Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Our meditation for today comes from Psalm 63:1-3 NRSV.O God, you are my God; I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. David pens this prayer while on the run from Saul in the wilderness of Judah. Judah means praise the Lord and David is running for his life while landing in a place with a name to remind him to give God praise in all circumstances. But what is particularly striking is this longing for the presence of God that is described as physical longings - thirsting and fainting. Yet there is a memory of worship, a recalling of the presence of God and His loyal love that encourages the heart of the fugitive, the man on the run to the point that he moves from being in a place of praise to actually offering God a praise. As we are in this final week of Lent, Passion week, let us seek to lean into Christ so that we too may be a praise unto God.  Heavenly and loving God, may we seek your presence with greater intensity, may we long to draw closer to your bleeding side and May we always remember that your love is loyal and faithful. In Jesus’s name, Amen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “if you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”                                                             Matthew 4:1-3 NIV It was not until AFTER the fast, that Jesus was tempted by Satan, when Jesus might have been His most vulnerable. It was then, that the power of the Lord was most apparent. It was then, that the REAL work began. Jesus’ ministry started in earnest AFTER His victory over these snares that had been set by the devil.  We must be careful not to let our guard down AFTER we end our period of fasting and prayer. The devil continues to prowl in search of our vulnerabilities. We cannot become complacent when we pass through these trials, we must remain strong and resolute because when our fast is over…. the REAL work begins. Dear Lord, help us to remain strong and faithful to our pledge to you. We know that we need to persevere during our time of fasting, but help us to continue to be strong, after, our fast when our guard may be down. Lord, protect us and provide us with the strength of character you modeled to us through the scriptures. We ask this in the name of your son, Jesus our Lord, Amen.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”                                                                                           John 1:29 NIVThe world grovels at the feet of people who are high achievers in finance, or those from the music theater, or movie industries, or from sports or dance; you name it. We laud praise and honor on the “flavor of the month.” We prostrate ourselves at the altars of the glamorous, the beautiful, the influencers. A new acronym has entered our jargon: G.O.A.T., the Greatest Of All Times, which  identifies people who have excelled in their fields, like Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback in the NFL; Pele, the greatest soccer player of all time; LeBron James, the greatest NBA player (now that he has surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for career scoring record, he surpasses Michael Jordan; for some that is still a “maybe”); Serena, greatest female professional tennis player; just her first name is enough for people to know who she is. We have Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy as the greatest female and male screen legends. In dance we have Anna Pavlova, a ballerina, and Michael Jackson as the all-time greatest dancers. In the world of finance and money, we have Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Gates.But at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that the REAL G.O.A.T is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. A man who is the living Word, the Logos, very God from very God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light. His sacrifice, not just the bloodied dying on a cross but the separation from His Father, “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?” has given me, you, and all humankind the redemption that only His death and resurrection could achieve. Only God could pay the penalty that the righteous, just God of the Hebrew people demanded, the very God whose name is so precious and sacred that He is  YHWH, the Elohim of our salvation, the bright and morning star, the Yes and Amen, the Alpha and Omega, the One True God, King of kings and Lord of Lords, the mighty Counselor, the Prince of my peace and your peace, the Lamb of God. The great I AM.Pray with me: Lord, You are the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Abide with us this day; capture our hearts and imaginations so that during this Lenten season, all we see is You and who we truly are in You.  In Your precious, forgiving, loving, restoring, redemptive Name, Jesus the Christ. Huzzah! So Be It. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isaiah 58:11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. This is a promise from God! It is so reassuring to know that our God is always there to guide us! We need continual direction from God so we should always seek him so we don’t miss our way or go off course. When we don’t understand something, we should first go to the Lord for wisdom. God is the only one that has all of the answers. He is the only one that can satisfy us. We may look for different things that give us satisfaction – money, a job, people but none of those things will last. We could be waiting on something – healing in our body, a spouse or that next promotion or job. These things can be a burden to us. So, in those rough times when it seems as if we are in a drought, we need to pray and have faith in God so we can break free from these burdens. He will give us what we need. He is our strength! Jesus Christ is the unending fountain of water that we can drink from and never be thirsty again.  He will surely sustain us and give us water to drink. Seek him and we will be like a watered garden – healthy and satisfied as only God can satisfy us. Lord, I thank you that you are always there to guide me. When I don’t know which way to go, I can look to You for direction. You are the only wise God. You are the lifter of my head. When I feel weak, you strengthen me. Thank you, Lord, for helping me with every decision, big and small. Thank you for continually guiding us in the way we should go, and teaching us all things, through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.                                                                John 19:30 (NIV)  This scripture is the conclusion of the account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, what we now refer to as Good Friday. However, when you read the story there doesn't seem to be anything good here: Jesus carrying the cross on the journey to the crucifixion, the mocking on the way, the beating, being pierced by a crown of thorns and His ultimate death. We can only imagine the grief and horror of those that had been close to Jesus - His family members, His disciples, His friends. Even though the scriptures had prophesied AND Jesus taught that He would rise again, it was a very dark day, with sadness and anguish. People had lost hope because they believed that Jesus would be their Redeemer and become their Earthly king, freeing them from oppression of the Roman government. His death left many with feelings of hopelessness and despair. We as believers now call that fateful Friday Good Friday but that's only because we know how the story unfolded. When Jesus said "It is finished", His earthly ministry had come to an end but it certainly was not the end of the story. The prophecies were being fulfilled. The full story is Jesus suffering, death AND resurrection! When Sunday came the gift of Salvation was made available to us all. This was a gift not just for the moment or the season, but for eternity and for us all who would believe! Now thinking back to what those moments on Friday must have been like and the responses of the people all around. I also think about today when we are going through things, our deepest darkest hours of grief, times of challenge, times of conflict.   Sometimes it might be difficult to call a day “good” because of what we can see in front of us.It might be difficult to recognize:…that later (maybe three days, maybe more or maybe less) that something good is coming…that God is working out a bigger plan that we can't see in that moment.  When we remember that on Resurrection Sunday the goodness, and the prophecy, and the promises of Jesus were being fulfilled, then we are reminded that God is continually working out his plan for our lives. We can in those moments (in those Friday moments) remember that Sunday is coming. Deliverance is coming. Resurrection is coming. Salvation is coming! Lord help us to always remember that your plan is always at work and still at work even when we have confusion, despair, or just not enough information about what's coming next. Help us to remember that your plan is always at work even when we feel uncomfortable, sad or grieved. Help us to remember that your plan is at work and bring us to a place of peace knowing that you are in control and you're working it out for the good of us, those that love you Lord. We thank you, we praise you.In Jesus name, Amen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation also called Afib at 23 years old which is sometime ago. Afib is an irregular heartbeat. I don’t have it all the time. It happened more frequently when I was younger. Before last year -2022, the last episode was in 2015. When that happened – long story, short – I ended up in the hospital for a week and was cardioverted. Basically, I describe cardioversion as the way they shock dead people. Doctors don’t describe it that way, but… When I had another Afib episode last year, I decided I didn’t want to be shocked again or be in the hospital for a week. My new cardiologist was on board. She had a drug that could get me back into sinus rhythm, which is a regular rhythm. To make this happen, I needed to spend sometime in the hospital and they would watch me to see if the drug actually worked.  I got to the hospital relatively early. I was hoping that it would be quick. The nurse practitioner told me I’d be out before lunch. Of course, that didn’t happen and I had a great hospital lunch. (I also have jokes.) What I was doing was just lying in the hospital bed waiting. I was checked pretty regularly. My doctor came by a few times too. On her second or third visit she seemed a little disappointed, but not really surprised that it wasn’t working. I gathered that the usual protocol was to try this pill and when it didn’t work roll the patient into the area where cardioversions take place. The next check on my blood pressure gave a result of 85/40. Clearly, I don’t suffer from white coat syndrome. Hospitals and doctors don’t raise my blood pressure. My normal blood pressure runs from 90/60 – 110/70. This extra low blood pressure is one of the reasons I ended up in the hospital for a week in 2015. After the Nurse Practitioner left from checking on me, I could see my heart rate was bouncing all over the place. 97, 114, 78, 123. This is actually unusual for me. When I’m in afib, my heart rate is typically a regular irregular of less than 60 bpm.  The only thing for me to do was wait, think…and pray. I remembered Dr. Khaalida Forbes speaking at a Healthy Churches 2030 conference a few years ago. She said something about letting God heal you the way He wants. She was really talking about mental health and how some of us don’t get the help that we need and is available. You know that sometimes we ask God for something and tell Him how to do it too. Not our job. In this moment, I knew this applied to me. I wanted to be healed, my way. I just wanted the pill to fix it. In that next moment I decided that whatever way I needed to be healed, I would take it. If I had to have a cardioversion or any other process or procedure, I would be ok. I’d be healed. Then I prayed that God heal me whatever way He wanted. Almost instantly, I felt my heart go back to a normal rhythm. I looked at the monitor to see if I was just kidding myself. I wasn’t. I saw a pretty steady 64. I just laid there for a little while and waited for the Nurse Practitioner to come back. She was talking as she walked toward my bed. I could hear in her voice that she wasn’t expecting success. When she finally got close enough to look at the monitor, she said excitedly, “You’re in sinus rhythm.” “I know,” I replied rather coolly. Next she said, “You better praise God.” . I’m still praising Him.  Btw, my blood pressure was 90/60 on that next check and I was free to go home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.                                                                                                                                           ~ 1 Kings 19:11-12 KJVHave you ever been out to a baseball game?  The crowd is roaring the game is exciting, and your team is winning!  People are sitting all around you and various activities are going on. A family with three, energetic kids is sitting near you.  The parents are watching the game, aware of every move of each kid and working to keep their entire family engaged in the game.  Behind you, a group of guys sitting together and yelling across the bleachers at another party of guys for fun and laughs.  Does life sometimes seem just as loud and chaotic as the events surrounding a baseball game?  Like the parents, we try to manage and control people, and things around us. Like the guys, we find time to relax, laugh and let our guards down.  As Christians, we are constantly looking to see where God is in all of this.  It is when we spend time with God that we get to know Him more.  It is when we read God’s word, we get to hear Him more.  God wants us to spend time with Him in prayer and the reading of His word. This will help strengthen you as you go through life.  No matter how loud life gets, God will speak to you.  Lord, thank you for Your word today, a word of life and of hope.  We ask that You continue to guide us in all that we do.  We ask that You reign over every area of our lives.  We thank You for being mindful of us and for Your word that speaks to us.  Thank you that in chaos You continue to speak to us and in peace, we are able to hear you.  Thank You for loving us and for keeping Your word alive in us. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.                                                                                                                               2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)  Acknowledging weakness is viewed negatively by the world. I was always taught and told to be strong and  independent, not to show weakness. However, scripture says‘…God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.’ (1Corinthians 1:20 NLT). God allows trials, temptations, and afflictions, or ‘thorns’ in our lives to strengthen our faith in Him. As we go through our weaknesses, the Lord is waiting for us to seek Him and rely on His divine strength and power, not our own.  The apostle Paul pleaded with Jesus three times to take away his troubling affliction, the thorn in his flesh. Jesus did not remove his thorn. Instead, He told  Paul “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9a). In response to Jesus’s words, Paul said he would gladly boast about his weaknesses so Christ’s power would rest on him. Paul trusted the sufficiency of the Lord’s grace and experienced Christ’s perfect power. Through boasting about his weaknesses, Paul gave Jesus, the source of his abiding strength, all the glory and not himself. Paul knew it was because of the power he had through Jesus’s grace that even in weakness, he was strong.  Jesus said “…Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart,  because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT). Like Paul we can also experience Christ’s all sufficient power and give the Lord the glory by boasting about our weakness. We can break free from fear of weakness due to life’s struggles, temptations, trials, or any ‘thorn’. We don’t have to do it alone, in our inadequate strength. Our weakness becomes the place where we experience Christ’s power. So, acknowledge your weakness, turn it over to the Lord and trust in His divine grace and power. The Lord may not remove your thorn, but He has promised, “...Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So, we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV)  Abba Father, when we are faced with the thorns of life, help us to seek you as our ultimate source of strength and power. Help us to break free from fear of our weaknesses and see them as opportunities to experience your perfect power and glorify Your name. Thank you for always being with us and for being our strength. To You and you alone be all glory, honor, and praise. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”                                                                                                                                  Ephesians 1:4   Before the trees full of leaves swaying in the breezeBefore the wind blowing and swirling in the airBefore the clouds billowy and whiteBefore the sun flaming brightBefore the grass growing plentiful and greenBefore the oceans, rivers, lakes, and streamsBefore the birds singing their songs and dreamsBefore the ground expansive and strongBefore the flowers unfolding their soft and delicate beautyBefore the stars illuminating in the skyBefore the light of day and the night so deepBefore the water filled with every creature powerful and uniqueBefore the plants and seeds to nourish and feedBefore the animals walked the earth to roam and lead Before the foundation of it all, we were all woven together in the Spirit of the Lord.He imagined what our face, hair, hands, feet, arms, legs, and total being would be.We were all created in his love before anyone created could see.What we should see when we look at one another is an amazing sister and caring brother.God made all of us for His purpose and plan.All living together throughout the world on every land. Dear Lord,We are reminded thankful that you are love and created us before the world began. We choose your way, your will, and your plan. We choose to live together in your love sent from heaven from your heart above. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand."                                                                                                                                              Isaiah 41: 10 In this world, there will be trials and tribulations. Burdens of illness, burdens of financial hardship, burdens of Marital problems, burdens of grief and so on. Burdens small or large but one of the ones that affects us the most is the burden of FEAR, specifically fear  of the unknown. In this passage, our God tells us not to be afraid or worry. He is our Sovereign Father and when there is a need, He will help us, strengthen us and uphold us with His Righteous Right Hand.  For this love affair to be complete, we must read His word, believe in His word and pray consistently.   Lord, Your finished work on Calvary by faith has awarded us the freedom, knowing that we can come before your throne at any time without FEAR but with boldness and humility.  Even our Savior was afraid of the unknown on the cross but He gave it all to His Father who was with him to the end.  Heavenly Father, give us the grace to know that we are not alone. We have a loving Father who is always ready to carry our burdens if we allow Him to.  In Jesus’ Mighty name l have prayed. AMEN AND AMEN.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rejoice in hope; Be patient in tribulation; Be constant in prayer.                                                                                                   Romans 12:12 ESV   Do you feel defeated and helpless? Are the trials of this life, beating you down...such as trials with unexpected failing health, sudden loss of a love one, lack of finances to meet your needs, disobedient children, and the list can go on and on?  But there is good news.  Our consistent prayer and daily scripture readings, in the presence of God, can strengthen and uplift our downtrodden and crushed spirits and give us a spirit of hope and victory, rather than hopelessness and defeat. Consistent prayer with God and daily scripture readings allow us to see the heart of Jesus.  God has a divine purpose for those who love him. He wants His children to be victorious over the trials of this life. The scripture tells us to cast all our burdens upon the Lord, for He cares for us. Consistent prayer with God allows us to build a strong and intimate relationship with him.  This is where we meet him early morning or at any time of the day, to lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus. Please join me in a few affirmations:  Affirmation #1: I will acknowledge my faith and trust in God. I am sure of this: God is with me always, even unto the end of the earth. Affirmation #2: I will praise the Lord for the help of my countenance when my soul is downcast, because I trust He will help me to have victory over defeat in my life. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, our service is committed to you. Heal our broken hearts and rescue our crushed spirit from the cares of this world. Show us how to overcome defeat and be victorious through Christ Jesus. IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE PRAY, AMEN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 NIVSurviving chaos is a burden that many of us live with today. When you turn on the news, you see the direction the world is headed. A war in Ukraine, earthquakes in Turkey, shootings in schools, men convicted of murdering their families and unyielding racial social unrest. As witnesses to the pressures of the world, we not only carry the burden of caring for the well-being of ourselves but for our loved ones as well. We struggle to imagine a day when peace will prevail and we will be free from hurt, pain and calamity.In Micah chapter 7, we see a similar type of chaos unfolding around the prophet, as the Israelites are surrounded by dishonor, evil and confusion. The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes... (Micah 7:2-3) Nevertheless, Micah, a man of God, leaned into his faith, and was assured that if he waited on the Lord that his desires to be delivered would be heard. Micah teaches us a valuable lesson in how to Break free from the burden of surviving chaos. Put your hope in the Lord. Wait for him and he will hear you. It is the same blueprint that Christ would come to use as he followed the path to salvation. As we reflect on Christ’s journey to the cross, may we be encouraged to break free from the burden of surviving chaos, by laying our burdens at the feet of God and trusting that God will hear and answer.LORD, you are our hope, our joy and our peace. You love us and have called us to release our burdens to you. As we go through our burden of survival, help us to remember that You will never leave nor forsake us. And even in our pain, if we put our hope in You, that You will NEVER fail. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.  Psalm 37:3-6 NLTHave you felt alone, lost, confused, unwanted, depleted, annoyed with others or self, experiencing financial hardship, loss of life, sickness, loss of job, self-confidence, feeling JUST stuck? Fear Not ‼️  REST IN HIM 👆🏾GOD reminds us to trust HIM and do good and  continue on our journey in spite of obstacles. HE is El Roi – the GOD who sees us, knows us and got us. What is the spiritual meaning of trust?Having faith is having trust. You have to trust with your entire being that God has your back that he will help you and take care of you. He knows what is best, but to truly embrace what He has planned for you, you have to fully trust. Our trust is not foolish, for our God is both faithful and good.The enemy wants us to stop praying because it seems as if nothing is happening or taking place in our lives especially for complete healing of infirmities, mental illness, diseases and sickness. BUT, don’t stop‼️  Trust HIM ‼️ Keep pressing through. Be vigilant and focus on and in seeking HIS face.Brothers and Sisters, let us call on HIM at all times and release our thanksgiving with a grateful heart. HE forgives our sins - intentional and unintentional, our laziness, those crunchy moments with others and self, our unwillingness at times to let go and allow HIM to lead and grow us, when we are slow to make time to sit in HIS presence and listen, replacing our Bible study time with the tv, shopping or, social media, when we can go to the club, pub, picnics, our school homecoming, or choosing bedside Baptist over attending our church service on time and in person or YouTube. Please forgive us GOD.Resting in HIM allows us to quiet ourselves before GOD and revives our mind, body, and spirit. Resting in HIM is when we recuperate, rejuvenate, and re-center ourselves so we can better serve HIM and HIS very own.Again, I encourage all of us to begin and for others to continue to Trust HIS word and process. Trust that HE will make all things new.  Father, we humble ourselves before you to thank you for your greatness, loving kindness, favor, protection, discipline, direction, blessing of life and calling us into your assignments each day. Thank you for calling and equipping us, allowing us to reflect and pause to share our concerns and ask you questions. Your constant presence gives us strength, life and assurance which is needed for renewal, repentance and revival. Even in the midst of challenges and hardships, You, dear GOD, are there to whisper, embrace, direct and carry us through. You have turned our sadness into gladness and unspeakable joy, those cloudy thoughts into clarity and great faith.  We honor and love you richly. Have your way in us and through us.  In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?                                                                                                                                    Job 34:29a When we look around us, we find so much trouble. Trouble in our bodies where we, who have been healthy our entire lives, are now experiencing aches and pains that we don’t recognize. Trouble in our homes in which spouses are at war with one another, parents can’t seem to stay on the same page as children and in-laws have become outlaws. Then we turn on the radio or watch our televisions or open our newspapers and we find trouble in our communities where the constant refrain has become, “Things like that have never happened in our neighborhoods” but the increase in gun availability, illegal substances and lack of resources have caused spikes in violence, unusual behavior and upticks in crime. Then we hear about trouble in our government where politicians are lacking civility, inciting violence and speaking without thinking. Yes, we can find trouble in so many areas of our lives. And that may be bad news to some of us. But I’m so glad that we have a Lord who liberally dispenses peace in the midst of our storms, calm in the middle of our tornadoes and quiet in the center of our noise. And even when trouble seems to be in every corner of our lives, God makes sure to place us in the eye of the storm so that if we just depend on Him, that trouble, though present, won’t cause us to lose focus or be completely overwhelmed. Let us pray:Gracious Lord, we bring the trouble in our lives to You. We ask You to address all of these challenges and grant us Your peace that transcends all human understanding. Thank you for giving us quiet in the midst of the white noise and making us able to keep our eyes on You, in Jesus’s name, we pray, Amen!   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”                                                                                                           John 1:1 NKJV Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12) and he is the Word that is a lamp to our feet (Psalms 119:105) guiding us in the path and purpose for our lives. He is the Son of God who makes a way where there seems there is none (Matthew 7:7-8). When we think Jesus is not near to us the Word of God tells us Jesus has always been there from the beginning and he is the remedy for our lives. Our Lord Jesus is our answer for everything. Jesus was the remedy for the woman at the well, he was the remedy for those that were blind, he was the remedy for the woman with the issue of blood, he was the remedy to feed the five thousand who were hungry, and he was the remedy for those who were lost and needed to be found. Whether we are looking for a remedy for our marriage, our finances, or an illness we are dealing with – Jesus is the remedy. Whatever we are facing Jesus is the one that is near to listen and will never leave us to ourselves (Hebrews 13:5). We can call on Jesus and there is no 24-hour hotline, voicemails to leave, call-back numbers to give, and referrals to use. All we need to give is our heart, sharing it all with Jesus. Dear Lord,You are everything and when someone is looking for someone to help - before we reach for anything or call someone on the phone – we can say a prayer, read your precious Word, and get ready knowing in our hearts you have heard, and are answering the call because you are Jesus, Lord of our life and our remedy. Thank you for being there for us always, in Jesus’s name we do pray, AMEN! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”                                                Psalm 62:5-6 This scripture resonates with me because I am in the season of waiting. I am waiting and learning to silence my anxiety, babbling, and impatience. I am learning to be still, and I am asking the Holy Spirit to help me to be silent and wait for the voice of God. He is the rock and my ultimate Fortress. I know that if I am obedient to his will and I align my will to His will, my life’s purpose will be fulfilled. I am in a season of waiting! I am waiting and wanting to fulfil God’s purpose.  If you find yourself waiting also, remember who God is and you too will be steady during this challenging season. Let us pray:Holy Spirit, guide me! Help me to silence my desire to speak more than to listen. Help to demolish my own agenda and pursue God’s plan. Help me to be silent, to be still and be connected to my Savior. This I pray, in the name of my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.” John 17: 23 CSBKevon drove up to the school and parked in front of the building so he could quickly run to the door and pick-up his 6-year-old nephew, Dennison, by 3pm. His brother had sent him at the last minute since he was stuck in a meeting and wouldn’t be able to get his son. Kevon told him, “No problem,” since he hadn't spent time with his nephew in a while and it would give him a chance to find out how school was going with the boy. The dismissal attendant released the child to his uncle once he identified himself, on schedule. But imagine her surprise when she made her way to her car 45-minutes later and was asked by the man if she could give his car a jump because it wouldn't start. Sitting in the backseat was Dennison.  “Hi!,” the child exclaimed. How could she say no to the uncle of the little boy who’d been at school all day and was anxiously waiting to get home. “Do you have cables,” she asked? “I do,” Kevon replied.     The woman pulled her vehicle alongside the stalled car, close enough for the cables to reach from her battery to his. A school custodian had been watching nearby and eventually came over to help. “Do you have heavier cables?” he asked Kevon. The uncle said he did not. “Well, then they will have to do,” the custodian said matter-of-factly. After raising both hoods, a connection was made from her power source to the opposite end of the cables attached to his battery. She started her car, giving it a little gas to increase the flow of electricity going through the cables. After some adjustment of the connections, a complete circuit was formed and the weakened battery in Kevon’s car started up. Grateful, the man thanked both the lady and the custodian for their help and drove off with his nephew happily in tow.      Similarly, when Jesus went to the garden in Gethsemane, he went to connect to His power source, the Heavenly Father. Although he took along Peter and two other disciples, his primary purpose was one thing: to connect to the power source He would need to withstand what was about to happen to the human side of Him. And what would be Jesus’s jumper cables? The same as ours – Prayer. Three times Jesus went back to His disciples and asked them to watch his back and pray, while He went to pray to His father in heaven. Jesus understood that not only would He need the power from His father to endure the suffering to come, but that He needed to make that connection with the Father for us; so that when we pray to God, Jesus would be our “jumper cables” through which the eternal connection would be made. And, we would be “in the Father” because Jesus was in us, making the connection one… a completed circuit through which all life on earth and in heaven is given.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Everything is permissible for me," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me," but I will not be mastered by anything.”                                                   1 Corinthians 6:12 NIVA few weeks ago, I was thinking about what thing in my life I would like to abstain from during the Lenten Season. I look forward to Lent as an opportunity to work on removing things that might hinder my walk with God.  I eventually decided I would give up sugar.  I settled into the idea, knowing that giving up sugar would be hard enough to do, making it a sacrificial act.  But also knowing that it would be good start to a developing a healthier lifestyle. “I can do this, I thought. Then it struck me: My morning tea with no honey?!!  How can I possibly go 40 days with no honey? I mean after all, I had already swapped my daily cup of hot delicious coffee for this healthier tea!  But I had purposed this in my heart, and settled into my days with no sugar. This Lenten Season has made me think about how we have so much, and how easy it is to become bound by those things.  We have beautiful cars, homes and TVs with 200 sports channels. We can travel from coast to coast of the US in a just few hours. We carry the information of the world in our hands every day, in our cell phones. We live lives our ancestors could not even dream, as they prayed and hoped for a better life. While none of these are harmful in themselves, how much more important is it to have God’s Love? How much more beneficial is it to walk closely with Our Lord?  How soul satisfying it is to be able to commune with Him and to be able to hear from Him  There is no job, no car, no vacation spot or cup of honey sweetened tea that is sweeter than the love of God.  Enjoy the gifts from God, for He wants you to have abundance. But do not let any one thing become greater in your life than Him. Take time to hear from God, read the Word, spend time in his presence praying and worshipping. Give thanks continually. Any good thing you have is a gift from God. Just be careful not to allow these gifts to become a barrier between you and the promise of eternal life with Him Let’s go to the Lord:Heavenly Father, you are so good to us-even better than we deserve. Thank you for your grace and your mercy. Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ. Help us to turn to you and not let the things of the world become louder than your voice, Oh Lord. Help us to keep our walk with you strong. We need you paramount in our lives -now more than ever. Help us to make you first. We ask these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him and His righteousness, and with their children’s children.                               Psalm 103:17 NIVMany years ago, during a Women’s League Ministry meeting, we were asked to name our favorite book and verse in the Bible. At the time I didn’t have a favorite Bible chapter or verse. I had just joined MPC and started attending Bible study and Sunday School. I don’t know why I chose that Psalm, but I remember I had read a verse in Psalm 103, and verse 17 stood out. My children were younger at the time and they were always on my heart and on my mind. I was always anxious about their whereabouts, and as I was going through the MPC Museum, I saw this Psalm and verse 17 stood out in my memory. “But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness, and with their children’s children.”  I looked up this Psalm and started reading and praying this Psalm. Verse 1 opened my heart and mind for prayer. Praising the Lord is what I want to do every day, and I understand that is what God created us to do.  Verse 8 tells us, “The Lord works justice for the down trodden, and oppressed,” AND reminds me that God looks out for people of color and the marginalized. His compassion, grace, and abundant love is what I have experienced and know in my heart, this is the God I serve. I don’t fear God, but revere, respect and admire Him. Verse 17 tells me God’s love will outlast my time and my children’s time on this earth. That is why I praise my God! Father God, I come to you today thanking you for the gift of this day. This scripture has strengthened my faith and opened my eyes to the blessings of the Lord. I’m grateful that You care for those who others look down on and thankful for everything You have blessed me throughout my life. I pray that others will discover this psalm and it will minister to their lives as it ministered to mine. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I called upon the Lord in distress, the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?     Psalm 118:5-6  God answers our distress call with freedom.  When we are desperate, or in a place where we see no light or just lost our direction, that is when God steps in.  He will move us to a large space and show us that there is more to life than the limited choices that we see due to the “blinders of desperation” that are blocking our view. We must remember what God did for David, when he delivered him from all his troubles, and then placed him on the throne of Israel and gave him rest from all his enemies.  Our Father who art in Heaven, thank you for being our refuge and strength in the time of trouble.  Father God, help us to remember that you do hear and answer our prayers, in your time and not ours.  I pray that we remain in the constancy of your Grace. I will look back and thank you God and I will look forward and trust you God.  In Jesus’ name, Amen  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.