The Church:

So, we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one member(s) one of another (Romans 12:5). And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:42-47).

If the question was asked, why am I writing about the church? My answer is to provide a true definition of the church as a body of believers who come together or assemble themselves (Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthian 4:17) in one place to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

According to scripture, the church is not just a building; instead it the Christians/all believers who inhabit the building (Romans 16:5). That means then the true church resides in the hearts of every believer. Therefore, it doesn’t matter where and or how we come together to worship God, just as long as we assemble ourselves to worship God. This pandemic has caused true followers of Jesus Christ to find new methods to come together and worship God. The church building may be closed, but the church in our hearts remain open and receptive to the Word of God.

This question comes to mind, are you a fan or a follower of Jesus Christ? A follower of Christ will follow Him as He is present in our hearts and the situation doesn’t get too dire for us to come together to sing praises unto His holy name. Whereas, a fan not so much.

What does it mean to be part of the body of Christ? It means that believers throughout the ages are members of God’s holy nation of people (1 Peter 2:9-10). We as believers are the bride of Christ as He gave Himself for the church (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Being that Christ gave Himself for us the church we are encouraged to give our all to Him.

Comments are welcomed.

Author’s contacts:                                                                                                            

White3285@sbcglobal.net

https://willie-writing.blotspot.com

http://theshepherdministries.org

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

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

Blessings

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.(Jeremiah 17:7-8). God's blessings still abounds. Thank Him for His continued blessings.

A message of Courage: Deuteronomy 31:8; Joshua 1:9

And the Lord, (he it) it is He that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8). 

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9).

Our Lord God has promised to be with us in every situation and or wherever we go; therefore, take God at His word and leave all our fears and worries to Him. He has gone before us and knows the way and the pitfalls and will lead us around them.

Lastly, if God is with us then who can be against us and succeed?  No weapon that is formed against us will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). This virus will not defeat us, but it will strengthen us in the Lord as we look to Him for our deliverance.

White3285@sbcglobal.net

http://theshepherdministries.org

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

https://willie-writing.blogspot.com

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

God's Hope and Peace: Romans 15:13

Here and now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Today's message is to provide peace, hope and the love of God. Let us fill our hearts with the love of God, His peace and joy.  Only God can give lasting peace, a joyful heart and a lasting peace.

Daily messages are posted on the church's Facebook page designed to be our spiritual cup of coffee.

Comments are welcomed.

Contacts:

White3285@sbcglobal.net

http://theshepherdministries.org

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

https://willie-writing.blogspot.com

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

Hope

There is hope at the end of this crisis. And not only, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope. (Romans 5:3-4).

“Be Still and Know that I am God”: Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

During this crisis of the coronavirus pandemic, I am trying to provide encouraging words that will uplift our spirits and refocus our minds for just a moment.

Many of us are living through a time in our lives that we never imagine would happen. There are three points I want to highlight, and they are: (a) God is still in control. He knew these days were coming before the beginning of time. Nothing takes God by surprise. (b) This crisis will either bring us closer to God and we recognize Him for who He is and His sovereign powers, or it will drive away those who are already lost. (c) I truly feel that God is using this pandemic to clean house of the ungodliness and wickedness that is destroying our nation and world. Our country was built on Christian principles, and sin is presenting itself to give the appearances that overall, this country has walked away from its first love-God. The majority of us still believe and trust God. He is going to bring us through this crisis, because verse 1 of Psalm states, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. What we must do is trust God and our godly leaders who have our health and safety at heart. While it troubles me to see the many demonstrations against the very ones who are trying to protect us. 

Why this troubles me so is that it shows the magnitude of evilness and corruption that exists today. God has revealed the corruption that is smothering our country. Ephesians 6:11-12 comes to mind, which states; Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Allow me to leave these words with you; Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Do not be alarmed by the evilness and this crisis, because God got us.

Comments are welcomed.

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

My Help Comes from the Lord: Psalm 121:1-8

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.

As I continue my message of encouragement, allow me to remind all that our help comes from the Lord God Almighty. He is a God who is trustworthy, dependable and is on time in His deliverance.

Our help comes from the Lord because He is compassionate; He is love and His grace and mercy abound to the point that surrounds us. We have a helper who knows all our needs before we ask, and is willing to supply whatever it is that we need.

Our help comes from the Lord as He never sleeps; He is the God with the all-seeing eye and holds us I the hollow of His hands. Remember the song; He got the whole world in His hand, well, He does. This world and everything in the world was created by God and is sustained by Him.  Therefore, humanity is no exception for being helped by God our creator and sustainer.

Let me close with these words, The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore (v.8). Therefore, put all our trust in God; He is our true helper; He is providing for all our needs (Philippians 4:19). There is no failure in God.

Author’s contacts:

White3285@sbcglobal.net

http://theshepherdministries.org

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

https://willie-writing.blogspot.com

https://www.youtube.com/user/WillieWhite