Almost three years ago, Pastor introduced Pilgrim to the slogan of moving from "I Can" to "I Will". And even though that slogan was ushered into the hearts and minds of the congregants, it is far removed from its original intent. I believe that we forget that when we make a vow of commitment, it is to God Almighty and not entirely to the person responsible for introducing it. Pastor has no magic wands to "make" people do the work of the church, but he can hold us accountable. Remember, where there is no vision, the people perishes. If anyone perishes under Pastor's watch, it will be because of their failure to fully commit to God and for fear of change. Prayer is an important component in situations involving fear. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths". The same God who is able to make rocks cry out is still inviting us to follow Him.
And now that 2009 has arrived, let's take a "Holy" examination of our relationship to God; our fellowship with one another; and as leaders our commitment to lead, follow, or move out of the way. When we lead falsely, it causes people who may not be as astute in the Word as they should be, to follow the wrong path, and can cause them to fall out of fellowship with God and his/her brethren. There is a saying that, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything". We are falling for those things that hindered us in the past; we are falling for acceptance at any cost; we are falling for something new in Jesus which will never happen. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever more.
So, Fellow Christians, I challenge you to stop gazing up into the sky; look around you; embrace that individual whom you have not spoken to in months or even years; embrace that individual that sits next to you each Sunday without uttering a word; embrace that individual who may feel inferior because of a perception of us having uncaring hearts. What if Jesus treated us the way we treat each other, or the way we deserve to be treated. Nobody is better than anybody else. Unfortunately, some may think they are, but in Jesus' eyesight, we are all the same. Only what we do for Christ will last - the other superficial things outside the realm of love is "vanity".
Solomon, the old Preacher, says "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil". (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) The best is yet to come!
EXCERPTS FROM "LOOKING BACK AT WHAT COST?"
A few weeks have passed since we participated in and witnessed a spirit-filled Women's Day Conference. Thanks to the Conference Chairperson and her committee, every "T" was crossed, every "I" was dotted, and we had an awesome experience in the Name of the Lord. Each class was facilitated by such phenomenal, Godly women who unselfishly shared with us their expertise on their respective topics. And, our Guest Speaker for the Sunday Morning Worship Service just put the icing on the cake. I applaud all of you who planned these events, our guests, and everyone who participated. Further, I trust that with all of the excitement, tears of joy, and having such a mountaintop experience, that our lives were impacted so that it brought about a sense of spiritual renewal within us.
The scriptures referenced for Women's Day 2008, Genesis 19:17-26 and Galatians 5:1, from man's enslavement to his freedom, led to the theme, "Looking Back at What Cost?" This theme served as a warning to us of the consequences we face when we continuously look back, taking our eyes off the cross. Thus, this particular scripture also speaks of God's warning Lot by sending two angels to Sodom to compel him to get himself and his family out of that city. ". . . because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it." (Genesis 19:13) Lot was told to escape for his life, where to go, and to not look back, lest thou be consumed. But, Lot's wife, for whatever reasons, looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Why did Lot's wife look back? Why are you looking back? "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:13-15). Also, in Luke 9:62, Jesus again warns us that, ". . . no man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God." Therefore, if Jesus is not in our front view, then we are looking in the wrong direction.
So, let me introduce you to my Guide, my bike partner, who is reliable and He makes sure that my mission is clear. He is the One who brought us from slavery to freedom by the shedding of His precious blood on Calvary's cross. Come on; get on the bike with Jesus and me. We don't have to do all of the peddling; He will change places with us when we get tired. There is no need to fear. He knows the route well, and He is the only one who can help us reach out destination, Heaven. However, one very important prerequisite is that we must have been on the bike long enough to get to know Jesus personally.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. AMEN.
The scriptures referenced for Women's Day 2008, Genesis 19:17-26 and Galatians 5:1, from man's enslavement to his freedom, led to the theme, "Looking Back at What Cost?" This theme served as a warning to us of the consequences we face when we continuously look back, taking our eyes off the cross. Thus, this particular scripture also speaks of God's warning Lot by sending two angels to Sodom to compel him to get himself and his family out of that city. ". . . because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it." (Genesis 19:13) Lot was told to escape for his life, where to go, and to not look back, lest thou be consumed. But, Lot's wife, for whatever reasons, looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Why did Lot's wife look back? Why are you looking back? "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:13-15). Also, in Luke 9:62, Jesus again warns us that, ". . . no man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God." Therefore, if Jesus is not in our front view, then we are looking in the wrong direction.
So, let me introduce you to my Guide, my bike partner, who is reliable and He makes sure that my mission is clear. He is the One who brought us from slavery to freedom by the shedding of His precious blood on Calvary's cross. Come on; get on the bike with Jesus and me. We don't have to do all of the peddling; He will change places with us when we get tired. There is no need to fear. He knows the route well, and He is the only one who can help us reach out destination, Heaven. However, one very important prerequisite is that we must have been on the bike long enough to get to know Jesus personally.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. AMEN.
CAN WE NOT ALL JUST GET ALONG FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST?
When tempers flare and attitudes need adjusting, it makes one want to just throw up their hands and say "forget this". And, if the individuals' acts of impropriety are not bad enough, they try to justify such behavior. But, if the truth be told, this is an attention-getter. Some people's egos are like addicts; they need stroking or, they will throw a tantrum. This is a deceptive motive but unfortunately sometimes it gets them the attention that they want. While it would be easy to walk away from a situation such as this, the Holy Spirit just will not allow us to do it. He immediately intercedes and reminds us that Jesus would handle the situation(s) totally different in a much nicer, more loving, kinder, gentler way.
So what is the problem? The problem is that these people need a spiritual renewal---a discipline of the mind and heart. We should embrace them when they are hurting or in pain; but again, if it is only to get attention, then these people need to seek someone with more discernment than us. Sometimes the only thing we can do for these individuals is to advise them; give them a Word. A thorough search of our hearts and souls will determine if we are contributors to satan's attacks on our lives. One of the hardest things to do is to admit when we are "wrong". Admittance of such, however, will begin the healing process. We cause some of the hurt in our own lives because of our tongue, selfish pride, and as a result we reap what we sow. We should never sow discord among our brothers and sisters because this is one of the things that God says HE HATES. (Proverbs 6:19) Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to change our bad habits, thought patterns, and selfish acts. They will get you nowhere, but will cause a lot of grief.
R - E - S - P - E - C - T is a word that has to always be in the forefront of our mind, body, and soul because it seems difficult to respect those whom we do not love. But the Bible makes it very clear, WE MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Christ commands it. So, let's stop playing games, plotting, and scheming. We are the ones who are supposed to carry God's Messages to the lost. And, when we get caught up in worldly things, we lose our drawing power.
Spiritual renewal allows us to look at life differently, and gives us a different perspective on the people whom we shy away from. All of us are God's children. So do not pat yourselves on your chest too boastfully, because God loves us all the same. "For there is no respect of persons with God". (Romans 2:9) He is an advocate for all of us. And, if we do not love or respect each other on earth, God is not getting any glory when we PRETEND to glorify Him. We say we love God; God says we are LIARS, if we hate our brothers. (1 John 4:20)
Having a new mind in Christ makes our lives better; our walk with Him will be clearer and not cloudy or doubtful; and our focus will be on the Cross, not on ourselves. God is still standing with outstretched arms waiting for us to CHANGE. Get your attitudes off your shoulders and come join the rest of us in the spirit of love, fellowship, and joy! We have too much work to do for the cause of Christ to allow the world to deter/detain us! So let's stay focused on the things that is important to Jesus Christ.
And, in spite of it all, may God continue to richly bless and keep each of you in perfect peace as you keep your minds stayed on Him. It is not about you; it is about JESUS!
So what is the problem? The problem is that these people need a spiritual renewal---a discipline of the mind and heart. We should embrace them when they are hurting or in pain; but again, if it is only to get attention, then these people need to seek someone with more discernment than us. Sometimes the only thing we can do for these individuals is to advise them; give them a Word. A thorough search of our hearts and souls will determine if we are contributors to satan's attacks on our lives. One of the hardest things to do is to admit when we are "wrong". Admittance of such, however, will begin the healing process. We cause some of the hurt in our own lives because of our tongue, selfish pride, and as a result we reap what we sow. We should never sow discord among our brothers and sisters because this is one of the things that God says HE HATES. (Proverbs 6:19) Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to change our bad habits, thought patterns, and selfish acts. They will get you nowhere, but will cause a lot of grief.
R - E - S - P - E - C - T is a word that has to always be in the forefront of our mind, body, and soul because it seems difficult to respect those whom we do not love. But the Bible makes it very clear, WE MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Christ commands it. So, let's stop playing games, plotting, and scheming. We are the ones who are supposed to carry God's Messages to the lost. And, when we get caught up in worldly things, we lose our drawing power.
Spiritual renewal allows us to look at life differently, and gives us a different perspective on the people whom we shy away from. All of us are God's children. So do not pat yourselves on your chest too boastfully, because God loves us all the same. "For there is no respect of persons with God". (Romans 2:9) He is an advocate for all of us. And, if we do not love or respect each other on earth, God is not getting any glory when we PRETEND to glorify Him. We say we love God; God says we are LIARS, if we hate our brothers. (1 John 4:20)
Having a new mind in Christ makes our lives better; our walk with Him will be clearer and not cloudy or doubtful; and our focus will be on the Cross, not on ourselves. God is still standing with outstretched arms waiting for us to CHANGE. Get your attitudes off your shoulders and come join the rest of us in the spirit of love, fellowship, and joy! We have too much work to do for the cause of Christ to allow the world to deter/detain us! So let's stay focused on the things that is important to Jesus Christ.
And, in spite of it all, may God continue to richly bless and keep each of you in perfect peace as you keep your minds stayed on Him. It is not about you; it is about JESUS!
SEEING WITH THE HEART
"Let no man deceive himself. If any among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. (1 Corinthians 3:18-19).
We know of many people who may be knowledgeable, but few are wise. Wisdom is not about how smart we are, but it is a mean by which we have an humbling spirit that allows us to accept the fact that someone else can teach us something about ourselves that we do not already know. The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 1:7 that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
True wisdom which comes from God begins with a holy life. James 3:14-18 says "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." Having said that, wisdom provides us the knowledge and ability to make the right choices at the right time, and serves as a mean by which people learn to love and get along. Wisdom helps us to, when we make mistakes, learn from them; accept our weaknesses by getting closer to God through the study of his word; and when faced with oppositions or problems, having the ability to give it to God. Most of the time our hearts know the wisest course to take, but we may still choose a foolish path. The lessons most learned comes not from our successes, but from our failures. And, our foolish choices may lead us down a path we never planned to take, but directs us by divine intervention back to the road we left behind. The old Psalmist says, we should ask God to "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12).
God is on his way back for the Church. His time is not our time - "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4). Don't be fooled. Our hearts see and show the things about us that we want hid from others. But remember, God is all-wise and all-knowing. So if anyone lacks wisdom, ask God.
We know of many people who may be knowledgeable, but few are wise. Wisdom is not about how smart we are, but it is a mean by which we have an humbling spirit that allows us to accept the fact that someone else can teach us something about ourselves that we do not already know. The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 1:7 that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
True wisdom which comes from God begins with a holy life. James 3:14-18 says "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." Having said that, wisdom provides us the knowledge and ability to make the right choices at the right time, and serves as a mean by which people learn to love and get along. Wisdom helps us to, when we make mistakes, learn from them; accept our weaknesses by getting closer to God through the study of his word; and when faced with oppositions or problems, having the ability to give it to God. Most of the time our hearts know the wisest course to take, but we may still choose a foolish path. The lessons most learned comes not from our successes, but from our failures. And, our foolish choices may lead us down a path we never planned to take, but directs us by divine intervention back to the road we left behind. The old Psalmist says, we should ask God to "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12).
God is on his way back for the Church. His time is not our time - "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4). Don't be fooled. Our hearts see and show the things about us that we want hid from others. But remember, God is all-wise and all-knowing. So if anyone lacks wisdom, ask God.
FAITH HOLDS THE KEY
I bow in humble submission before Jesus Christ for His mercy, grace, and love toward me. Everything I am and everything I ever hope to be will come to pass because of His goodness. I do not take life for granted because the Word of God tells me that we do not know the day nor the hour that the Son of Man cometh. Therefore, each day that the Lord allows us to see, we should make things right with Him and our fellowman.
Women of God, women of Pilgrim, I thank you for your love, support, and encouragement. In my prayers for you, I ask God to bless each of you and to bring us closer together as one body in Christ. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we are bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." (I Cor. 12:13-14) So, as Christians let's not allow anything to hinder us from receiving God's promises.
Let us stay close as a family, stay focused, and stay faithful. Ephesians 6:16 talks about ...taking "the shield of faith...." The shield of faith is a vital part of the Christian armor. We are to put on the "whole armor of God" because the Christian life is a warfare, a spiritual conflict. As Paul mentions the different parts of the Christian armor, he emphasizes the shield of faith and its importance. He says that by taking the shield of faith, nothing can hurt you; you are more than conquerors through Him. But, without faith: you cannot be saved; cannot live victoriously over the world; cannot please God; cannot pray; cannot have peace with God; cannot have joy; you are justified by faith; you are to live by faith; Christ dwells in our hearts by faith; the Holy Spirit is received by faith; and "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
When we allow our faith to abound, it honors God, and God always honor faith.
Be strong my sisters, and keep the faith!
Women of God, women of Pilgrim, I thank you for your love, support, and encouragement. In my prayers for you, I ask God to bless each of you and to bring us closer together as one body in Christ. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we are bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." (I Cor. 12:13-14) So, as Christians let's not allow anything to hinder us from receiving God's promises.
Let us stay close as a family, stay focused, and stay faithful. Ephesians 6:16 talks about ...taking "the shield of faith...." The shield of faith is a vital part of the Christian armor. We are to put on the "whole armor of God" because the Christian life is a warfare, a spiritual conflict. As Paul mentions the different parts of the Christian armor, he emphasizes the shield of faith and its importance. He says that by taking the shield of faith, nothing can hurt you; you are more than conquerors through Him. But, without faith: you cannot be saved; cannot live victoriously over the world; cannot please God; cannot pray; cannot have peace with God; cannot have joy; you are justified by faith; you are to live by faith; Christ dwells in our hearts by faith; the Holy Spirit is received by faith; and "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
When we allow our faith to abound, it honors God, and God always honor faith.
Be strong my sisters, and keep the faith!
WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE CHILDREN OF FAMILIES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
A few Saturdays ago, I attended the Not To Believers Like Us (N2BLU) Seminar on Domestic and Family Violence. Someone once said that confession is good for the soul; so I am confessing that prior to attending the seminar, I was totally ignorant of the statistical data associated with domestic violence. The specificity of violence was an eye-opener for me, and having spoken with victims of domestic violence, I was even more baffled by the fact that violence of this magnitude actually exists. I have never doubted that domestic and family violence occur, I just did not know to what extent. And to know the different facets of violence were even more disturbing so much so that it caused me to reflect back to March 1989, when my best friend and college roommate was fatally stabbed to death as a result of violence at the hands of a boyfriend.
The information and resources available at the seminar were astronomical with emphasis placed mainly on battered women - which I can understand because more women are battered than men - but, what about the children? How do they cope with violence in the family and who speaks for them? I have noticed lately that the media is exposing perpetrators who are taking advantage of babies and younger children. (This does not excludes older children and adults). Just recently a perpetrator was arrested for having sexually molested a three-year-old girl for four years. And it appeared, according to the media, that the girl was so traumatized, she totally blotted out what had happened to her. This is just one story. There are many. Some we hear about; some we do not. Some are in other cities, states, and countries; some are in our neighborhoods.
We, as a society, must get involved and speak up for those who can not speak for themselves. Children are being killed, stolen, sold, and used as "sex objects". If we do not speak for them - WHO WILL? If we do not do it now - WHEN? Love and compassion are virtues of Jesus Christ which we must exemplify. We can no longer be silent because no family (house) is exempt, and violence has no regard to race, creed, color, national origin, or gender. Victims of domestic and family violence are hurting, and we must be an advocate for them and their children. We do care, and from the seminar, we may now be in a better posture to identify and understand the emotional scars associated with abuse. I pray that God will soften our hearts so that the victims can feel safe and secure in seeking the help they so desperately need. "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor. 12:9) BE BLESSED MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND STAY PRAYERFUL!
The information and resources available at the seminar were astronomical with emphasis placed mainly on battered women - which I can understand because more women are battered than men - but, what about the children? How do they cope with violence in the family and who speaks for them? I have noticed lately that the media is exposing perpetrators who are taking advantage of babies and younger children. (This does not excludes older children and adults). Just recently a perpetrator was arrested for having sexually molested a three-year-old girl for four years. And it appeared, according to the media, that the girl was so traumatized, she totally blotted out what had happened to her. This is just one story. There are many. Some we hear about; some we do not. Some are in other cities, states, and countries; some are in our neighborhoods.
We, as a society, must get involved and speak up for those who can not speak for themselves. Children are being killed, stolen, sold, and used as "sex objects". If we do not speak for them - WHO WILL? If we do not do it now - WHEN? Love and compassion are virtues of Jesus Christ which we must exemplify. We can no longer be silent because no family (house) is exempt, and violence has no regard to race, creed, color, national origin, or gender. Victims of domestic and family violence are hurting, and we must be an advocate for them and their children. We do care, and from the seminar, we may now be in a better posture to identify and understand the emotional scars associated with abuse. I pray that God will soften our hearts so that the victims can feel safe and secure in seeking the help they so desperately need. "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor. 12:9) BE BLESSED MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND STAY PRAYERFUL!
LORD, I OWE YOU SO MUCH! I OWE YOU EVERYTHING!
Reflecting back over my life during the time when I accepted Christ as my Savior, and Him having called me out of darkness into His marvelous light, I realize that I owe Jesus "every ounce of my being". I owe Him the best that I have - my talents, my service and devotion, my all. By rendering service to Jesus, I must follow His examples by serving my fellowman. The qualities of good character, a virtuous life, a sense of dependability, a right attitude of kindness and love toward my neighbors and all with whom I come in contact, being just in my dealings with my fellowman, helping in times of need, sickness, or distress, being temperate in all things, and avoiding anything harmful to my body are also owed to Him.
As His servant, I have an obligation to the church by witnessing about the goodness and wondrous love and redemption found in Jesus Christ. Matthew 22:21 states " . . . Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's". Therefore, I must support the church financially as the Lord has prospered me in an effort for the Lord's work to continue.
My spiritual strength comes from my desire to grow in grace and the consummation of that desire filters through a life of prayer and Bible study so that my service will be unto His glory. And, while I may fall far short of my duties and obligations to God and the church, His grace is sufficient for me to continue climbing up the mountain of despair by way of leading me around the stumbling blocks that Satan puts in my path. God's favor and my faith allow me to count it all joy when I am tried and tested, and I can rejoice in spite of my circumstances. JESUS has already overcome the world. LORD, SPEAK TO ME SO THAT I MAY SPEAK!
As His servant, I have an obligation to the church by witnessing about the goodness and wondrous love and redemption found in Jesus Christ. Matthew 22:21 states " . . . Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's". Therefore, I must support the church financially as the Lord has prospered me in an effort for the Lord's work to continue.
My spiritual strength comes from my desire to grow in grace and the consummation of that desire filters through a life of prayer and Bible study so that my service will be unto His glory. And, while I may fall far short of my duties and obligations to God and the church, His grace is sufficient for me to continue climbing up the mountain of despair by way of leading me around the stumbling blocks that Satan puts in my path. God's favor and my faith allow me to count it all joy when I am tried and tested, and I can rejoice in spite of my circumstances. JESUS has already overcome the world. LORD, SPEAK TO ME SO THAT I MAY SPEAK!
Abonohu te:
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