Tuesday, July 19, 2011

  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
[Proverbs 22:6]

  Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible

Train up a child in the way he should go – The Hebrew of this clause is curious: חנך לנער על פי דרכו chanoch lannaar al pi Draco, “Initiate the child at the opening (the mouth) of his path.” When he comes to the opening of the way of life, being able to walk alone, and to choose; stop at this entrance, and begin a series of instructions, how he is to conduct himself in every step he takes. Show him the duties, the dangers, and the blessings of the path; give him directions how to perform the duties, how to escape the dangers, and how to secure the blessings, which all lie before him. Fix these on his mind by daily inculcation (to implant by repeated statement or admonition; teach persistently and earnestly), till their impression is become indelible; then lead him to practice by slow and almost imperceptible degrees, till each indelible impression becomes a strongly radiated habit. Beg incessantly the blessing of God on all this teaching and discipline; and then you have obeyed the injunction of the wisest of men. Nor is there any likelihood that such impressions shall ever be effaced, or that such habits shall ever be destroyed. חנך chanac, which we translate train up or initiate, signifies also dedicate; and is often used for the consecrating any thing, house, or person, to the service of God. Dedicate, therefore, in the first instance, your child to God; and nurse, teach, and discipline him as God’s child, whom he has entrusted to your care. These things observed, and illustrated by your own conduct, the child (you have God’s word for it) will never depart from the path of life. Coverdale translates the passage thus: “Yf thou teachest a childe what waye he shoulde go, he shall not leave it when he is olde.” 

  

  “Which Way Do They Go?”

Good Morning Beloved,

My mom told me that my dad looked at me as a small child, and said, “baby do something!“  He was a musician, from a family of musicians.  I believe I received my love of all forms of music from him.  However, he never actually taught me to do anything.  I grew up with my grandma. She was a great story-teller ~the Steven Spielberg of my youth.  I received my love of stories from her.  She saw my voracity, my ‘bent’ toward the dramatic, and fed my growing imagination.  She trained me for what I’m doing now in “daily inculcation“.  She imparted great life skills in me.  I was taught that “people are people“, and that some of the greatest blessings come in unfamiliar wrappings.  She taught me that you can’t judge a book by its cover.  What is interesting is that she didn’t talk much.  She was “old school“.  A lot of the older saints didn’t believe in telling children too much.  My sense is that they wanted to protect us, and create an environment where we could enjoy the joys of childhood as long as possible.  Training comes in many forms.  What we’ve been told is that if we train our children in the ways of God, if they turn away from their teaching, they’ll be back.  That is disheartening to the parent who did that and yet their child turned away and never came back.  Some have been cut off at young ages and now it’s too late.  The Bible gives NO guarentee that if you do everything “right”, you’ll have a perfect kid.  There will never be a greater “parent” than The Almighty God, and look at some of His “kids”.  Thank God for those who never strayed from the teaching of their Godly parents.  God bless those who turned to their “own devices” but “came to themselves” and returned to their Heavenly Father.  What answer do we have for the others?  Just as stated above.  Our assignment is to train them spiritually and socially.  To demonstrate and point them toward a genuine relationship with the God of our Salvation.  It is not to make carbon copies of us.  Our task is to study our children and learn their temperment and what “makes them tick“.  What did God place in them?  There are youngsters at my church, 3 and 4 year olds, who have musical abilities in them.  They are naturals, but someone has to train and develop the gift that is in them or it will be ineffective.  I remember a young lady named Kris whose mother was the president of the very first Gospel Theater ministry I ever worked with.  Kris was 9 years old.  Where ever there was a piano or keyboard, we had to drag her off of it.  PLUNK.. PLUNK.. PLUNK… PLUNK… noise.. I remember telling a friend, “somebody just needs to go on and teach her how to play“.  The next thing I know, she was getting lessions.  She kept at, in 2005 at the tender age of 22, she received her Masters in music.  I call her “The Maestra”!  She is amazing.  My own daughter is musically similar to me.  She has a very eclectic musical palate.  Her tastes are broad and varied… from Billy Idol, Lady Gaga & Beyonce to Israel Houghton, Switchfoot, & Kirk Franklin. The reason she leans towards diverse musical stylings, is reflective of her heart in general. She also loves diversity in people.  It is something of which I’m eternally grateful.  I’d say we “trained” her well!

…and that Beloved is Good News!

Y Stress? … U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

Home ~ Me & Grandma

Me in the phenomenal stageplay “Homecoming Queen: The Prodigal”

“There Is No Failure In God”, Rev. Donald Vails

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgWHfOuwZf8

“All In His Hands”, Dr. Charles G. Hayes & Cosmopolitan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHa2apGEJIw

“All In His Hands”,  FAC Sanctuary Choir

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xB0bEWR1VE

“All Night”, Alvin Darling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpaSZSYzbZM

“Encourage Yourself”, Donald Lawrence w/Sheri Jones Moffett

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6yhgFxDQMw

“He Has His Hands On You”, Marvin Sapp

http://youtu.be/NHj49WzGpXk

“In The Middle Of It”, Issac Carree

http://youtu.be/QZdvKgJM8ek

“The Prayers”, JMoss

http://youtu.be/0wUbK2EssfQ

“Pure Gold”, The Clark Sisters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWWlTe_ft3Q

“Jesus Is A Love Song”, The Clark Sisters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs0mB-RSV0c

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own Blood, And has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

[Revelation 1:4-6]

“Kings and Priests… Peace To You”

That just blows my mind… think about that.. we are Kings and Priests.  I didn’t make that up, it is right there in God’s Word, and it has been there all the time.  Isn’t that amazing!  Kingship has more to do with authority than gender.  I love being a woman and my name is Regina, so I love the term “Queen” (the meaning of Regina).  However, I have no problem with the label King.  After all, the Spirit of the King of all Kings lives in me!  If we ever grasp what that really means and all that entails, our lives would change completely.  We would not be bound by what others think about us.  We would not really care whether or not we are considered beautiful, popular, or desirable by “fickle pop culture”.  They change faster than the wind. We would know our worth comes from a much, much higher place.  The Lord of Lords thinks you are “fearfully and wonderfully made”.. your price… His own Blood. (wait a minute.. pause.. WOW!).  You are beautiful with the perfect Spirit dwelling on the inside of you.  That alone makes you special.. sanctified… set-apart. Today, Hollywood lost an icon… the incredibly beautiful Elizabeth Taylor.  Hers was an interesting and incredibly full life.  Transitioning from ingenue to movie star to activist.  I remember that she was one of the first voices to speak out on behalf of those stricken with the AIDS virus.  This was at a point when very little was known of the disease and people were so fearful, that those afflicted were treated as cast-a-ways.  There were those who were afraid to even shake hands with a person suffering from it. She raised millions for that particular cause.  In the midst of an often tumultuous personal life, she took time to care about others’ suffering.  That made her even more beautiful.  I pray her soul is at rest.  You are beautiful.  That does not mean that we place no value on externals.. just not so much.  As an aside, on Sunday, I shared with the congregation how I related to the character “Joyce Ann” in Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Big Happy Family”.  She hid herself away in church because of the pain of her past.  Her clothes and hair were a hot mess.  It was as if she completely stopped looking in a mirror.  I can relate.  I was her for years.  When I look back on some of my pictures and videos… I cringe.  I looked at least 10 to 15 years older than I actually was.  My clothes were ill-fitting and clunky, my eyebrows looked like two caterpillars that threatened to take over my face.  My glasses were big and bulky and swallowed up my little face.  A mess.  It was as if I looked in the mirror one day and said “What happened!”.  That’s when the metamorphosis occurred.. and it ain’t over yet! I knew I had to make some changes.  My excuse was that I didn’t want to buy clothes because I wasn’t at the size I wanted to be.  I said to myself, when I get “there”, I’ll buy some clothes.  Wrong.  No matter what size you are, there is really no excuse for looking sloppy.  We represent the King of all Kings.  A person who is homeless and cannot do any better maybe, but for the rest of us no.  You can get a cute outfit at Simply Fashion for $10.  I have friends who are pros at the thrift store.  Just make sure when you get something from the “T-shop” as my friend calls it, that it fits correctly.  That its hemmed and looks nice. For the non-dreaded, you can comb your hair for FREE.  Take care of your body.. we only get one one on this earth.  Drink water, eat right (Lord Help me! LOL!) get some rest, put some movement in your life… walk sometimes.  Represent.  We were all put here for something.  Find out the mystery of your own destiny and begin to walk in it. Modern technology offers us a larger base than we ever thought we’d have.  I have no idea how many people read this offering of mine.  Every now and then, I will get an email from someone I don’t know personally, telling me that they were blessed by something I wrote.  That never ceases to amaze me.  Use what you have.  Start where you are.  My good writer friend Allan Williams (Hey Buddy!) makes encouraging videos and puts them up on You tube. They are not fancy, but he is able to share his heart, his love of people, His passion, his desire to see people walk in victory over life’s’ circumstances and his love of Jesus.  No excuses.  He just does it.  He is using his authority.  What are we doing with ours.  Are we allowing it to sit on the shelf of our heart and collect dust?  Are we mocking time? Are we doing all we know to do but frustrated because things don’t seem to be working?  Remember God’s Word~

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (don’t give up).
Galatians 6:9

Sooo.. my Royal sibling… let’s do this

“I Give Myself Away”, William McDowell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4v5IXbEauM

“Perfect Peace”, Keith Pringle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmfFhrHqx_Y

“Empty Me”, William Murphy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KLrth_2Gdg

“Take Me In”, Kutless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vG9Cx767mc

“Pure Gold”, The Clark Sisters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWWlTe_ft3Q

“There Is No Failure In God”, Rev. Donald Vails

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgWHfOuwZf8

“Be Blessed”, Yolanda Adams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfGFXPb_gwE

“Never Give Up”, Yolanda Adams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0et-zyoKLw

“Love God Love People”, Israel Houghton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js-x8C0_BLE

“You Hold My World In Your Hands”, Israel Houghton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtD-Z7S5EB0

“Awesome Wonder”, Trent Cory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCo04_puOJ0

“Ancient of Days”, Ron Kenoly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOe5GpqFJrE

 

 So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

What a statement!  Some of us lose it when the cable goes out! … Not you, but some people I heard about somewhere on the planet.  Paul went through, indescribable agony, but in his heart and mind, he had one thing that kept him… a WORD from the Lord!  He knew that he could not die until he went to Rome.  Paul was human.  I’m sure he felt how we would have felt in his position, but his trust was in the God of his salvation.  His encounter with Jesus on the road that day forever sealed in his mind his destiny.  He became a servant of the Living God.  This was a man who was looked upon as a great intellectual, upper class in his society.  He was well respected, revered and feared, but at one point he made the statement that:

“…Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…” {Philippians 3:8}

We will get to the other side… no matter what “beast” tries to attach itself to us or hinder us.  Shake it off.  Our mission will be accomplished.  Smash through every stumbling block, speak to every mountain, lay aside every weight until your purpose is fulfilled.  Some go through more than others.  That is why it is essential that we pray for one another and help each other.  

“…For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”
[Ecclesiastes 4:10]

What is a “successful” life?  In God’s eyes, it is finishing the task He gave us.  Together, with the help of our beautiful Savior, we will make it!

 

 

 
 

 

Friday, January 1, 2010

 PUSH!

Good Morning Beloved,

First I’d like to say welcome 2010!!!  Wow… a brand new year… the beginning of a whole new decade.  How awesome is that!  Another Marvin Sapp song that I love is “Praise Him In Advance” off of his “Thirsty” project.  Our praise of God is in advance, to Him it is past tense.  God is in the past, present and future all at the same time.  Mind boggling isn’t it!  Being the omnipotent, ever present, all knowing God that He is, God knows the end of our story, as well as He knew the beginning of it.  Knowing that He is a God that cannot lie, I praise and glorify Him for what He’s done, and for what He is doing that I can’t see yet.  Remember that is the very essence of faith.  Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that, “Faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen…” and Romans 8:24 reminds us that, “… we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?  As long as we hold on to our faith in the finished work of Jesus and the redemption He purchased for us with His own blood on the cross.  As long as we trust in the God of our Salvation.  As long as we keep our eyes on God and keep His Word embedded in the depths of our spirit.  As long as we keep our heart tender towards Him and our ears attentive to the leading of Holy Spirit.  As long as we keep our minds stayed on Him and a heart that will obey His commands… there is nothing that we can not do… Nothing shall be impossible for us.  We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!… PUSH!  Push through the false mindsets of what you can’t accomplish… push through negative feelings, thoughts and emotions… push through lack, poor self image, generational curses, addictions, poor self control, laziness, procrastination, selfishness, worry, defeat.  Push through everything that has held you down and kept you from going to your next level.  Whatever that is.  There are people that God wants to take all over the world, but they won’t get their passport. They feel the “prompting” in their spirit, but they haven’t done the basics.  They can’t “see” how God is going to get them to where they see, but that is the problem.  We are supposed to walk by faith, not by sight.  Where God guides, He supplies.  This Christian journey is as much about the actual “journey”, as it is about the final destination.  Step by step… second by second, minute by minute.  Don’t allow a lack of current vision to impede your progress.  Every day, our constant prayer should be, “God, what next?”.  Our assignment can be as simple as giving somebody a ride to church, or a kind word to someone on the metro.  I’M PREGNANT! ()… that’s right… so are you! (my fellas too)Congratulations!  You’re pregnant with purpose, about to give birth to a promise.  It’s been hidden… growing… thriving, being fed and nourished by the Word of God.  Stretched by circumstances.  Protected.  Watered by the rivers of living water residing within you.  It’s been kicking inside you.  You’ve been getting edgy, irritable and uncomfortable.  You’re waiting for something and not quite sure what it is.  Some haven’t had any symptoms at all.  There is actually a television show that tells the stories of women who were pregnant and did not know it.  They had none of the usual signs.  No cravings, no morning sickness, and even more astonishing… no weight gain!  They would feel pain, and the next thing they knew, a little face was looking up at them as if to say, ”HELLO THERE MAMA!”… 

Your purpose is about to be fulfilled… It’s almost here!… PUSH!

… and that Beloved is Good News!

Y Stress? … U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

“Praise Him In Advance”, Pastor Marvin Sapp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1CIY7-YnGo

“Just Wanna Say”, Israel Houghton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N7d3A39rls

“Moving Forward”, Israel Houghton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQfc7iQecw8

“Shake The Devil Off”, Dorothy Norwood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfpy8ABT77A

“Faithful”, Hezekiah Walker & LFC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcKBhAjjsoI

“Let It Rain”, Bishop Paul S. Morton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApjyAnt4-qE

“Bow Down and Worship Him”, Bishop Paul S. Morton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmJU0beHNj8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQNp4n_5VFE

“How Great Is Our God”, Bishop Paul S. Morton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2y3Zot4tE0

“He’s Already Here”, Brian Courtney Wilson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GQxnZtbyeA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YkmZBV6AXc

“It Ain’t Over”, Maurette Brown Clark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXNhArf-MSk

“Shabach”, Walt Whitman and The Soul Children

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlgoMtt5b7Y

HALLELUJAH! 

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”

[Genesis 18:12-20 (New King James Version)]

“Who’s Laughing Now!”

I’ve always found this particular verse funny.  Abraham, nearly 100 years old, Sarah nearly 90 and God sends a personal Word by 2 Angels, to them, that Sarah is going to have a son.  Both of them laughed.  I used to wonder why Abraham was not called out for laughing.  It could have been the spirit behind the laugh.  Abraham might have laughed for joy; with faith and simple trust in his heart.  Sarah may have laughed like some women I know.  It may have been more of a “yeah right, what are they drinking”  kind of laugh.  I know women in the 40 and over club who would have the same reaction if God were to tell them that.  Remember the stir that was caused when the 67 year old woman in Barcelona gave birth to twins in 2006.  Sarah was 90!  (Remember when you said, “anyway You bless me Lord I’ll be satisfied!”).  Most of us won’t have that testimony, but we will be given assignments that in our eyes may look intimidating, impossible, wild, silly, scary –crazy.  Assignments that will seem incredible to other people.  We may not be able to explain it coherently.  That’s ok.  They would not understand it anyway.  They may not understand why you would leave your job in any economy to start your own business.  Why you would leave your home, and everything familiar to you and move to another state. Why you would take a lesser position, so that you would be able to spend more time with your family, and have less stress.  Yet, I know folks who have done all of the above.  At the time, they were scared.  They were unsure if they were really hearing God correctly, but now, years later they know it was the best decision they could have ever made.  My daughter Jah was a little stunt woman when she was a little.  She loved to climb on things and “fly” toward me.  She would stand on a chair or a table a few feet away, and I would tell her to jump into my arms.  She loved doing that and did it without any hesitation.  She heard what I said, and she knew I would catch her.  How did she know?  Because she knew me.  She knew that I loved her and would not let her fall.  A couple of times she caught me off-guard, but I still caught her.  Call it mother’s instinct.  Sometimes you can feel they are about to do something, even though you may not know what it is!  Here’s the thing… God is NEVA (look at your neighbor and say ‘never’) caught off guard.  He knows the end from the beginning, and when it is all said and done… He’ll be the One to have the last laugh… and we’ll be chuckling right along with Him.

“Just Because God Said It”, LaShaun Pace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEOldpy1Y78

“Yes To Your Will”

LaShaun Pace, Kirk Franklin, Rev. Lawrence K. Thomas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TUwBTjZi0U

“I Want My Destiny”, Fred Hammand & RFC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWEjrFxfaBE

“(Tell You…”) With My Whole Heart”, Edwin Hawkins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVOxHRt4fAU

“God Specializes”, Pastor E. Dewey Smith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK-mWlEFDuQ

“I Get Joy”, Mary, Mary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI89cKHSHXg

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor. Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters.  If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.  God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy.  So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?  Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?  Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”  Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.  Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

[James 4:7-13]

Good Morning Beloved,

I love the balance in the scripture.  It does not leave us to believe that we have no personal responsibilities when it comes to living right.  However, it does not constantly condemn us as if we have no hope either… balance.  It is designed to get, and keep us on the right track.  Now, Brother James did not bite his tongue did he?  Sounds like a little wake-up call for us to get our ‘house’ in order.  Our office is mourning the sudden passing of a great lady today, a precious lady named Nancy Elfstrom.  Nothing puts life into prospective more than the passing of another individual.  I just saw her Friday.  She was looking well, perky and smiling.  She has been consulting with the company off and on since the ’90s.  She LOVED coffee, and I made sure she had it everyday.  She would always smile and tell me how grateful she was.  She would stop by my desk and just start talking, always asking if she could do something for me.  She was just such a sweet person.  We just found out this morning that she died on Sunday.  News travels slowly around here.  She will be greatly missed.  The brevity of life.  We do not know the day or the hour when we will pass from this life, to life everlasting, but we know the One who does know.  That is the reason, He is urging us to live.  Not just exist from day to day, but really live.  Jesus said that He “came that we might have life and life more abundantly“.  That means life here, and life after we cross over the threshhold.  There is a reason we were birthed into the earth.  We have a God given purpose and destiny…

…. and that Family is Good News!

U Blessed

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

“Well Done”, Tye Tribbett & GA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3uwlVfReVA

“Breathe Into Me”, Fred Hammond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hpl_906fqk

“Tomorrow”, (concept video by David Roberts, King David Productions)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZBCv7ChP38

“I Want My Destiny”, Fred Hammond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWEjrFxfaBE

Killer Dog -Romans 8:13 116 of 116   Sin may seem harmless when Satan tries to sell it to us. But it will soon grow into a devouring monster, that will eventually kill us, if we don’t, by the Spirit, kill it first. March 22, 2009

Dinner Bell -Luke 14:17 103 of 116   The good news is that, through Jesus, everyone is invited to take a seat at the table of God’s blessing. We need to be telling the world about the blessing Christ has provided for them. November 23, 2008