C H O F Ministry

Tag: Prayer

“Don’t Forget Your Heavenly Minutes”

Praise the Lord Everyone. – Happy Tuesday to Everyone. 😀

You know, before the angel appeared to Zechariah, we’re told that he’s serving and doing what he’s called to do. Because of this, God arranged an event that presented an angel to Zechariah to deliver him news (read Luke 1 if you want to find out more. 😀 )

Thinking that God’s always arranging my life and moments to interact with me gives me hope and peace. Because Zechariah was serving and obeying the Lord, he was open to an opportunity to interact with God. Beloved sometimes, it’s difficult for me to try to find these moments or create an atmosphere where I can grasp one if it were to occur. If you look at our society’s schedule you’ll see everyone is busy or in a hurry. This tells us we don’t have time for prayer or quiet time. If we don’t have time for those things, how can we ever expect to hear God? How can we listen to Him if we don’t spend quality time with Him? It’s easy to tell Him things that need prayer, but we can’t forget about the listening side of prayer. 😀

Amen? 😀 AAAmen. 😀

“Beloved, life is very short. It comes and goes like an unannounced gust of wind. None of us know the hour or day when that gust of wind will past through our window and blow out our lights here on earth.

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 Tuesday Everyone. 😀

April 23, 2019
“Not What I Want but What You Want”

Praise the Lord Beloved, HAPPY THURSDAY to Everyone.

You know, we have no idea how this morning’s Bible verse scene literally took place at the garden of Gethsemane. The text tells us that Jesus threw Himself on the ground which highlights a deeper desperation in begging the Father for the cup to pass from Him. However, we all know how He ended His prayer and it’s by saying, “Thy will be done”.

Beloved, He prayed this prayer three times hoping that the heavenly Father would consider His request. Jesus in His human nature attempted to suggest a different way to fulfill His mission, but in His Spirit, He still managed to pray for the will of the Father to be done. And certainly, the Father’s will was done. He got crucified and paid for the sins of all humanity. We’re free and forgiven today because Jesus resorted to the Father’s will.

Beloved, there’s a lesson to learn from this. If our will is on a collision course with God’s will, choose His not yours!!!

Amen? – AAAmen!!! 😀

“Beloved, life is very short. It comes and goes like an unannounced gust of wind. None of us know the hour or day when that gust of wind will past through our window and blow out our lights here on earth. 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 Thursday Everyone. 😀

April 18, 2019
“A Loyal Friend That’s Always There”

Praise the Lord Beloved. Happy Thursday. 😀

You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about this verse lately. There have been times in my life when I cannot complete my goals no matter how hard I try. Very often, all I need is a little bit of help, some intelligent advice, a loyal friendly word or a favor. People need loyal friends. Like that man from the Bible. He needed someone to help him get into the pool, he couldn’t do it alone, and he didn’t have anyone. Blessed is the one that has loyal human friends who are always there to help, but most of the time I’m on my own. The good thing is that there’s one special loyal friend that will never fail us, our Lord Jesus Christ. He’ll always be there to give us a helping hand. He’s the one that will, “put us into our pool.” Sometimes He does it through others, sometimes through little miracles, and we can always be confident He’ll loyally be there.

Amen-AAAmen. 😀

“Beloved, life is very short. It comes and goes like an unannounced gust of wind. None of us know the hour or day when that gust of wind will past through and blow out our 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 Thursday Everyone. 😀

April 11, 2019
“It’s Time to Wake-Up!!!”

Happy Tuesday Everyone. 😀

Beloved, when I was young, I was very naïve, and I didn’t recognize when some family and so-called friends would team up against me. I was the joke at most weekend get togethers with friends and the pun during many family gatherings. It would always amaze me how many times the results of joy would never favor me. Then one day while talking to a family member, he told me “BOLDLY” the reason he put me on front street (threw me under the bus) was because my credibility was bad. He explained to me that my integrity was very limited – basically he said to me: “Houston, many people think you’re a joke.” Those words saturated my entire mental atmosphere. I can’t lie it was a very hurtful conversation, but it was words I needed to hear.

At times we can be too trusting and loving to those we feel are real true friends or caring family members. You do all you can for them and with them out of love and loyalty and they use your devotion against you. Then you get the wake-up call that they’re not for you they’re against you – their actually your enemy – a spiritual thief. There was a phrase a so-called friend would always say when he was in my presence: “FIRST YOU LIVE THEN YOU DIE, THEN YOU WAKE UP AND FIND OUT MINNIE MOUSE WAS JUST A FREAKING RAT.” Those words spoken to me by that family member and so-called friend was my wake-up call and they became my strength. Beloved, when you’re unaware, it’s easy for people to make up lies on you and about you. Though I was grown I wasn’t grown up spiritually. I didn’t realize that people were making fun of me. I was naïve and unaware of their trickery. Until my wake-up call.

The church people need a wake-up call today. There’s a lot of trickery going on in the churches today. There are many doctrines and teachings about Christianity. Some are Biblical but sadly some are being twisted and are plain heresy. They deviate from the true Biblical Words of God. We must not be naive when dealing with these sensitive matters, always be cautious and not allow ourselves to be deceived by the craftiness and deceitful scheming of the enemy and wicked people. *1 John 4:1 says: Test every spirit.

*1 Timothy 4:1 says: Pay no attention to deceitful spirits. *John 8:44 says: The enemy is a lying deceiver and the father of lies.

Beloved, this is how you know who your true real friends, family, and church are and those who are not: John 10:10 (AMP)

*Those who are your enemy are like a thief, they only come in order to steal and kill and destroy your joy.

*Those that are true and real friends, family and church will bring you overflowing joy in every area of your life.

Beloved, it’s time to wake-up and get grounded in the truth, in God’s Word, and in every way be the illustration of Jesus Christ who’s the head of our lives.

Amen. 😀 Aaaaamen. 😀

“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 Tuesday Everyone.

April 9, 2019
“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
“God’s Will Shouldn’t Be an Option”

Happy Friday Everyone.

You know Beloved, at times we make God’s will an option. I say that because there are times in life when we assume that our desires are in line with God’s will, but somehow, somewhere, we ignore the procedure of asking Him if what we desire is His will for us. Many times, it’s because we’re afraid to find out that our plans are in disagreement with His. So, we purposely opt out of asking Him just to follow or continue to follow the wrong path that has led many believers “INCLUDING ME” into unnecessary and unwanted situations. Instead of asking God to guide us we did things our way. Beloved, we must always remember that as human beings we make mistakes and are often in conflict with God’s will. God’s ways are on a higher level, and we may not understand why He chooses for things to be a certain way, but we still need to trust Him. He sees all things in the future, while we can only assume what’s about to happen. Let us, lay down all our earthly requirements and start inquiring what God wants for us – His will for us should stand alone and not be an option.

So, as we enter this weekend let us all choose His perfect will and opt out of leaning on our own understanding.
Amen? AAAAMen. 😀

*Our ministry continues to grow. God has truly been good to us!!! We thank each and every one of you for helping to make this possible. We love all of your in-box messages – “prayer request, prayers, encouragements, inspirations, invitations and last but never least Agape love.

First Lady Donece and I Thank You.
Bishop, Dr. W. F. Houston, Jr. (D. Min.)

April 5, 2019
“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
“Spiritual Assignment Location”

Good morning and Happy Wednesday Everyone.

Sometimes we hear ministers talk about their ministries in other locations, (cities, states, and countries) and wonder what it’s like, traveling to other areas or countries to reach the lost. As Christians, we have been assigned with the Gospel and have been told to spread it far and wide. Now, I’m sure there are many ministers that will say “That’s Awesome – for those that have been blessed financially.” Some of you ministers are like me, can’t always jump up and buy a plane ticket to other distance cities nor other countries. We have responsibilities. But that shouldn’t stop us from spreading the Good News. For many of you ministers God has planted you where He needs you to be – this doesn’t mean it’s your permanent location. To find your present spiritual assignment location, just look down and see where your feet are planted. Are you a mother with small children at home? Your spiritual assignment location maybe your home, and the minds of your children, whom the Lord has assigned you to train up in the way they should go. Do you work outside the home? Your spiritual assignment location maybe your place of employment which includes your coworkers, customers, and bosses. Your spiritual assignment location could be on social media as a – morning greeter, inspirational or devotional deliverer, prayer warrior, spiritual teacher or sharing a post of love, joy, happiness, wisdom and knowledge. Beloved, for some, being a minister doesn’t always mean traveling across the city, from city to city or to other countries nor speaking a different language. We can do the Lord’s work wherever we are. That means spreading the gospel message far and wide and to as many people as you can. You have a responsibility to do it wherever you are, even if that only spans a few city blocks or your living room.

Have a blessed Wednesday Everyone.

April 3, 2019
“Need a Boost?”

Praise the Lord Beloved!!! Happy Tuesday. 😀

If you’ve ever lived in an area where frigid cold weather occurs, you know there’re times you need to “jump start” your car. Since moving to the Midwest I’ve experience this unpleasant situation a time or two. The cold drains the battery and occasionally it needs that additional boost from a jump start or battery charger to get you going on your way.

Beloved, what about our Godly lives? As Christians, we too need a “boost” every now and then. It’s easy to become satisfied “content” in our Christian lives and duties. Unless we’re absorbed in His Word daily, chances are we too, are in need of a recharge. I know when I have read or studied God’s Word, I come away refreshed and resuscitated. It puts me back on track and helps me focus on what His will is for me. I know in my heart I want eternal life with Him, but sometimes I need a reminder to focus, study, and live His Word.

Beloved, the Bible isn’t like a favorite book to be put on a bookshelf only brought out on occasions. It should be front and center in our lives every day.

Have a Blessed Tuesday. 😀

April 2, 2019
“Prayer Has Power”

Praise the Lord Everyone!!! 😀 Happy Friday to each of you.

Several months ago, I was extremely concerned about the welfare of someone close to me. But, one day during that time while reading and meditating on the words of God, I found encouragement in part of the Old Testament story of Samuel, who was a wise Israelite leader. As I read how Samuel interceded for God’s people as they faced trouble, I found my resolution was strengthened through prayer for my loved one.

In 1 Samuel 4 The Israelites faced the threat of the Philistines, who had previously defeated them when God’s people didn’t trust in Him. In 1 Samuel 7:8 after repenting of their sins, they heard that the Philistines were about to attack. But this time, they asked Samuel to continue praying for them.

In verse 10 you’ll find the Lord answered them clearly by throwing their enemy into confusion. Though the Philistines may have been larger than the Israelites, the Lord was the strongest of them all.

Beloved, when we ache over the challenges facing those we love, and fear the situation won’t change, we may be tempted to believe that the Lord won’t act. But we should never underestimate prayer power. Our loving God hears our prayer petitions.
Beloved, this weekend if you find yourself in a situation where you don’t know how God will move in response to your petition(s), just remember as our Heavenly Father He wants us to embrace His love and “trust” in His faithfulness.

Have a blessed weekend Everyone!!! 😀

March 22, 2019