First Nazareth Missionary Baptist Church Buffalo, NY, ~ Pastor Thomas L. Artis

Home
Worship & Praise
Pastor's Desk
Salvation
Mission Statement / Vision
Calendar of Events
Contact Us
Church History
Our Pastor
Ministries

*~* From The Pastor's Desk *~*

welcome-01-june.gif

godgood.jpg

Hello and God Bless you. 
Welcome to each and every one of you that are viewing this web page.  I pray that this web page will be an added blessing to you. 
Prayerfully  you will find some words of  hope,  encouragement, and inspiration from the Pastors Desk that will be a blessing to you! 
 
 

approved.gif

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul."
 
Psalm 19:7
(NSB)

 

keep your focus on God daily, and enjoy the full benefits of His blessings!

 

2 Chronicles 7:14-18

 

gb11.gif

It has been said:
"What goes around comes around."

Therefore...

 

Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

 

gb11.gif

Why Me?

 

Sometimes when troubles come, there comes a question, “Lord why me?”  One needs to know why things are happening to them.  We even have the nerve to say, “why couldn’t it have happened to someone else!”

 

God does not remove all the so-called “bad” things from your life once you put your trust in Jesus as your Savior.  Jesus says in Matthew 17:1,”… It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” (NKJV) Meaning, offenses will come but also, be sure that you are not the one causing offenses to others!

 

Even though you may still experience life’s hardships just like everyone else, God is with you to help you thru them.  (“…I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  ” So we may boldly say; The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6) (NKJV)

 

 

In your time of despair or the low moments in you life, remember Psalm 23:4. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou are with me;...”

 

In believing this, we also believe that “…God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7.  He is there to help you through your problems and to give you the power to over come them.

 

Learn all that you can from your troubles, and use them to make you a stronger Christian. 

 

Trust God in times of trouble!

 

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me…  Your right hand will save me.”

 

Psalm 138:7

gb11.gif

** Planting The Seed  **   

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.

If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.

If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment.

If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective.

If you plant hard work, you will reap success.

If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.

If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest.

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.



gb11.gif

"When You Are Tired Of Waiting"
 
Genesis 16:3-4,16
 
Have you ever been in a position when it seems like it is taking a long time for your break through.  You have been waiting for what seems like forever, for God to answer your requests; and still no answer.
Someone tells you, "He may not come when you want Him, but He is always on time."  Then you may ask, "well when is my time?"
 
Sometimes it can even become frustrating.  Well, I want to tell you this.  "Wait on the Lord, and be of good courage, and God will strengthen your heart."  Wait!
Waiting gives us patience and shows God that we are going to just trust him to answer our prayers.  We know that God is going to give us an answer, however it drives us crazy not knowing when it will come.
Sometimes God makes us wait because he may feel that we are not ready for, and may not be able to handle, that answered prayer at the time that we requested it.  Some people have found themselves buried in debt being in a hurry to get that credit card.  Now that they have the credit card, the interest rate along with the bill is taking all their money, and they can hardly afford anything else.
God may be waiting for us to get ready for what he has planned for us.  What God has planned for us, may not be ready.  He may be in the process of preparing what we are praying for.
 
Abram and Sarai tried to help God.  He had promised them a son, but there was one problem.  He didn't tell them how long they would have to wait.  Abram was eithty five years old and Sarai was seventy-five years old.  After waiting for over ninety years, it was time to do something.  They knew God had promised a son, but it was difficult for them to understand how a baby could be born from a barren womb.  They decided that God needed a little help in accomplishing this.  Sarai offered to help the situation out by offering her handmaid Hagar to her husband Abram, to make this son.
We always get into trouble when we try to help God.  When we try to help God, we often find ourselves struggling against Him, and we make things more difficult. 
 
Abram and Hagar wound up with a son, as a result of helping God out.  They named him Ishmael (which we sometimes refer to as Issues).  We will also end up with an Ishmael in our lives if we don't wait on God's perfect plan and timing.  Abram and Sarai finally lived to see the promised son born.  Abram was one hundred years old, and Sarah was ninety years old when she gave birth to Isaac.  Twenty five years had passed since God first made the promise to them.
 
Even though your situaton looks impossible,  just remember circumstances don't matter to God.  Neither does time.  All He has to do is speak the word and it will happen. 
 So don't  jump the gun, and give birth to another Ishmael.  Wait for the Isaac that God has promised for you!
 
How do we wait on the Lord?
Psalm 37:3 - 5, 7
Psalm 27:14
Isaiah 40:30 - 31
 
  •   Trust in the Lord.
  •   Delight yourself in the Lord.
  •   Commit your way to the Lord.
  •   Rest in the Lord as you patiently wait.

Waiting On God For Strength

Many young men are so strong and energetic that they think they can do anything; even God's work without God.  Sometimes God's most effective servants are those with limited physical abilities.  Those hindered by age, sickness, or disability.  They hope in God.  And, they receive strength to obey God daily.  If you want to serve God, be sure to spend time with Him.  Ask Him to show you what He wants you to do, and ask him for the strength to do it.

Then, get busy!

 

 
 

gb11.gif
cross27a.gif

"TRUTH VS UNTRUTH"
 
In order to have a true relationship with God, you must know God.   You must know God's word, to rightly divide the word of truth!  Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:15,
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
______________________________
 
"For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth."
Psalm 33:4  (NSB)
 
"I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6 (NSB)
 
"The entirety of Your word is truth..."
Psalm 119:160 (NSB)

 
"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:32 (NSB)

THE LIE
VS.
THE TRUTH
SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE
I can commit all the sin I want, and get away with it.
VS.
The choices I make today will have consequences; I will reap what I sow.
Galations 6:7
My sin isn't really all that bad.
VS.
Every act of sin we commit is an act of rebellion against God.
Isaiah 65:2

I am not fully responsible for my actions and reactions.

VS.

God does not hold me accountable for the actions of others.  I am responsible for my own choices.

Romans 14:12

God can't forgive all the wrong that I have done.
VS.
The blood of Jesus is sufficient to cover any and every sin that I have committed.
Leviticus 17:11
I cannot walk in consistent victory over sin.
VS.
If I am a child of God, I don't have to sin.
1 Corinthians 10:13

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Galations 5:1 (NSB)

gb11.gif
nwannii3.gif

"A Lesson For Living For God"
Exodus 31:3-4 says, "And have filled him with the spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and skill in constructing the tabernacle and everything it contains.   He is highly capable as an artistic designer of objects made of gold, silver, and  bronze."
Each of us are working for God.  He has given us our abilities and has put us in our work places.  God has placed his spirit in our hearts.  When we serve others for Him, no matter what our job titles or pay scales, we are doing the most important labor of all.  God's work!
God has equipped us with the abilities of doing that specific job.  In God's eyes, every work is a good work, as long as we remain humble and realize it is all about God, and that it is for God's glory.

 Food For Thought

click here

allthingsani.gif

Until next time. God Bless, and stay in the word!

The laborer in the vineyard.
- Matthew 20:11-15
 
The servants that are encouraged to work.
-  1 Timothy 6:17
 
Servants should be patterns of works.
- Titus 2:7
 

God is glorified by our works.
- John 15:18
 
God remembers our works.
 - Hebrews 6:9-10

Click Here For
everythingineed.jpg
Inspirational Stories-Site by member of First Nazareth

gb27.gif

If you are letting someone stand between you and the Lord...They are closer to Him than you are.

enjesus.jpg

jcs2.gif

wearybless.gif

First Nazareth Missionsry Baptist Church - 125 Sycamore St., Buffalo, NY, 14204
Pastor Thomas L. Artis
Site Administrator - Sis. Joyce Artis