This is Your Wake Up Call!

Transformed for God’s Glory

editor — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:53:59 +0000

Andrea M. White
Mark 9:2-13
2After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. 11And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 12Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

Has God transformed me?

According to Webster’s dictionary, transfiguration is defined as a change in form or appearance, a metamorphosis. This exact change is what took place atop of that mountain this day during the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. This same transformation takes place in us as God shapes and molds us in to his disciples. We no longer think on the physical things we can touch or see, rather we focus our hearts, mind and soul on the heavenly treasures that we can not see, but that wait us with our Father. After the cloud appeared and surrounded the disciples, they heard a voice from the cloud “This is my Son, whom I love, Listen to him”. The disciples did not see anyone, but they heard the voice.

Many times the Lord is speaking to us, and are we listening? As disciples of Jesus Christ it’s imperative that we listen to the voice, and listen attentively for what he instructs us to do. Listen for the voice that tells us to do those tasks that are uncomfortable in nature, but necessary, and does not receive the popular vote; listen to the voice that has the almighty power to transform our lives, not for man’s glory rather for the glorification of Jesus Christ! During this season of Lent, simply remember to WAIT, WAIT I say, patiently on the voice of the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I am waiting at the top of the mountain, waiting to hear your voice so that I may be transformed for your glory.

Andrea M. White
Mt. Zion AME Church
Greenwood, SC

Do Overs

editor — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:38:24 +0000

How much time do you spend in collaborative conversations to learn from mistakes or grow enough so that when the next opportunity comes along you can make better decisions? Listen and let me know.

Daily prayer now at www.vashtimckenie.blogspot.com. Stray connected at www.twitter.com.vashtimckenzie.

If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you in my Father’s glory!

editor — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:55:18 +0000

Felecia Teasley
Mark 8:27-38
27Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
28They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
29″But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Christ.[a]”
30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
31He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Born into a generation of sin we’ve learned of the life of Jesus. His teachings, his sense of humor, his friendship and his ultimate sacrifice for our lives and sins so that we can enter into his fathers’ glory without shame.

If you listen carefully, Jesus will plainly speak to you with direction and guidance. Some things that are said are easier to accept than others. But, like Peter, we want to correct God’s plans if it is something that we do not agree with or want to hear. We will rebuke God, tell him how we think things should be and will wait for a change. As if it would really happen our way.

Imagine if Jesus stopped his mission for us and continued on a path based upon the thinking of a man that he selected to follow him. Would Jesus have died on the cross for our sins or have risen? Peter, like us sometimes, failed to understand having confessed Jesus as being Christ did not give him the authority to correct Jesus or his mission for us. No wonder Jesus stopped and turned to his disciples and rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!”

Why confess that Jesus is Christ if you won’t listen to him and be ashamed of him?

Warning: “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Felecia Teasley
Nashville, Tennessee

Dog Gone It

editor — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:28:03 +0000

Has this ever happened to you? Listen and let me know how yesterday’s joy stealers and dream dashers had an impact on your present expectations.

Daily prayer is still available at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. Updates throughout the day are now at www.twitter.com/vashtimckenzie.

Where’s My Burning Bush

editor — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:26:05 +0000

Julie Doar-Sinkfield
Mark 8:11–26
11The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” 13Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
14The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15″Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
16They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
17Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
20″And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
21He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
22They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
24He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
25Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t go into the village.

Where’s my burning bush? God, please give me a sign. My Lord and Savior Jesus, show me the way. Guarantee my safe passage, keep me safe – even from my own bad decisions. Make my life perfect. Free from strife. Free from those who might try to harm me. Free from weather, the economy, the collection agencies, sickness, death, unplanned events and just the regular trials of life. But that’s not realistic and that is why we have Faith.

Faith in the unseen can be hard to hold onto when things aren’t going your way or when catastrophic events occur around you. Some people see bad things happening and bemoan the end of the world as we know it. Some predict end times based on what they see and hear and then begin warning all those not in their rapture scenario to “look out! Repent or you’ll be left behind.” But Faith cannot be measured by the sum total of events around you. And Faith should be the rock upon which you depend through good times and bad. Every day you wake up is a good day. Didn’t you believe you would? You had Faith. Every day you can say Good Morning to God or Thank You to God for letting you see another day is evidence enough. If God has always been there for you, why now would you doubt his capacity to protect and sustain you? Faith should be the quiet voice inside that says all will be well; that says have no fear; that ends the thunderstorm and secures your shelter. Faith is not reserved for the loudest or most self-righteous but rather for those who see the miracles of Jesus Christ in the world around them. Even if you have lost your job, that you are still alive, that you still have food, that you have assistance from programs and community is evidence of the work of God. Trials should make Faith, that quiet voice inside, stronger. That’s where we often find the burning bush we are looking for and don’t even see it for what it is. Sometimes we need to see something happen around us to remind us of our blessings each day when it feels like our lives are full of storms. Because Faith, true Faith, is always there: quiet, modest, filled with love, stable, a rock.

Julie Doar-Sinkfield
Greater Smith Chapel AME Church, Atlanta, GA
Washington D.C.

Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News

editor — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:17:10 +0000

It’s amazing how we can keep track of all the bad news better than we keep track of the good. Let’s change that today. Listen to see how with this week’s Lenten Assignment. You can do this!

Daily prayer now at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. Updates throughout the day at www.twitter.com/vashtimckenzie.

It’s Personal

editor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:43:55 +0000

We all seem to need it. We crave it. We gotta have it. We love it and do what we can to get it. Listen now and let me know what you think. Subscribe and share with others today.

Daily prayer now at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. More updates at www.twitter.com/vashtimckenzie.

Spiritual Nutrition

editor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:59:14 +0000

James Lee Isreal
Mark 8:1-10
1During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2″I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”
4His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
5″How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied.
6He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. 7They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, 10he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha “To him that is able to present us faultless before His glory…” I greet you.

As events manifest in the present day, which were spoken about in the days of the twelve disciples, I find worldly people and new believers seeking righteousness from sons that have been called by His name according to his purpose and holy will. Unfortunately, the lack of spiritual maturation has not afforded these believers the spiritual authority needed to affect the lives of the people who have been given unto them to feed. Therefore, those hungry people leave the believers’ presence with nothing to eat and continue on later collapsing along their spiritual journeys and inquiry in Christ.

If we believers take our places in righteousness, God will prepare manna from heaven in us before the people. Then, the hungry can and will get fed, and we believers will have an identity of whom we are in God to continue in this good work of Jesus Christ by bringing God’s kingdom from heaven to earth.

James Lee Isreal
Boynton Beach, Florida

Going the Distance Just for You

editor — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:43:12 +0000

Rev. Karen McGhee
Mark 7:24-37 (NIV)
24Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.[a] He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil[b] spirit came and fell at his feet. 26The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27″First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” 28″Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” 30She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. 31Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.[c] 32There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
33After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!” ). 35At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
36Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

This passage has two distinct accounts. In the first story of the Syrophoenician woman, Jesus has traveled outside of Israel entering into a house to perhaps rest from his journey as he is placed in Jerusalem earlier in the chapter. Even here Jesus’ power is well-known as attested to a non-Jew, and a woman at that, comes to plead with Jesus, who some think he spoke rather roughly, to cast the demon from her daughter who is back at her home. Surely Jesus knew leaving Israel his chances of encountering Gentiles would be greater, so why is he there? Not to be deterred, the woman secures an edict from Jesus by which her daughter is healed.

The second story is of a man, perhaps Jewish since there is no mention of his ethnicity, who is deaf with a speech impediment. Here too Jesus is in another region outside of Israel where his power is well-known. Having been approached in public by family or friends who bring this man to Jesus, they ask Jesus to lay his hands on the man. Without objection, Jesus puts his fingers in the man’s ear, spat touching his tongue, and commanded the man’s ears be opened. Not only could the man ear but he spoke clearly.

These two stories say no matter gender, ethnicity, religion, distance, the only one, present or not, those who come to Jesus believing will get their answer.

Rev. Karen McGhee
Kairos Community A.M.E. Church
Nashville, Tennessee

Set It Off

editor — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:44:13 +0000

Didn’t get enough on Sunday morning? Listen to this sermon message and be revived to start a new week encouraged in the Lord! What do you think about clear paths?

Remember to keep up with the daily Lenten devotions located in the Read Section on this site. You can still join the Lenten Journey: Journey to the Heart of God: increase your prayer time, join the Daniel Fast, exercise, do the weekly Lenten activity and/or read the daily devotions. Daily prayer now at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. Stay connected at www.twitter.com/vashtimckenzie.

Hunger Is A Mindset

editor — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:21:15 +0000

Rev. Orsella R. Cooper
John 6:27-40 (NRSV)
27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ 28Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ 29Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ 30So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” 32Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ 34They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ 35 Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.’
Key Verse: 35 “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

For some time now, we have been on this spiritual journey together to God’s heart by fasting and praying. Sure, you may have wanted to cheat a little here and there, but ultimately, we each understand to delight in the Lord is to fully trust Him at our weakest moments. Weak moments in our lives make us want more than we need. When we think we don’t have enough money, we want more. When we think we’re not getting enough out of a relationship, we want more. Whenever there’s a sense of emptiness, we look for ways to fulfill that emptiness with temporal things, feel good for a while just to return to emptiness.
Wanting more is usually the answer when we fail to trust God to meet our needs. In this scriptural passage, we find Jesus teaching the crowd not to rely on their physical hunger, but to learn how to live off the blessings that God gives, which will never allow them to be hungry. In order for this teaching to be effective in your life, you must believe His word is the only bread you need. With this level of faith, you’ll find yourself only looking at the needs that God has met versus the wants you thought you needed. It is at this point where the weight of worry will be lifted off your heart and you can begin to concentrate on His goodness. Today, don’t tease yourself with temporal wants, but focus on your spiritual needs and God will step in and take care of the rest.
Prayer: Lord, help me to ignore any and all physical hunger pains and rely on your word. Draw me nearer to your word where I can receive your direction for my life.

Rev. Orsella R. Cooper, Associate Minister
Bethel AME Church
110 Grove Street
Bridgeport, CT 06610

Where is the Love?

editor — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:23:09 +0000

Sis. Katherine Ellington
Mark 7:1-23 (New International Version)
1The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and 2saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed. 3(The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a]) 5So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?”
6He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
” ‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
7They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.’[b] 8You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”
9And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions! 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’[d] and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’[e] 11But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.13Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” 14Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.15Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’ “[f] 17After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.18″Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’? 19For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”) 20He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ 21For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”
In these scriptures the Pharisees find fault with the disciples for eating with ceremonially unclean hands. Christ exposes their hypocrisy, and shows that they had made the Word of God of no effect by their traditions and rituals. Jesus shows what things defile men and teaches his disciples in private that the sin of the heart alone, leading to vicious practices, defiles the man.

The lyrics from the Black Eyed Peas popular song “Where Is the Love?” question the evidence of heartfelt love given:

People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?

To find love, we are pushing away outward distractions to work on renewing our minds and hearts. This inner work requires time apart in meditation, reflection, prayer and Bible Study to consider the residue of unrelenting anger, jealousy, envy, deceit, unforgiveness, lasciviousness the effect of sins that harden our hearts. Whether perpetrator or victim you will find relief in confession, repentance and by allowing God’s love to heal your broken and/or hard heart. You will find His love and this will help you love yourself as well as others.

In this moment it is helpful to remember that we are on a journey together to the heart of God. Our fasting is not an effort at rituals, but part of a larger spiritual practice that includes regular and consistent prayer so as a result we can heed Christ’s call to above all else practice love from our hearts.

Sis. Katherine Ellington
Saint Albans, NY USA
worldhousemedicine.blogspot.com

Get Personal This Season

editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:31:15 +0000

Lynette Hawkins

Every Easter attendance at churches seems to increase. Easter Sunday seems to draw big crowds across the country. In fact, studies show that Easter, Christmas and Mother’s Day are often the most popular times for people without church homes to visit. The activities during the season of Lent including plays, special services, Holy Week services, musicals and the like can generate great interest in the community. Although we may see a crowd, I wonder if we will see individuals this season.

Consider building new Christian friendships by offering personal invitations and welcomes this season. As we strive to be even more faithful to the Great Commission, look to the various biblical examples of friendships, personal invitations and hospitality. I am reminded of Exodus 33:11 which speaks to ^“The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.” Now may be a great time to focus more on how you connect personally with members of your church, Sunday visitors and even those who are strangers in the community. Have you considered how you can personally touch others this Easter?

As we prepare to invite and welcome people to our congregations, here is a short list of ideas to help members get personal this Easter.

Send Easter cards to members and friends of the church. Make sure the signature is handwritten.
Introduce yourself when you greet visitors.
Identify an “Easter call day” where members are encouraged to invite friends and family by telephone.
Encourage personal connections before and after worship services during the next few weeks. You may want to give members an assignment such as, “Get to know three new people every Sunday.”
Follow up with worship guests in personal ways such as calling and personally inviting them back.

Now share what’s on your list?

Lynette Hawkins is a church consultant with Awesome Insight of Beyond Marketing Group, Inc. based in Greensboro, N.C. She works with pastors and leaders providing practical seminars, coaching, leadership development and strategic facilitation. She has a teleseminar coming up in March, “Add the Personal Touch” which speaks on personalizing invites, welcomes and follow-ups. See more details and sign up for her free newsletter at www.awesomeinsight.com or e-mail her at info@awesomeinsight.com

To Be or Not To Be

editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:28:43 +0000

Everyone has a part to play in God’s garden. You’ll be disappointed if you spend too much time doing this. Listen and share this message with others.

Your daily prayer is now at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. Daily updates are available at www.twitter.com/vashtimckenzie.

From Small Pieces

editor — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:01:28 +0000

Rev. Carmen Avery Walker
Mark 6:30-46
30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
37But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages[a]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
38″How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

39Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42They all ate and were satisfied, 43and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

An artisan sat quietly at her workbench painstakingly putting together small bits of glass and pottery, broken dishes and such into what would one day be a mosaic. The pieces that she gathered over time told the story of her life journey and in some way allowed those who observed her work to see the places she had traveled and the experiences she thought important enough to capture. Interestingly enough, the tools of her craft, the small pieces of this and that, things ill thought of by others because they were after all small things, turned out to be the kind of blessings that others held onto. This artist specialized in taking pieces from the rubble of the lives touched by tragedy, both natural and spiritual that she had encountered in her travels, to make masterpieces that remind them of how from small pieces one can be blessed with long-lasting memories.

In our text Jesus demonstrates the same principal that this artist used. After feeding the swelling crowd from the abundance of the Word of God to nourish their souls, he then uses the small things to feed their bodies. From two small fish and five loaves of bread the size of dinner rolls, small things in our eyes, Jesus furnishes a meal that satisfied thousands with much more remaining to feed others from. Surely this great memory became etched in their minds, blessing their souls an impacting their lives.

Each day the mosaic of our lives is created from our experiences, good, bad and indifferent. In the process of walking out our journey with Christ, the remnant of our refashioned lives should serve as a reminder of how God uses even the smallest of things to bless us.

Prayer: Lord help me to remember that in every experience we have with you, from the smallest of memories to the abundance of your grace, you want us to be changed by all of it-especially the small pieces that we might otherwise dismiss. Amen

Rev. Carmen Avery Walker, M.Div
Pastor, Mt. Zion AME Church
Opelika, AL
www.mtzioname.org

Can you be more than you are right now?

editor — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:14:25 +0000

Have you ever wondered what more you might do with your life? It is a question that compels us to move beyond our comfort zones to explore the answer.

Listen, share and subscribe. Remember to keep up with your Lenten Journey in the Read section.

Your daily prayer is now at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. New updates are available at www.twitter.com/vashtimckenzie.

Try Again

editor — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:57:29 +0000

Everyone has experienced this, some a little and others a lot. Here are seven tips to help when this calls your name. If you like the messages on this site, share them with others. Be sure to keep up with the Lenten Devotions located in the Read Section on this site.

Your daily prayer is now at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. Stay connected at www.twitter.com/vashtimckenzie.

Truth

editor — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:38:34 +0000

Carlene L. Douglas
Mark 6:13-29 (NIV)
13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
14King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying,[a]“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
15Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” 16But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
17For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled[b]; yet he liked to listen to him.
21Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

24She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
25At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

“You see what you want to see.” How many times have we either heard or said these words in response to reluctance to face the truth? We have the information before us yet we conjure up fanciful and worthless images in our minds to blind the truth. No matter how creative the imagination, how skillful the ability to avoid the truth, the truth will stand.

Jesus was who He was. The people who encountered Him had extreme perceptions of who He really was. In their minds’ eye they saw Jesus for who they wanted Him to be to satisfy their beliefs or their denial of who He was. None of this changed who Jesus was. Herod knew that it was Jesus of whom the people spoke, but denying it would be exactly what he needed to cover his guilt and the sin of his past. Herod’s convenient untruth. It was Herod’s conscience that sealed the thought in his mind that Jesus was the resurrected John the Baptist. It was convenient for Herod to think that a resurrected John would bring him absolution from the sin of ordering John’s death. Accepting that it was Jesus would force Herod to confront his wrongdoing.

Whenever we fast and pray, truth will be revealed. When God shows us the truth, He gives no leverage for us to see the truth as anything else but the truth; no what we wish we had heard, nor what we wish we saw. God’s truth will force us to accept what is. It will confirm, clarify, or negate what we see in our human thinking.

Holding up your heart against God’s mirror, what do you need to accept as truth today?

Carlene L. Douglas
Kairos Community A.M.E. Church
Nashville, Tennessee

No Matter What You Do

editor — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:18:18 +0000

Tracey Bowen
Mark 6:1-13
1Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their lack of faith.
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
8These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.9Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. 10Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”
12They went out and preached that people should repent. 13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them
Rejection can hurt. It especially hurts when it comes from those who should know and believe in you the most. The hardest part about rejection is that you have no control over it. Bottom line, you cannot make anyone love you. It’s not even wise to try. Jesus didn’t.

In today’s passage we have Jesus in his hometown where he was known since his childhood. They marvel at his wisdom and even go as far as to ask how he became so wise. Yet even though they marvel they are still commenting “Ain’t that Mary’s boy? You know the one from Nazareth…ain’t nothing good ever come outta that place!” Even though they saw his wisdom and the anointing on his life, they would not believe.

The only response noted by Jesus is that he performed a few miracles and then left. No long discourse about “Do you know who I am?” No showy miracles to try and gain the approval of the people. He did what he could for the people who believed and for the others he simply left them to their own opinions. And it was their loss. The passage specifically states that he did not do more because of their unbelief.

The Spirit of the Lord once whispered to me that rejection at higher levels is protection. For one reason or another it is for our own good that everyone does not embrace us ─ no matter what we do. It’s as simple as that. From Jesus’ example we can learn how to deal with rejection when it comes. You do what you can for those who will receive you and for the others, keep moving forward. For everyone that will hold your past against you, there are new people on the way that will see the glory of the Lord living and active in your life and receive you.

Tracey Bowen
Bethel Apostolic Temple
Miami, Florida

You Need A Break

editor — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:40:11 +0000

Are you barely making it through the day? Do you need something more than expensive energy drinks and/or caffein? Listen to today’s message to discover your Lenten activity for the week. Try it and let me know how it works for you. Subscribe and share this message with others.

Your daily prayer is now at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. Don’t forget to read the Lenten Devotion in the Read Section on this site. Stay connected at www.twitter.com/vashtimckenzie.

Running Every Which Way?

editor — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:15:08 +0000

In paradoxical times, what is the best thing you can do? Listen to a portion of this sermon message “Set It Off” and see if this works for you. Keep up with your daily Lenten devotional in the Read Section on this site. Your daily prayer is located at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. Stay connected at www.twitter.com/vashtimckenzie.

How to Get the Attention of God

editor — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:20:54 +0000

Orletta E Caldwell
Mark 5:21-43 (NIV)
21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet23and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31″You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’”
32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
35While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?”
36Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
37He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ). 42Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Jesus had had a full itinerary in today’s script. He had healed a possessed man from a legion of demons and was on his way to heal Jarius’ daughter. The Bible indicates that there was a huge crowd and it was jam-packed.

Though His schedule was full, a “by the way” moment occurs that is one of the greatest examples of faith illustrated in the Bible. This seemingly insignificant footnote has been spoken of frequently and has been the subject of many great gospel hits. The subject: The Woman with the Issue of Blood.

Why is she so heralded for so small a gesture? Because she had enough faith to get the attention of God! This nameless woman spent all of her money seeking to alleviate her failing health. She was probably physically drained from being in pain and emotionally drained from being ostracized from others around her. There’s no mention of a husband, but I am sure he checked out mentally, if not physically, a long time ago. In all of this despair and hopelessness most of us would have been in bed feeling sorry for ourselves, with justification. Not this woman. She was on a quest. In desperation and determination; she found Jesus, pressed through the crowd and thought, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

At the very moment she did so, Jesus stopped and asked “Who touched me”. This appears in the text, a “dumb” question, in light of the size of the crowd. The identity of the woman however was revealed and she received her healing that day.

Joe Hunt, Social Entrepreneur wrote that an Idealist is a person who believes “Everything is possible; the impossible just takes a little longer”. How do you get the attention of God…have faith that “Everything is possible; the impossible just takes a little longer.”

Orletta E Caldwell
St. Stephen AME
Detroit, Michigan

Listen, and Live!

editor — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:17:43 +0000

Luke 5:25-29 (New Living Translation)
25 “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. 27 And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man.[a] 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.

When can the failure to listen result in death? When the one speaking is the Spirit of God! It would then appear that one should simply listen to God. If only it were that easy. Listening to God possesses a certain degree of difficulty, yes, even for the Christian believer. Oft times to get to “God’s voice” we must walk through the maze of many “other voices”: the “well-intentioned” voices of family and friends, the over-hyped voices of the media, even the voice of our own will and desire, all voices that can quickly lead us away from the Voice of Life.
The Gospel of John informs us that “the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.” Listening to God’s voice may place you in direct opposition to those you love. Listen anyway! Listening to God’s voice may place you in direct opposition to those in leadership over you. Listen anyway! Listening to God’s voice may even cause you to experience seasons of separation and isolation. Listen anyway!
As difficult as it may be sometimes, listening to the voice of God is to allow the power of God – the life-giving power of God – to work in your life! And with the power of God at work in your life, you can arise from and out of any situation of death and defeat.
To listen to the voice of God is to receive life. What is the voice of God speaking to you this Lenten season?
Michael W. Waters
Dallas, Texas
www.joytabernacleame.org

Come Out of the Tomb!

editor — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:56:39 +0000

Carol Croskey
Mark 5:1-20
And when He had stepped into the boat, the man who had been controlled by the unclean spirits kept begging Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus refused to permit him, but said to him, Go home to your own [family and relatives and friends] and bring back word to them of how much the Lord has done for you, and [how He has] had sympathy for you and mercy on you. And he departed and began to publicly proclaim in Decapolis [the region of the ten cities] how much Jesus had done for him, and all the people were astonished and marveled. (Mark 5:18-20)

The selected scripture follows the restless sea encounter of Jesus having just calmed his disciples’ nerves. He simply said, “Peace be still!” Even Jesus deserved an uninterrupted nap.
Chapter 5 begins on the other side of the “calmed sea” in the country of the Gerasenes. As soon as Jesus stepped out of the boat, he meets a man who is considered demon-possessed and lives in the cemetery. The cemetery, the place where the dead are buried; it is not a proper home for the living. Because of his madness, physical abuse of himself and the town’s inability to control him, this man lives among the dead. His encounter with Jesus is interesting. He knows who Jesus is because he kneels in worship and asks what does the “Son of the Most High God “want with him. Jesus goes further by asking the man his name. The answer is the all familiar, “Legion, for we are many.” Other translations give the name as army, lots or mob. A “legion” was at least six thousand military troops. It can be difficult to imagine a mind so tormented with so many personalities the he cannot tell Jesus his own name and yet this “man of the tombs” knows who Jesus is.
To make the twenty verses short, Jesus commands the tormenting spirit to come out of the man. The unclean spirit has no where to go and begs to be sent into a herd of pigs who fall off a cliff into the sea and drown. The town folk are upset because of what happened to the pigs and they ask Jesus to leave. Why do they want Jesus to leave instead of rejoicing over this man who is now clean, dressed and has no evidence of his previous behavior? He is healed - mentally, emotionally and spiritually! Why are these people more concerned for the pigs’ lives than receiving a “peace that passes all understanding?” It could be that the Gerasenes cared more for “swine” and their way of life and refused to recognized that Jesus cared more for human life and salvation. Like the man and yes the Gerasenes, what tombs do we need to give up? Do we want the things that keep us from Jesus? Do we care more about the way of the world, than the “light of the world?”

The man was so excited about his healing, that he begged Jesus to let him travel with him, probably to be a disciple. Jesus gave him another assignment instead. The man is now commissioned to tell his family, friends and all, “what the Lord has done for you and how he had mercy on you.” Not only his friends and family, the man goes to ten cities in the region and the people he told were amazed at what they heard.

Jesus asks us to give up the tombs, come out of the cemetery, drop the chains, pick up the pieces, let go of the unclean swine spirit (literally and figuratively) and become a new person in Christ. When we accept the Savior, we learn the lesson the Gerasenes missed: human life must be valued far more than a herd of pigs. The Lord has done so much for us! He died on the cross so that we would have life, better than that, “abundant life.” What will we do for Him?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for calling us out of the tomb and to proclaim your love. Strengthen us to go far beyond ten cities to spread the good news to bring others to you. Amen.

Carol Croskey
St. Paul AME Church
Ocala, Florida

Attitude Adjustment

editor — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:14:32 +0000

Your attitude can help you see things differently. It’s possible. Listen and share with others you think need to hear this message.

You daily prayer now at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. Stay connected at www.twitter.com/vashtimckenzie.

Far From the Maddening Crowd

editor — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:10:55 +0000

Minister Colette L. Walker
Mark 4:35-41
“Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him” (v. 36 NIV).
In Mark 4:1 we find Jesus starting out his day beside the sea, using parables to teach people about the kingdom of God. As his ministry grew, larger crowds gathered. Crowds have power, momentum, and a mind of their own. Their actions and reactions can positively and negatively impact your mission, ideas, energy, and focus. Crowds can break loose and run you over! Crowds can also lift your flesh up, appeal to your base instincts and stroke your ego, trampling your body and running right over the spirit of God within you. “That was an awesome sermon you preached Rev!” “No one can pray like you Deacon!” “You’re the best ministry leader we’ve ever had!” It’s hard to hear the heavy, crushing work boots of the crowd when they’re encased in beautiful, sweet words!

Sometimes you must move away from the crowd to avoid being trampled by the crowd. At the end of the day Jesus left the crowd behind and crossed over to the other side, to venture into Gentile territory. How about you: can you move away from the crowd? Can you move away from the clichés and hype surrounding ministry without moving away from Jesus? As the crowd increases can you decrease? Never mind who’s following you; who are you following, Jesus or the crowd? Ultimately, no matter what corporation signs your pay check or what organization validates your call, the crowd does not own you. Jesus does. Don’t allow the crowd to dictate your travel itinerary.

Let’s Pray: Precious and Promise-fulfilling God, thank you for the crowd. Bless my feet to do exactly what you created them to do – get me to the other side. Today I leave the crowd behind and simply follow you.

Minister Colette L. Walker
Moring Star Community Christian Center Linden, NJ
www.morningstarccc.org

God’s Standard Operating Procedure Manual

editor — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:00:27 +0000

You can act like it, reflect it, use it, and trust God’s Word. Since life and death is in your mouth - speak life.

Join the Lenten Journey today. Sign up in the comment section to pray three times a day and/or join the Daniel Fast or choose the Bible or another book to study. Invite your friends. Daily prayer now at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. Stay connected at www.twittter.com/vashtimckenzie. Tech Fast today. Conversation continues on Friday! Stop, look, listen and be led by the Holy Spirit.

All Night Long

editor — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:30:38 +0000

Sometime you’ve got to go through something to get to something. Listen to see what happens. Be sure to subscribe today and share this message with others.

It’s week two of the Lenten Journey - Journey to the Heart of God. How are you doing? Are you yet holding on? Keep up with your prayers at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com and your daily devotions in the Read section on this site. Invite others to join you.

Technological Fast is tomorrow. Choose one thing - television, radio, ipod, internet, texting, tweeting, Face Book, My Space and turn it off and turn away for 24 hours beginning tonight when you go to bed. Let the Holy Spirit lead you into what to do with the extra time. Scroll down in this section to Monday’s message for more information.

Stay connected at www.twitter.com/vashtimckenzie.

Let God’s Word Do the Work

editor — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:00:59 +0000

L’Tarra Moore
Mark 4:21-34 (NIV)
21He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? 22For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24″Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
26He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
30Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”
33With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

God will reveal His word for our lives and we are to share with others so that we can help others. Just like artwork, we do not buy it to put under our beds or in our closets. We display the artwork on our walls for all to see. We are to do the same with God’s word. Those things that God has yet to reveal, we are to wait patiently for and believe that it will be more effective at the right time. We are to take heed to what we hear from God. We are to use it to improve our lives. If we do this, God will reveal more to us. If we do not take heed to what God gives us, we will lose it. We have the opportunity to share God’s word (plant seeds) with others. God has caused His Word to be so powerful that all we have to do is share it. The kingdom of God, like the mustard seed, will start small and grow slowly. The more we share God’s word and what He has done for us, the more others will begin to believe and the kingdom of God will take over.

L’Tarra Moore
Atlanta, GA

Is Your Soul Good Soil?

editor — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:11:54 +0000

Tracey Bowen
Mark 4:1-20
1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3″Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” 9Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
10When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12so that, ” ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” 13Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”
The parable of the sower is an often taught, often preached passage of scripture. It happens to be one of my favorites. Rather than preach it in writing, I would like to highlight some of the key points in the passage that teach us how to prepare the soil of our soul.
First, beware of listening to the wrong voice. When the Word of God is first shared, it is easy for a thought or word contray to what is spoken to come in and snuff out God’s Word. We must be diligent in holding on to God’s truth by writing it down, meditating on it, and praying about what we have heard. We also have to refuse to recieve any word that opposes the truth of God’s Word.
Second, we must take the time to be still long enough to establish roots. This has various meanings. The first and most important is to stay grounded in the Word, in season and out of season. It is not enough to seek God in the tough times and abandon him when there are good times. What happens is when the cycle repeats itself, when the bad times come again, there is no root to go deeper to nourish you. You become weary and frustrated and if you are not careful, you lose faith. Consistent prayer and meditation, along with fasting and reading your Bible, allows you to become rooted in God’s truth so that when adversity comes you can thrive. A second meaning is that you should be grounded and rooted in a church home, staying there long enough to be planted. “But they made me mad!” Endure it. “But the pastor hurt my feelings.” If they spoke the truth and not what made you feel good, deal with it. Running from church to church does not allow you the chance to grow. Be still.
Lastly, be mindful not to let the cares of the world ─ the fallacy that money solves everything, and the pursuit of stuff ─ draw your attention away from what really matters: God and Him being glorified. He should be at the center of all you do and the source of everything. My new motto is “It is what it is and I am so glad that He is who He is.” Because He is, I am that I am. I need not live without hope like the unbelieving do. If you are mindful of the items above, your soul is well prepared to receive the word of God and bear good fruit, knowing that God is in control.
Tracey Bowen
Bethel Apostolic Temple
Miami, Florida