I've Got the Power!

The information that Bishop Woods has shared over the last few weeks is definately worth retweeting, blogging about, talking about, writing about and sharing over and over on all media outlets so keep it moving! I'm going to recap from my and my husband's notes as much as possible and don't forget to pick up the CDs and DVDs from the 360 Soundz team for $5 or $10 respectively.

Sunday, Bishop Woods preached from the topic The Importance and Power of the Holy Spirit. The scripture text came from our foundation scripture at uE, which is Acts 1:8, But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Wednesday, Bishop Woods taught on Eleven ways to Guarantee Success in 2011--from Scott Williams, with explainations and scripture text added.

First we must understand that we need the Power of the Holy Ghost in our lives. We cannot acomplish anything without the power, but we can do all things through Christ, which gives us strength. Second let's take a moment to understand this awesome power. Know that there's nothing too hard for God. I like to think of it in terms that Noel Jones once explained, if you can believe in the ressurection of Jesus Christ then you can believe that there's nothing too hard for God. What he was saying was that if I can believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, which is an impossible thing to do, then there's nothing in my life that God can not handle. Every problem, every situation, every issue is within His domain and control because if He could do that, He can take care of anything that I can come up with in my little life.

Bishop explained that God wants us to have a successful witness. Our witness is what people see in us that we did not accomplish on our own. God wants to keep that witness credible so that others can see it and give Him glory.

Eleven Ways to Guarantee Success in 2011
1. Put God First--Matthew 6:33
2. Make Family a Priority
3. Set SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Sensitive--if you need help see the Power Players)
4. Simplify--Stop making things so difficult! Do what's right and do what's necessary. Matthew 11:29
5. Don't talk about it, be about it. Philippians 4:13.
6. Get accountability--share your goals, visions, dreams with somebody who can help you stay on track
The relevance of Acts 1:8
We must surrender to the Holy Ghost's Power so that choices and decisions that we make are made under the power of the Holdy Ghost. We cannot experience the Power of the Holy Ghost until we surrender to Him. Our spirit controls our flesh so until we bring our spirit under the subjection of the Holy Spirit we are making decisions out of our own mind and those decisions will lead to destruction. If you do not surrender you will not be an effective witness spiritually.

The Holy Ghost or the paracletea came to comfort us and to help us. When we surrender to the power of the paracletea it rests on us when we are going through our most difficult times so that others cannot see us and what we are going through--it protects our witness and continues to show forth the glory of God on our lives and the annointing! Remember you may be the only Bible that some people see so it is important that you surrender to the power of the Holy Ghost and choose to live a Spirit filled life. He wants you to be an effective example. God is a very present help in your time of trouble. The Holy Ghost is several things for us:
The Holy Ghost is a creator
The Holy Ghost saves us to some things
The Holy Ghost saves us from some things
The Holy Ghost makes me an effective witness
The Holy Ghost intercedes for us Romans 8:26--when you cannot communicate what you want or need to say the Holy Ghost takes your groanings and your moanings and gives that message to God on your behave and because the Holy Ghost is creator, He is able to make some things happen in the atmosphere for you based upon your needs. The Father acts on what the Holy Ghost communicates for us.
The Holy Ghost leads to repentence
The Holy Ghost reveals--what gifts are lying dormant in you waiting to be revealed? God breathed His breath on dirt and created man and we are pretty spectacular right? So what is waiting to be revealed in you!
The Holy Ghost is an indweller Romans 8:8-9
The Holy Ghost wants to transform you Romans 12:2
The Holy Ghost is filling--the result of a transformed life is a spirit filled life. How do you know that you are living a spirit filled life? When the seeds of the Holy Ghost produce new fruit from Galations 5:22-23, love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
7. Assessment. Let a man examine himself
8. Try something new--get out of your comfort zone and don't be afraid to fail. Your failure may lead to success in another area. Isaiah 43:18-19
9. Just say NO! Say no to negative things and Yes to positive things. Philippians 3: 12-14 press.
10. Dream big. Think bigger!
11. No Excuses. Faith will not let you down. Philippians 3:12-14

Walk this Way

This morning I have to say that I was inspired by the youthful urban Mother's of my church. The Bible tells us that the older generation should serve as an example to the younger generation. The scripture that came to mind today was Ephesians 5:15 which states, See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise . . .

I sometimes imagine that we as Christians are like toddlers. We are on our journey through our process of discipleship to follow Christ. We are unsure of ourselves, we hold on to our fears and to the things that we think we know because we are afraid to let go and trust that God has us and that He won't let us fall. We pull up on the circumstances around us instead of reaching out to God. We take a few steps and fall. We give up and just scoot or crawl around. It takes some of us a lifetime to learn to this Christian walk of faith.

How did Jesus walk? He walked circumspectly--that means carefully. He was careful to fulfill the will of the Father and to provide an example for you and I to be able to follow. God has given us His Word, His Son, His Holy Spirit, His power to create. He has told us that we are His own and that we are His friends. He has extended Himself to us and taken care of us; who wouldn't want to serve a God like this? Yet we reject His order, His authority and His leadership. We want nothing to do with the people part of it all. We don't want the cup--we want His will to pass from us and we want to bask in our own will. We hid our agenda behind a shout and a dance, but the fact remains always that God is a Spirit and they that worship Him can only do so in Spirit and in truth.

Paul said to follow me as I follow Christ for a reason. There is an order and an authority to the way that God works. He does not stray from it. So again I respect and give honor to my church mothers today because although they are young, urban, beautiful church mothers, God has blessed them with wisdom from which we can learn. God is teaching them to walk circumspectly and to follow after Him.

Last example for today's thought. We are a nation of now. We want it all now. We do not want to exercise discipline. As a result we amass great amounts of debt that we spend the rest of our lives having to pay or die trying to pay. We cover that part of our lives so that people around us can't see us struggling, but we showcase the new purses, shoes, car and house.

Instead of being after substance we are after a "look" of prosperity. Everything has a cost. Either you can save and pay, which will cost you less in money and will teach you patience and discipline or you can have it now. Having things now means that there must be a premature sacrifice. That means that you're using credit, you're paying money that should be used for another purpose, you're going to have to pay a higher rate of interest, you will not learn the lessons of patience or discipline, which you need to learn any way and which God will bring you back around to eventually. This is why Samuel told Saul simply, . . .obedience is better than sacrifice . . .

God is not at all concerned with you having it your way--Bishop Woods eliquently explained to us that God is not Burger King. Because your way will not lead to eternal life. Your way will not expand the Kingdom. The Bible says, there's a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is death. God wants us to learn to accept His will, His way, His Word, His authority because these things will lead His promises for us. Today let's follow after Christ. Let's learn to walk like Him doing it the way He wants us to in our due season, not prematurely, not pretending to impress somebody, but sincerely to be about Kingdom business.

Above & Beyond: Let's Live on Top of the World!

Good morning:

Like the "Old Folks" used to say, I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus. I awoke this morning praying for you. I was praying for my co-laborers, for my Bishop and my Pastor and our first family. I was praying for my husband and my child. I prayed for my church. I prayed for my employer. I prayed for my local, state and national legislators--Lord please help them! I prayed for the state of our nation and the state of the world. I prayed that the gospel of Christ be carried to all nations. I prayed for Urban Empowerment's ministries and that we fulfill our three new goals. I prayed for the CECO fellowship. I prayed for the elder-elects that are studying as hard as they can. I prayed for our youth and for those who are responsible for their education. I prayed for an end to bitterness and for open and clear communication within the body of Christ. I prayed for God's glory to show up and show out and if we want to be changed to change us, to work miracles in our lives like never before. I prayed for the success of uE College Connect. I prayed for realigning, reassigning and repositioning to take place so that God's work can move ahead. I prayed that we could all see the hand of God move and learn to appreciate that He is truly awesome and we are privileged to be called and chosen to do the work of ministry. There is much ministry to do.

I woke up this morning with our 2011 theme scripture on my heart. Ephesians 3:20 & 21: 20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen

I thought about today being the last day of our fast and the significance of only water. In the Bible water is often a type of the Holy Spirit. We only need the Holy Spirit today to rest in us. Think about all that you are going through and the power of the Holy Spirit will keep you full today. As I was praying this morning I prayed for healing to be loosed for us. I prayed for our eyes to be opened so that we can see our giftings. I prayed for our businesses to be successful. I prayed for specific people to come out of depression. I prayed for restoration and a reclaiming of souls. I prayed for renewed marriages and families. I prayed for God to go above and beyond, but only according to the power that is in us. You see the scripture is clear that God is able to do exceeding and abundantly above all, but you have to be willing to ask and you have to allow yourself to think. You cannot limit God and you cannot allow the spirit of fear to overrule your faith or to caste doubt on the vision and the promises that God has given you.

How do you do that? Write the vision and make it plain upon the tables so those that see it can run with it. When you write your vision you become accountable for it. When you make it plain others can assist you with it. Without a vision the people perish. There is hope in a vision. There is direction, destiny and promise in a vision. Your above and beyond is in the vision that God gave to you. The Holy Ghost is here to help you nurture and carry out your vision and your purpose. So today, rise, shine and give God the glory. Get ready to go ABOVE AND BEYOND. Come to tonight's Prayer and Deliverance service at Urban Empowerment, 2409 N. Stadium. If we've ever needed the Lord before, we sure do need Him now! It promises to be a night of revelation, restoration, reclamation and reformation. Remember to read St. John chapter 21 today!

Pass or Fail?

Yesterday, Bishop Woods preached Can Somebody Help Me Get it Together? Bishop thoroughly expressed that we will be tested, the question becomes who can help us to pass the test? He went on to reveal that we pass the test by acknowledging and accepting the Holy Ghost, as our comforter and as the one who will rest in our situation in our weakness.

Interestingly, I received a list serve message yesterday titled God's Tests. This list serve went on to explain how God puts forth the test to make us and mold us so that we are fit for His purpose. Our tests are not pleasant and are sometimes painful, but are meant to help us fulfill the calling on our lives. The writer used Saul and David as examples stating that Saul failed God's test, but David passed. David may not have always understood what God was doing or why God was doing things the way He was doing it, but David learned to accept God's testing, and to understand that every betrayal, battle, hardship, and hurt were meant to usher him into the position that God, through Samuel, had anointed him to fulfill. David had to go through everything that he went through in order to be the King that God purposed for him to be.

So what's the lesson today? Change your perspective! Stop looking at the challenges in your life as God has forsaken you or that He doesn't love you. Stop focusing on the trial or the tribulation and ask God for the lesson. Stop allowing the enemy to derail you. You need God's testing to help you learn what you don't already know on your own. God gives you tests to make you better, smarter, faster and fit for His use. God gives you the test to make you wiser.

Do you keep experiencing hurt at the hands of others? Change your perspective, God is teaching you to love His people. Are you experiencing financial hardship? Pass this test! God is teaching you to rely solely on Him as your source. He knows what you have need of before you even ask or think. You are His child, why would He leave you destitute? There's a lesson in it for you to accept. I've come to understand that sometimes financial problems that leave you needing other people are lessons from God that you must rely upon the system that He established. God said, give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall "men" give into your bosom. Learn the lesson that you cannot dictate to God how He is going to bless you. Stop being independent.

Are you going through family crisis over and over? God is teaching you to pray. Prayer changes things--not your intellect--not how much you think and worry about your family member. God knows the heart and only He can put a chain of events in place that will move us into the place we need to be to hear from Him. To us that may be a dry and desolate place, but for God that is the place where He can commune with us.

Are you experiencing health problems? God wants you to learn that He took stripes for your healing. Will you believe that He can and will heal? Will you believe His report? Will you trust that God may just be giving you a thorn in your flesh to keep you in a humble place where you can remember to be a blessing to others?

Today remember God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts as far as the heavens are above the earth are just as far as His thoughts are above our thoughts. He knows what you need to nudge you in the direction of your purpose. Yield to His will and the Holy Ghost will help you to pass.

Yes You Can!

Philippians 4:13 states, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

We're heading into week three of the new year and already some of those New Year's resolutions seem unattainable. We may already feel defeated on that diet or that exercise plan or whatever it is that you wanted to change or do better about this year. But I'm here to encourage you and let you know that you can do it!

It's not over. As long as you live you have another opportunity to reach your goals. At Bible study last night we learned that you have to stop complicating things and get yourself an accountability partner. These two characteristics can get a person off track quickly. We tend to complicate things so that we will have an excuse not to complete our goals and without someone to hold us accountable, it is easy to justify giving up. Sometimes this behavior leads into depression because it can be a cycle of trying and failing and never accomplishing because of self sabotaging behavior.

But there is an answer! Add some Christ to your list of goals, and as we learned last night set some family goals as well as goals for yourself. Make seeking God first one of those goals. Ask Him how you should do something and who you should choose to help hold you accountable. Ask Him and He will answer you not only will He answer you, but He will strengthen you.

Last, when you want to make changes in your life don't look at them as a change to the way that God created you. Think about changing your perspective. Ask God for a paradigm shift. Consider the story of Saul being transformed to Paul. His passion didn't change. His staunch believe that what he was fighting for was worth dying for didn't change. In essence his core personality didn't change. What changed was his perspective. When he was able to see clearly in the spirit, he was able to proceed and fulfill the call on his life.

Tell yourself that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. Tell yourself that its not too late to change what you're eating and it's not too late to get out and exercise. It's not too late to read the Word daily and to pray regularly. Its not too late to start attending church services and to dedicate your life to fulfilling God's call. Everyday that you wake up one more time, it's not too late. You can do what God says you can do!

Crazy Confidence!

Bishop Woods preached on Sunday that the Miracle Makeover Continues . . . Bishop referenced several scriptures; one of which was Philippians 1:6, which states, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

Bishop explained through this scripture and through Isaiah 43:19 that we should have crazy confidence that God is going to complete the new things that He started to spring up in you--even in the dry places where there seems to be no resources and nothing to work with.

I have been recalling and rethinking about what Bishop told us and I'm excited about that Word because just yesterday the enemy threw some major stuff at me, but I remembered to have crazy confidence in the Lord! I asked myself why? Why should I have crazy confidence when all signs are pointing to not having enough, continued suffering, my own inability to do anything about my circumstances, troubles in my way, etc?

I asked myself why should I have crazy confidence or crazy faith and I came to the conclusion that all of the reasons that I thought of why I shouldn't are the reasons that I should! I can't do anything about my circumstances. I can't do anything about not having enough money. I can't do anything about the troubles that are in my way. "I" "I" "I", BUT GOD! I may not have the power to do anything about any of these things, but God does! He is in control of all and everything that is above my head remains under His feet!

You see He promised to take care of me. Sunday a minister and I were talking about how our children just expect us to take care of things. They don't think about money, or the hows of getting their plans to work. They just tell us what they want and walk away from it knowing that we have it under control. That's crazy confidence! They know that what was begun will be completed.

Now it's your turn and it's my turn. We must learn a simple lesson of dependence from our children. Tell God what you need and what you want and leave it alone. You don't have to beg, fall out or plead. You don't have to spend your time figuring out how--how is not your job--how is His job. He has it all under control. It doesn't matter what the circumstance. THERE'S NOTHING TO HARD FOR GOD!!!!!!!!

Today's challenge is to press on anyway. Encourage yourself and somebody else anyway. Worship God in spite of what things look like in your present situation. Give God the glory and the praise no matter what. Throw your hands up in surrender to God's will and His way. Today choose crazy confidence!