Living Above the Sun Ministries

The Christian story begins with creation in harmony, unity, and peace; and it ends with a restored creation. Between these two bookends is the drama of redemption. The covenants are major acts of this drama. Christ’s work is intimately related to and fulfills each of the five covenants that God initiated in the Old Testament. Covenants are about God’s activity and intention to redeem us , and the covenants tell us about ourselves—our condition, our brokenness, our dignity, our role as images of God, our suffering, and our calling. A covenant is a life and death relationship with God on His terms. The Greek word, "diatheke" refers to a person's last will and testament or to other solemn agreements involving benefits and responsibilities to all involved parties. In the New Testament, the word is often used as an equivalent to the Hebrew word "berith", especially in theological contexts. It is a binding agreement, a contract between at least two parties. It ...

This is a picture of my cousin, Ben on the far left. This was at a fellow Marine's funeral over in Tennessee. Ben is Corporal Ben Wiley. I am so proud of him. I love this picture. Happy Veterans Day. I'm honored to say that I am related to Veteran's and am very proud of each one of them. To every Veteran out there, Thank you! For your service, dedication, and sacrifice. Today I did something different. I stopped by a grave yard and visited each grave with a flag. Just to read the names and branch of service and be respectful in not forgetting that they lived once and sacrificed a lot on my behalf. I took some pictures, I am fascinated with older tombstones too. It's always interesting to read inscriptions on the stones. Many are theologically and doctrinally off base, especially when it comes to calling them angels now, and sleeping in Jesus. But I try not to get worked up about it. I'll explain more later, because it does matter. Here are a few...

Lately, I've been learned a lot about repentance. I dare say many of us know what true repentance is. It's been something I have struggled with always. I was talking to my sister one day this week and told her about the work God has done in my life lately. In response she said, "so it was a true repentance." Then the light went off! So that's repentance!! I'm not going into great detail, but I will tell you that true repentance has everything to do with Jesus living in you. It means possessing His Spirit only and laying down and turning from the things which are not of Him, and running into His grace. The things I thought I had once repented of really just hung around because I hadn't fully decided that I was turning from that lifestyle, I still liked the idea of it. That is not repentance, that's called confessing. Huge difference. Confessing is acknowledging that you did it, your sorry, but then you go out and do it again. The reason yo...

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. Psalm 103:1-2 Today in my Sunday School class at my church I became very convicted by the truth that I don't nearly give God the praise He rightly deserves. As a friend prayed this morning we just merely "try to make it." But we were not created to just "make it," the scriptures say we are more than conquerors! We have so much to be thankful for. In the last few minutes of class we just sat still in the presence of God, at His throne worshiping, and verbally expressing our thankfulness to Him. In the service later on the story of the 10 lepers came to mind. Luke 17:11-19 New Living Translation (NLT) Ten Healed of Leprosy: 11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, ...

Often times in the Bible we are referred to as the sheep of God’s pasture, and that Jesus is our Shepherd. I was reading in the book of Ezekiel the other night. As some of you know, I’m reading through the Bible in 90 days again. Anyway, Ezekiel has become a favorite book of Bible of mine. Chapter 34 is about God being our Shepherd bringing us back to the sheepfold. Ezekiel 34:12-16 New Living Translation (NLT) 12 I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. 13 I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. 14 Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and give them a ...

Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.’ -Zechariah 1:3 For the past few days, God has been burning this message on my heart. I feel like so many people need to hear it. There is so much doubt in the world, so much hopelessness, hurt, bitterness...the list could go on, and the excuses as to why we do not return to the Lord. But it's time to come back! Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is calling! There are many Christians who have wandered away from the Lord. Satan wants us to believe, that once we have fallen away, there is no way back. But this simply is not true. Do not be discouraged by your mistakes, but keep coming back to Christ over and over. Jesus tells a parable in Luke 15:11-24, which illustrates how God longs for us to return to Him if we have wandered away in sin. The parable tells of a son who took his inheritance and went away from his father into a f...

"You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out He hates all of the same people you do." -Anne Lamott God has been teaching me a lot about grace especially in the past week reading through the Bible in 90 days again. Many times in my life I feel like when another "Christian" if that is really what they are treats me so bad I wish God's wrath on them, but they too remain his Children covered by his grace and mercy and blood. I guess that's why he commands that we love and pray for those who hurt us because we are just as guilty as the people who offend us. I read things in the Bible and I don't understand how God can be "okay" with what just happened, such as Jacob stealing Esau's birthright and blessing. Esau got mad! He wanted to kill Jacob. But aren't we all Esau? We don't understand how God can still love that person because we sure don't at the moment. But that isn't God's c...

This whole weekend I have been in Columbia, SC on the mission field in prisons. Satan wants you to think that it's going to be scary and something bad might happen, but can I tell you, the only thing bad happening when Satan is telling you that, is Satan! Satan will kill you quicker than the mafia. At first I was excited, but I was also apprehensive because I was kind of by myself. My adopted dad was going to be there, but he wasn't in any of my groups, and I just wasn't sure. He (adopted dad) has been on me about this for at least a year now, and praise God I finally was able to go, and I'm addicted to it. I must also add and tell you what a special person my adopted dad is, especially in the basis of this ministry. He and his wife adopted me into their family last summer, and I was cool with that, and I do love them both. Pretty soon he had me plugged into our churches Addiction Ministry which he also serves in. As I have been going to these meetings I have l...

We arrived in Columbia, SC about 3:00, and we checked into our hotel. My room consists of a king sized bed, and a flat screen TV! That is luxury! It is my prayer that this weekend will be a weekend of spiritual growth. Last night the service I was in is called Midlands which is a Juvenile Detention Center for boys ages 11-17. I had been to the Midlands before with Student Worship from FBCIT, and had experienced all that goes on there. However, tonight was different, in that in was more one on one with the boys, and more in the real side of things. I was not with a bunch of students trying to get them in order and participating, and all being a leader there involves, don't get me wrong though, I love all of those kids, and I am grateful for every opportunity I have to be a leader among them, and a friend. On this trip I am what they call a prayer warrior. I'm always praying, I pray over where we are going, I prayed over chairs last night that these boys would be sittin...

The world stands on the brink of disaster. Its need for the church is more evident than in more optimistic times. Christians know the Lord has called them out from the world to send them on an urgent mission. But many are confused as to the precise nature of their task. Is it social work or evangelism, or both? I read in the Charlotte Disturber this morning. Apart from the murders, rapes, missing persons, and Britney Spears coming to town, I was disturbed yet again by a church news article. Right smack on the front headlines "Churches putting out the diversity worship mat. Their mission: Comeback of the neighborhood church." So why did this disturb me? Well, you should read the article. There were a few things in the article that bothered me. It's been my prayer that would not allow me to get stuck in my ways at church. To not get upset when I don't get to sit where I want, to bear with music, and other such things. One thing that we MUST learn as Chris...

It has been my prayer lately that God would use me as much as he can to where when I'm old and close to the end of my life there is absolutely nothing more I can give. I didn't expect that he would allow me to be poured out so much lately though, but he has. I am thankful for the opportunities he gives me to pour Him out into others through my life. For the past 2 weeks I've been taking care of my Grandmama in Tennessee. I poured out all I had into helping my Grandmama and doing things she needed help with. I cleaned, and cooked, drove her around, painted her fingernails, worked in the yard, played her favorite game...and it was all such a blessing. When I got home from taking care of her, I continued to pour myself out into my brother, and my adopted son from church. Most think I'm way to young to be adopting anyone, and I have to say I agree, but I enjoy spending time with these guys and pouring my love out on them, and showing them that Jesus is the way. I...

"And Isaiah said, This is the sign to you from the Lord that He will do the thing He has promised: shall the shadow [denoting the time of day] go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps? Hezekiah answered, It is an easy matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps; so let the shadow go back ten steps." -2 Kings 20:9-10 Over a 100 year period of Judah's history (732-640 BC), Hezekiah was the only faithful king; what a difference he made! It was because of his faith and prayer that God healed him and saved his city. There are times that our faith can put us in the minority, but you can make a difference and bring change to any situation if your faith and prayers are sincere directed to the One and only God. We see here in the verse above that God made time go back! There are many examples in the Bible where God messes with time, it's so cool! He made the sun stand still one day. There is something my sister told me one day and I have held on to this truth ever s...

"One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus." -Acts 13:2-4 Writing on my blog makes me so happy! So, lately, I've been studying through the book of Acts. Acts, is still being written today, as the church continues to progress. It is important that every Christian know the power they possess through the Spirit. But more importantly than that, I believe every Christian has a responsibility to pray over and for each other. Remember in the last post we looked all through the book of Acts, instances where things happened as a result of prayer. In our key verse for today, because a group of men were worshiping they heard from ...

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:16-18 Today I hit the streets of Charlotte in a mission to "Give Love Away." In the summer of 2009, I went on a "Give Love Away" tour mission trip to Dallas, Texas. Without saying much we'll just say that trip was disappointing, but God still used us, and now today I'm still trying to give Jesus' love away. I'm thinking from now on I will do this once a week, a give love away day and I invite anyone who wants to join me to join me. I told God that if He gave me a job I would use the money I made to spread his name to my surroundings and wherever He wants me to go. So that's what I'm doi...

"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." ~John 13:34-35 I'm not huge on Valentines Day, maybe when God finally gives me a "hunny" that will change. But today and always I love the Valentine that first loved me...the one whose love is red as rubies. His blood was spilled for me that I may spend a real forever with Him, my first true love. His name is Jesus, Wonderful, Counselor, my friend. It is my prayer that I will love others the way Jesus instructed me to love them. 1 Corinthians 13 says that we are bankrupt without love. People will know we are Christians by our love. I challenge you to give some love away this week, I'm going to be looking for opportunities myself. Much love to all the awesome people who read my blog! Thanks! (Maybe I'll post later Marvin Gaye's, ...