The Season

Happy New Year to you all as I greet for the first time this year.

I am belated in posting my edition for January because I wanted to start this new year off with a dynamic message of hope and encouragement moving forward. I have spent a great deal of personal time thus far this year in constant reflection and consecration with God.

One of the themes that I have been left with is the understanding of Seasons. More importantly, the idea that many of us will experience a season of transition in 2011. I want to express the key importance of remaining diligent and among other things, faithful to God during this critical season. Throughout this Season of Transition, there will be some people with whom you may have had a close relationship, may subsequently fade to black. Be mindful that this is not necessarily a bad thing. God has a unique way of removing unnecessary distractions in your life, in order to assist in your development, to a point in which he can effectively use you toward the advancement of his kingdom. Some actions that may have been previously acceptable, may become unacceptable during this period of transition. People or things that may have once held your attention and interest may present themselves as roadblocks to your breakthrough, forcing you to make the decision to step away either gradually or with swift and dramatic force in order to continue this journey.

Stay encouraged by your knowledge of God and how amazing he is, but more importantly, offer love and praise to him because he is a mighty, mighty good God. Hebrews 11:1 exclaims " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." I challenge you to grow and mature in your faith in this new year, this new season. I am confident that God is preparing an awesome table for which you are to sit and partake in the wonderful things that this life and world has to offer.

In addition to growth and development in the area of faith, we must also enter this new season with a renewed understanding of obedience. God has never required perfection from us, but does require our belief in him and our obedience. Obedience is not always easy. I will honestly say that it is an area of challenge for me as well as many others. The key with obedience is being able to remain diligent, even when you fall, and understand that God operates unlike people. He has an indescribable love which is unconditional, it is Agape Love. It is because of this Agape Love that he is able to forgive our disobedience and continue to love us, in our imperfect manner. However it is also Agape Love that must challenge us to be better and do better. It is not to be used to rationalize our faults, sins and misdeeds, but to motivate us to be better and better each day to a God of grace and mercy. They used to say in the old church that "God has been better to me than I've been to myself." I would agree with that statement through and through; and I know that personally, one of my 2011 goals is to definitely be better to God.

The word of God encourages us to be "Good Stewards." I have examined this term from the biblical realm and beyond. I think that good stewardship has some collateral affects of positive change. As we manage our resources wisely and bring our sacrifices accordingly, God will add onto us in a multitude of ways. One of the key words that I want you to hold close to you is that of WISELY. Wisdom is a blessed and privileged element to life that is not granted to us all. I hope that where I am taking this will not be construed as offensive to anyone, but eye-opening to most. You see, Wisdom will allow you to take your tax refund and sow a financial seed into a young person, while investing some of it and creating another stream of income, whether through direct positive net cash or even debt reduction or elimination. Lack of obedience and subsequent wisdom will have you scattered and wasteful with that same return, wherein you may purchase items such as clothing or jewelry or even rims for your automobile.

Do not misunderstand me. The purchase of those items are fine, if you have prioritized and ordered your increase in the necessary and appropriate fashion and you are not in bondage to credit cards, other debts and poor practices. What is my point and what does all this mean? I draw all of this back to my initial purpose in even creating this blog, which is : The community. If we can begin to share God's word and promise with our young people and others within our community, our mind will begin to reshape and formulate as to provide leverage spiritually, economically, socially and more, both as individuals and in the collective body. We are at a rallying point my brothers and sisters, and our ability to endure what is not always a pleasant season of transition. Amazing results await us, should we trust the lord and allow him to work on us, through us and with us. I hope that this has been a positive message, while giving you a few additional points of interest to think about.

As Always, be real, be kind, be & Be BLESSED,
Donrich L. Young, M.A