Many of you have learned by experience that the worship songs we sing and hear at church have a much more meaningful message than the songs of the world. Even so, we often sing these songs without meditating on their message and if there was ever a time to sing the songs of God and letting their message penetrate our hearts and soak into our beings, it is now. They can bring comfort, joy and peace at a time when it is so greatly needed
Many of you who are reading this blog are right now going through a very trying storm. The faith of every child of God is being greatly tested because the current Coronavirus ordeal is touching every one of us and our loved ones in one way or another. Yet, even in the midst of a storm there is always one or two positive things that result from it. In the case of my wife and I, we are more focused on our health needs, are saving quite a bit of money because we’re under “house arrest” and not eating out, and we are spending more quality time together. I’ve washed my hands so much lately, my hands look like a fake rubber chicken.
Returning to the topic of hymns and Christian music, I am being reminded of a little chorus in Spanish we used to sing that said something like this: “The joy that I have, the world did not give it to me, and because the world did not give it to me, neither can it take it away.” The point here is that God’s children cannot let the world, anything, or anybody, including this virus, steal or joy. In my imagination, I am seeing Brother George “Coach” Leos up on the church stage singing: “There aint nothing gonna steal my joy.” To that sentiment we should all say “Amen, Amen, and Amen!
Today’s promise: (Psalm 30:5) “For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing will come in the morning.”
20 de marzo de 2020
No todos los hijos de Dios lo admitirán, pero hay momentos, especialmente en medio de una crisis, cuando comenzamos a cuestionar la efectividad de nuestras oraciones a Dios. Supongo que muchos cristianos en todas partes ya han alcanzado un cierto nivel de frustración porque, para ellos, su petición para que Él detenga esta pandemia de Coronavirus en sus pistas aún no ha sido respondida. Uno de mis compañeros pastores dice que Dios solo tiene tres respuestas para nuestras oraciones, sí, no, y aún no. No importa cuál de las tres escucharemos, nunca debemos olvidar que el propósito del Señor siempre se cumplirá y su respuesta nos beneficiará al final. Además, mientras "esperamos en el Señor" tenemos el apoyo de su gracia, sin mencionar nuestra fe.
La fe es uno de los preciosos regalos de Dios para sus hijos. Con él, podemos adquirir muchas victorias. Con eso, nos convertimos en vencedores. Juan escribió: “Porque todo lo que es nacido de Dios vence al mundo. Y esta es la victoria que ha vencido al mundo: nuestra fe ". (1 Juan 5: 4) La fe es como el dinero en el banco. Está ahí para que lo saquemos cuando lo necesitemos y no hay límite para lo que podemos sacar porque el Banco del Cielo nunca puede ir a la quiebra. Siempre estará disponible para nosotros. Desafortunadamente, no siempre lo aprovechamos y cuando no lo hacemos, Dios no puede estar satisfecho. Hebreos 11: 6 dice: "Y sin fe es imposible agradar a Dios, porque cualquiera que acuda a él debe creer que Él existe y que Él recompensa a quienes lo buscan fervientemente".
Mis queridos hermanos, si alguna vez hubo un momento para que el pueblo de Dios orara con un corazón creyente y una determinación piadosa, es ahora. Y como creo que todos oraremos así, no tengo ninguna duda en mi mente de que no veremos grandes cosas dentro de poco.
Not all of God’s children will admit it but there are times, especially in the midst of a crisis, when we begin to question the effectiveness of our prayers to God. I suppose that many Christians everywhere have already reached a certain level of frustration because, to them, their petition for Him to stop this Coronavirus pandemic in it’s tracks has not yet been answered. One of my fellow pastors says that God only has three answers to out prayers, yes, no, and not yet. No matter which of the three we will hear, we must never forget that the Lord’s purpose will always be accomplished and His response will benefit us in the end. Additionally, while we “wait upon the Lord” we have the support of His grace, not to mention our faith.
Faith is one of God’s precious gift to His children. With it, we can acquire many victories. With it, we become overcomers. John wrote: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4) Faith is like money in the bank. It is there for us to draw from it whenever we need it and there is no limit to what we can take out because the Bank of Heaven can never go bankrupt. It will always be available to us. Unfortunately, we don’t always avail ourselves of it and when we don’t, God can’t be pleased. Hebrews 11:6 reads: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
My fellow believers, if there was ever a time for God’s people everywhere to pray with a believing heart and a godly determination, it is now. And because I believe that we will all pray like that, there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that we won’t be seeing great things before too long.
This is one of Pastor Mike's favorite bible verses: (2 Chronicles 7:14) "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." We must keep in mind that this message was originally given to God's people by way of King Solomon. From time to time, they had abandoned Him to serve many idols and false Gods. It was a reminder to them that, nonetheless, their God was a merciful and forgiving God. Well, He hasn't changed. Neither have His promises.
Like many of you, I have no idea why we are all going through this difficult time. Anyone who says otherwise is either lying or else doesn't know God and His ways in the first place. To begin with, God is not asking us to understand Him, He wants us to trust Him. What we do know is what we see in this promise. As God's children, if we humble ourselves before Him, if we stop doing whatever we are doing that displeases and dishonors Him, and we pray with all the faith He Himself has deposited into our hearts, He will hear us, forgive us, and heal our land. Its a promise!
In the 12th Chapter of the Book of Acts, we read of the time when the Apostle, Peter, was arrested and put in Prison by King Herod. Verse 5 reads: "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." You all know what happened after that. Peter was so miraculously freed from prison, that even those praying for him had a hard time believing it. I choose to believe that history will repeat itself because God's true children will pray today for this ordeal to end much sooner than what everyone expects. And it will!
One more thing: the more you, dear child of God, suffer because of this difficult trial, the sweeter will be your rejoicing when all this is over. I hope to be with you again tomorrow.
PS: Thank you so much everybody for your thoughts and prayers on our behalf. They have helped us tremendously and mean so much to us.
19 de marzo de 2020
Este es uno de los versículos favoritos del Pastor Mike: (2 Crónicas 7:14) "Si mi pueblo, que lleva mi nombre, se humilla y ora, y me busca y abandona su mala conducta, yo lo escucharé desde el cielo, perdonaré su pecado y restauraré su tierra.". Debemos tener en cuenta que este mensaje fue originalmente dado al pueblo de Dios por medio del Rey Salomón. De vez en cuando, lo habían abandonado para servir a muchos ídolos y dioses falsos. Les recordó que, sin embargo, su Dios era un Dios misericordioso y perdonador. Bueno, el Señor no ha cambiado. Tampoco sus promesas.
Como muchos de ustedes, no tengo idea de por qué todos estamos pasando por este momento difícil. Cualquiera que diga lo contrario está mintiendo o no conoce a Dios y sus caminos en primer lugar. Para empezar, Dios no nos pide que lo entendamos, Él quiere que confiemos en Él. Lo que sí sabemos es lo que vemos en esta promesa. Como hijos de Dios, si nos humillamos ante Él, si dejamos de hacer lo que estamos haciendo que lo desagrada y lo deshonra, y oramos con toda la fe que Él mismo ha depositado en nuestros corazones, Él nos escuchará, nos perdonará y sanará. nuestra tierra. ¡Es una promesa!
En el Capítulo 12 del Libro de los Hechos, leemos sobre el tiempo en que el Apóstol Pedro fue arrestado y puesto en prisión por el Rey Herodes. El versículo 5 dice: "Entonces Pedro fue mantenido en prisión, pero la iglesia estaba orando fervientemente a Dios por él". Todos ustedes saben lo que sucedió después de eso. Peter fue tan milagrosamente liberado de la prisión, que incluso aquellos que oraron por él tuvieron dificultades para creerlo. Elijo creer que la historia se repetirá porque los verdaderos hijos de Dios orarán hoy para que esta prueba termine mucho antes de lo que todos esperan. ¡Y lo hará!
Una cosa más: Querido hijo de Dios, cuanto más sufras a causa de esta difícil prueba, más dulce será tu regocijo cuando todo esto termine. Espero estar contigo de nuevo en poco tiempo.
PD: Muchas gracias a todos por sus pensamientos y oraciones. Nos han ayudado enormemente y significa mucho para nosotros.
Have you ever heard the expressions, “IF is a very big word” or “IF changes everything”? Many will go on to try to explain the phrase by adding something corny like: “IF frogs had wings, they wouldn’t bump their behind on the ground so much.” The general idea is that a little word can make a big difference, even change everything. Reading Psalms 4 earlier today, David added a little word to the last verse (8) that, at least in my estimation, clarified the verse dramatically. The word I am referring to is the word “both.” It reads: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” (KJV) Many of the newer bible translations leave out the word “both.”
Here’s why I think that word (both) is important: To me, David was simply saying “Not only will I sleep good, I will sleep in peace.” As I read that verse earlier today, I immediately remembered an old close friend whom I tried several times to win for Christ. He would constantly say something like: “Don’t worry about me, I sleep well at night.” To be honest, back then I couldn’t figure out how a person without Jesus in his heart could sleep well at night. That question was answered not too long after when I started on a new work schedule. Because of it, for twenty years after that, my daily routine featured long hours at work and an average of four hours of sleep daily. I know that it is important, but it is hard for me not to think sometimes that perhaps sleep may be overrated because I was able to function for twenty years despite the lack of it.
Oh, here’s what I learned: being able to sleep soundly at night doesn’t mean all that much. There are many who are able to fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow. Sleeping soundly and sleeping in peace can be two different things. Many who sleep well, will get up irritable, groggy, and sometimes even scared in the morning because they had a terrifying dream. This very seldom happens to God’s true children. Regardless of the hours of sleep they receive, they are at peace during the day because they slept in peace during the night. The word “both” in today’s verse made a big difference, but Christ in our hearts makes a bigger difference still. Trust Him with all your heart and you may even see the difference in the quality of your sleep.
Gods word for today: (Psalm 149:5) “Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.”
Conversing with a fellow minister recently he unconsciously conveyed his belief that some of his church members believe that he is not very bright. His suspicions are not unfounded because we all know some church folks who publicly declare that they are smarter or know more than their pastor. I can’t ask for a show of hands but what about you? Whether you’ve let it be known or not, do you think you are more intelligent or wiser than your pastor? If you answered “yes”, that does not necessarily make you a bad person. In your case, you could just be conveying a fact or what you believe to be true. For example, you may be a college graduate with a masters degree and your pastor is not.
Here’s the obvious bottom line: Many members are more intelligent than their pastor. Even so, that issue may not be as important or crucial as many may think. You see, God does not always call His servants into the pastoral ministry because they are geniuses. He calls them for a definite place, purpose, time or group of people. God is much more interested in their “heart” that in their “mind.” This does not mean, however, that all ministers are birdbrains. Many of them are highly intelligent although that is not a chief requirement. Lets be honest: we all know folks who have brilliant minds but have no common sense whatsoever. I know some men who have the mind of a genius but could not name you one part under a car’s hood.
Whether God’s true ministers are intellectuals or not, this one fact remains: knowledge and use of God’s Word as well as their many years of walking with Him, makes them much smarter and wiser than most. Who can know more than God? Therefore, all knowledge begins with Him. That’s what the writer of Psalms 111 had in mind when he wrote: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” (verse 10) Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
If your pastor is not a college graduate with a PhD but is a genuine servant of God, relax. You’re in good hands because he is in good hands, and more important than his mind, his heart belongs to Jesus.
God’s word for today: (Psalm 119:88) “Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.”
Even before yesterday’s passing of the acclaimed “queen of soul”, Aretha Franklin, I was already thinking of her greatest and best known hit, “RESPECT.” In fact, every time I think of that word or topic, I think of her and her legendary song. You see, just recently, whether intentional or by accident, one individual disrespected me “big time.” By God’s grace, I was able stay quiet, keep my composure, and hide my real feelings. I’m pretty sure those around us didn’t notice a thing. With some folks I know, this offender would not have been so lucky. Later that night, during my “quiet time” with the Lord, I also added these two new petitions to Him: (1) “Please remove this stinging feeling and (2) help me to completely forget it.” Today, I can honestly say that God has removed the sting although its pretty apparent I haven’t completely forgotten the offence. Nevertheless, by His grace, God’s children can have perfect peace even when they don’t completely forget the offence (s). I know I do.
Throughout my many years as pastor, time and time again I have had to counsel with people who were disrespected and had an extremely difficult time dealing with it. Besides praying with them, I ask them to lift up to God the same petitions I just mentioned. I know God is faithful to comfort, remove the hurt, and help them “forget it.” I also remind them of what the Lord reminded me of recently. It is this: Christ was disrespected and He was the Son of God. Jesus told His disciples: “Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!” (Matthew 10:25 NLT)
I know all of you have been disrespected at one time or another and I don’t know how you have handled it in the past. Nevertheless, the advice I have given others applies to you as well. Next time it happens, it is imperative that you take action as quickly as you can, if not instantaneously. If you don’t, the devil will have a field day with it. He will tell you that you don’t deserve that kind of treatment, that if anyone deserves respect, it is you. If you listen to his lies, things will only get worse for you and everyone around you. More importantly, he will have been successful of robbing you of the joy and peace Christ wants you to enjoy. C’mon, snap out of it, and as far as the offence is concerned, forget it.
God’s word for today: (Proverbs 19:11 NLT) “Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.”
In the closing of last night’s bible study in Church, I was asked about the difference regarding the two judgments I lightly touched upon. Since this topic was important and merited clarification last night in the heart of one of our class members, I assumed it is the same for many Christians as well. Today, therefore, I want to go into more detail concerning these two events, the Judgment seat of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment. Lets begin with the latter.
In the 20th Chapter of Revelation, verses 11-15, these are the highlights: The setting is God’s great white throne. The people who will be assembled before him on that day are described as “the dead, great and small.” It goes on to speak of the “book of life” which will be opened before them and will be used to judge them for what they did in their lifetime. It ends with verse 15 which reads: “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Let me add that the multitude described in this passage is comprised of all those who rejected and did not believe in Christ while they lived on earth.
The Judgment seat of Christ, on the other hand, is where all who believed and received Christ in their hearts and lives during their time on earth, will appear. Paul wrote : “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) No doubt about it fellow believers, we will all stand before Christ one day in our future. The main differences here, are: (1) This will not change or have any effect on our eternal destiny. Our salvation is safe and secure because of what Christ did. It can never, nor will it ever, be revoked. (2) This judgment will only determine what degrees of rewards we will receive from Christ for the works we did while in this life.
The space I allot these blogs will not permit me to go into more detail but the clear message is this: Those who are in Christ have no reason to fear regarding their promise of eternal life, and those who are not should make a sincere effort to become Christians while they still can. As far back as 700 years before Christ came to earth, this was God’s message to the world by way of the prophet Isaiah: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” (Isa. 55:6) I hope that through today’s blog you may comfort and encourage a fellow believer and/or point a new soul to Christ.
God’s word for today: (John 10:28) “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
I have never pretended to be overly spiritual but I can truthfully claim, like all true children of God, that the Holy Spirit lives within me. I tell you this because earlier this morning I felt like the Lord gave me this following simple message especially for two or more of you who will read this blog today. Do you remember the wacky old Disney tune that has these lyrics: “put them together and what have you got, bibbidi, bobbidi, boo”? Well, the Lord has a “put them together and what have you got” message for you today.
We begin with well known story of Joseph, the son of Jacob. Sold by his own brothers as a slave and taken to a strange new land (Egypt) where he seemed to be all alone in the world with one cruel blow after another. His story seemed to end with his imprisonment. Things looked hopeless for him, yet, you all know how his story ended. Then, there was the account in 2 Kings, Chapter 6 of the day when the prophet Elisha was surrounded by a huge army sent by the king of Aram to capture and probably execute him later. When his despairing attendant asked him “what shall we do?”, the prophet prayed “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” God answered that prayer and the fearful servant saw the hills full of the fiery horses and chariots of God. Elisha and his servant were left unharmed.
We move on to the time Jesus’ disciples were terror stricken while in a violent storm at sea. Jesus calmed the storm right before their eyes. They were safe and unharmed because He was in the boat with them. Jesus later, in order to teach His disciples to always pray and never give up, told them the story of a widow who doggedly pestered an unrighteous judge who was left with no choice but to answer her petition. (Luke 18) Finally, we come to the story of the time when it appeared God’s people would be slaughtered by the pursuing Egyptian army. Seemingly trapped at the edge of the Red Sea, many started railing against Moses but he replied: “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” (Exodus 14:13)
When we put all these together, this is the message the Lord has for you today: Things may look hopeless for some of you today but God wants you to open your eyes of faith. He wants to remind you that He is with you in the middle of your storm. And because He is, don’t give up! Now, just sit back and see the salvation of the Lord.
God’s word for today: (Psalms 27:1) “The Lordis my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lordis the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
