Merry Christmas

Good morning 34/39 and friends,

We wish you a very

Merry Christmas!

We pray that you will truly have peace, comfort, and joy on this day as you remember the birth of Christ. He came to carry our loads, relieve our burdens, and prevent us from suffering in eternity. No matter what is going on in our lives, we can be grateful for JESUS, the son of God. The sun is shining so brightly in Baltimore this morning. Let your acceptance and remembrance of the SON shine in your heart today.

Passing of 34/39 Member, Denise Bates

Our 34/39 member Sis. Denise Bates went home to be with the Lord on Friday. Sis. Bates is the daughter of Sis. Mae Edwards. The viewing will be today, Wednesday,December 17, 2008 between the hours of 4 and 8 p.m. The service will be tomorrow, Thursday, December 18, 2008 wake 10:30 a.m. worship to follow.

Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements for mother of 34/39 member Sharon Moore

Information for Sis. Sharon Moore's Mom's services:

Viewing:
Thursday, December 18th from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
@ Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Home
4905 York Road
Baltimore, Md. 21212


Wake, Funeral and Repast:
Friday, December 19th
@ St. James Free Baptist Church
3916 Old York Road
Baltimore, Md 21212
From 6:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. and funeral service and repass to follow

Burial Saturday morning @ Woodlawn

Please keep the family in prayer.

Food sales and deals at the local Ravenwood Giant

Don't forget sales and deals at the local Giant on Loch Raven and Taylor Avenues (Ravenwood.) Our 34/39 have noted that this is one of their grocers of choice. Here is the link for the weekly circular:

http://giantfood.shoplocal.com/index.aspx?pagename=shopmain&pagenumber=1&fsid=f02de5e4-e3ad-4e58-a94f-22e4f9f45589&storeid=1038630&circularid=14421

Mount Pleasant's College Students

Mount Pleasant's college students and mentors are invited to join the MP COLLEGE CONNECTIONS group on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28974774299

MP College Connections is a network of full-time and part-time college and continuing education students (approximate ages: 18-30) who live and/or participate in the community served by the Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries in the city of Baltimore. College Connections is designed to provide peer support, professional development, and academic mentoring to undergraduate and graduate students seeing any certificate or degree (Associates through Ph.D.) in any field of study. College Connections will provide mentoring from a Biblical perspective and seeks to encourage and empower students to excel in their work, progress in their programs, and graduate with a plan to use their God-given gifts to serve.

Tree Trimming with Mount Pleasant Family: Tuesday, 12/16

Come on out and trim the tree and see the wonderful children's exhibit of biblical history and the birth of Christ. This Tuesday, 12/16 at 7 p.m. in the Family Life Center of Mount Pleasant.

Semon Notes: Overcoming Depression - 7:45, Dec. 14, 2008

The following highlights are from Bishop Johnson's 7:45 service. All members are encouraged to get the full context from the CDs.
Scripture context: Psalm 102:1-4, Romans 8:25-29, Hebrews 4:14-16

• The spirit of rejection leads to depression. Depression is anger surpressed. It comes from feelings of anger, guilt, hopelessness.
• [Depression] Leads to a place of cessation of activity.
• Depression is a deeper level of emotional turmoil. 1 person in 5 will experience levels of persistent depression. Depression is a major risk factor after heart attack and stroke.
• Depression not only affects you, but it affects those around you.
• Depression can be caused by a variety of factors:

--> Stress. God didn't create our bodies to handle much stress. God didn't give us the spirit of fear, but fear unrecognized can lead to stress.

--> Unconfessed sin. When sin in going on in your life unchecked, the enemy will lead you to a place of depression.

--> Other physical things. You may need to get a good check-up. Some things to check: overactive thyroid, female hormones, diabetes, vitamin B12. The Bible tells us to take care of our temples. These things can create a deficiency, a sadness.

--> Sometimes prescription drugs will cause you to be in a place of sadness and depression (overmedicated) ... may not always be possessed by a demon.

--> Recreational drugs: alcohol, cocaine. Depression comes later ... you keep crashing, it gets worse.

"I always want to have a clear mind so that I can make good decision, make wise choices, to deal with the matter at hand."

Feelings of depression are described in the Bible as: * Fallen countenance * Broken spirit * experiencing despair * being broken hearted * losing heart * becoming faint or weary.

(Be careful of depression right after you're on a great victorious high.)

No one is exempt. No one is completely immune. All are vulnerable. Remember to put on the whole armor of God - it protects you from depression. (Ref. Ephesians 6:10-18)

READ Psalm 143: 1-3.

Depression takes a person's spiritual freedom and power. Remember to pay attention to what has your attention. Remind yourself, "I am a child of God."

Don't let depression get you this year - you already have power - you're already free.

READ Romans 7, Romans 8: 1-2.

The joy of the Lord is my strength. He who the Son sets free is free indeed! All things work together for good ... [for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose!] Remember the good times - remember how He brought you out. Weeping endures for a night ...[but joy comes in the morning.] Meditate, muse on how the Lord made a way out of no way. Think about all of the good things he has done.

To do:

1. PRAY (Get down to where the rubber meets the road, where you mean business with God. He will come to your rescue.)
2. PRAISE (Praise = Thanksgiving - which ushers you into worship. Remember Psalm 103: 1-5 --- "Bless the Lord, Oh my soul!" Tell my soul to get up out of that darkness. Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord.) Remember: Psalm 127, Revelations 3:20.
3. WORSHIP (In God's face; behold the beauty of Him. Worship takes you into a place of supoernatural transfer.)
4. PRAISE Again (Thank Him for what took place in worship.)

Study the life of David: every place you look, he comes out of that despair and praises God. The end of the Psalms - he says "Let everything that has breath [praise the Lord.] (Psalm 150.)

During the holiday season. Don't concern yourself with who's not here, only with who is there. Set your sights on one who will never fail you.

Read Romans 8, Hebrews 4.

ZipZone Sunday Photos from Nov. 30, 2008

Sermon Highlights: Sun. Dec. 7 - The Spirit of Rejection

The following notes are highlights/summary points from the 12/7/08 7:45 and 10:45 services. All members are strongly encouraged to get the CD so that you can hear Bishop Johnson's message in its complete context.

Recognizing and Dealing With the Spirit of Rejection
Scripture context: Isaiah 53:3-6, Hebrews 4:13-16.
(These scriptures will be provided in full text in the comments section of this post.)

• Rejection is one of Satan's favorite tools to use against God's people. He doesn't waste time inflicting us with the spirit of rejection.
• If we allow our emotions to be filled with the spirit of rejection, we limit the favor of God and the power of God in our lives.
• Rejection keeps us away from people, and keeps us away from God.
• When God blesses us, he doesn't bless us an an island. He blesses us to be a blessing.
• Children may be affected as young as in the womb. [Pregnant] women must be protected mentally, emotionally, and physically - her attitude affects both her and the child ... in the womb. Watch what you eat, what you watch, where you go.
• People who have the spirit of rejection look for approval in the wrong places.

Points about looking for the favor of God, the blessings of God in all of the wrong places:

• Approval [desired] from other people. The approval should come from God. Approval and acceptance seekers have a fear of rejection - they live in your opinion of them, rather than who they really are.
• [They would] rather have your love and approval than God's.
• [They are] addicted to approval. Approval addicts believe:

1. If I'm accepted by others, I'll be satisfied.
2. If I'm accepted by others, I'll be blessed.
3. If I'm accepted by others, I'll have their favor, and their favor will give me the favor of God ... then my life will be fulfilled.

• God is not limited by any outside approval. No experience of human approval leads to permanent satisfaction.
• You need to look at the right face and get approval from the right place!

[With the spirit of rejection] You pay a high price.

• [You're] vulnerable to whims and suggested opinion of those around you. (Managers need approval. Leaders want approval but don't need to have it.)
• Others can take advantage of your vulnerability and mistreat you in every way. When folks know that they can control you, they will control you which leads to more rejection. Sometimes THEY will have the spirit or rejection, they want what you have. The arm of flesh will fail you - no matter who they are. Don't make your expectation too high. Make no provision for the flesh (not even yours!) - Phil 3:4. Nobody can take advantage of you unless you let them.

The enemy uses your fear of rejection to isolate you.

Ask yourself, "Why do I do what I do?" People with the spirit of rejection may appear to be shy, timid, may dodge close relationships - translates to "I'm afraid of being rejected." People don't connect because they'd have to open up.

Results of the spirit of rejection:

1. No relationships
2. No blessing and receiving from others
3. No blessing given to others, no opportunity to give to others

More results:

1. Rebellion
2. Anger
3. Bitterness
4. Guilt
5. Escapism
6. Negative criticism
7. Judgemental/critical
8. Distrust
9. Competitiveness
10. Jealousy/envy

Anger unchecked will soon become depression. Depression unchecked --> bitterness. Bitterness unchecked --> inferiority. Inferiority --> escapism.

Jesus gives us good news! Luke 12:32, Matt. 7:11, Galations 3:14

* Isaiah 53:3. Nobody was rejected like HIM. No rejection you have can ever measure up to what our savior went through. (Your Holy father will re-father you.) Jesus had to endure God rejecting him because of our sins. He was rejected by the very creation that he made in their mother's wombs! Isaiah 53:5 - He was wounded for our transgressions -- our weaknesses --- rejection is a weakness. Why carry what he has already carried for you? He was rejected so that we can move out of rejection. He cried, "It's finished!" Just for you. GOOD NEWS!

• We need to get the limits off of God so that favor can flow. He healed me before I was wounded.
• Hebrews 4:13-16. He sees and responds. Don't let it slip. Strengthen your grip on your faith. He feels it with you. He knows exactly how you feel.
• During the holiday season, it doesn't make a difference who leaves, He won't! Talk to yourself, "I've got a high priest!"
• Bruised blood takes care of deep-seeded emotions - releases you from that deep feeling of rejection. (Sorrow = wound. Grief = wound. Rejection = bruise.) Bruised blood hurts for a long time. He became grief for you. He became sorrow for you. The next time you're feeling down in the dumps, feeling like murmuring and complaining, take a look at Calvary.
• I'm blessed whether I feel like it or not.

In '09, everything will be fine!

Highlights: Sunday Nov. 30 Message, 7:45 & 10:45 services

Bishop Johnson's topic: Let Us Enter In And Possess, But Watch Your Step.

Scriptures: Hebrews 3:1-2, 12-14, 4:1-3

Highlights:

• Sometimes it seems easier to stay in a rut than to let God change us.
• Don't drift away and go back to what was in your past life.
• Many of us are living beneath what God has called us to.
• We often live in defeat. Living in defeat is hard work!
• Struggle is work. Struggle in fear ... is work. Struggle in doubt ...is work. Struggle in anxiety ... is work.
• Do we need some "post-conversion" crisis to come to a place of rest?
• Sometimes we need a crisis point to see how good God is.
• Remember Hebrews 3:19 "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."
• When you murmur and complain against the living God, unbelief creeps in.
• We need each other. Be encouraged; God wants you to receive the good news -- the good news is about resting.
• The higher the value, the higher the honor. Value the Word.
• Mix the Word you heard with your faith.
• Faith will counterbalance whatever you're going through, and go to a place of rest.
• The rest of God is not cessation of activity, but it is peace within the work, it is rest within the toil.
• Don't let what's going on take you away from the living God.
• When you have to have it your way, and God can't have His way, you can't have His rest.
• When your heart starts to get hard, your will is no longer stimulated by a desire for God. Your mind sets itself on selfish comfort. your emotions become fixed on easy conveniences. Your emotions become addicted to quick fixes! So watch your step.
• Remember that delayed obedience is still disobedience.
• The Word preached to you should not make you bitter, it should make you better.
• Faith was the pre-requisite for entering into the rest.
• Jesus says, Why should you carry what I've already carried? It is finished. Why should you struggle under a weight that I've already lifted? I will ease, and relieve, and refresh your soul.

Please note that these highlights do not replace the entire message. You are encouraged to get the CD or DVD for the full content.

ZipZone highlights, Bible Study Tuesday, Event Saturday!

We enjoyed seeing you and meeting you during yesterday's Zip Code Sunday! We hope that you enjoyed meeting your neighbors. For those of you who shared your needs, please know that we are praying with you, and we are looking for ways to help to meet your needs.

Special thanks to Bro. Aaron Pitts for taking pictures at 7:45 and Sis. Heretta Stansfield for photos at 10:45. We will post them soon. If anyone else has photos to share of 34/39 members (at church or from your personal collections), please send them to deaconcare3439zipzone@gmail.com and we will post them to our blog!

We look forward to seeing you at the following events this week:

1. Bible Study, this Tuesday, Dec. 2, in the main sanctuary, 7:00 p.m.
We posted the link for Bishop Johnson's Bible Study Workbook below in the "Announcements from Sunday Nov. 9" message, posted Monday, Nov. 10.

2. We will visit the Upward Way Bookstore this coming Saturday, Dec. 6 at 1:00 p.m. to support Bishop Johnson at his book signing! See details below, posted on Sat. Nov. 29.
Book Title: "After You Have Suffered A While."

3. College students (undergrad and graduate students) are invited to a College Connections Fellowship Breakfast on Sunday, Dec. 7, between the 7:45 and 10:45 services in Room 2 (across from the Meditation Garden.) Mount Pleasant's college students are invited to join the MP College Connections group on FACEBOOK.
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/group.php?gid=28974774299

We'll see you this week. God bless you!