MOMENTS Volume No. 8 Issue No. 5

February / March 2008

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.

Straight From The Heart
 By Ornatta Monique McFadden
A.K.A. Sista Divine Mind
 

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

After you’ve suffered a while, then you shall receive the promise.  Who in their right mind wants to hear those words.  You know those words talking about suffering. Saints of God, I tell you, God is drawing His people into a place of embracing our troubles to the point that we can be conformed into the image of His dear Son Jesus.  Oh we’ve heard about the prosperity messages, we know about naming it, and claiming it. Everybody is believing God for a brand new house, and a Bentley car, but unfortunately, my friends, none of those things makes us look any more like our Heavenly Father . . . None of those things brings forth the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, and the character of Almighty God.  My friends, we have to go back to the basics and be men and women of integrity.  We have to be a people of God who are sold out to the things of God.  Listen to what the Word of God says about this

 

I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1; Amplified)

 

Do you see that saints of God?  We have to present all of our members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God.  The Word of God lets us know that this is a reasonable thing that He requires of us.  It is our rational and intelligent service, and spiritual worship to our God.  Then the Word of God admonishes us further and says

 

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. (Romans 12:2; Amplified)

My God . . . My God . . . My God!  Do not be conformed to this world.  Saints I don’t know about for you all, but to me it is getting harder and harder to tell the saints from the ain’ts.  People just don’t respect the things of God anymore.  Using profanity and cursing seems to be the normal way of communication for non-Christians and Christians alike.  More ministers of the Gospel are being caught in sexual sins, and homosexuality has become an alternate lifestyle, and even accepted among those in the church.  All these things should not be.  We are the church of the Living God, and we are to set the standard.  We are not to be conformed to this world . . . But we are supposed to be transformed (changed) by the renewal of our minds.  Oh this may take some discipline . . . Saints this may require us to make some sacrifices . . . Some of us may even have to endure and suffer a while, but as we closed out our last edition, we discovered that all of our troubles, and all of our sufferings, and the pressure, affliction, and hardship that it brings, produces patient and unswerving endurance.  Let’s look at it again. 

THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).  Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand.  And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.  Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.  (Romans 5:1-3; Amplified)

 

Oh yes my friends, we realize that we are to triumph *in* our troubles, and we are to rejoice *in* our sufferings.  People of God, we have to submit “our will” to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.  For most of us, if we were to be honest, and admit it, that is not an easy thing to do.  But isn’t it comforting to know that God has left us the road map . . . the manual . . . the set of instructions to help us to get to where He wants us to be.  Let’s take a moment to read a portion of the instructions now.

 

Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, (1 Peter 5:6; Amplified)

 

This is the first step my friends.  We must humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.  You see because too many times, here of late, we have seen those in the Kingdom of God, who are trying to promote themselves instead of humbling themselves under the mighty hand of God.  Oh yes my friends, they are trying to make a name for themselves, and puffing themselves up bigger than they ought to be.  But this is not the way of God.  As children of God, we are to demote, or lower ourselves in our own estimation, under the mighty hand of God, so that in due time, He will exult us.  Then the Word of God goes on to say,

 

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. (1 Peter 5:7; Amplified)

 

Oh bless the Name of Jesus.  Isn’t it good to know that we can cast all of our cares, all of our anxieties, our worries, and our concerns on God.  Oh yes my friends, when man lets us down, He is there for us, caring watchfully for us, with His Loving eye of protection.  Listen as the Holy Spirit, through Peter the Apostle of Jesus Christ instructs us further

 

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. (1 Peter 5:8; Amplified)

 

Oh Praise His Holy Name!  Let the school of hard knocks begin.  Remember saints of God, we are to rejoice “in” our sufferings and triumph “in” our troubles.  Let the devil, who is like a toothless lion, roam all around us [in fierce hunger] continue to seek somebody to seize upon and devour.  Surely we are not worried about him. We are under the protection of the Most High God.  Remember the story of Daniel in the lions den.  The God that we serve hasn’t changed.  He’s the same God today, yesterday, and will be the same forevermore.

 

Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset – rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:9; Amplified)

 

Oh yes my friends, you are not alone.  Those things that you are going through, somebody else in the Body of Christ is also going through the same thing.  But be firm in the faith and withstand the attacks of the enemy, because God . . . our God will always cause you to triumph in Him.  Let God’s “Perfect Will” be accomplished in your life.

 

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. (1 Peter 5:10; Amplified)

 

Oh Bless His Name!  After we have suffered a while, then our God, the God of all grace, the one who imparts all blessing and favor, the one who has called you to His own eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will all by Himself, complete you and make you what you ought to be.  Oh yes my friends, He will establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.  Oh help us God . . . Help us to submit “our will” to the will of the Lord!

 

To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever.  Amen (so be it). (1 Peter 5:11; Amplified)

Moments of Meditation

For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].  They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot. (Psalm 91:11-13; Amplified Version)

  

Straight From The Heart
By Ornatta Monique McFadden


Ornatta McFadden

Anointed and appointed to share an end time word with the Body of Christ, I am honored and blessed to have Ornatta Monique McFadden, AKA Sista Divine Mind , a fellow member of Baltimore’s Kingdom Poets to enlighten us through the Word of God. Sista Divine Mind has been a *faithful* member of the Poetic Moments Forum, as well as the Kingdom Poets since it’s inception back in 2002. Also since January 7, 2007, with the launching of the Voices of Victory Radio Broadcast on The Praise House.Com, my dear precious sister has also been *faithful* to be on the air every Sunday evening. Saints of God, the Bible says that it is required of stewards to be found faithful. Truly I praise the Lord for this bold soldier in the army of the Lord, and how God is using her for His Glory! Sit back and be blessed as the Spirit of the Living God uses her to pen His words to strengthen and fortify you as they come straight from her heart to yours!

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

What Is Going On……

 

It is time for the people of God to take up their swords and go to war.  We are losing battles that don’t have to be lost.  It is time for us to stop playing Church and be the Church God has called us to be. There is nothing new under the sun, but it is just more visible. It is time for us to stand up and say, I will not take this lying down.  I will not let you mistreat or abuse my son or daughter.  It is time for us to take a stand against being our childrens friend, instead of their parent.  Our children have enough friends, they need someone to get on them when they are wrong, and praise them when they are right. See God knew we needed to discipline our children, so He said in His Word, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Proverbs 13:24 Now if God did not want us to have authority over our children, He would not have told the children “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12 By no means am I saying that we should not show compassion, love, and have fun, but know that we are not to cross over. Our children have so much that they deal with every day with school, work, peer pressure, dating, drugs, sexual relations, and so much more. They need some one to give them Godly advice, and not “Girl do what you want.” No children need someone to say, no it is not easy, but God said in His Word that He would give you peace that surpasses all understanding. “Train [ or start ] a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

 

Now let’s look at this; we the Church are losing our authority on so many levels. There was a time when the Church was the most respected institution. People knew where their help came from, and they knew how to invoke the presence of the Lord. Now we have no respect for the things of God. It reminds me of how Saul had no respect for the children of God, but when God took control, he was a whole new man. It is time for the leaders of the churches to allow God to take Full Control, because the children of God are being lost in the performances that take place on Sunday morning called worship service. God tells us in His Word “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6 You see God’s children are sinking because they are not being fed or taught how to digest the Word…. Have we forgotten that the children of God that are coming, have never heard about our Father, so they need the real story, not something you made up in your mind, or what you think. They need to see God in you as you guide them to Christ. We need to keep it real. It is not about what any of us drive or where we live or work. My sisters and brothers, it is not about your children or husband, or your father, but it is about a right relationship with God. How can we look for people to have a right relationship, if the leadership is out of order, and won’t get together. That is why God says in His Word “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:1 The time is at hand, and we have to stop hurting the children of God, and begin to lift them up. If God has given you the charge to preach His Word, then you take that as an honor and a privilege, because He could have chosen anyone, but He picked you. The Church is not what it used to be because we are allowing any and everything to take place in the church. Now I love all of Gods children, but we have to take a stand. Homosexuals should not be leading our choirs because praise and worship is a way of invoking the presence of God, and if you have a reprobate mind “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:27-32 God is so clear, so why are the leaders of the church going against the Word of God. Yes we want all to come, but we are not to conform to their ways, but we should be living in such a way that we draw them to our Christ like walk; at all times showing the love of God. I’m not saying that we will never fall, but we have to show them how to get up, and go on in Christ. Where is the power in the church? God said that He gave us power and authority over the enemy, so where is it? God said “Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. Luke 9:1 If God did that back then what makes you think He can’t do it now? We have the power and authority because our Father said so. Come on church. It is time for us to get it together. We need to stand up and be heard. We will not tolerate disrespect for God, or His house, or anything connected to Him.

 

We have to stop hurting one another. We have to speak the Word, and live the Word, and we have to give God praise for what He has done, will do, and things we know He did, and things we don’t know He did. My sisters and brothers, we have got to get back to serving God with a  pure heart, and serving Him no matter what people say or do, or what they think. It is all about our Heavenly father. God wants us to love one another" John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 1 Thessalonians 3:12  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 1 John 3:11  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:23  And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 1 John 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:12  No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.”  God loves all of us; and all He wants is for us to walk as He has called us to, and to discipline when it is needed, and to love when it is needed. God doesn’t want us to sit down, He wants us to stand up, and He will help us through, but we have got to get on the right page. Where is the power because God sure enough gave it to us. I pray that something I have said will reach someone. Keep this in mind . . . With God you can do all things, but without Him you will be lacking some major stuff……Peace and Blessings

 




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



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. 



Infatuation

 

It was something about you, when I first met you, that really caught my eye

 

Perhaps it was your smile, your warm personality, I haven’t figured out why

 

Why I immediately fell in love with you, without drawing from my heart

 

All of the questions, I should have asked myself, right from the very start

 

Maybe this is something magical; maybe this is something real

 

I can’t wait to be alone with you, so I can tell you what I feel

 

I’ve been searching my heart, and taking my time to find someone like you

 

To fulfill that void that exist in me, and the emptiness that exist in you

 

I really can’t imagine, if this will really work

 

But I promise you that loving me, comes with many perks

 

So I extend to you this invitation, to invite you into  my life

 

To love, cherish, and care for you, while making you my wife

 

You don’t have to answer me now, a smile or wink will do

 

Which will satisfy the emotions I felt, when I first laid eyes on you

 

So I’m sending you my hugs and kisses, hoping something comes of this

 

And if what I feel is truly real, then greet me with a kiss


 


Suzanne B. Lester
AGAPEgirl
 suzanne@kingdompoets.com

Have you ever been in a place and not understood why?  Life is filled with such places and we find ourselves pushed well beyond what we consider our “comfort zone.”  We struggle to move forward, backward, sideways—anywhere but the place where we are “assigned” to be.  We don’t like the challenges, the frustrations, the seemingly unfairness of the location.  When we stop struggling long enough, we realize that we are right where God wants us to be at the time.  Too many times, even in traffic, we find ourselves saying, “Why don’t they get out of my way?”  We don’t realize God’s protection until we see that the car ahead of us is involved in a serious accident.  We wonder even in our jobs why after so many years we are in a position that to us seems like a “demotion.”  But if we do the job to the best of our abilities, when God is ready and when He has sufficiently prepared us, He will move us to where He has prepared a place just for us.  If we do the job “as unto God,” He will get the glory.  We wonder, “Why am I in the hospital?” or “Why am I always sick?”  We fail to realize that God has given us the ability to cope with the situation.  It is not always done for our advantage, but is to help someone else as they see how God is, indeed, a healer and a comforter.  We wonder why we are in marriages that aren’t like we imagined.  Who is that person in bed with us?  They don’t look or act like we thought they would.  But we fail to realize that God wants us to love that person, live up to our vows and, again, do it “as unto God.”  Someone may be watching how we treat our spouse and believe that this how it’s supposed to be. God knew that you would be able to stand the challenge while someone else would have just given up.  So you try and you try again—all the while giving God the glory and praising Him for trusting you to love someone. 

 

Yes, day after day we find ourselves in places we don’t understand, places where loneliness rears its ugly head, where jealousy taunts us, where discontent makes us restless.  But through all of this, we must realize that “we are right where God wants us to be at this particular time” or we would definitely be some place else.  The poem below reflects these feelings as well.

 




Where I’m Supposed to Be

Lord, each day, please help me to stop and realize
that I’m right where I should be and to see it through your eyes.
Help me impatient never to be while stopped along life’s way,
but to trust you know what’s best for me as you’ve planned each passing day.

When it seems some other person is where I’d like to be,
please help me stop and realize that’s not your plan for me.
When it seems I’m in the back of the line and the line’s moving so very slow,
it’s then I need your assurance that all about it, Lord, you know.

When it seems I’m not progressing and barely getting by at best,
remind me, Lord, this stopping place most likely is just a test.
I know I am impatient as far as my future, Lord,
but staying where you put me, I must admit, is hard.

Although it’s hard to understand , I’m where I’m supposed to be,
for after all is said and done, you’ve planned the best for me.

By
Suzanne B. Lester © 2007

 

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)




There Is A GOD Who Believes In Me

 

 

There is a GOD who believes in me

There is a GOD who believes in me

All my sins and faults He sees

Yet in me my GOD believes

 

In this prison that I've built

With bars of pride and walls of guilt

In my strength there is no key

But in my GOD I am set free  

 

There is a GOD who believes in me

There is a GOD who believes in me

All my sins and faults He sees

Yet in me my GOD believes

 

When life is more than I can bear

All my burdens He will share

When I'm afraid to make a stand

My GOD will take me by the hand


There is a GOD who believes in me

There is a GOD who believes in me

All my sins and faults He sees

Yet in me my GOD believes  

 

.....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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