Friday, February 29, 2008

GOSPEL PRAISE FRIDAYS !

Good Day!
I hope you have greeted this day as it has greeted you.
Full of Glory for God! Amen!
And, If you are within "a dry season" and you are not at your spiritual best right now, then come on and see about the cooling waters that flow here. Everyone that is following His Will for their lives goes through "dry seasons". God Always provides Renewal and He Will direct you to it. Amen.

Let us Keep First things First!
Father God, we come to you in the name of Jesus, to thank You for this day, and for all Your mercy and grace that is new everyday. Father I pray that all those that are in need of you and your greatness, will call upon you for help. I pray that all the people You have Called to come and work for you, will obey and answer the Calling you placed on them. Glory be unto you Father, and Lord, I pray that all the little children that are not in good homes, or families, that You will send them a Ministering Angel to help them in their days of pain and hurt and bring them into your light and fullness. Save your children God, in the name of Jesus We Will Walk in the Will of God- I thank You as I know this has been done! Yea Amen.

Who-So-Ever you are, I pray you know that When you call on the name of Jesus He will save you, comfort you and stay with you.

Strengthen your relationship with Jesus by talking to Him, by obeying Him. If you don't have a relationship with Jesus, and you want one, Step on out and call His name, Tell Him you surrender your life to Him and that you want Him to come and live in you rightnow!
And He shall answer you and bring Glory to our Father-yea amen.
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"I STEPPED OUT ON HIS PROMISE" - DOROTHY NORWOOD
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LaShun Pace - He Keeps On Doing Great Things For Me

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Dorothy Norwood - Near The Cross

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Richard Smallwood & Vision - I'll Trust You

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

IS YOUR MIND MADE UP?


ARE YOU ENJOYING EACH DAY
BECAUSE YOU ARE, ALREADY BLESSED?

I welcome you today into the desire of learning.


Let us keep First things First!

Father God, In the Name of Jesus, I come to you to thank You for Loving me so abundantly that Your Love overflows from me and is The Living Waters from my belly. Father You know that my main concern is to allow Your love to flow through me, so that my fellow man will see The Love Of My Awesome God. So that they may seek Your Face and the Righteousness of Jesus will be imputed into them as You and Only You can change their hearts. Yea Amen.

( 1 John 4:12)

Once you make up your mind-Nothing-no person-no devil,
can bother you or stop you. Once you fully step out in faith-stepped out on His promises, you have made up your mind as to Who & what you believe in & Whom you are trusting in.

The devil cannot hurt or change a made up mind!

That feeling you have when you know that Jesus loves you--what you feel is, His joyful presence-it is a calmness that blankets you and everything around you. His love deepens our desire to learn and to want to be changed-- His love takes over our spirits and hearts. You feel the assurity that while you live within His UnconditionaLove, EveryThing is taken care of. I don't care what happens, what you see and hear...It IS taken care of to benefit God's plan. amen

When you start each day by asking God who He wants you to help today-you are loving God and He is in your midst! Everything that you have your mind on, will fall into place for you-when you help others in need.


We allow God's Love to change us, and He sends to us, strength, power, authority, wisdom, boldness, and He enriches us with His anointing so that all the gifts, the talents, the skills, are willing and able to do as He has spoken. The understanding of what to do with the wisdom and knowledge that He has given to us is known.


You have this desire to re-learn all you can without the fears, doubts, and the confusion-birthed by the noise of the world bothering you. Things may come and try to make you doubt, make you think God does not love you-but the devil cannot change a made up mind.

God is releasing the results of His blessing on you--All because, you have made up your mind and you are fully trusting in Him, and you are walking on your faith in Jesus. And no, life is not easy everyday, that's where the trusting in Him and speaking with our faith comes in.

If you have not made up your mind yet...He is waiting on you to make up your mind. Who are you going to live for?

Please know, that the changes God does in us take time to come to completion. Don't worry yourself when God is doing things on His time. He has worked out everything for you-there are stages a person has to go through to become a butterfly. Give yourself time and patience-Love yourself. God is not finished with you yet.

If you chose to continue to teach yourself, you will have to figure out how to navigate the valleys of people's minds-the mountains they build because of their view of themselves, you will have to try and make doors open and opportunities appear by your own power. You wear yourself out trying to fight satan and his minions-shoot, you 'll wear yourself out trying to fight man and his selfish will and ways.

Many people know the song, "Yes Jesus Loves Me...for the Bible tell me so..."

But I wonder if people understand what that really means when you speak those words out? Do you know that, when Jesus Loves you, nothing can stand in your way-if you believe and trust Him? When Jesus loves you-you have nothing to worry about-you learn to let go of fear, doubt, control over situations, you learn to have control of your emotions, control of your desires to fix things, you learn to control your mouth and your heart.


When you sing that verse of that song, or shout out in public anywhere that "you know you are already blessed and that God loves you"...I want to ask you this....If you know Jesus loves you-then why are you full of fear, doubt, hurt, worry and pride?

Why would you doubt His Word and start talking negatively about everyday things from everyday situations that everyday people and satan will create? You know he is going to keep trying, why do you keep letting him and or people bother you and hold you back?

When YOU KNOW that Jesus LOVES you-there is no doubt, no fear, no pain, no hurt, no attacks, no situation-No Storms that will pop up and move you from your dedication to stay with God - to stand with God and to trust in and have faith in God!

YOUR MIND IS MADE UP! You know that Jesus loves you and nothing can move you from within His love.

Keep saying this to yourself until you know it! Know Who you are in Christ. What is your motive? Singleness of motive in your heart is what pleases Him and allowes The blessing He placed on you to fully work.
Once you understand and recieve that God is on your side, you will have tremendous confidence! He gives us a faith that allows us to walk on His cnfidence.

Having moments of weakness, having moments when your friends and members of your family start to question your thinking and your actions because you are not living as you use too-you are not the same person they knew. That person is dead-you gave God your ashes and took hold of His Glory! Amen.
These moments will pass-but what you do while within them says a lot to God about Your love and trust in Him.

Are you going to stop and wait on your friends and family members to give their lives to God and start following Jesus? Or are you convinced, that He will take care of them when they are willing? But you've got to go to Him now! Then Come to Him, He is always with you.

God will talk to you, it's Him Loving you.

Let God Love On You! Listen To Him. Recieve His love.

God is waiting for you to finish making up your mind. He has already made up His mind concerning you and your life.

Please read these scriptures:
John 14:12
Acts 10:38
Col.3:22-24
Isa. 54:13
Rom. 8:15-17
Rom.:28-32
2 Cor. 5:17
Psalms 51:10
Psalms 37:4

We shall encourage one another as often as we have to. In the Name of Jesus, Thank You God. Yea, Amen.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

GOSPEL PRAISE FRIDAYS !

Greetings,

I hope this finds you Ready to Praise and Worship The Creator!
Let Us Lift Him Up!
I'm not playing here, this is No Joke!
Let Us Serve Him With great Joy! Amen

Don't worry if you think that you can't sing -- God didn't say it had to be beautiful, just Joyful! AMEN!
Do you know how to give God real Praise and Worship? Psalms 100:4 "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."

Come On-this is where you give it all to Jesus! Ya'll gonna help me praise Him? Leaning on the everlasting arms! The path is ever bright-it grows from day to day...I got blessed peace..someone said that you could not make it--but You are leaning on the everlasting arm! Come Help me ! I'll Help YOU! Prasie God!

ARE YOU ALLOWING GOD TO LOVE YOU UP?
You know, That IS what He wants to do, don't you?

Let me tell you this, He Loves you-He wants to envelope you in His unconditionaLove. It Will change you. He Will Live within you and come through you as blessings for everyone that you meet.
Glory Be To God!

Oh Come On Now, you know you are not scared to Lift Him UP!
Let's give Him some Appreciation, some real Praise, some real Worship!
If you make a space for God, He will live within your heart!

Lets get First things First! THANK YOU JESUS-THANK YOU JESUS-THANK YOU GOD, IN THE NAME OF JESUS! YEA, AMEN!
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WELL, ALRIGHTY THEN! Let's LIFT HIM UP !
you are with me on this ...right? You have not counted yourself out have you? God has not counted you out-if He had , you would not be reading this right now! \0/\0/\0/



DON'T YOU BELIEVE?

Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the work God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:28-29



If you do, but are having trouble Trusting and using your Faith, Ask Him to take care of those things for you-it is that simple-Jesus made it very clear-Ask in My Name of The Father-AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU!

then Watchout! Suddenly, you will know!
STAY WITHIN HIS COMPLETENESS-JUST KEEP SAYING THAT TO HIM.AND HE WILL SHOWER YOU WITH HIS LOVE.


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Amazing Grace - Wintley Phipps
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"Don't Count Me Out"-Tramaine Hawkins
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Here To Lift Him Up Like Never Before!-Tramaine Hawkins
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"I Believe" -Dorothy Norwood
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Dorothy Norwood "Down Old School Boulevard"
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Enjoy This Bonus Video! Sit Back and Know, TO GOD BE THE GLORY!








"The Creation" Spoken Wintley Phipps

“The Creation”
Written BY
James Weldon Johnson
(1871–1938)
(A Negro Sermon)
James Weldon Johnson, ed. (1871–1938).

The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922.

OH YEAH, GOD TOLD ME TO TELL YOU-IT WILL BE ALRIGHT!

Monday, February 18, 2008

LIVING WITHIN HIS REST



I hope that you are greeted with welcomeness and leave with encouragement dancing in your heart, spirit, mind, and body!


The Love of God will live in you if you prepare a place for Him!

Good morning family, I greet you in the completeness of God's Power over and in our lives. Yea, Amen.

This is a short message to encourage you to be still and Know He IS God! To look around yourself and remind yourself, that you are living Within His Rest.
As He was with Joshua (Joshua 1:9), He IS with you, me, us!
Read how God spoke His Word to Joshua, and Joshua believed and moved the people by faith and trust of Gods Way! Amen.

I know that you are going through changes sent by God to better your life and I know how sometimes these changes have places that are very difficult to get through...Please know that you are not alone on this journey!

Praise You Lord for Your gifts and blessings given to us, to comfort us through these difficult and hard to hold times. Amen. Lord we know that You are 'Seeing" who will stay with You not only when the road is smooth and easy going-BUT also, when the road is bumpy, rocky, hard to navigate, is full of frustrations and hard work. Let us daily live the faith that pleases You Father, In Jesus' name Yea, Amen.

I want to encourage you to keep moving forward--even if it appears that your steps are very small, they may even appear to be shuffling...as long as it is forward movement and the impetus is from God...don't worry about how fast you think you should be going or in what direction...God is in charge of all that!

I thank You Father that you ARE!

There is so much that is going on around us-and it's building up strength. I cannot stress enough the importance of praising and worshipping God in these times, in the midst of all that is going on around you in the outside world and right in your own little worlds--things will get worse on the outside of us before they get better. It suprises me none that people seem to have lost their minds with the killlings, the messes....God said it would happen this way..so do not be surprised or put off by any of it...as long as you are grounded deeply into the foundation that God has put you into, you will be fine--your family will be fine.



We, being in the center of storms, but not the cause of them, nor the focus of them, have to know that we are standing on The Rock Called Jesus! We have to know that God is watching everything and that He is not going to allow any negative mess from the world to kill us--Now, He may allow these things to strengthen us, to help burn off dross, and to make us understand that our help comes from the hills.... but none of it will take us out unless you give up!

So I stress to you-I encourage you to stay your ground! To stand with God and stay a living witness to His greatness of Being God!

I encourage you to trust Him even more--to use the faith that He has given to you...the faith that pleases Him! Lord I do love you and I thank You for these people in this congregation! How You Father, take care of us all and make sure that we know what You want us to do. Thank You Lord that You are God and that we are Your children, Your servants and The Apple of Your Eye!

People, take time to rest, not just in the natural, but move yourself, your stuff, your families, INTO THE REST OF GOD! On a daily basis! This is the only way to live and not just survive! This is the path of The Great Life that Only Our Father can afford!!

Amen Thank You Lord--I for one rec' all that You are giving to me and my family--and to the people that you send to us --May we always have by Your hand what they need from You. In Jesus' name Yea Amen.

It is the only safe place to be in these times-as they are going to get worse...God is trying to bring all His people near to Him for full coverage and protection, if you have not a sound, solid relationship with God how will He communicate to you the new directions, the new stragedies, how will He deliver to you the love and healing that you will need, if you are not communicating with Him on a daily basis?

Start thanking Him for sending you people that boldly Speak His Words and do His work-that will walk into a situaion and speak His life into that situation to change it...Thank Him for His courage put into these people, that in the face of natural and spiritual enemies, they are fully determined to deliver what God has sent them with for your benefit!

Thank God that He is with these people--His Messengers and that They trust and have faith in Him to provide full protection, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in order to help YOUR LIFE!

Keep praising and worshipping God for these people that He has called, ordained, and predestined their paths and their jobs of being His dependable servants for Your Life!

Be glad that God sends you corrections/discipline--just as you correct your children or your close friends and family members - so they will not go wrong, or make things worse for themselves. He sends you the same as He wants you to be on the purposed path in order to bring His word to pass in your life.

Thank Him for correcting you from thinking wrong, from doing wrong, and from speaking wrong. that is Love for you from Him! thank Him that You don't know everything and that you are humbled by this fact. and that in all your ways you acknowledge that only God knows everything and that He will release His ways to us through His multi-Ways of Being!

Get up and shout praises to Him for This Day!
Stay Within His Rest! For This day & everyday-all day long!

I hope that you are greeted with welcomeness and leave with encouragement dancing in your heart, spirit, mind, and body!

The Love of God will live in you if you prepare a place for Him!
In His name~Joshua 1:9

Friday, February 15, 2008

GOSPEL PRAISE FRIDAYS !!!

Greetings,

I hope this finds you living in the fullness and strength that belongs to us! Amen!
It is always better to obey than to offer sacrifice. Actually, obeying is a form of sacrifice as we are usually called to give up our time, resourses, and space to others through obeying.

Give it all In The Name of Jesus!

And take His yoke, it is much lighter and easier to carry.
God loves you-He made you from His love and He is pleased with what He has made. Amen.

Allow Him to clean out your life and your path from fears, burnt ashes, years old baggage, detours that you took, maps that you created that lead in circles or to dead ends...
Allow God to repair your heart and your mind Allow Jesus to Heal you and He Will.

Let God Know that You NEED HIM! That you are tired of doing things your way! That You worship Him-You praise Him through every trial, tibulation, dissappointment, sickness, wrong doing, THROUGH everything God and Jesus is the Center of your life!!

Tell God-Tell Jesus-That You have not lost your PRAISE!

Get ready to enjoy This Day-as it will never come back around again!
To God Be The Glory!
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I NEED YOU by TRAMAINE HAWKINS
from new album-I Never Lost My Praise.

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Tramaine Hawkins - It's right and good- Love Alive 5

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I Never Lost My Praise- Tramaine Hawkins

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Tramaine Hawkins - You need Him
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Twinkie Clark - Worship The King

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Twinkie Clark - Thank you for the Healing

Sunday, February 10, 2008

WHAT ARE YOU REACHING FOR?



Greetings my sisters and brothers,

I humbly thank God that He is always right beside us when we seek Him. I thank Him for the anointing that has been put on our desire to strengthen our relationship with Him-He answers us when we call to Him. To God be the glory through our lives. In the Name of Jesus, Yea Amen.

Let us tell God in the name of Jesus, how much we appreciate Him. Amen. By heeding the directions that He sends to us, by fully obeying Him, you are letting God know How Much you Appreciate Him and All that He Has Already Done for you.

Thank You Jesus-Thank You Jesus!

No matter where you stand within your journey today--right now--By opening up your mouth to Praise Him you are appreciating Him because He is God, and for what He has done for you and He Will Honor His Promises to you. Amen.

Faith makes all things possible-Love makes it easy! The Call IS for us to be the hope in times of hopelessness, to be the love that erases fears. To use our voices to tell of what His Love has done- Are you a living witness for God? (Acts 4:19-20/ Acts 5:29-32). God will ALWAYS be right there when you call on Him--He will send you the answers before you need them. He will grab you when you fall.



As the title asks you-and please think on it...What are you reaching for?

Is it gold things? silver things? honor from man? recognition from man? awards from man? are you reaching for security? happiness? strength? tangible things?
Are you busy reaching for the things that you see others with?
Are you reaching for the gifts of the Spirit? Are you reaching for the corner of Christ's garment? are you reaching for His healing? His guidance-His presence?

And Why, are you reaching for these things?

Are You reaching by your own power or through the Power of Jesus?

Are you following the pre-destined plan that God placed for you-or-are you following a plan that you set forth for yourself?

What Are You Reaching For and How are you going about it?

You really need to ask yourself these questions so that you are very clear about every step, consequence, situation, every motive, every decision that you make and go through. That you have His wisdom and understanding about such things.



Everything that you go through is designed to bring you through to The Divine Destiny that God spoke out for your life! He said, that every word out of His mouth will come to pass. That nothing will return to Him empty! (Psalms 4:1) Yea amen.


Your faith is being tried by fire. Just as metal is heated in order to change the properties of it so that it will be stronger than before the fire. Just think, after the fire, You will be stronger than you ever were! And nothing that comes your way-NOTHING will be able to shake your faith in God- the anointing that He has placed upon you will show everyone and yourself, that you posses such courage--it will be a privilage to see such courage!


Remember, there are no shortcuts.

What are you reaching for? Fear or Faith?
What are you walking in, Fear or Faith?

God has put destiny into us and in order to get it out of us...He has to pull disorder and fear out of you. He has to pour discipline into you.

Please know this-the gifts, talents, and skills that you have been blessed with--are nothing without God's Anointing upon them-- Mixed in with them. They are NOTHING unless you are obeying His directions on how, when, and what to do with them. When you replace His Light with one that you power--you will not be able to see very far-nor will you be able to lead people by being His Light and letting it shine.


None of your gifts, talents, and skills will help the people they were intended to help if you are not allowing His Anointing to be upon you and to shine through you. To allow this- you have to be totally obedient.


So, if you are trying to reach higher levels by your own little power, with your motives- with your skills, talents and gifts (with no anointing)...you will obtain a higher place than you started out from--But, it will be much lower than where God pre-destined you to be!


Please know this, that this place-this level you obtained all on your own = SHALL BE CALLED= "the place that-is-lower-than-you-should-be-" And, you will have to maintain that level on your own--God will not help you or invest in your actions.



Now, ask yourself this and ask God this...."Lord, is this why i am not happy? Is this why i am anxious for what you promised me? Is this why I have my eyes, heart and focus on the things and not You? Am I reaching for the wrong things Lord? Is this why i can't see You in the midst of my situations? Lord, have i moved before You? Lord, Have i stopped when You told me to keep going?" Oh In Jesus' Name I call upon Your wisdom, knowledge and understanding to help me, Amen.

Now, wait on His answers to you...He will impart them into your spirit-your heart and you will know the truth. Thank You Lord. Amen.


Give Him your time, your space, your heart, your mind-think on Him...Give Him your All- and know that impartations are always Established Truth. The are given to change our perspective-they produce His Living Water for a thristy crop to be harvested from you. And once you encounter this rain of impartation that Only God can give us-We are left with a deeper understanding and love of God and for God-greater than anything that we have ever known--it is a greater and higher knowledge and peace that leaves us changed.
Glory be to God!


It's that sweet fragrance that lifts the tired soul after a rain! Oh Jesus--that name-there is something about that Name!


Please know that established truth, that is delivered to us–by people, events and circumstances, are wrapped in a purity by God that the world cannot rival. Without a doubt, I believe that God designed our lives to be containers sent for many purposes-He fills us up with what the people will need-He also sends us into places, situations, settings that have been orchestrated for the purpose of change and for increase to all involved = of true spiritual substance and for promise filled deliverances. Bless Your Name Lord!

Teaching is rote, but impartations establish: Paul desired to come to the people, “that He might impart some spiritual gift . . . that they would be established.” (Romans 1:11)


(Psalm 33:8-22)

Father God, In the Name of Jesus, I ask that You stand against all that can break Your nations and crush Your people. I pray that Your nations will not be broken but will be strengthened by Your virtue and Your steadfast love of us. I declare out of my mouth-that what You speak, You will bring to pass. Yea Amen. Excellent Father that You are, I declare all will fear the Lord and revere You- for "You spoke and they came into existence!"
I ask You in the Name of Jesus, to spoil plans and purposes that are not of You, and I declare instead that the purposes of Your heart-what pleases You will be established in the present generation and will realease the seeds, planting, water and harvests that You spoke into existance: “From heaven God looks down and sees all men and watches the inhabitants of earth. He considers everything they do and calls them to allow Him to form their hearts. Because of Him, no army saves a ruler; but the eyes of the Lord watch those who fear Him and He delivers them from death, famine and lost hope."


Lord, I testify with my life that You are Everything we need. I testify out of my mouth to be that voice of hope-that voice of agreement when it seems that nothing but chaos lives-that voice of unconditionaLove when hate seems to grow in 3's. I will speak of All the things that Your love has done for us.
I will continue to build Your Kingdom Here on earth, as IT IS IN HEAVEN, as You have spoken it into existance. To do what we were Told To Do, ALL That Jesus Did and Greater Things.
(John 14:12)

Lord, I thank You for giving me the faith that pleases You, In Jesus' Name, I humbly pray, praise and thank You-as i know it is done. Yea Amen.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

GOSPEL PRAISE FRIDAYS!!

GOSPEL PRAISE FRIDAY!

I hope and pray that you enjoy every minute of This Day, as
This Day, will never be back around again!

There are so many opportunities that have been packed into This Day for each of us to parktake of. The fullness--the freedoms--the breakthroughs--the healing--the wisdom--the understanding--the giving of yourself--the recieving of sent gifts--the compassion--the forgiveness....the praising, the obedience done....

ALL OF THIS AND MORE HAS BEEN PACKED INTO,
This Day.

Let us Enjoy This Day in all it's fullness-Let us enjoy His presence in all His fullness.

As it says in Psalms 85:10 "Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed."

What are you reaching for? Don't you know that each day has been prepared for you to accomplish everything that comes your way!

What are you reaching for? What are you focused on?
Reach for Jesus-Reach for God-Reach for His Wisdom-Reach for His way-You Can Make It !

Don't reach for your own solutions--Reach for His! They WorK!

Faith that pleases Him.

Now, lets get started with First things First.
THANK YOU-THANK YOU LORD! YOU GET THE GLORY FROM MY LIFE!
I'VE NEVER LOST MY PRAISE OR FAITH! \0/\0/\0/

Let us Speak The Faith that pleases Him!
Use your faith to run fear away and kill it! Amen!



SOME BIG GOSPEL STAR'S SHARE THE STAGE TO GIVE ...
TRIBUTE TO ARETHA FRANKLN(one good thing about bet)

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Richard Smallwood & Vision Featuring Kim Burrell
"Journey"
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"Total Praise" - Richard Smallwood & Vision



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Here's a little something Special for you.

Marion Williams -"I'm Going To Live The Life I Sing About..."

And Some of Herstory -Provided along with the video.

....enjoy This Day.

With the Stars of Faith, "I'm Going To Live The Life I Sing About In My Song"from the early 60s TV show "Hotenanny", hosted by Jack Linkletter. The episode containing this performance first aired 9/28/1963, from the University of Pittsburgh.

She did two songs on this show.By Robert Santelli:Gospel has been the main source of vocal inspiration for American popular music in the twentieth century.

Nearly every great black vocalist, male or female, first learned to sing in church. Many left the sacred world for the economic opportunity and stardom that beckoned from beyond the pews and altars, but they took the gospel vocal tradition with them.

Sam Cooke, Clyde McPhatter, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston—the list is long. Yet many others stayed in the church, preferring to sing praise to Jesus than to cross over and become a pop singer. Mahalia Jackson was one such gospel singer.

Marion Williams was another.The sacred themes and religiosity of gospel music were, and remain, removed from the more wide‑open issues of carnal love, material gain and other earthly delights that fill popular music. But the manner of singing, the way that gospel singers celebrate the path to Heaven, has so infiltrated pop music that sometimes it's impossible to distinguish one singing style from the other. That is why Williams, for one, has been called "the equal of any blues singer alive" by Jon Pareles of the New York Times and "among the greatest of jazz singers" by esteemed jazz critic Whitney Balliett in the New Yorker.

Gospel music critic Lopate believes Williams' close connection to blues and jazz came from her need to go beyond the norm. "Marion always flirted with danger when she was really improvising," says Lopate. "She might not have had the pop sensibility of, say, Aretha Franklin, but Marion could take a song and remake it so that the lines that exist between gospel and the blues, or gospel and jazz, were totally erased. In that respect, she was an absolute vocal genius.

"Producer Heilbut agrees. "I'd watch Marion again and again play with the rhythm of a song and change it in a way that made absolute musical sense. There was a blues essence in her style, particularly her phrasing, which, in my opinion, was unequalled."Williams also had such a wide vocal range, adds Heilbut, that she could hit soprano notes and growl like a blues woman, practically at the same time.

"Her range of musical colors was remarkable, and she would never sing a number the same way twice. Marion used to say, 'If you want someone to repeat herself, I'm the world's worst.' Well, that had a lot to do with why she was the world's best."All of this is true. But if you've never heard Marion Williams sing, most likely the sheer drama of her vocal style will touch you first. The fact that Williams could hit the highest notes and then suddenly drop two octaves or intonate with strains of deep blues or turn her voice into a wildly improvisational instrument the way Louis Armstrong did with his trumpet all added up to an intensely dramatic redemption of spirit and soul.


Tuesday, February 5, 2008

AIN'T I A WOMAN ?

Isn't it just wonderful to recieve the right knowledge/information, at just the right time.

With all the "election stuff", and the womenwomyn working to work together, all the colors trying to fit into one box, (don't look for me to be in that box=i'm being used :D ), and just all the transitions we are going through- the changes--connected to the New Things that God is ushering in....

I was led to go back and remember, such a Woman of Faith, through a child's book that we bought for our goddaughter.

Now, I have known her story for the better part of my life, but something about reading her story, right now-today, while within the midst of God's changes and transitions based on His plan for the world, my life, and the lives of those around me.....

It's nothing that I can actually touch, nothing that I can physically hold on to, or even see....But, it is His Spirit-that something, that I feel deep within me-fully unfolding as it spreads throughout my spirit, body and soul. How It fills me up! I just have to say, Yes Lord, water the seeds that You put into me. Revive the life from the dryness that creeps in to make me want to do like Jeremiah did in Jeremiah chapter 20.

But then i remembered that God does not look on the outside of us as people do each other--He looks and knows the heart of a person. And on time as always-His Balm starting to kick in. Thank You Jesus!

And all I did was ask God, in Jesus' Name, to Please Minister to me. I asked Jesus to Minister to my body, my spirit, and my mind. And He did.

...nothing else could accomplish the work, except FAITH!

In the Name of Jesus' I pray that the Work of God in and for my life will continue to encourage you to keep standing, to keep believing, to keep wanting a deeper relationship with Him...I pray that you stay encouraged long enough to believe by Faith. This I ask of God as I know it is done, Yea Amen.

AIN'T I A WOMAN ?


Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)

Delivered in 1851 at the Women's Convention, Akron, Ohio.


Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place!

And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me!

And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well!

And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me!

And ain't I a woman?
Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights?

If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman!

Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from?

From God and a woman!

Man had nothing to do with Him.


If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again!

And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.

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**There is a poem that was written by Erlene Stetson-interpreted from Sojourner's speech. Here is what I found out about it =

(The following is quoted from an editor's note in the anthology where this poem is found)

"There is no exact copy of this speech given at the Women's rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1852. The speech is adapted to the poetic format by Erelene Stetson from the copy found in Sojurner, God's Faithful Pilgrim by Arthur Huff Fauset, (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1938). "The poem and note, along with other great women's poems, can be found in Ain't I a Woman: A Book of Women's Poetry from Around The World, Illona Linthwaite, Editor. New York: Wing Books, 1993, page 129.

JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND-TO REMIND YOU.....

Sojourner Truth (1797? - 1883) was the self-given name, from 1843, of a woman born into slavery. The name she was originally given was Isabella Bomefree (later changed to Baumfree). The year of her birth is uncertain, and is usually taken to be 1797.

She escaped to Canada in 1827; after New York state abolished slavery that year, she returned there in 1829, worked as a domestic servant for over a decade, and joined Elijah Pierson in evangelical preaching on street-corners. Later in life she became a noted speaker for both the Abolitionist movement and the women's rights movement. Perhaps one of her most famous speeches was Ain't I a Woman? (although official records of this speech do not contain this phrase), a short but pointed commentary delivered in 1851 at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio.
In 1850, she worked with Olive Gilbert to produce a biography, the Narrative of Sojourner Truth. During the American Civil War, she organized collection of supplies for the Union.
See also: Slave narrative
In 1997 the NASA Mars Pathfinder mission's robotic rover was named "Sojourner" after Sojourner Truth.

External links and references
Genealogy note
Narrative of Sojourner Truth: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/truth/1850/1850.html

An obituary written by Harriet Beecher Stowe is available from the Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/


Sunday, February 3, 2008

LET US HAVE FAITH


"...BUT FAITH, THE EYE OF LOVE, DID."
~ Helen Keller

TO STAND AS A WITNESS WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH !

I know there are those of you that read some books over again. Certain chapters that you may be fond of.

Isn't it something how we can be led to just the right book at just the right time?

Have you ever felt that way after reading just a few sentences of a book that you either just recieved, or you are re-reading it?

This morning I picked up Helen Kellers "Let Us Have Faith" 1940.

As I started reading the words-slowly, I do not want to miss anything-with an open-teachable mind. I remembered quickly what had touched my very soul the last 10-20 times that I've read this little book that holds in it , more faith than many people's lifetime has ever shown.

Her love of God and her faith is enormous! encouragement started to dance within me, uplifting my spirit as I read her words, today-in this moment are exactly what I needed.


The faith she had, I wonder if God witnesses it as often as He would like to. But I do know, that I see what "He did for her" - so I stay-leaning on Him, expecting, trusting, using my faith. and I keep singing, However You chose to bless me Lord.

I want to share a portion of her writing from chapter two- selections from pages 11-13, Faith Arms the Soul.

"...but faith, the eye of love, did. I did not know I had a soul. Then the God in a wise heart drew me out of nothingness with cords of human love and the life belt of language, and lo! I found myself.
Faith...And since I have the privilege of doing it, I am proud to bear this testimony to the power of faith! If I had not faith to think with and suffer with I could not bear the incessant wrenching at my mind caused by the revival of barbarism and intolerance. the mutilations of mankind by war and persecution and tyranny. Faith is the red blood that braces when all else fails."



"Unity in service to one another is stirring evidence of faith. It need not wait to be the work of an entire civilization; in fact, it is here among us if we tear defeatism from our eyes and look for it. The achievements which have contributed most to progress--faith''s fruits--have never been wrought in distrustful aloofness from the people, and they have rarely borne the flag of any nationality or the emblem of any class or creed. They have overleaped political boundaries to elevate and instruct people under every banner. The effort to abolish every form of slavery has been the responsibility of a universal brotherhood of faith."


Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You for giving me faith that pleases You and Lord, I ask that You help us to trust Your purposes for our lives that are unfolding before us when we do not understand. In the Name of Jesus, Yea Amen.

Friday, February 1, 2008

GOSPEL PRAISE FRIDAY !!

LETS LIFT HIM UP !!! GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY!!

Come on, I know you have Praise for The Most High for ALL He HAS DONE for us!
Not just yesterday, not just today, but for All the things He has done long before you were born!
Taking care of your family so you would be here today to give Praise to Him!!

Glory, Glory, Glory!!
Let Him Hear your cries and your praises!!!!!!
Let Him Lift you up--into His Presence,,,let Him breath His life-giving Presence over and in your life!!

Come On, Come On...THANK HIM! He is God! HE IS WHO HE IS!

I pray and hope that God's work in and through my life will encourage you to keep standing, to keep praying, to keep praising Him. In Jesus' Name, Yea Amen.

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Tramaine Hawkins - Lift You UP
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Richard Smallwood - 'Thank You' pt. 1
(Phenomenal song sung by the amazingly anointed Charisse D. Nelson. Written and composed by Richard Smallwood for his album Adoration)

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Richard Smallwood - 'Thank You' Pt. 2
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Now, how you feel? Keep Lifting your voice up and Keep Praising Him with ALL that He has made you to be--Bless His HOLY NAME!!