Category: Ministry

the work or vocation of a minister of religion

The Source of your strength

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“The source of your strength”

1 Samuel 30: 6 “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (NKJV)

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. When pressure or stress has been applied to the chain, it’s not the entire chain that breaks; it’s the weakest link in the chain that cannot handle the pressure.

We read in the scripture that David was greatly “distressed”. The feelings that he was experiencing were anxiety, sorrow and pain. These feelings are normal when someone has been put in crisis situation.

At any given time we can experience feelings of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. Often times we may find ourselves in a situation where we feel “hard pressed” on every side with nowhere to go or no one to turn to. Many times the choice that is made about what to do, or where to go to gain the strength that is needed, turns out to be the wrong choice.

Some turn to drugs and alcohol, which will only anesthetize the feeling of being stressed or distressed. When the effect of the alcohol and drugs wear off, those feelings that a person was experiencing come back. Some may try gambling, viewing pornography or using nicotine to obtain relief. The sad part about these choices is that sometimes they may not be available to use, and a person can no longer use them to get the relief that they are seeking.

Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (KJV)

Because God is the God who never slumber or sleeps (Psalms 121:4)…He is an ever present help in a time of trouble (Psalms 46:1)

2 Samuel 22:33  “God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.” (KJV)

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”(KJV)

David made the right choice to seek the Lord his God for the strength that he needed in a time of crisis…let us follow the example that David set and seek God to be the one and only true “source of our strength.” Amen!

O God, I pray that those who need strength or encouragement will follow the example that David set, and seek You for all that is needed. In Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service Rev…

Direction

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“Direction”

Can you see where you are going?

Psalms 37:23 “The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path]” AMP

Many vehicles today are equipped with a feature called “Smart Auto headlights.” This automictic lighting system guards against a person forgetting to turn the vehicles headlights on when it starts to get dark, or when entering a tunnel. This feature will also turn the headlights off once the ignition is turned off, and the key has been removed from the ignition.

Without being able to see and having clear directions, a person won’t know where they are going, and it will be easy to get lost.

The voice of God, his written word, the Holy Spirit and our Lord and savior Jesus Christ work together to equip, lead and guide believers with a supernatural “Smart Auto Direction System”.

Without having clear directions, a person won’t know where they are going and it will be easy to get lost. When a believer walks by faith in this supernatural system, the direction and path they are taking will always be in the right direction.

Psalms 119:133 “Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have no dominion over me.” NKJV

Lord, continue to lead and guide each of my steps that I may not stumble or fall or iniquity.

Psalm 17:5 “My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.” NIV

Lord, give me the strength to hold on to your paths.

Psalm 85:13 “Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway.” NKJV

Lord, I pray that righteousness will continue to go before me in all the paths that I take.

Psalm 40:2 “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.” NKJV

Lord, thank you saving me from many types of danger, establishing my steps, and setting me on a firm foundation.

Proverbs 5:21 “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths.” NKJV

Lord, I believe that nothing is hidden from your sight, and thank you for examining the direction that I am going in.

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” NKJV

Lord, in spite of the plans that are made by me, You continue to determine my steps.

Proverbs 20:4 “A man’s steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?” NKJV

Lord, I believe that my steps are directed by You, and I do not need to lean on my own understanding for confirmation about the direction I am going in...Amen

Continuing in His service…Rev

Seeking God

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Seeking God

“Seeking His presence”

I have noticed on several occasions robins hunting for worms and after doing some research, I found it to be quite remarkable of how they find them. Basically, robins have 3 methods of finding worms. Robins find worms by;

  • Vision—they turn their heads to one side and focus on the dirt moving, or to see if the worm is coming out of their burrows.
  • Sound—they listen for movement of worms in the ground
  • Touch—they stand still to be able to feel movement of the ground under their feet

These methods are effective with how the robin finds worms.

The 1st most important step for the robin is to seek the worms that it wants to find, because the worms do not come to the robin on their own. If the robin does not go in search of what it wants, seeking what it wants to eat, it will go hungry.

And so it is with God. The scripture tells us in Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him”.

As it is with the robin being diligent with seeking worms, we must also be diligent when we are seeking God.

One might ask “so how do I seek God”? Again as with the robin having several methods of seeking worms, we have several methods of how we can seek God.

  • We can seek Him thru prayer 2nd Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”.
  • We can seek Him with fasting Matt 6:17,18 “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly”.
  • We can seek Him with our praise Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord”!
  • We can seek Him with the reading of His word Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”.
  • We can seek Him by being sitting quietly, and being still to listen for the sound of His voice Psalm 131:2 “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child”.
  • We can seek Him with our worship Matt 2:11 “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh”.

God is not a respecter of persons, He will acknowledge whoever comes to Him seeking His presence.

Matt 7:7,8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”.

“Abba Father, give me the strength to remain diligent about seeking you. In Jesus name…. Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

Greed

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Greed

1 Timothy 6:9-10

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” NIV

Greed can be a negative force that will drive people to do evil. The bible gives a warning about having a “love of money.

There is nothing wrong with having wealth or being rich, but a person that has wealth has to be constantly on guard against not trusting God to supply their needs. No matter haw much wealth that is obtained, or how rich a person becomes, a person has to remember to continue looking to God as their source.

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Amp

On many occasions individuals have become wealthy or gained riches by working hard in a business that they own, or by receiving promotions and raises at their place of employment. There is nothing wrong with a person enjoying the success they have worked hard at, but they still have to keep a healthy perspective on what they have accomplished.

1st John 2:15 “Do not love this world nor the things that it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” NLT

Allowing oneself to succumb to “the love of money” or getting “caught up” in having material possessions, can lead to a person’s down fall. So one might ask themselves the question “how much is enough and what needs to done to get more”? The bible gives the answer and clear direction to this question;

Luke 12:15 “Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.” AMP

God knows exactly what we need and how much we need. He provided fresh manna daily for for the people that were in the wilderness for 40 years.

Jeremiah 29:11″For I know the plans that I have for you, says the lord. they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” NLT

Father in heaven, thank you for being the source that provides, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev