WHEN LIFE DOES NOT SEEM FAIR

 

 

Most of us, at one time or another, have encountered painful experiences.  So much so that it often brings tears to our eyes, frustration sets in, and our spirit becomes grieved.  Our nights become long and dreary, stress levels escalate, burdens become heavy, and our hearts feel the pain of brokenness.  There seem to be no hope, or at least the little hope that we might be able to hang onto seems dim and gloomy.  And, if that is not bad enough, our flesh begins to hold a conversation with us on how we got ourselves into this predicament in the first place.  It is during such encounters as these that we conclude that "life does not seem fair."

 

Because of the excruciating pain we experience, we try to make sense of what is happening.  It is only when we walk through adverse situations such as these that we become an inspiration and an encourager to others.  If God allow it, then He has a purpose for it.  The challenge is to leave behind the turmoil of misery and frustration and allow God to turn those adversities into blessings.  In First Peter 4:12, 16, and 19, Peter stated, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."  The world has much to offer, but what it offers tarnishes with use and fades with time.  Jesus said in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulations: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

 

Therefore, it is imperative that we stay connected to the source by:

 

1.  Praying and seeking God's face (Psalm 18:6; Psalm 77:1-2);

2.  Studying the Word and meditating upon it (Psalm 119:105; 92);

3.  Worshipping God (Job 1:20; Habakkuk 3:17-19); and

4.  Trustsing God to work thngs out (Psalm 7:1; 9:9-10; 118:8; Romans 8:28).

 

This is a sure formula because it takes us out of the equation and we can rest upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Sometimes life is not fair and it is certainly unpredictable.  Nevertheless, we must keep our eyes fixed on Christ and find strength in Him.

 

So let me encourage you.  When our flesh gets ahead of our faith, and we find ourselves chiming in on "life not seemingly fair", take a leap of faith by standing firm on the foundation of God's eternal Word.  He will turn our darkest nights into brighter days, our battles into victories, and our heaviest burdens into the greatest blessings.  Let Him have it.  The battle is His, and He will always bcome our VICTORIOUS!

 

 

 

 

WHEN TROUBLE COMES

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1). Trouble is inevitable, and we have all had and will continue having bouts with it. It is the "Straw that broke the camel's back." Trouble is like a member of the family - every time we look around, it is there. It is a powerful keg of explosives that damages and destroys families, friendships, relationships, and memberships. Its strong current of destruction brews and zaps us like a bolt of lightning that strikes when we least expect it. In other words, trouble is one of those storms we face in life that does not play fair. Sometimes its explosions are so powerful and furious until it gives us a sudden urge to give up because of fear. That fear hinders our ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and our lives begin to look bleak and hopeless. Other times, trouble can appear as a tiny 'firecracker' with just enough 'bang' to remind us that "it is still there."

From another perspective, we sometimes become confused about what steps to take when trouble does come. During those crucial moments, the Lord protects and shelters us from danger, in harm way, by hiding us under his pavilion like a mother hen protecting her chicks. "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock." (Psalm 27:5). Who is better able to protect us from danger than the One who birthed us into the world?

The Late Timothy Wright wrote a song entitled, "Trouble Don't Last Always". Hallelujah! We are assured by our unwavering faith in the Word of God that when trouble does come we have a Savior who will guide us through every situation. Our problems may seem grim, but God promises that He will never put more on us than we can bear. A testament to that promise is reflected when we prevail during the course of us going into, going through, or coming out of a storm, that the end results cannot be attributed to us but by our faith in Jesus Christ.

Trouble is truly on every hand, and no matter how swift we are on our feet, it will eventually catch up with us. But having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ renews our spiritual strength and endurance to meet some problems with a degree of expectancy. For the battles we encounter are not ours; they are the Lord's. " . . . when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." (Psalm 61:2(b)(c)).

WHICH ROAD ARE YOU TRAVELING?

"Two road diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth . . . I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Excerpts from Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" are metaphorically symbolic of Jesus' sayings in Matthew 7:13-14. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Think about it! The question asked is not unusual or unreasonable because many of us have had to chose and have become acquainted with these roads in life. So which will you choose -the road to life and eternity, or the road to death and destruction?

Jesus compares the way to eternal life to an entrance through a gate - a "strait" gate. The strait gate is narrow and difficult to enter. This means that the way to Heaven is narrow and even though salvation is a gift of God, it was with much difficulty that the Father purchased our redemption through the sufferings, death, burial, and resurrection of His only begotten Son. God's word assures us that Jesus is the WAY and the GATE. If God, who loves us so, had not prepared the WAY and provided the GATE, we would still be lost with no way into Heaven to live with Him forever. But, since Jesus is the WAY, the choice becomes ours as to whether we will choose the path He has set before us - a very important decision regarding our salvation.

Unlike Robert Frost, we should not experience such difficulty in deciding which road to travel, even though he eventually chose the right road. But, if for some reason you come to the bend in the road and you are still unsure about which road you should be traveling, read II Peter 3:7, 9-10. "But the heavens and earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." Which road are you traveling? The choice is yours! "And if it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . ."

(Joshua 24:15). Tomorrow is not promised, but there is hope in the one who holds tomorrow.

HIDE ME UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY

There is a beautiful song by Pastor Bruce Parham entitled "Hide Me" that speaks volume to my soul. To "hide" means to put out of sight; to conceal for shelter or protection; to keep secret; to turn (the eyes or face) away in shame or anger; and to remain out of sight. After reading and meditating on the very core of these definitions, I unequivocally understand what Pastor Parham is conveying to his listeners through this song. Personally, it ensures me that since Jesus loves me so that He is willing to hide me in Christ - under the shadow of the Almighty. This testimony of Pastor Parham should also be the testimony of every Christian who loves the Lord.

The words of the song are - "Lord hide me in thy glory, in the secret place of your holiness and grace; That's where I'll worship in thy presence, I'll bless your name and give you reverence; Hide me where your hands of mercy covers me from the enemy . . . Hide me from circumstance; Hide me when I want to take one more chance, Hide me when my strength is weak; Hide me when my eyes want to take one more glance . . . Oh hide me, hide me Jesus, Hide me from the enemy; oh, I'm asking you Lord to hide me Jesus; hide me . . . hide me, even if the enemy you hide is me." These are some of the most powerful words in the song that makes the plea to Jesus so profoundly humble and submissive.

Just think about it. When we are hidden in Jesus, He covers us; we are surrounded by Him; we have nothing to fear because He protects us; He assures us that He is always there; we are not alone; and we will produce spiritual fruits. Colossians 3:3-4 says, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." So we must first and foremost die to the flesh and ask Jesus to hide us from everything that hinders us from allowing Him to direct our path - "even if the enemy you hide is me."

Being covered by Jesus' blood sustains us when Satan rears its ugly head up seeking to destroy us. But, be encouraged. Psalm 27:5 assures us that "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me upon a rock (out of the reach of my enemy)."

Be still, and know that I am God . . . ." (Psalm 46:10)

WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE?

Almost three years ago, Pastor introduced Pilgrim to the slogan of moving from "I Can" to "I Will". And even though that slogan was ushered into the hearts and minds of the congregants, it is far removed from its original intent. I believe that we forget that when we make a vow of commitment, it is to God Almighty and not entirely to the person responsible for introducing it. Pastor has no magic wands to "make" people do the work of the church, but he can hold us accountable. Remember, where there is no vision, the people perishes. If anyone perishes under Pastor's watch, it will be because of their failure to fully commit to God and for fear of change. Prayer is an important component in situations involving fear. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths". The same God who is able to make rocks cry out is still inviting us to follow Him.

And now that 2009 has arrived, let's take a "Holy" examination of our relationship to God; our fellowship with one another; and as leaders our commitment to lead, follow, or move out of the way. When we lead falsely, it causes people who may not be as astute in the Word as they should be, to follow the wrong path, and can cause them to fall out of fellowship with God and his/her brethren. There is a saying that, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything". We are falling for those things that hindered us in the past; we are falling for acceptance at any cost; we are falling for something new in Jesus which will never happen. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever more.

So, Fellow Christians, I challenge you to stop gazing up into the sky; look around you; embrace that individual whom you have not spoken to in months or even years; embrace that individual that sits next to you each Sunday without uttering a word; embrace that individual who may feel inferior because of a perception of us having uncaring hearts. What if Jesus treated us the way we treat each other, or the way we deserve to be treated. Nobody is better than anybody else. Unfortunately, some may think they are, but in Jesus' eyesight, we are all the same. Only what we do for Christ will last - the other superficial things outside the realm of love is "vanity".

Solomon, the old Preacher, says "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil". (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) The best is yet to come!

EXCERPTS FROM "LOOKING BACK AT WHAT COST?"

A few weeks have passed since we participated in and witnessed a spirit-filled Women's Day Conference. Thanks to the Conference Chairperson and her committee, every "T" was crossed, every "I" was dotted, and we had an awesome experience in the Name of the Lord. Each class was facilitated by such phenomenal, Godly women who unselfishly shared with us their expertise on their respective topics. And, our Guest Speaker for the Sunday Morning Worship Service just put the icing on the cake. I applaud all of you who planned these events, our guests, and everyone who participated. Further, I trust that with all of the excitement, tears of joy, and having such a mountaintop experience, that our lives were impacted so that it brought about a sense of spiritual renewal within us.

The scriptures referenced for Women's Day 2008, Genesis 19:17-26 and Galatians 5:1, from man's enslavement to his freedom, led to the theme, "Looking Back at What Cost?" This theme served as a warning to us of the consequences we face when we continuously look back, taking our eyes off the cross. Thus, this particular scripture also speaks of God's warning Lot by sending two angels to Sodom to compel him to get himself and his family out of that city. ". . . because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it." (Genesis 19:13) Lot was told to escape for his life, where to go, and to not look back, lest thou be consumed. But, Lot's wife, for whatever reasons, looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Why did Lot's wife look back? Why are you looking back? "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:13-15). Also, in Luke 9:62, Jesus again warns us that, ". . . no man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God." Therefore, if Jesus is not in our front view, then we are looking in the wrong direction.

So, let me introduce you to my Guide, my bike partner, who is reliable and He makes sure that my mission is clear. He is the One who brought us from slavery to freedom by the shedding of His precious blood on Calvary's cross. Come on; get on the bike with Jesus and me. We don't have to do all of the peddling; He will change places with us when we get tired. There is no need to fear. He knows the route well, and He is the only one who can help us reach out destination, Heaven. However, one very important prerequisite is that we must have been on the bike long enough to get to know Jesus personally.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. AMEN.

CAN WE NOT ALL JUST GET ALONG FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST?

When tempers flare and attitudes need adjusting, it makes one want to just throw up their hands and say "forget this". And, if the individuals' acts of impropriety are not bad enough, they try to justify such behavior. But, if the truth be told, this is an attention-getter. Some people's egos are like addicts; they need stroking or, they will throw a tantrum. This is a deceptive motive but unfortunately sometimes it gets them the attention that they want. While it would be easy to walk away from a situation such as this, the Holy Spirit just will not allow us to do it. He immediately intercedes and reminds us that Jesus would handle the situation(s) totally different in a much nicer, more loving, kinder, gentler way.

So what is the problem? The problem is that these people need a spiritual renewal---a discipline of the mind and heart. We should embrace them when they are hurting or in pain; but again, if it is only to get attention, then these people need to seek someone with more discernment than us. Sometimes the only thing we can do for these individuals is to advise them; give them a Word. A thorough search of our hearts and souls will determine if we are contributors to satan's attacks on our lives. One of the hardest things to do is to admit when we are "wrong". Admittance of such, however, will begin the healing process. We cause some of the hurt in our own lives because of our tongue, selfish pride, and as a result we reap what we sow. We should never sow discord among our brothers and sisters because this is one of the things that God says HE HATES. (Proverbs 6:19) Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to change our bad habits, thought patterns, and selfish acts. They will get you nowhere, but will cause a lot of grief.

R - E - S - P - E - C - T is a word that has to always be in the forefront of our mind, body, and soul because it seems difficult to respect those whom we do not love. But the Bible makes it very clear, WE MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Christ commands it. So, let's stop playing games, plotting, and scheming. We are the ones who are supposed to carry God's Messages to the lost. And, when we get caught up in worldly things, we lose our drawing power.

Spiritual renewal allows us to look at life differently, and gives us a different perspective on the people whom we shy away from. All of us are God's children. So do not pat yourselves on your chest too boastfully, because God loves us all the same. "For there is no respect of persons with God". (Romans 2:9) He is an advocate for all of us. And, if we do not love or respect each other on earth, God is not getting any glory when we PRETEND to glorify Him. We say we love God; God says we are LIARS, if we hate our brothers. (1 John 4:20)

Having a new mind in Christ makes our lives better; our walk with Him will be clearer and not cloudy or doubtful; and our focus will be on the Cross, not on ourselves. God is still standing with outstretched arms waiting for us to CHANGE. Get your attitudes off your shoulders and come join the rest of us in the spirit of love, fellowship, and joy! We have too much work to do for the cause of Christ to allow the world to deter/detain us! So let's stay focused on the things that is important to Jesus Christ.

And, in spite of it all, may God continue to richly bless and keep each of you in perfect peace as you keep your minds stayed on Him. It is not about you; it is about JESUS!

SEEING WITH THE HEART

"Let no man deceive himself. If any among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. (1 Corinthians 3:18-19).

We know of many people who may be knowledgeable, but few are wise. Wisdom is not about how smart we are, but it is a mean by which we have an humbling spirit that allows us to accept the fact that someone else can teach us something about ourselves that we do not already know. The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 1:7 that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

True wisdom which comes from God begins with a holy life. James 3:14-18 says "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." Having said that, wisdom provides us the knowledge and ability to make the right choices at the right time, and serves as a mean by which people learn to love and get along. Wisdom helps us to, when we make mistakes, learn from them; accept our weaknesses by getting closer to God through the study of his word; and when faced with oppositions or problems, having the ability to give it to God. Most of the time our hearts know the wisest course to take, but we may still choose a foolish path. The lessons most learned comes not from our successes, but from our failures. And, our foolish choices may lead us down a path we never planned to take, but directs us by divine intervention back to the road we left behind. The old Psalmist says, we should ask God to "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12).

God is on his way back for the Church. His time is not our time - "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4). Don't be fooled. Our hearts see and show the things about us that we want hid from others. But remember, God is all-wise and all-knowing. So if anyone lacks wisdom, ask God.

FAITH HOLDS THE KEY

I bow in humble submission before Jesus Christ for His mercy, grace, and love toward me. Everything I am and everything I ever hope to be will come to pass because of His goodness. I do not take life for granted because the Word of God tells me that we do not know the day nor the hour that the Son of Man cometh. Therefore, each day that the Lord allows us to see, we should make things right with Him and our fellowman.

Women of God, women of Pilgrim, I thank you for your love, support, and encouragement. In my prayers for you, I ask God to bless each of you and to bring us closer together as one body in Christ. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we are bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." (I Cor. 12:13-14) So, as Christians let's not allow anything to hinder us from receiving God's promises.

Let us stay close as a family, stay focused, and stay faithful. Ephesians 6:16 talks about ...taking "the shield of faith...." The shield of faith is a vital part of the Christian armor. We are to put on the "whole armor of God" because the Christian life is a warfare, a spiritual conflict. As Paul mentions the different parts of the Christian armor, he emphasizes the shield of faith and its importance. He says that by taking the shield of faith, nothing can hurt you; you are more than conquerors through Him. But, without faith: you cannot be saved; cannot live victoriously over the world; cannot please God; cannot pray; cannot have peace with God; cannot have joy; you are justified by faith; you are to live by faith; Christ dwells in our hearts by faith; the Holy Spirit is received by faith; and "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

When we allow our faith to abound, it honors God, and God always honor faith.

Be strong my sisters, and keep the faith!

WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE CHILDREN OF FAMILIES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

A few Saturdays ago, I attended the Not To Believers Like Us (N2BLU) Seminar on Domestic and Family Violence. Someone once said that confession is good for the soul; so I am confessing that prior to attending the seminar, I was totally ignorant of the statistical data associated with domestic violence. The specificity of violence was an eye-opener for me, and having spoken with victims of domestic violence, I was even more baffled by the fact that violence of this magnitude actually exists. I have never doubted that domestic and family violence occur, I just did not know to what extent. And to know the different facets of violence were even more disturbing so much so that it caused me to reflect back to March 1989, when my best friend and college roommate was fatally stabbed to death as a result of violence at the hands of a boyfriend.

The information and resources available at the seminar were astronomical with emphasis placed mainly on battered women - which I can understand because more women are battered than men - but, what about the children? How do they cope with violence in the family and who speaks for them? I have noticed lately that the media is exposing perpetrators who are taking advantage of babies and younger children. (This does not excludes older children and adults). Just recently a perpetrator was arrested for having sexually molested a three-year-old girl for four years. And it appeared, according to the media, that the girl was so traumatized, she totally blotted out what had happened to her. This is just one story. There are many. Some we hear about; some we do not. Some are in other cities, states, and countries; some are in our neighborhoods.

We, as a society, must get involved and speak up for those who can not speak for themselves. Children are being killed, stolen, sold, and used as "sex objects". If we do not speak for them - WHO WILL? If we do not do it now - WHEN? Love and compassion are virtues of Jesus Christ which we must exemplify. We can no longer be silent because no family (house) is exempt, and violence has no regard to race, creed, color, national origin, or gender. Victims of domestic and family violence are hurting, and we must be an advocate for them and their children. We do care, and from the seminar, we may now be in a better posture to identify and understand the emotional scars associated with abuse. I pray that God will soften our hearts so that the victims can feel safe and secure in seeking the help they so desperately need. "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor. 12:9) BE BLESSED MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND STAY PRAYERFUL!

LORD, I OWE YOU SO MUCH! I OWE YOU EVERYTHING!

Reflecting back over my life during the time when I accepted Christ as my Savior, and Him having called me out of darkness into His marvelous light, I realize that I owe Jesus "every ounce of my being". I owe Him the best that I have - my talents, my service and devotion, my all. By rendering service to Jesus, I must follow His examples by serving my fellowman. The qualities of good character, a virtuous life, a sense of dependability, a right attitude of kindness and love toward my neighbors and all with whom I come in contact, being just in my dealings with my fellowman, helping in times of need, sickness, or distress, being temperate in all things, and avoiding anything harmful to my body are also owed to Him.

As His servant, I have an obligation to the church by witnessing about the goodness and wondrous love and redemption found in Jesus Christ. Matthew 22:21 states " . . . Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's". Therefore, I must support the church financially as the Lord has prospered me in an effort for the Lord's work to continue.

My spiritual strength comes from my desire to grow in grace and the consummation of that desire filters through a life of prayer and Bible study so that my service will be unto His glory. And, while I may fall far short of my duties and obligations to God and the church, His grace is sufficient for me to continue climbing up the mountain of despair by way of leading me around the stumbling blocks that Satan puts in my path. God's favor and my faith allow me to count it all joy when I am tried and tested, and I can rejoice in spite of my circumstances. JESUS has already overcome the world. LORD, SPEAK TO ME SO THAT I MAY SPEAK!

BROKENNESS

From the earliest days of our lives, we have lived in a world of broken things. Broken homes, broken hearts, broken bodies, broken vows, shattered dreams, and broken lives are all too prevalent even to those of us who have a distinct, personal relationship with the Lord. All along the way lies fragments of things that we once considered hope and joy; and dreams of happiness and success. Everything must be broken before it can be used. Jesus' principle of brokenness is stated in John 12:24: ". . . except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." This symbolizes a journey of life from the cradle to the grave. Even at birth, we must be broken away from our mothers; and as we journey down life's path, our course takes us places where we are met with brokenness.

Are you broken? If you are, here is a bit of hope and comfort for you. God, through His Son Jesus, has every broken piece in the lives of His children to fit somewhere in the complete portrait of His divine, eternal kingdom. If you are broken, it is the assurance that Jesus is making you useful by making you better, more beautiful, and more enduring for His Glory.

Until Jesus died on Calvary - "And when He had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me" - 1 Cor. 11:24 - all the impossibilities became possible. We think of broken things as a loss, but God turns them into gain. Even in nature, broken things are cast aside; but in Grace, God will never use a man until he is broken and his usefulness serves a purpose.

Yes, broken things are common in all our lives, and no one can escape them!

REBUILDING THE BRIDGE

In rebuilding a bridge to span the gap created between older and younger women, its completion provides the foundational structure to reach beyond our differences and adhere to Paul's call in Titus 2:3-5. (Read the scripture). It is imperative that we equip a generation of women to be God's servants to live a holy, righteous life. Older women's power to compel younger women to resort back to the fold has but almost become stagnated. There is a serious breakdown in the line of communication and in nurturing. And we have become too complacent in our spreading of the Gospel. It is our duty to rebuild the bridge. In order to build, there are certain tools that we must have in order to start on its foundation: a love for God and our fellowman, a commitment to be holy, having a daily prayer and bible study life, and seeking God's guidance through the entire process. God has left us with the awesome responsibility of training younger women. If we do not train them, we are most likely in danger of producing a generation of women who neither will know nor understand what is required for holy living. The bridge will be rebuilt. Are you up to the challenge?

How Committed Are You?

Effective persuasion is the "order of the day", and is an ingredient necessary for church members to grow. Everybody must be a team player, and the role each one plays is essential. When we display a perception of what we think of others, think about the perception others have of us.

Do you ever wonder if those who head our committees and boards are fully committed to their roles and responsibilities? If you do, then, "How committed are you?" And even though the only person we can change is ourselves, the question remains. This could be a haunting reminder that something is missing. We must be a catalyst to those who lead so they can be the most effective, persuasive leaders capable of making intelligent decisions, handling differences of opinions, and relieving tensions. Committed leaders must practice what is found in Ephesians 4:1-3, "...walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Thus, the leaders good feelings about themselves and their relationship with God tend to attract others who want to see what their enthusiasm and excitement are all about. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works....." (Matt. 5:16) When we do not take our obligations seriously, we not only disappoint ourselves, but God, and those who entrusted the authority in us.

THE PRICE TAG OF FORGIVENESS

There is an old cliche' that says "time will heal all wounds." However, a wound left unattended will either take a long time to heal, or it will not heal at all. Old wounds and scars can hinder church growth, destroy relationships, and even cause health issues. Read the passages of scriptures in Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13 to further understand the concept of forgiveness.

We must learn to live together in harmony. But living in harmony takes Christ being in the center of our lives. "Treat" people the way you want to be treated. Learn with Jesus' help how to forgive.

There is an expensive price tag to pay for non-forgiveness. It is "pride", and God will not forgive us if we won't forgive our fellowman.

Take the self exam. Stop looking at others faults but look within yourself.

Be encouraged and of good cheer!