Category Archives: Church Leaders

God’s Benefit Package 

Church Leaders, Family Ministry, Giving Thanks, Spiritual Food, , , , ,

Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV Bless (ḇâraḵ) the Lord (JEHOVAH), O my soul; And all that is within (midst, among, inner part) me, bless (ḇâraḵ) His holy (sacred-set-apartness) name! 2 Bless (ḇâraḵ) the Lord, O my soul, my And forget not all His benefits (compensation; make a mends for a wrong done unto you): 3 Who forgives all your iniquities (perversity, depravity, guilt) Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems (avenge, revenge, ransom) your life from destruction (pit (of Hell), the grave) Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies (compassion), 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed (to make anew, to repair) like the eagle’s.

So I remembered that the title sounded very familiar, so I did some digging in my notes, and back in March of 2023, I’d written 

The Lord’s Benefits Package

Psalm 103:6 The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.

So this is a Psalm of David, the “Man after God’s Own Heart.” Another powerful praise song to the Lord. Just look at the first verse: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” I cannot read that without breaking out in song. That verse alone is powerful and could stand by itself. 

Yet he goes further in the following few verses to remind us of something which might be just as powerful: “Don’t forget the Benefits of our relationship with God.” When I heard the word ‘Benefits,’ I was struck by the thought of a benefits package that comes with some job offers. These packages include medical coverage, life insurance, dental insurance, a 401 (k), holidays, and paid time off. So in that same spirit, I noticed a couple of things: 

  1. Medical Coverage: (vs 3….Who heals all your diseases; vs 5 So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s). We receive healthcare from the Great Physician. Jesus went about healing the sick (Matt 4:23). He took the beatings, wounds, bruises, and humiliation upon Himself, then healed us with His stripes (Isa 53:4-5). Just like Abraham, Caleb, Elisha, and Samson, He will give us renewed (Renewed: to rebuild; to renew; to repair) youth/supernatural strength. Our Healthcare is covered by Jesus’ Blood. 
  2. Life Insurance: (vs 4 Who redeems your life from destruction). Life insurance is a benefit that’s only paid out after someone’s death. When Jesus died, He redeemed (Redeem:  To buy back a relative’s property….to marry his widow….deliver…purchase/ransom) our lives from destruction (Destruction:  a pit; a trap; ditch; grave); He bought our lives back from being trapped in a ditch, like Joseph. 
  3. Dental Insurance: (5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things? Jesus will fix our mouthed; we will speak faith and life (Eph 6:19). We will declare God’s goodness (Rom 2:4). He will also satisfy (Satisfies: to sate; fill to satisfaction; to have enough; have plenty.  supply (someone) with as much as or more of something than is desired or can be managed) us with His overflow of Favor (Ps 23:6). 
  4. 401 K: (vs 3 Who forgives all your iniquities). The Retirement account is designed to provide for you after you have retired. Jesus finished the work on the cross; He declared it finished (Jn 19:30). Understand what He finished on the cross; all was forgiven. He forgave our iniquities (Iniquities: Perversity; evil; mischief (Perversity is a deliberate desire to behave unreasonably or unacceptably; contrariness.   OR the quality of being contrary to accepted standards or practice).  Cambridge’s Definition of perversity: the quality of being strange and not what most people would do or expect: Sexual behaviour that is considered strange and unpleasant by most people.  Let all that marinate; His blood covers all.

The Lord’s Benefits Package is one-of-a-kind and covers everything you could possibly need. It will make you declare just like David: Bless the LORD, O my soul!

What Are You Striving For

Church Leaders, Family Ministry, Spiritual Food, , ,

Acts 24:16 NKJV This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Paul was before the Governor of Caesarea, Felix, after being plotted against by the Jews in Jerusalem. Here he is pleading (via a carefully crafted sermon) as to why he does not deserve the bogus charge the Jews had made against him, and to tell Felix and whatever audience was there about Jesus and “the Way,” that which we call Christianity. Yet as he is sharing these words to the Governor, Paul makes this statement: so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” 

So what exactly was Paul saying? 

  1. This being so:Paul was acknowledging the Truth of what he believed in and who he believed in. Jesus is “the Way,” but the Way is also what they called all those who followed Jesus. Ultimately, he was letting Felix know that everything he did was because he believed in Jesus. 
  2. I myself always strive: Paul wanted this audience to know that in every effort he made, every action he took, he took painstaking (requiring immense care and meticulous attention to detail) efforts to ensure. He did not take anything for granted or take steps haphazardly. He was very intentional in everything he did. 
  3. to have a conscience without offense: So, what was he so careful about? To maintain a moral consciousness without any malicious intent to harm anyone. In this case, not to cause offense (not leading others to sin by one’s mode of life). He did not want to cause anybody to sin because of his actions. We live in a day of constant acknowledgment of people’s shortcomings, whether in government. official, teacher, church pastor, or the President of a country. It seems that every day, someone will do something to lead others astray or cause offense. After all, these Jews were about to kill Paul if they could, but Paul wanted Felix and us all to know that he carefully chose his actions in a way to ensure that nobody fell because of him. 
  4. toward God and men: The thing about Paul is that he had lived much of his early life being offensive. Both to God and men. Remember, he was persecuting the early church so much that Jesus told him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 22:7). So then, I guess it was only right that, after meeting Jesus on that Damascus road, he would strive never to cause offense again. 

This leads me to ask: how are we living our lives? Are we living in a way to lead others to sin, or are we being diligent, disciplined, and deliberate to live lives that lead people to the Christ that Paul believed in??

Name Dropping

Church Leaders, God Loves You,

Phil 2: 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

I was recently in a conversation with a colleague after seeing a picture in his office. The picture was with a former president. I commented and he told me about the encounter, since I also had a picture with the same president, I told my story. What ensued was a battle of name dropping, we both began to tell stories about “important” people we’d met in our lifetime. It was not intentional, it just sort of happened. I realized later in a moment of worship (I hear from the Lord a lot during worship; because He inhabits the praise of His people), that we were putting a great deal of our worth/importance in many of the names we were dropping. Then the Lord gently and graciously reminded me that there is a name greater than all those names we were so excited to share. The name I should have been dropping was Jesus, the name at which every knee shall bow and every tongue should confess.

Philippians reminds us why it is so impactful to name drop the King of Kings, because it is done “to the glory of God the Father.” Rather than try to use the names of others to make yourself look better or to prop us up. Drop the Name of Jesus, who makes all of us better, He loves us and lifts us higher to the Glory of God. He is the only one we need to know J

2016: A Year of Discernment & Vindication Resulting in Blessings

Church Leaders, Spiritual Food,

Each year I look forward to the New Year’s message. It is great to hear how the Lord is speaking to the whole church. It has often been my experience, that the same scripture, principle or theme for the year would be given by God to a number of Pastors I follow, which to me just confirms what God is saying. During Praise & Worship last week God sent me to Chapter 20 verse 16 for 2016. I could not wait to sit down and find this scripture; that is before realizing that there were well over 20 books in the bible with a Chapter 20 and verse 16. However, there are two principles I use when studying scripture; Jesus in the book of John & First Mention. Whenever I want to know something more about Jesus I go to the Gospel to John, this Gospel speaks to the Divine Nature of Jesus. First Mention is when you find a topic first mentioned in the bible, you’ll find God’s original meaning/definition of that topic. So using these principles, I focused on John and Genesis 20:16……are you following yet?

  1. Discernment

John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”   She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

When I read this I was excited, because I immediately remembered this story. The verse highlights a moment when Mary was in deep despair, after all Jesus had just died and now it seems someone has come in and stolen His body from the grave. Angels were on the scene and had just started a conversation with her, but she could not focus with so many distractions demanding her attention. Jesus was even talking to Mary, attempting to give her peace, but she was so lost in her current circumstances, she had no idea the Lord was talking. “Mary,” a voice pierced thru the chaos and all of the noise, now she was finally able to clearly hear and discern the source of this dynamic voice. It was Jesus. Immediately, everything changed, the Prince of Peace calmed all of Mary’s anxiety and pain, giving her a completely new perspective on her circumstances. Everything that Jesus taught her had now become clear.  Just like Mary, in 2016 we will be able to hear Jesus thru all of the chaos in our own lives. We will discern His guidance and direction like we’ve never experienced before. Where we’ve been hesitant to make major decisions, in 2016 our path will be made plain. Major project milestones that needed to be met in 2015, the Lord will make our next steps clear and He will complete what was started. Where we’ve been afraid to make moves; Jesus will make it Clear in the New Year…… (you know you have to make it rhyme ;). Get ready for clarity in 2016.

Jesus will be our JEHOVA-RAAH (Our Shepard who tenderly leads us, Loves us and will keep us safe)

  1. Vindication

Gen 20:16 Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed this vindicates you before all who are with you and before everybody.”

Genesis tells the story of one of the times Abraham, in fear lied to protect himself while leaving his family at risk (Abimelech, the King of Gerar, could have easily made Sarah one of his wives and took her away from Abraham). Read the story, he did this twice, but don’t get is twisted Abraham is still the Father of our Faith (Thank Goodbess receiving Jesus’ righteousness does not depend on our actions).  Even though Abraham made a poor decision, God stepped in to protect Sarah from any harm, then He turned around to vindicate and  exceedingly bless them both. The word vindicate depicts a coverings or a veiling; I’d like to think of it as our own suit of armor…..can you say a robe of righteousness.

Have you made a bad choice?  One that put your entire family at risk? Maybe you are living out the ramifications of those choices. Guess what?  God knew us while we were still in our mother’s womb.  So He knows every thought we think and every choice we make well before we’ve ever considered it. He will protect us from harm and in 2016 He will vindicate us!!  That thing you’ve been accused of, Jesus is your lawyer and will argue your case.  He will ultimately turn the tables on your accuser.  He will cause those seeking you harm, to restore all that was lost and even more. You see Abimelech, after Abraham  lied to him and put his family in jeopardy, gave Abraham a thousand pieces of silver. Now how much that is worth in today’s dollars has been estimated by different sources to be anywhere from $500 to $200,000. Regardless, Abraham was blessed immensely by the very one that he feared would destroy his family. God will use your enemies to bless you; and in 2016 we will begin to see this happen in our lives.

Jesus will be our JEHOVAH-NISSI (Our Banner, a Banner of Love and Protection).

Recap: While there are so many powerful chapter 20 verse 16’s in the bible. I sense the Lord leading many of us to the Book of John and Genesis, preparing us for the New Year.   2016 will be a year of Discernment & Vindication resulting in tangible blessings. Next year we will see and experience the “Lord our Shepherd” as depicted in Psalm 23. I don’t know about you but I’m excited for the 2016!!!

Preach Jesus and let Him Move the Church

Church Leaders, God Loves You

John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

Today we began what we hope to be our final home church search, as we have settled in the Houston area for good. As far as we know what God’s plans are. We don’t always look forward to this because it has very often been a very long and arduous process for us, because Jesus Christ and His finished work is not the focus of many churches out here today.

We’ve been to plenty of churches to tell us what we need to work on and how we can be better. They focus on the person in the pew, but I cannot help but believe that the One who sits on the Thrown should be the topic of the sermon. Once we know and believe what He has done on the cross for us, everything we do will from then on will be based on the solid rock. Lets look at John 4…

This is the end of a very familiar bible story: The Woman @ The Well. This woman, known by all of the town as a sinner, was literally sneaking up to the well to get some water. Sneaking so that the other town women would not see, judge and embarrass her. Instead this day she ran into the one person who would truly love “the mess” out of her.

Jesus rested at this well, where he would meet this Samaritan woman. Jews did not deal with the Samaritans or “Half-breeds” so she was being shunned by the very people who were shunned by everyone else. She could not possibly feel that good about herself, which may explain much of her behavior. Ahh but now she would meet a man that, in her own words, would “tell her all the things she ever did.” Yet He still loved and adored her, He still gave His life for her. He still had a plan for her. She still meant something to Him.

You see this is why it has been difficult for us to find a place to call home. We may be picky, but we need a place that will remind us about this great love, because when we realize how loved we are. How regardless of the mess we’ve made of our lives, or the mistakes we still often make; that God will never forsake us. That we have a Lord and Savior who cares just as much about us as today as He did when He went to the cross and that God loves us just as much as He loves Jesus….We will do just what that Samaritan woman did, we will immediately get up and go tell everyone how wonderful He is and all that He’s done for us. We will serve, bless and feed others and we will be the church….the one so many of us head out to go find every week.

The sheep don’t need to know how bad they are and what to do to make themselves better or how we can protect ourselves and stay out of trouble. They just need to follow their shepherd and eat where and what He leads them; when they do that they live a successful, joyful and abundant life. Not because of what that have done, but because they trusted and followed the shepherd. (Psalm 23).