Reflections on Sunday, October 28, 2007

The message I took from Church today was that even those things that make no sense now will make sense in time, because every single part of our lives is constructed from perfection...from God.

I used to, and still complain when things go wrong...we all do, but the more I understand and grasp the power of God in my life, and believe that all and every second of every day is part of a larger plan, then ultimately even the worst things that happen in life happen for the best. It is my free will that allows me to interpret a situation. I was in a car accident years ago, and all I could think was I will never drive again....now I barely remember being in a car wreck because so many positive things (including a better car) manifested themselves as a result of that situation. A car being wrecked?, your wallet being stolen?, you losing your job? you breaking up with your partner? your gaining 10 pounds?....these to me are minor tragedies. To some including myself they can at present seem like the end of the world....but they are a part of something blessed....God's perfect plan.

I was born in India where my family had a life of wonderful wealth and prosperity....but it took a tragedy of the worst kind for God to kick my family out of our place of comfort to a new life here in the US. At the time it made absolutely no sense. My family fell from a place of prosperity to a time of extreme violence where we literally faced death the day before our departure to the US...had I stayed one more day my family would have been killed including myself. Here I am 25 years later 10,000 miles away from my homeland living a life I could not have dreamed. I look back now at my life in India and thought....had I remained in India I would have been better off dead...I would have lived a fake life....married a woman....had children...and my soul would have died slowly with this fake life. And with this self-destruction I would have lost my faith and connection to God. It took a kick from God to a new land 10,000 miles away, for me to be living the life I'm living now....the happiest today I've ever been in my entire life. What I thought was prosperity and wealth as a child really meant nothing. How was I to know as a six year old child engulfed in unjust violence why my family's life was ripped to shreds for no reason? I didn't understand the next month, the next year, or even in the next 5 years. But 25 years from that day today sitting in Church I can honestly sit back and say that the tragedy of the worst kind was for the best.

As Pastor spoke today I reflected on the big tragedies, and the miniscule ones, and realized that as long as I choose to use my free will in the light of optimism...a reflection of God....only then will I prosper in the life I was meant to live. At times the road twists and turns in this crazy path we call life...but in the end from Above it is a wide, open, and beautiful path.....God's perfect plan.

with love,
Harnik

Reflections on Sunday, October 21, 2007

There is a strange phenomena called “ Anticipatory Grief” that I have been wrestling with for two years now. It is grief ones experiences for a person who has not died yet, but is dying. Both my parents have suffered with Cancer of kidney, and breast. I thought I would lose my father, but prayer pulled him through, and every holiday, I wonder if this is my mom’s last. So Kiantha’s sermon and personal testimony really brought me to my knees and turned me inside out. I have never met anyone so young who has been through what she has gone through and have such faith!

For someone who has never stepped foot in Seminary, her understanding of the word of God, and the will of God is crystal clear. Sis. Duncan Woods spoke about how we need, and demand a Miracle! “Did you understand me?” She would say, “ I said demand, not request a miracle!” That’s me to the core…demanding a miracle, begging God to ‘Make this happen!” or “ please God, make her love me!” or, “ Please God, Bless my Finances!, pay these bills!” I am guilty, as we all are of demanding a miracles, and not paying attention to ‘all the miracles He provides each and every day!”

Sister Kiantha defined a miracle as being “When your need is GREATER …than your seed!” When it is totally outside your power to make this come to pass. It was the Lord speaking directly to me about how his has been with me and still is no matter how difficult life is. If my parents die, God is still with me. I can stop all my ‘anticipatory grieving’ and focus on living. What I love about both our Pastors is that they speak in a language that I can understand, that I can relate to, that I speak myself when I’m home behind closed doors. This Sunday was no exception. Alter call was made and we in need of special prayer came quietly and discreetly forward while the Choir sang softly in the back ground the song “Anointing, fall on me.”

If you haven’t come to worship with Liberation Ministries, consider coming. You can be as private as you need to be. You can dress the way you want to dress, and you can praise God in silent humbleness or out loud with voice, or you can sit quietly and cry like T and I do, out of gratefulness of his love and his goodness. Do what you do, and don’t worry about being caught up in things that make you uncomfortable. It’s not a game or a show, it’s a place you will be welcome, accepted and loved, by your just doing you.

Mercedes Nicole

Reflections on Sunday, October 7, 2007

The Anchor

In times like these, we need a Savior.
In times like these, we need an anchor.
Be very sure, be very sure.
Your anchor holds, and grips the Solid Rock.
The rock is Jesus, yes He’s the One. This rock is Jesus, the only One.
Be very sure, be very sure.
Your anchor holds, and grips the Solid Rock!

This past Sunday my sermon was entitled “Building on a Solid Foundation”. We used the following scripture as a reference for our journey:

Matthew 7:24-29
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

The song, and the scripture coupled together provide a beautiful imagery and road map as we navigate this thing called life. They are both a sermon within themselves, as the song writer encourages us to make sure that Jesus is our anchor and that we are holding onto him strongly gripping the key to life. The parable that Jesus provides gives us the pros and cons of having a strong foundation, and it is with this example that we are encouraged to examine our lives and deeds.

We are reminded that as we survey our environment we must also take inventory about what “grounds” and “centers” our existence. It is this foundation that will ensure our success or ultimate failure.

Rev. Darrell Goodwin

Reflections on Sunday, September 30, 2007

"Welcome!" Is what God said to me as I stood inside Liberation Ministries for the first time this past Sunday. God's presence was there and He invited me in for fellowship. The Holy Spirit moved in a unique and marvelous way as Pastor Darrell charged everyone with the scripture: "They overcame by the Blood of the Lamb and the words of their testimony;"

Then Pastor Darrell began to call on members to victoriously share how they overcame some of the most difficult trials of their lives.

With great conviction a member stated how she overcame the piercing pain of rejection from her former church, suicidal thoughts and a broken spirit by accepting God's unconditional love for her as she is through hearing the preaching at Liberation Ministries.

Another overcomer shared how through prayer, patience and showing the love of Christ to an "enemy" at work, the person was won over.

As the anointed testimonies continued one liberated member joyously proclaimed how God led her and her family to this church-A place where a person can be loved for who they are and as they are with no judgment.

The last victorious warrior called on, testified about how through unquenchable faith in God's ability to heal her, the cancer that attacked her body as a teenager, has been in remission for twenty years and counting! Praise God!

Through these great testimonies God is telling His people that He is [able] to deliver, provide, guide and heal us all. He is no respecter of persons. If He can do it for them-He can do it for you and me too! Amen

-Bro. Regi Owen