forgiveness

FELLOWSHIP ~ THE FAMILY ROOM

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

“3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with THE FATHER and with HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” ~ I John 1:3-4 NKJV

MY HEART CHRIST’S HOME: THE FAMILY ROOM! ~ In the first century, when the NEW TESTAMENT was written, there were no churches like the ones we have today. There were no modern denominations wooing us to their team. 😊 We often find ourselves looking at THE BIBLE as if it were written in our Post-Modern society with cars, technology, and much more. It was NOT!

So, how then do we apply what we read in THE BIBLE written so long ago to our lives today? Here’s what I will say every time: “It all begins with a relationship with JESUS CHRIST!” 😊 HE left heaven, lived HIS life on earth, and died for you! All this, so that, your broken relationship with GOD could be mended through HIS blood. That begins your FELLOWSHIP with GOD!

Well, do I have to go to a church according to the BIBLE? NO! However, you do have to meet with other followers of JESUS to encourage them and to be encouraged. The best way to do this is to find a church where THE BIBLE is taught and preached truthfully, openly, and honestly. That is how you grow in fellowship with GOD and man as a true believer in JESUS!

How’s your FELLOWSHIP METER? 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Check out this link:

https://www.gotquestions.org/fellowship-with-God.html

GREATEST MOTHERS OF ALL TIME!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Proverbs 31:10-31 NLT

THE GREATEST MOTHERS OF ALL TIME! MOM, MOTHER, MOMMA, MAMA, GRANDMA, MIMI, MEMAW, etc.… What incredible gifts to all children. Take a moment to think of one of those times that your mom and/or grandma made everything better. Maybe it was something a small as a skinned knee, or it could be that moment where the world felt as though it was closing in on you. There was mom; encouraging you through the worst of times.

I remember so many times my mom desperately wanted to make everything better. Every time I broke a bone, failed a test, or had a car accident She would make me a banana sandwich, or her spaghetti goulash. She would just be there. Another time, I was staying with my grandmother, and my leg cramped up so badly I was screaming in pain. She took me for a wale in the cool morning. It went away. Then, she took out some crayons and taught me how to color using my finger to shade. Such simple moments that mean the world to me as an adult. Listen to this:

I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.       II Timothy 1:5 NLT

I am sure you have great stories of your mom and grandmothers. Take time to remember those wonderful moments. Also, call out to GOD on behalf of your children, and stand in the gap for them as they navigate the treacherous waters toward and through adulthood. Give them JESUS every day you can ~ HIS Word lasts forever! ~ By the way, they are probably telling some of their favorite stories about you even now. 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

EASTER ~ A NEW DAY

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

30 When JESUS had tasted it, HE said, “IT IS FINISHED!”

Then HE bowed HIS head and gave up HIS SPIRIT. ~ John 19:30 NLT

EASTER ~ A NEW DAY! ~ Why is EASTER such a big deal to followers of JESUS CHRIST? No doubt some of you will dismiss the question, but think about all the people who have no idea why our sacred holiday is such a big deal. There are specific reasons for which we cannot merely settle for a bunny, flowers, and a feel-good holiday. We believe in the cross & the empty tomb!

For the Christian, EASTER is the proof of our faith because, without the resurrection, JESUS could not be the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON of GOD. However, the truth of this event goes so much deeper. Our great hope comes from the words, “HE IS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID!” EASTER morning gives us confidence and makes us seek JESUS to guide us daily. C. S. Lewis said it so well:

“I believe in CHRIST, like I believe in the sun —

not because I can see it, but by it I can see everything else.”

We each fall so far short of earning heaven every day.  Our sin divorces us from GOD and HIS love. Nevertheless, the BIBLE says,

“When we were utterly helpless, CHRIST came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But GOD showed HIS great love for us by sending CHRIST to die for us while we were still sinners.”              

(Romans 5:6-8 NLT)

This is why EASTER is so important to us! Now, the choice is yours:

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of GOD.”

(I Corinthians 1:18 NLT)

Have you started A NEW DAY by giving your life to GOD and be saved? 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

PALM SUNDAY to EASTER SUNDAY!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “TEACHER, rebuke YOUR followers for saying things like that!”

HE replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

Luke 19:39-40 ~ NLT~ (Habakkuk 2:11)

PALM SUNDAY to EASTER SUNDAY! What does your family do to make the most of this wonderful week? How do you make it special and different than any other time of the year? I fear many of us place more emphasis on CHRISTMAS than EASTER. For us, CHRISTMAS and EASTER ought to all be about HIS birth, death, burial, and resurrection. If you are a CHRIST–follower, I urge you to avoid making bunnies, peeps, and baskets the focus of this EASTER WEEK! Let’s emphasize JESUS & proclaim “HOSANNA! ~ Save Us!”

In the passage above, the Pharisees tell JESUS to keep EASTER a secret. If you read and listen to what JESUS said about this in Luke 12:8-9, then you will realize this is a very serious issue to our LORD and SAVIOR!

“And I assure you of this: I, THE MESSIAH, will publicly honor you in the presence of GOD’S angels if you publicly acknowledge ME here on earth as your Friend.” ~ The Living Bible ~ (TLB)

Listen to this same verse in THE MESSAGE BIBLE ~ (TMB):

“Stand up for ME among the people you meet and THE SON OF MAN will stand up for you before all GOD’S angels. But if you pretend you don’t know ME, do you think I’ll defend you before GOD’S angels?

Today, in church we sing the song, “Somebody is gonna praise HIS name” by PETRA. The lyrics state, “It will either be you and me, or it’s gonna be a rock or tree.” There is another great song that says, “Ain’t no rock gonna cry out in my place!” Do you struggle to share your faith in JESUS? FEAR NOT! ~ BE BOLD, BRAVE, & VERBAL! This is a great week to tell others about JESUS! They are wondering and listening. May JESUS and HIS HOLY WORD be on our hearts and lips every day this week! 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

NEVER GROW UP!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

1 Joash began to rule over Judah in the seventh year of King Jehu’s reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. 2 All his life Joash did what was pleasing in THE LORD’S SIGHT because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. ~ II Kings 12:1-2 NLT

NEVER GROW UP! Do you know the Books of the BIBLE by name, in order, both OLD and NEW TESTAMENTS? OK! Can you quote verses of the BIBLE from each Book of the BIBLE with the addresses where they are found? Good! Do you know why the BIBLE was written, and the purpose of each BIBLE BOOK? Well Done!

If you were able to say “yes” to those questions, then you had a spiritual leader in your life. Most of us had a pastor or teacher who was taught through pastoral leadership. In the OLD TESTAMENT, these were the priests. These priests studied for years to help others understand what GOD was saying through HIS WORD ~ THE BIBLE.

Of course, I admit, not every priest, and not every preacher/pastor, provides the spiritual insight to share the deep spiritual truths we need to survive these tumultuous days. Nevertheless, there are those who seek GOD’S FACE, study HIS WORD, and provide moments of deep communication between GOD and HIS people. These are the ones we need most today. We are desperate for a generation of sold-out, all-in, fully-devoted follows of JESUS who are called to serve to bring the truth the to those who have ears to hear.

That’s exactly what King Joash had when he was only seven years old. He had a man dedicated to GOD in his life, Jehoiada the priest, who shared the deep truths of the BIBLE with him. Boy, did that make a difference in his life and the lives of all the people of Israel.  WOW! We need preachers and teachers opening the BIBLE led by the SPIRIT! 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

PS ~ Then HE said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children,  you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. ~ Matthew 18:3 NLT

REDEEMED: Your Story Isn’t Over Yet!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

“And she told him the story. So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her.”                 II Kings 8:6b NLT

RESTORED: My Story Isn’t Over Yet! ~ As we prepare to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King on Monday, I believe we need to remember why, in 1983, President Ronald Reagan chose to set a day of celebration to honor the memory of the positive things Dr. King accomplished. He stood face to face with many who judged people merely by the color of their skin. This Baptist minister led peaceful rallies to raise awareness and make changes to a horrifying condition in our homes and churches. Many, in the name of religion, chose to cling to hate and violence in the name of their church and religious beliefs. This has always been an unbiblical, demonic activity. Martin Luther King’s life was taken, in 1968, by hateful people for his dream of love. 

In our walk through THE WORD today, we revisit the woman from Shunem whose son was resurrected by GOD through Elisha the prophet. (II Kings 4:8-37) Having helped Elisha, her circumstances change as a famine hits the land. She and her family are forced to leave everything behind for which they had worked so hard. She must move to a foreign land for seven long, lean, depressing years. This happens through no fault of her own. She is a victim of these circumstances. It’s unfair! Why didn’t she quit?

Far too many of our friends, our children, and our grandchildren are overwhelmed by circumstances. Listen to this, “over one billion people struggle with mental illness.” Moreover, “there is a 56% rise in teen suicide.” Furthermore, “1.1 million people die by suicide each year.” https://projectsemicolon.com/about-project-semicolon-organization/

Each of us is created by GOD, in HIS image, for HIS purpose. As I read THE BIBLE, I see life stories filled with pain, anxiety, and despair. Yet, I find GOD’S redemption in JESUS weaved throughout each of them. HIS hope is real, & HIS help is on the way. ~ RESTORED: Your Story Isn’t Over Yet! 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Click below to see the message:

https://www.facebook.com/Wes.Frank.777/videos/845708959875465?idorvanity=53262942766802

APOSTASY!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

11 But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on THE NAME OF THE LORD HIS GOD and heal me! 12 Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.                        II Kings 5:11-12 NLT

APOSTASY ~ I love the story of Naaman’s healing. That’s what it’s labeled in most BIBLES with a subtopic above the passage. However, I think it should be called the healing Naaman almost missed because of his pride and Unrealistic Expectations. Do you see it? Naaman says, “I expected him to…” He absolutely had his own version of what his healing would look like, and when he did not get things his way… he left mad. He was ready to walk away from GOD because GOD did not do things the way he expected THE LORD and CREATOR of the UNIVERSE to do it his way!

Have your Unrealistic Expectations made you mad enough to quit your FAITH? All too often, we get offended by someone and quit. GOD has not failed us! JESUS CHRIST’S Blood still washes away all of our sin. His mercies are new every morning.

28 Then JESUS said, “Come to ME, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take MY yoke upon you. Let ME teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For MY yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

How often have we said or thought, “I Expected GOD to do something different!” I have spoken to so many people who have shared their “the church failed me” story. Others, tell me how one or a few people did something to hurt them, so they left the faith. Have you ever been there, or are you there right now?

Brother and Sisters, THIS IS ME! We left home to “serve THE LORD!” I expected to see GOD do great things everywhere we went.  However, along the way some people got mad at me and told me to leave their church because they didn’t like my hair, my personality, my jokes, or my illustrations. What happened? I got mad at GOD because they didn’t like me. What have I missed because I let my Unrealistic Expectations get in the way? How many have we failed by not surrendering to GOD? LORD JESUS, please forgive us for our pride and arrogance. Thank you for YOUR grace and mercy through the pain, hurt, and self-pity. I love THEE, LORD JESUS! 😊 PLEASE ~ COME HOME!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Keith Green sang it so well… “I don’t want to fall away from YOU!”

GOOD or BAD?

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

And he said, “This is what THE LORD says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility.”                                          II Kings 2:21a NLT

GOOD or BAD? There is a question for which most people have a very strong opinion. “Are we, as people, basically GOOD or BAD?” The answer someone gives reveals a great deal about their outlook, philosophy, and theology of anthropology as a whole. Too deep, too soon? Well, hang in there. 😊

First, I have been privileged to meet and know people whom I felt were genuinely good folk. They would truly give you the shirt off their back, as the saying goes. They give to charities, volunteer to help those who are less fortunate, and try to make the world better as we know it. Most of us would say that these are the kind of people whom we want to be like.

Second, I have also met people who rub me the wrong way. For some, I am the one who does the rubbing. 😊  These folks just don’t seem to care what anyone thinks about them. I think one of their favorite songs must be, “I Did It My Way,” by Frank Sinatra. We all think of people who are hard to be around. Some of us have family members who we are willing to see at family reunions, but we wouldn’t want to go on vacation with them. 😊

Third, what does the BIBLE say about all of this? GOD’S WORD is not silent on this issue. It says, “There is none righteous, NOT EVEN ONE.” (Romans 3:10) If this isn’t enough, it continues by saying, “No one seeks GOD.”  In verse 23, GOD says, “All have sinned and fall short of the GLORY OF GOD.”  Some genuinely struggle to believe that no one is worthy, right?

This is why we have the BIBLE! This is why JESUS came 2022 years ago! You see, if any one of us could be good enough without JESUS, then why did HE come from heaven to die on a cross for you and me? The truth is that no matter how GOOD you are, you still need JESUS! And, no matter how BAD you are HE can still make you GOOD! It’s called GRACE ~ God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. GOOD or BAD ~ You can be made perfect today! 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

BAD can be made GOOD, and GOOD can become BAD! Be Wise ~ Follow JESUS!

HOW MANY TIMES?

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

13 Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, “O MAN OF GOD, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants.” ~ I Kings 1:13 NLT

HOW MANY TIMES? In the verse above, King Ahaziah had sent two groups to kill the Prophet Elijah. However, both groups were met with a force much greater that they expected, and each group of fifty men were killed instantly when GOD spoke through Elijah. Finally, the third group was dispatched, but this time the captain was wise enough to see the had of GOD at work. His decision spared the lives of fifty men. After this, Elijah went to King Ahaziah and declared his death sentence. Ahaziah, like his daddy Ahab, had fought against GOD his entire life.  He died painfully rejecting GOD’S plan.

There is so much we can learn from this short passage in the beginning of II KINGS. 😊 First, GOD speaks to us throughout our lives inviting us to follow HIM and HIS plan. The BIBLE says that GOD is seeking people just like you every day, all the time. (John 4:24) We must listen and respond to that call from GOD. JESUS died on a dirty wooden cross for your sin, all of it! HE loves you right where you are today. That is HIS message of GRACE and MERCY.

Second, our decisions affect those around us. Two men made decisions that each caused others to lose their lives. Decisions matter! Your decision to ignore or hate GOD touches and changes the lives of everyone around you. If you are a parent, then your choice to discount or snub GOD is most certainly affecting your children. After all, Ahaziah behaved exactly like his daddy.

Third, you have to decide WHO you are going to trust. Will you choose people whose lives and behavior you wouldn’t want your children choosing as role models, or will you trust the ONE who has stood the test of time because HE is the only true, wise, and eternal GOD? HE is calling ~ HOW MANY TIMES?

1 I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from THE LORD, WHO made heaven and earth! ~ (PSALM 121:1-2)

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

1 I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from THE LORD, WHO made heaven and earth!
~ PSALM 121:1-2

Break Every Chain!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

43 In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in THE EYES OF THE LORD. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. ~ I Kings 22:43 NLT

Break Every Chain! I have been working with some of the most inspiring people over the last twelve years who are called “teachers.”  These gifted individuals realize that the greatest opportunity before them is to shape the moral character of children who have been chosen to enter their classrooms. I am thrilled to have the privilege to invest is so many lives.  We, teachers, are in the unique place of molding and guiding others toward lives of hope, joy, and fulfillment. Last year, I saw one of my previous fourth graders at Publix. He greeted me with his very deep voice by saying, “Do you remember me?” It took a moment, and I told him that it was difficult because he did not have a beard in my class. 😊 He and His family love JESUS! He is definitely one of those success stories! PTL!

Sadly, I have a few other stories which are not going as well. We are also parents who have the much greater responsibility to “train up a child in the way he or she should go…” The promise that follows says, “And, when he or she is old he or she will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) If you take a moment to read the verse at the heading of this post, you will see that “he followed the ways of his father.”  Parenting is the greatest responsibility we have. As a teacher, I stand in the gap and point true north to JESUS unashamedly!  I wish there were no regrets in my parenting past! I am plagued by my failures and frustrated moments of whining and complaining (especially as a pastor)! You may be experiencing the same feelings…

So, what about the past?  We can’t change it. However, we can change the present to mold the future! I am moved by the film, “I Can Only Imagine.”  Dennis Quaid portrays Bart’s father as a wretched man. Nevertheless, the change in his life is something only JESUS could have done. Let’s rededicate ourselves and our children’s lives to JESUS! PRAY to Break Every Chain!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Generational sin gets passed on… Let’s Break the Chain!