A matter of repentance and forgiveness

We repent before God for our sin with regret and remorse. The result is liberty which can lead to salvation.

Luke 17: 1-4 proclaims "Woe to whom the devil can use to offend you."

Please don't leave yourself in a position that the devil can use you to hurt / offend someone.

Our lack of repentance and forgiveness leaves us in a perfect position for evil to use us as a source of hurt for someone else.  James 3:16 "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”  My friends, this will bring a destructive return to you the same as you have given.

Instead, use your God given gifts of repentance and forgiveness to bring joy and salvation through Jesus Christ.  This will bring an amazing return the same as you have given.  "Lord, Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Matthew 6:12

The book of Luke proclaims "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you. 

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 6:37,38 

Remember, forgiveness does not justify the act  or the person that has harmed you. But, forgiveness frees YOU from the bondage that the offender has put YOU in.  The hurt /bondage that wants to drive you to retaliation  can be exchanged for a liberty / freedom that can only come from God.  Allow your God of truth and righteous to defend you as He has promises He will.  Let the son of God, Jesus, who died for your sins, set you free!  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36 

Milestone Ministries Blog: Between The Bridges

Milestone Ministries Blog: Between The Bridges

A Servant

Jesus died for our sins, once and for all He redeemed us from a path to eternal destruction to offer us eternal life.   This is something that we could not do for ourselves or for anyone else.  For those of us who have accepted God's promise of salvation and the abiding of His Holy Spirit there is no debate.  I believe that this taught us how to live for eternity.  

But, Jesus also taught us how to live under the sun. It is evident in every year of His recorded life on earth.  Without compromise, Jesus was a Servant and He taught His Disciples how to serve others.  His entire purpose for coming to this lost earth was to serve us. Whether you believe it or not ,whether you praise Him or ignore Him or curse Him, He came to serve you. 

At the age of 12 His parents were concerned that they could not find him during a trip to town. Recorded in Luke 2:49 "And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”  (He was teaching, amazing the people in the temple).

He walked about the earth under the direction of His Father guided by the Holy Spirit and moved by compassion.  He healed the sick, raised the dead, brought sight to blind and went to cross for those who were beating Him.

73% of all Americans claim to be Christian (follows of Jesus Christ).  So I ponder, why are so many people sick and dying, why are so many people lonely and depressed?  How many of the 73% are servants?  

The church of God is made up of two types of people; those who come to be served and those who serve.  Most of us that know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior first came to the church to be served.  We were sick, desperate, lonely, addicted tired or lost.  The church has many Servants and so we were served.  We were given the Truth and the Truth set us free.

I believe that it is the duty of the church to teach those who have been served how to be Servants of God.  Paul called himself a bondservant of Christ.  How many of us that have accepted salvation through the service of Jesus consider ourselves bondservants?

In Mathew 10:8 Jesus tells His disciples "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons: freely you have received, freely give.

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ we have a calling, and obligation to serve others in the name of Jesus.  When Jesus was questioned by the religious "Teacher, what is the greatest of all the commandments "and He said to him, " You shall love  the Lord your God with all your heart , and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"Matt 22:38

It's time to serve your neighbor.  What's keeping you?

Between The Bridges

Every Sunday since October of 2013 a dedicated group of caring folks have gathered between the bridges in Springfield MA at 7:30 AM.  Through the New England snow, rain, cold, summer humidity they come out to feed, cloth and minister to a collected group of Homeless souls.   

The photo here was taken yesterday on a cold, wet, rainy January day.  I have seen as many as 50 homeless folks gather to hear the Word of God.  On this day about 25 brave souls met us for hot coffee and a powerful Word preached by minister Larry.  They gathered under some tents while a homeless man held an umbrella over Larry's head.  He preached of a new song promised to each of us that know Jesus Christ as our Savior.  We sang and fellowshipped for about 90 minutes.  It was an incredible way to start the day and the new year.

Milestone Ministries / My Father's House is delighted to be able to assist in this outreach ministry.  www.facebook.com/myfathershousethorndike

Following this service my wife and I attended a small church with a powerful preacher for an 11:00 service.  I was taken by the fact that less people showed up on this snowy, cold, rainy day to hear the Word of God in a heated, covered indoor church long after the rain stopped.  

Jesus said "I am the bread of life, those who come to me will never hunger".  I wonder if Jesus will be giving rain checks.  

Take the plunge

 

Not long before Jesus was tortured and died for his (Peters) sin,

Peter said to Jesus," I will lay down my life for Your sake"

 

Jesus asked Peter "Will you, lay down your life for My sake?" Then Jesus made Peter a promise....." Most assuredly, I  say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times." John 13: 36 - 38

 

My friends, like many of you, I gave my life to Jesus.  I told Him that He could have all of me.  In response, He forgave us of our sins and made us a new creation. Jesus is willing to forgive and FORGET.

 

We say that we love Him and to prove it we might have fasted or attended church more this week.  We will celebrate His resurrection this Sunday with special songs, food and candy. 

Yet, if we were to be honest, we would have to admit that we continue to deny him.  Sometimes we deny him access to the deep things in our heart such as unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, anger, anxiety, fear......Sometimes we do not want our friends or associates  to know.... "I am with Jesus".   

 

 Our prayer this week is to ask God to examine our hearts. If we dare...pray Psalm 26:2 "Examine me, O Lord and prove me, Try my mind and my heart"  

 

Have you denied your Savior this week? 

 

After His glorious resurrection, Jesus appears on shore to the disciples who are fishing.  John 21:7, "When Peter saw Jesus he plunged into the sea."  He wanted, needed and desired to be the first one to His risen Lord. 

 

I pray that this week we are ready to PLUNGE in and follow Jesus.  

 

I promise you that He will NOT deny you.

 

I pray that you experience a wonderful day of resurrection with Jesus this Sunday and for EVERY day of your life.

 

Happy Easter

Milestone Ministries

 

The gift of service

Much of our time these days before Christmas might have been filled with trying to find the perfect gift for someone. 

I do enjoy shopping for friends and I love to see their reaction when they open the gift that I am hoping will be the perfect gift.  But I know for sure that the greatest gift that I have ever given and the greatest gift that I every received has been the gift of service.

When I accepted the gift of Jesus Christ and the salvation that He offered me, I realized that I had met the greatest servant that ever walked the earth.  Jesus was the perfect example of a servant. He was born to serve God and His children.  Jesus not only washed the feet of His disciples, He preached, He healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, raised the dead, cast out demons and died for me.

With Jesus as an example, we too are called to be servants.  "What does the Lord God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, and to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 10:12

I have altered my prayer after reading  Deuteronomy 10:12.  No longer do I spend much time asking God to bless me.  Instead, I spend more time thanking him and asking him how I can bless Him and others.  "Lord, how can I serve you today?"

In Matt 10:7-8 Jesus instructs us to serve mankind exactly as He did "As you go, preach saying the kingdom of God is at hand, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons."
Romans 12:1 tells us that our "reasonable service to the Lord is to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice."
Paul called himself a "bond servant" (service by choice) of Christ. 

As we celebrate Christmas our thoughts often turn to Mary, Mother of Jesus.  I believe that the greatest thing that Mary every did in her life is the same thing that we can do.   She said YES to God.  Mary said "behold the maidservant of the Lord!  Let it be to me according to your word." Luke 1:38 

Let this be the Christmas of giving the perfect gift.  Giving of our lives for the service of others.

Merry Christmas! 

Milestone Ministries Blog: Be careful who you believe?

Milestone Ministries Blog: Be careful who you believe?