WEDNESDAY'S WORD - BLESSINGS - Sadell Bradley - 11/23/17 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward   I remember the old church song we used to sing, "Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done."  That is one of the joys of Thanksgiving. We get to count our blessings, not our problems. Unfortunately, the busyness of the Holiday Season, the somewhat gloomy change in the weather, the arduous travel, and for some - strained relationships with families, can cause us to be distracted from giving the LORD thanks. The practice of appreciation, especially to God, is a spiritual discipline. We don't ever have to worry if expressing gratitude is out of God's will. "In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) It's amazing how quickly worry and anxiety can overtake your thought life - even during Thanksgiving season.  We are so used to inwardly rehearsing, outwardly expressing, or somehow attempting to insulate ourselves from what's wrong; that it's difficult sometimes to embrace that so much is going right. In fact, we often fail to recognize just how blessed we are until we encounter someone worse off than we are. Philippians 4: 4-9 instructs us not to be anxious about anything, to pray about everything, and to concentrate on what's true, honorable, virtuous, lovely and of good report. Thanksgiving should become a life practice. Singer/Songwriter Willie Nelson, whose life has taken may turns said, "When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." So check your discontentment at the door. There is too much to be thankful for. The connection between contentment and gratitude is compelling. Is what's wrong in your life as bad as you're making it? Are you enlarging your difficulties or taking on the problems of others? Have you become enslaved by a consumer culture where we are duped into thinking there is never enough, and we're not enough unless we have...X? Tomorrow: after we eat the kind of gluttonous dinner which many around the world would only dream of, and after watching parades and millionaires run after some kind of ball; many of us will still get up at 3:00 in the morning and fight for TV's and other 'sale' items we believe we can't do without. Maybe a valuable change of pace would be to invest more time than just the prayer before dinner to thank God and count our blessings.

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 - REPAY - 11/15/17 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Men are more willing to repay an injury than a benefit because gratitude is a burden and revenge a pleasure." - Tacticus   Have you ever loaned someone money and it took them longer than agreed upon to REPAY?  How did you feel? What kind of straits did their lack of ability to pay back the loan, debt or sum of money, have on your life and your relationship? Was it awkward when you saw them? If you owed the money, did you feel a sense of guilt and shame? The Bible says, "The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers." (Psalm 37:21, NLT) Lending money to someone causes an awkward master/slave relationship, even among friends because ...the borrower is servant to the lender. (Prov. 22:7) Repaying, or being repaid brings freedom to both parties to get past the debt and restore right relationship.  Sometimes we want payback for something  horrible that has been done to us, or for something that should have happened but didn't.  The Bible calls that RECOMPENSE. It means to make amends to someone for a loss or harm suffered; to compensate. The fact that you're owed something, particularly if everyone around you knows it, can bring as much shame as being in debt. You, your family and your friends are all looking to see when things are going to turn around. When will you get what you're owed? The wait can be tormenting, and sometimes we want to take matters into our own hands. It's good to know that God has a repayment plan! He commands us, "Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written: "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord." (Romans 12:19) When you've been waiting for any kind of debt to be repaid, one of the collateral losses is time. The time you spent depressed. The time regretting dreams you could have accomplished. The time missed with loved ones. It doesn't matter that the LORD may have initiated the loss, or that He can turn things for good (Rom 8:28). We think time cannot be repaid, but GOD COLLAPSES TIME and redeems it for His glory! In Joel 2, God proclaimed a judgment over Israel that would cause them to lose the land's harvest via devouring swarms of locusts. The devastation would cause them to turn back to Him in repentance and cry out for Him to relent and send a blessing. When they did, He replied with compassion and a declaration of restoration, including the comforting statement, "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten...You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed." (vs. 25-26) If you've lost years, look forward to God's repayment! God holds our times in His hands!

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 - YES- Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Never say 'no' to adventures. Always say 'yes,' otherwise you'll lead a very dull life."    -Ian Fleming  YES is a simple word that holds a lot of power. YES is an affirmative response."Do you understand?" "Yes."  YES can express agreement with a positive statement, "Wasn't it a great event?" "Yes, it was." Or it can contradict a negative statement, "You didn't want to go out to dinner." "Yes, I did." We use YES when someone wants to attract our attention, or to encourage people to continue speaking. We use YES to express delight, to commit ourselves to projects, to people, "She said, YES!" and to GOD. YES is an affirmative answer in decision making. We used to sing a song, "My soul says, Yes! Yes! Yes! my LORD. My soul says Yes! Yes! Yes!" indicating surrender to God's will.  The African-American Church of God in Christ denomination has an anthem that just says, "YES!" Life is crazy these days. We hear a lot about saying no, setting boundaries and protecting our time. It's because we've cut checks we couldn't cash, and made promises we didn't keep that we're leery of saying 'YES.' Jesus told His disciples when making vows not to swear by Heaven, earth, or even their own heads. "All you need to say is simply "Yes' or 'No;' anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matt. 5:37) In Luke 14:25-34, we're told that discipleship is like constructing a building. No one should follow Jesus without first counting the cost because that 'YES' is expensive! Your 'YES' to God supersedes relationships with family and friends (you have to love them less than God). It also involves being willing to carry the cross of suffering to be salt and light in the world. A complete 'YES' to God is valuable and should not be given lightly. Try saying 'Yes,' then say, 'No.' Don't you find that the atmosphere of those two words isn't the same? Pastor William McDowell said, "The thing about saying 'YES' to God is that you're saying 'YES' to an unknown future." You're agreeing without knowing exactly what you're saying 'YES' to. You're announcing, "Whatever happens after this, I'm going to commit to the 'YES' I said to God." Mary said her YES, "Be it unto me according to your word." (Luke 1:38) The disciples' 'YES' didn't have any words. They just pulled over their boats, left their families and businesses, and followed Jesus. (Luke 5:11) When they said 'YES,' they didn't know the marvels and wonders they would see, nor the guilt associated with betraying Him. Their 'YES' would open the door to the Holy Spirit's miraculous power inside them to heal others. Their 'YES' would catapult their world-wide mission. Their 'YES' would ultimately lead to persecution, stripes, imprisonment and martyrdom. Their 'YES' would make them some of the greatest men the world has ever known.       In prayer, we were given an invitation to say an unrestricted, 'YES' to God. In that, we release outcomes, timing, our plans, and intentions to Him in surrender. A complete 'YES' doesn't just require faith. It requires trust in God's ways and in His love for us. It can be simultaneously the most frightening, yet most freeing thing we can do. When we say 'YES' to God, it opens the way for Him to return with His Divine 'YES' over our lives. "For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory." (2 Corinthians 1:20) Will you say 'YES' to God today?

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 - PERMANENT - Sadell Bradley -11/02/17 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Sometimes I bust out and do things so permanent. Like tattoos and marriage."    -Drew Barrymore - Actress  On Monday, Sherman and I had the privilege of being guests on Allen and Kyla Woods' Permanent Plus One podcast. When you RSVP to an invitation, the card asks if you'll be attending singly or with a 'plus one.' The show's premise is that marriage is to be celebrated! and your spouse is your "Permanent" plus one. The Woods', who've been married for 6 years, invite couples who've been married longer to share, "Why marriage is so dope."  (that means great ; ) Our Episode, # 9 posts sometime later today. Nowadays, a positive concept of marriage and it's permanency is sadly, rare. Hebrews 13:4 instructs, "Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be un-defiled (kept un-dishonored); for God will judge and punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous." Sometimes it's uncomfortable for married couples to celebrate their unions because we want to be sensitive to those who are single; but there's good reason for the festivities! Marriage definitely has seasons of difficulty, but it also yields deep joy and satisfaction. We're sharing the intimacy and security of being with one love permanently. Who can forget the movie,"The Notebook," where protagonist Noah repeatedly retells the beautiful story of their lifetime of love to his sweetheart Allie, who suffers dementia and lives in a nursing home. They eventually die together in each other's arms. One of the strongest and most comforting promises God gives ALL of us is, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) This verse is after the one on marriage. The King James Version says, "Keep your conversation (meaning conduct) free of covetousness (wanting something that belongs to someone else), and be content with what you have." In a world with so many options, the married person is forever devoted to the ONE they've chosen. The mystery of marriage is a sharpening tool God uses to work selfishness, greed, envy and covetousness out of us. It reveals, then builds into us the kind of unconditional, sacrificial love Christ had for His Church, and the reverence his Bride is to have for Him. (Ephesians 5:21-33) That passage will stretch even the most 'spiritual' of us.    PERMANENT means lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely; or lasting or continuing without interruption. The Latin derivation means 'remaining through to the end.'  Marital storms test the durability of our intent to remain committed to our promise. There are not many things we can claim are or should be permanent, but marriage is one of them. That's why these marriage vows are so incredibly powerful when believed and lived out: "I_______ take thee________to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, and forsaking all others, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth." (I pledge to you, my faithfulness).

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 - SHELTER - 10/25/17 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"When the storms of life come, if they come to me personally, to my family or to the world, I want to be strong enough to stand and be strength to somebody else, be shelter for somebody else." -  Anne Graham Lotz  In April, 2014, a tornado hit the city of Vilonia, Arkansas, destroying everything in its path. One Vilonia family escaped without injury even though their house was blown apart. Nick Havens, his wife and three children survived because his in-laws had a small metal safe room installed in the garage. The Havens could hear the sound of splintering wood and crumbling bricks as the tornado hit. They thought the "Family SAFE" shelter was going to take off at any minute, but it held. Though they lost everything around them, they are alive to tell the story.  A SHELTER - is a place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger; a shielded or safe condition; protection. Vernon John Charlesworth a Baptist minister, was the Headmaster of the Spurgeon Stockwell orphanage. It was a unique concept: a large set of homes designed to provide children a family-like setting with free housing, food, education and care. A widow of another minister donated the land and a sum of money to shelter the children. Charlesworth, a hymn writer, penned these lyrics that also became popular among fishermen who had to face frequent storms in the Northeast: "The LORD'S our Rock, in Him we hide. A Shelter in the time of storm. Secure whatever ill betide, a Shelter in the time of storm.  A shade by day, defense by night, a Shelter in the time of storm. No fears alarm, no foes afright, a Shelter in the time of storm.  The raging storms my round us beat, a Shelter in the time of storm. We'll never leave our safe retreat, a Shelter in the time of storm. Oh, Rock Divine, oh Refuge dear, a Shelter in the time of storm. Be thou our Helper, ever near, a Shelter in the time of storm. Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land...a Shelter in the time of storm."  I love the capitalization of the word Shelter, signifying the name, reputation or character of God!   Psalm 91 reiterates this assuring Truth. I can't say it any better, so I'll just leave it here for your consideration, meditation and comfort: "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night,nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you say, "The Lord is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.11 For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation." Be encouraged! Like the Haven's family, we can hide in the cleft of the Rock when the storms of life are raging and find shelter under God's protective care!

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 - INTROSPECTION - 10/18/17 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"To thrive, all businesses must focus on the art of self-disruption. Rather than wait for the competition to steal your business, every founder and employee needs to be willing to cannibalize their existing revenue streams in order to create new ones. All disruption starts with introspection." -

Jay Samit - Vice President Deloitte Digital   

INTROSPECTION is the examination or observation of one's own mental or emotional processes. The Latin introspectare means 'to keep looking into."  Introspection surveys our thoughts and feelings for their hidden roots. Colloquial synonyms like naval-gazing and soul-searching describe a practice that too many of us avoid, but would be valuable for us all to embrace whether in our personal or professional lives. Contemplative meditation, particularly to test our assumptions, can help us destroy erroneous falsehoods we've believed, or practices that have not been beneficial. Self-examination can be a powerful tool toward change. Sometimes an unsettling monkey wrench NEEDS to be thrown into the way we're used to relating with others, perceiving life's situations, and going about our business...that is, IF we want to thrive and prosper.  Years ago, some bad experiences made my light bulb come on regarding the joke in this meme.

 

Paul made several statements about the need for self-examination. When Christians are taking the sacrament of communion, "Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup." (1 Corinthians 11:28) We're to make sure that we're not taking the Body and Blood of Christ frivolously, with contempt, or in an unworthy manner. We're to ensure that there aren't divisions among us; that we're discerning both the relational and spiritual Body of Christ. To give the Lord's Supper due reverence and appreciation of it's power and meaning requires introspection. Failure to do so, invites God's judgment.

The same introspection is required as we live out the holy lifestyle that accompanies our salvation. Paul's apostolic call included meting out correction and restoration when persons under his care were overtaken in faults. (Galatians 6:1) There were some in Corinth whom he had warned a few times to stop sinning. Their habitual and deliberate actions brought him to question the genuineness of their conversion and the seriousness with which they regarded his spiritual authority. He warned, "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith." (2 Cor. 13:5) 

The first course of action in these instances was NOT for others, even the leader, to jump in and make judgments - but to allow individuals the opportunity for introspection. The power of the Holy Spirit to convict people of sin and convince them of righteous behavior and judgment is still operative (John 16:8). We can be so quick to try to do His job for Him.  He is also the one, through self-examination that helps us keep our own consciences clear. Inter-personal conflicts, difficult situations, and emotional decisions open the doors for introspection. They're wide open doors for transformation, if we're not too afraid to open up and see what's really inside! 

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 - PERILOUS - 10/04/17 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"To act coolly, intelligently and prudently in perilous circumstances is the test of a man - and also a nation." - Adlai E. Stevenson The words above were spoken by a former politician and US Ambassador to the United Nations, who took a shrewd stand in the midst of the Cold War between America and Russia. Senator Joseph McCarthy, some believe in order to salvage his political career, leveraged the tensions between the nations. He went on a now infamous rampage accusing various individuals, celebrities and politicians (including Stevenson), of having Communist ties and being, "Enemies from within." In 'McCarthyism'  many were blacklisted and lost jobs who were eventually found not to be Communist. At the time, Adlai Stevenson held that the nation was being duped and overreacted to McCarthy's charges, and citizens were losing their freedoms, liberty and human rights. For this stance he lost several elections. This was a PERILOUS time in US history, and it seems we may be entering another. PERILOUS means full of danger or risk; exposed to imminent risk of disaster or ruin.    Paul described for his protege Timothy, the climate and attitudes that would prevail in "the last days." I can imagine throughout Church history, many teachers have warned their students that they were in perilous times. I wonder if they could envision what we are now experiencing: 1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.  2 Timothy 3:1-9  Sounds eerily familiar, doesn't it? This is actually about apostasy in the Church! people from whom we're to distance ourselves. Paul shared the sufferings and persecutions he endured in the midst of the peril, "but the LORD rescued me from the all." He cautioned, "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (vs. 11-13)   What are God's people to do when darkness and peril surrounds? Romans 12:2 instructs us not to conform to the pattern of the world. So showing their same characteristics is not the answer. The prophet Isaiah said that in evil times, God's chosen are to be the remedy. "Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance." (Isa. 60:1-3, NLT) Jesus called us the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and urged us not to lose our preservative qualities, or hide our light under a basket. (Matt 5:13-16) He also warned us to be careful that the light in us not really be darkness. (Luke 11:35) So, let it SHINE!

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