Breakfast For Your Soul

November 2, 2009

One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”  Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.” “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household.  But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.

[2 Samuel 9]

‘GRACE IN ACTION’

Good Afternoon Beloved,

I hope your weekend was a blessed as mine was.  My family and friends really made my birthday special.  I love the story of David. He was an interesting person.  I’ve talked about him before, but today I thought about another relatively unknown character… Mephibosheth.  He was the only son of David’s best friend Jonathan.  Remember, they were like brothers.  Jonathan had not only spoke over David’s life and told him that God had given the kingdom to him, but he had also saved David’s life.  He even commented that he would serve with David when David took over the throne.  Sadly, Jonathan died in battle alongside his father Saul and two of his brothers.  After David was firmly situated as king, he asked if there was any of Saul’s people left that he could bless.  That was a strange request seeing that any of Saul’s descendants could have fought for control over the throne.  They could have killed David and his followers.  David was told about Jonathan’s son.  Mephibosheth was basically living in poverty and fear.  His grandfather Saul had commanded that 85 priests and their families be killed when he was searching for David.  Their crime?  Not telling Saul which way David went.  Only one of priests’ son escaped, and David promised to take care of him for the rest of his life… which he did.  God caused a famine to come upon the land because of it.  David approached the Gibeonites and asked them what he could do to make it right with them.  They decided they wanted the death of seven of Saul’s sons (thank God for our new covenant of grace and mercy) and David complied (1 Samuel 22:16-19) … but he saved Jonathan’s son.  Now, it doesn’t appear that Mephibosheth knew any of this.  Can you imagine the fear he lived in when his grand-daddy’s kids were killed?  He must have thought that his days were numbered… that David was coming to get him too.  Can you imagine how he felt the day that he was summoned into David’s presence?  Probably unimaginable terror.  He couldn’t run … he was lame on both of his feet.  He had no power chair to get around.  Life had to have been very difficult for him.  This is where the story gets interesting… instead of killing him, David tells him that because of his friendship with his daddy, that he was going to take care of him.  WOW!  Grace in action.  Not only that, but he restored to Mephibosheth all of the property that belonged to Saul’s family, and charged Saul’s servant Ziba and his family to take care of it for Mephibosheth.  I love this story because it gives such a powerful example of God’s love working through a real live flesh and blood person.  Everyday we are challenged with all sorts of decisions.  People that have talked about us, double-crossed us you name it.  The test of the child of God is what we do when we have an opportunity to really ‘get them’.  David could have exacted revenge on Saul’s whole lineage for all the years that Saul tormented him.  They were a part of his kingdom now, and he could have really made them suffer, but he chose to honor his commitment to Jonathan and bless his son.  Mephibosheth did absolutely nothing to deserve the enormous favor that was poured out on him… it was all because of his father… hmmm… that sounds familiar… everything we receive is because of our Father…. isn’t that something?

… now that Beloved is Good News!

U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day!

Regina

*******

 A big GOD BLESS YOU and congratulations to the DreaMinistry Team and the cast of “Prodi-Gal”… y’all blessed my socks off Saturday night … well I wasn’t wearing socks so I guess you blessed my shoes off!  Great job!… I was trying to put on my company manners, but you guys had me laughing so hard at some points, I almost fell out of my chair.  Other times I just wanted to run on stage and slap a couple of people (you big meanies know who you are … Mo, Jerry!  LOL!) Every character was on point!  Congratulations again and I love you all!  God was truly glorified!

 *******

“Like Never Before”, William Murphy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aNRxUDxfsI

“Never Seen His Face”, Williams Brothers w/K&K Mime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQwYnagGw1A

“Healing”, Kelly Price

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV4P7TI522o

“I Have A Friend”, Clint Brown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i3GMSY6Dp4

“God Is Here”, K&K Mime

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

“Song of Strength”, Fred Hammond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksl2mDf3c9I

Thursday, March 12, 2009

One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat. She said to her husband, “I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God.  Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by.” One day Elisha returned to Shunem, and he went up to this upper room to rest. He said to his servant Gehazi, “Tell the woman from Shunem I want to speak to her.” When she appeared, Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tell her, ‘We appreciate the kind concern you have shown us. What can we do for you? Can we put in a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?’” “No,” she replied, “my family takes good care of me.” Later Elisha asked Gehazi, “What can we do for her?” Gehazi replied, “She doesn’t have a son, and her husband is an old man.” “Call her back again,” Elisha told him. When the woman returned, Elisha said to her as she stood in the doorway, “Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms!” “No, my lord!” she cried. “O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that.” But sure enough, the woman soon became pregnant. And at that time the following year she had a son, just as Elisha had said.

[2 Kings 4:8-17]

“It’s Not Dead”

Good Morning Beloved,

Ever had a dream that just died.  Something you’ve been waiting for, years have passed, and it just has not happened.  Ever just said, “forget it”…. it’s not going to happen.  It could be a career, a home, marriage or having a child like the woman in 2 Kings.  From all appearances, this lady had a good life.  She had a good husband with which she shared mutual respect, a good family, a nice home and she was wealthy.  She was probably envied by those around her.  She was also very generous, thoughtful, and she loved God.  We can tell by her treatment of God’s man-servant.  She wanted nothing more than to be a blessing to Elisha.  Elisha saw her heart and was so grateful that he wanted to do something for her.  Eisha was a powerful prophet, trained at the side of another great prophet “Elijah” (you know ‘call-down-fire-from-heaven Elijah’).  When Elijah was escorted to heaven, Elisha asked for, and received, a double portion of his anointing.  That means he was twice as powerful as Elijah, and everyone knew it…including the king.  He had the ear of the king, and great influence in the land.  Whatever she asked him for, he would have been able to provide.  She never asked for anything but Elisha’s servant noticed that the woman did not have a son.  When Elisha told her she would give birth to a son by the next year…we see another side of this gracious lady.  That was a sore subject with her.  She had probably resigned herself to it never happening, and here he comes.  It would be like a wound that never fully healed, but a scab had developed over it.  Elisha in essence ripped off the scab revealing wound.  It hurt.  She did not want to get her hopes up.  She simply could not allow herself to be disappointed again… but something was going on.  Her servant’s heart had not only garnered the attention of Elisha, his servant Gehazi, her family and the townspeople; but more importantly the Almighty God of Heaven had noticed.  He saw her actions and knew her motivation, and in the end, blessed her with her greatest heart’s desire.  That same God, that took notice of the little woman from Shunem, is the same God that sees us right now.

… and that Beloved is Good News

U Blessed

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

“Awesome God”, Helen Baylor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkCti5rDSEU

“Call On Jesus”, Pastor Bruce Parham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHS8cYl4uhM

“Be Grateful”, The Hawkins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqWULz3FvkE

“Stir Up The Gift”, Joe Pace and The Colorado Mass Choir

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4DWNSJa4go

“I’m Holding On To My Faith”,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7emqvkt0T-Y

“Hold On To Your Faith”, cover of Damita Hadden Song by Desas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFm8ZpCrUa0

Prayer Booster Rockets     Praise and thanksgiving are the entrance into the courts of God, and the booster rockets to our prayers.

Warrior -1 Peter 5:8,9     As the verse says, the devil is “seeking whom he may devour”. We must be alert and on guard against his devices, armed with faith and the Word of God.   Tight Grip -Hebrews 10:23     The promises of God are a solid rock that we can cling to, no matter the trials that may try to pull us away.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth

Psalm 46:10

“Be Still”

Good Morning/Afternoon… well Hello Beloved :0)

Be still…

When we feel that we need to do something… anything… quickly.. about a situation… pause. One of the challenges of our faith, is knowing when to move on a situation, and when to wait it out.  Especially in crucial times… a hasty descision could make it worse.  When the world around us is deafeningly loud, and its clamor and confusion try to push us into the fray of the crowd, we need to pull back and still ourselves.  For some that may mean a quick trip to the bathroom to regroup… for others it may be locking themselves in their room to collect their thoughts and press toward the Throne.  Some battles we “have no need to fight”, others fall under the “the kingdom of God sufferth violence, and the violent take it by force” category.  There are times when we are encouraged to “set ourselves” just as God instructed His people through Jahaziel (2 Chronicles 20:17), and other times we are given a mandate to “pursue, overtake and recover all” like God instructed David (1 Samuel 30:8).  The same God who gave such detailed instructions in the days of old… has not changed….

…. and that my friend is Good News!

U Blessed,

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

“Be Still, God Will Fight Your Battle”

Reverend Timothy Fleming, Mt. Carmel Baptist Church

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

Good Morning Beloved,

Brace yourself DC/Metro for another scorcher…. hey, remember a few weeks ago when we wondered if warmer days were coming… well they’re here!  I’ve been thinking about the vision that God gave to me.  A good friend and I were talking recently about the number of people who desire to start their own business.  She was concerned about those who falsely believe that being self-employed is easy.  I’ve been listening to the experts who say, that many business fail simply because of poor planning and a lack of discipline.  The bible tells us to ‘count the cost’.  God is sovereign and in ultimate control, however He gives us the delightful privilege of working with Him.  He said that if any lack wisdom that they can ask Him and He will give it to them freely.  That is a blessing, because in the age we are living in we really need wisdom.  I remember re-occurring dreams in my grandmother’s trailer at the age of 13.  I had no idea what they meant at the time.  I have actually seen many of them come to pass.  There are 2 dreams left, and I know that they too will be fulfilled in the very near future.  My dreams, visions and business are all connected.  Wisdom lets me know that because my business is in its infancy, like a baby it must be nurtured and protected.  I do not expect it to provide for me yet, I must pour my resources into it.   However, every parent, raises their child with the expectation that someday he or she will make a positive difference in the world.  That is my hope and expectation for my vision… that it will grow strong and affect the lives of God’s greatest treasure… His people… for the good.

“And the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that reads it.”  (Habakkuk 2:2)

And He said, “Hear now My words: If there be a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will make Myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. (Numbers 12:6)

Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keeps the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18)

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”  (Acts 2:17)
U Blessed

Have a Fabulous Day! (… drink lots of water)

Regina

Cartoonist’s Comment:

The promises of God are a solid rock that we can cling to, no matter the trials that may try to pull us away.