Greetings to the New Life Nation!

I pray that today finds each of you doing well. However, if your current circumstances, condition or situation has you “Feeling Some Kind of Way,” then this message is especially for you.

Oftentimes in life, it appears that we may have more challenging days than “Cheerful Days.” But, as a believer in Christ Jesus our Lord, we must find the strength to learn how NOT to “Let the Storms of Life Stop You!” In the Book of Romans the scripture is not only precise, but it’s powerfully packed with spiritual principles that you and I need to apply when going through our storms. The Apostle Paul states that we “Should Rejoice in our Tribulation.” Why? “Because Tribulation and Trials works on our Patience!” And in order for us to receive God’s best, we must WAIT on the Lord!

But, the bible goes on further to say that we should allow patience to have HER perfect work! I wonder why Tribulation and Patience is referred to in a feminine tense? Here’s why: In essence, when you and I go through the storms of life, God is preparing each of us to give birth to a blessing that is intended “For Us” and through Us; or it is intended to be a blessing“Through Us,” for Someone other than Us! Wow! What a wonderful God we serve. So, when you experience the challenges, changes, troubles and trials of life, don’t “Let the Storm Stop You!”

We should learn to glory and rejoice in the times of trouble. I know it seems very odd to rejoice or be glad when things seem their worst. But, in the original language of the Greek, the word “Chairomai” means to rejoice, to make merry or to even dance! If you’re like many people, dancing is something you do when you feel good. But, it’s also a way of expressing your emotional state. In other words, “Dance your way through the storm!”

It’s been said that “Life Is Not About Waiting for the Storm to Pass, but It’s about Learning to Dance in the Midst of the RAIN!!!”

All I’m trying to say to you is if you were born in the 1950’s-1960’s…there was a dance called, “The Swim and the Mashed Potato!” So, I want you to “Swim your way through the Storm!” Don’t Let the Storm Stop You!

If you were born in the 1970’s…there was a dance called, “The Bump!” So, when the problems of life hit you, why don’t youstart “Bumping your way through your Burdens!” Don’t Let the Storm Stop You!

If you were born in the 1980’s…,”Break Dancing was popular.” So, when the issues of life try to overtake you, why don’t you“Break Dance until you get your Break Through!” Don’t Let the Storm Stop You!

If you were born in the 1990’s…, “Doing the Prep” was popular. So, when the pressures of life come at you, don’t panic,“Just PREP your Way through the Problems...” and watch God’s power! Don’t Let the Storm Stop You!

If you were born in the 2000’s…” The latest dances are the “Nae Nae and the Whip!” So, whether you were born before 1950 or after 2000, All of us need to learn to “Nae Nae” through the Nasty and Unpleasant things in life and learn to “Whip”through your Worries! In other words, “Don’t Let the Storm Stop You from DANCING and REJOICING!”

Now, think on these things…

Love You Like Christ,

Pastor McKnight

“IMPACTING LIVES FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!”

Good Morning “New Life Nation!”

The esteemed and noted black author and poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar had this to say about accepting life as it is: “A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in. A minute to smile and an hour to weep in. A pint of joy to a peck of trouble, And never a laugh but the moans come double. And that is life. A crust and a corner that makes love precious, With a smile to warm and tears to refresh us, And joy seems sweeter when cares come after, And a moan is the finest of foils for laughter. And that is life.” 

In essence, I truly believe that Brother Dunbar echoes the sentiments of the Apostle Paul when he writes, “…for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have!” (Philippians 4:11) Both Paul Laurence Dunbar and the Apostle Paul agree that we must learn to accept the challenges of life regardless of what it may bring our way. In other words, “It is what it is!” Too oftentimes, we as believers get caught up in making future plans, but fail to place our future in the hands of God. The scripture clearly states in the Book of James 4:14-15, “We do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” In essence, we must take each day at a time. Certainly, we should live each day to the fullest and it is certainly wise to give prayerful and careful consideration to future things, but the “bottom line” is that we should always place God as the primary source of our direction and at the center of the planning stage of our lives.

Perhaps you’re reading this and you thought that your life would be much further along than it is. Well, the answer is simple, God is not surprised, nor is He caught off guard about your current status or whereabouts. Because God loves you so much, He included an “exit plan” for every “error of entrance” that has affected your life! That’s good news because that means that God has a spiritual strategy for you to get back on track if somehow you’ve deviated from His divine course of direction. Simply put, you can’t mess up the plans that God has for you. Whatever you’re experiencing in life, “Learn to Embrace what you Face!”

 ·         If you’re facing a job lay-off, just embrace it. That’s life, “It is what it is!”

·         If sickness has ravaged your body or the body of a loved one. It’s tough. But, be like Job in chapter 13:15,“Though you slay me, yet will I trust you!” but trust God to see you through it. “Job says, It is what it is!”

·         If they walked out of your life? Guess what?...that means they were never tied to your destiny! “It is what it is!”

·         If you’ve been abused, forsaken, and even cast aside, don’t focus on your past; live in the present and trust God for your future! “It is what it is!”

·         If you are depressed today, or stressed today, STOP worrying and LIVE BLESSED TODAY! Jesus said, “In this world you will have TRIBULATION, but Be of GOOD CHEER; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD!” John 16:33

In other words, Jesus is telling us to accept what life may bring, “It is what it is!!

Be encouraged today…

Yours in Christ,

Pastor McKnight

“Impacting Lives for the Cause of Christ!

Greetings New Life Nation!!!

In the Book of Exodus Chapter 14, you will find that the Children of Israel are in a physical dilemma. They are seemingly caught between what we would refer to as a “Rock and a Hard Place!”

Here are the issues:

·         They have Pharaoh’s Egyptian Army chasing them from behind

·         They have Desert Land around them with no cover to protect them

·         They have the Red Sea in Front of them and they have no boats to rescue them

·         The people are under pressure and in peril, so they begin to panic!

When you look at that picture, it would seem as if their current condition is chaotic and that calamity is imminent. But, can I tell you something? If you keep reading the chapter, it tells you that God does something. God tells Moses, to tell the people, “Don’t be afraid, STAND STILL and See the Salvation of the Lord.” In essence, don’t look at your current condition as if there is no hope. God has everything under control. God tells them, “The Egyptians that you see today, you will see them No More Forever!” This means that when God gets involved, you can look at whatever problem you have and know that when it’s in God’s hands, you don’tEVER have to Worry about it again!

The Leader, Moses immediately says, “God will fight your battle for you!” Leaders, this means that you must encourage the people with “Spiritual Words, and Not World Speech!” And Church, this means that you must stop trying to work the issues out on your own. The problem is too large for you. But, nothing is too large for God!!

Give him your Bills. Give Him your Burdens. Give Him your Grief and He will give you His GRACE!

Look what happens next: God asks Moses a question? He said, “Why are you crying out to me!” Use what you have and tell the People to MOVE FORWARD!

(That’s the shouting news for everyone) God is not intimidated by Desert land, the Egyptian Army or the Red Sea. But, he want’s you and I to stop Panicking under Pressure and Trust Him to Deliver! Moses uses the wooden “staff” that God has blessed him with; he raises it up and then is obedient by telling the people to “MOVE FORWARD!”

Guess what?? The Red Sea opened up and the people crossed safely.

Wow! This is packed with spiritual irony and biblical principles. In essence, let’s just use what we have. Perhaps we may not have all the financial resources yet. But, we have something even more valuable. We have“HUMAN RESOURCES!” So, I plan to use the “Staff of Leaders” and the “Staff of Members” from the New Life “Nation” of believers. Church, I truly believe the Red Sea would not have opened unless (2) things took place. First, the Leader has to tell the people to “MOVE FORWARD!” Next, the people must join together and physically and spiritually “MOVE FORWARD!”

So, here we go: NEW “LIFE NATION!”…… “LET’S MOVE FORWARD!!!”……….Now, it’s your turn to start MOVING FORWARD!!!

Now, think on these things….

Yours in Christ,

Pastor McKnight

“IMPACTING LIVES FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!”