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Stay In Your Season

Dec17

“I hate this place! I will not finish this year at this school! I understand exactly what you mean girl. The boss is crazy and I am not feeling this.”

This is the conversation that I found myself having in 2011. I learned a lot about myself this year. I learned that I was an emotional creature. I let my emotions guide my decisions sometimes (well, all the time).  Let me give you an example. I have written in previous posts that I was thankful for being back in the classroom. From August to November I had the worst experience as a teacher that I have had in eight years. The students walked in and I thought, “I can control these kids because they are just going to do what I say.” I figured it didn’t matter what it took because the kids were going to complete my work because I said so. Guess what happened? I was firm and they didn’t care. If I raised my voice they raised their voice. There were days I would assign work and less than half the class wouldn’t even attempt to try it. I know you are wondering how this makes me emotional. Well I was crying every day, I was losing my hair, of course I was gaining weight again and I was angry all the time. Through these emotions I came to the conclusion that I was leaving that school. I spoke to some of my spiritual family and told them my plans and they had my back. I made up my mind that I would abandon the same kids that every other teacher has left. I went on an interview and what I thought was my way out was really a message from God.

I talked to the interviewer and she questioned me about lesson planning, teaching, behavior management and my passion for kids. As I spoke to her I heard myself saying I have met students that didn’t want to learn. It has never been this hard to teach kids. I need structure in my life and I just really hate my place of employment. I know you are thinking, “Keviyona, you have lost your mind!” No! I had not lost my mind but I had heard God’s voice. God spoke to me and said, “What happened to you trusting me? What happened to you staying in the race? What happened to you staying in your season of preparation?” I pondered and said I have always thought I was walking into my season. The more I consulted God, the more insight I obtained. I realized that every day of our lives is a season. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV)

Let’s look at seasons in nature to get a general idea of how seasons work. In nature, things come forth, grow and fulfill their purpose and die. Notice that winter and spring are times of preparation. In the winter the ground gets very cold or freezes, which kills germs or bacteria that could be harmful to crops. Plants that have died during the previous season decay and help replenish nourishment to the soil. Then, as the late winter and early spring comes, the soil is plowed and made ready, seeds are planted, nurtured and grow…Then in summer and fall, crops mature and are harvested. The farmers then sell the crops for money and use the money to support their families and enjoy the good things of life. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up. (Ecclesiastes 3: 2-3 KJV)

I was in my season of winter. God was trying to kill my old way of dealing with issues. I was used to moaning and complaining to the people that love me and not saying anything to the people that were inflicting the pain. God was killing everything that I thought I had done on my own as a teacher. Yes, I am guilty; I had a spirit of arrogance on me as a teacher because I was labeled as “one of the best in the school.” God had to humble me and make me realize that it doesn’t matter how many degrees I have or how well I know instruction, I need to depend on Him for everything. Instead of God letting me run away from my job He made me face opposition head on. He told me to stay in my season!

By staying in my season of winter and not running to a new school, (this doesn’t mean that I won’t leave when the timing is right) I have seen a shift in the atmosphere. I’ve seen kids that would not do it at first start to work for me. I have seen students eager to learn. I’ve seen students that are ecstatic because someone really believes in them. I have seen students tell the trouble makers “shut up so Mrs. Ray can teach me something.” I am at the beginning of my summer where there is light at the end of the tunnel. I can see the flowers blooming. I can see my growth and my student’s growth. Most important, I can see God on my job. See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19 NIV)

Had I not stayed in my seasons of winter and spring, I would not have realized that God was preparing me for the next season in my life. I wouldn’t have realized that I had more to learn even though I am a “vet” in the teaching profession. God had to humble me as a teacher and take me outside of my comfort zone in my winter season in order to prepare me for my summer and fall seasons, which bring leadership. I learned that there is not one season in my life but every season is a lesson that I have to learn in order to go to the next level. And we know that God causes everything to work togetherfor the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8: 28 NLT)

Dear Daddy,

Thank You for allowing me to have seasons of preparation and seasons of harvest. I thank You God for teaching me that I must go through seasons in order to reap my harvest. I thank You for covering me with the blood and putting me back on the course and the plan that You have for my life when I stray. I thank You God for teaching me to stay in season! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Women of God, I EMPOWER you to stay in whatever season you are in. Remember that whereever you are in your life, that God is preparing you for greatness. God does not want you to change the course in the middle of the season, He wants you to endure to the end. I EMPOWER you to go through your season of preparation in winter and spring and reap your harvest in fall and winter. Stay in your season!

Read a related EmpowerMoment: Seasons Change

Mrs. Keviyona Ray is an ordained minister and co-pastor in training of The Christ For All People International Church. She is passionate about sharing the word of God with everyone she encounters. As a professional, Keviyona is a teacher for Chicago Public Schools. She loves her ministry of teaching and changing children’s lives. She is a devoted wife and mother of a wonderful daughter. Two of her favorite scriptures are Jeremiah 1: 5: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” and Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Listening To Your Voice

Dec12

At the age of 24 (turning 25 in a few weeks) God has placed me in a position of leadership. I am a Program Coordinator at a non-profit and I am a supervisor for two employees that are both older than me. Actually everyone in my office is about 5-10 years older than me, and at times some can treat me like I am their subordinate. I know this is because of my age. At times I feel out of place myself, but then I remember that I prayed for this position and that I have worked in non-profit in various capacities for the past six years. Those I work with probably have no idea of the sacrifices I’ve made in order to be in a field that I love and feel called by God to pursue. The enemy would love to have me doubt my ability. Truth is everything I have comes from God; I am not “special” but I am being obedient to the call of God on my life. Recently, I started reading a devotion on faithfulness. One of the “memory” scriptures came from II Chronicles, a book of the Bible I do not read often and that’s when I stumbled on (or as I would like to think was divinely guided to) King Hezekiah and Sennacherib. My current predicament is similar to that of Hezekiah. At the age of 25 Hezekiah became king and had to go against King Sennacherib a mighty warrior king:

Sennacherib’s officers spoke further against the LORD God and against his servant Hezekiah. The king also wrote letters ridiculing the LORD, the God of Israel, and saying this against him: “Just as the gods of the peoples of the other lands did not rescue their people from my hand, so the god of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my hand.” Then they called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to terrify them and make them afraid in order to capture the city. They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the other peoples of the world—the work of human hands.

King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. And the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword.

So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them on every side. (II Chronicles 32: 16-23 NIV)

I was so deep into this story that I actually researched Sennacherib, and according to Wikipedia, Sennacherib means Sin has separated my brothers from me. Can you see how God orchestrated this? God used a man, whose name literally means sin to come against the people of God so they could see and believe that their God, the God of Israel is one to keep those promises.

I would like to leave you with a word from an EmpowerMoment commenter: Faith is acting like God is telling the truth.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You so much for keeping Your Word. You never said trials, tribulations and tests would not come my way, but You promised to see me through. Lord, I know You are only asking of me to have the faith that You can and will do what may seem impossible to me. Remind me that anything is possible if I keep my hand in Your hand. You can deliver me no matter how close defeat might look. You spoke this entire world into existence, so speaking life into my situation is nothing for You. I thank You in advance for hearing and acknowledging this prayer. Keep me encouraged Father, and help me not to ignore those times when You are asking me to spend more time with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Lovely Ladies of God, no matter what your age or position I EMPOWER you to stand firm in God’s Word, in His promises to you, no matter what the enemy may tell you. You know that God is a God that cannot and will not lie; it is not even in His character. If HE spoke it to you, HE will be the one to bring it forth.

Ms. Renee` N. Chaffin is a single mother who has a heart for helping those less fortunate. She has been active in the non-profit sector, whether through volunteerism or professionally, for the past six years.  She is passionate about sharing the love of God, her testimony and empowering people to discover their true potential that was bestowed on them by King of the Universe. Renee` is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration. While on her pursuit of higher education, she is on a seven year journey to challenge God to do ‘exceedingly and abundantly above all she can imagine’ in seven areas over the next seven years. Check out her journey at http://radical7even.wordpress.com. Her favorite scripture is I Peter 5:6: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

POWER IN MOTION!

Dec7

To borrow a page from Khalilah’s scientific notebook, one of my favorite concepts in Physics is the concept of Potential and Kinetic Energy. To simplify it, Potential Energy is energy that is stored up and Kinetic Energy is energy in motion. Use your imagination and visualize this example. A rubber band alone is just a rubber band; but, a rubber band changed from it’s original position and stretched has enormous Potential. It is storing up its energy for a time in which it will be released.  The Potential of that rubber band lies in its stretched state and when it is released it becomes Kinetic. When you pull a rubber band a little bit it has little bounce back, but when it is stretched to its maximum, once released it is really going to “pop” and I don’t mean break.

Some of us have been stretched while some of us are in a stretched state right now. Sometimes we wonder, “how did we get here?” External forces such as family, finances, friends and careers have us in a state where we are stretched. We wonder why things are happening to us and we have not recovered. We have great ideas and visions (potential) but we have decided on our own that they should not be released or maybe God has not released us to execute them.  We want to move but God says, “Not now, I am not finished storing up what you will need when I release you. You haven’t been stretched enough.” Some of us God has told to MOVE on all of the energy He has stored in us but we have gotten stuck in our Potential state.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah 1:5 KJV We are told in this scripture that God gave us Potential while we were still in the womb. Our very movement (Kinetic) from the birth canal to the world was the release of Potential Energy. We were born to move.

When I looked up the etymology of Potential it comes from the Latin meaning, “what’s possible” or “power” and Kinetic comes from the Latin and means “moving, putting in motion.” God has given each of us POWER IN MOTION. Consider the track hurdler. Before they move their legs to jump, there is a tremendous amount of Power that will allow them to physically move (Kinetic) and cross the hurdle. This Power (Potential) did not just appear overnight. The hurdler has stored energy that is a result of physical conditioning (becoming spiritually fit), building of muscle (reading the Bible), learning the proper technique and then there is the actual implementation (application of faith or applying what God has given you). You can’t stand in front of a hurdle and just decide to jump but there is a starting position that you have to run (prepare) and build up the momentum so that you can have the Power to get to the other side. Now let’s be honest. There are some people who have the ability to jump a hurdle; however, to jump a hurdle also requires focus and courage. Some people have conditioned themselves and have the Power but they lack focus or they fear the hurdle. They have all of this Potential but are scared to MOVE. Could this be you?

Faith in itself is the combination of Potential and Kinetic Energy. You have faith because you have all of these stored up beliefs, testimonies and examples of what God can and will do; however, it’s not really faith until it is put into motion. Consider this: James 2:17 (KJV) tells us that …Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. This is given in the perfect illustration through Abraham in James 2: 20-24 KJV– But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Dear Daddy,

Thank You for birthing me into this world with Potential. As You reveal my Potential to me, give me the courage and the focus to transform that Potential Energy into Kinetic Energy in my life. As life experiences stretch me, remind me that the trials are only storing up my Potential so that my bounce back will be greater. Help me to remember that my return will be exceedingly and abundantly above ALL that I can think or imagine.  Help me to remember that having faith is having POWER IN MOTION. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Ladies I EMPOWER you today to discover your Potential. What has God stored in you that you are waiting to be released or you are sitting on and refuse to release? Has God told you to move on something but you have decided on your own to wait? What are you waiting for? Decide today to transform that Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy and put POWER IN MOTION!

Ms. Chancee` Lundy currently resides in Atlanta, GA and is a small business co-owner of Nspiregreen, LLC an environmental consulting firm. She is also a dedicated daughter, sister, friend, community servant, and child of God. She is passionate about causes that truly uplift the community. One of her favorite scriptures is Hebrews 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Don’t Stop!

Nov29

Feel like giving up?  Prayed so long that you feel like throwing in the towel?  Are you exhausted, overwhelmed, or even discouraged from trying?  If any of this applies to you, God is saying DON’T STOP TRYING!

As a youth, I was a huge fan of Michael Jordan.  At times, I revisit his book I Can’t Accept Not Trying.  In it he writes, “I realized that if I was going to achieve anything in life I had to be aggressive.  I had to get out there and go for it.  I don’t believe you can achieve anything by being passive…That’s not to say there aren’t obstacles or distractions.  If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks…But roadblocks don’t have to stop you.  If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up.  Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

I thought about these words and how they relate to our spiritual walk.  How do we respond when we encounter life’s roadblocks?  Do we become more aggressive or do we simply turn around and give up?  In the gospel of Luke, Jesus tells two parables which speak directly to how God desires for us to handle moments when we feel like giving up.  In short, Jesus tells us not to give up.

In the first parable, Jesus says suppose you go to a friend’s house at midnight to ask for food only to be turned away.  He explains that although the friend may not give you what you ask for the first time, “if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.” Luke 11:8 NLT  Now, think about this.  The fact that you would go to a friend’s at midnight means that there is likely a dire need.  You’re not asking for the fun of it; you’re asking because you have a need that you believe your friend can meet.  Have you ever asked God for something in your midnight hour?  Did you feel as if you weren’t getting what you needed when you asked?  Well, through this parable Jesus teaches us that if you are truly in need why stop asking?  Instead, Jesus encourages us to “keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.  Keep on seeking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives, Everyone who seeks, finds.  And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 NLT

In a similar passage, “Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 NIV In the parable, there is a widow who goes before an unjust judge in order to receive relief against her adversary. Jesus says that for some time the judge refused the widow, but eventually he gave her justice because she kept bothering him.  The parable concludes by reminding us that we should expect more from God than from an unjust judge.  “And will not God bring justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?  Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” Luke 18:7 NIV

This parable demonstrates that if we can go before men and continue to ask for worldly things, we should be even bolder when we approach our Father who is just and loves us.  Jesus says that God will answer those who cry out to Him day and night.  So, although you may feel tired, weary, or even dismayed, God does not want you to give up.  Keep praying despite how you feel.  “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.  Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers.” Ephesians 6:18 NIV Remember that in due time, God will answer and reward your diligence.  “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 NLT

Dear Daddy,

Thank You for being a God who answers prayer.  Teach us how to be persistent and not give up at the first sign of defeat.  Remind us that faith requires us to maintain hope even when all visible evidence seems contrary to our belief.  Help us to walk by faith and not by sight.  Renew us daily and allow Your Holy Spirit to speak encouragement to our hearts.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Ladies, I EMPOWER you to stay on the course.  Don’t give up!  When you feel like throwing in the towel, continue to pray, knowing that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

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Ms. Latasha McCrary is an active member of St. Luke Christian Church in Huntsville, AL where she serves as a Young Adult Facilitator and is training as a Life Skills Coach. She is passionate about the practice of law and views her profession as an extension of her calling to serve. Latasha firmly believes that “Service is the price we pay for the space we occupy” and is grateful for God’s continuing favor evidenced in her life. “By this I know that you favor me, because you have not let my enemies triumph over me.” (Psalms 41:11)

Can God Trust You?

Nov22

Not long ago, I found myself asking a crucial question, “Can God trust you?”  This came to mind after calling a friend soliciting prayers for one of our sisters in Christ.  “What’s wrong with asking someone to pray?” you ask.  The problem is this: God revealed the young lady’s need for prayer to me.  No where in the revelation did He ask me to solicit prayer from others or to reveal even the slightest information concerning my sister.

In reflection, I thought about the confidentiality clause at the end of my emails:  

The information transmitted in this email may contain privileged confidential information belonging to the sender.  THIS TRANSMISSION OF PRIVILEGED INFORMATION IS INTENDED TO BE USED ONLY BY THE PERSON OR ENTITY NOTED ABOVE.

Convicted!  God transmitted privileged information to me, for me, and I leaked it to a third party.  It seems like such an innocent thing, because no malice was intended.  Nevertheless, it boils down to good stewardship.  Often we talk about stewardship in the context of finances, but stewardship is the responsibility to manage all the resources that God has given to you in a manner that will bring glory to our Father.  To be a steward is to be an overseer of the things which God has entrusted to you.  

In meditation, God sent me to the story of Eli’s two sons.  Eli was a priest who had two sons that were also priests.  During Eli’s time, the priests served a critical function amongst God’s people.  Their responsibility was to handle very carefully the things of God (Leviticus 22:2 NLT).  The problem, however, is that Eli’s sons dishonored the Lord by mishandling their responsibility.  “Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord or for their duties as priests.” (1 Samuel 2:12 NLT).  As a result of their dishonor and Eli’s failure to correct the problem, God punished Eli’s entire family.  His sons were killed and God stripped his descendents of the ability to serve as priests (1 Samuel 2:27-31 NLT).

Just as Eli’s sons mishandled their responsibility over the matters of God, we also serve as poor stewards when we fail to properly oversee the information or things that God has entrusted to us.  At times, God provides us with discernment or reveals things to us which are intended only for us.  The information is not revealed for the purpose of inquiry, sharing, or gossip.  If God intended for it to be known to the general public, He could have orchestrated a public announcement.  Since He entrusted it to us, we must be careful to deal with the information in confidence.  God desires that we follow His instructions only.  We should, therefore, treat them as though our lives depended on it (as was the case with Eli’s sons).  Keep in mind that often people are reluctant to open up about their hurt out of fear that they will be exploited.  Don’t let it be said that you created the opportunity for exploitation by mishandling the matters of God.

Dear Daddy,

Forgive me for the times when I have mishandled the responsibility that You have placed upon me.  Help me to be a good steward, to operate in confidence, and to carry out Your instructions only.  Teach me how to be careful so that I don’t exploit my brothers and sisters.  As my responsibility in the Kingdom increases, help me to serve faithfully so that I can hear Your words: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities.” (Matthew 25:23 NLT) In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Ladies, I EMPOWER you to handle carefully the responsibility which God has entrusted to you.  Be good stewards and understand that, in doing so, you have the potential to bring forth strength and healing for God’s people. 

Read a related EmpowerMoment: Since Much is Demanded

Ms. Latasha McCrary is an active member of St. Luke Christian Church in Huntsville, AL where she serves as a Young Adult Facilitator and is training as a Life Skills Coach. She is passionate about the practice of law and views her profession as an extension of her calling to serve. Latasha firmly believes that “Service is the price we pay for the space we occupy” and is grateful for God’s continuing favor evidenced in her life. “By this I know that you favor me, because you have not let my enemies triumph over me.” (Psalms 41:11)

Advocate or Performer?

Nov15

While browsing through old writings, I came across an interesting assertion from one of my favorite books.  In Race Matters, Cornel West asserts:

“The black dress suits with white shirts worn by Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., signified the seriousness of their deep commitment to black freedom …What stood out most strikingly…was that they were almost always visibly upset about the condition of Black America…[they] were angry about the state of black America, and this anger fueled their boldness and defiance.  In stark contrast, most present-day black political leaders appear too hungry for status to be angry, too eager for acceptance to be bold, too self-invested in advancement to be defiant.  And when they do drop their masks and try to get mad, their bold rhetoric is more performance than personal, more play-acting than heartfelt.”  

Upon reading this statement, I immediately thought about Christians’ approach to spiritual freedom.  I couldn’t help but ask, “Are we serious and deeply committed to spiritual freedom (for ourselves and others)? Are we angry about the sin that continues to permeate our society?  Does our passion for Christ fuel us to boldly advance the Kingdom of God?  Or are we so self-absorbed and earthly-invested such that salvation is not our priority?  When others see us, do they see someone who is serious about Christian living or are our claims nothing more than a performance?”

In pondering this, I admit that I haven’t always been a Malcolm X or MLK when it comes to the things of God.  I can, however, start from this day forward exhibiting greater passion and commitment to advancing God’s kingdom.  Here are a few tips on how we can all be better advocates for Christ:

1.  Be Zealous

“Do not be slothful in zeal.” (Romans 12:11 ESV).  As Christians, we can’t be lazy when it comes to advancing God’s will.  God desires that we all receive the freedom of salvation.  Therefore, we cannot become lax once we have accepted Christ as our Savior.  We have a responsibility to share the gospel as often as we can.  When we do so zealously, others will be saved.  “[Apollos] had been instructed in the ways of the Lord, and being full of zeal, he used to speak and to teach accurately the facts about Jesus…he mightily helped those who through grace had believed.” (Acts 18:25: 27 MontgomeryNT).

2.  Stop Playing the Part

Get serious and stop playing the part!  Being a Christian is not a performance.  It’s not about being popular, accepted, or fitting in.  Instead, it requires daily sacrificial living.  God does not want us to straddle both sides of the fence.  He’s looking for women that are sold out for the cause.  “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold.  I wish that you were one or the other!  But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot not cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:15 NLT).

3.  Remember that the Things of God are Worth Fighting For

Don’t be afraid to stand up and fight!  Matthew 11:12 states, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (NIV).  As Christians, we were not intended to be passive when it comes to the things of God.  We are in the midst of spiritual warfare.  God has designed us to be spiritual soldiers for Christ.  Hence, just as a natural soldier advances and defends the freedoms of his fellowman, God intends for us to do the same.  

Dear Daddy,

Thanks for the love and patience that You have for Your people.  Forgive me for the times when I have not been hungry for the things of God.  Moving forward, help me not to be slack concerning Your will.  Help me to remain zealous and committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   Help me to be a true advocate who recognizes that the cause of salvation is worth fighting for.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Ladies, I EMPOWER you to be zealous, stand boldly, and fight for the things of God.  Get hungry and fired up about Kingdom-building!  Don’t let your claim to Christianity be a performance.  Remain serious and committed to the faith. 

Ms. Latasha McCrary is an active member of St. Luke Christian Church in Huntsville, AL where she serves as a Young Adult Facilitator and is training as a Life Skills Coach. She is passionate about the practice of law and views her profession as an extension of her calling to serve. Latasha firmly believes that “Service is the price we pay for the space we occupy” and is grateful for God’s continuing favor evidenced in her life. “By this I know that you favor me, because you have not let my enemies triumph over me.” (Psalms 41:11)

Shake Us Again!

Nov7

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11 NIV)

As a self-declared music fiend, I sometimes find it hard to separate from my music at bedtime. During those moments, I fall asleep with my ear buds in and let the music take me to LaLa Land. A couple of months ago I did this very thing and set my Pandora to a gospel station. At about 12:30 am, I was in a deep sleep only to be awakened by a powerful song, “Shake Us Again.” It was as if God himself was literally shaking me in the depths of my spirit to wake me from not only my natural sleep, but my spiritual coma.  As I lie there listening to the words of the song, the Spirit began to remind me of the fervency and passion of which I used to pursue the things of God. I thought of the days when I would wake during the third watch of the night to pray. I recalled when a day couldn’t go by without me reading the Word because I would feel famished in my spirit.  My mind flashed to the times when I looked for a way to impact someone’s life each and every day. As I pondered further, I realized that God had been standing at my bedside each night wanting me to awake and pray and I was pleading for a few more hours of sleep. He was yearning to give me fresh manna from His Word each morning yet I was so busy being busy. He had been surrounding me with opportunities to bless and minister to His people but I was so caught up in my own issues that I failed to notice. So at 12:30 am, He used that song to shake me up to wake me up. He gently whispered in my ear:

“It’s time to get back in your position. I didn’t equip you with all of this greatness for it to lie dormant in your belly. It’s time to wake up! Be the woman that I predestined you to be before the foundations of the earth.  (Ephesians 1:4) Get your prayer life back. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) Study to show yourself approved unto Me. (2 Timothy 2:15) Serve my people by allowing Me to use everything that I placed in you for My glory. (1 Peter 4:10-11) Wake up my dear!”

I did my self-reflection a few months back; now it’s your turn! So I ask, what happened to your passion and fervor? What happened to the gifts that God placed in your belly? They are still there; you just have them lying dormant.  Romans 11:29 reminds us that God’s gifts and call are irrevocable. (NIV) He didn’t take back what He gave you but He expects YOU to use it! Your gifts and talents are just waiting patiently to be utilized and manifested for the Creator’s glory. It’s up to each one of us to utilize the things that He has gifted us with to advance the kingdom. Are you honestly doing your part? If not, wake up you sleeper! 

Dear Daddy,

Please forgive me for taking for granted the things that You have gifted me with. Today, I ask that You shake me again. Wake up everything that is lying dormant in my soul. Wake up the anointing, wake up every gift, wake up every talent and shake off the old things. Lord, today I declare that I want You to use me until I am used up! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Ladies, today I EMPOWER you to ask God to shake you up to wake you up! I EMPOWER you to utilize everything that He has placed in your belly. EMPOWER your gifts, talents and treasures to wake up and manifest in ways that you never imagined. I EMPOWER you to live your life on purpose! Remember what you are is God’s gift to you. What you become is your gift to God!

Read a related EmpowerMoment: The Pursuit of Excellence

Enjoy Dr. Juanita Bynum’s “Shake Us Again”:

Mrs. Kristen Harris is a wife, mother, entrepreneur and dedicated servant.  She is extremely passionate about women’s spiritual advancement, hence the founding of EmpowerMoments.  As an avid reader, Kristen enjoys reading the Bible and other non-fiction pieces. Her driving inspiration is when God says to her: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  (Jeremiah 29:11) She currently resides outside of Chicago, Illinois with her wonderful husband and two lovely daughters where she is an active member of New Life Covenant Church.

Here We Go AGAIN!

Nov4

“You are going to be who God uses to save the rest of your family! You are not doing enough to lead your family to Jesus!  Whatever is holding you back, whether its bitterness or something else, is keeping some of your family members from salvation. If some of your family members go to hell, that blood will be on your hands!”  As my God Sister spoke this word to me, I just rolled my eyes!  Here we go again!!

REALLY GOD?! Are You seriously putting that kind of responsibility on me?  I’m good where I am!  I like my life; I have everything I need and most of the things I want.  I finally can say “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…” (Philippians 4:11 NIV) and You put THIS on me?  You just couldn’t let me be content, huh?  You ALWAYS have to stretch me, push me out of my comfort zone, and give me SOMETHING ELSE to do!!

You told me to leave the church I had grown up in where everyone knew me, where I was celebrated, and my pastor knew me by name and sent me to a church of over 5,000 members. This church was almost the exact opposite of all that I knew but as soon as I got my bearings HERE WE GO AGAIN…

My money started getting funny and You said, “Tithe out of your need. Pay your tithes, even if that makes you short on your bills.” Really God?! BUT I did it and as SOON as I got kind of comfortable, HERE WE GO AGAIN…

The smack down really hit when You started messing with my relationships.  I’ve ALWAYS had a boyfriend, a boo or something but You said “…avoid sexual immorality…” so I began to live a celibate lifestyle and God You KNOW how hard this has been for me. But God that wasn’t enough; You then said, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers…” (II Corinthians 6:14 NIV) So now, not only am I not having sex, but I’m not even dating because unfortunately it’s slim pickings among men who are REALLY saved and striving to live for God. However, I did it because I trust that Your will is what’s best and I KNOW my destiny and destination is way beyond what I can ask or think. But God with all due respect, I do NOT like this route!

After much fighting and even now as I continue to struggle, I have finally reached a level of contentment and submission to God’s will, really believing that God is pleased with my life and HERE WE GO AGAIN!!  What do You want me to do with my unsaved family members?  When I go around them I feel like they are giving me the stank eye and saying, “Well who does she think she is? Isn’t that Charlotte’s daughter?  Isn’t she the one that was always trying to hang and follow us around?”  Even Jesus said, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor…” (Matthew 13:57 NIV) I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this one God.  Where would I even begin?  We only see each other at holidays, if that!

God’s Response

So you’re going to give up your destiny NOW because you feel like this is impossible?  Yes, you’re right; by yourself you can’t do this!  But have I ever left you?  Was I not there when you left the church you grew up in and went to New Life?  Did I not see you through your struggles?  You are stronger spiritually now than you have EVER been!  Everything in your spiritual walk has gone to the next level:  your worship, your prayer life and your understanding of my word!  You’re going to stop now?!

Was I not there with you as you struggled financially?  Did I not make a way for all your bills to get paid?  Did I keep your car from being repossessed?  Did you ever have a night that you didn’t have a roof over your head and a safe and warm place to sleep?  Did I not send people to bless you throughout your time of lack?  You are more financially stable now than you have EVER been!  You are saving, you can purchase extras and your refrigerator and pantry is full!  Are you really going to give up now?!

Was I not there during your bouts with loneliness and depression?  Did I not replace the severed relationships with divine connections that speak life into you, push you toward your destiny in me, and give you just as much if not more than you give to them?  Am I not specifically preparing you to one day be a wife and mother? Did I not cover you while you were out there?  Have you ever been pregnant?  Do you have any diseases?  Did I not restore you, heal your broken hearts?  Did I not break EVERY soul tie?  Are you serious?! Are you really going to give up now?!

Are you really starting to doubt me now?  “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 NIV)

*Disclaimer: This was not the EmpowerMoment that I intended to write; God literally started speaking to me in the midst of my writing.  After all of that, all I can say is CHECKED!!

Dear Daddy,

Please forgive me!  I ask that You also forgive any woman reading this who is or has gotten irritated with You for doing exactly what You strive to do:  make us more and more like You.  Help us to understand that we are not to compare ourselves to other Christians but to You and humble us to know that we have NOT “arrived.” There is and will ALWAYS be another task we must complete for the building of Your kingdom and another area we must grow in so our victory and growth can bring glory to You.  We thank You for loving us SO much that You spend the time and effort to keep stretching us and pulling us out of our comfort zone.  We ask that you never let us go.  In Jesus’ Name Amen!

Ladies, today I EMPOWER you to submit to what God is calling you to do, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you.  I am truly a witness that He will not only sustain you throughout the process but there is truly a blessing in obedience.  There is a song that the praise team at my church sings that simply says:  “I surrender, I open up my heart to whatever You desire.”  Let this be what you say to God today!

Read more on submitting to God’s plan and evangelism in He’s Calling You and Preaching to the Choir

Ms. Katrina Richard is an up and coming professional residing in Chicago, Illinois.  She strives to incorporate knowledge and life-skills to teenagers in her profession as a high school history teacher.  Katrina is very active in her church community where she serves in the prayer ministry as well as in the nursery.  She has a passion for serving in the lesser known areas of ministry because she believes every facet of ministry is important to kingdom building and spiritual development of the believers. Her favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”