Daily Walking, Working, and Winning by God's Word by Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway Sr.

It's Youth Day at Union Baptist Church. The Youth of Union (YOU) will lead worship, pray, and sing.

I'm preaching from the above text. In life, you will need two memorials. One is public, and the other is private.

The private memorials remind you of what God has done for you. The public memorial reminds you of what God has done with you.

Each has its place, and each conveys a story to our children. Tell them what God has done for you and with you.

The biblical depiction of God as the tree of life helps us to better understand the unity of all life. What is discouraging about the political debate going on in America is a sense that the parts are greater than the whole. "Meism" is the order of the day. Lost in the debate and discussion is the "we."

Throughout scripture, God continues to illustrate to us that all life and its abundance derives from Him. We are all connecting in a mutual mosaic that is relational and has commonality.

In some sense, it is foolish to think that you can sustain yourself independent of others. The spiritual balance of the world depends on God and not us.

One should constantly assess the source of your strength. That assessment is more than the recitation of words or lines from scripture. It is coming to know the source that provides you with the resources to prevail in times of despair and deprivation.

Land is a resource. For it to be fruitful, land needs water, which is the source of its strength.

Our bodies, our talents, our intellects, etc are all resources.

We need spiritual water, which is our source. It empowers our bodies. It enhances our talents. It sustains our intellect. Spiritual water is our source.

When you feel thirsty, take a drink of water from a source that never runs dry.

The beauty of God's love and concern is that he is available to you when you find yourself in the dry places of life. When you are wandering, He's presence is the bright oasis in the desert.

Life has those inward moments when all seems lost. That's why God is described as a Shepard, who goes to find those who are lost. In fact, the scripture records that he is not satisfied, even if 99 are in the fold, until he finds the one that is lost. In those lonely moments, He will comfort you. In your darkest hour, He will be the light unto your path.

That's why you should rejoice whether you are on one of life's pikes or in one of life's valleys.

That blessedness of God is like this palm tree in the midst of life's desert.

I use to hear the term "backslider" in my youth. As I grew older I became more aware of what it meant. In essence, the behavior one demonstrates on Sunday is significantly different on Monday. I wonder why that is the case in people.

Can one's surroundings change their personality and affect their moral integrity?

It is important in your relationship with God to remain steadfast in your love for Him and your life with Him. Your condition should not change your disposition.

Just like there is nothing that will separate you from the love of God.

There should be nothing that separates you from steadfast love to live for him.

One of the first prayers we learn is known as the "Lord's Prayer." It is better stated as the model prayer. For through that prayer we learn how to model our prayers to God.

One thing is very clear. We need to be in constant communications with God. The purest form of communication is the sincerity of heart to heart, spirit to spirit, and soul to soul conversation - prayer.

Deep and abiding meditation that continues the relationship through the triumphs, and the tribulations of life is the essence of prayer.

Everything is in motion. The ebb and flow of life originate and terminate from and in the same source. Everything comes from God and everything returns to God.

It is good to know that God is the receiver of all things. He is also the receiver of all things. What the rivers bring, He returns in the form of clouds and rain.

People break this universal principle by taking and never giving.

To give to others is the sowing of seed unto yourself.

We live in very challenging times. Contradiction is in the air. The leaders of the world are exercising an earthly power of a very dangerous nature. They are determining who lives and who dies. The fleeting nature of life's journey is being played across the television and internet screens of the world. You can shake a hand one day and pronounce that person's death another. All of this is done for nationalism and world power. We must be careful that we are not building a bigger barn for ourselves and neglecting the eternal truth of God.

I'm not pointing the finger at any one world leader.

I'm pointing my finger towards God's word. If we spent more time building up the Kingdom of God, I believe we would find peace in the valley. The lion would lie down with the sheep. Our spears would be turned into pruning hooks. We would neither engage nor study war anymore.

As the song would say, "We need to give peace a chance."

"We know all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

In life while everything may not be good, everything does work together for the good.

Understanding that God is with you, for you, and in you is a comforting thought when confronted with issues that impact every life. Is there trouble, yes! Does one have doubts, yes! Should you become perplexed, no!

God has provided us a way of escape from all the anxieties of life. You simply have to trust in Him.

Trusting in God and knowing that all things work for the good, has revolutionized my thinking and liberated by actions. It is His wonderful mercy and power that under-grids your daily life. His love continues to provide and protect.

Jesus says, "Don't be afraid, it is I; don't be afraid."

That is all I needed to hear. I'm okay! Good Morning to a New Day, I'm ready to go!!!

There are a richness and fullness of abounding grace in the love of God. He is passionate about us. His unyielding love is always willing to embrace us. Why do you hold back? Why do you resist total commitment to God, who is totally committed to you?

His love invites you. His promises secure you, and His precious blood saves you, why hold back? Don't let sin or your fears hinder you from coming to Him? God's invitation to you is always, right now!

Do not hold back from having a close and sweet communion with Him.

We use to sing a song, "If it's love that you are running from, there is no hiding place." You can't hide from God, don't hold back, and run to Him.

The wonderful knowledge of God creates the need in each of us to continue to grow in grace. Consistent study of God's word leads to growth in knowing Him and His ways.

Why settle for an elementary education? Why not acquire a terminal degree in knowing God? Shouldn't you try Him and be tested by Him?

The Psalmist makes the statement, "such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high. I cannot attain it."

Even if you cannot attain it, you can continue to grow. Evolve beyond your nursery rhyme prayers and develop a deep and abiding conversation with God that evidence a prayer life.

Attend Bible Study and ask the probing questions that lead to personal growth.

Listen to the sermons preached by your Minister and take notes that cause you to investigate and examine biblical readings.

Never cease growing in the knowledge of God. Always seek to grow in Him.

This would be a sad world without the lyrical sounds of songs. Songs communicate to the spirit and the soul. Songs that are memorable are tied to experiences that were meaningful. Our minds connect songs to events. Those events comprise the moments of our lives. For some, there are songs that bring back memories that one wants to forget. For others, there are songs that warm the heart.

Ultimately, there are songs that only come for the minds of God. These songs speak to the inner recesses of ones' being. These are the songs that carry you through life's storms. These are the songs that provide you with assurance. These are the songs that give you courage in the midst of seeming defeat. These are the songs that rock you to sleep. Everyone should have a favorite song. A song most precious is one that carries you into the blossom of an Almighty God.

"Great is Thy Faithfulness, morning by morning, new mercies I see. All that I have, Thy hand has provided. Great is Thy Faithfulness to me."

This text is overlooked in the scriptures, but it’s an important text. It speaks to the condemnation of one who is not redeemed by the loving grace of a sacrificial lamb. I think you understand it now.

We are the donkey, and we need the sacrifice of a loving Jesus to redeem us from our sin.

Without seeking redemption, it would be just as well that our necks of broken, because we would be lost.

Thank God, we are found and redeemed by the precious sacrifice of God's son, Jesus Christ.

When one surveys the selfishness, greed, and corruption of this world, it should be pristine clear that approach is destroying humanity. A pattern life, or a way of life, that is not uplifting, ethical, and filled with compassion, denies opportunity and stunts growth in other people. Investments that pollute the environment and produce unholy alliances destroys the beauty God intended for the world. Endless war and military action prevent the blessings of peace. Clearly we cannot conform to the pattern of this world. We need our minds to be renewed. The constant haggling within the political system whose intend is to tear down versus build up, damages the minds of people and creates conflict and bias.

America and the worlds systems are on a path of destruction. People of faith must not conform to the patterns of the world, but work diligently to transform the world into the Beloved Community God intended.

This question reveals that basis of your philosophical and theological foundation. It helps on identify that foundation of their physical and spiritual journey. It reveals what they hold as the pivotal factor in their life. On whom do you depend?

In our independent and self-determination world, some may answer, "I depend on myself, Others are too unstable." Still others may say, I depend on my vocation and education. Some may say, I depend on my family and friends. What do you say?

On whom do you depend? I like the words of Joshua, "as for me and my house we are going to serve the Lord."

I trust in the Lord and depend upon His word.

I guess it must be because I am older now. As I reflect upon my journey, God's love, grace and mercy have been the constant. He has more than earned my trust. He is my trust.

A religious philosopher once said, "Being absolutely dependent on the absolute." Yes, that's what I am, totally dependent on God. What about you?

In an era where the commercialization of water has generated billions of dollars for its manufacturers; it is difficult to distinguish which one is best for you. Most people drink whatever is available on a particular day. One thing for certain, the body needs water daily. There is no substitute for water.

In a physical sense, there is no substitute for water, what about our spiritual being? I would argue that we spiritually need water to sustain our spiritual journey. There is on substitute for water.

The water that comes from the spirit of the Living God is refreshing and sustaining. Jesus steps into our life's story and offers us a drink from Him that will not only quench our thirst, but cause to never thirst anymore. A drink from His fountain causes you to have comfort in knowing that it is well with your soul. A drink from His fountain drives away loneliness and introduces you to "a friend who sticks closer than a brother." A drink from His fountain eliminates the instability in your life and causes you to stand on the "Rock of Ages."

God has only one brand of water. It is the Living Water that will quench your thirst forever.

The blessing in healthy eating is the restoration of your strength. The purpose of strength is to do the work that is assigned to you. As you awake this morning it is important that you get a good start to your day by eating a healthy breakfast. Skipping breakfast places a strain on your body to provide the fuel you need to make it until your next meal. The breakfast doesn't have to be hearty, just healthy.

Get a good start with exercise, a healthy meal, and positive thoughts.

We use to sing a song, "Angels watching over me." In a spiritual sense angels are the unseen attendants of God. They have a deep and abiding interest in God's children. When one who is lost is found, they rejoice. When danger is all around us, they create a band around the danger to prevent it from entering our space.

They are the watchers and protectors of all that belong to God.

I welcome the angels of the Lord because they watch over us by night and by day.

"Angels watching over me!"

You may have been one of those who went to sleep last night with a heavy heart. In your sleep, the nature of your relationship with your significant other, the care of your children, the safety of your aging parent, or the state of your business affairs were thoughts on your mind that pulled on the strings of your heart.

You may have found yourself tossing and turning. You may have found the sleep so deep that all you did was enter into a dream world of endless twists and turns.

It is possible to be asleep and awake at the same time when the object of your love is on your mind.

Take hope in knowing that it is morning and love is still on your mind and in your heart!