Do what God tells you; don't lose hope

 Do what God tells you to do, and don't lose hope.

Noah was a man who had a big job to do. He was told to build an ark and save animals from a great flood. For a whole year, Noah worked on this ark, even when it was hard. He didn’t know when the flood would begin or end. He did as he was instructed and never lost hope. 

He showed us what it means to really believe in and stick to a task.

Sometimes, we feel like we have messed up too much and can't fix things. We lose hope. Noah didn't lose hope, even when things got really tough. He believed in something bigger than himself.

Noah's hope wasn't in people or things that can change or let us down. His hope was in God, who never changes. That's why he could finish his big task.

This story has special meaning for African Americans. We have faced a lot of tough times, but like Noah, we keep going with hope and faith. The song "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness" is about this kind of strong hope and faith. It means that when we trust in God and not just in people or things, we can stand strong as Noah did.

Noah's story is like our story. Like him, we should keep the faith, work to improve our families and communities, and never lose hope that God will take care of the rest.

One way in, one way out; it's a lock

 When you put something in God's hands trust him; it's a lock. There's no going back. Trust him completely.

The ark was the size of a luxury liner yet remarkably had only one door and a single 25-inch window. This architectural design has intrigued scholars for ages. The Ark, grand in its scale, was limited in its points of access – one door, which once sealed by God, offered no exit, and a solitary small window. 

The notion of just one door and a window in such a massive structure is a testament to the extraordinary faith of Noah. He believed unwaveringly in God's guidance, enough to enclose himself and the ark's inhabitants in a space with no escape once God sealed it.

His faith was such that he trusted in divine provision for light, air, and ultimate deliverance, despite the seemingly impossible circumstances.

Like Noah, African Americans live in very constrained circumstances. We began by trusting God and stepping into our situation with a steadfast faith in a brighter future, an unyielding belief in eventual deliverance from societal confines.

The sealed door represents not just confinement, but also a faith-filled waiting for divine intervention and justice, echoing our hope and determination to make it despite the tight dark spots that confine us.

We began our journey trusting God. We can't turn back. There's one way in and one way out. Trust God and him only.

It's a lock!

God provides a window of opportunity, act on it!

 When opportunity opens a window—a chance to move up or climb to another level—, don't play around; act quickly!

Noah was on a boat the size of a battleship, but it only had one window. He used it to orient himself and renew his faith.

Sometimes, we find ourselves in dark places, facing battleship-size problems and depressions, and then unexpectedly, a window of opportunity opens that gives us a chance to change things.

These moments are called 'windows of opportunity' because these precise instants, when chances emerge, often never reappear. The rarity of opportunities like job promotions or pivotal business ventures is what makes them precious. These brief windows of time are golden opportunities for us to elevate ourselves. 

For Noah, the lone window in the ark was a portal to envision potential and hope. Similarly, God grants each of us access to our unique windows, beckoning us to view and seize our possibilities.

As African Americans, we have faced battleship-sized social challenges marked by struggles for equality, justice, and recognition. Each window of opportunity, be it civil rights advancements, educational progress, or economic breakthroughs, has been hard-won.  Each time we get a chance to make the vision of a better life real we should take it.

God provides the window of opportunity, but we have to act in the moment. Tomorrow the opportunity may be gone.

A boat without a rudder? Don't drift this year

 Who builds a boat without a rudder? The same person who begins a year determined to be guided by God's spirit.

In Genesis 6:15, God commanded Noah to build an ark of specific dimensions, yet notably, this ark lacked a rudder. A rudder is essential for steering a vessel; without it, the vessel drifts unless controlled by something else.

God told Noah to build the ark without a rudder because he would guide us over the next year that it floated on the waters. Like Noah, who trusted in God's guidance over the ark's direction, we are called to surrender our direction to God's will. This act of faith in which we say, "Thy will, O Lord, not mine."

As the ark drifted for a whole year, it was God's hand that steered it to safety. As God guides us, we continue to sing,  "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah," echoing the thoughts of the songwriter who said, "Lead me, guide me, along the way... Lord, if you lead me, I will not stray."

 Our journey as African Americans is marked by a history of enslavement, segregation, and ongoing struggles for equality and justice; we had no master plan; we followed God's direction as he moved on the hearts of our leaders.

Much like Noah's ark, the African-American community has often found itself navigating turbulent waters without a conventional means of control. Generally, we trusted in divine guidance and relinquished personal control. 

In the year ahead, we won't drift aimlessly if we continue to let our God's higher power guide us through the unknown waters ahead.

When God says build, we do it!

When we do what God says, it might seem silly to others, but we act in faith.

In Genesis 6:14, God told Noah to construct an ark, a vessel of salvation, amidst impending destruction. Obeying the directive required faith and obedience.

Noah, amidst a world of skeptics, embraces this divine command, undertaking an arduous task that defies conventional understanding. His commitment to building the ark, a monumental and seemingly irrational project, becomes an emblem of unwavering faith in God's promise. Noah's story is not merely about survival; it's about the triumph of faith over doubt and obedience over skepticism. The ark, thus, stands not just as a structure of wood and nails but as a testament to the power of faith and the fulfillment of divine promise.

Noah's construction of the ark has parallels to the African-American experience.

Much like Noah, African-Americans have long embarked on a journey of building resilience against the floods of social and racial injustices. This journey has been marked by a steadfast faith in the possibility of a just and equitable future, despite the overwhelming tide of challenges.

The ark represents the collective efforts to construct a foundation of community, culture, and identity that withstands the storms of discrimination and inequality. 

God says build it, we act; no matter what others think.

Faith Fueled-Swag

I admired President Obama's style. He seemed to be confident and in control. He had swag.

Noah, in Genesis 6, walked with God. I guess he had swag, too.

To achieve a life of peace and happiness, one must embrace God, allowing His confidence, boldness, and assurance to transform our walk, talk, and thoughts. This divine influence was evident in Noah, who walked with God, receiving His grace and favor – a path we are also called to follow.

Our journey is drenched in Amazing Grace, guiding our walk, enlivening our lives, and igniting our passions. As we walk with God, His influence becomes integral to our plans. This Christian walk is a harmonious blend of devotion and determination, inspiring us to sing, “Just a closer walk with thee, grant it, Jesus, if you please.”

Daily, our walk with God instills confidence, reminding us:

• Though the world may push us down, God uplifts us.
• When the world counts us out, God ensures our triumph.
• Where the world sees defeat, God celebrates our victories.
• Against the world's doubts, God fortifies our strength.

Walking with God, we carry a boldness and confidence rooted in “blessed assurance.” This is our glimpse of divine glory, a manifestation of “Godly Swag.”

  This passage mirrors the African-American experience, where enduring faith and God's grace have been crucial in overcoming social challenges.

  Despite systemic injustices, African-Americans have continuously risen, empowered by a spiritual resilience akin to Noah's. 

  Our walk with God reflects a journey of relentless hope and unyielding strength against adversity. It symbolizes not just personal faith but a collective struggle for dignity and equality.

  This divine connection offers solace, uplifts spirits, and fortifies resolve, serving as a cornerstone in the African-American quest for justice and equity. It's a testament to the transformative power of faith amidst societal

Tackle life with a divine purpose

 Tackle life with a divine purpose in mind. Be determined.

In Genesis 6, Noah exemplified divine purpose and obedience to God. He undertook the monumental task of building the ark, safeguarding the continuity of life on Earth. This parallels the experiences of many African-Americans who, through faith and perseverance, rise above their initial circumstances.

Consider a young woman's testimony during a Bible study. She secured a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant, with one of her duties being to clean toilets. Approaching this task with joy and a sense of divine assignment, she cleaned as if for Jesus himself. Her exemplary attitude and dedication did not go unnoticed; she was soon promoted, symbolizing a broader theme of elevation through humility and hard work.

Many believers share similar testimonies of starting in modest positions and, with God's guidance, ascending to roles of greater responsibility and trust. This journey is not just a climb up the career ladder but a spiritual evolution, acknowledging God as the source of all achievements and blessings.

In the African-American experience, there is a profound recognition that accomplishments, whether in political office, leadership roles, or personal feats, are manifestations of God's involvement in our lives. This understanding fosters a deep sense of humility, ensuring that credit is given to God for the successes achieved.

Emulating Noah's divine purpose, African-Americans are called to embrace their roles with humility and recognition of God's guiding hand. This approach is a testament to the power of faith in overcoming social challenges and making a significant impact on communities and the world at large. African-American history is replete with examples of individuals who, through faith, retraining, and perseverance, ascended to remarkable heights.

Their journeys remind us to remain reliant on God, drawing strength and guidance from Him to fulfill our divine purpose.

You may be shut in, but God doesn't shut down

We learned something about God, during the Covid Pandemic: The world around us might shut-down, but God will shut us in while we ride out the storm. 

In many ways, we were like Noah and his family who were shut-ins on the ark for one year. Genesis 7:16 says "And the Lord shut them in."

During that time, there was no place for the ark to land and no food outside of the ark. However, everything the shut-ins needed to sustain them for the difficult weeks and months ahead was on board.

 Those who are shut-in may not be able to go out, but the love of God sustains them. It's an inconvenience to be shut in, but it is often a blessing in disguise. During the Covid Pandemic of 2020-2022, literally millions of people were quarantined in their homes for weeks at a time. Despite the quarantine, many could work from home, receive care, and survive. Students studied in a virtual classroom; doctors gave virtual checkups, and delivery services brought food and other necessities to million. God sustained millions.

 The world was literally shut-in while the pandemic raged, but God sustained us.

 While we were shut-in, we held our heavenly father's strong and confident hand as we joined hands with our family and prayed.

 When God shut us in, he did not shut down. 

 Government offices shut down, but God did not shut down.

 School closed, but God did not shut down.

 Airplane flights were canceled, but God did not shut down.

 Just as God sustained the occupants of the ark while the entire world shut down, God sustained us and brought us through to dry ground.

 If you are shut-in today, remember that God's grace is sustaining you. 

 You may be shut in, but he has not shut down.

Day old Bread of life?

 Many families have survived difficult times purchasing  "day old" bread. 

 This is the bread that has passed the normal one or two-day shelf life limitation for grocery store bread.

   Store deliverymen usually brought new bread on regular days of the week and placed the fresh loaves on the front of the shelves. They placed the day-old bread on the back of the shelf. 

Smart shoppers always picked their bread from the bottom or back of the stack, knowing that the fresh bread is always farthest from the front.

   For some home economists, there is nothing worse than day-old bread. It is not as fresh, gets hard and the older it gets has a tendency to mold.

  Many of the local bakers stocked fresh bread on the first of the week, and some restocked near the end of the week. Anything purchased in between is "day old."

  "Day old" wasn't good enough.

  We thank God that the Bread of Life doesn't have a shelf life and doesn't mold. Jesus says, "I am the bread of life."

  The bread of life won't grow old and certainly won't mold.

Can you believe the price of Gas?

 The cost of everything has gone up. In some places in the country, a gallon of gas is $8.00. In my area, it’s about $4.59 a gallon. Whether it is $8.00 or $4.59, that’s pretty high.

 It’s not just gasoline; everything else has gone up, including bread, meat, vegetables, and toilet paper. Big Macs and Whopper are still fast food, but the prices for a Mac and fries can put a dent in your wallet.

 When I was a child, I worked at my father’s gas station pumping gas. I was excited to watch the numbers tick off as I squeezed the nozzle. If the customer ordered five gallons of gas and handed me a dollar bill, I had to run inside to get change. Gasoline was only 16 cents a gallon then. I gave the customer .20 cents change. That was 1959.

  In 1980, the unbelievable happened, gas prices around the country hit $1.00. It made national news. It was unbelievable. 

  The old gas pumps had to be recalibrated. Many could not display double-digit numbers for gas purchases; after all, 20 gallons of gas only cost $3.20. 

 We thought, “What is the world coming to?” Who can pay $1.00 a gallon? 

 Nothing stopped the increase. President Nixon even ordered the speed limit across the nation reduced to 55 miles an hour. That was 1974, but the price

Our relationship with God is real

   Our relationship with God sometimes mirrors our personal relationship with others.

   Some people prefer to live single with no emotional relationship with any person. Millions of people in the world live happy lives as singles without the need for another to fulfill themselves. Such singles have friends with whom they share important moments, successes, and failures. Their relationships are purely platonic without intimacy or commitment of any kind. Such arrangements are actually encouraged in the bible, especially for those involved in ministry.

   Beyond the godly single life, there is a growing list of other types of relationships including:

   A Spuggie is a single person who wants no relationship but just needs someone for the moment for a quick fix. Spuggies specialize in one-night stands, hookups, and late-night calls with people they may not even know.

   Sponsor. A sponsor has no feeling in the relationship at all. It is strictly commercial. A sponsor pays bills, provides resources, and doles out money. A sponsor is a gold miner, the person with money; the other partner is the gold digger, whose role is to get as much gold as possible before the strike runs out. The gold digger has no concern about the mine or the miner.

   We enjoy a covenant relationship with God. He is not a "spuggie," a God of convenience, or a gold miner. We are not gold diggers, seeking what we can get, and he does not sponsor us, giving us what we want in return for what he wants. Our relationship is based on love and sacrifice.

   God loves us despite our unworthiness. He demonstrated that love by giving himself for us. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

  That's the one question test forany relationship, would you die for me?

  The answer tells the story.

 

Mankind is charged to have dominion

   Mankind has a responsibility to take care of the earth. Men have a responsibility to protect and provide for their families. In many ways, we are failing in both areas.

In Genesis 1:26, the Adam family was charged with having "Dominion" over all creation. Dominion means leadership and responsibility. 

  Many men are failing in the area of leadership. There is no shortage of men biologically. There is no shortage socially. There is, however, a growing shortage of men in the leadership of the home, church, school, and the general community. 

   It is no mistake that a growing number of communities are seeing their women rise up to fill vacancies created by the absence of men in leadership. 

   Where there is a son or a daughter, there is a father somewhere, but in many cases, the mother is providing the family leadership. 

   Where there is a church, women are rising to chair the committees and shoulder the responsibilities of men. An increasing number of women are becoming elected officials on school boards and other civic bodies in the community because of a leadership vacuum. Adam, Where art thou?

    Men, especially African-American men, have generally taken a backseat to leadership, and women are being forced to manage families and assume leadership outside of their families at the same time.

    Let's pray that our men grow stronger and come out of hiding.

    God expects godly leadership of the world, our nation, communities, and homes. 

    When God calls, let him for our men busy doing his work.

You gotta have swag

     One of former President Obama’s most redeeming qualities was that he had “swag.”

   He looked like he was in control and entered a room a podium with an air confidence that was inspirational.

   

    A person with swag gets attention.

   

If you ask the thug, having swag means to walk into a room with a walk that says you are the toughest, meanest dude in the room. 

    To the ghetto fabulous, it means to wear flashy clothes, with lots of glitz and diamonds, and fancy pick-up lines for the women. There are those with professional swag who stand tall and walk with a gait as if they owned the world.

In this view, the man or woman with swag is loaded with witty conversation, a designer label on a dress, and real hair soft enough to run fingers through.

   Godly Swagger is the man or woman who enters a room with the knowledge that the king of the world empowers him/her, but remains humble enough to keep the common touch. 

    Spiritual swagger dresses for the occasion, with taste and restraint, not too much here or showing so much there. It is confident, yet humble; it is sensitive to the feelings of others, polite, and mannerable.

    

   Godly swag is possessed by the man or woman whose walk in life has a purpose. It really has nothing to do with their walk, the clothes they wear, or their wealth. Their purpose walks into the room before they do.

   Their sense of purpose is what gives them Godly swag. 

 

   Romans 13:13 says, “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.” That’s spiritual swag.

   We should remember that our purpose is clear and is just.

   When our life-walk displays this attitude we have SWAG.

   Today, be confident and bold. You are a saved saint. You have Swag!

Get the dust off!

 

You said you were going to change, but dust has already settled on your decision. Today, get busy, remove the dust.

We must continuously act on our positive decisions or they will gather dust quickly. 

If we are not careful, a spider web will show up in places we dusted and cleaned a few days ago. 

If we make decisions but fail to act on them, dust gathers on them. 

We have dusty Bibles that we have not read, dusty promises we have not kept, and dreams that are gathering dust.

If you put aside your decision to change or improve your life, that decision will gather dust and will soon be buried beneath good intentions.

 God has plans for those who trust him. He wants to build us in every way if we let him. However, we can’t let God’s plan gather dust.

Remember 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.”

As you begin this day, resolve to act on God’s plan for your life.

 Whether it's spiritual strength, improved health, or finances and continued grace, plan to act on your decision to improve.

Don’t let it gather dust! 

Flip Flops for God, Tuxedos for Proms

 

  Look at your schedule today and dress appropriately.

  Consider what you will do today and to whom you will present yourself and dress for that moment.

In 2005, the Northwestern University Lacrosse Team was invited to meet the President in the White House. President Bush had strict dress standards; jeans were forbidden and ties were required for males. When the lacrosse team showed up wearing flip-flop shoes it caused a national stir. – It appeared that the champions didn’t present their best selves to the President.

  It’s confusing to some who are frowned on for dressing casually for worship but formally for school prom or debutante ball.

  Should it matter? If we work in the church, live a Christian life, and love God, should it matter that we choose to worship in short pants or a bikini?

  When we worship we are responding to God’s invitation. It’s not an invitation to the White House but to God’s house.   

  We should present our best selves to him, spiritually and otherwise.

  It may seem right to dress the way we feel before God, but the way we feel and the respect God should command are often not the same.

  Today, whether you are going on a job interview, important meeting or worship service, remember to dress appropriately.

  Remember Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

  You may not go to the White House today, but wherever you plan to go, let your outside reflect your inside and dress for success.

Old habits die hard, the saved life comes easy!

 It’s hard to give up old habits. Sometimes, when forced, we can appear to reform, but without a major rebuild of heart and soul we soon revert to old ways.

Noah brought a pair of Ravens on the Ark with him. For a year the ravens appeared to change, but to no one’s surprise, once released they returned to old habits.

 A raven was called an unclean animal because it feeds on dead things. For a year, the raven changed its diet because nothing on the ark died. The raven changed its habit but not its taste.

 In a similar sense, many people come to God in an hour of crisis. They pray and ask God for special considerations after a major sickness, tragedy, or failure. They make promises to God that are real at the moment. 

For a while they change their habits, they attend church, and seem to be different; yet, on the inside they are still the same people. A truly repentant person becomes a new person, not just a person who attends church. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” There is no substitute for being “In Christ.” 

    The raven took advantage of the safety of the ark and diet of fresh foods it offered for a year, but at the first opportunity, it intended to go back to its old ways.  

 

    We are new creatures in the Lord. We have no “taste” for worldliness. We are focused on Christ and him alone.

Father to the fatherless

 Have you noticed the number of fatherless homes there are today?

  The latest official reports estimated that there are 25 million people who are from single-parent homes where the father is unknown or absent from the family he begat.

  That’s a big problem. John Sowers, in his book “Fatherless Generation,” says society is paying for this breakdown in families with higher crimes and a cultural shift that’s really taking a toll.

  We can’t undo what already exists, so he suggests that we all become mentors for the fatherless kids on our street. Fathers and grandpas have a lot to offer and you’ll be surprised, often our efforts to give advice or be a friend will be accepted.

  God is our spiritual father and we are all his children.

  When we work with the kids of fatherless homes, they see the hands of God and they hear the voice of God when we speak.

  Through our concern, they come to know that God, working through us, reaches out to them in love.

   Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

   Let’s pray for the fatherless families and also for the baby daddies that don’t know how to be fathers.

   Until then, let’s show the kids the love of the father, which is in heaven.

Stay on the path, it leads to glory

 Despite our burdens, every believer should march on, singing the words of our anthem: "God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might, led us into the light, keep us forever in the path we pray!"

 If we stay on the right path God will be for us. Romans 8:31 reminds us that "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

    

If we stay on the right path, it won't matter about the burdens because Romans 8:37 says, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

If we stay on the right path, it won't matter how many barriers are placed in front of us because we remember that Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"

Troubles don’t matter when you know the Lord is with you!

 When the Lord is with you, you can call on him, like great-grandma did when she said, "Lord, I'm down here waiting, please don't pass me by!"

Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Walk with me Lord, Walk with me! While I'm on this tedious journey, I want Jesus to walk with me.

It's all good

The beauty of the Christian life is that we have learned to be happy in any situation; it’s all good!

A few years ago a young lady attended our worship service and sat smiling on the second row. I recognized her presence and asked her to stand, but someone whispered to me that she had no legs. Embarrassed, I tried to play it off and told her to wave her hand. That’s when they told me that she had no arms.

She wasn’t offended but kept a big smile on her face because without arms or legs she has led a happy life, had a boyfriend, and believe it or not was once suspended from school for fighting. And she won!

She dresses herself, gets around by herself, feeds herself, and seems to be the happiest person around.

She learned to live with conditions that others thought were handicaps and enjoys every day of her life.

As Christians, we have learned to enjoy the life God has given us. Sometimes we have and sometimes we don’t have. We can be happy either way.

Philippians 4:12 says, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,^y whether living in plenty or in want.

The secret to happiness is giving God thanks for what you have without complaining about what you don’t have.

It’s all good because it's the life God gave us to live.

Anyway the wind blows is cool with me

   A windmill stands isolated and alone and harnesses the wind from any direction. It's reminiscent of the old Syl Johnson song: Anyway the wind blows is cool with me.

 You’ve never seen a windmill turn backward because they have a tail or rudder that detects the wind direction and the windmill changes when the wind changes. Big turbines are designed to rotate to face the wind and have sails or blades designed to absorb the impulse of the wind into its rotation. They will always do that and will turn as designed, no matter the direction of the wind.

  Windmills harness the wind and generate power; it doesn’t matter the direction. Just as a sailor can harness the winds that go against him and force it to push him forward.

  We should learn something from these truths. Sometimes the winds don’t blow the way we like or they blow against us, but we should be sensitive to the direction that the Holy Spirit leads us; He teaches us how to face an evil wind and keep going straight ahead toward the prize.

John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

 Everyone born of the spirit knows how to harness the wind and say, “Anyway the wind blows is cool with me.”

 God’s got my back