OPTIMISM!!

""The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want". Psalms 23:1. OPTIMISM in the Lord! When I was growing up we had a dog that was the most optimistic creature I ever saw. He never had a discouraging bark even after he chased scores of squirrels and rabbits and never caught one in his life. Was he ever discouraged, no, nada, never. He was always ready to try again in the hope that he would win one of these days. But there is a strange contradiction going on in this world today. Unbelievers who have the most horrible future in store are filled with a vain optimism, but Christians who have every reason to be most optimistic people on the earth are often depressed and pessimistic. Humm, what's up with that? Proverbs 10:28 says, "The prospect of righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing" (NIV). Is that true you may ask? In Isaiah 3:10-11 " Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doing. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given to him". Bro: we have to have Biblical optimism. I have Biblical optimism, because: 1) I remember God's faithfulness in the past. 2) I expect God's help in the present. 3) I have faith to see the unseen. 4) I will not be troubled by external circumstances because I have internal peace and hope in the Lord. When I see the kettle in my house keep on singing even it's up to the neck with hot water, I will sing also "What a friend we have in JESUS....". Now you sing my friend.. sing..He is with you wherever you are!

Redeem what you lost!!

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost". Like 19:10. My friend, Do you want to REDEEM WHAT YOU HAVE LOST? During our life and en route to the level of success that we believe will satisfy us, we will encounter number of losses. Often we don't notice the relationships we sacrifice to pursue our goal.Hey, faith may not get us the job as quickly as we would like even if we pray or the modern idea of "name-it- and claim it". You know that "Easy-Bake or Micro Wave" recipe. Some times we lose lot of things on the road to success. Even personal lives are messed up. Satan will do everything he can to ruin our vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationship with man. He'll use temptations, feeling of guilt, depression, and outright oppression. In today's world, with the proliferation of pornography and broken homes, sexual abuse, dis-functional homes, millions are trying to handle it their own. But there is a better way to be free from the guilt, shame, depression, and despair- that is "by redeeming our time". Pastor, How I do that?-you may ask. Well 1) Minimize the damage where you can. 2) Reassess what transpired and go as far as you can from there. 3) Do damage control and strategize on how you can avoid similar mistakes. 4) Blame no one and forgive yourself and others. Redeem your time and remember, WE HAVE A REDEEMER, AND HE REDEEMED US, AND HE KNOWS THIS PROCESS. HE WILL DO IT AGAIN IN YOUR LIFE!!

OUR SOVEREIGN GOD!

"God is our refuge and strength..an ever present help in trouble" Psalms 46:1-2. My friend, do you ever feel inspired to WORSHIP, thinking of the sovereignty of God? Are there any issues you are struggling with right now concerning God's way versus your way? Do you feel inspired to worship, thinking of the sovereignty of God? The doctor tells you, you have cancer. Your business is on skids and you're about to lose it all. Your child, in whom you invested so much love and care runs away from home, or runs afoul of the law, or gets into drugs. The love of your life, your spouse tells you right on your face that she or he doesn't love you anymore and wants a divorce. You watch as things you worked hard for begin to collapse around you. And you are confused!! In 1 Chronicles 29, David prayed "Blessed are You Lord God of Israel, our father , forever and ever...your hand is powerful and might, in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all". In another words, David was saying " I worship you because You are in charge in spite of the problem I am facing. Bro: If God is ultimately in charge, if He is your Creator, If He is ultimate authority in the world and in life, doesn't it make sense to say, "Lord God, you know all the answers. You know the questions even before I asked. Take control of my life. I submit myself to you into your hands and YOU KNOW EVERYTHING I AM GOING THROUGH. When things go wrong, don't go wrong with them. Now remember " If a care is too small to be turned into a prayer, it is too small to be made into a burden". I say...let Him..I say ..Let Him..Handle it for you!!! Worship Him this morning!! Y'ALL HEAR ME!!

DON'T LIVE IN THE PAST!!

"Tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you". Joshua 3:5. My friend, here Joshua is talking to a nation whose yesterdays were a long list of repeated failures and rebellion against God. They had been convicted, judged, punished, and reinstated frequently by the God they'd flagrantly sinned against. But Joshua said to the people "Consecrate yourself, realign yourself with God's plan and watch Him begin to work in your life. In the New Testament, Martha is concerned with the HERE and Now, and doesn't look very far into the future even though she knows Jesus is her Messiah. But Mary trusted in the Lord for her future, and she doesn't care about the value of her possessions; so she anointed His feet with the most valuable things she had. Judas, Humm..lived only for the present. He didn't care about the Lord, or any person. He was totally self-centered. Well, I have a news for you- whatever you past was, just when the enemy has convinced you that with your past God couldn't possibly have a future for you, God calls you to prepare yourself so He can bless you! God is fully aware of your yesterdays, but He's much more focused about your tomorrows. My friend, DON'T GIVE UP YOUR TOMORROWS BY BUILDING MONUMENTS TO YOUR PAST FAILURES. Yes my friend, I am talking to you and you know it, right??? Yeah...GOOD!

YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU SAY!!

"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit" Proverbs: 18:21. My friend, there are too many people in the body of Christ who speak negative things over their own lives and the lives of their loved ones and WONDER WHY THEY CAN'T SEEMS TO HAVE VICTORY. When it is a rainy, cold, and wet day you say, "what a yucky day this is going to be", In summer, you say "It's very hot and I can't take it any longer", when your bills are piling up you say "I am never going to get out of debt", you tell your kids out of your frustrations and tiredness "you are good for nothing and you will never make it in your life", when you had a hard day at work having no help from anybody you say "today is my last day at this work". Now, YOU HAVE WHAT YOU SAID! Tada. Hey I have a word for you this morning. "DON'T LET YOUR "FED UP" convince you not to "GET UP" and say it's time to "GIVE UP". Bro: God's word has the power to cancel your past, to conquer your problems, to change your personality, and complete your purpose. Have you noticed that Jesus didn't walk around and said, I'm poor, I'm weak, I'm nervous, I'm afraid. My friend, develop a doers attitude. Doers believe in their God-given potential, have a clear focused vision, act by faith in God's grace, and are persistent enough to accomplish it. It's time to say with your mouth and confess "health instead of sickness, victory instead of defeat, joy instead of sorrow, power instead of weakness, wealth instead of poverty, IN JESUS NAME! YOUR GOD WILL TURN YOUR SITUATION AROUND. YOUR GOD IS BIG AND HE IS ON YOUR SIDE- LET YOUR FAITH GO...GO...GO.. Y'ALL HEAR ME???

Your stuff is not yours!

"Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs". Ecclesiastes 5:15. You mean "your stuff isn't yours". Ask any coroner.. He will tell you "No one takes anything with him or her". I read that one of the richest man's accountant was asked by his neighbor "How much did he leave". "ALL OF IT" was the reply. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot. (Luke 12:15). Fear will always whisper "unless you get more, you won't be secure". My friend, happy people don't follow money- they follow their passion- for that's what gives their life meaning. It's a mistake to think that wealth buys a life of freedom, status, or worldly power. Bro: The rich usually become wealthy by sacrificing their freedom and leisure time. They sacrifice quality time with their spouse and children. At the end of the day, aren't they your asset? Status? well, that's a slippery slope too. Because no matter how far you climb there's always somebody ahead of you. Power? Hmm.. when power increases , you generally lose control of your life because of all the people you have to please and obligations you have to fulfill. There are some interesting Insurance companies slogans regularly appear as TV commercials. One commercial says "You are in good hands with Allstate". Well are you in good hands ?". I had an opportunity to consider these commercials in the context of the last words of Jesus from the cross of Calvary during my devotion time this morning. Just seconds before he died, Jesus cried out, "Into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46). Notice that He did not commit His spirit to Peter, James, John, Pilate, Caiaphas or even the Roman soldiers. Jesus wanted to be sure He was in good hands, so He committed His spirit into the hands of God. Hey, hey, What are you running after buddy? Heaven does not know you as the person with lot of money, luxury cars, boat, mansion, nice suit or your fame, HEAVEN KNOWS YOUR HEART AND WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST! Tada! Am I preaching to you? Take it or leave it man!!!

HEY, IT'S TIME TO DEFEAT YOUR GIANT!

""This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you down and cut off your head....and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel".1 Samuel 17:46. This morning, the Lord brought me to the story of David and Goliath. My friend, do you know how to defeat your "giants" in your life? When things are too big for us to handle, when life seems to be overwhelming, we need to trust and look to God for our strength and deliverance. Our temptations are no different from what others experience. "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear...He will provide a way out..." 1 Corinthians 10:13. Regardless of whether the giant you face is addiction, resentment, fear, lust, envy, anger, covetousness, alcoholism, sexual perversions etc., it did not become a problem (giant) overnight. Right? You see, Goliath wasn't always a giant; he was fed and nurtured until he became a giant. Tada! Our giants are usually little sins we overlook and indulge until they assume a life of their own and come back and haunt us. Bro: It is time to confront your giant head-on. Don't run away, don't negotiate, don't compromise and yes- don't excuse. Force your giant out in to the light, establish boundaries and make yourself accountable. Stay out of wrong company. Above all, don't look at your God in the light of your giant, look at your giant in the LIGHT OF YOUR GOD! Remember, we have been called to live a life worthy of ONE WHOSE NAME WE CARRY..that's LORD JESUS!!! DEFEAT YOUR GIANT.....YES YOU CAN!!

DISCIPLES!!!

"Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven....therefore Go and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations,..I am with you always, to the very end of the age". Matthew 28:18-20. My friend this "Great Commission" of Jesus involves both "Home Mission and Foreign Mission". In my study, I learned that by saying "MAKE DISCIPLES", Jesus expected from us the following: 1) Commitment: We can learn in groups, serve in teams, worship as a family, but we can only be DISCIPLES individually. Without Commitment , discipleship cannot happen. 2) Competence: We will develop competence if only we remain in Him. John 15:7-8 says: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. 3) Character: Love one another. John 13:34-35. "A new command I give you: Love one another...By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another". 4) Conviction. John 8:32. "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free". We pride ourselves in having "right" doctrine but without "conviction" which leads to commitment. Often times our life styles differ little from the cultural norm and do not even hint at Christ within us. The idea that if you follow Jesus He will make all of life's problem easier or the view of Jesus as a heavenly Santa Clause or a genie who grants all wishes immediately is wrong. In that case,if new convert did not receive answers for all their prayers immediately, they will feel betrayed, disillusioned, and abandoned. In my understanding, there are no members in the church only disciples!!! Jesus said, "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple". John 14:27. Just a thought!!!

WORSHIP HIM!

"I have come down from heaven". John 6:38. Do you know the Lord whom we are worshiping this Sunday morning? Are your tears seem stale, your faith seems to be trembling, and your vision of Jesus has blurred! You are going to church because it is a routine practice and thinking what would others say if I don't? Well, let me tell you about our Jesus who said "I have come down from heaven"....for you and me! He called himself divine and allowed an ordinary Roman soldier to drive a nail into his hand, He demanded purity yet stood for the rights of a repentant prostitute, He sent his disciples into all world, yet equipped them with only bended knees and memories of a crucified carpenter yet a resurrected savior. Hey hey our LORD said, "ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH". GO YE THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST; TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD". Matthew: 28:18-20. Worship Him, HE IS WORTHY, WORTHY...WORTHY of our PRAISE AND WORSHIP.

ANXIOUS!!!

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you". 1Peter 5:7. "Unload all your worries on Him" (Another translation). Few years back I took out a piece of paper and began to write down the things that troubling me. It ended up with a list of 21 items. On careful examination I found out that none of the items were world-shaking or life and death situations. Trivial though they are, had a cumulative effect that weighed heavily on my soul and body. Then the Lord led me to this verse in the Bible (1Peter 5:7). Either He carries the worry or we do, right? If we do, we will be divided, distracted, disturbed, confused, frustrated, and burdened. If He carries the load, we may still have the trouble and difficulties, but no overwhelming anxiety, no dominating fear, and no hopeless despair. Tada. We fear that if we submit our lives to Jesus, he will mess things up. We secretly fear He can't be trusted to care of us. So we decide to handle the problems ourselves. Bro: what kind of God are we serving and believing? Until this question is settled in our life, we will be worrying. My friends, make up your mind today. Your problem or your God is bigger? My father used to tell me "It is good to remember that the tea kettle, although up to its neck in hot water, it continues to sing". STOP WORRYING! ANXIOUS, GO AHEAD, BUT REMEMBER YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT EITHER!!!

YOUR FIERY TRIALS (PEIRAMOS [GREEK])

"But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold". Job 23:10. My friend, when troubles come, it may be sent by God to test us and Satan may use it as an occasion for temptation. It all depends on how we respond. The Greek word in New Testament "peiramos" can mean "test" or "trial" or even "temptation". When trouble comes.. the choice is ours: 1) We may turn to God in prayer, or may become bitter. 2) We may become quiet and thoughtful, or we may begin to complain. 3) We may take courage, or we may give in to fear. 4) We draw close to God, or we may turn away from God. ALL DEPENDS ON HOW WE RESPOND! Bro: In any case "YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU ALWAYS"! You remember, the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace? The wicked king thought the fire would burn them. He didn't know that they belong to a ever-present God. The fire only burnt the ties that bound them. Some say "God took the heat out of the fire". I don't think so. Consider the soldiers who thew them into the fire were burned to death at the door. There was plenty of heat in the furnace, but God controls the boundaries. The wicked king was astonished when he saw the Hebrew boys overcame what had killed other men. My friend, I cannot guarantee that you will not face terrifying situations because you are a Christian. I can declare to you based upon the "word of God", the effects of the circumstance will be drastically altered, or nullified by your God. Remember, HE HOLDS THE THERMOSTAT WHEN YOU GO THROUGH YOUR FIERY FURNACE! Praying for you my friend, really, YOU SHALL COME FORTH AS PURE GOD!! We love YAHH!!

WHETHERING THE STORM!!

""But no long after there arose against it TEMPESTUOUS wind, called Euroclydon"..v23- For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve"...Acts:27-1-23. My friend, this is what you call "WEATHERING THE STORM THAT COME AGAINST YOUR HOME". Our master has taken every struggle and test, every mishap and neglect, to cultivate in us the soil needed to make us reproductive. Contrary winds were sent to blow us away from people and cliques that would create a climate conducive for what God wants to do in our life. Bro: He is about to unveil a new realm of glory in our life. We must understand the certainty of CONTRARY WINDS in our life: 1) They come to us all. 2) They come suddenly and unexpectedly. 3) They come from different and often unsuspecting directions. Realize and accept the winds as a part of the Lord's plan. What will you do when you are in this circumstances, you may ask? Buddy, get alone with the lord in prayer (21). Where do you think Paul was so long? I don't think he was hiding in fear. But I do know this, when he re-appeared he had the answer (22) And he said God had given it to him (25). So what do you do friend? STOP PANICKING! TADA. HE IS IN CONTROL. He is taking you to practical lessons which you learned in the class room buddy. Did you hear? Now, don't go to the phone..go to the throne! Y'ALL HEAR ME!!! GOOD!!!