MOMENTS Volume No. 7 Issue No. 6

December 2006 / January 2007

REFLECT  A  MOMENT 

Inside this Newsletter

Make Us One
Reflecting on some excerpts from a series of articles specifically for the Body of Christ... to usher us into oneness.

Moments of Meditation
Something for you to think about.

Pen & Sword
 By Minister Pamela Farrar
A.K.A. The Preaching Poet
Look up, stay focused, and be blessed!

Poetic Expressions
From Me To You...
From a Man's Point of View
By Franklin Tyrone McBryde

Heartbeats
By Suzanne B. Lester

The Sower...
Sows the Seeds

 
   

For this generation, we spread abroad, WORLDWIDE, a beam of light (YESHUA), a glimpse of Hope and Truth, as we prepare the way and usher in the imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Following are excerpts from a series of articles which the Father has graced me to write entitled Make Us One. As it’s name implies, my hearts cry is for the Body of Christ to come together in oneness; Jews and Non-Jewish believers together, walking as one man; coming into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Yeshua the Messiah). I pray like Jesus prayed....

Father Make Us One

In His Eternal Love & Service,

Gods Handmaiden

Make Us One

As we press onward towards these final moments of 2006, surely we have had to rely upon the tools that our Heavenly Father has equipped us with in the pages of His Word. Just like David did, in our last edition of the newsletter, we have had to not only knock the devil down to remind him of our authority and power in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we have had to grab our sword, which is the Word of God and cut his lying head completely off. How many of you know what I’m talking about? So many times as Christians, we have to take a stand and not allow the enemy to beat us down. We are in the last of the last days, and it’s time out for games. It’s time out for foolishness. It’s time to be about our Fathers business, preparing the way for Jesus’ return. What about you my friends . . . Are you ready for the challenge? All we have to do is be in the right place . . . at the right time, being about Kingdom Business, knowing that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but that they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. This is what we are commanded in Gods Word. Listen . . .

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11; Amplified)

Hold up saints of God. Did you catch that? The bible declares that *we* have a responsibility to put on the armor of God ourselves. Though it is indeed God’s armor, and He has been so gracious to give it to us, nevertheless, we individually have to put it on. In 2007 saints, don’t leave home without it. Selah! If you want to successfully stand up against all the strategies and the deceits of the devil . . . Again I say . . . Don’t leave home without it!

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. (Ephesians 6:12; Amplified)

That’s the bottom line yall. We are in a war. This is a real spiritual battle and the devil is pulling out all his tricks because he knows that his time ain’t long, and that Jesus is soon to come. This is not a battle with your friends and family. Honey this ain’t even a battle with your boss. We are dealing with principalities and powers, and rulers of the darkness. We are dealing with spiritual wickedness in high places, as the King James version of the bible declares. We are dealing with the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. So to fight this battle, saints of God, we have to climb into the supernatural arena. Praise be to God . . . He left us the instructions. He left us the blueprint of how to overcome. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the Church!

Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. (Ephesians 6:13, Amplified)

There it is again. You put on God’s complete armor yourself to stand firmly in your place.

Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God. And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:14-15, Amplified)

Did that say face the enemy? Let’s read it again.

And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:15, Amplified)

Oh saints of God, you better know some word. The only way you are going to be able to cut off the head of the enemy is by the Word of God. Remember our brother David. He not only knocked Goliath down with his sling . . . but he had to cut his ugly, ungodly head right off! Let’s continue.

Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:16-17, Amplified)

There it is again . . . The Word of God.

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people). And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel), For which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain [in prison. Pray] that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do. (Ephesians 6:18-20, Amplified)

 

That is our assignment saints of God, to pray for one another and to pray especially for those on the front line of the battle . . . that the Word of the Lord will go forth unhindered. Oh yes my friends, as we go about our Fathers Business in 2007, we can go forth with confidence. Oh we can go forth with boldness, because the battle is not ours . . . It’s the Lords. Let’s go to the book of Acts and hear the powerful testimony of Paul and Silas when they were bound in jail.

[There] a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from Macedonia stood pleading with him and saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us! And when he had seen the vision, we [including Luke] at once endeavored to go on into Macedonia, confidently inferring that God had called us to proclaim the glad tidings (Gospel) to them. Therefore, setting sail from Troas, we came in a direct course to Samothrace, and the next day went on to Neapolis. And from there [we came] to Philippi, which is the chief city of the district of Macedonia and a [Roman] colony. We stayed on in this place some days; And on the Sabbath day we went outside the [city’s] gate to the bank of the river where we supposed there was an [accustomed] place of prayer, and we sat down and addressed the women who had assembled there. One of those who listened to us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in fabrics dyed in purple. She was [already] a worshiper of God, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And when she was baptized along with her household, she earnestly entreated us, saying, If in your opinion I am one really convinced [that Jesus is the Messiah and the Author of salvation] and that I will be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. And she induced us [to do it]. As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling. (Acts 16:9-16, Amplified)

Here it is yall. Paul and Silas are being about our Fathers Business and who shows up, right on que . . . the devil, in the form of a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination.

She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation! And she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment. But when her owners discovered that their hope of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the forum (marketplace where trials are held). And when they had brought them before the magistrates, they declared, These fellows are Jews and they are throwing our city into great confusion. (Acts 16:17-20, Amplified)

Can you believe this? They accuse them of throwing the city into confusion by preaching or proclaiming the Word of God. Don’t they know that “God” is not the author of confusion, but of peace? Oh that lying wonder . . . Saints of God ain’t nothing changed. The enemy still uses these same tactics today! Let’s listen to more of their accusations.

They encourage the practice of customs which it is unlawful for us Romans to accept or observe! The crowd [also] joined in the attack upon them, and the rulers tore the clothes off of them and commanded that they be beaten with rods. And when they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. (Acts 16:21-23, Amplified)

How many times have we been beaten down because of our stand on the Word of God.

He, having received [so strict a] charge, put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened. (Acts 16:24-26, Amplified)

Glory to God . . . Glory to God . . . Glory to God in the Highest! Paul and Silas were not moved. They were not dismayed by the situation that they were in. They put their trust in the Most High God and began to offer up praises unto Him. You want to know how to shake the devil off . . . Offer up some praises to the Most High God. You want the shackles to fall off . . . Offer up some praises to the Most High God. Do you want the prison doors to open up for you . . . Offer up some praises to the Most High God. In 2007 you shall have to offer up some praises to the Most High God. More in our next edition!

Moments of Meditation

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11; Amplified)

  

Pen & Sword
by Minister Pamela Farrar

Anointed and appointed to share an end time word with the Body of Christ, sit back as Minister Pamela Farrar, a fellow member of Baltimore’s Kingdom Poets, inspires and enlightens us, in her own unique way, to draw ever so closer to Jesus. As the Holy Spirit has equipped her to pen these words, be fortified and strengthened in Jesus, as we await His soon return.

In His Eternal Love & Service,
God’s Handmaiden,
Margie Epps

HE MADE ME THIS WAY

Let us look at a nest filled with God’s reborn children. Then take it to another level and try to imagine you in one of those eggs. Imagine being in a dark cramped place feeling uncomfortable in a season you don’t understand. In fact it is so unbearable that you start scratching your way out and the more you scratch the more light you see. Even in the midst of darkness you see glimpses of His glory that causes you to keep going despite the pain and anxiety. I get chills just thinking about that season of coming out, thinking about the loneliness, the pain, the disappointments, the feeling of being rejected, denied, and no one to help you through because no one is inside this shell but you. It’s a struggle to bite, chew, spit out the opinions of man, and push through the cracks of despair to reach your destiny. All the while your heavenly Father is watching you struggle; whispering words into your spirit, “My child you can do this, keep going, and you are more than a conqueror.” He is your spiritual coach. He is there to help you through your coming out season so you can see what you shall become. Just peak through the cracks of your shell to see the One encouraging you, to see the One who loves you and to see the One who cannot wait for you to come out and learn the things of Him. He wants you to grow strong into His image, to eat the goodness of His Word, to understand the purpose of His presence, and come out to use your gifts with a Kingdom purpose. Its funny, but when you first come out, you don’t quite look like the one who feeds you, cares for you, guides you, and prepares you; but the more you eat, the more you grow and the more you transform into His image. And here you are... now “More than Conquerors” you survived the most heartbreaking situations in life, you endured your season of struggles, you persevered through the issues of your past, prayed, and worked out your own salvation.

Now God is pushing you to the edge of the nest and suddenly you see yourself falling in the sky. This is a season where God has to prove to you what you are made of. He knows that your fear will cause you to react by the flapping of your wings. God wants you to simply focus on what you have and use it, do something! You realized while soaring in the sky that God made you to fly. What a wonderful season to be in, flying through the sky for the first time and while you are in the air... it all starts to make sense. The season in darkness, the painful struggle to get out of your shell, the season of being fed, cared for, protected, and being pushed into the unknown so you’ll know who you are. God knows what you are to become before you were an embryo. All you have to do is wait it out and work it out. Get something out of the tears that flow from your eyes, your struggles, your flaws, set backs, and down falls. Learn the lesson and share with others that they too can fly. ‘He Made You This Way’! He made you to make others stronger, encouraged, and have the desire to be free. You now see things that other people could never imagine. Praise God for the vision to see pass the darkness, the cracked shell, the broken pieces in your life, and the struggles to come out. Imagine all that wasted time of just peaking through the shell of life, mad with God because He put you there in the first place. The shame of it all for what I see now and all the joy it brings. Hold on - It’s your coming out season, no matter how painful your journey may be at the present time. Speak life into your own spirit, “I’m Coming Out of This!”

Look up, stay focused, and be blessed - Min.Pam Farrar

 

POETIC EXPRESSIONS

           FROM ME TO YOU...

A Man's Point of View
By Franklin Tyrone McBryde


Franklin McBryde
FrankOvations
franklin@kingdompoets.com

As we await the soon return of our Lord and Saviour Yeshua the Messiah, I am honored and blessed to present to you the genuine and unique poetic gift of Franklin McBryde, also a fellow member of Baltimore’s Kingdom Poets. God has given him a very special gift to minister poetically to relationships and particularly to the emotions of a woman. With so many marriages failing and relationships falling apart each and every day, the Father’s heartfelt desire is that we grow up and mature in this area, and have a sincere and genuine love for one another in our relationships, even as Christ also loves the Church. May Franklin’s insight in this area, as well as other topics of interest, touch your heart and soul in a very personal and intimate way . . . coming respectively from a mans point of view.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:31-33)

In His Eternal Love & Service,
God’s Handmaiden

Walking In Somebody Else’s Shoes

Most of the things that happen to us
Happen when we disobey the rules
The result of it can be very costly
With the decisions that we choose

There is always someone who is worse off
With the situation they find themselves in
Perhaps clinging to life or praying for mercy
Or for someone to be their friend

Within a blink, who would think
Their luck would go the wrong way
That’s the time to call on Jesus
And get down on your knees and pray

No, don’t expect the sky to burst open
Causing ornaments to fall off the shelves
Just realize those changes that occurred
You alone couldn’t have done yourself

It could be food from a stranger
Or advice that invokes positive thought
Whatever it is, it’ll be priceless
Something that money couldn’t have bought

It’s not good for us to look down on others
Because of the situation they may be in
Because you never know when that day may come
When you’re asking for forgiveness for your sins

So be very careful when laughing at others
About the conditions that caused them to lose
Because you’ll never know when that day may come
When you find yourself, walking in somebody else’s shoes

To be blessed with more of Franklins Poetic Expressions . . . From a man's point of view, please take a moment to visit his unique and inspiring WebPage entitled New Love by Clicking Here. 

 

HEARTBEATS


Suzanne B. Lester
AGAPEgirl
suzanne@kingdompoets.com

**With each beat of my heart I realize that it’s God telling me over and over “I love you, you are mine and I am STILL in control.”

For the many people who find the holidays a difficult time due to the loss of a loved one, may the following poem bless and encourage you throughout the holidays and beyond.

He Knows

Memories tucked so carefully in places only you know about.
Of days long past into the secret places you have created.
Smiles that once lit up faces that have crossed over--
Over to another world,
a world that you, too, shall inherit.

So many loved ones taken from you in ways
that you may still not quite understand.
Loved ones that God had other plans for-
He loved them and needed them more than we ever could.

All of it is a part of His great plan-
Like a play written in stone down to the very last detail
carried out by God’s awesome hand.
Voids left but for a little while
as grief engulfs your very soul.
But He knows just when to fill the void-
to wipe away the tears-
to exchange sorrow for joy.

He knows each tear that falls comes from
a heart broken by the parting of ways.
As He gently wipes them away,
you realize that joy, indeed, does come in the morning.
He knows that the empty spaces
will be filled with new memories you make with those left behind.
That you will smile again--
Even as you reflect on the past-the good times and the not so good times.

After all, our loved ones are only on loan to us from Him
and as painful as it might be,
we realize that one day He will collect us and them back to Himself.
But we can rest assured that all the emotions we may feel,
He truly knows.

By
Suzanne B. Lester © 2006

 

The Sower . . . Sows The Seeds

God in His Infinite Wisdom has given us everything that we need to grow up in Him. As these scattered seeds are sown into the depth of your heart, may they be a cultivating tool to help grow you up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ.

And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying, “Behold, a sower went forth to sow; (Matthew 13:3)

'Twas the Night Before Deer Season
By Gordon Green

Twas the night before deer season and all thru the plant 
Supervisors were getting time off but hourlies can't 
Their shotguns and rifles were hid with great care 
In the hope that security would not find them there 

When up on the rooftop their arose a great clatter 
Maintenance went up to see what was the matter 
And what to their wondering eyes should appear 
Standing there were eight big buck white-tailed deer 

They jumped from the roof and down to the ground 
In the parking lot they playfully leaped around 
Each buck had a rack of twenty points or more 
For once supervisors did not mind keeping score 

Visions of trophy racks danced in each head 
Termination for the deer would mean they were dead 
Over the intercom came a voice, "It is twelve o' one 
Deer season now has officially begun" 

Out the door they all ran in a big hurried rush 
If someone had stumbled they'd have been trampled to mush 
Guns appeared from under seats and out of trunks 
From inside tool boxes and from under piles of junk 

The bucks were surrounded they had nowhere to go 
Probably about now they were wishing they were does 
A shot rang out and all the guns were ablazing 
If any buck survived it would be truly amazing 

A cloud of gun smoke settled over the parking lot 
When it cleared each supervisor would see what they got 
But when the smoke cleared not a deer could be found 
They were in shock when they began to look around 

      The death toll was twelve cars and six pick up trucks 
Eighty-three chickens and fourteen ducks (ducks?) 
How did the deer escape their inescapable fate 
Was it because we were tired or stayed up too late 

Just then from the shadows came old St. Nick 
"I need deer that are brave, agile, and quick" 
Reindeer were fine when it was snowing and cold 
But with global warming I don't need them (besides they are old) 

With the threat of terrorists, gangs, and fearful homeowners 
I need to try out new deer.....these are just loaners 
In this test that I arranged they have done great 
But we must be getting on for it is getting late 

With a loud whistle and a whoosh the deer re-appeared 
Seeing them pulling Santa's sleigh everyone cheered 
He got in the seat and took hold of the reins 
And then began to call out each buck's name 

Now Avery, now Chapman, now Murray and Moore 
This is our first stop but we have many more 
On Boyd, on Dennington, on Grubbs and Lott 
Let's see how much power you deer have got 

In the twinkle of an eye and the flash of a smile 
They were up in the sky at least a half of a mile 
This story is true that is what I have been told 
Sitting around a campfire when the night is cold 

Swapping stories of almost, if only and should've 
Wishing I had done the things that I could've 
So if you shoot at a deer and completely miss 
Do not be upset with yourself just remember this 

In life you don't always get what you shoot for 
But do the right thing and GOD will open another door 

.....peace.....


But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.  (Matthew 13:8-9)


 This newsletter is to exhort the Body of Christ. If you have a poem of encouragement
that you would like to share, please submit it to margie@reflect-a-moment.com.

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