Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

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Have a great day.

Because He lives I can face tomorrow; because He lives,

all fear is gone.Because I know, He holds the (my) future,

and life is worth the living just because He lives.

Gloria and William Gaither

Uncertainty seems to be the word of the day lately. The stock market is on a roller coaster. Our political situation is in a word, scary. Many people are losing their jobs, homes and marriages in record numbers and you never know when the doctor will sit you down and say, “I have bad news for you”.

On a weekend just over two thousand years ago, uncertainty also filled the air as hundreds of Jesus’ followers stood stunned. Their Lord, their master, their King was dead; crucified on a cross made for criminals. What had He meant when He said that the Temple would be destroyed and would be built back up in three days? Wasn’t he the promised Messiah? Were all of the miracles that He performed tricks? How could the Son of God be dead?

During a moment in history that solidified every other moment in the past, present and future, on a very special Sunday morning, a borrowed tomb opened and Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world walked out a risen King! Death had been conquered. Access to God the Father had been made available and eternal live for many had been secured.

The Lord of creation who stepped out of the tomb on the very first Easter Sunday, is alive today and offer you the hope, not only of eternal salvation, but of a life of peace, joy and fellowship. Today, the invitation stands: “Call on the name of the Lord Jesus and you will be saved!” (Acts 2:21) Because God loved you so much that He gave His only Son and if you believe in Him you will not perish, rather you will have not only eternal life (John 3:16), but you will have an abundant life (John 10:10).

Happy Easter! He is risen, He is risen indeed!

Pastor MJ

For God So Loved

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. John 3:16 (NIV)

Do you know that today is? Yes, it’s Palm Sunday, but the date is March 16, or 3/16. Interesting! What an incredible way to emphasize the wonderful message of this Easter season.

When our Lord rode into town on a donkey, having palm branches laid down before Him and being crowned with hosannas and blessings, He was walking the road toward completing the destiny of the love of the Father who’s initiative it was to send Him to the earth. A love that was willing to lay down the life of His only Son to pay the penalty of sin that was not His. A love that was willing to pay a debt He did not owe. A love that saw that we owed a debt we could not pay. Every step Jesus took on that day; every accolade that He heard was alongside His knowledge that He was heading towards the cross.

On Palm Sunday, there are two main things that should be remembered. The first is the power of that love described above. The power that is simply the truth that God in the flesh, loves you and me so much that He was willing to give up everything in order to make a way for us to have an eternal relationship with His Father, through Him. His offer is available still today to admit that we are sinners in need of a Savior. How are we going to respond to that today? Will you say that it’s a great story but not for you? Or will you accept that truth and give your life to the Lord today? And if you have done so already are you prepared to give Him praise, thanks, honor and glory that He is so worthy of?

Secondly, on that first "Palm Sunday" morning, the crowds had certain expectations of Jesus. When He didn’t come through like they‘d hoped He would, their loud voices went from shouting out "Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord", to "Crucify Him, Crucify Him!" How about you? How about me? When the Lord doesn’t "come through" for us like we’d like Him to, do we go from praising Him on Sunday and then getting mad and ignoring Him throughout the rest of the week, month, years?

As we worship today, take a moment and thank Father God for the Love that caused Him to send Jesus to the earth. Take some time and thank Jesus for His sacrificial act for you. And when you feel like He is not "coming through" for you, remember, "It may be Friday, but Sunday is coming!" Glory to His Name!

Blessings,

Pastor MJ

O LORD, You Have Searched Me

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
Psalm 139:1

Well, the 2008 Presidential primaries are in full swing and in my lifetime this is the most interesting and historic time that I can remember. Just twenty years ago, who would have thought that we might have a woman or a black person as serious contenders for the office of President of the United States of America? As the old commercial says, “we’ve come a long way, baby!” No matter where you stand on your choice of candidate, we can all agree that we are living in a different more progressive world than our parents lived in.

One of the most amazing aspects of running for an office, such as the President is the monumental task of living under the microscope in a super powered technological culture that is not only aware but is present with cameras, computers and opinions about you, solicited or not on everything from your past, your present, your choice of boxers or briefs, the name of your childhood sweetheart and seemingly every indiscretion that you’ve ever thought or committed. Your life becomes open for all to see and your stage becomes the “fish-bowl.” Once people find out about all the good, the bad and the ugly, they form their opinions and it will either make or break you and your political aspirations. Although the media is good, there are still things about those on the public stage that we will never see; such areas that only God knows.

Psalm 139, reminds us that God knows us in an intimate way that no one else could, even ourselves. God not only knows our actions, but He knows our thoughts and the intent of our hearts. We can hide some things from those around us, but we cannot hide anything from God. That’s what makes grace so amazing! To think that God know me intimately, inside and out and still loves me and has a desire to have a relationship with me is beyond my understanding. But He does. David knew and proclaimed that God Almighty was able to search his heart, soul and mind and know Him in a way that none else could.

What does God see and hear as He looks into your heart, mind and soul at this moment? Does He find, fear, doubt, confusion, hope, peace, hatred or more? Take time today and acknowledge God’s view of the real you and take a moment and thank Him for loving you in spite of what He finds. And thank Him for Jesus and for the gift of salvation that gives us the opportunity to walk in grace and mercy.

Worship The God of The Message

At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me,

"Do not do it… Worship God!” (Rev 19:10 NIV)

As John was caught up with what he was seeing in heaven he was so overcome with the culture of praise and worship and being in the presence of the Almighty that he began to worship the messenger of God rather than the God of the message. The angel reminded him that there is only one who is worthy to be worshipped and that is God Almighty! We are created to be worshippers. Every created being is made with the ability and the drive to worship, to give worth to something, someone higher than themselves.

The problem comes when the object of our worship is wrong. Since the beginning of time people have been worshipping “out of focus”. This happens when we see incredible things coming from something that has been created and we become so focused on the beauty, the talent, the power, the love, the comfort, or the provision that we forget where those things ultimately originated from.

Lest we think that only those who worship trees, the sun, feet, or animals are the only ones off course, consider some of the things even many Christians can fall into the trap of worshipping and by doing so, ascribe more worth to the creation than to the Creator.

Financial stability – instead of worshipping the One who provides.

A loved one – instead of worshipping the One

who brought the loved one into our lives.

A sports hero – instead of worshipping the one The tools of worship

– instead of .worshipping the Object of our worship.

Physical beauty – instead of worshipping the

One who fashioned the beautiful one.

God is the only one worthy to receive our worship. Today, ask the Lord to reveal in your life where this may be true. Is it your finances, your family or even your religion? Talk to Him about it today and make the journey back to the place where He receives the worship that He is worthy of. Be sure to thank Him for the gift, but never allow your thankfulness for the gift to get in the way of your worship of the Giver.

Pastor MJ