PT 2...Regret...A Call to Repentance

 Greetings,

The word regret describes feeling sad, repentant, or disappointed especially concerning a loss or missed opportunity. After all, the old saying " to live happily " may not be an idea cherished in fairy tales" and may exist in real life too. That's if we can come to terms with living our lives in a forward motion rather than a backward motion and the latter seems a challenging task to achieve. Have you ever taken the opportunity to think about the word regret and its implications for the Christian? Some individuals may even say that everybody has regretted something, and yes, that may be true. However, longing for the past is a doorway through which the enemy distorts our minds to make us sad, depressed, and disappointed. God's desire is not for His people to live in regret. It's been said that opportunities do knock, but we don't have to answer every opportunity that knocks. How you handle the actions resulting from the missed opportunities of your life determines who you are and your character/behavior. 

Again, reflecting on Lot's wife. 😊 Lot's wife looked back at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Commentary surmises that her looking back was an inability to face her future because of the face of past memories she would sorely miss. See, there are times when we can miss something too much. Priorities must be the objective in Christian life or looking back will be your destruction too. 

Do you think about life and make decisions based on what was and instead of what will be? 

Whatever regret past, present, and future you think you missed out on, according to the Bible, has already been covered by God's mercy, grace, and love. Our past, if you didn't know, has been forgiven and will always be a part of us, informing us not of failures but of learning how to move forward. 

Whatever situation you have given to regret, now is the time to repent and ask God for your lack of understanding of His plan for your life. 

Life is a journey leading us around hills, valleys, and mountains from one destination to the next, slowly disappearing in the rearview mirror, only to reveal a new set of hills, valleys, and mountains. 😘 We are not sure where He is leading us to, but we trust His leading that is without regrets. 

Isaiah 12:2 KJV. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength...

Richly Blessed,

Minister Sylvia Joyner

God Is Not a Temperamental God

Greetings,

There is no such thing as bad weather; weather is seasonal and functions accordingly. People can also be classified as having winter, spring, summer, or fall personalities according to their human frailties. Seen in each of these seasonal temperaments brings various degrees of human attitudes. These negative attitudes do not reflect a gracious and loving God. However, illuminate Peter (Jesus's disciple) (discussed below) and others who choose temperamental paths.

God is not a temperamental God, but His people are. God does not operate in grumpy attitudes and supports His children even when they are at a loss. When we belong to God, He looks beyond our weaknesses and failures and forgives us for our trespasses and sin. Revealing God's character as a loving and just God is seen throughout the scriptures as evidenced by these words: "The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death." (Psalms 118:18, New King James Version). God has given the rewards and consequences for obedience or disobedience; through grace and mercy, forgiveness and restoration are available through Jesus. Made plain by these words, "He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. He will not contend forever or nurse His anger for all time." (Psalms 103:7-9, New Living Translation). 

The disciple Peter failed God on more than one occasion. Just as believers today, Peter resounded to human interactions when faced with a situation that required God's perspective rather than a human perspective. For instance, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, led many soldiers, high priests, Pharisees, and servants to arrest Jesus. John 18: 10 relates that Peter's human response, which had a sword, drew it and struck the servant of the [high priest], cutting off his right ear… surmised from Peter's response is that Peter was not slow to anger and certainly lacked the patience for compassion and grace in the situation. In other words, Peter responded out of his anger and frustration and acted in haste. Some questions to ask yourself:

1. Do you function on quick actions without the benefit of thinking first? 2. Are you prone to act first or ask questions later? 3. Are you a temperamental person? 4. Do your interactions with others reflect Peter or Jesus?

The scriptures give us many reasons why control over our emotions is paramount to gaining a foothold on our inner self "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice. I found this scripture to be of grave concern because a believer inflicts harm on the self and the Holy Spirit. Emphasized by these words: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:26,30,31 (New International Version). These, of course, are a few of the scriptures that place a great emphasis on the importance of self-control for the believer.

God's perspective is not aligned or dependent on human emotions, situations, or circumstances common to humanity. In other words, one cannot play the blame game of being human and expect God to overlook your behavior. God has written His believers' expectations and what it will take to adjust ungodly attitudes. Are you submitted to an adjusted attitude?

Blessings Abound,

Minister Sylvia Joyner

The Messenger and Message of Reconciliation

 Greetings,

War is always present between the spirit and the flesh. For the believers appointed with the sharing of the Gospel, the conflict between them (false teachers) and us presents a daring case by which the authority and integrity of the messenger, God's appointed, is tested. Paul, the apostle, faced these challenges as he addressed the problems plaguing the church at Corinth in II Corinthians 5:11-21. Some false teachers had injected their way into the fellowship to challenge Paul's authority and integrity. Three perspectives are crucial to the believer today, revealing Paul's defense of his authority and integrity against his critics. Each view outlines the believer's position that helps us to minister by God's standard as a messenger of the message.

Three Perspectives also viewed as the three C's necessary for overcoming the struggles in ministry.

1. Constrained By The Love of Christ-II Corinthians 5: 11-15
2. Changed By The Power of Christ- II Corinthians 5:16-17
3. Called To Share The Message Of Christ- II Corinthians 5: 18-21

Analyzing each of these views formed is a complete picture of the believer as ministers of the Gospel. Paul relays that Christ's love for others enables the believer to function as ministers of the Gospel. Secondly, the work of the ministry is only practical because the believer no longer operates from a flesh base but is now, through the work of the cross, a new creature and old things, and former ways of managing no longer present. However, being new creatures does not mean a believer will no longer be prone to temptation and sin. Instead, the power of Christ in a believer's life is the key to sustainability and victory over those challenges faced (Romans 7:24-25).

 Lastly, the believer is called into a ministry of reconciliation as ambassadors for Christ. That is to say, the biblical meaning of reconciliation requires a change of relationship with God and is made possible by the redemptive work of Christ at Calvary. An ambassador functions in a dual role, as a messenger and representative. An ambassador for Christ has no authority without the power of Christ in their life. Moreover, each believer commensurate the task of working for Christ as reconciling sinners to God, even as God reconciled believers to Himself. New creatures should produce new creatures.

Blessings of Peace,

Minster Sylvia Joyner

Regret is a Monster To Our Faith

Greetings,

I want to share a recent decision I made concerning continuing or not continuing in the EDd Christian Leadership program in Christian Ministry in an email to my academic supervisor at Liberty University: 

Greetings, Professor Momeny,

Life experiences are about making decisions, big and small. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a reminder to Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. This scripture and others guided me as I made this decision. So, with a clear conscience, I have decided not to continue with this program and take the executive certificate of completion option. I have prayed about this decision and talked it over extensively with my daughter, and she made some valid and solid points that I had already shared with God while in prayer all week. I know this is God's will and that God will use this decision for my good and His glory. As I reflected on yesterday, success is not about reaching an expected end but rather what I have learned and how God will use those lessons to make me a more excellent Christian educator. I am really at peace on this decision. Thank you for taking the extra time with me on this journey. I appreciate your wisdom in the academic and spiritual advice you have shared with me. After completing this email will be working on editing the prospectus to turn in on time. 

Sincerely,

Sylvia Joyner

His response: 

Sylvia,

You have done some incredible work and I am proud of you. You pushed into the unknown yesterday and in such brave fashion. I am also grateful that you focused effort and consideration on prayer before making a final decision. I believe that completion of a post-graduate level executive certificate is just incredible and will enhance both your resume and the areas in which you seek to apply all of this collected wisdom. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you regarding the completion of this work. Should you ever want to publish a paper for the Christian Education Journal, or some other venue for publication, just look me up and we can write together.

Sincerely,

 

Leonard S. Momeny, EdD   

Adjunct Instructor   

John W. Rawlings School of Divinity  

I'm sharing this because life is about decision-making...and as Christian men and women of faith requires making those decisions without regret. My decision also included an option to choose the Executive Certificate of Completion in Christian Leadership as well, which shows the work that was done at the doctoral level has merit. 

I thank God for the opportunity and wisdom collected along the way. I pray that it strengthens your conviction to look forward rather than look backward.

 A lesson I have learned in decision-making is that peace and contentment abound within my entire being. Never should our expression be of looking back and saying, woulda, coulda, or even shoulda did this or that. No, every step I made was ordained by God to bring me to this space in my life. 

This proverbial scripture in Luke 9: 62 summarizes how you should conduct your everyday affairs, signifying that when one follows after Christ and His kingdom, that person should no longer operate from a worldly standard but from a Godly standard. To continue in that temporal vein makes an individual susceptible to always looking back with regret. Someone said, looking back will get you nowhere fast.

The scriptures below speak to the supremacy of living a life of faith and maturity in God. God has not purposed us to be regret makers, but men and women of positive conviction undergirded by the Word of God.

• 2 Timothy 4:7. 7 I have fought the good fight, I …
• Acts 3:19. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that …
• Acts 17:30. 30 In the past God overlooked such …
• Acts 20:24. 24 However, I consider my life worth …

So, the next time you have a decision (in any area), remember that your decision reflects your ability to live facing forward rather than looking back. 

Remember Lot's wife!!!!!

Richly Blessed,

Minister Sylvia Joyner