The week of Nov. 9th through Nov. 16th was Dedication Week for my church Trinity UCC-Gary where Rev. John E. Jackson, Sr. is Senior Pastor.
I would like to share some of the things I learned:
During the alter call on last Sunday our pastor shared the story of the centurion who asked Jesus to cure his favored servant who was ill. Jesus was willing to go but the centurion said "just speak" and it will be so. Jesus spoke and the servant was cured. Now when I ask in prayer I have learned to add, and ask you to try to add in prayer, "SPEAK JESUS" over your families, "SPEAK JESUS" over your finances, "SPEAK JESUS" over your health, "SPEAK JESUS" over your jobs, "SPEAK JESUS" over all aspects in your life that you have taken to Him in prayer - and it is done!
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith, Jr., Pastor, Covenant UCC in South Holland, IL shared that his wife was diagnosed with a malignant form of cancer that had a mortality expectancy of 2-3 years. That was 10 years ago. Her response to her extended lease on life: "I choose to dance!" Please pray for Mrs. Barbara Smith as she continues her battle.
Psalm 34:1-3. David's desire was to do something good for God. We allow the Enemy to rob us of the joy of blessing God.
Matthew 22:34-46 Sometimes the "Law of Me" gets in the way of the potential/Lord in me. We have been taught that Jesus came to love and to give. Loving God is about doing for, and loving people. Certain things you should not ask Jesus if you really know Him. Question: Are you ready to stop asking God questions He already has the answers to?
All that I am is because of Thee
All that I'm not is because of me!
Everyone should have four people in their life:
one to CELEBRATE you;
one to CORRECT you;
one to COVENENT with you in prayer;
one to CHALLENGE you.
In Exodus 15:19-21 others followed Miriam into praise (not to a party) in the midst of their situation. Praise is not a party. However, celebration is at the heart of praise. We have got to learn to celebrate and praise God as we come out of a situation and in spite of circumstances.
The Lord Jesus loves the one I claim I "can't stand." WoW!
As a Christian you can recognize regret by an offending party without waiting for the apology. It is o.k. to say “I don’t agree with his/her perception/opinion” and keep moving without removing the person from your life.
In Matthew 20:17-28 we learn that on His way to His Destiny, Jesus takes the 12 disciples aside just outside of Jerusalem and tries to prepare them for what is to come. (Just in case you were not paying attention, as Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. pointed out, Jesus took ALL 12 – including Judas) The point: Everybody going along with you ain’t necessarily with you! Put another way, Everyone you share your heart with, ain’t got your heart in mind. Amen.
As the lesson continued, Dr. Wright pointed out that John and James – two of the favored, two that were there, along with Peter, when others were not invited like at the Transfiguration (Matt 17:1), when He healed Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:29); and when He brought the little girl back to life (Luke 8:51), asked (through their mother) for favor in Jesus’ kingdom. When the other disciples found out what John, James and mommy dearest were up to, they were outraged at John and James’ audacity. QUESTION: Why are you a part of His Ministry? Is it for recognition and/or position? THE ANSWER: Discipleship is NOT about recognition or position. This journey is about SUBMISSION. When we do it God’s way, we may indeed have to drink from His cup. Can YOU handle it?
This is what I learned at church this week.
For all that were able to attend, thank you for celebrating with me and my Trinity UCC-Gary church family. For those who could not - you missed a REAL revival experience. Feel welcomed to come and celebrate the Living Christ anytime with us at Trinity UCC-Gary.
Be blessed! And always "choose to dance!"
Sisterly in Christ,
Bridget
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Exodus 19:1-6
The people of promise are poised on a precipice of new possibility, yet God tells Moses (in so many words) hold up, wait a minute let me put some preachin in it.
In other words these ex-slaves have just spent 400 years in bondage and now have been wandering in the wilderness, drifting in the desert and ambling about in barrenness for the last 3 months and they need a focus point.
God first reminds them of where they have come from. In verse 3 God says to Moses "this is what you are to say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel." It seems God is saying that they once were the blues people and now they are the miracle people(to quote Cornell West). Jacob was a liar, Jacob was a trickster and Jacob was a hustler who brought blues into the lives of a lot of people. Yet God Reversed his rout at a river called Jabok and changed his name and his destiny when he called him Israel. It is an awesome thing to know that God is able to make miracles out of our messes.
God then reminds them that it was he (or more specifically She) who bore them on Eagles wings from Slavery to freedom to him. It is the female eagle who carries the babies thus the text uses the female personal pronoun for God here.
Yet the best is yet to come. As God has gathered his people at the foot of Mt. Horeb (The Mountain of God) and God gave them what they needed the most; Their Identity!
God says you are my "Treasured Possession" a "Kingdom of Priest" and a "Holy Nation!"
Treasured Possession did not mean that they were better than any other people but God saw in them what they could be before they became what they should be. He saw in them something that could bless the world.
Kingdom of Priest-That they were to mediate for the masses to the master. They were to intercede between the other nations and God. They were to bring others closer to God!
A Holy Nation-That they were set apart for sacred work. They were to be an example to others of what abiding in the presence of the Holy looked like. God was not expecting them to be perfect but Excellent. No one could achieve excellence but all could give their best which is excellence.
Relevant questions:
What has you bond, frustrated and afraid to move forward in your destiny?
Where do you see yourself wandering in what seems like barrenness?
Where do you see God taking you from a Jacob mindset to an Israel new reality in relationship with him?
Where in your life can you see the swift wings of God whisking you out of weariness, and worry to his Wonder?
Where do you see yourself in the text as you journey through this life?
Where do you see this nation? Is it poised on the precipice of promise?
How important to you is it that all people remember their own particular sacred stories (history) as a compass to their future?
Finally God's words to God's people here are conditional; there is an "If" clause. How does that if clause inform your personal journey with God?
Bless you on your journey with God of Joy
In other words these ex-slaves have just spent 400 years in bondage and now have been wandering in the wilderness, drifting in the desert and ambling about in barrenness for the last 3 months and they need a focus point.
God first reminds them of where they have come from. In verse 3 God says to Moses "this is what you are to say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel." It seems God is saying that they once were the blues people and now they are the miracle people(to quote Cornell West). Jacob was a liar, Jacob was a trickster and Jacob was a hustler who brought blues into the lives of a lot of people. Yet God Reversed his rout at a river called Jabok and changed his name and his destiny when he called him Israel. It is an awesome thing to know that God is able to make miracles out of our messes.
God then reminds them that it was he (or more specifically She) who bore them on Eagles wings from Slavery to freedom to him. It is the female eagle who carries the babies thus the text uses the female personal pronoun for God here.
Yet the best is yet to come. As God has gathered his people at the foot of Mt. Horeb (The Mountain of God) and God gave them what they needed the most; Their Identity!
God says you are my "Treasured Possession" a "Kingdom of Priest" and a "Holy Nation!"
Treasured Possession did not mean that they were better than any other people but God saw in them what they could be before they became what they should be. He saw in them something that could bless the world.
Kingdom of Priest-That they were to mediate for the masses to the master. They were to intercede between the other nations and God. They were to bring others closer to God!
A Holy Nation-That they were set apart for sacred work. They were to be an example to others of what abiding in the presence of the Holy looked like. God was not expecting them to be perfect but Excellent. No one could achieve excellence but all could give their best which is excellence.
Relevant questions:
What has you bond, frustrated and afraid to move forward in your destiny?
Where do you see yourself wandering in what seems like barrenness?
Where do you see God taking you from a Jacob mindset to an Israel new reality in relationship with him?
Where in your life can you see the swift wings of God whisking you out of weariness, and worry to his Wonder?
Where do you see yourself in the text as you journey through this life?
Where do you see this nation? Is it poised on the precipice of promise?
How important to you is it that all people remember their own particular sacred stories (history) as a compass to their future?
Finally God's words to God's people here are conditional; there is an "If" clause. How does that if clause inform your personal journey with God?
Bless you on your journey with God of Joy
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