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Greetings,

What is the standard by which we should live our lives and act toward others, especially those who are different from us? It’s easy to find excuses to treat people badly if we’ve had a difficult day, the bills are due, if we were treated disrespectfully by someone else, or we had a disagreement with a spouse. We might even think our actions are justified, but are they? To begin, we must first consider these words from the Book of Psalms:  

Psalm 119:128 (NKJV) - “.... all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.”

According to the writer of this psalm, the bottom line must be this: God’s Word is the ultimate completely accurate authority on all human and spiritual matters. When the teaching of God’s Word is not accepted as ‘truth,’ our failure to accept His standard becomes the underlying cause of all types of incorrect behavior. God’s Word teaches us to love one another. Love unites us. Treating people badly divides us.

Take racism: it is the belief that one race is superior to another. It is discrimination that comes from embracing a concept that is against the standard of scripture. After all, are we even really that much different from one another? According to the following scripture, I submit that racism could never be a biblical concept:

Acts 17:26 (NKJV) – “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.”

Lord, help us to accept Your Word as ultimate truth! Give me grace to treat everyone I meet with kindness and respect. They are my distant kin, for You created all of us and caused us to descend from Adam. Love the world through me, and allow my actions to reflect Your goodness to everyone.

Today, I am worshiping with Hillsong and “Jesus I Need You.”

We love you and are praying for you. Be INSPIRED!

Pastor

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Greetings,

What has God made you to do? You do know that He made you for a reason, right? Not one of us is here by accident. The key to personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment is to fulfill the purpose for which you were created. Look at what Apostle John wrote:

John 17:4 (NKJV) – “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”

So have you discovered what your purpose is? If not, you should get busy finding why you were born. Until you make that discovery, and then begin doing your Father’s business, life will not—and indeed, cannot have any real meaning.  

Father, today I exalt You as my God and Creator. I ask You to reveal the reasons why You fashioned me and allowed me to be born. I want to stay busy doing Your business. And like Christ, I want to finish the work You have given me to do.

Today, I’m worshiping with Upperroom and “Pour My Love On You.”  

We love you and are praying for you. Be INSPIRED!

Pastor

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Greetings,

Do you find yourself living from crisis to crisis? If so, perhaps there is a reason.

Great awakenings and revivals have often been preceded by dire need and adversity. That was true with Israel. It’s also been true in our own nation and of revivals that have occurred throughout the world! Have you ever wondered why? If so, notice this verse in the Book of Psalms:

Psalm 119:67 (NKJV) – “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.”

It isn’t because pain is necessary to the process. Rather, it’s because when we are doing well, whether as a nation, a family or as individuals, we often take God and His blessings for granted. When we forget God, we fail to seek His counsel and are more inclined to make decisions that fail to honor Him. During times when we are beset by challenges, we’re more inclined to pray and ask God to help us.

What would happen if we learned to pray every day and invited God to lead us—even when times are good?  No doubt, the same God who hears our cries of desperation when we’re hurting, would also hear us when times are good. In fact, He would prefer that His children abide in His continual blessings and favor.

So, why wait to pray? Let’s seek Him every day. Like the old song goes, “Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.”

Father, we come to You in prayer. We ask You to guide our steps today. Help us to honor You in all we do. As we turn our eyes toward You, restore our nation, bring revival to our people, heal the economy …. and please, heal our land!

Today, I’m worshiping with Riddle/Gretzinger and “All Is for Your Glory.”

We love you and are praying for you. Be INSPIRED!

Pastor

Greetings,

Today is Easter! CHRIST IS RISEN! These words bring hope to all of mankind.

Had Jesus not been resurrected, as heartbreaking, as tragic and as horrible as His death was, and though it was freely offered by One who was more truly loving, pure and sacrificial than we deserved, and even though this selfless act came from a place of purity unknown to the rest of us and found only in the spotless heart of the holy Lamb of God, His death would still not have changed anyhing. Had Jesus stayed in the tomb, alas, we would still be lost! But the good news is that He did rise triumphant over death, hell and the grave! He is alive!

As the sun rose in the East, God’s Son, Christ rose from the cold embrace of death and walked out of that tomb early Easter morning! The greatest need the world had ever faced was resolved in that moment. A remedy for earth’s worst dilemma, one for the most dreaded of humanity’s problems was provided. Atonement for sin had been accepted by God and the resurrection proved He had.

1 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but MADE ALIVE BY THE SPIRIT.

Come to think about it, that’s better than finding a cure for cancer, ending all wars or lifting everyone out of poverty. The sacrifice for our sins was received on Heaven’s altar, decreed paid in full and we were declared forgiven!

And once again, how do we know that it is so? What assurance do we have that the sacrifice of Jesus’s death was accepted in payment? Because God raised up Christ from the dead to prove it once and for all!

Thank You Lord Jesus for loving me so much that You would give Your life for me. I owed a debt I could not pay. You paid a debt You did not owe. The fact that You rose to life again settles any questions that I might have about whether You care enough, Your blood is powerful enough, You can reach far enough or love me enough to save me. You proven the Gospel works! Thank You!

Today I’m worshiping with Trust In God by Elevation Worship and Chris Brown

We love you and are praying for you. Be INSPIRED!

Pastor