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 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 peace (tranquility, happiness, and joy); not 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 their lives, they need to recognize that God is still there and He will deliver… 

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… Oftentimes we want to blame God for the snares we face, and we want to question God’s authority when we face trials, but Jeremiah reminds us today that God wants nothing but the best for you, your family, and your life, but just like a parent, He must allow you to learn from your mistakes and sometimes you will have to take the rough road and rugged terrain of hardships to experience the promises of God… Proverbs 3: 11,12 says, “¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, ¹² because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”Even though the trials seem evil and the storm seems wicked, know that God’s plan is to produce in you a crop that will last longer than your temporary pain…  

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 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… Oftentimes 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 in drag racing in Montgomery County. One of the teens 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 highs and thrilling times in our lives, 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 who 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 and the shootings at VA Tech? We don't even really need to go that far back in time. Just look at George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.... Regardless of the particulars surrounding the incidents which occurred that led to their lives on this earth ending, all of these events serve as a sobering reminder that tomorrow is not promised. 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. By living in this manner and placing God first, we will be prepared and have our priorities set in the right order whenever the death angel arrives at our doorstep and we will be assured to ascend unto God's unmerited bliss and favor…  Seek Him now while he may be found... The time will come when the Lord cannot be found, don't be in that number...

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

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… 

When people wronged me growing up there was no way on earth that I would wish well on them, but we learn today that God has always desired the best for us even when we have been the worse we could be to Him… Ezekiel writes this letter to the children of God at a time when they have turned there backs on the Lord… They have found themselves in bondage under the authority of Babylon and even then, have not turned to the Lord… The book of Ezekiel starts off with God preparing the prophet by telling him to (eat the scroll) and then informing him to go to a rebellious people… Today, God speaking through Ezekiel is letting us know that He desires for us to enjoy prosperity for all eternity… God’s life has no end (As I live…) and the compassion of the Lord is manifest in this scripture because He longs for your life to have no end as well… 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............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 without violence, suffering, or sin? The psalmist today reminds us of the hope we have to 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 when 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, and 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 according to 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… Today let us stop putting trust in temporary things, let us stop running to a protective covering that won’t last always… Some of the protective coverings are alcohol, drugs, and even lustful relationships… These tents appear safe and they may make you feel protected for a moment, but if you want to be secure all the days of your life, if you want to be covered from any hurt, harm, or danger, then you must place your hand in the hand of the one who sticks closer than a brother…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

To Obtain His Promise, You Must 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… Through John's revelation, we are reminded of all these things Jesus has said in the bible that He will and would do on your behalf. Jesus declares the promises afforded to you and me; however, for these promises to become a 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 must we 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… This is what John means when he speaks about overcoming; the desires and temptations you face must be overcome and your life must be placed in the savior's hands… Sin is a natural pleasure and it is one that we (just like babies) must be weaned off of… Oftentimes people talk about Jesus and the saving power that is bestowed through His sacrifice of love; however, they forget to mention that you must choose to accept this offering, and to do that you must first turn from your natural way of thinking…. Despite what people may try to portray to you, this journey in seeking the very presence and will of God is no “cakewalk”… Remember that passage starts off by saying, HE THAT OVERCOMETH, it will be hard, but every hurdle can be jumped, every test can be passed, and the devil can be defeated… You have the ability to succeed on this journey no matter what comes your way; the question is whether or not you want to!!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Your Existence Is Evidence That God Is Real

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 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 an 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 go 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 way things appear may not be the reality of what they are… The message of Habakkuk the minor prophet challenges the wayward man as well as the man of faith… The wayward man is challenged to repent and turn before it is too late… The man of faith is called to take his foundation of faith and build upon it through the removal of any traces of doubt. As Christians, we thrive upon this message which assures us that the devil has not won, nor has God withdrawn himself from us. He is ever present and in due time He will crack the sky!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Abilities Are Unfathomable

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

When Paul wrote this letter to the church of Ephesus, the church had been dealing with various hardships and tumultuous situations. There were many instances where the church had become valuable monetarily and not spiritually. The people in the church had become very ego-friendly and self-worth-driven. Everything in this church began to fall apart, every battle seemed to have been lost and the members who cling to the promises of God were slowly starting to question their faith. Through this background, we can draw a parallel from the circumstances of yesterday to our present standing. Church has become big business, the devil seems to have control over the pulpit and those who hold to their faith have begun to believe that the “church age” is over. 

Paul reasons with us today how we are to keep our composure through these frustrating times. The first thing we see is that we must remember that God can do exceeding and abundantly more than we can ever imagine. Paul says that God is able to do exceeding above all we can ask or think… Paul is encouraging the believers at the church of Ephesus to remember the God they serve… It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are or what people may be saying; God is able… It doesn’t matter what the doctor has told you, God is able… You may be at a low point in your life and Paul is saying that you can be lifted up! Even the best things that you can imagine happening in your life, Paul is saying that God can and will go above and beyond your greatest imagination... His abilities are unfathomable.

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!