2/4/2024 0 Comments Pastor's PenBeloved, it was the CEO of Digital Corporation who, when presented with a personal home computer said, “no one would ever want one of those things in their home.” Digital could have been…well you know what I mean.
We have all missed opportunities, which we could now kick ourselves. I remember standing on an open lot in Rio Rancho, New Mexico and contemplating buying a few. They were at the time $300.00 a lot. $300.00! I figured, why would anyone want to live up here. I mean, why would any New Yorker want to live in a place where the sun shines 300+ days a year, with little humidity and seasonal temperatures. I could have made a killing on those lots just by sitting on them for a few years; easily 100 times my initial investment. Missed opportunities! But the biggest missed opportunity hasn’t been financial or physical; it has been personal with eternal consequences. The biggest missed opportunity is an opportunity, which every human being gets; the opportunity to receive, Jesus Christ. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
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1/21/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, have you ever had to defend yourself? Paul's trial before Felix at Caesarea helps us understand how to properly defend ourselves against false accusations.
The first thing we need to do is tell the truth. So often it is so easy to place the blame elsewhere or to blame someone else for our ills but telling the truth makes everything easier. Secondly of course is the fact that if we are living a life unto the Lord, it does not matter what others bring against us. Living a pure life before the Lord is our defense. Thirdly and maybe more importantly is the fact that we need to have patience. Paul would remain at Caesarea for two years before he was sent off to Rome. Two years incarcerated over a false allegation gives a person much to consider. Beloved, if you find yourself in some type of trial remember to speak the truth, live the truth, and wait for the truth. Consider the following scripture as you persevere awaiting the Lord’s deliverance from your current situation. James 1:2-4, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Blessings- Pastor Joe 1/14/2024 0 Comments Pastor's PenBeloved, so often life does not turn out exactly how we expected it to turn out. There are twists and turns which we never anticipated but over which we see the fingerprint of God. Thies was true in Paul’s life as it is true in our lives!
The Apostle Paul was on a course for Rome. The Lord had planted that promise in his heart and was going to fulfill that promise but maybe not in the manner in which Paul thought it was going to be fulfilled for you see, Paul was going to Rome as a prisoner. This reminds us of Proverbs 16:9 which says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Beloved, ultimately the Lord is in control of our life as His fingerprint is all over our Life. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Beloved, The Lord controls the logistics of our lives. Our pleasure is to trust Him to determine our steps as we follow Him! To Him be all the glory! Blessings- Pastor Joe 1/7/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, as we begin this New Year, I have chosen Mark 10:43-45 as the theme verses for this year, 2024. We will find these verses to be both comforting and challenging. Comforting knowing that Jesus willingly took the cup of sacrifice and suffering, to die for the sins of the world, which enables us to live free in Christ Jesus.
But challenging because we also have a cup that we must also accept. Acceptance of the cup given to us and specifically for us individually allows us to grow as a servant of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is not easy, but it is wonderful! It is because Jesus came to ransom us, to set us free from the bondage of sin and self that allows us to mature into the Christian God desires us to become. Therefore, I pray that each one of us would be challenged to become more like Jesus Christ. That each one of us would be a servant at home, in our community and in our fellowship. That we would remember that “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” May our lives emulate our Savior! To God be the glory! 12/31/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, this morning Pastor Jimmy and the Youth will lead service. We do this to encourage the youth and the use of their spiritual gifts. We plan on doing a Youth led service every month that has a fifth Sunday. The following Sunday, the first Sunday of the Year- January 7, 2024; I will be teaching a special sermon on our verses for the year which are Mark 10:43-45.
Please also remember tonight as we have our “For Him” talent show and potluck. We look forward to seeing you tonight. Until then I pray that you will have a blessed and safe New Year in Christ. Blessings- Pastor Joe 12/24/2023 0 Comments Pastor's PenBeloved, there is no peace or joy without Christ. If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; but our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.
Have you ever wondered how your life would be if Christ had not come? You would still be in your sins. You would still be living the same lifestyle. You would have no hope or purpose in this life. There would be no message of consolation, no hope of heaven. But because Christ has come- we have hope and comfort and peace and joy to the world! Truly we have Good News of Great Joy! My dear family and friends I pray that you will have a blessed week in the Lord! May the love, grace, peace and joy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ flood your hearts this week! Merry Christmas! Blessings, Pastor Joe 12/17/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, as we come to remember the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we can testify to the reality of God’s love for mankind and for each of us individually. His love was displayed in the manger and on the Cross. His love has become a light for us to follow. He is our light that shines through the darkness of this world’s evil.
Hence, whatever darkness you may be going through, remember that God’s light shines in our darkness! Remember also that He is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and Savior. Jesus is God incarnate. He is God with us! Let us rest in Him! I pray that you and your family will have a Blessed Merry Christmas 12/10/2023 0 Comments Pastor's Pen Beloved, all the Hebrew prophets prophesied the coming of the Messiah, and, of course, Christians believe the Messiah they prophesied was born at Christmas. The Hebrew prophet Hosea tells us about the Messiah who is to come by telling us the account of his own messed-up marriage.
Now, there’s a pastor who was the minister at Tenth Presbyterian Church in downtown Philadelphia for many years, James Boice, and he once published a series of sermons on Hosea in a book. In the book, if you go to the sermon on Hosea 3, the title of the sermon is “The Greatest Chapter in the Bible.” When we’re done, you may not think it’s the greatest chapter in the Bible, but I think you’ll see why some people do think that. So, as we began our Advent series there are three things Hosea Chapter 3 teaches us. First, our relationship with God is like a marriage. Second, our relationship with God is like a bad marriage. Third, how God healed his marriage and what it cost him. But allow me to explain Advent. Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian church calendar is the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. Blessings, Pastor Joe 11/26/2023 0 Comments Pastor's Pen Beloved, the Apostle Paul had just had two glorious opportunities to present the Gospel blown up in his face. Having spoken before a group of Jews and then before the Sanhedrin, he was now faced with doubt and fear.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Paul sat alone in his jail cell that night, with his head in his hands and tears streaming down his face, mourning the lost opportunities for God and how he might have spoiled them. Paul probably wondered if God would ever want to use him again, or if this was the end. But remember, though Paul was alone, he wasn’t alone; because if everyone else forsook him, Jesus was enough. Better to be in jail with the Lord than to be anywhere else without him. Paul had been miraculously delivered from jail cells before; but this time, the Lord met him right in the jail cell. The Lord knew that Paul needed encouragement. Beloved, the Lord knows when you need encouragement. So, TAKE COURAGE that the Lord will stand with you in your time of need! Blessings, Pastor Joe 11/19/2023 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, we live in a world where we face many ups and downs, where we face many positive and negative situations. So what do we do and how do we respond when we are facing a negative, a verydifficult situation? For some it will be some sort of a loss: e.g. a job or a relationship. For others it may be an illness either physical or emotional or it may be a spiritual attack of some sort, like persecution. So how should we respond to a negative situation?
Beloved, I believe that as we study this portion of Scripture, we will learn how to remain positive in a negative situation. First of all we need to accept the situation as God ordained. We need to calmly accept God’s will. Certainly this is easier said than done. Secondly, we use the circumstances as an opportunity to minister. This is difficult to do because so often we are stuck in the middle of self-despair but when we take the focus off ofourselves, the Lord’s rest and peace can flood our hearts. It is as Corrie Ten Boom said, “Look outside and be distressed, look inside and be depressed, look to Jesus and be at rest.” Beloved, may the Lord Jesus Christ flood your hearts with rest and peace! PS. Hope to see you Wednesday Evening and Thursday Morning at the Turkey Bowl! |
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