SETTING THE RIGHT PACE

The old year, with its burden of record, is fast passing away. The new year, with all its possibilities, will soon be ushered in. The big question for all of us to consider is;

1. What advancement have we made in the knowledge of God during the past year?

2. Are we prepared to show, more decidedly than ever before, that we are on the Lord’s side?

3. At this time, when the nations of the world are wavering between infidelity,  idolatry, and war, are we prepared to stand as faithful ambassadors for God today, and in 2025?

4. Shall we not, at the beginning of this new year, give ourselves and all we have to God?

5. Shall we not listen to His voice, which calls us to a renewed commitment to work for the salvation and good of our neighbors?

6. Are we willing to go the extra mile for God this year through a life of consecration and service to all?

7. Shall we entrust our talents, gifts, and multiple capabilities to the service of God and the finishing of the work of the gospel in this generation?

If you said yes to these seven questions. I am inviting you to show up to a church near you this coming weekend. It could be a church on the Sabbath or Sunday. Tell the pastor of that church that you are here this year to serve God and His people in the power and strength of Elijah.

As Chaplain, I am asked to speak in many different denomination throughout the year. One thing I am clear on is this, God is no respecter of persons. He will use humble, devoted persons to Him, even if they have not received as thorough an education as others. Let such ones even engage in service for Him by doing house-to-house work. Sitting by the fireside, they can—if humble, discreet, and godly—do more to meet the real needs of families than could an ordained minister. He would even use them like the uneducated disciples to turn the world upside down. May God use you today to reach a soul for Him!

On behalf of the GARDEN MINISTRY TEAM, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

By GARDEN MINISTRY

Please share this message and let us build up the Kingdom of God in 2025. 

LIVING IN THE FAVOR OF ALMIGHTY GOD

Today, I am so thankful that God is not concerned with the denomination we attend, or the nationality and country we come from for us to be children of his Kingdom. The biblical standard of belonging to the kingdom of God is clear and has been established by Jesus Christ. 

"To Jesus, the whole human family is entrusted, as the flocks of sheep are entrusted to a shepherd. These sheep and lambs are to be tended with pastoral care. They will be guarded by the faithful Chief Shepherd, under the care of faithful under-shepherds, and if they will obey the voice of the Chief Shepherd, they will not be left to be devoured by wolves...

Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, ... and they follow me” (John 10:27). The Shepherd of Israel does not drive His flock, but He leads them. His attitude is wholly one of invitation. “My sheep hear my voice.” If we are indeed sons and daughters of God, we not only hear, but recognize the voice above all others. We appreciate the words of Christ. We distinguish the truth as it is in Jesus from all error, and the truth refreshes the soul, and fills it with gladness..."

The beautiful illustration in Revelation 7:13-17 is a pastoral symbol of God caring for and redeeming His children. 

Today marks the last weekend, with the last Sabbath, and the last Sunday of the 2024 Gregorian Calendar year. This past year has been full of experiences for all of us. I pray that many of those experiences were good and not bad events or crisis moments for you.

Through observation over this past year, the Holy Spirit has brought to my attention the importance, as believers in the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus, that we need far less confidence in what man can do for or against us and far more confidence in what God can do for every believing soul.

It is clear, people are becoming more desperate and depressed by the way things are going in the world financially, and morally. The high cost of food, rent, electricity, gas, water, and airfare if you're living in Bermuda, is particularly outrageous. The moral standards have dropped with integrity. And it is a common thing to hear people calling good, bad, and bad, good. 

 Although it is very concerning. I am looking past these only temporal things to a better day. Yet, I am not naive about the fact that we must live here on earth until that better day comes.

For us to walk through the gates of Heaven, walk on the golden streets, and sing with heavenly angels. We must reach after Almighty God by faith. 

My friend, God longs to have you expect great things from Him (NOW)! He longs to give you understanding in temporal and spiritual matters (NOW)! He can sharpen your intellect. He can give tact and skill to everything you are called to do. 

He can turn your talents into a work of art. Just ask God for wisdom, and it will be given to you. Seek him fully with your whole heart today, and you will find in HIM, the key to all your success. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

As you and I set our steps to celebrate the close of this year. Remember, those who talk unbelief, will have unbelief; but those who talk faith, will have the faith to move mountains. According to the seed, sown will be the harvest through the remainder of this year and into the year to come.

For you, it is my prayer that the favor of God may rest upon you and your family always, and may the hinges of your joy never rust, as you live in the favor of ALMIGHTY GOD! 

By GARDEN MINISTRY 

LET US STRIVE FOR THE DAY OF CHANGE (Happy Boxing Day)

 

Yesterday, December 25th, 2024, was an awesome day with family, friends, and colleagues. The day started as it should: in deep gratitude, reflection, and contemplation of God coming to dwell with men according to Matthew 1:18-25 / Luke 2:1-39 / Matthew 2:1-23 / Luke 2:40. There are many lessons to learn from the first advent of Jesus. Like, mankind did not study the Scriptures with a desire to conform to the will of God at the first advent of Jesus. In parallel, they will not study the Scriptures, with a desire to conform to the will of God at His second advent. Etc. As I reflect on God's goodness today. I can’t help but notice that December has eleven Holidays that the World Celebrates. 

St. Nicholas Day - Also known as the Feast of Saint Nicholas (Dec. 5 or 6).

Immaculate Conception Day - Catholics worldwide celebrate and honor the Virgin Mary (Dec. 8)

Bodhi Day - Also known as Rohatsu, is a Buddhist tradition (Dec. 8)

Feast Day of Our Lady Guadalupe - This is a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration. (Dec. 12)

Hanukkah - This is an eight-day Jewish to promote the Zionist movement. (Dec. 18-26)

Yule - Wiccans and Neo-Pagans celebrate the winter solstice (the darkest day of the year, on Dec. 21) (Dec. 21-Jan.1).

Christmas – This is a Christian celebration. Christmas largely commemorates the birth of Jesus. But the festival has also been adopted as a secular family holiday by people of all faiths which is marked by an exchange of gifts. (Dec. 25)

Boxing Day - A British tradition that occurs the day after Christmas and dates back to the 1800s when Queen Victoria ruled the throne. At the time, it was a day to ensure that upper-class Britons gave servants and workers a day off, in addition to giving them a present. The holiday has since evolved into a more commercial occasion for gift-giving and Gombeys dancing through the streets of Bermuda. Tell the story, teĺl the story of how God seeks to save, but of how mankind still longs to enslaves. (Dec. 26).

Kwanzaa - The week-long holiday of Kwanzaa honors African-American heritage; it’s a cultural holiday as opposed to a religious one. Black nationalist Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 as a way to unite the African-American community following the Watts Rebellion in a predominantly Black Los Angeles neighborhood. An uprising against systemic racism began after a white California highway patrol officer arrested a young Black man for drunken driving. The rebellion led to 34 deaths—two-thirds of which were individuals shot by police or National Guard troops, per the Associated Press. It also resulted in more than 1,000 injuries. Karenga laid out seven key principles for Kwanzaa: unity; self-determination; collective responsibility; cooperative economics; purpose; creativity; and faith. Its name comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which translates to “first fruits.” Kwanzaa celebrations draw from African musical and storytelling traditions. (Dec. 26-Jan. 1).

Zarathosht Diso – This day honors the death of their prophet (Dec. 26)

New Year’s Eve - This day celebrates the end of the Gregorian calendar year. (Dec. 31)

Today, December 26, 2024, I am thinking about persons and families who have for whatever reason, been away from their family due to work, a change of location, or the loss of a loved one to death. As we remember and reflect on our loved ones, let us take courage because one day, God shall restore and make things new. With this in mind, let us be our brother's keeper, responsible for the souls of those around us. 

While the year races on, let us strive for the day of change, when we shall never perish. Let us strive for one of the crowns of life, that is richer than any crown that ever decked the brow of a monarch.

Soon, a great number of angels will bring from the city of God these glorious crowns, a crown for every saint, with his or her name written on it. 

Soon, Jesus will call for the crowns, and angels will present them to Him. With His right hand, He will place the crowns on the heads of the saints. The angels will also bring golden harps, and Jesus will present them to the saints. 

Soon, all the redeemed saints will raise their voices in grateful and happy praise to God. 

Soon, our sorrows will all be ended, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, shall there be any more pain.

There, when the veil that darkens our vision shall be removed, and our eyes shall behold that world of beauty of which we now catch glimpses through the microscope; when we look on the glories of the heavens, now scanned afar through the telescope; when the blight of sin removed, the whole earth shall appear in “the beauty of the Lord our God,”

Language is altogether too feeble to attempt a description of the surpassing splendor and excellent glory of heaven. One writer wrote, “Oh, what love! what wondrous love!”

If we are going to make it in the kingdom of God. “We need a constant sense of the ennobling power of pure thoughts and the damaging influence of evil thoughts. Let us place our thoughts upon holy things. Let them be pure and true; for the only security for any soul is right-thinking. We are to use every means that God has placed within our reach for the government and cultivation of our thoughts. We are to bring our minds into harmony with Christ's mind. His truth will sanctify us, body, soul, and spirit, and we shall be enabled to rise above temptation.”

So, let us strive to be among that number, with our loved ones who are now resting in him. That on that glorious day, we may all say, Hallelujah, around the throne of God and be with Him forever. 

Until that day, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" is the word of God to all of us today. Revelation 2:10. It is the waiting saints, both those who are sleeping and alive in Jesus, who are to be crowned with glory, honor, and immortality. UNTIL THAT DAY, LET US STRIVE FOR THE DAY OF CHANGE WHEN ALL THINGS SHALL BE MADE NEW. On behalf of my family and the Garden Ministry Team, may the hinges of God’s love never rust on you, and may your day be filled with heavenly peace. 

By GARDEN MINISTRY

WE ARE LABOURERS TOGETHER WITH GOD

This year has been hectic for those whom God has called to minister to others. It could be those in your family, colleagues at work, or on the sports field. The children at the schools where you teach, those in the care units of the hospital, daycare centers, or even at their homes. 

It could be those you serve in the church or community as a pastor, bishop, or chaplain of the nation. You may be called to be a street sweeper, a trash truck driver, or a helper. Always labor as onto the Lord. 

You may be called to serve God's people in your country’s business or hotel sector of your country. A police officer, firefighter, customs officer, immigration officer, army officer, prison officer, doctor, nurse, mechanic, janitor, volunteer, politician, premier, or even the governor, etc. Always look upon your labor for others as unto the Lord.

Today, the Apostle Paul's message to the Corinthians is for you. He states, "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9.

This is a powerful statement that is worth looking at in detail. This message is to encourage the hearts of those for whom Christ has given His life. Secondly, it is to lead us to understand that we are not to depend upon our surroundings or people for our righteous experience in God. 

As you seek to help others. Remember, it will cost you effort to help make people realize their responsibility to become laborers together with God like you. "But consider that Christ, during the years of His earthly ministry, toiled all day, and often without success. 

Yet don't stop urging upon souls the eternal loss that all must sustain who refuse to give their heart, mind, and soul unreservedly to God through Jesus Christ. Every day passed in, which God is refused admittance to the soul, is a day lost. Don't give up showing those for whom you labor how much is to be gained by their full surrender to God.

The end of another year is right upon us. Many are still going through the same old thing they have gone through in years past with no change. 

Yet, don't stop praying for those you are trying to help. 

1. Prayer will help save them and you. 

2. Prayer will give you spiritual strength to be renewed in the conflict of life. Here is the source of your greatest strength.

Today, God is looking from His place in heaven, watching with living interest those who labor for Him, and waiting to impart His grace to those who supplicate His throne through prayer. 

As you go forth, never forget that you are laborers together with God and that it is your privilege to be constantly shielded by His grace. God is watching with interest every reformatory movement carried forward on the earth. He calls upon everyone who has named His name to be converted daily, so that they may work intelligently in His cause, under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. Angels are watching over you and are surrounding you. They even come to your aid at times as you need assistance. 

S. N. Haskell once said, "It is the purpose of God that His people shall be a sanctified, purified, holy people, communicating light to all around them. 

But only as they keep the standard uplifted, only as they reveal that the truth they profess to believe is able to influence them for righteousness and to sustain their spiritual life; only as they make the principles of truth a part of their daily lives, can they be a praise and honor to God in the earth. It is the privilege of every Christian to receive grace to enable them to stand firmly for the principles of righteousness in the service of God." May this be our prayer today. Blessings, Blessings, Blessings. 

By GARDEN MINISTRY