Clergy Corner: 1 CHRONICLES 28:9

9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

NKJV

Loyalty of heart and willingness of mind is essential for faithful, effective service.

God should have first place in your lives and consume all your thoughts. With the mind of Christ, we should have control over our thoughts and those thoughts should match what the Bible says. We serve God, and we give Him everything we have and then the holidays come. Thanksgiving and Christmas come around, and we do things that we do not normally do:

• We eat in large groups and/or with family.

• We give cards.

• We give gifts.

• We act more hospitable with others.

• We go to church more.

• We give time and money to people in need.

• We focus more on our military and those serving overseas.

These things we do need to be part of our lifestyle and not just part of a holiday tradition. Do not allow traditions to affect the things you do and say – be yourself. God blesses us with many different things throughout our lives.

• God gives us power, love and a sound mind.

• God gives us control over our flesh and soul.

• God gives us the ability to have good judgment.

• God gives us the ability to have a disciplined life.

• God gives us the ability to make the right decisions.

• God gives us _____. (Fill in your own answer)

However, we choose what we are going to do with those gifts and blessings and we choose what kind of life we will live. Society and traditions try to tell us how to live our lives around the holidays and even how to celebrate our holidays. We need to be ourselves and serve the God that we love by living this Christmas lifestyle all year round.

Don’t allow people or circumstances in your life to break your holiday spirit and steal your joy. The words that come out of our mouths show what is in our hearts, and our actions will speak even louder than our words. The things we do and say show the kind of lifestyle that we have. Don’t become what the pressures of life want to mold you into, but rather become a person full of joy and peace all year round. Then, it is not just a holiday thing; it is a lifestyle thing. When we do things the way God wants and not by our own way, then those changes become more permanent. Why change the way you act and behave like the seasons change? Just be the same happy, joyful, peaceful, giving person all year long. Then, you will not have to change around the holidays to fit in.

Tony Guadagnino is the pastor at Christian Love Fellowship Church.

The holiday season is officially here! Thanksgiving is two weeks away, and it is the time when we are to reflect on all the things we are most thankful for. It is a time of friends and family getting together (eating, of course) and giving thanks. I believe that the Bible and history can speak for themselves on this subject. I want to share with you a quote. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln said, “We often forget the Source from which the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies come… No human wisdom hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God … I, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States … to observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.” The Bible has a lot to say about giving thanks and being thankful. What better source for us to turn to today. Let me share just a few scriptures on being thankful.

PSALMS 136:26

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.

NLT

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

16 Always be joyful.

17 Never stop praying.

18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

NLT

Thankfulness is an attitude. It is a condition of the heart. When we are truly grateful that should allow us to be happy, not just once a year at Thanksgiving, but all year long. If we are going to have an attitude of being thankful, then it must be something that we do all year long, not just one or two days out of the year. When we can do that, it will show in a joy that is very evident to ourselves and to others as well.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again Rejoice! We all have things that go wrong in our lives every day. If we learn to focus on the things we are thankful for, and not all the negative things in our lives, then we can begin to learn to be truly happy and content. This is something that should actually show in our outward actions and attitudes. God has blessed us and given us so many things to be thankful for that we should be full of joy and peace every day. Remember the things that God has saved you from and do not live in the past. Our everyday lives should show that we are thankful and grateful for all God has done for us. As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, remember the original spirit of the oldest of all American holidays — gratefulness to God. In the middle of all the hustle and bustle, take time to give thanks and praise to God for all the wonderful things in your life. Be happy!

Tony Guadagnino is the pastor at Christian Love Fellowship Church.

It is absolutely incredible to see how much money, time, energy and effort we spend just to look good and feel good about ourselves.

We tend to spend a lot of time and money trying to take care of our physical bodies and get healthy or even to stay healthy. In the United States, we spend $20 billion a year in the weight loss industry alone. This includes diet books, diet drugs and weight loss surgeries. There are 108 million people on diets in the United States every year, and they average four to five diet attempts each year. Eight-five percent of the customers in the weight loss industry are female. Anyone who has lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off for five years will spend one hour every day on exercise. In 2009, in the United States, 220,000 people with morbid obesity had bariatric surgery, which reduces the size of the stomach, with the cost averaging $11,500 to $26,000. It is amazing the things we go through just to look better and, of course, ultimately feel better. Do not get me wrong, please; I am very happy that U.S. consumers have become more health conscious in the way they eat and exercise.

1 TIMOTHY 4:7-8

7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.

8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

NLT

We may try to fix the outside but if we don’t fix the inside we will never truly be happy and full of joy.

The Bible tells us that physical exercise is good, but spiritual exercise is better. It is a good thing to take better care of our physical bodies and to get in shape and make better eating choices, but we also need to make sure that we are not neglecting our spiritual life in the process.

MATTHEW

16:25-26

25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

NLT

There are many ways to take care of your spiritual life. You need to read your Bible every day because this will help you understand who God is, and what He wants you to do with your life and what He wants to do for your life. You need to pray and talk to God every day as though He was your best friend. Talk to God about everything that is going on in your life, even though He already knows. He will enjoy talking with you. You need to go to church and have corporate worship with others; that way you can encourage someone when they need a friend, and someone can encourage you when you need it. Make sure you take care of your body, but, even more importantly, make sure you take care of your spiritual life. God Bless.

Tony Guadagnino is the pastor of Christian Love Fellowship Church.

Sources: John LaRosa of MarketData; National Weight Control Registry; American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery; Jo Piazza, author of “Celebrity Inc.: How Famous People Make Money;” http:// abcnews.go.com/Health/ 100-million-dieters-20-billion- weight-loss-industry/ story?id=16297197

Do you remember where you were? Do you remember what you were doing? Well, I sure do remember exactly where and when! I was driving to work on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. I remember because I was a little late to work that day and I was still in the car when the reports starting coming over the radio. I remember because at first I thought it was one of those radio pranks that the radio announcers play from time to time, although I thought this one was a little wild and cruel. I remember thinking it had to be a joke because there is no way this could actually be happening … no way could it be happening to the good old United States of America on our own soil. We need to make sure that we never ever forget what happened that day.

The word “remember” is in the King James version of the Bible 148 times. There are things in the Bible that God wanted us to always remember and never forget. There are things that God thought were important for us to store in our memory banks and never let them leave. God wants us to remember His teachings from the Holy Bible.

2 Peter 3:2

2 I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.

NLT

2 Kings 17:38-39

38 Do not forget the covenant I made with you, and do not worship other gods.

39 You must worship only the Lord your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies.”

NLT

It has been 12 years now and we need to make sure we remember that we as a united country turned to God in our time of need and He brought us comfort. I remember all the members of Congress standing on the capitol steps and praying to God for help. I remember seeing men and women risk their own lives to try and save those who were in the middle of those disasters with no fear. I remember our enemy trying to scare us and intimidate us on our own soil, in our very own country. I remember a great country and a great people rising up together and turning to God for help. With God’s help (because we asked for it), we rose above what our enemy tried to do to us. I even remember feeling anger when we went to New York City the following year to visit family and being able to see the two holes in the ground that were left.

Please do not ever forget the tragedy that happened that day. Do not forget the lives that were taken in those horrible events. Do not forget the lives that were given by our civil servants. Do not forget that God helped us through that horrible time and allowed us to begin to heal. Remember and pray for those that who lost lives and also for those who gave their lives to help others.

Tony Guadagnino is a pastor at Christian Love Fellowship church.

If you are tired, can’t deal with the pressure any longer, are sick of the direction your life has taken, then God is speaking to you today.

Just picture the prodigal son who was at the very lowest depths of despair, yet somehow heard the voice that told him “Go home.” When the son arrived, he found a father not ready to punish him, but to love him. He found a father not ready to reprimand him, but to reinstate him. God is waiting for you today with outstretched arms of love, simply saying to you this day… “Come home.”

2 Thessalonians 3:13

And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. NIV

Don’t grow weary doing what is right. Do what God tells you to do. Do not waste time worrying about what someone else thinks because, if you do, eventually, they will wear you down. When you are tired and worn out, you are more likely to slip and stumble, give in to temptation and make mistakes. Do not grow weary or lose heart.

Galatians 6:9

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. NLT

Are you tired of running, tired of hurting and just plain tired of being tired? There is an answer! There is a way! God is calling you right now to simply “Come home to Him.” The problems don’t go away, and the consequences of your actions don’t magically disappear. But by coming home, you start to deal with the issues, put them behind you, and become restored into fellowship with your God who loves you. Then, slowly, you will see the joy, the peace and the happiness return to your life. Do not ever quit, do not ever give up, and do not ever give in.

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. NIV

Sometimes we do not even realize how much rest we need until we actually take some time to rest and reenergize our bodies and minds. Vacation sure does the body good, but don’t forget the one who wants to give us rest. God can charge you up no matter what has drained you – and he is the only one who can do that. Be sure to spend time with God. We can do that by going to church, praying (just talking to God), reading the Bible, and by singing worship songs and hymns. We can talk to God, read the Bible, or sing anytime and anywhere we want.

There is also one other thing that I have found that helps me to recharge. That one thing is to help other people in a time of need. It not only brings great joy to your life, but it also brings you a new energy that you did not have before. We can create an environment for ourselves to recharge anywhere and time we need. So remember to keep your batteries charged so you can keep going.

Tony Guadagnino is a pastor at Christian Love Fellowship Church.

I had the privilege of being able to go and see the fireworks at Deerfield Beach on the Fourth of July.

What a great time of year as we celebrate the independence of our country! I could not believe the number of people there at the beach to watch a fireworks show. I was really surprised because I thought it turned out to be one of the best fireworks shows in a very long time.

As we were walking back to our car, I began to calculate all the time and energy we had invested, along with thousands of others for some entertainment. We spent 15 minutes driving each way, 30 minutes walking each way, and 25 minutes being entertained.

I am not trying to say that there is anything wrong with being entertained because I absolutely loved the fireworks show and I was definitely entertained.

I guess it made me a little sad because we have an Easter sunrise service every year and we are always trying to find ways to get people to attend this wonderful celebration. I believe that it comes down to having a relationship with God and getting to know Him on a more personal level. Moses wanted to see God and have an encounter with Him, and, when Moses did this, he left God’s presence changed. When I am in church and spending time with God, I always leave changed and closer to God. What good does it do if we say we are friends with God and then not spend any time with Him? When people leave the sunrise service on Easter morning, they leave changed because they have had an encounter with God.

When I left the fireworks display on the 4th of July, I felt entertained. I felt good because it made me happy and kept my attention, but that was it.

When we left the fireworks show, it was over until next year.

When we have an encounter with God, we will leave His presence changed for good if we choose. Jacob had an encounter with God and he had a limp for the rest of his life as a reminder that he would be forever changed. It is nice to be entertained and have a good time, but it is even better to spend time with God and leave with something that you will never forget.

Sometimes, God will encourage us when we are down, love us when we are sad, hold us when we are hurting or even correct us when we make mistakes. No matter what the encounter, I always leave God’s presence with something I need.

The fireworks were great, but they did not help me with anything going on in my life. God wants to help you and encourage you, but you have to look for Him.

Tony Guadagnino is the pastor of Christian Love Fellowship Church

It is upon us whether we like it or not. That’s right, summer is here! Summer brings so many thoughts and ideas it can actually be overwhelming if we are not careful.

To me, summer is laid back, easy going, children home from school and vacation time all rolled into one fun time.

It is always good to rest and relax. We must learn how to rest our minds as well as our bodies. Vacation is a wonderful thing, and I am looking forward to our summer vacation this year. I really have learned to enjoy my time off and just have a good time.

Your whole life is not supposed to be one big party, but I have always believed in’ work hard and play hard.’ I have found that it does wonders for you physically, mentally and emotionally. So, with all the signs pointing to summer and relaxation, I did something that may seem a little crazy.

I made a decision for my life that I want to share with you. Like so many others today, I have decided to go back to school. I received my B.A. in Pastoral Ministry from South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary, which is right here in Deerfield Beach. I am going to pursue a Master of Divinity degree. So I called my old school and began the process of reenrolling in college.

I believe that we all need to have the attitude that there is always something to learn. After that, I began to think, am I the teacher or the student? I teach and preach to people every week in church and I love it. However, if I could learn more, I could improve myself and also be better equipped to do what I love – help people. Knowledge is good and we all need to makesure we are continually learning with every opportunity we get, but it’s the wisdom that we need to go along with the knowledge. We can know the information, but God wants to help us with the application and give us His wisdom.

Titus 2:12

12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God. NLT

James 1:5

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. NLT

With God’s wisdom and understanding, it becomes easier for us to do what He wants in our lives. I did not say it was easy to always do the right thing and make the right decisions, but, with God, it sure is easier.

So does that make me the teacher or the student? I believe I need to be both teacher and student. We should always be learning to improve ourselves and our knowledge, but we should always be teaching and helping others.

Be a constant student always learning and growing, but make sure you are passing your knowledge and wisdom to others as well.

Tony Guadagnino is a pastor at Christian Love Fellowship Church.

Are you ready for Mother’s Day? It’s almost here; don’t drag your feet. I know it’s a few days early, but I wanted the opportunity to give the ladies the honor they deserve.

For you history buffs, let me fill you in on some of the Mother’s Day details. Mother’s Day in the U.S.A. started long ago when Anna Jarvis organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her Appalachian community. She called it “Mother’s Work Day.”

When she died in 1905, her daughter began a campaign to memorialize her mom. In 1914, Anna, the daughter named after her mother, saw her hard work pay off when President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother’s Day as a national holiday. Today, the second Sunday of May has become the most “dined out” day of the year and telephone companies record their highest volume of calls. The flower and candy businesses are not bad either. Oh, let us not forget about “the card.”

2 TIMOTHY 1:5

5 “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

NIV

You are important and you will leave a mark on this earth. It’s up to you as to what you leave behind and pass on. All throughout the Bible, women have played an incredible role in the plan of God. We see women being used by God in amazing ways, helping to fulfill His divine plan. Women have always played a key role in God’s plan, and I want to make sure that we never lose sight of how important they are to all of us. Take the time to thank the women in your life who have helped shape you into the person you are today.

PROVERBS 31:10

10 “A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman — who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.”

AMP

What’s the most important Mother’s Day ever? This one! Oh, I am sure you can recount some very special Mother’s Days — but the one you observe this year should be the best ever. Also, make sure your kids do the right thing. Honor the special ladies in your lives by recognizing the valuable contribution they make at church, as well as at home. It’s not easy being a wife, mother, churchwoman, bread-winner, homemaker, taxi driver—you name it! Let her know how you feel.

If I can speak to moms in particular and women in general on behalf of the husbands, fathers, brothers and sons today, I would like to say this.

The music of your life is beautiful. You are a beautiful flower with delicate petals and a wonderful fragrance. We envy the relationship that you have with our children and grandchildren. God created you beautiful in the depth of your being, and it is that beauty that draws us to you. We praise God for you and thank God for you, even though we don’t tell you nearly as much as we should.

Tony Guadagnino is a pastor at Christian Love Fellowship Church.

Do you ever get tired, weary, or just worn out? I think we all go through times in life where we are just beat up and beat down. I guess then the question would be, what in the world do we do in order to get through those tough times without having a nervous breakdown?

If you ask anyone from our church, they should all know that I say often, “NEVER GIVE UP – NEVER GIVE IN – NEVER QUIT.” This is one of those things in life that we have to remind ourselves of every day and even sometimes more than one time in the same day.

GALATIANS 6:9, NLT

9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

I believe we need to simply trust God even more with our lives and that includes the things that wear us down. We need to talk to Him about everything. We also need to learn how to rest and have fun.

Sometimes, life is tough and hard, so if we are going to work hard, then we need to play hard. We need to find things that help us to have fun and relax. Enjoying a hobby or sports activity is not a sin; it will actually help you deal with issues when you are fully relaxed and rested. Lastly, we need to let things go that we have no control over. I shared a story with you a couple years back, and it is very fitting with this story, so I wanted to share it again.

The Donkey

One day, a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours, as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. So, he invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.

Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping-stone. We can get out of the deepest well, just by not stopping and by never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up! Always remember, you WIN! When you are resting and trusting God, then He is working.

I recently had the privilege of going to Honduras for a mission trip. My sister is a missionary and works at a school as a fifth grade teacher. The school is Rancho Ebenezer and is run through World Gospel Outreach. It has always been a dream of hers to do missionary work and she was at a point in her life where her dream came true. I went there with her son (my nephew) and my 14-year-old son. I wanted my son to go and see how spoiled he really is. (Well, that was my dream).

I went thinking I was going to help them work on their facility and be a blessing to them. God has a funny way of always turning things around in my life. We did have a chance to help and do some repairs at their facility. We did some electrical work and replaced some old light fixtures with new ones in the houses where the staff and the children live. We also were able to do some plumbing repairs and replace old leaky faucets, fix toilets and repair leaking drains. We even had time to repair five or six bikes for the children who live on the ranch.

MATTHEW 28:19-20

19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

20 “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

NLT

When we got there, and began to walk around and meet everyone and see what they do there at their facility, I got thoroughly blessed by what I observed. I saw people who serve others selflessly because of the faith that they have in their God. When our faith is in God, and not in other people or in things we own, great things will happen in our lives. God will never let us down, even though other people will. I saw people working together because they believed in what they were doing and they also knew why they were doing it. I saw people working together to accomplish a mission with no personal agenda in mind. The school and the facility there in Honduras is run on donations, so they really need to trust God for all their needs.

I was encouraged by the faith I saw and it reminded me that we all can have great faith. I want to encourage you not to just have faith, but I want to encourage you to have faith in God. We need to trust God and know that the Bible is truth. Every promise we find in His Word is true and every promise is ours for the asking. We are so spoiled here in America. We need to stay strong and trust that God will do great things in our lives, but they will be on His terms, not ours.

Pastor Tony Guadagnino is a pastor at Christian Love Fellowship Church.