A Night Of Miracles
Highlights of a Missionary Journey

Author Winfield Bevins gives us a better comprehension of the Holy Spirit and it's role in our lives.  In the e-book "A Primer On The Person And Work Of The Holy Spirit" Bevins gives the reader an opportunity to "Meet The Holy Spirit", learn "How The Holy Spirit Works", understand "Fruits of the Spirit", and more.

This FREE E-BOOK is a great resource for anyone looking to gain insight in to the Holy Spirit.  "A Primer On The Person And Work Of The Holy Spirit" is broken down in to lessons that are complimented with follow-up discussion questions and prayers.  This FREE resource is truly a must read for anyone seeking to know more.  Download this today.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FREE E-BOOK IN PDF FORMAT

CLICK HERE TO VISIT WINFIELD BEVINS SITE

Where do preachers and the like go when they need to be enlightened? One of our favorite sites ChurchCrunch.com just posted an article that answers this question.  ChurchCrunch shares with us the 5 Online Commentaries and Resources To Help You Study.  ChurchCrunch explains:

Commentaries are a great way to study passages of scripture (exegesis or exegete) and gain understanding of the original text of the passage (Hebrew for OT and Greek for NT). Having the chance to learn from scholars who have poured thousands of hours into studying the scripture that you are studying is a great resource and help.

Commentaries can be a great resource, but can also be pricey. Thank God for the internet! There are several sites that have commentaries and word studies available for you to learn from.

Click here to check out the full article at ChurchCrunch.com.

After the food distribution, we went back to the hotel and then the drama team took a short walk to the NATO building for our first rehearsal. I decided to participate in the drama because of Sis. Vida’s encouragement and as it turned out, I was blessed beyond measure.  It was a sacrifice though as we were required to rehearse for several hours each day. It was grueling as our drama director, Pastor Brian, worked with us to make the play as authentic as possible. It was difficult for many of us because not only was it hard for those playing the demonic role to get into character, but it was physically challenging as well.  We had to get the point across without benefit of spoken language. There were bumps, bruises, scrapes and falls, but all was gain for the cause of Christ as we believed the drama to have played a great part in the dramatic response of the crowd to the invitation for Christ and Holy Spirit empowerment.

At 4:30 PM, we boarded the buses again and made our way to a busy part of Tirana to hand out leaflets inviting people to come to the “Night of Miracles (NETËNETT E MREKULLIVE). Sis. Vida, Bro. Lance from New Zealand and I traveled off the beaten path into the neighborhood. We met several people on our way, some who were receptive and kindly took the information and others who were not so gracious. When we ran out of leaflets, we boarded the buses again and headed for the miracle night venue, the local basketball stadium.

When we reached our final destination, everyone was all a bustle as people of all ages rushed into the stadium. There was an air of excitement and anticipation. I wonder what God will do tonight, I thought. Seats were filling up fast and the youth choir was already in place singing the songs of Zion in Albanian. Soon we were lost in His love as the praise and worship team ushered us into the inner court. And then the service began.
To be continued…

-Terrye | 7:05 PM EST | May 22, 2010

When Terrye shared with the editors of Say So! that she would be going on this trip we jumped at the chance to get an insider's perspective of a modern day missions trip.  We will be sharing portions of Terrye's travel journal with you as she experiences being out in the field.  Enjoy.

Marilyn shared with us that our purpose for coming all the way to Albania was “to get people saved!” Albania came out of Communism in 1991 and although they are a democratic nation, they are currently experiencing political unrest. Even while here, the end of the street on which our hotel sits, is blocked off due to a political protest currently underway.

Following breakfast, each team boarded their respective buses, yellow, green and orange. Sis. Vida and I are on the orange team (each team consists of about 40 people). Our destination:  To distribute food to the Muslim communities around the city. These communities were reported to have been experiencing 100% unemployment and the packages to be delivered were sufficient to support a family for about 90 days. Thanks to the generosity of Marilyn’s partners and supporters, there were enough packages to support 400 families.

When the orange team arrived at our location, we were greeted by the local pastor and the sound of children singing familiar praise songs in their native tongue. The little place was filled to capacity. We quickly fell in line and joined the worship. Although, we did not know the language, we fully understood the joy they had in their hearts for the Lord. The pastor greeted us and thanked us and the people embraced us with their smiles and hugs.  We then proceeded to distribute the boxes of food which required two women or one strong man to lift. The recipients received the gifts with joy and appreciation and our hearts were overflowing to see how grateful they were. Finally, we were invited to pray for the people and I quickly found a group of TC Teens who were eager to receive from the Lord. It was a most rewarding experience as I was blessed immensely and deeply moved by the spirit of the inhabitants of that community. We returned to our hotel hoping that many would come to the healing meeting later that night.

-Terrye | 12:58 AM EST | May 21, 2010

videos of the food distribution in the community

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When Terrye shared with the editors of Say So! that she would be going on this trip we jumped at the chance to get an insider's perspective of a modern day missions trip.  We will be sharing portions of Terrye's travel journal with you as she experiences being out in the field.  Enjoy.

Marilyn Hickey Ministries offers group trips to different locations around the world.  This spring the ministry will focus on Greece and Albania.  Her website states:

"Our passion and purpose is to build bridges of trust and respect with nations worldwide.  We work directly with local churches and ministries to host Citywide Healing Meetings and Leadership Conferences.  You’ll pray for the sick and share the gospel with my ministry team in these meetings.  In addition, we are able to distribute humanitarian aid to the needy."

When Terrye shared with the editors of Say So! that she would be going on this trip we jumped at the chance to get an insider's perspective of a modern day missions trip.  We will be sharing portions of Terrye's travel journal with you as she experiences being out in the field.  Enjoy.

Whether you are blue collar, white collar or no collar, there’s a place for you – good solider—in the army of the Lord. Finish boot camp, heed your orders, suit up and serve. Find a place to make your mark.  Send your prayers, and lend support to all of our brave soldiers. Some risk their lives and others have died for your freedom. Thank you for your service in the Kingdom or the Armed Forces. Bless you.  

Recently 60 Minutes featured a story ( Mortgages : Walking Away - 60 Minutes - CBS News ) that focused on homeowners that are walking away from their homes and mortgages.  Homeowners that purchased homes in the height of the booming real estate market are now finding that the price they paid for the home was an inflated figure fueled by a speculative housing market.  They are now making monthly payments for property which is not worth the value of the loan.  What is a homeowner to do in this situation?

What does the Bible say about walking away from your mortgage?  The Christian personal finance blog http://www.christianpf.com has done some research on this:

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT http://www.christianpf.com/walk-away-from-mortgage/

A mortgage loan is basically an agreement or contract between you (the homeowner) and the bank.  The Bible is quite clear when it comes to honoring a contract.  God does not specify that a contract is only to be upheld when the terms are favorable.  Agreements are to be upheld regardless of changes in the circumstances of a participating party.  Christians are charged to trust God in the times of plenty and the times of lack.  Faith is supposed to be the cornerstone of our earthly existence.

Join the conversation.  Leave us a comment.  Would you walk away from your mortgage if the "circumstances were right"?

I know a couple that is lost in the world. They aren't married and the female has two children in DYFS and is doing her best to straighten up. Her boyfriend clings to her and manipulates her every move because he knows that she is his easy ticket out. She knows he is not good for her but is dependent on him and says she is scared to be alone. The more I pray the more the Lord shows me chaos, confusion, deception and manipulation. My heart is there to help and guide her the way the Lord leads me. I need a word. Give me a word.

ANSWER:

Beloved, do not be confused.  This woman is not your friend, neither by world standards nor by biblical measures!  

Your “friend” would not turn her back on you and her children to serve her worldly master (her boyfriend).  She dwells in the darkness of a psychologically and spiritually abusive relationship.  She is voluntarily choosing to remain in captivity!

Jesus described as “friends”, persons with whom He had shared all things that He had heard from His Father (Truth).  Truth is, by biblical standards, your so-called “friend” is neither neutral nor harmless, but an enemy of God.  Not once, but numerous times during a day, your “friend” chooses something of the world over you, her children, and God.  Your anger, hurt and disappointment from her rejection has given way to your hopelessness, despair and grief.

Since you are not friends, then what is currently the true nature of your relationship with this woman? As God’s ambassador, what should be your ministry to this woman? Have you challenged your own wrong, misguided thoughts, attitudes, behaviors?  Have you 1) prayed; 2) shown the love of God despite her wretched state; 3) prayed;  4) assessed her material needs so that you could facilitate them being addressed; 5) prayed; 6) shared the gospel and modeled the gospel; 7) prayed; 8) relied upon the Holy Spirit to convict and save her, 9) prayed;  10) given thanks to God for using and teaching you in this situation? Praise God.  LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAYSO!

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the Faith Forum are not necessarily those of the editor and staff of Say So! Magazine.  Have a question? Please submit your questions to faithforum@saysomagazine.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Questions will be answered and published on a first come, first served basis. Due to the large volume of questions received, we will not be able give prior notice of the answer being published. Please subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed.

Min. Robert & Dr. Astra Brantley are counselors that have been called to serve the body of Christ. For more information, visit http://www.brantleygroup.com.

Today we pick up the ball and glove and after a couple of warm up tosses to get old Dad’s arm loose, we soon have a good game of catch. There is beauty in watching the ball arc up into the air and then down again, ending in the clear smack of leather as the glove wraps around it. Back and forth we play, tossing and catching, each doing their best to throw a good ball for the other. Now and again we make a bad toss or watch, mystified, the ball slip past our empty glove; and we laugh at the experience. 

I recognize how the relationship of my son and I playing catch is similar to my relationship with God’s work. I am in awe of His patience with me missing the catches and throwing the wild pitches back at Him. But I so much love to play and to be in His presence and in that way I am exactly like my own son. How I wish that I had even the smallest measure of patience that God has shown to me. 

I saw the image of a playing catch so clearly while working on a project God tossed at me. For a few months I had a desire to organize a concert for our church. I had a vision to gather the body together and celebrate being Christians with music and testimony. I tried to ignore the vision but the passion refused to go away. I tried to get other people involved but no one seemed interested. I just put it back in God’s hands and said “If you want me to do this, prove it.” Back the ball goes, up into the air and arching down; smack against the leather before returning to me with the word October written on it. 

The desire to get this moving was even higher but I needed some help. I tossed my needs back to the Father, back they came filled. Ministering to one of the ladies in the church I felt a pull to tell her about the event. I thought she was going to hit the floor because, unknown to me, she had the same game of catch going. Moments after finding her, we found a third and together we formed a team. 

Up the ball goes, down into the glove. We needed music, money, helpers and we had less than four weeks before October was over. I tossed the needs back to God and each time they came back filled. Every door we knocked on seemed open to us. We reached out to eight bands thinking we might get two. In just a few days our format was filled and I had to turn other bands away. Up the ball goes, down into the glove.  

An outreach program we had never heard of before gave us $500, our church matched it. People came forward; equipment flowed to our open hands. Experts always seemed to be one step away from a problem. Up the ball goes, down into the glove. It is fun to play catch with God when you are looking for him to throw it back and for once you are throwing mostly straight balls to him.

I believe that your ability to serve depends on how big your image of God is. The more that you learn to trust and exercise your faith the larger He becomes to you. Some people around our team saw things like time, resources and funding as being larger than God. At times I felt the same as them. But I just kept tossing my needs back to Him and with each catch and return of the ball, God got a little larger for me. God is truly above all things, and beyond all measure. 

Up the ball goes, down into the glove; walking in faith, held in his arms.

I was led to think about the names that parents give their children again as I read the MSNBC news article with the headline "Lord Jesus Christ (his real name) Hit by Car" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37015837/ns/us_news-weird_news/ 

I was a little upset by the fact that someone would name their child after our Lord and Savior but then realized that, in fact, Jesus' last name was not Christ. While this fact, certainly doesn't make me feel more comfortable with someone naming their child, Lord Jesus Christ, it does cause me to reflect on just how sweet the name of Jesus is.

Writer, Phillip Shroeder, sheds some light on the question, "What was Jesus' last name?" in his commentary, The Bible Speaks Today: Jesus' Last Name Has Ancient Meaning. " Christ is a title, not a last name," Shroeder writes. "Christ is the English form of the Greek word, which means “Anointed One.” Messiah is the English form of the same word in Hebrew. The term is a clear reference to the way that kings were chosen."  You can read the entire article by visiting:

 THE BIBLE SPEAKS TODAY: JESUS' LAST NAME HAS ANCIENT MEANING

As a believer, aren't you glad that you can call on the name of Jesus and that He hears us?

1 John 5:14-15 (New International Version)
This the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Have you called on the name of Jesus lately? Has God answered a prayer for you today? Share your praise reports with us.

If you want to see Kirk Franklin or if you're looking for a Christian camp for your kids this site can help connect you.  This site also allows you to submit your events to be featured.  The events are organized by location and by event type such as youth ministry and music.  With a bright inviting interface, MorningChurchAnnouncements.com keeps you up-to-date on all the latest events in the Christian community.

Visit MorningChurchAnnouncements.com

Join the conversation and leave us a comment.

I am a Christian and have been dating a Muslim for several months.  I believe that I have found my “soul mate” but people at my church have been giving me a hard time and some have expressed sheer anger.  It is clear that he would never convert and I would never think of doing so either.  Please help me to understand what’s so wrong about it.

RESPONSE:

Dating is handled much too casually in America today.  Folks at your church are concerned and angry because they know that dating should prepare for and point toward marriage.  Therefore, the months you’ve spent with Brother Muslim have been a flirt with disaster.  You must become a more biblical steward of your time and your Christian calling.

Furthermore, you have confused “soul mate” with “help meet” which, according to the Scripture, is the purpose of the woman in marriage.  Scripture teaches that the man is to be the woman’s bishop; having servant-leadership responsibility for her physical, emotional, and spiritual well being.

Sister Christian, are you willing to submit yourself and possibly, your future children to the unbiblical leadership of Brother Muslim, who does not know Jesus, who is not indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and who is therefore at enmity with God?  Heaven forbid!  Let the redeemed of the Lord Say So!

As mother’s we do so many things which are right. However, spoiling children, especially in this age and generation only hampers them. We walk past crippled children, teens, young adults and adults every day. I would now say that mother’s need to rear with a much sterner hand than they do. Some of us give in to whiney spoiled children, who break our wallets and our hearts. I’m a granny now. I do things a bit differently. I’ve learned some things. So mothers, here is my gift to you. Stop doing so much for your children. This includes your adult children too.

My mother used to always tell me to “slow down”, and my reply was that I couldn’t. I ended up a divorced Mom and the weight of parenthood was firmly planted on my shoulders, but even in a two-parent home Moms do too much. Husbands may not do enough, and children do less. For the busy, frazzled, overwhelmed and overworked parent, here are my gentle suggestions for you.

1. Teach your children how to handle money. Stop giving your children money no matter what the sob story may be. (Hint: check out www.daveramsey.com) for really practical information that will help you.  Make them work, and actually earn money. That’s a real world skill, and that’s what you have to do. Stop handing them money.  Stop it now!
2. Help your child discover and develop his or her passion as it relates to their interest, work and livelihood. Just sending them to school each day is not enough. Dig deeper. It will save both of you time and money.
3. Raise respectful, mannerly children. Do not accept backtalk and sassiness.
4. Teach your children how to clean up after themselves.
5. Teach them to cook, shop, and wash clothes. You will not do that for them forever.

Pray for your children. Teach them to love God. Show them unconditional love, but ask for a big pair of scissors for Mother’s Day. Cut the apron strings. Allow them to fly and flourish. That is the best Mother’s Day present you could give yourself. Frankly speaking, it’s time and you deserve it.

Join the conversation and leave us a comment.

Why is it that I seem to face trial after trial even though I am living a godly lifestyle while it appears that those that don’t even want to know the Lord are being blessed beyond measure?

ANSWER:

When bad things happen to God’s people, especially when it’s us, or more to the point, “me,” we call it “suffering.”  Two things we need to understand about suffering are:

1. There is much suffering in the world.
2. God’s people are not exempt from that suffering.

There are four fallacies commonly believed about suffering: 

1. If you are a Christian you will not suffer bad things (Job 4:7,8)
2. If you are a Christian and you suffer, it is because of sin in your life ( John 9:1-3)
3. If you have enough faith, you will be healed and delivered
4. A good and powerful God would not allow His children to suffer

So, why do bad things happen to God’s people?  First, we believe in a fallen world  (Romans 8:22,23; Matthew 5:45);  Second, bad things happen to God’s people to demonstrate an authentic faith (Job 1, 2);  Third, God has a redemptive plan so that our sufferings have value  (Romans 8:28); and  Fourth, God gives us promises to secure our faith in times of trouble (II Peter 1:3,4).

My brothers and sisters in Christ, check the Scriptures.  The Bible is truth – God’s truth.  It’s eternal, complete and all-powerful truth that easily takes the devil’s lies and puts them in their place.  When that happens we have the abundant, victorious life God has promised us.

Beloved, God has given us the one weapon that will defeat Satan and his lies every time-  the truth.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the Faith Forum are not necessarily those of the editor and staff of Say So! Magazine.  Have a question? Please submit your questions to faithforum@saysomagazine.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Questions will be answered and published on a first come, first served basis. Due to the large volume of questions received, we will not be able give prior notice of the answer being published. Please subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed.

Min. Robert & Dr. Astra Brantley are counselors that have been called to serve the body of Christ. For more information, visit http://www.brantleygroup.com.

It is not all rosy and fine.  With each year we suffer more than the year before.  We gain responsibility and assume stress and struggle as never conceived of in our youth.  Our body ages, beauty fades leaving marks of time behind.  Friends and family pass away, each loss cutting our heart to shreds.  Fear and despair over our children and their inevitable rebellion brings floods of tears. To stay forever young is to reject all of these gifts, the remarkable experiences of life.  Choosing to remain one age emotionally while the rest of life continues betrays the natural order and leads to emptiness.  We are made by God to grow, mature and some day we will die.  Each experience shapes us and teaches us about the nature and glory of God. Our faith and relationship with God follows the same rules as our physical existence.  We begin our walk with Christ as helpless babies and experience God's love and care.  We worship, sing and play games with other babies in Christ.  It is a time of joyful directionless fellowship.  As we study, serve and search after God, our spirit grows.

Our flesh resists this growth and like a baby learning to walk we fall often and sometimes painfully.  The Holy Spirit picks us up and commands us to try again and again.  It knows we need to fall in order to grow and in time our legs of Faith and Grace will hold us up.  Our arms of Caring and Love gain in strength and in time we become warriors for Christ.  We become useful.  We become Christ Like. God expects us to grow up in him, to become like his son Jesus.  We are commanded to do this not for our glory, but for God's.  Like our physical growth, growing in spirit has rewards and milestones.  We depart as babies and become teachers, leaders filled with God's wisdom.  Those we led to Christ return and share their testimonies of ministry and introduce us to people they have brought to the Lord.  They are our children and grandchildren in spirit.  We see God's invisible hand at work shaping events and restoring the broken and devastated lives around us.

Growing up in Christ offers pain and loss too.  Watching teachers or pastors fail or fall in disgrace is like death.  Our roles in service expand, conflicting with schedules and people.  Our faith is shaken by events beyond our understanding, sometimes creating periods of darkness in our lives.  We are tested daily, frustrated often and this is all part of growing, maturing and becoming Christ Like. Yes, sometimes when life in the now is hard, I take a mental look back over the ages past.  I smile a little to myself at the memories but I am glad to be beyond those times of pain and confusion.  It is good to remember past lessons, but to mature we look forward and walk towards Christ.  Each new year expands around us wrapping us in the demands of now eventually slipping behind and merging into the past.

I wouldn't change a thing.

Join the conversation and leave us a comment. 
___________________________________

I have been a writer for most of my adult life with a focus on life experience essays and political commentary.  Since turning my life back to Christ I have devoted my writing to faith and family subjects. It is my mission to describe the face of God as He has revealed it to me.  With words I help others think, laugh and grow.  To know why you believe what you believe and then to embrace a Christ centered life is the mark of a strong Christian and if I can help others achieve this I will mark this life as well spent.  I am a member of Faith Writers on http://www.faithwriters.com.

My guiding scripture is Col 4:6 "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
~Michael

Christians are immersed in a spiritual culture that focuses on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We are taught from the very beginning of our "faith-walk" about Jesus' identity and His works on earth.  We hear about the healings, and the preaching and the disciples.  We learn about the many miracles that He performed while on earth.

The first recorded miracle is that of the "turning water in to wine" at the wedding at Cana [John 2:11].    For decades, this miracle has sparked debate amongst Christians as to whether or not it was wine or merely grape juice. Time Magazine recorded the opposing views of Southern Baptist, Billy Graham and Fundamentalist Presbyterian, Carl Mclntire in a 1977 article entitled, Did Jesus Drink Wine? http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,945726,00.html.

At any rate, it is in this account that we are witness to the power of Jesus and how He has command over the elements.Here, Jesus is at a party.  Yes, a party - a wedding reception to be exact, but a party none-the-less.  We often overlook this fact as Jesus is traditionally depicted as a somber, introspective, mild mannered man.  Party and traditional Jesus are two, historically antithetical concepts.

But, Jesus was human. The Bible tells us that He is acquainted with our grief [Isaiah 53:3].  Is He not also acquainted with our happiness?  Jesus came to earth and had the full human experience.  Was He the "wall-flower Jesus" He is commonly painted to be?  What type of party guest was He?  I surmise that he was the kind  of guest that would have gone to the store to replenish the drinks. Why do say this?  Because, He did just that.

The party was such a success that they ran out of wine.  Too many people, not enough wine.  So what did Jesus do?  The traditional Jesus, we often conjure in our minds, would have shut the party down.  He would have grabbed the microphone from the DJ and admonished the crowd that they should be glad there is no more wine; they weren't supposed to be drinking it anyway. But, Jesus didn't do that.  He satisfied the crowd with more wine.  He took the water and made it in to the best wine for the guests.  He kept the party going.  Which brings us to another notion - if Jesus saw that it was acceptable to create wine for the guests to consume did He partake in his own creation?  Wine drinking Jesus?

Do we really appreciate His humanity and His sacrifice?  Do we really recognize Him as having lived a life similar to ours?  Or do we elevate His earthly experience to a level that seems unfamiliar and unattainable to us mere mortal humans?  How would our perception of the Savior of mankind change if we really understood His humanity?  To be like Him is our ultimate goal.  Perhaps we are more like Him and He more like us then we realize.

Join the conversation and leave us a comment.  Let us know what other emotions or experiences we often disassociate with Jesus' earthly experience.

Although these are important issues, African American Christians are still needed in assisting in building and improving the African American communities.  It seems African American Christians just go to church, worship, and have weekly bible study but do nothing to evangelize communities.  As David Alan Black stated, “We tend to patronize God instead of obeying Him and we use Him for our own satisfaction and gratification, we call upon Him for what we can get but our sinful hearts are far from Him.”

Jesus gave the command to go into the entire world and preach the gospel, making disciples of men.  It seems that African American Christians are not heeding this command and therefore disobeying God.  When there is so much homicidal killing and drug dealings in our communities, it is time for Christians to rise to the occasion and stop looking to our political leaders to do something.  Although it is the job of the Mayor and other local political officers to make cities safer, Christians can assist in this.  It is a shame that there is practically a church on every corner in the city and in African American neighborhoods, and there is no visual outreaches occurring.

The times we live in call for measures suited to the crisis.  As stated earlier about killings, drug dealings, and not to mention the high pregnancy and promiscuity, Christians need to take a stand and declare righteousness and win the lost. Apostle Paul says “Redeem the time,” (Col 4:5).  This means that Christians are to buy up the time and take advantage of every opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and make an impact in the Communities.  If the Gospel is the good news, than why not share it in the cities in the midst of all the bad news that is going on.

We don’t know what tomorrow may bring.  Tomorrow could bring death on our cities.  If African American Christians would get beyond the four walls of the church building and with the same commitment to church attendance, have outreach in local communities, tomorrow could bring a day of blessings.  As Christians, we have compassion for our suffering city but it is time to put that compassion into action by becoming proactive in our communities by evangelizing and assisting our local officials in building a better black community.

Join the conversation.  Leave us a comment and tell us what you think.

My husband has decided after eight years that he doesn’t want to be married anymore.  There is evidence that he has not been faithful but I have no hard proof.  I want to try to make this work but it’s going to be difficult without him wanting the same thing.  He is not interested in counseling.  What should I do?

ANSWER:

Call someone for a counseling appointment today!  You need solid Christian-biblical counseling for yourself, your marriage, and your family.  If your husband is not interested, do it for yourself.  Your spiritual, emotional, and physical health are, in the final analysis, your personal stewardship responsibility.  Your husband has verbally expressed his heart to abandon his God-given stewardship responsibility for you, your marriage, and your family.

You (and too many other sisters caught in similar situations) need to prayerfully seek biblical answers for yourself to several critical questions, including, but not limited to the following questions.  If I am unequally yoked in marriage, either to an unbeliever or a rebellious believer, how am I to exercise “biblical stewardship living” on a daily basis?  How long, and under what circumstances, should I suffer the tribulation of an unbelieving or rebellious husband who has abandoned me?

An unsettling observation in this society is that many abusive men will marry Christian women because they feel they can abuse them for longer periods of time.  Many Christian women suffer under “biblical illusions” that they are to hang in there, suffering long and much, in order to “make the marriage work.”  It is not your job to make it work.  While you will be held accountable for your attitudes and behavior in marriage; the responsibility for your marriage lies biblically with your husband, as servant-leader and bishop of your home.  LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAYSO!

___________________________________

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the Faith Forum are not necessarily those of the editor and staff of Say So! Magazine.  Have a question? Please submit your questions to faithforum@saysomagazine.com . Questions will be answered and published on a first come, first served basis. Due to the large volume of questions received, we will not be able give prior notice of the answer being published. Please subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed.

Min. Robert & Dr. Astra Brantley are counselors that have been called to serve the body of Christ. For more information, visit http://www.brantleygroup.com.

What?!  They worship the devil?  Where did you hear that?

Those are some of the questions that you may have had running through your mind as you read the title of this article.  Those were some of the questions I was asking myself when someone informed me that they believed that "Jay-Z and Beyonce worshipped the devil."

At a recent weekly Bible study class the topic was "Spiritual Warfare."  The teacher for the class spent time describing some of the different types of spiritual attacks that individuals are under.  The teaching included how music and it's influence can be a form of spiritual attack.  Many Christians are familiar with this concept.  It is usually known as the "gospel music vs. secular music" debate.  As the teacher started to go in to detail about  secular music, she made a statement that sparked my interest.

"Jay-Z and Beyonce worship the devil."

How did the teacher come to this conclusion?  I have heard many people express a sense of frustration with the themes in Hip-Hop and R & B music, but this was the first time I had heard such an indictment made on two individual people.  The teacher pointed to several examples from music videos to back up her claim.

The Bible study teacher specifically pointed to the imagery and symbolism used in their videos.  Many of the videos contained images of the occult and symbols that held meaning in occult rituals.  This new revelation prompted me to do my own research.  I was surprised at the amount of content on the web that tied these two world super-stars to the occult and devil worship.  A simple Google search on "Beyonce occult" presented websites that shared the opinion that the imagery and lyrics in Beyonce's songs illicit a deceiving spirit with intentions in promoting destructive distractions.  Here are some of the websites that I discovered in my search:

• Beyonce to Sasha Fierce: Symbolic Occult Rebirth
• NPR: Jay-Z: A Master of Occult Wisdom?

While most of what was on the internet regarding this topic was simple conjecture, there were many interesting facts that were examined.  There is definitely a use of imagery in music videos.  Many times it is straight-forward, while other times it is more abstract.  Does this art have any impact on our soul?

The story of Daniel in the Bible contains an excellent illustration of how music can be  the rhythmic accompaniment to a spiritual seduction.  It was used by King Nebuchadnezzar in conjunction with the worshiping of golden idols he had established for the people.  Those that did not bow at that sound of the music were killed.  While some of the music of today is not used outrightly  as a form of life or death idol worship, there are many people who allow the lyrics, images, and themes to overwhelm the soundtrack of their thoughts.  As Christians we should be careful and mindful as to what we open ourselves up to.

They said to king Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever. You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden image, and that whoever does not fall down and worship is to be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon -- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego -- these men, O king, pay no attention to you. They neither serve your gods nor worship the golden image you set up."

Daniel 3:9-12

Are there hidden messages in music and music videos?  Is art sometimes just "art"?  Is it glorifying God?  Join the conversation and leave us a comment to let us know what you think.

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We've put together a list of the best blog sites that focus on personal finance from a Christian perspective.  These sites seek to educate and inspire us to live a life where our financial situations glorify God.  These sites tackle such topics as getting out of debt, building wealth charity, tithing and more -- all from a God-centered point of view.  Here is our list of the TOP CHRISTIAN PERSONAL FINANCE BLOG SITES:

1. MONEY HELP FOR CHRISTIANS
   http://www.moneyhelpforchristians.com/
   A Biblical approach to personal finances.
2. OUT OF DEBT CHRISTIAN
   http://www.outofdebtchristian.com/
   Restoring your finances and your faith.
3. PROVIDENT PLANNING
   http://www.providentplan.com/
   Financial wisdom from the Bible.
4. CHRISTIAN PERSONAL FINANCE
   http://www.christianpf.com/
   Make it.  Save it.  Grow it.  Give it.
5. GATHER LITTLE BY LITTLE
   http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/
   Proverbs 13:11 - He who gathers little by little makes it grow.

Are we missing one of your favorite sites in our list?  Join the conversation and let us know your favorite Christian Personal Finance blog site.

Have you ever thought WWJDOFB ...What Would Jesus Do On FaceBook? How does this new technology fit in to the lifestyle of a Christian? How can we best adapt the technology to our lifestyles in Christ and not have the social technologies dictate our lifestyles. We came across a post recently at Christian Web Trends that spells out The 10 Commandments of Social Networking.

CLICK HERE to read the entire list of commandments from our friends at Christian Web Trends

http://blog.ourchurch.com/2010/01/26/the-10-commandments-of-social-networking/

http://blog.ourchurch.com

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As a humble servant of God, I've been able to encourage people through the gift of writing, sharing my belief & understanding, that if you put your trust in God, you can overcome any of life’s obstacles. - Bonita Gilyard

Have you ever felt alone in the world?  Join the conversation and let us know how you overcame that feeling.

Christians often attribute good times and good fortune to being blessings of God.  Times of  "feast" are met with rejoicing and praising God.  It is a natural experience to desire to praise God from who all blessing flow, when the blessings are flowing.

What happens when the good times are swallowed by adversity, challenges, set backs and even death?  Do we attribute the hard times to the devil?  Has God cursed us and allowed satan to have free reign in our situation?  This is when we have to rely on the Word of God when it says that ,"all things work together for good for those that love God and are the called according to His purpose."

Over the past few weeks, since the tragic earthquake in Haiti, many people have sought to bring meaning to this event.  Pat Robertson, a prominent figure in the Christian community surmised that the horrific earthquake experienced by millions of Haitians can be attributed directly to the curse God placed on that nation -- from a pact they made with the devil.

If this assumption is true, what does that say about the disasters we experience here in America?  Are they are direct result of sin?  Leave us a comment and let us know what you think.

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"Ask now, and see, can a man bear a child?" Jeremiah 30:6

Stories in the news never cease to amaze the world.  It often seems like every week there is a new scientific or technological breakthrough that blurs the lines of what we once thought was possible.

A few years back one of those "impossible" situations was prominent in the news media.  Many of you will remember it -- "THE PREGNANT MAN."  Those of you that may have been living under a rock for the past few years may be asking, "What is a pregnant man?"  It is when a person, born female, lives as a trans-gendered male and becomes pregnant.   Wikipedia can explain it better than we can.

In 2008, Thomas Beatie became known as the world's first "pregnant man" and successfully gave birth to a child.  And now, in 2010, the world is presented with the same issue.  Scott Moore, another biological woman living as a man, is pregnant and is expected to give birth some time in February, . 
Click here to read the full story.

Should there be certain limits we place on science?  Is everything possible, permissable?  Join the conversation and leave us a comment to let us know what you think.

At that moment, I could have broken down into a long rant that could have gone like this…blah, blah, blah and more blah! No way! I have sense enough to know that dynamics in the best of families can be hard on the emotions. I have been on planet earth long enough to know that things don’t always go our way. Nevertheless, God has His hand in our lives. I have to believe that God is working behind the scenes in the life of this family member. I know God is speaking to them and getting their attention. We often have to take a step back when others rely on us, so that God can truly become their source.

We aren’t God and we can’t fix anyone else. God is the tailor. When He is working our own things out, there are no trick questions.  We can’t change up and think we are being lured away from a Godly resolve because the situation is daunting. God works best in your darkest times. He gets your attention and pulls you back to Him. I know this from a personal standpoint. When I’ve had to “come up for air” when the pressures of life swirled around me I knew that God had the answer and regardless of the situation I was not going to be swayed into thinking otherwise.

A great deal of what He is doing we will never see with our natural eyes. This is when we believe and trust Him. This is when we must choose to believe God and remain steadfast. Why should I change now? We often believe God and rejoice when we see a glimpse of a situation working out for the best, but what happens to our faith when we don’t see any changes? I contend that my final answer is that I believe God. I’ve been through very tough situations. God has developed me into a mature, thinking person. I’m well seasoned, but I still have to believe God, and know that there are no trick questions that will drag me kicking and screaming away from my faith. I’ve had many opportunities to question God, but He is in control and He is at the helm. He knows all the answers to the questions anyway.

Who am I to think that my life will be exempt from challenging situations? I don’t know of anyone who has had a life full of ease. However, I do know plenty of folks who know that there are no trick questions in God. We often hear the phrase, nothing takes God by surprise. He is all knowing, so yes, He knows. When you are faced with a situation that seems hard, is hard or will get even harder always remember there are no trick questions which will come your way. God has His hand in even the most challenging situations. Each and every day we are faced with a number of situations where we have to reflect the glory of God in our lives.

We will face hard and trying events. Just because you may not be able to see how a situation is going to ultimately be resolved, don’t change course when times seem difficult. They may seem so painful, harsh and difficult on the surface, but below the surface or high above in the heavens God is working behind the scenes. When those times come, and they will, always remember we may not have an easy resolution to a situation, but rest assured God has a plan, and there are no trick questions. God still has the final answer.

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Bernice Coles uses her gift of encouragement as she speaks victory into the lives of others through teaching, writing and more.

Have you ever had an experience in your life where you felt as though God was 'testing' you?  Join the conversation and leave us a comment.

My wife is beyond extreme in so many ways and yet somehow has enough common sense to know when I need a reality check. In many ways we are the counter to each others nature and while it may be in your best interests to find someone to provide that balance the act of being pulled away from your chosen course of action can produce a bit of friction. My wife lives in a world where it is no until someone says yes. I live in just the opposite world. She sees ruin where I see potential and I see a lot of potential and very little risk. Left to our own nature we could cause a lot of damage to those around us. Together we produce a lot of results and stability.

To give you an idea on how her brain works let me share with you some of her moments.  She is not safe unless all of the locks on the door are engaged, no matter the number. Our front door has for years had two locks and she was perfectly fine secured behind them at night. When I installed a security door last summer to let some air in the house this added two more locks to the front door area. Now at night all four must be locked or she can’t sleep. This is the same woman who once did a combat assault of the house with an umbrella and a cell phone because she thought there might be a burglar inside. She has a deep seeded need to be productive. A typical week for her is:

Monday ~ Friday    : Teach Head Start 10:00 ~ 4:30
Monday         : Kids tennis lessons 5:00 ~ 6:30
Tuesday     : Boy Scouts 7:00 ~ 8:30
Wednesday     : Church service 6:00 ~ 9:00
Friday         : Tennis 5:00 ~ 6:30,  Church service 7:00 ~ 10:00
Saturday        : Seminary School 10:00 ~ 4:00
Sunday         : Worship and teaching 8:30 ~ 4:00

Along with this are shopping, cooking cleaning and chores the kids can't take care of.  I get tired just thinking about all of this but she revels in it. In fact on those rare occasions where the load is lifted she can have some trouble adjusting.  A year ago she had a week where there was nothing to do. School was on break so she was not working, or attending classes. The kids had a lull in all of their activities and she found herself with literally nothing to do. She lasted about twelve hours and then started painting the kids bedrooms. No prior planning, she just had time to look at their walls and decided she did not like white after all. She likes to try new things and is an easy sell for any beauty tips that she feels are worth a little indignity.

I remember shifting position in bed one night and something wet, cold and slimy rubbed against my shoulder. It felt like a slug and as I reached for it I felt a few more against my arms and legs. I shot out of bed and flipped on the light to discover she had cut cucumbers to put on her face and shoulders and they were now all over the bed. At 3 am this is not the best way for someone with my unique talent of indignation to wake up. She bought a juicer for us convinced that liquefied vegetables were better for you than just eating them. She made the most horrendous concoctions of vinegar and carrots and got me to drink it – once. My love for her did not go deep enough for me to drink another. Undaunted she drank this every day until her skin turned orange. The doctors told her to stop because she had consumed enough carrots for the next several years. She nearly always goes to sleep no earlier than midnight, and rises at 5:30 most mornings just to attend morning prayers and intercede to our Lord for her family. She does all of this mostly unrewarded by all of us as we trudge through our days.

How is it possible to take this woman for granted? How is it possible to take God for granted? Yes my wife is an extremist but her heart has the depths of the ocean and beyond for so many people. She touches lives every day and they leave better for it. When she walks into a room the lights are brighter and the faces of those who see her smile with anticipation of fellowship with her. She lives, she lives fully and the love of Jesus lives though her.  Too bad guys; I found her first.

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I have been a writer for most of my adult life with a focus on life experience essays and political commentary.  Since turning my life back to Christ I have devoted my writing to faith and family subjects. It is my mission to describe the face of God as He has revealed it to me.  With words I help others think, laugh and grow.  To know why you believe what you believe and then to embrace a Christ centered life is the mark of a strong Christian and if I can help others achieve this I will mark this life as well spent.  I am a member of Faith Writers on http://www.faithwriters.com.

~Michael

I'm sure that Michael is not the only one who found the apple of his eye. Ladies and gentlemen, let everyone know what makes the love of your life so special by leaving a tribute to him/her below.  Be sure to use the links to share your comments on your social network. Best wishes for a happy and blessed Valentine's Day!

RESPONSE:

Beloved, you have never been able to trust anyone but God, not even your parents.  While it is true that, for a child, parents are to be the closest human representation of God, the Scripture says "Trust God, not man."  Even as a child must grow and learn to trust parents (or more precisely, to trust the God in the parents), as adults we must learn to practice the presence and purpose of God in our lives so that we grow and learn to trust Him, and Him alone.  God is, and has always been,faithful and trustworthy;  but we are not born with the ability to trust Him.  Part of His purpose in history (his story) is reconciling man unto Himself, so that man will trust Him and never doubt His goodness, and truthfulness, and faithfulness and trustworthiness again.  Eve's doubt was the door that let Satan into the garden.  Adam's silence sealed the deal and God has been waiting for man to trust Him ever since.

Please know that dreaming is allowed by God;  may be ordained by God; and certainly can be used by God for His purpose.  Somewhere in your dreams dwells the purpose of God in your life and in the world.  You need to seek His face regarding His perfect and particular purpose in your life;  but, in the world, we know that God's purpose is the reconciling of man unto Himself.  His purpose is pregnant with a desire for greater intimacy with man, better communication with man and eternal fellowship with man.  Are you frustrating the purpose of God in your life and in the world by your selfish and immature response to His gift of dreams?  Have you kept your dream relationship with God to yourself, not giving Him the glory through your personal testimony?  Have you put God into a dream box, and in doing so, put limits on His grace towards you, and on your growth towards Him?

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Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the Faith Forum are not necessarily those of the editor and staff of Say So! Magazine.  Have a question? Please submit your questions to faithforum@saysomagazine.com. Questions will be answered and published on a first come, first served basis. Due to the large volume of questions received, we will not be able give prior notice of the answer being published. Please subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed.

Min. Robert & Dr. Astra Brantley are counselors that have been called to serve the body of Christ. For more information, visit http://www.brantleygroup.com.

 Also read Luke 12:13-21; Matthew 6:20-21; Colossians 3:5

Greed is motivated by selfishness and self-centeredness. I also believe that fear is a factor in greed, at least for some. I can be fearful that my needs will not be provided for, so I grasp and cling to my money and possessions as if there were no tomorrow. A person who is greedy is focused only on himself or herself and often is blind to the needs of others. Greed shows lack of trust in God, for a greedy person does not believe God will provide for him. There is never an “enough” measure for the greedy person—no real satisfaction. Note that the farmer in the parable had to tell himself to “eat, drink, and be merry.” This was not genuine joy and satisfaction but rather a forced and faked happiness. Jesus didn’t say we should not have material blessings or that being rich is a bad thing. He just said our focus needs to be on being “rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).

In recent days, as well as other times in my life, God has shown me that I was spending too much money on clothes. I like pretty clothes, I like to dress fashionably, and I enjoy creating outfits. Now, I know there is nothing inherently evil about having pretty clothes. God knows we need to be clothed! However, it is possible to become greedy and self-indulgent in this area. I already have more than I need, so I believe God is leading me to be a better steward of my finances. In praying on this issue, I have come to the conclusion that God wants me to direct these funds I might have spent on clothes beyond my needs into His Kingdom’s work. With this conviction came an immediate opportunity. I have a friend who is working for a non-profit ministry that helps the hungry and evangelizes the lost. She has to raise her own support and she is the sole breadwinner right now in her family. God impressed upon me to contribute monthly to her support. How rewarding it is for me as I listen to my friend’s stories of how she is able to lead people to Christ through her ministry! Knowing I have contributed to this effort reminds me of Matthew 6:20-21 (KJV): “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” God has freed me from greed, I have been able to help someone else, and I don’t even miss having more clothes to crowd into my closets.
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In ministry for 25 years as a vocalist and conference speaker, B. Kay Coulter is now a freelance book editor and the author of Proverbs for Personalities and Victim/Victor: It’s Your Choice and Free to Be. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother and lives in Temple, Texas. Contact at (800)776-6713. Order books at www.writewayeditorial.com or www.xulonpress.com. Also available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Where is your treasure?  How have you overcome greed in your life, or is it still a struggle for you?  Leave us a comment.

Friday, January 15, 2010 at 7 p.m.

&

Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 5 p.m.

The Ark of Safety Christian Church
9402 Marlboro Pike
Upper Marlboro, Maryland, 20772

www.thearkofsafety.org

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The 22nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Awards Dinner is scheduled for Friday, January 15, 2010,
6:00pm at the La Fontaine Bleue, 7514 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, Maryland.

The keynote address Congresswoman Donna Edwards. Proceeds
from the dinner will go toward establishing the first and
only Coretta Scott King Memorial Gardens in the State of Maryland.
The memorial will be located on the Annapolis campus
of Sojourner Douglass College in Edgewater, Maryland.

More information:  www.mlkmd.org

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Community Day Event - Bishop C. Anthony Muse, Speaker

Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 11am

Marlow Heights - Community Center

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14th Annual Poetry Tribute Poetry Extravaganza 2010

Saturday, January, 16, 2010

1pm - 5pm

MLK, Jr. Memorial Library

901 G St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

by Collective Voices honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

featuring Washington, D.C. Poet Laureate Dolores Kendrick
as this year's Poet of Distinction

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewevent.asp?AuthorID=56467&id=14940

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SCLC Banquet

Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 3pm

Bishop C. Anthony Muse, Keynote Speaker

Contact Mr Bishop at 301.773.1274 Tickets $45

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First Baptist Church of Glenarden & WHUR Radio

A Celebration

Monday, January 18, 2010 at 12:00pm (noon)

600 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774

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Celebrating Prince George's first Black County Executive

Happy Birthday - Wayne Curry

Thursday, January, 21, 2010

6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Camelot by Martin’s

13905 Central Avenue / Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

For sponsorship details contact Terri Roberts:

301.218.4500 / terriwroberts@verizon.net

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Annie's Art Gallery

Thursday, February, 18, 2010

5814 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748

Black History Month - Poetry Open Mic Night

As a single mother I can relate to the struggles and the obstacles that we face financially, emotionally, physically and even spiritually. There appears to be such a lack of balance in the lives of single parent homes but we somehow make it work. I simply want us to be able to make it work even better.

In a practical sense, there are a lot of single mothers who could benefit from simply having the information they need to go back to school, apply for scholarships, obtain adequate childcare or even start a business. Information is power and that is what I hope to be able to provide through the workshop.

In an emotional sense, there are too many single moms who are both physically and emotionally drained because perhaps they have to work 3 jobs or take an undesirable shift that prevents them from spending the quality time at home. Through the workshop I want to be able to pull together resources that will provide solutions and options for these parents.

And finally in a spiritual sense, I need to exercise my faith so that others can see the testimony of how God has carried me through. If He can do it for me, He can also do the same for someone else. Trusting God to supply all of my needs may be an unfamiliar concept to some of the parents that I no doubt will encounter but I want others to know and understand that God IS the source of all resource. Establishing a strong spiritual foundation is critical for walking in victory as a single parent. I want to make sure that those who see and hear me will know that my help comes from the Lord.

Ultimately, the purpose of the workshop is to empower, inspire and encourage single mothers to not just talk victory but to truly be able to walk in victory and no longer be a victim. We often settle into being a victim to circumstance, a victim to society, a victim of someone else’s or even our own poor choices but it is time for us to take a stand and claim the victory that Christ has already won for us.

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Are you a victorious single mother?  Leave us a comment to let us know how you are living victoriously!

Work originates from God as we see that in the beginning of Genesis one. Through Adam and Eve’s sin, the world was perverted and work became a curse (Genesis 3:17-19).Today, we work out of toil and strife. Everyone wants to climb the corporate ladder. Work no longer is an enjoyment but a striving after the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:14). We work to gain recognition rather than enjoy our task for the glory of God. Many fall into the trap of work syndrome; we work because we have to, not because we want to. Work then becomes a chore, and many are tired of it.

We see in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, that God wants to bless our work, for this is His heritage. He wants us to rejoice in our labor for this is the gift of God. God wants to keep us busy with the joy of His heart, not always striving to prove to others that we are good. We can enjoy our work because God ordained it. We should work to please God and not ourselves or men.

What then should our attitude towards work be like? In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, the Bible says if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. Laziness has no place in the kingdom of God. The Bible specifically instructed us to work, or else we don’t eat. We must come out of the mentality that work is a curse, and sees it as an ordination from God. We see in Genesis 1:26, that God gave the dominion of this world to man. “…let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Man is given the responsibility to tend and man the earth. What we do with our profession is vitally important as to how we achieve the results of our work. We must be like Abel when God was pleased with his offering (Genesis 4:4). God must be pleased with our work. We must offer our best in everything that we do. Just like Daniel, we need to have an excellent spirit (Daniel 6:3). We must not let others find fault in us as we see that Daniel was faithful and there was no error or fault found in Him ( Daniel 6:4).

We must work hard to achieve our goals and visions according to the will of God, and not according to our own will. Many of us do not fulfill our calling because we choose to do our own thing and be recognized by men. When we have a mission call in our lives, we shun it. We choose to disobey God because we have not committed our work to Him. Our work must be acted out for His glory, not ours. Each one of us has our own destiny, and we must work out of our destiny with a final goal in mind; and that is to please God and be in His perfect will.

How one views work is important. We must see work in the eyes of God. The challenges that we face each day must give us the motivation to work and enjoy our tasks. Many people do not enjoy their work because of their attitude. We can enjoy our work as we enjoy our relationship with God. Those who excel well in their work enjoyed their task because their attitude is right, both towards God and work.

We must give our work to God. It is through committing our work to Him daily that we can enjoy the joy of working and producing good results. As we commit our work to God, we find that every task is easy. This has been my experienced as each time when I commit my work to Him, He blesses my work with efficiency and good flow of thoughts. Just like a child who is dependent on his father for every little small detail, what to buy or eat, likewise our Heavenly wants to guide us in every detail of our lives. Every decision is important to God because He wants the very best for us. By committing our work to Him, we are committing our lives to Him.

There is no success as sweet as when we know that we are approved by God and every detail of our work is for His glory. We must have the goal to want to do all things for His glory. It is only through His glory that we can accomplish much. Our success comes from God and our work must be committed to Him so that we can soar like an eagle in our work.