The Church Within You!

Do you know that not everyone will applaud your every choice? Some will say they are with you, they're not. Some may sprinkle a little doubt or withhold any encouragement. Then there is — you , yes you! You can sometimes be your own worst enemy. Sometimes you have to stand in your mirror and pat yourself on the back, encourage yourself! Push yourself! First, eliminate the distractions, and turn of...

Cross The Line! We should not let anything take our eyes off our goal—knowing Christ. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything and make up our minds. The decision to move forward or stay in place should be yours and yours alone. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes TWFYT | LAB

Jabez prayed specifically to be protected from harm and pain. We live in a fallen world filled with sin, and it is important to ask God to keep us safe from the unavoidable evil that comes our way. As we grow we learn spiritually those things that we should stay away from. If we are not careful the things that are not right in the sight of the LORD can easily become part of our nature. But we must...

Could you lie on your side for 390 days and only eat an eight-ounce meal a day that was cooked over manure? Shave all your off body? What if you were told you could not show any sorrow at the loss of your husband or wife? Could you do it? Ezekiel was a man who chose to obey God without question. Beginning with his call as a prophet and commissioning as a "watchman for the house of Israel, ". God m...

Worthless worry. We give so much energy away to worry. We worry about things that take up much of our time and add pressure to our hearts. We worry about the things that we cannot change instead of placing such things in the hands of God. Psalms 91 says, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. And what better place is there to be? Let's...

A Chosen People: Believers are set apart from the world to belong completely to God (Acts 20:28; Tit. 2:14) and proclaim the gospel of salvation to His glory and praise. "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9 He picked you out! Ble...

TRUSTING GOD IN ADVERSITY. It is easy to think that we have all the answers. In reality, only God knows exactly why things happen as they do, and we must submit to Him as our Sovereign. A Test of Faith, trust God even when you can't trace Him. Trust and know He already knows just what you need. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes LAB

"Ever good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17 The Bible often compares goodness with light and evil with darkness. The purpose of God giving us spiritual gifts is clear. God, our Father who art in Heaven and loves us infinitely, has gifted us with gifts. Think of the gift of free will,...

"So the king restored all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now." Because this woman demonstrated sincere faith and remained faithful to God's prophet in a time of general apostasy, the LORD guided and helped her in her time of need by the way of divine intervention. There is no door that God cannot open that man has locke...

God is often pictured as a Shepherd , gently caring for and guiding His flock. He is powerful, yet careful and gentle. He is called a Shepherd (Ps. 23); the good Shepherd (John 10:11,14); the great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20); and the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4). Note that the Shepherd cares for the most defenseless members of His society: children and those caring for them. This reinforces the propheti...

SEEK ME. Believing that God exists is only the beginning; even the demons believe that much. God will not settle for mere acknowledgment of His existence. He wants a personal, dynamic relationship with you that will transform your life. Those who seek God will be rewarded with His intimate presence. SEEK ME. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes SY Jesus Calling | LAB

Don't rush to judgment! Jesus tells us to examine our motives and conduct instead of judging others. The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we dislike in ourselves. Jesus' statement, "Do not judge," is against the kind of hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears others down to build oneself up. Remember be careful of that finger you point at another because...

Why do we worry? The Bible tells us that we should not worry about tomorrow, it asks us "Where is our faith?" The rich man in Jesus' story died before he could use what was stored in his big barns. Planning for retirement and preparing for life before death is wise, but neglecting life after death is disastrous! Live today as if Jesus was coming tomorrow. If you accumulate wealth onl...

Have you ever been asked, "How do I become a Christian?" These verses (Rom. 10:8-12) give you the beautiful answer — salvation is as close as your mouth and heart. People think it must be a complicated process, but it is not. If we believe in our hearts and say with our mouths that Christ is the risen LORD, we will be saved. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes TWFYT | LAB

Knowing when it's best to speak or to hold your peace. The Bible says, "For everything, there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven ... A time to be quiet and a time to speak" Ecc. 3:7 Solomon's emphasis on this phrase reminds us all, that there are times when we should zip our lips. It's OK not to have the answer to everything. Then when you know the answer, it...

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD. This passage greatly encourages the children of God when we must endure suffering in this life. 1. God will bring good out of all affliction, trials, persecution, and suffering; the good that God brings about is conforming us to the image of Christ and ultimately bringing about our glorification. 2. This promise is limited to those who love God and have submitted...

The crowd believed that the Messiah would restore Israel nationally and rule the nations politically. They had failed to understand the purpose that Jesus expressed regarding His coming into the world. Mark 11 Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes FLSB

When God Opens The Door: Either the door of opportunity or the door to the Kingdom. In seeking to know God's Will, there are two things you should never do. First, when the door is closed, get impatient and force it open. Second, create your own door. In this context, the door seems to be the entrance into heaven and "the new Jerusalem". Jesus uses this gateway status, referring to H...

God's promises for the safety of loved ones. We can find peace in God's refuge and strength. His unmatched protection is God's guarantee. God will keep your loved ones safe, continue to trust in Him and His Promises. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes TWFYT | FLSB

Be Present in the Moment: Trying to keep your mind on what is taking place at that very moment can be hard, especially when you feel you have a hundred to a thousand other things running through your mind. We can end up missing out on life's most precious moments when we are not actively present in the moment God has blessed us to be in. Remember tomorrow is not promised to any of us. So let u...

Define success as sowing, not reaping. Christians can give either generously or sparingly; God will reward them accordingly (Mat. 7:1—2). Remember the widow who gave little, but God considered it much because of the proportion she gave and the complete dedication she reflected. The more you give, the more He gives to you. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes TWFYT | FLSB

How to ease financial stress , everyone thinks or believes they have a handle on how to lower stress when it comes to finances. Listen to a few great suggestions offered by Bob and Debbie of UCB: A. Paying God first and being mindful of expenditures. B. Communicating and being in agreement with your spouse. C. Committing to excellence at work and paying off debt. D. Saving monthly and setting up a...

Be A Giver! Isn't it better to give than to receive? This is what the Word says in Acts 20:35 "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Remember, in blessing others you are blessed! Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes TWFYT | FLSB

Strengthened ... Inner Man. To have the "inner man" strengthened by the Spirit is to have our feelings, thoughts, and purposes placed more and more under His influence and direction so that the Spirit can manifest His power through us in greater measure. Listen to STRENGTH THROUGH THE SPIRIT. Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes FLSB

The path to personal growth is the process of becoming more aware of yourself, and changes in the things that you do, your habits, and your values. As you grow your outlook changes as well as your behavior. It’s like shaking off the old and starting afresh. This could be your home life, your career, and or those around you. Most people who are on the path to personal growth find their first mentor...