Looking Over the Promised Land

A year ago our church started on a journey. We, like the children of Israel, marched out of a place of bondage on our way to the promised land. The Red Sea, of what do we do to change our circumstance parted and we crossed over into new direction. Then as the attack of the same old depression and spiritual and mental bondage came the sea closed around them.

We then found ourselves in a dry barren place looking for the promised land. Some began to question, "What are we doing here, weren't we better off where we were?" So in May as we stood on the edge of the River Jordan we could see the promised land. We even sent in spies to check out the land. The reports were mixed and not all could see the victory that could be ours. So we wondered back into the dry place some still holding to and fighting for the taste of the promise we had been given. These have kept that promise alive.

We now stand at the edge of the river bordering the promised land once again. We have an opportunity to step into the river and cross over and watch as God through the Holy Spirit sends the victory to this house once again. Our promise land of the day comes from Joel chapter 2 and Acts chapter 2. "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will poor out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will poor out My Spirit in those days."

So let me as the spies of old stand and say we are able to take this land so let us go forth. You see as for me and my house, we are not returning to the wilderness to wonder aimlessly, but with God's help we will find our place in the promise land and take hold to it.

"Being Transformed by the Spirit," transformation conference Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there. Please come and see what God has in store for you and for our church.

Blessing to you and yours

Rev. Paul Carrell

Let it rain

I am reading a book as a part of churches on going staff development program. The book is Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson. In a section that speaks of challenging assumptions he tells a story of how his son Parker is asking all kinds of questions. As part of the process he decides to show his son that there are questions with no easy answers. So he ask this question, "Parker, why does it rain?" Without a moments hesitation, his son lowers his voice to a let-me-tell-you-the-way-the-world-works tone and replied, "Because everything is thirsty."

"BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS THIRSTY." What a concept, God sends the rain because everything is thirsty. In verse 23 of Joel chapter 2 God promises to send the former rain and the later rain as well. Then in verse 28 He gives the promise of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. The later rain on a thirsty church.
In Acts chapter 2 we see the fulfillment of this prophecy or at least the beginnings of it. In verse 39 Peter declares, "For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord shall call." So if we have been called out of our sins we are able to have part in the promise of the infilling of power through the Holy Spirit. This is not for the privileged few but to all who are thirsty.

We want the spirit to move and to fill our hearts and lives and also our church so I guess we have to ask ourselves,"How thirsty are we?" If the rain falls because everything is thirsty then I pray we become so thirsty that the rain can't help but fall.

Lord we pray send the fresh rain of your Spirit for we are thirsty for you.

Another life lesson

Yesterday once again I was given a reminder of just how blessed we really are, and how little we say thank you for it. You see I went with the staff and a few of the young people from our church out to some of the migrant workers camps to distribute food and clothing. It did not take but just a couple of minutes to see just how blessed I am. You see I have good clothes. I have a job. I don't have to sit around and hope that someone comes by and notices that I don't have any food. God continually provides for my needs and even sometimes gives me what I want even though I may not desire it. So you see I am blessed.

The Bible says in all things give thanks and Paul stated in one of his writings that he had learned to be content in whatever state he was in. Boy, if we ever learn those lessons completely we would be so much better at ministering to others in their time of need. You see when we're not always looking at whatever small problems we may have, then we can see the huge troubles others may be experiencing. This is when we can be the effective church we are called to be.

I am blessed and may I never forget that is true!

Paul Carrell

The WHY of the Gospel

One of the first questions that we all seem to ask when it seems that life has taken a turn is why. Why did this happen? Why did I have to go through that? Or maybe even, why am I so blessed? I believe that God is more than willing to answer our questions, even the WHYs.

W Whosoever- The Gospel is for who ever will accept it. There are no limitations. There are no restrictions other than the fact that we have to be willing to accept and follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior. He must be our Lord over our lives as well as the Savior of our soul from hell.

H How was the gospel made possible. God the Father sent His one and only Son to earth to live sinless, suffer and die for our sins. He then rose from the grave and through His resurrection we now have the hope of eternal life. But not just the hope of eternal life but that of an abundant life here in this life. This means we don't have to live under the circumstance, but we can live on top of our situation. It may be hard and even seem impossible but Jesus paid the dept that we owed so that there is now freedom to live in Christ spirit.

Y Why, to barrow a line from Mr. Disney, "Because He loves you." That may not be a direct quote but it shows us just what He meant, "For God so loved the world" that just says it all. God loved us so much that He had set up a way of escape even before we needed to be saved. The door was opened. The way was paved and the toll was paid. We have only to accept this gift and call him Lord.

If you haven't accepted this great gift my only question to you is WHY?

Leaders Instrutions

As Leaders

3 Questions We Have to Ask Ourselves When We Come into Church

1. What must I do to meet with God?

1) Do I need to get something right

a) with God?

b) with my brothers and sisters?

2) Am I ready to worship?

3)Am I ready to learn?

4) Am I ready to listen to God

a) through the Spirit?

b) through the pastor?

2. What must I do to create an atmosphere that the Holy Spirit can minister through?

1) Am I personally prayed up?

2) Am I leading in worship in a manner that other can fallow?

3)Have I set a tone (sound) in my life that welcomes the Holy Spirit?

4) Am I hearing the sound from Heaven or am I allowing other sound to drowned it out?

3. What must I do to allow others to enter into the presence of God, and meet with Him there?

1)Am I willing to do what ever God places on my heart?

a) No matter how it looks

b) No matter what others say

c) No matter how strange it may seem

2) Am I ready to step out of my comfort zone in order to lead others in worship?

3) Do I believe that God wants to move by His Spirit on all of our people?

a) What will I do to prove it?

Things We Can't Do if We Want to See the Spirit of Christ in Our Midst

We can't spend time worrying about all of the other stuff that is going on around us. We have to prepare for the move of the Spirit. If we spend our time preparing for the Spirit's move we won't have time to worry.

Be Prepared to Receive and to Minister Must Be Our Number One Goal!

Step Out Don't Look Back and See What God Will Do!

SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH!!!!!!

A Fresh Start

Well it has been a while since I sat here to tryand give you a glimps of my world, so I have several things to share. The first is quite possibly the most mind blowing of all for me. You see a week ago Pastor Judy and I went to be commissioned as licensed ministers. This was a part of my life that I believed was dead and gone forever. I so wanted to believe there were still opportuities out there but I could not see them for all the under brush that had grown up around them. They were hidden away like ancient castles in the forest. Thanks to the encouragement and opportunities that my Pastors have given me I have begun to see the great things these hidden castles of hope can become.

I also need to say thank you to two groups of people who made this occation very special to me. The first is the Bishops and leadership of Faith Christian Fellowship International. They set us apart in a service that rivals any I have ever seen. Then to my church, New Beginnings, they then call us out on Sunday and the church commissioned us as well

Who Needs Who?

Once again just about the time I am ready to just throw in the towel and give up, God comes along and shows me someone else who has things so much worse than I. He then reminds me that these are exactly the ones that we are to be helping in life.

You see I find myself reading even things that I have written in the past and then asking "How can I be so selfish and call myself a christian?" I find myself getting so tied up in my own problems and situations that I can't see the people all around me. We get ourselves so bound by our own self pity that we can never even begin to minister to those in need around us.

I have been set in a rather unique situation, I am trying to minister to others while others are ministering to me. I say that is unique but if we look at it closely that is exactly where each and every one of us are. We all have needs that God uses someone else to help fill while we in turn are being used to meet someone elses' need. This is how Jesus taught us to minister. We give of ourselves as Christ gives to us. I may have a particular need but I can minister to your spiritual need while God uses someone or something else to minister to mine. We all have an effect on one another.

The statement that " No man is an island." is so true especially in the church. we can't be the one who says I don't have anything to give. Everyone has something. It might not all be the same but we all have something to contribute. We also can't be the one that in spite of their need refuses help. We can no longer hide in the closet with our troubles and say no one cares. Many people care but they have to know the need before they can respond.

So here is what I would ask of each of you. First of all if you have a need don't hesitate to let us know so that we can find ways to assist you. Secondly when you are approached with a need remember that God is meeting your needs and will continue to do so. Therefore we should assist our brothers and sisters as we go through this journey of life in any way that we can.

Isaiah 1 16-20
"Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come let us reason together." says the Lord, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword." for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Be blessed
Paul