New Hope Lomita

Devotional for the Week of May 30th Watch Your Words Ex 20:7 "You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name."... Matt. 12:36 "And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak." God made us expressive beings, so we are nearly lost without communication. That is why we have audio recordings and Braille for the blind, sign language for the deaf, and writing for anyone who has something to say from afar. Speech has enormous implications, especially as a vehicle for sharing the gospel. Therefore, we are commanded to control the tongue, to keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies (Psalm 34:13). A Christian’s speech should consistently honor the Lord. James 3:7-8 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. The words we say reveal what is in our hearts. The Bible vividly describes bitter words as arrows (Psalms 64:3), sharp and poisonous as a serpent (Psalm 140:3). If we are not connecting ourselves with the Lord, we can fall into bad habits with our language. Our words can be so powerful that they can give hope or cause death, teach truth or spread gossip, gently correct or angrily crush feelings, build up or tear down. There are no empty words. All words that come out of your mouth you are accountable for.You are going to mess up. All of us mess up. I'm so thankful we have a merciful God that forgives our sins. There are a few things you can do to help you in the heat of the moment to keep your speech God-honoring:-- Speak Slowly (James 1:19) When you have such a powerful weapon (your tongue) you must exercise great caution.-- Speak Truthfully (Eph 4:25) What is just as important as the truth you speak is the attitude with which you speak it. Speak with love.-- Speak Graciously (Col 4:6) Let your conversation always be full of kindness You can read this Devotional at my website by clicking the link below: https://www.cliffordyoungjr.com/posts/watch-your-words

Hey all... here is a video about my new book Christian Soul. Pick it up and write a review. Blessing to you all. Visit www.cliffordyoungjr.com for more details.

Hello all! Friday! Check out my podcast entitled Commandment 3 - Misusing the Name of God on my website at https://www.cliffordyoungjr.com//commandment-3-misusing-th Blessings and Love!

Hello all! Happy Friday! Check out my podcast entitled Commandment 3 - Question & Answer on my website at https://www.cliffordyoungjr.com//commandment-3-question-an Blessings and Love!

Hello all! Friday! Check out my podcast entitled Commandment 2 - More Questions & Answers on my website at https://www.cliffordyoungjr.com//commandment-2-more-questi Blessings and Love!

Great News! The FREE Audio book for Pastor Cliff's "Christian Soul" is now available! Listen, write a review and share! https://www.cliffordyoungjr.com/christian-soul-audio-book

Celebrating and honoring those who sacrifice themselves for freedom, liberty and justice for all in America! This is my first public performance on my new Monette Trumpet LT+ Memorial Day 2021 #taps #memorialday #monettetrumpets #trumpet #tapsacrossamerica

Devotional for the Week of May 16th Why Is He A Jealous God? Ex 20:5 You must not bow down to them or worship them (idols), for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.... A jealous woman is considered to be a rival, a hostile, bitter person filled with petty resentment. A jealous man is considered insecure and childish, perhaps controlling or wildly competitive. Why and how is God jealous, and what does that mean? Are we supposed to think that our God is bitter and resentful, filled with trifling insecurities like some frail human? How can our perfect Father also be a jealous Father?The word in Hebrew for jealous is qanna, and not only does it mean jealous but also zealous, as in caring passionately. For we know that God does indeed love us with passion, fervent zeal and wants us to be His people. He does not want us to fall under the spell of any other. As our Creator and Father, He knows what is best for us and wants to keep us safely in His fold, where He can love, guide, and protect us. His jealousy stems from a loving, unselfish concern for those under his care, which is why He demands our exclusive devotion. This is a bit like the jealousy the apostle Paul talks about having in his letter to the early church in Corinth, where he says, I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband-- Christ." 2 Cor 11:2 It’s a righteous jealousy Paul is speaking of, protective and in our best interest, and that is the kind of jealousy God reflectsonly it is perfect, for God Himself is perfect. When God declares He is jealous, He doesn’t mean sinful human jealousy but the right, good jealousy that a father feels in claiming his own. You can read this Devotional at my website by clicking the link below: https://www.cliffordyoungjr.com/pos/why-is-he-a-jealous-god

Hello all! Happy Saturday! Check out my podcast entitled Second Commandment: No Other Gods on my website at https://www.cliffordyoungjr.com/posts/no-other-gods Blessings and Love!

Hello all! Happy Friday! Check out my podcast entitled First Commandment - More Question & Answer on my website at https://www.cliffordyoungjr.com//first-commandment-more-qu Blessings and Love!

https://www.cliffordyoungjr.com/book We are pleased to announce that Pastor Cliff's first book, Christian Soul: Foundational Principles of Faith, is now available! Check it out at https://www.cliffordyoungjr.com/book

Hello all! Happy Saturday! Check out my podcast entitled First Commandment - Question & Answer on my website at https://www.cliffordyoungjr.com//first-commandment-questio Blessings and Love!

Merry Christmas! Please enjoy Pastor Cliff's Christmas Eve message along with music from Living Sacrifice. www.NewHopeLomita.com/live

Family Devotion for the week of December 20 Advent Week #4 Luke 2:13-15 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased." When the angels had returned to heaven the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."... On this fourth Sunday of Advent, the fourth candle represents peace and is called the "Angel’s Candle." The angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace--He came to bring people close to God and to each other again. Imagine that day in heaven when God told the angels that His son was going to earth to be the Savior for all people. What a celebration! And for those who were allowed to be part of the announcement to the shepherds, the angels who filled the sky with light, they would participate in an unforgettable experience. They knew the significance of the baby Jesus coming to the world. I think if I were an angel I'd be flying in loops, singing at the top of my lungs with the biggest smile on my face you've ever seen! Oh Happy Day When Jesus Was Born! I would say that collectively we have not had a peaceful year. Finding peace in 2020 may have been a challenge for you. In John 16:33 Jesus said "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." This verse follows the explanation Jesus was trying to give the disciples about the future. If you will spend some time reading John 16 I think it will bring you great peace. Jesus is clear with the disciples and much of what He told them applies to our experiences today. In vs. 2 Jesus says "For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God." Things will turn upside down - right is wrong and wrong is right. In the beginning God knew that these things would happen. Jesus also tells us about the Advocate whom He sent to us, the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. We can cling to Him when our souls are restless in order to find peace. PRAYER FOR TODAY This Christmas, Lord, come to the manger of my heart Fill me with Your presence from the very start. As I prepare for the holidays and gifts to be given, Remind me of the gift You gave when You sent Your Son from Heaven. Restore to me the wonder that came with Jesus' birth, when He left the riches of Heaven and wrapped Himself in rags of earth. Immanuel, God with us, Your presence came that night. And angels announced, "Into your darkness, God brings His Light." (prayer written by Renee Swope, Proverbs 31 Ministries) Merry Christmas!

Family Devotion for the week of December 13 Advent Week #3 Luke 2:10-11 but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!" ... The third candle symbolizes joy and is called the "Shepherd’s Candle." To the shepherd’s great joy, the angels announced that Jesus came for humble, unimportant people like them, too. The lowly shepherds who spent their lives with sheep and received very little respect from the townspeople, were chosen by God to hear directly from the angels about the Messiah's birth. Our creator is not a God for an exclusive few. He is a God for all of us, from every walk of life, in all of our circumstances. Matthew 2:10-11 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. PRAYER FOR TODAY Lord, the good news of Jesus' birth brings such joy to those of us who know you! This year we pray you will reach those who are lost and searching with the message of hope that we have through the Messiah. God, allow your message of peace to bring comfort and peace to our anxious world. As we all go about the holiday season, let the message of great joy permeate through all of the noise and into our hearts.

Family Devotion for the week of December 6 Advent Week #2 Isaiah 40:3-5 Listen! It's the voice of someone shouting, "Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!"...Continue reading

Family Devotion for the week of November 29 Advent Season Begins Isaiah 9:6 -7a For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end.... The four Sundays of Advent, beginning today, each have a specific theme or focus. The purpose of each theme is to spend time reflecting on the true meaning of the season - the life of Jesus Christ. The goal should be to come before God with a sincere heart and to worship Jesus Christ. Many families and churches celebrate the Advent with a wreath of 4 candles plus a large center candle. Each Sunday a candle is lit and finally, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the center candle is lit as well. Each candle represents a different theme. The first candle symbolizes hope and is called the "Prophet’s Candle." The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival. Isaiah 7:14 "...Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us') Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. The Prophecy of Simeon is found in Luke 2:25-35. Read this short story about how the Lord revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Simeon met baby Jesus when Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple A PRAYER FOR TODAY Heavenly Father, when we’re seated with Christ during Advent, we realize that you have sovereignly placed us right where we are for a reason this holiday season, and we can trust that you know what you’re doing. When we’re seated with Christ, we can reiterate to our heart that at all times, your peace, power, hope, and love are available to us in endless supply. As we take our seat with Jesus, we pray our holiday tables shimmer with your glory and that any joy and hope we’ve lost returns. May we overflow with spiritual gifts as we sit with you, Jesus. May we experience joy and peace during this Christmas season. Next week I'll share with you about the second candle. We live stream our services every Sunday at 9:30am. Visit www.newhopelomita.com and click on LIVE STREAMING at the top of the page.