Mother's Day Message

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you Deuteronomy 5:16 (NKJV). 

Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV). 

Parent hood and marriage are both about sacrifice. You can't be selfish and have a good parent child relationship or a good marriage with your spouse. The reason why is God intended both the roles of spouse and parent to be selfless roles. We see a reference of the giving and loving of our spouse in Ephesians 5:25. In Deuteronomy 11:19 you are told to raise your kids right, even to the point of suggesting you teach them at all times, when your sitting, walking, day, night ,whenever, etc. That takes time and yes sacrifice. People don't realize sometimes the sacrifices parents have to make, to teach or care for their children. We sometimes take it for granted, or think our parents always had it easy, or that they will always be around. Same thing with marriage we can take each other for granted or not realize the sacrifices being made by the spouse. Parent hood or marriage are also not always easy callings. There will always be disagreements but by the grace of God a family will stick together no matter what! So, happy mothers day to y'all. God's peace to those that reflect this day on the mother they have lost. God be with you all: Father, son, and holy spirit , amen!

What the Cross Means to me

Hello everyone and greetings in the name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Before I share the message let’s have a word of prayer. Heavenly father I give you thanks and praise for the gift of Jesus your son to us. By his death and resurrection all of us can be sure of our eternity. In Jesus name amen.

 Tonight I’m going to share a message so important that an eternity hangs in the balance over it. Jesus Christ was crucified, died, rose again, and ascended into heaven all, so we could receive forgiveness. All you have to do is turn to Jesus and accept the gift he is offering which is salvation. If you don’t know that message then I’m glad I got to share it with you.

When I was younger my grandma bought me a small silver cross. I was asked by someone what the cross meant to me? At the time, I was not sure how to answer that question. I was younger and probably just thought it was a nice piece of jewelry. Well, a little more experienced now I can answer that question. The truth is I don’t feel the cross has just one meaning but several. The first meaning, is a fulfillment of God’s promise, of a messiah that would suffer and die for us then rise again. God has a perfect track record of keeping his promises. The second meaning, is ultimately our forgiveness. Jesus death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice for God, so that we may inherit eternal life. The third meaning is, the cross puts our own suffering in perspective. I cannot imagine the pain Jesus endured on our behalf. I don’t think even my greatest pain thus far in life, even comes close to the pain he felt. With the third meaning I’m not trying to down play anyone’s struggles. There is no doubt that the world has a lot of pain. Thank God we have a healer, comforter, and savior all in Jesus Christ. With Jesus and looking at all he endured I know with his help I can make it through any situation. For those of you that are hearing about Jesus and are ready to accept him this closing prayer is for you, also believers if you feel you need this prayer as well.

Closing prayer: Heavenly father I know that I’m a sinner. I know that you sent Jesus to save sinners just like me. I pray that you will heal my heart and soul from any damage sin has caused. I turn fully to Jesus and openly accept him into my heart. I give you thanks heavenly father in the name of Jesus. 

If it is Good News Then Share it!

“If it is good News Then Share it”

                My friend Corey that wants to be a minister. He has a group called Glory to God through Jesus Christ. He made a challenge to his group called the Holy Spirit challenge. Calling people on his page to share more prayers, sermons, and scripture. What a great call.

                Now brothers and sisters in Christ what about us? Are we looking for opportunities to be a light to those around us? Either by sharing our gifts with the less fortunate or just offering encouraging words. What about sharing the good news of Jesus? God never called his followers to withhold gifts or the gospel. God called us actually to help the less fortunate and to preach. If it is good news? Why keep it to yourself? The world is broken and needs more good news.

                Sharing a word of prayer can be of great encouragement too. You would be surprised what little things can brighten someone’s day. God cares so much for his children and is eagerly awaiting for people to deny their old selfish ways of the flesh and turn to him and walk in his spiritual ways. Jesus made the path to God we just have to walk down it, by trusting in Jesus and walking in life by his example. Following Jesus’s example by helping others and setting higher standards for ourselves than the world gives. Jesus had his will aligned with God’s not his own. Jesus walked the Earth teaching, caring, healing, and denying himself to any temptation or anything outside of God’s will every step of the way. What a great example to follow.

Closing prayer: Glorious God we give you thanks on this day for your word in the scriptures. Enlighten us today with your word and fill us with your spirt, through Jesus Christ our Lord amen.

Scriptures to reflect on: Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15, Colossians 1:23, and Romans 12:15. 

Spectators and Witnesses

“Spectators or Witnesses”

When you think of a spectator, what comes to mind? When I think of a spectator I think of an onlooker. I think of Jesus crucifixion many watched or mocked him, on his way to suffer death. When you think of a witness what comes to mind? Is it some dramatic justice TV show? What comes to my mind when I think of a witness, is someone brave enough to talk about what they felt or observed, in any given situation. A witness to me is an active role. While a spectator is more of just a watching role or someone that goes with what the rest of the crowd, like at a concert one applauds they all applaud. A witness I could see going against the grain if it means getting the truth out there.

We should fit into the category of witnesses. We should be active participants in our faith. John put it this way in his epistle, we have seen and testify the Father has sent the son to be the savior of the whole world (1 John 4:12-14 NKJV). Notice that John said testify, this is just like what a witness does on the witness stand in court, where you expected to always tell the truth. Likewise we as believers, should always speak the truth according to what the gospel teaches. The apostles were active witnesses of Jesus and God. An example of them being active witnesses, is when the apostles received the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:4 (NKJV). Some of the people watching mocked but they still preached. Saint Stephen gave a powerful Sermon before the Sanhedrin in Acts 7(NKJV), before getting stoned to death. He still went up and delivered a testimony before the Sanhedrin likely knowing the consequences, this was a time of great persecution for the Christians.

An important thing to realize is testifying to the truth, will probably not make you popular. Some trapped in the world’s many desires, still don’t like to hear of repentance or hell fire, just like in Jesus time. Even some Christians don’t like hearing the hell fire messages. A worldly gospel of believe in God it will get you great wealth, is going to attract more people than the truth of that the apostles sacrificed a lot, for the gospel and the early church. Jesus gave it all to do the will of God. Let us remember Jesus warned the world wouldn’t like us because they didn’t like him either (John 15:18-19 NKJV). The good news is if you’re not popular for telling the truth and your faith, it means you are of God, the verse later says. We Christians have a piece of mind knowing while we might not get the most rewards on Earth, we know we have a great eternity waiting for us with God. That is something great to attest too, Jesus saved us and we can have eternal life with God.

May the Lord bless you and keep you all, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit amen.