The Goalie

Richard and his 12 year-old son Danny are huge sports fans. They were very excited when Jacksonville acquired its own pro soccer team.

Danny was excited about the first game, being that his father had gotten tickets for them to attend the inaugural celebratory game. Danny couldn’t sleep the night before.

When they arrived to the stadium the following afternoon, the stadium was filled with joy and excitement. There were mascots and cheerleaders running about the field during pregame warm-ups as the music blared from the stadium’s speakers. Danny was awed by the environment.

When the game began, Danny noticed that a lot of the action happened in the middle of the field. He also realized that the goalie was not involved in a lot of the commotion that took place during the game. He continued to watch the goalies at each ends of the field and realized that goalies were only engaged when the team of opposition approached the area that could lead to a score. Danny also noticed that for the majority of the time, the players were so occupied with advancing the ball around the opposition in the middle of the field that very seldom did either team have a real shot of scoring a goal.

On the ride home, Danny articulated his observations to his father. Because Richard taught Bible Study at his church, he used Danny’s observations to articulate a message in his next Bible meeting.

Richard iterated to his class the importance of responsibility and accountability on our daily walks with Christ. He began speaking on how we often make excuses for our iniquities and use the enemy as a scapegoat for our shortcomings. He added that we blame Satan for our downward spirals into sin when that should not be the case.

You see brothers and sisters, the world can be seen as a soccer field. The commotion happens in the middle of the field. Satan strategically places temptations and influence onto the field that serves as his opposition to all. We become so focused upon what’s in the middle of the field that we forget about the goals that lay at the ends of the field.

As does the goalies in a soccer game, Satan is completely disengaged while we are busy fighting battles in the middle of the playing field. Satan is powerless and manipulative, yet we give him all the credit for our defeat. We frequently say cliché things such as “The devil sure is busy”, but the truth of the matter is, we are just as busy!

GOD loved us so much that He gave us our own free will to choose. Satan is not allowed to do anything that GOD does not do himself. Satan doesn’t make us commit sin, we make us commit sin. Life is a soccer field of oppositions that were created to distract us from reaching the goal. When we get in scoring distance, which is walking with Christ, the goalie (i.e. Satan) becomes actively engaged in blocking the success of our goal.

Most of us are not even close to the goal. We are still occupied by the distractions in the middle of the field, thus receiving no real attention from the goalie himself. We are of no threat to the goalie as long as we fail to navigate the temptations and influence that lie in wait at the middle of the field. The goalie engages those who are a threat to score. In other words, we are not on Satan’s radar if we are still fighting battles in the middle of the field.

Sins, like most things, are decisions that we make. Satan does not force us to do anything because it’s against the rules of the game. We should be focused on putting ourselves in scoring distance and not blaming the goalie for doing his job. If the goalie is not engaged, then we are far from reaching the goal. Become a threat to score today!

Today’s Bible Verses:

³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 

⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

 ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 

⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:3-6)

My Prayer For You Today:

Heavenly Father, we seek Your light in this dark world. May Your Holy Spirit be a light unto our paths, that we may successfully navigate our way to Your Glory. The enemy has Your faithful on his radar. We ask that You arm us with your armor O Lord that we defeat the enemy and his army. In Jesus name, Amen…

By: C.D. McCloud

Deep-Rooted (Part 2)

Devin and Kevin McCory were identical twins from a rural area in North Florida. They weren’t always motivated individuals growing up, but they began to see that they had more intellect than they had given themselves credit for as they grew older.

They both went to a small college in Columbus, Georgia and shined among their peers. They were well-liked and active in the community. Like most things in their lives, they attended Columbia University together and acquired their Masters degrees in Business.

A decade later, the brothers had grown a small business into a multi-million dollar investment firm. The twins had achieved so much success at this point that they now worked diligently to invest in the dreams of others.

One day, two Mexicans by the name of Jose and Miguel showed up to see the twins about a financial venture that would require the financial backing of which the twins could provide. The two men brought along with them two hand-size containers and two pieces of rope. The twins were taken aback by the simplicity of what the men were about to introduce and could not begin to understand what business could result from this meeting.

Jose and Miguel told Devin and Kevin of a tree that grew in the Chihuahuan Desert along the U.S.-Mexican border. The tree is short in stature, yet the two men discovered great use for the tree. Its use was discovered when Miguel had suffered heat exhaustion while he and Jose were in the desert. Jose new that Miguel would burn badly if they remained stationary for an extended period of time.

As Miguel lay by a small tree, he noticed the tree had a shiny exterior and was slick to the touch. Miguel then called Jose’s attention to the tree. Jose touched the tree’s bark and a slick resin was now on his fingers. Jose began to rub his fingers together and the resin was smoothly absorbed into his skin. Jose took both of his hands and grabbed the tree, saturating his hands with the resin. He then began rubbing the substance onto Miguel’s body. Miguel felt instant relief from the blistering sun. Not only did he feel instant relief, but his skin had begun to heal by the time they reached their village.

Because they could not uproot the tree, they cut one of its small limbs for further inspection. Miguel made a small rope from the trees’ exterior skin and realized that the rope was stronger than any he had ever seen. They began to collect the resin and skin from the trees and sale it as sun protectant and rope.

The twins were now interested. They applied the resin, which had now been made into a cream, onto their skin and loved it. Miguel and Jose allowed the twins to pull on a tiny little rope that would have surely snapped had it been a regular rope, but they were unable to break the rope made from this little desert tree.

After Devin and Kevin had flown down to see the trees themselves, they invested a million dollars into Jose and Miguel. They decided to grow the tree in a controlled environment with the help of top-notched Dendrologists (i.e. tree scientists); The trees would no longer have to work so hard to find water sources and the soils will be saturated with nutrients.

Three years later, the small trees that grew in the desert had grown beautifully with the help of the twins. They were three feet taller than those that had grown in the desert. The twins were elated by the success of their scientists; Miguel and Jose were not as pleased

Because of their extensive experience with the trees, Miguel and Jose knew that something was not right. Although the trees had grown exceptionally well, the resin from the tree was not the same texture or as plentiful. When they tested the strength of the rope, it snapped under pressures that wouldn’t have done so in the past. The concentration levels in the resin had dramatically decreased and it was worthless as a skin protectant.

Miguel and Jose explained to Devin and Kevin that the tree should have been left alone. The trees useful gifts were made so by its daily struggle in the desert sun. GOD placed it there and did not remove it. He allowed the trees to evolve in the desert by being so deeply rooted, that they were able to tap into a water source deep below the desert surface.

The constant exposure to the blistering heat caused caused the trees to produce the resin they could shield themselves from the heat. When it was placed in a lush environment, absent its adverse conditions, the trees lost their initiative to produce the potent resin; the lack of struggle for the trees produced a rope with no strength.

You see brothers and sisters; our struggles are not in vain. Like these special trees, there is purpose in our struggle. There is strength in our struggle. We must take deep roots in our Lord and Savior and allow him to reveal our purpose.

Isaiah 55:9 says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

This is GOD telling us that his plans for our lives are greatly intricate, possessing profoundness far beyond our human understanding. Our job is to remain steadfast in our faith in HIM. It’s not always in the plan for us to understand HIS workings, but our trials are always somehow to our benefit and His Glory!

Bible verses for you today:

⁷ The things God showed me were so great. But to keep me from being too full of pride because of seeing these things, I have been given trouble in my body. It was sent from Satan to hurt me. It keeps me from being proud. 

⁸ I asked the Lord three times to take it away from me. 

⁹ He answered me, “I am all you need. I give you My loving-favor. My power works best in weak people.” I am happy to be weak and have troubles so I can have Christ’s power in me.

My prayer for you today:

Heavenly Father, we have cried out to you to remove us from our trials, not knowing that Your Spirit remains powerful within us during these times. Lord we ask that you strengthen us that we may endure our troubling times and that Your works and will be manifested in our sacrifices. We have faith in Your plans for our lives and we seek only your refuge for endurance. In the Jesus, Amen…

By: C.D. McCloud

Deep-Rooted (Part 1)

Sitting at my bedroom window, I watched the deep grey clouds approaching from the south. The sun was still shining directly above my location. The winds began to slightly flutter the leaves of the trees and the smell of rain permeated through the air.

As the clouds moved closer, the winds became stronger. Deep, yet mellow rolls of thunder began to cover the area and slight vibrations shook the earth. Flashes of lightning lit the skies as the heavy rains begin.

The winds became strong and violent and the trees swayed vigorously back and forward. Every tree seemed as though it were seconds from snapping or being uprooted.

When the storm passed, I was eager to go outside and assess the potential damage to the trees. There were a few that had been snapped and a couple that had been completely uprooted and toppled over. I couldn’t help but wonder why some of the trees were damaged and others were perfectly okay.

In that instant, the Lord spoke to my heart and gave me a message.

Brethren, we are like trees of the earth. The Lord allows us to have good days where we bathe in the sunlight and then there are others where storms inevitably approach our lives. As trees, we know and understand that storms are accompanied by violent commotions, yet we need the rain that is also associated with the storm.

Fret not. GOD is the answer to us as he is the tree. He offers salvation and refuge during the storms. He does not remove the tree from the path of the storm, yet he equips it to withstand the storm.

He gives the tree an opportunity to be deeply rooted into the earth where it draws its strength. He gives us an opportunity to be rooted in HIM, the central source of strength for all things. He gives the tree elasticity where it bends but not breaks. He also allows us to bend through our storms, but he graces us with relief by allowing us to relinquish the burdens of our tumultuous storms. He provides the tree with a protective bark to withstand the dangerous debris the tree faces during the storm. He provides us protection by offering the full armor of GOD.

You see, if we are ill-prepared for the storms on the horizon, we are like the slim tree, with a shallow root system, and a weak exterior bark.  As Christians, we must immerse ourselves into all that GOD offers us in preparation for the storms. This will give us the strength to withstand the bend instead of succumb to sin. That is, we will sway during the storms instead of being snapped or toppled by the violent commotion the storm has to offer.

Today’s Bible verses:

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

³ Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

My prayer for you today:

Heavenly Father, as we root ourselves in You, our rock and foundation, we ask that you continue to carry us through our storms. We thank You for being our refuge during our troubling times, and praise you for returning us to sunshine. In the midst of the storm, we know that it too must obey you. In the name of Jesus, Amen…

By: C.D. McCloud

Acknowledgement

For those of you who have read my devotionals, you will know that I seek to do GOD’s work in the form of short stories to enhance the comprehension of all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Today, GOD has placed something else upon my heart to share with you. This is an actual experience of my own that I want to share with you today; an epiphany or a divine revelation if you will. Bear with me.

As my family and I arrived to church yesterday morning, there was an immediate feeling of relaxation that came over me. There is something special about stepping into the house of GOD. As you enter and inhale the familiar aromas of the sanctuary, there’s a feeling of safety and calm which I’m sure many of you can relate to.

Something happened to me yesterday that doesn’t happen on every visit to the house of GOD. As I returned to my seat after giving my offering, I took notice of a gentleman in a wheelchair. This gentleman is at church every Sunday, in the same wheelchair, and in the same spot along the aisle. This particular Sunday, GOD opened my eyes and truly allowed me to see this man.

As I sat down, the image of this man circled my mind like a whirlwind. This man, who was obviously a paraplegic (i.e. paralyzed waist down), had the biggest and brightest smile on his face. Regardless of his physical restriction, he found a way to give GOD his due praise with what little mobility he had left in his body. I couldn’t help but watch him for a little longer as the service went on. He rocked his head vigorously back and forth and moved his hands in unison with the music, even though his arms were bound to his chair. My soul was moved.

Though my soul was moved, it was also grieved. I felt ashamed before GOD. This man would probably do anything to stand and walk about the church as I had, yet his joy was above anything physical, miniscule, and of this world. He could have been at home sulking or cursing GOD for his condition, but he was at church praising GOD with what little mobility he had left in his body. His smile was sincere and infectious and it humbled me before GOD.

I couldn’t help but think of the many times that I’ve gone to GOD in tears about my perceptions of hard times. I thought about the many times I had complained in the midst of troubles, questioning GOD’s presence during my trials and tribulations. Again I felt small and unappreciative.

Brothers and sisters, today is about the acknowledgement of GOD’s presence. You see, before we were thought about, He’s been present. Long after you and I are no more, He will remain. Most importantly, GOD is present and readily available as you read this.

We have all questioned GOD’s presence at some point in our lives. Why did GOD allow this to happen? Where was He when that happen? Food for thought brothers and sisters… He was in the same place that he was in when we failed to acknowledge his presence. He was in the midst of our children going to and fro from school safely; He was in the midst of us opening our eyes to see a beautiful sunrise; He was in the midst of our morning jogs when others are no longer afforded an opportunity to do so; He was in the midst of our safe commutes to work; He was in the midst of the confirmation of our mortgage and car notes being received. I can go on for days. Praise GOD, because these are things we often forget about when we have the audacity to question his presence during rough times.

The point today brothers and sisters is simply this… When we find ourselves questioning GOD’s presence in our affairs, acknowledge the many times you felt no such need to do so simply because it was evident that He was present! After doing so, you will find that he is present all of the time, yet we often fail to praise Him in the things that we have grown accustomed to. We have reasonable expectations of GOD because of his impeccable track record in our lives, and rightfully so. By the same token, we are spoiled and unappreciative by GOD’s continuous presence.

Today and forevermore, think to acknowledge and exalt Him instead of complain and question His presence in our lives. After all, the fact that you are able to read this devotional, lends proof that GOD was there to see to it that you arose this morning. He is worthy to be praised!

I would like to honor this devotional with the following verses from our Holy Bible:

1 O Lord, You are my God. I will praise You. I will give thanks to Your name. For You have been faithful to do great things, plans that You made long ago.

⁴ For You have been a strong-place for those who could not help themselves and for those in need because of much trouble. You have been a safe place from the storm and a shadow from the heat. For the breath of the one who shows no pity is like a storm against a wall. (Isaiah 25: 1, 4)

My prayer for you today:

Heavenly Father, we come before you today with humble hearts and sound minds, asking that you forgive us for our lack of acknowledgement for all that you are in our lives. We thank you for being present during the times that we sometimes conveniently forget. You are our Father, our beginning and our end, and we honor you with the praise you so richly deserve. Even during our times of unwarranted complaints, we ask that you have mercy on us O Lord. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen…

May GOD Bless You All!

By. C.D. McCloud

Slippery When Wet

Johnny is the head custodian at Miracle Hospital in High Pointe, Georgia. He began working at the hospital when he graduated from high school. 20 years later, Johnny now oversees all custodial personnel.

Johnny is a very humble man and likes to mentor his young employees. He even takes time with the new employees that are having difficulty adjusting to the demands of their particular jobs. The jobs themselves are not always the problem; however, doing the jobs safely is often the issue with most new employees. Everyone knows that Johnny is a stickler for safety and doesn’t believe in short cuts.

Lewis, a new employee, was responsible for assisting with floor upkeep. He attended to spills and was responsible for waxing and mopping the floors. Johnny took a particular interest in the responsibilities of the floor technicians. Johnny always says to the new technicians, “The first thing a person sees when they enter a hospital are the floors.”

When Johnny began training Lewis, he explained to Lewis that the number one thing to consider when attending to the floors was safety. Johnny began telling Lewis the same story he had told other floor technicians for years.

 “When I first began as a floor technician years ago, I was young and simply looking for a dollar here and there. When I would wax the floors, my boss would tell me to make sure that I placed the proper caution signs out that clearly stated “slippery when wet”. Not only would he tell me which sign to put out, but he would also show me where they were to be placed and how many should be placed in that particular area. He always said “Johnny, we need to put the signs three feet outside of the wet areas because people tend to walk as closely to the caution signs as they can.” I never understood why so many caution signs were necessary or why we placed them so far outside.”

Johnny went on telling Lewis, “As I continued doing the job, I began to cut corners with the safety aspects of waxing the floors. Then I began training other new employees on cutting corners as well. One day I came down to the second floor to check on a new trainee. I didn’t see him when I got off of the elevator, so I went to go find him. When I turned the corner, I saw caution signs indicating the floor was wet. Not thinking anything of it, I attempted to walk around the area. Instead of walking far outside of the caution signs, I walked closely to them. Little did I know, the new trainee had not put the caution signs in the right place. There were slippery areas just outside the perimeter of the signs, which resulted in me falling and fracturing my wrist. In that instance, it dawned on me why my boss had told me to place caution signs well outside of the wet area. Even though I was warned that the floor was “slippery when wet”, I chose to walk closely alongside caution instead of steering clear of it.

Brethren, how many of us can apply this story to our everyday lives? What I’m referring to today is temptation. We flirt with temptation more than some us would care to acknowledge.

It is said that “There are no falls without a stumble.” The enemy uses our weaknesses to begin the process of stumbling. We as Christians have to be aware of what our weaknesses are and learn to strategically place caution signs around those areas in our lives. When those signs are placed, we must then err on the side of caution. From a Christian perspective, this simply means that we must not only acknowledge the signs for potential danger, but we must navigate our paths safely away from slippery surfaces instead of risking a fall by being in close proximity to the cautioned area.

Food for thought… Is it wise to dangle meat in the face of a lion? Do we stand at the edges of cliffs? Do we handle poisonous vipers? If your answers are no, then why must we flirt with the dangers of temptation? Temptation is merely the slippery substance on the floor, and the enemy uses it to blur the lines of caution. In other words, temptation itself is not sin; however, it is often the facilitator of sin.

Today I would like to honor this devotional with the following Bible verses:

13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 

14 But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 

15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. (James 1:13-16)

My prayer for you today:

Heavenly father, our flesh is weak. Strengthen us O’Lord that we may avoid the traps of the enemy. Nourish our souls with a desire to obey your commands. Light our paths in a dark world that we may continue to embark upon our journey to Your kingdom. In the name of Your Son Jesus, Amen…

By: C.D. McCloud

Guilty by Association

Devin came from an inner-city community infamous for its high crime activity. He eventually left his hometown and became the first in his family to graduate from college. Devin received his bachelor’s degree in social work and later acquired a master’s degree in the same educational discipline. Devin took a special interest in troubled young men and repeat offenders of the criminal justice system. This was the case because Devin had a story of his own.

Devin was born to a good family. His mother and father brought him up in a Christian household and taught him and his two siblings the ways of Jesus Christ. Some of Devin’s peers often referred to him as “a stick in the mud” in his earlier adolescent years. Devin did not have many friends coming up; he just kind of kept to himself.

The summer going into his final year of high school, Devin became obsessed with becoming a part of the in-crowd at school. He worked out hard and transformed his physique. He changed up his style of clothing and studied the lyrics and mannerisms heard and seen in rap videos. He went into the neighborhood and started hanging out with the older guys at the basketball courts. Though it was new and uncomfortable being around vulgar language and stories at first, he began to like it and participate.

The kid, who was once a kind and soft spoken individual, gradually began acting a lot like the people he was now hanging around. Devin was finally being recognized in his neighborhood as one of the guys. The guys began to refer to Devin as “D-Smooth” because of his natural smoothness on the basketball court. D-Smooth was now infatuated with his new identity/persona he had created for himself.

One night, Devin wanted to go to the movies with some of his neighborhood buddies and received permission to do so from his parents. Devin’s parents trusted him because they were not aware of his exterior transformations into D-Smooth when he was hanging out with the fellas in the neighborhood.

When Devin arrived at the meet spot where he and his friends hang out, his friends were drinking and smoking marijuana. Devin knew that he wanted no part of this. He just enjoyed the respect he had been receiving from hanging out with the in-crowd. Devin avoided drinking and smoking with the fellas by squinting his eyes as though he had already been smoking before he arrived.

Everyone loaded up and jumped into Marcus’ car, which was the oldest of the group. On the way to the theatre, Marcus failed to come to a complete stop before making a right at a stop sign. The vehicle was pulled over by the local police. The officer could smell both the alcohol and marijuana in the vehicle. No one took ownership of the marijuana and all of the passengers were ordered out of the vehicle. Once separated and questioned by assisting officers, Devin was the only one that opened his mouth to say that the marijuana did not belong to him. Because he did not say whose it was, Devin was arrested along with everyone else. He pleaded his innocence to the officer, and the officer responded, “Guess that makes ya guilty by association then!”

Devin sat in the holding area with all of the others. Devin fell to his knees and did what he was raised to do. He poured out his heart and pleaded for GOD’s forgiveness and mercy. “Lord if you get me out of this, I will never forsake you or my parents’ teachings again.” His friends began to mock him and laugh. “What are you doing D? Man get of your knees fool, you’re embarrassing us man.”

Devin responded, “I thought you guys were my friends. Why didn’t you tell the police that it wasn’t my drugs? Marcus replied, with the approval of the others, “Because we all go down together!” In that moment, the arresting officer overheard the conversation while completing the paperwork. Devin was released from the cell and dropped from the arrest records. D-Smooth became Devin again for good!

Brethren, this story can be applied to our Christian lives on many levels and age groups. When we keep the company of the wicked, we place ourselves in the midst of a cesspool (i.e. an unclean place). When we immerse ourselves in such filth, we began to take on properties of the filth we choose to affiliate ourselves with as Christians. By this statement I simply mean that we cannot be anchored in filth without becoming filthy. Thus, we are filthy by our association with said filth. From a Christian perspective, fools dwell in unclean places and rebuke righteousness.

Often we ask ourselves, how did I get in this mess? The answer is simple… We get into the mess because we make conscious decisions to associate ourselves with the mess. Our Bible asks, “Can a man take fire into his bosom and his clothes not be burned (Proverbs 6:27)?” Our Bible also offers a great solution… “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm (Proverbs 13:20).”

 Circles of gossip, judgement, drunkenness, adultery, immorality, deceit, and evildoers, are all ingredients that create the mess we often find ourselves in. When we take part in such circles, we become guilty associates of the mess of which we are affiliated! Some of us begin to look and smell of drunkenness; some of us speak slander and sound of gossip; Regardless of what good we desire for our lives, GOD’s goodness does not dwell in unclean places. That being said, if we mingle and partner with the wicked, we become guilty by association; not solely because of our association with the wicked, but because of what we become as a result of our association with the wicked.

Today, I would like to honor this devotional with these verses from our Holy Bible:

⁵ For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that   is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 

⁷ Therefore do not become partners with them; 

⁸ For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

⁹ For the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true (Ephesians 5:5-9).

Witness to those who will hear GOD’s words; however, it is a necessity that we remove ourselves from the cesspool which hinders the bearing of GODLY fruit.

My prayer for you today:

Heavenly Father, we ask blessings today upon those who seek righteousness. We ask that you strengthen our spirits and that you protect us with the full armor of GOD. Wickedness surrounds us from every side and every angle O’ Lord, but because you are our strength and refuge, we have faith that we will defeat the enemy. Loosen the grips of the unclean, and give us rest in your loving arms. To You be the glory forever and always. In the name of Your son Jesus, Amen…

May GOD bless you all!

By: C. D. McCloud

My Cup Runneth Over

Sister Rebecca is a nun at the Catholic school located in downtown Tawney, North Carolina. During her lunch hour, she enjoys a cup of coffee and frequents the nearby park to feed the ducks at the pond. Because she’s had this routine for years, she became quite familiar with the locals.

There is one woman in particular that stood out to Sister Rebecca among the rest. She sat on the same park bench every day at the same time. She appeared to be homeless and was never seen talking with anyone. One day Sister Rebecca sat by the woman and introduced herself. The woman did not respond nor acknowledge her at all. Sister Rebecca was able to see that the woman’s bag had the name Mattie written on it. Sister Rebecca asked the woman, “Do you go by the name Mattie?” The woman turned to her in puzzlement. Sister Rebecca smiled at her and pointed to her bag. The woman clinched her bag and turned away in obvious annoyance.

As the months passed, Sister Rebecca would approach the bench where Mattie sat and sit with her daily. Though Sister Rebecca would sit and talk to Mattie about her day and tell stories of her childhood, Mattie never responded. One day Sister Rebecca sat with Mattie and asked her, “Mattie do you know who Jesus is?” Like any other day, Mattie did not respond or say a word. Sister Rebecca began telling Mattie the story of Jesus. When Sister Rebecca realized that her lunch hour was coming to an end, she stood as though she were about to leave. In that moment, Mattie reached out and grabbed her arm saying, “Can I walk with you as you finish!” Overwhelmed by joy, Sister Rebecca grabbed her hands and helped her up.

After hearing the story, Mattie had a look upon her face indicative of letdown. Sister Rebecca asked Mattie, “Is there something wrong?” Mattie sighed and replied, “Sister, I have done a lot of bad things in my life. I lost my kids years ago because I was an alcoholic and drug addict. I lost my house and car in the process and sold my body to make ends meet on the streets. I hate myself for all that I have done and often think about taking my life. How is it that I’m worthy to be a follower of the man you speak so highly of?”

Sister Rebecca immediately stopped and purchased a bottle of water from a vender along the way and said: “Mattie you see this coffee at the bottom of this cup, this represents all of the sin from your past. The water in this bottle represents GOD’s forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. When we repent for our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, this is what happens.”

Sister Rebecca slowly began pouring the water from the bottle into the coffee cup. The water slowly began to fill the cup, making the coffee lighter in color. The cup was suddenly full and began to run over, but Sister Rebecca continued pouring. The coffee in the cup was forced over the edges until the cup was filled with only clear water, yet the pouring continued. Sister Rebecca explained to Mattie saying, “Jesus died for our sins that we may receive forgiveness through purification. He pours into our souls the gift of the Holy Spirit, forcing our past transgressions from the cup He has prepared. When our cup is filled, He continues to pour, allowing our cup to runneth over as a fountain to others. You see Mattie, Jesus loves you enough to overrun my cup that it may fill yours!” Mattie fell to her knees weeping profusely, thanking the Lord she had never known.

Brethren, no man is without sin, which is why GOD sent His only begotten Son to bear the cross. But fear not, because there is forgiveness for our sins upon repentance. Our Heavenly Father has no expectation of perfection for man because we are made from a world of sin.

Today, I honor this message with scripture from our Holy Bible:

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 

9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 

10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 

11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:8-11

Have no fear of past transgression, for they are no longer yours. Repent and allow GOD to begin filling your cup.

My prayer for you today:

“Heavenly Father, we have allowed sin into the cups of which You prepared for each of us. We pray that you will offer unto us a steady pour of Your Holy Spirit that our cups may once again be filled with cleanliness. Lord when our cup is full, we ask that You allow them to overrun into the cup of others. Make us fishers of man O’ Lord that we may glorify Your name among those in darkness. In Your son Jesus name, Amen…”

May GOD bless you all today….

By: C. D. McCloud

Heavy Load

There was an older lady by the name of Ms. Heffings who was known for being mean and unpopular with the kids and people in her neighborhood. It is said that she was not always this grouchy, but it seemed that after her husband’s passing, she had become less likeable and more difficult to get along with. Her only son was killed in the Vietnam War, which took a great toll on her as well. Her husband died a few years later from, what some believe, was grief and heartache. Ms. Heffings had no one or any family that ever stopped in to see her. The neighborhood tried to help her out as best possible following her husband’s unforeseen death, but Ms. Heffings’ grief slowly turned to bitterness towards everything and everybody.

All alone, Ms. Heffing had to do everything on her own. She never had a drivers license because her husband was always there to take her everywhere that she needed to go. We used to watch her walk to the supermarket a few blocks away and return carrying those heavy bags to her house. Every time she left out of the supermarket, a stranger would offer to take her bags. Being the mean, socially removed person that she had become over the years, she would always rudely respond “I don’t need your help! I can carry my own bags.” She never even looked back to see the person offering…

As years past, the bags seemed to get heavier while Ms. Heffings’ back and arms grew weaker. One day Ms. Heffings walked outside of the market and felt a shooting pain in her back and immediately sat her bags on the ground. A stranger approached her as she kneeled with her sight to the ground, placing her hand on her ailing back. The stranger kneeled at her side and asked, “Ma’am would you allow me to carry your bags? It appears to be quite burdensome to carry such a heavy load in your current condition.” Tears slowly trickled from her eyes. Her pride had finally given into her pain. She said to the stranger, “I have denied help with carrying these bags all these years, and my back now screams for relief. Though I have denied the assistance of many strangers over the years, I’ll take you up on your offer today son.” In response, the stranger slowly helped Ms. Heffings to her feet saying, “I have been at this store for years, and it was always I who offered to take your bags. I have done so for many others who have allowed me to carry their heavy loads.” From that day on, the same stranger walked Ms. Heffings home from the supermarket with her bags in tow. Unlike the Ms. Heffings we had come to know, we would see her talking and laughing with that stranger; she was no longer alone…

Brethren, life’s circumstances can sometimes bring us to our knees due to emotional distress, loneliness, and betrayal. We are not above the trials and obstacles that are placed into our paths. We sometime fall into the traps set forth by the enemy. We cannot allow these things to wear us down and break our spirit. GOD is not unaware of our burdens here on earth, and He knows that the weight of such burden can place our spiritual evolution in jeopardy. We can choose to give in to our burdens or we can hand them over to our greatest resource, whom is adequately equipped to handle the weight of our troubles.

I am honored to share with you four scriptural readings from our Holy Bible:

28 “Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest.29 Follow My teachings and learn from Me. I am gentle and do not have pride. You will have rest for your souls. 30 For My way of carrying a load is easy and My load is not heavy (Matthew 11:28-30).”

”Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. He will never let those who are right with Him be shaken." (Psalms 55:22).

Brethren, release your burdens today because they were never meant for us to bear. The weight we carry is weight we have chosen to carry. There is relief in Christ. When we relinquish our heavy load, we are afforded an opportunity to walk upright in our Lord and Savior. Do not carry an unnecessary burden any longer. Turn over your heavy load to Christ…

My prayer for you today:

"Heavenly Father, the world is a difficult place and it can be overwhelming. Thank you for your willingness to take on my burdens by lifting my heavy load. Without you O’ Lord, we are but mere objects defeated by all the evils that seek to consume us. Greater is he that dwells in the Lord. We welcome you into the inner depths of our being O’ Lord and ask that You rid us of all dead weight. In the name of Your Son Jesus… Amen!"

May this message bless you all….

By: C.D. McCloud

The Withering Coal

It was the first Friday of autumn and in the Ricker household, this meant two nights of camping with dad. Julian and Thomas were allowed to invite two friends from school to join them on their annual trip at the lake with their dad. The boys were all excited about the activities Mr. Ricker had planned for them. When they arrived to the lake, they prepped the area to set up their tents. In the center of the camping space of which they had prepared, they constructed a fire pit for warmth, light, and as a heat source for food preparation. Now that the campsite was set for the trip, they grabbed their fishing equipment and set out for the lake. They returned to the site and prepared their catch by the fire. Mr. Ricker reminded Julian and Thomas’ friends that they will be dropped off at home early Sunday morning before the Ricker family attends Sunday school and church service. Julian and Thomas didn’t like the fact that their trip would be cut short to attend church. Julian, the older of the two sons, decided to ask his father about why attending church was so important in their household. Mr. Ricker was not expecting such an inquiry from his elder son. He said to Julian… “Son you kind of caught me off guard, but I’ll do my best to explain it to you. Take this fire for instance and see all that it has allowed us to do tonight. This fire is made up of burning wood that becomes hot coals. As the coals burn in unison, their amber glows with intense heat. The heat it gives occurs because the coals are in the midst of the fire with single purpose. Take this shovel son and place it into the midst of the fire. Remove one of the coals from the fire and set it aside.” Julian did as his father instructed him and removed the coal from the fire. Mr. Ricker asked him to pay close attention to the coal subsequent to its removal from the fire. Immediately the coal began to lose its radiant amber. What once burned with fury had now become a mere withering coal with no purpose. Meanwhile, the coals that remain in the fire together burned radiantly and gave light to the darkness. Mr. Ricker then said to Julian, “You see son, the destination of the fire represents the Church. When we arrive to the Church, we are mere limbs and braches cut from trees of darkness. As we, the wood, are placed together in the name of the Heavenly Father, He gifts us with his presence and ignites us with the Holy Spirit. We become like coals that feed upon the fire (i.e. spirit) of the other coals that burn with a single purpose. When we praise God together, we are blessed with burning amber that serves as a beacon of light to the withering coals that individually dwell in darkness.

Brethren, we are blessed with the gift of one another and an opportunity to offer praise to our Heavenly Father on one accord. As Christians, we are instructed to gather in the name of the Father. I want to share three Bible verses with you this morning: Hebrew 10:25 reads, “25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Mathew 18:20 reads, “20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I in their midst." Colossians 3:16 reads, “16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Church is a place of rejuvenation; a place where we, together, can rekindle one another’s flame. There are 168 hours in a week. That being said, is it too much to ask that we give GOD 1-3 of those hours? Perhaps we should consider our attendance in the house of GOD when we seek GOD’s attendance in our personal affairs. Friends and family, without the assembly of the saints, we become the withering coal.

My prayer for you today:

"Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us so many brethren in Christ. Lord give us a will to honor your commands and gather amongst one another in praise of your Holy name O Lord. We seek your presence in all that we do, and ask your gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell among us. We love you Father and ask that you bless our assembly. In the name of your son Jesus, Amen…"

May this message bless you all….

By: C.D. McCloud

The Will

Martin hadn’t been feeling so well for the last few weeks. Per the request of his most trusted advisor, he scheduled an appointment to see his doctor. He told the doctor of his symptoms of dizziness, disorientation, lack of balance, and brief periods of an inability to speak normally. After several tests, it was discovered that Martin suffered from a large, terminal tumor on his brain. Upon receiving the news, all he could think of were his adult children playing as kids. He heard their laughter in his mind as they jumped atop his bed in the morning. Martin’s children lost their mother Michelle at an early age and only knew him as a parent growing up. It was hard for him to bear the thought of leaving them alone, but he knew it was no longer in his control. Because the doctor had projected only 3-6 months of life, Martin had his assistant send for his children for an important meeting.

As his two sons and daughter arrived, he sat them down with a smile and told them of his medical condition. Tears pour from their faces like a mighty waterfall. He told them of his love for their mother and how thankful of her he was for the gift she bestowed upon him when she gave life to all three of them. Martin said to them, “I have loved you all my days on this earth and have prepared you for my absence. I have watched you stumble and fall along your paths to greatness, but I rejoiced every time you showed contrition and stood again to seek my forgiveness. Because you have honored me as my children and heirs, I present to you my will that rewards each of you equal share in my fortune that I have built for you. Remember the many lessons that I have taught you over the years and you will be blessed all your days.

Brethren, I bring the Good News today! Like Martin, when Jesus walked the earth, he taught us many lessons in preparation of his inevitable departure. I say to you today, Jesus did not die on the cross without leaving us “The Will.” The will reads: Romans 8:16-17, 16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. You see friends and family, it was not the stakes in Jesus’ hands and feet that restrained Him to the cross, it was His love for us; his obligation to fulfill the will of GOD, which is the following: A clean slate after Jesus died for our sins; Eternal life when Jesus overcame death and rose on the third day; Inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven as his heirs. Romans 8:18 reads, 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in Heaven. Family and friends I urge each of you today, take heed to the teaching of our Lord and Savior and find your place in His will.

My prayer for you today:
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us enough to forgive and erase our sins, that we may be worthy of the inheritance you have prepared for us in your will O Lord. We praise you for your love and mercy, and we seek your guidance to your Kingdom. We are your heirs O Lord, bless us with your Holy Spirit that we may act as your heirs. In the name of your son Jesus, Amen…

May this message bless you all….

By: C. McCloud.

Too Full to Fly

It was the end of August, and just two hundred miles north of the U.S/Canadian border, thousands of Canadian geese are preparing to migrate to the deep south of the United States for the winter. There are young birds among them that had never made this great flight before and were eager to embark upon the journey. The geese were off. Flying for hundreds of miles at a time, the birds stopped in at an area in the Virginias. The fields were loaded with good things to eat that had been left over from harvest and there was a lake that provided worms, insects, and algae to feed upon. The geese stayed only for a half an hour before taking off again; however, this was unacceptable for two birds out of the group. They did not understand why they should leave a warmer place that provided so much food, so they refused to fly further south with the others. The meals were easy to come by and there was no competition. They decided they will catch their flock of birds on the way back to Canada. As two months had gone by, the birds indulged in the fruits of the land. The geese were unaware of the danger that lurked around them. Behind the tree line of the fields was a sly ole fox. The fox had seen this movie before. The fox remained on the outskirts of the fields, covertly watching and plotting against the geese. Meanwhile, the geese continued to enjoy their days in the fields and on the lake.

The end of April had arrived and it had begun to warm up again. Sounds of the flock grew louder in the distance as they approached the field where the two geese had stayed behind. The two geese knew that it was near time to return to Canada. The flock of birds again landed in the field where there was plenty to eat. The two geese rejoiced in reuniting with their family again. Like before, the birds’ visit to the field was short. Off they went again. Ready to return to Canada, the two geese attempted to take flight as well. In doing so, they realized that they could not get off of the ground. The geese had become too full to fly. The birds had gained weight which prevented flight. They were now anchored in the fields that appeared to offer everything. Meanwhile, the fox had witnessed all of this. He knew now that the birds could not escape him by air and they were not fast enough on feet to elude his attack. Plump as could be, both geese were devoured by that sly ole fox.

Brethren, we have all been enticed by what the world seems to offer. After all, we were made from earth. What is from the earth will desire the earth. When we are young in the Lord, we cannot always see the place that we are migrating to. Because we cannot see the place that GOD has prepared, it is much easier to be distracted by the disingenuous luxuries along the way. If any of you are anything like myself, you have found yourselves in a field that appears to offer everything your heart has ever desired. It may be a woman, a man, a perception of love, money, cars, human adulation, position, power, and etc. Like the geese, those things fill our flesh with earthly gratification and complacency. You lose your desire to migrate to your true place in Christ. Our bible tells us in Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. That is, though we cannot see that place that we are migrating towards, we must trust GOD and know that we will arrive there in time. Our Bible does not tell us to stand and fight the temptations of the world, it tells us to flee from it and fight the enemy with faith! When we willingly submerge ourselves into the fields of worldly pleasures, we become full of the world. As a result of such fullness, we incur an inability to fly, or as the Bible says, flee; thus, we become an easy meal for the enemy! In closing, be conscientious of this verse this week: 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

My prayer for you today:

Heavenly Father, we are not without mistake. We have all fallen short of your desired place within you. We repent for these shortcomings and ask your forgiveness. Mighty is Thee O Lord in mine eyes, blessed be your name in my heart. Give me strength to fight the enemy. Give me the will to flee with flight that I may rise above worldly temptations and migrate towards your chosen place for me. In the name of your son Jesus, Amen…

May this message bless you all….

By: C. McCloud.

T.H.I.N.K. About Your Words

Michael was raised on a Midwestern farm in Illinois that had been in his family for several generations. Michael’s parents, like their parents before them, instilled Christian values into their children’s upbringing. They were good people who placed great value in speaking respectfully to one another and being kind to everyone. When Michael reached the age of ten, he started to become rebellious. He hated the clothes he wore to school. Michael was needed after school on the farm, so he resented the fact that he was unable to play freely like most kids. Michael began to speak badly to his parents. In belief that his parents were somehow unfair to him, he cursed them; he lied to them; he expressed his hate and resentment for them on several occasions. Because Michael had two younger brothers and a sister, his parents had to set a proper example for them by punishing Michael. Michael’s parents had concluded that every time Michael would curse or speak unkindly to them or his siblings, he would be required to take a nail and hammer to the old wooden fence, which sat at the very back acre of the farm. Once he reached the fence, he was required to hammer that one nail into the fence and return to the farmhouse. Michael chuckled inside once he learned of such a ludicrous punishment. The first time Michael used negative words against his family, he realized that the walk to the fence was quite a long one, yet he continued his rebellion. Whether it was scorching hot, freezing cold, torrential downpours, or very comfortable outside, his parent required that Michael’s punishment be carried out. Michael’s stubbornness persisted, and he continued to be careless with his words. Though his parents continued to forgive him for his hateful expletives, he would return to form and again begin his misguided outbursts.
Years went by and Michael’s visits to the fence had slowly reached the point of afterthought. He was now sixteen and had matured and grown tired of the long, unnecessary trips to that old wooden fence. One morning at breakfast, Michael said to his parents “Mom, Dad, I haven’t gone to that old fence in months now.” His parents smiled at him. His father stood, opened the kitchen cabinet, and reached for the hammer that Michael grew accustomed to using. He placed it in front of Michael and said to him: “Today, your single chore is to go to that fence and remove every last nail from that old fence. When you are done, come and fetch me and your mother.” Michael was confused by his father’s request, but did as he was told. It took him hours to remove the many nails that had been hammered into the fence over those years. When he was done, he fetched his parents as instructed. When they arrived at the fence as a family, Michael was pleased with himself. “See daddy, I’ve done exactly as you said. No more nails.” His father and mother looked at him with tears in their eyes... His father saying to him “Michael, that hammer was symbolic of your tongue, and the nails, your words. The fence you see in front of you is representative of your mother and I. When you hammered with your tongue, driving the nails that were your words, you pierced our hearts as you did this fence. As the fence stood idle and without blame, so did we. Our forgiveness was symbolized by allowing you to remove the nails. As you can see Michael, though the nails have been removed, the damage has been done.” Michael’s father added, “Your mother and I have purchased new wood. Take from it what is needed and use the hammer and nail to construct a new fence. Son the hammer and nail (i.e. tongue and words) should be used to construct the fence, not tear it down.”

Brethren, before we open our mouths, we should “T.H.I.N.K about our words”:

T – Is it Thoughtful?

H – Is it Helpful?

I – Is it Inspiring?

N – Is it Necessary?

K – Is it Kind?

A Christian tongue will speak all of the above. I do not feel a need to elaborate any further…

My prayer for you today:
“Heavenly Father, I pray that you guide my tongue in dealings with my fellow brethren. Help me deliver words that are Christ-Like, words that are builders of man instead of destroyers of man. Let my tongue be of guidance and encouragement to another. Lastly, may my tongue be forever used in praise of your Holy name. In the name of your son Jesus, Amen…

May this message bless you all….

By: C.D. McCloud