Is it Walking the Love Walk?

How do you go from being a doormat to a strong man or woman of God who is trying to line up words and actions with the Bible without causing some friction with others? I am still working on this answer myself. Most of my life I have been told what to do and I did it. I did not have any thoughts of my own. Or when I did they were shot down pretty hard. I have always been an easy-going, good-natured person. I never once stood up for myself.

So why is it that when I start to stand up for myself, I am accused of starting trouble or causing strife? You got me. I have grown tired of being a doormat for people to walk all over. There is this really TALL woman of God at our church who taught on Approval Addiction. After listening to her teachings on it, I began to change looking for approval from the people around me. I had realized that my whole life was spent seeking the approval of family members, friends, teachers, and employers. I decided this was going to change. Actually, the change really started when my dad passed away. Change is never an easy thing to do, especially when you are so used to the things the way they are.

There is one person in my life that has always tried to control me. I love this person but I had come to the realization that I cannot always be wrong as I always was with this person. Everything had to be their way. You could have a conversation with this person and they would voice their opinion and shake their head to show me that they were right and I was wrong. I have stood up to this person several times over the last few years but not without conflict and tears from the other person because I was supposedly mad at them. I was not mad at them. I was just tired of being told what to do and what to think. I KNOW how to think for MYSELF, FINALLY!

So, am I walking in love? I think so. I am walking in love with myself because I am worth it. I am a child of God! I have a purpose that HE has created me for! Just because it does not line up with what others think I should do doesn’t mean that I am wrong in doing it. I am also walking in love with the other person by bringing Godly correction and boldness when and where it was needed. Maybe not accepted graciously by the recipient but I think they are starting to respect me.

God did not design us to seek the approval of man. The only approval that we need is from God and the last time I looked, He has placed His stamp of approval on me. Do I do everything right? Not on your life! I make mistakes all of the time, several mistakes in one day most of the time. That does not change how God sees me or how He feels about me! No, walking in love isn’t easy but it is so necessary in order to grow into the mature ambassador that God has destined us to be. Sometimes that love walk contains the correction that is needed to get us onto the right path or helps us develop a backbone to stand up for ourselves in a Godly way.

~Ronda Sullivan

Image Credit:

WOMAN STANDING
©  Ragne Kabanova  | Dreamstime.com

Mama’s In The Kitchen

Most of us are familiar with the story found in John 6. It is about the miracle of the five barley loaves and two small fish. The crowd had been following Jesus, and it was getting late. They were all hungry. The only food there was the lunch of one small lad. The lad gave Jesus the lunch. Jesus took it and fed five thousand men. There was twelve baskets of food left over after. This is just one of the miracles they witnessed done by Jesus. He is still doing amazing miracles today.

The Bible says that the giver of the lunch was a lad. The definition of lad is a child, or a little boy. I want to go behind the scenes of this story.

There is a person who was a big part of this miracle process who is hardly, if ever, mentioned. The preparation for this miracle took place back at this child’s house. I haven’t met any little boys who bake bread or fry fish. I believe Mama was in the kitchen. She was busy cooking lunch for her son to take with him when he went to see Jesus. I can see her praying for her boy as she rolled out the bread. She must have asked God to use her son. Little did she know he would be used greatly that day.

He must have been taught about Jesus and who He was. He trusted Jesus to offer him his only food that day. All of us touch someone’s life. We must do our part to teach them of Jesus. We need to always be mindful to pray for those who are younger than us in The Lord. We may not be the one who is called to bring the word. We may not be the one who lays hands on those in the prayer line, but we all have a part to play. We are all needed to see God’s will accomplished. It doesn’t matter if I am the one frying the fish or a server. It doesn’t matter. I am determined to do my part to help others come to know Jesus. I want to help others see the miracle that HE is. The mother didn’t mind that she was home cleaning when the miracle of the loaves and fish took place. She was praising and thanking God that she had been obedient to do her part. She had helped advance The Kingdom of God!

~Connie Robinson

Image Credit:

COOKING TOOLS
© Michael Levy | Dreamstime.com

Thank You for Being a Friend!

Everybody wants a friend. Everybody wants to belong somewhere…anywhere. I grew up on Air Force bases around the world. I was a quiet person and it took quite a while for me to make friends. I was very selective in who I chose. I wanted a friend who would always be there. I wanted someone that I could talk to about my deepest dreams, no matter how silly they were. I wanted someone I could entrust my deepest fears who would help me get through them. I used to envy the girls where I would go to school that had a best friend since kindergarten. I wanted that and badly! Military life was not bad but the changing stations and starting to a new school was hard on a quiet, shy little girl.

As I was driving home the other day from Atlanta, I got to thinking about friends…about my friends. I was thinking about the things that I share with them. Not one of my closest friends knows everything about me. It seems that I share some things with one friend, other things with another, and so on and so forth. If they were ever to combine forces and compile what they know then they would have almost a complete picture. I love them all dearly but I have not brought myself to trust one single person with everything about me.

Have you ever had the spiritual V-8 head smack? Well I experienced that while sitting in the wonderful Atlanta traffic (trying hard not to nut up and step out in the flesh at some of the drivers!). I could almost visualize God’s hand smacking me in the head!

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you] as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set  you apart, consecrating you; ]and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1: 5 (AMP) Even though God is speaking to Jeremiah in this verse, don’t you think it applies to you? He may not have called you to be a prophet. However, He knew you before He formed you in your mother’s womb. I think it does apply to me. He is no respecter of persons. He has given us a purpose in life. We are part of His Kingdom. He has approved of us and has appointed us to preach the gospel, His Word to set forth His Kingdom here on Earth.

The revelation that I received was that He WAS my best friend throughout my whole life, and He is STILL my best friend! He knows EVERYTHING about me. He also knows EVERYTHING about you! He wants and desires that BEST FRIEND Relationship. He will listen to you and give you the advice that you need. He will not lead you astray. It is okay to have your really, good friends. Just don’t forget to spend that time with your best friend.

~Ronda Sullivan

The Power of Friendship

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” – Jam 2:23

Most places in the Bible, the word “friend” means “intimate companion” or “close associate.” In one place in Isaiah, God talks about Abraham, his friend, and the literal meaning there is “love.” There have been some crazy things said about “friends” in the name of “spirituality.” I’ve heard people say we don’t need to have friends, only disciples. I know people who think that, if you have a friend, then you’re just co-dependent. I just kind of shake my head at those folks who, because they have no friends, try to come up with a spiritual reason why everyone else should feel guilty for having friends. I figure if God loved Abraham and called him His friend, then it’s okay for me to have a friend, too!

In fact, I am incredibly grateful for my friends. It takes a real friend to stick by you when you’re going through tough times. It takes a true friend to be willing to watch your back AND get in your face when necessary. It’s only my closest friends who really understand the joy I feel when I’m celebrating a victory or accomplishment, because they’ve been there with me through every step of the way. Friends are valuable and priceless… just ask God.

So, cultivate true friends. Pattern your friendships after the incredible examples we have in the Bible… God and Abraham, David and Jonathan, Paul and Barnabus. Celebrate and treasure the friendships God has brought into your life. Friends don’t expect you to be perfect… they just expect you to be YOU.

 

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13

 

~Linda Frederick

St. Patty’s Day Limericks

Last year’s limericks were fun for us, so we decided to give it a whirl again this year. We had tons of fun doing these, so hope you enjoy them! If you have a clean limerick you’d like to share, put it in the comments!

Celebration Blog

Ode to the Celebration

When asked to join, I felt such frustration

But I said that I might

And now as I write

I do so with exhilaration!

(by Connie)

Andy 

Our apostle has a son named Andy

Who is easily coaxed with candy

But give him your ear

And wait till you hear

His revelations are quite the dandy!

(By Matt)

Madison

A woman who writes with great flair

Who crafts her words with much care

What a delight

To read her insight

About life and Christ as a pair!

(by Matt)

For Apostle David

Apostle David was a new thing to see

I used to question just how this could be

But God had a plan,

It was all in his hand

And Gateway’s the place for me!

(by Connie)

Ricky

Ricky is my own special honey

I get to spend a lot of his money

I’d marry him again

How could I not win

He would say, “Now, Connie, that’s funny!”

(by Connie)

Mrs. Linda

A woman who loves good coffee

Her ambitions for the C Team are quite lofty

A dreamer at heart

Her pen is like a well oiled part

She’s an original who can’t be copied

(by Tammy)

Dr. Matt

This is my ode to Dr. Matt

He could have written “The Cat in the Hat”

Though he lives far away

With Gateway he’ll stay

Now, only God could’ve done that!

(by Connie)

Michelle

Thanks to my new friend, Michelle

She’s getting to know  me quite well

She’s teaching me computer

Probably thinks I’d like to shoot her

But she wouldn’t want to go to …jail

(by Connie)

Ann

Ann rocks the guitar with such power

Each chord she plays causes devils to cower

Though mighty and strong

When the fight may be long

With beauty and grace she grows stronger each hour

(by Matt)

Sherrie

Sherrie is my little sister’s name

For fun and family she’s always game

She and Bev like to cruise

And take a little snooze

Look out their window, nothing ever stays the same!

(by Tammy)

Bev

Bev is really quiet snooky

If you’re around him much he’ll ask for a cookie

He certainly is a sweet treat

With a spoon and a bowl he loves to eat

But only when he thinks no one is looking

(by Sherrie)

For Mrs. Geraldine

We love our sweet Mrs. G

She’s just as pretty as she can be

With eyes big and round

A woman with a sound

She’s Apostle D’s own queen bee!

(by Madison)

Publications Team

Our publications team is off the chain

Many members we have gained

We each play a part

Doing it from the heart

It’s our vision to see many lives changed!

(by Tammy)

Celebration Team (C Team)

Oh, how I love our C-Team

Hanging with us is a scream!

We write, blog and draw

Laugh, snort and guffaw

While fulfilling Daddy D’s dream!

(by Linda)

Anessa

She has a smile that lights up a room

And a supersmart geek as her groom

A lover of tiny purses

She leads our praise team through many rehearsals

Her performance in “An Apostolic Christmas Carol” was better than any cartoon!

(by Madison)

Ricky and Connie

Our new friends are Ricky and Connie

Their smiles are so jolly and bonnie

They’re learning lots of new tricks

Sharing life in the sticks

Hey, at least we’re not in Punxatauney!

(by Linda)

The Gang

We don’t want to leave anyone out

So let’s give Ronda a shout!

Lisa, Monica, and Gay

Each share in their own special way

While Tammy, Christi and Barry round our team out!

(by Linda)

Celebrating Black History: Lucy Farrow

Let’s meet another one of God’s warriors as we continue to celebrate Black History Month…

Lucy F. Farrow

Lucy Farrow, niece of renowned black abolitionist Frederick Douglass, was serving as pastor of a holiness church in Houston in 1905 when Charles Parham engaged her to work as a governess in his home. She received the baptism of the Holy Spirit while working for his family. Farrow carried the Pentecostal embers back to Texas, on to Virginia, and later to Liberia. No evidence survives to tell us that she was a good preacher or a sound biblical expositor or even a caring pastor. But her aptitude for igniting the supernatural gifts among others was evident at a 1906 camp meeting near Houston when some 25 seekers stood lined up in a row in front of her. When Farrow “laid hands upon them…many began to speak in tongues at once.”

Celebrating Black History: Amanda Berry Smith

“The color line was washed away in the Blood.” – Frank Bartleman

Without a doubt, the United States has been the birthplace of the modern Pentecostal movement. As we continue our celebration of Black History month, it is important to note that our history, the history of the Church, has been shaped by the contributions of Black believers.

Amanda Berry Smith

Born a slave in Maryland in 1837, Amanda Berry was the daughter of a slave who was able to buy his freedom and that of his wife and five children. The Berry family moved to Pennsylvania where their home became a station on the Underground Railroad. After her first husband was killed while serving in the African Regiments in the Civil War, Amanda remarried and moved to Philadelphia. There, she was born again, joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and received her call to preach. In 1869, she began preaching in churches and at Holiness camp meetings in New York and New Jersey, becoming a popular speaker to both black and white audiences. By the end of the decade, she was known as far north as Maine and as far south as Tennessee. Although she was not ordained or financially supported by the AME Church or any other organization, she became the first black woman to work as an international evangelist in 1878. She served for twelve years in England, Ireland, Scotland, India, and various African countries. She emerged as one of the A.M.E. Church’s most effective missionaries and one of the most remarkable preachers of the age. In the process, she opened the way for more black women to preach in the A.M.E. church.

Wrapped in His Arms

Most children look to their daddies to be their helpers: to fix everything for them when they’re too little to do it themselves. “My toy is broken, daddy. Can you fix it for me?” a child says with pleading eyes.

My story is a little different. I had a broken heart that couldn’t be easily fixed with tape or new batteries. I would have given anything for a dad who wanted to spend time with me when I was little. I used to be so sad when a movie would show a little girl climbing up in her daddy’s lap because that was something I never experienced.

I never felt safe around my daddy growing up. He was tall and had a booming voice that made me jump when he entered the room. I couldn’t just go up to him and say, “Daddy, I need a hug,” because he was often too busy doing his own thing. After a while, I just quit waiting for him to play with me because the sting of rejection was too much for my little heart to take.

When I came to Gateway, I was just a young girl still trying to get used to my parents’ divorce. I remember hearing sermons about the Father’s love. It was unlike anything I’d ever heard of before. Apostle David would explain that God loves each one of us unconditionally. I desperately wanted to believe that, but I had been so disappointed many times before in my life, and I needed help believing even that. Thank God that Holy Ghost is my helper! As I learned to pray in tongues for my own growth and edification, my Helper showed up to fix my broken heart.

After being able to grasp that God really wanted a relationship with me, scars and all, I began to let Holy Ghost heal my heart little by little. It started with praying in tongues and meditating on the words of the songs each time we worshipped in church.  I would find myself humming the words during the week when I was alone. Holy Ghost would take those words and help me see how they applied to ME personally.

It wasn’t always easy, but over time, Holy Ghost helped me see that it didn’t matter if my daddy ever told me that he loved me or not. God’s love became real to me, and I knew that HE cared for me. Through surgeries, falls, and awards ceremonies at school, Holy Ghost has helped me get through it all, letting me know and experience His love. He was there to help me let down the walls that I put up to keep others out, and through that I began to experience God’s love through those around me as well. I have found that I don’t have to do anything to impress God; I don’t have to be perfect. He just loves me for me. How awesome is that?!

You may think that you are too broken, too messed up, or too shameful for God to ever love you. That’s not the case, my friend. Once I let Holy Ghost help me experience God’s love, my life has never been the same. As I fully submitted to God, trusting Him to be the father I never had, He has given me an unspeakable peace concerning my daddy. God’s Holy Spirit has helped mend that void in my life, and He can do the same for you.

I dare you to believe Holy Ghost to be your Helper. He is all that you need! See what happens!

~by Madison Sanders

Tritina tuo Mama

I often find myself in awe of your labor

Striving to be the best you can while maintaining peace

And it shows how great is your love

The things you most love

Are the things for which you labor

Still applying your all to find peace

And even though you don’t always have peace

And sometimes it’s hard to feel the love

And you grow weary of the labor

Remember that we see the fruits of your labor, feel the created peace, and we love you too.

 By Andrew Frederick

No Strings Attached

As the worship music began playing, I was surprised to see a little boy standing in front of me with outstretched arms. I didn’t think this little guy even knew me, but here he was, wanting to give me a hug. His eyes never wandered. He wasn’t looking for a way out of it; he had initiated this hug, and he was waiting patiently for me to accept it. I smiled and opened my arms to welcome his little arms. When we hugged, it was like I instantly felt better. We never exchanged any words; his outpouring of love was enough. This spontaneous act of kindness brought with it a feeling of wonder and awe. That little boy didn’t look at me as just some girl in a wheelchair. He saw me for who I am…no strings attached.

This sweet interaction reminded me of Jesus when He was on the cross. He had love to give, and He was waiting for us to accept it. While He endured excruciating pain, He never wavered in His purpose. He looked at each human as a person who needed His love. His arms were outstretched, waiting for all who would embrace Him.

How many of us could use a little more love in our lives? How many times do we reject love from a friend or child just because of the “package” or appearance? If you open your heart, you’ll find that you have more love to give than you ever thought possible. You’ll also realize how much you need others, because whether you like it or not, you can’t travel this journey called life alone. You need others to encourage you, to challenge you, and to lean on. Love is in many places; you just have to be open to it.

What does love look like to you?

~by Madison Sanders