Thankfulness

As I ponder on the reasons to be thankful, I am reminded that despite my circumstances, unfullfilled longings, difficulties in ministry, difficulties in family relationships, there are hundreds of reason to be thankful! Why is it so easy for me to choose ingratitude rather than gratitude. Yes, life is difficult, confusing, and at times lonely, but it is so much easier for me to fix my eyes on the 'difficulties of life' and allow that to dictate my joy in the Lord, my treatment of others and even my countenance.

This past Monday I had the privielege of teaching Bible Study to a few of the women in our neighborhood. We are studying the book of 1st John. After laying the foundation that one of the purpose of the book is so that our joy may be complete, but only in fellowship with Jesus Christ, the ladies had the opportunity to share about joy or the lack of joy in their lives. One of the mothers who is a Christian shared that her joy comes from reflecting on the ways that God has provided and kept her throughout the years. Such thoughts of God's faithfulness, she said, helps her to be joyful. So, this begs the question, what does it mean to be joyless? I believe that one of the subleties of sin is a heart of unthankfulness. If in my heart there remains unthankfulness, then it will be nearly impossible for me to find joy. How can one be joyful? Psalms 16: 11 tells us that in the Presence of the Lord there is fullness of joy. What does it mean to be in the presence of the Lord? The Psalmist answers this for us in the same passage by saying, "I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;...I have set the Lord always before me, Becasue He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices, My flesh also will rest in hope."

Wow! "My flesh also will rest in hope." A Christians' joy is not found in the circumstances of this world, but to be joyful is to have my mind and my heart FIXED on the Lord. A heart that is fixed on the Lord will inevitably rest in hope! Hmmm?! Is it possible then for my mind to be fixed on the Lord without being thankful? NO. This is impossible, becasue all that I have is a gift, even the desire to do minsitry, it is a gift; my family is a gift, my circumstances as hard as they may be are gifts that have been providentially given for my sanctification. Even the battle between the flesh and the Spirit is a gift-A gift that has been given through Christ my Savior - and has left me with the seal of the Holy Spirit of Promise, so that even as my members wage war against each other, I can be thankful, that my Spirit is not at peace with sin.

Lord with each moment of each day, please cultivate in me a heart of thankfulness that rest in the unchanging truth that you work out all things according to the counsel of your will, for your glory and for my good...Thank you then for not Wasting Anything - not even my tears!!!! (Eph. 1:11; Rom. 8:28-29; Ps. 56:8)

REASONS TO BE THANKFUL



- Salvation - CHRIST IS MY BEST FRIEND - no joke - AND FOR THIS I AM THANKFUL!! (John 15:13-15)



- Family - My sweet siblings keeps me on my knees and have taught me to "watch and pray expectantly with thanksgiving." (Col. 4:2)



- Ministry to Common Ground Neighborhood & now my family - I am thankful that each day provides the opportunity for me to see God move and then for me to BOAST in Him!

(I am also thankful for all the kids in S. A. who have showed me How BIG GOD IS)



- Friends - I think I have the greatest friends in the world all over the world. (Prov. 17:17)



- Supporters - Thanks to everyone who supports (prayerfully, financially, enouragingly) the ministry in which God has entrusted me with. (2nd Corinth 9:11)

OK I could write all night about why I am thankful...But I'll stop for now!!!

Oh, thanks for checking out my blog!!!

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1st Thess. 5:18)

Remember the days of old

This morning I asked the Lord to help me to never forget my life prior to knowing Him. For the past weeks, the Lord has provided many opportunities for me to become more acquainted with some of the women in our neighborhood. God has given me such favor with the women; they have opened up immensely. One of the ladies shared about being in and out of jail because of relational issues. Some have shared their inability to trust other women because of fear of being slandered in the streets. Some have even asked “why” did God choose a certain life for them. The questions and conversations I have had with a few women always leave me with a brokenness for people and the hope of knowing that only God can mend that which is broken. Yesterday, a mother shared with me her wish of having another opportunity to start over, to make different choices and to do things differently. What a joy it was for me to share that God is in the business of making beauty out of ashes. He is able to restore! I hope she was encouraged about the great hope that there is and the opportunity to start over in Christ! “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

Please pray for wisdom for me as I share the Redemption and Transformation that comes as a result of knowing Christ. Please pray for the hearts of the women that they will truly understand the forgiveness, hope and newness of life that comes in knowing Jesus Christ!

So, what is it that I want to Remember? This morning I read 2nd Corinthians 6 & 7:1. This is a great passage for ministry as it is titled, “Marks of the Ministry.” What stuck out to me in this passage is the statement, “Not to receive the grace of God in vain.” A constant prayer for me in ministry is to not have a heart of indifference or passivity towards the circumstances and hearts of the people I minister to. I also read in the book, “Respectable Sins,” the ungodliness of pride in, “moral superiority.” There are some things that I cannot relate to with the ladies I minister to. However, there are many things I can definitely relate to, I am a sinner, I have failed to live a perfect life, I have failed in many ways, we all have. The temptation for many of us, including myself is to look judgingly and even condemningly at people who seem to be morally impure, especially when the consequences are so visible. But then I remember that the same message of grace that I preach to others is the same message of grace I have been a recipient of and therefore need to preach to myself. Grace that is greater than all of our sins! My sins, my rebellious agnostic heart has lead me to think, say and do things that are so not pleasing to God, of this I am ashamed, yet hopeful, in that I can remember the days prior to knowing Christ, and see and be reminded of His amazing grace that was extended to me. Then I can put my hands over my mouth and repent of my ungodliness. But not only repent, but also cultivate a heart of humility that knows that, “But for the grace of God, go I.” Like Lots wife I want to look back, I want to remember the days of old, not with the sinful desire to preserve my life, but to look back and be reminded of the degree in which I have been rescued from my sins. I want such remembrance to motivate me to serve the Lord in meekness of heart, and sharing in the plight, sufferings and brokenness of others.

“Let me not forget where you have rescued me from Lord, give me a healthy remembrance of my life prior to knowing you; not so I can have a fatalistic attitude; but so that I continue to see the magnitude of your grace in my life and as a result extend it to others.”

For He says, “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” (2nd Corinthians 6:2)

"I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your people" (Psalms 77: 11-15)

Long Overdue Update

SUMMER CAMP



To date, I have been on staff with Common Ground for 5 months. It has been a wonderful five months! God has taught me many things one of which is that, “He who calls us is faithful.” The summer months began with our 9 week summer camp. We had 5 college interns, and about 70 children. We were with the children 5 days a week for 8 hrs each day. To say that we were busy would be an understatement. Our topic of focus was the Creation, Fall, Redemption Story. The children enjoyed learning that they were created in the image of God. They were sad to hear about the sin of Adam and Eve and hopeful in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The summer was great! It was such a joy to hear the children recite verses like Psalms 8:1; Romans 3:23. God did an amazing job in allowing us to be a part of bringing His Word to the children while tangibly being able to demonstrate the love of Christ to them. One of the little girls shared how thankful she was to God for allowing us to teach her about the Bible. So neat!!! Overall the summer provided the opportunity for me to build relationships with a few of the mothers in our neighborhoods. I am looking forward to seeing how God will use me in the lives of the women and children.

Please pray for the relationships that God has allowed me to have with a few of the women...pray for salvation and spiritual growth...I will update you soon on these women...

Please also pray for the completion of our minisitry building. We are hoping to be in our building soon. We miss the kids!!!!

Just a Thought

One of the re-occurring questions shared this summer by the staff and the interns was, “what does it mean to love justice and mercy?” I was challenged in many ways to examine my heart in order to identify ways in which I have averted my eyes to the needs of the poor and oppressed. It is so easy for me to be comfortable in my own life, while not giving active thought to the plight of others. Living in the community in which we do, it is clear that the effects of what we see are not simply the results of personal sin. Yes, I emphatically agree that all of mankind and societies problem both on an individual and a conglomerate level are a result of living on a fallen planet. But, what I seem to have overlooked was the contributing factors that leads to or propagate the condition of a neighborhood that is characterized by crime, poverty, broken families etc. Factors such as generational patterns, social and racial injustices... The fact of the matter is God says that we are to actively minister to the needs of the poor, both the spiritually poor and the physically poor. How does one do that? Within Montgomery, there is such a divide not only between blacks and whites but also between rich and poor, church goers and non-church goers. I struggle daily with this divide because honestly at times I feel caught in the middle. Why is there such a divide especially between the races and the wealth? I don’t think I have an accurate, one statement answer. I hope that as I continue to live and serve the Lord here things will hopefully become clearer. I also hope that while I am here my desire is to not avert my eyes to the needs of the poor nor look condemningly on the affluence of the rich, but to learn how to understand this world and community through the lens of the Scripture humbly, respectfully and compassionatley so. May God help me!!!

Hello!!!!

A little about my Past

I am so excited about where the Sovereign Lord has placed me. First, thanks for visiting my blog! :) The purpose of this blog is to share with you, what God is doing with me on a personal and ministerial level, both of which are interwoven in this thing called life. Let me begin, by introducing myself. As you may have guessed, my name is Keisha. I am a simple girl, who serves an amazing God. I am a native of the “don’t worry about a thing” island of Jamaica. Life in Jamaica was simple. Some of my fondest memories of Jamaica includes the simple yet always adventurous days of climbing trees, going for extended walks in the bushes, making toys out of the things of nature and wasted goods, running around bare feet in the mud and best of all was being around my wonderful and godly grandmother. My grandmother was the first person to tell me about Jesus. Living in Jamaica, was hard for my family, although as a child I was very much unaware of the difficulties of living in a third world country. After all I had the basic necessities of life. As a child I remember not having running water and having to walk miles to fetch water to cook, eat, bathe, etc. I remember we were once evicted and had to live in a church. In all these difficulties, my grandmothers’ faith was never shaken. As I write, I can recall her ever sweet and gentle voice, saying, “Di Lawd wi provide (The Lord will provide)!” I always thought that my grandma was insane for always trusting in this God, when we had so little. But, my grandmother’s faith in this God, would radically shape my worldview in such a way that would compel me to tell others about Him. I left the island when I was 10, but the lessons learned would follow me for the rest of my life. The years of living in Jamaica were in fact formative years, not only because they taught me how to appreciate life in America, but more importantly, they taught me about a faithful God who provides for the needs of people, no matter who they are or where they live…

Now in the Present

These lessons have now led me to be on staff with Common Ground (Proverbs 22:2), an urban ministry. I am a missionary!! God’s mission for my life is to live out the two greatest commandments of loving God and neighbor. I seek to do this in the most simple and practical way possible. Thus, I will live amongst people in an “at risk” “under-resourced” community that is severely affected by poverty, drugs, broken families, crime etc. The goal of Common Ground Montgomery (CGM) is to live amongst the people to whom we are ministering, in hopes that many will share in this glorious faith of being a follower of Jesus Christ. I will serve as the only woman staff - I will have the opportunity to learn and teach, counsel, disciple, and love on the people in this community - my new community!

Why Streams in the Desert?

Montgomery is very much like many, if not all parts of the world, in that it is a desert. A desert is a place of “any area in which few forms of life can exist because of lack of water or absence of soil.” Well, we recently had flood in Montgomery, so of course, this desert is a metaphor for a spiritual desert. In our area there are many who live broken lives and are even stoic to daily tragedies. Sin is so pervasive - it affects every area of one’s life, family and community. In our area I am continuously reminded of the effects of sin, there is a spiritual drought in Montgomery, so we are in desperate need of water, THE LIVING WATER. (Jeremiah 2:13; John 4:10; 13) People are spiritually dead. But there is HOPE, we seek to be the channel (stream) of water by which God will use to awaken the spiritually dead, to bring vegetation to a sparse land. We are His vessel, we desire to be a balanced yet ever flowing stream of compassionate love and care for the poor and broken. We desire to show mercy to the people we live with, what better way to love our neighbors than becoming a neighbor…Please, journey and pray with me as I serve the Lord who has entrusted Himself to me, so that I may present Him to others…

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