Praying together . . .

Father I thank you for helping to aware of the needs, and concerns of others. I thank you that we are all in this fight together, regardless of the area we are called to defend, we are not fighting alone. 

In the heat of battle help me to remember I'm fight with others, so often I can't see them because of the distance, yet I thank you for your reassurance, You are with me and us. Lord, I'm tried and the battle is long, the enemy is fearsome, and there is no sign of an end being near. Help me, its just me Jesus; remind me of my brothers and sisters in St. Louis, Paris, & Pert Canada, Newark, who fight with me, but are unseen. 

At the moment we are engaged in one of the great battles of all time, a battle based in faith, against an enemy who some believe (sadly) can't be or won't be defeated. WRONG!!! Jesus, You're here, right now in the fire, you are the fourth man in this fiery furnace, my reassurance while I hold on to a piece of the broken ship, while singing in a jail cell at midnight, You are here! Help me reach out and trust you fully, Jesus that is you walking on the water! 

I thank you for the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, every piece of the armor you've given for this and next battle. I thank you for victory, yes, victory which can only be had if I get up again and fight! I can only by your Spirit; I can only by your grace; I can do all things through You who has, and is strengthening me. Thank you for being the 'Captain of the Lord's

host," in this present moment. In the Strong name of Jesus, Amen.

Love ya, 
T.A.B.

The Importance of Unity

We all have our opinions, and we are sure that we are right. And right beside our opinion is our pride.

If I hold to a particular point of view and you don’t go along with me, then my pride is at stake. It is natural for me to want to be proved right, to have my opinion validated. So I want you to agree with me. If you do agree with me, I like it. But the fact that I weant you to agree with my opinion doesn’t make it right.

That’s why the unity of the Spirit us a remarkable achievement. The unity of the Spirit is not natural, but it is supernatural; therefore, it cannot be explained naturally. What do I mean by that?

When we come across a person who is ambitious to achieve, we can understand this too, because this is natural. But unity of the Spirit is supernatural. It means that our natural ways, where we want to be heard and make our opinion felt, are not important, and we are willing to step down.

There are three observations that I suggest are important.

First, blessing us given where there is unity: “for there the Lord bestows his blessing” (Ps. 133:3)

Second, unity is what Satan fears most. He will come alongside like and angel of light to make you think something is of the Lord when it is not. The Devil will remind you of every wrong in others people.

Third, unity of the Spirit is not an optional matter. Some of us have lost credibility with others because we have to have our way all the time, and people feel they are walking on eggshells because we are so difficult and so abrasive. What we need to so is to come to the place where the Holy Spirit us ungrieved, and we are willing to feel messy and not look so good; then the anointing will flow.

Excerpted from Higher Ground (Christian Focus Publications Ltd. 1995)

My response:

Lord, I thank you for speaking to me about unity. Often of late have I become aware of Satan's desire to that we should be, even more divided than already are, forgive us. Everyone has an opinion and has a right to it; I want everyone to agree with me. Forgive my pride and the desire to be validated. I know, I am not always right on about everything, ("really? Smile.)

I thank you for those places where you have blessed us achieve unity, may it be continued and encouraged. Help me to be your instrument of peace and unity. No, it isn't natural, but it can be accomplished by your Spirit.

I confess my ambition and my desire to achieve. Forgive me my envy. Help me to rejoice and honor my brothers and sisters, as if their success were my own. Allow me the grace to step down or aside for your purpose and glory; and yes rejoice in it.

I thank you, for your blessing in and upon unity. I praise you, that in unity is Satan's greatest fear that one day his defeat. Finally, yes, you give me no option. If they don't or won't agree that I am right, etc., your demand of me is “. . . that I live peaceably with all men . . .” I have very little right to withhold my love or gifts.

Lord, I can't make or force them love or operate with me; help me to love deeply those who won't return a phone call or an e-mail; those who enjoy (or so I think) avoiding me. I have no idea what is going on there. May I not pretend to be loving but to be as loving as you are. Everyone is busy; it doesn't mean that they are uncaring.

Holy Spirit, how grieved are you by lack of unity? I can be responsible only for myself. Lord, help me to be willing to be loving, not only in public, but deeply in my personal and private world the as well. Unity begins with me, not with them. No matter their lack of failure, I am called to be you to them. Jesus, show me, help me, what I must become for your glory, inside and outside of your body. Amen. 

A Thought from Oswald Chambers

Every time God presents us with a problem, He gives us something to match it in our own heart, and if we will let His power work there, we shall go forth with unshakable confidence in what He can do. Once a we know that god can do what Jesus Christ said He could, we can never be put in the place where we will be discouraged.

As I prepare to minister . . .

I am preparing to minister to a group of men on Friday, Since it will be largely a group of black men, I am impressed by several amazing facts about Black men:

Here are some verified African American Male statistics on education, economics and employment. Statistics you probably have never heard. Statistics I would challenge you to try discussing on your next visit to the local stylist, academic setting, or community activist meeting.

·       There are more Black Males in College than in Jails, Prisons, Private Corrections, Military Jails and Institutions for the Criminally Insane combined (1,236,443 in College/841,000 Incarcerates – regardless of age)

·       4 to 1: The ratio of 18-24 year old Black Males in College vs. Jails, Prisons, Private Corrections, Military Jails and Institutions for the Criminally Insane.

(674,000 in College/164,400 Incarcerates)

    * 32.3% (1 in 3) Black Males ages 18-24 are enrolled in College[5]

(674,000 in College/2,082,000 Total)

    * 1.37 to 1: The ratio of 18-24 year old Black Females enrolled in College to Black Males.(930,000 Black Females Enrolled/674,000 Black Males Enrolled)

    * 6.3%: Black Males (age 18-55+) enroll in College at a higher rate by sex than White Males and Hispanic Males and are surpassed only by Asian Males.

(Black Males is 6.3%, White Males is 5.8%, Hispanic Males is 4.7%, and Asian Males is 9.7%)

    * 25.1% of Black Males (age 25 or over) have either an Associates, Bachelors, Masters, Professional, or Doctoral Degree (2,519,000 with Degrees/10,018,000 Total)

    * 82.1% of Black Males (age 18 or over) have at least a High School Diploma or GED .(9,897,000 with HS Diploma or GED/12,044,000 Total)

    * 12.1%: The Black Male Dropout Rate (ages 16-24) for 2008. (301,000 Dropouts/2,583,000 Total)

    * 5.1%: Percent of married Black Men who marry White Women(279,000 Black Husband-White Wife/5,654,000 Married Black Men)

    * 88.8%: Percent of Black Males earning income ages 25-64 (employment) (7,899,000 Employed/8,893,000 Total)

    * $23,738: Average Income for Black Males 15 and older $19,470 Average Income Black Females

    * 1,812,000 The number of Black Men making $50,000/year or more
    * 71.6% of Black Men pay their agreed to or Court Awarded Child Support

(855,000 Payers/1,194,000 Recipients)

    * $253 Billion: Total Income earned by Black Males  (15 and over) ($262 Billion earned by Black Females)

    * 13,104,000 Total Black Men age 15 or over (15,816,000 Total Black Females age 15 or over)

What will sadden you most is to watch the debate, when you start to share this information is when you  watch the resistance, and denial from people who desire  to hold on to false claims about us… myths, stereotypes and misinformation that only perpetuates the denigration of us all.

---

A man (and woman)  should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.  – Einstein

http://www.tiredblackman.com/index.php?skipintro=true

I know we're not where we want to be, but I thank God we're not where I'm told we are by some we are. I really hate it when I'm lied too (okay, too strong, misled.)

Love ya, T.A.B.

Praying together on Monday

Father I thank you for each of these my brothers and sisters. You have bound us together in a bound of love, because you knew we'd need each other. Some of us are close to each other, and others are at a distance. For whatever reason, we often don't hear or see each other and we don't think of that person or part of the body, because of it. Help me to ask your blessing on them, because they too have a need or a care, that I will never know. 

Hear our hearts when we become lonely or in despair; when we feel forgotten or betrayed and abandoned. Here in this moment wrap me (and us) in a sense of your embrace which is warm and reassuring, comforting and real. I thank you for being the God who see's me. You see me, not the polite, carefully crafted face and front I put on to meet an often uncaring world, but accepting your embrace with your reassurance that I am cared for by the one who won't ever leave me or forsake me. 

I thank you for those who are close enough and care enough to love me. You've called us to the world, however narrow that world maybe; in a place often small or limited when no one expects success or greatness. We do what we must because that is your calling. We serve you, not people, success or prestige. We are humbled by the fact that you called us at all. May I always remember who I serve. 

Father, I thank you for struggle, for in it I find the strength the struggle on what's next. Exhausted sometimes in the fight, by your grace I battle back to what's next, believing that you are with me in the struggle. Thank you, yes thank you! I can only wish for the 'success' of others, the hope for a better day, but you are here in my now, this moment and you remind me, "I care for you!" Then why do I struggle? I thank you for the words of this very old John Newton hymn: 

How tedious and tasteless the hours

When Jesus I no longer see;

Sweet prospects, sweet birds and sweet flowers,

Have all lost their sweetness to me;

The midsummer sun shines but dim,

The fields strive in vain to look gay.

But when I am happy in Him,

December’s as pleasant as May.

Dear Lord, if indeed I am Thine,

If Thou art my sun and my song,

Say, why do I languish and pine?

And why are my winters so long?

O drive these dark clouds from the sky,

Thy soul cheering presence restore;

Or take me to Thee up on high,

Where winter and clouds are no more.

 I am happy in Him,

December’s as pleasant as May.

Jesus, you walked where I am, lived in my skin, where touched by the same emotions and care I have, you lived it and yet you when to Calvary for me, you rose that I might have victory, but not without struggle and never alone. I love you, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN. 

Love ya

T.A.B.

A little humor for your day

Timmy was a little five year old boy that his Mom loved very much and, being a worrier, she was concerned about him walking to school all by himself when he started kindergarten. She walked him to school the first few days, but one day he came home and asked if he could walk by himself. He wanted to be like the "big boys."


Not wanting to disappoint him, she decided to allow him to walk without her, via plan B (which consisted of recruiting a neighbor, Mrs. Goodnest, to repetitiously follow him to school, at a distance far enough behind him that he would not likely notice he was being followed, but close enough to keep a watch on him). 


Mrs. Goodnest was agreeable, since she was up early with her own toddler anyway, and it would be a good way for them to get some exercise. So, the very next school day Mrs. Goodnest and her little girl, Marcy, set out to follow behind Timmy as he walked to school. Timmy was accompanied by another neighbor boy he knew.
As the boys walked to school each day, chatting, and kicking stones and twigs, the little friend of Timmy began to notice that a lady seemed to be following them every day.


"Have you noticed that lady following us all week? Do you know her?" he asked Timmy.


"Yea, I know who she is," Timmy replied
"Well who is she?"
"That's just Shirley Goodnest," Timmy said.


"Shirley Goodnest? Who the is she? Why is she following us?"

"Well," Timmy explained, "Every night Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm in my prayers 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in it the Psalm says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life,' so I guess I'll just have to get used to it."

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.


Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. -Psalm 23

Honoring God's Name - R. T. Kendall

"I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. 2 Corinthians 11:2

I do not make new Year's resolutions as such, but every year the first thing I write in my diary, on January 1, will be something with reference to my prayer for the coming year.

When I was preparing to write the book meekness and Majesty,these were my words: "A jealousy for God's name." Jealousy is the sin nobody talks about, and it is most certainly the sin which nobody admits. yet how it crops up!

having a jealousy for god's name however, will change our perspective. If I revere the name of Jesus, I will prefer the honor of one who gift is exalted. What I will not do is to say, "I've got a gift that is better than his, i don't know why they don't use me." If I honor His name, I will prefer the honor of the one whose gift is needed and whom God selects. God may select someone inferior to you, but if that is the way He chooses to honor His name, then you should honor it, because He must be doing it right; He i=has His reasons for it.

When we truly honor the name of Jesus, we will feel what God feels. We will hurt when he is hurt, and we will want only the honor of His name in the earth. We will say, "God, take me away, make me nothing, that your name may be honored."

When we have this, we will begin to restore the honor of Jesus' name in the church and in the world.
(Excerted from Meekness and Majesty (Christian Focus Publications ltd., 1992, 2000)

My response:
Father, here I am again, reading just one simple verse of your word which brings me correction. I have a jealous spirit, i want not only my due, "but that they who being used and aren't me. I desire that place or position." I easily forget this is your work and ministry, you are doing what you know is best. If they are "on stage" at the moment, its because that is what you want. I thanks you for being called by your name, for just being your child.

Ii need your help with my own heart, thinking and yes, desires. Jealousy is like a weed or vine, it seems to grow around other plants, often choking the life from them. they disguise themselves with lovely greenery, but they are a weed, so is jealousy. Help me to see it for what it is, sin. Just because you have blessed (or given) someone to have this or that, (they on the other hand may not think of it as a blessing or gift,) I because I don't have it become Jealous of them and, it. They might be willing for me or others to have it, if they could only give it away,

Jesus, I know the price you paid to free me and the world from sin, but I don't know the price my brother has paid to be or in the place they have or are. Help me to honor these you have are using; help me to honor your gift and gifting in them. help me to honor you were i am, with what i have; grant that I become happy with all of the gifts and blessings i possess now. may i learn that what you've given is enough, and if I had more, I'd waste it and become selfish.

Jesus, I need you; I need you to help me enjoy where and what I am; for seeing myself as you created me and not as I wish i were. i thank you for what and who you made me to be ans become. Jesus, help me put "the old man" along with jealousy to death, beginning now, today. May I embrace my brother ans sisters
gift(s) gifting and life as my own. In Jesus name, AMEN!