If it had not been for the Lord who was on our side, where would we be?  In all things give thanks and praise unto God. 

I pray that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. Although everyday is a day to give thanks, I am grateful that we can set aside a day of thanks where we can show our appreciated and gratitude to God and to our family. Truly he is awesome in all that he does. If you were unable to attend Sunday’s Service, we have highlights for you. As we continue in our ministers training, we are prayerful and excited about the word and the courage our new ministers are displaying by moving forward in their calling.  Min. Cristel Kearney brought forth the word “Stripped But Not Cursed” The subject it’s self is a powerful message. She began to expound on the life of Job.(Job 1:1-12 & Job 2: 1) Reminding us that Job was a great man of integrity, a man who was found righteous in the sight of God. When we are found righteous there are times when we may be tested. We may think that we go through things because we have done something wrong, or because life is not fair, but in reality, there are times when we go through, because God has allowed us to go through. There may come a time in your life when you are doing everything well, all is going good. You have everything you need. You are living up right and praying over your children. You are reading everyday, and trusting God. Then all of a sudden everything may be gone. Will you still praise him? Will you still trust God when everything you have is gone?  We must remember that God will not put more on you than you can bare. The devil had to get permission to touch Job’s stuff. The devil has to get permission from God to touch your stuff. So, if it’s happening, it means that it is a test. God asked the enemy “have you considered my servant Job?” God knew that Job would not curse him and die.  Where do you stand with God? Can he trust you with the good, the bad, and the ugly? Can he trust you when everything else is going wrong?  There comes in a time in our lives when we must make a choice, who we are going to serve. Are you going to serve God or man? Are you going to allow yourself to be distracted by the problems in your life? Job’s friends came just to distract him, to pull him from trusting God.  Listen, there are times when God will have to strip search us, or purge us. But it’s up to us to allow him to do it.  When we come into the house of the Lord, we should not need to be pumped up. We should have praise already on the inside, ready, willing and able to praise Him.  We cannot allow ourselves to lose focus on our purpose. We can’t allow ourselves to cry over something that God can restore in our lives. ‘This too will pass” Know that God is sitting right there watching and protecting you, he will only let the devil go but so far.  Job was in the land of Uz a land of “know where”, there are times when we feel like we are in a land in the middle of know where, all alone, but you are not alone. God is with you.  It’s time to put the devil under your feet and believe with all your heart that you are stripped but not cursed! The enemy wants to make you feel cursed. Why me? But God has blessed you not cursed you. So when you are feeling like you have lost everything and you have been stripped of everything, it’s alight, this too will pass… it’s not the end. You may have lost this, and you may have lost that, but God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above what you could ask or think according to the power that works in us. Sure, you may be stripped at this moment, but you are definitely not cursed for life!   God bless you.

© 2009, Elder Alvia Cabbler. All rights reserved. A part of Shekinah Glory Outreach Ministries International

Written by: Minister Linnette Barron 

It’s that time of year again!  The streets are crowded and road rage is on the incline as people rush and hurry to get that last minute special gift.  The stores are all filled with beautiful decorations and the sound of Christmas tunes can be heard through out each aisle.  Houses are filled with Christmas trees decorated so beautifully with ornaments and lights.  Lawns are covered with inflammable figurines and illuminated nativity scenes.  Young children are excited by thoughts of surprise just imagining what Santa and his reindeer will be bringing to town.  Ho Ho Ho’s are on every corner as shouts of Santa’s arrival cultivate the air.  Salvation Army volunteers can be seen through out every local store, ringing bells and soliciting help to make someone else’s Christmas bright.  Holiday parties and festive gatherings are all on the way and Christmas cheer can be heard from miles away.  Yet, under the hustle and bustle, the lights and the cheers sits that lonely soul that wishes that they could just disappear.  They’re questioning in their mind “why so much cheer and really what’s the big deal”.  Depression is on the rise and suicidal thoughts fulmincate the atmosphere.  Thoughts of love ones who’ve come and gone there’s just no reason it seems to be of good cheer.  In most cases the bad economy is evidence that the Grinch has stolen Christmas so what’s the whole point anyway.  No job, no money to buy a simple dollar tree gift so really tell me please what’s the real reason for this.  What’s the need in decorating and singing those stupid Christmas songs when all I want for Christmas is so much more than my two front teeth?  Truth is I need some money to keep the rent paid and the heat on all winter through.  So please tell me, what’s Christmas really going to do for me.  Can someone please tell me what’s the purpose of even celebrating Christmas and dancing around a stupid Christmas tree?  What’s the reason for the jingle bells, when all I have are countless silent nights?  I’m not decking no halls because I’m too busy ducking bill collectors.  I’m actually sitting here dreaming of a green Christmas with hopes that Dear Old St. Nick will give me money instead of love on Christmas Day.  Perhaps then I’ll have something to celebrate. 

We’ll just in case the above description explains your point of view.  Can I help you out by telling you, that none of this really matters, it’s simply about God’s love for you.  Yes, He loved you so much that He gave his only begotten Son to save you from your sins and cleanse you from within.  Jesus is the real reason for the season, so let His presence kiss you underneath the mistletoe.  Forget about presents you can’t afford, running up credit cards you can’t repay, and focus on the real reason for season.  Remember the gift from God you have with the mere presence of another day.  Reflect on the gift of Salvation that came to us as our Savior died on Calvary.  Bless God that He didn’t just die but rose from the dead and ascended on high.  Stop focusing on things that really have no value, ultimately creating unnecessary stress and a hostile environment.  The truth is we’ve polluted the true meaning of Christmas with our materialist ways.  We’ve made Sam’s Wal-Mart rich as we sit in bondage underneath thousands of dollars of debt.  Brothers and sisters our God never intended it to be this way.  The real reason for season will never be found under a Christmas tree, because it’s about the Glorious Gift from God that came in the form of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  So remember, no matter what you may be going through or how you feel about the Christmas Holiday.  You can find peace and rest in knowing, Jesus is the reason for the season.  It’s because of Jesus you can go through this current season of your life.  The encouraging point I want you to remember is that seasons do change.  Therefore, be not weary in well doing for in due season you shall reap if you faint not.  In times like these you must remind yourself that God is with you, after all His name is Emmanuel.  Will you call on Him today?  Will you let Him into this season of your life?  If you do I can assure you that He will take care of you.  For the bible declares that our God shall supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory but He didn’t stop there He promised that if you delight yourself in Him that He would give you the desires of your heart.  So in other words not only will He give you want you need He promised to give you what you want.  Allow Him into “your life, your space, your issues, your mess”, you can rest in the promise that He gave in His word, that all things work together for your good because you love God and are called according to His purpose.  He promised you would be like a tree that’s planted by the rivers of water that shall produce its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever you do shall prosper.  Our God is not slack in His promises and His words will not return to Him void.  Thank God for the real reason for the season and magnify Him for the best gift ever, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Finally, I challenge you this holiday season to really seek after the real reason for the season and begin to share the gift of Jesus with someone who may not know Him in the pardon of their sins.  It won’t cost you nothing but it will give them life and life more abundantly.

Merry Christmas and remember

“Jesus is the Reason for the Season!”

 Written by: Minister Linnette Barron

© 2009 – 2010, Guest Writer. All rights reserved. A part of Shekinah Glory Outreach Ministries International