Quick, Before It's Too Late!

What is the first thing you do when consciousness knocks on the door of your mind in the morning and you realize that the grace of God has granted you another day of living? For some of us, thoughts of what needs to be done that day come rushing in. For others, thoughts turn to who is with you or whom you want to be with you. Family house noises call you to move towards the regular morning routine. I go immediately into prayer talking to God before I engage my world.

Still others begin the day with a complaint on their lips. It’s like the old story of the man who went to a monastery for three years. He was only allowed to say two words per year. After the first year he said, “ Bed hard.” At the end of the second year he said, “Food cold.” At the end of the third year, he said, “I quit.” The leader of the monastery said, “It’s no wonder, said the Father. “All you have done is complaint since you’ve been here.”

Do a self-check today. Do you start the day complaining? How many times a day do you complain? Be honest. Complaining can be a contagious attitudinal life-style that can block the joy and peace that God can bring into our lives.

Instead of complaining about the things that are beyond your control, bring them to the Lord. I know, it’s tough, hard, you don’t feel like it, it’s troublesome, it’s not the weekend or a holiday yet, it’s cold, it’s wet, and it’s your job or responsibility. Ask God to change your attitude before all you do is whine and complain, whine and complain and whine and complain.

 Quick Lord, before it’s too late. Complaining has the capacity to kill joy and relationships. Who wants to work with or live with people who constantly complain about everything?

Try declaring a complaint fast for 24 hours. Put your daily gripes in the hands of God. Let me know in the comment section how you made out: winning or whining!

Repeat after me: Today Lord, cancel my pity party and grip sessions and then lead me to a winning attitude so I can experience joy and genuine thanksgiving!

“Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be innocent and without any wrong.”
Philippians 2:12-14 NCV

Let us pray:

Lord, deliver us from attending our daily gripe sessions. Forgive us for all of the time we’ve spent on self- pity and inviting others to our pity parties. Create in us a winning attitude instead of a whining attitude. Help us today to paint a beautiful picture on the canvas of life full of vibrant ideas to improve and move forward, the Lord being our helper.

Cancel the cancerous complaining that kills the love in my heart. Help us to give you everything that is beyond our control. Sweetened our spirit today and everyday.

Now, it is with grateful hearts that we are determine to live fully today. Thank you Lord for all you has been, all you are right now and all you shall be in our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Leave It and Walk Away

John 4: 43-54

“The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way.” — John 4: 50

This time was different. On this visit to Cana, Jesus had no need to dread the pinch of hometown skepticism toward His ministry. He received a warm welcome.Had the Galileans not recently witnessed His miracles, would the welcome have been the same? Would the official have sought him to heal his son?

Just like us, this official had an urgent need for Jesus. What he knew of Jesus was sufficient to draw him to ask Him to heal his son. This man took Jesus at His word and his son’s miracle would draw him and his family into relationship with Him. This official left his request with Jesus with no further beleaguering. He left it. He put it in the Lord’s hand. What about you?

Even when Jesus challenged his faith and belief, he was not deterred; he went his way in confidence that his son would be healed.

In times of prayer and fasting, we bring before God our needs for healing for others, self, relationships, habits, behaviors, prejudices—all the things that drive wedges in our connections with God and others. Just like the official, are we leaving these requests with God? Then confidently walking away knowing that God has heard us and will answer us?

Walking away is telling God that we completely trust Him.

Walking away is our act of surrender.

Walking away is walking closer to God.

Walk away. 

Walk toward the answer. God is at the end of the walkway with the answer in His Hand. Start walking…

Carlene Lenore
Nashville, Tennessee

REPEAT AFTER ME: Today, I will leave everything in the hands of God and walk towards the answer!

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Grace Essentially

"Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name."

Psalm 86:11

Majestic Lord, we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving. Teach us to walk in the truth of your Word and demonstrate this truth in thought, word and deed to those we encounter today. Open to us the mysteries of your grace so that we can know the difference between what is essential and what is convenient. Grace is essential.

Create in us a clean heart and renew right intentions within us. In Jesus Name, remove from us all evil intentions so that wrong motives do not ever mingle with holy desires. Amen

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Repeat After Me: Grace is essential! 

Release The Power!

January 1, 2013

Happy New Year! You are invited to make declarations of God’s Word over your life instead of New Year’s resolutions. In this way instead of promising yourself that you will do something, you are releasing the power of God’s Word to work in your life.

For the next seven days, I will share seven verses from the Bible. Declare the Word out loud releasing it into the atmosphere. Keep declaring God’s Word until what is spoken in the Spirit manifests itself in the natural. Sure, it sounds too strange to be true. But it is. God’s Word works and can work for you. Go to the listen section on the home page and download the Declare God’s Word introduction.

AND IT CAME TO PAST:

A little girl in our neighborhood was trying out the new bike she got for Christmas training wheels and all. As she wobbled down the sidewalk, she shouted to her father “Look at me! Look at me!” Her father promptly gave her a standing ovation.

All of us, whether we are children or adults want to be noticed. It’s human. We desire people to affirm our achievements and gifts in life. We enjoy being praised for doing good things, being listened to, getting hugs and attention. Sometimes these things happen and sometimes they don’t.

When our value and worth is not appreciated it can create stress and anxiety. One failure can end up defining who we are. A low self-esteem can even get in the way of making strong relationships or lead to not trying anything at all.

This year turn negative feedback aside with God’s Word. You are loved. You are accepted. You are God’s masterpiece to do good things.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called for a time when “…all men will respect the dignity and worth of human personality”. There is no time like the present.

Live forward this year. If no one encourages you, learn to encourage yourself in God’s Word.

My New Year’s Declaration

I am God’s masterpiece; I will do the good works that God has planned in advance for me to do!

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)

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Just Say Thank You!

Advent Praycation 2012

There are so many people stressed out about picking the perfect gift for someone right now. It can’t be any ole toy but THE toy of the season. It can’t be any pair of shoes but the ones that say you rank in the social pecking order. Oh no, it can’t be just any piece of bling bling the real bling that makes the heart $ing. The gift must be something special that says I love you, I care or you’re special, wonderful and I took all this time, trouble and expense just for you!

Half the people you care about want you to be a mind reader. You have to figure out what they really want without them telling you. The other half will give you a long list to pick from or want you to get the whole gift.

Amazingly, some people promise themselves that they will not get caught up in the shopping frenzy especially those who don’t shop or hate to shop. Yet they do. And you? Sure you’ll be out there getting the last minute something for someone or yourself. There is food to cook…lots of it. Final preparations to attend to….people are coming, you’ll be going… you’ll be giving and getting…won’t it be great?!

Try to remember whose birthday it is! Christmas is the time to celebrate with those around you that God reached down into the world and gave us the gift of all gifts. God knew exactly what we needed. So God did the God thing by reaching out to the world through Jesus Christ who came with salvation for all. Love invaded the world and grace came along for the ride. Hallelujah the Lord is come!

So this Christmas, if you haven’t already just accept THE  gift called Jesus. Say thank you a lot because this gift fits all sizes, races, and origins. This gift will never run out, run away or go away. Just say thank you, thank ya Lordy!

Repeat your Advent Affirmation throughout the day: In everything that happens today I will give thanks to the Lord.

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.”
Psalm 111: 1

Thanksgiving for God’s Love

O, Lord our God, how excellent is Your name in All the Earth!
We pause at this time in the Season of Advent with over flowing grateful hearts
And say, “Thank you, Lord!”
Thank You for Your unconditional love gift of Jesus, the Christ!
Thank You for loving us before we loved ourselves;
Thank You for sending Jesus that we might live through Him.
Thank You God for showing us that true love is patient,
And thank You for teaching us the endurance of true love!
Thank you God, for loving us through our sins
And providing us a way back to You and Your love.
Thank You for Christ’s unspeakable gift of eternal life!
We are truly grateful, Lord, in Jesus Name. Amen.
1 John 4:7a, 9-10

Bishop Sarah F. Davis
16th Episcopal District
AME Church

You're Worth it!

Advent Praycation 2012

Rejection is one of those things that know no gender, race, religion or social economic status. It happens to practically everyone in life. Friendship offered is refused. Genuine love given and it is rejected. An attempt at kindness is met with the cold shoulder. A gift is offered and then turned away.

We do not like it when a coach, teacher, parent, friend or family member makes rejection noises that sound like this: We don’t need you; you’re not wanted; if I needed you I would have called you; you don’t measure up; you’re not good enough, strong enough, bright enough, smart enough, wise enough or cute enough to be with us, play with us or be a part of our group. Rejection happens. It is painful when it does happen to us and yet we are blinded when we do it to others. Lord, forgive us!

Mother Teresa is reported to have said that there are drugs to treat people with leprosy. The drug however does not treat one of the main problems of the disease – that of being unwanted and rejected by everyone.

The Bible reminds us in this Advent season that Jesus came unto his own and was rejected. Jesus and His mission to save people from their sins was misunderstood and rejected. He tasted the bitter waters from the well of loneliness. Yet, he did not allow his haters and intimidators to distract him from what he was called to do. The opinions of the religions establishment and the whims of the populous did not deter Jesus from doing the will of the Father. What about you?

God loved you so much that he gave us his best gift - Jesus. And do you know what? You're worth it!

Repeat your Advent Affirmation throughout the day: Let wisdom flow from my mouth, compassion from my heart and understanding towards those who are misunderstood.

“He came unto his own, and own received him not.”
John 1: 11

Let us pray:

Almighty and Everlasting God, we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving for loving us even when we were unloving; holding us when others refused; helping us when we were turned away and accepting us without question. When the world has made rejecting noises, you whispered in our ear – Come all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest!

Forgive us Lord when the rejecting noises have come out of our mouths causing pain to someone else, even those closest to us. Help us Lord to forgive those who have rejected us. Help us to forgive ourselves when we have done the same thing to others.

Teach us to fight against the temptation to wallow in the self-pity when we feel unworthy and unloved. Empower us to rise above rejection to keep doing what you have called us to do in church, the community and country. Your love does not fail!

Show us a better way to demonstrate your love in great and small ways throughout the day. Let wisdom flow from our mouths, compassion from our hearts, joy from our souls and understanding towards those who are misunderstood. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Shut-the-Door

Advent Praycation 2012

Beloved,

Taking the time or making the time for shut-the-door prayer can be a challenge in any season of your life. It can elude you in the minutia of the day or with exhaustion at the end of it. Daily distractions can disrupt the time set aside for engaging in your spiritual disciplines. Even the most determined among us can get sidetracked.

No matter how busy you are today, take the time for shut-the-door prayer. The recent tragic events at the Sandy Hook School gripped all of us in its horror. It’s hard to imagine being a parent receiving the news that your first grader was shot and killed at school. It is equally hard to imagine being the one who has to inform that parent of the news or be the first responder who had to walk into that carnage to search for the perpetrator.

Beloved, it is time for shut-the-door-prayer! Only God can get us through a season of senseless acts in a school, a mall or a movie theater! Shut-the-door prayer will strengthen your grip on your shield of faith so you can hold it high again. The enemy of our souls has not stopped shooting fiery darts but the Lord has equipped us with what can quench them.

Prayer will also help you find the courage to do what you can to protect children everywhere from Detroit to Darfur or Calcutta to Connecticut.

Repeat your Advent Affirmation throughout the day: My hands are stronger to do the work before me, my heart can bare any burdens ahead and my mind is being renewed to make decisions that honor God.

"Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door."
Matthew 6: 6

Merciful God, we have shut the door against the intrusions of the day. We who are weary from the challenges and changes of this uncertain season seek rest in your eternal changelessness. Thank God that You are the same yesterday, today and forever more.

Speak now a word that dispels the clouds of doubt and fear. Speak a word that will sustain us in the mundane or monumental moments ahead. Speak a word that will strengthen our hands for the work before us, our hearts for any burdens to bare and renew our minds to make decisions that honor you.

In this shut door prayer, whisper your instructions so that we may emerge to do your will. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Vashti Muphy McKenzie

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