At a time in our country where we hear and see so many negative images of African American boys this video comes along and not only blesses us but sends us straight into worship.
Fred Hammond John 3:16 (Live) #WorshipJournalLive
I love this song!!!!! Worship Journal is a must have.
It's All In The Presentation
Last week my son and I went to a Labor Day cookout. Tyler took his frisbee and his football with him. When it was time to go it was dark and the hostess and Tyler were able to locate the frisbee but not the football. She told me that when she found it, she would let me know. And she did, via Facebook.
So, let’s get to Sunday. First off, let me say this. Service was so awesome yesterday!!! During Praise and Worship Ms. Lovi acknowledged she had something for me, and I went over to get it. What grabbed my attention immediately was the packaging. I knew what she was bringing but I didn't anticipate the packaging.
She had placed the football in a blue gift bag with blue tissue paper. In my mind I thought, she didn’t have to do that she could have put it in a Kroger bag or just given it to one of us. But she didn’t. She took the time to package it in such a manner that it felt like a gift. It looked like a gift. I knew that I would write about this. I just didn't know the direction I would take. So, I started talking to God and thinking about Joseph’s coat of many colors, and I thought about the scripture where it states that God’s gifts are good and perfect. I’m trying to make sense of this and then it hits me. The very same way that Ms. Lovita took the time and care to package the football is what God does to us.
This seemingly ordinary toy was packaged in a manner that made it stand out. That made it set apart. If you saw me with the bag you would think that someone had given me a gift. You too, would want to know what was inside. And the more I think about it, it was a gift. And we are God’s gifts. He has set us apart. In Leviticus 20:26 it reads “You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.” God has set us apart from everyone else to be his own. Didn’t the praise team sing this yesterday? You own the world and yet You still want me? Me, who’s scared to step out on Your promises. Me, who messes stuff up on a continuous basis? Me?
I challenge you to write out all of the reasons why you believe God would not want you to do things for His kingdom. Get a real good, long list. And then this is what you to do next. Scratch out the list and rip that paper to shreds. Let go of the negative self talk. That's not God. His word says that you can do all things through Christ. Not somethings. Not one thing. But all things.
A lot of times we know that we are set apart, that we are different but we want to fit into the idea of being “normal”. You don’t want to stand out or be different because then people might accuse you of being stuck up or acting like you’re better than other people. And it’s not that you think that you’re better but God has put a call on your life to do great things. And to be honest God expects you to do those great things. Say to yourself, I’m not stuck up. I'm different.
He didn’t create you to fit in with everybody else. He created you so that everybody else would say, “If they know God, I want to know Him too.” Pastor Mike kinda touched on this yesterday, “What do people see when they see you?” Is your face all scrunched up and mean looking where no one wants to speak to you? Is the tone and language of your voice driving people away from you? What’s your social media presence like? Are you presenting an image that invites other people to want to know Jesus?
It’s all in the presentation. One of my favorite episodes of the Cosby Show was when Vanessa brought Dabnis Brickey home to her parents. If you remember this episode her parents were not happy. Her father pretty much asked Dabnis what if his favorite meal, a Porterhouse steak, crispy potatoes and sautéed mushrooms was served on a garbage can lid, would he still want it? Bill Cosby went on to tell Dabnis that this situation was Vanessa’s fault in how she presented her fiancé to her family.
God has called us to do great things, to do amazing things. He does not want to serve one thing to us on a garbage can lid. Nor does our Father want us to represent anything less than the kings and queens that He destined us to be. Let’s pray.
God we thank you for another day in your presence to attempt to get things right. God you said that we are a royal priesthood, a peculiar people God’s special possession. And this morning we are going to receive that. We no longer will try and fit in but we accept that you set us apart to do greater works for you. I pray that we collectively step out on faith and be the person that you created us to be so that we can draw more believers for Your kingdom. In Jesus name we pray amen.
I Need God's Favor - Morning Manna 8.8.16
Last night I had fallen asleep while listening to
something on YouTube and I awoke to Pastor Mike’s text about speaking for
morning manna. All I could do is text back “Yes”. This is for someone listening
right now, trust me when I tell you that the things that you run from will
chase you down until all of your answers of “no” are exhausted.
Yesterday Pastor Mike gave us some major keys out of
the book of Proverbs. I love the wisdom of Solomon. I remember when Michael
Scruggs Jr. was given the task to memorize scriptures I came to know Proverbs
4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. Imagine David, the
man after God’s own heart, brings forth a son, named Solomon who tells us to
get wisdom at any cost.
Not only did Pastor Mike speak on favor but
yesterday I had, on a couple different instances, favor come up in a
conversation with a friend. That’s when I heard God tell me the topic for this
morning. I Need His Favor.
How many times have you had a friend call or text
you and ask, “Could you do me a favor?” or “I need a favor.” At that point
you’re going to respond yes or no because it depends on who they are to you and
what is it that they want. It can at times be conditional if, I don’t know you
like that, If we ain’t cool like that. This kind of favor is defined in Webster
as a kind or helpful act that you do for someone.
Proverbs 3:1-4 reads
My
son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let
love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
Then you will win favor… Now, that favor is defined as a
preference for one person, group, etc. over another. When this favor occurs
that’s when you hear someone shout out favor ain’t fair. Earlier we talked
about favor being conditional but God knows us, He created us in His image. Not
only that, but God doesn’t just like you. God loves you. So when we go to God
we don’t ask Him for favors rather we seek His favor. Our statement now becomes
I need some favor Lord. I need Your favor.
I remember Bishop Rudolph McKissick Jr preaching years ago
and he stated the phrase, “sooner than right now, quicker than not yet.” God
that’s how we desire Your favor.
Favor is not identified through the process producing a
blessing, it is revealed through God’s intentional decision to keep His hands
on the process. Remember, God is an intentional God and God has His hands on
us. Which means we need to step aside and let God be God so that He alone can
work His perfect will for our lives.
I don’t simply want a favor. It’s time out for just wanting
just enough or just what I want for myself. I want what God wants for me. Truth
be told God wants better for me than what I would want for myself. His gifts
are good and perfect.
Remember you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
You’re God’s creation. You were created for His glory, you were created for His
purpose, and you were created for His pleasure and to that we say have Your
way. Fill us up with all of those thing you predestined for us in eternity. And
when our cup overflows allow us to be vessels of blessings to others.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord
with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding
and lean not on your own understanding
Lean not on your own understanding
of why something didn’t work out, why someone left you, why someone hasn’t
shown up yet, why you haven’t gotten the position, why your finances are not where
you want them to be. Trust Him in all things. Trust Him with all things. Seek
Him daily. As a matter of fact, seek Him first. Submit to His ways. It will
work if you work it. You have to be steadfast in your prayer life, in your
fasting and in your obedience to him.
Finally Proverbs 3:6 tells us - In
all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Some key words here are trust, lean
not, acknowledge and direct. If you simply trust in Him, lean not to the stuff that
you want for yourself, (which more than likely hasn’t been working out well)
acknowledge or submit to him then He’s going to direct you in the way that you
should go. It’s nearly one a.m. in the morning as I’m writing and I had an
“aha” moment. Solomon’s father gave us a preview of this scripture in Psalm
37:23 – The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighted in
his way.
Let’s pray.
God we thank you for another day in Your presence.
We don’t take Your favor and will for our lives for granted. We know that we
haven’t always sought after Your will for our lives and that has at times left
us wondering and questioning the consequences to some of those decisions. God I
pray that everyone on this call learns to acknowledge you in all things so that
You can direct our paths and order our steps. We are praying for an incredible
week of God’s love, mercy and favor. And God when those unmerited favors begin
to rain down let us simply say, “I receive it”, “Lord, be it unto me.” In Jesus
name we pray.
I pray that this message blesses you this week as we
lift up our hands with worship, expectation and adoration for the King of Kings
and the Lord of Lords. Have an awesome week.
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