Sermon reflection 4/13/14 and my spiritual journey to JESUS!

This past sermon talked about JESUS triumphal entry into Jerusalem to die for our sins being the final sacrifice. We were filled with excitement and praise as our pastor talked about how blessed we are that we have a reason to praise because JESUS sacrificed for us! HE was blameless, sinless, yet HE died for sin, Our sin! That alone is reason to praise knowing that JESUS CHRIST died for us, but  the grave didn't hold him. HE is RISEN!
I was crying in the pew as I was reflecting on GOD's mercy. I grew up without much religion and was exposed to Islam. I considered myself wise and a forwarded thinker so I looked at religion as a science or a case study but I was curious. GOD placed people in my life to drop seeds like my sister , and grandmother. I was still questioning and wondering until my father had me read the Quran. As I was reading GOD began talking to me , he began making me pull JESUS out of what I was reading. Ironically I was given the task of helping to translate the Quran for an English speaking audience so that I can learn more about Islam. But GOD decided to let me pull out hints that Islam was missing the true beauty and answer to life. JESUS! I began praying more and more and asking GOD to forgive me for my confusion. I never really reflected until the sermon a special moment. ..
By the time I met my wife I have accepted that Christianity was the path GOD wanted me to take and it was JESUS that will be the only path to get into heaven. I was still not understanding the true essence of JESUS CHRIST. I was standing in Church on New Years Eve when JESUS Finally put the last piece in me! The HOLY SPIRIT entered me as I realized, JESUS is GOD in the Flesh. JESUS came down as the SON of GOD to model for us to do GOD's word and dying for our sins so we are Forgiven. Only because of JESUS CHRIST I have a place in Heaven and since I am Saved I am filled with the HOLY SPIRIT which is the true essence of the TRINITY of GOD. I went from a unbeliever, to a believer in GOD , to knowing I needed help, to a believer that JESUS was the way to Heaven , to understanding the TRINITY and only being saved by GRACE!
My plan for writing this sermon reflection during Resurrection week wanted me to reflect on Good Friday! The way every believer should celebrate is by sharing a testimony! Sharing who JESUS CHRIST is is true love and true worship the Easter Resurrection weekend. Testify so much there is no room for bunnies and egss,,,,, GOD BLESS!

Sunday sermon reflection 3/23/14 "AWOL Christians"

Sermon Reflection John 6:66-69 AWOL Christians. This sermon was talking about sticking to JESUS through thick and thin in ALL that we do. The pastor cleverly used the term AWOL Christians to describe how tho we have the position of heaven as GOD's children, we find ourselves missing when JESUS call upon us or when its term to put our testimony of faith to work. We was reminded by the feeling we had when we where first saved. Then we where on fire and ready to conquer the world with GOD as our shield but after a while we begin to lack up and let the world dictate our life to the point in which we find ourselves leaving the will of GOD in our life to please the world and our flesh.
I think about this often for I all to often think about this world and the pleasures of it. I remember when the pastor asked what was really missing out on in the "good ole days before I was saved:". The thing I think I missed out on the most was the laughter that came from raunchy mean spirited humor, This could come in the form of a movie, my peers or the particular jokes I tended to excel at! I know we all have a vice but all to often we look at it as ok since we all have one. JESUS called upon us to be the light of the world. Him am I shining GODS light on if I am acting just like them. How can a soldier show the presence of our military without his uniform ? I struggle also for the world provides the easy way out at times when you are making the foolish mistake of thinking short term. in verse 68 Peter asked JESUS of where he should go basically as if he had no better place to be than with JESUS. Same standard should be with us I shouldn't want to go outside my GOD to get what I want! I don't wan to stand before GOD in heaven and have his knowingly asking,, ,why wasn't you doing what I ordered? I am called to be a soldier of GOD I don't want to be absent without leave! AMEN

something to think about: Happy JESUS DAY!

This past week my pastor had me thinking about something very powerful. Now that its Christmas Season what are we going to do? We give gifts to sinners of darkness and don't share JESUS. My job has secret santa, no mention of JESUS, if your secret santa dies tonight where are they going? Lets take Christmas back,, Atheist are serious about Christmas, they are on the attack,,ie "seasons greetings" . I never see people hesitate to say they are not a believer , or that they think the Bible isnt true, why do we hesitate to say we believe? Darkness never been bashful , always bold! If it wasn't that serious they would not try to stop Christians from saying Merry Christmas.  Or better yet , Happy JESUS DAY! I know we have the intellectuals that want to point out the negative historical origins of Christmas, but that is all the more reason we can use JESUS to transform it into a beautiful celebration of the ultimate gift, our salvation. GOD did it already when he Repackaged our sinful nature into his image, worthy of heaven. I need some more family members in the family of CHRIST! Lets get on it! AMEN! GOD BLESS

Sermon reflection 11/24/13 Ananias meets Paul

Acts 9:17-22

The past sermon spoke to me a great deal. The sermon addressed Ananias meeting Paul for the first time and the veil being lifted off Pauls eyes allowing him to immediately go out and talk about JESUS! The pastor used this scripture to have us reflect back to when we became saved! HE also used this to talk about how we should approach other new Christians, what we like to call "babys in Christ". The last part was used to address the immediacy of GOD! We need to follow GODS commands because they are not a suggestion.

Thinking back when I was first saved I like to smile. Its funny because the vision in my head is a distraught Kid angry at everyone, feeling lonely and driving to work crying. .. In my head I was contemplating how I wish it was all over and how no one could help me and while driving down a long neglected road I began crying out to GOD asking for deliverance. My eyes became open when I knew that I had a father in heaven that loves me and is there for me through thick n then and that's what JESUS was telling us. As I grew further in CHRIST he began to lift the scale more and more. 

I remember I used to listen to JAYZ chanting the words "hova" to his lyrics. My sister was upset because he was calling himself GOD and I defended it as if it wasn't really that serious,, I didn't know that I shouldn't allow anyone to even toy with the greatness of my father but again I say I had scales over my eyes! I now find myself in righteous anger, and sorrow, as I see the media making light at blasphemous monikers, claims, which craft, homosexuality, humanism, greed, etc... 

The next thing was how I know I have to be patient with new believers. I have to understand that most people drop out of the Church and become distant from the Church body because we are judging them with log filled eyes! Like I said I was a believer first but I was still listening to Jay Z. I still have things GOD is working on because if we was able to be perfect we wouldn't need grace. I thank GOD for HIS grace! Ananias approached Paul with "brother" showing him love as if he belongs. I need to make sure I consider my fellow Christians brother, family. There was a time when I had little desire to fellowship with other members of my Chruch but I see the deeper I devote myself to the LORD , the more I enjoy the company of my Church brethren. I am so happy to be apart of the mens small group and I am now trying to approach them more on a personal level. It's deep to think about who we rather spend time with and wonder if that is a reflection of our Christian walk. 

Today was a good example of following the immediacy of GOD! I know I have a habit at times of setting a schedule to when I am going to work on a certain aspect of my Christian walk. The pastor noted how the Bible never asked the disciples to do something if they can get around to it. I know I was putting off talking to a certain family member about a certain situation that I was putting off because I didn't feel comfortable at the time even though I kept feeling nudged by the HOLY SPIRIT. I had to stop telling GOD I was to scared , and say Yes! I feel better now and I am so glad I did! What have you been putting off? Have you said , "I'm going to start going to Church more next year" I'm going to tithe better next year" etc etc... When we are instructed to do something we do it. 

This also goes to spreading the Gospel. When we are truly saved , we already have what we need to spread. People need to hear the Gospel: 

GOD so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son JESUS CHRIST , who is Emmanuel, GOD on earth who promised salvation to those who believe in HIM, thus filling them with the third part of the trinity of GOD , the HOLY SPIRIT that makes us pure before HIS throne, and that those who do not believe will be destined to the pitt of hell, and only believers will have ever lasting life in heaven. AMEN .. 

I love typing that, the rest of the job is living a life that exemplifies the HOLY SPIRIT within you! From my experience , the way we live our life helps people to ask questions which allows you to spread this Gospel, and the Gospel inspires people to examine your life giving you a chance to prove it. 

There was a lot of information and topics in this sermon but it was so helpful , in our Christian walk. Over this thanksgiving break seize this moment brothers and sisters. GOD BLESS 

Sermon reflection 11/3/13 even they too can be saved..

Acts 9:1-6
Yesterdays sermon was about Pauls conversion! We only talked about the beginning of his change because the focus was on who he was and how he was saved. This is one of the most unlikely people to convert to Christianity but he did. The pastor pointed out how he was a leading pharisee who studied under the most talented teachers and shown a special zeal for persecuting Christians but he was still able to be saved. JESUS asked why was he persecuting HIM and Paul was changed!! The pastor used this to illustrate how JESUS saved a lot of us whom seem hopeless like SAUL but because of the Grace of GOD we have been saved in JESUS like Saul become Paul. He told us not to give up on others who we think is hopeless, who we think is to big of an enemy!
This sermon hits home with me! I have many muslims in my family from my fathers side and primarily its because of my grandfather who serves as the patriarch of the family. He is ill now and at one point we felt that he was close to death. I went to visit to him and prayed in silence when he was in the hospital bed. I feared praying out loud because of the reaction I might receive and then later I began thinking it would be no point to ask him about JESUS CHRIST. I feel ashamed at myself just typing it because it reminds me of the pacifism I am supposed to reject as a Child of GOD but it reveals what I need to pray and work on. MY grandfather is responsible for influencing many to reject the Gospel of JESUS but so did Paul. I know I shouldn't give up on him, he may be saved! Of course its all according to the will of GOD but I it may be his will to use me to share JESUS with him. The same goes for my father. I cant rest thinking that he is hopeless everyday that I have breath , every time I take the time to share my thoughts on the Bears , I can take that same time to share my thoughts on Salvation! Imagine if my Grandfather dies thanking JESUS for saving his soul, my father will hear it as JESUS reveals himself! My heart is pumping faster and my palms are growing sweaty as I grow in excitement, lets make a Paul out of the Saul in our life! AMEN GOD BLESS