As James writes his epistle he is direct and to the point in everything he says, here he begins with know this, understand this, this point I am making is important for you to hear, know and understand.  Then he refers to his readers as his beloved brothers, fellow followers of Christ Jesus, of which we should all be walking together toward the same outcome in the end, eternal life in Heaven with the Lord.  His advice here is without question some of the best advice you will get because we can use this everyday of life to live in moderation.  Let every person be quick to hear, in other words listen when people are talking to you, be attentive, use your two ears to listen before you open your one mouth.  And that is the next piece of advice, be slow to speak , keep your words to yourself until you have heard all the person has to say, hear them out, then be careful and tactful in your response, think before you speak. And finally be slow to anger, oftentimes we think we heard something very different than what was actually said.  What James is saying is simple, learn how to communicate better, we all fail at these things at one time or another, we all have a tendency to speak before we think, to react before knowing the reality of what was stated.  Communication is the number one problem in our world, in the workplace, in government, in world affairs, in marriages, in relationships, you name it, communication is by far number one.  So today, let us all strive to be better communicators, quick to hear, slow to speak, and very slow to get angry, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

There is only one worthy, our Lord and Savior the Christ.  The one who was and is and will always be, the one who appeared to men in days before His incarnation, in the burning bush, with Abraham and Sarah, with Joshua at Jericho, and so many other moments in the ancient past.  But Jesus is not just the angel of the Lord, not just the Son of God, not just the Savior of the world, He is God!  We are told in John's Gospel that Jesus, who is the very word of God, is the one who created all things, everything that was ever created was created by Him.  
       But that is not all, this same Christ is the one who descended from His throne in Heaven to be born of woman on earth, to live a sinless life as a man, among sinful men.  He came to bring Good News of salvation in Him, a new covenant, to draw people into a relationship with Him that leads to life.  And in order for Him to make this a reality there had to be an atoning for the sins of the world in order to appease God the Father.  Jesus was tasked with being the sacrifice for all of mankind, to pay their sin debt through His death on a cross on Calvary.  Is He worthy?  None other are worthy only Christ Jesus, the lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world, the lamb who was slain and rose again from the dead.  Christ Jesus the Son of God, He is worthy to receive all glory, honor and power, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Temptation comes to all of us, it is how we respond to that temptation that will determine the course we travel.  Here the Apostle Paul tells the church at Corinth that there is no temptation that is not common to man that has come and overtaken you.  In other words you are not special in the variety of temptations you are struggling with, we all have them.  But remember this, God is faithful and God will not let you be tempted beyond your ability to stand back and resist.  You see, if you are in an intimate relationship with the Lord you will take heed of the situation and you will turn away from whatever is tempting you.  But, if you do not turn away but continue into the temptation, God will make a way of escape, an offramp to get off that broad road to destruction.  God always provides a way out, God will always be with you to help you endure whatever the temptation might be.  We all have wrong thoughts at times, but we can overcome those wrong thoughts by replacing them with God's word, by renewing our minds, and by keeping our flesh in check.  Don't believe the lie from Hell that you are the only one that has these temptations come your way, we all deal with some kind of temptation, but God always makes a way out.  Lean on God, stay in the word, and stay on that narrow path that leads to life, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

The book of Ephesians is an absolute must read for all Christians, the Apostle Paul gives us a great deal to think about in how we live our lives as followers of Christ Jesus.  It helps us meditate upon all Jesus has done for us and how we can emulate Him in all we do for others as well.  These attributes that Paul lists here in our verse today are essentials for the true Christian, we are to be kind to one another, and why not?  Jesus taught His disciples in many ways how to be kind to others, even those who hate us.  We are to be tenderhearted, meaning we are not callous and cold toward other people for any reason, we should be filled with compassion for all people just like Jesus.  And forgiving one another as God in Christ Jesus forgave you.  If we are kind, compassionate, tenderhearted people toward others, we should have no problem forgiving people who hurt us, betray us, or might be mean to us.  They truly all go together in the heart of a Born Again believer.  I would encourage all of us to take some time today to examine yourself and ensure that you are exhibiting all these traits of the true Christian in Christ Jesus.  If you find a place where you might be lacking, pray about it, ask God to help and change.  Be filled with the Spirit, walk in step with the Spirit and let your light shine in this dark world, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

There are some people who must have the latest in fashion, designer jeans, the newest styles, the trending shoes and such to wear, their apparel is important to them.  While others have no desire to dress in that way, they just wear regular clothing, fashion and trends do not have any effect on them whatsoever. In Jesus day the masses pretty much all wore very similar clothing, only the rich stood out in a crowd.  Today, things have changed considerably, there are all kinds of new kinds and types of clothing to wear, and many people do worry about what they are going to put on each day.  Food and drink are quite similar in their thought process, some have to have the best of food, while others will eat almost anything.
       Here is where the rub comes in, people worry about these things, what am I going to wear?   What am I going to eat or drink?  Here in Jesus' statement about worry and anxiety, He tells us we are not to be concerned about such things, if God provides for nature's animals, will He not provide for you as well?  And furthermore, those who get themselves all worked up over these kinds of things, worry about many other things also, and we know worry and anxiety are wasted emotions, they are a waste of time and a waste of mind.  Having a true relationship with Jesus will indeed bring us to a point of trusting Him completely and knowing that He will always provide for our needs, we need not worry about them at all, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

There are more people walking around today with weary souls than at any time in history, people are moving faster, busier, and resting less day by day.  But sadly many of them that are weary are people who claim to be followers of Christ Jesus, people who claim the promise from God, but live like they know nothing of Him.  Here Jeremiah relays a message to the people of Judah that God is making a big promise for the future, "For I will satisfy the weary soul" for God made a way, a path to Himself through His Son, Christ Jesus to have a relationship with the God of this universe, a personal one on one relationship, intimate and unlike anything people have ever known.  In Jeremiah's day it was in the future, it was coming, but in our day, it is here and now, Christ made a way through His sacrificial death on the cross on Calvary, breaking down all barriers of religion and man.  
       "And every languishing soul I will replenish", as Jeremiah continues relaying God's message to the people, a message you and I can read in God's revelation of Himself to us, we must know and understand that God has a bigger plan for our lives, but we need to abide in Him and obey His commandments.  Today, if you are weary and your soul is languishing, call upon the name of the Lord and ask Him to replenish you and fill you with His Joy and His peace, then rest in the Lord, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

If you have ever driven on a wide highway with many lanes, you have seen that person who is in a hurry, changing lanes frequently even just to get one car length ahead of you.  He sees that the way is wide and he is going to use every opportunity to get to some place a little faster... maybe.  When in reality, if you stay in your lane and just drive at a steady pace (the speed limit), you will get there about the same time as the maniac who is all over the highway.  Here Jesus gives us a glimpse of what it looks like to follow Him, it requires that you stay on the narrow path, the harder way to go, where there is no passing lane, for indeed you will get there when He says you will get there, no sense in getting in a hurry.  
       The Lord makes it clear that the way to life is hard, there are bumps in the road, potholes, detours (that we create), delays (waiting on the Lord), but through it all, there is blessing after blessing.  And as we are told right here, this way is narrow, it is hard, and few find it, this is not the path the majority of people choose to take, for the broad road to destruction is much easier, it moves much faster and that is where most people will choose to travel through this life that leads to death.  Today, do you know which path you are on?  Are you on the narrow path that is hard and leads to life, eternal life in Christ Jesus?  Or have you chosen the easier path to perdition, the broad road to destruction?  Today is the day to get right with the Lord and get on His path, the right way, the narrow road that leads to life, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Have you ever asked yourself, and hopefully the Lord, what is God's agenda for me today, this week, this month, this year?  Rather than us making plans for what we want or desire to do, we should be asking of the Lord, what is your plan for me?  We can always come up with an idea or plan for what we want to do, but is it within the will of God?  How often do we plan things just have them fall apart completely and then we have to regroup and figure out what we should be doing?  If we will go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him, what should I do, where should I go, are my plans your plans as well?
       My plans are not always God's plans and usually my plans change as the Lord leads and guides me to go a different direction.  We must remember God knows the beginning from the end, and He knows exactly how things will turn out, we therefore must be attentive to His guidance and follow where He leads.  For in the end, it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand, if we will listen to the promptings of the Lord, if we will hear that still small voice give us direction, God will guide our steps.  Pray for direction, seek his guidance, and then follow where He leads, Jesus Saves!  

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Have you ever been so anxious and worried that nothing nor anyone could stop your pacing and worrying?  I think at some point in time in our life we have all been there, moments when life is just a real burden.  But, when we are in a solid, intimate relationship with God, those moments seem to pass with such ease and without the anxiety and chaos of mind occurring, we have real peace.  And this peace we have is not simply a calm that comes over us, it is a peace of heart, mind and soul that only God can provide, it is truly beyond all human understanding.  Think about the things that make you uneasy, anxious, even deeply worried...  Now, think about the actions you could take to change that particular circumstance...  And now, give it all to God for He has the ultimate authority over all things, and when we let God take care of it, we have His peace.  But know this, without a relationship with the Lord Jesus, you will never have real peace, it will not come, it will evade your heart and mind.  For as the Apostle Paul writes here, God's peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Do not allow life's circumstances to steal your joy and your peace, give it to God and He will fill your heart and mind with His peace, Jesus Saves! 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

 Sometimes, actually often, God will allow us to go through times we would rather not have had to endure.  But when we get through those tough times we realize that it was the Lord teaching us some valuable lessons that we needed in order to do the task He has prepared for us.  Think back on your past life experiences that may be quite unpleasant, and then look at what God did so that you would be able to use what you have learned.  Life has a way of just upending our plans and taking us down roads that we never intended to travel, good and bad, but all valuable in the long run.  Let us spend time praising God, singing aloud to Him for it is He who brings all of this about, it is through God power and strength that He makes our life unfold as it does, and it is due to His unending love that we are who we are and have what we have and can do what we do, all for Him!  And we can know that God has always been our fortress, even in those times when it seemed we were alone, He was there, carrying us through those difficult days.  And when the days got really dark, it was God who gathered us up and was our refuge in those days of trouble.  Today, let us praise God for all He has done, is doing and will keep doing in our lives, leading us through with His great love and strength, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Life is a battle, a daily battle even for the unbeliever.  But for you and I, followers of Christ Jesus, we are in a Spiritual battle that rages on every single day and it gets more intense each passing day.  The Apostle Paul encourages believers to put on the full armor of God before you start your day, before you have to engage with the world, and for very good reason.  The world is full of evil, overflowing with wickedness, and the debauchery we see on display daily is beyond belief.  So, we can plainly see the need for protection, for full armor in this world, in this battle we are in, we must be prepared to be able to withstand the evil day.
       If we have done all that the word of God gives to us to be prepared, we will be able to withstand the evil day, we will be able to stand firm in the face of this severe Spiritual battle we are in.  Never allow yourself to become complacent and lazy in your preparation for this battle, it is serious and it is real, and the evil one is lurking around seeking one to destroy, do not let it be you.  Today, stand firm in the faith, put on the full armor of God and walk by faith knowing that the Lord has you firmly in His grasp, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Just knowing you are a child of God should make the difference in your life.  Let us wake up each day remembering that we are His prized possession, that God loves us so much He saved us from sure death and destruction.  He redeemed us through the blood of His precious Son, Jesus, and through that redemption we have been made New, a new creation, a new life in Christ, meaning that we are to carry ourselves in a manner worthy of our calling.  And as the Apostle Paul makes clear here in his letter to the Colossians, we are God's chosen ones!  Did you get that you are God's chosen one, holy and beloved, which in turn means we are to have compassionate hearts toward everyone, even those who hate us.  We are to be kind, if we are truly born again and are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, we will then demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, kindness, humility and meekness and patience.  So, if you are a person who is often sarcastic, and cutting, choose to say something kind and loving to others.  If you tend to be short and rude, make it a point to be soft and tender in your responses.  We all have our moments, but today, let us choose to clothe ourselves in Christ Jesus and live like our Savior, Jesus Saves! 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

The Apostle John, per instructions from the Lord, writes to the seven churches, letters of concern.  In this portion of John's account he is writing to the church at Laodicea, a church that appeared to have it all together, but was truly lacking in a big way, they were neither Hot nor Cold, they were lukewarm according to Jesus.  They were busy, they were well off, from the outside it looked like this church was doing everything that God would ask...  But not so quick, they were truly lacking in the area of properly living the life of Christ, following in true devotion, and abiding in Christ daily.  This church was following at a distance, they were neither in nor out, and they had one foot in the world and one foot in the church, not committed to the Lord.
       Sadly, this is a picture of many churches today, they look good from a distance, they have large crowds (Mega Churches), but they are truly dead when it comes to abiding in Christ, loving Him first, and trusting and obeying Him and His commandments.  This is a dangerous place to be, your appearances might fool people on earth, but God is never fooled, and He cannot be mocked by your lukewarm failings, He knows your heart!   Outward appearances are what the Pharisees had in Jesus day, as he told them, you clean the outside of the cup but the inside is full of dead men's bones, you are religious and there is no relationship with the Lord.  Jesus says, I stand at the door and knock, if you will be open to me, I will come into your heart and reside for all eternity, I am looking for a relationship with you, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Turn away from evil and do good...  Sounds simple enough and why would not everyone do this, it is the right way to live a free life in a free nation.  The problem is this, evil is everywhere, the Prince of this world is running rampant trying desperately to get all people to turn away from God and embrace evil.. You see this is what happened in the Garden of Eden, Satan came and tempted Eve to turn away from God and good, and embrace evil and do what is evil in the sight of God... And she did.  That is how evil was introduced into a perfect world, and the war of good and evil has raged ever since.  
       Today, as scripture foretold, we live in a time where evil is called good and good is called evil, sadly our world has been turned upside down by the evil one, when at the same time God has told us as followers of Jesus to turn this world upside down for Him.  But at the same time we are called to seek peace, and to pursue peace in this life we live.  And once again we are fighting the same battle with the same evil prince, causing strife and hate and unsettledness worldwide.  But we are not like the world, we have been called out of this world, to be different by the renewing of our minds and having a heart that seeks after God, good and peace.  So today, let us not just do good, but encourage others to do good.  And let us not just seek peace, but be peacemakers encouraging others to seek peace as well, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

       The Apostle Paul here in his letter to the church at Ephesus, reminds all believers of the amazing gift from God, our salvation in Christ Jesus.  In Him, that being Christ Jesus, who willingly laid down His life, shed His own blood to pay the price for your redemption.  It is an overwhelming thought to know that God sent His Son to die on our behalf, that He paid our sin debt, shed His blood for you and me.  This is something we should be thankful for each and every day, not focused on how sinful we are, but our minds stayed upon God's goodness and everlasting love.  Because the Lord shed His blood for the forgiveness of our trespsasses, it was because of His great love for mankind that He shed His grace upon us.  All because of the amazing riches of His grace, grace upon grace for an undeserving sinner whom God loves.  Just the thought of God loving me so much He would do all of this for me, for I am nothing more than a sinner saved by grace.
       Today, let us live a life celebrating the fact we are saved, redeemed in Christ, by Christ and let us walk in the freedom that He has given us through His sacrificial death on the cross.  Let us walk in victory this day, not feeling defeated, not feeling rejected, but filled with the Joy of God's love, grace and mercy.  And let us be ever so thankful for all that the Lord has done for us, Jesus Saves!  

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

   Are you able and willing to give thanks to the Lord, even when things are not going your way?  We see people within the Word of God who give thanks to God in some of the most trying circumstances, David as Saul is chasing him down to attempt to kill him, the Apostle Paul as he is persecuted for his faith in Christ, even after he has been beaten and thrown into jail, he praises God for His steadfast goodness and love.  As followers of Chrsit Jesus, we should desire to give Him all praise, glory and thanks every day for all the blessings He has poured out upon us, even when we don't deserve them, even when our life might be in turmoil and not in a place we desire.   When life is not as we would like, things seem to be just going wrong everyday, stuff is happening, thank God for what He is doing in your life, you woke up this morning, you have food to eat, water to drink.  If we stop and think about our lives, we do have far more to thank God for than we have to complain about.  We live our life in a fallen, sinful world, but our Hope in a future that is guaranteed by God, and as our verse says today, He is good and His steadfast love endures forever, Jesus Saves! 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Here is the question: is the Lord present when one person is seeking Him?  If a large group of believers are gathered?  And if two or three are gathered together?  Of course, the answer is the Lord is always present no matter how many are gathered together.  So, we can understand that the number of people has a very specific meaning and purpose, and we must look deeper and further into the context of the message the Lord is delivering to understand what is truly being stated here.  Remember, context is king and we must understand it.  Jesus is telling His disciples how to handle church discipline, how to instruct a person who has transgressed and the process to go through to get the situation fixed.  First, if this person has sinned against you, go and tell him.  If he listens and the problem is fixed, great it is done.  But if he will not listen, then take another person or two who has evidence with you and try again, if he still refuses to listen, then you take him before the church.  And if he still refuses to listen he is to be treated like an unbeliever.  And here is where the Lord states, where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them, showing us that this is the proper manner of church discipline.  Context, context, context, know what is being said in its correct meaning, Jesus Saves

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

What are you doing?  Here we read a message from the Apostle Paul to his young portege Timothy, giving him some advice but also some great encouragement, fight the good fight, stay in the battle, do not give up.  We live in a society where giving up and giving in to evil is more than encouraged, where evil is in your face daily and if you push back you are the bad guy, do not give up, keep on fighting the good fight.  For we have been given eternal life upon rebirth in Christ Jesus, take hold of it for you were called to this new way of life.  Do you remember making that good confession of faith in Christ Jesus in front of many witnesses?  
       Have you truly made that confession of faith?  Have you committed your life to the Lord Jesus, are you all in?  These are questions and decisions that only you can answer, you know your heart as does the Lord your God.  You will not fight the good fight of faith if you have never surrendered your life to the only one who can save you.  If today you find yourself wondering if you have ever truly made the decision to go all in for Jesus, today would be a great day to stop and call upon the name of the Lord and commit your life to Him.  Then begin to fight the good fight of faith that you have confessed, grab hold of eternal life and strive for the prize, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Have you ever thought about God and His commands in a way that would help you better understand Him and why He says what He says?  Think about this for a moment, God is the creator of all that was ever created, He is far beyond an intelligent designer, He is perfection in its highest form, nothing better in any way.  So, when we read that God worked on His creation for seven days, saw that it was good and He rested, and made that day holy, He is telling us something, He is showing us something that is perfect, a way of life that fits into God's perfect plan for all of mankind.  If rest is good for God then it is good for man, and we must abide by this command to rest from our creator, after all He does know best.
       I know many of us often say, but I have so much to do, I don't have the time to rest...  In reality, we don't have time to not rest, exhaustion is deadly!  Today, as we ponder what God is telling us here about taking a rest on a regular basis, let us make it a habit to take the time to rest in the Lord as He has commanded us to do.  May we all rest in the Lord, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Let us remember, Context, Context, Context, this is not a wishlist verse, it is not a prosperity Gospel verse, it is not a genie in a bottle verse, it has everything to do with the miracle of salvation done by God alone.  Jesus has just had an interaction with a young man who is very wealthy, he asks the Lord, "What do I need to do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus responds that you must sell all you have, give it to the poor, then come follow me.  Very simple yet for this man, impossible, his heart was tied to his wealth, his money was his god, an obstacle to salvation.  Jesus then makes it clear that wealth keeps a man from God, being rich is often a barrier to coming to know Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, and Jesus tells His disciples, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to be saved.  They then ask Jesus, "Then who can be saved?"
       And the Lord responds with this statement, "With man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible"  Only God can cause a heart to change and come to Him for rebirth, man is totally helpless when it comes to salvation, it is an act of God alone.  We all know people who are resistant to the Gospel message, push back against coming to faith in Christ Jesus, refuse to hear the Good News...  But God, God can draw them to Himself, God has a way of reaching people we see as impossible to reach, keep praying that God will touch their heart and bring them to Himself for salvation, Keep on Praying!  Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

God has always desired to see the least among us cared for, encouraged, helped, and lifted up by those who have the means.  God even mandated that the outer edges of a farmers field were to be left for the poor to glean from when the crops were ready for harvest.  And the Lord has always made it known that we are to care for the widows and the orphans in our society as they are in need of assistance.  And here, Solomon in his book of wisdom, explains that when we help those in need, we are lending to the Lord, our generosity toward others is truly giving them what the Lord has given to us, and God sees this and acknowledges this action.  Jesus makes this same point in the Gospels, that when we give a little one a drink of water, or help the homeless, the infirmed, the imprisoned, we are doing it for Him.  God sees our helping others who are in need as a direct reflection of Himself.  None of us has the ability or the resources to help everyone who is in need, but collectively we as the church do have the means to help our community, so let us work together to help our brothers and sisters in need, let us make a difference today, Jesus Saves! 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Being a disciple, a true follower of Christ is the crux of your relationship with Him, you stop living for you, you step away from the world, you give up all for the Lord.  And as the Lord Jesus points out here, if you hang on to your life, demand to live life your way, refuse to let go of the world and all it does not have to offer, you will lose your life.  But if you give up your life for the sake of Christ, and live for Him daily, you will indeed save your life.  Jesus makes it clear that being a disciple of His is costly, you must deny yourself, your wants and your desires become secondary.  You must also take up your cross daily and walk that narrow path that leads to eternal life.  Is it easy, no, are some days extremely difficult, yes, is it worth it, absolutely.  It truly comes down to your heart's desire to live a life pleasing to God, are you committed to Christ Jesus, is the Lord your all in all?  It is easy to say "I'm a Christian", but living it out every day is a completely different way, it takes real dedication, true surrender, abandonment of the old life and fully embracing your New Life in Christ Jesus.   Are you all in for Jesus, is He the center of your life, have you given up your life to live for Him?  Jesus is the only way to the Father, Jesus Saves! 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Freedom has different meanings and different levels.  Let me explain, when the pilgrims originally came to America they were escaping a tyrant of a King, they were oppressed by the King, overtaxed and over regulated, they wanted to be free from his rule, and they were controlled as to how they could worship God.  It cost many of them everything to become a free people, many died just trying to get across the sea, but then a massive war cost many others their lives, but freedom was finally had and they established the most free nation ever.  But today, a lot of that freedom has been taken away through government overreach and government abuse, taxes upon taxes.  But the apostle Paul is talking about a completely different kind of freedom in Christ Jesus, believers have a special kind of freedom in Christ, a Spiritual freedom that leads to eternal life.  And with that freedom that was birthed out of love we become like the one who bought us that freedom, we love as He loves us, unconditionally and freely.  And Paul warns us to not use our new found freedom as a way to live out our fleshly desires which is sin, but to use our freedom in Christ Jesus as a way to love and serve and help others.  We are free because of God's enormous love for us, and we love because God loved us first, God is love, so let us emulate God's love for us toward others, let each of us live this life with a sacrificial love as did Christ, Jesus Saves! 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

At times we find ourselves at odds with others because they do not seek peace but strife, their sole desire is unrest, they intentionally create problems.  But we must still be at peace with them, we do not need to stir up trouble where there is no good reason.  When we encounter people who want to create havoc, we must avoid them if possible, if we know they are a problem, keep away from them, keep the peace wherever possible.  For Holiness is the answer, we are called to be holy because God is holy, and without holiness no one will see the Lord.  from the time we are Born Again, we are in the process of being sanctified through living a life of faith, trust and obedience in Christ Jesus, this lifelong process of sanctification cleanses our life over time, never perfect but better than we were before.  
       In this section of this epistle, the writer of Hebrews is talking about discipline, that we need discipline to teach us to live a better life, those mistakes that bring our punishment teach us there is a better way, a more holy way to live.  As well, we are taught to live at peace with other people, when we make a fuss with another and meet up with discipline due to our transgression, we learn from that mistake and strive toward a more peaceful solution in life.  Therefore, Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

 Life is unpredictable, it can change like the weather, one day is amazing and upbeat, the next is dark and grievous.  We deal with all kinds of situations and circumstances, both good and bad, pleasant and sad, but with the help of God we endure through it all pushing onward toward the prize that awaits us at the end of this race of life.  The Prophet Isaiah reminds us of an absolute truth,  that we must trust in the Lord forever, an idea that is spoken many times throughout the Word of God, trust in the Lord, trust God, trust in the Lord with all your heart, the Prophets say it, the Psalmist says it, and even the Lord Jesus said it.  Trust can be a hard thing to do if you have been betrayed by someone, especially when they are a person whom you were sure was upright and honest but they let you down.
      But God, God will never let you down, the world and the people in it, they will consistently let you down and disappoint you, but God will never betray you in any way.  And why can we trust in the Lord God?  Because He is an everlasting Rock, He is solid, He is immovable, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, unchanging.  And when we one who is like this, we have something quite special, for there is none like our God, He is perfect in every way imaginable, He is your Rock, always right there, and never moving or changing.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Our Hope is not based on things we see in our world today, no, it is based solely upon the unseen future in Christ Jesus. Hope is trusting the one true God of this universe, our creator to do what He has promised within His word.  It is trusting day by day in a Savior that has changed your life from dead in your tresspasses to alive and free in Him.  The apostle Paul tells us that we are to rejoice in Hope, our hearts should be filled with joy knowing and standing on the promises of God.  And that we must be patient in tribulation, having patience is one thing, and having tribulation is another, but to have patience in and during tribulation, that takes a strong faith in God alone.  Being able to wait on the Lord in times of trouble takes real, true, saving faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God and without faith you will not be trusting God to handle your situation.  
       But to top it all off, the one thing that makes it all happen beyond faith that brings about trust and obedience, is prayer.  When we are constant in prayer, in regular communication with the Lord, that builds trust, it grows patience, and we can endure whatever comes at us because our God is Bigger than our situation.  And all of this is what Christ promised to His followers, you will be filled with Joy, and you will have tribulation, but love will cover it all as you stand firm in prayer, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Most people when they hear these words, or read these words really struggle with the reality of What the Lord Jesus is saying to them.  Lord, you really want me to bless those people who curse me?  And you really want me to pray for those who abuse me?  WOW Lord, this is a hard thing to hear and an even harder thing to do!  Here is the deal, for a typical fallen, sinful man, an unredeemed man, this is impossible.  But for a man who has come into a relationship with the Savior, Christ Jesus, it becomes much easier as you grow closer to Him and go deeper in your relationship with Him.  The ideas that Christ presents in the Sermon on the Mount are difficult, they are not normal feelings that regular people have, but a Born Again Christian is not a regular people, he is different, a New Life in Christ, that old unloving creature has died and has been buried.  I would encourage each of us to go back and ponder and meditate upon the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapter five, six and seven, and let the words of the Lord permeate your heart and soul, let His words change who you are in Him.  For we know that with man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.  We must be willing to let God change us, we must stop resisting and pushing back, we must let Him mold us and make us into what He desires for us to be, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

The Psalmist begins this thought with peace, the Hebrew word Shalom, meaning completeness, soundness, wholeness, peace, truly a much bigger meaning than simply peace, but a reality of complete being in God.  And when your Spirit is in this place you have the ability to both lie down and to sleep.  Have you ever gotten into bed and sleep just won't come, you toss and turn, your mind seems to be everywhere but ready to sleep?  When we put our complete faith and trust in the Lord, He will give us His peace, the ability to rest in His completeness, and worries and cares dissipate.  And why are we able to rest in His peace?  Because God alone will make me dwell in safety.  
       What is it in this life that keeps you from resting in the Lord, what is it that keeps you from having real peace?  As the hymn writer once wrote, "The only real peace that I have is in you Lord", and that is the thought process of this verse, real peace comes from God alone.  The Word of God reminds us continually that we must rely on God, lean on His understanding, and take peace in knowing that He is in complete and total control of our destiny, Be Still and Know that I Am God.  Today, whatever it is that is keeping you from having real peace, give it to God and know He has it covered for He is bigger than anything that you have going on, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Think about that statement for a moment, you are God's workmanship, He created you, He knew you before you were even born...  You know people get all worked up over meeting some famous person, whoever it might be, but God is by far of greater importance than any person on earth, for He created all of us, each and everyone of us on this earth we were created by God.  And God knows me, He created me, He called me, He chose me, and He leads and guides my every step, WOW!  And more than that, He created me in Christ Jesus for good works, for a purpose, a purpose that He already knew before I was created.  The picture of what God did for each one of us is an amazing scene of preeminence, omniscience, and omnipresence, and all knowing all loving God who cares for me, and He knows me by name.  
      If you have never pondered the thought that God knows you, today is going to be a great day, for He knows every single cell within your body, He knows everything there is to know about you, He created you with a specific purpose in mind, so therefore walk in Him and in step with Him.  And remember, God is Bigger than any circumstance in your life today, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

The Apostle Paul in his letter written to the church at Colossae reiterates something Jesus stated in His Sermon on the Mount, that we must be laying up treasures in Heaven.  Paul goes at it a bit differently though, giving us instruction to keep our minds stayed on Christ Jesus, and the things from above, Heavenly things.  As a redeemed Christian, a child of God, we have given up on the things of this world, for we are not of this world, we have died to the old carnal, worldly life, we are now different, we are a New Life in Christ.  And we must keep in mind this world is passing away, our world gets more feeble in its ways by the day, losing focus of all that is truly meaningful, many people are focused on self rather than God.
       For why would I stay focused on a place that is not my home, a place that is like a foreign country to me, my true home is in Heaven with my Lord and Savior, a place I long to be.  We must be willing to suffer through what this life has to offer, walking by faith not by sight, in step with the Spirit daily as we march toward eternity.  Let each of us die to self and take up our cross daily keeping our eyes upon the things of Heaven, looking up for our redemption is quite near, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Have you ever been truly brokenhearted?  The death of a loved one, the loss of a friend, maybe a bad diagnosis from the doctor, a broken heart can come from all directions.  And maybe in that moment you thought to yourself, you know this life just demands more than I can give, I'm not sure I can keep on going...  It is at that moment in time that the Lord steps in and He carries you to the other side of that deep dark valley you were sure you could not get through.  For we know, we have the assurance that God is near to the brokenhearted, He lifts them, carries them, encourages them, He gives them the will to keep on going, even though the way is rocky and hard, you know with God you will make it.  
       And then there are those times when your Spirit is absolutely crushed like a rock under pressure feeling like you could just explode from the pressures of life, you are weary and tears struggle to fall from your eyes.  It is at that moment the Lord will come beside you and take your hand and guide you back to a place of contentment in Him.   This is what a relationship in Christ is like, life is hard and unpredictable, and God is steady and firm, like a rock that never moves, and always there when you need Him.  Call upon the name of the Lord for He is near to the brokenhearted and He saves the crushed in Spirit, Jesus Saves!  

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

This life we live here on earth is not only short, but it is filled with all kinds of trials and tribulations, suffering is inevitable, it happens to all of us in some way.  Jesus explained this to His disciples in John 16:33 "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  And we know from living for some years that troubles come and troubles go, but they always seem to find a way back into our life, but by clinging to our faith in Christ Jesus we will endure whatever comes our way, for as Jesus says, we are overcomers.  Here the apostle Paul makes it clear that even with all the suffering he went through, and it was a great deal, beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecked, stoned to death and a great deal of persecution, none of that compares to the glory that is to be revealed to us in the future.  We do have a choice, we can stay focused on our problems, our sufferings, or, we can keep our eyes firmly planted upon our Savior every day and see the bright and wonderful future He has for us in Him in eternity.  It comes down to a matter of perspective, what is going to control your thoughts, the bad of today, or the amazing of tomorrow?  We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we do know who holds tomorrow in His hand, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

The Prophet Amos ministered to the people of the Northern Tribes of Israel, the ten tribes that had revolted against Rehoboam after the death of King Solomon.  From the time they separated themselves from Judah they were idolaters, they worshipped hand made golden calves that Jeroboam had made to keep them from departing to Jerusalem to worship the one true God.  And it got worse, under Ahab who married Jezebel, they worshipped the Baals and forgot the one true God even existed.  And when it comes to justice and righteousness, it was non-existent, they lived life in a way that was evil in the sight of God.  
      For years the prophets tried to get them to listen and to change, all to no avail, they refused.  Amos tells them to let justice roll down like water, let there be justice for all people, the poor who were neglected, the orphans and the widows left to fend for themselves.  These were in violation of everything God had taught them, they lived in total rebellion to the one true God of Israel.  And let righteousness flow like an ever flowing stream...  The righteous were few and far between in the Northern kingdom, they followed the lead of the evil kings, and there were many of them who did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.  Let us remember that going through religious motions will not please God, He is looking for true worship and true righteousness, and real justice in His people, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

What is the Spiritual condition of your heart today?  What is it that drives you and motivates you in this life?  I pray the answer is God, that God is the driving force in your life, you wake up with Him, you walk with Him all day, and you go to bed in prayer with Him as well.  Here in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount He is explaining how easy it is to get off track and allow the world to take control of your life.  Jesus says that we should be seeking the Kingdom of God first in our life, that His Kingdom should be our number one priority as we head toward eternity.  The Lord tells it like it is, for if your treasure is in things of this world, money and material things, your focus is all wrong for all these things are fleeting and will fade away in time, and they will not go with you when you die.  Money is a root of all kinds of evil, money has a real tendency to separate a person from God and others.  Jesus tells us here in this section of His sermon that we should be focused rigthly upon the Kingdom and all our worries and cares will fade away, we will no longer be anxious for the things of this world, as a matter of fact they will be added to you.  Money cannot solve all of our problems, having a lot of material goods does not make us happy, but a relationship with Jesus does.  Jesus takes the worry away, and He fills our heart with His peace, His Joy, and His love so that we can walk by faith in step with the Spirit daily, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

When we think of our earthly father, each one of us probably has our own memories of who he is or was, how kind and gentle he might have been, or maybe he was just not a very nice person.  Maybe you never knew your earthly father, or you did not have a close relationship with him, however your perception of your father might be, we can know that God is the perfect father in Heaven.  Our father in Heaven is 100% absolute perfection, He is kind, gentle, merciful, filled with grace, and most importantly He is love, perfect love.  Sadly people often see God as this white bearded old man who is always angry, but that is not the case, God does get angry, His words tell us that in certain situations God gets quite fired up, but that is not who He is.  The Psalmist here tells us that just like a good earthly father shows compassion upon his children, so God shows compassion upon those who fear Him.   Because of who God is, the creator of the universe, the creator of all things that were ever made, the creator of you and me, God deserves to be feared, held in total awe, held in the highest of esteem.  
       Today, think about your relationship with God, is it what it should be, is it an intimate, loving relationship?  If we will take the time to get to know God, spend time with God, we will then understand just how amazing He is, far above anyone or anything you can imagine.  God is your awesome perfect father in Heaven and He loves you, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Sinner?  It is when we come to the realization that we are a sinner, a fallen human being with a sinful nature who is in desperate need of a Savior, it is then that we can come to the Lord in full repentance for salvation.  And John the Apostle here gives us some very good news, if we confess our sins, willingly tell God we have fallen short, missed the mark, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.  Do you see the simplicity of this action?  We confess our sins, and God forgives us... No religious jirations to go through, no hoops to jump through, you confess, He forgives.  But God doesn't stop there, He is also more than ready to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, God takes it a step further, He forgives and then He cleanses us of all unrighteousness, wipes the slate clean, all is taken care of, we are washed white as snow even though our sins were crimson red.  
       If today, you know that you have sinned and messed up and you feel unworthy, know that God sees you, He knows your heart and He is ready to take you and hold you and forgive all your sins, all you need do is confess those sins to Him and He will forgive you.  Cry out to the Lord, ask Him to forgive you, repent of your unrighteous behavior and God will forgive and cleanse you.  Oh the Mercy and Grace of God, He loves you too much to leave you where you are, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

As the apostle Paul reveals the truth of freedom in Christ Jesus by showing the Corithian church how those who were with Moses in the wilderness remained captive in their own hearts through rebellion against God, we can see the true reality of our own freedom in the Lord.  People look at Christianity as restrictive and boring, that the Lord uses this relationship with Him to restrict us from living a life we might truly enjoy.  But that is absolutely not true, there is, as our verse today states, freedom in the Lord.  Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom, freedom from sin, from death, from Hell for all of those are bondage which keeps us from living and knowing real life, real freedom in our Lord.  
       When I get up in the morning, I already know it will be a good day because I have the Lord walking through this life with me, for I know the Son is going to shine down on me.  Our freedom is not based on living the way I choose, but in living the way my Lord chooses to guide me, knowing He will never lead me to any place that is not of Him.  My freedom is measured in blessings from above, not by what the world sees as a good time.  When we surrender our lives to Christ Jesus, we are instantly granted full freedom from the bondage of this world as we are transformed by the renewing of our mind.  Today, have the mind of Christ, live in His freedom, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

The apostle John, as he writes this, his first epistle to the church, he is very plainly telling those reading this letter that they need to be humble, honest, open, and real.  How can we say we are a Chrisitan, that meaning we have faith in Christ, we are walking with Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and yet we are not honest with others, we lie, we lack humility being afraid to be vulnerable, the door to our failures is closed to all, and all of this shows that we are not being real with ourselves, real with others, and sadly we are not being real with God.  John tells us right here, whoever says he abides in Him (Christ Jesus), ought to walk in the same way in which He walked, can you honestly say you are walking as Jesus did?
      Humility leads to honesty, how can anyone say, "I am a follower of Christ Jesus and lie to people's faces and think nothing of it?  Or how can a person live a life that is not pleasing to God and act like they are holier than thou?  When we put up a facade, thus hiding the real person, this is called hypocrisy, you have become two different people, one person when no one is around and another when you are with Christians...  Do you think God does not see the "REAL" you?  Do you think God does not hear the lies you tell?  Remember, God looks at the heart, not what appears on the outside, God desires humility and honesty, God desires to see the "REAL" you all the time, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

We are in the Gospel of John, chapter fifteen,  where Jesus explains through the analogy of the vine and the branches the relationship believers have with Him.  Without the vine the branch cannot live on its own and will therefore produce no fruit.  True life flows out of the vine into the branches.  And then the Lord says to His disciples "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you".  Now we know from knowing Christ, He loved perfectly, and of course He did, He is God, but how are we to love like He did then and still does today?   The simple answer is we cannot, we are mere human beings with very limited capacity to do what Jesus did, but if we live the life He has prescribed for us to live, following Him, and letting the Holy Spirit of God lead our lives we will let His love flow right through us.  And having been filled with the Spirit our life is changed. It more readily follows now that it has been transformed by the renewing of our mind to be like Jesus, to live like Jesus, to love like Jesus.  Our life in Christ Jesus should be evidenced by the way we love others, how we treat others.  If Jesus is in us, He will flow out of us, Jesus Saves! 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

God is very clear about what He expects from His people, He has laid out His expectations from the beginning of time, love God and love others.  And here the Prophet Micah gives more detail in regard to how we are to love others and he begins with He has told you, O man, you already know this, this is nothing new by the time the prophet stated this.  This prophet spoke to Judah for some fifty years, those years were prosperous but the people were not living according to what God had laid out for them.  They knew the right thing to do and refused to do it, they did all the 'religious' practices, but their hearts were not in it.  And what they failed to do was to honor God with upright lives, justice was skewed, the least of the kingdom were overlooked, left behind and ignored.  The people were not kind to each other, they did as they pleased and were not loving others as God had prescribed, but loved themselves far more.  And humility was nowhere to be found, people were arrogant, prideful and self consumed, much like today in our nation, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and most people just do not care.  God demands justice, and it will be handed down in the end, God is kind even if the world is not, and God hates pride and will humble those who exalt themselves.  God will have the last word when all is said and done, where will you be standing?  Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

 Live for God.  As the apostle Peter writes here in his epistle, this portion deals with how we steward God's good grace, are we living a right life, or are we still living in the world and like the world.  When we are Born Again God calls out of a life of debauchery and constant sin and into a life of holiness and righteousness.  We have been transformed from the old self to the new self by the love, mercy and grace of God, we are therefore to be living for God.  We have been called to live a life that is sober minded and self controlled, leaving the old life behind, in the past, dead in its tracks, not to be taken up again.  And, if we are to live for God, we are to love like God, loving each other genuinely and earnestly, for when we do this we can know that love covers a multitude of sins.  When we love rightly as God loves us we will love others, help others, forgive others, have mercy on others and pour out grace upon others, that is living for God.
       God is love, and we love because God loved us first and we as Christians, followers of Christ Jesus are to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and we are to love others as we love ourselves, these are commandments from the Lord.  Love is the center of who God is, and love should be the center of who we are in Christ Jesus, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

The apostle Paul has just given those reading this letter real reason for Hope in Christ Jesus, even though there is suffering in this life, that means nothing in comparison to the future hope we have in the Lord.  Life is unpredictable, it has a tendency to throw things at us that can stop us in our tracks wondering what now, what's next?  But when we stand firm in our faith, and we walk by faith rather than by sight we know nothing even comes close to our God, He is awesome, He is powerful, and He is our Rock that cannot be moved or changed.  We can therefore say without hesitation, if God is for us, who can be against us, is there anyone or anything that can over power God and His promises?  Remember that the man who penned this letter to the believers in Rome suffered greatly at the hands of the Judaizers, they hated him, they stirred up all kinds of trouble for him, having him beaten, jailed, stoned to death, and more, and yet he nor His faith were phased by any of it, as a matter of fact, his faith grew stronger the more they persecuted him for Christs sake.  
       Today, no matter what you might be going through, if your faith is in Christ Jesus, you have a guaranteed future ahead of you, you can indeed stand upon the promises of God knowing you are a child of the most high God, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Throughout the Word of God we read of people in all different situations, life threatening circumstances, and God is there to protect them.  As well, we read of the promises of God where He gives His assurance that things will turn out OK, God has them covered.  Even as the Hebrews were led out of slavery in Egypt, God protected them, led them through the parted Red Sea, and provided for them day and night as they walked through the wilderness for some forty years.  And when they came up against a mighty foe, God would win the battle for them.  Here the Prophet Isaiah gives two examples of how God will protect His people, when they are in deep water and drowning is a distinct possibility, God will keep them above water.  Or when the children of God are facing a fiery situation, He will protect them there as well, keeping them from the flames that would otherwise consume them.  
       This is what God does, He is faithful to always deliver His people from sure destruction.  Most of us can look back upon our own lives and see the hand of God keeping us from serious injury or even death as we were doing things that were not in our best interest.  The Lord is our deliverer, our protection, our strong tower in times of need, He is always with us, He will never leave us or forsake us, lean on God, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

What is the greatest of all the commandments?  Deuteronomy 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might", you shall love.  God is very intentional in how He teaches us to live the life He created for us, we were created out of love, to love and to be loved, love is central to the life of a human being.  The word of God talks a lot about love, Jesus talked about love, and here the apostle Paul has an indepth look at love and what love is and is not.  Let us remember love is not an emotion, emotions come and go, they fade, and they are fully dependent upon our circumstances. Love is truly a state of being which allows us to love like God loves, being patient in love, being patient with the ones we love, and being patient in how we treat others.  Love is kind, we choose to be kind, kindness is a fruit of the Spirit it is an attribute of who we are in Christ Jesus, the Lord shows us kindness everyday, therefore we are to be kind as well.  Love does not envy or boast, it is not prideful, self-centered, or selfish, love looks out for others first, thinking more of them rather than self.  And love is not arrogant, believing 'I' am better than others, we should not think more of ourselves than we ought, always humble thinking of others first.  We love because God loved us first, let us exhibit the love of God in every aspect of our lives, Jesus Saves! 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Faith, living out your faith, it is an adventure for sure, and my faith requires that I seek the Lord's guidance, knowledge and wisdom daily to walk in the Spirit and to endure all this world has to throw at me. We will have trials, tribulations, temptations, these are all part of this world we live in. It is fallen, sinful, wicked and evil, afterall it is overseen by the Prince of this world, that being Satan himself. But, as James tells us, if you lack wisdom, ask God, Solomon did just that and was considered the most wise man of his time. God is more than willing to give all the wisdom you can absorb, all you can take in, you need only ask and it will be given. 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Waiting is one thing most people do not enjoy doing, you have to wait at the doctors office, in line at the store, in line to get cheap gasoline, maybe you are waiting for that dream job, or a spouse to come along, we all know waiting can be brutal. But when we wait upon the Lord, we can rest assured He will answer our prayers, He is faithful to hear and respond, and when we wait, it is well worth it. The Psalmist writes here to wait for the Lord, and while you are waiting be strong... Not always the easiest thing to do, oftentimes we are in tears while we wait, maybe even a little impatient. And the Psalmist continues, and let your heart take courage, courage comes in different forms depending upon the circumstance. John Wayne said courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway. If we are leaning on God and His understanding, we need to trust that He is doing what is necessary to make your prayer come to be, sometimes it takes a while. And then again, in Godly fashion, the call to wait is repeated, when we see commands, ideas, requests repeated in Scripture it means it is important, we are to take notice and let our heart be still and know that God is working in our favor. So today, if you are waiting for God to answer your petition, keep waiting, be strong, and let your heart take courage, waiting is hard, but with God it is well worth the wait, Jesus Saves! 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

This is the eight of the Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and it is one that most people in our nation have never truly experienced.  After the Ascension of the Lord back to Heaven, persecution of the Church began, James the brother of John was killed by Heron, Stepehn was stoned to death by the Religious Leaders, and it has continued for all these years.  today the worst persecution of Christians is in Muslim countries and in Africa, where people who place their faith in Christ are killed for that reason alone.  Jesus says that Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, those who stand up for Godly principles, those who protect the weak, the orphans and the widows, and believe in Him  Now let us not confuse persecution with consequences, persecution comes for doing the right thing, the Godly thing, the Christ centered thing.  Whereas consequences, they come from our own wrongdoing.  Our world is changing rapidly, protection of religious freedoms in our country are  starting to be chipped away, the intolerant of our nation demand we tolerate ungodly, down right wickedness or else.  we must stand our ground, even if it means we are persecuted, or even killed.  If our faith in Christ leads us to death, so be it, I would rather die with Jesus than deny him and go to Hell, Jesus Saves! 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called Sons of God. At first glance it might seem insignificant, but being a peacemaker is a very valued achievement, it brings people into reconciliation with each other and it is beautiful. When we are a party to helping others be reconciled, it takes courage, humility and a lot of prayer, but when it happens it is like Heaven. It is not enough to be a peacekeeper because that can be done through force and domination. Being a peacemaker requires mercy and grace and a lot of love, it requires Godliness on all parts involved. Years ago, I had two people in my life, a pastor and a young man who had lied to the pastor, and they were at odds with each other. They were no longer speaking or even seeing each other, it was ugly. Having known both of them as friends, I felt that it was my duty to bring them back together, there must be a reconciliation. it worked, it actually worked far better than I anticipated, God was in our midst helping along the way, they were brought back together. When we strive for peace in God's way it always works out for the best. Making peace is what the Lord is all about, being at peace is far better than strife, Jesus is our best example, Jesus Saves! 

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

When I think of this Beatitude, it reminds me of the psalm David wrote after sinning with Bathsheba, and killing her husband, as he had been found out, confronted by the Prophet Nathan, and David was brought to his knees and he said I have sinned against God.  Then he wrote, create me a clean heart O' God, it is so beautiful to read those words, to pray those words when we know we have failed and need to clean up our hearts a bit, Lord, create in me a clean heart, make me pure again in your eyes.  If we are honest we do not see ourselves as pure, we know that we have sinned, we have a sinful fallen nature that drives us to do things that do not please God.  But God, God in His infinite mercy makes a way for us to come into right relationship with Him, where He will redeem us, forgive us, justify us, and save us from the wrath to come when we place our faith and trust in His Son Christ Jesus.  When we become a Born Again Christian, we have been cleansed in the blood of Christ, washed white as snow, our sins are gone, and when God looks upon us... He sees a child of God who is pure of heart.  Jesus isn't saying you have to be perfect, we cannot be perfect until we have wholly sanctified and we are in His presence in Heaven, until then, we are called to live a life that is pleasing to Him, trusting Him and obeying Him, walking in step with the Holy Spirit of God and chasing after His righteousness daily, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Every one of us has sinned, fallen short of the Glory of God in so many ways, we each deserve to be punished for our transgressions... But God, God has chosen mercy instead by sending His only son to come to live on earth among sinful men and to take our punishment and to die a criminal's death, the death that each one of us deserved to receive. Acts of wrongdoing have consequences, sometimes very severe consequences, and God looked upon mankind and saw that there was only one way for them to be redeemed and brought back into a right relationship with Him, that being the perfect sacrifice of His Son, this is mercy of the greatest magnitude. Jesus here relates this to us in His Sermon on the Mount, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

This Beatitude truly envelopes how the Lord stresses that we should have a strong desire for righteousness, as strong as our desire for bread and water.  Jesus tells us that He is the bread of life, truly the sustenance that will keep us going strong, that He is the living water that will quench our thirst daily.  And here in this promise from the Lord He states that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied... Do you wake up each morning hungering for righteousness?  Do you have a strong desire to go deeper in your relationship with God?  Are you Thirsting after God like you do a drink of water on a hot day?  Are you like the deer in Psalm 42:1 "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God"?  Or can you relate to the Psalmist in the next verse, Psalm 42:2 "My soul thirsts for God, or the living God.  When shall I come and appear before God?  Do these verses describe the relationship you have with the living God, the creator of the universe?  The one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness seeks the face of God every day, and desires to do His will throughout their life.  The desires for righteousness are every bit as strong or stronger than  the need for food and water, Jesus Saves!        

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Beatitude number three, another opportunity to be blessed of God, blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Meekness, although the world would describe being meek as a person who lacks the ability to stay strong, even considered weak, that is not what it means.  Meekness is often described as strength under pressure, but it is really more than that, it is a person who has the ability to stay composed in heated situations, one who can resist the urge to get angry or mad when most people would be enraged.  A meek person is not easily agitated, they are mild mannered yet firm and capable of handling most all circumstances they encounter.  Jesus is our best example of a meek person, even though He was pressed hard by certain people on a regular basis He did not react to their aggressiveness with His own aggressiveness, He reacted in a composed,  self controlled way.  
       We can learn a lot from studying how the Lord handled Himself in all of life's situations, He was tempted just like we are to do things that would be unbecoming of a man of God, and He resisted, He stayed true to who He is.  Let us always walk in faith, in step with the Holy Spirit, and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in how we walk through this life, it is a challenge but with the Spirit's help we can do it, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Another of the Beatitudes, Jesus speaking on a grassy knoll on the Sea of Galilee, and He is on fire teaching things that are not only hard to hear, but even harder to live by.  The Sermon on the Mount, the readings in Matthew chapters 5-7 is one of the most amazing messages for us to read, to learn and to live out.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted, again like the first one blessed are those who are poor in Spirit, this is not about mourning death or grieving the loss of a loved one.  This is about you and I mourning our own natural bent toward sinfulness, we grieve the fact we keep on doing things that are against what God has said is wrong.  But when we mourn our fallenness, it shows the Lord that we are repentant, that we feel bad for our wrongdoing.  Like when David was confronted by Nathan the Prophet, David was brought to a place where he realized his sin was a sin against God.  Our sins, when we hate other people, when we curse others with the same tongue we bless God with, when we are unkind, ungrateful, and so many other sins, they are all against God.  
       If you are a Born Again Christian, and you have allowed that sinful nature to come to the surface, and you find yourself in mourning over that sinfulness, know that not only are you forgiven, but God will comfort you, He knows your heart.  Jesus died on a cross to pay your sin debt, even the sin you committed today, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

Again, here we are in the Sermon on the Mount, teaching from the Lord Himself, teaching that is antithetical to everything the world stands for.  Jesus' message is for the true believer, for the one who desires to have a deep, intimate relationship with Him.  Understanding this message and living it out as He prescribes requires surrender, commitment, and a great deal of humility.  Here in the Lord's statement, 'blessed are the poor in Spirit' is often thoroughly misunderstood.  This has nothing to do with poverty in the sense of finances, goods or material things, it has everything to do with knowing you are Spiritually bankrupt and have nothing to offer the Lord in any way.  It is a realization that you need the Lord in every aspect of your life, you are fully dependent upon Him.  This requires humility, for without humility you can not have a real relationship with the Lord, for humility puts you in the right mindset and heart posture to live a Christ centered life.  
       When we come to that place where we have been humbled, and we are broken hearted, have a contrite heart, knowing that everything we need is in Christ Jesus, it is then we are in the place He wants us to be, it is then that we are walking in the Kingdom of God.  Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, lean on Him and His understanding, and know that Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145

The psalmist laments his current condition, it seems as though the whole world is closing in on him and he has no place to go, life has gotten extremely difficult.  He can feel the darkness within himself, he even asks his inward being, why are you cast down, O my soul?  He is deeply disturbed by his circumstance, his soul is feeling deeply depressed, part of him has lost sight of hope, darkness seems to be closing in all about him.  And he continues to question, his heart is turmoil within him, this is a very difficult place to be, almost like you are in a deep pit with no way of escape...
       But then he has a moment of clarity that brings him back to reality, he knows that God will take care of him, he knows this is only a temporary situation, this too will pass, Hope in God.  How often do we allow our temporary sadness and distress to get us down to a point of almost going into a depression over things that are truly not all that important, they will pass on, things will get better, it is not the end of the world, Hope in God.  For I again shall praise Him, my salvation and my God, this life is like a vapor, speeding by and then it is gone, but our Hope in God is eternal, our future is in Him, not in this world.  This world is not my home, I'm just passing through, lean on the Lord and His understanding and know your Hope is in God, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Roy
702-219-0145