Drink from the Brook

What are you thirsty for today?  I suggest you to thirst after God, so come on down and drink at the brook. Psalm 42:1-2 says,

(1) As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  (2) My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Stop wasting time on those lame drinks and get yourself some Living Water.


Regards,

Antoine E. Hall

Blog:      http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall


"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." - 2 Samuel 22:33

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1 Co 1 I know what I know, and that I know is so.

Hi folks.  I hope that you are are doing well this day.  Today is a word not from myself, but from my Uncle Frank Jackson.  In keeping with the old WFTD (Word For The Day) tradition, there was not just one contributor, but as many as 4 or 5 at one point!  In the words of my son Judah, thanks "Unca Pank".

Here's another contribution for the WFTD. Blessings to you.

---

I know what I know, and that I know is so.

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

 

            Shalom, I hope that it is well with everyone. You know, I've been talking with some of my brothers and sisters in Christ and it seems to me that there is a almost unanimous cry that is going out and that is for the true Word of God to be preached. We look at and/or listen to some of the preachers on television or radio and don't get any "meat". It all seems to be the "feel good", "I'm excited" kind of preaching, not the, "Lord search me" kind of sermons. I like to hear about the cross, so that I am reminded that my decision to follow Christ is one that is to be taken seriously. I've heard frivolous remarks made from time to time by Christians, about Jesus being "my buddy" or the "man upstairs". This is unacceptable speech for a Christian! What Jesus Christ has done for us demands solemn respect, and honor. It's bad enough that the world mocks God and blasphemes His holy name, but for a "blood bought" believer to just flippantly refer to Jesus as "my main man" or some other light reference is, well. Wrong!!! That is why I chose this passage of scripture.

            Paul in his days in the city of Corinth had to contend with those who would challenge the validity of the gospel, and the reason of the cross. We today have to contend with these same challenges, even though the faces have changed. There are folks sitting in pews who have no idea what the cross of Christ is about or even have an inkling to its very importance to there salvation. They have said the sinner's prayer and think that now they will wait on King Jesus to call them home or rapture them. They have no desire to read, let alone study the Word of God. There existence is focused solely on getting a blessing from God, sitting in a pew on Sunday morning, putting a couple of dollars in the offering and feeling pretty good about themselves. Why? I'm doing what the Bible says. Right?  Ennnnnnnt! Wrong Answer!!!!!!!!

            Let me tell you saints, Jesus Christ left heaven, laid aside His glory, took on the form of a lowly servant, endured a life of poverty (real poverty), was obedient in everyway, was ridiculed, mocked, tested, lied upon, doubted by family and stranger alike, accused of being a blasphemer, tried as a heretic, whipped as a criminal, spat upon, beard plucked from his face, kicked, punched, and this was not all. The rest of the story goes to a craggy hill outside of Jerusalem call Golgotha, where my Savior, the Lamb of God was offered up for my sin(s).  He laid himself down after the torturous walk up the Via Delarosa, not forced, or coerced, but willingly being obedient to God's will to carry out to the fullest the plan to redeem me. (Oh yes, it's personal for me) He allowed them (the creation) to nail him (the creator) to that roughhewn beam that was to be lifted and hung between heaven and earth. He was bared to all to gaze upon and mock, the punishment meant and deserved of me. As he was still being attacked and ridiculed by the religious, soldiers, and the others who were being executed, I believe that I was thought of as he hung there. When he had atoned for all of mankind's sins, then and only then did he chose to die. 

            What Jesus did was that he made us who would believe and trust him for our redemption. Saved!!!!  But that isn't the end. Screeeeeeeeech!!!! His tomb is empty!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus the Christ is alive, alive forevermore, never to die again and you know what that does for me? I have a hope for the blessed hope. My Lord will come for me soon or he will call me home, which, I don't know. But I do know that he knows me!!! And has made to me a promise, yet not just to me but to all who trust Him for their salvation. 

            So let us render unto Christ the honor due to Him, for all that He has done for us at Calvary on that old rugged cross. He should be praised, worshipped, adored, admired, magnified, glorified, extolled, and I could go on a long time with this. Let us show the world what it is all about when we talk about Jesus, let our hearts burst forth with a flow of joyous exclamations. Know what is true, love what is true, guard what is true, and share what is true. I love you all, but Jesus loves you more. Well, until next time saints, Maranantha. 

Yours in Christ

Brother Frank

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Waiting & Depending On Other People

Good Morning Family,

I hope things are going well for you today.  As for me things are quite well today, so I cannot complain at all.You know, God has a funny way of bringing things to your attention.  Let me explain.

Yesterday morning, I was just leaving the house when I saw someone standing at a bus stop and you know how our brains do.  One thing that we see can trigger an entire day dream.  For me, it lead me to thinking how much I really dislike waiting and/or depending on other people.  It was at that moment the Holy Spirit convicted me and I felt like a scorned child.  Before I get into what I learned, let me tell you how I got the way that I am.

Every since age 11, I have been working and paying into Social Security.  My first job was delivering papers.  If I wasn't doing that then I was hustling, mowing 2 to 3 lawns every weekend at about $15 a pop.  I worked all during high school and spent a lot of my time at work paying off both of the cars I had during that time.  I learned that if I worked hard enough, I can get what I wanted, even if I had to wait for it.  What was the problem?  Well, nothing was wrong with learning good work ethics.  The problem is that I learned not to depend on other people and to do it myself.  For me it was easier that way and plus I did not have to wait on them. 

Granted, I have eased up a lot especially since our family's ordeal through all of 2009 and part of 2010.  I learned that I needed people, but my thought yesterday must have been the straw that broke the camel's back.   Maybe I regressed and the Holy Spirit couldn't take it any more.  In 1 John 4:20-21 it says,

(20) If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (21) And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Yes, I know these two verses are talking about love, but for me, waiting and depending on someone boils down to trusting that person to come through for me.  I know we are not to place our trust and hope in man because he can and will change.  I know that God never changes and remains the same yesterday, today, and forever, but.......how difficult is it to trust God who we cannot see, but cannot trust a brother or sister whom we see daily?  It is the part about seeing God vs our brother that relates my thoughts to the verses.

Now, all people are not bad people and there are many people who are trustworthy and very dependable.  When you put a wall of distrust between you and everyone else, it is difficult for even God to gain your trust because you subliminally put Him on the same level (at least until He comes through for you one or two times).  Lack of good practice, can form bad habits.  If we cannot practice waiting and depending on other people, then we will be in the bad habit of relying on ourselves, then what happens when we fall short? 

I am not advocating you to become lazy and totally depend on folks for all of your needs all the time.  This is not what I am saying.  You still need to lace up them boot straps and work hard, however, no one can do everything alone.  We need other people in our lives to help us along the way.  That's why God made Eve for Adam, peanut butter for jelly, and hush puppies for chopped BBQ.  They all work together for a common good.  You may feel like you can do it all by yourself, but I promise you, there will come a time when you will need someone for something.  God made us that way, so get use to it.

Be blessed folks!

Regards,

Antoine E. Hall

Blog:      http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." - 2 Samuel 22:33

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JM: Flava of Forevea

Happy Monday Folks.

I hope you all had a good weekend.  Today, the song that is in my ear is called "Flava of Forevea" by R-Swift, featuring Theory Hazit, KJ-52, and Braille. If you listen, you will here someone who sounds like Eminem and Canibus, however, before you judge as copy cats know this (and my wife brought this to my attention).  Remember that the enemy tries to copy everything that God means for good.  For example we have Jesus.  Satan and his clan will have the Antichrist.  God has good angels.  The devil has his angels  Those are just two, but know the stuff that you do not identify with or may call a copy cat, is probably the stuff that you need to be listening too....be easy folks and do your research.

Regards,

Antoine E. Hall

Blog:      http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall

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Say What You Mean & Mean What You Say

As probably most of you out there will know, I am a straight shooter.  If the truth needs to be told, I will give it to you.  My wife, can attest to this.  When we first got married, I use to always tell her, "say what you mean and mean what you say".  I use to say it because I am not a mind reader and if you say something but really mean something else that is not my fault.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.

This leads me to the world of ever changing politics.  Well, you know what, not even politics, but rather those in high profile positions.  Lately, it seems that people have been saying a bunch of things that "they did not mean to say".  Folks are apologizing all over the air waves for something they said.  So, let's look at this a little further.

As we all know there is power in the tongue and left unchecked it can cause some serious damage, however, the tongue only says what is really in your heart.  There is a saying that says, "what's in you will eventually come out of you" and if it came out, you meant to say it! One of the most irritating thing to see now-a-days is to see folks apologizing for something they said because they risked backlash and/or tarnished careers.

Don't get me wrong, I do not defend any one who spews utter none sense, but at least I understand where they are coming from when they say it unapologetically.  When someone makes a comment that causes a stir, don't apologize because you were heard saying it or because it may hurt your career.  Either stand by what you said or genuinely apologize (I do believe there are honest mistakes) and offer no excuse like "what I meant to say was.....".   When you say, "what I meant to say..." you are really telling me, you are not sorry you did it, just sorry you got caught.  In addition you wish to douse some of the flames surrounding your recent comment.

James 1:8 says, that "...a double-minded man, unstable in all he does".  If you are saying one thing and your actions are doing another, you definitely worry me.  Get it together.  Say what you mean and mean what you say. 

Regards,

Antoine E. Hall

Blog:   http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." - 2 Samuel 22:33

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Out With the New And In With the Old

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking.  Antoine you have that subject line backwards.  Well, I am here to tell you that how I have it is correct and you'll see what I mean. 

This morning I was riding to work and it dawned on me how much you change when you grow older.  I remember as a youngster, that I had to be wearing the latest and greatest clothing.  I had to have what people did not have and did not like to shop where others frequented.  I wouldn't be caught dead buying clothing from Wal-mart (or for you old school Eastern NC folks, Roses Department Store *lol*).

Now, I will happily waltz right up into a Wally World, Target, Sears or whatever and grab a pair of Wrangler jeans off the shelf without giving it a second thought.  If I see the price tag above $20 I almost want to pass out:  "Clawd have mercy!  $20 for a pair a pants! Are you serious??!!"  I remember when Karl Kani was a huge clothing line and I had to have the latest.  My parents (God bless them for supporting my crazy habits), purchased a $200 Green & Black Karl Kani outfit. It included a pair of pants, a vest (that didn't get worn often) and a black T-shirt with Karl Kani written on it nice and fancy.  I dressed it down with some tan canvas like Timberlands!  What What?! Hotness!

Flash forward 15+ years.  $200 for an outfit?!! Does it have gold on it?  Does it talk or jump on your body by itself?!!  My how times have changed, but as you grow older you realize that new, shiny, and pricey is not always necessary. Now-a-days more important things takes the place of fads like God, family, work, etc.  Fads come and go (I know I experienced a lot of them), but real life is always the same.  "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me"  (1 Corinthians 13:11).

Be blessed folks.

Regards,

Antoine E. Hall

Blog:   http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall


"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." - 2 Samuel 22:33

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Do You Have Self-control? (Replay)

This is a replay of a WFTD (Word For the Day) that I did on July 1, 2008.  I hope that this helps someone today just as it might have done 2 years ago!

-------------- snip ---------------
July 1, 2008

Good afternoon family!

I hope that everyone is doing well this fine Tuesday. It is definitely a beautiful day here in Raleigh and it is a great break from the blistering heat for a change.  Thank God for that!  I've been missing in action and I do apologize for my disappearance, however, I'm back!  DAAAANGGG! (sorry 5 Heartbeats Flashback LOL).  Without further adieu though, the WFTD everybody...the WFTD.

Today we will be talking about self-control, but before we get started lets define this thing.  One definition says that it is “The ability to control one's desires and impulses; willpower ”.  I will go one step further and and tell you that an impulse is an “urge” or “an instinctive motive”.  Now given these working definitions lets go to some scripture.

Proverbs 25:28 “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.”

Now that is simple and to the point.  No fluffy stuff.  No thou's, art's, or thee's and that's what is neat about the Bible. Sometimes the word of God is very descriptive and in depth.  At other times is is short, sweet and to the point.

In old days, cities use to be built with walls around them for protection from outside forces, enemies, and/or dangers.  If you recall ever seeing a castle from the medieval period on TV, you will notice it has a wall around it as well and the people dwell on the inside.  If you ever noticed whenever a city was attacked, the door or gate to the city was attacked because it was the most vulnerable part.  As gates became just as strong as walls so did weaponry become strong enough to tear down walls.  If a wall was ever torn down or broken, that made the folks inside the city vulnerable to anything on the outside because it had open access to go to and fro through the walls.

Now look at you and me.  We all have to maintain some self-control, but as Ryan spoke about yesterday, we are born with a sin nature.  It is innate that we have urges and desires that go against the very teachings of Christ, but if we do not deal with them, they can make us weak.  What do I mean?  Well lets take for example someone who use to curse (for phonetics, lets go with the spelling and pronunciation, “cuss”).  If you have put that old self away, then listening to others cuss around you actually offends you.  However, the moment you lose control and allow yourself to accept the cussing around you, then you become weak.  You develop a weak point in your wall and now the devil has a way to go to and fro as he pleases in your life.  Why? The reason is because you have a broken down wall and the next thing you know you're back cussing again.

This is just one example out of an uncountable number, however, you know your urges and desires.  If you lack self-control or lose it, you become weak and the enemy can have a foot hold in your life.  Learn to always maintain self control because it is always easier to tear down a wall than it is to erect one again (read the book of Nehemiah in your spare time).

Be blessed folks and have a good one.
-------------- snip ---------------

Regards,

Antoine E. Hall

Blog:   http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall


"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." - 2 Samuel 22:33

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The Things You Don't See

Happy Monday Folks.

I hope you all had a great weekend.  I had a pretty good weekend myself, but I could not get all the rest I wanted.  Oh well, it was good to get the rest that I could though.  I had been working like crazy the past couple of weeks and even did an all-nighter last weekend.  Needless to say, I didn't make it to church on last Sunday, but I did this Sunday.

This Sunday, we have started a new series called Knowing the Holy Spirit and this was more of an introduction.  The message was very enlightening and informative, but one concept that stuck in my head was on the topic of sin.  Some how (via Holy Spirit), we ended up discussing sin. 

According to The Free Dictionary, sin means "to commit an offense or violation".   One the first thing which may come to mind is sinning against the Mosaic Laws. There are the teachings of Jesus Christ.  Then there are offenses that we can commit against God by disobeying his direct authority.  God may tell me to do something directly and it may be specifically for His will in my life.  If I choose to disobey, then I am sinning against Him.  Now, at the same time, what He specifically told me does not apply to you because God's command was not relayed to you!

This had me in a "wow" moment, because all along I've always thought everything was spelled out in the Good Book.  Not so.  For example, I was lead by the Holy Spirit to remain at home with my wife while she was sick.  I looked for jobs, but no passionately as my real desire was to be home with her.  Had I gone back to work before ahead of time, I would have been in direct violation of God. Now that is not in the bible, but just because you don't see it in there does not mean it does not apply to me.

I would like to challenge you to think over your life and see how the Holy Spirit has spoken to you.  If you are a true follower of Christ, it will help you to put things into perspective on how you decide to answer God's calling in the future.

Be blessed and have a good one.

Regards,

Antoine E. Hall

Blog:   http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall


"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." - 2 Samuel 22:33

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JM: Clap Your Hands

*singing*  "If know that God is real, you should clap your hands....."  Today's music is by The Cross Movement and the song is called "Clap Your Hands".  Enjoy!

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The Impact of a Father

Hello, Hello!

It has been a crazy past two weeks for me, but I am still here alive and kicking!  Next week, life should slow down a little so here is looking forward to next week.  Before, we can reach next week though, we cannot do so without passing through Father's Day. While there is not as much hype surrounding this day as with Mother's Day, I think it is still good that we recognize the role and impact that fathers have in the lives of their children.  I am going to speak from my experience as a son and as a father.

Before I get started, I want to take a trip to Proverbs. 

Proverbs 4:1  "[ Wisdom Is Supreme ] Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding."

Proverbs 13:1  "A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke"

I list these scriptures to show that the presence a father in the house is one of great importance.   For a son, he has to look to his father to know how to become a man.  For a daughter, it is important for her to see how a man should treat a woman, so that she'll know what is acceptable in how she should be treated by a man.  Yes, the father figure in the home is very important, but we are living in a time when there are so many fractured homes.  There are many homes today with a single mother raising children and the father is no where to be found.  In some cases, parents are divorced and the father does spend time with there kids, but it is not the same as having a father in the home every day.

I speak as a child who is blessed to come from a home where my parents were married, remained together, and are still married 34 years to date.  Now, this is not to gloat against any one who was raised by a single parent.  This is just me saying it is a blessing to have had my father throughout my entire life.  To me that is HUGE and very important!  As a child, I saw my Daddy get up day in and day out to work from sun-up until sun-down.  He did it to provide for his family, so that we might have a better life.  (As a parent, I think it is our desire for our children to have an equal and/or better life than we had.)  I saw my father open doors for my mother, show affection towards her, and love her. 

I sometimes saw the arguments and disagreements between my mother and father, but I also saw that marriage kept going past the argument.  I know men can have a lot of pride and it is hard to swallow sometimes (even when we're wrong) so it was important for me to see that anything could be worked out through love.  All of these were things that I saw and learned from my father without him having to say a word to me.

Yes, there have been times where instruction has come verbally and that is important as well, however, I think the most important thing is not what you say but how you live.  As for me, I have received many tidbits of information from my Dad and many gifts I did not deserve to have, but the most important gift I have (and could have) ever received is his presence.  It is that presence that keeps me going every day. I have a wife and two children and now it is my turn to be present in their lives.  It is through our lives as fathers that the next generation obtains instruction to pass on the generation that follows them.

We use to have a substitute teacher named Mrs. Chapman in grade school and she had a saying before every class started.  She would say,  "I just want to tell every one of my students that you are special and you are somebody".  Fathers, even if you don't hear it or maybe feel it, you are special and you are somebody.  Have a Happy Father's Day and remember to always keep your eyes on the Lord.

Be Blessed.

Regards,

Antoine E. Hall

Blog:   http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall


"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." - 2 Samuel 22:33

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