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Never been afraid to grow old,
just to grow unusable,
I pray each day from strength to serve on the front line,
Working hard for the Kingdome until it is time,
For me to accept the prize that I have run for,
Hold it high for all to see,
Into the sky I soar,
I see myself in victory,
Desiring to continue in praise,
My voice will continue to be raised in praise,
Even when my vocal chords are dust,
My praise will remain alive with power moist with the residue of His presence in my life,
I celebrate each year as my voice is more defined, my praise matures,
And so does my worship,
Bring it on I say to the King,
I am ready for worship and praise on a new level,
I will leave each day to you,
Determined to run strong until the end of my days. (Amen)
Spiritural Sunglasses 07-28-08
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| We would like to take this time to personally invite you and your teen ministry to our free annual Back to School Teen Conference, “Who Me?” This year, we will continue to grow from last year, offering more fun and learning to all that attend. Conference dates are August 7-9, 2008, and will feature a step show, music concert, and gaming actives. Come out this year, and be apart of the My Hood, Next Level Teen Ministry, as we find out how who we are through God’s Words. “Who Me” at the conference, “Yes You!!!” Come share in the fun and fellowship. We will see you at the conference! Here is our video invitation and review from last year’s conference: http://vidego.streamingfaith.com/player.php?p=r896741n For more information, you can write us on Myspace.com @ www.MySpace.com/MyHoodFirst, and preview some of our music at www.MySpace.com/MyHood1st. Be Blessed,Rev. Johnny & Sis. Quinita Ogletree IIIRev. Johnny D. Ogletree IIISis. Quinita D. OgletreeYouth Pastors713-983-7878 ex 22
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| 1Jo 1:9 | | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. |
Did you ever consider this process? The process of asking for forgivness from an un-blemished un-flawed, holy and righteous God. A God that is perfect and just in all His ways. A God that considers all things and most of all knows all things.
This is nothing new, but I began to think about myself, and then I attempted to consider God in His ways, and I boiled the conversation down to this: "I forgive you on Monday even though I know that you will commit the same sin on Friday." And for that, I was stubbed. This all knowing and all wise God is able to forgive us, even when He knows that we are going to offend Him again, with the same offense.
But yet in still, the Word says that we must simply confess. As a human, I tried to place myself in this position and I looked at how I consider the ways of those before me, and to date, I have not lived up to God's standard. If I know that a person is going to offend me again in the same manner, chances are that the first offense would not be forgiven, and the second offense would be an act condemable by death :).
I asked God, "How is it possible to offend someone who is guilty first, a multiple offender second, and a future offender third?" God said to me, beyond the offense is the offender, and to reach the offender, I must get pass the offense. I get pass the offense, not by overlooking it, but by examining it though a process called Justification. Justification is a process that enables Gpd to deal with that which is dirty, and handle it because He has restored it, rebuilt it, renewed it, and thus He reclaimes it.
The love that God has for us, the offender, is deep enough, that the offense will not keep Him from reaching out to us, when we are in sin, and when we are headed towards sin. Truly, God is God, and we are not.
As of this point, I will strive to forgive on the level that Jesus forgives, and deal more with the offender and adjust my lenses to see past the offense. Lets all do the same.
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Luke 14:28 where Jesus says, “…Will he not first sit and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” Many thoughts occurred reading this text, but one separated itself from the others and rested in my spirit. It occurred to me, that before I was built, God had actually considered what He was creating, and actually took into consideration the exact needs of the construction and the furnishing. This caught me off gaurd. My construction cost has been considered, the project was approved, the design received the heavenly seal, and the construction team was given orders and assignments. God never begins building something that He has not the cost or the intent to finish, thus we can be sure “…that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion...” (Phil 1:6). And from this I gathered a thought; I was actually finished before I began. It’s actually what we all know, but neglect to focus on when it seems like the construction project will never end. Sometimes the foundation is down, the steel is up, the sheet rock is in, and the wires have been run, but God has to take down what we build and start all over from the soil. Even though this is expensive and time consuming, He had already considered the cost, adjusted the construction schedule, put forth the resources. We are not projects without resources God said to me, and even though you may look at what is being built and question whether it is worth the cost of construction, I was reminded that I am not mine own project. I was actually bought with a price, and the deed lay in the hands of one who has great plans for me, “…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11). The truth is: I do not feel worthy of the cost that God spends building and furnishing me, but I smile knowing that He considered the cost, and has considered the finished product well worth it, which is good, because I am an expensive building.
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16:4 who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles:
This passage is going to be a theme for many of us in 2008. How a theme you might ask? Much like Priscilla and Aquila, many of us will be called in 08 to take a risk!
A new beginning,
a new way of living,
a new way of thinking,
a new way of praying,
a new way of saying,
That which has already been said,
Both to the living, and yes to the dead, Continuing to press forward without ceasing until its deep inside their head,
Pressed down into their heart, And hidden well until they can receive this new start,
The unwavering faith that must consume those who release
And plant seeds and often don't get to see the fruit,
Farming as though we plant seeds in the dark,
And have to trust that our efforts are breaking through the ground,
Tree falling,
and yes,
it still makes a sound,
even if no one is around,
The risk of ministry is always worth it,
God continues to live and give and he’s worth serving,
Working hard to free those in captivity,
Taking risk after risk,
Wondering if they will come through,
Hoping that they will survive,
Trusting that God's Word will accomplish the task it was intended to do,
Wishing that we knew,
So that it could relieve the questions that are in our minds,
And the desire to know that our work is not in vain,
To confirm the scriptures in our own mind, So that we can gird up our loins,
and serve with fervor never seen before, Yet our prayers go un-answered with few confirmations,
Yet we keep our eyes and nose to the grind,
Tilling the soil of the scriptures,
With faith that the risk we take will be worth it,
Manifesting itself in the lives of the ones we take a risk for,
The next generation that will receive the benefits, Resulting from the efforts expended by those who serve in this kingdom, We stand as pawns,
positioning ourselves for the king,
Protecting Him with our life,
Watching the Word,
Our Queen,
Wage an attack on all those who stand in the path of the truth,
Our King,
yes, we take a risk, not just for ourselves, but for others,
But when we consider the blessings that accompany the hand that feeds us,
The true risk is in not taking the risk at all,
Thus,
Like those before us,
We truly love those who are lost enough to want to see them together, Thus in any type of weather or condition, You will see us head up,
Eyes forward,
Chest out,
Feet together,
Hands raised,
Knees bent,
God at all sides,
Fighting a war that we are participating in,
By standing tall on our knees,
Holding up our shield and sword,
To defend this earthly kingdom for an eternal victory,
All that aside,
The risk that will be taken is great,
But overshadowed by the reward that we will receive on earth,
As it is in heaven,
We have been given this day to serve like it’s the last we will receive,
We have been given today’s blessing to give back as though others are on the way,
God has taken a risk on given me another breath,
Thus I will take the same risk on those that have been graced,
With the same new mercies that I have received this day,
To make sure that those breathing will find the way,
And they will,
Even if it’s done while my back is turned,
Or when my eyes are closed,
Breath has been restricted,
Body has gone cold,
The Kingdom of God is worth the risk!
Spiritual Sunglasses ‘08 PastorJohnny@Firstmet.org
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