One of our Family Reunion Prayers
Father God, great and mighty God of this Elmore Family, thank you for another month, of this 2017. Oh how we love and adore you. You said in your Word to give thanks in everything. So, we thank you for the blessings of this month, for forgiving us as we forgive others, for meeting every need for those who have committed to support our family reunion this reunion year, for healing those who are sick in their body, soul, and spirit among us, for delivering those who are addicted to prescription and non-prescription drug and from ungodly strongholds.
Thank you Father for being our great deliverer and for binding the strong men in each life, for doing new things in each of us as we each prepare to come from the north, south, east, and west to Patterson where our great family continued, for moving in our hearts to promote Elmore family unity, for covering our Elmore Family with the Blood of Jesus, for Waring angels who protect us daily, for all of heaven's armies who fight for us in the heavenies, for the power of the Holy Spirit of God to fill us and refill us daily, for a mind to serve and honor you thru serving and honoring each other as family, for the God kind of faith and love needed to live an abundant life in you, for providing for employment and health care, for teaching us how to be outstanding stewards of everything you give us, and for our salvation in the powerful awesome name of your son Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit Amen.
From The Pen of
Pastor Sheena Coleman
What’s Love Got to Do with It? [James 2: 1-13]
This question has framed the words of the popular song as sung by R &B fame Tina Turner. It has won numerous awards such as Record of the Year, placed into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and made into a film. While this title has many accolades attached to it, it is very Key to living the Christian life. What’s love got to do with it, EVERYTHING! The love of Jesus has everything to do with our “relationship" with each other. How we treat each other in the bonds of holy matrimony, in our church relationships, in the marketplace, in our family, where ever we find ourselves.
The Apostle James, in James chapter 2, verses 1 thru 13 addresses the behavior of the church of Jesus Christ regarding “favoritism and partiality”. What a timely subject. It’s the 21 century and yet it still exists today. We see so much of it in all areas of our society, in the church and outside of the church, in our government at all levels, in the workplace, and even in our families. James admonishes followers of Jesus Christ that may be showing favoritism unaware and aware - to STOP IT! Yet, could it be that it is so prevalent in this modern day society, that our eyes are blinded to the truth [God’s truth]. Whatever the case, when it happens to you why not make leaders and/or family members whoever accountable for their actions. Some may be doing it unaware - just saying.
Now, we have examples of people being looked over for promotion when the “fair haired” comes in, people because of their skin color being the last hired to being the first fired. Some even have the audacity to say within the Body of Christ that they are “favored of God” if they are on the receiving end of the favoritism - Go figure! Well, the Bible has great things to say about “favoritism”. It is ungodly and it is evil! You can’t rationalize this one with God! No way! God doesn’t show partiality (Acts 10:34).
This question has framed the words of the popular song as sung by R &B fame Tina Turner. It has won numerous awards such as Record of the Year, placed into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and made into a film. While this title has many accolades attached to it, it is very Key to living the Christian life. What’s love got to do with it, EVERYTHING! The love of Jesus has everything to do with our “relationship" with each other. How we treat each other in the bonds of holy matrimony, in our church relationships, in the marketplace, in our family, where ever we find ourselves.
The Apostle James, in James chapter 2, verses 1 thru 13 addresses the behavior of the church of Jesus Christ regarding “favoritism and partiality”. What a timely subject. It’s the 21 century and yet it still exists today. We see so much of it in all areas of our society, in the church and outside of the church, in our government at all levels, in the workplace, and even in our families. James admonishes followers of Jesus Christ that may be showing favoritism unaware and aware - to STOP IT! Yet, could it be that it is so prevalent in this modern day society, that our eyes are blinded to the truth [God’s truth]. Whatever the case, when it happens to you why not make leaders and/or family members whoever accountable for their actions. Some may be doing it unaware - just saying.
Now, we have examples of people being looked over for promotion when the “fair haired” comes in, people because of their skin color being the last hired to being the first fired. Some even have the audacity to say within the Body of Christ that they are “favored of God” if they are on the receiving end of the favoritism - Go figure! Well, the Bible has great things to say about “favoritism”. It is ungodly and it is evil! You can’t rationalize this one with God! No way! God doesn’t show partiality (Acts 10:34).
The bible is very clear to those not treating everyone equally and showing partiality. We find the following in Deut 1:16 NLT, “. . .You must be perfectly fair at ALL times. . ..”. Then in 2 Chron .19:7, God says . . He “does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality . . .“ . Next the writer of Proverbs in chapter 28: verse 21 “Showing partiality is never good . . .”. These are extremely strong words for the perpetrators of favoritism. So, James in verses 8 and 9 tells us to “Love your neighbor as your self – you know the Golden Rule. And, “if you favor some people over others you are committing a SIN”. So,what’s love got to do with it? EVERYTHING! And, the Bible states, "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." 1 John 4:20 NIV.
Let's pray: Dear Heavenly Father, Forgive us of the Sin of Partiality and Favoritism within our family, church family, and outside of those family units. Teach us to be a reflection of your love and compassion for persons whether family or not. Teach us to forgive, to let go of the people and the situation that have caused us hurt and pain whether the person(s) are alive or deceased. Just as you forgave us, we by faith, forgive them. We confess that we will live our best, abundant life now from this day forward walking in Love especially with ALL Family Members realizing that your Love has everything do with our lives- In Jesus matchless, chain breaking name Amen!
Let's pray: Dear Heavenly Father, Forgive us of the Sin of Partiality and Favoritism within our family, church family, and outside of those family units. Teach us to be a reflection of your love and compassion for persons whether family or not. Teach us to forgive, to let go of the people and the situation that have caused us hurt and pain whether the person(s) are alive or deceased. Just as you forgave us, we by faith, forgive them. We confess that we will live our best, abundant life now from this day forward walking in Love especially with ALL Family Members realizing that your Love has everything do with our lives- In Jesus matchless, chain breaking name Amen!