Search Me

”Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You know what I like about documentaries? The way the director does the investigative work. The director deal is to tell a story with information that is known but also has information that is not so widely known or known at all. In order to be able to use the information the director has to make sure the information is accurate. He has to make sure that the information is authentic. Theresa director has to cross examine and get a clear picture and understanding.

HERE IT IS…

Asking Godfrey to do this is asking God to investigate you and your dealings. From your motives to your thoughts. Your actions to your morals. Your desires and wants. But then we ask God to make a decision on who we are and to then lead us and guide us to his way. A way of everlasting life. Could you imagine someone investigating you and finding out everything about you and still showing you a better way? To watch you make those mistakes and still love you? Hard times believe with our finite minds. Then there is God who is able to keep us from falling and present us faultLESS.

Shining

”Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.“
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My favorite animated movie is the Lion King. One specific scene I love is when Mufasa is telling Simba about the stars and how they are past Kings looking over them. How each one represented a different time period. It got me to thinking about my life. As well as everyone’s life. Where are we going? Are we going to shine as stars in the sky or as bright as the sky? Or will shame become us and we live a life of disgrace?

HERE IT IS…

You know the great thing about these questions? You still have a chance to change the answer if you’re reading this message. It means that you have not completed your assignment and God is not done with you yet. You can change your story from disgrace to just grace. You don’t have to continue the way you’re going. You don’t have to be where you are. You don’t have to deal with it. God has extended you grace so that you can shine like the sky, and even shine like the stars.

Hold on to his hand

”But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.“
‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Time is filled with swift transition.
Naught of earth unmoved can stand.
Build your hopes on things eternal.
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.” This song I have kept in rotation in my mind and will continue to do so. Not only because I heard my mother singing it. Not only because we sang it at church a lot. Not because it has a nice sound to it. But because it means something to me now. It talks about friends, faith, how to live in this world and how God is to us.

HERE IT IS…

His scripture serves as a reminder and a call to stay faithful in all that you do and go through. Warning us against division, ungodly desires. Telling us to stay faithful, and to pray with the power of the Holy Spirit. Show mercy to those who faith is wavering and those who may be going the wrong way to grab them back from their issues. How, you ask?
“Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand.
Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand.
Build your hopes on things eternal.
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.”

I’m not Afraid

”But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When! Not if. That’s what my drill Sgt. said to me. It was in reference to being put on my back in our hand to hand combat training. As anxious as I was and as much as I wanted to talk trash I had to wait to see who was my opponent. I had to wait until I got my gear on and turned around to see who I was facing. So far it had been evenly matched. However, my mouth had gotten myself and my platoon in some trouble before. I was next, and I had to face whoever it was across from me. And when I turned around my competitive side came out.

HERE IT IS…

When I turned around I realized that I wasn’t going against only my opponent but if I allowed fear to take advantage I was fighting myself as well. What are you afraid of? What do you think people here can do to you? They are human just like you. They have no heaven or hell to put you in. There is no need to be afraid no matter who you turn around and see. “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” – 1Tim 6:12.

Rebirth certificate

”But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.“
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

February 5, 2024, our son was born. Unexpectedly, yes but born into this world and healthy. After he was born and was taken care of and tested. After the doctors made sure that mom was good. Another person who works for the hospital came in and had us to sign some paperwork declaring his birth. We had to fill out the paper for his birth certificate. It was funny because we had to give the person things about our birth that goes in his birth certificate. My past and her past was placed on his beginning.

HERE IT IS…

Aren’t you glad that at the time of your rebirth that your past did not go on your rebirth certificate? If you have not had an opportunity to experience that, this is it and I will tell you that your past experience. Your past problems and situations will not affect your rebirth certificate. God doesn’t ask your maiden name. God doesn’t ask if you smoke or drink. He doesn’t require a form of payment. All he declares that you do is believe and accept Him. You are reborn and will receive your certificate in the spot. No waiting. No system to run through. Right here right now. Your chance to allow God to issue your rebirth certificate.

ID please?!?!

”But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”“
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“ID please!” That’s what they ask you when you are getting certain items at the store nowadays. The clerk needs to see your ID which tells them that you are old enough to purchase the product you have. It has all your information on it and they will be able to know your whereabouts if need be. This is how we are able to do certain things in the world, by our identification that we are issued. The truth is we are issued all of this at birth. We are given an identity when we are born.

HERE IT IS…

What does your spiritual ID say about you? Where do you or will you reside? What is your birthdate? What is your name on your ID, but what do they call you? What height have you reached? What is your lowest weighted place? What state are you in? These are all questions that are answered just by looking at your God given ID. The real question would be the answers. How does your answers line up with God? Maybe we need to take a trip to DMV.

On that day

”On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped.“
‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭14‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ages ago the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea was connected as a saltwater lagoon. However, because of the land shifts the land rose up and caused the two to split into different paths. The Dead Sea is now has no ocean water supply to it. The prophet Zechariah says, “On that day…” life-giving waters will flow continuously in all weather in the two. The dead place consequently named Dead Sea will have life-giving waters flowing again.

HERE IT IS…

The things you thought was dead in your life. The places that you thought were done for. Those places and things you thought were not going to live. Those dreams and goals you gave up on. On that day, God will allow life-giving waters to flow back into it. Which means that what you thought was dead will live. What you thought was done will live. What you thought could prosper will. I’m not sure when your day is, just know that it is coming and it will be life-giving. Which will not only affect you but will affect those connected to you. In that Day it will flow.

It pleases God

”Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.“
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Growing up I knew exactly what made my parents happy. I knew if I took initiative and did my chores before I was told they would be pleased. I knew that if I saw something that needed to be done and I did it without being asked they would be pleased. I knew if I helped someone out that needed it they would be pleased. What I offered to them to please them also provided some brownie points for later.

HERE IT IS…

As I got older I started to do those things myself for a different reason. Once it was to get what I wanted. Then it became the right thing to do. Is God pleased with your offering to him? Is God pleased with your continual sacrifice to him? Do you provide God with a sacrificial offering that helps others? Don’t do it to be recognized or to receive brownie points. Do it because it’s what God asked and also that it’s the right thing to do. You never know what it can do for that person.

Here he comes

”The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’“
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Look it’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s …”. That’s what they said about that guy named Superman. They said that he was faster than a speeding bullet. Faster than locomotive. They had all these different things to compare him to. He saved people and stopped crooks. But when your saved by superman he has to leave you to go save someone else. Superman may be all of those things but he’s definitely not my God.

HERE IT IS…

All you have to do is look around and you will see that God is all around you. You will even see that Jesus is coming. The scripture say that if you believe you will be saved. Which tells me that he will never leave me alone. Just look around you’ll find him. Just look around. He’s there. Just look around. He is still there. Just look around. He has been there. Here comes the Lamb of God.

Filters

”My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.“
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is this trend that has resurfaced on social media that compares old pictures to recent pictures. This trend has also given you the ability to use filters on the recent pictures. The goal is to see the difference between the old picture and the new picture. To compare what has changed. To observe the contrast of the two. How can you truly compare what has changed when you now can filter out what you don’t want others to see? Can you really have a true difference between the two?

HERE IT IS…

This verse references a difference in a person by what has happened to them on the inside. Could it be that we filter out Gods change so much that by the time it gets to the outside we dont see the change? Could your new you be affected by the old outlook? If you were truly allowing God to live and change you from the inside you wouldn’t need filters on the outside. But Pastor Berry it’s just to remove the blemishes! Well what if God brought back the blemishes he died for? Dont filter God out!