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| Just Trust GodI have had the hardest time learning to trust God. Its like having Faith in Him is one thing and trusting Him is something entirely different. I was sitting here working on my Youth Group Discussion and I thought about Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was more than likely a teenager when she was promised to Joseph. Joseph was probably
a much older man. She was young and pregnant and her fiance' was not the baby's daddy! First of all she had to be very confident in God and she had to truly trust God to agree to such an arrangement in the first place. She put her life on the line because she could have easily been accused of adultery and stoned to death because of it. She knew this when she accepted God's "favor."
How did she feel when she told Joseph she was pregnant and they had not had sex yet? What did she tell him? Did she tell him that the baby was from the Holy Spirit. Hmmm...Joseph would think her to be an adulterer and a mad woman. He was about to leave her. In the midst of facing a possible death, humiliation of being an adulterer, disappointment from her family, and also looking like a loony toon...Mary had to trust God. And she did!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5,6) | | |
| Twelve Days of Christmas
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.
The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments
Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.
May you have a most blessed Christmas knowing that God does reign,
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| If Only For OneI was released from my job earlier this year as youth pastor because the church split and they went into debt, so they could no longer afford to pay me. Well the Lord has sent me back to this church. I have about three to five youth on a given Sunday. One day I ask Minister Anderson, I said "I'm not sure about this job. There are no youth and the ones I have are dead. I don't know what I am suppose to do. I feel like God just stuck me in a grave yard and said "Preach"! Minister Anderson told me about how when she was incarcerated the lady who came to the prison to be a chaplin did not want that job. She felt the Lord lead her there, but she couldn't see why. After all the prisoners were not serious and most of them were convicted murders and everything else. Before Minister Anderson was released the chaplin came to see her and she told her, "I don't know why, but the Lord sent me to you to let you know that he requires your life." Minister Anderson said this woman spoke with her for a little bit and she left. The day Minister Anderson was released was the same day this chaplin quit and left the prison. Minister Anderson said this woman changed her life. Mrs. Anderson got her life on track after being released from prison. She has gotten her B.A. and her M.A. in Biblical Studies and is working on her Doctrine. She is one of the most powerful women in ministry that I know. Mrs. Anderson told me, "Aerika, nothing is coincidence. God has a purpose for you being at that church. If it is only for one person, just one, then God will be glorified. He may send you to change the life of one person. Just go in there every Sunday and do what you do."
I have felt this way about this web page, but I got two responses and I feel like I do make a difference. So even if it is just for those two people, I will keep my web page and I will do what I can to update at least once a week. I thank you guys for your support.
In the midst of this brief thought, I hope and I pray that my journey through doing this web page and working at this "dead church" I can be like the prophet Ezekial who looked at the valley of dry bones and even though it made absolutely no sense to prophecy and speak the word of the Lord to this dead and dry group, he did. He watched life come upon them and in them. That is what I hope to see in my lifetime as a minister. I hope to see the "dead" live and have new life in Christ.
I pray you all have a Merry Christmas and be ready for the extraordinary new year. I am studying the Life of Christ and as I learn, I will share with you.
In his name
Ja Ja Samone | | |
| Shut DownI am thinking about shutting down this site. After all I don't use it and no one reads it. So I will probably shut it down on the first of the year
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| I forgotCan you name the only Cartoon that acknowledges the true meaning of Christmas (Jesus Christ' birth for those of you are unsure). Your answer "Charlie Brown." Charlie was so distrought that he throws his hands up sceaming..."Can someone tell me what Christmas is all about?"
Linus steps out and says something along the lines of, "Sure Charlie Brown I can tell you what Christmas is all about." He then begins to quote the passage from Luke 2: 8- 14. "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest." (this is the NIV, I personally like the KJV that Linus uses, but unfortunately I do not have one on me at the moment.)
"That is what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown!"
What is amazing is that so many of us know this to be true. Christmas is not about gifts and cards and trees and lights. Christmas is about Christ our Lord who was born...(even though December is not even close to the actual date) and he was our gift of Salvation. The ultimate plan of God. The promise made thousands of years before was finally here. He grew and was a man without sin. He took the sin of the world on to himself. He laid down his life and became the ulitmate sacrifice. He was beaten and bruised for our transgressions. He was humiliated, put to shame, nailed to a cross like a common criminal and rose from the grave three days later. He is the literal meaning of "a bundle of Joy." He is suppose to be our main focus on Christmas Day.
We forget every year. Every year...Every single year. Jesus is the reason for the season and He is all that matters. I forgot about that. (I'm sure you didn't though). I wiped the tears from my eyes and ease the pain in my own heart as I look at the possibility of not being able to get my two boys much of anything this Christmas. What will I say to them? It seems sometimes we will say "Christmas is about Jesus anyway...not the gift" when we honestly can't give the gift.
I will be content with not getting a thing for Christmas. I just want my boys to have a great Christmas. Everyday I sacrifice myself for my boys. Everyday I will make a decision to go without so they can go with. I will go without buying myself clothes, but I will make sure my boys look their best everyday. I will go without shoes. They will have the best pair. I will go with my hair lookin' tore up. They always have haircuts. I will go without eating and they will always eat. I lay down my life for my children...and I don't mind. My sacrifice is my gift to them everyday. My sacrifice is also my worship to God.
My point is...Christmas is about Jesus. I forgot about that when I cried over not being able to give anything this Christmas. I cried when it was not about the gift anyway. I forgot. When Christmas day shows up and lets say I only give one gift to each child. Will I forget again when they look at me dissapointed. Will I continue to tell them the true meaning of Christmas and they not understand. Will my sacrifices that I make everyday mean anything on that morning. Or will I have to wait until they are grown before my sacrifices are appreciated.
When God doesn't supply you with the gifts that you desire, like you didn't get that car you wanted or you didn't get the promotion or whatever you asked God for, its not because he couldn't give it, its because of other reasons. But if he doesn't show up when you expect will his sacrifice that he made on the cross be enough? Will you remember that salvation is the only thing that really matters? Will you be greatful at what he does for you everyday or will you just be so dissapointed with the one, two or fifteen things that He did not get you. Will you sit there with that sad dissapointed look on your face? Will you forget? | | |
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