Give Birth!

Here we are at the close of another year. When I look back over 2007, I cannot help but ask myself, what have I accomplished, and also, what have I neglected. Many of us have had inspirational ideas and dreams that are nothing short of God planted visions for our lives. The question is, how many of you have actually given birth to those dreams?

It's easy for us to give up because life always seems to find a way of hindering our plans. The odds never seem to be in our favor. Well, I want to tell you something today...it's all in God's design. If everything was always 'just right', there would be no room for the miraculous in your life. We would also fall into the trap of thinking we made it all happen. God wants to do things that will prove to the world that it was no one but Him that made it happen. He just needs a willing vessel.

This is what the young, obedient, virgin Mary found out. When it was time to bring our Savior into this world, she had no place to stay, no nurses or doctors, and nothing to stop the pain. And the promise she received from God had to be wrapped in rags and placed in a feeding trough. Now I know your odds of success are nowhere near as bad as that. So as you look forward to 2008, I want to encourage you to take hold of your dreams, don't look back, look toward the Father, and GIVE BIRTH!

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

~Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)

Happy Holidays!

We at Chosen Ministries would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very blessed Christmas and prosperity in the New Year. Thank you for being a loyal reader of our weekly messages. I look forward to our continued relationship in the coming year.

All the best to you and your family,

Pastor AJ Golden
Chosen Ministries, Inc.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.'"

~ Luke 2:8-11 (NIV)

Let Him INN

Do you recall the story of Jesus' birth? A young virgin and her soon to be husband were searching for a place to rest from their journey to Bethlehem, when they had to give birth to our Savior in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. It is an amazing story of obedience, perseverance, and sacrifice. And it parallels how we should live our lives today.

In a world filled with instant messaging, video on demand, and iPods, it is often difficult for us to make room for Jesus in our inns. But as children of God we need to be the first to slow down and allow God to impregnate us with His divine purpose for our lives. Just like young Mary, you may not understand how anthing so great can happen to you, but I want to assure you that it can and will, if you INNvite Jesus into your everyday life.

We have to stop making fellowship, worship, and giving something we do just on special occasions, and INNcorporate them into our daily walk with God. And finally, when you have those times when you feel like things aren't going to work out, learn to INNvestigate God's Word. There you'll see that all things work together for your good, when you Let God INN.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

~Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

Reach Out

As the year draws to a close, I thought it fitting to go over some of the many highlights Chosen has experienced. Our Celebration Services started on January 7th of this year and we have had the pleasure of worshipping with over 100 guests, many of which have made Chosen their church home.

In addition to our Sunday morning services, we have also dedicated ourselves to reaching out to the community with various mission events. These events have given us the opportunity to bless over 3000 people in the North Hollywood area by handing out free fruit, juice, hotdogs, donuts, smiles, hugs, and God's love. We have also been able to send toys and toiletries to children in the Sudan and other parts of the world through our collaboration with Samaritan's Purse.

Our benevolence has provided our members with free clothing, shelter, and assistance with addiction recovery and counseling. And our prayers are to do much more. For the holidays, we have set a goal of giving an amount equal to what we have spent in benevolence and missions over the whole year. Next year we plan to have a worship facility of our own so we can start our recovery program, children's ministry and career development training.

With your help, this dream will come true! Please consider helping us reach out to those in need by planting a seed in this ministry. Your gift will help Chosen Ministries reach people who are desperately seeking relief from the pressures of their everyday life, and give them a place where they can connect with God and His children.

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

~Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

Got PLANS?

What have you placed on the back burner? What were you so passionate about at one point in your life that has now collected dust? It's time to pick it up once again, except this time, commit to finishing it! Maybe you want to complete your degree, start that new business, or simply finish that puzzle you had to buy. Whatever it is, now is the time to check it off your list of things to do.

Life has a way of causing us to change course and get sidetracked. But we can combat this by taking the time to make plans to accomplish our goals. Planning doesn't have to be a laborious chore and it is never time wasted. When you take time to plan, you save time that would otherwise be wasted by repeated failure, missteps, and procrastination. Always remember this acrostic when planning: Prepare, Learn, Apply, Negotiate, and Surrender your plans to God, and He'll make sure you succeed.

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

~Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

Thank You!

With the holidays approaching, most of us are scrambling to find ways to accommodate the many loved ones in our lives. Gifts must be purchased, travel arrangements must be made, and meals must be prepared. And even though this should to be a joyous time of year, it is too often the most depressing. A lot of us feel a great amount of pressure to live up to the expectations of those around us. I want to relieve you of those feelings by expressing my gratitude...for you!

This season, I want each of you to give yourselves a pat on the back for the many accomplishments you have made this year. You may not be where you want to be, but you are certainly not where you used to be. And we do not hear the words "well done" enough. This Thanksgiving, my prayers are for all of you. I thank God for you, do the same by thanking God for your own achievements. Instead of worrying about what you have not done and the things you cannot control, thank Him for your growth and fellowship in Him.

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or depressed, take some time to celebrate your successes. Look at the areas in which you have grown and allow those to propel you toward future goals. Enjoy the holidays, spend time with those you love, and eat some turkey for me!

"Dear brothers and sisters, we can't help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing."

~2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NLT)

Reward!

Have you ever seen those signs posted on telephone poles that offer a reward for a lost cat or puppy? No doubt, the owner of those pets are worried that their beloved animals are hungry, scared, and lonely without them. In an effort to located little fluffy, a faithful owner will do anything to be reunited with their furry friend, including offering a reward for their return.

In many ways, God is the same when it comes to finding His lost children. Not only does He reward those in ministry who give of themselves to usher His sheep back into the fold, but He also rewards the sheep! Despite what you may believe, God loves you and truly wants you to prosper in everything you do. Yet, He is often disappointed because we sometimes stray away from him much like the lost pet mentioned earlier. We tend to get dissatisfied with what is offered to us in the house, that we leave the comforts of home and many times end up hungry, scared and lonely.

But God wants you back so bad that He vows to reward those look for Him. In other words, when we line up our actions with God's Word and seek Him for continued direction in everything we do, He promises that whatever we touch will prosper! Stop relying on what the world has to offer, and come back home to the pampered lifestyle that God wants to provide. If you do not have one already, find a good church that you can call home. If you already belong to one, find your way back in the house...your reward is waiting.

"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him"

~Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

Ready... Aim... Fire!

What are you shooting for in life? A big family, a great career, a new house? Many of us are striving to attain great goals in life, but few of us have actually taken the time to chart a path that will lead us to these goals. According to statistics, the US personal savings rate is a negative one percent of our disposable income. Many people have no idea how they will fund their education, retirement, or home ownership...even emergencies! So what does this mean? It means that we have skipped the main factors that will ensure we succeed at accomplishing what we set out to fulfill. In essence, we're just firing in the wind!

Many of us are living our lives in a way that is similar to a drive-by shooting. I hate to be graphic, but our lives end up resembling that of a crime scene because we have hit everything...except for what we were trying to hit. This is due to the lack of 'ready-ing' yourself and taking aim with your life. Instead of the big house that we dreamed of having, we're living in a one-bedroom apartment in the rough side of town. And that career that we so passionately longed for, has been traded in for a part-time job at the local department store. What about the Prince-Charming or the Sleeping Beauty that you knew you would marry?

But, just because we may not have some of the things we thought we would have by now, doesn't mean we have to give up on our dreams. Instead, we need to take a step back and ready ourselves. In other words, PREPARE for what you want your future to hold. Then take aim at your dreams. This means we must list out our goals and develop a plan to accomplish them. Then...FIRE! Take action toward obtaining your goals. Anything we set our mind and heart on can be accomplished. So get Ready... Aim... and Fire!

"Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them"

~Joshua 1:2 (NIV)

Trick or Treat?

I'm not a person that is really big on holidays. It's not because I'm a Scrooge, but I'm sure it is because I realize that they are really just marketing tools for stores to sell products. Instead, I try to celebrate by seeing everyday as an opportunity to enjoy life and be with the ones you love. That said, Halloween is certainly a holiday I resist. The concept of going door to door trying to get a treat from people who we have never taken the time to introduce ourselves to seems pretty selfish. Then, if they do not oblige us with a treat, we retaliate with a trick (some are not so amusing).

Well a lot of us as Christians approach God this way. We kneel down before God to give thanks and ask Him to treat us to some desire we have or material blessing. Many times, if we feel He has not accommodated our needs, we trick Him by refusing to serve, neglecting to give, or ceasing to communicate with Him. This is no way to have a relationship with our Creator.

Let's stop playing Trick or Treat with God and let's surrender our lives to him. Find a good church home where you can develop a meaningful relationship with God and with His children. Stop knocking on your neighbor's doors once a year to treat yourselves, and begin to see everyday as an opportunity to have a dialogue with someone you don't know. When we allow ourselves to focus on giving and not always getting, we'll realize just how blessed we are, and begin to enjoy the life that we have been given.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself."

~Luke 10:27 (NIV)

It's All Good!

We will always face difficult times in life. The true test is in how we react to them. The book of James instructs us to 'consider it joy' when we are faced with different trials. This is because as trials come, we are met with obstacles that will strengthen our faith. And that's a good thing!

When I was in the Marine Corps, we used to run the obstacle course, which was a series of various barriers and hurdles that we would have to traverse. Through the months of our training we would have to face this course many times, and each time, it would get progressively easier. By the time I finished boot camp, I felt like I could conquer the world. I had learned a very valuable lesson...trials produce strength and confidence! The same holds true for the trials we face in life. The more we STAND in the face of difficult times, the stronger and more confident we become in our faith.

So the next time you encounter hardship, start praising, lift up a shout. You may look and feel crazy at the time, but it will help you get through. Each time we would begin our obstacle course, they trained us to give a 'war cry' as we went through it. I had no idea why they taught us that, but as I went through, I began to feel empowered and my adrenaline helped carry me through. Well, we as Christians have more than just adrenaline to carry us through, we have God on our side and He has promised us that He would work everything out for our good. So consider it joy, cause It's All Good!

"We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are chosen to be a part of His plan."

~Romans 8:28 (NLV)

Never Give Up!

This past week has been quite a ride. I have fought through such a spiritual warfare that I completely forgot to send out last week's email. But that's the nature of the Christian journey. He never promised that it would be a walk in the park. As a matter of fact, He clearly told us that we would endure many trials and persecution (cf. John 15:18-21; 16:33). The funny thing about Jesus' warning is that he commanded that we be joyful through them all! You may be thinking, "why should I be joyful?" Well the reason is simple, because after the trial, we will be stronger, happier, more patient, and blessed.

Paul tells us this in his letter to the Galatian Church. If we can just endure the tests, trials, and tribulation... If we can keep from growing weary... If we can just continue to do the right things...we will reap a harvest! The problem is that many of us quit right before our breakthrough.

Well, I want to encourage you today, from the trenches...NEVER GIVE UP! I don't care how hard it may seem, how far it may look, or how long it may take, NEVER GIVE UP! When you feel like you can't take another step, CRAWL, when it seems as if everyone has turned their backs, CRY OUT, and when you feel like you're going to faint, REACH UP! Sometimes in order to do this, you may have to change the crowd you're with. You may also have to change some of the things you do, or the places you go, but just remember your end result will always be victory...if you NEVER GIVE UP!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

~Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Taste's Great!

Satan wants you to believe that the sin of this world will fill your belly and satisfy you, but he is a liar. The bible calls him the father of lies. We have to stop buying into the lies he feeds into our minds. If we cannot ignore him, we must simply flee from him! That's right, run! Stop allowing yourself to get into positions where Satan can lure you to taste the temptation he puts on your plate. Instead sit at the table that God prepares for you.

If you continue to find yourself struggling with the temptations of this life, run to God! Make your way to a place where you can get some encouragement in His Word. The bible tells us to "taste and see" how good God is. You cannot do that unless you make time to feed on His Word. Once you change your diet this way, you will begin to strenthen yourself to be able to resist the Devil's attacks. Only then will you find true fulfillment and satisfaction.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him"

~Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

It's Not About You!

At times we find ourselves tempted to do more for ourselves than we do for others. That is a selfish way of living. With the pressure of feeling the need to accomplish so much in life, we often overlook those around us in pursuit of our own dreams. This is a lesson I had to learn this week. Even when it comes to the things of God, we can find ourselves overbearing and inconsiderate of the interests of others.

God does not want us to live this way. When we take the time to find out how we can be a blessing to someone in need, we will find that our needs will be met. Slow down in life! Take a step back at times and look around you. You'll be surprised at how God has orchestrated your steps. The very person you overlook will be that same person who hold the key to your deliverance. Don't be selfish, be a blessing and watch your needs be fulfilled!

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

~Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

Give It Up!

Your heart will always be attached to what is most valuable to you. If you have placed more value in the temporary things of this world over the eternal things of God, then your heart will care more for those things than for God. We may never openly say it, but our actions will always show the true intent of our heart.

In this Christian journey, we are called and chosen to serve God with all of our hearts. If we are so focused on the material things of this world, we will find ourselves pushing God out of our lives. Let's not fall into that trap. Give God your whole heart! Don't worry about the things of this world. Trust and seek God and everything your heart desires will be made available to you.

"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money...Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

~Matthew 6:24, 33 (NLT)

This Is The Life!

Forgiveness is the key that unlocks your blessings. Whenever you harbor unforgiveness in your heart, you block the FLOW of blessings in your life. The unfortunate thing is that many people are holding grudges against themselves and do not realize that their prayers will not be answered unless they let go of the past.

The word in the bible that means forgive means to send away, let go, yield up, and expire. What are you holding on to that you need to let go of, or send away? What are you allowing to keep your prayers from passing through the ceiling? Give them up today! Let those things expire so that you can move forward with your life. You must be FOR-GIVING in order to release the FLOW of blessings in you life.

"I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too."

~Matthew 11:24-25 (NLT)

This Is The Life!

God has chosen you to be his example to the world. This means that you will endure trials because our enemy does not want us to 'Declare God's Praises'. But we must remain faithful. We must continue to 'be of good cheer', because God's word declares that if we suffer with Christ, we will also reign with him.

Let's continue to fight the good fight. When people attempt to bring us down to their level, let's raise them up to ours. When we are tempted to wander from what we know to be the right way to live, let's resist the enemy. When we feel down and in despair, let's remember that our trials are only temporary. God wants us to prosper, because when we do, we have the opportunity to give Him glory! Continue to let your light shine so that people will see you and want to know the God that you serve!

"You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a city that is on a mountain. Men do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. They put it on a table so it gives light to all in the house. Let your light shine in front of men. Then they will see the good things you do and will honor your Father Who is in heaven."

~Matthew 5:14-16 (NLV)

This Is The Life!

So many things demand our attention in this world, and before we know it we can find ourselves knee deep in meaningless tasks and obligations that draw us away from living the life God wants us to live. These distractions, which may seem important, are usually not related to your purpose, nor do they bring you closer to realizing what that purpose may be.

The problem is that we wake up each morning and go about our day without consulting our Creator. This is how the world lives life, but we as believers must separate ourselves from that level of thinking. We must make up in our minds that we will serve God with our whole being. Let's stop giving Him our leftovers and scraps and start each and every day seeking His will. Then, and only then, will you accomplish everything that He has sent you forth to accomplish.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

~Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Christian Bloggers

Help support other Christian Bloggers by visiting their site...

http://rickwarren.typepad.com/rick_warren/2007/02/christian_blogg.html

B-Blessed!