Saturday, December 29, 2012
Check out our Facebook page!
It has been a while since we have posted here...time has not permitted as much as we would have liked :-(
Nevertheless, please check out our church's FB page here for some constant encouragement in the Word of God:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Word-Ministries-Christian-Outreach-Church/154866173684
Hope to see you there!
Copastor Dee
Friday, April 27, 2012
You are the Beloved of God!
As believers, we must receive the love of the Father by faith and allow His love for us to bring peace, joy and confidence in this life and the life to come. Let's look at how God loves Jesus, knowing that if we see in the Word how He loves Jesus, we will know how He loves us.
God declares His love for Jesus: In Matthew 3:17, The Father declares He loves Jesus before Jesus has done any miracle. You see, God loved Jesus just because He was His Son, not by actions. Also in Matthew 17:5, The Father again calls Jesus His beloved.
Jesus declares how the Father loves Him: In John 5:18-19, Jesus tells us that the Father loves Him and shows Jesus all things. In a true loving relationship with the Father, the Father doesn't want you guessing how to be successful, but He desires to show you his way of life.
Jesus prays to the Father reminding Him of their relationship and that the future believers (us) would, could and shall have the same loving relationship that they have together as Father and Son. It is ours in Jesus' name! (John 17:20-23)
The Bible declares that we are not standing in our strength or abilities or deeds, but we stand before the Father in Christ. I John 4:17, "because as He (Christ) is, so are we in this world." Know that the Father loves Jesus, and thus, the Father loves us. Don't view the love of our Father based upon what our earthly fathers did or didn't do, or through the lens of our frailties and weaknesses, but stand before the Father in Jesus Christ. Receive your position of love and grace by faith in the work Jesus has done for you. Stop striving and start believing how you are in Christ!
Declare this over you this week:
- I am the beloved of God
- I have the peace of God
- The Father is showing me His ways
- As the Father loves Jesus, He loves me
Romans 8:37-39,"...nothing can separate you for the love of God in Christ Jesus."
You are the beloved of God, enjoy your position,
Jesus Christ is within you,
Pastor Art
Greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The road to Resurrection Sunday: Maundy Thursday
As we prepare to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection (halleluiah!) of our Lord and all that it means, lets take a moment today to reflect on this day of the Passion Week, Maundy Thursday.
What is Maundy Thursday? It is the day set aside in many denominations to commemorate the Last Supper and all that took place with Jesus and His disciples there. It was then that He instituted the New Covenant in His blood and His body through what we now demonstrate in the taking of Communion. Thank you, Jesus!
Here are some scripture that you can read within the context of remembering this day:
Matthew 26 (all)
John 13 (all)
Be blessed today as you remember all that Christ has done for you and for me,
Copastor Dee
Thursday, February 9, 2012
God's view of you!
Good morning church family! Today's message is about God's view of you. I want to begin with a reminder:
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17 NKJV)
As people with natural eyes, we see ourselves through the lens of our actions, deeds, experiences, successes, and failures. we often believe that God looks at us through those same lenses...but He doesn't!
Here is the really good part: God sees us in Christ!
Because we are in Christ, God is not judging us based upon our past, our present, our weaknesses or our strengths. God judges us based on the life and completed work of Jesus Christ only. When He sees you, He sees the life of Christ in you, period!
The Message translation says it this way:
...our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. (1 John 4:17 MSG)
Our relationship with God through Christ Jesus is based solely on the finished work of Christ Jesus:
And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15 NKJV)
Thus God declares this about us:
- heirs in Christ Romans 8:14-17
- children of God: Romans 8:14-17
- God is pleased with us (just as God was pleased in Jesus) Matthew 3:17
- predestined us to be in Christ: Romans 8:29-30
- if God is for us, who could be against us: Romans 8:31
- justified by God: Romans 8:32
- Christ makes intercession for us
- nothing, literally nothing past, present or to come (natural or spiritual) can separate us from His love
As Christ is, so are we in this world. See yourself as He does!
Walk in your position in Christ,
Pastor Art
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Stop remembering...He doesn't!
God says there is absolute forgiveness of our sins, and absolute cancellation of the penalty of sin for those who receive Christ. Your slate has been forever wiped clean...past, present, and future! There is no penalty to pay ever again for your sins or mine once we have been washed in the Blood. We can live free of the fear of judgement!
He goes on to say this to us:
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22 NKJV)
To get more clarity, the Message Bible says it this way:
So let's do it-full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. (Hebrews 10:22 MSG)
Did you hear that? Through His body and His blood, HE has made us presentable to Himself, both inside and out, through and through. That is such good stuff! So many times, people think they have to clean up to get into His presence. But who is the only one who can clean us up, inside and out? Christ Jesus is that One. So, because you have asked Him into your heart, you have already been made presentable to the Father, and you can come boldly, without hesitation, into His most Holy presence. What a mighty God we serve!
Today, you can stop living through the lens of what you used to be before you met Him, or through the sins that you have committed. Get up, go into His presence like you belong there (as His child, you do!), ask for His forgiveness, and ask for His help. Walk out, confident that He remembers your sins and iniquities NO MORE...praise Him!
Walk in newness of life!
Love you all,
Copastor Dee
Friday, January 13, 2012
Reflection and Prayerful Positioning
Morning Saints!
As we step bodly into this new year that we call 2012, we can do so knowing that God is for us, not against us. He has a tailor-made way for each of us to experience true success His way this year. Are you ready for it?
Here are two thing we can do to be prepared for God's flow in our lives this year:
Firstly, take a pause to reflect on 2011. Each one of us experienced His goodness last year, and now is a great time to take some moments to recall those experiences. What did He do IN you? What did He do FOR you and your family? How did you see Him walk you through a difficult time? And next, take your favorite pen or pull up to the computer or iPad and wirte down those things! Recalling God's faithfulness and goodness to us strengthens our trust in Him. He doesn't want us to see last year through the lens of our sins, failures, shortcomings, missteps...no indeed. He wants us to see last year through what He did in us and the strides we made together with Him...that is what He recalls!
Secondly, take this month to get into prayerful positioning. It is great and noble to have goals and make resolutions for this year, but how much better is it to pray and ask God for HIS heart on what He wants to do in and through you this year? Let's seek His heart on His purposes, prioritities and pursuits for your life in 2012. For example, you may have goals such as losing weight, getting rid of clutter, or having a more positive attitude...nothing wrong with those. But God can lay the axe to the root of WHY clutter has been a struggle, and then the outward part of cleaning up can be a breeze! Let Him speak to you on what and how you can move forward this year.
Take a moment this week to reflect on His goodness to you in 2011...you will be amazed at all that He has done! Then, get into prayerful positioning and listen for the Lord to speak to you (and He WILL speak to you!) about His heart and steps for your life this year. God wants to take you deeper in your fellowship with Him, and He will move you forward. We can partner with the Lord as we stay in step with His Spirit! (Galatians 5:24-25)
Believing with you for a purposeful and victorious 2012,
Copastor Dee
The Anchor for Your Soul
Hello Church Family,
Many things seem like anchors for us in our lives. We look to our family, careers, money, success, certain individuals, our upbringing or our goals in life to be stability for us. Oftentimes, though, things change - by choice or by something beyond our control. Even though God does provide us earthly comfort through relationships, the very pillars in our lives can change. Nevertheless, God has positioned Himself as your anchor, knowing that He is the changeless One. He is the anchor for your soul!
Definitions:
Anchor: something to provide stability and steadiness through rough waters
Soul: mind, will and emotions
Hebrews 6:13-end declare unto us the two promises that God says can anchor your mind, will, and emotions.
Promise number one:
- Hebrews 6:13 - end
Men look for something greater or more important and swear by that thing to give confidence to the person they are in agreement with. Well, God couldn't find someone greater, so He swore by Himself!
Promise number two: God is not a man and cannot lie.
- Numbers 23:19-20 He blesses and can't reverse it!
Many times I have made promises and have not keep them, or I have lied to protect myself in my past. However, when God declares a thing, it must come to pass! You can take comfort that if God has promised it, God will fulfill it.
As you go through this week, know that what God promised to Abraham was, in turn, promised to Abraham's Seed, which is Christ: Galatians 3:15-18, 26-29
The bible declares that we are in Christ and,therefore, heirs of promise and not of the law.
- you earned nothing, but by faith you receive everything
Let God's promises anchor your soul (mind, will and emotions). Line your soul up with the Word and take comfort with these two promises of God. Let the Word remind you of Who is your Anchor!
Blessings and Love,
Pastor Art
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Is your system in order?
Hello church family!
Today we are talking about arming ourselves for war. We all recognize that in Ephesians Chapter 6, it clearly outlines what type of armor we are to wear for the battle. Today I am going to highlight the main points, and also move us from the 1st century warrior to the 21st century tech person.
The main points highlighted in Ephesians 6:10-13 are these:
- we are to fight using the Lord's might
- we do not fight against flesh and blood
- after we have done our part, we are to stand in the grace and strength of the Lord
Computer reference:
Anti-virus. We all know that it is a vital part of our computer. Without it, the various viruses out on the Internet would affect and try to destroy your computer. Three points:
1. Christ fought the viruses of the enemy with the Word of God. Matthew 4:1-11 demonstrates to us that Jesus Christ fought the devil with the word of God. Christ fought the devil with human ability to show us that we can do the same.
2. Like Jesus, we need to have our bullet scriptures ready, to combat the thoughts from the enemy and even others who are trying to discourage you off the promises of God. That's right - what are your two to five scriptures that rise up within you when you are under attack? Once you have them memorized, those encourage and speak to you.
3. We don't wrestle with people, but people can be used to speak against the promises of God, and they can even be believers. Check out Matthew 16 (Peter was rebuked by Jesus for speaking against God's plan for Jesus' life).
Guarding your operating system (your heart):
In proverbs 4:20-23, the Bible says to guard your heart, for out of it flow the issues of life. Meaning you need to line up what you believe, how you think about yourself, and how others and God/Jesus relate to you with the Word of God. If it's not in the Word, then don't receive it. Your life is like a boat designed by God to maneuver in this life. Life is like the sea or ocean. The winds and waves and storms of life do happen, but the if the weather of life has not entered your boat, you will not sink. Jesus in your boat makes your boat unable to go down! It might have to deal with tough, challenging and even hurtful things, but if you will allow the Chief Shepherd to captain your vessel, you will always come out on top.
Remember: don't be afraid of viruses! They surround us, but if we don't let them in to our heart, then we can't be destroyed.
Have you bullet verses ready, speak the word, don't receive all things from everyone, and if it's not in the Word, then don't receive it.
Jesus loves you and is with you!
Your are greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved,
Pastor Art
You are a Believer!
You are a Believer, and the Bible declares in I John 5:1-13 that as believers, these 3 things are true:
Believers are Born of God, Believers overcome and Believers have eternal life.
Born of God:
- because we believe in Jesus, we are now born of God. That means we are now God's child and we earn this status by believing in Jesus. You see, God welcomes us into His family because of our believe in His son that He has testified about. This status was not earned because we did some work, but only because we believe in the only Son of God (Jesus).
Overcomer: I John 5:4-5
What a phrase! The Bible declares that whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and also in verse 5 it says whoever believes in Jesus overcomes the world. What confidence and encouragement to remind ourselves that we are over-comers in this life! Life might not be fair or equal based on our judgment or comparison to others. But with God, your life can be transformed into what God wants to prove to the world - that God loves everyone, that as people connect to Him, He can take the weak, outsider, those burdened and those whom the world might discard, and transform them into a blessed life ordained by God. John 10:10 states that Jesus came that we might enjoy life, and have life to the fullest that abundantly overflows with His blessings (amplified). Enjoy your life! Seasons will change - don't get stuck viewing your life from your past, nor allow yourself to just look to the future. Enjoy where you are, knowing that even if it is a difficult season at the moment, you are STILL an Overcomer.
Have Eternal life:
The easiest piece to know is that because you love Jesus, you have eternal life. That's right - life that never ends. When you leave this earth you are translated from here to heaven and we never die. 1 John 5:13, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."
God wants us confident about the life He has given to us, and wants us to continue to believe in Jesus' completed work for our lives. As you walk through life this week, remember: you are born of God, you are an Overcomer, and that you have eternal life.
You are highly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved,
Pastor Art
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Alignment
A word from Wisdom for Living (Pastor Art):
Good morning church family!
This past Sunday we talked about aligning ourselves with what God has done for us, given to us or declared over us. Aligning ourselves with what God says about us prepares us to face life with the strength of God within us.
All of us will face challenges and things that try to discourage, frustrate or challenge us at one time or another.
Ephesians 1:3-10 (read and allow the words of God to soak in your heart and spirit):
Remember these five things:
- God has blessed you: Past tense, it was freely given so freely receive it
- God always planned for you to be in Christ and before Him in love: respond to the challenges of live by saying God loves me. Know that it might be tough, but if God is for you who/what can be against you?
- God adopted you: you are not an orphan nor forgotten but always on the mind of God. Where you started is not where you are today. You are in God's family, let the other one go. Love them, but don't live in the areas that don't line up with God's word.
- You are forgiven through the Blood of Christ and God's grace abounds to you:
walk in it. I John 1:8-10, ask for forgiveness, and get up each day with the mercies of God that are new every morning!
- God's will is to be close to you, to bring everyone into fellowship with Him. You are accepted - knowing that is freeing because it allows us to grow without the pressure of perfection or rejection.
So when things happen, maybe not the way you planned, when things sometimes seem overwhelming to you, remind yourself whose side you are on and align yourself with these five principles and statements from God. God's plan, God's love, God's grace, God's acceptance, God's forgiveness means you are free in Christ!
Walk in your freedom,
Pastor Art
Greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved
Monday, October 10, 2011
God's promises by grace and faith
This is important because alot of us tend to look at the situations that we are in, and we allow the situations to dictate to us the measure of God's love for us, and if He wants to bless us or not. First, let me say that God loves you and doesn't want to withhold any good thing from you, according to Psalm 84:11. God's heart and desire for us remains constant...halelluiah!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Mutter and utter
You (yes, you!) have been given a mouth to speak like your heavenly Father. HIS words about every area of your life can be what you say! Everything with God starts with a word- "Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light." (Genesis 1:3 NLT).
God is wanting to use your mouth to speak His way of thinking in the earth. Will you use your time to fill your heart with His Word? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, so let's get our spirits filled up with what He says! God gives life to the dead, and calls those things that are as though they were (Romans 4:17).
Will you let Him revive your life - your family, your job situation, your body, your hope and outlook on life - by His Word? He desires to do that for you and for His glory...know that beyond a shadow of a doubt. Let's choose today to let His words and His perspective be what we utter.
Use your powers of speaking for His good, and watch the Lord bring the awesome results!
He loves you so amazingly much,
Copastor Dee
Monday, September 5, 2011
Stay in the Process
Here is a wisdom for living nugget from our Pastor: This week we are talking about staying in the process. Throughout life we all are going to face things that impact our ability to keep our focus on God. You see, God plans to use everything in our lives to reveal to us His love, to show us His ways, and to help us to become more and more dependent upon His grace and love. It might hurt, we might not understand, it might be awkward, things may seem confusing, but our focus has to be on staying in position for God to teach, love and demonstrate His grace us. We are going to have to push through challenging times to inherit the promises of God.
Don't quit - our lives are no longer our own (Galatians 2:19-21). And if Christ is our life, then we have to know that God is with us. If things don't line up with the Word, then change is coming!
Develop Godly habits: Colossians 3:12-17 says; You are: the elect of God, holy, and beloved (know how God sees you) put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Love - it's the bond of perfection. Peace: we are at peace with God, God is on your side Be thankful Let the Word dwell in your heart, speak the Word against every negative thought. Encourage yourself through songs, hymns. Let what you say honor God.
Now that may seem like alot, but the awesome thing is that God is going to help us accomplish it. Our job is to stay in the process as God calls forth the Christ that is in us. Stay in it, keep your head in the game, and know that God's grace is here to carry you- ask for forgiveness and keep getting up!
Blessings and Love,
Pastor Art
Monday, August 22, 2011
The Power of Forgiveness Part I
The Power of Forgiveness: God's heart to us!
The word forgiveness naturally conjures up a variety of emotions, it reminds us of people that we should forgive, people that are hard to forgive and people we don't want to forgive. It can remind us that we need forgiveness but sometimes don't know how to receive or earn it.
We just celebrated the greatest day for Christians, Resurrection Sunday when Jesus rose from the died to grant life to us all. You see Christ was moved by love for us, and His love provided for us a since of grace and forgiveness.
You can think differently about yourself, because you have been forgiven. You see heavens grace was bestowed upon you through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We deserve punishment but have recieved grace, forgiveness for our wrongs, sins past, present and future.
Here are three things to say each day:
- God's love was demonstrated for me because Christ died for me
- I have been justified by the Blood of the Lamb
- I have been saved from the wrath, our failures, our sins and God grace is mine!
When you think of forgiveness focus on that God loves you, died for you, blood washes you and punishment is no longer yours. You are free, you are not a caged bird struggling from freedom, or to be forgiven, you are forgiven and allow God's love to pour into your life!
Blessings and Love,
Pastor Art