Author: LovingGodWithExcellence

I am a minister, speaker, and creative individual passionate about learning, experiencing and expressing God at the highest levels, and sharing the love of God with others. My devotion is expressed through my faith, family and communities of love throughout the globe. I enjoy the opportunity to explore the intersection of innovation, creativity, faith and personal transformation. I have authored two books, and working on several others including a new book on grace.
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Birthdays

I recently celebrated my birthday (the entire month), during which I considered the blessings of an amazing husband, phenomenal children and grandchildren, terrific sisters and brothers, wonderful nieces and nephews, adorable aunts, and uncles, and the legacy of parents and grandparents.  I also pondered the blessing of having an enormous extended family and friends from across the country and around the world.  Their lives created splendid gateways, and bridges of faith and love which strengthened, and sustained me, even through some of the hardest and darkest times of my life.  So, instead of looking for gifts, I took the opportunity extend blessings to this community of love.   Overwhelmed with gratitude for each of them I shared “blessings.”  I wanted them to know how deeply honored and privilege I am/was for them being part of my life.  It is already February, and I am continuing the process, which I suspect will continue for some time.  But as a dear friend told me, every day you wake up on this side of glory is your birthday.

Birthdays are fun and special.  We look forward to those milestone birthdays, like becoming a teenager, or that special present.  Like Christmas morning, we wake up and can’t wait for the party, presents, and all the attention lavish on us on our special day of the year.

Birthdays are fun, special and a blessing.    And blessings are gifts as well as promises from God which enable, enhance and enrich life.  In the OT, a blessing was the “essential component to the covenant relationship God has with man and with nature.” He blessed nature (Gen. 1:22), and humans (Gen. 1:28), and mankind serves as vessel of divine blessing to others.  In the NT, blessings became more than material items; they transcend to the spiritual, the eternal and from one person to the body of Christ.  Christ gave us the mandate to share the Good News and equip the body of Christ.  In other words, show others the way to Christ and thereby be a blessing.  Through our gift giving of Christ,  those who are living in darkness can receive and experience a “new Birthday.”  The day in which they become a “new creature”; a “new creation” in the family of God.

Yes, birthdays are truly wonderful to experience and share.  Maybe today is your birthday or the birthday of someone you know.  That person may be just a phone call away, or perhaps gone on to be with the Lord.  However, somewhere on this planet, or within your community is a person who needs you to let them know this is their “special” day – their birthday.  Share the love of Christ by telling them how much they mean to Christ and to you.  Enable, enhance or enrich their day.   Your message may be that “once in a lifetime gift” that will restore hope to their weary soul, and enable them to receive the blessing of Christ.

If it is your birthday, may Almighty God bless you and yours abundantly in health, in knowledge of Him, and in the labors of your hands and heart. May His glory shine upon you, and make your home a safe haven. May His joy be your strength, and protect you from all hurt, harm and danger as you follow the Him all the days of your life.  Happy Birthday.

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Made in God’s Image

Blessings to you on this, the Lord’s Day and my birthday.
Please share the following with the women of your congregation and ministries.

Made in God’s Image
“I am a woman made in the image of God.
I have been made by Him and for Him.
He took care of all the details when my life was being formed. He forgot nothing.
He made me exactly how He wanted me to be.
He made me for a purpose and with a plan.
Everything about me perfectly fits into that purpose and plan.  I have a heart to know Him, a soul to bless Him, and a body to serve Him.
I am here in His perfect time –
I didn’t arrive too late in history, nor did I come ahead of schedule.  It is the people of this generation to which He has called me
as His witness.  Through my face His light will shine, through my voice His praise will be heard, through my life His love will be extended.”  Author unknown
Scripture Reference: Psalm 139:13-16 NIV

May this beautiful message of hope and love encourage them in knowing they are fearfully and wonderfully made.

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Living Water

You may have heard about the chemical leak in West Virginia impacting 9 counties. As a result, those affected can’t bathe, drink, or even wash their clothes or dishes.  It has created a demand for clean water.  And although emergency resources are being mobilized, we don’t know how long it will take to rectify the situation.  So in the meantime, schools, restaurants, and some businesses are closed, and people are scrambling to find water.Picture2

My husband drove 25 miles to find bottled water the first evening of the disaster. As we were consuming our precious commodity, he noticed the label on one of the bottles.  It read...”Enon Springs…replenishes your body with the thing it needs the most, H20. Drink it straight up or on the rocks. Just drink as much as you can get your hands on because let’s face it, without water, you’re dust.”

How prophetic and so true.  Water is a precious resource that quenches and hydrates the body.  It cleanses us and our environment.  Water makes things grow and provides nourishment.  Water is life and we need it.  But we also need the living water of Christ. It helps us become like a tree planted by His water bearing fruit in due season. (Psalm 1:3 NLT paraphrased)  Drinking the living water Christ provides, we never go thirsty again.  For His blessed water is a fresh, bubbling spring giving us eternal life. (John 4:14 NLT paraphrased)

Without it, our leaves fall, our seeds don’t take root, our connection to the Living Vine is severed, and we become a valley of dry bones, animate objects of reproach, carcasses devoid of life. Oh, but the marvelous, living water of Christ heals, restores, empowers and makes ready the harvest.  So have a good, long drink of Christ’s living water. Get as much as you can each and every day.  Because without, it we are dust.

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The Hand of God

Hand of God Nebula 2014

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:5-7 KJV

The hand of God is mighty and full of mercy and compassion. It is the hand that delivered the children of Israel from 400 years of oppression, and demonstrated patience and mercy despite their disobedience and rebellious nature.  God’s hand offers deliverance (2 King 17:38) and justice.  It set us free from the enemy, and makes a place for his children at the banquet table.

The hand of God is filled with love and healing.  God wrapped Jesus in love and sent him to lost humanity, so life could be restored.   Talk with the Jairus’ parents, the Centurion, the blind man, the leper, the cripple, or demon possessed man about his hand.  Mary Magdalene, Lazarus or the widow whose son was raised from the dead know about his hand.

His hand is amazing grace, favor, and provision. Those hands fed thousands, and sustains the universe with precision, purpose and power.

In his hand is strength, joy and a peace that passes all understanding.  It lifts you up out of the miry clay and sets your feet on solid ground.  Just a simple touch can wipe away tears, and give comfort to the weary soul.  The Hand of God removes the stain of sin, restores the broken-hearted and lights the way to everlasting joy.

The Hand of God fights our battles, and shelters us in the midst of the storm.  His hand destroys enemies and raises the banner of righteousness over us.

The Hand of God is love that never, ever fails.

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Looking For Greater

Looking for Greater in 2014

Dear Church and Body of Christ,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12 KJV)

The Church has been in a holding pattern since the latter part of the Church Age; not fully understanding the authority and power that Jesus has released in the hands of the Church and the fully ordained authority of the Kingdom of God in the Earth.
The goal is to move the Church into the will of God; to train and notify the Body of Christ of its inherited rights promised by the word of God.

As we go throughout the years, we need to start LOOKING FOR GREATER in every part of our lives, our health, finances, testimony and our tests. Our ministries need to be greater, and even our walk with the Lord. Our faith needs to LOOK FOR GREATER and our giving needs to be GREATER. In worship and praise, it also must be GREATER, understanding that God has given us the Keys to the Kingdom and access to the resources of the Kingdom of God. Listen to God’s Word.
” And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19 KJV)

The Keys to the Kingdom

1. Believe in God; 2. Faith – Work Your Faith Because Faith Works; 3. Radical Obedience – Obey God Radically (change now); 4. Grace (unlimited) – Walk in His Amazing grace (favor); 5. Speak what God says – Speak and only hear what God speaks in your life; 6. Love of God – (all-powerful) – Operate only on the Love of God and let it motivate you to move; there is nothing stronger than the Love of God.

2014 is the year of double portions, blessings, maturity, and growth, and we as members and partners of A More Excellent Way Ministries Worldwide must look, search, hunt, and track down GREATER because Jesus said that it is Ours.

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3 KJV)

Be blessed in 2014.

Chief Apostle Robert L. Haley, III

The following message was posted with permission by the author, Chief Apostle Robert L. Haley, III Pastor of Apostolic Free Church of God, St. Albans, West Virginia and Chief Executive Officer of A More Excellent Way Ministries Worldwide, Inc.

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2014

2014 has arrived with all the usual fanfare, a party in New York Times Square, fireworks, parties, parades, and of course football games.  These elaborate demonstrations are over.  Here is the question of the day.  Have you already broken a new year resolution?  Researchers report the first Monday after new year’s is the most depressing day of the year. People are back to work and depressed they had to go back to the job.  Many have already given up on keeping the new year’s resolution to stay fit.  Others are despondent because they didn’t get what they wanted for Christmas, or are sad due to the lost of a loved one.  Whatever the reason the party is over, and now things back to “normal.”    For many normal is not good.

However, we are called to shine a bright light for those who are experiencing dark days and moments.  God sent a million, million lights of love in the world – that would be us.  “God doesn’t call the qualified He qualifies the called.”  We are “the called.”  Share your bright light and the love of God today.  Someone out there needs it.

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Count the Cost

Luke 14:28…”But don’t begin until you count the cost…(NLT)

The new year has officially begun and many have made resolutions, or set goals to change some aspect of their lives. For most it is the goal to be better, faster, stronger or just plain fit. Others vow to clean up and clear out their closets and become better organized. Some have plans to return to school, find a new job, write a book or begin a hobby, but whatever the goal there is a cost involved.  It is never easy.  One of the prime reasons so many of us fail to reach our goals is failure to calculate the costs. Jesus in this parable tells his disciples to calculate the cost of being a disciple before proclaiming their allegiance to Him.  Any person starting a building project must know how much it is going to costs.  The builder needs to know there is enough money and resources to complete the job.  Calculation is important with any project, even more so with being a disciple.

Disciples of Christ need calculate the costs involved in the purposes of God.  He tells us if we can’t give up self, family and follow Him, then we can’t be His disciple. The cost is too great. “Love for family and one’s own life must not compete with devotion to Christ.”  The risks are great, but the rewards are far greater. Christ counted the cost of leaving glory and coming to earth for us. The cost of temptation, pain, suffering and injustice to heal, save and deliver us.  And he has more than enough to pay the debt for our sins.

Thank you God for looking at the “love scale” and determining we were worth the costs.

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Sing Praises for God 2013 and 2014

The psalmist wrote, “It is good to give thanks to the lord, to sing praises to the Most High.  It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.” Psalm 92:1-3 NLT

Today many are preparing for new year’s eve celebrations.  In just a few short hours 2013 will be history.  The precious gift of time is cause for celebration as well as an opportunity to give thanks to the Lord for all He did in 2013.  The psalmist encouraged us to sing praises to God.  For it was by His Grace and Mercy we celebrate life and His gifts to us.

During this holiday season, my husband and I have had so many reminders in the form of phone calls, cards, texts, FB, visits with family and friends and gifts. These were priceless drops of love from heaven.  They felt like rays of love coming from the throne of Grace.  God was saying I heard your prayers, I know your hearts and thank you.  This time has been glorious, and I am so grateful.

Now, as we prepare for tonight’s watch night service where songs of praise and thanksgiving will be heard, we extend to you and yours blessings for the new year.  Sing farewell to 2013. Sing praises to God and welcome to 2014.

contemporary-christian-wallpapers-11

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Plant Good Seeds

Yesterday, we received news one of our dear friends’ cancer had returned.  As she related the information about the treatment plan, there was an undeniable peace within her voice.  How grateful she was for the excellent clinicians, support network, and medical facilities.  She blessed God for his goodness, grace and for allowing her to survived two previous bouts.   Her confidence in His goodness was evident.  Our conversation was one of joy and hope from a beautiful woman who knows and loves the Lord.

Hosea 10:12, “I said, “Plant the good seeds of righteousness and you will harvest a crop of love.  Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.”

Our friend planted good seeds for years.  We’ve witnessed her faithfulness, compassion, joy and the harvest of love.  I have no doubt God will continue to reward this remarkable woman.

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The Gold and Ivory Tablecloth

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.
They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19 a terrible tempest a driving rainstorm – hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.  The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity, so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.
By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. “Pastor,”she asked, “where did you get that tablecloth?”  The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials ‘EBG’ were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria . The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten “The Tablecloth”. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria.  When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and she never saw her
husband or her home again. The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home. That
was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.
What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn’t leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike? He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again in all the 35 years between. The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman’s apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.
Who says God does work in mysterious ways. His love is always with you. His promises are true, and when we give Him all our cares we know He will see us through.
So when the road you’re traveling seems difficult at best, just remember to say a prayer and God will do the rest.

“The Gold and Ivory Tablecloth“; it was written by the Rev. Howard C. Schade, pastor of the First Reformed Church in Nyack, New York; it was published in the December 1954 issue of Reader’s Digest; and it was anthologized in Alice Gray’s Christmas Stories for the Heart in 1998.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/glurge/tablecloth.asp#zBy8L0sUV3mFcRtI.99.