Paradigm shift: Chronic Long-term pains

     As I am a man with a chronic illness, I completely understand what it means to “go through”... though our situations differ and may even be completely different. Pain is still pain, suffering is still suffering, loneliness is still loneliness, encouragement is still encouragement, and comfort is still comfort.

     I want to encourage you to continue to fight the good fight. As many have said, God is good! And even though He has chosen to allow afflictions upon you and me, God is still good! He is not surprised that you are going through.

Paul reminds us that God's grace is sufficient for whatever situation we come up against, and in our weaknesses, His strength is made perfect. He takes us to trying times so that His love and power is recognized by us, AND the people with whom we come in contact.... in other words as we go through the storms of life with our heads held high (perhaps with a headache or stiff neck), our steps are spritely (though slower, maybe with a limp), and our attitudes are of thanksgiving with praise... people see it and know that we are Christian and therefore God gets the glory!

-Job said it like this "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him"...he could have added something like this: God trusts me in this circumstance. It's pretty remarkable when you think about it. God has entrusted us with the delivery of an important, quite potent, lifelong, non-verbal message.

... rain or shine, up or down, drought or flood, plenty or impoverished, mountain apex or valley low, in sickness or health .… God is still good and He still loves you!

We love you, and we are praying for you 

~SALT
Pastor Erroyl,

Sis. Pinky's Prayer:

Thank you God for the rain and the sunshine; both are necessary for growth. Help us to embrace the spiritual storms and to lean on and trust in you in all circumstances. 

In Jesus’s name, we pray... Amen.

Time, time, time

How much time have you spent on Facebook today? Twitter? Etc.

The shame in it is that if we log all the time that we check our cell phones, computers, etc. it adds up, and we can't even calculate the number.

Now, answer honestly, how much time did you spend reading the Bible? Did you close it and reopen it 20 seconds later like we do Facebook? Have you checked God's status updates for you, and His Newsfeed? Did you write out your visions and make them plain in it's margins..like you reveal details of your life on your timeline?

Right! Exactly.

Okay, so no time for guilt. Repent and move on. Turn off your computer, log off of Facebook, and pick up the Bible. 

Don't know what to read, or where to begin??? Try the book of John. It's a great starting point. 

I love you and I'm praying for you.
~Pastor Erroyl
SALT

Five things to pray for in marriage

Praying for your marriage. Five things that are essential. If you are not married, get a headstart on knowing what to do. 😉

We must sustain and maintain, plan for the unexpected, and plan for the expected. Here are five things, which we should pray for, that are essential. Five things in the midst of busy and stressful seasons of life.

1. To love each other as Christ loved us.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

Father, your greatest command was to love You and love each other (Matthew 22:36-40). You’ve given marriage as a holy relationship that reflects our relationship with You. Show us how to follow your example and set aside our selfishness and pride and humbly serve each other. Help us to be of one spirit and of one mind and value each other above ourselves, looking out for each other’s interests (Philippians 2:2-4). In the midst of our busy lives, help us take time to love each other deeply from the heart, as you have loved us (Ephesians 5:1-2). May the love we have for each other be an example to the world of how You love them and gave Your life for them.

2. To grow together in Christ.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Father, help us not to just go to church on Sunday, but to recognize that your presence goes with us wherever we go. May we know a deep communion with you every day. May our marriage be a place where we grow together and lean on You in every situation. Help us to grow to be more like You every day, having a unity in Spirit, being patient, humble and gentle with each other, and bearing each other’s burdens with Your love and strength. Fill our marriage with Your peace. When a struggle or strife arises, may our first response be to come to You together for help. Help us make talking about You and Your Word a priority. We ask your Spirit to help us understand Your Word and grow together in our love and service to You.

3. To recognize things causing distance.

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

Father, life gets so busy and things can creep into our marriage and cause distance. Help us be intentional in spending time together and reveal things that are creating a chasm in our relationship. Protect us from things that will divide us, whether it be time spent online or a recreational activity or a friendship that is taking away from our marriage. Help us know how to remedy the situation and bring a closeness back into our marriage with You at the center.

4. To forgive each other quickly.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)

Father, enable us to forgive each other as You have forgiven us. Help us not to hold onto bitterness, keep records of wrong, or allow the enemy any foothold in our relationship. Keep our hearts sensitive to You and each other, and move us to the work of reconciliation quickly. When we are wounded, help us be honest with each other and not fear retaliation. Help us to work through our differences in a way that honors You and strengthens our relationship. Help us grow in humility and recognize when we have wounded each other. Give us Your strength to ask for and give forgiveness.

5. To know when to seek outside help.

“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.” (Proverbs 19:20)

Father, grant us the humility and wisdom to know when our marriage needs outside help. Provide wise counsel in the form of friends, pastors, and professionals who will guide us back to You and show us how to rebuild trust and unity in a way that honors You. Help us not be afraid of the work of rebuilding our marriage or making it stronger, but instead help us each be humble and gentle and willing to grow and accept counsel.

Whether you pray individually or together as a couple, or with a group of friends who support each other by praying for your marriages, may you know the power and peace that comes from laying your burdens at the Father’s feet. 

This message was sent to me by a friend, and it was written by Amelia Rhodes, from Christianity.com. http://www.crosswalkmail.com/jvjqrfbmqsqwbnmdwthkzwczbfwnjhhnsvbzrrdvnfnjvfm_srcmrcbcrbvk.html

Don’t get caught sleeping

          In the book of Matthew, Jesus asks his disciples to come to the garden and watch and pray 'with' him. After Jesus goes deeper into the garden to pray alone, he comes back and finds that his disciples have fallen asleep. 

  It occurred to me that falling asleep after Jesus has asked you to do something is a dreadfully, terrible place to be. We see in the disciples that they not only fell asleep once, but again after Jesus admonished them. 

Falling asleep can be a dangerous thing. Think of "being asleep" here, as a metaphor for anything that distracts you from the purpose that God has called you to do (name your distractors.… TV, video games, Facebook, people, work, Internet, etc.) 

I think the saddest part about this is not that the disciples fell asleep after being told not to, but rather that Jesus had to bear the burden alone after asking for help. His words were that He was “overwhelmed to the point of death”. Wow. That's pretty big, right? Jesus then took the responsibility away from the disciples. 

     People will often say "what God has for me, it is for me". And, while that is a true statement, it doesn't mean it's a permanent statement.  The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. (Book of Job) By the time His disciples realized that they had let Jesus down, Judas and the armed guards were rushing into the garden to arrest Jesus. Peter tried to defend Jesus by attacking one of the guards, but it was too little too late. The next time that we hear of the disciples is that they fled the garden. At that moment their ministry was gone.

       Now, the good news is that Jesus is a restorer. He restores them with the great commission, (Peter and John got individual restorations also). Even if/when we fall asleep, Jesus gives us the opportunity to get it right. Several opportunities in fact. But, don't be fooled into thinking that there will always be an opportunity; that does not mean it will always be there for you.

   (Just in case you want a biblical reference, look up Elijah. See how his illustrious ministry ended). Don't fall asleep on Jesus. Don't get distracted. Stay focused. And if you get distracted, heed the warning.

Sis.Pinky’s Prayer: 

Heal us God; help us to keep our focus on you and to fulfill the mission that you’ve called us to. Let us not fall asleep on our spiritual jobs, and if we have, wake us up! 

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen

We love you, and we are praying for you. 

~Pastor Erroyl and Sis. Pinky

SALT

Driven into the Wilderness

Driven into the Wilderness

     When you hear the term wilderness, what do you think of? Do you think of a hot desert? Do you think of a cold and/or barren land? A place in the middle of a forest perhaps? The wilderness, in terms of a physical place, is one where the elements of nature can wreak havoc on you. You are isolated, cold or hot, lacking food, water, and/or shelter. So whatever came to your mind at the initial question, was correct.

A spiritual wilderness can be a place where you are emotionally isolated, socially unsheltered, starved for attention, heartbroken, the subject of persecution, or out of money perhaps. In other words, a place where it seems like the enemy is able to wreak havoc on you.

    After Jesus was baptized, Mark chapter 1 says He was driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit.

The wildernesses that we may experience, be they physical or spiritual, may have characteristics that may lead us to believe that it is the work of the enemy that causes us to are there. How often, have you said "the enemy is bothering me. Or, the devil is surely busy" But, that's just not what the Bible teaches. Therefore, not the conclusion that we should jump to.  Understand this, there is NOTHING that Satan can do to you that catches God unaware. In fact, the Bible teaches us, in the book of Job, that Satan must have permission, and even then the Bible says that God will cause ALL things to work to the benefit of those who love Him and are called to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

     When we find ourselves in a wilderness experience, what should we do? If we take Jesus' example, when we find ourselves in a place that we would call "a wilderness", then we should face the wilderness time with the Word of God. This is exactly what Jesus did when Satan tried to tempt Him. *Hint: You can't recite the Bible, nor use the Word of God, which is your spiritual sword, as Jesus did if you do not/have not read and digested it.  Also, we should fast and pray. Unfortunately, in times of turmoil, most of us turn to prayer last and fasting never. Jesus teaches us that there are certain problems that can only be bested by fasting and praying. "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and  fasting." (Matthew 17:21 NKJV)

     Maybe your wilderness is on your job, or in school. Maybe it is a lacking of funds or prolonged isolation from loved ones. Maybe a relationship has come across a rocky patch, but whatever it is, there is a purpose for you in it. Jesus was in the wilderness to be tempted (Matt 4) and to prepare for ministry. We as followers of Christ often go through wilderness experiences so that we too might gain strength, gain knowledge, develop testimonies, prepare for ministry, and also exercise our faith.

     The key, of course, is that we must let the Holy Spirit drive us to the wilderness! We cannot drive ourselves there, or be lead by the enemy.

_

I love you and I am praying for you.

~Pastor,  Dr. Erroyl McGinty, Jr.

SALT

Sis. Pinky's Prayer:

Hear our cry O Lord, we need you like never before! Some of us are in desolate places, seeking an answer from You. Help us to learn how to lean on You as we go through our desert experiences.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

You are precious; act like it.

There are times in life that, for whatever reason, we compromise. We compromise on our budgets to get a coveted car, house, suit, dress or maybe a new pair of shoes. There are times where compromise is essential. It may be hard to give acquiesce at all, but for the greater good, sometimes it must be done. Many disputes have ended due to thoughtful and fair compromises. Many wars ended, many laws made, and many marriages saved because of compromises.  With that said, we must understand that we should never compromise with what God says. Never on what God has promised. Never.

     Even when people don't believe it, when don't believe, and when you don't act like it... You are precious to God. His child, the apple of His eye, the reason that His son sacrificed so much. He has put gifts in you. For His purposes. He saved, redeemed, healed, lifted, promoted….you.

   "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. "

Matt 7:6

Understand that you and your gifts are sacred; are pearls. Sacred means to be set aside, apart from what is common, for a purpose. God’s purpose. You should not give yourself, nor your gift,  to the predators and scavengers of this world. God has made you (fearfully and wonderfully), He has saved you from sin and death, and calls you His own. What an honor! This scripture warns us of the consequences of compromising what God has for us. Our gifts may be destroyed in the vilest of ways, and us along with them.

  Stay sacred, be Holy for God is holy. Don't squander or compromise who you are and what you have.

I love you and I am praying for you.
~Pastor, Dr. Erroyl McGinty, Jr.
SALT

Sis. Pinky’s Prayer:

Thank you God for making me a sacred being. Help me to remember who I am in You and not to give what's precious in Your sight away.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

The Wilderness/Help

Are you in a rough place? Are you in a place of lack? Tribulations, trials? Well, I've got great news for you!

In the book of Exodus chapter 4 verse 27 the Lord told Aaron "go into to the desert to meet Moses." Isn't that odd? God sent someone into a place like the desert or wilderness to seek help. Only a sovereign and all-powerful God would send you into a place like a desert to get help. Moses on the other hand, was in the desert to receive help. Aaron was in this wilderness to be a help. 

     God does NOT make mistakes.  Our rough times, our places of lack, are designed by God. And He has a myriad of purposes. These are just two. 

Which one are you? Why are you there?

Be encouraged, as you are going into these times/places.  Understand that God has a purpose for you being there. You never know, your help just might be in the desert!

I bet you're wondering about the result of this meeting in the desert… At the end of verse 31, after this powwow in the desert, the Children of Israel bowed their heads and worshiped.

We love you and We are praying for you.

~Pastor 

Dr. Erroyl McGinty, Jr.

SALT

Sis Pinky's Prayer:

Thank you God for being omnipotent! You alone are worthy of our praise! Thank you for the places of lack and rough times. You make ALL things work together for our good!  In Jesus’ name,

Amen