News Sermons Uploaded

Arlecia Simmons helps people dig for their treasure through her preaching. Here's what she shared recently: I should be asleep, but I just uploaded some recent #sermons to my #website . Maybe something said will #encourage someone. Is your #faith in limbo? Take a listen to "I've Got #Love On My Mind! Oh, and the sermon referenced in the graphic isn't all about death. It's more about #discipleship and #ministry. Visit www.looknlive.com

Driving While Under the Influence of Faith

New Blog Post! Got Faith?

http://www.looknlive.com/apps/blog/show/42511041-driving-while-under-the-influence-of-faith-

What Not To Wear: The Church Edition

Have you ever heard the phrase "come as you" regarding church attire?

Did you respond accordingly only to learn the way you came was not considered appropriate in that culture?

Should clothing,  or a lack thereof, prevent us from going into the house of the Lord?

This is a complex topic with various cultural and denominational perspectives, but I've attempted to tackle it in a recent blog post!

Read more at:Come As You Are blog post.

New Blog Post

http://www.looknlive.com/apps/blog/show/42373287-parking-lot-sermons-

For This Child We Prayed

 Read my latest blog post at:

http://www.looknlive.com/apps/blog/show/42339094-when-heaven-tweets-you

2014: Courage Required

(Highlights from New Year’s Eve prayer call. There was a slight technical glitch after minute 2, but the call can be accessed in its entirety at (712) 432-1202 / Access Code: 597446# )

For many of us 2013 has been an interesting year with many twists, turns, joys and pains, but thanks be to God we made it through. I have been hearing in my spirit the word “courage.” It has been a theme I have heard all last year.

The New Interpreter’s Dictionary defines courage as  “spiritual, emotional and moral fortitude to speak and act without fear in the face obstacles and dangers.”

Day-by-day we confront obstacles and dangers, and to navigate through them we have needed courage. Someone mustered up some courage when you went to ask your supervisor for a raise in 2013. Someone else mustered up some courage when you went and requested a meeting with your child’s principal. There are many instances where we have had to ask God “give me some strength and some courage."

I have been thinking about the past year and I realized that there are some areas in my life where I could have been more productive, but I allowed fear and doubt to consume me and talk me out of some things. There were times where I lacked courage.

You can have book and common sense, but you will also some courage.

My prayer is that we will continue to pray for God to strengthen all of us. So that we can become the people of God we are destined to be and not be overwhelmed by all that we feel may be coming against us.

It takes courage to to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God

It takes courage to raise God fearing children

It takes courage to be single and celibate

It takes courage to resign from your job and pursue your calling or passion

It take courage to while in the midst of sickness tell your medical team that you are healed

It takes courage to undergo chemotherapy and look at the tubes and mumble Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes I am healed”

It will take courage to believe you can love again, after your heart has been broken or there has been divorce, or abandonment.

It is going to take courage to go on without that loved one who may have transitioned this year.

It is going to take some courage to get through the year ahead.

But I hear the words God said to Joshua after the death of Moses as recorded in Joshua 1:9: ”Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I am praying that God takes me to some amazing places next year, and I trust God will be with me no matter where I go.

When Jesus summoned those who were sick for their healing, he told them to “take heart.” That’s what he told the woman with the issue of blood. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.”

When the disciples were terrified in the the storm, Jesus said, “Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid.”

People of God, take heart! Take heart and trust God to help you do what you aren’t strong enough to do. Take heart, and trust God to get you to where you need to go in 2014!

As always, continue to look and live! Dr. Lele

I Won't Crash...

As the year ends, we access the hard drives of our lives and find files saved using words such as disappointment, rejection, and failure. In some instances, we have encountered system failure while life events likened to Malware threatened to shut us all the way down. 

This morning as negative thoughts invaded my mind I did a quick reboot and embraced these words offered by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. #Amen 

#Dontshutdownbeforetheupdates

God Will Take Care of You

Matthew 6:25-26 (KJV)
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?



After reading the headline, "LA man upset over job kills wife, 5 kids, himself," I was stirred to share this previously published post with you this week:


One Iowa winter morning, I looked out of my living room window and as far as my natural eye could see, ice and snow blanketed the earth. It was February, and it had snowed every week since Thanksgiving. As I stood there thinking about my upcoming schedule, the possibility of having to cancel an engagement due to the weather, the five extra pounds that have lingered since the holidays and the status of some relationships, I noticed a bird flying near the bush outside of my neighbors’ window. Not all birds migrate, as these resident black birds make daily visits to a bird feeder under my window.

While drivers and walkers are slipping and sliding, the birds navigated through the winds, rain and snow. They still had a song to sing as God’s hands in the earth supply provisions.

As I continued to gaze out of the window, I considered this act of nature and the verse within Matthew 6, “take no thought for your life.” We often struggle with casting all of our cares on God (I Peter 5:5; Psalm 55:22) when we are in the midst of the winds and rains of deadlines, financial lack, personal struggles and worries. Sometimes we have to ask ourselves, “Am I not much better than the birds?”

Today, I thank God for allowing me to behold the fowls of the air. Even in this physical and personal storm, God sent a reminder that He is still Jehovah Jirah, my provider, and is in control of my life!

People of God, do not be weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9). Stay encouraged and continue to walk in your blessings!

ADS

Which F-word Will You Choose?

Happy New Year All!

This week, I was reminded that when God used His prophets they did not always deliver lengthy monologues, but they simply asked straightforward questions and offered simple declarations.

Yesterday, as the flight I traveled on experienced turbulence, here is what thus saith the LORD:
“FAITH and FEAR cannot operate in the same space.”

There's no need to provide examples or scenarios this week, as you already know where this Word applies in your life. This year, I pray that God will anoint you for every blessing and challenge that you will face.

I'm claiming everything that's mine in 2009!

Arlecia

Lord, Your will. Amen.

Scriptural Meditation:1 Samuel 16

"Lord, Your will. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. Amen." -- Pastor Jamal Bryant

I was listening to Pastor Jamal Bryant and he uttered the above statement as he prayed with his congregation. "Wow," I thought. "That's one powerful prayer." Actually, it is a prayer we should consider as we approach Tuesday's election.

Yes, we live in the United States and we value our democracy that allows us to choose our leaders. However, as people of faith, we know that when it comes to who will preside/rule over God's people, man's choice has not always corresponded with God's will.

When Samuel came to Jesse's house, Jesse presented his strongest sons. One by one, Samuel examined them but the oil would not flow.

"Neither has the LORD chosen this one," said Samuel as Jesse's seventh son appeared before him. It was David, the "ruddy" one, who was God's choice.

Yes, I want my candidate to win, but most importantly, I want God's will to be done in the earth.

I am a newshound, so in analyzing the news coverage I have heard both candidates and their representatives "misrepresent the truth" from time to time. Yet, when I think about my God, my mind retreats to Numbers 23:19 (NLT): God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?"

Do not consider this a word of discouragement. I encourage you to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4. (YOU CANNOT VOTE ON NOV. 5) I have already voted and I will be at the precinct at 5:30 a.m. to begin my duties as a precinct official. This week, I write to encourage you. I drafted a number of thoughts to post on my blog, but the thoughts written at 1:46 a.m. (CST) is what thus saith the Lord.

This week, pray with me as our nation prepares to vote and wait for the revelation of God's WILL.

Let us pray for each of the candidates, their families, their campaign staffs, and those who protect them. We pray not only for the presidential candidates but also for those running for state and local offices.

We pray for our neighbors and fellow citizens who are still undecided about how they will vote. Let them hear You through all of the advertisements and the media spin.

We pray for those who will work the polls, peace officers, poll watchers, and anyone directly involved in the election process. Strengthen them during the 15-hour workday, in some cases, and remind them to treat your people with dignity and love. We bind the spirit of mischief and wrongdoing and we loose the spirit of fairness and justice.

Lord, let your people know that they are somebody not because they have the right to vote, but because they belong to you.

Lord, we thank you for those who have gone before us - the martyrs of our time who worked to secure our right to vote. We do not take this opportunity for granted, but we thank you for our due season and for their sacrifices.

Lord, we thank you for protecting our soldiers and those of every nation who are fighting to protect the civil rights of your people. We plead the blood of Jesus over our family members who are fighting a war we do not understand.

Lord, we know that no matter who assumes political office in the earth, You are in control. Proverbs 21:1(KJV) reminds us, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."

We trust that you can also turn our economy and nation around.

We thank you, praise you, lift your name up and know that you are the Ultimate One. We trust you to provide us earthly leaders who are men and women after your heart.

We declare and decree this petition, and commit to accept your will in our lives and in this upcoming election. In Jesus' name we pray, and it is so, AMEN.!

As always, stay encouraged, walk in your blessings, and do not forget to cast your ballot. Whether we celebrate or lament on Tuesday night, know it is "His will. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. Amen!"

A.D. Simmons