OUR PRE-DEATHBED EVALUATION

OUR PRE-DEATHBED EVALUATION

On Tuesday, I attended the Celebration of Life for Bishop Frank Otha White, a long-time General Board Member of the Church of God in Christ.  It was an impressive service – with the laudatory voices of so many reprising his prolific accomplishments in life and ministry.  Indeed, he was a blessing to the Body of Christ.

In my earlier life, I feared death, quite a lot. This is no longer the case since I continue to make my “calling and election sure” in the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:10) Admittedly however, I am my greatest critic when it comes to actualizing and analyzing the God-given purpose for which I was created and situated on the planet, and my perceived distance from the same. 

Occasionally, I am motivated to contemplate my own death, which quickly morphs into rigorous self-examination. But let me be perfectly clear. On such occasions, my thoughts seldom center on the views or expectations of others. Instead, I make every effort to objectively evaluate myself, i.e. my motives, my thoughts, my words, my decisions, my deeds and my accomplishments by comparing and contrasting myself with the immutable teachings of God’s Word. This works rather well for me.

Although this might seem to be a morbid thought, I suppose that the ultimate examination of life would be to think carefully about how you might ‘SEE’ your life from the vantage point of some terminal illness, while lying on your deathbed. After reading the reflective questions that follow, close your eyes for a few moments and carefully consider:

If this day and hour were the time of your departure, would you be prepared to peacefully meet your Maker?

Does your personal attitude and actions mirror and reflect Christ?

Are there unhealthy or broken relationships that you would seek to mend, if you had one last chance?

Have you walked through life with boldness? That is, have you lived with genuine confidence, according to the expectations of God and yourself, or have you merely existed within the real or imaginary boundaries that others have sought to superimpose on your life?

Are you deserving of your employment compensation, or do you put in just enough time and effort to get paid? 

Has fear limited your faith and your progress?

Have you brought joy and justice into the lives of others, or have you been the thorn in someone else’s flesh?

Have you served your fellow man with consistency? Are there any infirmed, incarcerated, or indigent persons who are ‘better off’ today because of the investment of your time, talent and treasure?

Have you done your best with the gifts God endowed at birth and those you have developed along the way?

Have you typically been obedient to His Word, or have you lived as a maverick, insistent on having your way?

Have you maintained your Christ connection through frequent prayer, intimate worship, systematic Word study, sacrificial fasting and faithful service as His ambassador to those who are lost?

Have you been consistently committed and involved in the community of faith, or have you been an apathetic participant or a strident critic of church leaders and members?

Have you walked in a loving covenant with your family, your spouse, your parents, your children, your siblings and other relatives?

Are you a life-long learner, or a know-it-all?

Have you focused more so on empire-building, or more on establishing God’s Kingdom?

Perhaps these questions will lead to others that are far more personal and specifically applicable to you. I hope so. While we do not live in fear, our existence should be both substantive and seriously considered. Before any of us can ever hear our Lord saying “Well done,” it would behoove us to be able to whisper those same words to ourselves, with full measures of awareness, integrity, peace and gratitude.

What would JESUS say about YOU?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

NEVER LOSE HEART

NEVER LOSE HEART

No matter what happens in or around your life, endeavor to maintain faith, balance, peace and perspective.  During your crisis moments, consider the story of the shipwrecked survivor who was the only person left alive on a remote Pacific island.  He prayed fervently every day, asking God to send someone along to rescue him.  Day after day, he looked for God’s help, but simply could not find it.  Growing weary of waiting, he decided to construct a crude and meager shelter in order to protect himself and his few possessions.  But one evening, after foraging for food, he returned to find his shelter consumed by fire.

Everything he owned had been completely burned up.

The castaway sailor was totally confused and terribly angry with God.  In despair, he shouted out: “WHY. GOD?  Why did you do this to me?”  Then he fell into a deep sleep on the sandy shore.  Before dawn, he heard the sound of a boat rapidly approaching the island.  At long last, his rescuers had arrived!  He asked them how they knew he was on the island.  The rescuers said they saw the huge fire and smoke signals he had made the night before. 

Often our apparent accidents and incidents are divine providence in disguise. It is so easy to feel angry, confused, helpless, or hopeless whenever things seem to go terribly wrong.  But we should never lose heart, because GOD IS ALWAYS UP TO SOMETHING BEHIND THE SCENES.  So remember, the next time your HOUSE IS ON FIRE, it just might be a SMOKE SIGNAL orchestrated by God for your personal blessing and deliverance.  As the Apostle Paul stated so eloquently, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Finally, we must reflect prayerfully on the example of JESUS, from which we draw illumination and inspiration.  He suffered the most profound humiliation and agony: public crucifixion.  Yet, while “despising the shame,” HE “endured the cross” and won ultimate victory for believing humankind.  During your darkest moments, “Consider HIM who endured such opposition from sinners, so that YOU will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3)

In closing, believers are constantly comforted and sustained by the perpetual promises, plans and purposes of God.  His Word is our beacon, our bounty, our rescue and our reward.  It is absolutely assuring to realize that HE always has us on HIS MIND!  “For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

There are times in life when we feel that we have given our all.  More often than not, this is only a feeling, not actual reality.  Consider the following inspirational story about two youthful-but-sick siblings from California, which, quite literally, has motivated me to reassess my own degree of giving.

Many years ago, when I worked as a transfusion volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a dreaded disease and needed blood from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat that illness.  The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the young lad if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.  I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes, I’ll do it, if it will save Liza.”

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks.  Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.  He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?”

Being very young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor and thought his sister needed ALL his blood.

What an amazing love!  This true story calls to remembrance our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  On Calvary (and even before the foundation of this world), Jesus was ready and willing to GIVE HIS ALL to redeem us from the twin scourges of sin and death.  In His own words, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

The question is begged, “How much of ourselves are WE willing to give?”  The world in which we live places such heavy demands on our time and energy that sometimes we find it difficult to attend to the most mundane of matters that would bring a smile to the faces of our loved ones.  Think about it.  Husbands, are you too busy, too tired, or just too important to rise up from your chair and carry a glass of water to your thirsty wife?  Or is that just “women’s work?”  Wives, are you too preoccupied with the demands of your day to speak a word of encouragement or admonition to your children?

The truth, plain and simple, is that LIFE GOES BY SO VERY QUICKLY.  A friend and colleague from Ohio, Elder Willie Templeton, is often heard saying “MAKE IT COUNT!”  Such a time sensitive and emotionally present attitude is imperative since, according to James, the brother of Jesus, our lives may be likened to a vapor that appears for one fleeting moment before swiftly fading away. (James 4:14) Therefore, we must resolve TODAY to perform purposeful and random acts of kindness for our families, our friends, and yes, even for the strangers that we encounter.  The Word informs us that “thereby some have entertained angels unaware.” (Hebrew 13:2) Agape love manifests itself through ultimate sacrifice.  Why not give it a try?  It will surely shine divine light into mortal and mystifying places.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

INTAKE DETERMINES OUTPUT

INTAKE DETERMINES OUTPUT

One cold winter evening, a Cherokee Chief was sitting around his fireplace sharing a lifetime of sound judgment and wisdom.  “Every person experiences a life-or-death struggle,” he admonished, “a terrible fight between two powerful wolves.  One wolf is evil: it brings fear, anger, envy, greed, self-pity, resentment, selfishness, dishonesty and arrogance.  The other wolf is good: it brings truth, serenity, sincerity, confidence, generosity, gentleness, joy, compassion and humility.”

His young grandchild queried nervously, “Grandpa, which wolf wins?”

The elder sage looked the little boy straight in the eye and pronounced firmly: “THE ONE YOU FEED.”

While it’s only a legend, in many ways it mirrors real life, which presents definite options.  We can choose either evil or good.  Moreover, the overall results we achieve are actually products of a LIFE DECISION TREE, which is comprised of a host of smaller and seemingly ordinary choices we make along the way.  How we spend our time is a choice.  The company we keep is a choice.  The spouses we choose, the books we read, the music we embrace, the television programs we view, the events we attend, the church families we join – all are monumental choices that impact our thinking, and thus our short- and long-term decision making.

So be intentional.  Carefully make up your mind about the direction, meaning and quality of your life.  Just like Joshua challenged the wilderness-weary Israelites, “CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE…but as for me and my house, we will serve THE LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

Choose well.  Guard your heart. (Proverbs 4:23) The leaves, branches and fruit on your LIFE-TREE will be the product of what you purposefully ingest along the way.  Intake always determines output.  Since you are what you eat, dine healthily, sumptuously and faithfully on THE LIVING WORD.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST

CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST

Have you ever become frustrated at the seemingly slow pace of progress or change in your life?  In this era of ‘microwave mentality,’ it is sometimes challenging to wrap our minds around the fact that GOD WORKS THROUGH PROCESS.  In other words, the changes HE institutes in our lives are most often implemented over extended periods of time, through a multitude of life experiences.  Bottom-line: We cannot always trace God’s hand, but we must consistently trust His heart and His plan.

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson.  Each morning, Grandpa rose early and sat at the kitchen table reading his old worn-out Bible.  His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him any way he could.  One day the grandson said, “Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book.  So what good does reading the Bible do for me?”

The grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water.”  The boy did just as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back home.

The grandfather laughed and said, “You will have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.

This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home.  Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was “impossible to carry water in a basket,” and he went to get a bucket instead.  The old man insisted, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water.  You can do this.  You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he watched from the window as his grandson attempted to please him again.

But at that point, the boy knew it was impossible, and he just wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got very far at all.  The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was once again empty.  Out of breath, he wheezed, “See Papa, I told you that it’s useless!”

“So you think it is useless?” the old man said.  “Look down at the basket.”  The young lad examined the basket and for the first time realized that it looked quite different.  Instead of the dirty old coal basket he had first received, the one he held in his hands was now completely clean.

“Son, that’s what happens when you read the Bible.  You might not understand or remember everything right away, but if you keep on reading, IT WILL SURELY CHANGE YOU…FROM THE INSIDE OUT.”

That is the work of THE FATHER in our lives.  He changes us from the inside out, gradually transforming us into the image of HIS SON. (Romans 8:29)  Therefore, we must resist the temptation to become exasperated or frustrated by the cadence and content of our change.  Ultimately, we are in the hands of THE MASTER POTTER and we will be fashioned into the finished product that pleases Him and edifies His Kingdom. (Jeremiah 18:1-6)

The Apostle Paul sums it up succinctly for us: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

My friend, let THE CHANGE begin…and let THE CHANGER have His way in THE PROCESS!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

PURSUE YOUR UNIQUE DREAM

PURSUE YOUR UNIQUE DREAM

FAITH is a profoundly personal and powerful commodity. As such, it should always be grounded in God’s Word, i.e. it must be based upon what THE CREATOR has purposefully spoken and seeded within, not on the outside limiting opinions of others. After all, only THE MANUFACTURER is in position to reveal the ultimate purpose of what HE has created. So throughout our lives, despite adverse circumstances or setbacks, we must have inner knowledge and supreme confidence that whatever GOD has spoken over us will ultimately come to pass. To assure that a heavenly vision would be reflected on and remembered, God instructed the prophet Habakkuk to “write the vision, and make it plain…that he may run that reads it.” (Habakkuk 2:2) To wit, it is of strategic importance to record your dream and to share it (only) with faith-filled dreamers.

Kingdom Principle Number One: YOUR LIFE-VISION IS FOR AN APPOINTED TIME. The fulfillment of your dream will manifest at the intersection of CHRONOS (man’s time) and KAIROS (God’s time). According to David, a blessed wo/man “brings forth fruit in HIS/HER SEASON.” (Psalm 1:3) Please do not allow impatience or frustration to abort either the vision or the actualization of Heaven’s earthly prospects for you.

Kingdom Principle Number Two: YOUR LIFE-VISION MUST BE AN ACCURATE REFLECTION OF GOD’S WORD. Whatever the Holy Spirit has communicated during your private time of prayer and devotions must be carefully confirmed and authenticated in THE WORD. If there are any contradictions at all, you must revisit and reconfigure your dream. If it is of GOD, it will surely stand the tests of time and trouble. If not…well you already know.

Kingdom Principle Number Three: YOUR LIFE-VISION WILL SURELY COME TO PASS. Although it may seem somewhat cliché, it is unquestionable truth: ‘DELAYED DOES NOT MEAN DENIED.’ Jesus Christ advised, “In your patience, possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:19) God’s admonition to Habakkuk is confirmation of the same: “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:3)

So never be afraid or hesitant to become DREAMERS…DOERS…PIONEERS…and TRAILBLAZERS. Why? Since God is the epitome of creativity, He forges and fosters distinctive plans and pathways for all of His children. Therefore, no endeavor within the Kingdom of God should ever adopt a ‘cookie-cutter approach.’ In fact, winner-believers are as unique as snowflakes; no two of us carry exactly the same marks or mission. Although we all must submit to ONE LORD, subscribe to ONE FAITH, and drink of ONE BAPTISM (Ephesians 4:5), GOD has sown an endless array of variety into His world – and into us. Bottom-line: THE LORD OF LIFE wants to use you and me in incredibly imaginative and personally particular ways. So we are obliged to keep on dreaming – to keep on reaching – even when others cannot perceive or receive the magnitude of our life-visions.

The infinite diversity of our dreams reminds me of THE MOTH WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH A STAR. All his friends and relatives mocked him. Every day, they told him he was being totally unrealistic, and urged him to focus his efforts on some local, possible, attainable goal: a street lamp, a porch light, a candle, a lantern, or even a chandelier. But this moth was truly in love with his star, and steadfastly refused to give up. Unfortunately, his parents, pals and siblings soon burned themselves out swarming around local and readily accessible lights, ending their days as charred bits of ash on sidewalks, porches, tables and floors. But our moth enjoyed a lengthy, happy and healthy life in endless pursuit of his distant star. Perhaps he never achieved his objective, but in some sense, the journey is just as important as the destination. Truth is, that small goals can be more detrimental and risky than more expansive ones. SO GO FOR IT! Never listen to the negative voices (either without or within) that affirm doubt, delay or denial of whatever GOD HAS EVER SPOKEN.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

PEACE is something that unquestionably emanates from within. However, OUR EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES are frequently out of alignment with THE ETERNAL PLANS AND PURPOSES OF GOD. Nevertheless, you and I have attitudinal choices. We must not allow ourselves to be irrationally influenced or controlled by outside circumstances. How could this possibly be? How can we shape and secure positive attitudes during daily close encounters with trouble or tragedy? Indeed, it is possible because you and I are infinitely more capable and more competent than we might appear!

In the context of time, we merely LOOK LIKE human bodies, subject to an endless array of sensory stimuli: auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile and visual. Admittedly, we are impacted by all these human factors, many of which supersede the span of our control. Nevertheless, WE ARE MUCH MORE than our frail human bodies suggest. Far beyond our physical anatomies, THE CREATOR has endowed us with exceptional minds and eternal spirits. This means we can live in total transcendence; and, despite anything, WE CAN RISE. Fact is, we are nothing less than WINNER-BELIEVERS, endowed with the MIND OF GOD and encompassed by the PEACE OF GOD. Through Him, we may embrace inexplicable peace…even in the midst of our storms.

Consider the tale of the ancient king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the most accurate portrayal of PEACE. Many artists submitted their work and the king carefully examined all the pictures. There were only two he really liked, so he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake, perfectly mirroring the peaceful, towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. It was the favorite of all who saw it. Truly, most observers concluded, it was a perfect portrait of peace.

The other picture had mountains also, but they were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain poured down and lightning danced about menacingly. Down the side of the mountain roared a foaming and powerful waterfall. It would be difficult to imagine a less peaceful place! But when the king looked more closely, he saw beside the waterfall a tiny bush growing out of a crack in the rock. Inside the bush, a mother bird had built her family nest. There, in the midst of that angry rush of water, sat a contented mother bird, warming and protecting her young – in perfect peace.

Which picture would you have selected? Surprisingly, the king decided on the second picture. When asked “Why?” the king replied, “Because peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, no trouble, or no issues. Peace means to be in the midst of all these things and still remain calm in your heart. That is the true meaning of peace.”

Jesus Christ bequeaths peace as a legacy to every believer: “Peace I leave with you,” he declares, “my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) Nevertheless, many Christians experience perpetual anxiety, shrouded in chronic and tormenting fear. This need not be.

Please prayerfully consider the following scriptural solutions:

1. God is love. (I John 4:8)
2. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. (I John 4:18)
3. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You: because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)
4. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:4-6)
6. Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. (Luke 18:1)

The logic of THE WORD OF GOD is profoundly clear and simple. The first requirement for personal peace is to fully embrace GOD (who is LOVE), which positions and empowers us to expel fear. However, this is not automatic; there is a process involved. The second requirement is to constantly meditate on the essence and character of God, via the Word of God. The third requirement is to seek specific direction from God for every potentially troubling situation. This is accomplished through the vehicle of prayer. The fourth requirement is that we must PRAY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE WORD (The Covenant Contract) as we confidently enlist the support of “the Mediator” of the covenant. (Hebrews 8:6)

Sisters and brothers, have your INTERNAL AFFAIRS been set in order, or are you still struggling to maintain composure and sanity whenever you encounter storms? It is God’s perfect will that we experience the provision and prosperity that resides within His peace. (III John 1:2) So always “let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

ARE YOU PRAYING?

ARE YOU PRAYING?

America, whatever your thoughts and feelings about our recent presidential election and the inaugural ceremony that is set for Friday, January 20, 2017, it is mission critical that we collectively pray for our nation, for our new President, for our incoming Vice President, for every member of the Cabinet and White House Staff, for both Houses of Congress, for our Supreme Court, for every Governor and State Legislature, and also for Kings, Queens, Prime Ministers and Heads of State in every nation across the globe so “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (I Timothy 2:2, NKJV)

An age-old pronouncement from Above is absolutely applicable for our nation and our generation: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14)

While it is ever so tempting to play the blame game, i.e. to assign responsibility for our national challenges to particular groups or individuals (past and present), we must rise above the political noise and divisive rhetoric, which only serve as a distraction from our common purpose and destiny.

Let’s agree to disagree, while maintaining our moral compass and safeguarding our civility.  Never forget: GOD is on the throne and He, alone, moderates, modifies and measures the attitudes and actions of all.

Always pray for the USA.  Meanwhile, “have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

LITERALLY YOURS

LITERALLY YOURS

The Word of God is living.  Like God Himself, the Word is active, immutable [unchangeable] and will never ever fail.  The thing I love most about our God is the fact that we can totally depend upon His Word. Per Jesus Christ, “the author and finisher” of our faith, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Hebrews 12:2 and Matthew 24:35) After all is said and done, we will take God (quite literally) at His Word.  For more light on this matter, consider the following true story.

Some time ago, a man of simple faith had a serious stomach malady.  Day and night, he wrestled with debilitating pain.  Thus, rest eluded him.  Sleep was practically impossible…until he heard a Word.

His pastor’s Sunday morning text was found in one of the so-called “minor prophets” of the Old Testament. In it, this sick man (who continually experienced sharp abdominal pains throughout the service) received a powerful Word of confirmation for total healing.  In fact, it was a literal interpretation of the scripture:

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

This sick man was no theologian.  He had no academic credentials.  He did not even know where to locate the book of Zephaniah in his Bible…but he simply believed GOD.  And when he heard the pastor proclaim that GOD is mighty “in the midst of thee,” he said to himself, ‘if GOD is there…in the MIDST [the middle] of my body, then I must already be healed, despite what my symptoms are telling me.’   So, while he was caught in the throes of excruciating pain, the sick man jumped out of his seat and declared loudly, “GOD IS IN THE MIDST OF ME…AND I AM HEALED!”

The congregation stared at him.  Some smiled; others laughed.  Nevertheless, because he acted in simple faith on what God had literally said, he received an immediate fulfillment of His promises. After all, our faith is actually “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

While some might be tempted look upon this man’s literal interpretation of scripture with eyes of skepticism and doubt, he did receive a healing solution for his chronic condition. Question: ‘Is your rational mind, your intellect, or your reasoning capacity hindering YOU in any way from receiving God’s best?’  If so, prayerfully consider the following:

II Corinthians 10:4-5

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;

⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

If you can only believe, God’s Word will work – quite literally – for YOU.  “Jesus said…If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) So all of God’s promises are LITERALLY YOURS. 

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

HEY YOU...THERE'S GREATNESS INSIDE!

HEY YOU…THERE’S GREATNESS INSIDE!

Traversing this incredible journey called life, all of us eventually encounter the occasional roadblock or hurdle.  In truth, sometimes we fail.  At other times, we manage to exceed our own expectations.  Each of these experiences is necessary and expedient to our personal development. 

Now hear this!  Every one of us must take a careful look inside for, quite arguably, the primary challenges on our planet are internal (not external) in nature. 

MY SISTER, MY BROTHER, ARE YOU AFRAID OF YOURSELF? 

Are you terrified by your own possibilities?  Have you been gradually conditioned by your environment (or your associates) to believe that you can never break free from any and every chain that binds?  Are you like the proverbial elephant that has been tethered since birth to a tiny tree – never realizing your own power and potential to break free – because you are incarcerated in vague memories of times long since past when you were so much less than your present self?

At the end of the day, it is the resolute power of your human will (augmented and assisted from above) that grants you the capacity to boldly declare, “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.” (Philippians 4:13)  Know this: YOU are infinitely MORE than any societal norms, family history, or critics might declare you to be!

In “A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles,” Marianne Williamson writes:  “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Wow!

So start today.  Start right now.  Be as fearless as David in your world, because the foreboding Goliath is actually no match for you.

Be as courageous as Mary, standing unafraid to embrace your God-ordained destiny, with full knowledge that many may fail to understand the origin or meaning of “the holy thing” seeded within. (Luke 1:35)

HEY YOU…THERE’S GREATNESS INSIDE!

“FEAR NOT!” It’s a powerful phrase, oft repeated within The Holy Writ.  It challenges us to transform dismal days into bright tomorrows.  It summons us to sojourn out of ourselves – to a higher plane of knowledge and purpose and being – into awesome and appointed spaces where the will and Word of God eternally reside.

I feel the power.  I will not fight it.  Indeed, it is THE LIVING CHRIST, who is resurrected and fully alive within my heart and exalted within my spirit.  

So I will BE.  I will BECOME.  I will STAND.  I will TRIUMPH!

Anyone with me?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND THE BELOVED COMMUNITY

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND THE BELOVED COMMUNITY

Today is a very important American holiday, commemorating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  We honor his leadership and tenacity in combating “the triple evils of American society: poverty, racism and militarism.”  Martin Luther King’s unique model of social change is rooted in the humanitarian philosophies of Mohandas (a.k.a. Mahatma) Gandhi.  Dr. King set forth six principles of nonviolence, which are summarized below for your consideration.

- Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.  It is a positive force confronting the forces of injustice, and utilizes the righteous indignation and the spiritual, emotional and intellectual capabilities of people as a vital force for change and reconciliation.

- The Beloved Community is the framework for the future.  The nonviolent concept is an overall effort to achieve a reconciled world by raising the level of relationships among people to a height where justice prevails and persons attain their full human potential.

- Attack forces of evil, not persons doing evil.  The nonviolent approach helps one analyze the fundamental conditions, policies and practices of the conflict rather than reacting to one’s opponents or their personalities.

- Accept suffering without retaliation for the sake of the cause – in order to achieve the goal.  Self-chosen suffering is redemptive and helps the movement grow in a spiritual as well as a humanitarian dimension.  The moral authority of voluntary suffering for a goal effectively communicates concerns to one’s friends and community, as well as to the opponent.

- Avoid internal violence of the spirit as well as external physical violence.  The nonviolent attitude permeates all aspects of the campaign.  It provides a mirror reflection of the reality of the condition to one’s opponent and the community at large.  Specific activities must be designed to help maintain a high level of spirit and morale during a nonviolent campaign.

- The universe is on the side of justice.  Truth is universal.  Human society and human beings are oriented to the just sense of order of the universe.  The fundamental values in all of the world’s religions include the concept that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice.  For the nonviolent practitioner, nonviolence introduces a new moral context in which nonviolence is both the means and the end.

While this esteemed clergyman is widely known for his pioneering efforts in the American civil rights movement, he also espoused a theological position (referenced above) that is of paramount importance.  According to The King Center for Social Change, “The Beloved Community” is a term first coined in the early days of the 20th Century by the philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce, who founded the Fellowship of Reconciliation.  However, Dr. Martin Luther King, also a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, popularized the term, invested it with a much deeper meaning and captured the imagination of the entire world.

For Dr. King, The Beloved Community was no lofty utopian goal to be confused with the rapturous image of the Peaceable Kingdom, in which lions and lambs coexist in idyllic harmony.  Rather, it was for him a realistic, achievable goal that could be attained by a critical mass of people becoming committed to and trained in that philosophy and in methods of nonviolence.

Dr. King’s Beloved Community is a global vision, in which all people share in the wealth of the earth.  In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger and homelessness are not tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it.  Racism and all forms of discrimination are replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood.  In the Beloved Community, international disputes are resolved by peaceful conflict-resolution and reconciliation of adversaries, instead of military power.  Love and trust triumphs over fear and hatred.  Peace with justice prevails over war and military conflict.

Dr. King’s Beloved Community is not devoid of interpersonal, group or international conflict.  Instead he recognized that conflict is an inevitable part of human experience.  But he believed that conflicts could be resolved peacefully and adversaries could be reconciled through a mutual commitment to nonviolence.

The core value of King’s Beloved Community is agape love, which he described as “understanding, redeeming goodwill for all…overflowing love which is purely spontaneous, unmotivated, groundless and creative…the love of God operating in the human heart.”  One expression of agape love is justice for all people.  As Dr. King often said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  He felt that justice could not be parceled out to some persons or groups, but was the birthright of every human being.  [Source: The King Center]

As we pause to reflect, to commemorate and to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we pray that social justice will become an ongoing and pressing concern for all.  According to the writings of the Prophet Amos, we must collectively travail until we ultimately prevail, i.e. until “justice run[s] down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:24, NKJV)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

IT IS WELL!

IT IS WELL!

One of my favorite hymns, entitled “It is Well with My Soul,” was composed in 1873 by Horatio G. Spafford.   I thought it would be inspirational to ‘sing’ it along with you.  Take courage, my sisters and brothers, your current circumstances notwithstanding.  YOU are who GOD says you are, not others, not your conditions, not your circumstances, not your bank accounts, and certainly not your aches, pains, trials, or troubles.  So prayerfully reflect on that reality, and sing these powerful, scripturally-based lyrics with me:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain
It is well…It is well…

With my soul…With my soul…
It is well…It is well…With my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel!  Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain
It is well…It is well…

With my soul…With my soul…
It is well…It is well…With my soul.

II Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

May the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit surround and sustain you, now and evermore.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

THE THREE F'S OF LIFE

THE THREE F’s OF LIFE

I read an interesting article by Michael A. Adeniyi.  And I thought it would be nice to share it with you, so it is reprinted below.  Enjoy!

FAITH and FEAR are significant measures that determine the FUTURE.  

Faith and fear are actually infectious because both will spread like epidemics, so you must be very careful about the things you listen to and the people with whom you choose to associate.  Many people have allowed the faithless words of others to drive them into despair and thus end up being future failures.

What is FAITH?

F - Future
A - Actions
I -   Intended and expected
T - To
H - Happen

What is FEAR?

F - False
E - Evidence
A - Appearing
R - Real

Thus, a person with fear is actually a coward because “a coward dies ten times before their death.”

Here is a true story that confirms this fact.  A man started running down the street of his town screaming, “The dam has broken.”  Women shopping in the supermarket heard the scream and they dropped their grocery baskets and joined him.  Men in the barbershop and offices heard the mob and joined them, as did the police and the firemen.  Soon the street was filled with people screaming, “The dam has broken!”  One old man ran as fast and far has he could and then sat down on the curb for a moment and thought, “I've lived here all my life.  What dam?”

The truth, the facts were quite simple.  There was no dam.  There was no danger.

A short while later the citizens came shuffling back into town, collectively embarrassed by their irrational response to fear.  Some suffered physically from the stampede; some even died.  Thankfully, most survived.  Lesson learned.  Reject FEAR and choose FAITH to create a better present and a blessed FUTURE.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1:7)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!