Inspirations & Photography

Due to our nations economy I have recently come across posts on Facebook  regarding the care of others especially in our own country:  Some have come across quite adamant especially when they hear of people like myself  a pastor, evangelist and missionary and our call to bring aid and help families in need specifically in other nations. What many of them do not know is that as pastors  we have over the years organized outreaches with our church in efforts to help many families and individuals in need right here in our own community. The Lord has led us to provide vehicles and housing for single mothers and their families along with reaching out to the poor and needy in our surrounding communities by providing groceries and other necessary needs. One reason for writing this post is to communicate one very important point, and that is  the Lord has not put limits or stipulations on our acts of love and compassion: In fact when there is a need (here in America and other nations)  we are instructed by God to meet those needs.

In Mathew 25 Jesus instructs his followers (Christians) to feed, clothe, give drink and house those who are in need.  He does not give us limits as to who and where…he simply says “If you’ve done it to the least of these my brethren, you’ve done it to me.” 1John 3:16-19 says this, “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If  someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need, but shows no compassion–how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth so we will be confident when we stand before God.”

With the state of our economy the needs of individuals and families are on the rise, the GOOD NEWS is as God’s people we can restore our nation by doing our part. The scriptures say that it is the responsibility of God’s people to bring about God’s blessings on our nation and in the earth.  According to God’s word the only way we will see these blessings restored upon our nation  is for the people of God including his leaders to get back to following his instructions specifically in one very important area and that is: To bring the first 10% to God’s storehouse. Now this is where the leaders come in to do their part. God is very specific as to “how”  this 10% is to be used. In Malachi 3 there is a responsibility not only on the people but also on the ministers, let’s take a close look here starting in verse 10 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple.” Let’s stop here for a moment…in verse 5 the Lord is speaking of how the widows, orphans and strangers have been neglected…so when he says in verse 10 “…that there will be enough food in my house…” he is saying that the food or resources is to be used to not only take care of the priest (Gods ministers) BUT for the priests to ALSO make sure that the widows, the orphans and the strangers are cared for as well (those in need). Then the Lord goes on to say, “IF you do (this) says the Lord, I will open the windows of heaven for you, I will pour out a blessing (I will RESTORE your nation!) so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!” Then the Lord says, “TRY IT! Put me to the test!” Your crops will be abundant…and nothing will destroy them…for I will guard them…v12 Then ALL nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies”

This my friend is NOT a nation in debt!! This is a nation that is BLESSED BY GOD! And it only comes when the people of God and his ministers do the right thing with the resources. Abraham and his nation were blessed by God because they obeyed the Lord in this area as well, “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised” Genesis 18:17-19. Abraham obeyed the Lord and gave Melchizedek a “tenth” of all he had… and because of his faithfulness to God, he and his nation were blessed just as the Lord promised!

If you would like to learn more…listen to “Restoring Our Nation” by Pastor Rick Tidwell…you can also access these messages free on iTunes.

Have you ever met someone that left a lasting imprint on your life? I have met many people in my lifetime but I’ve never encountered someone so full of love and compassion as my best Friend. He has never left my side. He’s been with me through the happiest and even the most trying times of my life and because of his amazing love, has helped me through them all!  His name is Jesus.

It was over 30 years ago and although I could not see him in this natural realm he showed himself so real that it was almost as if I could.
As time went on I began reading about His life and character.  I read in the scriptures how he interacted with people during his lifetime on this earth.  Real life stories of how he treated others. One of my favorites is Jesus encounter with the woman who was caught in adultery and how unconditional his love was toward this young woman. He was on his way back from the Mount of Olives and a crowd gathered and he sat down to teach them, “As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of a crowd. “Teacher” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:1-11 NLT.

This is the Jesus I met one evening 30 years ago. His love and grace left such an imprint on my life that I have been spending each and every waking moment with him ever since, learning from him and doing my best to follow his example. Giving and showing the same love and mercy that was extended to me many years ago. Loving my enemies as he did when he said to God while hanging on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” after they beat him and hung him on the cross to die.  Luke 23:34 KJ

If you have not met him yet, I encourage you to  open up your heart and mind. In fact he is standing at the door of your heart  right now, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20 NLT.  When you make what I believe to be the most important decisions of your life,  you will not only meet  the Savior of the World, the Prince of Peace, you’ll meet the only Friend that will forever stay by your side. Your new relationship with Jesus will allow you to  get to know him and experience his amazing love on a daily basis. You will also be able to have one on one conversations with him (this is a form of prayer, just talking to the Lord) and he promises that he will “hear” and “answer” you.  He will then begin to show you His purpose for your life…all the good that He has planned for you.  All you have to do is talk to him.  Tell Jesus that you believe in him, that you believe that he is the Son of the living God, and that you believe that he died and that God raised him from the dead. Ask him to forgive you of all your mistakes and ask him to help you love others and forgive them as he forgives you. My personal prayer many years ago went something like this: “Jesus, I believe in you. I believe that you died for me and that God raised you from the dead. I believe that you love me and forgive me of all my mistakes. I believe you have a purpose for me, I want to follow you, I want everything you have planned for my life. I receive your love right now, be my Lord and Savior, thank you Jesus.”  Now that you’ve made this decision find a church that teaches that Jesus is the Son of God and that teaches that believing in Jesus is the only way to heaven.  A church that also teaches his commandment to “Love your neighbor” by helping others as He taught in the Gospel of John chapter 15, Mathew 25 along with  James chapter 2, and 1John 3.

May the Lord Bless you, protect you and give you His Peace.
Pastor Nina Tidwell

Visit our website at poncechurch.com or Facebook

Amid the rubbish stands one of the most beautiful sites anyone will ever see: Springtime Sakura, better known as “cherry blossom” trees.  While preparing for my trip to Japan, I look at the hard work our friends in Otsuchi are doing by helping the people that have been devastated by the tsunami that swept through their town, taking lives and tearing down many of the structures that once stood strong.  But with all of the pain and suffering, there is something more powerful than death and destruction: Life!

Jesus says in the ancient scriptures “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come, that you might have Life and Life more abundantly” John 10:10.  You may say, “Where is this Life? How can Life be present when there is so much sorrow? ” When God raised Jesus from the dead he sent His Spirit to live inside every person who chooses to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. This Spirit demonstrates the love of the Father (God) when we love those around us.  As the people of God his Love empowers us to help a neighbor living just down the street or thousands of miles away bringing comfort to the hurting.  This kind of Love is expressed with more than words, it is accompanied with action,  “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we must also give up our lives for our brothers and our sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but show no compassion–how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth.” 1John 3:16-18

Just like the Sakura trees showing off their display of life and beauty…the people of God are active all over the world  showing this  “Life”  through acts of love toward mankind.  “Let your lite  so shine that mankind will see your good deeds (acts of Love) and Glorify your Father which is in Heaven” Jesus words found in Mathew 5:16

Thank you for your prayers as I continue preparations for my upcoming trip to Japan. Below is Pastor Guna and Jey and members of their congregation returning from their first trip into Otsuchi.  They have recently returned with another team and are working to help clear anything damaged by the tsunami and cleaning the homes so the families (who are in shelters) can return to their homes. God bless them as they show the people of Otsuchi God’s love through their acts of kindness.

For more information regarding our call to Japan, read my blog titled, “Japan: Mission of Love” or go to our website at PonceChurch.com