Good Morning! And Happy Mission Sunday!
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We have come to glorify the Lord and to give an extra contribution to support our various mission projects. However, today, I want to add another dimension to the service. I invite each of you to join me on a special mission together later in the message. I want to share with you a note I received from a dear friend a few weeks ago, which triggered me to tackle today's subject. It came shortly after I had accepted Pastor's invitation to speak this morning. Her note reads:
"I have been a bit overwhelmed and caught up in family deaths. Covid issues and voting rights injustices going on in many states & D.C. We have a load of injustices & issues currently facing us. I stay prayerful and continue to walk by faith and not by sight."
This statement compelled me to address our present day issues. I prayed and ask for guidance to give this message of hope. As most of you know, I always like to shape my message around "How to live" using the Bible as my reference.
Let me be clear, I do not use scripture to prove a point. I read scripture and adjust my view to match the truth.
I am addressing the crisis we are experiencing, because I have heard too many Christians (who I know mean well) say that we are going through these turbulent times because God is punishing us for all of the wrong doings. Yes, I will agree that man has - and is - violating so many spiritual laws, but I disagree that we are being punished by God. God has nothing to do with the suffering we are experiencing. This is man-made. We serve a Loving Father. He would not harm His children. He made us in His likeness and image and He loves us unconditionally. We find ourselves in this predicament because of our misinterpretation of God's Word!
This brings me to my subject: Listen, listen, listen to the Word of God. Obey and Live a Peace-filled Life!
Consider what it means to listen to the Word of God.
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Genesis 1: 27 & 28, NIV
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them, God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number fill the earth and subdue it. (control) Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground. RULE, He made man responsible for what happens here on earth.
God gave man the authority, He IS NOT GOING TO STEP DOWN TO EARTH TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE HE WILL NOT VIOLATE HIS OWN WORD! Because many of us (not everyone) but so many hear the Word -- but do not listen.
Listen means to pay attention. BY NOT LISTENING TO THE WORD AND
ALLOWING IT TO MARINATE OR RESONATE IN OUR HEART AND MIND, WHICH WOULD HELP US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT God said, we have a tendency to miss the true meaning.
Consider what it means to be an autonomous being with responsibility for which you are accountable.
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Let us go to the old testament. Deuteronomy 30:11-19
Listen. So, here we are given the freedom to make choices! Every day, in thousands of ways, we make choices that either add life to a situation or bring death. Those choices are ours alone. This is the reason the earth is fighting back! Man was given a beautiful earth to care for and look at what we have done!
We find ourselves at the crossroads of challenges and changes. Challenges that are both physically and mentally stressful. Changes that we may dislike and are resisting. Let's face it, the Earth is fighting back! Why? Because of our Choices
We are in this dilemma, many of us have pushed aside many Biblical virtues such as kindness, humility, integrity, courage and many others. We pushed them aside in favor of political correctness, personal choice, individual pride, financial and academic accomplishment. Idolatry of the worst kind, greed, the desire to be rich and dominate almost every action, even spiritual ones. No principle is worth keeping, no rule is worth respecting, if it stands in the way of profit. This culture of money, comfort, popularity and luxury is the cause of corruption, immorality, and greed. It seems that nobody can be trusted. The world is falling apart! This behavior has caused climate change, water shortages, pollution, floods, earthquakes, deforestation. The list goes on and on. I don't know where we would be without those prayer warriors; people who believe in doing what is right are keeping this planet from total destruction!
Consider what it means that we all have contributed to the challenges we face in the world in which we live.
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Wednesday, September 1, 2021 |
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The question becomes where, when and why did man go wrong? We didn't listen to the Word. God said He made man in His likeness and image. That means He gave us the power of our words to create. Every breath we breathe, every word we speak, every, every thought we think sends out an energy. If we choose to be positive we send out positive energy and it comes back to bless us. Negative energy goes from us and come backs as hurricanes, floods, fires, etc. Now we are in a pandemic!
This is the Mission I have for all of us! We must change our behavior! Let us join together and make the right choices. WE are living in a dark world and we need to clear the darkness with the light of Jesus. Let's call on Him. He is the Light of Lights. When we open our hearts and minds and honestly pray for His help, He will answer! When it comes to our behavior, Jesus directs us to the Ten commandments! Time does not allow me to go through them now, but refresh your memory by reading Exodus 20: 1-17. Jesus reminds us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments.
Consider what it means to realize that we all have contributed to what is wrong with our society whether by omission or commission.
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Thursday, September 2, 2021 |
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LET'S GET TO WORK!
No darkness can exist when you are connected to the Light of Lights! We are wired to defend ourselves against threats or loss of life! WE have the power to change our situation!
We have the Will power, strength and desire to love God!
I am reminded of the scripture in Romans 12: 2, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
This is where our work begins: In order to love God with all of our mind, soul heart and strength I must examine and clean up my mind. I must ask myself about my habits and behavior. Am I moody? If so, work on stopping that and being more pleasant and friendly. Am I angry, critical, jealous, fearful? Do I worry? All of these habits can block your desire to love God with your whole heart. Clean up is an inside job!
I know God loves us. He breathes through our breath, pumps our heart, circulates our blood, and speaks through our heart. He is our life! I believe with my whole heart that if you love Him with all your might, He will answer your prayers. He will come and fix our earth! When you love God as Jesus does, you will make Him first in your life every day! You will set up an altar in a corner of your room with a Bible and a picture of the cross on a table, take a chair and go to this spot daily to say your prayers, read your favorite scripture or sing a song! Sometimes, you will wake up with a song on your heart! I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus! You can have a Hallelujah good time with Lord!
Consider what it means to be transformed by the renewing of your mind rather than conform to the pattern of the world.
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Friday, September 3, 2021 |
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I start every morning with the poem, God! God! God!
Most of you know I like to stop my prayer with Psalm 46: 10 Be still and know that I am God! You become still. Stop your thoughts. Close your eyes and visualize yourself sitting at the feet of Jesus, our Lord, FEEL His Presence! Take that feeling with you throughout the day! Day after day you will grow stronger and closer to God!
No darkness can exist when you are connected to the Light of Lights - Jesus Christ!
The peace and joy you feel keeps you filled with God’s love! You will find yourself humming or thinking of God all during the day!
GOD! GOD! GOD!
From the depths of slumber,
As I ascend the spiral stairways of wakefulness.
I will whisper:
God! God! God!
Thou art the food, and when I break my fast
Of nightly separation from Thee, I will taste Thee, and mentally say:
God! God! God!
No matter where I go, the spotlight of my mind Will ever keep turning on Thee;
And in the battle din of activity, my silent war-cry will be:
God! God! God!
When boisterous storms of trials shriek,
And when worries howl at me, I will drown their clamor, loudly chanting: God! God! God!
When my mind weaves dreams
With threads of memories, Then on that magic cloth will I emboss: God! God! God!
Every night, in time of deepest sleep,
My peace dreams and calls, Joy! Joy! Joy!
And my joy comes singing evermore: God! God! God!
In waking, eating, working, dreaming, sleeping, Serving, meditating, chanting, divinely loving, My soul will constantly hum, unheard by any: God! God! God!
Consider what it means to establish a regimen grounded in faith in God.
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Saturday, September 4, 2021 |
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Negative circumstances will show up, but you can equip yourself with Jesus Presence, and you will look behind and beyond whatever force presents itself, and you will say and think: With Jesus by my side, I can overcome any difficulty! Repeat this morning and evening until you believe it! You will be like Teflon, nothing will stick on your mind! It will be sliding right over your head! That joy that kept our forefathers able to survive slavery! My mother use to say, "I see and don't you?"
LOOK FOR THE GOOD AND PRAISE IT
In everything, the good is there; Our
goal Is to find it.
In every person, the best Is there; Our Job is to recognize it.
In every situation, the positive is there;
Our opportunity Is to see it.
In every problem, the answer is there;
Our responsibility is to provide it. In every setback, the victory is there;
Our task Is to claim It,
In every adversity. the blessing is there;
Our adventure Is to discover It,
In every crisis, the reason is there; Our
challenge is to understand lt.
Be different, be original, be unique
LOOK FOR THE GOOD AND PRAISE IT!
Find yourself saying all during the day: I love you God; I love you Lord. Every word, every prayer, every positive thought will cause your light to shine brighter and brighter! You will begin to see the Christ in everyone and in every situation. That is when you will love your neighbor as yourself. You will see the Christ in everything and everybody! We are all children of the same God! You will begin to look for the good and praise it!
With this attitude we can conquer all the ills of this earth!
Father, I stretch my hands to Thee. No other help I know!
We can pray for God's help and He will come and restore our earth! He will save us! Being obedience will yield a peace-filled life!
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Barnes Family - Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee
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2412 Griffith Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90011
Phone: (213) 748-0318
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