Key verse: St. Luke 13:12-13v: And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her; and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

 Our communities are filled will stigmas, stereotypes, and prejudices for almost anything we can think of. It certainly was no different in the bible days yet when things got better for those people, it would bring trouble to the one who did the honorable deed.

This woman was no different had a sickness that caused her to be bound 18 years where she could no wise lift herself up to walk straight in life. The very thought of walking bent over only able to see my toes and others for 18 years is very disheartening. Yet what I found so amazing was that she did not stop going to church and becoming apart of the Church community. She made her way there to be recognized as one of Abraham’s daughters! She was a born again Christian that was bound 18 years and could no wise enjoy a normal walk to the church, home, or a friends house because of her severe sickness that was lingering in her life. How may times we started something and just did not finished it, and in most cases just simply gave up?! Our personal evaluation will determine our success in what we need to accomplish in the future. Sure we can always go back and finish what we started and many times that is the case, but what if that woman decided that the church can no longer and instead stay home and feel sorry for herself…?

In other words, if you stopped to think about all the bad things that took place in your life that has put years of grief, struggles,and pain only, instead of looking at the way God has bought you out of those situations, then you will undoubtly give up! It will eat you alive holding all that condemnation inside; leaving you no room to bless God for the struggles that made you strong, the trials that gave you temperance, the pain that put more patience in your heart, this way of thinking will cause you to fail and suffer more grief than you can imagine. Yet this woman did not give up; she kept coming to church, participating in whatever thing she could, not allowing no one to make her feel uncomfortable to never return again, and one day she got noticed by Jesus himself who immediately saw her pain and rescued her by laying hands on her and saying, Woman thou are loosed! IF YOU STAY IN THE RACE GOD WILL REWARD YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS!! DON’T GIVE UP, THE BEST IS YET TO COME! Only God knows the seasons to relieve us form our weaknesses and start us a new life thatwe would want to do is glorify his name. It takes courage and strong determination to keep your spiritual head up while you wait, but believe that God has not forgotten you, only preparing you for the most productive time of your life….! DON’T GIVE UP!! 

 Key verse: Psalms: 105: 17-20 verse: “He sent a man before them, even Joesph, who was sold for a servant:Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came:the word of the lord tried him. The King sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and  him go free.”

The best time in our life seems when everything is falling into place. The perfect plsce to work, the right relationship or spouse, even the right place for you to go and worship your Lord and Savior. Yet all of this did not or does not usually come into place at once. I’m sure that particular person can tell you of all the things they went through before they landed into the land of serenity! Why does it have to be that way for most of us? Joesph did nothing wrong and he was yet sold into slavery by his family and accused of a crime he did not commit with years to face in jail for it. Yet the Lord was with him, and allowed all these things to become his plight so he be used by the him and in return for the suffering, second in command to the King! I often wondered why people go through so much suffering in their life and then something just happens…..like a curtain of troubles is lifted off of them and from no where like the wind, favor begins to pour into their lives, and in with time, they begin to shine.

It’s a time for the suffering and it’s a time for you to shine. The question is, are you willing to go through and complete the suffering years that are before you, and wait for the word of God to try you in your suffering, so he can in time, loose you and let you go free? I believe this is where many of us lose our time to shine, missing the better years God desired for us upon completion of our journey he has set before us. You see, to shine anything that is worth something you’ll have to apply some pressure to i,t to rid the tarnish or stains that has accumulated over the years, and that takes work. Shinning gold, silver, and other precious stones will always give you a good result if you stick with it. The time is well worth the effort when the work is completed and the results are seen. So is life, it takes years of work and plenty of time to remove the hurt, pain, suffering, and shame from your life to prepare you for the greatest opportunity you will ever experience afterwards. It will all come in time, just be willing and obedient to wait on the lord and his word to come forth in your life, he will never let you down.  Remember, your time to shine is already set in time; be ready to recieve it when it comes….! Send me your comments to the discussion link for this blog or just comment on the facebook page of you choice.

Key verse: St. Luke 19: 4-5 verse: “And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him:for he was to pass that way.And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.”

Zacchaeus, was well known to the people in those days not only in his prestigious position in the community but because he was rich. Zacchaeus made no formal entrance so see the Jesus and yet had a little difficulty in his statue; he was not a tall man. I imagine a man with all his credentials thinking so fast on what to do to see Jesus and in return, Jesus seeing Zacchaeus. Without any hesitation Zacchaeus climbed up a sycamore tree ahead of Jesus so he could see him while passing by. He was in the press of the people yet if he wanted to see Jesus he could not allow them to miss his opportunity. 

The press or pressures in life causes us to make decisions that we would not normally do if life wasn’t so difficult in some circumstances we face. God allows us to become pressured with major and minor situations to see what we are willing to do, or what will it take for us to come to him for guidance. Pressure also causes us to think either rational or irrational according to our time available to make things work for us. Zacchaeus would not be seen in a tree normally by no means and we must understand that when pressure enters our life, and decisions need to be made, we are not expected to stay within our borders of help but to go beyond the call of duty to make things come alive. Jesus recognized him right away, because when you press your way out of life pressures to see Jesus then he will answer your every need for without him you can do nothing!

Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get God’s attention in your life? Zaccheacus did, and that day was salvation for him and his household! The crowd complained about the favor Jesus gave to Zaccheacus, yet he answered them by confessing to Jesus all he had done in return for his sins committed. People will not always be happy for you when Jesus bless you anyhow, especially when they think you do not deserve it. Jesus already knew about his past, it was his heart that compel him for that special day of invitation; Jesus invited himself to his house, what an honor! Allow the pressures of life mold you and make you become successful for what God has already in store for you, it can only build your character and make you stronger in the faith.

Key verse: Ecclesiastes 9:11verse: I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happened to them all. 

There is one thing we all should try to do in life, and that is finish the things we started whether good, bad, or indifferent. This discipline can be very taxing sometimes to many people including myself, yet if we can start with the end in mind, completion is just around the corner of success! What causes people to longer continue in their endeavors is what I want to talk about. The race is NOT given to the swift and to the strong, so why is everybody concerned about finishing the race anyway!? The person you think suppose to win is not considered the favorite in God’s race; its the one who simply by chance through all their struggles, trials, and pain manages with time and to do task successfully.

The reasons for not finishing the race is as follows:

1. The suffering is too great, either emotional or financial  This top reason comes to mind because our finances and our emotions tend to direct our decision making more than anything else. You would like to finish college but you owe so much in student loans that it’s overwhelming to think you’ll be paying back such an substantial amount. The emotional strain alone dampens the zeal and passion for you to prosper and gain access to a better way of life. 

2. The task becomes more difficult, and out of fear of failing, you quit. The next in line for justifying why you can no longer complete the task, even though it is number two on the list it is one of the most accepted excuses most people tolerate. No one wants to fail, and yet it is really part of the course! If we do not have failures how can we become successful? Successful people lived a life full of failures, yet through God’s grace and his power to get wealth he allows them to suffer for awhile to receive a prize.

3.  Maybe this is not for me, I’m getting kinda old you know. Last but not the least, this reason as Christians get defeated a lot, because we just don’t think we’re strong enough or the young is able to bear this load and not the old. How wrong can we be as we can see in scripture how Moses became one of the most powerful leader of all time for Israel, and his calling for the task was at 80 years old! Abraham did not give birth to Issac the promise until he was 100 years old! God can use anybody to do anything he desires all he needs is a willing heart and right spirit.  

Those three reasons are the top ones that seems to keep the masses form completing the things they desire in life. It’s not easy to run a race and have the patience and zeal to do it, yet it is up to us not to allow our emotions or others keep us from reaching our goals and our dreams, but remember it is not how we start the race it is truly how you finish it; victorious or defeat?

Key verse:  Genesis 21: 17-18 verse”And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make thee a great nation.”

This time of year we celebrate Mother’s Day as an time of love and appreciation for her uncompromising commitment toward her family. Most of us purchase flowers, candy, and maybe even dinner as we honor her on that special occasion. There were so many Mothers in scripture that I wanted to talk about, however Hagar represents the mothers’ who were thrust into the life of motherhood due unexpectant life circumstances. Hagar was an slave to Abraham and Sarah, a couple who could not bear children at all. God had promised them a child and Sarah and Abraham were well passed their bearing years, and it just seem right according to Sarah, to allow her handmaid to lay with her husband, so they can have a child by the way of world with her consent. This was very common in those days, but not what God had in mind, or intended it to be; the disobedience became a new life for Hagar, a son namely, Ishmael, and a new way of living too, as she was let go by Sarah when Ishmael and her no longer were important in her life now that Issac the son of the promise was born.

What a way to become a Mother! Yet the lord was was with Hagar. Hagar could not I’m sure, believe she had to fend for her own life and be responsible for the life of another one too, but she did what she could do until the water was no longer available for Ishmael to drink. Isn’t that what mothers do?  Mothers try to be there as much as possible,doing all we can do even if we can not afford it, handle its consequences, or even tolerate its outcome even though it may come with some burdens to bear. Hagar did not want to see her son die so she sat good way off from Ishmael, and lift up her voice and wept, for there was no more water to feed him and Hagar. The lord who is merciful has water all the time, the wellspring that always flow and that is of Jesus Christ! Hagar had learn about the God of Abraham too, and there is no better time then the time of struggle and distress. A mother’s love will always lead you to the lord because we know he will never let us down in all circumstances. Hagar faced rejection and homelessness just because of someones’ else sin and shame, but God would not allow the enemy to destroy her for it. Today, mothers are made from a lot of circumstances, whether good or bad the key word here is they became a Mother. So be grateful for your mother who birthed you into this world, no matter how the situation came about, despite all odds a Mother’s love gets God’s attention to respond to her every need.

Key Verse: John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled;ye believe in God, believe also in me.” 

The worst thing to happen in someones life is having a troubled heart. You may ask, Why is that the worst thing, and not sickness unto death or death of a spouse or a love one”? That is a good question. The reason why is because with a troubled heart God can not speak to. With all the trials and tribulations we go through it does not mean we have to endure it with a troubled heart. God needs to speak to us through his son Jesus, by way of the Holy Spirit, so he can guide us to our destination! Jesus told his disciples not to let their heart be troubled because he had more to teach to them, and they needed faith not fear to receive it.

  When this happens, a troubled heart, I am so disorganized, plenty of fear, and very moody or emotional. Because I allowed the outside forces to control what God has placed inside! You see all you have to experience is some stressful moments and sudden circumstances (especially financially) and the “fear” along with his twin brother, “doubt” will show up every time. Let not your heart be troubled simply means that we have the power and the might to control what takes place in our hearts! A troubled heart can only happen if we allow it to be so, and Jesus leaves us with encouraging words by saying….ye believe in God believe also in me.  In other words, if you can believe what God has already promised in his word, then you can believe what I say I will come to pass for we are one. Saints don’t say not you will never have a troubled heart, for we live in a troubled society experiencing the ups and downs of it, for Paul the Apostle said ”………to me who do good, evil is present.” However we have a choice to not live that way because as time goes on we can experience along with our troubles; heart troubles that we never had before! We must believe God has the answer to the problem and he will give it to Jesus because he is our messenger through the Holy Spirit. Let God fixed your troubled heart, and he will work it out in your favor! Have comments? We welcome them and they will be posted for others to share. Remember, a troubled heart God can not speak to.

Key verse: Joshua: 1:10-11 verse; “The Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.

The one thing most people can agree upon is change is bond to happen……its just a matter of when. As we grow older we learn to accept it, and oftentimes embrace it, because in the long run we know it is for the best. Others I’m sure could argue differently, and have good reason, but for the most part, it brings positive results. So as during the time Moses and Joshua, when the children of Israel were in the wilderness for 40 years were fed manna or bread from heaven by God who kept them those years on a special diet for good health. Sure they grumbled and complained about having the same food day in and day out, but it was what God had wanted for them to eat.

When Moses died everything begin to change. The last thing they thought would be their food intake. Joshua was prepared for leadership and the children of Israel had  already accepted him. Yet instead of doing what Moses did which was to follow a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, Joshua told them to “prepare their victuals for within three days they will pass over this Jordan.” I’m sure the children of Israel were astonished and wondered how were they going to receive their manna from heaven for a three days journey, and have to prepare for it now? Israel never had to worry about their food intake, neither to buy and sell, now they had to find out how to prepare food supplies for three days! Yet it had to be done. No matter how things are in your life right now, as you grow closer to God and trust more of his word and live more on faith not sight, things will begin to be done;differently. The ease of your everyday living will become a little more of a burden and a nuisance to what was merely a piece of cake, for the most part. Now, with more faith we are required more things, and the more we are require to do, the more we realize that it will take more work from us to get the same job or even better job done! WHY? Because the time has come; God has stopped feeding from the hand to the mouth day after day for us to begin to look for the food and nourish ourselves with the faith to believe that, “man can not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God”(Deut. 8:3). We have to eventually eat more word from God and less dependent upon his hand! We cannot live our whole life as babes in Christ, but grow in the grace and help others that are new to the gospel of peace.

Israel had manna from heaven 40 years in the wilderness, the place we begin our journey in faith, not really understanding the complete word of God, but believing he will take care of our needs because he is our Father. Israel had to believe that God is able to feed them day by day as he is able to take care of them on a three days journey! It took another leader and a new way of living or doing things differently for the people to accept and believe in the change. What ended with Moses, began with more faith with Joshua. So when life seems a little harder, or you’ve been experiencing some extra burdens to bear, know that you have now stepped into another dimension of faith, where more is required from you because you graduated from the hand of God, to the heart of God. Send your comments and responses of this blog on my discussion board on Facebook. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 verse: ”Trust in the lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” 

The way I see it, this is one of the most difficult scripture for Christians (especailly me) to walk in by faith. It comes with great understanding and wisdom to live by, and yet when need him the most, it looses it’s shine and glory. Why? It can be for various reasons, especially because we live in a untrustful world, full of gimmicks and scams and when God says to you, trust me daughter, or trust me son, we get this fear of letting somebody else run our lives. He is certainly no comparison with our flesh, yet our own flesh decieves us to believe that we can handle it ourselves! No we can not; this is why Solomon said by way of the Holy Spirit, Trust in the lord WITH ALL THINE HEART and lean NOT to thine OWN UNDERSTANDING. Sure we can trust God, but with all our heart? In other words, no doubt, fear, or worry…? This is so easy to say and to some Christians, so hard to do.

The trust that God wants from us is to become soley dependent on upon him. He wants our trust to be with all the answers to our problems, needs, and desires. It became quite evident to me that he really desires it, because until we begin to trust him,he can begin to move closer into our lives.  Father Abraham gave us the blueprint on how to trust God even when you do not know where you’re going! The results were the same as it is today; if you trust him, he will bless you and those who came to curse you shall be curse. He will fight your enemies for you, because you trust him. He will take care of your finances because you trust him. He will not let you down! That is why we need not lead to our own understanding because it simply gets in the way. It delays, it overlooks the real issue, and it can fool you if you’re not careful. Why is it so important to acknowledge him in all our ways? He wants to get the Glory he so rightfully deserves because it is important for us to know without God we can do nothing! (St. John 15:5).  Once we give him all the praise, he begins to direct our paths. He makes us to lie down in green pastures, (Psalms 23:2) where there is plenty and more in store! Only God knows where the green pastures are and how to access them for profit. Yes, the more you trust him the better things will be in your finances, for he knows what we have need of even before we ask.

Begin to trust in the Lord by letting go of the things you believe you have control of. Begin to trust in the Lord by letting go the people you been covering and making excuses for. Begin to trust in the Lord by releasing the hurt and pain you have been holding on because you can’t live without the past. Trust him and obey him and he will direct your paths…! Send your comments on when you started trusting God more in your life, or if you want to trust him more but having problems in doing so.

St John 19: 30 verse: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost. 

 Every Christian holiday we celebrate what has took place thousands of years ago, and I am still amazed how the Lord continues to open up my eyes to see more of what he has put before us to learn more about his son, Jesus. Today I want to share with you about fulfilling your purpose. I believe Jesus set the example the most as he came here in he flesh and took on our burdens and sorrows and at the the age of 12 decided to go about his fathers business (St.Luke 2: 49verse). he went through the same process as we did through education and then working as a carpenter as a career. Yet the time came for Jesus to begging his ministry and he knew he could not do it alone. So he appointed 12 men who had various careers such as fishermen, tax collectors, doctors, and even a thief who was wise in the world. He purpose was not just to have a well established ministry, but to fulfill his purpose hear on earth by dying for our sins, and to be raised up on the third day with all power in the heavens and in the earth! His ministry only lasted three and a half years and in that time many lies were changed by being healed, fed with fishes and loaves of bread, being set free from evil spirits, and even being raised from the dead.

  Yet that wasn’t his purpose!  What I am trying to get you to see is that those works were the “greater things” to come once he had completed or fulfill his purpose. He went about doing good to those that believe God can do those things and he taught the disciples on having a leading ability with men and harnessing the power of the Holy Spirit, once submitting yourself unto the righteousness of God. It could only happen when Jesus Christ fully under the suffering of sin by dying on the cross for the sins of the people. All that he did before would have been lost, unless he shed his blood for the remission of our sins. Saints no matter what you are doing today, or about to go into as a new project, or just beginning new things in your life, make sure you are moving in the right direction in fulfilling your purpose. Those things will last forever, for it is what God wants from us; our purpose. We all came here with a purpose, whether you”ll fulfill it or not, each of us have one. Think about it, the best thing Jesus could do for us was to die…. all the other things were just works unto men, and therefore could not last forever.

We must look at life a little differently now, if we are to see things differently; God wants us to work on our purpose more than anything else, because in the end, it will not only help others and change lives in our lifetime, but in generations to come. Please send your comments and suggestions about this blog and I will respond. 

James5: 14-16 verse Is there any sick among you? let him call the elders of the church;and let them pray over him,anointing him in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the lord shall raise him up;and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” 

This is our last of the series,”Strong Prayer Requires Help” and I must say what a blessing it was for me and those who have been reading the blogs on it. The directions are clear from James, come together and prayer with the presence of the holy anointing oil in the mist and he will raise us up, even if we have committed sins we shall be forgiven of them. This is not always seen in the church houses and it is I believe so many are sick among us. We have not put this passage of scripture into action on a consistent basis and therefore make our lord and Savior look weak instead of strong before the world. What is the prayer of faith that shall save the sick? It is St. Mark 11:23-24verses. It is a passage of scripture that connects with this passage of scripture and it must be meshed together with others for it to work.

 Confession is good for the soul, and we must be able to do so with each other and have compassion for those that are heavy burden and with sorrows. The key is to pray one for another that we can be healed. I believe this is the key to healing and salvation for those who are sick among us; he will move swiftly when follow these instructions on prayer. The effective and intense prayer of the righteous do availeth much when we obey his word. James gave us the blueprint for healing that is part of every one’s life and we should prove the word spoken by way of the holy Spirit to become more successful in our walk with God and our fellowship towards others.