Tag: jesus-christ

Good Morning Sunshine! What Kind Of Servant Are You?

Matthew 25:21 KJV ~ NKJV “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’.”

How many times have you read this parable? Well read it again, Matthew  25:13-29.

What has God entrusted you with? Are you doing everything that you are supposed to be doing for God? You do want to hear Him say this to you, “Well done good and faithful servant?” I have a question for you, have you been faithful? Have you been true? What have you done with the gifts that He gave you? Stop asking God for more gifts, if you haven’t even done anything with the one that He has already given you!

Your gifts are to Glorify Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior, they are from Him, not you. His death and resurrection are a gift to you, a gift that you don’t deserve, but because He loves you, He gave you the ultimate sacrifice! He died that you might live and then He gave you gifts to spread the Gospel and to show His love through serving others! No other motive except love, pure and simple, love!

I’m sure some of you have invested in stocks and bonds and you plan on reaping benefits and increases from what you did in the natural and I’m sure that you are hoping for double and triple return on your investments. But how much have you invested in your spiritual gifts? Are you cultivating them? Are you using what God gave you? Investing in what God gave you will yield the greatest return, eternal life. Man will give you a temporary award, but what God gives you is a reward from His heart to your heart and it is more valuable than anything that you have or will receive!

You do know that you must properly invest in your gifts to improve them if you want to double them. You must be about your Father’s Business, in order to reap a blessing on your gifts. Don’t be like the man that took his gift and hid it, (Matthew 25:24-27), but use them so that they may multiply and increase for His Glory! You must remember that the gifts you have are not from you or for you, you didn’t get on your own, all of your gifts are from God, use them wisely!

Today, there are two very important lessons that I want you to always remember. First, God gave you your gifts and talents and they are to be used to further His Kingdom and not your agenda! And there is no laziness in the Kingdom of Heaven! You will not be able to hoard your gifts, they are to be shared! Secondly, your gifts and talents are to be used to further spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, if you are using them to make a name for yourself or a profit and to make you look good, you are out of order and you need to repent immediately! Jesus will teach you how to spread the Gospel through the gifts that He gave you. You are to spread His Word and to be a good steward over what He put on the inside of you. You are a disciple growing into discipleship, and this is a beautiful blessing!

When you stand before the Lord someday, do you long to hear Him say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” If you do, be faithful to Him who is faithful, and He will advance you to your next level! When you share the gifts that God gave you to advance the Good News, you have become a faithful servant, and your Master will bless you and the joy of the Lord will be yours and you will hear Him say well done!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You! Thank You for all of my gifts and talents. Please forgive me for anytime I used your gifts to benefit me. Father, teach me how to be a good steward over everything that You have given me, for everything is for Your Glory. Father, You gave me these gifts to Glorify You and to advance Your Kingdom and this is my desire, to do what pleases You, to be about what You want day in and day out. I am faithful and true to You and I want to hear You call me Your faithful Servant. In Jesus Christ Name.  Amen!

Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! How Far Will Your Testimony Go? 

Mark 5:1-2,6-13,15-16,18-20 ERV ~ “Jesus and his followers went across the lake to the area where the Gerasene people lived. [2] When Jesus got out of the boat, a man came to him from the caves where the dead are buried. This man had an evil spirit living inside him. [6] While Jesus was still far away, the man saw him. He ran to Jesus and bowed down before him. [7-8] As Jesus was saying, “You evil spirit, come out of this man,” the man shouted loudly, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you in God’s name not to punish me!” [9] Then Jesus asked the man, “What is your name?” The man answered, “My name is Legion, because there are many spirits inside me.” [10] The spirits inside the man begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of that area. [11] A large herd of pigs was eating on a hill near there. [12] The evil spirits begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs. Let us go into them.” [13] So Jesus allowed them to do this. The evil spirits left the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd of pigs ran down the hill and into the lake. They were all drowned. There were about 2000 pigs in that herd. [15] They came to Jesus, and they saw the man who had the many evil spirits. He was sitting down and was wearing clothes. He was in his right mind again. When they saw this, they were afraid. [16] Those who had seen what Jesus did told the others what happened to the man who had the demons living in him. And they also told about the pigs. [18] Jesus was preparing to leave in the boat. The man who was now free from the demons begged to go with him. [19] But Jesus did not allow the man to go. He said, “Go home to your family and friends. Tell them about all that the Lord did for you. Tell them how the Lord was good to you.” [20] So the man left and told the people in the Ten Towns about the great things Jesus did for him. Everyone was amazed.”

Read and study all of Mark 5:1-20

In looking through an old notebook from 2021, I found this question along with today’s scripture, and I want to pose it to you. “How Far Will Your Testimony Go?”

Have you ever felt ashamed to be a witness for Jesus Christ to others? To tell your story, the true story of your deliverance, because you were afraid of what someone would think of you. What will you say to them? But when I read this account of the demon-possessed man from the Gerasenes, it really leaves you with no excuse! What has God delivered you from? Have you told anyone about what Jesus has done for you? 

After this man had been demon possessed for most of his life, he was excited to be healed and free! Now you may not have had as many demons as this man or maybe you have had more, but thanks be unto God, you are healed and demon free today, you are clothed in your right mind! Are you rejoicing at what the Lord has done for you? Do you want to just be with Jesus Christ day in and day out? You need to tell somebody about it! After Jesus healed him and set him free all he could think about was being with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He begged Jesus to let him go with Him, but Jesus said no! He needed him to be a witness of what the Lord has done! 

Jesus knew that it was far better for this man to be a witness in his home than a disciple with Him. So, when is it better to be apart from Jesus than with Jesus? When it is the Will of the Father! It was better for him to be sent away from Jesus than to remain with Him without His permission! Jesus needs you to be a mouthpiece for Him in your home, in your church, in your community and on your job. Somebody needs to see the change in you for themselves! Jesus told the free man, “Go home.” Go to your family, and then to your friends, and tell them what the Lord has done for you, how He has shown you mercy! This is to encourage you and those closest to you, for they will see with their own eyes just what the Lord has done for you! Don’t doubt the impact or importance of your influence on others! People are watching you, especially those that are close to you! 

Can’t nobody tell your story like you of what the Lord has done in your life! For the demon possessed man, nobody could tell his story to his neighbors except him, anyone else would not have been qualified to share the good news with them. They needed to see him for themselves, he is healed, free and in his right mind?  For those who knew him when he was in the caves and cutting himself with rocks, knew him, and now they see a a healed man and they know that it was Jesus! What Jesus did for Him was worth talking? Is what He delivered you from worth telling someone? I know He didn’t just deliver you from your sins and now you want to sit there like nothing happened! God forbids! 

Somebody needs to see you and hear your testimony! You have to be a witness for the Lord in this hour! When he went to his family and his neighbors and told them what Jesus did, they were amazed at the transformation! Guess what Jesus is not asking anything more from you then what He ask this man to do! You may not be a preacher or a teacher, but you are to be a disciple and a servant of the Most-High God, and you need to tell them just what God delivered you from! 

Tell them your own story and what Jesus did for you! Stop trying to fit in, it’s not about fitting in, it’s about standing tall, being your authentic and transparent self so that He may get the Glory for you! You were called to be different. You are in this world, but you are not of this world, and this means that you don’t operate by their standards, you don’t buy into their opinions. For you know what God has done for you and you have to be genuine when you explain that to others by being truthful and trustworthy! 

Today, look for ways to serve and love others while you follow Jesus, and as you follow Jesus listen to the Holy Spirit and do what He says to do, for He will give you the exact Words that you need to say! For your testimony is everything to someone who is going through and needs to be free. They need to know how you made it through and over, tell them it was only because of what Jesus Christ did for you on Calvary that you are here today! It’s time to be reconciled back to God! 

There is a song called, “Whose Going To Tell Them” By Marvin Winans! Please listen to this! 

Let’s Pray:

Father, Thank You! Father, bless me today, I tell them about what You did for me. Father I seek to share Your Word, my faith and Your Salvation with my family and friends who have not yet called on the Name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior! Father I want to tell everyone I know that have not surrendered their lives to You, that time is running out and that You will be coming back soon! Father I know that it is Your desire that none would perish. Father, help me to share with them and to not push them farther away, give me the Words to speak that they may see You in me and see the transformation that had taken place in my life since I accepted You! Father I Thank You that nothing can separate me from You and Your love, for the length and breadth and height and depth of Your Grace and Mercy is beyond my understanding. Father, Thank You, for saving me, I pray that my testimony will draw others to You. For You are a Healer, Deliver, and a Comforter to the lost and to the broken hearted, Thank You for binding up all of our wounds and making us whole! Father I thank You that every thought that I have is held captive by You and Your Word. Father, I am willing to go where You send me and to tell those whom I meet, of the great things You have done for me. Thank You Father for having mercy on me, in Jesus Christ Name. Amen! 

Blessings…

Love, Minister Jean

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Preview YouTube video Who’s Gonna Tell Them – Marvin Winans

Who’s Gonna Tell Them – Marvin Winans

Good Morning  Sunshine! It’s Praying Time!

1 Timothy 2:1, 3-4 KJV~ “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; [3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

Today, I’m offering up prayer on your behalf, and I want you to do the same thing for someone else. God has equipped you to be a prayer warrior, we need to pray for one another as our Father has taught us! And let’s not offer a selfish prayer with you in mind, but pray that all would come to know Jesus Christ, repent, turn from their wicked ways, surrender to Him, and seek His face daily!

Father, today, I come to You right now on behalf of every one that will see, hear and pray this prayer. First, I repent of all my sins, and I ask You to forgive me, so that the prayer that I’m praying right now will not be hindered but will smell like a sweet incense unto You. Father, I lift up my brothers and sisters to You, fill them with Your Holy Spirit, that they may be refresh in there, spirit, soul and body.  Father, You are their Rock, they can take refuge in You! You are their shield and the horn of their salvation. Father, thank You for being their stronghold, and Savior!

Father, guide them along the right paths for Your Name’s sake. I pray that when they walk through the darkest valley, they will fear no evil, for You are with them; Your rod and Your staff will uplift, comfort and bless them, In Jesus Christ Name! Father, You know about every one of their needs and I thank You, that You are meeting them according to Your will and plan for their lives. Bless them with wisdom, peace, good health, finances, direction, strength, love and all the things that they are in need of in this present moment!

Father, give them a heart to forgive, heal all broken relationships, problems in their homes and families, issues on their jobs and in their ministries. Give them revelation that can only come from You! May they hear Your voice, like never before and follow it with all their hearts. Restore the joy of their salvation to those who are laboring, Father, may the joy of the Lord flood over them and help them to serve You with a newness of heart and spirit. Father, I pray that they are not anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let them present their requests to You.

Father, I declare peace and joy in the hearts of Your people! I proclaim that You will bless Your children and will keep them; You will make Your face to shine upon them and be gracious to them! I pray against all the plans of the enemy that would try to steal their joy and peace from You! Father, I’m praying for them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! In Jesus Christ Mighty Name. Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Yep, Jesus Said It! 

Matthew 16:24 ~ “Jesus said… “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Yesterday’s devotion was inspired by my friend Rev. Yolanda, “Do It Because God Said So!” And as I was sharing that with her, she gave me this and its today’s devotional. Thanks Rev. Yolanda! 

When you were younger, did you ever play this game, “Simon Says?” You could only move when the person in charge gave you their approval, and said so, if you just move without them saying Simon Says, you were kicked out of the game! I know I used to be upset when I got put out of the game, I would be trying to reason with them that I didn’t move, when all along I did, I just didn’t want to be out! How many times have you did something wrong, and you didn’t won’t to admit it, you wanted to just keep going. It’s time to stop doing what you say to do and do what Jesus said to do! You don’t have to listen and do what Simon Says, you have Jesus, now do what He says to do! You won’t be kicked out; you serve a God who redeems! And if you have forgotten, you have been redeemed and purchased with the Blood of Jesus Christ! (I know this extra manna is for someone.) Now let me get back to the devotional!)

But to God be the Glory, He is not like man! One wrong move and man is done with you and sometimes it’s forever! But not our God! Because of love, He has given you another chance to obey today! To do it because He said so! Thank You God for Your Grace! Thank You God for not putting us out or giving up on us when we moved too soon or too slow! It’s right here that you should be jumping up and down thanking God, because He didn’t put you out! He didn’t give up on you, even when you gave up on you, He stayed right there with you! He gave you another chance and another chance and another chance when is still giving you a chance to stay in the race! He is more than the God of a second chance, He’s the God of many chances! 

Let’s just look at the three things that Jesus tells us to do in today’s scripture. And no this isn’t what Simon Says,” but rather, “Then what Jesus said” to do: 

1) Turn Around (“let him deny himself.”) You have to deny yourself, it’s not optional! Examine yourself! Repent! And Turn! You have to see things the way God sees them! You have to turn and walk away from the darkness into the marvelous light! You cannot use your own human knowledge and wisdom to accomplish this step, but instead you must be willing to die to yourself and go willingly in faith like a child! 

2) Bend Over and Stand Up (“take up his cross.”) Every day you are to pick up your cross, you have to set down your burdens, and the other things that you tend to think about, that you think define you, lay it down! Taking up your cross does not equal the burden of being you, your identity. You are indeed unique, but each day you should take on something new from Jesus Christ that makes you look like Him and act more like Him! 

3) Now Go Forward (“and follow Me”). Following Jesus Christ is called your sacrificial living! The goal is for you to be moving towards the Kingdom! Towards Eternity, your ever after! When you are moving forward towards the Kingdom, it can only happen when you learn how to put others in front of you! I know this might sound foreign to you, but God said it in the beginning, and it’s written in the Bible, the Ten Commandments, (Exodus 20:2-17) and you do know that they still matter today! You make sacrifices all the time to climb ladders in your careers, for relationships and for any other personal goal that you want to achieve. So why not sacrifice without the ladder and simply do so because Jesus said so! 

God is the only One who will not put you out when you move too soon or too slow. He will never ever give up on you (Deuteronomy 31:8) and while you have breath in your lungs, the time is now to do just that, choose Him! This way when you think you can’t do anything else, you won’t be sitting somewhere talking about what you wish you woulda, shoulda, or coulda done twenty or thirty years ago! Are you breathing this morning? If so, you have time to say yes to Jesus and do what He says to do today! Today is the only day that matters, don’t dwell on yesterday, and don’t worry about tomorrow it’s not here yet, (Matthew 6:34) because and you might miss what He has for you today, right now! 

Are those three things hard to do? No, they are not! The thing is that you can’t do all of them at the same time. You have to take one step at a time. You just have to start right where you are. Surrender your will to the Will of your Father and ask the Holy Spirit to lead the way. And then you just follow Him and when you get over day one, you start over on day two and if you move too quick or too slow it’s okay, God is not going to kick you out, this is where His Grace and Mercy kicks in to help guide you back into your proper alignment! 

Make it your goal to today, to Turn Around, Bend Over, Stand Up, and Go Forward and see where listening to what “Jesus Said” takes you! 

Let’s Pray: 

Father, Thank You! Father I repent for holding onto things in my life that you need me to let go of. Father, I confess right now that I have been holding onto my own thoughts and ideas on the way I think You should work. Father, I want to see the changed in me, today I am purposing in my heart deny my will and follow Your Will. Father, thank You for Your correction, for You chastise those that You love, and I know that You love me! Father, create in me a clean heart and renew Your right Spirit in me. Father, I commit to make the changes that You say in my heart and mind so that it will pave the way to victory in every area of my life. Father, I have faith in You and as I walk through every door that You open, I will be grateful and obedient! Father, I will sow in my time and resources as You instruct me to do. Father, please remove wrong thinking from me when You reveal my thoughts to me, for I am listening to You through Your Word and Revelation. Father, I know that Your plans for me are exceedingly, abundantly above what I can even imagine or plan for, I know that You want good for me and that You have a bright future full of hope, joy, peace and love. Father, today I am praising You and Thanking You that Your will for me is to prosper and be blessed in every way possible! Father I have put all of my trust in You and relinquish my will for Your Will! It’s what You say! In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! You Are On Call & On Duty! 

1 Corinthians 7:20,24 NIV ~ “Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. [24] Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.”

How you fulfill the demands of your vocation is a part of you being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Or to put it another way, how you do your job is a part of your obedience to Jesus Christ. 

Do you know that so many people believe that the only way they can serve and live for God is by becoming pastors, or a teacher? How many opportunities have been looked over just because of this mindset? I just need you to know that that is the furthest thing from the truth, it’s not the office they hold, it is the sincerity of their heart; and it is not the position that helps them to do it, but it is the grace of God that enables them to serve and glorify God. God is glorified at the workbench, where the godly worker fulfills his duty of serving the Savior in love. You don’t just need to be in a pulpit or behind a desk to serve God, God will be glorified far more when you humble your heart! 

You can glorify God as the garbage truck driver or bus driver, you can bless God by speaking to His people and offering them living hope through how you live! You will be more useful than the one who stands behind a desk because you have your boots on the ground and you are not peddling the Gospel for profit, but you are glorifying God through servicing the people and operating in your vocation that God called you too! So many times, as the body of Christ you become concerned about what someone else is doing or you complain about what you could be doing for God somewhere else that you miss the great opportunities to serve right where you are. Paul says that those who become Christians should continue with the work they have previously been doing for the Glory of God!

Every job can become Christian job when you realize that it can be an opportunity for you to honor, serve, and to be the vehicle and mouthpiece in the earth realm to speak out for Jesus Christ! God has placed you where you are for a purpose, this place is your call to duty station, and you are on call, so get busy! Take every opportunity to serve Him there and serve Him Well, lives depend on how you respond! Today, do not neglect the path of duty by leaving your current occupation, and take heed and do not dishonor your profession while you are in it. Every profession that is, God knows about it, may every profession be sanctified by the Presence and Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, you will find some of the most menial forms of labor that was connected either with most daring deeds of faith or with persons whose lives have been illustrations of holiness. You have to operate in your Faith in your calling.

Therefore, do not be discontented with your calling, God knew what He put in you from the beginning (Jeremiah 1:5). Whatever God has made your position or your work to be, remain in that, until He calls you to something else. Let your first concern be to glorify God to the best of your ability where you are. Fill your present sphere to His praise, and if He needs you in another, He will show it to you. This evening lay aside anxious ambition and embrace peaceful content. Lead the life in which God had called you. In whatever state you are called, remain there with God, for this is the Divine call by which you were drawn to believe in Christ. The calling of the Holy Spirit has pulled you into fellowship with Jesus Christ. Simply put, the call of God that came to you, came through the power of God and Gospel of Jesus Christ. “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:9. This is for you my Christian brothers and sisters, you received the call, and you answered the call. Jesus said, “Many are called, but few are chosen,” Matthew 22:14, you have been called to bring the Word of God to the world through service! 

Everything happens for a reason, and you need to trust the Spirit of God and follow the peace that He gives. Oftentimes, God will call you to do a thing that doesn’t make sense at that moment but follow the plan anyway. When God calls you to a thing, He has already made the provision for it. God told Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you … Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:5b, 9, NIV). The same is true for you today. When God calls you, He equips you to the job and the best thing that He equips you with is Himself! 

Let’s Pray:

Thank You Father for a new day. Thank You Father for drawing and calling me into Your purpose. Thank You for knowing me so intimately that You know all my thoughts and fears and you know how to calm me down. Father as You call me, give me a boldness to do what You have prepared me for. Give me the courage and strength to step into my calling. Give me courage and please continue to remind me that You are with me every single step of the way and that You will never leave me. Father thank You for equipping me to follow through and up. Father, I trust and obey You, I know that You will do all that You have promised me. Father, grant me all the grace to be conscious of Your presence in and at my work and to obey all of Your commands in the vocation that You have called me to. Father keep me from complaining, helped me to be committed to Your plan and see Your hand at work in my vocation. Father, I desire to live the life in which You have assigned to me and to do the work that You have called me to. Father I trust You in this season and calling, teach me what I need to learn as You prepare me for my next level of increase. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! It’s Time To Get It Out!

Hebrews 10:22 NLT ~ “let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”

Have you ever been walking and then felt a rock or pebble in your shoe? And at first you just tried to adjust your foot in your shoe, thinking you could make it and for a minute you thought it worked itself out. The smallest of something that gets in your shoe will affect your ability to keep going, sooner or later, you will have to pay attention to it. So, you continued walking only to realize that the pebble was still there and now it’s making you walk uncomfortable. You thought about stopping, but you thought to yourself that you could keep going, it’s only a pebble, a minor nuisance.

You can keep walking, but now that pebble is starting to feel like a big rock and it’s causing you pain and it’s affecting your walk because now you are trying to being careful how you put your foot down, it’s making your walk both painful and uncomfortable when it should be a pleasant one! But enough is enough, that pebble has got to go! So, you stop, take off your shoe, maybe even your sock and you shake everything out and inspect your sock and shoe before you put it back on and then you take a few test steps to make sure it’s gone before you finish tying/lacing up your shoe again, you have to make sure that, that pebble is gone! Now you can breathe a sigh of relief before you proceed with your day!

Well just like that pebble got to you after a while, having sin in your life is like just like that pebble in your shoe! You can’t walk far in life; it will cause you pain and slow you down. Sin that is constantly piercing your mind is like the sound of dripping water faucet at night, it stops you from getting any peace and rest! Today, my sisters and brothers, the only way to find rest for your mind and soul is to point it to the cross of Jesus Christ. This is where every sin that you have and will ever commit, Jesus died for it, He substituted His body and took on your punishment because He loves you! Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, for your sins to be forgiven and washed away by the cleansing of His blood! Because of what He did on the cross you can approach God for yourself, you have been cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ! You should be screaming and shouting, Glory Hallelujah for what He did just for you!

The more you believe in Jesus Christ and His Word, the more you will be able walk with a clear mind and free of the rocks of sin, and the further you will be able to walk with God! When you allow God to remove the little things, the pebbles in your life that have caused you discomfort, you can draw closer and closer to God and gain strength spiritually. Can you testify to the strength that He has given you? Can you testify that God has delivered you? You do know that you can turn to your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and you will testify that He has healed you and made you whole again, only He can remove the pebble/sins out of your life if you will let Him!

Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father! Thank You for a brand new day! Father, forgive me for tolerating things I should be removing from my life. Those little pebbles can be worse than any big rock because I tend to ignore them. To you they are all the same, sin! Thank you for the opportunity to repent right now and to pour out of me everything that is not like You. Father, I’m bringing everything to the altar today and giving it to You them in prayer, and You loving me and forgiving me. Thank You for speaking into my life today through the rock and pebble that was in my shoe. Father, today I choose to fix my eyes on You.  I am choosing to honor You with my thoughts and my words.  I am focusing on my life the being changed through Your Mercy and Grace. Father, I choose to allow You renew and restore my life that true healing may take place that every broken place can be healed. Father, I am handing everything over to you that my pebble, my sin can be removed from my life. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Do You Have Any Salt?

Matthew 5:13 NJKV ~ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

When It Rains, It Pours! This is the Morton Salts slogan, and the logo is a little girl walking in the rain with an umbrella, this was created in 1914! For as long as I can remember I have used this brand of salt, my grandmother used it, my mother did too, I use it and my daughters do too! I can remember eating my watermelon and pouring that salt on it, it made it taste so good. The Morton company had found a way for their salt to flow freely even in adverse weather conditions.

Are you wondering why I’m giving you a history on salt. I’m glad you asked, so let me tell you why! You should be like salt! In life and ministry, (all of are in ministry in one way or another, because we are all servants of the Most-High God. Yes, I know that some of us have different titles, Pastors, Prophets, Prophetess, Evangelist, Elders, Ministers, Teachers, Deacons and Deaconess and countless others, but they all boil down to being a Servant for God.) so no matter what your title or position is you should display the same usefulness, integrity, and truthfulness as a box of salt that you use.

In today’s world so many ministries and ministers are trying to market the gospel, they wrap it into a nice little package and call it advertising instead of what it should be an encounter with God and a pure worship experience, but this has been replaced and we now call it entertainment. As I ponder Morton’s slogan and begin a Christian this thought came to my mind, as, a child of God, I should not be a fair weathered Christian as I minister for Jesus Christ! Am I good every day, no, but I strive to be every day. Are you at your best all the time? (Be honest)! Listen to what the Word says we should be and how we are to be, 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.” This is not based on how you feel, this is what you are supposed to do!

There is one thing that I have learned since I truly said yes to God. Folks don’t just want or need help when it is most convenient for me. When it rains, it pours! In my honest and transparent moment, there have been times when it’s raining in my life and someone will call for help and in my weakness I want to say, I don’t have enough in me to share, I want to put a sign up that says “off duty” and then I remember that I said yes to God, in season and out of season and then He brought me to His Word, 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Now my behavior and speech should be seasoned with salt, that I may know how to answer every man, (Colossians 4:6)! It’s at this point that you are being seasoned with grace and that Jesus Christ Power comes alive in your weakness and it is distributed through you so that you may minister to those that He sent your way!

As a Servant, Minister of the Gospel you must have good moral and ethical standards both in private and public, they go hand in hand. You might believe that man don’t see it, but God does, He sees everything! You need to have solid relationships with others. We live in a society that is full of corruption, and if the people in the world can’t tell you from them how can you influence them to do or be better. Jesus Christ needs you to be in true and honest so that you can be positive influence in the society where you live. Think about it this way, the more you are like the world, the less influence you can have upon it; but the more you are like Christ, the more influence you exercise over those to whom you minister. Your level of influence for Christ will never rise above the level of your likeness to Christ!

The grace that Jesus Christ has given you is good. There is an additive that is in salt to persevere it, well Jesus put it on the inside of you which enables you to pour out when it’s raining, and you are able to maintain your sincerity and character in ministry as you minister to those that are out of your season. Jesus says that salt is good: but if the salt ever loses its saltness, how can it be season again? It can’t, just like you and your witness, if you lose it, you can’t get it back. You get to determine how your conduct will be and how it will affect your ministry. It’s simple you are going to depend on you and the worlds gimmicks and tricks or, are you going to depend on the effectual fervent Power of the Word of God alone!

As you minister to others you are supposed to be leading others to Jesus Christ, your fruit should be producing fruit that is changing the lives of those that are around you and are soaking up what you are giving. Who are you influencing? The Word says that Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” It’s in this place that your heart posture must be right. The Word of God is living and it’s powerful, and when you preach/teach the Gospel, it is strong enough to stand on its own. It knows all things and it sees all things, especially in your heart, Hebrews 4:12. It is the preaching of the Word, in season and out, that the Spirit of God, is made available and it is pure, and it does save, change, produce, exalts and Glorifies your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father! Thank you for giving me Your Grace and Mercy to run this race. Father forgive me for the times I got weary and wanted to quit, thank You for Your strength to endure to the end. Father help me do all things without complaining and murmuring, thank You for making my crooked paths straight, help me hold firmly to the Word of God, so that on the day that Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run my race in vain and that my work was not useless or trampled on by men. Father, today I choose to rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering unto You, let my service be an offering to You. Father, I say yes to You! Thank You Father for preparing me for Your blessings and the fulfillment of Your Promises in my life. Thank You Father, that Your pressure has refined me and purified my heart that I might live like You love. Thank You for burning away my insufficiencies and fortifying me in my weakness that I may look and sound more like You. I am going to hold tight to my confession of faith for it is the Word of Life and I am going to run my race of faith without stopping, I will remain but committed, for great is my reward for seeking after You! Father thank You for being the protector of my salt, may every word that I say be seasoned just right by You and for You because of Your Grace and Mercy. In Jesus Christ Name. Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Are You A Whosoever One?

Luke 9:24-26 AMP ~ “For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake, he is the one who will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God]. [25] For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], and loses or forfeits himself? [26] For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the [heavenly] Father and of the holy angels.”

You have only one life, that’s all you get, there is no reproducing, one life, no more and no less, period! What you do right now in your life will determine how and where you will spend eternity! So, if you are living your life by trying to bring fulfillment and honor to yourself, then be prepared to lose everything including your life!

If you chose you, you give up everything that is of eternal value for the temporary fix for your flesh, you made the choice! Remember, when the time comes for you to meet your Lord and Savior, you cannot take anything that you had with you, your money, cars, houses, and everything else that is temporary, all of that will be left behind for someone else. You just kept wanting and getting more and not sharing and doing for God’s people, because you wanted more! You chose stuff over your relationship with God, now you have nothing in the end to show for it! Don’t pursue what is insignificant and perishable but invest in what’s long term and lasting in your life, Jesus Christ!

However, if you choose Jesus Christ, then you are living now to live again, and eternity should look really good to you! Now you understand the value of your relationship with Jesus Christ, because you chose Him first! Today, can you say, no to you, to your ways, to your wants and follow Jesus Christ without any questions or reservations, just because it’s Him?  Your eternal view will be determined by what you do now!

Today is your day, trust the processes of God and keep the faith in Jesus Christ, and be prepared, to take up your cross and follow Him and His footsteps, for the sake of your life with Jesus Christ! This is your God ordained assignment from God, it’s your destiny to be with God for life!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You for preparing everlasting life for me. I intentionally choose You today and every day. You are my Lord and Savior and I give it all to You. Use me how You will! I will shout to World that I am Yours! Lord forgive me for putting more value on what’s temporary over my eternal life, nothing or no one is more important than You. I choose You and Heaven as my eternal home, help me to stay on my journey to see You and to hear You say. “Servant well done!” In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen!!!

Blessings…
Minister Jean