"Don't be Trapped by Fear and Doubt"

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we can do great things. But do you have that kind of faith to step out on God's Word when it makes no sense to you? Well, until you do, you'll never see God do great things in your life! The problem with most of us is that sometimes we think too much & when we examine all of the obstacles to see if something is possible or not, we do God a disservice because nothing is too hard for God! Therefore, we must repent for doubting Him.

Now when you decide to step out on faith, make sure it's not misplaced because stepping out on misplaced faith is dangerous. If you trust in your own ability or someone else's ability you'll soon find yourself in trouble; but when you put your faith in God you can step out on His Word and stand on a sure foundation.

We all have doubts every now and then because we tend to focus on our circumstances rather than the Lord and if we're not careful we'll be overcome by these doubts & fears. I've learned to trust God to do the impossible for me. So when you find yourself in despair and full of doubt, just call on Jesus & He will save you. When the storms of life are raging all around you, just look to Jesus; sometimes He'll calm the storm, at other times He lets the storm rage while He calms you...He'll give you peace and fill you with the calming assurance that everything will be alright!

Remember

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" and it's by faith that we are free from being trapped by our fears!

"We Are God's Living Epistles"

Paul said to the church that we are living letters. Let me just add that we Christians are the only Bible that some people will ever see. Therefore, the only way that some folk will ever hear about somebody who is able to save anybody is that you tell them; the only way that some folk will ever know a Savior that's able to pick them up & turn them around is that we introduce them to HIM!

God uses His pastors, preachers, teachers & evangelists as instruments to write His letter upon the hearts of His people. His letter is written to be read, therefore every Christian must let his christianity be visible before the world. But in order to read something, it must be legible. When a Christian lives contrary to God's Word, his/her letter, to the world, becomes illegible! What I'm saying is this...folk can't hear what you're saying for looking at what you're doing! You live one way at church yet another way at home; you may sing/shout on Sunday but cuss like a sailor the rest of the week; and you act one way around your church family but act completely different around your so-called friends.

When a Christian's life is inconsistent, he sends mixed messages to people in the world (who are already confused). The Bible calls Christians to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Still, many Christians have messages that can't be read because there are too many blots in their lives. And, they have become the greatest handicap to the growth of Christ's church becasue of the unsavory lives they live before the world.

Every born-again Christian is an advertisement for the Kingdom of God; we are to be messages of hope for people in hopeless situations, therefore, we must let them know that there is still hope in Jesus Christ. Selah (Think on these things) and realize that...

The world judges every church by the disciples it creates!

What kind of Disciple are you?

Are You Spiritually Healthy?

With the change of seasons, comes health issues for most of us. November begins that time of the year when colds/flu affect healthy bodies, and we find ourselves going to the doctor who, after thorough examination, determines the appropriate medication to prescribe for the pharmacist to issue. But how can you tell if your spiritual health is good? One way is to assess how you're living. Are you dissatisfied (always wanting more) or have you learned to be content with your situation knowing, that in God's time, things will get better? Warning...your answer will reveal the soundness of your faith!

Another indicator of your spiritual health is by the soundness of your speech. When you speak to others, is your conversation usually uplifting and posititve? A spiritually healthy person is careful not to let unwholesome talk come out of his/her mouth, but only that which is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29). Negative talk is bad for your spiritual health; gossip, backbiting, mean/harsh/profane words do nothing to build anyone up so why use them?

Sometimes our spiritual health grows weak because we're pulled down by all the discouraging things around us, so we also need sound doctrine. When we read the Word, listen to & follow sound doctrine, we become spiritually healthy which is evidenced by sound faith, which in turn, determines how we live! Don't you think it's time for a check-up? Do this quick exam to see if your spiritual health is good:

• Do you listen to sound doctrine/more importantly, do you follow it?
• Do you have sound faith (is your life producing the right kind of works)?
• Do you exhibit soundness of speech?

If you're like most people, you might not be quite there yet, so here's what you can do. Go to God's Pharmacy (read your Bible; pray to Dr. Jesus) and The Bread of Life, The Lamb of God, The Living Word, will give you just the right dosage of the medicine you need for good spiritual health!

Let's Get Healthy!!!!!!!!!

Do you suffer from Heart Trouble?

Let me answer this question for you...YES, we all suffer from heart trouble! I'm not talking about the muscle that pumps blood throughout your body. I'm talking about the real heart, soul, mind & spirit that makes up who you really are. Jeremiah 17:9-10 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things & is depesperately wicked...the Lord searches the heart & gives every man according to his ways & according to the fruit of his doings".

Some of you reading this have an enlarged heart. From a spiritual perspective, someone with a big heart is a giver, not a taker (the first to volunteer and the last to leave). God loves people with a big heart. But then there are others reading this who are more like the Grinch who stole Christmas...your heart is so small that you have no room inside of it to love anyone (you're self-centered, taking all you can get, yet giving nothing in return).

In life, many couples experience heart trouble because once the inital excitement of being in a relationship subsides, they often discover that their heart really isn't in it! A man marries a lady who is beautiful in his sight but then one morning he wakes up & can't stand the sight of her! Then there's the young lady who is swept off her feet by her "Knight in Shining Armor" because she senses fire & passion in his heart. But one morning she wakes up to realize that he's no knight...but he does stay out all night; his armor is rusted & that fire and passion she sensed was nothing more than the burnt oil on his car motor. Thus, in just a few short years a transformation takes place and if the couple's hearts aren't woven together in true love, then the eyes/mind/body will start to wander!

Still, in church there are plenty of diabetics (those who have too much or too little sugar in the blood) who have heart trouble! In the spiritual realm we can develop diabetes also. It's caused by Pastors not feeding you a balanced diet of the Truth of God's Word but choosing to preach to "itching ears" who only want to hear good things (too much sugar in the sermons!). God knows we all need to hear the meat/vegetables of the Word, even though sometimes hearing it is like swallowing bitter herbs. As a Pastor, let me remind you that everything that's good for you in the Bible doesn't always go down easily! And sometimes, in order for you to swallow/digest these things, you need the water of the Holy Spirit to help it go down so the Word can help you!

Bottom line is that everyone born into this world has heart trouble and we all need a spiritual rebirth to obtain the new heart that God promised to give us. Along with our new heart, God gives us the Holy Spirit who teaches us His ways, reminds us just how good He is, what Jesus has done for us, and most of all convicts us every time we fail to keep God's Word... all of which is necessary to strengthen our hearts.

So, let's get rid of our heart trouble (as the cheerleaders say, "Pump, pump, pump it up, let God's Spirit pump it up!") for HE WILL STRENGTHEN THINE HEART!!!

What's your view on Grace?

Having been brought up in the church and now enjoying the priviledge of pastoring a church for the past five years, I've observed and listened to people's views on what GRACE is and its relevance to their lives. Thus, I've categorized church folk into four types:
1) GRACELESS - The goal of people in this category is to fulfill all desires; their motto is "It's all about me". Whether or not they can afford things, they buy them simply because they feel they deserve it. These people live it up, thinking "if it feels good, do it!" If you are that type of person, please read Romans 1:18-32. In these verses you're warned that there is no excuse for the things you do. It also says that if you don't bother to acknowledge God, He'll let you do what you want but eventually all hell will break loose in your life. 2) GRACE-ROBBERS - The goal of people in this category is to be better than others are not afraid to let them know it! They're always comparing their lives to others (I'm prettier, more handsome, bigger, or smarter than you!). They are quick to point out another's short-comings. You might even say that these people are "stuck up!". And even if they admit their faults, they will justify it by saying that they're not as bad as others. And I can't leave out that they like to make others feel guilty. Now if you fall into this category, please read Romans 2:1-11 and my question to you is, "Who gave you authority to judge your brother?". As you read these verses you can clearly see the warning that when you point fingers at others, criticizing them, you condemn yourself!
3) GUILTY-GRACE - The goal of people in this category is to convince God that they're good, thus they deserve to go to heaven. Theses people stress themselves out thinking they never do enough good or have enough time to do good things. And if they find something they like to do, they immediately stop because they feel it's sinful because they're full of guilt and fear. For those of you in this category, please read Romans 2:17-3:20. The summation of these verses is that you can't earn your way into heaven. If you have faith/trust God and are obedient to His Word, this is credited to you as righteousness...and that's God's gift to you. Heaven will be your reward!
4) GRACEFUL - People in this category live by the strategy, "In Christ alone I place my trust and I want to know Him better"! These people love the Lord with their whole heart, mind, and soul. They are often described as follows: calm & peaceful, not perfect just forgiven, were lost but now found, and are saved by grace! That's the kind of person I'm striving to be...full of grace and trying to live according to God's Word. Others of you who fit into this category already know the summation of Romans 1:16-17, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes and the righteous man will live by faith".

All of the above types of people are found in every church...WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

"It's hard to stay clean when you live in a Pigpen"

As I get older, I find myself reflecting on things involving my children at a young age. I remember my wife & I always got frustrated when we got them dressed to go to church & by the time we finished getting dressed, they were "tore up from the floor up!". As adults living in this sin-sick world, we often pick up some its dirt because it's hard talking, acting, & living like a child of God under these difficult conditions. The majority of the people we encounter on a daily basis don't view this world as we Christians do. Let's face it, for us, the world has become a spiritual pigpen & it's hard to stay clean when you live in a pigpen!

Yet, Christians have experienced this problem from the beginning; that's why we have to read our instructional manual on living...the Bible. The Word tells us not to become unequally yoked w/unbelievers. Certain things are just fundamentally incompatible (oil/water don't mix). This principle applies to Christians/non-Christians. That's why Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:17, "If anyone is in Christ He is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come". God knows that association brings on assimilation which is why He has called us out to be set apart from the world. This means that we are to separate ourselves from the evil desires, motives & behaviors of the past so that we can spend time with Him, serve Him & do His will.

Christians are the light of the world, the salt of the earth & as ambassadors for Christ we've been given the job of influencing the world for Him. Herein lies our dilemma; in our mission to lead others to Christ, we run the risk of being so close to the world that we become just like it! But we can't have a positive impact on non-believers if we adapt their habits, language & appearance. The old adage says, if you hang around sick people long enough, you'll catch what they've got! In other words, we can't walk with God & run with the devil at the same time! Because if we play w/fire long enough, we will get burned! So we must continually do the things which lead to a life of holiness, i.e., repent of our sins, reverence God & spend more time with our Bros/Sis in Christ.

Finally, since we are commanded to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must learn to master the art of making contact with the world without being contaminated by it. Just as when you work with hazardous waste materials you must wear protective clothing, Christians must wear protective clothing too (the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation & the sword of the spirit). Although we've been given a tough job, we can do it and stay clean in the process. All we need to do is read & listen to God's instructions; this can be accomplished by being consistent in our attendance at church, Sunday School & Bible Study, so that our swords will stay sharpened. And by helping one another,
God will help us to stay clean!

Are You Thirsty?

I was reading John 4:7-30 this morning as I sipped some of the best coffee I have ever made. When I finished the coffee, I drank a glass of water and it also tasted good. Then it dawned on me that my water softner had just been serviced and now has a new filter which accounted for the improved taste. Immediately, the Holy Spirit connected my experience to what the scriptures addressed in the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. Jesus brought up the fact that she had 5 ex-husbands & the current man in her life was a live-in boyfriend! Thus, Jesus invited her to let Him become the 7th man in her life. Now Christians should know that the number 7 means "spiritually complete". Therefore, it's easy for you to understand that Jesus was offering to provide the perfect relationship & completely satisfy the needs in her life, which she so desperately searched for in all the wrong places. And, unlike the water in the well, she needed the water that Jesus was offering.

What kind of water have you been drinking lately? If you're trying to find satisfaction in life through anything or anyone besides Jesus Christ, you'll always walk away thirsty. That's why Jesus said that the water He gives will quench your thirst eternally. Sadly, though Christians have the pure water from Jesus Christ, many times we choose to drink the sewer water! And for many, it's difficult to get the taste of sin (sewer water) out of our mouths. That means whatever that habitual sin is that you have tried to quit a million times, yet keep going back to, must be dropped off at Jesus' feet & left there! But I've come to realize that, for some, it's not that you can't let it go as much as you don't want to let it go...you feel you just can't make it without__________(fill in the blank with your favorite sin)!

So, if you're thirsty for pure water, read your Bible for the water is in the Word. If you want to drink of this water, go to a church where the true Word of God is spoken for drinking comes by listening. The Bible is our source of true refreshment and quenching of our thirst. One last thing about this story, after speaking to Jesus the woman at the well went back to town to tell about her experience. What did she do with her water jar? She left it with Jesus!

Maybe it's time you left the sewer water of your life with Jesus and be comforted by His words, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!" For the Lord will always guide you; He'll satisfy your needs in this sun-scorched land, and you'll be like a well-watered garden. And moreso, He will fill you until you become an overflowing river of living water that will bless others as you speak of His goodness!

Do You Practice "Fig Leaf" Righteousness?

Have you ever played hide & seek with your children? I remember playing it with my daughter and when it was her turn to hide, I'd count to 10 & say "ready or not, here I come". I always knew where she hid because her little butt always stuck out from behind the object that she thought kept her from my view (in her mind, she probably thought, "Daddy can't see me because I can't see him!"). And, even though I saw her I'd pretend to keep looking so she could run back to the base.

This made me think about how we act towards God today and how it all started with Adam & Eve. When God called out to them, He already knew where they were, but He did it to make them fully aware of their sin (eating the forbidden fruit...disobedience!). Like my daughter, Adam & Eve probably thought that because they couldn't see God, He couldn't see them. And ever since, people have been playing Hide & Seek with God. Some hide in materialism (working several jobs to buy more things, even choosing to work on Sundays rather than attend church), others hide in the pleasures of this world (too busy having a good time to be bothered with God); but it doesn't matter where we try to hide, God sees all & knows all things!

Who we are today is a direct result of this Genesis story. Despite God's warning Adam & Eve sinned and when God came to them they tried to hide by donning fig leaves. Some of us today practice what I call "fig leaf" righteousness because we try to cover ourselves by doing "good works"! In our minds we say, Lord I messed but I fixed it...I'm a good person, not a sinner. But fig leaves were inadequate when Adam & Eve stood before God, just like our good works will be useless at Judgment day! For He knows that we commit our sins in secret and present a false face to the public but on the day of reckoning our deeds will be exposed and we will be judged by Jesus Christ!

Yet, there is reason to hope. Even though Adam & Eve should have been punished by death for their sin, God granted them mercy...an animal died in their stead. Although their sin was exposed & their nakedness was a symbol of it, Adam & Eve didn't have to remain naked, because God covered their sin. And even though we show our guilt by trying to hide from God as well as one another, I want you to remember that Jesus Christ has already died on the cross for our sins; the penalty has already been paid, and just as God covered Adam & Eve, believers today are covered by Jesus' blood and clothed in His righteousness!

So why are you trying to hide from God? Stop fooling yourself...YOU CAN'T!!!!!!!!!

Who's in Control of Your Life?

As I worked in my yard this morning, I watched neighbors pass by (walking dogs, pushing strollers & patiently walking w/their toddlers) and my mind began to dwell on this thought...we come into this world under management; we live our lives under management; and we all die under management! Unfortunately too many people live and die under the same management! What am I talking about? The Bible says we are born in sin and from birth we have a sinful nature. But it also says we don't have to live in sin & we don't have to die in sin!
If you believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord & Savior, you're no longer under old management. It's because of what Jesus did on the cross that you & I have a new nature and have been placed under new management! This is confirmed in chapter 2 of the Book of Ephesians.

Every now & then, do you find yourself traveling down memory lane, and sentimentally thinking those were the "good old days"? Let's face it, those days weren't nearly as good as we want to remember. We walked around blinded by our desires to indulge the lusts of the flesh, busy having fun with the women/men, drinking liquor and/or doing drugs. Oh, and we had to work hard to make that money so we could spend it on our "good times"! When you really think about it, we were sinful beings who were self-consuming, and if left unchecked we were headed to self-destruction (I'm sure you know someone, a friend, relative or acquaintance, whose life was destroyed by that type of continued behavior).

Thank God for His saving Grace for I am a new creation; old things/wants/desires have passed away & new things have come into my life! Now if you don't fully understand that last statement, maybe this analogy will help: When Standard Oil first started refining petroleum it left a black, sticky, stink residue that no one knew what to do with. A chemist found a solution to the problem & turned the residue into paraffin (a white shiny substance used in candles today). Well, like that chemist, God takes the dirty, sticky, stinking parts of our lives & applies His cleansing agent (the blood of Jesus Christ) to remove the dirt. And for those of us who have gone through this process, we have been cleansed/re-created--- in the past we walked in sin, but in the present we are walking in righteousness--- in the past we were dead in sin, but in the present we are alive in Jesus Christ---and in the past we were under old managment (Satan's) but in the present it's the new management of God which is in control of our lives!
Who's in control of your life?

Who's Winning the Fight Between your Ears?

Christians, have you ever felt the burden of your "walk" weighing heavily on your shoulders? You probably thought to yourself, "My life was so much easier when I was out in the world, living carefree, had it 'going on', and not feeling guilty about the choices I make; but, from the time I made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to live more holy, I'm finding it more difficult each day to "walk in the light"! Welcome to the "club", every Christian goes through those feelings throughout their Christian walk, especially those who have been called to lead God's people!

You must realize that the biggest battles we Christians face occur between our ears...in the mind! Our mind is the doorway into who we are, thus the mind is the area that is most attacked by the enemy, the DEVIL! II Corinthians 10:5 admonishes us to bring our thoughts into captivity, but understand that it's not our thoughts that causes problems in our lives, it's what we do in response to our thoughts that usually get us into trouble.

The devil knows that once he infiltrates our thoughts, he can then infiltrate our entire being. Think on this...the mind works in two modes, replay (memory) and pre-play (imagination). That's why we often have to deal with the thoughts generated by the things we've allowed into our lives. And, much of what we think about is a direct result of the bad choices we've made!

I Corinthians 2:16 tells us we have the mind of Christ. Now think on these things...What if you lived your life with the mind of Christ; would you view the world & your church differently? What if you made it a point of pleasing God & God alone? You must realize that by bringing your thoughts into captivity, you will stop allowing the enemy to hinder your walk with Christ!

So, are you a person who controls your mind

or

a person who is controlled by your mind?

LOVE is the Word!

Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is actually an emotion tha we are called to share with the world...LOVE! We are to love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind and we must love our neighbors as ourselves. That last part adds a whole new dynamic to this command.

We Christians should be known by society as people who Love, which leads to forgiveness; Love, which forces us to care; Love, which beckons generosity; Love, which won't allow us to sit by & watch others suffer; and Love, that recognizes what Christ did on the cross for us. And we should feel compelled to share that story with everyone we come in contact with. In other words, we are called to reflect the love of Christ to the world in which we live!

Yet I, like many of you, know other Christians who aren't known for showing love towards others. This is a shame because when Christ walked the earth, it was His Love, His Forgiveness, His Caring, & His Compassion which drew people to Him. And as believers in Him, we should be known for the same.

Now is the time for us to stop being distracted by things that don't really matter in our salvation walk and start focusing in on the commandment that Christ told us was the greatest; we need to stand up to shine Jesus' light to show God's love to the world!

Remember, LOVE is the Word!

It's Time for Men to "Come to Order"!

Although this blog speaks specifically to men today, you ladies will surely benefit from reading it also. I was doing yardwork today and came across some dandelions (a weed-like flower) in my grass, even though my lawn is professionally treated to curtail their growth every month. The dollarweeds have disappeared, but the dandelions continue to spring back up...they just don't seem to die! Immediately my thoughts turned to fatherhood. You see, "good fathers" endure the many hardships of marriage & parenting; yes we make mistakes but we continue to persevere and eventually thrive because of our "never give up" attitude. And that's exactly like the dandelion...it's able to take great amounts of abuse, yet it springs up and thrives in the midst of adversity.

Brothers, God ordained and has given men the responsibility for Fathering and we're to do this by specifically leading our households in worshipping the Lord; teaching & training our children, and setting examples of Godliness & Holiness for our families. But even if you don't personally have children, God has called you to set an example for those you know who need a father figure in their lives. However, the devil has set out to destroy what God has ordained, thus he began his attack on us men, corrupting families in the home, in the church and basically doing all he can to sabotage God's plan. If you don't believe it...

• Who is usually missing in the home? Dad!
• Who is often the most difficult for children to communicate with? Dad!
• What is the weakest ministry in most churches? Men's Ministry!
• And in most churches, the ratio of willing workers between men & women is 1 man for every 3 women!

Now based on these facts alone, it appears that the devil has been successful in corrupting the way many of us men live our lives today, so I'm calling out to all men to step up to the plate & reclaim what God has placed in you from the foundation of the world...I challenge you to take on the role of "leader" in your home and in your church! To do this, order must be established or restored to your life:

1)Your relationship with God must take priority over your home/job. Remember, a child is not likely to find a Father in God unless he finds something of God in his father! (they need to see us demonstrate faithfulness to God by reading our Bibles, praying, attending church regularly & showing love/affection to our wives, as well as them.

2) Next to your relationship with God, the family is your highest priority! And the greatest job in our lives is to teach & train up a child in the ways he should go, so that when he grows old, he will not depart from it. So fathers, take care of business at home and tend to your family (manage the household, and lay a great foundation for your children/grandchildren to follow for they are part of your legacy here on earth).

3) Remember, God first, then family, then the job! Maybe you feel as though you have to devote extra time to your job in order to be blessed, so you put everything else on the backburner to earn 'mo money, mo money, mo money'! Well, you can't side-step the ways of God & find blessings w/your own formula for a successful career. Get your priorities straight....work is necessary, but it's not meant to dominate our lives!

Brothers, when we set our priorities in place, we'll find the stage is set for the Lord to bless us, (our wives will begin to submit & our children will begin to obey) but it all begins with us doing the right thing. Only then will God help us to make a real impact on this world we live in!

You can start today by asking God to forgive you of your past mistakes and to help you set your priorities in order for the future!

Don't be Deceived!

Christians, please be on guard! Just because something sounds good and make us feel good, doesn't mean it's what God wants us to hear. I've been on my salvation walk a long time during which I've seen other believers, once full of zeal for the Lord, led astray. Why is that? As I think about it, it's simple; our sinful nature wants to hear what we like to hear (which is usually not the whole truth). So, if we don't like what the preacher says in his sermons, we usually leave and go where the whole truth is not spoken. Why? Because we're more comfortable there and we won't be faced with being convicted by the Word of God!

Satan is alive and well and he'll try to deceive God's Elect, if possible. But we can protect ourselves from his deception and lies by: 1)reading and studying the Bible for Jesus says that we are to study to show ourselves approved; and, 2) we must pray so that the Holy Spirit will guide us in discerning what is truth and who is false among us!

When you engage in these things, bit by bit, you'll begin to understand the importance of God's message. And His message will oppose the attitudes of this world, and sometimes the attitudes of some church congregations , even some church leaders! That's why as believers, we must carefully examine those who claim to speak God's truth, for it's our responsibility to be on guard against the deception and lies that are designed to mislead and confuse us, thus hindering our salvation walk. Peter's words to the church still apply to us Christians today, "...prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:13).

WARNING!!!

From this day forward, join me in exhibiting self-control, being alert, and being on guard for the tricks of the enemy or

HE WLL GET YOU, TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Message for the Discontent

I'm sitting here thinking about how many times I've been told to take authority over my life. And each time this advice was offered, it sounded good. But as I've matured in my faith I realize that only God has absolute authority over our lives! Yet He allows our lives to be segmented so that different individuals or government officials have authority over different areas of our lives. At home, there's accountability to family members (parental authority); on the job you're accountable to your boss; at church there's spiritual leadership (pastoral authority); and in society the are civil authorities, but none of these have a right to govern our entire lives!

As an adult, have you ever pondered these thoughts: Does God have the right to put me anywhere He wants in relationship to other people? Does the person over me have to be smarter than me, more capable than me, more spitiual than me? Are there certain criteria they have to meet before I submit to them? Why am I not in charge since I'm more capable than the other person? Why was I passed over for that promotion when it's obvious that I'm more capable or more spiritual than the person who was promoted? If you've contemplated these things and decided to rebell, then the root of your rebellion is PRIDE!

Bro/Sis, the Word of God says, "He who exalts himself will be abased but he who humbles himself under the mighty hand of God will be exalted in due time". Don't you know that God gives you favor among those in authority? But by your actions, you can easily lose His favor! So, if you're frustrated and discontent because your role at work or at church isn't as important as you think it ought to be or you're not getting the recognition you feel you deserve, do yourself a favor and start to become more diligent in pleasing the Lord; being faithful and humble in the place that God has given you at this time in your life.

And remember these two things: 1) God wants to bless us and take care of us, but He has to do it His way...and many times He does it through the authority He places over us; and 2) It takes faith to submit to human authority - a faith that can look beyond the person and see a loving God "...working all things together for our good". And in this process God is going to change you or your circumstances, or both!

Are you a Mote Hunter?

Are you or do you know someone who always criticizes and finds fault in others? Jesus said that you who are quick to identify/talk about others' problems usually have even worse problems, and you're just like the Pharisees who saw the sins in others (the "mote" in their eyes) but fail to look at their own sins (the "beam" in your eyes). In other words none of us have room to talk about anybody else because we all have problems of our own!

Jesus never came here to criticize any of us or to find motes(faults) in others...and He is the only perfect being to ever walk this earth. Jesus points out that mote hunters (as I call them) are nothing more than hypocrites who need to do a self-inventory. Sometimes I think that God feels like snatching some of us up by the collar to say, " You are the one who needs to make changes in your life rather than your spouse, your children, your neighbor (who seems to frustrates you), even that relative you can't stand or that friend who tells you the truth about yourself!

Do you ever think that it might be YOU who needs to change? "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts". We must get right ourselves so that we can help others. When Jesus looked upon others He saw them as hungry, needing food; as sheep, needing a shepherd; as sick, needing a doctor; and as sinners, needing a Savior!

So what do you see in others, their needs or their motes?

Are You Ready for Change?

I know it's been more than a week since I last posted a blog, but during that time I was inundated with activities celebrating my church anniversary and my 34th wedding anniversary to my beautiful wife, Queen. As the dust cleared from all the frenzied activities and I'm now able to gather my thoughts, I've decided that since I've just celebrated my 60th birthday, I need to make some necessary changes to experience an even better life during my latter years than I've seen in my younger years. My last child is entering his senior year in college; the other 3 have finished school and have lucrative careers, so now I can concentrate on the well-being of my church and my wife (not necessarily in that order).

Whenever the word change is mentioned, it usually causes people to become anxious & worry. God knows this, that's why He has so many Bible stories where His people struggle with change in their lives. We can learn at least two things from those stories:

• Christians must not be afraid of change. Our God is a God of change, yet He changes not! In Revelation 21:5 He declares, "Behold, I make all things new". When you stop & think about it, God does all kinds of new things in our lives everyday. If you're a born again Christian, you supposedly died to your past as you were buried in the Baptismal water. You then arose supposedly a "changed" person...a new creature in Christ! But some Christians didn't die to their past and so the enemy continues to deceive and control them through their thoughts!

Are you in that number?

• Christians must reach out beyond their comfort zones. God wants us to be challenged by doing those things which are initially uncomfortable to do. And since He is a God of change, He can do great things when we allow Him the freedom to change our lives.

Lord, I'm poised and postured for change in my life. My only question is...."What are you going to do next?" Whatever it is...I'm Ready!!!!!!

If you need a "breakthrough"...Praise Him!

Do you need a victory in some area of your life? Well, instead of always focusing on that situation, on that mountain, just start to praise God for He inhabits your praise.

The Bible says resist the devil & he will flee from you. And I say that your praise coupled with the declaration of God's Word will bind the enemy in chains. Understand that the devil's most common methods of attack are to bring discouragement, negativity, hopelessness & despair into our lives; paralyzing our minds to get our eyes off of God. I've found that the best way to deal with him is to start praising the Lord! Focus on the greatness of God & declare His praises.

Someone reading this blog today is carrying a burden, & you're weighed down with a crushing load. You might say you're living with a spirit of heaviness. But you've got to break that spirit of heaviness & the only way to do it is to put on your garment of praise. You see I know what it feels like to be heavy-hearted & downcast. It's like having a gnawing in the pit of your stomach due to fear, worry, stress & anxiety. Even though we Christians know that the spirit of fear is of the devil, I had to learn for myself to lift my spirits by praising God & encouraging myself. Yes, I'm a witness that once you start praising Him, your burdens will soon be lifted.

So whatever circumstances that seem to imprison you today; maybe a business venture you never should have taken on; a relationship you never should have gotten involved in; some habit/addiction from your past trying to come back upon you even though you've given your life to Christ; whatever it is, begin to praise the Lord. Get your eyes off your prison bars, fix them on Jesus, and Praise Him - Exhalt Him - Testify of His goodness & power - for your praise will secure your release.

Remember, if you don't praise God, you'll never know

the tremendous power of breakthrough that it brings!

Facing Our Temptations

I was in the store yesterday and observed a couple shopping. A fine woman in a short tight dress walked by & the man's eyes followed her as she passed. Without even looking up his wife said, "Was it worth the trouble you're in now?" That's the problem with temptation.

The devil is clever enough to note our habits & observes our hangouts, then he lays out appealing bait just like a fisherman. He can't make us bite, but he knows what happens inside us once we catch a glimpse of his tantalizing bait! Our fleshly nature draws to it, lingering, toying with it & rolling it over in our minds until it consumes our imagination. And that's when the struggle begins because our conscience tells us it's wrong to succumb...but the bait LOOKS SO GOOD!

Each temptation ends with a response...either resist or yield to it. If you've ever resisted it you know the feeling of freedom it brings. Conversely, anyone who's yielded knows the feeling of emptiness that follows when the pain of the devil's hook is in your cheek! And he's always lurking in the shadows, watching & waiting for the next vulnerable moment to strike:

When you're weak - expect a major ssault * When you resist - be ready for a different approach * When he leaves - count on another attack

It's been my experience that by praying, avoiding compromising situations, engaging in Bible study & revealing your struggle to a Godly friend (someone you trust), you can effectively resist temptation (that's why spritual friendships are so important). The more I think about it, for Christians, temptation is really a compliment because it means that you're living for God & headed in the right direction, so Satan has a contract out on you & he roams the earth like a roaring lion, seeking to devour you!

Temptation is stronger than we are, but the God in us is stronger than the temptation. So now when the devil comes knocking at the door of my heart & asks who lives here...Jesus goes to the door & says,"Tim used to live here, he's moved out, now I live here!"

Remember, when Christ fills our lives, Satan has no entrance!

Happiness means Investing in the Right Things!

Today is my birthday, and I was awakened by phone calls starting at 6:30 a.m. from those who wanted to be among the first to acknowledge my special day. After my wife & children took me out for breakfast, I've had time to digest my food & gather my thoughts for this blog today.

Unfortunately, we live in a society which perpetuates a mindset that you must have "things" to be happy (greed). Jesus warns us to watch out & be on guard against all kinds of greed. A man's life doesn't consist in the abundance of his possessions. So don't buy into the lie that the more material things you have, the better your life can be.

As we were eating, my wife & each of my children asked, "What do you want for your birthday?" My response..."I can't think of anything I really need" (I was just enjoying this time of sharing food/laughter/conversation with my family, and that was enough). In the past, I always had a list for them weeks before my birthday, but as I grow older, I 'm satisfied just enjoying the fruit of my labor now that all of our children are grown and have become responsible adults. This took years of painstaking effort & sacrifice for me and my wife to accomplish , but I can see now that it was well worth it!

I know many people (relatives included) who believe that marriages and families are held together by material things alone; truth is material things make lousy cement. That's why we see so many rich celebrities and other wealthy people who are miserable/unhappy & we see their lives literally fall apart because they failed to develop strong relationships. So what makes you think that working overtime or obtaining part-time jobs to earn more money/buy more things will equal happiness for you & yours?

If you're not already doing so, begin to invest more of your time & energy in things that will last and please don't forget to prepare for eternity; Jesus warns us not to end up like the man in the parable of the "rich fool".

Are you rich in the things of this world or are you rich in the things of God?

Are you living as sheep or goats?

Before you answer that question, let me first explain that Jesus used the parable of sheep & goats to describe people based on how well they served those who were in need around them. Sheep are those who see & respond to the needs of people around them with acts of loving service. Goats are those who also see but fail to act to help alleviate at least some of the suffering they witness from the people around them.

Christians have a responsibility to be personally & intimately involved in our service of giving. I believe there are people that God specifically places in our lives for us to help for He has chosen us Christians to be the answer to much of the suffering that's all around us. So I ask you again, are you sheep or are you goats?

I understand that to live the way that God calls us to is not an easy task. But do all you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, as often as you can, to all the people you can , as long as you can!

When we live with the attitude that every act of kindness is a direct service to Jesus Christ & believe that we will be rewarded with eternal life in heaven with Him, it will become a joy for us to seek ways in which to meet the needs of those who come our way!

Don't be a GOAT!

Experiencing Jesus is Real JOY!

Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ requires us to unlearn several things: selfishishness and being mean/evil towards others. Also, letting go of "bad" habits, people, and many other things in order to follow Him. At the same time we will begin to change our lives from being self-centered to God-centered through developing "good" habits of discipleship...

love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control

God expects every follower to develop these behaviors...and that takes time! So as you begin to experience growth in your discipleship, I warn you now...you'll be talked about and ridiculed, and people will hate on you for no reason! But don't be discouraged, for that's all part of becoming a disciple.

Just continue showing the world that you're serious about your salvation walk & commitment to your new life in Christ Jesus and as you mature and are strengthened in your relationship with God, you'll begin to experience real JOY in your life...when you put

Jesus first-Others next-and Yourself last!

Give God Your Praise

God wants our sincere heartfelt worship and praise is our main method of worship & acknowledgement of God's presence in our lives. As we continually offer our praise to Him, there are benefits we'll receive from God:
1. Praise causes us to focus on God. We express our gratitude to Him for the good things that happens to us; "Every good & perfect gift comes from God..." (James 1:17). Although God loves it when we acknowledge all the good things He's given us, He likes it even more when we tell somebody (that's praise)!
2. Praise increases our understanding of God. II Corinthians 9:8 says, "God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that inevery way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work". I've learned that if we praise God for what He has done for us, we'll begin to understand that He is able. And, when we praise God for what He will do for us, we'll understand that He can bless us abundantly above all that He says He will do. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
3. Praise builds our confidence in God. Moses expressed confidence in God because he'd already seen what God was capable of. God was able to release the chosen people from the bonds of slavery...and He did! I'm just as confident as Moses when I tell you that I know God is able. I know God has turned circumstances & situations upside down...just for me! He has opened doors for me that I thought were shut! He has made a way for me to earn an advanced degree with no visible means of my being able to pay tuition at the time; and I could go on & on about His works on my behalf. But I must share one last thing before I quit. Some of you might remember the "death flight" from Atlanta to Miami in the late 1990's when the plane crashed into the Everglades, killing all on board. Well, I was scheduled to board that flight in Atlanta but for reasons puzzling to me at the time, I was unable to get through the terminal & was extremely upset as I watched my flight depart while I stood in line! Imagine how thankful I was the next day when I found out what happened. That made me realize that God is able & will protect us from ourselves, even when we're determined to do that which He knows would be detrimental to us. Thank God for His grace & mercy!

God is the joy & the strength of my life

He promised to keep me, never to leave me

to never, never fall short of His Word

God is my all and all & I'll continue to Praise Him!!!!!!

We need our Daily Bread!

I wonder how often Christians go to church & leave feeling encouraged/strengthened after having been fed the Word; then go out into the sea of people, resuming their daily routines & soon find themselves scared & discouraged? These days, most of us live paycheck to paycheck, worrying about having enough money to pay bills, etc. How quickly we forget about the power that Jesus has to meet our every need.

Oh Christians, if you're serious about your salvation walk, worry that you don't have enough Jesus in you to make it into heaven! Even though I'm a Pastor, I know I need more of Him; I can never have enough of the Holy Spirit; and definitely I know I'm not strong enough to make it without a daily renewal & refilling of God's Word.

But there are some Christians who've been running on "empty" for so long, they've forgotten what it's like to be filled with the power & Spirit of God. They've stopped looking for spiritual food because they've forgotten about God & have gone back to fulfilling the desires of the flesh. Bros/Sis I don't care how much of the Bible you think you know, don't let your gauge run low...you still need to feed daily upon God's Word! After all, we don't forget to feed our bodies or else we'll starve to death, yet many Christians neglect to feed the Spirit within that's starving!

Yes, life is a daily struggle so don't be overly concerned about tomorrow & what it holds for you. My advice to you is whenever you feel empty, go to the Word (Jesus); whenever you feel discouraged, go to the Word (Jesus); and whenever there are no answers in sight, look to the Word (Jesus)!

Jesus is the Bread of Life and we all need to feed upon Him each & every day!

Are You a Faultfinder?

Have you ever heard of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Gamblers Anonymous? Well there's another club of the same order and I'm calling it Faultfinders Anonymous. If I were to attend a club meeting I'd probably introduce myself in this manner: Hi, I'm Tim Hicks & I'm a faultfinder; there's really nothing wrong with me but if you think I have problems, no matter how bad I am, you're no better than me! Am I delusional or what? Talk about self-deception!

Faultfinders find fault with successful people because of their own insecurities. They're just jealous and think they'll feel better about themselves if they find flaws in others & put down their success. Is that you?

Faultfinders also operate like Racists. They look at their own failures but can't admit they messed up, so they find someone else to blame. That Black man got the job I should have had; oh they just hired that Hispanic girl just for show; Asians always stick together come hell or high water; Blondes always have more fun & manage to get the easy office assignments! I know you've heard people say these things, yet they seem to think it's alright to put people down!
Are you guilty?

The fact is that hurting people become faultfinders because they need somebody to fix them. Hurting people build up unrealistic expectations for their doctors, spouses, friends, even their pastors. And when these people don't have the magic answer to their problems, anxiety makes them turn on those who've tried to help them.

If you realize by now that you're a member of faultfinders anonymous, I want to point you to Jesus, who was the ultimate victim of hostility; Jesus, the one on whose shoulders all of humanity's sin & shame was poured; Jesus the one who still loves us unconditionally! So if you're hurting today, seeking answers to your problems or wondering if you're going to make it through your present situation...take it to the Lord in prayer.

For in Him we can find no fault & in Him there is no failure!!!

Awesome Fathers

Yesterday I attended a birthday celebration for one of my friends who is in the ministry. What was most gratifying were the expressions of love heaped upon him by his wife & especially his children. I saw a man being celebrated by a loving wife who shares with him the pride of having successfully reared fine children. Now ladies, if you are a loving mother, I applaude you as you deserve the recognition heaped upon you by society & more! But at the same time, I must acknowledge the fact that our society has failed to adequately recognize us fathers who work hard to establish a right relationship with our families.

Being a father has an awesome responsibility. As one who has been "tried by the fire" of three sons & a daughter, I want to share with the male readers some things that fathers do which can discourage & damage children: 1) Ignore them-if you have no time for your children, this soon creates within them a deep-seated resentment & they grow up feeling unloved/unaccepted; 2) Indulge them-if you give them everything they want, you spoil them & they always end up wanting more because they are never satisfied;
3) Insult/Intimidate them-be careful not to continuously criticize them. Sarcasm, riddiculing, threatening & unfair expectations can kill a child's self-esteem quicker than anything...sometimes scarring them for life!

God wants us to be engaging & encouraging to our children...after all they are a gift from Him.

P.S. Every now & then, take each child individually & reaffirm your love for him, yet be careful never to show favoritism. Happy Parenting!

God doesn't need our Help

I was just sitting here thinking that the sin of judging another person is as big a sin as any other. Be on guard for when we Christians become convinced that we're walking according to God's will, that's when we become dangerous in our attitude, developing

a self-righteous spirit!

The self-righteous person begins to place albatrosses around the necks of other believers, creating boundaries for what he/she believes is righteous living (no make-up, must wear long dresses/skirts to church, only listen to gospel music, no dancing or going to the movies, etc.). This is the kind of stuff the Pharisees did to the people & by the time Christ came along, they had produced a heartless, cold & arrogant brand of righteousness.

When we place religious restrictions on people, we're holding them accountable to man while accountability to God is lost! This kind of attitude creates a judgmental spirit in the church and a false standard of righteousness which burdens the believer so much that there's no room for joy in their salvation!

God judges what we do according to the attitude of our heart when we do it. and He shows no favoritism amongst believers. So let's be careful not to become judgmental. We can inspect the fruit that our Bros/Sis in Christ bear & encourage each other to live for God by genuinely showing love, compassion & patience when they mess up. In this process we allow God to do His work without interference from us. After all, He doesn't need our help!

Get Committed

As a pastor, I'm concerned about the church's impact upon society...or lack thereof. I finally came to grips with the fact that many church members made a decision about Christ, but haven't made a commitment to Him!

Humor me a moment; close your eyes & think of what God has done in your life. When we begin to reflect on God's goodness we see that we owe Him our commitment. My Bible tells me that we are to be living sacrifices which is our reasonable service to Him. We can't be sort of committed...you either are or you're not!

Now for those of you who are just a little bit dilusional about your commitment to God & your church, I'll leave you with this illustration for you to ponder:

A chicken & a pig talked about donating ham & eggs to feed the hungry. Now for the chicken to give eggs would be considered a donation on his part. On the other hand, for the pig to give ham would be an act of total commitment.

Are you getting the picture? When you professed Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior and joined a church, you were not supposed to become just a spectator. You were to commit yourself to the ministry of the church & use the spiritual gift(s) that God has given you.

I want to challenge you to get fully committed to the Lord for it's not too late. Then look for opportunities to put your talents & abilities to work. Stop waiting for someone in the church to ask you...volunteer! And remember the greatest ability is your availability!

Do you live the life you speak about?

Today has been very busy for me. And, although I'm tired and feeling the effects of this heat...I still feel good!

When I think about it, Christians should be the most joyous people on earth! It should show through our eyes, on our faces, through our expressions and in our body language. In fact, everything about us should speak to others about our relationship with God.

I must pause and give Him praise because God is sooo good!!!!!!!

I want you to remember that when you witness to others, the words which come from your mouth are useless if you aren't real...your words must match your life, for that's the only way to be an effective witness for Christ.

"Get Up---God's got your Back!"

As I get older I find myself reminiscing more often. I remember how I first learned to ride my Bike (A shiny red Western Flyer complete w/handlebar streamers). Sometimes my foot slipped off the pedal... I fell; if I wobbled...I fell; when I hit something...I fell; it seems that at the beginning I fell more than I rode! The point is each time I fell, I got up & tried again until I learned...that's life!

In this life we all fall, get knocked/pushed down by something or find ourselves in circumstances over which we have no control (loss of a job/spouse or other loved one/sickness). If you're reading this & it hasn't happened to you yet, oh it's coming!

If you're in a season of lingering despair the devil will tempt you to turn back to your old ways of handling problems...he'll try to hook you back up w/people who were no good for you (the very ones you said you'll never have anything else to do with). And before you realize it, you've gone back to drinking/smoking/drugs or indulging in other vices trying to forget about your problems. The devil is a trickster and he'll even tell you to compromise yourself to get what you want/need because you've waited long enough so you need to take matters into your own hands. Am I right?

I encourage you to wait just a little while longer for God is aware when you're trying to live right yet things are happening to you that don't make sense. He allows these things to happen so that you learn to walk by faith. And in time you'll see that He was moving on your behalf even in your trials.

Remember, just because you're down, you don't have to stay there. Get up knowing that---

God's got your back!!!!

Let's learn to Forgive

In today's world retaliation is a common thing but believers are called to be different. We must pray for those who do us wrong, forgive them & minister to them.

Why should we forgive? Because if we forgive others, God will forgive us (Matthew 6:14-15).
Who should we forgive? Those who sin against us (Luke 17: 3-4)
How can we forgive? Live by the Holy Spirit's power/let Him take control of our lives (Galatians 5:22-25)

Do yourself a favor & say, "Lord help me to stop holding grudges, resentment or anything else against my Bro/Sis so I won't hinder fellowship w/You".

Then take it a step further by saying, "Lord heal me emotionally, mentally, relationally, and spiritually from past hurts; help me to be less critical, judgmental & harsh w/people as I remember how much You overlook my faults".

And, finally say, "Lord help me to take full responsibility for my own faults, failures & bad attitude". For when we experience the wonder of God's forgiveness, we'll forgive others as He has forgiven us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Now go on, you know you need to forgive someone for something they did or said to you.

Do it today!!!

When was the last time you made God smile?

Have you ever noticed how a person in love always talks about the object of his/her affection? I'm not just talking about relationships; the guy who loves football will gravitate to others who share his passion for the game & talk about it constantly. The same holds true about politics, fishing, hunting, or any number of other loves. Well, God's special treasure, His segula, are those who love to get together to share of His goodness & mercy!

I believe that the world is looking to see if those of us who call ourselves Christians are for real. They look to see if we're really different, especially during this time of recession. Bros/Sis, it's during the dark times that we should talk about the Lord & at every given opportunity we should speak to others about God's Blessings and how He answers prayer.

In the Book of Malachi, God looked down on this sinful earth, saw man's heatheness/idolatry & He probably said, "I didn't make them for that, I made them to love me & to fellowship with me. No one seemed to care much about knowing Him...except His remnant (segula). God eavesdropped on them & He enjoyed what He heard so much that He had it written down in the Book of Remembrance.

That's what God does, He listens to our conversation/prayers/testimonies about Him & He calls on an angel to take notes so He can have a permanent record of what was said/who said it.
Even today the Lord still eavedrops; He continues to listen to us talking about Him in our churches, in our homes, at school, in the workplace & in our private conversations...and it brings a smile to His face!

When was the last time you made God smile?

It's For Your Good!

Too often we go to church to sit at God's dinner table, yet refuse to eat what He has set before us because we don't like the taste of it. As I thought about this, I realize that our attitude towards God's table & His Word reminds me of children who refuse to eat their vegetables, because they prefer sweet tasting desserts & junk foods. We tend to refuse to accept that part of God's Word that makes us feel bad/leave a bad taste in our mouths even though that part of His Word is often the spiritual food we need most to make us strong & healthy in our relationship with Jesus Christ.



Sunday after Sunday many Christians sit in church listening to the Word of God preached but it makes very little difference in their lives simply because they refuse to accept it. Consequently that's why many of you still do the things you've always done, go to places you've always gone & continue to live the lifestyle you've always lived. It's obvious that you come to church but you really don't want to hear the truth! If you're being checked by the Holy Spirit as you read this message, you know that there are some things in your life that need correcting and God is saying, "now is the time to get things right!"



Be honest with yourself...is everything right between you & Jesus? Are you living for Him & learning more of Him each day? Praise the Lord if you are, because that's where we all need to be!



Understand that some things which are written in God's Word are bitter to our spirit but they are meant to cleanse us from sin. Oftentimes, responsible parents must force-feed green vegetables to their children to ensure proper growth & health. Though they are initially resistant to the taste, children (especially boys) continue to eat them because their parents sucessfully conveyed the message that eating vegetables is necessary for them to grow up big & strong. Consequently, the vegetables begin to taste better because the child wants to be bigger & stronger.



By the same token, God's messages and warnings to believers may be bitter to the taste, if we're not living right, but it's exactly what we need to become stronger & to get right with God!
So, from now on, when you hear the Word, learn to take the bitter with the sweet...

It's for your good!

"Clean up your Temple"

Everyone knows the importance of removing the trash from our homes, especially from the kitchen area. Why? Because if we keep it inside the house too long, it begins to stink! After all, we don't want to live in a dwelling that's not clean. Well my Bros/Sis, God says that we are the temple where He chooses to dwell but in order to do so we need to open the doors of our temple & take out the trash!



Many people today have closed the doors of their temple where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is concerned and have become like old cellars that's closed up from the light, i.e., they've become cold, dark beings with ugly things crawling around in their hearts & minds. The Good News that I want to share with you today is that by opening the doors of your temple (your ears & eyes) and allowing the truth of God's Word to enter in, Its disinfecting power is so strong that Clorox & Oxyclean can't touch it!



It's time that you clean up your temple by taking out the trash including fear, loneliness, grief & disappointment (believe it or not, these keep us from maintaining a right relationship with God as much as the "sinful" things we do!). If you've allowed the cares of this world to get you down just say Lord, in Jesus' name, please take despair, hopelessness, bitterness & depression out of my temple. And God will give you a clean heart, renew a right spirit in you & restore the joy of you salvation!



So, what are you waiting for? Today is trash day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It starts tomorrow...

Good Evening to all my eager followers,

Starting Thursday, July 15, 2010 I will be posting daily thoughts which will speak to your spirit to help address personal issues that we all deal with from time to time. So adjust your schedules to include time for daily reading and feel free to post any questions, comments or concerns.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim~