It's been a while but here another Word from the Lord

Hello family. I know that I have not written on this blog in a while but I'm back. We are in the middle of recession and our president is doing his best to get us out. Let me be clear that President Obama is not the saviour and not our saviour. He is a man who desires the best for all people in my opinion. He is a brilliant man and even his enemies must agree with that. However, I don't want our focus to be on our first African American president to get us out of this mess. Brothers and sisters the answer to our problems is a sincere walk with God. I know that sound trite but his yoke is easy and his burden is light. God has the solution to all of life's problems. If we are willing to seek the face of God and trust Him for wise counsel. He will get us through.

We must learn how to live within our means. We really do not have to keep up with the Jones's because we just learned that their house may be foreclosed on next month. Do we really need to buy those new shoes, do we really need a new car, do we really need that outfit. We still have clothes in the closet that has tags on them. Oh and by the way a sale at Macy's is not really a sale if you charge it on your Macy's charge card and you don't pay it off by the end of the month. Think about it if the sale is 20% off and you charge it but don't pay it off by the end of the month and the interest rate is 23% guess what - you just paid 3% more for an outfit that you bought on sale. And God forbid if you don't pay it off the 2nd month. Some of us have paid for the same outfit three times because of the interest. It's the debt trap cycle that so many of us get in and can't get out of until we first realize it and then plan to get out by systematically denying ourselves and using spiritual principles. Rule of thumb - If you can't pay it off by the end of the month don't buy it. Is it a need or a want?
Rule number 2 Pay off stuff now. Cut up credit cards if you don't have the necessary discipline. This is how we get out of the slavery of debt.

We can't pay our tithes because we are broke, we can't give offerings because we are broke. When this happens we miss the blessings that come from giving See Luke 6:38 and Mal 3:10-12., we can't take a vacations because we are broke. The result of this is we are tired, irritable and don't get the needed breaks that are healthy. Marriages are in trouble because of finances.

How many of us of the darker hew purchased houses that we couldn't afford? It was a trap. We didn't understand the ARM. We didn't understand predatory lending. We didn't know that after 3 or 5 years in the mortgage that it was going to go up $1,000 or 1,500 more a month. That hit us like a ton of bricks since we were living from pay check to pay check. Hence the record foreclosures in our communities. Friend we learn how to live within our means. We've got to learn how to invest more and spend less. We have learn how to be content with what we have. We must grasp the delayed gratification concept. The buy now pay later for everything mentality will keep us in financial bondage. We've got to teach our children the same principles. Remember Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge.
Of course this is very elementary but it's the basics that must be applied that will build a strong foundation. Let's get empowered by getting out of debt.

Here's an excellent reading resource "Your money counts". Howard Dayton. Check it out.

Until next time.

Don't quit the assignment, complete it

Well my friend here we are in the brand new year of 2009. Many of us have great expectations for 2009. President Obama takes center stage. God has great things in store for us because we are His children. As I write this blog, I'm aware of much of the chaos that plagues our world(famine, war, hatred, selfishness and list goes on). Although I don't know what the future holds, I trust the one who holds the future. I believe our mandate for 2009 is the continue trusting God while walking in our assignment. Do you know what your assignment is during this season of your life? If you don't know, I encourage you to spend some time with God getting your assignment. Through prayer and communion with God, He reveals the assignments for us. When we get our assignment from Him, it helps you and I stay on track to reach our destiny and fulfill our purpose in life. Maybe your assignment is to finish school, raise your children, sharpen your craft, or complete a project. Whatever it is, stay on course, don't let the distractions of the devil keep you from your assignment. Every time I have sinned since my salvation, I have learned that while I was sinning, I was not completing my God given assignment. The sin would always keep me from finishing what God called me to do. Sin has a way of delaying our destiny, blocking our blessings, impeding our progress, and holding up our help. We must resist sin with the power of God in us. Complete the assignment that God has given you for this season of your life. No matter how hard it may seem, never quit your assignment, complete it. The apostle Paul didn't quit life, he completed it when he said "the time of my departure is at hand, I have fought a good fight, I have FINISHED my course I have kept the faith..." When we complete an assignment there is always a reward waiting for us. I'm encouraging my self while writing this. Don't quit it, complete it.

Don't give up, Keep knocking

My friend we have seen an powerful move of God in the election of Barak Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America. There is no doubt in my mind that God was in the details of the everything that happened. The world says that the devil is in the details. God is in the details of our lives. He has designed the specifics of the Obama ascension to U.S. leadership. Did you know that President Elect Obama attempted to get into the Democratic National Convention in 2000 and could not get in. He was denied access into the hall (not because he was black, I don't think). However, does this sound familiar? How many other blacks throughout the history of this country were denied access? So many blacks have tried to get into theaters, restaurants, stadiums, schools and companies, and were denied access. But we as a people never gave up. We are not quitters. Four years later, in 2004 then Senator Obama was not only invited to the Democratic National Convention but he was invited to speak. This is when America was formally introduced to Barak Obama. How did a man who couldn't get into convention in 2000 become a speaker four years later. That was God in the details. Sometimes we've got to keep knocking at the door of opportunity. I'm glad he didn't give up. I'm glad that he didn't get discouraged just because he didn't get in the first time. The message is keep knocking, keep going, keep pressing. Thanks President Elect Obama for not quitting. You are a great example of endurance and tenacity to alot of people. Until next time....

रेमेम्बेर Rehoboam

Look at what has just taken place. America of all places has accepted an African American democratic nominee for the presidency. What does this really mean? Does this mean that America is ready for a Black president. Does this mean that racism has been eliminated? The answer to the latter is certainly not. Of course racism, class ism and sexism still exists in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I wonder how many have already determined that they will not vote for Mr. Obama just because he is black. Sadly there are many Americans that will vote republican just to keep a black man out of the white house. At the same time God is ultimately in control of life situations. He is really the one that sets up one and puts down another. Sometimes God allows wicked kings to rule and uses them to judge a nation who is anti-God and sometimes He sends righteous kings as an answer to the prayers of His people. Sen. Obama is on the way to the white house. So what does this mean? Time will reveal the will of God. Jeremiah Wright is a modern prophet to the nation. Regardless of his style or personality, he's got a word from the Lord. I pray that President Obama will heed to the prophets that God will send to him and rule with wisdom and love and lighten the burden of the people. Remember King Rehoboam in 1 Kings 12.

Make the rest of your life the best of your life

Well friend, Life continues to move forward. We are just about half way through another year. Either we move with it or we get left behind. It's our choice to grow or die, to go up or down. It's time that we stop fussing, cussing, crying, complaining and blaming others for our situation. While it's true that some people have affected or infected us negatively but you have the power to rise above it. You have the power to move forward. Yes racism and discrimination are alive and well but we can succeed regardless of the set back. You may have an illness, you may have just gone through a bad relationship, you may have just lost your job. Ok it happened, it's over. Let's move forward. We don't need a hand out, God is offering us a hand up. You can believe that. The only one that stays down is the one that refuses to get up. God has given us power to get up 1John 4:4. Just like Jesus told the lame man, take up thy bed and walk. I say to you rise up and walk. Make the rest of your life the best of your life. Until next time....

Signs of the times

Greetings,

Thanks for visiting my blog. Friend can you see what's really happening in our world. There are fires in Florida, flooding in Louisiana, earthquakes in China and typhoons Myamar. God is sending a message to our world. We the Christian community must like never before preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with zeal and fervor. God uses storms and trials to communicate when we don't listen to His Word. He did it throughout the biblical days and He's doing it now. We have to tell the world that Christ is soon to come. He gave us signs of the times. Of course no man knows the day or the hour but He has given us warnings. Let's all Read and Heed Matthew 24. God loves the entire world and He desires that all men would be saved. Repentance and Faith is the key to salvation. Let's tell the world to move from selfishness and greed to love and commitment.

Until next time,

The Heart of a Pastor