C H O F Ministry

Tag: Father

“God Can Give and God Can Take It Away”

Good morning and Happy Thursday Everyone.

You know Beloved, one of the wrong notions we have while walking in the Christian life is the belief that the Lord only gives and gives. Without a doubt, every good thing we receive comes from our loving Father “James 1:17”, and if we ask God for something and it is His will, we receive it “Matthew 7:7”. Now here’s a 100-point question to you Beloved, – what happens when God takes away from you? Do you get angry at Him, curse and abandon Him? Or do you continue to trust God and believe that all things work together for good according to His purpose “Romans 8:28”? Well, for me, Job’s situation was alarming. God allowed his entire family to be taken away all at once!!! He was then inflicted with disgusting sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head “Job 2:7”. Let me tell you, I couldn’t imagine or even contemplate the pain, suffering and unhappiness Job experienced. It could’ve driven any sane person crazy. Job, in the end, was reestablished with twice as much as he had before “Job 42:10”.

Beloved, there are many lessons to be learned in Job’s story, but there’s one outstanding thing that we must all take away from Job’s story: NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE HUMBLE AND OBEDIENT TO GOD’S WILL. God has the power to give and the power to take it away.

Have a blessed Thursday.

April 4, 2019
“The Truth”

CHOF Ministry’s Verse for Today
1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)
(8) If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. (9) But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Praise the Lord Beloved. Happy Monday to Everyone. I do hope you had a blessed weekend and I hope this week will grant each of you your desires according to the will of God.

There was a sitcom back in the 70s that is still in syndication today called Sanford and Son and one of the characters on the show was Aunt Esther and one of her favorite lines was “Tell the Truth and The Truth Will Set You Free!” I’m sure many of you like myself have heard this saying or may have said it yourself.

It’s true the truth shall set you free. But allowing the wrongs of yesteryears to make its home in our life, even though true, is like imprisoning ourselves. Beloved, this is detrimental. You know, back in the day when my wife and I were still newlyweds, we were both strong willed and opinionated. Our arguments would would leave the platform we started at and become irrational “down right unreasonable” that’s because instead of focusing on the root of it – or the platform it started, we would bring up ancient history. Attached with anger, faults of the past were dug up and old-healed-wounds are re- scratched and the pain of old returns. To prevent escalation, we separated ourselves she would remain quiet in her area and I’d act like I was immune to hurtful the words. We would weather the storm and hope for a rainbow in the end. After the situation subsided, the realization of the truth often sets in. We confess and forgiven one another’s shortcomings before the Lord.

Beloved, bringing back pieces of baggage from the past is just pointless!!! It took awhile for us to overcome this unhealthy cycle. The first step was both of us admitting neither of us was without sin or flaws. Let us not deceive ourselves with self-righteousness and putting the blame on others. Humbly confess your sins to the Lord, repent, and welcome Jesus, and let the Holy Spirit – the words of God “The Truth” reside in you.

Here’s my prayer for today:

Dear Heavenly Father, please eliminate all dishonesty and self-righteousness in me. I confess all of my sins to You and promise to repent. Thank You Lord, for Your faithfulness and forgiveness.

In Jesus’ powerful Name we pray. Amen and Amen.

Have a blessed Monday Everyone.

October 1, 2018
“Fitting In”

Our spiritual topic this morning is entitled: “Fitting In”,and this morning’s verse is Isaiah 44:2. This morning’s verse is coming out of the New Living Translation Bible and it reads this way: The Lord who made you and helps you says: “Do not be afraid . . . my chosen one.”

I’d been out late the night before, just as I was every Saturday night hanging out with my Transformer buddies. I was Just twenty something years old, and I was running from God as fast as I could. But suddenly, strangely, I felt compelled to attend the church my grandfather once pastored and the church my family has attended for many decades. I put on a pair of casual slacks, a shirt and tie, and some very worn dressed shoes and drove across town.

I don’t recall the sermon the pastor preached that day, but I can’t forget how delighted my mother was to see me. With her arm under my arm, she introduced me to everyone she saw, many of them I already knew, after all I grew up in the neighborhood. “This is my oldest son!!!” She proudly declared. Her joy became a picture of God’s love that has stuck with me all these decades.

Beloved, the imagery of God as a loving Father occurs throughout the Bible. In Isaiah 44, the prophet interrupts a series of warnings to proclaim God’s message of family love. “Dear Israel, my chosen one,” he says in verses 2-3: “I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children,” Isaiah noted how the response of those descendants would demonstrate family pride. Verse 5 says: “Some will proudly claim, ‘I belong to the Lord,’” he wrote. “Some will write the Lord’s name on their hands.”

Disobedient Israel belonged to God, just as I belonged to my mother. Nothing I could do would ever make her lose her love for me. That Sunday I was given a glimpse of our heavenly Father’s love for us.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we all come from families that are broken in one way or another. Thank You for loving us in that brokenness and for showing us what real love looks like.

Beloved, God’s love for us offers us the sense of fitting in and an identity we all crave.

CHOF Ministry is here to help you feed your spiritual cravings.

Have a Blessed Sunday Everyone. 😀

August 12, 2018
“Seek The Lord”

(1 Chronicles 22:19 AMP)
Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

Beloved, what things do you consider a dynamic requirement in your life? In other words, what can’t you live without? Most people would immediately think of food, water and shelter. But in reality, we can’t really live unless our minds and hearts are set on seeking the Lord. Sure, you can exist without seeking Him, but you’re called to more than just mere existence, you’re called to live, to prosper, to enjoy your life abundantly!!!

Beloved, today and every day, set your mind and heart on seeking the Lord!!! Write down your favorite scriptures and commit them to memory. Whenever you can, think about those verses. Meditate on God and His infinite love. When you start to seek the Lord with all your heart, you’ll truly live and enjoy the abundant life He has in store for you!!!

Will you Pray with Me?

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, today I choose to set my mind on You. I seek You with my whole heart. Show me Your love and character today. Show me Your ways that I may walk and live closely with You. I love You in Jesus’ name I pray – Amen and Amen.

August 11, 2018
“God Has Designed a Program Just For You”

Praise the Lord Beloved!!! Welcome to Wednesday’s CHOF Bible Fellowship (On Thursday). I hope everyone had a blessed 4th of July.

Our focal CHOF Bible Fellowship verse this morning comes from Matthew 25:21 (AMP) and it reads:

(21) His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’

Beloved, allow me to ask you a few questions:

*Are you using all the gifts or talents the Lord has given you?

*Do you feel like your talents aren’t enough?

Beloved, others may have more than you when it comes to physical resources, but we’re still obligated to be faithful over the gifts God has given us, no matter how small we feel they are. In the parable of the talents, a master gave three servants a portion of talents. Two of the servants took what they had and produced an increase. The third servant concealed his one talent and returned the same talent to the master. (In other words, he didn’t do anything with it). As a result, his talent was taken, and he was cast away.

Beloved, “ALL” the servants were expected to produce a profit, no matter how much they were given. The same thing is true for our gifts and talents. Beloved, God wants us to use the portion He’s blessed us with to increase His kingdom regardless of what anyone says or think!!! God blessed you with certain gifts or talents. What God blesses you with is only for you!!!

Today I encourage you to be faithful over the few things the Lord has given you and trust that God will bring the increase.

He has a program that’s fit just for you. Believe me, God doesn’t want more than you can give. He simply wants you to be faithful with what you have.

Come let’s pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the talents and gifts You have given me. I’ll no longer hide my gifts, but I will use them to give You glory and increase your Kingdom.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen and Amen.

Have a blessed Thursday Everyone.

July 5, 2018
“CHOF Ministry Sunday Morning Devotion”

I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1))

Proverbs 14:26
Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.

You know, no one should be able to teach your child or children like you can. No babysitter, Sunday school teacher, aunt, uncle or in-law should not have the authority to instruct you child or children. This is an extraordinary privilege God has provided.

Beloved, God is everyone’s Father. Just think about all the emotions He must deal with all day every day. There isn’t an emotion on earth He hasn’t dealt with. There are many parents who are separated from their child or children. If you think it’s something new, well, think again because it’s not. God was separated from His child also. Is someone mistreating, or leading your child or children? They ridiculed and bullied God’s child. Is someone taking advantage (using) of your child? The Son of God was set up by false testimony and betrayed by a greedy follower.

I’m sure there are many of you that are forced to watch while your child suffers?
God watched His Son on the cross.

Beloved, we’re God’s children, suffering in a world of immorality that inflicts destruction on our bodies, warps our minds, and severs our relationships. We have an awesome Father. He doesn’t shrug His shoulders and say, “Oh well, that’s life, nor does He say, “It sucks to be you.” He didn’t go to all the trouble of introducing Himself to the world with the title of Father for nothing.

God chose a relationship title you I can identify with. We can now understand His heart when one of us (His children) are in pain.

So, whatever emotions you feel about your child or children, God feels about your child. Maybe more!!! I know that’s hard to believe, but God has known your child or children longer than you have. He hurt for your child/children before he/she was born. You’re not alone. When you shed tears, your Father is crying right by your side.

God’s the Father of your child/children also. Just as you’ll do everything to help your child/children during his/her pain, so will God.

Have a blessed Father’s Day.

June 10, 2018