Pastor's Blog - December 2012

Celebrating Our Savior’s Birth

Dear Family of God,

Greetings this Advent season!

Advent is a Latin word which denotes the coming or arrival of Christ the Messiah.

As many of you know, I am not fond of Christmas, trees, lights, wreaths and such.

However, I am amazed at the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior.

This season of preparation, or to make room in our hearts for Christ, is so wonderful.

No wonder at all that we feel led to give and bless others during this season…

For God so loved He gave His only begotten Son.

The miracle of the Incarnation, God becoming man, is the crux of our Christian faith.

All we stand on is based on a virgin with child!

The cost, the sacrifice, that Mary and Joseph paid is a reminder of our Father’s great

sacrifice. Think of it, God gave up His only Son to save us from our sins.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David,

 A SAVIOR

who is Christ the Lord!

Our Savior has come first as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, now as our King

in our hearts!

May the wonder, majesty, joy and peace of our Savior’s birth fill you this season as

you celebrate His kingly reign.

Christ is Born — Hallelujah!

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Ken 

 

Pastor's Blog - November 2012

Dear Family of God,

Greetings in Jesus’ name!

I trust you are all experiencing the wonderful grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ and growing in His great love.

God has truly shifted our fellowship into His higher purposes. The momentum of the Holy Spirit is incredible and growing every time we meet.

We have entered into a time of truly experiencing His tangible presence in our gatherings and seeing His power manifest over sickness, disease and lack.

Be encouraged to enter in during these corporate times so that you can receive His fullness for every area of your life. Like never before, the entry is open wide and the Lord is beckoning us to come in and fellowship with Him.

Don’t forget to be thankful amid what may have turned out differently than expected.

God loves a thankful heart; in all things, be thankful.

Our God is on the throne and is still looking for those whose hearts are toward Him.

God wants to prove His ongoing goodness to His covenant people.

 

Never forget that you are in covenant with God!

The Almighty God, He cannot change. If God be for you, who can be against you?

Let’s keep a thankful heart especially during this season of Thanksgiving.

Bless you all and may the Lord bless your lives abundantly.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Pastor Ken 

 

Pastor's Blog - October 2012

Dear Family of God,

 Well, summer has left us but not yet its heat! Our region certainly has its own climate and strange ways of showing it to us all.

Family, I truly hope you enjoyed this summer and I trust you were able to vacate and enjoy some much needed time off and time away.

I encourage you to really move ahead now that we have all reconnected with God’s ongoing purposes. So many ministry opportunities are available to you during this “Spring Spiritual Season.”

We are bursting forth as a body into the “New” that Jesus has for each of us.

Be encouraged and contend for your fulfillment of the promises that God has made toward you. Now more than ever is our time of blessing, newness and fulfillment.

We have such momentum here at The Gathering; momentum that will launch us forward into Christ likeness, Christ greatness and Christ goodness.

Expect to see your miracles manifest.

Expect to see God bring your victory.

Expect your families to be overcome with God’s best.

Expect to see your turn-around now!

Family, we are praying diligently for each of you and we know in our hearts that the Lord’s impact is now upon each of you — just receive!

Just receive!

I leave you with this blessing!

Proverbs 3: 5-10

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Ken 

 

Pastor's Blog - September 2012

Dear Family of God,

Blessings to you from our Lord Jesus Christ!

Everyday I become more amazed at God’s love and grace for His people, His ongoing faithfulness and certainly His mercy which is new every morning. I need that wonderful mercy of God because daily I fall short of the mark. Yet God loves us so much that He refuses to condemn us when we miss the mark.

Family, I encourage you to really seek the Lord through fellowship and prayer and the study of the Word, by worshipping and waiting on His loving presence.

Lately, the Holy Spirit has been saying to me that we are entering into a time of His victorious moving. So be expecting to receive victory where you need it. It may be your health or finances or the need for family restoration; just release your faith and receive.

All of us are being exalted to a new place in Christ…

A new authority in Christ…

A new awareness in Christ…

A new dimension of favor in Christ…

A new release of passion for Christ.

So don’t hold back as fall arrives upon us. Before we know it, a new season has come, both in the natural and spiritual realm. This new season is your season to overcome and catch the wind of the Spirit as He moves us to a closer proximity in godliness and actual manifestations of God’s power and glory.

This is yours for the asking and taking!

We love you all and pray everyday for your lives.

Pastors Ken  & Tonja

 

Pastor's Blog - August 2012

Greetings Family of God,

As the new school year approaches, let’s take a moment to reflect on this summer. We had an incredible time at Family Camp, giving testimonies of God’s provision, God’s healing power and most importantly, seeing families connecting with God.

What a wonderful experience our youth had at Summer Camp! We had fun at the water park, shared a team-building experience kayaking, and went to Bubblegum Alley – an attraction in San Luis Obispo where you chew a piece of gum and stick it to a wall in an alley lined with chewed bubblegum! I actually chewed a piece of gum off the wall as a dare!

Besides all the fun, I was so encouraged that the youth who went were willing to go and meet with God.

Matt and Luke Valassis were our guest speakers and really ministered to our youth. It was so awesome to hear the Word of the Lord given to one young lady on how the Lord has given her wisdom at a young age and how successful she is going to be. Another young lady also received a Word on how the Lord has set her apart at such a young age. It was so powerful. The best thing about this was that Matt and Luke had never met any of these girls. It was amazing to see life being poured into our youth’s lives. All it took from those girls was to be willing. God is looking for a People who are willing. Gathering, let’s be that People.

It’s time for our youth to be excited about God’s will and walk in His power. Parents, let’s come into agreement for this school year and the rest of their lives. Let’s pray that our youth will not be ashamed of the Gospel and that our youth would unite to become a civilization of young people becoming like Jesus. Acts 4:32-33: “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”

We will overcome!!

Pastor Tommy Templeton

Children’s/Youth Pastor

Pastor's Blog - July 2012

Greetings Family of God,

How wonderful it is to serve a faithful God.

 “He hath remembered His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand

generations.” Psalm 105:8

As we have completed our first semester of KAM, our evangelism teams have reached many new families. We have seen the explosion upon the city of Corona. The manifestation of healings, salvations, restoration and hope is a powerful testimony. It was a life-changing experience for both our members as well as those that God has touched through divine appointments. We are preparing for our next semester of KAM. I encourage you to join in and witness God’s glory in our city.

What a wonderful time our children had at VBS! VBS reflected God’s Army in the life of our children’s department. As our children geared up in the whole Armor of God, it was a joy to see unity and freedom flow in their lives, marching and proclaiming the Power of God!

Exciting times continue to be upon us!

There is a great excitement and momentum this month as we see the Holy Spirit moving upon our Gathering prayer and service times. God has shown His favor on His people and there have been many great testimonies. “Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.” Isaiah 25:1

Remember, faith is the Word in us, so let’s continue our march forward as the Army of the Lord, fulfilling the purposes of God, reflecting God’s glory in us and through us.

We love you and appreciate all your prayers and support.

Bless each of you. See you at Family Camp!

Pastor Isaac Ramirez

Pastor's Blog - June 2012

Dear Family of God,       

Greetings in the Name of Jesus, our great Savior!

I pray you all are growing in the grace of the Lord Jesus and daily seeking His presence.

What a tremendous season of goodness we are experiencing. Our evangelism efforts have been launched through KAM and we are seeing the Lord move and honor our efforts. People are getting saved and ministered to, and Bible Studies are taking place in homes, just like the Book of Acts.

I encourage you, if you are not yet involved, to really seek the Lord about the next semester of KAM. Your life will be changed and you will become a life-changer.

God is so good to us here at The Gathering. We continue to hear about His works:

New jobs

Raises in pay
Unexpected blessing
Miraculous healing
Family restoration

We are just really beginning to enter into the fullness. Get ready for an explosion.

Some direction for us all:

1. Be sure to involve yourself in every opportunity for corporate prayer.
2. Don’t miss our corporate worship times; the miraculous is occurring now, so don’t miss it.
3. Don’t let any bitterness or unforgiveness creep into your heart.

Finally, stay faithful financially to God’s work; you have broken the dam and the flood is about to reach you.

We love you and thank God for the opportunity to lead you into all His purposes.

Enjoy your summer, stay connected, and be blessed.

Pastors Ken  & Tonja

Pastor's Blog - May 2012

Dear Family of God,

This month I would like to share with you about purpose.

How wonderful and encouraging it is to know that our Heavenly Father has made it crystal clear in His Word exactly what His purpose is for each one of us.

Now is the time, right in these next few moments, to make sure, on the authority of His eternal Word, as to His purpose for your personal life.

When we were “born again,” through repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, (Acts 20:11) we were born into Him - He became our life.

Colossians 3:3-4: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

Our Heavenly Father is still carrying out His purposes of making man in His image.

Although His original purpose is the same, He is not using the original man to bring it about. All is now centered on the last Adam, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Being born into Him through faith, we became “partakers of the divine nature.”

If we are to be like Him, then God in His grace must do it, and the sooner we can recognize it, the sooner we will be delivered from every form of bondage.

Throw down every self effort and say, “I cannot do it. The more I try, the further I get from His likeness.”

Remember… For it is God that works in you, both to desire and to do His good pleasure.

For to me, to live is Christ! So that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in my mortal flesh.

Bless you all,

Pastors Ken  & Tonja

Pastor's Blog - April 2012

Greetings Dear Family of God,

What an amazing God we serve, who loves us with an incomparable passion!

Recently, we had visiting with us two young men whose lives were radically changed by a bona fide visitation from God. If you were not here to hear their testimony, I encourage you to purchase the CD recording. It will greatly impact your life. Several people were physically healed and the touch of God’s presence truly was in operation.

What exciting times are upon us!

Please mark your calendar for Saturday, April 21st, for our believers’ KAM training. I promise you will not be disappointed by attending. The training is so refreshing, and afterwards you will feel truly equipped to reach the lost. By the way, our teams have been going out ministering and God is touching lives. People are responding to the good news that Jesus saves!

Family, stay connected; don’t get weary while doing well. Your due season is upon you!

 We are entering into the most productive time as believers in Christ our Savior. His glory will be poured out on all the earth and amazingly we will be His vessels to carry a release of that awesome glory!

Let’s continue to do good, knowing that from the Lord we will receive our reward!

Bless each of you as you celebrate His glorious triumph over death. Be sure to walk in His resurrection power!

Happy Easter!

Pastors Ken  & Tonja

Pastor's Blog - March 2012

Dear Family of God,

Greetings in the love of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

What exciting times we are living in, cooperating with the Holy Spirit and His work to fulfill all that the Father has planned and purposed for His people.

Recently we have experienced an increase of the anointing of God through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Tonja and I want to encourage each of you to really take advantage of His great  presence. He wants us healed, whole and refreshed.

Look with me at Acts 3:19. These are times of refreshing. Times to be renewed in our spirits and to be encouraged in our souls.

God is not only our strong tower, but He also is the glory and the lifter of our heads.

As David said, “Why are you downcast, oh my soul?”

Put your trust in God and He will sustain you.

Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Sustain here means to maintain; to be able to lift up and to provide all that is needed.

The Lord will not permit you, His righteous ones, to be moved!

So in other words, in Him and through Him we can stand firm and secure through all!

Again, Saints, glory in the Lord’s presence. Bask in His beauty and splendor; leave your seat and enter into His loving presence with full assurance of His sustaining you and renewing you by His glory.

We love you all and look forward to our great transformation into His likeness.

Blessings upon you,

Pastors Ken  & Tonja