“Remember oh Lord, your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions, according to your mercy remember me, for your goodness sake oh Lord. Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way he chooses.” Praise the Lord!

How  many of us this morning are able to rejoice in the Lord no matter what we are going through? When we are facing the trials and tribulations of this life, it becomes so easy for us to turn away from God, from trusting God, instead of rejoicing in the Lord. Why? We are lacking in our faith. We are not spiritually matured in that we are able to rejoice in our tribulations. My brothers and sisters in Christ, you are never alone in your struggles. God will give you more grace when the burdens grow greater. It may seem like you are alone if you are far from God, if you are not in tune with God, for his strength is perfected in our weakness. He promised that he will be with us and that he always will make a way for us. So, hold fast to God’s unchanging hand, have faith, for scripture reminds us, that if we fail in the day of adversity our faith is small. What are you doing to build your faith? Go through every trial valiantly, rejoicing in the Lord, even though your cupboard is bare and your bills are piling up, rejoice in the Lord! Amen!

What is love?  We say we love one another, but do we really know what love is? “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” For, without love we are nothing; and although we bestow all of our goods to feed the poor, and even though we our give our bodies to be burned, but have not love, it profits us nothing. Praise the Lord!

When you have many kinds of problems, you should be full of joy, because you know that these problems test your faith, and this will give you patience. James 1:2-3. We are reminded in Romans 5:2-3 that patience develops strength of character in us, and helps us trust God more each time we use it, until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. But, how do we respond to the trials we face? Do we handle them with prayer so that it builds us up and not tear us down? My brothers and sisters in Christ, learn to endure suffering, allow God to work its purpose out, learn to go through your trials praising God and be patient, acknowledge the testing of your faith, for tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope, now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Praise the Lord!

“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. So, beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” Praise the Lord!

For a long time I was ashamed to boast of my child when I see and hear what my friends were going through with their children, and this old lady said to me one day, “Never be ashamed to boast of your child when you know that you brought her up in the right way, your mother did not spare the rod with you because she loved you, and wanted all that was good for you and you too did the same for your child.” Scripture reminds us in Proverbs chapters 3, 23 and 29 that rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Correct your son and he will give you rest, yes, he will give delight to your soul. Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod and deliver his soul from hell. Many parents fail to correct and discipline their children as the Lord commands, and as a result they have restless days and nights. I am glad that my mother and grandmother did not spare the rod with me, for I am a better woman because of this, and I did not spare the rod from my child and she is a better woman because of this. No matter how old a child gets, if you train him up in the way he should go he will never depart from it. “My son do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest his correction, for whom the Lord loves, he corrects, just as a father in the son whom he delights. Praise the Lord!

Lord, I come into your presence this morning, with a cheerful and thankful heart. Lord I realize how much I need your guidance, I am in need of your continuous love, guide me in your truth, lead me in the paths of righteousness and bless me with your peace which surpasses all understanding. Lord, your thoughts are not our thoughts, nor your ways our ways, but prepare me in heart and mind to worship you, to come before you with a penitent and obedient heart, confessing my sins so that I may obtain forgiveness; and I pray that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart will always be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Amen!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, “How did you get to this place?” Many Christians are ashamed to share their testimonies, but know that you are in this place, because of where God brought you from. You were walking in the wilderness, you were cold and lonely, you were hungry, you were naked, you were afflicted, but the Lord brought you out with his mighty hand and his outstretched arm. Your shoe did not wear out because he carried you. Is this not enough to love and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and strength? Give God a praise somebody!

I will abide under the shadow of the almighty, for he is my strong tower, he is my rock, my shield and my hiding place. Dear Lord, when the waves of life are crashing in, when the storms of life are threatening, I will call upon your name, for your name is a strong tower, a refuge for the sinner, and all who call upon your name and run to you are safe. So this morning, I lift your name high, I call out your mighty name, Jesus, for this name will sustain me until the storms of life  are past, this name will deliver me when temptations round me gather, and I will  give God the glory due his name. Amen!