Crossroads

CROSSROADS
“From the Point of Decision to Destiny”

A crossroad has been defined as the place where the road intersects; a point at which a vital decision must be made. Choices have consequences, whether good or bad. These consequences will be for our betterment or will work to destroy us. We are all responsible for our choices. Every decision ultimately leads us to our destiny.

Another way to put it is that things will get better or worse for us. The Bible challenges us with this admonition in Deuteronomy 30:19: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live"

One of the messages stressed in our society is about the “right to choose”; but we have not balanced it with the message that our choices also have consequences. Hollywood movie producers and some celebrities have glamorized many things that are bad for us and have not generally shown the destructive side of the things that are portrayed to bring so much happiness. (drugs, alcohol, adultery, fornication, gambling)

From the time we get out of bed until the time we go to sleep we are making decisions that are leading us one step closer to our destiny. The efforts which we make to escape from our destiny only serve to lead us into it. Because God gave us freedom of choice, we can ignore the will of God, argue with it, disobey it, and even fight against it. But in the end, the will of God shall prevail; because “the counsel of the Lord stands forever” –
If we obey God’s will, everything in life holds together; but if we disobey, everything starts to fall apart. Nowhere in the Bible is this truth better illustrated than in the experiences of Elimelech and his wife Naomi.In the book of Ruth chapter one, we find several mistakes that we must avoid as we deal with the problems and trials of life.


1. We cannot run from our problems
2. Be careful how we represent God in times of adversity
3. Don’t try to hide your mistakes, learn from them
4. Don’t let life make you bitter, but a better person
5. Don’t forget God is “with us” and “for us.”


Ruth’s decision to stay with Naomi led to her meeting Boaz and ultimately being in the lineage of Jesus. The decisions we make today will wash up on the shores of tomorrow. When facing a crossroad, pray to the Father, not my will, but thy will be done……God Loves You and So do I …….Pastor Tammy

Do you have a Compassion deficit?

DO WE HAVE A COMPASSION DEFICIT?

The definition of compassion is: a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering or suffering with another.

Global statistics report at least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day. According to UNICEF, 25,000 children die each day due to poverty. 1.1 billion People in developing countries have inadequate access to water and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation. Nearly 28,000 children under age 5 die daily from illnesses that can be prevented, like pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition, poor hygiene and lack of clean water.

Sometimes, we don’t have to go around the world to find someone in need of compassion. We have ample opportunities each day to show compassion and demonstrate grace and love to all mankind. It may be the person next door or the single parent across the street. The elderly couple on a fixed income trying to decide if they are going to buy their medication or food to eat. The person at the cash register who does not have enough money for their purchase.

Lamentations 3:22-23 “ It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

God’s compassions never fail. Great is HIS faithfulness. What about us? Are we compassionate towards one another or is there a compassion deficit in the world today. The Good Samaritan parable tells us a certain man went from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves. They stripped him, beat him and left him half dead. A priest saw him and passed by on the other side. A Levite saw him and passed to the other side. But a Samaritan saw him and had compassion on him. Lack of love is easy to justify even though it is never right. Our neighbor is anyone in any race, creed or social background in need of help. Love means acting to help meet that need.

In the words of President Barach Obama: “You know, there's a lot of talk in this country about the federal deficit. But I think we should talk more about our empathy deficit -- the ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes; to see the world through the eyes of those who are different from us -- the child who's hungry, the steelworker who's been laid-off, the family who lost the entire life they built together when the storm came to town. When you think like this -- when you choose to broaden your ambit of concern and empathize with the plight of others, whether they are close friends or distant strangers -- it becomes harder not to act; harder not to help.”

Jude 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

Do you have a compassion deficit in your life? Are you no longer moved by those who are in need? I challenge you today to help someone feel a little better about themselves or their situation. Put your love into action. And show some compassion; making a difference. God Loves You and so do I ………………..Pastor Tammy

A Wounded Spirit: Yet still I rise

A wounded Spirit: Yet still I rise

Prov 18:14-The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

It has been said whatever does not kill you; strengthens you. What is a wounded spirit? It’s also known as a broken spirit or crushed spirit. A wounded spirit is injury to any area of our soul or spirit faculties - mind, emotions and will. It is injury to the unseen areas of our being. The only way others can see the injury is how we behave and conduct ourselves.

The deeper or more severe the wounds the greater the negative effect on an individual’s life; spiritually, socially, materially and physically. The scripture says a wounded spirit is worse than physical sickness. A wounded spirit comes as a result of a reaction to negative words, events, actions, or a violation of your person or rights. An action that crushes you, knocks you down and from which you cannot seem to rise. It crushes an area of your life deep within; your spirit.

There are many ways we can receive a wounded spirit. Negative words can produce a wounded spirit. Words are death and life to the one who speaks them and to the one who receives them. Unforgiveness can lead to a wounded spirit. Refusing to forgive those who have disappointed and hurt us will cause us to have a wounded spirit. We cannot heal if we do not release the hurt and offenders to God. No matter how much someone has wounded us; we must come to a place of being able to release forgiveness to that person. If we don’t, we will be the one who pays the highest price. Betrayal is another way we can receive a wounded spirit. To be betrayed means to disclose a secret; to break a promise, or be disloyal to a person’s trust; to disappoint the expectations of. We betray one another when we don’t keep our promises. A string of broken promises lead to a wounded spirit. False accusations, divorce and relationship issues also cause a wounded spirit.

Each of us has some level of scars in our spirits from unpleasant past experiences and events in our life. Scars imply that the wounds have healed. Healing the wounded spirit is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit. The transformation of our minds directly affects the other areas in our spirits; the will and emotions.

The past experiences, or disadvantages, circumstances, people with ill motives or whatever may have intended to harm us. God is Sovereign. He is able to take the negativity of life and turn it for our good. Nothing can separate us from the love of God or his fulfilling his plan for our lives. He's the one in charge, not our circumstances. Yes, we will still possess the scars which tell us we have been wounded and there has been an injury. We all have scars from life and we have been wounded, but praise and thanks be to God we have not been destroyed. If you are suffering with a broken heart or a crushed spirit; The Sun of Righteousness is here with healing in his wings. God Loves You and so do I…….Pastor Tammy

From the Pit to the Palace

FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE
“Why we have to go through some things”

There are times in my life when I felt like life has just dealt me a bad hand. I did not know how strong my flesh was until I tried to place some restraints on it. Before I came to God I had no desire to place the flesh under control. I wondered why I could not just skip over some of the bad things in life.

Oftentimes, I wondered why God would not just move some things out of my pathway, since he is Sovereign. Some of those situations I wanted out of immediately. I could not wait for God to bring me out. Truth be told I only wanted out so I could get back into a similar situation. But he allowed me to stay in them; and some for a much longer period of time. I had to almost lose my mind in order to change my mind about some things.

As I look back over my life, I thank God for allowing me to go through some things. I have heard it said whatever does not kill you will only make you stronger. God held me in some situations until my spirit got power and control over my flesh. This helped to develop character and character was what I need on my way to my destiny. It’s true God is in control of all things.

I now realize that God has a plan for my life. And that he is control of our circumstances and we are in control of our responses to those circumstances. In the midst of while I was going through, some very difficult places in life; I was reminded of HIS presence. Psalm 23 says: Yea though I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

God has promised not to put any more on us than we can bear. So I want to encourage you if you are going through a very difficult time. Don’t give up and don’t give in. Some pits are necessary. Trust that you will be taken from the Pit to the Palace. A few reminders about God while you are going through

If you never felt pain, how would you know that I’m a Healer?

If you never went through difficulty, how would you know that I’m a Deliverer?

If you never had a trial, how would you know that I’m a Comforter?

If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I’m Forgiving?

If you never were in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue?

If you never were broken, how would you know that I can make you whole?

If you never had a problem, then how would you know that I can solve them?

God Loves You and So do I. Be Blessed…… Pastor Tammy

You Are What You Think

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

When you think about it, what you think has a lot to do with your actions. Our text indicates that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. So in essence, what you think is what you are.

The thought life is the beginning of victory or the beginning of defeat. Victories are won and lost here. The battle starts here and is won or lost here. Much is said in God’s Word about our thoughts and what we do with them.
You are not going to be victorious if you are always walking in a defeated attitude. You will not even fight because you see yourself as having already lost the battle, but it doesn’t have to be this way. God has a better way for us His children. As a matter of fact He has already set the example for us in His thoughts toward us.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

If God will not think bad or evil thoughts toward us, who are we think bad or negative thoughts toward ourselves? We shouldn’t. As a man
thinks in his heart, so is he.

We need to think about the good in people instead of focusing on the bad. We often tear others down by thinking only on their bad traits when we need to think of the things that they are doing good and use
them as the foundation to lift them up.You cannot think about the things of this world and expect the things of God to come out of you. As a man thinketh, so is he. What’s on your mind today? What have you been thinking about? If you are not thinking on things that are just, lovely, pure or of a just report, change your thinking………God Loves You and so do I……Pastor Tammy Mitchell

Faithfulness: In the midst of Recession

FAITHFULNESS: IN THE MIDST OF RECESSION

The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) , the group that determines the official dates for periods of economic expansions and contractions has identified 32 U.S. recessions since the mid-1850s.

NBER records show that, over the period from the mid-1940s until 2007, the average recession lasted 10 months, while the average expansion lasted 57 months, giving us an average business cycle of 67 months or about 5 years and seven months

The shortest recession between the mid-1940s and 2007 lasted only six months, from January to July 1980. The two longest recessions during the period lasted 16 months each, one extending from November 1973 to March 1975, and the other from July 1981 to November 1982.

For nations, businesses, and individuals, it's reasonable to see a recession as a time of possibility, even with a few benefits. The Word of God will always be a very helpful and practical guide to issues that pertain to everyday life. I want to encourage you that even in the midst of the recession, continue being faithful. The word faithful means to be trustworthy. Continue to be a person that your family, your community and your church can count on during these times. I know that times are difficult. But we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Love and Mercy meet together and righteousness and peace kiss each other. (Psalm 85:10) God’s faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 119:90) Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for. (Prov 16:6) A fruit of the spirit is faithfulness (Gal 5:22)

The recession will end at an appointed time, just as the previous 32 recessions have. Will there be anyone to stand and say I remained faithful and committed to my responsibilities to God, myself, my family and friends.

Here are a few things to help remind us to remain faithful.

1. God is Faithful. (Duet 7:9)
2. His faithfulness continues through all generations
3. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit
4. Through Love and Faithfulness sin is atoned for
5. He who is faithful in the least will be faithful with much (Luke 16:10)
6. God requires that a man be found faithful (1 Cor 4:2)
7. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins.

We cannot blame God for the condition of our economy. He did not tell us to go in debt, nor did he tell us to buy things we could not afford. He has given mankind a free will. He allows us the freedom to make choices about our life on a daily basis. The law of gravity says everything that goes up must come down. We must realize that every decision has a consequence; and decisions in the past have washed up on the shores of today. We are a blessed nation! Some of us have had an overabundance of things while others struggle to make it. I wonder how much thought we give to other nations who are at a disadvantaged just to obtain clean drinking water. By all definitions of the word they have been in a continual recession, for quite some time. This is not the time to pull back, be fearful or give up. Be strong in the Lord and the Power of His Might. And look for the day when the Lord will utter these words: Well done my good and Faithful Servant. Be Faithful!!!! And God loves you and so do I………….. Pastor Tammy

What Makes God Sing?

No matter what we are going through today, the book of Zephaniah, Chapter 3 it tells us that God is in the midst. He is in the midst of our situations, and circumstances. The book of Zephaniah has three main themes; it talks about the day of judgment, indifference to sin and day of cheer.

As we have read in the book of Zephaniah God does not take sin lightly, and it will be punished. But be encouraged by the words of hope, that our God reigns and he will rescue his own. Jesus told us I will never leave you nor forsake you.

There are times in my own life when I felt all alone and I had to go to the word of God. I had to remind myself that my feelings are not always accurate but that God’s word is true. He states in the book of Psalms he holds His word above His name. (Psalm 138:2)

Zephaniah knew the people needed an internal transformation. They did not need to turn over a new leaf, they needed a new life. He called the Children of Isreal together to take a look at their hearts, their motives, their desires and even their private lives. What about us? This is our time, we are alone with God and he is speaking? What is he saying? Are we listening?

It is not easy to confront difficult issues. Regardless of how hopeless a situation may become, God’s word offers a plan and if we repent and walk in that plan, we bring joy to the heart of God. We give God something to sing about.

Today, I want to encourage you to stand on the promises of God. He has never broken a promise or told a lie. The book of Zephaniah tells us he will save us, he will rejoice over us with joy, he will rest in his love, and he will joy over us with singing. That’s right God is singing over us.

Have you ever been in love with someone and that special person tried to sing a song to you to express how he or she felt. Well God does the same thing. He has joy when he thinks about us. You might be thinking you don’t know the things I have done. My friend it really does not matter, if you repent and ask for God’s forgiveness, you will bring joy to the heart of God and he will save you and he will start singing over you. God tells us in his word we are the apple of his eye (Psalm 17:8) And he who touches you is touching the apple of his eye (Zech 2:8)

If we know that God Loves us, then ought we to love him also. The word declares if we love him we are to keep his commandments.(St. John 14:15). Shhhhhhhh. What’s that I hear? I believe God is calling your name and singing a song. Take a moment and talk to him, perhaps you have a song you would like to sing to HIM………. Be Blessed. God Loves You and So do I.......Pastor Tammy