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