Church News
THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY
February 2025
February 3, 2025
HUMBLE YOURSELF
THE BEAUTY AND POWER OF HUMILITY (1 PETER 5:6; JAMES 4:6)
JESUS CHRIST is our greatest example of humility. JESUS "humbled HIMSELF, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8). One of the greatest qualities a believer can have is humility. True humility comes with respect for others. One of the definitions of humility is "a modest or low view of one’s own importance". One writer says, "humble yourself and the LORD will draw near you...GOD will not walk with the proud or the scornful...". James 4:6 tells us that "...GOD resisteth the proud (boaster), but giveth grace (favors) unto the humble". Remember, grace cannot be earned, it is an unmerited (undeserved) favor. Some people love to talk about themselves even though the conversation is about something else. Some people talk big, but live little. A humble person talks little, but lives big. HUMBLE YOURSELF. Saved humble people have self-love, but they are not selfish. Saved humble people can object without being annoyingly or disrespectfully objecting. Yes, saved humble people can disagree without being annoyingly disagreeable. John 7:18 lets us know that the person who always likes to brag on self is a glory seeker. Humble people will take pleasure in bigging up JESUS CHRIST and not themselves. Humble people are not big title seekers, but are big church workers where they are. LORD help us the church to humble ourselves.
GOD bless you!
February 4, 2025
"GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!"
It doesn’t matter what circumstances or situations you may face, just remember that God will take care of you. God knows everything that we go through, His word even said, “He is touched by the feelings of our infirmities”. (Hebrews 4:15). So, don’t worry when you’re faced with any circumstance, because God will take care of you.
Matthew 11:28-30 - “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.
GOD bless you!
February 5, 2025
HEALING
YOUR HEALING IS COMING, YOUR HEALER IS HERE (Exo. 15:26)
"... I AM THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE ". Sometimes we feel that healing is not coming our way on time and doubt starts to creep into our hearts and minds. But remember GOD has the last say in your unpleasant situations. As in Lazarus case in John 11, JESUS can never be late. The writer says, "be not dismayed what ere betide, GOD will take care of you". It just might be that you are next in line for your healing. Everyone of us has a healing need.
WHAT IS YOUR HEALING NEED?
Is it? 1) Spiritual Healing: not loving like JESUS, not forgiving, keeping malice, hating another human being, lusting after stuff, doubting, fault finding in others and not in self, hot temperedness, always judging others and not self, etc., etc.
2) Physical healing: Various kinds of diseases and illnesses (cancer, heart, kidney, diabetes, arthritis, etc., etc.).
JESUS CHRIST had healed many before us, HE had healed many of us, and HE is still healing today. Do not fear, do not doubt, ONLY BELIEVE. Just remember to end your prayer with these words" not my will but thine be done".
GOD bless you!
February 6, 2025
DO YOU INCLUDE GOD IN YOUR DAILY ROUTINE?
As you go through your day, do you include God in your daily routine, or do you ignore Him throughout the day? Just like we love to have fellowship with each other, God (Jesus) loves to have fellowship with us too. He is our heavenly Father, and wants to be involved in our day-to-day life. We should talk to him throughout the day just like our close friends. Your communication doesn't have to be spoken, you can talk to Him in your mind, because he knows your thoughts. He is always with us and promised never to leave us. Like the song says "What A Friend We Have In Jesus".
John 15:15 - Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
February 7, 2025
GOD OR THE ICE CREAM? (Prov 3:6; Matt. 6:33)
The story was told of a little boy on his way to Sunday School (church) with two quarters (money) from his mother who told him, one is for Sunday School offering and the other is yours for ice cream after church. On his way, he was playing with the two quarters, and one fell out of his hands and rolled into the street water drain. The little boy looked up to heaven and said, "LORD, there goes your quarter." Are you like that little boy where the giving of your tithe and offering are concerned when things come up short? We should never put self and other things before GOD/JESUS and HIS business.
Finally, the question is, who comes first in your life's daily walk, GOD or the ice cream?
February 10, 2025
THE THREE WORDS
SEVEN MOST POWERFUL SPOKEN THREE WORDS OF BLESSINGS
1) I AM WRONG, 2) I AM SORRY, 3) I WAS WRONG, 4) I HAVE SINNED, 5) PLEASE FORGIVE ME, 6) I FORGIVE YOU, 7) I LOVE YOU. (1 John 1:9-10; Col. 3:12-14; Eph. 4:31-32; Prov. 16:18)
These are seven of the hardest words to say by some people and even by some Christians. Some have gone to their graves without forgiving, without apologizing, and without admitting their wrong. Missing out on heaven (Matt. 6:14-15). Six of the seven three words begin with the letter I (all five fingers pointing at self). One of the seven starts with the word please which is a plea and not a demand. "Pride (unhumbleness) goeth before destruction, and an haughty (arrogance) spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). We all should appreciate correction and forsake it not. The wise man Solomon says, "Correction is grievous (very severe) unto him that forsaketh the way, and he that hateth reproof (rebuke) shall die" (Prov. 15:10). I am an admirer of a humble person (Col. 3:12-14). Paul admonishes us to "let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as GOD for CHRIST’s sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:31-32; Matt. 6:14-15 ). It is important to know when you are wrong and don't try to defend a wrong, but to be quick to say I AM SORRY; I AM WRONG; PLEASE FORGIVE ME. Humility is strength and should not be perceived as weakness (Col. 3:12-14). Finally, saying I love you from the heart is equally important as saying from the heart I forgive you. Yes, let us all consider the above seven powerful three words of blessings and do them.
GOD bless you!
February 11, 2025
"ACTS OF KINDNESS"!
Today, we pray that we would reflect GOD's love in action through acts of kindness. Reflecting God's love in action through acts of kindness is a key aspect of living out our faith. The Bible teaches that love is not just words but is demonstrated through selfless actions, compassion, and service to others. Here are key scriptures on how we are to reflect God's love through acts of kindness:
Love Others as GOD Loves Us - John 13:34-35
Show Compassion and Serve - Matt. 25:35-36
Be Generous & Share - Acts 20:35
Love Even When It's Hard - Micah 6:8.
I John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love”.
GOD Bless You!
February 12, 2025
THE VINEYARD CHURCH (Isa. 5:1-7; 2 Tim. 2:24)
The vineyard in Isaiah 5:1-7 is a type of the church today. GOD’S (JESUS’) CHURCH is HIS BODY (each HOLY GHOST filled believer) which is a very fruitful hill. JESUS put a fence around it so that the devil cannot come into the holy vineyard church (us). JESUS removed the stones (hindrances to spiritual life growth). JESUS planted the top-of-the-line grape vine into HIS CHURCH (love, holiness, forgiveness, gentleness, patience, respect, obedience, kindness, etc., etc.). JESUS put a water tower in it (HIS taught words). JESUS put a winepress in it (all that you need to sustain you in HIS CHURCH) (no need to go in the world). 1 John 2:15 tells us, "love not the world nor the things of the world". In Isaiah chapter 5, GOD came looking to find the good grapes that HE planted in HIS vineyard, but instead HE found wild grapes (ungodly behavior). What kind of life grapes are you producing? Is it holiness love of GOD grapes or are you producing wild non-loving and unforgiving unsaved behavior grapes? These wild grapes begin in the thought (mind). The devil in holy heaven sinned in his thoughts and GOD had to put him and those angels who were like him out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15). One of our ministers said that when you sin you have just gotten off the church bus to heaven and you can only get back on the bus at the bus stop called repentance. If you from the heart confess your sins, GOD will forgive you (1 John 1:8-9).
GOD bless you!
February 13, 2025
OBEY - GOD HAS ALREADY MADE THE WAY!
Obey what the Word of God (Jesus) says, because God has already made the way for you. Whether you hear from God through an audible voice, a still small voice, or through the written Word of God. Obey what He says, His Word will never fail. The Blessings come through obedience.
Hebrews 11:8-10 - By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
February 14, 2025
YOU ARE A CONQUEROR (Rom. 8: 37; Luke 10:19)
Believers, you should never perceive or see yourself as a looser. GOD has given you power to be a victorious winner and not a defeated loser (Luke 10:19). The conqueror is blessed by GOD and no man's curse can affect him/her (Num. 23:8). The conqueror will seek and acknowledge GOD for directions in all ways (Prov. 3:5-6). The conqueror treats everyone with love, kindness, and with respect. The conqueror stays calm under pressure and in the roughest storms. The conqueror does not seek to impress by bragging, they just humble themselves in the blessings of GOD. The conqueror does more listening than much speaking. The conqueror speaks more of JESUS than of self. The conqueror is not a reflector from the lights of others, but they just let their own lights shine so GOD gets all the glory and not themselves (Matt. 5:16). The conqueror will admit when wrong and never claim to be always right. Finally, like the one leper, the conqueror delights in expressing from the heart genuine gratitude (Luke 17:15-16). Yes, JESUS has made you a conqueror so tell HIM thanks.
GOD bless you!
February 17, 2025
JUST FOR WHO YOU ARE - Psalm 20:7-8
From time to time, I would surprise my wife with a dozen roses for no special occasion. I would say these are just for who you are. We all should do the same for JESUS our GOD. Don’t just pray for stuff things from GOD. Don’t just call on HIS NAME when you need something from HIM. And nothing is wrong in doing so. Join with me today on this THOUGHT FOR THE DAY by sending this prayer letter to JESUS. Hello JESUS, I just want you to know how much I LOVE and appreciate you. I am not asking for anything this time because you already know all my needs. I am presenting to you now this prayer bouquet of THANK YOU for who you are. I thank you for the MANY THINGS you had blessed me with in the past and just like the nine lepers I did not say thank you. Please forgive me, and NOW I say for all those missing times a BIG THANK YOU JESUS. Hallelujah to your holy NAME.
February 18, 2025
"PAID IN FULL"
Jesus (God) put on humanity and came down from Heaven to earth because of His unconditional love for us (Romans 5:8). We owed a debt which we could not pay. When Jesus looks at us as believers, He’s saying your debt has been paid in full. When Jesus hung on the cross, the nails in His hands and feet held him up. Jesus was thinking about each of us individually (Matt. 20:28). His love for us held Him on the cross, as the song writer says, “when He was on the cross, you and I were on His mind”. Jesus sacrificed His life and extended the same love to each of us.
John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.
February 19, 2025
GOD FIRST (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1)
The GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the GOD that started the beginning, yet HE has no beginning and HE has no ending. We define our GOD as THE SELF EXISTING GOD who created the heavens and the earth. Science teaches us that it takes living things to produce and reproduce living things. So, in Genesis 1:1, we first see the word GOD who brought the beginning into existence. Everything that GOD made is a creature, and no creature can be GOD, and GOD cannot be a creature. Therefore, no one should worship GOD made things (creatures), and anything that you put before GOD is idolatry, which is a sinful act. GOD can never occupy second place in any man's life, ONLY first place. Therefore, no man can take first place in HIS CHURCH. GOD must first be acknowledged before the pastor or anyone else. JESUS alone is the head of the CHURCH, which is HIS body, and we are HIS members. May I remind you that what you do in the church should be done as unto the LORD, and that should be your best. GOD will not accept any shabby self-praise seeking doings. HE wants and deserves our best, and HE alone must get all the glory. Finally, let us all keep GOD first in punctualness and wholeheartedness doings in HIS CHURCH.
GOD bless you!
February 20, 2025
COMPLETE IN JESUS!
As Believers, we are Complete (having all necessary parts, elements, or steps) in Jesus. Whatever we need Jesus can supply it. He satisfies our hungry soul with His Word. He gives us comfort in times of distress. He gives us peace in times of confusion. He gives us grace during tough times. All we need is in Him.
Colossians 2:9-12 - For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
February 21, 2025
PROTECT YOUR SOUL (Mark 8:36-37)
Everyone that comes into this world with a sound mind has a soul. Your soul is the spiritual part of you that cannot be destroyed even if the body is destroyed by fire, such as cremation or other means. Your soul is your spiritual DNA identity that can exist in time (this world) and also it can exist in eternity (heaven or hell). It identifies who you are in this world or in eternity. No one can steal or exchange the soul (Matt. 16:26). JESUS told us not to fear anyone who can "kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul..." (Matt. 10:28). We must protect our soul from going to hell . Paul stated "…I pray GOD your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST (1 Thess. 5:23).
GOD bless you!
February 24, 2025
THE LIGHT (John 8:12; Matt. 5:14-16)
The word LIGHT has two meanings: 1) The opposite to darkness; that which illuminates (brightens up). 2) That which is not heavy.
Light is spelled and pronounced the same, but carries two different meanings. Some words like the honorable man name JOB and where a person works are spelled the same, but pronounced differently. Example: Job did a good job at his work, and I am reading my book in Reading (red-ing) Pennsylvania.
The light I want to briefly talk about is that which illuminates and is the opposite to darkness. JESUS says, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth ME shall not walk in darkness (sin), but shall have the light of life" (holiness) (John 8:12 ). The Bible went on to say, "This then is the message... that GOD is light, and in HIM is no darkness at all ... But if we walk in the light, as HE is in the light, we (will) have fellowship (get along) one with another... " (1 John 1:5-7). Because JESUS went back to heaven from this world, HE says in Matthew 5:14-16, that we who are saved "Ye are the light of the world... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven". Light believers will do "good works" and not works of darkness (sinful world). Let us not seek to take GOD'S glory for the good works HE allows you to do because it is dangerous to do so. Read Acts 12:20-23. But seek rather that you give GOD all the glory, praise, and honor. That is what true light believers do.
GOD bless you!
February 25, 2025
“JESUS, HE WILL FIX IT!"
Globally and Internationally people are overwhelmed with everything that’s taking place in our Nation. The cries are ringing louder, the uncertainty fills the atmosphere, and anxiety has become a norm. Some are worried about their future, others are worried about food and the price of gas, while some are afraid to be seen in public. But let me encourage someone today don’t worry because, “Jesus, He Will Fix It”. The scripture forewarns us that, “we should not put our trust or confidence in man” (Psalm 146:3). We have to trust and depend on God like never before. It’s prayer time because “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry”. (Psalm 34:15-19). Jesus, He Will Fix It after a while! You can depend on God!!
Psalm 118:8 - It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man”.
GOD Bless you!
February 26, 2025
THE LIAR AND THE HYPOCRITE (Acts 5:1-11; Prov. 12:22; Prov. 6:16-19)
The danger of lying is critical to one’s health, life, and soul. In Acts 5:1-11, a husband and a wife named Ananias and Sapphira intentionally lied about money they received from a property they sold. The lie caused them their lives. Peter said to them "... thou hast not lied unto men, but unto GOD" (Acts 5:4). One of the six to seven things the LORD GOD hates is a "lying tongue" (Prov. 6:17). Don't let money or anything cause you to lie and damage your soul. Saved people must control the money and not the money controlling them. Too many believers in the giving of their tithe and offering causes money to jeopardize their souls. Remember Ananias and Sapphira. (See also Malachi 3:8-9).
A hypocrite is a person who "puts on a false appearance". They are people that show off. It is hard for a hypocrite to be consistent in their daily living. They fluctuate in being real. One thing today for convenience and another thing tomorrow. There is a certain leader of a major country who appears to be very hypocritical and is a chronic liar, yet the voting people, especially the Christians, voted for him in great numbers. Many who voted for him are now suffering because they or members of their families have lost or will lose their jobs because of him. These voters and the country are crashing down very low in the eyes of the world. In traveling to other countries, they must be extremely careful. We as true believers should vote for JESUS every day that we wake up. May I encourage you to stay focused on JESUS and don't be a liar or a hypocrite.
GOD bless you!
February 27, 2025
OUR HOME!
Whether you live in an apartment, condo, rowhouse, townhouse or single detached house, as believers these places are not our permanent homes. All of these homes are temporary. Our permanent home is in Heaven. So, don’t worry about what is happening negatively in this world; we didn't come here to stay forever.
Revelation 21:1 - And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
February 28, 2025
HUMBLE YOURSELF (Col. 3:12; Matt. 23:12)
Humility can be a sign of one’s greatness. JESUS CHRIST has set the number one example of humility for every church leader and members to follow. Unlike the Jewish leaders, JESUS dressed in simple clothing like his disciples. There are some church leaders today who have high academic and religious education, yet in humility they do not use them in the church or on their church’s letterheads. The love of titles by many church leaders are prevalent today. Some church leaders will get upset if you do not mention their titles before their names. When asked what is your name, they will say my name is doctor so and so, or apostle, or chief apostle, or Bishop so and so, etc. A title is not a name and if asked what is your name, no title should proceed before your birth name. The love of titles has led to the downfall of many. Whether it is a biblical gift title as in Ephesians 4:11-12 or a legal academic or Bible school religious education title, all are not a part of your birth certificate name. So never give a title as part of your name when the question is asked "what is your name"? And if you are asked in church, who are you, your title brother or sister is ok to be used because all of us are either a brother or a sister. So let us all seek to big up JESUS and not ourselves.
GOD bless you!
TFTD Ministry
Mt. Olivet Apostolic Churches
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