Resting in the Unknown - Hope for Tomorrow

“Even through I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

The 23rd Psalm, what a beautiful and treasured passage which reminds us that as our Shepherd, God loves and cares for each one of us! We are also reminded of the relational aspect of our walk with God, and when temptations and life’s circumstances face us, we can turn to the One who is ever present and who loves unconditionally.

Awhile back, I received from a friend, a wonderful way to read through and understand the Lord’s Prayer. As we cross the threshold of another year, keep these truths from God’s word near and dear to your heart. No matter what’s ahead, the One who promises these truths will never change!

“The Lord is my Shepherd…THAT’S RELATIONSHIP!

I shall not want…THAT’S SUPPLY!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…THAT’S REST!

He leadeth me beside still waters…THAT’S REFRESHMENT!

He restoreth my soul…THAT’S HEALING!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness…THAT’S GUIDANCE!

For His name sake…THAT’S PURPOSE!

Yea, though I walk though the valley of the shadow of death…THAT’S CHALLENGE!

I will fear no evil…THAT’S ASSURANCE!

For though art with me…THAT’S FAITHFULNESS!

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me…THAT’S SHELTER!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…THAT’S HOPE!

Thou anointest my head with oil…THAT’S CONSECRATION!

My cup runneth over…THAT’S ABUNDANCE!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…THAT’S BLESSING!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord…THAT’S SECURITY!

Forever…THAT’S ETERNITY!

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Pastor MJ



I’m Glad He Did

Andrea Crouch wrote the words, “I don’t know why Jesus loved me, I don’t know why He cared. I don’t know why He sacrificed His life, oh, but I’m glad, I’m glad He did!”

In that same light, as we are in the Christmas season, I ask myself, “why did Jesus come for me?” In light of all He knew about me and about all of us and how we would break His heart over and over again, He left all of the splendor of heaven to be born as a human and set it all aside for you and for me. And the only answer I ever come up with is from the scriptures. It is because of the Father’s love for you and for me. (John 3:16)

As we worship together today and as you celebrate Christmas this week, let’s take some time to ponder on the true meaning of Christmas. Never forget what Jesus so willingly did on the first Christmas morning. Let your worship today and this week be a “Thanks offering” to Him for loving us in this way.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor MJ

He Still Came

No palace no jewels, No kingdom to rule,

No crown of majesty, No throne and no robe,

No silver no gold, No courts of royalty.

Yet the King of kings left heaven

To become a lowly man.

He left all heaven's glory, To fulfill His Father's plan.

He still came just for me, He still came.

Knowing all He would endure, He still came.

Disregarding every cost,

From the manger to the cross,

He still came Just for me He still came.

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Copyright Group, Inc.) CCLI License No. 157464

Total Surrender

“To accept the will of God never leads

to the miserable feeling

that it is useless to strive anymore.

God does not ask for the dull, weak,

sleepy acquiescence of indolence.

 He asks for something vivid and strong.

He asks us to cooperate with him,

actively willing what he wills,

our only aim his glory. (Amy Carmichael)

Do you ever feel like it’s really difficult to follow the Lord’s commands? I mean on a daily basis. Think about the things that God gives us as instructions as how to live the lives that He has for us. He tells us not to worry. He tells us to trust him completely. He tells us to love Him with all of our hearts, souls and strength. He tells us to love our neighbors as our selves. He tells us not to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will care for it self. He tells us to trust Him completely and in doing so be led by Him down His path for our lives. He tells us not to fear but that He will take care of our every need. He tells us that if our ways please Him that He will make even our enemies be at peace with us. He tells us that if we train up our children His way that when they are old they will not depart from it. There are hundreds of other things that the Lord tells us to do that provide for us the way to experience life at it’s full. Do we take Him at His word?

Out of the many things that our God tells us to do in order to have the life that He’s created us for, there are other things that He tells us not to do in order to receive the same. It’s been that way since the beginning. Adam and Eve were told to do many things, but one thing that they were told not to do, they did and it changed history forever and the penalty was severe. How would things be different if they had only obeyed? Remember Achan in Joshua 7. Earlier he had been told not to keep the things devoted to the Lord, but he did it anyway. God was not pleased and Achan and all he had was destroyed. If only he had obeyed and waited. We see in chapter 8 that all Achan desired, worldly treasures, were already in God’s plan to give him, but due to his lack of trust, expressed through disobedience he never got to partake of God’s bounty.

How many things have we, will we miss out on that God has planned for us because of our impatience, fear, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc. all which when boiled down equal lack of trust. Father is not one who gives commands just for the sake of giving them, he does so with a much bigger picture in mind. Obedience opens the door to multiplied blessings that He is waiting to give to those who take the “risk” to trust in Him with all their hearts with the aim to bring Him honor and glory.

With you on the journey towards total trust,

MJ