Month: January 2014

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Made in God’s Image

Blessings to you on this, the Lord’s Day and my birthday.
Please share the following with the women of your congregation and ministries.

Made in God’s Image
“I am a woman made in the image of God.
I have been made by Him and for Him.
He took care of all the details when my life was being formed. He forgot nothing.
He made me exactly how He wanted me to be.
He made me for a purpose and with a plan.
Everything about me perfectly fits into that purpose and plan.  I have a heart to know Him, a soul to bless Him, and a body to serve Him.
I am here in His perfect time –
I didn’t arrive too late in history, nor did I come ahead of schedule.  It is the people of this generation to which He has called me
as His witness.  Through my face His light will shine, through my voice His praise will be heard, through my life His love will be extended.”  Author unknown
Scripture Reference: Psalm 139:13-16 NIV

May this beautiful message of hope and love encourage them in knowing they are fearfully and wonderfully made.

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Living Water

You may have heard about the chemical leak in West Virginia impacting 9 counties. As a result, those affected can’t bathe, drink, or even wash their clothes or dishes.  It has created a demand for clean water.  And although emergency resources are being mobilized, we don’t know how long it will take to rectify the situation.  So in the meantime, schools, restaurants, and some businesses are closed, and people are scrambling to find water.Picture2

My husband drove 25 miles to find bottled water the first evening of the disaster. As we were consuming our precious commodity, he noticed the label on one of the bottles.  It read...”Enon Springs…replenishes your body with the thing it needs the most, H20. Drink it straight up or on the rocks. Just drink as much as you can get your hands on because let’s face it, without water, you’re dust.”

How prophetic and so true.  Water is a precious resource that quenches and hydrates the body.  It cleanses us and our environment.  Water makes things grow and provides nourishment.  Water is life and we need it.  But we also need the living water of Christ. It helps us become like a tree planted by His water bearing fruit in due season. (Psalm 1:3 NLT paraphrased)  Drinking the living water Christ provides, we never go thirsty again.  For His blessed water is a fresh, bubbling spring giving us eternal life. (John 4:14 NLT paraphrased)

Without it, our leaves fall, our seeds don’t take root, our connection to the Living Vine is severed, and we become a valley of dry bones, animate objects of reproach, carcasses devoid of life. Oh, but the marvelous, living water of Christ heals, restores, empowers and makes ready the harvest.  So have a good, long drink of Christ’s living water. Get as much as you can each and every day.  Because without, it we are dust.

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The Hand of God

Hand of God Nebula 2014

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:5-7 KJV

The hand of God is mighty and full of mercy and compassion. It is the hand that delivered the children of Israel from 400 years of oppression, and demonstrated patience and mercy despite their disobedience and rebellious nature.  God’s hand offers deliverance (2 King 17:38) and justice.  It set us free from the enemy, and makes a place for his children at the banquet table.

The hand of God is filled with love and healing.  God wrapped Jesus in love and sent him to lost humanity, so life could be restored.   Talk with the Jairus’ parents, the Centurion, the blind man, the leper, the cripple, or demon possessed man about his hand.  Mary Magdalene, Lazarus or the widow whose son was raised from the dead know about his hand.

His hand is amazing grace, favor, and provision. Those hands fed thousands, and sustains the universe with precision, purpose and power.

In his hand is strength, joy and a peace that passes all understanding.  It lifts you up out of the miry clay and sets your feet on solid ground.  Just a simple touch can wipe away tears, and give comfort to the weary soul.  The Hand of God removes the stain of sin, restores the broken-hearted and lights the way to everlasting joy.

The Hand of God fights our battles, and shelters us in the midst of the storm.  His hand destroys enemies and raises the banner of righteousness over us.

The Hand of God is love that never, ever fails.

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Looking For Greater

Looking for Greater in 2014

Dear Church and Body of Christ,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12 KJV)

The Church has been in a holding pattern since the latter part of the Church Age; not fully understanding the authority and power that Jesus has released in the hands of the Church and the fully ordained authority of the Kingdom of God in the Earth.
The goal is to move the Church into the will of God; to train and notify the Body of Christ of its inherited rights promised by the word of God.

As we go throughout the years, we need to start LOOKING FOR GREATER in every part of our lives, our health, finances, testimony and our tests. Our ministries need to be greater, and even our walk with the Lord. Our faith needs to LOOK FOR GREATER and our giving needs to be GREATER. In worship and praise, it also must be GREATER, understanding that God has given us the Keys to the Kingdom and access to the resources of the Kingdom of God. Listen to God’s Word.
” And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19 KJV)

The Keys to the Kingdom

1. Believe in God; 2. Faith – Work Your Faith Because Faith Works; 3. Radical Obedience – Obey God Radically (change now); 4. Grace (unlimited) – Walk in His Amazing grace (favor); 5. Speak what God says – Speak and only hear what God speaks in your life; 6. Love of God – (all-powerful) – Operate only on the Love of God and let it motivate you to move; there is nothing stronger than the Love of God.

2014 is the year of double portions, blessings, maturity, and growth, and we as members and partners of A More Excellent Way Ministries Worldwide must look, search, hunt, and track down GREATER because Jesus said that it is Ours.

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3 KJV)

Be blessed in 2014.

Chief Apostle Robert L. Haley, III

The following message was posted with permission by the author, Chief Apostle Robert L. Haley, III Pastor of Apostolic Free Church of God, St. Albans, West Virginia and Chief Executive Officer of A More Excellent Way Ministries Worldwide, Inc.

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2014

2014 has arrived with all the usual fanfare, a party in New York Times Square, fireworks, parties, parades, and of course football games.  These elaborate demonstrations are over.  Here is the question of the day.  Have you already broken a new year resolution?  Researchers report the first Monday after new year’s is the most depressing day of the year. People are back to work and depressed they had to go back to the job.  Many have already given up on keeping the new year’s resolution to stay fit.  Others are despondent because they didn’t get what they wanted for Christmas, or are sad due to the lost of a loved one.  Whatever the reason the party is over, and now things back to “normal.”    For many normal is not good.

However, we are called to shine a bright light for those who are experiencing dark days and moments.  God sent a million, million lights of love in the world – that would be us.  “God doesn’t call the qualified He qualifies the called.”  We are “the called.”  Share your bright light and the love of God today.  Someone out there needs it.

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Count the Cost

Luke 14:28…”But don’t begin until you count the cost…(NLT)

The new year has officially begun and many have made resolutions, or set goals to change some aspect of their lives. For most it is the goal to be better, faster, stronger or just plain fit. Others vow to clean up and clear out their closets and become better organized. Some have plans to return to school, find a new job, write a book or begin a hobby, but whatever the goal there is a cost involved.  It is never easy.  One of the prime reasons so many of us fail to reach our goals is failure to calculate the costs. Jesus in this parable tells his disciples to calculate the cost of being a disciple before proclaiming their allegiance to Him.  Any person starting a building project must know how much it is going to costs.  The builder needs to know there is enough money and resources to complete the job.  Calculation is important with any project, even more so with being a disciple.

Disciples of Christ need calculate the costs involved in the purposes of God.  He tells us if we can’t give up self, family and follow Him, then we can’t be His disciple. The cost is too great. “Love for family and one’s own life must not compete with devotion to Christ.”  The risks are great, but the rewards are far greater. Christ counted the cost of leaving glory and coming to earth for us. The cost of temptation, pain, suffering and injustice to heal, save and deliver us.  And he has more than enough to pay the debt for our sins.

Thank you God for looking at the “love scale” and determining we were worth the costs.

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