Podbean.com - superior podcast hosting.

Welcome to Podbean.com. With Podbean, you can create professional podcasts in minutes without any programming knowledge. Our user-friendly interface allows you to upload, publish, manage and promote your podcasts with just a few clicks of your mouse. Just point, click and execute. How easy is that? Learn more at http://faq.podbean.com. Have a question ? Check out the Podbean.com support center. Happy Podcasting!

From Cope to Hope | Part 4, "Five Secrets to Happiness"

Nehemiah encouraged the people in his day, "This day is holy to our Lord.... for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Neh. 8:10) Learn how to make every day "holy" (special) and let joy be your strength.

From Cope to Hope | Part 3, "No More Phobias & Fears. How to Use Your Faith"

Fear distracts and dominates the lives of too many people. The Bible says that "Fear has torment..."
We have no need to fear lack, and every reason to have faith, when God has promised to provide access to a limitless resource. Jesus said, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Fear is defined as "expectation of danger or harm." Faith attracts God's favor, blessings, and overcomes all fear!
Watch Video: “Fear vs. Anxiety” https://www.dropbox.com/s/009a9wzt2ghuu4h/FEAR%20VS%20ANXIETY.mov?dl=0
Watch Video: “No Fear, Sound Mind” https://www.dropbox.com/s/falbuza12kndr78/No%20Fear%20Sound%20Mind.mov?dl=0
Here is a story that in that illustrates how fear distracts and torments when faith could have resolved the problem:
Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Jesus asked His disciples (and us): "Why are you fearful?"
The disciples woke up (who are sound asleep during a storm!) Jesus to ask Him to do something they should have done. Jesus was resting in the boat after a long day of ministry. A sudden storm made the disciples afraid. They allowed their fear to interfere with their faith and forget that Jesus was on the boat with them! Because of this, Jesus called the disciples' faith “ little.” He expected much more from men who had been trained first hand.
When storms come, or big opportunities are presented, let your faith rise, not your fears.
Phobias and fears arise when a lifestyle and mindset of faith are absent. If we claim to be Christians and disciples, Jesus FULLY expects us to trust Him. When you feel like you have respond with fear, remember that the Miracle Worker is with you.
People are tormented by fear because of the absence of God, who is love, dwelling in them. Torment is the negative thought, the scenario, or the drama that plays out in our minds over and over again.
Perfect love, that is God’s perfect love that is in you, will cast out all fear. If there are things you need to do, but that you are afraid to do, God’s love and presence will remove all those fears. Rather than expecting something bad to happen, you expect something good to happen because your "Father” is right there with you!
There is a real emotion of fear generated by imminent danger that requires action. However, most fears are imagined and therefore not real and best summarized by the acrostic:
F-alse
E-evidence
A-ppearing
R-eal
For believers in Christ, there is an overarching reality to embrace summarized by this text:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
 Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

From Cope to Hope | Part 2, “Peace in the Middle of Your Storm: Resolving Conflicts”

Jesus promises peace. Life brings storms such as conflicts in relationships and in our circumstances. The peace that Christ brings to your life is stronger than the difficulties.

From Cope to Hope | Part 1, "Too Blessed to Be Stressed"

Life is full of challenges, difficulties and expectations. Stress is not easily explained and it cannot be ignored. Dealing effectively with stress will add years to your life and life to your years.

Vision for 2015 | Arise. Shine. Promote Hope!

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

The Power Of God's Plan

Masterpiece: a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship. An artist's or craftsman's best piece of work.
A masterpiece does not happen by accident. It is not the result of something random. A masterpiece is the result of an inspired plan.
We usually relate a masterpiece to artwork or some other work of an artist, whether literary, or music or architecture. Basically, a masterpiece is anyone’s best work. Not “best” in relation to someone else’s work, but only in relation to your own work.
It has been said that the new birth is greatest miracle that we’ll ever experience. I agree. There is no underestimating the significance of the new birth, especially when you consider the plan of God behind it and the level of power and sacrifice required to make it happen.
Most importantly is the reality that, according to the Apostle Paul, believers in Christ are God’s masterpiece. Everyone has great value and dignity because every person is made in God’s image and likeness. However, the idea of being God’s “workmanship” and “masterpiece” is related to our re-creation or re-birth in Christ.
From the Garden of Eden, to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, to Rahab’s hiding.
I marvel at the few manmade masterpieces I’ve seen in person such as some of the art of Michealanglo, the Hoover Dam, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London (1708). Cecil B. Demil’s “The Ten Commandments” is a masterpiece film. A masterpiece makes you say to yourself, “How did they do that?” People look at the pyramids and think that aliens or some superhumans must has built them because we can imagine people building it.
There is no underestimating what inspired people can do when they have an exceptional plan.
Masterpiece works come from a plan, a lot of work, and a lot of suffering to stay with the plan amid challenges.

Kingdom Best Practice

Definition of best: Of the highest quality, excellence, or standing: the best work; the best students. most advantageous, suitable, or desirable: the best way, most productive of good : offering or producing the greatest advantage, utility, or satisfaction
Definition of 'Best Practices: A set of guidelines, ethics or ideas that represent the most efficient or prudent course of action. Best practices are often set forth by an authority, such as a governing body or management, depending on the circumstances. While best practices generally dictate the recommended course of action, some situations require that such practices be followed.
All the important professions and careers in our society our guided by best practices. As believers in Christ, how much more should best practices guide our actions?
Kingdom best practices:
1. Following: Proverbs 16:20, Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
Praying: Philippians 4:6, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
2. Caring: 1 Corinthians 12:24 But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
3. Serving: Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
4. Giving: Prov. 3:9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase
5. Honoring: Romans 12:9, Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord
6. Preaching: Luke 9:6, So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
7. Humility: Philippians 2:2 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

How to Be Strong: Ingredients for Strength

Ingredients of strength
If you’re taking notes, write down the letter “M”
1. Message (Word) Doers of the Word and not only Hearers (not deceiving ourselves)
2. Mindset: As a man thinks, so is he. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind).
a. Being strong requires a mindset and a transformation of resources.
b. When the country was preparing to enter World War Two. Items like aluminum were used to build airplance. Because men were going off to war, women working in factories.
c. Joel 3:9 Proclaim this among the nations:“Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, Let all the men of war draw near, Let them come up. 10 Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’”
3. Material: There is something for us to do or to bring to God. In about 2 1/3 years, we are going to own this building free and clear) Matt 14:28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
4. Mouth: So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. Doers of the Word Faith come by hearing
Manifestation: God reveals what was done when we asked by faith

How to Be Strong: Defy the Odds. Renew Your Strength.

How to Be Strong in Times of Weakness
Part 2 | Defy the Odds. Renew Your Strength.
Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
What David Teaches Us About Strength.
David has a lot to say about life. David had many experiences in his life. He was a man of unusual gifting and ability. He served as a Prophet, priest, king, warrior, and musician. David gained extraordinary confidence of his accomplishments. From this, you would think he was strong. Gifting and ability does not necessarily equal strength.
But he also suffered tremendous setbacks and made horrible mistakes. Like the old ABC show, “The Wide World of Sports” David experienced the thrill of victory and the of agony of defeat.
David’s most important accomplishment is that he was considered to be “A man after God’s own heart.” This is what we remember about David more than anything else, because he learned how to embrace weakness in a manner that enabled him to become strong.
David experienced both weakness and strength. He learned how to walk in strength by embracing his weakness in a very unique way.
We’re all shaped by the circumstances that impact our lives. This shape will be constructive if we let grace or destructive depending upon the grace of God in our lives and how we respond to God.
What shaped David’s life was how the handle weakness or being assigned a lesser status. Time and time again, David embraced his weakness only to find great strength in God, and in himself.