GOD IS A 'SUDDENLY' GOD

The spirits of Envy, Jealousy, Strife and Hate came into the hearts, minds and souls of a group of females that are on the same assignment that I am on. These spirits which are of rotten fruit and not Godly Fruit, began to grow strong within these young ladies due to the power of life in the use of words being released into the atmosphere.

The words released were suppose to encourage, motivate and stimulate , to bring forth life and bring it with more fervor. Instead of that happening, the words fell upon the ears, minds and hearts of a group of females who gave room for the enemy to enter in . The ground these words fell on was so toxic that it could not plant,take root and bring forth the Fruits of Spirit of God. Instead they fell into an evil vineyard and produced vines that tied up their minds, mouths, hearts and souls. The enemy was twisting them up in a spiritual knot so the Spirit of Truth and Clarity could not operate within them.

The spirits of divisiveness , deceit and murdering tongues began to fill up within them and they began the wagging of tongues and the formation of destruction within their hearts. These young ladies allowed the spirit of the enemy to work within them against the Spirit of God that is within me. I recall praying to God several months ago asking him to allow me to do my job to the Glory and Edification of him. God of course, has done what I asked and I have tried to do it to his Glory.

The snares and tricks of the enemy were formed and they came together to plan what they thought was a revealing of my 'shortcomings' because they were in the mindset that I was working through my own strength . They did not realize nor do they yet realize that the Holy Spirit within me drives me to do my very best and to give 100% of myself for the satisfaction of a job well done. A good job is a reflection of the Goodness of God when you have set in your mind, heart and soul to do the job to his Glory.

The first realization of just how deceitful they were being and just how many evil spirits were around me caused me a lack of sleep . I was struggling to pull myself together and not allow the anger to take over me. I had to call on the name of God to hold myself together. Only the blood of Jesus could cover my thoughts and bridle my tongue when this weapon formed. My flesh wanted to handle this weapon, crush the mouths that brought it forth and gave it life.

My flesh wanted to call forth that old spirit of cursing and strife to get my point across. I kept asking God to help me. That same day when I arrived home my cellphone rang. I looked down at the phone and noticed that the name was someone I cared for dearly but had not spoken to in some time just because I was so busy in life. I answered the phone still with a feeling of anger ,distraction and disbelief.

She began to talk to me and she caused me to laugh though my flesh did not feel like being happy at the beginning of our conversation. As I talked to her, I could feel a change taking place within my very Soul. I began to feel lighter and to feel JOY come back within my soul. I literally felt the spirit of anger coming out of me....being dissolved by the Fruit of the Spirit JOY !! I felt so grateful to God. I felt such love and appreciation for my friend calling me at just the right time.

God touched her heart and spoke to her mind and she obeyed and when she did that God answered my prayers SUDDENLY ! God can do it SUDDENLY. You can be standing in the midst of the enemies plan and God can snatch you out SUDDENLY. He did it so quickly I was so amazed. I felt so much better once the Lord took the rotten fruit away and replaced it with his life giving fruit. Having this refreshing spirit within me allowed me to be calm and at peace. I still thought about the enemies boldness to cause them to speak against me, but was not feeling the things I did before.

Today in Church Service, God's Holy Spirit completed my restoration from the weapon that was formed but of course did not prosper. The Word of God is ALIVE ! It moves within the atmosphere and settles into the hearts and minds of anyone who is open to receive it and listens with an aware ear. The Word went forth today and God used the preacher to remind me that they are not mad with me. They are mad about THE GOD WITHIN ME and the GOD WHO IS FOR ME !

They want to see negative things happen to me because they want something to happen to the JOY within me, but GREATER is he that is IN ME than he that is in the world. When I heard this Word GOD truly set me free entirely from this situation. I recalled the day that I prayed and ask God to let me do this job to the Glory and Edification of him and he did that. I am no longer thinking about the humans that were used by the enemy. I am standing and kneeling in the realization that WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES !-EPHESIANS 6:12

So though they aimed at the BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS that covers my heart, they did not succeed in filling it with the poison from their arrows because God sent forth his people, his angels and his WORD to pull me through and get me back focus. So with this knowledge and assurance, I pray that they will realize the enemy has been and is using them . I pray a Word come forth from the Lord and release their minds, hearts, tongues and souls from the tricks of the enemy.

I want them to be free to be happy and full of the JOY of the Holy Spirit instead of carrying around such a heavy weight that has so easily beset them. God can do it for them when they humble themselves . He can do it SUDDENLY. I give him the GLORY and I thank him for his MOST HOLY, POWERFUL AND LIVING WORD!-AMEN.

Religious Ostracism or The Truth: The Word of God

I recently read a short article in Essence Magazine,written by CNN Anchor, Don Lemon, a very handsome and successful man. He talked about 'coming out' to his mother and how she prayed that he would be delivered from this 'lifestyle choice'. He mentioned other things in the article also but the part that got my attention the most was the things he said concerning ministers and church and the love of Jesus when it comes to the gay lifestyle.

If I could sit down with him over a cup of coffee, I would give him a little more to think about than the 'religious ostracism' he says occurred when he was a youth by ministers telling youth they would go to hell for this lifestyle. Mr. Lemon, people probably look up to you and admire you so that puts a big responsibility in your hands . You can be a young man's role model and his inspiration. You can cause him to want what is best for his life or what is worse for his life.

You are in a place where you can tell everyone that Jesus Loves them and they believe that . This would be a true fact, but while you are in this place, tell the entire truth about Jesus and his word not just part of it. The issue here is not about showing you that Jesus loves you it is about all of us sinners, showing Jesus that we love him. If we love him, we will keep his commandments. If we love him, we will do those things that are pleasing in his sight, if we love him we believe his Word and if we believe his Word we must believe that it is ALL TRUE.

If you know he loves you because the Bible told you or the preacher told you , then you also know he does not love sin. You also must know that he will not lie. If he told us in his Word that sin can and will cause us to spend eternity in hell then he is not lying. This is not religious ostracism this is the Truth, the Word of God. You believe in him you MUST believe in his Word. All Sin is hated by God no matter what it is but you concern me because you do not seem to 'own' that your lifestyle is sin. The way you live your life is not just about people 'showing the love of Jesus' by lying to you and accepting your lifestyle as being ok. It is about glorifying God.

Yes people should show you love regardless because we all have come short of the glory of God but, real love is telling someone the Truth and sometimes the truth does hurt. As much as you hate to hear the truth, it is in the Word of God and he will do what he says. You see, God does love us but we need to love him. Our love for him causes us to repent and to be delivered . Our love for him, causes us to strive to change our lives and remove the sin that is blocking us from growing stronger in the Lord.

He is a Free-Will God. He will not force himself upon us , he allows us to choose our God that we will serve(Joshua 24:15) and in doing so we choose our 'eternity' in which we will live. The responsibility of a minister is to preach the Word of God whether it makes you comfortable or not. God is a God of Love , but if you read all of his Word you will also find out he is a God of Wrath. He is not pleased with a sinful lifestyle. You don't want to hear that your lifestyle is wrong in the sight of God or that your soul could be in danger of eternal damnation but it is and the minister cared enough about the souls of folks to tell you all the truth !

Leviticus 18:22 says ,'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: it is abomination.' God wants man to be fruitful and to multiply the earth through the intimate act of sex which can bring about procreation of man but we can not do that when we perform a sexual act with someone of the same sex. If God's plan is to allow us to create more life, then doesn't that mean that we are against that plan if we lay with someone of the same sex knowing we can not do that EVER with that person ? To have a barren womb is one thing but to make your womb barren or cause your seed to be non productive because of an 'act of abomination' is sinful and of the devil !

As far as hearing that you can spend eternity in hell for this sinful lifestyle..you need to accept the truth of the matter.Your lifestyle and the lifestyle of any sinner can cause that person to spend eternity in hell away from God. Your sinful lifestyle does not get a pass just because Jesus loves you too. He loves us all but he HATES SIN. All Sin. We all are in danger of spending eternity in Hell if we do not repent from our wicked ways..but these ways are our choices..our free will and it will have consequences.

Take some time and read Romans 1:18-32 ask God for wisdom and understanding of these scriptures pertaining to your life and the lives of others. All have sinned but we can All repent of our lifestyles and be forgiven and delivered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Is this message of salvation and damnation popular ? No it is not. Is it the Truth according to the Word of God ? Yes. It is. God will do what he has said in his Word. We must choose where we want to spend eternity, that goes for the liar, the cheater, the fornicator, the adulterer, the lustful, the murderer , the person who will not forgive and hold iniquity in their hearts and all other doers of

evil imaginations.

God has chosen to make us and to love us regardless of our choices and our mistakes BUT he has given us the choice as to whether or not we will love him and keep his commandments that is why his Word says to choose this day whom we will serve. Our choice . He let's us decide where our lives will cause us to spend eternity. He let's us decide which God we serve in our Words, deeds and actions. God loving us does not excuse us from the Judgement and the final verdict.

He loves us but if we do not love him and live our lifestyles to show that we will spend eternity in Hell locked down in a fiery pit with the 'angel of disobedience' Satan. He went against God and even though he was once loved by God, given the privilege of praise leader by God and adorned in beauty by God, God still cast Lucifer and the disobedient and rebellious angels with him, away from him out of heaven. NOW. if he would do it to his angels why would he not do it to man ? Wake up Don Lemon and the rest of us that think God loving us is enough. It is not. We make the choice where we will spend eternity and that is not ostracism that is THE TRUTH !!!

So tell the World God loves you YES HE DOES but you do not LOVE GOD..for if you loved God you would keep his commandments. You would repent of your sinful lifestyle and ask God to clean your heart and mind so that it will be anew and you would live your life for him. You would strive to work out your soul salvation and get back up if you fall down..not just waddle in the mud and stay there because it is comfortable to you.

Satan wants to disguise sin as pleasurable to the flesh so that we will stay in it. He wants our flesh to crave it so that we don't want to release it. He wants us to be blinded to the ugliness of it and deaf to the revelation of it when the Word of God is released in the atmosphere over our heads but we must WAKE UP. If the enemy of mankind knows the Word of God and he knows it is true why is it that mankind does not ?

LOVE GOD and LIVE...As my pastor says, 'Milk does the body good, but GOD does it better.' Let us all fall down and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and beg his Mercy and Grace upon our souls. Ask him to deliver us from our wicked ways and save our souls from damnation that our names may be written in the BOOK OF LIFE. Even mine Lord. Even mine. Help me to turn from my evil ways whether in thought, word, deed or actions.

Show me myself, clean me up, make me whole and SAVE ME FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS !-Felicia

SIFTED LIKE WHEAT

The battle I have just stood in the midst of was one of TREMENDOUS force. The enemy decided to shoot his arrows all at once with few spaces between their air speed. His first blow was to my mind and my emotions after my body expelled my child. I was hit by a wave of emotions and a feeling of being overwhelmed and off track. I felt the force of the arrow as it hit and it entered my body.

It spread the venom on the tip into every part of my life and my body ...YET....I kept calling on the Lord because I knew he was the only one that could come and get me out of harm's way and remove the toxic posion in me. I was dazed and confused...riding an emotional, spiritual and mental 'lifecoaster'. The next arrow came with the name of a stranger attached to it. The posion went straight to my job...the arrows rained down in my work air upon me like a sky full of blackness. It was mind spinning...YET GOD.....I reached out to him and asked him if he saw what they were doing against me and saying about me. I asked him even though I knew the answer.

I asked him because I wanted to tell 'MY FATHER' on the demons trying to work destruction in my life. A stranger allowed the enemy to use him as a weapon against me but what he did not know and may still not realize is that the arrow he released for my destruction will re direct it's route and come back to him because it will perform what it was sent out to do but it will perform in the life of the person who sent it out. It will do it because it was sent with a 'distinct intention' and it must perform what it was sent to do...but it can not do it in the life of a child of God. The weapon formed but it can not and will not prosper in the life of a child of God so it must land somewhere in the mud and spread it's poison.

The mud is located in the origin of where the arrow was released. That location is full of the spirit of vengeance and strife and it is soft for poison to grow so it will go back to that place and it will grow whether he recognizes it now or later as the 'fruit of his hand' The enemy used him for my bad BUT GOD used him to be edified in my life even greater. Though ungoldy actions were put in motion, they could not perform in my life because angels were dispatched in my life. A standard was lifted up around me emotionally, spiritually and mentally by my Lord Jesus Christ. He let me stand on my foundation of Faith that grew stronger as the arrows came down all around me.

He covered me with a roof top of Hope that was his blood. Nothing could remove me from the covering of his blood. It has power and it kept me in spite of the arrows falling. They could not successfully penetrate me because God lifted up a standard all around me. His angels came by his command and ministered to my mind, body and soul. When I stood in 'that place' in the presence of God, I called out his name and I laid it all out on that floor of my faith in that place of sanctuary.

I called to the Holy Spirit who was there all the time. I let him know that I believed the Lord Jesus when he told me in his word that he would not leave us alone, that he would send me a comforter, the Holy Spirit. I spoke to the Holy Spirit in that place and told him I needed him to do what God sent him to do. BE MY COMFORTER. I came to the Lord Jesus Christ as he told me , in SPIRIT AND in TRUTH and when I did that in 'that place' , the Lord begin to show me how he was moving and what was REALLY happening in my life in front of the enemies standing outside shooting the arrows for my destruction.

He opened the doors of my sanctuary and I looked out and saw with my spiritual eyes, that he was moving things in place for me for his EDIFICATION to show himself as the MIGHTY GOD he is in my life. He came in like a soft wind and then he swept through and stopped the arrows and bound the tongues and feet of those who carried them . He lifted me when they least expected it and completely removed me out of the way of the poisonous arrows. He gave me the desire of my heart and left the mouths of the snakes wide open and in awe !!

I give him glory and TESTIFY OF HIS GOODNESS ! HE IS THE LORD ALMIGHTY AND WORTHY TO BE PRAISED ! THANK YOU JESUS !

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Is Your Community Service God's Service ?

Today I want to ask a simple question to my fellow Greek organizational members. Is your community service God's service ? You may think this is a strange question but it really isn't. Take time think about this the next time you prepare to put on your Greek letters and walk out the door to promote your organization.

We all should be using our organizations as another way to be about the business of Jesus. The only three letters that really make a difference in our lives and the lives of others, is G.O.D. those three letters represent the ultimate in love. The next time we put on our shirts, jackets, hats , visors etc...we need to take a moment and pray. Ask God to allow us to walk out into the community and show his light in us first and foremost. A Greek Letter Organization should be just another vehicle we as men and women of God can use to bless other people less fortunate than us or those fortunate as we are.

We always say we want to make a difference in the community and we want them to know that our organizations are contributing to this wonderful cause. We need to be careful that we are not promoting the organization more than God's plan. We need to be promoting the love of Jesus in front of the people we serve. The should see him before they see the Greek letters on our shirts. We must ask God to humble us in our organizations. Let us go out first for him and then as members of an organization.

It should not be said so much that an organization did something but that God 'used that organization' to be a blessing and make a difference. We are God's Property first before we are Sorors and Frats, at least we are suppose to be. Some of us will work endlessly for our Greek letter organizations way into the night but will not go to a prayer shut in for eight or twelve hours. We will get up early and come out in large numbers to show our support and sisterhood in the community but will not join our prayer group at church before 10:00am on a Saturday to pray together for the very communities we say we care for.

Edify and promote the work of Jesus in the community , not the work of the Greek letter organization. The spirit of Sisterly Love is wonderful , but the Holy Spirit of God is even greater. While we are walking around on the streets of different communities let us leave a mark of the love of Jesus Christ for mankind and not the mark of an organization being present. They need to see Jesus in all we do. Let us use the organization to band together and promote the work of Jesus in the lives of the people . I would love that someone knew first and foremost that I was a woman of God before the knew I was a member of a Greek letter organization.

There are times when the very women we sit next to in church on Sunday will take on a spirit of vanity and pride on Monday. A vain and prideful spirit is not of God and if it is not of him it is of the enemy . Sickness, poverty, homelessness and death, they do not care about what Greek letter organization you are a member of . They have no respect of person. When it comes , it comes and it can turn your whole life around.

The very person you stuck your nose up in the air at will be the one that holds the blessing in their hands and you may miss it because of your pride or you may be blessed to be humbled and have your eyes open and see that you are no better than anyone else because of the color of your organization or the history. God is first among all men and upon the earth. We must be mindful of this at all times. Do not let anything that does not show the love of Jesus at all times come into your life. It is easy to make something an Idol and that is not of God.

Let us not be consumed by three letters that have no power !! We are all filthy rags in the sight of God....but for the blood of Jesus that covers a multitude of sins we would have been destroyed a long time ago. Let us give honor to God when we enter into his house at all times. Let the people see Jesus when we enter his gates NOT our Greek letter jackets and our bible book cover !! Why would you want your three letters to be seen on the Word of God before the Word of God is seen. Jesus is the superstar in that book no one else and nothing else ! The only three letters people need to think about when they look at your bible should be G.O.D.

Let them see us come together as sisters and praise the Lord together. I mean really praise him not sit on the pew and look stiff and cute with loud make up and big hats and our Greek letter stoles on ! Let them see us hold hands and run around the church together, let them see us at the altar together for prayer, let them see us dance in the aisle right out of our shoes, let them hear us give a shout of praise to the Lord instead of some sorority or fraternity call ! Take off your hats and your jackets and give God the praise !! Praise him for life , Praise him for the Holy Spirit , Praise him for his Grace and Mercy towards us all.

None of us are worthy . Just remember that the next time you want to speak down about another Greek letter organizational member and then go down in prayer. Regardless of why you spoke in an unkind and disrespectful manner you still did it and the words are heard by God. He sees your heart and mind. He knows the truth about you and your intentions. If your intentions are to promote your organization first and not God, he knows that and your actions in the community to me are vain. Remember to pray before you gather and go out. Use the Greek organization as a weapon against all the damage the enemy is trying to do in the lives of God's people.

Go forth together in the Spirit of Jesus first and I believe he will bless our efforts in the community to make a difference in the lives of men, women and children. Seek the Kingdom of God first and all his righteousness and the promotions and good words about your organization will come later. Let the intention be to do a work for the Lord not to get your organization in the newspaper. Put God first and he will bless our work . THANK GOD for his Word. Amen.

FORGIVENESS AND FRIENDSHIP

Today I want to address a special relationship, the relationship of the people we call friends. For me personally, it is a deep and loving commitment to each other. It comes with trust, love, understanding, support, disagreements and sacrifice. I have expectations of the people I allow in my life and my heart to be put in a special category called 'Friends'.

They are people in my life that I should feel comfortable with discussing any and all things because it is going to stay between us. It is someone who would make small sacrifices for me because they know I would make the same sacrifices for them. I expect no less than what I am pouring into the relationship to be available to me . I share my happy moments, sad moments, hurtful moments and call on them when I need prayer and encouragement. It goes unsaid as far as I am concerned that if someone or something has hurt or offended my friend no matter how long ago or how recent, I am there to try and protect her and heal her from it .

If it is someone who has hurt her in some way, I pray for her and show myself in actions, words and deeds as someone who cares about her. I can forgive the person who hurt her especially if it was unjust, but I do not think I could have a 'friendship' or ' close relationship' with that person if I care so much for my friend. That friend who is or should be on the same emotionally-bonded level as I am can count on me not to break the unspoken friendship rules of conduct . She can also count on me to tell her the truth if and when she is out of line.

If her actions cause me hurt and show me that she does not honor or value the relationship I thought was friendship, then my season with her is done. I will shake the dust of my time with her from my feet and move forward . As wounded as I would be I would have to remove my self from someone whose actions reflect that of someone who is an enemy. An enemy to me is someone who is out to hurt you. Someone who does not care about you and feels no love or commitment to you or the relationship .

When their actions effect your relationship in a manner that causes you to be uncomfortable in their presence and stand in total disbelief of what they have done, it is time to walk away because someone has wasted their time and were mislead in what they thought they had with this person during this season. The question then becomes, ' How do you forgive the offense of someone who was so deeply in your heart ? God truly has to heal you and wipe away your tears. The Holy Spirit has to speak to you and comfort you right at that moment when the arrow hits.

You should immediately remove yourself from their presence and go into prayer about your feelings. I have recently had someone whom I loved deeply for about 20 years do something that I think is tacky and completely against the code of friendship and my expectations of her as a friend. I confided in her so many times, I offered her shelter, I loved her, I prayed for her, I asked God to watch over her and her child even while she was in another place making a life for herself and her child. She was out of my sight but not out of my mind or my heart. She was like a daughter to me and a dear friend also.

The disbelief of her actions wounded me deeply. God brought her back into my life physically a few months before she did this and I just can not for the life of me figure out why she was allowed to come back into my life physically at this time just to hurt me so badly. The ad part is she has no clue. She does not understand why her actions are a slap in my face or why I think it is like spitting on a relationship we have had for some 20 years. I met her at a difficult time in my life and she was there for me. I loved her for that and thought that no matter how far or amount of time, she would always be my 'friend'.

Well, it is amazing how wrong we can be. Forgiveness is difficult enough, but when it has to be put into action because someone near and dear to your heart offended you it is even harder. You are all wrapped up in emotional disbelief and hurt so it is hard for the spirit of Forgiveness to come into your heart though you know it must in order for you to go forth and be blessed. A dear prophetess explain to me once what it means to really forgive and I thank her so much for that. God knows who to send in your life with his Word even when you can not find it in his Word yourself at that time.

The prophetess shared this with me, 'Forgiveness is an act of our will and has nothing to do with our feelings.' Some days we may not feel saved, but it does not mean we are not saved! The enemy wants to bring up the past, but if we forgive, then we put that thing under the blood of Jesus and leave it there. When the thoughts continue to come into our minds, we rebuke the thoughts by taking them captive as the Word has told us to and tell the enemy that it is covered under the blood of Jesus !

WHOM THE LORD SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED ! AMEN.

I Thank her so much for that much needed word. I still love the young lady that committed the offense because 20 years of loving someone and praying for them does not just go away. I am still healing from her actions and I am praying for her because she really is still lost and blind concerning her deeds and actions toward our relationship. God has allowed me to see though that it was not a friendship all these years so I release her and move forward with my life. I pray her eyes will be opened and the Holy Spirit will one day reveal the offense to her if she is open to hearing him. I wish her no harm.

I forgive her because I have to and because she really does not know. She is still maturing physically, mentally , emotionally and spiritually and I pray God keep her as she goes through becoming the Woman of God he truly wants her to be. The Lord forgave me when I was in error and when I was out of line and I wish the same for her. She will one day come full circle with all of her actions the good and the bad and will see the fruit of all of them.

If you have a real friend love her enough to pray for her daily. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Jesus Christ's Once and For all SACRIFICE

Bible Study at the Christ Covenant Church International ( CCI) was a PRAISE FEST on last night. I just want to get that out right now. I am so happy that I now long to be at bible study. I hate to miss. I have a desire to go because I feel that I am being taught and having serious discussion. I love it. I encourage all Christians to find a good bible study group and jump in head first and grow !

Pastor Darryl Garrett and his lovely first lady, Rhonda Garrett are the shepherd and shepherdess of this flock. On last night he taught us from the Book Of Romans 5 it was about the basis or foundation of our salvation. When you sit back and really slow down and think about it what Jesus did was what no man on this earth would do for us . An innocent man suffered unjust treatment for the unjust that it was really meant for ! The torment was for us but God sent Jesus to step in front of it . OH WHAT A LOVE ! WHAT A LOVE OF GOD FOR HIS CHILDREN ! WHAT A LOVE FOR GOD BY HIS SON !

Jesus wanted to please God. He wanted to be obedient in his spirit even though his flesh was begging for him to walk away from this thing . It was not ready to take the punishment for sinful man BUT GOD...Jesus ask God to remove it from him but if it were his Will that it not be removed, give him what he needed spiritually to take the suffering that was about to come. The Spirit of Obedience was so great in him it overcame the flesh. God's wrath was upon us but Jesus laid down his life to bring us peace with God. He calmed the raging sea that was so justly about to over take us ! How can you not Thank him ? How can you not want to show your gratefulness for the ultimate act ?

Hebrews 10 explains more clearly the reason why Jesus had to come. There was no other way. The children of Israel sacrificed and sacrificed , but every time they sacrificed it brought that memory of that sin back again. It could not ever be removed out of sight or forgotten . The blood sacrifice of animals was not strong enough to cover it once and for all and cleanse us. The blood of animals was spilled in sacrifice time after time after time because it could not remove our sin once and for all ! When God got tired of us I personally think he was so frustrated with us he wanted to bring his Wrath down but yet, he loved us and wanted some way to get us back to him.

The blood of his son, SIN FREE was the only way this could be done. He brought salvation in a form we could relate to. He gave his son Jesus a body. He allowed him to come the way of human man so he could relate to our struggle here on earth. Hebrews 10:5 says, 'Wherefore he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.' Verse 9 says, ' Then said he, Lo, I come to do they will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. Jesus offered his body once and we were set free to be redeemed back unto God if that is where we wanted to be.

Unlike an earthly priest for the people, Jesus sacrificed his blood and his body once on the cross and that paid the price. It never has to be done again. Our sins are covered under the blood and forgiven if we ask him ! They are never to be remembered by our Savior. Blood has life within it. It is the ultimate life source so there was nothing else that could be shed but our lives and that life source is the blood. Jesus shed out life to cover the sins of this world and turn around and use the same blood shed to GIVE IT BACK as eternal life. SHOUT RIGHT NOW !!!!

For me, the easiest way to understand the love of God for us is to think about the relationship he is using right now as an example of our relationship with him. It is none other than the relationship of parents and their children. When our children are birthed from our wombs and come forth into this world there is an automatic love for them. The body of a woman has carried this life in side of her and nurtured it and allowed it to form within her. It comes forth from her and it is a part of her. We feel that this child belongs to us. This child is ours. We immediately love this child.

As the child/children grow in this world we try and provide all they need ,protection, love, food, shelter and compassion. We teach them right from wrong in hopes that all things will go well for them in their lives. When they mess up we are full of emotions such as, disappointment, disbelief,hurt, anger, shame...but most of all we still LOVE. There is nothing they can do that will take away that love ! We reach out for them when they are in trouble or headed for trouble to try and stop them from making the mistakes but sometimes we have to just stand helplessly and watch them do it anyway and that really hurts.

Yet, we love them still .There is nothing that a child can do to take away that natural love and affection between a parent and a child. The child may not even understand at the time why they can not do something or why they have to do something but we know and we try and be a help to them. We wonder how we can make their lives the best they can be. Well the love of God for us is the same way. He is our FATHER. We are his CHILDREN born from the breath within him which was and is the Holy Spirit. When we go out and act like he has not taught in his Word how to show we know better he is hurt and disappointed I am sure BUT JESUS ! When we act like he is not our Father he is not pleased..YET..he loves us. We are still his and no matter what we do he loves us.

We may not want to love our Heavenly Father or acknowledge him in our lives but he is our FATHER and he is our CREATOR and there is no lie or sinful act done by us that can change that truth. He wants us all to come back home and be with him so he can love on us and we can love on him. He was desperate I think , for a way to save us and get us back home where we could be safe in his arms under his protection. The answer he knew was probably a hard one but a parent will do even the hard things for their children so he sent his SON who was with him when he was creating our forms from the dust. No other sacrifice was pure enough.

Like any parent, HE DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO FOR HIS CHILDREN! OOH THE LOVE OF A PARENT FOR A CHILD ! GOD I THANK YOU FOR SENDING YOUR SON TO SHED HIS INNOCENT BLOOD FOR US. YOU LOVED US WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH SENSE TO LOVE OURSELVES AND CARE ABOUT OUR ETERNAL SOULS.

THE RESURRECTION IS MORE POWERFUL THAN EASTER

Tommorrow morning many Christians will gather themselves together . Some of them call themselves christians but have not entered into God's house to assemble themselves together since the last Resurrection Sunday. Many of them will spend money they should be putting in the tithe basket on a new suit, new shoes, hair, nails and chocolate. Chocolate bunnies, eggs and baskets full of goodies for their kids.

We as Christians must be careful not to give glory to the Easter traditions. God is a jealous God and will not share his glory. We will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on tommorrow and nothing is share in that celebration. We must not give our children large baskets and new clothes as though it is required during this time of the year. We must remember that the best thing we can give them is Jesus. The knowledge of Jesus is the perfect gift. Before we take them shopping and before we buy them a bunny rabbitt or take pictures with the Easter Bunny, we need to sit them down and talk to them about the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the miracle of his rising from the dead and ascending into heaven to be sitted at the right hand of God almighty.

We should train them up so they have reverence and gratefulness in their hearts this season and all year. For them it is not Easter, it is RESURRECTION SUNDAY. Put the Word before them before you put a basket , new clothes or a bunny before them. Teach them it is about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and about him only. Take time out to read with them about the journey of Jesus. Talk to them about how important his sacrifice really was and still is. Explain to them what he gave up to come to earth as a man and give up his place in heaven to come to this earth and save us from our own selves. We were doomed and could not be made clean until the blood of Jesus.

Teach the children that during this season we celebrate the shedding of the blood of a lamb with no blemish, no mark just perfection. He put himself on the altar of sacrifice for us and allowed man to shed his blood so that we would not be lost. He took up a cross deservingly meant for us and he carried it so that we might have an advocate before God for us. A reedemer out of the mouth of hell if we have chosen Jesus instead of the enemy. Even out of the mouths of our ba bies should come praises for Jesus Christ and what he sacrificed. Easter is a term to me, that is used to distract some of us from the true meaning of this season.

When this season comes we should first and foremost have thoughts of thanksgiving not of what we are going to buy. We should be praying with our families and discussing the goodness of God and the obedience of Jesus. We should bow in awe at his spirit of obedience to do God's Will no matter what the cost to him personally for a brief moment for what God gave him in return for his obedience his beyond measure. This is a time to show our children that obedience is better than sacrifice. Now is the time we remind them that sometimes we must go thru because it is God's Will but if they will go through with him and the way he tells them according to his Word he is GUARANTEED to bring them out and reward them .

What is the origin of Easter ? The origin of Easter involves the birth of Semiramis' illegitimate son, Tammuz. Somehow, Semiramis convinced the people that Tammuz was actually Nimrod reborn. Since people had been looking for the promised savior since the beginning of mankind (see Genesis 3:15), they were persuaded by Semiramis to believe that Tammuz was that savior, even that he had been supernaturally conceived. Before long, in addition to worshipping Tammuz (or Nimrod reborn), the people also worshipped Semiramis herself as the goddess of fertility. In other cultures, she has been called Ishtar, Ashtur and yes, Easter.
Contemporary traditions such as the Easter Bunny and the Easter egg can also be traced back to the practices established by Semiramis. Because of their prolific nature, rabbits have long been associated with fertility and its goddess, Ishtar. Ancient Babylonians believed in a fable about an egg that fell into the Euphrates River from heaven and from which Queen Astarte (another name for Ishtar or Semiramis) was "hatched." However, Easter did not always symbolize Christ's resurrection from the dead and the meaning of Easter was quite different than what Christians celebrate today. The feast day of Easter was originally a pagan celebration of renewal and rebirth. Celebrated in the early spring, it honored the pagan Saxon goddess Eastre. When the early missionaries converted the Saxons to Christianity, the holiday, since it fell around the same time as the traditional memorial of Christ's resurrection from the dead, was merged with the pagan celebration, and became know as Easter. The meaning of Easter was also changed to reflect its new Christian orientation.

My personal preference is to use the term'Resurrection Sunday' instead of 'Easter' because of the pagan origins. As we tend to do in the world, we get things mixed up and try and fix them so that they 'feel' right to us or others do not recognize the foundation from which it comes. Easter is not a term originating to acknowledge the victory of Jesus Christ over death and the grave, it was originated to give honor to a non living god . Born from the ignorance and evilness of a people. As we grow spiritually and learn of our God we begin to see things differently and think differently.

Some may argue and say the basket and bunny is for the kids. It is a time for them to have fun and enjoy the compliments of others about their dress, their suit, their hat etc..but kids do not need that to have a good time on Resurrection Sunday. They just need the training up of the way that they should go and when this season comes around they will still be happy and joyful and smiling because they know the importance of the VICTORY that Jesus has over death and the grave. We will have taught them about what he did and why we celebrate and the will rejoice with us , for out of the mouth of babes should come PERFECTED PRAISE.

Make it more about God and not about a bunny and a basket. They are idols. They can not speak, they can not move, they can not hear your prayers why give them any recognition. Keep your children and yourselves focused on the real reason for the season...the VICTORY OF JESUS OVER THE GRAVE ! HE HAS RISEN WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HANDS JUST AS HE SAID HE WOULD. He is ALIVE. He is our REDEEMER and he is our ADVOCATE.

CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT JESUS LOVES YOU. God gave his only begotten son that we might live. AMEN.