Forgiveness

Many people have asked me what my trial sermon was on. They have also wondered what it was about, and if I could blog it. I decided to. If it can help anyone, then why not?

God has called me into evangelism, and I am a sinner...
I sin so frequently that I can tell you when I am sinning. Thursday nights at 9:00. I am watching Grey's Anatomy telling God how perfect he is for making a man as fine as Dr. Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey). I sin so much that I sin in my sleep. I had a dream the other night about my husband. In this dream he was having an affair with a girl named Ashley! I was so upset by this affair that I had plotted to find Ashley, and jump her. I was going to beat Ashley. I was excited to do this!

When I woke up, I was excited to see my husband still there. He was sleeping restfully. It was nice. I was also excited because God gave me my sermon.

I often hear how people are Christians, yet they go around complaining that God doesn't do anythingfor them. It is there own fault! It is your fault that God doesn't answer prayers. God loves us, and he wants us to be happy. He explains in the Bible the things that we need to do in order for our prayers to be answered. He is not talking about selfish prayers either. He wants to answer prayers that also benefit him and all of his glory. God promises that he will take care of us in Luke. He compares us to the lilies and the birds. He promises that if we do not worry, which is sinful, that we will be taken care of. We need to seek God's kingdom above all else.

That is why selfish praying doesn't work. If it did, I would own a 64.5 Ford Mustang convertible, cherry red, and I would have the matching lipstick! This has no glory to God. Until we can understand that, there is no reason to even ask it...

Things such as finances and stuff, he will answer. We can use finances to glorify God. If we tither the way that we are supposed to, God will bless us financially. If we need better health, which can glorify God, he will bless us. There are many things that we want that can also glorify Him. We just have to pray for it. The little trick to getting prayers answered is in Mark 11:24-25. I am using the NLT version.

It says in Mark that "I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in Heaven will forgive your sins too."

Do you remember Ashley? Yeah, that means that I need to forgive her. As much as I wanted to beat her in my dream, I need to forgive her, and all of the women in this world that are like her. Home wreckers! I need to forgive them honestly in my heart. I am supposed to pray for their well being and happiness. I am supposed to love them as I love myself. I am also supposed to pray for my husband's happiness too. Mine was just in a dream. These things happen in real life. We need to forgive these people in real life.

Another good example is during the election. Whoever candidate that you wanted to win, chances are you were holding a grudge against the opposite candidate. This is no good. We are supposed to be praying for the success of both of them. We are supposed to forgive all grudges. A lot of the time we are holding a grudge subconsciously. A grudge that we don't even realize that we have.

After the horrific episodes of 911, many people were cancelling their flights due to seeing someone with a turban on their head. This is awful and ungodly behavior! We are not supposed to cancel the flights! We are not supposed to rush to get rid of the tickets. We need to pray!!! Pray for your safety. Pray for the poor person being discriminated against! God made us all in His image ladies and gentleman. He made us both the good and the bad. People tend to forget that. We are supposed to not hold grudges. Not against anyone. This includes subconscious grudges against things like countries, ethnicity, economic status, anything! If your husband cheats on you, cry. Pray for him. God is with you. If your best friend steals from you, pray for her. Forgive people! That is what we need to be doing.

The verse that I told you was in red. This means that it is Jesus' words. That means it is true! There is nothing more comforting than truth!

I pray that you guys try to forgive your grudges. I urge you to pray for those that you normally overlook. I urge that you guys ask God's forgiveness. Your prayers will be answered. I know this to be true. From my personal experience...

-I prayed that my husband would be able to go to school without having the problems that he has been having, he is enrolled in a Christian school currently.
-I prayed for God to keep us safe even though financially we are broke, we still have our house, and the payments are up to date.
-I prayed for God to keep us fed, we are and I am overweight, which means we are fed well.
-I prayed for God to publish my book so I can set the foundation of our youth by teaching them about God, and believe it or not, I am published!
-I prayed for a van because my kids were getting squished in the car because the three of them were getting too big, and guess what... sure enough even though we didn't really have the money, we got the van!

God has answered every prayer that I have asked him for. I am a sinner, and I know that God loves me. The great news ladies and gentlemen is that God loves you too! Forgive those people that you have a grudge against. Allow God to forgive you. Pray. Pray. Pray. God will answer those prayers. God will help you through your Christian journey! He has helped me.

-Christina Cooper

Trial Sermon

Just for everyone to know,
I am having my trial sermon on Wednesday Nov. 19th @ 6:00 pm. It will be at Phillip Chapel AME church in Muskegon. This sermon is the first step in the process of ordination.
I thank everyone for their support!!!
It has been an amazing journey!!
Thanks,
Christina Cooper

Tired

I watch the kids around me, and I am listening to the gurgle in their chest. I realize that they are going to have to go to the doctor soon, again. I am fortunate enough to have a good doctor, one that knows me. I am greatful for the fact that he listens to me. In his mind I may be a hypocondriac. In my mind I am wishing that the children didn't get sick so often.

I listen to the teacher calling me, telling me that my daughter is sick again. I hear her crying in the background. I notice the physical pain in my back. Something that no doctor can fix. It is frustration. I am physically tired. I forget what it is like to be young. I feel older beyond my years. I remind myself constantly that I am only 27. I am not physically old. I am just physically tired. I wish that I had time. I love my family more than anything, I am just tired and need some time.

I think about the dreams last night and smile. It is a comforting thought. I am excited for night to fall again. It is peaceful. Night is not long enough. Day is too long. I hear the cartoons, I hear the crying, I hear my thoughts wondering, wishing for just a moment of silence.

I think about the homework that is due. My eyes well up with tears. I am not sad. These are tears of exhaustion. The kind that happen when one is to yawn. They stream down my face. I try to organize the day, the hour, the minute. It is impossible. I fall victim to exhaustion.

I notice that the house needs to be cleaned. I cannot keep up with it. I try, God knows that I try. I feel like laundry never is complete. It seems that it never goes away. I think that the kids must wear 5 outfits per child per day. It seems that I am never done with it. Dishes are the same way.

I think about what I am going to cook. I know that this is my responsibility, but I just feel tired. I am not sure that I am making a big meal tonight. I think it is going to be something simple. I feel sorry for my kids. I am sorry that I am not going to cook their favorite meals. No, not today. Today is going to be something that I feel like making. Something easy.

I think about the prayers that I said three or four years ago. I begged God for more children. I asked God to allow me the responsibility of raising more. I think back before I had a family, I am greatful that God allows me this type of responsibility. I should be more greatful, perhaps I will thank him tonight, but now I am just tired.

Then I am reminded... God made the world in 6 days. He had this responsibilty. Who am I to complain about three kids, work, homework, etc. when God has the world and all of society? I then realize that it is okay to be tired. Even God rested. He took an entire day to rest. I feel the smile coming to my face. My thoughts are brilliant, an entire day devoted to nothing but rest. I think about the peace that God must have felt. I envision myself in rest for an entire day. The thought is grand. Perhaps this will occur one day. Today is not that day. I decide that I will cook. I will make a decent meal. That is the least that I could do to show my family appreciation. I will cook, and tonight when the night is here again, I will rest. I am looking forward to my rest...