Posted on Jul 4, 2022 by Pastor Arlene in Family in the Bible, Love in the Bible, Prayers, Reading the Bible, Sermons | Tags: church
I had a dream last night. I dreamed that the words in which I had spoken to someone, actually killed them. I stood motionlessly in that dream watching the fallen dead body being carried away. I awoke feeling anxious, sorrowfully and introspectively searching my own heart for any possible hidden anger over past or current hurts. I got out of bed, found a quiet place, then knelt quietly on the floor surrendering my heart to God anew. My prayer was simple: Cleanse me Oh God, from the inside out… please reveal all things that I’ve hidden in my heart… I want to please you. I stayed awake for some time, then returned to bed.. this time hugging my husband tighter. The dream immediately brought to my reminder the psalm that King David wrote in chapter 19:14, he said: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (KJV)” David had penned these words after reflecting upon God’s majesty seen in the creation. He writes after turning his attention to God’s law, and praises Him for such perfection. With understanding and praise of both, His creation and law, he surrenders himself – all of himself- to the Creator of all. He desires to hide nothing; for nothing can be hidden. Simplistically, he was asking God to forgive his hidden thoughts and heart meditations .. anything and everything within him… that would be displeasing to our Creator. I’m thankful for the dream that I had. It jolted me BIG TIME to ever be so cognizant of the words that I speak and to be aware of the meditations of my heart; for I know that I at times can be careless. However, today I stand on guard. You see, the truth of the matter is that – CRUEL /UNTRUTHFUL/ MALICIOUS WORDS DON’T JUST HURT, THEY KILL! My continuous prayer today since that dream has been: “May my words, deeds and actions refresh many.” I pray that this will be your prayer too.
Posted on Jun 18, 2022 by Pastor Arlene in Family in the Bible, Love in the Bible, Prayers, Reading the Bible, Sermons | Tags: god, religion
As a Pastor, I am called to be His spiritual supervisor “so to speak.” In other words, I am entrusted with the hearts of others to nurture, encourage, equip, correct, rebuke to love with His Truth, and to lead them into the Truth of who He is; then, I am to empower them to do the same for someone else. I am not a dictator, sin sniffer nor owner of my gift(s) or any position that He has given me. I am a spiritual steward. Therefore I must be careful not to lord my position over anyone as if they were to lift me higher. I am not to be as the world’s “celebrity.” NO, His great love is equally given to me as it is to you; our calling may just be different. The Floor Church is not my church, it is His. Empowering Women, WorshipFest- Hawaii or any other ministries that I’ve been privileged to lead are not my ministries; they too are my Master’s; I am simply a steward of. Therefore, it is not my responsibility to grow His church – to change a person’s life – to be fruitful in numbers or abundant resources, it is my Master’s responsibility – the One who has called me. I am a steward; He will grant all increase and bring forth the fruit of my labor. I am simply called to do and to be obedient to what He tells me to do always; the results of what I do are His; for His glory and fame always – never mine. I take delight in this, for as a steward, there is not pressure for me to produce or to perform; I can rest – Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) says: 28 “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly i heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burdent is light.” As a steward, I simply TRUST & OBEY; period. My prayer today is that all those called by God and gifted with a certain talent, would shift the paradigm from ownership to stewards. That we would break down the wall that separates us as the Body of Christ or from those who have less and help each other out. I pray that we would knock over the pedal stool that attempts to lift us higher, and simply do the works of ministry by loving those around us; encouraging, equipping and empowering others to do likewise. That we would allow the One who has called us to do what only He can do in us and through us. When we surrender to the calling of stewardship, He will use our lives to impact the communities around us with His gospel preached and seen – to bring glory to His name. This is the only thing that should really matter-right?
Posted on Jun 11, 2022 by Pastor Arlene in Family in the Bible, Love in the Bible, Prayers, Reading the Bible, Sermons | Tags: chirstian, god
Most often, when we use the term “wait,” it’s in the context of having to surrender our time or space to some unforeseen event or circumstance. For instance, having to wait at the doctor’s office or in the grocery store line. Perhaps you may often have to wait for your husband, wife, or child to get dressed. Waiting is rarely a planned event, it just happens! When I was growing up, myself and my friends often said “WEIGHT” broke the wagon down whenever we were frustrated and had to WAIT for something. This simply meant that someone or something was taking way too long! Now as an adult, in a fast-moving, non-waiting society, I believe in a sense that waiting is good, especially if it’s waiting on God! I’ve learned that WAITING ON GOD brings healing to our mind and soul. Therefore, waiting should be deliberate, purposeful, and planned whenever we desire to know Him and His will for us! For it is in our waiting; then we are strengthened! Isaiah 40:31 reminds us: “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” So what are you waiting for? START WAITING TODAY!
