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Encouragement, Faith, Holy Living, Revelations

Maturity

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1 Corinthians 14:20 (ESV) Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Ephesians 4:14-15 (ESV) So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…

“Today is Good Friday!”

Today we are celebrating good Friday on today 43 of our Lent and Intercessory prayer season… This has been a bitter sweet journey over these past 43 days… More sweeter than bitter mixed together which brings out our topic of discussion and prayer on today which is “MATURITY”….  Say it with me:  “MATURITY”…. Life alone has a way about bringing out maturity in us whether we want to mature or not… When I look at the word maturity I began to reminisce on how far we have come as a people… I’ve matured naturally, spiritually and as a Christian as a whole… Well, some people may say how do  you know?  You truly know when maturity has kicked in… It’s when you can tolerate things that once use to irk you the uttermost, and now the same things no longer phase you at this level of life… How does the dictionary define “Maturity”:      “He [Christ] wants a child’s heart, but a grown-up’s head.” – C.S. Lewis   “Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.” – Paul (1 Corinthians 14:20)

ma·tu·ri·ty

1. the state of being mature; ripeness: The fruit will reach maturity in a few days.

2. full development; perfected condition:maturity of judgment; to bring a plan to maturity.
3. Finance .

a.the state of being due.
b.the time when a note or bill of exchange becomes due.

What does the bible say about: “Maturity”

 Scriptures cited from open bible: http://www.openbible.info/topics/maturity

1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Ephesians 4:14-15 ESV / 11 helpful votes

So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Ephesians 4:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

James 1:1-27 ESV / 9 helpful votes

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. …

Hebrews 5:12-13 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

Hebrews 6:1-3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 6 helpful votes

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

James 1:22-25 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

1 Peter 2:20 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

James 2:1-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? …

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

1 Timothy 1:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— …

Romans 5:3-4 ESV / 4 helpful votes

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

John 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 2:1-29 ESV / 3 helpful votes

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: …

Colossians 2:16-17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Philippians 3:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Philippians 2:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Ephesians 6:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Ephesians 2:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Romans 8:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 3:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Romans 3:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, …

John 17:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

John 13:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

John 13:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

John 12:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

John 3:1-36 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. …

Psalm 119:105 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

2 Kings 1:1-18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel. Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.” But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Now therefore thus says the Lord, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” So Elijah went. The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, “Why have you returned?” …

2 Samuel 1:1-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” …

Ruth 1:1-22 ESV / 3 helpful votes

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. …

Exodus 20:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2 Peter 3:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Hebrews 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

2 Timothy 3:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

That the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Colossians 1:1-29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, …

Philippians 3:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

As to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Philippians 2:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Romans 11:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

John 19:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

John 8:31-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 1:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

Luke 19:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,

Luke 18:35-43 ESV / 2 helpful votes

As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” …

Luke 18:35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

Luke 12:48 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Luke 1:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

Mark 10:46-52 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. …

Matthew 21:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Matthew 20:29-34 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” …

Matthew 11:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Matthew 10:1-42 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, …

Matthew 10:1-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, …

Matthew 5:48 ESV / 2 helpful votes

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Malachi 3:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Jeremiah 23:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?

Psalm 119:104 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Psalm 45:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;

1 Kings 21:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And after this Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.”

1 Kings 16:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

2 Samuel 19:42 ESV / 2 helpful votes

All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?”

Ruth 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”

Joshua 6:1-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” …

Romans 3:1-9:33 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) …

Joshua 3:1-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” …

Deuteronomy 21:3 ESV / 1 helpful vote

And the elders of the city that is nearest to the slain man shall take a heifer that has never been worked and that has not pulled in a yoke.

Genesis 6:1-22 ESV / 1 helpful vote

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. …

Genesis 1:31 ESV / 1 helpful vote

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.   Example Sentences

  • Bonds called last week for redemption prior to maturity were in thesmallest volume for many weeks.
  • The successful applicant will demonstrate a willingness to engage inservice opportunities commensurate with career maturity.
  • The study also showed that memory retention depends on thematurity of the developing caterpillars’ brains.
  • The young clones rarely attain reproductive maturity.
  • With the help of nutrients from the soil, plus water and light, it willcontinue to grow to maturity.
  • Remedy showed a considerable amount of design maturity in movingfrom their original open world to a more directed experience.
  • Cabaret venerates maturity more fervently than any other form ofentertainment.
  • Colleges used to be filled with individuals who had the maturity andvocabulary skills to find more eloquent ways for expression.
maturity 
1. the state or quality of being mature; fulldevelopment
2. finance
a. the date upon which a bill of exchange,bond, note, etc, becomes due for repayment
b. the state of a bill, note, etc, when due
  • It is not much different in maturity from nuclear power.
  • For example, replanting a forest as it is harvested may seem fairlystraightforward if the time to maturity is known.

Posted by:  Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas – Reference material used only demonstration of the word Maturity on this 40 days of lenten season – Cited:  Reference materials were  used from:  http:/www.dictionary.com    and Open bible http://www.openbible.com

Encouragement, Faith, Holy Living, Revelations

Discipline

8 Comments

Today as we get closer to Resurrection Sunday, the more excitement and momentum I feel… As we travel on this journey, today we are praying about “DISCIPLINE”… Most of the time when we hear to word discipline we automatically turn toward the negative side of the word…  In the bible, discipline was used for those that Jesus loved dearly…Proverbs 29:15 says: The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother…. Proverbs 22:15~15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

dis·ci·pline

1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill:military discipline.
2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: A dailystint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for
a writer.
3. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.
4. the rigor or training effect of experience,adversity, etc.: the harsh discipline of poverty.
5. behavior in accord with rules of conduct;behavior and order maintained by training and control: good discipline in an army.
6. a set or system of rules and regulations.
7. Ecclesiastical . the system of government regulating the practice of a church asdistinguished from its doctrine.
8. an instrument of punishment, especially a whip or scourge, used in the practice of self-mortification or as an instrument
of chastisement in certain religiouscommunities.
9.  a branch of instruction or learning: the disciplines of history and economics.
10. to train by instruction and exercise; drill.
11. to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.
12. to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise.

The Living Word of God is a Mother’s Greatest Resource

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 ESV)

 

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)

 

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. (Proverbs 31:26 ESV)

“While society relates discipline to an uncontrolled use of physical punishment, Biblical discipline involves love, the heart, and God’s Word. Because God is concerned with the issues of the heart, biblical discipline involves much more than outward behavior. Biblical discipline gets to the heart of the problem. After all, if you can reach the heart, the behavior will take care of itself. In order for us to reach the hearts of our children we must realize that there is far more to parenting than getting our children to act right. We have to get them to think right and to be motivated out of a love of virtue rather than a fear of punishment. We do this by training them in righteousness. Righteous training can only come from the Word of God.” (Don’t Make Me Count to Three!)

 

Bible Verses aboutDiscipline

Hebrews 12:11 ESV / 65 helpful votes

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Proverbs 20:13 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

Proverbs 13:24 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Hebrews 12:5-6 ESV / 16 helpful votes

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Proverbs 6:23 ESV / 13 helpful votes

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Proverbs 29:15 ESV / 12 helpful votes

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Proverbs 22:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Hebrews 10:10-18 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. …

Proverbs 12:1 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Proverbs 13:1 ESV / 8 helpful votes

A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Proverbs 29:17 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Judges 21:5-12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And the people of Israel said, “Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the Lord?” For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.” And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?” And they said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah?” And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly. For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there. …

Joshua 7:10-26 ESV / 6 helpful votes

The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.” In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the Lord takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the Lord takes shall come near by households. And the household that the Lord takes shall come near man by man. …

Hebrews 12:5-11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? …

Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. …

Proverbs 23:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

Hebrews 12:1-29 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. …

Psalm 127:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Psalm 94:12-14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;

Proverbs 28:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes

A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.

Revelation 21:1-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” …

Titus 1:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

Posted by:  Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas, WIFI Ministries

Cited that the scriptures are used for reference material only from http://www.openbible.com

Definition cited from:  http://www.dictionary.com

Cited: Don’t make me count to three – reference material from: http://desiringvirtue.com/category/notable-quotes/

Encouragement

Salvation (People to get saved)

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“I am the way, the truth, and the life; NO MAN cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME.” — Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

Today as we embark on our 43rd day of our Lent and Intercessory prayer and discussion, we are focusing on Salvation and people to get saved!   Getting saved is not hard, and it only requires you to acknowledge that you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you believe that he hung, bleed and died for your sins.  God hear and answer the prayers of sinners… The blind man who was healed by Jesus said, “we know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him he heareth” (John 9:31).Peter confirmed this truth by inspiration when he wrote, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1stPeter 3:12).  “It’s simple, just confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, though shall be saved….  Then you take the next act of faith by being baptized if you have not already been, and that’s pretty much it… The hard part, is living a saved life, because you still have the trials of life, the lust of the eye, and the lust of the flesh that you will find, you have to to crucify it daily in order for it to come under subjection of what thus says the Lord…   

Each day is a process, so just stay with God, get into a good church that’s teaching the unadulterated Gospel, and you will be fine…  Getting saved is your first step toward heaven, and it’s the greatest step you could have ever decided… I commend you on today, for those who made a choice to live a saved life…   There are different levels that God speaks of , but the bible also lets us know that the first shall be last and the last shall be first… So don’t worry about your rank in the Kingdom, just worry about living right and focus on God and his Holy word, and you are headed in the perfect direction…   Now, I warn you, that just because you get saved, everyday is not going to be roses, and just because you are a Christian does not exempt anyone from the  laws of the land or the persecution of the world… You just have to learn as you go along and put all your trust in God….   Amen… (Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas)

 Ye Must Be Born Again!

Jesus Christ is the
ONLY way toHeaven!!!

“How to Go to Heaven

According to the Word of God”


As Cited at Jesus is savior.com / no need to reproduce because it’s precisely written as I did research.. Reference material from: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/how_to_be_saved.html

‘It is very simple to be saved and takes only a minute to explain. Please let me show you how to get to Heavenfrom the Bible, God’s Word…

  1. Man is a sinner.
  • Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
  • John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
  • Romans 3:10, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.”
  • Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
  1. There is a price on our sin―eternal death in Hell.  
  • Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
  • Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
  • 2nd Thessalonians 1:8, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
  • Revelation 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
  • Revelation 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
  1. Jesus paid that price by dying on the cross and shedding His blood; Christ was buried and rose again!
  • Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for 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.”
  • 1st Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
  • 1st Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ…”
  • 1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
  1. By faith in Jesus Christ ALONE we can be saved.

Salvation is NOT found in a religion or good works, but in a Person… The LORD JESUS CHRIST!

  • John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
  • John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
  • John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
  • Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
  • Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
  • Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
  • 1st Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
  • Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

HERE IS HOW YOU CALL UPON THE LORD

Do you admit that you are a GUILTY sinner, under the condemnation of God’s LAW, deserving of Hellfire?

Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God (God in the flesh) who died upon the cross, sacrificing His precious blood to pay for your sins? Do you believe that Jesus was buried and rose again three days later?

That is the good news of the gospel… Jesus DIED, He was BURIED and He is RISEN!

If you’d like to be saved, simply come in your heart as a guilty sinner and BELIEVE upon the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Perhaps you’d feel comfortable praying a sinner’s prayer as did the publican in Luke 18:13… “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto Heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Dear Jesus,
I admit that I am a sinner deserving of Hell. I believe that you died, were buried and rose again. Please forgive me of my sins and take me to Heaven when I die. I now believe upon You alone, apart from all self-righteous works and religion, as my personal Savior. Thank you. Amen.

Just as you were born physically to your parents, so you were born spiritually into the Family of God when youreceived Jesus! Please understand that we are not saved because we pray a prayer; but because we believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. It is certainly appropriate to ask the Lord in prayer to forgive and save us; but it is our faith which prompts us to pray. You could just as easily believe in your heart upon the Lord to be saved, and not pray at all. Salvation is of the heart, as we read in Romans 10:10, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness…”

It’s not what you’re doing that gets you to Heaven, it’s where you’re looking. Look to Jesus!

You do NOT have to be water baptized nor doing anything to get to Heaven other than trust upon the Lord as your Savior. Romans 4:5 proclaims… “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him (Jesus) that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” What a wonderful truth! Our faith is COUNTED for righteousness! There is NO self-righteousness involved in salvation. It is the gift of God. You see, we have no righteousness of our own to offer God. No amount of good can undo the bad we’ve done. Thus, Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe, because we owed a debt that we could not pay. Salvation is receiving, not giving. We are Sinners and Jesus is the Savior. Jesus is precious!

Unbelief is the only sin which can keep you out of Heaven. 

Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it!

Trusting Jesus is meaningless without the cross. You must believe that Jesus died, was buried and rose again. 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 teaches that the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith.

You say, “Surely, it cannot be that simple!” Yes, that simple. It is scriptural; it is God’s plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive Him as Savior today.

If you’ve never been saved, then now is the time to believe upon the name of Jesus, the Christ, that your sins will be blotted out forever and you can know that your name is written in Heaven.

Christ died for your sins. You are a sinner by nature and by choice. Jesus took your sins and charged them to His own record. He went to the cross and paid the penalty for your sins. He says if you’re willing to receive Him in faith; He will transfer His payment to your debt, and His righteousness to your sins. He will impute to you His goodness, and impute to His own record your sin; if you in faith will trust Him as your Savior.

Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

“If you would like to search for a good church where you live, CLICK HERE.

Kindest regards,

David J. Stewart”

You Need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!

If you’d like to learn all about salvation, then please read the book Salvation is More than Being Saved.

Dr. John R. Rice speaks on worldly Christians  — Are they not saved?

Dr. Curtis Hutson speaks on Biblical repentance — Must a person stop sinning to be saved?

Also, you may want to read Ye Must Be Born Again and God’s Simple Plan.

Helpful articles

Posted by: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas

Reference Material Used:As Cited at Jesus is savior.com / no need to reproduce because it’s precisely written as I did research.. Reference material from: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/how_to_be_saved.html

 

 

 

 

 

Encouragement, Faith, Holy Living, Revelations

Intervention (Resolve family, financial, and personal issues)

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God’s Intervention: Genesis 1:4-5 (KJV) 4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

1 Timothy 5:8 (ESV) But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

James 5:16 (ESV) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Hebrews 10:30 (ESV) For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV)Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

April 3, 2012 – is day number 42 on our 40 Days  of Lenten season… I know you might say, but it says 40 days…. Yes it it, but we are going to stretch it  out all the way until Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012… It’s been a bitter sweet journey, but we are almost there..  I had more sweet days and than bitter one’s during the Lenten season…If I had my way, I would have love to encounter the whole 40 days alone with just me and God..  Let’s face reality, everyday it’s just God, myself and the kid….  It’s sometimes we allow man and their problems to creep into the room making you feel like you’ve disappointed God once more…  Nevertheless, I don’t dwell on disappointed, but dwell on how many times I pleased God by doing or saying the right thing… I know everyday is not going to be roses, but I make it my business to make lemonade at the end of the day when I’m handed such a sour card… I try to find solutions on how I could have handled that situation better…  Life is a process, and I feel like we are all still learning how to deal with issues as they come.. I found, if you stay in the word of the Lord, and develop a real relationship with God… No matter what comes your way, you are still able to stand because you know who’s you are and when you know who’s you are you don’t have a problem following after him.

With all that said, I’m going to take the next few paragraphs to elaborate on the topic of discussion for today which is Intervention (Resolve family, financial, and personal issues).

For a lot of us, this issue right here is bigger than life itself…  Intervention… What is intervention?  I’m glad you asked…. As cited at www.dictionary.com – Intervention:  1. The act or fact of intervening or 2. Interposition or interference of one state in the affairs of another.

Intervention is always a great word to know. –
1. The act of intervening.
2. any interference in the affairs of others, esp by one state in the affairs of another.
3. economics  the action of a central bank insupporting the international value of acurrency by buying large quantities of the
currency to keep the price up.
4. commerce  the action of the EU in buying upsurplus produce when the market price dropsto a certain value.

“Let’s do our best on this holy week to (Resolve family, financial, and personal issues)” 

I have enclosed some some wonderful research information I found from Intervention services which provides a large range of intervention treatment for families.. Some families are plagued by drugs, alcohol, sexual addictions… This information will help us with the help and prayers from God to resolve these different family issue…

Some families face financial and personal issues… Nevertheless, one problem can be greater than others, but they all can be resolved with a little knowledge and wisdom and no leaning to our own understanding…  Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart  and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways submit to him,  and he will make your paths straight.

Christian Intervention

A Christian Intervention can bring them back to Christ

christian intervention 300x156 Christian Intervention

What is it that we do when our loved one has lost their way and their faith due to drugs and alcohol?  Oftentimes, a family whose life is centered in Christ feels more comfortable having a Christian Interventionist to help their loved one find their way. A Christian Intervention is performed with a foundation in faith and guided by an Interventionist who found his own personal recovery through accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

A Christian Intervention is ideal for someone who has sought faith or was raised in a Christian upbringing and found a faith that, at one time was working for them. However, using drugs or alcohol has separated them from feeling the presence of God in their life. Instead of connection, there is a feeling of disconnection. It is not God who has disconnected, but a thousand unhandled situations that create guilt, shame and remorse that are blocking the Christian from the sunlight of the Spirit. Alcohol and drugs replace that feeling of disconnection with an artificial sense of connection with other people and the world around. But these artificial feelings are a trap and are always temporary. The alcohol and drug based connections fade away over time and the substance abuser is left feeling even more empty. The world is now empty for them. Even sitting amongst their own loving family can sometimes be an uncomfortable reminder of what once was…when they were happy. He seeks oblivion to make the uncomfortable feelings go away.

But even under these conditions, God is working in their life..

The universe is slowly being rearranged, the temporal distractions that are blocking him are being removed. Perhaps they lose their job, perhaps the money is gone. He is reaching his bottom. And then family discovers that maybe there is a chance to bring them back. Speaking with a Christian Intervention provider, the plans are made.

A Christian Intervention can bring the family back together

Arriving at the family home, the Christian Interventionist gives his testimony and the family begins to feel the stirrings of hope. The following day the substance abuser sits in the living room surrounded by his loving family…but he doesn’t feel that way, he feels alone. Initially defensive, he believes his problems are external. The letters are slowly read and the presence of the Holy Spirit begins to fill the room. After minutes or hours the substance abuser’s objections are handled by the Christian Interventionist one by one. And then there is a long pause. A sense of relief passes over the substance abuser as he looks at his family. “Ok, I will go.”

After a period of shocked silence, the family isn’t sure if what they heard was true. Usually they ask “Did you just say you are going?” to be sure. And then the one who was the loneliest person in the room is surrounded in hugs, laughter and tears.

And for a moment we see a glimpse of the work of God.

If you have any questions about a Christian Intervention, you may contact us at any time.

IS logo symbol Custom1 Christian Intervention

Christian Intervention

IS logo symbol Custom1 Christian Intervention

The Family Intervention

family intervention1 300x200 The Family Intervention

Family Intervention – Because it isthe family that suffers most.

Why is it that we are coming together and having a family intervention?  Is it for our loved one, the addict?  Or is it really for us?  After a hundred drunken episodes, lost jobs or failed marriages, the addict or alcoholic usually seems to remain relatively oblivious to the misery that he or she is causing their loved ones. Aside from the occasional mumbled apology, or the brief moments of self-pity, it appears that he or she takes very little accountability or responsibility for his or her own actions.

It is the family that always suffers most…not the addict. If an addict becomes too uncomfortable, they can always just ingest another pill, take another drink, or smoke another joint to “make it all go away” leaving you to feel the consequences. It is you, the family member, who stays up all night when he’s “out with the boys” again. You are the one who feels unwanted when your husband is passed out on the couch. You are the one who feels the pain of another lost job or failure. The family members are the ones that suffer the most, and the family has been harmed as a result. So it is with you that we must begin our focus. Our family intervention process is broken up into two days, respectively called the “Family Consultation Day” and the “Family Intervention Day”. It is on “Family Consultation Day”, which lasts approximately 6-8 hours, where we can help to begin the healing of the family itself.

A Family Intervention can begin the healing in your family

Intervention Services was started by two brothers, both seriously affected by addiction. One, a drug addict who was slowly killing himself; the other trying desperately to save his brother. We have been in your shoes…and we understand in a way that perhaps few do.

Statistically most drug addicts or alcoholics do not get sober. The idea that one day most alcoholics or addicts wake up and eventually “figure it out” is a fallacy.The alcoholic or addict is usually the least qualified to know how much trouble they are in. Some end up in jail, some overdose or die in automobile accidents, some commit suicide. Some just continue on and on, slowly fading away…the long goodbye. Most never find sobriety and the suffering family waits for a miracle..

Sobriety almost always begins when an outside event occurs that causes an alcoholic or addict to look differently at their life. Sometimes it is after the loss of a job, or a divorce, or when they lose custody of their children. Sometimes it is after they lose everything and end up on the streets. But sobriety doesn’t have to begin that way. The addict doesn’t have to take it all the way to the bottom, for sometimes the bottom is irreversible. Recovery can begin with you…the one who loves them. This is what a family intervention is about.

The S.M.A.R.T. Model of Family Interventions

The substance abusers are different, the families are different, and the solutions are different.  Therefore it is important to understand that the intervention goals themselves need to be different depending on the family and the substance abuser.  Intervention Services uses the S.M.A.R.T. Model of Family Interventions, which allows room to choose the options that best serve your family and understands that there are at least 3 types of family interventions:

1) Recovery Intervention: This type of family intervention has, as it’s end goal, active and usually life-time participation in recovery.  Although most commonly using traditional approaches such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, a recovery intervention may also include Christian or faith-based alternatives such as Celebrate Recovery or other support groups.  A Recovery Intervention may include many aspects of our continuum of care, including inpatient treatment followed by sober living residency for up to 6 months, followed by active participation is support group meetings, outpatient, etc.  The goal of a Recovery Intervention is complete lifestyle change and dedication to recovery.

2) Crisis Intervention: A Crisis Intervention only seeks to handle the immediate unhealthy behaviors of a loved one.  When a child is only experimenting in drugs, binge drinking, or maybe only showing a few signs of abuse, it can sometimes be counter-productive to have one family member dedicated towards pushing a teenager into a lifetime commitment to participation in recovery meetings, and the rest of the family thinking that this is only an unhealthy phase that must be addressed.  Intervention Services uses a Systemic form of family interventions, which means that we have to work collectively as a family unit.  To disintegrate the family and work against each other is one of the worst things that can occur with any intervention

3) Closure Intervention: A Closure Intervention allows a family to feel that they have done everything possible before moving on to a different stage in their life.  Sometimes family members call us and they are rather blunt. “This intervention isn’t about Jim…it is about us.”  Occasionally there are issues of child custody, years of alcohol and drug abuse, feelings of apathy, major illness surrounding a loved one who has “given up”, or just the understanding that the substance abuser has a short time left and we all need to know that we tried. Closure interventions are a way for a family (or family member) to become “unstuck”.  Historically very powerful experiences for all involved, it is an honor for Intervention Services to help guide a family that needs an Intervention of Closure.

In essence, it is important to have an intervention service provider that is willing and able to tailor the intervention towards your needs and expected outcomes.  Although we, at Intervention Services, are considered an authority on family interventions, that doesn’t mean we must be inflexible.  Allow us to guide you through making a choice that has the ideal solutions for your loved ones.

IS logo symbol Custom1 The Family Intervention

Why Families Wait

It is common knowledge within the intervention field that over 90% of clients who are intervened on end up agreeing to enter treatment. However, less than 5% of family members who reach out an inquire about an intervention, actually end up having an intervention done on their loved one. Which means that it is easier to convince an unwilling addict or alcoholic to enter treatment then it is to convince a family to let us do it.

The question is why?

“Why Families Wait?” is a presentation delivered by our Founder, David Lee, at the Mt. Vernon, Iowa Town Hall to family members, educators, and law enforcement to help understand the complex dynamics involved when connected to a substance abuser.

More Intervention Videos

Video Response Series

If you are in need of a detailed answer to a question you may have in regards to your loved one, you may write/email us a question about your family situation and we may provide a video response for you.  All video responses, although publicly made, have been altered to adhere to the utmost in confidentiality and respect of the delicacy of your situation.

“Understanding Enabling” is to help families to understand Enabling in a different way then they have had it explained before.  A part of our Intervention Video Response Series, which answers questions emailed in from families in need of help, this has become one of our most popular.-
reaching the bottom Why Families Wait Reaching the Bottom

“Reaching the Bottom” is another in our Intervention Video Responses Series.  Does your loved one need to reach their bottom in order to change?  It is important for families to collectively understand that waiting for this mysterious event, this “bottom” that they have often been mistakenly informed of…often results in disastrous consequences.

More Intervention and Educational Presentations:

In addition to “Why Families Wait”, the following presentations are examples of the many public service presentations that we provide for schools, educators, treatment providers, churches, and social services.  If you are in need of a workshop or presentation, please contact us for scheduling.

kevin lee intervention presentation Why Families WaitOur Helping was Hurting

“Our Helping was Hurting” is a presentation delivered by co-founder Kevin Lee.  An honest portrayal of a family struggling to help an addict to achieve sobriety, Kevin speaks from a personal perspective as a family member who knows what it is like to have a family stumble through all the “right actions” which only left them more frustrated in the end.

IS logo symbol Custom1 Why Families Wait

Our Helping was Hurting

How much can you give to save your loved one’s life?  Will you give your money, your time, your prayers?  Will you even give yourself until there is nothing left of you?  Every family enables in some way.  Kevin Lee, co-founder of Intervention Services speaks frankly on how his family continued to sacrifice everything, all in the name of love. And how it wasn’t until they learned how their helping had been hurting that the situation began to truly change.

Kevin Lee, co-founder of Intervention Services delivering a presentation on “Our Helping was Hurting” to a group a family members.

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This company called: Creative resolution family-therapy – They take the Trauma out of Drama – check them out: http://www.creativeresolution.net/fort-lauderdale-i-family-therapy.html

 
Creative Resolution Group was created to provide therapy for personal growth and confidence in a comfortable, supportive atmosphere. Therapy motivates you to reach your highest potential and improves the quality of your life. Treatment is individualized, goals are mutually established, and feedback is given frequently. The supportive, engaging style of therapy encourages self-worth, achievement, relaxation, and better ability to cope with challenge. Appointments are conveniently scheduled to avoid waiting rooms and wasted time.Yvonne and Deborah of Creative Resolution Group  practice Psycho Therapy in a warm, supportive atmosphere. This proven approach develops coping strategies to achieve your personal goals, build self-confidence and assertiveness, strengthen interpersonal relationships, improve mood, and achieve balance in the events of living. Goals are clearly established, and progress is frequently reviewed. Therapy is always private and confidential.

At Creative Resolution Group we appreciate the value individual counseling provides but also recognize the on-going benefits of specialty groups.  Our groups are designed to provide information and focus on solutions to improve your life in specific areas.  Please contact us if you are interested in participating in one of our specialty groups.

Therapeutic strategies include psycho-educational presentations and group discussions.  Individuals and families learn healthy models of interaction and self-care while working towards resolution of past issues and identifying effective paths for creating more fulfilling lives.

Therapy is available for the following:

Bullet Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Phobias, Agoraphobia
Bullet Stress and Related Consequences
Bullet Depression and Low Self-Esteem
Bullet Trauma Resolution
Bullet Assertiveness and Communication Skills
Bullet Personal Growth and Improvement
Bullet Loss and Grief
Bullet Step-Families and Single Parenting
Bullet Relationship Difficulties and Intimacy
Bullet Behavior Management and Parenting Skills
Bullet Habit Control (Smoking, etc.)

 Creative resolution family-therapy – They take the Trauma out of Drama – check them out: http://www.creativeresolution.net/fort-lauderdale-i-family-therapy.html

Posted by:  Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas

Cited that Reference Material for Christian Intervention came from: http://www.interventionservicesinc.com/intervention-101/type-of-interventions/christian-intervention/  Family Intervention: http://www.interventionservicesinc.com/intervention-101/the-family-intervention/ – why families wait?  http://www.interventionservicesinc.com/intervention-101/the-family-intervention/
Our helping was hurting :  http://www.interventionservicesinc.com/resources/intervention-videos/our-helping-was-hurting/
Dictionary.com – http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Intervention?fromAsk=true&o=100074
Cited: Reference material  from: Creative resolution family-therapy – They take the Trauma out of Drama – check them out: http://www.creativeresolution.net/fort-lauderdale-i-family-therapy.html

 

Encouragement, Faith, Holy Living, Revelations

Education (Teachers, Students, Charter Schools, HBCUs)

2 Comments

As we embark on day 41 of our lenten season of pray, fasting and discussion… We go the extra mile until Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012… Yes, you can do anything you put your mind to… The challenge of me “Not” answering my phone or returning phone calls unless it has been vital or an emergency have been a real blessing, and it’s showed me that if people want to communicate with you bad enough, they will find a way to get in contact with you via email electronically, text messaging, voicemail, etc… It’s going to be my new way of life for now on… All these other forms I mention are forms of communication, it just require your writing skills which leads me to our topic of discussion on today which is “Education” (Teachers, Students, Charter Schools, HBCUs)… Let’s always focus on education because in the book of Hosea 4:6 (NIV) My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
April 2, 2012 Education (Teachers, Students, Charter Schools, HBCUs)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas….

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encouragement

Sermon Title: “May the force be with you” Youth Pastor Khalis Lemons

3 Comments

Uncut / unedited verbatim worship sermon notes..

Sunday Worship ServicesU
Empowerment Temple

Song Selction:  God Is blessing me right now!

Prayer:  Praying for God’s People on Palm Sunday

Song Selection:  “God is an awesome God!”

Announcement:  Juanita, our praise leader will be on Sunday’s Best.. Let’s support her!!!


Choir Selection:  “It was the blood of Jesus that saved my soul”   “I Know it was the blood of Jesus”

They hung him high and they stretched him wide, he hung his head for me he died… That’s Love…

Offering time….The promises of the Old testament… _ he will make you a lender and not a borrower…

Oh the blood of Jesus!!!   What can wash away my sins… Nothing but the blood of Jesus!!!

Choir Selection:  Holy, Holy Holy… He’s worthy to be praised!!!

7 Last Words: Fri. April 6, 7:30pm

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed…. I need you to realize that your body is in his hands.. I speak healing over ever life that reads this post and lifts their hands.. God is performing a surgery in your body right now and you are now living whole… What can wash a away my sins.. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.. Nothing you can buy can help you more than the blood of Jesus…

Pray of our general confession:  Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. 

We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable.
Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

Communion: 1 Corinthians 11:23 (KJV) 23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Selection:   “How great is our God!  “We exalt thee, oh Lord!!!”   ” This is Holy Grounds, so come and bow down”  Bow down and worship him!   

0God, I’m not worthy of your presence Lord, But I thank you for loving me just the way that I am…. Thank you Lord for forgiving me for doing or saying anything that was not like you oh God… Oh, Jesus I don’t want to miss your glory… . I need your power Lord to go on.. Hallelujah… You get all the glory and the praise in Jesus Name!

  • Sermon Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:32  (NIV) The Crucifixion of Jesus
     32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.

Youth Pastor Lemon’s

 

Sermon Title:  “May the force be with you”

 

No sermon notes… However, I will try to get the video and insert it into this sermon…

 

God bless you all and have a blessed day!!!!

 

Notes taken by: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas….

 

 

Encouragement

Sermon Title: ” Death to humiliation” Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant – 9:30 sermon

1 Comment

Sunday, April 1, 2012 – 9:30 a.m. Service –

Sunday Worship Services

Empowerment Temple

Uncut/ unedited worship and sermon notes… I will insert the video next week to correlate with uncut notes taken by: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas…

Sermon Selection –  “At the Cross where I first saw the light….”

Reading of our Litany:   See the Echoes Empowerment Magazine

Prayer:  Praying for God’s people

Song Selection: “God keeps right on blessing me!!!”

Dr. Jamal H. Bryant: Look at your neighbor and say “I dont’ know what you came to do.. but I came to lift up his name.. Shout Hosanna on this Palm Sunday… .

Give me one reason you have a reason to shout over.. Give God Glory.. If he aint done nothing, don’t say nothing… But I know he’s been better to you than you have been better to yourself…

If you know that April is going to be better than February…. This Friday night at 7:30 we will be streaming live and having service: “Last Seven Sayings” – Go and vote…. Register to vote if you have not…

Pray of our general confession: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.

We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable.
Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Dr. Jamal Bryant… Come to church next week knowing that it’s not about clothes, it’s about church…

Dr. Jamal said: “When he was younger. his mother use to send him to Park Lane to get them Ultra sheer stockings… Yawl remember them stockings that use to come in the egg?   (Dr. Jamal is off the chain yawl!!! I aint mad at him… The boy got’s it going on!!)

Communion: We are standing not because we are so great.. But because God is so great, and has been better to us than we have been to ourselves…

Song selection: The blood that gives me strength from day to day!!! It will never loose it’s power… It’s Palm Sunday Yawl… Get to somebody’s church and get your communion and your Praise on today!!!

Offering selection: Praise him and lift him up!!!

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed…. I need you to realize that your body is in his hands.. I speak healing over ever life that lifts their hands.. God is performing a surgery in your body right now and you are now living whole… What can wash a away my sins.. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.. Nothing you can buy can help you more than the blood of Jesus…

Song Selection: Hosanna.. We sing Hosanna… In the highest.. Let our King be lifted up, Hosanna!!!

Scripture: Numbers 11:11-15  (NIV)

11 He asked the LORD, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”
  • You got to stop carrying people… You do not have to take care  of grown people…  If this is how you are going to treat me, go ahead and kill me… 

Sermon Title:  ” Death to humiliation”

America is watching to see if Justin is going to be done for the young man Trayvon Martin who was killed..  We keep wondering how this man’s records are not showing up..We discovered this week that his father was a retired judge..

The proscecution said that he had been suspended from school, had a tatoo, and had a bag that might had possible drugs in it…

His mother is outraged that  they killed her son, now they are huliiated him by saying all matters of eveil..

The enemy wants to put in your mind that it’s your fault…  He wants you to be the blame thatyou came from a broken home.. He wants you to deny your own body type and want you to live in shame and deny your own self…

The peoople in Israel gets upset that they did not have more to eat, and their complaint was directed right at Moses… In utter in maturity.. He began to digest the mumblings the people that are following him… We hear a leader that is distrought and right on edge.. He asked Lord ‘Why did you put me in this?”  He asked the Lord is it something that I did?  Why are you making me deal with these type of people.. Why did you assign them to me… These are not my children, I do not have a responsibility to make them happy.. I want to tell you in transparency.. I cannot carry this by myself….

If I have any kind of favor, Don’t let me be embarresed in front of them… His connection to favor is not about anythign tangible.. Please block me from humility… But God don’t give me the satisfaction to let them see me be humilty.. .Don’t let my furniture get set out, or an evication, or my car get taken away.. Don’t let my child be in trouble.. God I’m just asking that you keep my name in tact and don’t expose to these people…

God, if I have any favor, please don’t let these people know that I am struggling.. I’m thanking God that some of the worst stuff I’ve done did not come out… .I worship you today because of all of the dirty low down stuff that I did, but I thank you God for protecting me… These peoople don’;t know all t the stuff I was contemplating… Suicide, etc.. But God, ,thank you for covering me with your blood..,.

Moses is complaining to God, and the people were complaining about God…  You better get all these negros out of your business..  If you want the best advice, you better seek God…. I’m getting ready to take it up to God.. He has no ideal that I have one foot out the door…. I’m getting ready to make that one phone call… God this is no time to be playing with me… But since I don’t have no other choice, God, you better do something for me right now… Those who ever been in a desperate place, just talks to God and say it…

God, I need you to send me some money to pay that bill…  It’s not until you are emotionally spent that you pray your best prayer….  I want someone to pray for me until the horns blow up…. I’m desperate… If I did not need to to move, I really would not be in his face…  I held my piece on Monday, I bit my lip on Tuesday… I held my peace on Thursday.. Aint nobody gone shut me up now because I’ve held my peace long enough… I’m desperate…

They keep calling my phone, my kids are acting up, etc…  I don’t ususally act like this, but God I need you to do something for me.. I’m in desperation!..

Lift up your hands and shout out loud that ‘Im desperate”  Moses began to moan and complain out load… I said to God ” I can’t do this!!!”  Have you ever resigned but still active… You quit but you are still trying and fighting anyway… You don’t know how to walk away and giving up… There is no quitting in me.. I have some fight left…

Moses use the imagery… “Is these my kids”  I did not conceive them.?  Did I give birth to them?  I was not in the delivery room with these kids.. Am I they Nanny… Am I suppose to be feeding them, burping them,e t… They are not my responsiblitly.. .Trying to be a provider for a grown person is not your responsibilty….  Go on with your life because you have done your job.. >This is not your job, somebody else put the seed of  humiliation in me… A false sense of obligation, making me feel responsible if I don’t help.. It’s like I’m being mean if I dont’ help.. God is freeing me from leeaches… God had to disconnect me from people that he knew that would drain you….

For those of you that have been nursing humiliation and nursing embarssment.. It is not yours… He just did a blood test, and got the results back and the baby is not yours.. What have been a source of humilation, embarassemtne and shame.. it’snot your and put it up for adopton…  What that son set free is free indeed…

Put is up for adoption because you are not suppose to be ashamed of who you a re and what you have come out of…

A story was told about a lady that lived in Baltimore…  She would walk the little girl, and would stop about two blocks away…. They were having problems in the area , and the mother wanted to walk the girl all the way… but the daughter was embarrassed of her mother.. The girl told her she did not want her to come because the kids was going to make fun of  her.. She had burns on her face.. She said I don’t want you to walk me to shcool all the way because the kids are gong to make fun of you… Do you know what happened to my face?  When you were six months old, the house caugjht on fire, and I went up stairs to rescue you and I got burned.. I sacraficed my life for you….  I may not look my best, but I thank God I survivied.. Never be ashamed what you look like…

When Adam and Eve at the forbidden fruit… When there eyes came open they began to be embarrassed and cover up… It was because when they  realized they were in sin the focus was now on them…  Who told them they were naked?

When you come to church, you should not be looking at no one… You should be keeping your eyes on God…

Some of us can thank God that we are not lovers of yourself… When you don’t love yourself, you will put up with anybody and expose yourselfef to mediocracy…

I did not want to go this far, and I feel like I’ve done you a disserevice…   When I think about our savior and what he’s done for us…

A colt is an animal or a begger… He comes riding in something that does not match him… He’s driving a hooptie..  Whenever the King comes there should be somebody announcing him…. Jesus is a one man band, but he don’t need nobody pumping him up…

Don’t wait for other people to praise you, sometimes you have to throw your ownself a celebration..

This next statment, most of you may not uncerstand this that a person that have low self esteem cannot deal with somebody that have high self esteem…  shout for who you are…. Shout for where you live and what you have… Throw yourself a parade..

The entire itention of crusificiton is humiliaton.. You notice whenever there is a lethal injection, it opens behind closed doors…

But for Jesus, they humiliated him, they pulled his beart, beat him  But I want you to know that humiliation is right before elevation….

When you rise to another level there is nothing they can say because you have already been humiliated…

Moses said something I hope you can grasp and digest… “If I have nay humilation left, dont’ let my life be ruined because of me”

Today marks the death for your season of humilation.. Whatever has been a stain on your life, is getting ready to die today..

The video you saw she was crying because the report was not about her, but it was about someone in the family.

Today, I’m getting ready to redeem the person in your family that has brought shame on the family.. The load is being lifted..

I need to say this one last thing…. Before I say that, say:  You willnot be humiliated..

You were scared that is was going to get out… Your private shame is covered under the blood…  Give God glory for the stuff that won’t never come out”

After the finish the menu and eat manna for two years.. He changes the menu and send qaiul… God said, I heard your cry and is not going to let you be humilated no longer.. Whatever the enemy had on me, he had two years to expose it…  I have to give God some glory beccause the worst part of my life is behind me… Some of the stuuf you heard, I did it. but some stuff they lied about… But he’s working it all for my good.. Tell your neighbor… that the devil thought he had me but I got away…

I should have been on TMZ for some of the stuff I did..  but I still got my praise…. I never shall forget what he’s done for me…

He picked me up and he turned me around… Oh thank you Lord….

I need to make one more announcemt;  ‘Calling all sinners”   Calling all repeat offenders”   God said if you give me a ridiculous praise your record are being expunged… If you give me glory, I’m wiping it out… Old things are passed away and behold all things have become new… Hallelujah… Pull on that neighbor and say.. You have survived your past… The devil should have killled you when he had the chance, but  you are still here… so go ahead and give God Glory…

Shout:  I survived my past… God is cleaning up your record….

Lift up your hands and say my past is redemmed… My present makes sense…  Say he cleaned my record!!!

I want to pray for those that have been living in humilation and embarassemtn… That, that chapter of your lift is over.. You had to go through that for God to make you stronger… It was for your develpment and growth..

Let them live with no shame that they did not finish college, the marriage did not work out.. Let them live with no shame that they had to live with how they looked and what type of clothes they were,etc… Remind them that they are made in your image Jesus…  Be thankful for your story.. Give God glory for your story!

I want you to tell your children how beautiful they are everyday before they walk out of the house… Be your own life coach… and tell your self you are bad before you walk out of that house.. You are fearfully and wonderfully made…. He made you who you were when you were in your mother’s womb…   He already knew that you were going to be trifling, he already knew that you were going to go back to your ex… People can’t rap there mind around how you walk like that and have that kind of swag and don’t’ have nothing.. When so many people tried to take a piece of who you are….

Stand to your feet, befor the musicians play.. This is going to be your run way… you are exhibit “A”  of  what you are suupose to look like…   Turn yourself in before  the enemy looks at you… If you know that God has made an incredilbe investment inyou…. I need you to get saved and join this church…

If you feel like I’ve broken into your email or voice mail,  and I’ve been speaking directly to you… Come right now and give your life to God…

Posted by: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas, President / CEO WIFI Ministries

WelcomeEmpowerment Temple

Encouragement

Sermon Title: “I don’t like not knowing” – Dr. Jamal H. Bryant

1 Comment
Uncut / Unedited Verbatim Sermon notes taken by:  Minister Evelyn Diane / I will insert video of this sermon this week… 

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Sunday Worship Services
Empowerment Temple
Sermon Selection – Worthy is the Lamb
Scripture: Exodus 16:15-16 & 31  14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.  31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’”

Sermon Title:  “I don’t like not knowing” – 

Subtitle: “That’s how I am”
Richard Famine was awarded a noble prize in physics… He declared that he can live with doubt, but he is OK with living with not knowing…
In polar opposite, I do no share until I know… Xenophobia is the fear of knowledge…   Ignorance is bliss… Rather dealing with their own ideal… He could not say all the Republican party was racist… To protest and say our president is a welfare present… They will not support after school programs, and they will support for babies to get here but will not help to take care of them…
The reason why the Gospel is being preached is not being preached with Power.. .If all of our preachers are glad to get…
The Gospel should be preached and not to be played with…  When you are not preaching about liberation, and to  those that are oppressed…
Oh ye generation of vipers.. How long will you be with me and not believe…
We have to call this county for accountability when George Zimmerman have not been arrested…  Joel Olsteen, John Hagee, and Rod Parsley where is your voice… We cannot just come together to sing Kum bay ya, my Lord, ….  The white church needs to stand with the black church as long as their is injustice…. We need to stand together..
Xenophobia is the fear of something you don’t know….  I want to know why they are using jail as the new plantation to use our men?
The day we released the tape of George Zimmerman with in injuries…  I want to know why they did not test George Zimmerman for drugs and alcohol…
I wonder, as you wonder… There should be something on my mind.. .Have you ever had a place in your life, why you have to be nice to people.?  Why you have to say I’m sorry to people that will not say they are they sorry?   Why am at this place where the devil is always picking on me…  Why am I at the place in 2012 that I’m was at 20 years ago?
Why you still praise him?  Because I still praise him because I have joy after all I have to go through…
You are not the first generation to go through the dessert and deep red sea…  They are between slavery and destiny but they have to go through the desert… I think that when God brings me out of slavery I would go to my destiny… If he takes me from desert to destiny I would not…  God wants to see how we will keep our  resilience…
I know that it’s been hard during your desert season… I am in a desert place, and still bless you when things are not growing.. .I can make a way for you even when things do not look like they are in your favor..
In the desert he gives them a limited menu that comes from a rock.. A rock is dead and water is living… When the water came out of the rock it was a resurrection of life… Don’t give up on it, something is getting ready to come out of it….
Whatever you need, Moses opened up his mouth… The more you open up your mouth, the more you will get past your situation.. God will bring something to life out of dead situation… I am bringing you water in a dead situation… I’m thankful for the water, but I need more than that…
I know you have been living in a drought, and it’s been tight and it’s been hard… .By tomorrow morning, I’m getting ready to provide you with what you need… Whatever you are in need of, I’m getting ready to send a blessing in your desert place…
God is getting ready to send something twice a day for your family.. You are going to be blessed twice a day…   You just missed it… You are going to get blessed when you wake up in the morning and when you go to sleep at night…
You are getting ready to get blessed twice, because you have been struggling too long…  Two on Monday, Two on Tuesday, two blessing on Wednesday, and two on Thursday and two blessings, one in the  morning and one at night …  Count your blessings and name them one by one… God is getting ready to bless my twice a day..
They awake and saw something on the ground… They said “What is this”  They called is manna – it’s translate to mean what is it… They began to grind it until it turned in to oatmeal and the begin eating, but trusting God…   There are so people who been trying to figure out how you been making ends meet with no support and no backup.. How are able to smile when you know the people on your job don’t like.. What is it that stops you from slipping into anxiety and depression… Some of your are launching your own investigation to know how you get out of the bed everyday…  People are amazed how you are able to juggle the foolishness and still maintain… God whatever it, keep sending.. .You don’t know why you are not bitter after all you have to go through.. You don’t even know how you are able to keep your peace… “I don’t know what it is”  After the kind of  life I had, I should be on Motrin, Tylenol, Prozac, Xanax etc… but by the Grace of God, I’m not on none of that because of the Grace of God!
I don’t know what it is… I don’t bother nobody, but every-time I have to explain to some trifling insecure folks what I really meant… I don’t know what it is…
This is manna… When God sends you something and you don’t know how to describe… Eyes have not seen and ears have not heard… I don’t’ how I am still keeping a roof over my head, and keeping this car, and know my job is on the edge… I don’t know what it is that helps me to keep all of this.. But God “Keep sending it”
They ate the manna for 2 years straight… Everyday for breakfast and Dinner… I don’t want you guys to start judging the children of Israel… God foreal… Eating the same thing for 2 years… It was nothing about the taste because the bible said it taste like honey…
God I’m tired of tasting the same thing for this season… I’m understand if you wanted me broke, not in a relationship for a season… I understand I’ve been dealing with this for two years.. How much longer do I have to struggle and you don’t want me to say nothing.. How long you want me to be quite and be the bigger person, ,when I know people have been trying to set me up.. I’m tired of the monotony… .It was good in the beginning, and now I’ve hit a brick wall..   I’ve been in this rut for a minute now and I really need some things to change.?  How long do I have to eat manna and don’t know what it is… Moses, might it have been better if you kept us in  Egypt.. At least we had Tilapia, and Halibut etc.. They began to reminisce about what they use to have… We use to live better when we were in bondage… When I was in the streets, I can get the rent paid and get the money.. Now that I’m walking with God I have less..  God says in this season I had to show you that I could live better with less..
Some of us had to downsize… I rather have less than to have to live in sin… I rather have less.. It aint flowing like it use to flow… .But I’ve never seen the righteousness forsaken or seed begging bread…. I’m living with less but I got more joy and peace in my heart…
Ladies and gentleman there are only one thing that grows in a desert is a desire to know.. Sometimes,  God dries some things up so you can get a thirst to know more about him… When things start to go bad you start to seek him out and want to know more about him…
Everyday, they began to eat manna, tired of it but they ate it…  After two years of being with it, they never gave it a name… I don’t know how you are with somebody for 2 years and you don’t know them.. If you been saying you don’t know what this is, you better stop eating it…  I’m out of time….
As we go into the new testament.. Whenever he healed some one.. He gave them this instruction… Please don’t tell nobody… .because he did not want no one to know that he was there…
Of note, there were no one that announced  that he was coming during Palm Sunday… But as soon as Holy week  came they began to be present… . They began to say to shout and they began crying Hosanna because they know who he is…
On this Sunday, I don’t’ have the energy or choral to make you you shout… But when I think of the goodness of Jesus, my soul cry out hallelujah , thank God for saving me…  I’m singing real.. Jesus is real to me…
Grab you neighbor and say God is real to me and he is worthy to be praised.. If he has done anything for for you, you should give God some praise… If it had not been for the Lord on my side.. I have to shout.. .If Hosanna has been a wheel in the middle of a wheel… You have to shout..
Say neighbor, I did not know some people motives and intentions, but when it comes to Jesus, I know what he is all about…   The old folks use to say What do you know about Jesus… He’s alright…  I tried him and I found out that he’s alright…
I should have been dead, I should have lost my mind…  He’s alright… Neighbor, I’m trying not to shout, but I know him….  But he’s been better to me than I’ve been to myself…
Won’t he do it… Is he alright… Shout Yes… Yes.. He’s alright… Glory…
If you don’t know him, don’t shout with me.. You know one day when I was lost…. He Died….
The devil thought he had me, but I got away …. I have to praise him!
He was God to my mother and my Grandmother.. I have to give him praise… I need you to pull on your neighbor and say…. I know him…. I remember when he saved me… I know him!!!
Have you tried Jesus he’s alright… .Jeremiah said, I was
not going to tell nobody but I just can’t keep it to myself…. If you know him, you should shout for joy!!!
Between now 9:02 – you are getting ready to make a shift from manna to I don’t what it is.. .To Manifest… Like you know what it is…
I can’t hear nobody.. Lift up your voice like you know what you are getting ready to get… You are getting ready to go from manna… to Manifest….
You are getting ready to manifest everything that God promised me in my desert place… I need three people that believe that this is my season…
Complaints is praise to the devil… But praise is saints unto God… I know you have been eating the same thing for two years but you know sometimes, less can mean more…
Bless us Lord in this season that we cannot explain.. .Help us manifest and get us out of this desert place and bring their entire household with them….   I give God all the glory and the praise… Clap your hands like the devil is between your hands…
How many of you had to figure out what God was sending you… How many of you are amazed of you own survival and what makes you so strong…
They marveled at Sampson’s strength.. He did not look like he was as strong as he was… So many people know your business and wonder why you have not slipped back into your old life styles.. Because God keeps giving me strength, everyday and every night and keeps on giving me strength..
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When Jesus walked into the city of Jerusalem… The whole city caught on fire.. Everything that is broken in our city is getting ready to be healed and set free.. The begin to give praise for what God is about to do…
Keep your palm as a visible provider.. It is in remembrance of what you are about to receive… Wave your palm and say:  Hosanna forever…
May God rest , rule and abide with you forever… Hug three people and say you are getting ready to manifest , and have a great day in the Lord!!!
Dr. Jamal H. Bryant:  “Open up your mouth and lift up your hands and give him glory…”
Verbatim Uncut Sermon Notes Taken: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas…