Mary the mother of Jesus came from humble beginnings. She never wore fine clothes. She never exalted herself, nor did she ever enter a palace. As a young girl in Nazareth, Mary was more serious and devout than the other girls of her age and was more given to believing in the wonders of the God of her forefathers. She was too humble to even think that she would be the center of humanity’s greatest miracle. One night Mary, a young Jewish girl, received a visit from the angel Gabriel. She was not only surprised, but fearful and troubled. Why had he come? The angel Gabriel, known as the messenger for God came to announce to her that she was to be the mother of the promised Messiah (Luke 1:35). Mary, who was a direct descendant of King David, would give Jesus the right to ascend the Jewish throne.

The Promise, a gift of such magnitude was predestined to be delivered through Mary for the salvation of the world. The certainty of God’s Promise was that since “there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He (God) swore by himself, saying I will surely bless you… Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:13-14; 17-19). However, not everyone was going to accept the gift. Jesus, God incarnate was born of a woman, experienced childhood and grew up to be a man, underwent every imaginable hurt, grief, pain and suffering so that we would have a chance at life. “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed” (Hebrews 9:15).  

Although Mary was fearful and troubled, it was her unconditional love, faith and belief in the Almighty God that protected and delivered her. Will you have that same faith?

Praying that your spirit rejoices as you remember how valued you are because of God’s Promise of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ!

 In His Service,

Pastor Jenny

2 Corinthians 7:1 “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

God is Omnipotent, all-powerful. The power of God is in His ability and strength and can bring to pass whatever He pleases, whenever He pleases. His infinite wisdom may direct and He has the power to execute His will. A woman’s grasp of the power of God will transform her thinking and her actions.

There is an interesting story about people who believed and people who did not believe in the Old Testament. Twelve men were chosen by Moses to spy out the land of Canaan (the land which the Lord was giving to them). The spies went out and came back and reported directly to the people; saying “the enemy is bigger than we are” (Numbers 13:31). Out of the twelve only two believed that their mission was not impossible. Because the people believed the ten who insisted the mission was impossible, the people voted not to go into the land that the Lord was giving them and consequently, the people wandered for 40 more years.

However, the other story is the one in which Joshua succeeding Moses was also directed by God to send out two men to spy out the land. This time, the spies reported directly to Joshua, and the people believed that “God is bigger” than any enemy. The news was received enthusiastically and everyone supported the report. The people acted upon the report and they settled in the Land of the Promise.

The generation before Joshua’s leadership, began with little faith in God’s power; however, it was Joshua’s generation that grew to have great faith in the power of God. The power of God in your life can bring incredible results, therefore speak God’s Word faithfully and all kinds of positive things will begin to happen, while all kinds of obstacles will be removed and conflicts…settled.

Consider the stories of the way God’s power transformed the lives of the people in the Bible. Then “Let the one who has my word speak it faithfully…”Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:28-29). When you begin to speak the word of God, in faith and in the Name of Jesus, you will have awesome power to overcome seeming insurmountable obstacles.

God promised the nation of Israel a land full of milk and honey. Yet, their lack of faith and belief in the power of God left them in the desert to wander without receiving the blessing they were destined to receive. Will you decide to believe in the power of God for your life or will you continue to wander in the desert?

Praying that you will choose to believe in the Omnipotent God and may you be filled with truth to receive its freedom and allow God to accomplish His desire for your life.

In His Service,

Pastor Jenny

Palm 62:11-12 “One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.”

In the Old Testament certain Levites were appointed to give continual praise and thanks to God. The rest of the nation did not have that privilege. We, however, have been given that privilege through Jesus Christ. We can now go directly to God and no longer require a middle man such as a Priest. During the Thanksgiving holiday we focus our blessing and express our gratitude to God. But thanks should be on our lips every day. “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O’ Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night” (Psalm 92:1-2). We should always be expressing our gratitude even in those times that we might not want to. The giving of thanks in all things does not imply that all things are good. Rather, we should give thanks because of our confidence in the purpose and the providence of God in any and every circumstance of life.

In order to help you express daily gratitude, review these four significant aspects of thankfulness: 1) Remember what God has done; 2) tell others about Him; 3) show God’s glory to others and 4) offer gifts of self, time and resources to others. God saved you by His special favor when you believed, so you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Jesus, the Son of God gave himself as the last sacrificial lamb so that you would receive the reward of eternal life. He thought of you and your eternal future over two thousand years ago! Will you make thanksgiving an integral part of your life? If you do you’ll find that your attitude towards life will change and you’ll become more positive, gracious, loving and humble.

Don’t be like the Nation of Israel who, after tasting freedom, grumbled because God’s freedom meant leaving the misery of bondage and their old comfort zone; but look forward to the great blessings and promises He has for you by giving “thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Praying that the love of God will fill your heart and you begin to see the beauty of God’s gift for you and may His love shower down and surround you with nothing but His perfect joy.

In His Service,

Pastor Jenny

Proverbs 17:7 “Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.”

Have you noticed how the whole world is now in chaos? Today people run to and fro, all over the world, in automobiles, trains and planes. Life is full of decision making and in order to make the correct choices what is needed is true understanding. An understanding only revealed to us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is only given to those who are obedient to God. Our carnal mind cannot see the overall picture of the outcome of our decisions. We can only hope that the road we decided on is the correct one and the outcome will be that which we were expecting. On occasion we will take a road which takes us through a journey that will bring prosperity, joy and happiness. At other times, we choose roads which take us through a journey of trials, anxiety, hardships and suffering.

 The Prophet Jeremiah lived during the darkest days of Judah. Jeremiah was the famous prophet who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah during the final four decades of that nation’s existence and was the prophet during the reign of Josiah, the last of Judah’s good kings.

Jeremiah’s native land, the southern kingdom of Judah, was caught in a power squeeze between three great powers of the ancient world: Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia. But even with king Josiah’s well intended reforms the nation continued virtually unabated through a succession of four godless kings. The people wallowed in idolatry grew even more and more and distorted the worship of the true God by giving themselves over to spiritual and moral decay. They became a false vine by following idols and were condemned for their empty profession and disobedience to God’s covenant.

Because of Jeremiah’s obedience, love for the Lord and his faithfulness to the God of Judah; he was chosen by God to receive revelation of an approaching judgment upon the nation. Although Jeremiah offers a confession for the people, their sin was too great and because of his message, he suffered misery and opposition, was rejected by the prophets and priests who called for his execution. Yet, he was courageous and endured persecution and affliction. He even narrowly escaped death on several occasions as he carried out God’s command to preach His message of judgment to a lost disobedient nation. He was branded a traitor; but never wavered from sharing that which was revealed to him. Jeremiah’s received revelation and he followed God’s command to the letter. He suffered greatly, but in spite of that he never faltered no matter the consequence.

Do you stop and ask God to help you when dealing with large, medium or small decisions or problems? Do you ask God to reveal His heart in all your matters? Or do you make your own decisions and hope for the best? Will you be a Jeremiah and follow God’s revelation in your life without wavering? Take a look around at our chaotic world. Is our contemporary world any different than His? Well then will you choose to love God, the way He loves you upon receipt of revelation? Or will you choose the easy road?  

Praying that you will seek God in order for Him to reveal Himself to you and may you choose to love God more and more with each passing day.

In His Service,

Pastor Jenny

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

You see, even though our focus is to spend time with God, there are things that happen, such as I did when I lost my grip on the container which started a chain reaction. Although this incident tried to side tract my good intention of spending time with God, it only delayed it.

Jesus said in John 15 that “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.”

How can one then be a blessing to God’s kingdom if we are pulled in every conceivable direction? How do we not allow such incidents to distract us from spending time with God? Well there are a few ways. (1) You’ll first need to “desire” or “want” to spend time with God. (2) Next, you’ll need to put away the busyness of life in order to mentally and spiritually prepare yourself to seek the counsel of the Lord and (3) find a quiet place, turn off anything that will distract you and then allow yourself to be in His presence. You can do this for He is waiting patiently for you. I beseech you to become acquainted with the changeless Christ and His death. God loves you so much!

As you make time for your family and friends, don’t forget to take the time to meet with your Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Praying that your heart will desire that which God has destined for you to receive in Christ Jesus and that you receive strength to overcome distractions.

In His Service,

Pastor Jenny

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

In a 2004 Discovery magazine article “Geology of Rubies” – stated that although “geologists can explain the glow: Ultraviolet light causes the chromium in rubies to fluoresce. There is much about rubies that scientists cannot account for. The biggest question, the one that has geologists on both sides of the Atlantic at odds with each other, is how rubies formed in the first place. Geologists simply do not know. That rubies even exist, says Peter Heaney, geosciences professor at Penn State University, is something of a “minor geological miracle.”

In the movie Congo, a group of strangers go into the wilds of Africa looking for missing colleagues lost in the remote part of the Congo situated on a dormant volcano. What the group discovered was the lost city of Zinj or King Solomon’s diamond mine guarded by killer gorillas protecting the mine and its precious metals. Many die in search of these diamonds, whose dollar value exceeded anyone’s expectation if used for the sole purpose of powering up a new communications laser for a conglomerate back in the U.S. Diamonds in this movie were more precious and valuable than life itself.

Yet, in the story of the “Wife of Noble Character” (Proverbs 31), the writer describes in detail the personification of what a woman should be. Her compassion, determination, resolve, love, moral and ethical values, business sense, and her independent spirit under the headship of her husband does not devalue her position in her home or in the community, but portrays a true appreciation and love by her husband and family. Her authority to run her household and business is not detracted by any means, but reflects her autonomy without jeopardizing her marital partner. The woman is loved and appreciated above all else because of the respect she receives not only at home, but also in her community “Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land” (Proverbs 31: 23).

How different are these two stories. The first story displays man’s love for money and his treatment of human beings. Whereas, the second story demonstrates the value God has placed on humanity. God’s love for women, men, children and marriage is greater than any diamond in the world and even greater than rubies.

Praying that the love of Christ reign in your hearts and may you never forget just how much God loves you for you are more precious to Him than rubies.

In His Service,

Pastor Jenny

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Once settled, I became a workaholic working long hours. Every evening when I walked in through the door Shanaynay became a chatterbox, sharing her day with me and at times complaining. I understood how she felt and decided to adopt another cat to keep her company. Her new friend and sister was Orion, a long haired cat who unbeknown to me turned out to be another chatterbox . Years went by and as the family grew, Shadow (the only boy) arrived, then Miss Socks and her niece, Ripley. Sheena matured and began to retire into her favorite spot away from the rest of her rowdy brother and sisters.

Although I loved Shanaynay, she was my ex-husbands cat and because of that she reminded me of all the scars of my past. Then one day my very dear friend, Lynda reminded me she was no longer my ex’s, but Shanaynay was and had been my baby girl for over thirteen years. She was a trooper, encouraging and loving me unconditionally through all the hardships and joyous seasons of my life. God knew what He was doing when He created “every animal, livestock and creature that moves” (Genesis 1:25) and the friendship that would develop between myself and a tiny all grey kitten that we chose on that spring morning long ago.

Eighteen years later seeing only a fragment of her otherwise vivid self and not wanting Shanaynay to suffer any long, she was put to rest on September 15, 2011. As I was balling my eyes out, I kept reminding myself that although Shanaynay did not have an immortal soul as humans do, she did have a soul (for she felt pain, cried and loved) and was going to be with her Maker. Why, because the Bible is full of references about animals and because God created them, God loves them. In Psalm 145:-9-10, 13, 15-21, God loves all His creation and has made plans for all His children and the lesser creatures to enjoy His eternal Kingdom. Romans 8:19-22 says that the lesser creatures await Christ’s return to redeem the sons of God so they, too, will be released from physical death to eternal life “that the creature itself also shall be liberated from the bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning and as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”

Yet, with that being said, the most important promise that I have that I will see my Shanaynay again is found in Revelation 5:8-13, wherein it states that all creatures recognize Jesus as the Savior of the world and praise God right along with redeemed men. “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!” My scars are a reminder of how much my beautiful and loving Shanaynay meant to me and that the gift from God was to be loved by Sheena. God is a loving God and therefore He would not give us something we could not have in eternity. In the end I know that Jesus will make a way for me to see my baby girl in Heaven.

Praying that your love for God will help you overcome the stinging pain and grief that comes from the loss of a dear and valued friend.

In His Service,

Pastor Jenny

Revelation 5:11 “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering in the thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.”

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said “This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter,” and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree the woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, “I don’t need anything special from my tree, I’ll take this one,” and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said “Peace” and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat. Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

This story is a reminder that we will go through trials and our spirit will feel broken and at times feel that we have been left to fend for ourselves. However, God tells us that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those whose crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).  If your life is painful, God says “I will carry burdens.” If you are lonely, God says “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” If you are in need, Jesus will be there for you. Jesus did not say that we would never walk through difficulties, trials or storms; He did promise us, however, that He would walk beside us and even carry us through those difficult times. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. Since we are incapable of knowing God’s mind, we won’t know what God’s plans are for us and because of that we will just have to accept His Ways; for God’s ways are always best. Don’t give up. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.

Praying that your heart will unfailingly love the Lord and be patient to receive the blessings that Jesus has planned for you.

In His Service,

Pastor Jenny

Psalm 34:17 “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”

The beauty of nature is another inspired creation. My garden is filled with different kinds of roses, trees, plants, flowers, vines and different ground covers. When I till the soil, I begin by removing all the rocks, dead leaves and any debris that can deter the growth of the soon to be planted seeds. Once the soil is prepared, only then can I begin to plant the seeds for new life to grow in the garden. As I drop seeds into the freshly tilled bed, the wind picks up and the seeds no longer land where I intended them to fall. Several of the seeds fall to the ground between the other plants and flowers in the garden.

Since I am unable to collect all the dispersed seeds from their unintended drop, I can only hope that they too become fertile in the newly fertilized soil. Only time will tell if the seeds will produce the intended result. The daily love and care for the new seedlings will ultimate produce a rich reward. Yet, my mind reverts back to those seeds which fell elsewhere and I can only hope those seeds did not die before they had a chance to grow. After much care, love and patience the seeds became rooted in the ground and grew up strong. Daily watering brought forth flowers of exquisite design. The trees bore rich and enticing fruit. The roses were of variegated colors, yellow, orange and pink blooms, and the vine with its life giving nutrients gave nourishment to the branches.

My garden is like God’s kingdom for God is careful in preparing his children. Jesus said “I am the true vine, and my Father is the Gardner. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” and “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:1-2, 5).

Harvest time was growing near and I had to prepare for the enormous chore of gathering all the different fruits, flowers, roses and grapes. Watching the growth of each seed I planted made my heart sing for joy. However, my heart sank for those seeds that lived only a short while because they were not rooted in the freshly tilled soil. Or those seeds that tried to grow in between the beautiful rose bushes, yet became so entangled they died because they refused to fight the good fight.

The time arrived to harvest the fruit, which had grown rich in my care. Only when the time was right was I to pick the fruit off the large trees; fruit plump and juicy; incredibly beautiful flowers, roses the size of my fist and the scrumptious large grapes off the vines. Any sooner than required would make the fruit hard. Any later than harvest time, would produce fruit over ripped and spoiled.

Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the Son of the Living God was born for the purpose of bringing salvation to his children who were like the seeds planted in the freshly tilled soil and who through his teachings were saved by Gods incredible hand in nurturing them and watering them daily with His living water.

The vine, just as the umbilical cord is the essential component by which God ministers to our spirit if we remain connected to vine to grow and mature in the true Word of God.

Praying that you will continue to hold firm and allow God to prune you so that you may produce fruitfulness in your union and fellowship with Christ.

In His Service,

Pastor Jenny

John 15:11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

In the movie Independence Day, the world is visited by aliens who were coming…invasion was eminent. Their goal was to invade and destroy; the world was at war. Captain Steven Hiller captured one of the aliens and after its capture, President Thomas Whitmore asked: “Can there be a peace between us, but the Alien responded “Peace?” “No Peace!” President Whitmore then said “I saw… its thoughts. I saw what they’re planning to do. They’re like locusts. They’re moving from planet to planet… their whole civilization. After they’ve consumed every natural resource they move on… and we’re next.”

Sound familiar? If painful events or unexpected circumstances try to invade your peace by moving into your territory, which is your life; and if you are always trying to find a happy medium at home, work or with friends, and have wondered…is this it? Will this always be a part of my life? Consider this. At times the storms of life are but a drizzle and at times they are a flood. Yet even through all this, God promises that He will “furnish seed to the sower and bread to the eater;” for His “Word which goes forth from My mouth; will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire” “For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace” (Isaiah 55:10-12).

God chose you to be the holy people, the daughter of the King, a woman after God’s own heart and whom he loves. As difficult as it may be, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, while making allowances for each other’s faults. Not only that, but you must forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. In the end the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.

God’s promise to you is this “The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity” (Psalm 37:11) and for “all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm (Proverbs 1:33) and lastly He asks you to “Do all you can to live in peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). It is through our perseverance that we become that which we could never imagine; a woman of WORTH with the ability to do all things through Christ who gives us the strength necessary to accomplish it! (Philippians 4:13)

Praying that you remember to live in peace and always be thankful so that the Words of Christ will make you wise to the ways of this world.

In His Service,

Pastor Jenny

Mark 9:50 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”