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.

The Breakthrough Moment with Rev Bernese Shaw - "Abide in Christ" (1/25/2012)

1John 2:3-6 Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, "I have come to know him," but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, “I abide in him," ought to walk just as he walked.

Now this morning, I would like to lift up ABIDE IN CHRIST since some of us have completed the Daniel Fast and we have been fasting, praying and reading scriptures so that we might become closer to God. Obedience to God's commandments tests whether we know God, and measures the perfection (completeness) of our love of God. "Abide in Him": Abiding is habitual obedience. It has the idea of settling down in Christ or resting in Him. It is evidenced by a life modeled after Christ. The scripture that’s just been read tells us if we say that we have come to know Christ but do not keep his commandments then we are liars. When we said that we abide in Christ then we should walk in his light. Each day, we are confronted with countless opportunities to serve God and to follow in the footsteps of Christ, but, we might be faced with feelings of being overworked, overcommitted, and overwhelmed that causes us to stumble. Today brothers and sisters, this is the day to provide an opportunity to place yourself in the service of the One who is the Giver of all blessings. Today seek His will, trust His Word and walk in the footsteps of His Son Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And if we walk as He walks as we are believers in Christ, we are called to share the good News of Jesus with our families, with our neighbors, and with the world. So with whom will you choose to walk today? Will you walk with shortsighted people who honor the ways of the world, or will you walk with the Son of God? Hopefully, you will choose to walk with Christ today and everyday. When you embrace God's love, your life's purpose is forever changed. When you embrace God's love, you feel differently about yourself, your neighbors, your family, and your world. When you embrace God's love all things are possible. When you embrace God's love you can tell mountains in your life to move out of your way. When you embrace God's love when the adversary thinks he has a hold of you, you can say I have a Savior that loves me and you can not have my soul. Then you can share God's message and His love with others. When we worship God with faith and assurance, when we place Him at the absolute center of our lives, we invite His love into our hearts we then know who is the head of our lives.

Ephesians 3:17-19 says, That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Life is often challenging, but as Christians, we should not be afraid. God loves us, and He will protect us. In times of hardship, He will comfort us; in times of changes, He will guide our steps. when we are troubled or weak or sorrowful, God is always with us. We must build our lives on the rock that cannot be moved... The old Saints sings On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand - All other ground is sinking sands, 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. Hebrews 10:23 says, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And, John 15:4 says Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me... By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, "I abide in him," ought to walk just as Christ walked. I like to leave with you this morning from the focus scripture that no matter what is going on in your life make sure you stay in prayer with God and obey his commandments. As you walk in the light of Jesus – abiding in Christ, the naysayers will be knocking you on every side: the naysayers of unemployment, the naysayers of broken marriages, the naysayers of illness, the naysayers of trying to lead your children astray, the naysayers of trouble on your job, the naysayers in the church, yes in the church, the naysayers of everyday living and problems, but keep holding onto your faith in the Lord and He will not leave you or forsake you. I know because the scripture tells us whoever obeys His word the love of God has reached the highest and with this we are in God and God is in us. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.