The Vision of the “Voice of Manifestations” Newsletter is to communicate the various events to our partners and the community. Thus, it helps to build and enhance relationships between the two. The newsletter is also a mechanism to evangelize, encourage, build and lift up. The Voice focuses on the four aspect of Manifestations Worldwide, which are Spiritual Trainings, Education, Job and Housing. Our prayer is that God is touching someone’s life through the Voice of Manifestation Newsletter (VOM). Ultimately, our desire is to be obedient to the commission God has given us; to go and spread the gospel. All we need is an audience; someone that is interested, ready to listen, with a heart to receive. Many go door to door; but VOM newsletter travel email to email; across the country and around the world, seeking the heart in need of a word. And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthews 28:20 (NIV)
A Note from the Editor Dear Reader, This quarter is the closing of our year 2017. It is The Voice desire to share with you what is happening at CFM and how we are serving our community. We bring words of encouragement and help to build up those that are broken. Lead by the Holy Spirit our focus is to touch lives. Therefore we bring various topics that believe will satisfy the needs of our readers. We invite you to take a look and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your need. We know that some in your life may benefit from this Newsletter, so do not hesitate to share the link as The Voice comes to you by the email. That is how we spread the gospel. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior this is your opportunity. We want you to know that God wants a personal relationship with you. He sent his Son to shed His blood, die on the cross and raised from the dead for you to be free from sin and to offer you eternal life. Romans 10:13 Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.� Romans 10: 9-10 Explains that is you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you are saved. Now that you understand, lets pray: Dear God, I now believe that Jesus Christ is Your only begotten Son, that He died on the cross for my sins. I believe He rose from the dead to give eternal life. I acknowledge that I am a sinner, please forgive me, wash away my sins and purify me. I accept you as my Lord and Savior, come into my life, lead and guide me in Jesus name. Amen. Please email your questions, topics, etc. to: voiceofmanifestation@gmail.com Till the next time, An teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.� Matthews 28:20
Until the next one,
You are the Voice!
A letter unto FBCM Family...By Apostle Mark T. Jones Sr. P 6 Be Encouraged … P8 By Pastor Rodney Norton He Rose … P 9 New Beginnings (Cover Story) … P 12 & 13 The Purpose of Convocation … By Pastor Deondrick Douglas P 14 Not just for Teachers … By Eva Johnson P 16 Evangelism … By Heather Pittman P 19 Up, Up, and Away … By Kay Shauntay P 20 Turning barrenness into blessing … P 23 Presence … P 24 Engaging the culture … By Jasimine Karima P 26 Is God calling you to be a father to the fatherless? … By Chris Brown P 28 My love story … By Jenifer Grant P 29 Your high-ness… by Kay Shauntay P 30
A Letter unto the FBCM Family Mark, an Apostle of the Lamb- Jesus Christ unto the FBCM covenant family, who are blessed with Christ in God the Father. It is my greatest joy to see that you are all flourishing in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that the churches are abounding in the love of Christ. I write to remind you to continue to build the body of Christ holistically in the knowledge of Jesus Christ which will enable the believers to be in full assurance of rich rewards at the coming of our Lord. It is my admonition that you continue to confront error and teach the truth, using the scripture as a measuring line for what is right and accurate, because it is only truth that will stabilize and equip the soul of the believer. Contend for the purity of the body of Christ, in as much as we know that our Lord is soon to come, and we want to be found in Him, having not wasted our lives and soiled our garments. See that you do not overlook the spiritual disciplines of fasting, prayer, corporate worship and the study of scriptures, as these disciplines will assist the believers in cultivating the kind of lifestyles that please and honor God our Father. Charge all believers to walk in love, and to live offence free lives, lest Satan gain the advantage through your emotional short-sightedness. Until we meet again, may the love of God our Father, establish you so that your soul lack nothing that is needful for effective living. Apostle Mark
Be Encouraged “Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.” Psalms 3: 1-8 At the writing of the Psalm David was in a great deal of trouble, his own life was at stake. His own son led what seemed to be a successful rebellion against him. Many of his previous friends and associates forsook him and joined the ranks of those who troubled him. David had many self inflicted sins but he still knew the source of his strength! Have you ever had a close friend or even a family member forsake you? David’s situation was so bad that man felt he was beyond God’s help. Those who said this probably didn’t feel that God was unable to help David; they probably felt that God was unwilling to help him. They looked at David’s past sins and figured this is all what he deserves from God. We all have fallen short of the glory but when we go to God and repent He “He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” Micah 7:19 David knew that God was his SHIELD!! Others couldn’t shake David’s confidence in a God of love, comfort, protection, peace and joy. The shield is the wooden, inlayed with bronze or leather, handheld protector for surviving a sword or arrow attack.
This gives us the image of a God who protects us in the midst of the attacks that are coming towards you. You may be feeling as though so much is coming against you, family criticizing or lying on you, people whom you felt were close friends putting all of your business out, coworkers plotting to take you down..I could go on and on, but know that God is YOUR SHIELD, YOUR PROTECTION, YOUR COMFORT, YOUR PEACE, YOUR JOY, YOUR STRENGTH in the midst of whatever you’re going through. Verse 3 says “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” This is for encouragement; it refers to God as our protector, for He gives us victory over our enemies. He is greater than anything or any power that we could ever conceive of or face!! Verse 4 says “ I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah” which indicates it’s ok to cry out to the Lord and know that He sees your tears and will dry them and give you peace!! How do I know that? Because verse 5 follows up by saying “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me” now you mean to tell me that in the midst of a life threatening situation David was able to go to sleep and wake up sus-
tained?.........YES!!! David closes with no fear but confidence in saying, in verses 6-8, “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.” Be encouraged by knowing that our God is the same God Yesterday, Today and Forevermore which means if He was there for David He most definitely is there for you. No matter what you are going through be encouraged to know that God is right there with open arms to fight your battles, to dry your tears and comfort you!! So rise up with authority and power man and woman of God!!
He Rose
As Resurrection Sunday approaches, you’ll see people shopping for a new outfit, preparing for an Easter egg hunt or some other activity associated with Easter. However for the believer, this event is monumental; because as followers of Christ, part of what we believe is anchored in the fact that….. He rose! Let’s step back for a moment and consider the significance of this event exploring why He did it and what it means for us. Each of us was born in sin; not through any action of our own, but because of what Adam did. Now it does not seem fair or right that you or I should be punished because of the actions of another; however when you step back and look, isn’t that exactly what Jesus did? He put on a flesh suit, took on our sin and became guilty that we might be made righteous. While Jesus walked the Earth, He set an example of what God desired from the beginning; that we walk in authority, have fellowship with God and reflect Him. Jesus constantly did that and was able to do so by the power of the Spirit of God. The Bible says, “He went about doing good.” By doing good, He was un-doing the work the enemy carried out through man. Jesus was a mirror of God to man and a pattern of what God wanted for man. The last thing Jesus had to face in order to make His victory complete was death. This last enemy had claimed
victory over everyone who lived. Now Satan had the keys of death hell and the grave; so for Jesus to get those keys He had to die. Jesus’ death was not a major event; all men die, even good ones. Although people had come back from the dead they eventually succumb to death, however; Jesus did not just die.... He rose again. His resurrection is monumental because it demonstrates that death (which is the last enemy) had been defeated. His resurrection was also a statement that not only was He victorious in life, but also over death. By virtue of His resurrection, Jesus provides mankind with the opportunity to regain what Adam relinquished. Now the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us. This is significant because if you recall, Jesus didn’t do any miracles prior to being baptized by the Spirit. What this means is whatever He did…. we can do also! His life gave us a pattern to follow and we have become benefactors of His death. What are the benefits of His death? We can now fellowship with God, we have been made kings and priests, we are overcomers, we have been given the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord and we have eternal life to name only a few. Why? Because He Rose.
(Cover Story) From the Seasoned Senior Ministry Mother Anne Winston, Ministry Leader
Theme Scripture: 3. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. 5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not blasphemed (Titus 2:3-5). “New Beginning” is the topic the Seasoned Seniors Ministry will teach about this month. In this season of new beginnings, we want to share the love of Jesus Christ and encourage you to begin your life by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior (Mt. 6:33). Mother Anne Winston words of encouragement to “New Beginning:” A new beginning indicates that there was an old. This new beginning is different from what existed previously; it is a start to initiate a new process. My first and most important new beginning was when God drew me to Himself and I accepted Him as Lord and Savior of my life. Away with the old life of sin and self and on to the new. God is love. “For God so loved
the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3: 16). I accepted God’s gift of salvation. Jesus Christ put a new beginning in order when He paid the penalty for our sin by dying on the cross. Since we are all works in process, and will always be until we transition, there are always opportunities to start a new beginning in some area of our lives. God’s desire is that we reflect Him because we have His DNA. “A new commandment I give unto you, that is love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another (John 13:34). Ye have heard that it hath been said; thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Mt. 5: 43-44). My new beginning is to have the God kind of love, faith, obedience and be on a higher level in God.” Three things will last forever- faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13:13 NLT).
Mother Kathleen Ransom words of encouragement to “New Beginning:” For me, a New Beginning,” means completely starting over: a new home, job, and/or a new outlook on life as I know it. But I believe everyone should ask themselves what a “New Beginning” means to them. The Lord, I believe has tests and challenges for all of us in various way in order to test our faith in the promise of His word. If you believe in His word or implement His teachings and lessons taught by the trials and tribulations we all face is completely up to you. But I believe the Lord has a plan for each one of us individually. In order to reach your ultimate goal, He gives His lifelong protection. I can speak for myself when I say, although I may not understand at the time or see the lesson in the trials or tribulation at that moment, but I do know the Lord has me and my family’s best interest at heart. He wants me to succeed in achieving my “New Beginning.” By listening and applying His word in my everyday life, it is the vital first step in achieving my “New Beginning.” Therefore, if anyone belong to Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Cor. 5:17). Also, by receiving guidance and counsel from your pastor and your church is vital and can help you in achieving the ultimate goal of a “New Beginning.” In Proverbs 3: 5-6, it states to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” This Scripture alone is the beacon needed for my “New Beginning.” I suggest it be your beacon to see your God given path in order for you to achieve your “New Beginning.” Finally, with God’s power working in us, God can do much more than anything we can ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20). Mother Betty McCray words of encouragement to “New Beginning:” New Beginning means a fresh start, not a new year, but a new lifestyle. God promised your latter shall be greater than the beginning (Job 8:7). Putting those old things, ways, attitudes, behaviors, habits, behind and not looking back; allow reflection to be a reminder to not return there. Press forward toward the mark of a higher calling, place, mindset, way of doing, speaking, and thinking. Prophet Isaiah tells us not to remember the former things; but embrace the new (Is. 43: 18-19).
good to always have new beginnings. That keeps us always moving forward by learning new things and experiencing new adventures. 2017 can be a new start for us all. Stepping out on faith and believing God to open up doors that you will have a chance to step into. Maybe you wanted to go to school, it is never too late. Maybe you want to start a business. Maybe you realize that God is calling you to ministry. Being a blessing to the ministry like Apostle Mark Jones would say, “get up off of your blessed assurance” and get busy to help build the Kingdom. It is a blessing knowing that we can always have new beginnings. I pray that this year be a year of “New Beginnings” for all of you. If God created the heaven and the earth we can create our destiny. Mother Olivia Brown words of encouragement to “New Beginning:” It is the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3; 22-23). When I open my eyes from being in a deep sleep my first thoughts are, “Thank you, Father, for allowing me to see a new day. Because this is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. My new beginning is to release the past, and move forward to the mark of His calling, by walking in complete trust and faith in God; by surrendering my mind, body, and soul in His hands. Not wrestling with the potter and allow Him to mold and shape me to fulfill that which He has called me to do. “New Beginnings”- old things are passed away. Behold all things become new. In this new season, when I pray I will leave that prayer at the altar and not go back and pick it up again. New Beginning- a new walk finally grasping, “Love Never Fails.” God bless! Mother Agnes V. Huggins words of encouragement to “New Beginning:” In Isaiah 43:18-19, God is saying to His people, forget the old thing because He will do a new thing in our lives. Think for a moment: old thoughts, battles of the mind; let go of past hurts and the things that have imprisoned you. Let the healing power of Jesus Christ come and fill you with new wine.
In closing, the Seasoned Senior Ministry mothers encourage each of you to allow God to be first in your life Mother Cynthia Myles words of encouragement to and that is the most valued “New Beginning” for the rest “New Beginning:” In the Beginning, God created the of your life. Mother Sandra Barr heaven and the earth. That is a key to let us know that it is
The Purpose of Convocation Deondrick Douglas , Senior Pastor Champion's Life International Church Holy Convocation is a sacred time ordained by God for the edification of the body of Christ. It has been observed by the church since the Old Testament. The Lord ordained seven holy convocations per year also known as the feast days. While we no longer observe the Old Testament feasts, we continue honoring the spirit and purpose of these sacred meetings at our annual convocation. So what is the purpose of convocation? The purpose is threefold. We are to remember, rehearse and to rest.
year and dismantling strongholds/mindsets which are not in line with faith in Jesus Christ. This is the portion of convocation where we are presented with the blue print for the body and we examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith.
Lastly, convocation is about rest. In the Old Testament believers were instructed not to do any physical work. Today our rest is spiritual. Convocation is an environment where the connected faith of the body at large eliminates laDuring convocation we remember and reflect boring for deliverance and breakthrough. Like on what God has done for us as a collective the day of Pentecost, as we are all gathered in body. We celebrate His provision, protection one place on one accord. The atmosphere is and the deliverance of our church family as a charged with faith allowing the gifts to flow whole. This remembrance serves to renew the freely. During convocation the manifestation of strength of returning members and to ignite the signs/wonders is increased and readily availafaith of new members. It's through this process ble. of remembering that we impart our core beliefs and values to our youth. I encourage you to embrace this time of year with excitement and expectation. Sanctify Convocation is also about rehearsing in the yourselves because the Lord will do great sense of recital or a re-hearing. In the Old Tes- things. tament the priest would read the law of God to the people. This helped to reaffirm the terms of the covenant they had with God and to remind them of what was required. Today, our Apostles, Pastor's and Prophets lead us in this recital by casting the vision of the house, laying out the directives of the coming
Not Just For Teachers Only…… by Eva Thomas Johnson In honor of the Chronological Bible Reading, let’s see how well you have been reading. Can you answer these quick questions about scriptures in the book of Genesis and scriptures in the book of Job: (I will start out a little easy on you. Scriptures will be quoted from the NIV version of the Bible) Questions from the book of Genesis Who created the heavens and earth? What did God do on the 7th Day? Who named the animals? Where did Eve come from? What type of fruit was on the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil? What did Cain do that was so bad? What did Noah build? And why was he building it? Okay those were quite easy, so let’s get a little deeper, okayWhat chapter and verse did God say to Noah, “I have found you righteous?” What chapter and verse did Noah get drunk? Why was Canaan cursed and not Ham? What chapter talks about the first tall tower being built? Who was the oldest man in the Bible? Whose son was Ishmael? How many sons did Ishmael have? What were their names?
What did Job’s wife say? How many friends spoke to Job? What happened to Job at the end of the book? Something to think about – Have You Ever Wondered… Did Adam and Eve talk to the animals? Did the animals talk back? What color was the dust of the ground? Where is the tree of Life now? Did Cain marry his sister? How many children did Adam and Eve actually have? Where is the Garden of Eden hidden? Where did Job’s kids come from in chapter 42? What ever happened to Job’s wife and did he get a new one? What happened to Job’s friends? Where did Job get his new animals from? Did Job move to a new location because of bad memories? Do your own research to find the answers. But…Just a quick note: Some questions won’t be answered until we reach Heaven. So make sure you get there!
Evangelism Heather Pittmon 1. Evangelism is NOT... Evangelism is not a ministry for show. It's not glorious...no one pats you on your back for going out into the community. It's not a place for recognition, and it's an extremely humbling experience. Evangelism is about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with a lost and broken world AND ensuring that they UNDERSTAND the redemptive work on the cross, where Christ sacrificed his life. It's not praying a magical prayer and one's problems disappearing, rather it's helping an individual begin the process of establishing a relationship with Jesus. If you're looking for a mic, this is the wrong ministry. Finally, Evangelism is not taking advantage of your listeners to talk endlessly about yourself...it's about the condition and saving of one's soul.
2. Is there training in place for this work? Yes! The Invasion Team holds quarterly training workshops for those who believe that this is the area of ministry God has called them to. During training, foundational principles on sharing your faith, Biblical Evangelism, and on-site training are provided. Notices of training are posted in the Sunday service announcements as well as on the CFM Invasion Team Facebook page. 3. What are the tell-tell signs that God has designed you to do this? I can only speak for me, but it's one of the few things that kept nagging me. Walking by people, checking out at the grocery store, driving by someone...I always wondered if they had a relationship with Jesus. I also think a genuine concern for a person understanding the relevance of a relationship with Christ-why He died and why I need Him--helped point me towards Evangelism. I thought a couple areas I was passionate about may have been it,
guidance with prayer ultimately lead me to Evangelism! 4. Describe an unforgettable experience doing this work that further ignites your passion to evangelize... We went out on a typical Wednesday morning, but I really didn't want to go (just being honest). As someone who has struggled heavily with fear and anxiety, I'd convinced myself that day that I didn't need to be out telling others about Christ when I couldn't "get me together." We approached a young lady and prayed with her. During prayer, I heard her crying, and when we finished, she just stared at us. She stepped back and said, "Wow...How did you know all that stuff was going on? Like...everything you prayed was exactly my situation right
now!" And other moments like this solidify in my heart that 1. This will never be directly about me and 2. There will always be people who need a willing vessel to do this work. **One common misconception people have when we approach them is that we're Jehovah's Witnesses. They're always shocked when we explain we're Christians. Unfortunately, the percentage of Christians actually sharing their faith with others in their community (on the streets here in America), compared to other religious groups is significantly low. And that's disturbing.** 5. How can we connect? If you're interested in connecting, you can call or text Heather Pittmon at (813) 408-4196, visit the CFM Invasion Team Facebook page, stay tuned for our YouTube training channel, or see any other member of the Invasion Team!
"Up, Up, & Away!" by Kay. Shauntay
So I guess I got this Call on my life, got this Call on my life, Got the bars around my life, when I gave my life to Christ. Now I'm sentenced to Christ...Like-Ness, ever since my Savior paid the price...It Now makes sense: My Savior paid the price! Oh Lord, On God, I ride...Meaning I rely, meaning I'm down, to ride, like 4 flats...On a Maybach and even when I'm backed into 4 corners, I just come out stronger... Like a May-warmer, I mean May-weather, in the coldest winter Chicago-blizzard style, rocking fur & feathers... On a Sista Souljah Sweater. But the Lil Sista Souljah in me can't sweat the small stuff cause it's Time to grow up, Though the child-like nature won't let her.. Meaning the immaturity ain't trying to blossom. Yes, admittedly the Warrior in she would rather play dead at times, but I know it's game-over for playing possum.
Gotta Rise! Up! Up! Up! & Fly out like the bow & arrow, catching the wind. Catch the wind in your palms...Meaning get the wind beneath your wings and soar to Greater things. Greater things, Becoming a Better Being and this Righteous thing is more than a fling It's a Life-Time, Life-Long Dream of Infinity... filled with Infinite, Intimate sessions of Worshipping and Glorifying the King, the King, the King.
Turning Barrenness into Blessing
Š Copyright, Grantley Morris, 1985-1996. For much more by the same author see www.net-burst.net No part of these writings may be sold, and no part may be copied in whole without citing this entire paragraph.
She was ashamed. She was tormented. She was barren. Her husband tried to console her. 'You're already blessed,' he virtually told her. Yes, Hannah was a beloved wife. Hundreds of lonely, rejected women would be content with that, but not Hannah. She could know no peace until she had borne a child. (1 Samuel 1:1-8) This yearning for a baby arose from within, was fuelled by her society's attitude and further intensified by her rival - her husband's second wife. Ultimately, however, I believe the pressure was from God. 'And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed . . . , "O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt . . . give unto thy handmaid a man child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life . . . " ' (1 Samuel 1:10-11)
life at a stalemate because heaven is awaiting a new depth of consecration from you? Search your heart and God's mind for an answer. But never make rash vows. Always add, 'if it be God's will.' Otherwise, the vow, not Jesus, is our Master. Our humanity makes it impossible to know we have every eventuality covered. We may be certain our vow is divinely inspired and later discover to our horror that we have misheard. The Bible exposes the perils of disregarding this warning. Unless you are convinced of the gravity of this matter, I beg you to study the relevant Scriptures. (Compare Deuteronomy 7:1-2 with Joshua 9:4-20; note also Judges 11:29-35; Psalm 15:4; Proverbs 20:25; Ecclesiastes 5:2,4-6; Leviticus 5:4; 27:28; Acts 5:3-5) Commitment is the key, not a rush of well-meaning words that flare and fizzle.
Ending barrenness involves being intimate with the one we love. We can think this a chore, and turn it into one, but it is meant to be delightfully fulfilling. Communing with God and waiting in his presence is intimacy with God. We can treat this as a burden struggling, straining and afflicting ourselves - or we can unleash love and let snuggling into the heart of God become the beautiful experience he intends it to be. To wish we could know everything about our calling without spending hours alone with God is to That's how God moves. Isaac, Israel, Samson, Samuel and John wish we could trade the pinnacle of human experience for the clinthe Baptist were all born to women who had been barren. (Genesis ical coldness of some sort of spiritual in-vitro fertilization. 18:11; 25:21-26; Judges 13:3; 1 Samuel 1:20; Luke 1:7, 13) BarSing, O Barren renness forced these women to exceptional fervor in praying for conception. Little wonder that they conceived exceptional chilLet's bring together the many principles of entering fruitful service dren. They were barren, but barren for a purpose. that Hannah's experience highlights. Hannah nurtured the babe until he was weaned (probably, by HeGod's woman turned barrenness into a blessing not by suppressing brew custom, about three years). She then plunged a knife into her her desires but by letting it bring her to her knees and to a rare heart, severing herself from her flesh and blood. Custody battles level of commitment. Despite her husband's pleas, she would settle involving surrogate mothers expose the faintest echo of her agony. for nothing less than God's best. And God, in his grace, would If the bond at birth can be strong, it was three years harder for settle for nothing less than her best. Creature and Creator wrestled Hannah. And this was her only child. in prayer until she finally yielded, reaching heights of devotion But the beautiful story continues. The Lord, having inspired her fertile women seldom know. Then she believed before seeing the heart-wrenching vow, flooded her with blessings. Her reward went answer. Closing her mind to a thousand previous failures, she beyond giving birth to a son. It went beyond proudly viewing the again tried to be fruitful. Even when she held her dream in her development of one of the greatest men of God earth has seen. arms, she did not slacken in her spiritual quest. She praised her And it went beyond her acclaim ringing around the globe, genera- Lord and mixed it with more faith. She kept her costly vow. She tion after generation extolling her devotion. There were further gave no space to bitterness. Without overstepping the mark, she treasures, but the path was steep. faithfully did the little she could to serve the son who now was God's. Finally, the Lord poured upon her an abundance beyond her As she surrendered to the priest the fruit of her womb, Hannah fondest hopes. jubilantly sang, 'The barren hath borne seven.' (1 Samuel 2:5) Oh Hannah! Whatever do you mean? You have no abundance - only So if life seems barren, emulate Hannah and 'Sing, O barren, ... for one, and even he has been torn from you. more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, says the Lord.' (Isaiah 54:1) Year by year she made a little robe for the child who was no longer hers. Every stitch was impregnated with love and thanksgiving, but many were dampened with tears for the child she longed to hold, but could not. Once a year she would journey to the house of God and hand over the robe - a pitifully small gift for the little boy she longed to wait on day and night. At each visit the priest would ask God's special blessing upon this precious mother. And God It seems the Lord had long been waiting for this degree of commitment. Perhaps reaching this point sooner would have shaved years off her wait. Nonetheless, to her vow of consecration she added faith. Before any tangible sign of answered prayer 'her countenance was no more sad.' (1 Samuel 1:18) Years of anguish fostered prayer, devotion, and now, faith. A miracle was hurtling toward this planet. (1 Samuel 1:20)
“Presence” #UNSEEN
The three elements of Presence are Existing, Occurring and Being. In the state of Existing, one must first conceive the thought that something is real. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” The power of the mind can be a field of defense against outside knowledge or a shield of protection to what already exists. This highlights why it is important to fortify your mind with the content of the Word because whatever you believe allows the existence or lack thereof of presence. The second phase of Presence is the state of Occurring. This is where presence presents itself. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Occurring is the stage where presence goes from an abstract thought to a tangible reality. It is the stage where presence becomes a person and a level of fellowship is introduced. It is at this stage where we find ourselves vulnerable to the agreement of what first existed in our minds to what is being presented. The effects of those two realities are what motivate us to accept or reject.
Lastly, we come to being. Being is defined as the nature or essence of a person. This stage is the stage of complete fusion. “If you abide in me and my word abide in you then you shall ask what you will and it shall be given”- John 15:7. At this stage, there is a binding and manifestation of presence to the identity of who you are. Presence now overshadows the nature and essence of who you once were to create an entirely new being. The topic of Presence is fascinating because the stages are neutral to what type of presence is manifested. Looking closer, if the initial thought or stage of existing is not rooted in God, then think about the various things that could form from one thought that is not Godly. It makes us contemplate the areas of our mind that are not fortified with the Word of God to shield us from access of any other presence in our lives other than Holy Spirit. As I wrote this snippet, it caused me to analyze the potency of God’s presence in our lives. I will leave you with these questions to ponder: If my mind was fortified with the Word of God in every area, how potent would God’s presence be in my life? What areas of my life lack the existence of the Word? Are those areas occupied by another presence?
Engage Culture JasmineKARIMA Sometimes I take three hour naps. I wake up with energy that I HAVE to burn off. On these nights, I usually clean my house (which is always clean because I’m slightly obsessed with tidy spaces), clean my car, do my hair, nails or a home-made facial.
I’m just kidding. If you all could hear me singing that line, you would've laughed too! ANYWAYS! I tell her, “Whatever you guys want.” She drives up to order and when I get to the second window to pay the clerk she says, “Your total is 16.05” What?! I’m not cheap at all, but I don’t believe in spending that much at a Anyways, on this particular day, I took a nap, woke fast-food burger joint. I could’ve went to the grocery up, and decided to go clean out my car and also fill up store and fed them for a whole week with 16.05. So, I for the week. When I arrived at the gas station, I over- pulled out my card to pay and the couple comes to my hear a couple arguing, but I mind my business and car and all I can see in their eyes is complete gratitude. proceed to the cash register.. I was so happy to help that I didn’t even care As I walk back to how much they spent at my car I hear, a fast-food place. Now “Pleaseeeee” that I think about come from the it $16.05 is reasonable woman’s mouth. for TWO adults, plus In my head I’m they were probably relike “is she really ally hungry. I honestly begging him for just wanted to be obemoney?” I contindient to the Lord and I ued to mind my also wanted to be a business though, light in their dark situauntil she said tion. When I drove off, “Excuse me;” God said, “That’s minthen, I responded istry.” Of course I “Yes?” knew that, but how ofShe says “Do you ten do we become so have any cash on you?” “No I’m sorry, I only have my focused on the four walls of the church that we forget card,” I responded. In that moment, God’s like, "Ask about the WORLD? them if they need gas because you can pay for it on your card.” I hesitated at first and then turned around This world is bleeding and searching for answers and and said, “Hey wait, do you need gas? I’ll just use my WE have the Band-Aids and solutions. We have the card.” "No. We’re actually just really hungry,” she re- power to heal, touch, and deliver hurting people. We sponded. are ministers of reconciliation so we are to bring the lost back home. Where’s home? Wakanda. No, I’m “I mean there’s a fast food place right across from only playing! Home is the presence of God. It’s where here. You two can order and I’ll just pay,” I said. She we find out our identity, our purpose, how much God then looked at me like I said something foreign. I loves us, etc. We find life! Now, don’t get me wrong, mean to her it probably was, but if there’s a need that we are called to minister to our brothers and sisters in you can take care of, then why not take care of it? Christ as well, but please don’t forget about the world. Right? That’s why we're here. God knew how much the world would needed help, so he saved you and I to shake That's when her boyfriend chimed in and said, “Ah some things up!!! So I admonish you to engage culture really?! Thank you so much.” So, after pumping my and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. You have gas, I get in my car and they follow me to the restau- the creator of the universe on the inside of you, so rant. I tell them to get in front of me, so they could or- share Him with the world and be filled and refilled, by der, but before they ordered, the girl (I really wish I Him, as you pour out. I love you guys so much! Let’s would’ve asked them their names) comes to my girl change the world, one soul and one action at a time. and says “What can we get?” Of course, I say “You can have whatever you likeeeeeeee!” Ha!!
Is God Calling You to be a Father to the Fatherless? Chris Brown Pastor, Speaker, and Stewardship Specialist The little girl I’ll call Hannah was a complete stranger until she absolutely rocked my family’s world. Hannah, a seventh grader, lives in our neighborhood, and I’d noticed her a couple times playing in the park we can see from our kitchen window. It’s the place to be for all fourth through seventh graders in their neon-colored Nike Elites and LeBron James hightops. My wife Holly and I noticed that Hannah began to linger around the park a lot more. Then she started making her way to our house to jump on the trampoline or play video games with our three kids. I was getting used to seeing Hannah often, but I didn’t know much about her. A few weeks ago, while watching Game 1 of the NBA Finals with my kids and Hannah, I asked her several questions. What came out of her precious mouth wrecked my heart. Hannah is one of nine kids. She told me her parents aren’t divorced but that her dad doesn’t live with them anymore. I asked why. She replied in a broken voice, “Because he was killed in a car accident two months ago. He was hit by a drunk driver.” My heart fell to the floor. I no longer cared how many points LeBron scored or if my kids took their nightly shower. All I could think was that this precious girl was made fatherless—her world shattered—in an instant. Through my shock, I remembered an Andy Stanley quote: “Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.” In that moment, Hannah became our one. As I sat there with my mouth hanging open, my boys arguing over whether LeBron or Curry or Jordan was the better basketball player, Hannah quietly wiped her tears. I heard God tell me, “She is going to have some gaps in her life. Step in and fill the ones you can. Be Me to her. I am the Father to the fatherless. Show her.” Over the next week, I realized God wasn’t asking me to do anything huge. Just to be a little more intentional in involving Hannah in our lives. To swing by her house on the way to the pool with an invitation to join us. To offer her a ride to church on Sunday. To include her in a kickball game.
To throw an extra burger on the grill. To watch one more trick on the trampoline. To the fathers who have healthy families, committed wives, happy and well-cared-for kids, homes full of laughter, and bills that get paid every month, I want to say this: Thank you for your leadership. For staying committed, for pulling into the driveway every evening. You are heroes. But what if God were asking us to be a hero to just one more? According to the National Center for Fathering, one of every three kids is growing up without their biological father in the home. Those kids are more likely to run away, abuse drugs and alcohol, suffer behavior problems, drop out of high school, and commit suicide. If you’re a stepfather, a foster dad, adoptive dads, or a mentor to a fatherless child, thank you for owning the gaps! But for those of us who aren’t any of those things, we can still make a difference. We can step into the lives of the Hannah’s in our own neighborhoods and make them our one more. You know, if I’m being completely honest, some days when I get home from work I’m tired and don’t feel like playing with my kids. But when Hannah’s standing there next to them asking me to throw a football or jump on the trampoline, I see the mountain of expectation in her eyes. And I say yes. Because even though my kids get my attention all the time, Hannah may never have a grown man throw a football with her or watch her do tricks on the trampoline or tell her she’s a great runner. So I push past my exhaustion and run into the backyard night after night. Hannah makes me a better father to my own kids. And she makes me realize that although I don’t have this parenting thing down completely—do any of us ever?—maybe this whole thing isn’t just for the three kids God has given me. Maybe it’s for one more too. Happy Father’s Day to all you dads who are knocking it out of the park in your own families and to all the “one more” fathers. You are both changing the world.
My Love Story Jennifer Grant I once met a man, I would get to know I was not at a good place and time My life had no glow to show Abandonment and anger was mine We got to talking for a while Frustration and confusion was my name On my face, I wore no smile Carrying a heavy load of shame He saw the tears in my eyes I felt his hand touch my cheek “I can remove your fears Cheer up and let me speak” I’ve been keeping watch, all your life Seen your struggles, felt your pain Kept you through all the strife I’ve come, not to leave you the same Follow me to your destiny Good things are in store for you Leave your past and come with me Just be faithful, as I am true You see, I loved you back then And that will never change My sincere anticipation was when Your heart, I would come to engage Now I take you as my bride Your head I’ll lay upon my chest Joy and peace you’ll have inside Your comfort will be no test Because my love, can never fail
"Your High-Ness." by Kay. Shauntay
"Thinking of God's Fatherhood to me means He will Never abandon me, regardless of my mistakes. Faithful is Who & What He remains to be. & Regardless of all of the faults in me, The Blood of Christ: it cleans & shines Light on all things in their purest form. Yet & Still, when I'm alarmed of His Faithfulness, getting caught up & lost in my own visionlessness, His Love never changes. It remains a testament to His Holy Character."