God Made You to Have Access

In the beginning "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Gen. 1:27).

God’s plan for all mankind is to have a relationship with Him. With the fall of man, when Adam and Eve ate the fruit, there was a divide, a chasm if you may, created between man and God because of sin.

This gap had to be bridged by someone, and it could only be bridged by a person who would pay the price for our sin, or the penalty for humanity, someone who was fully man and yet fully God (as God in the flesh, Jesus Christ).

The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and impregnated her with God’s perfect, divine seed. Thus, the infinite God became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14).

So, did you know that Jesus secured our salvation when He offered Himself as a sacrifice for us on the cross at Calvary? The word of God tells us that In fact, "the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrew 9:22).

The blood of Jesus was shed for us as a sacrifice for our sins; this is what gives us access to God. Without Jesus' sacrifice, we would be unable to have a relationship with Him.

Though Romans 6:23 tell us that the wages of sin is death, it also assures us that the gift of God is eternal life. This gift is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ purchased it, prepared it, prepares us for it, preserves us to it; he is the All in all in our salvation.

Although believers by nature, are far from God, and children of wrath, even as others, yet it is amazing to think how nigh we are brought to Him again by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, when Jesus prayed for His disciples He looked up to heaven and said, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one; as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

So you see Jesus wants us to have peace and experience unity of purpose to lead the world to Him. He wants us to be Holy as He is Holy. He gave himself as a holy sacrifice for us so that we can be made holy by God's truth.

What more could we ask for? He gave His life for us. What will we sacrifice for Him? Jesus said "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Lk. 9:23).

Therefore, if you're going through some difficulty in life, remember that God has you covered; Jesus prayed for you, you will not fail, you will overcome. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?

Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Yet, I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow, not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 4:7-12 admonishes us, "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us."

A Call to Repentance

"Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." (Joel 2:12)

As our nation faces great distress, challenges and uncertainty, let us blow the Trumpet in America, as Joel did in Israel several years ago; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; and gather the people. Let us consecrate the congregation; assemble the leaders; gather the families, even young children.

Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, "Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, and a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"

We need to pray in faith believing that God will hear us. Faith-filled words are the only words that will get God’s attention and bring about change.  

• They’ll move mountains out of our way.
• They’ll turn sickness into health.
• They’ll turn a sinner into a saint.
• They’ll turn financial crisis into prosperity.
• They’ll cause a barren land to bloom again.
• They’ll also take a sin-ridden nation and turn it into God’s own country.

That’s right, if we believers would back up the prayers we’ve been praying for this nation with words of faith instead of doubt and discouragement, we would soon begin to see spiritual resurrection and revival in the United States.

God promised us that if we, His people, would humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, He would hear us and heal our land.

However, we don’t hear many people saying that God is healing our land; instead we hear voices of fear gripping the hearts of people everywhere. We hear them talk about what the news network say that the terrorist is doing.

We need to stop repeating what the terrorists are doing and start telling each other what God is doing. Let us start prophesying God’s word over our nation and to each other; words of faith from God’s word, instead of promoting doubt and fear. The Bible says that fear has torment, but the perfect love that comes from God drives out fear. Do you have God’s love?

So whose report should we believe? There should be a resounding response that we will believe the report of the Lord. His report says that we’re healed, His report says we’re free, His report says we have the victory.

When we trust God’s word and speak them in faith over our situation the Good News refreshes our souls and gives more power than all that the enemy can muster. The Bible tells us that one will chase a thousand but two will put ten thousand enemies to flight.

It’s time for us as a nation to take a stand to bring about change in this country. Let us do this as we pray together, as one voice, that God will hear and heal our land.

Lord, we approach you throne with contrite hearts; hear our prayer as we call unto you today. Convict and forgive us of sin; inflame within us a passion to always pray for our land and its people.

Grant our leaders an awareness of their desperate need of salvation and your wisdom to guide their decisions. Help us to love each other, to repent and to see sin as exceeding sinful, until sin becomes a reproach to all and righteousness exalts this nation.

Protect and defend us against our enemies; and may the cause of Christ always prevail in our land, schools, courts, homes, and churches.

Lord God, thank you for hearing us; send a spirit of revival and may it begin in our own hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster” (Joel 2:13). God bless you.



A Prayer for Help

A Psalm of David

Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; my eyes fail while I wait for my God. Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies; what I did not steal, I then have to restore. 

O God, it is You who knows my folly, and my wrongs are not hidden from You. May those who wait for You not be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; may those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel, because for Your sake I have borne reproach; dishonor has covered my face. I have become estranged from my brothers and an alien to my mother's sons. 

The zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. When I wept in my soul with fasting, It became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. Those who sit in the gate talk about me, and I am the song of the drunkards. 

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, answer me with Your saving truth. Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters. May the flood of water not overflow me nor the deep swallow me up, nor the pit shut its mouth on me. 

Answer me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good; according to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me, and do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress; answer me quickly. Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies! 

Scripture Passage: Psalm 69:1-18

Song: "The Prayer" by Andrea Bocelli & Heather Headly

God's Masterpiece

“We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (Eph. 2:10 NLT)

THEY MADE IT!

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter and gasp--

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

Who never said anything nice.

Bob, who I always thought

Was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

Looking incredibly well.

I asked Jesus, 'What's the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.

How'd all these sinners get up here?

God must have made a mistake.'

'And why is everyone so quiet,

So somber - give me a clue.'

'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.

No one thought they'd be seeing you.' 
Contributed: Author unknown

JUDGE NOT!! If you pass your days mumbling, “I’ll never make a difference; I’m not worth anything,’ guess what? You will be sentencing yourself to a life of gloom without parole. Even more, you are disagreeing with God. Questioning His judgment and second-guessing His purpose for your life.

Remember what the Apostle John recorded? He said, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9). Yes, that’s true, Jesus forgive sins! So, just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

• Every saint has a PAST... - God will forgive our sins and wipe our record clean. (Jer. 31:34)
• Every sinner has a FUTURE! - A future is promised to them that overcome. (Rev. 2:7)

Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil... It has no point! Now it's Time to Believe God's promise and establish a personal relationship with Christ.

Father, I ask You to bless those who are reading this article right now, my friends, relatives, and those for whom I care deeply. 

Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Lord, I ask You to let Your Holy Spirit minister to their spirit at this moment; where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Where there is lack, I ask You to supply their need. 

Bless their homes, families, finances, their going out and their coming in from this time forth and forever; in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Streams of Water

My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!

So, as the deer longs for Streams of Water, so I long for You, O God. I thirst for You my God, the living God. 

When can I go and stand before You? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”

• Why am I discouraged? 
• Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God! I will praise You again my Savior and my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember You even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.

I hear the tumult of the raging seas as Your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day my Lord You pour out Your unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing Your songs, praying to God who gives me life.

“O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

• Why am I discouraged? 
• Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God! I will praise You again my Savior and my God!

I really love the harmony of that song "As the deer Panteth;" it's a beautiful rendition, one of the sweetest I've ever heard!!!  This is really what our LORD and Savior JESUS Christ is like. He'll lift us from our burdens and fills our heart with joy and gladness!!!


It's reassuring to know that, the one who does not walk in-step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on His law day and night is blessed. 


That person is like a tree planted by Streams of Water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither and whatever they do prospers.


For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. Therefore, I trust in You my Lord and my God.


Taken from Psalm 1 & 42