Telling it like it can be: Learning to lean.

Telling it like it can be: Learning to lean.

Learning to lean.

There is a song that my spiritual mother loves to sing, if ya'll don't mind I want to sing a little of it for you. "Learning to lean, learning to lean, learning to lean on Jesu-s-s-s. I need more power then I ever dreamed, I'm leaning to lean on Jesus-s-s-s." Every since I accepted a job offer in Mississippi that song has been my anthem. First I had the emotionally, challenging, tear jerking task of resigned from the church I was pastoring. Then came resigning from my job where the people I worked with were like my brothers and sisters. I must say I cried all the way to the director's office to turn in my resignation.

During both of these trying times I am praying every step of the way. Then came the really hard part, packing up things and leaving my wife back in South Bend (she will be joining me next month though). I left about 4:30 in the morning in a snow storm. I could not see the road not because of the snow but because of the tears that were flowing down my face. Praying, singing that little song is the only thing that kept me from turning my car around. 

Once I crossed in Missouri I the flood gates really opened and I cried all the way from Missouri to Tennessee. After pulling over several times along the road to catch my breath and wipe my eyes, I commenced to kicking myself for leaving a perfectly good job and for leaving behind all the people I know in the world that loved me. I'm still singing by the way. 

Finally arrived in Mississippi, red eyed, tired, home sick and tired. Each day I get up I want to go home. Every time I get in my car I see 55 N. I dream of 55 N. I have been here two weeks now and I must admit I am not in Kansas anymore. The culture suggest I have stepped back in time. The people I have encountered reminds me of mind control (Lord, I need more power than I ever dreamed). 

I was driving and Abraham spoke to me the other day. He told me 'now you know how I felt when God told me to leave my friends and family and go to a land He would show me.' I slammed on breaks. I had to catch my breath. I had read that story in Genesis 12 a lot of times before but never did I see the emotions that was attached to Abraham obeying God. I can see it now. I understand why God had to call Abraham twice. I understand why Abraham had to stop often and build an altar. I understand, I get it. Every time Abraham stopped, if he had known this little song I believe he would have sang it. 

Well like Abraham I am headed for the promise land. I don't know why God sent me here. I don't know what my assignment is here. But there is one thing I know, I am learning to lean on Jesus.

Telling it like it can be: I'm so glad I found the Lord Jesus in time.

Telling it like it can be: I'm so glad I found the Lord Jesus in time.

I'm so glad I found the Lord Jesus in time.

There is an old Gospel song that goes, "I'm so glad I found the Lord, Jesus in time) I found Him in time.I'm so glad I found Him in time. Picked me up and turned me around, placed my feet on solid ground,He took away all of my doubts. Then He moved all of my fears.He gave me joy unspeakable joy. Wiped away everyone of my tears, I'm so glad I found the Lord Jesus in time!! I have heard that some so many times in the past, but I never really understood the power in it until about a month a go.

 There is a precious saint at our church who truly loves the Lord. She ushers at the church, she attends Sunday school faithfully. I have watched God move her from the back row of the church to the taking the lead in Sunday school, Easter programs, etc.. God was not finished with her. She joined the choir and on the first time out the gate with the choir she is leading a song called "I'm so glad I found the Lord Jesus in time." she sang it with so much joy and authority I was moved by the power of God in her voice. Satan said I'm not having it. tragedy stuck this sister, she had a brain aneurysm as she was going to the back of the church still singing. After being rushed to the hospital and flown to a specialized hospital in Chicago, and several surgery and rehabs events, she is getting better.

 I went to visit her in the hospital today and I was met with the light of God in her eyes. When I see her now I hear this song again in my heart and this is what it says, I'm so glad I found the Lord Jesus in time, before my body broke down, before I got in the midst of this storm, before my bills out number my money, before Adrienne Vittadini Holt Boot (Google Affiliate Ad)my health started to fail me, before I got in this bad relationship, before I lost my way. I am so glad I found the Lord Jesus in time. If you don't know the Lord Jesus, you can find Him right now, right where you are. He wants to give you a second chance. Thank you sister for blessing my soul in song!!! You are my hero.

The most dangerous person in the church.

I read an article the other day that got my mind to wondering, who is the most dangerous person in the church. As I thought about this article, God gave me a Rhema word for the church on this subject. The text was 3rd John 9-11. Can you recognize the most dangerous person in the church? By dangerous, I don't mean the physical person. I don't mean the biggest, meanest or the scarest. I mean the one with the most dangerous spirit, the one with the spirit of Diotrephes.

Diotrephes would not submit to leadership, that made him dangerous. Diotrephes was a self serving, glory seeking, person who wanted preeminence. He fail to realize the Only Christ should have preeminence (Col. 3:18). Diotrephes was a slanderous, gossiper. He went around spreading mess about the man of God.

Diotrephes was a divisive person. His selfish desire caused division in the church. Anytime you have a member (s) in the church who displays these attributes, that person is dangerous to the body of christ.

How are we to respond to the spirit of Diotrephes? Verse 11 says we are not follow them because they have not seen God, in other words; they have not been saved. Paul said in Romans 16:17 that we are to mark them that cause divison AND avoid them.

In summary, Diotrephes can be anyone in the church from the pastor to the people. Diotrephes could even be you my reader. Ask God to examine your heart today and see if you are the most dangerous person in the church.

Looking for an answer

I have one serious question for all you out there in the blog-a-sphere. Please give this some serious thought. Ready? Here it is......Can a TRUE christian become an atheist?

The fire still burns

Thank God for my pastor, Rev. Keith D. Witherspoon. Man what a time we had in revival on last week. Pastor preached as though it was his last time preaching and our last time to make a decision. I am ever so grateful for this anointed man of God. Really I am speechless.

Telling it like it can be: You can depend on God

Telling it like it can be: You can depend on God

You can depend on God

God has had me anchored in the Old Testament for the last few weeks and I must say it has been a joy to preach from such passages as Exodus 20 (Ten commandments) and the book of Numbers. Last week I preached from a passage in Numbers (23:8)entitled "any way you look at, I'm blessed." That chapter was so rich God had me drop anchor in it again, this time from Numbers 23:19. The message was entitled, "You can depend on God." Here is a brief outline and overview of the text:
"God is not a man, that He should lie, nor the son of man, that He should repent. Has He not said, Will He not do." Each phrase in this passage can stand by itself as an independant clause.

God is: That's Affrimation.
Not a man: That's Information.
That He should lie: That's Declaration.
Nor the son of man: That's Limitation.
That He should repent: That's Revelation.
Has He not said: That's Proclamation.
Shall He not do: That's Expecation.

God put this word in the mouth of the prophet Balaam in response to Balak's desire for him to curse the children of Israel. Balaam had tried to curse the nation twice before, but instead of cursing them, he blessed them. That right there says you if God has blessed you, you're blessed.

God is. It does not say God was or will be, but it says God is!!! That right there is enough to shout over. Just the fact that God is says you can depend on Him. God is what, whatever you need God is. Back in Exodus 3, Moses asked God when I go back to Egypt & the people ask me your name what shall I say, who shall I say sent me? God told Moses tell them, “I am, that I am.” God is whatever you need Him to be. If you need a doctor, God is. If you need a lawyer, God is. If you need a friend, God is a friend that will stick closer than a brother. Because God is that means you don’t have to worry about what man may try to do you. You don’t have to worry about what man may say about you. Is there anybody here today that is glad that God is?
GOD IS NOT A MAN: That’s Information. You see the king Balak had the wrong information about who God was. The ancient pagans saw offerings as bribes; attempts to manipulate their gods & goddesses into doing what they wanted them to do. That is why he was so persistent in building altars & making sacrifices. He was trying to win God’s favor. God told Balaam to tell the king you can’t manipulate or bribe me.

& you know there are a lot of people walking around today even in the church house with the wrong information about God. You information about God is so wrong until you think by showing up on Sunday you can get God to do what you want. You think that by giving your offering or tithes you can bribe God into being your genie. You think that you can pop in a prayer & out pop a blessing. Tell your neighbor God is not a vending machine.

Man has flaws, fears, failures, frustrations, & faults. Man is fickle, fragile, faithless, foolish. Man is conniving, crafty, cunning, covetous & conceited. Can I go a little further? Man is boastful, proud, blasphemers, lovers of self more than lovers of God. Man is unthankful, unholy, false accusers, despisers of those that are good. Man has a beginning & an ending. You can’t depend on man. Man will tell you one thing & do another. I would give a plug nickel for the word of some men as a matter of fact; I wish I had a nickel for every promise man has made to me. Man will let you down. I got bible on that, Ps. 118:8, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” God is not a man!

But God on the other hand, He always was, He always is & He always will be. He is unmoved, unchanged, undefeated & never undone. Schools can’t explain Him. Armies can’t defeat Him. He is light, love & Lord. Is there anybody here that knows the He is Holy, righteous, gentle & good? Everything God has every said He has done. Unlike man God does not change His mind once He has made a promise, neither does He fail to act on His word. Somebody missed they shout right there!! God has made a commitment to us in Jesus, & nothing—no one—can move Him to go back on His word. Thank you brother Paul, “I am persuaded……God is not a man!!!
THAT HE SHOULD LIE: That’s Declaration. I can’t think of anything that shows the true nature of man than a person’s propensity or tendency to lie. We witness it in little children almost from the moment they begin to talk. Nobody has to teach them to lie. It’s in their nature. Even when a child is grown the tendency to lie does not go away. It does not diminish with age. Man lie so much till in some cases he is asked to swear on a stack of bibles.
When God was making this declaration He was remembering His own promise to Abraham in Genesis. I will bless those who bless you & I will curse those who curse you. God keeps His word ya’ll!! But because we have such a dim view of whom God is we have concluded that since man lie, then God must lie as well. But the bible is clear that all lies come from Satan. I got bible on that, John 8:44, “the devil he was a murderer from the beginning, & abided not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, & the father of it. Balak though he could get God to alter His promise by his sacrifices.
The text says God is not a man that He should lie. But I have it on good authority that if God said it, you can count on it! Five people just got blessed. When God said you must be born again, He was not lying! When God said the wages of sin is death, He was not lying! When God said flesh & blood shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven He was not lying! When God said a liar, drunkard, whoremonger shall have their place in the lake of fire that burns with fire & brimstone He was not lying!!
Flip that record over & play the other side. When God said sinner man, sinner woman repent, He was not lying. When God said, “If my people, who are called by My name…. He was not lying. If you just confess your sins, God said He would forgive you & make you clean. If you come to Him weary, worried & worn He will give you rest. As a matter of fact what every God has promised you, it will come to pass. I don’t know how you feel about it but I’m glad that God is not shorter than His word!!
Adam thought God was lying. The children of Israel thought God was lying. Pharaoh thought God was lying. Peter thought God was lying. Sodom & Gomorrah thought God was lying. I wonder just how many of us sitting here today think God is lying when He says if you don’t change your ways. You will lift up your eyes in hell? Come here rich man & tell them your story!! God is not a man that He should lie! His nature won’t let Him lie. His holiness won’t let Him lie. His love for you & me won’t let Him lie. You can depend on God!

NOR THE SON OF MAN: That’s Limitation. The bible says man that is born of woman is of but a few days. The bible says it is appointed unto man but once to die & after that the resurrection. The bible says that God has a bound set that no man can cross. In other words man has limitations on what he can do & how far he can go... somebody say but God. There are no limitations God. You see God is older than age. He is the beginning & the end, the alpha & omega, the first & the last. God is the creator of all things. He is the keeper of the universe. You can’t wear God out. God will never give out. Tell somebody you can depend on God.

THAT HE SHOULD REPENT: That’s Revelation. The word “repent” actually means “to be sorry”. God never needs to repent because never acts in ignorance or impulse. Unless man God does not let His emotions cause Him to say or do something that He would have to be sorry about latter, therefore God never needs to repent. It would do some of you good to repent right now. But instead of repenting you would rather die & go to hell then to admit you were wrong. If you been mean & low down, repent! You been shacking with him or her, repent! You’ve been putting your mouth on one another, repent!!If you've been lying on one another, repent! It you been talking about him or her, repent! Repent! Repent! Repent! I guarantee you if you repent, you can depend on God to forgiven you.

HAS HE NOT SAID IT: That’s Proclamation. What that means is that God keeps His promises. Didn’t God promise that if you abide in Him & His word abides in you, you could ask what you will. Didn’t God promise that no good thing would He with hold from them that walk upright? Didn’t God promise that He would supply all your needs according to His riches in glory? All of God’s promises are ye & Amen. God promised Abraham that He would bless those that blessed him & curse those that cursed him. Now we see evidence of God’s proclamation coming to pass.
What has God promised you?

That brings me to my last clause in this 19th verse. SHALL HE NOT DO IT: That’s Expectation. God is, that’s affirmation. Not a man, that’s information. That He should lie, that’s declaration. Nor the son of man, that’s limitations. That He should repent, that’s revelation. Has he not said it, that’s proclamation. Shall He not it, that’s expectation. Because God is not man. Because God can not lie, because God is not the son of man nor does He need to repent. Because God keeps His word, I am living in expectation.

The door is open.. You may come!

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Telling it like it can be: So You Want to Get Married hu?

Telling it like it can be: So You Want to Get Married hu?

Forgiviness is not an option

Today was forgiviness Sunday at New Peter's Rock. The message came from Matthew 18:21-22. One of the key disciplines missing in the church today it forgiviness. We got singing down pat. Praying, no problem, speaking in tongues, like a China man, but when it comes to forgiviness, as believers we miss the mark.

Peter asked Jesus how many times should he forgive a brother that keeps on doing him wrong. Peter thought seven time would be enough since the preacher of that day said you only had to forgive three times. But jesus shocked Peter when He told him, do it 490 times (70 x 7). Jesus did not mean that Peter was to walk around with a forgiviness counter, counting until he got to 490 becasue the bible says loves keeps no record of wrong. Jesus meant that by the time you forgive someone 490 times you are in the habit of forgivining.

The problem is most of us do not have a proper understand of what forgiviness is. Can I help you with that? Forgiviness does not mean you are letting the offender off the hook. We fail in the forgiviness department because we believe, "if I forgive you, you have gotten away with something." Forgiviness means you are putting him/her in hands bigger and better than you.

When you forgive someone you are simply releasing them into God's hand. The same hands that shaped the world, the same hands that scooped out the dry land. Forgiviness is a ONE WAY street. Another reason many of us won't forgive is becasue the offender did not apologize for the wrong. Forgiviness has nothing to do with weather the offender ever apologize. The truth of the matter is even if they did, you probably wouldn't believe them.

Unforgiviness keeps you tied to the offenders. He/she goes to bed with you, to work with you. You are hand cuffed to the offender, maybe that is why so many of us can only raise one hand in church, the other one is holding on to hatred.

Again, many of us won't forgive because we have not seen it modeled for us. We teach our children how to curse, drink, smoke, hate, lie, gossip, but when was the last time you modeled forgiviness for your children? Let me hurry on. Forgivines has nothing to do with how you feel. God commands us to forgive not base on how we feel, but in spite of how we feel. If feeling was a prerequisite for forgiviness, none of us would be saved.

Can I go to Calvary for a minute. Jesus was spit on, slapped, laughted at, whipped, did I say whipped, nailed to a cross, the crowd laughted at him, even the thief was trying to steal His joy. But in spite of How much pain My God suffered, in spite of how humilited He was I can hear Him say, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

We have lots of options in this world, what car to buy, how to move in, what to wear, where to worship at, but there is one option that you and I do not have as children of God, We do not have the option of to forgive or not to forgive.

Sombody said, "Forgiviness is the bridge we all must cross to get back to God." Are you building bridges or fences.

So You Want to Get Married hu?

Gary Collins writes and excellent book called 'Christian Counseling." It deals with a variety of issues that christians face on this road to glory. One of the issues he address is the issue of "Choosing a mate." I want to point out a few practical points that he makes on this subject, but before I get there I want to make a few personal comments from my own experiences.

When I met my wife I was not in the market or the mood for a woman or a wife, but God saw different. You see I had been burn, bruised, battered and bloodied by women. I was content being single. I did not believe I would ever meet the woman God had for me. Notice I said "the woman God had for me." I did not have any idea what I was doing when I first married, I was going by the banging body, and not the beating heart.Even though people (momma) told me she was not the right one, I was hell bent on having her.

You the time to instruct someone about choosing a mate is before they sell their heart. Because no matter how mean he/she is, once you have given your heart, once you have fallen in love...it's over for your heart. You do know the bible says love covers a mulitude of sins right? When I let God do the choosing for me. I AM BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!!!!!

So if you are seeking God for a help mate, I pray that the following guide lines help you. 1) Don't choose a mate with divorce in mind. We live in a time where marriages are disposable. Many christians go into marriage with the idea that if it don't work, no harm no foul. 2) People marry for various reasons (ex.. security, financial,loneliness, etc..). Why do you want to get married? 3) Many choose a mate for socail value....What do you mean preacher?

Picture yourself going to buy a car, you only have $10,000 to work with, so you only shop in the $10,000 and under lane. Christians do the same in choosing a mate, we shop for someone that is within our price range be it education, economics or race. I am sure you can add more. Finally, a good choice doesn't always mean a good marriage, but it's a start. Let me quit...Still praying.

Don't Compromise your view

We live in a world today that seems to call right wrong and wrong right. We live in a world where anything and everything seems to be acceptable. We live in a world where even christians are "going along to get along." Can you say compromise? I don't consider myself to know everything about God, but I do know this, God did not call us out of darkness to compromise with the world around us. We maybe in the world, but if you are a child of God you are not of the world.

If we are to draw people to Christ then we must stop compromising the Gospel when we are in the company of non-believers or even when we are in the company of saints who maybe going down the wrong road. We as christians and especially men/women of God, must have our foot on one side of the line or the other. Compromise bu definition means "a middle course or view between two opposing one."

If we are the children of God and the bride of Christ our view is the view of the gospel not the world. The world says man came from apes. The world says that the world was formed by a 'big bang." But the bible says, "In the beginning God created.." To many in the body of Christ are halted between two opinions. To many are letting the world influnces creep in unaware into their homes and in the church.

Can I illustrate what I mean? How many of you wear glasses raise your hand. When you take your glasses of every thing you look at is distorted am I right? When you put them back on everything you look at becomes clear. Are you with me so far?

Before you came to Christ, your vision was out of focuse and it affected everything you viewed and did. You saw wrong as right and right as wrong. You didn't see anythng wrong with man sleep with a man cause one of them was your favorite cousin. You didn't see nothing wrong with your uncle have some on the side, cause your auntie wasn't acting right any way. you didn't see anything wrong with come to wearing anything, saying anything and giving anything. Why becasue your vision was distorted.

When you put on your glasses one side of the room does not light up more than the other.Somebody say but now..But now that you have had your eyes examined by the Master and He has given you spiritual vision, now that you can see clearly, it ought to affect how you view everything.

Your view of the world around you ought to be the view from the lens of the gospel and it ought to affect EVERY area of your life not what you select. I wear glasses and without them I can't see anything clearly, but when I put them on I can see even the lent in the corner; and it's just as clear as the garbage on the street.

So it is spiritually speaking. As Christians we must view EVERYTHING the same way and not compromise for fear of offending the masses. God called us to be the light not just on Sunday or to a select group, but to the World. God wants us to see every situation through the same lenses. So starting today, put your glasses on and stop taking them off.

In the words of Adrean Monk, "You will thank me later."

Deep water

"The toleration which a christian is required to exercise is NOT something we must exercise in spite of his/her belief that the gospel is true, but precisely because of this belief." Lesslie Newbigin. I didn't mean to get that deep.

I am starting on a long journey next month working toward my Master's degree in theology. So If I get a little deep every now and them, pray for me. I don't know why God is directing me back to the halls of academia, but where He leads me I will follow.

Going back a different way

Today was our last Sunday service of 2010, it was our evangelist service. I attempted to preach an evangelistic message from Matthew 2:7-13 entitled, "Don't go back the same way you came." In this passage Jesus is no longer the baby laying in a manger. He has traded swaddling clothe for training pants. The stable has been traded for a duplex. Joseph has handled his business for coming to Bethlehem.

Now a couple years have gone by and here come the wise men, three, we don't know. Who they are we don't know and it really does not matter. What is important is that they came from afar for one reason, to worship the Christ child. Point one: If when you come to the house of prayer you must have one thing in mind, WORSHIP. There is no way you can come into the presence of God with worship on your mind and then go back the same way.

The fact they inquired as to the whereabouts of the Christ child, the one born the, "King of the Jews" troubled king Herod. This cause him to call for all the scribes and to ask them when and where this child was to be born. Notice the Scribes told them of the prophecy according to the word of God. Point Two: It's one thing to know the word of God but it's a totally different thing to obey it. The scribes had been waiting and watching for the Messiah, now they are just five miles from the Anointed Son of God, but they would not go to see Him.

Many people in the world come to church, know the word of God, how to quote it and tot it, but if you really want to go back a different way, you must be a doer and not just a hearer. Then he called the Magi privily with the same question and with this instruction, after you have found him, come back and let me know so I can come and worship him as well.

If Herod really wanted to worship Jesus, one would think that he would have gone with them and not sent them. Point three: If you really want to go back a different way, you must see Jesus for yourself. It's time to quit living off of grand momma's prayer and go see the Saviour for yourself.

I will stop after I give you these next couple of points. The text says that the wise men, the magi rejoiced with exceeding great joy not at seeing the Christ child, but knowing that they were close. Point Four:It ought to make you joyful to know that you are coming to the house of God. It ought bring joy to your heart to know that as you are driving down the street on Sunday knowing that you are just the much closer to meeting the one who died for your sins. To often God's people come into the sanctuary with their heads hanging low as though they are going to a funeral not to meet with the living God. If you want to go back a different way, there must be some joy in your heart.

So now the wise men come to the house, not the stable, where the Christ child, the toddler is living with His mother. Notice the text mentioned the child before the mother. Last Point: If you want to go back another way, you must put Jesus first in your life. He must come before mother, father, sister or brother,Jesus must come before the bottle, the blunt and the bed. When you put Jesus first, you will not go back the same way. The bible says in 2nd Corinthians 5:17, If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature."

There have been many a soul that have come to Jesus one way, but left another: The woman at the well, The man laid at the gate called beautiful, Paul the persecutor. Blind Bartamaeus. Zacheaus...I came to Jesus just as I was, weary, wounded, and sad!!!!!!!!!!! Now that I have meet Jesus, my life will never be the same!!!

Well lest I go on I just wanted to share with you my conviction on the subject. This coming watch night the text will be Luke 17:32, "Remember Lot's Wife." I will be talking about the danger of looking back. If God will allow me I will talk about her Problem, Her Pride and Her Penalty.

We Got the devil on the run.

Let me begin by saying Merry Christmas to one and all. God has had me preaching through the epistle of James for some times now. When I first started preaching through this epistle the church took a turn. You see James is all about spiritual maturity. James is all about moving the people of God from the whinnig to worshipping, from fear to faith.

so when I frist started this expository explanation of the eternal word of God, every thing was find. In chapter one they still fell asleep. In chapter two they perked up a bit but still texted and talked. By the time we go to chapter three some thing happened that baffled me. One begin to argue with another. This one was not speaking to that one. Every ministry in the church seems to be at war with each other.

By the time we go to chapter four, I was tired, troubled and tempted to call it a wrap. What did you do preacher? I'm glad you asked. Just last week I came home from work on my lunch. It had snowed so I took the snow shovel and decided to take out my frustration on the snow.

As I was shoveling, I began to talk to the Lord. I explained to God how I did not understand why all of a sudden it seemed as though ALL HELL had broken lose in the church. So there I was shoveling and crying oout to God. Like at the baptism of Christ, God spoke. What did he say preacher? Wait a minute I'm going to tell you.

God said wipe your eyes before you freeze to death. God told me that the reason is seemed as though all hell had broken lose was becasue we had the devil on the run!....I stopped shoveling, not becasue my back was hurting but becasuse I needed to make sure I had heard God correctly. Say that again Lord. Stop. Rewind. Play. God said the reason it seems like all hell is breaking out in the church is becasuse you got the devil on the run. I shouted, hollereed, and screamed!!

God showed me that when ever you preach His word, on the surface it may seem like the people are getting worse, but in reality they are getting better. Glory to God. God showed me that satan is not going to just roll over and play dead, he is not going to go quietly into the night without a fight. Satan is going to lose every hell hound at his disposal to afflict the people of God in order to get them to fall back into their evil way. God said the hell you are experiences is nothing more than growing pain.

I asked God how do we keep satan on the run now that we have him on the run. Anybody want to know what God said? God said the key to keeping satan on the run is found in James 4: 6-10: Be humble. Submit. Resist the devil. Draw near to God. Wash your hands. Purify your heart. Stop laughing at sin. Stop grieving the Holy Spirit and grive over your sins. Mourn (not becasue somebody has died, but becasue sin is killing you). Wail. Change. Be humble. Well I believe I have said enough. I believe I will run on now to see what the end will be. Thank you Father for renewing my focus, for restoring my joy and for reassuring me of my purpose.....Keep the devil on the run....Still praying.

I feel like going on

Today my wife and I celebrated our third year of service to the church God assigned us to (New Peter's Rock). The church showed us much love and we are ever so grateful for each member and whatever role they played in making our celebration a memorable one. We had three powerful preacher to come and bless the body over the course of three nights. First was my own pastor, Rev. Witherspoon (Bethlehem MB Church South Bend). He preached about the "Preeminence of preaching. Next was Rev. Bacon (Mt. Calvary of Niles Michigan). He preached about "But God." This evening the preacher was Rev. Davidison (Greater Friendship MB Church South Bend). He preached about "The land in-between."

I was truly blessed and humbled by these mighty men of God who took time out of their busy schedules to come and share with us out of their convictions. I thank each one as well as all the other Churches that came and shared with us. A dear friend of mine that could not make the service dropped by long enough to bless us (Pastor Owens, Macedonia MB Church South Bend). You all are in my prayers.

So the question now is what have I learned that I can pass on to you my readers: 1). I learned that you can't neglect the sheep for the goats. There will always be one or two making noise, don't let that draw your attention away from feeding the flock of God. 2) I learned that if people really put their mind to do a thing, that can do it. Often time we think we have to micro-manage every event, every incident that happens in the church, news flash....We don't.

3) I learned that as a leader, I must use a telescope not a microscope. Leaders look into the future, managers only look at right now. Managers do things right, Leaders on the other hand do the right thing regardless of the consequences. So if you are a leader, called by God, do what is right and let God deal with the fall out.

4) I may not see the fruit of my labor, but every now and again God will let me peek in the window. Like Rachel I have cried out to God, "Give me children lest I die." But I discovered you can have children out of season (spiritually speaking). God will add to the church as He sees fit, so wait on Him.

5) I have learned that when I think our young people are not listening, they are. I have had young people come up to me two, three weeks after I have preached a certain message and repeat it to me word for word.. So leave them alone, they are paying attention.
5) Finally I learned that my wife can hold her own. She may be the weaker vessel, but she is still God's vessel. Again I just wanted to share with all of you what you may or may not know, about what I have learned over the course of these three years.... I had to cry. I have laughted, but through it all, I feel like going on...Still Praying.

Waiting for the harvest

Our church is a spiritually young church with the anoiting of God resting on us. some times we lose our focus and begin to focus on things of this world and not of God. It is in those time that we need to be revived and reminded of the call of God on our lives. This pass week God sent His man to revive us. I thank God for His grace and His Spirit during our revival services on last week.

Our Evangelist for the week was Rev. Dr. Virgil Brackett the pastor of Rhema Word Church of Chicago, Ill. He told us not only what "thus saith the Lord," but what to do with it. This man of God was a mighty sword in God's hand on last week. I thank God for the vision and the insisting of the Holy Spirit to send out a Macedonian call.

I know God can move right now, but often times it takes time for the seed of the word to germinate and take root in the heart of the hears. Because God's word will not return to Him void,I am waiting, watching and worshipping for the harvest. I am now pregnant in the spirit and waiting for the spiritual harvest that God has promised. Still praying...