Happy New Year: The Christian Challenge

Welcome to 2012 Saints! 

Truly we are blessed to have made it thus far.  This is a new season for many and I pray that this year will bring you much peace.  So many people are on edge and living without much peace.  Always worried about something: the economy, jobs, food, shelter, able to meet monthly obligations, church, family, etc, etc, etc.  Well, this year, seek to live in as much peace as possible.  In the past, I have come to know peace very well -- especially on THIS side of heaven.   This new year, I will purposely seek out peace in my life and help others do the same. 

I am so excited about 2012 for many reasons but one of the main reasons [for me] is KNOWING that the God of ALL creation  has a MASTER plan for me!!!  It's time for me to step up my game and become a key player in God's Kingdom.  My question for you is: will you become a key player for Christ or will you continue to warm the bench?  Will you practice Christianity daily or throw caution to the wind, chasing after the finite worldly things?  Do you want to be a headliner for Christ or remain an unknown bench-warmer for the enemy?

When I played the competitive game of basketball, I was a starter and key player.  As a Freshman, and being elected to the Varsity Team, I faced many, many challenges from the "upper class" team players but I didn't let that stop me from achieving my goals.  I started out on the bench but eventually became a starter.  By the time I reached my Sophomore year of high school, I became a headliner.  I practiced as often as I was breathing; totally dedicated a portion of my life to being the BEST team player that I could be! I was very skilled in my abilities.  By the time I reached my Senior year, I earned my rank as one of the 4th leading scorers in my district.  My position in rank was due to an injury that had me out of the game for about 4 weeks.  Who knows, I could have possibly been ranked as #1; either way, I was still ahead of most who never missed a game...

Why was I so successful at the game?  Because I put in the WORK and practiced all the time!  When I wasn't sleeping, eating and studying, I was practicing on perfecting my skills.  Back then, I was dedicated to a physical game but now I am dedicated to a spiritual game called Christianity.  If you play the game righteously, you'll win in Christ.

Are you suited and ready to take the Christian challenge in 2012?

Now is the time to suit up (Ephesians 6:10-18), practice (Romans 12:13), do well (Titus 3:14) and get ready to WIN!!! (1 Corinthians 9:24)  I'll meet you on the practice court @ church!  Whose got next???

Be blessed in 2012!

- Pastor D

'Tis The Season

Christmas time is here!  The season for giving, sharing, caring, cooking and eating -- too much at times.  It's a time where family and close friends share gifts of love and heart-felt fellowship.  I pray that we all remember the reason for the season -- that reason is because we celebrate Jesus Christ our Lord.  Our Lord came to save us from eternal sin and death and I am grateful to God for coming down to save ME!

Christmas time is also a time to reflect on our lives and the type of relationship we truly have with the One we celebrate.  Is our relationship intimate?  Do we pray to our God in Jesus' name? Do we reflect on the significance of His birth or is it just another children's story?

As we move into the season of giving and before we go out and spend enormous amounts of money, only to find ourselves counterfeiting the real reason for the season, let us remember to celebrate the true meaning of Christ-mas then our gift giving will have much more significance. 

So, be of good cheer during this season of celebrating Jesus the Christ -- not because of the material gifts but due to the Gift of eternal life.

Merry Christmas to all and may God bless you according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!

- Pastor Deckard

Have You Enjoyed Your Vitamin F?

Why do I have a variety of friends who are all so different in character? How can I get along with them all? I think that [each] one helps to bring out a "different" part of my character.

• With all of them I am polite.
• I joke with some of them.
• I sit down and talk about serious matters with a few of them.
• With another I laugh waaay too much until my stomach hurts!
• To another, I listen to problems.
• Then I seek wise counsel from another.

My friends are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When completed, they form a treasure box. A treasure of friends!

They are my friends who understand me (for the most part); who support me through good days and bad days. We pray together and for each other.

Real Age doctors tell us that friends are good for our health. Dr. Oz calls them Vitamin F (for Friends) and counts the benefits of friends as essential to our well being.

Research shows that people [in strong social circles] have less risk of depression and terminal strokes. If you enjoy Vitamin F constantly, you can be up to 30 years younger than your real age.

The warmth of friendship stops stress and even in your most intense moments it decreases the chance of a cardiac arrest or stroke by 50%. Wow!

I'm so happy that I have a stock of Vitamin F!

We should value our “real friends” and keep in touch with them. We should try to see the funny side of things and laugh together, pray for each other, and encourage one another in the tough moments.

Thanks for being my Vitamin F!!!

Knife

The blade is fierce

It will cut deep

While you are awake

Or even in your sleep

It loves to shed blood

It desires to kill

Just the very thought of it

Can give you a chill

But a knife can be more

Than just a point

A serrated edge

Or a sharpened joint

It can be your tongue

Which cuts like a sword

It can even make

Your greatest enemies ward

But have caution using it

Because knives split in two

And even the most dependable knife

Can slip and cut you

by Joshua F. Deckard

© All Rights Reserved.

Just When You Thought You Knew

"Getting to know people can be a wonderful thing; knowing them can be disappointing" 

Why am I sharing this statement with you this morning?  Because I want you to be warned.  Look out for wolves in sheep's clothing. (Matthew 7:15) 

The people we encounter in our lives seem to mean well.  You enjoy their company.  Discuss long-term partnerships and friendships.  Laughter is in the atmosphere.  Joy seems to be all around you until...the real YOU unfolds.  Sometimes NOT knowing a person helps you like them a little better but knowing them forces you to love them as Jesus loved us.  No one is perfect of course but -- we can strive for excellence and achieve it with the right people in our corner because -- no one becomes successful on their own....

On this side of heaven, I have come to discover many things.  I have been known to embrace reality a bit to closely for most people I've encountered.  But, that's what keeps me grounded and rooted in the Lord -- reality.  The sad part about my reality is: some view me as too difficult to understand.  I have been Used for my gifts and ideas.  Pimped for prayers.  Misused for my anointing...and the list goes on...

Now I truly have a more profound understanding of how Jesus must have felt...WOW!  You want my crown but you don't want to carry my cross...
In this world, there are 3 types of creatures: (1) people who want you to succeed (2) others that do not want you to succeed, and (3) those who do not care one way or the other, as long as THEY are succeeding.  I find this to be very disheartening because we should care enough about another person to WANT them to do well.  Unfortunately, in this day and age and in this harsh reality, this is NOT the case.  It's like -- people speak ill of you, hoping that you fall on your face so that they can laugh and feel superior and say 'I told you so'...'see, they are just like the rest of THEM'...who ever THEY are???

Here's my challenge for you today: Just think -- every time you meet a person on the road to success and encouraged them to keep up the good work, when it's your turn to succeed, you too can receive encouragement to remain successful from another.  Pray that someone is blessed then, YOU just might get a Double portion of the blessing you prayered for someone else...MY -- what a concept!!!

Here lately, it seems as though everyone is fighting for another person's failure instead of their success.  I say, find an unselfish way to celebrate someone else's success then maybe you'll be inspired to succeed and excel as well.  Just when you thought you knew a person...you come to discover -- you really don't know someone until they die.  Then all the "dirt" is revealed.  Remain an open book so no one can speak ill of you after you expire.  Live the life you preach about and stop blowing smoke!

Live your dash (-) in a way that people will smile when they think of you or feel good because of your encouragement or remember how they started that business with your encouragement...

It is very important to get to know the people in your life then you can determine if you want them to remain a part of your sphere.  This practice is not to slight anyone or make them feel less than but, if they are not helping you to grow then --- you don't need them in your life.

Examine this point of view very carefully -- I do all the time: Assess your assets!  Know the people in your corner.  Examine their real motives.  Get to know them [well enough] before you engage in a convenant relationship or a business venture.  Really understand WHO they are and not who you WANT them to be.  Who knows, the people in your circle of influence can either become a part of your success or lead you to failure.  Something to ponder...

Be blessed saints and have a wonderful day in Him!

- Pastor D

Happy Birthday October Babies!

To everyone celebrating a birthday this month:

May all of your wishes come true and that you will be a blessing to someone who may be blue.  Love for real then you will get real love.  Stay true to your convictions and never let ANYONE change your mind but God.  Always give your total self to Him and He will make you His priority.

Be of GOOD cheer because God is near!

Love,
Your Fella October Baby

Diversity

"Promoting diversity is not the same as practicing it"

I have discovered that one of the best methods in testing diversity in your circle, is to have a different view from the majority.  Once your view is skewed as a non-conformist, then ad-versity rears its ugly head and di-versity goes right out of the window. 

Hmmm...something to think about when you are in mixed company...

Relationships: Make Them Last Forever...

How DO we handle the stress of dealing with a spouse/partner and our families? What DOES it take to strengthen the relationships? How do we make our relationships last forever? Well, let's define forever: For everlasting time; eternally.

Now, since none of us live forever, how about we re-direct the question to: How do we make the relationship last for a lifetime? Glad you've asked! Here are 5 ways to maintain a successful union (relationship) for a lifetime and it all begins with the Word of God.

#1 Christ-centeredness
Mark 12:30 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (NIV)

It didn't say love your spouse, partner, friend, child, ex...it says love the LORD you God with all...

If we make God our ultimate love, then He will make it a priority to send us the divine love that He has designed for our lives. We have to be purposed to be together in order for our relationships to really work successfully. Some of us are linked to an illegal soul tie (a relationship that God has not pre-destined nor ordained to bless). God will not bless any mess so stop asking Him to! If your relationships have gone 'south' the ask God for direction and guidance and I guarantee you that He will aide you in your request.   Seek God first...Matthew 6:33

 #2 Commitment
Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral (NIV)

Now, ALL is inclusive language. No gender mentioned! So, if you enter into a marriage or covenant relationship, it is best you take that commitment seriously. Don't sleep with your spouse's sister or brother or both.  Don't have sexual relations with your partner's best friend.  Don't sleep with your husband's brother or wife's sister... "Nasty Edna...N-A-S-T-E-E…Nasty!"

Of course, in order to commit, you have to be submissive to your spouse or partner. Not sub-servant but submissive to one another. You have to commit to your spouse and not a 3rd, 4th, 5th party...
If you try and commit your body to too many people, eventually you'll end up hurting yourselves and others and everyone involved in your circle. 

God does honor the divine and loving commitments we vow to our spouses/partners! Better not to commit than to commit and not honor the commitment.

#3 Communication
Colossians 4:6 - Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

How well do you communicate with your spouse/partner? At times, we do not speak the same language therefore; we must define our words of choice. For example; a mouse pad can no longer be considered just a place where a rat/rodent dwells; it's also labeled as a surface to enhance the usability of a computer mouse.

In today's society, our language must be defined and understood. We should speak with certainty and precision. We should be truthful and honest in our communication practices. Matthew 5:37 says to Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Amen!

#4 Compromise
Luke 6:31 - Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. (NASB)

Don't be so obsessed with getting your OWN advantage. Forget about yourself long enough to lend a helping hand to others. It's not all about you. I have discovered that during the holiday season can be the most difficult time for spouses/partners to support each other's families; because not all families embrace our spouses/partners. If we have the opportunity, we should make concessions for each other.

If your family is not accepting of your spouse/partner, create your own traditions such as my spouse and I have; you'll find that compromising is easier. ("Ok honey, let's stay home.  You prepare the collard greens or green bean casserole and I'll heat up the turkey").

Sometimes, you have to do your own thing! Oftentimes, we expect too much of others that we are not willing to give of ourselves. How can you get what you are not willing to give? Give and it shall be given to you...Luke 6:38

 
#5 Care
Philippians 2:4 - Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (NASB)

Do not let your care and attention be wholly absorbed by your own concerns. Diana Ross challenged us in "Reach Out and Touch" with this question: "and would I be talking to a stone if I asked you to share a problem that's not your own?"

We can definitely begin to change the world around us if we cared enough about each other. Care enough about your spouse/partner to be concerned with their needs. Be conscious of their strengths and weakness. Know what they are good at and know their challenges.

We have to move beyond this one-dimensional thinking so that we may enhance our relationships to last the life-time which God intended. In order to grow a garden, you have to care for it. We must manicure our relationships just like we manicure our lawns and gardens; if you don't water it, it won't grow to its full potential.

Let's get away from this 50/50 relationship idea. "There is NO SUCH a-thang!" I say - bring your best 60% and allow your spouse/partner to bring their best 40% then you can look forward to 100% together! What ever is missing, God can and will make up the rest if you let Him. 

 

Know that we ALL have flaws because we are imperfect people. We cannot expect a perfect relationship when there are imperfect people involved. Yes relationships can be challenging but they should not be hard or "FB complicated." (LOL)  Of course, God never promised us an easy life; He promised us salvation IF we accept it!

Now let's revisit these 5 points on how to make IT last 4ever...a lifetime:

Christ-centeredness

Commitment

Communication

Compromise

Care

I call these the 5 C's of Grace! Practice these exercises and see how your relationship(s) will be strengthened and long-lasting!

God bless and keep you,

- Pastor D

 

Get Your Brick Today!!!

Hello Saints of the Most High God!

I pray that each of you are well and in good health. Join Church of the Solid Rock's Brick by Brick Building Fund Campaign for 2011-2012.

To learn more about Brick by Brick, you may reach us at 972-679-0635 OR stop by and worship with us on Sundays @ 11am. Our current worship location is: 2701 Reagan St., Dallas TX. God bless and keep you!

- Pastor Deckard
http://www.crock4christ.org/

God Will Rescue His People Soon!

Habakkuk 1:2-11

How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts.

The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations;look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.

I am raising up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people. They will march across the world and conquer other lands. They are notorious for their cruelty and do whatever they like. Their horses are swifter than cheetahs and fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their charioteers charge from far away. Like eagles, they swoop down to devour their prey.“On they come, all bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind, sweeping captives ahead of them like sand. They scoff at kings and princes and scorn all their fortresses. They simply pile ramps of earth against their walls and capture them! They sweep past like the wind and are gone. But they are deeply guilty, for their own strength is their god.

Habakkuk 2:4-9(a)Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked.
But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. Wealth is treachrous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples. But soon their captives will taunt them. They will mock them, saying,‘What sorrow awaits you thieves! Now you will get what you deserve!
You’ve become rich by extortion, but how much longer can this go on?’Suddenly, your debtors will take action. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless. Because you have plundered many nations; now all the survivors will plunder you. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns with violence. What sorrow awaits you who build big houses with money gained dishonestly!
God is on the way children of God so hold on! He is our help in times of storms. He is our comfortor! He is our refuge in times of danger. He is our fortress! Don't give up but give "it" to God! He's our shield and buckler and will fight ALL of our battles. Don't be afraid! Evil will NOT prevail! Whatever the situation or circumstance is, God will work it out! Oh Yes He will! It's already worked out -- just trust Him!!!
Be blessed saints and have a wonderful rest of the week!

- Pastor D

God Matters

Chase after the Cross and get your crown. At the end of the rainbow, you will not find gold but you should seek to find God. God matters.

Just when you think that what you have is all you need, then one day wake up and discover that "IT" is not, you have the power to call on God to cancel the illegal debt with "IT"...God matters.

Lean and depend on Him; the Father, our Creator. He is our Strong Tower and Leaning Post. God will not lose ground. His post will not uproot nor tip over if we lean and place the dead weight that keeps some of us bound to a yoke of enslavement to the world. God matters. His love matters. His peace matters. Our joy depends on it!

God matters. He made us and will keep us in His care. He will protect us from the wiles of the enemy and guard us in all of our ways.

God matters. What He says. What He feels about His children. And what He loves...that's it and that's all! God matters. Make sure God is first in your life then watch that artificial light be exposed by the Real Light - that is, Jesus Christ! God matters.

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor D

Seeking The Lord in Prayer

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Ps 34:4

I sought the Lord, and he heard me (David); (Doris); (Jane) (Sue) place your name here_________.

When David was exposed to the persecutions of Saul, and when he sought refuge in the country of Abimelech or Achish, at that time, he did not confide in his own wisdom, or trust to any devices of his own, but that he sought the protection and guidance of God, alike when he fled to Gath, and when he fled from Gath.

God will deliver us from all our fears! From all that David apprehended from Saul, and again from all that he dreaded when he found that Abimelech would not harbor him, but drove him from him, the Lord swept his griefs away. Prayer can clear us of troubles if we seek God for protection.

Anytime we're faced with danger, we should pray to God and ask Him to deliver us from the hands of our Enemies. Believe me, God will do it if you trust Him. You must believe in order to receive so -- call on Him and see how Good He really is! Surely He will save us from the fowler's snare..Ps 91:3

May God bless and keep you...

Pastor D