Victorious Life Christian Center - Flagstaff

What does it mean to live a faith filled life? Very simply, faith is believing; believing is accepting, accepting is receiving and receiving is what we will do when we have Faith in God. Faith, simply put is acting upon our belief in God. Accepting God's word (literally… taking God at His word), which enables us to receive God's promises. Many have religion, but no faith, they have a creed, but no belief; sadly, they do not really and actively trust God. Why? Because it doesn't make sense to believe (believe means to 'act upon') some-thing you don't understand. The thing we must understand is 'Faith makes things possible; it does not make them easy'. Faith, the hardest thing to comprehend, but the only thing that God accepts. God's promises are not made to those of strong faith, but to those of true faith. Walking by faith means being prepared to trust where we are not permitted to see.

In a very unsocial world, friendship has become more of a commodity based on the number of 'friends' you have on a site like Facebook. But the reality in friendship is found is a simple statement; 'being a friend, is key to having a friend' and, 'being a friend' is one of the most difficult aspects of any friendship. Friendship includes volatility! Which is why the hardest work a person will ever do in a friendship, is to keep that friendship in repair and continually build new friendships. Some would, why is keeping a friendship such a difficulty? In a simple sense, because life happens! As a Christian what exacerbates the situation is our enemy the devil is always working against us! Join us this Sunday as we speak on the subject of making a friend, having and friend and keeping a friend.

In just 335 days, what was once new will be old. What was, will no longer be and what can be soon will be. Though once new, this year, in all of its newness will soon be last year. Our lives are much like this year, and every year. When we see our lives fresh and new, they’ll always remain as such. It is the same with our faith. When we stop practicing our faith anew, our faith loses its freshness and fragrance. The light dims and the flavor dilutes. We begin to look backward, quit looking forward. This happens when all we do is talk about what was, or what used to be with more excitement than what is coming. God is a God of the New… and He always wants us to look toward Jesus and look forward to His return. That, indeed, is the final word of scripture! This is the one constant that will always keep our faith from becoming old, looking forward to Christ! Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true

Change is something everyone wants, but most are not willing to make happen. We all want things to just change. Yet the question remains, what are we willing to do to bring about change. I know this will sound a little different, but follow it to its logical conclusion: 'the one thing I do know about change is this; if you don’t help the change, you will help the change. If you don’t change, you will change; if something doesn’t change, something will change'. Change happens whether we want it too or not, we just have to choose whether we will initiate or simply officiate the change, but be part of it we will. John F. Kennedy in his inaugural speech, January 20, 1961, said the words... All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration, not even, perhaps, in our lifetime on this planet but, let us begin. Jesus is coming back to receive mankind to himself and in the world that we live, inundated with change

As a pastor, equipping the saints to be able to live a victorious, productive Christian life is my great desire. Over the next few weeks, we will look at one of the most needed, but least understood passages of the Bible, the passage that outlines, and defines the ‘Armor of God’. Many have used and quoted this passage of scripture, but very few have taken the time to study whereas to understand how to apply ‘The Armor of God’ to the life of a Christian. The ‘Armor’ doesn’t just ‘show up’ or by ‘osmosis’ just begin to work. We will strive to learn to grow ‘stronger in the Lord and the power of His might’ by studying the truths found in God’s word surrounding the ‘Armor’ He has given to all who ask. Join us at Victorious Life Christian Center, every Wednesday @ 6:30pm as learn how to ‘Dress for Battle.’

As we begin this new year, I wonder if we can look at it as a year of change, adjusting ‘renewal’ not just resolution? Resolve, is key to finishing strong. And just making a resolution will not gender the commitment necessary to make a resolve to leave where you've been to get you where you need to be. You see, to reach out, we must let go. To go up, you can no longer look down. To move on to what could be, means you must shut off what would be. The very popular movie ‘Frozen’ eloquently puts it in the best way, ‘Let It Go!’ In this new year, each of us need to make, not a resolution, but rather a promise to ourselves that instead of fearing what was, we must begin to reach towards what yet can be. Instead of fearing what has yet been unknown, choose to hope in what is known. What is known? What do I know to be true and can securely place my hope in? GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF NEW. He is the beginner and finisher of my faith, hope and life (Heb 12:2; Lam 20:24; John 10:10) and promises to make everything new. Also,

As we will begin our study on the 'Armor of God' next Wednesday Evening, January 3rd at 6:30pm... we will set the foundation for the series this evening by asking the question, 'What Is Truth?' In today's society 'truth' seems to take on many forms thereby disallowing 'truth to be truth'. Truth, by simple definition would be explained as a 'unchangeable, nonadjustable, or non-questionable absolute.' Join us as we begin our series, 'The Armor of God and Why Christians Need To Be Suited Up?

We’ve looked at the ‘Legends of Christmas’ all the while looking at the ‘Realities of Life.’ The underlying truth we’ve found throughout our series is that ‘All Things were Not as They Seem’. In 'Christmas Legends', many did not fully accept, nor understand that God’s only Son coming into the world the way He did, was the way God chose. All expected a Conquering King, not a Suffering Servant. In the ‘Legends of Christmas’ all things were not as they seemed, but this truth was understood; Jesus did not come to solve earthly problems, and do things our way; but to resolve the heavenly problem separating man and God and become ‘The Way!’. He did not come to solve the physical issues of earth, but the spiritual issues of eternity. He did this helping us to see by ‘cutting down’ our plans, he was able to ‘sweeten’ our understanding of ‘His plan’ wrapped in a ‘wreath of victory’ set out and lifted up for all to see the realities of life are seen throughout creation. Join us this Sunday as we conclude our series, 'C

Over the centuries, the wreath has been used symbolically and metaphorically in many cultures as they placed great importance on the December celebration of the Winter Solstice, and the shortest day of the year. For them, this was a time of death and rebirth, a celebration of the end of the ever-shortening days and the anticipation of the coming promise of spring. As part of many celebrations, evergreen wreaths were gathered as a sign of the approaching spring light. The Persians and the Greeks, saw wreaths as a symbol of importance and success and were worn as headbands. Wreaths were worn similarly as crowns of victory even hanging on doorways denoting the victories.

Last week, as we looked at the ‘Legend of the Three Trees’ and I made a statement that posed a question: ‘All things are not as they seem’, so ‘What seems to be the result of all things?’ One reality that ‘we know’, God gave Himself to us when He sent Jesus. There are people who believe the story of the ‘Candy Cane is just a Legend’. Some believe it really happened. No one really knows for sure exactly how the candy cane was invented, but there is one thing for certain... all things are not as they seem; but the picture of God’s love through Jesus’ is the result of the picture seen.

A truth I learned many years ago, and one that has exponentially increased in understanding since I’ve become a Pastor is this, ‘all things are not as they seem.’ What seemed to be apparent, wasn’t and what seemed to be hidden was clearly in view yet unseen at the time.

One of the greatest tragedies of our time is that people who’ve made mistakes are now so afraid of failing again that they soon give up. Whether it’s a career change or a failed marriage. Our world is strewn with the wreckage of unexecuted plans, half-finished resolutions, and unrealized dreams. Maybe this is you. You’ve tried and tried; yet you feel you can’t try again. What will it take? Have you ever, or do you feel like giving up? One realty that I have learned it that a life outside of or without Christ will make you feel that way. Many times, people feel they’ve run the gauntlet. That all there is left to do is to go with the flow. I have found many well-meaning Christians sadly joining the mentality of a sect of people called fatalist. Fatalists believe in fate… in other words; they’ve got no choice over life, it’s all set. God has set different parameters in order to all those who would desire. Yet to gain it, means to lose something else. This is what I call God’s Math; The Way To Win, Is To Lose! Jo

There is an old adage out there that simply says, ‘All Gave Some, But Some Gave All!’ Another, that is greatly similar, ‘American is the land of the free, because of the brave!’ The past is an interesting part of the present. Yesterday is something that we can either run from or something that we can learn from. If you don’t learn from history, (the past), it tends to repeat itself and we will fall into the same traps as we did before. Our dear young (not old) country is doing the same thing. So many, have given so much, for so long to keep this country safe and strong. They did this for one reason, to keep this nation free. Freedom! Yet many today fail to remember or even realize, the whole reason America was settled in the first place was to be under the one who could truly keep this great nation free, God! To remain free we must remain, ‘One Nation Under God’ if not we will be ‘one nation gone under!’ Join us this Sunday as we recognize Veteran’s Day and all those who gave some, and remember some of those

… AND WE KNOW THAT GOD CAUSES EVERYTHING TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE FOR THEM. FOR GOD KNEW HIS PEOPLE IN ADVANCE, AND HE CHOSE THEM TO BECOME LIKE HIS SON, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him.