“Woe It’s Me Lord, Help Me! Forgive Me!”

Matthew 15:8-11

Woe is defined as a condition of deep suffering from misfortune, affliction, or grief; ruinous trouble; calamity. 

Once we realize who Jesus really is, it is then we will see how sinful we are. When Peter realized who Jesus really was, he could see how sinful he was, and said to the Lord, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” In response, the Lord said to him, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” When Peter saw the Lord as He is, and himself as he was, he was transformed and made more useful to God than he had ever been. The same thing happened to Isaiah for the same reason. There were three surprises that purged the prophet Isaiah; (1) That he had the problem. He recognized that he had “unclean lips.”He himself was in trouble with God. (2) That he could be purged. After the prophet experienced the blow of being surprised by his own uncleanness, he was surprised again that he could be purged of that sin and made clean. (3) That he could be used. Now that he was purged of his sin, Isaiah was given another surprise. In spite of his failure, after he had been cleansed, he could be greatly used of God. Stop looking  for shortcomings of others and take a self-check today so God can expose you to you. Remember when Jesus said to the crowd who wanted to stone the woman, “He without sin cast the first stone,” and they all walked away. Show grace like God shows you everyday. The Lord has left every believer in the world to be a witness for Christ and to minister to His people and He will use us in some way according to a wonderful plan if we will surrender to Him and trust Him for the power to bring forth His fruit. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.” 

I come by this morning to let you know we ALL must do a self-check daily and allow the Lord to cleanse us because we haven’t arrived yet. The Lord has great things He will do with us, too, if we will “see” Him in the scriptures, high and holy as the King, confess our uncleanness, and let Him purge us. Then we will be ready to hear His voice and volunteer to fulfill His purpose for our life. Woe it’s me Lord, Help me! Forgive me! Cleanse me! Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“How Many Weeds Have Taken Root In Your Life?”

Matthew 7:18

Weeds is defined as a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation; a plant that is not valued where it is growing; one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants.

Jesus warned of the choking influence of thorns—three kinds of pesky, prickly weeds that squeeze the life out of fruit-producing seedlings. The first weed Jesus warned of is the worries of the world, the anxieties of this age. Worry or anxiety means “to be drawn in different directions” or “to be distracted.” Some people are distracted and worried about what others think about them, preoccupied with pleasing men and gaining their approval. Still others are pulled by their insecurities, trying to find significance in achieving and performing. I wish I could sever the taproot of this weed of distraction and be rid of it forever. The second weed Jesus spoke of is the deceitfulness of riches. Maybe you’re thinking, Hey, I’d rather take my chances with handling riches and whatever deceit comes with it than be poor! Wealth isn’t so bad. Wealth is a deceptive weed that takes over our lives and chokes out our responsiveness to God. When we are in its grip, we spend our lives playing it safe and risking very little for Jesus Christ. The third weed that we find hindering fruitfulness in our lives is the desire for other things. Here we find the weed of a passionate desire or a craving. Some of these weeds are easily spotted, like sexual lust, an addiction to pornography, or perversions. But other cravings aren’t so easily identifiable: food, clothing, jewelry, car, job, salary, a hobby or sport, or even the location or kind of house we live in. Any desire that drives us, controls our thinking, or preoccupies our minds can be a weed that hinders growth in our lives. How many weeds have taken root in your life?

I come by this morning to let you know if left unattended, weeds (negative thoughts) based in fear can take over your lawn (mind) or garden (creativity). Weeds can be carried onto your lawn by the wind (gossip), where they can settle, germinate (take root), and grow. Most weeds are dispersed with the wind. If the weed (negative thought) is not properly removed, it can create much misery for the homeowner (person), making it difficult to restore the lawn (mind) or garden (creativity). Remove the weed (negative thought), or it can destroy your lawn. How many weeds have taken root in your life? Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

 

“Serendipitous Moment”

James 1:17

Serendipitous is defined as to come upon or found by accident; good; beneficial; favorable; unforeseen; unplanned.

Everything good that happens in your life comes from God. Here are a few example of biblical witnesses who experienced a serendipitous moment. Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You are the king and you are doing your best to honor God. You have been 18 years in doing that and someone comes to you and says hey king we just found a book. It looks like the law that was written by Moses. It has been lost until now. So the king says great read it to us. Expecting that he had been doing well all these years. Only to realize that he was failing the test. Josiah was so distraught that he tore his clothes in shame.The king. He said we have to fix this. We cannot continue going down this path. This moment was designed by God to get a man who was trying his best to live with honor towards God back on the actual track in which he had left. He thought he was on the right one but it was this encounter that showed him he wasn’t. Moses was an Egyptian raised Israelite. He murders someone in a field and runs away for fear of the penalty. He winds up being married to a woman and become a shepherd. From prince to shepherd. But he is for 40 years minding his business. Doing his shepherd thing. Just feeding sheep. Watering sheep. Leading sheep. Then all of a sudden something happens. A bush is on fire and doesn’t burn. Do you think Moses was looking for a burning bush that day? Do you think he was expecting that? Do you think for one moment he believed that he was about to have an encounter with God that would change his life. Absolutely not. Serendipity. But God had a plan. God had to meet Moses that day. That encounter while seemingly by chance was set in motion by God himself because it was time for Moses’s life plan to take shape.

I come by this morning to let you know it’s time for your serendipitous moment. It’s not by chance things are happening in your life, it’s God preparing you for the purpose He has ordained for you. The purpose that God has for your life He makes sure that it happens. We need to be ready. We don’t know when these encounters may happen so take heed to the word in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“God Uses Our Struggles To Change Us”

Deuteronomy 31:6

Struggles is defined as a war, fight, conflict, or contest of any kind; trial; pains; battle.

God uses our struggles to change us, strengthen us, to shape us and to heal us. We cannot control all the struggles in our lives. We do not know what is going to happen tomorrow or even today. We cannot control our struggles, but we can control how we respond to them. We can control whether an experience makes us a bitter person or a better person. What matters in life is not so much what happens to us but what happens in us. God uses situations that others mean for bad in our lives. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. Years later he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” This holds true in our life, today as well. Maybe there is someone right now who is trying to hurt you. Don’t worry. If you are a believer, if you have put your life in God’s hands, God can use even such a painful situation for good. He will develop within you a mature character. And that is what the fruit of the Spirit is all about. God wants to produce the character of Christ in our lives because he knows that the more we become like him, the more fulfilled we will be. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, Paul says, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. God’s goal in allowing the thorn in the flesh was to keep Paul humble. Whether the thorn we struggle with today is physical, emotional, or spiritual, we can know that God has a purpose and that His grace is all-sufficient.

I come by this morning to let you know we can rejoice in our struggles, not just endure them, because we know that God is using them for our benefit. God even uses the problems we bring on ourselves. Be bless and I love you!!! JE

“God Determined Our Assignment”

Ephesians 2:10

Determined is defined as decided; settled; resolved. 

God will always guide us in life and help us through everything. With the Lord’s strength we can do and overcome anything. Get rid of doubt, stress, and fear by trusting in the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul. God will do the things we can’t do. God creates every person for a specific assignment on earth; to good works ordained before we are created. God created Moses for only one assignment on earth; to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. When Moses accomplished his assignment on earth, God gave him rest in His kingdom. God created Joshua for only one assignment on earth; to lead the children of Israel across river Jordan into the Promised Land. Joshua was the man created by God to take over after Moses. God created David to shepherd and be a warrior to the children of Israel. Solomon was created and placed on this earth to build the temple. Jeremiah was created and placed on earth to be a prophet. Jonah was created to take repentance message to Nineveh. Because of Jonah taking God’s message to Nineveh, Nineveh repented and God relented from the disaster that He was to bring upon Nineveh. John the Baptist was created for only one assignment on earth; a voice in the wilderness to prepare the way for Jesus. Paul was created to take the gospel to gentiles.

I come by tonight to let you know God determined our assignment for our life and He gives us the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before us. We were created, born and ordained for a specific assignment on earth. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Standing Together In Solidarity”

Romans 12:4-5

Solidarity is defined as union or fellowship arising from common responsibilities and interests; agreement; support; teamwork. 

Our solidarity and love for each other demonstrate God’s love to the world. Peter urged believers to be “like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” A lack of solidarity is damaging: “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Paul explained how to maintain solidarity with fellow believers. In Philippians 2:2-4 it says, “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” When we as a church and as a people practices godly solidarity, it is a mighty force for good in the community and in the world. Psalms 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” God created the world to be a place of beauty, harmony, and unbroken fellowship with Him. His desire is for us to live together harmoniously. 

I come by this morning to let you know the word  commands us to love and evangelize to the unsaved so that they may one day join our solidarity as fellow believers. As people of God and as the church, we will often disagree, but there is one place where we all stand together, at the foot of the cross. Let there be no division among you. The cross of Christ is the great equalizer. Because in the light of that cross not one of us is worthy, but we have been made worthy because of that cross. We must stand in solidarity. One body with many parts all striving for one goal. There will come a day when all of creation comes together at that cross. That every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Dealing With Toxic People While Walking In Your Purpose For Jesus”

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Toxic is defined as causing unpleasant feelings; harmful or malicious; poisonous; fraud; misrepresentation. 

Always remember, we all need a Judas in our lives. A Judas let’s us know we’re on the right track for Jesus and do not stop moving forward in what Jesus will have you to do not what man or woman would have for you to do. Do the Lord’s will even when it hurts, even when it will cause you to loss somethings and some people. Even though Jesus often walked away and let others walk away, He obviously and clearly kept one toxic person very close to His side, His betrayer, Judas. We can we live with or work alongside toxic people without going crazy ourselves. One of Jesus’ disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. John knew Judas was a thief, Jesus knew Judas was a thief. In fact, Jesus knew that Judas was worse than a thief. In John 6:70, Jesus said, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him. Jesus knew Judas was toxic. He could have stopped Judas from stealing and His future betrayal by kicking Him out of their group at any time. But Jesus kept the bigger mission in mind. To seek first God’s Kingdom, He had to raise up a band of disciples. He also had to die on the cross. He wasn’t waylaid by individual battles of piety with His disciples. There were more important issues at hand. 

I come by this morning to let you know your Judas serves a purpose more greater than the toxic issues they bring. Allow your Judas to eat at your table so they can see the manifestation of the Lord. Pray for them because they know not what they do. We must focus on training and equipping reliable people. Focusing on others’ sin makes you focus on what’s toxic. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Are You Using Your Gifts For God’s Glory?”

Romans 12:6-8

Gifts is defined as a present; any thing given or bestowed; reward; as to show favor toward someone. 

Each of us receives gifts and talent from God. When it comes to our gifts, we must take time to thank God for giving us the abilities. God picked out specific skills for us to share with the world in order to point back to Him as our creator. My question today is, “Are you using your gifts for God’s glory?” God gives us gifts and talents for important reasons and purposes. In Exodus 35:30-35 describes Bezalel as a man filled “with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.” It was no accident that Bezalel was such a skilled craftsman; God had a special plan for his talents. Bezalel and other gifted artisans used their abilities to fashion all of the elements needed for the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a large tent structure that served as God’s meeting place with His people during that time in history. The craftsmen used their artistic skills to make important elements like the ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, the golden lampstand, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, the bronze laver, and the priestly garments that were to be used inside the tabernacle.

I come by this evening to let you know God wants us to use the talents we have for His glory. We may feel like our gift is nothing spectacular, but in reality, it is crucial to the fulfillment of God's plan. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“We Must Seek Peace And Pursue It”

Psalms 34:12-14

Pursue is defined as to follow in order to overtake, capture, kill; chase; persevere.

If we don't have peace, we don't have happiness. Making peace doesn’t mean avoiding conflict. Peace is something that we are to actively chase after, to follow, and to seek out. Peace, that freedom that we all so long for, is not something that will just show up in our lives; we need to actively seek peace out, to chase peace, to follow peace. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Seek peace, and pursue it. When we have true peace in God, we’ll also discover that there are other areas where we can pursue peace here on earth; (1) Pursue peace in our relationships. (2) Pursue peace in our work and (3)Pursue peace in our spirit. If we want to get warm, we must stand near the fire; if we want to get wet, we must get into the water. If we want joy, power, peace, eternal life, we must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them.

I come by tonight to let you know there’s only one way to have true peace and that’s when we have a relationship with the Lord. God can’t give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Don’t Lose Your Faith In God”

Hebrews 10:35-39

Lose is defined as to be defeated; deprived; fail; forget; suffer.

We all go through times of doubt and wonder if we're losing our faith. God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Job experienced huge financial losses, deep grief in losing his children, and severe physical illness. At a time like this, Job would have seemingly had many reasons to doubt God and lose his faith. His wife even suggested that he curse God and die. Job, however, rebuked her for her foolishness. Job, too, at times questioned why these things were happening to him, he always returned to God in faith. His statement of faith in God is applicable for everyone who finds their faith wavering as a result of life experiences: “Though God slay me, yet will I trust in him.” 

I come by tonight to let you know God desire for us us is to have a faith that is unshakable in any circumstances; a faith that can move mountains. Don’t lose your faith. Trust God in all things. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Seek God’s Guidance In Dealing With Your Concerns”

Isaiah 58:11

Guidance is defined as counseling; supervision; teaching; direction; advice.

Our problems we face will either defeat us or develop us, depending on how we respond to them. The steps of a good man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. The bible is a guide to help us get through life and the decisions that come along with it. No matter how difficult our trials or what their cause, seek the Lord for His wisdom and trust Him to work for His glory and our good. Seeking God's guidance does not mean making a decision, asking for God's blessing and then taking steps in the direction of the decision that we have made. Seeking God's guidance means praying, and making no decisions and taking no steps, until we have a clear word from God.

I come by tonight to let you know the decision process begins by changing our heart, mind, and soul to be more like Christ’s. Romans 12:2 says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God.” When we become transformed with a renewed heart and mind, God’s will, His desire for our life, becomes more evident. Be bless and I love you!!! JE you 

“Are You Available For Change?”

Matthew 5:6

Available is defined as suitable or ready for use; of use or service; at hand; free; possible; convenient.

What change needs to take place in your life in order to make God the priority? Are you available for change? Here are a few witnesses of the bible who made theirselves available for change to be used by the Lord for His glory. (1) Abraham - Now the Lord said to Abram, Go forth from your country, And from your relatives, And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. (2) Mary - She had to change her concept of what God could do (miraculously enable her to conceive a child, something that had never been done before). Of course, there would be pain involved if she accepted this change in her state, not just the suffering associated with normal child birth but also the possible loss of her reputation and future husband. Also the fact that she would always be "different"; she would always live with a knowledge and experience that no one else could fully understand. After all, how do you share your feelings after the miraculous conception of a divine being, who could relate? She faced the pain of loneliness (solitude) in her future life because of her special experience. But Mary also saw the blessings attached to this change.

I come by tonight to let you know there are moments in our life when a change is necessary. Let’s make ourselves available to the Lord so change can and will occur. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Disarming The Enemy, Immediately”

Deuteronomy 28:7

Disarming is defined as removing or capable of removing hostility, suspicion; powerful; seductive; compelling. 

I don't know what battle you are facing today but I want to encourage you that there is victory in Jesus. Behold, the Lord has given us the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall hurt us. Joshua understands. Joshua's job was to help the Israelites settle into their Promised Land. There was just one problem. The land was already occupied. Getting this land would mean war. But God was faithful in helping Joshua to conquer lands and even make allies. There was 5 kings gathered together to attack Joshua and the Israelites. They were intimidated by Joshua's success and had every intention of stopping him. Here is how Joshua responds when he found out about their plans: “So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.” To overcome the attack of the enemy we must do the following: (1)Respond - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (2) Enlist help - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 3) Confuse your enemy - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

I come by this morning encouraging each of you to stay on the wall and stay in position. The enemy is busy and we must be more busier. We have been given the power and authority to defeat the enemy. I declare and decree in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus every plan of the enemy has been cancelled, voided and sent back to the very pits of hell to burn and be no more immediately. Father God expose our enemies right now so that we may confuse them and declare victory. Father God all these blessings we ask in Your Son Jesus mighty and powerful name. And it is so!!! Amen!!! Be bless and I love you!!! JE

“Are You Committed To Following Christ?”

Proverbs 16:3

Committed is defined as bound or obligated to a person or thing, as by pledge or assurance; devoted; faithful; dedicated.

Commitment is not an option, but a requirement. 

Christ said this about commitment; “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” In the parable of the talents, Jesus describes a man who goes on a journey, entrusting his servants with his wealth and possessions in his absence. To one servant, the master gives five talents, to a second servant he gives two talents, and to a third servant he gives one talent. A talent, in this instance, refers to a unit of measurement, often used to weigh out silver or gold. The parable goes on to say that two of the servants, the one given five talents and the one handed two, were good stewards of their master’s money, investing it in such a way that when the master returned, they handed back double what he had originally given them. The third servant, however, was not so prudent. According to the story, “the one who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.” When the master eventually did return, the servants who were faithful were praised and entrusted with more of the master’s wealth. “Well done, good and faithful servant,” the master said to each of them. “You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.” The servant who was fearful and negligent, however, was swiftly reprimanded by his master, who called him “wicked, lazy, and worthless.” His talent was taken and given to the one with ten talents, and he himself was thrown out of his master’s presence. Two were fully committed to doing what the master said. They went immediately to put the master’s gifts to work. One did not commit to doing what the master told him.

I come by this evening to let you know Jesus has entrusted us as His followers with His greatest treasures, making us caretakers of His ministry and commissioned ambassadors of His mission. Take time this evening and ask yourself, “Are You Committed To Following Christ?” I am! Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Jesus Is Enough”

2 Peter 1:2-3

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

Everything we need is found in Jesus. We successfully overcome obstacles as part of our comeback process. We go from hurting to healed, from addicted to free, from sorrow to joy, from loss to gain. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. Jesus told the woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. Jesus is our supreme treasure. Jesus is our greatest joy. Jesus is the reward of the Gospel. Jesus satisfies our deepest needs and longings

Jesus is more than all we could ever need. Jesus is more than all we could ever want. Jesus is the source of your truest identity and greatest hope. Giving Jesus all we have is our delight and the wisest of all investments. If all else is lost, but we still have Jesus, we have everything

I come by this afternoon to let you know Jesus is enough. It it is only in Jesus that we can find the fullness of grace and truth, grace that is sufficient for the great need that we have, redemption from our lost state, forgiveness for all our sins and shortcomings, the fullness of God, righteousness to stand before the holy God and with God the Father. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“We May Fall Down But We Won’t Stay Down”

Proverbs 24:16

Down is defined as descending; falling; sinking; declining; depressed; under.

We may fall down, but we don’t have to stay down. If our hope is placed firmly in God, we will find the strength in Him to get back up. God doesn’t want us to live life beaten, demoralized, and hating ourself. God loves us and He wants us to love ourself. He has faith in us and wants us to have faith in Him. He has good things planned for our life, so we can trust Him when we’re down. When we mess up or fail, we naturally to try to hide our mistakes and fix the issues ourselves. Understand this, we can’t hide nothing from God. God can clearly see the mess we’re trying to hide. We are not fooling Him. But in hiding and turning away from Him, we’re only hurting ourselves. Our greatest defeat comes when we allow our mistakes, sins or broken relationships to convince us that we might as well give up. The The steps of good man or woman are established by the Lord, and He delights in his or her way. When he or she falls, he or she will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his or her hand.

I come by this evening to let you know even though we fall down we won’t stay down. Failure can be hurtful, but it can also be beneficial. Failure produces wisdom when we ask for it and maturity when we learn from it. God wants us to remember that following Him is not about avoiding failures and being perfect. It's about accepting our weaknesses and becoming more dependent on His perfect love and power at work in us. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Stay In Position And Do Not Be Moved By The Enemy’s Tricks”

Psalms 15:1-5

Position is defined as condition with reference to place; location; situation; status; stand.

When we are doing the will of the Lord, wherever He has called us, we are working for Him and, therefore, will incur the attacks of the enemy in various forms. The Jews have been living in Israel without walls around the city of Jerusalem. Because they rebelled against God during the reign of the kings, the Lord judged them and sent them to exile in Babylon. After 70 years in exile, small remnants started to return to the land of Israel. The Lord stirred Nehemiah, a man serving under the king of Persia, to come back to Jerusalem and inspire the remnant to rebuild the wall of the capital city and to help restore the worship of Israel. Nehemiah had completed the walls but had not added the gates. Because of the progress and the certainty of completion, the attacks of the enemy increased. When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it, though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates, Sanballat and Geshem sent Nehemiah this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter. 

I come by this morning to let you know we must put on the whole armor of God and we must be aware of the enemy’s tactics. Because the enemy wants to keep us from building and completing the work that God has called us to. Stay in position! Be blessed and I love you!!! JE 

“God Got Your Back”

Deuteronomy 20:1-4

Back is defined as to support, as with authority, influence, help, or money; assist; encourage; endorse; favor; sponsor.

The enemy likes to attack by telling us lies contrary to God’s word. Thoughts of worry, doubts, and fear have the power to consume our minds, causing us to lose hope. No matter what we’re up against God has our backs and He will never leave us. When things get hard it’s so easy to forget God is there for us. As we surrender to God, He will fight for us. Our minds are a battlefield, where good thoughts and bad thoughts are constantly fighting for our attention. When you feel as if the devil has knocked you down for the last time, Isaiah reminds us that God has our back. From the west, people will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord. As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants, from this time on and forever, says the Lord. When the Children of Israel had come to what seemed like the end of their journey on the banks of Jordan, Moses told them to go on ahead. They began to wonder what would happen to them next, and the Lord said tell them. “Be strong and of a good courage do not fear, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you; He will not fail you, nor forsake you.” In other words He’s saying, “I Got Your Back!”

I come by this evening to remind you, God got your back. That’s why the word tells us in James 1:2-3, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing that the trying of your faith produces patience.” I don’t care what you’re going through. If family turns their back on you. When friends forsake you. Just know that God got your back and He always will have it. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“We Got A Seed In The Ground And We’re Expecting A Harvest”

Matthew 13:30

Expecting is defined as to look forward to the probable occurrence or appearance of; presume; suppose; think; await.

Good soil is designated as representing those who hear the word and receive it and bring forth fruit, some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred fold.  The Lord Jesus said: "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come". Amen. There is a sower, and he is planting this seed, and that has to happen. Though the growth is independent, and the life is in the seed itself, someone needs to go and put it out onto the soil. It's the same with the gospel, people will not get saved if we just sit and rest on our lees and do nothing about it, but as Paul said in Romans: how shall they hear without a preacher? There needs to be a sower. It pleased God, through the foolishness of preaching, Paul told the Corinthians, to save some, so there are contributory factors to the growth of this seed, though it grows independently. There must be a sower to sow. Then secondly, not only must there be a sower, there must be water. In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul could say: 'I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase'. He's indicating there that though God gave the increase, and the seed's growth was independent of anything else, because the life is in the seed, there was a contributory factor to the growth of that seed, and that was watering and I believe watering could well be prayer. We need to sow the seed, we need preachers, we need people who gossip the gospel and it's not enough just to throw the seed out, we need to pray before and after, we need to water the word of God. A sower must sow, the seed must be watered, and thirdly: the soil must be fertile. 

I come by this evening to encourage you to wait be patiently, see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him, cause for hope. Sower, do not despair: God's word has unique power, unusual productivity, and an ultimate purpose and we shall see it soon. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Handle Me With Care, I Have A Gift Inside Of Me”

Ephesians 4:32

Handle me with care is defined as to administer, conduct, cope with, deal with, manage, supervise, take care of. 

Our eternal salvation is secure because of Christ, but when it comes to the daily routine of following the Lord, we desperately need God's grace each day. The word tells us in Romans 12:4-5; “For just as in one body we have many members and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ and individually we are members who belong to one another.” As individual members of the one body of Jesus, Christians are members of one another. Members do not work alone. Members do not suffer alone. Members do not rejoice alone. Members consider each other in every task of life and discipleship. During the draught, when the brook had dried up, God commanded Elijah to go to Zarephath. There, a widow woman would take care of him. When he arrived in the city, he saw a woman collecting wood for a fire. He asked her if she could make a loaf of bread, but she said she just had enough for herself and her son. Elijah told her to not be afraid, that God would provide food for them until the rain would return. He then asked her again to first make bread for him, then one for themselves. Because the widow was faithful to the Lord, she obeyed. And God kept His promise by making sure that the flour and oil never ran out.

I come by this morning to let you know we must be handled with care because we all have a gift inside of us. We are weak, but Jesus is strong. We need to frequently ask ourselves this question: “Am I relying on my strength, which is very inadequate, or am I relying on Christ's strength which is far greater than I could ever need? Please handle me with care. Be bless and I love you!!! JE  

“Today Is The Day We Declare Our Victory In All Things”

Deuteronomy 20:1-4

Victory is defined as a success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war; win; achievement; advantage; overcome.

Our God is victorious. He always wins. He has never lost a battle. He has no equal to challenge His sovereignty. God and His people are victorious. Even when the people of the Lord are led as sheep to the slaughter, they find victory in death. God has transformed man’s greatest enemy into the doorway to eternal bliss. Marvel at the awesomeness of our God. The children of Israel were wandering through the wilderness on their way to the promised land when the Amalekites attacked. Moses sent Joshua to lead the army into battle but told him that he would stand on the top of the hill overlooking the battle with his arms raised to the Lord. As long as Moses kept his arms raised in worship, the Israelites were winning. If Moses’s arms started to drop, the Israelites started to lose the battle. When Aaron, Moses’s brother, noticed this trend, he and Hurr climbed the hill and put a rock under Moses to sit on. Aaron and Hurr then stood on either side of Moses holding up his arms. As a result, the Israelites defeated the Amalekites. After the incredible victory experienced on the battlefield, Moses built an altar to the Lord and called it, “The Lord is my Banner.”

I come by this evening to let you know we can have victory over sin when we are living for Christ. God’s purposes stand firm. He has appointed us and anointed us to join Him in making His love known to the world. When we become confused, fix our focus on God as our banner and come back to center ourself in Him. We have the victory!!! Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Choose Not To Be Offended”

Proverbs 19:11

Offended is defined as to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause resentful displeasure in; vexed; hurt; provoked.

Have you found yourself asking these questions when some people talk to you; What did they mean by that? Why do they always hurt my feelings? Why do they treat me this way? We often hear people's words, jump to a conclusion and choose to be offended. But through God’s word, we can choose to look past their words and not receive them with an offended heart. We have a choice to not be offended by what they say. We need to listen and ask ourself what is driving this behavior? Do they have a valid point? Do they bar a deep hurt? Are they just generally mean and negative? It’s our responsibility to stop the words from entering our heart and taking root. In this process we are looking for the approval of people. But in God's word it clearly says that He is the only One whose approval we need. In Ephesians 4:26-27 it says; “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil. Paul was saying, clearly, that, yes, we will get angry; that happens; we’re human. But then we have to get rid of it. So deal with it. Now. We have no right to it.

I come by this morning to let you know when someone speaks a hurtful word, we must check it at the door of our heart. We hear the words, we recognize our issue and we speak truth over our heart. We must say, "It is to our glory to not receive this as an offense.” Recognize your identity in Christ and move forward in peace. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“There Is No Way We Can Live Without You God”

John 15:4-7

Without is defined as with the absence, omission, or avoidance of; not with; with no or none of; lacking. 

We owe our being to the God in whose image we are made. Our existence depends on God, whether we acknowledge His existence or not. God is life and all creation is held together by the power of Christ. Even those who reject God receive their sustenance from Him: He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. To think that man can live without God is to suppose a sunflower can continue to live without light or a rose without water. Jesus came that we may have life “and have it to the full.” All who place their trust in Him are promised eternity with Him. For man to live, truly live, he must know Christ. Without God, man has physical life only. God warned Adam and Eve that on the day they rejected Him they would “surely die.” As we know, they did disobey, but they did not die physically that day; rather, they died spiritually. Something inside them died, the spiritual life they had known, the communion with God, the freedom to enjoy Him, the innocence and purity of their soul, it was all gone. Adam, who had been created to live and fellowship with God, was cursed with a completely carnal existence. What God had intended to go from dust to glory now was to go from dust to dust. Just like Adam, the man without God today still functions in an earthly existence. 

I come by this afternoon to let you know enjoyments and pleasures cannot be fully received without a relationship with God. Jesus stresses this point when He says, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Not bread (the physical) but God’s word (the spiritual) keeps us alive. It is useless for us to search within ourselves for the cure to all our miseries. Man can only find life and fulfillment when he acknowledges God. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Jesus Perfecter Of Our Faith”

Hebrews 12:1-2

Perfecter is defined as a skilled worker who perfects something; completer; finisher. 

It is important for us to understand that God in Christ is not only the creator and sustainer of our saving faith, but He is also the sustainer of our daily walk and the finisher of our spiritual journey. As believers we are all running a race. The course for the race is already set. The Lord has set the course and He leads us in it and along it. Running the race is a strenuous business. It is a race, not a walk, and certainly not a dawdle. It requires courage and perseverance. There are difficulties, obstacles and enemies in our path and perseverance and endurance are needed. If we are to win the race there must be sacrifice. It is important to notice that all do not win. To win, “everything that hinders, must be thrown off and “”sin must be judged and put away. Weights are lawful things but they are not beneficial and sin is sin, which must not be tolerated in any shape or form. Therefore, as we run the race we are to look to Jesus, the supreme Example, the Leader and Vindicator of faith. 

I come by tonight to let you know Jesus is the Perfecter of our faith and we must remember He is the One who perfects faith in us. Jesus is the One who brings us safely through to the end. Therefore, let us look off unto Jesus, to Jesus only, always and for ever. He will never change, He will never fail, and He will never let us go. Be bless and I love you!!! JE

“Good Doesn’t Always Mean Easy”

James 1:2-4

Easy is defined as not hard or difficult; requiring no great labor or effort; free from pain, discomfort, worry, or care.

God loves us too much to promote us before we are ready. God puts dreams in our hearts and writes a destiny over our lives. And if we trust Him enough to take Him at His word, we will find ourselves on a journey toward the fulfillment of that dream. Jesus made it clear in the Gospel of John that his disciples would have trouble in this life. All of God’s children can expect the same thing. In John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. By God’s power, we can overcome the attacks of the devil. That certainly doesn’t mean the walk will be easy. God allows the path to be difficult because He intends on refining us and preparing us for our place of promise. He is intent on extracting from us, that which our enemy would love to leverage against us. We all have weak spots and areas of inconsistency in our character. Until we see Jesus face to face, we will need His guidance and correction. He wants to take us from strength to strength; from glory to glory. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that He wants to do abundantly above and beyond ALL that we could ever ask or think, but there’s a clincher in this verse, it’s according to His work within us. 

I come by this morning to say we shall and we will overcome the ways of the world in Jesus mighty and powerful name. Nothing worth having ever comes easy or without opposition. Storms will come, lions will roar and our fears will be confronted. Be bless and I love you!!! JE 

“Immeasurable Grace”

Ephesians 2:7-10

Immeasurable is defined as too large, extensive, or extreme to measure; unlimited; countless.

Grace is unmerited favor shown by the Lord toward us. God has so richly blessed us. He gave us the opportunity to have an eternal relationship with Him through the selfless gift of His son. He wants so much to share this grace with us, too. God’s grace sufficient to wipe away any sin, powerful enough to extend to any soul and big enough to cover the expanse of time. The grace of God is truly immeasurable. The grace of God is truly awesome. Just think, grace, unmerited and undeserved favor. But God being rich in Mercy because of the great love with which he loved us. Even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ by Grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So that in the coming ages. He might show the emission measurable Riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

I come by this morning to let you know we must value and treasure God’s immeasurable grace. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-not the result of works, so that no one may boast. Be bless and I love you!!! JE

“Opposition”

Psalms 3:1-4

Opposition is defined as enemy; adversary; opponent; rebel ; foe; competitor. 

Opposition will come, in one form or another, and we won’t always be prepared for it. In the work place, it may come as a challenge to our ideas or strategies. In our families, it may be a retaliation against our principles. And in faith, opposition may come as a mockery or even a threat. King David knew the severity of opposition and experienced it regularly throughout his reign. More than once, he fled into the mountains, fearing for his life. Frequently, he cried out to God over the extreme opposition he faced. David’s experiences with his adversaries were far greater than anything we have experienced or will experience. But no matter what, we can be sure of this: God is our Great Defender. Nehemiah knew first hand that whenever you try to accomplish anything significant for the Lord, you will face strong opposition. Satan never bothers with half-hearted people who are content with a ho-hum spiritual existence. But if you come on fire for Christ, look out. The name “Satan” means “adversary”; he is committed to opposing God and His people. 

I come by this morning to let you know when the enemy opposes us as he surely will, we should respond with prayer, work, vigilance, and focus on the Lord. We are more than conquerors. Be bless and I love you!!! JE