Get Excited About Jesus!

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

 

            This week we have discussed how to deal with difficult times.  There is no better way to shift your frustration and change your situation than to concentrate  on God the Father and Our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Personally, I have been dealing with some things that could have me down or depressed. I have been forced to go through a tough situation but….The Holy Spirit reminded me of this one thing.  “Get Excited About Jesus!”  That is what I heard.  I thought about it. Get Excited About Jesus!

  Get excited about Jesus because although I am dealing right now, I know whom I trust in  and I know I serve a God that cannot fail. Get excited about His saving grace.  I could have been killed years ago when I was carjacked at gunpoint but He spared my life through the Blood of His Protection. Get excited about Jesus because He is still alive and interceding for the saints! Get excited about Jesus because He loves me! He loved me at my worse.  He loved me at my best.  He loved me when I did not love myself! Get excited about Jesus! Get excited about Jesus!

Turn your situation into an opportunity to bless the Name of Jesus!  I promise you cannot continue to be down or even worried when you get excited about Jesus!  He has done so much already and He is still performing miracles today. He is Worthy To be Praised!

 

Excited About Jesus!

Brother Clarence

 

Handling Difficult Times

^{Philippians  4}

 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

                There is so much unrest in the world today. In our own country , protest are happening all across the United States of America.  Regardless where you stand or the position you take, we as Christians are not removed from the problems of the world. In fact, some Christians are the cause for some of the problems today.  However, the text today gives us insight on how to handle and approach life in difficult times.  The bible says, In Everything”  not some things  but in everything that we do , everything that we face; we should pray!  We are to approach God for the answers. Yes, we should be praying and we should be seeking the wisdom of God in every situation.  Do we always do that?

                Regardless of how you answered that question, today is an opportunity.  We can invite God into our lives and our personal affairs or we can continue to do things on our own.  I have learned it is much better  to include  God in your decisions.  I have had to learn to operate in patience and stay with God instead of leaning to my own understanding.  Trust me,  you will only be able to go so far  until you have to repent and get it right.  It is better to start with God in the beginning. He is more than able to guide us through difficult times.

 

Brother Clarence

 

The Tongue

The Untamable Tongue

James

3 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ² For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ³ Indeed,^[a] we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.^[b]

 

<sup>Our words are powerful!  Let’s take these thoughts  into our homes, churches, and communities and glorify God with our words and conversation.  Have a great weekend!

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com</sup>

What You Know

^{James 4}

¹⁷ Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin

 

 

                  This week we have been discussing what we should or should not be saying as Christians  and using the scriptures as our guide.  The truth be told, I  believe all of us have said things that we wish we did not say or done things that we wish we had not.  I find it interesting that God is dealing with our mouth and the words  and conversations that we have on a daily basis?  Why are our words important to God?   Think about It!

                Today’s thought is simple to understand  but not always easy to follow if we are lead by our own flesh (motives, likes, dislikes, prejudices etc.)  The main thing that we should remember is if it has been brought to our attention and we continue to do it anyway, it is sin.   We know what is right.  We know when our conversations are not right.  I believe our Loving God is only presenting us all with an opportunity to fine tune our conversations.  To not speak against one another and be judgmental and to use our voice more for the kingdom . He loves us enough to say, You can do better.  This week let’s really focus on our words!

   “ Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it , to him it is sin.”

 

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

What You Say!

James 4

Do Not Judge a Brother

¹¹ Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹² There is one Lawgiver,^[d] who is able to save and to destroy. Who^[e] are you to judge another?^[f]

    

     Do a lot of your conversations start and end with you talking about someone?  Are you passing judgments on the behavior of other people?  Are you a judgmental Christian or  are you sending everybody to hell?  Well the bible says for us to not speak evil of one another.  SO here are some examples of evil speaking that you can judge and see if you need to take them out of your mouth.  This exercise  is for you personally  not anyone else. “What You Say!”

 

1.        I can’t stand Joyce.  She makes me sick.  

2.       I don’t know how she/he got  that promotion. 

3.       Did you hear Miss So and So daughter is pregnant.  She just like her momma.

4.       That boy will never be worth anything.  He is so dumb and stupid.

5.        Why is she dressed like that at work, look like she trying to audition for Love and Hip Hop Birmingham.

 

     If these conversations  remind you of yourself then recognize it , acknowledge it to God and change (repent).  Your mouth and the words that come from it were meant to create and give life not destroy other people in the process.   Only God is our judge!  “What You Say!”

    

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

 

Positive Influence

                By now, all of our kids are back in school.  This year, let’s all be positive influences in the lives of our family, kids, and neighbors.   We live in a negative society.  They consistently boast about negative statistics- How many kids drop out?   How many are doing drugs and so on.  When we are  born, we are equipped with everything we need to succeed.  From that moment of birth, satan strategically  begins to tell you that you are not equipped to win in life. satan plants lies of deception, low self esteem, and  insecurity from birth and most of the time he uses the people closest to you.  I had so many negative images of myself as a child  because  my father spoke   negative and destructive  things over my life.  My Mother was the voice of praise, love and encouragement.

                So many parents and relatives are voices of discouragement to their own family and some never realize that their words bring life or death to their children.  So today, decide not be a negative person.  Decide to be a voice of optimism for your family.  Be a positive influence in their life because satan will use you before they get in the world to kill, steal, and destroy if you allow him to do so.  Don’t be a fool! Be that voice of positive influence!

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit

 

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

 

 

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Grace To Live

2 Corinthians 9:8

⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

 

I was really saddened by the apparent suicide death of  actor and comedian Robin Williams.  Some of his movies, I just really loved especially Mrs. Doubtfire and Jumangi.    I believe he was a great comedian and actor.  It does bring me to this point, “ Success does not necessarily bring you happiness or keeps you happy.”  I know that I dream about the millions of dollars and the houses and the expensive getaway vacations and I believe Robin Williams experienced that.  I dream about having $300,000  cars and yachts and I believe Robin Williams could afford that but it has been stated that he was dealing with depression. 

             Life can be hard.  Life can be challenging and life can seem unbearable but there is a grace to living.   There is hope for Christians and there is a grace that God gives for us to live.  In difficult situations, we have to claim what God has given us.  Our God says, ask for it.  We have to ask for grace and claim grace.  A definition of grace is  God doing and performing  in me  what I cannot do by myself.    

            When life gets hard ask for grace.  When bills get too much -ask for grace.  When sin seems unbreakable in your life- ask for grace.   When depression attacks - ask for grace!  It is available to all of God’s children and it is available for you and me.  I thank you Lord for Grace!

 

 

 

Be Blessed

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Be Thankful

 

     I was made to give God Praise!  I was created for Praise and I was created for relationship.  Today, I just want to say thank you Lord.  August 5^th, I celebrated 19 years of marriage.    It has not been easy.  It has not been a Cinderella story but I have been blessed  beyond measure.  Just because God so fit to use this confused young man filled with insecurities and doubt.  A young man that always smiled even when hurt and unsure to be a Godly King!  A Proclaimer! A Husband!  A Father! An Exhorter! A Deliverer!  To God Be Praised!

 

    So today, All I am saying is I am thankful. I am thankful to God, My father; My Hope and Shield; My Provider  and Source; My Strength and Courage; My All and All;  your servant Clarence Threatt is thankful. I am thankful for the journey! I am thankful for the victory! I am thankful!

 

     Wherever you might find yourself today, take the time to reflect on the goodness of God in your own life and I guarantee you will be thankful!

 

Psalm 34:1-3

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
² My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
³ Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Learning From Gentle Giants

“ I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou

 

 

      Life is a journey we are all on.  It is a “everyday Lesson.”  Take the time today to smile, take the time today to laugh.  Take the time today to love.  Take the time today to forgive. Take the time today to enjoy life and the people you share it with.  Sometimes we make mistakes and sometimes we make the wrong decisions but we must never stop loving and we must never stop forgiving. We must never stop thriving to be better.  We  should thrive to be better spouses.  We should thrive to be better parents.  We should thrive to be better friends, neighbors and co workers because we are all on the journey of life and the quality of it is based on your ability to thrive!

 

You are a major contributor to life.  What are you sharing  and what are you giving?

 

      I believe Maya Angelou tapped into her purpose and began to share that purpose with love and passion with us.  Life did not defeat her but she used her life experiences positive and negative to inspire and be a catalyst for change and she did it with style, class and dignity.  She inspired our nation and touched our souls. On  yesterday our nation and  and city lost people who were major contributors.

Truthfully, “ Aren’t we all here to do the same thing?

 

 

A True Thought this morning……

Brother Clarence

 

Grace For Life

Matthew 18:1

¹⁸ “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

 

     I was really saddened by the stories of the three young boys that lost their lives in swimming accidents over the Memorial Weekend holiday.  It just reminded me how much we need the Lord for life.  We need Him involved in our everyday activity.  We need the Lord.

    This is an evil world we live in.  I do believe that the enemy will do anything to kill, steal, and destroy.  Jesus did  not pray to take us out of the world but to keep us from the evils of this world.  The scripture today tells the believer that He or She can bind (forbid) and loose (give permission) to things that pertain to the believer.   This is not a message just for Christians, this is a message to us who believe the Word of God. 

    “ Right now I bind the spirit of tragedy, accidents, killings, shootings and every evil work of the enemy that will try to destroy, kill, or steal from my family.  I loose My angels of Protection that are assigned to me  and my family today to guide a clear path free from accidents and tragedies over my life and my family.  I thank you Lord for divine protection according to Your  word in Psalm 91.”

I just had to get personal!

    It is time out for allowing satan to run wild.  Use the authority that we have In Christ!  I believe God’s grace is sufficient. We must stand on the Word of God and bind and loose things into the atmosphere personally, professionally, and cooperatively. I believe there is a grace to help us live  and a grace to help us use Our God given authority.

Be Blessed

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

 

Prayer for Our City, Leaders, Officers, and Citizens

James 5:16
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much

     This weekend our city suffered more senseless acts of violence.  Unfortunately, it has been happening and will continue to happen around us.  The issue I am really disturbed about is the blatant disregard for life.  Life is a gift and we all should  all appreciate the time we have here on this earth.

     Nothing will change if we don't.  People of God it is time to pray specifically for our city, leaders, officers and fellow neighbors.  The Christian community needs to intercede in prayer.  I believe the scriptures. "The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous avails much."

     I believe that we should pray for our city.  I believe we should pray for our leaders.  I believe we should pray for our officers.  I believe we should pray for our communities, neighbors, friends and families.  It is our responsibility!   No one else will do it if we don't .
     This is not the time to be in fear.  This is not the time to start acting afraid and timid.  This is the time to boldly approach the Throne of God in petition of where we work, live and play.  I refuse to let fear take over.  We cannot let fear, crime and violence win.  We must pray!
    All I know is I feel the unction to pray.  I know that prayer is our way of inviting God into our situations and life.  I know that prayer works and  changes things.  I know that we must walk by faith and nor by sight. 
     This week, lets take our morning thoughts, lunch breaks and pray all week. 
                                  
Today 

I am asking all of God's people who are at City Hall to meet me in prayer in the break room on the ground floor of City Hall  at 11:00 am today to pray and intercede for our city, our leaders, officers  and  citizens.  Let's pray together and bind the forces of evil today and loose God's Protection, provision, and deliverance over this City today!
    If you are not at City Hall , get with your co workers of faith and pray with us today at 11:00 am wherever you are. If you cannot take your break at this time, please pray at your desk or wherever you can. We are not trying to stop all work activities but to pray when you can.(Check with your supervisors if this is not your scheduled break time)  Saints it's time to pray!  

                                                  Prayer For City ( For those who can make it)
                                                  11:00 am Ground Floor Break room (City Hall) and anywhere else


Brother Clarence
www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Praise Is Your Breakthrough"He is Waiting"

Matthew 28

New King James Version (NKJV)

He Is Risen

28 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door,^[a] and sat on it. ³ His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. ⁴ And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

⁵ But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. ⁷ And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

⁸ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

 

  All this week,  We have talked about the power of Praise and its importance in our relationship with Christ.  This weekend, Christians celebrate Easter or as I refer to it as Resurrection Sunday.  There is no better time to give God the Praise for Jesus than now.  Every sin that you committed in the past and every sin that you will commit in the future, was placed upon Jesus on the Cross.  Jesus was beat, nailed to the cross, humiliated, wore a crown of thorns, and crucified for all of us so we could have fellowship with the Father , Our God.  He did it all for us.

    Today, my thought is simply this: God is waiting on You.  He has extended an invitation for all of us to get in His presence.  Isn’t He worthy of our praise? Oh, yes He is!  I can’t think of a better time to praise God because this weekend is a celebration of what HE did for us.  He died and rose for us to live and have a life more abundantly. Praise God from whom All blessings Flow!  Have a great weekend In the Lord.

 

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

    

Praise Is Your Breakthrough "Sacred Connection"

Definition of sacred- made or declared holy; deserving great respect

definition of connection-

a relationship in which a person, thing, or idea is linked or associated with something else.

 What  is the only thing that we can  give God and He receives it personally?  It is our Praise and Worship to God the father.  

 There have been times in my life where I have been down.   I struggled for years with condemnation and rejection.  I  always knew that God loved me but I did not believe that God loved me because of my sin.  The devil always made me feel like I was not worthy of God's love because I liked the sin I was in.  So, if I liked the sin; I must be the sin.  That is the lie the devil told me for years and I believed that lie.

 
Although I smiled at people, I was internally ashamed. I was ashamed of the man I really was.  Sin will beat you up.  Sin will tell your not worthy.  Sin will lie and tell you that you can never rise above it.    Sin will tell you that you are an addict. Sin will tell you that you will never be free. That was my past.
 

If you want to break cycles of depression, guilt, and condemnation,  start really praising God.  Start Praising God when you feel like how I just described.  Supernaturally, God will change you and lift your countenance.  It is something that is so sacred when it is just you and God.  When you are  in His Presence you no longer can feel down and depressed.  The more we are In God's Presence we can actually start accepting that He loves us. Just as I am.  That assurance of love makes you want to change.  I realized that God loved me at my lowest points.  He loved me when I was so far away in sin from Him.  He was just waiting on me..

 

There is a sacred connection when we Praise God.  There is a lifting up because He is the giver of everything good.  God is the answer.  God is my Healer.  God is My Peace.  God is my Protector. God is my Refuge.  I  personally found these things out when I entered into a sacred connection through Praise and Worship to Our God.

 

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

 

Psalm 150

New King James Version (NKJV)

Let All Things Praise the Lord

150 Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

² Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

³ Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
⁴ Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
⁵ Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

Praise Is Your Breakthrough-"In His Presence"

Genesis 3:8
⁸ And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

     It amazes me that from the very beginning, God wanted to commune  and fellowship with us daily.   The scripture today talks about God walking in the  garden in the cool of the day. It does not imply that Adam and Eve were surprised or even shocked that God's presence was there.  It appears to me that God walked and talked with them all the time.  In His Presence, they had everything they needed.  In His Presence they were content, happy, peaceful, and joyful before they ate and sin entered.
     Is your life chaotic?  Are things really a mess?  Is your personal life struggling?   God is saying today , "Get In My Presence." How wonderful it would be to be In God's Presence that you could hear Him walking and not be startled or shocked? That is the kind of relationship Adam and Eve had with God. That is what God wants for all of us, to be In His Presence and experience fullness of joy.

   For every question, God has the answer. "Get In My Presence" 

If you are hurting, "Get In My Presence"

Dealing with sin, "Get In My Presence"

In need of restoration, "Get In My Presence."

Experiencing lack and depression, "Get In My Presence"

     Praising God is a way to be In the Presence of God.  In His Presence there is fullness of Joy!  I feel very strongly the Holy Spirit urging and leading us to do this.  In God's Presence, there is a power and a sacred connection between you and the Lord we serve .Praise is your breakthrough! 

Brother Clarence
www.godlykings.blogspot.com
    

Praise Is Your Breakthrough

Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

² Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

     Is your day, week, month or year going the way you want it to?  Are there more obstacles in your way than opportunities?  However you answer these questions, you still have the advantage.  Yes, you have the advantage.  Christians have an advantage because we are equipped to win in everything.  Even in apparent defeat, we win.  Everything about you is made to win.  You are made to endure and you are made to make it.  If you are giving up, you are focusing too much on what you see and how you feel.  Feelings can be an enemy to your faith if we are led by them.  The scripture today tells us that Praise will silence the enemy.  Praise is your breakthrough!

     When your praise is genuine and is concentrated on Our God, when you began to focus on His goodness instead of your need, Your  praise halts the enemy.  The enemy can’t understand why someone would praise when their in ‘trouble” or crisis.  The enemy wants you to concentrate on your lack, your hurt, your insecurities because that is where he, the devil; has control and power.  When Christians praise in spite of their feelings or situation, Praise snatches you from the grip of the enemy and places you in the Presence of the Most High God.  In His Presence there is fullness of joy.  Praise is Your Breakthrough!!

     Praise when you feel depressed.  Praise when it appears that your losing.  Praise when all hope seems gone.  Praise when you experience lost  Praise God when you get the promotion.  Praise God when your bills are paid. Praise God!  It is our power to win.  Praise Is Your Breakthrough!

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Life Lesson: Honor

Exodus 20:12

 

¹² “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

What is the definition of honor?

1.

high respect; esteem.  Regard with great respect. Fulfill (an obligation) or keep (an agreement).

 

There is actually 2 sides to this life lesson.  One is to honor and give respect to someone and the other side of honor is to fulfill or keep your word.  The text today is a very quotable scripture.  We learn it in Sunday school, vacation bible school and from our Pastors and teachers.  I've heard this scripture all my life as one of the first promises for you to have long life by honoring your parents.  However, we don't focus on honoring our word and commitments as much.

 

This life lesson is one I had to learn to do .Early on,  I would keep my word if I wanted to keep my word.  If I changed my mind , I just changed my mind and whoever I promised or said I would do something was just left with my decision at the time .  Life has taught me that honoring your word is also important even if  inconvenient. Our word should be our bond.  I have not perfected this life lesson but it is something I have improved on and I try very hard to keep my word. 

 

This week, I hope we all found something that we can apply to our individual lives.  We all live, work and play but while we are living take time to "Laugh, Love, Forgive, Trust and Honor"  I promise you will live a more fulfilled life and others whom you associate with daily will benefit from it.  Let these  life lessons add value to your life.  May God bless and richly keep us all!

 

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Life Lessons: Forgive and Trust

Matthew 6:
¹⁴ “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses
 Proverbs 3:5-

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct^[a] your paths

    "If you want to receive anything from God for your life you must  forgive. In some instances, you have to ask for forgiveness."

       Is there someone that you love that you need  to forgive?  Is there someone you love that needs to forgive you?  Sometimes in life situations, we do not get the closure we need.  We still are angry or you have a lot of bad feelings.  This is when trust comes in. Regardless of what you feel or face, we have to trust God to get us through difficult times.  If we are hurt and angry, we have to trust God to help heal our hearts and let Him be our vindicator.  When we have been the one that needs forgiveness, we have to trust God to forgive us.         These two life lessons for  me go together because you can’t truly forgive if you can’t trust God to  forgive you and have your back.

Brother Clarence
www.godlykings.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Life Lessons: "Love"

Good Morning!

     After yesterday, I hope everyone had a chance to laugh or be the cause of merriment in your circle.  It will benefit you and others.  I do realize that many cannot express laughter when love is missing from there lives.  Love is a life lesson.  A man that can express love, show love, and give love unconditionally is as powerful as a man holding weapons on a battlefield.  One man can destroy with weapons physically and destroy spiritually with hate and defiling words but another can build, heal relationships and cause a chain reaction of goodness, happiness and self worth by loving the people in his life.

What is love?
Love is defined as:

1.

an intense feeling of deep affection

a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. 2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

      Most of the time when the world defines love it is equated mostly to relationships.  The only thing is there is a thin line between love, lust, and hate.  Why is it that people fall in and  out of love?  Are they just basing love on a feeling and once the feeling is gone then I don't love you anymore?  Is that love , lust, or infatuation?  I've also heard that young girls you have loving strong, healthy  relationships with their fathers are more likely to not get pregnant before marriage and are less promiscuous?  Is that a fact or a myth or are the young ladies with good fathers experiencing real love and are less likely to fall for a quick imitation of love?

       What does the bible say about love?

How does the Bible define love?

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

New King James Version

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all
things

     For me, love is essential.  The decisions I make for my family is because I love them.  When I make bad decisions, and I have; I still have enough love in my heart to deal with it.  Many times men are so proud that we don't apologize when we are wrong.  Is that love?
    Today is a challenge for everyone to study the bible definition of love.  I guarantee it is not always the easiest thing to walk out but it is the most fulfilling for everyone connected to you . Love is not only a life lesson but it is imperative for Christians to have happy, productive, and fruitful lives.

Brother Clarence
www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Life Lessons: "Laugh"

Proverbs 15:13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
Ecclesiastes 9:7 Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works

Good Morning!

      This week I was prompted to talk about life lessons. These will be things I have learned or learning and things I place as priority for me to live and be happy. These 5 things that I will share are not an exhausted list but I believe each of us can find value in what I will share. Today we talk about, "Laughter"
     As we can tell from the scriptures that we are focusing on, laughter is very important. The only way to have a merry heart is to be able to laugh. I have learned to laugh. Laughter is like medicine. It can help heal you. Have you ever been depressed but watched a funny movie and it stopped you from being depressed? Have you ever been depressed or discouraged but you got a phone call from a good friend and your spirits were lifted by conversation and jokes? Your countenance was lifted. Your problems did not go away but you found strength to go on. Laughter is good for the soul!

What is laughter?
an inner quality, mood, disposition, etc., suggestive of laughter; mirthfulness:
  3. an expression or appearance of merriment or ...
to show emotion (as mirth, joy, or scorn) with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound b : to find amusement or pleasure in something
Why is it important to laugh?
 Here are 8 reasons why laughter is important
. •Lower blood pressure
•Increase vascular blood flow and oxygenation of the blood
•Give a workout to the diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and back muscles
•Reduce certain stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline
•Increase the response of tumor- and disease-killing cells such as Gamma-interferon and T-cells
•Defend against respiratory infections–even reducing the frequency of colds–by immunoglobulin in saliva.
•Increase memory and learning; in a study at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, humor during instruction led to increased test scores
•Improve alertness, creativity, and memory

     Now after this life lesson today, everyone should take some time today to laugh, smile and be merry. Start your staff meeting with a joke. Smile at a co worker today. Give  someone a compliment that you usually don't speak to and start a chain reaction of merriment.
       You have the power to change your own countenance. Life can be hard. Life can be stressful but God has given us all something for free that can help save our lives and our souls. Laugh!

Be Blessed
  Brother Clarence
  www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Time to Move On

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Good morning everybody! It is a New Year! It’s a new day and it’s time to move on! As long as we live, we will make mistakes. There is no one perfect among us. We all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. There will be times when you purpose to do the right thing but you do the opposite. It can be a unsettling scenario if you let guilt and condemnation rule. The enemy loves to steal your joy and peace and we as Christians must realize that guilt and condemnation is our enemy. The scripture tells us how to defeat and overcome this. It is good that we are not comfortable in sin. It is good that sin; even when we enjoy it; has an effect on us that our spirit is not comfortable with. That is our God consciousness and we all should be thankful that The Holy Spirit lets us know when we are wrong. However, there are times when the enemy tells you that you can’t beat this sin or this habit or you repeat a certain sin over and over again. Sin will condemn you. The devil will condemn you but God loves and forgives us of all our sins. It is not godly to condemn ourselves and others. If you are a manipulative person who makes others feel bad because of how they treated you, you are being used by the enemy. God came to give us life and for us to enjoy it. He also gave us peace, love, grace and mercy so there is a way out of the mess we sometimes create for ourselves. Remember, your journey should never end with you feeling sorry for yourself. Jesus on that cross took care of your sins and the Father set a plan of redemption for all of us. That’s why we repent. That is why we confess our sins to God. This is why we go to church so we can learn and do better. This is how we move from guilt and condemnation to peace , joy , and love. Be Blessed In the Day of Our Lord! Brother Clarence www.godlykings.blogspot.com