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All of us at Truth Be Told Ministries would like to not only honor Dr. King and all he worked for, but, ultimately, the God in whom he gave his highest service to.
We encourage you to take a few moments to pray about this great minister’s vision for equality among humanity! We devote this FIRST installment of “This Week’s Good Word” to the those currently suffering from the effects of the 7.0 earthquake that has rocked Haiti. Following this article, we will include some information on ways you can help. The one thing that we all can do IMMEDIATELY is PRAY (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Matthew 18:20)!
When we hear the word charity, the definition that often comes to mind is the act of donating or extending generosity to the needy and disfavored. In the context of New Testament Scriptures, this word is often translated into present-day English as the word love (agape- UNCONDITIONAL love; see 1 Corinthians 13:13). As many around the world are being moved to donate money, food, medicine, and other supplies to the people of Haiti, we cannot see this as the end, but as a MEANS to the greater end: God’s offer of Salvation (Mark 16:15, John 3:16, Romans 6:23b). HOW CAN YOU HELP?Here are links to a few widely known and recognized Faith-based relief organizations currently accepting donations:
~These organizations have a history of providing ongoing aid and relief in Haiti~ From our family to yours, we pray and wish you all a wonderful Christmas and prosperous new year 2010. We are seeking God’s grace and mercy in order to do great things through this ministry in the coming year. Remember the TRUE reason for the season: JESUS CHRIST! Have you ever been hurt by something a friend or loved one has either said or did to you? Better yet, have YOU ever said or did something that has hurt someone you love? It’s sometimes instinctive to allow the weight of the guilt that has been created to drive a wedge between us and the ones we love. However, experience and history often shows that hiding or avoiding them is not the true path towards harmony and peace in a relationship. Think about it: Even if you divorce, split up, break up, separate, etc., it will NEVER change the fact that a relationship existed. God created us to be creatures of RELATION! This system was marred due to the introduction of sin back in Eden (See Genesis 3). Once we acknowledge and accept this truth, we can proceed to draw ourselves back together again the way God intended it to be. So, what can we do to reconcile the fractures we create in our relationships? Here are just a few pointers from God’s Word:
This is be no means an exhaustive list, but I find these 3 to be, perhaps, the “fundamental firsts”. Without these three elements, the steps that often follow will be fruitless. We will definitely visit this topic in a future segment of “A Brief Word”. Your comments and thoughts are ALWAYS welcomed! Until next time, stay strong in the Faith and TO GOD BE THE GLORY! Greetings!Every week at this time, you can find out what’s going on behind the scenes here at the Good Word! Here is what’s on this week’s agenda:
NEW FEATURESIn addition to the devotional writings which regularly appear, in 2010 we will be adding the following features: - A Brief Word We also pray to start an e-newsletter which would go out on a monthly basis to subscribers. You would be able to opt-out at any time.
BRANCHING OUTSpeaking of outreach, we have established a presence on both Facebook and Twitter. We encourage and invite you to follow us there. As we update the site here, Twitter feeds and Facebook updates will also take place at the same time! You are also able to leave comments on anything we post here using popular services (YES, that includes Twitter and Facebook)! To follow us, simply click on either badge in the left column of the site. Please continue to keep this website and ministry in your prayers! Blessings, Praise the Lord! I wanted to take a brief moment to announce that we have a personalized and simpler web address. Simply type www.TGWdevotional.com!And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods. Towards the end of Joshua’s life on earth, he presented Israel with an ultimatum: serve Jehovah or serve the gods of those whom they conquered. Joshua vowed to serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15). This crossroad in the journey to inheriting the Promised Land is one many encounter in their walk with God. In the New Testament, Jesus declares that it is not possible to serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). There cannot be any delay in making this choice. God does not promise tomorrow to any of us and to procrastinate or make the wrong choice can have deadly consequences: physical and SPIRITUAL. The way that Israel responded to Joshua’s ultimatum is the way we are to answer God’s call to each of our hearts. In spite of all the commands God gives with the expectation of obedience, He never forces man into a decision. Salvation is key to serving the Lord: What do you choose? Prayer: Sweet Lord, let today be the day of salvation. Thank You for grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. Love is not solely about telling others how much you love them. It is not about showing acts of kindness with the expectation of having it reciprocated. Love is the first and greatest commandment of God, and it ultimately boils down to OBEDIENCE. If we look to King Saul in the Old Testament, we find him giving lip service regarding his love for God to the prophet Samuel. However, in an act of seemingly innocent defiance, King Saul proceeded to offer burnt sacrifices to God in the place of the rightly-appointed prophet (1 Samuel 13:8-14). This was an act of disobedience, and it showed that Saul was not a man after God’s own heart. Where was Saul’s love for God? Samuel’s reaction to Saul’s disobedience is that “obedience is better than sacrifice.” God doesn’t need our fatted calves. He is after our hearts. Our walk with God should be a TRUST walk. We should trust that He loves us with all His being. We should trust that we will be rewarded for our obedience to His commands. We should trust that His commands are designed to guide us in the way we should go. Prayer: Lord, we ask Your Holy Spirit to quicken us and guide us according to Your commandments. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. To show hospitality is to warmly receive strangers into your midst and treat them kindly. We are commanded by the Gospel to love others as God loves us. The Authorized Version of the Bible uses the word charity for love throughout much of the New Testament. We are reminded here, also, to not be complainers nor murmur when showing hospitality. It must come from a repentant and regenerated heart. Our own heart is deceitful and wicked! Did Jesus gripe at the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-23) when He served the 12 KNOWING one would betray Him shortly after? Did Jesus whine or complain when He WILLINGLY took the cross to Calvary to be nailed to it? (Luke 22:42) God not only loves us, but He loved us FIRST. Before we were born; before we said our first word; before anything we can possibly think of…God LOVED us! Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the love placed in our hearts. Help us to share it with others through acts of hospitality. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. The first word in our Scripture is “again”. This indicates that the Lord has addressed this matter before. Early in Matthew’s account of the Gospel, we find Christ admonishing us to A.S.K. (Ask, Seek, Knock) and we shall receive innumerable blessings from the Lord. (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9) There is a promise involved when two people enter into agreement. Touching indicates a strong and clear connection to that which is being touched; this linking of faith is what releases the full power of God into any circumstance beloved. Where the Scriptures tell us that if two or three gather in Christ’s name, that brings His presence. Because there is an agreement in the REASON for gathering, THIS verse promises your requests be fulfilled by the Father. (Matthew 18:20) Prayer: Father, put into our hearts the desire to truly seek You out and petition You in accordance to Your will. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. |
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