Jesus’ mother said to the servants, “whatever He says to you, do it.” John 2:5

 Welcome to the last day of 2024. As you reflect back over the year, can you say you kept your previous New Years resolutions? Like most people, within a few months, you’ve failed at trying to fulfil those resolutions and found yourself set back in your old ways of doing things. Sound familiar?

 In 1988 the Nike Company came out with a marketing campaign slogan that said “Just Do It”. The purpose was to motivate people to buy Nike brand products and get out there to live healthy lives. It worked and sales increased that year by 40%. Today, Nike is one of the top retailers of athletic wear in the United States and abroad.  

 Today’s passage comes from the story where Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding ceremony. His mother told the servants to do what He says, John 2:1-12. Falling in line with this story, have you considered asking God what He wants you to improve upon in 2025? Let’s face it, God is the author of your life and has a specific plan to grow you into a more mature and developed child of God. His expectations of you are to focus on His plan so you’ll be encouraged to “just do it”.  By trying to set goals for yourself, outside His will, most likely will lead to personal failure or shortfalls, leaving you to question why even try.

 Spend some time in prayer today and this week asking God what He wants to improve upon in your life and use His goals to motivate you to remain obedient to His perfect plan for YOU! JUST DO IT! Happy New Year friends!

 

 

 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:25

 Yesterday I watched a program, “My 600-pound life”, where a person weighted 600 plus pounds and was seeing a weight loss doctor to help her get off the excess. The doctor told her within 30 days he wanted to see her drop over 100 pounds. At her next appointment she weighed in and missed her mark by 80 pounds. The doctor was firm with her, telling her that she needed to lose it quickly before it ended her life. At the end of the program, she finally did lose the weight and was able to have surgery to help curb her intake of food.

 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26

 Today’s verse came to mind as I thought about that program. God wants us to have a wonderful life here on earth, but we must be careful not to weigh ourselves down with worldly things, pleasures, and such that can easily distract us from the true purpose of our life, serving God. It’s ok to have things, but when they become our obsession, our focus shifts from God and onto things that have ZERO eternal value.

 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Matthew 16:27

 Your life is but a brief moment in time. Ask God what needs to be removed from your life so you can better serve Him. Your reward for losing those earthly things will yield eternal blessings both now and forever. God bless

 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God ma be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

 This Christmas I purchased a back massager for my wife. When she opened the package, we both noticed there was no instruction manual, so we winged it by figuring out how it charged and worked properly. Unfortunately, we had issues with the device, and I had to exchange it for a new one. Thankfully the new one came with instructions and we got it working right out of the box.

 As Christians, we have available to us the bible as a tool to figure out how God wants us to live. As crazy as it sounds, many Christians never refer to God’s word and attempt to go through life using their own wisdom and life’s experiences. This method of living the Christian life can often lead to misguided steps, and cause you a lot of heartache and trouble.  

 As Christians, WE ARE responsible for our actions, our words, even our thoughts. Living in a world that is opposite of God’s ways can make it almost impossible to decipher God’s truth without reading His word. God gave us His instruction manual for life and the ONLY way you’ll truly be able to reflect His character is by studying it daily.

 As we approach the new year, I encourage you to carve out no less than 30 minutes each day to read His word; pick up a good devotional to help you with your studies, and ask God to open your mind you can absorb its wisdom and live out the instructions He’s provided you for each day. God bless!  

 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

 Here we are, the eve of Christmas. Many of you will be finishing up your preparations to celebrate this special holiday with friends and family. If you have children, you will probably talk about Santa Claus coming to bring them toys. The excitement of children is an inspiring emotion to experience, one that I greatly miss now that my kids are grown.

 Through the business of the holiday and storytelling, have you considered sharing the real meaning behind Christmas? In the bible, Luke 2:1-20 gives the best account of Christ birth and the lives He impacted at the announcement of His birth. God came to planet earth in the form of a human man out of love for His creation. Sin is what separates us from His holiness and only through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, are you able to have a personal relationship with the God of this universe.

 Don’t let this special moment pass by without sharing the story of the birth of Christ. It’s an amazing story and still fascinates me even today. Santa might come down the chimney to bring gifts, but Jesus came down, as a gift to all mankind, to enter our hearts. Nothing compares to this wonderful story of God’s love for you and your family. Share it today with everyone! God bless!

 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

 We live in a society today where families are split, due to divorce. Children oftentimes connect more often with their mother than their father. They don’t love their father any less, its just a natural thing for a child to find wisdom, comfort, and understanding from their mother, as God has given them these gifts as mothers. This can be hard for fathers, and oftentimes find ourselves either over-compensating our love by showering them with excessive gifts OR shun the child, to the point of hardly acknowledging them. Both can have devastating effects on the child, especially as they grow and mature into young adults.

 Prior to becoming adults, children are just that, children. They oftentimes make decisions based on emotion over fact. The one parent who receives less attention from that child, should not make them show less of their love and support (financially, emotionally, and physically). The child will remember that abandonment and it will carry with them into their adult years.  

 Today’s verse is a great reminder that we should have unconditional love for our children no matter the circumstances. Right now your child may have cut you off from all communication, this is the perfect time to let your love remain a constant. Trust me, trust me, trust me, when I tell you that consistent love will be the one rock they hold onto in their years of emotional ups and downs of your broken family. Give your child the love they so desperately need without any expectations of receiving it back. You’ll find blessings of your fervent love later in life. God bless!

 “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

 Since the invention of food delivery services, like Grubhub and Instacart, many people enjoy eating at home; with the simple click of a few buttons, an order is placed and within a short amount of time the food or products selected are at the front door. Another service is worshipping God by watching a church service through online streaming from the comfort of home.

 Recent statistics report that 27% of Americans watch church services from home, either by TV or online, and 1/3 actually attend services in person. Of those who watch virtually, only 25% of them actively participate by praying, singing and engaging in the message, while 75% of the virtual participants feel a disconnect. 65% of those who attend a church service in person feel connected with others and all aspects of the service.

 The truth behind these comfort services is they lack certain qualities that can only be obtained by being there in person. Warm food, the décor, and enjoying fellowship with other restaurant goers makes dining in a memorable experience. The same goes for attending church in person, the close fellowship with others, the welcome feeling you get when you are there, and most importantly the presence of God.

 Today’s verse tells us where two or three are gathered, God is in the midst of them. It takes effort to attend corporate worship (waking early, getting dressed, kids ready…ect), but the benefits of being there are greater than sitting at home, disconnected from other believers and quite possibly God’s presence.

 One of the most impactful events in history is the birth of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Tomorrow is the Sunday before Christmas and would be a perfect time for you to reconnect with God by attending church service in person. I can assure you, when you come to church, prepared to worship God, He will instill in you a connection to Himself that you won’t’ get sitting at home in your pajamas. Make time for God this Sunday and every Sunday, God will bless you with a genuine worship to keep the fire alive in your heart and soul! God bless!

 Remember Lot’s wife. Luke 17:32

 In the bible, Genesis 19, recounts the story of God’s destruction of two cities, Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sinful lifestyle. Two angels visited the city and were welcomed into Lot’s home for the night. The next day, the angels warned Lot and his family that God would destroy the city and for them to flee the area and not look back. As they ran for their lives, Lot’s wife took one look back and became a pillar of salt.

 Why did she look back? She probably still had an interest in the city and she felt a loss by leaving. God spared no one in those two cities, destroying them both, along with Lot’s wife who looked back on what she knew and probably enjoyed.

 Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Isaiah 43:18

 As a child of God, do you find yourself day dreaming about the sins of your past? Let’s face it, sin is a temporary pleasure that most likely leaves a significant remembrance of what you enjoyed. Although it’s wrong in the eyes of God, you somehow still have thoughts or feelings about what occurred. The danger in this line of thinking is it regenerates those same feelings and Satan can use them to reignite the desire to follow through with your past sins.

 As a child of God, He has forgiven you of your past sins and no longer remembers them, neither should you. Your mind should be focused on what God has instore for your life, letting the things of the past disappear in your mind and yearn for God’s wisdom and blessings moving forward.

 Then next time you begin to think about your sinful past, remember Lot’s wife, to be reminded how important God views your thoughts and keep looking forward so you won’t be caught up in your past sins.