WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DEFIANCE - 04/26/17 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"He was going to stab me, so I had to push it...they came because we weren't supposed to be out there demonstrating...then this guy started coming toward me. I thought. "He's got to be crazy." And I don't even know why I pushed the gun, but I know I was furious at the time." - Gloria Richardson, Leader The Cambridge Maryland Civil Rights Movement -
Southern Non-Violent Coordinating Committee

DEFIANCE means open resistance and bold disobedience. It's a Middle English term that denotes the renunciation of an allegiance or friendship. DEFY means to openly resist or refuse to obey; to make an action or quality almost impossible; to appear to be challenging someone or something; a challenge to combat. The derivative Old French desifier - means dis-faithful. Defiance is a behavior that followers of God and Jesus must at times invoke, especially on the grounds of unjust laws and statutes, or in questions of worship, where our allegiance to Christ is threatened. 

This morning I woke up with the phrase, "Pray through the window." This brought to mind the prophet Daniel. We remember that God delivered him from the mouths of lions, but do we recall why he was in the den in the first place? Daniel 6 says that "Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom." (vs 3) The other leaders were so jealous they sought to find a charge against him, but could find no corruption in him "because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." (vs. 4) They said to themselves, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of His God."  (vs. 6) So as a group they influenced king Darius to set out a decree,  "that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions' den."
 
Daniel did not go into his 'secret closet' to defy this law.  He opened his window THREE times a DAY, got on his knees and prayed to JEHOVAH.  When the king realized what he'd done, he was greatly distressed and tried all day to figure out how to save Daniel. He could not because his decrees were irreversible. (vs. 14-15) So he said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" and the rest as they say, is HIS- story! The next day the king found Daniel alive and well, "My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty." The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God." (vs. 22-23) The LORD shut the mouths of ALL the lions that were after Daniel...not just physical ones.

 "At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones." Then King Darius issued another decree inspiring all of his subjects to worship to the True and Living God, "that in every part of my kingdom people must fear the God of Daniel." So the defiant Daniel prospered throughout the entire reign of king Darius. I don't know who I'm writing this for, but sometimes you need to pray through the window because defiance is what's called for.  We are to SUBMIT to God and RESIST the devil and he will flee." (James 4:7) When Peter and the apostles were given strict orders by the religious officials not to teach in Jesus' name, they defiantly replied, "We must obey God rather than man." (Acts 5:29)

WEDNESDAY'S WORD ON THURSDAY - JOIE DE VIVRE - Sadell Bradley 04/20/17 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"In France we have a saying, 'Joie de vivre,' which actually doesn't exist in the English language. It means looking at your life as something that is to be taken with great pleasure and enjoy it." - Mireille Guiliano

On Tuesday night MORTAR, the small business incubator where I work, celebrated the graduation of its 8th and 9th class. It was blissful to see great entrepreneurs taking the next step in achieving their dreams. I was on such a cloud, I didn't remember that Wednesday had passed until last night, lol! One thing I love about my job is that my co-workers, who are all younger than I, have such JOIE DE VIVRE - literally, 'the joy of living' or exuberant enjoyment of life. This describes the environment at MORTAR, but does it depict our own quality of life? or are we bogged down by trials and misery?
 

This Saturday, at 10:00 am, I'll be hosting a Women's Breakfast. The topic will be, "Say Hello to Joy"  REGISTER HERE  According to the Mayo Clinic, "Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression."  There are times in women's lives that can trigger melancholy, hopelessness, or despair. No matter our gender, circumstances attempt to rob us of the JOY Jesus Christ came to give us. He told His disciples, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]." (John 10:10, AMP) Does that characterize your life? Joy is to be a fruit of God's Spirit within you. (Gal. 5:22)

Sometimes we're so busy 'adulting' that we've forgotten how to be joyful. If that's you, you're missing out on one of the awesome benefits of being in the Kingdom. Jesus said, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 18:3) Joy and celebration are a huge part of who we are. Why? Our sins have been forgiven at the Cross. We've received mercy and not the penalty that we deserved. We now have a renewed friendship relationship with God our Father, and a family in the faith (2 Cor. 5). We're going to Heaven at death (John 3:16) and we can LIVE in His presence where there is FULLNESS of JOY (Psalm 16:11) The JOY of the LORD is an access point of strength, (Nehemiah 8:10) and we can dip in to it over and over again. Paul wrote "REJOICE in the LORD ALWAYS, and again I say, REJOICE!" (Phil. 4:4) So, if you've been down, JOY again!

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - MASTERPIECE - Sadell Bradley - 04/12/17 - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"A masterpiece doesn't push you around. It lets you make up your own mind about what it means - and change it as often as you like." - Terry Teachout

 

These days if you say someone's "a piece of work," it's not a compliment, Lol! But when the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, saying they were God's workmanship in Ephesians 2:10, he was celebrating the degree of skill it took to for God to create us. Really, he was calling us God's MASTERPIECE- a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship; an artist's or craftsman's BEST piece of work.  Historically, a masterpiece made by a craftsman was accepted as qualification for membership in a guild as an acknowledged master. Or God, Elohim the Creator, is called THE MASTER not only because He rules and reigns over everything, but because He's made trillions of exceptional works that can be acknowledged by ALL.

We are so critical of ourselves and others nowadays, that it makes it difficult for us to realize that we're God's masterpiece. We are His cherished creation and His prized possession. When God created the heavens and the earth and then added mankind, He declared it, "very good!" (Gen. 1:31)  When He made us new creatures in His Son Christ Jesus, one Body and one new humanity, He said, "Now these folks are my own MASTERPIECE!" I hope you'll recall that you're made in God's image today!

We're not just beautiful china only for special occasions. Paul describes us, after we have gone through the process of sanctification, as vessels of honor. We are fit or useful to the Master, and we've been prepared for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20) Did you realize that there are specific things that God has called you to do? Maybe some of them haven't happened yet because you're not fully prepared...but the word FOREORDAINED means something is appointed or decreed beforehand.  God has prepared some works for you to do in advance of your birth. That doesn't have to be a stressful proposition. Sometimes they're stirring deep within us and we have a bad case of the 'can't help its' until they're done. Often, we're just going about our daily lives and run into situations and connects that are Divinely appointed...but we didn't know that until after they happened. God knows our true potential. He sees exactly where His masterpieces should be framed, hung, moved or used. As we say yes and yield to Him, He'll get us there.

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DECISIVE - Sadell Bradley - 04/05/17 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"It is better to be boldly decisive and risk being wrong than to agonize at length and be right too late." - Marilyn Moats Kennedy

I'm embarking on the New York Times bestselling book, Decisive - "How to make better choices in life and work," by Chip and Dan Heath. I'm excited because decisiveness has not always been my strong suit.  I make decisions all the time in many contexts. Usually they're good thank God. Most would probably call me a decisive person. However, when it comes to large life altering decisions, I procrastinate. My Strengths-Finder gift of what they term 'intellection' makes me overthink. Or, I've had a "Que serah, serah. Whatever will be will be," disposition, which only works sometimes. DECISIVE means settling an issue, or producing a definite result, one who has the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.

God warned the Israelites before they entered the promised land, to be decisive about following Him wholeheartedly and not straying to other gods. "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life so that you and your descendants will live!"  On the brink of entry, Joshua reiterated, "choose today whom you will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)

Why is it so hard for some of us to be decisive? especially when we know the decision could have life altering consequences. Earlier this year, I wrote about the millennial phenomenon FOMO - Fear of Missing Out.  Certainly fear is a great part of the reason. For many it's just the fear of being wrong: in timing, direction or relationship. When dealing with a situation over which we've long procrastinated, we may wonder "What difference does it make if I'm decisive about it now? It's been lingering so long." All of us have at times been indecisive about God's instructions...but that's really rebellion. Someone needs to just make a decision today.

As we approach Palm Sunday, I'm always struck by Jesus' decisiveness in the most difficult situation ever known.  He comes into Jerusalem on the new colt. Everyone is worshiping Him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!" and laying their cloaks and palm branches at His feet. (Matthew 21:1-11) All of this pageantry and spectacle came as a result of a decision Jesus had made long before.  He decided to redeem mankind of our sin and wrongdoing through the shedding of His blood at Calvary. The decision had been made, but it was hard, even for Jesus to follow through with it. At the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed that God would somehow let the cup of suffering pass from Him. (Matthew 26:39) Though he could have called legions of angels to save Him when the guards took Him away, He did not. (Matthew 26:53) At any time, even on the Cross itself, He could have halted the whole process. It didn't matter, He knew what He was to do. As the song says, "He would not come down from the Cross just to save Himself. He decided to die just to save (you) and me." Sometimes we have to be decisive, even when it costs us.

SUNDAY Worship 11:00 AM Worship The Great Room Sunday Class 9:30 AM Youth Room Basement at Wyoming Presbyterian 225 Wyoming Ave., 45215 For information 513-212-1131