"Keep Your Promise!" - Protest to Promise - Part 1 - Faith

On March 15, 2011 Maryland state employees poured into Annapolis and marched on the State House demanding that Governor Martin O'Malley State legislators  keep their  promises of a living wage, reasonable medical and care coverage and their pensions.  The State workers had kept their promise, but they were facing the possibility on not receiving what they were promised in exchange for years of dedicated high quality hard work.

The state employees such as teachers, para professionals, secretaries, and building service workers marched chanting "Keep Your Promise!" They raised their voices as they raised the signs in their hands demanding what they had worked for, some for decades.  The entire situation became more tense when State police blocked State employees from the entrance of the State House.  Weren't the men and women in blue also State employees, who were they supposed to be protecting, the governor and the legislators or the employees?

Finally, O'Malley game out of his inner office, and outside where his employees were protesting his proposals to cut funding to them because of the shortfall in the budget and the Maryland State law that the budget must be balanced.  The crowded quieted to hear him speak, but booed him if he said something he did not like.  Finally, he convinced the crowd that changes would be made, and they were.  Over half of the money was put back in the budget for these employees.

In the book of Genesis chapter 12 in the Bible we learn of one of God's great promises.  He tells a man named Abram who is seventy five years old to leave his country and everyone he knows and go to a land He would show him, and promised Abram he would make him a father of a nation.

Think about this for a moment.  God told Abram to leave and go to a place He would show him.  All we know about Abram at this point is his family tree and how it connects to Noah, but nothing else.  It is Abram's response to God's request that we start to learn about the man he is.  He did as God asked and to do and  took incredible faith.

To have faith means to have complete confidence in someone or something.  In this case it is a strong belief in God, doctrines of religions, based on a spiritual apprehension rather than proof. Abram did what God asked for two reasons, the first reason was faith.

To leave everyone and everything you know to go somewhere God would show him had to be difficult on Abram.  He had to pack up his belongings, his wife, his servants, and his livestock and go somewhere unprotected by his family.  Can you imagine the questions he got? "Abram why are you leaving us?  How long will be gone?  Where are you going?  What will you be doing?  How far away do you think you will go?  When will you be back?"  These are all perfectly natural questions to ask, but Abram could not answer any of them, not even one, because God did not tell him any of that.  All God told him to do was to leave.

Abram did as God asked, which meant he had to know God.  He had to trust and love God more than he loved his family and his home because if he didn't he would never of left.  He had spent some one-one- one time with God because he knew God's voice when he spoke, and he trusted God enough and faith in him enough to do what God asked him to do without hesitation, argument, or fight.

Do you have that kind of faith in God?  If you don't, you know you can change that.  God always wants to be in relationship with you.  He longs for you to know Him better.  He wants you to Hear from Him and he is always ready to hear from you.  So make a date with God each and every day.  Give yourself the time to get to know Him better.  Spend time reading the Bible and mediate on what you read.  Simply talk to God, it's called praying, which is another word for conversation.  If you don't know how to start, just spend 15 minutes a day getting to a quiet space and relaxing and letting go of everything.  Clear your mind and open your heart and God will be right there waiting to bless you.

Flowers on Patterson Avenue

Fall has arrived and honestly, it is my favorite season. It is a season of change which is beautiful to witness. Most people do not like change, but it happens whether we welcome it or not.

Yesterday afternoon I had meeting and class after work. I had awakened yesterday morning around 3:00 am and could not go back to sleep. I was very tired by the end of the work day, and forced myself to stay awake as I drove from Silver Spring, MD all the way to Exit 20 on 695 in Baltimore, MD. It was about a 40 mile drive that took slightly over an hour. My first meeting went well. I was driving down Patterson Avenue to get to my church where the class I am taking is held. There is a house on that street that has the most beautiful gardens. I double checked my car clock, and I had enough time to stop by this house and get a closer look before the start of my class.

I want to point out something very important here. I have admired this house and the gardens surrounding it for about three years. I simply pass it as I go to church. I did not know the person who lives in the house. The great thing is, since I am part of the Evangelism Ministry, and often create an encounter with Jesus Christ with complete stranger's at their door, at a bus stop, on the streets of Baltimore, that I wasn't afraid to be alone and ring the bell of a complete stranger.

The door cracked open after my second ring, and a person was peering through the crack. I said, "Hello, my name is Laura and I am from New Psalmist Baptist Church. I just stopped by because I admire your lovely gardens." The door completely opened, and a very nice woman about my mom's age stepped out onto the porch. The first thing she said to me was, "Thank goodness you are not Jehovah Witness." I laughed to myself, we get that a lot when we go witnessing.

The woman and I stood on her porch and talked for about 20 minutes or so. She told me that she has to hire two men to help her with all her gardens. She also told me how when she is out tending her gardens people will stop their cars in the middle of Patterson Avenue to talk with her. She has to remind them, that stopping on a heavily traveled street is dangerous. She also told me, "People tell me my house is the most beautiful house on this street. I tell them I don't want my house to be the most beautiful one, but one of many beautiful houses." We then talked about different houses on her block and I shared that one of my neighbors has a hard time cutting their lawn and at times due to the tall grass people think the house is abandoned. We have to call the Health Department on them to get them to cut their lawn.

The thing I realized as we stood in the afternoon sun chatting was that she was viewed by many of her neighbors and others as "different" or "special" because of the hard work, time, and money she and her husband put into their gardens and home, but she did not think that about herself at all. She thinks  all her neighbors have to do is put a bit more effort, time and money into their homes and yards and they would look just as lovely as hers does.  She does not think they have to do what she is doing, but do the best they can do with what they have.  She has lived in her neighborhood a long time, and knows that people have different priorities, but she also knows that a little more time and effort goes a long way.

We finally introduced ourselves formerly. Her name is Maryland. She gave me an open invitation to walk through her back gardens the next time I was running early to church. We said our goodbyes and I feel as if I have met a new friend that shares my interests and values.

As I drove on to church I thought about what Maryland said about wishing she was just one of many beautiful houses on her street. She spoke about the time, resources, and energy to tend gardens as lovely has hers, and how tiring it is, especially as she is a senior citizen, but even as fall approaches her gardens bring so much pleasure and joy. She said people tell her that a house and gardens like hers do not belong where she lives in Baltimore. She believes all people are capable of great beauty if they just put in the effort to create it.

Being with Maryland reminded me how much God wants for each of His children. He wants each of us to know Him and be in a personal relationship with him, so He can show us what we need to do to reach those in the world who are loss and fulfill our purpose in life with much success. We have an open invitation to spend time with Him daily. He loves us so much. He longs for use to spend time with Him one-to-one.

Seasons change, but not God. People may let us down, but not God. We may get tired of doing the right thing when it seems as if no one else is, but not God. No matter the season we are facing in our lives, no matter how many changes we may be going through, God is the same. He always loves us, no matter what.

Bible Verse:

Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail

Control - What Have You Done for me Lately?

In 1986, Janet Jackson, the youngest of the Jackson clan released her her third album.  It was titled "Control."  The song itself and five other singles from that album were number one on the Billboard chat for weeks.  To date this album has sold over 14 million copies and is still selling and has made Miss Jackson an international pop-star.

The word control means to have the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events.  In the eyes of the world Miss Jackson has control.  Miss Jackson, has control as far as the world standards are concerned.  She has wealth, influence, popularity, and recoginition.  It seems as if she has it all.  Does she?  Would you change places with her if you had to live the life she has lived as she has lived it? 

Those of use who love the Lord, and have received Jesus as our Savior, have given Him control over our lives.  This means that our behavior and actions are influenced by Him.  We have been studying the gospel of Mark.  It starts with Jesus' public ministry after he is baptized by his cousin John.  We learn more about John and his parents in the first book of the gospel of Luke.

John's parents were Zachariah and Elizabeth.  They were an elderly couple who had served the Lord faithfully their entire lives, but had no children.  One day while serving in the temple the angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah and told him he and his wife were going to have a child.  Of course this was shocking and Zachariah could not believe what he was hearing.  He was struck mute because of his disbelief.

Elizabeth did indeed become pregnant, and when Mary, her cousin, who had become pregnant with Jesus through the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth and the baby in her womb immediately became filled with, and contolled by the Holy Spirit.  The same thing happened to Zachariah on the day John was born.

There are those within the church that speak of, or ignore being filled with the Holy Spirit, but I have never heard anyone teach on being controlled by the Holy Spirit.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit.  We possess Him in our hearts, but how many of us truly allow the Holy Spirit to control us?  This may explain why so many in the body of Christ have so many issues and do not know how to deal with them, because they are not controlled by the Holy Spirit.  Oh, trouble is part of this life, but we make it worse for ourselves when we think we are in control and try to handle things on our own.

 God gives us the choice to rely on Him.  The word choice means an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities.  How many times have we decided to do things out of our own limited knowledge, strengh and power instead of being controlled by the Holy Spirit?  Too many.

Many bought Janet Jackson's album. They paid money for a lie. There are very few things in this life we have control over.  Just last week the Jackson family lost a wrongful death lawsuit concerning her brother, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

  When we love Jesus Christ we have choosen to give control of our lives to him.  Many of us sing the song "I Surrender All" and have no idea what surrender means or what we are singing.  Surrender means to cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority.  God is not our enemy, but our father and friend.  It's much easier said than done.  God knew us before he formed the world. Jesus was sent to die in our place.  We can chose to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, even if it is something we have to do several times a day.  It's the only way we can fufill our Godly purpose in this world.


"I Surrender All" link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ejmMz0WR7s

Bible Verse

Luke 1:41

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁴¹ And it occurred that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit.

 

Luke 1:67-69

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁶⁷ Now Zachariah his father was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ and redemption to His people!

⁶⁹ And He has raised up a Horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Helper, the Author of salvation] for us in the house of David His servant—

What you do for Christ will last

The Gospel of Mark starts with John the Baptist.  John is telling the people the good news of the coming Messiah.  He didn't stop with the message of good news, but he told the people they needed to repent and be forgiven of their sins.  He even went so far as to have the people demonstrate their repentance by baptising them.

What was it about John the Baptist that people responded to?  He was strange at best.  He lived out in the wilderness alone, he didn't wear the latest fashions, or have any type of financial or political stature at all, but he had a tremendous impact on those who saw and heard him.

I believe John the Baptist was successful for two reasons.  The first is that he understood what God's purpose was for his life and he was fulfilling it, and second he knew the Word of God and he wasn't afraid to use it.

In verses 2-3 it states:
as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”
³ “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”

 

How many times do we struggle with difficult issues?  We worry, we lose sleep, we stress ourselves out.  Why?  Because we don't know what to do, or what will happen.  Those of us who know God, know that God knows everything. All we have to do is turn our burdens over to him.  We don't because often we cannot let go, we fool ourselves into thinking we are in control.  Often we are operating and behaving outside the will of God for our lives.  Finally, we don't know the Word, or refer to it like we should.  We are often hindered because we do not take the time to study and understand all the power, grace, and mercy we have available to us. 

 

God's Word is living and it is powerful and it can change us, any situation, and anything else.  If we do not know that, if we are not in right fellowship with our Lord, then we miss out on all God has to offer us.

 

The Bible does not provide much personal information about John the Baptist.  We do not know if he had any other aspirations, dreams, or desires.  What we do know is that he highly valued the coming Messiah and wanted the people to be ready to receive him.  There is no account of if he totally comprehended that over 2000 years after his death and that of Jesus Christ, people would be reading about him and still repenting, and being baptised.

 

We may never receive the proper recognition or reward for what we do by humankind.  We may even be treated badly for speaking God's truth and living a righteous life, but one thing we do know is that what we do for Christ will last.

Expecting "Good News"

The gospel of Mark opens very unceremoniously. Being a man of few words, he lets those who are reading know, that he is writing about the "good news" of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.   Jesus is good news.  Think about what it feels like when you receive "good news."  Good is something that is desired and approved of.  Good is morally right, and righteous.  Good news is something we all want to hear and experience.

The reason Mark wrote this Gospel was to share the "good news" of the Messiah.  The Messiah was the anticipated one of the Jewish people.  They wanted a Savior to deliver them from their captivity and oppression of  theRomans.  They also wanted a leader that could secure their liberty and restore what was taken from them.

The only problem was he wasn't what the Jews excpted.  They wanted boldness, and Jesus was humble.  They want force and Jesus was gentle.  They wanted wanted a spokeman that the Roman Empire would fear and respect, and he taught in parables.  How disappointed they must of been.  Their messiah had come, but they did not recognize him, because he did not look like or act like what they were expecting.

Jesus did not come to save them from the Romans, but from their own sins.  Once they accepted Him, and learned His ways, they would of been able to take care of the Romans themselves.  Jesus not only saves, but he restores, he teaches and he enables to do things that we could never imagine.

How many things do we miss our on because it doesn't fit with our agenda, idea, dreams, hopes and desires?  How do we handle the disaapointment in our lives?  Are we simply being selfish or can we step back from what we want, and have a serving heart like Jesus and share the "good news" of the Word of God?

 

The Gospel of Mark - Who was Mark?

Mark's account of Jesus' life fits right in with our mobile social media society. We text instead of call,  we "Like" our "Friends" "Timeline"  on Facebook, we post pictures on Instgram, we Tweet in 140 characters or less,  but we very seldom take the time to talk with each other face-to-face.   The Gospel of Mark was written by a man that seemed to be in a hurry. He did not include a lot of details or elaborate.  He also did not exsaggerate anything.  He was very basic and to the point.  His gospel, for many years, was considered the least informative of the four, until it was discovered it may have been the oldest, and the others were referenced using it.

So who was Mark?  He is also referred to as John Mark. There are only ten verses in the Bible that refer to him.  He was a young man during Christ's ministry.  He was the son of Mary, who provided the early Christians with a meeting place, and the cousin of Barnabas.  He and Barnabas traveled with Paul during his first missionary journey, but left early for Jeruselum. He was the source of conflict between Paul and Barnabas when Paul refused to take him on a second missionary trip because he left the first one early, so he and his cousin went on a mission trip on their own and Paul went with Sila and later he reconciled with Paul and became a coworker in spreading the gospel. He also becomes like a son to Peter, one of Jesus' disciples.

Mark knew all the right people and made all the right connections, even after he disconnected for a while.  He was able to do a hard reset and get back "online" and carry out God's  purpose in his life.

I have been greatly inspired by the gospel of Mark and invite you to join me in a indepth study of this book in the Bible.  I believe we will be blessed.


 

No Child Left Behind

The BET Honors is a awards television program produced by Black Entertainment Television.  Each year since the awards program started individuals, usually from the African American and African communities are honored for their work in different areas.  This year, as most, the honorees are celebrates, athletes, or other individuals who are famous.  This year , 2013, Halle Berry, JD Jakes,  Chaka Khan. and Lisa Leslie were among those honored for their outstanding work and contributions in the areas of their giving.

WNBA star Lisa Leslie said something in her remarks when she accepted her award that I have heard others say.  It was, "We all can't be winners, someone has to lose." She is an honored winner, so it was easy for her to say that, but everyone experiences lose in their lives.

What is a winner?  How do we define it?  Is it being the strongest?  If so, what does it mean to be strong?  Is it the richest?  What is rich?  Is it money? Prestige? Influence? Is it power?  What is power?  Is it beauty?  What is beauty? Is it being number one?  What does that mean?  In the eyes of human beings, we have define winners and losers.  We do not have the capacity to comprehend anything but one being the best, so that is what we have.  We have millions of contest and we compete to be number one.  We spend time and money just on doing that, only to be beat out the next year, or the next by someone stronger, younger, smarter, or more beautiful.  We talk about being number one, but it is not easy staying number one.  Only number one is remembered.

God is so much bigger than we are.  We can all be number one in Him.  We do not have to compete with each other to gain is attention, his approval, his forgiveness, or his blessings, or his love.  He has enough to give each one of us all that we need all of the time.  No line, no waiting.

In the education legislation "No Child Left Behind" supported by both houses on Congress, the goal was to ensure that no child in an American public school got left behind in their academic pursuit, and no child would slip through the cracks, and get left behind, and not receive an excellent public education that would prepare them for a successful adult life.  The intention of this legislation was admirable, it has been the implementation of it that has brought public education to its knees.  After years of administration, training, and millions of dollars American students have improved, but there are still thousands of students that are left behind, and thousands of teachers who feel less affective and appreciated than ever before.  The problem?  Hmm.  It is complicated at best, but to put it in a nut shell, success is not just shoving unrelated facts, down children's throats in a very short time period and then testing them on it, to see how much of it they can recall.  There's no room for analysis, or original thought, just recalling facts, something the U.S. Department of Education and Congress decided to measure, because it's easy, well, for those who grade the tests and make money from doing so.  It is horrible for everyone else.

To succeed at anything there are some key things that have to be in place.  They are; knowledge, instruction, submission, time, hard work, resources, acceptance and relationship.  These are not the only components, but the most important.

In the gospel of Matthew the first book of the New Testament in the Bible, in chapter 13 Jesus is teaching the multitudes that are following him.  He is teaching through the use of parables.  Each place he goes people are blessed by his teachings, and due to their faith many are healed of many things.  He and his disciples come to Nazareth, the place where he grew up, and starts teaching.  The people there have known him since he was a child.  He speaks with wisdom and authority, and they cannot believe this is the boy they knew and they reject him and do not receive all the blessings he has for them.

The strange thing is, the people of Nazareth truly did not know Jesus, because if they had, they would have shared with the world what a humble and obedient child he was.  How helpful he was, how kind, and how he never caused anyone any trouble.  Instead it seems they totally ignored Jesus in his youth and did not recognize him for who he was and how he handled himself.  They were blind when it came to Jesus.  When he returned there during his ministry, their eyes were finally opened, but not their hearts, and instead of rejoicing in who he was, they resented him, and because of their resentment, they were left behind and did not receive what was meant for them.

Education has not changed since Jesus' ministry, many times due to the lack of the key components many students are left behind.  If children cannot submit their wills to the instruction of the teacher, and accept what they are teaching, and refuse to be in good relationship with teachers, then they will not learn and be left behind.  Of course, teachers have to do their part, and by far the vast majority are, but with so many students, with so many problems, with so many requirements, and so little time and resources, it is very hard for teachers to establish a meaningful relationship with all students, which is so critical for so many students.  Unlike God, teachers have limits, and cannot fulfill the needs of all of the students that they have, which in many cases is well beyond academics.

The problem with "No Child Left Behind" and the new "Race to the Top" is God has been left behind.  Without God we will always leave children behind, we will always have children that slip through the cracks.  The US has systematically taken God out of public schools.  God in schools is not forcing everyone to believe the same thing, the same way.  It does not mean we all have to pray, or kneel in a certain direction at a certain time.  It is simply acknowledging that God is a part of the process, and that teachers, students, and staff,  have the appropriate avenues to exercise their faith in an appropriate way in the school setting.

Each do we live we have an opportunity to submit ourselves to our loving Savior and receive all he has for us, and when we do, we are so blessed and have positioned ourselves to be a blessing to others.  We cannot do this within our own strength, but through his.

Bible Verse

Matthew 13:53-58

New International Version (NIV)

A Prophet Without Honor

⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. ⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed.“Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.