WEDNESDAY'S WORD - BREATHE - 08/29/18 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure." - Oprah Winfrey       I can't count the number of times I've sat down to journal and the first words the Holy Spirit had me write were... Breathe, Sadell... It's crazy that one of the main things that eludes us when we're overloaded, overwhelmed and anxious is the simplest and most essential thing - the ability to breathe. Physiologically, BREATHE means to take air into the lungs and then expel it. Figuratively, it means so much more: to be or remain alive; or to say something with quiet intensity. Plants breathe by exchanging gases.  Wine breathes when it is exposed to fresh air. Your lawn breathes when it emits air or moisture. Horses breathe when allowed to rest from exertion. It seems the whole world needs a moment...and so do you and I. To 'breathe freely again' means to relax after having been frightened or tense. To 'breathe new life into' means to fill with enthusiasm and energy. To 'breathe a sigh of relief' means to exhale once you realize that everything is going to be ok...and it is! With everything going on in your life, take a moment right now to just breathe.   In Genesis 2:7 God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground and "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul." This lets us know that it is God alone that gives us life and animates us to feel and experience it. Job said, "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." (Job 33:4) The LORD has the power to restore, renew, revive, and resuscitate. When the Prophet Elijah was led into the valley of Dry Bones the LORD gave him this command, "Then he said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.'" No matter what you may be facing, the LORD can re-invigorate you. We can ask Him to breathe, even into seemingly dead situations. So many times we've thought we were going down for the last time, or we've seemed completely out of strength; yet here we are, still alive- breathing in and out. I sense that breathing is getting a little easier now, glory to God!   Breathing deeply brings a sense of calm. As we slow down and gratefully reflect on God's goodness and grace, we gain much needed perspective and are emboldened to face another day. Marcus Aurelius said, "When you arise in the morning, think about what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."  Breathe in, breathe out, and move on.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - SEDENTARY - 08/22/18 -Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Like our physical bodies,our memory becomes out of shape. As children, we are constantly learning new experiences, but by the time we reach our 20s, we start to lead a more sedentary life both mentally and physically.  Our lives become routine, we stop challenging our brains,  

and our memory starts to suffer." - Tony Buzan - English Author   

 

Sitting is the new smoking...at least that's what they're saying. America's obesity epidemic is exacerbated by inactivity and the consumption of various types of media. According to the Mayo Clinic (below) we are spending at least 50-70% of our waking hours sitting at work and 20-35% in front of the TV. Sad, but true. SEDENTARY means tending to spend much time seated or lying down; somewhat inactive; characterized by much sitting and little physical exercise. Anthropologists would say that a sedentary person inhabits the same locality throughout their life, they are not migratory or nomadic. In Cincinnati, where I live, many people never venture out of their neighborhoods, or the City...some have never traveled out of state!  

  

Growing up, I recall that most of our play was outside: hopscotch, jump rope, kickball, pick up basketball games and touch football. We were sad when the street light came on and we had to go back into the house. Now, most of the game play I observe with children is on a phone or tablet between their fingers.  It's no wonder childhood obesity was the issue that former First Lady Michelle Obama decided to tackle with her "Let's Move" campaign.  Almost 1 in 5 children in the US is obese and 91% of our children have poor diets and less than the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day. State of Obesity Sedentary lifestyles put us at risk for diseases and preventable causes of death such as diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. Even if you exercise the recommended 30 min. per day, sitting throughout the rest of the day is a real problem. Video: Why sitting is bad for you. 

 

Are you leading a SEDENTARY spiritual life? Are your days marked with inactivity as it pertains to spiritual disciplines like prayer, study, witnessing and discipleship? Is there a relationship you know you need to mend, end or pursue? Are you actively and faithfully moving in your calling, vision, dreams, or the assignments God has given you? Ecclesiastes 5:3 says "A dream comes through the multitude of business" (or much activity). James 2:14-26 reiterates that even faith, if not accompanied with works or deeds is dead, being alone. Is your comfy couch getting attention while your life is wasting away?  It could be time for you to get up and make some physical, spiritual, financial, relational, educational, or creative moves.   

Join us SUNDAYS 9:30AM Class 11:00 AM Worship Service 225 Wyoming Ave. Cincinnati OH 45215 mynewlifetoday.com

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - WEDLOCK - 08/16/18 -Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"The chain of wedlock is so heavy that it takes two to carry it    - and sometimes three." - Heraclitus     WEDLOCK - is the state of being married; to be closely combined or linked. Wedlock sometimes feels as uneasy as it sounds. From the late Old English wedlac or marriage vow, wed actually means to pledge. A pledge is a solemn promise or undertaking. In marriage, we pledge our commitment to a single person: for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness or in health, forsaking all others, until death us do part. In the old fashioned version, we vow, "I plight thee my troth," or I pledge to you my faithfulness. We are basically locking ourselves into a pledge that we often make during a much happier time of blissful courtship. Dave Willis said,"Your marriage vows are the most important in those moments when they are most difficult to keep."  Sadly, half of our country prepares for the wedding and not for the marriage - the locking part - and ends up in divorce.      God is serious about marriage because it reflects the mystery of Christ and the Church. This is clearly expressed in Ephesians 5:21-33, where Paul describes the concept of mutual submission alongside the Biblical headship of the husband as the familial leader. This leadership however, is to look like Christ's sacrificial love for His Church, which is a tall order. Not only is the husband to love his wife as he loves himself, but he is to nourish and cherish her as Christ cares for His Body. Jesus literally suffered, bled and died for us...that's a hard act to follow. Christ's indescribable love is why we voluntarily surrender our lives to Him. His passion for us and willingness to go to the greatest lengths to express it is never in question. God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Experiencing and comprehending the height, width, and depth of this kind of love (Eph. 3:18) leads us to worship Him. A husband representing God's love in marriage warrants his wife's reverence and respect. (Eph. 5:33)    The 'lock' part of wedlock is as important as the 'wed' part. We fear we cannot count on our spouses (or sometimes ourselves) to keep the vows we made before God and witnesses. Will they stay locked in when we reveal our true selves, as we grow older, become less attractive, or fall upon hard times? In the Old Testament, men could divorce their wives for any reason. Jesus revealed God's original intent for marriage, "Haven't you read," He replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." (Matt. 19:4-6) "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." (vs. 8-9) That's pretty serious. "For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife." (Malachi 2:16) It is NOT that God hates people who divorce; God loves all of us. It's that the tearing and scarring that divorce brings does not reflect the love of Christ that marriage was to reveal. This is a great reminder for those of us who are married, are courting, or desire to be married one day. Be prepared not just for the wedding, but for the lifelong yoke of a conjugal bond.

Join us SUNDAYS 9:30AM Class 11:00 AM Worship Service 225 Wyoming Ave. Cincinnati OH 45215 mynewlifetoday.com

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - PARADOX - 08/08/18 -Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Every experience is a paradox in that it means to be absolute,  

and yet is relative; in that it somehow always goes beyond itself  

and yet never escapes itself." - T.S. Eliot  

 

This past week a group of 'urban' pastors (code for black and brown) were invited to the White House to discuss prison reform. If you've read the book "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander, Esq., or watched the award-winning documentary "13th" directed by by Ava Duvernay, you know this topic has great implications to our society. Racial tensions are high in the US. Many believe this has been exacerbated by the statements and actions of President Trump. We are also witnesses to the ever-shifting role of Christian ministers in the current political sphere. Do we no longer believe that clergy are to hold Kingdom statutes as the highest standard and not be swayed from God's moral authority by political partisanship?     

 

One minister, John Gray, who hails from Cincinnati, was at the center of the firestorm. Pastor Gray, a preacher and reality TV star, was very candid about his angst and internal war about going to the White House. He cited that his wife cautioned him about the potential consequences of the decision. Gray discussed praying and hearing from the LORD directly
that he was to go and have 'a seat at the table' of influence, despite all that he might lose: in reputation in the African-American community, or church members. Many folks expressed black and white opinions - skewed either to one end of the spectrum - (he's compromising, out for fame, and being used for a photo-op); or the other, (God is trusting him to address powerful leaders).  I marveled that our thinking was not more nuanced. We didn't see or understand the possible PARADOX - a seemingly self-contradictory proposition that when investigated or explained could prove to be well founded or true.  

  

Did you know that more than one thing can be true at the same time? You've seen the image on the left. One person says it's an old woman, the other, says it's a young lady. Both are true. In the same way, it COULD be true that Pastor Gray heard from God. It could also be true that his wife was discerning in her warning. Some of the pastors gathered might have had pure motives and some not so much. Perhaps a good discussion on prison reform was held and for some, the day opened a future seat at the table. Or, it could have just been a political photo op. We do not know which perspectives will win out in the end. That's why we trust God. 

 

In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul warns the church not to get caught up in unduly idolizing God's ministers. At the time, he, Peter and Apollos had great followings. He said, we're just servants of the LORD, to whom He has assigned tasks. "So no more boasting about human leaders" (vs. 21). In Chapter 4, he goes into what our perspective should be:   

   

1This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. 

Join us SUNDAYS 9:30AM Class 11:00 AM Worship Service 225 Wyoming Ave. Cincinnati OH 45215 mynewlifetoday.com

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - FRUGAL - 08/01/18 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Without frugality none can be rich and with it very few would be poor." -Samuel Johnson   

 

The Greek philosopher Plato said, "The greatest wealth is to live content with little." For the last two days at my job at MORTAR, a business incubator for aspiring entrepreneurs, our current classes experienced a 3-hour personal finance session. It was fascinating to hear how history, family mores and values...along with decisions...had positively and negatively impacted areas like work, debt and credit, taxes, saving and investing.  As the instructor and our staff meted out best practices and wise philosophies, it was as if a veil was rent in their minds and more consideration was given to how currency flows. We were challenged to use money as a tool toward our goals...and not to just spend it frivolously. To be FRUGAL means sparing or economical with regard to money or food. That's a story for another day as gluttony is truly a societal ill in the US. FRUGAL also means simple, plain and costing little. It derives from the Latin frugalis, from frugi, which means economical or thrifty.

    

In our society, most people squander their wealth and income. That's why our savings rate is only 3% and 47% of Americans can't cover a $400 emergency. Too numerous are the accounts of athletes and entertainers who amass a fortune and somehow end up bankrupt or in debt. Even more incredible are stories of people like Theodore Johnson, a UPS Worker who never made more than $14,000 in his 45-year career, but invested 20% of his money over that time and grew it to over 70 Million dollars!  He then donated 36 million toward an educational scholarship fund. The Bible speaks about those who live a frugal lifestyle,"There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up." (Proverbs 21:20) Only a fool spends every dollar that comes through their hands. What's your personal savings rate? 

 

God gave Joseph both the revelation and grace to act frugally and wisely. By saving and storing to leverage a time of plenty against an upcoming famine, he was able to save not only his family but the realm of Egypt and surrounding nations. In Genesis 41:34-36, at Joseph's advice and warning, Pharaoh instructed his supervisors to gather and put in storehouses 20% of what was produced in the seven good years and guard it so that there would be enough for the seven lean years. Is that where Theodore Johnson got his savings percentage? Maybe that could be a goal. Frugality is a choice.    

 

At times we wonder if we should spend on an item or experience. Financial gurus advise sleeping on the decision  to avoid impulse spending and find out if we really need the thing we so desire. Often the answer is no. Emotional spending (and eating) are all too frequent. It is a prudent exercise of self control to have the practice of saying NO to ourselves. Wisdom says, "When in doubt...do without."  

Join us SUNDAYS 9:30AM Class 11:00 AM Worship Service 225 Wyoming Ave. Cincinnati OH 45215 mynewlifetoday.com

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - OPPRESS - 07/25/18 -Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"He that overvalues himself will undervalue others, and he that undervalues others will oppress them." - Samuel Johnson      I was in a discussion on the increasing income and wealth inequality and decreasing mobility in the US economic system. The top 10% of the Country take in 47% of the income (CBS news). The top 1% take in 20% of US income! America ranks 2nd for income inequality in the developed world. The income of the bottom 50% was just 13%. The share of the top 1% overtook the bottom 50% back in the 1990s. This disparity also negatively affects people of color. Native Americans, Latinos and African-Americans are not only impacted by general downward trends, but centuries of racist banking practices, redlining (the 'ghettoizing' of neighborhoods), etc. It's a bad state of affairs that is hurting most Americans and too many are lulled to sleep.     Those with power have the potential to OPPRESS those without it - to  keep them in subservience and hardship, especially by the unjust use of  authority. Whether we're talking about human trafficking, slavery, or other money and power motivated societal ills; oppression is prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control that brings mental pressure or distress. It may not seem like it, but financially we're only a few iterations away from the stories you'd find in dystopian novels like The Hunger Games. Unfortunately, many who come out from the bottom to a level of wealth become just like their predecessors. King Solomon advised in Proverbs 3:32-33, "Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just."     If we want to find out underlying motives for wicked and oppressive practices, follow the money tree. "10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10) Christians, Paul cites generosity and the divestment of goods as the antidote to escape a life of self-interest and avarice - extreme greed for wealth or material gain. "17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."  As Kingdom citizens, we understand the reason for wealth is to be a conduit of blessing to others, not a means to oppress them. Christ's Kingdom is counter-cultural, and is meant to be a beacon of light in the world.

Join us SUNDAYS 9:30AM Class 11:00 AM Worship Service 225 Wyoming Ave. Cincinnati OH 45215 mynewlifetoday.com

WEDNESDAY'S WORD- REWARD - 07/18/18 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

 

"The reward of worship is God." - Pastor William McDowell   

 

In Genesis 14, Abram has just rescued his nephew Lot, who's gotten himself entangled in a war between two groups of kings. Lot, his family and possessions were seized. Abraham goes in with 318 men, routs Lot's captors and recovers his family and goods. Afterwards, Abram has an encounter with Melchizedek, the king of Salem (which means peace). The bible says that he was a priest of the Most High - scholars believe a type of Christ:

 

19 and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram  

by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.

20And praise be to God Most High,

who delivered your enemies into your hand."

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

 

The king of Sodom, one of the kings on Lot's side, offered Abram the opportunity to keep all the goods he had recovered in the battle (vs. 21) Abram refused. "I solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, 'I am the one who made Abram rich.' 24 I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies - Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre."  In these two acts: his offering of the tithe, and his refusal to allow anyone to receive glory for His victories or riches but God; Abram established his character as a true worshiper of Jehovah.  

 

After these events, the Word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:

"Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."

(Gen. 15:1)  

 

A shield is a person or thing that provides protection from danger, risk, or unpleasant experiences. A shield prevents you from being seen or detected. It can prohibit or reduce the escape of sound, light, radiation, etc. A shield separates or divides you away from what is harmful. After an extreme battle, God affirmed that He was the one keeping Abram safe and secure. He said I AM also your exceedingly great REWARD. A REWARD is a gift given in recognition of one's service, effort or achievement. It is fair return for good behavior that connotes being regarded or heeded. It's as if God says to Abram, "I see your worship, who you are becoming and what you're choosing. Your reward won't come through Me...IT IS ME...and there is no greater reward." We would do well to adopt Abram's posture before God. In life and ministry we too often seek money, fame, accolades, opportunities, notoriety and the praise of men, but HE is the reward of worship.

 

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