Do You Believe

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NKJV

 

                I, along with my family, watched the Wiz live last night.  It was special to us because it was one of the movies I introduced to them as children.  Last night, they all came into my bedroom and watched the movie with us.  My kids are teenagers now and it was truly a nice family moment.

                If you know the story of the Wiz,  the lead character Dorothy wants to go back home and all she has to do to get there is believe.  Believe!  My question for us this morning is , “What do you believe?”  Do you believe in Santa Claus?  Do you believe in your Job?    Do you believe in the City Council? Do you believe in the Mayor?  Do you Believe in the Governor?  Do you believe in state and federal representatives and senators?  Do you believe in the President?  Let’s make it more personal, “Do you believe in your paycheck?”       

                However you answer this question is your answer.  I am not trying to persuade your answer one bit.  You can believe in whatever you want to although I know that all of the above are subject to change. They all are subject to man, position and power.  The main question is, “ Do you believe IN Christ?

  Do you believe that He is the Light of the World?  Do you believe that He came to give us Life and not only life but life more abundantly?  Do you believe that HE is a healer? Do you believe that He is a Protector?  Do you believe that HE is Peace?  Do you believe that HE is a deliverer?  Do you believe that HE is a provider? 

 Do You Believe In Christ?  His Power? His Love? His redemption? His Cleansing? His Strength? His Way? His Truth? His Life?

 

Jesus, I do believe! Santa Claus ain’t got nothing on you!

 

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

The Gift

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

               We are now entering into one of the most joyous and happy seasons of the year.  I love Christmas! I love the gifts , the fellowship and I love all the Christmas décor. So many people focus on those things and for some people that is what Christmas is about.

  The most important thing about Christmas is Christ.  HE is the reason for the season and HE is the reason for the gift.  Have you taken the time to thank God for the gift of HIS ONLY SON?

This month let’s not forget Christ.  So many want to make it about Santa Claus and what you have under the tree but Christmas is about the gift of Christ to the world.  If you really think about it, nothing good could ever happen in your life if it was not for Christ.  I thank you God for the Gift of your Son!

 

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Our Issues

Proverbs 14:12Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹² 
There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him,
But its end is the way of death.

 

 

I turned on the television this morning and the first thing I heard was there was a shooting at Miles College.  One student is now dead.  I know everyone who reads this is not African American but this is addressed to all who have a heart and mind to hear.

 

At some point, we have to address some serious issues in the African American community and acknowledge our participation in creating these issues.  Some, not all but far too many of our young men are violent.  Some, not all of our young men have no self-worth.  They lack a God -consciousness.  Some, but not all of young men live their daily existence like savages.  They have no respect for other people's property.  They have no respect for themselves and they do not respect Human life. 

 

Something is wrong and it's time we start addressing it. Unfortunately, this savage like behavior or mentality exists even when some of our students go off to school to better their lives. They are unable to separate their "hood experience" from their "now experience."  It should be a difference!

 

Today, lets all pray for the victims family and pray for Miles College and all HBCU's . It is now a phenomena that they have to address.  It's happening to frequent without a true end to senseless  acts of crime in our community.  Today, we pray.  Today,  we ask God for guidance and direction.  Today , we mourn another loss but tomorrow we must address "Our Issues" and demand better of our children.

 

My heartfelt condolences go to the family and the students who lives have been drastically changed as the result of another black on black crime.

 

Brother Clarence
www.godlykings.blogspot.com
 

 

Inherited Unearned Benefits

Psalm 51:5Living Bible

⁵ But I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

 

     I love to look at babies when they are born. They are small and innocent and we love our newborn babies.  Just like them, we were once babies and just like them we were all born into sin from the very moment we were conceived. The  New King James version reads:

 

Psalm 51:5King James Version (KJV)

⁵ Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

The word shapen means to form or mold.  The definition of iniquity is a moral injustice. A wicked thing or act. Sin.   Iniquity is sin at its worst. Iniquity is premeditated, continuing, and escalating.

This is how we all start out. Think about it.  All of us start out with the nature of sin-iniquity.  The very depth of sin is already in our DNA at birth.  That's right, what ever sin you are dealing with right now is an iniquity.

 

Here is the good news!  The moment you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior you have inherited unearned benefits.  Just like the scripture says you were born a sinner from the moment you were conceived, God loves us so that HE  forgives us of all our iniquities in an instant. 

 

Today, I believe we need to get excited about the Word of God .  Today, we need to rejoice because we serve a God that took us at our worst and made Life, Healing, Blessings, Restoration, Peace, Forgiveness, Joy available to you. That's Good News!

 

No sin is greater.  No past sin is greater.  No future sin is greater than the Love Of Our God!

 

Psalm 103

 

1.       He forgives all of our iniquities.

2.       He healeth all our diseases.

3.       He redeemeth our life from destruction.

4.       He crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies.

5.       He satisfieth your mouth with good things so Our youth is renewed like the eagles.

 

Be Blessed

Brother Clarence

 

Forget Not His Benefits

PSALM

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

² Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

³ Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

⁴ Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

⁵ Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

 

                We are starting a new work week.  Today, let’s start this week off by remembering the benefits we have as Children of God.   Let's list them as they are outlined in our scriptural text today.

1.       He forgives all of our iniquities.

2.       He healeth all our diseases.

3.       He redeemeth our life from destruction.

4.       He crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies.

5.       He satisfieth your mouth with good things so Our youth is renewed like the eagles.

 

I don’t know about you but that’s good news and that’s worth meditating on everyday so when the enemy faces us with challenges, the Word of God is here to tell us the truth about that situation. 

 

Be Blessed

Brother Clarence

 

What Does God Want

John 10:10Amplified Bible (AMP)
¹⁰ The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

                         

1 dead in crash on I-59 South at Arkadelphia

                         

Former Brookwood teacher indicted for sexual contact with student

 

Man indicted in rape of University of Alabama student, attempted rape of 2 others

If you are a Christian, a believer , A Child of God then you are under attack.  satan is controlling the minds of people.  He is influencing a culture that is not of God.   We are in a state where we must pray consistently.  We must fight the good fight and don't give up!  In order to fight, we must know the answer to these questions:

 "What does God want?" "What is His will?"  "What is His desire for my life?" 

 I believe the key to remaining sane in a world that is becoming more corrupt, more evil and more challenging each day is that we find out, "What Does God Want?"

  If we are going to live victoriously, we must know the answer to this question.  This is not just a thought.  God is telling us to know what He has said about life and His will because the enemy is attacking.  He is not playing fair and he(the enemy) is killing, stealing  and destroying. 

God's will for you and me and for every Child of God is that we prosper, live and enjoy life.  EVERYTHING ELSE IS NOT FROM GOD.  We  cannot fight what we accept.  We must find what is God's will.  His will is His Word. We must Stand on His Word.  We must Confess His Word .  We Must Pray His Word.
  We must do this if we want to live.....

Brother Clarence

Our Help In Time of Trouble

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not despair.

 

Have you ever had a time in your life when it felt like everything hit you all at once? You were blindsided, never saw it coming and not only did it rain- it poured and left you feeling like; “What just happened?” Now reread the scripture above.  We have an earthen vessel that is weak compared to the power of God but God infuses our earthen vessel with power and strength.  Our “can do” does not come from us it comes from the creator of the universe, the Alpha and Omega the same one who started everything is the same one who will finish everything.  He is your help and strength. We must not only depend on Him for our strength but we must claim it and demand /decree His strength in times of need.

 

Psalm 121:2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

 

Yes, you may feel troubled and distressed on every side but you are not without His power  when faced with distress or despair. God is the source of our help- Our help comes from the Lord!

 

Brother Clarence

Rise Above The Noise

Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

 

                FLOTUS Michelle Obama gave the commencement speech  at Tuskegee University on May 9, 2015.  For me, it was one of the best commencement speeches I have heard.  What struck me so much was her  candor and openness of her life that she shared with the crowd gathered to witness the class of 2015 graduate.

                Summarizing part of the speech, the First lady talked about the first time she was on the cover of any magazine.  The cartoonist drew her with an afro and holding a machine gun.  She was  honest and said it really took something out of her and  threw her back.  She wondered if that was how people really saw her. She admitted to the fact that she had sleepless nights, and it has been a process for her to be the First Lady that stood in front of the crowd today. The turning point for her was when she decided to be her true authentic self, rely on Gods plan for her life , and

Rise Above The Noise!

                Such is life.  There will be and always will  be haters-  People who talk about you; judge you and criticize you.  No one is exempt from negative people and the useless clatter of their vile empty spirits.  No one is exempt but we can Rise Above It.

  I can’t be any other person but Clarence.  What God put in Clarence is enough  and I choose to listen to The Voice and Spirit of the  God who created me and not those who can only use their tongue to try and hold me down.  I can improve Clarence. I can get better or act better but I am already ok. It took me years to accept who I am-  My faults and all because there is always someone to compare yourself with.   There is always someone saying what you can or should do.  Be who you  are IN CHRIST.   Stop listening to the wind and all that noise!   It is my choice to conform to their image of me or be the Image that Christ gave me and rely on His plan for my life.  I belong to Christ!  I am His Son!  I am a child of the Most High God!  I am A believer !  I am Rich, I am Holy Ghost Filled, I am A Good Husband, I am a good Father, I am a good provider, I am healed, I am delivered, I am free!  I am!! I am because of Jesus Christ not because of anybody else. Glory To God!!

 It’s a choice, but it’s a choice we all must make. Listen to the wind or listen to God!

God is here and HE has a plan for your life!

 

Brother Clarence,            

www.godlykingsblogspot.com

Damaged Man

Matthew 11

²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

            What do you do when you are damaged?  Life has beaten you up.  You have experienced hell.  Your life is not what you thought it should be .  Your discouraged.  You do not feel respected.  Your struggling to provide.  Yours self worth and self esteem is low. What do you do?

            This morning, God is saying, “ He sees and He is here.”.  Bring your mess.  Bring your damaged emotions.  Bring all your hurt.  Bring your discouragement.  Bring your hopes and dreams.  Bring your failed relationships. Bring your pain.  Bring your distrust.  Bring your bad attitude.  Bring it All!  Surrender in 2015.  Stop fighting against  God.  He knows and He cares. God is here and  He will give you rest.!

Brother Clarence  
www.godlykings.blogspot.com      

Move On Into Your Destiny

Isaiah 53

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

 

                When you have been hurt, it is not always easy to forgive and let go.  Especially when  you  have been damaged.  What I mean by that is when you have been hurt  and it’s hard to move on past the hurt.   It is hard to forgive. Your hurt controls how you interact in  relationships.   It is hard to trust anyone.  Everyone is an enemy. You have built a wall around your heart.

                How do you move on?  Experiences teach us  but they should not control us.  No one should settle for abuse, being mistreated verbally or physically.  I am not talking about that.  What I am talking about is turning the page because everyone is not the one that hurt you. At some point , we all should be able to move on.  The question is how?

                The scripture today talks about what Jesus did for us on the cross.  It says, By His stripes we are healed.  I believe that we can claim not just physical healing from this scripture but emotional healing. I believe Christians walk around years emotionally damaged. That’s why we don’t trust anyone.  We curse everybody out.  We treat people bad.  We lie. We gossip.  We talk badly about one another and we act like we do not care.  Emotionally damaged! 

                This morning if this speaks to your heart and you feel somewhat convicted or need to improve in this area, God is here.  He  knows of your baggage.  He knows you are still hurting.  HE knows that you really are not happy.  God is here. 

                Today, ask God to help heal your heart.  Admit to him that you are emotionally damaged .  Claim this scripture for your healing.  Say it every day and watch the power of God help you  Move On into your destiny.

 

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

 

Freedom This Year!

Thought For Today

 

 

 

Today is the first full work week of the New Year.  A lot of us took time off from work and spent the holidays surrounded by friends and family.  I pray and hope that your holiday season was blessed full of love and great times.  However your holiday, we are now in a new time and a new day.  It is time to begin the process of allowing God to free us.  I certainly do not want to carry the same baggage into another year. Lord, help me to free myself from my issues!

      Galatians 5:1

5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage

 

Beloved, Christians have issues.  No one is exempt from them.  We all have something or some things that we can improve or make better.  This year in the beginning of 2015, make a conscious heartfelt decision to allow God to deal with your issues.  He is the only one who can really address your hurt.  Hurt People hurt people.  Hurt Christians hurt others.  They hurt their family.  They hurt their friends and they hurt their co- workers.  Why continue in bondage?  There is help and God is giving you an opportunity to be a better person. 

It matters to God how we treat people and it matters to God how we live.  It grieves Our Father to see us living unlike Him. 

Start today, make the necessary changes. 

1.      Reveal to God that you have issues.

2.      Ask for forgiveness

3.      Ask for guidance to help live out HIS Will.

Brother Clarence