2024 2023 2022 MPOWERMENT
Beloved
Allow me a moment of confession.
As hard as it is for me to conceive and comprehend there are some people who for lack of a better word could be called, Winter People. Now let me say, emphatically and declaratively, I am not one of them. Anyone who knows me knows, I am a Spring/Fall kind of guy.
As I thought about these winter people among us, one thought came to my mind and it is this, these people have been able to find the beauty in Winter.
For them, what challenges me, charges them and they fully embrace all that winter means.
Having said that , let me encourage you to embrace this season and find it the promise, the provision and the potential that awaits you and I.
Ecclesiastes tells us that “for everything there is a season, a time” Seasons are not just weather and time related, they are the moments and periods of our lives and each one holds the hope of a better day and a better us.
I wish for you and I pray with you that as we navigate winter, we do so knowing that He is with us.
Blessings
- Bishop
The Bishop Speaks
- Bishop Timothy J. Clarke
Empowerment
Winter 2024
Bishop Timothy J. Clarke
Executive Publisher & Chief Executive Officer
Brother Edmund Davidson Publisher
Sister Qwinita Bell
Contributor
Sister Deborah Thompson
Brother Carlin Armstead Editor
Contributor
Sister Michele A. Thomas Contributor
Sister Villia Davidson Senior Advisor
Attention
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Looking into 2024
The other day I was talking to a pastor who sighed and asked, “Are we really going to do this again?” After all the tumult and division of churches and families from the last two presidential elections, it’s exhausting to think another one is coming.
He asked, “Can you give me advice on how to get my people through 2024?”
And I said, “No.” I was, of course, partly joking. But not entirely. Here’s why. Many people assume that the election year of 2024 will be a reboot of 2020, especially since it seems we will have the same two candidates running as last time. It may feel like these sitcom reboots of late—Saved by the Bell or Roseanne or, now, Frasier. A show comes back 20 years later with the same characters, except all aged up, trying to throw out classic catchphrases the nostalgic old audience wants while trying to introduce new characters in an attempt to gain some new people. It’s a reasonable assumption to think of
the 2024 elections this way—but it’s wrong.
Imagine if you had asked me this time of year in 2019 how to get through the 2020 election. I would have had no way to help you. I wouldn’t have known that a microscopic virus would kill countless people and shut down the entire world. I wouldn’t have known that the murder of George Floyd would transform the conversations and debates about racial justice. The list could go on and on. In fact, we would not have known just one month ago that the Middle East would be plunged into war. We would have known that our political system here in the United States is messed up, but we would not have known how prescient Andy Warhol was when he said, “In the future, everyone will be speaker-designate of the US House of Representatives for 15 minutes” (or something like that).
None of us can prepare for 2024—if by “prepare” we mean to check off all the steps that can keep us from the mistakes and traumas of years past. That’s because no one knows what is out there ahead of us, waiting for us, in 2024. Here’s what you can do, though. You can prepare yourself to step into the mystery of whatever will be 2024. What I mean is that you can start to prepare yourself to be the kind of person who can handle it, whatever it is.
Part of that has to do with reframing our own anxieties about what we can’t control. People without a Christian background who read the Gospels for the first time are almost always startled by the figure of Jesus. He just doesn’t sound like someone marketing a religion. Instead, he does things like telling his first disciples that they would be persecuted.
We would expect the founder of a marketsavvy new religious movement to talk about all the benefits ahead while minimizing talk about bad things. I have little doubt
that if I had been among the band of 12, I would have nudged someone at the fireside and grumbled, “Why does he have to keep bringing this stuff up? All I did was point out how cool the columns were, and he starts in on the end of the world again.”
But Jesus also said why he was talking about these dark future happenings. “I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them” (John 16:4). Jesus was targeting the sort of panic that would have come if the disciples had faced the darkness ahead without knowing anything, thinking to themselves, “Lions? Who ever said anything about lions?”
The fact that Jesus saw all of it ahead of time—and wasn’t the least bit thrown by it—is one of the means the Holy Spirit used to bolster the faith and courage of those followers.
Jesus told them just enough about their futures to keep them from trying to find false solutions to the crises to come. The gist of it was: When all these things go down, there will be somebody out there claiming to be me. It won’t be. When I get back, you’ll know it (Matt. 24:3–31). Jesus said, “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time” (Mark 13:22–23).
You don’t know what’s waiting for you in 2024—with the presidential election or a billion other things. But you can know what kind of person you will hope to be, by God’s grace, when you get there.
GPS The
to Your Parenting
A Path to Follow from A-Z
in 2024
By Michelle Sutton
As the Program Associate for The Mother’s Cove; a non-profit program that is part of the GoodLife Foundation at First Church of God; I am blessed to connect with Moms who are at the beginning of their parenting journey. All may have their own personal story on how they are experiencing being a first time parent, but most would agree they have common emotions of being excited, overwhelmed and exhausted.
Although my two daughters are now in their 20’s, I still remember my early days of being a Mom. Some days I felt so accomplished when I was able to fold and put away the laundry before the baby woke up. And there were fun and joyful moments as they reached those special milestones like rolling over and laughing with adorable
giggles. And there were also those challenging times when despite my consistent coaching, I thought they would never learn to use the potty! And although my task of wiping noses and changing diapers has passed it doesn’t mean my time of parenting has ended. Here’s a few suggestions, from A - Z, to help parents in every season:
A - Ambassadors Lead the Way: Show your children how to represent their family
B - Build Your Village: Be selective of who should be included in your inner circle
C - Communicate: All family members should have the right to share their opinions
D - Don’t be Afraid to Make Mistakes: Parenting isn’t about being perfect, but being present
E - Embrace Diversity: Remember everyone is different
F - Finish Your Tasks: Show others they can count on you
G - Go to Parent/Teacher Meetings: Work with school staff to develop a plan for your child’s success
H - Have Fun: Enjoy time together as a family
I - Include Students When Planning School Events: Show students their ideas and opinions matter
J - Join School Committees: Be part of decision making groups in your school district
K - Know What’s Happening: Stay abreast of school board policies
L - Lead by Example: Never ask someone to do something you aren’t willing to do
M - Mentor: Show guidance and use your expertise to help others
N - Never Give Up: Do your best and keep moving forward
O - Offer Advice: Give your child options to consider when making decisions
P - Partner with other Parents: Connect with parents in your school and community
Q - Quiet Time: Take some “me time” to relax and recharge
R - Respect Others and Yourself: Agree to Disagree in a respectful way
S - Seasons Change: Your parenting season will change, but your level of importance will never change; you are parents forever
T - Teach: You are your child’s first teacher - Teach Well
U - Use Your Gifts: You don’t have to compete with anyone; your talents are special too
V - Voice Concerns: Give constructive criticism
W - Write it Down: Make a plan and prepare for the future
X - Xerox Papers: Copy and Keep important documents in a safe place
Y - You Matter: Realize how valuable you are to your family and community
Z - Zest it Up: Don’t be afraid to get out of your rut and try new things
When the Dawn Seems to Die
How Jesus Keeps Us from Falling Away
By Carlin Armstead
Dawn (Merriam Webster Dictionary) - The first appearance of light in the morning followed by sunrise.
Life is a journey, an adventurous race to achievement or a puzzle of struggle. There are mountains to climb and valleys to walk through. So, what happens when circumstances in our lives slow us down to the point where the light before our sun rises, is not shining?
We go through seasons in life, just like nature does. Winter, spring, summer, and fall are the pathways presented. Fall and winter are the two seasons that concern and perplex us because they are a gradual reversal of the freshness of spring and the vitality of summer. Pressure mounts, fear increases, health deteriorates, money is lost, people leave, and other events occur that produce doubt and despair. Is the idea of dawn dying real?
As Christians, we are encouraged by the example of God through His son Jesus Christ. Jesus ultimately remains the foundation of our faith.
John 1:1-5 (New King James Version) talks about who God is and the life and light that He created:
“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
Jesus sometimes seems far away from us when we go through trials and tribulations. We exist in a world where it seems that the sun is not rising, and the light seems to be overcome by darkness and burnt out.
The keyword to study is “seems.” One definition of seems in MerriamWebster Dictionary is “to give the impression of being.” The impression is not real. It could be seen as an assumption. Our faith states that what we go through prepares us for the positive results that come when we trust Jesus.
The Bible says in James 1:2-4 (New King James Version):
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
The song “For Every Mountain” by Kurt Carr Singers, offers a way to respond with thanksgiving and praise when the dawn in our lives seems to be dying.
I've got so much to thank God for
So many wonderful blessings and so many open doors
A brand new mercy
Along with each new day
That's why I praise You
And for this I give You praise
For waking me up this morning
That's why I praise You
For starting me on my way
That's why I praise You
For letting me see the sunshine of a brand new day
A brand new mercy along with each new day
That's why I praise You
For this I give You praise
You're Jehovah Jireh
That's why I praise You
You've been my provider
That's why I praise You
So many times You met my need, So many times You rescued me
That's why I praise You
I wanna thank You for the blessings You give to me each day
That's why I praise You
For this I give You praise
For every mountain You brought me over
For every trial you've seen me through
For every blessing
Hallelujah, for this I give You praise
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