Praying is the Key

Photo from: © Creativestock |Stock Free Images & Dreamstimes Stock Photos

By Janice S Ramkissoon

Jeff Banks and the revival choir sings: "Prayer is the key, faith unlocks the door" and as I sit here listening to Yolanda Adams, singing: "I got to pray, got to trust, got to believe" I'm reminded of the same. As I'm encouraged by these saints, I think of Paul's address to the saints in Colosse. He urges them to "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2).

John 3:16 (New International Version)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Jesus, Our Redeemer!

Watch this talented artist portray what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Then, thank God for Jesus and this young man who is furthering the Gospel through his painting of Jesus.

David Garibaldi: Jesus Painting from Thriving Churches on Vimeo.

HE IS RISEN!

John 20 (New King James Version)

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 

³ Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. ⁴ So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. ⁵ And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.

The Easter Lily

By Irvin Rozier

On December 19, 2003, I was missing my parents, who had gone on to be with Jesus.My Dad, Rev. A.J. Rozier, died on December 22, 1966. He was 40 years old and we buried him Christmas day, 1966. My mother, Mary, died on January 7, 2001. She was 71.

I woke up that cold December morning and drove to the family cemetery where my parents are buried. I arrived there, and sat in my warm truck as I recalled precious memories of Daddy and Mama. After several minutes. I opened the door of my truck, got out, and slowly walked the short distance to my parents' graves. As I did, I pulled the collar of my jacket tightly around my neck. We had already had several days of freezing weather and it was cold and windy that morning. I approached my Daddy's grave, saw something, and stared with disbelief. There, growing beside the grave, was one Easter Lily...IN FULL BLOOM. As tears filled my eyes, the presence of the Lord was strong as He gently reminded me through this flower, that He still lives. And because He lives, my parents live also, and I will see them again one day.

God, What's Next?

Pastors Steve and Pattie Reeves take the
carpet as they share their exciting
journey of faith.

By Pastors Steve and Pattie Reeves

When we reflect back on our humble beginnings, we think of Ruth and Naomi and what they had to endure to reach their destiny.

There have been times in our married lives when we thought that we had it all together.  We had all the pieces in place, then, it was all gone.  Things changed, people changed with the changes, and emptiness, loneliness and grief became our companions.  We found ourselves in a foreign, unfamiliar place and holding on to what little faith we had. 

Life was good before the change and this place was not comfortable to us.  We knew who we were in Christ. We knew we were gifted, talented and not afraid of taking risk.  We often quoted Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  We had plans, big dreams and knew for certain we would reach them.  We did everything above board, we tithed, gave offerings, helped the poor and needy and served in the church and community.  We were positioned no matter what, we did not question God. We believed in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  Because we held on, it happened and it changed our lives, our goals and our future for the better. 

Created to be Creative

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).


God created the heavens and earth and created man in His own image, and He gave man dominion over all living things. Let's think about this for a moment. We are created in God's image, so we are created to be creative. God delights in our success and creativity. He wants us to use and develop our creative abilities and do well. 

To do well is to develop wealth from the creative abilities He has given us, for the Bible says, "It is He that giveth us power to get wealth" (Deuteronomy 8:18). So, take the talents that God has given you and develop them wisely. 

Pastors Steve and Pattie Reeves, the owners of Covenant Home Care, took their talents and gifts and developed a "Ministry of Helps," which in the secular is called, "Home Care." They send staff into the homes of the elderly and the sick and administer and provide nursing, physical therapy and home health aide services. They can even pray with those who request it. But what is so amazing is the root word of administer is minister. Now, that's a "God thing"--they get paid to minister!

Their journey of faith allows them to live an abundant life; not just for themselves, but they have enough to bless others!