Restoration

Recently I had a conversation with a friend who asked how I was doing. My response was, “Good…we have a really good life…” I explained to her it was only a year ago when I was so stressed that I truly thought I was having a mental breakdown.  I told her I am fully persuaded the mental health healing I have received is a miracle from God.  “The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.” (Psalm 41:3) She responded, “God restores”.

People spend many hours and large amounts of money to restore an automobile back to the “authentic” condition.  That is exactly what God does through Jesus with us. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were in their “authentic condition”, walking in fellowship with God. But the “authentic condition” became tarnished due to sin.  God had a plan from the beginning to restore all of us back to this original condition. The great restorer is Jesus Christ.  

Allow God to restore you to your “authentic condition”.  Return to God and He promises He will restore you. “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored…” (Job 22:23) Through the blood of Christ we are restored to the “authentic condition” of fellowship with God. I stand in awe when I think I am able to fellowship with the God of the universe. We no longer are separated from God.  

Do you need restoring in any area of your life? God has promised to restore everything, your relationship with Him, your health, your relationships, your employment, your finances and anything else that needs restoring in your life.

Take time with God and mediate on the following restoration verses.

 “Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” Acts 3:21

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” Psalm 51:12

“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.” Psalm 71:20

“Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health
   and let me live.” Isaiah 38:16

“You, LORD, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.” Psalm 85:1

“if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state.” Job 8:6

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10

Michelle Odom

Put One Foot in Front of the Other

Do you remember this song from “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”?

Did you know it’s Biblical? 

“For we walk by faith and not by sight.”  2 Corinthians 5:7

Lately I’ve been thinking of someone who didn’t just walk by faith, but ran by faith.  The example of David and Goliath was used by my pastor a few weeks back in a sermon.  In this historical story, told in 1 Samuel 16 and 17, David had been anointed as King of Israel by Samuel the prophet.  However, he was still just a young man serving as shepherd to his father’s flock.  His father sent him to take food to his brothers, who were on the battlefield with all the armies of Israel.  The Philistines had gathered to battle against them, with their figurehead a great and terrible giant named Goliath.

All the men of Israel were cowering in fear before this giant, who blasphemed the name of God everyday to their faces.

No one dared stand against him.  Until the shepherd boy David arrived on the scene. 

It is a familiar story, but well worth reading again.  The part I am writing of today is found in 1 Samuel 17:48-50.

⁴⁸ So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. ⁴⁹ Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. ⁵⁰ So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.

There are times to walk by faith and there are times to take off in a hard run – not away from the battle, but towards it.  I believe that as David took those first few steps towards that giant, what he began in faith was encompassed by the very power and glory of God.  As he ran, the Spirit of God came upon him and anointed him, anointed those very rocks that he laid hold of.  David’s part was to act in faith; God’s part was to give him the victory over a giant that was a very real and evil force against the people of God.

And so it can be with you and me.  As we rise up in faith, we can run towards the battles of this life – both big and small.  When we step out in obedience to and faith in God’s Word, He will empower us to overcome every enemy – whether it is the giant of despair and discouragement or the giant of illness or financial loss.  We are empowered as we walk in faith to spread the good news of the Kingdom – the gospel message – to slay the giants of apathy and blindness to the truth of God’s Word. 

Put one foot in front of the other – you may find yourself taking off in a hard run!  And a giant is getting ready to hit the cold hard ground.

(By the way, here are the lyrics to that songJ)

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

You never will get where you’re going
If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing
A fast walking man is hard to beat


If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well don’t be the rule be the exception
A good way to start is to stand

If I want to change the reflection
I see in the mirror each morn
You mean that it's just my election
To vote for a chance to be reborn

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Animated)
(ABC) December 13, 1970
New Music by Maury Laws
New Lyrics by Jules Bass

 

Rhonda Roughton

I Stand in Awe

While in the Amazon jungle in Peru we traveled by boat many times at night. I would love to lay my head back and just look at the sky. There is no view like it. Absolutely pure and brilliant! No street lights, now smog, no glow from a city, nothing to distort the glorious expanse of the night sky. Then to think that God created it all simply by speaking the words – I stand in awe!

I often take for granted the unmatchable power of the God that I serve. So, it is always a good thing to be reminded while studying scripture of just who He is and His power!

Nahum was a prophet to the southern kingdom, Judah. He brought a very harsh prophecy not against the Israelites, but against Nineveh. In the prophecy He reminds the Israelites just who God is!

      1.       He is a just God: Nahum 1:3b – “The LORD is slow to anger but great in power;
               the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.”

a.       God’s holy nature & love for His people demand that sin be punished & the righteous be defended. He is patient with sinners but His restraint will not last forever! Proverbs 29:1 says “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.”

2.       He is an omnipotent God: Nahum 1:4-5 – “He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry… The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it.”

a.       God has ALL power! Mountains quake and melt away, seas dries up, winds cease at His command – we can trust Him to handle ALL our problems! His desire is to take care of His children!

3.       He is a good God: Nahum 1:7 – “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.”

a.       He is the one we can run to when life seems too much to bear! His goodness assures His children that He will care for them. It also assures that He will defend His children against those that attempt to do harm to them.

4.       He is an invincible God:  Nahum 1:9a – “Whatever they plot against the LORD
he will bring to an end…”

a.       No matter what attempts the enemy makes – they are all futile! God is unstoppable and cannot be defeated! He will squash whatever effort is made against His children.

5.       He is a saving God: Nahum 1:13 – “Now I will break their (the Ninevites) yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away.”

a.       Our God is mighty to save!  He promises to set us free from our enemies and all the things that oppress us and hold us in bondage. Our enemies, our habits, our addictions and our sins – He sets us free!

Today I challenge you to ponder on the amazing attributes of who God is! There is no other god like our God! None can compare to His love, His power nor His might! Trust in Him – He’s got our back!

Crystal Owens

Friends Helping Friends

Four friends are discussing their paralyzed friend. They want so much for him to be healed.  They believe if only they can get him in to see the one everyone is talking about, he would be healed. One friend asks,” how are we going to get him there?” They decided that all four of them could carry him there. So, the four friends go to the home of their paralyzed friend and carry him through the streets of Capernaum. Once they get to the place where He was, they see a large crowd and are unable to get through the door. One of them says, “Oh no, what are we going to do?” They come up with a plan to hoist their friend up on the roof; they dug an opening in the roof and they lowered the man down through the hole to a place in front of Him.  (My dramatization of Mark 2:3-5.)

Then they came, bringing a paralytic to Him, who had been picked up and was being carried by four men. And when they could not get him to a place in front of Jesus because of the throng, they dug through the roof above Him; and when they had scooped out an opening, they let down the [thickly padded] quilt or mat upon which the paralyzed man lay.

And when Jesus saw their faith [their confidence in God through Him], He said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven [you] and put away [that is, the penalty is remitted, the sense of guilt removed, and you are made upright and in right standing with God]. Mark 2:3-5

This is a wonderful account of friends helping friends. It only took four friends to get this man to Jesus. Once he met Jesus he was healed and saved because the friends made a commitment to get their friend to Jesus no matter what it took. It is clear to me they were on a mission!

I have never had too many friends and I use to be envious of those popular people that had tons of friends. But I have recently realized it is not the quantity of friends, but the quality of friends. My friends may be few but I know they are people that love me, pray for me, encourage me and inspire me. 

If you feel you do not have a friend in this world, be encouraged Jesus has promised to be your friend.  Jesus also has promised not to leave us alone; He left the Holy Spirit to be our friend and helper.

“…but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24c

"I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught.” John 14:26 MSG

Do you have friends in your life that need to meet Jesus? You can be the friend that brings them to Jesus. Make a commitment to help someone that may be “paralyzed” by questions and doubts about Jesus. Have the faith that your friends will be healed and saved. We each are on a “mission” for God to help others to the place where they met Jesus.

“No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do. I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]”  John 15:13-15MSG

Michelle Odom

Your Choice

As believers in Christ, we are no longer under the curse of sin.  However, it is possible to be a believer and remain under the curse of the law.  Paul wrote to the Galatians on just that subject.  He admonished them that even though they had been saved by faith in Christ, they had gone back to the way of the law in their everyday lives – what we would call a “works mentality”.  A works mentality will cause us to try to please God by our good deeds.  If you read Galatians 3, you will understand how easy it is to revert to this type of lifestyle, even as a Christian.  Unfortunately, this type of lifestyle brings the curse of the law on anyone who practices it. 

The Message Bible spells it out plainly enough:

Galatians 3:2-6    “Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!

 Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don't these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God.”

The word curse means – a cause of great harm or misfortune (Merriam-Webster).  The Greek word for curse “katara” -  means to imprecate (invoke evil on) or execrate (to declare to be evil or detestable). 

The word blessed means – bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune.  The Hebrew word for blessing “brakah” – is benediction (the invocation of a blessing); by implication prosperity.  The Hebrew word for bless “barak” – means to kneel; by implication to bless God and man abundantly.  This carries with it the knowledge that God and man are joined together – that all God has is available to man and all man has is available to God.  It is astounding to me that the word “bless” means to kneel – for God Himself said it to Abraham. 

Galatians 3:10-14 (New King James Version):  ^“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
¹³ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), ¹⁴ that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

One of the amazing things about the blessing that God gave to Abraham is that it continues throughout time to include all those who are in Christ.  Abraham is our spiritual father, and we are heirs of the promises of God.  This blessing covers every area of our lives – the natural as well as the spiritual – and causes us to prosper in all things.  We are blessed to be a blessing, just as Abraham was.  But this blessing is conditional – we cannot work our way into the blessing.  It is received by grace through faith and obedience to the Word of God.

I choose the blessing!  How about you?

Rhonda J. Roughton

How’s Your Moral Compass?

Romans 12:2

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Many times when my children do something that is inappropriate, I immediately jump and discipline. However, on the days when I have had about all that I can stand and I am tired, I tend to let the little “sins” slip by. Not because I want them to do wrong, but because I am just tired and do not feel like dealing with it.

The same thing happens with our encounter with the world. We watch the news everyday in order to hear the same stories. We encounter many people daily, who we think, “just do not have a clue”. Because of the current state of our world, it is easy to grow numb to the things around us. We, as believers, are surrounded everyday with people who are involved in immoral activities. Whether we agree with the lifestyles of those around us or not, it is easy to get sucked in to their ideas and views. While we may not agree with what they are doing, we don’t want to judge, so we remain quiet. What happens when we allow the activities of others to become “normal” to our ears? It begins to decrease our moral/spiritual compass. We begin to take the non-judging mindset that we have and accept the actions that are blatantly unbiblical as OK. It is one thing to accept others as they are, but it is not OK to accept their sin as it is.

The Bible calls us to live set apart. We have a standard to live by, a code of conduct so to speak. We must daily be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2) if we are not transformed, we will conform to the standards of the world out of sheer exhaustion. Once we are transformed, we will be able to stand for what is right in the sight of God and NOT man.  Let’s use Biblical standards as our moral compass and not the standards of the world. Be transformed.

Kasey Scott

Serving God while Scrubbing Toilets...

"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord.” Luke 1:45-46

Mary was a young lady who was wise beyond her years and had the faith of a child! The angel of the Lord spoke to her an impossible thing: she was chosen to give birth to the Son of God. The impossibility was there on so many levels. She was a virgin, this was an angel speaking to her and she was going to birth the Son of God. Many of us upon the first sight of the angel would have quickly scattered! It would have been fright night for sure! We wouldn’t have given him a chance to speak! But Mary listened.

Mary did more than listen. She took what was spoken and pondered it in her heart. She believed that God would do it. She was a willing vessel. Mary was going to face an enormous amount of criticism to the point of possible death. Yet, she accepted the role God had chosen her for and served Him faithfully in that role.

We struggle with this. If it is a glorious role that God has called us to fill there is no problem. But when He calls us to fill the “dirty job”, we struggle, make excuses, reason our way out of it. If we do it, we complain about it.

God wants us to serve with a glad heart. He desires us to be cheerful givers, not just of money, but also of our time and talents. Every part of running a church is as important as the preaching or the worship leading or the other “big name” positions. A clean restroom, a great greeter, loving and nurturing childcare, energetic children’s church – all these allow for someone to be ministered to in the service.

Has God called you to serve in a way that you feel is beneath you? Do you serve God begrudgingly? Or are you willing to serve God wholeheartedly? When we serve Him in gladness, no matter what we are doing, we bring glory to His name!

Crystal Owens

I Am Who I Am...

Do you ever feel insecure or inadequate? Well, if you are like most people you will answer “yes”.  Insecurity may come from comparing yourself to other people. You are unique and created by God for a specific purpose.  You were on God’s mind even before you were born! He designed you and allowed certain experiences in your life to shape the person you are now and who you are becoming.  You are fabulously made by God, embrace that person!

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalms 13:13-16 NIV

Also, insecurity is produced by putting your trust in something that you believe can be taken away from you. This may be your job, your bank account, your health or relationships.  When we put our trust in something that can be taken away from us, it creates insecurity that manifests in the form of anxiety, fear, worry, restlessness and even depression.  But security produces a sound mind, rest, peace, joy, assurance, confidence and love.

So then, what do we trust that cannot be taken away from us?  The love of Jesus! We will find security in Jesus when we trust in His love for us. Even if we lose everything, we can be assured the love of Jesus cannot be taken from us.  Jesus is our Rock and our stability. (See 1 Corinthians 10:4, Psalms 94:22)

“For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) 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 from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

We can live a life of security and assurance when we trust in Jesus and grow in the knowledge of who we are in Christ.

God loves you and has chosen you 1 Thessalonians 1:4; Ephesians 1:4

You are a child of God John 1:12

You are a new creature in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17

Your are set free Galatians 5:1

You are blessed with every Spiritual blessing Ephesians 1:3

You are God’s workmanship created to produce good works Ephesians 2:10

You are redeemed and forgiven Ephesians 1:7

You are complete in Christ Colossians 2:10

Michelle Odom

I Ain't Workin' Here No More!!

Adam and Eve had a sweet thing going on in the garden.  Created in the very image of God and blessed by God with these words:  “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28b)

As my pastor says, Adam wasn’t a glorified gardener with a hoe and rake – he was blessed by God to have dominion over the earth and everything in it (paraphrased).  But we all know the story of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace.  No longer did the first couple walk in the perfect conditions of the garden, talking with their God – they were banished from the garden and began a life of toil and sweat.

“Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:

            Cursed is the ground for your sake;

            In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.

            Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,

            And you shall eat the herb of the field.

            In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground,

            For out of it you were taken;

            For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”  Genesis 3:17-19

That would be a very unhappy ending to the story of mankind – if it was indeed the ending.

But God had other plans.  In the fullness of time came a Savior – the One in whom all things are restored to the Father.  You and I were created, just as Adam and Eve were, to fellowship with God – to walk and talk with Him.  In Christ, this heavenly relationship is restored.  In Christ, the blessing of God is restored – to “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

A great promise was given to Abraham along this road to restoration:  “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

It is a mistake to believe that in Christ, we must remain under the curse pronounced over Adam – that “cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life”.  We are no longer under the curse.  But the enemy has used tradition and, many times, religious teaching, to make us believe that although we are saved and on our way to heaven, we must toil under the curse of sin until the day that we leave this earth.

There is a difference between toil and work.  Toil means a “long strenuous fatiguing labor” (Merriam-Webster).  Work means “a specific task, duty, function, or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity”.

We are to take our place in the Kingdom of God and work towards the advancement of the Kingdom.  We are not to toil under the curse.  As believers, we are brothers and sisters to the second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ.  As believers, we are partakers of the blessing of Abraham.

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13-14

So, come on and join me as I say – I ain’t workin’ here (under the curse) no more!  I am blessed to be a blessing – the favor of God is upon my life!  Amen!

Rhonda J. Roughton

One Way Jesus

There is a trend in our country to accept everything and not to offend any group of people.  Some want us to embrace the idea that “all paths” lead to heaven.  This is so those that do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God will not be insulted.  However, this is deceit from the devil.  We read in Matthew 24:10-11 that this will happen.
“And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error.”

Jesus is the only way to God and heaven.   Regardless of who it offends, Christians have a responsibility to explain that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. We must be bold in speaking the truth of the risen Christ. People are being deceived and the gospel is being watered down so to include all religions. We should all be ready to explain in simple terms the Roman Road to Salvation.

1.       God is the Creator life and we must acknowledge Him as Creator:  

“God has revealed Himself to us. We must acknowledge God as Creator and life giver.   “²⁰For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], ²¹Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and ^[a]godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.” Romans 1:20-21 AMP

2.      We all have sinned:

“Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory ^[a]which God bestows and receives.” Romans 3:32 AMP

3.      No one can “earn” right standing with God:

“As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one.” Romans 3:10 AMP

4.      The penalty of Sin is death but we have a gift of eternal life only through Jesus:

“For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 AMP

5.      God’s plan for salvation is His son Jesus who paid the penalty for our sin by dying on the cross:

“But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.” Romans 5:8 AMP

6.      Our response to the gospel is to accept what Jesus could only do for us:

“Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.” Romans 10:9-10 AMP

^“For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved.” Romans 10:13

My prayer is that all Christians gain courage to speak out against the deceit and lies being told by the devil and that all come to the saving knowledge of Christ.
It is very comforting to know I have been forgiven and I have an advocate with the Father. Your can have this same comfort and assurance. It is simple:

A.      Admit you’re a sinner and ask for forgiveness.

B.      Believe Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins.

C.      Call upon Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

Thank you Father God for revealing yourself to us, for sending your Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sin, thank you Father for forgiveness of sin through the bloodshed of Jesus. In Jesus’ name Amen

Michelle Odom
Michelle is an Ordained Minister through United Christian Fellowship and co-founder with her husband, John, of MJ Ministries, a “Practical Evangelism” ministry expressing the Gospel through action. MJ Ministries is dedicated to revealing God’s love through the practice of hospitality using our God given gifts, talents and resources. We are challenged to Engage others in the pursuit of Jesus, Encourage others to realize their potential in Jesus, and Empower others to have influence for Jesus. “Mission Possible” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” Mark 10:27

Love In Spite

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Romans 5:7-9

Over the course of the last couple of days I have felt a special dispensation of grace and gratitude. If asked I couldn’t really tell you when or where it started. All I know is that I’ve enjoyed it and have tried to bask in it for as long as possible. Yesterday, while on my way to work, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Romans 5:8. I was reminded how I had done nothing worthy of God’s pardon but yet He sent Jesus to die for my sins. Once again I had a wave of gratitude flood my spirit. I was then inspired to make a Facebook post that read something to this extent, “He loved us in spite of our short comings so let’s return the favor to others today.”

I believe we could learn a lot by following and mimicking Jesus’ actions. When I consider Romans 5:7-9, I see more grace, mercy, and love extended our way via Jesus that we should then duplicate towards others. I see us not holding those guilty of doing wrong accountable for every single thing thus causing us to withhold our love from them. I can now understand why Jesus, only minutes away from death, asked the Father to forgive the soldiers that day. He was demonstrating love in spite of their short comings. He saw past their actions and decided to extend grace.

Today I’d like to encourage you to look past the short comings of others and be an extension of God’s grace, love, and mercy in their lives. I know it might be easier said than done but it’s possible. If you need help just remember the latter part of Romans 5:8, “while we (you) were still (a) sinners, Christ died for us (you).” God bless and go forth doing well today!

Adraine Scott
Adraine is the president of Edvance Services LLC. His entire professional career has been spent helping others find their unique ways of learning and being. He has been able to accomplish this by serving as a youth minister, speaker, counselor, college and career minister, secondary education teacher, and business owner.

The Kindness of Strangers…

“…I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”  Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire”.

When I saw this movie years ago, this particular quote stuck in my mind.  It’s such a sad declaration of passivity and resignation to a hapless fate.  As people of God, we are not to be passive or forlorn in our outlook on our future.  We serve the Living God, who blesses us and equips us to be more than overcomers.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.”  Jeremiah 29:11-14

No matter what is going on all around us, we are children of promise.  God has told us that His intent towards us is to give us a “future and a hope”.  We can depend on His Word.  However, if He is a stranger to us, we are wrong to depend upon Him.  God is gracious and kind and will meet us at our point of need.  But as believers, we are to grow in our knowledge of Him.  The time to grow in faith and knowledge of His love is in the here and now, not only during times of crisis. 

If you wait until a time of crisis to seek God, you are depending upon the kindness of a stranger.  Even as believers in Christ, He can remain a stranger to us.  This happens when we do not seek Him.  God Himself says through the prophet Jeremiah in these verses that we will find Him when we search for Him with all our heart.  Christianity is not for the half-hearted or the faint-hearted.  The Word of God calls us to total abandonment to His Word and His Will.  That is the doorway to His blessing upon our lives – to living a life of purpose and joy and strength. 

Yesterday I read a news columnist’s opinion that we live in a time when many are giving up on the hope of tomorrow.  In our culture, the American dream seems to be turning to ash as people lose their homes, or walk away from their homes.  Much of the news we hear every day is dire and calamitous. But as children of God, we understand through His word that we are not subject to the world system.  We are subjects of the King – God Himself, who created all things.  He is our source for everything we need; He is the one who will even give us the desires of our hearts.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are not relegated to the past.  However, the shaking in our economy and in government shows us that we cannot depend upon world systems for these things.  The source of our life and liberty and happiness is God and His Kingdom.  The kingdoms of this world rise and fall - history has proven that out – but the Kingdom of God is eternal and cannot fall.

Seek God and find Him.  You will find He is more than enough.

Rhonda J. Roughton
Rhonda is founder of INK Ministries. INK Ministries' mission is to build up the body of Christ through writing, preaching and teaching with an emphasis on the New Covenant and who we are in Christ. "Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets so that whoever reads it may run with it." Habakkuk 2:2-3. This is a "hands-on" ministry as well as a writing ministry - moving in the gifts and power of the Holy Spiit to bring hope, healing and deliverance to all those who hunger for more of Him.

Are We Asking the Wrong Questions? (Part 2)

We discussed last week the problem we as Christians often have with asking the wrong questions (and I include myself in that statement).  Let me remind you that Paul’s admonition to us to “not conform” is accompanied by the key to success in that endeavor, the “renewing of your mind.”  We have to think differently than the world around us if we are going to fulfill Jesus’ mandate in Matthew 5:13-16 to be salt and light.  In that passage Jesus also warns against salt that has lost its effectiveness and light that has been hidden.  This happens when we begin to absorb the culture around us rather than transforming it through a life lived by the radically different guidelines established in God’s Word. 

So let’s take a look at a few more of the “right questions” we should be asking ourselves (and I will continue to borrow from Mr. Kennedy’s format in asking them):

My fellow Christians, ask not “Does my conscience bother me when it comes to (insert an action here)?” – ask “Does (insert same action here) violate any commands or principles of God’s Word?”

How often do we make the mistake of assuming that if our conscience is not bothered by an act we commit then it must mean that act is acceptable to God.  Truth is, our consciences can be very faulty.  This is because our conscience (that voice inside our head directing our moral decisions) is largely the byproduct of the environment in which we’ve been raised.  The Bible makes clear the unreliable nature of our conscience.  Hebrews 9:14 speaks of the need to have our consciences cleansed.  In 1 Corinthians 4:4 Paul makes an astounding statement – “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent….”  He goes on to state that “it is the Lord who judges me.”  We have already discussed the fact that the criteria for making decisions in our life is not “Will this keep me out of heaven?”  Now we find another criteria often utilized by believers being challenged by scripture.  The basis for our moral choices must not be “Do I feel guilty about this?”  While “let your conscience be your guide” is the best those without Christ can do, we as believers have a much more reliable source.  We have the benefit of the Holy Spirit sitting in the director’s chair of our life and guiding our every choice.  It is this voice we need to be listening for and to, and this voice speaks to us primarily through the scriptures (not as a little man with wings sitting on our shoulder!).  This, of course, requires us as believers to be in the Word on a regular basis in order that the Spirit within us might reveal the mind of God within it. It is dangerous to make decisions based on “Well, I think….” or “I feel that…” – truth is, what you or I think or feel doesn’t really matter.  What matters is “Well, God’s Word says….”  Only this will insure our thinking is right and our choices are a reflection of the Jesus we love!

May I venture to pose one last incorrect question to ponder (I hope you said yes because I’m going to go ahead with it!):

My fellow Christians, ask not “Will (insert action here) hurt my relationship with Christ?” – ask “Will (insert same action here) do anything to hinder those around me in their relationship with Christ?”

Some of you may remember the song from the 1960’s in which Simon and Garfunkel declare “I am a rock, I am an island.”  Unfortunately this isolationist mentality is often encouraged in our culture today.  We praise “rugged individualism” and foster a “me against the world” approach to life.  This causes our moral choices to be all about what’s right “for me”, what makes “me” happy, what’s in it “for me”.  As believers we can’t live that way.  We’ve been called to put the best interests of others ahead of our own.

If a choice I make offends a brother or sister in Christ or causes them to stumble in their walk with Him, it is my problem not just theirs!  If my decision to compromise in some area of my life causes someone else’s view of Christ to become more dim, it is my problem.  And don’t be fooled, every moral choice we make either serves to bring Jesus into greater clarity for those around us or further clouds their view of Him. 

The right questions….can you imagine if believers across our nation began not only asking them but answering them honestly?  What would happen?  I don’t profess to be a prophet, but I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that local churches would be radically transformed (many would shrink in numbers!).  A greater purity would bring greater power and genuine revival would result (and God would cause the church to grow rather than man!).  But remember, “believers across our nation” starts with you, starts with me.  One believer at a time daring to ask the right questions, answer them honestly and act accordingly can start a fire of revival that the “gates of Hades will not overcome”!  Will you, will I, be the spark to ignite that flame?

Clark Hausman

Pastor of Moyock Assembly of God