Weekly Word: November 5, 2018

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Taking the High Road

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels.

If you win an argument and lose a relationship you haven’t won anything. It takes a lot of conflict and a lot of pain before most of us realize that going the extra mile often means that we come out on the short end of the stick. However, doing it the way Jesus taught means we usually win in time.

Today or tomorrow you’ll meet someone you can either control, convince, or change. Instead of trying to win them over, why not just sow seeds of kindness. Ask yourself, how would God’s love respond in this situation?

Listen – Hereby perceive we love God, because He laid down His life for us; we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren 1 John 3:16. God’s love will cause you to lay down your own will, your wants, and your own way. His love will make you want to reach out in kindness to others, even when it costs you. That’s what we call going the extra mile!

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: October 29, 2018

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Please strengthen me one more time – Judges 16:28

Samson’s disobedience cost him his sight, strength, usefulness, anointing, and his testimony. But don’t count him out! God heard his cry for mercy and his hair began to grow again. His supernatural strength returned, and God gave him an opportunity to accomplish even more in his death than he did in his life. You may be hurting deeply today because of your failures. In spite of all that he had gone through, Samson finished his life victoriously.

There are two things you need to know about God. First, His love will never let you off; Hebrews 12:6 whom the Lord loves He corrects, it’s not enjoyable, it hurts. However, afterwards we can see the positive results. Second, His love will never let you go. When the prodigal son returned, his father was waiting for him. We have all experienced failure and despair, it’s not a theory, it’s a reality!

Don’t give up – look up and cry like Samson, ” Touch me one more time!” I promise you, He’ll do it.

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: October 22, 2018

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Except you… become as little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. Matthew 18:2

What did Jesu mean when he said, become as little children? He meant a child is teachable! If we are teachable we are reachable. If we are hungry for God’s word, we have a future. A child is dependant! Jesus said in John 15:5, without me you can do nothing. Sometimes when we succeed, we become drunk on our success. Then we go out and act like it all depends on us. The truth is we can’t get out of bed without him.

Notice also a child is trusting! It never occurs to them to wonder if their needs will be met. They’ve learned to trust. Someone has said, “If we used God as our first resort, we wouldn’t have to use Him as our last resort.”

Today, we need to become as a little child; teachable, dependant, and obedient. Ask God to help you live that way.

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: October 15, 2018

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What your speech says about you

You are one of them… your speech shows it. Mark 14:70

You can try to disguise your identity by changing your looks, your social circle, and your address. However, the way you speak will give you away everytime. It happened to Peter. When a servant girl saw him warming himself by the fire, she said; you were with Jesus of Nazareth, but Peter denied it several times. In Mark 14 it says you are one of them, your speech shows it. Later it says Peter cursed & swore, I never knew this man.

Paul says in Eph. 4:29 “don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up. That it may benefit those who listen.” Words are powerful things. They either build up or tear down, add to or take from. It’s not important that people can tell from your accent where you’re from. Consequently, something is seriously wrong when they can’t tell by the way you talk you are Christs disciple.

So let our speech and conversation reflect that we belong to Jesus.

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: October 8, 2018

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The Peril of Neglect

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation Hebrews 2:3

On the dashboard of my car there’s a series of gauges. The let us know about such things as oil, brakes, cooling systems… I’ve learned to ignore these gauges can be terribly expensive. Paul warns of the perils of neglecting our salvation.

There are certain warning signs that let you know you have been neglecting your spiritual life; When you find yourself being critical towards others rather than complimentary. When you find it easier to tear people down rather than build them up. When you’re too tired to go to church but not to sit up & watch tv for hours. When you are not reading the word, or praying, or sharing Jesus with others. Theses are clear signals that you’re heading for a break down.

If you see them at work in your life today, then don’t wait another day longer – do something about it!

~ Pastor Turner

 

Weekly Word: October 1, 2018

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Matthew 24:35

Dear Friends,

We are living in interesting times, the political climate seems toxic, and it doesn’t seem like it will get any better in the near future.

On the positive side, God raises up leaders as He wills, and brings down others.  He is in control.

The moral climate in our culture seems to be upside down.  Where wrong is right and right is wrong.  It is easy to get caught up in this confusion.  Even in the church, the culture is creeping in where long held Biblical truths were adhered to.  They are now mocked and looked at in irrelevance causing great confusion among the people of God.

But thanks God we have a standard measuring stick, a compass to guide us.

Matthew 24:35 states Heaven and Earth shall pass away but the Word will never pass away.

We can trust the Bible to guide us through this garbage.  The Truth will set us free!  Free to say yes to what is true and no to the cultures lies.

The Bible rightly understood guides with boundaries and life giving information to live a fulfilling life.

Weekly Word: September 24, 2018

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1 Corinthians 9:22

Someone was asked, what is your purpose in life without blining an eye, they said “to go to Heaven adn ta take as many people with me as I can.” It left the man askibng the question speechless.

There are at least 5 reasons we don’t share our faith more often. 1 – We think it’s the preachers job. 2 – We aren’t sure of our salvation. 3 – We fear rejection. 4 -We have never take responsibility to learn how. 5 – Our love for Christ has grown cold.

But not the apostle Paul; he said, whatever a man is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Jesus…. so Christ can save him. Can you say that?

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: September 17, 2018

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Proverbs 4:13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life

A young sailor was given opportunity to display his ability at getting the ship out of port. He had the decks buzzing with men, and soon the ship was steaming out the channel. He was feeling good until he received a radio message from the Captain that read, “my personal congratulations upon completing this exercise according to the book at amazing speed. However, in your haste you overlooked one of the unwritten rules – make sure the Captain is on board before getting underway!”

Before you make that important decision about your family, you job, or life goals… first take time to read the word from the Lord (your bible.) Jesus said in John 6:33, the words I speak to you, they are Spirit, and they are life. Make sure your Captain is on board, our Lord & Savior, before you go any further!

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: September 10, 2018

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O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years – Habakkuk 3:2

We all need to pray, ” O Lord, revive thy work.” However, we all must remember only He’ll revive His work. He may let yours die. Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit he takes away according to John 15:2. If you could even blame the devil it wouldn’t be so bad. But when God takes it away, that’s rough!

The trouble with a work in progress is always the middle years. Beginnings are exciting, and endings are wonderful, for the crown is in sight and you’re almost home. Moreover, the challenge is how to stay on fire in the middle years. It’s the middle of the marathon that you need your second wind. Thank God for Sundays blessings, but it’s midweek that I need another touch of His presence. The hardest place to be is in the middle of the battle with no end in sight.

Lord revive thy work in the midst of the years, and start with me!

~ Pastor Turner

Weekly Word: September 3, 2018

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Luke 18:1 Men ought to always pray and not to faint

The devil will do anything to keep you from praying. We are too tired, too busy, too depressed and on it goes. There’s a reason he distracts us… because in prayer I get real. When I’m alone with God the pretense is gone, He knows our hearts. Prayer keeps us honest. In prayer, God speaks to us. No, it’s not an audible voice, but it’s unmistakable His voice speaking to the deepest part of my consciousness. Sometimes it’s just a word. Isaiah says paraphrased in chapter 50:4, morning by morning He gives me a word. Therefore, if God talked to men all through the bible, shouldn’t we expect Him to speak today?

In prayer He teaches us to be thankful. With thanksgiving let your requests be made known, Phil. 4:6. Today take time alone with God in prayer. You’ll be glad you did!

~ Pastor Turner