Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was  near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”  Exodus 13:17

The Israelites prayed and prayed for freedom from the Egyptians and one day God set them free. He not only gave them freedom but all the luxuries they needed to enjoy their freedom. They began the journey to the Promised Land God had told them about and they were excited about their future. Suddenly they reached a point on the journey where good went bad. Their freedom became threatened by the Red Sea in front of them, the mountains on the sides of them and the Egyptians that were behind them. They were not only surprised but stuck as well. What were they to do? It’s that way in our lives sometimes today. You pray for a job and when you begin you are excited about working only to later discover it’s the worst place to work. You pray for a mate and meet someone, date them for a good while with many great experiences and finally marry them only to discover you aren’t compatible. It’s wonderful when good things happen in your life but what do you do when the good goes bad?

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. James 1:2

Life should be enjoyed with the optimism of a child. Every day you learn and each night you have so many new things you’ve learned and experienced. Enjoy every moment as if it’s your last and when the fun stops, don’t panic. Remember that life will happen and times can’t always be good. There will be times when what you had your heart set on doesn’t happen, there will be times when he/she won’t be what you thought they were and there will be times when you end up where you prayed to be but aren’t happy there. It’s ok. Every situation or relationship you experience will teach you something and prepare you for something else. There will be good times and bad times and good will sometimes go bad. It’s not over. You’ve grown more and you know more. It’s time to use your new knowledge somewhere else.

It’s by God’s design sometimes,
Minister Deidra Bibb

 Members of the Stillman College Psychology Club collected shampoo, cosmetics and other toiletries for Turning Point, which serves victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Tuscaloosa and neighboring counties. Pictured behind Turning Point Director Belinda Jones are, front row left to right, Miss Stillman Jalin Smith, Stillman Student Government Association President Rio Jackson, TeAira Dubose, Jasmine Dorsey, Jamille Leonard, Assistant Professor April Kendrick and Assistant Professor Sandra Jemison. Pictured in the back row are Omyon Roberson, Nicholas Boggs, Quamayne Tolbert and Joshua Carter.
The Psychology Club’s campaign assisted victims while also increasing awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Time is wasted on trying to convince you of how deteriorated the world  has become.
We are living in  dangerous days, but we already know that! There are vital organs in our natural body that must function according to creation for us to live. As to the natural body, also to the spiritual life we live.
We sometimes pray, asking our Father for the solution to world problems.
We are so fragmented as a Christian culture, until we have dimmed our lights. How is this so? The one vital value for good Christian living is the spirit of truth. Jesus declared Himself to be The Way, The Truth and The Life. Therefore, when we reject His Way and His Truth, we also reject the power of His Life in us. It is our responsibility to never oppose truth or ever choose our opinion over the truth, but to stand for it or brace ourselves against heresy and lies, twisted truths and misappropriation of truth. What you stand for in defining moments of your life determines your destiny! If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything. Standing for truth and righteousness won’t win you a social status or position with people. For the more you stand for  right in today’s culture, the more you are labeled as intolerant, hateful, or “preaching law.” But that’s what happens when the Word of God has been used twisted, unskillfully or with a hidden agenda. The word tolerance used to mean being respectful of people with whom you disagree. Today, the mere act of disagreeing with someone defines you as “intolerant.” We compromise by agreeing to disagree.
But, we must preach the gospel of hope, not the gospel of hate; we must do it in a loving way, full of grace, yet absolute truth. We are never to apologize for the truth, for only the truth can set us free. Truth, today seems to provoke anger. My platform is tell me the truth: if I get angry, understand this, though my outward man perish, my inner man thrives. The Bible is the truth and Jesus is our only hope; against this truth every man is a liar!          electra.gethsemaneministries@yahoo.com.

Luke 4:16-21

In Isaiah 61:1-3, the Prophet of Redemption said, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.”
Jesus is the only man in history to be anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. As Prophet, he preached good tidings to the humble. As Priest, he bound up the wounded of heart. As King, he set the captive free. In short, He justified, pardoned, and liberated.
Messiah came but was rejected by His own (Israel). “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11). He died a cruel death on Calvary, was buried, arose, ascended to heaven and afterwards sent the Holy Spirit of Promise that ushered in the Day of Grace.  When His own rejected Him, the door to Salvation was flung open to the Gentiles and  “… as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). What a glorious day when Mission was Accomplished!
In Luke 4, Jesus is the speaker. He began His teaching that day in the Nazareth synagogue by introducing Himself as the One who fulfilled that great Messianic depiction of Isaiah 61:1. Knowing as He did their reluctance to accept Him as Messiah, Jesus began by having them to understand His anointed position.
Jesus stopped reading at Luke 4:19, indicating that thereafter the message was for a future time. It had nothing to do with the Age of Grace. Jesus was quoting from Isaiah 61. It bears repeating that verses 3-4 are speaking of the Kingdom Age, a time of peace and blessing, which Messiah will usher in; a time, as Isaiah had said, “appointed unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” Some scholars view this as the Year of Jubilee. A time of “liberty” when Israel is restored. This is important, not only for Israel, but for we who know Christ as our Savior.
Look at Isaiah 62:12: “And they shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord; and thou shalt be called, sought out, a city not forsaken.” This speaks of the Millennial Kingdom, the result of “Mission Accomplished.”
Let’s launch a little deeper. Jubilee symbolizes salvation (liberty) by God’s grace, with the Jubilee trumpet typifying the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In order to receive beauty for ashes, we must come with a repentant heart toward God. He gives the joy of pardon to those who mourn. To the heavy laden who have repented of sin Christ gives the garment of praise. Those who trust Him for salvation are Trees of Righteousness, the Planting of the Lord.
The salvation which Christ accomplished is to the glory of God (I Corinthians 1:29-31; Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 1:3-14). And there are untold blessings for God’s elect, Israel, during the Kingdom Age as represented by Isaiah in 61:11. Of a certainty, together the Saints of all ages—Old Testament Saints, the Church Age Saints, and the Tribulation Saints—shall “… rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth the bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations” (Isaiah 61:10-11).
Not one of his chosen shall perish, and thank God for a “whosoever will” gospel, for God’s salvation is guaranteed by the Father’s Purpose, the Son’s Purchase, and the Spirit’s Power. And don’t forget, we are all included according to Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
How will you celebrate the birth of Christ this year? As a pagan custom? As a time of food and circus? As a time of random, expensive gift-giving, forgetting whose birthday it really is?
May I suggest that you open the Word of God to Isaiah—the Prophet of Redemption—and read “His-Story” again. You see, as some would have you believe, the birth and life and death story of Christ is only religious. I say it is history, as well—HIS-STORY. The two cannot be separated. And next, allow yourself an extra blessing and listen to Handel’s MESSIAH again as the music swells in grandeur. Feel the pride that you are a child of God, that Messiah Come is your personal Savior. Let it soothe your soul and rejoice in the God of your Salvation.
May this Season be meaningful and joyous as you celebrate Mission Accomplished! —the birth of our dear Savior— “… Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
In Christ Alone,
Victor W. Baugh, Sr., Th.D., Ph.D.
Pastor, St. Luke AME Church
Havana, AL
http://www.thatgracemayabound.blogspot.com/

The prophet Isaiah foretold the birth of God’s Son Jesus Christ many centuries before he was born in the little town of Bethlehem. Isaiah said of Jesus that he would be called “Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,” and lastly, but certainly not least, “the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
All civilized people long for peace in the world. We long for an end to the horrible maiming, mutilation, and death that are an integral part of all wars, and the experiences that twist men’s minds and leave them to be haunted by fearful nightmares. We long for the day to end when our patriotic young people return to their homeland in flag-draped caskets, when we hear Taps echoing across lonely cemeteries, and we see tears streaming down the cheeks of young wives, mothers, and newly orphaned children.
We long for the day to come when the billions of dollars spent on war can be used to provide health care for all our citizens, food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, and job opportunities for all those willing and able to work.
We long for peace among the various tribes and religions of the earth. We long for a day in which hatred ceases between Jews and Arabs, Moslems and Christians, Protestants and Catholics, Blacks and whites. Hatred is not of God and those who hate do not know God (1 John 2:9).
We long for peace in homes the world over, starting in America. Strong nations are built on the foundation of strong homes. We need homes, two-parent homes, where husbands and wives love and respect each other, and where children are taught to love God and respect others, not by words alone but by parental example.
We long for peace in the hearts of people all over the world. Some people’s greatest conflict may be within themselves. They feel guilt, fear, conflict, and worry; however, they need not feel this way. The Prince of Peace has come and He offers His peace to all. The Hebrew word “peace” in Isaiah 9:6 is the word “shalom.” Shalom means more than just the absence of conflict. It means the rich, harmonious, joyful life of those privileged to live in God’s kingdom. To have Christ is to have peace.
God’s Word tells us that as long as the world stands there shall be wars and rumors of wars. There is little, if anything, an individual can do to change that; however, every human being can enjoy the peace that God gives. It is personal, and it passes all understanding. It is a peace that one can have even in the midst of the storm. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27).

Dr. Robert Wilkerson is a minister, writer, and founder of People for the Christian Way, an organization whose mission is to encourage all people to practice Christian principles in business, politics, and every area of life. drbobwilkerson@bellsouth.net, www.peopleforthechristianway.com

Urgency of the Ticking Clock

Rev. Joseph R. Reid

A woman dies and goes to heaven. She is greeted by St. Peter, who offers to give her a tour of heaven. As the woman walks around, she notices many clocks. Some go very fast, while others move very slowly. When the tour is done, the woman asks St. Peter why some clocks move at varied speeds. St. Peter replies, “Each clock represents a person on earth. Every time we lie, or miss an opportunity to contact our Spiritual self, our clock speeds up. As you can see, people’s clocks are separated by committed believers and Hypocrites. Over here are the faithful who trust God and are on a sincere spiritual journey, and over there are people who attend church and claim to be religious but have not found God yet.” The woman nods. “Where are the Hypocrites’ clocks?” she asks. St. Peter replies, “We’re using them in the back as air conditioners.”
This may sound humorous but the ticking clock is urgent in our life. Daily awareness of this internal clock reminds us to be watchful how we live, to utilize every moment of life’s precious gift and to always seek God’s will for our life. The problem is we fail to live our life in full awareness of the internal clock that ticks daily toward our transition or death. If we fail to see, use and seek God’s will in full awareness of the urgency of the ticking clock in our life we will miss our opportunity in this and the next. Awareness of our internal ticking clock reminds us to beware of the urgency of NOW. Jesus’ message is urgent! And to follow Him is costly!  Luke 9: 57-62 speaks to this urgency and the cost of following Jesus. It says, “As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Jesus made it clear that this world is not our home. “He said to another man, ‘Follow me.”’ But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” This seems like a reasonable request. But Jesus was aware of the importance of Kairos or God time in our life. “Jesus said to him,’Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’” This is an amazing statement of the necessity of the finding our soul salvation right now.
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.” “Jesus replied ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’”
The eternal clock of the Kingdom ticks only in present time! Awareness of our internal ticking clock reminds us to do three things on a daily basis. First, it reminds us to be careful how we live our lives. We should be watchful at all times. The Bible says,“Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise.” A sure way of being careful and wise is by watching what we say and do. Not in a fearful way but trusting God for the outcomes in our lives. Second it reminds us to be aware of our inner spiritual regulator. This manager reminds us to make the most of every second of life and not waste time on temporal things. It is important for us to be reminded that things of this world are short lived. Jesus said in Matthew 6:20 “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” When we suffer as Christians, these things are temporal. When we’re excited and things are going well, that is temporal. That’s not to say that we cannot have joy in our hearts with the Lord. We can. But we cannot expect things to always go exactly the way we want them. Our text says,  “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.” We should not lose a moment of the ticking clock!
Finally it reminds us to seek to do God’s will daily.  The scriptures say, “So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” The only way to understand God’s will is to seek God’s will. Our internal clock tells us to seek God’s will every moment we live.

OMNISCIENT “EYES” OF GOD
Oh, how great it is to get just a glimpse of the greatness of the Lord God’s Creation of this universe of which we all reside. How magnificent it is. The very thought of it is beyond our ability to comprehend. It is a tremendous blessing to view God’s Creation from the mountain tops, and to be a part of God’s created plan.
Well, you may be thinking, where is her imagination going today?  Well, when you think about God having you in mind when He created the universe, you should want to know, what is your role? Are you not appreciative enough to seek His will for your life, and how to fulfill it?  He chose you from the foundation of the world to be a part of His vast universe, do you not want to fulfill His created plan for your life or do you just want to hang?  Is it you saying, “just hang?”  Then you are not grateful.
The “EYES” of the Lord run to and fro throughout the visible and unseen world to show Himself strong to those who are obedient in having FAITH in Jesus who hung on the open cross one day, and gave His life for the salvation of every soul. The very souls God -You – created from the foundation of the world, He gave you a choice to choose Him or not to choose Him. You know what, we all chose the enemy. Is that not unbelievable – yes it is. Still God gave His only beloved Son into the hands of wicked men, and they mutilated His body beyond any human imagination, then hung Him on a CROSS for everyone to see, to suffer and die for “YOU”, and for the very ones who committed such brutal crimes. “OH, WHAT GREAT LOVE.”  God Himself, incarnated in His Son, hung on that Cross. You do not understand, but accept it because it is true. Now, all who accepts God’s Son by FAITH, God will accept you as a “son.” How can you not give your all to God through accepting His Son by faith because of what He has done for you?
www.thealmightyeyes.com