WEDNESDAY'S WORD - TRANSITION - 06/26/19 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Times of transition are strenuous, but I love them. They are an opportunity to purge, re-think priorities, and be intentional about new habits. We can make our new normal any way we want." - Kristin Armstrong - Athlete    Baseball hall of famer Willie Stargell said, "Life is one big transition." As I get older, I see more clearly the truth of that statement. TRANSITION is the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.  The word is derived from the Latin transire, which means "to go across." In books or screenplays, a transition is a piece of writing that smoothly connects two topics or sections to each other. Transition in pregnancy is the final phase of the first stage of labor, where the woman progresses from seven to ten centimetres, often in less than an hour. Transition comes just before the pushing stage, and it's the hardest part of labor. The woman has a myriad of emotions. They can feel ill or vomit. This is the point at which they are ready to hurt their husbands. Are you figuratively in a birthing transition?   Life stages are our most obvious and inescapable transitions. It's hard to see ourselves going through them because the process seems gradual. Slowly but surely we change: infant, toddler, preschooler, kindergarten, elementary, middle school, high school, college, adulthood, career, marriage, parent, grandparent, great-grandparent. That's 14 transitions, and I haven't mentioned the  transitions within transitions, like moving from one job to another, changing cars or homes, or acquiring new friends. Transitions are a constant. I wonder why no one ever told us how to embrace them! Quincy Jones and Bebe Winans penned these beautiful, well known lyrics, "Everything must change, nothing stays the same. Everyone must change, no one stays the same. The young become the old, and mysteries do unfold. Cause that's the way of time. Nothing, and no one goes unchanged."    One of most notable transitions in Scripture is the saga of the Children of Israel. They are delivered into Egypt because of a famine under Joseph, then eventually are enslaved in the same place of their deliverance. After 400 years, God brings them out from their captors with great wealth. The promise of entering into Canaan and defeating the enemies there is reiterated by  Moses. "It is the LORD that goes before you. He will not leave you or forsake you Do not fear or be dismayed."  Israel transitions out of Egypt into the wilderness, but it takes generations for them to enter into the promised land. Once there, they still have to fight by faith and action for what He's promised, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  Transitions are scary. They reveal what's in us. Will we trust God through shifting and unpredictable changes? Are we emboldened by change or do we resist it?     We would not have the Apostles if the disciples were not willing to transition from being fishermen, doctors, and tax collectors to followers of Jesus. If things stay the same in our lives, we will not learn or grow, and our faith will not be strengthened. Throughout the book of Acts, you'll observe directional shifts and movements of the Holy Spirit as He guides the Apostles to establish the New Testament Church around the world. A walk of faith requires agility and flexibility. Refusal to embrace transition leaves us stuck. Where would we be if Jesus had never transitioned from His throne on high to become a man? What if He'd refused to suffer on the cross and transition into death, burial and resurrection? Transitions, even painful ones can birth tremendous blessings, so embrace the transition you're in!

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - NEW - Sadell Bradley - 06/19/19 - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"Move out of your comfort zone, You can only grow if you're willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new." - Brian Tracy  - Author & Speaker 

 

NEW is word that has been marginalized to purchasing and acquisitions, "I just got a 'new' house or car." We rarely consider the full scope of this word. NEW means not existing before; made, introduced or recently discovered for the first time; not previously used or owned. NEW can also imply that something already exists, but is seen, or experienced for the first time; it's unfamiliar or strange. NEW could be an addition/or qualitative innovation to something that exists. NEW might denote that something has been reinvigorated or restored and is now regarded as better than what went before. These definitions bring illumination to the breadth of possibility in the LORD's self-descriptive statement, "Behold, I make all things new." (Rev. 21:5)

 

The Apostle Peter described the Day of the LORD's return in 2 Peter 3:10-13. "But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness 12as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with God's promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." Artists have tried to depict this, but it's important to understand that sometimes, what is new only comes after what is old has been thoroughly destroyed. Why? 

 

Because what is old and what is new are at times incompatible.  Jesus' Messianic rule brought upheaval to both the religious systems of the day and to the lives of individuals, "16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result.17Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." (Matt. 9:16-17) Referencing our salvation from sin, we are told that, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become NEW." (2 Cor. 5:17) We struggle when we try to mix old mindsets, perspectives, ways, values or habits in with the NEW thing God is bringing to our lives. Are you engaging a new season or opportunity in old and negative ways?  Changing to something new can be difficult. Former Navy Seal and ultra-triathlete David Goggins said, "You have to be willing to go to war with yourself to create a new identity."  Making the adjustments to be ready for a new thing can be very rewarding. 

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - UNVEIL -06/12/19 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"I stay true because whatever the project is, I'm still looking for inside of that character. It's the thing that connects him to me and to everybody else. So, the search is the same. It's to unveil the truth, and that's how I stay true, because my purpose isn't altered." - Forest Whitaker - American Actor 

 

The Bible talks about God's mysteries, not as things He wants to withhold from us, but things He chooses to UNVEIL at the proper time. . . There's an old proverb, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." It amazes me how long it takes for me to be ready for an unveiling of a new truth. To UNVEIL means to remove a veil or covering from, to uncover as part of a public ceremony; to show or announce publicly for the first time. The word VEIL has many meanings: a piece of material worn by women to protect or conceal the face (above); or in Jewish antiquity it was the precious cloth that separated the sanctuary from the body of the Temple or the Tabernacle.  Figuratively a VEIL is a thing that conceals, disguises, or obscures something. To unveil means to remove what conceals, disguises, or obscures.

 

The best modern example of unveiling that I've seen is found in the movie The Matrix. The prophetic mentor Morpheus initiates his protege Neo into his new life path as the chosen one. For Neo to assume this role, he has to know the truth of the systems of the Matrix, where what you see isn't really all there is, and sometimes what you see isn't even what you're looking at. Morpheus offers Neo the choice to stay in bliss of ignorance or allow what's behind the curtain to be unveiled. "You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes." Neo takes the red pill and is shown all kinds of unbelievable and previously hidden things about the world he lives. In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul describes a similar unveiling, to see the glorious Truth of God's original intent when a person comes to the new way of faith in Christ, and is no longer bound to following the precepts of the law of Moses:

 

12Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. 14But the people's minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. 16But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.     

Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will make you free." (John 8:32) You can't be freed by a truth you don't know. It might be glorious, or daunting, but at one point or another, we all chose a pill. Which one will it be?

 

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DOUBLE - 06/05/19 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"My father always taught me that when you help other people, then God will give you double. And that's what has really happened to me. When I have helped other people in need, God has helped me more." - Cristiano Ronaldo - Footballer/Soccer Player   

 

I recently attended a meeting at which leaders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cincinnati were gathered for a lunch and learn with officials from the State of Ohio. I've heard people say, "There's no free lunch," but on this occasion, lunch was included   ; ), so we picked up our boxed lunches. Why do we experience this like kids opening presents on Christmas? You know exactly what's in there: a sandwich, some chips, a cookie, a pickle, condiments and a napkin, Lol! Anyway...to my great surprise, I opened my sandwich and it was really thick. I thought, wow, is Panera is making Dagwood-style double-decker sandwiches now? So I found a knife to cut this huge sandwich I couldn't get my mouth around. I initially thought it was a layered sandwich with three slices of bread. Then I realized it was actually TWO sandwiches. I had been given a real life DOUBLE portion! Of course I got really spiritual, "That'll PREACH!"   

 

DOUBLE - means consisting of two identical, or similar parts or things; having twice the usual size, quantity, strength, amount, or extent. To receive a double portion is not an everyday thing, it is an unusual occurrence of favor. In 2 Kings 2:9-11, as the prophet Elijah is ready to pass over into glory, he says to his protege Elisha, "Ask what I may do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha says, "Please let a double portion of  your spirit be upon me." (indicating succession and a mantle of leadership and anointing)  Elijah replies, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha, his dedicated servant and apprentice saw him...and it was so. He received the double.

 

In Hebrew tradition, the first born son receives a double portion of their father's inheritance (Deut. 21:7) Because of the love and favor that was on his life Joseph, who was not the eldest son, received a double portion. (Exek 47:13; Gen 48:5) Hannah's husband Elkanah, loved her so much that he gave her a double portion of all he had despite the fact that she was childless. (1 Sam 1:3)  Double portions like these and the one promised to Israel in Isaiah 61, connote abundant blessing, and can be conferred to the LORD as a Divine exchange for trial and difficulty. "Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs." (Isaiah 61:7)  Double portions are given by Divine intervention and interruption. Sometimes, like me, you don't even know that or when your double portion is coming. I pray that sandwich is a prophetic indication of the doubling of greater things in this season!   

 

 

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - PIVOT - 5/29/19- Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"Every day is different; you never know what to expect, and you have to be ready to pivot on a dime" - Kris Jenner  

 

It's NBA finals season, and any true basketball fan knows what a pivot is in the game. A dribbling player who stops, or a player that is stationary with the ball, can move it in any direction in order to pass to another player, or shoot themselves if one of their feet is still in contact with the floor. As they're pivoting, they are looking for the best opportunity/option that will make the team successful in scoring. To PIVOT means to turn as if on a pivot-the central point on which a mechanism oscillates.

If you're a fan of the TV show "Friends" you probably remember this scene when Ross, Rachel, and Chandler attempt to move Ross' new couch up the stairs into his apartment. He yells Pivot! Pivaaat! Pivaaat! to no avail. Sometimes it's clear that what you're doing is not working. You need to change something, go a different direction, or try something new. Ross wanted that couch so badly that he decided to saw it in half to get it up the stairs, then later tried to return it to the store, LOL! It's a hilarious scene, but his failure to pivot caused him to lose his dignity, his couch and his money. Do you need to pivot or are you being stubborn?

 

I taught a class of entrepreneurs the concept of the PIVOT in business, (video) a term coined by Eric Reis, author of "The Lean Start Up."  He defines a PIVOT as a change in strategy without a change in vision. "The vision is the end you have in mind. When you're driving, GPS guides you to the destination. If you run into an obstacle, you don't just drive your car into the obstacle over and over again in the hopes that it will be fine. You, with the help of your GPS, find a way around. Startups that succeed do that really well. They start up with an idea that sounds good, but ends up being really terrible." Did you know that Youtube started as a dating site? Or that Groupon was at first a site that helped people do protest petitions? Click on the video above and you'll be amazed. Upon reflection, you might find that you don't need to give up on your ultimate vision, just change the way you get there.  

 

In this great article, Glenn Bleakney explains 3 ways God works to move us in another direction: The Disruption of Plans, The Dissipation of Resources, and the Dissolution of Relationships. In Acts 16:6-7, Paul describes the disruption of plans, "They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they came near Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them." During Israel's famine, Elijah is provided for supernaturally by the Ravens near a brook. Eventually, the brook dries up, his resources are dissipated, and he is directed by the LORD to go to a widow in Zarephath who will provide for him. (1 Kings 17:8-9) Sometimes God will put you in a transitional situation like Joseph in Potiphar's house (Genesis 39). At first everything is great, but eventually something goes awry that drastically changes or even dissolves the relationship. This ultimately pushes you forward in direction. A push that seemed negative at first, led Joseph to his calling and destiny. God orchestrates pivots!

 

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - INTERCESSION - 05/22/19

   

"Prayer must be broad in its scope - it must plead for others. Intercession for others is the hallmark of all true prayer. When prayer is confined to self and to the sphere of one's personal needs, it dies by reason of its littleness, narrowness and selfishness." - Edward McKendree Bounds - American Author 

 

This weekend was our 30th class reunion at the University of Pennsylvania. (I know...) On Sunday there was a memorial gathering and a mini reunion concert by our iteration of the PENN Gospel Choir. We sang old songs from our college days. Our former Director, Carl Bright, also taught us a song he'd written entitled, 'Pray for Me,' and asked me to sing one of the leads. The chorus' lyrics say , "Pray for me, Pray for me, Pray that as I go on, I'll be all God wants me to be. And when I do wrong, just remember this song. I need you to pray. I want you to pray. I need you to pray for me." It was simple yet powerful. My verse was, "Don't give up on me. Don't give up on me. No matter what you see, don't give up on me. In the midst of my mistakes, all I want to say is, I need you to pray. I want you to pray. I need you to pray for me." The song's admonition is when you experience bad or uncharacteristic behavior from someone, your first response ought not be criticism, but prayer.

 

We never know what others are going through.That's why Paul instructed Timothy, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men." (1 Timothy 2:1) Supplication is the act of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly. Prayers are solemn requests for help, earnest hopes and wishes. INTERCESSION is the act of intervening on behalf of another AND the action of saying a prayer on their behalf. Thanksgivings are expressions of gratitude to God. I love that action is associated with intercession. So often, we'll post a prayer emoji or just type the words, 'praying' without even doing that much. Intervening is part of intercession. To intervene means to come between so as to prevent or alter the course of events.  You're not just asking God to do something, you're deciding to be a part of seeing a more positive outcome. You will stand in the gap between what is and what God says should be, until you see it.  

 

In Ezekiel 22, the LORD declares judgment on sinful Israel for her idolatry, abuse of power, slander and other wicked practices. God through His prophet laments, "I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one."  God is looking for intercessors. Sometimes we fail to intercede because we're too busy 'discerning,' criticizing, or judging a person or their situation. We all have something in our lives that others could condemn, but that's not the best use of our time and energy. Corrie Ten Boom shared, "Discernment is God's call to intercession, never to faultfinding." There is power in intercession. "Intercession is the truly universal work for the Christian. No place is closed to intercessory prayer: no continent, no nation, no city, no organization, no office. No power on earth can keep intercession out." Richard Halverson 

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - AFFLUENCE - 05/15/19 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many with great affluence, are utterly miserable." - Tacitus (Roman Historian)   

 

AFFLUENCE is the state of having a great deal of money; wealth. Wealth includes an abundance of possessions, plentiful supplies of a particular resource, and material prosperity. I've often been in the company of people and organizations of affluence. It happened this past week and is always really interesting to me. I wonder how they feel about their position. Do they see themselves as self-made? What will they choose to do with affluence? For Christians, how is the Kingdom positively affected by God's choice to allow them great means? Paul instructs, "Command 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 provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In 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." (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Paul extols the virtues of PHILANTHROPY - the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes. You may not believe it, but in the world most Americans are affluent. According to globalrichlist.com, someone in the US making the Median income in Cincinnati $34,000 is in the top 0.88% of the richest people in the world by income. According to a 2015 CNN article, 71% of the world lives on less than $10 a day...or $3,650 per year! That definitely gives some perspective, and hopefully will inspire you to think of ways you can use your affluence to help at least one other person on the globe.   

 

In the US, we compare our lives with each other and generally find ourselves lacking. We too often say that we're 'poor' and 'broke.' Not only is this not true for most of us based on the data, but it's also unwise. Our America-centricity and lack of world view causes us to be ungrateful. We are the rich: that brings with it responsibility. If you still think you're in a bad place, King Solomon issued perspective on how to think about our financial state and our relationship with God. "Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil." (Prov. 15:16) "Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice." (Prov 16:8) "The little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked." (Prov. 37:16)  

 

Solomon's thoughts on the transfer of affluence have always caused me to yearn and look forward with hope to be able to be a conduit of blessing. "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just." (Prov 13:22) "Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor." (Proverbs 28:8)  

 

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - OVERCOME - 5/8/19 Sadell Bradley New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"My story is a freedom song of struggle. It is about finding one's purpose, how to overcome fear and to stand up for causes bigger than one's self." - Coretta Scott King  

 

This week I had the honor of visiting the Smithsonian's National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The building has seven floors dedicated to the contributions of African-Americans to our society. As I perused exhibits on our achievements and struggles in education, science and technology, the arts and entertainment, athletics, politics and government, the military, community activism, etc., tears welled up in my eyes at the collective strength and resilience Black people have shown over the centuries in the United States. Against all the odds, the forces of racism, sexism, and classism...we're moving from being owned to owning our own lives and experiences, and leaving a legacy in this Country. The freedom fighters in the Civil Rights Movement sang, "We Shall Overcome, Someday." The song tugs at me because as long as we have to keep singing it, someday will never be today. The Bible refers to today as the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2), if our hearts are not hardened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His love for ALL. To OVERCOME means to succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty; to defeat an opponent; or to prevail. I have so much respect for those who have borne stripes, felt heartache, and faced domestic terrorism in order for me to enjoy the freedoms the Founding Fathers proclaimed in their documents were for everyone. Their prophetic statements are not fully realized, by faith they will be. 

It's been less than 60 years since images of children and the elderly being dragged, hosed down by fire departments, and accosted by police and their dogs were seen across the world. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s strategic philosophy of non-violent resistance reflects Paul's instruction to the Christians in Rome who also suffered at a cruel government's hands, "Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written: "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord." 20On the contrary,"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing so, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom. 12:14-21)

 

 

 

 

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - INTUITION - Sadell Bradley 05/01/19 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself." - Alan Alda

 

INTUITION is the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. It is spiritual insight. The word derives from the Latin intueri which means to consider. You may be familiar with the Meyers-Briggs Personality Indicator. One thing it measures is how you take in information. Some folks are Sensing - they focus on the reality of how things are by perceiving them through their 5 senses. They like things described in a specific and literal way. They prefer facts, details, and ideas that can be practically applied. I am an Intuitive. I imagine the possibility of how things can be. I notice big pictures and I can see how everything connects. When I am in an atmosphere, I intuit all of the inputs and components involved and am led into a flow of decision-making. I value ideas and concepts for their own sake and I describe things in a figurative and poetic way. My husband and son are sensing, by the way. It makes for very interesting conversations.

Christians believe science describes what God has created. When the LORD replied to Job's questions about the reason for his trials, He established firmly that He was God and Job was not. He asked Job, "Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?"  "Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of Heaven?" (Job 38:35-38, NLT) It's clear that intuition, or wisdom from the innermost being, is as Einstein says above, a gift from God. 

 

But how much do you trust your intuition? Do you believe your gut, that little voice inside that attempts to direct you? I don't know how many times I've thought, "I wish I'd followed my 'first mind.'"  Paul instructed that even the belief that we will enjoy an eternal home in Heaven requires intuitive knowledge, "we walk by faith and not by sight." (2 Cor. 5:7) So often the avenues and directives God prescribes defy the senses...they don't make rational sense.  Christ followers have the Spirit of the Living God within us. We are instructed to walk in and be led by the Spirit of God in Galatians 5:16-18, so that our conduct will represent the character of Christ as opposed to our carnal nature. Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit would show us what is to come (John 16:13). Paul reiterated that the Spirit of God would reveal the mind of God to us and give us understanding of what God has freely given us. (1 Cor 2:6-16) We have the mind of Christ. When making decisions, do you trust your God-given intuition?