Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Hebrews 13:12, Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, [d]giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Two of the most liberating words in our language are: “Thank You!”

Just as John taught that love is shown in deeds more than words, even so “Thank You” is always connected to what we offer or give.

This is why we celebrate birthdays with cards and gifts, because we wish to say “Thank you” for someone’s life. That’s why we celebrate Christmas with gift giving and honoring our Savior. It’s all about saying “Thank You” to the Lord for the gift of life and new life in Christ.

THANK YOU helps keep our lives clear of anxiety, sin, darkness, deception.

Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather [do do something better] giving of thanks.

Philippians 4:6, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

THANK YOU opens doors, releases gifts, empowers worship, and influences better decisions, and opens your heart to others.

Eph. 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. [Giving Thanks] 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

THANK YOU puts us in a position to allow God to transform every weakness into a strength

2 Cor. 12:9, And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

THANK YOU draws us closer to God and to others.

Psalm 35:18, I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.

In Psalm 107 "Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy." (NIV)

THANK YOU closes the circle of breakthrough in our lives. Lesson from the Ten Lepers: Ten were cleansed, but one was MADE WHOLE by saying "Thank You!"

Luke 17:11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Listen to the teaching on the Firm Foundation podcast:

On iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/firm-foundation-with-bryan-hudson/id81271386?mt=2

On Podbean: https://bryanhudson.podbean.com/e/two-liberating-words-thank-you/

Some stress in life is normal, but excessive stress is dangerous. Jesus offered this very important invitation and promise: Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

What is stress? It is a state of mental or emotional strain, pressure, or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. Allowing high levels of stress will adversely affect you. It is known that stress and worry cause harmful physical effects. All the more reason to accept Jesus’ offer to lift the burden of negative stress from our lives.

This teaching will help you manage stress and remind you that "You Are Too Blessed To Be Stressed!"

James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Good change, even in the midst of bad circumstances, comes from paying attention to the "good" and "perfect" gifts that come from "above," from God. The term "Father of lights" helps you think about God as the most stable and positive relationship in your life. We live in a world full of shifting standards and profound uncertainly. However, we also live through the power of God in Whom there is no "variation" or "shadow of turning." The New Living Translation reads, "...He never changes or casts a shifting shadow."

Good change comes when you pay attention to what God is doing inside of you more than what is happening around you.

Philemon 1:6, That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Listen to the entire teaching from Sunday, November 25, "How Good Change Happens in Your Life." and be inspired!

On Podbean: https://bryanhudson.podbean.com/e/how-good-change-happens-in-your-life/

On iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/firm-foundation-with-bryan-hudson/id81271386?mt=2

The march towards dedication of the new Living Faith Church facility

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

Allow me to share this final report from our November 2018 mission to Kenya. It was a powerful, humbling, and very fruitful experience! Christ was exalted and lives were changed. Thanks to our host Bishop Daniel & Jane Muiruri and Mary Bahati for opening the doors of their hearts and ministries to us. It was a joy and blessing to travel and work with Dr. Kenneth E. Sullivan Sr. and Pastor Kenneth Sullivan Jr. Pastor Sullivan's friend, Tony Duchene also joined us.

I can summarize our mission with two words: "exhilarating" and "exhausting!" Over the short time of two weeks, we boarded 12 flights covering 17,500+ miles, drove 300+ miles, some of which over very rough roads, walked 8+ miles (including airports), and I got sick (only one day thank God!) with food poisoning/diarrhea. However, all of this was a small burden to bear to get into position to help and bless hundreds of people! Jesus was glorified and people were drawn to Him!

As the old saying goes, a picture is worth 1000 words, so I'll leave most of the commentary to the images and video clips (Flickr photo album here).

The most unusual part of the trip was our visit to a village called

Kakuma. The people there have been called "the forgotten people" because of the remote location where they live. However, since the 1980's Bishop Daniel Muiruri, our host, has worked into Kakuma in the Turkana region of Kenya, planting churches, raising up schools, and meeting the needs of people.

Going forward, we look forward to doing the following:

• New Direction Church plans to erect buildings, provide food, and dig wells, for many of the churches.

• Dr. Sullivan will provide a one-year ministry training program to 29 pastors/ministers who have signed up. I will contribute a unit to that curriculum.

• New Covenant Church will continue to support the GFE orphanage along with Mary Bahati and Dan Just who oversee the work. During this visit, I learned that many children who have grown up there have gone on to college and entered fruitful careers! I met such a young man.

• New Covenant Church will donate a 65" HDTV and stand to Bishop Daniel Muiruri and the Living Faith Church for displaying video lectures for the Bible school and other media content for the ministry. We will also contribute towards food for people in the Turkana region and provide generators for some of the church buildings.

Over the years, I have heard it said, "We have to help people at home before we can help people overseas." This is a false dichotomy. We can do both at the same time! The Bible says (emphasis added) "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, AND in all Judea AND Samaria, AND to the ends of the earth." We are directed think and act on the basis of "AND" not "OR."

I encourage you to plant a seed today towards the help that New Covenant Church will provide. Follow this link to make your donation (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Thank you and God Bless!
"Bwana Asifiwe!" (Praise the Lord!)
Pastor Bryan Hudson

1 Thessalonians 5:17-19, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.

Some years ago there was a series of television pubic service messages about education. One of tag lines was, “Reading is Fundamental.” This is a very concise and accurate statement. If a person cannot read, he cannot function effectively in life or experience the best this world has to offer.

As believers, we live by many foundational truths from the Word of God. One of the most important is: “Giving thanks to God daily is fundamental.”

Giving thanks to God is one of best things we do because it is inclusive of worship, prayer, faith, holiness, giving and sacrifice.

Five Life-Changing Benefits of Giving Thanks:

#1 “Giving thanks to God daily is fundamental:” It’s one of the things that we do that makes other things possible.

Psalm 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Heb. 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

#2 Giving thanks helps keep our lives clear of anxiety, sin, darkness, deception.

Romans 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,

Philippians 4:6, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

#3 Giving Thanks is a container that allows us to hold blessings, benefits and responsibilities

Eph. 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

#4 Giving Thanks puts us in a position to allow God to transform every weakness into a strength through Christ.

2 Cor. 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

#5 Thanksgiving draws us closer to God and to others for help and healing

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Psalm 35:18, I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.