Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Deuteronomy 5:16 ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.

Listen to the Teaching From Sunday, November 19 ”Healing of the Soul,” Part 4: ”Giving Thanks is Good for Your Soul!” DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES

Healing of the Soul Part 4: "How to Maintain Peace in Your Soul" By Bryan Hudson, D.Min. DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES WATCH ON YOUTUBE 1 Thessalonians 5:18, In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Giving thanks opens you spirit, soul, and body to receive STRENGTH Psalm 29:11, The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. God’s “strength” is not only spiritual but material and physical. Hebrew word: עֹז, ʿōz (Pronounced “oze”) Psalm 29:11, The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. Giving thanks and Having Gratitude has ACTUAL, PHYSICAL benefits! Documented in research studies with people: National Institutes on Health University of California at Berkeley https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/pdfs/GratitudePDFs/6Emmons-BlessingsBurdens.pdf https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12585811/

Listen to the Teaching From Sunday, November 12 "Healing of the Soul" Part 3, "How to Maintain Peace in Your Soul" DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES

Healing of the Soul Part 3: "How to Maintain Peace in Your Soul" By Bryan Hudson, D.Min. DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES

Watch or Listen to the Message "Healing of the Soul" Part 2, "Self-Awareness: A Key to a Better Self"

KEYNOTE SLIDES Proverbs 4:23 (NIV), Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. What is Self-Awareness? What is Self-Awareness?

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES Proverbs 4:23 (NIV), Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. God’s Design For You Genesis 1:26, Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. Unite Your Heart – Become Undivided Psalm 86:10, For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. 11] Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. 12] I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore. Reflection Questions

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. The most healthy thing you can do for your spirit, soul, and body is to know who you are. This is called "Imago Dei," which is Latin for "Image of God." You were made in God's image and likeness. This means you don't look like the product of evolution, you don't look like your mistakes. You look like a divine, intentional, and purpose filled creation of Almighty God. The only created things or beings made in His image are people. Being made in God's IMAGE speaks to His essence as persons who have the ability to commune with God and be aware of His presence. LIKENESS speaks how we "look like" God through our ability to do the things He wants us to do. The next time you feel bad about yourself, or someone attempts to disrespect you or make you feel bad, remind yourself that you are a child of the Creator, made in His image, likeness, and full of power to take necessary action. We are often aware that we are living below the fullness of that image and likeness. We see tragic examples of people in this world bringing misery to others. This is where Jesus makes the difference. Through His life and sacrifice, He granted to humans through the "New Birth" new capabilities that were lost though sin and defeat. Embrace your true image and likeness! REFLECTION QUESTION: Who are you? ACTION ITEMS BASED ON TODAY'S LESSON:

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES Romans 8:29, For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Philippians 2:15, That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Not shining is not an option for us. Romans 8:29, For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. You are predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ

Watch or Listen to the Message by Patricia A. Hudson "My Journey, My Race" Psalms 136:1-9 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever. 4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. 5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever. 6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters. His faithful love endures forever. 7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights— His faithful love endures forever. 8 the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever. 9 and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever.

My Journey, My Race - by Patricia A. Hudson Message delivered at New Covenant Church, Sunday September 24, 2023

Listen to the Message Servant - Leaders: Serving God's Purpose DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES Acts 20:18, And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20:27, For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. ESSENTIALS OF A WINNING TEAM

Listen to the Message The God Kind of Love DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Welcome to the 86th edition of Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute! We began these weekly talks on January 26, 2022. I trust you are being blessed! We read in Matthew 17:19: Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Unbelief is a major obstacle to doing the works of Jesus. Jesus did what the disciples were unable to do. He successfully ministered to the man’s son. When the disciples asked Him, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” Jesus plainly stated, “Because of your unbelief.” How could the disciples operate in unbelief if they obviously “believed in” ministering to oppressed people? Clearly, they tried to help the man’s son, but were not successful. For Christ followers, unbelief is not rejecting the truth. It is not failing to believe the Bible, or not believing in God. It is not even a lack of conviction about what God can do. Example: Consider an athlete who high jumps who has leaped over seven feet on many occasions. He “believes” that he can jump over seven feet because he has done it many times. What if the athlete stops practicing? What if he loses his discipline and joy of training? If then he attempts to high jump seven feet, but repeatedly fails to make the height, we have an example of unbelief. Unbelief is an inability to do what needs to be done because fallen out of practice in the things of God. It is a lack of faith with corresponding action. As the Bible says, “Faith without works (or corresponding action) is dead, being alone.” (James 2:20) What is the solution to the problem of “unbelief” of believers or inability to do he works of God? Jesus answer was plainly stated, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” “This kind” is not referring to a special kind of demon, but to “this kind” of faith and relationship with God that is developed through prayer and fasting. Praying and fasting does not “move God” towards us, it moves us towards God. Nothing in God needs to move or change. Everything in us needs to move or change. There is no magic about prayer and fasting. It is effective because prayer and fasting helps us clear obstacles to our faith and faith-filled actions. Fasting is more than not eating, it is a season of denying conveniences, choices, appetites, and desires for other things, in order to place full emphasis on God. Whatever helps us focus on God, helps us walk in faith, understand the Bible better, be more sensitive to the Spirit and much more. This is like the high jumper who stays in shape and continues to practice—never taking past achievements for granted. Obviously, fasting is not eating, but it is also an overall focus on drawing closer to God by removing personal and environmental obstacles. If a person fasted food, but spent the whole day watching movies or playing video games, this would be a worthless fast from a spiritual perspective. Develop your faith and eliminate your unbelief by strengthening your relationship with God through prayer and fasting.

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES Listen to the Message Love Wins! How God’s Love Helps You Win In Life

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES Galatians 5:13, For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” We do not speak of winning as in competition with others. We're talking about winning from the perspective of fulfilling your purpose and getting the most out of God's grace in your life. Apostle Paul said "I do not frustrate the grace of God.” (Galatians 2:21) There are seasons where one discovers whether liberty is understood as having responsibility or only "an opportunity for the flesh,” self-indulgence. By God's love through Christ, we TRIUMPH! We triumph because we’ve already WON! Love Causes You and Others to Win 1 John 2:8, Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. NIV, 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[b] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. Three Levels of Love that Wins 1. God Wins: He has a plan to save humanity after the fall of Adam. John 3:16 2. Others win | The “Royal Law” James 2:8, Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 3. You win | The first person that needs to experience the winning power of love, is ourselves. More Than Winners Through ACTS of Love Romans 8:31, What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Cor 5:13 (NLT) If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. Why do we do the things we do? Is it because of fear, for money, for the praise of others, or other factors? Love is the best motivator. Paul wrote, “Christ’s love controls us.” We can only be fully controlled by love after the death of everything else. This is why Jesus died for all of us, so that all of our ungodly deeds and motivations could also be put to death. 1 Cor. 5:15 states, “He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” God gives us the power to be controlled by His love, which is evidenced by not being selfishly motivated, living for Christ, and serving God's purpose. Being controlled by love has benefits: • Purifies our motivations • Sanctifies our actions • Ratifies our decisions • Clarifies our purpose If I seem crazy sometimes, it's just that I’m radically committed to Loving God, Loving People and Serving the World!