Heart Beats & Hot Coals - Uncomplicated Lyrics, Beautiful Blends, Refreshingly Pure

Today's blog comes from guest blogger Kenyatta Manley. www.kenyattamanley.com

Here, she shares her review of the new release, Heart Beats & Hot Coals:

Now, I am in no ways a musician or musical expert, but this is simply my reflection of the impression your (and the Father's) music has made with me. 

God is not complicated and neither is this album. I'm pretty much a person of simplicity in many things, who believes that less is more. Upon listening to this album, I was instantly  drawn in by its simplicity via music and lyrics.

I don't mean simple in a negative manner.

So much production (or "doctoring") goes into albums nowadays, that it's so refreshing to hear Pastor Shantae's (directed) approach to Heart Beats & Hot Coals.

The following is my view on some of my favorite songs from the album.

Prodigal

This track (and a few others) were instantly nostalgic for me, as the guitar reminded me of my uncle who plays. In my opinion, this song is of course a call to those whom the Father is reaching to, but I also feel like this is the song Heaven would play as each Prodigal returns.. a Prodigal party, so to speak :) Simply because of the rejoicing that takes place when each of the Father's children returns! As I danced and sang along when I heard it, I immediately personalized the song with my response (closer to the end of the song)..I am Redeemed, I am Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. A rejoicing track indeed!

If

The purity (and again the guitar) of this song is refreshing. I believe the harmony makes the scripture being sung resonate even more than if there was no blending. An awesome worship song to lead into prayer.

The Answer

Although it's a tough call, this song is by far my favorite! I think it no coincidence that there were very high winds the night I first I listened to this song. This is another example of simplicity at its finest. A very effective tool in worship, prayer and listening times with the Father. It allowed me to press to hear what the Father is saying when I have to write and share what He is speaking. It causes you to be still and listen- to be expectant for an actual answer. This is another track that would have been just as effective without the harmonizing, however I feel it's much needed as it's indicative of the presence of the Holy Trinity. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are present and beautifully blended in this song.

Does this review resonate with you? You can pick up the project in full or the singles at www.cdbaby.com/cd/shantaecharles

Psalm 91 Lyric Video

With all the news of terror, war, and tragedy, we must stand on the Word of God. God is a keeper in the worst of times. We choose to place our trust in him! Listen, and be encouraged.

Heart Beats & Hot Coals : Kingdom Sound for a Now Generation

I would like to introduce you to the music project, Heart Beats and Hot Coals. 

This album is inspired by music from  heaven's throne room and the place of intercession. A blend of a cappella, jazz, folk, neo-soul, and blues for a new generation of worshipers, Heart Beats and Hot Coals is an invitation to hear God's heart and sing God's heart. It is an invitation to fall more in love with Jesus and the Word of God, to sing the Word and see transformation take place.

This is the beginning national ministry of moving powerfully in prophetic song, cultivating an atmosphere of intimacy and worship with God that is multi-generational and international. If you are looking for a worship experience beyond the mundane, you won't be disappointed. Before anything else, the genre is Kingdom, the style is authentic, and the aim is to open Heaven to the hearer.

Here's what listeners are saying



Take a listen to a Single here :

Forerunners, Trailblazers, and Well Diggers: The 3-fold Power Chord

Forerunners, Trailblazers, and Well Diggers. These three terms are not synonymous. That was the first thing God impressed in my spirit. The second thing is that these three will become the 3-fold power chord of the Church. Let's take a look at these briefly:

Forerunner- someone or something that comes before another: a sign of something that is going to happen

Trailblazer- a person who makes, does, or discovers something new and makes it acceptable or popular; a person who marks or prepares a trail for others to follow

Well Digger- is the process of drilling a hole in the ground for the extraction of a natural resource;The earliest wells were water wells, shallow pits dug by hand in regions where the water table approached the surface. 

A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring, or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by a pump, or using containers, such as buckets, that are raised mechanically or by hand.

Wells can vary greatly in depth, water volume, and water quality. Well water typically contains more minerals in solution than surface water and may require treatment to soften the water.

God wants the operation of all three happening in the Earth. Apostles, Prophets, and Teachers are indicative of this coming move. We need trailblazers, forerunners, and teachers who can make sure that our wells are being filled with the pure and unadulterated Word of God. 

We pray for this Power Chord to be released into the EARTH. Pastors and Evangelists will continue to win and shepherd but we need all five fold functioning in this hour to mature the Body of Christ. 

Racial Reconciliation: Is There A Seat At The Table For Black Women?

I am under 40. Yet, I have experienced desegregation through busing Blacks from the ghetto into white neighborhoods and schools. I was one of them. I have experienced being blocked from opportunities during my middle school, high school, and college years regardless of my skills, gifts, talents, and willingness to learn. I have a gifted to genius IQ. That has meant absolutely nothing to some decision makers, and posed a threat to others. I have been told as early as 2014 that I have three strikes against me: "You're Black, you're female, and you're intelligent." Let me just say that is not just the sentiment of the secular world, but in some ways, it is also the sentiment of many religious circles as well.

Many are well aware of the minimized role of Black women in the Civil rights movement. I dare say that this attitude continues to pervade many areas (political, social, religious) today. But as I was seeking the Lord today, I heard this clarion call:
Until they invite Black women to the table and not just as tokens, they still have a ways to go.

A panel of Black men is great, but we are in this together. The Black family not just men has been decimated by racial systems and the residue of institutions of racism both in and out of the church.

Systems that left us with:

The government becoming Father in the home
The imprisonment of men for petty crimes or trumped up crimes
The promotion of abortion for Black women no matter the age, income, or marital status
The Black woman as the sole provider for the home
The deliberate effeminization of the Black male and push of the homosexual agenda in the Black community

It was Black women who lost husbands, fathers, brothers, and uncles. Who had to teach their sons and daughters that America had different rules and standards for them that continue to this day.

It was Black women that seemed to always wear mourning clothes. Dreams dying, children dying, economy dying, future narrow and limited.

It is Black women that were and are pushed to the forefront of careers and fortune 500 companies, even as she watched her Black man denied those same careers to drive a wedge in the family and flip the structure of the provider in the home, from male to female. She watches the unemployment rate skyrocket for Black men affecting their psyche and need to provide as well as their self worth and marriage potential in the eyes of Black women.

Rather than addressing the system that keeps Black men out ( unless they are gay like Don Lemon and pose no threat) many bought into the lie that Black men were just not up to par. Many have believed the lie that "there are no good Black men" and it is simply not true. The unemployment rate among men does not tell the full story. The illegal immigration issues will further suppress the potential of Black men in this country. But I digress.

It is Black women who continue to be marginalized even in Hollywood. Viola Davis, Gabriella Union,Monique, and Victoria Rowell are women who have recently spoken out about this marginalization and white power structure that limits roles and only promotes Black women as Whores, Slaves, Maids, Angry, Hypersexual, Mentally Ill or Lesbian. Those are the roles available, and if you don't play the game of "cooning for Hollywood", you are black balled.

But we are more. We are beautiful, intelligent, witty, kind, compassionate, nurturers. When was the last time you saw that portrayed? We are judges, ministers, mothers, teachers, congresswomen, officers, architects, not video vixens and basketball wives. When was the last time you saw a Black professional woman portrayed in a positive light with no shade?

I ask, "Are we really serious about healing the soul of Black America? Is there a seat at the table for us?" Racial reconciliation starts with healing the souls of Black folks. Our heart, our self- respect, our value to our own selves, not just healing with others.

Precarious Alliances

No one loves the story of a great friendship more than I do. One of the friendships that is remarked upon and drawn from over and over is the friendship of Jonathan and David.

There is one aspect that I have yet to hear about and that is the position of Jonathan in the midst of two extremes: love and hate.

David was the friend Jonathan loved, and yet on the opposite side was the intense hatred his own Father held for the person Jonathan loved.

What happens when your friend is deeply connected to your sworn enemy?

You tread very carefully, as David did. Though he loved Jonathan, he understood his alliance was precarious at best.

King Saul would use Jonathan's friendship to further his despotic plans to try to murder David. I dare say you've met some people like that.

Even Jonathan had doubts about the intensity of his father's hatred for David. But David was NOT making it up. And neither are you. Sometimes, you might be the only one who sees at first the enemy connected to your friendships. It takes an honest friend to assess the connections around them.

Jonathan was so convinced that he was right, that he put it to the test. When he discovered that his Father was indeed after David, he wasted no time informing David, giving him time to escape what was sure to be an assassination.

As a Leader, you must recognize when you have to disconnect or disengage, not only for your purpose, but for your safety. Jonathan and David, though covenant friends, continued to hold each other in esteem, though their lives took divergent paths.

What can we learn from their friendship?

Covenant connections can survive disconnection due to danger
Covenant friends don't always see the spear coming for you
Covenant friends can't always disconnect from your enemy
Covenant friends will protect, alert, and warn you of impending danger.
Covenant friends keep their words even to future generations.

For more on this friendship, read 1 Samuel 18

Next Generation leader, let God lead you even through precarious alliances and trust His voice in who you count as a covenant friend.

Energy Leaks

Leadership takes energy. Jesus knew how to direct his energy and he left us a great example. He refused to engage in debates with the scribes who wanted to argue and not learn. Jesus never wasted energy with the religious. He knew his mission was to save those who needed a physician. Jesus never wasted energy begging people or manipulating people to follow him. His ministry campaign was simple: Follow Me.

He always kept moving and told the disciples to do the same if they were not received. "Wipe the dust from your feet." and "Don't give your pearls to swine." are very direct approaches. Jesus knew how important it was to share his treasure with the people who could receive it.

Jesus was AWARE of the energy he carried, that divine virtue that emanated from him. It was so tangible, that he KNEW when it left him with the woman who had the issue of blood.

This begs the question: Do we have energy leaks? Do we allow the divine presence that God has placed in us to be depleted by words, distractions, or being busy in the wrong things?

As leaders, we must realize that we can become depleted and we must make guarding the energy we have a priority. How can we do so? Let's use the acronym energy:

Examine your current schedule and be willing to release draining activities

Never be afraid to use the word NO.

Evaluate the relationships that are closed to you- are they draining or depositing?

Refuel in the presence of the Lord daily.

Get a grip on gratitude, grace, and giving- they are energy refuelers

Yield to the Holy Spirit's promptings to rest

You've got a mandate to fulfill and you've got to have the energy to get it done. I pray that you will avoid energy leaks and that your life energy will be poured into the right people, places, and purposes.

Find Your Sphere

Welcome to 2015 or 5775 according to the Jewish calendar!

There are many new opportunities, new places, new doors, and new connections ready to be made. As a leader you will be tasked with making those connections with a wise and discerning mind. As 2014 (or 5774) came to a close, one of the things I heard God say distinctly was, "Find Your Sphere in 2015." 

When God gives very direct statements, I have now after many years realized that it is up to me to dig deeper, to ask a preceding question, sometimes internal, to gain a greater understanding. So, I went digging.

In my search, I heard a preceding word: "Circle minded people tend to think two-dimensionally. If you are going to move to the next dimension, you have to find your sphere." 

Now, I was really intrigued. God, you're going to have to elaborate.

And he did:

Jesus had a sphere of influence, and more than one. If not, he would have never impacted

Kings, Soldiers, Scholars, Priests, Fishermen, Tax Collectors, Prostitutes, or a schoolboy with a lunch to give away. 

Circles create circular thinking and circular people (people who only form a circle of friends) keep you going in circular motions. Repetition and traditions are easy to form with circular thinking. They are not so easy to dislodge from when I call for a different method of doing. Change upsets circular people because they enjoy the safety of repetition, seasons, and cyclical activities. 

Spherical people handle information latitudinal, longitudinally, and are not intimidated by the winds that can blow from any direction. They aren't unsettled by change, and have a multidimensional approach to problems and vision.

Two-dimensional, flat thinking will flat-line in the next dimension. I want to release global influence to my people. Many can't come out of the neighborhood because they won't leave the circle mentality. It is time to expand thinking so that my influence can reach out through them in a greater way. 

Well. That was pretty specific! This conversation led me to do some some research that I will share below:

Circles lie within spheres. Spheres have an infinite radius. I was starting to get the point of whatGod was saying.

A circle is one dimension of a sphere. The sphere is the larger picture of your connections, with the potential to have an infinite reach and impact. Here are some further properties of the sphere:

Points are all the same distance from a from a fixed point on a sphere. There is an equality as a principle in the sphere. Spheres have a fixed point, a core, a center.

One unique thing about the sphere is that the contours and planes are all circles. These planes connect and interconnect, creating the sphere. Every contour and plane has a purpose and a connection within the sphere. They may not touch at all points but they are connected. Some circles depending on the plane, run parallel, not perpendicular, so they may not touch.

The sphere has constant width and girth. Every point is umbilical and not distorted or disproportional. Nothing about the sphere is lopsided or out of shape or place. Umbilical implies that all points are getting one source or focal place of nourishment. All points are equal. The sphere and the plane are the only surfaces with these properties. The sphere has the smallest surface area of any solid, yet the greatest volume.

So, what is my takeaway?

God is looking for his leaders to develop multi-dimensional relationships

God is looking for us to have relationships that have a center and core

God is looking for us to have balanced and nourished relationships

God is looking for greater connectivity and networking in our relationships

God is looking for our relationships to be balanced and not distorted

God is looking for less "surface" more volume or "depth" in our relationships

When your sphere meets another sphere of another dimension, it creates what you see below:

 Your sphere is never diminished by another sphere. Expand your thinking. Find your sphere. And let this year be your greatest year of healthy, balanced, nourished, connected relationships ever.

Fire The Factors

  “Don’t fall victim to what I call the ‘ready-aim-aim-aim-aim syndrome.’ You must be willing to fire.” 

T. Boone Pickens

I want to encourage you today to fire the factors. The factors are the things that weigh against your faith. They try to smother the voice of God in your decision making. Here are the FACTORS you should fire: 

Fear that slows momentum- this type of fear rather than wise caution causes you to be paralyzed. You make no decision at all which is still a decision. 

Anxiety that stirs dust- anxiety is like a Dust Bowl, kicking up a lot of debris, and blind your vision. You need your sight for where you are headed. 

Criticism that beats down- Constructive advice is always seeking to build you up and make you better not tickle your ears. Destructive criticism has no improvement in sight or as it's end goal. It is never wrong to ask your critic, "What's your end goal? Do you want to see me better or beaten?" A life-giving critic won't hesitate to give you the truth.

Traditions that bog down- The difficulty to move forward can sometimes lie in the traditions that tie us down. Sentimentality has thwarted many a vision. You can honor without holding onto dead things. Ask God for the wisdom.

Oracles that aren't wise- Guiding your life by wives' tales, fables, and cliches is not a very good guide. Older doesn't always mean wiser. Find people who are living out and speaking the language of the Bible, and by that I mean the Principles, not necessarily Greek and Hebrew. 

Returning to the Familiar- This can often set in when our plan fails to launch, backfires, lacks support, or lacks supply. You may face opposition, but if God promised it, he will bring it to pass. Don't be so quick to throw in the towel at the first sign of difficulty. 

Stress-Driven decisions- Don't let a temporary pressure cause you to make a permanent decision that could take you years, even decades to recover from. Avoid haste at all costs. Let the Holy Spirit drive you with his Fruit Factors found in Galatians 5:22-23

I pray that you will fire these factors and improve your servant leadership starting NOW. 

Leading While Teaching

In honor of  Teacher Appreciation Week, I wanted to thank some of the influential teachers in my life:
My 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Salzman, My 4th grade Art teacher, Mrs. Russell, who first nurtured me as an artist outside of my family's support. My 5th grade Art teachers (and later middle school): Mr. Tom Wyroba, Craig Kirk, and my lifelong Art mentor until she passed of breast cancer, Ms. Paraskevy Ralis. I'd also like to thank some of my high school teachers: My Honors English teacher, Mr. Cox, My Chemistry teacher, Mr. Smith, My AP Art teacher, Mr. Jackson, and my Economics teacher, Mrs. Lewis. Some of these teachers I was so horrible to, I actually went back to repent and find them to apologize face to face. That is what real leaders do (smile). It is no wonder I went into the teaching profession. I also have a racist teacher to thank as well (but that's for another blog). So, what has made these teachers stand out and stay with me, some 20-25 years later? What did they show forth that I try to demonstrate as a teacher? Not every teacher demonstrated all of these, but here are 10 qualities that made them stand out from the rest of my teachers:

1. They challenged me. Whether it was with an assignment, how I carried myself, how I spoke in their class, or the quality of my work, they challenged me to do better.

2. They were welcoming. In the eyes of these teachers, I was not just a number. I was an individual. I could question. Their door and ear was open. They counseled as well as taught. I never felt like I was a race or socio-economic demographic in their class, though I was bused in from (and lived in) one of the roughest neighborhoods at the time.

3. They did not play favorites. They had the same expectation of all their students. If they were biased, I could not tell. They were fair in their assessments and gave specific reasons for why they graded the way they did. There was no invisible calculation.

4. They took interest in me beyond the classroom. They sincerely cared how I was doing as a person, what extra activities I was involved in.

5. They demonstrated character in the classroom. I never saw these teachers ridicule, belittle a student, put a student on blast, or curse. I never saw or heard about them gossiping or spreading rumors about students. If they did not like a student, you didn't know it.

6. They knew their material and were active outside the classroom. All of my art teachers were amazing artists in their own right, and were not just teaching it, but getting it done, doing their own shows. I thought that showed their commitment to their field, and to staying current with their profession.

7. They encouraged me to pursue my dreams. I had wanted to be an architect since I was 9 years old. If God had not changed my course to teaching the arts, that is what I would be doing. My art mentor, Ms. Ralis, would allow me to visit her in the summer from college and work with her in the class, and speak with her students about college. It is an experience that I am still thankful for to this day.

8. They loved what they were doing and it showed. Every single one of these teachers taught with passion and enthusiasm. I absolutely despised Honors English. That is laughable now, because I am a writer and have developed a passion for English and communicating well. I was able to go back and thank my English teacher. He joked about how much I hated his class, and I was able to let him know that all that nagging paid off and all those rewrites and that I am now an author. He was not surprised.

9. They had no hidden agendas. The agenda was teaching. They were there to make sure we knew the material, understood it above average. They didn't try to persuade me on social issues. They didn't try to drop hints about their beliefs. You could have your own viewpoint and still pass the class. As a matter of fact, I can't remember any of these teachers giving their opinion, though they were open to class dialogue.

10. They believed that all students could succeed. Most students sought out these teachers, to be placed in their class. Why? They knew they had a shot at success with teachers that believed in them. I can't recall any student getting into serious trouble in class with them. If a student was skipping class, they could be found hiding in some of these classrooms. Sometimes it was a reprieve from a negative teacher. Because of their optimism, they were sought out.

Whenever I teach, I try to keep these principles in mind, especially when dealing with a difficult student. Some children have been so battered and beaten down by teachers who dislike the profession, show prejudice, are unconcerned, and don't know their material, that they don't want to see another teacher-ever. Why is the high school dropout rate soaring? Look at the ten principles above. Bring back effective teachers, and you'll see effective students emerge from the dust of what is passing for "teaching".

I challenge every teacher to consider the principles above. If you are going to remain a teacher, you owe it to your students to lead, and to lead them to a place of success, not despair. They will return to thank you! I am proof of that.

A Net Breaking Season

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

¹⁴ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

The Word of the Lord come to me today saying, 

This is your NET-Breaking Season

Your never ending triumphant season. 

Yes, you had a season where you were set at a crossroad

You were set at a place that allowed you to veer off or remain.

Because you remained,

The heavens have opened for you. 

You suffered a series of 

Loss, after loss, after loss, after loss, 

and when you did not think you could lose again

Loss occurred. 

But you are headed into a perpetual season of

Win, win, win, win, win, win, win.

Not because you were good.

Because you were grounded. 

You stayed in faith. 

You net breaking season is here. 

It's time to WIN. 

Welcome It Now. 

Write It Now.

Work It Now.

Remember, all you do 

is WIN

in this Season.

Advance the Kingdom. 

(Matthew 6:33)

God's Representatives: A Conversation with God

Lord, what does “ Moses did not sanctify you in the sight of the people” mean?

God responds: 

Moses had experienced my presence as Friend to Friend. My face shone in his face.

I introduced myself:

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, Exodus 34:6

Moses became an image of my person among the children of Israel.  He lived a veiled life.

When Moses struck the Rock, he misrepresented My Person.

He expressed me as an impatient, quick-tempered God. I am neither.

I am the God who is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. (Numbers 14:18)

Moses did not show forth my character to the people. Because He knew my character and heart, he had no excuse for striking the rock when I said speak to it. Had he gone into the promise land physically, it would have set a bad precedence for the entire nation of Israel.

I want my people, who I call, to express me in grace and truth.

Those who do not know me will learn of me through your examples. What you say to My People and how you speak to them should not contradict what I say to My People or how I speak to them.

– God , The Father

Line Upon Line, Precept Upon Precept:

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Psalm 86:5

Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Joel 2:13

Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. Nehemiah 9:31

Father God, let your leaders represent you and sanctify you in the sight of the people, always. In our dry places, leading your people, let us not set an example that does not reflect who you are. Forgive us for portraying you as more or less than who you are, in Jesus Name, Amen.

The STONE that GOD would SLING

As King David took his smooth stone and loaded it into His sling, so King Jesus wants to take his STONE, His lively stones to knock out the giant that seeks to keep souls in darkness. Jesus wants to use His Church.

Who is the Stone? We know Christ is the stone which the builders rejected. The STONE that Christ uses to mature His body is the five-fold ministry. They are in a position to lead the Church to maturity, not become it's god.

                                                Seer-Apostles
                                                Teachers
                                                Oracle-Prophets
                                                Nurturing Pastors
                                                Evangelists

                  Become the Stone, placed in the SLING and hurled toward an unbelieving world.

As a leader today, I challenge you to pray like Esther, Prophesy like Samuel, preach like John the Baptist, worship like David, and be as unrelenting in your pursuit as the Apostle Paul to love like Jesus.

Let's be the STONE that God himself would SLING, even as the world would laugh. Let the STONE do the talking. As long as we are being launched from God's SLING, we shall have the Victory that has already been FINISHED!

The Priestly and the Profane

Here I am to Worship.

Here I am to bow down

Here I am to say that--

Say What?

2 Samuel 6

The Message (MSG)

6 ^1-2 David mustered the pick of the troops of Israel—thirty divisions of them. Together with his soldiers, David headed for Baalah to recover the Chest of God, which was called by the Name God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who was enthroned over the pair of angels on the Chest.

^3-7 They placed the Chest of God on a brand-new oxcart and removed it from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were driving the new cart loaded with the Chest of God, Ahio in the lead and Uzzah alongside the Chest. David and the whole company of Israel were in the parade, singing at the top of their lungs and playing mandolins, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, so Uzzah reached out and grabbed the Chest of God.

 God blazed in anger against Uzzah and struck him hard because he had profaned the Chest. Uzzah died on the spot, right alongside the Chest.

^8-11 Then David got angry because of God’s deadly outburst against Uzzah. That place is still called Perez Uzzah (The-Explosion-Against-Uzzah). David became fearful of God that day and said, “This Chest is too hot to handle. How can I ever get it back to the City of David?” He refused to take the Chest of God a step farther. Instead, David removed it off the road and to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The Chest of God stayed at the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months. And God prospered Obed-Edom and his entire household.
^12-16 It was reported to King David that God had prospered Obed-Edom and his entire household because of the Chest of God. So David thought, “I’ll get that blessing for myself,” and went and brought up the Chest of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David, celebrating extravagantly all the way, with frequent sacrifices of choice bulls. David, ceremonially dressed in priest’s linen, danced with great abandon before God.

 

Read, one more time.

³ And they set the ark of God upon a new cart and brought it ^[a]out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.

⁴ And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, with the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.

⁵ And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord with all their might, with songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.

⁶ And when they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled and shook it.

⁷ And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for touching the ark, and he died there by the ark of God.

⁸ David was grieved and offended because the Lord had broken forth upon Uzzah, and that place is called Perez-uzzah [the breaking forth upon Uzzah] to this day.

⁹ David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, How can the ark of the Lord come to me?

¹⁰ So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to him into the City of David; but he took it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

¹¹ And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

¹² And it was told King David, The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing;

¹³ And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.

¹⁴ And David danced before the Lord with all his might, clad in a linen ephod [a priest’s upper garment].

¹⁵ So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

 

 As leaders, we CANNOT allow the profane to contaminate the priestly responsibility to carry WORSHIP and the PRESENCE of GOD with utmost Reverence.

Notice. God did not blame Uzzah for his death. Uzzah died, GRABBING onto a PRIESTLY responsibility in a CARNAL fashion. Why didn't  the previous handlers die? Because they had no knowledge of how God's presence was to be CARRIED on the shoulders of the priests by poles. But David knew proper procedure and in HASTE to gain and recapture the symbol of God's presence, the VERY MANIFEST PRESENCE responded to the way HE was being carried.

Can I help us? We cannot BEAR God to the people any ole way, with any ole method, and any ole platform. God requires us to know HOW HE desires to be worshipped.

Let us not mix the priestly and the profane lest someone perish on our account. When the Lord breaks forth we want to see him in pleasure, not displeasure.

I encourage you to root out the profane thing in your worship and let God's heart be what is presented in its purest state.

 

Led By Prayer

As I began to seek the Lord on yesterday, he began to speak some very profound and pointed things.

It has been outlawed.

It has been despised.

It has caused the death of some.

It has caused the resurrection of others.

It promotes healing.

It is public and private.

It is controversial.

It has been banned.

It has redeemed.

It has sealed.

It has sentenced men. 

It has released men.

It has opened heaven.

It has shut hell.

PRAYER.

Prayer is eternal.

It cannot be killed

It cannot be silenced.

Many have tried to exterminate it 

Only to find it rising again 

in another soul.

Prayer is the transmitted mind of God 

speaking out of the spirit of man to the soul of man.

Prayer did not begin with man

so it can not end with man.

It started with a conversation in heaven

LET US MAKE MAN. 

Prayer made man

so man can be made by prayer. 

When a man is led by prayer

success will follow. 

~A Holy Ghost Exhortation~

The Word of The Lord for 2014

 This Word was delivered to me on December 26, 2013 after a time of retreat over the Christmas Break. Needless to say, it shook me. There are signs all around us that point to the imminent return of Christ. As leaders and as a Prophet of the Lord we have a responsibility to say at times what may not be popular. I know the Lord is not simply speaking to me but many other Prophets are hearing God's clarion call to prepare for the greatest days of the Church and the worst days of the lost. I have recorded this in multiple places as restrictions on free press are being brought to bear.
What does this Word require of Leaders?

1. Preparation
2. Stabilization
3. Fortification

Hebrews 12:28-29 lets us know we are receiving an unshakable Kingdom. I encourage you to set yourself in the Kingdom of God, seek the face of God and know His heart. He does not want us ignorant of what is to come. He will never fail us. We can place our trust in the unshakable Rock, Jesus Christ, as everything that can be shaken, will be. Let us remain prayerful and vigilant, praying for our country's return to Jesus Christ, not just patriotism or family values. We need the Lord and his sanctification to wash our imperfect systems. My prayer for you as a leader is that you will move with God and trust him now more than ever.

The Word of the Lord:

The line has been drawn.
You MUST pick a side.

You will begin to see the testing of Marshall Law in cities.
There will be rationing of food, energy resources, and it will be tested by cities so as to not cause widespread panic.
The presence of military in your cities will increase for what will be 'routine operations'.

There will be an unprecedented falling away from the Faith in African American assemblies.
Mainstream denominations will come out in full force false doctrine.
People will be forced to find stable ground as all they have held sacred and trusted confidently in is corrupted.

You will see the rise of the Councils of Gay Clergy and Clergy announcing that same sex is okay as they announce their own bi-sexuality.
A major Christian figure is coming out this year and it will shock the Christian World.

Another major disaster will happen this year in the USA.

You will see the Deification of Your President.

The best of times for Kingdom Mobilization is here and the worst of times for those living on the fringe of their salvation.

In order to keep jobs (state, county, federal) in 2014 you will have to accept anti-Christ orders.

There will be fluctuation and turmoil with markets. Brokers will not know whether they are coming or going.

Fasting will become a way of life. Discipline your body for denial not overindulgence

America is drinking her cup of wrath for unrepentance and yet I remain merciful because of the prayers of the righteous.

Strengthen those who remain in the Faith.

I am coming to pick up my tab for the unfaithful, unrighteous, the oppressor, the flowery false prophets, the lenient shepherds who will not teach the Truth.


- God, The Father

Pray over this Word, and ask God to make clear to you his will and your way forward in 2014.
We must position ourselves to be a beacon of truth to the next generation.

36 for 36 (Life Nuggets)

 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning 

all things that are done under heaven: 

 this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man

  to be exercised therewith.

 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: 

 I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 

   For in much wisdom is much grief: 

and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.  

Ecclesiastes 3:13, 17-18

 ______________._______________

Reading the above passage of scripture did me good: it did me good to know that I am not the only one, neither will I be the last, that God sends on a search to know wisdom, to glean from life the good and the bad, and that some of what we learn makes us sorrowful, and some makes us truly thankful. I was prompted by the Lord on turning 36 last month to think about 36 things that I could share, life lessons if you will, of what I have learned. Some of it may be old hat to you, and some may be things you had not considered. My prayer is that these lessons will cause you to, in your own way, to give your heart to knowing what is in it, what's in God's heart, and what lessons you can deposit and treasure while sharing with the next generation. So, here goes:   

36 Lessons in 36 Years 

1. People will do to you what they see you do to yourself. 

2. Your applauders are not always your backers or your investors. Some applaud you with speech, and some will applaud you with action and investment. Don't disparage any.

3. You may run out of time, but don't run out of Faith and Patience. Time doesn't move God. God moves time.

4.Hope floats on Faith's waters. 

5. Trust the Impossible to be exactly incorrect and adequately overwhelming. That's Impossible's JOB. Your job is to believe the Impossible.

6. Don't let persecution or praise phase you. Both could end or begin at any moment. Remain steady in Christ.

7. People hate to see their younger self in a successful you especially when their older self has not followed through. Don't let their self-condemnation be your self-reflection. Stay in the right mirror- the Word.

8. You live. You learn. You move on. You live.  You don't learn? You repeat.

9. Nothing is ever as it seems. Always ask questions.

10. Never fail to ask WHY or HOW. Those two unlock what to do with what you know.

11. The people who really like and the people who really hate you are never who you assume. Never. Refer back to #9

12. Hear what people are not saying: Eyes, Sighs, Smiles, Silences, and Laughter all speak.

13. Being ignored hurts more than outright hatred.

14. Love hard. It's one of the attributes that will be visible in heaven and countable in souls.

15. Never trust the person who promises the World and has shown you no map or compass.

16. Hard work does not guarantee excellent work, sound work, or intelligent work. Sweat does not equal quality. 

17. You can be so dumb that stupidity looks appealing. 

18. Believe it when God says it; test it when man says it.

19. The person trying to tear you down is already broken and trying to build themselves back up with another man's self worth.

20.Take time to think. Don't be afraid to be alone with God's heart concerning your thoughts. He will counsel your mind if you hand him your thoughts.

21. A person who doesn't value their own life will squander yours. 

22. You do NOT have to let people violate your spiritual space and self to prove you can be open. There are soul rapers in the spiritual world just as there are in the natural.

23. Only you can contribute you to the world. Stop waiting for someone to 'discover' you. Discover yourself and let God distribute s He wills.

24. Listen to people who did NOT accomplish their goals. Their regrets can teach you how to live a life of resilience rather than surrender. Their regret can reveal setbacks you may miss from always gleaning from successful people. There were LURES that took them into Failure that you won't find in Success.

25. Cursing people out has never gotten any permanent good accomplished. Just don't.

26. People may terrorize you (or attempt to) because they live  in a world of personal terror and it is the only time they get to inflict pain. When you let them know that you know- they will stop.

27. Calm your fears by speaking the Word of God to them. Out loud.

28. You can build a sure foundation from the bricks people throw. Learn how to catch.

29. You cannot win over someone who believes that God has called them to lose. #pick your battles

30. No matter what "hellish" problem you face, God really does hold the key to it. (Rev. 1:18) It's always wise to ask the Door (John 10) for the key out.

31. No one is really interested in how gifted you are if they cannot see how that gift connects to the human need to be loved, valued, and cared for. Your gift must be seen as a connector, transformer, or improver of life. 

32. All it takes is ONE person to obey God concerning you (Luke 6:38). Pray for the people around you to obey God concerning you.

33. This prayer changed and is changing my life: Father, let my earthly existence match my Heavenly reality. Let me be as I already am in you.

34. Nothing happens until some one changes. If nothing is happening, ask yourself, "Am I changing in the direction of God?" 

35. God will pull out of you and present you to yourself in the measure that you lay down yourself and put on Christ.

36. God will forbid you intimacy with some people because they are looking to expose you not cover you. God is jealous (protecting what he values) for you. Whatever God tells you about a human's heart, believe Him.

I trust you learned something! Leave a comment, share a # that stuck out to you, and share something God has taught you! Looking forward to hearing from you!

Apalling Leadership - Learning from Saul

Leadership begins with followship. Followship begins with knowing who is in the lead.

If God is leading, you can trust him to make you a good follower and ultimately, a great leader. 

                                                         ~ Shantae A. Charles ~

As I was heading off to sleep, and dialing down for the day, God began to speak to me. This is our regular routine. I agreed in 1997, that if God would speak to me, I would listen. I did not say, I would listen between the hours of 9 to 5, so God chooses when he decides to invade my space and my sleep. I notice that as we settle ourselves, God speaks into our heart timeless truths. I found it very striking that in this day and age God still wants to talk to leaders about leadership. It's important to God where His people are headed and who is leading them towards him as well as away from him. But he spoke these words: Saul's Apalling Leadership. Yes, even now, Saul is forever remembered in the sight of the Lord as a leader who failed to fully carry out and fulifll his purpose in life. So, I rolled myself out of that comfortable state of quiet time, and wrote down what the Lord wanted to highlight. I won't give you a full study lesson, but if you want to study the life of Saul, read 1 Samuel 9-13.

An excellent background article on Saul can also be found here: http://groundreport.com/theres-a-lesson-people-can-learn-from-the-life-of-king-saul/

Here are the facts that the Lord wanted to highlight concerning Saul's Appalling example:

1. People pleasing- Saul's concern for pleasing people overrode his devotion to the will of God- this was a key in his downfall

2. Half obedience- Saul's refusal to wipe out two enemies of Israel later plagued the Kings that cam after him and almost led to the extermination of the Jews (see the Book of Esther); Haman was a descendant of the King Saul was ordered to kill.

3. Unfinished work- Saul constantly made excuses as to why he had not fully obeyed the Lord. This pattern of "not finishing" was seen throughout his life.

4. Murdering the Priest- Rather than honoring spiritual God-ordained leadership, Saul had them executed. Anyone who went against his brand of being and doing was dealt with. Interesting enough, Saul never pursued fully the actual enemies of God and Israel.

5. Baiting & Switching (daughter)- Saul promised many things but did not deliver on them, and partially because of his disobedience to the Lord. He also promised King David a wife with the intention and hope that he would be murdered in the process.

6. Warring without God - Saul was very concerned with 'saving face', wanting Samuel the prophet to bless him and act as though nothing had changed in Saul's leadership position with God (and really, if God no longer approves your leadership, you may as well hang it up).

7. Skulking &Sulking- Saul turned into a very temperamental, sulking man, on many occaisions due to his demonic oppression. Having been rejected by God from the position of King, he never sought to restore his position relationally with God. This brought on feelings of envy and murderous jealousy when he realized he had lost the benefit of God's anointing on His life. He became a King in title only, lacking the authority, personal drive, and the Hosts of Army of God to really back his War Campaigns.

8. Consulting witches- Seeking power from any other source, seeking out any other source but God for counsel, even if it is your dead mentor, is unholy. God does not treat this as a light thing. He sees it as idolatry, judgement has come upon many leaders for looking to vodoo, gurus, and 'spiritual guides' rather than God.

9. Hunting, not helping the Next Generation- Saul is known mainly not for his leadership skill, but for his relentless pursuit of David, future King of Israel: a younger, skilled, gifted, and good looking man that God had been grooming in his father's fields to be the next King of Israel. Saul began to look at David differently, the moment the attention for military skill and prowess was shifted away from him and onto David. After David had proven he could and would take on giants, rather than Saul seeing him as a successor, he saw him as a threat. Why? Saul had already been deposed by God spiritually. It was only a matter of time before it was revealed naturally. Saul wanted no exposures to his private dethroning. With David publicly winning military battles and doing exploits, this would shed light on Saul's lack of ability.

10. Fighting losing battles- Saul was notorious for attempting war campaigns without God, and focusing on the wrong battles. His fight should not have been with David, yet Saul spent his entire life fighting a losing battle. God had chosen David. There was nothing he could do about that.

11. Only seeking God as last resort- A scripture every leader should have ingrained in their heart? "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Mt.6:33 Saul chose not to recognize God as preimminent, first, only, or even as his priority

12. Impetuous & Hasty Decision Making- Saul was not known for his patience. When it appeared that Samuel was late in coming, Saul stepped into the role of Priest (not his office) and tried to offer God a sacrifice. He did it for the people, not even in obedience to God. Leaders have to be careful of moving for the people rather than moving because God commissioned it.

13. Treating people as commodity- To Saul, people were expendable. One example of this, is his use of his daughter Michal as a bargaining tool to bring David into his household. Anything that could not be of use to Saul for his plans, was not worth anything, including his own heir apparent, Jonathan.

14. Unrepentant and prideful- These two characteristics describe Saul's personality, how he handled his personal and public life, and ultimately what led to his death.

15. Paralyzed by Fear yet moved by Popular vote- Saul spent most of his life as a fearful man:
* Fearful of People
*Fearful of Perceptions
*Fearful of other Leaders
*Fearful of losing His Status

There is much more to learn from Saul. I encourage you to dig in further. Finally, we must examine ourselves, our leadership styles and see if we are in alignment with God and Jesus as Lord over our leading.
We can have good graphics no Grace, a charming personality, and no Charisma (anointing) for what we are leading. We can have a super marketing and media team, yet no spine to say no to ungodliness. I don't want to be that kind of leader. Let us learn from Saul's appalling leadership, and more importantly, let's not be the ones to repeat it.