Wonderful Lord

As we celebrate the glorious day of Freedom, July 4^th, Let us give glory unto the Lord for His Wonderful Sacrifice to us, The Lord Jesus Christ! On this day we remember the multitude of men and women who have given their life for the Freedom that we have today. There is always Sacrifice for Freedom. To these men & women who have served and are serving, we give thanks for them. May we always keep our Country and our Military in Prayer. I can’t help but give Glory and Honor to our God for planting us on a firm foundation. Our Forefathers had a knowledge of God and often referred to Him in their duties of our Country. Let us be reminded to the words of our Forefathers who began the liberty of our Country. “When in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation. Having established the legal criteria for, and declaring independence from the thrown of England, the document ends with a clear Declaration of Dependence upon Almighty God. “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights … And for the support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” Now, our precious country has strayed from its moorings as an independent land and a people with a clear and unapologetic Dependence upon God. Now we have a country that is becoming increasingly dependent upon others in the world and a people who are increasingly independent of and in rebellion against that same God upon whom our forefathers declared their dependence. Let us remember we are of the Believer in Christ are a chosen generation, chosen for Him.  Ps. 33:12 – “Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.”  As you celebrate this 4^th of July in 2017 give glory and adoration to our God who has liberated us unto His Wonderful Salvation!   Happy 4^th - Loving you, Pastor

He Was Taken Up

We are in the season of Ascension, what a glorious season to remember that awesome moment in which Jesus was “Taken Up” into the Heavens as a cloud received Him!  It is true! There were many “Witnesses!” In fact some of Jesus last Words were: A Commission to us; “Ye shall be Witnesses! This thought arises in my mind: Why, after hundreds of years, is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Ascension still celebrated, still talked about, it is in the dictionary, and even on the Calendar??  WHY? Because there were “Eye Witnesses!”  These are Jesus own Words from Luke 24:48 ─ “Ye are witnesses of these things.”  Forty Days Jesus was present in the earth after His Crucifixion, leaving infallible proof that He came forth triumphant from the Grave! On the fortieth day Jesus took His disciples as far as Bethany and there He gave them this Prophetical Word: “Wait for the Promise of the Father, … ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:4-5 As Jesus concluded this powerful statement of the “Coming Holy Ghost,” again He stated “Ye shall be witnesses of Me … and unto the uttermost part of the earth!” Vs8. Then the Ascension occurred, one more infallible proof … right before their eyes He was “Taken Up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Angels attended this awesome event and declared to the amazed disciples as they gazed upward; Vs11 “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven.”  O what a glorious Celebration! Jesus was “caught up” into the clouds into Heaven to take His position at the Right Hand of the Father, where He would continue to intercede for us.  This is our Comfort, He will come again even as He left … I love the Prophetical Word of God! The Ascension of our Messiah is seen in the Psalms. The Psalmist writes [68:18-19] under the direction of the Spirit of God – “Thou hast Ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received Gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our Salvation. Selah. Because of Jesus’ Sacrifice for us, we have received Gifts from Heaven, Eternal Life, Holy Spirit, and the Comfort of God among many Gifts! Vs19 God loads us with benefits daily!  Happy Ascension!  Loving you, Pastor - 1 Thes. 4:16-18

Be Joyful, O Earth

“Sing, O heavens; and be Joyful, O earth; and break forth into Singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted His people, and will have Mercy upon his afflicted.”  ~ Isa. 49:13

 What is Joy all about? When is the last time one felt Joy? Be honest, when? And Isaiah cries out under the inspiration of God and calls for Heaven to “Sing and the earth to be Joyful! Joy is mentioned 165 times in Scripture and yet it seems that Joy eludes us most of the time. Could it be that we look for Joy in the things around us rather then in the things of the Spirit wherein Jesus has promised us His Joy? What about His Joy? It is profound to hear the Scripture portray Jesus Joy, and exhort us to Look to Him concerning our Joy. Heb. 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith; who for the Joy that was set before Him endured the cross …” Jesus endured criticism of His enemies, and admonished us to note that, and to not be weary or faint in our minds when such things happen to us. The only Joy today is “Jesus Joy!” It is only when we consider Him and keep a spiritual mind that we can “endure” to proclaim that Joy reins in our heart, our mind, our soul, and our spirit. It is paramount today that we maintain His Joy! Our world has never been as troubled as it is today. Sin is more rampant then in the days of the Old Testament when God corrected His People time after time. Yet somehow God Graces’ us through His Only Begotten Son! That Grace came with a Sacrificial Price. We opened this brief conversation today with “Sing, O heavens; be Joyful O earth!” Heaven Sings and we are encouraged to be Joyful! In the midst of Heaven’s Singing there is an ultimate reason, and Jesus tells us this great reason: “Likewise, I say unto you, there is Joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth!” [Lk. 15:10] Of course among the rejoicing and great Joy over a sinner coming into the Kingdom, there is rejoicing in the Throne Room as Worship comes forth: Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty! My favorite Singing Scripture is: Zeph. 3:17 “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will Save, He will Rejoice over thee with Joy; He will rest in His Love, He will Joy over thee with Singing.”  Scripture is filled with Joy and Joyful! I love Paul’s expression as He declares under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost: “I filled with comfort, I am exceeding Joyful in all our tribulation!” That is truly the Jesus Joy! And this is how it happens … Rom. 15:13 “The God of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing, that ye may abound in Hope, through the Power of the Holy Ghost.”— O Come, let us Sing unto the Lord: let us make a Joyful noise to the Rock of our Salvation.   Joyfully Loving you, Pastor