Back to School time is here again. Whether you plan yearly around the school schedule or start in January, August is a perfect month to focus your planning goals for the year. Student and kids ministry can be challenging to organize and execute, but with the right strategies in place, you can create meaningful experiences for your students. In this blog post, we will discuss five tips to help you successfully plan student ministry events and ensure your ministry is a success. From setting clear goals to creating an organized timeline, these tips will help you make the most of your student ministry planning. Read on to learn more about how to create effective student ministry events

1) Prioritize Prayer in Your Planning

As a youth or kids pastor, planning student ministry events and activities can be a daunting task. You want to make sure that you are providing opportunities for spiritual growth, social interaction, and fun for your students. One crucial aspect of effective student ministry planning that often gets overlooked is prayer. Prioritizing prayer in your planning process is key to ensuring that your ministry is successful.

Prayer is powerful. It connects us with God and invites Him to be a part of our planning process. Before you start planning any event or activity, take time to pray and ask for guidance. Seek God's will for your ministry and ask Him to give you wisdom and creativity. Remember that prayer is not just a one-time event but should be a consistent part of your planning process.

Make sure to also include your student ministry team and volunteers in prayer. Pray for their spiritual growth, for unity, and for strength to carry out the work that God has called them to do. Encourage your team to share their prayer requests with one another, and pray for each other as well.

By prioritizing prayer in your planning process, you invite God to be an active part of your student ministry. You demonstrate to your students that prayer is essential, and that seeking God's guidance is the foundation of everything that you do. So take time to pray before every planning session and event, and watch God's blessings pour out on your ministry.

2) Define Your Vision and Goals

A vital aspect of effective student ministry planning is defining your vision and goals. It's essential to know what you're aiming to accomplish and how you plan to achieve it. Without a clear vision and specific goals, your efforts may become aimless, ineffective, and unsustainable.

Your vision should be a compelling statement that summarizes the desired future of your ministry. It should inspire and motivate your team and students to strive towards a shared goal. Your goals should be SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. They should reflect your vision and help you track your progress and success.

When defining your vision and goals, involve your team, and get their input and feedback. It will increase their ownership and commitment to the ministry's success. Additionally, it would help if you considered your ministry's context and culture, your students' needs, and your church's mission and values. This will ensure that your vision and goals align with the broader context and contribute to your church's overall ministry.

Once you have defined your vision and goals, communicate them clearly and consistently to your team and students. This will help everyone understand their roles and responsibilities in achieving them and work together towards a shared vision. Don't forget to review and update your goals regularly and celebrate your progress and milestones. This will help keep your team and students motivated and engaged in the ministry's work.

3) Know Your Audience

Knowing your students, theirs ins and outs, what makes them tick can never be overstated. Relationship is everything in Student and Kids ministry. Understanding the unique needs and interests of the young people in your ministry can help you design activities, events, and lessons that will truly resonate with them.

To start, consider the age range and demographic makeup of your group. Are you working with middle schoolers, high schoolers, young kids, or a mix of ranges? Are there particular cultural or socioeconomic factors that might impact the way your students approach faith and community? Knowing these details can help you tailor your ministry programming to better meet the needs of your audience.

It's also important to listen to your students and get their feedback on what they want and need from their time in the ministry. You might consider hosting a focus group or survey to gather input on topics like preferred meeting times, activity ideas, and preferred teaching styles.

Overall, taking the time to know your students can make a big difference in the effectiveness and relevance of your student and kids ministry planning. When you have a solid understanding of who your students are and what they need, you'll be better equipped to design engaging and impactful programming that supports their faith journey.

4) Get Creative with Activities and Events

Planning fun activities and events is a key part of a successful student and kids ministry. When planning these, it’s important to think outside the box and come up with ideas that will excite and engage your group. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Mix It Up - Don’t just stick to the same old activities every week. Try to mix it up and come up with something different and exciting. Maybe a themed game night, a scavenger hunt, or even a movie night.

2. Use Your Location - Take advantage of your surroundings when planning activities. If you’re near a park or beach, plan a day trip or picnic. If you have access to a gym or sports field, plan a tournament or sports day.

3. Get Input from Students - Ask your students what activities and events they would like to see in the group. This will give you insight into their interests and help you plan activities they will enjoy.

4. Collaborate with Other Ministries - Team up with other youth groups or even churches to plan joint events. This can be a great way to meet new people and provide new experiences for your group.

5. Incorporate Service - Plan activities and events that incorporate serving others. This could be a mission trip, a community service project, or even a simple act of kindness. Not only does this give back to the community, but it also helps teach your students the importance of serving others.

Overall, the key to planning successful activities and events is to be creative and think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to try new things and get input from your students. Remember, the goal is to provide a fun and engaging environment where your students can grow in their faith and build relationships with others.

5) Build a Strong Volunteer Team

As a youth or kids pastor, you may find that you simply can't do it all on your own. Building a strong volunteer team is essential for effective student ministry planning. Having a team of committed volunteers who share your vision and are passionate about reaching youth and kids can make all the difference.

Firstly, take time to identify the right people to join your team. This involves being intentional in your recruitment efforts and ensuring that your volunteers align with your values and mission. It’s also important to consider their skillset and personality when assigning them tasks or responsibilities. Remember you have because you ask. 

Secondly, ensure that your volunteers feel valued and appreciated. Make sure they know that their efforts are making a difference, and encourage open communication and feedback. Host regular training sessions or meetings to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfill their roles effectively.

Finally, make sure that your volunteers are accountable to the ministry's standards and expectations. Encourage a culture of mutual accountability, and be ready to address issues promptly. Ensure that they are aware of the boundaries of their role and that they respect them.

Remember, Student and Kids Ministry is a calling and an honor to be a part of. Take pride in your planning. Work with a monthly planning calendar and plan to have the best year in Kids or Student Ministry.

By Justin Sharpe , State Youth & Discipleship Director

 “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” –1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

Have you ever played the game where you are given pictures that are zoomed in and then you are asked to identify what the object is? You make your guesses, but when you see the big picture, it was nothing close to what you thought. This game reminds me that perspective is important. I am a visual person. I like to see the big picture. I like to know what is going on and how it all ties together, so I am always trying to see things differently. But sometimes, that can prove to be difficult especially when we are focused in on the little things.
            Many times, we can so easily be overwhelmed with life in a particular moment. We wear so many hats as women—wife, mom, friend, caretaker, teacher, mentor, motivator, chef, referee, cheerleader, problem-solver. The list goes on and on and doesn’t include what we think we need for ourselves. We start wondering how we will ever get it all done. We get so busy with our day-to-day tasks and trying to accomplish what Paul teaches us in verses 12-15, or stuck in the thought of “God, how is this your plan for me?” that we miss the big picture of what God is wanting to do in us and through us.
            This is when we need to remember the next three things that Paul follows up with in verses 16-18. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.” Our ultimate goal is to follow God’s will for our lives. This seems so hard when we are focused on the right here and right now. But if we can change our perspective to focus on what God says in His Word, we will find ourselves rejoicing, praying, and being more thankful. It says in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for the good of those who love Him. Isaiah 41:10 tells us not to be afraid or discouraged because God is our strength and support. God also reminds us in Isaiah 55:8 that, “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.”
            We can get so caught up in seeing our situation from our perspective that we forget that we have a God who is greater who can see the bigger picture. When we remember this, we will find ourselves rejoicing and being thankful even in the little things. It may mean saying, “Thank you God for toes to walk with,” (after your kids have stepped on them for the 15th time in 2 minutes) or “Praise the Lord I am able to ____”. We will also find ourselves being more consistent in our prayer lives because our perspective has shifted to God verses our circumstance.
            When life gets tough, sometimes we need help to change our perspective. We seek encouragement from many sources to remind us what God’s Word says—family, friends, blogs, social media, music and more, all of which effect our perspective. If you’re like me, you live in constant motion. I don’t have much quiet time to read, so music is my on-the-go go-to. I enjoy hearing and singing along with songs like Annie Wilson’s Sunday Sermons that says, “Gonna have my worries, well that’s part of life. But then I think of those stories ‘bout what my God can do,” and “No matter what the world throws at me, I know His word is true.” Whatever you surround yourself with, be sure that it is helping you keep your perspective on God instead of your current situation.
Remember Paul’s words to “rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances” even if it seems impossible at the time. I find that when I do, I hear God’s voice more clearly, I am less stressed, and I am able to handle life through God’s strength instead of my own.

Jenny Gleeson serves alongside her husband, Brad, as senior pastors of Attapulgus Church of God where they have served for the past 4 years. They have been in ministry for 15 years and have been married for 12 years. Jenny teaches Children’s Church and helps with media. In addition, she has been teaching for 11 years, currently teaching Kindergarten, and is a full-time student working towards a master’s degree in education. Brad and Jenny have four boys, Kyler and Keaton (9), Braden (5), and Jaxon (1). Jenny enjoys spending time with family and going to the beach.

Joshua 2:1-21

The house of Rahab was a perfect place for the spies to stay because there was a constant flow of traffic. It was a public house and was common for people to come and go. The king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, “where are the men that entered your house? They have come to search out all the country.” Rahab took the spies, hid them on the roof, and said to the men, “I know that the Lord hath given you the land, we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea, we heard of God’s faithfulness and our hearts did melt. For the Lord your God, He is God in Heaven above and in earth beneath. I pray since I have showed you kindness that you will also show kindness unto my father, my mother, my brethren, my sisters and all that they have and deliver our lives from death.” The spies said, “when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou let us down by. Bring your father, your mother and their household unto thee.”

The scarlet thread would enable the Israeli army to identify Rahab’s house and spare her and her family. By faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. Rahab’s faith to believe in a God that she heard about and her willingness to surrender everything brought her victory. God had a plan for Rahab.

Having faith in God is not always easy but it is rewarding. Hebrews 11:6 states, “but without faith it is impossible to please God, for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” The Tony Evans Bible Commentary shares that, “You must operate by faith, even if you must do so alone and go against the accepted norms of the day. You must believe with expectation that God responds-regarding His will for your life-when you seek to please Him.”

Hebrews 11:31 states, “by faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not when she had received the spies with peace.” Rahab, the lowest of the low, chose faith and was recognized alongside other heroes of faith like Abraham and Moses. This cannot be that someone so “unworthy” would be in the lineage of Jesus. Isaiah 55:8 states, “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” He can forgive even the worst of sinners. God is a master at taking the unwanted, unheard, unloved, unworthy and calling them anointed, appointed and placing them in their God given Jeremiah 29:11 call for their life.

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary states, “if we’re honest, grace does not make sense to us because it does not reflect how people treat one another on earth. But God’s perspective is not our perspective. That’s why we need a divine translator. We need the Holy Spirit to enable us to have a heavenly perspective; we need the mind of Christ.”

May our daily prayer be for God to baptize us in His love for humanity and show others the same kindness and grace that He showed Rahab.  May we also have faith to believe and trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. May we remember that there is still a God in Israel that is in the saving business. Amen.

I AM in the waiting

“Trust in the Lord and do good; Live in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring out your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.” - Psalm 37:3-7 NASB

In the aftermath of the 2008 recession, God called my husband and I to help with a church plant in Ohio. I knew God’s calling, and I felt confident that He would provide for us as we transitioned. CSX had furloughed Josh already, so I resigned from my teaching position in Jesup, Georgia. We moved our family of four to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in late June 2009.
When August began, I grew more nervous since I could not get an interview for a teaching position. I would cry out to God and pray for a job. I tried to recapture the confidence I felt so strongly a few weeks before. I attempted to get my emotions to align with my trust in God. I began a personal Bible study on waiting, and I found more scriptures dealing with waiting than I expected. The quantity of scriptures on waiting tells me that God has directives for us while we wait.

Everyone knows waiting isn’t fun. Waiting on God to move in a particular situation is about trust and rest. It is easy to say: “I trust God,” but much harder to act out that trust. Our emotions do not always align with our beliefs. That’s okay. Determine in your heart to trust anyways. Continue to pray and read God’s word. Rest in God, believing that He is at work even when you don’t see it yet.

King David wrote many emotional psalms when he was in dire circumstances. God can handle us crying out to Him. He will hear His children. Prayer is essential, especially in a season of waiting. It keeps us connected to God. It allows us to delight in Him. It helps us continue to do good and cultivate faithfulness. Psalm 37 encourages me to continue doing good works while I am waiting.

The world expects us to give up while waiting. The enemy would like nothing better. Sometimes, it even seems like the logical thing to do. Don’t give in. Continue following what God calls you to do. Consider the verbs from this passage: trust, live, delight, commit, rest, and wait. God has given us a clear path on waiting.
 
A few days before the 2009-2010 school year began, I got a job teaching kindergarten in a private school. God created that position just for me. It was the grade level I wanted, and the school board decided at the last minute to split a kindergarten class to prepare for future growth. God is faithful!

While you are waiting, He is with you. God referred to Himself as ‘I AM’ (Exodus 3), meaning that He is self-existent. God can be whatever He wants to be. God is the I AM in the waiting. He is saying to you: I AM your salvation. I AM your peace. I AM your comfort. I AM your healer. I AM your provider. He is all you need, and He is with you even in the waiting.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2 NIV

Each of us will face trials and tribulations in our walk with Christ. If we trust Christ with all our hearts, nothing can disable God from bringing his plans to pass and surpass our expectations. The sudden death of a father at the age of five, moving to a foreign country at the age of 10 and an abusive marriage divorce could not keep God from surpassing my expectations. God surpasses our expectations when we reach past our personal plans and agendas to grab the hand of Christ and walk the path He has chosen for us. Both blessing and joy come to us through obedience, often in times of persecution and pain.

Like Job, we may not be able to choose what trials we may face, however, we are able to choose how we respond to them. “Fully trusting in Him” Do we identify ourselves with this scripture? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV It is in those moments of pain and challenges that we are given the opportunity to live by the scriptures. It is then when God tests if we’re truly believing and trusting in Him as we say.

A child of God who trusts God’s unfailing love possesses security in God’s faithfulness. His love never fails. We must believe when God says, “The end of a thing is better than it’s beginning and   patience is better than pride”. Ecclesiastes 7:8 NIV If we embrace His will in our lives, then we must also embrace the trials and patiently wait on God’s promises. Our God ushers light into the darkness and is a mender of the broken. We can fully trust in his unfailing love and power to sustain us through hard times.

I did not grow up in a Christian home, however my mother was a woman who feared God. At the age of five my father suffered a sudden death through a vehicle accident. Many changes happened in the years to come and at the age of ten my mother and her two children moved from Dominican Republic to Germany. What a change and learning experience but at the same time a challenge. By the grace of God, I was able to complete school and obtain a college degree in a foreign language which then became my second language.

At the age of 22 I was married and moved to the states to start a new life with my family. I became mother of two wonderful boys but suffered an abusive and heart-breaking marriage. After seven years I was abandoned with my two boys in a new and almost unknown country. After the painful and heart-breaking experience, I was able to meet my current husband, Deivi Mojica. He is a wonderful God-fearing man and co-pastors A New Beginning church. He became a great father and example to my boys and is now the father to our beautiful eight-year-old daughter. How great is our Lord! He will surely turn our ashes into beauty and use our story to become a testimony to others. Today I have two sons who both love the Lord with all their hearts and serve Him in ministry and a beautiful daughter who is already a worshipper for God’s glory.

In this month of May as we celebrate the beautiful gift of motherhood, I encourage all mothers to fully trust God with their sons and daughters no matter the walk of life they find themselves in. God’s spoken word over their lives will come to pass. Our present circumstances do not determine the future, and nothing can disable the will of God for their lives.

We are overcomers, “And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Revelation 12:11 NKJV His overcoming power lives in us and even though weeping may endure through the night, joy will surely come in the morning. I can almost hear Christ calling our names. The stone has been rolled away and we will walk into the light of resurrection life.

Benyalina Mojica serves alongside her husband, Pastor Deivi Mojica, as Senior Pastors of A New Beginning Church of God in Warner Robins, Georgia. They have been married for 9 years and have been in ministry for 6 years. They have three children, Jordan Goudy, Jonathan Goudy and Anabella Mojica. Their sons are vital part of ministries with their church (praise and worship, children’s ministry). Benyalina Mojica worked several years as a court reporter for the government and currently works part-time in the health industry. She also enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2-3
For whosoever shall call upon name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13
 
     When Jesus died on the cross, some of His followers thought that was the end, and all Hope was lost. Oh, but on that Resurrection morning all of their Hope was restored. Mary ran back from the tomb and told the disciples, “He is risen! He is alive just as He said!” They continued       with the commission that He had given them to make sure His legacy would live on, and His work would be completed. “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” Acts 4:33 NIV
   
      God blessed me to be born into a praying family. My heritage began with my mother’s family. Around 1914 her oldest sister, Eula Mae O’Quinn (Stephens), went to a brush arbor around the age of 14 and was saved, sanctified, and baptized in the Holy Ghost. My grandmother and grandfather, Maggie and Tyler O’Quinn, were not too enthused about the idea. You have to understand that the move of God was just beginning across the area. :God was calling His people to serve Him and to spread His great gospel. Of course, my grandmother became curious and went to church. Well, you know what happened! God poured the same power on her that He had on my aunt. From that time on, Granny walked several miles to church with her twelve children. Granny and Grandpa O’Quinn also raised several nieces, nephews, and anyone who came and needed a place to live. You can rest assured that whoever lived with them was taught about this great heritage, the love of God and His saving grace.
   
      During this time my mother, Betty Jean O’Quinn Johns,  was also saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost at a very young age. She was one of twelve children. Later my dad, Moncie Johns, happened to be one of the “strays” who needed a place to live. In fact, several of my aunts’ husbands-to-be ended up at my grandparents’ house. God was just working His plan to continue this “Heritage.” At the early age of fourteen, my mom married my dad who was 21. They were blessed with seven children (5 daughters and two sons) and adopted 2 more sons. They also fostered 184 foster children over 22 years after the original seven children married. As you can tell, this “Heritage” was being spread beyond our immediate family because at our house “you went to church”--no questions asked. My mother taught us like Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”  My dad didn’t serve God for many years, but my mother held on to God and prayed fervently. At the age of 61, my dad received God and served Him until he went to be with the Lord at the age of 80. My mother kept the faith and prayed over all of us constantly. At the age of 88, on February 12, 2022, she went to be with the Lord still believing that all of us will join her one day in our Father’s house.
      
    Our Father’s House welcomes “strays” and “whosoever shall call upon His name.”  No matter how deep in sin or whatever state we are in, God will love and forgive us. He has promised in His word, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16  He has commissioned us to share our heritage with our children, grandchildren and all who are placed in our path. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  And that from a child thou hast known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15  It is our responsibility to help make sure that the heritage Jesus left for us continues throughout our family and the world until the Lord comes to call us home.  God has also commissioned you and me to, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15
    
     Jesus came to be the sacrifice that was needed for the world’s sins. He arose as our Savior, and He’s coming back as our King of Glory!! “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I Thessalonians 4:16-17
  
      So, be that shining light on a hill--hold on, pray, stand steadfast, live a life that is pleasing to God and share this blessing to everyone that you meet. “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.” Proverbs 3:5-6  Jesus paved this path for us to follow Him to our Father’s House! Look up for our redemption draweth nigh!

I’m going home with Jesus
In the twinkling of an eye.
I’ve made my reservation for a mansion in the sky,
I may not know the moment
Or I may not know the day,
But I know that I’ll be leaving
When He calls His Church away.

Patricia Whaley serves alongside her husband, Bishop Tommy Whaley, as Senior Pastors of the Darien Church of God in Darien, Georgia. They have been married for 51 years and have been in ministry for 50 years, 40 of which have been at the Darien Church of God. They have three adult children, Karey Johnson (Wayne), Hope Thomas (widowed – her husband, James Thomas, went to be with the Lord on November 30, 2021), and Jerry Whaley (Tina). They also have eleven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren of whom they are so very proud. Their adult children and spouses and several of their grandchildren are a vital part of ministries within their church (praise and worship, teaching, youth ministry, women’s ministry and anything that needs to be done). Regarding Patricia’s siblings, five along with their spouses are pastors and the others use their talents for the Lord within their local churches. Patricia worked in Banking for several years and then retired from the McIntosh County School System. She is enjoying retirement, even though she feels she stays busier than ever. She also enjoys spending time with her family and quilting.

Luke chapter 10:38-42 tells of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Jesus and His disciples came to a village where Mary and Martha opened their home for a meal and rest. After Jesus entered the house, he began to share with His disciples. Mary also sat to soak in what the Lord was saying. Martha was busy preparing for the meal. After realizing that Mary was not helping with the preparations and work, Martha became annoyed. Seeing that Mary was not doing her part, Martha was so distraught that she spoke to Jesus about the issue. Martha asked Jesus to address Mary and instruct her to help with the work. Jesus told Martha that she was worried about the wrong things and Mary had made the right choice.

In Mary and Martha's day, women did not typically work outside the home. They carried the bulk of the load concerning the household. The women were expected to take care of the everyday things, including the meals, making the home comfortable, and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Martha was only following the example her culture had set for her. While Mary also knew the customs of her culture, she had realized that something more significant than tradition was right in front of her.

I know most of you have it together. Still, in my role as a pastor's wife, I often find myself in the same situation as Martha while doing the daily things that my life requires. You know, cooking, cleaning, picking up all those things that get out of place, those things that no one can explain how they got there in the first place. Then there is running many errands for lots of people, washing mounds of clothes, and this is just the beginning of my household list of things to do. Next is the family list. Mom can you ________ (you fill in the blank)? And you always say, “yes” because you love them so much.

And then follows your extended family's list. You know, making sure you remember birthdays special occasions and making time to visit and spend time together. Then we have the ministry list, making sure you attend the things on the church calendar and do your part to make them happen. Make visits, texts, or phone calls to check on the sick, the hurting, or to say, “I love you”; doing extra things for others that God lays on your heart. Serving those God has entrusted to you with your whole heart. These things are essential. But boy, does it make for a Martha kind of exhaustion if you are not serving properly! Serving without sitting is draining. Not just a physical tired, but spiritual as well.

I envision Martha running down the checklist after Jesus arrived, asking herself, "Do I have enough wood to cook with?" "Is there enough oil to fry the cornbread? Does the basin have enough water? Is the towel clean enough to dry Jesus's feet?" I imagine that Martha was dealing with a lot of stress and complete tiredness when she saw Mary sitting. The Savior of the world was sitting in their living room, and Mary did not care enough to help her make His visit perfect. At times I, like Martha, have had such tunnel vision to get the tasks done that I fail to see the most important thing right in front of my face. I am even embarrassed to say that I have been so busy serving the church that I didn't realize that I was not serving Jesus adequately. And to be quite honest, it was wearing to work in this manner. After checking off all the boxes from "the lists," it was not enough. I still felt like something was unfinished.

After a time of prayer, Jesus reminded me He does not care as much about our schedule as He does about our relationship with Him. He wants us to draw close to Him, sit at His feet, and listen to His voice; this feeds our souls and energizes us to meet the needs of the calling that we have. We often spend so much time nourishing others that we have nothing left to feed ourselves. We have not realized we have depleted our reservoirs and need to replenish. In John 21:17, Jesus said, "Feed My sheep." Feeding sheep is part of our calling, but we must also provide for ourselves.

I began to comprehend that Spiritual exhaustion is not a sign of sin but of serving with my priorities out of order. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that if we wait upon the Lord, He will renew our strength. “To wait for” means “to look for.” I wasn't looking for Him when I needed to be. I was supposed to be at His feet, worshipping Him and listening to His voice. I repented. And I began to again include quiet time to sit at His feet, quiet time to enjoy His word and quiet time to listen to His voice drawing me near. And you know what? I heard His voice more clearly. It was with the same loving tone that He had always used. He was not angry, nor did He fail to come when I called. After all, He is my Heavenly Father, and he only longed for our relationship to strengthen, and that is precisely what I wanted and exactly what I needed. My stress level began to drop, and the exhaustion soon became replaced by a peace that only comes from sitting at the Master's feet soaking in nutrients. Today, I work hard at continuing to keep my priorities in perspective: my relationship with God, my marriage, my family, my church family, and then other things. I love serving those God has placed in my life and count it an honor to do so. Yet, while serving, I am becoming a Mary, learning to stop and sit awhile. After all, Mary chose wisely.

Janet Hatten serves alongside her husband, Scott, as Senior Pastors of Jesup Church of God in Jesup, Georgia. They have been in full time ministry for 23 years and married for 31 years. They have two adult children and three beautiful grandchildren. Justin and his wife Amelia, have a son Jett, age 1. Katie and her husband Joseph have two children, Adeline, age 4 and Jaxx, 3 months. Janet is actively involved in the Women’s Ministries at Jesup Church of God and leads the HUGS Ministries for widows and widowers within the church. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling and seeing new places.

John 3:15-16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Growing up as a child, I never knew what love was. At a young age, my mother had a nervous breakdown. I remember that day very well, as she began screaming her pastor’s name. The days following her incident, she would verbally and physically abuse me. Many times, she would excessively whip me, and I had no understanding as to why. To escape, I would run away and spend time with the wrong people that had no true love for me; although I thought they did. This led me to marry at an early age, desperate to separate myself from my mother.

My mother had taken my sister and I to church where I remembered her taking us to the altar to call on Jesus. We were instructed to repeatedly call on Jesus which we called a “tarrying service”. I didn’t understand why we had to just say, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” and not actually tell Him what we wanted. However, anytime I questioned that, it would upset my mother. Trusting others was a challenge as I constantly encountered people that pretended to care but never truly did. I simply believed that I wasn’t capable of being loved, regardless of how many times I heard Jesus loved me in church.

 It was hard to grasp that someone loved me when I was constantly being hurt. This led to a deep internal withdrawal as I began building up walls to protect myself. Some years later, someone spoke into my life as they said to me, “You are a mighty woman of God.” Initially, I rejected this and could not accept that because I saw myself as a mess.

I eventually hit my breaking point and came to the realization that I needed to go to counseling. The counselor helped me to focus less on others and more on dealing with myself and my actions. Now, I’ve made a choice to believe what God says about me. His word says He loves me, and I’ve finally accepted that.  I make a choice as to whether I’m going to believe what God says about me or whether I’m going to believe what my past says about me. Because His Word is true, I rehearse what Scripture says when I battle opposing thoughts from my past. I’ve learned that you can be in church for years and still struggle with truly knowing the love of God, but because I have received His forgiveness and unconditional love, old things are passed away and behold all things are created new.

Now, my goal is simply to love the Lord with all my heart. I have sincerely forgiven my mother along with everyone who hurt me. That’s something no one could have helped me get through but God. I choose to believe God’s Word. Thanks be unto God who giveth me the victory over my past.

Patricia Capers is the wife of Bishop Leroy Capers, who has pastored Gates of Praise Church of God for 31 years. They have been married for 38 years and have 6 children, 2 daughters-in-law and 5 grandchildren.  In her spare time she enjoys fellowship and event decorating.

New Year’s Resolutions have become so cliche that many people are tempted to avoid setting goals for the new year altogether. However, I think it’s important to use January as an opportunity to reflect on the previous year and set realistic objectives for the next twelve months. It’s important for us to identify the areas of our lives (spiritual, physical, relational, financial) that need our attention and make an honest effort to be the best versions of ourselves.

As the newness of the new year wears off, I pray I am quick to remember Galatians 6:9 (NIV) where the Apostle Paul wrote, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” This verse provides hope as it promises that “we will reap a harvest.” Unfortunately, we sometimes focus so much on what we want to change or what we want to accomplish that we forget to enjoy the journey. It becomes easy to wish your life away and ignore the daily blessings on the way to the harvest. We focus on the responsibility instead of the privilege.

While we were serving as youth pastors at Southside Church of God, Pastor Lelon Jeffers would often remind the congregation that “You will never pass this way again!” His advice always stirred me. At twenty-two years old, I found myself longing for the future - having children, advancing in the ministry, finding success as a teacher. Twenty years later, his words mean even more. While we can still pursue so many ministry and career goals, Jeremy and I cannot go back to our early years of marriage. We cannot return to the time when our children were toddlers. While I am so thankful for all the times that I did stop and appreciate the moment, I know in my heart that I could have been more thankful for the present while holding on to the promises that I knew God had in store for our future.

I have given this same advice many times over the years. I tell people praying for their soulmate to enjoy the season of singleness. I encourage couples struggling to conceive to keep disappointment from robbing precious memories from the early years of their marriages. I remind parents that the hustle and bustle of school and homework turns into the warmest memories later in life.

I’m well aware that it’s easier to give advice than it is to take it. Several times in 2021, I had to remind myself to focus on my blessings instead of the challenges I faced at the time. As our fifteen-year-old daughter, Cayden, went through three surgeries in less than ten months to repair cysts, it was very easy at times to wish that we could just put this season to rest. However, we’ve committed to not “growing weary,” and we believe that “at the proper time we will reap a harvest (of healing) if we do not give up.”

As we enter 2022, I am thankful for the Lord’s healing touch on Cayden’s life and the optimism of her physicians. I am thankful that we have fond memories of last year despite the struggles we’ve endured. I am thankful that we have the resolve to make new resolutions, knowing that a harvest is promised to those who refuse to give up. But, more than anything, I am thankful for the wisdom that enables me to understand that we’ll never pass this way again.

m  is married to Jeremy. Together, they pastor the Bridgeford Church of God in Hazlehurst. They have been in full time ministry for over twenty years; Jeremy served as Youth Pastor in Lyons (New Beginning) and Savannah (Southside) before becoming the Pastor at Willacoochee (2006 - 2011) and Townsend (2011-2017). Christy has been teaching math for twenty years and currently teaches Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus at Jeff Davis High School. They have two children: Cayden, age 16, a sophomore and Conner, age 13, a seventh grader. In addition to teaching and ministering, Christy enjoys traveling, shopping, and reading.

His Presense 

Two of my favorite Christmas songs are Your Presence for Christmas (Sisters) and Mary, Did You Know? (Mark Lowry) God has really been teaching me to rest and trust in His Presence for the last several months. I have been drawn to this scripture, as Christmas is quickly approaching, and reminded of how amazing and miraculous childbirth is to everyone, but especially to Mary, the mother of Jesus!

Luke 2:4–20 (NIV)  
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:19 tells us that Mary, the mother of Jesus, pondered these things in her heart. She meditated, she thought about it thoroughly...she “memorized” every Thing and every Moment about Jesus. I believe that she literally felt His Presence! Memories that we have pondered in our hearts as treasures are reminders that give us Faith and Hope, and a story to tell for generations, just as Mary did!

The morning of May 5th, 2020...we got the text from our son-in-law, Bruce, that we had all been anxiously waiting for…”KaLea woke up having some contractions, we are calling the doctor to see what he wants us to do. We will let you know our plans.” We are 5 hours away from them, but were already packed and ready to go, because she was past due and was to be induced that day. Janet (Blair) and I had previously made plans to be in the delivery room with KaLea, but Covid put a stop to any visitors. The hospital had just recently started allowing the dads to be in the room again. About 8:30, another text saying, “we are going to see the doctor first, it is on the way, heading there now”.

We didn’t hear anything else for about an hour. I called both of their phones, sent texts, and no response. KaLea is my baby--my firstborn! I needed to know she was OKAY. I wanted to hear her voice. I needed her to hear my voice and be assured she was going to be OKAY and loved, and that we would be there soon. David, Janet, and Brittani were at their house waiting and praying! We were traveling up the interstate...waiting and praying...so excited to finally meet our Charlie...but also anxious because we didn’t know what was going on! This is her first baby, it will take a while, she is fine, they are getting situated, hopefully at the hospital and didn’t have to go back home...these were all the thoughts going through my mind...then His Presence filled our car, His Presence filled David and Janet and Brittani’s home, and His Presence filled that hospital room, all at the same time! We finally got word from Bruce at 9:40 “It’s happening now.” At 10:03 he sent us a picture of the most beautiful baby boy (and mama), cleaned, wrapped up, hat on, and in KaLea’s arms (still in her Winterfest T-shirt she wore to the doctor’s office!)

They made it to the hospital in time! Labor and delivery were waiting outside to take her in when they arrived, and the doctor was right behind them. In our moments of silence, prayer, and waiting, God was moving. His Presence was in that hospital room! Charlie was coming fast...everything was happening so fast! Realizing the cord was wrapped so tight around Charlie’s neck that it snapped during childbirth, the doctor began to pray out loud, “Holy Spirit, we need you to meet us in this room!” And His Presence showed up! Charlie is our miracle baby. We thank God for Spirit-filled doctors who are not ashamed to call on the name of the Lord in time of need. He knew the possibility of what could have happened if God did not intervene.

You would think that everything happened so quickly that it was a blur to KaLea and Bruce, but just as Mary, KaLea pondered these moments in her heart and shared her story over and over to all her friends and family that called to check on her. These moments are forever embedded in her heart and mind. They are the memories that gave her faith and hope. A mom’s love, mercy, and grace flow down from her to Charlie, through his growth during her pregnancy, the birthing process, the nursing process, and now the teaching process.

Mary and Joseph were alone the night of that miraculous birth. But His Presence was there in his entirety! Mary’s memories and her story of Jesus’ “Presence” has been passed down through the church for over 2000 years. It is our job as the church to continue sharing the stories of Jesus, His life, His miracles, our own personal testimonies of faith, healing, and hope, for generations to come. When we forget those memories, the Holy Spirit that lived in and with Mary, His Presence that lives in us, will bring them back to our minds exactly when we need them!

Kim Boswell is the wife of Kip Boswell, who has pastored Blackville Church of God for 5 years. They have been in full time ministry for 21 years. They have 3 daughters, KaLea Blair (Bruce) and grandson, Charlie, Kaitlyn Boswell, 2nd year Law student at Penn State, and Kourtney Boswell, sophomore at Georgia Southern University. Kim has been in a ministry family most of her life, growing up in a pastor’s home (parents: Charles and Linda Green). She has been an educator for 12 years and is currently employed by Georgia Cyber Academy teaching from home. Outside of ministry, they love camping and spending time with their family as often as possible.

November is known as National Gratitude Month, where we are encouraged to embrace the power of gratitude. Gratitude is more than simply saying, “thank you.” Gratitude has this amazing power to shift us from thinking negatively to appreciating what is positive in our lives.
When presented with the question: “What are you most grateful for?” Over the years, I have always said, “Salvation – I am MOST grateful for salvation.” That is always the correct answer, right? Without salvation, without Jesus “saving” us from our sins, we have no hope, no promise of eternal life, no nothing. But honestly, it’s forgiveness. I am MOST grateful for forgiveness. “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” Ephesians 1:7 NLT

“So let it be clearly known by you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you; and through Him everyone who believes (who acknowledges Jesus as Lord and Savior and follows Him) is justified and declared free of guilt from all things, from which you could not be justified and freed of guilt through the Law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39 AMP

I knew from the age of eight years old when I acknowledged Jesus as Lord and Savior, devoted my life to Him, was baptized and decided to follow Him, that He forgave me of my sins and washed me clean. Many years later, at the age of 16, I met and eventually married my high school sweetheart. We built our first home, I finished college with my bachelor’s degree in Nursing, and we were blessed with our first child. We were serving the Lord: teaching Sunday School, directing Sunday School, singing in the choir, directing VBS, and involved in men and women’s ministries. Life could not get much better than this. So…. I thought.

One morning, I was awakened early by my husband and told that we needed some time apart, and he was leaving and not sure of when he would return. I was devastated, heart-broken, and lost. After a time of separation and many trials of attempting to resume life together, our marriage failed and ended up in divorce.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

Because my husband confessed and turned away from sin, and he started living by faith in Christ, he received the certainty of forgiveness. When we come to Jesus for forgiveness, we can be sure that Jesus’ blood is enough to purchase forgiveness for all who trust in Him. But what about me? I’m so hurt, heartbroken, and embarrassed. How will I ever forgive him for what he has done to me and our daughter?

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 NLT

After finding out that one of my girlfriends at work was going through this same situation, I wanted her to know that I was praying for her and her daughter. She said something to me that really penetrated by heart and soul. She said, “There is no way I could ever forgive him for what he has done to me!” My eyes began to water and glass over. I knew she was angry, bitter, and hurt. I could feel it so deep. All I could say was, “I’m so sorry and I will be praying for you and your little girl’.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15 NLT

You see, the Bible clearly says it: BUT if you refuse to forgive others (no matter who it is), your Father (God) will not forgive your sins. The truth is that all people have sinned and fallen short of God’s standards. When Peter asked, “Lord how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:21-22 NLT

Jesus did not intend on us keeping track of how many times we forgive someone. We should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask. For those who confess and turn from sin, God has promised forgiveness. Consider who is making this promise. God is faithful and righteous. His promises are true, and He has promised forgiveness to those who trust Him. Forgiveness on our part may not be easy, but it is necessary. My husband and I re-married after nine months of being divorced. “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:9 NIV

Can I say it has all been easy? No. But, I know we have grown in love and respect for each other. We are embracing joy in Him. We truly believe that we have been blessed by walking in faith, obedience, love, and forgiveness.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT

Dear Lord, thank you for your free gift of salvation and your willingness to be the atonement for my sins. I do not deserve the forgiveness and mercy that you have shown me. Help me to remember that I must forgive others, just like you forgave me.

Valerie Pittman serves with her husband, Bishop Nathan Pittman, Pastor of Claxton Church of God in Claxton, Georgia where they have served for 6 years. The Pittmans have served many years in Children’s Ministry and church leadership. Nathan and Valerie have been married for 24 years and have three beautiful daughters: LiliAnn 20, Melea 15, and Nathalie, 11. Valerie works at Memorial Health Meadows Hospital in Vidalia, Georgia as the Facility Educator. She is a labor, delivery and nursery nurse and has taught childbirth preparation classes for 18 years. When not working, Valerie enjoys spending time with her family at the lake, camping, or watching them in their many sporting events.

“Casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

When I think of the word casting, I think about fishing. When I was a young girl, mom and I would drive to the fishing pond. We would stay there for hours. There was so much peace and solitude as well as the reward of catching multiple fish.

When I first started fishing, I did not know how to bait my hook, nor how to cast the fishing pole or rod (I am still not good at casting the rod, but I can work with a fishing pole). I knew nothing about taking the fish off the hook, but after much trial and error, I got the hang of what to do. Fishing became a pleasure, I wanted to be at the pond where it was quiet and have plenty of time to meditate and think of the goodness of God. Many days I would sit there and read scriptures. Sometimes I would just quote scriptures.

One day I came across 1 Peter 5:7, where the Apostle Peter told me to cast my care on the Lord. I began to think about that one word, “cast.” He was telling me to throw, hurl or fling my cares onto the Lord. I recognized that these three words are verbs: action words. The word “throw” is telling me that I can take my cares and throw them on the Lord. He wants me to do that! He careth for me. He continually cares for all my problems and all my fears. He wants you to be at peace in the midst of all the storms of life.

You might feel like you do not know how to properly cast your cares on the Lord, but you do not have to do it a certain way, just give them to Jesus. He is willing and waiting on you, just tell him all about them. Yes! He knows everything about you, but He wants you to voice your cares. When you voice those cares, He will give you peace. Not the peace of the world, but His peace that surpasses all understanding. Therefore, my sisters, do not be afraid to get busy and throw all your cares on the Lord, for He careth for you. Then let “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NKJV

Pastor Jacqueline Dunnom is the pastor of New Beginning Church of God in Douglas, Georgia for 20 years.  She has been married to Nathaniel Dunnom, Sr for 50 years. Pastor Dunnom and her husband have 3 children: Eustacia, Povika, and Nathaniel, Jr. Pastor Dunnom has a love for outreach ministry and winning souls to God. She also wants to encourage the Body to hold on to Christ.

Rainy Day Thoughts

South Georgia has had lots of rainy days recently. The ground is saturated with water. Rainy days can seem a bit dreary and be a little inconvenient in the busyness of life. So, as I sat quietly and listened to the rain, my mind remembered an old song. “Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head, and just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed. Nothing seems to fit.”  There may be times in life we experience, not the physical rain fallin’, but those little “rain drops” that sting. They sting like the raindrops from a hard down pour. This rain may come in the form of adversity, disappointments, uncertainty, the pain of rejection, the pain of loss; the things the enemy uses to overwhelm us. He has no new strategies. These circumstances, if we allow them, will block us from the SON.  Remember when we were kids? We loved to play in the rain and splash in the water puddles. We never waited for the rain to stop. We just learned to play and dance in the rain. We enjoyed the rain and when the rain was gone, we enjoyed the sun.

As children we learned before we crossed the street to STOP, Look and Listen.  I have found this to be a very good practice when concern, uncertainty, frustration, and all the little things that sting show up. STOP, Look into the Word and Listen to TRUTH.

This I know anytime my life lacks peace, it is because I am trying to carry “care.”  When the cares of life try to weigh me down, I remind myself, “Shalynn, this care is not yours to carry. This care you must cast.” “Casting all you cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].” 1 Peter 5:7 AMP

God’s Word promises me He will perfect these things. “The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me; Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever—Do not abandon the works of Your own hands.” Psalms 138:8 AMP

Jesus tells me to come to Him. That requires me to act. Jesus tells me to learn of Him.  That also requires me to act. It is only then that I will find rest.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

“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].”  John 10:10 AMP

The enemy would like nothing more than to steal our joy, because it is the JOY of the Lord that is our strength according to Nehemiah 8:10.

The enemy would like nothing more than to steal our PEACE, because the Word of God promises us that we WILL have perfect peace if our mind is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).

Things that “sting” may come, but mighty women of God we must say NO to anxious thoughts and decide to take God’s thoughts which is “His Word.” Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV teaches us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

“I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.” Psalms 62:1-2 NLT

“The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Psalms 121:7-8 NLT

Saturate yourself with God’s thoughts for then the only thing overwhelming will be our VICTORY!

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37 NLT

I am thankful for the Word of God because it brings such peace!.

The Apostle Paul wrote fourteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. That is over half of the New Testament. I would like for you to notice how he concluded these books. I can’t include all of them, but here are a few examples:
 
1 Corinthians 16:24 (KJV)
24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

2 Corinthians 13:14 (KJV)
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Ephesians 6:24 (KJV)
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Let us not forget those precious Gospels.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all end their writings with an official sign off, “AMEN!”

The Epistles of Peter, John, and Jude end with “AMEN!”
The great book of Revelation ends with, “AMEN!”

However, something very interesting happens with the book of Acts. Luke does something different and gives us no official conclusion! In his Gospel writings he concluded with “Amen,” however, the ending of Acts was abrupt.  It was like he stopped in the middle of a sentence.
Why? I believe it is very simple. We are left with directions for continuance, recipes for the church’s success and an unending story to be lived out to this day.

What is Acts about? What is the subject?  About Peter, John, or Paul? Most agree that Acts 1:8 is the theme of Acts:

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8 (KJV)

So, the book of Acts is about the Holy Spirit coming upon the early church and empowering them for witness which was and still is the commission of the church. It is simply witnesses telling the story of Jesus. Stories about Jesus changing lives--your life, my life--about how he changed whole communities and still does today.

We have all seen movies that lay the groundwork for a sequel as they are coming to an end. Although the movie has concluded, the story has not. Acts 28 finishes with the subliminal message, “To be continued!” The open-ended book tells us that we are Acts 29. We are to finish the story. It is still being written. It is our duty as the church to continue the task of spreading the word. It challenges us to finish what was started: REACHING THE LOST.

Heavenly Father, help us to realize that you are not through with us as women, men, or the church.  Our greatest days are ahead. Let your sweet anointing rest upon us as we are sharing the good news with all that we meet, but especially our family members. Lord, I claim the salvation of loved ones who have been forgotten and have been marked as the “impossibles.”  I claim this passage of scripture for us all.

Acts 16:31 (NLT2)
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”  
AMEN!

Kim Lee is the wife of Bishop Lamar Lee, who pastors the Baxley Church of God. Together, they have 22 plus years of pastoral ministry and many years of evangelizing. Lamar and Kim have been married for 29 years and they have three children:  Landon 22, Lacey 18, and Logan 13. Kim currently serves on the South Georgia Women’s Ministries Board.

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16)

Persecution, trials, tribulations...not many knew it like the Apostle Paul. A man who once was on the other side of the fence-tormenting God’s people had now given his life for the gospel. Persecution arose on every side of him. For every step he took to preach Christ, there was a thorn in the flesh to buffet him, to which he pled of God three times to remove, and the Lord told him that His grace was sufficient.  Paul had learned through the power of God, the sufficiency of Christ. God was prevalent in Paul’s life now that he could declare that although he was persecuted and tried on every side, he was yet not destroyed. His outer body may have been perishing but his inner man was being renewed day by day. He had this testimony like Job, “though He slay me—yet will I trust in Him”. (Job 13:15)

Persecution, trials, tribulations...they have a way of trying us—refining us if we let them. Today, many believers are beginning to turn back to the beggarly elements of this world. They are walking away from the fundamentals of Christianity, abandoning the Christian’s perspective about life, and moving towards a post-modernistic worldview. Some have forgotten that as trials and tribulations arise, we have an unction from the Holy Ghost to press into the face of God even more!

Some say, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Well, I will tell you when life hands you trouble and persecution, make haste to pray! Jesus said, “men should always pray and not faint”. (Luke 18:1) See, Paul had learned not to faint because he trusted the LORD. He was a man of prayer. Jesus was a man of prayer. His sufficiency was that of the Father. The Father’s will was His priority and communication with the Father was preeminent in His life. Before Jesus was given up to be sacrificed on the cross, He sought God diligently in prayer. “Lord not my will but thy will be done” was His cry and plea. (Luke 22:42)

Sisters, as we go through various trials, as we see evil days approaching, we must pray, “God not my will but your will be done” just as Jesus did.  Even though Paul petitioned God three times to remove the thorn in his side, he recognized that God’s will was being done in his life and there was purpose in his pain. Sure, no one enjoys sufferings. I know that none of us like trials and tribulations. We are not talking to one another like, “Girl, let me tell you about the trial God allowed me to go through on today! Praise the Lord!” Absolutely not. Our human emotional nature is diametrically opposed to troubles. But my sisters, troubles are a part of a fallen world. Troubles can make us or break us, but we must be assured that we are not built to break! The Christian’s worldview about adverse circumstances must be biblical. It must be rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus, who suffered being beaten and slaughtered for the sins of humanity. Just like Jesus’ death on the cross, the trying of our faith resurrects us to new life.  We continue to walk in the newness of life as our faith grows, as we are tested and refined by the fiery trials of life.

You see, Paul could say that although his natural man was dying, the inner man was living! Daily, he was being renewed just as we must be renewed in our minds through the word of God and prayer. We must pray and not faint! We are instructed to wait on the Lord, and He will renew our strength. So, while we are waiting, we must also stay PRAYING or we will faint!
After Jesus gave His parable on how men ought to pray and not faint, He asked, “when I return—shall I find faith in the earth?” (Luke 18:8) Trust in the Lord. Pray and do not faint. I know that you may be going through hard times but hang in there! Keep fighting the good fight of faith.  Be blessed and trust in God with all your heart. Know that you are blessed and highly favored by the LORD, and He is simply a prayer away! Shall He find faith when He returns?

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

The Holy Spirit is calling us to re-imagine the way we are living by changing our thoughts. It’s easy to be pulled into natural thinking while living in this world, but in these verses, God gives us wisdom on how to use his power to address the destructive ways of our minds. The average human is believed to experience 70,000 thoughts per day so we will certainly need God’s supernatural ability to tackle this mountain.
How we think determines our destination in life. Proverbs 23:7 says that “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” What we think about will form our beliefs, and we will speak and act based on what we believe. As it says in Luke 6:45 “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” You probably remember that James 3 talks about our words being likened to a bit in a horse’s mouth (verse 3) and also like a rudder on a ship (verse 4). Your words are steering the outcomes of your life and can be traced back to your thoughts. Therefore, it’s critical we get the first step in this chain reaction right. While most people reading this have given Jesus their hearts, there needs to be an intentional, continual practice of giving him our minds.
Where do wrong thoughts come from?
Isaiah 55:8 reminds us that God thinks differently than we do. Our natural minds can’t even comprehend the vastness of what he knows. We see a small portion of life around us, but he sees the past, present, and future, even the motives and intents of our hearts. Much of what we think on is naturally inspired as we try to function in a natural world. But your first thought, or even a seemingly “good” idea isn’t always the right though.
Martha, for example, in Luke 10:40 was convinced that her sister Mary was in the wrong for being “lazy” and not helping her serve Jesus while hosting him in their home. She even had the boldness to tell Jesus to do something about it and correct her sister. But Jesus was actually thinking the exact opposite of Martha and quickly put things into the right perspective. Mary’s sitting and listening was infinitely greater than any act of service Martha was worried with. He went on to paint the correct picture in her mind, that there really was only ONE THING necessary, and Mary was doing it. Talk about a mental shift! It’s amazing to me that this truth continues to confront my wrong thinking and bring God’s perspective as I prioritize my to-do lists.
There are many voices that are speaking to us. We have to be guarded about what we give our ears to. Well-meaning (but wrong) friends, people outside AND inside the body of Christ, news outlets, and social media are constantly sharing information with us, and incorrect thinking can slip into our minds easily. Peter loved Jesus and wanted what he thought was best for him. In his mind, suffering and dying was not a good idea for his friend, so he rebuked Jesus when He told them His plan (Mark 8:32). Peter was well-meaning, but thinking outside God’s plans, and Jesus wasn’t afraid to address it calling him “Satan” for not setting his mind on the things of God but the things of man.
Yikes! That seems harsh. But is it possible our incorrect thinking is causing more damage than we realize?
Speaking of Satan, you remember he is a liar and the father of lies. There’s no truth in him. He is constantly at work to steal, kill, and destroy the abundant lives Jesus purchased. He is the culprit behind many wrong thoughts we experience. We can’t stop him from throwing wrong thoughts at us- it’s what he does. But we don’t have to grab onto what he’s suggesting. My former pastor loved to tell us, “You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” It’s time to take action and start chasing some incorrect thoughts away!
Thinking God’s Thoughts
Romans 12:2 tells us we are TRANSFORMED when our minds get renewed. The word “transformed” in the Greek looks a lot like our word “metamorphosis” (think from caterpillar to butterfly). God will impart transformative power when your mind starts thinking biblically. Philippians 4:8 is a checklist to run against any thought we have. When I’m dealing with a dominating thought, I have to ask myself, “Is this thought true, honorable, just, lovely, commendable? If it doesn’t meet the biblical criteria, it needs to be chased away - or brought it into captivity. His word exposes our incorrect thinking on matters and must become the standard by which we think.
I remember when my youngest was 2 and discovered his “loud voice”. Any time he was unhappy he would let out a horrible, high decibel scream that sounded like (what I imagined to be) a wounded pterodactyl. It made me feel crazy every time I heard it, which unfortunately was several times a day for a moody toddler. I had told myself and my husband, “I can’t handle it when he screams like that” and while we were taking measures to train him to respond differently, I had trained myself to “lose it” whenever the scream went off. I had empowered an (incorrect) thought that gave me permission to not take responsibility for my actions because in my mind it was too much to handle.
But thank God for the word! One day while I was reading Colossians 3 in the Amplified Version, I was confronted with God’s thoughts. Verse 12 read, “And put on….patience [which is tireless and long-suffering and has the power to endure whatever unpleasantness or injustice comes with good temper].”
Gulp. Now I had a problem. God was contradicting a strong thought that I had gotten comfortable with and I had to choose who I was going to agree with. Even though I didn’t feel the patience God was describing, He wouldn’t offer me something that wasn’t possible. So, I began taking that thought- which was trying to raise itself up against the knowledge of Christ- captive. I had to stop empowering the wrong thought and exchange it for truth. I couldn’t instantly change our 2-year-old, but I could lock up that lie of the enemy and make my thinking in this area obey what God said. The truth was the Holy Spirit had a supernatural patience that could outlast any toddler tantrum and I leaned in to begin changing my way of thinking.
As women of God there are undoubtably thoughts lurking in our minds that try and trump the word of God and his ability at work within us. It’s time to confront the lies and fears that are holding us back from moving on in God! The quality of our relationships and outcome of our lives depends on it. With God’s power, let’s wash our minds by the word and be transformed into the likeness of Jesus as we serve this generation for Christ!

Nadine Bowles is a native of Minnesota but has enjoyed living the southern life the past 9 years. She is married to the love of her life, Josh, and enjoys serving Jesus together with him. As a couple, they have served in various ministry capacities the past 16 years and currently pastor Ocilla Church of God in Ocilla, Georgia. She loves eating exotic foods, journaling, home renovation, and exploring new countries, but her favorite adventures usually take place in the backyard with her 2 redheaded boys, Ben (10) and Sam (7).

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV.

March 8, 2015, my personality said sit in the middle of the congregation with your ladies, but my position on the women’s board said do as I was asked to do. I settled down on the second row at the Women’s Conference just behind the beautiful dignitaries. Preliminaries were taking place. My daughter Summer and I and the church ladies were anxiously awaiting the refreshing to come in God’s presence. In short order, I get a text that my husband Jerry is being taken to the ER at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. I’m startled, the love of my life is sick, and I must be there! I left the tabernacle that day unsure of what would lie ahead.

In the ER they told us his kidneys were blocked and he needed an operation. The next week in the hospital following surgery, we had answers as to why Jerry had been so pale, nights of falling asleep on the couch before bed, always cold and going to the restroom 3 and 4 times a night. His kidneys had become blocked. His numbers at 6%.

Once at home, we decided to plan a cruise to Nassau Bahamas. Why not? It had been 4 weeks since surgery. How exciting! A cruise for just the two of us! On the bow of the ship leaving harbor, smelling salt air and gazing on the beautiful waters, I heard the ringtone of a cell phone, “Take Me to the King.”  The words of this song would later be my saving grace, along with other subtle hints from my Father that He was with us and would always be there.

Midnight that night, Jerry got up and went to the restroom. He came back to bed but was up again at 2:00 am. I awoke and asked was he ok. I cringed at the word NO. He was passing a great deal of blood. So very afraid, I picked up the phone and called for help. A guy pushed Jerry down to the elevator in a wheelchair to take us to the ship’s infirmary. I kept hearing my husband say, “Go faster, please! Go faster man!”

The ship’s doctor decided Jerry needed a catheter, but none of the catheters worked. Jerry was in excruciating pain. The nurse had finally administered all the morphine possible without stopping his heart. He continued to writhe in pain and hemorrhage. The doctor said, “I’m sorry but there is nothing else we can do. We are still 7 hours from the Bahamas. Once we arrive, they will take you by ambulance to the nearest hospital.”  I’m holding my phone and praying like crazy,begging God to take his pain away! I look down and discovered I had accidentally called our friend Joyce in Homerville. It was 3:00 am and hurriedly I hung up trying not to disturb her. When she answered the call that night, she knew it was me and immediately went to prayer over us. I’m feeling very much alone in the bottom of a ship in the ocean, 7 hours from anywhere!

What would be our fate? Seven hours from the Bahamas? Leave the ship? What would they do to him? How would we get home? Would he ever go home?
I went outside the infirmary to call our children. I saw a tall African American man standing close by. I assumed he worked for the ship. I talked to the children and let them know what was happening. I was almost in tears when I hung up. The man stepped up and asked, “Are you ok?” I told him our plight. This man reached for my hands and asked, “Can I pray with you?” I am a pastor. My wife and I are also on the cruise. She woke up with indigestion and needed antacids.” God had awakened her for such a time as this. We joined hands and that pastor prayed the sweetest prayer over my husband, over me, the children back home and for healing to come to his body. Oh, what a God thing! I was not alone!

The ship docked and we were discharged. At 9:00 am Jerry and I were taken by ambulance and entered the gate to Nassau. We soon arrived at the hospital. Nassau is picturesque in the tourist areas, but some interior streets appear undesirable. Here we were in a different country, in unfamiliar surroundings. When we arrived at the ER entrance, it looked like a very unkept garage. I thought we are in trouble!

I hurried to register him as they took him back. When I returned, they had given him something to crush the clots. The wall beyond his bed looked as if it had been spray painted red! The nurse turned to me with his pajamas in hand, half soaked in blood and asked, “Do you want these?” I am certain the horrified look on my face gave her the answer! I looked at Jerry expecting him to surely be dead, but he was smiling. The terrible pain had subsided. We thanked God for the relief. The doctor told me he must operate, or it would all build up again.

By now our kids are calling, saying “Bring Daddy home!” I was so confused. The doctor said he would not make it home, not even with a catheter. He must have this surgery. I asked Jerry what we should do. He said, “We are doing the right thing. I will have the operation.” The decision was made.

The doctor called me aside, scratched off a phone number on a piece of paper, ripped it from his pad and told me to call the number. He said, “It’s my mother. She will let you know my costs!”

I was in complete disbelief, but I went into the hallway and called this lady. The surgery is near $5,000. She asked, “How do you plan to pay?” I told her with a credit card. She said, “Oh no, we don’t take credit cards.” I asked her, “Well what am I supposed to do? We don’t bring that kind of cash on vacation.” “I don’t know. I guess you could get a taxi, go to the nearest bank and let them run your card” she said. Now terrified not knowing what the next step would be, I go back to the doctor and relay the phone conversation with his Mom, as my husband is being rolled out for surgery. The doctor threw his hand up and said, “No, wait a minute! Hold up, we have to figure this out!” Almost irate by this point, I shook my credit card in his face, “I have enough on this card to pay for it. You have to operate! You said he wouldn’t make it without it!” He grabbed my hand, still in his face and said, “You seem so stressed!” I then pointed at my husband and said, “You said he will die! You have to operate!” Finally, he said, “Follow me.” We went down several flights of dingy, narrow stairwells and ended up in the financial office. He told the lady, “I have to be paid. My family needs to eat too.” Then disappeared as I was told to wait in the lobby.

The operation ensued and as I prayed there alone, the phone rang at the desk. “Sheree Baldree” the lady handed me the phone. What?  Who knew where I was? “Hello?”  It was Jan Aldridge, a Church of God Evangelist and friend. She called to pray with me. That’s my God!
Exhausted, I sat in the corner of a semi-private room with only curtains separating Jerry and a Bahamian man. I heard this man singing, “What a Friend we have in Jesus!” My Mom’s favorite song to sing at her piano. At 9:00 pm a nurse stopped by and told me I would have to sleep in the chair at the end of the hall. At the end of the hall was a window with bars and a chair that looked as if a dog had chewed the arms. I sat down and dozed a few times during the night. I woke as the sun came up. From the window I saw the cruise ship leaving the dock. The ship we should be on. I began to cry, “Lord, if we have ever needed you, we need you now!”

No sooner than the words spilled from my lips, a nurse came walking down the hall singing,  
“Take Me to the King!”
I don’t have much to bring
My heart is torn in pieces
It’s my offering
Truth is I’m tired,
Options are few
I’m trying to pray but where are you?
One touch will change my life
Take me to the King

Remember the guys’ ringtone at the beginning of the trip? Yes, “Take me to the King!” It was God speaking loud and clear, “I’m with you daughter!”
Our kids were all at home calling everyone they knew to get someone to us! The Church of God Overseer of the Bahamas and a couple ministers, including Reverend Durant Smith all visited us.

My husband received a blood transfusion and was told we would leave on Saturday. Reverend Durant picked us up and took us to the airport while our son’s boss hired a pilot to fly his airplane to Nassau’s private airport to pick us up and take us to Homerville, a mile from our home.

A few months after being home, Jerry was in the pulpit at our church and a saint of God stood up and pointed her finger at him and said, “Jerry Baldree you are healed! There were many trips to Shands in Gainesville for many tests. It was decided that he needed to be placed on the active kidney transplant list. He had the surgery on his arm to prepare him for dialysis. The surgeon said he should retire because he would be on dialysis within a year to a year and a half. We were seeing the kidney doctor every 2 months and by now his numbers were at 10%. I was getting ready to have all the tests so I could donate my kidney when we began noticing a trend. Each time he went to the doctor the numbers were inching up.

Doctor appointments were now set for every 4 months. After each visit the doctor shakes his head in disbelief! He said, “This shouldn’t have happened you know! This never happens when your numbers are where yours were!” We continue to point him to our healing source! Last summer he said, “You no longer need to be on the active list but the inactive list. Your numbers are at 21%.” Recently, the doctor was told Jerry had had Covid with 17 straight days of high fevers. He could not believe that it had not thrown him into dialysis. Most all his patients with Covid ends up on dialysis. We told him it is only God! “You can be sure of that!” he said.  “You are at 23%.”

It has been over 6 years now since our journey began! April 16, 2021 his most recent appointment, he was at 25%! The doctor now believes he will only get better. Jerry has never had dialysis. He pastors New Vision and works hard still. To God be all the Glory! God never leaves us alone. Lonely times come but He is there. Not always in the boisterous waves or the clapping of the thunder, but He remains faithful. Even in a ringtone, a call from a friend, a visit by strangers, a song in the heart, a prayer from a preacher, I love you from your child, a word of prophecy, a way to get home and prayers from all over the world. You are never, ever alone!

Psalm 94:14 NASB
“For the Lord will not abandon His people,
Nor will He forsake His inheritance.”

Dear Father,
To those who feel alone, reach way down into the hull of their ship. Wake up the Master! None of our “stuff” or our “dilemmas “catch you off guard. You saw it coming and you already had a way of escape! You will never leave us nor forsake us. We love you Abba Father. Our Daddy.

Sheree Baldree serves alongside her husband, Jerry, as Senior Pastors of New Vision Homerville for the past nine years.  The Baldrees have two wonderful children Nathan (spouse Rebecca) and Summer (spouse JD) and “Amy” to three handsome grandsons, Trevor, Isaiah, and DJ. Also, two beautiful granddaughters Reagan and Consuella. Sheree is the Women’s Director at New Vision and volunteers in the church nursery, she has also served on the SGA Women’s Ministries Board.

True story:  As a young child growing up in church, my children’s church teacher, Sister Knight, would give us students a memory verse to learn and recite before the entire congregation. My mother’s due diligence prepared me to recite with ease: book, chapter, and verse. Yet without fail, as we lined up in front of the church and all eyes were on us, fear would strike my heart and I would resort to that ole familiar passage, “Jesus Wept.” No lie, I quoted it every single time throughout my years while in her class. Little did I understand that this small verse would take on such an enormous significance while passing through a very dark season of my life. Stricken with a physical affliction and being bound to a recliner for over a year, in unrelenting pain and exhausted from little sleep, the Lord came to me in the night and whispered, “I Know.” The pain was still there, however, there was such peace and comfort in knowing that someone could identify with my suffering.

Jesus Christ:  fully God and yet fully man. While on earth, Jesus suffered at the hands of cruel men. He wore physical blows upon His person, and He also felt the cold brush of betrayal from those who called themselves His friend. Jesus experienced hunger, thirst, isolation, rejection, the heat of the day and cold nights just to name a few. The Son of Man came not only to save us but to identify with our griefs and bear our sorrows. Being tempted in every point to draw us back or away in unbelief, Christ resisted, and for us, He has overcome them all.

In John chapter 11, Jesus gets word that His friend Lazarus, whom He loved, was deathly ill.  Knowing this, Jesus chooses to delay two more days. When He and the disciples arrive at Bethany, the village of Martha and Mary (sisters of Lazarus), Lazarus has been dead now for four days. This was significant because according to the Jewish custom, by the fourth day, the spirit has now departed from the body. In their hearts and mind, it was over. Jesus had come too late.

 Jesus’ spirit is troubled because He knew that His friends, Martha and Mary, had not yet fully recognized Him as He had declared to them in verse 25: “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.” When Jesus is led to the graveside of Lazarus, He finds them all weeping. Christ personally identifies with His creation. Verse 35 reads, “Jesus Wept.”  The Son of Man weeps in sympathy with His friends over the loss of their dear brother, Lazarus. Scripture does not mention that these two sisters had living husbands. Perhaps, the loss of Lazarus was not only an emotional one but a financial blow as well. If this was the case, as women in biblical times, I feel sure they were sorely afraid for the future. Possibly, someone reading this today,  can relate from a sudden tragedy and the uncertainties of the future looming overhead.

In John chapter 11, Jesus comforts us with these words, that if we will believe in Him, though we suffer finality, a physical death, or some undeniable loss we cannot regain, this is not the END. And, if we are made to remain in these mortal bodies until that Day, He promises, this is only temporary. There is something better waiting for you and me. Jesus’ delay to come heal Lazarus was for a greater purpose (revelation). He was telling His friends, do not look to an event nor to the conditions as they do “appear”, but look unto Jesus who IS Resurrection and Life. Though the conditions are dead and impossible with man to restore, NOTHING shall be impossible with GOD.

 “A Man of sorrows, acquainted with our grief.” Isaiah 53:3 NKJV

 Jesus, the Son of Man, is acquainted with the myriad of emotions that arise, as a result from hardship or affliction. Pain and loss consist of many layers and stages; thank God that Jesus has given His grace and strength sufficient to face every part of the process. Hebrews 4:15 NKJV tells us that “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses...” Meaning, Jesus sympathizes with the feeling or emotions that accompany our condition or circumstance; the spotless Lamb of God has borne our transgressions and infirmities and by Himself purged our sins, overcoming every temptation on the Cross.  No matter what we face in this life, God is with us and He is for us. And for the Believer, we have this promise: eternal rest and a grand, glorious reunion day with Christ Jesus and those that have gone before us! Be of good courage; it is not over until God says it is over!

Elaine Smith is a third-generation Pentecostal believer, born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. She worked as a purchasing manager for a commercial printer before going into full-time ministry with her husband, Reverend Michael A Smith. They pastored Liberty Street Church of God for three years before moving to New Beginning Church of God in Lyons, Georgia where they have pastored for the past twenty years. Elaine is a mother of one, Hope Smith, whom she bore at age 40, nothing short of God’s miracle working power. Elaine has worked alongside her husband, filling in for him in the pulpit when he has been away on his secular job. She has served as interim Treasurer of the church and has been a children’s church pastor for over three decades. Presently, Elaine is lead coordinator for the Golden Years Senior Ministry and the Nursing Home ministry. She enjoys singing on the praise team, teaching, and writing is her passion. Her greatest desire is to lead others to Jesus, to disciple and equip them for service.

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. - Galatians 6:8-10 NIV  
 
Ladies, are you tired?  Are you tired of being tired?  Do you feel overwhelmed by the worries that plague your mind?  Are you keeping yourself busy so you won’t have to focus on the thoughts running through your head?  Well…I’ve been there, done that, and still working to pull the rest of my leg out of the sinking sand of weariness.

But why are we so tired?  It is proven that busyness does not mean productiveness and it is also a fact that worry solves nothing.  So, why do we run ourselves so ragged?  Why do we continue to try to hold the things in our lives together when God never intended for us to bear the burdens we do?  Why are we exhausting ourselves trying to accomplish everything on our own when our Heavenly Father sits, waiting for us to seek Him?  And not ONLY seek Him, but to trust Him with the issues, the people, and the concerns we lay before him.

Well, here is a part of the problem.  We are busy fighting spiritual battles with physical weapons.
Galatians tells us in 6:9 not to get weary in well doing.  That doesn’t cover just ‘doing’.  When we take control of circumstances we are basically telling God, “I’ve got it.”  That is not defined as ‘well doing’.  We are acting and responding to the physical in the physical.  Yes, we should care for those around us.  Further up in Galatians chapter 6 it says to “carry each other’s burdens”, but that doesn’t mean that we are to do everything for everyone.  Only when it is Spirit led.  We have an obligation to minister to spiritual conditions before we overextend ourselves trying to assist with the physical needs of others and even ourselves.

(Side note: Let’s acknowledge, like the Word says in Galatians 6:8, that some of us and/or the people that are in our lives are in the position they are in because they are reaping what they have sown.  FYI, it’s not our job to fix, unless we are the one doing the reaping.  So, let’s work on removing that burden from ourselves and get out of God’s way.)

We often approach our circumstances or those people in our lives that we are concerned about, in our emotions.  We lend money, run errands, and do favors.  We share our anger and concerns with them, express our frustrations, we bargain and plead, and we even try to reason in hopes that we are heard and it will make a difference.  (Believing somehow that it will spark change)  But, it doesn’t.  And we find ourselves in this cycle of dealing with the same issue(s) over and over again.  It’s because we are either fighting or enabling that person/circumstance.  We are completely missing the spiritual battle happening inside of them, or even inside of ourselves.

Ephesians 6:12 NIV says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

We so often deal with the fruit and forget it took a seed to produce that fruit.  There is a root that runs deeper than you can see right there in front of you.  If you want real change to take place, put on your spiritual glasses and start praying on a spiritual level.  Do some self-reflecting and pray for those seeds in your life, in your heart, and in your mind that have produced attitudes and attributes that don’t line up with the Word.

Stop asking Him to change the people in your life.  You know the prayer, “Lord, please show them the error of their ways.”  Start lifting them up in prayer and ask God to help them discover the root of their anger, bitterness or sadness and depression.  Pray they will be loosened from the grips of the enemy and that they come to know God intimately and be delivered by Him. That way they can be healed and set free.

It doesn’t make sense to bring a knife to a gun fight, you know the saying.  That produces very little impact, if any, on the desired victory.  So let’s stop waging spiritual warfare in our emotions and our intellect.  Let’s stop fighting these things in our flesh and let’s begin waging outright spiritual warfare for the souls of those around us and even for ourselves.

As God was giving me this to share, I asked Him, “How do we mature from seeing things/or dealing with things in the physical realm into seeing things from a spiritual perspective?”
He said, “The Word.”

I said, “Ok… but the ‘Word’ and prayer are such typical responses though.”  (You know like when we are complaining about a situation and we say we’ve been praying and reading ‘BUT….’)
So God responded, “Is that not enough?”

Well duh…..of course it’s enough.  At least it should be.  And that made me think.  There are two things He calls us to do during our time in His presence.  Those things are reading the Word to know Him more, and creating space and opportunity to hear Him speak.  (Notice I said ‘hear Him speak’ because we often take control of our own prayer time and He never gets a word in edgewise.) And yet, we still want more.

Sometimes we just wait on a different answer, or watch for some miracle to transpire when we already have the answers.  It has simply been there all along.  We just don’t actively practice it.  We are too busy ‘all up in our flesh’. So, we find ourselves weary and it’s because we have our hands all in it.  It is because we are handling spiritual matters in the flesh.  We are not living out the Word and trusting God to take care of it.  This often puts us in the way of what God wants to accomplish in His infinite knowledge.

The Word says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  That means we lay those things before Him, whatever they are, and trust Him to handle it.  Be honest with God about your feelings, frustrations, and concerns.  When you get up from prayer, leave them there.  Don’t pick them back up, pack them away in your purse, and take them on your daily journey with you.  When frustration and concern rise up again, and they will, pray with spiritual eyes.  Pray for direction on what to do and when to get involved.  Pray with expectation.  Remember, God already sees the other side of this circumstance.  Know that victory is yours, or that person’s, according to God’s will and perfect timing.  You just have to engage in battle with the right arsenal (knowing who your enemy is), and make an intentional choice to rest in the Father.  Only then will we experience the undesired weariness fade from our lives.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more that we might ask or think.
Ephesians 3:16-20 NLT

When something great happens in our lives we often make the statement, “God is so good”!  We want to praise Him from the rooftops. Now don’t get me wrong--we should do just that. However, God is still good in the darkest days of our lives. In those moments when we are weak, tired, and afraid, when we don’t know what our tomorrow holds, we must lean on Jesus and know that He will never leave us or forsake us. If the path we have to walk is painful and scary, we must know He is walking with us and many times carrying us through. The love of God has no boundaries. When we face trials in this life, it doesn’t mean that God does not love us or that He is punishing us. The Word says that “all things work together for GOOD to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

The enemy can only come as far as God allows him to come. If God allows it, then we know that according to Jeremiah 29:11, it is to prosper us and not to harm us. He is molding us into the vessel that He can use. Though it may be painful and hard, it will all be worth it in the end.
January 10, 2020, I began to walk a very dark road. Severe abdominal pains wakened me. My husband took me to the local emergency room where I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis. I was admitted and treated over the weekend. On that Monday, I was released to go home on a strict diet and rest. Two days later, I woke in excruciating pain. My husband rushed me to the hospital where I was told that I had a rupture in my colon. Never had I ever experienced this level of pain. I was told that I must have emergency surgery.  The waiting room began to fill with my family and church family. They began to intercede for my healing. When the surgeon arrived, he informed me that I would probably wake up with a colostomy. I began to weep. He looked at me with such compassion and I could see his concern. I remember crying out to God. I was so afraid. Following my surgery, I was placed in ICU. I remember slowly moving my hand to my abdomen to see if there was a bag. I held my breath until I realized that there was not one. I began to praise God and weep. I was informed that he had removed the infected part of my colon and reattached it.
The days following were very rough. My blood work continued to be very concerning. They took me back for another CT and found that I had a leak where my colon had been reattached. Our hope was that it would heal itself. We began to pray for it to heal and for all infection to be gone. Finally, my doctor came in and told me that he was very concerned. It was not healing and things were declining. I was then transported to Savannah Memorial Hospital that night.

Two days later I was taken in to my second surgery. After a week, my surgeon came in and told me that there were no improvements and we had to move forward quickly. Things were not good and the only hope was to place a colostomy. I was taken in to my third surgery where they would remove another portion of my colon and place a colostomy. They were not able to complete the entire surgery due to the amount of inflammation. So, I was then scheduled for my fourth surgery three days later where they would complete the process and place a drain into my lung because of fluid. I have never been so sick in my life. I felt like I was in the middle of a nightmare. But I knew that God would see me through. I was just ready to get home to my family. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it, but I knew I would. My husband and I were hoping that I would be released when the doctor came around. However, when he came in, I knew something was not right. He told me my blood work was very concerning. We were informed that my platelets and hemoglobin levels were very low. I was not getting the nutrients that my body needed. They placed a port where they started TPN (nutritional supplements), and began to give me platelets and infusions. I was then moved to a critical care unit where I could be monitored closely.

We began to pray and cry out to God for my levels to become normal and stay where they needed to be. However, they continued to remain at a dangerous level. We were told that if these levels did not improve that it could be fatal.

I was so scared and weak. I would turn on healing scriptures when I didn’t have the strength to pray out loud. I remember crying out to God that I did not understand why I was going through this, but I trusted Him. I asked Him to let me see what He wanted me to see through this trial. One Sunday afternoon, I had some dear friends visit me. They gathered around my bed and began to pray over me. I could feel the power of God even in my frail condition. All of a sudden, one of them began to sing...
I love you, Lord
For your mercy never failed me
All my days, I've been held in your hands 

From the moment that I wake up 

Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
And all my life You have been faithful 

And all my life you have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
 
I could feel something in the atmosphere as I listened to those words. I knew something was taking place in the spirit at that moment. The next morning my levels began to slowly improve. I began to feel stronger day after day. Finally, after 40 days in the hospital, I was released to go home. I am not going to tell you it was easy. I had several setbacks once I returned home. I was sent back to Savannah and had a couple more procedures to clear those issues, however, I knew that my God was with me. I was so thankful for His ever-present help.

On July 7, 2020, I went in to have my colostomy reversed. Everything went perfect with my surgery and I was home after only 6 days in the hospital. I developed another abscess, which required a minor surgical procedure. All is clear today! I have another surgery scheduled on February 2, 2021 to repair a hernia that I acquired through this, but I believe that will be the end of this battle. I do not share all of this for pity, but to proclaim how great my God is, even in the storms we face! He loves me with an everlasting love. And He is molding me and making me in to the vessel He needs me to be. I just pray that I will be found faithful.

He loves you, right where you are. We must share the love of God with others. We are made overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. We are so thankful for all our family, friends, and churches that reached out and loved on us during this time. So many visited, called, gave love gifts and so much more. We could never express how much this means to us.

Prayer:
Precious Lord, I pray today for all who are reading this. You know the trials they are facing right now. Lord, I pray you will let them feel your love. Let them feel your arms wrapped around them. Assure them you have them in the palm of your hand. God move in their situation right now. Give strength and power to endure until the end.  Amen

Deirdre Greer is a wife, mother and “Mimi”. Deirdre serves alongside her husband Nathan as senior pastors of Grace Community Church in Hazlehurst. They have been married for 33 years and have two amazing children (twins), Korey and Kelsey (24), and the sweetest, most adorable granddaughter, Bethany (4) and fur baby, Luna. They have served in full-time ministry for almost 24 years. Deirdre works outside of the home at Waldron Enterprise in Douglas. She also is an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay where she loves to help enrich the lives of women. She loves planning events and decorating. Deirdre’s greatest desire is to be a servant and worship with all that’s within her.

    
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Circumstantial peace comes easy. Life is good, there’s peace. Kids are doing good in school, there’s peace. Money in the bank, overwhelming peace, but what about now?

When life is tough, there’s chaos. Kids are reckless, I have endless anxiety. Scraping change together, I am fearful for tomorrow.

I have been convicted lately to realize that the Holy Spirit came to give us an everlasting peace. Jesus left earth so the Holy Spirit could be with us and bring constant peace, not just circumstantial. Peace doesn’t mean there won’t be tears or there won’t be the occasional worry but it means that even though it’s all going on there’s a helper, if I choose to point my eyes in his direction.

 There’s a book full of peace and solutions but sometimes it’s easier to scroll through the relentless darkness of social media and the lies we so easily become overwhelmed by. I like to believe that Mary the mother of Jesus might have known what it meant to have this kind of constant peace. She wept at the death of her son but she knew because he lived she could get up and continue to live. Because she had been in his presence she felt true peace. Even in his passing as she felt such deep sorrow I imagine she also felt a true peace because she knew he had accomplished what he came for. I cannot fathom the grief or pain but I know there was still peace. There can still be peace in our disappointment and in our trial. If we allow it in our lives this peace can be a mirror based on what our eyes are focused on. We must stay focused on the cross and the promise of this peace that transcends all understanding.

Tara Sharpe -  Tara is the State Girl's Ministries director here in South Georgia. Tara is the wife to Justin and they have two beautiful boys, Jaxon (4) and Jameson (2). Tara has a heart for ministering to girls of all ages. Through her ministry, countless lives have been changed. She also is an anointed worship leader. She has had the opportunity to lead worship throughout the country. Tara is an established song writer and enjoys every opportunity to share that passion.

It’s December! It’s Christmas Time!

Everyone loves Christmas, right? It’s the Christmas music, drawing names for gifts, family gatherings, church musicals, school plays, all that wonderful Christmas food, and then there’s that special wedding or an engagement at Christmas. The list goes on and on of all the special things during this time of the year.

By now, most of us have our Christmas trees decorated, those tacky lights in the yard for the grandchildren, the stockings are hung, Christmas music (well that’s been playing since November 1st) and through the house is the most delectable smell of those homemade cookies for the neighbors (if they make it there!). The hustle and bustle of Christmas has set in already.

Christmas is truly a beautiful time of the year.

I collect miniature Nativity scenes. Each year I try to find a unique miniature nativity scene for my collection. The scenes range from different colors, different sizes, made with different materials and shapes.  My favorite would be the snow globe--it’s so beautiful!  But in all the scenes, they depict the same one: Mary and Joseph as they are beholding our Savior, baby Jesus.
When I look at my collection from time to time, (I keep them out all year) I notice there are no Shepherds or Wise Men. I’m sure it’s because they are so miniature. No Shepherds! But as I thought about it, there really is a Shepherd in every one of the scenes.

Psalm 23:1 – The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 23 speaks about our total dependence on God. We are the flock and He’s the Shepherd. We have No Want. He’ll give us Rest. He’ll Guide us, Restore us, Provide for us.  He’s our refreshment. He’s the rod and staff to guide and protect, even to discipline when we need it.
I
n this Christmas season you may not be feeling the joy of Christmas. Christmas time is difficult for many. You may need the Shepherd’s gentle touch in your life. You may need peace from the pains of this past year. You may need the Shepherd to comfort you because of loss of a loved one. You might be facing rejection or even contemplating suicide. You may just need The Shepherd to hold you close–and He will! Whatever you and I face, The Shepherd will forever be with us. He’ll never be missing in any of the scenes in your life. He is always present. Another promise is in Hebrews 13:5 NKJV, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God is saying, “I will not let you down, I’ll never walk off, I’ll never desert you!”

Trust the Shepherd today to do whatever needs to be done in your life.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you today, this Christmas season trusting you and asking for a gentle fresh touch amidst the business of my life.  I know you are with me when things are good and even when things are not so good. My circumstances do not change WHO you are nor the promises in your Word. Thank you, Father, that your love endures forever!  Mercy and grace are mine new each day. Amen.

Pam Deen serves alongside her husband, David Deen, Pastor of the Southside Church of God in Alma, Georgia. The Deens have been married for nearly 40 years and have 2 children, Cole (Kim) Deen and Cammie (Kyle)Boatright and have 6 beautiful grandchildren: Cameron, Brenlee, Chanlee, Aubrey, Kylee and Kale.  Pam works as Head Teller with the Pineland Bank of Alma. Pam enjoys spending time with their grands and going antiquing.

Have you ever wanted throw in the towel and quit? Have you ever asked the Lord, “Why me, Lord?” Being a pastor’s wife is a title that requires me to wear many hats, to have many sleepless nights and to deal with people from all walks of life, in general. I’m sure everyone can relate to this, whether you are a pastor’s wife, or not. Life hits you in the face. The pressures of life rides on your shoulders and at times, it gets so heavy. We have all been there at some point in our lives. We have just wanted to “quit.”  It is in those moments that God gently whispers, “You are not alone.” Although in the stress of life, you may feel like the Energizer Bunny and find it hard to even breathe, you can have the calm assurance that you are not alone. You do matter, and whatever struggle you may be going through, this too shall pass.

Everyone experiences loneliness at some point in their lives. Loneliness is a silent killer. Paul and Silas found themselves in a jail cell. I’m confident that they experienced a moment of loneliness, but they did something about it. They praised their way through their circumstances. As they worshipped in their current circumstances, that is when God showed up and did what only He could do. We all know the story. God moved the mountain that stood in their way and set them free. He turned what could have ended in defeat into a victory. Loneliness can make you doubt your purpose or your position in life. We have all had moments when we wish we could have a “Do Over” in life, right? It is in these moments that if we aren’t careful, we can fall prey to the enemy’s whispers to just give up and quit. We need to recognize this is bait Satan uses to discourage, discredit, and dishonor our self-worth, our abilities, our calling, our purpose, our zeal and our “want to.”

Loneliness can produce fear and fear attacks our minds. It can cause us to assume that things appear to be something they are not. We need to cast down those imaginations. Have you ever thought, “Why did you have to call me, Lord?”  And He responds by saying, “I did not call you; I chose you.” To be chosen means you were purposefully selected. You were hand-picked. It is through all of life’s adversities that God says, “I am growing you to where and who I want you to be.” This stretches us. We may get uncomfortable at times. We may even feel worn out.  However, God breathes a fresh breath of life into us and we continue on the journey that is set before us.

LIFE HURTS! When life isn’t what you have hoped or planned for it to be, it hurts. Be careful when you ask God to grow you in Him. Be prepared because growing pains will come, and they do hurt. It is in these moments that only God almighty can help you. He is your comfort. He’s your shoulder to cry on. You can have a sense of just crawling up into your Heavenly Father’s arms and calling on “Daddy.” It’s then that He whispers, “You will be okay.  I’ve got you.” Your struggle may be real but keep holding on. God says in Galatians 6:9, “For in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” So, hold on! Be encouraged, today. You are not alone. We are all in this together, and together we are going to make it through. Quitting is Not an option!!!

Isaiah 6:1-13

THE VISION:
After the death of King Uzziah the prophet Isaiah received a vision from the Lord. “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the Temple.”Isaiah 6:1 KJV  It was this life changing vision that led to his commission from God. Oftentimes, God will allow us to experience a supernatural vision during a devastating time.  Whether it is the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or even a major health issue.  However, it is during these times that we can receive a call from the Lord to do great things for the Kingdom.
 
Habakkuk 2:3 KJV, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”  A vision will shake you and prepare you for the course of action.  It will keep you “rooted and grounded” so that we can focus on kingdom building.  When we are kingdom focused or kingdom minded it will inspire us to be ready for the great commission.  Kingdom minded people are not easily shaken, not easily broken, and not easily moved because our course of action is greater than our past and greater than our future.   It is our willingness to serve the Lord to our fullest potential without fear, doubt or by making any excuses.  We trust God to help us to stay the course.
 
THE COMMISSION:
When Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, God said, Isaiah 6:8 NKJV, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then said I, “Here am I:  send me.”  The prophet Isaiah felt unequipped to do the work for he was “undone” and a man of unclean lips.” Isaiah wavered and he doubted his assignment to speak to a rebellious, sinful people.  How do we “stay the course” when we feel inadequate, unworthy, or undone? Undone means falling apart or to become unglued.
 
Life will always present some uncertainties but by the grace of God we shall stand during times of adversity. We shall not be moved by our short comings.  If God said, then we will believe it.God is a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).  We must at all times and in all things do the work of the Lord and “stay the course.”  The race is not given to the swift nor the battle to the strong (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
 
THE COURSE:
John 9:4 KJV, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work.” We must tie the vision, the commission, and the course together so that the Holy Spirit can use us.  Staying the course is directional, because it is the Holy Spirit which leads, guides, and directs us.  The course of action must bear the mark of the cross.  We are called to lead people and to win souls for the kingdom.
 
Therefore, 2 Timothy 4:5 KJV,  “Do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” because some lost soul depends on us telling the story, teaching the story and transforming the people  by the power of God. Stay the course and God will get the Glory!
…

 

Pastor Sheryl L. Davis was born and raised on Staten Island, New York. She has been involved in ministry for the past 32 years, much of it taking place in New Jersey.  She was licensed as a Certified Chaplain with the New Chaplains International Association of Central Jersey. Pastor Davis was the President of the Rhema Prayer Ministries, Inc. (a not-for-profit Women’s Intercessory Prayer Ministry) of Central Jersey for seven years. She became a member of the Agape Worship Center International Church of God in Columbia, South Carolina on January 2015 under the leadership of Bishop Vincent D. Collins, pastor.  Prior to coming to Georgia, she pastored the Shiloh International Church of God in Denmark, South Carolina. She received her Exhorter’s license from the SC Church of God in April 2019 and has an Associate degree in Biblical Studies. Pastor Davis and her husband, Elder Herman Davis, planted a church in Savannah, Georgia called the Victory in Praise (V.I.P.) Church of God located in the Savannah Mall. The Lord gave her the vision for this church. It was launched live stream via Facebook due to the coronavirus pandemic on April 2020. The Davis’s have four children: Melvin, Jermaine, Lamar and Krystal. They have nine grandchildren, one great grandson, and one goddaughter, Alissa Cherry.

I love making “to-do” lists, especially on mornings when I am freshly motivated and determined to meet the challenge of completing these tasks in their entirety. This enthusiasm is, of course, recognized after a few cups of hot coffee. My “to-do” list for the day may be sorted according to level of importance or categorized by likeness of action needed such as telephone calls, computer work, housework, and having to go somewhere, such as the store. This helps me be more efficient and, hopefully, more apt to check off as many items as possible. I know some of you are thinking, “Vicki, that is WAY too much,” but I also know there are a few of you with little smiles on your faces because you do the same thing.
 
I have found that my “to-do” lists are necessary because I like to be organized and, being over 50, I have to write things down on paper, so I do not forget. By the end of the day, it brings me such fulfillment when I look at my list and see task after task marked off as completed. Most of the time, however, this is not the case. The zeal I felt in the morning has now culminated into a bowlful of frustration topped off with a dollop of “I will never get this done” attitude. Was it because I put too many tasks on my list or did something unexpected interrupt my plans? Maybe it was due to the fact that I just got tired, became overwhelmed, and simply shut down. Whatever the reason may have been, the result was the same: tasks that were labeled “to-do” were now labeled “did-not-do.”
 
That being said, I ask you to follow the same directions you have for the dry ingredients in a cake recipe and “set this aside.”
 
Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, you will find me behind the keyboard at Cornerstone Church of God in Columbus where I am part of the most amazing church family! I would like to invite you to one service, in particular. Announcements had been made, fervent prayers had been spoken, and beautiful, heartfelt praise and worship had been offered to our King of Kings and majestic Lord of Lords. It was now time for the Word. I came down from the platform and prepared. Ink Joy pen in hand and notebook open to a new page, I was ready to write down the words that God would speak to me through the minister.
 
After writing down the title of the message, I began to take notes. The verse being read by the minister came up on the screen – “Lord, I depend on You…” I have put the three dots after “You” because even though the rest of the verse was on the screen for me to see, my vision was focused on those five words: “Lord, I depend on You.”
 
Depend – not past tense, not future tense, but present tense. Do you see it, too? “Lord, I depend on You now, during this minute, at this very moment that I am saying these words to You. I am ACTIVELY depending on You!”
 
After church, the Holy Spirit gently nudged me and reminded me of my “daily to-do” lists – aka “things I will do today” lists. Future tense! You see, it is so easy to say, “Lord, I will depend on You,” and, by all means, we, as Christians, should be very quick to stand on the foundation that our dependence will always be on Him. But there are times when it is important for us to say aloud, “Lord, I depend on You.” When we make that statement in the present tense, we proclaim to Abba that we receive His grace and care. It is in that moment that we give ourselves permission to relinquish control and rest in our Heavenly Father’s loving arms.
 
You are my champion
Giants fall when you stand
Undefeated
Every battle You’ve won
I am who You say I am
You crown me with confidence
I am seated, in the heavenly place
Undefeated, with the
One who has conquered it all
(“Champion” by Bethel Music)
…

 

 
 
Vicki Bradford and her husband, Tommy, have worked in several church ministries throughout their 33 years of marriage and currently attend Cornerstone Church of God in Columbus where Tommy serves as Lead Pastor. They have a daughter (Krista) and son-in-law (Keegan) who live in Columbus and a son (Dalton) who is in college. As a musician, singer, songwriter, and teacher, Vicki’s calling has always centered around music, both in the church and in the classroom. She recently retired from the Muscogee County School District where she taught chorus, piano and general music for 30 years. Currently, she is working as the Office Manager at Vance Brooks Funeral Home in Columbus, a position, which she feels, gives her a tremendous opportunity to minister to those who are hurting.