WE DON'T HAVE TO BE LONELY

Psalms 25:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

Loneliness can open us up to a deeper relationship with God. Just as solitude helps us hear Him speak to us. Being lonely is not always the absence of other people but an inner void. That can only be filled by the Spirit.

Father, we're no longer lonely because we've learned to live in the Spirit more than the Flesh. So, thank You for coming into our lives and showing us how to love ourselves and others. Thank You for contentment in where we are waiting patiently while You guide us through this Valley of death daily. Give us Your wisdom and knowledge when we witness for You, and give them eyes that see You in us and ears that hear Your instructions. Lord, let us not care about the things of this world because we brought nothing into this world, and we will not take anything out. So, fill us with the Holy Spirit that empowers us to pursue righteousness and obedience to You and gives us the strength to endure suffering and overcome our unbeliefs. Thank You, Lord, for being close to us when we are lonely, brokenhearted, and crushed in Spirit. In Jesus' name Amen

STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH

Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who believe.

When we see Christ's power in the lives of others, it strengthens our faith. I told someone they should not purchase a car because God keeps telling me He will provide. They looked at me and said you said many things that manifested in my life but a car Rose. My response was that's the message I got. About a month later, this person received the job with the car. When they called and told me I was driving, I had to pull over and give God some praise because, right at that point, my faith was strengthened.

Let the Spirit fill us with joy and peace as Your Word strengthens our faith and helps us overcome our unbeliefs. Thank You for allowing us to see Your blessings of others 🙏 and giving us hope. Thank You for revealing Who You Are in us and giving us a purpose in this Valley of death. Help us witness Your goodness daily, so baptize us with the Holy Spirit that empowers us to pursue righteousness and obedience. Thank You for giving us eyes that see from Your perspective and ears that hear Your instructions. Thank You for calming the confusion and keeping us safe and focused on You. Lord, You are our Savior, and our strength comes from You, and we are so grateful. In Jesus' name Amen

WE MUST FELLOWSHIP

Hebrews 10;24-25. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

God wants us to Fellowship because He understands large Gatherings' impact on us. When we come into Spiritual groups, we tend to share love and assets with people we don't know lovingly. When we are connected in the Spirit, God is in the midst, so we experience His transforming powers and the grace He shows us we show to others. So, come together in prayer, Worship, praise, and fellowship to give God room to move in our hearts 💕

Father God, thank You for allowing us to experience a connection with You and others when we fellowship. Let us unite joyfully so we walk together in Your light to live out Your truth to "fellowship with others so the blood can purify us of our sins." Lord, You said, "Connect with fellow believers to avoid spiritual isolation. Through such bonds, we can inspire others to love and perform good deeds." Lord, when we come together, cleanse our hearts and minds and let us focus on the thing of the Spirit and leave judgment, jealousy, envy, hate, back-biting, and strife outside. Let us come together in solemn remembrance, Worship, rejoicing, and peace before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 🙏 Amen.

THE ONLY PERSON THAT WILL BE WITH US FOREVER IS GOD

"The Lord Almighty will reign gloriously. And we will be partakers in the splendors of the latter days, whatever they may be, and so we will be with the Lord forever."

Family will forget you, friends we'll forget you, and even your enemies will forget you, but God is always with us through life and death. When we are called home, it hurts all our family members and friends for a while, but as the days turn into weeks and weeks become months, the memory of us will fade. Everything in this world will be forgotten people, places, and things. The only thing that people do remember is God. Even in a demented and Alzheimer's state, people still remember God. So while I'm sitting here meditating on life and situations that I've been through with death, I know God is the only thing that will matter at the beginning and the end.

Father, thank You for Your love and grace that neither death, nor life, nor thing present, nor things to come can separate us from You. Lord, teach us to observe all that You command of us and keep our life free from the love of money. Even though we walk through this Vally of death daily, we will not fear because You hold our hands.  Father, help us keep Your dwelling place clean to give You room to move in and through us. Lord, let us not get caught up in the glam and excitement of this dark place but stay focused on You and Your glory.  Lord, teach us how to walk, glorify You, and help others as we diligently seek You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

GOD HAS YOUR DESTINY PLANNED OUT

Ephesians 2:10 We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before birth, God planned our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!

God changed Ruth's destiny from poverty to wealth. Joseph's atmosphere shifted his destiny from slave to prime minister of Egypt. David's value increased when his destiny turned from a shepherd boy to a king. God can and will shift the atmosphere around us, improve our value, and change our destiny.

Father, thank You for pulling us out of the pit of darkness and leading us to Your never-failing light. Lord, thank You for being Who You are in us and through us. Thank You for shifting our atmosphere and changing our destiny. Thank You for teaching us how to breathe and control our emotions that overwhelmed us with worry and fear. Thank You for strengthening our faith and keeping us still to give You room to move mighty. Thank You for supporting us through the night, and thank You in advance for the hedge of protection around us today, especially our children and our children's children. Lord, shift our atmosphere. Let Your thoughts be our thoughts So we do not waver. Thank You for eyes that see things from Your perspective and ears that hear Your instructions around the obstacles ahead. Thank You for helping us bear our cross daily ❤️ in Jesus' name, Amen 🙏

WAIT PATIENTLY

We were very patient as children because we didn't care about tomorrow. Our focus was on the fun we were having now. But somewhere along life's Journey, that changed. We must relearn to focus on what's important now, not on what may or may not happen tomorrow. God tells us, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" We don't want to get ahead of God by focusing on a day that has not come yet. Be patient and learn to keep our attention on the Word, which keeps our focus on His Kingdom and faithfulness; then, all we need will be added to us.

Lord, give us the fruit of patience and help us seek Your kingdom and righteousness first, and all the other things will be added to our lives. Lord, help us transform our daily walk into prayer and worship to help us become a better version of ourselves and live righteous lives. Father, let Your thoughts be our thoughts, and let Your truth teach us patience and endurance to stand and practice what we have learned. So, will wait patiently on You, and what we hope for and do not see will manifest in our lives 🙏 in Jesus' name Amen

THANK YOU LORD

Father, let the righteousness of Your Son manifest in us as we bear our daily cross. Thank You for forgiving our sins and pardoning us through faith in the one who fulfilled all righteousness on our behalf. Thank You that we can stand on Your Word and witness Jesus' work in us. Thank You for grace to all who believe that Jesus died for our sins, the object of our faith, and the means of obtaining Your promise. Lord, forgive us because we have all missed the mark that You have planned for the human race, but our faith in Christ starts the restoration of Glory, and we are declared righteous in His name. Lord, thank You for purchasing us from the dark pits of this world. Thank You for the blood of Your Son and the purchase of our freedom through His sacrifice 🙏 Thank You for keeping us through the night, and thank You in advance for the hedge of protection around us today. Thank you for continuing to hold our hands as we walk through this Valley of Death in Jesus' name, amen.

EVERYONE CAN'T SPEAK IN TONGUES

Acts 2:4-8 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren't all these who speak Galileans? 8 Then how is it that we hear them in our native language? 

Speaking in tongues was given at Pentecost to communicate with the people Gathering from all the different parts of the Roman Empire, speaking one language they all understood. Speaking in tongues is not a gift we can turn on and off like a light switch.

Father, thank You for the gift of tongues for those with the gift, and let others not be like the Corinthians, speaking jibber-jabber to make themselves look holier than thou. Lord, let Your gift of tongue be used to edify Your kingdom and someone's soul, not for the entertainment of others. In Jesus' name Amen 

LORD UNITE US

I appeal to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that we all agree with one another in what we say and that there's no division among us, so we can be perfectly united in heart and mind.

Lord, whatever we are missing, give a sight that we see so we can move around the obstacles hindering us. Father, replace our misunderstanding with wisdom and the knowledge to diffuse Petty things. Lord, help us understand that those that are last will be first and those that are first will be last in your kingdom, so watch how we treat others. Father, we ask that You forgive us for losing a whole generation of Your children by not teaching them the way to go. By Your power and the power You invested in us through our faith in Your Son Jesus Christ, help us save our children. So, we thank You in advance for the hedge of protection around them and US, Lord. We thank You in advance for keeping them safe in their comings and goings and waking us up this morning. Lord, we thank you for peace, Joy, and happiness and for holding our hands through this Valley of Death. Father, thank You for pulling us out of the pit of Darkness and bringing us into Your marvelous light, and let us not judge those that made the same wrong turns. Instead, let us hold their hands and guide them to You so the transformation begins. Lord, give us the skills and solutions that will help bring us closer together. Please, unite us to ensure all our needs are met through the love and resources of each other. In Jesus' name, amen

BAGGAGE WILL HINDER OUR BLESSINGS

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

God will provide for us Wherever our walk takes us, so stop carrying that bag of worry around with you. The weight from it will keep you from receiving God's gifts.

Lord, purge us from all the baggage we're carrying right now in the name of Jesus as we leave it on the altar in Your hands. Lord, teach us how to walk away from stress, self-destruction, and people that bring us down. Father, help us get rid of all that's not of You. Free us from worldly desires and replace them with the things of the Spirit. So, we can be free and at peace as we walk into Your plan. 

GOD IS THE ONLY THING THAT LAST FOREVER

Our troubles are minor. They last only for a short time. But they are earning for us a glory that will last forever. It is greater than all our troubles.

Nothing last forever: relationships without love and understanding won't last. Our employment will only last for a while, especially with advanced technology. Looks won't last.
We age primarily from our genes and how we take care of ourselves. But mother time always wins. You know, not even hard times last forever. BUT GOD IS FOREVER.

Lord, You are the only thing in our lives forever. Father, I've worked with Alzheimer patients that forgot their names, their family and friends, everything but You. This made me recognize. You are the most vital entity in our lives, and I am so grateful 🙏. Father, this world is uncertain, but You are faithful and just, so prepare us for what's to come. Lord, all that is happening today was written over Two Thousand years ago to help us not make the same mistakes 🙏. So, let our studies reveal Your will for us to guide us around the obstacles ahead of us and anything that keeps us from seeking You. Father, help us eradicate racism through the power of love and understanding. Father, teach us how to help the generation of children we lost and forgive us for not teaching them the way to go. Lord, thank You for keeping us through it all, and thank You in advance for the hedge of protection around us. In Jesus' name Amen 

REVEAL TO US

"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever."  "Commit your action to the Lord, and your plans will succeed."

Father, reveal to us Who You are and set Your people and the World 🌎 right. Lord, take the wheel and do what's best for us because we know not what we do. Thank You, Lord, for the food that nourishes our body and the word that nourishes our souls. Thank You for forgiveness and teaching us how to forgive. Thank You, Lord, for discerning when, what, and how to do Your will in our lives. Lord, by the authority and the power invested in us through Your Son Jesus Christ, we speak health, strength, encouragement, and peace into our lives and the lives of others. Thank You for giving us a reason and a purpose to walk with You. Because the plan You have for us is good, not for destruction, to give us hope and a way of a better future. Lord, let Your light in us lead the lost to You so they, too, can know the truth. In Jesus' name Amen 

HAVE FAITH AND BELIEVE WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE

Jesus said to Thomas you believe because you have seen me, but the blessing comes to those who have not seen and yet still believe.

It's not the size of a war that kills; it's the heart of a person that kills. David killed Goliath with a rock and a slingshot, and Samson killed thousands of Philistines with the Jawbone of a donkey. God will give us victory in an unlikely way, so even though we don't see it happening, God has already planned it that way. So have Faith and believe what your eyes can't see.

Father, teaches that the only thing that counts in this world is our Faith in Christ. Expressing ourselves through love will last in our lives or make us complete. Lord, give us ears that hear Your Word and teach us to pray without ceasing and believe what we pray for, so You will answer our prayers. Lord, when we are under attack teach us how to breathe so our emotions do not override our spiritual thinking. Lord, give us a kind heart that will help Deliver Us from Pride and self-control that will keep us from self-indulgence in worldly desires. Lord, as we walk through this Valley of Death and struggle through the quicksand of our day-to-day lives, we count it all joy because You are with us. Thank You for the wake-up call this morning and the blessings You gave my family and friends. Thank You, Lord, when our worries, fears, and doubts arise we have You to turn to for hope. Thank You, Lord, for helping us get our homes, our lives, and our children in order and helping us teach them Your way. Lord, let Your Spirit come upon us in a mighty way, to give us victory over it all, in Jesus' name Amen 

FAITHFUL AND TRUE

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercy never ends; they are new every day; great is His faithfulness.

All of our lives, You have been faithful to us even when we didn't deserve it. Now we come to You for Your mercy and graciousness over our people. Lord, let Your goodness baptize us in the Holy Spirit that empowers us to pursue righteousness and obedience. Father, help our men, our Kings be fathers, husbands, and leaders, honest, loyal, and trustworthy leaders. Lord, help us teach our young women how to be proud, not loud to be heard or naked to be sexy. Lord, let them see themselves as Queens, mothers, wives, and women with a purpose. Lord, give our people self-determination and teach us how to work collectively to solve our problems. Teach us unity to see each other as an asset, not a threat or enemy. Father, show us how to build our neighborhoods and communities through Cooperative Economics by coming together and using our resources. Father, renew us daily with Your wisdom and the knowledge to implement You in our lives. Lord, reveal an understanding of Your plan for us and the wisdom of how to use it to be victorious. In Jesus' name Amen

ADVOCATE FOR THE LEAST OF US

The poor and needy have been oppressed, persecuted, used, underpaid, and even killed for the satisfaction of others. Who will be their Advocate? We are their Advocate. Jesus advocated for us. He even gave His life, so we could live and support others. The Holy Spirit advocates for us, and we are called to be the vessel for the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Father, teach us to be still and give You room to move in our lives. Bless us with unquestionable faith in Christ as we renew our minds with Your wisdom and knowledge daily. Lord, let us be inward-changed men and women who help those suffering and needing our love. Fill us with Your strength and courage to stand for justice and righteousness; help us advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. Lord, You are inexpressible great, and we praise You for being Who You are in us 🙏 Baptist us with Your mercy, compassion, and proper judgment, so we will walk with Your favor knowing that You are All-powerful as we witness for You and advocate for others. In Jesus' name Amen 

DON'T BE CONTENT BEING FISHERMAN

Matthew 4:18-20 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon (who now is called Peter) and Andrew. They were casting nets into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me, Jesus said," and I'll make you a fisher of men. So, at once, they dropped their nets and followed Him.

 If we think we are doing good now, follow Jesus and walk into greatness. Sometimes where we are in life is not where we suppose to be, just like Simon and Andrew. What we are meant to do in life is serve Christ for the debt He paid. Walking with Jesus is a challenging journey, so we need unwavering faith and a few Disciples to walk with us as Jesus did. To help us stay on the right track to eternal Spiritual life.

Father, give us a strong desire for Your Word, so we will come to know Your Son. Let the Holy Spirit baptize us with wisdom, understanding, and the knowledge of how to implement You in our lives; that helps us become inward-changed men and women. So, we can grow to the levels that You have planned for us, which will bless us with unique gifts, blessings, and opportunities. Lord, teach us how to breathe when the enemy attack, so we can stay sober-minded with eyes that see things from Your perspective, not ours. Lord, teach us how to pray and give us ears to hear Your instructions. Thank You, Lord, for the Spiritual Soldiers You have around me and the Grauding angles that keep the fiery arrows of our enemies from harming us. Thank You for where we are blessed enough to help others and positively impact this Dark Vally. So Lord, right now, we pray for those in great need of You to step out on faith, He will do great things in our lives, and we can count on Him to keep His promise, in Jesus' name. Amen

RENEWED DAILY

Mark 2:21 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, worsening the tear. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins."

Lord, baptize us with the Holy Spirit that gives us a new heart ❤️ So the Word will fill us with wisdom. Let us not be cracked vessels, so the knowledge of You will keep us focused and on the right path. Jehovah Tsidkenu continues ordering our steps around the obstacles ahead of us and helps us walk in righteousness. Lord, we pray for eyes that see to help us recognize Your presence as we are renewed daily. Father, let not the confusion around us or the distraction of our day-to-day struggles overcome us. Instead, let us use our adversity to stand on Your Word and practice what we have learned. So we can become more Christ-like in character and actively pursue righteousness and obedience. Father, help us not worship the world that only offers us temporary unsatisfactory things. Instead, we chose to seek You and live a peaceful, prosperous, and eternal life for our Spirits. In Jesus' name Amen 

TRANSFORMATION

Jeremiah 32:38-40 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.

Lord, give those like Elijah peace, direction, and joy when suicidal thoughts pop into their heads. Lord, bless those that wish they were never born like Job with hope for a better tomorrow. Father, when we are depressed like David or anxious like Moses, help balance our body chemistry that controls our moods and quiet the confusion around us. Father released those falsely incarcerated like Paul and bring forth their accusers. Lord chastise those with the cheating Spirit like Jacob and lead them back to righteousness. Lord, cleanse us from every addiction; let us not get drunk like Noah, but keep us sober-minded. Father, let those who are murderers like Paul be brought to swift justice. In Jesus' name Amen 

BELIEVE IN HIM AND HE WILL GIVE US PEACE

We all face challenges and hard times, whether experiencing financial struggles, personal difficulties, health problems, loneliness, or anxiety. With all the world's confusion and uncertainties, it can be challenging to find peace of mind. When we struggle to find peace in the world, we must study the Word to find peace in ourselves.

The Word will cleanse us from the inside out; it removes hate, drunkenness, addiction, confusion, loneliness, misunderstanding, anxiety, depression, and unforgiveness and replaces them with His love and peace.

Lord, thank You for an authentic personal relationship with You. Thank You for the infused confidence and courage we develop as we study Your Word. Thank You, Prince, of Peace, for coming to dwell in our hearts and work through our Brokenness and failures. Jehovah Shalom, "The Lord of Peace," let us experience peace by confronting sin and believing Christ is our Savior. Thank You for taking us out of a spiritual death and restoring us to our heavenly Father, who gives us wisdom, understanding, and peace. In Jesus' name Amen 

Celebration of Life: Deacon Lawrence James Dixon