There’s a post office near me that I don’t like going into because of one: the employees are very rude and two: it is very small. On this particular day, it had gotten late so I had to go to this post office to mail a special card so that it would arrive on a distinct day. I knew soon as I arrived it was going to be a long wait and I would have to deal with the attitude of the postal workers, but I headed into the post office in a big hurry. I had many errands to run before their closing times. As I entered, I was frustrated but not surprised to find a long line backed up to the door. “Hurry up and wait,” I mumbled, looking at my cell phone clock. My hand was still on the door when an elderly lady approached me, she said, “Sir, I can’t get this copier to work,” pointing to the machine behind us. “It took my money and I don’t know what to do.”
Tag: Word
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“Stop Looking at the Time”
Immediately I knew what God wanted me to do. I stepped out of line and was able to fix the problem in about 10 minutes. The woman thanked me and then left. As I turned to get back in line, there was no line!!! It was gone!!! 😀 I walked straight to the service counter and to my amazement the clerk was “VERY” pleasant also. 😀Beloved, my experience that day reminds me of Jesus’ words: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (*1). My wait appeared to be shorter because God interrupted my urgency. By turning my eyes to others’ needs and helping, by giving my time, God gave me a gift. This is a lesson for me to remember the next time I look at my watch. 😀Let Us Pray:Dear Heavenly Father, all of the time I have left here on earth is in Your hands, and I thank You for Your gift. Please, continue to demonstrate to me how to use it so that I will continue to bring glory and honor to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen and 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 be permitted to enter our room and blow out our earthly light. So today, reach out and touch someone and tell them you love them, BECAUSE TELLING THEM LATER JUST MIGHT BE – TOO LATE.I LOVE YOU ALL!!! – Have an Extraordinary Sunday.*CHOF Ministry Cross Reference Scriptures:|1. Luke 6:38 -
“You’re the Right Person”
Praise the Lord Beloved. Happy Monday. 😀Beloved, have you ever felt like the Lord was calling you subconsciously, challenging you to acknowledge? You know, our world today is definitely tuning out and actually altering what the Lord is saying. In this age, to many people the Lord doesn’t seem to be perceptible in a physical form and doesn’t distinctly speak to them. But, I’m here to tell you He does still speak to us. Through His Word and through His Holy Spirit, the Lord can speak to our temperament just as clearly as he spoke to Samuel. Even if you’re not yet a believer, the Lord can still speak to your temperament. It says in scripture that Samuel hadn’t yet known the Lord.Beloved, we should all be like Samuel, who after hearing the call “IMMEDIATELY” answered, “Here I am Lord.” Don’t stop to think things out or over evaluate the situation. Simply answer, “Here I am Lord.” The same God who made the celestial ambiance will give you everything you need to be successful in whatever He has called you to do. You must have confidence that He wouldn’t call you to do it if you weren’t the precise person He had in mind for the job. 😀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 be permitted to enter our room and blow out our earthly light. So today, reach out and touch someone and tell them you love them, BECAUSE TELLING THEM LATER JUST MIGHT BE TOO LATE.I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Have an amazing Monday and an awesome week. 😀 -
“Don’t Be Hurried into Anger”
James 1:19-20 “Let everyone be . . . slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God”. These are awesome Bible verses that help me stay saved. 😀Beloved, have you ever began reading your Bible, perceiving all is well between you and the Lord, only to have the Word unexpectedly cut deep into your soul to expose, describe, characterize and categorized a sin you’ve ignored or tried to hide? That usually happens because God wants to eliminate immorality in His children. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to infiltrate the concealed pauses “interruptions” in our heart (mind and emotions) to do His convicting and cleansing work. Now, it’s how you respond to that procedure that will be the indicator of the authenticity of your faith.The “anger” referred to in our morning scripture refers to an adverse response to that procedure. It’s a deep inside “down to the core” antipathy escorted by an intrepid refusal. Sometimes that antipathy can be indirect. Paul described those who “will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires” – (*1).These are the people who tensely go from church to church, ministry to ministry in search of someone who’ll tell them what they want to hear—or a congregation that wants a pastor who’ll make them feel good about themselves (an altered message) instead of preaching the Word (an unaltered – immature word) and setting a high standard of holiness.You know, every now and then antipathy toward the Word stops being indirect and turns to downright up in your face hostility. That’s what happened to Stephen when the crowd he confronted covered their ears, drove him out of the city, and stoned him to death. – (*2). Throughout history there have been many others that have felt the lethal misfortunes of those whose antipathy of God’s truth turned to detestation for His people.You see, to be a recipient of the Word consist of being swift to perceive what it says and unhurried to anger when it disagrees with your personal opinions or confronts your immorality. Beloved, today is your boldness covering an immoral principle? Are you defiant to what God is saying to you through the Word? Do you welcome its criticism and aware of its warnings, or do you secretly feel hostile about it? When a Christian brother or sister challenges an immoral principle in your life, do you accept or reject their advice? 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 be permitted to enter our room and blow out our earthly light. So today, reach out and touch someone and tell them you love them, BECAUSE TELLING THEM LATER JUST MIGHT BE – TOO LATE.Beloved, I thank for your unconditional love. 😀I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Have a “Tremendous” Wednesday.CHOF Ministry’s Cross Reference Scriptures*1. 2 Timothy 4:3*2. Acts 7:57 -
“Circumventing Spiritual Misconception”
In Matthew 7 verses 21-23 you’ll find it chronicles the sad results of spiritual misconception. Jesus says: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”Beloved, Jesus made a strong pulsating dissimilarity between those who just claim to be Christians and those who actually are. The difference is, true believers do the will of the Father. In the words of James, they’re doers of the Word, not just hearers who deceive themselves. “Hearers” in James 1:22 translates a Greek word that speaks of auditing a class. Auditing students go to class and listen to the instructor but don’t do any work. So, they don’t receive credit for the course. The phrase “delude themselves” speaks of being persecuted by one’s own defective reasoning. People who listen to God’s Word but never obey it are spiritual auditors who delude themselves by thinking that hearing the Word is all God requires of them. Unfortunately, many churches and ministries are full of these people. They attend services and hear the sermons, but their lives never seem to change. They’re content to hear the Word but they never apply it. Like those whom Jesus condemned in Matthew 7, they’ve chosen “religious” activities over true faith in Christ.You’re in a sad situation to think you’re saved, only to hear. Matthew 7:23 (AMP) says: And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].Beloved, that will never happen if you’re a doer of the Word.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 be permitted to enter our room and blow out our earthly light. So today, reach out and touch someone and tell them you love them, BECAUSE TELLING THEM LATER JUST MIGHT BE – TOO LATE.Beloved, once again, I thank God for you. You all are truly my inspiration. 😀I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Have an “Awesome” Wednesday. -
“The Appropriate Attitude Towards God’s Word”
Praise the Lord Beloved. What a beautiful Sunday. I thank God for allowing us another opportunity to collectively serve Him. 😀This Morning’s Focal Bible Scripture is James 1:19.Through the years I’ve heard many, many times that either God’s Word will keep you from sinning or sinning will keep you from God’s Word. Well, apparently some of James’s readers were allowing sin to keep them from receiving the Word as they should. You see, God was allowing them to experience various trials so their joy and spiritual endurance would increase, but the problem was they didn’t have wisdom and were lured into temptation and sin. James called them back to the Word and to a godly viewpoint on their environment and condition.This morning’s verse begins with the phrase “This you know,” which refers back to verse 18. They had experienced the power of the Word in salvation, now James wants them to allow it to bless them. But, for that to happen, they would have to be obedient to verse 19, quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. Beloved, being quick to hear means you don’t disregard or fight against God’s Word. Instead, when issues or difficult decisions come your way, you ask God for wisdom and receive the counsel of His Word with a willingness to obey it. You’re not like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, whom Jesus described as “foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken.” (*1)You should be quick to hear the Word because it offers sustenance for your spiritual life and is your defense against all spiritual challengers. It’s the means by which you’re supported and armed for every good work. (*2). It transports you from issues and enticements and engrosses you in unity with the living God. The Word should be your most welcome friend!!!Beloved, be quick to hear, chasing every opportunity to learn God’s truth. Let the testimony of the psalmist be yours: “O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day. . .. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Thy word. . .. How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (*3)Beloved, being quick to hear involves a appropriate attitude towardGod’s Word. Amen? – Aaamen. 😀Let Us Pray:Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your valuable Word and for the amazing transforming work it accomplishes in us.In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen and 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 be permitted to enter our room and blow out our earthly light. So today, reach out and touch someone and tell them you love them,BECAUSE TELLING THEM LATER JUST MIGHT BE – TOO LATE.I LOVE YOU ALL!!! – Have an awesome Sunday Everyone.😀CHOF Ministry’s Cross Reference Scriptures*1. (Luke 24:25)*2. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)*3. ((Ps. 119:97, 101, 103) -
“Be Honest with Ourselves”
Praise the Lord Beloved. 😀 Happy Tuesday to Everyone. 😀You know since connecting to Words of Jesus, nothing can separate me from the love of Christ!!! “NOTHING!!!!” He’s my life, contentment, and happiness!!! Yes, that would be my immediate answer to our morning’s Bible verse. From where I’ve been and what He’s brought me out of HOW COULD I LET ANYTHING OR ANYONE SEPARATE ME FROM HIM?Sounds nice, doesn’t it? 😀Well, let’s be honest with ourselves, sometimes we allow even less severe things than deprivation, harassment or risk separate us from His love and His Word. Even little troubles can at times stress us out and we shout to God, WHY OH WHY? We must admit we’re sometimes of little faith, and that’s part of being human. However, we must not allow hopelessness into the arena of our life. Just remember that the first Christians had to endure persecutions and were threatened by death and yet they wouldn’t let go of Christ. It’s understandable that at times we complain, feel sorry for ourselves and cry over our fate, but we must never separate (disconnect) from Him. Hold on to Him tightly and don’t let go. He’ll surely not let go of you. That’s because He loves you with an everlasting love. 😀“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. -
“It’s Time to Mature!!!”
1 Peter 2:2 (AMP)
Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation.This morning I visited a daycare, and let me tell you, it takes a special person for that job. 😀
The room was filled with babies. Infants crying. Baby’s crawling and screaming for certain toys. Toddlers pushing and whining to get their way. Lord, let me tell you, my nerves was shot when I left there.
But after I left there the spirit of the Lord showed me something. Spiritual Babies. For the past several months once a week I’ve been meeting with 15 young men and women that attend Cleveland State University for lunch. All pretty much are spiritual babies. When we get together it’s just about the same way it was at that daycare. Everyone has a question, or wants attention, or want to share their experiences. Now, let me say right here, there’s nothing wrong with being a spiritual baby. All of us start out that way. When we’re first born into the kingdom of God, we’re much like physical newborns. We’re not very strong or well developed. We have slip ups while trying to learn how to operate in our new environment. That’s how we all have to begin. But God never meant for us to stay that way.That’s why in 1 Peter 2:2 He says we should ” crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow….”Beloved, God intends for us to be complete so we can become productive!!! He intends for us to feed on His Word, moving from the milk of the Word to the meat of the Word until we have totally matured into developed and established sons and daughters.Beloved, it’s time to change your diet, it’s time to find your nourishment in His Word and enjoy the reward of completely maturing in Him!!!Have a blessed Tuesday Everyone. 😀 -
“Separated from the World”
1 John 5:4 (AMP)
Whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.
You know, many years ago the devil started an untruth. He told a few Christians that as long as they’re alive, they had to suffer as the world did. He told them they had to share the diseases and the defeat, the deficiencies and the disappointments of those around them.
It was a crafty lie, and it worked!!! Believers accepted it and began to spread it among themselves. You may have even heard it yourself. If so, I want to help you put that untruth to rest today. I want to help you get the facts straight once and for all.
You see, despite what you may have heard, health, affluence and victorious living aren’t concepts some well-off greedy believer selfishly dreamed up. They’re God’s ideas.
Now, someone out there might be saying: “That sounds really good, Bishop Houston, but we’ve got to be realistic. We live in a world that’s full of problems. And as long as we live in this world, it seems to me we’re going to have our share.”
And I do agree with you 100%. Even Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration.” But now want you to notice, He didn’t stop there!!! He went on to say in John 16:33 (AMP), “But be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you]”.
Beloved, most believers don’t have any trouble believing the first part of that verse. They know all too well how many problems, prosecutions, sufferings and obstructions surround them. But they’re less certain about the last part. They haven’t yet experienced for themselves exactly what Jesus meant when He said He had deprived those things of power to harm them.
Someone out there may be asking: Bishop Houston why not? “WELL I’M GLAD YOU ASKED!!!”
It’s because they’re still living as though they’re part of the world. Listen Beloved. Jesus said in John 17:17 you and I are to be “sanctified,” or separated from the evils of this world. We are consecrated through the Words of God!!!Beloved, the Word of God will separate you from the world. His Word will set His dream for victory into motion in your life. If you’ll receive it and believe it, speak it and act on it, that Word will set you apart from those around you. It will take you from trouble to triumph again and again.
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“COME AND SEE”
Praise the Lord Beloved!!! 😀 It’s Fantastic Friday again, and another weekend is upon us.“COME AND SEE!!!”You know CHOF Ministry’s conception was preconceived backed in 2000. The ministry name as it stands today was not the original name, as a matter of fact the name changed several times over the years up until its spiritual conception and physical delivery. I do feel that when a pastor out of Texas introduced the idea to me to incorporate an internet ministry he didn’t see this ministry lasting 10 years and counting and actually many others didn’t either. Psalm 66:5 (NLT) says: “Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!”We’re not a mega ministry and we’ve humbly accepted the position that God has established for us. I’m sure you’ve notice, there are so many spiritual ministries on the internet today and CHOF Ministry is happy to be right in there doing what God has selected for us to do -1 Peter 2:9-10 (MSG) says: “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted…” and Genesis 2:9 (NLT) says: “The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”Beloved, it’s God who establishes, and it’s God who increases or decreases not a social media LIKE, FOLLOW, OR FRIEND. If that was the case CHOF Ministry would have been incinerated years ago. But as I sat here in my office this morning praying and thanking our Savior a question arose into my mind what are the qualities that have allowed us to endure over the past 10 years? I finished praying then pondered the question more in-depth.After just a moment of thought, the holy spirit planted 3 words into the soil of my mind *Integrity, *Sincerity, *Faithfulness-loyalty. Beloved these 3 words are the foundation of my life today and I have planted the same seeds into the soil of Christian House of Faith, CHOF/CHOF Ministry.Over the years these 3 seeds have been cultivated in my life, First Lady Donece’s life and our ministry.*The seed of Integrity: “We’re candid, we don’t pull any punches, we don’t offer any “unwanted or second-hand Jesus gibberish for people who respond with ignorance.”* The seed of Sincerity: there are many who have found out that “We mean business in what we’re doing.”*The seed of Faithfulness-loyalty: We don’t allow man/woman to dictate or try to establish their man made requirements on or in our spiritual soil. We trust God day in and day out, and we let Him open the door, and we let the Holy Spirit accomplish what He wants in the hearts and minds of people who are now listening all over the world. We’re building on these 3 pillars everyday-they’re our present and our future in other words they’re our missional DNA that feeds CHOF Ministry and they will not change.We see the opportunity not only to hold out the truth of God’s word and apply it to real problems in people’s lives here in the United States, but increasing, around the world. Because, you know, here in the United States, we have many Christian resources but, in places where Christians are the first in their country. In places like Kyrgyzstan or Turkey, Indonesia, and Kosovo, many African states, people who come to know Jesus need to know how to follow Him. They need to know how to work out their faith in their relationships, in their workplace, in raising their children. And so, increasingly CHOF Ministry is focusing – as the Lord provides – to take these resources – our devotionals that we produce – and make them available to people in places where the church is in what we call its “first generation.” And I’ll admit also humbly, God has been really faithful, not only in providing the means to do this, but in opening doors. Today we’re humbled, but surprisingly, CHOF Ministry is in many Muslim-majority countries. This is where we see God on the move and we see Him opening doors. Our objective is to communicate in clear, simple terms with the man or woman who was on the street, the person who had no use for organized spiritual faith but had a need in their heart. And subsequently, our objective was to bring him/her into confrontation with God’s purpose and will for his/her life. And we discovered there was a need not only in Ohio – where we started, but all over the world, and since we have been established God has blessed our ministry as we continue to try to reach the hearts of men and women who have an empty spot that can be filled only by God’s Son Himself. Through the continued development of today’s modern technology, the opportunity for CHOF Ministry to reach many people, cities, states, and countries or endless. After serving on the other side of the battlefield for so long, it gives me great joy to say “SO LONG” to that side of the battlefield because it’s so exciting to be on assignment with God and I’m very grateful to be the team leader for CHOF Ministry.Beloved, this weekend thank God for where you’re at and then ask Him to plant the 3 seeds of Integrity, Sincerity and Faithfulness-loyalty into your soil. You see, every person is important to our Heavenly Father and He blesses the basic needs of every individuals all over the world whether you live in Ohio, Manila, Tokyo, Albania or in one of the Muslim-majority countries He blesses according to His purpose. If it’s God’s will, you too could be placed as a leader of your very own ministry or be a part of an awesome spiritual edifice that not only lead people but also reach them.Beloved, those who come to an understanding of God’s plan and purpose for their life will receive God’s spiritual transformation that comes with 24 hour 7 days a week maintenance agreement for the rest of your spiritual life.Have a blessed Weekend Everyone. 😀 -
“Gently Spoken Words”
Our spiritual topic this morning is entitled: “Gently Spoken Words.”
This morning’s verse is Ephesians 4:29 (AMP) and it reads this way:
“building up others, according to the need and the occasion…”I was on a flight coming from Texas back to Cleveland, Ohio and as I took my seat I noticed a young man who was very nervous and trembling as he sat down in his seat. His eyes were moving back and forth from the airplane windows back to the back of the airplane. After several minutes passed he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself—but it didn’t work. As our plane took off, he slowly rocked back and forth. An older woman across the aisle from him put her hand on his arm and gently engaged him in conversation to divert his attention from his stress. “What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” “We’re going to be okay,” and “You’re doing well” were a few things she gently spoke. She could have been irritated with him or ignored him. But she chose a touch and a few words. Little things. When we landed 4 hours later, he told the lady thank you so much for helping him.
You know Beloved, beautiful pictures of tenderheartedness can be very hard to find. Kindness doesn’t come naturally to many us. Our primary concern is often ourselves. Ephesians 4:32 the apostle Paul urged, “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” Now, he wasn’t saying it all depends on us. No!!!
It’s not until after we’ve been given a new life by our faith in Jesus, is when the Spirit begins a transformation. Kindness is the ongoing work of the Spirit renewing our thoughts and attitudes. Ephesians 4:23 (AMP) says: and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude].
Beloved, the God of empathy is at work in our hearts (mind and emotions), allowing us in turn to touch others’ lives by reaching out and gently speak words of encouragement
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, use me today to bring someone hope, a lighter burden, encouragement.Standing on the foundation of Your Mighty Words, I pray
Amen and Amen.* After each CHOF Bible Fellowship Sunday Morning word, I present to you “CHOF Ministry’s Sunday Morning Reflection.” I will give you my brief observation/reflection of the CHOF Bible Fellowship Sunday Morning word. While you’re there you can also read prayers, Bible verses, and even devotions.
CHOF Ministry is here to help you feed your spiritual cravings.
Just Click the link below.
(www.facebook.com/christianhouseoffaithchof)Have a Blessed Sunday Everyone. 😀
