My soul does magnify the Lord !!! Early will I seek you for you are worthy to be praised. I trust that in the Christmas season your relationship with Christ(the living God) has been fruitful. All to often it is too easy to get absorbed with the business of the season. As we approach the new year let us reflect on the often used scripture...that God "so" loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish,but have everlasting life. John 3:16. I wonder if the "so" could ever be fully understood since the word means: to such a great extent. He soooooooooooooooooooooooooo. "So" much love for us that we would never to able to fathom it,or add enough, o's. Think about it Be blessed, Pastor Thomas

We have just returned from our Men's Retreat at Palomar Mountain...and what a time we had in the Lord. Our theme "What on earth are we here for?" was taught by Dr. Obie Tentman, Rev. Kent Brown, Rev. Gerald Brown and Dr. Gerald Johnson. The Lord blessed. This summer my wife's niece and nephew, (will be staying with us until school start in Detroit, Michigan). Thanks to the staff at Mt. Moriah for doing a fine job during our trip to Detroit and Milwaukee. Now the movie night, picnic, concert, and women's retreat is fast approaching. Wow, this has been a busy summer! Let's not forget to support the food bank, convalesent homes that we are affiliated with, and encourage our bereaved. Finally, brothers whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Phil 4:8 NIV. Be blessed

This week we look intently at Christ's death,burial and resurrection.Many Christians are celebrating lent,(forty day season of preparation before Easter)passion week,seven last words of Jesus on the cross and plays,skits and even hosting revivals. We Christians never want to forget what Jesus did at Calvary over two thousand years ago.....something we were incapable and unqualified to do.....take on us the sins of the world,to die for lost humanity,and offer redemption for whoever would believe that (john 3:16)......Jesus is the way,the truth and the life(john 14:6) Let us not forget that without the shedding of blood there would be no remission for sin!! Thank God for shed blood at Calvary In addition to providing salvation He left us the Holy Spirit to keep us,help us in our infirmities,and seal us until the day of salvation(Ephesians 1:13-14) Now let us make every effort to tell somebody(fields are white to harvest) what He means to you John 4:34-38 NIV [34] "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. [35] Do you not say, `Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! ..........They are ripe for harvest............. [36] Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. [37] Thus the saying `One sows and another reaps' is true. [38] I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." May The Lord bless you real good

Jesus calls us as Christians to be disciples. The dictionary: references disciples as students of Jesus, and is found in the New Testament only in the Gospels and Acts. The Bible records many who were followers of Christ, but not many disciples. By all accounts it appears that a disciple today would be one committed to serving Jesus with an aim of making other disciples. As found in Matthew 28:18-20 (Great Commission), the operative is to "go". I believe that today's disciple of Christ is to go and tell others the "good news" (gospel), tell it and demonstrate a redeemed lifestyle. To this end one must study the Word,(meditate), be constant in prayer, and be a hearer and doer. Statisticly it is not church leaders that bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, but it's the one who understands and regularly "share" the gospel. You don't have to be the most erudite or charismatic person, just be one committed to telling the story(including your personal testimony) and loving others deeply (Peter 4:8) Are you that one?

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

This is the time of year when people of good will come together. The Christians, Jews, Muslims as well as a few others seem to focus on love, brotherhood, and redemption. True worshippers appear to put aside their differences and tend to be more conscience of making this world a better place. Our haughtiness and selfish ways give pause and genuine concern for the homeless disenfranchised seem to ignite the season. I often wonder how we separate our emotions during the seasons of the year. Poor people have needs, homeless are without, and hunger exists year around. Jesus has it right when he speaks in Luke 4:18-19 about a mandate to be a servant to all oppressed. An in Luke 2:10 the good news of Jesus birth is a reminder to all of us that Jesus indeed brings joy...not just seasonal but all year long. So we ought to demonstrate the love of God all year long. May His peace bring you joy now and always.

Every now and then I am prompted to revisit a portion of scripture that has encouraged me in the past. The Old Testament is often a foreshadow of certain New Testament events….The New Testament unveils hidden treasures from the Old Testament. For example in II Chronicles 20, there appears to be a hopeless situation for Israel. As the story unfolds it reveals that three overwhelming enemy forces are coming against King Jehoshaphat and the people of God. Outnumbered and facing annulation or bondage they quickly came together and turned to God (v.3-9) and remembered how God had delivered them in the past. Afterwards (v. 14-15) Jehovah instructs the people to show up for the battle, but He would fight the battle. They would indeed do as instructed (their part) and God would do his and bring victory. It’s amazing (v. 21-22) when God’s people sing, praise (Acts 16:25-40) amazing things happen. The act of worship reminds us today of the wonder working power of God through generations. How He is more than able to bring us through difficult (stressful) times. Why not, now, begin to thank God for the battles He has fought for us in the past, today and tomorrow? Surely He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrew 13:8) You can trust God.

Just thinking about God's great love for us

Just thinking about God's great love for us: The wilderness experience when the exodus of the Hebrew people occured and estimates of 600,000 to several million people left the clutches of the oppressive Egyptian people from bondage (slavery) and how God provided for them for over 400 years!! It is interesting to note that food (manna) was supplied (rained down) for them daily (except Sabbath) from Heaven to meet their physical needs in the wilderness. Manna called "what is it" sustained them, nourished them, and kept them, yet they complained. Today God provides for us shelter, food, clothing, his word, and his love... Each day we should thank God for His heavenly provisions that (rain down) keeps us everyday...His Grace. (Lamentations 3:21-24)

There was a story of a pastor preparing to conduct a series of meetings in the rural south.He arranged for some friends to drop him off and then afterwards he would get a ride back to their home.After the meeting that evening,he stayed and talked with some people who would later drive him to his friends home.When he arrived he saw the porch light on and said to  the driver thank you,now hurry back to your house.as he approached the house he could feel the cold air numbing his hands,ears and nose.He anxiously rang the bell....no answer.Next he knocked on the door softly and then harder......no answer,the side window,the back door next,still no answer!Frustrated he walked a considerable distance to a neighbors house in the intense cold.It was dark,late and he was soaked.After knocking at that door someone did answer.The pastor asked politely if a phone was available and could he use it. He was able to call his sleepy host and said,I hate to disturb you,but I couldn't get any one to wake up at your house....I'm several miles down the road at your neighbor's house....could you come and pick me up.The host replied my friend don't you remember? You have a key in your overcoat pocket,don't you remember I gave it to you before you left.The pastor reached in his pocket.There it was!

The "key" to this story is that when we try to gain access to God's blessings through human mean's (all the while possessing Christ)we fall in all kinds of predicaments.

Christians who put their trust in Christ will have every thing they will ever need to meet any trial,craving,test or any difficulty they might encounter in this life.Phil 2:5 have the mind of Christ.......1john 4:4 greater is He in you than he that is in the world...and He will keep us in perfect peace when our mind is focused on Him.Isa 26:3

Remember knocking on a door looking for what is on the inside,while the key is in your pocket is time wasted.2 Peter 1:3.

Be Blessed

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