Colossians 2:14 “He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.” ~CSB
Kenny is a middle school student and athlete. He participates in the school’s football program and is very good for his age. One day he gets information about a ‘D1’ program that will not only help him become a better football player, it will also help him get into a good college or university. But when Kenny looks at how much it will cost, his spirit becomes low. To him it is a lot of money and he did not want to bring this to his parents. Fortunately Kenny’s coaches talked with his parents. They felt the investment in their son would be worth it so they made it happen. Kenny’s parents paid for something that Kenny could not. And because of this, Kenny will get to move into an area of his football career where he will have the chance to get better and also have access to the best colleges of his choice. As Christians, this is what happened for us. There are laws listed in the Bible that are impossible for God’s children, (as we are born into sin), to fulfill. Taking away our chances for everlasting life with Father. But God loves us so much that He chose to give us a chance at salvation. We celebrate this season, as God's Gift to all His Children, was born. God's sacrifice of His One and Only Son, is His gift to us all. You see, Jesus would take all our sins, all that ‘debt’ we could not pay for, and take it with Him to the cross. Everything that kept us from the glory of heaven, our Lord and Savior took it with Him and it was nailed on that cross. And when He died, our debt died on that cross as well. But on that third day, Jesus conquered death. God raised Him from the dead, allowing our chance for salvation to rise up with Him! It is because of Jesus, we have zero debt. It is because of Jesus we have ‘V.I.P.’ tickets to be with Him and our Father in heaven. It is because of Him our chance for everlasting life exists! So this holiday season, it doesn’t matter if Christmas is not the way you want it to be. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the finances to get others gifts or if you don’t get any gift yourself. That’s not what this season is about. There is a gift that all of us have already received and it is the best gift ever given and received. The reason this season exists is because a Man, over 2000 years ago, made a choice to give His life for all God’s children. The joy of this season is knowing we serve a God who loves us so much that we have a chance to be with Him and His Son in paradise. All we have to do is believe that Jesus died for our sins and was resurrected for our salvation. This is the true meaning of the season. May God continue to bless you and your families as you all continue to walk in Jesus’ name. Amen
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![]() Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” You are watching your favorite football team. It is at the end of the game, three seconds to go. Your team is down two points. Your team is in great field position to kick a field goal and win the game. Your team’s field goal kicker sets up to kick. The ball is snapped to the holder. The kicker puts it away and the ball is up. In the air, it sails to the right and the field goal is missed! Your team loses. The first thing that comes out of your mouth is, “You had one job!” This guy spends all his time practicing, kicking field goals and when the time comes for it to really count, he fails. It’s funny how you look at something or someone having one main job. We think that they should be perfect in it. Well this is not always true. At any time, anything can happen. This is why we must do two things as we journey in our Christian walk. We must remember that we have ‘one job’. Matthew Chapter 22 tells us in the text above that we must love the Lord with all our hearts, soul and mind. In order to do this we must be in a ‘constant relationship building’ process with God. This means we have to follow steps everyday in making this happen. We cannot do anything righteous in this world without God. We must get into His Word Everyday so that we can receive and allow His peace to surpass our thoughts. In this we will understand and lean on Him instead of what the world shows us. When we receive His peace, then we can begin to heal. God’s love and power will heal us in those places that keep us from loving, giving and forgiving. A healing so great we, the words and actions of others won’t hurt us anymore. We will begin to see people, places and situations differently. Not through our eyes, but through an understanding of God’s perspective. When this happens, we will be able to love others in spite of who they are, or what they may do to us. We love because we are commanded to love and we love because others are God’s children. He loves all of us very much. Jesus did not die for a selection of people. He died for everyone. It is our job to love so that others will see God and His love through us and our actions. This love is commanded in verse 39 when Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This command is second and equally as important as the first command. Remember, we have ‘One Job’, and that is to love. Let us practice it by remembering God’s love for us. So that we may show that same love to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. May God always bless you with the courage, strength, determination and wisdom to live righteously in this world. Amen ![]() Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.” ~CSB As a husband, I represent my wife and family. Being in law enforcement, I represent an agency as a servant to the public. And as an ordained minister, I represent The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. I represent the church. The one thing all of these positions have in common is that they all require a uniform. In any of those uniforms I cannot be ‘Billy Jackson’, saying and doing whatever I want. No, I must represent all these uniforms according to the policies, rules and regulations that govern them. These uniforms are all different. As a police officer, my uniform is visible. There is no question who I represent when I wear this uniform. If I were to do anything ungodly, others would not just see ‘Billy Jackson’, they would see a ‘police officer’. Now the uniform of the ordained minister is a little different. In church I may wear a visible uniform that defines who I am as clergy in the pulpit. But outside in the public, wearing regular clothes, that uniform is not visible. But look at this: those who know me as a minister, still see me in a spiritual uniform. Therefore those that have experienced my teaching in the pulpit, will see me as a minister in public as well if I were to stray away from the ways of the church. As a husband, there is no visible uniform. But to my wife and to those who know I am married, that uniform spiritually appears in their eyes. If I were to do anything that may disrespect the marriage uniform, others will see. So you see, we all wear some kind of uniform in our lives, visible or non visible. There is one we take off, and there is one we cannot. It is the one that we wear all the time we must concentrate on. When we walk in the name of Jesus, we must always be aware of what we are wearing. Others who God has affected and blessed through us will always see us in God’s uniform. They will see the, “...garments of salvation…” and see us “...wrapped in a robe of righteousness…” (Isaiah 61:10). They will see us in our, “...full armor of God…” (Ephesians 6:11). When they are affected by us, as we live and walk in God’s will for our lives, in front of them, they will always see a uniform that represents the church. So in order to make sure you cover your walk with the blood of the Lamb, “...Put on the Lord Jesus Christ…” every morning before you journey into the world. You will need to clothe yourself with the scriptures from Romans, Isaiah, and Ephesians in order to starve the flesh, leaving its desires wanting. May God dress you well as you journey in Jesus’ name. Amen ![]() Hebrews 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” ~NIV Little Bobby's grandfather bought him some ice cream at an ice cream truck in the park. After receiving the ice cream, little Bobby strolls to a spot in the park to sit down and enjoy his ice cream. Just before he tastes his delicious dessert, he observes another little boy. This particular little boy is dressed in worn, old and dirty clothes. With a sad face, the little boy is watching the other kids, standing with their parents, in the line at the ice cream truck. Bobby gets up, walks over to the little boy, “Excuse me, but would you like this ice cream?” The little boy looks at the sweating two scoops of vanilla and chocolate, and with a huge smile, nods his head. Bobby, without hesitation, gives his ice cream to the little boy. The little boy thanks him and walks away devouring the two scoops. Bobby’s grandfather walks up to him and says, “That was really nice of you Bobby! I am so proud of you! You have a natural giving nature. Now come on, I’m gonna get you another two scoops.” “No granddaddy.” Bobby says as he keeps his eyes on the little boy eating the ice cream. “I don’t want another one.” Confused, his grandfather asks, “Why not? You deserve it.” Bobby takes a breath and says proudly, “Because, I don’t think I would enjoy the ice cream as much as I am enjoying watching my new friend. He is actually enjoying the ice cream more than I ever could.” Bobby is a great example of the saying, ‘It is better to give than to receive.’ You see, at first Bobby may have given away his ice cream because he knew he could just get some more. But after giving it to the little boy, he was able to see the joy come upon that child. In his face and his actions, as he ate the ice cream. That in itself was satisfaction enough for Bobby. As Christians this is how we should be as well. Wanting to give and live a life of sharing joy. When our relationship with God becomes stronger, and we walk in the way Christ does, our desire to give becomes stronger than our desire to receive. This is because we get this godly desire from God. He gave us more than we deserve when He sacrificed His Son for all of us. God's giving is how we should pattern our giving. Not just financial or material things, but also in love and in time. It is through this love and time God will seed into others through us, His Word of peace and prosperity. So that we may live a life where He is pleased. Sharing in love, joy, peace, and patience is what’s needed today in our journey in Christ. May God bless you with all you need to accomplish His mission of giving as you journey in Jesus’ name. Amen |
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