"God's Reproach" 

 Proverbs 17:5 " He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker..."

Never forget that God is the foremost and staunchest defender of the poor, also of the widows, orphans, and prisoners. It is too easy to mock, judge, ridicule and belittle the poor. They are powerless. Almost always they have been marginalized, victimized and minimized due to no fault of their own. The needy are easy targets for scorn.

All people are made in God's image. To mock the poor is to mock God. Whatever we do or don't do to the "least of these" we do or don't do to God Himself. He said so. The homeless, hungry, addicted and mentally challenged are too often the recipients of derision and castigation. I encourage you to see the hurting by any description as Jesus sees them, and respond accordingly. Either that or risk mocking God, which l do not recommend.

In His Service to the poor, and the widows, orphans, and prisoners too,
Pastor Fred 

"Cover Me"

Proverbs 17:9 "He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends."

Wow, this is speaking volumes to my heart today. Let me share a few bullet points about this multi-faceted truth.

• We should do more covering than exposing of each other.
• It is a loving thing to do to not repeat things that don't really matter.
• Words can wound friendships. 
• Many matters shouldn't matter so much.
• When we are taking fire we need cover. 
• Minimize negativity in general.
• What the world needs now is love.
• If you really need to spread something, spread love.
• Love is a beautiful thing 
 
With His love and mine,
Pastor Fred

"Fervent Love" 

I Peter 1:22b "...love one another fervently with a pure heart."

Pretty straightforward and simple. Well, straightforward anyway. Love may be kinda simple but seldom easy. Especially when it comes to loving one another. So, let's define fervently and pure. Fervently is defined as... having or showing great warmth of intensity of spirit, feeling or enthusiasm. Pure is defined as... free from anything of a different, inferior or contaminating kind, free from extraneous matter.

So, fervently loving is a high-level commitment to excellence. A love like Jesus loves with. An unconditional love. Agape love. Willing to forgive, go the extra mile and to care with our whole hearts. Love one another fervently with a pure heart.

With His fervently pure love,
Pastor Fred 

"Walk Like Jesus" 

I John 1:6  "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."

There are a lot of verses in Scripture that encourage us to be like Jesus. Tall order. Impossible actually, but we ought to try harder. I can abide in Him, that is, live in Him, because He lives in me. In order to reflect Him l must let His light out of me. I should not trap Him inside me and only let Him out on Sundays, or when l am specifically speaking of Him. There should be a natural overflowing of Him out of me. More likely to happen when l am filled with Him. When l am conscious of Him it is so much easier to walk like Him. "Walk" in this verse refers to everything we do and say, everywhere we go. I can be more like Him, the more l abide in Him and allow Him to abide in me.

So, walk like Jesus today. More of what He would do, more of what He would say. More of where He would go. Enjoy your walk today.

In Him,
Pastor Fred 

 "Forgiven and Cleansed" 

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

This verse has been coming back to me again and again as l search my heart for maintaining a right relationship with God. God is love and God is light. God is truth and God is just. These truths assure me that my confession is safe with Him. His response to my admission of failure is almost inconceivable. He forgives, which is so gracious and merciful, but beyond that, He actually cleanses the very thing that prevents my right relationship with Him from me.

I am overwhelmed by His willingness to restore me. Certainly, there may come consequences with my sinful choices, but between me and Him, it is made new. That becomes my basis for a renewed heart and mind.
Just writing this to you has given me the opportunity to renew my relationship with Him. I am blessed. Immediately l want to love others, forgive others and show His grace and mercy and be His light.

Trust Him now with your sins. Don't carry the weight of guilt and shame and take that out on others and become self-defeating. Be free now. Claim this truth. You won't regret it. I didn't.

In His grip,
Pastor Fred

“How Long?”

Proverbs 1:22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge."

This verse reveals three classes of those needing wisdom, and the downward progression of sin; 1) The simple or naive, who are ignorant;  2) Scorners or mockers, who commit more serious and determined acts of sin; and 3) Fools or obstinate unbelievers, who will not listen to the truth. Proverbs aims its wisdom primarily at the first group but the truth of Proverbs is directed at all of us even if we are not in any of these three groups.

To answer the question of "how long?" Seems the answer is "at least a little longer". We seem to love our ignorance. It can be blissful, right? We also enjoy our mocking and scorning with an insatiable appetite for putdowns and juicy tidbits. Our obstinance is strong as we stubbornly cling to whatever suits our fancy. We have so much maturing to do. These proverbs should not resonate with us so much. After all, simplicity, naivete, foolishness, obstinance, scorning, mocking and unbelief should get replaced by wisdom, understanding, willingness, encouragement, hopefulness, and love. I am convicted, and you?

Humbly,
Pastor Fred 

“El Sali”

2 Samuel 22:47 “The Lord lives, and blessed be my Rock (El Sali), and exalted be God, The Rock of my salvation.

God, my Rock, I am so grateful I can cling to You. When everything around me crumbles and falls, You remain. I can always rely on you my Rock! You are my salvation. When I am drowning in a sea of trouble you are there. “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand” as the old hymn says. I know I am ok when I see you as my Rock. Even just picturing You as my Rock I feel more secure, I know I am saved. Thank you for who You are. Help me see the Rock, feel the Rock, know the Rock. You are my Rock, God. I see you and know you got me.

I will cling to You, my Rock and my salvation,

Pastor Fred