Some people cruise through life with hardly a ripple. Others go from one violent crisis to the next. Perhaps the difference between the two is related to “balance”. If we can manage to make the Lord the center of our lives, His presence at the heart of things keeps us in balance. If we try to have more than one center, terrible imbalances occur and we self-destruct. Ask any Mom what happens when the load in the washer gets badly out of balance. Especially when working with heavy loads such as denim, it doesn’t take long to discover, things must be carefully balanced or mayhem ensues.

Similarly, anyone who has had the misfortune to purchase badly balanced tires can relate horror stories of violent shaking and difficulty controlling the vehicle until proper balance could be restored.

Life can be a lot like either of these illustrations. If God is at the center of our lives with everything else in good alignment to Him, life goes smoothly. When we put anything else at the center, life can shake itself to pieces rather quickly.

Does living your life remind you of riding a bucking bronco? Do you feel like you are up today, down tomorrow, in today and totally outside God’s grace tomorrow? Perform an in-depth self-check and make sure you have not tried to make God satellite to something else at the center. He does not do well as a counter-balance. The Eternal weight of His Glory requires that He be THE center of everything. Then all else will find its rightful orbit around His stable Presence.

Be blessed as you make Christ the center and pivot point of life!

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Rich Orrell

James 5:7  (KJV)

^7 ""Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth -  -  until he receive the early and  latter rain."

Sept 7th -10th we will have revival  services with Evangelist Daniel Tidmore.  God 's  promise is that HE will send the Latter Rain and It will be poured out on ALL His people.

Let's prepare our hearts for what the Holy Spirit desires to do in our midst in the coming week.   Don't miss a single service of these  special days!  Don’t miss out.   Be here !

If you're truly hungry for more of His Spirit, and the Power you can  have through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, come expecting and asking for more of Him.

Be hungry!   We need a fresh anointing!  The benefit we will receive from Him during these revival services depends on us.  

We must pray now, seek the Baptizer and submit our lives to Him.  He  says that He will fill the hungry until they are overflowing.   

Lord, let the Holy Ghost come on down and meet with us in the coming days! 

Join me in that prayer for a mighty outpouring of His Spirit!

Love ya, 

Pastor Phil  

These are three words that sum up Jesus’ take on a very important question as the school year begins.

A college student recently posted (tongue-in-cheek) on social media, two great problems facing her and her friends as they prep for school:

1. Having nothing to wear
2. Having no room left in her closet

I know the young lady and can verify that she is blessed with a closet full of lovely things to wear. But what she says teasingly, many say very seriously. The subject of costuming for today’s world is a very real concern for young people trying desperately to find their place in a confusing world. And worse; the question of what to wear may be symptomatic of their perceived need for many other things they think they will need to fit in at work or college.

Truth be told, it is not just the younger person who falls prey to the need to dress better than others or live in better surroundings, or drive something cooler than the neighbors. Keeping up with the Jones’ has been going on since time began.

Jesus well-knew that we would always be tempted to participate in the race to be a fashion statement. And He also realized our commitments to Him and the spread of His gospel would preempt our drive to preen our collective feathers on anyone’s runway. His words, “…Consider the lilies”, are tantamount to His own guarantee that our needs would be met. He will bring out our natural attractiveness in ways that do not rely on the latest fashions. Our character and grace will overshadow clothes that may be a bit tired or dated. The personality He has developed in us will render the finest clothing simple window dressing for the sterling qualities of Christlikeness others will see in our lives. And by the way; you WILL have something appropriate to wear. J

Yep…”Consider the lilies”. Now that is a promise we can live with!

Trusting in His goodness,

Richard Orrell, Pastor

Ever wonder why we get so sore after hard work or exercise? The best I can tell you is that our muscles build up lactic acid in them as a result of the heavy usage, and the result is pain. It takes time for our bodies to leach out the lactic acid and repair the damage done to our muscles by the unfamiliar motions and heavier-than-usual activities. But when the pain subsides and the repair of the damaged tissue is complete, our bodies put on a bit of extra muscle for potential repetitions of such strenuous activity. So, with regular exercise, more and more muscle is added. And on the other hand, prolonged inactivity results in muscle loss.

I wonder if there may be a similar thing going on in our spiritual lives. Is it possible that the pain brought on by troubled times triggers a time of rebuilding for our inner person? Do you suppose our characters develop added strength from surviving difficulties just as our physical bodies pack on muscle mass due to stressful exercise?

Perhaps I should point out that some of the strongest people I’ve ever known are those who have faced the most challenges. But some of the weakest are the ones always protected from the very stresses that would develop character.

Is it any wonder that the Bible enjoins us to give thanks for all things? (Ephesians 5:20)

Trust God as you walk through the crisis of the day. You’ll find yourself better for having walked with Him through yet another valley.

Lovingly,

Pastor Rich Orrell

Ezekiel 48:35   NLT

"And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord Is there".  

As followers of Christ we must have His Spirit within us.    If we do, others will sense The Spirit of the Lord  when in our presence.

Let it be said of us:  "We can tell that they've been with Jesus".  Let His love and presence shine through us, as we're often the only 'Jesus' the world may see.

Be His hand extended to a cold and lonely world, make those with whom you come into contact see Jesus in you.

Love ya,  Pastor Phil      

^{Hebrews 6:10-11 New Living Translation}

“For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to Him by caring for other believers, as you still do.   Our great  desire is that you will keep on  loving others as long as life lasts, in  order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.”

God has promised to us, His children, that He will take care of us, if we keep His commandments.

Are we willing to commit all into His hands, to rest in His Word, and to stand without wavering in the love of God; fully convinced that His promises to you will be fulfilled?

The choice is ours my friends.  Obey His Word and enjoy His protection and blessings; or do our own thing and be on our own,   

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Obey Him, and today enjoy His blessings and protection.  He cares for His children.

Love ya,  have a wonderful week!

Pastor Phil      

Loyalty is a commodity in short supply in a culture dominated by complete industries dedicated to the task of changing people’s opinions. They aren’t content to simply change the public’s brand loyalties. Their messages sandwiched between snippets of programming may also be designed to create the need for their product in the mind of someone not currently using any such thing. Food, clothing, medicine, professional services, transportation, career, education, recreation; no subject is exempt from attempts to persuade a change of loyalty to their product.

Is it any wonder then that the concept of a deep commitment to one’s home church is nearly nonexistent? Rather than stay with the local church while it struggles through some problem, many with lesser loyalties choose such a moment to shop for some new church to which they can be “fiercely loyal”. Hmmm….   Wouldn’t it make more sense for the person whose childhood was spent in the classrooms and at the altars of the home church to step up to the plate and help their church work through a challenge? Whose church is it anyway? It is God’s church and the Bride of Christ. And each believer gets to be a part of what the Lord is doing in the church where He has planted them.

Sometimes simply staying put and praying is the best we can do for God at that moment.

There is an old saying that has spent time as a refrigerator magnet in many a household: “Bloom Where You Are Planted”. Some Christians have been transplanted so many times; they have never been allowed to establish a root system. Stick with it saint of God!

God bless you as you settle in for the long haul!

Lovingly,

Pastor Rich Orrell

Psalm 122:1New Living Translation (NLT)

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the House of the Lord."

Today we celebrate  the birth of the greatest country in the world, AMERICA! 

Let's take this day to celebrate freedom, and honor our Active Military and Veterans who gave so much for our freedom!   Sunday as we come to the time of Worship  sing with all your might, throw back you heads, throw up your hands and Rejoice, "You’re a Child of the King" and you live in America! 

It's OK to be emotional about God's favor bestowed upon us!  It's worth shouting about!!!

Thank GOD, we're FREE because of the brave; GOD BLESS AMERICA!  

   Love ya,  Pastor Phil      

An old saw once seen on a bumper sticker reads: "When you get where you're going, that's where you'll be!" At first glance the truth contained in these few words seems so obvious as to be moronic in its repetition. However; casual observation of human antics suggests the bumper sticker wisdom is not as common as one might think. When habit is the sole director of traffic in the unfolding of one's day, it doesn't take much foresight to conclude that the terminus of today will be much like yesterday's failures.

A change of direction is the one and only way to change destinations. It is patently impossible to arrive on our west coast traveling east on the interstate. Only an exit, followed by a choice to head west will change your destination. If you persist in driving east, it is only a matter of time until exits labeled "Boston" or "New York City" loom large through the windshield. Only the deluded would anticipate the Pacific while closing in on the Atlantic.

There are many who fully intend to spend Eternity in Heaven.  But though they know they violate God's Word with belief and behavior, they stubbornly rush headlong...the wrong direction.

If the bumper sticker is correct, where are you going? Remember, it is imperative that we change our fundamental direction so that when we get somewhere, it will be the right somewhere. "Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

There now...THAT'S the right direction!

Lovingly,

Rich Orrell, Pastor

2 Corinthians 4:1 New Living Translation says: "Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. ² We reject all shameful deeds and under -handed methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the Word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this."    We're known by our fruits!

Saints, we have God's promise that He is ordering our every step, as the chorus says,

"I'm NOT gonna give up hope, because God is my provider."  (Authored by Rick Orrell)

Are you struggling with doubt and fear?   God is not the author of fear.  He gives us hope and the assurance that He will never leave us alone.

He's got our back, what can mere men do to us?    NOTHING

As Saints-of-The-Most-High, we need to hold our heads high and be confident that "Greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world!   Be encouraged and trust Him!

He's never failed us yet and He is not about to start failing now!  Be at peace, He is more than enough for you today.  

Love ya,  Pastor Phil