Friday, February 29, 2008

THE REWARDS OF FAITH


Chaplain Charles Yost was deployed as an Army Reserve Chaplain to Kuwait and Iraq in support of the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. With his Chaplain Assistant, SSG Stevie Mick, this Unit Ministry Team tended to the spiritual needs of hundred of Soldiers in demanding conditions.

HIS STORY:

The week before I was activated, there were times the pressure was immense. I would literally force myself to take a deep breath because we expected that weapons of mass destruction would be used against us in Iraq. I had all kinds of thoughts like, "This might be the last time I get to see my loved ones." So I was acutely aware that I was going through the same kind of emotions other Soldiers were.

Being an Army Chaplain is a substantially more involved experience than is pasturing a civilian congregation because you are literally with these Soldiers sixteen, eighteen hours a day. In the civilian world you might be with a secretary for five or six hours—but you're not with this quantity of people, and you're not all sharing very similar experiences.

The hardest aspect of deployment for my unit was with Soldiers having to deal with issues back home. Whether it was their spouse, a relationship, childcare, health issues or a financial dilemma, Soldiers are kind of helpless when they get information like this from home. It was an honor to be positioned to offer a little guidance and support.

When you're deployed as a Chaplain in Kuwait/Iraq, there's a fair amount of going around from tent-to-tent to get to know and be with the soldiers. That's in addition to providing worship and bible study as part of a regular schedule. We offered a daily bible study that was attended by around 25 or 30 different Soldiers there.

I'm not Mr. Charisma, I'm just a Steady Eddie kind of a guy. I tend to do better getting out there and joining the Soldiers as they're doing something—pitching in and gaining an understanding of what they're doing, some of the pressures they're under. I would try to sit with a different set of people during meals to get to know them in groups. And sometimes it would be a one-on-one thing—that's when I would explore where they were on their spiritual journey.

The Soldiers I served alongside of were remarkable. It was a great privilege to be with anywhere from 20 to 200 of America's finest every day of the year. The soldiers I met were so impressive in their competence and in their eagerness to perform their assigned duties. Some of us were able to serve in places like Babylon, a place so steeped in history. What a thrill to stand in that same location where the body of Alexander the Great had lain and where Daniel read the writing on the wall.

May God bless our troops, this is inspiring!

Thanks to GOARMY.COM for this info.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

SEEK HIS FACE!

Everyone, I hope you are all well and thankful for the grace our lord has given us..
I never want to take his grace for granted!!
I thank God for the various things he is to us.. I learnt that he is not just "jireh" our provider.. he himself is provision, he is not just our "healer" he is healing.. the moment we begin to look at God for what he is and not just what he can do we tap into a greater spiritual realm. He is a gift himself not just a giver of gifts. He is a blessing and not just a blesser. I realised how great life can be. Despite my circumstance, God is still great and even through our tribulations.. Let us no longer seek healing but seek the healer, not seek provision but seek the provider. Now I completely understand that scripture "seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you" healing shall be added, peace shall be added. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. LET US MAKE HIM BIGGER THAN OUR WORRIES. SEEK HIS FACE NOT HIS HANDS.. LORD YOU ARE HOLY!!!! HALLELUJAH! Christianity is not a formula, it is the person. Grace is not a doctrine, it is the person of Jesus Christ. The blessing is not the company you are in or your career in the city.. when the lord is in your life and you honor and cultivate his presence HE WILL BLESS YOU. OHHHHHHHH GLORY! We cannot base our prosperity on the things of this world.. life is ever changing but if we go with the lord he is NEVER CHANGING!!!!
GOD BLESS YOU. Here is a snippet of another John P Kee song, "OH HOW WONDROUS"

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Giants!!!


Chorus:
Giants do die,
the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Giants, they die,
just walk around the Jericho wall.

Now we come in Your name
and we stand on Your word,
what is loosed in the heavens,
will be loosed on earth.

Now we come in Your name
and we stand on Your word,
what is loosed in the heavens,
will be loosed on earth;
let God arise, giant, die.

Bridge:
Your praise will bring down strong holds.
When you pray, you will see miracles.
Just pray when things seem impossible
and the King of Glory will show His glory;
let God arise, giant, die.

Chorus

Vamp 1:
When you praise,
When you praise,
When you praise,
they gotta come down.

Vamp 2:
When you worship,
When you worship,
When you worship,
they gotta come down.

Vamp 3:
When you shout,
just shout.
When you shout,
they gotta come down.

Vamp 4:
They gotta come down.

Vamp 3

Vamp 4

Ending:
Let God arise, giant die.

Right Now Praise


People of the lord it has been a while!! If there was ever a time I am so grateful to be alive it is now. I have heard so many horror stories of late, read so many articles that have deeply disturbed me and all I can say is Lord I thank you for keeping me alive!! Well, I have recently discovered this guy John P. Kee and the New Life Community Choir and I am a FAN! I really like this song they have out now called "Right Now Praise" and it just lifts up my spirit and makes me want to praise God for everything he has done, he hasnt done and that which he is going to do.. its awesome I tell you. I found this clip and I think it is adorable. It does something to me when kids praise the lord and so here is something I pulled off John P.Kee's myspace page...

Here is my song of the week by John P.Kee... I wish ya'll could see me get down now!!!

I will be back with more but God bless you for now.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Victory Is My New Name!


God is able to deliver me and I am excited about the change to come.. My flesh will not get the victory but God will! I decree it.. I am setting my eyes on the hills whenceforth cometh my help!! oh gloryyyyyyyyyyy! Its Sunday Morning and I was glad when they said unto me oh let us go into the house of the lord. I will be praising alllllllllllllllllllllllllllll day!!!!!!!!!!!! VICTORY IS GUARANTEED... THIS VICTORY IS GUARANTEED!!! The bible says "Decree a thing and it shall be established unto me and my light shall shine on your ways" I thank God for the patience of Job at this time in my life.

God bless ya'll!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

My Favourite things!!!!



William Murphy Praise is what I do (Hezekiah Walker also has his version)
SIMPLY AWESOME.



Commissioned Ordinary Just Wont Do (For the real Fred Hammond and Marvin Sapp fans..this is where it started)





Shekinah Glory Yes (this song speaks to me!)



Donnie McClurkin Great Is Your Mercy



The cutest thing ever (children are precious)Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Isnt this ridiculous????????

Hello!!! I am extremely overjoyed and I hope you are too.
I came across this video and I felt I should share it
I initially found the clip extremely hilarious but then again its not. This is a typical example of how kids grow up and become criminals because they feel they can get what they want. I am not sure if this child's parents are involved or if he has parents but the Make A Wish Foundation may very well go bankrupt (if not already have) if they do not stop operating in fear.. A law suit might have been cheaper than granting this child all his wishes! The devil has turned around a blessing and made it a curse and now others have to suffer because of an 8-year old child. I mean did anyone talk to him about that?? about being selfish and possibly causing others to die because they have to legally fulfill his wishes??? WAKE UP AMERICA!! What made me cackle was the suttle way in which Haggart's co-host "wishes" the boy dead(the irony).... what else does one do at this point I mean,someone please slap me or wake me up! really this has got to be a hoax! Watch and see for yourselves.

"Don’t fail to correct your children; discipline won’t hurt them! They won’t die if you use a stick on them! Punishment will keep them out of hell” (Prov. 23:13 The Living Bible).

“If you refuse to discipline your son, it proves you don’t love him; for if you love him, you will be prompt to punish him” (Prov. 13:24 The Living Bible).

I do not see where "sick" children are exempt or maybe its just a simple case of ignorance! Pardon my tone folks this vexed me!


God bless, SHALOM.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Character and Integrity


Hey! Today I want to talk about character and integrity and hope I can get you thinking about some of the things we may be doing that might hinder our blessings from God. Character and Integrity are two things our ancestors strived real hard to achieve. I remember those long talks with grandma and grandpa and uncle Paul and aunty Rita when my mother chastised me for something I did wrong and I got salty. They would sit me down and just keeeeeeeeepppppp going. But, I realise now they did this to build up my character, they were trying to teach me how to be a better person and I know now that correction is only love!!
I HAVE DEVELOPED IN CHARACTER BECAUSE OF SOME OF THOSE LONG TALKS.
I found out that in the bible there is so much on character and integrity from reading Psalms,Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and so on.
These scriptures below should give you insight as to why it is so important no matter what circumstance that you do remember that your name is something you have to protect. It should never be soiled or tainted whether it be in you work place, in the streets or as you go about your dailies. Watch what you say and the life you live as you always want to be remebered for having good character and integrity. You want to make a promise and stick to it even when it hurts... sometimes this means breaking the bank.

On Job: (His wife says to him after he lost all he had, including his children)
"Then said his wife to him, shall thou still retain thy integrity" Job 2:9

Ecclesiastes 7:1 "A good name is better than precious ointment"

Proverbs 22:1 "Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver and gold"

Psalms 15
"Who may worship in your sanctuary, lord?
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
Those who refuse to slander others or harm their neighbours or speak evil of their friends.
Those who despise persistent sinners, and honor faithful followers of the lord and keep their promises even when it hurts.
Those who do not charge interest on the money they lend, and who refuse to accept bribes to testify against the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever"

There is a whole lot in between on character not included in Psalms 15 for example:

Numbers 12:1 "Miriam and Aaron spoke against moses because he had married a Cushite(Ethiopian) woman...."
They slandered him because he married a black woman... and when you read further God cursed them with leprosy! When you have found favor with God he takes care of the evil doers and the naysayers... Here is the SERIOUSNESS of God!!! I mean, leprosy just because of the words they spoke. Mercy Lord!

My prayer is that we receive, holiness and righteousness as God's gift to us.
SANCTIFICATION: Be holy, for God is Holy. It is to be like Him.

In all we do let us strive to be more christ like in character and maintain integrity..
God bless, SHALOM X

Monday, February 4, 2008

Still some left!!!

Hi and greetings to you in the sweet name of Jesus. I hope you have had a great and promising new year so far. I hope you have let go of all hindrances and all dead weight.. I pray that this year you will see victory and not failure, I pray that God will give you the spirit to seek his face more this year and keep you covered under his wings in the name of Jesus.

As we watch and see all that is going on in the world, the constant suicide bombing in the middle east, the conflict in Kenya, Congo, Darfur, Asia, Nigeria, Sudan and even in our very home land America.. we can see how all manners of evil and curses have so afflicted us. This only leads me to cry out to God like my brother Smokie Norful sang "I need you nowwwwwwwwwwwww.. I need you now, not another second not another day..."
Saints this is the time to pray and strive harder to live for christ. It is not about the church sermons and feel good services, it is no longer about how big of a seed you sow. I find that a lot of us are blessed in the physical but we are cursed spiritually.. the word fails to reside in our inner man. We have become spiritually barren lacking discernment, devotion, and compassion for others we have become selfish and concerned with no one but ourselves! The truth about righteousness is almost unheard of.. we have become a world full of liars, thieves, adulterers, money hungry and perverse human beings how can God dwell amongst us??? But this sermon by Donnie Swaggart make me believe that God is watching and is still speaking!! OH GLORY.. He preached from his soul! Thank you Lord for this warning!!!! May God bless you as you watch this. I pray the lords blessing of PEACE reigns on Donnie Swaggart and family.. I know there have been a variety of scandals surrounding him and his family but I believe our God is a God of a second chance. Amen! xxx enjoy