God Has A Plan For You

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

Jeremiah 29:11-12

Though things appear dim or the chances seem slim, take courage in knowing that God has a plan… … Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet, he lived during the bondage that the Israelites encountered under the hand of the Babylonians and witnessed the oppression of God’s children… Even while in captivity and seeing the hand of the enemy prevailing, Jeremiah records this message that we all can live by today… Jeremiah records that God knows the thoughts that He thinks towards you, He knows the path that He wants you to travel; He knows the levels of greatness which He wants to see you reach! His thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace (tranquility, happiness, and joy); not of evil or wickedness! He has an expected end for your life… Here in the midst of trials and tribulations, Jeremiah is reminding the people of God that the Lord has not forgotten about them; he is preaching to the masses that even though storms have entered your life, understand that God is still there and He will deliver you… This scripture has a two-fold meaning; the first is that God has thoughts of peace for your life; He wants to give you the best… However, the second is that your bondage is a result of the choices that you have made… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Seek Him Now

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:6-7

Today’s message is one that is simple and direct, the Lord desires to have you back in the fold and it is not too late for you no matter how many mistakes you have made or how big a ditch you have dug… This passage is certainly the key for us today as we learn to not focus on things of the earth but rather on God… Often times we make plans for tomorrow not knowing if tomorrow will ever come… Isaiah reminds us today of the importance of placing God number one in our lives; his reminder is not only to place God as the center of our lives but to seek Him now while we still have breath within our lungs and warm blood in our veins… The word of God declares that Jesus said, “BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY!” This means that He will come at a time when we least expect. We must remember that tomorrow is never promised and that today is a gift; that’s why it’s called the present! 

I can recall a very bad accident that took place several years ago involving a group of teenagers’ drag racing in Montgomery County when one lost control and hit a tree… The driver was rushed to the ER and survived; however, his passenger wasn’t so fortunate and was found ejected several feet from the vehicle… Through all the high, thrilling times in life, we often neglect the importance of having a right relationship with the Lord… We think we have time to fix the wrongs or repair the broken hearts… Do you think the seventeen-year-old boy that died that day on Veirs Mill Road in Rockville, Maryland a couple of years ago believed that his “now” had come, do you believe that the passengers aboard the planes on September 11^th knew that this was their last day, what about the lacrosse girl at UVA, the shootings at VA Tech? Whether we want to accept it or not, the bottom line is that we have to prepare ourselves for the end; we have to live each and every day as if it’s our last. His arms are open, He’s waiting, but this opportunity doesn’t last forever…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Desires You To Live

As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel 33:11

Today, Ezekiel brings to the forefront the matchless love and compassion that God has for His creation… The God you serve is happy that you serve Him, but He desires for all to come to accept Him and be saved… This is why God spoke to Ezekiel in the third chapter of his prophetic book and commanded him, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel…” No matter how much you resist, no matter how much you reject, no matter how much you refuse; God still loves you and desires to develop an intimate relationship with you… Anything you can think of, the children of God were doing during the time of Ezekiel; however, God wants them to know through his prophet that “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked…” Even though you deserve death, God finds no pleasure in losing your soul…  The love of God is evident in the fact that He sent His only begotten son to die for us; the love of God is evident as well in today’s passage taken from Ezekiel which teaches us that no matter how messed up you are, God desires that you turn unto Him and not suffer the Eternal Damnation that awaits you…  The verse ends by asking, “For why will ye die…” What on this earth is worth dying for? Why would you choose to perish, why would you give up all the precious promises God has for you, what’s worth your soul? If only you would turn from your wickedness, then you would realize how much God has in store…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

One Day With Christ Is Priceless

"For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." 

Psalm 84:10

No matter how nice your day may go or appear to be going; it simply doesn’t compare to a day in the realm of the supernatural… Being in the very presence of God is more than we can even begin to imagine or comprehend. Think about this for a moment, have you ever imagined a world filled with peace and harmony? Have you ever taken time out of your day to contemplate what life would be like if there was no violence, suffering or sin? The psalmist today reminds us of the hope we have to one day live in a world outlined just like that… As a child of God, we yearn to dwell within His courts, we desire to have peace within our hearts and have love poured out all around us… I don’t know about you, but I yearn for that moment where trouble will cease and sin will be no more… Through this psalm, we learn the value that we should place on life; but more importantly we learn about the value that we should place on the life to come… This verse starts off by saying, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand…” A thousand days of success on this Earth will never lead to the completeness that we will feel on the day when we hear God say “well done…” Most of us probably find this hard to believe, most probably don’t even think that this is possible, but to understand this concept we must appreciate what a day in the courts of the Lord is… Imagine a day when happiness is present from the time you awake to the time you slumber, imagine a day when your kids walked in the will of God and not the ways of the world, imagine a day when you could smile and tears would run down your face because of uncontrollable joy… This is the day that the psalmist is writing about; this is the day that we await when Christ returns… One day with the Lord is more valuable than a thousand on this earth… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You Can Overcome

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:5-6

Jesus is ready to “confess your name before His father and before his angels”, He’s ready to open the door to eternity and record your name in the book of life… All these things He has said in His word that He would do and through John’s revelation we are reminded that they are still possible… In order for these promises to become reality you must hold up your end of the covenant; you must do your part and “overcome (as we see in our focus verses)”… The question may be posed at this time, what is it that we must overcome? The sin that we are born with is a sin that we do not recognize is present until we encounter Jesus… Saul thought that he was doing the right thing until Jesus spoke to Him, the rich young man thought he had done everything right until his heart was brought into question and Nicodemus observed the law as best he could; however, he became a follower of Jesus when he learned from the savior that “you must be born again…” 

The world will have you think that the things of this life are what you need to be focused on; it is far easier for us to go with the flow than to go against the grain; however this is what we are called and challenged to do… Jesus said he will never leave you nor forsake you, he didn’t say that I will make sure that you don’t have sleepless nights or pain. God said we will reap a harvest if we faint not, he didn’t say I will make sure that the sun doesn’t beat down on you so that you don't feel the hardships of labor! We all must endure, that is why Paul said that we must forsake everything behind us and press toward the mark. You will sweat when you press toward the mark, you will cry out sometimes when you press toward the mark, you will feel only sometimes when you press toward the mark, you will be frustrated sometimes as you press on, you will feel abandoned sometimes when you press on, but know that God has assured you that your work is not in vain. Keep pressing, which is another way of saying overcome.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Evidence Of God Is Everywhere

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:14

The word of God was never intended to be concealed or stored away within you… The bible declares that God desires for all men to come to know Him and be saved… The greatest work for all followers of Christ is to spread His word wherever we go and whenever the opportunity presents itself… The things that you endure in life are a witness of your faith and God’s faithfulness; you have been through a lot of storms and may be battling with the enemy as we speak, remind yourself that all people will have a (n) opportunity to know “of the glory of the Lord” and sometimes this comes about through your struggles… Despite the way things are done according to today’s standards, no matter how ridiculous things may appear to be according to the opinions of misguided leadership, the bible calls us to be encouraged in these chaotic times because we have faith and are assured that “the earth shall be filled with knowledge…” People will come to know that there is only one God, people will come to realize the error of their ways and despite how many people may come against you, you can claim victory and extend a hand of love and peace toward them because you know that the God you serve will have His name revealed and revered before all mankind… The earth SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!