Commissioned and Revived!

Do you remember these contemporary gospel groups: Men of Standard and Commissioned? I sure do love their ministries. I'm Standing In Your Will is the song that just seems to hang on in my spirit! Visit Youtube and have a personal praise fest! Rock and praise God with the gospel musical explosion of these balladeers. Several of them have ventured out and made solo careers for themselves. It's evident their sure foundation remains in Jesus Christ. Their lyrics still continue to encourage my heart!


Oh my, there were many early morning prayer and worship opportunities when I lived in Buffalo that I’d beat a path to Calvary Church now Elim and partake in a spiritual revival. This was before I reported to work at 8am! The revival was in the form of an early morning corporate devotional opportunity to engage in spirit filled prayer, praise and worship – invariably a song by Commissioned would be sung. And my friends it was all over but the shout!
You had to be there to experience it! Powerful! Yes, theses were powerful celebratory appointments with God!


This morning I am crisscrossing back down memory lane in my midmorning praise and worship thanks to Youtube, my holy scripture, a heartfelt prayer crafted with affirmations of scripture. And wouldn't you know it, some sweet memories of home would result. It's a warm 90 plus degrees outdoors now. No fret about warming up my car because of the frigid weather with icy and snowy roads to navigate. Yep, no beloved friends to squeeze into packed pews with, and no anointed psalmist to usher us into that inner sanctum. But, worship still occurs!


Thanks be to God, I am not alone as I sit in my kitchen reflecting and realizing that God dwells with me. There's revelation that I have the Holy Spirit. You too? This is a new level of praise and worship, quite intimate, it's a phenomenal gift. It's my opportune time to draw closer to Jesus. It’s some years later since Elim, and instead of congregating with others, I now find myself carving out me time daily with Jesus-reading my morning devotionals of The Blessedness of Believing, A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God’s Promises by none other-me, Linda Mose Meadows (His Power At Work Within Us pg. 220) which celebrates our reliance on God and God’s divine power and love within us. The reference scripture:

Ephesians 3:16-21

New International Version (NIV)
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

and Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. Young’s particular reading is written in the first person as though God were speaking and God encourages in this devotional to “Let me prepare you for the day that stretches before you…” The reference scriptures are:

Exodus 33:14

New International Version (NIV)
14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

John 15:4-7 John 15:4-7

New International Version (NIV)
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Commissioned - King of Glory + Let Me Tell It

I once again realize that in this new leg of my journey, that the Paraclete (Holy Spirit) abides, remains, revives, restores and renews my/our weary beings. Yes, we have a beautiful companion, a loving protector! We are not alone and can hold dear in our hearts those former days of biblical teachings and worship experiences which were designed to prepare us for these complex present days and moments ahead. Today’s readings are love notes that strengthen my soul. My spirit utters, "I'm going to make it! I'll survive this!" The Holy Spirit whispers through prayer and scripture that I am connected to the vine, my branches will not wither, droop and die in the heat of the day because of the divine commission and the blessed pronouncement that God’s presence is with me and you my friends!

You also can grab hold of this intimacy! Come on and be revived, tuck the scriptures in your heart! Dance in your prayer closets, your living rooms, close the doors to your office and breathe in this new numa, this restorative breath of life! Thank you Heavenly Father! Lord, we have a new level of love and appreciation for you! Thank you Jesus we are equipped stand ready for your arrival!

Commissioned - Will You Be Ready

Thanksgiving for a New Season!
Linda Mose Meadows, Urban Views Weekly & Empower Magazine Columnist and Inspirational Author of: The Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lessons and God’s Promises and Co-publisher of Eyes of Faith Magazine

http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

http://blessedauthorlm.wordpress.com/
http://eyesoffaithmagazine.blogspot.com/

JUMP UP AT THE SUN!

The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Josua 1:9

Zora Neale Hurston


Born
January 7, 1891(1891-01-07)Notasulga, Alabama, United States

Died
January 28, 1960 (aged 69)Fort Pierce, Florida, United States

Occupation
Folklorist, anthropologist, novelist, short story writer

Notable work(s)
Their Eyes Were Watching God

Influenced[
Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Zadie Smith

Zora's Wisdom:

"I do not weep at the world -- I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife."
"I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes."
"Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to 'jump at de sun.' We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground."

"Love, I find, is like singing. Everybody can do enough to satisfy themselves, though it may not impress the neighbors as being very much."

"Those that don't got it, can't show it. Those that got it, can't hide it."

"Nothing that God ever made is the same thing to more than one person. That is natural. There is no single face in nature, because every eye that looks upon it, sees it from its own angle. So every man's spice-box seasons his own food."

"I want a busy life, a just mind and a timely death."

citation for this page:Hinton, Kip Austin (ed.) (2005). Zora Neale Hurston Website. San Antonio: Dead Pripyat Records. http://i.am/zora updated march 07 2005.

Zora is so ingenius, she's my friend. I fell in love with my very first book of hers: Their Eyes Were Watching God! An when it was captured for a made for TV movie, well it was truly a taste of honey! Thanks Oprah for your love of Zora, also! It's powerful, riveting, moving piece of literature that causes the reader to do some serious soul searching. It grabs your heart and doesn't let go. In my prized personal library are several of Zora's books and 2 of Their Eyes Were Watching God with foreword written by Ruby Dee and filled with beautfully etched sketches by Jerry Pinkney throughout the book. This is truly my simple abundance collection. But, I just don't want to brag on my novels, nor tout that I 've appreciated the Harlem Renaissance. writers that impacted our world.

I believe that God has something that He wishes to convey to us regarding, blessings delayed are not blessings denied! I just felt it was time tio share some Zora and encourage our hearts especially during this economic thunder storm!

Zora didn't die with a Madame C. J. Walker bankroll, instead she died heartbroken, penniless, without many family members and colleagues singing her praises. It appears as though she was very much alone and abandoned, but for the grace of God the story hadn't yet been told about Zora! God would have it that Zora Neale Hurston’s death would not have it’s final say! Contrary to what may have appeared for her, as a world of dashed promises, dejected hope, defeated relationships, poor living arrangements, alone and broken during her final transition! It makes you want to holler. But, the Holy Ghost reminds me that that was simply a dry season. I am so glad about that reality. It gives us hope, that even in death, as believers in the Gospel of Christ we triumph! She may have felt that obscurity, lonliness and poverty would triumph over her, but not so.

Zora had no idea the rich legacy she’d leave us.

The world is a better place because she was here! Why she’s the hallmark of the Harlem Renaissance, she's the quintessential voice of our time, she's the literary giant with muscle, humor and an appreciation of the southern dialect to, boot. She’s the anthropologist, the folklorist, "the gifted Zora” who’s work continues to Jump Up at the Sun! Visit National Public Radio's stimulating conversations, reference and Google her name-enjoy what awaits you!

We delight in her voice which is as strong and resillient as when she wrote many of her masterpieces! You are in for a treat, the more you read of her, the more you'll want to learn about this fascinating human being!

Yes, it will give you great cause to celebrate life, our divine inheritance and blessed independence, as you contemplate and appreciate the nature of God, our inner strength, resolve and beauty even in our rollercoaster seasons of wilderness.

Thank you for living Zora and not being afraid to embrace the posssibilities of life!

From My Heart To Yours,

Linda Mose Meadows, Author
The Blessedness of Believing
A Devotional Journey of Life's Lesson's and God's Promises
(Tate Publishing, Nov. 2007)
http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/