A couple days ago I was in a meeting (Actually on speaker phone because I was sick @ home) and we talked about many things, including being an effective leader.  One thing that God reminded me about was a lesson He gave me years ago and continues to unfold it at each level of leadership in my life.  Initially, the lesson was simply the definition of Minister.  There were times in my life that people in my circle were clamoring for titles and wanted people to refer to them as minister, elder, missionary, etc, etc.  The Lord reminder me then that we are all ministers, for the base definition of minister is servant!

Being an effective leaders requires that we are effective servants.  If our mindsets are bent on being served, we are missing the boat.  I look @ Jesus’ ministry, and all he did was serve.  He served the people and served the disciples, even washing their feet.  If there is anything we want people under our influence to do, we have to do it 1st.  We have to be the ones leading the way, showing how it’s done, not to try to manipulate someone into serving you, but servanthood being a part of who you are, because that’s who He is! ( men, if you want your wife to submit, you submit 1st.  Be the leader…. and not out of manipulation…. but out of love and respect for Him and your wife, and out of a heart of servanthood. If Jesus is our example of the bridegroom, we are to humble ourselves and serve our bride as He did his… Just a side note 

If there is anything we want to multiply, it’s a heart to love & serve others.  What are you multiplying, in your home, on your job, in everyone you have influence over?

This post is from my mother, Maria Crawford.  It’s very timely and well written.  Enjoy…..

1 John 4:7-8 (Amplified Bible)

7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him].

8He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

One of the most over used words in the dictionary is love - there are so many things that we attach this emotion to - I love ice cream - I love my dog - i love my job - and in the English language we use that same word to  say I love my husband (or wife), I love my children, i love my parents.

It seems like there should be more than one word to express love in English as there is in Greek. For those that are interested I have attached a page from Wilkipedia the different meanings of the word love in the Greek language.

What I want to share with you today is my own journey with love. When I became an adult I did not have a natural ability to love - years of being rejected and disappointed by those I loved caused me to be on guard, to be unable to really trust people’s intentions, and certainly not their heart. I really lived a double standard because I conveyed a desire to sacrificially serve people and to give unselfishly, placing myself in a position of giving, so I would not be dependent on others to give to me - therein making it difficult for me to be disappointed!

How many know that when you live like that and you say you are a Christian - it becomes a prime opportunity for God to make you - DEPENDENT! For years I suffered being dependent on people, places, and things - out of my control (and that is really what it is all about) and being forced to live contrary to my goals and aspirations -

The whole story would take a book to tell - so I’m going to skip to the day when I realized that i was not just singing the song in church:

“Beloved, let us love one another - for love is of God - and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God -

He that Loveth not, knoweth not God, because God is love -

Beloved, let us love one another - 1 John 4: 7 & 8.”

No, I was no longer singing it - something had happened to me - and when I read:

14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 1 jOHN 3: 14 KJV

– or to make it plainer –

14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters,^[a] it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.NLT

I found out that no longer was I afraid to be hurt, afraid to be rejected, afraid that I would not be chosen over someone else - that God really did have something special just for me - and that He really did have enough to go around - I was not in competition for scarce resources! The way I learned this was through many painful and challenging situations - but the revelation that I learned it was one of the most marvelous discoveries that I have made in my life!

GOD IS LOVE! and GOD LIVES IN ME - LOVES ME - LOVES THROUGH ME - and there is nothing I can do about it - it becomes as natural as breathing.

My journey of discovery went even further when I realized one day that I felt sorry for “my enemies’ going through painful circumstances. Rather than rejoicing that they had “got theirs” - I felt compassion and empathy - wow - it was then I really knew I had passed from death unto life - I was saved - FROM MYSELF! Glory!

I believe one of the greatest gifts God has given us - is the capacity to forgive those who have hurt us, wronged us, schemed against us - held us in low esteem. It is also a gift that we cannot pull out of a hat - it is a by-product of a life surrendered to God.

As we strive to find ways to show those we love that we love them this Christmas - join with me in asking God to exercise the gift of forgiveness to those who have not loved us - therein is true freedom - therein is life!

God Bless you This Day,

Maria

What is Deliberate Mediocrity?  Some of you are already ahead of me and know where I’m going…… Self examination time again  (I know our self exam times are challenging, but we have to challenge each other to grow and allow Him to be seen Brighter in our lives)………

Examine how you work on your job.  Do you do everything with a spirit of excellence, getting to work on time (before you need to be there so you are prepared to work when your time starts) and give 100% daily, going above and beyond the call?  Or are you Deliberately Mediocre?  Trying to get away with everything that the job will allow you to get away with…. Doing just enough to “keep the boss of your back.”  Deliberately doing just enough to get by?

Examine how you treat your family.  Do you go out of your way to be a blessing to them, sacrificing time and efforts, pushing away pride and giving 100% no matter how they treat you?  Or do you do just enough to get by, spending a little time with the family, helping when you feel like it, forgiving when it’s convenient, doing just enough to “keep your spouse/family off your back?”

Examine how you seek God!!!! Do you seek Him like He is the Bread of Life, knowing that you can’t live without Him, forsaking everything else to know Him better, treating Him like He is the MOST IMPORTANT ENTITY in your life?  Or… you know…. Just spend “enough time,” giving Him leftover time, leftover finances, doing “just enough” (Which is not enough, as we all find out)……?

We are to be like Him in every area of our lives, giving in abundance, going above and beyond the call…. One scripture that sums it up says that everything we do, in word or in deed, do it as unto the Lord.  But if we are not seeking Him fervently, diligently, and giving Him our best, we can not and will not give our whole heart in other areas. Remember, it is He who empowers us to do His Will.  But we have to allow Him to do it by giving ourselves to Him!

Deliberate Mediocrity.  This is just another area where we are conformed to this world, and do things they way the world does and handle things the way the world handles it.  Work diligently, as if The Boss (Jesus) was standing with you every day all day (because if He’s your Savior, He is with you ALL OF THE TIME), not taking short-cuts and not giving less than 100%; Give wholeheartedly to your family, of your time, your ATTENTION, your finances, your LIFE, like you want your family to give to you; and above all, seek Him, chasten after Him, pant for His Word, give Him the greatest Worship, yourself, consume the Word and be transformed…. Then we can really show the world Him!

After your self-exam (letting Him shine a light), if you are willing, let me know areas where He’s shown you that you need to “step it up,” even if it’s some of the same areas…

Be Blessed,

j2

Isn’t it ironic that the day after we give thanks to God for all He’s blessed us with, we go out and are consumed by the biggest spending day of the year?  I won’t go 2 much into it, but please, please, before you go shopping tomorrow, go to www.adventconspiracy.org & www.rethinkingchristmas.com. Watch the videos.   If you don’t know what Advent it, research it later… But please take the time to see how you can have meaningful gifts without spending all of your money, and even using the money for His Purposes! 

Be Blessed & Happy Thanksgiving 

J2

There are 2 things that we must remember as we vote, and as we live out the days following the election.  First, as we vote, we MUST “acknowledge Him in all our ways.”  It’s so easy to make this CRITICAL decision based on rhetoric and/or our personal understanding of the candidates.  But we MUST see things the way He sees them.  We must “be led by the Spirit of God.”  This decision has to be made with “our” people in mind, the Body of Christ!

Secondly, as my previous post stated, God is our source.  So whatever happens from today on (and He knows EVERYTHING that will happen) surrender your life into His hands.  Declare that you will not trust in man or man’s systems/economy, but in the Kingdom of God.  Now’s not the time to try to figure things out ourselves, to stop Tithing (please, don’t make your situation worse by doing this while throwing a “monkey wrench” in His very plan to sustain you).  Let’s live out the Word, “trusting in the Lord with all our heart, while not leaning to our own understanding!”

If we choose to make ANY decision that’s not Spirit led (remember, we are spirit beings living in a body) and that is not purposefully trying to be pleasing to Him, we’ve missed the essence of who we are; His Disciples; His Servants; His Children!

Be Blessed,

J2

When thinking about this post, I wanted to write about us, as Believers, having the opportunity to prove His Word to be true.  Not just quoting scriptures, but as circumstances arise (and they will…. Scripture says that no weapon formed against us (you) shall prosper.  It didn’t say that it would not form) we now have the opportunity to see Him perform His Word; to see the manifestation of His Word.  I wanted to talk about how we, with full assurance of Faith, have the opportunity to have peace in the middle of all the crisis in this world, showing the world His Way; His Presence; His Love; His Provision.  That they may see the Kingdom of God on Earth through us!  I wanted to stress a point in Rom 12:1-2 where we’re to give ourselves totally to Him.  That’s the least we can do.  And not forgetting the 2nd verse, where it talks about us not conforming to the world (its ways of doing things; its superficial customs… I love how the Message Bible Reads “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking) but us being transformed by renewing our minds…. So that we can PROVE.. Prove to ourselves and the world the good, acceptable and perfect will of God! The phrase - The proof is in the pudding - came to me.

So I thought “Where did that phrase come from?  What does it mean?”  Word Detective and other etymology sites pointed out that the phrase originated as “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.” It means that the true value or quality of something can only be judged when it’s put to use. The meaning is often summed up as “results are what count.” That really struck me….

Immediately, in my Spirit, was the thought that when economic times are on the upswing; when the “world system” is going well, it’s hard to tell if we, as Christians, have been living according to Kingdom Principles and are getting results from that or are we just getting the worlds results.  We are in a time now where Believers should be rejoicing.  If we TRULY believe that He supplies all of our needs, according to His Riches (not according to the economy), and that He gives us the desires of our hearts, and that He will not withhold any good thing from us (I could give you scripture after scripture talking about His Provision for His Children), we would be excited about the opportunity of Jehovah Jireh providing for His Children, and we being an example of God’s Provision!

Are you there?  Have you allowed Him to be your source, or have you been using the worlds system to get by all these years.  Examine yourself and ask Him to reveal where, in your life, you’ve trusted man instead of God.  Ask Him to show you where you’ve depended on this worlds system and not the Kingdom.

We are in the greatest day of the Kingdom.  Will you allow Him to be Glorified in and through you?

I’ll make this one shorter than the last 

Just as Day 1 started, Day 2 had an atmosphere inviting all to come and sit at His Feet.  And that we did, pouring our love on Him and being in total awe of His Presence!  Here’s a side note: I’ll never 4get years ago, how Benny Hinn talked about his healing services.  He gushed excitedly saying that when you have people coming together, expecting God… What do you think He’s going to do.  That’s how I felt @ the conference.

Our 1:30pm session was a songwriting class, which included Israel, Da’dra and Steve Crawford of Anointed, David & Nicole Binion, and a few others, including a writer that writes for Hillsong (By the way, click on Hillsong site and watch the intro… WOW!).  His session was very informative….  Toward the end of the session, I was looking forward to going to MuzicNet’s School of Music’s Removing the Mystery From Music Theory class.   The speakers were about to make their exit, when from the side door none other than Andrae Crouch appears!  If you’re not familiar with him, just google him and see that he’s one of the greatest songwriters to ever live.  Notable tunes.. My Tribute (To God Be The Glory), The Blood Will Never Loose It’s Power, Take Me Back… I’ll just stop there.  Needless to say, the place erupted!  Pastor Crouch strolled over to the piano and started playing the classics.  It was FABULOUS!  He then prayed for everyone in attendance and also a special prayer for Israel for a double (he said double, triple, quadruple) portion of his anointing to rest on Israel.  My Bishop, Bishop Garlington, has taught us that just as the Word of God is not just for one person, a Prophetic Word many times is not just for one person.  So I opened my heart to receive it all!!  (I’m greedy 

People didn’t know what to do once that session was over.  We were all in a semi state of shock.  Alan and Aaron Franklin had a hard “act” to follow.  But these guys did a wonderful job, breaking down music theory and making it practical to the everyday church musician (I even learned a bunch.  I say that because I was a Director @ one of their Music Schools for years and thought I’d squeezed all the info out of them that they had!  Boy, was I wrong  :)  Their session ended with a standing ovation!

Once again, the night session was very nice.  There we more songs recorded (most of the same songs from the previous night, so we knew the songs).  Bishop Garlington ministered as well as a few others.  Also, Pastor Andrae ministered for some time.

WooooooooooooooW… There is no way I could write everything down.  Just a wonderful day!

J2

Here I am blogging again, this time about my recent trip to Grace Church of Humble TX for Israel Houghton’s Conference: A Deeper Level ‘08 … The Deep of Grace.  This post is part one because I’m going to try to write about each day there.

Let me just start by saying that I have never been to a conference like this one.  I attended his 1st conference last year, & it was the best I’d been to.. until…. One thing that I noticed, which was such a blessing, is that Israel surrounds himself with like-minded individuals, with the common goal of bringing Him Glory.  There were no “big-wigs” there, though the resume’s of the participants we stellar.( I have to mention Kevin Singleton here… I love this guy… He has such a heart to help people.  He’s written many songs that you’d recognize, traveled all over the world but is as humble a guy you’ll ever meet.  It seems that he “purposefully” tries to help others; promote others.  Isn’t that how we all should be?)  We were all brothers and sisters, pursuing the Heart of God TOGETHER!  I stress together because we’ve all been places when the presenters act as if they’ve made it in whatever field they’re teaching/talking about.  But at this conference, it seemed that everyone (I know everyone is so all inclusive, but you get my drift) that went after Him MET HIM, in all of His Holiness, and was compelled to be transformed.  (quick sidebar… My Senior Pastor Jerry McQuay just preached this past Sunday using Romans 12:2.  The part where it says “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”   Transformed is from the word “metamorfu” (probably misspelled)…. meaning changing from one being/creature to another… Not like “Jon” trying to get better.. But there being no longer Jon, but Christ!  Like a caterpillar “transforming into” to a butterfly…..)

Israel opened the session by playing videos from his many albums and it eneded up going into the video of “To Worship You I Live (Away).”  People started to sing.  Israel and his team then took over from the video and continued the flow… We were off!!!! Then he exhorted about a.) Not waiting for anything or anybody… Go after God now and receive everything we needed in the 1st session b.) Worshipping and going after God right then just like we wished our congregations would go after Him.  Needless to say, we WENT AFTER GOD!  Later, someone else exhorted telling all to lay down their “big-wig” statuses that they had back in their perspective towns/churches.  We sang, cried, laughed, received exhortation, and had our own “carpet-ministry” from about 9:30am til about 1pm.  And as it is in His Presence, we didn’t realize that all that time had passed.

The recording during the night was FANTASTIC!  Israel himself didn’t record, but a few of the New Breed members mixed with some new blood to form Sound of New Breed (could be wrong of exact name).  They were led by Daniel Johnson.  You’ll remember him from the end of the song If Not For Your Grace on the last album.  This guy is ri-DI-cu-LOUS!  His vocal range, control, versatility, texture, and passion carried the night!  In other words, the boy is BAD!!!!

And to bring it all home, MY BISHOP… Bishop Joseph Garlington preached an awesome message which met us where we were and “pulled” us into a new place (I will be blogging about his messages later 

If you didn’t know I LOOOOOVE Bishop Garlington and quickly found out why I like Israel so much.  Bishop is Israel’s spiritual father (I found that out some time early last year).  So Israel is my long lost brother 

Day 2 was full of surprises…… Look out 4 part 2!!!!

Be Blessed,

J2

This video is, unfortunately, where most of us are.  What are you gonna do about it?

There is a fine line between trying to be “cost efficient,” in investing our time and resources, to being LAZY.  There are many ways we as Christians conform to this world.  I believe one of the ways is that we try to do as least as we possibly can to get the best results we can.  Notice that most every new advance in technology is to put us in a position to work less, to exhert less energy, and/or to do things faster (Imagine if the billions of dollars spent of developing these gadgets and buying these things were given to those who need it…. hmmm).  Most new business opportunities catch the eyes of potential clients by calling it the “Lazy way to financial freedom” or “Little to no effort,” etc.

We’ve adopted this attitude and brought it into “Christiandom.”  “What is the least I can do?  I spend most of my time praying for me and mine (The little time I pray).  I, purposely, reach out to others; every now and then.”   We may not verbalize these things but is this how we live?  When we do help others in and outside the church, do we give everything we have, or is it just enough?  I’m reminded that when God gave, He gave EXTRAVAGANTLY!  He gave His only Son.  When Jesus was here, he always gave EXTRAVAGANTLY, and the Kingdom is all about “Above and Beyond,” “Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over,(Notice the same scripture says to what degree you give to others, it will be given back…)” and our life is an “Abundant” life!

Monitor your life for a week.  Observe the things you do and how you do them.  See where your time is spent.  Are you “asking, seeking, and knocking?” Are you like Paul, pressing toward the goal…..? Let’s be like Him.  In everything we do (making sure what we’re doing is 4 Him), let’s do it EXTRAVAGANTLY!

True Worship!