Righteous versus Unrighteous: Psalm 1:1-6

 Walk in the law of God and be blessed. In Christ, there is eternal life whereas out of Christ there is eternal separation from God our creator, and sustainer.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Sing Praises to God: Nehemiah 9:6 NIV

 You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

It is good to praise God for who He is and what He has done and continues to do in the lives of humanity. Why do we worship God? We praise Him because it is He, and He alone created the heavens and the earth. We praise God because all of His creations obey His commands. We praise God because all of humanity is created in the image and likeness of God. Breathing the breath of life into the man he became a living soul. We praise God because all believers have His Spirit, the Holy Spirit living inside of us.

We praise God because He is a shelter in the time of a storm. We praise Him because He is faithful to His promise of never to leave nor forsake His own.

We praise God because of His love, grace, and mercy. His mercy is in the form of Jesus Christ, who took our unrighteousness and gave us His righteousness. In doing so, all who believe in Jesus and accept Him as our personal Savior have eternal life.

I (we) join the heavenly multitude in singing praises to the Almighty God, who is supreme above all other gods and is worthy of all praises, glory, and honor.

Lord, we praise You. We love You and glorify Your holy name.

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© All Rights Reserved August 21, 2020

Faith and Patience: 1 Samuel 13:8-14; Job

 My heart is heavy with concern for our nation as it is moving forward in reopening many establishments, and the results are many are testing positive for the virus.

This lack of patience is having dire consequences with a constant rise in Covid-19 cases and deaths. This lack of patience and no faith in science, our leaders are putting all Americans at-risk and a prolonged economic disaster.

A major university was forced to close because many of its students tested positive for the virus. It is believed that many other colleges and universities will follow the same pattern. As our k-12 schools prepare to reopen, this question comes to mind, how safe are the schools for the children, teachers, and support staff? There are too many unknowns to take unnecessary chances with people’s lives.

I get the fact that there is a need for income to continue, but while the government is providing funds, provide enough to see families and businesses through this pandemic until it is safe to reopen the country, and for those frontline workers reward them with hazard pay.

Health, safety, and the well-being of our citizens must be first and foremost on the minds of our leaders. I encourage our leaders and decision-makers to reframe from Saul-like patience. Saul was too impatient to wait until the Prophet Samuel arrived to pronounce his blessing upon the task that was at hand (vv13-14); instead have Job’s patience, who was rewarded with more than what he lost because of his faith and patience. America will reopen stronger than before. Patience is a virtue.

Join me tonight on Zoom for a further discussion on Faith and patience.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/78664946855?pwd=RkRlMVZIQjljVWlOMTNXaW5tYWF3QT09.

Meeting ID: 786 6494 6855

Passcode: 4EhzRf

 

Meeting ID: 786 6494 6855

Passcode: 4EhzRf

Comments are welcome.

White3285@sbcglobal.net

https://willie-writing.blotspot.com

http://theshepherdministries.org

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUya5OrWPvzru4dpaTF80KQ

God First: Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Our scripture text asks us to put God first by seeking the kingdom of God, and all else will be added unto us. In doing, we are humbling ourselves before our sovereign God and His righteousness. God is true to His promise to supply all of our needs according to His righteousness through His Son Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:16). God is true to His word, and there is no failure in Him.

Another school of thought on seeking the kingdom of God first is because earthly things are going to pass away, whereas heavenly things are eternal just as God is. Through our scripture text, God is trying to refocus our attention on Him and His righteousness, and He will add our earthly things. God’s provisional care is unmatched with anything we may attempt to provide. Therefore, cast all of your cares upon Him (Psalm 55:22), and leave our worries behind. We cannot solve the problem; only God can.

Comments are welcome.

White3285@sbcglobal.net
http://theshepherdministries.org
www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
https://willie-writing.blogspot.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUya5OrWPvzru4dpaTF80KQ

 

The trying of Your Faith and Patience: James 1:3; Galatians 6:9

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

I begin this message with this question, what do you do when your faith and patience is being tried?  For me, I turn to the scriptures where I find solace, and then I go to God in prayer, asking Him to take the reins of the situation.  I recommend seeking God in prayer and reading and meditating on the scriptures.

There are many reasons why our faith and patience are tried, and sometimes they tested beyond our limits. What does the scripture say in this situation? Ecclesiastes 7:8 says, Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. What is means is that even though something may begin by being troublesome, but we if endure until the end, then victory is sweet because the results of accomplishing the assigned task are our goal. Proverbs 15:18 states the A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeases strife. This tells me that hate and anger and even jealousy can come from different angles, but what we must do is recognize that this is the work of Satan. We must take a deep breath as we give the situation to the Lord and ask God for His peace during this faith-testing and patience trying process, and let Him work out the situation.

Let us walk in the Spirit of the Lord because, in this life, we will encounter trials that will try our patience. We can and will complete the task/journey if we take the Lord with us.

 

Scriptures of Encouragement

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Isaiah 49:13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted. Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you.

Think on These Things: 1 John 4:7; Matthew 22:39

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. And the second is like, unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

I am writing asking us to think on love and ask ourselves why is there so much hate in the world when God is love? Being that hate is a sin and sin tends to puff itself up to appear larger than what it is giving many the false narrative that the world is being overcome by hate. Could it be that Satan knows that his time is nearing the end and he is trying to win the battle against God? All these people spewing hate have no God in them, or their god is one of hate?

Whatever the answer is, let us think on these things; God is love and all who is of God is love also. We love one another as ourselves in obedience to the second commandment. We are commanded to love one another by Jesus Christ Himself. There is more love in the world than it is hate; therefore, believers, let us continue in love and manifesting the love of God and His righteousness. We are the lit candles of this world shining bright the light, the truth, and the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Let us not forget these things: (1) God is in control; the battle is His as He has never lost a battle. (2) God knew these days were coming that His warriors would be engaged in spiritual warfare; therefore, He dressed us for the battle (Ephesians 6:10-18). Included in our war gear is faith, the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the sword of the Spirit, praying as we go. Lastly, know this that the God in us is much bigger than the god of this world; therefore, sin, hate and all unrighteousness has no-win because the God of the universe will bring forth justice and His righteousness will prevail.

Know this, love trumps hate.

Comments are welcome.

White3285@sbcglobal.net
http://theshepherdministries.org
www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
https://willie-writing.blogspot.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUya5OrWPvzru4dpaTF80KQ

 

 

Unbossed and Unafraid: 2 Timothy 1:7

 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Today’s message is designed to encourage all during these turbulent times in our society. We must remember that we are God’s creative beings and He is holding us in the holler of His mighty hands.

That said, let us take courage and know that the God in us is much bigger than the god of this world. The god of this world mission is to cause fear through intimidation tactics, anxiety, and worry giving us a defeated attitude. We are more than conquerors, why because Jesus Christ is our Lord, and Savior has already overcome the world (John 16:33).

Isiah 41:10 tells us to “Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”.

As we navigate our daily tasks, let us stand firm in our convictions with our heads lifted high telling the god of this world, I am not afraid of you, and you cannot boss me around with your intimidation tactics.

Injustice never wins.

Comments are welcome.

White3285@sbcglobal.net
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The Power of the Holy Spirit: Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

If these questions were asked, who is the Holy Spirit? What is His purpose in our Lives? The Holy Spirit is God in the third person of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is seen during creation as the spirit that was hovering over the earth.  The Holy Spirit has always been here from the beginning of time.

The Holy Spirit lives in every believer. Every believer’s body is the temple of God. He cannot and will not reside in an unholy place. His purpose is to lead, teach, and guide all believers as we navigate this heavenly journey. He is that still small voice that speaks the consciousness of our minds.

The Holy Spirit also gives us the power to boldly witness Christ in hostile places. We are to begin our witnessing in our Jerusalem, then to Judea, Samaria, and even in the entire world. God, the Holy Spirit gives all believers the ability and boldness to witness the saving power of Christ even during every crisis.

Yield control to the power of the Holy Spirit and tell the world about a risen Savior-Jesus Christ.

Comments are welcome.

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A Joyful Morning

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5 KJV). Rejoice; morning is coming.

God is our Refuge: Psalm 46:1

Shift to An Eternal Perspective: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

 For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Today’s message is designed as an encouragement to all for there are trials in life (vv8-15). Life is filled with trials and we tend to focus on the problem instead of Christ. We are encouraged to rely on the indwelling Holy Spirit for the renewing of our minds that will enable us to endure. The Holy Spirit is the fresh drink of daily water that we drink throughout the day.

Yes, we face struggles whether in our ministries or life itself, but these trials are pale in comparison to the eternal glory that awaits us; therefore, shift our focus on eternal things.

White3285@sbcglobal.net
http://theshepherdministries.org
www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
https://willie-writing.blogspot.com
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Praise and Trust

A message of praise and trust in the Lord. Psalm 34:1-4 states, I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Regardless of the situation, God is worthy to be praised and He is trustworthy; therefore, put your trust in the Lord. He will bring you through.

Display of God’s Anger: 2 Chronicles 6:28-29

If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be: Then what prayer or what supplication so ever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when everyone shall know his own sore and his own grief and shall spread forth his hands in this house.

What caused the display of God’s anger upon the earth? The short answer is sin and a failure to repent of our sins. Is our failure to repent caused by our unbelief or is it caused by denying there is a God who created the heavens and the earth? Is our failure to repent and turn back to God because we know that God is longsuffering and is willing to forgive?

The answer to the above questions is yes, but God gets angry and He will punish sin regardless of the sin. Yes, God is longsuffering, but there is a limit to God’s patience. Today we are seeing God’s anger on display. First, God has allowed hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires of epic proportions. Second, He brought a worldwide pandemic that we cannot see or touch. We can only feel the effects of this pandemic when it attacks our bodies. Now God is sending a dust storm that will have dire consequences on everyone in its path.

Humanity, repent and turn back to God. Do we have to annihilated before we get God’s message?

Comments are welcome.

White3285@sbcglobal.net
http://theshepherdministries.org
www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
https://willie-writing.blogspot.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUya5OrWPvzru4dpaTF80KQ

Thankfulness

Colossians 3:17 say, And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. The message is, give thanks to God always and in every situation.

Hope

Isaiah 40:31, states, But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.
Trust in the Lord always, do become weary by the negative events that surround us instead wait upon the Lord.

Victory in Jesus

Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Jesus. Know that we have victory.

God is Speaking: Hebrews 1:1-2

God, who at sundry times and in divers’ manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

My friends, God is speaking to the world and America, it is time for us to listen and turn back to Him before it is too late. God’s anger is on display and there are a plethora of reasons for His displayed anger. The main reason is that we have taken God out of everything that we do and are constantly trying to remove any resemblance of Him from our currency.

God tells us in plain language how He feels about His position in our lives, and they are: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (Exodus 20:3-5).

If we want to kindle God’s anger follow the guidance outlined in 2 Chronicles 7:14, which states, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

America and the world, if we want to please God, turn back to Him, put Him first in our lives, honor Him with our heartfelt praise, and then watch God work.

White3285@sbcglobal.net
http://theshepherdministries.org
www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
https://willie-writing.blogspot.com
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Equality for All

Equality for all: Isaiah 1:17 states, Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

A New Song in My Heart: Psalm 96:1-9

O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

When we make God our creator and sustainer first in our lives, then we will have a renewed relationship with God. He will give us a new and clean heart one that will us to sing a new song unto Him. Our hearts will be filled with joy and daily praises to God. We will praise Him for His wonderful works in our lives. Most of all, we will praise Him for salvation through Jesus Christ that causes us to wear His righteous garment of salvation.

We praise God because of His love, grace, and mercy because we have been given a new heart. With this new heart, we as believers will praise Him daily and rebuke all idol gods. We will sing a new song because He is greatly to be praised.

Let us all praise God with a new song that will fill all the earth.

White3285@sbcglobal.net
http://theshepherdministries.org
www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
https://willie-writing.blogspot.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUya5OrWPvzru4dpaTF80KQ