Reverend Leonard Terrell

Lord, we thank you that in Your providence and grace, You allowed our dear friend Reverend Leonard Terrell, to be part of our lives. We loved him with all our souls. Please forgive any sins he may have committed against You, and keep him safe in the paradise that You have prepared for those who love You. Let him stand in the Resurrection of the Just on the last day and live with You in Your glory forever more.

Look with pity upon our sorrows, comfort us with Your goodness, and give us peace in our mourning. Grant us also grace and strength to live in accordance with our profession of faith, so that we may also dwell with You and our Friend Leonard in Your glory. To You we give all honor, praise, glory, and thanks, O Lord, for You are the giver of life and conqueror of death.

Amen.

A memory last forever, and never does it die...true friends stay together, and never say goodbye! One of the striking things that always seems to encourage me during times like this is knowing that Jesus wept even though He knew He would be bringing Lazarus back to life in a short time. I feel as though God is telling me that it's alright to cry for those we love.

It is with a heart of sadness that I prayed this prayer. Yet, I rejoice knowing that earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot bear.

The Armor Bearer

"David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “ Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him." (1 Samuel 16: 21-22)

What is an Armor Bearer?

Armor Bearers are not elected but are appointed by the Pastor from congregants who are in good standing, who are tithers, and who love the church and the Shepherd.

“The main function of one who is designated as an armor bearer is that of service . . . for the biblical armor bearer was much more than a hired hand. An armor bearer was a person who undoubtedly spent many years, if not one’s entire life, in the leader’s service.”

Duties of an Armor Bearer

Must provide strength for the leader

Must have a deep-down sense of respect for the leader, and acceptance for and tolerance of, the leader’s personality and their way of doing things

Must instinctively understand the leader’s thoughts

Must walk in agreement with and submission to the leader

Must make the advancement of the leader the most important goal

Must possess endless strength so as to thrust, press and force their way onward without giving way under harsh treatment

Must follow directives immediately and correctly

Must be a support to the leader

Must be an effective communicator

Must have a disposition that will eagerly gain victories for the leader

Must have the ability to minister strength and courage to the leader
(God’s Armor Bearer, by Terry Nance)

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

Examination of a Wise Man, a Novice, and a Fool

You were called of God and went to your Pastor and asked him to assist you in fulfilling your calling. (Beginning Novice showing respect)

You offered your Pastor to work as a sunday school teacher, youth leader, home cell leader, give Bible studies, or where he needs you. (Novice showing unity of purpose)

You developed a good one on one friendship with the Pastor and are his friend and supporter. (Novice who has genuine love)

You ask your Pastor to tutor you and give you the names of books he believes would help you develop your ministry. (Novice developing wisdom)

You observe the way your Pastor operates and runs the church, the service, and his relationship to others and have learned to duplicate it. (Novice subjecing himself to his leader)

If your Pastor should go on a trip and put you in charge of the service, you would change nothing and do it just as if he was there doing it. (Novice showing himself a pattern of good works)

A church member calls you and ask you to give some spiritual advice and you tell them they should go talk to the Pastor and not you. (Novice who refuses to get entangled with the members)

Some members talk of quitting and going to start a church and ask you to come be the pastor and you refuse to accept. (Novice who shows wisdom and loyalty)

You disagree with the Pastor over a teaching or doctrine but do not challenge him or threaten to leave and go on your own. (Novice who wants a right spirit in him to prevail).

You are being used in the Ministry and the Pastor has helped you tremendously: but you feel it is time to be ordained and move out on your own, yet you stay when the Pastor says it is not your time yet. (Novice who shows ordination is not a release but an honor bestowed)

Your Pastor tells you he wants you to wash his car weekly, cut the church grass monthly, and make sure the Church is closed down and locked after each service. You tell him you will gladly do it. (Novice who sees this as training for the future, not as the Pastor using him)

Another Pastor invites you to his campmeeting, revival, or special meeting, and you tell him you have to talk to your Pastor about it first and get his permission. (Novice who seeks permission will also be one that shows he is humble)

You are going to take a vacation and want to visit another church while away. You ask your Pastor about visiting that church and he tells you he would rather you did not. So, you do not visit that church. (Novice but one who learns his Pastor's wisdom has a purpose)

Your Pastor gives you permission to vist another Church to preach and the Pastor there gives you an offering. Your Pastor has taught you to give back the tithe on the offering before you leave. So, you give the host Pastor the tithe on the offering. If he declines to accept it, you give it to your Pastor. (Novice who learns how to give just like other great men of God do it)

Your Pastor ask you to take up a toliet and replace the wax seal ring. You go buy the .99 cent wax ring and do so. (Novice who shows he is willing to please God doing all things)

The Pastor has not been holding men's meeting but says he will start them back up after his missionary trip. But you decide to not only call one anyway, but choose a topic that is designed to subtilly attack another brother in the group and his wife. (Double Fool)

You have been in many churches under many Pastors and you have no Pastor whom you would call your Pastor. (Novice Fool)

You took some members from a Pastor and went out and started your own Church. (Novice Fool)

Your Pastor would not ordain you because of bad conduct and character so you went to another church and ask the Pastor there to ordain you and he did because he did not like your Pastor. (Novice Fool)

You have your own ministry but it is not under the spiritual covering of your Pastor. (Novice Fool)

You had a disagreement with your Pastor and decided to confront him in front of Church members. (Novice Fool)

You had a disagreement with your Pastor and he told you if you did not repent and humble down he would disfellowship you. You jumped around and say you would disfellowship him and stomp off. (Novice Fool)

There is no man in your life whom you can call your Father in the Faith because you have had many Pastors and for one reason or another quit them all. (Novice Fool)

You want to be all on your own and so you have little or no association with your Pastor or Father in the Faith. (Novice Fool)

You want your own identity and recognition and so do not want to be associated with the name of your Pastor or Father in the Faith. (Novice)

Your Pastor ask you to take care of the Church while he makes a mission trip and you decide that when he is gone you are really going to tell the members what you disagree with the Pastor over. (Novice Fool)

The Pastor goes to a meeting and leaves you in charge and so you put your daughter on the platform to play music because the Pastor would not allow her when he was there. (Novice Fool)

The Pastor does not believe in drinking wine except for the Lord's Supper. You disagree and believe a person can drink it any time they want. So, you sneak and drink wine and do not let the Pastor know of your conduct so he will not remove you from the platform and preaching. (Novice Fool)

You believe when god breathed into Adam his breath that the life in Adam was then God. Therefore Adam is a kind of God manifest in the flesh. You believe no man can do anything unless it is God within them doing it. You beleive when John baptized Jesus that it was really God in John baptizing Jesus. The Pastor tells you not to teach or preach these doctrines. But you do it anyway in a service when he is not there. (Novice Fool)

Your Pastor sits you down from all ministry on the platform because you talked back to him. He is teaching a lesson about wolves and sheep and how they are easily distinguished: you jump up, do a jig, then announce to the church you are leaving. You take your family in a show and march out of the church. (Novice Fool)

Your Pastor accepts your calling into the Ministry and invites you to speak at the next service on water baptism. You decide you will teach on wearing jewelry instead. So, when the service comes you teach on jewelry. (Novice Fool)

You have a geat burden to see souls saved. The Pastor ask you to preach something evangelistic on Sunday nite. You preach about the woman and the issue of blood and press your point to press until you touch Jesus. Many are blessed and come to the altar. It is a good service. (Novice whose desire to see souls saved controls his zeal)

You are now three years with a Pastor and he has refused to ordain you. You ask him about it and he says he will ordain when God tells him. You humble down and remain with the Pastor determined like Jacob not to turn loose until you get your blessing. (Novice who respects the Pastor's walk with God and his judgment)

You hate it when your Pastor refers to you as a novice. Dosen't he know you can preach better than he? Doesn't he know you are in great demand by other Pastors wanting you to preach and he won't release you? When will he quit being jealous of you and make you his equal and stop his prejudice that you are still beneath him? If he does not ordain you soon you are leaving. (Novice Fool)

You have been a good son. Your Father in the Faith has treated you well. The time has come and he has said he will ordain you. You are ordained. Soon afterward some church members want you to leave and start a church. You decline. (The novice begins to become a wise man)

You are ordained and still working under your Pastor. You feel it is your calling to stay here in this church and assist the Pastor. And if one day he retires you desire to replace him. (The novice has grown into a wise man of God)

You are in a church under a Pastor and have faithfully filled in when asked. Yet you have not been ordained. Since you have no plans to become a Pastor any time soon, you remain humble and do not seek ordination just as a formality. (The novice here is developing wisdom)

You are a Pastor and there appears at a service some members from another Pastor's Church. You ask them why they are there and they report they have quit the other Pastor and want to come there. You tell them you will not take them in until you talk to the other Pastor. (A wise Pastor will not invite another Pastor's trouble into his Church, if he does he will show disrespect to the other Pastor)

You are a Pastor and there appears at a service some members from another Pastor's Church. You don't really like that Pastor very well so you cozy up to them and make it clear you would like to have them as members. (Foolish Pastor, who will reap his own trouble and hurt from these same people later on)

You observe some young ministers in another Church and think in your heart how much you would really like to have them in your church. So you plant the seed in some other young men's minds and they make contact. Over some months of fellowship which the other Pastor knows nothing about, these are invited to come and join that church. These men do eventually come and join but not before creating church trouble and causing some members to quit their Pastor's Church. The coveteous Pastor is overjoyed that he now has these men in his church. (Foolish Pastor, who will in time regret he played the part of a foolish novice)

Some ministers come complaining they have not been ordained by their Pastor and want you to ordain them. You see no reason not to ordain them so you do it because you were asked, not because God told you. (Foolish Pastor, whose ordinations are not respectable nor will God honor them)

Note: The majority of Church problems today are a result of bad men of God, novices who are out of order, and fools who want nothing better then to see what they cannot have destroyed. The Church is preparing to go into the time of tribulation and if there ever was a time to know those who labor among us it is now. It is time to guard the house of God with greater wisdom. It is time to close the ranks against rabble who have no desire for a perfected church, but rather only to be seen and heard. We must purge from our midst all the novices and fools who will not humble down and stay in their place within the body. If they will not remain in their place it is time to cut off the branches. The olive tree needs to be pruned. Dead branches need to be lopped of. We should keep our eyes only on that which is bearing good fruit.

The Lord Jesus bless all of his great men of God.

Thank you Pastor G. Reckart for your words of encouragement and inspiration. God bless you and the wonderful people of Cebu, Philippines, always.

10 Ways To Spring Clean Your LIFE

1. Clean out the anger, hatred, jealousy, and self doubt.

2. Move out the frustrations, and lack of communication.
Wash away delay and procrastination.

3. Dust off your attitude, and put on a fresh coat of
positive.

4. Throw out misunderstanding, and lack of patience.
Sweep out the dirt of gossip or lies

5. Recycle old relationships, roles, and routines that no
longer work into a new, useable form.

6. Open the shades and let in the warmth of friendship.

7. Lighten up your thoughts with humor and fun.

8. Give away as much love, help, care, concern, and gratitude
as possible.

9. Paint in new boundaries, and stencil some raised standards

10. Open the windows of your mind to new ideas and a
fresh perspective on living a happier, better, easier life.

50 Things That Really Do Matter

1. Listening enough to care and caring enough to listen.

2. Being a dreamer but not living in a dream world.

3. Saying "It doesn't matter" and meaning it.

4. Being a positive influence in any way possible, to asmany as possible, for as long as I possibly can.

5. Balancing justice with mercy and fairness with commonsense.

6. Being patient and patiently enduring.

7. Earning credibility instead of demanding compliance.

8. Valuing the wisdom of discernment, the danger of pleasurewithout restraint, and the joy of victory with integrity.

9. Being worthy of trust and trusting what's worthwhile.

10. Enjoying all things small and beautiful.

11. Words that heal.

12. Words that help.

13. And words that encourage.

14. Forgiving myself for what I've done and others for whatthey haven't.

15. Gaining what I desire without losing what I should gain.

16. Maintaining the passion of purpose while avoiding thepitfalls of making hasty decisions with little or nodiscernment.

17. Watching "You've Got Mail" one more time.

18. Enjoying life for all it holds instead of holding outfor all it has yet to become.

19. Giving praise without demands and encouragement withoutexpectations.

20. Hugs.

21. Healing wounds.

22. And helping people realize their dreams.

23. Knowing when I can, can't and shouldn't.

24. Laughter for the sake of laughter!

25. Leading while not forgetting how to follow.

26. Honoring the honorable and avoiding the painful errorsof the disgraceful.

27. Knowing the power of commitment, the rewards of self-discipline and the meaning of faith in myself, God andothers.

28. Smiles -- lots of them.

29. Learning as much as I can for as long as I can.

30. Standing for what's right when everything's wrong, andsaying "I'm wrong" when something's not right.

31. Letting the music play.

32. Knowing I can and seeking help when I can't.

33. Just doing nothing at just the right time.

34. Filling my mind with all that is excellent, truthful,full of hope, and worthy of thinking about again.

35. Kisses that say "I love you" more than "I need you."

36. Treasuring ideas for their untapped potential.

37. Caring.

38. Giving.

39. And having fun.

40. Refusing to believe lies about myself or othersregardless of the source -- including what I hear fromwithin.

41. Trusting enough to see good in people without blindlytrusting in the goodness of all people.

42. Success without self-absorption.

43. Showing I know the difference between keeping the rulesand listening with understanding.

44. Winning with dignity.

45. Losing with grace.

46. And learning from both.

47. Believing in all my possibilities -- and yours too!

48. Appreciating the wisdom of maturity and the beauty ofchildhood.

49. Avoiding the bondage of bitterness, the deceit of wealthwithout character, and the vanity of pride withoutgratefulness.

50. Loving for all I'm worth because in the end it's worthit all.

Yours for a day filled with beautiful moments in time.

My dear brothers and sister in Christ, If you've enjoyed this article written by Lee Wise as I have, please do visit the blogs of Lee Wise at http://personal-spiritual-growth.blogspot.com and http://purposesuccessinspiration.blogspot.com/

You can also visit him on facebook and follow him on twitter at: http://www.facebook.com/LeeWisePurposeSuccessInspiration and http://twitter.com/#!/Lee_Wise

Thank you brother Lee Wise for blessing us with, "50 Things That Really Do Matter". I pray the Lord continues to bless you as you've surely blessed many and I am so glad to be one of them. God bless you, always. Andres

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Discover How The Power Of Passion and The Beauty Of Being Unique Combine to Forge Lives That Matter And Legacies That Last. Continue Your Spiritual Journey by visiting here --> http://personal-spiritual-growth.blogspot.com

Happy Mother's Day

Beautiful red, pink, yellow and white roses,
They all say "I Love You"
The thorns on the bush remind us
That mistakes need forgiveness too.

Red roses tell of God's beauty,
That often thrills my soul.
The yellow, whispers of His Love,
Chasing away sadness, and making us whole.

The pink is for the blush in my cheeks,
When laughter chases the blues away.
The white tells of His forgiveness,
We'll share together each day.
If Roses grow in heaven,
Lord, please pick a bunch for me.
Place them in my loved one's arms
and tell them, they're from me.

Tell them that I love and miss
them, and when they turn to smile,
place a kiss upon their cheek
and hold them for a while.

Because remembering them is easy,
I do it every day.
But there's an ache within my heart,
that will never go away.

Mama, you’re always with me... You’re the whisper of the leaves as I walk down the street. You’re the smell of bleach in my freshly laundered socks. You’re the cool hand on my brow when I’m not well. Mama, you live inside my laughter. You are crystallized in every tear drop... even these, as I write this for you. You’re the place I came from, my first home... You’re the map I follow with every step that I take. You are my first love and my first heart break....and nothing on earth can separate us. Not time… Not space... Not even death.... will ever separate me from you.... You carried me inside of you for nine months, Mama, now I carry you inside of me forever.... You’re always with me Mama, no, it’s not Mothers Day till this coming Sunday and your birthday was the 22nd of February therefore it’s not your birthday. Today is not even a holiday. Mama, it’s been a little over seven years since…well, I know I didn't lose you...God has reminded me that I can't lose something when I know where it is. Mama, I miss you! Thank You Lord God for adding another flower to Your heavenly bouquet!

10 Most Important Things

Love
The Special Feeling that makes you feel all Warm and Wonderful

Respect
Treating others as well as you'd like to be treated

Appreciation
To be Grateful for all the Good Things Life has to offer

Happiness
The Full Enjoyment of each moment with a Smiling Face

Forgiveness
The Ability to let Things be without Anger

Sharing
The Joy of giving without Thought of Receiving

Honesty
The Quality of always telling the Truth

Integrity
The purity of doing what's Right no matter what.

Compassion
The Essence of Feeling another's Pain, while Easing their Hurt