Showing posts with label graves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graves. Show all posts
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Sunday, July 22, 2018
THE WE GREATER THAN YOU OR ME
Final
sermon as pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church. (Apologies for the audio quality)
The
title is: THE WE GREATER THAN YOU OR ME.
Listen
well and leave a comment.
If
you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/
The
podcast is on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/anderson-graves-podcast/id918990482
---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 Miles Chapel
CME Church in Fairfield, 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
Click here to support this ministry with a donation. Or go to andersontgraves.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button on the right-hand
sidebar.
Support by check or money order may be
mailed to
Miles Chapel CME Church
P O Box 132
Fairfield, AL 35064
Monday, May 15, 2017
THE PURPOSE & POWER OF A PRAYING MOTHER
Scripture
is filled with the true, complicated stories of blended and broken families in
the midst of corrupted cultures and unsafe communities. Through these stories, the Bible shows how
things can change for the better. God
shows how His people can produce leaders who turn the hearts of their
communities back toward the Kingdom.
Today
we look at two of those stories: Samuel
in the Old Testament and Timothy in the New Testament. From their lives, we learn how women of God have
always played a crucial role in the Kingdom will of God.
Today
we consider THE PURPOSE & POWER OF A PRAYING MOTHER.
Listen
well.
If
you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/
---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 Miles Chapel CME Church in
Fairfield, 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
You can help support this
ministry with a donation.
Or, by clicking the DONATE button
on the right-hand sidebar.
Support
by check or money order may be mailed to
Miles
Chapel CME Church
P
O Box 132
Fairfield,
Al 35064
Sunday, October 9, 2016
A WORLD FULL OF HATERS
When I
complained that life wasn't fair, the elder ladies in my family would say,
"Baby, they killed Jesus! You know they gone do you wrong."
You know?
Jesus said the same thing.
But the Lord
went even further. He explained why life isn't fair, why "they"
do you so wrong. Hear His explanation unfold in a sermon titled: A
WORLD FULL OF HATERS.
Listen well.
If you can’t
get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/
---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 Miles Chapel CME Church in
Fairfield, 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
You can help
support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button
on the right-hand sidebar.
Support by
check or money order may be mailed to
Miles Chapel
CME Church
P O Box 132
Fairfield,
Al 35064
Monday, April 22, 2013
Proverbs 30:15. "Unleeched"
Proverbs
30: 15 The leech has two daughters— Give and Give!
There are three things that are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough!”:
16 The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!”
People use these statements interchangeably, but they are very, very different. Different in DEFINITION. And different in DEFINING.
There are three things that are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough!”:
16 The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!”
Proverbs
30: 15, 16. “Give me.” “Help me.”
People use these statements interchangeably, but they are very, very different. Different in DEFINITION. And different in DEFINING.
“Help
me” can mean “HELP me.” Work with
me. Teach me what I didn’t know before I
put myself in this situation. Show me
what I had not seen so that I don’t end up like this again. Contribute whatever or however you choose to,
but hold me ultimately responsible.
Please, HELP me be more responsible.
But,
the phrase “Help me” can also be defined as “gimme.” Gimme what I want. Handle it so I don’t have to. Release me from responsibility for my actions
and circumstances. Gimme, and then be
ready to gimme some more.
What
matters isn’t the words, but the DEFINITION/ the meaning behind the words. Titles and terminology can be a disguise but
the real DEFINITION behind what comes out of our mouths will soon show.
Differences in DEFINITION are important, but what’s more important are the differences in DEFINING.
In
Matthew 7: 15-20, Jesus said that a tree, a prophet, or a person is DEFINED by
the fruit he/she bears. It is our fruit/actions/output
that DEFINES us.
So,
if what comes out of you is always “Gimme.
Gimme,” then according to the definition in Proverbs 30: 15, you
are A LEECH.
You’re
not a victim. You’re not a little down
on your luck. You may say “all I need is
a little help,” but if your idea of help is somebody else handing you money
while you do nothing more or different------ God says that you’re A LEECH.
Rev.,
that’s harsh.
Bro.,
that’s Bible.
Leeches
suck the life out of their host, pausing their consumption only long enough to
reproduce. Other than that a leech will
drink until it dies, or the host does.
The
grave never says, “Enough death.”
The
barren womb is never filled.
The
parched earth does not believe that it will ever get enough rain.
The
fire never reaches more fuel and stops because it has consumed enough.
So
it is with the leech, whether animal or human.
He doesn’t know when to quit taking. She
doesn’t know how to stop begging.
Consider yourself:
1. When
they tell you that you’re asking for their last, do you ask anyway?
2. Will
you really change the way you live to get the help you need, or do you keep saying “I’m doing
good, I just can’t pay my bills (again)”?
3. Do you
believe that sacrifice now will reward you later, or do you feel like you have
to ball while you can because “I ain’t never gone have nothing anyway”?
If
the description fits, there is a reason why your life sucks.
You’re
a leech.
But
wait.
You
don’t have to stay that way. You can be
unleeched.
God
can remove the consuming character from fire, like He did for Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abengo (Daniel 3).
God
can send rain on land that has known only drought for years, like He did
through Elijah(1 Kings 18: 41-45).
God
can speak life into the barren womb, just like He did for Sarah (Genesis 21:
1-7).
God
can command the grave to give up its prey, as He did when He called Lazarus
forth (John 11).
The
Lord can make that which is never satisfied declare “Enough.” God can unleech you.
Stop
making excuses. Stop waiting for someone
else to give you something else. Stop
living a life that sucks.
Submit
to God. Give yourself to Jesus. Walk according to the Living Word. Be transformed.
Be
UNLEECHED.
---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.
To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more
about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.
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
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 30:15. "Unleeched
Proverbs 30: 15 The leech has two daughters— Give and Give!
There are three things that are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough!”:
16 The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!”
People use these statements interchangeably, but they are very, very different. Different in DEFINITION. And different in DEFINING.
There are three things that are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough!”:
16 The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!”
Proverbs 30: 15, 16. “Give me.” “Help me.”
People use these statements interchangeably, but they are very, very different. Different in DEFINITION. And different in DEFINING.
“Help me” can men mean “HELP me.” Work with me. Teach me what I didn’t know before I put myself in this situation. Show me what I had not seen so that I don’t end up like this again. Contribute whatever or however you choose to, but hold me ultimately responsible. Please, HELP me be more responsible.
But, the phrase “Help me” can also be defined as “gimme.” Gimme what I want. Handle it so I don’t have to. Release me from responsibility for my actions and circumstances. Gimme, and then be ready to gimme some more.
What matters isn’t the words, but the DEFINITION/ the meaning behind the words. Titles aand terminology can be a disguise but the real DEFINITION behind what comes out of our mouths will soon show.
DEFINITION is important, but what’s more important though is the difference in DEFINING.
In Matthew 7: 15-20, Jesus said that a tree, a prophet, or a person is DEFINED by the fruit he/she bears. It is our fruit/actions/output that DEFINES us.
So, if what comes out of you is always “Gimme. Gimme. Gimme,” then according to the definition in Proverbs 30: 15, you are A LEECH.
You’re not a victim. You’re not a little down on your luck. You may say “all I need is a little help,” but if your idea of help is somebody else handing you money while you do nothing more or different------ God says that you’re A LEECH.
Rev., that’s harsh.
Bro., that’s Bible.
Leeches suck the life out of their host, pausing their consumption only long enough to reproduce. Other than that a leech will drink until it dies, or the host does.
The grave never says, “Enough death.”
The barren womb is never filled.
The parched earth does not believe that it will ever get enough rain.
The fire never reaches more fuel and stops because it has consumed enough.
So it is with the leech, whether animal or human. He doesn’t know when to quit. She doesn’t know how.
Consider yourself:
1. When they tell you that you’re asking for their last, do you ask anyway?
2. Will you change the way you live to get the help you need, or do you think “I’m doing good, I just can’t pay my bills”?
3. Do you believe that sacrifice now will reward you later, or do you feel like you have to ball while you can because “I ain’t never gone have nothing anyway”?
If the description fits, there is a reason why your life sucks.
You’re a leech.
But wait.
You don’t have to stay that way. You can be unleeched.
God can remove the consuming character from fire, like He did for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abengo (Daniel 3).
God can send rain on land that has known only drought for years, like He did through Elijah(1 Kings 18: 41-45).
God can speak life into the barren womb, just like He did for Sarah (Genesis 21: 1-7).
God can command the grave to give up its prey, as He did when He called Lazarus forth (John 11).
The Lord can make that which is never satisfied declare “Enough.” God can unleech you.
Stop making excuses. Stop waiting for someone else to give you something else. Stop living a life that sucks.
Submit to God. Give yourself to Jesus. Walk according to the Living Word. Be transformed.
Be UNLEECHED.
---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.
To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.
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
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
Thursday, February 28, 2013
A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 29: 27
Proverbs 29: 27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who isupright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
Proverbs 29: 27. There are people who think that all junkies should be carted off en masse and shot, but get a bunch of addicts together getting high and they will ridicule people who “just say no to drugs.”
A guy who doesn’t drink may think that his buzzed friends are making fools of themselves, but a room full of drunks will taunt the one guy who says “No. I don’t drink.”
The faithful husband condemns his cheating co-worker. The adulterer calls the faithful man “whipped.”
The honest man can’t understand how his friend can cheat on his taxes. The cheater can’t figure out why his friend would let those thieves in the government keep his money.
The quiet girl calls her loud classmate “ghetto.” The loud girl calls her quiet classmate “fake.”
The Pharisees carefully observed Jesus, behavior, and teachings. They compared His actions to the Old Testament prophecies. They followed Him around and sent people to question Him, test Him, and report on His conduct and the populace’s response. They KNEW that Jesus was sent from God. (John 3: 1-2). They didn’t condemn Jesus to death because they didn’t understand. They condemned Jesus because they did.
No matter who you are, no matter what you do, whether right or wrong, whether good or bad------ some sizable group of people will hate you for it.
I’m not talking about the people who hate you without understanding you. I’m telling you that the Bible tells us that people will pay attention to you as an individual, understand your reasoning and your motives, accurately comprehend where you’re coming from and what you’re about------- and hate your guts.
Therefore, what you choose to do and how you choose to live must never ever, ever be based on the need to please everybody or the fear that somebody will dislike you.
Sin always offends God. But people? Could go either way with people.
Faith and righteousness, righteousness in faith always please God. But people? Could go either way with people.
Life will only make sense, you will only find peace when you arrange your life to please God. Everybody else can kick rocks---- or throw them (as they may see fit).
Do the right thing because God says it’s right.
Live the right way because God says it’s right.
Follow your calling and purpose according to God’s Word because it’s the destiny that God made you for.
Haters gone hate. Lovers gone love.
Jesus gone remain the same.
---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.
To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.
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
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
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