Living in the Dash

Someone entering an historic city sat in the square and as a local resident greeted him he asked "was anyone famous born here?" The response was "no, only babies."

You see we all come into the world the same way, it will be what we do with dash (-) between our arrival and our departure dates that counts. Do something of eternal significance today, PRAY!

Pastor Winston

A Face Like Flint

This is how GOD answered me: … Use words truly and well. … Then, but only then, you'll speak for me. Let your words change them. Don't change your words to suit them.” Jer 15:19 THE MESSAGE

Don't let circumstance change the truth of your message.  Truth remains truth regardless of culture or the year.   The delivery vehicle may change but he message does not.

Pastor Winston

Divine Coincidence

The former Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple said, “When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don't, they don't.” When we ask God for direction, often doors are opened that were unexpected.

Pastor Winston

Four Types of Men

“There are four types of men in this world:

1. The man who knows, and knows that he knows; he is wise, so consult him.
2. The man who knows, but doesn't know that he knows; help him not forget what he knows.
3. The man who knows not, and knows that he knows not; teach him.
4. Finally, there is the man who knows not but pretends that he knows; he is a fool, so avoid him.”

                           - Solomon Ibn Gabirol ben Judah (1021-1058)


Pastor Winston

A Bright Future

Because of our current state of affairs, the habits with which we are so easily overtaken, the challenges of a disciplined approach to life we often feel disconnected from the Lord.  We contemplate the question, can he really use me?  Here is the answer that came to me again this morning.

"I will bless you with a future filled with hope--a future of success, not of suffering." Jer 29:11 (CEV)

Pastor Winston

Paid In Full

Be generous with me and I'll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road. Psalm 119:17 MSG




A Father’s generosity is not always measured by the goods he provides. And in the case of our heavenly Father – the measure is his great LOVE. For he so loved us that he sent his only son die and be the “FINAL PAYMENT” for us.

We are eternally "PAID FOR" – that’s the stamp upon us – no one can claim us but our heavenly Father.





Pastor Winston

Lord, You Are My Example

I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it. 16 I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it. Psalm 119:15-16 MSG



There is a particular food item that I like to have on occasion in Jamaica, we call it Jerk Pork. Whenever I have it, I will chew on it to get every bit of flavor from the meat in my mouth. I can taste the various spices and pepper, as it moves around my mouth my taste buds with the delicate flavor of each spice.

Can we take our Father’s Word and chew on it in like manner. Experience every nuance of it’s flavor and relevance to our daily lives … wow, what an explosion of power when I read and understand my Father’s Word.

Pastor Winston

I Need To Hear From You

I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. Psalm 119:14


I want good things in this life, a nice home, a good car; the ability to pay my bills on time. But Father, I want nothing at the expense of my relationship with you.

Give me what is best for me, help me to know what the desire of your heart is for me and then I will use my given faith to secure it.

Pastor Winston

Train Me In Your Ways

Be blessed, GOD; train me in your ways of wise living. 13 I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; Psalm 119:12-13 MSG


Father, I’m all ears – I now that I will never be put to shame by following your Word. The old hymn "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah" comes to mind – challenge my every step Lord, don’t let me slip on the path of this life. I am depending on you!


Pastor Winston

I Am Full

I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt. Psalm 119:11 MSG

If I mess up, your Word is there to pick me up. Better yet, before I can make the wrong choice your Word is there to guide me. I really have the best kind of life I could because my account is always full of your Word because I HIDE IT IN MY HEART.


Pastor Winston

Don't Miss Your Exit

I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. Psalm 119:10 MSG

As drivers go I believe I’m a very good one. I am alert and I am always aware of the signs on the road before me. I remember however, travelling on a highway in New York several years ago where the exits were several miles apart.

I somehow missed the sign for my exit and had to proceed to the next, turn around and double back to where I should have been in the first place. If we keep our eye on God’s word, we will seldom miss an exit or an on ramp of life.

Keep your eye on the Word and you will be ready for the next opportunity from God.

Pastor Winston

Where Do I Go?

How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. Psalm 119:9 MSG



Several of us may be directionally challenged. We couldn’t find the grocery store in our own neighborhood. But we are not lost, for someone developed a little device that we can speak into or type into and it immediately maps our route to our destination.

We call it a navigation system. The word of God is our navigation system for this life – How can we miss the pitfalls of life? Use God’s navigation system – THE HOLY BIBLE.


Pastor Winston

Please Don't Leave Me

I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me. Psalm 119:8 MSG


What a request – Father, Don’t leave me! And his reply, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Our Father is a loving, doting poppa that is clearly interested in every part of our lives. If we would only let him in – and enjoy his intimate fellowship.

Pastor Winston

Straight Talk

I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. Psalm 119:7 MSG


Our Father speaks the truth, He does not hide his heart or his desire for us. We are assured that the Word that we read in the canon of scripture represents the heart of our creator. We then, his creation, should appreciate the loving and kind words that encourage, empower and transforms us into the likeness of our Father.

Pastor Winston

No Regrets

Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; 6 Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. Psalm 119:5-6 MSG



The psalmist doesn’t ask a question or make a vague comment – rather, he makes an emphatic statement; "Lord steady my footing, let me see the ordered path you have placed before me. Then, as I live this life on earth, I will in review have no reason to regret what I have done."


Pastor Winston

In The Spirit and Power of Elijah

Luke 1:17 [KJV] And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias , to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

- Todays Message at Christ Alive, "In the Spirit and Power of Elijah"

Luke 1:17 MESSAGE He will herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics — he'll get the people ready for God."

1. Influencing the Parent's of our nation to turn their hearts to the children (not just their children)
2. To Awaken the skeptic and fence walker to the reality of true relationship with Jesus Christ
3. To prepare a people for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ

Pastor Winston

Closer Than A Brother

You, GOD, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Psalm 119:4 MSG



What an expectation. God gave us the blueprint for our lives, the provision for the building and then He expects us to follow it to the letter. If we seek Him, really seek Him, He will always meet us – He is never far from us – HE STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.

Pastor Winston

All Sufficient Grace

You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. 3 That's right — you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. Psalm 119:2-3 MSG


As wayward children, and sometimes well meaning – we take detours from the God ordained road of life and encounter the potholes and roadblocks that inevitably meet us on our journey.

Life is never without it’s challenges but why create those for which we are unprepared. On His road for us, we are well equipped to deal with the obstacles that lay before us … the equipment - HIS ALL SUFFICIENT GRACE.

Pastor Winston

Follow After God

You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.  [Psalm 119:2 MSG]

God's best comes to us as we live based on His revealed will for your lives.  How do we find His will? We must read His Word, meditate His Word and do our very best to understand his desire for us to be like Him.  After all, He made us in His own image and after His own likeness.

Pastor Winston

Walk Steadily

You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD.  [Psalm 119:1 MSG]


It is our Lord's desire to order our steps and bring us to success in this life.   Many challenges that we face are realized because we fail to walk steadily and surely on the road that God has already mapped for our lives.  
 
Pastor Winston

An Empowered Life

"God's Way is not a matter of mere talk; it's an empowered life." [1 Corinthians 4:20 MSG]

When we are living out our faith with integrity and compassion in the world, God can use us to let others see His love and character.

Pastor Winston

Called To Serve

What’s our responsibility? A gospel that is focused on just our own, our person, our family is missing an integral component. We are, as our Lord Jesus said, to serve the poor … poverty of material things and poverty of the spirit.

As citizens of the household of faith, we are called to serve. Our foremost mandate is not to assess what we don’t have, or what we can receive it must be “what can I give.” I must learn to serve by:

1. Lifting up the poor and marginalized
2. Challenging injustice
3. Rejecting the worldly values found in our culture
4. Love our neighbors as ourselves.

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.” Psalm 82:3 KJV

Pastor Winston

Sanctify Us, Lord ...

Father,

“OH, THAT You would rend the heavens and that You would come down , that the mountains might quake and flow down at Your presence — … to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!” Isaiah 64:1-2 AMP

We open our hearts to you today, sanctify us by your Word O Lord, for your Word is truth.  Let your glory fill the earth as the water covers the sea.

Your humble servant

Faith Without Works

"... When will you ever learn that "believing" is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith."  James 2:20 TLB

In 1 Samuel 15, we see where King Saul was given specific direction from God by the Prophet Samuel.   Repeatedly the King did only some of what God had wanted him to do and on one occasion he went beyond his authority and stepped into doing what was not within his authority before God and man.  

Does the end justify the means?  Never! In the sight of God, we must be completely open with him, obedience and openess with our heavenly Father brings a great intimacy with Him.

Pastor Winston

Speak the Truth In Love

"How painful an honest discussion can be ..?" Job 6:25 [GW]

Are you afraid of speaking the truth when faced with a personal confrontation?  It is an imperative if we are growing in godly character to be open and honest with our friends, our family and ourselves.  Truth makes us free and hints and suggestions only cause misunderstandings and misinterpretations. 


"God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love"  Ephesians 4:15 [THE MESSAGE]