Saturday, December 12, 2009

Come on Now....Focus on What's Important!

During a recent sermon, Pastor Thomas said that there are lifechanging moments for each of us. He mentioned that the day we got saved can be noted as a life-changing moment for some of us. And when we look back over our life we can see pivital points that changed our course of action.

This is indeed so true on so many levels. It's true in the physical because many of us know that if we had kept going to the places we were going and hanging out with the same people, we would be on the road to destruction. This is true in the spiritual also because if we had not met Jesus and accepted him as Lord of our lives...we'd still be headed for eternal damnation.

So right now I want to share with you what I consider a life-changing moment for me. One that blessed me on both levels. One that keeps me keeping on almost every day of my life.

This moment came by way of a sermon preached by Pastor Thomas over 10 years ago. In the sermon he referenced the text Romans 8:22-24 which gives the account of Jesus' healing of a blind man at Bethsaida.


Romans 22-2522They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"
24He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."
25Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village."




I don't remember the exact way that way Pastor shared it over ten years ago. So, I'll just share it the way the Holy Spirit brings it to my rememberance on today. However, I believe Pastor was helping us (at least me) with our focus on Jesus.

In the text we see:

1 Jesus leading and the man following (not the other way around).

2 Jesus distancing the man from other people and the surroundings that
he had grown accustomed to.

3. The healing process begins, but the man's focus is on people and not Jesus.

4. Jesus takes additional measures to heal the man and his focus brings him
victory. He begins to see clearly.

The part that has kept me focused on Jesus all of these years is the revelation that Pastor Thomas made clear for me over 10 years ago... Your vision will never be clear if you watch people, So keep your focus on Jesus, no matter what or who comes your way.

Its important to know that your focus can bring you to victory or defeat. Focus on people and you'll always be in confusion. But focus on Jesus and he'll lead you to victory over any situation.

I know you want to say that it's easier said than done, and you are right it is. However, it is still possible to do if you try. You have to make a conscientious decision to not focus on people or situations but focus on the one who controls every situation! What is the Holy Spirit telling you? What is He teaching you? What is it that you need to understand through the sitation? Remember all things works for good to them who loves God and who are called according to his purpose.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS...JUST BELIEVE GOD!




Monday, November 9, 2009

Stop Faking and Be Happy for Real!

Have you ever wanted to be truly happy? Not that fake I'm okay, you're okay, kind of foolishness! I mean truly happy down on the inside; happy to the point where you can actually say within yourself that your joy is not based on external circumstances; happy to the point that you are filled with inner peace; happy to the point where things that used to bother you...are really rather insignificant.
Well let me help you get there if you are not already there. It's simple. True happiness can only come from God himself. No person on this earth can bring you continuous joy and peace like God can. And to be honest, it's unfair for us to place the burden of our happiness on someone else when they are just as flawed as we are. True happiness can only come for God!
I was reading C.S. Lewis' book titled Mere Christianity, which by the way is a great book, and I got to the place where he talks about our human design. Lewis writes:
"God made us: invented us as man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other.....God can not give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."
What powerful words and meaning to our existence. We are fuelled by God Himself, just as a car runs on gasoline! We need God everyday and in every way. Let me encourage you. Get as close to God as you possibly can. The word of the Lord in James 4:8 declares that if you draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. The more of Him you have, the better your engine will run, even without additives!! You do realize that people sometimes seek additives and substitutes instead of God; such as drugs, alcohol, fleeting friendships, sex, hobbies, work and if we are not careful, religious activities can also be a substitute for a real relationship with God.
Don't run on fumes or let your engine keep knocking without giving it the proper attention it needs and deserves. You were designed to run on God. Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. He's provided the Way to Himself by way of His son Jesus Christ, our path to our Heaveny Father. Pray often! Be Blessed! Be Truly Happy and JUST BELIEVE GOD for all things.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

What People Are Reading

The Shack by William P. Young --#1 on the Eboni Sims must read list!

Mackenzie Allen Phillips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant, "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him.
Awesome book, life-changing, a must read---Eboni Sims

Thursday, November 5, 2009

And Just Who Do U Think U R?

Well according to the word of God, you are:
A child of God John 1:12;
A branch of the True Vine John 15:5,
Dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Rom. 6:11
Joint-heir with Christ Rom. 8:17
Redeemed from the curse of the law Gal. 3:13
Seated in heavenly places in Christ Eph. 2:6
Covered by the shadow of His Hand Isa 49:16
A member of the Household of Faith Gal. 6:10
Complete in Him Col. 2:10
Hidden with Christ in God Col. 3:3
The light of the world Matt. 5:14 & Eph. 5:8
Free from condemnation Rom. 8:1
The righteousness of God in Christ 2Cor. 5:21
Delivered from sin Rom. 6:7
Loved by God as much as he loves Jesus Matt. 17:23
In God's hand and none can pluck you out!!! John 10:28
I Just Believe God!!!

By Way of Your Faith

I had the opportunity to visit my cousin, Pastor Frank James' church on last night. And what a blessing. He brought a powerful word on faith. He spoke about having faith IN God and not just knowing about God. But one thing he said that really stays on my heart is that faith has to be consistent. We can't be in faith on yesterday and not believe on today. Faith has to be consistent. Faith has to be constant.
He reminded us about how powerful the name of God is. But even in that, God has placed his word above his own name. We need to believe that what he says he will do, he will perform. What a mighty God we serve!!

Let me encourage you, as Pastor James encouraged the congregation on last night. Faith has to be directed towards God, not any one or any thing else. To sum it all up...we have to...JUST BELIEVE GOD by faith.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Perfectly Done

Have you ever had a steak for dinner in which you can eagerly declare that it was perfectly done? Well how was it prepared, well-done, rare, medium-rare or medium-well? Perfectly done to one person may or may not be perfectly done to another individual.

What we often view as perfectly done may or may not be perfectly done in God's sight. But moreover, what God views as perfection, we sometimes consider imperfect and flawed. But who's right??

Consider this: As humans and even Christians we like to hold each other to certain standards, we judge people from our very own foggy-glass perceptions. We have determined in our own mind and from our own experiences what is right and wrong. We tend to seek God's perspective only when we are being judgmental.

However, In Romans 8:1 the word of God declares that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. God does not condemn us who are in Christ. So why do we try to condemn each other based on our human perceptions. And how do we move to the point where we know and understand that no matter what we think or feel, God is still in complete control.

In God's eyesight, you are perfectly done! He made your "flaws" as challenges not as a dead end. With the right attitude, your thorns can develop rather than hinder.

God has perfectly made "those imperfect people" to help perfect you!
This is perhaps one of the biggest challenges we really face...other people's "imperfections". People who seem to be wrapped not just right. People whose cheese have slid off their cracker. People whose elevator skips a few floors. I'm talking about those messed-up silly folks, People who for whatever reason just don't think like you do. They for some reason are our biggest hinderances to relaxing in God.

Well let me help you...Romans 3:23 declares that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. This means that none of us have reached perfection in and of ourselves. But in God's eyesight we are his creation and we are perfectly done. Perfectly made in his image. Perfectly constructed for his glory. Perfect for the anointing that he has placed on our lives. Perfectly crafted for his kingdom.

I know we will never get everything right in the eyesight of man. We will fall short time and time again. No one will ever live up to all of our standards. But through it all, as you strive to be more like Jesus JUST BELIEVE GOD...you are perfectly done. Walk in his perfection!

Monday, November 2, 2009

ALL I NEED IS YOU MY GOD!

I was listening to one of my favorite songs by Shawn McDonald when it dawned on me that even though we may want this and we may want that, all we really need is God. God is Goodness, God is Peace, God is Mercy and God is Grace. He heals our wounded hearts. He dries our tears. He even gives us uncontrollable laughter. He's so awesome that he can take all of our sorrows, all of our pains, all of our joys, all of our laughter and weave them together into a tapestry and hand them to us as VICTORY IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD...Remember he says he will supply all your need according to his riches in glory and guess what...I just believe God.
Click here to listen to Open Me by Shawn McDonald.

Click here to listen to All I Need by Shawn McDonald.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

I Couldn't Let Her Die Without Jesus!

A little over a year ago the Lord allowed me to be at my sister's bed side as she lay on what soon became her death bed in her hospital room. Darria had been rushed to the emergency room due to the fact that she had stomach cancer and was in excruiating pain. The doctors had given her six months to live and we were just in month three.
When I arrived at the hospital and was able to see her, the pain she was experiencing was so terrible that none of the medications would bring her any relief. I was so saddened but was strong enough to ask her if I could pray with her. Although she had not confessed Jesus as her Lord and Savior, she opened her heart and allowed me to pray. The prayer seemed to bring her some comfort and relief.
But soon afterwards she was admitted to hospice for pain management. I stayed at her bed side for several hours watching helplessly as she cried out in pain. At one point she began to crawl around in the bed as if she wanted to crawl out of her own body. She experienced so much pain!! I will never forget her yelling...Why? Why? Why? It still hurts to this day not to have been able to help her more. But God knows our beginning and our end. We all live in his timing.
When we got word that Darria would probably not make it through the night, I was frantic. She was physically unresponsive. Had I procrastinated too long in sharing Jesus with her? I had prayed on numerous occasions for her salvation but until that day she, to my knowlege, was still unsaved. I rushed and called my cousin Pastor Frank James who always knows exactly how to handle difficult situations. He said in his matter of fact and non-wavering way, "Marshelle, the hearing is the last thing to go. So go to her bedside, whisper in her ear John 3:16...For God So Loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." I was so distraught but knew I had to be strong for her. I did exactly like the man of God had directed. As a matter of fact, I said it numerous times, maybe about 30 or so. I lost count. But at one point Pastor James arrived and the family members who were there all gathered around and sung songs unto the Lord. I could feel the peace and presence of God. And I knew God had welcomed Darria into his presence. See, I JUST BELIEVE GOD!! Faith comes by hearing the word of God. I had prayed so many times for her salvation and GOD IS FAITHFUL!!! The prayers of the righteous avails much!!
Darria went home to be with the Lord with a smile on her face. When I get there one day I am going to give her a big giant HUG!! Remember, no matter what situation you are facing ....God is indeed faithful.