A Short Eulogy

I haven’t written many eulogies thus far in life, in fact I’ve probably only written two. Nevertheless, what I do know of eulogies is that they are the summary of a person’s life – what they liked, what they did, who they were, how they contributed to the world. Hence, at funerals one often hears things like “He was a great businessman; he worked tirelessly to fulfill his dreams”; or “she was so tremendously talented; thousands were touched by her singing”. But how often has a person’s life been summed up as “He was a worshiper; he lived a life of worship”?

Worshiping God is synonymous to ministering to Him, and ministering to God is synonymous to serving Him. Therefore, we worship God with our lives when our lives are spent in His service. 

Now, it can be a tricky thing for you to say you’ve spent your life serving God if you’re not sure what that truly means; because to serve Him means to be at His disposal (consistently faithful to His directives, and committed to developing intimate relationship with Him). That said, a life of worship is:

A life in which God is placed first (Mark 12:30)

A life that is lived according to the principles of God’s Word (Proverbs 3:5)

A life that is surrendered to God’s divine leadership (Deuteronomy 13:4) 

A life that ministers to God by serving His people (Matthew 25:31-46)

A life that brings glory to God (Matthew 5:16)

You see, a worshiper isn’t just the person who sings so melodiously and dances so gracefully on Sunday (for indeed it is much easier to participate in the ‘act’ of worship if it is confined to a Sunday morning experience, than it is to ‘live’ worship if it is stretched into a holistic 24/7 reality). Instead, a worshiper is the person who spends his/her life at God’s disposal, at His feet, in His presence, seeking His will, extending His love to others, representing His truth in the earth, and advancing His Kingdom with what He has given into his/her hands. 

At the end of life’s journey, will your life be summed up by your accomplishments? Or by your relationship with God and His people? Whether you’ll live a life of worship will be determined by which of these you value most. 

Scripture of the Day: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” - Psalm 103:1

Artis L. Smith

Jesus Can’t Live There!

New Hope, there are a host of factors that people use in selecting a home.  If there is no pre-existing home built already, the potential homeowners will more than likely choose their new plot of land based on the land value and the neighborhood that they will be living in.  If there is an existing home already built, an entire litany of factors affect whether the home becomes a realistic option for purchase.  The foundation and structure, size, layout, amenities, bonus features, landscaping, any pre-existing conditions, potential for growth, closet space, current wall painting, appliances, garage, neighborhood factors, and so on.  All of these comprise what we call the living conditions.



Most of us, if not all of us, have a standard that we expect regarding our living conditions.  We just wouldn’t accept anything nor would we be comfortable inviting others over into living conditions that appear subpar. 



The same way that we have a standard for our living conditions, Jesus has a standard for His living conditions.  Isn’t it amazing that nowhere in scriptures is it detailed “specifically” what happened between the time when Jesus was buried and the discovery of the stone being rolled away?  I think it is amazing that God doesn’t provide those details and that could be an endless theological discussion, but I think that all of us who believe in the resurrection would agree that DEATH was a living condition that Jesus just couldn’t accept.



Even from his life, he was clear that everything about him was allergic to death, darkness, and defeat.  His entire life purpose repelled it.  This was his message, his methods, and his mission.  It was repeated over and over again throughout the Gospels.  John 10:10 (NIV) he says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  He even went further and said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10, NIV).  The Father was clear on why He was sending His son as such a great sacrifice.  John writes, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3: 17, NIV)



All of these, along with a host of other scriptures, paint a clear picture that Jesus was a magnet for life, living, light, and love.  And He repelled death, darkness, and defeat.

If he was a magnet for these things, we should be as well.  Our spiritual, mental, and emotional living conditions should have this standard.  It should be clear from our perspective, lifestyle, and mentality that we have adopted the same living standards as Jesus. Paul encourages us, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:5, NIV)



As you pick your relationships, business deals, engage in meetings, run towards personal pursuits, spend your money, participate in talking and other communications, and set life goals, they should reflect your living standard.  The same way that we wouldn’t put new, expensive furniture in a house that we’ve yet to live in that’s full of termites or bugs, we shouldn’t infect our spiritual houses with things that decay our spirits and destroy our minds.  Your living conditions are reflected through what you do and how you do it.  If Jesus cannot live there, you shouldn’t either.



Scripture of the Day: "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." - Matthew 28:6 (NIV)

Artis L. Smith - Pastor, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church

Growing Pains

Time Alone With God

Romans 5:3 instructs us to “rejoice in our suffering” because it is for our growth and development. Pain prepares us for triumph. I am reminded of a fable that illustrates this perfectly.

The sunshine and the rain were engaged in a conversation one day when out of nowhere, the sunshine made a crude remark.

“You know, you really cause of a lot of trouble.”

“What do you mean?” the rain asked in bewilderment.

“You cause accidents, ruin picnics, spoil trips to the beach…the list on. But look at those people down there basking in my splendor. You know, the world would be a much better place without you,” the sunshine accused.

“I seriously doubt that,” the rain said in defense.

“Then give me one good reason why it wouldn’t,” the sunshine challenged.

“Well, for one, I take away the pollution of the air, filling it with moisture and freshness in which the world breathes.”

“Give me another one,” the sunshine challenged again.

“Do you see those beautiful flowers over there?” the rain asked.

“Yes,” the sunshine huffed.

“Well, I water the soil in which they are planted. I nurture the beauty of the world that you admire.”

“Go on, go on,” the sunshine urged.

“I replenish the rivers, the lakes, the oceans, and the seas so that the essential element of life may be bountiful and plenteous. I give life to the fish of the sea. Look at the various trees standing throughout the land. I protect them from being consumed by fire so they can fight diseases in the lower atmosphere. I nourish the soil in which they are planted, too. And in return, trees exhale pure oxygen into the air…the air in the sky in which so freely fly. Were it not for me, the fowl of the air would be extinct. And aren’t those shady green pastures just lovely? Well, I nurture the ground the ground in which they sit. So, were it not for me, those animals you see down there grazing in the meadows would surely cease to exist. And what about the crops of the field? Were it not for me, they would dry up and wither away and there would never be any harvest to reap, causing starvation to be prevalent in the land. You see, my friend, I ensure the existence of virtually all things. Were it not for me, there wouldn’t be air to breathe, food to eat, or water to drink. So while I may not be favored by the masses just because I cause temporary discomfort, I am quite essential to life. And you know what that means, don’t you?” the rain asked.

“I’m afraid I don’t,” the sunshine said with an attitude.

“It means that those people so-called basking in your splendor wouldn’t even appreciate you were it not for me.”

Exasperated and at a loss for words, the sunshine sighed and replied, “Well, you don’t have to rub it in!”

The discomfort caused by pain is actually for our growth and development. We may cry sometimes, but our tears do not fall on fallow ground. The shedding of our tears is a powerful phenomenon in and of itself. Our tears are symbolic of rain; they represent the showering of the air of our souls—the cleansing of our ailments and pain. Our tears represent the watering of the soil of our souls—the saturation of strength, faith, love, endurance, and peace. They also represent the replenishing of the sea of our souls—the flooding of wealth and prosperity. And the salt of our tears signifies the richness in which they flow. Finally, after the showering, watering, and replenishing, the rainbow of our soul appears and reveals its radiance; it lets us know that JOY IS ON ITS WAY!!

Verse of the Day: “In all things, God works for the good of those who love him.” - Romans 8:28

Make Every Moment Count

Time Alone With God

I have often heard people say in my walk “It don’t take all that”! My faith in God tells me, it takes all that and then some more. Spending time with God is the most important thing you can do in your day. One moment with Jesus can change your life. It can change the course of your day. If you rise early to pray you can stop demonic influences from taking your day in a different direction (Exodus 14:24). You can literally re-route demons. Spending time with The Lord is a valuable offering of one’s self and it is a sacrifice. It’s saying to God, “I know what my plans are but I want to do it your way”. It’s saying “I don’t know what is around the corner, but I know you are all knowing” (Psalm 139:1-6). It is also saying, bottom line, “I love you more than anything or anyone. You are important to me”.


Spending time with Jesus is telling Him you love Him and you want more of Him. Taking this time will transform your life. You can stop the enemy from attacking your children, touching your finances, and break off generational curses. Spending time with The Lord does all of that. It ushers in His Presence and you can see His glory. Spending time with The Father can cause you to experience His love, like never before.

Don’t miss out on the free opportunity to experience everything great. There is no greater time you can spend. This time with Him will enrich you. It will inspire you. Time with The Lord will teach you, train you, and guide you to levels you can only imagine. God will take you places in The Spirit. Spending time with Him can be like having a passport and going on an adventure. Letting go and letting God is a great way to describe how spending time with Him, can be. Letting go, means to trust Him, to take you where no man can. Come out of religiosity. It is about you, trusting in the move of The Holy Spirit, knowing God is in control. What are you waiting for, go for it! He is waiting…….

Verse of the Day: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." - Mark 1:35

Just P.U.S.H.!

When the Life gets you down,
Just P.U.S.H.!

When people don't react the way you think they should,
Just P.U.S.H.!

When your money looks funny and the bills are due,
Just P.U.S.H.!

When you want to curse them out for whatever the reason,
Just P.U.S.H.!

When you ask the question, when is my time coming in?
(as I often do)
Just P.U.S.H.!

When people just don't understand you,
Just P.U.S.H.!

Not to continue on and on ...
Let me tell you what P.U.S.H. Stands for.
Pray Until Something Happen
YOU ARE TOO BLESSED, TOO BE STRESSED!!!

S.W.A.G.
Saved With Amazing Grace



Minster D.Rose

Don't Quit

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road your trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and its turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When they might have won, had they stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victors cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when your hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit!

S.W.A.G.
Saved With Amazing Grace

Minster Damian Rose

When We Let Him Have Control

When We Let Him Have Control

Why is it as though
We struggle so much
And live in constant despair?
We don't need to carry
Such burdensome loads
But should go to God in prayer

Give Him your burdens
And all of your hurts
Just lay them at His feet
He's such a big God
He can handle it all
And watches over His sheep

He cares so much more
Than we'll ever know
And just wants the best for our lives
Each one of his children
Has so much potential
If we’ll only begin to rise

To be all that God
Has intended us to be
To walk through His open doors
We need to stay focused
And open to God
And put our trust in the Lord

For when we all come
To realize God's love
Our hurts will not have a hold
For God's love will cover
And free us from fear
As we give Him total control.

S.W.A.G.
Saved With Amazing Grace

God Is My Everything
Minster D.Rose