Memory Verse (Week 25)

I don't know about you, but I'm struggling with keeping up with my Memory Verses. At the end of this month, I will recap all the memory verses that we had so far.

This week's memory verse is 1 John 5:14:
" This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

Let's be confident that our prayers will not fall on deaf ears. When we are at our most lowest moment in our lives to when we want to shout His praise, he will hear us and answer us accordingly.

Not sure if He knows who you are? He knows. The question is, do you know him?

A Father's Duty

The responsibility thrusted upon you as a parent can seem quite daunting. Particularly when it's your first child and you know nothing about the subject of parenthood.

This week's message recap was a great one as it touched upon a subject that was very new to me. Fatherhood. Of course, since it was officially Father's Day it was an expected message, but since it was the first time I celebrated Father's day it seemed all the more important to me.

Pastor Edsel talked about the Father's Duty in the family. He pulled the message from Ephesians 5: 15 - 33.

15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[b] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Pastor rounded out the father's duty with these 5 P's:

• A father must be PROTECTIVE
• A father must be a PROVIDER
• A father must be a POINT MAN
• A father must be a PRIEST to the family
• A father must be a PRINCE of God

In this day and age of political correctness, it may be a sensitive subject -- but to a world that needs to have strong family values, nothing takes away the importance of a faithful father to the Lord.

You may be a father. You may be a good protector, provider and even point man for your family. But are you the priest of the family? Do you ensure the faith of your children are accounted for? If you are a true Prince of God, you will make sure that you do not overlook the eternal destination of your wife and children. It's your duty.

Prepared for Battle

Last week's message was about looking to the Lord to lead you to the rock that will uplift an overwhelmed spirit. Yesterday's message helped remind me that Christians stepped onto the battlefield prepared for battle.

The background Scripture can be found in Ephesians 6:10-18.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

A few thing to take note when doing battle for the Lord:
- Know your enemy
- Know your weapons
- Pray without ceasing

Although it may seem that we are facing a losing battle, let us remember that the armor that God provides was made from God. Learning to utilize the equipment is key in being victorious over our current trials and tribulations. Finally, an attitude of unceasing prayer will continue to maintain our armor, making sure that it'll always fit like new.

There is a caveat. This armor is only for the children of God. Are you one of his or are you going to battle with armor made from your own efforts. Are you sure you want to go down fighting that way?

Is Your Heart Overwhelmed?

Have you ever been so stressed with life that you felt like you were drowning? No matter how hard you try you barely manage to stay afloat. Splashing about, raising your head above water just enough to catch a breath of air.

During these times of a severe financial downturn, we hear of people sinking further and further into a downward spiral. Yesterday's message gave us some insight on where to turn for refuge.

The message was taken from Psalm 61: 1-8:

Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

Selah

For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
Increase the days of the king's life,
his years for many generations.
May he be enthroned in God's presence forever;
appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.
Then will I ever sing praise to your name
and fulfill my vows day after day.

There are times when I feel so overwhelmed with my life. I have a demanding job, a 5 month old son who constantly need attention and a church that is growing (both in spirit and numbers). I sometimes wonder if I'll be able to make it to the end of the week, but faithfully and lovingly, the Lord has given me the strength I need to continue.

Where are you? Are you overwhelmed? Think that you can't take it for one more day?? Ask the Lord to lead you to the rock that is higher than you. Once you have received the Lord's help, you will be singing praises to His name day after day.

Memory Verse (Week 22)

It's long overdue, but there is not denying it - It's Memory Verse Time!

This week's memory verse is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The comfort in knowing that no matter how tough a day your having is this, God knows what your limit is and there is no way that he will push you beyond what you can handle. The catch is that we must look to him to provide the strength to weather the storm.

Are you seeing some tough times? Is this financial downturn got you feeling depressed? Recite this memory verse regularly and you will be able to hold onto this

Are you ready?

The message on Sunday was a refreshing one. Pastor Edsel talked about the resurrection of Christians by Jesus.

The scripture he talked about is in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The Coming of the Lord
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

We have hope that after we pass on we will be reunited with our Lord and Saviour. There is no reincarnation, there is no purgatory - God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. There is no need for sorrow, our final destination is with God in heaven.

Are you sharing in the same hope as I am in life. Are you toiling away without any knowledge of where you will go at the end of it all?

You've worked so hard here in this life. Why don't you work for your afterlife instead. Not sure how? Ask me now.