Date: May 12, 2024

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to Him be the Glory, Power, and Dominion forever and ever and to the Holy Ghost yet abiding in the body. Linda and I trust this Mother’s Day Prayer message will find you in sound mind, good health, and spirit. 

Today, we honor all the mothers who are still with us and those who have passed away. Dear God, on this day, we celebrate and give thanks for the love and care that mothers provide to us. We also recognize how you, God, are like our mothers, always nurturing and caring for us in countless ways.

“We express our gratitude for the love you have bestowed upon us, which always seeks the best for us. We are also thankful for your forgiveness, even when we fall short of your expectations. Your guidance continuously helps us to become more Christ-like. Today, we offer our prayers for those who have become mothers this year, whether through birth or adoption. We also mourn with those who have lost a child. We ask for your blessings on expecting mothers so that they may receive the physical, emotional, and spiritual support they need. For those who are unable to have children, we pray that they may find comfort and support as they navigate this challenge.”

We pray for those who have undergone abuse or separation from their mothers and hope that they find healing and loving relationships. We also ask for your guidance and strength for those who must play the role of mother and father for their children. We express gratitude for all the women who have acted as mother figures, stepmothers, aunts, grandmothers, surrogate mothers, or foster mothers. We hope they know how much they are loved and appreciated for the time, care, and support they have provided us.

We humbly request your continued blessings to shower upon all mothers who share a close and loving bond with their children. May they derive utmost joy and satisfaction in fulfilling their role as mothers, and may their children grow up kind-hearted, loving, and compassionate. We express our heartfelt gratitude for the numerous ways in which mothers enrich our lives. Join us in reciting the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught us as we pray for the well-being of all mothers and their children.

“…Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13).

Deaconess Linda Worthem and I wish all the Mothers of the Church of the Living God – Jewell Dominion a Happy Mother’s Day.

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin L. Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop 

Date: April 22, 2024

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, power, and dominion forever and ever, and to the Holy Ghost, who still abides in us. The key phrase for April is “Is Your Life and Walk Bearing Fruit?”

It is currently the season for pruning.  The spirit of the Lord says, love, protect, provide, listen, and prune sin out of our hearts. Pruning can be done effectively or ineffectively. Two types of branches must be removed from our lives. The first is a branch that is growing in the wrong direction. These branches can rub against other branches, cause disease (sin), and block sunlight (Jesus Christ), which is needed for the flower buds (new converts) to form. The second type of branch that needs pruning is sprouting beneath the graft. These branches are dangerous to the life of the tree. They will draw all the strength and energy from the tree into themselves, ultimately causing the tree to die. This pruning occurs when our fruit-bearing is self-edifying. Examples of self-edification include, “Oh, I know I can preach,” and “Oh, I know how to stir up the people” (John 15:1-8).

God prunes our lives in different ways. The first way is by trimming branches going in the wrong direction, and the second is by pruning the branches that sprout out of our flesh. This pruning is not done to hurt or punish us but is a sign that the Father loves us. Pruning is a natural part of life, even when we are doing things right. Therefore, we are pruned whether we do something or not; this is how God grows His fruit in us. God prunes us through His Word. He shows us where we have missed the mark so that we can begin to live to please Him. His Word gives us the power to live and walk a life that produces good fruit. He removes our guilt and condemnation (Romans 8:1) and cuts away the habits that bind us (1 Peter 2:11). God prunes away the old to invigorate, freshen, revive, and renew our lives (Psalm 51:10; Isaiah 40:31). He also removes the things that hurt us. Therefore, by beholding His Word, we are pruned, groomed, corrected, and encouraged to be like Him.

Lastly, our relationships with others are used to prune us. God introduces people from different walks of life to ensure we produce the right fruit. God created us all and put us together like a big fruit salad. He observes how we interact with each other to see if actual fruit is produced or exposes the lack. Hence, when we experience this type of pruning, we can take it as a sign that God cares for us and is taking an active role in our daily walk and growth. 

Remember, “…With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26b).

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop