But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Notice the word *fruit* is singular, yet it list nine.
So there is only one fruit of the Spirit. That fruit is love. The others...
Joy - love smiling
Peace - love resting
Patience - love waiting Kindness - love showing itself sensitive to others' feelings
Goodness - love making allowances Faithfulness - love proving constant
Gentleness - love yielding
Self-control - love triumphing over selfish inclinations
Read God's Word
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Forgiveness
Forgive your brothers and sisters and you will set yourself free. You will set yourself free from all you thought they did to you. They need not ask for forgiveness to be forgiven. They might even believe that there is nothing for which they need to be forgiven. That is fine. Do not concern yourself with how they choose to experience reality, for it has no effect on you, unless you allow it to. For something or someone to affect you, you must first allow it to affect you.
You can also choose not to forgive your brother. But what good has such behavior ever brought to your life? You might be trying to consciously or unconsciously punish a brother by not forgiving him. But who are you really punishing? Who carries that judgment with him wherever he goes? My friend, you might not consciously recall that you are carrying this judgment with you, but it does simmer below the surface, coloring everything and everyone with whom you interact. Little by little, these judgments add up and weigh you down. You’re quick to anger, feel tired and stressed, and do not understand why. Comments to other brothers and sisters may become nasty and your patience fades. All this is due to your attempt to punish your brother by not forgiving him. My brother and sister, again I ask you, who are you really punishing?
Do you realize what anger can do to you?
Thank you brother James Blanchard Cisneros
You can also choose not to forgive your brother. But what good has such behavior ever brought to your life? You might be trying to consciously or unconsciously punish a brother by not forgiving him. But who are you really punishing? Who carries that judgment with him wherever he goes? My friend, you might not consciously recall that you are carrying this judgment with you, but it does simmer below the surface, coloring everything and everyone with whom you interact. Little by little, these judgments add up and weigh you down. You’re quick to anger, feel tired and stressed, and do not understand why. Comments to other brothers and sisters may become nasty and your patience fades. All this is due to your attempt to punish your brother by not forgiving him. My brother and sister, again I ask you, who are you really punishing?
Do you realize what anger can do to you?
Thank you brother James Blanchard Cisneros
"A Phone Call From GOD"
Rick volunteers with prison ministries, and in his work has become friends with a pastor of a store front church. The pastor's church is called Almighty God Tabernacle. On a Saturday night several weeks ago, this pastor was working late, and decided to call his wife before he left for home. It was about 10:00 PM, but his wife didn't answer the phone.
The pastor let it ring many times. He thought it was odd that she didn't answer, but decided to wrap up a few things and try again in a few minutes. When he tried again she answered right away. He asked her why she hadn't answered before, and she said that it hadn't rung at their house. They brushed it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways.
The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church office, which was the phone that he'd used that Saturday night. The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he'd called on Saturday night. The pastor couldn't figure out what the guy was talking about. Then the guy said, "It rang and rang, but I didn't answer." The pastor remembered his miss-dial and apologized for then disturbing him, explaining that he'd intended to call his wife.
The man said, "That's OK. Let me tell you my story. You see, I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed, 'God if you're there and you do not want me to do this, give me a sign now.' At that point my phone started ringing. I looked at the caller ID, and it said, . . . . . 'Almighty God'."
"I was just too afraid to answer!"
The pastor let it ring many times. He thought it was odd that she didn't answer, but decided to wrap up a few things and try again in a few minutes. When he tried again she answered right away. He asked her why she hadn't answered before, and she said that it hadn't rung at their house. They brushed it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways.
The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church office, which was the phone that he'd used that Saturday night. The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he'd called on Saturday night. The pastor couldn't figure out what the guy was talking about. Then the guy said, "It rang and rang, but I didn't answer." The pastor remembered his miss-dial and apologized for then disturbing him, explaining that he'd intended to call his wife.
The man said, "That's OK. Let me tell you my story. You see, I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed, 'God if you're there and you do not want me to do this, give me a sign now.' At that point my phone started ringing. I looked at the caller ID, and it said, . . . . . 'Almighty God'."
"I was just too afraid to answer!"
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Is there such thing as a soul-mate?
The union of true soul-mates merges two persons in such a way that little can affect one without also affecting the other. True soul-mates equal a special oneness that is unmatched. This does not mean losing your personality in the personality of the other. Instead, it means caring for your soul-mate as you care for yourself, learning to anticipate his or her needs, helping the other person become all he or she can be.
I can only answer how I, (a man) would treat my soul-mate. How should a man love his soul-mate?
(1) He should be willing to sacrifice everything for her.
(2) He should make her well-being of primary importance.
(3) He should care for her as he cares for his own body.
No soul-mate needs to fear submitting to a man who treats her in this way.
Most likely, before one becomes a soul-mate, they must first be friends. It's all a matter of the heart, therefore a woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her. That's when a man truly knows wholeheartedly that he's found his soul mate.
Inspired by Queen Corey N. Harvey
I can only answer how I, (a man) would treat my soul-mate. How should a man love his soul-mate?
(1) He should be willing to sacrifice everything for her.
(2) He should make her well-being of primary importance.
(3) He should care for her as he cares for his own body.
No soul-mate needs to fear submitting to a man who treats her in this way.
Most likely, before one becomes a soul-mate, they must first be friends. It's all a matter of the heart, therefore a woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her. That's when a man truly knows wholeheartedly that he's found his soul mate.
Inspired by Queen Corey N. Harvey
Saturday, June 09, 2007
What if ...
What if GOD couldn't take the time to bless us today because we couldn't take the time to thank Him yesterday?
What if GOD decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today?
What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when GOD sent the rain?
What if GOD didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day?
What if GOD took away His message because we failed to listen to the messenger?
What if GOD didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price for sin?
What if the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart?
What if GOD stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?
What if GOD would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday?
What if GOD answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?
What if GOD met our needs the way we give Him our lives?
What if GOD decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today?
What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when GOD sent the rain?
What if GOD didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day?
What if GOD took away His message because we failed to listen to the messenger?
What if GOD didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price for sin?
What if the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart?
What if GOD stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?
What if GOD would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday?
What if GOD answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?
What if GOD met our needs the way we give Him our lives?
Lord? Liar? Lunatic?
This man, Jesus ... some say he was a liar, others say he was a lunatic, and still others claim He is Lord. Which do you think he is?
Some say He was just a good teacher,
but good teachers don't claim to be God.
Some say He was merely a good example,
but good examples don't mingle with prostitutes and sinners.
Some say He was a madman,
but madmen don't speak the way He spoke.
Some say He was a crazed fanatic,
but crazed fanatics don't draw children to themselves or attract men of intellect like Paul or Luke to be their followers.
Some say He was a religious phony,
but phonies don't rise from the dead.
Some say He was only a phantom,
but phantoms can't give their flesh and blood to be crucified.
Some say He was only a myth,
but myths don't set the calendar for history.
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!
Some say He was just a good teacher,
but good teachers don't claim to be God.
Some say He was merely a good example,
but good examples don't mingle with prostitutes and sinners.
Some say He was a madman,
but madmen don't speak the way He spoke.
Some say He was a crazed fanatic,
but crazed fanatics don't draw children to themselves or attract men of intellect like Paul or Luke to be their followers.
Some say He was a religious phony,
but phonies don't rise from the dead.
Some say He was only a phantom,
but phantoms can't give their flesh and blood to be crucified.
Some say He was only a myth,
but myths don't set the calendar for history.
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!
Three Things
Three things in life that,once gone, never come back -
Time
Words
Opportunity
Three things in life that may never be lost -
Peace
Hope
Honesty
Three things in life that are most valuable -
Love
Self-confidence
Friends
Three things in life that are never certain -
Dreams
Success
Fortune
Three things that make a man -
Hard work
Sincerity
Commitment
Three things in life that can destroy a man -
Wine
Pride
Anger
Three things that are truly constant -
Father
Son
Holy Ghost
I ask the Lord to bless you, as I pray for you today; to guide you and protect you, as you go along your way. His love is always with you, His promises are true. And when you give Him all your cares, you know He'll see you through.
Time
Words
Opportunity
Three things in life that may never be lost -
Peace
Hope
Honesty
Three things in life that are most valuable -
Love
Self-confidence
Friends
Three things in life that are never certain -
Dreams
Success
Fortune
Three things that make a man -
Hard work
Sincerity
Commitment
Three things in life that can destroy a man -
Wine
Pride
Anger
Three things that are truly constant -
Father
Son
Holy Ghost
I ask the Lord to bless you, as I pray for you today; to guide you and protect you, as you go along your way. His love is always with you, His promises are true. And when you give Him all your cares, you know He'll see you through.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
SATAN'S MEETING
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their savior. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, but steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ."
"This is what I want you to do", said the devil: "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered. Tempt them to spend,spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week,10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work! Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes. Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives.
"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. Give them headaches too! If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere. That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas. Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy,busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength,sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause." "It will work! It will work!"
It was quite a plan! The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get more busy and more rushed,going here and there. Having little time for their God or their families. Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge!
Does "busy" mean:
B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke?
Thank you Evangelist Beckie Porter
"This is what I want you to do", said the devil: "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered. Tempt them to spend,spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week,10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work! Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes. Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives.
"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. Give them headaches too! If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere. That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas. Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy,busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength,sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause." "It will work! It will work!"
It was quite a plan! The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get more busy and more rushed,going here and there. Having little time for their God or their families. Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge!
Does "busy" mean:
B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke?
Thank you Evangelist Beckie Porter
Sunday, June 03, 2007
WHO IS HE?
In chemistry, He turned water to wine.
In biology, He was born without the normal conception;
In physics, He disproved the law of gravity when He ascended into heaven;
In economics, He disproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5000 men with two fishes & five loaves of bread;
In medicine, He cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs,
In history, He is the beginning and the end;
In government, He said that He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, and Prince of Peace;
In religion, He said no one comes to the father except through him; so who is He?
He is Jesus!
Join me and let's celebrate Him;
He is worthy.
Thank you Evangelist Beckie Porter.
Lord I pray the eyes beholding this message shall not behold evil, the hand that will send this message to everybody shall not labor in vain, and the mouth saying amen to this prayer shall smile forever. May we remain in You and seek Your face always. Amen
In biology, He was born without the normal conception;
In physics, He disproved the law of gravity when He ascended into heaven;
In economics, He disproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5000 men with two fishes & five loaves of bread;
In medicine, He cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs,
In history, He is the beginning and the end;
In government, He said that He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, and Prince of Peace;
In religion, He said no one comes to the father except through him; so who is He?
He is Jesus!
Join me and let's celebrate Him;
He is worthy.
Thank you Evangelist Beckie Porter.
Lord I pray the eyes beholding this message shall not behold evil, the hand that will send this message to everybody shall not labor in vain, and the mouth saying amen to this prayer shall smile forever. May we remain in You and seek Your face always. Amen
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About Me
- J.A. Vazquez
- I'm just, a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about Somebody who can save anybody. First I want to give love to the Father for giving me the opportunity to be an instrument for him to live in and live through for the glory that belongs to only him and Him alone. I served in the United States Navy for twenty one years and retired September 2003. During the last 3 years of my naval career, I served as co-pastor of Greater New Refuge COGIC in Fallon, Nevada under the tutelage of Pastor Gregory L. Brown. While there, I diligently served my pastor and church with the construction of a new sanctuary, and caring for the needs of all ministries, while simultaneously striving to stay focused on the mandate that the Lord had placed upon my life to preach the Word of God without compromise. I was licensed to preach November 2002 and Ordained June 2003. While stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, I proudly served and as constituent of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for seventeen years under the leadership of Bishop Elect W. D. Scott, Sr. and presently serve under the leadership of Bishop B. Courtney McBath at Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, Virginia.