Saturday, March 10, 2012

It's NOT Just For Thanksgiving Day Anymore

Good Morning! I'm so very thankful... It has been insightful and informative to think through the many reasons I have to be thankful each day. The Lord impressed on my heart to challenge the church to daily journal three (3) things that they are thankful for & weekly express to three (3) people how thankful they are for God placing them in their life. Here's the theme for this months sermon series called March THANKFULNESS "When you "think" more, you will "thank" more!" the following is my accumulated list for the week.
 I am thankful for:
Salvation I'm saved
Grace I'm favored
Mercy I'm secured
Sanctification I'm becoming
Transformation I'm changed
My wife Janice
My Mother 
My Father
My 4 brothers
My 4 sisters 
My 5 children 
My 8 grandchildren
God's greatness
God's knowledge 
God's power
God's patience 
God's kindness
God's love
God's tenderness
God's touch
God's presences 
Try it! It's amazing what starting the day out with thanksgiving will do. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Saturday, March 03, 2012

What God's Word says about Friendship


I posted a blog a few weeks ago about friendship and on this past Wednesday I was asked to share with the Tabitha Church [www.tbcokc.net] and my long time friend Pastor J. L. Mitchell [who was celebrating his 20th anniversary}. I was asked to attend a service dedicated to praying for the different areas of the pastor-teacher’s life. I was particularly as to pray from a friend for a friend and the friendship surrounding the man of God. I found it fascinating and even captivating how much the Bible has the say about friendship. So I wanted to share with you a few things that God’s Word says about friendship.

1. What the Bible says about becoming a true friend.
Proverbs 18:24 24 A man of many companions •may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

2. What the Bible says about becoming a wise friend.
Proverbs 13:20 20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

3. What the Bible says about becoming a friend like Jesus.
John 15:13 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

4. What the Bible says about becoming a strong friend.
Proverbs 27:17 17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

5. What the Bible says about becoming a loyal friend.
Proverbs 17:17 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

6. What the Bible says about becoming a friend or choosing a friend.
Proverbs 22:24-25 24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

7. What the Bible says about becoming a powerful friend.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 9 Two are better than •one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is •alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

8. What the Bible says about becoming a friend of the greatest friend.
James 4:8 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

9. What the Bible says about becoming cautious in friendship.
Proverbs 12:26 26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

10. What the Bible says about becoming confidant in friendship.
Proverbs 15:22 22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

Here’s my point friends need to be chosen carefully and cautiously. When you find a friend be a very good one.