The Pentecostals of Santa Fe

POSF is going to try a different approach to Prayer  Instead of the all night prayer, we are going to try an All Day Prayer starting at 6:00 a.m. this Saturday, December 3rd.  Reveal is coming and NOW is the time to begin preparing!

We had a great service today.  It was a packed house and a packed altar.  Cant wait to see what is in store at 6:00 this evening.

Pastor Custer

A group of frogs were hopping through the woods, going about their froggy business, when two of them fell into a deep pit.

 

All the other frogs gathered around the pit to see what could be done to help their companions.

 

When they seen how deep the pit was, the rest of the group agreed that it was hopeless and told the other two frogs in the pit that they should prepare themselves for their fate, because they were as good as dead.

 

Unable to accept this terrible fate, the two frogs began to jump with all their might. Some of the frogs shouted into the pit that it was hopeless, and the two frogs wouldn’t be in the situation if they had been more careful, more obedient to the froggy rules and more responsible.

 

The other frogs continued sorrowfully shouting that they should save their energy and give up since they were already as good as dead. The two frogs continued jumping as hard as they could, and after several hours of effort, grew weary.

 

Finally, one of the frogs took heed to the call of his fellows. Spent and discouraged, he quietly resolved to his fate, lay down at the bottom of the pit, as the others looked on.

 

But the other frog continued to jump with every ounce of energy he had, although his body was wracked with pain and he was completely exhausted. His friends started back up again encouraging him to just give up, stop the pain and die.

 

The weary frog jumped harder and harder until finally he leaped out of the pit.

 

Amazed, the other frogs celebrated his miraculous freedoms and then gathered around him and asked, “Why did you continue to jump even after we told you it was impossible.”

 

Reading their lips the frog explained to them that he was deaf, so when he seen their shouting and gestures he thought they were urging him on, which inspired him to try harder despite the odds.

 

 

The message is simple, every now and then we just need to put some spiritual ear plugs in and ignore those that try to hold us back. If you find yourself in a pit, spent and tired, keep trying a little harder, keep pushing a little further, that pit is not your final destination!

 

Psalms 121:1-2

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth.

This is something we often neglect yet it is a very vital reminder that we should be constantly interceding for the leadership in the church. The Pastor, his staff, the ministry teams etc…

 

Last night the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors for the NBA championship.

From here they will enter the offseason where they will recuperate, rest, and spend time with family for the next few months until training starts back up in preparation for the next season.

 

The same happens in pretty much all sports, football, baseball, basketball, hockey…

They all have off seasons in order to continue to stay healthy to play the game they love for the years to come, its necessary to prevent wear in tear on the body.

 

The Pastor doesn’t get an off season. The ministry team doesn’t get an offseason. They may take a day off or two for a day vacation but essentially their lives or dedicated to the kingdom of God.

 

They spend many nights from their family in order to serve yours, they buy groceries they will never eat, pay bills that aren’t theirs, pay for gas in cars that don’t belong for them, all for the sake of serving others.

 

You will really here them complain or ask anything in return. They understand they are spending valuable time they will never get back in order to serve the church because their reward is laid up in heaven.

 

Of course they try to keep a balanced life between church and family, its biblical and important in order to prevent burnout. Yet as I type this and I allow you to get a look at the inside of a ministers mind I can tell you we don’t spend as much time with family as we should.

 

Please don’t take this as a complaint because we are happy to do it, souls and the church are our passion, its our calling and its our burden. What I’m trying to do is explain that theirs two sides to this coin. The church sees a preacher thats blessed, they see someone in a suit that has it altogether. Essentially on the outside all is well.

 

Yet on the other side of this coin they are constantly under spiritual attack. Perhaps the guilt of not being able to get through to a saint they have been working with in the church.

 

Late nights in prayer interceding for your families and lost loved ones.

Leaving their family outings to go visit someone in the hospital.

Discouragement from time to time because of a program or idea that just doesn’t seem to be working.

Maybe the AC goes out, or the bathroom requires maintenance.

Complaints about the music or temperature in the room.

 

All while trying to work a full time job in most cases, balancing their family, as well as church life.

Yes surely the leadership of the church is under attack now more than ever before.

 

So theres no offseason, Sunday ends and they prepare for the rest of the week, and the week after that. So what can be done to help take the load off the leadership?

 

Pray for them. Pray for your Pastor. Pray for the ministry. Intercede for them and fight with them. Get involved so they don’t have to do it on their own. Tell them you love them and appreciate them from time to time because from experience that alone reminds us why we continue to do what we do.

 

Your prayers have the power to revitalize them and restore them. Your prayers give them strength. Pray for them.

 

My Pastor doesn’t know I typed this but it needs to be said from time to time in order to remind us the weight and burden that sits on the shoulders on the men and women of God.

 

God bless,

-Bro. Taylor

 

May 28th 1971,

 

The most decorated combat hero of World War II is tragically killed. Audie Murphy was not supposed to be a hero. In fact when he first tried to join the military, the marines rejected him because of his small size.  The paratroopers rejected him to. Disappointed and with the help of his sister forging documents on his size and age, he was eventually accepted in to the infantry.

 

The young Texan wasn’t one to be kept down as he soon proved himself to be a skilled marksman and a brave soldier.

 

Perhaps his most famous demonstration of bravery occurred on January 26th, 1945. He was in the small town of Holtzwirh France, with his unit of only 40 men. They were ordered to hold a certain road until reinforcements arrived.

 

Unfortunately the Nazis chose that moment to attack. Murphy’s men were badly outnumbered as they were up against 250 soldiers and 6 tanks.

 

Murphy ordered his men to fall back into the woods as he picked up his field phone and called for an allied artillery attack. As ally fire fell he was able to take control of a burning tank, as well as the machine gun attached .

 

Germans were all around him, but he fired on the Nazi infantry for an hour until the ammunition ran . The whole time he was talking on his field phone helping to direct artillery fire.

 

When his ammunition was finally exhausted  he left the tank, refusing medical attention for his injuries and wounds as he organized his men into a counter attack. When it was all said and done in the end Murphy and his 40 men defeated the 250 Germans.

 

There will be times in your walk with God that it will seem like you are on your own, standing on unstable ground trying to hold off the enemy until help arrives, my simple word this evening for you is to simply hold on and keep fighting.

 

God never said you wouldn’t get hurt or wounded, He did however give us the tools needed to overcome those things that come against us. Will it get lonely at times? Yes. Will it hurt? Yes. Will it push you to your limits spiritually? Yes. Hold on, give it everything you’ve got because your victory comes in the morning.

 

When Murphy finally made it home he earned every medal and award you can obtain in military honors, and became the most decorated war hero in our nations history.

 

Hold on a little longer, because your rewards are greater than the battle.

Storms

Author unknown

I did not know his love before, the way I know it now. I could not see my need for Him, my pride would not allow. I had it all, without a care, the self sufficient lie. My path was smooth, my sea was still, not a cloud was in the sky.

I thought I knew his love for me, I thought I’d seen His grace, I thought I did not need to grow, I’d thought I found my place. But then the way grew rough and dark, the storm clouds quickly rolled; The waves began to rock my ship, I found I had no hold.

The ship that I had built myself was made of foolish pride. It fell apart and left me bare, with nowhere else to hide. I had no strength or faith to face the trials that lay ahead, and so I simply spoke His name and bowed my weary head.

His loving arms enveloped me, and then He helped me to stand. He said, you must face this storm, but I will hold your hand. So through the dark and lonely night He guided me through the pain. I could not see the light of day, or when I’d smile again.

Yet through the pain and endless tears, my faith began to grow. I could not see it at this time, but my light began to glow. I saw God’s love in brand new light, His grace and mercy too. For only when all self was gone could Jesus’ love shine through.

It was not easy in the storm, I sometimes wondered why. At times I thought I can’t go on. I’d hurt, and doubt, and cry. But Jesus never left my side, He guided me each day. Through pain and strife, through fire and blood, He helped me all the way.

And now I see as never before  how great His love can be. How in my weakness He is strong, how Jesus cares for me!  He worked it all out for my good, although the way was rough. He only sent what I could bear, and then He said enough.

He raised His hand and said be still. He made the storm clouds cease. He opened up the gates of joy and flooded me with peace. I saw His face now clearer still, I felt His presence strong, I found anew His faithfulness, He never did me wrong.

And now I know more storms will come, but only for my good, for pain and tears have helped me grow as nothing ever could. I still have so much more to learn as Jesus works in me; If in the storm I’ll love Him more, thats where I want to be!