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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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