My Praise Will Not Quit

Greetings, my friends, in the name of Jesus!
I pray all is well with each and every one of you. The Lord has been at me since last year about my redemption. He has given me a message to tell others, and in obedience, that is exactly what I will keep on doing — I will keep telling about my redemption!

Therefore, I just had to let you know that my praise will not quit and I pray that your praise will not quit! In case you are wondering why I am talking about not letting our praise quit, let me break it down for you (with the help of Rev. Dr. Beecher Hicks):

1) Our praise should not quit because God favors us with unexpected blessings;
2) Our praise should not quit because when we are favored with God’s blessings, it is obvious to others that we are blessed;
3) Our praise should not quit because when we are blessed, the people in our circle “get it”; they too get blessed!

Psalm 107:2 says: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” (KJV) I will keep on saying so and I pray you will do the same! My heart has been dancing with joy!

God bless,
Therese

I Have A Pep In My Step - I am Grateful!

I am still dancing to the songs of Bishop Hezekiah Walker (God Favors Me, I Am Souled Out, and a few others). I was in attendance at St. Stephen’s Church for a concert featuring Bishop Walker last Saturday evening. One song just keeps resonating in my mind and that is the song, Grateful. I am not a singer, but I know the angels are singing with me!

Here are the lyrics:

I am
Grateful for the things
That you have done
Yes, I'm grateful for the vic-tories we've won
I could go on and on and on
About your works
Because I'm grateful, grateful, so grateful
Just to praise you lord
Flowing from my heart
Are the issues of my heart
It's Gratefulness
Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, Grateful, Gratefulness
It's flowing from my heart
Flowing from my heart
Are the issues of my heart
It's Gratefulness


Grateful means to be obliged, appreciative, thankful, indebted. I am indeed indebted to my Christ Savior, for He sacrificed His life so I can receive the free gift of salvation! I am appreciative and obliged and thankful to my Father because He supplies All my needs; He turns my sorrow into joy; He is my rock on which I stand; He is the King of kings and Lord of lords; He is my deliverer and redeemer; He is my friend in time of trouble; my Lord just gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by!! I can certainly go on and on and on, but you know what I am talking about.

Friends, let us treat our Lord as if we are indeed grateful to Him. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath delivered from the hand of the enemy. (Psalm 107:2)

Be blessed,
Therese from Belize

Why Is The Redeemed Not Saying So?

I am a woman who have been redeemed by the Lord, a sinner who was once lost, but now found, a child who once left home, but has now returned. Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.“ (KJV) Notice, friends, let the redeemed of the Lord say so… not the redeemed of man, not the redeemed of momma, not the redeemed of daddy, not the redeemed of granny or granddaddy, but the redeemed of the Lord!
Before I could get into the message of being redeemed, I looked in the King James Reference for the word “redemption” and it gives me a simple definition, “salvation by sacrifice”. In other words, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came and redeemed the world by the sacrifice of His blood.
In Hebrew “Redeem” means to regain possession of
Other definitions I found: Save from sin, restore the honor or worth of; to rescue, to recover, to deliver from (King James online reference)

What does Salvation by sacrifice do? It restores our honor or worth of. In other words, God sent His only begotten Son to restore our honor and worth. For my sisters, we are restored to queens, restored to royalty, we are joint heirs with Christ. This is where we say thank you Father.

Let me tell you of a true example of redemption…the Samaritan woman at the well. Yes, that’s right, the woman at the well. Powerful conversation between that Samaritan woman and Jesus. I read the King James version, but I want to break this down simple, so I went to my study Bible, the New Century Version. John 4, Verses 16-18, “Jesus told her go get your husband and come back here. The woman answered, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, you are right to say you have no husband. Really, you have had five husbands, and the man you live with now is not your husband, You told the truth. And the conversation continued and she recognized Jesus as someone special, she asked him if he were a prophet. She knew the Messiah was coming and Jesus told her, “I am He”. You know the story, the disciples showed up, they were surprised. Now, here is where she run tell dat…she went back to town and told the people all about Jesus, so they all left to come and see Jesus. Many saw, many heard, many believed. Many came to Christ. True redemption, my friends, redemption, my Sisters. You see, Jesus did not judge her because of her past, but He made her so comfortable, He gave her the free gift, that is, redemption through salvation.
Sisters, what keeps the redeemed from saying so? Why do we say by mouth we are redeemed but we do not run and tell anyone what our Lord and Savior has delivered us from? Our Lord and Savior Jesus was crucified for our sins. Jesus went through all the pain and suffering so we can be redeemed and yet still we do not open our mouths to let the world know that we have been redeemed.
Let me answer this for you, from experience, I am answering.
1) Our past. Ashamed of how we used to live in the past;
2) Guilt. This is when we have done something to someone and we never asked that person for forgiveness;
3) Idea of unforgivable sins – abortion, adultery, abuse;
4) Image issues - physical scars on our bodies, gaining weight, surgeries;
5) Waiting for perfection to say so. Try to change first because telling someone of God’s goodness and forgiveness and love for His people.

My friends, before I truly got serious in my walk with Christ, I was that woman who went to the well… Yes, I was all of those things I just told you about. I have been there, done that—my past, yes, guilt, yes, unforgivable sin-yes, image issue – don’t even talk about that, yes, waiting for perfection- yes. But see, we serve such an awesome Savior that me too me had that conversation with Christ one fateful Sunday morning at the well (in the parking lot of Crossroad Christian Church in Lexington, KY). All glory and honor to God, I am proud to say, to yell, to jump and run and let you know I am redeemed.
My friends, are you redeemed? Are you redeemed? Are you redeemed?

It is not the clothes, not the house, not the car, not your money, the job, oh no, it is Christ’s mercy and grace that hath redeemed us.
If you are not redeemed, now is the time to get redeemed, today is the day, do it today, do not delay.
Redemption is simple and easy. Just go back and re-read John 4. God redeems us through:
1) His power – Deuteronomy 7:8
2) Christ’s blood – Ephesians 1:7
3) God’s grace – Romans 3:24-25

What is even more beautiful is that there are benefits to being redeemed. In these crazy times, redemption pays.
It pays because:
1) We are Forgiven. When we are forgiven God wipes our slate clean; no one can throw anything in our face. We have been found not guilty.
2) We receive an Inheritance – inheritance not only for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren and for everyone that is associated in our circle. That neighbor who is struggling, that co-worker with problems, the husband or wife who is acting the fool. Let us not be selfish, let our children be blessed.
3) We receive Eternal Life – most importantly. We will have a room in God’s mansion!

My friends, as I close, let me remind you, Christ is coming, you best believe and He is coming soon. I do not know when, I do not know the hour. All I know is that He is coming. I suggest you get redeemed before He comes because He will come like a thief in the night. Will you be redeemed?
God bless.
Ta ta,
Therese from Belize

You Don't Need A Man Who Will Not Speak Up For You - Rev. Dr. Felix G. Williams, III

My friends, I have been convicted by the Holy Spirit. I have been meditating on the sermon preached by my Pastor, Rev. Dr. Felix G. Williams, III on June 27, 2010. I could not help but to reflect back on my life and how far God has brought me. To God Be The Glory.

Rev. Williams spoke to the women directly, telling us we need praying, anointed men in our lives. As women, we need men who will speak up for us, men who will call out our names to the Lord. I agree with Rev. Williams wholeheartedly. This sermon brought me to a place of thanksgiving. I thank God for releasing me from the grip of men who were too ashamed to pray for me, men who did not stand up for me, men who abused me, men who only misused me. James 5:16 tells us, "Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

I did not stop there with Rev. Williams’ message. I went on and did some research on domestic abuse. I found that one out of three Black women and one out of four White women will become a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime. I currently have 217 friends on my Facebook page, of which 105 are women. Two out of every seven girls/women on my Facebook page will be or have been a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime. Think about that my friends. I have already counted myself in that statistics.

My Sisters, we need to get strong. We need to begin to stand on the promises of the Lord. We need to understand that we are covered by the blood of our Lord and Savior. Sisters, God promises us a new beginning, all we have to do is call on His name, ask for whatever we need, in the name of Jesus and it will be given to us.

My brothers, take responsibility and start standing up for your family, your wife, your girlfriend. Rev. Williams asserted that men are abandoning their responsibilities. Stop the abandonment, become a God’s man, a praying man, an anointed man. You can start by going to the Lord in prayer for yourself and then for your family, for your loved ones. Men, stop taking the easy route, that is, stop giving up so easily and leaving your family to go and shack up with some other woman and her kids. Put a ring on your woman’s finger, if she is not the one, let her go. My Sisters, if a man is not going to put a ring on your finger, let him go. It is the will of God that men and women live in holy matrimony, not in sinful abode.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate”, says the Lord. (NIV)

My friends, Rev. Williams said, and I agree, that the devil tries to come to you with somebody who can manipulate your weakness. This is when you need to separate yourself. Pray and meditate upon God's word and sanctify yourself daily (Rev. Dr. Felix G. Williams, III, Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church).

The Quest for Spiritual Maturity

My friends, I pray all is well.

Today, I woke up with thanksgiving in my heart. I looked out the window and what a beautiful day I saw! I had no idea that God was preparing me for fellowship with a friend. She came over to deliver me some products I had ordered and one thing led to another, next thing I know we were sitting around the counter sharing testimonies and praising God. The Spirit showed up in our midst. I thank God for using me to share my testimony with others, to tell my story of how good God has been to me, despite what my enemies have tried to do to me, despite the struggles that come my way, despite the ups and downs that come in living in this world where a lot of my brothers and sisters are still not listening to Him.

She said, "Therese, there have been times I know you were going through some things, but you always kept that smile and always had a good word to share". When she said that I started praising God because what that tells me is that I am becoming spiritually mature. That's what I am striving for, spiritual maturity. I thank God that His light in shining in and through me. Hebrews 5:13-14 say, "Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby and knows nothing about right teaching. But solid food is for those who are grown up. They are mature enough to know the difference between good and evil. (New Century Version)

As we continued sharing, I clearly heard my pastor's, Rev. Dr. Williams, voice replaying in my head, "spiritual maturity allows us to walk in forgiveness; it has to do with how we handle the folk we hurt and those who hurt us; spiritual maturity has to do with loving people at the level God wants us to love them, the way He expects us to love them." Rev. Williams said that we are not spiritually mature when we cannot hold our friends accountable to doing what is right. He asked, "how can we claim to love God, yet we hold grudges and seek to tear others down?" (Looking For Friends In All The Wrong Places, 5/30/10)

My friends, we should be striving for spiritual maturity. I tell you, we are blocking our blessings when we hold grudges and when we try to bring down our brothers and sisters. We are still feeding on milk when we cannot ask God to forgive us of our sins and to forgive those who do wrong against us. We are still feeding on milk when we hear the Word but turn our backs, we are still feeding on milk when we hear but do not do what God wants us to do.

We can gain spiritual maturity by practicing what the Word tells us to do; doing what God wants us to do. We get spiritually mature when we study God's Word and the Spirit brings us understanding so that we can go out and practice and teach what we have studied. Spiritual maturity comes when we let the Spirit rule in our lives.
I just thank God that He is walking with me each day as I strive for spiritual maturity. I know one thing, I cannot do God's will if I stay as a babe in Christ, feeding on milk. Lord, please let me be a doer of your Word, please let me discern what is good and what is evil, please let your Spirit rule and abide in me, in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.

God bless.
Therese from Belize

The Spirit of Truth

My friends, I pray all is well with you.

I have been looking forward to attending Bible Study today. When you have that relationship with God (note I say "relationship", not "fellowship"), He sends a Helper, that is, the Spirit of Truth. In the Gospel according to John, Chapter 14:15-17, Jesus said, "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (KJV) Praise God.

The devil has been attacking, I have been battling, but I know that the blessing that God will send will be bigger than the battle the devil has tried to wage with me. I will remain in Christ because He promises me that I can ask for anything I want, and it will be given to me (John 15:7). My friends, Jesus is telling us, do not be afraid to ask God for what we want, we just have to stay in submission to His will. There is no need to turn to anyone else, but God for what you need.

Heavenly Father, I turn to you for help in this battle with Satan. Lord, please let Satan release his filthy hold on everything he has stolen from me and is still trying to take from me, in the name of Jesus. I will stay close to the Spirit of Truth and I will keep loving and obeying the Lord's commands because God has sent me my Helper to be with me forever-the Spirit of Truth. Glory.

My friends, don't let Satan mess with you, turn to Jesus and ask Him for your Helper.

God bless,
Therese from Belize

I Will Just Stand

My friends, greetings in the precious name of Jesus!

This message is for those of us who have given all we can and yet it seems to be not enough. Do you know what I am talking about? Day in and day out, you give your best, day in and day out, you try to be a better person, but it seems like it is still not enough. I have had enough and now I am at the point where I will just stand. So, today, I mediated on God's word. Specifically, 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, where Paul wrote, "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." (NIV) I needed to hear those words. I needed that encouragement today.

One of Donnie McClurkin's song came to mind and I began to listen, After You Have Done All You Can.
Donnie sings in the chorus:
"Well you just stand
when there's nothing left to do you just stand
Watch the Lord see you through,
Yes after you done all you can,
You just stand."

My friends, that is exactly what I am doing, I am standing because I will not be entangled in the bondage that I was once tangled in. I am standing on the promises of Christ. I am standing through the hurt and the pain, through the rain and through the storm, I am standing for all women whose hearts have been heavy laden, who have been used and misused, I am standing for women who are in bondage and praying that they will be able to stand because up God will step in. When there is nothing left for you to do, just stand.


God bless,
Therese from Belize