31. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Welcome Back from the Weekend.    All I can say was wow, wow, wow…  My weekend was soooo  great and church was simply AMAZING.   To God be the Glory.

Today, I would like to share with you a blog that Bishop JD Ellis shared on his face book page concerning Halloween.

Below is the article:

We all know that October 31 (Halloween) is an exciting day for many children for two main reasons.  The first is they are able to dress in costumes, with an end result of becoming a fantasy someone or something they have longed to be, and the second: CANDY!!!  But, as fun as this night looks and sounds, it’s hidden meaning can not be ignored and should be brought to the light so that parents, especially those who profess the Name of Christ, can make an educated decision about whether or not their child will participate in this affair.

The origins of Halloween can be dated back to the Celts, a people who were thoroughly pagan, who worshipped many gods, and who supposedly were ruled by kings, but the real power was actually in the hands of the Druids (a secret priestly society governed by terror and sorcery).  For the Celts, November 1 marked the beginning of a new year, in which they believed the old year died and the new-year began.  To commemorate this event, the Celts held what was called the Festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) on the night before the new-year began; October 31.

Samhain was actually one of the Celts’ most powerful gods, the God of Death.  It was during this Festival (also called the Festival of Death) that Samhain was honored with human sacrifices.  Fires were started, and the Druids dressed in peculiar robes that typically consisted of mysterious, magical markings, and animal heads and skins.  In addition, each Druid had a large, hollowed out turnip with a lighted candle made of human fat burning inside.  Carved into the side of the hollow turnip (pumpkins began to be used in the 18th century) was the hideous face of a demon, symbolizing that a demon spirit dwelt inside.  This demon spirit served as the Druid’s spirit guide, directing and empowering his life. 

The Druids went door to door demanding either food or human sacrifices (treat).  If those in the occupied home could not comply to the demands of the Druids, then it was time for a trick in which a symbolic hex was drawn on the front door, and the people and their home were cursed with trouble, sickness and death. 

Halloween is not a Christian holiday.  Some have long been confused about Halloween being a Christian Holiday.  This confusion stems back to Pope Boniface IV when he attempted to get people to abandon the occult, idolatrous practices of the Festival of Samhain by him establishing All Saints Day on November 1.  This day was to honor the Christian dead (the hallowed ones), particularly those who died as martyrs in the Roman persecutions.

Unfortunately this attempt did not work, and instead caused more confusion because All Saints Day became know as All Halloweds, and since the Festival of Samhain always occurred the night before, that became known as All Halloweds Evening, finally evolving into Halloween.  The relationship in names and dates has caused the confusion that has long blurred the lines of Christianity for many Christians even still today.

As Christians, we can clearly see from where the practice of Halloween originated.  We can also see that the practices of Halloween are in contrast to the Word of God, and are in contrast to our beliefs.  We should not take part in practices that honor other gods because we are called to praise and worship the only True and Living God, Jesus!!!

In closing, you might think that Halloween is just innocent, harmless, commercialized fun for children.  But, I would give a word of caution that although children may feel it is fun; the origins and hidden meanings are certainly not.  As Christians, we must learn to take a stand and not compromise with something that is so directly in contrast with Christ.  If we don’t, then there will be no confusion about how the lines became so blurred, instead we will be the direct cause.  

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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28. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

It’s Friday and I just want to wish everyone a wonderful weekend.    I hope you are enjoying my new format where I am just sharing with you from my heart and the things that I think on daily concerning our God. 

For the past couple of days, I have been having this overwhelming passion for souls again.    I’m talking about the lost; people who have never accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

I remember the joy that filled my soul when I first got saved and how I returned to all my friends and family and told them about the new love I found.  Some followed in my footsteps and I stayed excited because I was overwhelmed by seeing people find Jesus. 

Sometimes we can be saved so long that we forget about the mission of the church which is to win the loss.

I believe that a lot of our depression and frustration will be alleviated when we begin sharing our testimony again and watching others surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ.  I’m excited.  Going for his glory.  Have a great weekend and take the time to go out of your way and find someone whose needs Christ. 

The problem with our world is sin and we have the answer which is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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27. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our text for today is as follows: 

Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

Another common language from the New Age camp is terminology such as “Listen to the stillness in your heart” or “what is the stillness in your life saying to you”?    Many of them will reference this particular psalm.   But is this psalm really about meditation. 

 The command to be still in this particular psalm comes from a Hebrew word meaning to be weak, to let go, or to release. 

The context of this text then teaches us to let go and surrender because God is in control.    It is not instructing us to meditate and then hear a command from the Lord but to live our lives knowing that God rules and has control of everything.   To let go and surrender seems to suggest that the person is resisting or fighting against.   

I was reminded by this passage today that God is the one that ultimately decides all things.   When we surrender to the fact that God is in control then we will release our fears and live in peace.  No matter what the condition of your life or this world, our God is still on the throne and everything is safe, all is well and everything is just as it should be. 

So be still and know that I am God.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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26. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone: 

Our text for today is:

Psalms 34:10 “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

I was so moved by this text today.   The Lion is considered to be a strong and powerful animal of the wild.  They usually dominate where they stay and have always been characterized by their courage and strength.    The Psalmist writes that even those powerful animals will at times lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord will not want any good thing.  

No matter how strong, or how weak we are the only criteria for having a life where we will not lack any good thing is that we are committed to seeking God.    Please let me clarify this.  This does not take away from social responsibility.  If you seek God truly then your character, attitude and actions will line up with the word of God and you will become the person that the scriptures declare we can be in God.

The question then to ask is what really “any good thing” is?

The Hebrew word for “good thing” means pleasant, prosperous, moral good, happiness, success, ethical, welfare, etc.  It speaks to the total welfare of an individual.   Seeking God provides you the life that will be moral, ethical, and prosperous and will provide you with an overall sense of well being, peace and fulfillment.   You will not lack ANY GOOD THING.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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25. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ:

Hello Everyone: 

Today I was reading an old journal of mine from 1996.  I use to journal a lot but have gotten away from it over the years.  I ran across these comments that I made on this passage of scripture and I would like to share it with you today. 

Luke 5:23 “therefore if thou bring they gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;  leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way:  first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift. 

Isn’t it amazing that before God accepts the things we do for him, he requires us to be reconciled to our brother even if we weren’t the ones that did the offending?  If we know there is tension whether we caused it or not, we’re instructed to be the bearer of reconciliation.     God has always been concerned about us being in right standing with our brothers and sisters.  We cannot focus on our relationship with God and be in terrible relationships with people.   A reflection of loving God is loving people.  The scriptures teach us that how can we really love God whom we have not seen and hate our brother whom we see daily.  Work on relationships today.  It really does hinder the type of relationship we can have with God.  We will not fully embrace the fullness of fellowship we can have with God if we do not begin to heal the relationships that are around us.  

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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24. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Welcome back from the weekend.   Today begins a new format for me in my daily devotional.   I will be focusing on scriptures from my own daily time with the Lord and will be sharing more with you from my own personal journey. 

Our text for today is as follows: 

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat , or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on . Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap , nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin :

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is , and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought , saying , What shall we eat ? or, What shall we drink ? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed ? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

The text that we are reading today is used a lot in the new age camp.  I’m sure you’ve heard of the language “in the now” or “being present.”  The concept behind those thoughts are you miss what life is trying to teach you or you don’t get the fullness out of your life if you don’t just totally be engrossed in your “right now moment.”   They talk of how distractions and worries and other things can cause you to not live life to the fullest because you’re always thinking ahead of now and miss out on the moment.  Many of the new agers will even give credit to Jesus for this concept and will quote the above passage.  

What our Lord teaches us in this passage is that worrying will not bring about change, or will not cause any situation to get better.  As a matter of fact, worrying causes things to get worse and can develop into physical and emotional problems.   While this text does not negate planning for tomorrow, it does forbid worrying about tomorrow. 

Jesus teaches us that if we focus on “kingdom business.”  Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness then all these things will be added to us.  The things that Jesus was talking about that would be added to us are our daily provisions.    The reason that a lot of Christians don’t see this fulfilled in their lives is because the cares of the world have caused them not to focus on their spiritual lives and because they have created a life for themselves that is far above what they can physically sustain.   God promised to meet our daily necessities which include food, clothing and provisions.   Many of us have created a lifestyle out of lust and greed, and coveting of what someone else had and have created un-necessary struggles.    We pray to God to give us the money to handle a lifestyle that we cannot afford and has become a spiritual downfall.    We often say that God told us to do it but if we would be honest we know that the word teaches that the blessings of the Lord maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it.   

The text also teaches us that it is the Gentiles who constantly go after these worldly things.  That is their focus.  They seek after them but our focus should be on seeking after God.  Jesus goes on to teach that the Father knows that we have need of what the Gentiles seek after but our focus should be on HIM and HE will provide.   This does not mean that God wants us to live a poor or middle class life especially if you have a desire for wealth.  God knows we need money for kingdom business.  Wealth doesn’t come from just asking God alone.  It comes from a business plan, hard work, sacrifices, risks, etc.  

About five years  ago, my husband and I started on a journey to simplify our lives by getting rid of all of our debt, changing our mortgage from a 30 year to a 15 year to get it paid off early and we  have met our goals.  We officially only have a mortgage payment left from getting rid of over 100,000 dollars worth of credit card debt along with another 60,000 in car notes.   We hope to soon get the mortgage paid off.  Living debt free is so rewarding and liberating and allows us to do so much more for the kingdom.   It was very challenging though and it required a major adjustment in our lifestyle along with numerous sacrifices.  We sat down together and put a plan in place and we stuck to it.  God blessed our efforts and even opened up more doors for us to make money which helped us get rid of the debt earlier than we had planned.     I truly give God all the glory.  

I must admit as I am writing this, I still need to focus more on “seeking God.”    I have asked God to take the task of this world out of my mouth and to help me fall more in-love with HIM and the work of winning souls to the kingdom.     I can do better.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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20. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our memory verse for the week  continues to be Philippians 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.   (KJV)

Our text for today is:

1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!  2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

In our text today, Paul encourages two women in the church to settle a dispute among each other and encourages the others to help these women along with other fellow workers in their efforts of kingdom work.   This text closes with Paul instructing us on what we should think on.   Wow… this is an area that I honestly need help on.   Changing the way I think “at all times.”  While of course I have made major progress in my spiritual journey I must admit that I do not always think on things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.    This should be our state of mind.  Paul teaches them that whatever they have learned from him thus far to put it into practice.

While all of us are on different spiritual levels in life, we all have some degree of knowledge.   Can we honestly say that we are living that degree of knowledge that we have acquired and are we striving to learn more so that we can grow more?  Things that make you go Ummmmhhh…  Self reflection..

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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19. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our memory verse for the week is Philippians 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.   (KJV)

Our text for today is:

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

We left off by talking about how Paul considered all his worldly accomplishments as dung or loss compared to knowing Christ.  He went on to say that he wanted to know God in both the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering.

Today, our text expresses Paul’s sentiments about how he has not achieved the level of knowing Christ that he would like but he is pressing towards it.  Paul gives us his method of pressing towards.  First, he must forget.  He must forget those things that are behind him.   To move on to the higher things in God, you must let the past stay in the past.   Paul had to let it stay in the past that he had killed thousands of Christ and was a major persecutor of the church.  He couldn’t let the guilt of those actions hinder him from going forward and knowing Christ. 

Paul teaches us that those who are mature show take this view of life.  We should be chasing after God and if we think differently from this, then God will make it clear to us but in the mean time we should live up to the measure of knowledge of God that we have obtained.  

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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13. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our memory verse for the week continues to be Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate on it day and night, and thou shall observe to do all that is written within, and then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and thou shalt have good success.” (KJV).  Our text for today is:

Philippians 3:8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

On yesterday, we talked about how Paul gave us a run-down of his worldly accomplishments and how he consider them as loss compared to knowing Christ.   In our text today, he continues to talk about how he literally has given up everything for the sake of knowing Christ.   I love these passages.  It reminds me of what truly is important in life.  I’m Chasing after HIM.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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12. October 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ: 

Hello Everyone: 

I was traveling on yesterday and did not take my laptop with me and was not able to post.

Our memory verse for the week continues to be Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate on it day and night, and thou shall observe to do all that is written within, and then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and thou shalt have good success.” (KJV).  

Our text for today is as follows:

Phillipians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.   4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law , blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  

In our text today, Paul encourages the Philippian church to have no confidence in their worldly achievements.   Many were beginning to brag/boast about their accomplishments in life and Paul instructs them that if anyone has a right to boast he should yet he does not rest in his achievements.  He considers them as loss in comparison to getting to know Christ.  He gives us a list of his accomplishments.   Let’s go over them. 

Circumcision-  Paul was stating that he was circumcised in exact compliance with the law which represented him being in covenant with God.  Paul was clear that he did it on the 8^th day according to the law and all the advantages which could be derived from such compliance belonged to him. And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” (Genesis 17:9-14). 

Of the stock of Israel - Descended from the patriarch Israel, or Jacob; and, therefore, able to trace his genealogy back as far as any Jew could. He was not a proselyte himself from among the pagan, nor was any of his ancestors proselytes. When the Jews were scattered during exile, Paul’s family did not intermarry with the pagans so he could claim distinction from all the other Jews whose ancestors had once been pagans.  He was of a pure breed and that was a major heritage to boast from. 

Of the tribe of Benjamin - part of the tribe that gave the first king to Israel for King Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was part of the tribe that demonstrates the love of Jacob to Rachel for she died having Benjamin and he was a love child of Jacob’s because of his love for Rachel. He was part of the tribe that came back with Judah and rebuilt the temple.  Benjamin was one of the two tribes which remained when the ten tribes revolted under Jeroboam, and, with the tribe of Judah, it ever afterward maintained its allegiance to God. The idea of Paul is, that he was not one of the revolted tribes, but that he had as high a claim to the honor of being a Jew as anyone could boast.  

An Hebrew of the Hebrews - This is the Hebrew term for expressing a degree of excellence and the idea is, that Paul enjoyed every advantage which could possibly be derived from the fact of being a Hebrew. He had a lineal descent from the very ancestor of the nation; he belonged to a tribe that was as honorable as any other, and that had its location near the very center of religious influence; and he was an Hebrew by both his parents, with no admixture of Gentile blood. On this fact - that no one of his ancestors had been a proselyte, or of Gentile extraction - a Jew would pride himself much; and Paul says that he was entitled to all the advantage which could be derived from it. 

As touching the law, a Pharisee - The Pharisees were distinguished among the Jewish sects for their rigid adherence to the letter of the law and were considered the more conservative sect.  Paul is claiming here that whatever benefits could be derived from strictly observing the letter of the law could be afforded to him.  

 Concerning Zeal – Paul states that he was passionate for the things of God even to the point where he persecuted the church because he once believed that Christianity was a threat to his Jewish faith.  Though his zeal was misdirected and caused him to become one of the great enemies of the Christian faith, his heart and motive was simply to be a defender of the FAITH. So Paul is claiming that any advantages that could be derived for his passion for the faith could be afforded to him.    These are Paul’s worldly accomplishments/ accolades/ honors…

We’ll continue our journey on tomorrow. Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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