Say this: “YES I CAN!”
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Cans are for the preservation of something good until its time to use it or to keep something in that we don’t want to use….The world uses the metaphor of opening a can mostly in a negative context…. “Don’t open that can of worms”….or like my old buddy R.D. Mercer used to say… “I’m gonna open a 55 gallon can of (bleep) and pour it on you”…But there is a much better can we should consider opening….the can of Compassion, Acceptance and Nurturing….Do you remember the 1970’s disco song, “Love will keep us together”? Today I want to share with you how this CAN will keep us together.
Compassionate- Matthew 9:36- Compassion is love moved into action. In John 3:16 the Father loved and moved, in Matthew 9:36 we see Jesus was moved with compassion and loved the people. Both of the scriptures illustrate a heart that was moved by love into action. What moves you to compassion? Love for your spouse? Love for your family? Love for fellow church members? Let’s be compassionate with each other, even to the point of being compassionate with the uncompassionate. It is this high level of compassion that moves God to respond to our prayer requests. He looks and sees our needs. When we pray according to His will and we have faith to ask Him, then He moves with compassion to answer. Let’s allow God to activate our love for one another and share His compassion with all we meet.
Acceptance- Romans 15:7- We glorify God by accepting the people who come across our paths. In John 17:22 Jesus declares the glory the Father gave Him He gives to us. Why? So we can in united glory worship the Father. This is a paradigm shift we must adapt to. If you insist on continuing to wait till you get to church to experience God’s glory, you will be penalized for delay of service. Rather, bring the glory Jesus wants to give you everyday, accept and unite with others, add your glory to others and we will see God’s Shekinah glory in our services as we worship together in unity.
Nurturing- 1st Timothy 5:1-2- Ladies have a genetic hardwiring God gave for a high desire to nurture. Paul tells us in 1st Timothy how and who to nurture. Men struggle with that more, but should still be nurturers….We must exhort or encourage all who are around us. Paul also says to do our nurturing in all purity. Ladies, the fathers and brothers God places in your life will receive your nurturing in the same purity that you are ministering it. You are our mothers and sisters in Him. Don’t let a religious spirit keep you from being the women, wives and mothers God calls you to be. Men, we need to be the husbands, fathers and brothers that God has called us to be to the ladies God has put in our families.
Remember Love…. (compassionate, accepting, nurture) Can keep us together. Say it again…. “YES I CAN!”
2010 is the year to contend for your faith!
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
As believers we will be challenged in finding ourselves like the description in Jude vs. 3 contending earnestly for what we believe…There has always been un-Godly men marked against the work of the Lord…but this year especially, we as believers, must step up our preparedness for the fight of faith….I’m sharing this with you because I know you are prayer warriors….its time for a new boldness in the Spirit and a new sense of the seriousness of the fight…..Just like a heavy weight contender preparing for a title fight, The real champion and title holder (King of Kings) is relying on His church to deliver a knock out.….its time for the church to step into the ring and take back what the enemy has stolen…Its time to contend for your faith….contend for your purpose…contend for righteousness…contend for integrity….contend for the promises that have been spoken over your lives……contend for the lost! Not with the gloves of a pugilist but with the sword of the spirit!
I Want To Encourage…
Sunday, January 3rd, 2010
everyone to start off this year with change in mind….If last year was great for you and your family, then help someone else change their circumstances….If last year wasn’t a banner year for you….then decide and declare that 2010 is going to be better….its time for a change…but here is the rub…
Can you spare some change?.....Do you have room for change?.....Change requires a process…..Are you willing to be processed?.....We all too often are limited by what we hold on to….Choosing to change means you submit yourself to a process of contending for your destiny….Why do we resist change?…because we think it reduces pressure….or its the path of least resistance…because it doesn’t require anything from me…Change requires me to let something go…
We are defined for the good or bad by what we hold on to….Do you hold on to Grudges or Forgiveness….Judgment or Compassion…..Anger or Peace?
What does it take for you to change your mind?.....Some folks get real nervous about change because the thought of something different is undefined, unknown, untested….…..But as believers we have this assurance….
Romans 8:28-31
“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
From heartbeat number 1 to 1 billion….we are changing….the dash between your birth date and your expiration is change….
Atmospheric conditions are right for change….For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son
This is the year for change…..but the first thing that has to change is your mind….. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”…. Change the way you think about your family…your spouse…your boss….your job…your church!....your God! And you will see transformation…A mind really is a terrible thing to waste….
Blessings! See you all in Church
Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 21st, 2009
I want to say thank you to all our CLC family and friends that have made 2009 a very successful year! We are always sensitive and anchored by the goodness of Gods people to serve faithfully and cheerfully for the cause of Christ! God is building our church to be even more effective internally and externally in 2010….The launch sequence has started for a blast off year! Be encouraged dear friends….He is all of these things for us….
Isa 9:6-7…. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end…
Approximately two thousand seven hundred years ago the prophet Isaiah spoke these words and two thousand years ago his prophecy began to reveal itself as Jesus, the son of God, was given as the final blood sacrifice for the sin of humanity. As King and Ruler, judgment and justice, the government, are in His hands….so the description of His administration is….wonderful….counseling….Mighty….Everlasting….Peaceful…..and the influence of His government that sustains peace is increasing and eternal. So in His word…He is wonderful….in our confusion, He is counselor, in our trials, He is mighty, in our plans, He is Father and in our pain, He is our peace. He is all you need….
Eph 1:22-2:1 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all
Blessings for a prosperous New Year!
Let me recommend a book that will change your life.
Monday, December 7th, 2009
TITLE: THE PURPOSE GIVING LIFE. A TRUE STORY….FOREWORD BY GOD
Endorsements: Paul “Striking!”
Lazarus “It helped me unwrap some things in my life.”
Peter “ I overcame my fear of water.”
Of course this title is something I made up….but it is the real meaning of Christmas. As we interject, cards, trees, gifts and parties into our busy lives, we need to keep our eye on the ball….the baby in a manger….wonderful! but He’s not there anymore….broken man on a cross….grateful! but He’s not there either……tomb?....nope…..He now sits at the right hand of the Father as our intercessor and advocate, having conquered death, hell and the grave and we have been given an opportunity to be reconciled with God through Jesus….but it doesn’t stop with salvation! Reconciling God and man means the transformation process starts from the inside out and continues until His image is evident…... Let me give you some hope ……. Jesus came to this earth so our dirt can be shaped into a glorious vessel of honor, a vessel to carry His purpose in your life. You and I are called to bear the image of the heavenly man…..Christ Jesus!
1 Cor 15:49 says, “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”
When we conform to His image, we also conform to His purpose and conforming to His purpose guarantees things will work out.
Rom 8:28-30 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” (NKJV)
Have a great Christmas!
Destiny’s Prayer
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
CHRIST provided the means by which we can pray, “Our Father”. It is only by COMPASSION that we forgive and pray for one another’s needs. And finally COVENANT is how we are delivered from the evil one, enter the kingdom, walk in His power and agree to see His glory.
CHRIST- Matthew 6:9,10- Is your relationship with the Father a visitation or a habitation? Jesus in John 14:23 promises us that love and obedience will produce a prayer life inhabited by Him and the Father. It is in prayer that we develop our relationship with Him and how can we share about someone we don’t know? The first two words tell us we are to have relationships and gather together to pray. He is Jesus’ Father, your Father, my Father or simply put He is our Father. Finally this relationship system is what builds up our faith and we can hallow His covenant names.
COMPASSION-Matthew 6:11,12- Through out the Gospels we see that what moves Jesus is compassion. That heart touching pull to pray for us. Are we compassionate enough to intercede for our brothers and sisters? The Bible tells us to pray for all men, compassionately stand in the gap from the down and out to the up and out and all people in between. We must daily make the decision to forgive and walk in forgiveness. Compassion also moves us to pray for the daily needs of others and helping them out when there is a need presented. Daily pray for your needs, the needs of others and the needs of the church to be manifest.
COVENANT-Matthew 6:13- In 1st Samuel 20 we see one of the aspects of covenant is Jonathan protected David from Saul. Do you love your fellow-believers enough to fight for them? 1st Samuel 18:3,4 Jonathan gave David his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt. When we walk in covenant Jesus will lead us through temptation and deliver us from the evil one. We must covenant with each other to fight the good fight of faith. The robe reminds us that we are members of the royal priesthood; the armor speaks of kingdom power and combined together in covenant with one another is how we see kingdom glory.
Lets keep the mandate simple…..Christ, Compassion and Covenant…..our message, our ministry and our mission…..See you Sunday!
Of Issues and Resurrections
Sunday, November 8th, 2009
and declares those things which do not exist as though they did. See God will resurrect the dead and settle the issues that press on us in life. To look at this another way, poverty is dead finances, divorce is the death of a marriage and some even have a dead ministry that has need of a resurrection. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25 that life is more than food, body and clothing it is the total experience. What are the dead things in your life that you need Jesus to touch and resurrect?
The gospels tell us of a ruler of the synagogue named Jarius who had a dying daughter. He went to the Lord of life and begged Jesus to come and heal his daughter. Can I give you a quick definition of “resurrection”? Resurrection is God’s recycling program. Notice the chain of events that followed after Jarius got to Jesus. Jarius prayed to Jesus, Jesus agreed to go to his house, surrounded by a thronging multitude, the woman with the issue of blood began to press in. (a Heaven on Earth intersection) Do you press in to see the issues of your life settled? In the King James Version, Mark 5:30 reads Jesus, “turned Himself about in the press”. When you are in trials with the issues of life pressing in on you remember, Jesus is in the press with you and He is all about turning Himself in response to your faith and pressing through to us to settle the issues of your life.
To heal the woman Jesus had to put Jarius on hold. Do you ever feel like Jesus has you on hold? What can we do while waiting to see Jesus resurrection power in our lives. Don’t you know Jarius could have reacted wrongly and lost his miracle? What should we do as we are waiting? We could try being mature disciples and praying for others who are having issues as we wait to see resurrection power in our lives. Jarius did and Jesus told him the secret for great faith, and it is so simple, “Fear not, only believe.” As you wait for Jesus to give life to the dead in your life, pray for your brothers and sisters issues and Jesus will give your faith a quantum leap. As I am walking with Jesus believing for His resurrection power in my life I covenant with you in prayer that Jesus will turn Himself about in the press and settle all your issues as you believe enough to reach out and touch the hem of His garment.
Living this life as a Christian means more than believing in God or even receiving Jesus as your savior…..That is just the first step…..albeit critical…don’t stop there get plugged in and belong to something great..His church!.....so you can become all He has planned for you!
We have all heard the saying, “Don’t get the cart before the horse”.
Monday, October 12th, 2009
They are both very important especially if you want to carry more than yourself.
2 Cor 5:17-19
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation , 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. NKJV
The ministry of reconciliation begins with forgiveness, which opens the door for the word of reconciliation……Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation. Forgiveness focuses on the offense, whereas reconciliation focuses on the relationship. Forgiveness doesn’t even require a relationship. However, reconciliation requires a relationship in which two people, in agreement, are walking together toward the same goal. Forgiveness can take place with only one person. Reconciliation requires at least two persons. Forgiveness is directed one-way. Reconciliation is reciprocal . . . two-ways. Forgiveness is a decision to release the offender. Reconciliation is the effort to rejoin the offender. Forgiveness involves a change in thinking about the offender. Reconciliation involves a change in behavior by the offender. Forgiveness is a free gift to the one who has broken trust. Reconciliation is a restored relationship based on restored trust. Let me encourage you to think about those who you need to forgive and then forgive them….then hook up the cart of reconciliation and carry on.
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? NKJV
All of us are faced with the task of turning challenges into opportunities throughout our lives.
Thursday, September 17th, 2009
James 1:2-4…My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
There is unrest in our nation and in the world at present….. economic unrest, educational unrest, political unrest ,civil unrest and even unrest in the church. These kinds of times create confusion and a perception of doom and gloom, with no hope, and fosters a feeling of urgency for somebody to do something….It reminds me of a line in the movie “The American President” when the actor Michael J. Fox says (not exactly) “Mr. President, In the absence of true leadership, the people will listen to anyone who is speaking” In these kinds of times it is easy to make quick decisions that can be emotionally driven…..or listen to whoever is speaking. Relax….be still and know….Ps 46:10… Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! ….The LORD of hosts is with us;…. As Christians, let’s listen first and foremost to what God says…..and to what Godly men and women are saying….. We should pray for our leaders and ask God to keep them as true leaders….Whether our government leadership chooses to acknowledges it or not, this is a Christian nation and the church of Jesus Christ is the hub of the family that shapes the spokes of each societal pillar. One of the biggest mistakes believers can make is to be premature in judgments, decisions and actions. Anything premature is incomplete, imperfect and will struggle because of something missing or something lacking. As a believer, our denominator is always faith, and God has a plan to use our faith to mature us into a place where our judgments, decisions, and actions are not impaired by immaturity, and our discernment is not diluted by emotion. When our challenges are divided into our faith it always matures us….and a mature believer will make good decisions…. and good decisions will perfect your work and when your work is perfected, you wont be missing anything, lacking anything or looking for something to complete you…So relax! That’s why James could make such a bold declaration about the joy of the trial. The word for you today is: Patience
Do you remember “Tim the tool man” from the sitcom Home Improvement?
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
I can almost fix anything….almost fixed the leaky faucet….almost fixed the squeaky door….almost fixed the disposal…..according to my wife, almost only counts in horseshoes.
This past Labor Day weekend, some people used those days to do home improvement projects around their homes. One home improvement store instructs their employees to greet customers with, “What project are you working on?” As it has been said, “The church is the current project of God’s kingdom.” Let’s study some scriptures and become familiar with the project.
Luke 2:49- Jesus asked His mother, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” You see Jesus knew His destiny was to be mankind’s redeemer and He finished His business and sat down at the Father’s right hand. Are you about the Father’s business for your life? Are you living and fulfilling your destiny? Ask God today to tell you what His destiny for your life is. He will not only tell you but He will begin to speak to you and tell you how to finish His business for your life.
Matthew 16:18- God wants to reveal Himself to you on a personal level just like He did to Peter. Remember the story of the two builders and their houses? The foundational bedrock we must build on is the revelations of God who desires a relationship with man and who Jesus Christ is. God is not some impersonal, out of touch force. He is the creator who desires a relationship with His creation and out of love He sent His Son to resolve our sin debt. (John 3:16-17) This revelation of the love that God has for us is the sure foundation that will ensure a steadfast house.
1st Corinthians 3:10-11 & Ephesians 2:19-22- Concrete is a mixture of cement, water and gravel, all three components are needed to build a steadfast foundation. To say this way, Jesus is the bedrock foundation, when we are in agreement we make the concrete for the slab that the building is built on. Then we will see our lives, our families, our churches and our careers be built in such a way that we will know it was our Father in heaven who did the work. We will become God’s dwelling place.
Blessings, Join the CLC family every Sunday afternoon at 5 Pm and Thursdays at 7 pm
