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Celebrating Dads & Grads!
We're
celebrating fathers this month. Happy Fathers Day! Thank
you for all that you do as a Dad. You spiritual fathers
you are needed in the Body of Christ. Keep fathering; there's
a lot of fatherless children and adults that need you.
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In
this month's feature column,
we continue with the Beautiful Series of
articles with my "7 Ways to Beautify Yourself
In Christ" In the coming weeks, we will cover
3 aspects of living and serving victorious through Christ:
Beautiful, Blessed and Bold. Next month, we'll
continue with an article from Varn "The Man Pleaser
vs. God Pleaser" We offer this series to inspire you
as Pastors, Leaders, volunteers and support teams to become
beautiful in Christ no matter where you serve in your
local church.
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Additionally,
our newest book In the Spirit of Armorbearing: A Devotion
to serve is officially launched. If you have pre-ordered,
thank you for your trust and support! Please know the book
should be arriving in your hands in a matter of days. If
you haven't ordered your copy yet, it is now available at
the Shield Shop.
May
God's blessings chase you down this week!
Helping
leaders and supporters build
strong teams in the local church,
Varn and Earma Brown
Featured
Article
7 Ways to Beautify Yourself In Christ!
 Is
your inner person beautiful in Christ? We all know what
beautiful means in our natural world. Something or someone
pleasing to the eyes is a good definition of physical beauty.
Have you thought about what it means to be beautiful in
spirit? Do you know if you are pleasing in God's eyes? (Beautiful)
You might remember from Scripture
that faith is what pleases God. The Hebrew writer put it
like this, "Without faith it is impossible to please
Him..." (Hebrews 11:5) Although, God expects us to
participate in good works and to even spur each other to
good works, he does not expect us to work for the things
he has given us freely. He has given us salvation, the gifts
of the spirit and all good things pertaining to life in
abundance.
I
prefaced with all that because I don't want you to feel
you have to work harder to become beautiful in God's eyes.
It's not a works thing. It's a faith thing. Remember, Father
God called Jesus, His beloved Son before he ever
did a thing in ministry. You need only put on the garments
of righteousness he has supplied us through Christ. A few
of the garments of Christ are kindness, gentleness, longsuffering,
love and faith.
Here are 7 tips on beautifying our spirit in Christ.
1.
Grow in gentleness: Whether we are man or woman,
we can take a lesson from the Apostle Peter as he instructs
women, "Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging
the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-rather
let it be the hidden person of the heart (your spirit) with
the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which
is very precious in the sight of God."
2.
Build a good testimony: Serve in faith and your
testimony will become more and more that you please God.
Our faith in action pleases God. Whether it's good or bad,
faithful or faithless, we are all working on our testimony
before God. Again I refer to the Hebrew writer who said,
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained
a good testimony." And later he goes on to say, "By
faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death…for
before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased
God."
Read
Full Article | Other
Spotlight Articles
 Featured
Armorbearer Question: Too Tired to Focus on Servanthood?
Question: Earma I need your advice. I am
an armorbearer to my 1st Lady and really enjoy it. Lately,
I've been so busy in other ministries that sometimes I can't
focus on my servant hood. At times I am so tired from doing
other activities that my 1st Lady doesn't like to ask me for
help because she feels like I'm burned out already. I know
she cares for my health. At times it is true but my desire
is to serve the God in her wholeheartedly. I've thought about
stepping down from some other ministries so that I can focus
on doing my assignment.
Earma's Response:
Congratulations
on serving your lst Lady. I know it can be a big job serving
the 1st lady of the house. It sounds like you must prioritize.
The Holy Spirit has been leading Varn and me to teach on balance
all this year as well as implement it in our own lives. Our
'time' and 'ministry to others' is a gift. Therefore, God
wants us to be good stewards of this gift - our time.
Quite
often, we that are doers in the Body of Christ will zealously
say yes on TOO many projects. I'm sure the other ministry
activities are all good causes. But you must figure out which
are most important to you. As with all things, you are less
effective when you spread yourself too thin.
I
would suggest serving First Lady is the most important ministry
task. You are doing her a dis-service by being too tired (or
unavailable) to fulfill what she needs. That would probably
mean she has to do it herself or go through the effort of
finding someone else. T.H., may I say gently but frankly,
"None of us are irreplaceable...
Helping
Leaders and Supporters in the Local Church,
Varn and Earma Brown
*Names
and/or location may be changed to protect privacy.
Read
Full Q/A Session | Other
Blog Posts
Readers
Favorite Article:
Will You Transistion to The Next Level?
Do you know what season you
are in? Are you ready for the next level? Or are you leaving
skid marks as Father God calls you to move on? In my life
transition has usually meant change and change has meant an
opportunity to use my faith. Webster calls it “the passing
from one condition or place to another.” Sometimes I
forget life is so seasonal unless it’s a difficult season
and I’m ready for it to end. Then I remind myself often
this too shall pass. After all the Word of God says, “They
shall go from strength to strength…” Psa. 84:7
Rev. Rod Parsley acknowledges Dr. Lester Sumrall
as his mentor, many times repeating the advice to him as a
young minister to others, “Know your seasons as the
chosen of God. There are seasons of receiving, serving and
ministering.” I’ve learned if we recognize our
seasons with God, we are better able to cooperate with His
plan and purpose for our lives.
I
enjoyed my serving season as an armorbearer. I remember saying
if God has called me to do this the rest of my life I would
be pleased. Even while saying this, I could hear a quiet voice
remind me that I have never quite been able to get comfortable
for too long. Change always would come that required my faith.
Maybe you are like that too. Mature Christians know that one
day God will call them to the next level which brings me to
my earlier question. Are ready for your next level in God?
Read
Full Article | Other
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If
you are afraid, do it afraid. Just do it. --Joyce Meyer
