and friendship. We need not fear or worry because there is no punishment for us. We’ve already passed from death into marvelous life and victory with Jesus Christ.

Some time back I went through a particular difficult time when there was absolutely no joy or peace in my life. Unhappiness filled most of my days. Oh I was able to fake the funk and go through the motions being undetected by most people. I repeatedly asked the Lord what was wrong with me, really wanting to know what my problem was….no kidding. I was and had been working so hard to please the Lord and trying to be the kind of Christian and Pastor I thought I should be. For the most part even my family did not realize the depth of discouragement and despair I had reached.

Then one day, I came across Romans 15:13, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” That was it! That’s what I needed to be reminded of! I had plunged into doubt and unbelief, allowing the devil to torment me with his evil lies that people didn’t care and that I was a failure because of the misguided actions of a few people. There lies were not directed at me, but I felt somehow that I had failed. As a result, I had become negative, grouchy, short-tempered, and impatient. I was making myself miserable, and the devil was thrilled at the stronghold he had over me!

This Scripture changed all of that old thinking. I knew the answer. Jesus loved me enough to die for me with all my weaknesses known to Him before He died. But He died anyhow! Through personal struggle I understand fully the concept of living from faith to faith. I don’t have to allow Satan to sneak in with questions of doubt and or unbelief. And you don’t either!

Sincerely,

Pastor T.   

Dear Antioch,

The Psalmist in Psalm 42:5 asks these two questions, “Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why are you disquieted in me?” As I think about the storms we all face in life, I can understand why people sometimes ask, “Why the storms and why do we have so many problems and struggles in life? Why do God’s people have to deal with so much suffering? A scrutinizing eye will be able to see that Satan plants these questions in our minds. It is his attempt to keep us focused on our problems instead of focusing on the goodness of God.

If we persist in asking these questions and others like them, if we’re not careful, we will wind up implying that God may be to blame. I don’t think it’s wrong to ask God why things happen. The writers of the Psalms certainly didn’t hesitate to ask. Think of the story of Jesus when He visited the home of Mary and Martha after their brother, Lazarus, died. Jesus waited until Lazarus had been dead for four days before He visited. When He arrived Martha said to Jesus, “Master, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  

I don’t want to seem to be unkind to Martha, but she missed it. When Jesus came, she didn’t ask, “Why didn’t you do something?” Instead she said, “If you had been here—if you had been on the job—he’d be alive.” What we need to understand in this story is that the Lord did not delay His arrival because He didn’t love Mary, Martha and Lazarus. No-no, He delayed His arrival because He loved them! Many of us are like Martha. We want our lives to run smoothly, and when they don’t, we ask why? But what we really mean is, “God, if you truly loved and cared for me, this wouldn’t have happened.”

We must remember that the Lord has already told us that in the world we would have trial and tribulation, but He also told us to be of good cheer and count it all joy for He had already overcome and He would be with us in every situation. You see it is because He loves us that He allows us to experience all of the calamities of life so that He might validate His power and presence to us and the fulfillment of His Word in our various situations and negative circumstances. Whatever is happening in your life remember there is somebody who would gladly trade your problems for their problems.

Sincerely,

Pastor T.  5/31/09

5/17/09 Vacation

5/24/09  Vacation

Thoughts of a son at Mother’s Day,

Even though today the light of your mind is blinking signaling it’s burning out, I know that you went into this knowing that I love you. My earliest memories are vivid with you holding me and carrying me to bed, tucking me in after you’ve led me in “Now I lay me down to sleep.”

Today I find myself carrying and leading you in just about everything. Where, oh where has the time gone? I can see us riding in that 1955 Plymouth station wagon as you take me to school before you drive off to work at the cleaners. You move me from my earliest teenage infatuation and I thought I would die. But being the wise psychologist let me make a phone call and all was soothed out.

Today as your mind is quickly fading I have to be a wise psychologist and affirm you in so many ways that doesn’t make sense to the rational thinking person. But because you taught me how, I’m able to give back to you all the care, concern, sensitivity, and love that you extended to me. You never left me, and I will never abandon you.

Even though it seems so surreal, I’m preparing myself for the moment when I come into your presence and you ask me, “And honey, who are you?”  Please God somehow let her feel all that she ever gave to me as I try to give back to her. You are loved and respected because God told me to love and respect you, and I’m glad to say that there has never been a problem for me with you. Happy Mother’s Day today and everyday!

                                  Scattering remarks at Mother’s Day 5/10/09

Dear Antioch,

On last Wednesday evening we were blessed to have Dr. Gloria Morrow as our guest in an “Ask Dr. Gloria” segment. Many questions and concerns were raised by the attendees, and many answers were extended by Dr. Gloria. It is very evident to me that we the people of God are dealing with a myriad of problems, trials and tribulations. And as a result many of these concerns are leading many of us to live stressful lives.

We are living lives that are out of sync with the plan and purpose of God for us. God never ever intended for there to be so much chaos in the lives He has blessed us to have an opportunity to live. 1^st Cor. 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, which was given to you by God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

There is a word that we have all become too familiar with, and that word is “stress.” Now the word stress was originally an engineering term used to refer to the amount of force a beam or other physical support could bear without collapsing under the strain. In our time, the word has been expanded to refer not only to physical pressure but also to mental and emotional tension. As human beings, you and I are built to handle a normal amount of stress. God has created us to withstand a certain amount of pressure and tension. The problem comes when we push ourselves beyond our limitations, beyond what we were intended to bear without permanent damage.

But like other people, even we, the people of God, because we have so many things to do, just keep pushing ourselves even though it is causing us physical damage. A friend shared the following with me this week from Anne Graham Lotz’s book “Why?” Said Mrs. Lotz, “God wants us to experience His love to heal our wounds, His joy to reduce our pain, His grace to cover our hurts, His power to lift our burdens, and His strength to carry us through life’s trials and tribulations.” Now does all that sound like stress?

Love,

Pastor T.  5/3/09

Pastor’s Pen on Vacation 4-26-09

My dear friends,

In 2^nd Chronicles we read an account about the nation Judah. Judah was the small southern kingdom of the nation of Israel, so small in fact that the surrounding nations could easily defeat them. We learn that their king, Jehoshaphat had brought in many reforms that were both glorifying as well as pleasing to the Lord. The Bible records that and then says, “After this, the Moabites, the Ammonites, and others with them, came against Jehoshaphat to battle” (20:1). Now the most sensible thing for the king to do would have been to surrender and forge some kind of treaty. There was no human way that such a small nation could defeat such large armies. In that context, we read that the king was afraid—and why wouldn’t he be? But, he didn’t stop with fear. I would like to make this point clear. TO FEEL FEAR ISN’T SIN OR FAILURE OR DISOBEDIENCE. In fact, we do well to think of fear as a warning to us; it’s a shout of danger. I know you’ve heard all the acronyms and clichés. Fear is false evidence appearing real and the like. Can we get real for a minute?

When we are first struck with the feeling of fear we must decide what to do with the fear. We can act; we can cringe; we can ignore it. King Jehoshaphat did the right thing: He “set himself (determinedly) to seek the Lord” (v. 3). He didn’t have answers, and he certainly wasn’t stupid enough to think that his tiny army could defeat his enemies. And that’s an important lesson for us to learn in our battles against Satan. Our enemy is powerful, and if we think we can defeat him by ourselves, we’re foolish and badly mistaken.

The king prayed, and boy did he pray. He stood in the midst of the people and prayed for deliverance; proclaiming: “Lord, we have no might to stand against this great company that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you” (v. 12). This was exactly the prayer that God wanted to hear. He admitted he didn’t know what to do, that they couldn’t win, and that their only hope was in God’s deliverance. What do you do and how do you pray, or do you even pray, but rather choose to succumb or act and react to fear in fear. The biggest secret of winning the battles against your enemy is to acknowledge your fear to God, but then cry out to Him in “holy fear.” That’s fear that causes you to seek Him. If you’re not really afraid (or worried) and don’t see the problem as bigger than yourself, why would you call for God’s help. But when it becomes overwhelming, you realize that you need divine help. Isaiah says it this way: “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight” (Isa. 59:19b). When you cry out in holy fear, as opposed to just crying, God hears and races to your rescue. That’s His promise, and He never ever breaks His promises to His own! 

Pastor T.    4-19-09

Dear Fellow Yoke men of the Faith,

James said in his epistle chapter 1 verses 2-4, that we were too “Count it all joy when we experience various trails; knowing this, that the testing of our faith produces patience.” But along with that we are also told to “let patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed lacking in nothing.”  Today we celebrate the anniversary of the event that secured our eternal salvation making it possible for us to do all things through Christ Jesus who died and was raised again all for us.

According to Romans faith comes from hearing the Word of God. We enter into a relationship with God through believing in Jesus Christ and His atoning work on our behalf, but that’s only the beginning. Believing doesn’t end there. As I understand the realm of the Spirit, if we follow the Lord, we live with a growing faith. That means that we learn to believe for bigger things. We learn to trust God for things we would never have thought of in our earliest Christian days. When we become Christians, the Bible says that we are adopted into the family of God.

That’s the beginning. That’s also where too many Christians stop. The Spirit keeps reaching for your hands so He can pull you forward, sort of stretching you. That’s when you must decide to believe—or you resist and stay exactly where you are in your Christian experience. It’s amazing to me how many people will argue down regarding their salvation based upon the Word of God, but so many of those same people will not take the rest of God’s promises literally. Read James again. It says your faith will be tested, but you must hold onto it and move forward. The testing may come when the devil attempts to make you doubt the promises God has given you.

There is never a stopping place in your spiritual growth—God wants to take you onward. But you have to make the choice to believe. Sometimes that takes courage, but that’s how the Christian life functions. We grow by taking steps of faith. In all that Jesus has already done for us doesn’t it make sense to believe Him in all things especially those things that we know to be impossible with man?

Happy Resurrection Day,

Pastor T.   4-12-09

Dear children and friends of God my brothers and sisters,

In this day and age in which we live it is easy to say, “I believe,” but the true test comes when we have to act on what we believe. There is a story recorded in 2^nd Kings 13 where the king came to Elisha the prophet to seek his help in obtaining deliverance from the Syrians. The prophet told him to shoot arrows onto the ground as a symbol of Israel’s attacks against their enemy and you shall defeat them until you consume them, but the king stopped after shooting only three arrows onto the ground. 

Whether he stopped because he was tired or stopped because he was unbelieving the morale is that unbelief is disobedience which will result in unmet needs being fulfilled that only God can fulfill. Period! Had the king believed, he would have shot arrows out of the window many times. Because of his actions, he stopped before he had ever gotten started. Incidents of unbelief are recorded throughout the Old and New Testaments. Unbelief seems to be at work in nearly every direction we turn.

Matthew 17 and Mark 9 record the story of a man who brought his epileptic son to Jesus for healing. He, the man, said, “And I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to cure him.” After Jesus chastised His disciples for their unbelief He healed the boy, but not until He had asked the boy’s father did he believe. To which the father responded, “Lord, I believe, but help thou my unbelief.” The promise remains valid to this day. Unbelief will keep us from doing what God has called and anointed us to accomplish in life. It will also hinder us from experiencing the sense of peace He wants us to enjoy as we find rest for our souls In Him (see Matt. 11:28-29).  

When God tells us to do something or we can do something, we must believe that we can. It is not by our power or our might that we are able to do what He tells us to do, but by His Spirit working on the inside of us that we can win in the battle of unbelief. Always remember, what God requires He provides!

Sincerely,

Pastor T.   4-5-09

Dear Antioch,

In Matthew 21:28-31 Jesus gave the parable of the man who had two sons. The story is simple. A father asks his two sons to work in his vineyard. One said no, but later changed his mind and went to work; the other said yes, but never did go into the vineyard. Jesus asked His listeners, “Which one did the will of the father?” The answer is obvious!

This story has several lessons, but one of them is about responsibility. The father asked both sons to do the same thing. One said yes but did not fulfill what he promised. I see that kind of activity today. God constantly calls people to service, but not everyone goes. The thing we miss is that, “God does not call qualified people, but He calls people and then He qualifies them!” The second son is like those who get excited and tell everyone about the great call of God on their lives (salvation). But trouble comes along (economy), finances hang them up (non thither), and other distractions drag them down—in short, they find ways to avoid their responsibility to respond to God’s call and will for them as His children.

Some of us are like the son who initially refused, we resist at first. But eventually with prayer and study we surrender and do exactly what God wants. “Which of the two did the will of the father?” Jesus asked, and everyone could see it was the reluctant one. Perhaps he counted the cost, or perhaps he wanted to be sure he could be faithful. But whatever the reason for his initial refusal, he finally said yes. He was responsible, and I have to believe that it did not take him months and years to make up his mind for the father needed someone to work in the vineyard the day he asked the two of them.

The lesson is that regardless to situations and circumstances the Father (God) expects His children to be responsible, and be true to God’s will regardless to distractions. This is once again where you will find yourself when you fight the battle for the mind. Satan steps aside during the excitement and the glory of the call. He waits until you’ve started to question. Did I hear God right? Does God really want me to do that? Responsibility is our response to God’s ability. If you are going to be responsible, you must respond to the opportunity that God places in front of you. And being responsible means staying at it consistently. It often means waiting patiently. Remember your test as a true child of God and disciple of Christ is your response to His guidance. If God speaks, your responsibility is to shut your ears to doubts and open them only to God. I love you all!

Pastor T.   3/29/09

Dear Antioch,

Proverbs 16:24 says, “Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” It has been my experience to realize that our words, you know the words we speak to other people can have one out of two effects. They can either help build a person up or tear that same person down. We can either lift people up or push them down and keep them down. When we focus on the good, we see in people and tell them, we may well be God’s messenger to them.

For example, I cannot begin to tell you how many people this week alone have said to me how blessed they were on last Sunday because of how I spoke to you. You see the problem is that because I seem to have victory, they assume I’m always in victory, and that I never have to struggle the way they do. Sometimes a person will come to me and say, “Pastor, God really used you today or on last Sunday. I came here discouraged and kept asking God what I should do. And right in the middle of your message, I heard God speak through you to me.” Or my children will often tell me how I helped them with the words of encouragement and guidance that God may have move me to share with them.

Of course I’m always humbled by those kinds of compliments because those are “pleasant words,” sweet as a honeycomb. But most of those people who speak to me are often unaware of how hard I’ve fought the enemy and struggled to free my mind from his influence. When they tell me what a blessing I’ve been to them, they often don’t sense how much their words mean and have ministered to me.

Everyone needs to hear pleasant and healing words. It’s too easy to assume certain people don’t have the same struggles or severe battles that we experience. All of us struggle one way or another, and for some, it’s worse than for others. I believe that the more God wants to use us, the more forcefully Satan exerts his power against us. We can help each other. When we sincerely speak pleasant words, healing words, we are not only diffusing our enemy’s power, but we are building up one another. We need to build up others as much as we need others to encourage us. Trust me, I know!!!!!!!  Love you all.

Pastor T.    3/22/09

Dearly Beloved,

John testified in 1^st John 3:1-2, “Behold, what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons (and daughters) of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons (and daughters) of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” 

My friends, I don’t know about you, but this particular scripture gives me so much hope and expectation. It has become my inspiration in knowing that these current conditions, these present situations going on around us is temporary. It reassures me that God loves me so much that He calls me son. It assures me that what I am now is not what I’m going to be. I don’t even know what I’m being made into, but it is and will be something so awesome that as of this moment it is unfathomable even to me. It inspires me to keep on in the face of adversity.

I’m not controlled by the economic times in which we live, I’m not bound by the lack of money, nor am I secured in the abundance of money. God has referred to me and to you as beloved. We are close to His heart and we’re not after thoughts. When I’m troubled as I’m sure you get, I still know that I am special. When I feel abandoned by those closest to me, when I feel unappreciated by those who say they love me, I’m reminded that God is using all those things and then some to conform me into the image of Jesus Christ. I’m reminded that I am presently being turned into what Jesus is and one day I will be completed. Take time to release yourself from the cares of this world and let these two verses comfort your heart.

Sincerely,

Pastor T.  3/15/09

My Dear Brothers, Sisters, Family, and Friends,

I’m writing you today Wednesday March 4^th, and it was 13 years ago today that the Antioch Church gave me the distinct honor of being her Pastor. It has been a fast, but exciting 13 years. God truly is good and He has been very faithful to His Word in my life and in the lives of my family members.

To all of you that have prayed for and with me over these years, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. God has allowed us to be a part of something very, very special, and I shall forever be indebted to Him for the graciousness that He has allowed into my earthly life. When I look back over my life and recall very vividly that as a junior at Garey High School I ran track across the street at a meet being held at Pomona High. I recall getting on the bus to go back to the south side after the meet had ended and remember that this was an empty lot that day. Never in my wildest imagination could I nor would I have ever envisioned me being here this day let alone as the Pastor.

In the words of Deacon William Barrow, “I tell you the truth,” there is a God in heaven who truly does sit high, but looks very low. I’m a product of His low looking. I shall forever be thankful. And to my beautiful as well as loving wife, Monee, your love and encouragement has pushed me at times when I didn’t want to go. I thank God for the wonderful woman of His that you’ve allowed His grace and mercy to turn you into. As we both continue to attempt to allow the Spirit of God to use us together to be an encouragement as well as a testimony of what and how God can turn around a marriage all for His glory, I want you to know that I love you more today than I did on yesterday. “Snuggums“you bring me such joy by always keeping it real with me.

To all of our daughters, grandchildren, and wonderful son-in-laws, we love you tremendously, and I personally thank all of you for keeping me daily on my knees before the Lord on your behalf. No father could be any more proud of his off-spring than I could.

Antioch as I recall your genuineness in showing me and mine love your love for us, words seem so inadequate to express my feelings. If I ever had to leave it would be oh so hard. I would like to borrow from the words of God as He expressed His love to Israel in Deut. 32:10 to convey my sentiments to you. You have become the “apple of my eye.” I love and appreciate you so very much. Thank you for the honor you give me by calling me your Pastor now for 13 years.

Sincerely,

Pastor T.   3/8/09