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What is in a Name?

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Leviticus 20:26

New International Version (NIV)

26 You are to be holy to me because I, theLord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

Good morning, Children of the Most High and Holy God.

I have a question for you this morning. Why is a name or title so important? A name, title or label gives identity to a person, place or thing.

One more question for you? When you think of the word “holy or holiness” in conjunction with God, what images or characteristics come to your mind? To be holy means to be set apart.

In today’s scripture reading, God tells us that we are holy because He is holy. God has given us an identity. God has PURPOSELY said that He set us apart. That means that we are different than the rest world. Our fragrance should linger with presence of God. 

Why does God call us Holy? Why are we to be “set apart”? As a holy people, we come from and are dedicated to a Holy God. Our lives are not our own, but as people that accept their new identity in Christ, we are the set apart ones, whose lives have been sacrificed to live in holiness and who wake each morning on the journey of daily sanctification. A holy people is our given title and identity. A sanctified people is our ongoing daily work. Find out more about sanctification tomorrow. 

I love you with an amazing and everlasting holy love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

It’s A Beautiful Day…

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Good morning, Family:

This morning, I woke up with a tap in my toes and song on my heart. Today is Monday!!! (Crowd Cheering!!!)

I just kept saying, “It sure is a beautiful day.” We have had almost three weeks of straight rain in the Metro Atlanta area, which as caused flooding, sinkholes, downed trees and power outages. So today, I am especially grateful for a bright, clear and sunny sky. 

I dont take any day for granted. Whether is a clear day or not, it is another day that the Lord has allowed me to see. And for that simple fact, I am so very grateful. 

What are you grateful for today? I would love to know. 

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis 

 

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made…

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Good morning, Beautiful Creations of God:

In this day and age of beauty consciousness, I truly want to take the time to celebrate each and every one of you. Everything about how you were created is perfect. Everything you call an imperfection, God calls perfect. 

Whether you are a size 2 or a size 32, you are perfect. You were fearfully and wonderfully made. Nothing about you is a mistake, an opps or an afterthought. You were divinely designed. 

Don’t believe me???? Ok, then believe God!!

Psalm 139:14-16

The Message (MSG)

13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.

See, I told you. Now, go and live your life on purpose.

P.S. I dont usually give a personal plug for my video selections, but this group holds a special place in my heart.

A little background on my music video choice for today. I grew up in Atlanta, GA from about the age of fifteen. I was introduced to this band, The Waiting, through some mutual friends at church. I believe I played this particular CD every day for almost a year. By far one my favorite contemporary Christian groups. Thanks, Pastor Brad, for all you poured out and sacrificed. God’s still not done using you.

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Spiritual Triage…

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Good morning, Family:

What comes to mind when you hear the word “triage”? Do you picture the emergency room of a hospital full of hurting and injured people, or maybe a military battlefield?

Medical Triage means that when people are coming from all directions, the doctors and medical staff have to assess the degrees of urgency to wounds or illnesses to decide the order of treatment of a large number of patients or casualties.

That is the definition of medical triage, but how do you assess spiritual triage? 

This is the invitation the bible gives to those that are hurting:

Matthew 11:28-30 

New International Version (NIV)

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Do you know someone that may fit that description? Is the invitation describing you? Jesus wants so much to ease your heavy load and burdens, but being the gracious Savior that He is, he will not force or demand anyone to come. God simply opens His loving arms and says, “Come.”

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love,

Rev. Marcia Davis

 

Not Lost, Here is Where to Find Me…

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Good morning, Family:

This morning, the Holy Spirit put on my heart to write today’s devotional on how important it is to have a special time of devotion and intimacy with the Lord. 

Studying the Word of God, spending time listening to God’s voice, and learning about the heart and teachings of Jesus Christ are all necessary, on a daily basis, if you want to mature and grow in your Christian walk. 

The Holy Spirit reminded me of a passage, this morning. In this passage, Jesus truly was not hard to find. Mary and Joseph just had to know where to look.

Read below:

Luke 2:41-52 

New International Version (NIV)

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your fatherand I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”  50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Where can people find you? 

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Rev. Marcia Davis

Thankful, Grateful and Blessed…

Good morning greetings:

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I pray that everyone had a restful weekend and that you took some time yesterday, Memorial Day, to give honor to the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. 

There may be some things I wish were different about our country, but I am still grateful, thankful and blessed to call myself an American. 

May your day, today, also be filled with pride that you are children of the Most High God. The ultimate sacrifice was made for us, on Calvary,  so that we could have the right to be heirs and coheirs with Christ. 

Romans 8:16-18

New International Version (NIV)

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spiritthat we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

We stand for the United States and we stand boldly for Christ. May God continue to bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)

In love,

Rev. Marcia Davis

 

Here Comes Joy…

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Good morning, Fellow Soldiers:

We are all a part of the Army of the Lord. As with anything in life, we have all had our good days and our bad days. What I know to be true is that the enemy may try to steal our joy, but God’s joy always finds a way to escape the enemy and find it’s way back to us.

Pain is temporary. Hurt is temporary. Disappointment is temporary. The joy of the Lord is something that always returns to us. Put your trust in God. Get ready, here comes Joy!!!!

Psalm 30:5

New King James Version (NKJV)

For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.

I pray that you have a wonderful day. Keep your head up. You belong to the Most High God.

I love you and I am so glad that you are in my life.

 

Rev. Marcia Davis

 

His Banner of Love…

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Good morning, Most Loved Ones:

The book of the Songs of Solomon is filled with love stories. Did you know that there is a dual meaning in these scriptures? The first meaning is that of a relationship between a man and woman. The second meaning is that between a Savior and His Beloved. 

Song of Solomon 2:4 

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Shulamite to the Daughters of Jerusalem

He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love.

When I was younger, in my early teens all the way through my early twenties, I didn’t feel like I deserved to receive perfect and pure love. Even though I was a Christian and I loved God, I loved him with limitations. 

Why would a perfect God love an imperfect me? I knew that Jesus died for everyone’s sins  but did He know the magnitude of my sins? I truly thought that there was no possible way that God could look past… well, my past.

One thing that God is very good at is showing us how much he loves us. The greatest demonstration of showing Love was deciding to take the form of man and becoming sin on the cross for us. Why did he do it? God loved us so much that he didn’t want ANYTHING to come between us and Him. God opened his arms wide and essentially said, “I love you this much,” as he willingly took his place on Calvary’s cross.

The song I keep singing this morning is taken from the Songs of Solomon which reminds us that God’s Banner over us is Love. God drapes us, covers us and surrounds us with His love. The same way a man wraps his physical arms around a woman, so God covers us and wraps us in perfect Love.

What I want you to hear today is that you are worthy of All the Love that Christ has to offer. No matter your past, you are worthy and you are Loved. His banner over You is Divine and Everlasting Love. 

I love you with the same love that Christ freely gives.

Rev. Marcia Davis

 

Thank You, Lord

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Good morning, Family:

Today is the day that the Lord has made. We will, we are and will continue to rejoice and be glad about it. Amen. (Psalm 118:24)

This morning is a “Thank You” Monday. This morning I want to take the time to praise God. God loved me, changed me, broke me, reshaped me and is continually using me for His glory. 

This morning, I have to say, “Thank You.” I praise you, God, for all you have done for and to me. I magnify you, Jesus, and I stand at the cross with my hands lifted. I stand, at the empty tomb, and thank you for conquering sin and death of my behalf. I bow before the Throne, with a humble heart, as you intercede to the Father on my behalf. Thank you, Holy Spirit of God, for guiding me step by step so that I may fulfill the will of God.

Family, I invite you to open your mouth this morning and give God your highest and best praise. Set the tone and the atmosphere for your day today, and start every day giving glory to God. 

In humble adoration,

Rev. Marcia Davis

Good, Good, Father…

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Good morning, Family:

This morning, I woke up so grateful to God. I’ve been listening to the news and watching TV, in the evenings, and everyone is so excited about the upcoming royal wedding. As a minister and certified wedding officiant, I know the joy of being able to join two people together in holy matrimony. 

Most of the time, women marry men that remind them of their father, especially if their father was a good influence in their life. Even though my natural father past away, before he could meet my husband, I still feel like my dad played a major role in who I married. I always tell my husband that I think God and my dad had a conversation and they hand-picked my husband for me. 

My husband loves me with the same gentleness and respect that God does. At the same time he makes me laugh the way my daddy did. When I look into my husband’s eyes, I see nothing but pure love. I’m thankful to God that he prepared me to be a wife, friend and helper to my husband. 

Father, God, you are a good, good, Father. 

Ephesians 5:21-33

The Message (MSG)

Relationships

21 Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.

22-24 Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

25-28 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage.

29-33 No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.

I love you with an amazing and everlasting love.

Go in peace, while serving the Lord.

Rev. Marcia Davis