Wednesday, October 7, 2009

 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Ephesians 5:15-20 New Living Translation]

“Life After Life”

Good Afternoon Beloved,

This morning, my family and I attended Homegoing services for a beloved part of our church “Vaughn”.  Vaughn died in a car accident September 29th.  He was only 22.  He was a nice young man with a sweet and humble spirit.  It has been difficult to wrap our minds around it.  Seeing a young man so vibrant and full of life with such a bright future ahead of him in a casket is hard to understand.  There are many things that are hard to understand in this life.  One thing is for certain, if we are not caught up in the Rapture, all of us have the same appointment Vaughn had.  That is where the hope of our salvation comes in.  Jesus has conquered death, hell and the grave.  For the believer (which Vaughn is), it is merely dying to one world and being born into another.  Bishop TD Jakes describes it something like this ~  When a baby is conceived, it lives in a world where all of its needs are taken care of.  He or she receives their nourishment, comfort, even their entertainment inside of their protected environment.  Then one day, something starts to happen… and the baby, is pushed out of their dark, safe, secluded home into a world of bright lights, noise and weird smells.  The baby probably thinks that he or she is dying, and that nothing good can come out of whatever is happening to them.  After entering into the light, somebody grabs them sticks something in their nose and mouth, wipes off their body, wraps them in something that they’ve never felt before, and gives them to a person, who they’ve never seen before.  When she speaks, Baby recognizes her voice, and the voices of the others who have been around.  Baby is then put in a box with wheels and kept there for a few days, and then is transported with the nice people to another place, and thus begins their new life as a member of a family.  Now, Bishop didn’t say all of that, the extra after baby is pushed out into the world was from the mind of Regina.  Bishop made me think about how traumatizing our birth really was.  If the baby had his/her way, not really knowing what to expect, they would probably choose to stay put.  For the Believer, we are that baby.  There is a time coming where we’ll be ‘pushed’ out from this life, into our new life.  That is why it is so important that we get to know Jesus now.  On the other side we’ll be able to see the smiling face of the Person we had only heard through His Word.

…. and that Beloved is Good News!

His LORD said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your LORD.
[Matthew 25:23]

U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

Happy Birthday Wishes to my beloved Sister-in-Christ Vivian!…. you are one of the sweetest people I know… I pray that this birthday is extra special for you.  May God bless you with the desire of your heart and many, many, many more good birthdays.  You are a great mom, a beautiful lady and a fabulous friend… thank you for just being you!

My friend … See U later Vaughn!

“It Ain’t Over”, Maurette Brown Clark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Atrp22d2g

“I’ll Trust You”, James Fortune & Fiya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsqiqkTF5Ao

“The Blood”, James Fortune & Fiya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l18nzrg4bEE

“How Great Is Our God”, Chris Tomlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pF11qnJ8rw

“I Wouldn’t Know You Like I Do”, James Fortune & Fiya w/Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson

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

“I Need You Now”, Smokie Norful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDpY-2M5dVo

“I Know Too Much About Him”, Smokie Norful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K_6-EBvv6Y

“God Is Able”, Smokie Norful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t5YhOJ_6PI

“Um Good”, Smokie Norful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lsYUeihV8s

“Well Done”, Tye Tribbett & GA

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

Monday, August 3, 2009

“SALVATION”

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower

Psalm 18:2

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hebrews 2:3

Good Morning Beloved,

HAPPY MONDAY!

This morning I had a nightmare… now here is the thing, I very rarely have them.  It was as if I were watching a movie, or one of those forensic/law enforcement type situation dramas on TV.  The dream was apocalyptic in feel… an end of the world type of scenario.  Panicked people running for cover in terror, as fire from the sky rained down on them consuming them, while the ‘heroes’ of the story raced to find the ‘answer’ to the situation.  Did they?  I have no idea… I woke up… hey, I had to get ready to go to work!  That dream reminded me of the scripture that said,

“Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the Face of the One who sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”

[Revelation 6:15-16] 

 

God is loving, gracious and merciful.  That is a Truth that we should never ever forget, but we need to remember the other side of God… His Holiness, righteousness and judgment.  That has never changed.  I marvel at the tee shirts I’ve seen at many funerals, most young, most that had led lives, by their own admission far from God.  Those tee shirts read, “only God can judge me” … If they only knew what that meant.  God’s judgment is not a good thing.  I would much rather be judged by humanity, then by a Holy God.  There is only so much they can do to you.  When I read the Bible, when God judged a person or a nation something died.  Something was destroyed.  I want mercy and forgiveness from God … not judgment.  The good news is that we don’t have to suffer that fate.  We have been saved from the wrath to come.  Our hiding place is secure in Jesus because we have put our faith and trust in Him.

You are my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Your word

[Psalm 119:114]

… and that Beloved of God, is Good News!

U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

**********************************

“Thou Oh Lord Art A Shield For Me”, Byron Cage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB6cFqCBMAE

“Surround Me”, Clint Brown

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

“He Reigns”, Kevin LeVar & One Sound

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

“Jesus Be A Fence”, Fred Hammond & RFC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce7LQfY0d30

“He’s All Over Me”, Georgia Mass Choir

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsAK8xQS0CU

“Who Can I Run To”, Ricky Dilliard & New G

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhJYAE62CuY

“God Is Trying To Tell You Something”, Color Purple Soundtrack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ8XkY6Too0 (music only)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7ZT5sajkys (movie clip)

“Breathe On Me”, Clint Brown

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

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Friday, April 24, 2009

  But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”

[Acts 10:15]

“This is the day the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it”!

There was a lot going on in the book of Acts.  The New Testament church was forming.  The Jesus movement was growing by leaps and bounds.  Persecution grew also, people just didn’t understand why folks were following a ‘dead carpenter’.  (sounds like the thoughts of some people today).  Even those most versed in the Holy Scriptures, and who were waiting for Messiah, couldn’t believe that He had come, and worse yet that they were the ones who called for His death.  On top of a bad situation, here comes a man named Saul rounding up these ‘Christ-ians’ and killing them.  Fear must have been running rampid, but faith out-ran fear because despite it all, many still believed and the church grew.  In this tumultuous climate there was a man named Cornelius, who was a centurion.  He was a good man… a devout man who feared God…. he and his whole household.  God sent an angel to him to tell him to send for Peter (the Apostle).  As Cornelius is given these instructions (which he wasted no time following), Peter is also visited by an angel.  Now this part fascinates me.  Peter is hungry, all sorts of animals are presented to him to kill and eat (no grocery stores where he was).  He says no because the animals were ‘common’ or ‘unclean’ according to their dietary laws.  Peter was admonished that, what God has cleansed must not be called common.  God was preparing Peter to meet and minister to Cornelius who servants and soldier were on their way.  When they arrived, the angel told Peter to go with them, which he did.  Peter ministered to Cornelius and his entire house-hold (which was probably many due to his prominence).  The Holy Spirit fell upon them, they began to speak in tongues and magnify God.  Everyone believed.  Now when the Apostles and the other brethren heard about Peter’s little escapade with the ‘gentiles’, Peter had a lot of explaining to do.  After He told them what happened… “ When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.””(Acts 11:18).  Now that sounds like some members of the family of God.  When God has cleansed something, (or someone) our reaction should be the same.  Some, in their sincere desire to see folks delivered, inadvertently repel the ones we are called to minister to.  What God said in black and white, we stand on, but whether ladies’ should wear black stockings or brown stockings is a non-issue.  The bible doesn’t say sheer stockings are evil.  I don’t even like stockings. All I know is Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God came to set us free.

… and that Beloved is the Good News He wants us to share!

U Blessed

Have A Fabulous Day!

Regina

*******************************************************

Much love and appreciation to a great man of God for the gifts he left behind!

Reverend Timothy Wright ~

our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones

*******************************************

“Who’s On The Lord’s Side”, Rev. Timothy Wright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z02V2psiyBM

“You Must Come In At The Door”, Rev. Timothy Wright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJx0is_Qkg8

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, The Katrina Song”, Rev. Timothy Wright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9oyFp20YZ0

“For The Rest Of My Life”, Rev. Timothy Wright (at Bishop GE Patterson’s homegoing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_MCzVtV0b8

“I Made It”, Rev. Timothy Wright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SYe3WodqgU

  “Leaning on the Everlasting”, Rev. Timothy Wright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPcHNXC8eU8

Rev. Timothy Wright Interview before the accident in 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVdJozMh1DI

December 1, 2008

The L ord says, “I will rescue those who love Me.  I will protect those who trust in My Name. When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.  I will reward them with a long life and give them My Salvation.”

(Psalm 91:14-16)

Good Morning Beloved,

Welcome back!  Hope you’re having a marvelous Monday.  My grandmother always said to give people their flowers while they can still smell them.  Today’s rose I’m extending to my oldest and closest friend Tina.  Today is her birthday and it is significant, because it ties in with today’s Word.  Tina was the first friend I made in high school in 1984 (that was the year I moved back to DC from my 10 year stint in the country).  She was a Christian even then.  She loved the Lord and tried to live right.  Truth be told, I was the one who wanted to hang out at the club … she could take it or leave it.  Most of our best times though, were just hanging at her house, or walking around town with her sister, brother and their friends.  Raised as an only child, I felt what it was like to have siblings.  I could have become a ‘wild child’, leaving the woods and entering the ‘big city’, but thankfully I was blessed to have a friend who knew the Lord as her protector.  She protected me from falling into complete foolishness out there.  Many of the mistakes I made, I could have avoided if I’d listened to her and not done it!  Her faith in God showed me a real God.  Not a religion.  She talked to, and about God like He was a ‘real person’.  He was her friend.  A Friend she did not want to ‘hurt’, so there were some places we did not go because of her reverence of God.  There were some places she went, but the fear of God would be on her so strong, she’d have to leave.  She is a wise, and caring friend.  A great daughter, granddaughter, sister and mom, but most of all a beloved child of the Most High God.  I have been blessed with many people in my life who took the time to speak into my life.  God used Tina in her youth to help guide a quiet, surly, high-strung teenager (me!) towards safe harbor (Jesus).  Wonder who God has placed in your life?  You never know, you may have been used (or are being used), as a vessel of honor, to save someones very life.  Even more importantly, to lead someone to the soul-saving grace of Jesus….

…. and that Beloved is Good News!

U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina     

“Jesus Can Work It Out”

(Original Version Diane Williams Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF6K-Iiqshg

Tadpole -Matthew 18:3 99 of 103   Maybe it has been a while since you’ve experienced the goodness and grace of God, maybe not since childhood. It is never too late to jump back in to God’s love and mercy. October 26, 2008

1 of 5   Our God is a God of justice, but also a God of mercy. Through the blood of Jesus, God’s mercy is available to us now. It is up to us to decide to accept it. We don’t want to be camping out in “Sin Forest” when judgment time comes.

Bulldozer -Romans 1:12 69 of 103   When you are facing a mountain that seems impossible to move, you don’t have to face it alone. We have a family of brothers and sisters that can add their faith to yours, and together you can get the job done. March 2, 2008

The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. (Exodus 15:2)

That is good news.  Good news to the weary, good news to the frustrated, good news to those who aren’t really going through anything tough right now…..good news to anyone who will receive it.  Need strength today … He is strength.  Need joy in your heart right now…He is your song.  Remember what He told Moses.  Moses wanted to know what name to give to the children of Israel.  ”And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent Me to you”. (Exodus 3:14).  God…. the same yesterday, today and forever.  The great “I am”… whatever is needed … He Is.  He is a deliverer.. He is an avenger… He is a Father… He is judge and jury… He is grace… He is mercy… He is a strong tower… He is a healer….. He is a friend…. He is a confidant… He is a warrior… He is gentle…. He is never-changing.  He is ….. God.  His power is limitless and un-ending… His favor without measure.  The fruits of His Spirit are delicious.  “Oh taste and see the Lord is good”…

U Blessed,

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

Cartoonist’s Comment:

Jesus said in John 6:36 “I am the bread of life”. It is up to the believers to take the Bread of Life (Jesus) out of the Bakery (the church building), to where the hungry people are. After eating “Satan’s Garbage”, the aroma of the Bread of Life will certainly smell good.