Great and Holy Friday is not only a day of sorrow. It is a day of revelation.
It reveals what kind of love God has for the world.

This is the day Christ does not step back from human suffering, betrayal, injustice, shame, and death. He enters it willingly. He receives the full weight of the cross, not because He is powerless, but because love chooses to go where wounded humanity could never heal itself. Good Friday is where divine love descends into the deepest places of human brokenness and begins to undo death from the inside out.

Through a lens of renewal, this day teaches us that God does not save from a distance. He comes near, enters the pain, and takes on the sorrow. Christ stands in the place of human ruin and transforms the meaning of the place itself. What looked like defeat becomes the doorway to victory. What looked like the end becomes the beginning of a new creation.

At The Renewal Center, we speak of four movements: Reveal Christ. Renew Minds. Restore Lives. Reform Culture. Good Friday holds all four.

Reveal Christ
Holy Friday reveals Christ not merely as a suffering man, but as the Lamb who gives Himself in love for the life of the world. In His silence, we see strength. In His wounds, we see mercy. In His crucifixion, we see the heart of God unveiled. Christ is not revealed here through spectacle, but through sacrificial love. He shows us that true power is not domination. True power is self-giving love that refuses to abandon humanity even in death.

Renew Minds
Holy Friday also renews the mind because it confronts our false ideas about strength, control, and rescue. We often want God to act by avoiding pain, eliminating struggle, or overpowering every problem in obvious ways. But the Cross teaches a deeper wisdom. God overthrows darkness not by mirroring its methods, but by overcoming it through humility, obedience, and holy love. The Cross renews the mind by showing us that surrender is not weakness in the hands of God. Obedience is not failure. Love is not loss.

Restore Lives
Restoration is in this day. Good Friday reminds us that no life is too broken, no heart too wounded, and no story too buried for Christ to enter. He goes even into death itself. He enters the grave-bound places, stepping into the regions of grief, shame, fear, and estrangement. And because He enters them, those places are no longer abandoned places. They become places where restoration can begin. The Cross tells us that Christ is willing to go as far as necessary to bring humanity back to life.

Reform Culture
And Good Friday reforms culture by challenging everything shallow, hurried, and hardened in us. We live in a world that moves fast, numbs pain, avoids silence, and often treats suffering as an inconvenience rather than a mystery. But Good Friday teaches us to slow down, bow low, and become reverent again. It forms a different posture in us. A holier posture. A deeper one. It reminds us that sacred things must be approached with attention, humility, and awe.

• In a noisy culture, Holy Friday teaches us the discipline of stillness.
• In a casual culture, it restores reverence. 
• In a self-centered culture, it reveals cruciform love.

This is why Good Friday matters so deeply. It teaches us not to rush past the Cross in order to get to the language of the resurrection too quickly. It teaches us to remain with Christ, to behold the mystery, to sit with the weight of what love was willing to endure. There is something healing in that holy staying. There is something transformative in refusing to look away.  And yet, even here, sorrow is not empty.

There is a quiet hope beneath the grief of this day. Not loud. Not rushed. But real. Because the Christ who hangs upon the Cross is not overcome by death. He is entering it with purpose. He is filling even the darkest place with the promise of life to come.

Good Friday reminds us that renewal often begins in places that feel buried.
It begins in surrender.
In silence.
In truth.
In the holy recognition that Christ has gone before us even into death, and because of Him, no tomb has the final word.

So today, we do not merely remember the Cross.
We come near to it.
We bow before the love revealed in it.
And we allow that love to renew us again.

We are living in a time when womanhood is constantly being discussed, debated, reshaped, and redefined. Every day, women are handed new scripts about what it means to be strong, valuable, fulfilled, liberated, and seen. Culture speaks loudly. Social pressure moves quickly. Expectations multiply. And in the midst of all of it, many women are left carrying a quiet weariness in the soul.

Because beneath all the conversation is a deeper question: What does it mean to be honored by God?

That question matters because there is a difference between being noticed and being known. There is a difference between being affirmed by the world and being anchored in truth. And many women today are not merely looking for more recognition. They are longing for something steadier, deeper, and holy enough to restore what noise, comparison, pain, and pressure have worn thin.

Life in Christ offers a vision of womanhood that does not begin with performance, competition, or self-invention. It begins in the presence of God, where womanhood is not diminished. It is dignified.

True womanhood is not weakness. It is not inferiority. It is not passivity dressed up as virtue. And it is not something a woman has to distance herself from in order to be meaningful, effective, or strong. There is a sacred strength within womanhood that the world often misunderstands because it does not always announce itself through volume, aggression, or visibility.

But heaven does not measure strength the way culture does.

There is a strength that knows how to carry life without demanding applause. There is a strength that nurtures, discerns, covers, endures, and remains faithful when no one else sees the cost. This strength is formed by surrender to Christ, not by striving to accommodate the dominant cultural expectations.

• Not by imitation, but by communion. 
• Not by reaction, but by deep rootedness in God.

In many ways, one of the deepest wounds women carry today is the pressure to define themselves against something rather than from Someone: Christ. The result is often exhaustion. Women are told to prove, to compete, to outperform, to protect themselves from tenderness, to distrust softness, and to confuse busyness with purpose. In that environment, the soul becomes fragmented. Identity becomes reactive. And even success can feel strangely empty.

Christ does not honor women by asking them to erase what is authentic, beautiful, and original in their design. The Lord honors women by calling forth what is sacred in their personhood. He dignifies receptivity, blesses nurture, and sanctifies faithfulness. Christ shows that tenderness and strength are not enemies. In Christ, they belong together.

That is part of what makes spiritual renewal so necessary. Renewal is not merely emotional relief. It is not a temporary sense of inspiration. Renewal is the restoring of the inner life by the presence of God. It is what happens when a soul shaped by fear, comparison, wounds, or cultural confusion begins to remember where its true life is found.

And many women today need that kind of remembering. They do not need another slogan, another burden, or another demand to become more impressive. They need space to be and become whole.

Wholeness is one of the great gifts of God. It is what happens when the inner life is no longer scattered across competing voices, when she no longer lives at the mercy of every expectation placed on her, but begins to live from the peace of belonging to God. Wholeness happens when she is no longer trying to prove her worth, because she is being formed by Christ, who has already declared her precious.

This kind of formation changes everything. It changes how a woman carries herself, how she loves, how she suffers, how she waits, how she leads, how she nurtures, and how she sees her own life.

Because once dignity is rooted in God, life no longer has to be built on comparison. That dignity is not honored when it is forced into the mold of cultural approval or reduced to function, image, status, or performance. Honor comes when womanhood is seen as something sacred, worthy of reverence, worthy of formation, and worthy of peace.

The world often celebrates women in ways that still leave them burdened. The Lord honors women in ways that restore their souls. That honor is not shallow. It is not sentimental or decorative. It is deeply spiritual and calls a woman back to the center, to prayer, to reverence, and to clarity. It reminds her that she does not have to become harder to survive. She can become deeper, steadier, and whole. And that wholeness is beautiful.

To every woman who has felt overlooked, misread, emotionally tired, spiritually stretched, or pressured to become a version of herself that does not carry the peace of God: your dignity does not begin in the opinions of this age. Your worth is not established by trends. Your calling is not made holy by public applause.

You are most deeply honored where your soul is most deeply yielded to God.

That is where renewal begins.
That is where identity settles.
That is where strength becomes sacred.
That is where womanhood is not merely defended, but dignified.

And in the presence of God, what Christ dignifies, no culture can take away.

Black History Month arrives each year at a difficult intersection.

On the one hand, it calls us to remember. On the other, it often finds us exhausted—morally tired, spiritually fractured, politically polarized, and unsure how to speak truth without inflaming wounds. Many in the Church feel trapped between silence and slogans, between fear of saying the wrong thing and fatigue from saying nothing at all.

But the Church was never meant to be paralyzed by the world’s noise. Nor was she called to mirror its outrage. She was called to be a hospital for the wounded, not a courtroom for the accused—and certainly not an echo chamber for the age’s competing ideologies.

Black History Month, rightly received, is not a cultural obligation. It is a spiritual summons.

Remembering as a Theological Act
In the Christian vision, remembering is never neutral. Scripture remembers so that truth may heal and prevail. The Church remembers not to curate nostalgia or inculturate victimhood, but to participate in redemption. Memory, when ordered toward God, becomes medicine.

Black history is not merely a record of injustice endured or achievements attained. It is a witness carried in bodies, prayers, songs, tears, endurance, faith, and unfinished lament. It is history marked by suffering—but also by spiritual depth, perseverance, hope against hope, and a stubborn refusal to surrender dignity even when denied by law, church, or culture.
To remember this history faithfully is not to weaponize it, sentimentalize it, or reduce it to political talking points. It is to stand before it with reverence—and to allow it to interrogate our theology, our ecclesiology, and our posture toward suffering.

A Church Tempted by Distortions
We must be honest: the Church today is weary. Polarization has hollowed out our moral imagination. Justice is often treated as a slogan rather than a vocation. Silence is baptized as “wisdom,” while outrage is baptized as “faithfulness.”

Both are distortions.

The Gospel does not permit performative justice that requires no repentance, no endurance, no love of enemy. But neither does it permit a neutrality that refuses to name wounds for fear of discomfort. Christ never healed by denial. He healed by truth spoken in love, wounds touched with mercy, and lives restored through communion.

When justice is severed from the Eucharistic life of the Church, it becomes brittle, ideological, and exhausting. When mercy is severed from truth, it becomes evasive and sentimental. The Church is called to neither extreme.

Justice at the Table, Not the Tribunal
Orthodox theology insists that justice is not first a legal category—it is a relational reality. True justice seeks restoration, not retribution; healing, not humiliation. At the Eucharistic table, there are no abstractions. We do not encounter “issues” there. We encounter Christ—and, in Him, one another. We are confronted with the reality that every human being is an icon, bearing the image of God, however obscured by sin, history, or violence.

Black history confronts the Church with an uncomfortable truth: there have been times when the Body of Christ failed to recognize Christ in the wounded body of its neighbor. Repentance here is not performative guilt. It is conversion of vision—learning again how to see.

From Commemoration to Conversion
Black History Month should move the Church beyond commemoration toward conversion.
This requires:

• Ecclesial humility: acknowledging where the Church has been complicit, silent, or distorted.
• Cultural sobriety: refusing both ideological capture and escapist spirituality.
• Pastoral courage: creating space for lament without rushing to resolution.
• Leadership responsibility: forming communities that can hold grief, tell truth, and practice reconciliation over time.

Justice, in the Christian sense, is slow work. It cannot be microwaved. It requires formation, patience, prayer, and shared life. It asks leaders not for statements alone, but for shepherding. Not for perfect language, but for faithful presence.

A Different Way Forward
The Renewal Center speaks often of renewal—not as reinvention, but as right re-ordering. Black History Month invites this same work.
It invites the Church to:

• Recover lament as prayer, not protest alone.
• Resist false binaries that demand allegiance without discernment.
• Practice justice that flows from communion, not coercion.
• Lead with spiritual depth rather than cultural anxiety.

This is not withdrawal from the world. It is deeper engagement—on Christ’s terms.

Let's us pray together:
To the weary: may you find rest that does not numb your conscience.
To the wounded: may your pain be honored, not rushed.
To leaders: may courage be joined with humility.
To the Church: may we learn again how to see Christ in one another.
May our remembering become healing.
May our truth-telling be soaked in mercy.
May our pursuit of justice be shaped at the Table, under the Cross, and toward the hope of resurrection.
For renewal is not forgetting the past.
It is allowing God to redeem it—together.

I am renewal.

Most of us don’t struggle with planning our lives. We struggle with living them.
We make schedules. We set goals. We block our calendars. And yet, somewhere between intention and execution, we stall.

Not because we lack discipline or because we don’t care. But because we are tired in ways a planner cannot fix. For years, productivity culture has told us the problem is time.

Manage it better.
Control it tighter.
Optimize it harder.
But time isn’t the real constraint.

Energy is.

The truth most of us quietly live with is this: You can have hours available and still have no capacity left. You can “have time” and still feel depleted, distracted, or disconnected.

Planning is easy. Endurance is not.

That’s because human beings are not machines.
We don’t run on clocks. We run on rhythms.

When energy is depleted—physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually—work becomes heavy. Focus feels forced. Joy disappears. Even meaningful work starts to feel like a burden.
But when energy is renewed, something shifts. Your work gains lightness, your focus comes more naturally, and your effort no longer feels like resistance.

This is why our most productive seasons are often not the ones where we worked the longest—but the ones where we were most aligned. True productivity doesn’t come from squeezing more out of ourselves. It comes from restoring what has been drained. Energy, unlike time, is renewable.
It can be restored through:

• Sleep, nourishment, and movement
• Stillness, focus, and intentional boundaries
• Emotional connection and honest self-awareness
• Renewal spiritual practices that reconnect us to meaning and purpose

This is not indulgence. It is stewardship. Renewal is not a luxury for when life slows down. It is the condition that makes faithful living possible in the first place.

The question worth asking is not, “How can I fit more into my day?” But rather: “What rhythms do I need so my life can be lived with integrity, presence, and sustainability?”

When we shift from managing time to renewing energy, we stop treating ourselves as resources to be consumed and start honoring ourselves as lives to be stewarded. And that changes everything.

It’s right in the middle of the cold winter and I am gazing outside of my upstairs window. As I am enjoying the view, my eyes are focused on the bare trees that were once fully arrayed with illustrious colored leaves from the Autumn season.  It is no surprise to me, the return of the cold windy winter has returned and sooner or later, as surely as it always does, the sparse branches will again, bud with new leaves on them. With a more curious gaze, I begin to stare at skeletons of trees before my eyes.

Inquisitive as I am, I began to wonder what is happening underneath the soil with root function during the harsh cold winters. Of course, I have come to learn, as we all have, that seasons come and go. But my curiosity would not leave me alone. Intrigued as I was, I was determined to find out what was really happening to those roots and what I found out was that not only are the roots oftentimes appearing to be somewhat dormant during the winter, most of the time they are doing more than we can imagine.  The roots are still growing and producing nourishment to the trunk and branches so that it’s in preparation mode for the upcoming Spring season.

Quickly, my mind thought of the stability of the tree.  It was stable, even during the bare, cold, wintery months.  And what we consider to be a bare skeleton of a tree is actually a fortified, well-conditioned structure that’s ready for the production of new leaves and longer branches when the warm weather returns.  It may appear that during the time of fading nothing is going on, but on the contrary, the tree is at its strongest because the root system is sure. And because the root system is sure, it has a solid foundation.  There is always an assurance that growth and expansion will take place because the root system is a solid source of stability.

My deep thought brought me to the revelation that the tree trunk and branches rely on the foundation of the roots. It’s dependable and immutable.  The tree trunk and branches depend on the root system to supply what’s needed for growth and the root system’s character is unchanging.

A powerful scripture reminds us in Isaiah 80: 4 about the surety and immutability of the foundational word of God. Even when conditions and seasons of circumstances leave us in a state where we appear to be unproductive and ineffective, the embedded word of God in our hearts is rooted, grounded destined to bring stability.  We are still growing and His character is unchanging!

“The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.” 
 
The promises of God are yes and amen.  Each promise is fully reliable, unchanging, resolute and prepares us for the seasons of sprouting, expansion and growth.  
The book of Psalms begins with the assurance that when we meditate on the promises of God, we will be like trees that bring forth fruit and our season, our leaves will not wither and whatever we do will prosper. (Psalms 1: 2-3).  The root system "is" the promises of God.
Just as the root system of the tree brings fortification and nourishment during those months where inactivity appears to be happening, much preparation is being made through each working root system.  That true system is designed to bring forth everything necessary for the tree to produce. On the surface, to the naked eye, nothing is happening; but, growth is happening at the root!

So, as I reflect on that tree, the answer to my question of "what is happening" would be, “it’s growing!”  With each passing day, those roots are expanding and gaining more stability and security through being grounded.

What’s currently happening above the soil of the tree is the manifestation of what’s been going on underneath.  Every root continues to spread out anchoring the tree as it grows to full maturity.  During inactivity it’s still growing!

We are like trees in the seasons of preparation; the word of God is working at the core to manifest stability, and productivity is working in us at the surface to bring forth sprouting and blooming in our due season like never before. In seasons of what may look like inactivity, we’re still actively growing! As paradoxical as it may sound, the appearance of inactivity on the surface equals growth at the root. We just keep growing!








Copyright 2025  Carmela E. Head 

Little Task:  Big Job
Written by Pastor Carmela E. Head

Many prized art painting masterpieces begin with one stroke of the painter’s brush. Most of the time we see the end result of many hours of combining paint using various brushes to create special hues. Defined paint strokes and visualization come into play over time to complete a wonderful work of art.  With much concentration, hours and days of small increments of details are sometimes added.
 
Finally, we are embracing the totality of the art that has been created. But it didn’t happen instantaneously.  It took meticulous attention to each stroke of the paint brush to make this achievement. The small strokes were little tasks that ended up playing a role in a big job. Although some strokes were little, they were still detailed and very necessary for the big picture.

Take for example, the vast artistic expressions and paintings on the walls of many castles and large framed paintings that we see displayed in many places, these wonderful works of art had a beginning with the little task of one stroke of the painter’s brush.

Oftentimes, we may deem a little task as menial, but, in the grand scheme of things it could play a major role in a big job.

This is encouraging to us to know that even when we may think our efforts are not adding up or amounting to much impact, it does. Just as the painter uses initial strokes of the paintbrush to create a masterpiece, the painting continues over time until completion. Each color hue and each painting effort are of great significance. Little tasks are of great importance. What is in your hands?  Do you consider it to be great?

Scripture encourages us in Luke 16:10a, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones." (NLT)
The beginning of a small or little task has a profound impact in the Kingdom of God.  Whatever the Lord places in our hands is blessed to multiply.

1 Corinthians 3:8a says, “The one who plants is just as important as the one who waters.”  (CEV)

God will ultimately give the increase. This means, God will be glorified with each measure of contribution. No task is too small and insignificant.  Again, little tasks are of great importance.  

What is in your hands?  Do you consider it to be great?
The beginning of a little task, over time with consistent effort, creates amazing groundwork for building and creating something great: The masterpiece of the Master’s plan.  













Copyright 2024 Carmela E. Head 

AUTUMN RAIN: THE UNFORGETTABLE PROMISE OF SUSTENANCE

Written by Pastor Carmela E. Head
The Renewal Center

The season of yielding much fruit and vegetables is here!  The bounty of apples, pumpkins, and big baskets or barrels of abundance are evident everywhere reminding us of harvest and plentitude.

With Autumn comes a promise of harvest.  With the Autumn rain comes a promise of refreshing from the scorching sun we’ve endured during the hot summer.  That Autumn rain softens the grounds and soil bringing renewal and a refreshing.  It is a welcome to the plains of vegetation that needs it very much so. We also welcome that refreshing shower of Autumn rain that sweeps away the residue that was stagnant. What would we do without that promise of refreshing? . . . The promise of renewal that comes every year with this Autumn season.

With this season of harvest and abundance upon us comes a reminder of that un unforgettable promise of sustenance that only the Lord can bring from His hands of provision to us.  

Throughout scripture we are reminded of the promises from the Lord that He will bring us times of refreshing when we need it most, especially from the seasons that brings us to parched lands.  He brings us times refreshing from those “dry” times in our lives when we need strengthening and need to feel the touch of restoration from Him. Sometimes, we feel that our journey is long and need His sustenance to strengthen us.  Sometimes we just need the touch, like the refreshing of Autumn rain.

The Psalmist writes of this time of refreshing in Psalms 84: 5-6 (Good News Translation)
“How happy are those whose strength comes from you, who are eager to make the pilgrimage to Mount Zion.  As they pass through the dry valley of Baca, it becomes a place of springs; the autumn rain fills it with pools.”

This reminder. This promise of the unforgettable promise of sustenance is there for us to encourage us that God’s promise of provision, renewal and regeneration is there to build us and refresh us when we go through “dry” seasons.  We can find the strength that we need in this season of refreshing, knowing also, that God will provide for us in the areas that we need His provision most.  His promises are unforgettable because they bring back the remembrance of His undeniable touch, His enduring strength, His prevailing guidance, and His loving provision. The assurance in His promises reminds us of how we felt renewed at that very moment.

The prophet Isaiah mentions of this promise from God to us in Isaiah 58:11.
“And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry.”
 
We can draw our strength upon that. Relief from the “dry” season is ever near.  God’s promise of sustenance is unforgettable, which means that we always have that promise to glean upon and to always have it within us for renewal.   His Autumn rain comes to strengthen us when we need it most. The restoration that He brings never runs dry.  It is always dependable and unforgettable.















Copyright 2024 Carmela E. Head

Right Passage
Written by Pastor Carmela E. Head
The Renewal Center

What a memory!  I clearly remember traveling along on the road during a vacation on my way to a destination I had never been.  While casually driving, enjoying the serenity of the view around me and enjoying the quietness, all of a sudden, as I was in the middle of a five-lane highway with multiple signs approaching leading in every direction, my GPS began buffering and a blanket of uncertainty engulfed me.  “Oh no!  Where am I supposed to go?” My thoughts raced as I wondered which exit to take.  "Do I take the bypass?  Do I enter the underpass? Which road leads where?"  Questions quickly began reeling throughout my mind.  

With each approaching exit, I could not see if I would land in traffic, enter a suburb, or go into the city. The seconds on the clock were moving!  With enough time, the GPS regained its function and led me onto the right passage where I confidently stayed on course until my destination.  My connection to the GPS’s course of direction had always been there, but in that moment of feeling it was out of reach, I had momentarily lost my grip to my sense of direction.

I cannot say that I was not anxious at that moment.  I was.  I was uncertain.  I began to wonder which lane I needed to be in and what I would determine to do. But in the midst of the uncertainty, I remembered the confidence I gained and the peace that came when I finally heard that familiar sound of the GPS leading me into the direction I needed to go into.  There was such a relief. There was a clear passageway for me to enter.  I was back on board with clear insight into where I was going.

There was a comfort in knowing that I was accurate.  It was because I knew that I was on the right passage. I was now going in the right direction. In an instant, from a moment of uncertainty, my confidence and assurance were regained.

David was known as “A man after God’s own heart.” Through-out the book of 1 Samuel and the book of Psalms he encountered places of uncertainty on his journey as a minstrel for King Saul as well as during his tenure of being the second King of Israel.  Through-out his journey he was faced with many challenges, from being in places of uncertainty to feeling distant from the Lord and he often felt that he was off course in his purpose.  But as we read the account of David and his testimonies, we see his constant yearning for the direction, the confidence, the protection and the guidance of God.  

There were many places in Davd's journey where he found himself uncertain and waiting for clarity of which way to turn and which way to go.  As he waited, he sought God, for instruction, for guidance and for right passage.  Imagine the praise, the joy and the excitement David felt when he knew he was on back on track and headed in the right direction.

He encourages us through the scriptures in Psalms 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (ESV)
 
Psalms 23: 1-3 David writes, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still water.  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” (NKJV)

Psalms 25: 4 says, “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.” (NLT)

Psalms 61:2 encourages us, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (NKJV)

Right passage from the Lord always brings us clarity and accuracy.  His guidance reassures us and gives us true direction when we are faced with which direction to take.  We can take comfort in knowing these scriptures that show King David’s fervency to seeking God’s voice for His leading.

Even when David felt he could not trace Him, the Lord’s presence was always there ready to guide him in the right passage and course of direction.  As David sought God for accuracy, we, too, can glean from this:  to seek right passage from the One who knows our ultimate plan, purpose and direction.  He will make our way straight and bring clarity into our journey.













_{Copyright 2024 Carmela E. Head}

“Seasons of Renewal”

The season of Spring is upon us.  Look around your environment and take note of the changes emerging.  Trees are budding and in some place’s daffodils are blooming.  Daylight hours are now longer after turning the clocks ahead, providing time for more sunlight.  Something is happening in the earth during this time of renewal. The season of winter has passed and there is an awakening occurring.  God gave us seasons to depict his glory in the earth and to distinguish times. Genesis 1:14a “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years.  God uses nature to display the transformation of time through the different seasons.  The trees are a wonderful example of how God displays the changes that occur in each of the seasons. They function in the format God created them to. The trees shed their leaves during each autumn season. The leaves fall to the ground and impact the soil beneath the tree. The tree stands bare in the winter season. The branches remain outstretched but without any leaves until spring arrives.
We as believers encounter different seasons in our lives. We have all experienced a hard winter season in life where everything appears to be dormant, bare and cold. It can feel lonely and challenging at times.  However, the season of spring arrives in our lives and that which was buried under the hard soil gives way to new hope. There is a blessing in our dark season. Do you know that greatness happens under the earth during the winter season? Psalm 16:7 states, “I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.”   What is God producing inside of you during the winter season?  Seeds are planted and completely covered. The soil gives way to rain and nutrients producing a transformative process underground.  A time of rest and preparation for what is to come.
 Each season provides a set of principles to be mindful of.  1 Chronicles 12:32 speaks to us regarding the sons of Issachar, who understood the times and seasons. They possessed wisdom and discernment which helped them to navigate and make proper decisions at the appointed time. God has given us the seasons as a guide to perpetual cycles of renewal.  The seasons function
In the order which God created them. How much more should we as God’s special creation also function in our original design? The Lord knows exactly what we need and at the appointed time.  He knows what season you are in right now. Each season brings with it a process of renewal: something is left behind for something new to emerge. Embrace the season of life you are currently experiencing. Renewal is a perpetual state of change.

"God’s Love Renews”
Written By: Monique Jackson

Each year in February millions of people in this country celebrate a special day that is set aside to show love. Valentine's Day has been celebrated for centuries in honor of a Catholic priest who was martyred in 270 BC. The day was named in his honor, and it is commemorated on February 14th.  Many people send cards and flowers to their loved ones to show love. It is a wonderful time and expression of love across the country. There is nothing more powerful than love demonstrated in our lives. However, love is needed every day, and it is a gift. A gift that cannot be purchased or placed in a decorative box.

God loved mankind so much, He gave his only son Jesus for the world. Jesus was born with a purpose. He was the only perfect sacrifice for the redemption of mankind. John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  The love God has for us brings about renewal. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior something happens.  A transformation takes place in our lives that causes us to change.  We take on a new mind! Nicodemus went to Jesus by night and had a conversation with him. He began to ask questions about this transformative process. Jesus spoke to him and said simply, you must be born again.  Jesus was speaking of the transformative process of redemption through repentance. It was the love of Christ that got the attention of Nicodemus and many others in the Bible.  Jesus was love in action. He met people where they were and provided spiritual insight and guidance; but at the core of his being was love. The love of Christ renews those who believe and follow him each day. His love extends far beyond the traditional Valentine’s Day celebration that occurs each February. We see the love of Christ demonstrated in people who have experienced his love. The world we live in is far from perfect but if you take a moment and look closely, God’s love is present. We see it during times of crisis when others need help. Perfect strangers will run into a burning building to save a life. Volunteers will travel to disaster areas to lend a hand and help restore communities. There are shelters and foodbanks to provide shelter and feed the less fortunate. God’s love is ever present today! God’s love renews and restores broken lives right before our eyes.

How You Show Up Matters…
 
Most people do not leave the house without looking in a mirror. Ladies are definitely going to look in the mirror multiple times a day before walking out of the door. We do this because our appearance matters. Well, if it’s important to ensure we are well groomed and properly dressed each day before we go out in public, how much more important is it for us to be prepared to reveal and share Christ with others.
When we encounter others what do people see? What is our demeanor and expression? It is our responsibility as image bearers to reflect the light of Christ for others to see. When we are born again there should be a change in our behavior that exudes the character and nature of Christ. Our way of thinking and how we do things should change and point to our savior. How we show up matters. 
Today there are many things taking place in the lives of people. The challenges of life cause many to suffer in silence not knowing what to do or how to respond. We are ambassadors for Christ who should be armed with the fruit of the spirit and the love of God. Share a kind word with someone. Give a stranger a genuine compliment or a smile. This may be just the thing someone needs to encourage and lift their spirits. This is why it is so crucial that we are mindful of how we present ourselves to others. Paul described those who follow Christ as living epistles who are read by others. The apostle Paul was being descriptive in the words he used to describe the believer. He was also letting us know that we are like letters that are read by many. What would someone say about you if you were a letter being read by them? Would your letter be filled with the attributes of the Christ? It matters how we show up in the earth. There are others counting on you to reveal Christ from within. They are waiting for your testimony and the demonstration of your walk with Christ. Show up and display the radiance of Christ in all that you say and do! Remember, how you show up matters!
2 Corinthians 3:2-3

Just Add Water!

By Pastor Carmela E. Head

In junior high school and in high school, I participated in basketball, track, and field. For those who have done the same, I know that you can relate to the vigorous practices and the weekly games. For basketball, the sound of the whistle inaugurated the commencement of a new game. The ball was tossed into the air for a jump shot, and we were off! Up and down the court we would run, jump, pass the ball and engage in defense. All eyes would be continually on the stop clock and by the third quarter a thirst would come over us and we all were reaching for our water bottles. The same happened in track and field as each track runner pushed themselves within the last part of the race to get that second wind to reach the finish line; we too, were reaching for water bottles. I could remember hearing the coaches say, “Grab your water bottles and get a little water!” It seemed that just a swish (and often a swig) of that water would do. We were then refreshed and felt revived!

What was an apparent moment of depletion had then become restored; for it was then that our thirst was quenched.

Of course, our reliance upon water is inevitable. Our physical bodies demand and depend upon it. In practicality, even a pot of leftover tasty beans when reheating needs just a bit of water to jumpstart it again. If you really want to be amazed, just add water to a parched plant that has been sitting dormant for a while and watch that plant eventually begin to return to its vibrancy. Everything is dependent on the intake of water.  Water replenishes everything it touches. Anything that needs conditioning and movement needs water for revitalization. It would be unimaginable without it.

Water is restorative. Water revitalizes. The word revitalize means to reinvigorate, re-energize, to fortify, to rekindle, restore and to ultimately renew.

Spiritually, in our inner man, we will need to just add water! The refreshing water is found in the revelatory pages of the word of God, in scripture. The Bible has 66 books that will refresh us as it gives instruction, direction and brings revelation to where we are and where we are going in our daily lives.  The many precious promises by God in scriptures are refreshing that we need to encourage our faith.

In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the words of Jesus brings life to us as we meditate on them. Each word waters and strengthens our inner man.  There is a continual igniting and renewing that happens when we receive the water of the word of God.

In Psalms 23, the Great Sheperd (who is the Lord) is revered by us as He leads us to still waters, where we are restored. There is something about water!  He longs to refresh us where we need it, when we are spiritually parched and when we are in need of faith building. Add some spiritual water and watch the turnaround, watch the sprouting, watch the reviving and watch the vitality. We can go on further when we are recharged and saturated with His water.

The word of God is overflowing with restoration from cover to cover. By meditating and reading His word we are spiritually hydrated with his infallible word, which is his living water. Here are two of many scriptures to encourage your heart as open your hands to receive such a precious cup of God’s word, His life sustaining water:

Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.  (New Living Translation)

Isaiah 12:3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  (New International Version)

Psalms 107: 9 For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. (New Living Translation)

The renewing and revitalization process happens when we replenish with sustaining water, the word of God. We can run farther and go the distance.  Just add water!











Copyright 2023  Carmela E. Head
 

Marching Orders:  To Sights Foreknown
By Pastor Carmela E. Head
The Renewal Center

Noah.  I remember hearing and learning of the Bible story of Noah’s ark when I was a little girl. The picture of the enormous rugged and rustic wooden ark always seems to come up in mind when I think of that story.  The most vivid picture has always been the animals entering the ark two by two.  I even remembered singing many songs about Noah’s Ark. And, even with the elementary principles of learning about Noah, his family and the voyage they took, there is such a revelatory meaning within this story that we can glean from today.
 
The recorded story of Noah, within itself in the book of Genesis, is a very short one; however, there are many big lessons that we learn from it. Noah received marching orders!

Marching orders? Yes, marching orders. He received instructions, a plan and a mandate from God to do something which in Noah’s mind could have been considered to be unorthodox.  With marching orders from God, himself, he pioneered and eventually created something that absolutely no one had ever heard of.  An ark. Up till that time, an ark wasn’t even heard of or thought of; however, it was already in the mind of God that this necessary vessel, which was ultimately foreknown, was needed to be constructed and completed for God’s ultimate plan.

I must have reread this story multiple times. This time the Lord gave me a revelation about marching orders.  Marching orders are always given in the form of an assignment to be completed.  There are cases where the recipient of the orders is aware of the pre-planning process and that’s a bonus, because human nature always wants to be in the know.  There always tends to be that nagging feeling when we don’t have all the pre-planned details.

The story begins with God identifying Noah as being the only one who walked closely with Him. Noah was blameless before God. At that time, God shared with Noah the condition of the attitudes and lifestyles of people of that time and then He spoke to Noah, gave him instructions on what to build and the details on how to build the ark. Noah immediately took the instructions and began to implement and execute. (Genesis 6 : 9- 22)

I can only imagine what that would have been like: to build this gigantic ark, put my family, rally up animals, pack in food and supplies, close the door and wait for an outpour of rain that would last for forty days and forty nights. It would seem unorthodox to me.  Who knows what Noah may have been thinking then.

Oftentimes, we receive marching orders to pioneer, implement, or even create something that has never been done before.  Revelation may come through our time in prayer, in our time of worship, devotion, or even through a word of knowledge.  However, the revelation comes, it has already been foreknown by our God who is omniscient.
 
A wondrous scripture in Psalms 147:  4 – 5 tells us of His omniscience:
He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
 
He knows the outcome. He holds the blueprint of the instructions and the details of how to build, how to execute, and how to create.  The ark was never heard of before, nor seen before, but it was in the mind of God beforehand.

Noah, in his surrender to God, took his marching orders and proceeded to build a vessel of great magnitude under the obedience of God. It seemed unorthodox but God had a plan.
Your marching orders may seem unorthodox to you. You may have something in your hand to create that has never been used or looked upon before.  Know that when God’s revelation will be manifested through your willingness to march in, march through and march on in the direction in which the instructions lead you.  

It may be "sights unknown" to us, but He has already known the divine path he has designed for us to take.  

Job 23:10 says, “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.

Keep marching to sights foreknown!








_{Copyright 2023 Carmela E. Head}

Written by Pastor Carmela E. Head

There is something about the breaking of day.  The most anticipated welcoming of the day; that all perpetual beautiful sunrise.  It does not matter where you live or where you are, we all get to wake up to an incomparable beam of light that radiates and warms everything it touches.

Light opens the way.  It illuminates.  Candles, lanterns, lamps all have one thing in common: to enlighten and brighten any dark space or path.  Light warms and brings us comfort like no other.  Light brings us assurance in a place where obscurity exists.  We look for light.  We can’t help it. We are naturally wired to seek out light so that we can see our way, whether at night or in room which needs that flicker of light. As soon as the lightbulb dims it’ shine, we look for ways to make it brighter and off to the store to get new light bulbs.

There is an innate light that shines within all of us.  God gives us uncanny spiritual gifts that remit light to those around us. With each gift given, He has specifically designed each one to manifest and to release the power of God to uplift someone, to encourage someone, to set order in a world of chaos, to offer hope, to illuminate a space where there is no vitality, or even to exude patience or grace where needed.  Our light must shine.  Our light must beam.  Our light must manifest and reflect God’s glory so that someone else’s life can be enhanced.

Someone in the world is waiting for your light, whether it be a smile, a helping hand, evangelism, discipleship, a word of encouragement, hospitality, showing compassion, a practical act of service, or even a listening ear.  Light warms any space and each beam of light we emit, through sharing our spiritual gifts, brings a warm extension of the love of Christ within us to a world that needs it.
 
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness, a light has dawned.  Isaiah 9:2

Where is your light? What is your light? Someone needs to hear your gift of song.  hear an affirming word.  your craftsmanship or administrative gift, your leadership style, your wit, your gift of organization, or even your gift of mercy.  Whatever gift you may have, there is always room for your gift to enlighten and illuminate a space that needs it. Here is a word of encouragement, you don’t have to worry about trying to emit your light, light just emits because it is in operation. Jesus gave us these words to encourage us to shed our light:

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5: 14-16 NKJV

As you seek to emulate Christ’s love through using your gifts, like a lantern’s bright light, each space you enter will be enlightened.  Remember that your gift matters to God. We are not to dim our shine.  Shine brightly in the confidence of Christ.  Psalms 100: 3a says, Know that the Lord , He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.
That’s enough word right there to have something to SHINE about!






_{Copyright 2023}

By Pastor Carmela E. Head
The Renewal Center

We all seem to know that one person who seems to have a knack for patience.  It seems that they have been given an extra ounce of grace in the area of tolerance.  I know several people who exercise a great level of calmness while waiting for answers.  That is sometimes a great place to be: “cool, calm and collected” while watching what’s needed and required unfold before their very eyes.

I have never been one who has been avid in gardening. I try, but for the most part, fall a bit short during the cultivation stage. Some of us purchase seeds, dump them in a pot of soil, add a little water and keep it moving.  As comical as it may seem, there are just some of us who can sharpen our gardening skills a bit more from those who have a little more expertise in that area.
But, what I must mention here that I desire to become more seasoned in horticulture and in doing so, I enjoy the process of seed, time, and harvest. I am careful to be reminded that a flower, a rose bush, a plant, a tree or even a garden of vegetables must undergo the unfolding of process. It doesn’t happen overnight. We just can’t get around process.

For some of us, we would absolutely just love to skip “time” in the process and go directly from seed to harvest. Hurrying up to get the basket of okra, tomatoes or even peppers would be delightful.  From seed directly to harvest.  Sounds absurd doesn’t it?

Ridiculous as it sounds, that’s our stance sometimes when we just don’t know what do during the time PROCESS, because process takes time, development and cultivation.  We may sometime very well wish we could just skip, overlook or even bypass it. But, with no surprise, if we skip the cultivation part of PROCESS, we will miss one the most important aspect of it.  That is growth.
It’s what’s happening in the meantime that brings those necessary elements to the plant’s growth.  The meantime could mean days, weeks and months and what we witness in the interim is most profound: sprouting and blooming.  Without process there would be no harvest.

As we ask ourselves “what do we do in the meantime?” we are actually asking “how can we effectively wait?”  Sometimes, as we are in the “middle” of process, waiting for manifestation in our lives to occur, we get stirred, eager to see results, and restless. You may ask “How long must I wait?” And just as we see in the process of plant cultivation, we will see that we, too, spiritually, will need to cultivate renewal in our lives by waiting for wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and guidance of Holy Spirit.  He is building and depositing ALL of what we will need inside of us so that when we have been fully developed in a particular area,   we will have everything that we need and will lack in nothing.

What can we do in the meantime?  What can we do while we wait for harvest? While we wait we can spiritually cultivate by building ourselves up, by seeking God for definitive direction, we can dive into our devotional time a little deeper, we can be lead to sharpen areas of our spiritual development and gain more refinement and we can ask for more clarity.
So while we are waiting in cycle of PROCESS, we can also draw upon these encouraging words from the Psalmist to help us gain the patience we need as we wait for manifestation:

Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.  Psalms 27:14 (NASB)

There it is.  That famous word, “wait”.  I am chucking as I pen this sentence. I can almost feel that sense of urgency to “hurry and make haste” to find out what the outcome may be.  So even in this sense of urgency, we can ask God for the measure of SUSTAINING patience that we need.

As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”  Gen 8:22 (CSB)

What a powerful reminder about seed, time and harvest! When our wavering patience seems to run to nearest exit, we can take this to heart, take a pause (stay cool, calm and collected) and draw from what’s happening in the PROCESS.  It is in this process of waiting that we gain more wisdom and revelation…..an expectation that will enable us to produce a fully ripe harvest with nothing lacking.





Copyright 2023  Carmela E. Head

DAYBREAK MANNA
Awakening To The Mysteries of God

Written by Pastor Carmela E. Head
The Renewal Center

There’s something very refreshing that happens at daybreak; that new sound that comes from the free-flying birds chirping a new melody, a hushing of the wind that greets us at the door, a subtle brightness that sweeps across the morning sky, or perhaps a calm that settles within the neighborhood. Nothing is stirring or scurrying just yet. When we greet that morning and the dawning of a new day, we meet it with an expectation of what is to come.

With daybreak, a deep yearning of “God, what will you have for me today?” sparks within us. With this desire to meet the Lord in our daily devotion, we may come with curiosity seeking the Father for the answers to the many questions that may be upon our hearts.

Daybreak.  Everything is new again, new direction, new plans that God has for us, new insight, new revelation . . . NEW.  Could it be that daybreak brings a stirring within us to know God better, to know his ways better, or to apply his word better?  God’s desire is to unfold His mysteries to us as the dawning of a new day is unfolding.
 
With spiritual plates in place before us, ready to receive our morning spiritual food, we should seek to find out what is on God’s menu for the day.

The Children of Israel spent forty years in the wilderness without the daily means of cultivating food, but God was there to provide for them and they never went hungry.  He provided food for them called “manna”, an edible substance that fortified them in order to keep them strong for their journey.

Although, manna was unlike ordinary food that would have been usually prepared, the Children of Israel had no idea what to call it but “what is this?”  They approached God’s provision with uncertainty and bewilderment because it did not come “packaged” in an ordinary fashion. Even so, this “manna” was a mystery to them and catch this, it came to them every day at dawn.

God wants to give us "Daybreak Manna".  When we seek Him with an open heart to receive His mysteries in each new day, there is an awakening within to move forward in the way He has prepared for us. When we seek God, we will see clearly what’s on the “menu” for day specifically prepared for us.  “What is this?” we may ask.  God truly has an answer to that as we seek Him at DAYBREAK with questions for the day, His Word says:

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and
 incomprehensible things you do not know.”  Jeremiah 33:3 CSB
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13  NIV

As the  dawning of each new day approaches, may we give our undivided attention to the One, our Lord, who is ready to provide us the daily provision of His plans and His set of instructions for us. It is then that we can take hold of His will and move in the expectation of great things to come.  His refreshing mysteries will unfold in us. Daybreak is calling.




Copyright 2023 Carmela E. Head

What’s With The Stain?
Written by Pastor Carmela E. Head
The Renewal Center

“What is with this stain? I can’t seem to get it out!”  Sounds familiar doesn’t it?  I can remember countless times when I have purchased a garment only to find an ingrained stain that is far beyond removing.  Have you experienced this?  I am very sure we all have encountered such frustration where we have had to either hide the stain or just leave the garment in the drawer or in the closet.  In a most comedic way, I wonder why it is the most costly pair of pants, coat, jacket or blouse that seemingly gets the boot back into the dark corridors of the closet never to be worn again. Is it another investment gone down the drain?

Everywhere we look there are strategies, tips and even solutions on how to remove stains from hard surfaces or fabrics. But, what about the stains that, no matter how hard we try, just cannot be removed?  “What is it with this stain anyway?” Often times, we wonder and we ask ourselves, “How in the world did this stain get here?”  Chances are, if we take a moment of reflection, we can trace back to that savory entre’ or just a rushing moment of drinking that favorite beverage; never-the-less, the irremovable evidence is showing up on that garment.

Tackling a permanent stain is definitely a piece of work AND could appear to be non-resolute. But, wait for just a moment. Let’s see this analogy through a spiritual lens.  If we look deeper we may see a more simplistic meaning that we can apply to our lives.  What good could possibly come from a stain anyway? “What could we take-away from a stain?”  I’m glad you asked.

Although we may have tried to remove that stain with due diligence, we can rest assured that the reason the stain is there permanently, is because the elements in the substance was rich, potent and greater in saturation of the make-up of the fabric itself.  It’s not the permanent stain that is the focus, it’s the substance of what created the stain that remained. There is much that we glean from this.


You see, we should desire to have a permanent spiritual imprint within us to the point that we can’t deny the power of it.  In order for stain to “stick” it must be fortified and become engrafted within that fabric!

God’s word is rich, potent and greater than any solution or ideology. His word is the final authority in which we can allow to penetrate our hearts until the only thing we see is His word within every fiber of our being. Psalms 119: 142 (NKJV) says. “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.”
 
As we take the time to apply scripture into our lives it becomes the stain that cannot be erased and cannot be removed.  It becomes the evidence of the presence of God. Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is there.  Emmanuel: God with us.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.  1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. . .  Colossians 3:16a NKJV
As we study and apply God’s word, it becomes a part of us.  It seeps, flows and ultimately becomes inherent in our daily lives.  Our desire should be to seek the permanent, rich, potent and greater work of Christ in and through us.

So, there is value in the stain.  The value is in the evidence that remains.






_{Copyright 2022 Carmela E. Head}

Cain’s Children: Watch Them Dogs!
 
By Glenn Thomas Walter, M.C.Ed, PhD
The enemy’s old trick employed against Cain in Genesis 4:8 is still effective. The adversary takes our sensory perceptions and turns them against us, making us envious of others.
When Cain observed his brother Abel and saw how God was blessing him, Cain became furious that God had the audacity to bless Abel and not him. Cain knew what was required to have God’s blessing, but Cain did not do what God instructed him to do through his father’s teachings – which were inspired by the instruction of the Holy Ghost. Today we might think: How dare God to bless someone else with a husband or wife, a house, a great career, and not me. How dare God bless others, we think to ourselves. It should be me that receives a magnitude of abundance. The more you think about their abundance, the easier it becomes to feel contempt. 
When an individual is determined to take a course of action, it is difficult to dissuade them from doing it. Before Cain decisively struck Abel, his resolve to physically harm was unwavering. Cain was determined to wound Abel fatally, but he needed opportunity. All premeditative plans require opportunity before they come to fruition. After Cain formulated a plan of action, only occasion precluded him from acting. When that opportunity availed itself, Cain became a conspirator to perform evil. Isn’t it interesting that God forewarned Cain of impending calamity before his insidious act of murder? In Genesis 4, The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin [calamity] is crouching [waiting] at your door…”
Have you ever considered why Cain’s offering was disallowed? One might ponder: that perhaps Cain’s offering was rejected because of its inferior quality? In the Levitical Law, God required “first-fruits” in grain offerings and animal as well (Leviticus 2:14). Therefore, Cain’s offering was not rejected because of quality or type (vegetation).
Henry M. Morris, the author of The Genesis Record, explains Cain’s offertory rejection as a matter of attitude and faith:
“The Bible does not actually say specifically whether God had commanded such sacrifices or whether the practice arose merely as a spontaneous expression of thanksgiving and worship.  At any rate, his heart was not right before the Lord, and his offering was not in faith as was his brother’s. Therefore, God rejected his gift.”
The Creator’s punishment was swift! There is no scriptural evidence that Cain repented after he murdered his brother. Incredibly, the Word of God does not record an occasion where Cain asked for forgiveness! Cain demonstrates no remorse for murdering his brother. Cain’s only concern is for himself: “My punishment is more than I can bear” (Genesis 4:10-13).
 
Rev. Dr. B. W. Smith preached about envious Cain-like folks in a famous sermon entitled: “Watch Them Dogs!”  Therefore, be watchful, give thanks, and resist envy!

Keep Each Chapter Separate!
 
By Glenn Thomas Walter, M.C.Ed, PhD

How a leader views God ultimately determines personal theology. It is critically important that you not only be healed, but that you are also delivered! Being healed removes the pain. In other words, you are no longer hurting. However, being delivered means you can effectively function in your ministry without hurting others due to your past experiences. Some of the most painfully deconstructive experiences in my life have helped me to minister to others without inadvertently inflicting emotional harm.   
           
Nothing is more dangerous than a skilled and angry religious person doing damage in the name of God, nothing! Lovingly, God’s Word encourages the physician to “Heal thyself” (Luke 4:23). This is an appropriate, analogous admonishment to anyone, but especially to Servant-Leaders who are endeavoring to help heal others. The making of a Servant-Leader is an amalgamation of success, failure, triumph, tragedy, fear, and faith. Our lives consist of a colorful cast of interesting characters who play a role in shaping and sculpting our lives. Each person was assigned to a specific chapter for a limited time only. Don’t allow a blessing meant only for chapter one of your life to become a burden in another chapter. Everything, even people, must be kept in its intended chapter. If not, it will become an unnecessary burden.

Unfortunately, we have a propensity for dragging people from their God-assigned chapter through the entire life book! If someone is intended to help you in chapter three of your life book, please leave them in chapter three. Do not assume that someone who blessed you in chapter three is meant for chapter four.

What was a blessing in chapter three might become a burden in chapter four. In other words, your best friend in high school might not necessarily be friendly after you graduate. Your dorm roommate in college was great for college. That friendship worked in the college chapter of your life book. However, after you make partner in the firm, your college roommate could quickly become a distracting liability due to envy. It is critically important that people remain in their relevant chapters. Don’t allow an asset from one chapter to become a toxic distraction in a different chapter.

The making of a Servant-Leader is a delicate process that involves shaping the human psyche. All experiences, good, bad, and ugly, serve to prepare you for the work whereunto you were called. These various experiences and personalities are equivalent to God’s scaffold. Construction workers use scaffold to erect or deconstruct a structure. Once, however, the builders have completed the tasks, all scaffold is removed. Like scaffold, every human interaction helps build your servant leadership brand. If you are still under construction, it is because the Master Builder is not finished with making a dynamic Servant-Leader!

Can You Hear Him Now?
 
By Glenn Thomas Walter, M.C.Ed, PhD
 
 Hearing involves the sensory experience of perceiving audible sound waves that travel through the atmosphere and are detected by our ears. The Word of God gets into our spirit when we hear it and understand it. Even deaf people hear the Word of God when spoken language is translated to sign language. If they are listening to a sermon or a lecture, as soon as they gain an understanding of the message, the effect is the same as audibly hearing sounds. God speaks to the deaf at the same level and with the same impact that a hearing audience receives a spoken message. 
 God communicates to the spirit of a person. If the Lord downloaded revelations, prophecies, and visions in your soul, worldly cares, worrying, and fears would eradicate them. Therefore, the Lord God does not put spiritual instructions in your soul/psyche. The Holy Spirit places spiritual promises in your spirit. Your spirit hears despite what you see (physical senses – body) and how you feel (emotional feelings – soul), God’s promise must come to pass because heaven and earth will pass away, but His word shall not pass away (Matthew 24:35). Can you hear Him now?
 God rarely uses an audible voice. Therefore, we must prepare to tune out noises, commercial bombardments, and worldly distractions. The Holy Spirit communicates with us individually to give us direction, especially when we need help understanding an essential time of transition and change. Cooperating with God’s change means that we must hear His instructions prior to entering into a new job, a new relationship, or a new phase of life. We must hear and heed God’s instructions to navigate life successfully. God uses a variety of means to communicate with us. Some communication methods the Lord initiates, but other methods are activated after we demonstrate initiative.  
Consider the ways we see God communicate with people throughout the scriptures. 

• Prayer – Jesus began his day early through prayer, often isolating himself in a solitary place (Mark 1:35).
• Dreams – Joseph dreamed a dream from God that forecast his future as a leader of a nation and a deliverer of his family (Genesis 37:5-10).
• Visions – Daniel was given a vision from God that involved his nation’s future and the world’s future (Daniel 8:15).
• Preaching – The Apostle Paul preached until midnight, testing the energy and endurance of his congregation (Acts 20:7-10).
• Teaching – Priscilla and Aquila expounded upon the Word and explained the way of God more perfectly to Apollos (Acts 18:26).
• Music – 288 musicians were appointed to minister under David’s leadership at the temple (1Chronicles 25:6-7). God works through music, as witnessed by how David played the harp to drive the devil away from Saul (1 Samuel 16:23). 

We must learn to hear the Holy Spirit by listening to His messages and giving Him praise, no matter how He chooses to commune and communicate with us. Again I ask, can you hear Him Now?

"Sometimes, it will take us to intentionally STOP, listen, and directly tune into what Holy Spirit is sharing with us so that we can get a fresh download and his instructions. "

Written by Pastor Carmela E Head
The Renewal Center 

In my opinion, one of the most agitating sound is the sound of the roaring static on the radio dial. I have come to know that even if it is one point away in frequency from the accurate station, there is still the annoying sound of the station going in and out.  How many of you have encountered this experience? I have so many times.  Often, in times past, when l used to listen to the radio broadcast, while driving through a rain storm or even while driving through a tunnel, there was this huge pause or pulsating static that either made me turn down the volume of the radio or turn it off completely.  Oh, and let's not have our favorite song or radio show fizzle out during the best parts; what an awkward experience altogether.  I laugh at the thought of it now, of course, not then.

Let's revisit this scenario and see it in a different light.  When there is accurate frequency, tuning into the station's broadcast becomes engaging and a good outcome:  We get to hear what is played or said in clarity.

I use these situations to describe our stance and spiritual posture of how we hear and tune into what God is doing and what He is saying to us.

In the beginning of Genesis 12,  we see that Abram heard  God and in hearing Him clearly, he received directions and instructions to leave his country to a place where God would show him.
As the scripture continues, we see that Abram, in obedience,  did just that.  Then, as we read on in the chapter, we see that the Lord appeared to Abram.  It was there that God gave a promise to him and his descendants the the land of Canaan that would be given to them.

Abram listened as God commanded him.  He tuned into what God was saying and instructing him to do.  God's promises manifested in Abrams life and his descendants because of his posture and his obedience in executing what God had downloaded in him.  Of course, there could have been a lot of room for speculation, but Abram moved out with vision and clear insight from God.  

I remember hearing and saying the idiom, "They're just not on my frequency."  Sometimes, static
from the other party happens when forms of distractions hinder an even flow of information.
Have you ever attempted to give instructions or directions, only to return to the conversation to find out that the person was distracted and could not get the full message?

Sometimes, it will take us to intentionally STOP, listen, and directly tune into what Holy Spirit is sharing with us so that we can get a fresh download and his instructions.  Could it be that there are many distractions that cause static in receiving the message?  Could it be that we tune-out and turn down the volume of what is being said because other things seemingly take precedence in our day?

It was in Genesis 12:4 that Abram implemented what he had been instructed to do, that God ultimately blessed him and his family.  His name was changed from Abram to Abraham and he became the Father of many nations!  

Prayer for today:
Heavenly Father, I thank you that you are omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.  Help me to remember that I must posture myself to hear and listen to what Holy Spirit is speaking to me.  Help me to serve you in humility and to listen in obedience and implement what you are instructing me to do in my daily devotional time with you. Thank you Lord for your grace as I carry out your instructions. These things I ask believing that I will receive it now, in Jesus Name. Amen.


_{Copyright Carmela E. Head 2022}

EXPECTATIONS ROOTED IN CHRIST
 
What are your expectations as we enter a new month, thinking of endless opportunities and hope? Excited about what lies ahead.

 Psalm 62:5(KJV) My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

It all starts with our thoughts, our perceptions, and how we see things. According to the dictionary, expectation refers to the belief that good things are going to happen in the future. Perhaps a shift in thinking will change our perception, helping us to see things clearly from here on out.

Philippians 4:8(AMP) Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

As your mindset shifts, your thoughts shift, your words shift, your perception shifts so that you can embrace and expect the new things, the good things that will bring hope, light, and endless opportunities to your life.

 Once you enter this place of new expectations, God will grant you clarity and a new movement will emerge in your life. You will see a change in your perception and the power of God will become more prominent in your life. There are many ways in which God will reveal his glory. Your walk will be abundant and filled with clarity of expectation. Those who seek shall find, those who ask shall receive, and those who expect shall witness.

The God of our expectation inspires, rewards, and supplies overflowing expectations in our hearts and lives. It is now a good time to put  trust in God.

 
What is Passion: Do U Got it?
 
By Glenn Thomas Walter, M.C.Ed, PhD
Got passion? That’s the question of the day. Endeavoring to work in the mastery of excellence without passion is an exercise in futility. Unfortunately, passion is not an academic philosophy acquired while reading a blog. 
Passion can be described as an intense and driving conviction; perhaps, more accurately, passion is best described as an ardent and driving affection. Passion is the one ingredient that all great achievers have in the substratum of their souls. We are accustomed to quickly securing material items through purchasing. Passion, however, is not sold in stores – nope. It is not sold on eBay or Amazon. Your mom did not endow you with it during natural birth. Either passion permeates in your soul, or it doesn’t. So, “Do U Got It?”

Passion is the first cousin of excellence, and they usually work together. Like the wonder twins when activated, the two are often indistinguishable but work together. Excellence is relentless. Excellence has the ingredients that everyone loves to sample. It is the standard trademark for the “favored of God.” Excellence twin has an inexhaustible and insatiable desire to refine and improve whatever you’re involved in. It emanates from your deepest inner-being. In other words, you may envision a goal through faith, but the passion twin says, “Go get it!”

Passion energizes your thinking. Passion incentivizes your reasoning. It endlessly expands the parameters of your God-given creativity. Passion is the constant faculty member of your soul that never ceases to remind you of God’s purpose. It is a controlled positive ferocity that stands at the ready, waiting to conquer the next assignment. Passion texts purpose and says: “I am ready to help you accomplish whatever God downloads in your heart.” Excellence joins the chatroom and says, “I promise to execute every endeavor with unrivaled quality.”
I have reached a point where I don’t expect people to comprehend my need for continual improvement. There are times, I must admit, that I don’t completely understand my annoyance with averageness. At this juncture of my life, it is challenging for me to sit comfortably at the table of mediocrity. Truthfully, casually talking about goals are no longer unacceptable. It time to stop dreaming and talking…we need to start planning!

God’s people must put forth their best effort. And, why shouldn’t we? After all, the world puts forth its best effort in every industry. I dare you to make a daily habit of utilizing best practices! Stop dragging in the rear and take your rightful place in the front. You are a remarkable, brilliant, indomitable survivor. It is time to reveal your brand of determination and distinction. Start practicing the best Christological approach to everything you do. You don’t need to manifest perfection. You must, however, generate a passion for improvement. Envision the impossible, Touch the intangible. Speak the unbelievable. Then, pray for the passion that will empower you to fulfill God’s purpose for your life. So, Do U Got Passion?

The Heart of a Servant

Written by Pastor Carmela E. Head
The Renewal Center

A shared umbrella opens to cover a friend from the downpour of rain.  A pan of freshly baked lasagna, with dinner rolls and a hearty bowl of salad prepared for a sick neighbor.  An hour of lending unpaid tutoring for someone struggling in their academic studies. A  “hello…just checking on you” telephone call to an elderly friend.   Doing the chores for someone else when it’s not your turn . . . These are just the beginning of examples of ways to serve.
One of the greatest examples in the Bible of servanthood, that often goes unmentioned, is when Jesus washes the feet of the disciples.  Scriptures in John chapter 13 gives an account of this.  Can you imagine washing and drying the dirty feet of those who have walked the dusty, sandy and murkiest places in their sandals? Most of us would shun at the thought of this, but not Jesus.  He himself, the Savior and the Christ, the leader of the disciples, took his time to show what leadership and servanthood is all about.  He took a bowl, filled it with water, grabbed his towel and began washing and drying the feet of the disciples of whom he was leading. The heart of serving is rooted in attributes that Jesus himself has taught us, through his example, of how to lead, how to live and how to serve.
Servanthood is not very glamorous in the eyes of today’s society, as the focus is oftentimes on other things that subtract and divide rather than to add enriching value to the lives of others. Sometimes and likewise, servanthood will show us how to take a deeper look into how to enrich the lives of others.  Jesus, took the time to show us the heart of serving.  What is that?  Why is that important?  Why does this matter?

Serving goes beyond the act, it is in the state of the heart.  Let’s look at the word H.E.A.R.T. and use it as an acronym to follow. As presented with opportunities in our lives to share benevolence to others, we can use this word, H.E.A.R.T, to truly identify the Godly characteristics we can operate in to help us become leaders who desire to model Christ’s love as we engage others. Foremost, there is a blessing in serving.

H – Humility.  The heart of a servant who leads is rooted in humility. Jesus bended to wash the feet of the disciples. Humility is not regarding yourself the as utmost of importance, but regarding others when they need it most.  Humility exudes a level and a depth of kindness and agape love.
E -  Eager and Empathetic.  Deep within the heart of a servant is the willingness and desire to give and serve with an attitude of compassion and goodwill.
A – Authentic and Appreciative. Giving out of a pure and genuine heart is at the core serving others as well as being thankful for the opportunity to share.
R – Resourceful.  What can you give?  Your time, resources, gifts, talents and skills are ways that we can give back what God has embedded in us to share with others.
T – Thoughtfulness.  Thinking of the betterment of others.

After Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, he shared the significance of what he had done:
(John 13: 12-17 NLT)

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?  You call me “Teacher and Lord” and you are right, because it is true.  And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.  I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master.  Nor are messengers more important than the one who sends them.  You know these things – now do them!  That is the path of blessing.

We may not actually be washing feet, but serving others in the capacity in which God gives us and opportunities that comes our way, we can truly show what the HEART of serving is, for, servanthood IS the heart of the matter.  How will you serve today?





_{Copyright 2022 Carmela E. Head} 

Since the New Year began, what has been gained. Have you experienced change and transformation that has improved your outlook on life for your vision and, focus?

Making progress in vision and implementing the necessary changes for growth. There is something about the unknown or should I say that there is something about the unfamiliar that is conducive to discovery.

Philippians 3:14 press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Knowing and understanding the message of the vision that needs to be communicated allows forward movement with clarity and understanding. Have our minds been renewed? Embracing a new place without breaking ties to the past does not allow us to progress, it hinders our growth and forward movement in vision.

Reformed and refreshed for the vision,  gaining a new perspective that will change our life and the lives of those around us. How one thinks and perceives current situations determines the ability to keep momentum.

 Remind ourselves of the vision, our mindset, and our daily perspective moves ahead with clarity. The most powerful thing is maintaining that enthusiasm as we go.

Keep discovering and uncovering greatness. When moving forward with vision and understanding the treasure that lies inside, sometimes all it takes is a simple shift in focus to completely change the direction and understanding of the vision.

You are VALIANT brave courageous determined VALUED esteemed highly regarded VAST great in importance and mighty VENUST beautiful and admirable VICTORIOUS you are a winner.  This is a part of our identity in Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (TPT)We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God’s, not ours.