Work In Progress
Lisa Crum
A few years ago while I was still newly-employed at my last secular job, I kept hearing my boss refer to the "year-end WIP reports" (I thought he was saying "whip!"), and I didn't have a clue what he was talking about until I saw it in writing. W-I-P. Being new to all those accounting office buzz words, and wanting so to make a good impression, I privately asked a co-worker what WIP stands for. She kindly replied, "work in progress."
OK, I now had what the letters stand for, but I still didn't grasp what the term really means. Next stop--internet dictionary. Hmmm...a piece of work that's not yet finished. How interesting. Self-explanatory, actually.
Unfinished stuff. I can totally relate to that, can't you? My stack tray is full of it, and so is my house! But on a deeper level, let's talk about us. I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, "work in progress" in my prayer time this morning. Not having heard that term in months, I had to just sit and mull it over before getting ready for work.
You and I are God's work in progress. As new Christians, we begin as a rough draft (a really rough draft!). In the course of our lifetimes, God has to do a lot of revising, adding, subtracting, changing our thinking, changing our attitudes, undoing what we've done to ourselves and what other people have spoken over us.
That stack of papers on my desk hasn't got a will; the time it takes for completion is entirely up to me and my willingness to whittle it down. However, with God's work in progress, the "worked on" items--we-- have a free will! For that reason, it takes Him all our lives to work out the "bugs." Sometimes we catch on quickly; other times He has to delete the same things from our mindset over and over.
But He's patient. He envisions the finished product and He's so willing to see us through to the end. As long as it takes, as a matter of fact. If you struggle with frustration over your failures, as I often do, know that God's grace is sufficient. No matter how often you've fallen flat on your face, or "almost but not quite" succeeded in fulfilling your destiny, it's not so late in the game that God can't redeem the time for you.
He's an expert at implementing "Plan B" for all of us who didn't get it right the first (or second, or third!) time. Hop back up onto Father God's worktable today and allow Him to do a new thing in your life. He's got plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future...you're His very valuable work in progress.
"...he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
Lisa Crum is a freelance writer and Christian songwriter. She is a staff member at Regional Church of God in Delbarton, WV www.regionalchurch.org, where she serves as administrative/ pastoral assistant as well as in music ministry. She is currently working on her first book, "Doing It by the Book," which uses the Genesis creation as the blueprint for turning dreams into realities. She and husband Dana are members of Regional Church and lifelong West Virginians.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
THE AMERICAN CANDY: WELCOME TO THE 80'S
Fellow Frontliner Ernest Perry is in a new production!
See info below:
AMERICAN CANDY: Welcome to the 80's!
Our biggest show yet!!
Doors open at 7:30pm
Location: The Irondale Center, 85 South Oxford Street in Fort Greene
Description
AMERICAN CANDY: Welcome to the 80's!!!
Yes, we are back with our biggest show yet! And we welcome you to enjoy the 80's!!:))
With the help of ActNow Foundation, New Jill TV, Pretty Smart Films and Hyperion Theatre Company, AMERICAN CANDY is starting off the year with a juicy and very zany, flashback sketch comedy show :)
Crackalicious sketches....
Naughty Songs.....
Crazy dance!!!
We're playing for 2 nights, YES 2 nights!!
Thursday JAN 14th @ 8PM
AND
Friday JAN 15th @ 8PM
All tickets are $15.00 with an OPEN BAR, YES AN OPEN BAR!!!!
Group and student rates are available. Contact us for details.
Tickets are available at the door (CASH ONLY) and in advance at: http://americancandy.eventbrite.com
@ The Irondale Center
85 South Oxford Street
Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Take the C train to Lafayette, the G to Fulton or the 2,3,4,5,B,D,Q,N,R or LIRR to Atlantic Ave/Pacific St.
BE SURE TO RSVP FOR PRIORITY SEATING!!
The AMERICAN CANDY: Welcome to the 80's! Crew
Hollie Harper, Creative Director
AC Jermyn, Choreographer
Jeff Joseph Jeudy, Composer
Writers: Kevin Gilligan, Keisha Zollar and Hollie Harper, Wilkie Cornelius, Joyce Turiskylie, Sherwin Smith
Starring:
Maisha Azadi
Patranila Jefferson
Nelson Estevez
Carmella Bloom
Craig Scribner
Jackie Byrne
Shelley Nicole
Adam P Murphy
Bill Bria
Ernest Perry
AC Jermyn
Hollie Harper
Kevin Gilligan
Keisha Zollar
Sherwin Smith
Musical Guest: I Love Monsters
See ya there for the laughs, the Rubik's Cube and the OPEN BAR!!!
love and candy,
Hollie Harper
See info below:
AMERICAN CANDY: Welcome to the 80's!
Our biggest show yet!!
Doors open at 7:30pm
Location: The Irondale Center, 85 South Oxford Street in Fort Greene
Description
AMERICAN CANDY: Welcome to the 80's!!!
Yes, we are back with our biggest show yet! And we welcome you to enjoy the 80's!!:))
With the help of ActNow Foundation, New Jill TV, Pretty Smart Films and Hyperion Theatre Company, AMERICAN CANDY is starting off the year with a juicy and very zany, flashback sketch comedy show :)
Crackalicious sketches....
Naughty Songs.....
Crazy dance!!!
We're playing for 2 nights, YES 2 nights!!
Thursday JAN 14th @ 8PM
AND
Friday JAN 15th @ 8PM
All tickets are $15.00 with an OPEN BAR, YES AN OPEN BAR!!!!
Group and student rates are available. Contact us for details.
Tickets are available at the door (CASH ONLY) and in advance at: http://americancandy.eventbrite.com
@ The Irondale Center
85 South Oxford Street
Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Take the C train to Lafayette, the G to Fulton or the 2,3,4,5,B,D,Q,N,R or LIRR to Atlantic Ave/Pacific St.
BE SURE TO RSVP FOR PRIORITY SEATING!!
The AMERICAN CANDY: Welcome to the 80's! Crew
Hollie Harper, Creative Director
AC Jermyn, Choreographer
Jeff Joseph Jeudy, Composer
Writers: Kevin Gilligan, Keisha Zollar and Hollie Harper, Wilkie Cornelius, Joyce Turiskylie, Sherwin Smith
Starring:
Maisha Azadi
Patranila Jefferson
Nelson Estevez
Carmella Bloom
Craig Scribner
Jackie Byrne
Shelley Nicole
Adam P Murphy
Bill Bria
Ernest Perry
AC Jermyn
Hollie Harper
Kevin Gilligan
Keisha Zollar
Sherwin Smith
Musical Guest: I Love Monsters
See ya there for the laughs, the Rubik's Cube and the OPEN BAR!!!
love and candy,
Hollie Harper
Out with the Old, In with the New
Out with the Old, In with the New
Brent Barnett
Luke 5:36-39 says, "And He was also telling them a parable: 'No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, "The old is good enough."'"
Jesus' ministry came at a time when Judaism had been severely perverted into an outrageous system of rule keeping with self-righteous teachers presiding as rulers over the people of Israel. Rather than look at how the Old Testament foretold of Christ's coming and sacrifice, they ignored what had come in the person of Christ in exchange for what had been.
The Pharisees and many of the Jews had become enslaved to a thinking process that loved the old ways. Now, there is nothing wrong with being nostalgic or reflecting upon the past, but it becomes wrong when it controls us to the extent that we are unable to put it out of our minds. The Jews were so consumed with Moses and the Law that they could not recognize God Himself in their midst. Though they wanted a Messiah, they wanted it their way.
They wanted a Messiah Who would bring back the glory days of an earthly kingdom as it had been under David and Solomon. They wanted the past, and because they thought that the old was good enough, they missed the future which was right before their very eyes. They were satisfied with the old wine, and their clouded view of the past led them to miss the new wine in Jesus which was far better.
In order for them to receive the new wine, they needed to realize that they would have to lay aside their system of self-righteous Law-keeping. Jesus preached a message of forgiveness, healing, grace, and life. He didn't come to set up an earthly empire, but He came to demonstrate His eternal power and overcome the world. He didn't come to show that Law-keeping was the way to eternal life, but He Himself fulfilled the Law because no man could do it (Romans 3:23, 8:4). The Law brought condemnation and showed man his inability to keep it (Galatians 3:24). Jesus came to bring life, and life to the full (John 10:10).
Old wineskins were fitting for the old wine. The Law did its job, and it did it well (Romans 7:12). But its job was to point people to the cross and to Christ, Who had come in the flesh. If new wine was available in Jesus, then it made no sense to put it into old wineskins which would break as soon as the wine was poured in. The Law had done its job, and the new wine needed new wineskins.
The new wine of forgiveness in Christ needs to go in the new wineskin of grace. We were under law, but now we are under grace (Romans 6:14). The old covenant is over, and the new covenant has been established. Christ is the centerpiece and the focus. We must drink of Him (John 7:37).
If we find ourselves still trying to earn our way into God's favor, we need to lay aside the old and receive the grace and forgiveness of Christ. If we are attempting to manipulate God into giving us what we want in life, we need to stop drinking of the old wine and simply receive the blessings which He graciously gives as He knows best.
Trying to do things on our own strength apart from Christ is like pouring wine into a leaky wineskin. It will never work. Do we want to be full in Christ? Do we want to experience the promised abundant life? Life to the full is found in abandoning the old wine, taking hold of the new wineskin by faith in Christ, and allowing Him to fill us and empower us as He pours the new wine of His grace into our hearts.
Brenton M. Barnett is the founder of the free Bible teaching ministry, Relevant Bible Teaching, found on the web at www.relevantbibleteaching.com. He is also the author of Catch Fire: A Call to Spiritual Awakening. Brent's greatest joys in life are his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Anneke.
Brent Barnett
Luke 5:36-39 says, "And He was also telling them a parable: 'No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, "The old is good enough."'"
Jesus' ministry came at a time when Judaism had been severely perverted into an outrageous system of rule keeping with self-righteous teachers presiding as rulers over the people of Israel. Rather than look at how the Old Testament foretold of Christ's coming and sacrifice, they ignored what had come in the person of Christ in exchange for what had been.
The Pharisees and many of the Jews had become enslaved to a thinking process that loved the old ways. Now, there is nothing wrong with being nostalgic or reflecting upon the past, but it becomes wrong when it controls us to the extent that we are unable to put it out of our minds. The Jews were so consumed with Moses and the Law that they could not recognize God Himself in their midst. Though they wanted a Messiah, they wanted it their way.
They wanted a Messiah Who would bring back the glory days of an earthly kingdom as it had been under David and Solomon. They wanted the past, and because they thought that the old was good enough, they missed the future which was right before their very eyes. They were satisfied with the old wine, and their clouded view of the past led them to miss the new wine in Jesus which was far better.
In order for them to receive the new wine, they needed to realize that they would have to lay aside their system of self-righteous Law-keeping. Jesus preached a message of forgiveness, healing, grace, and life. He didn't come to set up an earthly empire, but He came to demonstrate His eternal power and overcome the world. He didn't come to show that Law-keeping was the way to eternal life, but He Himself fulfilled the Law because no man could do it (Romans 3:23, 8:4). The Law brought condemnation and showed man his inability to keep it (Galatians 3:24). Jesus came to bring life, and life to the full (John 10:10).
Old wineskins were fitting for the old wine. The Law did its job, and it did it well (Romans 7:12). But its job was to point people to the cross and to Christ, Who had come in the flesh. If new wine was available in Jesus, then it made no sense to put it into old wineskins which would break as soon as the wine was poured in. The Law had done its job, and the new wine needed new wineskins.
The new wine of forgiveness in Christ needs to go in the new wineskin of grace. We were under law, but now we are under grace (Romans 6:14). The old covenant is over, and the new covenant has been established. Christ is the centerpiece and the focus. We must drink of Him (John 7:37).
If we find ourselves still trying to earn our way into God's favor, we need to lay aside the old and receive the grace and forgiveness of Christ. If we are attempting to manipulate God into giving us what we want in life, we need to stop drinking of the old wine and simply receive the blessings which He graciously gives as He knows best.
Trying to do things on our own strength apart from Christ is like pouring wine into a leaky wineskin. It will never work. Do we want to be full in Christ? Do we want to experience the promised abundant life? Life to the full is found in abandoning the old wine, taking hold of the new wineskin by faith in Christ, and allowing Him to fill us and empower us as He pours the new wine of His grace into our hearts.
Brenton M. Barnett is the founder of the free Bible teaching ministry, Relevant Bible Teaching, found on the web at www.relevantbibleteaching.com. He is also the author of Catch Fire: A Call to Spiritual Awakening. Brent's greatest joys in life are his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Anneke.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
How Do I Keep The Faith When Tragedy Happens?
By Oretha Winston
With the suffering coming from our brothers and sisters in Haiti you are left wondering how to deal with it.
Tragedy and pain are disorienting. We don’t want to experience either, yet life keeps bringing them on. Our egos try to keep our lives tragedy and pain-free.
When my mother died my whole world seemed to shatter apart. I had no rhyme or reason. It was only when I really sat down to think about the last weeks of my life did I see that He was present in all those who cared, supported and wiped my tears away.
Follow and Trust your Heart?
Thursday, January 14, 2010 Print Article
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Follow And Trust Your Heart?
Cindy Beall
Um, I don't think so.
Pretty sure that is not what the Bible instructs us to do. Why?
Because our heart can really jack with stuff.
It can lead us into situations simply because it feels right especially when an old boyfriend enters the picture. It can cause us to make decisions that are not thought through completely when those new pair of boots are screamin', just screamin' at us.
Our heart can be dangerous which is why you'll find this verse in Proverbs 4:23:
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
The Hebrew word for "wellspring" is towtsa'ah. And in its simplest term means "goings out, going forth." Meaning that basically what is in our heart is where our life will lead.
I've been in that place where you battle thoughts left and right and oftentimes entertain them. And entertaining them can and usually leads to destruction, which pretty much scares the living daylights out of me.
Just being honest. So, I have really taken this to heart and am making sure that my heart is where I want my life to begin.
Make sure you guard that heart of yours and "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not in your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Cindy Beall is a Christ follower who uses her gift of exhortation by writing and mentoring women. She uses her past experiences, including the near death of her marriage, to encourage people that God truly does redeem. For more information about Cindy, log onto www.cindybeall.com
Leave a Comment
Follow And Trust Your Heart?
Cindy Beall
Um, I don't think so.
Pretty sure that is not what the Bible instructs us to do. Why?
Because our heart can really jack with stuff.
It can lead us into situations simply because it feels right especially when an old boyfriend enters the picture. It can cause us to make decisions that are not thought through completely when those new pair of boots are screamin', just screamin' at us.
Our heart can be dangerous which is why you'll find this verse in Proverbs 4:23:
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
The Hebrew word for "wellspring" is towtsa'ah. And in its simplest term means "goings out, going forth." Meaning that basically what is in our heart is where our life will lead.
I've been in that place where you battle thoughts left and right and oftentimes entertain them. And entertaining them can and usually leads to destruction, which pretty much scares the living daylights out of me.
Just being honest. So, I have really taken this to heart and am making sure that my heart is where I want my life to begin.
Make sure you guard that heart of yours and "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not in your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Cindy Beall is a Christ follower who uses her gift of exhortation by writing and mentoring women. She uses her past experiences, including the near death of her marriage, to encourage people that God truly does redeem. For more information about Cindy, log onto www.cindybeall.com
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
All Things New
All Things New
by Dr. David C. Cooper
One of the greatest needs in our lives is the need for restoration. To restore means, "to bring something back into existence or effect again; to bring back to a former or original condition; to put back in a former place or position; to reinstate; to return." We talk about restoring relationships, renovating antique furniture, reinstating a political leader and returning something that was stolen or lost. These all demonstrate the idea of restoration. The essential meaning of salvation is restoration. To be saved means that we have experienced the miraculous restoring power of God to make all things new in our lives spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, and relationally.
From Genesis to Revelation, we see the God of restoration. We hear God's message to the nation of Judah: "I will restore your judges as in days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City" (Isa 1:26).
The Psalmist prayed, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me" (Ps 51:12). God promises, "I will restore you to health and heal your wounds" (Jer 30:17a). Paul the Apostle declares, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are new" (2 Cor 5:17).
When the Apostle John received the Revelation on the Isle of Patmos concerning the restoration of all things and the beauty of the new heaven and the new earth, he says, "And he that sat upon the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new'" (Rev 21:5). As you surrender your failures, problems and challenges to your Heavenly Father in faithful prayer, He will make all things new for you.
Dr. David C. Cooper serves as Senior Pastor of Mount Paran Church of God in Atlanta, GA. He received his bachelor's degree from Lee College, his Master of Education from the University of Georgia, and his Doctor of Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary. Currently, Dr. Cooper serves as chairman of the Board of Directors and as an instructor in Counseling at the Psychological Studies Institute in Atlanta, Georgia.
© Dr. David C. Cooper all rights reserved
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by Dr. David C. Cooper
One of the greatest needs in our lives is the need for restoration. To restore means, "to bring something back into existence or effect again; to bring back to a former or original condition; to put back in a former place or position; to reinstate; to return." We talk about restoring relationships, renovating antique furniture, reinstating a political leader and returning something that was stolen or lost. These all demonstrate the idea of restoration. The essential meaning of salvation is restoration. To be saved means that we have experienced the miraculous restoring power of God to make all things new in our lives spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, and relationally.
From Genesis to Revelation, we see the God of restoration. We hear God's message to the nation of Judah: "I will restore your judges as in days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City" (Isa 1:26).
The Psalmist prayed, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me" (Ps 51:12). God promises, "I will restore you to health and heal your wounds" (Jer 30:17a). Paul the Apostle declares, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are new" (2 Cor 5:17).
When the Apostle John received the Revelation on the Isle of Patmos concerning the restoration of all things and the beauty of the new heaven and the new earth, he says, "And he that sat upon the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new'" (Rev 21:5). As you surrender your failures, problems and challenges to your Heavenly Father in faithful prayer, He will make all things new for you.
Dr. David C. Cooper serves as Senior Pastor of Mount Paran Church of God in Atlanta, GA. He received his bachelor's degree from Lee College, his Master of Education from the University of Georgia, and his Doctor of Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary. Currently, Dr. Cooper serves as chairman of the Board of Directors and as an instructor in Counseling at the Psychological Studies Institute in Atlanta, Georgia.
© Dr. David C. Cooper all rights reserved
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The New Edition
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010 Print Article
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The New Edition
Aqualyn Toi Jones
When was the last time you purchased or received something new? Maybe it was a cell phone, a car, or an outfit. It could've been a new pair of shoes, a job, or even a relationship.
There's just something about the newness of things. You value it more. You take better care of it. You can't wait to tell others about it. However, that eagerness doesn't last.
Simply think of all the old things you have acquired over the years. Soon, just like all the old "new things", the newer "new things" becomes a little boring. We settle down into the humdrum of business as usual. Now, it's just a cell phone, a car, or a pair of shoes. Our affection for it fades as we start to focus on the next new thing.
We can upgrade our phones, trade-in our relationships and change jobs when we're bored. We can just get the new edition. Unfortunately, this same mentality spills over into our lives with Christ.
Have you ever heard someone say?
"Before I was saved." or
"When I was still in sin."
If you're like me, you've said it yourself.
As Christians, we like to think of our lives in two categories: Before-Christ and After-Christ.
If you and I were to finish the sentences above, I'm sure we could fill a book. One of the best things about being a Christian is the new life we have in Christ. It trumps the old life every time.
Sometimes and somewhere along the way, we are tempted to exchange the new life in Christ for the old way of living. Life starts to happen again. It rains on your parade more than once. Things that you thought you wouldn't experience as a Christian seem to resurface after Christ!
How do you handle it when the old life threatens to choke the newness out of life in Christ? And what does this new life really mean anyway?
I love Merriam-Webster's definition of the word new. It means having recently come into existence. Is it possible that we never truly existed before coming to Christ? When you accept Christ in your life, you come into an existence that you never knew about.
You never really understood the measure of His sacrifice. You never had a Father like God. You didn't think it was possible for someone to know everything about you, and still love you. And yet, He does. You thought you were free, but liberation has taken on a totally different meaning. Life is not the same.
I want to challenge you (and myself) to remember that there is no new edition of the new life in Christ. There is nothing better. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new."
This scripture doesn't simply say that anyone in Christ could or will be a new creation. It guarantees that he is. You and I are new in Him. The life we now live has greater understanding and subsequently, greater responsibility. We should never settle for anything routine in our relationship with God.
Every single day is new. Every single old thing is just that old. It's useless and ineffective. After all, it's called the old life for a reason and this edition is just fine.
Toi Jones is a writer and an advocate for youth, underdogs, and all things (and people) that are broken and overlooked. Compassionate at her core, Toi is also an educator, a mentor, and a supporter of multiple initiatives for South Africa. For more information about Toi, log onto www.bewrite-livewrite.typepad.com.
© Aqualyn Toi Jones all rights reserved.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 Print Article
Leave a Comment
The New Edition
Aqualyn Toi Jones
When was the last time you purchased or received something new? Maybe it was a cell phone, a car, or an outfit. It could've been a new pair of shoes, a job, or even a relationship.
There's just something about the newness of things. You value it more. You take better care of it. You can't wait to tell others about it. However, that eagerness doesn't last.
Simply think of all the old things you have acquired over the years. Soon, just like all the old "new things", the newer "new things" becomes a little boring. We settle down into the humdrum of business as usual. Now, it's just a cell phone, a car, or a pair of shoes. Our affection for it fades as we start to focus on the next new thing.
We can upgrade our phones, trade-in our relationships and change jobs when we're bored. We can just get the new edition. Unfortunately, this same mentality spills over into our lives with Christ.
Have you ever heard someone say?
"Before I was saved." or
"When I was still in sin."
If you're like me, you've said it yourself.
As Christians, we like to think of our lives in two categories: Before-Christ and After-Christ.
If you and I were to finish the sentences above, I'm sure we could fill a book. One of the best things about being a Christian is the new life we have in Christ. It trumps the old life every time.
Sometimes and somewhere along the way, we are tempted to exchange the new life in Christ for the old way of living. Life starts to happen again. It rains on your parade more than once. Things that you thought you wouldn't experience as a Christian seem to resurface after Christ!
How do you handle it when the old life threatens to choke the newness out of life in Christ? And what does this new life really mean anyway?
I love Merriam-Webster's definition of the word new. It means having recently come into existence. Is it possible that we never truly existed before coming to Christ? When you accept Christ in your life, you come into an existence that you never knew about.
You never really understood the measure of His sacrifice. You never had a Father like God. You didn't think it was possible for someone to know everything about you, and still love you. And yet, He does. You thought you were free, but liberation has taken on a totally different meaning. Life is not the same.
I want to challenge you (and myself) to remember that there is no new edition of the new life in Christ. There is nothing better. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new."
This scripture doesn't simply say that anyone in Christ could or will be a new creation. It guarantees that he is. You and I are new in Him. The life we now live has greater understanding and subsequently, greater responsibility. We should never settle for anything routine in our relationship with God.
Every single day is new. Every single old thing is just that old. It's useless and ineffective. After all, it's called the old life for a reason and this edition is just fine.
Toi Jones is a writer and an advocate for youth, underdogs, and all things (and people) that are broken and overlooked. Compassionate at her core, Toi is also an educator, a mentor, and a supporter of multiple initiatives for South Africa. For more information about Toi, log onto www.bewrite-livewrite.typepad.com.
© Aqualyn Toi Jones all rights reserved.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Handbook for 2010
HANDBOOK 2010
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2.. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants...
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12 Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you..
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. God heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up..
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, be thankful for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.
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Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2.. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants...
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12 Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you..
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. God heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up..
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, be thankful for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
God is Doing A New Thing
God Is Doing A New Thing
Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
It is a new day and God wants to do something new in your life! If you are a Believer, you have a right to receive the manifestation of every word God has spoken over your life. As you lay hold of it by faith, it will come to pass. It is easy to become discouraged when you don't see things happening quickly enough, but as you seek His face through praise, prayer and worship, He will begin to reveal more of who He is to you. The more you know about Him, the more confident you will become in His ability to do exactly what He said He would do.
You may have been going through some troubling circumstance or struggling with a certain situation for some time now. But the good news is that your days of strugg ling are over! If you want to experience the power of God in your life, it is critical that you find out what God promises in His Word. He doesn't want you to stay in your current situation; He wants to take you to new levels of glory every day! All it takes is your unwavering belief in what He says in His Word.
Isaiah 43:19 (AMP) says, "Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it?" God is a God of new beginnings. That's right! He is multifaceted and always wants to show you an aspect of Himself that you have never seen before. In addition, He wants to do some new things in your life. He wants you to see and experience abundance like you've never before experienced it.
Expectation is key to receiving the new things God desires to do in your life. Whether it is healing, deliverance, financial breakthrough or restoration of a relationship, God will come through for you if you expect Him to. He is a loving Father Who wants to bless you.
As you expect to see the goodness of God manifest in your life, you must lay hold of it by faith. Nothing in the Kingdom of God works without it. Habakkuk 2:4 says, "...but the just shall live by his faith." In addition, you must be sure that you are walking in love--first toward God, and second toward others. These two commandments are the keys to activating your faith and confidence in God.
Finally, your words--specifically the Word of God that you confess--will connect you to a new reality of living, one that is characterized by God's glory overtaking you. If you're not saying anything, you're not creating anything! You have to use your God-given authority in order to begin experiencing something new.
Your "new thing" may be debt freedom or buying a new home. Whatever it is, find scriptures on those areas and begin meditating on them. Get them in your heart until they become so real to you that you can't see things any other way than through God's eyes. Having the blueprint of a new reality and way of life in your heart and mind through consistent meditation will fuel your faith. Then when you speak the Word with boldness, it will come to pass. But first, your heart must be established in the truths that are contained in it.
I want you to begin thinking differently about your life. It's time to get rid of the old attitudes, habits and lifestyle that you have been living and holding onto and usher in the new! By standing on God's Word, walking in faith and love and using your authority, you can literally change your reality. God is ready to reveal His glory to you in a new way; the question is, are you ready to receive it?
Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
It is a new day and God wants to do something new in your life! If you are a Believer, you have a right to receive the manifestation of every word God has spoken over your life. As you lay hold of it by faith, it will come to pass. It is easy to become discouraged when you don't see things happening quickly enough, but as you seek His face through praise, prayer and worship, He will begin to reveal more of who He is to you. The more you know about Him, the more confident you will become in His ability to do exactly what He said He would do.
You may have been going through some troubling circumstance or struggling with a certain situation for some time now. But the good news is that your days of strugg ling are over! If you want to experience the power of God in your life, it is critical that you find out what God promises in His Word. He doesn't want you to stay in your current situation; He wants to take you to new levels of glory every day! All it takes is your unwavering belief in what He says in His Word.
Isaiah 43:19 (AMP) says, "Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it?" God is a God of new beginnings. That's right! He is multifaceted and always wants to show you an aspect of Himself that you have never seen before. In addition, He wants to do some new things in your life. He wants you to see and experience abundance like you've never before experienced it.
Expectation is key to receiving the new things God desires to do in your life. Whether it is healing, deliverance, financial breakthrough or restoration of a relationship, God will come through for you if you expect Him to. He is a loving Father Who wants to bless you.
As you expect to see the goodness of God manifest in your life, you must lay hold of it by faith. Nothing in the Kingdom of God works without it. Habakkuk 2:4 says, "...but the just shall live by his faith." In addition, you must be sure that you are walking in love--first toward God, and second toward others. These two commandments are the keys to activating your faith and confidence in God.
Finally, your words--specifically the Word of God that you confess--will connect you to a new reality of living, one that is characterized by God's glory overtaking you. If you're not saying anything, you're not creating anything! You have to use your God-given authority in order to begin experiencing something new.
Your "new thing" may be debt freedom or buying a new home. Whatever it is, find scriptures on those areas and begin meditating on them. Get them in your heart until they become so real to you that you can't see things any other way than through God's eyes. Having the blueprint of a new reality and way of life in your heart and mind through consistent meditation will fuel your faith. Then when you speak the Word with boldness, it will come to pass. But first, your heart must be established in the truths that are contained in it.
I want you to begin thinking differently about your life. It's time to get rid of the old attitudes, habits and lifestyle that you have been living and holding onto and usher in the new! By standing on God's Word, walking in faith and love and using your authority, you can literally change your reality. God is ready to reveal His glory to you in a new way; the question is, are you ready to receive it?
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Are There Any High Jumpers in The House
Sunday, January 10, 2010 Print Article
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Are There Any High-Jumpers In The House?
Bishop Wiley Jackson
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. - Joshua 1:9
A lot of times we wait for an event or special day, such as a new year, to start working on ourselves or to try to work something out of our systems. We do ourselves a disservice though, because we really should not wait for a special day or a new year to fix what is not working for us. There are areas in each of our lives that we need to retool.
For those not familiar with retooling, the automobile industry and some others shut down annually for a certain period and retool. They are not changing what they are producing - they are still making cars. They are transitioning and getting re-equipped for new models and greater productivity. It's the same way with life. What was working for you last year might not necessarily work for you this year. What was good last week might be obsolete this week. We are living in a time where the future is changing quickly and it is important for us to retool ourselves so we will be up to date with all that God is doing in the earth.
Imagine what Joshua must have faced in his retooling. He had been under Moses' leadership and he was walking around with a whole lot of people that were used to doing things the old way. You know how it is - whenever people are trained under one leader and somebody new comes along, the first thing they say is "Well, the other person did not do it this way.
Joshua had a problem. Everybody had an opinion about the way things should go. Nobody wanted change. The thing about retooling is it's really not about change. It's about transition. If you change something you can always go back to the old way. When you make the transition, you understand there is no going back. One of the first things God told Joshua was that Moses was dead. Before Joshua could move on to anything new, he would have to bury the past.
It's a new year, but some people are still moaning over past mistakes, thinking about how they messed up in 2009, wondering why they got hurt so bad last January, asking why they did not come thru for you in October. You need to bury it. You made it through anyhow, and God has got something new and better for you. Stop crying over spilled milk - just clean up the mess and go pour yourself another glass.
God has something special for you, but he can not bless you with you dragging your past behind you. Retool. Loose your past and let it go free. Ask God to forgive you, then repent. Repent means to go in the opposite direction. It is hard to go in the opposite direction looking back. You have to look ahead and focus on where you are going, because if you keep looking backwards you will find yourself in a wreck.
In 2010 there is no middle ground. You need to make up your mind to be on one side or the other. It's time to quit trying to play it safe. Step out and see what God has in store for you. There is an abundance of untapped possibilities that wait in front of each of us - we just have to move toward them.
Retool your vision. Retool your associations. Stop living in a place of depression caused by negative vision.
Stop running with people that feed your negative vision. Stop setting the bar so low that you can step over it. It's time to retool, be courageous, and raise the bar.
Are there any high-jumpers in the house?
Bishop Wiley Jackson is the pastor of Gospel Tabernacle Cathedral located in Atlanta, Georgia. His mission is to motivate people to fulfill God's plan for their lives. His ministry has motivated, impacted, and changed thousands of lives across the globe, from the United States to South Africa. Along with the founding the Word in Action Fellowship of Pastors, designed to help empower pastors and their churches, Bishop Jackson is also the author of several books. For more information about Bishop Jackson, log onto www.gospeltc.com.
Leave a Comment
Are There Any High-Jumpers In The House?
Bishop Wiley Jackson
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. - Joshua 1:9
A lot of times we wait for an event or special day, such as a new year, to start working on ourselves or to try to work something out of our systems. We do ourselves a disservice though, because we really should not wait for a special day or a new year to fix what is not working for us. There are areas in each of our lives that we need to retool.
For those not familiar with retooling, the automobile industry and some others shut down annually for a certain period and retool. They are not changing what they are producing - they are still making cars. They are transitioning and getting re-equipped for new models and greater productivity. It's the same way with life. What was working for you last year might not necessarily work for you this year. What was good last week might be obsolete this week. We are living in a time where the future is changing quickly and it is important for us to retool ourselves so we will be up to date with all that God is doing in the earth.
Imagine what Joshua must have faced in his retooling. He had been under Moses' leadership and he was walking around with a whole lot of people that were used to doing things the old way. You know how it is - whenever people are trained under one leader and somebody new comes along, the first thing they say is "Well, the other person did not do it this way.
Joshua had a problem. Everybody had an opinion about the way things should go. Nobody wanted change. The thing about retooling is it's really not about change. It's about transition. If you change something you can always go back to the old way. When you make the transition, you understand there is no going back. One of the first things God told Joshua was that Moses was dead. Before Joshua could move on to anything new, he would have to bury the past.
It's a new year, but some people are still moaning over past mistakes, thinking about how they messed up in 2009, wondering why they got hurt so bad last January, asking why they did not come thru for you in October. You need to bury it. You made it through anyhow, and God has got something new and better for you. Stop crying over spilled milk - just clean up the mess and go pour yourself another glass.
God has something special for you, but he can not bless you with you dragging your past behind you. Retool. Loose your past and let it go free. Ask God to forgive you, then repent. Repent means to go in the opposite direction. It is hard to go in the opposite direction looking back. You have to look ahead and focus on where you are going, because if you keep looking backwards you will find yourself in a wreck.
In 2010 there is no middle ground. You need to make up your mind to be on one side or the other. It's time to quit trying to play it safe. Step out and see what God has in store for you. There is an abundance of untapped possibilities that wait in front of each of us - we just have to move toward them.
Retool your vision. Retool your associations. Stop living in a place of depression caused by negative vision.
Stop running with people that feed your negative vision. Stop setting the bar so low that you can step over it. It's time to retool, be courageous, and raise the bar.
Are there any high-jumpers in the house?
Bishop Wiley Jackson is the pastor of Gospel Tabernacle Cathedral located in Atlanta, Georgia. His mission is to motivate people to fulfill God's plan for their lives. His ministry has motivated, impacted, and changed thousands of lives across the globe, from the United States to South Africa. Along with the founding the Word in Action Fellowship of Pastors, designed to help empower pastors and their churches, Bishop Jackson is also the author of several books. For more information about Bishop Jackson, log onto www.gospeltc.com.
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