Question: What do you know to be true about God? This is a significant question due to the turbulent time of troubles that are currently confronting us. You must be closed in a coffin and covered with dirt not to be drenched with the doom and disaster of the daily news. Now, I am not dismissive to the reality that we are gripped by the global coronavirus (renamed COVID-19 by the World Health Organization) pandemic and along with it governmental declarations, Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations, and a severe and significant economic implosion. But beloved body of Christ, the media capitalizes on crisis in order to cash in!
Read MoreQuestion: Have you ever wondered why we are often in a hurry to worry or feel woe? Worry is defined as to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; to fret and woe is defined as grievous distress, affliction, or trouble (Dictionary.com). What we worry about or walk into woe is a plethora of personal circumstances and expected and unexpected life events. For example, these could include one’s faith, finances, family, future, faculties, facilities, food, and favor, just to name few. No matter what season you are in your spiritual walk with God there are times that you will forfeit your faith and jettison your joy because of worry and woe.
Read MoreCongruent means to be in agreement or harmony. More simply stated it is a reference to being “on the same page” with someone else. Generally speaking, when there is a titanic task or paramount project that requires more than one individual to bring the task to completion congruence is central for completion. As we transition from a working or professional setting to a personal setting such as marriage and family, we can substantiate that congruence is essential for a successful marriage and family.
Read MoreDeeply loved by God: Do you recall what our precious Lord reinforced with respect to our resolution to a relationship with him?
“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” 1 John 3:13 (KJV)
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12 (KJV)
Do you remember when our public schools were resolute in teaching our children what we referred to as the 3 R’s? Basically the three R’s are a reference to the bedrock of a basic, skills-oriented education program focusing on reading, writing and arithmetic. I respectfully submit to you that our schools have been seduced to supplant the 3 R’s with secular social constructs like: promotion of promiscuous sexual orientations, transgenderism, racial politics, anti-capitalist ideology, self-entitlement, indifference and intolerance of a biblical worldview as opposed to the ABC’S of learning. For our edification this week, I would like you to give consideration to the third R arithmetic aka math. As an elementary student, I remember my mathematical progression from adding and subtraction to the multiplication table.
Read MoreAfter over thirty-eight years of ministry, I have discovered that a good, godly grasp of the gift of God’s glorious grace is profoundly deficient among the people of God. Grace is too often understood to leave those unaddressed who are adamant in applying self-autonomy that undermines spiritual growth and surrender to the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, grace is erroneously implemented to launch a life of lawlessness in the name of liberty. So, let’s examine the scriptures in order to contrast godly grace with grace that is sourced in the soul of carnality.
Read MoreHas anyone ever challenged you that you are too “judgy”? Sometime ago my wife and I were in a conversation with another couple who, like us, also has adult children. The gist of our conversation was germane to resistance of accountability, specifically to accountability regarding Christian conduct. Whenever we, as parents, called attention to questionable conduct that was incongruent with the call of compliance to Christ, the retort has been consistently “Don’t be so judgy!”
Read MoreAre you familiar with the concept the ripple effect? A ripple effect is a situation in which, like ripples expanding across the water when an object is dropped into it, an effect from an initial state can be followed outwards incrementally. One of the fondest memories that I was blessed to enjoy as a little boy was going fishing with my grandmother; affectionately known to me and my siblings as “Mama’’. We referred to her as Mama because my biological mother and her sister called her “Mama,” so we mimicked the moniker and made it our own.
Read MoreOn July 19,1988, Jessie Jackson gave a soul-stirring speech to the Democratic National Congress that reached the hearts of every spectrum of humanity regardless of education, socioeconomic position or privilege. He closed his address with what I believe to be an anthem that will anchor the soul to be resolute in any unfavorable, oppressive and challenging situation: “Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive! Keep hope alive! On tomorrow night and beyond, keep hope alive!”
Read MoreIf you have lived long enough on this troubled terrestrial ball (aka earth) it is inevitable that you will be confronted by giants in your life. Giants are an insurmountable set of circumstances or events and experiences that you believe to be formidable and seek your demise. They are consistently characterized as being formidable opponents. They inspire intimidation or obeisance by being impressively enormous powerful and adept.
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