Display the JOY!

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.

Faithfulness in All Things

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

Encouraging Word of Hope

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

Easter 2011, Part 4

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

Easter 2011 , Part 3

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

Easter 2011 , Part 2

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

Easter 2011 , Part 1

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

Standing at a crossroad ...

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

Valentine's Day Demonstrated

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

How are you justified?

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

Who will go?

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

Sanctity of Human Life

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

God loves you.

Have you ever been going through a difficult time and wondered how much does God really love you? Like, if he really loved you would you have to face this trying time? Sometimes, you have to hear it from a child's point of view in order for it to fully sink in.

God bless you my friends.

What is Christmas?

Christmas … what does it mean to you? Now, let’s be honest here for a moment: Does it mean added stress? Does it mean frustration and aggravation? Does it mean last minute running around and going crazy? This week, I’d like to challenge each of us to pause for 1 hour, 1 entire hour, and consider for a moment the true meaning of the Season. The meaning, is simple: Nearly 2,000 years ago, God so loved the world that He willingly gave His own Son to us as a gift, that we might seek Him out and be redeemed back to our Creator. Christmas is the remembrance of that gift and truly we need to pause and give glory to the One who came to pay it all for us … Christmas IS the celebration of God’s love for us!! I pray that we would take the time to ponder this, and remember that Jesus is the ONLY reason for the Season!

In Christ’s love … Bro TJ

Encouraging Note - Nov 26, 2010

Mary pondered in her heart the calling God had placed on her life to be the mother of His Son; and from that pondering a song arose in her spirit which caused her to rejoice to the God who created her! As each of us has an opportunity to reflect this Christmas season on how God wants to use you, will you in turn rejoice that He has not only given His Son to save you, but through Jesus you have been saved for His glory! God is faithful to fulfill His promises, and we must be faithful to turn to Him in all things, and obey Him when He calls.

May God bless you this week and throughout this entire GLORIOUS season!!

~ Bro TJ

Encouraging Note, Oct 3, 2010

Let us remember that the life of the Believer is to be lived in servitude to God, with love for one another always. Anything less is allowing our own flesh to rise up and decide who we serve, which leads us into disobedience to Jesus’ commandment in John 9:12, “My command is this, love each other as I have loved you.” This week friends, we must take time to remember that loving one another is not only a commandment, but the only effective way to minister the Gospel to one another. Ephesians 4:32 is our focus verse today and I encourage you to not only read it but allow God to work it into your hearts. May God bless you always, Bro TJ.

Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Encouraging Note for the Week of Aug 29, 2010

As believers, each of us has a price to pay when it comes to following the Lord. It is a price to deny ourselves, to follow Christ, and to exalt Him to each and every person that we come in contact with. Because of the sacrifice Christ performed on the cross, we must be willing to lift up the name of Jesus and show what He has done in our lives. For the Believer, the true cost of being a disciple will be to totally deny ourselves, and follow Him completely. At the end of the day, can you and I say that we have done that? If not, we must seek to walk closer to Him every day, depending solely on Him, else we cannot call ourselves true disciples. Follow Jesus my friends, and you will never go wrong!

God bless you.

- Bro TJ

Encouraging Note for the Week of Aug 15, 2010

There never seems to be enough time to get everything done, does there? However, one of the most important things that any believer can do, is to be a mentor to another. Each of us has Spiritual Gifts that the Lord has blessed us with; and each of us must take the time to exercise those gifts for the glory of the Kingdom. Ask yourself if you have time to invest in someone's life this week, and then set your mind to make it happen! Every believer came to Christ because another believer told them ... so would you consider telling and showing someone what Jesus did for you? I pray that God blesses you richly this week!!

In Awe on Mother's Day

Wow. I am totally and completely in awe of God this morning.

Today, I had the honor and privilege of stepping into the pulpit at County Line Baptist Church as their Pastor; and even though God had given me a sermon this week I found myself simply without words. Being a Pastor is the fulfillment in my life of God's promise when He called me into the ministry and of Philippians 1:6 ... and I stand in awe that God has allowed me, a sinner saved by Grace I did not deserve, to serve Him in ministry. Wow ... just wow.

Today being Mother's Day the message the Lord laid on my heart was from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, and the main concept for us to remember was/is: Just as our mother's loved us by giving us life, God loved us so much more by giving us the greatest gift of Life, His Son, Jesus. We must love in all things friends ... willing to love in all circumstances ... and give to Christ our full and total obedience. He is so worthy, and loved us so much, that He freely died for us (see Romans 5:8) so that we could live forever. This my friends, is love.

I pray that today is a blessing for all mom's, and that you are being loved upon by those around you whom you have cared for with a never-ending love. God bless you always and may you feel the joy of the Lord around you each and every day.

What a day that will be

This morning I was at our church's sunrise service and unintentionally, my mind continued to drift back to the the day Mary went to the tomb and realized that her Lord was no longer there. The bible records it this way:

"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" - John 20:1-2

While we were sitting outside listening to our Pastor's words, the sun began to come up out of the East and I wondered what it was like on that day; to see the disciples faces in realization that He was truly not there, that He had risen! I don't think, to be perfectly honest, that my mind can really grasp what it means to express the joy I feel today; knowing that when I die although my family may be sad -- I will be face to face with my Lord and Savior and long to hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant". As I thought more this morning, I heard Bro Butch say "I'm not sure what happens in Heaven on Easter morning, but I'm sure it is way better than the preaching down here." I could not help but agree, knowing that sitting at the feet of my Lord and Savior cannot even compare to anything we might experience on this Earth. Think of it friends: To kneel before the Throne of Grace, to see the One who sits upon it because He has been given all authority by His Father .... wow, now THAT will be a good day at "church"!!

My heart cannot comprehend all that Jesus has done, and even now in my office I am watching "The Passion of the Christ" in preparation to worship this morning -- and I just cannot comprehend how much Jesus loved me that He would willingly lay down His life for me. It is the prayer of my heart that you too would know this love. It is my prayer that you too would admit that Jesus gave His life for you as well, and that everything we have been given to do on this Earth comes directly from Him through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is the desire of our Father that "none should perish, but all should come to repentance" (see 2 Peter 3:9), and today could be the day for you to admit that you need a Savior. To admit that Jesus died for you, and gave His life so that you could one day live eternally with Him in Heaven. Won't you admit that today? Won't you take the time to turn to Christ, admit to Him that you need a Savior, thank Him for dying on the cross for you, and give your life to Him fully?

I promise if you do, from the trials and struggles to even the best church services you have ever attended will not even come close to that first day in Heaven, when you stand before the Lord and thank Him for all that He has brought you through. Oh what a GOOD day that will be, when my Jesus we shall see!!

God bless you my friends, it is truly a happy Easter because ...

HE HAS RISEN -- HE HAS RISEN INDEED!! Hallelujah!!