The week went by pretty fast. Grateful for God's grace!
As we watch the news there are so many things going on locally and around the world this week notably the unrest in Egypt and Mubarak it's president of 18 years finally leaving the country. For many it seems to be a long awaited victory. It makes me think of the things in our lives that we seem to battle and wonder if, when, how, God will deliver us?! Psalm 24 ask " who is the King of Glory "?! Psalm 24 answers it's own question...
I just wanted to remind you of three things
1) count your blessings as you end this week
2) turn to HIM and put your hope in HIM if you are facing something. Use this week-end to cry out to HIM and find rest in HIM
3) remember that the King of Glory is " The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord Invincible in battle" " the Lord of Heaven's Armies he is the King of Glory" Psalm 24: 7-10.
The year has just started, not even 4 weeks into it that some of us are faced with some challenges already.
It's so easy to think that like the children of Israel facing their Red Sea, that God has caused us to leave Egypt ( the past here) just to get chased furiously up to this point.
Are we going to murmur and act like them when they complained to Moses that he got them out of their comfort zone just to perish on the sea shore?! Are we going to curse the ones who have led us to believe that leaving our dead weights of 2010 and changing our mediocre thinking would truly make our lives better?!
Are we going to fool ourselves into believing that we would have perished in our messy situations of 2010 rather than attempting to cross and enter with excitement into our new/real destiny?!
In this song above, this woman worships God and ask Him to make sure, help her, strengthen her to make it to HIS side, make it to Heaven. She cries out to God as she realizes that the car she has, the friends she has, the things she has, are meaningless if she doesn't make it to His Side.
If you are not yet facing some challenges and that every thing is going " so far so good" for you, brace yourself because the challenges will inevitably come. Like I mentioned earlier some of us are already facing some challenges, aware that though they came 'early' some will still appear along the way.
But I wanted to say, I am yearning to say, its not either or not we already have or will have challenges this
2011, I think we have lived long enough to know that much: " every year, every month, every week" no matter what is going good, great, or better, something is not. Or no matter what is going bad or worst, something is Not.
This is life, as much as we can all find something to complain about there is yet something to be grateful about, and vice versa. I suggest you keep in mind. Let's stick to gratitude rather than complaining, we actually get more accomplished when we do. Let's keep in mind a few things.
Though trouble endures for a night joy will come in the morning
That God will make a way when there seems to be no way
That good things come to those who wait (on the Lord)
That those who put their trust in God will never be put to shame. That we could lose the world but we better never lose the Word.
That He did not bring us this far to leave us.
Let's step there in our Red Sea and move forward because the sea will only split open as we step in not beforehand. The walk of faith just doesn't walk like that.
So let's step and move forward, one step at a time and instead of focusing on the enemies, situations behind us let's get our tambourines, let's raise our voice to Him who promised to give us a new song.
Let's remember that no matter how intimidating the situations look, our GOD has gotten us out of many messes over and over again and NOTHING is too hard for HIM so if things might look worst than before to us, to HIM that's still an easy fix. From HIS position whatever we are facing is so tiny, so remember that HIS WAYS ARE ABOVE OUR WAYS, HIS THOUGHT ABOVE OURS, and let's change our perspective like this worshipper in the video and focus on making it to HIS side because He hides HIS worshippers in the shadows of HIS wings and HE is a fortress to those righteous who run to HIM and no matter how deep some might be in their messes HIS hand is not too short to deliver.
I hope those words will bless you ( and me ) over and over again. I look forward to hearing your testimonies and worshipping HIM with you and for you.
With Love.
N'nako Bacon
Today , Sunday January 2nd, 2011 was the first Sunday service of 2011.
It's such a privilege to live through another year and have a relationship with God that keeps on getting better and better. Its great to offer to God the beginning of this year and to start it off by celebrating Him, His goodness and His power. Today we thanked God for the things He has done for us in 2010 and for the things that we know with great confidence that He will do this year.
We started service this morning by giving every church attendee from the children to the adults, an opportunity to testify of one thing that God has done for them in 2010.
One young lady, Jara, thanked God that her grandmother got saved and stopped smoking.
A woman, Kim, thanked God for being alive. In the month of December 2010 she has been involved in two car wrecks and should not have walked away from them. She will have the opportunity to share this testimony one day.
Miss Sandra, one of our 'mother's in the church' testified of God's goodness and how she has been on a journey in 2010 in search of truth and how God has released her heart from bitterness and unforgiveness that were still lingering in her live. She mentionned that sometimes we are not even aware that we have such issues still lingering in our lives. She went on sharing some fantastic words of encouragements and wisdom for the ministry and for our walk with God. Below is a portion of her powerful words.
Pastor Bacon talked about our attitude, the importance of putting murmuring and complaining aside and using thanksgiving as our weapon in the midst of our afflictions and praising God for the victory ahead even when it seems impossible because Christ will always be undefeated and we should be confident that we are winner because God wants our best.
Pastor Brandon also referred to the movie Secretariat and talked about how the horse Secretariat was known for being behind at the start of most races and then moving to the front and winning the race. However, at the most challenging race Secretariat did the unexpected by leading the pack and winning the race and doing what had never been done before.
This to tell us that this year 2011 we can do the unexpected, lead the pack, and set a record.
We closed the service by praying for the children in attendance today. That God protects them and bless them.
I welcome 2011 with great excitement. Today's service was so fabulous that I feel like God has given us a direct promise that 2011 is the best year of our lives so far. I trust HIM to do great things and we position ourselves to do greater works.
