Pastor's Desk
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Happy New Year 1/1/09
God bless you all and Happy New Year.
Many of you have probably made New Year’s resolutions. Statistics tell us that 8 out of 10 people who make resolutions won’t keep them for more than a month. However, the most important key with resolutions is to pray and ask God for help. The second key is just to make a couple and stick to them. It’s better to work on a little at a time and succeed greatly than to work on everything all at once only to accomplish very little or nothing.
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
Remember this statement: “By the help of the Lord, I intend this year to work at improving myself in this area of my life.” That’s really what resolutions are; Self-improvement for God. We want to be more like God himself. He wants to help us become more like Himself.
If you break a resolution, don’t give up! You don’t have to wait until January to start over. Remember, Paul said “forgetting what is behind (Philippians 3:13).” God is continually making us new. If you have a relapse, talk to God about it, and then get back up. It’s not the end of the world. God forgives. He can give you a new year in the middle of a year.
“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 24:16
Tell a trustworthy friend about your resolution and ask them to keep track of your progress. Accountability always helps. Memorize a Scripture that helps you focus on your goal. See it, remember it and live it! By doing this we say, “I want to be better prepared for future life in heaven by starting to live a more godly life right now.”
No matter what time of the year it might be, when you do it God’s way, He will give you a new year in the middle of the year.
In His Will,
Bishop Williams
Dealing With the Unexpected: 11-05-08
God bless you all. How do you handle the unexpected? It is one thing to see with the expected, but another thing to deal with the unexpected. There are many things that are unexpected, but the most devastating is probably the loss of a loved one. What would your reaction be if you were given the unexpected? It can be very difficult to deal with the unexpected, but it is good to know that God also works in the unexpected.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Troubles don't mean God is absent. There are also times when the Holy Spirit opens unexpected doors in our lives when we follow God. Mary and Martha expected Jesus to heal Lazarus, not raise him from the dead. They got the unexpected when Jesus did not come to heal him, but they got the unexpected again when Jesus raised him from the dead (John 11:1-46).
No matter how great your plans are, chances are there will come a time in your life when you will have to face the unexpected. Do not let this stop you, instead, allow God to take you through it one small step at a time. Just remember that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Psalms 37:23-24). Many times it is through the unexpected -- God works through to bring the greatest growth. It is good to know that God delivers us through suffering; God comforts in troubles and will show up in the time of need. So when you're facing the unexpected, expect God to carry you through it.
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." Psalms 37:25