Yes, God Can!

by Jacques McNeil

 
Psalm 126:5 states,  "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."

For hundreds of years African-Americans have shed tears of sorrow because of injustice, poverty, discrimination, etc....  Amid the tears, in August 1963 Martin Luther King gave his famous, "I Have A Dream" speech in Washington D.C.  Dr. King stated, "This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."   "I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.  I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

Only God knew that forty five years later, on November 4, 2008 we would still be shedding tears, but this time they would be tears of joy as we all watched an African-American, Barak Obama be elected the 44th President of the United States.  What an amazing victory and it is truly the dawning of a new day for all people.

In the above scripture we are reminded that even though we sow in tears, a day will come when we will reap in joy.  We've all struggled and it is a part of life to experience trials, hardship, and set backs.  But as I witnessed the people of America elect an African-American man to be our next President, my concept of struggle was redefined. Even as the butterfly struggles to emerge from his cocoon, it is in the midst of that struggle that strength, perseverance and determination are developed.  The same holds true for us.  In the midst of our struggles muscles of faith, trust, resilience, courage, perseverance, character, etc. are being developed in our lives. Sisters, I encourage you to continue to stand, to continue to press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus, and don't loose hope.  President Elect Obama faced opposition; he dealt with naysayers who said he would never be elected.  They said he was too young, that he was inexperienced and that he had a funny name but he continued to forge ahead toward his goal.

What goals are you working toward that appear to be larger than life? What have the critics in your life said?  Whether it's loosing weight, going back to college, preparing to take the Bar exam, starting a new business, buying a home, etc. don't be discouraged by opposition, don't be moved by the "Negative Nelly's" who are too afraid to even dream and they just want you to keep them company.  Choose to stay focused and allow the Lord to guide you one step at a time.  With His help, absolutely nothing is too difficult.  My sister, you have more power than you think.  Tap into the power through the Holy Spirit and allow the Lord to take you to heights unimaginable.

Yes, God can do anything but fail, so dream big and watch your Heavenly Father move mightily on your behalf, surround you with His favor as a shield and open doors for you that no man can close.  

A Glimpse of God's Heart
By Dottie Love

 


Have you ever faced disappointment?  If you're like me, your answer is yes.  Or, maybe you have disappointed others.  I've been on both sides of the
spectrum.

 I remember a time when disappointment hurt my heart.  I didn't know if I could ever release the hurt and the lingering anger.  Can you relate?

 This occurred when our daughter blatantly disobeyed us.  We set rules for internet use.  She was in middle school and knew why we gave those limits.  However, she chose to listen to her  friends.  Not only did she visit the social
networking sites, but she actually set up her own pages!

 When I discovered her betrayal, I was angry.  But more than anything else, I was hurt that she had willfully disobeyed us.

 That night, I prayed, seeking God's wisdom to discipline her and to get her to understand why we were taking such drastic measures, even though most of her friends were allowed to have these pages. I asked God where we went wrong.  What
should I have done differently?  Would she ever understand our point of view?

 In the midst of my tearful pleas, I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit.  As my emotions calmed, I heard, "Now, you know how I feel when you disobey Me.  This is what your sin does to My heart."  I think I stopped breathing.

 As I pondered those words, my heart broke all over again.  Not because of what my daughter had done, but because of the pain that I've inflicted on my Heavenly Father - the times I've willfully sinned and the times I've sinned, only to realize it at a later date.

 God's Word is the blueprint on how we should live, how we should treat others, and even what to think about. (Proverbs 3: 5-6; Matthew 22: 37-40; Philippians 4: 8-9)  He does it for our benefit.  He knows what lies ahead of us and wants
to guide our steps on paths of safety.  (Isaiah 43; Habakkuk 3: 19)If we forfeit His direction, we suffer the consequences.

 Because of that situation with my daughter, I now have more confidence, faith, and trust in God's way for my life.  I may not understand the details or see beyond today, But I know that God will use whatever comes into my life for good.
(Isaiah 55: 8-9; Romans 8: 28)

 We knew about the pitfalls and dangers of the internet, about the trouble of peer pressure, even about the danger of heeding immature advice.  We've survived a lot of the things that our daughter was facing.  Our boundaries weren't meant
to be a source of deprivation but of freedom.  We were trying to save her from repeating some of our mistakes.

 Our Father has done the same for us.

 Sisters, I urge you to seek God in a new way, to really understand His role as LORD of our lives and all that it entails - our protection, our wisdom, our health, our guidance, our salvation.  The list is endless.

 His heart is full of mercy and grace.  My love for my daughter didn't cease because she missed the mark.  If anything, it intensified and a new level of protectiveness manifested itself.

 God's love for us will never fade or weaken.  I encourage you to spend time in prayer and in the Word, asking God to reveal Himself to you in a new way.  Then, let that revelation transform your life - causing you to freely and totally surrender to God.  You will  discover joy, freedom, and the courage to live your life to please God.  Life will be joyful - never again will it seem like a burden.

W.I.T.N.E.S.S. Book Club's Annual Holiday Luncheon

HOST:  Jacques McNeil
LOCATION:  26 Beach Cafe
3100 Washington Blvd
Marina Del Rey, CA
WHEN:  Saturday, December 13, 2008
TIME:  11:30am


You are cordially invited to join W.I.T.N.E.S.S. Book Club's Annual Holiday Luncheon.  We'll have great fun, fellowship, delicious food and finally......our "Secret Sister" reveal.

If you do not have a "Secret Sister", you are welcome to attend.  Just bring a $20.00 gift card to exchange with one of our sisters.

Lastly, we will have an open menu at 26 Beach Cafe and lunch entrees range from $11.00 ~ $25.00 per person.

To RSVP call 310-671-4966 no later than Friday, December 5, 2008 and I'm looking forward to sharing a portion of the holidays with YOU!

 

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  James 5:16

 

Sisters, there is much power in prayer and the sisters of WBC are committed to praying for you.  If you have a special prayer request, please click here and visit our Prayer Corner link on our website and share your prayer request.