Is Powerball All Powerful?

We are only hours away from finding out if anyone won the ridiculously massive Powerball jackpot.  Even those of us who don't play the lottery have been forced to pay attention to what's going on as the news reports about Powerball have been mounting up almost as much as the jackpot.  

While the news reports hype up the potential winnings on one hand, on the other hand they provide a truly sobering reality check regarding the odds of actually winning the jackpot. An NBC news story indicated that the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 175,223,510, "to be precise -- less than the odds of someone becoming president of the United States or being born with an extra finger or toe."

Well, those odds weren't so discouraging for President Obama--I wonder how the odds stacked up for him not only becoming President but the first African-American to become president--and my cousin grew up with a friend known as "E.T." which stood for "extra toe."

Maybe since I live on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, which is essentially the same street where our President and  Odds-Breaker-in-Chief lives, and since I know someone who knows someone with an extra toe, maybe my odds of winning are greater than average!

That's just the kind of hope that has fueled the Powerball jackpot, and as tempting as it is, I will continue to place my hope on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. Sure, I'd love to have enough money to never have to worry about money, but the Holy Spirit reminds me that I already have unlimited resources because I am a child of the King.  I can recall story after story of how God allowed me to go places, meet people and obtain or do things that were far beyond my financial resources but well within God's purview since the earth is Lord's and the fullness thereof.  Plus, God's gifts add no sorrow. God's gifts provide sweet sleep.  God's gifts bring people together instead of driving them apart.

As many people have learned the hard way, money can buy a whole lot of things, but not everything and not the things that matter most like love, peace and joy. Time after time we have heard that many lottery winners' lives are far worse after winning than before.  Money doesn't solve problems, and too often it simply attracts problems or amplifies what's already lurking underneath.

Just imagine what our communities would be like if, instead of  expending money on gambling, those same individuals put those funds toward improving our schools and fighting hunger and homelessness.  Some may already give to charity, and some money from gambling supposedly makes its way toward communities and schools, but only after the majority has been used to provide profit and cover expenses.

What would life be like if we were all as committed to pooling our resources to provide  spiritual, emotional, economic and physical nourishment, things that are lacking in too many families today? Some of us refuse to see tithing as worship and severely underestimate the value of supporting the Church and those who feed our bodies and our souls.  Yet we will faithfully sow seed in the Powerball jackpot which could be viewed as a form of worship--of self and money.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not condemning those who have their fingers, eyes and toes (all 10 or more of them) crossed in hopes of winning today's jackpot.  I pray that someone will win who will do good for others and themselves with the winnings.  But I also pray that we will not be more committed Powerball than we are to God.  I pray that we will be just as willing to share with others about our hopes and prayers that we have submitted to God as we are to share about our "lucky number combinations," near wins and jackpot dreams. 

I pray that, regardless of all the hype, we will recognize that Powerball is not all powerful, for God is the only One who bears that title.

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen

Thankful .... More or Less

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving...at least that's what the calendar says.  

Even though tomorrow is designated the official day to be thankful, if we are honest about it, some days it's difficult to be thankful regardless of what the calendar says, especially since our materialistic society often measures reasons to be thankful by how many things we have acquired.  It seems the more we have, the more thankful we are, and the less we have, the less thankful we are...that is, until we get more.  Then, we're more thankful.

But when is "more" enough? 

I'm in a season where less is more and I'm being taught to appreciate the daily bread God provides. It's not a comfortable place because I keep longing for more so that I can have enough to not only meet my needs but, well...do a little bit...more.

It seems no matter what blessing comes my way, something else rises up right behind it and I end up with just enough to take care of the unexpected issue, but nothing more.  

Before some of you begin musing like Job's friends over what I have or haven't done, I don't believe my actions are the driving force behind the season I'm in.  I tithe, give offerings, worship faithfully, study pray, etc. etc., and "have kept all these things since my youth."  I even "gave all I had for the poor" (Matthew 19:20-21) when I gave up a high-paying job to minister and work in a neighborhood where people were hurting and in turn, hurting each other to the extent that it had been tagged, "Murder Row."

The reason for my season is that God is refining me for further use.  Words like "refining" sound so noble and unassuming, until we really stop to think about the real meaning.  To refine something means to subject it to a rigorous process that will draw out all of the impurities.  The finished product is outstanding, but it's not a day at the park for the subject of the refinement process.

I guess it was inevitable that I would enter into the refiner's fire since my name, Karen, means "pure." Any purity in me is certainly not inherent and therefore, could only be attained through refinement.

So, since less is what I have more of these days, I'm learning to be more thankful for less.  I am thankful that I had a successful in-and-out surgical procedure to remove a benign cyst that was near my breast tissue. Although it was benign, there is a strong history of breast cancer in my family, and having the cyst removed is one less thing to worry about, and therefore one more thing to be thankful for.

Since losing my job due to downsizing, I have had much less income, but I have had far more time than I ever would have had-- time that enabled me to do things like nurse my ailing mom back to health.  Last year at this time she was critically ill and had to move in with my family so I could care for her. This year, she is back in her own home and healthier than ever -- one less person in my home, but much more praise and thanksgiving for my mom's restored health.

I'm not sure how long my refinement process will last, but, one thing's for sure--I certainly have less time to be in it than when I began!  And, now that I have recognized it for what it is and learned to stop resisting it, I am becoming more of who God made me and less of who I thought I was or needed to be. For that, I am truly thankful. 

Happy Thanksgiving and BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen

Cast Your Ballot for (and your cares on) Him!

     
     A week ago this time we were all recovering from what seemed to be the longest, most wearisome campaign in history.  In the final weeks leading up to last Tuesday's election, some of us completely sympathized with the little girl on the YouTube video who was brought to tears by the barrage of campaign ads.

     Well, the election is over.  We have a President in the White House; a few new faces joining the familiar faces in leadership at the state levels; a few racist faces rearing their ugly heads at all levels (party loyalty is one thing, deep-seated hatred and racism are another); and a Savior who is still on the throne and Lord over all.

     While some of us are glad the election is over, others were so consumed by it that they don't know what to do with themselves now that there are no more rallies to attend, phone calls to make, or yard signs to post. Here's a thought. What would our country look like if we directed the passion we felt for or against the Presidential candidates toward the campaign that really matters most?  What would our country be like if those of us who bear the title of Christians expressed our allegiance by putting our financial and emotional resources toward prominently displaying the Word of God throughout our communities like the campaign signs that were sprawled across every open space?

     It would look like The Campaign 4 Jesus Foundation, a non-profit organization established to place scripture and scripture-based messages on buses, bus stops, metro trains, billboards and everywhere else ad space is available.  The intent is to allow God's Word to be a light in our city in a time when so many are hurting, spiritually malnourished, and in need of a life-changing Word.  God's Word is sharper than any two-edged sword and has the power to cut through even the hardest of hearts and to soothe any sin-sick soul.

     Please take a moment to view another sneak peak of The First Lady's SHHOW! which features my interview with Carol Harris, founder of the Campaign 4 Jesus Foundation.  The vision God has given her is so clear and so direct that I pray you will be led to cast your ballot and your support for the Campaign 4 Jesus....

Visit the Campaign 4 Jesus at www.Campaign4Jesus.bbnow.org

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen

Make Your Election Sure

I voted!

I voted for Justice for the oppressed.  I voted for Peace.  I voted for fair Taxes.  I voted for a Future and a Hope.  Yes, I did my civic duty and cast a ballot for the candidate of my choice for the office of The President of the United States of America—the candidate I believed would come the closest to delivering those things I voted for. But even more important than the vote for President, I voted to pledge my continued allegiance to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, for God is the only one able to fully deliver all of the things I voted for, and then some.

The opportunity to vote for a President comes around once every four years.  But the responsibility to elect to live as a Christian is an everyday commitment.  When it comes to politics, some of us lay aside our long-held Biblical values in exchange for being “politically correct.”  And, if our candidate or party of choice does not come out on top, some of us even lay down our commitment to God and country and actively work against those in power as a form of rebellion and protest.  Whatever happened to “In God We Trust?”

Regardless of who does or does not do what they promised to do, we must continue to trust God and behave in the manner in which He has called us.  Peter admonishes us. "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.  For if you do these things, you will never fall." (2 Peter 1:10)

Not only do some of us Christians lay our values down when it comes to politics, some of our elected leaders do it, as well. That is one of the main reasons we need to pray for those in authority. It is often extremely difficult for them to withstand the pressure of yielding to popular opinion, especially since they owe their very offices to the populace.

Unlike politicians, we don’t owe our lives to the populace.  We owe our lives to Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for ours. And, even though the Presidential election is over, we ought to be continually campaigning for Jesus.  A woman in my congregation has committed her life to doing just that. Tune in next week for another sneak preview of The First Lady’s SHHOW! (Spirit-filled Hilarious Hour Of Worship!) which will feature an interview with Carol Harris, founder of The Campaign for Jesus Foundation.  It’s a campaign we all can join and one in which everyone is a winner!

See you next week.  Until then,

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen