Christians Celebrate Thanksgiving Every Day!

1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Trinity, we have so much to be thankful for! If we were to attempt to list all the things, we are thankful for, it would take a lifetime to complete. This verse in 1 Thessalonians is such a great reminder that no matter the circumstances of life here on earth, the Christian can still give thanks to God for who He is.  Thankfulness must be a principal of our lifestyle, not attached to the nature of human emotion.

Even on my worst day, I still have Jesus!

Even in the darkest of midnights, I still have access to my heavenly Father!

Even when I can’t find the words to describe what I feel, I can still look towards heaven and say, “Lord, Thank You!”

This is evidence of your faith, and it is God’s desire that in everything, every day, every time, we give Him thanks.  Don’t let one day of the year define your thankfulness; make it part of your lifestyle.  I would like to challenge you to have a conversation with your family or friends this week about what you are thankful for, and in doing so, point back to the fact that God has been so good.

Miranda and I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

PASTOR WINSTON PARRISH

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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS From The Voice of the Martyrs

Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand willingly suffered arrest, imprisonment, and torture at the hands of first the Nazis and then the Communists who invaded their homeland. Their only “crime” was to boldly share the love and truth of Christ. They chose to give up and to lose comfort and safety in this world in order to find a life that counted for eternity.

Despite imprisonment and other persecution, Sabina and Richard faithfully advance the gospel in Romania, abandoning selfish pursuits and obediently surrendering daily to Christ

We pray for our Christian brothers and sisters who have chosen to walk this path in obedience to Christ. They, like Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand and others in scripture and throughout church history, are examples for us.

Pray for persecuted Christians, that…

…as they grow in faith, their families and communities will notice the difference Jesus makes in their lives, creating an opportunity to share Christ boldly.

…as they experience persecution, they will endure it for the sake of Christ.

…as they experience new life In Christ, they will understand and rely on the power of God’s presence.

May we also choose to pay any price necessary in obedience to Christ. 

PASTOR WINSTON PARRISH

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HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

Thursday, November 11 is Veterans Day in the United States, a day set aside to honor those who sacrifice for our freedoms. This holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country’s service and was originally called Armistice Day. It fell on November 11, the same day as the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to “Veterans Day” in order to account for all veterans in all wars.

We celebrate and honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good of our country.

There is much about the protective nature of the American Solider that reminds us of the nature of our Lord to protect His own:

2 Samuel 22:2-4

2 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Today, we pause to say thank you to every Veteran who has answered the call to protect the liberty and freedom that was given to us as a nation by a Holy God. We thank you for your service and we commit to train and educate the future generations to love God and to respect the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform that have served us all!  May God Bless you and Happy Veterans Day!

Pastor Winston Parrish

 

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Trouble staying consistent in Bible reading?

Do you ever struggle with remaining consistent with a routine that includes time in God’s Word, every day?  You are not alone!  A survey from 2021 found that only 11 percent of Americans read the Bible daily.  Trends in reading habits over four years showed that the majority of Americans never read the Bible.  The fact is, reading your Bible is not going to be the “norm.”  For you to take time to read your Bible every day goes against the grain of culture and society, but it’s something you must do.  Your Bible reading and study is vital to your spiritual health and growth.  At times when something seems out of sorts or off-balance in my life, I ask myself, “How has my Bible reading been the past few days?”  More often than not, I’ll find that I missed a morning in God’s Word or that I was rushed and didn’t take time to read or    meditate on what I read, or that I cut my prayer time out.       

I have learned that for me to truly enjoy my day I must find time with my Lord!  If you’re having trouble, let this be an encouragement to keep pushing yourself to make it happen. The sensation that time with God is a chore is nothing more than your flesh fighting back. Stay encouraged and stay in the Word!

1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

 Pastor Winston Parrish 

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Rockets, stones, fires, missiles, bombs and death. All of these words have saturated the news for the past week. It’s no secret that the current conflict in Israel is not new. There has been contention and struggle in the Holy City for thousands of years. Jerusalem is the pinnacle of sacredness for Christians and Jews, it is also the third most revered place for Muslims. This entire region is a melting pot of people and problems. For decades US Presidents have tried to broker deals, accords and talks between both sides of the conflict. Many times, even as recently as under President Trump, there seemed to be hope of major fighting and major escalation becoming a thing of the 90’s and early 2000’s. We now see that isn’t so. As of the time of writing this, we are on the brink of a third intifada, or uprising. 

An armed conflict between Arab and Jew, Palestinian and Israeli seems inevitable. It’s a lot to process. The death of Israeli citizens, the unnecessary death of Palestinian children who are left nearby terrorist installations and rocket sites intentionally by Hamas leadership, is maddening and emotionally overwhelming. Israel has the right to live in a safe and secure State and she should defend herself with every tool at her disposal. We must make a concerted effort to pray for peace in Israel and that the loss of life will come to an end, now.

Since 1951 my family has stood with the Jew. God’s chosen people. In the very first book of the Bible, Genesis, It’s clearly laid out for the believer to understand just where God stands on the issue. Christians loving the Jewish people, the Hebrew children, isn’t a political stand. It’s a Biblical stand! The covenant that God made with Abraham wasn’t nullified by the work of Christ, on the contrary, it substantiated the promise that God made to His chosen people! This is an incredible time to be alive! The “fast forward button” is turned on and the finality of Christ return is imminent in the heart of the believer. The conflict in Israel is nothing more than proof that your Bible is real, relevant and that the reward of eternal life in Jesus is our only hope! Keep your heads up and your eyes on the eastern sky! He is coming again! 

 Pastor Winston Parrish

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