The Youth of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church

The Youth of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

Front cover NHBC Christmas Program

Front cover NHBC Christmas Program, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

Christmas Decorations at New Hope

My Part Is Prayer

 I've heard it before, and I've even struggled with the thought myself.
"If God knows everything, then why should I pray?"
This reminds me of one part of my journey through Purpose Driven Life when Rick Warren wrote three simple words: Love spells T-I-M-E.
If I claim to love someone, I make it a priority to spend time with that person. Prayer is time with God. Asking, thanking, praising, listening, and just feeling his presence in prayer is all time well spent with him. But it doesn't stop there.
Whether I pray by myself, with one partner, or in a room full of people, there's no getting away from time alone with God because his spirit is always with me. His word says he'll never leave, you know. And his word is guaranteed.
In fact His love for us is the most powerful love to ever exist in all of time and eternity.
With a love of that magnitude pointed directly at me, how could I choose not to sow into the relationship? To sincerely engage? To give what I can to make it flourish and grow? That spiritual growth can't happen without the communication act of prayer.
Yes God knows everything, even before we think, speak or experience it. He's almighty and all-knowing.
But he's also very personal.
And he desires our time through prayer.


Artis L. Smith

A Celebratory Cake!

P1120194, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

For the 54th Anniversary of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.

New Choir Robes for the Sunshine Band

P1120158, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

Praise Power

The book of Exodus is the story of the deliverance of God’s chosen people, Israel. God raises up a man called Moses to go before Pharaoh and command him to release almost 3 million people. After Pharaoh forces God’s hand by rejecting Moses, Egypt is struck with ten plagues, and Pharaoh reluctantly releases the children of Israel. He then changes his mind and decides to enslave them again.
With the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh advancing behind them—God commands them to “move forward.” God then separates the Red Sea, the Children of Israel cross over on dry land, and the Egyptians drown in pursuit.

Chapter 15 begins with a “praise party”—“Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: "I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted. The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him.” (Exodus 15:1-2 NIV)

Praise is a powerful weapon of our warfare. It is so important to God, that the Bible mentions it more than most other subjects—The virgin birth is mentioned twice, dancing is mentioned six times, sixty-five times the Bible commands us to shout, and sanctification is mentioned seventy-two times. But the Bible talks about singing 287 times and 332 times the Bible commands us to praise.

How quickly they went from praising to complaining...

“Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea…For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter…So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" (Exodus 15:22-24 NIV)

Praise gets the attention of God. But the devil knows that if he can steal your praise, he can steal your joy. And if he steals your joy, he will strip you of your strength. Anyone can praise God “after the battle,” but God is looking for someone who will praise Him when everything is bitter in your life.

What the enemy is saying is—“I hear you singing now, but I want to see you praise God when there’s no money in the bank, when you can’t find a job and nothing seems to be working.”

What Satan realizes and what we tend to forget, is that praise and worship are two powerful weapons. We must learn to praise Him in the midst of our tears; praise Him when we feel like giving up; and praise Him when we can’t see our way out.

I dare you to open up your mouth and begin to praise Him.

Scripture Of The Day: “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him." - Exodus 15:2 (NIV)

Because Of Calvary

One Of Our Youngest Parishioners

P1110976, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

Youth Sponsored Car Wash

P1110961, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

The youth sponsored a very successful car wash, on September 8, 2012.

Those Who Believe

Pastor Martin of Holy Assembly, preached recently on being a “Believer vs. being a Disciple”, On this most special night, Jesus, The Son of God is in the Garden of Gethsemane and had been praying to His Father about what He knew was about to happen to Him. Jesus did not want to have to go through all that He was and was going to continue to endure, yet He made the choice to suffer a horrible death, so that we could live free. Someone who was a part of His life and Ministry, Judas, came to the Garden guiding an assembly of soldiers and officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. 

This group came with Judas carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing what they had come to do, steps forward and asked Who they were looking for and they tell Him. Jesus responds and says I AM HE! Then The Bible tells us that they all fell back onto the ground! Their bodies could not handle the Power of God just when Jesus spoke Who He was and is, and they ALL fell to the ground, including Judas!

Just SOME of the names of Jesus are Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15), The Chief Corner Stone (Ephesians 2:20), The Savior of the world (John 4:42), Redeemer or Defender (Job 19:25), The Anointed One (Psalm 2:2), The Provider (Genesis 22:14), The Son of God (John 1:34), The Beloved (Ephesians 1:6), The Counselor, The Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45-47), The Maker and Builder, The Advocate (1John 2:1), The Resurrection and The Life (John 11:25), The Nazarene, Living Water (John 4:10),The Alpha and Omega, The First and The Last, The Beginning and The End (Revelation 22:13), Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23), Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and The Lamb of God (John 1:29)!

New Hope, Judas was standing right there and heard Jesus say I AM HE and felt The Power of God go through him to the point that he fell backwards to the ground! Yet he still went on with what he wanted and what he willed to do. Judas walked with Jesus, he ate with Him and saw all the miracles and heard all the teaching of Jesus first hand. Judas was even the Accountant for The Ministry! Yet Judas missed everything because he chose to just go through the motions of following God, instead of having an intimate relationship and knowing Jesus and Who He really IS!

See, you can look like you are a follower of Jesus Christ and miss Jesus, Himself! From the outside Judas looked very devoted because he was doing work for Jesus, but inside Judas never really knew Him. So, let us learn and ask OURSELVES are we basing our relationship with God by what we DO or Who He IS? Are we following our own agenda or are we following HIM? Are we trying to conform Jesus to our ways and ways of thinking or are we conforming to Him and His Ways? Beginning today, get to know The Lord through His Word and see how wonderful He is and how many facets there are to Him. Do not just LOOK LIKE you know Him, really do! I pray you have a New Life, a deeper life, a rich life – The Life with God! Not just a life that’s routine, but an amazing journey that is daily leading you to a New Life in Christ. I pray in Jesus Name that you will encounter Him and His Power and truly WHO HE IS!

Scripture Of The Day: “Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. 5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) 6 As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!” - John 18:4-6 (NLT)

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church - Group Photo 2012

NHBC_Group Photo #1, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

A wonderful day was had by all.

Young Adults Presenting

Untitled, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

Young Adult Presenting What They Have Learned In Sunday School

Finishing Well

It's important that we pay close attention to timing of events that occur in our lives. We shouldn't allow time to float by or to let things just happen. For those with a destination in mind, you have to understand the value of providential moments.
We serve a God with a purpose. He uses providential moments to effect and or change our current paths permanently if we are obedient. As we get closer to the end of this year of trying times, economic challenges and multiple job losses, it's imperative that we draw even closer to God.

Often times, we as Christians, don't practice what we preach. We consistently say that we want what God has for us. It troubles me that when God gives us what he has for us, we question him, curse him and even turn our backs on him. The story of Job is so befitting for those that want to finish well. We know that God allowed the enemy to test Job. We have to understand that our tests and trials are no surprise to him.

If we are doers of the word, we know that the enemy will want to challenge God's best, which we all are. What assignments have you not completed that you know you must before the end of this year? Is it a book, a program for youth, or even a new career? What providential moment did you experience that clued you in that its time to make the next move?

It's heart wrenching to get knocked out when you are in a fight. Successful fighters spend years preparing physically and mentally for the challenge that lies ahead. Like fighters, God prepares us seasons in advance. Don't take anything for granted. You may not be where you think you should but what you have already experienced was for you to use in this season. God knew then what he could trust you with.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. One man was given 5 talents, one was given 2 and one was given 1. The catch is that they were given talents based on their ability. In order to finish the rest of this year of "birthing" it's important to get back in place, refocus and commit to go all the way so that you finish well.

At Midnight

People of God, adversity comes in many shapes forms and fashions. These perplexing, confusing, and mystifying predicaments show up at the most inconvenient and awkward times in our lives, and the frustrating thing is that adversity does not need an invitation to enter your home.

One moment life appears to be serene, calm, peaceful and quiet; then the next moment we find ourselves caught in the middle of the storm. For some of us life is just one storm after another.

One of the strange things about this season is that it seems like it is lasting forever. One of the purposes God has for our lives is that we grow to maturity in our faith in Him and not in stuff or in people. You know your faith is maturing by what you do and how you act during your storm and in your problem.

"And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Acts 16:23-28 (NKJV)

Here in the book of Acts we find a story about the Apostle Paul and Silas who find themselves in what seems to be a storm. Paul & Silas were called by God to take the gospel into the region of Macedonia. However, when they got there, instead of wide open doors, like they might have expected, they ran into a season of opposition!
They are locked up and in chains because they were at the place God wanted them to be, doing the very thing God told them to do. What I love about Paul and Silas is that they still had faith in God. The text does not say they were crying and angry but that they were praying and singing praises.

This is my favorite part of the text, it says “but at midnight”. I know you have heard people say that midnight is the darkest hour and it’s when you’re at your lowest, but what I want to point out here is that midnight is also a transition period. It is the transition from an old day to a new day. It can confuse you because when you think of transition you think of a sudden, rapid change.

Midnight transition is very minute because nothing really changes but the time. I want you today to put all your faith in God no matter how it looks my sister and no matter what they say my brother. Don’t allow the code red to detour you because there is a transition about to take place in your life but you have to trust God.
Remember you are where He wants you to be. It’s not time to put your faith in the things you see but put to your faith in the God who holds you in His hand.

Scripture Of The Day: "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." - Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV)


Artis L. Smith

Why You Need the Church

"The many parts make up only one body."  1 Corinthians 12:12 TLB

There's a wonderful story about Jimmy Durante, one of the truly great entertainers. He was asked to do a show for World War II veterans. He told them he was very busy, but if they wouldn't mind his doing one short monologue and immediately leaving for his next appointment, he'd come. They agreed. But when Jimmy got on stage he went through the short monologue - then stayed, and stayed. Soon he'd been on stage 15, 20, then 30 minutes.

Finally he took a last bow and left. Backstage someone stopped him and said "I thought you had to go after a few minutes. What happened?" Jimmy answered, " You can see for yourself if you look on the front row." In the front row were two veterans, each of whom had lost an arm in the war. One had lost his right arm and the other had lost his left. Together, they were able to clap, and that's exactly what they were doing, loudly and cheerfully.

That's a picture of what's supposed to happen in church: "But the many parts make up only one body when they are all put together. So it is with the 'body' of Christ." But to enjoy its benefits you have to go, and when you get there you must reach out to others so that you can know, and be known. Pew-sitting, back-of-the-head fellowship won't cut it! Someone sitting next to you has 20/20 vision where you have blind spots. You need their counsel, correction and comfort. And they need yours. When that happens, the church is working like it's supposed to.

Artis L. Smith

Responsive Reading

Responsive Reading, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

Is Alone Time With God Realistic?

If you're like me, you have a busy schedule, which includes family time, meetings, calls, reading, errands, traveling, shopping, and an ongoing To-Do List. Sometimes it's simply frustrating. And this is just Monday! It is common for frustration to set in for many of us when we start thinking about the reality of having regular prayer time. Many believers struggle with having a consistent, fulfilling prayer life. I've been there before.

What's more frustrating for believers is when preachers start talking about how Jesus got up early in the morning to seek out a relationship with the Father. My response sometimes has been, "I'm not Jesus!" , and I'm a preacher too!

So all of these realities push me to wonder, with our hectic schedules, does God really expect us to seek Him out in prayer on a regular basis? The answer is - Yes AND No.

Let me deal with the 'No' first. Many times, unfortunately, we've been taught incorrectly about our prayer life. Many have been taught to approach prayer as an activity versus an experience. There were times that I'd take my wife to the movies to 'keep her off my back'. With this approach, we both were guaranteed not to enjoy the evening.

When I changed my approach and engaged in the evening as a fresh encounter to build relationship, personally relax, and more importantly, simply connect, the experience turned out much more positive for the both of us. This should be your approach to prayer. If prayer is just something to do, it will never be exciting. When prayer is an experience, you will always look forward to a fresh encounter.

In our highly competitive environment, we have often compared ourselves to others and what we've assumed their prayer life is like. This mindset can only lead to aggravation. We really aren't fully aware of what kind of prayer life others have from a distance. Unless, we have engaged in a personal dialogue about other's private prayer life, everything is conjecture. We must always be realistic about our prayer life based on what season of life we are in.

A retiree without a rigid schedule may be able to incorporate more free time in prayer than a single parent with kids. Although both may need prayer just as much, each individual will have to approach this very differently. The single parent may be too exhausted to rise at 5:00am or remain awake at midnight to engage in time with the Father. On the other hand, that single parent may be able to do devotionals for 15 minutes in the car prior to starting their day and then spend some lunch time in prayer and journaling as God speaks to their heart.

 

The retiree may have the flexibility in their schedule to go for multiple hours to the church and pray. This realistic approach is much more freeing than a rigid, traditional thought process about prayer. More importantly, it places a premium on relationship versus religious behavior. God desires relationship.

Finally, many of us have approached prayer without any sort of strategic plan at all. Simply put, if we are to bombard heaven with prayers that avail much (James 5: 16), we must be strategic. We should take time and develop a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual prayer agenda. This agenda must be personal, and most importantly, relevant. If you don't have a heart for the homeless, it won't make sense for you to attempt to spend an hour praying for this group. Develop a strategic plan to pray for what you have a heart for. You're not less spiritual because of this.

So yes, prayer with God is expected and necessary. 

 

It is expected if you :

 

A) desire to really connect with God as your Father
 

 

B) maintain your spiritual growth and mental stability
and 

 

C) desire to continue to serve as an intercessor for others.

It is not a thing to do, but an on-going journey to stay on. You never arrive at a destination of prayer. You only engage in an on-going experience of conversations with God, our provider. How we do it...well, that's up to you and God. Enjoy the Encounter!

Artis L. Smith

What Is Quiet Time?

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. - John 10:14

A quiet time is an intimate, face-to-face, heart-to-heart connection with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. It's the time when you actually build your relationship with Jesus. Specifically, it is a time for you to get up every day and read the Bible and pray and get closer to Him.

 

A lot of people say to think to themselves: "I prayed a prayer, but I don't feel closer to God; or I felt really close to God when I was at that retreat or camp, but now I don't feel very close to Him."

 

You're not going to feel close to anybody if you're not spending time with them.

If you were married and didn't spend time with your spouse, the two of you would not grow any closer. Actually, you would move farther and farther apart.

A quiet time is an expression of your commitment to be a true follower of Christ. It's as if you're saying, "Lord, I'm going to make sure that I don't accidentally get farther and farther away from You. In fact, I'm going to use this time to get closer and closer to You.

I'm going to use it as a time to get fed by You and to get filled up with You and to understand more of You." Before you do anything else, start your day with God. Talk to Him, seek Him in His Word and pray through your day. Make it your top priority.

Maybe you've never had a quiet time with God before. Start thinking about what kind of quiet time you want to have and where you want to have it. Think about what time you need to get up in order to have enough time to read your Bible and pray before you start your day with the world.

 

Your personal relationship with God is the dynamite that it will take to effect this generation. You will begin to spread the gospel as your character becomes like Christ. This transformation process can only happen in direct relationship with Christ.

The more we know Jesus, and look like Him, the easier it will be to lead people to him.

Artis L. Smith

The Prayer that Leads to Praise

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

Now, Philippians 4:6 says don't be worried or anxious about anything. Be anxious for nothing, but in every-thing, everything. That means in your financial things, in your physical things, in your relational things, in everything in life. In everything there are three things that you must do: pray, supplicate, and offer thanksgiving to God for delivering you out of the situation.

Now, in Acts, the 16th chapter, it says when Paul and Silas were taken captive, beaten in the city square, stripped, placed in a cold, dark, dingy dungeon at midnight, they prayed. Now, of course, I believe that midnight was a literal midnight, but that midnight also represents whatever dark time is in your life. And if you live long enough, you're going to see a midnight. But I want you to know you can shine some light in the middle of the darkness.

Well this was their opportunity to miss the rest of God. Instead they began to pray. Instead of thinking about what was about to happen, they prayed for God's deliverance. And they sang songs of praise to God, praising Him for their deliverance. They refused to take the thoughts of what their body was telling them and what the situation was telling them. They decided to take God's thoughts by praying. They prayed such a prayer that it started making them rejoice, so much so that there was an earthquake and their shackles fell off and the prison doors swung open.

Now, I know what kind of prayer that had to be. That had to be, Father, I thank you, you are the one who made the world. Everything is in your hands. You are the God who is more than enough, you are my creator, you are the way maker, you are the one that opens the door for me, and you are the one who gives me victory. You are the one who gives me strength. I mean, that's the kind of prayer that they prayed. They're praying that prayer until they came to the place where their prayer made them praise God, and their praise led them to deliverance!

And that's the kind of prayer you must pray when you are in your midnight-your dark situation. Pray a prayer that leads to praise and God will bring you out just like He delivered Paul and Silas.

Scripture References: Acts 16:25-26; Philippians 4:6-8

Artis L. Smith

Back to School Revival

A back to school revival will be held at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church on:

July 25-27, 2012 at 7pm 

Our guest speaker will be Pastor Edward Blueford, Jr. of Atlanta, GA. Each church member is asked to contribute $25.00, Your contribution will defray the cost of the service and support the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church "Back Packs for The Children" program.

Effective Prayer

The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

In order to have an effective prayer life, it is important to understand the various ways that we can communicate with God using the tool of prayer. It is important to know why we are praying, and what we are praying for. It is important that we have worked our faith to a point where we can trust in God to answer our prayers according to His will for our lives.

The Bible instructs us to cast all our cares to God in prayer, making our requests known to Him with an attitude of thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). We are to request what we need and then trust Him to meet our needs. As we do that, God acts - imparting to us His peace, and providing all that is beneficial for our eternal good.

God may not answer our prayers when we want... or even how we want. But He will always answer - even if the answer is not apparent to us, and it feels like He has ignored us, or not heard us. God's ways are higher than our ways - and therefore, how He 'answers' our prayers, will also operate on a heavenly and supernatural level that reveals and carries out His best intentions and plans for our lives.

It is good to know that we can pray effectively when we are in covenant with God and aligning ourselves with His divine will - praying as a "righteous man," as James instructs in 5:16. There are also different prayers to use in different situations. Knowing why we are praying, what we are praying for, and understanding how God answers prayers is vital if we want to pray effectively. Different prayers we can approach God with include:

Prayer of Faith. The Prayer of Faith should always be based on God's revealed will and His Word. It requires boldly declaring the Word of God over one's situation. Instead of 'God, please heal me, " one should pray, "Lord, your Word declares that by Your stripes, I AM HEALED!" This way you are declaring what you already know to be true based on God's Word.

 

Prayer of Commitment. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us we should pray "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." This kind of prayer declares your decision to give all of your concerns, fears, anxieties and problems to God. It is a conscious refusal to worry or have anxiety. This type of prayer has two parts: stating all of your requests to God, and committing to all Him to handle each request without interference from you.

Prayer of Agreement. This is the most powerful type of prayer. Matthew 18: 19 -20 tells us, "that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." This is a profound and powerful promise given to us by Jesus Christ! It means that whenever two people will believe together, and with the utmost faith believe on the Word of God, whatever they seek will be granted.

Intercessory Prayer. This involves praying for other people, nations, cities, and against the powers of darkness. The best example of and intercessor is Jesus himself; Romans 8:34 says that Jesus sits at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us. He asks the Lord to forgive us, and it is through Jesus' prayer that our slates are wiped clean when we repent and seek forgiveness. We have the ability to 'stand in the gap' of others in the same way, petitioning God on their behalf to answer our prayers -- by meeting their needs, saving their souls, or simply by showing mercy.

And remember: take every opportunity to appreciate the smallest answered prayer, and to meditate on God's faithfulness. You don't have to wait until you 'see' that your prayer has been answered -- give Him a prayer of thankfulness and praise right now for answering your prayers in His time, in His wisdom, and according to His will.

Because God is Good!

Artis L. Smith

One Hundred Thousand Signatures for Marriage

The Coalition of African American Pastors, USA is a grass-roots movement of African-American Christians who believe in traditional family values such as supporting the role of religion in American public life, protecting the lives of the unborn, and defending the sacred institution of marriage.

Follow this link and learn more at :


www.100000signatures4marriage.com/default.html

Youth Sunday School

Youth Sunday School, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

The Prayer Principles

Being a Christian means that we are in a battle. Every since he fell from heaven, satan has made himself an enemy to God and to His prized creation, mankind. In Ephesians 6, our Father has given us the tools that we need to win. One of our weapons is prayer.

There are 3 principles to a successful prayer life.

 

There is a time to talk.
God is our source. He holds the keys to the universe in His hands. He is the Creator. When we have doubts, concerns, and questions, He is the one that we should run to. In fact, He is anxiously waiting to hear from His children. It is a shame that some of us only talk to Him before we eat or only when there is a dire emergency.

I believe that God desire to have a running, consistent, conversation with us just like He did with Adam and Eve in the garden. You shouldn't just always run to Him with your laundry list of requests. Prayer is our opportunity to tell God how much we love Him and how grateful we are for all that He has done in our lives. It is also time for us to tell Him how much we look forward to what He is going to do in the future.

We should most definitely tell God how we feel if there are things in our lives that are making us nervous or afraid. As a matter of fact, we should bring all of our burdens and concerns to Him. The great thing about this transaction is that we can bring them to Him and leave them right there. He will deal with everything that concerns us and perfect them all.

 

There is also a time to listen.
Conversations between two parties are usually more effective when there is only one person speaking at a time. Sometimes our problem is that we spend all of our prayer time talking. We have to tell God all about everyone and everything that has been getting on our nerves. We have to tell Him about the guy that honked his horn at us on the expressway. And we also have to tell Him about our mean boss and nosy neighbors.

We even spend a great deal of time in prayer telling God how wonderful He is and thanking Him for all His wonderful blessings. The moment we get exhausted from talking for 30 minutes straight, our time in prayer is over. We never even give God 5 seconds to talk to us.

Prayer is a 2-way street, and we have to give God ample opportunity to speak to us. We should never jump to our feet without getting some sort of response. He may not always respond in the way we want but we must give Him room to be God. Sometimes we are afraid of what the answer might be. Sometimes we jump to conclusions about what He was going to say.

 

There is a time to act.
Once we have brought our petitions to God and once we have given Him room to respond, we must not stop there. We must allow the connection to God through prayer to give us the strength to act upon what He has said to us. There may be a time after prayer that we may need to call a friend or loved one that we haven't spoken to in years. There also may be opportunities to witness to a co-worker.

On the flip side, there may be times of distress coming where we need to act calm and rational. Our connection with God through prayer will show us how to act peaceful. Whatever the situation may call for, like in any war or battle, we must be prepared for action.

There is an ongoing effort by our enemy to destroy us or, at the very least, hinder our progress. When we learn who we are and all the advantages we have with prayer as a weapon we can cause mountains of despair and confusion to be cast into the sea of forgetfulness. When we connect to God through prayer we maintain our status as more than conquerors. The power of prayer is our weapon of choice.

Artis L. Smith

Reading Is Fundamental

I have this small problem. (Maybe you can help me!)

It's a problem I've had for as long as I can remember. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to shake it off. It has frustrated my wife for a while now, and quite recently, even my children have begun suffering because of it. I know I need to get some help.

Now they say confession is good for the soul, so I'm going to go ahead and give it a shot. Besides, if there's anyone I can trust my problems to, it's Christians right? (smile!)

Here's my problem: I hate reading manuals.

That's right. Whether it's a new television or DVD player. A new cell phone or laptop.
Or maybe even a new toy or bike for the kids. No matter the situation, I have embraced this warped sense of pride that reading manuals are somehow completely unnecessary.

They seem beneath me. Way too time-consuming. A viable threat to my ability to be a man. (See, I told you I had a problem!)

I have discovered, after all my attempts to program the things around me, that life would be a whole lot simpler if I had taken the time out to read the manuals. Despite the times when I feel I can just glean on my previous successes, it is foolish for me to continue to assume I will ever know more about a product than the builder or company who created it.

I wonder how many "crashes" I could have avoided, if I took the time to read and discover whether or not those new programs (and people) I was trying to "download" into my life, had old systems that were no longer compatible to where I was going?

Or I wonder how many "holes" I could have avoided hammering into the "walls" of my heart, had I just taken the time out to read and discover that there are some dreams I have regarding my life that need "stronger anchors" to hold up?

One of the most avoided manuals in the history of mankind is The Word of God.

Inspired and written by the greatest Builder and Manufacturer the world has ever known, The Word of God (also known as The Bible) has a wonderful disclaimer for people like me who tend to live life trying to figure it out as we go:  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

What a wonderful assurance it is to know that God, the author and finisher of our faith, has created a manual for you and I that will help provide us with the reproof, correction, and instruction we need to program and repair everything we need in our daily lives.

His instructions are visible. His paths are clear. And his customer service is top-notch and always available to us, even when life seems to be labeled: some assembly required.

So the next time you go to flick the light on and the microwave comes on, or try to turn on the television set, only to discover you've opened up the garage: try to relax.

Life can get chaotic like that sometimes. But isn't good to know that God has already laid out a plan for our lives, full with step-by-step details equipping us for every good work.

Because when it comes to our faith and walk with Him, reading is fundamental.

Artis L. Smith

A Word To Father

New Hope as Fathers, everything we do in regards to our children should be done out of the love of God, and not just for our benefit. Love is not self-seeking, and so everything we do as a Father should be for their benefit. 

The Word instructs you to bring your children up tenderly, so you have to monitor everything you're doing with your child. You almost need to have a kind of love meter to see how many things you're doing that are out of God's love versus how many things you're doing just for yourself.

You need to be diligent and pay attention to how you're raising and training your children to make sure that everything you do with them is out of the love of God. Now, I know that's easier said than done. You're talking about every day of your life, but the Bible teaches us we're supposed to walk in love every day anyway.

That's not a new commandment. And that surely includes loving your child.

We as Fathers have to take this business of training our children up seriously. Many of us are very successful in our fields because we're detailed, diligent, and focused. We don't miss anything. And thank God for the achievements that we have, but the day is going to come where all that is going to pass away. But what you do with your children will last forever.

So if you're going to be detailed and focused in whatever your career area is, you should absolutely be like that with your children. The Bible says that a Father who has produced a righteous son will greatly rejoice. Why is that? Because the way your children turn out has a great impact on you.

So when you see them living a righteous life, mighty before God, producing for God, and prospering in every area--you'll rejoice!

God wants you to make sure they become righteous for their benefit and also for yours. The job you do as a parent will determine your future prosperity. One of the things that will cause you to rejoice is that your child is living right before God, and staying on the path that God has for them.

Your children are part of your prosperity.

Scripture Of The Day: "Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord." - Ephesians 6:4 (AMP)

 

Happy Father’s Day

Artis L. Smith

The Bible is Your Instruction Book

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. 1 Peter 2:1-2 (KJV)

Before we were saved, we were easily filled with anger, easily filled with wrath, even with malice. There were times when we just felt mean. Nobody did anything to us, but we just did something to somebody because we felt like doing it. Now that we are born again, we must put away anger, wrath, and malice.

Malice is an intent to commit an unlawful act or to cause harm without justification. Now some folks are just downright mean. Do you know anybody like that? They can be downright ornery. They have no reason to plot to do something against somebody, but they do it anyway.

It is unfortunate, but before we were saved, we acted with malice. This is a non-Christian behavior. But now that we are saved, it is time to put that away. Christians do not plot to harm other people with or without reason. Christians think the best of every person. And since you are thinking the best instead of harm, you are planning blessings for others, with or without reason.

Children get angry and act with malice like that all the time because they have not been taught yet. They haven't learned how to resist the enemy and how to flow in God's love. So, you will see a kid and nobody has done anything to that kid. But that kid will sit there and plan how to 'do in' somebody, and then he will do it. Have you ever watched what two and three year olds will do to each other? One kid will be playing by himself, and another kid will set a trap for him. Or he might come over there and whop the other kid upside the head for no reason. That is the nature of sin. Those are the clothes that you had on coming into this world.

But it is time to put on some new clothes now. You are no longer of this world now that you are born again. You are in this world, but you are not of this world. Therefore, you do not operate the way the world operates. You have a different instruction book. It is called the Bible. And the Bible will help you to put off that old way of malice and put on the new way of love.

Scripture References: John 10:10; 1 Corinthians 5:8; Colossians 3:8

Artis L. Smith

The Difference Between Being Lost and Being Led

 "Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness”  (Exodus 15:22).

Many people who find themselves stuck in difficult situations often feel as if they've become lost.  Somehow, they've arrived in a wilderness where everything has dried up and nothing seems to be growing.  Many of them have lived in this wilderness for so long that they have given up on things changing and concluded that this must be all God has in store for them.  On numerous occasions, they have attempted to change their situation, but all of their efforts have failed.  If this sounds like you, you may not be lost at all!  You may be squarely within the Will of God.  All dry places in life are not the result of being lost.  Sometimes God uses dry places as a place of preparation. 

In Exodus 3:8, when God met Moses at the burning bush, He told him that He was going to deliver His people from bondage and into a land flowing with "milk and honey”.   Yet, we know when God delivered His people from bondage, He led them directly into a "wilderness” where they spent 40 years.   We know that their wilderness experience had a purpose because the Bible tells us that there was a shorter route available that they could have taken and avoided the wilderness altogether. Exodus 13:17 says, "God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near."  

Whenever God leads you some where He has a purpose and a predestined place for you, even if the route is a long or a dry one. 

Often, your wilderness is the doorway to your promise.  At the initiation of Jesus' public ministry He was led into the wilderness first before He ever preached a sermon.  If you are in a wilderness right now, remember what you learned while there because it will be necessary to sustain you in your Promised Land.  Don't faint or lose heart.  You may be at the door of your promise and purpose.  You may not have been lost at all.  You may have simply been led!

Artis L. Smith

Come Visit Us On Facebook

New Hope has a new presence on Facebook. Follow this link:

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church - On Facebook.


Come and like us, today!

Not My Way But Your Way

Lean not to your own understanding, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path (Proverbs 3:5-6). This scripture is very valuable to every believer. I know when this was written, God had given us important instructions to help us win. We have to practice this Word from the Lord daily to achieve the best He has for us. When He tells us, that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). Both scriptures tie in together to say, we cannot trust in or rely on our fleshly intellect. We have to call on Him for the wisdom when we need to make daily decisions. 

Solomon knew best, when He said He wanted the wisdom of God first, before he asked for anything else (2 Chronicles 1:7-12). Pride is the very thing that will keep us from moving ahead in the will of God. Wanting to control every situation based on your own understanding will keep you from receiving better. Trusting in the Lord with all you got will get you to the higher levels you desire. 

Most importantly what He desires for you. Leaning not to your own understanding, but trusting Him instead, will take you to levels you never dreamed of. I will do exceedingly and abundantly above all you can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). God has “AMAZING” in store for you. It’s up to us to trust Him, lean on Him, stand still and see the salvation of The Lord. Doing it our way will cause weariness. If we grow not weary in well doing, then we will receive our blessings in the due season (Galatians 6:9). Doing well is doing it the way God has instructed. I believe our season has come and God is ready to release. Stand under His covering and trust. He will direct your path to success. 

Scripture of the Day: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6

 

Because of Calvary

Artis L. Smith

Lessons From A Child

New Hope, one of the greatest parts of being a parent are the many lessons about God that our children are able to teach us. When our children were infants, they had this beautiful way of bringing so many scriptures to life for us, and they had no idea that they did it.

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather in barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:25-26 

God tells us not to worry about our needs being met, for He is in control. Yet many of us are constantly worried about bills being paid, our jobs being secure, our cars not breaking down, etc. Sometimes those worries try to rise up in me as well but then I take a look at my children, they don’t have a care in the world. 

Yes, they get hungry and thirsty. Yes, they need clothes to wear and a place to rest their heads. But that doesn’t keep them up at night or keep them from being the happiest children ever. 

They know that their needs are going to be met, so they don’t have to take on that burden. If only we trusted God the way our children trust their mothers (and fathers).

Often times, God will direct us to do something but we allow fear to stop us from moving in it. We have all kinds of excuses like not being qualified to do it or simply being fearful of the unknown. It happens to most everyone at some point. These days when fear tries to grab me, I again take another look at my children who seem fearless to me. 

I think about when they were learning to take their first steps. They could have thought to themselves, “I’ve never walked before so I better not try to walk now.” But instead, they (like most babies) had that innate trait that pushes them to try almost anything (including those things we wish they wouldn’t). 

Watching them try so many different things without hesitation is a constant reminder to me of how my “faith walk” should look. If I can only step out with the same confidence that they do, I might be surprised at how far my faith can take me and how many wonderful things I could accomplish.

When I truly learn how to put all my trust in God in the same manner that they put their trust in me, confident that I would never do anything to intentionally hurt them, my relationship with God would soar to levels I never thought possible! Children have an incredible way of putting the “scriptures in motion.” And these are lessons we all need to embrace!

Scripture of the Day: “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.“ - Matthew 17:20

 

 

Artis L. Smith

Yada, Yada, Yada

New Hope, there is no substitute for time alone with God. His presence is the divine encounter that we all need in order to maintain the proper balance our lives require. Time alone with God lends itself to knowing Him in an intimate way that we can't get any other way. This intimate "knowing" is parallel to that which is shared between a husband and wife in a holy, sexual relationship. This is a completely different depth of fellowship than that found in casual sex relationships. 

The Hebrew word for this kind of intimacy is YADA. It is found in Genesis when speaking of Adam and Eve's consummation. It is also mentioned in Nahum 1:7- "The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him." (Nahum 1:7 AMP)

Maybe you've heard the phrase "Yada, yada, yada", which generally means "so on and so forth". It's a casual saying that's thrown around without much thought. Well, our English use of this word couldn't be farther from its Hebrew meaning found in the Bible. Yada is more than an act of intimacy-- it is the highest form of fellowship, and we need it in order to survive and live the more abundant life that Jesus provided. 

We see in the gospels that Jesus withdrew often, by Himself, in order to spend much needed time alone with Father God. In Mark 1:35 it says, "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed." 

So how do you get that time alone? You don't have to tell me; I know your life is so busy that you have to schedule time to breathe. But answer this question for yourself: have you noticed that on those days when you make time to be in His presence, in the secret place, in that yada moment, that your life tends to be less hectic, more orderly, just plain easier? I have. But yet and still, life places its demands on us and we put off spending time with God because we know He's always available and we can "catch up with Him later". Let's put ourselves in His shoes for a moment: who wants a relationship with someone whose responses are always rushed and always promises to get back to us but seldom does? Do you? Can any relationship survive like that? Hardly. And here's the irony: we put God off as though He's requesting our presence for His sake!! Have we forgotten that He has everything to give and only us to gain? Time in His presence is for our benefit, not His. Don't get me wrong, He enjoys your fellowship; you are the only one with your DNA who can give Him YOU. But He is the greater one in the relationship who imparts to us. 

Sit down today and evaluate your life. What can you simplify in order to make room for God? A TV show, a hobby? Remember that you can't beat God giving and whatever you give, He will multiply back to you. Now go fellowship with God and yada, yada, yada.

Scripture of the Day: "The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him."  - Nahum 1:7

Artis L. Smith

A Fond Farewell

1-P1100526, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

The Women of New Hope #2

The Women of New Hope #2, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

A Great Service!

1-P1100316, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

A great service was had today at New Hope!

Even in the Small Things

I’ve often found myself labelling other people as being ‘wise’ or ‘having wisdom beyond their years’. This label is usually awarded because they’d either made a decision that I thought was tactical, or said something that I thought was profound. Hence, I’d reach into my bag of adjectives and pull out the age old descriptive: ‘he/she is wise’. But have you ever wondered if you’d be considered by those around you to be a wise person? Let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about this godly attribute. 

 

In the Book of Exodus, Moses is given the task of leading the Israelites out of Egypt and being a prophet unto them, reacquainting them with the principles of their God. Embedded within his mandate was the construction of the tabernacle where the people would meet with God in worship. The building of the tabernacle was not a light task. It had certain divine specifications that had to be met in order to fulfill God’s vision for His designated place of meeting. As a result, God handpicked the workmen. Yes, that’s right, He picked each man Himself and placed within them the wisdom they needed to accomplish their specific tasks (Exodus 31:1-6). 

 

Now, in today’s world, an architect or handyman is usually selected on the virtue of his license, his experience, his skill, and his training. But having the wisdom of God is not usually a requirement. In fact, godly wisdom is not typically a prerequisite on most of our job descriptions. Yet, being endowed with wisdom from God is paramount in the accomplishment of so many of our daily tasks and decision making. 

 

So what did God mean when He said, “I have filled [the workman] with the Spirit of God, in wisdom”? (Exodus 31:3). According to the following verses, wisdom from the Spirit of God was a necessary ingredient in order for the men to “make all that [God had commanded Moses].” Does that mean they were not skilled, talented, or well trained? No, it means that despite their highly esteemed qualifications, without godly wisdom they would not have the ability to understand and fulfill God’s will. 

 

Today I encourage you to tap into the wisdom that God has downloaded in your heart, so that you will effectively accomplish that which He has set before you to do. Nothing you do for God is exempt from the application of His wisdom. Therefore, it is only when we speak, act, and make decisions through His spirit of wisdom that we will succeed in pleasing Him.   

 

Scripture of the Day: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” - James 1:5

Pastor Artis L. Smith

No, Not Pride

A subject that we as Christians don’t like to talk about a lot has been on my heart and deep in my spirit, and that’s PRIDE in the Body of Christ.  Exactly what is pride?  There are many descriptions of it.  Some are “unreasonable conceit”, “haughty behavior”, and “to indulge and boast in oneself”.  God despises pride.

 

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.  (Proverbs 8:13, NIV).

Have you ever heard another believer boast?  The word clearly tells us how to do it.  But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”  For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.  (2 Corinthians 10:17-18, NIV).  During times with the Lord, my prayer on a consistent basis is “Lord, don’t let this ugly thing creep up in my heart and life.”

 

Sometimes as Christians it can be there and we don’t even realize it.  We have to come to the place where we don’t mind saying and living, “I’m nothing Lord, it’s all about you.  I humble myself and I want more of you.”  In fact, it’s what you have to remember to say and live everyday of your life if you’re doing it God’s way.  Of course we know who we are in the Lord, our confidence lies in Him, we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength, but everyday still FLESH has to die!  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  (Galatians 2:20, NIV).

 

While writing this, I thought about how the word “selfish” is associated with pride.  What’s wrong with us putting someone else first?  What’s wrong with esteeming another brother or sister in the Body higher than ourselves?  If we do that, is it saying that we are less than they are?  No, it’s not.  It is saying that we are showing and displaying the greatest gift of all LOVE, which leads to UNITY through HUMILITY.  If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

 

Scripture of the Day: "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves," - Philippians 2:1-3

Artis L. Smith

Altar Call - April 29, 2012

1-P1100249, a photo by J. Benton Adams Photography on Flickr.

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

Walking By Faith

Oh, the agony of unrequited love. It’s the fodder of many a love song, the motive of many a convicted felon, and the “dys” of many a dysfunctional family.


We read in the Bible of many instances where favor of one over another caused trouble. For Jacob, his can of worms was opened early-on when his uncle unloaded the older sister off on him in a grab bag marriage…and only after he agreed to a “sentence” of 7 more years of hard labor, did he wind up with his beloved Rachel. But what of Leah, Wife Number One, who may have had first chair but was actually playing second fiddle? Over the years, not only did unbalanced favor create division between Leah and Rachel, but the shockwaves reached out into their offspring as well. When at last the long-barren Rachel finally bore Joseph, Jacob’s partiality toward him caused the other sons to despise the boy.

Perhaps as you read this today, you are dragging the baggage of rejection behind you like a ball and chain. It’s as much a part of your existence as your right foot; in fact, it’s become a bit of your identity. When you look into the mirror, you see IT, not you.

Sometimes we can’t avoid being in the line of the fire of unfair circumstances; but while we can’t avoid the circumstances, however, we CAN allow God to shape our attitudes into a way that not only pleases our Heavenly Father, but assures us that we will reap a harvest when we remain faithful.

You may be in a relationship right now where you’re poorly regarded. Perhaps a fellow employee seems to step in and steal all your kudos from the boss, and you can’t seem to get ahead no matter how hard you try. Perhaps you are the “black sheep” of the family, or at the very least, the child who appears to be loved and respected less than your siblings. You may be the wife or husband who walks in the shadow of a deceased former spouse. You may even be a pastor of a church where all you hear of your parishioners is “the way Brother So-and-So did it.” You’re not a hopeless case. You don’t have to live in unhappiness and unfulfillment, either.

You’ve asked God to change your circumstances many times; now ask Him to change your heart toward your circumstances. Colossians 3:23 tells us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” (NIV) Begin today to sow into that relationship as unto the Lord, and not for the glory and acceptance of man. See, man can’t help but fail us because man isn’t perfect. When we do our works as unto the Lord, God blesses our steadfastness and integrity. Over time, our faithfulness will be proven and yes, it will pay off. When you do your best, you will ALWAYS have the approval of your Heavenly Father.

Interestingly when Jacob dies, the Scriptures tell us he was buried next to Leah—unfavored, homely Leah--instead of his beautiful Rachel. Perhaps in the end, he had come to value the longevity of Leah’s devotion to him. We don’t know all that transpired over the years, but we do know that he was content to rest beside the seemingly unloved one in the end.

Entrust your situation into God’s hands today, and remain faithful. Serve that employer well. Love that partial parent anyway. Be a devoted stepmother or father. The only one you’re obligated to “prove yourself” to is the Lord…and He can cause you to just seep with pure love for the person who disappoints you, even in the process. God who sees your heart attitudes in secret, will reward you openly--because you sought His acceptance above all else.

Today’s Scripture: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” - Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Not The Same

New Life In Christ

One of my favorite TV shows is "Extreme Makeover-Home Edition." It's a reality show with a team of contractors, designers and workers that go around the country remodeling homes that are run down, all torn up and in need of improvement and change. Each episode features a project that would usually take at least four months, but the entire house is totally and completely rebuilt in seven days. This show believes in the old becoming new. The lives of the families chosen for the project are radically changed forever from being a part of this experience! Having a new home is a gift from the show.


It was revealed to me in the Word that this is what God has done for each of us in Christ Jesus – a makeover. Notice I didn't say He put "make-up" on us. We all know what "make-up" is; it's a substance that makes you look better and after a while it wears off or you have to take it off. No, God did a "re-make" on us – permanent and completely brand new! We've been "rebuilt, remodeled, renovated, renewed, restored and improved" and we've been radically changed! Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. (Ephesians 2:1, NLT). But God showed His love toward us when we were in that condition. The makeover by the Father that takes place in those who believe and receive His Son begins with new life. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!) (Ephesians 2:4-5, NLT).

We can't take any credit for the makeover; it was a gift from God. God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8-9, NLT). We were messed up, torn up, with all kinds of "dirt, decay, mold, cracks, holes, leaks, broken pieces and parts" just like those homes on that show. We were in need of a makeover, and the only way it could happen extremely was through CHRIST!

What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old is gone. A new life has begun! All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19, NLT). So Encourage and remind yourself, and also remember to share it with someone else, "I'm not what I used to be and I don't look like I used to. I've had an extreme makeover!"

Scripture Of The Day: "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." - Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)