We tend to find ourselves caught up in the things of life & all the issues that we can imagine, but even on your worst day, someone has it far worst, so as you go throughout your day today, count it ALL joy when you fall into various trials, know...ing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.(James 1:2-4)
Passage James 1 :
James 1
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
9Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Time to slow down...
Time to slow down, often times we get so caught up with the event of life we find our selves rushing through it, even me, i rush and tend to forget something, why because we were not made that way, he formed us out of clay, he did not just slap it down and breathe into us, he formed us, time to slow down and get to the route of the issue.Take your time, he did with you! (Genesis 2)
Passage Genesis 2 :
Genesis 2
1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
4These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
5And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
6But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
8And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
10And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
11The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
12And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
13And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.
14And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
18And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Passage Genesis 2 :
Genesis 2
1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
4These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
5And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
6But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
8And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
10And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
11The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
12And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
13And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.
14And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
18And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
It's not about you!
It's not about you, it's about the sacrifice. Here is where we miss it. What you go through and are dealing with at times, it may seem like it is killing you but in reality, it is not about you, it is about the sacrifice of going through it for someone else, and in turn because of your obedience, God will make sure your meal and oil will never run out. Make the sacrifice today for someone else!(1 Kings 17)
Passage 1 Kings 17 :
1 Kings 17
1And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
2And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
3Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
4And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
5So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
6And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
7And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
8And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
9Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
17And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
18And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
19And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
20And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
22And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
24And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
Passage 1 Kings 17 :
1 Kings 17
1And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
2And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
3Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
4And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
5So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
6And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
7And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
8And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
9Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
17And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
18And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
19And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
20And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
22And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
24And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Render the Enemy Harmless & Unable to Come Back
Heavenly Father, I come to You now in the Name of my Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.
Lord Jesus Christ, I bind and command not to manifest themselves in our possession all evil spirits and their effects, side effects and stings, powerless and harmless, unable to come back through any opening to me, my presence, the presence of our homes, cars, lands, properties, animals, vehicles, and work places, this day and all the days of my life, in Jesus Christ's Holy Name. Amen.
John 14
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions;[a] if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The Father Revealed
7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
The Answered Prayer
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask[c] anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus Promises Another Helper
15 “If you love Me, keep[d] My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Indwelling of the Father and the Son
19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
The Gift of His Peace
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said,[e] ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
Lord Jesus Christ, I bind and command not to manifest themselves in our possession all evil spirits and their effects, side effects and stings, powerless and harmless, unable to come back through any opening to me, my presence, the presence of our homes, cars, lands, properties, animals, vehicles, and work places, this day and all the days of my life, in Jesus Christ's Holy Name. Amen.
John 14
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions;[a] if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The Father Revealed
7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
The Answered Prayer
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask[c] anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus Promises Another Helper
15 “If you love Me, keep[d] My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Indwelling of the Father and the Son
19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
The Gift of His Peace
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said,[e] ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Speak to Text, Speak to SMS, and Speak to Pix coming soon!
You have phones now that can read your messages to you while you are driving, you can open up application, dictate your next book, but with laws becoming increasingly against driving and sending text messages (SMS/MMS/PIX) why not speak to text. Imagine, this, you are running late for a meeting and the boss is expecting you there and needs your input on the next corporate merger and send you and SMS message. Your phone reads you the message and then you activate voice command: " Please say a command. Open text messaging, send message to Steven Johnson Cellphone, Confirm send message to Steven Johnson cellphone, Steven, i am running late due to traffic, but after review of the file, Smyths finances are not in order, don't close the deal." end message, and send. Your message is then sent to Steven. Now imagine that this is coming to reality soon as we are partaking the steps to patent this....COMING SOON!!!!!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
THIS TOO SHALL PASS!!!
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
Phil 4
Mark 4
TODAY'S MESSAGE:
For the longest time I used to think storm chasers were some of if not the most craziest people on the Earth. I mean, unlike traditional people, you and I, they hunt down, and chase these storms, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters instead of seeking cover. I mean, isn't that the point of an earliy warning system, so you can have to prepare, and plan ahead for what is coming and get out of the way.
Well like you, I thought of it in this way until seeing the movie Twister and actually learning about the eye of a tornado, or twister as they are called in the Midwest. You see like our lives a tornado can reach destructive speeds between 73-261+mph, enough to overturn automobiles and mobile homes, rip off the roofs of houses, and uproot trees, in addition to lifting houses off their foundations and hurling them considerable distances which is what it feeling like when life is coming at you on all sides and one thing after another keeps happening and sometimes the same thing over and over again, as it encompasses and circles around you much like the tornado! We feel that God has for some reason turned his back on us, forsaken us and left us out to die, but this could not be further from the truth.
When we hear the early warning alarm system of life go off we are scrabbling trying everything we can to fix it, or make it right. Relationship not going right, I will leave it and find another, kids getting on your nerves, time to ship them to grandma for a vacation, boss or coworker getting on your nerves, I'll just come in late and leave early so I don't have to deal with them, not realizing that all we are doing is hurting our self in the process. I call it a process because there is something God wants to do for you in that mess!
But we forget just like with the early warning systems, one, sometimes the storm never comes, we can try to predict it with all the latest technologies, radars and trackers, but sometimes it just never comes out right, two, when it does come, you can truly never be prepared for the affects of the storm, i.e. the intensity, the strength, and the magnitude of it. Yeah, we may listen to the forecaster, or meteorologist, " Tomorrow it will be clear skies with a chance of rain on Friday, " and it winds up raining all week so much that you don't even remember what the sun looks like, or better yet, " girl you don't need him, he ain't got no money, you ain't got to be struggling like that, just leave him and it will be better! yeah from the meteorologist that ain't got a spouse, never been married or better yet married five times and looking for husband number six!
This is what Jesus was trying to get across in Mark 4. The disciples were consumed with everything going on around them, so much that they could not think clearly enough to understand. They were questioning their faith, even their God and yet, Jesus was right in the boat with them. You see problems occur in every area of our lives, and we may even have more storms then calm seas, but it is with faith that we are to trust in his word, pray, and press ahead toward the high calling. The Sea of Galilee is about 680 feet below sea level and surrounded by hills and the winds blowing across the land could often cause violent and unexpected storms, and the disciple knew this, after all some were seasoned fishermen and spent most of their adult lives fishing these waters, but just like us, they panicked.
Jesus woke and Peace, be still and the calm fell on the waters and the wind was silent. This is what God is trying to do in our lives, see when the storm comes, we can get so distracted, and in a panic that we can forget what God has taught us along the way in our walk. Jesus is trying to get us to understand that he is still there and just like in the eye of the tornado he wants you to look up to the father and let him give you peace, the peace of the lord that surpasses all understanding (Phil.4:6-7). We can see everyone else going through and dealing with their own storms, and believe that God is in the mist of them but just like the disciples in the boat with Jesus, we tend underestimate his power to handle crises in our lives (Mark4:41). God wants to get you right there in the middle of the storm surrounded with nothing to do but look up. In the middle of the twister when you look up it is such a breath taking sight, the air is clean having been purified from the high winds and clouds of the storm and that is what is happening to you, you are being cleaned, blowing away all the dirt leaving the clear blue sky.
God wants to do a work in you, and getting out the storm is not the answer, instead, today as you find trouble come your way, look to and focus in on God, and may he grant you peace today, Peace be with you all!
Faithful One, so unchanging
Ageless One, You're my Rock of peace
Lord of all, I depend on You
I call out to You, again and again
I call out to You, again and again
You are my Rock in times of trouble
You lift me up when I fall down
All through the storm
Your love is the anchor
My hope is in You alone
-Beni
Phil 4
Mark 4
TODAY'S MESSAGE:
For the longest time I used to think storm chasers were some of if not the most craziest people on the Earth. I mean, unlike traditional people, you and I, they hunt down, and chase these storms, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters instead of seeking cover. I mean, isn't that the point of an earliy warning system, so you can have to prepare, and plan ahead for what is coming and get out of the way.
Well like you, I thought of it in this way until seeing the movie Twister and actually learning about the eye of a tornado, or twister as they are called in the Midwest. You see like our lives a tornado can reach destructive speeds between 73-261+mph, enough to overturn automobiles and mobile homes, rip off the roofs of houses, and uproot trees, in addition to lifting houses off their foundations and hurling them considerable distances which is what it feeling like when life is coming at you on all sides and one thing after another keeps happening and sometimes the same thing over and over again, as it encompasses and circles around you much like the tornado! We feel that God has for some reason turned his back on us, forsaken us and left us out to die, but this could not be further from the truth.
When we hear the early warning alarm system of life go off we are scrabbling trying everything we can to fix it, or make it right. Relationship not going right, I will leave it and find another, kids getting on your nerves, time to ship them to grandma for a vacation, boss or coworker getting on your nerves, I'll just come in late and leave early so I don't have to deal with them, not realizing that all we are doing is hurting our self in the process. I call it a process because there is something God wants to do for you in that mess!
But we forget just like with the early warning systems, one, sometimes the storm never comes, we can try to predict it with all the latest technologies, radars and trackers, but sometimes it just never comes out right, two, when it does come, you can truly never be prepared for the affects of the storm, i.e. the intensity, the strength, and the magnitude of it. Yeah, we may listen to the forecaster, or meteorologist, " Tomorrow it will be clear skies with a chance of rain on Friday, " and it winds up raining all week so much that you don't even remember what the sun looks like, or better yet, " girl you don't need him, he ain't got no money, you ain't got to be struggling like that, just leave him and it will be better! yeah from the meteorologist that ain't got a spouse, never been married or better yet married five times and looking for husband number six!
This is what Jesus was trying to get across in Mark 4. The disciples were consumed with everything going on around them, so much that they could not think clearly enough to understand. They were questioning their faith, even their God and yet, Jesus was right in the boat with them. You see problems occur in every area of our lives, and we may even have more storms then calm seas, but it is with faith that we are to trust in his word, pray, and press ahead toward the high calling. The Sea of Galilee is about 680 feet below sea level and surrounded by hills and the winds blowing across the land could often cause violent and unexpected storms, and the disciple knew this, after all some were seasoned fishermen and spent most of their adult lives fishing these waters, but just like us, they panicked.
Jesus woke and Peace, be still and the calm fell on the waters and the wind was silent. This is what God is trying to do in our lives, see when the storm comes, we can get so distracted, and in a panic that we can forget what God has taught us along the way in our walk. Jesus is trying to get us to understand that he is still there and just like in the eye of the tornado he wants you to look up to the father and let him give you peace, the peace of the lord that surpasses all understanding (Phil.4:6-7). We can see everyone else going through and dealing with their own storms, and believe that God is in the mist of them but just like the disciples in the boat with Jesus, we tend underestimate his power to handle crises in our lives (Mark4:41). God wants to get you right there in the middle of the storm surrounded with nothing to do but look up. In the middle of the twister when you look up it is such a breath taking sight, the air is clean having been purified from the high winds and clouds of the storm and that is what is happening to you, you are being cleaned, blowing away all the dirt leaving the clear blue sky.
God wants to do a work in you, and getting out the storm is not the answer, instead, today as you find trouble come your way, look to and focus in on God, and may he grant you peace today, Peace be with you all!
Faithful One, so unchanging
Ageless One, You're my Rock of peace
Lord of all, I depend on You
I call out to You, again and again
I call out to You, again and again
You are my Rock in times of trouble
You lift me up when I fall down
All through the storm
Your love is the anchor
My hope is in You alone
-Beni
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Trying to bring the “Make It - Take It™”program to Maryland, DC, and VA
We have been going after government funding, grants, and even private funding from groups such as the Open Society Institute, and 21 Century Community Learning Centers Grants. We are trying to bring a program to the Baltimore City area that will help young disadvantaged youth. The program is called the “Make It - Take It™”. This program consist of a four to eight week computer and technologies training at no cost to the students in hope to steer and direct our youth into a technology job market and give them the tools necessary to compete in today's world. The class consists of two sessions, each one lasting two to four weeks.
The first session covers basic computing concepts and computing terminology. From there, we move into software applications. The goal is for the students to gain familiarity with mainstream software applications while developing “real world” skills. For example, when we cover Microsoft Word, students will create a resume for themselves. In the Power Point class, we will use the scenario that each student is the owner of a manufacturing company. They decide on the product and the target customer base and then create a presentation to market the product.
The second session is designed to give the student hands on experience with computer hardware. A lab environment is created with a computer workstation for each student. During this time, the students will remove each component of the computer, and learn how they interact to form a working unit. Once the computers are disassembled and the students have gained an understanding of the individual components, they begin the process of reassembling the computer. The technical problems that are inherent to the process provide the students with real world troubleshooting skills. Once the system is reassembled, the students then introduce new hardware and software to the system.
Upon completion of the program, students will then graduate with a certificate of achievement, along with getting to keep their computer and a year free internet access. Additional classes covering more advanced topics will be offered to each graduating student of the “Make It - Take It™” program. In addition, those students receiving advanced training will have the opportunity to return in the capacity of “student mentor.”
To bring this program to Baltimore requires a lot of support and with the current market, it seems that agencies are trying to hold on to what little they have. We are looking to partner with The Institute for the Study of Digital Inclusion who has helped to bring this program to life in Florida, and other areas in hopes of bringing it to Baltimore, Washington DC, and Virginia. Please if you have any advice, or can point us in the right direction to get funding, and resources for this, we would be eternally grateful.
Below is a sample of the Curriculum:
Week 1– Nuts and Bolts Taking the computer apart and putting it back together; identifying components
Week 2 – Installing OS Since installing the OS may take some time, use this time to cover such topics as Bits and Bytes, Care and Safety
Week 3 – Office Applications Install software; Review Basic File Operations; Using Basic Software Applications; Atomic Learning is a great resource for software application tutorials.
Week 4 – Installing Updates Install necessary updates; use extra time to introduce Internet safety using resource documents
Week 5 – Anti Virus Programs Install Antivirus using freeware; use extra time to introduce Internet safety using resource documents or cover additional information about software applications
Week 6 – Internet Safety Invite a guest speaker; Media Specialists are a great resource for this information; use iSafe information
Week 7- Netiquette: Proper behavior on the Internet; accepted rules of behavior to follow when you're online; common acronyms
Week 8 - Graduation Pass out diplomas; host small party; parents attend and assign kids take computers home
The first session covers basic computing concepts and computing terminology. From there, we move into software applications. The goal is for the students to gain familiarity with mainstream software applications while developing “real world” skills. For example, when we cover Microsoft Word, students will create a resume for themselves. In the Power Point class, we will use the scenario that each student is the owner of a manufacturing company. They decide on the product and the target customer base and then create a presentation to market the product.
The second session is designed to give the student hands on experience with computer hardware. A lab environment is created with a computer workstation for each student. During this time, the students will remove each component of the computer, and learn how they interact to form a working unit. Once the computers are disassembled and the students have gained an understanding of the individual components, they begin the process of reassembling the computer. The technical problems that are inherent to the process provide the students with real world troubleshooting skills. Once the system is reassembled, the students then introduce new hardware and software to the system.
Upon completion of the program, students will then graduate with a certificate of achievement, along with getting to keep their computer and a year free internet access. Additional classes covering more advanced topics will be offered to each graduating student of the “Make It - Take It™” program. In addition, those students receiving advanced training will have the opportunity to return in the capacity of “student mentor.”
To bring this program to Baltimore requires a lot of support and with the current market, it seems that agencies are trying to hold on to what little they have. We are looking to partner with The Institute for the Study of Digital Inclusion who has helped to bring this program to life in Florida, and other areas in hopes of bringing it to Baltimore, Washington DC, and Virginia. Please if you have any advice, or can point us in the right direction to get funding, and resources for this, we would be eternally grateful.
Below is a sample of the Curriculum:
Week 1– Nuts and Bolts Taking the computer apart and putting it back together; identifying components
Week 2 – Installing OS Since installing the OS may take some time, use this time to cover such topics as Bits and Bytes, Care and Safety
Week 3 – Office Applications Install software; Review Basic File Operations; Using Basic Software Applications; Atomic Learning is a great resource for software application tutorials.
Week 4 – Installing Updates Install necessary updates; use extra time to introduce Internet safety using resource documents
Week 5 – Anti Virus Programs Install Antivirus using freeware; use extra time to introduce Internet safety using resource documents or cover additional information about software applications
Week 6 – Internet Safety Invite a guest speaker; Media Specialists are a great resource for this information; use iSafe information
Week 7- Netiquette: Proper behavior on the Internet; accepted rules of behavior to follow when you're online; common acronyms
Week 8 - Graduation Pass out diplomas; host small party; parents attend and assign kids take computers home
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