Breakfast For Your Soul

Monday, December 29, 2008

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

[Jeremiah 29:11 - KJV] 

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

[Jeremiah 29:11 - New Living Translation]

Good Morning Beloved,

Welcome to Monday!  Hope your weekend was blessed.

God has a plan for us.  Wow!  He has us on His mind constantly.  Nothing we have ever done or will ever do will ever escape His notice.  It is in Him that we live, move and have our being [Acts 17:28].  He is merciful, He is great, He is awesome.  He is worthy of complete love, deep trust and total obedience.  If I came in to you and told you that there was a terrible storm outside, gale strength winds, and rain… so dress accordingly … would you believe me?  Well, that would totally be your choice.  You could go check it for yourself, or you could grab your rain gear.  Now how much sense would it make for you to argue with me about the rain and say… “well, I just don’t believe you”.  I know there is a storm, because I’ve just been through it… but, hey…. the truth will be seen soon enough.  Such is life.  Jesus is truth… as a matter of fact He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, no man, woman or child will ever get to the Father, except through Him (John 14:6).  There are those who spend their time debating the issue, and fighting to hold onto what God desires to free them from.  Futilely trying to fight God, rather than seeking after God who is the Giver and Sustainer of life.  He is The One who said, “come let us reason together, though your sins be a scarlett, I will make them white as snow”  (Isaiah 1:18).  There is so much God wants to show us.  So much He wants to do through us.  As a nation we worry about global warming, food shortages, the whales, the economy, rising costs, lay-offs, violence, education, our children and other important issues of life.  Wonder, what we could accomplish, if we spent half as much time pressing into the heart of God…. seeking the face of God.  He doesn’t just have the answer to societies ills… He is The Answer…

…. and that Beloved is Good News!

U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

“Brighter Day”, Kirk Franklin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMryIz0fg9s

“Like Never Before”, William Murphy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aNRxUDxfsI

[sound at the beginning starts low]

Some Assembly Required -Proverbs 3:5,6 104 of 105   Life is complicated, and it can be hard to fit all of the pieces together. The Bible is our instruction manual from God for how to put our lives in order. December 7, 2008

Jungle Guide -John 16:13 100 of 105   This world can seem as a dark, impenetrable jungle of various doctrines and beliefs. But, we have the map of God’s Word, and we have a guide, the Holy Spirit, to help us find the path of truth. November 2, 2008

Treasure Chest -Isaiah 55:2 64 of 105   Some people strive and work to find some kind of satisfaction and fulfillment in life, only to find themselves in an empty hole. Jesus is the only way to true peace and contentment. January 27, 2008

Good Morning Beloved,

You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? As surely as God is faithful, my word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. [2 Corinthians 1:17-19 NLT]

God keeps His promises.  If He spoke it… it will surely come to pass.  Many times, the problem comes when we see the end result.  We do not know what is going to happen in the middle.  That is where it gets tough.  Much of the mundane or rough spots were are in, are simply setting us up for the next level toward our goals.  It reminds me of Moses.  He was given a word that he would be used to deliver God’s people.  He did not know how, and he made a few mistakes along the way.  One ended with him killing an Egyptian taskmaster who was abusing a Hebrew slave. Unbeknown to him another Hebrew saw the whole thing…. and “snitched” on him.  Pharaoh heard about it, and sent men to kill Moses.  Imagine, the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter running for his life… from his adopted grandfather.  He was trying to help his people, and they were turned on him.  I believe he went through intense internal struggle.  He had been taught the truth of God by his virtuous mother, who was allowed to raise him.  He was also educated by the finest teachers in Pharaoh’s house.  He could have simply stayed in the palace and lived in luxury for the rest of his life.  He chose to be a vessel of God.  He could not rest, while the children of Israel were in bondage.  He finds himself in land of Midian, where he sees seven women drawing water for their fathers flock.  Shepherds try to chase them away and Moses helps them.  They take him to their father Jethro, a priest, and in appreciation for his bravery, Moses is allowed to marry his daughter Zipporah…. (want drama, action and intrigue.. read the bible!).  Just as he is getting settled and comfortable with his wife and the children he is blessed with, God tells him to go back to Egypt.  God lets him know that the people who sought to kill him were dead… but now he must go back… and (now get this)… go to Pharaoh and tell him to let His people go!  You probably already know the rest.  Nothing that Moses did came ‘easy’.  Yet his mission was sanctioned and blessed by God.  Whatever God has told us will require diligence on our part, but in the end it will be worth it to be able to say:

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2 Timothy 4:7)

U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

Cartoonist’s Comment:

By faith we can ‘see’ things that we cannot see with our natural eyes. By faith we can get a vision of God’s plan for our lives.

Good Morning Beloved,

I hope your day is going well.  I talk a lot about “vision”.  The reason why vision is imprinted in my heart, is that I have worked many places since my SYEP (DC’s Summer Youth Employment Program) days as a teenager.  Every place that I have worked, without exception, I have met people who were totally unsatisfied with their lives.  These people, took jobs they could barely stand, to pay their bills and feed their families.  The next thing they knew, years of their lives were gone, and they either resigned themselves to the thought that this is IT, or they were getting more bitter by the day.  Ever stop to think about why that co-worker that irritates you is so evil?  It could be that they know they are supposed to be doing something… they may or may not know what it is, they don’t believe they have the time or resources to do it, and that makes them angry.  In Habakkuk 2, God is giving His servant instructions, that I believe we need to heed as well.

“Then the LORD replied: ”Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. ”See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright ———- but the righteous will live by his faith”.

Did you see that?  The righteous will live by his (or her) faith.  Other people can see great potential in us, and bless our lives and pray for us, but our success in life is not primarily dependent upon other people…. according to my faith… so be it.  Sounds familiar?  It should.  Remember, Jesus told several people who came to Him for healing those words… “your faith has made you whole”…. “according to your faith”.  That is good news, do you know why?  Because, if someone told you that you won’t be anything, that you are too old, too broke, too dumb and it’s too late.. you can totally dismiss their comments.  God knew how old you would be, when He gave you the vision.  Some of you know “DB”… Doris Boyd.  She is my pastors sister, and this lady is phenomenal.  The word “can’t” is not in her vocabulary.  She is in her 70′s and has worked all of her life, most of her career has been on Capital Hill.  She is the oldest of 12 children.  She is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and was a good wife for many years to the late “Mr. Willie Boyd”.  She managed a Gospel singing group “The CCV Ensemble”. From there she developed a long running cable television show “We The Friends” that featured local artists and preachers.  She has been on the radio with her broadcasts, ”Music in the Air” and “It’s Time to Check Yourself Out”, and been a regular feature on two of Washington, D.C’s most prominent gospel stations, Spirit 1340 WYCB and Heaven 1580 WPGC.  (Are you tired yet?).  This lady has seemingly limitless energy, and just when you think she can’t possibly add one more thing to her plate… she does something else.  A few years ago she accepted the call to pastor, and now her congregation is growing and flourishing…… hey… with God all things ARE possible ….. to those who believe…  so according to your faith, write down that vision you’ve had.  It could be to go back to school and get your Masters, or teach Sunday school, or train for another vocation, or take a well needed vacation or mentor those boys on your block that keep sitting on your car……. whatever it is ‘NIKE’ (…just do it!).

With Your Blessed Self!

Have A Fabulous Day!

Regina