True Miracles

God has a way of making impossible things happen. I know this sounds trite but there is just no way to make clear the impressive power of the Most High God when you have no one to turn to for help. The ability to trust God in the face of impossible odds; to continue believing when no one thinks you can win is a rare gift. It should not be rare among believers, but it is.

Approximately one year ago God gave me a vision regarding the coming of our darling grandson Caleb. This vision contained details about Caleb that I shared with my son and daughter-in-law, and others.  Very specific details that could not be missed. From the moment of receiving my promise, I began to pray for God to take care of him and not let him be too damaged by the foster care system and process. I asked God to let his angels protect this grandson who was coming into our family. Because of the vision we knew that Caleb would be coming some time in the Fall of the year. He arrived one week before Thanksgiving. We knew the color of his hair, the color of his skin, even that he would be a very large baby who looked to be 12-18 months in size. We knew that his blonde hair was naturally curly and rolled into a big sausage curl on top of his head.

Before Caleb came to us he cried so much that the case manager was shocked to find that when he came to Janice and Derek the crying stopped immediately. When Caleb came to us he could barely hold up his head due to neglect when he was more than six months old. He was walking by the time he made 12 months. Wednesday was a permanency hearing and it took a lot of strength on the part of Janice and Derek to prepare for it. Last week Janice and I prayed together for favor from God to bring this to an end and allow the parents to relinquish their rights. That was on Thursday afternoon. On Monday morning they called and did just that! It was finalized in court on Wednesday morning. When God says it is enough... it is enough.

There is so much more I could tell you about how God gave us miracles right down to the finest detail such as Caleb's beautiful green eyes like his fathers. Even his name sent us a message because it means "wholehearted faith".  If all goes well Caleb will legally be a member of the family by Thanksgiving which is a completely different story. He was already a member of the family since last June when he was 1 month old because when God says "This is your mother and father" the deed is done. All that is left is working out the details.

1 Samuel 1: 27-28  ²⁷ For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. ²⁸ Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.


Mark 11:22-24  ²² So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. ²³ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receivethem, and you will have them.

Take a Stand For God In Time of Trouble

This is Spiritual War. Here I make my stand and retreat no farther. In times of pain and trouble we MUST stand on the word and refuse to entertain any thought that brings doubt, fear, or distress. In Ancient Warfare men rode to war with their standard (banner or flag) flying in the breeze. Before the battle started they thrust the flag pole into the ground to let everyone know where they were making their stand. During a battle in the American Revolution, Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner. He knew if the flag was still flying all was not lost. American soldiers still carry the flag with them into battle today. My nephew Christopher carried the flag in his unit. It is a great honor to be allowed to carry the flag. I lift up my banner and on it is written, I AM THE SERVANT OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, JESUS CHRIST, KING OF KINGS, LORD OF HOSTS.  Here I live and here I will make my stand.

Psalms: 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up ourbanners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

Psalms 118: 5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. 6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? 8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. 17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. 28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. 29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalms 118

 This is for you, Mother. Love you. 

What is the Fear of the Lord?

Deuteronomy 6:2
That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I commandthee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.


Proverbs 9:10

¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

I recently heard a sermon about the Fear of the Lord that has stuck in my mind. What, I asked myself, is the Fear of the Lord? In simple terms the Fear of the Lord is shown by the life you live. If you put anything or anybody ahead of the Lord you are showing that you do not fear Him. Put God first in your life. Do not let anything or anyone control you. If any habit, food, entertainment, or anything you have in your life is not something you can give up or lay down... you might not truly fear the Lord. 

Learn to put God first in your life. Let your life show the Fear of the Lord. 

Pentecost Sunday

<sup>The Holy Ghost is here today just like it was in the beginning. 


1</sup> When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

Comfort in the Time of Fear

Fear has a way of taking hold of your heart in spite of your best efforts to ignore it. Even those of you who KNOW perfectly well that your God is there for you find yourself shaken by fear at times. I thought I had put fear behind me but recently it reared its UGLY head again. I remembered where I go in times of anxiety and fear and the Lord did not let me down. Here is my favorite verse. I always find comfort in these words.

Psalm 27

 ¹The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

 ²When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

 ³Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

 ⁴One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

 ⁵For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

 ⁶And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

 ⁷Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

 ⁸When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

 ⁹Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

 ¹⁰When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

 ¹¹Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

 ¹²Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

 ¹³I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

 ¹⁴Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

How Much Do You Love Me?

John 21: 15-17

¹⁵So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

 ¹⁶He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

 ¹⁷He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

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Jesus looked at Simon Peter with a question. Do you love me more than these? Peter was determined that his love was enough. Jesus gave Peter a command to show his love by serving others. This question is still valid today. How much are you willing to serve and show your love. Does your love have limits? Will you love Him if you lose your house, family, land, or other valuable. God wants to know, but you need to know, too. 

Will You Dance For It?

^{Habakkuk 3: 17-19}

¹⁷Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

 ¹⁸Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

 ¹⁹The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Brother JJ Bourne recently asked a question of our church... Will You Dance For It? 

This was very puzzling and most of us did not understand what he meant to ask. I have pondered this question for months trying to understand what the Bishop meant us to know. I believe I have found the answer in Habakkuk. Can you dance with joy before the Lord when everything in your life is in chaos? Can you worship the Lord with all your heart when your heart is broken? How much do you love the Lord? Does your love for the Lord cover the loss of family, friends, money, houses, land? Can you worship when everything seems to be gone? 

Matthew 10: 37-39

³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Blesses Be the Name of the Lord