Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year

Enjoy the excitement of a new year.  Explore the wonder of a new season.  Step out of your comfort zone.  You will need to do so in order to receive what God has for you.  Step away from the 'little foxes' that cause you grief. Step around the hindrances of strife, discontent, confusion.  Step into the new leg of your journey by following Holy Spirit's lead.  Happy New Year!  type to you next year.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Not About Us

The more I talk with preachers the more I recognize that we take ourselves too seriously. I mean, it is an awesome responsibility to present God's word and to represent, but we are not really all we believe ourselves to be. It is so cool that He entrust s us with such a sacred mission, but we must keep in mind it is not about us. type to you later.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Look Forward

As we look toward 2012 pause to look briefly back into 2011.  Look at the joys, the pain, the sunshine moments, the stormy moments, the people who left, those who left you, those who came into your life.  That was that season.  Now turn around, face your future, not you past.  Look forward toward the next season.  Look with hope, look with faith that Holy Spirit will guide, look with promise.  Welcome the new season of 2012. type to you later.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

All Roads Lead to Detroit

I felt this was important enough to let you know.  All roads lead to Detroit July 26-29. If you have not registered, please do so now.  Please consider becoming a sponsor. For more information, please visit the website at www.livinginfullempowerment.com.
 
Living in Full Empowerment, Inc., a Michigan nonprofit, is sponsoring an economically, racially, ethnically, religiously diverse women's conference in the Detroit Metro area July 26-29,2012. We are reserving 200 seats for women at local Detroit homeless shelters and transition houses. Your generous sponsorship, which can of course exceed $2500, will help underwrite the attedance of disadvantaged women at this power, transformative conference. We have 16 workships from cake decorating, building a website to self care, sexual violence and chronic disease prevention, spiritual formation and so much more. Our opening plenary speaker is Marian Wright Edelman, Esq, the Founder/President of the Children's Defense Fund, which is the strongest advocate for women and children in the Country (Hilary Clinton was her first intern). Ms. Edelman was the first black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar, the 2000 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the author of many books. We are excited and want you as our partner.
Thank you. type to you later.

 

Monday, December 26, 2011

The Journey

The day after Christmas is just as significant as the day before. No, not for shopping, but that started the journey for us as believers. The star had been noticed by the Magi and they began charting what they had observed. 

Jesus was born, walked this earth for roughly 33 years, was crucified, died, rose again, and will return.  That is great news to be contemplated.  Take time with the magnitude of what it all means.  You are a part of God's grand plan.  Your journey has turned a new corner of life.  Take it all in.  Enjoy the journey.  type to you later.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

There is No Place Like Home

After attending a Redskins game with family, and making preparations to continue in our visit I found myself wishing that next year I would do something totally different.  I asked my nephew where would he be, if he could be anywhere at this time of year.  His answer brought me back to my reality- To be with family.  For all the aggravations, for all of the unforeseen events- there is no place I would rather be, than with family.  The only added treat for me would be to have my son's family here.  Family is so important in my life. 

I have been blessed to have family who loves and encourages me. And I have been blessed with 'family' in other venues, church, school, work, friends.  I recognize that many people do not have or have never had such community.  If you are in a loving community, thank God for them.  If you do not have such, I encourage you to look outside your immediate circle.  God will not leave you without support.  It may be close friends or your local body of believers.  Although Joseph and Mary traveled from family they were embraced by a larger audience of angels and shepherds.   And then on to a larger body in those who embraced them in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.  And all of this, in spite of Herod's scheme. 

Allow Holy Spirit to guide you, no matter your circumstance.  Don't miss those God places in your life.  Celebrate the love of family, whether biological or surrogate.  And in the words of Dorothy, upon her realization of family, "There is no place like home."  I bless each of you love, peace and the joy of your life.  Merry Christmas!  type to you later.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Blessings

Blessings of wonder in the expectancy of the day of the birth of Jesus.  May you feel the power of the Word coming to life. May you walk in the authority of your identity in God.  May you follow the guidance of Holy Spirit in all things. Merry Christmas, peace in your spirit in spite of anything you are going through.  Rest in God's promises to you. type to you later.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Share the Love

I recognize that many people are hurting right now.  And for them to feel the expectancy of this season is very hard.   I have come to understand that we must be clear on what we are expecting.  We can not hold hope in another person, a job, a house, a situation.  at any time those will let us down.  Our hope can only be in what God has revealed, Jesus has shown, and as Holy Spirit guides.  Oh, I promise, it will be hard at times, but it is not impossible. 

My son shared with me the story of a tragic event that happened last week.   He remarked that that family was indeed going through with no joy this season.  It is hard for them to expect anything but loss and pain.  I am clear that God placed my son right where he was in order to minister to that family, not in words, but in action.  My former pastor, F.G. Sampson, used to tell us, his ministers, "presence is ministry."  You don't know how you bless another just by your presence, by your witness.  Share your excitement, your hope with another.  If your hope is fainting, contact me, let's talk.  I am clear that there is a plan, and you are in it.  type to you later.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Are You Ready?

Just a few more days . . .until the celebration of Christiandom that ushered in our chance a life more abundantly.  Oh, you thought I was going to say, "few more shopping days."  I had a few people ask me, "Are you finished shopping?" Yes.  And I had a few ask me, "Are you ready for Christmas?" Yes.  Shopping?  Is that all it means?   Really, how does one 'get ready' for Christmas?  I have tried to see as many Christmas lights as I can.  I have tried to watch all the Christmas movies.   I have reread and reread Isaiah nine, and Luke two. I preached Luke one.  How?  How does one get ready?  What does that question really mean?  How can you get ready for such a celebrated moment?

I have slowed down in order to hear . . .to feel . . .  to receive . . . to know - the blessing of God through sending that precious son that secured my full life.  I have paused to  search for God.  I have quieted to hear more of God's will.  I have shrugged off excess baggage in order to receive.  Just to know how special I am to God is indeed humbling.  So you see, the more we receive from God, the less we become.  Get ready to receive God's love over and over again, and celebrate that love through the birth of Jesus.

Are you ready?   type to you later.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Waiting

Waiting can be hard sometimes, yet, it depends on what you are waiting on.  Too many people have been waiting on the wrong thing, or the wrong one. Since we are in the season of expectancy I suggest this is a great time to check your perspective, shift your focus.  Need I say more?  Wait on the Lord, and again I say wait.  Yes it is difficult, after all, you know everything there is to know about this life.  Waiting to hear, to follow will streamline your cluttered life.  And that is a cause for celebration.  type to you later.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Celebrate

As we move toward the celebration of the birth of Jesus, take time to celebrate. Let me explain. Take time to celebrate what Jesus means to you. Take time away from the flurry of shopping, spending, wrapping to celebrate how God has blessed you. Even if you are going through, not where you want to be, not doing what you thought you would be doing, take time to celebrate your life. It may be not what you had hoped, but GOD! It may not be where you thought but GOD! You see, you celebrate what God is doing. Celebrate God's love for you. 
You are in good company, after all, I'm sure that Mary's unwed pregnancy was not what she wanted. Gabriel greeted her,"Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." And then proceed with the bomb shell that she would bear a child. After reminding Gabriel that she was a virgin, Gabriel answered, "For nothing is impossible with God. Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said."

Hold on to where you are, it is a season, celebrate, whether good, weird, or other. Celebrate that Jesus loves you, Holy Spirit guides you, and you are in God's plan! For nothing is impossible with God. type to you later.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The Wonder of the Season

This season is a season of wonder.  Too often little things get in our way, and may cause us to miss the wonder.  You know, those distractions that veer us off the path and cause us to journey slightly away from our path. That 'slightly' begins to grow and we find ourselves concerned with issues that are so trivial that they mean nothing one way or the other to our growth.  But, at that time we are all in the confusion and are tossed to and fro.  Don't miss the wonder this season.  Don't let those little things cause you to miss what is available, even now.  Feel the wonder of life! type to you later.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Do You See What I See?

As we begin conversations with others,I think it may help our point of view, if we understand that people have a different point of view.  There are so many ways to view a subject, and a few ways to 'right'.  No, right is not relative; yet, we must be sure what that looks like.  For us, the absolute Right is Divine and God grants us knowledge of Truth through Jesus.  So we have a model,  we have a frame.  No, not rigidity- that is not love.  But a precious lens to view Truth, and to learn how to share with others.  Listen, share. type to you later.