Pray Without Ceasing

It seems we are living in uncertain times. The economy is in recession, unemployment is up, and people all around are struggling. There are so many needs and so many people hurting. I do believe we are living in the end times and getting closer to joining our heavenly Father. I will speak on that another time. I really want to talk about prayer and praying without ceasing. Often I find myself praying throughout the day, it may be a small simple prayer or a simple thanks, or a long prayer. I believe now is the time that we as christians should take time daily to pray without ceasing. Pray throughout the day whether it be a small simple prayer or a long prayer. I really feel that it is time to act and pray like never before. If we want to see change or a miracle from God in our country then it is time we pray, pray, pray!

Over the last few years, God would wake me up at night and would either give me specific people to pray for or I would just feel this urgency to pray and begin praying. The burden has grown stronger and stronger over the years. We have so many of our own church family that are facing attacks from Satan and they are really sick. They need a miracle, a healing miracle. I am asking each of you to pray for our church (Calvary Temple A/G) and those members in need of God's healing. My husband and I have been facing attacks from Satan and I have been struggling with fluid retention which I struggled with a few years ago and had to have several tests run (all came back normal) and then it slowly started going away (some of it that is). It has come back and is worse now. I want to extend the prayer request to our nation and the economy as well. We need a miracle within our nation. We live in a nation where God is slowly being taken out. It seems that there are many who are struggling financially and have lost their jobs and having hard time finding work. Our nation needs our prayers.

I encourage each of you to take the time daily to spend with God. As we pray, pray with faith, believing that the request will be met. As you spend time in prayer on a daily basis, you will develop a more stronger and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I know we serve a God who is faithful and true. I really believe in miracles. I have learned to put my trust in God. I am asking that we all begin praying for one another. I really believe in the power of prayer. I know it works! I have seen miracles through prayer. I have listed some scriptures which God has given me to help me in these troubled times. I hope these bring encouragement to you as well.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

This scripture is so true and yet hard. We are to rejoice always. I don't know about you, it is very hard sometimes to rejoice when you are facing trials. I thought about Paul when he was in prison and after all he had endured, he sung praises to God in prison and witnessed to the guard. He is also reminding us to pray continually, pray without ceasing. Another reminder is give thanks in all circumstances. No matter what trial we are facing, there is a reason we are going through it, maybe it is a testing of our faith, or maybe it is so that we may be a witness to someone else. We have to put our hope and trust in God. He will get us through it.

James 1:2-4
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Romans 5:3-5
"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

The one thing that has stood out in the first 3 scriptures was how we are to rejoice and consider it pure joy when we face trials. The last scripture talks about putting our complete trust in the Lord and acknowledging him. Let us meditate on these scriptures and apply to them to our lives. God is in control and he will provide our need at the appointed time. His will is best. We can rejoice in our sufferings knowing that God paid the price, he died upon the cross for our sins. He is truly worthy of our praises. We must remember as hard as it is to rejoice during the tough times, there is always someone somewhere worse off than we are. May God bless each of you. I pray for those whom have lost hope that Lord you would begin speaking to their heart and letting them know that they are not alone for you are with them always. Help them Lord to find that peace and joy and make you their Lord and Savior. I pray that we would each pray without ceasing for a nation that is slowly losing site of you. I pray for a miracle Lord, that you would intervene and speak to each of us and help us to pray for one another. Help us to rejoice in the times of hardship. May we look to you always. Thank you Lord for the many blessings you have already bestowed upon us.

Right Time for Everything

God has given us so much. We are a very blessed nation but yet we have begun to take things for granted. We are all guilty of complaining when things don't happen the way we think they should. Who are we to think that our way is better? God is over all things and he knows what's best for each and everyone of us. His timing is perfect. He knows whats best for us during any given situation or circumstance. Let us take this opportunity and this new year that we have been so graciously given to thank God for His timing and His many blessings. May we rejoice and celebrate God's goodness, no matter what the circumstance. May we lift up His holy name and praise him for all He has done and is about to do. We serve an awesome God. Let us be patient and wait upon Him and look to Him, His timing is right. There is a right time for everything.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says: (Message)
"There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace."

Happy New Year to all! Hope this new year will bring many blessings your way and may the peace and joy of Jesus Christ reign in your heart forever. Blessings to all!

Jesus, the Reason for the Season

Let us take the time this Christmas to reflect on why we celebrate this holiday. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the many blessings he has bestowed upon us. Let us not give in to the business, the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We must not allow it to take over the real meaning of Christmas. We simply need to slow down. We seem to always be in a rush to get somewhere. Let us slow down and pay attention to what is going on around us. Let us look around and be willing to help those in need during these troubling times and show them what the true meaning of Christmas is. Let us show love to others as Jesus did for us and still does to this very day. Jesus is the reason for the season.

Matthew 1:20-25
But after he had considered this an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus; because he will save his people from their sins.
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet : The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel - which means "God with us." When Joseph woke up, he did what the Lord commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name of Jesus."

Luke 2:5-7
"He (David) went there (Bethlehem) to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

Luke 2:10-11
"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

God gave us his perfect gift, Jesus Christ, His son. Let us bear gifts to one another this Christmas and the Christmases to come and remember the reason for the season. The wise men came bearing gifts for Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the hope of all the world. As we exchange gifts this year and the years to come, let us remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas. God has given us so much to be thankful for, let us not forget what he has given us and what we have in front of us.

He came to earth and then he gave his life upon the cross for our sins. Let us not forget the real reason we are here. May we help one another and share with those in need, not only during the holidays but throughout the coming years. God Bless each and every one of you during this holiday season. May God be with you and fill you with his peace and joy. Blessings to all and a very Merry Christmas to you all!

Connecting With God

Connecting with God requires sacrifices on our part. It also requires spiritual discipline. We are to practice spiritual disciplines such as the following: Prayer, Bible study, meditation and extended times of solitude, silence and service. Do we really spend time with God as needed? Do you spend time in God's Word everyday? Do you spend time in prayer each day with God? We must practice spiritual discipline if we want to grow in the Lord and develop a more personal relationship with Christ. It requires a daily sacrifice. We must discipline and train ourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
"Respect those who work hard among you who are over you in the Lord. Hold them in the highest regard in love. Live in peace with each other. Warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and everyone else. Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances. Do not put out the Spirit's fire. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything that is good. Avoid every kind of evil."

Romans 12:1-2
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -his good, pleasing and perfect will."

I remember one of our youth services as we spoke on sacrifice and spiritual disciplines. We discussed the 3 purposes in life right now and I would like to take this moment and share them with you. This is very vital in our walk with God.

3 Purposes in Life Right Now:
1) Spiritual Formation - connecting with God in authentic ways. We must be willing to be vessels and be obedient to His calling upon our lives. If we are to receive the blessings we must be obedient to the call that God has placed in our lives. We must be willing to step out of our comfort zone.
2) Compassion and Social Justice - caring for the throw aways of our culture as Jesus did. I believe we need to develop the same love for one another that Christ expressed toward others. We must be willing to help those in need, whether it be the homeless or those of lower statute. We are to be Christ like. We are to care for others like Jesus did. It is time we start showing others, including our enemies that Jesus loves them. It takes getting to know them as Jesus did in His days. He was a servant to others.
3) Helping people, especially in the American church, focus on substance over glitz -by discovering and living out God's purposes instead of living a self-absorbed existence. We need to be humble servants of Jesus Christ willing to help others. We need to develop a spirit of humility and not be so full of ourselves.

We must be willing to make the daily sacrifice if want to have a personal relationship with Christ. It requires taking the time to thank God throughout the day for his many blessings, taking the time to say a small prayer throughout the day, and taking the time to spend time in His Word, not only reading His Word but studying it and applying it to your life. We each must do our part to spread the Word of Jesus Christ. We can each make a difference but it takes a sacrifice on our part. May God Bless you and keep you on the right path.