1 John 4:7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

This is the holiday season. That time of year where we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

It is also during this season that the hearts of many are pricked to show love in a spirit of giving.

With that in mind, I though I share some things about love over the next couple of weeks. Love is powerful and can overcome anything!

God is love. Everything he does is motivated from his love. The Bible says in 1John 4:17, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

We need to take strength from this great love and boldly do the work of Christ. And we can do so without fear and the torment of fear.

Sometimes people are so afraid of what “might” happen that they refuse to step out in faith and boldly do the will of God.

But there is power in God’s love!

The best part of that statement is this – we have complete access to this power!

When we make the choice to rest in God’s love we have the boldness we need to successfully navigate our walk with God. No matter where our walk takes us (great heights, or deeper depths) we can do it in the spirit of excellence

If we rest in God’s love and refuse to be halted by fear, there is nothing we cannot do. There will be no place we cannot go. There will be no people we are afraid to speak with. Why? Because the power of God’s love surrounds us!

To love God, is to love his people. No matter of what color, shape, size, ethnicity, or background. Christ died for all. We must love all.

So take a love check today and see where you stand.

1John 4:20-21, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

It is impossible to say we love God, but hate people!

Make no mistake, “brother” is referring to the same people for whom Jesus died. You cannot hate people and say you love God. If you do, you make yourself a liar.

If you find yourself lacking in love…

Or you find that you have not been resting whole heartedly in God’s love…

It’s time to repent, and do better. Ask God for forgiveness, and set your will to love, and to show love.

Understand that it takes practice to love and to trust in God’s love. You may fail or fall down a few times. But don’t give up and don’t stay down. Keep fighting the good fight of faith and you will become victorious.

Love to you all!

Have a blessed day. And as always, we are here to pray with you. Contact us via email: otp.ministry1@gmail.com.

Ephesians 6:16-17, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

Psalms 61:1-4, “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.”

All I have is my faith and the word of God!

There is a lot going on in the world today. A great many loud voices shouting lies and hypocrisies. Spiritual attacks against the family foundation. Attacks of sickness and disease. Attacks against our economy and our ability it survive financially. Pressure to buckle under the yolk of political correctness.

Many people spend a significant part of their day worrying. And not really sure of what to believe or think.

But is is time to get off this roller coaster of emotional ideology. It is time to quiet those outside voices and influences. Take a step back and deal with the inner man. Time to get back to basics and hear God.

Despite everything we mentioned above – God has not changed!

His standard has not changed.

His word is still true.

His love is absolute.

His goodness and mercy still follows all the days of our lives.

It is important to recognize that these voices and influences are just distractions. Salacious conversations that are designed to capture our attention and pull us in various directions. To have the people of God so captivated that we forget who we are and the mission we have been given.

Yes, it is a fight. We are in a battler, and all we have is our faith and the word of God.

Yet, we are prepared, fully equipped for the fight.

I was laying in my bed one night, and I felt the enemy try to attack my mind. Literally attack my brain. It felt like a black cloud was trying to take over my very brain. I knew if I did nothing I would go into convulsions. I immediately began to call on the name of Jesus! I remember telling God – all I have is my faith and your word. Then I began to war in the spirit over my mind. I used every healing scripture that I could recall at the time, and stood in faith on that word.

Just as quickly, that black cloud left and I stand here healed in Jesus’ name!

The power of the word of God had never changed. It will work if you use it. But you have to use it in faith. For that is all we have.

No material weapon will work in a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

We cannot allow ourselves to become so distracted by inconsequential things that we miss the real battle. If we do, when we finally wake up, we may finds ourselves worse off than ever before.

We must recognize the attack before the enemy has the opportunity wreak havoc. Once the recognition has be made, we must boldly fight the good fight of faith in Jesus’ name. We must be consistent, be diligent, and be faithful to the work of the Lord!

Wake up and stay in the fight.

Understand that all you really have is your faith and the word of God. But also understand that what you have is more than enough!

Have a blessed night.

As always, we are ready to stand in faith with you. If are in the need of pray, we email us at: otp.ministry1@gmail.com.

Psalms 9:1, “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Thanksgiving is defined as the expression of gratitude, especially to God.

It is the Thanksgiving season here in the United States. I usually take time out during this season to appreciate all that God has done for me and my family. I actually kind of enjoy cooking our meal because we are all together. And I usually do not enjoy cooking!

However, this year is different. Thankfully we are all together again this year. What is different is that God has matured my attitude so that I do not consider things as I did in years past.

Psalms 9:1 talks about a whole hearted praise. This is a praise that takes all that you are. And it comes from a place deep within you that is pure. It is from the depth of this praise that I can tell “shew forth” all that God has done. To Shew forth is to publish or celebrate. It is to tell out or forth. To declare abroad, divulge, publish.

From this pure praise, I can celebrate God. I can publish or tell everyone of all he has done for me. Not just with my words alone, but also, and maybe most importantly, I do it through the way I live my life. Through the way I treat people, showing mercy, forgiveness, love and compassion. To celebrate God is to strive to live up to the call and anointing he has placed on my life.

Yes, at our Thanksgiving dinner we do take the time to express the things for which we are thankful. More than that, to truly shew forth or celebrate God, we need to acknowledge him. As the saying goes, if it had not been for the Lord on my side, where would I be? It is important to recognize that it is God alone who has done marvelous things in our lives.

Let us celebrate him!

1 Thessalonians teaches us about being thankful, no matter what. We have to acknowledge that things do not always go the way we planned. And yes, sometimes the worst does happen. But those things are all on the outside – not in our spirit. We cannot let those outside influences impact our inner peace or inward joy. So yes, in every thing give thanks – no matter what is happening. Why? Because this IS the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us all!

We are not thankful that terrible things have happened. But we are thankful regardless of terrible things happening! We can show the world that no matter what, God is still good! God is still able! God still has my back. This awful thing has not destroyed me. In spite of it, I am still standing! And for this I am thankful!!

This attitude of thankfulness requires maturity. One that we all need to grow into.

Why? Because on the other side of your praise, there is victory!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Today, is a great day to be alive.

Lamentations 3:22-23, tells us of his new mercies each morning. “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Because of his new mercies toward me, and because he is so faithful, I am able to love better.

When you really understand just how awful we are, and how good God has been to us regardless, it is hard not to love. Yes, some people try the limits of our love on a daily basis! However, we we must push through their hatred and love.

Imagine God, who on his way to die for a sinful world just so they can be redeemed, was bombarded with hate. This hate was to the extreme. He was laughed at, spit upon, beaten beyond recognition. He was without sin, yet he said not one word. When he was on the cross he even asked God to forgive them, because they didn’t understand what they were doing.

He pushed through a level of hate we will never have to experience. He stayed the course and finished his mission.

Now consider yourself and the level of hate you face. It does not even compare!

This is called perspective!

With your new perspective, love your way through and complete your mission. You can do it. It is for this reason you were called. God gave you your credentials when he called you. You underscored them as your faith was tried and you made it to this point! As I said in the beginning – today is a great day to be alive!

Now brush off your love, put it front and center in your spirit and complete what God has given you to do!!

Have a blessed day!

As always, we are here to pray with you. Email us at: otp.ministry1@gmail.com.

I was just thinking about the lyrics to CeCe Winans’ “The Goodness of God” and wanted to delve a litter deeper into just what is God’s goodness.

Webster’s Dictionary defines goodness as the quality of being morally good or virtuous.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines Goodness of God as, “a perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Psalms 145:8 Psalms 145:9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. “Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes merciful and sometimes just, but he is eternally infinitely just and merciful.” God is infinitely and unchangeably good (Zephaniah 3:17), and his goodness is incomprehensible by the finite mind (Romans 11: 35.36). “God’s goodness appears in two things, giving and forgiving.””

I would like to simplify that in saying, God’s goodness is providing us exactly what we need, when we need it, despite that fact that we are not deserving of his intervention. This does not mean that God is like some fabled “genie” on the spot who is standing at the ready to provide you with what you desire at the moment you desire it. Instead, it does mean is God is willing to extend to you what is needed to bring you to the place of completeness. Where we recognize his goodness, and our need for him. We understand we did not receive it because we have always done what is right. In fact, we see our own ugliness and perceive God’s goodness despite it.

Completeness is the quality of being whole or perfect and having nothing missing. This completeness is totally due to God’s goodness. It is not that we are perfect – without sin, but he has made us whole.

I look at Easton’s definition (and I would agree this is accurate), and I think of my life and the many times God has moved on my behalf. I can honestly say I did not deserve any of his goodness. But it is because he is “perfection in his character” that he looked beyond my faults and saw my needs (ah, the grace of God).

To truly get to know God’s character, we can look at the fruits of the spirit Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering (or patient), gentleness (or kindness), goodness, faith, meekness (or obedient), temperance (or self-control); against such there is no law.” We are to exhibit these same characteristics as we walk through our daily life. We show them to others in how we treat and respect them. We also show them in how we react, despite how they treat us. Just as God shows them to us, despite out own lack of worthiness.

As the song says God’s goodness if running after us. The scripture says in Psalms 23;6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” God is faithful and always ready to show his goodness toward us. The lyrics continue, “all my life you have been faithful, all my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.”

I do not own the rights to this song. But this song does speak to my heart. If you are like me and understand how often you fail God, it is a blessing to truly understand the goodness of God.

Thank God of his goodness and making me complete in him!!

Have a blessed day!! As always, we are here to pray with you. Please email us at: otp.ministry1@gmail.com.

2 Timothy 4:3, “ preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.“

By definition is regardless of the time or season; at all times.

Consistent is unchanging in nature, standard, or effect over time.

You can do it – just don’t stop.

We are here to pray with you. Email us at: otp.ministry1@gmail.com

Have a blessed day!

1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Have a blessed day Monday!!

If you need prayer, please email your prayer requests to: OTP.ministries1@gmail.com.

As always, please leave a comment.

Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

If you are anything like me, you have those times in your life when you find it hard to forgive yourself. If you have failed at something or let yourself down in some way, it is easy to get stuck in the “I can’t believe it” rut.

You find yourself thinking, I can’t believe I did that, or I said that, or I let that happen to me – again. The list can go on and on. But the bottom line is you cannot change the past or live today trying to re-write history.

What you CAN do is repent, forgive yourself, and focus on doing better today.

The past is gone, and the future is ahead of us. The only thing you can impact is your today – your present. And a good present with make the way for a better future!!

So, with Philippians in mind, let’s check our F O C U S!!

The first step in clearing your focus, is to Forget (or let go of) the past. Many have fallen into the trap of being held hostage to their past. This can include success AND failures.

We need to learn from the past, but leave it there. The present is ever evolving. What May have worked then does not automatically translate into success in the future. But the lessons learned are always helpful. We need to allow God to reveal himself to us today. Matthew 6:11, say he is our daily bread. This means he provides us with daily sustenance. The provisions we need for our current circumstances

The second step is to overcome Obstacles. We star by identifying them. James 1:14-16, we are draw away and enticed by our own lusts. This means you know what piques your interest and can pull you away from purpose. You can also detect when things (or people) are working against what God is trying to accomplish in and through us.

Our duty or burden is to overcome them all. We are to take actions (make choice and decisions) that line up with our purpose. Some time this may entail severing relations or relocating to facilitate the promise.

The third step is to Create. Many times, we must create our own opportunities. We must creat our own product that provides a solution. We must finance and support our own vision. We must WORK!! We must renew our minds to see in ourselves what God sees. Romans 12:2 tells us that our mind must be renewed in order for us to be transformed. Our goal to to line up with God’s word. This can only be done with a renewed mind.

You body will follow what your mind believes. If you believe that you can’t, then you won’t. If you mind believes that you will never be healed, then you won’t. If your mind believes that you will never succeed or accomplish the call, then you won’t. BUT, if you can renew your mind, then you can!!

The final step is Ultimate Success! Proverbs 18:16 say that our gift will make room. Once you forget what is behind, identify and overcome your obstacles, and finally have your mind renewed, your are positioned for success.

You will find yourself in situations that you only dream of before. God will open doors and align circumstances to place you at the forefront of peoples mind. Will cause your name to be mentioned in circles you never thought possible.

But this takes focus!!

I encourage you to re-adjust your focus so that your goal is clear. Then do the work necessary to succeed.

Have a blessed day.

As always, please contact us with prayer requests, questions at: OTP.ministries1@gmail.com

Please feel free to post your comments below.

Have a blessed day Monday

Jeremiah 1:4-5, “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

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Have a blessed day Sunday!!