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

Living Without Regrets

This week’s background scripture:
Luke 12: 22-28 22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

     Are Christians exempt from problems?  Of course not.  We all have had some trials, some tribulations, or some adverse  circumstances.  I have never read that we as Christians are exempt from problems.  I have never read that when you become a Christian your life situations would automatically get better.  Let's face it, we have a enemy whose purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy. So, as long as we are on this earth we have to deal with our enemy but (Praise Be To God) we have been guaranteed the victory In Christ Jesus to get us through all of life's challenges! Amen!!
     Today, lets do something together.  Everyone,  in your own way; take the time out of your day to give Our God the Praise.  For every mountain He brought us over, For every trial He has seen us through, For every blessing Hallelujah!! For this we give You Praise!
     One way to live without regrets is to acknowledge the blessings you already have.  Thank God for your family.  Thank God for Jesus!  Thank God for The Blood of Jesus!  Thank God for health and strength!  Thank God for your family!  Thank God for your job! Thank God for your cars and home. Thank God for peace and joy! Thank God for restoration and deliverance! Thank God! Praise God! Shout Hallelujah Anyhow!  He is worthy to be Praised.  My heart and soul cries out to You God! Oh Magnify the Name of Jesus! Exalt His Holy Name! He is Worthy!
      Live! Praise! Dance! Laugh! Rejoice!  In spite of what's going on in your life.  In spite of how you feel. Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him!
     If  you have a voice, If you have a tongue, If you can read this, you have an obligation to Praise Our God! He has been good to You!  He has blessed You! He has brought you through. He did not leave you.  He did not forsake you.  He has been there with you. He has given you this day to rejoice and be glad in it ! 
    It's your choice, Praise or regrets.  It's your choice, Praise or defeat.  It's your choice, the victim or the Victor.  I choose to Praise My God and live with no regrets.

Brother Clarence
www.godlykings.blogspot.com

"What's Important" "Who's Important"

This week’s background scripture:
Luke 12: 22-28 22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

     In your life , what is really important? Who is important in your life?

     The day that my sister passed I was at work doing the business of the City of Birmingham. I did not know that a phone call would change everything for me that day. In a instance, what was important was not my job at the time. I immediately wanted to get to my mother and talk to my sister , wife and kids. I wanted to call relatives and inform them. I really wanted this to not be happening but it was. In a quick instance, what was important before my call was not important after the call. Life had just changed for me and my family.
      I take this time to challenge all of us to evaluate our lives. Evaluate, “What’s Important!” “Who’s Important!’ In your answer, I believe you will find out if you are on track or not. Remember, when you leave here, your money stays. Your cars stay and your home. The only thing you take with you is you. For teaching purposes only, If you left here today, would people be angry with you? Would you be full of regret because of lost relationships with important people in your life? Would you be leaving warm, loving memories of yourself or memories of you being a hell raiser? Would you be wishing you did more for the kingdom of God? Would that car and house matter that much? The people you were angry with and you would not forgive; would it matter?
      Take the time to see who and what is important in your life. It just might change your attitude and someone’s opinion of you. If you are reading this, God is giving you and I an opportunity to live without regrets and to focus on what’s really important.

  Brother Clarence
www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Pray- Somebody needs it!

     Last night I got a call from a friend whose life has been very hard and difficult .  Yet again, he was faced with another tragedy.  He just kept saying, “my boy , my boy, he’s gone.”  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.  “He’s gone.  He’s gone.  My boy is gone.               

     Let me give you a little history.  My friend is only 25 years old.  Since I met him, he has been pronounced dead at least twice.   One time the coroner had been called and the white sheet had been placed over him.  The coroner checked his pulse and said, “He’s dead” left and went to get the body bag.  When the coroner came back, he was breathing (A miracle, right?). A while back some might remember me soliciting prayers for him. The ironic thing is if you saw him you would never know.  In February of this year he was trying to prepare me for his death but to God’s grace and mercy my friend is still here.  To God be the Glory! 

       Before this, and before he moved here to Birmingham; before I met him, he already had lost a wife and two small children to a car accident.  Remember , he is only 25 years old.  During this Memorial day weekend , his son’s mother was killed in a car accident right here in Birmingham.  Almost too much to believe this is true.  I know.                             

      Yesterday  Dj’s nine year old son and his sister were killed in a car accident in LA while on vacation.  Dj  was here and working when he got the call  from family of what had happened.  He is a truck driver and works night shift for the company that employs him.  Against my advice he finished his shift and worked . 

     DJ came to see me about 2:30am this morning.  He kept asking me to say something to him.  Honestly, I did not have words for him.   We hugged and cried. Dj looks at me and says, “ I know one thing that God is good.”  I said yes,” God is good. “ 

    Not getting into everything that was said but please pray for him.  He is truly broken and vulnerable and the devil really wants him to give up.  One reason he is alive today is because he chose to fight and trust God.  Yesterday, I shared a prayer not knowing how important it would be to be praying for someone else.  He was one of the people I thought about when I was praying that prayer yesterday morning.

     Today, whoever it is that crosses your mind,  Pray for them.  You do not have to know what is going on but if God puts them on your mind, please don’t’ take that opportunity lightly.   Pray!

           “ Father, we come this morning interceding on behalf of those who have been a blessing in our lives.  We plead the blood of protection over them.  No evil shall befall them.  No plague come near their dwelling.  No weapon formed against them shall prosper.  Every Godly desire that is consistent with your will for their lives we pray for a quick manifestation . satan we bind you.  Over every household, over their families well being. We bind every demonic attempt to destroy them in Jesus Name.  We loose divine protection over them.  Excellent angels are loosed to protect them.  We speak overflow blessings over their  finances.  I speak the mind of Christ over their thought life and we bind every negative word spoken against them.  Today, Father we pray for unprecedented favor to rule and bully their lives.  Favor on the job.  Favor in the community and Favor with all who have to do with their success.  We lift them up before you God and we ask and thank you for blessing them and their family.  In Jesus Name we pray. Amen”

Brother Clarence             

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

Help For the Helper

     Who helps the helper?  Is there someone in your life that encourages you?  Is there someone who consistently helps you when you are down?  Ever imagine what it is like for a Pastor who is having problems  in his own personal life but the congregation still has their needs and expectations of him?  Who helps them?  Who helps the Helper?

     Today, let’s not think about ourselves.  Today, lets think about people who have been and are a blessing in our lives.  Today, lets pray for them and lift them up.  Today, let’s stand in the gap for  others and pray for them.

       “ Father, we come this morning interceding on behalf of those who have been a blessing in our lives.  We plead the blood of protection over them.  No evil shall befall them.  No plague come near their dwelling.  No weapon formed against them shall prosper.  Every Godly desire that is consistent with your will for their lives we pray for a quick manifestation . satan we bind you.  Over every household, over their families well being. We bind every demonic attempt to destroy them in Jesus Name.  We loose divine protection over them.  Excellent angels are loosed to protect them.  We speak overflow blessings over their  finances.  I speak the mind of Christ over their thought life and we bind every negative word spoken against them.  Today, Father we pray for unprecedented favor to rule and bully their lives.  Favor on the job.  Favor in the community and Favor with all who have to do with their success.  We lift them up before you God and we ask and thank you for blessing them and their family.  In Jesus Name we pray. Amen”

Happily Ever After

Happily Ever After

 Isaiah 61 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

    Yesterday’s thought for today was a very personal and honest look from my experience of being married.  I do know that everyone is  and does not experience the same things.  I also understand that some people appreciate my candor and transparency and others think it is too much and that is a fair assessment and  everyone is entitled to have their own opinions.

    When I share these thoughts I share from my heart and what God is dealing with me about.  Many mornings I have come in here thinking about writing one thing and once I start typing the Holy Spirit changes and leads me in a different direction.  I do not take this position lightly.

    The Word of God exposes needs. It exposes things that Christians need to work on.  It also encourages, develops, and equips HiS children  for life.  Real life.  I believe one major strategy of the enemy satan is to destroy families, especially Christian families.  For too long the church has been silent and have been quiet accessories to crimes of the heart , spirit and body. What is more important?  An image of a happy ever after or people being and becoming whole IN CHRIST.  The only way I know to do that is to expose sin.  Expose how it comes in and discover ways to get it under control.  You can never defeat something if you never acknowledge it’s there. 

     I do not know your story.  I do not know what you have been through.  I do not know who these messages will get to or affect but I do know that God is speaking and using this channel to speak to His children.  Is life only  all about an image?  A Cinderella story?  You seem to be ok but in reality your dying inside spiritually- but you look good.  You dress so nice and wear beautiful clothes but your hurting.  You smile all the time but your secretly depressed.  You hate being with your spouse intimately because you were raped or molested and never told anyone.  You walk around carrying hurt after hurt and you can’t commit to a relationship.  You really don’t trust anyone because you have never got over what happened in your childhood. You go from one man or woman to another man or woman all the time because e it is easier to do than to face what  really  is your problem.  Your secretly having affairs and you are married and no longer desire your spouse. God sees us.  Help us Lord!!

   How long can you hide?  How long can you run?  You have swept years and years of issues under the rug.  

God wants to  really give you that “Happily Ever After.”  He wants you to enjoy life to the fullest.  God wants you to be free from past hurts and relationships.  God wants you free.  Are you going to hold on to a false image of yourself  or start developing  the Image of Christ IN You?

 Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,^[a] and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Brother Clarence

www.godlykings.blogspot.com

A Thought For You

     Eighteen years ago today, I walked into my home church and married my beautiful wife.   She was simply beautiful.  Her hair was just right.  Her makeup was flawless and everything we wanted for that day came true.  It was a beautiful beginning to our marriage together.  Eighteen year later, she is still beautiful and her hair and makeup still looks good but that is not why I am still married today.  How many of you know that at some point Cinderella looses her glass slipper and the Prince turns  back into a frog? If you have been with any person in a relationship, you will experience good and bad times and wonder why I did this?

       I believe there are several reasons why we are still together.  Love is one but is not enough.  Sometimes I can’t stand her and sometimes she hates my guts.  Another reason is she still looks good to me.  She has appeal but neither of us look like we did on our wedding day.  So, physical attraction is not enough.   Could it be finances?  Well, I am sorry to report, we still have not hit the lottery.   I married middle class and I am still middle class and have to go to work everyday to keep things going right.  I know you know what it is now, “Is it  because we are both Christians?”  I still make her angry.  She makes me angry and sometimes we don’t act like a Christian couple.  There were times in my marriage I was very inconsiderate and extremely selfish.  I did what I wanted to do  “In the Name of Lord” and was just as wrong as George Zimmerman but we are still together.  Being a Christian is important  and it is  how we resolve our conflicts based on  what the Word of God teaches us to do. 

     The main reason I believe that we are still together is one word, commitment.  I am committed to my wife and I believe she is committed to me.  We love each other and love our kids and most importantly, we love our God but to remain with the same person for this long a  period of time it has been our commitment to each other and our commitment to my family.

      My wife has told me that she wanted to leave me on several times.  I have entertained the thought of leaving.  Wondering what the grass is like on the other side just because there is always someone putting there goodies in your face.  There is always someone telling you what you are not getting at home.  Temptation and flattering lips and hips have killed a lot of marriages.  If you are happy with your spouse but they have flaws and your neighbor, friend, co-worker , or church member seems just like the perfect person for you-  Always considerate, always complimentary, always telling you what your spouse is not doing.  That person is a marriage killer and is used by satan himself to destroy your life.  Ask yourself this question, “Why would God send me a perfect person when I am  so jacked up?”  Nobody is perfect.  You can go to someone else but they have issues too. 

     This morning as I celebrate the blessing that God has given me.  I am so thankful.  I am thankful because my wife is committed to me.  I am thankful today because I want to be committed to my wife . I desire to be committed to her.  I love her and I love what she has given me.  Neither she or myself is perfect and she really can make me angry unlike any person on this earth but she is mine and I love her so much.   I love her for being with me when it was difficult to do.  I love her because she has allowed me to grow and to develop into manhood.  I love her because she has given me chance after chance to prove myself.  I realized I did not know how to love for real.  Yes, I was always good in bed but she taught me how to love.  She has taught me how to share and give.  She has taught me to stand up and have confidence in myself.  She has given me the gift of fatherhood.  She cooks and cleans and provides meals for me and my family.  Erica, my sweet wife turned my house into a home.  She did it!

     So to all the men and women always putting your goodies in folk faces, you don’t know me.  You do not know my struggles and you do not know my pain.  The men and women that always up in my wife face telling her about what I am not doing.  You don’t know me!   You don’t know her!  All you know is the image and the mirror that reflects off of my work and her work that we have done for each other all these years.  If any married person is doing  good things it is because someone has invested in them and allowed them to grow and flourish.  My wife’s commitment to me has allowed me to be and become a good man.  So do you really want some of this?

Commitment is a __________.

1. Genesis 2:24

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Happy Anniversary Baby!

Brother Clarence