In Memory of…A Not So Average Joe

October 20, 2008

Joseph C.  – A loving husband, a devoted hard-working father of six sons and caring grandfather. Joseph lost his parents when he was 13 years old. He had two older brothers and four younger sisters. Joe’s parents instilled love for family, character and work ethics in him. Joe quit school to find work so that he could take care of his sisters.

Can you imagine being a 13 year old boy having to explain to his sister what happens to her body on a monthly basis? Or having to figure out why she’s crying when she probably doesn’t know herself? When Joe turned 16 he enlisted in the Merchant Marines and was out to sea about 6 months out of each year. He sent every penny to his sisters, made sure they went to school and spent all his available time caring for them.

Joe was a wise and quiet man, who didn’t waste his time, money or energy on things that he could NOT change. He chose his words wisely, although they were few. He spoke with authority and gentleness at the same time. He meant what he said and said only what he meant. A teacher of life’s ups and downs, he believed that men should work hard to provide for their families no matter what the costs. He taught that you should pay your bills on time, purchase only what was necessary and save like there would be no tomorrow!

His favorite holiday was Christmas. If ever there was a ‘real’ Santa Claus…it would have been him. Christmas to Joe meant toys spilled from under the tree to cover the entire floor surface of the room it occupied. Near the end of his life, Joe finally accepted the gift above all gifts…Jesus Christ!

Joseph died with expectation. He expected his seed to continue his legacy of continual learning and overcoming hardships through perseverance and hard work. He expected his grandsons to listen to wisdom, NEVER QUIT when times get rough and to do better than he did.

Wow, what an example of a godly father!! A TRUE self-sacrificing man of honor and awesome provider!

blessed

Transition…Part 1

Transition. A word that doesn’t become interesting until you actually go through one or a series of them. Transitions may or may not go smoothly, but anytime you go through one it’s because it becomes necessary for growth. When the transition is smooth, we will always talk about how God has blessed us and how much we are in His favor. But what if the transition does go smooth? Has God still blessed us? Are we still in His favor or in His will? Of course we are! Sometimes a transition doesn’t always go smoothly and it’s during these times that God uses the transition to teach us. God will use this time to teach us about prior mistakes and He will also use the time to teach us about the things that He expects from us in life and in ministry. So if you are going through a transition right now, don’t give up or get discouraged if things don’t go as smoothly as you thought they would. Don’t allow the enemy to get you in such a state that you allow yourself to get angry with God, or become doubting and fearful. Remember, the rain in our life is there to make us grow. Trials come to make us strong. So if we remember that God is still God and that He’s still able to do what He says He can and will do, then God will bless us because of our faith in Him. Hebrews reminds us that Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen. The writer tells us that when we have faith we believe and hope that those things that we can’t see will come to pass. We know that God will do the impossible for us because He specializes in it! 

I’m looking forward to continue growth in life and in ministry. Thank you Jesus for the transition!

~Rev. C

Current mood: grateful

 
(This is post was written by my husband on Saturday, October 18, 2008. Thanks honey for sharing!)

REAL RAP 2 MY GUYS…

Apologize

July 11, 2008

First, let me apologize for the lack of authentic godly examples in your life. I apologize for the parent who thinks it’s okay to live a questionable lifestyle in front of you. I apologize for the parent who initiates your first smoke or drink! I apologize for the parent who believes it’s godly to preach outside the home, but live like a devil in the home. I apologize for the parent who buys you an X-Box, iPod or iPhone, yet has not invested one dime in your education! I apologize for the parent who encourages you to rap about stealing, bustin’ caps, getting a wifey and some ‘bling…forgive them for they know not what they do! I apologize for the parent who does not ask you ‘where have you been’, ‘where are you going’, ‘who are your friends’ and ‘what’s in the bag’! I apologize for the pastor in your life who thinks he/she isn’t obligated to invest in you!  I apologize for the “Christian” adults in your life who frown when they see you come through the doors of the church or rather yet, prefer you to come back when you’re thirtyish. I apologize for those who have nothing else better to do than to berate you, strip you of your confidence and talk negatively about you. I apologize for the parents and grandparents who break their promises time after time, therefore causing you to doubt God’s promises. I apologize for the father who spends too much time ministering to others, while you sit waiting for him to respond to your hurts, disappointments and fears. I apologize for the teacher who thinks that because of your skin color you will never amount to anything. I apologize for the church leader who tries to downplay your gifts and talents because of their own cultural fears! I apologize for the mother who forgets to model the godly wife you should be looking for. I apologize for the mother who is so caught up in her own mess, that she just leaves you to fend for yourself…the Bible says “shame on her”! I apologize for the parent who does not set high standards for you to reach because of their own failures and mistakes. I apologize for the father who is so self-absorbed that his only response to you is limited to grunts and screams. I apologize for those who make you second guess the ‘great man’ living inside you!

I apologize for not saying this sooner! I love you, please forgive us!

 

This is dedicated to Donovan and Leglency, Jr. for encouraging the writer in me! Thanks for the love!

Punk Warrior

June 27, 2008

I’ve been in a battle with the enemy for a few months, now. It’s been a process filled with many parental challenges, distractions, disappointments,  selfishness and even some fear. Initially, I kept saying, I can’t win this battle…I hate fighting! I know, I know…nothing sounds funnier than a Christian punk!

But, I fell on my knees all “punkified” before the LORD and said ‘Father, help me, please! I want to fight, but I’m scared’! He reminded me that fear isn’t of Him!  I was reminded that He has given me power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt me (or mines).  He told me that my victory is not in my authority over the enemy, but my triumph comes through God’s authority and His presence over me.( Luke 10:19-20)

Well, what more needs to be said after that? I got up on my feet, started thanking God for my victory over fear, and submitted to the call to ‘fight for my family’!  Satan, let’s get ready to rumble!

I suffered some knockdowns in the last two weeks, but ‘it ain’t over’! I’m back up and a little stronger, too, cause the battle is the Lord’s. Yessuh! I’m standing on the promises of God for each of those situations and I forgive everybody that hurt me in some way or shape…cause you really didn’t know that God would turn it into something good for me!

As I enter this next battle, I want to remind you, too. It ain’t over and it ain’t about you or me! God’s will is going to be done the easy way or the hard way…it don’t even matter!

So stop tripping with your “nobody loves me” and “people are praying against me”…cause honey, it really ‘AIN’T ABOUT YOU’!

We ask Him to mold us, shape us and conform us! We ask to be virtuous women! We ask to be filled to capacity with nothing but His love! We ask Him to perfect those things that concern us and we ask Him to complete some things in our lives. Girlfriend, this is how He does it!

One test after the other! Pass the test the first time and you won’t have to take make-ups! Truth be told, sometimes, there are no make-ups…so you better be ready! Stay in His face and stay in His word for in both you will find great strength for the battle.

God’s Leading Lady,

Cassie

LIARS

I love this poem…just wanted to share the truth of it with you. 

We are many and you are few,
we listen to the crap you spew.
Don’t think we aren’t up to speed,
on truth and lies as you deceive.

You spout out lines of twisted tales,
like politicians or car sales.
You change what we would like to hear,
while your treachery has no fear.

You are what’s wrong in every way,
no longer care ‘bout what you say.
You paint your picture so distorted,
you change the story not reported.

The words come out but do not say,
the truth behind what you portray.
You bend the facts for your own gain
How is it that you feel no pain?
LIAR!!! 

written by Michael Charles Messineo  

Hand in Mouth

September 18, 2007 

“Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
         You have ordained strength,
         Because of Your enemies,
         That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. ” Psalm 8:2

As I pondered these words, I wondered to myself, how often do we as parents miss what our little ones are trying to say? And how many times do they have to repeat the gurgles, coos and sounds before we respond correctly?

I started by thinking about my second son, Donovan, who at birth scowled as the photographer snapped pictures of him and who, while in the nursery, as the nurse picked him up to afford his grandparents the opportunity to know who he was….yelled to the top of his lungs (in baby language) ”leave me alone!”  

What’s wrong with this child, I thought to myself? Afterall, my first son, had such a calmness about him at birth and even smiled for the photographer.  Weren’t all babies suppose to be like CJ?  Much to my surprise, something was definitely different about this one. Maybe, it was the fact that my darling hubby named him after a boxer. Or could it have been that meal I ate for lunch causing him to be both gassy and bit cranky?

Needless, to say this child was one filled with many words. He was that child who threw tantrums when he didn’t get his way. He was that child who yelled at the top of his lungs as his body went limp because he didn’t want to leave the store until his request had been filled. He was that child, who while on punishment (time-out) would keep coming back out of the room until he wore you down. And yet, he was that child who had a heart of compassion. 

One evening, my husband and I were headed home, so we decided to walk until the bus arrived. Donovan, was enjoying his ride in the stroller at this time. Approaching us, however, was a homeless man who had his hand out and asked if we could give him a dollar. Like most times, I was skeptical as to whether this beggar was sincere or not. I shared this uncomfortable feeling with my husband and we told the man that we didn’t have it. Either we were delirously tired or feeling an enormous amount of guilt because from underneath the stoller canopy we heard “give him food stamps, mommy.”  My husband and I looked at each other in horror.  Who said that? How did this child know that I had food stamps in my pocket? Even more so what in the world does a toddler know about sharing?   From that day on, I knew there was something special about this little mouthy tike!

Don has since grown up and is still conitnuing to use the words that the LORD gives him as a tool of encouragement to others. See for yourself at www.myspace.com/dapreacha16

Peace and blessings!

 

 

Take No Thought

September 11, 2007

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” Matthew 6:30-32

Oftentimes, I say I am taking my burdens to the Lord and leaving them right there. Truthfully, it’s only at that very moment, when I am on my knees that I present Him with my plate full of intertwined noodles, while keeping one hand on the plate.

Am I afraid that my plate is too full for God? Do I think He needs my help sorting it all out? Why must I know how things are gonna turn out ahead of time? What does God have to say about my lack of trust in Him?

I went to sleep with several concerns on my heart one night. I had a friend who was hurting and I asked God how could I be a source of encouragement to her. He showed me how oftentimes as she begins to share her troubles/trials with me, I begin to talk about my troubles. I asked myself what is my motive for doing that? The answer: I wanted her to see that her situation could be a lot worse.

Instead of being single with one child that needed support, she could be married with 5 children in the same predicament. Instead of having a home that’s paid for, she could be living month to month (wondering when the Sheriff would be putting the foreclosure notice on the front door for all the world to see). Instead of having a lack of finances, she could have no finances or have to depend on welfare. I thought to myself, is this how I respond to my circumstances?

Many more heartaches, trials and tribulations could be added to our plates on a daily basis, but God gives us only what we can bear.

This morning my bank account balance was $37.50. When I looked in the freezer there was one whole chicken, a pack of chicken legs, oh and a turkey from last Christmas (that will probably take 3 days to thaw properly and if I take it out now it can be dinner for Thursday). Thank God my 6 children will get hot dogs on Friday at a church fellowship. And since I don’t have the privilege of sending my children to their grandparents for a meal, I must trust the Lord to provide for the rest of the week. I could go on about my cupboards, but based on Matthew 6:25-26,  I know without a shadow of doubt that God will provide for my family just like he does the birds. 

God wants our full plate because He knows best how to handle it. Don’t pray and worry, it’s offensive to our God. Let’s take both hands off the plate and raise them in the air with thankful lips of praise, knowing that the outcome is working together for our good!

–
Father your wisdom and foresight go well beyond my human comprehension. Help me not to be mislead by what my eyes can see. Help me to trust that you have all the means to provide exceedingly abundantly above all I can ever imagine. In Jesus’ name- Amen

Hello world!

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