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New life begins in Christ

PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

It is such a blessing to have friends who support us with love and prayers. Phone calls, a card in the mailbox, a smile, a touch, hearing one’s name called out in a greeting are a few of the ways that we let each other know we care. In this age of advancing technology, a lot of this has gone missing.

How sad!

I still have a flip-top cell phone. I tell my friends that it’s push buton and not a rotary dial. We laugh and I then tell them that I call that modern. I love to hear the human voice. God gave us our voices to use and His work tells us that He spoke everything into existence. His voice makes all the difference.

Jesus said that in this world, we would have trials and tribulations, but we were to take heart for He had overcome the world. He gave us the victory. We do not need to go it alone, for we have Him, each other and His limitless love and power. God is good!

In Zechariah we read that it is not by night, nor by power (ours) but by His Spirit. We need Him and we need each other. What ever we may face on any given day, we are not alone.

I am no one special. I do not hold myself higher than any of you. As a pastor, your love and prayer support enables me to carry on. In whatever hour of struggle, when I seek Him, He always shows Himself to be true.

He always gives me free choice. I can choose His way and move forward in His excellence or I can have my own way. He will allow me to “float my own boat” but sometimes, I would then be in a sinking ship. We all have used the expression, “experience is the best teacher,” but I can readily tell you there are a few things I should have passed by with a “no thanks” still ringing in my ears. I have made choices that weren’t always the best and I have also experienced things that weren’t a result of my own choosing. Regardless of the circumstances, I was never alone. He was always as close as the mention of His name. Let’s say His name together. Jesus. Say it again. Jesus.

He has called me to preach liberty to the captives that will open their prison doors with His word and His healing touch. More and more, I see myself laying my hands on people’s heads and calling forth His peace and for His healing waters to flow. He is my God and my sure foundation. Jesus is the cornerstone. He is the rock and I am still building upon His solid and firm foundation. I stand strong upon His promises.

The cross is our plumb line. We must start out in Christ alone. When we build what He has for us, we will not fail. No other foundation must be laid. When we stay focused on His cross, we keep building His plan for our lives. We build His way.

Didn’t our day get a little bit brighter, despite our circumstances?

“I’m singing “Jesus is the sweetest name I know, and He’s just the same as His lovely name. That’s the reason why I love Him so for Jesus is the sweetest name I know,” Amen!

When we seek God for a deeper walk, we are in a spiritual birthing. I am going to be very up front with you. The labor gets more intense the more we press in to give borth to His plan and His purpose for our lives. To fulfill the reason He gave us breath will be very costly. To walk fully in His plan will mean lying daily to ourselves. It will be worth it though, as we live out His purpose for our lives. He will never require our everything to give us nothing.

I don’t want sidelined by the enemy. I must stay focused and keep my hope in Christ alone. I sing a song about Christ being the cornerstone. I love o sing and preach wherever I go. I love to teach. I am not the head pastor of a church, but God has certainly ordained me to speak forth His truth and His love. He keeps equipping me with what I need to speak liberty to the bruised, the broken and the hurting. It has been prophetize many times that out of my mouth would come forth words of love and compassion, coupled with joy, and God would send healing forth. I’m singing once again and declaring God’s glory.

“Jesus is the cornerstone, He came for sinners to atone. Though rejected by His own. Jesus is the cornerstone. My Jesus is the cornerstone. When I am by trials oppressed, on the stone I am at rest. Ever let the truth be known that Jesus is the cornerstone, my Jesus is the cornerstone. Rock of ages left for me. Let me hide myself in Thee. O’ rock of ages so secure and for all time, He will endure. Till His children reach their home, He remains the cornerstone. Till the breaking of the dawn, until all footsteps cease to roam. Ever let the truth be known that Jesus is the cornerstone, my Jesus is the cornerstone.”

Jesus is the foundation of love. Whatever we build upon this solid rock canno ever fail. He’s solid. He is sure. In Him, we are complete and never alone. His grace enables us.

We are on sure footing. Praise His Holy name. We can should “grace, grace,” to any mountain in our way and we will not be stopped. Build His house and His way and we will finish strong and secure. May God bless you with abundance and remember always that His love is the greatest. No one will ever love you the way that Go loves you and I love you, too!

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Barbara Mannino is a pastor at Hand of Grace at Grace Covenant Church, Lewistown, where she ministers 9 a.m. the second Saturday of every month. Food distribution is from 10 a.m. to noon. She also is available for family home ministries and to speak at church events. Contact her at (717) 242-1274.

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