Forward by Faith

Ex 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

There are times in our life when things come along and cause us to stand still rather than moving forward. In today’s passage the Lord told Moses to stop praying and get moving. Prayer has a vital place in our lives. But there is also a place of action. Sometimes we know what to do, but we pray for more guidance as an excuse to post pone doing it. If we know what we should do, then it is time to get moving and move forward by Faith.

The Word of God is filled with people that came from different backgrounds, training, personalities and ways in which they served God. But they had one thing in common: They all believed God’s promises and did what He told them to do. They were men and women of faith, and God honored them because they believed His Word. God has not changed, and the principle of faith has not changed.

What seems to have changed is the attitude of some of God’s people: Some no longer believe God and act by faith in His promises. God’s promises never fail, but we can fail to live by the grace of God and not enter into all that he has promised for us. God has “brought us out that He might bring us in” but too often we fail to enter in because of unbelief. (Heb 3:19).

Living faith always leads to action. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” ~ James 2:26

It is impossible to live by faith and ignore the Word of God and prayer. “Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper (2 Chron 2:20, NKJV). There has not failed one word of all His good promise.

The Australian coat of arms pictures two creatures; the emu, a flightless bird, and the kangaroo. The animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to the Australian citizens. Both the emu and kangaroo can move only forward, not back. The emu’s three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, and the kangaroo is prevented from moving in reverse by its large tail.


Today, you may be feeling like you are in a helpless situation, not able to move forward because of fear. There may be a desperate cry from your heart due to your present circumstances. God is not a temporary retreat. He is our eternal refuge and can provide strength for any circumstances. His power is complete; and victory is certain. He will not fail to rescue those who love him.


It has been well said that faith is not believing in spite of evidence but obeying in spite of consequence. Three essential for moving ahead by faith and claiming all that he has for us: The Word of Faith, The Walk of Faith, and The Witness of Faith. What lies ahead of us is far greater than what lies behind us. Go forward. 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

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

Beyond My Expectations

What are your expectations for 2010?

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Many people at the beginning of a New Year like to make New Year’s resolutions. I must admit that I was one of those people a while back. Somehow, I just could not seem to stick to those resolutions. I had expectations but I really did not know if my expectations would actually be fulfilled. This is not so with God.

How limited we often are in our asking, thinking that God will not do some particular thing for us. The apostle Paul encourages us to pray and to trust God for the answer. God not only is able to do what we have asked but he is able to do exceeding; to surpass to go beyond any request to overcome and do anything. He is able to do abundantly; to overflow and to do more than enough. He is able to go above: to go over and beyond, surpassing any need, in all that we ask, or can even think. Imagine for a moment an answer from God that goes beyond what we can ask or think!

What are your expectations for 2010? That just when you think things are starting to look up the rug gets snatched from underneath you? Do you feel that nothing good is going to happen for you because it never does? Do you feel that this year will be worse than last year? Do you feel that you will never find someone to love you with no strings attached? Maybe you have a health concern and don’t feel that you can be healed or get any better because it’s something that has run in the family?

God stands ready to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think. That’s only part one. Part two says according to the power that worketh in us. What power? That is, the strength of his Spirit. The power that still worketh for the saints is according to that power that hath produced in them. Wherever God gives of his fullness he gives to experience his power. This power can be seen in the life of a believer who has been transformed from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. When we come to ask for grace from God, we ought to give glory to God. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus. The purpose of God answering prayer and in doing all this for us: that He might be glorified in the church through Jesus Christ.

All God's gifts come from his to us through the hand of Christ; and all our praises pass from us to him through the same hand. And God should and will be praised throughout all ages, world without end; for he will ever have a church to praise him, and he will ever have his tribute of praise from his church. Amen. So be it; and so it will certainly be.

Place your expectations into the Master’s hand. God can take a little and turn it into a lot… God Loves You and so do I…

Finishing Your Course With Joy

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Single-mindedness is a quality needed by anyone who wishes to do God’s work. Today I began reflecting on how much passion, enthusiasm and energy I had when I first began my Christian race in 1986. It took me some time to realize that God has a unique plan and purpose for all our lives. And that each of us must step up to life with purpose, and vision to fulfill these God given tasks.

Our purpose and life is directly linked to our relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You cannot and will not find your purpose outside of a life committed to Christ. When we make a commitment we become single minded in our focus to that commitment. Whether it’s in marriage, our families, employment or a quest for a healthier lifestyle, we have a single focus.

The Apostle Paul was a man totally devoted to Christ through all situations, seasons, and circumstances. His life reveals his commitment to serving the Lord. He served with humility, with tears and with many trials. I can identify with the apostle Paul; there have been times, when I have had to serve in humility. I wanted to say some things that may have been considered unkind or not “Christian”, but I held my peace. There were other times when I served with tears and great opposition.

Early in my walk with Christ, I went through a period where people tried to make me doubt my identity. I was told many reasons why women could not and should not be a pastor. Being a babe in Christ, I took those issues to the Lord in prayer. And one day the Holy Spirit revealed a passage of scripture to me Gal 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” That forever settled in my heart any concerns I may have had.

Life has not been easy and will at times throw you a curve, storms will come and strong winds may blow, but each of us must decide how we will finish our course. We can live a life full of anger, bitterness, unforgiveness and regret or we can finish our course with Joy. Real joy comes when we are not so consumed with ourselves, but when we can make a difference in the lives of others.

Paul did not count his life dear unto himself. His life was not for him to use and do as he pleased, not for earthly comfort or pleasure. His life was for Christ. His life was a precious and valuable possession of the Lord. Ps 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings” Each of us is as the apple of God’s eye and like Paul we have to make the decision to consecrate and dedicate our lives back to the One who gave us life in the first place.

Paul finished his course and ministry not because he had to, but because he chose to. And he did so with joy. Ralph Sockman says “Love is the outreach of self towards completion”. Finish your course with joy. 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

Unfinished Business

Unfinished Business
“Letting go of the past and reaching forward to the future.”

If you’re like most people, you like being in control. You want things to happen according to your wishes and according to your timetable. But sometimes, God has other plans, and He always has the final word.

The enemy loves to use things of our past to stop us from reaching our future. Maybe you have done some things you are not proud of. Maybe some things happened to you that were outside of your control and left you emotionally incapacitated. You find it hard to love others. Maybe you don’t trust others and feel that people have a hidden agenda when trying to get close to you.

Perhaps someone you truly loved someone who, told you they loved you only to betray your love and confidence in them. Maybe it was a marital relationship and your spouse committed adultery. Now you find it hard to love or even trust again. Growing up as a child did you suffer abuse as a child only to grow into adulthood and promise that no one would ever hurt you in that way again?

If any of these things sound familiar you have unfinished business in your life and you need closure. The word of God tells us to forget the former things and do not dwell on the past. God does not want us looking at the past because he has such a wonderful plan for our future. The past is past and there is nothing that we can do about it. We cannot change it. The enemy would desire that we keep living in the past. But God always gives us a glimpse of our future. He said behold, I am doing a new thing, Shall it not spring forth.

Never underestimate the importance of closure. Through out our life, we have so many opportunities for closure and new beginnings. When we refuse to let go of the past we have unfinished business. We can’t have a fresh start without an end first. Life teaches us that we cannot experience a fresh start until we deal with the closure preceding it.

Many people minimize the importance and impact that real closure can bring. People talk about forgetting the past and getting on with their life. Closure is a mental physical and emotional process. If you are unable to trust, love or commit yourself, you need closure.

Some people have a whole string of broken relationships, because they underestimate the impact of closure. They never learned how to make a new beginning really work. It’s time to take care of any unfinished business so that you can move on with your life. We can remain angry and upset with people, which perpetuates the cycle of pain and heartache. Forgive others and forgive yourself. We must grow up spiritually to a place of surrender and rest in God. Come to terms with life and realize, it’s not my will but THY WILL be done. And handle your business!!! God Loves You and so do I…Pastor Tammy