The Genesis Design

The inspiration of genuine “thanksgiving” is the “forgiving” of God’s amazing grace. Only the forgiven can give thanks in everything as the Apostle Paul directs the believer. “To forgive is divine” and only the forgiven can be so filled with thanksgiving to forgive any offense.

Innocence may have been destroyed in the streets of Bethlehem, but the hope lives on in the starlit manger of Bethlehem. Jesus is still the hope of the season in 2021.

Happy Thanksgiving is an expression that rolls off the lips with such little effort that it often is spoken without much thought. For some the declaration is merely an abstract statement or some mental assent to the positive experiences or outcomes of life. There is little or no thought of Who we are thankful to. The Apostle Paul writes, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." True Thanksgiving is a personal acknowledgement, not only of the mind but the heart, of the One who provides and/or produces the good in our broken, imperfect lives. James affirms this Source, "Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows." Today I offer my thanksgiving to the One who is Faithful in my unfaithfulness, strength in my weakness, presence in my loneliness, provision in my emptiness, inspiration in my despair and forgiveness in my sin.

To Hell With A Moment Of Silence

Silence exalts the enemy and magnifies the circumstances and causes us to tremble. I don’t know about you but as a believer in Jesus Christ, I am weary of “moments of silence.”

As “more than conquerors”, it is not time for us to bow our heads and cover our faces in shame as is the practice of hell. I hope you will join me and all believers around the world in “lifting our heads to the heavens knowing our redemption draws near .”

Today is not a day for silence. It is a day to pray. We will not find the answers looking within with our heads bowed in silence. Our only hope is to seek the wisdom and compassion of our gracious God.

Do not grow weary in well doing my friends. If these be the signs of the end times, rejoice for King Jesus is soon to return and take us home. When surrounded by the terror of night, be sure to let the LIGHT of your hope shine forth.

I know it is counterintuitive to our flesh, but now is the time for the church to give praise to God and celebrate the coronation of our King. “ The kingdoms of this earth have become the kingdoms of our God.” What we have preached believed and hoped for is at the door. Without dread and in great anticipation let us each run our race knowing we will soon see His face.

While the birth of Jesus has been and continues to be one of the most significant moments in time, it is inconsequential without His death on the cross. As we celebrate the manger of Bethlehem, let us do so in the shadow of the cross.

It has been the tradition of our family to read the Christmas narrative from Matthew 1 & 2 or Luke 2 when we would gather for Christmas. This year as Raina and I celebrate Christmas Day, we will add to our tradition the reading of John 19 & 20.

THE MESSAGE OF THE MANGER IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT THE STORY OF THE CROSS. IT WAS AT THE CROSS NOT THE MANGER WHEN JESUS DECLARED, “IT IS FINISHED.”

While the birth of Jesus has been and continues to be one of the most significant moments in time, it is inconsequential without His death on the cross. As we celebrate the manger of Bethlehem, let us do so in the shadow of the cross.

It has been the tradition of our family to read the Christmas narrative from Matthew 1 & 2 or Luke 2 when we would gather for Christmas. This year as Raina and I celebrate Christmas Day with my brother, sister and their spouses, we will add to our tradition the reading of John 19 & 20.

THE MESSAGE OF THE MANGER IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT THE STORY OF THE CROSS. IT WAS AT THE CROSS NOT THE MANGER WHEN JESUS DECLARED, “IT IS FINISHED.”

Merry Christmas from the Braffords!

Raina Owens Brafford

Dispensationalists argue there is a time and season for everything; they also argue now is not the time nor the season whenever a spiritual manifestation requires a discerning faith instead of an intellectual explanation.

If I don’t see you before, I will see you THERE!!!

Grace will forgive what you cannot forget. (PNB)

Focus: Reconciliation To One Another

Day #28 of Lent
Lesson 4: The Importance of Reconciliation To Others In Church

Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalm 133:1-3
New Testament Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:18-20

How important is the reconciliation of brothers and sisters in Christ? In Lesson 3 I laid out the template of reconciliation presented by Jesus. But it is in the broader context, particularly in Matthew 18:18-20, that we see the importance of such efforts.

First, the power of authority results from a fully reconciled people. Jesus asserts that the authority to bind or release on earth as is in heaven is commended to the reconciled, not those who are reconciled to God only but reconciled to each other. This is the answer to our prayer, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Our kingdom authority is vested in our reconciled standing with others.

Second, the power of agreement is exercised in a unity that testifies to being reconciled. Jesus affirms “if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done...” Prayers are answered on the reality of reconciliation. Spiritual agreement that comes when we are duly reconciled to each other releases the flow of God’s intervention into the plight of humanity.

Third, the power of presence should not be understated. Be clear my beloved the greatest spiritual asset we have in this world or the world to come is the Presence of the Almighty. Jesus said “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” God is not on anyone’s side but when we come into reconciled unity we get on God’s side. Nothing is impossible in that spiritual dimension.

Prayer: “Lord, thank you for reminding me of the importance of spiritual reconciliation and unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ. May my life be marked with the power of authority, the power of agreement and the power of Your Presence.”

Raina Owens Brafford

Focus: Reconciliation To One Another

Day #27 of Lent
Lesson 3: Reconciling The Sin Of Others In Church

Old Testament Scripture Reading: Genesis 4:8, 9
New Testament Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:15-20

The ministry of reconciliation within the church encompasses more than conflicts of misunderstanding or emotional wrongs. It also addresses the important matter of reconciling a brother or sister discovered in sin. The purpose of this reconciliation is restoring to right standing before God and the church the one found guilty of sin.

Jesus provides us a clearly defined path of reconciliation. First, the one who observes their brother or sister in sin or in the suspicion of sin has the primary responsibility of confronting the sinning party in love and concern for their standing. They are to “go and point out their fault, just between the two of them.” If received in humility and repentance of sin, the matter is ended.

Second, if the observer of the sin is not received or rebuked, he/she should take one or two others to address the offense. Again the response of the offender dictates whether further action is necessary. The matter ends here, if the offender confesses and repents.

Third, in the event the offender is not responsive, the matter is to be addressed by the church at large. While there is not complete clarity on how that looks in a contemporary setting, the intent is to remove any shadow of misunderstanding on the part of the church body and to confidently establish there has been fault of sin and the availability of forgiveness.

Regardless, at each level the objective is the restoration of the offender. If all efforts fail to reconsecrate the offender, an isolation of formal or organizational fellowship or embrace must ensue. Even in these actions of excommunication the goal is restoration.

The bottom line of Jesus’ teaching is that we are our brothers keeper. If one goes missing, each one of us must respond according to the instruction of Jesus. Jesus is not willing than any should perish and neither should we.

Prayer: “Lord, remove the heart of judgment in me and grant to me the heart of reconciliation. Help me to keep a pure heart in every potential situation relative to the work of restoration.”

Raina Owens Brafford