A Wedding Vow

I found hidden within the pages of the book of Hosea what reads to me like a wedding vow, a beautiful marriage proposal from God to us. It reads:

“In that coming day,” says the Lord, you will call Me my Husband instead of my Master.”-Hosea 2:16 NLT “I will make you My wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you Mine, and you will finally know Me as LORD.”-2:19-20

This wedding vow was made during one of Israel’s darkest moments in history. They rejected their God to worship idols. God also refers to Israel in this book as a prostitute and compares the nation to an adulterous wife. They gave up their glorious God for a lie … a picture of all of us while we were still in sin. So why did God propose to a world that rejected Him? God proposed because He loves us, all of us, flaws and all. The thing about this proposal is that it is not dependent upon our faithfulness but on God’s faithfulness.

“If they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands, I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray My faithfulness. I will not violate My covenant (His promise) or alter what My lips have uttered.” –psalm 89:31-34 niv

God fulfilled this vow in the body of His Son, Jesus Christ when He offered Him up as a sacrifice and punished Him for our sins and iniquity so that we may have the love and the promises of the Father for all eternity.

So how do we accept God’s proposal? Simply start by turning to God in prayer. Speak to Him from that secret place within you. Allow Him to see the person behind the mask… THE REAL YOU. Trust Him with what’s really on your heart and mind and watch the love of God (His wedding vow) manifest itself in your life.

A Kingdom Princess

LIVE…LIFE…FREE! ITS GOD'S SPECIALTY (John 10:10)

Sunday School Lesson (March 30, 2014)

TRIUMPHANT AND VICTORIOUS

 

BIBLE BASIS: Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1-11

 

BIBLE TRUTH: Jesus deserves all the honor.

 

MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 21:9

 

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, you will; explain why so many gathered tp acknowledge Jesus as Lord and King; express a willingness to always honor Jesus through our everyday actions; and repent of the times when we have not given Jesus the honor due to Him.

 

Question of the Week: Have you honored Jesus today (this week)?

NORTHERN DISTRICT MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

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Northern District COGIC 

Men's basketball team!!

When Two Lesbians Walk Into a Church Seeking Trouble

“Let’s just go for fun! We’ll see how much we can push their buttons,” Amy teased her girlfriend, who didn’t like the idea of hanging around a bunch of Christians.

“Come on,” Amy insisted. “I hear their motto is ‘Come as you are.’ I just want to prove that they’re ‘come as you are ... unless you’re gay.'”

Amy had been in a nine-year lesbian relationship that had broken up, leaving her wondering why her deepest longings could never be satisfied. She and Rachel had just started hanging out when they decided to attend one Sunday morning.

“I came on a mission to shock people,” Amy admits. “Rachel and I would hold hands in front of people, but instead of the disgusted looks of contempt we expected, people met eyes with us and treated us like real people. So we started coming to church weekly. We kept moving closer to the front each week, trying to get a reaction so that we’d be rejected sooner rather than later. When we couldn’t shock people, we stopped trying and started learning."

“Not long after that, Rachel and I stopped seeing each other, but I kept coming to church because I was searching for something,” Amy admits. “I definitely wasn’t looking to change. It wasn’t my lesbian lifestyle that I was bringing to God, but I wondered if God had answers to my deeper longings. Problem was, I didn’t trust God at all!

“The more I listened and learned about the teachings of Jesus, the more I started to actually believe that God really did love me. I heard more and more about being His masterpiece, and in time, I actually started to believe it. The more I believed God actually could see something of value in me, the more I trusted Him.”

Sunday School Lesson (March 23, 2014)

WORTHY IS THE LAMB

BIBLE BASIS: Revelation 5:6-13

BIBLE TRUTH: There will be a victory celebration in Heaven.

MEMORY VERSE: Revelation 5:12

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, you will; recognize that the God-given unlimited power believers possess is linked to total submission to His will; trust that even while living a life of obedience to God, troubles will come; and decide to worship and praise God continuously, with zeal, through all of life's situations.

Question of the Week: Have you encouraged someone to stay strong in the faith?

Bishop Otis Mccormick (Prayer and Faith will get you there)

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Jesus gave us the blue print on how we can live a bondage free life. To often we fail to follow his words. But I assure you that God's word will never return unto him void. Bishop McCormick message entitled "Prayer & Faith will get you there" will show us how this can be accomplished.

Mark 11:12-14

King James Version (KJV)

¹² And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
¹³ And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
¹⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

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Sunday School Lesson (March 16, 2014)

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

PETER'S REPORT

BIBLE BASIS: Psalm 110:1-4; Acts 2:22-24, 29-32

BIBLE TRUTH: The coming of Jesus was a fulfillment of prophecy.

MEMORY VERSE: Acts 2:31

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, you will; discuss the importance of being people of our word; find comfort in knowing that no matter how tough things may get, God will keep His word for our lives; and share what we've learned about God's faithfulness to encourage others in tough times..
 
Question of the Week: Have you encouraged someone to stay strong in the faith?

What's The One Question We Should Ask Unbelievers?

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Frank Turek  shares perhaps the most important question for an unbeliever.

Read More : http://crossexamined.org/


What is the Cross Examined Statement of Faith?

CrossExamined.org is an evangelical, inter-denominational Christian ministry. We seek to present evidence that the Bible is true. We do not require others in the body of Christ with whom we partner to hold certain positions on many of the doctrinal or theological debates that take place within the church. While we do believe that these issues are significant, our primary concerns are with the effects that false ideologies are having on the world and the body of believers (particularly our young people).

The Simplicity of Ministry

The Simplicity of Ministry

Now the crowd that was with Him (Jesus) when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.  Many people, because they had heard that He had performed this sign, went out to meet Him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!” John 12:17-19

This is a picture of ministry. The people who witnessed what Christ did, shared their experience with others and those who heard all of these great things about Him sought Jesus out for themselves.

The simplicity of ministry is this, when we testify about Jesus, we are spreading The Word.  When we testify about what He has done in our lives , how He saved us, how He healed us, how He tore down obstacles and removed mountains out of our way,  we are spreading His Word.

When we teach about Jesus and His unmerited, unconditional love for us, how He loved us so much that He willingly laid down His life for us. He loved us and chose us  even before we chose Him. When we talk about Jesus  who would leave the 99 that are secure in Him to go after the one who is lost because that’s how precious mankind is to Him, we are spreading His Love.

When we testify about Jesus who doesn't condemn you when you stumble but supplies you  and empowers you with His righteousness and grace so you can “go and sin no more”. When we use the word of God as the gift that gives life and hope and not a weapon that condemns and destroy we display the love of Christ. When we reveal Jesus, His love, His truth, His light, we draw others to Him.

When the world is watching you and wondering why are you filled with so much peace and joy when the world is in chaos? When the world witnesses your harvest during a time of famine like when doors are opened to you that should have been sealed shut. When promotions and favor come  your way when you weren’t even seeking it. Or even when everything around you appears to be falling apart yet, there is a glow about you and a smile on your face. When your brother or sister offends you instead of responding in anger you respond in grace. When we worship not just on Sunday but everyday including the days when your heart has been ripped out of your chest, when your faith is weak, when you’re tired and  “sick and tired” of being tired, or when the amount in your account doesn't seem to be enough. When the world witnesses Christ in you and working for you, you draw the world to Him.That is ministry.

 Be Ministers of Jesus Christ… just point to Him.  

A Kingdom Princess

LIVE…LIFE…FREE! ITS GOD'S SPECIALTY (John 10:10)

Keondre Covington (Knowing God's Plan)

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Keondre Covington delivers his first message at Lily of the Valley COGIC. I encourage all to listen and be blessed by this young mans desire to preach God's word.



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Crossmembers Men's Ministry Breakfast Jan 4, 2014 (Rodney Gaskins)

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Rodney Gaskins explains the vision that God has laid on his heart in regards to the forming of the Cross Members Men's Group. I encourage all to watch and share this video with your home church's Men's Group. If your interested in the full version of this event,please contact Rodney Gaskins or email us crossmembersmensgroup@gmail.com



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Minister Kevin Ward (Know your enemy)

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John 10:10

New International Version (NIV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,and have it to the full.

As believers we must be able to recognize the ploys and the tactics of the enemy. John 10:10 states the thief cometh not but that he may steal and kill and destroy. Minister's Ward message entitled "Know your enemy" will guide us on how to recognize and overcome the many attacks of the enemy.

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Sunday School Lesson (March 9, 2014)

MARCH 9, 2014

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

SON OF DAVID

BIBLE BASIS: Psalm 89:35-37; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-21

BIBLE TRUTH: Our decisions affect the future of our descendants.

MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 1:21-22

LESSON AIM: Explore how your personal decisions can benefit or negatively affect our lives and the lives of others; find comfort in knowing that God's promises to us don't expire; and plan to live for a higher purpose as a selfless act for God and for generations to come.
 
Question of the Week: Who did God promise David would serve as the king and have a strong kingdom?

 

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Son Of God (Now Playing)

Regal Goldstream Stadium 16

1855 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK

‎1:00‎  ‎4:00‎  ‎7:00‎  ‎10:00pm‎

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Pastor Howard J Hornbuckle (Christian Warfare: Is it too late to change?)

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As a former soldier I understand the importance of knowing who your enemy is on the battlefield;and as believers we must be able to recognize who and what we fight against. Pastor Hornbuckle's message entitled " Christian War fare Is It to late to change" will help us re-focus and re-equip our selves with the whole armor of God. So that we will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:10-18

New International Version (NIV)

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord  and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God,  so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,  but against the rulers, against the authorities,  against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

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