Faith Calls Us To Action...@vnona

The verse below calls people who say they are believers of Christ to action. "Make" is the operative word and denotes action. To see injustice, devastation and wrongdoing and remain silent is to give tacit approval to those situations.

Christians are called to be a people of faith and action (works). Don't preach to me about your faith if you remain silent on issues of injustice. Change for the better does not just happen by itself. Individuals are the agents of change. Healing does not just happen. Action is required whether internally or externally.

The paths we are called to "make" will not only benefit us but those who come after us if...we clear paths and train others to clear paths. 

Prayer...More Than Words

Lord, 

There are places where we are not able to go, so we send your Spirit. There are hearts that we cannot touch, so we pray for the power and comfort of the Holy Spirit to minister to them. We also pray for those that will have the opportunity to minister and pray for those who are in need and broken-hearted. Give them wisdom. Help them to minister in a spirit of love, truth and restoration. 

In the name of Jesus, Amen. (by Nona O.)



 

Encouragement From Timeless Messages

This week, I received news of the tragic loss of a close family friend who was the victim of senseless violence in my hometown of Oakland, California. As you read this, I hope that you will join me in a prayer of comfort for his family. The following is a collection of a scripture, video dramatizing a scripture, and a hymn. Although I may not know what you have encountered this week or what season of life you are in, I pray that you will be blessed and encouraged by the timeless messages offered below and continue to hold on to the hand of the "One" who will never leave you.    

Scripture

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. Psalm 3:3 (New Living Translation)

Pursue Wisdom

--> Pursuit Intro HD from PC3 on Vimeo.



Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Jennie Wilson and Franklin L. Eiland

Verse 1:

Time is filled with swift transition,

Naught of earth unmoved can stand,

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God’s unchanging hand. 

Chorus:

Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand,

Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand;

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God’s unchanging hand. 

Verse 2:

Trust in Him who will not leave you 

Whatsoever years may bring 

If by earthly friends forsaken 

Still more closely to Him cling

For additional lyrics, http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Hold_to_Gods_Unchanging_Hand/

To sing along:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPJv1-QC3lg

Thankful...Divine Intervention in Darkness

A few nights ago, I was driving the back roads in an unfamiliar area and I ended up on a long stretch of a dark road with no gas station in sight.  As I pulled over to the side of the road with the dashboard reading "0 miles to go", I started anxiously wondering whether I should go forward not knowing where the next gas station was for there were no lights ahead in the darkness.  Or, should I turnaround, go back down the road  behind me and most assuredly run out of gas.  I decided to drive ahead because sitting there on the side of the road was wasting gas.  

A quarter of a mile ahead I came to a fire station. I pulled in the driveway right behind a fire truck that was returning from a call.  One of the firemen got out of the truck and came over to the car to see what was wrong.  I told him that I was not from around there and that I was about to run out of gas.  He looked up and said that there was a gas station 1/2 mile down the road and, "If you run out of gas before you get there, I'll push you myself".  Thank you God!  For me, that was divine intervention.  Even though I made it to the gas station without running out of gas, the fireman's friendly face, smile, and offer of help was the reassurance I needed at that time.  

The message in this for me:  "Go forward!  I am with you even in unfamiliar and dark territory."  

I hope this blesses someone.  Have a great day!

___________________________________________________________

Photo credit:  http://rampantgames.com/blog/2005_06_01_rampantgames_archive.html

A Piece Of A Sermon...Just Hold On To Jesus

For all my church folks out there, I got a piece of a sermon that’s burning way down on the inside of me, “Just Hold On To Jesus.”  I thought about it as I drove home from church one Sunday afternoon in November 2009.  I finally got up enough courage to share it.  Well, here it is:  

[Preacher voice, please] "When people try to judge you based on your past…Jus Hold On To Jesus.  When they lie about you and scandalize your name…Jus Hold On To Jesus.  When they try to determine how high you can go based on where you have been…Jus Hold On To Jesus.  He lives in the third heaven.  When you are on the brink of a breakdown, failure seems to be right around the corner…Jus Hold On To Jesus.  [OOoowwooouuuu  Hah!]  

Jacob wrestled with an angel all night long and said he would not let go until he got a blessing.  Sometimes we just gotta hold on.  Hold on…Climb On…And Go On!  And guess what, the sun is going to shine again*." 

I need help with the scripture text.  Any suggestions?


On a serious note:  For those who want to know this Jesus you can hold on to and who will also hold on to you, check out http://theromanroad.org/

*A shameless plug! "The Sun Will Shine Again"--Single is available on   and Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Will-Shine-Again-Single/dp/B004BSNPQI/ref=sr_shvl_album_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1291894463&sr=301-2.

In The Middle by Smokie Norful

Pastor Smokie Norful
Grammy, Dove, and Stellar Award Winner

Smokie Norful with a song of encouragement for you and me.  


To hear the song:

• In The Middle by Smokie Norful

More Smokie Norful music on iLike

(A full version of the song is available on youtube, but it's worth the $.99. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLQbtLZmnbc)


Verse 1:
Sometimes it's seems hard to see I'm there for you.
And sometimes it's hard for you to see I'm there with you.
Be strong, hold on and know, I'm right there in the middle.

Chorus:
When you cried, (I was there).
When you were sad, (I made you happy).
When you were alone, (I was your friend),
I'm in the middle.

When you were in need, (I provided)
When you couldn't see, (I led the way)
(I was there to see you, see you through it all)
I'm right there in the middle, in the middle of.

Verse 2:
Sometimes I know in my heart that you really love me.
But other times I must question your faith.
Don't give up, always love God,
don't give in (I'm right there in the middle)

Chorus 2:
When you cried, (I was there).
When you were sad, (I made you happy).
When you were alone, (I was your friend),
I'm in the middle.

When you were in need, (I provided)
When you couldn't see, (I led the way)
(I was there to see you through it all)
I'm right there in the middle, in the middle of.
(In the middle of your pain and your heartache), 
in the middle, in the middle of.

Bridge:
I was there in the middle of your pain, 
I was there when they tried to take your hope away,
I was there when you didn't know your right from wrong.

I was there when your friends walked out on you,
I was there when you didn't know what to do, 
when you searched and found all of your family was gone.

When you couldn't see your night from day,
Oh I was there when you couldn't find your way,
I was there from the beginning until the very end,
I was there, I was there, it was me. 
I was there I heard every plea, 
I'll come running everytime.

Ending:
Be strong, (just hold on and know)
(I'm right there in) in the middle, in the middle of,
I'm right there, right there in the middle of.


For more information on Smokie Norful or his music, please visit:  http://www.smokienorful.com

Quote of the Week from Liberty Ink "Quotables"

Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Noted Neurosurgeon

"No matter how many letters you have behind your name, don't start rearranging them to spell G-O-D."
--Dr. Ben Carson, 9/24/10, Howard University's Opening Convocation, Washington, D.C.

From:
 Liberty Ink "Quotables" | *New Facebook Page 
To "Like" this page, click:
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Reflections

Today, I spent some time in reflection.  I was actually looking for something I needed so I had to go through a pile of old papers.  It was refreshing to read through some letters, notes, and cards that friends and loved ones had sent to me over the years.  Reading through the notes and cards brought a smile to my face. 

Do something today that will bring a smile to your face and the face of another person.  And...if you feel comfortable,  feel free to share your moment so we all can smile. 

What is a fool...

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever. - Chinese Proverb

A fool says in his heart, there is no God.  Psalm 14:1 New International Version

Tis So Sweet by Melinda Watts

Just wanted to share one of my favorite hymns...





Melinda Watts is the season three winner of Gospel Dream, the Gospel Music Channel's reality talent show.

On The Occasion of the National Day Of Prayer 2010

The prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray, as interpreted by the Message Bible:

So [Jesus] said, "When you pray, say, 

   Father,
   Reveal who you are.
   Set the world right.
   Keep us alive with three square meals.
   Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
   Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil."




Luke 11: 2-4  "Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group."

In Tribute Of Martin Luther King, Jr.

I am sharing these quotes from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. because they are still relevant today some 50 years after he spoke them.

Some philosophical sociologists suggest that morality is merely group consensus and that the folkways are the right ways. Some psychologists say that mental and emotional adjustment is the reward of thinking and acting like other people.

Success, recognition, and conformity are the bywords of the modern world where everyone seems to crave the anesthetizing security of being identified with the majority.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. The chain reaction of evil--hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars--must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, Fortress Press, 1963

A New Year's Prayer For Those Who Know The Words and Worth of Prayer

I grew up in church. In fact, you could say that I have been in church all my life. I remember back in the day when people would get up during the 'testimony service' and say, "...those who know the words of prayer, please pray for me." Then, we heard a slew of admonitions challenging the validity of "the words" of prayer. So, people began ending their testimonies with, "...those who know the words and worth of prayer, please pray for me."

Well, Romans 8:26-27 (Amplified Bible) says the following regarding "words" and "worth",

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men (and women) knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will.

The motivation for this blog came when I recently received some news about someone that I know.  The news immediately stirred my spirit to heartfelt prayer. The following words were the result:

Lord, there are places where we are not able to go, so we send your Spirit. There are hearts that we can not touch, so we pray for the power and comfort of the Holy Spirit to minister to them. We also pray for those that will have the opportunity to minister and pray for those who are in need and broken-hearted. Give them wisdom. Help them to minister in a spirit of love, truth and restoration. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

In 2010 as we pray for ourselves and our needs and wants, let's allow the Holy Spirit to move us to prayer for others as well because...

P R A Y E R  C H A N G E S  T H I N G S ! !

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

Here's a special Christmas Holiday wish for you and your family.  I hope you enjoy it!

"White Christmas" (musical selection)

Beef Stew on a Snowy Saturday

The meterologists in our area began forecasting a major snow storm a few days ago and of course, everyone's mind went immediately to food. Well, I did not really think much about the food thing or the storm because I have had so many other things on my mind lately. But, yesterday was D-day. So after I ran a few errands, I ended up in the grocery store. Really, I was looking for some Red Zinger tea. Nowadays, this is the hardest item to find and I'm mad about it! Anyhow, I was amazed that the parking lot was full, because since it was just cold I had forgotten about the storm forecast.

While in the store, my mind went back to the first time I made homemade stew. It was during Hurricane Isabelle in the Fall of 2003. It was an impromptu decision then also. Just wanted to try something knew. Now I'm no Julia Childs, but when I get inspired, I can do a little somethin' somethin' on the stove. I haven't had that kind of inspiration lately, though. The 2003 stew was right on-time. I ended up hosting a few friends and their families because their power was off. As God would have it, my power was not affected by the storm. Can I say that the stew was good? It wuz good, yall!!! The stew took us right through the storm and its aftermath.

Well, that memory motivated me. I went to the fresh vegetables section and picked up a package of baby peeled carrots, stalk of celery, a yellow onion, and a few potatoes. Then on to meat section to get some meat. This took a minute. The last time I purchased the meat the package read "beef for stew". The meat was already cut into little cubes so I did not have to try to figure out what was the right kind of meat to buy. Oh well, I ended up getting a package of chuck roast. It looked like the right stuff. I was already in line when I remembered that I needed tomatoes so, I decided to quickly grab a couple cans of diced tomatoes.

This morning after shoveling a little snow, I started the preparations: seasoning the meat and browning it in the pan, cutting up the vegetables and throwing them in the crock pot. Did I tell you that I really did a good job on seasoning the meat (if I have to say so myself). I really like well-seasoned meat. Finally, everything is cooking in the crock pot. It probably will not be ready for the next 20 hours, but I enjoyed the preparation. The vegetables looked wonderful: orange, light green, white, yellow (used some frozen corn I had in the freezer). It's a recession type of stew because it could stand to have a little more meat than it does.

Nevertheless, I am so looking forward to eating the stew with my favorite side dish, cornbread (Jiffy, that is). Now don't laugh, why try to re-invent perfection. Tomorrow, if God allows me to live, is going to be a good day! I will enjoy a simple pleasure. And in this day and time of recession and joblessness, my hope and prayer for you is that you too will have the opportunity to enjoy one of life's simple pleasures. Peace!

Keeping It Real...Relationships

Real relationships are built on love and truth! When I think of relationships, the image of a house comes to mind. Love is the foundation. Truth are the walls that defend against the enemies that would destroy the home and the precious things that are inside. Hope is the roof that provides protection when the storms of life come. Fidelity and trust are the glue and cement that keep it all together.

In life, we are each building and strengthening our homes every day. As the saying goes,

Home is where the heart is. Your true home is with the person(s) or in the place that you love most.*

So, we have to be mindful to do things that will protect and keep our important relationships strong.

Keeping important relationships strong is hard work. But we can look to the examples of God the father, Christ Jesus and words of wisdom from the Bible for a couple of lessons:

1) Give sacrificially--John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (New King James Version)

2) Don't lie or be deceitful; speak the truth in love--Proverbs 27:17 You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another. (The Message Bible)

3) Spend quality time with those who are important to you--St. John 13:1 & 4, It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (The Message Bible)

Jesus washing his disciples' feet symbolizes Him meeting a need. When you spend quality time with special people, you begin to become familiar with their strengths, weaknesses, and needs. Pray about how God can use you to meet a need.

4) Love unconditionally--John 15:12, This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Proverbs 17:17, Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. (The Message Bible)

5) Don't be too proud to say, "I am sorry"--Genesis 33, Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming ... As [Jacob] approached his brother, [he] bowed seven times, honoring his brother. But Esau ran up and embraced him, held him tight and kissed him. And they both wept. (The Message Bible)

By deceiving his Father, Jacob stole the blessing that was traditionally reserved for the oldest child. Although Esau was Jacob's twin brother, he was the oldest and the one who should have received the blessing. Jacob took advantage of his brother at one of Esau's weakest moments. Additionally, Jacob deceived his Father in order to obtain the blessing. However, when the time came for reconciliation, Jacob was not too proud to humble himself and ask for his brother's forgiveness.

*(http://www.idioms.thefreedictionary.com)