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The Promise of Rest and Recovery After the Struggle

By
Keiston France
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rest and recovery

As the athlete rounded the track for the final lap, he gasped for air, his heart pounding, and his legs burning. He was pushing as hard as he could. He was giving it 100% and it was only a training session! But, what motivated him was the rest and recovery that was coming.

High-intensity interval training can seem brutal and painful. In many sports that involve running, an interval workout is necessary for building strength and speed. It involves a series of high-intensity workouts interspersed with periods of rest and recovery.

Rest and Recovery is Our Reward

self-rejectionWe are in a brutally painful season right now in our world, but we can look forward to the rest and recovery that is coming, that is, the hope we have as followers of Christ.

Even in the turmoil and struggles we experience today, God calls us to rest. We can see this modeled in Genesis. After six days of creation and He had finished His work, God rested and He blessed that day and made it holy.

During times of struggle, there will be a season of recovery. You will recover all (1 Samuel 30:8)! God promises that and we all look forward to that day.

In the meantime, we can rest in His presence and in His promises. He will give us rest and restoration as we focus and depend on Him. As we wait, He will build our character and our faith not letting any pain or suffering go to waste.

If we give God our burdens, worry, and anxiety, He gives us rest, comfort, and peace. It’s an amazing exchange! We have so much to look forward to as He does His work in our lives. Be patient because rest and recovery are right around the corner.

Think about it.

So, What’s The Play Call?

Remember that our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

  • What burdens, worry, and anxiety can you give to God today?
  • What intentional steps can you take to build rest and time with God into your routine?
  • Are you waiting patiently and anticipating the recovery and restoration that is coming?

Overtime Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us rest when we need it most. Thank You for the promises in Your Word that remind us that You care for us and that You are always with us even in the darkest times. Thank You for bringing us to the foot of the cross where Jesus suffered and died but was resurrected and restored to life.

3 Ways to Recognize and Prepare for God’s New Thing

By
Andrea Matthews
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new thing

A New Thing is Coming

It usually doesn’t rain here in southern California, so when it does, we are completely unprepared. We had a storm come through this week, and I had to search my entire apartment for something other than flip-flops to wear. I’m embarrassed to admit I was soaked each time I left the house because I don’t even own an umbrella. I was angry and cursed the rain, but here in southern California, rain is a blessing.

Those of us who are used to living in a drought don’t know what to do when showered with life-giving rain. It reminds me of a scene in the Bible where Jesus travels back to His hometown. He preached there but was unable to do any miracles because His own people rejected Him (Matthew 13:53-58).

Imagine praying to see the Messiah your entire life, but you’ve been without for so long that when He comes you don’t even recognize Him. You’ve missed your promise.

God is always willing and able to do a new thing in us, to give us new blessings.  The question remains – “shall we know it?” (Isaiah 43:19)

Don’t Miss Your New Thing

fear and anxietyI’ve made it my goal to not miss any good thing God has for me this year, and I’d love for you to join me. Here are a few reminders I wrote down to avoid cursing the rain again:

1. Always pursue the Gift-giver.

If we are supposed to recognize the blessings being thrown our way, we have to know the One throwing them. God gives of His nature, so His gifts will look just like Him. When we get to know Him, we become familiar with His promises. We’ll gladly accept a good thing if we know it comes from our good, good Father.

2. Prepare with expectancy.

Faith without works is dead. Our actions should line up with the hope we release in our prayers.

As 1 John 5:14 reads, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” If we believe the truth in this scripture, we would already be preparing to receive the things we’ve asked of Him. As we await His promises each day, there’s no way we’ll miss them.

3. Trust in His plan.

Isaiah 55 says that God’s ways are higher than our ways. Oftentimes, we reject our promise because it looks physically different than we imagined. I think that was the case with those who rejected Jesus in Nazareth. If we trust the Lord and follow His leading, we’ll be confident to accept His promises knowing He sketched out each detail with the purpose of glorifying the Father.

So, What’s the Play Call?

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in a drought, rain will come.

Study God’s promises and prepare to receive all that He has for you.

Racism and the Church: What’s the Play Call for Team Jesus?

By
Kim Brightness
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Racism in the Church, by the Church Must Cease.

If there’s a place on God’s earth where the sin of racism and the stench of white superiority and oppression must not exist – it’s in the Church, the body of Christ.

Yet, there remains a divide in the Kingdom of God, of all places, where many white believers are apathetic at best to racism and injustice, or they hold discriminatory ideals close to heart with no interest in a heart transplant from God.

All while the Black community of believers grapples with loving neighbors who either are filled with racism, drunk with white privilege or simply remind them of the iniquity and evil of 400 years of slavery followed by systemic racism that still exists today.

How Should the Church Deal Righteously with Racism?

favoritismIt is written. There is a Word from the Lord on how His bride, the Church, should deal with racism – a scheme of division birthed from the father of lies‘ own heart.

Team Jesus Magazine publisher/EIC, Kim Bright, and TJM writer alum, Pastor Chet Bergeron, sat down – a black woman and a white man – to discuss the issue of racism and the church in a candid, transparent discussion on Bergeron’s podcast, The Mutterings from a Bald Guy: A Christian Family Perspective.

Take a listen to this episode and prayerfully allow God to search your heart for any thoughts or beliefs that are contrary to Him and His Word.

May the Kingdom of God find deliverance and peace that leads to greater unity, that we will finally be the answer to Jesus’ prayer, “Father, make them one.” John 17:21

Gender Identity & LGBTQ Agendas: The Covert Attack on God’s Creative Authority

By
Kim Brightness
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lgbtq

“I No Longer Want to Be Who God Created Me to Be”

Who said it first? YOU did, Lucifer.

You were the crown jewel of heaven, beautifully adorned in a one-of-a-kind jewel-studded robe. A magnificent anointed cherub, you were, with direct access to the throne of God.

Your job? To cover and guard the mount of God, and lead the heavenly host in praises to the Almighty Creator. Why else were percussion and pipe-based instruments built into your being (Ezekiel 28:13)? Your sound was like none other, your being was like none other. No other angel in heaven shared the same assignment as you. You were perfectly exquisite.

Until…

Your prideful heart grew discontent with your created purpose and assignment. Your uplifted heart corrupted the gift of wisdom given to you. It’s no longer enough to have intimate access to the God of all the heavens. Who is God anyway, right? Your beauty and wisdom are unmatched – yet your responsibility for all eternity is to honor, obey, serve, and give glory to Him? Tuh.

Other angels around you concur. They agree with your passionate position:

“Why should I glorify Him with my praise, as praiseworthy and beautiful as I am. I deserve honor and glory. I should be calling my own shots…I will be like the Most High!”

But sadly, your plan doesn’t go very well.

Your justifications were strong, and you even had an army of supporters marching in formation behind you. But in the end, your efforts were no match for the Almighty God. You, in all your beauty and wisdom, and your crew were kicked out of heaven (Ezekiel 28:17).

Now, things will never be the same between you and God. You are now destined for fiery, eternal punishment. Forgiveness or a second chance will never be an option for you.

Are you mad?

Fast Forward to Creation

God thought of everything (Job 38).

The heavens and earth were formed with intentional planning, design, and execution. The divine, creative authority of God crafted the mysteries of times and seasons. God drafted the plan for the oceans’ tides in response to the moon. Only God knows where He stores the snow and hail (Job 38:22), the measurements of the earth’s foundation (Job 38:4), or where light and darkness go until they’re beckoned (Job 38:19).

With Creative Authority Comes Order

Any creator or inventor gets it. He or she does not just create a “what” – they also create the “how”.

Inherent in everything God creates is function. God didn’t create anything without also creating its “how” – how it’s to be used, instructions on how it works. And, within any function is boundary and order.

Take a seed, for example. Every apple seed on earth was instructed to produce more apple trees (order), and only apple trees (boundary). Likewise, apples know its function is to produce more apple seeds and only apple seeds.

God did not leave His creation to figure out how it’s supposed to work. He did not leave light and darkness to themselves to figure out who would be “day” and who would be “night” and when (Genesis 1:4-5).

God is a God of order. He planned with foreknowledge of each created entity, how all of creation functions and inter-functions with each other.

God’s New Crown Jewel – Mankind

Mankind is the first created entity where God Himself specifically expresses His authorship (“Let us make man”), and fashions the creation in His likeness (Genesis 1:26). The process of creation for man shifts from pure creative authority and power – “Let there be” because I said so – to a personal attachment and connection with the creation.

Humans are special.

With its assignments and framework set, God created and blessed humanity to:

  • Thrive as either male or female.
  • Reproduce to fill the earth.
  • Take dominion over all other living creatures.

We were creation’s finale, and God took great pleasure in the entire show (it was good). But, just like today – there’s typically someone in the audience of your good works who refuses to clap.

God’s handiwork did not impress you know who…

Hell Hath No Fury Like a Devil Scorned

What does the old crown jewel do when a new crown jewel takes the main stage? The old jewel holds the new in horrendous contempt and disdain.

We are rightfully warned that the enemy (and his team of fallen angels) walks around like a lion (1 Peter 5:8), seeking to destroy us and to accuse us day and night before God (Revelation 12:10).

Playing both sides, the devil has been trying to prove to us that God is wrong (“You won’t surely die” Gen 3:4) or unjust (“He’s just trying to keep you from becoming like gods” Gen 3:5) since Adam and Eve. Works of destruction, manipulation, perversion, and counterfeit expose Satan’s intent to desecrate God’s creation.

How can the enemy directly attack the creative authority and order of God?

One of the enemy’s most effective tools against God’s creative authority and order is the LBGTQ and gender identity agendas.

Somewhere along the line, humanity got the bright idea that the creative authority of God was up for debate or quarrel. We, His creaTION, were somehow endowed with voting privileges that could actually overrule how the CreaTOR planned for us to live and operate.

Never before in our society has there been so much discontent with our gender of birth or the function and order of male and female relationships.

And, just as Lucifer grew discontent with his created purpose and assignment, the same spirit and reasoning now run rampant in the LGBTQ community as same-sex marriage laws and gender-neutral education in our schools become the new “norms”.

5 Ways the LGBT and Gender Identity Agendas Attack God’s Creative Authority

lgbtGod, as Creator of all, has the sole, exclusive right to set the order and function of all that He created.  LGBTQ and gender identity agendas attack God’s creative authority, how?

1.  The LGBTQ agenda defies God’s pre-ordained purpose.

Be it the creation of Lucifer or man, purpose always precedes production. All of creation was made with a pre-determined, pre-defined purpose and order in mind. For example, we never expect an apple seed to produce an orange tree, nor does the apple seed question God, “I’m tired of making apples…why can’t I make an orange?”

Before we were formed in the womb, God knew us (Jeremiah 1:5), including the pre-purposed, pre-planned gender that would spring from our mother’s womb. It gives the enemy great pleasure to influence man to dishonor God’s divine “good pleasure” of creating us as either a man or a woman.

2.  They inhibit the fulfillment of our assignment to be fruitful and multiply.

Two women or two men by themselves cannot reproduce. Yet, some believe God to be confused or oblivious to give direct instruction to humanity (“multiply”), and then bless and condone behavior (homosexuality) that naturally prevents us from completing His instruction. Interesting.

Let’s face it, the last thing the devil wants is more of us bruising his head (Genesis 3:15) – more prophets of God, more followers of Christ. But even more so, how would Jesus have come into the world to defeat the devil – if everyone practiced homosexuality? It’s a genocide tactic against creation. Thank God for men and women cleaving to each other according to the creative order of God (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-5). Obedience to creative authority and order saves souls.

3.  The LGBTQ movement follows the example of Lucifer.

A very popular tactic in human conflict is to show that the other person “Does/did it, too.” The intent is to show that s/he is not “that bad”, or that the other person is not “that good.” No tactic is beneath the devil’s character. Remember, Satan has to bring some kind of accusation against us – the new crown jewel. And, the LGBTQ and gender-neutral communities are doing exactly what Lucifer did – choosing to rebel against God’s will.

Lucifer didn’t want to be what God created anymore, and set out to change his heavenly identity to “be like the Most High”. Our society now exhibits the same prideful, entitled spirit, following the example of Lucifer:

“Who is God to tell me (as a woman) that I have to love a man?
Who is God to tell me (born male) that I can’t pick the gender I feel most comfortable in, and be like a woman?

4.  The LGBTQ agenda teaches humanity that our voice is equal to or greater than God’s.

God’s voice was an important tool in creation. Our voices carry creative power, as well. However, our voice, our will cannot undo the will of God – no matter how big the choir gets! Man’s laws, flags, and parades don’t intimidate God. Furthermore, it is a trick of the enemy to expect God to move or change, against His Word, because the masses or the SCOTUS say so. Strength in numbers is no match for one “I AM“.

As society and governments continue to validate and justify their own voice, the world claps to the beat of Satan’s drum, drowning out the voice of God.

5.  They promote the opposite of God’s original intent and claim compliance.

“God didn’t say that.” Like Eve, the world has fallen for the devil’s interpretation of God’s thoughts and intentions (“For God knows that when you eat…”).

If God says there are 2 possible genders – assigned at birth, society identifies 50+ genders to choose from. If God intends for a man and a woman to be joined together (in union and sexual intercourse), these agendas claim the only requirement is ‘love’.  Where God’s Word speaks His intention, authority, and disapproval of homosexuality and gender identity, acrobatic explanations of Greek and Hebrew ensue, with conclusions that mix false doctrine with just the right amount of God’s love for man.

So many will be unnecessarily shocked that God actually meant what He said.

So, What’s the Play Call?

Don’t allow yourself to become a pawn in the desecration of God’s creation. Don’t be wooed by the cunning influence of Satan to unknowingly (or knowingly) support agendas that resist the creative authority of God. This war between God and Satan is much older than all of us. But, we have this assurance, through our savior Jesus Christ, that Team Jesus has already won.

Remember, just as the most adorned and blessed creation of heaven was created to glorify God, so was man. Line up with God’s will and order – it’s the only way to truly live abundantly and have eternal life in peace with God.

Now. Do you still find it hard to accept God’s creative authority and order?

Ok. Do your research. Ask Satan, “How’d that decision work out for you?”, when you first said, ‘I don’t want to be what I was created to be.”

Save

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Black Panther Lesson 2: Spiritual Colonizers, Their Roles and Tactics

By
Kim Brightness
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Spiritual Colonizers
IMAGE: FILM FRAME ©MARVEL STUDIOS 2018

Once a Thief and a Liar…

Always a thief and a liar.

They arrive without warning or invitation.

Many come bearing the promise of a partnership for a better life, that is, after creating the false reality of lack that only they can satisfy. Others dangle bright, shiny objects that appeal to our own hidden, unfulfilled desires. A thirst we hastily justify as deserving to be quenched.

But, after many broken promises and failed treaties, we realize their true intent: 1) complete domination of resources by force – by death – if necessary, and 2) the annihilation of destiny and purpose.

Who are these dastardly characters?

Colonizers. Those who seek to inhabit, exploit, and devour nations, resources, territories for their own good pleasure.

While the blockbuster movie, Black Panther, highlights the utopia of the fictional Wakanda – a glimpse of what African countries could have been if untouched by colonialism, there is an interesting parallel for the Body of Christ to consider: the role and impact of spiritual colonizers.

Let’s take a look at spiritual colonizers and what they’re after…

The Fury of a Devil Scorned

Team, our adversary, the devil, roams this earth seeking whom he may devour. He and his evil band of spiritual colonizers want nothing more than to inhabit, influence, and rob Believers of their treasure.

We’ve talked about the devil’s scorn before. See how scorn plays a role in the heart of colonizers? “Why do they have that, and we don’t?” “They are worthless, beneath us – we are supreme!”

See, the enemy was supreme at one point – the chief musician in heaven with direct access to the throne of God (Ezekiel 28:14). Now, humanity (you and I), has replaced the fallen angels as the cherished ones of God, crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:7). We can now go boldly before the throne of God, the enemy’s former abode, to find grace, love, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The devil and his angels cannot, and they will never have that chance again.

So, when you mix scorn with a dash of envy, bitterness, and hate, you have the perfect recipe for the justification of destruction.

Here’s a glimpse at the mindset of the devil and his spiritual colonizers: “We will forever take pleasure to destroy you, Man, and all of your descendants, so that none of you will realize your treasure, your purpose, and inherit OUR place in heaven.”

What is the treasure that spiritual colonizers are after?

this treasure in earthen vesselsThis Treasure in Earthen Vessels

2 Corinthians 4:7 tells us that we, Team Jesus, “…have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” The most incredible power in the universe, sourced from the Creator himself, lies within us – his holy nation (1 Peter 2:9).

What is “this treasure…”,  “the power”? What is the “vibranium” of our faith?

It is the light of the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4, 6). This glorious gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-5). It embodies the very power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16), and, when used as directed by the Spirit, it represents a formidable weapon with which we resist spiritual colonization and defeat the enemy.

An enemy who flees from you can never colonize you (James 4:7).

The Roles and Tactics of Spiritual Colonziers

Team, the enemy is well aware that not all tactics work for all people. What may destroy you, another teammate may have a strong enough defense against that weapon.

But, let’s be very clear. Every tactic of the spiritual colonizers is an attempt to pervert and pillage our treasure – the good news of Jesus Christ – He being the Word of God from the beginning of time (John 1:1). If God says something is good, the enemy will try to convince us that it’s bad. If God says “do it this way”, spiritual colonizers will infect us with reasons as to how God is wrong, unfair, unjust, etc.

Here are just 3 of the spiritual colonizers’ favorite weapons (list tactics that come to your mind in the comments section):

Fear

The spirit of fear does not come from God (2 Timothy 1:7) – it is a weapon of the enemy that robs us of our purpose and glory. Think back throughout the years of your life – what opportunities, blessings, growth did you miss because you allowed fear to set up a colony in your heart?

Lust

Born sinners, our own deceitful, fleshly desires are just that – our own. The devil and his spiritual colonizers don’t “make us” do anything. The role and tactics of the spiritual colonizers are evident in the whispers of justifications and the rationalizations that your flesh is “justified to eat the fruit”. What did you HAVE to have that nearly devoured you?

Bitterness

This is a big one. As the root of unforgiveness, spiritual colonizers pay close attention and use painstaking energy to inhabit our offenses and try to keep the poison of bitterness flowing in our hearts. Why is this tactic or weapon so effective? The Word of God says in Hebrews 12:15 NASB, “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble – and by it, many are defiled.”

How many generations of families have been destroyed by the unresolved hurt and offense of a few? How many graves are filled with untapped destiny – because a colony of bitterness established itself and devoured greatness?

The Impact of Your Treasure vs. Spiritual Colonizers

As many ponder what African countries, Native Americans would be without colonialism, where would YOU be had your life not been spiritually colonized by the enemy? What dangerous diseases did spiritual colonizers pass down in your bloodline?

Do you feel hope is lost because of what the spiritual colonizer stole? Do you want to restore your glory?

Good news. The marvelous richness of our treasure in the gospel of Jesus Christ is that even when it looks like we’ve lost – we are still winning! Why? Because as long as there is life in your body to ACTIVATE the treasure of this gospel, you have the power of God to reclaim your time and restore the years you may have lost (Joel 2:25).

The treasure is your light in darkness! The treasure has the power to reset the clock, coming from the Creator and Redeemer of Time. The treasure will make all things new – its light will help you SEE it! The treasure speaks of life and full recovery (1 Samuel 30:8):

You shall recover all, everything that was taken from you!

So, What’s the Play call?

Trust the Giver of our treasure. If we would just follow the plan and direction of God, He has already out-maneuvered every devilish spiritual colonizer and provided a way to escape every trap  (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Fix your eyes on the things that are not seen; use your spiritual eyes to see those things that will last forever (2 Corinthians 4:18). The last thing a spiritual colonizer wants you to do is to see the bigger picture past your light affliction. Don’t let one wrong move in a temporary situation destroy your purpose in Jesus Christ.

Be Shuri – “we’re too smart to fall for that trick.”

God be with you and keep you, Team!

White Blessing vs. White Privilege with Giglio, Cathy & Lecrae

By
Christianity Today
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white blessing
Image: Photo by Passion City Church Youtube

“White blessing.”

By now, you have likely seen the comments made by Louie Giglio, pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, that recently lit up Twitter. Comments for which he has apologized.

In a conversation with Lecrae and Chic-Fil-A CEO Dan Cathy, Giglio used the term “white blessing,” soon after offering an explanation on Twitter that he was, “not seeking to refer to slavery as a blessing—but that [white people] are privileged because of the curse of slavery. In calling it a privilege/benefit/blessing. Word choice wasn’t great. Trying to help us see society is built on the dehumanization of others. My apology, I failed.”

Yes, it was a mistake, and he apologized again this morning.

Of course, when Giglio said these words, the responses were fierce and fast—and global. A clip of less than two minutes (from a dialogue lasting an hour and ten minutes) has gone viral, with the three participants now receiving all manner of criticism and condemnation.

There are lots of things to be concerned about, including Giglio’s unhelpful and unclear words, but also the bigger issues at stake than one pastor and one video. We don’t want to lose sight of the issues and this important moment.

As I’ve published many thousands of words (and taken multiple actions) in the last few weeks about race and justice, I will take a moment to address another (and still important) issue—that we need more, not less, such conversations.

You see, I don’t want this moment to distract or deter Anglo pastors from listening and learning.

Talking About Race

Talking about racial injustice is challenging, but (of course) experiencing racial injustice is much more so.

Yet, there is a fear— heightened …

Continue reading…

God is Still in Control When Our ‘Normal’ is Out of Control

By
Charlene Evans
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god is still in control

There have been numerous times in my life when I was aware that I was in a process and that process had a defined end date. For me, that served as motivation when I hit moments of uncertainty or agony.

Studying for my Electrical Engineering Technology degree is the first thought that comes to mind. That was a very challenging time in my life, but I had a date to work towards. No matter how tough it became, I knew that the end was coming. The hard work, the long nights of studying, the crazy formulas and calculations, the labs, the study group meetings all were temporary obligations that would result in me holding my degree at the end.

But this? This pandemic came in with a vengeance. My life changed completely. Maybe your life changed completely, too.

Going through this pandemic as it changes what seems like daily, has no feeling of an end in sight. No, it’s not possible to predict when we will ever be completely back to a sense of normalcy. But is that the goal? I mean, do you think we will ever return back to a normal way of living without the concern of contracting a virus that has affected people so differently? A virus that has visibly reshaped how we work, we live, and worship?

God is Still in Control of Everything

god is still in controlCOVID-19 did not only change every facet of life for me, but it also created a good shift in my life personally. It took a while for me to see all of the good that has come out of this time. Swift changes in my life forced me to become emotionally agile as I dealt with my personal and professional life.

For instance, my job schedule went from working in an office most days to working from home indefinitely. I started working longer hours. The stress of a schedule that crossed all ranges of time threw off my eating, sleeping, and workout schedule.

The first two weeks of the quarantine period were a blur. I would not argue with anyone who believed I gained a “Quarantine 10” as in 10 lbs. Before I eat myself into a larger size, I began to consult friends who worked from home on a normal basis. They helped me to develop a routine that will help me to feel a sense of control over my work, eating, sleeping, and workout schedule.

I slowly started to shed the extra weight, keep my work hours in a decent timeframe, create a sleep schedule, and working out 4 – 5 times a week.

Has the New Normal Affected Your Time with God?

prayWhile getting accustomed to all of these things, I continued to struggle spiritually. My time with God was starting to feel lost in the transition. I recognized it in myself. The forced alone time due to social distancing turned me into an emotional rollercoaster at times, and I noticed that I started to ‘socially distance’ myself from my Heavenly Father.

I didn’t initially take the time to pray and commune with Him. I became caught up in being angry about the fact that I could not freely go about. The walls were closing in on me and going through this as a single woman was challenging. Video chatting, phone calls and text messages to check on me were good  – but it wasn’t enough.

I stopped being angry with God and one day I picked up my Bible. I started to pray more and I let go of the fact that this time is out of my control. God is all-knowing and none of this is catching Him by surprise.

Can anything good come out of this new normal?

god is still in controlGod is still in control. Very much so. He’s here, yes, right here with you and me as we go through this pandemic. He has never left us nor forsaken us.

In fact, God has shown up in the kindness of humanity as I’ve watched strangers check on neighbors that they have never spoken to. Churches have provided meals and other assistance to people who have lost jobs, senior citizens who are alone and not able to take care of themselves, and some children who come from poverty-stricken areas. These kids used to rely on schools for breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the day that they were not getting at home. The Spirit of God has shown up in so many people, from those who generously donate to charities, to those who voluntarily step up to help their fellow man.

I have been so blessed by the move of God through this pandemic. I believe that our world will go back to a sense of normalcy, but I’m here to tell you, it will never be the same and I hope it doesn’t. You see, when you look at everything that has come out of this unprecedented time, you can’t deny the Spirit of God consuming the earth – God is still in control.

So, What’s the Play Call?

There were many scriptures that kept me encouraged during this time as I thought about how God is still in control and I don’t need to worry. However, there are three scriptures that I focused on daily. Read them, meditate on them and if you’re a visual person, write them down and keep them in your view:

  1. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
    I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) ~ Ultimately, The Lord wants to impart to us through this verse that we shouldn’t be afraid.
  2. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 ~ There is no situation we will ever face that is out of God’s control so the best place to be is with Him.
  1. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 ~ The life of faith is filled with constant challenges. When we petition God, our plea should be done with humility. His peace creates an assurance in our spirit that all is well even when we can’t see it or feel it at the time.

 

“Black Faith Matters” and the Canaanite Woman

By
Christianity Today
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faith

In Matthew’s gospel, you find the story about a woman crashing a dinner party. By labeling her a Canaanite (Matthew 15:22), Matthew connects her to those promiscuous and pernicious Promised Land pagans God commanded Israel to exterminate on account of their idolatry. You can read about it in Deuteronomy 20.

The name Canaan belonged to the son of Ham, Noah’s youngest, whose sordid story you can read in Genesis 9. The ensuing “curse of Ham” provides the backdrop for the Deuteronomy edict, but in later centuries, the narrative was exploited as a divine warrant for enslaving generations of dark-skinned Africans, arbitrarily labeled Ham’s descendants.

In the eyes of most slave traders and missionaries, Africans were uncivilized Canaanites, dogs undeserving of mercy even from God. In the United States, few efforts were made to convert slaves to Christianity until the 18th century, and only then after it was guaranteed that baptism would not alter their status as “property.”

In context, it’s hard to read Matthew’s label of this party-crasher and not hear shrill racial overtones—nobody else in the New Testament ever gets called a Canaanite dog. That it comes from the mouth of Jesus will prove poetically and powerfully ironic, but not without first disturbing our sensibilities.

Jesus acknowledges a stereotype that categorized the woman with the worst of outsiders, an enemy of Israel, cursed by God, marked by her color with no hope of anyone seeing her character. Ethicist Stacey Floyd-Thomas once preached how “black lives matter” may be as old as this encounter, though here, to everyone besides Jesus, the woman’s black life does not matter. And yet she persists, undaunted …

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Love Your Neighbor: The Equal Opportunity Commandment During Racial Unrest

By
Jeannette Tyson
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love your neighbor

Team, I know that in these uncertain times of civil unrest, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We are all fighting to stay sane and faithful. I pray that God will protect your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ. He has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). We are more than conquerors and predestined to sonship (Romans 8:37, Ephesians 1:5). Remember that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy – so be vigilant, and keep your mind on things above (John 10:10, Colossians 3:2).

While we all have our own crosses to bear, we also have a shared obligation to love and care for each other. We are one body with many members (1 Corinthians 12:12). I saw a meme online that said, “Silence equals complicity”. I don’t think that silence is typically meant to be complicit; sometimes, people simply try to protect their peace with avoidance.

But, the Church is called to bring the love of God to the world. Compassion means to have common passion – when one of us suffers, we all suffer. We will pray but prayer alone isn’t enough; we need to continue to speak out against injustice and uplift the down-trodden. The Bible says if you do not love your brother or sister whom you have seen, you cannot love God whom you have not seen (1 John 4:20).

Who Is My Neighbor?

love your neighbor“A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise, a Levite when he arrived at the place, came and looked and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed came where he was and had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. So, which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves.” Luke 10:30-36

When we read this parable, we all agree that the good Samaritan was the true neighbor and we condemn the others who simply passed by. But, what really happened here? Were they afraid? Too busy? Did they just feel it best to mind their business?

Maybe this was an extreme example, but how many of us are refusing to get involved or speak up about the tragedies and discrimination we witness every day?  We have to be willing to confront these evils if we’re ever going to eradicate them. It’s our responsibility. The world teaches us self-preservation, but the Word teaches us to consider others more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).

A Heart to Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

We have to examine our hearts, Team. No one is exempt. Even Peter denied Jesus three times and he was one of the twelve. How we respond during this social climate will reveal what’s in us.

I have seen so many people trying to explain away the racial tension and unrest around the world. Some say we just need to vote for the right leaders. Others say that Black lives should matter more to Blacks before we can expect it to matter to anyone else. Conspiracy theories and rumors spread fear and confusion, leaving people grasping for straws to keep hope alive.

I believe one of the lies the enemy tells us is that we have no power, that our voice will never be heard so what’s the use. Maybe by doing well where we can, praying, and trying to teach our kids the same will help some. The truth is we have to allow ourselves to be hurt. We have to allow the prick we feel in our soul to move us into action.

Denial can sometimes ease our feelings of helplessness, but then we deceive ourselves and leave our neighbors out to dry in their wounded state. When you participate in peaceful protests and use your platform to speak out, believe it or not, you are making a difference.

It encourages others to do the same as a trickle-down effect. There is no way we can live peaceably in the land when some members of our society are being oppressed. We all have a part to play in loving and bringing forth justice, just like our God (Isaiah 61:8). We have to keep pushing, dialoguing, and advocating for equality and prioritize it.

Love Your Neighbor Who’s Different From You

Our differences should only enhance our impact and extend our reach. People of all races and ethnicities have to stop whitewashing diversity in God’s creation. Inclusion doesn’t have to come at the expense of our truths and the realities we experience. I am a born-again believer, washed in the blood of Jesus – and I am also a Black woman.

Sometimes we over-spiritualize these matters because it’s difficult to face them head-on, or because we just don’t know how. It’s understandable, and we’re all learning together. God will see us through this and we’ll make progress as we continue to love our neighbors.

To all of the non-blacks standing with us, who have been hurt or felt compassion about the recent racial protests – we acknowledge and appreciate you!

So, What’s the Play Call?

  • Love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31).
  • Push past your discomfort and do what you can to stand up for your fellow man.
  • If you don’t know where to start, it’s okay. Stay connected, ask your peers, and offer support and prayer.

Be Blessed!

 

How Hidden Offense Can Send Your Marriage to the ER

By
Cortne Smith
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marriage

Home Remedy or Surgery?

It has been an interesting last few days here at our house (if you can read between those lines, married folks). It’s got me thinking:

“Why do we allow situations in our marriage to become unnecessary emergencies?”

Offense happens. Your husband does something that ticks you off; your wife says something that makes you mad. It’s normal to have these moments in relationships, but no less uncomfortable.

When we ignore the initial prick in our hearts and neglect to speak up on things before they get too deep or go too far, it causes prolonged pain and heartache that could have been avoided.

Have you allowed a slither of something to slide so deep into your relationship that surgery is now required to even begin the healing process?

Well, walk back with me in your minds to approximately 2 months ago. It all started with a simple splinter that could have been removed quickly and painlessly as a DIY home remedy, but it turned into something far more serious.

The Prick

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:37

I should have worked on my thumb the day it happened. Thirty days later, the splinter has begun to put pressure on the area for a constant, painful awareness that it’s in there. This foreign object is now causing nerve sensitivity and swelling, making simple tasks unbearable.  I decided to attempt a DIY medical procedure – a razor blade to cut through the skin, a pin to dig, and tweezers to pull out the foreign object – all to no avail. The splinter is now too deep and hurts too bad for a quick fix.

Two weeks later, I arrived at my primary care doctor. An x-ray revealed I must go to acute care to handle. Time had caused the splinter to bury itself even deeper than basic services could resolve.  The next day, I followed the instructions to go to the acute care center. During that visit, I was informed that a hand orthopedic specialist would be my next visit, due to the pain during the removal process. So, nothing was done that day to remove the foreign object.

The prick may be subtle, but we know it’s there. We are well aware that something or someone has gotten under our skin. But, what do we often do?  We let it fester into our relationship unchecked. We decide for the sake of “peace” to not act upon the situation, or have that hard conversation. At the prick stage, if we act immediately, the irritation of the situation can be resolved quickly.

The Pressure

A time to keep silent, and a time to speak. – Ecclesiastes 3:7

The next steps were laid out by the orthopedic department.  First, a mandatory consultation with a surgeon to determine my overall health. Secondly, a visit to determine if surgery can be conducted at this stage.  Thirdly, an appointment that will take another 30 days out. Now, I can only hope to get on the surgical calendar to have the procedure.

Pressure comes when we stay silent because of self-imposed expectations to not create friction within the house. However, we can create unresolved friction within ourselves that leaves us on pins and needles, extra sensitive to situations that would normally not faze us. When the pressure is present, it creates an antagonistic atmosphere within the marriage, stealing the peace that we initially stayed silent to keep.

The Pain

What honor is it to those who endure suffering because of their foolishness? – 1 Peter 2:20

I am looking forward to getting the intrusion out of my thumb and to be free from pain. But, I’m not a fan of walking around with extra surgical gauze on my thumb or the required minimum activity for two weeks. The reason I will not be able to immediately return to the way things were is to give time for the wound to heal, and to not rupture the stitches from surgery. The extra covering helps reduce the likelihood of infection.

Time has created a breach that can’t be repaired with home remedies but now requires intervention by professionals. Avoidance has extended the time spent in pain within your relationship. The pain stage is where we have allowed discomfort and fear to create a bigger situation than it actually had to be.

The Procedure (Pre & Post-Op)

In the abundance of counselors, there is victory. Proverbs 11:14

marriage counselingWhen you receive instructions from professionals on how to restore your relationship back to a place without pain – follow them! Remember the pain didn’t happen overnight, nor will the pain disappear overnight. It will require extra prayer, patience, and forgiveness to allow for healing to occur to bring your marriage back to a new normal.

While you don’t want to complain about every imperfection that occurs in your relationship, you must speak up about those things that can go from pricks to pain to infection – to the point of surgery or even severing to remove the foreign object.

 So, What’s the Play Call?

Do not allow a “splinter” of offense to remain a moment longer within your relationship.  Once the prick has been identified as a true intrusion – pluck it out!

Speak up!  Because silence could be the noise that drowns out your peace.

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