Carol Nash Lester

Pathways to Pentecost: Igniting the Power of God in Your Mind, Your Ministry and Your Marriage

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Copyright © 2005 by Carol Nash. Reprinted in 2012. All rights reserved.

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Pathways to Pentecost

Table of Contents

The Significance of Pentecost………………………………………………...1 The Power of Decision ….…………………………..…5 The Power of Agreement …...…………………..…. .25 The Power of Focus………………………………… 53 The Power of Balance ………….……………………77 The Power of Evaluation...........................................99

The Power of Pentecost

Pentecost is an experience and event meaning so many things to so many people. Originally an Old Testament festival, Pentecost has been calculated as beginning on the fiftieth day after the beginning of Passover, since the time of Josephus, the historian. In the Christian calendar, it falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter. It was called the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), and in the Old Testament, was originally an agricultural festival celebrating and giving thanks for the "first fruits" of the early spring harvest (Leviticus 23, Exodus 23, 34). In the New Testament, Pentecost is typically thought of as, not only the celebration of identity as covenant people of God, but also as the birth of the New Testament Church (heralded by the baptism of the Holy Ghost), as well as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2 and the promise of Jesus in Acts 1:8. Passion… Prophecy…Promise. This is the heartbeat of Pentecost. To me, Pentecost symbolizes the indwelling infusion of the power of God that is both resident and president in the life of the believer. It represents the pinnacle of living victoriously in Christ Jesus. Through the power of Pentecost, we are given the ability to masterfully exceed our greatest expectations and “boldly go where no man has gone before.”

The results of the Pentecost experience are phenomenal. Whether we are speaking of the Upper Room experience in Acts 2 or the upper room experience today, when one receives an infusion of Holy Ghost power, their life is never the same. It is characterized by: • Love • Zeal • Clarity • Boldness • Focus • Empowerment to Give and Serve.

The pathways to the Pentecost experience are typically taught in terms of the spiritual disciplines, such as corporate and individual prayer, praise and worship, fasting and introspection. I believe that there are “soul disciplines” that are just as important and just as powerful, in leading us to experience the power of Pentecost daily. Soul disciplines are acts and attitudes that lead to the un-foldment and up-building of our souls (our intellect, our emotions, and our will or choices).While not exhaustive, these disciplines can include: • Decision and Commitment • Agreement and Partnership • Focus and Clarity • Balance • Evaluation and Reflection.

The birth of the Church took place in the Upper Room. The birth of the God‟s Power in your life today also takes place in our upper room, which consists of our minds and our decision to work out of us that which God puts into us. The power of God exists in the life of the Covenant people of God not only for worship, but for warfare and walking out the promises of God. It is accessible and available to us, not only to connect with the Divine, but to fulfill the commandments of God to “be fruitful and multiply, replenish the earth, and subdue it and have dominion.” (Genesis 1:28) There are at our disposal practical principles that we can employ to ignite the power of God in our minds, our ministries and our marriages. As we walk toward Pentecost together, we will examine a few of the many paths God has given us to “turn the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). May God‟s choicest blessing always be yours,

Pastor Carol Nash Lester

Decision / Commitment Life in God is comprised of one decision after another. When I was in seminary, there was one night / morning around 2:00 a.m., in which I was waiting for a bus to take me home after a long day of work, internship, school and church. The plan was to get home, take a shower, change clothes and take 2 busses to get back to work for 6:00 AM, which would allow me to work full time while going to school full time, in addition to completing my required internship for graduation (mind you, this was all the while I was serving my church and volunteering in a battered women‟s shelter). I remember standing on the street corner shivering with tears in my eyes, asking God if preparing for ministry was worth all of the strama and sacrifice I was going through. I heard in my spirit that there was a price to pay for the anointing, and that it was expensive to serve with a spirit of excellence. I also heard that my experience was nothing compared to the price the Christ had to pay to serve humanity. The greater the struggle, the greater the power. The greater the stressing, the greater the blessing. That led to a “yes” in my spirit that is yet alive today and feeds me whenever I want to throw in the towel.

That decision to prepare to serve and the commitment to serve God‟s people would change my life forever and I must say that I have absolutely no regrets. You, too, are where you are today because of the decisions you made. For good or for ill, our choices are the building blocks of destiny. When looking at life in God, everything begins in the mind. The Apostle Paul teaches us “… for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). If faith in the existence of God is the seedbed of life in God, then it follows that life in God must continue with the choice to decide to live for Him. Belief, as important as it is, is only the beginning of life in God, however. Paul tells us that the second part of the equation is to “diligently seek Him,” which speaks of action. Indeed, the Apostle James asks us today, “Do you still think it‟s enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror!” James 2:18 (NLT). We‟re not doing God a favor by believing in Him. In order to really honor God and access the power of God in our lives, we must be committed, sold out, dedicated to the plan of God for our lives. In order to live the life that God is calling for, it requires steadfast commitment on the behalf of the believer. As we prepare to experience the power of Pentecost in our lives, let‟s commit ourselves anew to go the extra mile to reflect the light of God on our lives,

regardless of the condition or circumstance. Through tears and through pain, through sunshine and rain, popularity and obscurity, prosperity and lack, let‟s make the choice to stay the course and fulfill the mandate placed on our lives by our Divine Enabler, Jesus, the Christ.

“Dreaming all the time instead of working is foolishness. And there is ruin in a flood of empty words. Fear God,

instead.” Ecclesiastes 5:7(NLT)

Did you know that there is a direct correlation between reverence for God and what we do? Think about it… When someone says they respect you, you expect them to show some sign. When someone says that they love you, you expect the same, for we know that love is what it does. Solomon explains to us in today‟s text that, while there is nothing wrong having a dream, at some time we have to do something to manifest our dream or vision. What good is planning when there is no execution? The writer also says that empty words are the ruin of people who run their mouths. Talk is cheap, my friend. Empty words are only empty when they are not backed up with action. While we talk a good game about waiting on God, the truth is that the Savior has already given a means to prepare and manifest His promise to you. Waiting is more than sitting around singing, “Won‟t it be Grand.” Waiting means doing what you can for God, because He has given you “a seat in the Kingdom,” because you desire to live the abundant life Jesus came to give and you are living your life until the last drop. So daydream, if you must. Talk about the vision. Write it down and make it plain. Then plan your work and work your plan. Show your respect for God by doing what He says to do. God is waiting on you!

Thought for the day: Let me see you work it!

“And if it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve: but as for me and house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Going through transition is tough. A change of status requires a whole new paradigm, or pattern, of thinking and be-ing. As the children of Israel were transitioning from slaves to free, from workers to warriors, from subjects of dominion to those having dominion, God had to take them through many experiences. He had to allow them to fight many battles victoriously and teach them how to deal with loss. This portion of transition was just about to come to a close. With the majority of the conquest over, many children of Israel had reverted to old traditional religious (pagan) practices. Others consistently flirted with idolatry. God, through his servant Joshua, recounted all that the Lord had given them and all the Lord had done for them. Regardless of their belief and behavior, God had blessed them over and over, hand over fist - not because of what they did, but because of who and Whose they were. They were God‟s covenant people. One would think they would have been blessed into submission. Nevertheless, many of them had a “god on the side,” and backslid into trusting what they could see, rather than trusting the unseen One who was tried and true to them throughout the years. Joshua said, “Not so! God has been too good for me to reject.” Joshua said that he and everyone connected to him was going to serve the Lord.

What about you? As you walk through the pages of your life, you too will see the goodness of God reflected on every page. How are you going to respond to the goodness of God; with commitment or confusion? Who will you serve this day? The choice is yours. Thought for the day: I‟ve decided to make Jesus my choice!

“Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter

and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.”

Deuteronomy 8:1 (NLT)

As an academic advisor and adjunct professor at Miami Dade College, I have always made it my business to ensure that my students were well informed. When I was in the classroom, I would ask my students their goals and aspirations for their lives in general and at the College, specifically. Depending on their career goals and their short term objectives, I would chart a course of study for them that would take them from their time with me, through every term until graduation. As an advisor, it was my responsibility to know the requirements for the degree and program offerings, my task to enforce the academic policies and procedures and to be an advocate for the students. My point is that I knew exactly what they needed to do, and following my counsel would have gotten them their degrees or certificates in record time, if they adhered to my advice. We know that this was a big “if,” don‟t we? I can‟t tell you the number of times my students would sit across my desk and speak terribly about the College, about how we were trying to hold them back. Each time, I would ask a simple question, “Did you do what I told you to do?” The answer was invariably either a “no”

or met with silence, to which I would respond, “Now where is the conspiracy here?” My words were counsel, rather than commandment, but adhering to it would have brought them their desired goal… if they would but hear and heed it. In the same vein, there is a connection between adherence to God‟s Word and life, prosperity and dominion. Songwriter, John Sammis, penned the words, “...there is no other way to be happy, in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” There is no short circuit to accessing God‟s power in your life, no amount of money to be paid, no magic formulas, no secret steps, elite or clandestine organization, no grand conspiracy. It‟s a simple as this…. obedience brings blessing. Thought for the day: Trust and obey “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.” I Samuel 17:36 A shepherd‟s life is a hard one. From leading and feeding sheep, to watching and protecting them from those that seek to kill, steal and destroy, it is an around- the-clock job that calls for fortitude, persistence, and the greatest of courage. David was placed in the seat of responsibility as a youth. The benefit of youth is that a) you have an innate ability to trust God b) you don‟t have enough

experience to be afraid. Whatever the reason for the courage of David, he was blessed to experience victory and bravery in his youth as a shepherd, and this experience was going to directly impact his season as a warrior, and then, as a king. Our God is not a God of waste. Every experience we have; every joy and every heartbreak, every mountain and every valley, every test and every treat is used to make us who we are right now and to prepare us for future testing and blessing. David gained the strength to face the Goliath in his life years before they actually met. What bridges have you crossed in life? How has God brought you over? As you walk this path to Pentecost, recount what God has done for you, through you, with you, and to you. Whatever God has brought you through before, He will give you grace to either bear it or break it. You are victorious over every Goliath in your life. Receive that truth with Jesus‟ joy! Thought for the day: All things work together for my good!

And he [Elisha] returned back from him [Elijah], and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with

the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose and went after Elijah, and

ministered unto him.” I Kings 19:21

Every year, I get a chance to fellowship with a childhood friend when I go to the Potter‟s House Pastors and Leaders Conference. It‟s always a blessing to me, because, living so far away from home, I rarely come in contact with those familiar with my story (every now and then, you yearn for someone who knows your story beyond your sermon). The blessing of our friendship is that, not only do we have a common past, but we are able to live in and enjoy the present, as well as look toward the future. On my last trip to Dallas, my friend brought out his high school memory book and showed me the words I wrote to him more than thirty years ago. It made us both a little emotional, for there was a seed of the now me in the old me (it was profound, if I must say so myself!), There was a promise of the now him in the old him. We embraced that experience wholeheartedly and were able to let it go and see where and who we are today (I‟m so proud of him!). There comes a time when you have to make the choice move on with your life. Regardless of the love and comfort you have in your past or current situation, when God calls you to go forward, you have to “run and don‟t look back!”

Elisha lovingly burned his proverbial bridges when he received the mantle of Elijah. His way of living, his family and friends were all given a sweet goodbye as he surrendered to the call of God on his life. Our text tells us that he slaughtered his oxen (his means of lucrative income), burned the instruments of his trade, and threw his family an oxen bar-b-que before his departure. He was able to move forward without regret, without ties, without drama. God calls us to do the same. We are called to make a conscious choice to live in the reality of the promise of God, rather than the illusion of the lies of the adversary. Thought for the day: You can‟t go forward looking backwards!

“His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will

make you ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord.” Matthew 25:21

Have you ever met an applause addict? They will do anything, go anywhere, say anything to gain the approval and hear the applause of folk. Going through mental and emotional contortions and jumping through hoops to hear man say “well done” will not only make you crazy, but will sentence you to a life of lack, and possibly lead you to hell. There is a saying that “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” This means that we can‟t water down our mission, vision and assignment for the pleasure, comfort or approval of man. To do so is to get in trouble with God, and if I have to get a spankin‟ from anyone, I would rather it come from you, than from the Saviour. What is the main thing that God is calling you to do? If it looks too big and intimidating to you, try breaking it down into smaller pieces and being faithful to the pieces. As you faithfully master each piece, the whole will be easier to accomplish. No excuses! God won‟t hear them. Make up in your mind that if God has given you a talent - work that talent until the day is done. It will work, if you work it! If you faithfully work that one, God will bless you to master it and maximize it for His glory. He will even give you more, if He can trust you with the one.

Whatever God has called you to, hang in there! God will see you through it, and bless you to see the day when it becomes easy and brings to you the blessing that comes to those who are faithful. Believe it and watch God work! Thought for the day: It will work, if you work it!

“And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so

unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.” II Kings 2:9

The prophetic protégée Elisha had declared to his mentor and spiritual father, Elijah, that he wanted a double portion of his spirit. Elijah rightfully responded that this was a hard request to grant. So many times, we may look at the fame, fortune, or anointing of someone and wish we could “flow like that,” or even do more than they. While that may be an admirable desire (depending on the motive), it is not up to that person to grant. The decision is yours and yours alone. There are no shortcuts to power in God or the anointing of God. You can‟t have hands laid upon you and have that bestowed upon you. I was speaking to a staff person from the Potter‟s House one day, and I asked him how they were able to sit under Bishop Jakes‟ powerful spout on a regular basis. I told him that if I was continually under that kind of power, I would explode! He shared with me a conversation he had with Bishop, as he asked him about his ability to preach with such wisdom, power, anointing and stamina almost every day of every year. He said that Bishop told him, “If you spend as much time in God‟s face as I do, you could do it, too!” Case closed.

If you do what they do (e.g. consecrate yourself, study, and exercise discipline), you can accomplish more than you could ever ask or think, provided that you are preparing for your God-given assignment. All the discipline in the world will not empower you to walk in a path in which you are not called to walk. That‟s an invitation to frustration. What is the solution, then? • Be sure that you are pursuing God‟s will for your life and not your own will. • Be faithful to the one to whom you are joined. • Declare unwavering allegiance to your assignment (the God given person, place, purpose or plan) • Walk in the footsteps of the one sent to lead you there • Watch, work and worship. Elijah‟s solution was that, if Elisha was present (in his set place) when he made his transition, not only would he have Elijah‟s mantle, he would have a double portion of his spirit, as well. You know the end of the account. Elisha was persistently present until his mentor was translated to his eternal reward and history records that he, indeed, was able to perform twice as many miracles as his mentor. This was done not only in his lifetime, but even after his death, the bones of Elisha brought about resurrection to a lifeless situation. Diligence and faithfulness…. a small price to pay for the anointing you desire.

Thought for the day: I‟m willing to pay the price!

“For a righteous man may fall seven times, And rise again; But the wicked shall fall by calamity.” Proverbs 24:16 (NKJV)

Donnie McClurkin sang it so well, “We fall down…. but we get up, for a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up.” I know that many, if not all of us have experienced some things that would make others don a straight jacket. We have taken the best (or worst) shots of the enemy and although wounded, we have survived and are stronger, smarter, and more powerful. We are like Bay-Bay‟s kids…. “We don‟t die, we multiply!” When you have the power of God on the inside, you are given strength to face tomorrow, wisdom to outsmart your foes and power to conquer the wiles of the adversary. There is no way that the child of God can lose. Even if we lose our life on this side of heaven, God‟s Word declares that “…to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)”. Checkmate, devil! I don‟t know how people make it without the presence and power of God in their lives. I guess the real answer is…. they don‟t. The writer of today‟s texts tells is that the wicked shall fall by calamity. Life in God doesn‟t ensure that everyday will be sunny and it doesn‟t guarantee that we won‟t make mistakes. We will have valleys to counter our mountain experiences. Some of us will make

mistakes, while others of us will boldly choose our desire rather than the desire of God. As long is there is breath, as long as there is God, there is the ability to get up, dust yourself off, and jump back in the saddle. Know this: that with the power of God, you can get up again. How can you access this gettin‟-up power? • Make a decision to live for God. • Receive strength to get up through fasting and prayer. • Make worship a priority, meaning, don‟t wait until Sunday morning to give God a praise! • Be intentional about associating with people who are where you want to be spiritually. • Hone your circle to people of vision. • Determine never to give up, no matter the cost. • Keep your ear to the ground to receive your daily marching orders from the Lord. You may fall, but with God‟s power, you, too, can get back up again! Thought for the day: I may be down, but I‟ll never be out!

“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given, seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.”

Luke 11:9

The story is told that a man was in the middle of the ocean, as his boat had capsized. He cried out to God with all his might, saying, “God, help me!” Shortly thereafter, an ocean liner came by and threw out a life vest. He said, “No thanks, Mr. Captain, I‟m gonna wait on God!” Shortly after that, a helicopter hovers over him and a ladder is thrown down for him, to which he says, “No thanks, Mr. Pilot, I‟m gonna wait on the Lord!” Then he hears a man crying from the shore, “Hold on, I‟m coming out to get you,” to which the man says, “No thanks, my brother! I‟m just waiting on the Savior!” Shortly thereafter, he drowns. When he makes his transition, he walks up to Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates and says, “I‟m so glad to be here, Saint Peter, but I feel so defeated! I cried out to God to save me and He just let me die!” To which, Saint Peter says, “My brother, we‟re so glad to have you here, but the ship, the helicopter and the swimmer were sent by God to deliver you and each time, you turned it down. All the time he was “waiting on God,” he could have been delivered. Sound familiar? You do know that “waiting on God” is sometimes used as an excuse for inactivity in the Body of Christ, don‟t you? God has

already given us the “stuff” we need to accomplish what He calls to do, and that which we currently don‟t have can be accessed when we get our minds, bodies and spirits in gear. God is a God of movement, and His power is activated in us when we move. Sometimes all of the answers, resources or plans are not readily apparent when we begin a new venture. When you‟re following through on a mandate from God, the most important thing you can know is that God sent you, and the most important thing you can do is to be faithful to the call. As you are in motion toward fulfilling God‟s mandate, the answers, the resources, and the plans appear. Nothing will happen, however, if you simply wait on God. In the times that God has you in a holding pattern, there are still things God want you to do….worship Him, hear Him, heed Him; ask, seek, knock. There‟s always something to be done when you‟re in the army of the Lord. Thought for the day: I‟m coming out of my holding pattern!

“And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send

me.” Isaiah 6:8

I can think of few things as fulfilling as being used by God to fulfill His purpose. While not an easy road, while not a quick road, it is nevertheless a path that offers great reward on earth, and by faith, in heaven. When I was younger, I knew that I wanted to serve God, but I wasn‟t sure what to do. I could find no clear cut pattern of the concept of “call” in the scriptures. Jeremiah seemed to be called while in his mother‟s womb. The same could be said about John the Baptist. Samuel‟s mother sent him to be raised in the tabernacle, which was where God called him, while it was yet twilight. Jesus‟ birth and mission was prophesied centuries before His birth. The more I read, the more confused I became. So fearful was I of doing the wrong thing, that for months, all I did was worship, just waiting for an answer. Then, several turns began to occur in my life. One of the turns came in the fulfilling of an assignment for class to write my autobiography. As I wrote my life story, I saw certain patterns in my life. The patterns seemed to indicate being “chosen,” of rising as “one from among many” to assume leadership; in school, in church, in my circle of friends, virtually everywhere I went. Like a cycle, it kept

occurring, along with patterns of compassion and outreach. (My mom told me that when I was a little girl, I told her that the only thing I wanted for Christmas was a doll named, “Lil‟ Miss No Name.” Mamma said the doll was SOOOO ugly, that she asked me why I wanted it. She said that I told her, “I know she‟s ugly. She needs somebody to love her. That‟s me!” Mamma said she and my aunt shopped heaven and earth to find that ugly doll, so she could get some Carol Nash kinda love.). As I evolved, I found myself ignited with a passion for learning, a love for God, a thirst for excellence, and a never quenched desire to facilitate growth and healing in others. As I searched for where to flesh out who God made me to be, I continued to evolve. Each assignment led to others and here I am today and I‟m not through yet! This is a quick summary of how I came to know my pace and place in God. How can you find your path and calling? Ask yourself: 1. What is my overwhelming desire? What am I

passionate about? 2. What opportunities (or challenges) has God

put in my path? 3. Have I received a “green light” from God, or

the one He has given to lead and feed me? 4. What kind of fruit is evident in my efforts?

What am I already doing in serving God that demonstrates that God is with me?

5. What skills, gifts or talents do I have in my arsenal? What areas are in need of what I have to offer?

The main thing, however, is to make yourself available to do what you can do RIGHT NOW in the service of the Lord. As you remain faithful to that assignment, avail yourself to be used of God wherever He should choose to place you. As you go and grow, God will make it plain to you what your life‟s assignment is to be. When you say yes to God, joy unspeakable can be yours. Thought for the day: Lord, I‟m available to you!

Agreement/Partnership

King Solomon, in his wisdom, said “Two people can accomplish more than twice as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble….A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-11, 12 NLT).” Throughout the scriptures, you find a multitude of examples of the power of connection, of agreement and partnership. It was the design of God that we would be relational beings. When He, through the Apostle Paul, crafted a picture of what the Church would look like, He chose the picture of a body. Just as a collar bone cannot function well without connecting bones and tissue, just as the head cannot live without the body and the body without the head, we need each other, in order to move into our destiny. The enemy would have us to believe that we can make it on our own. You even hear praise songs say that “'long as I got King Jesus, I don‟t need nobody else!” Listen, Jesus did not live a hermit‟s life. He had disciples, and among the disciples, he had an inner circle. Among the inner circle, He had someone with

whom He entrusted His mother. Jesus had a friend in Lazarus, was known to enjoy a good party, and loved the company of children. As heirs of God, who is the Essence of love, and as joint heirs of Jesus, who is the Expression of love, we need to be connected, to receive the full benefit of His divine power. Just think of the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:4 tells us that those waiting in the Upper Room were on one accord when the fire of Pentecost fell. I believe that it would not have taken place at that day and time, if there was confusion, drama or division in the room. This affirms that the power of agreement provides the atmosphere for the power of God to manifest. It‟s like that in our personal lives, too. When we as disciples, we as couples, we as colleagues, we as family and friends come together with the same mind and the same heart, we set the atmosphere for the yoke-destroying anointing to fall. Doesn‟t mean that we can‟t have our own ideas and opinions. It does mean that we can come together on common ground and work together to win the prize. Jesus said, “A home divided against itself is doomed. (Mark 3:23 NLT).” Whether it‟s my house, your house, the church house, the court house or the White House, if its inhabitants don‟t stand together in agreement, they are speaking their demise. As we walk together toward Pentecost, let‟s vow anew to let nothing come between us. Our victory, even our very existence, is at stake.

“… a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 If there was anything about which Solomon was an expert, it was on relationships. I‟m not quite sure if this expertise was gained in the appropriate way, but expert, he was. One thing we can glean from the experience of Solomon was the blessing, benefit and burden of agreement and partnership. What is the threefold cord that is not quickly broken? That cord consists of you, your partner and God. Trust me… if your relationship is held together by only you and your partner, it is all too easy for any enemy to creep in and destroy, whether that enemy is fear, doubt, distrust, anger or condemnation. Those elements or emotions are ingredients guaranteed to search and destroy, even if we are careful. The Apostle Paul tells us that “he [meaning Christ] is before [or should be first] all things, and by him all things consist [belong, dwell in]” Colossians 1:17. That means that when Christ is in first place of all of our endeavors, be they financial, relational, vocational or spiritual, His presence is guaranteed, and where His presence is, “there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).” In other words, the closer we draw to God, the closer we draw to each other. Watch this:

God

You Me

The closer I get to God is the closer I get to you. Effective communication skills are wonderful; conflict resolution skills are great; but if I really want intimacy with you, the best way to get there is via intimacy with God. Listen, we are living in a time when it‟s easy to become divided, distracted and discouraged in the best of relationships. According to Solomon, when God is wrapped throughout your relationship, or when you and your spouse are wrapped together, and together, you are wrapped up in God, the cord of your relationship is not easily broken. Sounds like both insurance and assurance to me. Look, times change. People change. Relationships change. The coca cola shape you fell in love with has become a 2-liter now. The “six pack” you fell for has become a keg. The hair you used to run your fingers through has become a weave or toupee. It happens. When you are your companion are committed (beyond feelings) in covenant with God and with each other, you can receive strength to weather the storms. Let‟s look at some ways to strengthen our connection: • Strive to learn each other’s language. You may be a talker. You companion may be a listener. Don‟t expect him or her to respond to situations in the same manner as you.

• Take time for a “weather report.” Check in with each other to see how we‟re doing in various areas of our lives. You may not want to bring the office home with you, but it that‟s what it takes to make your spouse feel more involved in your life, consider selectively sharing your victories and challenges. • Commit to regular time with each other. Whether you go to the movies or watch them at home, whether you go out for a candlelight dinner, or make a meal and eat on the floor, dedicate time just for you and your companion. Don‟t let anything or anyone interfere with that, except for emergency (that you both consider to be an emergency). • Make it a point to worship together. Even though you may not be able to sit together, even if you don‟t go to the same church, at some point, you want to worship together. Sharing the same experience is a boon to your relationship. • Institute family devotion time. Prayer with another is one of the most intimate things you can do together as a couple. Husband, cover your wife in prayer daily (and let her hear you do so). Wife, make sure you shield your husband‟s back in prayer. When together, you touch and agree before God, your intimacy will increase. • Set some “corporate” goals together, and periodically re-evaluate your progress. This will increase your communication time and strengthen

your bond as together; you solve problems and watch God bring them to conclusion. • Learn to respect teach each other’s differences. While they may initially get on your nerves and cause friction in your relationship, understand that you partner‟s differences are actually a tool of God for your “complete-ment”. Are you a giver with a spending companion? You may need to loosen up and he may need to tighten up. As you compromise and grow together, you become more balanced as individuals, for the betterment of your union. • Celebrate each other’s strengths. No one should beat you praising your mate! Do a little dance, shout Hercules, Hercules! Whatever your flavor, your spouse needs to feel like royalty in your presence. Make it happen with a praise. • Shore up your mate’s weaknesses. Know that you are an answer to your mate‟s prayer. Wherever they need strength, make it your business to facilitate their strengthening. Whether you can directly provide it, it set the wheels in motion to manifest it, serve to help your mate become stronger. Like Vidal Sassoon says, “When you look good, we look good!” When your mate shines, guess what? You shine even brighter! • Resolve to always watch your mate’s back. In a day when many spouses see their companions as competition rather than a complement, you‟ve got to know that your enemy is the adversary, the accuser of the brethren. You and your mate are on the same

team. There‟s no time to fight about whose turn it is to call the play. Your spouse should never have to worry about being stabbed in the back, because you‟re watching with your eyes and you‟re keeping them covered in prayer. Accept the assignment and you‟ll both be the better for it. Thought for the day: “Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad, let‟s stay together! -Al Green

“Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place to the devil.”

Ephesians 4:26-27

Have you ever had a taste of day-old spaghetti or collard greens? Yum, yum! When the dish has a chance to sit, the spices have a greater chance to thoroughly saturate your meal, making it tastier and easier to consume. Did you know that emotions work the same way, for good and for ill? Joy, left marinating multiplies, until it becomes absolutely contagious, infecting everyone you meet. On the other hand, anger works much the same way. Anger, left overnight (or, God forbid, for days, months or years) marinates and spills over into other relationships and avenues, infecting everyone you meet. It continues to build until the day your perceived offender asks you to pass the salt and you end up throwing the skillet at them. O my! Our text today says that the wise thing to do is to: • Understand that you can love God and be angry • “Own” or acknowledge the anger, but don‟t compound the offense by using your anger as an excuse or an avenue to sin against the offender (whether the offender is real or perceived) • Deal with it as soon as possible, so as not to give the enemy a foothold in your relationship and in your life. When I was younger, I didn‟t know that it was ok to be saved and angry. Because I wanted to exemplify

Christian femininity, I began to stuff my feelings in, which caused them to manifest in a myriad of illnesses; headaches, hives, chronic indigestion and other things I can‟t put in print. Those weren‟t caused by bad genes or food poisoning. It wasn‟t the work of the enemy against me. It was what I did to myself, in the quest to “give peace a chance.” Thank God for growth! I have since learned that, with the power of God, I can clearly express what‟s on my mind without using colorful language, downgrading your ancestry, or questioning the circumstances surrounding your birth. I can express myself without the finger shakin‟, head bobbin‟ and hip slingin‟. I can represent Christ and still get my message across! Don‟t sabotage your relationship, regardless of the nature. Clear the air by helping the other party understand how you feel. The enemy has enough to do without us handing him extra work in destroying our partnership. If you‟re too upset to talk at the moment, take time to gather your thoughts, but don‟t let too much time pass before you address it, either with yourself or the other party. The point that the Apostle gives to us is that clear communication is a major key to keeping the enemy out of our partnerships. Accept your right to feel as you do and handle it in a way that brings praise to God, rather than glory (attention) to the enemy. You‟ll be healthier and happier if you do.

Thought for the day: Let‟s clear the air.

“Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in

thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband,

and how thou hast left thy father and mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which

thou knowest not before.” Ruth 2:10-11

My Mother and Grandmothers taught me something that they engrained in me early in life. I‟m sure yours‟ taught you, too. “What goes around, comes around.” It took me awhile to understand what they were trying to inculcate, but life gave me plenty of examples from which to learn. Throughout the scriptures, you find what some call the Rule of Reciprocity, in other words, “what goes around, comes around.” It is a law that God sets forth in motion in the Genesis of time, and it ripples through the Revelation of eternity. In today‟s text, Ruth is overwhelmed at the kindness of Boaz in showing favor to her and in essence helping her to care for her mother in law. Did you know that favor shown to you is oftentimes not about you, your talent, gifting or education? When you bless others, God will set your goodness in motion to turn right back around and bless you - sometimes hours, days, months or years later (when you‟ve forgotten the good you have done and you need most

to be blessed). The people don‟t have to like you to bless you. They don‟t have to know you to bless you. The force of what you have set in motion through your obedience to God compels them to grant favor to you. Don‟t you just love the Savior? Ruth had no motive for helping Naomi, other than to stick close to her blessing and seek to bless her in return. What this says to me is that somewhere prior to the death of their husbands, Naomi blessed Ruth to the point that she was ready to leave her friends, family and homeland to stay at the side of her spiritual mother. What does this say to us today? • Parents (spiritual or natural) should know that when we show forth love, righteous instruction and genuine concern for those to whom God has given us, that we are never left forsaken. • That when children bless their parents (natural or spiritual), that your blessing is set in motion to bless you in return and bring you to your next assignment and life-long blessing. Know that every loving deed done, every wise word spoken, every prayer prayed for another is heard by the Father, and that those deeds, words and prayers serve as seed for your healing, growth and abundance. Receive it and be blessed!

Thought for the day: What goes around, comes around.

And the Lord God said, It is not good for man to be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.” Genesis 2:15 We serve a God who is the essence of wisdom, power and creativity. Through the power of His Word, He created the universe, everything and everyone in it. He did it so masterfully, that He had to pat HimSelf on the back and declare, “A+, God!” Everything God made was good…except for one thing. Man, as fearfully and wonderfully made* as he was (Tell God, Thank ya!), he was not good… alone. Man, with all of his blessings, gifting and graces, cannot manifest a complete representation of the image of God, for the image of God cannot be limited to a manifestation of one. The image of God is both grace and truth, praise and worship, knowledge and discernment, power and glory. This means that if we want to represent the totality of the image of God, we must be joined to another. Hear me, this does not necessarily mean joined in marriage. The joining refers to connecting to help meet, or suitable, for you. Every talker needs a listener; every spender needs a saver; every introvert needs an extrovert; every disciplinarian needs a nurturer. This is God‟s way of providing the balance we need, as well as the grace we need to fully represent Him. God is so big, He can‟t be put in a box of your personality, gifting or talent, no matter how great your anointing. He

chooses to give us at least one other to work with us to grow into a real representation of the Divine. The question on the table is: • What are you doing that requires help? • What kind of help do you need, or, what is suitable… for you? The help you are currently looking at may be suitable for someone, but are they suitable for you? The gifts you have may be awesome, but is that what the person needs to accomplish God‟s call on their life? Is your help really helping or is it hurting or crippling? Bishop Jakes says that there must be a meeting of the minds regarding expectation on both parties in every enterprise, in order to clear up any potential confusion and to point you to those to whom you should be joined. If you don‟t, you may end up wanting help in terms of a typist, where they‟re looking for help along the lines of romance. Clear that up, child of God! Our text today shows us that: • As great as we are, we are even greater when we are joined with those who are suitable for us. • That to “earn” a help meet, we must be doing something or going somewhere that requires help. • That God doesn‟t intend for us to be alone. That‟s why He calls

us the Body of Christ (rather than the nose of God or toe of Jesus). A body cannot be a body, without joining with other parts crafted by God. *Psalms 139:4

Thought for the day: We are one.

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the

weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.” I Peter 3:7

Whirlwind courtships make me nervous. Although it is said that you never really get to know someone, I just believe that time has a way of allowing true colors to shine through. Peter‟s counsel to men of God is that they are to dwell with their wives according to knowledge. To dwell doesn‟t mean to merely stop by, or simply use the same door key. To dwell with someone means: to “settle in” with them, to purpose to join with them, to “wrap your mind around” your relationship, to commit to making a home with them. You would have no idea of the numbers of people who marry without having made the choice to dwell, and as a result, end up quitting much too fast. Not only are you called to dwell with them, you are called to dwell with them according to knowledge. This knowledge implies intimacy that transcends sexuality. Can you tell when her feelings are hurt? Do you know her fears, dreams and desires? What stimulates her Holy Ghost imagination? What fuels her gifting? You‟ve got to know these things in order to minister to her, to meet her at her deepest need, to cultivate her (for that is the job of a husbandman). A good husband also has to have knowledge of himself – his strengths, his challenges, his potential.

Lastly, a godly husband also must have knowledge of God, for it is that knowledge that can take you from having a good marriage to having a God marriage. In intimacy with God, He will give you insight on how to best pray for your mate, how to build her up, how to bring out the best in her, so that she becomes your elect lady. As the commercial says, knowledge is power. The next things godly husbands are called to do is to honor their wives. To honor someone means to respect them with the respect that goes beyond what you say – it reaches forth into what you do and who you are. You can‟t honor what or who you don‟t know. You can‟t dwell with someone that you don‟t honor. Shack with, yes. Live with, yes. Dwell with…. no. When the scripture speaks of honoring the wife as the weaker vessel, it in no way implies that the wife is “lesser than” the husband, or that her abilities are weaker than his. It does imply that there are complementary strengths, along with a difference in physicality that may make the wife physically weaker in terms of strength; however, anyone witnessing a woman travailing in childbirth can testify to the power of a woman in terms of endurance. Peter also admonishes godly men that his wife is a joint heir with him in the grace (or the power) of life, that both blessings and burdens are meted out by virtue of your joining. So intense is the power of connection with God, husbands and wives, is that God does not allow you to speak to Him without speaking to your mate.You just can‟t earn points with God by dishonoring your mate.

Isn‟t it wonderful to know that God honors the covenant between husband and wife? Thought for the day: What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

“And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before… And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; and our

enemies shall fall before you… For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and

establish my covenant with you.” Leviticus 26:7-9

The Body of Christ is a place where addition is really

multiplication and subtraction is actually division. When the children of God come together, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish. The scriptures are complete with examples of the power of agreement in effect on the sons and daughters of the Most High and our corporate ability to make the devil turn his tail and run. When our hearts and minds come together on one accord, it accelerates the powers of heaven to move on our behalf and sabotages the plan of the enemy. When we are divided, the devil claps his hands, does a jig and throws a party. For this reason, we can‟t afford to take our toys and go home when things don‟t go our way in a partnership. If we do that, not only do we miss our part in the corporate anointing, we negatively impact the anointing for the rest (remember that subtraction is really division in the spirit). Of course God is still going to move, however, if it were not His will for you to take part in putting the enemy to flight, if you had nothing to add that would put the enemy under your

feet, you never would have been sent there in the first place. This means that when God joins you to a body (an assembly, an organism or organization), there are some things that must be overlooked for the greater good. I‟ve got to tell you that you find what you‟re looking for. If you‟re looking for clarity in the midst of your partnership, you‟ll find it. If you‟re looking for confusion, you‟ll find that, too. Keep your eyes on the prize and your face toward your assignment. Don‟t let anything or anyone come between you and your corporate goal, for when we come together in addition, God multiplies our power. God then orders our partnership to be fruitful and then establishes a covenant with us. When you‟re in covenant with God, whether individually or collectively, victory is assured. Thought for the day: There are just some things that we cannot do alone.

“And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that, when ye fail, thy may

receive you into everlasting habitations.” Luke 16:9

Once, when I was head of the Single‟s ministry at another church I belonged to, I was doing a needs assessment among the unmarried in the congregation. One of the needs indicated was for financial counseling. The person who identified that need asked if I was going to provide the counseling, seeing that I was the leader of the ministry and a preacher. Of course, I told her that since I wanted her finances to be blessed rather than wasted, I loved her too much to subject her to my financial advice. Her next question was if the one providing the advice was saved. When I asked her why, she said, “ Cause the world can‟t tell me nothing, hallelujah!” Did you know that Jesus said, “…the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” (Luke 16:8)? Jesus, while not commending dishonesty, was praising the shrewdness in the planning of the unjust steward. The steward knew that his time at the job was growing short, and made arrangements to cover his financial future. Even though the arrangements made were shady, Jesus could appreciate someone who thought on his feet. Look at the principle in action here. You don‟t have to have a saved financial planner. If your financial planner is a Buddhist but knows how to LEGALLY and

ETHICALLY maximize the funds that you have, wisdom says to listen to them, in Jesus‟ name. On the other hand, everyone who says “Praise the Lord!” is not necessarily proficient in all areas, neither do they

necessarily have integrity. It‟s like going to a chef to have your wisdom teeth extracted. They may be a good chef, but they just don‟t have the expertise in what you need. Bishop Jakes, in his message, This is Not the Time to Change, jokes about people going to a sanctified hairdresser. You feel good that she‟s spirit-filled and everything, but meanwhile, your scalp is on fire and your hair is falling out, because she‟s too busy talking about the message the pastor preached and going into praise and worship, when it‟s time to wash the relaxer out of your head. Please!!!!!! The point of the text today is to understand that our associations as people of God should not only be relegated to those we sit with in church, but that we should also know those that sit in the courthouse, that we affiliate with those in the choir room and the Board room. You never know if God is going to use that association to bless you in the time of need. You also never if God is going to use you to speak life into their lives. Don‟t discount people because they aren‟t saved. In the same vein, don‟t place lofty expectations on someone just because they are. Perspective is the blessing of the wise. Let it bless you, in Jesus‟ name. Thought for the day: Variety is the spice of life.

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness and lawlessness?”

II Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV)

The story is told about how the hare began the race with a burst of speed, but in course of the race, ran out of steam. The tortoise, on the other hand, started out slowly, and moved slowly through the course and was able to win the race, due to endurance. The moral of the story was “slow and steady wins the race.” Can you imagine what would happen if the tortoise and the hare were stuck together, by way of a yoke? The tortoise would get whiplash from the hare dragging him down the speedway. The hare would break his collarbone trying to get him to keep pace (do hares have collar bones?). Picture it! This is what it is like to be joined to an unbeliever. A yoke, by definition, is a contraption joining two animals together, enabling them to work together as a team. It makes it extremely difficult to run a race together when you are two different species, indeed, when you are of different ilk, it is difficult running the same race… period. It‟s not about being better than others. It‟s not about being so holy that you are contaminated by others not sharing your values. It‟s about being different.

When one‟s ways are not yielded toward God, you may have much in common, but you are fundamentally different at the core of your being. It makes it difficult to relate in any meaningful way, for your whole life‟s orientation is different. The prophet Amos asks the question,”can two walk together, unless they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) Can two work together? Yes! Can two talk together? Of course, but walking implies movement. When you are moving in the direction that God intends for you, it is imperative that those with whom you are yolked be of the same mind. To be of another mind is to slow you down, or drag them up. This is a recipe for confusion, frustration and disaster. This is not a call for spiritual cloning, however. It is a call to maximize momentum by joining or yolking with those who are going in the same direction. Doing so will ensure greater ease and reaching your God ordained destiny in record time. Thought for the day: I‟m in it to win it!

‘But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, and Aaron and Hur

supported his hands, one on one side and one on another. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.” Exodus

17:12

As much as we try to get around it, we need each other to accomplish the Master‟s plan. Each having different strengths, different graces, different perspectives, together we make the enemy quake in his boots. Sometimes when you‟re working in the Kingdom, however, the enemy tries to make you feel that you are alone, or that you are the only one serving the Body of Christ. Nothing can be further from the truth. Each of us in our various ages, stages and anointings, have a role to play which is being ignited to realize the power of God in the midst of battle. Joshua had the wisdom to know that he couldn‟t watch his back and fight the enemy at the same time, so he went with this greater strength and submitted to Moses, who operated in his strength. The Word does not say that he muttered under his breath (Look at Moses sitting over there with his hands up! Why doesn‟t he use those hands to help me over here?!?). Moses had the wisdom to know that, even though he was strong enough to physically subdue his enemy at

a younger age, it was foolish to try to do this in his twilight years. His giftings were better used in maintaining His connection with the power of God and watching the back of Joshua. Aaron and Hur had to be secure in themselves that, while

they weren‟t called to be Moses, while they were not called to be the general like Joshua, that as those called to assist the man of God, their giftings allowed them to take the pressure off of Moses, thus ensuring the victory on the nation. When someone is busy utilizing their giftings and pursuing the call of God on their lives, there is no room for jealousy and envy of anyone else. What does this mean for us? • We need to seek to know what God expects of us, as individuals and as a Body. • We need to our best to employ singleness of heart in the execution of our God-given assignment. • We need to purpose in our hearts to complement those on your team, rather than compete. • We need to remember that we have an enemy and the enemy is not our partner or teammate. • We need to celebrate the victory that comes when we all work together! As we walk together toward Pentecost, refuse to allow the enemy to show you what your partner is not doing. Allow the Spirit of God to help you to focus on what

you need to do. When you do these things, you literally kick the enemy to the curb. Thought for the day: I need you to survive!

“And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the

child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak Lord; for

thy servant heareth.” 1 Samuel 3:8, 9

A few months ago, I began to ponder my spiritual DNA. My natural DNA is obvious. When you met Willie Nash and when you meet Juanita Nash, it is clear that I am their progeny. I not only look like them, but I also carry some of their ways and personality. This is without forethought or practice. As one reared in their household, as one taught by them to walk and talk, it is natural that I would reflect them and carry them in me. I am also like my Heavenly Father. In many ways, I say what He says and do what He does, for I am made in His image and likeness. My Daddy is love, and He empowers me to love. My Daddy is a giver, and He blesses me to give. This is without forethought or practice, for as one reared in His house, as one He has taught to walk and talk in the Spirit, it is natural that I would carry Him in me, for He carries me in Him. In the same vein, I also have also spiritual parents. As I began to ponder and question who they really were, I could not point to one person and say that I was purely like them. Indeed, upon hearing me preach, my

former pastor said that he knew of no one that I was like and he was right…. at that time. Since then, God has revealed to me the origin of my spiritual DNA. Unlike the biological realm, I have a number of people who have made a spiritually genetic deposit in me. I received my teaching anointing from Dr. William Lawson, my childhood pastor. I received my shepherding anointing from Bishop Roland Martin, my pastor while I was in seminary. My administrative, preaching and pastoring gene is reminiscent of my covering, Bishop T.D. Jakes. My anointing for vision comes from Dr. Doris Akins. Samuel, in today‟s text, heard the voice of God through the voice of his spiritual father. This means that his dad in the Spirit sounded like God and God sounded like Eli (at least to Samuel). Upon hearing the voice of God through the voice of his father, Samuel got up and purposed to obey the voice. This means that:

Samuel was close enough to his father to hear his voice (meaning that he was not a Lone Ranger in the Spirit – that he stuck close to his assignment, which was his father). This does not mean that they were personally close, or geographically close, but close enough to hear his father‟s voice.

Eli, even with his issues, even with his impending blindness, had the discernment to know that it was God who was calling Samuel,

enabling him to instruct Samuel on how to respond to the voice of God.

Their connection was strong enough to cause a marriage of strength, integrity and wisdom for the good of the Kingdom.

This is powerful stuff! It is a key piece of information, for an understanding of your spiritual history can lead you to your spiritual destiny. How can you know your spiritual parent?

When they speak to you, it sounds like the voice of God (In other words, God speaks to you through them).

When they speak, they provide not only information;, they give an impartation that feeds your mind, your soul and your spirit. You “feel” them, even if you don‟t personally know them.

Their counsel and model inextricably lines up with the counsel and model in of the Word of God.

The power in their tutelage is enough to get you to move while it is yet the nighttime of your life, into the direction God destines for you.

You are able to receive rebuke, as well as affirmation; instruction, as well as correction from them. You are able to receive it in stride and with gladness, for you know it is given by someone to cares about the mandate on your life. Even if it hurts your feelings, you obey,

for you know that your parent in the spirit will never purposely steer you wrong.

Your spiritual parent knows you in the spirit. In other words, even if you‟re “special,” your spiritual father or mother can see the light of God in you and the call of God on your life.

They are a person who tells you the truth about yourself. Bill Cosby, “America‟s Dad,” is recorded as having said to his children, “I‟m your daddy. I brought you into this world and I will take you out!” Bishop Jakes quotes his mother in saying, “I‟ll kill you and tell God you died!” He also says, “I refuse to pastor dumb pastors! You‟ve got to elevate your mind, expand your thinking and go to the next level!” I don‟t want to be a dumb pastor, so I try my best to complete every assignment he gives me, for he wants me to be a reflection of him, as a daughter. I do, too.

They do more than teach you. As Paul says, “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” (I Corinthians 4:5). You know your parents, when their ministry makes a deposit in you so virulent that it is hard to distinguish between their thoughts and your own.

You know that you are a son or daughter when you can see you parent‟s nakedness (their humanity) and cover them, rather than expose.

You can see your destiny in your parent‟s history.

I knew Bishop was my covering when I first went to the Potter‟s House for the Pastor‟s and Leadership Conference in 2001. When I saw the church from the highway, I immediately relaxed mentally, spiritually and physically, for I knew I was coming home. Ever since that time, the instruction and impartation I have received from his “table” has given me a new dimension pastorally and personally. I have not been the same. Whenever I am faced with a difficult situation, I hear the voice of my father say, “Overseer… see over it!” When I hear him in the Spirit, something inside me stands up and says “Yes sir!” and I move, regardless of the difficulty, regardless of my feelings on the matter, regardless of the consequence. Since I initially received that counsel, I have since heard it from my mom, as well as my big brothers and sisters in the Spirit. It all lines up with the word of God, to “feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof…[with] a ready mind.” (1 Peter 5:2). It is necessary to know your parents in the Spirit. To not know is like being lost, for it is not clear who God has given authority to speak into your life. Without that understanding, it is also unclear from whom you should receive “rebuke, correction and instruction in righteousness, that [you] may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).” More than a mentor, more than a model, a parent is sent by God to plant the seed which births you intro your destiny.

Friend, there is power in connection, in knowing and honoring your roots in the Spirit, for in so doing, you are given your wings to go forth and plant roots for others. Thought for the day: Who‟s your daddy?

Focus

As one who has worn glasses since the seventh grade, I can tell you the importance of focus. When your vision is fuzzy, you are in danger of hurting yourself and others. You are prone to headaches and eyestrain, trying everything in your power to see what needs to be seen. The truth is, however, that your best efforts to see are fruitless, without the proper assistance. What was needed for me, was to see a physician specializing in maladies of vision. He examined me, to detect my specific vision challenge and wrote a prescription for a visual aid. When I got my first pair of glasses, the world literally opened up for me! I saw things I had never seen before, and the things I had seen were made clearer, sharper and more vivid. It was a dramatic difference. In the same vein, when your spiritual vision is fuzzy, you are dangerous to yourself and others because you are subject to run into walls (obstacles), you can‟t see your way to safely navigate from where you are to where you need to go, you are vulnerable to being

caught off guard, because you can‟t see things coming. When your spiritual vision is fuzzy, you are subject to headache and eyestrain, because you continue to rely on your efforts to clearly see what‟s in front of you. It‟s frustrating because, regardless of the angle you look at things, regardless of the lighting or condition, it will never change, until you get help. What‟s needed is to see the Great Physician, one who specializes in correcting vision. As you submit to His examination, He is able to prescribe vision correction that is customized to your vision challenge. When you wear what the doctor ordered for your vision well-being, it positively influences virtually every area of your life. What a remarkable change! Headaches, gone! Eyestrain, farewell! Vulnerability, later for ya! Reckless danger, goodbye! Confusion, poof! Johnny Nash (no relation to me) used to sing, “I can see clearly, now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It‟s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day! Make an appointment with the Great Physician for your annual checkup. As we travel to Pentecost, you want to be able to see your victory up close and personal! Let‟s see what He has to say…

“The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much...” Ecclesiastes 5:9

There is nothing quite satisfying as accomplishing a good work. A good work, however, is relative: what is good for one is not for another. I define a good work as that which is in alignment with your call, gifting or assignment. Take ministry, for instance. It is not an easy thing for me. I‟m shy by nature, and prefer to be a person of influence serving behind the scenes, however, God has called me to be one to build a Body and lead the way “from profession to possession.” As difficult as my assignments have been, there is great satisfaction at knowing that God is pleased with my efforts, in knowing that I am “on task” regarding my assignment, and in the knowledge that I am spent in pursuit of the Master‟s Plan on my life. When it comes to the life of a car, everyday road shock and general wear and tear can knock your alignment out of specifications. When that happens, control of the vehicle may be threatened and the tires may begin to wear unevenly and rapidly. It can even negatively impact your gasoline mileage. In the same manner, in everyday life, ordinary wear and tear can have a tendency to knock you out of the alignment which is according to the specifications of our Maker. When those things happen, it is wise to pull yourself back into alignment, so you can function at optimal capacity.

When you bring yourself back into alignment by fulfilling your purpose in God, you will find great satisfaction, regardless of the money you have in the bank, whether friends surround you or whether you are alone.

Living “on purpose” is a great antidote to frustration and discontent. Should you have a struggle with soul satisfaction, seek God as to your purpose and make your life‟s pursuit the activation of the power of God in your life, especially in the area to which you are called and sent. It will help put your life into perspective and allow you to see that those things that were on your nerves are not that important, after all. Thought for the day: I‟m living on purpose!

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:2

Bishop Jakes always says, “I can tell where your heart is by looking at your checkbook.” Whenever I hear that, I give off nervous laughter, because there was a time when my checkbook said, Bethel Temple, My Apartment Complex, The Car Dealer, Bell South, The Power & Light Company, the Bible Bookstore and Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart… It‟s true. Every time I got a check, I would head to Wal-Mart, even if only to look. My goodness! During last year‟s consecration, God convicted me and told me that even though Wal-Mart was not a sinful place to be, that I needed to dedicate that time to Him. When consecration was over, I found that I didn‟t rush back. It took many weeks before I returned, and then, only to get what I needed. The point is that our treasure consists of more than your money, but can also refer to where you spend your time, or what you allow to occupy your thoughts. What you tend to dwell on is where your heart is. Where you spend your time is where your heart is (this is why we should be purposeful about where we work, since so much of our lives are spent there). Just like Wal-Mart at consecration, you can change the direction of your heart. How? By choosing to change that on which you choose to focus. When you

choose to focus on the positive aspects of your marriage, the power of temptation and dissatisfaction has to take a back seat. When you choose to focus on what you do have rather than on what you are missing, the spirit of lack has to flee! When you choose to focus on being faithful to the place of ministry in which God has planted you, your wandering eye for other ministries begins to quickly dim. The power is in your eye and mind. When you change the place of your treasure, you change the condition of your heart. Thought for the day: Do I need a heart transplant?

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one and

despise the other…” Matthew 6:24

Have you ever met a jack of all trades? More often than not, (s)he tends to be a “master of none.” Just like Kool Aid can be watered down and made a nuisance, when we try to put too much on our plate, when we try to be all things to all men, when we try to know everything about everything, when we as leaders attempt to be extremely “hands on,” regarding every enterprise we encounter, when we thoughtlessly load up our calendar with a string of commitments and “dance on every set,” when we have not mastered the ability to “just say no,” we end up watering down our anointing and rendering ourselves ineffective. As Joshua told the Hebrew nation, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15). Stop straddling the fence, trying to have it all! Not only can you not serve God and money at the same time, you can‟t serve God and Satan at the same time. If we really want to live a life of abundance and ignite the power of God in our minds, our ministries and marriages, it requires that we must vigilantly choose where and with whom you spend time, what you choose to do and what you choose to have.

Once the choices have been made, the next step is to prioritize among your choices and determine what is urgent (meaning that it must be done now!), what is

important (that which must be done fairly soon) and what can wait (after the urgent and important things have concluded). These are never written in stone, and may change with the circumstance. This is why we must “in all our ways acknowledge Him,” so that “He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6),” and make it clear to us what we must shift, why, and when we must shift it. One of the most powerful lessons I learned in my twenties was that the world would continue to turn if I chose not to do a certain thing, or do something that someone expected of me. I learned that if I had to disappoint someone, that it should not be God. That revelation brought such freedom. Shake the shackles off! Realize the power of Pentecost by choosing One Master, and One Master Alone! Let your decisions reflect your choice and watch God move as never before. Thought for the day: I have one Master!

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a

soldier.” II Timothy 2:4

There is power in perspective. Life has a way of bringing to the forefront that which is important. When I moved to Miami, I was able to fit everything I owned in both two suitcases and a carryon bag, as well as in the five boxes that were sent via the Post Office. I was on a mission, good buddy, and it required that I traveled light.

In my own mind, I was only here to serve in an internship to complete a certain level of education. I made a vow to myself to develop no permanent connections, for I was only passing through… That was more than twenty three years ago. Oh, well… There was freedom in that time of limitation, however. Even though I didn‟t have many possessions or connections, I was blessed because I didn‟t allow anything or anyone to tie me down, for I was focused on that which I perceived God calling me to. That is what it means to be a soldier in the army of the Lord. When you are called to fight for the cause of Christ, you don‟t dwell on creature comforts. You don‟t have time to play games, to have tea parties or pity parties, to make people happy and win the approval of man, because you know that you‟re in a war and one moment of distraction can cost your life, as well as that of your battalion.

We‟re definitely in a war, child of God, and as such, have no business with pettiness or things that have no import on eternity. Find an assignment in God‟s army that consumes you, and immerse yourself in it until you become lost; let it consume you until nothing is left but ashes. Faithfulness to your passion leads to a promotion that spills into every area of your life and energizes you to be effective and make great impact. Not only that, but steadfastness in your

assignment causes you to win the battles waged against you by the enemy. It‟s time to fight.

Thought for the day: I‟m determined to travel light!

“Reuben, thou are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and

the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shall not excel…”

Genesis 49:3

Every now and then, I come across wasted potential; gifted women and men full of promise, brimming with giftings and talent, living lives of quiet desperation or loud rebellion. What a tragedy. The streets are full of geniuses. The crackhouse is full of those with great intellect. Yet, in spite of that which was invested in them by God or significant others, their lives took a turn. It‟s not my place to judge the decisions that these or others make, yet I can say that our character is much more important than our intellect and gifting. As an administrator, I seek to add people to my team that are of a positive nature and empowered with character and integrity. A skill can be taught, a task can be trained, but character is one that is imparted through having lived a life complete with testing and trial, in which we have successfully passed to the other side. Tested and tried, our character is made. In my travels, I have encountered great preachers who lacked the integrity to live the life they preached about. In the church, people would jump across pews at the sound of their voice, but behind closed doors,

the same parishioners would have been shocked at what they would have seen. Give me a preacher who believes what he or she preaches, who at least strives to live his or her message and can‟t hoop her way out of a paper bag, and I would choose them over a talented but shady pulpiteer. God makes the same choice all the time. In our text today, Jacob is imparting is blessing on his sons, and prophesying their future. Reuben, he notes, is his firstborn, which implies that he had leadership ability (wave your hands, all you firstborn children!). The son of Jacob‟s youth, Reuben was born when his father had time and energy to impart to him. He was a born at a time when Jacob was filled with enthusiasm, and that enthusiasm and creative energy was passed to him. Yet, according to his father, Rueben would not prosper or excel, due to instability. Rueben, although not cruel or deceitful like some of his brothers, was a man who was driven by his emotions. He was fed by his feelings and led by his lust, to the point where he slept with his father‟s concubine. Pity…a short-term passion aborted his destiny as a firstborn son. No prophet, judge or ruler ever came from the tribe of Reuben, largely due to a one night (or day) stand. Have you heard of anything so sad? May it never be said among us. Count up the cost, friend, and maximize the investment that God placed within us. Keep your eyes on the prize for which God

has in store, and you will receive your blessing in due season. Thought for the day: A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8)

“Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight.” Luke 12:35

There once was a time when the building I live in had a series of false fire alarms. We had alarms go off so often, that we stopped paying attention to them. Late one night, the fire alarm went off. As I heard it, I turned over, as had become my custom (and no doubt, the custom of my neighbors). Then a voice came through the intercom and informed us to evacuate the building. Again, I turned over, as this was a routine occurrence. A few minutes later, a fireman knocked on my door with a fury I had never heard before. It turned out that there really was a fire in the building and it was three doors from me! Since it was the middle of the night, I was not dressed to greet the public. As I gathered a few possessions, the fireman told me that, if the fire was any closer, I would have been dead. I was unprepared. So were my neighbors. Once, the Savior taught a parable of the ten wise and ten foolish virgins to impart the wisdom of staying ready for the return of the Master Teacher HimSelf. The ten foolish virgins knew that the bridegroom was coming, yet they came to the party unprepared and were so busy having a good time that they wanted to borrow oil from the ten wise virgins, when the bridegroom came (and, of course you know that they were literally out of gas!).

They were unprepared and as such, missed out on the wedding feast. The point is that we should not only be prepared for the Lord‟s coming, we should also be prepared to make our transition to our eternal reward. I have been blessed to witness many people who knew that their time on earth was coming to a close. They were extremely clear on their mission and vision, and able to separate the important and the frivolous. They knew there were some things that they could not take with them, so they began to detach from them early, for in the scheme of things, it was not important. We are not all blessed to be able to anticipate the timing of our life‟s end, however. Since we don‟t know the day or hour, why not start now being ready? Live each day like it‟s your last. Never neglect the opportunity to tell someone you love and appreciate them. Never miss the chance to make your mark for the cause of Christ. Never shirk a blessing to speak life and wisdom into that which is dead and stupid. Live life for real, for today we may die. As my dad says, get ready, get ready, get ready and then stay ready, stay ready, stay ready! Thought for the day: I‟m ready!

“And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plan upon tables, that he may run that

readeth it.” Habakkuk 2:2

It is said that the most successful people in the world are those that have goals and write them down. The world is full of dreamers; however, few of us are able to manifest the dream because we have not invested the proper time, resources and energy to make it happen. In order to accomplish what God has placed on your heart, you must have P.O.W.E.R.:

Plan, firstly, by committing your vision to paper

Organize your life around manifesting your vision.

There are some activities or people you will need to add and others that you will to subtract from your menu in order to flesh out your vision. Just do it!

Worship God in Spirit and Truth (John 4:24).

Worship will continue to feed and energize you, as well as provide insight and inspiration as you seek to build your destiny, even when you feel like giving up along the way.

Evaluate your progress, or lack thereof, in

manifesting your vision. Don‟t be afraid to make corrections along the way or admit that you were wrong, if you‟ve gotten off course. If you‟ve gotten off track, admit it and get back on!

Relationships are of utmost importance. Surround

yourself with people of like mind that can encourage you along the way. Visionaries should always be fueled by other visionaries, as they prepare to transmit their vision to others. It‟s like a shot in the arm. By writing your vision and making it plain, everyone will be able to see where you‟re going, and can choose to get on board and support you in making it happen (or not). Whether you use a desktop, laptop, iPad or scratch pad, invest time and energy in fleshing out what God has placed in you. Doing this can sharpen your perspective, show you potential holes in your approach, and discipline your efforts, so that you are not scattered in your quest to make your vision a reality. It is an investment that is well worth the time and effort. Try it and be blessed. Thought for the day: Do a common thing in an uncommon way. – Booker T. Washington

“And when he [Bartimeus] heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he

should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal…”

Mark 10:47-48

Much is not known about Bartimeus, whose name means “son of the honorable.” One thing that is made plain in the scriptures is that Bartimeus was blind. He was blind and he knew he was blind. Because his vision was extremely limited, he was forced to be a beggar. Did you know that there are many honorable people in this world who are reduced to being beggars, due to a lack of vision for their lives? I am convinced that this is a large reason for promiscuity, in addition to other addictive and abusive behaviors. When you have no vision of who and Whose you are, you are reduced to being a beggar, for scratching after crumbs that others choose to throw your way. It‟s a miserable existence. Hope is not lost, however. Although Bartimeus was blind, he instinctively knew to “catch a hold of” that which could heal him. That, we know, was the Christ. Even though he couldn‟t see physically, Bartimeus had a vision of being able to see, and that internal vision empowered him to cry out for deliverance with all his might. Every time the religious leaders tried to

shut him down, he cried relentlessly for his deliverance. He cried for the Master until he made Jesus stand still. Did you know that you can make the Maker of heaven and earth stand still? You can do it by seeking Him with your whole heart (Jeremiah 29:13). You can do it by pursuing His presence with singleness of mind and heart. As we walk toward Pentecost, stay the course, child of God! Once you have an internal vision of who you can be in God, latch onto the Savior with bulldog tenacity. Don‟t let go. Don‟t give up. Don‟t give in. Don‟t let anyone deter, discourage or dissuade you. Don‟t let anyone depress, suppress or oppress you. Stay the course and receive your sight! Thought for the day: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:13

“So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a

coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said

to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off.”

I Samuel 17:38-39 NKJV

Getting older is da bomb! The more mature I become, the more I feel like myself. As time evolves, I grow into my own skin, into an even greater sense of “am-ness.” It‟s awesome! The gift of maturity is the knowledge of self, of your history and destiny, of your gifting and skills, of your shortcomings, “issues” and areas needing improvement. Life in God certainly helps to accelerate the maturation process, for through the power of prayer and seeking the Word of God, we are given a mirror into our souls (James 1:23), along with power to become more than what we currently are. I don‟t know how people summon the courage to live without the guidance of God! The other gift of maturity is experience and perspective. While it is said that experience is the best teacher, it is only so for those who are willing to learn. How many times have you seen people make the same mistakes over and over again, only to encounter

the same result? If experience was their best teacher, they must have been absent from class that day! David, while still a very young man, was gifted with both insight and wisdom that comes from spending time alone with God, from being a shepherd, and being a worshipper. That‟s an awesome combination, guaranteed to make the enemy quake in his boots.

Through his shepherding experience, he had encountered warfare that was fueled by the love for his sheep. He had become acquainted with the tools of his craft, and had enough sophistication to know what worked for him. Saul‟s armor, while heavier and more advanced than this, would not have worked for him. Even in trying them on, they were too big for him and the image of such was enough to encourage ridicule from his brothers and laughter from his enemy. The average man would have been honored to don the king‟s amour and would have risked looking like a fool for the privilege of wearing it. David, however, because he wasn‟t striving to impress man, had the wisdom and courage to stick with that which was tried and true, and to be encouraged and emboldened by his past warring experience with the lion and the bear to propel him to cut off the enemy‟s head. He did it without a second thought. Try as you might, you can‟t kill your Goliath with someone else‟s armour. You‟ve got to go with what

you know to take off the devil‟s head. Risk ridicule, resist peer pressure, refuse to be an imitation of anyone else! Win on your own terms! All you need is five smooth stones and a slingshot: 1. Knowledge of and relationship with God. 2. Knowledge of self (Your history and destiny) 3. Wisdom / Insight (This is where the work of

the Spirit is most important, to lead and guide you into all truth [John 16:13]).

4. Humility (Knowing that your greatness is not of you, but of the Christ that dwells within - Galatians 2:20)

5. Courage that comes with knowing that God is with you.

All of this is propelled by the power of God (your slingshot)! Do what works for you to get the job done in Jesus‟ name. Make no apologies! Just do it! Thought for the day: If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started. – Marcus Garvey

“…Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we have commanded you,

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” I Thessalonians

4:11-12

One of my favorite shows when I was a little girl was Bewitched (don‟t ask me why - I can‟t tell you). Samantha, Darren and Tabitha were in their house (when they weren‟t flying around) minding their own business, but their nosy neighbor, Gladys Kravitz, continually put her nose where it didn‟t belong, trying to catch Samantha „n nem in trouble. All Gladys got was trouble in return – she fell off of ladders, fell into hedges, got in to arguments with her husband, all behind minding other folks‟ business. I don‟t know about you, but taking care of Carol Nash Lester and her business is a 24/7 proposition. It takes all my time taking care of what God has called me to do. I don‟t have time to put my nose in other people‟s churches. This is what the Apostle Paul was trying to teach the saints in Thessalonica. The point of the message was that the coming of the Lord was eminent, and with His coming, it was imperative that all of the play and pettiness cease. There was work to do. Centuries later, the same is true, even more so as the years fly by.

Today‟s text says that a way to maintain a reputation for honesty is to mind your own business. Not only will you have an honest reputation, you‟ll get a lot done! Thought for the day: I‟m handling my business!

“…You have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.”

Mark 14:7

King Solomon tells that “to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)” The wise man seeks to know what season he is in, whether to give or to get, whether to speak or be silent, whether for war or for peace. A key to maximum productivity is being able to discern what is before you presently, and having the flexibility to change courses whenever needed. You cannot be your best when you cling to an inflexible standard, whatever the enterprise. Those of us in ministry leadership are notorious for getting so caught up in the mechanics of ministry; of going to meetings, monitoring budgets, assessing goals, making visitations, preparing for classes and sermons, that we oftentimes neglect the most needful thing: spending time in the presence of the very God who called us. In looking at today‟s text, you see before you a mess, filled with strama and strife. While a devotee of the Christ was in the midst of worship, the protégé‟s of the Christ were being scornful of her acts of adoration. Never mind that it was the disciples (no doubt with Judas as the ringleader) that spoke against the extravagance of the sister with the alabaster box, in

lavishing her love upon the Christ. It is certainly a worthy goal to feed the poor. In fact, the Christ HimSelf taught that His disciples are called, among many things, to feed the poor (Matthew 25:35). The fact of the matter was that feeding the poor was (and is) a task that will endure until the end of time as we know it. Jesus‟ earthly time was coming to a close at that time, and our sister had enough love and discernment to know that there had to be a dramatic shift in priority, for the Christ wouldn‟t be in her midst always. You have to know what time it is. As we walk toward Pentecost, seek God in your planning and decision-making. Search the Word of God to find the Mind of God for your situation. In your service of the Divine, however, don‟t be afraid to drop everything when the Master calls you to come away and spend time with Him. Plans and projects are worthy, but they are no match for intimate time with our Daddy. No excuses! To experience the power of Pentecost, Christ must come first. Thought for the day: The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing! - Steven Covey

Balance

Have you ever sat on a four-legged chair, which only has three legs? You either found yourself on the floor, or so uncomfortable that sitting in the chair defeated its purpose; to rest and get much needed support at the end of a long day. That, my friend, is a useless chair, because it is not able to fulfill its purpose. That‟s what a life out of balance is like. When you are running on 5, rather than 8 cylinders due to burnout, workaholism, or being in a rut, you fail to fulfill your purpose in life, which is to glorify God and edify your brother. Let‟s call one leg “worship/ministry.” When you worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4), you gain inspiration for the living the life God has called you to live. It is also ministry, because it is service as unto the Lord, which may also include service to your fellowman.

Let‟s call the other leg “work/ministry.” This is an avenue that God gives to express the giftings He has given you. Work shouldn‟t be a drudge, for the Word says that we should “…enjoy the fruit of all [our] labor, it is the gift of God. “ (Ecclesiastes 3:13 – emphasis, mine.). Whatever you do for a living should also be a featured place of your ministry, because you spend more time there than anywhere else. Let‟s call the other leg “family and friends.” This leg is what fuels you and provides the love you need to serve on the other legs. Your family and friends are oftentimes what God uses to sustain you from the dry places of life. They also serve as a building ground for your growth and development, sometimes by trial and struggle, which makes it necessary to have a fourth leg. Let‟s call the fourth leg, “solitude.” It is important, after having given of yourself to the other three legs, that you take some time with yourself to rest, reflect and renew yourself to give back to those that give to you. Jesus, after ministering to multitudes, made it a point to get away with the disciples, and after having done that, to get away from the disciples, to reconnect with HimSelf and with the Father. This is a worthy example to follow. As we walk toward Pentecost, let‟s look at some ways to incorporate greater balance in our lives. Ready? Let‟s go…

“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that is was from the hand of

God.” Ecclesiastes 2:22

In order to excel, everybody has to pay their dues. One dues paying season for me was working my way through seminary. O…my…God! I worked full-time, went to school full-time, had an internship, did volunteer work, served in my church, and did radio voice-overs. Looking back on that time, I made it with the grace of God and the power of youth. The saving grace of the situation was that I was energized by the passion of preparing to serve the people of God. I considered it a luxury to study my bliss. Yet, I had a job that I endured because I needed the benefits (you‟ve probably been there). That was one thing, but as the leadership in my job changed, the misery began to manifest itself physically. My job was making me sick, ya‟ll! I would be fine until I put my key in the door iof my workplace; then my stomach, neck and shoulders would tighten up. Things were so intense that I ended up in my doctor‟s office with chest pains, and he could find no physiological reason for it. Stress is somethin‟ else, you know!

Thank God that it was only for a season. Life is entirely too short to work in a place or situation that makes you miserable. Don‟t do it! God says that it is His will that you enjoy the fruit of your labor. Indeed, because the majority of your time is spent working, whether you look at hours in your day or years in your life. Your work is, in essence, your ministry. A wise person chooses a vocation, not based upon the market, but upon their abilities, their temperament and their gifting. A popular author once said “Do what you love and the money will follow!” Whether you pursue your bliss full-time or part-time, for pay or for prayer, you owe it to yourself to invest time into what God is calling you to do. Doing so will energize you. It will make the days, months and weeks breeze by, and infuse you with a spirit of creativity. Don‟t make your pursuit receiving a gold watch from a company you hate from a job that made you sick. Stop living for the weekend and get a life! Thought for the day: Truth is proper and beautiful in all times and in all places. - Frederick Douglass

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1

A season can be defined at any of four periods of the year (Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer) or the usual time when something takes place or flourishes. Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer each carry moments of agony and ecstasy. In order to have clarity of thought and peace of mind, we must find a way to successfully maneuver through each of them. The way is found through being rooted in the knowledge that: • God's presence, promise, power and provision are guaranteed, whatever the season. • Whatever you are experiencing has come to pass. You cannot afford to become too complacent in your Summer, or too conflicted in your Winter. • Whether pleasure or pain, your season is a gift to you from God to show you another aspect of yourself and to reveal another dimension of God. • Nothing you experience escapes the attention of God. • God has invested in you a wealth of gifts and talents for His glory. You are a chosen vessel of God. Nothing that anyone says or does can change that (not even you). There are some things that you must do to make

peace with and master your season: • Determine that it is not your season that makes or breaks you, but it is in God that you live, move and have your being. (Acts 17:28) • Decide to lean wholly and solely on God to see you through this season, and to prepare you for the next. • Dedicate time and space to minister to yourself. After self-ministry, you will be better able to minister to others. • Discuss with God (and possibly a trusted prayer partner) what God would have you to learn from the season you are in. • Discern how you can best use your lesson to be a blessing. Be blessed. Thought for the day: “There is a use for almost anything.” George Washington Carver

“not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know

how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be

hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Philippians 4: 11,12

Have you ever met someone that you couldn‟t satisfy, no matter what you did for them? You ask what would make them happy and when they receive it, rather than rejoice, they focus on what they don‟t have now. Or have you ever met someone that was just as happy as they could be with their job, their ministry, their spouse, their house, their children…. until they saw someone who had something they perceive that they didn‟t have? Makes you crazy, doesn‟t it? The Apostle Paul, in the book of Philippians, shares the secret of joy and contentment. The key to contentment doesn‟t rest in things, for things can always be stolen, broken or become passé. It‟s not in money, for someone is always going to have more than you. It‟s not in your spouse, your house or your job. Those things are temporal, meaning that they can change at any moment. Anything that‟s a thing cannot bring you contentment. No, contentment doesn‟t come from a thing, doesn‟t come from a him, a her or an it. Contentment comes from the knowledge that, as you are in the hand of God, not only is everything going to be alright,

everything is alright, regardless of how it looks right now. Whether you are on top of the world or feel lower than low, God has your back. Whether your coffers are full or you‟re down to your last dime, God will make sure that you have all that you need. Whether you and your mate are “vibing” or not, God is still the author and finisher of your faith. God takes care of His own, 24/7, 365 days of the year. God is good… all the time, especially when you‟re not seeing “good,” especially when you‟re not feeling good. Listen, God doesn‟t require a certain condition or atmosphere to be in place, in order to work for you. The only condition that needs to met in order for God to move for you is your acceptance of His ability to do so. The bottom line is that the key to your contentment and souls‟ satisfaction rests with you. Release the pride. Let go of the hurt. Dismiss the anger. Lose the drama. Wherever you are, whatever you need, God is able to work it out. Ask God to teach you the key to contentment. Emancipate the power of things and people to “make” you happy. Choose to allow our Daddy to be the source of your supply. Better yet, ask Him to show you how blessed you are in the midst of something that others reject. When you have perfect peace with your mind stayed on God (Isaiah 26:3), no devil in hell can keep you down, for the power of God on the

inside perpetually keeps your head up. Receive that power in Jesus‟ name! Thought for the day: My Heavenly Father watches over me!

“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full

and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Philippians 4:12

I once worked for a woman that I thought was the most elegant woman in the world. She was kind and gracious, and made it a point to say something positive or encouraging every day. She was a joy to work for. Mrs. Smith taught me many things outside of my job description. One of the things she taught me was the power of perspective. One day, she said that she was so glad that God didn‟t make her beautiful on the outside, so she could age with gladness. I remember being appalled because I thought she was absolutely stunning. She then taught me that she pitied younger beautiful women, because they spent all their time and energies cultivating outer beauty that would only fade with the passing of time, and she was not burdened by that problem. As she considered herself plain, she spent her energies cultivating her inner beauty. “Wow,” I thought. “Where can I get me somma dat?” What I learned from that lesson was the importance of not only making do with what you have, but celebrating and maximizing what you have, while you have it.

What a powerful concept! If we learn how to content myself with my present state and harness the power to focus and balance, rather than getting whiplash by continually looking backward and forward, we can have the “peace of God that passes all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7) It also makes you an unstoppable force against the wiles of the enemy. When you rest in the power of contentment, there is nothing the enemy can do to steal your joy; no lack, no rejection, no sickness, no peril. Because you allow the Lord to instruct and give peace in the midst of all situations, you gain immeasurable strength to stand against the plan of the adversary. How do we reach this place in life? • “Peace in, peace out.” This means to surround yourself with that which speaks peace to your spirit. Whether people, places, situations or things, saturate yourself with the things of peace and peace will reach out and caress your spirit. • Saturate yourself with Word. Pray the scriptures, declaring the promised contained therein. • Worship God in spirit and in truth. That means being honest about where you are. Sometimes it takes a minute before you can find good in your situation. Talk to God about it until He changes your mind about the situation. Better yet, when you worship “in spite of,” it will turn to a “because of” type of worship. There is a blessin‟ in the pressin.‟ • Know that in the overall scheme of things that there are always people to be found who are doing better than you and worse that you. Just rest in the truth that you are blessed.

• Choose to be content. You can choose yourself happy, if you try. These are but a few means of “spiritual workout.” If we consistently apply these methods, we‟ll be a lean, mean, Holy Ghost machine, authorized, deputized and empowered to give the adversary a black eye. See you in the gym!

Thought for the day: “He who knows about depth knows about God.” Paul Tillich

“And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all His work which

God created and made. “ Genesis 2:3

One of my classmates told me something one night that absolutely threw me for a loop. I was totally speechless! One Monday night after a long day‟s work, which was preceded by an exceptionally busy weekend, which was preceded by an exceptionally tiring week, I came to class - only because class was scheduled. I was so burned out, that I can‟t even recall what class it was, never mind what was discussed that night. Marvin said, “If God could take the time to rest on the seventh day, who you think you are?” Talk about convicting! I came to class that night out of duty, but got absolutely nothing out of it. My classmate said that it would have been a better investment to go home and sleep the fatigue off. He was so right. The peril of ministry, you see, is that your work never ends. There is always a message to prepare for, another meeting, another bible class, another visitation, another phone call, another letter to write, another question to answer, another person seeking your ear. It can be a drain on your spirit. What the Master did, however, was to:

Celebrate an accomplishment (Genesis 1:3)

Define a “Selah or pausing point (Genesis 1:7,9)

Establish a base on upon which to build (Genesis 1:10-12)

Provide order and direction to His creation (Genesis 1:28)

Establish a finishing point (Genesis 2:1)

Rest from His work and sanctify that rest time (Genesis 2:2,3).

It‟s true. If God can do it, so can we. Even if you are in the midst of something seemingly unending (as soon as you wash all your clothes, the ones you‟re wearing are dirty. As soon as you balance the checkbook, your partner is writing another check, etc), it is imperative to create a “Selah” in your life; to pause and to declare a thing finished. The Selah that we see in the psalms is not a word to be read, it is an actual direction to the worshipper to pause and reflect for emphasis. Not to read, but to rest, to get the most impact of the preceding verse. Two of the most important things to note about this scriptural account is that God declared a point to pause and a point to finish. It is important that you do this for yourself. If you don‟t, someone else will do it for you, and they will do it according to their priority, gifting and energy, rather than yours. The other notable thing God did (outside of create heaven and earth, the animal and plant kingdom, in addition to creating man and making woman) was to sanctify His rest. That means that He set it apart for His use. It is imperative that we follow His example. Sanctify a season of rest, so

that you can reflect, replenish and renew yourself to get back in the creative saddle. Don‟t wait until tomorrow. Do this without delay!

Thought for the day: “Men, like nails, lose their usefulness when they lose direction and bend.” Walter Savage Landor

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute,

willing to communicate…” I Timothy 6:17-18

One day, I was eating a chili dog and giving our God thanks and praise. A lady chided me and warned me not to play with God. My response was, “I‟m not playing, ma‟am! I thank the Lord for this chili dog, don‟t you?” I meant that thing, too (A chili dog with relish, onions and cheese?!?!?!)! Just thinking about it makes me want to lift my hands and tell God thank you! Your power as a child of God is in your ability and willingness to appreciate any and everything that God gives, and to appreciate it without apology. Our God, unlike some people, is not a “favor hater!” In today‟s text, Paul exhorts Timothy to instruct the wealthy of his congregation to trust in God, rather than in their wealth. It is important to do this, because money can only buy so much, but it is not an entity in which to place your faith. Has money kept anyone alive when God chooses to call them home? Can your cash turn back the hands of time? Can your investments make people really like you? Can it buy the favor of God? Of course, the answer is a resounding “no.” While we may or may not be overflowing with cash, what God freely gives all His children is the ability to

enjoy His blessings – something that money can‟t buy. Somewhere, there was a millionaire on life support that couldn‟t appreciate that chili dog like I could - living on minimum wage (I was in college at the time). What shall we do with this God-given ability?

Purpose to always look for things for which to give thanks

Tell others about it this powerful ability God has given

Take time to give God thanks in all things

Cultivate an attitude of gratitude

Determine in your spirit to always bless others, for in doing this, you are made wealthy.

You don‟t need to be Donald Trump to bless others. Bless then with a Word, a phone call, a compliment, a flower, or in the sharing of a meal. The important thing is to appreciate what God has given with your whole heart, and to bless others with the same. That, my friend, is Holy Ghost power! Thought for the day: It‟s nice to share!

“And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master,

carest thou not that we perish?” Mark 4:38

Jesus was pooped. He had spend an enormous amount of time healing the sick, choosing his “Cabinet,” teaching and ministering to the multitudes, then teaching and ministering to his leadership team. After declaring that they were going to the other side of the sea of Tibereas, he promptly settled in for a moment to rest. Little did His disciples know when they boarded the ship that a storm was brewing. The storm ended up tossing the ship to and fro, rocking and reeling the disciples, and the more they looked at the sleeping Savior, the more angry they became. Has that every happened to you? Have you found yourself in the middle of what looks like nowhere (only because the Savior told you to go), and found yourself in the middle of a mess? Can you imagine seeing your MasterTeacher napping while you‟re going through? It‟s enough to unsettle the average man. The scripture account tells us that Jesus first dealt with the matter at hand. He spoke peace to the storm with such force that the wind and the waves obeyed Him. It left the disciples speechless, except for asking “What manner of man is this?” Jesus then dealt a horribly convicting blow in asking why they were so fearful and why they had no faith. O my…

Didn‟t they know that Jesus was in the ship with them, that if the ship sank, they would sink with the Savior, that with the presence of the One who had healed the withered hand and turned the water into wine, that all would be ok? Easy to say, but not so easy to do, is it? As we walk toward Pentecost together, let‟s determine that if Jesus can sleep in the middle of your storm, then we should at least catch a cat nap. I suppose that Jesus could rest, because:

He had knowledge that He was living “on purpose,” meaning that He was fulfilling His assignment, following His course, doing His duty. He was taking care of the Father‟s business, and, as such, the Father was bound to take care of Him.

He had confidence in the power of His own Word – that they would make it to other side – because Jesus declared it so before they came on board.

You can do the same:

Have peace with the knowledge that you‟re living “on purpose” (or determine in your mind to do it, if you are not).

Believe of the power in your mouth (Proverbs 18:21)

Try it, the next time you go through a storm!

Thought for the day: Pass my pillow, please?

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that

may minister grace unto hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

I am convinced that some people need a vocabulary transplant, like others need an organ transplant. For them to go without a healthy vocabulary would bring the same disastrous result as going without a healthy organ… they will eventually kill themselves and others by speaking death and garbage. That‟s what corrupt communication is. It can both include and transcend profanity, morphing into biting sarcasm, negativity and destructive, rather than constructive criticism. I cringe whenever I hear it, especially out of the mouths of those that call themselves children of God. The Apostle Paul encourages the saints of Ephesus to speak that which is edifying (or up-building), and has the ability to impart (transmit or deposit) grace (or power) to the hearers. This means that both the message and the motive need to be pure. I can‟t give you a backdoor compliment (a compliment couched in a criticism). In other words, what comes out of my mouth should be strategically designed to:

Encourage, rather than discourage

Instruct, rather than intimidate

Help, rather than hurt

Declare, rather than destroy.

To do anything other than that would impart weakness, negativity and lack. How does one become a builder of people?

Keep your words to a minimum (James 1:19)

Think on that which true, honest, just, pure, lovely, praiseworthy and notable (Philippians 4:8)

Endeavor to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15)

Consider how you would feel about what you are about to say (Galatians 6:1)

If you‟re going to provoke someone, let it be toward love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)

Remember who you represent. Thought for the day: Be careful of the words you say. Keep them soft and sweet. You never know, from day to day, which ones you‟ll have to eat!

“Since a dull axe requires great strength, sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.”

Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NLT)

It is said that “haste makes waste.” Even though most of us grew up hearing that maxim, it is not commonly heeded. Think of the people who feel that it takes too much time and too much trouble to delegate tasks. “By the time I explain how to do it, I could have done it myself,” is what you hear them say. Think of the time that is wasted trying to assemble new items, because “I‟m smart enough to figure out how to do it myself.” Had they read the directions first, they could have assembled the item in record time, with no left over parts. As an academic advisor, I can remember countless students who spent more time than necessary completing their degree, all because they tried to find loopholes or shortcuts to finishing their studies. All of this could have been avoided, if they had followed my instructions. In our text today, a dull axe represents wasted time and effort, due to having to do things twice, because time had not been invested in sharpening the axe, thereby getting it right the first time. It is never a waste of time to prepare for any task at hand. If we do our homework and find out what is required to adequately perform a task, we can save time and energy, by getting it right the first time. According King Solomon, it‟s the only wise thing to do. Thought for the day: A stitch in time saves nine.

“The King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father… But he forsook the counsel of the

elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.”

II Chronicles 10:6, 8

The Word does say, “…in the multitude of counsel, there is safety,“ right? (Proverbs 11:14). The important thing to pay attention to is where your counsel comes from. When you talk to today‟s youth, they say the same thing that has been said in every generation before; “Things are different than when you grew up! You just don‟t understand!” When I was in high school, there was a song sung by Evelyn “Champagne” King, entitled, “Shame.” Oh, we had a good time with that one in the parking lot of Mirabeau B. Lamar Senior High School in Houston, Texas! Our favorite part was, “Mama just don‟t understand. Ooaah!” When you reflect on the rest of the lyrics, as well as the life lessons learned since then, you realize that that kind of thinking was a recipe for disaster. Mamma did understand…she was trying to keep you from the same heartache that she experienced, when she was in your shoes. One of the mistakes of the mature is discounting the point of view of the youth, because they haven‟t had the benefit of the same years of experience. One of the mistakes of the youth is discounting the wisdom of the elders, because they aren‟t necessarily familiar

with the way things are today, and may not access the modern technology available. Maturity and modernity. Wisdom and fresh perspective. Experience and energy. In order to experience the full benefit of the best counsel God has to offer, keep your eyes and ears open to those whose lives bear fruit, regardless of years. Don‟t discount anyone because of the way they look. Look for what they have been able to produce. Keep associations from all ends of the spectrum, thereby providing a balance of godly counsel and pave the way for good success. Thought for the day: Don‟t let the great taste fool ya!

Evaluation

Once, while on a trip in Dallas, I was seeking to go from Downtown Dallas to the Potter‟s House, which is in the west side of the city. Armed with at least two maps and several sets of directions, I sought to find my way…..and got terribly lost. As a matter of fact, I had driven onto the next town, and didn‟t even know it. I didn‟t see the exit that would have taken me to my destination, and it cost me time and miles to get back on course. Every now and then, you need to take time out to assess where you are, so you know how close you are to your destination. You need to refer to directions periodically, look at maps from time to time, but your eyes need to steadily be on the road before you, so you don‟t miss your turning point. As we get closer to Pentecost, we cannot afford to get off course, or to wander needlessly. Let‟s keep our eyes on the prize, and if need be, change direction, so we can reach our destination in record time. Whether the goal is a renewed mind, a renewed marriage or renewed ministry, if we stay the course, stay together

and stay with God, we‟ll get where He wants us to go. Ready? Here we go…

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have

sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it being to mock him saying, This man began to build and

was not able to finish?” Luke 14:28-30

Some of us spend more time planning a two-week vacation than we do in choosing a mate, starting a business, or preparing for life eternal. Taking no thought for long-term or life-long decisions, we agonize about what to have for dinner. Come on now! Does that really make sense? Jesus encourages us to use common sense (which is not so common), when embarking on any major enterprise. It‟s a matter of performing a needs assessment (asking if this is really what is called for) , of taking inventory of our resources, and planning to maximize what we have, so we can effectively realize the vision in mind, or the task given by God. Isn‟t this better that simply saying, “I trust God,” and then plunging mindlessly into what we feel “led” to do? According to today‟s text, to do that is to make yourself an object of embarrassment. It also sullies God‟s name, for it causes “the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme (2 Samuel 12:14),” because it makes it seem as if God doesn‟t take care of His own.

As quiet as it‟s kept, there is no disconnect between planning and faith, for faith is moving boldly toward what God has ordered us to do, having full knowledge of what is at our disposal, and believing God for what is not readily apparent. Jesus, in speaking of the cost of discipleship, encourages those who are thinking of following Him, to count up the cost; to not trust such an eternal decision to our emotions. The same principle applies to other areas of our lives, as well. Count up the cost. Thought for the day: The quality of a person‟s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. -Vince Lombardi

“The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness.”

Ecclesiastes 2:14 NKJV

Some people who cling to the verse “for we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians5:7)” to mean that we are to be led by impressions that we receive (hopefully) from God. Not so. Throughout the Word of God, we find encouragement to trust God for provision, peace, and protection. We are also taught the wisdom of maximizing the marriage between the gifts of the soul and the gifts of the spirit. Say what? Gifts of the soul include vision, assessment, planning, evaluation, re-vision, partnership and implementation. It works like a cycle: • When one vision is manifested (or even before), a new vision is given • You then assess where you are currently, as opposed to where you need to be • You evaluate what is at your disposal • You re-work your vision (if necessary), based upon your evaluation and assessment • You partner with those that God has given to you to manifest the vision; • Then the vision is implemented.

You do it again and again, bathing each step of the process in prayer, as you go from faith to faith and level to level. Thought for the day: „Tis God gives skill, but not without men‟s hands: He could not make Antonio Stradivari‟s violins without Antonio.” - George Eliot

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may

prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1

It‟s amazing to find out who goes to church, isn‟t it? Sometimes, those you least expect are sitting in pews Sunday after Sunday. The surprise comes sometimes, because God has really made us into “peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9), and sometimes, because we‟ve changed location, but haven‟t changed our mind. Say what? Going to church doesn‟t change your mind? I‟m reminded of a comedy routine by Cedric the Entertainer about having to go to church with his grandmother, since he lived in her house. He told of how he had been in the club all night, but that eeeaaarly Sunday morning, Big Mamma told him, “Everybody in this house is going to church!” Sleepy-eyed, he went to the house of God. He said, “Man! The music was jumping and before he knew it, he was dancing down the aisles, saying “Hey! This is just like it was last night!” That‟s why some people go to church, you know. So, a building isn‟t going to change your mind. According to the Word, the only thing that‟s going to facilitate transformation in us is to have our minds renewed. How do you do that?

• You’ve got to be re-programmed. I remember after I was saved, that I couldn‟t wait until I got to the point where I couldn‟t recognize the songs on the radio. The music, while good, revived certain mindset in me that I know was not from God. So, a good first step is to watch what you put in your mind. Garbage in… garbage out. • You’ve got to re-friend. Our associations often play a major role in the path we take. It is said that “association brings about assimilation.” When your closest friends are not renewed in their minds, it is too easy to follow their example, rather than the example of Christ. • You’ve got to be re-modeled. While we may have looked up to people we‟ve deemed successful, it may be possible that we must change our definition of success, if we want a changed mind. Search for people who are where you want to be, both professionally, relationally and spiritually. • You’ve got to be reformed, shaped by the Word of God. I remember a pastor telling me one time, “Daughter, I know you‟ve lost your mind.” Before I could object or ask why, he smiled and said, “You‟ve got the mind of Christ.” I gained the mind of Christ through reading the Word of God. • You’ve got to be re-fueled. Even a car goes empty, when it is being used. Personal devotions and public worship helps refuel you. It energizes you to be able to demonstrate, or flesh out, the will of God in your life. All of this has to be done in addition to going to church, in order to be effectively transformed, and escape being molded into the mindset of the world. Thought for the day: I‟ve lost my mind, because I‟ve got the mind of Christ!

“But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, an I will sort out who will

go with you and who will not.” Judges 7:4 (NLT)

Sometimes God likes to go against the grain of man. In our minds it‟s “the more the merrier.” In God, however, just like Charmin tissue, “less is more.” It‟s important to God that we have the proper perspective. Since we tend to live as sensual beings, (even though we really are spirit beings), our tendency is to trust in what which we can count. God will sometimes break things down to their lowest common denominator, in order to make it obvious to you AND your enemy that the victory was not won “by power, nor by might, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)‟ Don‟t be upset when God does a breakdown of your resources, whether it is money, friends, health, time or transportation. It‟s a setup for a better blessing, friend! When you‟re in the midst of warfare, regardless of where the warfare is located, keep your eye toward God and your ear toward the ground to watch who and what God says to release. I heard Bishop Jakes say that some people are like scaffolding. When he was building the current Potter‟s House, scaffolding was erected in the sanctuary, to facilitate the completion of the worship center. The

closer the project came to completion, the further the scaffolding was moved, to make room for the finished building. It moved further and further out, until it was completely removed when the building was completed. Bishop said that some people are scaffolding, sent by God for a particular season or purpose, and as they withdraw, and as they leave, just know that their with you purpose is complete. No hard feelings. Scaffolding is ridiculously out of place in a finished, furnished sanctuary. The same is true with some people. Adds a different perspective, doesn‟t it? When some people come into your life and others go out of your life, don‟t hate! Celebrate! Appreciate! Know that as God has ordered a release of the former, that He‟s doing a new thing, divinely designed to bless both you and them. Come on, tell God thank you! Thought for the day: Watch out for the scaffolding!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-4

One of the most painful of human conditions is to be misunderstood. Have you ever been there? Think of walking with someone, working with someone, worshipping with someone for years, and never being able to truthfully say that you know or are known by them. Lonely feeling, isn‟t it? Sometimes the anonymity we experience is rooted in fear, of concern that if someone knew who we really were, we would be not accepted. While we think that we are in relationship when hiding ourselves, it‟s really a sham, because they don‟t know you to love you. It‟s just a masquerade. Thank God that there is some One who knows all about you and loves you anyway! The psalmist, while celebrating the knowledge that God already has of him, invites God to take it to another level, by searching his heart. He invites the Lord not only to search him for searching sake, but because He knows that God is able to cleanse that which is unclean, to right that which is wrong, to straighten that which is crooked. God is able!

Reflection is something we need to do on a regular basis, for life has a way of fooling us. If we‟re not careful, we may fall prey to the temptation of “believing our press.” When you are receiving the accolades of men, that is the time to get before God and say “How am I really, God?” When things are going extraordinarily bad, that is also the time to get before the Lord and say, “God, is it true what they‟re saying about me?” At the end of the day, it‟s what the Saviour says that counts, in the end. Thought for the day: How am I doing, God?

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge

him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

When I was in seminary, I met a friend from Africa who told me, with first glance, that he knew I was from Texas. When I asked him how he knew, he said, “Because you wave and smile at everybody!” Well, that was the way we acknowledged each other. When I was in undergraduate school at the University of Denver, there was a paucity of people who looked like me. I mean, “we” were few and far between! It was a rude awakening, because where I am from, you would speak to people, especially if you were in a minority somewhere. It was just protocol to speak to someone to acknowledge their presence. I didn‟t know the drill in Denver, however. I was just so glad to see my people, that I would go running up to them and almost knock them down with a hug. I quickly learned that everyone doesn‟t like to be greeted like that, so I fell into the “code” we used with each other; as we passed each other on the street, we would briefly nod and say, “What‟s up?” I won‟t even tell you about my experience when I moved to Miami. The point is that protocol calls for acknowledging the presence of someone, and that acknowledgement

calls for a change of behavior, in deference to or respect for the one coming into your presence. Spiritual protocol calls for a change of behavior when you come before the Lord, as well. King David said that we must “come before His presence with singing (Psalms 100:2).” Even though we know that God is omnipresent (everywhere), when you go into another level of worship or a greater level of intimacy, God must be acknowledged; He must be respected with a change of behavior, in deference to Him. When our behavior in every area of life shifts in respect to the presence of God, He will make our paths straight, He will order our steps, and He will direct our paths. There is no need for confusion. Are you lost? Hook into your spiritual GPS system by putting your own plan down (if that was working, you wouldn‟t have been lost) and picking up the plan of the Lord. You‟ll get where you‟re going in record time.

Thought for the day: I once was lost, but now, I‟m found!

“You will surely wear out, both yourself and those people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you, you

cannot do it alone.” Exodus 18:18

I know, I know, “If you want a job right, you‟ve got to do it yourself,” right? Wrong! Moses felt that way, once upon a time. As the one called by God to be the Great Legislator, Moses felt as if he needed to be the only one to judge the matters of the people. Sometimes when we feel as if we‟re on the right track, we‟re actually on the wrong train. Thank God for mentors like Jethro, who counseled Moses into understanding that instead of doing something good for the people, he was doing something bad to the people. Moses‟ heart was in the right place, in the place of servitude to God and servitude toward his fellow man. He might have even bowed to the pleasure of the people in hearing them say that they “had to talk to the pastor – and no one else.” In the end, he was hurting himself and hurting the people. Any wise man or woman of God with obligations needs to objectively look at that he or she is doing and assess what can realistically be done and what cannot be done.

We also need to determine if there is someone who can assist them in fulfilling their role. Are there any people around you who can “catch” your vision, who has your heart, who can do the things that can realistically be done be others? If you are a “hands on” leader, you are stunting the growth of your enterprise and aborting the development of your present and potential staff. What do we do, then? • Look up and ask the Savior to help you feel a sense of freedom in your obligation. Ask for guidance in knowing what needs to be released…..period. • Look within and see if you are ready to delegate. Are you secure enough in yourself to groom someone who can complement you on your weaknesses? Can you hire or select someone who may even be better than you in what you take pride in? • Look around and see who God has placed at your disposal. It may even be someone who is not currently active. It may be someone who is already wearing 10 hats in the organization. The point is, if God has placed them at your disposal, (s)he is the person of the job. Healthy longevity is the key to success in any endeavor. You owe it to yourself and the people you serve to multiply yourself, thereby saving yourself and them. Thought for the day: Moses, what you‟re doing is not good!

“Yes, there is a time and a way for everything, even as people’s troubles lie heavily upon them. Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen?”

Ecclesiastes 8:6-7 (NLT) King Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes, continually compares the life of the righteous with the unrighteous, as well as the life of the wise and the foolish. Throughout this book, as well as the rest of the biblical Wisdom literature, we are told the wisdom of knowing time and season. The person who is carnal or unwise goes merrily throughout life, with no thought to consequence or the proper understanding of timing. It‟s like being 85 years old, wearing Daisy Dukes (short shorts) and a tank top. That may have been the thing to do when you were 8, but is utterly ridiculous in your eighties. You‟ve got to know what time it is! The wise person, the righteous person, is never caught off guard, when it comes to upcoming judgment or the seasons of life, for they know that there will come a day when they must give an account for their deeds, for what they did with their time, their resources, their relationships, their opportunities. Even if you don‟t know “the day or the hour, when the Son of Man shall come (Matthew 25:13),” you know that He is coming. Even if you don‟t know when your mortal time is over, you know that that time is assured.

The only wise thing to do is to enjoy the life you have been given, and to seek God as how to get the most out of it, in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Thought for the day: Order my steps, Lord!

“Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord your God

has given you.” Joshua 1:11 (NLT)

Joshua, in preparing the people for freedom, gave the Hebrew nation a plan to go from profession to possession. He told the people that they would need to prepare to cross Jordan, and to do so with the necessary provisions. Some people are so “deep in God” that they believe when God takes them to another level, they can go in empty handed, that along with promotion or a handup, God will give also them a handout. Not so! When you leave the wilderness, the manna dries up and you must make your own provision, when you want to live in the Promised Land. When you are a possessor, rather than a professor, you take responsibility for handling what you can handle, and leave the rest to God. God didn‟t say that He was dropping the land in their lap, He said that they would have to take possession of it, and in order to do that, they would need provisions. What has God promised you? A better marriage (or a marriage… period)? Know that God is not going to drop it in your lap; that you must take possession of it, by investing time in your mate, by investing energy to have the kind of marriage God said you could have. If you‟re single, it means investing time and resource

into becoming the kind of wife that your vision of a husband would want, and vice versa? Brother, would the kind of woman you desire want to be with someone like you? If not, make it so. If so, make it better. Has he promised you a ministry? Are you studying? Are you spending time in prayer? Are you watching your models of ministry to learn from them? How are you preparing to cross Jordan? Is it your career? Are you doing your homework, taking classes, serving on the right committees, seeking the face of God, asking Him to order your steps, so you can possess the promised promotion? Take provision, for in Pentecost, we‟re crossing over to the other side!

Thought for the day: I don‟t want nobody to give me nothing! Open up the door, I‟ll get it myself! -James Brown

“Wise people think before they act; fools don’t and even brag about it!”

Proverbs 13:6 (NLT)

Have you ever met a loose cannon? What comes up comes out! You never know what they‟ll say or do. As quiet as it‟s kept, they don‟t know, either. Led by their emotions and their will, they have perpetual “foot in mouth” disease. They have it so bad, they have leather breath that Clorets can‟t destroy! It is said that before you express your mind, you should count to ten, especially if you‟re angry. While that may work for some, I found it helpful to retreat until I can get my thoughts together. It works for me, because I know that the power of life and death is in my mouth (Proverbs 18:21), and before I release my “lethal weapon,” I want to make sure that it is effectively aimed at the real enemy. God forbid that I become a tool of the adversary and create confusion and boundless strama. It is better to come back and address the matter with a clear mind. Sometimes, God has worked the matter out for me, or has shown me that the situation is not what I thought, or that the culprit is someone different, altogether. By waiting, I‟ve spared myself and the person untold anguish.

How many “walking wounded” have we left in our homes, our jobs and churches, because we let our lips talk, before our minds were engaged? Think before speaking! Meditate before moving! Don‟t be a fool! Choose your words wisely. Thought for the day: No more “foot in mouth” disease

In Pathways to Pentecost, you will examine “soul disciplines,” which are acts and attitudes that lead to the un-foldment and up-building of our souls (our intellect, our emotions, and our will or choices). .While not exhaustive, these disciplines can include: Decision and Commitment Agreement and Partnership Focus and Clarity Balance Evaluation and Reflection.

Informative and easy to digest, Pathways to Pentecost will be

a valuable resource to your discipleship library.