Psalm 9

1 I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

3 My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.
4 For you have upheld my right and my cause,
sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6 Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.

7 The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He rules the world in righteousness
and judges the peoples with equity.
9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
12 For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

13 LORD, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may declare your praises
in the gates of Daughter Zion,
and there rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
16 The LORD is known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.[c]
17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
all the nations that forget God.
18 But God will never forget the needy;
the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

19 Arise, LORD, do not let mortals triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
20 Strike them with terror, LORD;
let the nations know they are only mortal.

Teaching Children the Way of the Lord...............

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Psalm 127:3

Train a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not turn away from it. Proverbs 22:6

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Parents must know that before they can ever be successful Christian parents, they must have their own relationship with the Lord, and, just as it is important that children see them living right, they must also see them loving each other as God intended. Friend, you cannot teach your children something you are not practicing. Believe me when I tell you that this generation will not do as you say, but you can be sure that they will do as you do. You have to practice what you preach. You must live the value.  If you expect your life to have a positive impact on your children, then you must be transformed by the Word of God first. Your children must see that God is the center of your life and that you value your relationship with Him. It is of great importance that you set aside personal time alone with God. You need to be growing so that you can help your children to grow. Listen, do not underestimate the influence your way of life has on your children. If you wan godly children as I suspect you do, then you must also be a godly parent. As an educator, I know that usually a child's attitude is the direct result of the parents’ life. I can almost predict what the parents will be like when I meet them based on the students behavior. I know for a fact that children learn best by observation.Children learn by observing you. Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers are commanded to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. You cannot leave this up to others, including your wife (of course, she is responsible too). You are responsible (both parents). You have no right to shift it to others.

The Bible says that parents (so glad it does not "mothers") should diligently teach the Word to their children. The word "diligent" means "attentive, careful, and persistent".  You are not to teach them through the "Because I said so!"  method. It does not work because it not biblical. You must develop in them convictions based on the Word of God. Children are the heritage of God and His reward. Therefore, you must teach them what  God would have them learn. Some parents spend too much time away from home pursuing other interests. Some simply don't care and this behavior is unacceptable. Raising children is a responsibility that both parents have to embrace. It is the Will of God for the Word of God is the Will of God.

Friend you must accept the honor of raising the children that God entrusted you with and you must exercise due diligence in raising them  properly as instructed by God. You must not leave this God-given responsibility to others You will be held accountable for your own disobedience at the appointed time. Let's show the precious children that serving God  isn’t optional. Teach them the truth. Show them that God's way is the best way.

And Father how grateful I am for your your truth. Thank you for this much needed word today. Thank you for trusting me with the honorable task of raising your children. Give me the strength to raise to do the right thing no matter how difficult. I honor you and I praise you in the holy name of Jesus your son, and my Lord and Savior.

Praise the Lord!

In Your Valley.........

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

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When we apply God's word to situations and circumstances in our lives, God will meet the need! No matter how big the need or high the mountain, we serve a God that is a Need Meeting God! We sometimes forget or don't realize that the God we serve is a big God, He holds the world in his hands and there is no problem too complex for our God to solve. What seems impossible for man is possible for God. If we stop complaining and feeling sorry for ourselves, abut start confessing the Word of God, and Thanking God we will see God move in our lives like never before. God's word is sharper than any two edged sword; It accomplishes that which it is sent to do. Friend, confess the word about the need, Thank God for his favor, and wait with expectancy! God is waiting for the opportunity to meet your needs if you would only call on his name.

Your heart may have been broken, you may have been rejected by someone who promised you forever, your bills may be due and no money in the bank, no foreseeable job, One thing after another, it seems like you get over one problem just to face another; or you may be cornered by all kind of challenges, friend, you are in your valley. We often want to hurry or run thru our valley, or wish we could sleep through it because it's an uncomfortable place, but God allows us to walk through the valley to teach us, to make us, and to show us his awesome power in our lives! How would you know God was a deliver, if he's never delivered you! How would you know he solves problems if you never have any? How would you know he heals if you never been sick? How would you know that he provides if you never have a pressing need? How would you appreciate His love if you never been abandoned without any clear explanation? And how would you know He picks up the pieces if you never been broken?

God is a God of timing. God works according to his time table not ours. We sometimes don't want to give God the time to work things out. We want it right now! In the storm (waiting time), it seems too difficult to hold on but God will come through in due time. Don’t go ahead of God. Why don’t you just hold on a little longer? Hold on and trust God and know that he is a God will that work it out just in due time.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 30

1 I will exalt you, LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 LORD my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.

4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
7 LORD, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

8 To you, LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
LORD, be my help.”

11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will praise you forever.
 

I Will Bless The Lord!

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.Praise the LORD, my soul; and forget not all his benefits; who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Psalm 103:1-6

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In the midst of living and going through trials and tribulations, we tend to forget who God really is. We get preoccupied with bringing the daily bread home that we forget who provided for it.God is more than our "go to" contact. God is our Holy Father, and the One who originates all things. He deserve praise, glory and our appreciation. Sometimes, one has "to stop and smell the roses." We have to make time to thank God for who he is.

I want to take a moment to praise Him today. I want to tell Him that I love Him. I want to put all concern aside to praise him and you can join me.We spend too much time asking for all that God already provide that we miss out on who He really is.

Who is God?
The Bible instructs us that from all eternity, there has been and always will be only one God. God is a Trinity and because of the Trinity, He became flesh in the form of the Son, and still exist in such a way so that He can still run the universe. God is just (Acts 17:31), loving (Ephesians 2:4-5), truthful (John 14:6), and holy (1 John 1:5). God shows compassion (2 Corinthians 1:3), mercy (Romans 9:15), and grace (Romans 5:17). God judges sin (Psalm 5:5) but also offers forgiveness (Psalm 130:4). God is infinite (1 Timothy 1:17), incomparable (2 Samuel 7:22), and unchanging (Malachi 3:6). God exists everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12), knows everything (Matthew 11:21), and holds all power and authority forever (Ephesians 1; Revelation 19:6). God is able. He disciplines His children (Hebrews 12:6); and He will ONE DAY judge the world (Revelation 20:11-15). God deserves praise.

All that I am and all I wish to be bless the Lord today. He is worthy. He is worthy. He is worthy! Looking back at my life, I can clearly see that God has always been present. His love for us knows no limit. He is patient. He is good. He does not give me according to my performance. He blesses me because He is merciful. How can I not thank you Lord?

Thank you for the revelation of who you really are.
Thank you for my salvation through Christ.
Thank you Father for bringing me to this world to experience the fullness of your love.
Thank you for giving me a mother who loves you enough to teach me about you.
Thank you Lord for giving me a father who loves you, works hard and does his best to support, comfort and cover his adult children.
Thank you Father for my siblings who provide encouragement daily.
Thank you for the children in my life that you are using to teach me enduring love, patience and kindness.
Thank you for the love of my life PVG
Thank you for a Bible believing Church.
Thank you for the friends in my life.
Thank you for the situations in my life that have forced me to seek cover in your arms.
Thank you for continuing to perfect your will in me.
Thank you for continue to take care of the things that concern me.
Thank you for all the things you have done to bring me here in this place at this time.
Thank you for the many times you protect me and I don't even know about it.
Thank you for withholding things that I pray about that would shift my focus from you.
Thank you for guiding my thoughts.
Thank you for comfort through tough days and lonely nights.
Thank you for self-control.
Thank you for divine health.
Thank you for spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial healing.
Thank you for wisdom.
Thank you for the forgiveness of my past, present and future sins in Jesus.
Thank you for daily guidance. Thank you for opening my heart to your love.
Thank you Lord for who you are.
Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord!

My life is in your capable hand. I will never worry another day of my life. I will trust you. I declare and decree my life will never be the same again in Jesus name! I declare and decree Jesus is the Lord of my life.

I bless you Lord. I worship you. I bow down before you. Only you are worthy of my praise. Holy you are Holy. Only you are God.

Praise the Lord!

Rejoice!

"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great" Matthew 5:12

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Have you ever suffered through a situation that should have been a time of rejoicing? I have. For years I complained about having to work in an environment I detested but after I left, I started worrying about finding a new job and never actually enjoyed my newfound freedom. Sadly I overlooked my blessing. During that time when the problems seemed so great please take a deep look. And you will see that the blessings are even greater. The devil has a way of shifting your attention toward the negative to keep you from enjoying the positive and that is why God urges us to be vigilant. You already know, based on the Word of God, that there is no lack in the Body of Christ. Everything you could ever need is there, and the blood of Jesus has covered every problem you could ever face. It doesn't matter what the doctor says. It doesn't matter how much you are hurting right now. The situation will stop; it has to stop when the blood of Christ covers you. So there is no need to shed a tear and definitely no reason to spend a God given day worrying about a problem He solved more than 2000 years ago.

We want victory but we don't want to fight for it. We live in this "instant gratification" culture (fast food, fast relationship, fast breakups) where everything is fast and we carry that mentality in our relationship with the Lord. We measure God ability to deliver us based on how quickly our problems are solved. We refuse to invest the time necessary to develop a relationship with Him. We just want to get what we need and be on our way. God loves us too much to let us get away with it. He always comes up with ways to keep us at His feet. Children who trust their parents have no worries in their presence and "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" Psalm 46:1. So when trouble comes overlook your circumstances and focus on God's ability and willingness to help you through. Focus on the reward waiting in heaven. Meditate on the promises of God daily. You really do need to spend time reading the Word of God for it is the Will of God. One of my favorite preachers put it like this: "the Word of God isn't enough. You must continually feed on what it says. Get it out and read it. Feast on it Go to church and hear it preached". You don't live on the memory of yesterday's meal do you? The same goes for the word of God. You must feed it to yourself daily. Don't just sit around and let the devil beat you down. Remember that Christ already won the battle. It is done, finished. Praise the Lord!

Again, you are blessed and highly favored, so if you have been suffering through some tough times lately, I urge you to look around and wake up to the blessings that surround you. Pure joy can only come when you focus on you blessing and overlook the circumstances. Keep your eyes on the Lord and remember earth is the journey but the destination is heaven.

Praise the Lord!

My Incredible God

But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of your people. Psalm 22:3

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The primary word for praise is Halal, which is the root of hallelujah, (to give glory, to boast, to shine, to be clamorous, to rave, to make a show, to celebrate). So praise is acknowledging, celebrating and honoring the person and work of God our creator for who He is and all He has done. Praise should come naturally from our heart. I can assure you that praising God is an enjoyable environment. We had 1-hour long praise at church this morning and I can’t remember when I was the happiest. I cried, smiled and danced in pure joy. When we praise God together, our praise creates an environment where God makes His presence known. People were weeping and hugging each other, they were even nice in the parking lot, which not typical. The above scripture says that our praise establishes a throne from which God can rule. I don’t know about you, but that makes me want to praise Him God as often as I can. God manifests Himself in the midst of praise. God is worthy to be praised. He is amazing and has done incredible things. He is never out of stock when it comes to grace and mercy and that should be sufficient but He gave His best (His son Jesus Christ) for humanity’s worst.

Friend when was the last time you thought of all the things God has done? I promise you, when you make Jesus the focus of your life, you will become a person of praise for He is worthy to be praised. So, when you read the words "Praise the LORD" at the beginning and conclusion of many Psalms, including one of my favorite, (Psalms 113), you should understand that the psalmist is telling “you” personally to praise the Lord by opening your mouth, and start singing to God. Do you trust in God’s mercy regardless of the situation you’re living in? Are you depending on Him in everything (good, bad and ugly)? Are you praising Him daily for His mercy and sufficient grace? You need to start praising God.

Dear friend, God deserves and merits our praise in big assembly, but He will accept our praise anytime and anywhere. (Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. Psalm 96:3). Our Father in heaven deserves our praise. If there is anything in your life keeping you from enjoying a relationship with The Incredible God, repent and confess it to God and invite The Holy Spirit to help you change so that you can become the son/daughter God created you to be; and if there is anyone you know who does know The Incredible God yet, make the decision to share the good news of Christ with him/her as soon as possible.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen! (Thomas Ken, 1674).

My Incredible God Deserves Incredible Praise.

Praise the Lord!

Start the Year Right

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

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 Take the initiative; call the pastor of a nearby church where Christ is honored and His Word is preached. Start this week, and make plans to attend regularly. I have come to realized that staying in touch with other Christians take my focus off of myself. What is a good church? It isn’t the church your entire family goes to for years or the church where you are well-known. It is the church that stands on the word of God, where sound doctrine is taught. It takes courage to part ways with something you are accustomed to but when it comes to the walk with God, no sacrifice can ever be too great. God LOVES you and created you to know Him personally. He sacrificed His son for your salvation. Giving up the wrong church for the pursuit of spiritual growth and to develop a serious relationship with God should be a choice that you are willing to make.

Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus Christ. "The righteous man shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11). A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly with every detail of your life. You can join me in starting 2009 right by adding the following to your New Year Resolution:
Allow the Holy Spirit to control and empower your daily life and witness (Galatians 5:16,17; Acts 1:8)
Trust God for every detail of your life (1 Peter 5:7).
Witness for Christ by your life and words (Matthew 4:19; John 15:8).
Obey God moment by moment (John 14:21) Read God's Word daily (Acts 17:11)
Go to God in prayer daily (John 15:7).

Friend, Jesus Christ is declared to be Lord by God in the Scriptures. He is worthy to be Lord because of who He is, not merely because of what He has done. Although Jesus is Lord, sadly, He does not hold a preeminent place in the heart of every believer. Various areas of the believer’s life may not be subject to the control of Christ. The Christian should submit these areas to Christ and continue to recognize that Christ’s control of his life is for his own welfare and joy. This year, make an effort to submit every area of your life to the Lordship of Christ and be blessed.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 7

1 LORD my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3 LORD my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands—
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil
or without cause have robbed my foe—
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.[c]

6 Arise, LORD, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8 Let the LORD judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure—
you, the righteous God
who probes minds and hearts.

10 My shield[d] is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent,
he[e] will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.

14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit they have made.
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
their violence comes down on their own heads.

17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm 6

1 LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, LORD, how long?

4 Turn, LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?

6 I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the LORD has heard my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

Jesus Still Saves

In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.Psalm 18:6

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We often speak of salvation and I wonder if Christians understand what salvation really is. Most Christians know that God has promised not only to save the person from sin, but to keep him saved. Heb 7:25 "Therefore Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." We can rest secure in Christ because Jesus is both "the author and finisher of our faith". Heb 12:2.

Now, since the work of salvation is finished, it was was completed more than 2000 years ago, We only need to trust Him for it. There is nothing left to be done. Jesus did it all. He has given His word that He will be with us always. We need someone to be by our side for support. The Bible tells us that we are not alone. God has promised never to leave us. Heb 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Believers know they are saved because God has the power to keep the believer from falling. God promises that He will do so.

But was Jesus' sacrifice on the cross limited? Salvation is limitless. If Jesus sacrifice can save you from eternal death, you can certainly be healed today. Which is greater salvation or healing? Surely eternal life is greater. My friend Jesus wants you well. Do not worry. AT the name of Jesus every knee shall bow. Cancer, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and all the others shall bow at the name of Jesus. You don't have to worry. Place your faith in God and be healed. I do understand the daily trials and the pain of physical ailments but I know from experience that Jesus still heals. He still saves. He can and will touch you if you ask Him to do so, He is always willing. It does not matter what it looks like and it does not matter what the doctors are saying. Put your faith in God and be healed.

Praise the Lord!

He Provides

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
Matthew 6:30

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The difference between mankind and all of God's creation is obviously the connection with God. He ordered everything to existence (Gen 1:11), yet with man He made his body from the dust of the earth, but his spirit and soul were immediately from his Creator, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7). The very essence of who we are is part God. He breathed part of Himself into us, the part that gives life because He is the God of the living. He promotes life and not death. "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matthew 22:32). The God who gives us life also knows how to preserves it while we are here on earth. God is not a father who worries about our soul alone, but of the body also. That fact is made clear in the above scripture. Our creator made 2 interesting points in Matthew 6:25-34. First, he made sure that we know our place in the order of creation (we are number 1-He cares for us way more), and second, He promised to take care of all of our needs.

So why do Christians worry? My favorite preacher's most quoted verse answer the question perfectly; "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6. They don't know God because He reveals Himself in His Word and unfortunately they don't read the word. There are some professing Christians who say that faith is a supernatural principle, a Divine gift from God; therefore, it is not their fault that they are still struggling with faith. They claim that it is outside their power and province to do anything in order to obtain an increase of it. Consequently they go through an entire life continuously defeated and never experience the victorious power of the Word of God. Such passive way of life is in no way honoring or pleasing to God. The Bible tells us that the way to get more faith is to put to work the measure which we already have and to use the means God has appointed. (HIS WORD). Your duty is to read daily God's Word, to meditate thereon, and lay the Divine promises on our hearts, to urge our souls to believe, to strive and fight against doubts and distrust. Have you ever noticed how some people never get to read the Bible with us during church services? It doesn't matter how long the chapter, some people will take the entire time flipping through pages, disturbing those of us who are reading because they don't know where anything is. They are not familiar with any of the books for the simple fact that they don't read. If you want to please any one, you need to know their like and dislike, you have to spend time with them. A relationship with God is no less important. You must play your part. You must seek Him and He will embrace you.

The Christian must fight against evil thoughts of lack and complaints and must hold on the Divine promises of God and assure himself (constantly) that the "Lord will provide".

Get familiar with God by reading His word and you will never have to be anxious another day of your life.

Praise the Lord!

Discipline The Children

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:5

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In as much as people like to call children angels, they are not. They are so very sweet. But, do not be fooled by their sweet nature. Psalm 51:3 tells us that inside every one of them is a sinful nature and it begins expressing itself almost immediately. Therefore, parents are not only challenged to teach children to do the right thing, they also have the obligation to punish them when they do the wrong thing. If a parent does not punish their children when they are young, then the children will punish them for sure in the future! A wise parent trains up a child in the way HE should go. Not according to the parent's will for the child, but according to God's will created as part of the child. What this means is that the training that the children receive should whet their appetites for the things of God. They should be trained in ways that lead them to develop a hunger for God and are internally motivated rather then externally compelled. Parents must raise the children right.

The Bible gives at least 5 good reasons to discipline our children:
• To Remove Foolishness - Pro. 22:15
• To Rescue From Judgment - Pro. 23:13-14
• To receive Wisdom - Pro. 29:15
To Relive Your Anxiety - Pro. 29:17
• To Reflect God's Character - Heb. 12:10-11

Proverbs 22:6 urges to train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. By following God's word we can raise children who avoid evil and serve God faithfully. Bible principles about child raising are very critical. The subject of raising children deserves careful study by almost everyone. Are you a young person, not yet married? Almost certainly someday you will be a parent or will work with children in some capacity. Acts 20:27 implies that Christians must teach "the whole counsel of God." That includes Bible teaching about parenthood. All of us need to learn this, no excuses. So if you have children or ever will have them, and even if you don't have them, as a Christian you need to know God's will. Allow me to remind you that it is far easier to build a child that to repair and adult and friend, please allow the Lord to help you to do everything in your power to be the best parents you can be to the children He instructed you with, for His praise and glory.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 4

1 Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods[b]?[c]
3 Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.

4 Tremble and[d] do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the LORD.

6 Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

The Will of God..........

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

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To live the will of God, you must know what it is. The will of God is "what God intends to do in and through your life for His glory." Most of God's will is revealed in the Scriptures (Bible) and some of it is revealed piece by piece as you grow in faith and in your relationship with God ("In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.") Proverbs 3:5-6. As you seek God's will through your journey, He will reveal Himself to you. Glory! I promise you, it is the sweetest thing. When you realize God's presence in your daily living, you can truly live a life without limit. You can go from victim to victor. "I am the Lord, your God, who teaches you what is best for you!" (Isaiah 48:17) and Romans 12 tells us that God's will is "good." Do you think of the Lord's will as good? I don't know anyone who wants to keep repeating the same mistakes. God really wants the best for us when He gives us His will. You're on to something good when you find the will of God for you and when you start living in His will, your life will forever changed. God's will is the only plan for a SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

Friend, you can say you love God all day long but if you are not living a sacrificial life and start resisting temptation then how much do you really love him? Love come with certain sacrifices and you have to be willing to make them. The will of God comes from the heart of a loving heavenly father and therefore it cannot be anything but "good, pleasing, and perfect" for you and for me. You cannot run away when the going gets tough. God created us perfectly. We have what it takes to go through trials and come out of them victoriously. We have the Word of God which is His will. "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Are you going through the same issues? Are you going in circle? I don't care what you are going through today, there is a way out. Christ lay His life down so you and I can have access to the perfect will of God.

Let's pray this simple prayer: Lord, make me think about your will the same way you do. I want to love the will of God, embrace the will of God and Lord Jesus I want to submit to the will of God no matter what and Lord I believe you have the power to make it so. I trust you to be the Good Shepherd and I know you will lead me to green pastures. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Praise the Lord!

Guard Your Mind.........

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

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Jesus knows that our minds need to be kept because THE DEVIL MOVES THROUGH THE THINKING PROCESS. If you let him dominate your thought life, he can defeat you but you have power to fight him. You have power that most believers don't even know about. The Word of God tells us that "so at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Philippians 2:10). Satan is a liar and he works carefully, he often starts with a thought. He may suggest that your headache could be something else. Next he will give you some suggestions of what he thinks they are and within minutes you may find yourself complete ill. Not too long ago, a group of us went to pray for someone who was convinced that she was dying. She confessed that she knew for a fact that the end was near. She was troubled, living in constant panic and afraid to go to sleep. It wasn't until months later that we found out she never actually went to the doctor. She diagnoses herself with the help of the deceiver (the devil). She lost a high paying job because of attendance issue. We kept praying for healing when we should have been rebuking the devil out of her mind. When the devil seems to take control of your mind you must run him out by calling on the name that is above all others, the name that gives life, the name of the savior Jesus Christ. When you have peace in God in doesn't matter what the doctor says anyway. Remember that our heavenly Father is Jehovah Rapha (Exodus 15:26).

JEHOVAH-RAPHA IS THE HEALER OF ALL. God's healing power is not limited to the body alone. It covers the mind and every area of life and if you could get a hold of this, the devil wouldn't have any influence over your thoughts. One of the things I notice early on in life was that we pay more attention to the negative than the positive. For instance, when someone in my family gets a great position or finds a dream jobs none of us hear about it but when one loses a job, the whole world will know. We have to celebrate the positive. Why is it necessary to celebrate the works of the devil and not the multiple victories orchestrated by our Heavenly Father? It is because we think of the devil more often and more highly than we think of God. We have to walk in the light of what we know. You can be release from oppression to your body and your mind. As a child of the Omnipotent God, you can exercise spiritual authority. You can order the devil out of your life by resisting him, and the word of God assures us that he would have to flee from us ( James 4:7). Praise the Lord!

Friend, call on the name of the Lord. He will not get tired of you; however, there comes a time when the believer has to stop being a spiritual baby. There comes a point when you have to grow and take on your authority. Certain things happen in our lives because we let them. "Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven".(Matthew 18:18) What a wonderful promise! You can literally order prosperity and healing in every area of your life, Glory! And when you start exercising your authority nothing and especially the devil will not be able to have control over you because you will know the peace of God and the power of the Omnipotent God.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

It Is Possible

"I shall be with you," the LORD said to him, "and you will cut down Midian to the last man." Judges 6:16

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You may already know the story. God wanted to use Gideon for something great God wanted to use him to deliver the Israelites), so God appeared to him and share the news, but Gideon did not embrace the news. He made many excuses instead, even though he already knew the glory and the power of God. They were just brought out of Egypt, He was still afraid to go, then The LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have and save Israel from the power of Midian. It is I who send you." His reply was: "Please, my lord, how can I save Israel? My family is the meanest in Manasseh, and I am the most insignificant in my father's house". Again, God said go, I will be with you, but Gideon replied, if you are with us why are we going through so much? (Remember the Israelites were under the power of Midian for seven years by then. Again God say go. Does this story sound familiar? What other source of courage do we need? Who else do we need when we have the protection of the Almighty?

The problem with Christians today is that they don't seem to understand that going through is part of the deal. God did not promise that we wouldn't go through stuff. He promised that He will be with us through it all. He promised us victory, but Christians don't want to endure. They don't want to be soldiers in the army of the Lord Jesus Christ. We all want to go to heaven, but we want to go our way. We want to have victory on earth but we don't want to fight. We just want to live an uneventful/boring time on earth. Victory is for fighters. I can relate to why people don't want to fight because most of the time they don't know the outcome, but we have the promises of God to be with us. He already told us the outcome. We have the victory, the battle is won. We have the Almighty on our side. Glory!

Trouble is going to come our way, it's inevitable, but we are children of promise. We have to learn to believe God's Word. At one point we have to start trusting Him. We have to take a step forward. We cannot remain baby Christians forever. We have to grow in godliness. At one point or the other, we must decide to take God seriously. Take Him at His word. Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it." (Jeremiah 1:12). God is looking for people who know His Word and live by it. He is waiting to execute. He is longing to give you the victory but you are not working the Word. We are not the first generation on earth. (the Israelites did not take God at His word after he took them out of Egypt and another 40 years in the wilderness), but wouldn't it great if we were the generation that believes, the generation that lives without limits under the guidance and the banner of the King of kings and the Lord of Lords?

Friend, you have the victory in Jesus name, no matter it looks like, no matter what the situation is this morning. You don't have a job? Your spouse walked out? You're having trouble conceiving a child? You can't seem to find the right mate? Your love ones are not saved? Are you sick in your body? The doctor refuses to make eye contact because he knows that the situation is dangerous? But friend I am telling you it's not over until God says it is so. Friend experience God to the fullest. Put His word to work and you will know a life of possibility, a life without limit, a victorious life. We are serving a God who can do anything but fail.

"With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Praise the Lord!

God First

Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

Striving for the kingdom of God means to always stand for what's right, but it is a difficult thing to accomplish; it takes determination, because when you are in the process of seeking God's face, opposition is going to come from unlikely places. You family and friends may turn their backs on you. We all fear the unknown and the person you're becoming is unknown to them and they will be afraid and they may even call you a few names such as weirdo, extremist, just to name a few. I have been called worst names this past year. The truth is you won't even understand what is happening to you because you are "under construction". It can be a very lonely place to be but I am urging to keep on and keep moving, continue to follow God. It may be confusing now but it's going to make sense soon. You are going to find out that you are indeed an extremist: extremely blessed, extremely prosperous, extremely smart, extremely excited and extremely changed and anointed.

When you are saved (born again) the Holy Spirit begins to work within you and brings the best out of you. Your perspective on life changes because you will learn to walk by faith and not by sight. Meaning, It will not matter what the situations of life seem to be, you will learn to trust the word of God and you will always have peace in the midst of great challenges.

It is an exciting transformation and the people who are close to you may become intimidated because as you spend more time reading the word of God and growing spiritually, you end up spending less time with your family and friends and it's going to take some getting used to. You have to find a way to communicate to love ones what's happening to you and hopefully they will understand, but if they chose to forsake you, don't panic. God has a way to bless those who put Him first. When you give God's word your full attention you will know true happiness and fulfillment and you will never be alone because the Holy Spirit is with you.

Praise the Lord!

Jesus Is My Advocate

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it". John 14:12-14

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When we become born again, we are strong and we believe in our untested faith, that we can overcome any trial or temptation; yet when faced with a real problem, we often cave in under the pressures of the situation.

Jesus is alive in Heaven and makes intercession for us today; when we have a need small or big, (health, emotional, financial, relational) we have the guarantee that He will answer our prayers, and for that there is no reason to worry. As we get older our faith should get stronger and not the other way around. As we experience God's goodness we have to let go of ourselves and faithfully let Him take the lead. I was thinking of Abraham and David earlier this week, both of them had great faith in God but both of them were tested in certain areas of their lives. They struggled a bit but they knew without a shadow of a doubt, from their close relationship with God, that He was real and that He keeps all of His promises. Trusting God was a way of life. We now have a Bible wit countless report of miracle, with testimonies of God's infallible word. We have countless literature and a variety of Christian television stations proclaiming the Good News of Christ and yet we still struggle with our faith.

Let's get back to basic by believing that Christ is alive, sitting at the right of the father at this moment, pleading our cases (big and small). Let's believe that we already won our battles through His death on Calvary. Let's accept the healing (of all diseases) and emotional wholeness that His death brought us. Let's understand that our well-being is a priority to Him. Let's trust Him to keep us safe in this scary world. Let us know without a doubt that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will do for you and I what He's done for others. Believe Him to care about your situation today (all of them) and soon your harvest, your victory that you already have on the super-Natural will manifest itself in the natural. Remember, you are not alone. You have an intercessor in Christ. Go to Him. He is waiting.

“Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me.” John 6:37

Praise the Lord!

The Ball is in Your Court............

Praise the Lord!

Unto Him Who Is Able.......

Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes. Mark 9:23

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A few years ago, the local college where I used to teach allowed the students to watch the inaugural of president Obama in the classroom, and the common theme in my class discussions was “all things are possible if you believe”. All of a sudden, my students believe that they can now reach mountains and live a life without limitations, it is an attitude that brings me much joy; but my question to them was, all things are possible if you believe.....in what? It is great to make such powerful statement but something is definitely missing from it. Don't you think? It is not a complete sentence. The majority of the adults students stated that the missing part of the statement is "if you believe in yourself." Really if you believe in yourself? Can anyone live a minute longer, if he believes in himself? I think not. You can believe in yourself by acknowledging the grace of God given to you through the savior Jesus Christ. It is only through Jesus that all things are made possible. Jesus alone can provide that boost that cross us from a life of limitation to a limitless possibilities.

Friend, do you believe that Jesus is in action in your life right this moment, by His Spirit, lift burdens, breathe life into your forgotten dreams, those that were impossible to come to completion without him? Do you believe in His ability to do exceedingly abundantly far above what you can ask or think even far beyond your wildest dreams? Do you believe He remains the same today, yesterday and forever? Do you believe He has all power in heaven and on earth to do according to His will? Why do you still worry about health? You say you believe but do you really? God can heal you inside and out. He is able. Do you believe? Your dead dreams will come to life. You can conceive. You can be debts free. Decide this year that Cancer, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Heart diseases are not in charge. God should be the driving force in your life. Only God is worthy of first place in your life and only Him makes all things possible ....... to those who believe. He listens when we pray according to His will. Praise the lord! And friend, this is exactly why you and I need to know His will so that we can pray according to His will. It is only when you believe in God’s power and abilities your confidence to move mountains will be boosted. When you know His will, you pray His Word and as you pray His will, and it is your faith in Him that causes us to surmount all barriers.

Friend, all things are possible when you believe......in Christ and Christ alone. The doors of impossibilities can only be taken down upon His command. Jesus is Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 4

1 Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods[b]?[c]
3 Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.

4 Tremble and[d] do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the LORD.

6 Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 139

1 You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Love

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

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God's love is persistent, ever-present, and very powerful. Our lives are transformed by the presence of love. All true love originates from God. Christians are to receive and replicate this love in their lives so people can know of God's love. When filled with God's love, we can understand things that we could not otherwise understand. The wonderful thing is that the more we know God’s attribute, the more we are going to obey His command to love "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment Matthew 22:37). Friend, love starts with God. One of favorite preachers once said that “Trying to find lasting love without obeying God is like trying to quench thirst by drinking from an empty cup you can go through the motions, but the thirst remains”. We often miss out on this comprehensive picture of God's love because we are searching for it at all the wrong places while taking God’s love for granted.

Friend, love is a big theme in our society. There are countless websites claiming to be able to help you find love. It is really quite interesting because each one of them is loaded with thousands of profiles. People are desperately looking for love. Have you ever had an opportunity to read some of these profiles? People are searching for perfection. (disease free, thin, smart, beautiful, tall, rich or have a great job, good communicator with no relationship baggage, ect.). But God wants you as you are: Sick, Imperfect, broken, hurt, full of baggage, loss, confused, rejected. No need to change to find His love because His kind of love will enrich and transform. Glory! There are times in our lives when those who claim to love us refuse to talk to us and ask for space but my dear friend, there are no periods with God's love. God's love does not stop with the sunset or begin with the new week. God love never takes a break. Divine love will always continue throughout time and eternity. In the darkest of nights, there will always be the eternal light of God's love. Glory to God! All you have to do is submit to love by allowing Christ to reside in your heart. He will never leave you. His promise to be with you through your valleys and mountain tops is true. You can count on His great love.

Praise the Lord!

Happy birthday F. Pierre. May God bless you with many more years to raise your 5 children. You are a tremendous blessing to us and all your brothers and sisters are in agreement. We love you. We appreciate you. We are proud to be your sister. Our mom would be incredibly proud.

Psalm 5

1 Listen to my words, LORD,
consider my lament.
2 Hear my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.

3 In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
with you, evil people are not welcome.
5 The arrogant cannot stand
in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;
6 you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
you, LORD, detest.
7 But I, by your great love,
can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down
toward your holy temple.

8 Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies—
make your way straight before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongues they tell lies.
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12 Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 4

1 Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods[b]?[c]
3 Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.

4 Tremble and[d] do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the LORD.

6 Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 3

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

1 LORD, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”[b]

3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the LORD,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.

5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.

7 Arise, LORD!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.

8 From the LORD comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year friends and may God richly bless you today and year long! Don't forget to praise the Lord.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year my friend and may God richly bless you today and year long! Don't forget to praise the Lord.