The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw - "Preparation" (12/28)

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation…

In three days the year 2012 will be here. How are you preparing your life and soul for a New Year? Are you going into New Year with the same old baggage? With the same old problems? With the same old sinful nature? This ending of one calendar year and the beginning of another should be a time of both reflection and anticipation. Reflect on how the Lord has brought you through whatever that may be going on in your life and the anticipation of whatever you have faith that God will be there with you all the way. This may be the year we should strive for a greater spiritually renewed commitment to the Lord. Again with the end of the old year 2011 fast approaching, we can look forward to fresh opportunities to experience a higher level of spirituality by leaving old behaviors and habits behind. Also, we should leave all of our depressions and un-assurances of the power and mercy of God behind. We need to take time to reflect on the past year and note how God has brought us through some rivers and over some mountains in our lives in this down economy. We need to look to the future year and reflect on how if we give ourselves to the Lord and humble ourselves in His grace and mercy as we step into the New Year with the peace of God that abides. Psalm 29:11 says "May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!" Philippians 4:7 says "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." And, we need to make resolutions to trust and walk by faith not by sight in the Lord. We can do all of this preparation through prayer and spending some time with our Heavenly Father. As the scripture says “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new”. Our new identity creates within us a new nature and a new life. In this new life, we have to put on the garments of Christian grace (becoming new). The first garment is tender mercies of willing hands, ready to work for the Lord. The second garment of Christian grace is kindness or goodness that is for the well-being of others. Humility is the third garment, the realization of our relationship to God and other persons. The fourth garment is meekness or gentleness. The fifth garment is patience or long suffering. 1Corinthians 13:4 says "Love is patient; love is kind." And, the sixth garment is forgiving. The Lord's Prayer tells us that as we forgive others, we are forgiven. The songstress sings when you put on a new brand new life, you moved from your old house, and you moved from your old friends, you moved from your old way of living. When you put on a brand new life in Christ, He will change your old way of thinking and He will change your heart and give you a new song to sing. Let us take time this week to make preparation for the New Year by becoming a new creation in the Lord. Psalm 32:8 tells us "thus says the Lord, I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" and Proverbs 3:6 tells us "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." As you prepare for the coming year and as you travel through the coming year. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; see, everything has become! Become new in Christ as you’re preparing for the coming of the New Year 2012, let this be your year! To say I am a child of the King! I am a child of the Heavenly Father! I am a child of Jesus! Amen. Amen. Amen.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw - "What's In a Name?" (12/21)

Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.


After last week’s prayer call, I was asked about the focus scriptures: Isaiah 7:14b: "Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel." And, Matthew 1:23: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, "God is with us" about Jesus being named Immanuel. But, Matthew 1:21 was also used in the meditation that bears the name "Jesus” It reads,"She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." And if you read a little farther in Matthew 1:22 it reads All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet (Isaiah) "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, God is with us." All this was told to Joseph in a dream by the angel of the Lord. In my research, I could not find anywhere whereas Mary the mother of Jesus called him anything but Jesus. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.There are many names for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In John 8:56-59, Jesus presents himself as the "I AM." The "I AM" is the divine name (Ex 3:14), a claim to pre-existence and oneness with God. Jesus is called the "Son of Man" because he is both divine and he is human. Isaiah 9:6 named the coming Messiah and consequently Jesus Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The ancient Law of Sacrifice calls Jesus as the Lamb of God. John 1 refers to Jesus as The Word. Some names are the Bright Morning Star, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. This Christmas season, a popular song Don't Forget The Baby sings His name is Jesus Mary's baby Manger born Don't Forget The Baby His name is Jesus Jehovah Jirah He's my provider don't forget the baby His name is Jesus Jehovah Raphe He is my healer don't forget the baby His name Jesus is The Great I am He'll be with me don't forget the baby His name is Jesus God Jehovah My everything don't forget the baby. His name is Jesus Jehovah Nissi He is my banner don't forget it, don't forget it His name is Jesus Emmanuel God with us don't forget the baby His name is Jesus Sweet Jesus oh Jesus don't forget the baby...So you may ask the question what’s in a name? In the name Jesus, there is joy because when I am down and out, all I have to do is call on His Holy Name Jesus, there is hope because I know that the scripture tells me that Jesus was born for my and your salvations, there is healing because when the doctor tells me there is nothing else that he can do I know a Savior that his name is Jesus healing my soul, in the name of Jesus there is strength when I feel like I can’t go on, my Father Jesus is there holding me on every side and giving me strength to run on and he will do the same for you, in the name of Jesus, there is power, in the name of Jesus, there is forgiveness, in the name of Jesus there is salvation – the scripture this morning tells us Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins, in the name of Jesus, there is peace, in the name of Jesus, there is wholeness, in the name of Jesus is my all and all. Philippians 2:10 says "at that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." So you might ask WHAT'S IN A NAME? In the name of Jesus, there is love, in the name of Jesus, there is peace, in the name of Jesus there is salvation, in the name of Jesus, there is joy and in the
name of Jesus, there is favor. This Christmas season everyone keep our eyes and focus on Jesus because in the name of Jesus, we are saved. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw - "God is With Us"

Isaiah 7:14b Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23 Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."

The name Immanuel, “God is with us," is the name belonging to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The name is expressive of the union of the two natures, human and divine, who being both God and man, is a middle person between both. In the name, you can call him 'Savior' because he will save. John 1:14 says "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.” In this third week of Advent with the great anticipation of the Christ child should be enough for every one of us to begin each day with joy in our hearts. The scriptures have proclaimed that a virgin birth; a baby that will be called Emmanuel- God is with us. When you think about God, Our Heavenly Father is with us each and every second of our lives there can't be anything else but joy. The third candle for the third Sunday is a symbol of Christ, our joy. In this world of conflict and disturbance in our lives in the home and the work place, to know that a Savior was born to bear our iniquities should cause us to begin each day with a sense of liberating joy. We can say as Mary proclaimed in Luke 1:46 "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." We all should be confident that the grace we ask for will be given to us because of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came to earth. We will encounter sin in our own hearts and in our experience of the sin of the world. But we can pause in those moments and feel the joy of the words, from Matthew 1:21 "You are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Because of this, we can experience the Light shining into dark places of our lives showing us patterns of sinfulness, and invite us to experience God's grace and mercy. Our celebration of the coming of our Savior in history is opening us up to experience His coming to us this year, and preparing us to await His coming in Glory. The struggles and tragedies of this life need not affect your joy as a Child of God. True joy is based on the spiritual realities of who God is and what He has promised. God is good and God is faithful regardless of your situation. Despite your circumstances you can "glory in His Holy Name," and your heart can rejoice as you seek Him and the strength He offers. Whatever your circumstances, God longs to comfort you, heal you and give you His peace, joy and hope; God is with us. Take your needs to him in prayer. Lay all your hurts and worries before him. Ask Him to help you accept your circumstances, fix your eyes on Jesus and live life in joy and peace. The Lord is your hope; your joy; Psalm 42:11 says, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again my Savior and my God. God is with you”. As we sing that old familiar hymn Joy to the World! Joy to the world! Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and heaven and nature sing. AMEN.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev Bernese Shaw - "Tis the Season for Praise and Adoration" (12/7)

With this being the second week of Advent which means “the coming” or “arrival,” we will continue with the scripture from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 9:6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. NRSV

Advent is the season of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas; the gift of Christmas. This should be a time for families to come together in prayer and devotion. But, in our hectic modern world and down economy, it is easy to get distracted with all the advertisement for shopping, the Christmas music, the Christmas parties, and Christmas decorations all around that tends to increase our anxiety. We start to worry about what we don’t have and how we are going to make it through this Christmas season of gift giving. However, the focus of the entire season is and should be the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. So in the midst of situations that may be happening in your life and mine, we need to always give praise and adoration for the one who came to earth and paid the price for our sins and salvations.
Helen Steiner Rice wrote, “Happiness is something we create in our minds – it’s not something you search for and so seldom find. It’s just waking up and beginning the day by counting your blessings and kneeling to pray.” I pray that everyone will take time out today to pray and thank God for another day in the land of the living. Thank God for another chance to get right today with what you did wrong on yesterday, that is a blessing all by itself. So despite your circumstances you can “glory in his Holy name,” and your heart can rejoice as you seek him and receive the strength he offers through praise and adoration. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Jesus came to earth in human form for you and me, live and died for us. It is the season to praise Him and give thanks to Our God for being Our Savior.
An old hymn sings “I’m So Grateful” says it all, I am so grateful that Christ is in my life. What would my life be without Him? It would be very dark and grim. When I’m sad He cheers me, when I am lonely He will my comfort be. That’s why I’m grateful, truly grateful, I’m so grateful that Christ is in my life. When my friends and my foes turn against me, and it seems I’m at the end of the road, there is a still soft voice saying within me, there is someone, someone greater who’s carrying the load. When my way gets as dark as the midnight, and my body is all racked with pain, Christ appears with His holy light, and by faith, faith and grace, I’m made whole again." This is the season for you to give praise and adorations (thanks) for Jesus being born and coming into our lives. It is hope, however faint at times and that God, however distant He sometimes seems, which brings to the world the anticipation of a King who rules with truth and justice and righteousness over His people. Tis the Season for Praise and Adoration who came to earth for us to be saved. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev Bernese Shaw - "IT'S TIME TO GIVE IT OVER TO JESUS" (11/30)

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever."

The first Sunday after Thanksgiving is observed as the first Sunday in Advent. Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming") is a season observed by many as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas (the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ). According to Isaiah 9:6, the child will be called, The Prince of Peace; it is the Messiah who will establish everlasting world peace. In the Hebrew Scriptures, only the LORD is called el gibbor. This illustration clearly establishes the Deity of the child to be born. He would be Almighty God Himself! This is the same child prophesied by Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14 when he referred to Him as Immanuel, meaning 'God with us.' This child would be 'God with us'. He is the Mighty God, the Messiah! Authority, symbol of power, Mighty God, divine in might; Everlasting Father, continuing fatherly love and care; Prince of Peace, the king who brings peace and prosperity. It’s time that this season should always remind us that no matter what is going on in our lives that we have a Savior that was born and died for our salvation. That He is our Shepherd, our Father, our Guide, and we are never alone with the Lord on our side. So when life seems empty and there is no place to go; no one to turn to, when your heart is troubled and your spirits are low; when friends seem few and nobody cares, there is always God to hear our prayers. With faith in your heart, reach out for God’s hand and accept what He sends, though you can’t understand… For our Father in heaven always knows what is best. And if you trust in His wisdom, your life will be blessed… For always remember that whatever may come your way, you are never alone, for God is beside you. So despite our shortcomings, God sent His Son so that we might be saved from our sins. Romans 3:23-24 says For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. So this morning (today) my brothers and sisters after you have said that you are blessed and thankful during last week with Thanksgiving, IT’S TIME TO GIVE IT OVER TO JESUS, to turn over your life and tribulations to God. IT’S TIME TO GIVE IT OVER TO JESUS, so are you tired or troubled? Turn your heart toward God in prayer. Are you weak or worried? Take the time or make the time to study God’s Holy Word. Are you spiritually depleted (sick and tired of all this holy stuff)? Call on a fellow believer to support you, pray with you and for you, and the most important thing is to call upon Christ to renew your spirit and your life. IT’S TIME TO GIVE IT OVER TO JESUS – it is the season – it is the moment to know that the Creator of the universe stands ready and always able to sustain, protect, and defend you. Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. IT’S TIME TO GIVE IT OVER TO JESUS no matter what is going on in your life, IT’S TIME TO GIVE IT OVER TO JESUS no matter what is going on in your marriage, IT’S TIME TO GIVE IT OVER TO JESUS no matter what is going on in your family, IT’S TIME TO GIVE IT OVER TO JESUS no matter what is going on with your children, IT’S TIME TO GIVE IT OVER TO JESUS no matter what is going on on your job, IT’S TIME TO GIVE IT OVER TO JESUS no matter if you are still unemployed, because Isaiah 9:6-7 says "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever." AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.

The Breakthrough Moment from Rev Bernese Shaw - Be Thankful Always (11/23)

Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching us, just a week away therefore being thankful is something that every Christian should practice on a regular basis. Thanksgiving should not be limited to a certain day, but be a part of our lives at all times, in all circumstances. Not only is it appropriate for us to be thankful during the holidays but it would be beneficial to our spirituality if we made an extra effort to be grateful to God at all times, in all places, and for all things. No matter what’s going on in our lives, we should give thanks to Our Heavenly Father. Thanksgiving is an attitude, a natural part of Christian character. “Give thanks” is a command, an imperative. Giving thanks is not an option for the serious Christian. This command is in the present tense, so the instruction is to keep on giving thanks. Give thanks in everything and in all circumstances. Apostle Paul challenges us to be thankful of all things only makes sense in the light of the promise of Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God. Paul is not saying just give thanks for everything, but in connection with everything that happens. In every circumstance, no matter what or where, you can still thank God. Not everything that happens to us is good, but God uses everything that happens to work for our good; to make us stronger in our walk and faith in Him. Sometimes, we don’t know whether something is good or bad, but we can be thankful that God is working for our good in everything. Thanksgiving is the natural response to the grace and goodness of a great and wonderful God who cares and provides. Thanksgiving should overflow in the life of every Christian. God can take all things and use them for our good. So why should we give thanks? Though there are many reasons: We should give thanks because Rom. 6:17-18 tells us to be thankful for deliverance from sin. When we give our lives to Christ, we are freed from our slavery to sin and enter into a new relationship as children of God. I Cor. 15:57 tells us be thankful for the victorious life we have in Christ.

So how Should We Give Thanks: Through praise - There is something about praise that strengthens us, lifts us closer to God. And, through service - As a doctor judges the heart by a heartbeat/pulse, so people can judge our thankfulness by our lives. Real thankfulness results in service to God. When you become thankful and have an abundance of thanksgiving flow from your heart, people just naturally gravitate towards you. You become a source of inspiration and joy to those around you. Let us all be thankful for everything that God has done for us through Jesus. He has truly supplied all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. When we give a gift to someone, when we help another person, when we perform an act of kindness for a fellow human being, we expect some expression of appreciation. Our generosity or service may not be consciously motivated by any desire for recognition. Our action may be prompted primarily by our love, or our compassion, or our genuine concern for the other person's happiness. But if there is little or no evidence of gratitude, we are hurt and offended, and at times grow indignant. Our human desire for thanks is an echo from the heart of God. He, too, wants to be thanked. He expects us to show our gratitude for all His wonderful goodness to us. The Old Testament, as well as the New, rings with the summons to thanksgiving.
Psa. 95:1-2 tells us "O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!"
And Psa. 100:4 tells us "Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name!" So, how do we express our gratitude to God? How can you and I tell if we are really thankful?
Obviously, we praise God with our lips. The author of Hebrews 13:15 says that through Christ we should "continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name". Words, nevertheless, are notoriously cheap, and the gratitude that contents itself with "Thank You" to God, however piously and eloquently phrased, can be cheap and insincere. Real Christian thankfulness should be a life – transforming dynamic. If we are thankful to God, then we shall obey Him. God has redeemed us in order to make us like Jesus. If we are grateful for all that He has done for us, especially for our redemption through Christ’s death on the cross, we shall express that gratitude by our obedience to His will. Out of our gratitude, determination is born to live a yielded life, the desire to please God in all things. A thankful Christian is an obedient Christian. We can be an obedient Christian with thanksgiving by Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily as long as it is call Today, so that none of you maybe hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. So praise God in good times and bad times. Praise in the morning, praise God at noontime, Praise God in the evening, praise God at night, give God thanks in season and out of season, be thankful always. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev Bernese Shaw - "Power and Strength"

Psalm 68:35 (NIV): The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Our faith is like a muscle. The more we exercise it, the more it grows and becomes stronger. The less we exercise it, the more spiritually weak we become. So with faith, when the circumstances of life are overwhelming, problems are stacked on every side and when we feel like we have been treated unfairly, we can be sure that God is on the move in our lives and He has a great reward waiting for us when we yield our hearts and lives to Him because we serve a “God who sees.” He knows our circumstances, and he sees what others have done to us. He is not only a God who sees, he is a God who acts and a God who empowers and gives strength to his people. God is our comforter in times of trial and sorrow. He is our refuge and strength when we feel as though we cannot face another trying day. He is our protection when problems grow too large for us to handle, and He is our shield and our deliverer. We may not have the strength to trust God, but Christ within us will give us this ability. Storms that arise in our lives could come from a telephone call, from a letter that brings disappointment, when our child has an accident, when a small pain develops into a serious illness, death, divorce, financial reverses, or maybe just the everyday pressures and tensions that build and build until the thunderhead erupts into a storm. Through it all, we have God - Isaiah 40:29 says “He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].” Philippians 4:13 says “I have strength for all things in Christ who empower me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” Nahum 1:7 says “The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him.” Habakkuk 3:19 says “The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility].” And, Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through him who strengthen me.” So my brothers and sisters when life becomes a problem much too great for us to bear, instead of trying to escape, let us withdraw in prayer. For withdrawal means renewal if we withdraw to pray and listen in the quietness to hear what God will say because we receive power and strength through our Holy Father to withstand the storms of life. Make time every day to read and study God’s Word. Your devotion time will empower and strengthen you for your day. Also, you will gain a better knowledge of the scripture and be able to share the Word with others. Always give thanks to God for empowering you with grace and mercy in your weakness and to help you stand strong in your faith even when you feel that your prayers have not been answered and postponed dreams. Pray that the Lord will give you faith and patience to rest in His timing. Acknowledge He is our strength and pray that He will enable you to be strong and whole in mind, body and soul as you wait on Him to move on your behalf. When your world has been shaken, remember there is a God who is unshakeable. When you are weak, pray to God to give you strength to rise above your circumstances and continue to worship him in the face of fear. Pray for God to strengthen you by the power of His Holy Spirit; to stand strong no matter what comes against you and to help you not to lose heart, but rather to continue to grow in faith. Remember Ephesians 6:10 says “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” I am going to end this morning with the words of an old familiar hymn “We’ve Come This Far By Faith” We’ve come this far by faith leaning on the Lord; Trusting in His Holy Word, He’s never failed me yet. Don’t be discouraged with troubles in your life He’ll bear your burdens and move all misery and strife, that’s why we’ve come this far by faith because we get power and strength from the Lord. AMEN.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw - "When Under Attack" (11/2/2011)

Nehemiah 4:1-4a Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he mocked the Jews. He said in the presence of his associates and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish it in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish and burned ones at that?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “That stone wall they are building any fox going up on it would break it down!” Hear, O our God, for we are despised…

The syncope that was just read is about the prophet Nehemiah coming under attack when he heard that Jerusalem’s walls were in ruins, leaving the city vulnerable to attack so he turned to God in prayer to weep and mourn for his city (Neh.1:4). The Lord gave him favor with King Artaxerxes. The ruler not only let Nehemiah take a leave of absence from his post as a cupbearer, he also supplied him (the exiles) with building materials and military protection (Neh. 2:5-9) The king even gave him letters addressed to all provincial governors on the way to Jerusalem so they would allow him and the other Jews to pass through their lands. Time and time again, Nehemiah sought the Lord whenever he faced a problem or threat. He turned to God for the strength to keep going despite criticism and discouragement (Neh. 4:1-5). Nehemiah was not trained to build walls or gates. But, Nehemiah trusted God and obeyed Him anyway. As a result, the Jews rebuilt the wall in 52 days.

When the Lord tells you to do something, He hasn’t made a mistake. The adversaries and the naysayers will make us feel that we can’t do what the Lord has called us to do; they will put us under attack. The Lord will never call you to do something that you can’t do through His power and strength. God uses our weaknesses to draw us closer to Him and teaches us how to rely on Him more completely. God will cover our mistakes and pick us up when we fail. Our job is simply to obey Him and listen to his call. As children of God, we have the awesome privilege of falling on our knees and talking to the Almighty God when we are under attack of our adversaries or the naysayers. Don’t take this precious gift of praying for granted. Humbly approach the throne of grace, confess your sin, and admit that life’s challenges are too much to handle alone. The Almighty Father will reveal His plans and equip you with all you need to succeed. The adversary wants us to be fearful and not believing in the grace and mercy of God. God doesn’t want us to go through life with fear and doubt, wondering if He will respond to our prayers. God has given us a spirit of power. Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Because we belong to Christ, we can pray with authority and trust that the Father will answer our prayers. We will never accomplish what God wants us to do –such as live holy lives or spread the gospels until we put our confidence in Him.

When under attack, radical problems often necessitate radical solutions. To extinguish an oil-well fire, dynamite is sometimes used. The stupendous power of the explosion is the only way to “blow out” the raging inferno. In medicine, the seemingly radical act of amputating a limb preserves life by stopping the progress of cancer or gangrene. Many old buildings are best “renovated” by tearing down, clearing the rubble, and building anew. Before God can build into your life, there may be things he needs to blast and remove: bad habits, selfish attitudes, walls of indifference, and closets of secret sin. Have possessions in your life become the focus of your affection? Are people in your life tearing you down rather than building you up? Do pursuits in your life oppose rather than promote the kingdom of God? We must pray through problems. There is much we can learn by studying Nehemiah’s problems, reactions, and prayers. The struggles and tragedies of this life need not affect your joy as a Child of God. True joy is based on the spiritual realities that God is good and God is faithful regardless of your situation. You have no need to fear or to be anxious. Despite whatever is going on in your life, you can “glorify in his holy name,” and your heart can rejoice as you seek him and the strength he offers. Jeremiah 33:6 says “I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security,” declares the LORD.” The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. Trust him, and be filled with joy, peace and hope. The precise extent that we trust God, we are able to live in His peace without fear for today or apprehension for the future. When under attack, Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Pray and trust in the Lord when under attack and He will be there in your time of need.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw - "Come Out of the Wilderness" (10/19/2011)

Scripture: Numbers 13-16

Numbers 13:1-4 The LORD said to Moses, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites; from each of their ancestral tribes you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the LORD, all of them leading men among the Israelites.

At the LORD’s command, Moses selects one man from each tribe to form a spying party and survey the land of Canaan. They returned forty days later having all seen the same thing, but with a divided opinion as to what it means. The majority opinion: [The people] are stronger than we.” The minority opinion: “We are well able to overcome it.” Disheartened and faithless, the people threatened to stone Moses and return to Egypt rather than face what seems to them certain death. God’s punishment upon their unbelief was severe; the punishment was one year of wilderness wandering for each day the spies were in the land and death in the wilderness for that entire generation. And yet, God would ultimately bring the next generation of Israelites into the Promised Land because the law he gave them contained instructions for living in the Promised Land. So, on the verge of entering a land promised to Abraham more than six centuries before, the Israelites were faced with the spies’ report. The land is good; it flows with milk and honey; it also overflows with fortified cities and giants! Obviously, there could be only one response that's “Let’s go!” because this land was promised by God and the only question should had been which direction we should go. Joshua and Caleb responded with faith: “Let’s go forward!” The other ten spies responded with their feelings: “Let’s go back to Egypt!” Majority opinion prevailed…and Israel traveled (traced) in circles in the desert for forty years. So this morning I'd like to ask you where is God stretching your faith today?” Is it let us go forward or let us go backward. Spy out your situation and make a list of what you see. Then ask yourself two questions: “How can I respond to this without faith? How shall I respond to this in faith?” Then do the thing that pleases God. We may not know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future. We know who is the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end and when we put our faith and trust in him whatever may be causing our wilderness experience right now cannot keep us. The idea of wilderness is seen as a dreadful experience and/or as “hate punishment” from God instead of in certain cases where the Spirit leads one there for a period of time. The scripture says that the children of Israel were wandering for forty years. We can see that the wilderness of our life has a definite time beginning and a definite time ending. For some people, this may be a couple of months while for others it would be for a couple of years. The beauty of the Christian journey is that we are walking with Christ. Sometimes, we will go through our wilderness but in the end, we will come out of the wilderness if we only believe and have faith. The wilderness experience is very critical to the current and future growth and development of the Christian. Faith and belief that God will deliver you and help you to make the transition from "things are not going to get better" to "let’s go forward". The wildernesses of the Old Testament consisted of barren lands and desert sands, the wildernesses of us may be the empty places of our hearts. Let us this morning praise God for grace and mercy. Because sometimes, we are guilty of seeing the ‘no’ to the point where we can not see what lies ahead of us at the end of the wilderness experience. Embracing the wilderness experience is what each and every one of us has to do at some point during the pursuit of Christian maturity. Your wilderness may be in the forms of financial, emotional, physical, relationships and even spiritual. If your situation seems as though your trials are never going to end, don’t give up, keep moving forward in the LORD and you will reach your promised land. Isaiah 40:3-4 says “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.” Just because you are down does not mean you are out and best of all, it doesn’t mean that your situation will last forever. If you have experienced a loss of any kind – material possessions, a relationship, or a job – know that God will be there to comfort you through the process of healing – come out of the wilderness. God is a replenisher, and whatever you have lost, He can restore. It is his pleasure to bless us and it is our job to have faith no matter how big or strong the cities or giants we have or see. Pray, stand on the promises of God for your life and have faith. Come out of the Wilderness, let us go forward, Come Out of the Wilderness. Amen.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw - "FAITH UNDER FIRE" (10/5/2011)

Daniel 3: 15b-18 “But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden status that you have set up.”

So from this scripture this week I want us to meditate on when our FAITH IS UNDER FIRE. Do we have faith in God and think that He is an awesome God when times are good and we are getting what we want? Or do we separate ourselves from God in time of trouble? In times of trouble, we have to put our faith into action by trusting and leaning on Our Heavenly Father. Romans 10:8-9 says “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 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. Faith is an action word; we have to put into motion our belief and the scripture that you just read is the Prayer of Confession so we have to believe in God with all of our heart and soul; and say with our mouth that we know that Jesus lives because He lives in us. You may have faith but feel that your faith is shaky in time of trouble. Luke 17:5-6 tells us how to increase our faith – it says The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. So in your time of trouble if you just believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is with you with whatever you are going through and if you continue to learn and depend on Jesus in the midst of everything, He will bring you through it. In these days and times of recession, no jobs, unable to pay your bills on time, sickness, over looked for a promotion, stand, stand on the promises of Jesus when our FAITH is UNDER FIRE.

The focus scripture this morning tells us that men of old stood and depended on God during their trials and tribulations. King Nebuchadnezzar was in a furious rage because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not serve his gods and worship his golden statue. King Nebuchadnezzar threw these men into a furnace and ordered the furnace to be heated up seven times more than was customary. And when King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace, not only there was the three men he threw into the furnace but a fourth man walking in the middle of the fire, not hurt and the fourth man had the appearance of a god. So when our faith is tested, we must remember that God will be there with us in the middle of whatever our fiery furnaces/problems may be. When our faith comes under fire, we need to speak faithfully that we have the faith that we say that we have and confess with our mouth that we believe. Joshua 1:9 says "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." So we can tell our mountain (no job, trouble in our marriage, trouble with our children, trouble on our job, unable to pay our bills, sickness, etc) to move out of our way. Speak that no matter what is happening right now in my life that God is there leading me all the way. Continue to talk and believe that God will deliver us from our trials and tribulations. So when our faith is tested - that is when we should look back to things God has done – things that only God could have done in our lives. Mark 9:24 tells us sometimes we are like the man who said to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” We know that unbelief/not believing in God is wrong when we think of the gracious and powerful character of God – we know that God is ready to meet us where we are and lead us to greater faith. A prayer to God is faith in God. The power in faith rests with God and is not under the believer’s control. When our faith is tested, we are forced to feed and put our faith to work as we might not otherwise do. As we “dig in” and “hold on” to Christ, our faith grows. Jesus takes us into the fiery furnace of life to grow our faith. Our trials have come so that our faith will be of greater worth than any material thing. How many times life causes us to focus on what we don’t have and feel that there is no way out but faith reminds us that God is able, so keep praying, keep trusting, keep leaning on promises of God - FAITH UNDER FIRE. The old hymn sings have faith in God when your pathway is lonely, He sees and knows all the way you have trod, Never alone are the lease of His children; Have faith in God, have faith in God. Have faith in God when your prayers are unanswered, your earnest plea He will never forget; wait on the Lord, trust His Word and be patient; Have faith in God, He’ll answer yet. Have faith in God in your pain and your sorrow, His heart is touched with your grief and despair, Cast all your care and your burdens upon Him, and leave them there. Have faith in God, He’s on the throne; have faith in God, He watches over his own; He cannot fail, He must prevail; Have faith in God, have faith in God WHEN YOUR FAITH IS UNDER FIRE, HAVE FAITH IN GOD!!!

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw (9/28) - "Don't Give Up. Trust God!"

Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.

Again this week I would like to focus on our Wednesday Morning Prayer Conferences. We have been lifting up different prayers about different concerns that we are going through. I know that there is a human behavior that after several times praying and requesting help from God we might decide to give up (God just won’t answer our prayers), but this morning I want to continue to encourage hope, peace and trust in our Heavenly Father that is DON’T GIVE UP. TRUST GOD!

1 John 5:14-15 tells us This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us –whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him. The Lord promises to guide us when we pray according to His will. Psalm 83 says O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God. Satan wants us to dwell on our negative feelings of rejection, abandonment, loneliness. "I'm not ever going to get a job, I am about to lose everything, my children won’t straighten out, there is no hope, my marriage is about to be destroyed with divorce, my boss is waiting for me to make a mistake so he/she will have a reason to fire me, why did this have to happen to me and I am at my wits end". Satan wants these negative thoughts to grow. The positive side is to keep sending resumes for a job, keep talking to your children and praying for them, seek counseling with your marriage problem, and seek financial advise on how to handle whatever amount of money you may have and be very conscious of your spending. We can’t always avoid antagonistic feelings, but we can control how we react to them. So, in our world that is full of injustice, being hurt when friends and family betray our confidence, and harm those we love; we get to a point that we want to give up. Romans 8:28 reminds us as believers of God to trust God and He will work for our good in every situation and circumstance. So again this morning, I want to remind us that you and I can choose to respond to these powerful emotions not in a negative way but in a way that will honor the Lord. The Holy Spirit within us enables us to endure and run on with life's consequences, so wrap yourself in the arms of the Lord. Psalms 55:16-17 says: But I call upon God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice. We must remain faithful and trust God to deliver us. In a very real sense, our unmet need is a form of trial and temptation. It is a trial because its lack of fulfillment can feel truly painful, and it is a temptation because it urges us to turn away from God to meet our own need. But James 1:12 says Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. So what are you to do when the delay goes on, the pressure to give up increases, and you feel weary of beating yourself up with false guilt that everything is your fault. This may sound redundant, but keep your eyes on the Lord and follow Him – no matter what. James 1:4 tells us that the testing of our faith leads to perseverance, which works to make us perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. So keep your faith in the Lord and your unwavering trust will lead you to profound results. Get on your knees before the Lord and pour out your heart. Spend time prayerfully reading His word. And, listen to his voice with specific guidance for your life. Phil 4:6-7 tells us that God’s word promises us peace if we will give God our worries and trust in Him. I know this sometimes seems hard to do with whatever you are going through. But I am a witness this morning if you wrap yourself in the Lord, His grace and mercy will protect you and sustain you. The words of T. D. Jakes, “your down time is your prep time for what he is about to be release in your life; God allows you to have a winter because your summer is coming in your life.” When you feel that everything is out of control, God is allowing you to have preparation time to become stronger in Him so to be ready for the breakthrough that you are about to receive; DON’T GIVE UP. TRUST GOD! The old Saints sing I will trust in the Lord, I will trust in the Lord, I will trust in the Lord until I die, I will trust in the Lord, I will trust in the Lord, I will trust in the Lord until I die. So keep trusting in God because He will not leave you or forsake you DON’T GIVE UP. TRUST GOD! AMEN.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw (9/21) - "LORD, HOW LONG?"

Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. NRSV

During our Wednesday Morning Prayer Conference, we have prayed many times for different ones to find a job, to be healed and for transition of loved ones as they journey to the arms of the Lord; each time the emphasis was wait on God. But as time moves on, sometimes anxious will raise it’s ugly head and cause us to ask the question, Lord how long before I will find a job with all the bills that I have, Lord how long before my house goes into foreclosure, how long must I keep from being healed and how long must my loved one have to wait before you take him or her home to be with you. So the old saying just wait on the LORD is the advice you have probably heard so much that it has become a cliché. I believe there are no coincidences when it comes to God’s timing. We may not know exactly what He is doing at the time (and we may never know), but He knows at all times. So, in order to grow as believers, you and I must learn to wait on the Lord and stand on His promises. Isaiah 40:31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. When we surrender to His timing, God does mighty things in and for us, according to His will and His timing. God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. In other words, we must allow His timing and not on our own agenda to guide our lives. Psalms 25:3 tells us those who obey Him ultimately won’t suffer shame [Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame]. And, Psalm 37:34 tells us Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way as a result of surrendering to His timing in faith and when we do, we can expect His very best.

I know when you are down to your last dime, you feel that you need to be able to pay your bills is very hard, but waiting for the Lord teaches us to rely on Him. If every prayer were answered immediately, we might never learn to trust God. Waiting for the Lord prepares us to have an impact on others because when you wait on God’s timing, you can be an awesome testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness. Waiting on the Lord requires patience which is simply the will to wait resting in the Lord. When we wait on the Lord you and I must listen for instructions from the Lord instead of rushing ahead with our solution or agenda. Waiting requires that we calmly accept the Lord’s work in our lives. Some of us may have to surrender what seems like an immediate need and resist the temptation to set our own timeline. Waiting on Him is purposeful anticipation that God will accomplish what He promises. So the answer to the question this morning "Lord how long?" is in God’s timing not ours. The scripture this morning tells us if we stay on our knees and what we ask for if it is the Lord’s will, it will be given in God’s timing because He has His hand on you and me so just keep praying because He will provide. Waiting on the Lord is a choice we make because when we walk away from Him, we forfeit the Lord’s best that may even result in disaster. In other words, we can allow disappointment to destroy our fellowship with the Father. So Lord how long not long but in God’s timing. If you put your troubles and burdens in the Lord’s hands there will be peace in the midst of storm because you know that God will provide. God will sustain, God will protect and God will be your stronghold when you feel that there is nothing else there to hold you up. Lord how long, not long just wait for the Lord and he will provide. Amen.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev. Bernese Shaw (9/14) - "What is Your Focus"

NRSV Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

On last week-end with September 11th, America’s focus was on not forgetting what happened on September 11, 2001. For most of us, we might spend our time focus on how to change our circumstances. Our circumstances could be not having a job, more bills than money, a bad relationship, being unhappy at work, our children, health problems and so on, so on. You go to bed thinking of your problems and wake up worrying about them and feeling trapped under them. When things are out of our control, it is then we have to make a choice to live under the weight of our troubles or to rise above them and become better people. Our scripture that was read is from Apostle Paul writing to the Philippians while he was in jail. Paul did not always know how to find peace and joy in every situation, but he learned how to be content in every situation (we too must learn how to be content in every situation). He learned to focus on Christ instead of the circumstances, dwell on the sovereignty of God, and consider the positive results rather than simply the pain and loss. In other words, Paul chose to dwell on the power and character of our Lord despite the suffering he experienced. He could rejoice in his imprisonment because it allowed him the continued opportunity to share the gospel. We too can take the pain and hurt from our situation and witness to someone about the goodness of God. Because we won’t always understand why He is allowing us to suffer, in Isaiah 55:8-9 God says For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. But we have the Lord’s promise that if we surrender to Him, He will use our trials and pain for our ultimate good. The Father knows our needs even before we ask. Matthew 6:8 says … for your Father knows what you need before you ask him., so we can trust that even in times of adversity, He is still working in our lives; Philippians 2:13 says for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. In fact, the more difficult life becomes, the more serious you and I become about listening to what the Lord is saying to us, we learn to call on Our Heavenly Father. Through hardship, He opens our spiritual eyes to see truth that we have never seen before. Instead of asking God why He allowed hardship, ask Him what you can learn from it. The only way you and I can rise above painful circumstances is if we will raise our focus to the One who holds the universe in His hands. Setting our eyes on the Lord Jesus and his matchless incredible power lifts our spirits when nothing else can. Today, surrender your life fully to the Lord, seek His face on how to respond to difficult situations, and if you believe, He will work powerfully in your life. So when life is difficult, I pray that you will choose to keep focus on Jesus in His awesome authority, power, and sovereignty. Trust that He will do something good within you and through you. As you go through this day keep your eyes focused on Jesus and hum that old gospel hymn in your heart: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace [because God’s grace and mercy do not change]; If you keep your eyes on Jesus In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil [because] On Christ, the solid rock, I stand all other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. AMEN.

The Breakthrough Moment by Rev. Bernese Shaw - "I've Been Changed"

Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

NRSV Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together will all malice, and be kind to one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Last week we talked about It’s Time to Move On! Today in order to move on, we have to be changed from the past so, I would like for us to meditate about I'VE BEEN CHANGED. I know that we all have heard the old cliché’, “Time heals all wounds”. Sometimes that statement is true and at other times, we feel that statement is not. We all possibly have experienced someone or something that has hurt us and caused us seemingly irreparable damage. It doesn’t matter if it happened years ago, last week, or just the other day, the pain of the past seems to go on forever and it seems as though the pain will not go away. Sometimes we may feel that we will never get over the hurt or forgive the person for causing us so much pain, but the truth is unless we find it in our hearts to forgive, God won’t forgive us our sins. Matthew 6:15 says, but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Also, when you pray the Lord’s Prayer asking our Heavenly Father to “forgive us our debts/trespasses as we also have forgiven our debtors/trespassers" accordingly to teaching of Jesus in Matt. 6:12. Some of the bitterness that we might hang onto could be betrayal by a family member, betrayal by a co-worker, betrayal by someone in the church, or your spouse could have cheated on you with someone else or you could have been the one that caused the betrayal/pain. There could be a multitude of scenarios but we all make mistakes, so, hanging onto one or all of these bitterness’s will only hinder you from receiving your blessing since our God is in the blessing business! Remember, Romans 3:23 tells us that we’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all have hurt someone intentionally or un-intentionally so if the Lord can forgive us of our trespasses, we can forgive others. Forgiving is not an easy thing to do, and it won’t happen overnight. It may be years before your heart won’t hurt anymore over the situation. But, I promise if you stay on your knees, stay in God’s Word and keep living, the day will come. Forgiveness is more for you than the other person because of the other person is going on with his or her life. It is you who has to be changed; it is you who has to forgive in order for Our Father to forgive us of our trespasses. Mark 11:25 says When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone; forgive him/her, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you [of] your sins. It has been written, We all have harbored unforgiveness toward someone at one time or another and that is not a good feeling. Time after time when you think about what the other person has done to you, you may get angry over and over again just thinking about what that person has done to you. You might sincerely want to forgive and it seems as though forgiveness won’t come, let me tell you this morning that it will take time but it will come. Unforgiveness and bitterness can eat you alive causing all kind of health problems and stop your spiritual growth; it can be as poison slowly eating away in your system. So take this day, this second, and think about someone who has wronged you. Then say a prayer for that person and ask God to bless him or her. Release the bitterness/resentment in Jesus’ name and forgive them as Christ forgives you. So as you forgive, you become a new person. We all say that we are Christian (Christ like), in Christ there is no hatred, bitterness, rage and anger. When you are in Christ you have become a new person and you have been changed. You may have to get out your pen and paper and write out to God what you want to be released from and give the letter (pain and resentment) to God and watch how your releasment comes into fruition. Remember, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says if any man/woman be in Christ, he/she is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new. James Hall sings I’m Not the Same I’m Not the Same I have been changed since the Lord saved me. Born of His Spirit, I’ve been washed in His blood. I have a new life with Him, I’m glad He changed me, I’m not what I use to be I’m not the same. Changed, Oh I’ve been changed, I’ve been changed… I will conclude this morning with a question have you been changed? Have you been saved by His love and washed by His blood? Have you been changed? If you have been changed by the scripture be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you then you can sing/say I’ve Been Changed by His grace and mercy. I’ve been Changed. AMEN.

It's Time to Move On by Rev. Bernese Shaw

NRSV Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Like Hurricane Irene that just hit the Eastern Shore with its winds and rain, moved from NC to Canada, sometimes in life it is time for us to just move on through whatever mistakes we have made in life because we will try to explain, blame (it is because of someone else or it was the other person’s fault) or find whatever excuse we can. There is an old saying that “everybody makes mistakes that’s why there are erasers on pencils!” So why do we agonize over our past mistakes and missteps? Is it because of guilt, embarrassment, shame, and/or remorse? Whatever the reason, God wants us to admit our mistakes – admit to Him our wrong doings (like King David, who made more mistake than him), learn from them, and then forget them. In this life, you will make so many mistakes during the course of your lifetime that you will never be able to count them all anyway. There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins, Ecclesiastes 7:20. So why keep a running tally? Thank God He does not hold our sins and mistakes against us, Psalm 130:3 says If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O LORD, who could stand? We are all guilty of mistakes. Some are more grievous than others, and the repercussions and consequences are different. But don’t let pass mistakes hold your spirit hostage. If you make a mistake, fix it if you can, apologize if it is necessary, and move on. People may not forgive you, but God will. Therefore, do not let the mistakes and missteps of the past hold you. Press onward and upward toward the heavenly prize and keep your eye and thoughts on Jesus. So don’t let your old lifestyle hold you hostage. Philippians 3:13 says One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. The past is the past no matter how you may want to go back and make things right. This day, take up your cross wherever you are now and run on. God wants us to move ahead despite our faults and shortcomings. He said in Micah 7:19 that he will throw our sins into the depths of the sea. Sometimes people want to remind you of who you used to be and during this time when people look down on you remember that Romans 3:23 says All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. So don’t worry about your past life, everyone has one. Once you commit your life to Christ, you are a new creation 2 Cor 5:17 says If any man/woman be in Christ, he/she is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. You have to remember this as you start a new start because folks want to constantly put you down when you are trying to do what is right. It is easy to get discouraged and want to give up (in your personal life or on your job), but you must turn a deaf ear to the naysayers and their criticisms; just turn it over to God. Remember, your God/our God is a restorer, He repairs, your God/our God is bigger than any adversary and doesn’t want you to wallow in the past. A good example of this is Saul’s conversion to Paul in the book of Act chapter 9; who killed/persecuted Jesus/Christians before his conversion, but our God used this sinner for His Glory and our God can do the same with us. During moments of self-pity and self doubts, it is easy to dig up skeletons from the past but cast those thoughts into the sea of forgiveness. So, spend some time in prayer, reading the Word, and in meditation with God and just ask God for forgiveness of your mistakes, forgive yourself (let me say that again, forgive yourself), and move on. You have great things to do for God, and He needs you to carry them out and walk in his light every day. Live fully in the present so God can bring about your bright future in the Him. William McDowell sings “I won’t go back. I have been changed, healed, free and delivered. I have joy, peace, grace and favor. Right now is the moment, today is the day. I have been changed and I have waited; I have waited for this moment to come and I won’t let it pass because I won’t go back, can’t go back to the way it use to be before your presence came and changed me. All my shames, guilt, sins have been forgiven… I won’t go back, can’t go back to the way it use to be”. IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON - Amen.

The Breakthrough Moment: It's Time To Move On! by Rev. Bernese Shaw

NRSV Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Like Hurricane Irene that just hit the Eastern Shore with its’ winds and rain moved from NC to Canada, sometimes in life it is time for us to just move on through whatever mistakes we have made in life because we will try to explain, blame (it is because of someone else or it was the other person fault) or find whatever excuse we can. There is an old saying that “everybody makes mistakes that’s why there are erasers on pencils!” So why do we agonize over our past mistakes and missteps? Is it because of guilt, embarrassment, shame, or/and remorse. Whatever the reason, God wants us to admit our mistakes – admit to Him of our wrong doings (like King David, who made more mistake than him), learn from them, and then forget them. In this life, you will make so many mistakes during the course of your lifetime that you will never be able to count them all anyway. There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins Ecclesiastes 7:20 So why keep a running tally? Thank God he does not hold our sins and mistakes against us, Psalm 130:3 says If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O LORD, who could stand? We are all guilty of mistakes. Some are more grievous than others, and the repercussions and consequences are different. But don’t let pass mistakes hold you as a spirit hostage. If you make a mistake, fix it if you can, apologize if it is necessary, and move on. People may not forgive you, but God will. Therefore, do not let the mistakes and missteps of the past hold you. Press onward and upward toward the heavenly prize and keep your eye and thoughts on Jesus. So don’t let you old lifestyle hold you hostage. Philippians 3:13 says One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. The past is the past no matter how you may want to go back and make things right. This day, take up your cross whenever you are now and run on. God wants us to move ahead despite our faults and shortcomings. He said in Micah 7:19 that he will throw our sins into the depths of the sea. Sometimes people want to remind you of who you used to be and during this time when people look down on you remember that Roman 3:23 says All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. So don’t worry about your past life, everyone has one. Once you commit your life to Christ, you are a new creation 2 Cor 5:17 says If any man/woman be in Christ, he/she is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. You have to remember this as you start a new start because folks want to constantly put you down when you are trying to do what is right. It is easy to get discouraged and want to give up (in your personal life or on your job), but you must turn a deaf ear to the naysayers and their criticisms; just turn it over to God. Remember, your God/our God is a restorer, He repairs, your God/our God is bigger than any adversary and doesn’t want you to wallow in the past. A good example of this is Saul conversion to Paul in the book of Act chapter 9; who killed/persecuted Jesus/Christians before his conversion, but our God used this sinner for His Glory and our God can do the same with us. During moments of self-pity and self doubts, it is easy to dig up skeletons from the past but cast those thoughts into the sea of forgiveness. So, spent some time with in prayer, reading the Word, and in meditation with God and just ask God for forgiveness of your mistakes, forgive yourself (let me say that again, forgive yourself), and move on. You have greatest things to do for God, and he need you to carry them out and walk in his light everyday. Live fully in the present so God can bring about your bright future in the Him. William McDowell sings I won’t go back. I have been changed, healed, free and delivered. I have joy, peace, grace and favor. Right now is the moment, today is the day. I have been changed and I have waited; I have waited for this moment to come and I won’t let it pass because I won’t go back, can’t go back to the way it use to be before your presence came and changed me. All my shames, guilt, sins have been forgiven… I won’t go back, can’t go back to the way it use to be. IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON - Amen.

The Breakthrough Moment: Lord, I Need a Miracle From You! by Rev. Bernese Shaw

With unemployment high, drops in the Stock Market and our 401K, homes going into foreclosures, challenges in selling and buying a home, children going back to school, limited finances, divorce, depression caused us to think out situation is hopeless is when our God steps in and shows out! How many of us have been to the end of our rope and think everything is hopeless. We feel that God has forgotten about us because we can’t see a solution to our situations. But the Bible instructs us to live by faith and not by sight (2Cor. 5:7). From our seemingly hopeless situations, something supernatural happened. God said: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5b) There is never anything too hard or situations seemed so hopeless that too hard for the Lord (Gen. 18:14).

What’s causing you to feel hopeless today? Do you need God to show up and show out in your life today? Place all of you need before him and pray for deliverance. God says in Isaiah 41:13 I hold you by your right hand – I, the Lord your God. And, I say to you, Don’t be afraid, I am here to help you.

Pray, believe and expect for God to show and show out in your situation. Marvin Sapp sings: "God sees the tears you cry, He shares your pain inside and sometimes you wonder why He allows you to go through what you go through but know He (God) has His hands on you…"

So just lift your hands up high for He will provide Just know He has his hands on you. AMEN.

It's Almost that Time!

It's almost that time! 8 days until the next worship experience of The Breakthrough Fellowship!

Thank you again for all your prayers and support for our first worship experience on January 23rd. Not only was the place packed but God showered us with a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Please mark your calendars to join us Febraury 13th and each month on the 2nd and the 4th Sundays for worship.

Coffee and Fellowship starts at 9:30A.
Worship starts promptly at 10A.
Worship Service in Theatre 15.
BT Kids meet in Theatre 14.

Don't forget our Mission to Serve activity for the month of February - Shoe4Africa. Shoe4Africa was started in 1995 with the idea to take something we discard ---used running shoes and send them to Africa in order to prevent conditions such as hookworm. We will be collecting sneakers throughout the month of February at our worship experiences and breakthrough circles.

Come early and get your coffee and your seat!!! I look forward to seeing you in the place!

Breakthrough Fast 2011 – Day 21 “The Fast is Broken”

The fast is broken. It’s Sunday morning, January 23rd. 21 Days of fasting is complete. How do you feel? I don’t know about you but I feel great. Physically, mentally and spiritually I feel refreshed and revived. I started this fast with 2 simple goals in mind. I wanted to fast for the discipline to walk in the vision that God has given me. And I wanted to honor God for the New Year. I don’t know about you...but I feel the hand of God working in my life and I claim the authority, the blessings, the favor, the strength and the cross that comes by being a child of the King.

Let me also say, thank you. Thank you for the many of you who have joined me and The Breakthrough Project on the Daniel Fast. I pray that everyone has been renewed and revived as a result of this experience.

Now the time comes to break the fast. Breaking the fast is the most difficult period after the fast; it requires discipline and self-control. I encourage you, to ease back into a normal eating pattern. We have cleansed our body of a lot of toxins the past 21 days. Be easy on the grease, the caffeine and the sugar. Your body will thank you later for it. Also, remember that a single fast is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need fresh in fillings of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new times of fasting before God. Therefore, breaking this fast is not the end; it is only the beginning to a season of fasting that I am challenging you and me to continue in 2011.

Here are my tips for breaking the fast:

1. Take the 2nd Step of Faith
The fast was only the first step. Now, it is time to take the second step. Whatever you were praying for --- expect God to do the supernatural in that situation (Hebrews 11:1).

2. Make Time with the Lord a Priority
- Don’t fall back into old habits and allow the busyness of life to thwart the benefits and the blessings that you have experienced the past 21 days.
- Make a commitment to daily periods of pray, study and mediation.

3. Make a Commitment to a Healthy Lifestyle
- Do not overeat! Listen to your body. Discover the amount of food that your body needs to live a vibrant, healthy lifestyle.

I hope you have enjoyed my blogging these past 21 days. Stay tuned for future posts. Pray for me. I am praying for you.

All the best,

Rev. CAM

Breakthrough Fast 2011 - Day 18, 19 and 20 “Write the Vision; Make it Plain”

I’m sorry I missed blogging Days 18 and 19. I have been a little busy balancing the responsibilities of family, work and preparing for the launch of The Breakthrough Fellowship on Sunday. Nevertheless, TGIF, my brothers and sisters! It’s Day 20 and I’m feeling good!

Today, my words of encouragement come from the prophet Habakkuk, “Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it.” Habakkuk 2:2 As I wrote in the devotional guide, take today to write out some reflections of what God has spoken to you during this fast. What has God shown you about distractions? What have you learned about your relationship with God? How has God blessed you? How has God stretched you? Going forward...how should this period of fasting; prayer and personal reflection change your life?

Don’t skip this exercise. Writing down your visions and establishing clear goals is an important step in staying focus and establishing accountability once the fast is over.

1. WRITE the vision and make it plain. Be specific and make a verbal commitment to the Lord.
2. VISUALIZE and PRAY what your life might be like if you do not pursue this vision? Then PRAY AGAIN for the strength and the discipline to make the vision come to fruition.
3. Visualize yourself AFTER this vision HAS become your reality. How does it feel? What tangible benefits result from this vision?
4. DECIDE ON THE FIRST STEP you can take to start yourself on your journey.
5. After that, there's only more thing to do-MAKE IT HAPPEN!
   

Until tomorrow, be blessed!

20 Days of Fasting and 1 Day Left,
Rev. CAM

The Breakthrough Fellowship launches in 2 Days!

Breakthrough Fast 2011 - Day 17 "I Will Be With You"

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God..."(Isaiah 43:2-3a)

Enough said.

17 Days of Fasting and Still Going Strong,
Rev. CAM

The Breakthrough Fellowship launches in 5 Days!

Breakthrough Fast 2011 – Day 16 “How Are You Measuring Up?” - Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As I reflect on the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I am drawn to his definition of success: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy". In a culture that measures success by how much you make, where you live, what you own, where you worship, what you wear or who you associate with, Dr. King’s measurement of success mentions none of these. Instead, he asks the question, “Do you look at struggles and adversity and become impotent to the challenge? Or do you rise to their tests with faith and determination to meet them head on.”

If Dr. King were alive, I believe he would ask us a series of questions: “Where do you stand on the eradication of poverty and support for affordable health care for everyone? Where do you stand on the proliferation of the sex trade and pornography that dominates the Internet? Where do you stand on war at home and abroad? Where do you stand on racism, religious tolerance and gender equity? Where do you stand on the sanctity of marriage and the role of prayer in schools? Where do you stand on protecting the environment over bigger profits and bigger companies? Where do you stand on quality education and the right for everyone to share in the American Dream? Where do you stand on justice, peace and love for people who look like you and for people who don’t?”

Life is full of challenges and controversies. Life will test each one of us; and each one of us will have the opportunity to be measured by Dr. King’s “measuring stick”. My question to you and to me, “How are you measuring up?”

Then he (Jesus) said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:37, NIV)

16 Days of Fasting and Still Going Strong,
Rev. CAM

The Breakthrough Fellowship launches in 6 Days!

Breakthrough Fast 2011 – Day 15 “The Promise”

Congratulations! If you have been fasting and praying with me since January 2, we are on the home stretch. Two weeks completed and only 6 days left until we complete our mission! I don’t know about you but I am seeing clearer and am I feeling lighter than I did at the beginning of the year. I admit. I’m feeling lighter because I am not consuming certain foods and thankfully, I am enjoying the by-product of a slightly smaller waistline. And I admit. I am seeing clearer because I’m not blinded by my self-imposed caffeine and sugar fix. But more importantly, I’m seeing clearer and feeling lighter because this time of fasting, prayer and personal reflection has allowed me to reconnect with my creator.

While in prison, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Jeremiah, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3 NRSV) The New Living Translation says, “Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.”

My questions for you and me today: Over the past 15 days, have you called out to God? Or have you focused on the diet rather than your relationship with Christ? Have you listened for the voice of God or have you been too busy moaning about how hard the fast is or making excuses why you can’t find time to pray or read God’s word?

In these last 6 days, make a commitment to your relationship with Jesus Christ. If you have stumbled, if you have fallen off the wagon, make a commitment today to pray, fast and spend time in personal reflection. In these last 6 days, let’s call out to God with our whole heart. Let’s seek God’s face in praise for what God is doing in our lives. Let’s stop the excuses of why we can’t do this. Let’s not take this time for granted. If you call out to God, God promises to answer you. And when God does answer you, I believe God will reveal to you visions, meanings and “remarkable secrets” for your life that you cannot begin to fathom. Are you willing to step out on faith? Are you courageous enough to put God to the test? Are you willing to make that investment of time? What do you have to lose? Or is the problem, you are afraid of what you will gain.

My prayer and my hope is that you will call out to God. I am calling, “God, this is Charles...”

15 Days of Fasting and Still Going Strong,
Rev. CAM

The Breakthrough Fellowship launches in 7 days!

Breakthrough Fast 2011 – Day 14 “Don’t Let Your Trials Hold You Down”

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything, (James 1:2-4)

We are living in challenging times. Job creation is anemic. Money is tight. Our cities and states are bankrupt. Racial and political tensions are simmering to the boiling point. Natural disasters are a daily occurrence. Our family lives are on edge from being over-programmed and over-stressed. Our schools are starting to look more like detention centers than environments for greater learning. And the citizens of the world are at war with each other and with themselves.

But despite it all, as believers we must remember we still have faith. My father-in-law taught me that faith means “Forsaking All I Trust Him”. Beloved, that is what you have to do in times like these. You have to trust God. Regardless of your present circumstances, God has a plan for you to prosper. And I don’t mean trust God out of emotion or because it sounds good. James, the half-brother of Jesus, said “consider it pure joy.” In other words, you know how God sustained you when others had written you off. You know that despite the attacks of your enemies, “You are still standing. You are still strong.” You know how God healed your body from sickness. You know that Jesus loves you for the bible tells you so. You don’t need anyone to tell you how good God is, you know it for yourself. That is why you are fasting and praising God. You know that your life is a living testimony to the goodness of God.

That's why despite the challenges that you are facing, don’t let your trials hold you down. For James speaks of two kinds of trails in this passage: (1) test from the outside, like jealousy, negative attitudes or meanness; and (2) test from the inside, like fear, doubt, temptations and addictions. James admits, and you know it for yourself, that life is full of trials. But the good news I bring, is that we serve a savior that specializes in overcoming trials...and his names is Jesus Christ. For 40 days, the Adversary tested him; but through faith, prayer and perseverance he overcame his trials and defeated the Adversary. If you and I don’t grow weary, if we are faithful, if we remember the goodness of God, if we develop perseverance in challenging times, we too can overcome our trials and WE TOO CAN WIN!

14 Days of Fasting and Still Going Strong,
Rev. CAM

The Breakthrough Fellowship launches in 8 Days!

Breakthrough Fast 2011 – Day 12 and 13 “God is good!”

Good morning, everyone. TGIF! It has been a heck of a week. The kids have been out of school all week. We have experienced freezing temperatures, snow and ice in Atlanta. And I can’t believe I’m excited about 34 degree weather coming today. Despite it all, “God is good!”

I believe you have to remind yourself of this fact sometimes. In a culture of skepticism, it is easy to become cynical and jaded to the goodness of God. Have you ever asked yourself the question, “If God is so good, why does suffering exist like the floods in Australia and Brazil? If God is so good, if God is all-powerful, if God is all-knowing, why do innocent people get victimized like they did in the deadly shooting s in Arizona?” These are often troubling questions for believers and non-believers alike. But the reality is that suffering does exist. Famine does exist. Poverty does exist. And sin and evil do exist. Ever since the fall of humanity, we have been exposed to life’s harsh realities. This is why the writer to the Hebrews pens a central tenet for believers: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) Beloved, we live in a time of need.

There are times I wish I could predict the next storm, the next tragedy or the next act of pain in order to save myself or someone from harm or danger. But thankfully, I cannot. I’m not sure I could handle that burden or am worthy of that responsibility. Thankfully, my ego is humble enough to know that there are some things I cannot do on my own nor can I solve on my own. However, there is someone who can handle it all...and his name is Jesus Christ.

The bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Jesus can handle our suffering and offer us peace in return. Jesus can handle our pain and offer us deliverance in return. Jesus can handle our sin and offer us salvation in return.

Truth be told, there are areas in my life that I am in need. But despite it all, God is good. It was Paul that wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4) For despite the inconvenience of this week’s weather, God is good! All my kids are healthy. My heat is on. There is food in the refrigerator. And everyone has been together safe, sound and happy. God is good! Despite a challenging economy, I have a great job and my mortgage is paid. God is good! And despite the struggles of getting a fledgling ministry (The Breakthrough Project) off the ground, God has given me the vision, the stamina, the people, the resources and the encouragement to birth The Breakthrough Fellowship! For that I am grateful. And for that, I proclaim, God is good!

13 Days of Fasting and Still Going Strong,
Rev. CAM

The Breakthrough Fellowship launches in 9 Days! God is good!