Mercy Reigns

Matthew 5:7 – “7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!”
    Today’s scripture tells us that spiritual prosperity and joyful satisfaction awaits us when we demonstrate mercy. Our God is a merciful Father who withholds from us the rightful judging ‘end’ to many of the wrongful actions we have often committed. He shows us mercy and grace like the two sides of a coin. We must do the same in our dealings with others.
    Think about a situation or circumstance where you hold the power to make the choice to show someone mercy. Make a decision today to exercise your right to help them. What will it take? Will it really set you back or make life more difficult for you? Chances are many of the simple acts of assisting someone else in actuality will not only aid them; but benefit us as well. Forgive a debt; erase an error from your memory bank; extend a deadline. Whatever it might take to show mercy – do that today and watch as God’s blessings flow back upon you.
    Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day!  Have an awesome weekend.  See you on Monday! Be blessed – Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Stay In The Light

John 3:20-21(NRSV) –“20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”     As a fan of old time Dracula movies I remember the drama that spanned the screen when the hero would come to rescue the damsel in distress by snatching down the tattered window curtains which allowed the sunlight to pour into the vampire’s dark chamber. As the light pierced the room, Dracula would winch in pain, withdraw from his stance and flee in bat form to escape the light.
     Evil likes to lurk in darkness and do its dirty deeds undercover. When we invite Jesus into our lives his bright light illuminates and dispels the dark areas of our hearts. As the “Light of the World” Jesus’ presence is all that is needed to expose the ungodly things that try to captivate us. When in doubt or feeling down the best answer is Jesus. Darkness tries to make it seem as if life is hopeless or pointless; don’t be fooled. Jesus died and rose again in victory just for us and in doing so secured our place in the light. Stay in the light!
     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Be blessed –Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Comfort Cometh!!

Matthew 5:4 – “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”     As inevitable as life itself, grief happens in our midst. Whether we are grieved by the loss of loved one; distraught by the loss of a job; relationship or opportunity; or saddened over lost potential, enthusiasm, hope, or courage; mourning will be comforted. Today’s scripture tells us that mourning over our past sins, regrets, hesitations or disobedience will be comforted when the burden of sin is lifted. We must focus on the renewing of our situation through the rejuvenation provided by the redeeming blood of Christ. No matter what the obstacle, challenge, difficulty or loss, when we trust Jesus and believe on his word; we will find solace and peace.
     God knows our beginning and our end and he places us in situations through which we glorify him by our actions. If you are experiencing any type of loss concentrate on comfort that shall come from the renewing of your spirit. The joy that awaits is indescribable and the peace is unsearchable. Cry now if you must; cleanse and let go – then put your energies into walking with God and following his commandments and watch as he uplifts your heart.
     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Be blessed – Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Work In Progress

Philippians 1:6 NKJV: - “… being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”
     I am sure you have seen bumper stickers or plaques that proclaim – “Be patient… God hasn’t finished with me yet!”. This is true for all of us no matter how rooted in the Word or steeped in church activities we might be. As they say, “God loves us just the way we are; but he loves us too much to leave us this way”.
     As followers of Christ we must constantly strive to follow his commandments and live according to his directives. We must love, honor and cherish all that Jesus proclaimed as holy and in doing so we will be holy. God has a greater purpose for our lives than we most likely could every really phantom. When we worship God is spirit and in truth, we open ourselves up to be bombarded by his best and in doing so God will fix the areas that need attention and change the areas that need total renewal.
     As we maneuver this life it is wonderful and reassuring to know that God is constantly monitoring our progress and lighting a path along our journey. He wants us to succeed; to be in good health; to have peace that passes all understanding and to be an example to the world.     When you make mis-steps, mistakes and miscalculations; do not beat up on yourself too harshly. God is fully aware of our shortcomings; what things tempt us; and the best way to handle disappointments. He knows how to soothe our anxieties; and help us to live through our inhibitions. We are wonderfully and fearfully made and praise our Most High God that we are still a great work in progress.
     Every day is a good day, it is up to us to make it a GREAT day.. Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Ask and Believe

Matthew 21:22 – “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
    Yesterday as I was going over my agenda items for this coming week, I remembered I had promised to write a letter of recommendation for a former student. I remember when she approached me about the request, she was a bit shy at first and although I sensed what she wanted I listened and gave her the opportunity to express her desire. When she asked then I eagerly offered to support her endeavor; but for her own self confidence building I knew that she needed to ‘ask’.
    Whether we are seeking information, advice or a favor; we have to –‘ask’. The process may feel uncomfortable if we are not certain of the right approach or to whom we might inquire or the right timing; but regardless of the protocol, if we do not ask, we will never know.
    If you seeking the company of a new friend (a date), or trying to figure out the best way to pay off a debt; or unsure of how to tackle an important work assignment; fear or apprehension could stifle the entire process. Ask the Holy Spirit to allay your fears or anxieties and to guide you to the right person, using the right approach and doing it at the right time. Jesus says in today’s scripture that if we ask in prayer and believe, we shall receive. If our Holy and Omniscient God, who already knows our questions before we ask, instructs us to inquire and believe; then surely we should be hopeful and invigorated in knowing that we can approach others without hesitation.
    I often have to muster up courage to ask; but I still push on even if I am a little intimidated because I know my intent is pure and God will align it of his purpose. Someone is anxiously waiting to hear from you and to help you. God has already gone ahead of your situation and paved the way for your inquiry. Do not let the uncertainty of the response stifle you from seeking and asking.
    Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Hang Tough

Matthew 5:10 –  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for ^[c]doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever]!”

      Today’s scripture us that those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.  We all face injustice from time to time but there are some people who are constantly under the throws of mistreatment.  We are blessed in our country to have a justice system which (when operated correctly by lawful people) allows us to have freedom to express ourselves and to praise and worship our God openly. 

      When we are under false assumptions or persecution because we want to help others who may not look like us, believe, act or worship like us; we must remember that God’s justice shall reign supreme.  When we are pushed or threatened to act in ways which contradict what our moral compass tells us is right; we must remember that God’s justice shall reign supreme.  The Kingdom of heaven has total jurisdiction over all of creation and no man-made laws can counter the judgement that God will dole out to those who stifle his children.  

        Continue doing what is right, not in your own eyes, but follow the commandments of God and adhere to the teachings of Christ.  You can never go wrong, even if the world tries to malign or harass you; even if you are wrongly judged and persecuted, remember that vengeance belongs to God and he is faithful to those who trust him.

       Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Enjoy the weekend. See you on Monday!  Be blessed – Rev. Dr. JoAnn

". . . or Happy?!"

Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.!”     We have all been in situations where we have been falsely accused or misunderstood or just plain lied upon or about. We have been under pressure to go along with the crowd or ignore the obvious and pushed to follow the mundane. What sets us apart is that spirit within us that teaches, guides and comforts us as we make the ‘right’ decisions. As my wise 93 year old aunt, Gerri, says – “do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?” There will be some occasions when we have to serve as the peacemaker; and in taking on this role, we might have to swallow bites that we did not even want to taste.
      As a peacemaker we are called upon to look beyond the obvious and see things through the eyes of Christ. As a peacemaker we must not dwell on the egotism of proving a point; stating who has the facts right; or raising the flag of superiority. As a peacemaker we become more and more Christ-like as we strive to live agreeably with others and elevate their thinking to see the good in every situation. Peacemakers may never get their thought across to prove a point; but the way we live our lives speaks volumes of our faith in God to handle our affairs. We don’t need to always be proven ‘right’; we would rather be happy and know that God is pleased with our actions.
      Today strive to serve as the peacemaker in your group, at your job, in your home or while riding in your car. For example if you arrive at a stop sign at the same time as another driver… you might have the right of way but if they seem anxious to race ahead, allow them to go. You might be in the right but a collision that could result is not worth the loss of your peace.
     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a peaceful GREAT day! Be blessed – Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Speak Health

Proverbs 18:21(NIV)- “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
     There are some simple things that God tells us to do that if we follow them our way of life is so much better. We are instructed to get adequate rest; to resist temptation; to avoid gossip and to love each other. Avoiding tempting situations would surely lower our stress levels and we probably would be able to rest and sleep better and not be so grouchy; and that might help us treat each other better. Most important is that we speak and proclaim positive situations over our lives.
     Healing begins with the proclamation of good health. If you are experiencing pain, it is honest to say that your head or body hurts, but stop telling yourself that you “have a headache”. One phrase is just a statement of a fact – your head might hurt – the other statement is proclaiming something over your life - “I have a headache” will become your permanent reality. Speak power over the issues that concern you. Proclaim victory over fear and nervousness and walk in the authority that Jesus’ blood grants to all of us.
     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Mercy Reigns

Matthew 5:7 – “7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!”
    Today’s scripture tells us that spiritual prosperity and joyful satisfaction awaits us when we demonstrate mercy. Our God is a merciful Father who withholds from us the rightful judging ‘end’ to many of the wrongful actions we have often committed. He shows us mercy and grace like the two sides of a coin. We must do the same in our dealings with others.
     Think about a situation or circumstance where you hold the power to make the choice to show someone mercy. Make a decision today to exercise your right to help them. What will it take? Will it really set you back or make life more difficult for you? Chances are many of the simple acts of assisting someone else in actuality will not only aid them; but benefit us as well. Forgive a debt; erase an error from your memory bank; extend a deadline. Whatever it might take to show mercy – do that today and watch as God’s blessings flow back upon you.
     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Be blessed – Rev. Dr. JoAnn

We Are One!

Romans 12:4-5(NLV) – “4 Our bodies are made up of many parts. None of these parts have the same use. 5 There are many people who belong to Christ. And yet, we are one body which is Christ’s. We are all different but we depend on each other.”
     No matter what our role is in the Body of Christ, we all play a vital part in the successful progression of God’s kingdom. Not everyone is selected to be a heart, or lung or brain or what we might consider to be a ‘vital’ part of the body; some of us might be designated to serve as pinkie toes or eyelashes. But we are all extremely important in the body. If you doubt that - think about the last time you stubbed your toe or had an eyelash fall into your eye. They will remind you that no matter how small they are, they are significant and the rest of the body will wait until you pay attention to them. (smiles).
     Over the past few days we have watched the aftermath of Hurricane Florence and praying for all who have lost homes, belongs and loved ones. Whether the victims were in shelters or had evacuated miles away, it is heartbreaking to find out that flooding had swept away all that they own. We are grateful that the devastation hasn’t been worse. Daily stories arise of acts of heroism and love as people reach out to clothe, shelter and feed those hardest hit. We are all members of one body and when one part is in pain, we all hurt.
     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Keep praying! Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Chameleons

Joshua 9:1
     The fifth kingdom that came to assault the children of Israel in the 9th chapter of Joshua was that of the Hivites. They were a sneaky group of vipers. They had a brotherhood which reached far and wide. One of their coalitions was the men of Gibeon who later deceived Joshua and the leaders into signing a peace treaty. 
      The Hivites in our lives can be chameleons showing us one face yet being of another nature. We know them too well once they are revealed but God wants us to be on guard for their craftiness before they can wreak havoc in our lives. There are some telltale signs that we can look for which will help us uncover their motives. 
     Beware of fast-talkers, double-talkers; those who are easily upset. Be careful when people talk too much about other people’s affairs; they mask being concerned about you but will probably spill their guts to others about your issues. Be wary of braggarts and name-droppers; if their worth is based on what they have and who they know; unless they are dropping the name of Jesus and bragging about a Godly testimony, stir clear. Want a sure fire test…let a chameleon get caught off guard and watch them change right before your eyes.
       Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Enjoy your weekend. See you on Monday! Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Cantankerous

Joshua 9:1     A fourth kingdom that came to assault the children of Israel in the 9th chapter of Joshua was that of the mountain dwelling Jebusites. They had a foot-hold on their territory and through many scrimmages could never be dislodged from around Jerusalem. These hillbillies were a cantankerous crew who often pitched battles against Joshua and caused God to bring judgement on the nation of Israel.
     We all know them, the unruly, argumentative, die-hards who won’t come, won’t go, won’t vote, won’t contribute, won’t leave, won’t stay but will complain about any and everything. Cantankerous blood flows through their veins like the milk and honey that flowed through the promise land. Be aware of their nature. They are often knowledgeable but have little to contribute. They will waste your time by getting your hopes up then letting you down when they don’t follow through. 
      You might as well have done it yourself in the first place and not have gotten riled up. Save yourself the heartache, realize they will probably never truly help and if they do it will be very minimal. Don’t get vexed or irritated – they are just doing what they do. So you do what you have been purposed by God to accomplish and keep it moving!
      Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Drain You Dry

Joshua 9:1 -2 "Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— 2 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel"     Today is part three of our study of the 9th chapter of Joshua. A third kingdom that came to assault the children of Israel was that of the Perizzites, who were insidiously, and infectiously parasitic in nature. Their origin is chiefly unknown but they are persistent in the generational history of region. Their sly maneuvers included being peace-seeking ranchers, farmers, and workers of the land where they engaged the Israelites in parasitic form. Slowly and seductively they drained them of devotion to God and led them into idolatry. Be careful of people who latch on to you and drain you of your time, resources and energy. They will not come at you with a full-fledged frontal attack like the Hittites who love to push your buttons, but they will seductively engage you to distract you from doing what you need to accomplish as they drain you dry to suit their needs. Using flattery or other forms of obsequiousness, they may even convince you that your helping them is a Christian underpinning and that to stop assisting them would be ungodly. 
     Every parasite that attaches itself to a victim never fastens where it can be easily detected and detached, but shelters itself in a place that is often hard to reach. Somehow you know something about them is not quite right, but you can’t put your finger on it…listen to the Holy Spirit…he is giving you warning to separate yourself from that negativity. Parasites will never leave, as long as you are alive for them to draw from; they will drain you until you have nothing left to offer them and they never replenish your needs, no matter how they may ‘talk’ about their concern for you. Be wise – God has a purpose and plan for you and you need all of your energy to be the best that you can be for your journey. Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Smooth As Silk

     Today is part two of our study of the 9th chapter of Joshua. Another kingdom that came to assault the children of Israel was that of the Canaanites, who were a sophisticated lot. Credited with the development of the written alphabet these people used their influential charms to infiltrate and influence the Hebrew children. They were divisive and subtle in their approach as they intermarried and influenced the Israelites to follow their pagan practices and abandon the teachings of God.
     Be aware of those around you who use sly methods to influence your decisions or sway you from your purpose. They may use flattery, intimidation or try to confuse issues to make you believe you are not making good choices when you follow what God wants you to do. They may be smooth talkers with get-rich-quick schemes or fast-talkers who try to use double talk or fancy language to confuse or scam you. Remember the teachings of God and listen to the urgings of the Holy Spirit. If it does not sit right with your spirit; know that God is telling you to be aware of those who might misuse you.
     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a power-packed GREAT day! Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Devilish Ways

John 6:70 (KJV) – “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
       After a successful venture in Ai, the Israelites became the target of surrounding kings; five of which mounted a combined assault against them. This week I will share how to recognize five characteristics what will try to hamper your conquering your promised achievements, promotions, progress, etc. One of the kingdoms that came to assault the Israelites were specialists in metal working (Hittites). They were an abrasive people, often harsh and unscrupulously devilish. Today's power scripture comes from John 6:70 (KJV) – “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
        Claim all the victories now… walk in favor with your head up …don’t worry about the devilish people or situations you encounter each day. Remember that in your daily walk if you don’t met the devil head on, then you might be walking in the same direction he is going.
    Jesus did not pick his disciples haphazardly nor did he just select the twelve first come –first serve. After much prayer he started to assemble his team. He knew beforehand that Judas Iscariot was a bad seed, yet he allowed him into the ranks. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Jesus was not naïve or foolish to have Judas in his inner circle. There was purpose and plan and Judas played an important role in helping the other disciples and followers of Christ see the magnitude and depth of God’s grace and mercy. When you are affronted with brash people, don’t let them push your buttons, get you off your game plan or distract you from your calling. Recognize them for who they are and then use the harsh, unsavory, down-right abrasive people in your life just like fine sand paper. The more they rub up against you and go against your grain the smoother and more polished and beautiful you become. God knows and allows only the right amount of pressure to be applied to you to bring out your best. So don’t focus on the devils in your life…they will always be there…keep an eye on them but let your concentration be placed on the wonders and awe of God.
     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day! Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Physical Healing

2 Kings 20:5 – “Go back and speak to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord the God of your ancestor David, says: I heard your prayer and I saw your tears, so I will heal you.”
     Thank you so much for the prayers for my son Steven. He is doing better and getting stronger. His adventure with the Paleo – caveman diet did not pair well with his metabolism.
     Hezekiah had been very ill – ill unto death. He was not ready to die nor did he want to remain in his chronic condition; therefore he prayed and carried out to the Lord and reminded God of all that he had purposed to do. In hearing the cries of his servant, God not only healed Hezekiah of his ailment but he granted him an additional 15 years of life.

If your body or the physical frame of someone you love is under the siege of a disease, infection, or physical trauma; do as Hezekiah did. Make your petition unto the Lord. You might not be at death’s door; but anything that brings trauma to your physical body affects the mental state of being and leeches onto the soul.
     When we are in pain and distress we cannot reason adequately or do our best performance. It is imperative that we seek God’s favor and mercy as he is willing to manifest these healings for our relief. In the time of Hezekiah the blood of Jesus had not been shed but now by his stripes (Jesus’s afflictions) we are healed. NOT going to be healed or COULD be healed – but we ARE healed. Claim your victory in Christ. Turn your face to the wall and seek God’s favor for walking in divine health and well-being. It’s yours… it has been paid for with a price. Keep your body temple clean of impurities (infidelity, fornication, drug use); nourish your body temple with proper diet and daily feed it the Bread of Life and the Living Water of Jesus.
     Every day is a good day, it is up to us to make it a GREAT day. Have an awesome weekend. See you Monday Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Prayer for Steven

Good morning faithful readers,
 I am reaching out to you today asking for your prayers for my oldest son, Steven Gaither who has been suffering from an unknown severe stomach distress… He has been in the emergency room most of yesterday evening and all night. Although in pain his spirits are high and he continues to give God praise. Pray for the doctors, nurses, attendants, lab technicians and anyone who comes into his path to work on his behalf.  Whatever the cause - it shall be revealed and  Healing and victory are his in Jesus name!!   Thank you ... soon I will give you great news of  a recovery praise report!!

Every day is a good day; it’s up to us to make it a Great day! Be blessed! Rev. Dr. JoAnn

Shut In

Good morning faithful blog readers... someone shared this with me and I want to share it with you... you might have read it before so this time pass it on!!

...I have always thought that Noah was safe inside the Ark because he built it according to God's specifications.  I thought that perhaps it was the strength of the gopher wood and the soundness of the architecture that ensured that the waters of the flood would not come into the Ark.

     But today I encountered a verse that shifted this whole paradigm. 

Let's read what Gen 7:16 says .." The animals going in were male and female of every living thing as God had commanded Noah..

THEN GOD SHUT HIM IN.... 

      Don't miss this.... even after Noah had built the Ark, it was God Himself who shut him in, in order to shut out the waters of the flood...  In other translations this verse says "The Lord sealed them inside."   May the Almighty God seal us inside His Ark of protection through the rest of 2018.

      It is not the fact that you have locked your house that keeps you safe at night, it is not your good driving skills that keeps you safe on the road, neither it's your healthy eating habits that keeps you healthy - only God can shut you in and shut out the devil that is seeking to devour you. 

      Father we pray that in this last few months of the year, as  we walk into the streets and as we drive on the roads, Oh God shut us in. Father we pray for our children that in the midst of dangers and molesters... You will shut them in, keep out the flood waters of abuse, rape, murder, accidents, diseases and untimely death... Oh God shut us in, shut us in your Ark of protection , into your Ark of compassion.. May GOD SHUT US IN AS WE OBEY HIM AND TRUST IN HIS WORD. Amen!!!

     Every day is a good day; it’s up to us to make it a Great day!  Stay shut in and be blessed!  Rev. Dr. JoAnn