The Lord Is My Shepherd

Psalm 23 begins with a powerful truth: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” This means that the God who created all things has also chosen to lovingly guide, protect, and care for His people. He is not distant or unconcerned, but personal and faithful. The Lord made us to belong to Him, and through Jesus Christ, He redeemed us when we were lost in sin.

Redemption means to buy back, rescue, or set free by paying a price. Before coming to Christ, we were spiritually lost, trapped in sin, and unable to save ourselves. Yet God, in His wisdom and love, sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. Through confession, repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, we are forgiven and restored to God’s family. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are no longer separated from God but are welcomed as His children.

This is why the believer can say, “I shall not want.” If Jesus, the Good Shepherd, gave His life for His sheep, then surely, He will provide everything truly needed for life and godliness. In Him, we find full satisfaction. Earthly pleasures and worldly success may promise happiness, but they can never satisfy the deepest need of the soul. Only Christ can do that. As Psalm 107:9 says, “For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

Jesus is also Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides. Matthew 6:33 reminds believers to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” When we seek Christ first, we learn that our greatest need is not found in possessions, comfort, or status, but in Him. To know the Shepherd is to trust that He will provide what is needed at every moment of life.

In the end, Psalm 23:1 is more than a comforting verse—it is a declaration of faith. Because the Lord is our Shepherd, we are cared for, redeemed, forgiven, and fully satisfied in Him. In Jesus, we truly have all we need.

In His Service, 

Marina Provencio

Have you ever wondered what happens to those individuals that take their own life? Do they go to heaven or do they go to hell? What would cause someone to go to that extreme? Could stress, depression, fear or hopelessness have such a strong grip on them to think that ending the gift of life God had given them would solve all their problems? What about their loved ones left behind that have to deal with the pain and sorrow? 

I’ve pondered this at times and even more recently as I’ve had a coworker commit suicide and I don’t know if he was a believer or not, either way I hope he was but what does the scripture say about this subject?

There are many examples of suicide in the Bible. Judas Iscariot after betraying Jesus was remorseful and in Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Even the first King of Israel and his armor bearer both committed suicide in I Samuel‬ ‭31‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him. There was also a prison guard about to kill himself when Paul stopped him. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So whether we are lying, stealing, dishonoring our parents or committing self-inflicted murder in the end it’s all sin to God. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. HALLELUJAH! For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. 

Confess Jesus is Lord, Believe God raised Him from the dead and you will be Saved!

In His Service,

Damian Provencio Sr.

‭

Hello, my Christian family,

The subject of "Seeking the Presence of God" has come up lately in many church gatherings, and it needs clarification. 

“Who Should Be Seeking God’s Presence?” Of course, the immediate response will likely be, “Everyone, right?” Unfortunately, not everyone should be seeking His presence. I will do my best to shed light on this subject and make it clear that I am not splitting hairs, so before you're tempted to hit the "delete" button, please allow me to explain. Every unbeliever who has not yet been born again and received Christ as Lord and Savior should be seeking the presence of Jesus with all their heart and all their mind. Without seeking Him, they are simply wandering through life, ending up with the countless billions of others whose lives are adrift. 

For those who do not yet know Jesus as Lord, without taking that leap of faith and reaching out to Him, they could end up among those empty souls who believe the lies of the one my late mother sometimes referred to as “Ol’ Slewfoot.” Satan will go to great lengths to keep you from coming to know Jesus Christ, as he hates you and everyone who has been created in the image of God. However, for those who are already true followers of Jesus, they need not seek the presence of God, because Scriptures clearly state “. . . Christ is in you, the hope of Glory” (see Colossians 1:27).  The believer need not seek what or who they already have living inside them. That is the greatest hope ever given to mankind, and it carries with it eternal life in Paradise.

Secular Christians might differentiate between Jesus and God, but the Bible clearly reveals that Jesus is God. He created the universe and everything in it. “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (See Colossians 1:15-16)

We realize that some may be seeking a feeling, such as goose bumps, or a supernatural encounter like a vision, or a visitation from an angel, to give them a sense of comfort and reassurance, but this is a carnal approach for babes, and not the seasoned believer. The Word of God needs no such reinforcement, nor should the well-grounded believer. It clearly declares that Jesus is God, a fact that is clearly settled in the Scriptures. The Word is our guide, as though having been set in stone tablets. Simply put, believers have Christ already inside them, but instead of seeking His presence, something we already have, seeking a closer walk with Him is something we should seek throughout our entire lives. I plead with you to make Jesus your Lord for the remainder of your days.

Your brother in Christ,

Ken Simmons

Greetings in Christ Jesus,

It is truly a privilege to share what the Lord has been speaking to my heart. We are living in a time where we are both hearing and seeing many signs, signs that are sounding an alarm for us to be ready. While the Bible reminds us that no one knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36), it also clearly reveals the signs of His coming.

At one point, witnessing everything happening around the world began to open the door for fear in my life. But the Lord gently reminded me of His promise in Isaiah 41:10, to not fear for He is with us. One morning during prayer, the Lord spoke to me and said that these signs are not meant to produce fear in His sons and daughters, but to awaken us, to be ready and to help prepare others, because His Son is coming soon.

This stirred something in me, and I began asking people, “Do you know the day or the hour?” I asked a friend of mine who is always diligently preparing for audits at work. Though he is not a believer, he responded, “Are you talking about the Bible?” I said yes. He replied, “No, I don’t really know. My mom talks about it sometimes, but I don’t pay much attention.” I then said to him, “You work so hard preparing for audits, yet you are not preparing yourself or your family for this glorious day.” He paused and said, “You’re right—I’ve never thought about it like that.”

In that moment, I saw how the Lord opened his eyes. The busyness of life, and the shortness of days, often distract us from what truly matters. As the Scriptures say in Matthew 24:22, “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” 

A week later, he came to me and said, “I talked to my wife—we’re going to start going to church.” He also shared that he bought a box of Bible scriptures for his children so they can pick one each day and meditate on it.

What a powerful reminder: if we do not spend time with the Lord and in His Word, we can easily become unaware, just like my friend once was. Fear can take hold, and we may be deceived by what we see around us. Spending time with the Lord is not optional—it must become a lifestyle in our Christian walk. There are no shortcuts. Shortcuts will only lead us toward deception, but a life rooted in God’s presence and His Word will keep us grounded, prepared, and at peace. Let us be ready, and let us help others get ready as well.

Your Sister in Christ, 

Samantha Rodriguez

Dear Brothers,

Over the past month we have heard troubling news, reports of war involving Iran, and the rise of cartel violence in Mexico. Events like these can shake the heart and stir uncertainty in our minds. And still we should not live in shock or fear, as though these things were unexpected. Our Lord Jesus already warned us that such moments would come. In Matthew 24:6–8, you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.” These signs remind us not that God has lost control, but that His Word remains true and His plan continues to unfold.

As Christians, the question is not what is happening, but how should we respond? The world reacts with panic, anger, and confusion. But we are called to live differently. Scripture reminds us in Philippians 4:6–7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The peace of God does not depend on global stability; it flows from His presence within us. Even when nations tremble, the believer can stand firm.

This is a time to strengthen our focus on Jesus more than ever. Colossians 3:2 tells us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. When our attention is fixed only on headlines and social media, anxiety grows. But when our eyes remain on Christ, faith grows. The storms of the world may be loud, but the voice of God is stronger. He remains our refuge and fortress. Nothing happening around us can separate us from His love, or disrupt His promises.

We must also remember our mission. Many people around us are afraid and confused, searching for answers and hope. God has placed us in this moment to be light in the darkness. Instead of spreading fear, we share the Gospel. Instead of worry, we offer prayer, instead of confusion, we speak truth. 2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. The world needs believers who are steady, compassionate, and faithful.

Brothers, let us walk in peace, remain watchful, and continue proclaiming the Good News. These times are not meant to paralyze us but to prepare us. Christ is coming soon, and our hope is secure in Him.

Your Brother in Christ,

Juan Rodriguez

The Potter and the Clay

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

As I was spending time with the Lord I began to think about the potter and the clay. 

In Jeremiah 18, the prophet was sent down to the potter’s house. There he watched a potter shaping a vessel on the wheel. When the clay became what is described as marred in his hand, the potter did not throw it away. He reshaped it. He pressed, reformed and patiently worked it into something beautiful. This image is a powerful example for us today: we are the clay, and God is the Potter.

Life can feel a lot  like that spinning wheel; fast, confusing, and not know which way to go. We experience pressure, setbacks, and seasons where we feel broken or like the marred clay. Yet this example reminds us that we are not abandoned on the Potters wheel. The hands of the Lord who shapes us are skilled, intentional, and loving. Every turn of the wheel has purpose. Every time He presses His hand on us is guided by His love and wisdom. 

Sometimes we resist the shaping. We don’t understand why certain things must be stripped away or why uncomfortable pressure is applied. But He the potter sees what we the clay cannot. He knows what the vessel is meant to become and its purpose. What looks like a flaw to us is not final in His hands. If we submit ourselves to Him, He can rework it in us. If we remain pliable, we can be transformed.

The beauty of this passage is not just that God shapes us, but that He stays with us in the process. The clay never leaves the potter’s hands while being formed. In the same way, we are never outside of God’s care while He is molding our character, strengthening our faith, and refining our hearts.

If you feel cracked, delayed, or unfinished, take heart. He is not done. He specializes in restoration. He does not discard surrendered clay. He reforms it into a vessel fit for His purpose and glory.

So remain soft in His hands. Trust the pressure. Trust the process. The wheel is not your end—it is your becoming.

Your Brother In Christ,

Aaron Wantuch

Hello Family,

As I pondered about what the Lord has for us as a church body right now, I heard the Him say “I desire a people who are dedicated to loving Me whole heartedly and who are ready to follow My direction without hesitation”

In this new year I believe the Lord is desiring for us to become serious about our relationship with Him, not to say we haven’t been in the past. But to say that He desires us even more. He wants us to draw near to Him like never before. I believe He wants to unleash fresh revelation to His people and that He’s calling us higher and closer.

We must let go of the things that are keeping us from Him, both great and small. Rid your lives of distractions and pursue Him. Let go of what has been a hindrance to your life. Seek His heart to reveal what must go! I know the closer we get to Him, the more we will realize what needs to go, and what we need to hold onto.  

The passion translation says this beautifully “You must love Yahweh your God with all your heart, all your soul, and with the full force of your being” Deuteronomy 6:5

As we continue this year in our relationship with Him, let us do as this verse says...Love our God with all our heart, soul and the full force of our being, not with part of us, but with all that we are!

This year our Pastor told us that Hosea 6:3 was the verse for our church, and it is telling us to draw nearer to Him, and He will meet us!

“So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] Lord [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, And He will come to us [in salvation] like the [heavy] rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.” Hosea 6:3 (TPT)

Blessings,

Vanessa Provencio

Dear Family of God, 

Happy New Year! As a Pastor this has to be one of my favorite times of year. There is so much excitement as we enter a New Year. Many are filled with joy coming out of the holidays having been able to enjoy the time surrounded with loved ones. It always makes me glad to see the great expectation in the body of Christ to see what God will continue to do amongst us. 

As a church we have just closed a year where God has invited us to be “Marked by God” like those warriors spoken of in Revelation 14:1 who the Father’s name written upon their forehead.  To be marked by God was a motto we were reminded of each week as we were challenged by the word of the Lord and His expectations of us to be like Him (1 Peter 1:16). My prayer is that you have each received that invitation as personal and responded to the Lord with a life of daily dedication, drawing closer and becoming more like Him to Him each day. 

In my times of prayer for 2026 when asking the Lord what He had in store for us. I heard with great clarity the following words echo from heaven for our church, “A year of courageous action.” This is to be a year where we move forward with great boldness and become a people of courageous action for the kingdom. Who will be those that move forward and do these great works for the Lord? In Daniel 11:32b it says, “…The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”

Those that KNOW their God! Thos will be the strong and courageous. Those are the ones that will do the great works that God is calling us to accomplish this year. Your success in God’s call for us this year will be rooted in how well you know YOUR God. Notice it doesn’t say, “the Pastors’ God; your spouse’s God; your families God,” but your God. How well do you know your God?

I encourage you as we enter this New Year to commit to get to know the Lord your God greater than you ever have before. Commit more time, energy, and focus to being in His presence this year. “… Let us come to know Yahweh intimately and eagerly press in to know Him fully...” Hosea 6:3 TPT

With expectation of great things to come, 

Pastor Damian Provencio Jr.

My dear fellow believers, 

I find it as no small matter that I have been chosen to write the Pastor's Corner for December 2025. I can only hope that my words will do it justice, as I believe it to be a solemn task, as it is also a day to remember. The Christmas season is my favorite time of year, as it is for many. No time of the year is quite as special as Christmas. Sadly, it has also become a season for gifts and presents, and Jesus has gotten lost in all of the holiday celebration. Very few children know the story of Jesus during Christmas, and instead the focus is all about gift giving, lighting the Christmas tree, and unwrapping presents.

I fondly remember when I was 10, and living in Socorro, New Mexico, that I was able to play in the snow on Christmas day, as that was the only time in my life that I'd been able to do so. But it was at age 11, and I will never forget that year, as we had moved to Long Beach, California. During that same year I gave my life to Jesus. I will never forget, after seeing the Christian movie, "A Man Called Peter," at a theater in North Long Beach, that I got down on my knees in the middle of the street and prayed on North Long Beach Blvd. Thankfully there was absolutely no traffic that late at night, in the middle of that otherwise busy street.

It is true that Christmas is my favorite time of the year, but I also realize that the story of Jesus is lost during all of the celebrating. However, I will continue to focus on Jesus, as He is truly “The reason for the season.” When I hear the story that he was born in a stable, I occasionally find myself imagining that I was one of the Wise Men who came to worship Him, and I fall in love with Jesus more and more each day.

As I age, and that continues to accelerate every year, my love for Jesus continues to grow daily. He is my “Reason for the Season,” and for me it is not a slogan. “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so” rings true in my heart every day of the year, but it seems to grow stronger as the 25th draws near. Yes, we know that December 25th is most likely not the true date of His birth, but that’s fine with me. It simply doesn’t matter, because He is my Savior, 365 days a year.

It is true that I love Jesus more than life, and I long for the day when I will meet Him in Paradise. I declare that I do not fear death -- at all, because, on that day I will fall to my knees, and like Mary Magdalene, I pray I am permitted to wipe his feet with my tears.

Your brother in Christ, 

Ken Simmons

Greetings, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

I love this time of year, and especially this month, because it is the time of year when we reflect on all we have to be thankful for. Thanksgiving! We are encouraged, actually, commanded to be thankful in everything! (Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”) 

This means to be thankful always, in every circumstance and situation. Oh,how our Lord does direct our path. This is the path of joy and peace. The path of thanksgiving! When we stop and give thanks to God for what He is doing, or going to do, through our circumstances and situations, we receive peace knowing He will bring us through. By the way, this is also asking for more of Him. We

acknowledge Him, and are looking to Him, and receiving from Him, more of Him. Oh, the wonders of the ways of our Lord!

Stop!! Stop and give thanks today for what He is bringing you through, for where He is leading you to, and for whom He has allowed into your life. He will direct your path as you seek more of Him. (Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”) You see, wanting more of Him

is stopping and looking to Him for His ways, His paths, and His righteousness; all of Him! Desiring to do His will brings Him glory. To love Him is to desire more of Him, and as Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Now that you have spent time with the Lord and gotten direction from Him, go and do what He has shown you. Because you have spent time with Him, you can know that He is leading you. He does what He says He will do! He said that if you acknowledge Him, He will direct your path. Do you believe Him? Then go in confidence knowing that you are being led by Him. This is an opportunity to walk by faith. So be bold and go do what He has shown you to do!

Walking by faith with you,

Doris Cook

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

In 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Apostle Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Apostle Paul was willing to lay down his life, if necessary, as he continued to fulfill the assignment the Lord had given him. In the time in which we now live, it is becoming more and more evident that the enemy will go to great lengths to stop the spread of the Gospel truth, as recently evidenced by the assassination of Charlie Kirk. We, as Christian believers, need to assess our commitment to the Lord. Has this tragedy caused us to be more fearful to evangelize for God’s kingdom, or has it caused us to be bolder, knowing that Christ’s return is drawing near? We need to be more vigilant to witness for Him as He instructed us in Matthew 28:19-20.

Our life here on earth is but a tiny dot compared to an ever-expanding huge circle representing eternity with Christ. As the hymn Amazing Grace says in verse 4, 

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
  Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
  Than when we first begun.

Eternity in heaven is never ending, where God is present to reign and receive worship. There will be no more sickness, nor pain or sorrow. However, the alternative for those who die without accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior is hell, where there is eternal torment, everlasting destruction, and separation from God (2 Thess. 1:9). 

Charlie Kirk was like a seed planted in the Turning Point USA organization, whereby he was able to reach out to college age students to pour his life into others, raising up a generation who would be bold in their faith (1 Cor 16:13), steadfast in their love of freedom, and unafraid to defend their country. We need to vow to move forward, surrendering not to the enemy, but to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Matt16:24-26). We should serve Him well in whatever calling He has placed on our lives (Jer. 29:11) so that we can hear the words of Mathhew 25:33 when we meet our Lord and Savior, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Yours in Christ,

Roger Cook

Greetings Family,

When it comes to our relationship with God, how important is the condition of our hearts?  Whether you have been saved for a long time, or a short time, the condition of your heart is very important, and in fact is the key to a healthy relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. To follow Christ wholeheartedly we must not only lay down our lives and deny ourselves, but He must be our treasure and first love.  Mathew 6:19-21 (NKJV) says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal; For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. Let’s ask ourselves, “What is our treasure? What is most important to us? Is it material things and earthly treasures, or heavenly

treasures?”

In this daily walk with God, we must always guard our hearts, knowing we will be tested and tempted by the evil one. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  How can we guard our hearts and keep them pure?  In the book of Psalms, David simply asked the Lord to help him, and we can do the same. Psalms 51:10 (NKJV), “Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Another way of guarding our hearts is to read and study God’s word daily. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) says, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The following is another scripture on how to guard our hearts; Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to

God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Therefore, I encourage you to do a heart check, and I pray that Jesus is your first love. 

In His Name,

Josh Rios

Readiness in Every Season

In 1 Samuel 3:10, we see young Samuel responding to God’s call after being guided by Eli to say, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” His willingness to be led with an open heart and to respond as told highlights an important part of his life: Being ready to hear from God requires a posture of humility and expectancy.

As we age and grow in years in our walk with the Lord, there are times that we become complacent with our past experiences with God and therefore forget to continue in the same willingness to hear his voice in our walk with him today. My experiences and the faith I had in my 20s, 30s, and 40s will not work for my life in my 50s, as I need the faith for what I’m experiencing now.

That time of my life was for yesterday’s faith. Yesterday’s time with God was good for yesterday, but I need the faith for today to get through my “now” moments. I need every day to be spent with the same willingness and openness of heart as I did in years past to fulfill today’s experiences. That can only be done by being ready in every season and stage of life in the time I choose to spend with him to continue to know His still small voice.

 Knowing His Voice

Jesus reassures us in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” It is only through that intimate relationship between the shepherd and his sheep that allows connection with Jesus. As we spend time in His presence, we become familiar with God’s voice, and we learn to discern that voice through our ongoing relationship with him.

In the morning Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you and watch expectantly. (Psalm 5:3) This involves regular prayer, worship, and meditating on His word. So, in whatever season you are in, this will apply to them all. Seek Him and you will find Him, even in the still small voice, because you know that voice, and the Father knows you as well.

Blessings,

Marina Provencio