Posts Tagged ‘family’
Family Jewels
Written by FAVORED1 on May 19, 2010 – 3:11 pm -
Wednesday, May 7, 2010
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
[Ephesians 3:14-21]
FAMILY JEWELS
Good Afternoon Beloved,
This is one of my favorite scriptures. My God is ABLE! As I was reading this, I saw something else that jumped out at me. The part about all of the “family” of earth being named for Jesus Christ. Remember Jesus is called the “Last Adam”. We are all natural descendants of the “first Adam”, however we have been given a choice as to whether we choose to be part of the family of the “Last Adam”. The way has been made, the invitation given to each and every member of the human “family”, however, God graciously gave us free-will to choose. Considering the alternative, I don’t know why anyone would choose not to be. I suspect it is because they don’t really believe what He said. Family… I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. Saturday, I attended a memorial service in honor of my late Grandmother Frances Adele Hockaday — she was 93 years old. I did not know a lot about her, had only met her a few times. She had nine children including my dad and seven are still alive. Five of them attended the service. It was interesting looking at people so closely related and yet total strangers. Happily, steps were taken to rectify this with several family members. However, it made me think about all of the people I’ve been blessed by God to have as part of my life. They are my ‘family’. We are connected through our heavenly Father and through common bonds that we share. I once heard it said “friends are the family we choose” … I think that is a pretty accurate sentiment, but it is even deeper. We are all part of the human family, we’re just more connected to some than others. Just like in a natural family, there are personalities that just click better. The love of Jesus binds and unites us. We are a stronger family because of Him. When we come into faith and the knowledge of our place in the ‘Family of God’, I believe we really start to truly live. It is more than just being a part of a local church. I’ve gone to many different “churches” in different states, different cultures, different styles of music, but the Spirit is the same. I get the same feeling of being amongst family. That is how it will be when we get home to Glory. Denominations will be completely unnecessary. There will be no fear or pride.. just God. Pure, complete, unrestrained praise and worship of our Heavenly Father. Pure enjoyment of our brothers and sisters without silly arguments, misleading ‘wacky’ doctrines, confusion, suspicion, jealousy etc… etc… etc… Family.. the way it was designed to be.. Hey… here’s a thought.. why not practice now.. let’s be the Family of the True and Living God! Living in holiness, peacemakers, lovers of all that is good… allowing our light to so shine before men that all may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in Heaven! 
Tags: family, family of God, love
Posted in Morning Soul Food | No Comments »
Steering In The Right Direction :0)
Written by FAVORED1 on December 22, 2009 – 10:19 am -
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
[Hebrews 12:13 New Living Translation]
Steering In The Right Direction
Good Morning Beloved,
This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
I heard something yesterday that caught my attention. A news reporter gave safety tips for driving in the snow. One of the tips was to look where you want to go. If you don’t want to go into the tree, keep your eyes off of the tree. His premise was that you will go where your eyes are looking. That stuck with me and this morning I thought, “ummph… that’ll preach”. Where our eyes go, our bodies will follow. Whatever we dwell on will eventually take on life become a reality. If our mind is on McDonald’s fries, it won’t be long before our legs carry us to McDonald’s. No one has ever “accidently” had an affair just coming out of the 7 eleven with a Slurpee. It started off as a thought, some sort of plan… a break-down somewhere. If we can keep our train of thought from getting ‘derailed’, we can keep ourselves out of a whole lot of trouble. It is the holiday season and many people are traveling all over to spend some time with family and friends. Not everyone has as wonderful a relationship with their family as I do. I know that I am extremely blessed with a great bunch of folks. Everybody doesn’t have that testimony. Some are dreading the time they are about to spend with their people. For them, one day is way too long
… two days is misery
… three days torture
! Wonder what would happen if they changed their prospective on the situation. Instead of looking at it as a chore and a duty, why not look at it as a way to start over. To enjoy them in all of their oddities and idiosyncrasies. Time is flying and all we have is right now. Family members are at war over stuff that happened back in the 80’s. If the thing can be changed … change it, if not let it go. Life is too short. Forgiveness is another powerful weapon in our holy arsenal. If Jesus could forgive those who nailed Him to the cross, surely you can forgive your sister for stealing your boyfriend back in high school… I’m just sayin’. Just think of all of the recent deaths, young and old. People who had gone Christmas shopping, gifts from them to their loved ones lying under the tree. Folks with presents under the Christmas tree who will not be here to open them. The verse tells us in essence to walk straight, so that others who are weak can walk straight. Somebody is looking to us to see how to put legs to this Christian walk. They need to see a real live sure ’nuff honest to goodness flesh-n-blood person love their spouse and honor their marriage vows. They need to see someone with a well-adjusted state of mind, a good work ethic, a kind and generous spirit that reflects the love of Christ who walks in honesty and integrity. That may seem to be a tall order… well … it is, but God’s Word assures us that, “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us”.
…. that Beloved… is Good News!
Y Stress… U Blessed!
HAVE A FABULOUS DAY!
Regina
my daughter Jah and I Christmas Celebration 2009 ~still not too late to get tickets for the show…it was postponed from last week. It’s happening this weekend Sat., Dec. 26th (12:00p, 4:00 & 7:00) & Sun., Dec. 27th (5:00p) at Evangel Cathedral, 13901 Central Avenue, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
www.evangelchristmascelebration.com
… hope to see you there!
“My Mind’s Made Up”, Rev. Milton Bronson and the Thompson Community Choir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb90PTvNoiU
“Thank You”, Rev. Milton Bronson, lead: Kim McFarland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWQMBtKxkJM
“Work On Me”, Tonex
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhHLMXNBgbE
“Available to You (part 1)”, Rev. Milton Bronson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i7z3ga0Fdo
“Available to You (part 2)”, Rev. Milton Bronson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9Fg32AF-BQ
“Say Yes”, Shekinah Glory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76125fjyaSI
Tags: family, forgiveness, Jesus, sin, steering in the right direction, work
Posted in Morning Soul Food | No Comments »
All In The Family
Written by FAVORED1 on September 9, 2009 – 8:13 am -
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
So we, being many, are one body in CHRIST, and every one members one of another [Romans 12:5]
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is CHRIST.
[1 Corinthians 12:12]
“Angels”, Richard Smallwoodhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfBNofC1Ggc“He Reigns”, Kevin LeVarhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPDUvrKIRtY“A Heart That Forgives”, Kevin LeVarhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhr5iro0KVI“Here I Am”, Kevin LeVarhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arJGD6qqPCo“You Are My Hiding Place”, Selahhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co6HXUN19AY“The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”, CeCe Winanshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1YPUx3oNZs“Well Done”, Tye Tribbetthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeMiXvKGvwM“Ancient of Days’, Ron Kenolyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOe5GpqFJrE
“Today, I ask You Dear Jesus to meet me at the office door, and sit with me all day, with Your Holy Arm around my shoulder and Your Righteous Hand over my mouth when needed”
Tags: children of God, family, harmony, one in Christ, peace with God
Posted in Morning Soul Food | No Comments »
awwwwwww… family…. ;0)
Written by FAVORED1 on July 16, 2009 – 11:45 am -
Thursday, July 16, 2009
For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
***
But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
awwwwwww…. Family
Good Morning Beloved,
Someone once said, “be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home”. For some home is a place of security, love, joy and peace. For others, it is a place of competition, greed, emptiness, and misery. Still others find themselves in a mediocre middle-ground. This is true for the place where we put our stuff, and it is also true for our spiritual residence… our church-home. Some of the same challenges and joys we face at our residence, we find at the edifice where we gather with the saints. Now… when they get on our nerves, many of us pack up and leave. What I have observed watching folks come and go over the past 20+ years at my church, is that people always, ALWAYS, take themselves with them
. Whatever issue they encountered at the previous church, somehow mysteriously follows them at the new church (after the ‘honeymoon phase’ over there is over). If they felt people were talking badly about them at the last place, they will find people talking badly about them in the new one. People are people… different faces… similar spirits. That is why personality conflicts should never be the only deciding factor in leaving a ministry. The bible says that we are to “submit to those who have authority over us”… because they “watch over our souls”. The church we choose is very important. It will impact not only our life, but the lives of our children, our family, and also those who we are connected to. An unhealthy ‘church’ can damage generations. A cold, unloving church that is not rooted and grounded in the Word of God and seeking after the wisdom, plan and purpose of God is a mess. The door is open for deception from the enemy and serious misinterpretations of scripture. There are grounds for leaving, but only after we’ve prayed, sought Godly counsel and Wisdom and tried “as much as lie within us” to live peaceable. Just remember, God’s Word told us not to forsake the assembly of ourselves together. The ultimate goal of the enemy is destruction. He will aim to ‘divide and conquer’. When he sees a vibrant, healthy, Christ-centered, Spirit-led church that is Kingdom focused and serves their community, he works overtime to start some junk and stop them. We have to be wise to the tricks and schemes of the adversary and make up our minds not to be part of the problem, but part of the solution. This thought occurred to me, “A mighty oak will never be, long as we keep replantin’ the seed” … we can bloom where we’re planted.
… and that Beloved is Good News!
U Blessed
Have A Fabulous Day
Regina
Reminder… Hold on to what you have been promised… no matter what it looks like
“Move”, Jimmy Hicks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EoiewVqoHo
“Blessed and Highly Favored”, The Clark Sisters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChwF-Bn8fDc
“Praise on the inside”, J Moss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3qNWf4XyPk
“Create in me a clean heart”, Donnie McClurkin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILRjmPGvVB8
“Waging War”, CeCe Winans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy3Z23_Z4fg
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Tags: church attendance, family, need for church
Posted in Morning Soul Food | No Comments »
Love ‘em…
Written by FAVORED1 on June 12, 2009 – 9:29 am -
Friday, June 12, 2009
A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34
By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one to another.
John 13:35
This is My commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:12
These things I command you, that you love one another.
John 15:17
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
Romans 12:10
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8
For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Galatians 5:13
With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love;
Ephesians 4:2
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
1 Thessalonians 3:12
But as touching brotherly love you need not that I write to you: for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
1 Thessalonians 4:9
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Hebrews 10:24
Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 Peter 1:22
Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 Peter 3:8
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:11
And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1 John 3:23
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.
1 John 4:7
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:11
No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.
Love ‘em…
Good Morning Beloved,
Happy Friday!
uhhhhh… see a pattern? Love ‘em. When I read scripture, I am often fascinated by what is implied by the verse when put together with other verses. For this statement to have been mentioned so many times, tells me that it was something that had to be reiterated time and time again. Why? Because people are people. ‘Bible’ people didn’t walk around with halos over their heads and harps playing in the background. On the contrary, they had the same issues we have, just in a first century kind of way. They dealt with jealousy, anger, infidelity, low self esteem, faithlessness, hopelessness, crime, wayward children, rising food prices, debt, poverty, legal troubles, divorce, murder, violence, etc. They lived in the same town as Jesus, bumped into Him at the marketplace, heard Him minister from the boat or the mountain, witnessed the miracles, saw Him raise the dead and cleanse the lepers. He visited their homes, cast demons out of them, healed their children, fed them, ministered to them, taught them about the Kingdom… and yet many still did not believe. Many were still bound and skeptical even after seeing him taken up to heaven. That has not changed in over 2 thousand years. What can change is us. How we relate to Jesus and His Word and how we relate to each other. If we love each other, folks may not like us, may not believe in our God, but the Bible says they will take notice. I’ve known siblings that fought like cats and dogs, but if an ‘outsider’ jumped in it, they had a fight on their hands. That is how we need to be in the Body of Christ. Get in there and clean our house, yes, but don’t feed into negative and malicious attacks on our brothers and sisters. Remember, love covers a multitude of sins. To me, I see a picture of a family member who runs outside naked. The first thing I would do is to wrap something around them and lead them back in the house. Then we’re going to find out why they were out there with no dog-gone clothes on. I’m not going to stand out their and point and laugh with everyone else. That is a member of MY family. What affects them, affects me — those who are disrepecting them are disrespecting me too. We don’t ‘not’ deal with the issue, but as Kingdom citizens we handle things a little differently. Now I’m not talking about legal infractions. Someone breaks the law, they have to pay their debt to society period, but some of the mess that we’ve allowed to become front page are completely unnecessary. If we’re having an internal dispute in the choir, it should not spill over into the parking lot and become a free-for-all for all the world to see. YouTube is full of stuff like that. If I love you, I’m not going to punch you in the eye or snatch off your wig for giving ‘my’ solo to someone else… What I’ve also gleaned from the Bible is that God knows that some of His people are difficult. He has given us His Spirit which enables us to do what we can’t in our own strength… love the unlovable.
… and that Beloved is Good News!
U Blessed!
Have A Fabulous Day and a Wonderful Weekend!
Regina
“Love”, Kirk Franklin & God’s Property
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfsrqvRsqvc
“Cover Me”, Fred Hammond and Friends
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9mkOhnJU98
“I’m Just A Nobody”, The Williams Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_-juQdiC54
“Move”, Jimmy Hicks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EoiewVqoHo
“Take The City”, Terri Carroll
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCcIQmtZTsg
“Good in the Hood”, Tye Tribbett
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2XYsaF_Wrw
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Tags: biblical people, family, Jesus relationship with people, love for the people of God, miracles
Posted in Morning Soul Food | No Comments »
An Attitude of Gratitude
Written by FAVORED1 on November 25, 2008 – 10:10 am -
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God
Psalm 147:7
Good Morning Beloved,
I hope you’re having a beautiful morning. I received this little message from Rex Barker (joke of the day.com):
I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.
Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.
Today I can feel sad that I don’t have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.
Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.
Today I can lament over all that my parents didn’t give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.
Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.
Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new job relationships.
Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to go to!
Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with knowledge and adventure.
Today I can dejectedly murmur because I have housework to do or I can feel grateful for shelter for my mind, body and soul.
Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped, and here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me. And I shall decide what kind of day I shall have!”
This is Rex Barker asking you “How will you live TODAY?”. Try reading this every morning for a week, and see how you feel afterwards. And please share this and the other pieces for the week at your Thanksgiving table.
An attitude of gratitude. Regardless of what is going on around us, there is something to be thankful for. I am thankful for you. You mean a lot to me. You are a child of God, so that makes us family. Your natural family may not be the Huxtables, they may be more like the Addams Family, but they are yours. Make peace where you can, and realize that you do have a place in the Body of Christ. Your very own seat at God’s table.. you do know that God’s Words tells us,
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“For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” {Ephesians 2:6} |
The bible declares that, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” (Psalm 27:10) You have a natural family (and some of us are blessed to have awesome families…..Elnora, Jah, Jacquie, Diane, LZ, Bev, Tina, Arlene, Shaun… much love
), great friends that are family. The Family of God – family all around you. It is said that this time of the year is the loneliest time of the year for many people. Considering the sheer numbers of lonely people, that is a shame… here’s a thought…. go on a people blessing mission…..
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Tags: blessing, family, friends, gratitude, Jesus, thankfulness, thanksgiving
Posted in Morning Soul Food | No Comments »
FAMILY….
Written by FAVORED1 on October 29, 2008 – 10:42 am -
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him. Then one said unto Him, Behold, Your and Your brethren stand without, desiring to speak with You but He answered and said unto Him that told Him, Who is My mother? And He said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.
{Matthew 12:47-50}
Good Morning Beloved,
No Jesus did not suffer from amnesia… He knew them, but His point was about relationship. From a spiritual standpoint, we are more connected to our brothers and sisters in the Lord, then to our flesh and blood. Remember, we’ll be with them forever… literally… Don’t worry, won’t be no ‘mess’ in heaven… so it will be awesome, glorious, gonna blow your mind. You’ll be really happy to see them. It is a double blessing when our family members are also children of God. Many people suffer needless loneliness. They may not have any relatives. Their people may live too far away to visit, or they are estranged from them. God knows that there is a part of the human spirit that needs kinship. We were not created to be little islands unto ourselves. What did God say about Adam? He said, “It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). God fashioned Eve from Adams’ rib, and BAM! the first couple, then came Cain and Abel and the first family was born… the prototype. If you have a close-knit family unit that loves God and each other that is beautiful, praise God for what you have. Recognize that not everyone enjoys that. I pray for every person that longs for a loving family. I pray that they see those around them, that can speak into their lives. People who can be a ‘big Mama’, ‘Pop Pop’, sister, or brother in their lives. God is the fulfillment of our ultimate need. However, we have a space that desires human companionship. Remember also, that God has blessed each one of us to be a special part of someone else’s life as well. For example, a Godly person with no children, can be an ideal candidate to help the young people around them. They can also be a true God-send to a stressed out parent. Praise God for the many people who give of themselves on a daily basis. Great is your reward!
And that is good news!
U Blessed,
Have A Fabulous Day Family!
Regina
(“I Need You To Survive” Hezekiah Walker… performance in pictures by a Youth Group)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0QH0Mr-_R0
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
{1 Corinthians 13:1-7}
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Tags: family, friends, Jesus
Posted in Morning Soul Food | No Comments »
