Come Alive

By Gayle Bragg Johnson

A new wind is blowing. I smell the rain in the air. Rain to refresh us is coming. There has been a shift in the heavenlies. Change is in the air. 

More than a change in the President has happened in the U.S.  There has been a shift in the heavenly realm. The Church, long ago lulled to sleep by the song of seduction by the New Age movement is stirring from it's slumber. Our eyes are being opened and we are stretching, getting ready to face a new day. 

The Armies of God are massing and preparing for war. Christians are tired of being accused of being "haters" because we don't agree with the world's lifestyle. We believe in God's Word. We will follow Gods word. 

God's sons and daughters are strapping on their armor, preparing for battle. I call my brothers to rise up, you mighty men of valor, the way God called up Gideon. 

“When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.””  Judges‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭

He called up also the mighty warrior Deborah. “Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him.”  Judges‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭

God is with you and will go ahead of you. 

"I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.”  Joshua‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭ 

It's time, Church. Time to rise up and reclaim what we gave away. As Ezekiel prophesied to the dry bones, I call out to God to breathe life back into the Church. 

“Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.”‭‭. Ezekiel‬ ‭37:9-10‬ ‭

Breathe oh breath of God. Breathe. 

Let's Be Holy

By Gayle Bragg Johnson

I was communing with God this morning after reading and praying. I had asked God to speak and I was listening. I always ask what He wants me to say. He started telling me that we are His ambassadors and that we should be holy because He is holy.

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Since you call on a Father who judges each personʼs work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 1:15-21 NIV

How is it we REALLY represent The LORD in our daily lives? How do others see Him through us? What kind of ambassadors are we? We need to be holy as He is Holy. Be a great ambassador. Not just an ok one. Or a good one. We represent the King. Let's be holy. 

Let Peace Begin With Me

"Peaceful does not mean easy. Jesus did not promise us easy. He promised us help."
-Kevin Russell

Click here to hear this morning's message on finding peace in our turbulent world.
Kevin Russel preaching, see below for PowerPoint slides not pictured.

Clean Closets

By Gayle Johnson

Cleaning out my closet is never easy. I'm always afraid if I get rid of something that I will need it later. Even if I haven't worn it in years, I can't seem to get rid of it. 

Lately, I have felt like God is cleaning out my spiritual closet. He is removing people who are gathering dust and taking up space in my life. I want to hang on to it, and so I get upset and angry about what I see as betrayal. I argue that God doesn't know what it is like to be betrayed by someone close to me. 

WHAT??? Did I really just say that???  Instantly Judas and Peter come to mind. And I realized just why God came to earth in human form. In addition to dying for my sins, He also came so I could be assured that He DOES know how I feel. Been there. Done that. Wrote the book on it. 

Still, prying things out of my hands is not pretty. Or easy. It hurts. I flash back to the lessons learned sitting by my mothers hospital bed while she was dying. As I held her hand, I asked God to end her suffering and take her hand.  I then heard a gentle voice inside me say, "I can't take hold of her hand until you let go."  BAM. Right between the eyes. Suddenly, it was my move. 

Surrender was my only option. Sure God could have taken my mother before that. He's God. He controls the universe. But He wanted ME to surrender. Yes, I still miss my mother. But she is in Paradise now. And I love her enough to let her go. 

I know that if God is removing something or someone from my life, it is to make room for something better. Joe cleaned some things out of our closet the other day. They were my fathers things. He said 3 years is long enough. It was time to move on. I don't know what God has in store for me, but I know He is making room for something. Help me to surrender, Lord. 

What time is it?

By Gayle Johnson

 I'm a procrastinator. It's a character flaw (one of many). Why do today what I can put off until tomorrow?  There's always more time. Until there isn't any more time.
By not making a decision, you ARE making a decision. And it is always NO.Some things don't really matter. Like where to eat dinner. Other times it can be life or death. And one decision can cost you your eternal soul. Or should I say, one LACK of a decision. The decision to follow, or not to follow, Christ.Sunday at church I saw the reality of this for some people. One minute my friend Linda is talking about thanking God after asking Him for something. "Claiming the Victory". The next minute she was slumped over the table and we were calling 911. Now, my friend, Linda, is a strong Christian woman, and I know if she were to be called home by God at that instant, that I would see her again in heaven. Of that, there is no doubt in my mind.But it got me to thinking. What about YOU?  If your heart were to stop in the next few seconds, do you know where you would spend eternity?John 14:6 NIVDid you see that? NO ONE. Jesus is the ONLY way. I'm not being "exclusionary".
God wants all people to come to him. If I am invited to a fabulous party, but I choose not to go, are the ones throwing the party being "exclusionary" because I choose not to go?  Absolutely not! It's my choice. And, it's your choice."Today is the day of salvation" 2 Corinthians 6:2"Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed wants to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28 NIV
The choice is yours. But time is running out. Make the wise decision. Our elders would be happy to talk to you about this, as would I.

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