JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - Don't use "Your" doctrine to trump The Bible!

What I mean is that the Bible trumps man’s authority, church tradition, and our own opinions. What I mean is that we must not allow anything that opposes God’s Word to dictate our actions or control our thinking.

There are many translations but the same Word of God. There are many versions, colors, print sizes and covers but it is the same Word of God. However, it is truly our own interpretation that gets us in trouble. We are quick to internalize scriptures without first understanding the foundational truths of scripture. We look for the "Get out of jail free card" that seems to fit our situations. We miss or simply skip over the parts of Scripture where God let's us suffer the consequences of sin. We don't talk much about the correction and admonition of The Lord. We stay away from teaching holiness yet some of us stress "only mess"...Praise your way out...Tell 3 people next to you...Give a handclap of praise...Get ready, get ready, get ready...

We must understand that when we study, comprehend and live by God's Word, then we praise because we come to realize who God is; how God loves us; what God has done and is doing; and we learn that God can do anything but fail. We shout, we praise and we worship because of what we have come to learn is the truth of God’s Word by faith...meaning, we may not know what our blessing will look like and we may not know what favor has in store for us. Faith means that we don't quite know when deliverance is coming but we do know that we have hope in God and His goodness, mercy and faithfulness.

I know that I can be lengthy and very simple-minded when I post my thoughts, but I do search the scriptures so that I can have confidence in who I am, for the scriptures truly speak of who God created me to be. I minister these truths to all who take the time to read them, even if it is only one person.  My prayer is that by something that I've shared, someone would come to love The Lord and begin to search His Word for their life for themselves...just one!

I minister in every way that God allows me to share His Word and I do it to edify, equip and to make known to God's people both inside and outside of the church walls, His Truth for anyone who believes.

Hense, the task of various ministers, which I am but one, to the body is not only to equip others for ministry, but also to help the body come to unity on doctrine and experience and knowledge of Christ with the goal of spiritual growth and maturity.

I do want for you "to tell 3 people...to give a handclap of praise...to praise your way out...Praise your way in...to worship in spirit and in truth"! What I don't want is for you to have zeal without knowledge. I don't want for you to just follow the crowd and do what they do. Don't become a spectacle with no foundation. Don't be a professional praiser but be authentic in your praise.

Get to know God through His Word, prayer and Holy Spirit.

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ (Ephesians 4:14-15 NASB)

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - Two choices...either COMMIT or COMPROMISE

We hear that we are to grow up, that we are to mature as Christians because when we were Saved, we were reborn. We had to start on the milk of God's Word before we can get to the meat of His Word.

Well because of this, some would ask, "How will I know that I'm growing in The Lord? What would be a for sure sign that I'm maturing and doing what The Lord has called me to do?"

Let me tell you that one sure sign that you are growing and maturing manifests itself in your prayer life. You see, when you first start to pray, you pray for yourself..."Lord help me...Dear God lead me...Father bless me...". Then as you get a little stronger you begin to pray corporately, "Lord move in us...God bless Your people...Jesus create in us...". However, maturity is evident when we as God's elect, begin to intercede in prayer on behalf of those who wronged us, those who abused us, those who have accused, lied, shamed and cursed us.

You see, when we begin to intercede for those who aren't living according to the Word of God, then and only then will things begin to change.

So, we don't like the drug dealers in our neighborhoods, then pray for them! So, we don't like the Liquor stores that are being built near our children's school, then pray for those who desire to build in your school zone. If you don't like the abusive language; the rising of gangs and the criminal activities associated with gangs; and the disrespect to the elderly and of private property, then pray!

We must understand that in order to change the behavior and to change the hearts of those who are our enemy, we must first pray!!

COMMIT to prayer and never COMPROMISE. Our best stance against injustices truly occurs when we kneel down on bended knees to pray!

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (1 Timothy 2:1 NLT)

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - Jesus Wept

This morning I woke up late as I was up most of the night reading posts about yet another shooting in my Hometown of Beaver Falls, PA. Last night's shootings involved two young men being shot.

This is played out night after night, not only in my Hometown, but also in your Hometowns. As I laid there reading the prayers, the outrage of friends and family, the frustration of a community and the fear associated with these shootings, the drugs and all of the crime...the verse in scriptures that is in my heart to share with readers of this post today is, Jesus Wept.

It is heartbreaking to understand the depth of sin that is in this world and how steeped in sin some of our children and some of us truly are.

Our Prisons ARE FILLED with boys who instead of learning to swing a bat, have been taught and have learned to "sling drugs"; instead of pulling up on a jump shots in a high school basketball game, they have opted to pull a trigger of a gun. Our girls, instead of playing with Barbie Dolls are raising their very own children at a very early age.

The streets are claiming our babies before they can learn life skills like playing a sport which equals team building, trust and teamwork. Playing with Dolls equals care, nurturing and responsibility.

Although the smallest of all scriptures, "Jesus Wept" is so profound. If we truly meditated on this verse and asked "why", we would begin to see the multitude of reasons for our Savior's tears.

Yes, He wept for the death of His friend Lazarus, but when you draw back and look at the much bigger picture, you will see that Jesus Wept for the death of all men. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Because of sin, we now face death. Jesus wept because every man born of a woman will experience death. Jesus wept because sin has separated from Him what He has created.

Jesus wept because of the loss of our children, family values, loss of fellowship with one another, the reliance on drugs, guns and illicit activities that permeates our society and the corresponding decline of righteousness, holiness and God fearing/life sustaining values. Jesus wept because we have compromised with the enemy instead of praying against the activities of the enemy (as long as it's not in my house).

Jesus wept because we have fallen so far away from what He created us to be.

It's Praying time and today, I'm praying for Beaver Falls and I'm joining you in praying for your Hometowns...don't just talk about it; BE ABOUT IT! Amen.

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - Pray like a child!

Forget all of the education, degrees and titles!  My children know how to get my attention about the things that they both need and want. Do you know how to get God's attention?

Pray like a child...but don't act out like a child!

Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 18:2-4 NLT)

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - New Eyes of Faith!

I get excited when I hear of new and innovative strategies to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I look around and see how many things have changed since I was a little boy who was attending Sunday School and church services.

I remember my teacher, Min. Esther White of Tabernacle Baptist Church, sitting us in the basement of the church teaching us with creative ways. We sometimes colored and made things to take home and we sometimes read stories. We sang and we played games. However, each week we learned a verse of Scripture.

As little kids we didn't have Bibles of our own, but relied on our parents and teachers. Today, the Bible is made available by many vehicles  (printed, internet, handheld devices, radio and television). But just because we receive God's Word by different means than I did as a young boy, doesn't mean that what is being done today is wrong, watered down or misleading!

As I sit on the Bus this morning, typing on my Smartphone that contains a Bible App with at least 8 different translations that I like to read (there are far more), I am both thankful and grateful for the many ways God uses to reach His children.

So, when your church tries new things, new music, new ministries to reach this new generation, don't get all freaked out...perhaps it was something new that someone tried with you to win you to Christ?

Embrace the fact that God wants everyone to be Saved and that He needs you to spread The Good News of salvation in new, innovative, creative and exciting ways. Hey, whatever it takes, it's worth it!

I'm a Christian today because a church in Waldorf MD created a Christian basketball league that my sons participated in...creative and effective; I was Saved by a game that I loved, it got my attention and Jesus got my heart!

We must have new eyes of faith to see where and how God is at work in all kinds of surprising ways and places.

My church today, The Journey of Faith Church in Waldorf, MD is being innovative. Our Pastor is starting a Bible Institute to engage the community throughout the week via a series of studies held by different leaders in small clusters so as to be accountable to one another as we forge ahead to become "United Believers who are walking in faith to win Souls and to Transform lives, through Word, Worship and Witness"!

The Journey of Faith's Bible Institute - Coming in September  (after Labor day). COME CHECK US OUT!!

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - It's YOUR time to be Blessed!

Every day, we do everything by time. We use it, we waste it, we mark it, we make it. Some of us even "do" time. We wakeup by it, and as a final insult, we sometimes kill it! But with all of this "time" watching, monitoring and adhering by it, do we really know what time it is?

We realize when times are hard. We recognize when there are times of lack. We recall times of need, sickness and even sadness.

However, The Word of God reminds us that There is a Time for Everything...To Everything there is a Season! (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV)

Well fam, God has placed it in me this morning to remind us all that if we have seasons of lack, then we need to be on the lookout for a season of plenty. God's Word assures me that when I've endured a season of isolation and separation, then I will come into a season of acceptance. Let it be known today that your season of incarceration has a release date attached to it! Understand that your season of family strife will culminate with a family reunion.

Do you really understand WHAT TIME IT IS?

It is YOUR time to be Blessed!

"To everything there  is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what  is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV)

JUST ENOUGH for The Journey - Crushing the Power of Compromise

It concerns me how easily we can be brought to the point of compromise. In Exodus, Pharaoh has denied both Moses and God on many occasions. So, God brought plagues to the land of Egypt and upon the very palace of Pharaoh and his officials. However, Pharaoh, just like our enemy seems to think that he has a hold on both you and your family! Although the plagues devastated Egypt, Pharaoh was still trying to control God’s people...KNOW that the Devil is relentless!

However, like Moses, we are to never compromise with the enemy! When The Lord is delivering you, He also wants to deliver your family! The devil would like it very much for you to get caught up in the church and he would let you become very busy doing things away from your home for other people. His diabolical plan to hold on to your loved ones while you leave Egypt would be fulfilled if you compromise.

Pharaoh knows that he can't win over Moses, so he tries to compromise, "Who are the ones going?" Moses doesn't hesitate in his response. Moses didn't flinch in his answer. Moses didn't have to think about it or pray over it...Moses didn't and wouldn't compromise. Moses told Pharaoh, “We will go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we will go...". Moses essentially said that he was taking everything and everyone and anything connected to what was his!!!

Today, I'm going to CRUSH THE POWER OF COMPROMISE and tell Pharaoh that when I leave Egypt, I'm taking Kimberly, Keith Jr, Kyle, Kaelyn and the dog and cat!!

I pray that you claim all that God has given you. It's time to be on The Journey of Faith together!

So Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve the Lord your God. Who are the ones that are going?” And Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we will go, for we must hold a feast to the Lord.” (Exodus 10:8-9 NKJV)