Friday, January 28, 2022

Pastor's Ponderings, January 28, 2022

Despite Man’s Decisions, God Will Triumph


Rebekah Sager in the January 25, 2022, Daily Koss, wrote an article indicating that a Texas GOP agriculture commissioner blocks federal aid to Black farmers.  The article went on to indicate the nation’s Black farmers are one group of Americans in agriculture who deserve to be taken care of because of discriminatory behavior by various powerful organizations.  The article further stated, “But just as this group was poised to receive desperately needed relief, Texas Republican Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller challenged the law, blocking the farmers from the money they were rightfully due.”

 

The Bible says, “When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.” (Proverbs 29:2 MSG). What should citizens do when we see such bad behavior by those in charge? We could be angry and conspire against our perceived bad guys. Or we could become passive and say, “What can we do?  The bad guys always win and that is just the way it is.”

 

But what should we do as children of God?  One thing that we should do is to sincerely turn to God and ask Him for our next moves.  God can send those leaders and change circumstances in favor of those who love Him since all things work together for those who love God (Romans 8:28).  He promises to guide our footsteps. Another thing for those who love the Lord is to humble ourselves, pray, learn God’s commandments, and turn from our own evil ways.  If we do this, the Bible promises that God will hear us, forgive our collective disobedience, and make things right in our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).  

 

We are not naïve optimists hoping the evil people will suddenly get a divine revelation and come crying to their knees.  But the Bible tells us to not get upset about bad people since they will be out of the way in God’s timing (Psalm 37:1, 2).  Therefore, we should not stop praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17), putting God’s will first in our lives and allowing Him to speak to our heart for our next steps. Despite how things seem to be God is still on the throne and He will work things out.   

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17

New International Version

17 pray continually,

 

Proverbs 29:2

The Message

When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.

 

Romans 8:28

New International Version

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

2 Chronicles 7:14

New International Version

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

 

Psalm 37:1, 2

New International Version

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, January 21, 2022

Pastor's Ponderings, January 21, 2022

Through God Let’s Defeat COVID in 2022

For those who were expecting a quick turnaround in 2022 in COVID-19, we are noticing upticks in hospitalizations, cases, and deaths despite over 63.0% of the United States being fully vaccinated.  This is occurring despite having a less deadly variant dominating the cases. Truly, this has not had the expected effect of putting this virus in our past.

 

What should we do as children of God? First, we should say that this virus is going away. The Bible says that we should say those things that are not as if they were (Romans 4:17).  Our life is a result of what we are continuing to say (Proverbs 18:21) so we should speak that our God is greater than any virus (1 John 4:4). The God that lives inside of us is greater than any force in the world.

 

Next, we should pray that God will protect us from its deadly effects because sincere and fervent prayers are very effective (James 5:16). The Bible says that man ought to always pray (Luke 18:1). Lastly, we should believe that our society will emerge victoriously having defeated a horrible adversary (Mark 9:23).  This is not a magical formula for success, but what we believe greatly influences victory.

 

Therefore, let’s not say this virus will win.  Let us not skip our prayers against the virus,  and we should not accept the belief that this plague will triumph over the world.  God has got the whole world in His hands despite how things look.  Let us let Him work through us (Philippians 2:13)

 

Romans 4:17

Amplified Bible

17 (as it is written [in Scripture], “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

 

Proverbs 18:21

New International Version

21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

 

1 John 4:4

New International Version

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

 

James 5:16

New International Version

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

 

Luke 18:1

New International Version

1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

 

Mark 9:23

New International Version

23 “’If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”


Philippians 2:13

New International Version

13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.


 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Pastor's Poderings, January 11, 2022

Let’s Do God’s Will in 2022 

What will we do in 2022?  It is a new day, a new time, and a new opportunity to see what amazing things that God has for us.  Old pain, challenges, mistakes, and failures can be put in the past while we contemplate our future. In the political realm, many are predicting a march towards a fascist state.  In the educational realm, many want to scrub history of anything that may be upsetting for some.  Our medical front line warriors and researchers are burning out because of COVID-19 while others argue it is all a myth, false flag, or big lie.  We really need to hear an answer from the Lord.

 

What should those who love the Lord do in 2022?  The Bible tells us that we must take this opportunity to seek the Lord while He can be found and call Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6). We must tell everyone that God wants us to change our thoughts and actions to what He would want us to do (Isaiah 55:7).  

 

We have a mission to tell a sick and dying world that God wants everyone to turn around and come to Him (Acts 17:30) because He has a place for us in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).  This year, we can use His scriptures when we fear, have doubt, are anxious, worry, or disobey God (Corinthians 10:4).  He gives us the answer. 

 

We must decide that this year we will obey His commandments, pray, study the Bible, and meditate His scriptures. We can ask God for His wisdom since man’s wisdom is what got us into the world’s horrific mess in the first place (James 1:5).   Everyone, let us seek God, listen for His voice, and do His will so that 2022 can be the best year that we have ever had.

 

Isaiah 55:6, 7

New International Version

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

 

Acts 17:30 

New International Version

30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

 

Ephesians 2:6 

New International Version

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

 

Corinthians 10:4 

New International Version

4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

 

1 Timothy 6:12

New International Version

12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

 

James 1:5

New International Version

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.


 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, January 3, 2022

Pastor's Ponderings, January 3, 2022

Faith In The New Year


Then he who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”  And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelations 21:5)

 

God makes all things new. We have finally arrived at this New Year during a global pandemic. We may feel hopeless at times, but God has given us a new day in a new year to bear witness to his glory. The only way we can combat this hopelessness is to have faith that God will move us beyond the most insurmountable roadblocks that we can imagine. It may not be popular to say, but even for believers, we often lack faith that God will truly take care of us. 

 

I am going to let you in on my personal testimony. This testimony includes many blessings, curses, and obstacles where God’s words proved repeatedly to be faithful and true. I grew up believing God but wasn’t a regular church goer. My grandmother, Helen V. Fair, prayed for me, ministered to me, and taught me to always have faith in God. 

 

When I decided to have my child at the age of twenty-two, I held on to what I had been taught and had faith that God had plans for me even though I didn’t know how we would be okay. Having a child as a college student with six credits left to graduate was a difficult decision.  Many times, I felt stupid and that I had let everyone down, but God gave me the strength to press forward, and I gave birth to my first-born son on a Saturday in 1992.

 

As a parent, I now understand how my own parents felt when I had my son, but God was with me anyway. I returned to my mother’s home (much to her disappointment) and pushed forward. Over the next five years, I suffered heart breaking setbacks including experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and poverty. Some days, I cried out to God asking how I went from a student at a top tier university to an impoverished woman. Other days, I was grateful for another opportunity to live in that moment, on that day and appreciate the gift of life for myself and my son. 

 

However, most of all I KNEW as I do today that God had more for me. I did not even know Jeremiah 29:11 at the time, but I knew that God had PLANS FOR ME!!!  I was often weary and broken because I felt like a failure, but I would tell God – whatever challenge You allow in my life, I will face it head on withYou by my side. I promise. 

 

With God providing me strength, good health, and supernatural energy, I jumped at opportunities to do better. I would work extra jobs and step through doors whenever they opened even if it they appeared “small.” I trusted that God was moving me one step forward every time. I knew for sure that God would not bring me through the valleys of life without me learning and growing from it.

 

By the time my son was six, I started working at an internet company where I would eventually become a manager and be able to provide for my family beyond my greatest imagination. My childhood dream was to become an attorney, but despite everything that happened God had a different plan for me, and I was walking in my purpose. God qualifies the called and I am a witness and have fruit from it.

 

Now my story did not end there.  Nearly 30 years after leaving school to start my family, 2022 is the year that I will receive my bachelor’s degree in just a few months. God knew the desire of my heart all along and He is making it happen. I have no idea where God is going to take me, but I have faith.

 

I am standing in awe of how God has blessed me when I didn’t see how He could turn a situation around. God blessed me with a husband of over 20 years and counting, a college graduate for a son and another son currently attending college, and a granddaughter who will be a star. Most importantly, through it all I have faith in God.

 

I have asked people who have been in church all of their lives, “Where is your faith? How can you think so small when God has shown you how enormous, powerful, and mighty the Lord is?” 

 

In this New Year – believe that God will make all things new, get your devotional and write about what the Lord is telling you, and BELIEVE in the manifestation of the fruit that your life WILL bear. Take the small opportunity with growth potential. Share your gifts by volunteering. Tell yourself that you are God’s child, and don’t believe what other people say. This is a New Year, and each blessing and opportunity is God making all things new – receive it.

 

Revelation 21:5

King James Version

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

 

Jeremiah 29:11

King James Version

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.