The Breakthrough Moment with Rev Bernese Shaw - "The Power Within" (3/14)

EPHESIANS 3:20-21 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. NRSV

God can do anything, you know far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennial! Oh, yes! The Message Bible

All of us from time to time might feel that the daily stressors are just too much to bear and we don't know what to do. Life (daily living) is a series of decisions. Each day, we make countless decisions that can bring us closer to God... or not (push us away from God) that are in the will of the Lord. When we live according to the principles contained in God's Holy Word, we embark upon a journey of spiritual maturity that results in life abundant and life eternal. The scripture tells us that God is at work in our lives continuing to help us grow and to mature in faith. 2 Peter 3:8 tells us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ." To grow in grace is to mature as a Christian. We grow in grace by reading God's Word and letting it "dwell in us" the power within (Colossians 3:16) and by praying. If we study God's Word, obey His commandments, and if we live in the center of His will, we will not be stagnant/standstill believers but healthy growing Christians. If we pray for God's guidance, the power of the Holy Spirit within us will help us to grow and mature in our Christian faith. When you are about to do something that you know is wrong, a little voice inside your head has a way of speaking up; the power within. That voice, of course, is your conscience: an early-warning system designed to keep you out of trouble. Psalm 25:4, 8-9 reads Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow... The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. This should be our humble prayer of the power within. And because we live in a demanding world, all of us have mountains to climb and mountains to move. Moving those mountains requires faith. God is willing to move mountains for His glory and for His kingdom. God walks with you, ready and willing to strengthen you. Accept His strength today. Remember that Jesus taught His disciples that if they had faith the size of a mustard seed, they could move mountains. We too have that power within us, in the presence of the Holy Spirit that will helps us to move mountains out of our way. In Isaiah 46:4, God tells us I will be your God throughout your lifetime until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. God has promised to lift you up and guide your steps if you let Him do so. God with the power within you has promised to lift you up and guide your steps if you let Him do so. God has promised that when you entrust your life to Him completely and without reservation, He will give you the strength to meet any challenge, the courage to face any trial, and the wisdom to live in His righteousness. If you are unsure of your next step, lean upon God's promises and lift your prayers to Him. My brothers and sisters remember that God is your protector. Open yourself to His heart, and trust Him to guide you. When you do, God will direct your steps, and you will receive His blessings today, tomorrow, and forevermore. With the power within, Matthew 19:26 tells us when we are facing the impossible, we just have to remember to know that With God everything is possible. And, when your own efforts don't seem to be enough Philippians 1:6 tells us I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. And, Philippians 2:13 tells us God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory. Therefore, there is no need to give into the adversary when he is trying to block your way because the God in you and me is there with us all the way. Don't give up and don't give in - keep going and keep walking in the light and image of Jesus. Our Heavenly Father is a good God; there protecting, defending, and guiding us all the way so again don't give up, don't give in but wholly lean and depend on God's unchanging hand. We are in Lent season, which should remind us that Jesus has already paid the price of salvation for us. Jesus has already gone to the cross for our sins, Jesus has already hung high on that old rugged cross for us so whatever that we are facing today if we stay in prayer, keep believing in the power of God and keep walking in the light of Jesus, the power within us will give us victory. To God be the glory. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev Bernese Shaw - "It's Going to be Alright"

Psalm 40:1-3 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. NRSV Bible

I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God. MSG The Message Bible

Life can be very difficult at times until sometimes it seems as though the adversary is winning. During these times, you might feel you have been hurting long enough; have been struggling long enough. You feel that you have been worrying long enough. You have been sick long enough. You have more bills than money and you can't see where the money will come from. So you might ask the question - How can you keep going when all hell has been unleashed against you? Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path. It's Going to be Alright, in other words, you can keep on going when you lean and depend upon the Lord. We have a God who is there to call – a comforter and a Savior. In the Old Testament, God would just show up with a message and say, "Let it be," and it was so, therefore, God will step in just when you think He won't, just when you need Him, just in time; It’s Going to Be Alright. Now if God appeared on the scene for those who had only the blood of an animal sacrifice, how much more will He appear for those who have the blood of Jesus and the baptism of the Holy Spirit? He is an on time God; It’s Going to Be Alright. Many of us consider ourselves to be church people. But many church folks have followed the path of society and want things done on yesterday. We live in a fast food world where nobody wants to wait. Even we as church people, we want a quick fix. But this morning’s scripture tells us that we have to wait patiently for the Lord. Praying, faith and believing in the Lord is the catalyst to see you through whatever you might be facing today but God has equipped you to do what you can for yourself. Praying will bring you to that place with God to help you cope with stress, pressure, and anxiety. It's going to be alright! This morning if your life is falling apart, your need is similar to the woman in Matthew 9:20-22 with the issue of blood that was sick for 12 years because it seemed as though no one could help her. But she heard and knew of a man named Jesus. And she felt that she only needed to touch the hem of Christ's garment to be healed because she realized the hem was where all loose ends were put back together (God can put your life together). And, if she only touched the hem of His garment everything was going to be alright. We too this morning should reach out to touch the hem of Christ’s garment and when we touch God's garment, God's hand has the power to transform our day and our lives. As believing Christians, we are blessed beyond measure because God has sent His only Son to die for our sins. Everything is going to be alright. The scripture tells us God will hear your cry (so cry out to Him). He will pick you up out of whatever mess/situation you might be in and set your feet on a solid rock (on Christ the solid rock I stand because all other ground is sinking sand) so you won't slip or fall. And, if you slip or fall, God is there with you; cry out to Him. It is the power and strength that comes from God that will carry us on. It's going to be alright. As Christians we need to surrender to the strength that God provides and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When He has done all of this, there should be a new song in your heart that is a song of praise for Our Father in Heaven. It’s going to be alright - have faith, believe and pray. It is good to know that we can rest in the strength and comfort that God will provide for us when we are facing troubles of many kinds. Jesus told us in John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. So my brothers and sisters do not lose heart or become discouraged as we have Hope of Jesus Christ and eternal life to carry us through. It's Going to be Alright. Stay in the Bible and pray continually seeking the face of God and He will be with you. 2Corinthians 4:16-18 tells us So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature/self is wasting away, our inner nature/self is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. It's going to be Alright!!!! So don't let the pain in your life cause you to not to trust God, It's going to be alright!!! Learn to depend on the One who is the Alpha, on the One who is the Omega, on the One who is the Beginning, on the One who is the End - this morning, this day It’s Going To Be Alright!!!!!!!!!!

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev Bernese Shaw "Everybody Needs Help!"

Hebrews 13:6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”

There are and have been times in our lives when we needed help from the Lord. So no matter what you are facing, (financial troubles, troubles in a relationship, emotional troubles and/or sickness), God will make a way where there seems to be no way if you will place your burdens upon Jesus and allow Him to carry your troubles. God is a very present help at a time when you need Him the most. All you have to do is call on Him because this morning’s scripture tells us that we can speak with confidence and assurance that the Lord is our helper and we should not be afraid in the time of trouble for Our Lord Our God is there working it out on our behalf. God is able to deliver you from all your enemies and troubles. It is in God that we can find our true security, no matter what is happening in whatever aspect of our life. We have to study and meditate on the Word of God and He will give you strength and add life and wellness to your body, soul and spirit. Psalm 46:1-2 tells us God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.. In other words, God is there with us no matter what is going on, we have to have faith and trust in the Lord. When we call to the Lord, "God help me," we probably don't need God to help us but we need God to do it for us. We are totally helpless apart from what God does in our life. Jesus said, "Only believe," that our only part is to trust Him to do it and He will. Thank You Lord. Proverbs 30:5 tells us every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Psalm 124:8 says Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. I know that it is so easy to doubt God in times of trouble because we might feel that God is not moving/working on our behalf. But this is the time that we should remember that He is the one we should turn to as He will most assuredly pull us through. God has delivered us before from the same or worse problems and His Word tells us that He will do it again, again, and again. I know that some of us might be going through troubled times/tough times but God knows all about our situations. He sees what each one of us is going through and He is inviting each one of us to draw closer to Him and He will draw closer to us. We have to seek His grace and mercy and know with confidence that He, the Lord is our helper. If you feel that you are drowning in stress and everything seems to be going against you, put your faith and trust in the Lord. As you are going through these tough times remember God is faithful and His word tells us that the Lord is there with us. I heard on the news last night of a mother seeing the wind blowing and knowing the tornado was coming put her two small kids down in the basement and wrapped the children in a comforter and laid on top of them as the house came tumbling down on them. This mother thought she was going to die, pulled out her cell phone and made a recording telling her husband and everyone how much she loved them because her legs were pinned under the debris and she thought she would bleed out before anyone could find her. But God is a helper in time of trouble and her little boy freed himself, ran and got the neighbors who dug her out. She lost her legs but she didn't lose her life, God is our helper in time of trouble and her children didn’t receive a scratch. Hallelujah. Psalm 30:2 says O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. Psalm 5:2 says Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Asking God for help is not always easy. It all depends on your faith, how much you rely on God and how much you believe in him. During times of need, we sometimes lose faith in ourselves, others, and God himself. It is important to remember that God loves us. Believe in God and have faith that He is with you. The first step in asking God to help in hard times is to have faith in Him and his abilities. You must believe that God is there for you and his grace and mercy will help you through this tough time in your life. The second step is to speak to God and tell him of your trouble. God is always there listening and wanting to help us make our lives better. When times are hard, God is there guiding us through to a happier way. Pray to God and ask him for his guidance. Tell him that you need help because you are no longer able to do this alone. God will listen and help you. He may not do exactly as you wish because God has his own plan for us, but He will ease your troubles if you allow him to do so by asking his help. Everybody needs help. Thirdly, attend church and become closer to God. God helps those who help themselves first by finding their way to him. And fourth, read the Bible to find God's wisdom. God's words are powerful words and can help us through the darkest days. Reading the Bible can help you to find peace in your troubles by relating events in your life to events in the days of the Bible. God tells us how to handle our lives through scriptures in the Bible and can help us to get past tough times with his wisdom. Everybody needs help. I will end this morning’s meditation with an old familiar hymn: What a Friend We Have in Jesus. What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged take it to the Lord in prayer. EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP! AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw - ""Hang in There, I Am (God) With You (2/22/2012)

Mark 11: 21:21b-24 "Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

This past week has been very stressful personal for me with the passing of my sister and being off work with the work load I know has been accumulating. But through it all, this morning’s scripture gives instruction to all of us that no matter what is going on in our lives that our Heavenly Father is there with us. Just hang in there, believe that God is there working it out for us and that He is the great I AM (GOD) and is there with us. We only have to believe in our hearts that God is there with us no matter what's going on, so I want to encourage everyone this morning to hang on in there. Your mountain (s) may be with the loss of a job, the breakdown of a relationship or the breaking down of a marriage, children not behaving the way we feel that they should, the illness of a loved one, the death of a loved one, a friend that is in trouble, financial problems, school pressures and/or just every day stressors - in spite of the problem(s) hang on in there. Our God is a full time God, Our God is an everlasting God - you can overcome if you believe in the power of the Lord. God says if you believe in your heart of His power, of His saving grace when any of your problems seem to overwhelm you, He will be there working things out on your behalf. Go to the Lord in prayer and whatever you prayed for - it will come to pass, it will be done. That is when you asked in prayer and if it in His will, you will receive it just hang in there, God is with you. In the scripture, Jesus is emphasizing not the power of faith but the power of God. God is all powerful it is His sustaining power that brings your desires to be fulfilled. God is in control and when you let God be in control of your life He will give you the desirs of your heart according to His will. This morning’s scripture comes from an illustration that was figurative when Jesus and Peter one morning were walking past a fig tree that had withered away to its root (it had fallen all the way down to the sand). Peter reminded Jesus that He had cursed the fig tree earlier in Mark 11:12-14 when He was hungry because the fig tree only had leaves and no fruits because it was not the season for figs. So when Jesus and Peter walked past the fig tree the second time, Jesus is reminding Peter to have faith in the power of God. Because, if you have faith in God and believe, the thing(s) that you are praying over will come to fruition: if Jesus told you that it will happen, it will be done. This is what Jesus taught his disciples in the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6: 9-14 by praying “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come. Your will be done. This reminds us that our prayers will be answered accordingly to God's will. God is the driver that controls the wheel. He is the deity that has all control and all power in His Holy hands. Thank you Lord. God's will is possible to the person who goes to Him in prayer. Our God is an awesome God. He is a loving God. He's a saving God. This morning my brothers and sisters hang in there, you are not alone, you are not by yourself, and you are not on an island with no one to turn to, no one to call upon, and no one to help. His word says just call on him; just open yourself up to him in prayer. Psalm 37: 4-5 tells us Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. Confess with your lips and believe in your heart and God will, God will, God will give you the desires of your heart and you will be saved. Romans 10: 9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Hallelujah, Thank you Lord. Matthew 17:20-21 He said to them, " Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say it this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Your faith can be as small as a speck (the size of a mustard seed) in your hand, Hang in there with the Lord and He will hang in there with you. Storm clouds may come, trials may try to knock you down on every side but there is not a friend like the lonely Jesus who will not leave you or forsake (Hebrews 13:5b) or betray you (how wonderful that is; someone that has your back). Your health may fail, and your spirit may grow weak but if God remains the strength of your heart; He will be with you forever. God said in Isaiah 41:10 Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. If God says it, believe it - God, Our Heavenly Father is there with you all the way - go to him in prayer, believe it in your heart and He is with you every step of the way: He said in His words that He will be there with us holding us up by his victorious right hand. In Malachi 3:6 God tells us, I am the Lord, and I do not change. So God will not change or leave us, God is the same yesterday, today and forevermore (Hebrew 13:8) just hang in there with your faith and believe in the power of God. Our Father will always be with us, we just have to stay in prayer with the Father and be in communication with Him. Thank you Lord, thank you Father. The Temptations sing “there is no mountain high enough, no river wide enough to keep me away from you”; this is how it is with the power of the Heavenly Father. That is how it is with the Lord, there are no mountains high enough, there are no rivers wide enough, and there are no valleys low enough that will keep the Lord from us. In other words, whatever the adversary might put in our way or whatever we do there is forgiveness, there is a loving Father that’s there walking with us through the mountains, through the rivers, and through these valleys - do not have doubts in your heart and go to the Lord in prayer. God’s word tells us to go to God in prayer and ask for the desires of our hearts and believe (you have to have faith in the power of God) and in the power of the Almighty God and you will receive it. Because there is nothing that can keep Our Heavenly Father away from us if we stay in a daily communication with Him through reading and studying of His Holy Word and pray. Prayer is the key that unlocks our destiny. Hang in there, God is with you, the great I AM is there with you with His sustaining power. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw - "God Will Always Love You"

Jeremiah 31:3. The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying "Yes, I have loved you with loving kindness I have drawn you."

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrate His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.

We all are mourning the loss of Whitney Houston with her death on last Saturday (2/11/12) evening. The title this morning comes from one of her songs that was first composed by Dolly Parton, "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU" but our Lord God was the first to say and demonstrated His love for us, God Will Always Love You, that is, He gave His only Son Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God loves us and His love for us is deeper and more profound than we can ever imagine and it is forever. But sometimes because of our fears and demons we possess are so great that we fail to accept and receive the love of God. God understands our hopes, our fears, and our temptations. He knows the heart, the conscience, and the soul of every person who has ever lived, including each one of us on this call this morning. And God has a plan of salvation that is intended for each one of us. We need to accept God's plan and accept God's love for our lives. We will do this by accepting God's gift through the person of His Son Christ Jesus. Because of God's eternal love for us, we can receive forgiveness and everlasting life from our sins. 1John 4:8-10 says Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins (God loves us so much that he gave His son to go to the cross for our sins and salvation). On last Sunday morning, I heard two interviews that Chaka Khan (another singer of the 70/80's) and on yesterday Wendy Williams (on the Wendy Williams’ Morning Show) talked about how they overcame their demon of drugs. We pray that Whitney Houston had beaten her demons before going home to meet the Lord. We don’t know what was said at the last second before life transition, so the question this morning is how about the rest us, are we beating our demon(s) whatever it or they may be? God has already told us and demonstrated to us that He has loved us from the beginning of time, still loves us today and will love us forevermore. He never has left us but sometimes we leave Him in our daily walk by our words and actions. It is now time today to surrender ourselves to the Lord. I know that sometimes our daily problems and struggles make us to want, to run and turn from the Lord because we may feel that He has left us and that He is not working on our behalf or in our favor. I am talking this morning not from what I have read but from my own life. I am a witness that God is always there in troubled marriages, trouble with our children, trouble on the job, trouble with everyday survival, and when we have a drug problem; drugs are insidious (cunning and deceitful). Christian Sisters and Brothers, God has already proved how He loves us and how He is protecting us so please if you need a reminder this morning get on your knees, go into your secret closet, go to God in prayer and give God some praises and thanksgiving for being an awesome God; God loves you always. None us know when it with will be our time to cross over into the next life, as the old saints would say “to cross that old river of Jordan.” Today maybe the day, it doesn't mean the sickest will go first. Death is like a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 says For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night that you will not know the day or time. So it is time today to say and prove your love for God because we don't know when it will be our time to go home to be with the Lord. When you embrace God's love, I promise you that your life’s purpose is forever changed. When you embrace God's love, I promise you, you will feel differently about yourself, about your family, your neighbors, and your world. 1Corinthians 14:1 MSG says Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth. This morning as we show our love; God will always love you. Thank you Lord. Everyday living is an exercise in decision-making. Today and everyday you must make a choice about what you will do, what you will worship, and how you will think. When in doubt, make choices that you sincerely believe that will bring you closer to God and to the love of God; God always loves you. And, if you are uncertain of your next step, pray about it, our Loving Father is there with you all the way. When you pray about it, God will give you the right answer, God will help you with life’s decisions that are seen to be insurmountable. When we worship God, we allow Him to rule over our days and our lives; we allow our love to be seen/shine. As we go through our day let each one of us pray that the love of God shines through us today, tomorrow, and throughout eternity. Christ's love for us is personal. Christ loves each of us individually and intimately; His love is not limited by time or circumstance. Therefore, we should love God in the same manner. Embrace His love today; God always loves you. Mark 12:30-31says You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. The second command is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Whitney Houston’s final appearance on last Thursday night, she sang “Jesus Loves Me” yes Jesus loves me this I know because the Bible tells me so was so profound. God will always love us, so as the Lord always loves us, let us love the Lord always and one another. With this in mind, let us pause and reflect upon Christ's love for us, and let us share that love with all that we meet today. Amen. Amen. Amen.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw - "Take the Mute Off..." (2/8/2012)

Isaiah 50:4b-5 Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. NRSV


On these Wednesday Morning Pray Calls, some of us put our telephone on mute to keep down sounds of our surroundings and to ensure that distracting noises will not be heard during the call. Sometimes in life when we don't want to hear something, we might put mute on our hearing and understanding of the word of God. But the focus scripture tells us that each morning Our Lord Our God wakes us up that is to say morning by morning he wakens us - each morning Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wakes us up to be followers of the most High King, to be able to function and to carry out our daily task and this indeed is a gift to each one of us. The old Saints would say He woke me up this morning clothed in my right mind able to talk and walk. Lord, I am so thankful. He didn't have to do it but He did, Lord I am so thankful. I am able to open my eyes and look to Thee with thanksgiving in my heart. Lord, I am so thankful. Each day that I am wakened is a gift from God, Lord I am so thankful. Each day that you are wakened, you should spend a few quiet moments thanking our Father that He has given us another day. Each day you should spend quiet time with the Lord and when you spend a quiet moment with the Lord, you are reminded of God's love for each one of us, His protection and His commandments because He didn't have to wake us up for another day but because of His grace and mercy, He did it, Lord we are so thankful. And as we start our day, we should align our day with the teaching and the commandments that the Lord has given to each one of us. Each one of us should open our ears to the Lord to hear his gentle whisper of words like the flowing of water in a stream. The Lord tells us in Isaiah 41:13 I hold you by your hand - I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, "Don't be afraid. I am here to help you." Lord, I am so thankful. So whatever we are going to face on this new day that we have never seen and will never see again, the Lord is there holding us by our hand helping us, Lord I am so thankful. Psalm 84:11 says The Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. Lord, I am so thankful. Sometimes the demands of life cause us to rush from place to place with no time to spare so we fail to pause and thank our Creator for waking us up and for all of His gifts that He has given us; we neglect to give proper thanks to the Father because of our misplaced priorities. No matter what we are going through (no job, trouble in our homes, trouble in school, trouble on our jobs, more bills than money, sickness, even as our loved ones are nearing the close of their walk on this journey), we still should pause each day to give thanks to our Heavenly Father remembering that God is our refuge and strength and He is always ready to help us in times of trouble. Psalm 28:7 says The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Lord, I am so thankful. During our day when our integrity is put to the test we can rejoice because when we run into problems and disappointments, God's word has already told us that He is there with us; all we have to do is open our ears and listen to the words of Our Lord. The Lord has already told us that He is there with us and we should not be rebellious but stand on His promises, stand on the word of God. For we know that our problems and disappointments help us develop endurance; and endurance develops strength of character that strengthens our confidence in hope of salvation (Romans 5:3-4). God is working in each one of us giving each one of us strength, the desire and the power to do what pleases him, Lord, I am so thankful. This morning, give thanks to the Giver of all good things that is God. His love for us is eternal and it's never too soon or too late to offer Him thanks. We are showered with blessings not because of anything we have or have not done, but simply because of Him and His grace and mercy. Despite of our shortcomings, God sent His Son so that we might be redeemed from our sins. Lord, I am so thankful. In doing so, our Heavenly Father demonstrated His infinite mercy and His infinite love. We have received countless gifts from God, but none can compare with the gift of salvation; the giving of His Son. Lord, I am so thankful. God's grace is the ultimate gift and we owe Him the ultimate in thanksgiving. So Morning by morning as he wakens each and every one of us, I pray that we are wakened to listen as ones who are being taught by the word of God. That the Lord GOD has opened our ears, and we will not be rebellious, we will not turn backward in our daily walk with God (turn away from God's teaching).

Because of this - this morning it is time to take the mute off of our lives and to give God praise. It is time to take the mute off of our praises of God and let him know how thankful we are. It is time to take the mute off of our worship and honor God with our words and actions. It is time to take the mute off of giving ourselves in our daily walk with God. It is time to take the mute off of our going and coming in our fellowship of one another in the name of God Almighty. It is time to take the mute off because The Lord Our God has awakened us this morning, this day and has given us another opportunity to walk humbly as a child of one who was, as a child of one who is, and a child of one who is to come, Lord I am so thankful. So my brothers and sisters take the mute off to the teaching of the Lord and you can do this by having daily meditations with the Lord, daily reading of God's Holy Words - the Holy Bible and trying to live by the commandments that have already been given to us. The Contemporary English Version Bible gives our focus scripture as Each morning he awakens me eager (excited) to learn his teaching; he made me willing to listen and not rebel or run away. And, the Good News Translation gives our focus scripture as Every morning he makes me eager (excited) to hear what he is going to teach me. The Lord has given me understanding, and I have not rebelled (will not, shall not) or turned away from him.

I pray that this will be the meditation for each one of us today. It is time to take the mute off of our understanding and take mute off of our praises of the Lord. Because when we do, God's Word tells us we will understand and know that He is there with us no matter what comes our way today, this day that He has awakened us in. Take the mute off of our listening as one who has been taught of the understanding and loving of our Heavenly Father. It is time to take the mute of our hearing and teaching of what our God is saying to each one of us and not go back to our old sinful ways. Let all of God's Children this morning say: Amen. Amen. Amen.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev Bernese Shaw "Trust in God Under Persecution" (2/1/2012)

Psalms 55:22 Cast your burdens on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

From this scripture, I would like to lift up today TRUST IN GOD WHEN UNDER PERSECUTION. That is when you feel that you are being beaten down on every side; and you are drowning in a sea of negativity. This past week-end has been a trying time for my daughter Lynn. First her cell phone was left on a flight from LA to New Mexico, she had to buy another cell phone and then while packing her rental car on Sunday morning, she stepped back into the hotel, and the car was stolen with all of her clothes, military papers with social security #, laptop, and uniforms. But remember, God is in the midst of everything that is going on in your life. Through it all, I was thankful that she and my grandson were not taken with the car. All of us have moments when we feel that our problems are overwhelming. During this time, you might ask the question if God is fighting our battles then why do we sometimes feel that life has gotten the best of us. This morning when you find yourself worried about the challenges of today or the uncertainties of tomorrow, ask yourself whether or not you are ready to place your concerns and your life in God's all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving hands. If the answer to that question is yes then you can draw courage today from the source of strength that never fails and that is our Heavenly Father. Jesus has already paid the price for our salvation up on that old cross of Calvary and the battle has already been won. But sometimes, we may feel that our courage; our belief is being tested by life’s disappointments and fears. In times like these, we have to rely on the One that is called the great I Am - the word of God - to cast our burdens - all of worries and fears on the one who is the alpha and the omega, on the one who is the beginning and the end, on the one who is the first and the last to supply all of our needs. Isaiah 43:2-3 tells us that God said When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your GOD, the HOLY ONE of Israel, your Savior. So trust in God when you feel that you are or coming under persecution; under pressure; under the trials and tribulation of life; no job; foreclosure; more bills than money; and problems in your home.

In times of trouble, God will be there to comfort you; in times when you cry in sorrow; God will be there - He will dry your tears. When you are weak, God will be there - God will strengthen you; just call upon His Holy Name. Say Father I stretch my hand to Thee no other help I know. So if you become discouraged turn your thoughts and prayers to God. Tell Him, Lord, sometimes life is difficult and I feel that I don't know what to do. I am worried, weary, and heartbroken. But LORD, come Holy Spirit, but LORD, come Heavenly Dove so when I lift my eyes up to you, Lord, I feel that you are there to strengthen me. Lord when I am weak, I know if I lean and depend upon you, you will lift me up. Lord your word tells us to turn to you for strength, for hope, for direction, and for deliverance. Have mercy Oh Lord. James 1:22 says do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. We must realize that it is never enough simply to hear the instructions of God but we must also live by them. Trust in God under persecution. Psalms 18:30 says As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put trust in him. Romans 15:13 says May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. And, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. This morning I can say my daughter's rental car was found with only a flat tire, her military papers and clothes were recovered. Psalms 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call on You, for You will answer me. Many times you may feel upset about an issue and you don't know what to do. As the focus scripture for this morning says “cast your burdens on the Lord – give your problems to the Lord in prayer and He will sustain you; He will help you; He will maintain you; He will support you; He will uphold you; He will aid you; He will assist you and He will never, never permit the righteous to be moved”. So brothers and sisters stay in fervent prayer to God. God will answer you in God's timing not in your timing. Wait on the LORD. Call upon His Holy Name – Jesus. So don't get discouraged when it seems as though life is getting the best of you. Keep on praying; the songstress sings if He said He will do it, it will come to past just wait on him. And, I am so glad that I made it through, so glad I made it because I almost threw in the towel but I made it. I am in His safety no matter what comes. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.