“Insecurity”

Romans 8:31-32

Insecurity is defined as lack of confidence or assurance; self-doubt; uncertainty; anxiety; danger. 

God doesn’t want us to be insecure. Insecurity is tied very closely to our self-image. We find ourselves wondering if anyone loves us. We compare ourselves to others to see how we measure up. We may even question whether God loves us. God loves us with a perfect love. He sees all our weaknesses, flaws, and struggles and still loves completely. We can’t earn this love. God gives it to us freely, holding nothing back. Because God loves us with such immense love, we can draw near to Him without fear and without hesitation. Our past sins do not define us. They are not our identity. God has dealt with our sins in three very specific, very powerful ways: (1) God washed us. (2) God sanctified us and (3) God justified us. God highly values His creation and lovingly cares for it. Not even a tiny sparrow dies apart from Him. He causes the flowers to bloom, giving them rain and sunshine. He numbers the grains of sand and calls the stars out by name. There is not a single square inch of creation that falls outside of His

I come by this morning to let you know we all were chosen, adopted and accepted by God. This destroys every bit of insecurity. God will give us everything we need. He gave up His only begotten Son that we may be free and have eternal life. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Surviving The Pandemic”

Deuteronomy 31:8

Surviving is defined as remaining; continuing on; enduring; abiding; lasting.

We have no control over what is going on in the world around us but we can control how it will affect us as children of God. As Paul was standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about. He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since He is Lord of heaven and earth, He doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve His needs, for He has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything and He satisfies every need. From one man He created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and He determined their boundaries. His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. Trusting and believing in God helps us all to survive the pandemic. We all should choose faith over fear. God is the Author and Finisher of ALL things. The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End. There is nothing too big or too hard for God if we walk in His will. 

I come by this morning to let you know we’re truly being blessed in and through this pandemic. We must keep our eyes on Christ Jesus and see the salvation of the Lord. Draw closer to Him and allow His will to be our will, regardless of the circumstances and situations we may encounter daily. This is our due season and we must be glad in it. Be bless and I love you!!! JE  

“It’s Our Due Season, Thank You Jesus”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Season is defined as time; period; opportunity; interval. 

God didn’t bring us this far to leave us. We may not see how it will work out but God has a way. In Galatians 6:9 it says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Due season is here. Promotion is coming. Financial breakthrough. Lack is not our destiny. Keep believing, keep expecting, keep honoring God and our cup will run over. Words have creative power. Let these words take root in our spirit. Our minds may try to talk us out of it. But it’s our job to believe. Yes God! It’s our due season. God is about to lift us out of that pit, set our feet on solid ground and put a new song in our mouth. Sadness must go. A new sense of joy is coming. The woman with issue of blood had to do this. The physicians said she’d never get well. But she knew she was supposed to get healthy and well. She heard Jesus was coming to town. Something inside told her that it was her due season. Even though she was weak from losing blood, she moved through the crowd to get to Jesus. If I can just touch the hem of his garment I know I will be healed. Healing is coming. Favor is coming. She was filled with expectancy. She reached out and barely touched the hem of His robe. “Who touched me?", Jesus asked. Somebody touched me with such faith and expectancy they drew the miracle power right out of me. When we live with expectancy it gets God’s attention. This is our year to accomplish dreams. To break free from depression. We’re doing what the woman did. Our  faith can stop Jesus in his tracks. The woman released her faith.

I come by this morning to let you know, it’s our due season, thank You Jesus. Not a devil in hell can change it not now or ever. Hallelujah!!! God knows how to bring us new customers, new clients, overflowing finances and divine favor. He’s Jehovah Jireh our provider. Keep believing, keep expecting, don’t stop doing what’s right. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Stop Being So Judgmental And Take A Self-Evaluation, Woe Its You”

Matthew 7:1-8

Judgmental is defined as having or displaying an excessively critical point of view; irresponsible; fault finding. 

Did you know there is a difference in between judging and judgmental? It most definitely is. This is how we as Christians run a lot of people away from church. There is a big difference between simply judging/discerning a situation and being judgmental towards another person/situation. We 

may be doing it because we love and care about the other person and only want what’s best for them. Maybe because we are very passionate about God’s Word. Or maybe it’s just a bad habit we have developed. Either way, it’s important to remember: The only person you are 100% responsible for is yourself. Yes, we may have an obligation to love and care and speak up when necessary, but if we’re trying to control others’ actions or beliefs, we are not being loving, we’re being self-righteous and controlling. We expect others to follow our advice, our opinions, or our personal interpretation of right/wrong. Stop it I say!  Pay attention and call yourself out because judgmental attitudes can often start from a place of caring or from a passion for certain values, you might not even realize just how judgmental you’re being. Matthew 7:1, which states: “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.” Jesus wasn’t saying “Don’t judge ever.” Instead, He was telling the hypocritical Pharisees, who loved to catch others breaking the law: “tend to your own sins first, and then you’ll be in a better condition to address others’ sins.” Amen!!! 

I come by this morning to let you know when we remember our sins, failings and short-comings, it reminds us that no one is perfect and we all need grace. Not that there isn’t a time to step-up and say something. Sometimes we do need to comfort friends and family members in sin. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Our Joy Is From The Lord”

John 15:10-12

Joy is defined as the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation. 

We all need a moment of joy in our lives; a moment when we can relax and take pleasure from the good things in our lives. Joy doesn’t get chased off by trouble. The Holy Spirit supernaturally gives us great and lasting joy, even when we face affliction. In the bible, joy is a deep inner gladness regardless of circumstances going on around us. That means whether we are rich or poor, sick or healthy, successful or struggling, we can still have a feeling of gladness or pleasure deep down inside. Now, we may not feel like smiling on the outside, but we can still smile on the inside. Jesus was teaching that our Father God was like the father of the prodigal son when he returned home. He was happy to see his son, filled with love, running toward him, hugging and kissing him. He called for a great celebration. That’s joy. God finds great pleasure in His creation. God said at the end of each of the creation days, “it was good.” After day 6, He said it was very good. God wasn’t only giving His approval but was also revealing His pleasure. The Father God has joy in what His hands have made, especially His creatures. That includes us. We are one of His creatures.

I come by this morning to let you know we can experience joy from the Lord because this kind of joy is supernatural. It is part of the character of God and comes to us only from a relationship with Him through knowing Jesus Christ. Amen!!! Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Unstoppable”

John 10:10

Unstoppable is defined as that cannot be stopped or surpassed; unbeatable; uncontrollable; impossible to prevent.

We serve the true living God, who is unstoppable and unchangeable. We don’t become successful by staying still and being afraid of the enemy, we succeed by moving in faith and walking in the will of God. A lot of us have become stagnated because we’re afraid of losing. If we truly offer ourselves as “living sacrifices” as Paul exhorted us to do, it means we give up our way for the Lord’s. We die to our wants and desires in order to serve the Lord Jesus. We are too much about getting fed (which is safe). And we are too little about exercising faith (which is dangerous). Change happens when our Lord is at work in us. When this happen we change the world and we become unstoppable. In Matthew 28:18-20 it says, And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

I come by this morning to let you know we are to be an unstoppable force impacting the world for Christ. Don’t be afraid to change the world, this is what we were designed to do for God’s glory. Unstoppable children of God. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Our Praises Are Shifting The Atmosphere”

Romans 12:2

Shifting is defined as switch; move; transfer; change; reposition; transformation. 

Our attitudes can either add or take away from the atmosphere. Choose to be positive, because every opportunity is a gift. If we start the day overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done, then we’re missing some of the good things along the way. Enjoy the moment in whatever situation or circumstance you’re in. Praise God as the atmosphere shift. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 

I come by this morning to let you know we all must choose to shift the atmosphere with our praise. Praise God in and out season. Rather than viewing  life as a constant to do list, think of it as an opportunity to love and serve others well. This will shift the atmosphere and we will find others inspired to do the same. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Covered Wounds Don’t Heal, They Just Fester”

Ephesians 5:8-13

Fester is defined as intensify; mature; aggravate; process; grow; to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment in.

We can't heal a wound by saying it's not there. Essentially we are saying that trying to find peace on our own terms is short-lived. We have to face and deal with our inner wounds. Unattended wounds fester. We have to acknowledge our wounds, uncover them and hold them up to God, the one who can help. The Apostle Paul teaches in Ephesians 5 that bringing what’s hidden in the dark, our secrets of shame, into the light, into God’s merciful presence, is how they lose their power over us. So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

I come by this blessed morning to let you know Jesus paid for our guilt and bore our shame. He carried it all to the cross. But there He left it. He has borne our griefs, sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses. He carried our sorrows and pains.

He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities. The chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us was upon Him. With the stripes that wounded Him we are healed and made whole. 

His death, burial, and resurrection were more than enough for all of us. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“God Will Refresh, Renew And Redirect You”

Isaiah 43:19

Refresh is defined as to stimulate; to make fresh again. Renew is defined as to restore or replenish; to begin or take up again. Redirect is defined as to change the direction or focus of. 

Regardless of your circumstances, your social status or how many times you’ve been knocked down we can not escape God’s care. Sarai’s mistreatment of the pregnant Hagar forced the young woman to run away. Hagar fled into the desert where she met the Angel of God. He told her to return to Sarai and give birth to Abram’s son, Ishmael, who would become the father of a nation. Hagar was amazed that the living Go’s saw her. Filled with hope, Hagar returned and gave birth to her son. Hagar and Ishmael were sent onto the desert with a meager supply of food and water. When the water ran out, Hagar sat apart from her son so as to not  witness his death. Again, the Angel of God appeared to reassure her of God’s plan and to reveal to her a well of drinking water. Refreshed, renewed a d redirected, Hagar raised her son alone. Ishmael grew to be a strong, powerful man and founder of the Arab nations. 

I come by this morning to let you know we must be constantly renewing, refreshing, and redirecting our soul and spirit in the things of God. We need to renew our minds, first by rejecting the lies of the world and then by accepting and living our lives by the truths found in God’s word. And the Holy Spirit is the only One who will direct us to God’s truth. Be bless and I love you!!! JE

“Who’s Blocking Your Blessings?”

Deuteronomy 28:1-6

Blocking is defined as preventing; stopping; halting; intercepting; cutting off; hindering; holding up. 

When we’re all up in someone else’s business God can’t be about our business. Plus we’re blocking our blessings when we do so. We need to stop worrying about what other people have and focus on getting our blessings. In James 1-8 it says that “a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Fear, procrastination, stress, irritable, anger and trying too hard are blessing blockers as well. Here are a few more blessing blockers: (1)disobedience, (2) Covering your sins, (3) Your words, (4) Offense, (5) Being stingy, (6) Self doubt, (7) Doubt, (8) Holding on to the past and (9) Unforgiveness. Father God search us and show us if we’re the ones blocking our own blessings. Father God we repent unto you and we ask that You fix it right now Lord in the name of Jesus so that we can move forward. Show us the areas we need to improve so we can weed them out. After God has weeded out the blockers, we must expect blessings to flow in our lives exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ever ask or think. If you do not have faith in God's goodness and power, you will be blocking His blessings in your life. James 1:6-7 says, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

I come by this morning to let you know a bad attitudes can block love, blessings and destiny from finding you. Don’t be the reason you don’t succeed. Who’s blocking your blessings? Is it you? Check yourself. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Don’t Worry About It, God’s Got It”

Psalms 55:22-23

Got it is defined as capable; skilled; accomplished; able.

Worry is evidence of a lack of trust in God. If you truly believed that He could handle things then you wouldn’t think twice about how He is going work it out. We all need encouragement in this life we live, we all need a support system that will not fail us, and the only one that can be that is Jesus Christ. We can rest assured that the peace, the harmony, serenity of God will bruise Satan’s attack on you. When we look at Gods peace we can focus on harmony and serenity, which tells me that when things are chaotic in our lives, we need to go to a peaceful place and talk to the Lord, cast all you burdens upon him and know that he will deliver you in due time. Trials and tribulations are certain to come our way. Jesus said in John 16::, “In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have over come the world. Trouble water is a natural path that we must a cep. Mark 4 teaches that when Jesus and the disciples were out in the water and the water got rough, Jesus rebuked the wind and told the sea to be still. Jesus is rebuking winds in our lives and telling the sea to be still. It is the natural design of water to be turbulent from time to time. 

I come by this morning to let you know nothing surprises God. He has a plan in every circumstance. His plan is always for His glory and for the good of His people. No matter how high the mountains or how low the valley, God’s got it all in control. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“A Tainted Perspective”

1 Thessalonians 5:22-28

Tainted is defined as a trace of something bad, offensive, or harmful; corrupted; dirty; impure. Perspective is defined as view; outlook; mindset.

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth. Favor is better than silver and gold. Because Jesus is honest, kind, loyal, and honorable, we should strive to be those things as well and all of those qualities contribute to a good reputation. When Paul and Silas passed through Lystra on Paul’s second missionary journey, they found a disciple named Timothy. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him on his journeys and aid the ministry. Timothy left home and followed Paul, and thus began a lifelong friendship. Factoring into Paul’s decision to select Timothy for ministry work, “The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy.” In other words, Timothy had a good reputation. There are times when our reputations are tarnished through no fault of our own. Gossip, slander, and lies can cast a shadow over the most stellar of reputations. In those times, we can follow the example of Jesus. Philippians 2:7 says that Jesus “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” The Son of God knew that, when He left the throne room of heaven to come to earth as a man, His exalted reputation would not follow Him. His rights to be worshiped, adored, and praised had to be set aside in order to accomplish God’s higher goal. So He left His reputation behind and entered a world where He would be misunderstood, mocked, and lied about. The Son was willing to entrust His reputation to His Father, and, whenever we are wrongly accused, we can do the same. 

I come by this morning to let you know that we must avoid being stained by the world. And, although there are times when our reputations are tainted due to the dishonesty of others, God wants us to live in such a way that those who know us won’t believe the slander. In 1 Peter 2:15 it says, “For it is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance and irresponsible criticisms of foolish people.” Be bless and I love you!!! JE

“Self-Worth”

1 Peter 3:3-4

Self-worth is defined as the sense of one's own value or worth as a person; self-esteem; self-respect; 

We are created Masterpieces in God’s eyes. The enemy likes to lay huge guilt trips on us: we’re not good enough, smart enough, successful enough and that we are only posing as such when the total opposite is true. Our value is not based on our physical appearance, but on God's love and sacrifice for us. We must focus on the inner beauty that God develops in us, rather than the outward appearance seen by man or woman. God made us, and all His works are wonderful. God affirms us by loving us unconditionally. God does not focus on our earthy bodies, which are temporal and quickly wither and fade, but on our souls, which are eternal. Fear of failure, lack of confidence, and procrastination are all by-products of low self-worth that can keep us from accomplishing God's will in our lives. Father God help us to be servants like our King Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve. Help us to find our self-worth in him, as we pray in His name, amen.

I come by this morning to remind someone that the best source of self-worth is to serve God by serving others. Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Be bless and I love you!!! JE

“You Are More Than Enough”

Psalms 139:13-16

Enough is defined as adequate for the want or need; sufficient for the purpose or to satisfy desire;  plenty; acceptable.

Our sufficiency, competency, and adequacy come from one source, God. When we try to find our purpose outside of that, we are left with empty feelings of “not enough.” When God sends us into unknown territory, it’s easy to think, “Who am I to?”Insecurities work overtime to keep our eyes focused on us rather than Him. But where God is calling us, He’s also preparing us, leading us, and enabling us. Where do we need to be reminded, “God will be with us?” We spend a lot of time looking around at what everyone else has or is doing or all the ways they appear better. We measure. We measure our insides by other people’s outsides and that’s never a fair. We don’t know what they’re going through, how they have been hurt or the struggles they face. We see their social-media best selves and assume everybody is winning at life. We are constantly seeing the “Everything’s great!” version of other people’s lives while living the reality of our own lives, which may often feel a little mundane and purposeless. We are almost always our own worst critics. God idea of big is so different from ours. A God who promises us that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without Him knowing is a God who values even the smallest things. He wants us to have peace and contentment that won’t require us to put up walls of protection and spend our lives afraid of being vulnerable and real as we stop compulsively trying to measure the width and depth of our lives. He will be our protection. He will be the wall of fire all around. God will be the glory in our midst and whisper to us that our lives, no matter how small they may seem to us, are enough because He is enough.

I come by this morning to let you know no matter what he said, she said or they said, you are more than enough. We must start believing God has given us a life without walls, that He has plans for us that go beyond anything we can measure or imagine and promises to be the glory in our midst. You are more than enough! Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“We Shall Not Be Shaken By The Ways Of The World”

Psalms 16:8-11

Shaken is defined as to move or sway with short, quick, irregular vibratory movements; upset; fluttered; overcome.

The year 2020 was something we never experienced before, the pandemic and we’re still in it today. My question today, are you in it for the long haul? Through it all we must trust God. We know that if our foundation is secure, that foundation is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And It can withstand the questions and the doubts. We know our foundation is Jesus and there is nothing too big or too hard for Him. King David walked the short but significant path from fear to confidence, from instability to security, from anxiety to authentic, lasting joy. God rules over our lives, not just in the big picture, but in all the little details. Put your hope in nothing else but Christ. He alone is our rock and salvation. In Psalms 62:1-2 it says, “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.” A time of shaking is to be expected, even the heavens will be shaken one day but God, who is above the heavens, is eternal and immutable. Nothing can shake or change Him. We thank you God that in a shaking world our chart and compass are secure. The word of God, is thoroughly reliable. 

 

I come by this morning to let you know we may not be able to control what happens in our lives, but we always have the invitation to rely fully on God. No matter what happens, we will not be shaken. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“A Divided House”

Mark 3:23-29

Divided is defined as separated; incomplete; unattached; split; apart; disunity.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity. Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man both spoke and saw. All the people wondered in amazement, and said, “Could this be the Son of David., the Messiah?” But the Pharisees heard it and said, “This man casts out demons only by the help of Beelzebul (Satan) the prince of the demons.” Knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will continue to stand. If Satan casts out Satan that is, his demons, he has become divided against himself and disunited; how then will his kingdom stand? If I cast out the demons by the help of Beelzebul (Satan), by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you before you expected it. Or how can anyone go into a strong man’s house and steal his property unless he first overpowers and ties up the strong man? Then he will ransack and rob his house.

I come by this morning to let you know we are called to live in harmony with one another. We are not to quarrel but to be unified around a common understanding of truth. We should be unified in our purpose and judgment, avoiding people who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to sound doctrine. God commands unity among believers. Be bless and I love you!!! JE  

“We Say Yes Lord”

2 Corinthians 1:20

Yes is defined as to express affirmation or assent; amen; fine; agreed; approval.

Everyone of us was created for a purpose. If you don't know what your purpose is, seek God for direction. When Jesus began His public, earthly ministry at the age of 30, He went out looking for men who were willing to say 'Yes Lord" and he found 12 of them who were from different walks of life, different backgrounds and different occupations who said "Yes" and when they did, He told them  "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." The disciples said “Yes Lord” even though it meant danger, persecution and possibly death. Jesus knew them all inside and out. He knew which ones would say "Yes" and those were the ones He called out. Jesus knew who He was choosing as His disciples. Jesus was not blinded to who the 12 was that He chose. He is not blinded to us either for He knows exactly who we are and in spite of our shortcoming He is still listening to hear  "Yes Lord” from us. Christ goal for us after salvation is to make us "fishers of men" if we are willing to say "Yes" to His will for our lives. There are quite a few who said “Yes” to Jesus will: Noah had the choice of building an ark or not building an ark.  He said "Yes Lord” and began building it unto the completion of it. Moses stood before a burning bush and said "Yes” to God who commanded him to go to Pharaoh, King of Egypt and command him to confront Him with what thus says the Lord in the release of God's people, even though doing so could have cost him his life. The prophet Isaiah said these profound words concerning God's will for a voice to cry out to the people on His behalf. Isaiah said "Yes Lord, here I am! send me." Mary, the mother of Jesus at the conversation of her and the Angel Gabriel, she said "Yes" to God's will for her life as Mother of the Savior of the world. Luke 1:38-Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.”And the angel left her.

I come by this morning asking you, “Are you willing today to say, “Yes Lord” to His will and His way? I am. By saying “Yes” to God, we are essentially saying that our relationship with Him is more important than anything in this world. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Spiritual Conflict”

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Conflict is defined as a fight, battle, or struggle; controversy; quarrel; collision; opposition.

We must turn to God’s word and remember that God has given us a way of escape. Jesus is no stranger to spiritual conflict. Early in his ministry, Jesus encounters a man with an unclean spirit. The spirit cries out to Jesus, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” Jesus responds by silencing the spirit and commanding it to come out of the man. Jesus speaks of Satan himself, responding to accusations that he is possessed by a demon and saying, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand”, thus highlighting his opposition to Satan. Jesus’ words also illustrate the broader conflict between two spiritual kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. Jesus’ disciples being unable to cast a demon out of a tormented boy. Upon hearing the news, Jesus laments the faithlessness of the present generation and has a fascinating exchange with the boy’s father: And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

I come by this morning to let you know we are not exempt from struggles and suffering. But, Christ won the ultimate victory by His death on the cross. Just when it looked as though spiritual darkness had gained the upper hand, Jesus erupted from the grave in glorious victory. He has overcome the darkness, even the darkness in every one of us. Be bless and I love you!!! JE

“Jesus Only Sees Us For Who We Are”

1 Peter 1:3-4

Sees is defined as to perceive with the eyes; look at;  identify; observe; recognize; discern. 

Many of us find ourselves basing our self-worth on how others see us and on our accomplishments, feeling shame from our past, defining our value based on our looks or setting unrealistic standards for ourselves. It doesn’t have to be this way. If only we could see ourselves as God sees us. Our identity is found in Jesus Christ. Our identity is that of a child of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Our spiritual inheritance is one of forgiveness, an intimate relationship with Jesus, and hope of spending all eternity enjoying fellowship with God. These truths assure us of God’s unconditional love, and of the intimacy, security, and hope we find in him. None of this is based on what we do; rather, it is grounded in what God has already accomplished through Christ. In and through his grace, God heals us and brings us freedom to live a new life. Sometimes grace does not come easily to us. We have to work at changing our thinking. We need to humble ourselves to accept God’s grace and extend grace to ourselves when we don’t measure up, knowing that God already sees us as the perfect reflections of Christ that we will be in eternity. In Jeremiah 1:5 says; “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

I come by this morning to let you know God gives us a new clarity when we come to Him. We begin to see life a whole lot better. We see ourselves. We see our problems. We see our past, our present, our future. Everything gets a little clearer the closer we get to God. We have to see ourselves as God sees us. Jesus says in Matthew 12:35, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Jesus Said He Will Fight Our Battles, If We Just Be Still”

Exodus 14:13-14

Still is defined as remaining in place or at rest; motionless; calm; quiet; silent; peaceful.

We’ve all had situations in our lives when we just wanted to fight back. Especially, when someone is unkind, unfair or mean toward us, it’s hard to just stand there and take it. The word tells us to just stand still the Lord will fight our battle. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom you have seen to day, you shall see them again no more for ever.

I come this morning to remind you that when we stand still, we get out of God’s way so He can take care of us and the situation. When we’re in a battle we have to make a choice. We can either stand still and trust that God will fight for us or we can freak out and possibly make it worse. I choose to be still. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“No Matter Who Wrote You Off, God Only Sees The Best In You”

Psalms 56:8

Wrote off is defined as to dismiss someone or something as insignificant; reduce the value of; depreciate.

God is the God who sees us, El Roi. The Lord revealed this name to a woman named Hagar. She was an Egyptian servant who worked for a barren woman named Sarah. Sarah decided to have a child by asking her husband to sleep with Hagar. Sarah then mistreated pregnant Hagar to the point that she ran away to the desert. But the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, on the road to Egypt by way of Shur. And He said, “Hagar, Sarah, maid, where did you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarah.” The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Go back to your mistress, and submit humbly to her authority.” Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” We can rest knowing God is never unaware of what we are going through. El Roi saw Hagar, but He didn’t promise a quick fix to all her problems. He sees us, but He also sees the larger picture outside of the constraints of time. Sometimes God calls us to have a boundary and walk away from abuse or mistreatment. At times, others set the boundaries and a relationship we want to keep is over. In other situations, God calls us to stay the course. He asks us to persevere in a difficult marriage, work situation or church conflict with a new perspective, holding onto His promises.

I come by this morning to let you know in our lowest moments, God sees our pain. He hears our cries. God sees the best in us. We must never doubt His presence. We are never alone because El Roi is the God who sees. Be bless and I love you!!! JE  

“The Lord Is The Lifter Of Our Soul”

Psalms 3:1-8

Lifter is defined as a reliever of distress or take away troubles; a restorer; a deliverer.

Hurt and discouragement are realities we all have to face in our life. We have all faced discouragement because of

circumstances, people who don’t like us and our own actions. However, when those who are closest to us give up hope for us, what are we to do? We often crawl into our shell and nurse our broken heart alone. King David had these very same experiences in his life. He had enemies who were out to get him. His few remaining friends pushed him into a deeper despair by saying that God had abandoned him. David expresses the helplessness of his soul in Psalms 3:1-2; “Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.” In the midst of the darkness of his soul, David looks up to God. Has God abandoned him?  No! He finds his hope and encouragement once again in God. He reaffirms his faith and trust in God. God was King David’s protector (shield) in spite of his enemies. God was glorified, in spite of his circumstances. God had lifted up his soul unto joy and encouragement in spite of his despair. After David reaffirms his trust in God, he then cries out for God to act in his behalf. 

I come by this morning to let you know our Heavenly Father knows all about our enemies, our pain, our trials and our discouragement; however, He chooses to wait until we humble ourselves before Him. Our crying out to Him is saying: “Lord, we have no where else to turn. We desperately need You. Please come and deliver us.” God will hear our cry and respond. Hallelujah!!! Jesus is the lifter of our soul. Be bless and I love you!!! JE

“The Divine Necessity”

Deuteronomy 4:29-31

Necessity is defined as something necessary or indispensable; need; essential; urgency; requirement.

Jesus allows no exemptions. We must of divine necessity pray and not lose heart. It is God’s way. It is the only way. In the Upper Room, Peter tells the church “it was necessary” that Judas should do what he did, as God’s word had foretold. He tells the crowds, “There is no other name than Jesus by which it is necessary that we be saved.” When God tells Ananias to baptize Saul, God says, “I will show him how much it is necessary that he suffer for my sake.” After Paul survives being stoned with rocks, he tells his friends, “It is necessary for us to enter the kingdom of God through many sufferings.” John also talks about divine necessity. John says that at one point, “it was necessary” for Jesus to pass through Samaria. There were plenty of other ways he could have gone (most Jews took the bypass around it), but Jesus had to go through Samaria. Jesus had to talk to the woman at the well. It was a divine necessity. Jesus tells Nicodemus that “it is necessary” for one to be born again and for him to be lifted up on a cross.  John the Baptist says “it is necessary” for Jesus to increase, but I must decrease. John says, that “it was necessary” that Jesus rise from the dead.

I come by this morning to let you know it was necessary. Life is full of cases of divine necessity, cases where it had to happen that way, places where God’s absolute will takes over, places where we can say that God had it planned all along. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“We Must Be Held Accountable For Our Actions”

Galatians 6:1-5

Accountable is defined as subject to the obligation to report, explain, or justify something; responsible; answerable; liable. 

Each one of us shall give account of ourselves to God. For an adult, accountability could be making sure to work each day at the job you were hired to do and to own up to your mistakes when you make them. When we accept Jesus’s sacrifice, we do so with the knowledge that our actions and words before we were saved are forgiven by God through Jesus. The belief is that after this recognition of salvation, we will go forward in our lives with a changed heart and the sense that what we do is for the glory of the Lord more than the glory for ourselves. This is not to say that we won’t utter a curse word, do something out of pride, or judge someone unjustly. But it is to say that while before it didn’t bother us to do or say something like this, we will be bothered now by these words and actions. The Lord spoke to the prophet Samuel to tell him that while man looks at what a person is on the outside, the Lord concentrates most on the heart. This explains that the heart reveals the true intentions of people and whether they understand the gravity of being accountable to what is asked of them, or if they are immature and not responsible enough to be accountable yet, if ever.

I come by this morning to let you know we must be held accountable for all our actions. It’s time out for pretending and playing church when you know you full of devil. You may fool some people but you most definitely can’t fool God not now or ever. Woe be unto you!!! God’s word holds it in the highest esteem. We are to be an example to others of this accountability as a Christ believer. Amen!!! Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“God’s Mercy Remains, No Matter How Many Times We Fail”

Jeremiah 31:1-4

Mercy is defined as compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy; compassion; pity; benevolence; blessing. 

Test are test we have failed but our infinite mercy still remains. No matter how many times we have failed, God is still there loving and guiding us. If we have made a mistake and the enemy is taunting us or if we are in a pit of guilt, the Lord wants us to know that He loves us. The labels that once defined us are never permanent. We are not defined by our past. Christ came to set us free. And because of that we have hope, especially in the hard days. His word reminds us that His banner over us is love. His label is lasting. It doesn't fade away if we blow it again. It doesn't wash off over time if we're inconsistent. It shines. Just as sure as the sun rises every morning, it breathes new hope and offers a fresh start every single day. Redeemed, loved, called, restored, cherished, strong, joyful and hope-filled. God reminds us that He is greater than the problem, the obstacle, the giant, and the fear. He is a God of miracles who works on behalf of His children, even when we can’t fully see. We can trust Him. We may not understand it, but God is always faithful. 

I come by this morning to let you know, no matter what we face today, God's promises stand true. In hard seasons, it may seem easier to complain about everything than to offer God praise. But there is great news, God mercies are new every morning. Set your hearts and minds on Jesus. Remember God’s promises and choose to praise Him and trust His Sovereignty. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“What Is Your True Motive?”

1 Chronicles 28:9

Motive is defined as something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing; reason; purpose; intent.

The human heart is very deceitful. We can easily fool ourselves about our own motives. We can pretend that we are choosing certain actions for God or the benefit of others, when in reality we have selfish reasons. God is not fooled by our selfishness and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. We can operate from a variety of motivations, often negative. Pride, anger, revenge, a sense of entitlement, or the desire for approval can all be catalysts for our actions. Any motivation that originates in our sinful flesh is not pleasing to God. Motivation becomes an issue when we are not honest with ourselves about why we are doing things. When we give the outward appearance of obeying God but our hearts are hard, God knows. We are deceiving ourselves and others, too. The only way we can operate from pure motives is when we walk in the Spirit. God is interested in our motives even more than our actions. In 1 Corinthians 4:5 it says; when Jesus comes again, “he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. God wants us to know that He sees what no one else sees. He knows why we do what we do and desires to reward those whose hearts are right toward Him. We can keep our motives pure by continually surrendering every part of our hearts to the control of the Holy Spirit.

I come by this morning to let you know you can fool man or woman but you can not fool God. Keep on pretending and lying. Can I tell, you’re not lying to the people you’re lying to God. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. Let’s take a moment and ask ourselves, what is our true motive? Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Authentic Anointing”

1 Corinthians 13:2

Authentic is defined as not false or copied; genuine; real; representing one’s true nature or beliefs; pure; trustworthy. 

God is not looking for perfection, but He is looking for authenticity. Be yourself and you will experience the power of God flowing through you. But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

I come by this morning to let you know your anointing only flows through authenticity. I declare that we will always be ourselves. Don’t live your life attempting to be anyone but the person God called you to be. There will be no anointing where there is no authenticity. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Humble Submission”

1 Peter 5:6-11

Submission is defined as yielding control to a more powerful or authoritative entity; obedience; humility; compliance; surrender.

A humble spirit will obtain honor. The humble submission of Jesus Christ. It seems that for a little time at least; the Lord was among the followers of John. He had humbled Himself for many silent years under the authority of His parents, and He seems to have spent some time learning from the ministry of the Baptist. The silent years of our developing Saviour. The Lord Jesus lived His entire childhood and early adult life in humble submission to those that were in authority, as He waited for God’s timing when He would continue His long, painful, difficult road to the cross. Every step down the pathway of Jesus life was with His Father’s business in view. Every stride He took was in humble obedience to the will of His heavenly Father. Every moment of His journey through life was lived out for you and for me. Christ’s entire life was in preparation for His final victory at Calvary, for He learned obedience, throughout every stage of His life, through the things that He suffered as a babe; as a child; as a youth; as a learner and teacher, and as our Saviour. In Ephesians 4:2 it says; “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

I come by this morning to let you know humility is our perfect posture and place of rest and strength. In the position of humility and submission it allows God to be the one to lift and bring up. If God is the supreme power and architect of the building then it is truly secure and will survive the greatest of storms. Be bless and I love you!!! JE