Breakfast For Your Soul

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

TIMING

Good Afternoon Beloved,

I love the Biblical account of David.  It is one of the greatest human redemption stories in the Old Testament.  Remember, this was before Jesus’ sacrifice.  God saw something in David so precious that He called him “a man after His own Heart”(Acts 13:22) … wow… that gets me every time!  What an honor.  David was no where near perfect, but he never let his issues separate him from his God.  Last night I saw a movie on television, that was a pretty accurate portrayal of the life of David.  It was saturated with David’s psalms and prayers to God, but did not gloss over his weaknesses and indiscretions.  It included terrible incidents in David’s life, such as when his son Amnon raped his daughter Tamar, incurring the wrath of his son Absalom who later killed Amnon, and years later took the kingdom from his father… briefly.  David’s love for his children (especially Absalom) is clearly seen throughout scripture. Not long after usurping the throne, Absalom meets his fate at the hands of David’s captain and David is put back on the throne.  So many happenings in one life!  All stemming from a young boy singing songs to God, while faithfully tending to his daddy’s sheep.  He could have never in his wildest dreams imagined that he would be God’s choice for King of Israel. Many years passed between the time Samuel anointed him as king and when he actually received the crown.  Timing.  We may never experience the level of drama in our lives some of the ”bible people” did, but we’ll have our own mountain-top/valley low experiences.  Realizing that perfect timing only comes from a perfect God will make our life so much more satisfying and productive.  I wish that I could have met my brother and his wife years ago.  I wish I could have met my sister and her husband years ago.  I wish I could have attended their weddings, sat in the hospital as their children were born, gone to the graduations, spent holidays together etc… etc.. etc.  They are all such wonderful people, and we would have really enjoyed each other.  However it did not work out like that.  They were all ‘suddenlies’ in our life.  One day they were complete and total strangers, the next day we were family, feeling as though there was no separation.  I don’t know how or why 2009 became the year of “reconnection” but I’m grateful that it was.  Timing.  I don’t know what all The Father has in store for us, but His Word tells us that it is good.  The circumstances around us may be hard, but His promise is that He would not put any more on us than we are able to bear.  With every temptation, He has already provided a way of escape.  Every question has an answer.  We may not like the answer, but there is one nevertheless.  Some seasons in our life when we feel as though we’re getting cut left and right, it’s just God pruning us like a fruitful tree… that we will be able to bear even more fruit… healthy fruit… not corrupt, worm-laden, rotten fruit!  Each step we take towards God, we will find a new obstacle trying to block our path, but remember we are more than conquerors through Him that loves us.  The bottom line… no matter what….

“all things work together for the good of them who love GOD, to them who are the called according to His purpose”

(Romans 8:28)

Y Stress? … U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

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

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

“I Give You Praise”, Darwin Hobbs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c48LkI0ZQTE

“Take Me In”, Kutless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0cuOawD_I8

“Breakthrough”, Israel & New Breed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVbsab0j3vE

“For Every Mountain”, Jackson 2 Mime

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

“Tomorrow”, King David Productions

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

“Be Grateful”, The Hawkins Family

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUEkRp69aIU

“Son of Man”, Tye Tribbett & GA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzQuwfoeTx8

Monday, October 26, 2009

And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.  And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

[Genesis 50:18-21]

‘PERFECT TIMING’

Good Afternoon Beloved,

If the last few days have taught me anything, it is that God has perfect timing.  I heard Bishop TD Jakes say that, “a blessing out of season can be a curse” (book~”Can You Stand To Be Blessed”).  If we are not at a place in our life to accept it, it can actually do more harm than good.  People want financial abundance, but until we realize the responsibility and weight that comes along with it… we are not ready.  There are people who are very wealthy …and very miserable. Their lives are ‘jacked-up’ and unhappy.  They have everything that money can buy, and they can tell you that it means nothing if you don’t have people around you that you trust, your mental, physical and emotional health… and peace of mind and spirit.  I thought about Joseph (one of my favorite biblical people).  His life is one of the few in scripture that is chronicled before his birth, and even after his death.  We meet his great-grandfather Abraham, called the “father of the faith” and a “friend of God”.  His daddy, also entered into covenant with God and was changed from ‘Jacob’ (“the deceiver”) to ‘Israel’ (“God-Wrestler or Champion of God”).  What a legacy!  Look how many variables there were to get Joseph to Egypt.  The timing was perfect.  His birth, alone was a miracle.  His mother was unable to have children … then she had him.  Timing…. the day that Israel sent him to check on his brothers, not knowing how deeply they hated him.  He had no idea what his sons were plotting against their own baby brother.  Timing … along comes Ismaelite traders (remember Ismael? Son of Egyptian maid Hagar and Abraham… married an Egyptian woman … yeah… Joseph’s great uncle… un-huh… there is a lot going on in the bible).  Timing … from the plains of safety and prosperity with his daddy, to the pit of fear and despair created by his brothers, to Potiphar’s place of trust and provision, to the prison of drudgery and stagnation, to the palace of authority and honor… timing.  That is good news for us.  His story can resemble ours at times.  During the times when we feel like we are in a ‘holding pattern’…during the times when we feel unsafe, and fearful, God allows great testimonies such as Josephs’ to remind us that He is faithful.  Whatever God has promised, He WILL bring it to pass… in His own TIME.

… and that Beloved is Good News!

U Blessed!

Have A Great Evening

Regina

“They That Wait On The Lord”, Fred Hammond & John P. Kee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wcdY2v5Kio

“Never Shall Forget”, John P. Kee & New Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82A1N_JUf7M

“Jesus Is The Light”, Hezekiah Walker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH_opiNl7IA

“Order My Steps”, GMWA (Women of Praise)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bia4zMpSiVA

“Another Level”, Israel & New Breed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVbsab0j3vE\

“Breathe Into Me”, Israel & New Breed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJEWF49y2k

“Long Life”, Israel & New Breed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33L9DZae81I

“Your Latter Will Be Greater”, Israel & New Breed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j5gTIXmsOs

“Success Is In Your Hands”, Fred Hammond & RFC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMoVbLc7ZSg

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Good Morning Beloved,

It is gorgeous out there!  What a beautiful morning DC/Metro, try to get out and enjoy some of that today.  This morning’s thought is a little different. Most of you know the biblical account of Jacob, Rachel and Leah.  Now you are going to have to take off your US 2008 mindset for this one.  We don’t generally sanction marrying close relatives.  It is still taboo in our culture, however, it has not always been so in other cultures.  Well, Jacob, being pursued by his brother Esau after taking his birthright, was sent by his mother Rebekkah to her brother Laban.  Jacob fell in love with Laban’s daughter Rachel and asked to marry her.  Laban said sure, no problem, I would love for you to marry my daughter, but I’m going to need for you to work seven years for me as a bride-price.  Jacob agreed and the bible says that the seven years seemed as a few days “for the love he had for her”.  When it came time to claim his bride, old slick Laban pulled a ‘switch-a-roo’ on the trickster Jacob, and gave him his other older daughter, cross-eyed Leah.  Jacob was about to go off, so Laban told him that if he work for him another seven years, he could have Rachel also.  Jacob agreed (can you tell, he really wanted that woman).  This set the stage for years of drama, strife and pettiness.  Can you imagine Rachel’s anger at her sister and her father…. they ‘stole’ my man!… and it was nothing she could do about it… there were no women’s rights.  Can you imagine Leah’s pain… unwanted, unloved and resented.  Can you see Jacob.  His relationship with God was strengthening, but he had the mentality of a con man that God had to deal with.  I believe he probably thought that this situation was ‘payback’ for how he had deceived his brother.  The poor children that were born into this fiasco probably felt like pawns.  Kids are very smart, they knew what was going on.  Leah’s kids knew that their daddy tolerated their mother, and when Rachel finally had Joseph, everyone knew that he was the golden child.  If this wasn’t bad enough, the two women involved their two servants in the mess…more children, more drama.. more jealousy… more bitterness and anger.  This situation came to a head when the brothers decided to sell Joseph to Midianite traders and tell their father that they didn’t know what happened… maybe he was eaten by wild animals in the field.  We have a great advantage over Joseph, Jacob, Rachel, Leah, the brothers, Pharaoh and everybody else in this saga..that story happened and has been recorded and we know how it ended.  The people involved had no clue what was really going on behind the scenes.  The did not know that God purposed and orchestrated all of the chain of events.  He used their every screw-up to work for their ultimate good and survival.  God knew a worldwide famine was coming and he already had a man for the job — Joseph— but Brother Joseph had to be trained and prepared for the monumental task God had afforded him.  Everywhere he went from home to Potiphar’s house to prison, all the way to the palace, his MO never changed.  He was trained, he worked hard, and was eventually given free reign over the task, because his integrity had earned him the trust of those over him.  The same is true for us.  Once God sees He can trust us, there is no limit to what we can accomplish… no matter how ‘jacked up’ the past has been or the present may be… there is victory in our future.  Trust God.

U Blessed,

Have A Fabulous Day!

Regina

Cartoonist’s Comment: Don’t let bad thoughts and feelings weigh you down. Dump them in the trash bin of forgiveness, and go on with your life.