Victory Temple Chantilly's Podcast

Are YOU feeling unqualified?."I replied, 'The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall.'" Ne 2:20 NLTWith its walls torn down, Jerusalem was defenseless against her enemies. So, Nehemiah assembled a team to rebuild the walls. He had no training for this job. He wasn't an architect or a builder. Jerusalem was far away, and he had never been there. Any way you look at it, he was unqualified for the job. That's a common denominator with many of the people God has used in a remarkable way. Noah was a farmer, called to build a boat in the desert. David was a shepherd, called to topple a Philistine champion. Nehemiah was a cupbearer, called to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. When it comes to doing God's will, God-ordained passions are considerably more important than any human ability we can contribute. In fact, God often uses us at our point of greatest inability. That way He receives all the credit. But understand this: When God gives you a "burden," or a "passion," or a "vision," you have a choice to make. Nehemiah already had a good job. Being the king's cupbearer was like being his right-hand man. He didn't simply enjoy job security, he enjoyed the perks and privileges of his position. He would have been comfortable staying right where he was. But if he had chosen to do that, he would have missed God's will, missed having a book named after him in the Bible, and you wouldn't be reading about him right now.  Are you feeling unqualified? When God calls you, He equips you, resources you, guides you, and guarantees your success.Are YOU feeling unqualified? When God calls you, He equips you.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

12/10/24 • 52:06

"Lord, teach us to pray." Lk 11:1 NKJDemonstrating an uncommon level of honesty, a well-known pastor says: "Prayer is the biggest struggle I have... It's difficult to maintain a consistent prayer life, and especially difficult to sustain the conviction that it does any good at times." Prayer doesn't come naturally for the majority of us.We know it's supposed to be a dialogue, but often it feels like a monologue. There is nothing worse than trying to talk with someone who won't talk back. We don't like to admit it, but often what we are really wondering about prayer is, "How can I pray so that God will give me what I want?" One little boy was asked if he said his prayers every night. He replied, "No, some nights I don't need anything." Prayer is not about the particular words you use or the length of time you spend praying. It's about getting acquainted. It's about building a relationship.If you have something to talk to someone about, you may say, "We need to find somewhere we can talk." You want to make sure you're heard, and that you hear what the other person has to say. When you eliminate the noise of this world, you maximize your ability to hear God. It shows God you're taking your relationship with Him seriously. The psalmist said, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Ps 91:1 NKJV). Do you have a "secret place" where you can be alone with God? It can be anywhere. But you need a place where you can go and show you mean business with God.Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

12/6/24 • 55:20

DEC. 3, 2024Faithfulness."Well done, good and faithful servant." Mt 25:23 NKJVJesus begins the parable of the talents with these words: "For the kingdom of heaven is like" (v. 14 NKJV). And one of the strongest points He makes is the importance of being faithful. Whether God gives you five talents, two talents, or one talent, the thing that matters to Him is your faithfulness. "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord'" (v. 21 NKJV). You will notice that He did not say, "Well done, popular servant," or "brilliant servant," but"faithful servant." Christ is talking about those who are often unnoticed but indispensable to His purposes. He is talking about those who blow no trumpets, wave no banners, and demand no applause. He is talking about those who show up day after day and use the talents God gives them, to do the job He has assigned to them. Unnoticed by men, but noticed and rewarded by God! "For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Heb 6:10 NKJV).These words describe those who shun the limelight and are happy to serve in the shadows. They describe those who not only start the race but run the race day after day, who don't stop until they reach the finish line. Others may not think that you make much of a difference, but God does. While others make much out of skill levels and success levels, God measures you by your faithfulness.Faithfulness Unnoticed by men, but noticed by GodShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

12/4/24 • 50:29

You choose: your calling or your comfort."When they came to Harran, they settled there." Ge 11:31 NIVThe Bible says, "Terah took his son Abram... and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there" (v. 31 NIV). A Christian author writes: "Terah accompanied Abram for part of the journey to Canaan, but then he stopped...Terah and his family begin their story in Ur, the great center of wealth and education and the land of idols.Then they continue on this road, which passes through the city of Harran and then down into Canaan…For Terah, the father of Abram, the road ends in Harran. Now we know from other passages in the Bible that Harran was a city a lot like Ur. There was a lot of wealth there. There were idols there.What's going on? It may well be that... Terah thinks to himself, 'If I were to go any farther than this, I could lose everything I have. For sure, I would have to give up my idols. So he chooses comfort. But Abram chooses to say yes to his calling." That's a choice you will have to make too. And you will have to make it more than once. As your circumstances change, and the seasons of your life progress, you will have to decide whether to walk with God into the unknown or settle for the security of what you know. Terah settled; Abram moved on. What are you going to do? You don't have to do anything to be worthy of God's love and grace; those are gifts. But to walk in God's blessing, you have to choose your calling over your comfort.You choose: your calling or your comfort Walk with God—or settle.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

12/4/24 • 53:04

Understanding righteousness."But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed." Ro 3:21 NKJVYou will go to heaven because you trusted in Christ's righteousness, not your own. You say,"But isn't doing the right things important?" Absolutely. Your reward in heaven will be predicated upon what you do for God here on earth. But your salvation depends on trusting in Christ's performance, not your own. Satan knows this, and he will try to drive you back to performance-based Christian living. And when you fail, as you assuredly will, he will condemn you and tell you that you don't measure up and, therefore, you are unworthy of God's love and acceptance.  Notice what condemnation does: (1) It robs you of confidence before God. You are unable to claim His promises because you feel unworthy. Thirty-one times in Scripture, it says that we are "in Christ." That's one for every day of the month. So, each day, remind yourself that you are "in Christ," and because He is worthy, you are accepted. (2) It makes you irritable and unpleasant to be around. Addiction counselors describe this as being "squirrelly" or uneasy in your own skin. As a result, you begin to put out what you feel on the inside. What's the answer? Paul gives it to us: "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight...But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed...even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe" (vv. 20-22 NKJV). Bottom line:Righteousness is credited to your account through faith, not works. Today you are loved and accepted "in Christ."Understanding righteousness Confidence before GodShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

11/27/24 • 54:59

NOV. 26, 2024When God shows up."Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... But if not..." Da 3:17-18 NKJVWhen Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to bow before Nebuchadnezzar's ninety-foot golden god, he threatened them with a fiery furnace. Here is what they told him: "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, 0 king. But if not...we do not serve your gods" (vv. 17-18 NKJV). When does God show up? When you say, "God is able to deliver me, but if not, I'm going to serve Him anyway." It's wonderful when God provides what we need. Yet, the faith that truly pleases God says, "But if not, I'm going to trust God anyway." Peter writes: "There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on  the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world" (1Pe 1:6-7 NLT). And one more thought: The Bible does not say that the three Hebrew children saw the fourth man who was with them in the fire; it says that Nebuchadnezzar did, and he described Him as "the Son of God" (Da 3:25 NKJV). So even when you don't know it, your faith, your life, and testimony are impacting those around you and bringing glory to God.When God shows up "There is wonderful joy ahead."Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

11/27/24 • 50:20

"Our sufficiency is from God." 2Co 3:5 NKJVGideon's army of thirty-two thousand men is enormously outnumbered by the Midianites when God tells him, "You have too many men." He instructs Gideon to release anyone who is afraid, and Gideon loses two-thirds of his army. Now he has only ten thousand men.Again the Lord says, "There are still too many men," and reduces Gideon's army to three hundred men. At that moment, the odds had to be a million to one. And it even gets better!God directs Gideon to attack the Midianites with trumpets and pitchers. Now for the real kicker: Israel wins! Why did God do it like that? Because if Gideon had attacked with thirty-two thousand men and won, the Israelites would have thought that God didn't provide much help, and God would have received limited credit. But God is worthy of more. God desires and deserves complete credit. And when three hundred men defeat a massive army with trumpets and pitchers,God receives all the glory (See Jdg 7). Why? The reason is a victory like that overcomes all odds. Too frequently, our prayers revolve around requesting God to increase our odds of winning. We would like everything in our favor. But maybe God wants the odds to oppose us so we can encounter a miracle of divine proportions. Faith is trusting God no matter how hopeless the odds are. Our impossible circumstances are chances to experience a new height of God's glory. Are you facing a situation that, humanly speaking, is beyond your ability to cope with it? Read this: "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (2Co 3:5 NKJV).Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

11/22/24 • 55:03

NOV. 20, 2024You will be rewarded for it."The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Ro 8:18 NKJVIn 1857 David Livingstone gave this speech at Cambridge University: "People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa…..Away with the word in such a view and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger now and then with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life may make us pause and cause the spirit to waver and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice." When you serve the Lord, you always get back more than you give up. And if you get back more than you give up, have you really sacrificed anything at all? "Then Peter began to say to Him, 'See, we have left all and followed You' So Jesus answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time-houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life'" (Mk 10:28-30 NKJV).The only regrets you will have at the end of your life will be that you didn't seek and serve God more and seek and serve Him sooner.You will be rewarded for it Seek and serve God more.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

11/20/24 • 57:33

"His older son...was angry." Lk 15:25, 28 NKJVThe parable of the prodigal son is about two boys and their father's love for each. The younger one dishonored his father and ended up in a pigpen. When he returned home, he had lost everything—except his father's love.So no matter who you are or what you have done-God loves you and wants you in His family. Jesus made an amazing statement: "When he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him" (v. 20 NKJV).Ancient Hebrew culture thought running was an undignified act for older men. Men wore long flowing robes, and had to pull them up around their waist to run, exposing their undergarments. But the father didn't care about what people thought; he cared about his wayward son. Unfortunately, his older brother didn't feel that way. Do you understand why a lot of younger brothers are still out in the pigpen and don't want to enter the church? Because they're afraid older brothers will hit them with the mean hand of judgment instead of touching them with the welcoming hand of love. The older brother desires punishment, but the father provides pardon. The older brother requires guilt, but the father gives grace. The older brother wants revenge, but the father wants reconciliation. Here is the good news: No matter how low you have fallen, know that as soon as you return, you will discover your heavenly Father facing you, extending open arms and a loving heart toward you.Prodigal, come home! The welcoming hand of loveShare This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

11/18/24 • 45:38

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors." 1Jn 4:18AMPOWhen you were young and said a bad word, your parents may have threatened to wash your mouth out with soap. Well, if fear is a dirty word, then faith in God's unconditional love for you is like soap! Too many put the cart before the horse. We believe that God accepts us based on the degree of our love for Him rather than on the degree of His love for us. The Bible says, "We love Him because He first loved us" (V. 19 NKJV). God's love for you is not based upon your performance but Christ's performance on your behalf. When you put your trust in Christ, God sees you "in Christ" (2Co 5:17) from that moment forward.Do you want to know how God sees you at this moment and every other moment? "As He [Jesus] is, so are we in this world" (1Jn 4:17NKJV). Does that mean you can disobey God and get away with it? Not a chance! "For whom the Lord loves He chastens... Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb 12:6, 11 NKJV). But God's correction is not rejection!It's proof of His unconditional, unlimited, unwavering, undeserved, and unearned love for you. God doesn't love you more on those days when you're victorious and less on those days when you're defeated. His love for you doesn't vary or vacillate. Knowing that truth will boost your faith and take your fear down a notch!Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

11/15/24 • 54:39

"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need." 2Pe 1:3 NLTFollowing God means finishing what He has called you to do. Not everyone who starts out well finishes well. Occasionally we're shocked and saddened to learn that a leader has been brought down by a moral or a financial problem. Paul writes, "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you" (Col 4:14).Later, he writes, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2Ti 4:10).There are three forces arrayed against you, and they never let up: the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world will try to pour you into its mold, your fleshly nature will try to drag you down, and the devil will use every trick in the book to defeat you. Paul was aware of these three forces when he said,"My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus" (Ac 20:24 NLT). So, make up your mind to complete the assignment God has given you and enjoy every minute of it. How can you finish strong? "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need forliving a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises" (2Pe1:3-5 NLT).Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

11/15/24 • 54:20

"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Eph6:4 NIVThe story is told of a man in a supermarket pushing a cart with a screaming baby. He kept repeating softly, "Keep calm, George.Everything's going to be okay, George." A lady watching with admiration said to the man,"You are to be commended for your patience in trying to quiet little George." The man replied, "Lady, you've got it wrong; I'm George!" If you're a parent, you can relate.Instead of saying, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children," doesn't it sometimes seem like the Scripture should read, "Children, don't annoy your fathers"? But it doesn't. That's because parents are called to be an example of God's love, and children learn best from observation. Shopping at the grocery store is an opportunity to show your children the proper way to behave. There is no greater role model for children than a parent. And there has never been a greater need for godly parents than today. Colossians 3:21 says, "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged" (NKJV). That means being a model of patience and love to your children. From potty training to education-parents are put in place by God to be a tool that transforms the teachings of the Bible into a living witness to their children. In a time when we're paying a high price for the lack of real fathers in the home, Scripture reminds us, "The father shall make known Your truth to the children" (Isa 38:19 NKJV).Father, commit yourself to following the Lord, and leaving footprints for your children to walk in.Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

11/15/24 • 57:08

"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need." 2Pe 1:3 NLTFollowing God means finishing what He has called you to do. Not everyone who starts out well finishes well. Occasionally we're shocked and saddened to learn that a leader has been brought down by a moral or a financial problem. Paul writes, "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you" (Col 4:14).Later, he writes, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2Ti 4:10).There are three forces arrayed against you, and they never let up: the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world will try to pour you into its mold, your fleshly nature will try to drag you down, and the devil will use every trick in the book to defeat you. Paul was aware of these three forces when he said,"My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus" (Ac 20:24 NLT). So, make up your mind to complete the assignment God has given you and enjoy every minute of it. How can you finish strong? "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises" (2Pe 1:3-5 NLT).Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

11/13/24 • 54:20

"Put on your new nature, created to be like God -truly righteous and holy." Eph4:24 NLTDealing with crucifixion, Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. He felt intense emotions. "Being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Lk22:44 NKJV). So strong were these emotions that He prayed for the cup of crucifixion to pass. But that night, Jesus broke the domination of emotions by obedience to the will of His Father, saying, "Not My will, but Yours, be done" (V. 42 NKJV). Not only can emotions be ruled by obedience, but they will obey faith. Emotions will do what we, in faith, order them to do. David said, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name" (Ps 103:1). David ordered his soul, the center of his emotions, to bless the Lord.He believed his soul and everything in him would do what he commanded. Feelings can be transformed from drama to blessing. Paul believed that negative emotions can be put off, and positive emotions can be put on. "Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy" (Eph 4:22-24 NLT). Again he writes, "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts" (Col 3:15 NKJV). It is clear from the Scriptures that emotions can be governed, and the will can respond to God's power and faith rather than the drama of emotions.Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

11/13/24 • 51:25

"Put me together again with your Word."Ps 119:107 MSGWhen everything in the psalmist's life began falling apart, he prayed, "Put me together again with your Word." That's what your quiet time with God does. So, why don't we have a consistent quiet time with God? Two reasons:(1) We think our quiet time must be a long time. Start small. Reserve five minutes to open your Bible and meditate on a brief portion of Scripture. Chat with God about it.Tell your needs to Him and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through the whole day. Good news! You have just experienced a quiet time!So, tomorrow, repeat it. As your spiritual appetite grows, you will find yourself putting aside more time-ten minutes, then twenty, and that time will keep on growing. (2) We think our quiet time must be free of all noise!Instead of avoiding hustle and bustle, Jesus wants to connect with you there. Begin to find creative ways to connect with the Lord all day long. Listen to worship music while you clean, and sing along. Pray in the Spirit. Learn memory verses. "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord" (Col 3:23 NKJV).Listen to the Bible while you drive-excellent apps are available. Pray while exercising-develop your faith muscle! Go for coffee with God-do your Bible study at a café. Go for a walk with Jesus-pray for others, and praise God for the outdoor beauty He created.Welcome Him into your routines, and the mundane will turn into holy moments. Give the Holy Spirit your consent to interrupt, then do what He says. To put it another way do life with Jesus.Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

10/30/24 • 52:12

"This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses." Heb 4:15 NLTOne of Satan's most successful strategies for keeping us away from our quiet time with God is reminding us of our sins and shortcomings.That's a lie; don't believe it. In the Old Testament, the High Priest went into the Holiest of Holies to atone for the sins of the people. When he came back out, the people rejoiced, knowing that they were fully accepted by God. With that in mind, read this Scripture: "[Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most" (vv. 15-16 NLT). Another strategy that Satan will use to intimidate you and keep you away from your quiet time is to remind you that the greatest saints spent hours each day praying and studying the Scriptures. That's true, and one day you may become like them. Meanwhile, what should you do? Start small but begin! Pastor Greg Laurie sees spiritual hunger as the opposite of natural hunger: "When you're hungry in the natural, you eat and are satisfied. But with spiritual hunger, it isn't until you begin eating that you discover how hungry you really are!" So when you fail to keep your quiet time with God, you shouldn't feel guilty; you should feel hungry. When you "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Ps 34:8), you will want more and more time with Jesus--which is wonderful because He longs for time with you.Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

10/29/24 • 52:12

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10/28/24 • 38:47

"You're my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me." Ps 119:114MSGWhat's stopping you from having a regular quiet time with God? Maybe the very thought feels filled with "shoulds" and "ought tos"; like another item to add to the unending checklist of your life. So, you think, "Maybe later, when life slows down." We need to shed the myths and impractical expectations the Enemy uses to prevent us from experiencing the joy of knowing Jesus and being known by Him. David wrote: "The one thing I ask of the Lord-the thing I seek most-is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord's perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me...My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me. And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming'" (Ps 27:4-6, 8 NLT). When David wrote those words, there was no temple or "house of the Lord." So, what did he mean? That God is as close to you as a prayer; that you can seek the Lord, delight in the Lord, meditate on the Lord, and talk with the Lord anywhere and anytime. The words "you're my place of quiet retreat" mean you can withdraw from people, pressures, and problems and draw fresh strength from the Lord by communing with Him in your heart and mind. It can happen anywhere and anytime.Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

10/28/24 • 38:47

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." Jn10:11 NKJVJesus told of a shepherd with a hundred sheep. When one of them was lost, he left the other ninety-nine in the fold and searched until he found the one lost sheep. Then he put it on his shoulders and rejoiced as he brought it home. Good shepherds don't care about some of the flock, or most of the flock, but all of the flock. That becomes most evident when one sheep gets lost. The story is told of a little girl who wandered off into the woods and got lost. As darkness fell, fear clutched her heart. She shrieked and cried until, worn out, she laid down and went to sleep. Her father, his voice husky from shouting her name, had been looking for her for many hours when he found her lying in a grassy area. Crying out to her, he rushed to her side.The little girl woke up, leapt into his arms, hugged him, and said, "Daddy, I'm so happy I found you!" That's our story. But we don't find Jesus; He finds us. And He finds us-because He is constantly looking for us. Jesus ended His parable in these words: "I tell you... there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" (Lk 15:7 NIV). Every time one lost person is found, heaven celebrates. "You mean I matter that much to the Lord?" Yes. Just as the shepherd left ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that was lost, Jesus loves you and died to save you. So, come to Him today.Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

9/25/24 • 53:35

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9/24/24 • 64:32

"Which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" Lk 10:36 NKJVJesus told the story of the Jewish traveler who was robbed, beaten, and left to die on the Jericho road. Two Jews, both in the ministry, walked past him without helping.Then a Samaritan rescued him. No race of people was more hated by the Jewish people than the Samaritans. They were openly cursed in the synagogue and were barred from temple worship. What this Samaritan does is nothing less than incredible. He utilizes all his resources--personal clothing, oil, wine, his time, animal, money, and energy-to attend to this Jewish man in the best way possible. Then he risks his life by taking the wounded man to lodging in a Jewish area. On top of it all, he pays the innkeeper for the man's food and room for many days and promises to return and pay for anything more the man owes. This was crucial because anyone who could not pay their bill could be sold as a slave by the innkeepers so that they could receive full payment for a debt. Jesus ends His story in these words: "Which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" No law will ever cause you to be a good neighbor, but the love of Christ will. You see, a neighbor is not identified by color or creed; a neighbor is identified by the nearest need. So, here is a prayer for you to pray: "Lord, give me the courage to recognize and help a neighbor in need." That's a prayer He will answer!Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

9/24/24 • 52:24

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9/24/24 • 52:33

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9/24/24 • 58:15

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9/24/24 • 00:10

"I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." Jn 12:46 NKJVJohn Ortberg writes: "In 1780 a Jesus-follower in Great Britain named Robert Raikes could not stand the cycle of poverty and ignorance that was destroying little children, a whole generation. He said, 'The world marches forward on the feet of little children.So he took children who had to work six days a week in squalor. Sunday was their free day.He said, 'I'm going to start a school for free to teach them to read and write and learn about God! He did, and he called it Sunday school.Within fifty years, there were 1.5 million children being taught by 160,000 volunteer teachers who had a vision for the education of a generation. Sunday school was not a privatized, optional program for church kids.It was one of the great educational volunteer triumphs of the world. The alphabet of the Slavic peoples is called Cyrillic. It was named for Saint Cyril, who was a missionary to the Slavs and discovered they had no written alphabet. Thus he created one for them so they would be able to read about Jesus in their own language...A Methodist missionary,Frank Laubach, cited an extraordinary encounter with God about a century ago that put him on a mission to lift the world out of ignorance. He began a worldwide literacy movement. The phrase 'Each one teach one' flows out of the extraordinary life of this man.He travelled to more than a hundred countries and led to the development of primers in 313 languages. He became known as 'the apostle to the illiterates.'"Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

9/18/24 • 56:36

"The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light." Mt 4:16 NKJVFirst and most importantly, Jesus brought the light of salvation to all mankind. But one of the enduring benefits of His kingdom is His impact on learning and education. The word university began with those who believed that God created the universe; therefore, His ways must be studied and known. Martin Luther highlighted from the New Testament the priesthood of all believers. In the process, he changed education because he taught that every person needs to be capable of reading and writing so they can study the Scriptures for themselves. This ushered in a goal of worldwide literacy for everyone in a society. In America, the first law to call for mass universal education was announced in Massachusetts in 1647. It was named, believe it or not, "The Old Deluder Satan Act." Its wording goes: "It being one chief product of that Old Deluder Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures...and to the end that learning may not be buried in the graves of our forefathers." This is a lovely idea that everybody should learn: that ignorance is the devil's tool, and that God is the God of truth.In nation after nation, Christian missionaries discovered languages that had not been written. So in acts of extraordinary sacrifice, they dedicated their lives to the chore. They assembled the first dictionaries. They penned the first grammars. They formed the first alphabets. And the first significant proper name written in numerous languages was the name Jesus.Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

9/18/24 • 49:45

"You are precious to me." Isa 43:4 NLTGuess who said, "You are precious to me?" God. So don't let anybody tell you otherwise.Why is this important? Becauseunderstanding who you are as a person and genuinely believing that you merit love and attention from another person is essential to your self-worth. The capability to convey that successfully and in a considerate manner is essential for any healthy, mutually satisfying relationship. A sense of self-worth is not arrogance. It helps you to set boundaries and guarantees that no matter who you meet, those boundaries will never be compromised.Often when we feel used in relationships, it's because we have permitted those boundaries to be crossed. Or worse, we have never thought about where the boundaries should be. The way to prevent this situation is to be clear about who you are and what you are willing to do in a relationship. Disregarding the truth about another person, or yourself, may be okay temporarily, but over time, it usually leads to disaster. With a solid foundation of knowing who you are and what you represent, you will possess the bravery to ask the right questions and discern the answers. You will acquire information and evidence that help you realize who a person really is and if they fit into your life. You will be truthful with yourself and others about who you are, your needs, and the way you want to live your life. Outside your relationship with God, there is no other more important relationship than the one you have with yourself. God says, "You are precious to me."Believe it, and live accordingly.Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

8/29/24 • 56:04

"We walk by faith, not by sight." 2Co 5:7NKJVImpalas are one of the most powerful animals in Africa. They can leap to a height of more than ten feet and cover more than thirty feet in one jump. Yet the impala can be kept in an enclosure with a fence that's no more than three feet high. Why? Because it won't jump unless it can see where its feet will land. In a sense, impalas walk by sight, not faith. What does it mean to "walk"? To put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward a step at a time. What does it mean to have"faith"? To trust the Lord, obeying His Word regardless of how things look or feel to you.Now, faith doesn't do away with intelligent thought and reason. But there is a difference.When intelligent thought and reason won't take you another step, faith keeps right on going. Why? Because intelligent thought and reason hold the hand of man and go only as far as he can travel, whereas faith holds the hand of God, the God who makes a way where there seems to be no way. That was Abraham's story: "[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go" (Heb 11:8 AMPC).Are you anxious about the future? Don't be; just take the next step of faith, and you will be one step closer to the blessings and rewards that God has in mind for you.Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

8/28/24 • 50:46

"A great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." 1Co16:9 NKJVThe New Living Translation states Paul's words this way: "There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me." In doing the will of God, you should anticipate opposition from those who are not privy to what God has shared with you or instructed you to do. Indeed, if you are accepted and applauded wherever you go, you should reexamine either the assignment you believe God has given you or the way in which you are carrying it out. You say, "But didn't Jesus say that His yoke was 'easy'?" Yes, and He was talking about a comfortable-fitting yoke around the neck of a hardworking ox that plowed from morning until night. The work was hard, but the yoke was comfortable.That means when God calls you to do something difficult, He will provide you with the grace and resources to do it. You say,"But Satan is attacking me." Attack is a sign of respect; it means you represent a threat to the kingdom of darkness. And as you get closer to your God-given goal, expect Satan's attack to intensify. But there is good news.The intensity of the attack is an indicator of the blessing God has for you on the other side of the attack. And one more thought. Your greatest rewards will not come in this life but in the life to come. And that's good because they won't just be temporal, they will be eternal. The hymnist wrote: "To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be; He with the King of glory shall reign eternally."Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

8/21/24 • 55:34

"I have set before you an open door." Rev3:8 NKJVIn seeking to know God's will, there are two things you should never do. First, when the door is closed, get impatient and force it open. Second, create your own door. To succeed in what God has called you to do, follow the "open door policy." The Bible describes it this way: "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: "These things says He who is holy, He who is true, 'He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens': "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name'" (vv. 7-8 NKJV).Who does God open doors for? (1) People who "have a little strength." So, your mistakes don't disqualify you, as long as you're willing to learn from them. And your inadequacies don't limit God if you allow them to make you more dependent on Him. (2)People who "have kept My word." The peopleGod opens doors for are governed by this guiding principle: "Whatever God's Word says about it, that's what I'm going to think, believe, and do." If it's not on God's blueprint, don't build it. If it's not in God's recipe book, don't mix it in. (3) People who "have not denied My name." Regardless of rejection or ridicule, these people speak boldly about the things they value most in life, including their relationship with Jesus. If you want God to open doors for you, live by these principles each day.Send us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

8/21/24 • 58:54