When God talks, His words manifest what He says.  Whether He says, “Let there be light,” or “Take up you bed and walk,” to the cripple or “Arise,” to a young, dead teenage girl, His Words contain the power to bring themselves to pass.  So when He calls you blessed, you are. When He said to Isaac “Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham,” that was a great day.  Why?  Because just like Isaac, we are the seed of Abraham, which means God’s Word to Isaac that day was spoken to us as if we had been right there with him!

Frankly, the Bible says that JESUS set us free from the curse so that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us.  And of course that blessing goes like this:

“…And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

God’s Word marked Abraham for the rest of His life.  Today, you and I are marked by that same  Word as well as the blood of JESUS.  God looked at you and called those things which were not as though they were.  And neither you nor I can change that.  We are exactly who God says we are!  The only power we have is the power of choice; to accept it or deny it. I know what I’ve done.  How about you?  PRG

Your life has a beginning, middle and end.  It is up to us to unwrap the package God has given us and discover the daily joys He has purposed for us.

Eye has not seen, ear has not heard nor has entered into the heart of man all the THINGS which God has prepared for those who love Him.  Those who love Him are those who pursue Him and daily discover His love, mercy, strength and supernatural provision in every area of life.

No matter what you do, make certain He is doing it through you.  Don’t be caught alone doing your own thing outside of God’s master plan.  It is futile and exhausting.  Go to Him for what He has already supplied today and enjoy the feeling that is foreign to so many, the feeling, of peace.

Be blessed today.  PRG

So many people ask the question, “Are we the only life form in the entire universe?”  “Is there life anywhere out there?”  The answer is, “Yes, most definitely!” But it is not what some may think.  The out there I am talking about is the invisible spirit-world.  And that world is much more active and dynamic than our 3D world on earth.  JESUS is proof.  He came from the spirit realm, not in some inter-galactic cruiser, but in the womb of a woman.

And to be clear, in no way am I implying that JESUS is some kind of Star Wars type creature from another galaxy.  But I assure you, He is not from earth.  Nor was He conceived by the Seed of a man (See Gen. 3:15).  He is the living Son of God, sent from a very real place called heaven.

The eternal Son of God left His throne in heaven to come to earth as Adam II.  It was the only way God could satisfy the debt which Adam I incurred for all the rest of us.  JESUS came to make us ALL RIGHT after we had become all wrong!

But JESUS came not just as our Savior and holy substitute for our sin-sick lives; He also came to show all people that the invisible can become visible!  So in Hebrews 12:2 we read, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” Again, look at Him, (the tangible manifestation of the invisible God), who is also the Captain and our greatest example of faith.

There He is.  The living God, and you can touch Him! In other words, if you can believe who He is, you can experience anything you saw Him do, beginning with salvation.

Look at Christ’s life in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  He is the visible expression of the heart of our heavenly Father.  JESUS did only what the Father instructed Him to do.  And we saw the results; salvation, healing and deliverance.  Those acts have never stopped happening for those who see Him!  There is no reason not to believe that they will happen for you?

Therefore, JESUS told us in Mk. 9:23 “…all things are possible to him who believes.” And Romans 8:32 sums it all up with one question.  And careful now, your answer to this question is the key to the abundant life which you were created to possess, and it is this, “…will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?”

If your response is, “Yes!” then let it be unto you according to His Word.  For the JESUS you see and believe determines not only your eternal dwelling place, but the quality of your life on earth, right here, right now.  See Him and rejoice!

PRG

Tight skin is cool, but I have a question.  “What else do you have?”  You see, a McLaren F1 is a million dollar supercar.  Sweet!  And it shimmers on a showroom floor like few cars do.  But if it came with a Ford Fiesta engine, it becomes something else altogether.  It becomes…disappointing.  Some would say, ” A Cheater.”  A Deception!  For though it had all the appearances of a race car, it was not even close.

America is being cheated today because too many parents are buying into a glossy and shallow society.  It’s time to pay the price of building our children from within…by example.

Somebody is going to get their attention and become their number one influence.  Will it be you ?

We have a historic opportunity today.  An opportunity to lead from the heart.  And our audience is all ears.  Our future leaders should not be influenced as much by the culture as they are by mom and dad.  How they act on the soccer field should reflect what they have learned around the dining room table, not on Jersey Shore.   This commitment to our children should cause us to be the everyday mentors our young people are crying out for. 

Let’s develop a thought life rooted in the Word of God along with the principles of love, faith and the riches of  His grace.  As parents, when we commit to building our hidden parts, our children will see the results outwardly.  It won’t be long before they too will begin to hunger, not just for a fancy paint job, but for that powerful engine of character and honor which will propel them into the victory zone of life all of their days on earth!

God has filled the earth with abundant resources.  For instance, crude oil from beneath the earth.  Where do we drill for it?  We drill in the exact place where He put it.  And where do we place those mammoth wind turbines?  We put them wherever He makes the wind blow. Fisherman fish certain waters at certain times of the year because they know that the precise fish, crab, shrimp or other sea life which they desire will be there.  These are just examples of how some people cooperate with God.

Whether you acknowledge God, go to church or not, your spiritual “handle,” is irrelevant.  From Atheist to Zen and everything in between, everybody acknowledges the earth’s  cycles, seasons as well as the meteorological and geological patterns that are all around us.  We respect these patterns and we use them to our benefit.  We have also learned that disrespecting “mother nature” can lead to disastrous results.

Think about it.  Is not science simply the discovery of the vast power which surrounds us on earth?  Every advancement in human history, from the wheel to the microchip has come from a discovery.   It is man harnessing the potential within a God-made substance.  Once a scientist discovers a “constant” in nature or in a compound they become 99.99%  certain that the same  results will occur every time the same conditions are present.  It is a constant. They are convinced.  And as a result of relying on these certainties, our world has become a much more glorious place to live.

If we can rely so heavily on the unchanging laws of nature and see the consistent benefits of doing so, we must not hesitate to take the same stance with God’s Word!  For God’s Word is the only constant on earth that is 100% reliable, 100% of the time, to 100% of those who believe it.  For it was His Word which created the world when He spoke by the breath of  His mouth (Psalm 33:6).  Once a person makes God’s Word their own, they will never lack any good thing in this life or the next!

When you and I begin to cooperate with God’s Word, we will  become more certain about God’s love and His promises toward us than those who rely on the Farmer’s Almanac.  We will experience blessing and multiplication upon all we put our hands to.  If we don’t doubt the seasons, how can we doubt the very Word that created them?  Let me challenge you to believe that the God who created the earth also created you to experience the abundant life JESUS promised.  Put God’s Word in your heart, then on your tongue.   Now release that Word with faith and watch what God does.  What YOU SAY will come to pass.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

Yet it did happen again,  just a few weeks ago.  A young college student, Tyler Clementi, jumped to his death off the George Washington Bridge in New York.  What a heartbreak.  Another bright kid, nothing but opportunities and fortune ahead of him, here no longer.   Life, just too complicated at eighteen.  And it’s not just Tyler.  But many other gay teens are choosing suicide, nationwide.  Did this young man jump off that bridge because his roommates dishonored him?  No.  He did it because he was confused, confounded, humiliated.  Why?  Let me explain it this way.

I have never met a member of any ethnic or “religious” group who had to warm up to who they really are.  In my case, I am an unapologetic Christian American.  I would never limit wearing JESUS to just my shirt sleeve.  I wear Him all over, especially on my attitude and my outlook on life.  I never had to get used to being a Christian.  And I have never had issue with anyone who does not understand or appreciate my devotion to Christ.  Nor am I offended when people scoff at my particular brand of Christianity   or deride my Savior.  I am just as confident and secure in who I am and who my God is as I am in being an American living in the USA.  I am happy, even eager to tell anyone that I am a flag-waving, Christian patriot, anywhere in the world.  And so would most reading this blog.  Why?  It’s like breathing.  It’s natural.  There is no shame in being who you know you are.

Let’s get to truth.  If an offense could be taken today, it will be with this statement, not with me.  It’s not my statement, nor my word.  I simply believe it.  Any offense would have to be with God, whose Word I take from the New Testament book of Romans, Chapter 1, verses 18 through 32. (New King James Version) Here is an excerpt:

“…because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful…God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves…to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error…”

Yes, there are young people who feel something, hear something or have a desire they have never had.  No objection.  But it is a false reading.  A deceptive bluff.  You don’t have to believe it or submit to it! And why is this such a leap?  Remember the first drag on a cigarette?  We thought we would die.  Every nicotine addict I know wishes they had gotten a clue on that first try.  Why can’t we apply this to the kid who “feels” he’s gay? Imagine if people gave in to every rogue thought or act they “felt” like doing.  It would be chaos.  Homosexuality is a choice.  And for some, it is a very tough one because of the high level of deception involved.

Those who hold to this belief are not anti-gay or against any lifestyle choice.  We must resist the notion that standing on Truth is being “intolerant.”  Would we call someone intolerant because they resisted a person who prefers straddling the lines on the freeway?  “I just don’t feel right when I drive in between the lines…I need to straddle them” A moral society must have at it’s bedrock, undeniable truth in order for it’s citizen’s to prosper.  This has always been America’s secret.

We must question anything that our minds and bodies tell us they “feel” if it goes against truth.  And that is really the crux.  Truth.  The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is neither God-designed nor God-inspired.  And to say that God sanctions and looks with favor upon homosexuality is nonsense.  It is unnatural.  It is a mixture of what God made as natural and then something else joining in (The deception).   That fatal flaw will forever produce mixture.  Thus the shame, the uncertainty, the acting out along with the increasingly loud, loud voice to defend it.  But truth settles every dispute.  “We don’t get to choose what truth is, nor can we change it. We just get to accept it or deny it. And, everybody finds out in the end what the TRUTH really is.”  If your truth gets you where you want to go, congratulations, you made a wise choice.

Yes, it has taken far too long for our nation to recognize that we indeed had a birth defect called slavery.  We are doing much better.  But those attempting to place homosexuality in that same status are misguided.  The evil within legit racism, and I must say legit because our present culture will label you a racist if you accidentally pull out in front of the wrong person in traffic!  The evil within legit racism is marginalizing and devaluing another human life on the basis of something they have no control over, namely, the color of their skin, or their ethnic genealogy.  Never has there breathed a human being with an option in either.  Which is why I contend that the greatest form of racism is abortion.  When we deny life, not the right to vote, not a better seat or a superior job, or even human dignity, but when we deny life itself to a person, who through no fault or choice of their own came into existence in the identical manner as the rest of us; can this be a depiction of anything other than our worst selves?

America has begun to line up with the Bible when it says,  “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28.  Simple, right?  We are ALL equal in God’s eyes in every way.  And that is how it works.  When we get into agreement with Him., life is more enjoyable and productive for everyone.  However, God will not reverse Himself because we are screaming for Him to give us what we want.  He loves us too much to do that.  He is our Father, after all.  Any dad who gives in to the lesser wisdom of his children will certainly regret it.  Of course, God has no regrets.  And neither will we if we stay submitted to His Word.

First, stop looking to be another person’s copy and two,  begin to celebrate your own original and unique making.  You are not in competition with anyone when it comes to being you.  As a matter of fact, the faster you become comfortable in your own skin, the faster your train leaves the station.  Hang with me here.  We are attracted to another person’s success, looks or celebrity because we perceive that their life is so much more glamorous than our own.  We project our life against theirs and guess what?  We choose theirs! But our fascination is misplaced.   The allure these people have is that they have learned how to capitalize on being themselves!  That is what makes them appear so much more charming and attractive.  They have embraced their making!

It is the celebration of your precious and unique gifts which will birth your joy and make you attractive to the right people and circumstances.  So how about this?  Switch your focus.  Rejoice in how God has designed you! Now watch what happens.    Ask the Lord to help you discover your distinction.  Believe that you were created with a purpose and destiny worthy of blessing and significance.  Thank God for it.

Meditate on His Word daily and let Him confirm to you again and again that you are His valuable creation.  Soon, everything within you will be filled with the knowledge of His love and yes, His approval.  And one day, there it is.  You look in the mirror, and you are thrilled with what God has made.  “Hello world.  Nobody does me better!”

Unlike a New Year, a “New Day” is a choice, and, of the highest quality. It’s a choice not just to pray daily, but throughout our day. It is choosing to forgive first and ask questions later, to stay encouraged about our future and courageous about releasing the past.

A New Day is deciding to dream more, believe more, receive more, doubt less, worry less, complain less and then GIVE. Give extravagantly. Give what only you can give…Your smile, Your hug, Your love.

2010 is not blessed, prosperous or otherwise. 2010 is what you make it. It’s 8760 hours waiting to be filled and fueled by the kind of person who believes that they are here on purpose, and they have all they need to fulfill that purpose. And I believe that person, is you.

I celebrate your life and your year of uncommon blessing!

Rev. Ralph D. Gerard
Pastor
Ephesians 2:10

I’m inviting you to a party in south Florida! 2010 is just days away and Joanna and I could not be more stirred up in our faith than we are right now! As I speak these words, the spirit of destiny is upon me and I want to share a very important moment with you.

I know that for our family the key word for us in 2010 will be CHANGE. America has shifted in the last year. Never in our nation’s history has there been such a spotlight on the differences between secular and sacred, darkness and light, right and wrong. I literally tremble with excitement as I see a fearless, yet wise and well-equipped church flowing in the love of God and Power of the Holy Spirit!

Please mark this day on your calendar, Saturday, January 9th – 6:30 PM – Heron Bay Marriott in Coral Springs, Florida. That night, Joanna and I along with Christa Joy and Rapha Simeon will be in town! January 9th also happens to be our 28th wedding anniversary and Joanna and I are inviting you to be our special guest!

We have extraordinary music guests joining us and then I’ll be sharing a very particular word that will be streaming live around the world over our Dream Church Radio Network. Immediately afterward we look forward to splendid fellowship over snacks and refreshments.

Cannot wait for this night! Saturday, January 9th 6:30PM Heron Bay Marriott. 954-753-5598. Click HERE for their website.

See you in Coral Springs!

Pastor Ralph and Joanna Gerard

For most people, it just had little staying power and even less results.

What happened is that they had connected with one of God’s principles.  They  had gotten excited, inspired, fired up for ninety minutes, “Yes, I can,” If I can see it, I can have it,” “All of my dreams Can come true…” Wonderful!    Except, no God.  Close! When you give the “Universe” credit for God’s works the results are always the same, empty.  Power comes from God alone.  The universe [all of them], are God’s servants.  Look at Psalm 119:89-91  “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.  Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. They continue this day according to Your ordinances,  For all are Your servants.” The reason there was no lasting fruit with The Secret is that no one was told what the secret really was.  Actually the Bible calls it a “Mystery.”  “…the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.  To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:26-27.

The Mystery is a Person!  The Secret is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  He is the Source of all power, and when you apply His principles with faith and expectation you discover something much greater than the universe.  You discover that you are a child of  The Source.  And as such, the universe bows to His Word in you!  The Secret works!  But only for those who realize that it is Christ’s love that makes the abundant life possible.  As long as we attempt to take the glory for our achievements we will struggle in one form or another.  But what rest and peace we find the moment we acknowledge that all we have or ever will possess comes from the hand of our loving heavenly Father who designed our purpose long before the world existed.  This one you need to see for yourself…Ephesians 2:10. Shalom!