President’s Challenge:  July 25, 2011

To  Bishop Lindsay, Bishop Kennebrew, our Bishops Wives, My Fellow Board Members and My sisters in Christ,

The past year it has been a challenging adventure. But as we focus on STAND, there is no challenge that is too great for our God.  Sanctified, Transformed Abounding, Never Denied.  ICor !5: 57-58 “But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58: Therefor, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

I would like to Challenge you as well as myself to Balance Your STAND.   In order to have a balanced

STAND

First of all you must have a servant’s heart

You must seek God’s will for your life

You must operate in His will  and

Discover and use your gift to edify the body of ChristOur strengths and weaknesses will be exposed as we STAND.  Focus on your strengths, admit your short comings and operate in the anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit.

I may have shared before – I am not good in the nursery Children have to be pot trained able to dress themselves, and communicate before I feel comfortable spending long periods of time with them.  When children reach the age of 10 or 11, they start acting like teenagers and then I have to leave them alone until they regain their sanity normally in their early twenties.  I don’t run to the church kitchen because I don’t like to cook.  I can help out if a need arises, but that is not my area of giftedness.  Therefore, all of us have to stay focused on what the Lord has given us to do in the body of Christ and to do it well.  I am a sucker for a need and many times I have found myself attempting to STAND in areas I am not gifted in.  This is when you have to Balance your STAND.  Don’t get caught up or make others feel guilty when they don’t volunteer to help teach, cook, do door to door evangelism or working in the nursery. 

Put on Rose Colored Glasses – Now in a perfect Christian organism, each organ is seeking to use their gift in order to make the body function at its maximum capacity.  It is okay to challenge believers to use their gifts to edify the body of Christ. However the command has gone out to every Christian that they are supposed to be using their gifts in the body of Christ.   The burden is on every Christian to seek an discover their gift and to STAND in it if they want to hear the words “Well Done Thou Good and Faithful Servant”  That alone should motivate us to do all that we can, while we can..  Recognizing your gift(s), using your gift(s), and giving God the glory for your gift is your gift to the body of Christ.

Don’t get distracted by others that are not using their gifts.  Focus on giving the best gift to almighty God and your faithfulness and commitment to God will hopefully inspire others to take their STAND in God’s plan.  You have to stay focused on your eternal reward.  On our secular jobs, do we determine how much work we are going to do or how well we do our job based on what our co-worker is doing or are we working to get the best evaluation and raise possible.  How much harder should we work to receive God’s approval and reward? 

“….having done all to STAND, STAND therefore having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness 15.  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17  And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  You balance your  STAND by 17. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints: 

STAND while you can

Meet the current demand

To help God’s Kingdom Expand

STAND

STAND while you can

You are God’s special woman

Fulfill your unique plan

STAND

STAND while you can

Even if you ain’t got no man

Even if there’s no money in your hand

STAND

Stand while you can

Even when you’re a one woman band

If you have to walk, take a bus, train or a van

STAND

Stand while you can

Let the world see your Jesus tan

Full of His Sprit, ready on demand

STAND

And having done all to stand, STAND