God My Father - Podcast EP 15

God My Father - Podcast EP 23

Weekly empowerments with Pastor Michelle Jean-Louis. Weekly Empowerment by Pastor Michelle Jean-Louis. Good morning family*CS Lewis* penned this profound statement, “Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of… You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”* When we give God the freedom to change in us what needs changing we will marvel at what He can and will do through our lives. Our series is themed “*God my Father*” and we are reflecting on Psalm 139 - this passage of scripture explains the unconditional love that our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. *Psalm 139:23 AMP*23¶Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts;*Key thoughts on this verse:*1.   We arrive at this most stunning verse in Psalm 139 after David has verbalised his hate of sin, knowing that he himself has committed such terrible sins.2.   And yet, he now declares, “Search me thoroughly, O God,” what is he saying?3.   The word search in the Hebrew is chaqar which means to investigate, to examine or to search out. However, in this instance, the word search suggests an invitation to merge his heart with God.4.   David is inviting God into his heart to search and clean out anything that may be hidden so that his heart is pure.5.   Only then would David’s heart be moved by the things that move God’s heart.6.   As we pause on this verse, can we be honest about the conversations that we have with God our Father.7.   Are we prepared to quiet our soul and allow the Holy Spirit to go through every chamber in our heart to reveal that which does not please God.8.   Nobody, including me wants to hear any negative truths about ourselves, but my question is this; how will we change and grow if we never know the areas of our personal weakness. Before I pray - can we remember that God sees the version of us that He has destined for us to become. *God will not change us against our will*; He longs to work with us on our journey of becoming and it starts when we allow Him to search our hearts #dailyvlog #dailyshorts #foryou #hope #wisdom #truenorth #church

God My Father - Podcast EP 22

Weekly empowerments with Pastor Michelle Jean-Louis. Weekly Empowerment by Pastor Michelle Jean-Louis. Good morning family*CS Lewis* penned this deeply challenging statement, “It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”* We all make mistakes in life or in other words, we all sin - and when we do, may we always cry out for mercy and grace to our loving Heavenly Father. * God our Father longs to see all of us in Heaven one day. Our series is themed “*God my Father*” and we are reflecting on Psalm 139 - this passage of scripture explains the unconditional love that our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. *Psalm 139:22 AMP*22I hate them with perfect and utmost hatred; They have become my enemies.*Some thoughts on our verse:*1.   This verse continues David’s thoughts on those people who have been disloyal to God and have risen up against Him.2.   While the previous verse confirmed David’s inability to befriend those who dishonoured God, now he clearly articulates his loathing and disgust at their sin.3.   Let us bear in mind that this beautiful Psalm has been penned by David, a man who committed so many sins in his life.4.   It is in the light of this context, that two thoughts come to mind as I reflect on this verse.5.   *Thought 1*: How does God look at me when I am the sinner, I am the one who dishonoured God and His Word.6.   *Romans 5:8* provides much comfort to me, “But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”7.   *Thought 2*: Does Romans 5:8 mean that I can keep on sinning?8.   And the answer is a resounding no. Jesus came to set us free from a life of sin and when we truly meet Him, we will come to hate sin. We won’t want to repeat the mistakes that we once made. Today, before we pray, is there something in your life that is edging you further and further away from the light of Jesus Christ - you are the only one who knows the condition of your heart. Why not hand the small issue/big issue over to Jesus - no matter what the mistake is, I assure you that it is not greater than the love that God has for you #dailyvlog #dailyshorts #foryou #hope #wisdom #truenorth #church

God My Father - Podcast EP 21

Weekly empowerments with Pastor Michelle Jean-Louis. Weekly Empowerment by Pastor Michelle Jean-Louis. Good morning family*Charles Spurgeon* the man known as the prince of preachers said, “This day, my God, I hate sin not because it damns me, but because it has done Thee wrong. To have grieved my God is the worst grief to me.”* We are all on a journey of becoming and sometimes even though we love God our conduct grieves Him. * I pray for each one of us that the day will come when we hate sin because it grieves our Heavenly Father. Our series is themed “*God my Father*” and we are reflecting on Psalm 139 - this passage of scripture explains the unconditional love that our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. *Psalm 139:21 AMP*21Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?*Some thoughts on this verse:*1.   We have truly journeyed far and wide in this psalm and today we are confronted by the words, “hate” and “loathe”.2.   Many of us are acquainted with these words and if we are honest with ourselves, we have felt the emotions of intense hostility and disgust.3.   However, these emotions are not what David is referring to in this verse.4.   Instead, David declares that he will not be loyal and devoted to those who hate God and rise up against Him.5.   David proclaims that he cannot be friends with those who hate and dishonour God.6.   Imagine that someone has been dishonourable, disloyal and untidy with your best friend, a person that you respect and love because they have supported you in the difficult seasons of life.7.   Will you ever share a meal or take a gift from that person who has dishonoured your best friend - you are the only one that can reflect on how you respond to people that have been disloyal to those that you love.8.   And yet there are people that we know, whose conduct confirms that they hate God and they are rising up against Him - will we be loyal to them as we watch them consistently disobey the precepts and principles of the Word of God.9.   David is challenging us to choose - we should pray for those people who hate and rise up against God, but we cannot be loyal to them, and we cannot sit at the same table with them. Final thought before we pray - let us choose to be loyal to God and let us choose to be loyal to those people who love and support us. Let us choose to be men and woman of godly integrity. That is the least that we can do for our Heavenly Father who loved us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the Cross of Calvary for us #dailyvlog #dailyshorts #foryou #hope #wisdom #truenorth #church

God My Father - Podcast EP 20

Weekly empowerments with Pastor Michelle Jean-Louis. Weekly Empowerment by Pastor Michelle Jean-Louis. Good morning family*Warren W. Wiersbe* the former pastor of the Moody Church said this, “_Great names come and go, but the name of Jesus remains. The devil still hates it, the world still opposes it, but God still blesses it and we can still claim it! “In the name of Jesus” is the key that unlocks the door of prayer and the treasury of God’s grace_.” * When we reach the end of ourselves in the battles of life, who will we depend on; but the one to whom we belong. * Are we not so privileged to know that our Father is an ever-present help in the time of trouble. Our series is themed “*God my Father”* and we are reflecting on Psalm 139 - this passage of scripture explains the unconditional love that our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. *Psalm 139:20 AMP*20For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain.*Some thoughts on this verse:*1.   In this verse David continues to articulate his concerns against ungodly people and he levels two charges against the wicked - we understand that the word “wicked” means those who have committed sins against God and men.2.   First, the wicked speak against God with malicious intent - they purposely insult Him.3.   Second, David levels the charge that the wicked take God's name in vain - people have no respect for the name of the Lord and when they do this it reflects the condition of their heart.4.   Sometimes we consider how people speak of our Heavenly Father, and we wonder whether they will ever reap a harvest for their words?5.   *Jude 1:14 -16 (ESV)*, says this about the harvest of the wicked, “…Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”6.   As I consider these verses, it takes me to the place where I want to be so careful about what I say about God and His people, irrespective of how I may have been treated. None of us can go back in time and change some of the things that we have said against God or His people, but we can all take responsibility for the words that we will speak in the today and tomorrow. My thoughts for myself and everyone listening is this - *Lord Jesus set a guard on our lips so that our words will always build up and never destroy* #dailyvlog #dailyshorts #foryou #hope #wisdom #truenorth #church

God My Father - Podcast EP 19

Weekly empowerments with Pastor Michelle Jean-Louis. Weekly Empowerment by Pastor Michelle Jean-Louis. Good morning, family. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian and pastor who was martyred for his faith in God, said this, “_Once a man has truly experienced the mercy of God in his life, he will henceforth aspire only to serve_.” * If we have not yet arrived at the place where our primary aspiration is to serve God and His people, then it might indicate that we do not yet have a complete understanding of how merciful God has been to us. * The question is, WHERE WOULD I BE without the love, mercy and compassion of Jesus Christ.   Our series is themed “*God my Father”* and we are reflecting on Psalm 139 - this passage of scripture explains the unconditional love that our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. *Psalm 139:19 AMP*19¶O that You would kill the wicked, O God; Go away from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.*Some thoughts on this verse:*1.   This verse appears to be completely at odds with the first 18 verses which demonstrate David’s understanding of the tremendous love and compassion that God has for His people.2.   In this verse David is now dealing with people that have been wicked - the word “wicked” means those who have committed sins against God and men.3.   The psalmist articulates his two responses to wicked people - first he hands the wicked over to God meaning that he will not take revenge on them. Secondly, he wants nothing to do with them, “go away from me”.4.   As we reflect, I pray that we are honest with ourselves about those people who have been wicked to the Lord and to us.5.   Let us be truthful with ourselves - how have we responded to their wickedness. Did we hand that person/those people over to the Lord and did we separate ourselves from them.6.   Perhaps we are waiting for the day when the wrath of God falls on them and the question is - does God want to destroy wicked people.7.   The answer is no God does not want to destroy wicked people - *Isaiah 55:7 declares*, “Let the wicked leave (behind) his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion (mercy) on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” *God is asking us to be merciful* to those who have been wicked to us - stop giving them our thoughts, our disappointment, our anger and we can choose to forgive them. Hand them over to God, pray for them so that the very same mercy that we are the beneficiaries of will also be their portion - we can only have THIS heart attitude when we understand how much God our Father loves us #dailyvlog #dailyshorts #foryou #hope #wisdom #truenorth #church