Surrounded By The Presence Of Our Lord Jesus

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

When I read this passage I am so filled with comfort and hope. There are so many times in life when we are faced with circumstances that would seem to destroy us. All of us will face difficult circumstances in this life. But for those of us who are Children of God, we have the assurance that He will be with us in the midst of whatever circumstance we find ourselves in.

As we walk out of the door in the morning and face a day that is totally unknown to us, we can walk out with confidence that no matter what happens we will be surrounded by the presence of our Lord Jesus. We can walk in assurance that everything is going to be alright because we serve a God who did something incredible to prove His love for us. “If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?”(Vs. 32) Wow! The obvious answer to that question is no! There is nothing that God would not do for His children. He spared no expense so that you and I could walk in a sweet assurance that whatever today or this next year bring that we are surrounded by and kept safe in His unquenchable love and abiding presence. That means that nothing, not even our enemies’ harshest condemnation or attacks remove God’s presence from us. Psalm 139:7-10 confirms that: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

With that said, everything being “alright” doesn’t mean that God’s presence keeps us from hurting. There are times when God takes away the pain; there are other times when God holds our hands in the midst of the painful experience. But in both cases He is there!

As we enter into this new year of 2009, walk in hand and hand with our Great Lord and be confident that no matter what you face that He is with you. And whether He protects you from the fire or holds you while you burn, His love for you doesn’t change and in either case, you will be “alright” in the end.

God Sent Forth His Son

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son,
born of a woman, born under the Law.”
Galatians 4:4 (NASB)

Merry Christmas. It’s seems very fitting that we are celebrating the birth of our Lord on the day that we regularly come together to worship Him. Corporate worship is in itself a celebration.

Each week we celebrate our Great God for all that He is and for all He has done and is doing. Today we focus in on celebrating our Master: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”(Phil. 2:6,7) Praise and glory be to Him!

As you celebrate this Christmas be sure and take some time out just to thank Jesus for being willing and obedient to step into your journey so that you could have a relationship with His Father. Celebrate Him for being the greatest gift ever known to man. Celebrate His Father for being the Giver of such an incredible gift! Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Cor. 9:15)

The greatest gift and celebration that you could offer Him today, if you have not already, would be to receive the Greatest Gift from the Greatest Giver that He is offering you. So, if you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, give your life to Him today and experience why the God of the universe moved heaven and earth just so your could celebrate what we call Christmas day.

The most wonderful Christmas passage in the Bible is found in John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Have a blessed day and remember to say Happy Birthday to Jesus and thank you, to His Father.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor MJ

Ever Felt Like You Can’t “Afford To Worship” ?

Have you ever felt like you can’t “afford to worship”? That you have given all you’ve got and anything that was left has been taken from you? Do you feel like all of your energy, joy, happiness, comfort, trust and hope have been swiped from under you? All the answers seem to point in the same direction – into a blank hole? How do you sing, “You are my all in all”? How do you sing, “There is joy in serving Jesus?” How in the world can you stand and lift you hands and proclaim, “There is none like You?” Have you every felt like when you sing, “Draw me close to you” that you do more damage to yourself than good, because it hurts too much, because the last time you sang that, and really poured your heart out, “nothing” happened and you just don’t want to be hurt again, to be left alone again to comfort your own broken heart?

One of my favorite hymns begins with the phrase, “My hope is in the Lord…” Every day lived needs to be lived with the hope and trust in God who has reveled Himself through Scripture, nature and experience and has promised that all that He claims about Himself through Scripture and through Jesus Christ is true and can be trusted.

Other than that, (and that “that” is HUGE) there is nothing else to hold on to. Except this; I have learned and am still learning that worship is one of the tools that God has given to us to empower us to live in victorious freedom, to see Him as He is.

Russ Taff in the late seventies sang a song entitled “Praise The Lord” that puts it well:

“When you're up against a struggle that shatters all your dreams,
And your hopes have been crushed By Satan's manifested schemes,
And you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fears,
Don't let the faith you're standing' in Seem to disappear.
Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him.
Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise.
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you,
Serve only to remind you, that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him.”

So today, when you feel like giving up or you feel like living “under the circumstances”, pause and praise the Lord for something and watch what happens!

“By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.”
Psalm 42:8

May He help you hear His song in the night that leads you to a brighter day!

Pastor MJ

Stress Of Christmas Time

“You did it: You changed wild lament into whirling
dance; you ripped off my black mourning band and
decked me with wild flowers. I’m about to burst with song;
I can’t keep quiet about you. God, my God,

I can’t thank you enough.”
(Psalm 30:11-12 The Message)

For many, the stress of how they are going to “do Christmas” this year drew them to do wild and crazy things just to try and make it happen. Some people shop at 4:00am to deal with stress, some eat more, some smoke, andwithdraw. How are you handling the stress of the day?

How we handle things that we go through, or are handed to us, will depend on our perspective! God’s Word tells us that all things, not some, but all things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purposes!

What are you faced with today? Were you hit with some unexpected, hardship or disappointment? Take courage and see you situation through your Father’s eyes. Know that He was aware of your present situation before you got there and that He has everything under control and has a purpose for you in the midst of where you are.

Whatever is stressing you out, breaking your heart, confusing you, or making you angry, give it to Father God and allow Him to cradle you in his arms all the while helping you to view things from His perspective. Remember, He is already at the end of your tribulation and is waiting to take your hand and walk with you there! How awesome is that? You are in the Genesis of your journey and He is already in your Revelation! But out of His love and awesome compassion, He is willing to walk with you through every chapter of your life until you reach home!

While you do this, you will see how some of the sourest events in life can be turned into the most refreshing and sweetest events known in your life and in the life of others. Realizing the truth of that, we have so much to praise Him for! Let’s do that together today and this week.

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

“Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

(Proverbs 27:1 NIV)

There are not many things that we can be sure of. None of us can wake up tomorrow morning and say that our jobs, marriages, finances, homes, the state of our nation, our health or anything else is for sure. Many of you perhaps find yourself in a totally different situation right now than you thought you’d be in last year at this time. There is only one thing that we can be sure of and that is God’s Word. Whatever God says will come to pass. Things He says about history, promises that He makes and things He claims about Himself are for sure.

The book of Romans gives us hope against all hope as we see God’s Word declaring truths about what He has done for us. In this book, Paul tells us what our responses should be towards this Awesome God. Listen for a moment to the voice of God: “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” (8:1); “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him…” (8:28); “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (5:8); “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (8:38).

How do we respond to a God who has done so much for us and who did so even at the expense of His being responsible for the death of His only Son? We do so by renewing our minds (12:2), by using the gifts we’ve been given for His glory (12:4-8), and by living lives of obedience and living worshipfully each day walking with the God of our salvation, singing this song with our lives:
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and Knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay Him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

Today, let’s worship Him with everything within us, for this is the Hope we can rest in and the One whom the season we are about to celebrate is all about.

God’s Hand Of Blessing

“Give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

As I ponder the last twelve months since we last celebrated the Thanksgiving season as a church and as a nation, I am overcome with emotion as I think of all that God has done for me and my family. We have been so blessed financially, spiritually, emotionally, physically and in countless other ways that God has chosen to show Himself faithful and trustworthy. It’s a good season and for that I give Him praise!

How has your year been? If God’s hand of blessing has been obvious in your life, lift up your praise and shout it from the rooftops in proclamation of the goodness of the Lord. On the other hand you may be wiping the tears and blood stains off of yourself as you are just desperately holding on due to what you’ve been dealt this year. Maybe it’s a death, a divorce, loss of a job, a horrible marriage situation, a rebellious child, diagnosis of a terrible disease. Whatever it is and as bad as it might hurt, because of Who He is, all of us can, if we’ll put our trust in Him, say like the hymn writer Horatio Spafford, “Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.”

The Lord never tells us to be happy about everything that we already have or will go through, but we are told to give thanks in the midst of each of those circumstances. Why, because it feels good? No, rather because He is good and no matter what your situation, He is using and will continue to use it to finish what He has begun in you with the goal of making you more like Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

This Thanksgiving season, no matter what you are going through, take a moment, even if you cannot think of anything else and thank God for who He is and for making a way for you to be His child. Just meditating on that gives us enough to be thankful for, for the rest of eternity. If you are still struggling to find something to give thanks about, take a moment and thank God that you have the ability to read this.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor MJ

God Knows His Children By Name

I’ll never forget the look on her face as I walked up to her and said hello and called her by name. Her eyes grew wide and her smile went ear to ear as her eye brow had an excited yet hint of unbelief that not only did I say hello, but that I knew her by name.

It’s no secret that being called by name is a powerful thing. Whether it’s Mark Jones (usually in a good comforting tone) or Mark Walton Jones (usually in a “opps, what did I do now” situation), being called by name has power.

Isaiah 43: 1 reminds us that God knows His children by name. What an awesome thing to ponder on. Just imagine yourself calling out to God and He answers back, “Hello (your name). You didn’t tell Him your name, you didn’t say, “Hello Lord, it’s (your name). He knows you. But it doesn’t stop there, my friend.

John 4:18 reveals to us that God not only knows your name, but He knows your situations intimately. “Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” John 11:14 and 35 shows us that our Lord knows our heart aches and is touched when we go through difficult times. “….So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead….Jesus wept.” Furthermore, great comfort and proper godly fear should overwhelm us when we realize that not only does Jesus know our name, our situations, good and bad, but that He alone, knows the intent our hearts. Psalm 139 makes that clear in verses 1-4, “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.”

Today, as you worship Him in Spirit and in truth, thank Him for knowing your name, praise Him for knowing your needs, adore Him for caring for you in an intimate way every moment of every day.

“He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And He hears me when I call”

Tommy Walker

In God's Hands -Trust Him

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities,

for there is no authority except that which God has established.

The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Romans 13:1

Wow! That’s about how I summed up the election of 2008. I am struck in two ways during this historic moment in time. First, as an American black man and a great, great grandson of a slave, my heart was full of joy and celebration as I watched a nation elect a man as President of the United States of America who at one time, as recently as when I was a child, could not ride in the front of busses, drink out of certain water fountains, enter certain restaurants, sit in the sanctuary of some churches or be enrolled at certain local seminaries. I never thought I’d see this day in my lifetime. We’ve come a long way!

Secondly, as a Christian my heart is comforted towards hope and drawn towards prayer for our President-Elect as I hold onto the Sovereignty of the God of the universe. A.W. Pink offers a definition of this sovereignty:
“The Sovereignty of God. What do we mean by this expression? We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the god-hood of God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that God is God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say unto Him what doest Thou? (Dan. 4:35). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in Heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will (Psa. 115:3). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is "The Governor among the nations" (Psa. 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleaseth Him best. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the "Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:15). Such is the God of the Bible.

”No matter what your thoughts are about our new President-elect, keep your eyes on our Living, True and powerful God who doesn’t change office every four or eight years, who can be trusted and who will always do what’s right. Live each day proclaiming through a prayer from your heart these powerful words from First Chronicles 29:11. "Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as Head above all"

I Will Still Praise Him

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.”

Habakkuk 3:17-19

I’ll never forget a certain birthday for one of my sons. He had researched and planned for months on end to come up with what he wanted on his birthday. For months he dropped subtle and not so subtle hints about what he wanted. One day as his actual birthday drew near; he came to me with a smile and tender eyes and said, “Dad, if you get this for me, you won’t have to get me another gift until my next birthday!” To which I replied, “Son, if I get you this gift, this will take care of your next several birthday’s, Christmas and whatever else you might choose to celebrate.” Well, I ended up getting him the gift and he claimed that from that moment on that I never had to get him anything else and to top it off, that I was the best dad in the entire world!

It seems to be easy give praise and adoration when our cup is full, when our circumstances are good and healthy; not so easy when the well is dry and our circumstances find us on the pinky toe of our last leg.

Throughout the journey that the Lord has brought my family through, we have found great comfort and encouragement in the verses above. How easy it is to say, “Thank you, Jesus”, “Praise God,” “God is good,” when times are good? When all of the bills are paid and everyone is healthy and our jobs are going really well it’s not difficult to give God praise. When all of our friends think we are great and our spouses “rise and call us blessed” and our children are the better than the Cosby kids, it’s easy to say, “God is good”. But what happens when our world is shattered and it seems that all hope is gone? Is God still good? Is His faithfulness still great? Can we still proclaim that our hope is in Him? The answer, even in the “dark of our circumstantial night” is YES!

Praising God in the good season is wonderful and right, but the reality is that often, praise demands a sacrifice. A sacrifice that flows from an empty heart and hand; a sacrifice that proclaims, “though He slays me, I will still praise Him”. Because God’s goodness is not determined by what’s in my bank account, because God’s faithfulness is not determined by what condition my health is in, because God’s sovereignty is not determined by what my circumstances look like, because God’s love is not determined or diminished by His silence at the time, we can in any and every situation give Him praise and be joyful. But that praise and joy come, not from things getter better, rather by a choice of the heart to trust Him even though we cannot see Him, to believe His Word even though we cannot hear Him and to praise Him even if we cannot utter a word. Why…because He is worthy.

Altars of Remembrance

"In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God."

Joshua 4:21b-24

I have a photo that I keep on my computer of a drawing that our cardiologist drew of my son’s heart that shows what it looked like before God’s healing touch and after God’s healing touch. From those photos you see what doctors agree is a miracle; a difference that only God could perform without surgery. I keep these pictures and the actual drawings at home as a reminder of God’s goodness and faithfulness. Those drawings have also served as “Altars of remembrance” for our family. When family and friends have looked at the drawings and asked, “What is that?” we are able to say, “Well, let us tell you about the great things that the Lord has done!”

Throughout scripture, we see stones laid, altars built, not to worship the stones or altars, but to worship the God who performed an act worth remembering from generation to generation.

Many years ago, I created an altar box. In this box there are keys, letters, copies of checks, envelopes, etc. that I will treasure forever. Over the years, I have returned to this box, especially in times of need, or discouragement and poured over its contents. As I do so, I am encouraged and reminded that God is able to do “exceeding, abundantly above all we are able to ask or think!” (Ephesians 3:20)

As you journey with the Lord and as He answers prayer, provides for your needs, surprises you with His goodness, write it down, save the “envelope” and put it in a container, a safe place and when you are in the desert of life, open it up and see the faithful hand of God in your life. In the harvest times, the good times when your children or your friends ask, “what is that”, take a moment and bring them to the “altar” and share with them what God has done for you.

Joseph Man Of Integrity

“…Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”

Genesis 39:6b-12

That passage gives us one of the most vivid examples of integrity in scripture. Joseph understood that even though “no one” was there in the room that godly integrity has as its foundation who you are when no one else is looking.

This passage never gives the name of Potiphar’s wife. Today, I believe that she can be called “P.C.” (personal computer) If there is ever a temptation looming in the face of all of us, especially men, it is the opportunity to become involved in sinful activities on the computer. Chat rooms, video sites, texting, spam, pop-ups, googled images and more call out day by day, “Come to bed with me!”

The use and misuse of this “wonderful piece of technology” has and is utterly destroying family after family each and every day.

Men and possibly some of you women, none of us is exempt from the temptation, every time we get online we are in the path of “Potiphar’s wife” calling out to us. By God’s grace and because He is worthy of our obedience and loyalty let’s say together like Joseph “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sing against God?” And then…leave the mouse on the desk and RUN!

Consider these lyrics from the song, “Guard Your Heart”, by Steve Green

What appears to be harmless glance?

Can turn to romance and homes are divided.

Feelings that should never have been awakened

within tearing the heart in two listen, I beg of you!

Guard your heart, guard your heart.

Don’t trade it for treasure, don’t give it away.

Guard your heart guard your heart

as a payment for pleasure it’s high price to pay.

For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear guard your Heart.

The human heart is easily swayed and often betrayed

at the hand of emotion.

You dare not leave the outcome to chance you must choose

in advance or live with the agony, Such needless tragedy!

Most Ask Question - Why?

Why? That is a question that as you read this is being asked by thousands of people across the globe and many perhaps sitting not too far from you. Why did my parents get washed away and killed by the tsunami? Why did my son die in a helicopter drill in Iraq? Why did he have to leave me after all of these years? Why did I get laid off? Why didn’t God stop that drunk driver before he hit my baby? Why do I have cancer? Why?

I’ve asked that question, and I’m sure you have too. During my journey with the Lord, however, I’ve yet for Him to give me a reason why. Most of the time there is seeming silence. I find comfort in God’s Word where we see “the reason” for individuals’ journey through the pain. We see Joseph’s journey though abandonment in order to set the stage for the movement of God’s children to Egypt. Then there’s Esther’s journey through pain “for such a time as this!” Later we see Daniel’s journey to and through the lion’s den so that God’s power might be shown. Then we see our Lord Jesus’ journey to the cross to provide our salvation.

But even though I see the end result of other’s pain and suffering, in the midst of mine, when I cannot see the end in sight, I still have the urge to ask why.

As a matter of fact, I just asked that question recently. Father God didn’t reach down and say, “because…”, rather He said ever so gently, “I Am”.

When Habakkuk saw the injustice and violence all around him he cried out and said, How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. (Hab 1:2,3 NIV) After asking the question why, Father told Him, "Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” (Hab 1:5 NIV)

My friend, as you are seeking to hear or see the “because”, do not be discouraged as the seeming silence is deafening, rather, ask Father to help you set your discouragement aside and rest in the powerful truth that “I AM” is right by your side in the midst of your circumstances.

Your Financial Portfolio

If your hope lies in your financial portfolio this past week was sure to make you break a sweat. We live in a world right not where “uncertainty” is the word of the day. One Scripture of the day could and should be Proverbs 27:1, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” How true is that? You go to bed one night and you are faced with Hurricane Ike and just around the corner the DOW drops 777 points and your 401k looks more like a 201k. But it’s not over yet, you just happen to work for DISD and you hear that there just happens to be an $84 million dollar budget shortfall this fiscal year and that approximately 1,209 positions, maybe yours might be eliminated.

I’m reminded of a hymn that we used to sing when I was a child, entitled, “In Times like These”. Listen and be challenged by these lyrics:

In times like these you need a Savior,

in time like theses you need an anchor;

Be very sure, be very sure your anchor

holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible,

In times like these o be not idle;

Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor

holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these I have a Savior,

in times like these I have an anchor;

I’m very sure, I’m very sure my anchor

holds and grips the Solid Rock

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One;

This Rock is Jesus, the only One!

Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

© 1944 Singspiration Music, text by Ruth Caye Jones

My friend, as you go about your day today, this uncertain day, take with you the certainty that God is still and always will be in control, no matter what your circumstances look like. And take His Word, His true, powerful loving Word to heart:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my

help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of

heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip— he who watches

over you will not slumber.”

Psalm 121:1-3 (NIV)

Don't forget The Ugandan Choir on October 29

Emergency Telephone Numbers

God, in His loving and kind way has given us His Word, which has the blueprint to live a life that is pleasing to Him. It is as it proclaims in Psalm 119:105 a guide for our lives, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” Here is a fun way to remember how much the Lord cares for us in and through His gracious Word.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

These are more effective than 911

When -

You are sad, phone John 14

You have sinned, phone Psalm 51

You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91

People have failed you, phone Psalm 27

It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139

Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11

You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23

You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34

You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13

You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18

You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39

You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30

It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90

You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30

You are leaving home for a trip , phone Psalm 121

You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87

You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1

Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31

You are depressive, phone Psalm 27

Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37

You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13

It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15

You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126

You feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19

You want to carry fruit, phone John 15

Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17

With big opportunity/ discovery, phone Isaiah 55

To get along with other people, phone Romans 12

ALTERNATE NUMBERS For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47

For security, call Psalm 121:3

For assurance, call Mark 8:35

For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18

ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY. NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY. ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY. FEED YOUR FAITH, AND DOUBT WILL STARVE TO DEATH

Bloom Where You Are Planted!

One of the most frustrating times in one’s journey can be when they are trying to figure out what God’s will is for their life. Have you been there? You’ve tried one opportunity after the other, some with more success than others, but yet there still seems to be that elusive “dream” that is seemingly forever beyond your grip. You look around, you are 40 plus years old and everyone around you seems to have it all together. They seem to have found “it”. You don’t have many talents, or so you think, and you wonder how God could possibly use you to do anything of significance for Him. You are not alone, Moses thought that, Mary the mother of Jesus thought that and God used them to change the world for His glory.

Maybe you don’t struggle with feelings of inadequacy, you instead realize that you have been blessed with many gifts but you can’t seem to narrow them down. The opportunities to use your gifts in your area of passion seem to evade you year after year. You’ve prayed, you’ve contacted the movers and shakers in your field of interest, but you remain frustrated because nothing ever seems to pan out. “Why doesn’t the Lord just open up the door for me to do what I dream about every waking moment?” you ask yourself. Here again, you are not alone. The why questions seem to bleed through the pages of scripture as men and women both find themselves in situations that do not fit where they think they should be or what they think they should be doing. From Habakkuk to Esther, God has put his people in places and situations that may not fit their time table or ideal, but are perfectly fit in God’s mind “for such a time as this!”

Micah 6:8 states it simply, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.!” How are you feeling about life right now? Where do you think the future will bring you or hold for you? Let’s make a conscience choice each day to follow the words of Micah 6:8 and as many have found throughout history, God will take that seed and turn your situation into a beautiful and fruitful garden that will bless this world and the next for His honor and glory. So, don’t fret about tomorrow. Plan, and dream, but don’t fret and bloom where you are planted now!

Pastor MJ

“Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No,"!”

“Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No,"!” James 5:12

Buying our first home was one of the most exciting and at the same time, one of the most exhausting times of our lives. Probably the single most exhausting activity was the closing. I’ve never signed my name more times and in more places than during those couple of hours.

Long gone are the days of a handshake sealing a deal between two men; the days when a man’s word held such strength that a paper contract was not even necessary. It’s hard to imagine in today’s world sealing a deal by a man’s word and a handshake. Our culture is filled with contracts for everything from purchases to marriages; from music to “intellectual property”. It would border on foolishness in our day not to have a written contract for any major deal. Sad, but true, but a man’s word, many times is not his bond.

Have you ever had a friend who you trusted so completely that when he or she spoke it was as good as done; someone with whom the actual completion of a task was just a formality because if they spoke it you could release it as “tco’d” (taken care of)? There are not many things that I hold more precious than that kind of trust.

On a greater level, however, is the comfort in this, that the Lord is trustworthy and faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” And 1 Kings 8:56 states, “Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.” There is nothing that God has spoken that will not come to pass. From the greatest promise to the most minute event, if God has spoken it, it will come to pass.

That, my friend, should be our greatest comfort and our greatest fear. It should be our greatest deterrent to sin and our most powerful key to live freely in extravagant grace.

Today, as we read and meditate on God’s Word, take a moment and praise God for each and every Word that proceeds from His mouth. And along with that cry out to Him for endurance to obey every command by the power of His Spirit.

Blessings,

MJ

Why?

Why? That is a question that as you read this is being asked by thousands of people across the globe and many perhaps sitting not too far from you. Why are all of these natural disasters happening all over the world? Why did my son die in a helicopter drill in Iraq? Why did he have to leave me after all of these years? Why did I get laid off? Why didn’t God stop that drunk driver before he hit my baby? Why do I have cancer? Why?

We’ve all asked why. During my journey with the Lord, however, very few times has He given me a reason why. Most of the time there is seeming silence. I find comfort in God’s Word where we see “the reason” for individuals’ journey through the pain. We see Joseph’s journey though abandonment in order to set the stage for the movement of God’s children to Egypt. Then there’s Esther’s journey through pain “for such a time as this!” Later we see Daniel’s journey to and through the lion’s den so that God’s power might be shown. Then we see our Lord Jesus’ journey to the cross to provide our salvation. But even though I see the end result of other’s pain and suffering, in the midst of mine, when I cannot see the end in sight, I still have the urge to ask why.

As a matter of fact, I just asked that question recently. Father God didn’t reach down and say, “because…”, rather He said ever so gently, “I Am”.

When Habakkuk saw the injustice and violence all around him he cried out and said, How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. (Habakkuk 1:2,3 NIV) After asking the question why, Father told Him, "Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” (Habakkuk 1:5 NIV)

My friend, as you are seeking to hear or see the “because”, do not be discouraged as the seeming silence is deafening, rather, ask Father to help you set your discouragement aside and rest in the powerful truth that “I AM” is right by your side in the midst of whatever circumstances that you find yourself in.

Blessings,
MJ

Ascribe To The LORD

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness...”
Psalm 29:2

Throughout the Older Testament Scripture we read many times that when ever the act of worship occurred it required a sacrifice. A bull, a ram, a goat, a broken heart, a life given, whatever it was it always involved a sacrifice. Praise God that through Christ’s sacrifice we don’t have to offer a daily physical sacrifice to atone for our sins or to worship, however, because of what Christ did do for us how much greater should our “sacrifice of praise” be towards our God?

As we read what God requires of us and what He wants for our lives, bottom line it is us who He desires not the “things” that we bring to Him. Remember Micah 6:8? “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

One of the offerings of worship that we see in Scripture is music. Music is seen as a tool of responding to God for all He is and what He has done. When you read the Psalms, you are reading a musical response to the Creator of the Universe! So, indeed, music plays a mighty role in worship. However, we have in many ways come to the point now that whenever we refer to worship, our minds automatically think of music or musical styles. But as Matt Redman reminds us though his song, “Heart of Worship”, it’s about “more than a song!”

Scripture reminds us over and over again that the quality of worship, bottom line, is about the condition of our hearts. Whether you brought an animal, gifts from the ground or a song, God weighed the condition of the heart over all other factors. And He still does. Since worship is a heart issue, we are reminded once again that we are to worship an Audience of One. That Audience is God and God alone. He is the sole person that needs to be pleased with our worship.
Today as we worship consider this: worship always involves sacrifice. It always cost something. It did for every biblical character, and it does for us today. If it doesn’t cost us something it’s not sacrifice. David reminds us of the importance of this in 1 Chronicles 21:24: “But King David replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing."” What is your sacrifice of praise costing you today; pride, fear, being uncomfortable? What are you willing to set aside in order to present to the Lord all He is worthy of?

Help Me To Remember That You Are Lord

“Almighty God, when all hell is breaking loose
against me, help me to remember that You are Lord,
that You are able, that You are present.
Help me to lift my eyes from earthly conflict
To see Your heavenly power. Cause me to know the
Peace that passes understanding, a peace
That comes from acknowledging Your lordship
In every circumstance of my life..”
(a prayer taken from the NIV Worship Bible Exodus 14:14)

As we look at the children of Israel in the book of Exodus, how many times can and do we see ourselves. God had just done so many miracles, things that only He could have done. They had watched Him turn the Nile river into blood; cover the land of Egypt with frogs, gnats and flies. They had seen God kill all of the livestock of the Egyptians, but spare theirs. Theywitnessed God sending boils to cover all of the men and animals throughout the land. These people had seen God rain down hail on the land of Egypt and destroy everything growing in the fields. Then they saw the plague of locusts and darkness that culminated in the death of all of the first born of Egypt while all of God’s chosen people who where covered by the blood of the lamb did not see death. You would think that after all of that, trusting God would not be an issue with these folks. However, our human nature is strong and how soon we forget God’s gracious provisions and protection when the going really gets tough.

Their thought was that this had to be a trick. All that separated them from their enemy was land and in front of them sat the Red Sea. They cried out to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” (14:11-12) But God in His incredibly gracious way, once again provided for His own. He opened a way where there was no way. He made a roadway in the wilderness and a path way through the sea. The pathway of life for the Lord’s people became a roadway of death for the Egyptians. God had given His word through Moses and Aaron that they were going to a land that He had prepared for them. He had made a covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. He was not about to break His promise. However, circumstances seemed to be delivering other signals.

God has given us His Word. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. In every circumstance He has promised to meet our every need! He has promised to not only hear, but to answer our prayers. We need but to exercise our faith and believe Him at His Word. He is worthy to be trusted, He has never failed. Praise His Name!!

Pastor MJ

Living For Christ

If someone held a gun to your head and asked, "Do you believe in God?” what would you say? On April 20, 1999 Cassie Bernall went to the Columbine High School library to study during lunch. Shortly afterward, a member of the Trenchcoat Mafia pointed his gun at her and asked: "Do you believe in God?" "Yes, I believe in God," she said. "Why?" the gunman asked. But he did not wait for an answer. He shot Cassie Bernall dead. She is now in the presence of her Savior.
Many people proclaim that they would die for Christ. But what about this question: Would you live for Christ, and what does that mean?

There have been many men and women, boys and girls who have given their lives for the cause of Christ. There are many brothers and sisters around the world as you are reading this that are losing their lives on this earth because of their faith in Christ. Dying for Christ is not easy, but praise God it puts an end to our struggle and on the other side is a life with no more suffering, no more tears and an existence with the God of the universe where all is better than well.

Living for Christ is another matter. How many of us who so quickly agree that we’d die for Christ actually live for Him fully on a daily basis? The case can be made that living for Jesus is more of a difficult task than dying for Jesus.

As we go through our days we are faced with many opportunities to live out our commitment to our Lord, and how many times do we neglect to live for Him because of inconvenience, doubt, fear, our outright disobedience.

God has called us to forgive as we have been forgiven, to love as we have been loved. We are told to share Christ with those with whom we come in contact with and even to go to the ends of the earth to do so. God’s Word tells us to flee, even the appearance of evil and to not let any unwholesome word come out of our mouths and along with that to guard our hearts and thoughts and make sure they are pure. We are told in scripture that part of living for Christ is suffering for His sake. When we suffer, do we complain and get discouraged and doubt God in the midst of our trial? God has told us certain things that He hates. Do we hear or even tell jokes that make light of or make fun of things that break God’s heart?

You see, living for Christ is a moment by moment, day by day decision to live as Christ lived and includes dying, but to self. That is not easy, but will make the eventual experience of our physical death so much sweeter. So, until and unless the Lord calls you or me to sacrifice our lives for Him let’s strive to live for Him daily by dying to self each and every day.

Blessings,

MJ

Would You Live For Christ

If someone held a gun to your head and asked, "Do you believe in God?” what would you say? On April 20, 1999 Cassie Bernall went to the Columbine High School library to study during lunch. Shortly afterward, a member of the Trenchcoat Mafia pointed his gun at her and asked: "Do you believe in God?" "Yes, I believe in God," she said. "Why?" the gunman asked. But he did not wait for an answer. He shot Cassie Bernall dead. She is now in the presence of her Savior.

Many people proclaim that they would die for Christ. But what about this question: Would you live for Christ, and what does that mean?

There have been many men and women, boys and girls who have given their lives for the cause of Christ. There are many brothers and sisters around the world as you are reading this that are losing their lives on this earth because of their faith in Christ. Dying for Christ is not easy, but praise God it puts an end to our struggle and on the other side is a life with no more suffering, no more tears and an existence with the God of the universe where all is better than well.

Living for Christ is another matter. How many of us who so quickly agree that we’d die for Christ actually live for Him fully on a daily basis? The case can be made that living for Jesus is more of a difficult task than dying for Jesus.

As we go through our days we are faced with many opportunities to live out our commitment to our Lord, and how many times do we neglect to live for Him because of inconvenience, doubt, fear, our outright disobedience.

God has called us to forgive as we have been forgiven, to love as we have been loved. We are told to share Christ with those with whom we come in contact with and even to go to the ends of the earth to do so. God’s Word tells us to flee, even the appearance of evil and to not let any unwholesome word come out of our mouths and along with that to guard our hearts and thoughts and make sure they are pure. We are told in scripture that part of living for Christ is suffering for His sake. When we suffer, do we complain and get discouraged and doubt God in the midst of our trial? God has told us certain things that He hates. Do we hear or even tell jokes that make light of or make fun of things that break God’s heart?

You see, living for Christ is a moment by moment, day by day decision to live as Christ lived and includes dying, but to self. That is not easy, but will make the eventual experience of our physical death so much sweeter. So, until and unless the Lord calls you or me to sacrifice our lives for Him let’s strive to live for Him daily by dying to self each and every day.

Blessings,
MJ

Love The Lord Your God

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
And with all your mind and with all your strength!”

(Mark 12:30)

One of the most difficult things about playing football in high school was the preseason double-session practices that we had everyday for the two to three weeks before the beginning of the season. These practices were rough two and a half hour practices in sometimes 95+ degree weather and after a couple hours break we’d come back for more. And we did all of this willingly, without pay!

As a Montclair Mountie, we had a history of success that we were expected to uphold. We were used to winning and everyone expected us to win. One of our coaches however desired something more than winning; he wanted us to play with all of our heart. I remember us sitting in the field house watching films during a skull session and going over and over a play hearing the coach say, “look at that, your form was good and your pattern was correct and you read the play right on, but your heart was not in it!” We knew what he meant as we watched – the “spark” was missing.

Unfortunately, this happens too often in our worship. Sure, we know what it means to love God with our minds. We know what it means and how to love Him with our strength. We study the Bible daily and we apply its principles and instructions to our daily lives. But so often our heart and soul are not involved.

If our heart and soul are not involved in our worship, a part of us hungers for more. This is because God’s Word is not just meant to shape our thoughts and actions, but also to connect us with God’s heart. God’s heart is huge, flowing with emotion.

My friend, God desires not for us to have just the form of worship right. He wants our hearts and soul to be engaged with His heart. When this happens, your life will be flowing with love for Him that expresses itself in heartfelt worship and praise.

Let’s meditate on that this week…
Pastor MJ

Prayer

"Often we do not pray because we doubt that anything will actually happen if we pray. Of course, we don’t admit this publicly. But if we felt certain of visible results within sixty seconds of every prayer, there would be holes in the knees of every pair of Christian-owned pants in the world!" Donald Whitney

Prayer is one of the most wonderful and powerful gifts and privileges that God has given us. Just think, when you and I pray the God of the universe gives us His undivided attention. Many times it’s hard to even get our friends and family to do that! How awesome it is to think that God would listen to us express everything from our praises to petitions and be pleased when we do so.

Most of us have personal prayer times. However, one thing that many churches are weak is their times of corporate prayer. Praying alone is essential yet prayer is also something to be done with others in the Body of Christ. Whether it’s in a small group, large corporate gathering or at home, being with others is following a pattern modeled by those we read about in Scriptures.

In the Scriptures we see believers gathering to hear the Word and do the acts that God had set down for them. They heard, saw, tasted, smelled, felt and sang about God’s love. As the Spirit drew them together they responded in prayer. Also, public prayer shed insight to them what others private prayers were about. In His writings about Believers praying together, Robert Longman, Jr. asks us to consider this: “In public they prayed when they didn’t want to pray or didn’t feel like praying; they prayed when they had trouble concentrating on praying; they prayed when they weren’t prepared for it; they prayed the Word by drawing their liturgies and readings from the Scriptures; they prayed for and with those they were in conflict with; they prayed about people and things that they wouldn’t have thought to pray for or would have forgotten to pray for.”

Prayer is a discipline. Public prayer helps us learn through a unity of purpose and helps strengthen our private times. To have a complete prayer life we are reminded that the lessons learned during corporate prayer times feed back into our private prayer lives, and the lessons of private prayer feed back into the corporate gatherings.

Each week at 7:00pm on Wednesday nights we gather to do just that, a time of prayer and praise. You are invited to come and join us as we spend time in His presence praising and praying from our hearts to His. See you then!

With you on the journey, MJ

Hope In Jesus

It’s amazing how three short weeks can awaken perspective in one’s life and heart. After losing two of my very close aunts to death just three weeks to the day from each other, I realize now that on the Jones family tree that I am now the 4th oldest Jones, by birth on that tree! That just doesn’t seem possible and is sure giving me many hours of silent contemplation about life, family, future and making every moment count with those whom I love and cherish.

Something else that it is doing is making me think even more about death, heaven and the reality of what happens the moment after we take our last breath. In reality, all we truly know about those things is what scripture reveals to us, but the mind does incredible things after losing someone you love so much. I am reminded constantly to keep my hopes and dreams about the “after-life” in perspective with what God’s word teaches.

Two passages of scripture that have brought me comfort during these very difficult days are John Chapter 11 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

John Chapter 11 reminds me of the huge heart of the Man, Christ Jesus. Jesus, knew better than anyone about death, resurrection, heaven, etc., but He revealed in His response to the death of His loved one comfort, hope, peace and a loving comradery with us.

From this passage we learn at least several nuggets of hope to hold onto when we face similar times:
1. Being overtaken by illness or death doesn’t mean that God has forsaken you or your loved one. (11:3-5)
2. For the believer, death is not our final state. (11:11,25-26)
3. It is okay to grieve, Jesus did. (11:35)
4. God is in total control on the road towards death, before , during and afterwards. And even in the darkest moments He is walking right by our side and we can trust Him and hold on to the truth that what looks to us like tragedy will ultimately bring Him honor and glory. (11:38-44)

Whether I’m doing the funeral for a 2 day old baby, a 5 year old child or a 87 year old aunt, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 continues to fill my heart with hope and I pray that it will do the same for you. Here is just a portion of the passage. Take time today to read the entire scripture for yourself and be blessed.

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep…According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive… will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven…After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them … And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Pastor MJ

Worship Is An Expression

In our busy, self-centered world, we sometimes tend to approach worship just like another activity in our busy lives, unprepared. Think for a moment: which one of us would enter an important meeting unprepared? If we were to meet a VIP who could help meet our deepest needs and desires in our profession, would not we spend every moment thinking and planning and preparing for that meeting?

Too often we reduce worship to a Single event. We treat worship as something that begins on Sunday morning and last for just an hour or so. Worship is often seen as successful solely based on what happens or does not happen during that hour. But if we are to experience all that God has for us in worship, we must realize that worship is not just an event, rather, it is a lifestyle. Worship is what we were created to do, be, and participate in, every moment of our lives, now and in eternity. We were created to worship God, to express with every heartbeat that “He is worthy.”

Our corporate worship each Sunday must be an expression of what we are about during the week. We have an opportunity one hour each week to corporately come together and encourage each other in our walks with God – exalting Him as we learn, cry, struggle, and grow together. When we show up unfocused or worn down, there are others there to help us refocus and get us on track for the week to come.

The power, presence, and comfort of the Holy Spirit desires to actively move in our lives 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Just as an Olympic athlete’s “experience” as he or she runs is based on their preparation, so our worship “experience” is based on our training and preparation. We should strive to enter God’s presence prepared and ready to run.

How have you prepared for today’s “race”? As you enter this next week spend time in prayer, in praise, in adoration, in reading God’s Word, spending time with God’s people, worshipping Him through song, etc. and you’ll see that as you enter in to His presence with others next week that you will not have to “warm” up, but that you will be ready to join with others in a “race” that you’ve been running for a week already.

However, in this race, the cheers, glory and praise all go to God!

I’ll see you by the Throne,
Pastor MJ

“Flaws” In Your Life For His Glory

May this story encourage you as you walk in the grace and mercy of the Lord this week.

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

“I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.” “Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of” “I have been able for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts.” the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walked back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I’ve been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

My friend, be comforted this week that Father God uses even the “flaws” in your life for His glory.

Blessings,
MJ

Father God

Father’s day has not been the same for me since December 26, 2000. That is the day when my father went home to be with the Lord. Father’s day 2001 was the first time in my life when I did not have contact with my dad. I have a heart full of thanksgiving to God for the life that I had with my dad for 37 years.

Of the many funerals of dad’s that I’ve attended or performed, I’ve never heard a child say, “I’m so glad for all of the days my dad worked overtime” or “I’m so excited to spend the load of money my dad left me”. The things that come out are the moments of quality time, the hugs, and the legacy that he left behind.

Several years ago, I wrote a letter to my Heavenly Father on Father’s day. I invite you to sit in on the conversation that I had with Him.

“Father God, I want to first thank you for being who You are! You are so Awesome, loving and kind. You are always there and You never leave me or push me away. You woke me up this morning telling me in your Word that as I opened my eyes I would be met with new mercies that would remind me that Your faithfulness is great! Father, on this day when we honor our earthly fathers I want to thank You, for being the perfect Father.

Thank you for giving us an example in the way that you treat us how to be better father’s to our own children. Thank you, that when I don’t know what to do, I need only remember how you deal with me and/or look in Your Word and I have the perfect standard to make my decisions by. Father, thank you for the awesome joy and responsibility it is to be the one who will teach my children what You are like.

Don’t allow me to do anything in my relationship with my children that would destroy their view of You. May it be easy for them to enter a loving relationship with You because of the relationship that they have with me. Thank you, Father for knowing me so deeply, yet you love me so intimately. You are so good.

Lastly, thank you for the years you gave me with my earthly father. I can only imagine the time he is having in your presence, free from the physical chains that once held him captive. Please tell him that I miss and love him and look forward to seeing him again one day. Thank you for taking care of Him, I know he’s in good hands! Thank you for the way that I learned through watching him and Your work in his life that you always provide and that you are indeed, good all of the time!

Thankfully, Your son,
Mark”

My friend, take some time today, if you can and call or see your earthly father and thank him for something, if it’s only for being a part of bringing you into this world and giving you the life that had the opportunity to meet and have a relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Pastor MJ

You Can’t Out Give God

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

Imagine this, you’re sitting in a large Mega Church sanctuary with a seating capacity of ten thousand. You are surrounded by about five thousand men and at least as many women and children. In all there are probably over ten thousand people present. It’s about lunch time and everyone is hungry, but the food court is closed.
The main speaker, having a compassionate heart, knowing that the people would listen better with a full stomach asks one of the twelve deacons present, “Where can we get food for all of these people?” The deacon replied, “Well it would take eight months salary to buy enough food to feed all of these people!” Right then another deacon brought a small boy over and said, “Excuse me, sir, this boy has some fish sticks and a loaf of sourdough bread, but it’s of no use in trying to feed a crowd this size.”

What you see next is nothing less than amazing. The speaker takes the boys lunch, blesses it and gives thanks to God for it and begins to reach in the container and distribute the fish and bread to the deacons who in turn begin to feed the massive crowd. When it’s all said and done, everyone is full and there is enough left over for all twelve of the deacons to take a huge box full home with them.

Read John 6:1-15 and see the real story. The person other than Jesus who really stands out in this story is the boy with the lunch. What if he had refused to give up his lunch and said, “It’s all I have and if I give it to you, Lord, I’ll have nothing left.” The boy would have missed out on receiving a miraculous blessing. He had first to be willing to give up, sacrifice something precious to him in order to receive something priceless.

What are you holding back because what you have to offer is “too small” or “insignificant” compared to the task ahead? My friend, your “little____” offered in faith and obedience in the Master’s hand can change the world forever. More than that, if can change you. Whatever it is, offer it to the Lord today and watch in amazement and awe.

There’s Just Something About That Name

Jesus. As the song says, “there’s just something about that name”. For many in biblical days, when they heard that Jesus had arrived, they associated His name with healing. However, the Bible teaches that He is that and so much more.

What attribute of Jesus’ are you most familiar with? I saw something years ago that reminded me that our Lord meets us where we are and knows just what we need and is able to meet that need. Read and be encouraged by His Name(s).

To the artist, He is the one altogether lovely - Song of Solomon 5:16

To the architect, He is the chief cornerstone - I Peter 2:6

To the astronomer, He is the sun of righteousness - Malachi 4:2

To the baker, He is the bread of life - John 6:35

To the banker, He is the hidden treasure - Matthew 13:44

To the builder, He is the sure foundation - Isaiah 28:16

To the carpenter, He is the door - John 10:9

To the doctor, He is the great physician – Matthew 4:24

To the educator, He is the great teacher - John 3:2

To the engineer, He is the new and living way - Hebrews 10:20

To the farmer, He is the sower and Lord of harvest - Luke 10:2

To the florist, He is the rose of Sharon - Song of Solomon 2:1

To the geologist, He is the rock of ages - I Corinthians 10:4

To the horticulturist, He is the true vine - John 15:1

To the judge, He is the only righteous judge of man - II Timothy 4:8

To the juror, He is the faithful and true witness - Revelation 3:14

To the jeweler, He is the pearl of great price - Matthew 13:46

To the lawyer, He is counselor, lawgiver, and true advocate - Isaiah 9:6

To the newspaper man, He is tidings of great joy - Luke 2:10

To the oculist (An optometrist), He is the light of the eyes - Proverbs 29:13

To the philanthropist, He is the unspeakable gift - II Corinthians 9:15

To the philosopher, He is the wisdom of God - I Corinthians 1:24

To the preacher, He is the Word of God - Revelation 19:13

To the sculptor, He is the living stone - 1 Peter 2:4

To the servant, He is the good master - Matthew 23:8-10

To the student, He is the incarnate truth – John 14:

To the toiler, He is the giver of rest - Matthew 11:28

To the sinner, He is the Lamb of God who takes the sin away - John 1:29

To the Christian, He is the Son of the Living God, the Savior,

the Redeemer, and the Loving Lord.

(Author Unknown)

Blessings,
Pastor MJ

F.A.I.T.H. – Forsaking All, I Trust Him

What a powerful statement, one that is packed with truth, yet one that is not easy to accomplish. I was reminded this week of the need for faith as I saw a picture from New Orleans of a car with a bumper sticker that had the word faith in bold letters written on it, and right below the bottom of the sticker was about 4 and a half feet of water. The need for faith for those affected by Katrina is huge. But how do you have faith when all is lost? How do you have faith when there is not even the smallest glimmer of hope from the way that your present circumstances look?

True faith is indeed forsaking everything else and trusting completely in God, however, there is another requirement of faith that we must commit to. The disciples had to completely trust Jesus to feed the 5, 000, but they also had to pick up the baskets that were once empty, walk around and by faith begin feeding the people. Earlier in their ministry they had to have faith that Jesus could turn the water into wine, but they also had to pick up the containers and have faith that every cup of “water” would now be wine. Peter knew that he could completely trust Jesus to save him from drowning, but he had to step out of the boat and begin walking on the water. Noah had to completely trust God, because he had never seen this thing called rain, and he knew that God would deliver him, but he had to pick up the hammer and begin building the ark.

Faith requires completely trust, believing that even though you don’t see it now, that it is as well as done. But it also requires as some one has said that, “we are to pray as if everything depended on God, and work as though everything depended on us.” We work believing that every action, every step is ordered by God to accomplish what will bring Him the most honor and glory and us the most good. Abraham knew and believed that God would make him be the father of many nations, but that morning as he woke up to walk Isaac up to the mountain to kill him, his circumstances spoke everything but that. But forsaking all, he trusted God and he woke up early in the morning and went to the mountain to do business with God.

What are you trusting God for today? Where is faith an issue in your life? Is it your health, your job, your finances, your relationships, weight loss, etc? Lay down your doubts and fears and apprehensions and trust in the one who is not seen and ask Him to order every step you take to please Him as you await your miracle.

“…blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:29b

Make Music In Your Heart

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. Ephesians 5:19 (NIV)

But no one says, “Where is God my Maker,
who gives songs in the night,” Job 35:10 (NIV)

From Mary’s Song, declaring that her soul magnified the Lord, to the proclamation of the holiness of God around the throne in heaven; from David’s soothing tune that calmed the evil spirit in Saul to the deep moans rumbling from the early slave ships, song has and always will play a major role as an expression of our journey here on earth.

There is no better place to witness this more than the Church. Music, both instrumental and with lyrics has been used to glorify God and to tell His story in the Church for thousands of years. Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs have been born out of men and women’s experience with an awesome God and His work in their lives and the world around them.

These songs have been used to exhort, encourage, teach and proclaim the truths that Scripture teaches. Early on, for many who couldn’t read, songs taught them truths that they might not otherwise learn.

Here at Trinity, every song we sing has a story behind it and a truth to teach. Behind each of those stories is person and behind and all around them is a God who has put a song in their hearts – (He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.) (Psalm 40:3)

Engage your hearts today as we take a walk together and meet the people behind the songs, but more importantly, exalt the God behind the person and their story. And to all of you moms…Happy Mother’s Day, we celebrate you today for your part in our story.

“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;

may the name of the LORD be praised.” (Job 1:21)