Monday, December 5, 2011

Display the JOY!

0 comments
As we enter the Christmas season, it is important that we remember that joy, real joy, comes only from God because of the sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. Man-made joy falls apart, but joy from God is eternal! Show someone the joy you feel this week; rejoice in what Jesus has done and celebrate the Season!

Blessings,
Bro T.J.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Who do you worship?

0 comments
We were created for one purpose, to worship a God who created EVERYTHING that we see, and who knows EVERYTHING that we are. A.W. Tozer wrote, “If worship bores you, you are not ready for Heaven.” Consider as you join together with other believers to worship the One who gave you everything you have … are you bored with Him or excited to come into His presence?

God bless you this week.

Friday, July 15, 2011

How do YOU Respond?

0 comments
The testing of our faith comes often at the most inopportune times in our lives. Just when we think everything is going great, a situation happens that we did not expect and each of us must choose how to respond. It is in these difficult times that the response we choose often reveals the type of person we are deep within. If we flail off in a rage, there is a spirit of anger within us; if we lash out at others, there is a spirit of rebellion/discontent with us; if we seek to tear others down, there is a spirit of division within us; and so on. However, within each of us dwells a unique opportunity to seek Jesus’ forgiveness, and ask for the Holy Spirit to take control and bring us through the trials of life. When something happens this week … ask yourself, “How will I respond?”

God bless you.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Faithfulness in All Things

0 comments

Oswald Chambers writes, “Being faithful to Jesus Christ is the most difficult thing we try to do today. We will be faithful to our work, to serving others, or to anything else; just don’t ask us to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Many Christians become very impatient when we talk about faithfulness to Jesus. Our Lord is dethroned more deliberately by Christian workers than by the world. We treat God as if He were a machine designed only to bless us, and we think of Jesus as just another one of the workers.” As a believer today, it is becoming more and more challenging to be faithful to Christ than ever before.

But, can you imagine what the reward will be like? It is worth it friends … if only we would surrender our will and focus only on serving Him.

God bless you. ~ Rev TJ

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Godly Friendships

0 comments
Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” If we're easily offended or hold on to bitterness, we'll have a hard time making friends. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes now and then. If we take a truthful look at ourselves, we'll admit that we bear some of the blame when things go wrong in a friendship. A good friend is quick to ask forgiveness and ready to be forgiving. Have you been a good friend this week? Are you able to ask forgiveness where it’s needed? Pray about it friends, and then if you need to do something … then just do it!

God bless you this week. ~ Bro TJ

Friday, May 27, 2011

Encouraging Note for May 27, 2011

0 comments
Rev Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, “There is no fatigue so wearisome as that which comes from lack of work.” Serving God is not a matter of option, but a matter of responsibility for all believers to take hold of and execute. In order to grow, we must remember to serve God in everything that we do, regardless of the task. The input that we receive in our hearts is God’s Grace, and the output must be what forms our testimony in service to others, for His Glory alone. Can we think of 1 person this week who might need our service? I’m sure there is more than 1 in our lives, but what kind of change could it make if we started with just 1?

May God bless you this week!! ~ Rev TJ

Friday, April 29, 2011

Encouraging Word of Hope

0 comments
During this past month, many in our community have suffered through terrible storms as well as the loss of life, property, and perhaps even, their hope. This weekend, our church gathers together to not only pray for those affected, but to turn our own hearts to the Lord’s will and seek His redemption during this time.

As believers, our hope must be placed firmly in Jesus Christ, and not in the things that the world promises to provide. As you read this, I challenge you to ask yourselves ... "Where is my hope?" If it is not securely in Christ, I'd like to encourage you to attend a church this weekend. If it is in Christ, I'd like to encourage you to attend a church this weekend. May we be joined together in this common hope that brings us life, joy, peace, mercy, and patience.

God bless you. ~ Bro TJ

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Easter 2011, Part 4

0 comments
Many of us will wake up on Sunday morning preparing to do our “normal” things. We will shower, brush our teeth and hair, make some coffee, put on our Sunday best, and headed out to face the world. But, what if this Sunday were different? What if we came to God’s house for the sole purpose of meeting Him face to face … instead of coming to see if we could be blessed?

God is calling out to you to spend time with Him; not to get wrapped up in our “stuff” that distracts us so often from day to day. This weekend as your church celebrates that Jesus has RISEN from the grave … have YOU come to celebrate? May God bless you on this incredible Lord’s day.

~ Bro TJ

Friday, April 15, 2011

Easter 2011 , Part 3

0 comments
During this week's service (and most likely throughout most churches), we will discuss the passion our Lord and Savior endured to give us eternal life. It is important that we remember not only what Jesus has done, but what we must do in response to the suffering and death of the King of Kings. Today, would you be willing to examine your heart and ask the Lord what is in there that is not allowing Him to be first place? Would you be even braver to admit what that is and then lay it down at the cross? Jesus is calling us into a life of obedience with Him … not a life of convenience. What’s your response?

May God bless you during this incredibly Holy Week. ~ Bro TJ

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Easter 2011 , Part 2

0 comments
As we continue our exploration of Easter, this week we examine the triumphant entry of Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem to the shouts of the crowds crying, “Hosanna!” (which means “Save Us!”). Many times in our life, we cry out Hosanna when the going gets tough, and then when we are in the driver’s seat we are all too quick to let Jesus know that we can handle this, and ask Him to step aside.

As you go to worship this week, is it to discover that you need to cry “Hosanna!” more often? Or have you come to re-affirm that Jesus is only important when you need something? It is our responsibility to turn to Christ for everything, even the small things, and allow Him to guide our paths daily. I pray that as we draw closer to Easter that your resolve becomes more solidified that it is JESUS who we must turn our lives over too!

God bless you. ~ Bro TJ

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Easter 2011 , Part 1

1 comments
This week, our church began an in-depth examination of the Easter Season with a study of The Passover. When Jesus gathered His disciples to celebrate this critical event, they did not realize that this would be the final time they would eat with Him before the Cross.

I often wonder if I were in this same dining party, would I have taken advantage of spending every moment with Him, and gaining as much knowledge and information as we possibly could while He was with me?

As we gather in our respective churches over the next few weeks, are we entering His house to spend time with Him, or just to fill the square because it’s what we’ve always done? I pray that as you read this, you are preparing your heart to meet Him, and that it is the only reason that we gather … it is NOT to celebrate a passing over, but to REJOICE in a glorious remembrance that He has given to those who would follow Him.

God bless you. ~ Bro TJ

Friday, March 25, 2011

Encouraging Note for Week of 27 March 2011

0 comments
God's mercy is something that each of us needs daily, no matter how strong we may feel from one day to the next. When the Psalmist wrote, “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5), his tone of celebration was that in ALL things God is STILL in control - and if we will turn to Him we can be restored! This week is another opportunity for us to be refreshed and to understand that God’s mercy will sustain us eternally if we will only focus on Him rather than the situations around us. We must admit that we need more of God’s mercy daily, and it is my prayer that we would focus on filling our souls with the healing that only God can provide.

God bless you.

~ Bro TJ

Monday, March 21, 2011

Technology is Progress!

0 comments
Well, praise the Lord ... our church has decided to throw its hat into the "technology ring" and get itself on Twitter and Facebook. We are praying that this may help spread the word about our church, and spark interest in some of the younger folks out there seeking a place to call their church home. To visit us, please use the links provided below and may God bless you always.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Take it to the Streets!

0 comments
Taking the Gospel into the streets was a common theme of the early church, and it must be the theme of our church in 2011 as well. I challenge you to continue praying over how you might be a part, and how you might be willing to give of yourself in reaching our community. Paul preached in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”, and it is to this mission that each of us should look for ways to reach out beyond our church walls. Whatever struggles we have today, cannot be matched by the glory of our Lord, so we should be encouraged to GO, and make disciples.

God bless you this week!! ~ Bro TJ

Friday, February 18, 2011

Standing at a crossroad ...

1 comments
Paul continues to encourage us to focus on what Jesus has done to bring us freedom, so that in everything we may glorify Him and live totally devoted to God. In Romans 6:12, Paul writes, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” It is at this crossroad that many believers find themselves today.

Even though we have the Holy Spirit within us, sin often drags you and I down different roads to cause us guilt and grief. We must seek to focus only on Christ, and allow Him to guide our paths. It is then (and only then) that we find true freedom and release from our bonds of the flesh. Will we look to Jesus Christ for this peace? He is the only place it is found.

God bless you.

– Bro TJ

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Valentine's Day Demonstrated

1 comments
Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Many of us in the faith can quote this verse all day long, but have you ever considered why Paul used the word ‘but’? In order to do so, you have to look at verses 6 and 7 which says, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.”

In the simplest terms, Paul is saying that there is no one willing to die for either the ungodly, or the righteous, or even those who are supposedly ‘good’. No one that is, but Jesus Christ! Have you thanked Him lately for dying for you? As we approach Valentine’s Day this coming week, I challenge you to think of a GREATER sign of love demonstrated for us!

God bless you.

~ Bro TJ

Friday, February 4, 2011

How are you justified?

0 comments
Justification is the act of being brought into a right relationship with God, but it does not take into account anything we have done.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 5:18-19), he proclaims that God is reconciling His creation back to Himself through the purpose of Christ’s life. Simply stated, God has reconciled you and I through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross … period! This is the part we must grasp if we will ever see real growth in our faith. Justification is NOT achieved through the formula:

“Jesus + something else = Righteousness”
(This is the formula the world would have us believe and it is a false Gospel.)

Justification of God’s creation is by, for, and through Jesus Christ alone. Anything that tries to add to that diminishes the very value of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and needs to be dismissed and/or rebuked immediately. Consider this today, pray on it, and ask yourself: Are you are using God’s formula, or your own, to be justified in His eyes?

~ Bro TJ

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Who will go?

0 comments
Jesus has called each of us to witness, to minister, and to disciple one another in a Godly manner. Regardless of the status of our life situation right now, if you know Jesus as your Savior then you are called to spread the Gospel at any cost, to every person you meet. Author C.S. Lewis once said, “Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed and is calling us to His great campaign of sabotage.”

Today, you and I have a choice: Will we join in the campaign to spread the Gospel or will we ignore it and tell Jesus that “it is not for us”? Consider all the opportunities we have been given … there is NONE greater than the one we have right NOW to show people who Jesus is, and to lead others to Him.

Will you be so brave? ~ Bro TJ

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Sanctity of Human Life

0 comments
Throughout God's Word we are told of the importance of human life. God reveals to us that He knew us when were formed in our mother's womb (Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalm 139:15), which means that each of us was known to a righteous God for a specific purpose. This month, we remember the importance of the Sanctity of Human Life and it is the prayer of my heart that will seek the Lord honestly and pray for this critical issue in our nation. The cross Jesus endured was because ALL LIFE is precious to God, and as believers we must take this same stand as well. Will you seek the Lord on this critical issue and take a stand to ensure that life is preserved? If we do not speak as God's people ... who will?

May God bless you this week. ~ Bro TJ

Monday, January 17, 2011

God's Revelation to Us

0 comments
God reveals Himself throughout all of creation, so that we (as the created) would not only recognize the Creator – but give all our attention to worshipping Him. Because He is God we have a choice today to do away with ungodliness and unrighteousness, which appear to God as a direct violation of His nature, and follow Him. As we continue to study the Book of Romans, it is the responsibility of all believers to not only celebrate the Good News of Christ, but to understand that we must take a stand against the things that are against God as well; and be willing to explain them to a world in need of a Savior. I challenge you to tell someone this week who Jesus is, and what the Good News has rescued you from. It is in this telling that you will gain strength and be able to witness more for Him!

God bless you ...

Bro TJ
 

T.J. Conwell. Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved Free Wordpress Templates by Brian Gardner Blogger Templates