Kwanzaa: Creativity

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Apostolic, Christian, Community, Creativity, Education, Encouragement, Goals, Ministry, Purpose, self development, Teaching, Women

Kwanzaa is an African American celebration of family, community and culture. It begins the day after Christmas through New Year’s Day observing seven key principles derived from an African philosophy over the seven days.

The sixth principle is CREATIVITY or Kuumba (Swahili)
Its focus … “To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.” — http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org

Creativity, the process of illumination and innovation whereby one may passionately generate, develop and transform ideas into value. Creativity sparks moments of insight and engineers productivity. Creativity is enhanced through inclusiveness, collaboration, sharing of information and participatory engagement. When we welcome and open the door to creativity, innovation and motivation is inspired. People feel their input, contribution and ideas are valued and useful. The status quo, group think and lack of support are hindrances to creativity. At its best, creativity produces a synthesis of design, symphony, storytelling, play, empathy and meaning. (Daniel Pink, “A Whole New Mind”)

In whatever realm of living, when we are able to be creative (and everyone is creative in some way), we ‘use our strengths in the service of something larger than ourselves.’ That’s what Kingdom building is all about. Whether ministry, teaching, evangelism, or outreach, it is all about using our creative strengths to make something or someone greater.

We all have the ability and opportunity to use our creativity for the betterment of our community. The threshold of a new year is a perfect time to consider how we may best use our creativity in new ways, new areas, or with new people. The new year is an opportunity to recreate ourselves into whomever we desire to be or whatever we desire to do. It may require some growing pains, some shedding of old thought processes, behaviors, and relationships, but that’s what transformation is all about. When we’re enlightened to possibility and the illumination takes place, we can really see the value of who and what God has creatively inspired within ourselves and others.

In 2014, my prayer is that you will let your creativity spill out and flow into new adventures and discoveries of an abundant life in God.

Kwanzaa: Purpose

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Apostolic, Christian, Community, Education, faith, Goals, Jesus Christ, Ministry, Motivation, Provision, Purpose, Stewardship, Teaching, Trusting God, Women

Kwanzaa is an African American celebration of family, community and culture. It begins the day after Christmas through New Year’s Day observing seven key principles derived from an African philosophy over the seven days.

The fifth principle is PURPOSE or Nia (Swahili)
Its focus … “To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.” — http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org

There must be purpose to everything we do. Here, this principle is directed for the African American community to make its collectively work about the building and restoring of its strong and beautiful heritage. In Kingdom principle we are laborers together with God and we are to walk worthy of the vocation by which He has called us.

In our humanity, we often lose sight of the God-purpose when we become consumed with individual purpose. We have always been taught that any gift, skill or talent we have as a profession (vocation) or passion, we should use it for Kingdom building. In stewardship we must bring the firstfruits to God, to the Temple, to the work of the ministry. Whatever God has invested in us, we must invest back to Him. God established The Church, so The Church should be the first place where we exercise our stewardship in developing souls and maintaining the physical plant. When there are so many streams of resources and talent being expended outside of The Church, it produces a lack that should not exist.

We witness the power of collective purpose particularly as it relates to stewardship in Exodus 36:1-6, 7 when the people were so purpose-minded (The Lord put wisdom and understanding in their hearts to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the Sanctuary.) that they brought free offerings and gave so much that it was more than enough for the work. Moses had to restrain them from giving because there was such a great abundance, no lack.

The purpose, practice, sacrifice, priority, joy and promise of stewardship is established throughout scripture. Our time, talent and treasure are necessary for its collective purpose. With collective purpose we must teach, inspire and develop a culture of stewardship so that there is no lack. Here is the promise: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” ~ Luke 6:38

From this promise, we are assured whatever we invest or seed into the Kingdom, God multiplies. When we sow spiritually, financially, and physically as good stewards, with a wise heart, willingly and purposefully, God grows what we give and He won’t let us give more than He will give. He will surely bless His people with blessings and provisions so that there is no lack. So I encourage you, with a wise, understanding, and willing heart to trust God more, give more. In so doing every provision will be met for The Church and He will make every provision for you and your household. You simply cannot beat God giving.

(From ‘Encouraging the Tithe — Growing & Giving In Grace’, scripture sources: Deuteronomy 14:23; Malachi 3:6-12; Genesis 14:20; 2 Samuel 24:24; Matthew 23:23; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Luke 6:38)

Kwanzaa: Collective Work and Responsibility

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Apostolic, Christian, Community, Education, future, Goals, Motivation, Personal Development, Purpose, Teaching, Women

Kwanzaa is an African American celebration of family, community and culture. It begins the day after Christmas through New Year’s Day observing seven key principles derived from an African philosophy over the seven days.

The third principle is COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY or Ujima (Swahili) Its focus … “To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.” — http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org

Community.

In recent years, we’ve seen a decline in familial and communal structures.  Generational and societal norms have changed but not God. What an assurance.  When all around us is reeling, we can retreat back to Him, stable and sure.  However, He teaches us to build community, to care for one another, to support and love one another. Instead though we build walls. Walls of classism, politicism, religiosity, intolerance, self-preservation, unforgiveness, exclusivity, distrust, and the list goes on … walls.  Community and togetherness cannot exist where there are walls (The Great Wall, the Iron Curtain, Brewster Place).  

The task though is breaking down the walls, determining how to reunite the community, how to rediscover the values and reconstruct the belief systems that historically have strengthened and preserved community.  Whether it is the family, church, learning or social community, walls must be destroyed so that the ‘goodness’ of community can nurture and heal the world. Our values and belief systems define what is important to us.  When we determine that family and community are more important than anything outside of it, we will experience its benefits.

The latter verses of Acts 2 gives us a glimpse of community … believers continued in fellowship and in one accord, having all things common, having favor with all people.  This is the goodness that comes from community.  

Then in Philippians 2:2-4, Paul teaches,
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

I pray that the love of God will constrain us to prefer and esteem community and enable us to do what we can to build it and sustain it.

Kwanzaa: Self-Determination

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Apostolic, Christian, Education, future, Goals, inner strength, Inspiration, Motivation, Overcoming, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Self-Determination, Teaching, Women

Kwanzaa is an African American celebration of family, community and culture. It begins the day after Christmas through New Year’s Day observing seven key principles derived from an African philosophy over the seven days.

The second principle is SELF-DETERMINATION or Kujichagulia (Swahili)
Its focus … To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I learned something from a mentor that has indelibly directed my life for several years now … “own your own stuff”.
Stop throwing adult-size tantrums and blaming someone else for YOU. It is so easy to use what someone else said or did, did not say or did not do as a reason for who, what, why and how I am or for what I do and vice versa. My goodness, how much of life we lose literally when we don’t own our own stuff. I am not referring to tangible things either, but to our sense of self, who we are, who we can be and who we can become.

One of my godson’s birth name is Jacob. He decided to change his name, at least on Facebook, to Israel. He, through self-determination, changed his identity, he chose to define, name and create anew the perception he desires for himself. That is what self-determination does, defy all odds, resist all limits, restrictions and boundaries. In God, we have power and abilities to continue to evolve into our ultimate selves … who God says we are. So much of life can and will define us if we let it. Our childhood, our past, our mistakes, our choices, they can all define us if we let them. But in Christ, we are created anew and can redefine our lives, our paths, our choices, with His guidance if we let Him. What prevails here is our choice (personal decision) to let the greatness be. To define, name, create and speak our existence.

Every action begins with a thought. Self-determination is constructed from healthy thought processes that are nourished with forward-thinking, positivity, knowledge, wisdom and tenacity. It is also created through our words, not so much the ones we say out loud, but the ones we whisper to ourselves. Lastly, it is experienced through our actions. Self-determination motivates us to act on who we desire to be or what we desire to accomplish. Self-determination says ‘own your own stuff’, be responsible for your own life, take your life into your own hands, no one else defines you or decides for you, only you.

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself.”
~ Harvey Fierstein

Kwanzaa: Unity

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Apostolic, Career, Christian, Community, Culture, Education, Family, Goals, inner strength, Personal Development, Personal Growth, self development, Unity

Kwanzaa is an African American celebration of family, community and culture. It begins the day after Christmas through New Year’s Day observing seven key principles derived from an African philosophy over the seven days.

The first principle is UNITY or Umoja (Swahili).

Two verses of scripture came to my mind when thinking about Unity.

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” ~ Psalm 133:1

Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

So much can be won or lost based upon unity or the lack thereof. Unity of purpose is key to the advancement of interests or endeavors in organizational or group dynamics. Unity is when all parts interconnect for the success of the whole. Consider the parts of a puzzle, parts of a music or dance ensemble, when all the parts come together harmoniously, something beautiful and expressive is created.

It is always rewarding, ‘good and pleasant’, to experience the achievement and fulfillment of completing a task or goal when unity prevails. Unity does not mean there is no individuality, but that all the individual pieces are fitly joined together, performing complementary roles, contributing skills or talents, and working interdependently for the success of the whole.

Relationship building, sharing information, commitment to the goal and to persons involved is critical to establishing unity. Understanding the purpose, communicating, and interacting respectfully are also important to creating and maintaining unity.

Like all things of worth, Unity is a state of being that we must be eager to pursue, work toward, strive for, and endeavor to keep.

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” `~ 1 Peter 3:8 ESV

Give Them Jesus, His Essence

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Apostolic, Christian, faith, Holiness, hope, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, love, Trusting God, Women, worship

It was Sunday morning, the culminating service of a dynamic Women’s Conference that I attended in October.

The speaker prefaced her sermon by stating wherever she is and for whatever reason on a Sunday morning, she does not preach the theme of the event, but she preaches Jesus. She continued, ‘because there are people who attend church on Sunday who may never hear about Jesus’. I was so stricken by the reality, veracity and significance of her decision and commitment to preach only Jesus.  As she moved into her message with the passion and conviction of the Holy Ghost, preaching Jesus, the Holy Ghost began to fall, the anointing of God filled the Temple, you could feel yokes being destroyed, you could see Him drawing men, women, boys and girls to Him, you could not deny Jesus, He was in the room. His presence had been ushered in by the conviction of this woman that came from a truth that she lived and was able to powerfully transfer to those who heard her. It was  a phenomenal encounter to witness.

The atmosphere was so conducive for Jesus to come in, for the weight of His Glory to move, to work His purpose, to restore the young single mother, to put rejoicing in the heart and feet of the elderly mother, to the anoint the hands and voices of the minstrels, to release the tears of those who were reserved in their own anger or fear, to show Himself strong and real to the doubters, to save the lost, to transform the young man and to strengthen the old man, and to leave us all with an awe of only Him, only Jesus.

It happens every time, every time … I’ve witnessed it time and time again.  The visitation that comes when we lift up Jesus, when we present Him as the Sovereign One that He Is.  It is just the natural course of things. When our hearts are focused on Him, He inhabits every space, the physical space of a room and the human space of a heart and soul.  Oh, there’s no denying His presence, when He Is in the room. No man can stand in His presence, His intangibleness becomes tangible … He touches you and you touch Him.

He fluidly fills every space of your being with the glory of His essence. Can you feel Him?

I give you Jesus.

Give Them Jesus, The Cornerstone

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Apostolic, Christian, faith, hope, inner strength, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Overcoming, Prayer, Trusting God, Women

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. “

That’s the thing about our great God, He has the supernatural ability to give life to dead things, to really heal broken hearts and spirits, and to rehabilitate our tattered and crippled humanity.  He came that we might have life and that more abundantly, but what does that kind of life look like? It is certainly not devoid of struggle, pain, or failure, because as long as we are in the flesh, these things will be. But it is built upon a foundation that Christ Himself, not only laid, but is the chief corner stone.

The cornerstone is the first stone set that supports the entire construction of our life, that is what He Is. He Is the stability, strength, and surety by which, in our human frailty, we stand and withstand. 

He is the stone that, if we let Him, will stabilize the imbalances, deflect the attacks, and withstand the storms.

The prophet Isaiah writes, So this is what the Sovereign Lord says, “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. So there we have it, right in God’s Word (where every answer is), all that we need to keep our minds from wandering into all-consuming doubt, worry, despair AND panic! Wow!

It takes a real relationship with Him for such confidence and assurance to override all the other stuff that comes against us.  That is why it is so important to continually build up and feed our faith with His Word, through Prayer, and through Worship. Relationship is about abiding. Abiding in the Truth that, if we have His Spirit, He lives within us and gives life to us. In abiding, we have His covering that wraps us comfortingly in the safety of His arms and the tenderness of His love.

I give you Jesus because when everything else crumbles, He will not.

I give you Jesus.

Give Them Jesus

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Apostolic, Christian, faith, hope, inner strength, Jesus Christ, Teaching, Women

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.”
From time to time when I think about all the things that people go through, the challenges they fight, how the victory and abundant life Christ died for us to live, how that life eludes many of us a lot of the time, I wonder how much greater our success would be in our walk of faith if we preached and taught more about Jesus and less about ourselves.
I remember Pastor Donnell Lipford used to instruct all the time, don’t preach or teach your philosophy, preach and teach Jesus, preach and teach the Word of God. People really need The Lord. There is just no hope without Jesus (as Pastor Brantley preached today).
When the storms of life toss my life around, it is Jesus that I search for and need. The Word I need is that He is my comfort, strength, and deliverance; that He is my Savior, that He is real, and of all the things, and the wonder that HE IS. The Light, the Door, the Way, the Truth. I need a vertical Word that comes from His throne, exalts Him, that personifies and makes Him real in my life every single day. The weightiness and substance of His Truth is what really sustains us in a world that is lawless, and Godless.
The movie quote from Field of Dreams … “build it, they will come” is one we can revise to ‘give them Jesus and they will be stronger, wiser, and healthier, in mind, body and spirit’ … He said it, lift Me up and I will draw them.
I just believe it, because I believe in Him, I believe He is the essential key to our survival and ultimately to our eternal existence with Him. That’s what we’re living for, right. To live again.