1 Corinthians 6:12-13

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Honor God with Your Body

¹² Some of you say, “We can do anything we want to.” But I tell you that not everything is good for us. So I refuse to let anything have power over me. ¹³ You also say, “Food is meant for our bodies, and our bodies are meant for food.” But I tell you that God will destroy them both. We are not supposed to do indecent things with our bodies. We are to use them for the Lord who is in charge of our bodies.

I know in this new year that many people make resolutions so that they can fit into a certain size outfit. 

This year, I am making a resolution to make my temple the best dwelling place for the Holy Spirit to use for years to come. 

I don’t want my misuse and abuse of my body to take any time away from how God may want to use my life for His glory. 

I will learn to eat, not just to take off a few pounds, but to make more time, in days, months and years, for God to use me.

Lord, let me life be a Living Sacrifice, pure and holy for you. Prepare me, to be a sanctuary for you. 

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Good morning, Beautiful Friends of God:

Everyday, I wake up with the intention of pleasing God. I remember, when I first became truly intimate with God, that the one thing I never wanted to do was to break God’s heart. 

I first read about grieving the Holy Spirit when I began studying the bible.  

Ephesians 4:29-32

New International Version (NIV)

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The Holy Spirit leads our lives in such a way that we have peace and clarity of mind, through our heeding His direction. We can also grieve the Holy Spirit when we do not obey the voice and direction of God. 

John 16:12-15

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

 

 

Good morning, Saints of our Most High God:

This morning, I encourage you to meditate on this passage this weekend. Use it to edify yourself and others in the faith. Stand firm in your faith, as these days are proving to be an all out attack on everything that is good and holy. 

Don’t forget your duty to pray for the body of Christ. The Power of your prayers can change so many things, both seen and unseen. Never allow your mind to be taken captive by the enemy. Be vigilant, the enemy is walking, in plain sight, mingling in with the body of Christ. Test the spirit by the Holy Spirit of God. God has set a standard and it shall not be moved.

1 Peter 5:1-11

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Helping Christian Leaders

5 Church leaders, I am writing to encourage you. I too am a leader, as well as a witness to Christ’s suffering, and I will share in his glory when it is shown to us.

² Just as shepherds watch over their sheep, you must watch over everyone God has placed in your care. Do it willingly in order to please God, and not simply because you think you must. Let it be something you want to do, instead of something you do merely to make money. ³ Don’t be bossy to those people who are in your care, but set an example for them. ⁴ Then when Christ the Chief Shepherd returns, you will be given a crown that will never lose its glory.

⁵ All of you young people should obey your elders. In fact, everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say,

“God opposes proud people,
but he helps everyone
    who is humble.”

⁶ Be humble in the presence of God’s mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes. ⁷ God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.

⁸ Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. ⁹ But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord’s followers are suffering just as you are. ¹⁰ But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That’s why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm. ¹¹ God will be in control forever! Amen.

Today’s worship video is performed Byron Cage. As you go throughout your day, sing this song entitled, “The Presence of the Lord is Here.” Watch the atmosphere change around you. Use your voice and FIGHT!!! There is POWER in your Praise!

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Ephesians 4

New International Version (NIV)

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Unity in Christ is essential in every aspect of our lives. In our friendships, family circles, business relationships and intimate relationships, our walk and lifestyle as followers of Jesus Christ and his teachings should be the nucleus of our makeup. 

The Word says to make, “Every Effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” To me that includes every aspect of life. 

This week, we recognized the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. Dr. King would always say he emmulated his philosophy on violence from Ghandi and his spiritual philosophy from Jesus. 

I, in the same way, along with my Christian foundation, I take my actions of walking and talking from Thich Nhat Hanh, who is a Zen Master of a Buddhist monastic village in France. Plum Village began in 1982 as a small, rustic farmstead, and has today grown into Europe’s largest Buddhist monastery, with over 200 resident monks and nuns, living and practising in four hamlets spread out across the French countryside.

Dr. King nominated Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize.  https://www.mindfulnessdc.org/mlkletter.html. 

Do all that you can to walk in peace and love every day. I love you with an amazing and everlasting love. 

Walk with us Lord…

 

 

When God starts a person on a new journey, a person never knows what may lay ahead. There will be good days and bad days. There will be mountains and hills to climb. There will also be days of victory and jubilation.

The main thing to hold on to, during the journey, is knowing that God is always there. One of my favorite books is written by Hannah Hurnard and is entitled, “Hinds Feet on High Places.” It is a beautiful description of the journey a character named Much Afraid. I would recommend this book to anyone facing nervousness or fear leading up to embarking on a new journey.

As Christians, we have experiential knowledge of God’s faithfulness in walking with us. It is that same faith that we must hold on to, as we begin each day in knowing that God is faithful to complete the work that he started in us before we were born.

Remember, you are not alone. As the classic gospel song lyrics says,

“We’ve come this far by faith,  leaning on the Lord, trusting in His Word, He’s never failed me yet.

Be blessed today and know that I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

 

1 John 1:5-10

New International Version (NIV)

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Everyday we fall short, as Children of God. We also fall short as mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers and even as friends.

This weekend especially, I had to come humbly to the Throne of God and to those I love. I had to confess my wrong and try to make amends.

I know that when I confess my sins to God that Jesus intercedes on my behalf to the Father.

One thing we have to realize is that even though we have been forgiven, there may still be a ripple effect due to our wrong decisions. At that point is when we have to understand the hurt and damage we have caused and then be willing to do everything in our power to let those we hurt that we are truly sorry for our actions and that it will never happen again.

We have to understand the feelings and emotions that were affected due to our choices and realize that rebuilding trust takes time.

We all know that no one is perfect, except God, but as Children of Light, it is our job to stay away from darkness.

Meditate on today’s worship song performed during the Gaither Vocal Hour, lead by Jesse Dixon and Guy Penrod. 

Walk in the Light….

I Love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

1 John 1:5-10

New International Version (NIV)

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Everyday we fall short, as Children of God. We also fall short as mothers, fathers, husbands and wives, sisters and brothers and even as friends.

This weekend especially, I had to come humbly to the Throne of God and to those I love. I had to confess my wrong and try to make amends.

I know that when I confess my sins to God that Jesus intercedes on my behalf to the Father. One thing we have to realize is that even though we have been forgiven there may still be a ripple effect due to our wrong decisions.

At that point is when we have to understand the hurt and damage we have caused and then be willing to do everything in our power to let those we hurt know that we are truly sorry for our actions and that it will never happen again.

We have to understand the feelings and emotions that were affected due to our choices and realize that rebuilding trust takes time.

We all know that no one is perfect, except God, but as Children of Light, it is our job to stay away from darkness.

Meditate on today’s worship song. As you attend church service today, walk in the sanctuary with a heart of humility and thankfulness.

Walk in the Light….

I love you All with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Even though our spiritual walk ultimately is very personal and intimate, most of our walk was not designed to be done alone. 

Walking the Path with encouragement and support from others, on the Path, is so important. The bible speaks of the importance of having a time of coming together in teaching, edification and worship.

The only thing the bible does not specify is where to come together. I believe the writers didn’t care as much care where we gathered just as long as we did. 

Call a spiritual friend today. Find out if they would like to have a time of worship together at your kitchen table, in the park, on a nature trail, or at church. Maybe you are in prison or in the hospital and feel alone. You are NOT alone. Open your mouth and ask if someone would pray with you. If you have family that has been cast out or forgotten, offer them Jesus. They may need you as much as you need them. 

Remember, where two or more are gathered in the name of Jesus, he is there in the mist of them. (Matthew 18:20).

Hebrews 10:19-25

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Encouragement and Warning

¹⁹ My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place ²⁰ by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.

²¹ We have a great high priest who is in charge of God’s house. ²² So let’s come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let’s keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. ²³ We must hold tightly to the hope that we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us. ²⁴ We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. ²⁵ Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.

Please enjoy today’s worship video from Hezekiah Walker entitled, “I Need You To Survive.”

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love. 

Rev. Marcia Davis

 

There are only a few times in life where age works against most of us. As children, most of us had the type of faith, wonderment and belief that helped us to know that ANYTHING was possible.

As children, our imagination had no limits but something happens as most of us grow up. Life begins to take over. Responsibilities increase. We make more and more important and wonderful decisions like college, career, marriage and having children.

Every adult makes big decisions every single day. We just have to remember, in our daily decision making, not to forget that there is still a child with imagination, wonderment and faith inside.

It’s THAT child that must be the one that comes to Jesus in faith. It’s THAT child that believes what faith can do. Dig deep, let go and hold the seed in your hand. Close your hand, close your eyes and become the child that Jesus calls to come to Him.

Matthew 17:17-21

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

¹⁷ Jesus said, “You people are too stubborn to have any faith! How much longer must I be with you? Why do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy here.” ¹⁸ Then Jesus spoke sternly to the demon. It went out of the boy, and right then he was healed.

¹⁹ Later the disciples went to Jesus in private and asked him, “Why couldn’t we force out the demon?”

^20-21 Jesus replied:

I know that I have written about this topic before, but it is so important.

There is something to be said for being of sound mind. Even the bible speaks of being of the right mind.

Approximately seven or eight years ago, I used to have what is called a poverty mentality. My mind came from a place of lack, instead of a place of abundance. When I say “lack” I’m not speaking of money. I’m speaking of an insufficiency of mind. My Mind was in a diseased and underdeveloped place.

At that time in my life I did not realize that the way I thought created everything around me. I didn’t realize how much of my world was being manifested by my Mind.

It wasn’t until I was truly taught about the power of this scripture passage that things changed: 

Romans 8:5-6

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Once the Spirit of God is allowed to be in charge of your life, all of life’s priorities divinely fall into place.

God changes things…..

Please enjoy today’s Messianic Praise and Worship video.

Be blessed today. I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis