21 Alive to Thrive

Join us for our 21 Alive to Thrive event, Free Food, Lots of speakers, As we reach out to our youth to let them know they can make it.

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Letter to my spiritual sons and daughters

Letter to my spiritual sons and daughters;

One of the greatest life lessons I’ve ever learned was to lean with all my heart upon God. When I was a young Christian I was complaining to God that people were always letting me down or stabbing me in the back. I cried to him that I had never found one person who was true blue to the end. I was surprised when (in my heart) I sensed he agreed with me. As the months went by and my relationship with him grew deeper he led me to John 2:13-25. He showed me through these verses that he did not trust any person and that we should not put our trust in any human either.

In my heart I heard this:

Every human being will eventually let you down or stab you in the back when you need them the most. Honestly whether you realize it or not you have also let them down and stabbed them in the back. You must love people, have mercy and compassion for them but only put your trust in God.

Do not look to other people to make you feel valued, loved and accepted. Look only to me and know that I would have hung on the cross and gone to hell for the keys if it was only you on the auction block.

 

I rode into Jerusalem to the adoring shouts of my people crying out Hosanna (highest praise) to the King! Just three days later in that same city some of those same people were shouting, CRUCIFY HIM! A person’s opinion of you can change in a heartbeat, especially if they do not love and honor me and my words. I can restore shattered relationships; I can heal broken bodies and broken hearts. Do not fear the hurts and deep wounds any human can cause you. No person can inflict a wound upon you so deep that my love will not heal it. I can heal the rape victim as well as the rapist.

 

I cannot love you any more than I already do and if you believe it and receive it; you will have all the love, value and acceptance you will ever need. I will use people to meet your needs but never get your eyes on the person as your source. I alone am your source for everything you will ever need or want. I may use your husband (wife), your boss or your neighbor but all they may do to help you… comes from me. (James 1:17) Anything that any human does for you they do with the breath and sunshine I freely provided for them. Whether they love me or hate me they live and breathe by my generosity alone. Put no pressure on any person to do something for you or give you something you think you need. Put ALL your trust in me, if any person fails to obey me and give to you, I have seven thousand waiting in the wings to bring you what you need…and I can still forgive that person’s disobedience.

 

No person can take you down unless you unhook from me. Saul the king of Israel pursued and hunted David through every hell-hole in Israel for years but in one day and one battle Saul lost his sons, his throne and his life. I took the throne he forfeited by sin, greed and rebellion and gave that throne to David. I, Jesus will reign forever as one of King David’s descendants, yet King David calls me Lord. (Matthew 22:41-46)

If you will hear my words and honor and obey me and my words I will make your days as the days of heaven upon the earth.

Psalms 112:3, Deuteronomy 11:21

 

As I have continued to walk with God I’ve faced many trials but I have also had great triumphs. I have gone through seasons of blessing and abundant harvest and seasons of draught and dry lands. I thank God that my trust and faith in not vested in a few moments of time. They are anchored in The One who holds time in the palm of His hand.

My best day serving sin, my own selfish ways and the devil was more painful than my worst trial in serving God. You don’t need to know everything as long as you know the only being who does know everything.

Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God. Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon his word.

Pursue God with all your heart, with your entire mind and with all your strength and show your neighbor (the people who are near you: husband, wife, ex-husband, ex-wife, boss, waitress, enemy) the same love, compassion and mercy that you want God to show you. If you will do this… you have done all you can do to please God. Matthew 22:36-40

 

I love you dearly, now and forever,

Big Hugs & Many Prayers, Anita

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“Cussing”

Is it wrong for Christian’s to Cuss?

In the past few years I’ve noticed that some of my Christian friends are more comfortable using ‘cuss words. If questioned about this some have said that using cuss words is not really a concern for God and not really a bad example for others. In fact I have heard it is said by some Christians that this is a way of letting the world know that we don’t consider ourselves, “Holier than thou.” I am a thinker and so I began to examine this thinking in my own heart and started to research these assertions.

Let’s begin by examining the definition of the word cuss.

Cuss: Curse

Curse:

1. calling on God or the gods to bring evil on some person or thing

2. a profane or obscene oath

 3. Evil or injury that seems to come in answer to a curse

Cursing:

1. To call evil down on

2. To swear at; blaspheme –be cursed with, to suffer from

Now let’s look at the word of God which I consider my final authority as a Christian.

Exodus 20:7

King James Version (KJV)

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Psalms 34:13 KJV

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Matthew 15:10-11

King James Version (KJV)

10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Ephesians 4:29-32 KJV

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Philippians 4:8 KJV

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Colossians 3:8

King James Version (KJV)

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

James 3:3-13 KJV

3 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Now after examining the final authority in our Christian walk let me conclude that it is extremely important that every Christian seek God’s help to overcome the habit of using curse words. As I came out of the sin in my past this was a challenge for me but not really a difficult one. I had the benefit of being raised by a mother who almost never used a curse word in my presence and the 2-3 times she did they were minor and she immediately acknowledged it was wrong.

I’ve been close to other Christians who did love the Lord but really had a difficult time overcoming the tendency to use curse words. These people were either raised in an environment that used curse words daily or they were involved with people from their work or hobbies who thought nothing of using curse words.

By instructing us not to curse God is not in any way being high or mighty, he is trying to spare us the pain of sowing curses upon ourselves, our possessions or others with the power of our words. Words are seeds for power:

Proverbs 18:21

King James Version (KJV)

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

When God gives us an instruction it is always to protect us. God’s love for us is beyond our ability to comprehend. Remember if God said it, (for your own good) DO IT!

Pastor Anita Ayers

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Bad Habits 1

 

What Bad Habit Would You Like To Get Rid Of?

 

Pastor Anita Ayers

www.anitaayers.org

Are you a nail biter? Do you struggle with your weight? Are you a nervous talker? Do you smoke? Did you sustain an injury and start taking prescription drugs to deal with the pain and subsequently become hooked on the pills? Are you fighting a bigger giant like illegal drugs, alcohol, pornography, or sexual perversion?

Do you sometimes feel like there are two people living inside of your head? One person wants to be whole, strong and free while the other is drawn like a moth to the flame of a dark passion that will eventually incinerate you. Are you living in a secret fantasy world to escape a reality you can’t seem to face? Or do you feel like you are held in chains saying or doing things you no longer enjoy or want but feel powerless to stop?

Where did these demons come from? Can you trace them back to family lines? Were you touched by a person who left their mark on you and now you are afflicted with the same demon that once violated you? Were you once the victim and now you have become the perpetrator? Are you living in fear that someone you love or care about may discover your darkest secret?

We are surrounded by people every day, co-workers, neighbors, friends and family; how many do you know personally that are struggling with addictions? How many of them are willing to admit they are struggling? Are you hiding behind closed doors thinking that your affliction is well hidden or do you confess it frequently hoping that if others know -their connection will keep you from sliding further into the abyss?

You may be at many different places in the addiction. Perhaps you feel you have a handle on it right now. Maybe you think you can stop anytime you want to but you just don’t choose to stop right now. Or in today’s culture: perhaps you are being affirmed in a behavior or life style that you know deep inside is destroying you.

Do you ever just sit down, look up and cry out from your heart, “God where are you?”

Whether you heard a voice reply or not, whether you know it or not, He is there. God is never more than a breath away from you at any time. The moment you open your heart and breathe his name he will rush in to help you. Sometimes the answers are so simple that they seem to work only for the simple minded.

Jesus said in:

Matthew 18:3

“Unless you become like a little child you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.”

That statement can encompass a world of truth and deliverance.

Amplified Bible Mark 9:1

1 And Jesus said to them, Truly and solemnly I say to you there are some standing here who will in no way taste death before they see the kingdom of God come in (its) power.

I believe this was referring to his soon transfiguration and his subsequent death on the cross. When Jesus paid the price for all of our sins the Kingdom of God came in power.

Amplified Bible Matthew 16:15-20

15 He said to them, But who do you (yourselves) say that I am?

16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood (men) have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven.

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Bad Habits 2

18 And I tell you, you are Peter (Greek, Petros-a large piece of rock), and on this rock (Greek, petra –a huge rock like Gibraltar) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades, (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it (or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it).

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven. (Isa. 22:22).

(Do you believe there is sickness and poverty in heaven?)

20Then He sternly and strictly charged and warned the disciples to tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

The revelation of who Jesus the Christ (Messiah) is in you and who you are in Him will reveal the authority he gave you in the Keys to the Kingdom. We must come to know God through the truth of his word not our temporary feelings, not ever changing circumstance, not what a preacher told us, not by what grandma said while she held her Bible but we must see, hear and believe what his word says is true. The revelation begins on the inside of you and works its way out.

Scarecrow you already had brains before The Wizard gave you a diploma. Tin-man you already had a heart before The Wizard gave you the heart shaped clock. Cowardly Lion you already had courage before you received your medal. Dorothy you had the power to go home without the ruby slippers.

God has not placed your destiny in anyone’s hands but yours and His. God wants you strong, healthy, wealthy and wise now there is only you who can stand in your way. Jesus has paid the price for your freedom, your prison doors are open but you must get up and walk out.

Amplified Bible John 8:31-36

31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word (hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them), you are truly My disciples.

32And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

33 They answered him; We are Abraham’s offspring (descendants) and have never been in bondage to anybody. What do you mean by saying, You will be set free?

34 Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Whoever commits and practices sin is the slave of sin.

35 Now a slave does not remain in the household permanently. (forever); the son (of the house) does remain forever.

36So if the Son liberates you (makes you free men), then you are really and unquestionably free.

Don’t allow anything or anyone to hold you in bondage when the Son of God has already made you free!

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