What About The Children?

I have been watching the news lately, and unfortunately it has been heart breaking concerning our children.  I use the word our simply because as Christians it is our responsibility to take charge and care for them.  More and more of our kids are dying in either a car accident, or being shot.  You do not know whether to keep them locked safely in your home or to let them out.  Our children are being influenced by all manners and ways of life that is not pleasing to our Heavenly Father.  When will we take a stand?

While I realize that this is the time of year for graduation and proms for our younger generation, it is my belief that we need to spend a little more time putting the word of God in them and admonishing them not to participate in drinking alcohol, smoking or using drugs.  We must also admonish them not to drive with others who do use alcohol or drugs.  The enemy always comes to kill, steal and destroy; however, the responsibility lays with us.  Jesus said in Mat 19:13  Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, Mat 19:14  but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." Mat 19:15  And he laid his hands on them and went away. Our children are a Blessing from God, we need to come to a greater realization of this and learn to pour into them and lay our hands upon them for protection before they leave our presence.




Beloved, we will and should do greater works than Jesus for it is written;Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. If ever there was a time to do the greater works, it is now.  Children are killing children, and being killed by siblings and peers.  What about the children?  Will we continue to bypass them daily without a second look or thought and say to ourselves it is somebodies else problem, or will we take the responsibility of speaking a positive word into their spirit. We can speak a word of encouragement to any child that God puts into our path.  They may not be your children by birth, but they are yours by association.   Perhaps they live in your neighborhood or maybe they are friends with your son or daughter.  The signs are before you, please do not ignore them.  We can always fast and pray to ask God for the open door to impart positive seeds that will perhaps save and change that child's life. 


Please do not ignore or give up the opportunity to impart whatever God has given you into the life of His children.  They may not act as though they want instruction, guidance and direction; however, they do.  I watched a video that was sent to me last month and there was a team of gentlemen that went to New Orleans on a mission to save some young people from the destruction of the enemy.  There were two young ladies that stopped long enough to listen to them and rededicate their lives back to Christ.  Beloved, if it is just one for the Kingdom that is enough.  I heard a song that says if each one of us gets one, then we will be able to do a mighty work for our Savior.  After all, that is our responsibility.  Ponder the words of the Holy Spirit and take a stand to win our children back from the enemy.  Remember the word of the Lord that says: Psa 127:3  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psa 127:4  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Psa 127:5  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. 


Until next time, always remember that our children are a Blessings.

 

You Can Take It Back!!

The enemy is always ready to do his job; "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;" (John 10:10 NIV) As the winter months have rolled away and we have emerged from several feet of snow, our outlook should be brighter.  However, there are many people who are feeling unloved, oppressed and downtrodden due to the circumstances of life.  Beloved, this is not Gods desire for His people.  Remember, you are more than a conqueror.  You can make it, you just have to submit your will to change what you can and start from where you are.  As we talk with many people in our walk of life, we find that there is a mass number that is holding on to past hurts and undissolved issues.  It is not good for us to allow life's circumstances to weigh us down.  If you never get up from where you are, you will not change what you have become.  FEAR - False Evidence Appearing Real is one of the worst enemies that we fight.  However, the scripture tells us in Rom 8:15 (NIV)  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." We need to develop a spirit of tenacity to continue to believe only what the word of God says about us, not anyone else.  You our beloved are who God says you are and you can do what God says you can.  

When we allow the enemy to distract us, then we loose our focus.  It is absolutely necessary to  regain and to keep your focus regardless of what is going on around you.  We are destined for destiny.  The spirits of oppression and depression are from the anti-Christ and need to be put into captivity as quickly as possible.  Negative thinking breeds negative feelings.  "So a man thinketh, so he is."  Try to exercise your mind daily by thinking positive thoughts and be around positive people who will encourage you in all areas of your life.  Do not allow the enemy to snatch the joy of the Lord from you.  Happiness is a temporary state, however, the word says that ; Isa 61:3 (KJV) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Take back what the enemy stole from you, recapture your joy.  God will turn your ashes into beauty if you will allow Him.  

Spring is in the air, and we are renewed daily by the word of God.  Put the past behind you, think on those things that are pure and good.  Do not allow the dark presence of oppression, despair, distraction, to keep you from experiencing the joy that God desires for each of us to have daily.  Be bold starting today and go into the enemies territory and take it back. Remember "You Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengthens You".  Until next time, Stay Focus on the Promise and not on the Problem.

Pastors, Mike & Allean



  





 

A Month Of Love?

Well, this is the month  that includes a day of Love,  It also has been a month of many days of snow.  We do not know if you received a lot of snow where you are, however, we did.  We got approximately four and a half feet.  While we know that God is always in control of all things, and all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose.  I think for the most part that most of us have had enough snowfall.  Perhaps God shut down this some parts of the world to draw us closer to Him and cause us to love Him and each other more.  February the 14th is one day out of the year that is set aside for love, should it be just one day or always. We feel that everyday love should be shown and expressed to someone.  We just celebrated thirty-three years of marriage on the 12th of this month and we must admit, that we are grateful to God for the times and years that He has allowed us to spend with one another. While it was not our plan to celebrate here, and we were snowed it, we still celebrated during the storm.  Love can be celebrated anywhere in any condition; the weather or the circumstances surrounding us should not dampened our love for one another.

What is true love to you?  It is just flowers and candy on Valentine's Day, or do you feel that everyday should be a special sharing and caring for all of God's people?  As we think about love, we reflect on the love that God has for each of us.  Think of how He has kept us through the cold. blizzard, and wind.  Think of the fact that you had food to eat, warm clothing to put on, a warm fire to sit by, a cup of hot tea, or hot chocolate to drink, your gas and electric were on.  We somehow forget the love that God demonstrates to us daily.  It amazed us as we visited some stores during this past weekend and watched as hundreds of people spent hundreds of dollars to express materially their love for someone.  Wouldn't it be nice if we could show that kind of love daily in just little things that would cost us nothing but time?  How about finding someone that still needs a hand to shovel more snow, or someone who cannot get out to the store, or needs a ride to the doctor's office, or to reach out to someone in your neighborhood or community.

As this month draws to a close, let's consider an act of love towards someone who least expects it from us.  Look for someone that you can show love to for any reason. Look outside of your immediate family, think of that person who is unlovable to you and deliberately express an act of love towards them.  We will be the first to admit that loving the unlovable is not an easy task, however, it can be done.  If we think of ourselves and how we  sometimes act, yet God in all of His kindness loves us unconditionally.  His love for us is not based on our attitude or reciprocating love back to Him.  He simply love us just the way we are.   Let's take time to revisit I Corinthians 13.  Are we even remotely close to exhibiting this kind of love to anyone?  As we ponder these verses, ask the Holy Spirit to search the depth of our heart so that He can reveal the type of love that is hidden within us. 

1Co 13:1  I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don't have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal.
1Co 13:2  I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don't have love, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3  I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don't have love, none of these things will help me.
1Co 13:4  Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn't jealous. It doesn't sing its own praises. It isn't arrogant.
1Co 13:5  It isn't rude. It doesn't think about itself. It isn't irritable. It doesn't keep track of wrongs.
1Co 13:6  It isn't happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth.
1Co 13:7  Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.
1Co 13:8  Love never comes to an end. There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed, but it will no longer be used. There is the gift of speaking in other languages, but it will stop by itself. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will no longer be used.
1Co 13:9  Our knowledge is incomplete and our ability to speak what God has revealed is incomplete.
1Co 13:10  But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will no longer be used.
1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I no longer used childish ways.
1Co 13:12  Now we see a blurred image in a mirror. Then we will see very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete knowledge as God has complete knowledge of me.
1Co 13:13  So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the best one of these is love. (GW)

Until next time, continue to be Blessed and love somebody every day.  

Pastor Morgan