Kingdom United Ministries Network
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Kingdom United Ministries Network
My Blog
Posted on July 30, 2015 at 5:03 PM |
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Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Well, we find ourselves in the middle of the summer, in the middle of the year 2015 (and prayerfully, I find myself in the middle of my life). It has been my observation that the majority (present company included) are usually spending more time dwelling on past exploits of life's journey or looking to the future, be it dread or hope, for what's next over the horizon, while neglecting the present position in the midst of the two tenses. This misappropriation of focus can even be considered a tactic of the enemy who means to do nothing less than distract us from the "present" (gift) that is called "Today", also known as "NOW". Be it the middle of life, the middle of the year, the middle of summer or the middle of the moment, we can do justice to amend or build on the past and prepare properly for the future by making the best of our current situation. So take some time today to smell the coffee, smell the roses, enjoy a conversation, feel some sunshine, appreciate the rain, savor a breath of fresh air, embrace your freedom, reach, teach and encourage a child, respect and support a senior, and generally live, laugh and love more --- TODAY! My family just recently commemorated 16 years since we emerged from our wilderness experience...then officially proceeded in ministry. Our official ministry, ie. Christian practice, began in August 1999 at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission. It was here that our faith walk continued and GOD showed us why we had to go through the previous 3 years the way we did, resulting in our week of homelessness. Those formative spiritual years prepared us to be effective ministers to others who were homeless. It also prepared us to deal with various aspects of ministry and to effectively cross denominational barriers. Those invaluable lessons that we learned served as a template for how to plan to proceed in our service unto the Lord globally. "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:10 NLT |
Posted on March 26, 2015 at 2:04 AM |
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3 "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! ..." Oh, the joys of parenthood! I'll never forget holding my oldest son and firstborn child while beholding the miracle (yes, for me it definitely was) of God's favor upon my life. I remember thinking when he was only a few days old "What will you be like at 10, 15 or 20 years of age?" Now, over 30 years later, the question resounds stemming from the epoch of his birth "Where did the time go?" Engrafted within the various stages and seasons of parenthood, the blessings kept coming as well as life's challenges: (disappointments, rejection, struggle, loss, pain, confusion) you name it, it was in there. Somehow I knew I'd never be able to teach my sons what it was to be a "real man" and that it was something only a real man could do, and although learning to love and trust another man with my heart, my children and ultimately our lives, was not only going to take some work on his part, but I too would be required to sow seeds of sacrifice as well. So during the courses of "Parenting 101 - ...", "Love and re-marriage: Doing it God's way" and "How to die in order to live", ours has been a journey where slow and sometimes unassuming growth in the midst of the vicissitudes of life, are now coming to fruition. I'm preparing a meal for our oldest son "M1" (using initials since I don't have permission :-) who's visiting us from out of town and our youngest son "C" who's home sick. Our fourth son "Q" comes home and I ask him to text his older brother "T" to let him know that M1 is home. He informs me that they spoke yesterday and have already made plans to get together while he's here. Freeze! I am now experiencing a utopian moment, and here's why: Each day leading up to this, our daughter is in constant communications with all of her brothers, through text, phone or just being in the same house. Daddy is on everyone's "must call" agenda when they get home from school or work, not because they were told to, but because they "like" talking to daddy. Although we are far from perfect and being problem free, this in itself is the product of hope planted during the "see nothing" years of our lives. Romans 11:33Amplified Bible (AMP) 33 "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!" Things that were dormant throughout the winter will begin to awaken. Perrineals will remember it's their time to arise. We'll even use some of the very things that would have stunted a plants growth as compose to help to enhance it. So will it be in our lives. Nothing from our past will ever be wasted. God will use it all to work together for our good and for His purpose. That we might see the result of us loving Him enough that we'd be willing to obey him to the point of sacrifice. We will experience the "Fruition of Hope". Isaiah 61:3Amplified Bible (AMP) 3 "To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." |