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GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE ….

“O’ Give Thanks!”

Thanksgiving Day is approaching fast along with memories of our past Thanksgivings. For some of us, our memories will put us in a melancholy state. We will be yearning for the good food and the happy times spent with our family of loved ones who we sometimes didn’t get to see except for once a year at Thanksgiving.

Some of our loved ones have gone on to glory. Knowing that they are with our Father, in Heaven, does not lessen our melancholy state though. Therefore, recall those memories – share those memories with other family members. You’ll find that recalling certain memories will have you laughing, instead of crying. Thank God for the memories you have to share.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”                              – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV).

It is ok to yearn for times of yesterday. It is ok to remember, to reflect, to wish you could relive those times. Go ahead and smile – go ahead and shed a tear or two, it’s ok. This is what love looks like. Remember, God is Love. God’s Love gave His only Son over to crucifixion and resurrection so that we may live. We have the victory! Give thanks!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”                                     – 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV). 

“Your relationship with Jesus Christ makes you a winner.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice

Rejoice! Reflect! Remember! This is your winning season. How often do you hear this statement?  Often? Why? Because when you are connected to God it will always be your winning season. As you reflect on times past, go deeper in prayer – deeper in His Word – deeper in praise. Let your witness be the highest praise!

“We give you thanks and praise your holy name.” – 1 Chronicles 29:13 (NIV).

Yes, praise is what we believers do.

Praise is what I do – I owe it all to You. I vow to praise Him – for the good and the bad. Praise Him – whether happy or sad. Cause praise is what I do. And I owe it all to You!

Enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving!

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

“God Made Me”

God made me who I am. God made me a winner! Pastor Brice is taking us through a series of teachings on; I’m Winning This Thing! While sitting under his teachings, the song that keeps playing over and over in my head is: God Made Me. Yes, God made me a winner through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Excerpt from Song:

God made me – God made me who I am.                                                                                                               I’m a conqueror – I’m victorious – I won’t be stopped.                                                                                             I’m a believer – I’m an achiever – I won’t be blocked.                                                                                                     (And you know why!)                                                                                                                                              God made me – God made me who I am.

We are here by the grace of God.  Do not take this lightly. Praise Him – seek Him – include Him in everything! Be diligent in your praise and in your prayers. Be steadfast in His Word. Stand firm in God’s Truth! Yes, Truth will set you free! Truth will make you a winner. However, you must be connected to God.

Wake up with the Truth (God’s Word). Keep the Truth with you all day – noon time – evening time – nighttime. Go to bed with the Truth. While you are connected, praise Him! Everything God does for you deserves a praise. Doesn’t matter if He is taking you through your trials and troubles. Praise Him! It won’t last. He is teaching you. Be strong in His Word. He is making you a better person. He is drawing you closer to Him.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” – James 4:8 (KJV).

We all must go through something to really appreciate His Goodness. He will see you through. You will win, but again, you must be connected to God. Why? God and God alone has the authority over Satan. Let go, and let God fight your battles. Put on the full armor of God: the belt of Truth – the breastplate of Righteousness – the Gospel of Peace – the shield of Faith – the helmet of Salvation – the sword of the Spirit – and pray in the Spirit on all occasions.  (Read and keep Ephesians chapter 6 in your spirit.)

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world.” – 1 John 5:4 (NIV).

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“It Begins with The Win!”

Our Pastor Victor S. Brice is taking us through a series of teachings on winning. We will win because we are on The Team. Which team?  God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are The Team. When in battle (conflict) the best place to be is on The Team. There will always be conflicts. i.e., Military conflicts between states or nations. Social conflicts between groups, organizations, communities. Personal conflicts between families, marriages, friends. Military, social, and personal conflicts may lead to death, physical disabilities, and/or mental health disabilities. Stress, anxiety, depression, and financial trouble are also contributors.

Thank God for The Team!    Thank God for the win!

“For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” – Deuteronomy 20:4 (NIV).

“We can credit God for our winning. We get the ultimate win over sin, over shame, over death.”                         – Pastor Victor S. Brice

It doesn’t end with the win. After the win, your servant work begins.

Time to go to work! Well, actually, it is time to serve! It is time to do what all good servants do, serve the Lord and others. Serve a little – serve a lot. Serve in a big way – serve in a small way. It doesn’t matter. Let your serving begin after the win.

“Because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”                                                              – 1 Corinthians 15:58c (NIV). 

Hearing the word, labor, may make you think of hard work, or strenuous work. This is not the case when you labor in the Lord. When you labor in the Lord you are using His strength for His purposes. Your labor is not meaningless nor is it worthless because God gives it meaning and He gives it worth.

Be steadfast, dedicated, and loyal as you labor. Pray for guidance and follow His instructions as you use your God given gifts to serve. This is a win-win – this is how it begins.

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“The Winning Team” 

It’s that season again, football season is well underway. Around the globe, especially in these United States, a lot of people can be seen and heard, yelling for their favorite team. Or maybe even saying some words that I cannot repeat, about their losing team. There are some fans of football that will stick with their team rather winning or losing. While others will drift away.

As for me, I’m a fan of football but I don’t get caught up in it or take it to heart. Why? Because we live in a worldly win or lose system. A system that will have you feeling happy and cheerful one week and feeling let down and depressed the next. No, I’m not saying who my favorite team is, I’ll just say that I’m ok with whatever the final score is. My attitude about my favorite team is one of; win or lose, on to the next. Why? Because football is a team sport. Key word: sport.  I am more concerned with living – with being on the Winning Team where I always get the victory.

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”                         –  1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV). 

Case closed. The Word speaks! Pastor Brice has been leading us through his teachings on winning. From our lessons we have learned that we win over our foe, the devil, because we have God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us. 

“When the enemy comes in, God comes in behind the enemy. You win when the Lord comes in.”                – Pastor Victor S. Brice 

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31b (NIV).

No power, including Satan, can prevail against us, the believers. We are under God’s control as well as all our life’s adversities (hardships, difficulties, misfortunes). God will sustain those who stand on His promises. As long as we live, God is for us. God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit is the winning Team. Get on the winning Team. Stay on the winning Team. Celebrate!

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“I Will Win!” 

During our Sunday sermon, I’m Winning This Thing, Pastor Brice spoke on five reasons why we will win. Before I list those reasons, let me first speak on the fact that God has a plan for all of us. It is in His plan that we include Him in everything we do.

“With God on our side, how can we lose!” – Pastor Victor S. Brice.

I’m a sports fan, I enjoy different sports. Since it is football season, let’s talk about a couple of football quarterbacks that are believers in Christ. Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. Both are great quarterbacks who publicly declare their faith and are both winners.

“He has a role in everything I do. I want to make sure I glorify Him while I do it.”                                                 – Patrick Mahomes.

“I’ve just matured and realized that God is everything and He’s worthy of praise. You have to put Him at the center of everything that you do.” – Jalen Hurts

Different wording but they are both saying the same thing. Include God in everything you do. Give Him the glory. He is worthy of being praised. Wow! Two awesome quarterbacks who know where their gifts come from and are not afraid to give Him the glory.

Our Scripture for Sunday’s sermon was from Romans 8:26-28 (MSG). This Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes on our behalf by praying for us. This appeal is according to the Will of God. God is working in our lives for our good. We will win.

“The Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost has my back!” – Pastor Victor S. Brice

The Right Team: God the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, is the winning team. The five reasons why I will win: Pleased: He is pleased for me. Programs: He programs me. Positions: He positions me in Christ. Pulling: He’s pulling for me. Passion: He has passion for me.

Stick with God. Stick with the Right Team. The Right Team is the winning team. Don’t give up on God because He won’t give up on you. You will win!

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“Innocence Leading to Sin”

Do you realize that you can be minding your own business when just like that, your innocence can lead you to sin? How can this happen to you? How can this happen to a believer in Christ – a sitting in church every Sunday saint? Very easily.

i.e., You’re sitting at home. Your phone rings. A friend is calling, inviting you to the Giants vs the Dodgers game on Sunday. Without hesitation you agree to go, free tickets and all. In your mind you rationalize that you are a good church attendee. You go to church every Sunday. You pay your tithes. Therefore, you innocently think that you can reward yourself with just one afternoon of baseball. You rationalize that you can miss church just this once.

Well, well! You have just been caught up in an agent of deception. Pastor Brice has been teaching on the agents of deception: the world – the flesh – the Devil.

The Devil in this situation is urging you to go. Your flesh is telling you to reward yourself with a good time. It’s the Giants and the Dodgers. It will be an awesome game. And it is free! However! Yes, there is a, however.

“Everything that looks good, feels good, smells good, is not necessarily good.” – Pastor Brice

By agreeing to go to the Giants game in place of going to church on Sunday is a sin. Woah! Just like that, your innocent self will be committing a sin. How did this happen? You’ve allowed an acquaintance from the minor league to entice you over to his side of the field. (Yes, I’m using the word, acquaintance, instead of friend, because you are no longer a friend of the world. You have separated yourself from the world. You have come out from among them.)

Pastor Victor S. Brice – “Some people are not in your league. You’re in the major league, quit putting people from the minor league in your league.”

Also, if you agree to go to the game instead of to church, you will have been caught up in the world, the wants of your flesh, and the schemes of the Devil. As we all know, these things are not from the Father.

“For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world.” – 1 John 2:16 (NIV).

 I said all the above to say this: Your innocence will lead you to sin. Beware of your surroundings – your friends – your acquaintances – get your head out of the cloud. Satan is waiting to sneak up on you and he will devour you. Stay alert! Remain diligent in Word – in Worship – in Prayer!

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE … 

“Are You Living in Your Purpose?”

What is your response to the following questions: #1. Do you know your purpose?  If you responded with a yes, then proceed to question two. #2. Are you living in your purpose?

Our purpose is to serve God and others. This sounds easy enough and sounds like something we can all do. However, reflect a moment before you answer question number two because it holds you accountable. Living is an on-going activity. Therefore, living in your purpose means to always do it.

“Having a purpose will keep you grounded and unbound.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice

We were all born with a purpose and a calling, but we sometimes miss them completely because we don’t know what they are. Time to pray and seek God’s direction. If you don’t know your purpose or calling, ask God to reveal it to you.  Rely on the influence of the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit direct you.

             Seek ~ Pray ~ Reveal!

Seek Him: go to His Word.   Pray: ask Him.   Reveal: He will reveal your purpose.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”                   –  Proverbs 19:21 (NIV).

           Serve others ~ Help others ~ Serve God!

Serving defined: you are doing something primarily for the benefit and goodwill of another person or group of people.

Helping defined: you are doing something for someone who is needier than you are – they need what you can provide.

Biblical serving defined: serve God by doing His Will – doing what He commands us to do. i.e., love one another; pray for one another.

When you are serving and helping others, you are serving God. Take a close look at the above three definitions. Time to answer question number two?

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“Twenty-Four Seven”

What does it mean when you hear the words, twenty-four seven?  “Always open” or “never closes”.   God is available twenty-four seven.

“Seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” – Matthew 7:7 (KJV).

Pastor Brice is constant in telling us to locate God the first thing in the morning. He tells us to start our day with God. To make it a habit of locating God. This past Sunday his sermon was titled, “Early Morning Check-In”. He was teaching from Psalm chapter five. Check-in with God the first thing in the morning. Wake up and locate God. God is here for us, twenty-four seven. There is no waiting in line. You don’t have to take a number and wait to be called. You can call on Him at any time, and He will answer.

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee.” Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV).

“Prayer allows you to check-in with God at any time.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice

This is what “twenty-four seven” means to me. I don’t relate it to any thing associated with the police, fire, hospital (agencies that are open twenty-four seven). I relate it to God being available to me whenever I call – whenever I pray – whenever I think about Him.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” – Psalm 23:6 (KJV). 

The Word of God. Let this Scripture resonate! Build your hopes on things eternal. Check-in with God. Pray. Prayer is beneficial. Prayer is a benefit that God has given us – free of charge – you can’t buy it. You must share it though. We must all intercede in prayer on the behalf of others. We can pray anytime, day or night. We can pray anywhere, home, car, work, office. God’s eyes and ears are always open. He can detect your cries and moans. He knows what you need. You can use one word or many. Just check-in. Why?  Because…God is…

Love – Able – Faithful – Performs His Promises – He Never Fails – He Always Delivers.

Other benefits to checking-in with God:   God will consider your situation – God will coordinate (guide) your situation – God will clear-up (fix) your situation.  These are our teachings from our Pastor, Victor S. Brice. I encourage you to check-in (pray) then pray some more. Pray without ceasing.

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“Are You Serious?” 

Are you serious? A simple question that can have multiple connotations. During our Sunday morning worship service our Pastor asked us questions concerning our commitment to God.

“How serious are you about God?” “Where is God in your life?”  “Is God first?”

Let these questions marinate in your soul before you answer. I used the word, soul, because these questions run deep. You must not take these questions lightly because they are all critical to your heart relationship with God. Yes, your heart relationship with God must run deep. You must love Him with all your heart and soul. You must seek Him with all your heart and soul.

“If you seek Him, He will be found by you.” – 1 Chronicles 28:9b (NIV).

Once we seek Him and find Him, our commitment to Him will come under attack. There will be opposition to your heart relationship with God. Some little things and some not so little things will show up in your life. These things will try to block your relationship with God. You will start to wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” Satan. Satan goes on the prowl when he sees how God is providing in your life – when he sees how God is working in your life.

“All who are committed, connected, to God will encounter haters.”  “Satan will try to distract you.”  – Pastor Victor S. Brice – “Leave me alone, mind your own business!” 

The above quotes from our Pastor were shared with us to encourage us to stand firm – to remain steadfast in the Word. Put the Word on Satan when he is attacking you. Make him flee.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 (KJV).

Remember how Jesus made the devil flee from Him in the wilderness.

“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”     –   Matthew 4:4 (NIV).

The Word of God is your weapon – the Word of God is your armor. Put it on!

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”       – Ephesians 6:11 (NIV).

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“Stand!” 

To stand is to be in an upright position (usually supported by your feet) – it can be a base for a piece of furniture – it can be an attitude toward a particular issue – it can also mean to be in strong agreement. When you are in strong agreement you will not back down – you will stand your ground – you will endure – be steadfast – resist – defy – maintain your position.

At the end of our Tuesday evening Bible teachings, “Benefits of The Believer”, Pastor Brice’s parting words to us were: “Share the Benefits Package. Stand and persevere!” 

“Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”               – Psalm 37:24 (NIV). 

This is a benefit. God’s Promises are our benefits.  Our benefits don’t cost a thing but are worth more than gold, take advantage of them! Have faith, trust, believe, and receive priceless benefits. Read: Psalm 37 (yes, all of it) see how we must conduct ourselves as believers. As you read Psalm 37, pay attention to the following listed Scriptures that show our believers’ benefits:

• Prepared Faith – Psalm 37:23-24.
• Profound Provisions – Psalm 37:25.
• Prosperous Practices – Psalm 37:26-27.
• Prominent Preservation – Psalm 37:28-29.
• Precious Prudence – Psalm 37:30—31.

Don’t let your benefits remain idle. Tap into them. Stay in the Word. Stay committed to the Lord (Psalm 37:5-6) He will not let you fall – He will not let you fail. Get the Word in your heart – take the Word with you wherever you may go. Grow in your knowledge of the Word – grow your faith – live the Word – spread the Word – grow your relationship with God.

Stand and resist the devil! Stand and endure your troubles and hardships! Stand and share with everyone your benefits as a believer. Reap the benefits! Persevere, under the Lord’s supervision.

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan