Delight in Devotions

(Taken from: Bread from My Oven by: Majorie Parker)

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectations ~ Psalm 5:1-3

How difficult it is in the early part of the day to sneak away from the family, the telephone, and the household duties, find a quiet place, and take in some food for the soul!

Have there been days when there was not even time for that piece of toast and cup of coffee in the early morning, and as the day wore on you found yourself becoming weak physically? Yet how foolish we are to thing that our spiritual life can be nourished and grow strong without the necessary food for the soul, and that on a day-to-day, meal-by-meal basis. One can lean all day on a certain verse or passage of Scripture read during the early morning hours.

Much can be learned from the practice of George Muller, the man of faith who lived in nineteenth century England. In reciting the pattern of his devotions, he said, "The first thing to be concerned about was hot how much I might serve the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished."

Devotions at the outset of the day can be a real delight. Meditate on the Word of God and obtain food for the soul. The seeking soul will find there all that is needed; and the believing and obedient heart will be made happy in the Lord. "O God, thou art my God; early will I see thee" Psalm 63:1

Daily Inspiration

"BE NOT AFRAID"

Taken from: Come Away My Beloved (written by: Frances J. Roberts)

_____________________________________________________

O My child, rest in Me.

Yea, quietly settle down in My care, as a bird settles in a nest

For I am watching over thee, and in love will I care for thee.

There is no danger with which I am unable to cope.

There is no enemy too formidable for Me to handle.

I am able to carry out all My purposes,

and to keep thee at the same time.

Be not afraid;

neither allow terror to strike at thy heart.

My power is at thy disposal.

My presence standeth round about thee,

and nothing can harm thee so long as ye are in My

care, and that is forever. . .

(If you dont already have a copy of this book, I advise. I can assure you that you will be thoroughly blessed by the contents therein).

Move on Faith

God is an awesome God and He's a God that He don't have a reason to lie. Therefore, if He said it, it shall come to pass. it's not that God has not fulfilled His end of the promise but we hold ourselves back - ye of little faith! Faith is an ACTION WORD, when a person truly believe in something they move on that thing - when we truly believe and have faith in what God has said we can have and do - we WILL move on it! It's one thing to speak it but it's a horse of a different color when we MOVE ON WHAT HAS BEEN SPOKEN! This is your time and your season to step on in FAITH concerning all that God has spoken into your life - be encouraged as you begin to PRESS TOWARD THE MARK that God Himself has so delicately purposed just for you ~

Much love in Christ,

Pastor Melissa

PRAYING FOR HAITI

Father God in the name of your precious Son Jesus Christ, I ask that you look upon the people of Haiti and heal their land, comfort hearts, heal bodies, renew minds, refresh their spirit, SAVE SOULS and strengthen them to endure this tragedy. Supply their every need at this present and show us and provide the means in where we can lend a helping hand and show your Love.

My prayer also is that ALL will be well and that you will do a quick work in healing this land but never the less Father, your Will be done! In Jesus name Amen!

The Merry-Go-Round Experience

Take a look at the above pic, remember those? Lol, I haven't seen one of these in so long, wow! Anyways, I'm sure you all know what a Merry-Go-Round is, I don't see them at the parks anymore but back in the day this very toy was what me and my siblings lived for whenever our parents took us to the park. Everyone gets on except the person who has to spin it and once in motion it goes around and around. As a child I preferred being the one spinning simply because I didn't like how it made me feel - the dizziness, nausea, and light headed (still don't like those feelings, one of the reason's I don't do rides at amusement parks except for the kiddie ones).

While it might be fun spinning on a Merry-Go-Round in the natural, it's not fun when one's life is going in circles and spinning out of control, that dizzy, light headed and nausea feeling is nothing to play around with. One of the things about the Merry-Go-Round above is that, there is not control device on board for the riders - you just have to spin until it stops. But if you're tired of going in circles and your life is spinning out of control, I have good news, unlike the physical Merry-God-Round, YOU ARE IN CONTROL!!! You have the authority to get off, you decide when you want to stop going in circles, the control device is in your hands. Stop taking a ride on things that make you feel bad, depressed , discouraged and disgusted. If what you've always done is no longer working or have never worked, then get the courage to try a New approach! There is nothing wrong with change as long as it's in the Will of God.

When riding the Merry-Go-Round as a kid one of my younger sisters would never get off (we all took turns spinning, although I tried to get more turns than the others and they liked it, lol) but she didnt like spinning so she would just there and go around and around until we eventually was tired out (at the same time complaining about ill feelings). Do you know anyone like this? Some folk clearly see that they are going around and around, on the job, in the home, in a relationship, in the Ministry, etc but because they don't like change or don't want to do the labor, they just sit there and go around and around, complaining at the same time about the ill feelings and the end results. I encourage you today, if you're going around and around, then get off the Merry-Go-Round, it's just that simple. I remember when I rode and my younger brother was the spinner, at times he would literally continue to spin not giving it a chance to slow down or come to a halt - and when ever this happened, I would balance myself as I stood and then I would JUMP off, lol. Yes, I would jump off, it was just that simple, I didn't stay in the torture long, I refused to do so, I might have fell in the process and even got bruised up a little but it was worth not having to go around any longer. This is how we must be when it comes to our life, you may get a little bruised up or discouraged as you transition into change but I can guarantee that it will be well worth it because anything is better than going around in circles and a life that's spinning out of control.

Stop doing the same thing over and over again if it's not working, stop hanging with the same people if they can't speak positivity in your life. NO MORE MERRY-GO-ROUNDS, it's time to move forward into the life that God has orchestrated JUST for you! Philip. 3:14 says, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." It's a New Season, It's a New Day, It's a New Year and it's time to PRESS FORWARD!!!

Much Love in Christ,
Pastor Melissa Sutton

HAPPY NEW YEAR - WE MADE IT!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, I THANK GOD FOR ALLOWING YOU TO BE A PART OF MY LIFE IN 2009 AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR FRIENDSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP IN 2010.

I PRAY THAT GOD WILL PROSPER YOU EVEN THE MORE THIS YEAR, SPIRITUALLY, MENTALLY, PHISICALLY AND FINANCIALLY. I ALSO PRAY THAT HE INCREASE HIS WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE, OBEDIENCE AND REVELATION IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU MAY REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL AND BE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT!

KNOW THAT GOD LOVES YOU, HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU, MUCH LOVE IN CHRIST AND MAY GOD BLESS!

IN HIM I PUT MY TRUST,
PASTOR MELISSA SUTTON