WEDNESDAY'S WORD - IMMANUEL - Sadell Bradley - 12/25/2024

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD IMMANUEL 12/25/2024 "By the light of nature we see God as a God above us, by the light of the law we see Him as a God against us, but by the light of the gospel we see Him as Immanuel, God with us." — Matthew Henry, Theologian        IMMANUEL (or Emmanuel) is the name given to Jesus Christ as the deliverer or Messiah of Judah—and ultimately the Savior of the world. Biblical names had meaning. When you said or heard a person's name, you got a glimpse into their life, character, or prophetic impact. The name Jesus means Savior. The name Christ or Messiah means anointed or empowered. That means Jesus Christ is the One who has been anointed or empowered by God the Father to save us from our sins. The name Immanuel means God with us. Isaiah prophesied that Jesus, the Jewish Messiah and King, would come as a sign that God would protect the monarchy of the house of David: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14) In Matthew 1:18-25, the apostle gives his account of the incarnation—which means God the Son coming in bodily form as Jesus, the Christ. He did not come into the world without controversy. His coming was rather scandalous: 18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Though Jewish people had heard Isaiah's prophecy for hundreds of years; I can imagine it was startling and unbelievable to Joseph (and Mary for that matter) that they were the ones chosen to naturally parent the Christ-child. The immaculate conception was one of over 300 prophecies Jesus fulfilled proving that He was the Messiah. Matthew refers back to Isaiah: 22So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. Amidst the hustle and bustle, opening gifts, celebrations and food...let's remember that Jesus Christ the Savior is Immanuel, God with us. Though his birth was more likely in a warmer season, let's not forget that He is and will always be the reason.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - CONTRADICTION- Sadell Bradley- 12/18/2024

WEDNESDAY'S WORD CONTRADICTION 12/18/2024  “Don't involve yourself too much in your early writing. I don't mind contradicting myself. If you don't contradict yourself, you won't grow.”— Nikki Giovanni, American Poet       On December 10, 2024, acclaimed poet and Civil Rights Activist Nikki Giovanni passed away at age 81. Giovanni, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, was a professor at Virginia Tech University. Her poems, books, television appearances, and advocacy spanned decades. Giovanni is being honored in her hometown and around the world with memorials of her storied and impactful life. Her quote above talks about CONTRADICTION—defined as a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another; a person, thing, or situation in which inconsistent elements are present; or the statement of a position opposite to one already made. She refers to the latter by stating that growth and maturity automatically bring contradiction. What you stood adamantly for in your youth, might gradually or even drastically change over time. I think about sermons I preached 25 years ago. Though I still have notes from some, it is unlikely that I will ever preach them the same way...because my understanding has deepened, and some of my ideas have transformed. "My life is such a contradiction. My soul yearns for holiness then runs from the mortification (death to self) necessary to attain it."—Mother Angelica, Catholic Nun I get where Mother Angelica is coming from, don't you? In Romans 7:14-17 (NLT), Paul explained this all too familiar contradiction that ALL of us face—even the Apostle who wrote much of the New Testament. Paul discovered, though he was a scholar of Mosaic Law—that keeping all of God's precepts as a sinful human was unattainable. That is why we need God's forgiveness through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ at the Cross of Calvary. There is nothing wrong with God's standards...we iniquitous humans just can't entirely fulfill them: 14So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I'm wondering if, like Paul...you've struggled with your flesh warring against God's Spirit within you. In Galatians 5:16-17, Paul admonishes us, 16So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. (walk in the Spirit) Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Paul was clear about this type of spiritual warfare. He continues in Romans 7: 19I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 21I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22I love God’s law with all my heart. 23But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. We really love Jesus, but we beat ourselves up for not immediately changing, growing, or fixing the areas that miss the mark of God's holiness (that's what harmartia, the Greek word for sin means). Paul became so frustrated with his struggle toward holiness, sanctification (setting himself apart), and sinless/perfection (maturity). that he called himself names. Have you been disgusted with your lack of consecration toward the things of God? Paul wrote, 24Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord... (Romans 7:19-25a)

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - PLAN- Sadell Bradley -12/11/2024

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD PLAN 12/11/2024 “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” — General George S. Patton     "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."—Mike Tyson Actually, after his 1987 fight with Tyrell Biggs, the boxer said, "Everyone has plans until they get hit for the first time." You get the gist if you've ever had an aim, goal, or intention that was suddenly derailed. It feels like a gut punch, and it's very difficult to recover. Some do not rebound. A PLAN is a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something. It is also an intention or decision about what one is going to do. A plan can be a detailed map, diagram, or spreadsheet. A plan can facilitate regular payments of contributions toward savings, a pension, or retirement. Whatever the case, plans are decided upon and arranged in advance. A 'plan of action' is an organized program of measures to be taken in order to achieve a goal. The phrase things "go according to plan" means that they happen as one has arranged or intended. Scottish poet Robert Burns' "To a Mouse" says "‘the best-laid plans o' mice an' men gang aft agley" (go wrong or awry). In the poem, a mouse was preparing for winter and Burns mistakenly plowed into its nest in the field. This colloquialism is used to suggest that even the most careful planning doesn't necessarily ensure success. We've all experienced that. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21, ESV) Filmmaker Woody Allen once said, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans." Christians often quote Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." However at times we do not consider how or if our plans: agree with, intersect with, or conflict with God's purpose for our lives. Solomon writes, "A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the LORD directs his steps and establishes them." (Proverbs 16:9, AMP) Even if we have goals, ideas, aspirations, and ambitions, they must be surrendered to the LORD. Solomon says,"Commit your works to the LORD [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance]." (Proverbs 16:3, AMP) Whether we use a digital Weekly Planner or a hand-written To Do List, the apostle James warns us about being presumptuous in our plans by leaving God out of them: 13Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. 17Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:13-17, NLT) 2025 is on the horizon. This month, many of us are evaluating 2024. We're trying to finish out our goals and plan for next year. Let's remember to prayerfully submit our thoughts and plans to the LORD, seeking His will and purpose.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - SIESTA - Sadell Bradley -12/04/2024

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD SIESTA 12/04/2024   “The siesta provides a delightful detour from the working day and it also has a practical value as far as productivity is concerned. Winston Churchill had a good long siesta every day during the Second World War, and he said it was the thing that enabled him to cope with the pressure.” —Tom Hodgkinson, British Writer         "When the going gets tough, the tough take a nap."—Tom Hodgkinson Tom Hodgkinson is a British writer who, since 1993 has been editor of a magazine called, "The Idler—literature for loafers." He is a proponent of the idea that idling can make for a more productive life. Hodgkinson writes: "A characteristic of the idler's work is that it looks suspiciously like play. This, again, makes the non-idler feel uncomfortable. Victims of the Protestant work ethic would like all work to be unpleasant. They feel that work is a curse, that we must suffer on this earth to earn our place in the next. The idler, on the other hand, sees no reason not to use their brain to organize a life for themselves where their play is their work, and so attempt to create their own little paradise in the here and now." King Solomon wrote,"So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die." (Ecc. 3:22)  Tom Hodgkinson is not anti-work nor pro-laziness; he is an advocate for crafting an enjoyable life. Above, Hodgkinson suggests that English Prime Minister Winston Churchill napped as a way to cope with the pressures of his job. Among other things, Churchill lead Great Britain through World War 2. He was a strong advocate of napping. He believed his 2-hour naps were essential for maintaining mental balance, renewing his energy, and reviving his spirits. A SIESTA is an afternoon rest or nap, especially one taken during the hottest hours of the day in a hot climate. Siesta is a Spanish word derived from the Latin sexta (hora) ‘sixth hour,' which in the Bible would have been around noon. In Spain, Italy, and other Mediterranean countries, the time frame for a Siesta is from 2-5pm. People swear by this break in the day. We even call them "power naps" because of their rejuvenating properties. The siesta habit has been associated with a 37 percent reduction in coronary mortality, possibly due to reduced cardiovascular stress mediated by daytime sleep. In Psalm 23:2-3, king David says of the LORD, His Shepherd..."He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul, He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." Philip Keller, in his book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 shares why the Shepherd has to constrain sheep to rest. The strange thing about sheep is that because of their very makeup it is almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless four requirements are met: Owing to their timidity they refuse to lie down unless they are free of all fear. Because of the social behavior within a flock, sheep will not lie down unless they are free from friction with others of their kind. If tormented by flies or parasites, sheep will not lie down. Only when free of these pests can they relax. Lastly, sheep will not lie down as long as they feel in need of finding food. They must be free from hunger. Are the conditions above costing you rest and sleep? Maybe you don't have actual flies..but something has been 'bugging' you. Has the LORD ever led you into a time of rest? Have you run yourself ragged and refused to stop and take a much needed spiritual or natural Siesta? David said, I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - CIRCUMSTANCE - Sadell Bradley - 11/27/2024

WEDNESDAY'S WORD CIRCUMSTANCE 11/27/2024   “I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance, but by our disposition." —Martha Washington, American First Lady   "The most important lesson I have learned is to trust God in every circumstance. Lots of times we go through different trials, and following God's plan seems like it doesn't make any sense at all. God is always in control and He will never leave us."—Allyson Felix - American Athlete Allyson Felix is the most decorated track and field athlete in history. Now retired with a record 20 World Championship medals and 11 Olympic medals - including seven golds - she ranks among the sport's greats. Over those years Felix has overcome a plethora of injuries and obstacles, yet she has still emerged a winner. In 2018-19, during her 32nd-week pregnancy checkup, doctors discovered that Felix had developed pre-eclampsia, a condition that is disproportionately prevalent in African-American women and is marked by high blood pressure along with potentially harmful childbirth effects. With the baby's heart rate steadily decreasing, Felix had to deliver her premature daughter via emergency C-section within 48 hours. After the scare, Felix became a healthcare maternity advocate. Felix's longtime sponsor Nike refused to guarantee salary protections for her and other female athletes in the months following pregnancy. They planned to cut her funding by 70%. Following the public controversy, Nike altered their maternal policy in August 2019, promising to not apply any performance-related salary reductions for 18 consecutive months, and not to terminate female athletes if they chose not to race during pregnancy. Not only did Felix deliver a healthy baby girl, win the battle with Nike, and continue to sprint at a high level; she also rebounded financially by becoming a spokesperson for Gap, Inc.'s Athleta brand. Negative circumstances did not deter Allyson Felix—they empowered her. A CIRCUMSTANCE is an event or fact that causes or helps to cause something to happen, typically something undesirable.     Paul told the Church in Thessalonica (modern day Macedonia in Greece): "In every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, AMP) So often, people ask, "What is God's will for me?" I've rarely, if ever, heard a leader reply..."The LORD's will is for you to thank Him in and through your circumstances." Paul admonished the Church in Philippi: Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. (Philippians 4:6-7, AMP) To the Colossian Church, Paul wrote: Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]. (Colossians 3:15, AMP) Praying you find grace to thank the LORD no matter your circumstance this holiday season.