What a Christian

Today's Verse:
James 2:18

I know if God laid down all the stuff that i would have to go through just by naming the name Jesus and becoming a Christian, I am sure most of you would have had second thoughts just like me if I knew half the stuff that would have happen, negatively.

But have you ever asked yourself, what it is being a Christian, I mean truly, what is a Christian?  

These days we see so many advertisements of "your 7 steps to a better you" or How to make things happen in 30 days or less.  These messages come from all over the place, media, TV, Internet, pop-ups or what ever the case maybe, and don't forget for the low, low price of just $19.95.  Wow.  Now hopefully you know as well as I do that this is just all talk, with no real foundation to back it up with.  Just a way to get rich quickly for them. 

In James 2:18, we see a great example of this and the beginning stages of being a Christian.  He writes, " But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds,  and I will show you my faith by what I do."  As a Christian it is very important what we do, moreover then what we say.  "Talk is Cheap"

As we go throughout life, people come in and out of our circle and pay very close attention to what it is we do, more so then what we say, perfect example, your children.  If you have children, you will quickly learn that kids do as they see, not as you say. 

Being a Christian we often find our selves taking the blunt of all task, the actions, and the battles, but I can assure you this, it is worth it.  More Importantly, someone else life may depend on what you do in a given situation.  I can not even count all the times that i have went through something and after dealing with it in my own life, having someone close to me go through the same thing, and therefore was able t pull on me as a resource to help see them through!

"Genuine faith will inevitably produce good deeds"  Jesus called for us to follow him, with him leading the way as the example in our lives, but we can often be guilty of belying this with our actions.  We are all changing and growing in the things of God, some quicker than others, but as you grow, do not forget that you too once had some things to work on in being a Christian, and the bible says in James 5:7-11, be patient with one another, but always know that someone is watching, so why not try your best to get it right!

Peace and Blessings.

"Father God, let us considered 

in your word that the Book of James

be a standard for us on how to be a Christian.

Let us not forget that by your grace we are saved

and being able to reach back to help someone else do the same.

Let us not bely you name and instead 

let the proof of the reality of our faith be seen in our changed lives"

Written by JP Courtney

Your Silence is Louder Than Their Noise

Proverbs 18:21

Matthew 8:23-27;  

             12:37

 

The other day I had a conversation with a coworker of mines.  They were having issues with another coworker and were trying to get some advice on how they should handle it. I told her not to worry about it, the less you speak the more you say. You don't have to defend yourself or try to get your point across; sometimes it is best if you don't say anything at all. 

The Bible says, in Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].”  Since life and death is in the tongue, we can speak life or death in a situation which Matthew said it best in 12:37, “For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.” 

When we are mad and angry we don't need to speak anything because death will come out of the anger and frustration and we can’t take it back once it is out there. So the next time you are mad, angry or upset don't speak, let your silence speak for you. Your silence will be much louder than making noise and speaking death over that situation.  Understand this, when Jesus was sleep and the disciples was on the boat and the storm came; "And after He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly, behold, there arose a violent storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered up by the waves; but He was sleeping. And they went and awakened Him, saying, Lord, rescue and preserve us! We are perishing! And He said to them, Why are you timid and afraid, O you of little faith? Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great and wonderful calm (a perfect peaceableness). And the men were stunned with bewildered wonder and marveled, saying, what kind of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him! (Matthew 8:23-27).” 

Jesus silence should have been louder than the storm but fear set in with the disciples. The storm was so loud that they were afraid. Not once did they take the time to notice that Jesus was still asleep. Don't you think if God is in the boat with you, you don't have to do anything? God is there to calm the storm.  Stop acting out of fear and start acting out of your faith and follow the example that Jesus gave; be still and quite. Let your silence be louder than their storm.

Father God, thank you for your words because your words are more powerful then mines. Thank you Lord that you are able to speak in a soft voice and it sounds like thunder. That when you speak, it is. Thank you for giving us the power of meekness and gentleness so that we don't have to be loud and forcefully but we can be quite and peacefully. In your name Jesus we pray Amen.

Written by A. Courtney

The Love of God...Is it in you?

I Corinthians 13:4-8
I John 3:18

I was having a conversation a few weeks ago with a friend of mines about love, and what he said really blessed me and changed how I looked at love, especially the love I have for my family, unconditional love.

Remember your first childhood crush and telling him or her you love them? Back then, we had no idea what love was, and if you are like me, even now I am still learning today because it is a growing constant. But what was always the follow up question; why do you love me? And guys, I am sure you with me on this, we scramble to try to find the right answer to that question, but truthfully, is there a right answer? Imagine this, what if God had a reason for loving us. What would happen if that reason were to go away. His love for us would be limited by that reason, having conditions placed on it, therefore, if the condition were to change, then so would his love for us.

The Bible says in I Corinthians 13:4-8, 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[a] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

Love is either unconditional or it's not love. You might like someone conditional on their personality or behavior or circumstances. But love accepts no boundaries. So never say 'I love you because', for love has no cause, love comes from God because God is Love.  God has chosen to show us love every day.  Because of the love that he has for us is why we even have his grace and his mercy to be able to continue to love us without the thought of our actions, our disobedience getting in the way of that love.

Each day we have a unique opportunity to share and show the true love of God to everyone we meet, and most of us don't take advantage of that gift.  Today, try to exemplify the Love of God with everyone you encounter today, let them leave your presence, as you leave God's knowing that they matter, that they are loved, that there is more to life and the are appreciated.  We were all created for a reason, why not show the love of God as that reason!

God as we go throughout our day, let us be kind to one another

showing the Love of your son Jesus Christ to all we encounter

Let your presence with us fill them up and cause them to

seek your face, your truth and light,

in Jesus name.  Amen! 

Writen by JP Courtney

Thanks Justin

Unforgiveness...Time to pay the Debt

Matthew 8:21-35

Forgiveness is like settling a debt (Matt 8:21-35). When we don't forgive God don't forgive us. Unforgiveness pushes us farther and farther away from Him. Obedience is a part of being a son or daughter of God. He says forgive and I will meant your broken heart, we say they hurt me to badly. He says revenge is mines, we say I want to get them back myself. He says love your neighbors the way I love you and we say I love them but I don't have to like them. We always have to put our own spin on the word of God to make it work for us. It is what it is, stop trying to make salvation work for you and you need to work for your salvation.

Have you ever felt so far from His presence? You might want to do a personal assessment of what's going on with you. Unforgiveness is more than likely your problem for being disconnected. We give to many things in our lives to much power and unforgiveness is one of them. If we believe that God we serve is greater then any problem, any situation, any issues. Why can't we believe that He can deliver us from unforgivness? Trust in Him and ALL HIS WAYS!!

" It Takes a Little More to Be a Champion"

Philippians 3:14
Job 1:8

I can remember my football coach Tony Lisanti the first time that he told us, that practice makes perfect was not true. The looks on or face as we were all in shock because all our lives, I am sure you heard it just like me, " Practice makes Perfect," and to hear that was incorrect for the first time, through a wrench in the works, that is until he said, " Perfect Practice makes Perfect." As he explained, what good is it if you practice and practice but continue to make the same mistakes, and have the same issues without correcting them and learning from them. You will continue to make the same mistakes. Now on the other hand if you learn from them and continue to grow and stretch to the next level, perfecting you craft then you too can be come close to perfection.

Each day we wake up is another day of practice, another day to get it right, whether it be with our sparring partner, the devil, or with the obstacle course our life coach, God the father has put before us, with the same expected results. You see the devil can only do what God allows him to do to you in your life, in hopes of training you and equipping you for the journey that is ahead.(Job 1:8)

Sometimes it is hard to understand why you go through so much, or for that matter how stuff keeps happening to you when you trying to do all that you know to be right and true. Just like my former coach said you have to keep practicing until you get it right then continue how to do it the right way over and over until it becomes second nature, and that is what God is trying to get you to do! Don't get me wrong, I am not saying the fight is going to be easy, nothing worth your time and effort ever is easy because if it were then you would not appreciate it, but God has a way of getting us into shape and I am no exception to the rule. This past year has been one of if not the most difficult and challenging of my life, and I had some ups and I had some downs, and to me it seem like the downs were way down, but in actuality, God was trying to do a new thing in me. Trying to get me to that next level. And there was several setbacks, but ultimately, to God be the glory.

The speech that was given to us, was following a disappointing 1 win and 9 loss season. A season in which we were expected to be great, but because we did not learn from our mistakes, we kept repeating the same ones all season long. But the season following that speech was my senior year, we finished 7 wins and 3 losses, and as the county champions, why not because we got different players, but because we learned from our mistakes, got better in practice every day until we did not make those mistakes anymore, consider the before season, a scrimmage, practice for the real thing that was waiting for us, not a winning season, but growing us up as individuals.

As you find yourself going after the things of God, you will see the changes in your life, some quicker than others, but just remember you are working towards that one goal, where as the bible says, "I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God through Jesus is calling us up to heaven," and that goal is worth you giving it your best shot, because after all, "it takes a little more, to be a champion."

Be Blessed.

Why do they hate me so...

Matthew 5:14-16
Romans 12:2

I used to be one of the leading Wireless Data Technical Support Specialist for one of if not the leading U.S Telecommunications company. I remember starting off in the customer service department, call center. Working late night shifts, holidays and weekends, but my supervisor at the time saw something different in me, something special.

One day i was walking to the bathroom and I had my Audiovox Thera on my hip; I always maintained a PDA device, for the technology advantage and just because I liked them. Well I came across the CEO of the company and we began to have a conversation about the device and its capabilities. Well the next thing you know, by the time I had gotten back to my desk, he had called my supervisor and they had spoken and they recommended me for advancement into the technical support division. The favor of God!

Situation and favor like this continued throughout my career there until I reached the top in the Technical support department and tried to post out for an outside technician position and was under a different supervisor. My performance was outstanding my quality top notch, but for the life of me I could not get the promotion. Then it was not until I got my new supervisor that I was told that the previous supervisor kept blocking my promotions and opportunities and i immediately questioned God and asked, "Why God, why do they hate me so much. What have I ever done to them.

The answer that i got back changed my way of thinking for ever. It's the blessing of the favor of God on your life. You see, a sinner is going to do what they do no matter what because of the state that they are in, they can easily be used by the enemy to try to stop you in your tracks, but remember, no weapon formed against me shall prosper! So what you have to do is realize that God is God and what he says has to, must come to past for the Bible says that his word can not return unto him void, it must accomplish that which it was sent to do. Because this, God is trying to use you as a light in the world, a beacon on hope for others to see and be attracted to you seeking him.

Being a child of God and living a life upright before him you are going to have some people that can and can not handle it, just remember, either way they are watching you to see how you handle it and if your choice in handling it is a direct reflection of the God you serve.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Peace and Blessings

You don't know where you are going till you learn where you come from...

Genesis 1:1

Have you ever watched a dog chase its own tail, or a baby play with their image in the mirror and wonder why? You would think that eventually they would get it and understand that it is just them, but nope, they keep doing it over and over again, not realizing the just been there before not realizing where they just came from.

I remember one day we were driving back from Codorus State Park in Hanover PA, and I took a wrong turn thinking I knew where I was going, and you know I was not about to say that I was lost, but I was. I did not pay attention to the way we came in, so when it was time to go, I was lost trying to get back, and pride would not let me ask for help! That is why it is so very important to know where you come from, more over where we come from, less we are doomed to repeat the same things over and over again, like the dog chasing its own tail. Why do you think it is so important for man to settle on how the universe was created. You don't know where you are going till you learn where you come from, and in this case there are only two choices. Either, "In the beginning God, the self existent one created the heaven and the Earth or he did not! There are no other options.

Because I know where I came from; God, I know my rights as a kingdom citizen, and therefore, I know where I am going. I may not know the way that i am going to get there but my word tells me that "my steps are ordered, and all things work together for the good of them who are called."

I challenge you today, find out where you came from, and it will show you where you are going. You keep having the same issues, the same problems, then maybe it is time to go back to the drawing board and ask the creator from which you came, what to do about it, and he will show you just how to get where you are going.

Peace and Blessing!

"It's in the smallest details "

Zechariah 4:10
Romans 8:28

Did you ever stop and notice how much time and attention God gives to the small details in creating the Earth and eventually us? So much time, so much effort and so much thought went in to every single detail and step.

Many people tend to treat the small stuff as no big deal, more importantly, we tend to treat it as if it does not even matter, and if neither us nor God have any control over what happens with it. Most of us are pretty good when it comes to going before the Lord when you BGE(Public Utility Service) is being shut off, or your mortgage company is treating to foreclose on your house, or for that matter in any time of major need or crisis in our lives, but what about the small stuff?

The Bible says, in Zechariah 4:10, "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." God is even in the small stuff and when you don't bring even the littlest things before him, you are in essence robbing God of the joy of working in the small stuff. Imagine, had you taking your paycheck to God in the beginning and asked him, what you should do with it, you might not be in the situation you are in now with the bills piling up, you might have taken that job that did not pay well but got moved on your heart cause it was someone there he needed you to bless or see him(the God) in you!

God is in the big stuff, but he is also in the little stuff too and takes delights in your small beginnings, the Bible says, in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Today, let God work through the small stuff, and I promise you, you will see a big return!

Peace and Blessing!

"There is a place for everything, and everything has it's place."

I Corinthians 12

Often times when we were younger growing up, we had to be reminded to put our toys away, to fold our clothes, take out the trash and wash our hands. What ever it was, our parents made sure that we knew how to do it and in doing so where it had to go giving everything a place. Just as with a mechanic and his tools, we are with God and his church in having a specific task assigned to us to complete, and its not until each of us complete our assigned task that the job is done.

Take for example the honeybee. Now granted, i don't mess with bees of any kind like that, but you have to set back and marvel and appreciate the highly developed social structure of their kingdom. At the heart of the 80,000 bees(representing each and every one of us) is the queen (our God)and with out her there is no future. Each bee is born with a specific purpose and task chosen by the queen for them to carry out for their entire lives and we are no different, we just choose not to obey and follow our purpose, but as for the bees, they know this and their assigned task no matter what it is such as the forager whom collects the food, or the guard bees that protect the hive, and so on and so on. Each one's task no less important than the other, but all coming together for the greater good and survival of the hive.

We are much like this in the fact that we can not survive without God, cut him off and you cut yourself off. The Lord has given each of us special gifts and talents to share with one another and for our own survival and for the good of the kingdom, we need to complete our task. No one has been called to just sit around, everyone has something to do, but not all of us are out there doing it and its high time we started doing it! The work of the church will not get done unless all of us do what God has called us to do. "Christ builds his church and makes it strong by using you and me and if we all will do our part, the world his love will see."

What has God called you to do? Are you operating in your purpose or are you just allowing life to pass you by our bull doze you over in the process. Someone's life is on the line an needs you to step out in order for them to be saved. Be a blessing don't wait for one!

Peace and Blessings

Let go of the past and grab onto your future, It's Fullfillment Time!!!!

Philippians 3:13-14
Joel 2:1

How many times have we thought about, planned, or even made arrangements for our “New Year’s Resolutions” only to have them pushed aside? Even the best of intentions have a way of getting sidetracked by unexpected circumstances and/or life changes.

If you are anything like me, 2009 was filled with ups and downs. Whether it be losing a job, staring school, or dealing with the loss of a loved one, the unforeseen trials and tribulations of life can be a bit discouraging; moreover if you are not mental equipped to handle it, they can drive you to insanity. In just this year alone personally I have seen marriages and the fence, divorces, friendships ended and just the character of people changing 360 degrees. Why?

We often tend to carry over our unfinished dreams and expectations into the New Year, not realizing that we also bring with it baggage and failures from years past and with that the unforgiveness in our heart. It is understandable that the effects that our pasts had on us, or how we dealt with or chose not to deal with those events, help to shape our future. However, we do have some control over them by forgiving those that wronged us and forgetting those events that we had no control over, but most importantly we need to start by forgiving ourselves.

In Philippians 3, Paul expressed his feelings and thoughts on letting go of the past in order to achieve his goal of the future. “One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on to towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” At this point, I am sure most of you all are saying the same thing; “putting the past behind me is easier said than done.” But no one said it was going to be easy. Even Paul himself said that this task was indeed a straining one, but he knew what most of us fail to realize: we need to “press on.”

We have done things for which we are ashamed and we live in the tension of what we have been and what we aspire to be. But it is when we place our hope in Jesus, we can let go of past guilt, trials, and tribulations and it is only then that we can look forward to what God will help us become. God has a plan for you and it is not one of living on the bottom for all your life. The bible says that, I came so that you may have life, and more abundantly. You are the head and not the tail, you are a lender and not a borrower, you are above (the struggles, the lay-offs, the hard aches, the pain, the poor communication, the messed up relationships, your past issues and mistakes, your bad judgment) and not below.

Don’t spend your days dwelling on the past; instead, grow in your knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with him. Realize that you must learn to forgive those that have hurt you and by doing so, know that God has also forgiven you. “He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness (Joel 2:13). Move forward in your goal of ever increasing faith and obedience. Know that we can forget the past and strain for the goal because we know God promises eternity with him at the end of the race.

Peace and Blessings