WHEN STRONG FRIENDS HURT

In 2 Kings chapter 2, the prophet Elijah was about to leave this world, and he knew it.  However, being a strong, go-it-alone type-A kind of guy (1 Kings 18:22), Elijah didn’t want to worry anyone---- especially his closest friend Elisha.

And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.” (2 Kings 2: 1, 2)

Elisha though sensed that something was wrong, and he replied, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel [together]. (2 Kings 2: 2)

Elijah went from Bethel to Jericho and from Jericho all the way across the Jordan.  At each point in the journey to his end, Elijah told his friend, “Don’t worry about me.  Stay here.  I’ll go on alone.”

Each time Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!”

When the end came, Elisha was there with Elijah. 

Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. …Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” (2 Kings 2: 11, 15)

The strong man did not have to face the fiery chariot alone, and Elisha gained a doubled connection to the spirit of his friend and mentor.

Strong, go-it-alone, I-got-this, type-A kind of people don’t share their pain.  It’s out of character for them to admit that they are hurting.  So when they do, it means that they hurt BAD.

By the time you get to them to comfort them they may say, “Oh, I’m fine now.  Don’t worry about me.  I’ll go on alone.”

They’re not fine.  They’re just back in character. 

If they were in enough pain to actually admit to hurting in the first place, that pain was at a level that doesn’t just go away. 

But they will jump back into their routine.  They’ll work from here to Bethel, to Jericho, and all the way across the Jordan.  And, while they’re working they’ll say, “I’m fine.”

They’re not. 

They’re still hurting.  They’re just back in character.

Your job in those times is to be their Elisha. 

You can’t fix it for type-A, go-it-alone kind of people.  The problem, the pain, the flaming chariot that’s coming is theirs alone to ride.  And they don’t expect you to fix it,  but they need you to be there.  They really need you to just be there while they hurt for a while.

If you can understand that and just be there, your presence will give them the strength to face what’s coming, and the experience will leave you with a greater portion in the spiritual connection between you.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

WHEN GOD LETS YOU HURT

How do we respond to suffering that we don’t deserve?  How do we deal with pain that is not just punishment for our sins? And why, why does God even let such situations happen?

The Bible doesn’t ignore these questions.  God answers them.

Open your Bible to the book of Job and hear a message about WHEN GOD LETS YOU HURT.

Listen well.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer, and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church and the executive director of SAYNO (Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization) in Montgomery, Alabama.

Call  334-288-0577
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

If you enjoy our work, please help support our work in the community. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 31: 31. "Last Verse: Final Grade"

Proverbs 31: 31     Give to her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31: 31.  Last verse of the last chapter of the book of Wisdom.  Class is about to be dismissed and the Teacher explains how you will be graded.

You will get credit for your work. 

The question at the close of this series is:  When a wife receives credit for what she has given as a wife will the grade place her on honor roll or in remediation?

First, a review.

God created male human beings to work and to think and to be fruitful.   For most men that destined productivity is divinely ordained to occur in the context of marriage---- God’s original social institution.  Marriage is the only social institution that was created under perfect conditions.  God put together the first marriage in Eden.  Every other human institution, including organized religion, was organized after the Fall in the context of a fallen,  already corrupted world. 

Marriage is something special.

And so, God proclaims that it is not good for man to be alone.  God gave His already gifted, talented, doubly employed, PERFECT man----- a wife. 

Therefore, a wife is something special.

But admittedly, that’s not for every man.    Marriage is special, and therefore marriage in this sinful world is especially difficult.

At one point as Jesus was teaching about marriage and laying out the difficulty and depths of the marriage commitment,  Jesus’ disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”  (Matthew 19: 10)

Jesus acknowledged that not every man can handle it.He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given”.   (Matthew 19: 11)

But, as Jesus explained, if a man is meant to be a father then he is also meant to be a husband.  Cause if he doesn’t want the deal with a wife, then he should be celibate. 

“For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”  (Matthew 19: 12)

O.K., so now you’re wondering, “Anderson, what’s your point?”

Right, right.  My points? 

Here are my points:

First, not every man is husband material and not ever woman is wife material, and nothing is wrong with a man or woman who doesn’t want to get married. 

But if you don’t consider yourself to be marriage material then don’t present yourself as sexual partner material either.

To my brothers:  If you are a present or future husband, then your potential for success/ fruitfulness is inextricably tied to the woman you do or will call “wife.”  Choose well.  Your life may not depend on your choice of mate; but the quality of your life does.

To the sisters:  If you and he are truly meant to be together as husband and wife, then you must understand your crucial role in his success.   If God has indeed joined you together, then God has proclaimed that he will never realize his full potential------- without YOUR help.  No matter how good, godly, talented, anointed, hardworking, and driven he is------ if you don’t wife him right, he will never be as good as he could be.

But not every woman can receive this saying.  It is a difficult thing to be a good wife, especially since your man isn’t perfect.

As Paul wrote, “If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.  (1 Corinthians 7: 28)

As a wife, you have to walk the erratic and razor-thin line between helping your man and trying to run his life.  You’re supposed to help him fulfill his calling without dictating to him what his calling is. 

I understand why a woman wouldn’t want to deal with that kind of drama, but that’s the job.

Your husband cannot do it without you.  

He can’t succeed without you, but if he also can’t succeed WITH you, then what are you there for?

Read this:

I’m not sure how much of this story is true, but the underying principles are spot-on, Biblically accurate.

Ladies, you are the queens who make us kings.  Or not. 

You will be graded on your work.  Show your work.
Make the way you wife----- speak praises in your name.

And let her own works praise her in the gates.
---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

Proverbs 31: 31. "Last Verse: Final Grade"

Proverbs 31: 31     Give to her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31: 31.  Last verse of the last chapter of the book of Wisdom.  Class is about to be dismissed and the Teacher explains how you will be graded.

You will get credit for your work. 

The question at the close of this series is:  When a wife receives credit for what she has given as a wife will the grade place her on honor roll or in remediation?

First, a review.

God created male human beings to work and to think and to be fruitful.   For most men that destined productivity is divinely ordained to occur in the context of marriage---- God’s original social institution.  Marriage is the only social institution that was created under perfect conditions.  God put together the first marriage in Eden.  Every other human institution, including organized religion, was organized after the Fall in the context of a fallen,  already corrupted world. 

Marriage is something special.

And so, God proclaims that it is not good for man to be alone.  God gave His already gifted, talented, doubly employed, PERFECT man----- a wife. 

Therefore, a wife is something special.

But admittedly, that’s not for every man.    Marriage is special, and therefore marriage in this sinful world is especially difficult.

At one point as Jesus was teaching about marriage and laying out the difficulty and depths of the marriage commitment,  Jesus’ disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”  (Matthew 19: 10)

Jesus acknowledged that not every man can handle it.He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given”.   (Matthew 19: 11)

But, as Jesus explained, if a man is meant to be a father then he is also meant to be a husband.  Cause if he doesn’t want the deal with a wife, then he should be celibate. 

“For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”  (Matthew 19: 12)

O.K., so now you’re wondering, “Anderson, what’s your point?”

Right, right.  My points? 

Here are my points:

First, not every man is husband material and not ever woman is wife material, and nothing is wrong with a man or woman who doesn’t want to get married. 

But if you don’t consider yourself to be marriage material then don’t present yourself as sexual partner material either.

To my brothers:  If you are a present or future husband, then your potential for success/ fruitfulness is inextricably tied to the woman you do or will call “wife.”  Choose well.  Your life may not depend on your choice of mate; but the quality of your life does.

To the sisters:  If you and he are truly meant to be together as husband and wife, then you must understand your crucial role in his success.   If God has indeed joined you together, then God has proclaimed that he will never realize his full potential------- without YOUR help.  No matter how good, godly, talented, anointed, hardworking, and driven he is------ if you don’t wife him right, he will never be as good as he could be.

But not every woman can receive this saying.  It is a difficult thing to be a good wife, especially since your man isn’t perfect.

As Paul wrote, “If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.  (1 Corinthians 7: 28)

As a wife, you have to walk the erratic and razor-thin line between helping your man and trying to run his life.  You’re supposed to help him fulfill his calling without dictating to him what his calling is. 

I understand why a woman wouldn’t want to deal with that kind of drama, but that’s the job.

Your husband cannot do it without you.  

He can’t succeed without you, but if he also can’t succeed WITH you, then what are you there for?

Read this:

I’m not sure how much of this story is true, but the underlying principles are spot-on, Biblically accurate.

Ladies, you are the queens who make us kings.  Or not. 

You will be graded on your work.  Show your work.
Make the way you wife----- speak praises in your name.

And let her own works praise her in the gates.
---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 31: 30. "Hoding on to Your Throne"

Proverbs 31: 30    Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31: 30.  Women are charming creations.  Most women have the  ability to effortlessly project--- possibilities.  And when a beautiful woman deliberately sets her charm to work, it is a marvelous thing to behold. 

But beauty is  a temporary phenomenon (except with my wife, who gets prettier every day).   Women who live will live to see themselves pass and fall from all of their physical peaks.

Beauty is fleeting, and charm can fool you.   Not all men wrap around all feminine fingers.   A sister who relies on her charms will one day be suddenly and unpleasantly reminded that she should have paid more attention in class.

A princess’s beauty may turn the prince’s head.  Her charms may win his favor. But if that’s all she’s got, she won’t sit on the throne very long.  A wise king will not share his kingdom with a beautiful fool.

 

In Proverbs we learn that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1: 7; 9: 10) and that a woman who fears the Lord, SHALL BE praised.

The throne is held by the queen who fears the Lord.  The future belongs to the wise woman. 

My sisters:  More than anything else you should want to please God.   Be more afraid of offending God in the way you treat your husband than you are of offending your husband, and guess what? 

You will love your husband better than you would have being all insecure.   Aaannnnd, your love will be firmly aligned with the favor of God, so that he’s blessed because he’s with you.

Be more concerned about pleasing God with the way you raise your children than you are with making your kids like you, and guess what?  

You will love your children better.  You will deliver them into adulthood with all of your issues and baggage.  Aaaannnnnd you will send your babies out into the world lined up on the path of God’s favor and grace. So, you will be a continuous blessing to them even when you aren’t around.

Be less afraid of losing your looks and less anxious about whether or not you “still got it.”   Instead, think on how you can please God with your life right now.   Look at how you God can use your gifts and resources for His work.  

Instead of treating every wrinkle and stretch mark like the mark of the beast.  Think, pray, learn, and act like you are still a daughter of the Most High God.

Whether or not you still got “it,” act like you still got Him!

That, my dear queens, is how you secure your throne.  Whatever changes the future brings, a woman who fears the Lord, SHALL BE praised. 

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

Proverbs 31: 30. HOLDING ON TO YOUR THRONE

Proverbs 31: 30    Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31: 30.  Women are charming creations.  Most women have the  ability to effortlessly project--- possibilities.  And when a beautiful woman deliberately sets her charm to work, it is a marvelous thing to behold. 

But beauty is  a temporary phenomenon (except with my wife, who gets prettier every day).   Women who live will live to see themselves pass and fall from all of their physical peaks.

Beauty is fleeting, and charm can fool you.   Not all men wrap around all feminine fingers.   A sister who relies on her charms will one day be suddenly and unpleasantly reminded that she should have paid more attention in class.

A princess’s beauty may turn the prince’s head.  Her charms may win his favor. But if that’s all she’s got, she won’t sit on the throne very long.  A wise king will not share his kingdom with a beautiful fool.

In Proverbs we learn that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1: 7; 9: 10) and that a woman who fears the Lord, SHALL BE praised.

The throne is held by the queen who fears the Lord.  The future belongs to the wise woman. 

My sisters:  More than anything else you should want to please God.   Be more afraid of offending God in the way you treat your husband than you are of offending your husband, and guess what? 

You will love your husband better than you would have being all insecure.   Aaannnnd, your love will be firmly aligned with the favor of God, so that he’s blessed because he’s with you.

Be more concerned about pleasing God with the way you raise your children than you are with making your kids like you, and guess what?  

You will love your children better.  You will deliver them into adulthood without all of your issues and baggage.  Aaaannnnnd you will send your babies out into the world lined up on the path of God’s favor and grace. So, you will be a continuous blessing to them even when you aren’t around.

Be less afraid of losing your looks and less anxious about whether or not you “still got it.”   Instead, think on how you can please God with your life right now.   Look at how you God can use your gifts and resources for His work.  

Instead of treating every wrinkle and stretch mark like the mark of the beast, think, pray, learn, and act like you are still a daughter of the Most High God.

Whether or not you still got “it,” act like you still got Him!

That, my dear queens, is how you secure your throne.  Whatever changes the future brings, a woman who fears the Lord, SHALL BE praised. 

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116