Jesus says "Me too!"

Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

I remember the first time I heard this verse. It was at men's Bible study. I was totally blown away because I knew then that God does understand what we are going through because He experienced it personally. In Isaiah 53 it says that the Messiah would be  a man of sorrows who is well acquainted with grief. Jesus knows how it feels when a loved one dies, He know how it is to be tempted to get mad at somebody, etc. but yet He did not sin. Hallelujah because that is the God we worship. Other gods have never had a real human experience. We serve the One true Living God. Those imposters cannot sympathize with us and they don't care about us either. Do you know who else can sympathize with you? Me and other believers can too. Look, everybody has problems. The thing about it is how you handle it. You can look at the storm, stress and worry. But will all that stressing and worrying add a day to your life? Keep your focus on Jesus! "How? You don't understand!" By praying, worshiping and reading the Bible. Man shall not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. The house of the Lord is a house of prayer and you should want to dwell in it forever. God is worthy of worship even in the mist of the raging storm. Remember is God is with you in the boat and He has the power to calm the storm. Be encouraged my brethren! 

So you say you struggle with anger? Me too. The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. You said a cuss word after smashing your finger? Me too. Let no corrupt word proceed from your mouth but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers. Sometimes you don't share your faith when you have a chance? Me too. How can anybody call on the name of the Lord if there isn't anybody to preach to them? Someone in the church offended you? Me too. Jesus said to love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. The God we believe in is the God of ALL comfort and He comforts us in our all our troubles so that we can comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  What is amazing also is that all we have to do is pray and repent from the sin we committed. Don't be like Adam and Eve and try to cover up your sin. If we confess our sins He is just and faithful to forgive us. our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When you pray, ask for the grace, the strength and power to do the things we know will please the Lord and keep us on the narrow road. 

We have an advocate with the Father and that is Jesus the righteous who intercedes for us.He is forever the High Priest and the Faithful Witness. Praise the Lord! The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and iniquity. If you are not struggling against sin something isn't right. But if you hate your sin and you are battling with it that is a good indication that God is working in you. Its called fighting the good fight of faith. You are not conforming to the ways of this world and you are being transformed by the renewing of your mind so you can prove what is good and the perfect will of God. 

Rare pearls

Hey everybody! I apologize that I haven't written in a while. So much has been going on that I wasn't sure what to write about. I do have some topics that have been sitting my draft folder for a while. So I will probably get to work on those and post them up. They should be very good, Lord willing.

First of all I want to update about my daughter Jocelyn. The doctors could not figure out what was wrong with her or what the source of the bleeding in her intestines were. I believe the Lord healed Jocelyn! Praise the Lord! I want to thank God for His mercy and grace. Also, I want to thank all the people who prayed for Jocelyn and my family. My guess is that there must have been over 1,000 people praying for her healing.Charles Spurgeon said, “They who dive in the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls.” I tell you what, I learned that during the time Jocelyn was in the ICU. I would like to tell you how great my faith was during this time. The first night was tough. I felt helpless. Me and my wife got into a disagreement that night. As I stepped away from her to collect my composure, I saw a sign on the wall that said " We are here because of you". It made me think that maybe this was all happening because the Lord wanted to show us something. I thank God for my wife for knowing what to do and having such a good bed side manor. Which is something I lacked. She spent a lot of her childhood in the hospital because of her liver transplant. I hardly ever went to the doctor and my mom used home remedies. We didn't get much sleep. Jocelyn was being x rayed, poked and and slept a lot. My son Santino stayed with my mother in law (Thanks Kat!). I  remembered what I had always been told and what I've told others to do in hard times, start praying, reading the word and praise Him in the storm. I found my comfort in the Psalms. This one in particular stood out the most Psalm 119:50 - This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has given me life. In regards to prayer, I haven't prayed that fervently in a long time. When I would be home alone, I'd sit on my couch, put on some worship music and just praise Him. It's not easy but because of it, I was able to see the next day. I would undrown myself. I'd cry out to the Lord and I would weep. But He comforted me and got me through. I remember one night Erin picked me up and we were on our way to the hospital because Jocelyn was having a procedure done. We started to pray. Erin asked me to lead and together we prayed. The Holy Spirit began to bring things to my  remembrance and I prayed them. We were in tears but at the same time comforted. We had surrendered everything to Him because we couldn't do anything. Oh thank you Lord for your mercy endures forever! The 6 days we spent at the hospital increased me and my wife's faith. The Lord took care of us. I knew that my baby girl would leave the hospital and she did, healed.Please keep praying for Jocelyn because she still struggles with issues with her tummy.

I am currently out of a job. I quit my job for several reasons. FOlks keep asking me why but I believe that its a private matter. Just know that I didn't do it just because I felt like it and was being foolish. But the one that matters is that the season at my former work place is over and the Lord has an other place He wants/needs me at. I had been praying for about 3 or 4 months about my job. There were times I wanted to quit right on the spot but I didn't. It wasn't time. When. I quit, I had peace about it and I felt a burden lifted off of me. It was also a chance as I left, to spread the gospel. I handed out Bibles and tracts. I also sent out an email to all my colleagues on my team saying my good bye and also sharing my testimony and how to be saved. Please pray for my former colleagues at Logisticare. I know that God knows that I need a job. He knows what we need. In the past the Lord has shown me and my family that He is our provider and protector. Blessings would always appear right on time. For example, I went to evening church service and I went to be prayed for and there just so happens to be man who works for the Goodwill career services. There are absolutely NO coincidences when it comes to God. Also, one of my beloved brothers called me and informed me that his Vietnam veterans group is helping veterans get jobs. Praise the Lord! Through all of this I am also rediscovering the love of God and He is showing that He is still there for me.Thank God that even though feelings are real, they are not the truth. The word of God is the only truth! The enemy always tried to tell me "How could God ever love anyone like you?" I don't know but I know that He does. His Son died in my place. At the cross was the greatest expression of love in all history and ever will be. Our God died for us so that we could be with Him. That's how much God loves me and that's how much God loves you. Could you please pray keep me in your prayers? Thanks.

As far as ministry goes, well that has been slowly growing. God is doing His part as I do mine. He is the making the harvest grow. There are days when I begin to doubt that if what I am doing is having any kind of of effect and bringing God glory. My hope is that even though I may not know on this side of heaven what the effect the work had ordained me to do will have, I know one day I will. I pray that it stands the trail by fire and it brings God glory. I had time to complete the facebook page for this blog. the address is www.facebook.com/burningheart4jesus . There is also a page on Twitter, Instagram and Google Plus. I have a wedding scheduled on April 30th that I am officiating. Also, I finally got a chance to go distribute Bibles with the Gideons. We went to Chandler - Gilbert Community College and a total of 642 Bibles were passed out in two days. While I am at it, I want to mention there is a "DONATE" button to the right of your screen. With your support and help the word of God can go out. I'll go do the foot work and help a brother out.

Anyways, I love you all and I will be praying for you all. Please keep this ministry in your prayers.