Freedom

Galations 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

“Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom; the power to choose, to respond, to change. ~ Stephen Covey

Independence Day is just around the corner. The Fourth of July commemorates the Continental Congress adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Regarded as the birthday of the United States of America, the day is typically celebrated with parades, fireworks, ceremonies, barbecues and family gatherings. Our society loves freedom. Not just the freedom from but the freedom to.

We live in a free country where our civil rights and freedoms are protected by law. We are given enormous latitude to participate in a variety of different behaviors protected under the constitution. Civil liberties exist for good reasons, usually to protect those who cannot protect themselves. But our freedom in Christ goes much deeper than do our civil liberties as citizens of this nation. The believer’s freedom is different from the freedom of citizens living in a free, democratic society. A lot of what people call freedom isn’t really freedom at all. For the believer, liberation and freedom go hand in hand. Biblical freedom can never be divorced from the idea of liberation from bondage. A dictionary definition for the word freedom is, “exemption from the control of some other person or some arbitrary power.”

Without being set free from the Law we would be trapped in an endless and destructive cycle of religious performance as a means of proving our devotion and sincerity. We would be stuck trying to prove our worth to a God who already loves us and never experience the freedom we have to rest in his love and rejoice in his grace.

Today let us stand in the liberty where Christ has made us free:

• I am free from failure: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil.4:13

• I am free from weakness, "for the Lord is the strength of my life." Ps.27:1

• I am free from doubt for "God hath given to every man the measure of faith." Rom. 12:3

• I am free from worry for I am...to cast all my cares upon Him." 1Pet.5:7

• I am free from bondage "for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Cor.3:17

• I am... free from fear for "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2Tim1:7

Unlike our society personal freedom to do whatever you like is not what Paul means when he says that Christ has set us free. But, it is easy in our society to forget this and live our Christian lives as if personal freedom to do what we like is the be all and end all. One part of freedom that is really attractive to me is not living my life tied to others expectations

Unlike our society personal freedom to do whatever you like is not what Paul means when he says that Christ has set us free. But, it is easy in our society to forget this and live our Christian lives as if personal freedom to do what we like is the be all and end all. One part of freedom that is really attractive to me is not living my life tied to others expectations. God Loves You and so do I……. Pastor Tammy

Comfort in Our Trouble

2 Corinthians 1:4 - Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles should go away. If that was so, people would turn to God only out of a desire to be relieved of pain not out of love for him. We must understand that being comforted can also mean receiving strength, encouragement, and hope to deal with our troubles. The more we suffer the more comfort God gives us. God comforts us in our troubles, then asks us to share that comfort with others. Remember we cannot give away what we don’t possess. We are to pass on to others the comfort God has provided to us.

The word “tribulation” means to be weighed down exceedingly; to be pressed and crushed. It is the picture of a beast of burden being crushed beneath a load that is just too heavy. It is the picture of a person having a heavy weight placed on his breast and being pressed and crushed to the point they feel they are going to die.

The word “us” does not refer to just the Apostle Paul and his own trials and sufferings. But it refers to ours as well. God comforts all believers. HE does not have favorites; his mercies and comforts are for everyone. HE comforts us in “all” not just a few of our trials and sufferings. We do not have to bear a single trial or moment of suffering by ourselves. Our Father is not off in the distance and removed from us. He is right her with us to comfort us in all our sufferings. Isa 40:1 “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.”

• God’s purpose in comforting us is to make us a testimony to others

• God carries us through trials so we can carry others trials

• God strengthens us so we can strengthen others

• God helps us so we can help others

• God encourages us so we can encourage others

God expects us to suffer with the right attitude, to allow Him to share His comfort with us. How can a person share the comfort of God unless he has suffered and experienced the comfort of God? Believers are not to become bitter, discouraged or apathetic. A word to my strong brothers and sisters: Your season of suffering may not necessarily be about you. Joseph experienced tremendous suffering for many years of his life. When he finally saw his brothers again, he told them what you meant for evil; God meant it for good, to preserve the lives of many people. Ps 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” God Loves you and so do I. Pastor Tammy

A Good Friend

 Prov 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

To find a good friend you must first show yourself to be friendly. A life without friends is a life less than God intended for us. Since we are created in His image, we must make and maintain friendships. Loneliness is rampant. Many people today feel cut off and alienated from others. There are times of being in a crowd that just makes people more aware of their isolation. People need friends who will stick close, listen, care and offer help when it is needed in good times and bad. It is better to have one such friend than a dozen superficial acquaintances. Friends are precious and few. The only way to have a friend is to be one." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The first time we see friendship in action is in the book of Genesis. God created Adam and saw that it was not good that man should be alone, so he brought Eve to Adam. God had fellowship with Adam and Eve. This is a good illustration early on of true friendship. We can find true friendship affords us comfort even in our times of trouble. Even when Adam and Eve sinned and were disobedient in the Garden of Eden, God still demonstrated his love to them and set a plan in motion to redeem them to himself.

Friends share good things with each other. Good friends are warm and stable. Good friends will resolve their conflicts by forgiving and getting forgiveness. Good friends admit wrongs, apologize for being wrong, and forgive wrongs. Good friendship is also sacrificial. Friends will sacrifice for each other because they love each other. We are to love one another as Jesus loved us, and he loved us enough to give his life for us. Good friends:

• Good friends listen to one another

• Good friends are approachable

• Good friends are dependable

• Good friends are trustworthy

• Good friends care about one another

Part of being a good friend is being willing to listen rather than just talk. This takes time and effort but if you can make time just to listen to others and respect what they have to say, then it's a sign of a good friend. Can your friends approach you? Are you willing to make yourself available on short notice? When the going gets tough can your friends depend on you? If a friend tells you something personal can we be counted on to keep their confidence? Or do you go and tell everyone at the first opportunity? People need to know that they can trust a friend with important information. A good friend is both trustworthy and reliable. A good friend avoids speaking badly about others or spreading rumors in order to hurt them? Do you defend friends when you hear others gossiping about them? The sign of a good friendship is when you can be totally honest with the other person, without them being offended because they know you have their best interests at heart.

In the words of a well known hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus” - All our sins and grief’s to bear, and what a privilege to carry everything to God in Prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share, Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in Prayer. This Easter season Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends." He gave his life; it was not taken from him! After his death and his burial, Jesus rose from the grave. What a friend we have in Jesus. To the world you may be just one person; but to one person you might be the world ~ Brandi Snyder. God loves you and so do I…. Pastor Tammy

You Are Not Alone

2 Chronicles 32:7-8

7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Assyria was a great empire by Hezekiah’s time, controlling most of the Middle East. Sennacherib, King of Assyria wanted to bring Judah, the Southern Kingdom under his control. Sennacherib wanted to win the kingdom for himself so he could force them to pay tribute. Sennacherib came against King Hezekiah with a multitude. King Hezekiah endeavored to help the people keep up their faith in order to silence and suppress their fears.

Sennacherib had a multitude with him, yet King Hezekiah told the people there were more with them than was with the enemy. For we have God with us, and if God be for us who can be against us? With our enemy is an arm of flesh, which he trusts to, but with us, is the Lord, whose power is omnipotent, a God to help us fight our battles.

Hezekiah could see with “eyes of faith”. The number of his opponents meant nothing as long as the Lord was on his side. Victory is “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts” (Zech 4:6) Hezekiah could confidently encourage his men because he had no doubt about where he stood with God. Are you on the Lord’s side? You may never face an enemy army, but the battles you face very day can be won with God’s strength.

We have all had times where we felt all alone; times in which we felt that no one understood what we were going through or what we were feeling. Sometimes the battles of life are closing in on every side. There are times in life when we may have felt lonely or isolated. There is a difference between loneliness and isolation. Loneliness is something we try and run away from, while isolation is something we run to. When we are lonely we try to fill that void with many things; some of which are very harmful, physically, emotionally and mentally. When we need that quiet time or just some space, we go into isolation. After a hard day’s work, we look for a quite place to kick back and relax. This is a time that is purposeful and intentional. But regardless of where we find ourselves in life, we are never alone. We have a Father, who will fight for us. He is an awesome God, a Mighty God.

2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

Be not afraid for the battle is not yours, but God’s. We may not fight an enemy army, but every day we battle temptation, pressures and rulers of the darkness of this world who want us to rebel against God. Remember as believers we have God’s Spirit in us. If we ask for God’s help when we face struggles God will fight for us. How do we let God fight for us?

• By realizing the battle is not ours but Gods

• By recognizing human limitations and allowing God’s strength to work through our fears and weaknesses

• By making sure we are pursuing God’s interests and just our own selfish desires

• By asking God to help in our daily battles

Prayer: Father, I know that you are concerned with the smallest detail that concerns me and that you are my help. Thank you for the angels who will accompany, defend and preserve me in all my ways. I am not alone. I know there is nothing that can separate me from your love, not pain, not stress or even persecution. In Jesus name! Amen. God Loves you and so do I…. Pastor Tammy

Letting Go Of Things

Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

You have too much stuff! Why don’t you get rid of some of these things? That was the words of one of my sisters to my mother who was in the midst of moving. In all honesty, my mom had accumulated a lot of things over the years. Some things were out dated; others she no longer used but held on to them anyway. In any event, my mother was not willing to let go of her “things”

We find the Apostle Paul focusing on an absolute willingness to let go of some things. He discarded his heritage, lineage, former legalism, past zeal and his self righteousness. Paul so narrowed his focus that he discarded not only the things he once counted for gain; but he counted everything as garbage for the sake of obtaining Christ.

Letting go is one of the hardest lessons in life. In life, there are many things that we need to let go of. We have to let go of situations, things, memories, and even ourselves. It's easy to form an attachment to people and things. When you've formed an attachment to people and things, it can be a very painful experience and feeling when you realized that it's time to let go. Even the mere thought of not having that person or thing in your life just squeezes your heart in pain.

However, there are times where you or that person has changed to the extent that it's necessary to let go of the relationship or friendship, so that each of you can fulfill your life path. Letting go of your past and memories are also extremely hard. Even though old memories can be tormenting, yet you might hold on to the past and refuse to move forward. However, by refusing to let go of the painful past, it'll serve as a roadblock to love.

Letting go of your old self and the process of letting the new you emerge can be one of the scariest experiences in your life. But by leaving behind your old self and taking a leap of faith into the unknown, it might just reveal what you are truly capable of becoming.

Ephesians 4:22-23 says: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Paul tells the Ephesians to leave behind the old life of sin now that they are followers of Christ. The Christian life is a process. Although we have a new nature, we don’t automatically have all good thoughts and attitudes when we become new people in Christ. Phil 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Today, if you find it difficult to let some things go, you might not be able to do it in your own strength, but the word states we can do all things through Christ. We can be content in all circumstances no matter how severe they are through Christ; but we cannot be content in any circumstance apart from Christ.

My mother eventually agreed with my sister and threw a lot of things away. In doing so she found that some of the things she initially thought she could not live without; really did not matter after all. Today, I encourage you to let go of all bitterness, anger, resentment, evil speaking and un-forgiveness.

Prayer: Dear Lord: Today, help me to let go and let God. Amen….. God Loves You and so do I…. Pastor Tammy

Keep Your Head Up

Ps 30:5 weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Being a Christian does not mean a life without sorrow or troubles. There are many things that cause us to weep. It does not mean that expression of sorrow is a sign of weakness. The man or woman of strong faith will experience sorrow. Each of us will have a night time experience. But joy comes in the morning.

Eccl 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh. Darkness is a convenient environment for wickedness and it is a period where weeping and grumbling takes place. Night of darkness represents weeping. The morning represents joy.

Whatever your situation might be today, know that it will not go on forever. What is it that causes you distress and grief? What brings you mental anguish and pain? What is it that keeps you from getting a good night’s sleep? The text says: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Many of us have suffered with one disappointment after another. Many families are being torn apart by “moral failure”, loss of employment and income. Some have lost family members due to death. Someone may be weeping over a broken or lost relationship. I lost a family member just this past week. Losing a loved one is never easy.

Godly sorrow heals, but unnatural sorrow makes the wounds deeper and fills the heart with pain. Natural sorrow gradually helps us put life back together again, but unnatural sorrow tears things apart, and keeps them that way. When you sorrow in a natural way, you learn to face and accept reality; but unnatural sorrow isolates you from reality and makes it difficult for you to adjust to the demands of life. True sorrow enables us to experience the comfort of God; but unnatural sorrow blinds us to God’s comfort and seems to give us, instead, the condemnation of God: there is a growing feeling of guilt instead of an experience of grace.

Jesus is the strongest Man who ever walked on this earth, and He wept openly! It's ok to cry. It's ok to cry over our own pain and it is ok to cry over the pain of others. Jesus openly wept when he met Mary & Martha shortly after Lazarus died. First, there was His great sense of compassion. He hurt to see others hurt. His emotions were pushed to the limit by witnessing the sorrow of Mary. Those with compassion are able to "weep with them that weep" and all Christians ought to have this ability (Romans 12:15).

Jesus tells us in St. John 16:22 that the joy he gives no man can take it from us. David uses the night to show us that our weeping is temporary, the night isn’t going to last. As you face the pains and heartaches and mistreatments of life, it is only by complete confidence in the goodness and plan of God that you can overcome. The things that could destroy you can become building blocks on the journey of faith as you look for the hand of God in all circumstances of life. Keep your head up. 1 John 5:4 - "This is the victory that has overcome the world our faith" …..God Loves You and so do I….Pastor Tammy

When Things Dont Go As Planned

Ps 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

I am the type of person who likes to plan things to a certain point. This past week proved to be very challenging for me. Whenever I encounter a problem, I like to figure out a solution to the problem. I realize that some things are outside of our control. Psalms 37 says we can plan, but we must commit our way unto the Lord. The next part of the verse says trust also in him. Sometimes we plan our days without asking God what he would have us to accomplish that day. There are many reasons our days do not go as planned. Often times, we get distracted, or have unexpected events to occur; things that just knock us off track.

Recently, I went to an area of a City I was not familiar with. I map quested the directions to my destination and made it there okay. But on the way back, I had to call for help as the directions could not get me back home. The next day I had to make a second trip to the same location. This time I had a GPS system. The GPS system not only helped me get to my destination; but it helped me find my way back. The Word of God is like a GPS system, it not only helps you to accomplish a task, but it provides life changing information should you need to “recalculate” your route.

Psalm 37 provides wise steps to take as you face crises and decisions. The Word of God brings eternal perspective and long term vision that prevents mistakes in short term decisions. We are to trust in the Lord and do good. We are to take delight in the Lord and to commit everything we have and do to him. But how do we do this? Committing ourselves to the Lord means: entrusting everything our lives; families, jobs, possessions to his control and guidance. To commit ourselves to the Lord means to trust him believing that he can care for us better than we can ourselves. We should be willing to wait for him to work what is best for us. When things don’t go as we planned:

1. Trust in the Lord and do good; do what is right despite what others do

2. Cultivate faithfulness and don’t move too quickly; in other words don’t rush into anything

3. Prioritize God and His values: He will reward and satisfy you in the end

4. Commit your plans to him and trust him; the results are in his hand

5. Be Quiet and patient; perspective comes when we grow still and think

These are just a few things to help you better your life and relationship with the Lord. You are not alone. I too, am trusting in the Lord. I started out my year with goals, plans to accomplish some very specific things this year and already I have run into obstacles. I don’t expect everything to be easy and without challenges. Even the strongest person encounters frustration and sometimes disappointment when things don’t go as planned. We must view obstacles as opportunities for our Heavenly Father to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think. Psalm 37:23 – The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his way. A good person is one who follows God, trusts him and tries to do his will. God watches over and directs every step that person takes. If you would like to have God direct your way, then seek his advice before you step. When things don’t go as we planned; maybe it’s because God has a better plan. Hold on and be strong!

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” ~ Winston Churchill. God Loves You and so do I…… Pastor Tammy

In Patience Possess Your Souls

Luke 21:19

“Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things - with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope.” Corazon Aquino

Patience is not passive! When we think of patience, we think of being still and operating in “wait mode”. Patience can best be described as: To bear pains or trials calmly without complaint. Forbearance under provocation or strain. Not hastily, but steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity; able or willing to bear. There are many who are going thru hard trials and tribulations. Some may even feel like quitting, giving up or throwing in the towel. There are some who are saying what is the use, I have been struggling for a long time and I do not see any changes. I want to encourage you today; don’t give up, don’t give in but in patience possess (hold, seize and acquire) your souls. In times when you may be feeling down, here is a little poem to help pick you up:

Don't Quit

by: Unknown Author

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit.

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns

As every one of us sometimes learns.

And many a failure turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out:

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you never can tell how close you are.

It may be near when it seems so far:

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. We can never really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. Instead of complaining or running from our struggles, let us exercise a little patience in the trial and tribulations viewing them as opportunities for growth. Let us pray and ask God for help to solve the problem; along with patience and strength to endure whatever comes our way. God loves you and so do I….. Pastor Tammy

Does Anybody Really Care?

Neh 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

“Ask me if I care!” The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity.” George Bernard Shaw put those words into the mouth of the Rev. Anthony Anderson in the second act of his play The Devil’s Disciple.

Nehemiah was the kind of person who cared. He cared about the traditions of the past and the needs of the present. He cared about the hopes for the future. He cared about his heritage, his ancestral city, and the glory of his God.

Nehemiah broke down and cried when he heard that Jerusalem walls still had not been rebuilt. Why did this upset him? Walls mean little in most present day cities, but in Nehemiah’s day they were essential. Nehemiah was deeply grieved about the condition of Jerusalem. After his grief he poured out his heart to God and looked for ways to improve the situation.

Fast forwarding to the events of our time, prior to the 7.0 Earthquake that struck Haiti; not much attention was given to Haiti. Haiti is one of poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Eighty percent of residents live in poverty, according to the CIA World Fact Book. Thousand of people have been killed and countless buildings crushed in Haiti. Haiti earthquake was so dangerous because the medical infrastructure was already almost nonexistent in Haiti. Aid workers are facing countless critical medical needs for the millions, who have been affected by the widespread destruction, said by officials. Deadly diseases develop in a few days without access to clean water or sanitation.

Like large doors, great life-changing events can swing on very small hinges. Some people prefer not to know what’s going on, because information might bring obligation. “What you don’t know can’t hurt you,” says the old adage; but is it true? In a letter to a Mrs. Foote, Mark Twain wrote, “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.” But what we don’t know could hurt us a great deal! “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.” Closing our eyes and ears to the truth could be the first step toward tragedy for us as well as for others.

Nehemiah revealed a caring attitude in four different ways.


1. He cared enough to ask


2. He cared enough to weep


3. He cared enough to pray


4. He cared enough to volunteer

There has been a great outpouring from many countries, celebrities and everyday people to support Haiti during this time of adversity. Like Nehemiah let us care enough to ask what can I do, weep with those who are weeping, pray for those who are experiencing difficulty and volunteer to help where we can.

When God puts a burden on your heart, don’t try to escape it; for if you do, you may miss the blessing He has planned for you. If God is going to answer prayer, He must start by working in the one doing the praying! He works in us and through us to help us see our prayers answered.

God is still looking for people who care, people like Nehemiah, who cared enough to ask for the facts, weep over the needs, pray for God’s help, and then volunteer to get the job done. “Here am I, Lord—send me!” ~ God Loves you and so do I…… Pastor Tammy

Am I My Brothers Keeper

Gen 4:9 Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

A charitable concern for our brethren, as their keepers, is a great duty, which is strictly required of us, but is generally neglected by us. In light of the recent earthquake that devastated Port-Au-Prince in Haiti; a question arises are we our brother’s keeper. Do we have a responsibility to look out and care for one another? Yes we do. It brought great joy to my heart to see so many people reach out to help Haiti in their time of need.

Most of us have heard the story, in the book of Genesis about Cain & Abel. It was time for Cain & Abel to bring their sacrifices and present them to God. Cain brought fruit from the ground and Abel brought the firstlings of his flock. God had respect unto Abel’s offering; but not Cain’s offering. Hebrews 9:22 states that there must be the shedding of blood before there can be the remission of sin, but Cain brought a bloodless offering from the cursed earth. His offering may have been sincere, but it was not accepted. He had no faith in God’s Word or dependence on the sacrifice of a substitute. Cain killed his brother because God had respect unto Abel’s offering. In verse 9 God asked Cain where is Abel, your brother. Cain’s response was am I my brother’s keeper?

Cain’s response was one of calloused indifference. Am I my brother’s keeper?” People say, “I’ve got enough to do to look after myself.” On the other hand, many times we quickly say, “Yes, I am my brother’s keeper,” but it turns out to be more of “a duty required; but also a duty generally neglected because of our own selfishness.” Matthew Henry said, “When a person is unconcerned in the affairs of others and takes no care when they have opportunity to prevent hurt--especially in their souls,--that person in effect speaks Cain’s language.” Who is my brother? Anyone and everyone is my brother, my family, my friends, my coworkers and yes even my enemies.

So what are some our responsibilities towards our brothers?

• First and foremost we are to love one another - John 14:34

• We are to "receive one another" - Ro 15:7

• We are to "edify another" - Ro 14:19

• We are to "serve one another" - Ga 5:13

• We are to "bear one another's burdens" - Ga 6:1-2

• We are to be "forgiving one another" - Ep 4:32

• We are to be "submitting to one another" - Ep 5:21

• We are to "exhort one another" - He 3:12-13

• We are to "consider one another" - He 10:24-25

• We are to be "hospitable to one another" - 1Pe 4:8-10

Cain’s name means possession while Abel’s name means weakness or vanity. There are some that belief; I have mine, now you get yours. I want to encourage you today to lay aside the hindrances that are keeping you from fulfilling your obligation towards one another. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President said: - “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” …… God loves you and so do I….. Pastor Tammy

First Things First

Thought: How to live free from worry

Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Our first priority is to seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness means to turn to him first for help, to fill your thoughts with his desires, to take his character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. What is really important to you? People, objects, goals and other desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if you don’t actively choose to give him first place in your life.

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” ~Leo Buscaglia

Matthew 6:25-33 Jesus contrasted heavenly values with earthly values when he explained that our first loyalty should be to those things that do not fade, cannot be stolen or used up, and never wear out.

Because of the ill effects of worry, Jesus tells us to take no thought about those needs that God promises to supply. Worry may damage your health, cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts, disrupt your productivity, negatively affect the way we treat others and reduce our ability to trust God.

The words ”take no thought” mean do not worry; do not be anxious; do not be overly concerned and caring. The Lord is not suggesting that a man NOT prepare for life; be lazy or take a I don’t care attitude. He is talking about being preoccupied with the material possessions of life; being so entangled with the affairs of this earth that we forget eternity. The charge is clear we are not to worry.

The basic problem of man is setting priorities and determining what is to be first in his life. Why do we seek things that only sustain and adorn our physical body for a brief time and then fade away? Why not seek first that which can sustain and adorn our life forever? That which sustains us for eternity is a relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Even the most inspired Christians from time to time, can find themselves running on empty. The demands of daily life can drain us of our strength; and rob us of the joy that is rightfully ours in Christ. When we find ourselves tired, discouraged, or worried, there is a source from which we can draw the power needed to recharge our spiritual batteries. That source is God.

God intends that His children lead joyous lives filled with abundance and peace. But sometimes, abundance and peace seem very far away. It’s no secret turmoil is in the government, the schools and our homes. It is then that we must turn to God for renewal, and when we do, He will restore us. If you are tired or troubled today turn your heart toward God in prayer.

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. ~Swedish Proverb. As we begin this New Year, let’s get our priorities in order, and put first things first. God Loves you and so do I. Pastor Tammy

Knocked Down But Not Knocked Out

2 Cor 4:8-9: “We may be troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

In the sport of boxing a boxer can be considered technically knocked out, if a boxer is knocked down, and unable to get up to his feet and gain his balance and composure before the referee counts to 10. If and when he gets to his feet, he’s given a standing 8 count. If the referee feels that although the fighter is on his feet but he’s in no condition to continue the fight, the referee will stop the fight, and the boxer is considered technically knocked out. Then there’s the three knock down rule.

The book of Proverbs says a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again. It is good to know that no matter how many times we get knocked down, we can get back up again. And the good thing is we may not have our full balance and composure, but just the mere effort of us trying to get up, grabs God immediate attention.

The Bible teaches us that it’s in our weakest state that God’s strength is made perfect. And because of this promise, God always shows up in our weakest moments. Every time we’re knocked down in life by some tribulation, some disappointment, some heart break, or by trials, and even the storms of life, we are not distressed.

We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.

We may feel hedged in on every side and troubles and oppressions may be present in every way, but we are not crushed. God knows how much we can bear. Perhaps today you might be feeling perplexed which simply means confused bewildered and cannot seem to find a way out. Despair means to be hopeless. Or maybe you are being persecuted; harassed in a way that causes suffering because of principles or religious beliefs. There are many who are forsaken or forgotten about.

God never promised us a life free from troubles. Like a good boxing match we are going to take some punches. We must also learn to defend ourselves by arming ourselves with the Word of God. Not just quoting the word but having faith in God and his promises.

Paul reminded us in our scripture today that though we may be at the end of our rope, we are never at the end of hope. Our perishable bodies are subject to sin and suffering. But God never abandons us. Because Christ won victory over death, we have eternal life. All our risks, humiliations and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his power and presence through us.

When life knocks you down, remember you are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus, so get back up again. If God be for us who can be against us? Yes, I may get knocked down, but thank God I am not knocked out. God Loves You and so do I ~Pastor Tammy

A Lesson from Amos: Have we become too comfortable?

Thought: I need you to survive

Amos 5:14-15 “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate:”

When life is going smoothly, we need to be careful. It’s at that time we are ripe for complacency and a downfall. In the day of the prophet Amos, the people of Israel were prosperous and began to think they could make it without God. This sounds a lot like us today! We can slip into that dangerous place sometimes without really thinking. This behavior led the people of Isreal toward a path of destruction.

The name Amos means burden or burden bearer. He carried the heavy burden of God’s message to the people. Because the people had become so complacent they acted as if they did not need each other.

They exploited the weak and poor. They were indifferent to the pain of those around them. They enslaved the helpless through extortion and heavy taxation. God created us to live in relationships, not in isolation. This is stated very clearly in the words of a song entitled, I need you to survive by Hezekiah Walker. The lyrics: I need you, you need me, we’re all a part of God’s body, stand with me, agree with me, we’re all a part of God’s body, it is his will that every need be supplied, you are important to me, I need you to survive.

A final similarity between the Israelites and our culture is that many of them kept up outward appearances of religion even though they had abandoned their faith in God. I think many are in danger of falling into the same trap. Are you performing to get the approval of your boss or friends? Are you hiding your failures from your spouse, pretending you're faithfully following God's way when you're not? God is not so concerned with how we appear on the surface; he sees through our false appearances even if others don't. God cares about the attitude of our heart. Man looks at the outward appearances and God looks at the heart.

Remember we must all answer to God for how we live. A complacent present leads to a disastrous future. When we become self sufficient we develop a false sense of security. All that we have has come as a blessing from God, so let’s remember to be thankful. God made all people, therefore, to ignore the poor is to ignore those whom God loves and whom Christ came to save. We must move beyond just feeling bad for the poor and act compassionately to help care for those who are in need.

At times we can become too comfortable with life. We must not only be concerned with obvious threats but also to slowly developing ones. Indifference is a slow developing threat that eventually leads to complacency. We are our brother’s keeper and we must show a genuine concern to help when and where we can. In closing I will use additional lyrics from the song; I need you to survive referenced above. The chorus of the song says: I pray for you, you pray for me, I love you, I need you to survive, I won’t harm you with the words from my mouth, I love you, I need you to survive. Today, let us seek good and not evil and live. It’s time for us to grow and develop into the person we were called to be. God Loves You and so do I……… Pastor Tammy

A Family Affair

"A Family that Prays Together will stay Together"

The strongest institution on this earth is FAMILY. Family bonds are a link to our beginning and a guide to our future. We all want to belong and feel accepted and being in a family helps us to do that. A question arose a few days ago about being born into the “right” family. My response, I don’t believe there is a “right” family. When we become born again and give our lives to the Lord, we have the privilege of being a part of the “right” family. A part of God’s family!!

The Word of God declares that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s Glory. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5) While some may have grown up in less than desirable environments; where abuse and suffering was a daily part of your living. Hurting people hurt people. For some your life really wasn’t bad, but it was something less than what you wanted it to be. It was simply a matter of unfulfilled expectations.

Our very spirit can either blossom or wither within the family unit. When we don't have the security and influence of strong family bonds early in life, the ground work is laid for an emptiness, which is often sought to be filled, through destructive means. If a person does not receive love as a child, they may later seek love and acceptance in a way that brings them harm. Some would call that looking for love in all the wrong places.

We can choose to resent our families and family members for our lives growing up or we decide today, we are going to make a difference in our families across this world. I grew up in the South and my mother is really big on the family getting together every Sunday for dinner at “Big Momma’s House”. And yes, she did all the cooking for everyone. This was our time to come together, laugh, cry and yes sometimes get into arguments and some pretty close “hand to hand” combats. But through it all, the family loved each other and came back to Big Momma’s house the following Sunday. Family also includes people who are not related by blood. Princess Diana said: ‘”Family is the most important thing in the world.” Are you a member of God’s family? Why not? When you come to HIM, he will in no wise cast you out. God Loves You and So do I………..Pastor Tammy

Unwavering Faith in Unstable Times

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

What is faith? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The word substance means the foundation, assurance, the guarantee. The word evidence means conviction. Simply put, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith is being described as an act in Hebrews, an act of the mind and the heart. Our hearts and minds believe something and we have the assurance and conviction that it is true. Faith is not something a Christian is going to posses; we already possess it. We can possess it now, we cannot see it, but we can actually possess the very substance of it by believing and entrusting our lives to it.

William Barclay said: “Faith means that we are certain of the things we hope for, convinced of the things we do not see”

These two qualities need a secure beginning and ending point. The beginning point of faith is believing in God’s character; that is believing he is who he says he is. The end point is believing in God’s promises; he will do what he says he will do. When we believe that God will fulfill his promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith.

Biblical faith does not deal with what is unreal, imaginary, superficial or deceptive. Biblical faith is the knowledge, experience and possession of things hoped for. True biblical faith deals with truth and reality.

The reality is we are living in perilous times. The economy is unstable, the auto industry is unstable, and even the banking system is unstable. We must believe in our hearts and in our minds that God has a good plan for our lives and that he will perfect that which concerns us. The plan that he has for our lives is not conditional nor dependent upon our circumstances, the economy or environment in which we live.

Of course, any Christian can see that that worldview is at odds with faith. For the church, however, what is more significant than secularism, which rejects all forms of religious faith or worship; is sociologically when we start dealing with social questions or problems, focusing on cultural and environmental factors rather than on psychological or personal characteristics. In other words, the world would have us believe that religious ideas, institutions, and interpretations are losing practical social significance. Nothing could be further from the truth!

God declared in Matt 19:26 “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” If you are facing tough times, I want to encourage you today to be Strong in the Lord and the power of his might. It is very easy to allow your circumstances and situations to speak so loudly that you cannot hear the voice of God. Stand up and declare today, I have the assurance and conviction that all things are working together for my good.

In the rhythm of grace, we go to sleep, and God begins his work. As we sleep he develops his covenant. We wake and are called out to participate in God’s creative action. We respond in faith, in work. But always grace is previous and primary. We wake into a world we didn’t make, into a salvation we didn’t earn. And he asks of us one thing: Have Faith in God…… God Loves you and so do I….. Pastor Tammy