Serena Williams Not Voting for Obama, or Anyone

Why Serena Williams won't vote for Barack Obama. - By Jacob Leibenluft - Slate Magazine

Serena Williams told reporters at Wimbledon on Wednesday that she's excited about Barack Obama's candidacy but won't vote for him because Jehovah's Witnesses "don't get involved in politics." Her sister Venus—who is also a Jehovah's Witness—wouldn't even comment on the presidential election. Why don't Jehovah's Witnesses vote?

Because of John 17:14 and other passages in the Bible. In that verse, Jesus says of his followers: "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." Jehovah's Witnesses have interpreted that statement as a call to remain neutral in all political matters. (In some of the sect's literature, members are described as "representatives of God's heavenly kingdom"; they are thus obligated to stay out of local political affairs in keeping with the behavior of ambassadors.) Witnesses also refrain from serving in the military, running for public office, and pledging allegiance to the flag.

Voting is not expressly prohibited, but it is discouraged. The Watchtower, the official publication of the Jehovah's Witnesses, ran an article in 1999 suggesting that the decision whether to vote was one of personal conscience, although it carefully laid out reasons for staying out of the voting booth. In reference to countries that require all citizens to show up at the ballot box, the Watchtower has explained that "[w]here Caesar makes it compulsory for citizens to vote … [Jehovah's Witnesses] can go to the polls and enter the voting booths," but the Watchtower did not specify what Witnesses should do with the ballot itself. According to some, the requirement for political neutrality led to the violent persecution of Witnesses in Malawi during the late 1960s and early 1970s, when adherents refused to register with the ruling Congress Party.

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The Judgment Of God

Just hearing the statement, “the judgment of God” can strike fear in the hearts of Christians, but only because it is misunderstood.

Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (Jn. 5:24)

And Paul said, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1 NIV)

Both of these scriptures (and many others) make it clear that there is no condemnation, (the same Greek word translated judgement) for Christians here on earth and in the after life.

But you might say, what about the sins that I commit now? Isn’t there judgment for them? Well, those sins have been paid for by the death of Jesus. Simply receive forgiveness for them if you feel guilty and afraid.

Well, what about the sins of non-Christians? Don’t they bring God’s judgment? Yes, but the bible makes it clear that their judgment is not in this world but in the next.

The bible says, “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (Heb. 9:27)

The judgment of God comes AFTER we die, not before. (For Jesus “came not to judge the world but to save the world.”) (Jn. 12:47)

After we die, those who have accepted Christ as savior will be judged according to the perfect works and life of Christ; thus will pass from death unto eternal life. Those who have not accepted Christ as savior will be judged based upon their own imperfect works, which will not be good enough to earn them eternal life. And since they have not accepted the sacrifice of Jesus for their sins, (and all sin must be paid for) will eternally pay for them themselves. The reason it is eternal punishment is because the only payment good enough to remove sin is the Lord’s. That is why it is so vital to accept Christ’s sacrifice for our sins… NOW, in THIS world…!!! So we don’t have to pay for them in the next! (Jn. 3:16, 18, 5:24; Heb. 9:27, 1Jn. 5:11-12)

Let’s now look at what Jesus and the bible say about the judgment of God.

Jesus said, “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” (Jn. 5:22)

So, first of all, we see here that the Father doesn’t judge men. He has left judgment up to the Son. And in the following scripture, we will see what Jesus does with his authority and when it is that judgment is planned for.

Jesus said, “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (Jn. 12:47-48)

So, even though Jesus has the authority to judge men, he will not do it. It is his word that will judge men, and then it will not be until the “last day,” that is judgment day, in the next world.

The point is this… We are not living in a time period that God is judging man. We are living in a time of grace. Jesus paid the price for all sin, so instead of judging, God is now offering salvation to all. Indeed there is a day of judgment coming, but it is not now.

Think for a moment about this. Even before Jesus went to the cross, do you remember him condemning the woman caught in adultery? If anyone would be judged for their sin, would it not be her? After all, the Law of Moses said that she should be judged and stoned. But Jesus would not condemn her; in fact he PROTECTED her from those wanting to condemn her. Then Jesus simply corrected her, telling her to go and sin no more. This he did despite not having died for sin yet and the fact that the Jews were still under the law, not grace. (Jn. 8:1-11)

Now consider this passage:

“And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
And when his disciples James and John saw this they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.” (Lk. 9:51-56)

Wow! If they didn’t know what manner of spirit they were of, just what “manner of spirit” were they of? It was not the spirit of God, or of Jesus, because Jesus rebuked them for it… “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

Despite all of this, I know that many people believe that certain disasters that occur here on earth are “the judgment of God,” or the “hand of God at work,” so let’s look at one of them. And that is destructive weather. There are a lot of people that think destructive weather is God “at work” in people’s lives or that he is judging man. However, neither is true.

God does not control the weather any more than he controls man, (unless he does it through a man, as he did through Jesus when he calmed the storm) (Mt. 8:23-26) Weather patterns have a “life” of their own, and along with all of creation were affected adversely by the sin of man. No longer do they act as God had intended. And because of the laws of nature, when certain atmospheric conditions interact with other conditions, we have certain kinds of weather. And some of it can be destructive, even deadly. (Gen. 3:17-19 Rom. 8:19-22)

It was the fall of man that gave rise to destructive storms, not God. And it is not God who initiates or “uses” these forces to deal with man now. In fact, Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil,” not to use them. (1Jn. 3:8) If we want to control these weather patterns and these destructive storms, we can calm them just as Jesus did. “WE” can keep them from destroying us because Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also…” (Jn. 14:12)

Besides, we are not under the Old Covenant. We are under a New Covenant. (It is not that God was different in the Old Testament, but the covenant he had with man was different.) In the Old Testament, Jesus had not yet paid the price for sin, and man was under a covenant of law, which was a covenant of condemnation and death. (2 Cor. 3:6-9) But in the New Testament, man is under a covenant of life and grace, where Jesus paid the price for man’s sin, averting man’s judgment until after we die. (2Cor. 5:19, Heb. 8:6-13) Again, the point is that we are not in a time period where God is judging man, by destructive storms or by any other means. Judgment comes at the end of time.

Well then, if the bible teaches that Jesus came not to destroy but to save, and that he does not use natural destructive forces to deal with man, (even those that reject him and his word) then where do these things come from and what is their purpose?

It will be in my next article that I will touch on answers to these questions, but in order to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of this topic, you can read my book, "Suffering (God’s Will?)" In it I thoroughly cover this subject, supporting what I say with many biblical references. And along with a full study of suffering, you will be able to read a chapter on God’s Correction and Judgment and on the book of Job and how each has been traditionally misunderstood.

Submitted by John B. Agati
Author of : “Suffering (God’s Will?)”

More information about this and an upcoming book “Suffering, Unanswered Prayer, (And How to Fix the Whole Thing),” along with a short bio may be found at: www. jbagati.com

IN ARM'S REACH

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. ”—Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), novelist (http://www.forbetterlife.org/)

There it was, plump and waddling around my front yard in plain sight. I glanced at it as I ran towards my car in a dash for my morning commute. I commented to myself that that seemed odd that normally when you approach a bird; it flutters away quickly -but not this little creature. Instead it reminded me of a toddler amiably moving around with no real destination, just glad to be moving, delighted with its new found freedom ,walking and stumbling with out the assistance of an eagle eye parent.

Then when I returned home, I noticed again the same little chick hopping around on the bricks. It wasn’t until the very next day that as I walked once again down my driveway to jump in my parked car that I glanced at the bird and then it occurred to me this was our baby-I was sure of it. As my husband stood in the doorway I called back, “Hey that’s our baby bird!” Several days prior to that I hadn’t really grasped that this was really a gift from God-in arm’s length!
As I reflect back, first it was the discovery of the beautiful Robin’s eggs displayed in the nest in our backyard-but now this was even better-the eggs had hatched and the dream, the long awaited arrival of the chicks had occurred and I had been totally oblivious of their birth and this divine wonder-well almost.

It’s no happen stance that today’s inspirational quote would tug on my heart strings and remain etched in my memory. As I read Exodus 17 and could picture the travelers weary and grumbling, Louise May Alcott’s words must have mirrored the sentiment of Moses. to look up and live, instead of looking out and grumbling.

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. ”
—Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), novelist (http://www.forbetterlife.org/)

Often I too have been guilty of being oblivious of many of life’s lessons until well after the situation had concluded and the smoke cleared. I regret not embracing the gift of God’s grace (more) readily and honestly appreciating the (particular) trial, the (uninvited) circumstance, the(embarrassing) difficulty, the (long awaited and timely) blessing, the (tough) learning experience-whatever you wish to call it more sooner than later.

What might have happened had I been appreciative of the learning experience in the midst of it all? This must be what folks mean when they say; we should thank God while we are “going through” being pulled and shaped on the potter’s wheel during our uncomfortable valley experiences!

Be assured that we are all experts about trials, but I’d like to think that God wants us to be cognizant on this day-that so many gifts from God/blessings are in our midst, yes, right there before us! Theses blessings are like my baby chick –visible- and in arms reach, in direct view. I am sure that the Holy Spirit is sharing that with our new mind set we’ll negate our obstructed view and won’t loose sight of the divine gift that is presented to us.

I think you’ll agree that when the truth is told, we’re audibly or inaudibly caught up in our grumbling, sulking, hurting, rushing and consequently we fail to appreciate the beauty of the moment. Do you recall my bird’s nest in Expectant Joy? Well, I really appreciated the gift of the bird’s nest that was so symbolic for me. It represented so much: birth, new beginnings, expectant joy, blessings on the way, the good that was on the horizon, God’s gift’s and promises to come and on and on-but then even with that epiphany I missed it!

Yes, I needed to believe-get my faith in gear and mentally grasp the next level! What might that be you ask? I am glad you asked I believe the answer is: That God really had intended that my joy and yours evolve and spill over into something greater and erupt into our paying attention to all the blessings which are in arm's reach!!

Did I really think that I‘d behold the blessings in my own front yard? Nope! I almost missed that wonder.

Take some time and read Exodus 17, I expect that you’ll appreciate your wilderness experiences all the more and like Moses acknowledge God’s provision of resources, support and favor designed especially for the faint of heart and the weary traveler.

So, friends look outside your tents, go on and pull back your curtains, better yet stand in your front yards and behold what blessings are in your arm's reach!!! Have a wonderful day!

I will meet you by the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and the water will come pouring out. then the people will be able to drink.” Moses did just as he was told;and as the leaders looked on water gushed out.” Exodus 17:6 (NLT)

Joyfully Submitted by:

Linda Mose Meadows, author

The Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lesson’s and God’s Promises

Enjoy other writings Click on Blessed Chronicles

http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

House of Yahweh Leaders' Doomsday Prediction Didn't Happen

It appears that "Buffalo Bill" Hawkins, founder of the House of Yahweh, wasn't correct in his prediction that the world was going to end on June 12. It's now June 13th at 1:18 am, so I guess his prediction of a nuclear holocaust that has persuaded many members of his cult to empty their bank accounts (giving money to him of course) is not going to happen.

Here is an excerpt of some of Hawkins' words:

'...Nuclear war will begin next Thursday, June 12, or sooner, according to the latest prediction of self-proclaimed prophet Yisrayl "Buffalo Bill" Hawkins, the founder of a religious sect in Abilene, Texas.

"It could be turned loose before then," Hawkins told 20/20 for a report to be broadcast tonight. "You're going to see this very soon, really soon," he said.

Hundreds of truck trailers have been loaded with food and water on the group's 44-acre compound, in preparation for the coming war...'

Hawkins is an interesting character. In the 20/20 special, he had all of his followers change their name to Hawkins. He was also recently arrested for a series of allegations, including polygamy. Sounds like the same old stuff. Hawkins does have that "Jim Jones" charisma, so you can see how his followers were fooled.

Here is a story on Hawkins.

The Key To Christianity

The key to Christianity is receiving. It is not giving and it is not doing.

Giving and doing is secondary and will flow out of our receiving.

The truth is; we can’t even become Christians without receiving. Christ must be received as savior in order to become a Christian. And the reason for this is simply because we need him and the salvation that he has for us. We cannot produce it ourselves.

And it is no different after we have accepted Christ as savior. In order to have what we lack, we must receive it from God.

The bible says that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights…” they come from God. They do not come from us. (Jas. 1:17)

And unless we receive what we need from God, we will not have anything from God to give… How can we forgive like God forgives if we have not received his forgiveness; and how can we love like God loves if we have not received God’s love? And how can we have finances and goods from God to give, unless we first receive them from God. If we do not receive God’s blessings, we will not have God’s blessings to give.

For those of you who are familiar with the story of the prodigal son, think for a moment of the elder brother, the one who stayed at home while his younger brother was in the world wasting his inheritance in sinful living. It turned out that this elder brother, (though loyal and committed) thought his life was about his work and serving his father, never knowing or taking advantage of his father’s provision. And because he did not know or receive his father’s goodness and blessings and love for himself, he had no love to give when his younger brother repentantly came home. He was resentful and bitter when his father received the wayward boy with joy and forgiveness, and when he put a robe on his back, a ring on his finger, and honored him with a great feast. The elder brother simply did not have the same love to give as the father had because he had never received it for himself.

And do you think this elder brother’s lack of understanding may have contributed to the younger brother leaving home in the first place? As the younger brother looked up to his older brother, (as younger brothers will do) he may have seen that his older brother was unfulfilled and bitter. Maybe the boy wanted no part of that kind of life. Why would he? He then mistakenly went into the world to get what he thought he could not get at home, only to find that this type of getting was destructive to his life and his substance.

How many of our children choose to live in the world and in sin because all they see is that Christianity is about serving and doing and demands? Ouch! (Lk. 15:11-32)

Christianity is about God and what he has done for us through Christ. It is not about what we can do for God. When Christianity becomes about what we can do for God, it then becomes about us and what WE do, not about God and what HE does. It becomes “self” centered and “self” righteousness, not God centered, not fulfilling and not loving. We then can become as the elder brother in this story became; dry, bitter, and law oriented.

But the enemy wants us to believe that receiving is selfish and that all Christianity is about is serving and doing and giving. He wants to drain us, make us miserable, self-righteous, bitter, unfulfilled and unable to bless the world. And he wants God to look like a demanding God who always “wants” something from us, rather than be the giver and blesser that he is.

But an attitude of receiving is NOT selfishness. It is in reality selflessness. It is thinking of God who wants to bless us. And it is thinking of Jesus, who suffered and died so we could be blessed, and it is thinking of those around us who need what we receive from God. And, yes, it is thinking about ourselves, but not in a selfish way. As I will explain receiving from God is how we are to love ourselves.

Jesus commanded us to love others as we love ourselves. We cannot love others unless we first love ourselves. And the way we love ourselves is to let God love us. For example, it is the best kind of self love when we receive Jesus and the forgiveness he offers us!

The truth is that God just loves us and wants to bless us and be a part of our lives. That is all he ever wanted. And he knows that if we receive from him, we will have “him” to give. And if we don’t, we won’t. Receiving from God is not selfishness. It is just the opposite.

When Jesus came to Peter to wash his feet, Peter said, “Thou shalt never wash my feet.” But Jesus answered him saying, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”

Peter had it all backwards. He thought humility was to not let Jesus wash his feet, but that was actually pride and it was arrogance. Can you imagine telling Jesus no to what he wanted to do, as if Jesus was making a mistake? But Peter quickly corrected himself saying, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head.” True humility is to let God wash our feet. And if we don’t allow God to wash our feet and to serve us, we will not have any part with him. Yes, it takes humility to let God serve us, but that’s what it takes. (Jn. 13:8-9)

Think for a moment about the relationship of children and their fathers. Do children think it is their responsibility to meet their father’s needs? How can they? They rightfully expect the father to meet theirs, and a good father takes great pleasure in pouring his love and blessings and gifts on his children. Of course he wants them to be responsible and generous with what they have, but first and foremost he wants to bless them. And it is no different with God and his children.

God spoke through John the apostle when he said, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” In other words, as much as God wants our souls to prosper is as much as he wants every part of our lives to prosper, (and above ALL things). That means that before anything else he wants to bless his children. That is first on a good father’s heart and it is first on God’s. (3Jn2)

Putting God first in our lives does not mean serving him. It means receiving from him.

And love is not about our loving God, it is about God loving us. Again St. John said, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loves us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1Jn. 4:10)

God is the greatest giver of all. And the only way to be part of him is to become a receiver. Without receiving from God, we’ll have nothing of God for ourselves or for the world, nor will the world be able to see what God is really like.

The key to Christianity is receiving!

One last point here… Things are simply different in the New Testament than they were in the Old. Jesus came to change them and he did. Whereas the Old Testament laid out the law and what man was required to do for God, (and was only given to prove that we could not do them) the New Testament is about grace and what God has done for us through Jesus. And the only way to enter into God’s grace and to have what we cannot produce ourselves is to receive.

Let’s let God be God and live a life of receiving from him as our God. It is what God always wanted for us and always will. He is a good Father and wants to pour his life and his blessings on us, and he has done so through his Son. And it is in receiving from him that we will be filled with all he is and all he has and then can be a blessing to the world around us.

The truth is; what goes in will come out, but nothing in, nothing out.

And don’t worry; God will never run out and neither will we if we live a life of receiving from him!

Submitted by John B. Agati
Author of : “Suffering (God’s Will?)”

More information about this and an upcoming book “Suffering, Unanswered Prayer, (And How to Fix the Whole Thing),” along with a short bio may be found at: www. jbagati.com

Each Day!!!!

Each and every day that we wake up is a true gift from God. It wasn't guaranteed that we'd see another day.

I think that we tend to take this for granted. We wake up, rush in the morning, & mainly head out the door. Do we stop and say a simple "Thanks" to God just for opening our eyes? Do we pray for travelling mercies? Are we truly grateful???

Slow down and see what God wants you to see in the midst of the new day arising. There may be something so simple that you're supposed to take in and grow from.

Thank you God for allowing me to see another day!!!

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

photo from: greenvilledailyphoto.com

Thank You God For The Audacity of Hope

I watched and enjoyed Barack Obama's 2004 Democratic National Convention speech. The speech titled "The Audacity of Hope" was electrifying and gave Americans especially black Americans glimmers of hope. Those hopes include the possibility that Obama a black man might one day win, The Presidency, the highest office in the land.

I have been urging people to endorse Obama since his historic victory in Iowa. I was so excited about Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Senator Obama on Monday, January 28, 2008. Listening to the speeches of Obama and all of the Kennedy clan gave me great joy and hope.

(Thank you Senator Kennedy. May God continue to shower you with his grace and mercy during your current trial)

Hope that we will continue to seek God's face and that God will heal our land. Hope that we will come together as a one nation united under God. Hope that Obama will win the nomination of the Democratic Party and hope that he will become the next President of the United States of America.

Today, June 3, 2008, as a fifty-four year old black woman I hope that this man Obama time has come, that his time is now! Today I have the audacity to hope, pray, and believe that Senator Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States of America.

Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined." http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&EAN=9780615177014

Praying and Waiting with Expectation

One thing I've learned (and am continuing to learn) is to pray and to wait with expectation. I mean, many of us do pray out of habit and wonder why things aren't coming to pass. However, do we pray expecting that big thing or that event to occur or are we praying with "hope"?

Hebrews 11:1 & 6 states: 1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 6But 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.

Faith and prayer, prayer and faith; the 2 go hand and hand.

What are your expectations? What are you seeking? God already knows, He just wants to know that your faith and expectations are in line with what He can do!

photo from: imses on www.flickr.com

EXPECTANT JOY!

Photography by Richard D. Meadows, Jr.

Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 37:5

This was a real joy, seeing first hand this beautiful bird's nest with turquoise colored eggs in our backyard. My husband announced with joy, "We have a bird's nest in our yard that you need to see!" I said,"Ok show me, let's get the camera!"

He said in jest, "Ok at your own risk, don't be surprised if you get your eyes pecked out!" He reminded me that after we take the picture to be sure to cover the nest with the branch, he's orginally cut down, not knowing what lay underneathe. My husband pointed out that the bird is guarding the nest from predators.

Earlier that afternoon, Ricky had been busily working in our yard, mowing the lawn, cutting down bushes and clearing debris of leaves and branches. My husband said initally he ignored the bird's loud chirpping. But then wondered why a bird suddenly began acting erratic with his flight pattern.

Ricky then discerned that there was something that he stumbled upon that the bird obviously wanted him to leave alone. There it was an amazing creation, the bird's nest woven intricatley together with pieces of blue plastic strips, branches, sticks and whatever else the bird had selected from nature to create this sturdy nest. Not only did it appear sturdy, but it was a masterpiece, it's beautiful! I am so glad I could share the phot0 with you. Imagine the time and energy this small bird devoted to creating the nest? He or she conceived in it's mind the nest and then got to work making this idea a reality! The bird or maybe several birds collectively were devoted to creating a sturdy nest to lay these eggs. They are anticipating the arrival of their creation.

Friends this is really another gift from God, encouraging us to do the same, to use the birds as a model to conceive in our minds what we endeavor to accomplish:

What are dreaming of?
What is your heart's desire?
What has God commissioned you to birth?

Well, breathe deeply and take heart! I am confident that God desires that you to get busy not only dreaming, but creating an action plan to realize it! Pray about the direction, ask Him to guide your steps and when the doors open and opportunities present themselves, trust that you are on your way to the realization of your heart's desire. It's on the way! Tell your self, " it's on the way!! " Your dream(s) can come to pass. Guard it, believe in it and see it done-it's sacred.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thank you precious Holy Ghost for encouraging our hearts not to be timid about executing the plan that God has given us. We are active and alive and grateful that when we follow your lead and trust You, the plans, and the dreams you placed in our hearts will wonderfully unfold right before your eyes. So we will believe and choose to celebrate now with expectant joy the gift of a dream come true!! Amen!

Friends, I pray you'll be encouraged as you marvel at the beauty of nature and carry the gift of an expectant joy in your hearts.

Joyfully Submitted by:
Linda Mose Meadows, author
The Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises
http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

The Democratic Party Can't Wait Until May 31, 2008

The Democratic Party is bigger than Bill and Hillary Clinton. The Democratic Party has given Hillary more than enough time to gracefully bow out of this race. She not only refuses to leave the race but she is dividing and not “unifying” our party.

Months ago on FOX news Hillary announced her intentions to take her impossible fight for the Democratic nomination all the way to the convention. After Hillary followed Obama to Florida she stated again that she is willing to take her fight for the Florida and Michigan delegates to the floor of "our" convention.

Senator Clinton is demanding that she receive all of the delegates from the Michigan primary election. This fact is evident that she doesn’t have any intentions of achieving a fair settlement of Florida and Michigan primaries or ending her fight for the nomination.

There is no doubt in my mind that Hillary will reject any resolution proposed by the DNC on May 31, 2008. Bill and Hillary will not only reject the resolution but also seek court intervention. Therefore, the only way to prevent the total destruction of our party is for the undeclared superdelegates to end Hillary's blind ambition for to become President.

Senator Obama played by the rules and won this race fair and square. He won more state elections and most importantly more pledged delegates than Hillary. Obama needs to reach the current 2025 or 2026 number of delegates needed to secure the nomination before Bill and Hillary Clinton file their legal challenges in court and/or Hillary executes her planned nuclear option.

You can't wait. Democratic Party leader and undeclared superdelegates must pledge their support for Senator Obama before May 31, 2008. Senator Reid, Representatives Nancy Pelosi, and Shelia Jackson-Lee, Governor Edward G. Rendell, Donna Brazile, President Carter, and Al Gore PLEASE endorse Senator Obama today and unite this party. The urgency is now.

Again, I say you can’t wait until May 31, 2008. Democratic Party leaders please don't wait until May 31, 2008, or for the primaries to end on June 3, 2008, to declare that Senator Barack Obama is the Democratic Presidential nominee. The urgency is right now!!!!!!!

Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined.”http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=9780615177014

Prayer Is Not The Answer?

I know that this may not sound right to you, but prayer is not the answer.

Jesus never said that it would be done unto you according to your prayer. What he did say was that it would be done unto you according to your faith. (Mt. 8:13, 9:29, Mk. 11:22-24)

What he said was, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mk. 11:24 NIV)

Without faith, (believing that you have received the answer to your prayer) prayer just won’t work. In fact, faith is the part of the process that makes prayer work. Without faith, you can pray and pray and pray, even for years upon years and get little or no results at all. It will be like trying to turn on a light without flipping the switch. You will not connect to the power and it just won’t work.

You may say, well, if God wants to answer your prayer he will. But Jesus never said that it would be done unto you according to God’s will. He said that it would be done unto you according to your faith. You will ultimately get what you believe for.

With all due respect, most people seem to pray and hope that they get an answer. Unfortunately, that is not what Jesus said must done for prayer to be answered and it will not work. A bit strong here, but when you think that you might receive an answer to your prayer or might not; or thinking maybe it’s God’s will, or maybe its not is called in the bible to be wavering and being double minded, and the book of James says that a double minded man will not receive anything of the Lord. (Jas. 1:5-8)

(Another thing that the bible does not say anywhere is that God has three answers to prayer; yes, no, or wait)… So let’s take a look again at what Jesus said about prayer answers.

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mk. 11:24 NIV) Period. If we do what Jesus said, we will have the answers to our prayers, if we don’t we won’t.

It is vital to notice however, that when Jesus talks about believing here, he is talking in the past tense. He said “believe that you have received it (already) and then it will be yours.” Bible faith dictates that you believe that you have what you asked for before it actually comes to pass. And according to the Lord, that is the kind of faith that will bring answered prayer. And though this process may seem odd to the natural mind; that is how prayer works.

Let’s take for an example, Abraham, (who is the “father of faith”) and see how he received the miracle of a child when he and his wife were beyond child bearing years.

When God changed his name from Abram, (exalted father) to Abraham, (father of many nations) he was about one hundred years old, childless, and his body and the womb of his wife were “dead” and past being able to have children. Yet Abram accepted the name change and the promise of a child as if it were already so in his life. He simply understood “God’s” kind of faith and believed that he received the child long before the child was born… Like God, he “called things that were not as though they were.” (Rom. 4:17-21)

This is the kind of faith that Jesus taught about and the kind of faith that brings results. And we all know what this kind of faith did for Abraham. He received the miracle he believed he had.

Let’s look at why this works.

Everything in God’s kingdom is governed by laws. Consider first the natural world. Electricity, flight, physics, biology, mechanics, mathematics etc. etc. are all governed by laws. And since the bible says that we can see the spiritual in the natural, we can know that the spiritual world is governed by God’s laws as well. (Rom. 1:20) And this is exactly how Jesus taught. Again and again he used earthly illustrations to describe spiritual things and always compared spiritual law to natural law. And as we have read from his words, he taught how prayer is governed by God’s law; faith being the law that must be applied in order to get results.

The bible says that faith is a law. And because faith is a law we can be sure it will work if we apply it properly. (Rom. 3:27) Jesus confirmed that because he always got results when he prayed. And he always got them immediately. You may say that that is because he was Jesus, but if we have accepted the Lord as our savior, we are created in his image and have available to us exactly what he had. Jesus said, "he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it."(Jn. 14:12-14) Wow!

Now, if we compare the power of prayer to the power of electricity, we know that the power of electricity was always available to man, yet mankind was not able to take advantage of its vast potential until he learned about the laws that governed it. Likewise, the power and potential of prayer has always been available, (Jesus proved that) yet without the knowledge of the laws that govern prayer and the proper application of those laws, results will not be seen.

The Old Testament prophet Hosea said that “my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” (Hos. 4:6) And so it is with unanswered prayer. Lack of knowledge of how prayer works will always result in a lack of prayer answers. And the thing is; Jesus never had the problem of unanswered prayer, and neither should we.

The only problem I think we have with all of this is that we begin to realize that answers to prayer are “our” responsibility (as much as they are God’s). But our responsibility they are. It is our responsibility to believe, and then it is the Lord’s responsibility to perform, and as we can see in the bible, he wants to answer our prayers and he will… if we believe.

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Mt.21:21)

My first book, “Suffering (God’s Will?) biblically establishes God’s willingness to answer prayer, to deliver us from evil and to protect us from harm.

My upcoming book, “Suffering, Unanswered Prayer, (and How to Fix the Whole Thing)” is the follow up book, and is a practical guide to the laws of prayer and explains how to apply them in order to get the results promised by the bible.

For those of you who are hungry to know or who are desperate for answered prayer or seeking the reality, truth, and results that the bible promises, these books will be a great help to you. Look for the first book and the upcoming second on my website.

Submitted by John B. Agati
Author of : “Suffering, (God’s Will?)”

More information about this and an upcoming book “Suffering, Unanswered Prayer, (And How to Fix the Whole Thing),” along with a short bio may be found at: www. jbagati.com

Senator Obama Just Say No To Hillary Clinton

Senator Obama should not offer the Vice President position on the Democratic ticket to Senator Clinton.

One of my daughters mentioned that she recently viewed a film depicting the pain, violence, and outraged expressed by many African-Americans when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered. She stated that watching that footage made her grieve in her heart at the thought of what would happen to this country if something happened to Senator Obama.

Terry McAuliffe, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign manager appeared on “Meet the Press” today. During his appearance he stated in part that Hillary is staying in the race in case "a natural disaster" happens to Obama. I hope and pray that this is not a coded message.

I also hope and pray that Senator Obama does not offer Hillary Clinton the VP spot on the Democratic ticket. The contributor of another political blog wrote,” If Hillary is Obama's VP he should get a food taster." I share the above-mentioned sentiment based on Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto assassination and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinoenko, a former Russian KGB operative in 2007.

On a more positive note quoting another blogger "Obama has won more declared delegates and Clinton cannot overtake his lead. The Democratic Party has their nominee Obama, they should be dancing in the streets...."

Undeclared superdelegates Senator Obama has won. Please endorse Obama now and give him the 2025 delegates needed to end this process. It is time that all of his supporters (Whites, the hard working class, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, young and older Americans) indeed dance in the street and not worry about Obama and this nation suffering "a natural disaster."

Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined." http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=9780615177014

Time In God's Word

I love those fist-pumping; emotion charged, faith building, pep-rallying, evangelistic messages. And I need them. We all do… to encourage us and prompt us to do those things God has called us to do. But what I like better is the day to day sitting at Jesus feet reality of it all; first of all because I love the Lord, but also because I know that this is where we become equipped for the battle. It is at Jesus feet where we learn to hear from God, where plans are birthed, where direction, timing and provision is given for the reaching of our goals.

The emotion charged corporate messages we hear are like the rallying, high powered motivational speeches a good coach gives their team at half-time. But these action producing talks can only be as effective as that which has been built into the players during the day to day grind of practice. When the coach urges his team to “dig down deep,” there has to be something deep down to dig into.

Remember the story of Martha and Mary, the two sisters who had received Jesus into their home? The bible says that while Jesus was in their home that, “Martha was “cumbered” about with much serving, but Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard his word.” This troubled Martha who said to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things; But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Lk. 10:38-42) Imagine that… Jesus said that “One thing is needful.” Wow! That should give us pause to think.

Jesus said this because it is his word that is the one thing needed to prepare us to accomplish all that he calls us to do. It is at Jesus feet, and in his word, that we hear from God, are directed by him, filled up and built up and developed into all we need to be. After all, where does life come from, where does wisdom come from, where does encouragement and ability and insight come from but from God himself. And it is a daily, consistent feeding in his word that will do the trick, like a garden that grows from regular watering and care… once in a while will just not work.

Paul commanded that we “study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Tim. 2:15)

It is not that our study is needed for God to approve of us. We are already approved of God because we have accepted his Son and become his children. What this is saying is that our study will show to the world that we are approved of God because it will produce understanding, wisdom, character, blessings, and successful ways of doing things. This will be like a stamp of “approval,” a validation to the world that we are of God and that we indeed know the “truth.”

Going back to Martha; it is not that her serving was wrong. It’s just that she had not put first things first. Instead of putting God’s word first, she put her serving first, not realizing that Jesus had taught, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt. 6:33) It is simply a matter of practicality. Putting God and his word first is what is necessary to make things work.

It is amazing how much easier things are accomplished when we are filled with God and his word, and how much more time we have to do it. And it is amazing how some things just happen supernaturally… Did Martha not realize that it was Jesus who was in her home, and that he just fed 5000 people on his own, without her help?

Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 8:32-33) This is true discipleship, and it is the lifestyle where we will come to know the truth and the truth will free us to do what we need to do. Without it, we will be limited to our own understanding, and our own power. We may know God and even know what his will is for us, but we won’t have what we need to fulfill it.

Even Jesus lived like this. He used to get up early in the morning and go hide in the hills in order to spend time with God. He knew that he too must be filled with God in order to successfully triumph over every situation that faced him. And you may also remember that he spent the whole night in prayer preparing to choose the twelve apostles the next day. He knew what task he was to perform and he knew where to get what he needed to perform it.

I am not suggesting that we spend full nights in prayer, but that we simply put God and his word first in our lives; to sensibly and consistently prioritize; spending regular time in his word, growing and learning to recognize truth, and obtaining all that we need from the source of all things.

One of my favorite scriptures says this,

“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (Pr. 4:20-23)

That is Hugh! The word of God is life and health to “those that find it!”

The word of God is one of the few tangible things we have of God’s existence and is the key to all life, knowledge, wisdom, health and growth. It is time in God’s word where we can absorb the substance and building blocks of life itself.

The bible says, “The worlds were framed by the word of God,” “all things are upheld by the word of God,” and “we are born again by the word of God.” God has even magnified his word above his name and of course, Jesus name is the Word of God. (Heb. 11:3; 1:3, 1Pet. 1:23, Ps. 138:2, Jn. 1:1)

And just as a consistently good diet will produce a healthy body, it will be consistent time spent in God’s word that the rest of our lives will increase and flourish and produce all kinds of excellent fruit. This is what the psalmist meant when he said, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Ps. 1:3 NIV)

It is time in God’s word that will cause us to prosper in all that we do, and it will make us “a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2Tim. 2:15 NIV)

Submitted by John B. Agati
Author of : “Suffering, (God’s Will?)”

More information about this and an upcoming book “Suffering, Unanswered Prayer, (And How to Fix the Whole Thing),” along with a short bio may be found at: www. jbagati.com

My Open Letter To Congresswoman Shelia Jackson-Lee

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on May 14, 2007, the Clinton Campaign announced your endorsement of Senator Clinton for President. Staff of her campaign named you National Campaign Co-Chair and Gulf States Regional Co-Chair.


In your endorsement of Senator Clinton you stated, ”I am pleased today to endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton for President. Senator Clinton has a great love for America and has a deep understanding of the issues that face our nation. I look forward to having a strategic role in the campaign and helping this dedicated public servant become the next President of the United States”

I truly admire you Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee and your determination to keep your promise to Hillary. But we can’t afford to wait for two more weeks and/or six more primary contests to unite our Party. The urgency is now. Please counsel your dear friend and tell her to end her valiant quest for the Oval Office now.

If Hillary refuses to end her candidacy please endorse Senator Obama today and help unite this party and this country. It’s time to embrace and endorse Senator Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee of our great party. It is his time to run for the Presidency. He has won more states, more popular votes, and more delegates.

I am very passionate in my support for Senator Obama. I believe in my heart that this is a divine time for Obama and this country. We all know that our God works in mysterious ways. God has given all of us free will. I hope and pray that the people in power will not let greed and the need for more power cause us to self-destruct as a democracy and as a nation.

As a nation we united after we were attacked by al-Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden on September 11, 2001. Therefore, we know that it is possible for this country to unite again.

Congresswoman Lee you know that the American people voted for change during the 2007 election. Unfortunately Congress has been unable to deliver that change.

Senator Obama is the change agent that we need to make positive changes for all Americans. Under the leadership of President Barack Obama this country will once again stand united as one nation under God.

Respectfully,

Vera Richardson author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined.” http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&EAN=9780615177014http://www.lulu.com/content/1362173

Message of Encouragement From My Daughter

Today I received the following e-mail from my twenty-nine year old daughter Erica. The e-mail was addressed to a total of twenty people. I hope that everyone reading this will enjoy it as much as I did.

All,
I was in Barnes & Noble this weekend picking up a book for my book club. Anyway I brought this magnet while I was there and I wanted to share what is says with all of you:

“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over it became a butterfly”

I really want to encourage you all if you are going through hard times right now, know that it is not over. Know that you serve an awesome God who may just have you in a cocoon right now as He is preparing to change you into a butterfly. Remember to speak scriptures over your life and your circumstances. His word says that when the enemy comes to surround you like a flood God will raise up a standard! During your hard times stop focusing on you and the problem. Focus on God and serving others. I listen to gospel music every morning when I work out and normally God deals with me through song. A song that has really ministered to my spirit lately is a song by Kirk Franklin from his new album. The chorus goes like this: “If I say I love Jesus but you can’t see my Jesus my words are empty if they can’t see Jesus in me. No more excuses I give myself away, because I may be the only Jesus they see” - That is so powerful to me. So step outside of yourself and your circumstances what are you doing so that others can see Jesus in you.

When someone is going through are you there for them or do you just tell them to pray. Or do you go to them and pray with them, do you take them out for a cup of coffee so that they can see the love that God has for them through you. You hear let go and let God all the time but a lot of us may not know how to do that. Well you do that by focusing on others by serving others as you serve others you will not focus on your problem you will let it go without even realizing it.

There are so many opportunities for you to serve others outside of church – yes I said you can serve outside of church. Actually that is where God wants us to serve…the world, the world that doesn’t know Him, that may only come to know Him through you. And I am not just talking about strangers, but your friends and family. How many of us know of a friend who is having a hard time right now, do we go and spend time with that person or do we avoid them because the situation is uncomfortable. There may be a new coworker on your job, have you tried to make that person feel welcomed? What are you doing for your children, are you really concerned with their day to day life and what happened at school? Do you take the time to really listen to how their day went? Do you spend the time you should with them just playing with them and allowing them to be kids and feel secure and safe? Do share too much of your problems with your kids…remember this is their childhood they should be able to be carefree children they shouldn’t know everything that mommy and daddy are going through, and they also shouldn’t have to take sides….

Everything I said above is what God has spoken to me about me and my life and so I am sharing with you all as it may also pertain to you and your life.

Father God we come before you today grateful to have another day on this earth to serve you. We ask that you forgive us of our sins and help us to repent. Father please be with us on this week as we look for opportunities to serve others. We thank you because your word says that you will never forsake us or leave us! So no matter how bad things look right now we know that you are with us. We thank you because no weapon formed against us shall prosper and ALL things are working for our good because we love you and you know that we love you because we keep your commandments! In Jesus name we pray – Amen.

I love you all have a great week and know if you ever need me to pray for you or with you please just call me. I would love you too!

Vera Richardson Author of "A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined."

It is Time to Pray and March For Senator Obama

I am a political junkie with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice. It is my belief that we should pray and march in North Carolina before the May 6, 2008, primary election. We can't wait to react after the Democratic Party awards the Clintons the nomination. We must stop this insanity before it is too late.

According to Hillary Clinton the superdelegates should vote for her because it is for the good of the party. If we use her same “logic” those same superdelegates should vote for Obama now (today) for the good of the country and the Democratic Party.

As a people we know spin and bull ---- when we see and hear it. The only way that Hillary can win the nomination is if the Superdelegates over rule all the voters in the states that Obama won. How can any black person support the candidate and party that will do that to us after our years of loyal support of that party?

We all have special talents and divine purposes. God has created someone for just this time in history. That person or group of people needs to start the movement for “ALL’ Obama supporters Blacks, poor, Whites, young, old, Asians, Hispanics to match in NC before the next primary election. We must voice our demand that the Superdelegates honor the primary election results and rules passed before the start of the primary.

After Obama won in Iowa, I posted “A Prayer for The Protection of Obama” on yourblackgospel.com. Part of my post:

“As I completed my assignment from God (writing my book) “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined." He placed 2 Chronicles 7:14 in my heart: I am to declare His words to the world: “If my people, which are called by my Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (KJV)

Lord we come before You this day seeking your face Lord, seeking your protection God as we venture into our new political reality. We believe that we will soon witness the manifestations of the promises that you made to Dr. Martin Luther King and our forefathers God. Thank You Lord for the fact that we are living during this time.

Lord God please protect Senator Barack Obama as he matches towards his divine destiny. Lord Father God we praise your Holy Name Jesus. God we know that the enemy comes to seek, to devour, and to destroy. Father God please protect Obama from the people of this world who do the enemy’s works on the earth.

Please God place it in the hearts and minds of this nation and its people the wisdom and courage to demand and respect an orderly, fair, and impartial political process during this historic election year. Please God heal this nation from the hurts and division of the last two presidential elections.

Please God let Americans behave as one nation united under God. Father, help us to turn from our wicked ways God. Help us Lord to daily seek your face God. Jesus we praise you and we glorify your Holy name.

You are so Holy Lord. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the Glory. Forever Amen."

Vera Richardson author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined.”

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=9780615177014

Why I Let Him Love Me

Ever since I came to know Jesus, I wanted to be more and more like him. At first, I tried my best to be as Christ-like as I could, but found that that was futile. Using a scripture that I have often quote, Paul the apostle said this, “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Rom. 7:18-19) What Paul was saying was that even though he wanted to do well, because of sin in his flesh, he did not have the power within himself to do so. And so it was with me.

So to make a long story short, after some years of struggle and seeking how to be more “Christ-like,” I found that the bible actually teaches that if I had accepted Jesus as my savior, (which I had) then I was already Christ-like. It was Paul again who said, “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God…” (2 Cor. 5:17) I was like Christ already but just didn’t know it.

…But what of my erratic behavior and my occasional bad feelings, attitudes and other faults I could see in myself? How could I be Christ-like if I embodied these “un-Christ-like” characteristics? Well, to make another long story short, I found that the “new me” that Paul talked about, the new “Christ-like” me, was my “inner man” and that God had changed me on the “inside” when I accepted his Son. The key now was to get the new inner me from the inside to the outside.

So, shortening one last long story, I learned again from Paul that if I believed what God’s word said about me; that is, if I believed that I was already Christ-like, that a transformation would begin, and that my new “Christ-like” inner self would start to emerge into my outer, behavioral life.

Paul said, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Rom. 12:2) He was talking about how we think about ourselves, and that we should think according to what God’s word says about us, not according to what we see in ourselves. And this way of thinking will in turn transform us, bringing the new Christ-like person on the inside to the outside… “For as (a man) thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Pr. 23:7) This was exactly what I was searching for.

What I found was the New Testament way of living that Paul always talks about. It is living by faith rather than works, believing rather than trying.

What Paul taught was that in the Old Testament man was required to do, but in the New Testament man was required to believe. And it would be our believing that would transform us and empower us to do.

About New Testament living, Paul said, “… we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” (Rom. 7:6 NIV) Paul calls this new way of living “walking in the spirit,” (having faith in God’s word) as opposed to “walking after the flesh,” (trying in our own strength). According to Paul, the Old Testament was intended to prove to us that we could not fulfill God’s requirements without Christ, but that Jesus would be everything for us; both to save us, and to enable us to live the Christian life God calls us to live. Without the Lord, we have only ourselves. Ouch!

(It’s no wonder Paul wrote more than half of the New Testament. He knew so much!)

But even though faith is the key to salvation and to our Christian walk, there is something more encompassing than that. It is Paul again who talks about being “filled with all the fullness of God.” Wow! “, Filled with all the fullness of God!” That sounds amazing doesn’t it; but just as amazing as it sounds is as possible as it is. And Paul prayed for it to come to pass in our lives and explained how it could be done in Ephesians 3:17-19.

Now, isn’t that what we are after? If we can be filled with all the fullness of God, we will be filled with love because God is love. And of course if we are filled with God’s love guess what will flow out of us. It is love of course.

Now, simply put, if we want to be filled with all the fullness of God, we must let God love us. Until we let God’s love into our lives we cannot be filled with God because God is love.

When we accept Jesus as our savior, we let God cleanse us and forgive us and give us eternal life, (all part of his love). But there is much more he wants to do for us. Because God is endless, so is his love. He wants to love us endlessly.

People often complicate God. He simply wants to love us. He always has.

It is good to remember God’s original intention in creation. He intended mankind to be blessed with every possible blessing and to live with him in a paradise forever, and his will hasn’t changed. In fact, he sent Jesus to reveal his will to us, and to restore to us what we lost in the Garden of Eden; for here and for hereafter. Jesus said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” (Jn. 10:10 Amplified Bible) It is the enemy who deceives us and portrays God in a way that is judgmental, disapproving and condemning. Yes, God will judge men on judgment day, but we are now in a time of grace. Because he is love, God sent Jesus into the world not to judge men but to save and deliver us from judgment and condemnation.

Remember the woman caught in adultery? Though caught in sin, and accused by men, Jesus would not lay blame on her. In fact, he defended her from her accusers. And when all of her accusers had left, Jesus told her that he would not condemn her, instructed her not to sin anymore, and sent her on her way. (Jn. 8:3-11) What a loving, forgiving, merciful God! And it’s a good thing or we’d all be in trouble. But we are not. Jesus died so that we wouldn’t be judged! And he rose from the dead so we could have life. What he wants now is for us to receive his love, his forgiveness, his blessings and the instruction he has for us. If we do this, we will be filled and blessed by him to the full. And once filled with him, we too can be like him and be a blessing to those around us.

Isn’t that something? To do what we are supposed to do and to be what we are supposed to be, we have to let God love us!

So, to be "filled with all the fullness of God." we must live a life of letting God love us more and more.

Let me close this article with something else from Paul’s writings when he said, “And now I will show you the most excellent way.” Then he explained that the most excellent way was the way of love. He said, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Cor. 13:4-8 NIV)

This is the way God is and the way he wants to be toward us. So why wouldn’t we let him love us? And how can we expect to love as he does unless we let his love into our lives?

That is why I let God love me… Because I want to experience as much of God as I can and be as much like him as I can. I want to be “filled with all the fullness of God.”

And just imagine… being filled with a love that never fails! That’s for me, how about you?

Submitted by John B. Agati
Author of : “Suffering, (God’s Will?)”

More information about this and an upcoming book “Suffering, Unanswered Prayer, (And How to Fix the Whole Thing),” along with a short bio may be found at: www. jbagati.com

SO MANY BLESSINGS TO THANK GOD FOR

May grace and peace be yours, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Ephesians 1: 2,3 (NLT)

Friends, how often have you said, “I wished I had thought of that?” Well this is surely one such occasion for me. Not very long ago I was surfing the web and discovered, no that’s the wrong word, instead I should convey that I was led to this wonderful writing by Danny Doege entitled: 53 Blessings That Happen To A Person After Believing On The Lord Jesus Christ, I am sure you'll appreciate this site.

http://www.biblebelievers.com/Doege1.html

This is truly big friends, it scripture that supports a list of 53 definitive blessings that occur once we’ve declared Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The more I reviewed and read about the 53 blessings, the better I felt about being adopted by our loving Heavenly Father.
I realize that I am often guilty of not always focusing on my many blessings. Does that also happen to you also? I am sure God desires that we operate differently from here on out! I say in one breathe that I am blessed, but often, my concerns and reservations quickly over shadow the gift of God’s many blessings.

The irony regarding God’s blessings are this: the more we read,reflect and study scripture the more we understand of just how blessed we truly are!
Yes, there are too many days that my Bible study is cut short or not at all. So when we don’t read and been encouraged through scripture, we are hard pressed to remain upbeat, think positive and act accordingly! Surely counting our blessings is out of the picture and then the battle ground of our mind is ripe for the enemy to wreak havoc. Well let's agree to stop the negative thinking aka "stinking thinking!”

Instead let me purpose that we consider this: during moments that we can’t readily reach for our bibles and favorite devotionals let’s opt to reach for this outstanding list of 53 blessings. Here’s a wonder resource with scripture and biblical truths written clearly for all of us to appreciate and apply.

As I share this observation with you it becomes more apparent that not having enough “scripture/word” in us causes us to be easily distracted and removed from the truth. Remember the spiritual battle is waged in our minds. Be sure to reference Ephesians 6 for further clarification. We can be grateful for this resource compiled by Danny Doege; it reminds us of how wonderful God’s many benefits are because we believe in Jesus Christ. I am confident that you’ll also concur that indeed here’s another inspirational spiritual tool for what ails us!!

As I wrote this reflection, I beleived that the Holy Ghost was directing me to further encourage us to be hearers and doers regarding embracing these 53 Blessings. So to that end here are some resource application tips you may wish to implement in your personal lives and your ministries in an effort to improve spiritual growth.

RESOURCE APPLICATION TIPS
For Embracing:
53 Blessing That Happen To A Person After Believing On The Lord Jesus Christ by Danny Doege
http://www.biblebelievers.com/Doege1.html

Let me suggest that you first exercise prayer, asking God about how to effectively share and use this 53 Blessings as a part of your daily devotion time, or as a Christian Education resource and even when you’re on the move. Here are some applications tips that came to my mind. I think you’ll enjoy enhancing your ministry with these suggestions. Friends none of this is written in stone, so feel free to adapt these tips, rewrite them, and comfortably create your own; just step out in faith and do it!

Why not consider...

• Posting 53 Blessings on your refrigerators, bath room mirrors, the night stand and read the blessings daily-take the words to heart! Insert your name, or your families name where the words we are written.
• Daily placing one Blessing in the kid’s lunch bags and be sure to take it to work with you also.
• Speak audibly blessings over your life and your loved ones lives. Share with a colleagues. Ask God to lead you to the coworkers that you should share Blessings with.
• Read it out loud the Blessing(s) for the day, or have one of the children read it aloud before they leave the house. Make it a family activity. Stop for a moment and hear God’s words and let these truths resonate in your spirit.
• Read a Blessing each week and reference scripture during your private worship and prayer time to enhance your bible study.
• Ask God for a deeper revelation of the Blessing(s)
  Incorporate 53 Blessings as part of your Christian Education Curriculum for all the children as well as the adults.
• Share the 53 Blessings with your sick and shut-in, incarcerated, homeless ministries etc. Open your study session with a truth or Blessing, reference the scripture and then share-reflect on God’s plan for us as believers.
• Hey don’t stop there, share this insightful tool with others, especially new believers. “New Members Class, Converts Class, Sheep Fold Ministries whatever your title is, just confidently know that this compilation of Blessing can spiritually enrich others. This knowledge would help to dispel so many of the misnomers that confuse and bewilders us. I am confident that the Holy Spirit desires that we are to be reassured that the moment we embraced the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we have a bouquet of sweet blessings.
• Open your praise and worship session with one of the 53 Blessing, celebrate God and sing Be Be Winans “I Believe”. This is an awesome, uplifting song!
• Create a mural, quilt or collage with your youth groups incorporating the 53 Blessings and be sure to hang it proudly for the edification and building up the body of Christ!

I pray you’ll be further inspired to add to the list of the blessings and begin to savor each of the 53 Blessings that Brother Doege has laid out, ranging from our having access to God’s grace to we’ve got the power of a sound mind. Enjoy your many blessings friend, it’s in your reach!!

Joyfully Submitted by:

Linda Mose Meadows, author

The Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises

http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

Obadiah: A Prophecy Relevant for Today

Scholars and theologians do not agree on which Obadiah penned the prophecy recorded in the book of Obadiah; however, the significance is that the historical markers in the account provide evidence that the prophet lived and represented God during time periods that are detailed in other historical accounts. While we do not know which Obadiah wrote the prophecy we know that it came from God and that this is an accurate account.

The meaning of Obadiah is Servant of Yahweh or Worshipper of Yahweh. Obadiah was able to speak for God because he was submitted to God. It is required of those speaking for God to be servants or worshippers of God first. One with a true understanding of who God is will worship and serve Him willingly and consistently. Moreover, the one with a true revelation of who God is will seek to bring others into the same revelation that they may have relationship with God as well.

It behooves us to know and understand the biblical mandate of leaders when we assess leaders in our lives. Today, people too easily and quickly choose leaders based on feelings, popularity, attractiveness, speaking or singing ability…we should discern the person’s dedication to worship and serve God. When we seek pleasure and entertainment from our spiritual leaders we become dull and unable or unwilling to receive spiritual correction, prophecy, and warning that is necessary for our spiritual growth and maturity. Unfortunately, people forget that false prophets will be punished but so will those who follow false prophets.

Obadiah 1:1 We have heard a message from the Lord that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, "Get ready, everyone! Let's assemble our armies and attack Edom!"
Obadiah’s prophecy does not deal with Israel or Judah. Edom or the Edomites are the descendents of Esau. Israel, formerly known as Jacob and Esau are brothers. Esau traded his birthright or blessing for stew, he let go of his spiritual blessing to meet a fleshly need.

Note: When Israel came out of Egypt and wanted to pass through the land of the Edomites to enter into the Promised Land, the Edomites wouldn’t let them (Numbers 20:14-21)
2 The Lord says, "I will cut you down to size among the nations, Edom; you will be small and despised. 3 You are proud because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. `Who can ever reach us way up here?' you ask boastfully. Don't fool yourselves! 4 Though you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down. I, the Lord, have spoken!

Obadiah’s prophesy reveals God is not pleased with the pride of Edom. Edom was a small nation and poor in comparison to others, they prided themselves in dwelling in the clefts of mountains. It does not take riches to create pride. There are people who take satisfaction in living hard, poor, or rough.

Consider the people today who think it a badge of honor to keep it real and live ghetto. It is infuriating that these small-minded and selfish people imagine this is what it means to be ‘real Black people’. Sadly, not only are Blacks perpetuating this myth but now other ethnic groups are doing the same for profit.

God is not pleased. Black people and indeed all people dedicated to serving and worshipping God lead lives that praise and worship God. While we may have cultural practices or traditions none of these takes precedence over living by the precepts and truth of God. Holiness knows no colors or class.

*Many scriptures confirm that God detests and rejects pride.

These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19


The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13

Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Pride causes us to become self-important, to believe we are essential to the operations of the living and the outcome of events. We cannot fully praise God when our heart is prideful because our focus is self. Pride is dangerous indeed pride is deadly.

5 "If thieves came at night and robbed you, they would not take everything. Those who harvest grapes always leave a few for the poor. But your enemies will wipe you out completely! 6 Every nook and cranny of Edom will be searched and looted. Every treasure will be found and taken.

God will not let anything be left in Edom. There will be no reason for them to be prideful. There will be no doubt that the devastation and destruction did not come by the hands of man.

There are times when our stiff-necked, arrogance will not allow us to listen or learn from anyone or anything and God must strip us down to nothing. Often people must hit rock bottom or go to the school of hard knocks before they learn to listen and obey. Some people never learn, these people lose everything including their eternal salvation.

7 "All your allies will turn against you. They will help to chase you from your land. They will promise you peace, while plotting your destruction. Your trusted friends will set traps for you, and you won't even know about it. 8 At that time not a single wise person will be left in the whole land of Edom!" says the Lord. "For on the mountains of Edom I will destroy everyone who has wisdom and understanding. 9 The mightiest warriors of Teman will be terrified, and everyone on the mountains of Edom will be cut down in the slaughter.

The Edomites boasted in their wisdom. The men of Edom - especially of the city Teman - were noted for their wisdom. The phrase men of the East in the Old Testament often refers to men from Edom, and passages like 1 Kings 4:30 declare the great wisdom of the men of the East. As well, Jeremiah 49:7 says of Edom: Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? This was another source of pride for the Edomites.

Again, we must look at the condition of our community. How many of our young people are injured or killed by their own so-called friends or associates? These young people have taken pride in living the hard-life. In their confusion they arrogantly believe no one can reach them emotionally or physically. Yet, statistics show these young people are victims of themselves as they steal from one another, shoot and injure one another, and then turn on each other after supposedly reconciling and promising peace.

Often peace is promised or sealed over drinks and drugs. The bond of peace is soon broken and the very ones who supposedly were friends are now pursuing each other violently. Sadly, this violence spills over into the families and communities and leaves no one untouched. Yet, similar behavior is found in the church.

Our weapons and tactics may differ. However, we experience pride that causes us to fail to live according the example and expectation of Christ. Often we can find the most prideful people in the poorest ministries. In fact, some congregations take pride in never having any people, any purpose, or any plan for the future. These congregations are Edomites, they have traded their spiritual purpose to satisfy their fleshly pleasure.

Now they resent any congregation or ministry that seeks to grow in service to God. Moreover, these Edomites will seek to disrupt or weaken the worship of congregations and ministries dedicated to God. Just like the Edom of the scripture or people in the community, these ministry Edomites will declare peace while determining to destroy ministry endeavors.

Are you an Edomite?

FOX Lies!! The real sermon given by Pastor Wright

Vera Richardson is the author of “A Case of Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Real or Imagined."
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=9780615177014

Blessed and Returning Home

I will bless you richly. I will multiply your descendants into countless millions, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, and through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed-all because you have obeyed me."
Genesis 22:17, 18

This was a real hoot to me, when I reflected on how hungry I was. My lunch really hit the spot! Yesterday’s lunch has actually been a really tasty Sunday dinner of Barbequed turkey necks, a broccoli and cheese rice, green beans and a piece of my husband’s sumptuous pound cake, yep I ate it interchangeably at dinner. So there I sat at my desk, in quite, feeling refreshed from a great walk and now enjoying a great meal of leftovers for lunch. All of it wasn’t there, but the little that was there satisfied my hungry palette. And then I began to chuckle as I thought about Grand Mama Rita and her big pots. I was glad not a soul was present, but I sure would have enjoyed reminiscing about my grandmother with my brothers.

I remember many wonderful pound cakes, she called them rabbit cakes, I am not sure why. Maybe it was a Easter cake recipe that she perfected. Yes indeed, she made the best fried chicken-she had that down to a science with the right amount of seasonings and salt. I know for a fact if she said, “I have a pot on,” that was hands off for us. We’d rather go home and enjoy roast, baked chicken or Saturday’s Chili, my father’s specialty. But definitely no oversized pot with neck bones and potatoes, turkey necks and gravy and beans and I don’t know what else? But the laughs on me- here I was at my “University JOB” and partaking in turkey neck bones. Oh my grandmother is rolling with laughter in the heavens. As Abraham says in Genesis 22:5 “...We will come right back!”

So here it is friends, this must be the message that the Holy Spirit is sharing with us today, that when you least expect it-you’ll repeat some tradition, some favorite dish, some ritual, something that connects you to your ancestors. There are many sacred rituals that have been ingrained in us, in our youth we may have shunned them, denounced them and turned up our nose at them, or simply taken them for granted- but I am a witness that you will gladly embrace them in your latter years. Because it really is who we are and apart of our good DNA!! My husband announced as we ate several turkey necks during out Sunday dinner, “See you had no idea what you were missing out as a child!” I nodded in agreement.

How I would love to be able to walk in my grandmother’s apartment one more time, and she invite me to the table and instead of saying, “No thank you Grand Mama!” I’d say, “Yes, Grand Mama I knew I was right on time!”

I thank God for my grandmother’s love and tolerance, I am grateful that by example she demonstrated how we could take a meager item, and create a feast that would nourish our bodies and delight our hearts.

Friends, as I read the New Living Translation today, I was so appreciative of how Abraham spoke life over his son, trusted God and as a result was richly blessed. I’d prefer to think my satisfying lunch was a byproduct and symbolic of the love-of my Grandmother’s love. She knew, and I suspect patiently awaited the day when I’d return home and be reacquainted with what would sustain me in my adult life.

"If you listen to these regulations and obey them faithfully, the Lord your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he solemnly promised your ancestors.
Deut 7:12

Maybe our descendants will fondly recall our sacrifices and obedience to God as they return home by practicing and partaking some remembered ritual of love!!!

"This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son, I swear by my own self that I will bless you richly. I will multiply your descendants into countless millions, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, and through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed-all because you have obeyed me." Then they returned to Abraham's young men and traveled home again to Beersheba, where Abraham lived for quite some time.

Genesis 22:16-20 (NIV)

Have a great day my friends!

Joyfully submitted by:
Linda Mose Meadows, Author
The Blessedness of Believing
A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises

Enjoy other writings, click on Blessed Chronicles
http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/