Archive for Pastor Lamonica Bell

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Contentment

by Pastor Lamonica Bell on May 30, 2012 at 5:45 am
Posted In: Pastor Lamonica Bell

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. – Philippians 4:11

A famous preacher once told of a bankrupt man who said he had been ruined by a new sofa. The man explained, “That sofa was the bad beginning – - it was too fine for me. It made my old chairs and table look awful, and so I bought new ones. Then the curtains had to be replaced. The furniture in the other rooms were sold, and new articles were bought to correspond with what we had in the parlor. Soon we found that the house was not good enough for the furniture, and so we moved into a larger one. And now, here I am, bankrupt.”

Contentment is being satisfied with everything you have. One of our family sayings is, “If you’re not content with what you have, you will never be content with what you want.”

Today’s Action

· Try to be content in an area that has bothered you.

Prayer

· Father God, thank you for all you have given me. Amen!

Church of the open door...Love and Many Blessings (LAMB)

In His Grip,

Lamonica D. Bell, Pastor
Church of Philadelphia at Port Tobacco (C.O.P.)
“The Church of the Open Door…”

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The Purpose of Suffering

by Pastor Lamonica Bell on May 23, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Posted In: Pastor Lamonica Bell

“And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
-1 Peter 5:10

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to grow into full Christian maturity without having to suffer? I’ve talked to many godly senior citizens – both men and women – and I’m amazed at the events that have made them into such dedicated people of God.

Bible CrossThese friends have shared the pain they have experienced along the way that helped mold them into Christ like beings. Oh, yes, they have had their times of exuberance, but they didn’t seem to build the inner character that Peter is talking about in today’s verse.

Peter wanted to give a message of encouragement to those scattered throughout the Roman Empire because he knew there would be a lot of suffering inflicted by the then pagan society. He said, don’t count the hard times as lost, but rejoice because after a while God Himself will perfect (make you mature), confirm, strengthen, and establish you. These are attributes of my senior citizen friends. So today when suffering, know that God is molding us, helping us become like Christ. Count it all joy!

Today’s Action

· How is God using today’s circumstances to help you mature in your walk with Jesus?

Church of the open door...Love and Many Blessings (LAMB)

In His Grip,

Lamonica D. Bell, Pastor
Church of Philadelphia at Port Tobacco (C.O.P.)
“The Church of the Open Door…”

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Conquerors Extraordinaire

by Pastor Lamonica Bell on May 1, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Posted In: Pastor Lamonica Bell

The Bible“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels or principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39 NKJV

Consider what people dread most in life. The list could include things like war, betrayal, famine, abandonment, poverty, pain, and death. But, in his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul presented a similar list. One in which he offered them comfort, encouragement, and hope by following his list of worst-case scenarios with the best news he could deliver. Take note that Paul emphasized, “No hardship in life could present God’s love from reaching you and I and leading us to victory.” When Paul wrote “I am persuaded,” he meant “I‘m absolutely convinced. In other words, “You can stake your faith and your life on this fact.”

God’s promise of victory is specific to the role he’s given you to fill in this life. When you’re face with hard times, it won’t be your intelligence, your education, your talents, or your perseverance that will eventually ensure your victory. No my brothers and sisters, it will be God’s love, working through you to keep you close to God’s side and to help you rise above whatever has you down.

Today’s Action

• Facing hard times can lead you to become more than victorious because hard times make you depend more on God and on his strength than your own!

–
Church of the open door...Love and Many Blessings (LAMB)

In His Grip,

Lamonica D. Bell, Pastor
Church of Philadelphia at Port Tobacco (C.O.P.)
“The Church of the Open Door…”

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A Price To Be Paid

by Pastor Lamonica Bell on April 11, 2012 at 6:55 am
Posted In: Pastor Lamonica Bell

“Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink….?”
Mark 10:38

Many times we ask for things not realizing the price to be paid if we get our requests. James and John had asked Jesus if they could sit at His right and left, not realizing the cost of that request. They wanted the honor of sitting so close to Jesus, but they had no idea that a cross had to be borne along with that honor.

I myself have often prayed to be the best husband, best father, best preacher, or best pastor, without taking the time to figure out what cost my request would make on people’s lives.

Great requests or supplications with shallow motives can turn out to be very overwhelming when answered by God. Also, great requests or supplications with stately motives for God’s grace may often be granted – - but not in the way we might expect.

You see, God’s honor is not lightly won; therefore, we must be ready to pay the price in time, trials, sacrifice, love and money.

Today’s Action

• Make sure you realize what the cost might be before you ask GOD for something!

–
Love and Many Blessings (LAMB)

In His Grip,

Lamonica D. Bell, Pastor
Church of Philadelphia at Port Tobacco (C.O.P.)
“The Church of the Open Door…”

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A New Heart

by Pastor Lamonica Bell on March 30, 2012 at 12:13 am
Posted In: Pastor Lamonica Bell

“I will give you a new heart.”
Ezekiel 36:26

God, I’m tired of my sinner’s heart. It has been so irregular, and I find it very heavy to carry around. It always disappoints me. I just can’t stand it anymore.

I plead for a new heart that considers and loves other people more than myself. I want it to blend in with my Christian friends, so that the tangles that now exist will be gone. Like the psalmist, I ask, “Please give me a steadfast spirit that will always be consistent and dependable. I’m tired of being a flake to others. I want to be a man of dependability – - so people will believe what I say.”

My desire is to please you, but with my present heart it is most difficult. I need a new beginning. You are the Alpha and the Omega. Help me start anew.

Today’s Action

• Reach out to God today. Ask for a new heart that truly seeks HIS will!

–
Love and Many Blessings (LAMB)

In His Grip,

Lamonica D. Bell, Pastor
Church of Philadelphia at Port Tobacco (C.O.P.)
“The Church of the Open Door…”

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To Give and to Serve

by Pastor Lamonica Bell on March 24, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Posted In: Pastor Lamonica Bell

“For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 NIV

One of the main purposes of Christian life is to SERVE.  The secular world usually wants to be served, but just as Jesus came to serve so are we to minister to those around us.

The story is told of the man who rushed to the church door and asked if the service was over.  The wise usher replied, “The worship is over, but the service is only beginning.”  The service we render to others is really the rent we pay for our rooms on this earth.

It is obvious that man is a traveler, and that the purpose of this world is not “to have and to hold” but “to give and to serve.”  There can be no other meaning.

Today’s Action:  Identify one person whom you can serve today.  Then go out and do it !–

Love and Many Blessings (LAMB)

In His Grip,

Lamonica D. Bell, Pastor

Church of Philadelphia at Port Tobacco (C.O.P.)
“The Church of the Open Door…”

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Pray With Expectation

by Pastor Lamonica Bell on March 24, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Posted In: Pastor Lamonica Bell

“In the morning, oh LORD you hear my voice, in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”  Psalm 5:3 NIV

I often have people ask me, “When should I pray?”  The psalmist suggests that we should pray inn the morning.  Let God hear your voice and request at eh beginning of the day.  Now I certainly don’t pray only in the morning and neither do many of you.  Truth is, I find myself offering utterances throughout my day and even into the darkest hours.  I begin the day with thanksgiving, and I close the day with thanksgiving.  Notice also the psalm writer says that he waits in “expectation”.  I have a question, expectation for what?  Answers to his requests in his morning prayers.

Do you pray with the expectation and confidence that God hears your voice as you utter your requests?  Do you expect God to answer them by nightfall?

Today’s Action

  • Pray with Expectation and watch GOD move through your faith !

–

Love and Many Blessings (LAMB)

In His Grip,

 

Lamonica D. Bell, Pastor

Church of Philadelphia at Port Tobacco (C.O.P.)
“The Church of the Open Door…”

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Released from Darkness

by Pastor Lamonica Bell on March 20, 2012 at 12:00 am
Posted In: Pastor Lamonica Bell

“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” Isaiah 61:1 NIV

The good news of Christ is freedom. We who are captives in the dysfunctions of life can be set free – - and no longer bound by our own prisons. Our Scripture today gives us all kinds of examples of God’s provision:

•To bind up the brokenhearted
•To proclaim freedom for the captives
•To release prisoners from the darkness
•To comfort all who mourn
•To bestow a crown of beauty instead of ashes
•To give the oil of gladness instead of mourning
• To give a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair
• To be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord
Why, for the display of HIS splendor. Therefore, we no longer need to look at the dark side of life. Because we know that after every storm the sun will smile, for every problem there is a solution, and the soul’s indefensible duty is to be of good cheer. Beloved know today that our glass can be half full when others see it as half empty.

Today’s Action: Take a negative and make it into a positive!

–

Love and Many Blessings (LAMB)

In His Grip,

Lamonica D. Bell, Pastor

Church of Philadelphia at Port Tobacco (C.O.P.)
“The Church of the Open Door…”

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Look Back

by Pastor Lamonica Bell on March 16, 2012 at 12:00 am
Posted In: Pastor Lamonica Bell

“We have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our
confidence steadfast to the end.” —Hebrews 3:14

What was wrong with the ancient Israelites? Why did they have such trouble
trusting God? In Hebrews 3, we’re reminded that they heard God’s promise
yet refused to believe. I think I know why—we have the same problem today..

God provided for the people on their desert march. They would be satisfied
and happy for a while, but then a new crisis would arise. They would stare
ahead at their wall of trouble, become frightened, and lose faith.

Before Moses went up the mountain to get instructions from God, the
Israelites had recently defeated the Amalekites. Things were going fine.
But when Moses stayed on the mountain too long, the people panicked.

Instead of looking back and recalling that God could be trusted, they
looked ahead and saw nothing but the possibility of a leaderless future. So
they sought to create “gods that shall go before us” (Exodus 32:1). Their
trust was blocked by a fear of the future when it could’ve been solidified
with a simple look back at God’s deliverance.

Likewise, our obstacles appear huge. We need to look back and reassure
ourselves by recalling what God has already done on our behalf. That
backward look can give us forward confidence.

“Fear hinders faith, but trust kindles confidence.”

–
Love and Many Blessings (LAMB)

In His Grip,

Lamonica D. Bell, Pastor
Church of Philadelphia at Port Tobacco (C.O.P.)
“The Church of the Open Door…”

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Refreshed by God

by Pastor Lamonica Bell on March 15, 2012 at 12:00 am
Posted In: Pastor Lamonica Bell

“Elijah prayed that he might die. Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat. “ He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water.” 1 Kings 19:4-6 NIV

So often, we ask, “Is God really interested in my physical welfare? Does He care if I eat or sleep?” Yes, God does care for our personal needs on a daily basis. You know, so much of the Gospels deal with eating and sleeping. In many situations of everyday life, Jesus had the same basic needs that we do. After a hard day’s work or journey, He became hungry, thirsty, and sleepy. We serve a God who, through Jesus, experienced the same daily requirements that we have.

We must learn to trust Jesus with all of our needs. We don’t have to doubt or wonder if He takes care of us in the little events in life. Scripture shows us very clearly that He cares, and He will provide for the smallest of needs. What are some of your smallest needs? Trust Him today for providing for those concerns.

Today’s Action

•Trust God today for one of your concerns. Mention it to Him in prayer

Love and Many Blessings (LAMB)

In His Grip,

Lamonica D. Bell, Pastor
Church of Philadelphia at Port Tobacco (C.O.P.)
“The Church of the Open Door…

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