C H O F Ministry

Tag: #Monday

“Retaliation Isn’t Worth It”

Praise the Lord Everyone. Happy Monday to you all. 😀

I’ve painstakingly read the Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testament. I’m very mindful that when Jesus came into the history of the Bible, He started His historical period focusing on grace and taught abundantly about love. There are many Christians I know only read the “New Testament.” They aren’t familiar with the Old Testament because (it’s sad but true), they find it uninteresting, dull and are indifferent and unconcerned about it. So, when they encounter a passage like this morning’s Bible verse, they’d get perplexed. This is only a nugget of the law and according to Romans 6:14 we’re not under it anymore but under grace. Jesus instructs us not to retaliate when someone strikes us on the right cheek, Matthew 5:39 He tells us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39). This is very passive, because doing nothing to someone we don’t get along with isn’t easy. Jesus takes it up a little further and on another level. In Luke 6:31 He commands us: “do to others as you would have them do to you.” And according to John 13:34: “love one another as He has loved us.” It would be awesome if we all followed these principles.

“Beloved, life is very short. It comes and goes like an unannounced gust of wind. No one knows the hour or day when that gust of wind will past through and blow out their earth lights. So today, reach out and let those you love know that you love them.

BECAUSE TELLING THEM LATER JUST MIGHT BE, TOO LATE.”

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Have a blessed Monday Everyone.

April 8, 2019
“Keep Beating The Door”

Praise the Lord Beloved!!! Happy Monday to you all.

I’m sure there’s many of you (like myself) that have prayed a heartfelt petition for God to do something, change something, or stop something. We want to jump for joy at the good news when our prayers are answered. Now allow me to ask you a question: what do you do when you pray and pray, and it seems like you’ll never get an answer? Have you ever had that to happen to you? I sure have. 😀

This morning I’d like to help you get a breakthrough.

Let’s look at the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. Here, Jesus describes a woman who went many times to an evil judge asking him to grant her justice until he had no choice but to finally grant her request, if for no other reason than for her to cease coming to him with the same request.

Beloved, if that evil judge, who “had no fear of God and no respect for anyone” (according to Luke 18:4) finally granted her what she asked, how much more will our Father in heaven, who is a just and good God, give us what we ask for? He already knows what we need before we ask Him, and before we are done speaking, He has heard our prayer. So, go to Him in prayer every chance you get, and I’m very confident when I say-

He’s been lovingly waiting for your knock.

Have a blessed week Everyone!!! 😀

February 11, 2019
“God Knows What’s Best”

You know after being granted salvation, I wanted to preach and teach in my own church (the physical building). I started out paying for my clergy credentials. While many laughed at me and made fun of my initial clergy credentials, they qualified me to be a State approved minister. I wanted more!!! I wanted to be known as the “Great Bishop, Dr.” of my own Christian edifice. So the hostile sarcasm of family members and some so called friends about my ministry credentials became my strength and stepping stones to pursue my degrees.

So, I decided to take classes to get my B.A. in Christian Ministries which led me to gain my M.Div… So, as I was studying to get my Masters, I was also getting knowledge and experience in podcasting, and web design. One day while talking to a fellow clergy-man who’s also a family member set a vision in front of me about a social media ministry. Now, this wasn’t what I wanted to do. I had very little computer knowledge or online skills plus it was a few months before I was to go look at a building to establish a physical church.

But, little did I know God had other plans laid out for me. I ended up not going to look at the building but instead went into studying to gain more knowledge on public speaking, podcasting, producing, blogging, videography, and web design. Over 10 years later, I’m known humbly as Bishop, Houston to some and Unka Burnie to others. I now have an online ministry that delivers Christian – spiritual podcast, teachings, sermons, devotions, inspirations, video slideshow presentations, music and more.

Looking back, I could’ve stubbornly stuck with my original plans. Had I followed through, my life at this present time would be very different. I realized the one thing I really wanted to happen, was the best thing that never happened.

Beloved, God knows what’s best for us, but we need to have faith and the humility to follow His will as He steers and guides our paths.

Have a blessed week Everyone. 😀

February 4, 2019
“Joy Is Always In Attendance”

Praise the Lord Beloved. Happy Monday to you all. I hope all is well and I hope your holiday shopping has been a joy.

You know Beloved, God promises that joy is found in His presence, and if you’ve acknowledged Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then His presence lives inside of you. That means you’re full of joy!!! Joy displays when you’re focused on the Father and begin to admire and pay tribute to Him for what He’s done in your life. It doesn’t matter where you are or what’s going on around you, you can access the joy that’s inside of you at “ANY TIME”, day or night.

Beloved, right now wouldn’t be a bad time to set your mind on Jesus. God always wants you to experience His supernatural joy and peace. That’s why He chose to live inside of you and give you an endless supply of “Whatever”. Don’t waste another minute feeling overburdened, abused, misused, and refused. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength, and you’ll move forward in victory on the path of life He’s prepared just for you!!!
Have a blessed Monday and an awesome week Everyone. 😀

December 10, 2018
“Bishop Houston’e Monday Morning Blog”

Good Morning Everyone!!!

Beloved, in the book of Genesis 39th chapter you’ll find that Joseph didn’t wait until everything was going right to trust God. He trusted God’s Hand in his life starting in the pit, all the way to the prison, and then in the palace. *The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man.*

Beloved, regardless of the circumstances, Joseph was successful. 😀 This wasn’t because he had everything, it was because the Lord was with him. 😀

As you go through this week, I want you to be encouraged.

I want you to know that God knows where you are and He’ll never leave you nor forsake you.

Have a blessed week Everyone!!! 😀

November 19, 2018
“Stop, Go, Reconcile, and then Return”

Praise the Lord Beloved!!! Happy Monday to Everyone!!! 😀

Allow me to ask you this question.: “What if you’ve gathered the courage to approach someone you’ve offended or felt you’ve offended and wanted to move on. You’ve confessed what you did with sincerity. You’ve asked for forgiveness. But he or she refuses to forgive you.
Now what? 😀

I’m sure many of you “like myself” have come to this crossroad or on this crossroad. Well I have an answer for you. 😀

Beloved, the important thing for each of us to remember is that you’re responsible for you, and I’m responsible for me. Romans 12:18 AMP says: 18 “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”. Beloved, with the right motive, in the right spirit, at the right time, out of obedience to God, we’re to humble ourselves and attempt to make things right. God “WILL” honor our efforts.

The one offended may need time first to get over the shock and next to have God bring about a change in his or her heart. Healing sometimes takes time. Occasionally, a lot of time.

Now, there may be someone out there reading this blog and asking: “Bishop Houston, “What if the situation only gets worse?” This is a very good question!!! – And I’m Glad You Asked. 😀 This can happen. You see, all the time the one offended has been blaming you… Thinking all kinds of bad things about you. When you go to make things right, you suddenly cause his or her inner scales to become unbalanced. You take away the blame, and all that’s left is the person’s guilt, which does a number on him or her, resulting in even worse feelings. But now, it’s no longer your fault. 😀

Now, there may be somebody else out there reading this blog that’s asking: Well, Bishop Houston, “What if I decide simply to deal with it before God and not go through the aggravation and embarrassment of talking with the other person?” This is another great question!!! 😀 And I’m glad you too have asked!! 😀 Well, we’ll do “anything” to make things easier, won’t we? 😀 First off Beloved, that’s a willful contradiction of the command. To paraphrase Jesus what said in Matthew 5:24 “Stop, go, reconcile, and return!”). “NOT” to go is direct disobedience!!! 😀 It also can result in things getting worse.

Let me give you an example: Let’s say I’m driving away from your church parking lot next Sunday morning. I back my Lincoln MKZ car into the side of your beautiful new Mercedes. BANG!!! Your stomach churns as you see me get out of my car, look at the damage – and then bow in prayer:

Dear LORD, DEAR Heavenly Father, please forgive me for being so preoccupied and clumsy. And please give this dear brother/sister grace as he/she sees the extensive damage I’ve caused out of absolute carelessness. And provide what’s needed as he/she takes this car in to have it fixed. Thank you. In the might name of Jesus, I pray, Amen and Amen.

As I drive away, I wave and smile really big as I yell out the window, “It’s all cleared up, my friend. I claimed the damage before God. Isn’t grace wonderful!”

Now, tell me, how do you feel about that? I have rather strong doubts that it would suddenly make things okay with you, no matter how sincere my prayer might have been. You and I know that would do no good. You would say or scream loudly as my mother use to say, me “I will lay my religion down at the door and (with very hard-core words)” after it.: -D

Beloved, the Savior does not say, “Simply pray and I’ll forgive you.” In fact, He says, “Stop praying until you’ve made things right!”

Now, there may be someone out there asking Ok Bishop Houston, I ‘ve read your blog, so answer this question for me: “What if it’s impossible for me to reconcile because the offended person has died?” This is absolutely a great question.!!! And, I’m Glad you asked also!! 😀

Well, obviously, you cannot contact the dead. In such unique cases, I recommend that you share your burden of guilt with someone whom you can trust. A close friend, a companion, a counselor, or your pastor. Don’t beat around the bush. You must be specific and completely candid. Pray with that individual and confess openly the wrong and the guilt of your soul. In such cases—and only in such cases—prayer and the presence of an understanding, affirming individual can provide the relief you need so desperately.

Beloved, when you’ve been the cause of an offense or you feel you’ve been the cause of an offense and you want to move past the indifference, have the heart of a servant. Stop, go, reconcile, and then return.

Have a Blessed Monday Everyone!!! 😀

August 27, 2018
“God Has The Keys”

Praise the Lord Beloved.

Happy Monday to you all.

Beloved, have you ever been locked out of your car or house? I have!!! 😀Let me tell you, it can be very frustrating and inconvenient. Not having your keys can keep you pretty much pinned down and can become a very unproductive experience. It steals your time and will destroy your peace and happiness if you let it.

This is the identical way, we need spiritual keys to gain entrance into what God has for us such as: perpetual life, peace, freedom and blessing here on earth. You know, several years ago a young lady asked me a question on a social media site, she asked, “how do YOU know YOU are called?” It was a very good question!!! I didn’t answer her question verbally, I responded by allowing the spirit of the Lord to use my day to day Christian ethics to declare my response. Not long after that she unfriended me. You see, some question doesn’t have authorization to a verbal response.

Beloved, we don’t have to stand on the outside and be unsatisfied or upset. That’s because Jesus holds the keys, and He has opened the way for us to walk through the door of a perpetual life, also a life that includes harmony, liberty and all the blessings here on earth. A perpetual life begins the minute you make Him your Lord and Savior. Beloved, you don’t have to live in defeat, averageness, undesirable conditions, immorality or shackled to any kind of bondage any longer. You have admission to the copious life Jesus came to give!!!

So today, if you feel trapped, caught up, locked out or defeated, remember, Jesus is the one who holds the keys. All you have to do is call on His name, and He’ll answer. He promises to hear you and will carry you through “WHATEVER” is holding you down or holding you back.

Beloved, God wants to be the champion of your story, so call on Him today and receive the victory He has prepared just for you!!!

Have a Blessed Monday Everyone.

August 13, 2018
Monday Bible Verse

August 13, 2018
Monday Morning Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, You’re our God. You instruct and guide us, and our trust remains in you even when many needs pull at our hearts and try to draw us into their vortex. Pas I pray please protect us. May Your divine hand oversee us so that we remain aware of the calling we receive from You and always have a light shining into our lives to show us how to serve You.

Father God let your power work wherever hearts respond to You on this earth, wherever the strength of Jesus Christ is revealed, so that people acknowledge His deeds to Your honor. Be with the lowliest and least noticed of Your children. Keep them in Your hands and enable them to be fellow workers who persevere courageously and confidently until the time when You reveal Yourself to all peoples on earth.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name I Pray- Amen and Amen.

Have a blessed Monday Everyone. 😀

August 13, 2018
“Generate Joy If You Can Discover It”

Praise the Lord. Happy Monday to you.

Apprehension. Arrogance. Monotony. Idleness. Overthinking. Crying. Feeling sorry, guilty, as if you’re not good enough. Hurting others with the truth or comforting them with a lie. Listening to a reply or trying to understand.

Beloved, life becomes increasingly complicated. But really, it’s not. It’s actually dang simple. It’s hard, but simple.

I believe there’s something that keeps everything in place so to speak. The Universe. Yes, it’s a work of art.

In the world of men and women, what keeps everything in place is love.

That’s because love is the only force on Earth that takes as many forms as fear does. Overthinking is a special form of fear. So is anxiety. Or shyness. Hope is a special form of love. You can feel it, don’t you? Even when nothing makes sense, even when your brain tells you to give up, there’s something inside you fighting to keep on going. Fighting because one day it will all make sense.

One day you will understand.

In life, we’re taught one lesson. How to love. Ourselves. One another. The world. What we do. What we have. What happened.

Compassion is a different form of love. So is patience. Or courage. This world will break you until you understand this one lesson. If you don’t love yourself, you’ll always be chasing after people who don’t love you either. If you don’t see magic and beauty in yourself, you won’t see it anywhere else.

You see what you are. You are what you love. You’re what you choose to be.

Beloved, in life it’s not so important what you are, what your qualities are, but what you see. What you’re looking at changes according to how you feel inside.

The world is but a mirror, showing us our soul. It’s also not important what you do, but why you do it.

Being kind to others because you want to be perceived as kind or because it’s expected of you or you will ultimately made to feel unwelcomed, an outsider or like a fraud. You’ll always be afraid that people will expose you I’m speaking of your weakness to love and be loyal. But be kind because that’s the right thing to do, even if no one’s ever going to repay you or even show you gratitude… And there’s a very good chance no one will ever even notice… Treat others not according to who they are or how they treat you. Treat others as a reflection of your character. Be who you want to be, not what others want you to be. Know that happiness is not a destination, but a way of travel.

And understand deeply that love is capable of conquering all. Sooner or later.

Have a Blessed Monday Everyone

June 25, 2018