Watch out for "Cat Burglars"

Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house.

Proverbs 6:31 NKJ

The scripture explains to us that when a thief is caught, he must repay his victims seven fold (7 times) what he has taken.  in John 10:10, Christ speaks of Satan as the “original thief” and he has come to steal, kill and destroy!

    The Apostle John declares that Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8); and one of Satan’s greatest works is to “steal from the saints” - but thanks be unto God, Christ has caught and conquered that thief on our behalf!

    When the police apprehend a thief with stolen goods, they’ll ask the property owners to make an “itemized list” so that everything taken can be returned.

    Have you taken inventory lately?  Are you missing some stuff?

    Make our a list and file the report to the Lord...  Declare what has been stolen from you!

1. ✓        Your Heart
2. ✓        Your Happiness
3. ✓        Your Love
4. ✓        Your Laughter
5. ✓        Your Finances
6. ✓        Your Friends
7. ✓        Your Passion
8. ✓        Your Peace of Mind

    Once it’s been reported, get ready for the return!  Not only what had been taken, but a SEVEN FOLD return!

Pastor Jody

"Every time a bell rings..."

Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

Isaiah 3:10 NKJ

Do you have a favorite movie?  I mean a movie that every time it’s on you DVR it and watch it over and over again?  Maybe it makes you laugh, or it makes you cry or somehow your own personal story is told in the film... 

But what really makes a great movie great?  It has to have a great ending!!

1. ➡        The hero clobbers the villain...
2. ➡        The frog turns into the prince and they “live happily ever after”...

    And knowing how the movie will end, other dangers and turn of events throughout the story don’t sting nearly as bad - you already know it’s going to turn out wonderfully!

    The word, well (towb) can be defined as: Good, pleasant, prosperous, happy...

It describes a state of well-being or condition

1. ➡        Sickness has been healed
2. ➡        Financial ruin has been reversed
3. ➡        A marriage has been mended

    This verse paints a bright and colorful portrait of the future for the people of God!  As men and women of Faith, we WILL OVERCOME every obstacle and we WILL CONQUER each challenge that is set before us.

    Never look for the worst to happen, but always expect the best to come your way!  Let’s make it our practice to remind and rehearse these words... “to the righteous...it shall be well with you”!

Pastor Jody

Becoming a leader...but FIRST...

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.  

1 Timothy 3:1

 Today it’s so very important for us to understand that God doesn’t choose “passionless people” to perform His divine plans.  He carefully observes our attitude and desires before He lays His hands on us and sends us to the field of ministry - in any capacity of service.

    Paul gives Timothy a list of requirements if he wanted to become the leader that God wanted, and the Church body needed him to become...

    Talented?  Gifted?  Educated?  None of these...  The top of Paul’s list was Desire (orego).  This word refers to a person’s inward attitude and determination to always do their very best and to become their very best.

        Desire doesn’t speak of second-rate, second-class or left-overs!

    Some Examples are:

1. ➡Has the ability to improve themselves, but doesn’t even try...
2. ➡Has the money to buy better clothes, but doesn’t...
3. ➡has an iron to press their clothes, but doesn’t use it...
4. ➡has a comb for their hair, but doesn’t care how they look...
5. ➡has the ability to study and increase their knowledge and skills, but is never motivated enough to do anything about it...

    Desire, Drive and Passion to not only DO our best, but to BE our best is a great quality for us as believers to posses.

Pastor Jody

Growing in God's "Let Us" patch - Part III

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:1

As we examine our final “Let Us” leaf in our growth and development in God, we know that it’s certainly not last in priority...

        “Let Us” (Hebrews 12:1) lay aside every weight... that so easily besets us...

1. ➡    What is it that keeps hindering you from living a Life of Victory?
2. ➡    do you constantly struggle with “stuff” that always seems to keep you stuck in last place in the Race of Faith?

    The key is to “lay aside” every weight - We must make a conscious decision to remove unwanted and unneeded clutter from our lives.  The word weight, (ogkos) pictures an athlete in a running contest who must decide to not only shed the extra pounds, but also remove unacceptable clothing.

    Paul charges us (Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:8) to “put off” or “change out of” our old nature (fear, anger and unbelief) and “put on” or dress in our New Nature (faith, Love and Confidence) everyday!  Men, we would never consider wearing a suit and tie or ladies wouldn’t wear a full length dress and heels while running a marathon - That Would Be Foolish!   WE, not God are responsible for “dressing appropriately” for our day and its challenges.

    Today, “Let Us” remove anything and everything that might hinder or harness our movement as we run this race with patience!

Pastor Jody

Growing in God's "Let Us" patch - Part II

What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

This week we will continue to walk in God’s Garden and discover the secrets and successes of developing and maturing together in a “Let-Us” patch.

        “Let Us” (Hebrews 10:23) hold fast to the profession of our Faith without wavering...

    Profession = Confession (homologia) homo - same; logos - words

    Wavering (aklines)

        to lean; to rest; to relax ( a cousin to this word is klino - recline)

        to go to bed; to retire for the day - “I Quit”

    Paul encourages and challenges us as believers, to only and always say the same words that God has already spoken to our lives.

1. ➡    Our Health and Our Happiness
2. ➡    Our Peace and Our Prosperity
3. ➡    Our Dreams and Our Destiny

May we also never Relax, Rest or Retire from repeating God’s covenant, given through His Word!

    If we constantly confess our fears and our failures, we might find ourselves a slave to our setbacks; but if we confess that Jesus Christ has already made us FREE - we can walk in Freedom! (Galations 5:1)

    Thinking “Faith Thoughts” (Philippians 4:8) and speaking “Faith Words” will lead our spirits out of defeat and into Victory!

    Jesus Christ is our Great Confession (Hebrews 3:1) - so today, and everyday, “Let Us” confess with confidence that GOd is WIth Us and For Us!

Pastor Jody